09082023 NEWS, SPORT AND BUSINESS

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Volume: 120 No.172, September 8, 2023

$2.5BN TO BUY ATLANTIS RESORT

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

BROOKFIELD Asset

Management is looking to offload the Atlantis Paradise Island Resortwith a price tag of $2.5bn attached.

The news emerged as Atlantis yesterday touted that it was headed for its best ever year to local media, before Reuters reported that a source revealed: “The Torontobased asset manager is

working with an adviser to solicit potential interest in the property, and could fetch roughly $2.5bn for the luxury resort.”

Reuters continued: “Brookfield took over Atlantis in late 2011 when its previous owner Kerzner International transferred ownership in a debt-forequity restructuring deal. Brookfield at that time exchanged $175m worth of Kerzner International’s debt in return.”

...AS VISITORS ENSURE IT IS SET FOR BEST YEAR YET

BY LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

ATLANTIS executives anticipate that 2023 will be the best year in the resort’s history, with occupancy rates and visitor spending up when compared to previous years.

“Atlantis, I’m pleased to

say that 2022 was a record year for the Bahamas and 2023 will probably be the best year in Atlantis’ history so far since we’ve opened as we celebrate our 25th anniversary and we do the celebration in November,” said Atlantis President and Managing Director Audrey

SEE PAGE THREE

FTX CO-CHIEF PLEADS GUILTY TO CRIMINAL CHARGES

THE former co-chief of executive of FTX Digital Markets, Ryan Salame, yesterday pleaded guilty to making tens of millions of dollars in illegal campaign contributions to US politicians and engaging in a criminal conspiracy to operate an unlicenced money transfer business.

Ryan Salame, the former co-chief executive of FTX Digital Markets, is the fourth high-ranking official at the company or its affiliates to plead guilty to

criminal charges.

The Tribune previously reported that it was confessions from Mr Salame about the misuse of multibillion dollar client funds that prompted an urgent police probe into possible misconduct, as revealed by Christina Rolle, the Securities Commission’s executive director.

This came in the final hours of the crypto exchange’s implosion, and sealed the decision to put

Lifeguards awarded for their bravery for rescuing four men after their boat capsized

BY LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A GROUP of Atlantis lifeguards were awarded for extraordinary bravery yesterday after risking their lives to rescue four men in rough seas at Paradise Island last weekend.

Sashuan Armbrister, Dremeco Lightbourne, Marinique Leary, Adrian Bowe and Riu lifeguard Travis Sands sprang into action on Saturday to save four boaters who found themselves in distress a few miles offshore from Cabbage Beach.

Armbrister, a former competitive swimmer, said he was about to clock out from work when he heard a boat had capsized.

The 26-year-old rushed to the scene where he saw four distressed men out at sea.

“Three were on top of the boat. One was floating off, I believe on a chair,” he said. “We weren’t going to swim straight to the boat because of how far it was and how dangerous the waters were so we watched them for about ten minutes.”

“When they reached to the buoy lines is when we took action and I didn’t really think. I just heard ‘go and get them’ and I went in - no fear, no excitement and no concern. In my mind, I was like gotta go in, gotta get there, gotta get them, gotta get back.”

Armbrister had to brave the angry waves to collect the men.

He was the only lifeguard that was able to make it out to the vessel.

His colleague, Marinique, said she was unable to swim out from the shoreline because of the rough seas.

“Coming back was harder than going forward even though I have the waves pushing me,” Armbrister added. “Because of the waves was bombarding me, I was rolling over, but I still fought. At one point, I got pulled under. I had to swim under and then pop back up and keep going.”

“I reached the shore. I could not get back in. The pull was too much. I turned around and told them brace yourself, we’re going to have to be thrown in. Right now, I had no idea what’s happening around me.”

“My co-workers are dealing with all of the people on the other side. By this point, one of the people had reached the beach and they’re pulling in the next one on the side. I got my guys on the beach, took a moment and caught my breath.”

Atlantis president and managing director Audrey Oswell thanked the lifeguards as she presented them with heroism awards and a complimentary three-day hotel yesterday morning. A dozen first responders were also recognised for their efforts and awarded life saver certificates.

“The successful rescue on Saturday demonstrated the team’s commitment to leadership, teamwork, courage and water safety,” Ms Oswell said.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis also applauded the group for their “exceptional bravery and quick thinking” and for going beyond the call of duty.

“I’m just filled with pride when I heard of the extraordinary actions of the courageous lifeguards at

the Atlantis Royal Towers,” Mr Davis said. “When four people found themselves in a dangerous situation out at sea, it just wasn’t the wave

they battled but also time, uncertainty and fear and yet in such dire circumstances, our lifeguards did not wait.”

“Most of us will never have the skill and bravery to carry out what these individuals achieved that day and thankfully, most

of us will never be faced it. However, we can learn from them - many of the values we should embody in our everyday lives.”

ATLANTIS and RIU Lifeguards recognised as heroes. From left: Adrian Bowe, Dremeco Rahmin, Sashaun Armbrister, Ashley F, Travis Sands and Matinique Leary.

Photo: Moise Amisial

FOUR men found themselves in peril when their boat capsized in rough waters just off Paradise Island. Quick acting lifeguards from Atlantis and RIU swiftly came to their rescue.

Atlantis on course for its best year ever

from page one

Oswell.

This comes amid international reports that Brookfield Asset Management is again searching for a company to purchase the resort.

When asked about September bookings, Ms Oswell said the numbers were “a little light” as September is usually considered a slow period for tourism.

“They’re stronger than in previous years, but our fourth quarter is going to be the strongest fourth quarter we’ve ever had in the property,” she added.

Her comments echo that of Tourism Minister Chester Cooper who predicted that 2023 “will be the best year” the country has ever seen for tourism.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, there were more than five million arrivals in the first seven months of this year.

The ministry is also predicting a visitor rate of more than eight million by the end of the year.

“Of the 5,893,118 total visitors who came to the islands of The Bahamas in the first seven months of the year, 1,133,494 arrived by air and 4,759,624 by sea. July 2023 has been the busiest July since 2019, with March being the “busiest arrivals month in our history,” the Ministry of Tourism said.

“July year-to-date arrivals are pacing 59 percent ahead of 2022 and 30 percent ahead of 2019, the busiest year on record.”

Tourism Minister Chester Cooper credited the hard work of his team for the country’s improving tourism performance.

He said: “The stronger than expected results speak to vibrancy of The Bahamas’ brand, methodical business strategies and the hard work of tourism industry professionals and stakeholders. We are seeing record arrivals, because we have all worked together to resuscitate our tourism industry, coming out of the pandemic, and, because we continue to improve our tourism product.”

‘Atl A ntis wA s never AGA INST THE ROYA L C A ribbe A n projeC t’, S AYS RESORT PRESIDENT

BY LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

ATLANTIS president

Audrey Oswell said the resort is happy that Royal Caribbean International’s Paradise Island project has been given the go-ahead now that all environmental concerns have been addressed, adding: “Atlantis was never against the Royal Caribbean project.”

“We did not change our position against the Royal Caribbean project,” Ms Oswell said when asked about the resort’s

position on RCI’s proposed development.

Atlantis had been one of the project’s staunchest critics.

“All we did was express their environmental concerns to both Royal Caribbean and to the government. Once we expressed those environmental concerns, both Royal Caribbean and the government gave us the word that they would work to address those concerns and we’re pleased to say that they have in their plans and presentation, the DEP,” she said.

“We raised additional questions. We received the answers to those questions and we are both thankful and recognise and acknowledge that they made significant changes and alterations to their original plans for the beach day project responding to the environmental concerns that were addressed by us so we’re pleased that they addressed them. We’re happy to see the project going forward and we have not changed our position.”

Last month, the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection

advised Royal Caribbean that it had “substantively addressed the environmental concerns” relating to the project and can now proceed to the next step of the approvals process which involves submission of its Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for review by the same agency.

According to Ms Oswell, RCI’s original plan included ocean works, which she said concerned Atlantis.

However, she said those plans have since been changed.

Yesterday, Ms Oswell was also asked about the results

PROTECTION AGA INST VIOLENCE ACT DOES NOT DE A L WITH GENDERBA SED V IOLENCE, NEEDS A MENDMENTS, S AYS BA RNETT- ELLIS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SENATOR Michela

Barnett-Ellis said the Protection Against Violence Act needs to be amended because it does not deal with gender-based violence nor does it provide enough relief for women and girls.

“I am hoping and praying that we do see an amendment,” said the FNM senator, who said she has been aggressively approached on two separate occasions because of her views on marital rape.

Ms Barnett-Ellis said that these confrontations were by men who she believes felt comfortable doing that because of her gender.

“I also need the gender-based violence bill to protect people like me so if somebody acts up and loses their mind and attacks me, that there is relief out there for me and specialized relief,” she

said.

Senator Ellis was the invited guest speaker at the Marco City FNM association’s monthly meeting held at the FNM Headquarters in Freeport on Wednesday evening.

She said domestic violence has escalated to the point now where people are dying.

The passing of the Protection Against Violence Act just before the parliamentary session closed left many women advocacy groups and NGOs blindsided and upset.

Compared to the original gender-based violence bill, which consisted of 48 sections, the act is much shorter and consists of only 24 sections.

There is criticism that in the act the definition of violence is confusing.

Ms Barnett-Ellis said that at no time in the discussions about the Gender-Based Violence Bill did anybody say that there was a problem.

“Unfortunately, we come to the point where domestic violence has escalated and, yes, there is still the punching, but people are dying.

“But it is also about gender-based violence on the whole. And passing legislation about it, you are also acknowledging that it exists,” she stressed.

Senator BarnettEllis recalled two incidents when she was approached in public by men who were very angry and aggressive with her.

“I spoke at a convention about marital rape and after I walked to an open area of the ballroom, a man approached me and said, ‘you hate men’, and he was very aggressive … and called me every name, but a child of God. In another instance, I was at the bank and this man who I had never seen before came at me, and said ‘You trying to break up marriages in The Bahamas, you keep talking about

marital rape, you hate men so a man needs to just give you a good … you know.”

“My point is if I was a man, I can guarantee you none of them would have stepped to me like that.

“If some man came and attacked me in my home because I am an FNM senator and a woman … I would like to have relief available to me that I have some place to live while I deal with that trauma because every time I go home I will worry about the attack.

“We deserve better.”

She added: “We have to continue to have a conversation, and we need to make sure we get relief out to as many people as possible.”

Following the passage of the act, Senator Barnet-Ellis said they have met the Minister of Social Services and have provided detailed notes of what is missing and what is needed to get the act where it needs to be.

of the Department of Labour’s investigation into complaints from employees who felt “pressured and intimidated” to stand against RCI’s proposed Paradise Island Beach Club project.

“Nothing ever came of that,” she said. “We are very respectful of our employees. There is no one here that intimidated our employees or ask them to do something inappropriate so I think all of that was blown out of proportion by people that just like to have some frenzy in the media.”

Nonetheless, she said

Atlantis has always enjoyed a good relationship with labour officials and also wished Pia Glover Rolle, the incoming Minister of Labour, the best in her role.

“We had great relationship with all previous ministers of labour, including Minister Bell, so there’s always going to be questions, disagreements when you have 6,000 employees and for the ministry, overseeing so many different employers. There’s always going to be questions and we don’t mind questions as long as they’re fair and the response is fair.”

ATLANTIS PRESIDENT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR AUDREY OSWELL

BNT and Agriculture sign lease agreement for development of national park in Eleuthera

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas National Trust yesterday signed a lease agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources for the development of the Seahorse National Park at Sweetings Pond and Hatchet Bay Cave in Eleuthera.

The lease agreement was signed yesterday at a press conference by representatives of the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC), under The Ministry of Agriculture and Bahamas National Trust (BNT).

The development of the 548-acre park is one that has been anticipated throughout successive

governments in an effort to protect the highly concentrated seahorse species in Sweetings Pond.

Clay Sweeting, the newly announced Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs and outgoing Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources said this important project would be his final under that portfolio.

“With the assistance of the BNT, this destination, can be protected, preserved and regulated so that natives and visitors can experience these phenomena safely so as to ensure the growth of the population of the seahorses as they have done with the land and sea park and other national sites around the country.

“The lease agreement being signed today aims to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental preservation. It provides guidelines and regulations for sustainable use of Sweetings Pond, ensuring that its unique biodiversity and fragile ecosystem are protected for generations to come.

“By the grace of God, upon the execution of this lease, within one to three years remaining, The BNT will officially open their doors at the Seahorse National Park at Sweetings Pond and I will still be the Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera and see this project officially opened.”

The Central and South Eleuthera MP said

Funeral Service for

Kevin O’Keafe Duncombe, 62

a resident of #67 Falcon Crest, Eastern Estates & formerly of Duncombe Coppit, South Andros, will be held at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Wulff & Baillou Hill Roads, on Friday, September 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Officiating will be Father Roderick Bain. Interment follows in Lakeview Memorial Gardens, John F. Kennedy Drive.

Left to cherish his memories are, Wife: Birdie Duncombe; Children: Michelle, Tremain, and Demario Duncombe; Daughter-in-Law: Neressa Duncombe; Grandchildren: William Albury Jr., Tremain Duncombe, Jazmine Dames; Aunts: Susan Ferguson, Goldie Pierre, Syblean and Viola Duncombe; Uncles: Wendel and Johnny Duncombe of Duncombe’s Coppice; Sister: Anecca Duncombe; Brothers: Samuel (Lisa), Victor (Michelle), Garth (Dianne), Herbert (Cecile) Duncombe; Sisters-in Law: Gail Duncombe, Agatha Meadows (Rodger), Lonnie Simmons (Wallenstein), Hazel Knowles; Brothers-in-Law: Arthur Bryan of Miami, FL, Rudolph Tinker, Vincent Tinker (Marilyn), Gregory Tinker, Reno Johnson; Godchild: Marcia Greene and a host of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews and other relatives too numerous to mention Other Extended Family and Friends include: Dr. Herbert Orlando, Dr. McCartney, Rose McCartney and Family, Lester “Bullocks” Arnette, Kenth Arnette and Family, Rosy Greene, Luke Cunningham, William Albury, Michelle and Angie Sturrup of Miami, FL., Althea Conliffe and Van Hall, Berkley and Sarah Williamson, Dwight Baker and Family, Ricardo Adderley and Family, Esther Rahming, Anthonyia Armenteros and Family, The Community of Andros Avenue, St. Barnabas Parish, Demeritte’s Funeral Home and Lakeview Memorial Gardens Mausoleums.

We, the family, apologize if anyone may have been omitted in error. We humbly ask for your understanding and prayers

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 12-5:00 p.m. on Thursday

Sweetings Pond has been a treasure for Eleuthera for decades.

“It is a unique and ecologically important site in Eleuthera as a natural inland seawater pond that is connected to the ocean through blue holes. One of the remarkable features is its high concentration of seahorses.

“The pond’s waters provide a nursery habitat for numerous fish species such as small reef fish and juvenile sharks. The ecological integrity of Sweetings Pond is of great importance as it serves as a vital part of Eleuthera’s natural heritage.”

BNT executive director Lakeisha Adderley called the move “a pivotal moment for the history of The Bahamas for our national park system

and for the people of Eleuthera” as the 33rd addition to the National Park system and the second on Eleuthera.

“Minister Sweeting, you brought us to the finish line,” she said.

“The declaration of Seahorse National Park at Hatchet Bay Cave and Sweetings Pond is more than just a designation; it is our shared promise to community, to future generations, and to the world — that we are committed to conserving our unique and precious natural assets for the benefit of all Bahamians.

“Today’s lease signing is the pinnacle of a decade-long effort of pooling together financial resources, field experts and partners, to support scientific research,

educational programmes in local schools, extensive community outreach, stakeholder consultations and advocacy — for the protection of Sweetings Pond and its surrounding environment.”

She added: “We have proactively created a comprehensive conceptual plan that will guide the sustainable development of park infrastructure, amenities, and facilities for public use.

“This includes the development of trails, recreation and entrepreneurial programmes, signage and educational exhibits. We are especially devoted to developing a science-based ecotourism plan to support local businesses on the island while conserving the park’s sensitive natural resources.”

HURRICANE LEE UPDAT E

WEATHER experts yesterday said that it is expected that The Bahamas will not suffer major effects from Hurricane Lee, which is expected to pass out to sea.

Acting director of the Department of Meteorology Jeffrey Simmons issued a statement yesterday saying that “in collaboration with fellow meteorologists at the National Hurricane Centre, we are confident that Hurricane Lee will pass well to the east and north of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands; the most significant impact being swells”.

The progress of the storm is being continuously monitored and the public will be updated of any changes with the system.

Mr Simmons added: “In anticipation of this system moving east of the islands, further deterioration in marine

conditions is expected to occur starting this weekend in the southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, migrating north to the northwest Bahamas by Thursday, September 14. “Mariners should exercise extreme caution and beachgoers should refrain from entering the water, as these swells can produce rough seas, life-threatening surf and dangerous rip currents. Residents and motorists are urged to be extra cautious while traversing coastal roads due to sea spray that can reduce visibility. Overtopping waves will cause saltwater inundation, deposits of large stones and other coastal debris along with coastal erosion.”

Hurricane Lee was a category 4 hurricane at the time of going to press, with additional strengthening expected overnight.

CLAY SWEETING, the newly announced Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs and outgoing Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources said the BNT and Ministry of Agricultures lease agreement signing for the development of the Seahorse National Park at Sweetings Pond and Hatchet Bay Cave in Eleuthera w ould be his final under that portfolio.

Downtown Management Authority Bill to be presented when Parliament resumes

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Ches-

ter Cooper said yesterday a Bill will be brought to Parliament for the Downtown Management Authority.

Last month Parliament was prorogued to October 4th of this year. However, Mr Cooper during an Office of the Prime Minister press briefing, said the Bill will be presented once Parliament resumes.

“In terms of Downtown, we are going to bring a bill to Parliament for the Downtown Management Authority once Parliament reopens,” Mr Cooper told reporters.

Mr Cooper said officials are hoping the authority will be allocated funding to operate, however, that would be a decision for Cabinet to make.

“Downtown has always been loosely managed by the stakeholders, the downtown partnership and they’ve had some great plans over

the decades,” he said. “We are drawing on some of those plans. The reality of it is that there has to be some authority with some teeth to bring focus and bring back the old charm of downtown Nassau. Nassau reimagined as we call it. We’re hoping that this body will in fact be allocated some funding that’s a matter for the Cabinet to determine.”

“But there’s opportunity perhaps through the tourism development fund levy there will be an opportunity for the overall management of downtown through this authority. Anticipate that perhaps the revitalisation unit of the Ministry of Tourism will morph into this authority.”

The authority will manage downtown car parking, upkeep facilities, manage derelict buildings, and encourage stakeholders to upkeep storefronts.

Meanwhile, the lack of car parking in the downtown area has been a long-standing issue throughout successive admin-

istrations. Senator Randy Rolle, Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Aviation’s global relations consultant recently revealed to Tribune Business that the ministry has proposals in its possession for a car park for downtown Bay Street.

When asked about the proposed car park, Mr Cooper said his ministry is looking into the proposals.

“There are people who are interested in addressing the parking issues downtown, there are proposals,” Mr Cooper said. “Some of it is on private property and we encourage entrepreneurship. The revitalisation unit will be looking at parking opportunities and alternatives for downtown. Working along with entrepreneurs we have launched a valet service that I understand is working extremely well. So, we hope that retailers shopping comes back to downtown in a big way for residents.”

He added: “We are already experiencing some growth since the opening

of the Nassau cruise port. Certainly, I’m happy to tell you that our guests are not staying in the Nassau cruise port facility they’re coming out. We have several gates that have been reopened and the store owners on Bay Street are seeing moderate growth.”

Mr Cooper also signalled an intent to ease access for visitors to the country. He said: “We plan to make it easier for visitors and Bahamians to legitimately enter The Bahamas with an electronic immigration declaration form. We expect an Act of Parliament early in the new session to permit this.”

The revitalisation of downtown has been a priority of the Davis administration. Mr Cooper noted that more than six buildings were demolished downtown, adding there are plans for east of East Street as well.

In terms, of efforts for the drainage systems downtown work is being done to help with flooding and to solve the issue long-term.

Cooper: Invest Igat Ion w Ill be launChed Into oCean Cay v IsI tor’s drownIng

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minis-

ter Chester Cooper said an investigation will be launched into the drowning of a tourist at Ocean Cay, adding safety measures will be “beefed” if needed.

Mr Cooper’s comments came after the drowning of 26-year-old Guyanese national, Akeem Charles at Ocean Cay, a private island in The Bahamas owned by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) cruise line. Family members claimed that the beach on

the artificial island is unsafe and that the lack of CPR training for the lifeguard on duty may have contributed to their loved one’s death last month.

Mr Cooper, who also serves as the deputy prime minister, said the Ministry of Tourism is always concerned when there is a death involving tourists.

“Whenever there is a death or incident involving a tourist the Ministry of Tourism is always keenly engaged and concerned. Wherever there’s a death of a resident or a visitor the government of The Bahamas would also be

IMPROV ING DOWNTOWN N ASSAU KEY TO EXPANDING CRUISE SHIP T IME IN PORT

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Chester Cooper said yesterday there is a need to improve the downtown experience for tourists, as conversations continue over cruise ships docking overnight.

Tourism officials have struggled to get cruise lines to extend their stay in Nassau overnight. Many cruise lines have complained there is a lack of entertainment and nightlife downtown for cruise passengers.

When asked if there were conversations about bringing back cruise ships overnighting, Deputy Prime Minister Cooper said there have been ongoing conversations with cruise lines.

“I think there have been discussions with the cruise lines they continue to be good partners,” Mr Cooper said during an Office of the Prime Minister press briefing.

“We are in active dialogue with them. Firstly, to ensure that entrepreneurs in The Bahamas are maximising opportunities from the cruise business. The Nassau cruise port with its $300m recent investment has changed the landscape of downtown and will be a catalyst for development for the rest of downtown.”

In May, the $300m Nassau cruise port was officially opened. Despite the major investment of the port, Mr Cooper said the Downtown area still needs improvement.

“There is a need for more activity. There’s a need for more experiences for our guests to enjoy. There’s a need for more restaurants, there’s a need for more nightlife downtown, and generally, things to do for our guests. So, there may be a bit of a chicken-egg analogy. But we are in active discussions with

cruise lines as to how we might maximise the number of tourists coming off the ships and, of course, maximise tourist spending. We all have a job to do. We must all continue to innovate, create new products, and offer more authentically Bahamian experiences.”

Meanwhile, Mr Cooper this week on a local talk show confirmed that the government has three prospective buyers for the Grand Lucayan hotel. When asked about further information on the negotiations, Mr Cooper declined to provide further details on negotiations and said he would make a statement at the appropriate time.

“I promise as soon as the money’s in the bank I will tell you first,” he told reporters regarding the Grand Lucayan deal. “What we are doing in Grand Bahama is a multi-pronged approach to revitalisation of the island.

I can tell you that stopover visitor growth for Grand Bahama Island is faster than any other island in The Bahamas year over year. I can tell you the cruise arrivals are up 20 per cent. I can tell you the Ministry of Tourism and its executive team visited the island of Grand Bahama. We’re working with all of the stakeholders from eastern to the West End to help the island of Grand Bahama to tell their own story.”

The last time the government was close to selling the Grand Lucayan was with Electra America Hospitality Ltd for $100m which fell through less than six months after it was announced in May 2022.

The sale of the Grand Lucayan has been wrought with difficulties since the government’s previous Free National Movement administration under Dr Hubert Minnis decided to purchase the property in 2018.

concerned. And would always investigate through the proper authorities,” he said during an Office of the Prime Minister press briefing. “We have an active engagement unit for guest services. And our first reaction is always the well-being of the family. We reach out to them. We ensure that we are able to help them facilitate the tragedy that they may experience, and we ensure that there is full engagement with all of the authorities to ensure adequate investigations, etc. But also, to assure the families that The Bahamas

is a safe place to visit. And indeed, that we are a compassionate people and always very concerned if something goes wrong,” Mr Cooper said.

Mr Cooper said when there is a large number of people congregating regrettably incidents sometimes do happen, adding it’s not unique to any tourist destination.

He added that he anticipates in the final analysis the investigation will be done and the appropriate communication will be made. When further pressed on the family’s claim that the lifeguard at Ocean Cay did

not know how to properly perform CPR, Mr Cooper declined to comment. He said it is a matter for the police to investigate.

“If there is a need to beef up safety measures here or anywhere across the country. I’m absolutely sure that will be done, and the Ministry of Tourism will consistently work with all of our stakeholders.”

However, Mr Cooper revealed there is a shortage of lifeguards across the country. He encouraged young people seeking employment to reach out to the Ministry of Tourism for a chance to be a trained

lifeguard.

“The Tourism Development Cooperation in the last 12 months has trained more than 100 lifeguards. This is an area of opportunity for Bahamians. There is a significant shortage of lifeguards across the country. When we travel to private islands, we see lifeguards from as far as the Philippines. So young people across the country who may be seeking employment in the tourism space should reach out to the Tourism Development Corporation. I’m sure in due course will be put on another training session for lifeguards.”

TOURISM MIN ISTER CHESTER COOPER

The Tribune Limited

Atlantis back on the market

WE have been here before.

The news that Brookfield Asset Management is seemingly looking at options for a sale of the Atlantis property is of course major news for the country – given the status of Atlantis as an employer and how many people visit the country to stay there.

In truth, the report is an extension of what has gone before.

Brookfield has previously tried to sell the resort – and three years ago, in February 2020, it took the property off the market, choosing instead to begin a three-year investment strategy despite receiving multiple offers.

With those three years now up, and $100m in renovations spent, back on the market it goes – although how much it was ever truly off the market is open to question.

Reported investors back then included the likes of a potential deal backed by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. Another interested party was represented by former Prime Minister Perry Christie, thought to be perhaps Phil Ruffin, who owned the former Wyndham resort and Crystal Palace casino before selling them to Sarkis Izmirlian in 2006 for the Baha Mar project. Mr Izmirlian himself might consider there to be unfinished business in The Bahamas.

Then there are the owners of the Atlantis Resorts brand around the world, a subsidiary of Kerzner International.

Could some of these names be tempted back into the field?

It is surely no coincidence that the stories of Atlantis being back on the market also come as the resort announces it is headed for its best year ever.

Whether leading the way in the

tourism boom after the lifting of pandemic restrictions or riding the surge, Atlantis has had an excellent year. If ever there was a time to put it back on the market, this would be it.

Of course, there will be nervousness.

Certainty is a strong foundation stone when planning for the future. With it being unknown who the owners of Atlantis might be this time next year, or the year after that, it can perhaps make it harder to commit to the future for some developments. That might affect the stride of government, and it might certainly unsettle employees who will wonder who will come next and what their plans will be.

We have seen with the sale of the Grand Lucayan that matters can become long drawn-out – and some plans go awry or investors back away.

Atlantis is a cornerstone of our tourism market, and it is in the interests of all concerned that any proposed sale goes through smoothly – and to the right buyer.

Atlantis does need continued development – every resort does, to keep pace let alone to lead the way.

The right buyer will be one that not only wants to take on Atlantis as it is now, but who has plans for the future to make it an irresistible destination.

Lips are tight at Atlantis and Brookfield regarding talks of a sale for now – but we must all hope that whatever the process is, it has the right outcome.

Atlantis has been positive for our nation – as an attraction to bring visitors and income into our country, and as an employer for many Bahamians.

We must hope that its new owner is the right one, and that they help Atlantis to continue to rise.

Education reform is needed

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE following was motivated by recent coverage of education, most specifically the latest exam results, in both The Nassau Guardian and The Tribune

National news outlets typically do not propose specific educational policies for reforming our struggling exam-centric public education system. Given this, a brief critique followed by suggestions.

Most education coverage revolves around reporting problems in schools and statements from education officials, like recent comments from the Minister of Education on exam results. When editorials do tackle the subject, they discuss the challenges but rarely suggest meaningful reforms or delve into the deep-rooted issues that hinder student learning and effective teaching.

While coverage acknowledges the decline in student performance in national exams and the limitations of such assessments, it often falls short in offering concrete reform proposals. Alternative assessment methods, for example, receive minimal attention.

Moreover, press coverage recognises that both the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing issues have affected student performance. However, it largely fails to tackle the fundamental underlying reasons for these difficulties, such as the sudden and unprecedented shift to remote learning during the pandemic. What we require is a proactive evaluation of potential future disruptions, like hurricanes, in order to create wellthought-out preemptive strategies for dealing with them effectively.

Finally, stories and editorials may acknowledge the importance of education, but they often overlook the development of skills essential for the job market or tertiary education, be it at universities/colleges or technical training institutes and vocational schools.

Perhaps it’s time for investigative journalism that examines and shares challenges faced by public schools and follows up with ideas for reform. This would require collaboration with education experts, teachers, and students, but it would be a worthwhile endeavour. It means evolving beyond simply relaying educational news to enlightening readers about obstacles confronting public education and viable options for bringing about meaningful reform.

In the meantime, some thoughts on potential reforms:

• Reduce or end the reliance on standardised exams as the primary assessment tool. Place more value on assessment methods that allow students to showcase the broadest possible range of skills and abilities through,

for example, project-based assessments, presentations, portfolios, and real-world problem-solving tasks.

• Related to this, require all students to engage in a curriculum that provides them with both traditional academic skills and modern vi-tech training (from say robotics to carpentry). Upon graduation, each student should have two options: entry into the job market or further formal education or a combination of both. Further, each student must have a life skills toolkit to help them navigate everyday life (eg, how to prepare for and participate in a job interview; basic finance such as a budget, the intricacies of bank loans, etc).

• Address the obvious reality that students have a broad cross-section of learning styles, interests, and paces of learning. Use teachers, technology, and adaptive learning platforms to implement individualized learning plans that better address individual needs and interests. Focus more on formative assessment to provide timely feedback to students to facilitate ongoing improvement and help identify areas where they need extra support.

• Prioritise critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, flexibility, and practical skills, and promote an in-depth understanding of the material by providing opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios.

• From an early age, utilise career counseling to help students explore relevant career paths and provide opportunities for skills training and apprenticeships beyond the proposed in school vi-tech requirements (eg, through collaboration with community businesses and organisations).

• Ramp up the development of important “soft” skills, including teamwork, leadership, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

Skills essential for success in both the job market and tertiary education.

• Better ensure that ongoing professional development equips teachers with the skills and strategies needed to implement 21st-century teaching methods and ones which better engage students (see above).

• Be proactive about updating the curriculum so it better mirrors evolving business trends and new career opportunities. Further, the curriculum must be more flexible and better adapted to societal needs and expectations.

• Better integrate technology into the learning process so students are skilled in their ability to access resources, including those that help personalise

learning and give them the skills to take advantage of a technology-driven world.

• Ideally, the whole community would be engaged in the education of our children and schools would be one of the hubs of our communities. Meaningful partnerships with local businesses, organisations, and parents would both help provide a supportive learning environment and expose students to realworld experiences.

• Perhaps above all, inspire in students a joy of learning and an understanding that life-long learning is vital to being a productive, engaged, and happy citizen in today’s rapidly evolving world.

Briefly, reforms must prioritise students and a more comprehensive approach to learning, one that relies less on exam-based assessments. Diversifying assessment methods, focusing on practical skills, and involving the community, education systems will better prepare students for the job market, higher education, and citizenship — for life generally — while promoting the meaningful development of their talents and abilities.

We do not need outside experts to help us address the challenges facing public education. Further, no matter how successful they are, we shouldn’t attempt to replicate educational models from other countries (eg, Singapore). The current exam-based system carried over from our colonial experience shows that this approach isn’t effective for the vast majority of our students. The Bahamas possesses the talent required — at UB, in the Ministry of Education, in our schools — to design and implement a system tailored to its needs as a nation that exists in the 21st Century.

In closing, this is a call for our national media to conduct systematic, in-depth research into and reporting about public education. While such investigative journalism is typically directed at unearthing secrets, the state of public education is not secret.

Nevertheless, it remains a mystery why successive administrations have not implemented meaningful reforms over the past 50 years since independence. It’s time to solve the mystery while, at the same time, providing readers with a starting point for a public discussion of future courses of action.

Whether or not we have children in the system of public education is immaterial. Public education is society’s responsibility. It is not solely the purview of politicians, the MOE bureaucracy and its teachers, parents and current students. Our nation’s future hinges on making it our collective duty.

A GIRL plays under a light projecting a rooster on the floor during nighttime activities in the Chacao neighbourhood of Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday.

Photo: Matias Delacroix/AP

Young woman hopes donations help her get life altering surgery

MOE HITS BACK AT UNION CLAIMS ON LANGUAGE BARRIERS OF CUBAN T E ACHERS

BY LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Education hit back at the Bahamas Union of Teachers yesterday in response to their concerns over Cuban teachers, saying it is confident that the new recruits are competent in English.

On Wednesday, BUT president Belinda Wilson told The Tribune that several teachers from Abaco, New Providence and Grand Bahama have been complaining that the new hires cannot speak English. She also called on the Ministry of Education to investigate the issue.

“The ministry notes the concerns expressed by Belinda Wilson, president of The Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) as it relates to Cuban teachers posted throughout the country in specialist areas,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday.

Bahamas Educators, Counsellors and Allied Workers Union (BECAWU).

“It was unfortunate that the BUT was unable to send a representative for the interview panel.”

The ministry added that the teachers were recruited as a result of a longstanding Memorandum of Understanding with the Cuban government, which allows the government “to meet deficits in specialised areas”.

“The panel was satisfied that the teachers are highly qualified and have competency in English. We are pleased that, this year, the ministry has been able to deploy technical and vocational teachers, allowing equitable access to these studies nationwide,” the ministry continued.

“The ministry has been able to bolster the complement of special education teachers who have also been deployed nationwide to ensure no child is left out.”

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

A 21-YEAR-OLD is seeking a life-changing operation, with aspirations to be a participant of life rather than the spectator that her medical condition makes her.

“I just want people to honestly take pity on me,” Keiranique Dorsett said yesterday.

“Put themselves in my shoes. To know what it is to just feel like you’re existing and not living. I want people to be able to offer any kind of help they could provide me.”

Ms Dorsett, affectionately called “Precious,” said that after spending most of her life in isolation and pain she longs for more.

Ms Dorsett is challenged with different medical conditions, including club finger, and also has a rare condition that has taken a significant toll on her life. Having been born with fibular hemimelia, Ms Dorsett was born without fibular bones.

As a result, she has no ligaments in her left leg, which contributes to her left knee dislocating inadvertently.

Ms Dorsett has limited mobility, as she is unable to stand, walk, or do basic life chores for extended periods of time without experiencing pain due to her condition.

This harsh reality continues to negatively affect her life as she continuously suffers from depression and anxiety.

“When I was a kid, it didn’t really bother me as much, but as I get older and seeing people that I grew up with, seeing my peers go to parties, doing just the

basic stuff that I can’t do, it kind of affects me mentally.

“Because it’s like I feel like I’m missing out on so many stuffs because of my condition,” she told The Tribune yesterday.

“It doesn’t feel good to be an adult and be so codependent on other people. Sometimes I still feel like I’m a child, and I’m not.”

Having exhausted all avenues locally, Ms Dorsett has sought assistance abroad. In recent weeks Ms Dorsett was given another chance of hope after visiting Paley Orthopaedic and Spine Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The surgery is estimated to cost $210k.

Having recently lost her father, Ms Dorsett said she is solely dependent on her mother to provide financial assistance, hence the reason she is seeking the public’s assistance.

“So, I started my GoFundMe about two weeks now, and I’m a bit sad that it isn’t progressing as I thought it would.

“But I know that my goal is a huge goal and I know some people don’t have that kind of money, but I would just encourage people to donate anything they can.

“$1, $2, I don’t care what it is, anything that can get me closer to my goal would be very helpful.”

Despite her adversities, Ms Dorsett is determined to fulfill her dream, which served as a sense of relief through her darkest hour.

“My greatest dream is to be a filmmaker and a writer.

“Because of my condition I couldn’t go out like a normal teen so I spent a lot of time in the house and it was really difficult for me.

“So, to escape, all of the depression, all the pain and

stuff, I started to watch a lot of television and I just fell in love with writing, storytelling, filmmaking, all of that.”

If

“The group of education professionals were recruited as a result of a scrutiny process which involved seasoned public servants from the Public Service Commission, Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training and representatives of the

“We are confident based on previous years and in light of the enhanced student access, and with the collaboration of all stakeholders, including the BUT that these teachers will play an invaluable role alongside all of our other teachers in the educational well being of our nation’s children.”

KEIRANIQUE Dorsett was born without fibular bones (as seen in the x-ray above) and orher conditions that

severely impacted her life. She is hoping to raise enough funds through a GoFundMe to have surgery that would help her live a more normal life.

HAVING fibular hemimelia has limited Ms Dorsett’s mobility and she is unable to do things many other young adults are able to do with ease.

B-25 ditched in the sea two miles north of Tarpum Bay

JUST before noon on Tuesday, June 6, 1944, the operational record book of base OTU 111 records that “B-25 FW-154 FR was airborne at 11.16am upon A/S [anti-submarine] patrol No 2. No W/T [radio] contact was made with this aircraft after 11.50am, when a long dash [Mayday] was received. At 1.50pm, a signal was received from the pilot, via government channels, that the aircraft had ditched in the sea two miles north of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, at 11.48 am.

The aircraft still had the RGs aboard [bombs] but these were first “safe”. The crew were uninjured

By Eric Wiberg

except the [wireless] operator who had facial injuries. The ASR [rescue] launch HMS P-712 was dispatched from Harbour Island and arrived at Rock Sound, Tarpum Bay, at 6.39 pm. Goose GB [Grumman amphibian aircraft] was airborne at 2.43pm with the Chief Ground Instructor,

Medical Officer and Staff for the scene of the ditching. The aircraft returned to base and landed at 8.40pm, with the pilot of the ditched aircraft. The remainder of the crew were brought to Nassau in P-712, which berthed at the Prince George Dock at .05 am on the 7th.”

The B-25 Mitchell bomber was a workhorse of Operational Training Unit 111, the RAF base at Oakes Field Nassau from 1942 to 1946. The 68-foot wide, 53-foot long aircraft was sent on thousands of missions, often several a day and night. Powered by two radial engines of 1,700 horsepower each. Armed with machine guns, torpedoes, rockets and bombs, it could achieve 272 miles per hour. The B-25 Mitchell was named for a pioneer in US aviation and known to the RAF as FW-154, with the tail number FR. It was one of fewer than 500 type B-25-D 30s built in Kansas City in 1942.

This plane began service in the Bahamas on December 2, 1943, and reported sighting a German U-boat on January 31, 1944. On 26 May she completed calibration exercises. Typically manned by a pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, navigator/ radio operator, and gunner, in June of 1944 she was on her final certification flight before the four crew would be approved for combat in Europe or the Pacific. Less than eight months before another B-25 out of Nassau had crash-dived at Bannerman Town, southern Eleuthera.

Prior to the crash on 6 June 1944, FW-154 FR was only airborne 32 minutes, from 1116 to 11.48am. When the pilot of this aircraft realised that they would have to land on the ocean, he ditched the depth charges, which were set to “live”. The crew appear to have extricated themselves, including the radioman who was probably blinded by his injuries, from the craft end made their way ashore using the auto-inflate emergency rafts, perhaps with some assistance from nearby fishermen. That day signals were sent from the United States military to the effect that “No serious injuries to the crew were reported, and rescue operations are being conducted at the Nassau station of the

RAF”. Later they added “Salvage operations being conducted.” The latitude and longitude given for “Tarpen Bay” was to the northeast, and on land.

In any event the plane slipped 24 feet beneath the surface of the clear waters and out of consciousness of any except fishermen who liked to hand-line for the fish aggregating there and crawfish which sought shelter under the fuselage. Since the four survivors of the plane plus rescuing crash boat crews and senior leaders from Nassau were all able to observe the plane in the water and calculate its relative distance to shore, this seemed a very findable wreck. Except that the waters in the area are murky, particularly after storms, and the waters can be so choppy that many fishermen simply pull their boats out rather than moor them. The fact that all crew survived further suggests that the plane did not break up on impact. Finding the plane seemed as simple as going to Tarpum Bay, inquiring after fishermen, and engaging one of them to take me to the site, where I would put on a mask and fins and – pesto!

– find myself atop another World War II bomber. Would that the world operated so smoothly.

I did make my way back to Tarpum Bay in 2023 but our boat was too deep, the weather too bad, and we had to rely on interviews with well-respected fishermen and community leaders, including Captain John McCarthy, known by his boat name Big Mac, Captain Andrew Hunt, and Captain Sanjay Sawyer, all fishermen based in Tarpum Bay, a lovely community of

roughly 750 persons nestled on the leeward, or “Caribbean” side of Eleuthera between Rock Sound and Windemere Island. A member of the town committee, Lawrence Carey was instrumental in introducing our three-man crew to the right people, and others, including Cleveland Knowles, bus fleet owner Ken Deveaux, former policeman Mr Pinder in Hatchet Bay who rented us a car, and another fisherman named Tobias Carey facilitated helpful introductions. Given the inclement weather the fishermen were not afloat, so we were able to confirm from several of them that they had been eye-witness to the aircraft on the sea floor, had fished and dived it over the years, and that remnants of it were still there. Big Mac – an immensely tall and friendly man – promised he would take his daughter fishing there again and tell us where it was. We in turn promised to hire him to take us there when we returned in better weather. We needed to know there is indeed a plane there and, short of actually touching it, through the proxy of wellreputed mariners, we know that it is. I asked folks who run a dive shop nearby, but trying to run their business without electricity was proving a more immediate focus of their energies! I only asked that if and as persons rediscover the aircraft, nothing be taken, for the sake of future visitors. This approach seems a winwin one, as ideally visitors would be willing to pay to see such an unusual sight as a World War II bomber in translucent shallow waters near a picturesque town.

PUBLIC fishing pier in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera on the western (leeward) side.

A B-25 FW-154 FR on submarine patrol had to ditch the aircraft in waters just two miles offshor from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera.

It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere

A tribute to the life and lyrics of Jimmy Buffett

WHEN Jimmy Buffett died last week, tributes poured in from around the globe for the legendary singer, songwriter, performer who flipped a tune called Cheeseburger in Paradise into a feelgood movement we could all digest with a smile.

What was it about this man who turned lyrics and lifestyle into an empire but never lost touch with who he was - a regular guy with a guitar, a mischievous grin on his face, and a song about paradise on his lips? He took the mid-road in music and rode it to the highest of highs, not interested in bellowing lofty lines about reaching the mountaintop nor wallowing in a weepy love-gone-wrong song, but strumming a happy-go-lucky, catchy melody with lyrics that invited you to ride along with him. Come with me to paradise, he said, join me in the chorus romp wasting away in Margaritaville. ‘Nibblin’ on sponge cake, Watchin’ the sun bake, All of you Parrotheads covered with oil… Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville, Searchin’ for my long lost shaker of salt… Salt, salt, salt. Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame, And I know this is somebody’s fault.’

You can see the crowd swaying, arms waving high on a day filled with sunshine. You can hear its collective voice in repeated call for salt, salt, salt and growing louder in the grand finale of Wastin’ away in Margaritaville.

Just thinking about it makes you feel like you are on vacation.

We needed what Jimmy Buffett was selling, a free pass to let our hair down, to have outright fun, no guilt attached. So what if it was midday – Jimmy Buffett told us it was 5 o’clock somewhere. So what if it was snowing outside, the sun was always shining in Margaritaville. Buffett took the concept of living in the moment and built a brand, a dynasty of hotels, restaurants, stores, drinks, logo products. He opened his first store in Key West in 1985, no doubt trading the ribbon-cutting for a rousing cheer and toast, raising a glass to the fun in the sun symbolism he represented. By the time he died on September 1 at age 76, he was a billionaire and his 100 restaurants and other businesses grossed $2.2 billion the previous year. And still he remained a guy in a flowered shirt and Bermuda shorts, though his house in Sag Harbor was a little grander than his first cottage in Key West and his yacht was a little finer than the sailboat he skippered in The Bahamas and Caribbean.

In July, two months before he died, he surprised concertgoers in Rhode Island, showing up, asking the proprietor of Sunset Cove if he could get up on stage and join the band. That 45-minute unscheduled appearance that took fans by storm would be the last from the man who brought us stories in song, Son of a Son of a Sailor, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, Jamaica Mistaica, Last Mango in Paris, and my favourite One Particular Harbor. What many did not realise until his death was how many songs Buffett wrote for other artists – Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season for Kenny Chesney, Barmageddon for Blake Shelton, music for Martina McBride.

When he climbed up on that stage in Rhode Island, no one knew it would be his final performance. Buffett had been quietly battling a rare skin cancer called Merkel-cell carcinoma for four years.

For 40 years, Jimmy Buffett made it okay for guys to dress like they were on permanent vacation, flowered shirts and colourful shorts, even though some who followed his lead would have been better not. That was a key to his charm – he made it okay to bend the rules and enjoy life so long as you did not hurt another being while

By Diane Phillips

you did what made you feel like all is good with this upbeat, hair down world. His connection with The Bahamas runs deep. From sailing in the 1980s to staging a play at the Atlantis Theatre in the late 1990s, Buffett was a regular. The play was based on Herman Wouk’s novel, Don’t Stop the Carnival. Oddly enough, the story

in a way few celebrities who are exceptionally good at their trade do. He connected in a way that said come join the party, you’ll feel better the minute you do.

He was like an aphrodisiac for the carefree sunset and a Cheeseburger in Paradise.

We saw him as a singer, sailor, father, lover of life. He brought the sunshine with

him and when he passed, he took a little piece of it along, warming him wherever he is, leaving us colder, less likely to feel it’s okay to be wastin’ away in Margaritaville.

SAILING AWAY WITH

JIMMY

A personal encounter (though not mine) from a few thousand feet in the air.

Hey, Lar, Jimmy Buffett here,” he says, earplugs in, calling, rather shouting, from his famed Grumman Albatross seaplane he’s piloting, heading to The Bahamas. “I’m comin’ in and I really need you to fix that sail for me today, buddy, if you can…”

He’s referring to a

mainsail for the boat he sailed with his daughter, Savannah Jane, that inspired the book The Jolly Man. The man he called ‘Lar’ was, is, Larry Phillips, sailmaker, who had told Buffett’s representative a little while earlier he couldn’t get to sail repair until the next day. He had others promised ahead of him. Larry is anything but a celebrity worshipper, though he is a fan of Jimmy Buffett’s branded lifestyle. Buffett needed the sail the same day. “Oops,” says the voice from the plane again, “I forgot something at West Marine. Turning back to Miami, get to you in an hour and a half.”

Buffett turned the plane around, picked up what he needed in Florida and flew right back to Nassau as promised. The sail was repaired, the singer, songwriter, author, son of the sun and the sea, paid with a personal check with his Key West home address printed on it. It was the kind of personal interaction that made Jimmy Buffett feel so approachable because he actually was.

It was only a few bucks but from one sailor to another, it was a sign of trust, that tomorrow will be a good day with a stiff wind at our backs and Jimmy Buffett will be spending it sailing in The Bahamas.

line takes Buffett’s portrayal of paradise in a different direction – a middle aged man, sick of the rat race, takes his life savings and buys a little resort on a tiny island just off the coast of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. While he escapes the treadmill of his former life, and for a short while feels like he has truly landed in a place of peace, it is not long before he runs head-on into a new kind of stress, trying to keep a resort going when equipment breaks down, parts can’t be found to repair it, a staff member is out, the icemaker decides to stop making ice. The book was based on the real-life story of a friend of mine, a colleague I worked with years later at a tabloid, who never knew that the world-famous author was observing him, writing the book about him as he stayed at the property for months, until after Don’t Stop the Carnival was published.

Of Buffett’s many successes, the play was not one of them. Though well done, the play did not do well at Atlantis. According to a former top executive, the woman who was responsible for so many successful events at the megaresort on Paradise Island including the incredible grand opening, there was a lot of competition – dining options, casino, bars, music – that made it the thought of sitting in a theatre less appealing especially after a long day in the sun and when you had to pay for your seat while music throughout the venue was there for your pleasure. The play also had a short stint in Miami.

Despite a few setbacks, enough of Buffett’s enterprises succeeded in securing a demand for the brand that symbolised good times and excesses in indulgence.

In 2015, he personally opened the Margaritaville restaurant next to Hurricane Hole Marina on Paradise Island where Junkanoo will start again next month on Friday nights and DJ Smiles is set to rock on Saturdays. Jimmy Buffett connected

Caribbean Week of Agriculture coming to Bahamas in October

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Agriculture yesterday launched the 17th Caribbean Week of Agriculture for the first time in The Bahamas to be held from October 9-13 to showcase the achievements and challenges in the agricultural sector.

The Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) will be held at Breezes resort under the theme Accelerating Vision 25 by 2025. The week-long conclave will feature 40 technical sessions on animal and plant health, food safety,

fisheries, research, innovation, digitalization, youth and women, climate change and trade facilitation.

The conclave will also include a Special Meeting of the Council of Trade and Economic Development (Agriculture) for Ministers to address major policy issues, such as increasing agricultural production and trade, agricultural health and food safety. A Youth Farmer of the Year and a Farmer of the Year also will be awarded at the conclave.

Outgoing Agriculture and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting

said: “Collectively, our vision for 2025 is ambitious, but achievable. We aim to enhance food security, promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the agriculture sector, and foster innovation and technology adoption.

“The overarching objective will require collaborative efforts from farmers and producers, policy makers, stakeholders, researchers, entrepreneurs and civil society to not only address the challenges, but to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

“Throughout this week,

FOR A BACO MAN WANTED FOR SEX CRIME

ABACO police are searching for a man wanted for questioning in an unlawful sexual intercourse investigation.

Steven Seya, 21, of Hope Town, Abaco, is about 5ft 7in, of medium build and a dark-brown complexion.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A teenager, who admitted to a drug offence, was fined $2,000 yesterday.

Magistrate Raquel Whyms charged Ricardo Sifort, 19, with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

Sifort was arrested in New Providence after police found him with 14 grams of marijuana.

The accused has a prior drug offence from last May when he was placed

on six months probation.

After pleading guilty to his most recent offence, Sifort was ordered to pay a fine of $2,000 or risk three months in prison. The defendant is also expected to attend six months of drug counseling or risk two months in prison.

Meanwhile, a woman was granted a conditional discharge after she admitted to a separate drug offence.

Magistrate Shaka Serville charged Terrana Pyfrom, 43, with possession of dangerous drugs.

Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts is asked to contact the Marsh Harbour Police Station at 367-2900 or 367-2560, CID (NP) at 502-9992, CID in Grand Bahama at 350-3106.

we have the privilege of hosting experts and stakeholders from across the region who have dedicated their lives to advancing our agricultural systems.

“Their expertise, knowledge and experience will fuel meaningful discussions and enable us to develop innovative solutions to our shared challenges. Their contributions will inspire us and guide our actions as we work together towards achieving Vision 2025,” Mr Sweeting said.

Registration to be a vendor or participant for the conclave’s trade show can be done at www. cwa2023.caricom.org.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on bail for murder was sentenced to a year in prison after he admitted to consistently failing to charge his monitoring device.

Senior magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans charged Keno Stubbs, 22, with ten

counts of violation of bail conditions.

Stubbs was on release for a pending murder charge before the Supreme Court in the fatal shooting of Timothy Saunders as he worked at Rubis Service Station on Mackey and Madeira Streets on May 2, 2022.

programme after he was sentenced to 18 months in jail for a triple manslaughter conviction in 2016. Stubbs failed to charge his court ordered monitoring device 10 times between March 20 and April 16. After pleading guilty to the charges, Stubbs was sentenced to a year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Pyfrom was arrested in New Providence after police found her with 2 grams of marijuana on June 25.

Following her guilty plea to the offence, Pyfrom was told that she is expected to attend drug counseling as a term of her discharge. She was also placed on a six-month probation period for which defaulting would carry a $250 fine or one month in prison.

Pyfrom is to return to court for a report on September 25.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was behind bars yesterday after he was accused of a failed armed robbery using a fake handgun earlier this week.

Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, charged Villy

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to stealing a $40,000 21ft boat last weekend.

Senior Magistrate

Christian, 32, with attempted armed robbery and possession of an imitation firearm to commit an indictable offence.

Christian allegedly attempted to rob Kadejah Taylor with an imitation black Smith and Wesson pistol on September 3 in New Providence on August 17. The accused was

Carolyn Vogt-Evans charged Craig Clarke, 38, and Tiano Rolle, 29, with stealing.

Clarke was accused of stealing a 21ft Boston Whaler belonging to Alistair Chisnall while it was docked in New Providence between September

informed that his charge would be moved to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He will be sent to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services unless, or until, the higher court grants him bail. Christian’s VBI is set for service on November 7.

M AN REMANDED FOR FAILED ARMED ROBBERY CHARGE SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS PRISON FOR BOAT THEFT

2 and 3. Clarke pleaded guilty to the offence while his coaccused pleaded not guilty. The charges against Rolle were withdrawn. Clarke was sentenced to serve 18 months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

OUTGOING Agriculture and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting yesterday launched the 17th Caribbean Week of Agriculture to be held for the first time in The Bahamas from October 9-13

Photo: Moise Amisial

ONE YEAR PRISON FOR FAILURE TO CHARGE MONITOR

ROTARY CLUB OF EAST NASSAU

THE Rotary Club of East Nassau (RCEN) hosted members of the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs in August when they were in Nassau to thank past presidents Taran Mackey and Franny De Cardenas for the generous donation to their club after Hurricane Ian’s passage last year.

The whirlwind visit started with the Rotarians joining the weekly meeting of RCEN on Friday, followed by helping set up for the Special Olympics fundraising steak out at Stapledon School on Dolphin Drive. This was followed by the planting of a Yellow Elder and Lignum Vitae at the Retreat Gardens, on Village Road. This was done in celebration of RCEN’s 60 years of existence. The club’s goal is to plant 60 trees on New Providence during its sixth anniversary year. The group then stayed on to enjoy the natural beauty of the Retreat and fellowship with the Rotary Club of Southeast Nassau who were hosting a fundraiser at the gardens.

ZONTA CLUB OF NASSAU

DURING the ZCN July meeting held August 3 at Ichiban Restaurant, Therena Cunningham, founder of STRAW Inc, and Erin Brown, of Erin Brown Connects, were the club’s special guests. The members were enlightened on the programs of the organizations. President Sonia presented both women with a donation to support the work of their organisations which seeks to empower and support young girls and provide access for people with disabilities respectively.

On Saturday, August 19, members of the Zonta Club of Nassau visited

JOIN THE CLUB

OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers.

To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line.

For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 826-2242.

the Ranfurly Home for Children. The event was an exciting and memorable time for Zontians as we played games with the children and shared a meal.

We presented administrator Ingrid Deveaux with 80 gift certificates and care packages courtesy of the membership.

On Saturday, August 26, members of the Zonta Club of Nassau gathered at Super Value, Winton Meadows, to raise funds and collect school supplies, food items and personal care products in aid of the students of PACE and The Bahamas AIDS Foundation during the Annual Back To School Drive. It was a tremendous success.

Thank you to the general public, our friends, donors and supporters.

On Tuesday, August 29, president Sonia Brown and director Michelle Forbes (ZCN) presented school supplies, food, cash donations and personal care items to Dr Mildred Hall-Watson (PACE Foundation) and Ms. Patrice Miller, Principal PACE School and Camille Lady Barnett, AIDS Foundation.

MEMBERS of the Rotary Clubs of East Nassau and Bonita Springs, Florida, join Special Olympics committee to set up for their fundraiser in August.

BONITA Springs and East Nassau Rotary Clubs commemorate RCEN’s 60th Anniversary by planting a a Lignum Vitae shrub at the Retreat.

YELLOW ELDER, the national flower of The Bahamas, was also planted at the Retreat Gardens.

ZONTA Club of Nassau president Sonia presenting donations to Therena Cunningham, top, and Erin Brown.

DONATIONS being presented by Zonta to the Ranfurly Home for Children.

UNIVERSITY OF THE BAHAMAS HAS FOUR PLAYERS ON NATIONAL TEAM

THE University of The Bahamas will have four players on the Bahamas national soccer team for upcoming CONCACAF Nations Leagues matches against Puerto Rico and Guyana.

Striker Wood Julmis, midfielders Nathan Wells and Junior Kelly, along with goalkeeper Antonio Beckford, have been named to the national team for the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Nations League twomatch series.

UB men’s soccer head coach Alex Thompson said the four players being called up to represent the country speaks volumes about the programme at the University of The Bahamas and the work each player has put in to improving their game.

Wells is representing The Bahamas for the first time and is expected to make his presence known. Thompson said Wells is hoping to make his first international start during this series. “He has come a long way from being a prodigious young player three to four years ago to one of the top midfielders in the country.”

Wells said he’s excited to be representing The Bahamas. “This is all my work coming to fruition and it gives me incentive to keep going,” he said.

“It is a really big thing to represent the country.”

Julmis’ scoring prowess is well known but he’s been hampered by a recent injury. “I think he can overcome that injury and should be a focal point for the team,” Thompson said.

Thompson said he’s incredibly impressed with Kelly’s improvement. “Kelly has worked harder than almost anyone in the squad this year and has completely transformed his body,” he said. “As he continues to mature, I believe he can be a national starter.”

As for Beckford, who

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Team Bahamas in ‘tip top shape’ for Nations League

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER months of preparation, assistant coach Kevin Davies said the Bahamas Football Association men’s national soccer team is ready to compete in the CONCACAF Nations League.

The team, according to BFA’s technical director Bruce Swan, will play their first of six matches in League B and Group D on Saturday at 6pm at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium against Puerto Rico in the first of their two games in September.

The team will travel on Saturday to face Guyana on Tuesday before they take a break and play Antigua in October and in November host Guyana before wrapping up the series in Puerto Rico in the return leg.

Davies, who will assist head coach Nesley Jean, said the team has been preparing for the past few months and the guys have been working very hard, putting in a lot of work.

“I’ve seen a lot of improvement between the start of training to now,” said Davies, who noted that all of the players are in tip top shape. “At this moment, we’re

now putting in the final touches on the team getting ready for our first match on Saturday.” While most of the players had the opportunity to work together over the summer, this will be their first game playing together as a team and Davies said it’s important to get a jump start in the tournament, especially with home advantage.

Varel Davis returns as GSSSA president for a fifth term

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The members of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) once again displayed their confidence in Varel Davis after re-electing her as president for the fifth consecutive term.

The GSSSA president came away with a confident 14-1 victory over CV Bethel Stingrays girls coach Shantelle Rolle at Thursday’s election of officers. She will now serve as

president for the next two years alongside her executive which features some new members.

Davis said being voted in as president for a fifth consecutive term felt great. “It really feels good to get another victory,” he said. “I am very excited to be back once again as president, we have a lot of things planned this is our 30th year. I am just happy that I have some persons around me that want to be a part and want us to continue with the work that we set forth.”

With the GSSSA celebrating three decades in existence this sporting year, the members have some new initiatives planned. The team intends to host a banquet to honour retirees that served in the GSSSA for many years as teachers or coaches. Also, they are aiming to bring back cheerleading this season. Davis shared some of the goals they hope to accomplish over the next two years.

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“It’s important to start off any type of tournament fast, so a good showing this week will definitely put us in a good position moving forward,” he said. “Not to say that you start off good, you can relax, but it puts you in a good position moving forward.”

Team Bahamas is consisting of Cameron Pratt, Vance Wheaton,

Antonio Beckford, Quinton Carey, Walter Sawyer, William Bayles, William Gardiner, William Evans, Alexiou Cartwright, Jaxon Bethel, Lesly St Fleur, Phieron Wilson, Christopher Rahming, Brandon Adderley, Nathan Neymour, Wood Julmis, Michael Masset, Nahum Johnson, Ricardo McPhee, Junior Kelly, Nathan Wells, Rashaan Bain and Miguel Thompson.

St Fleur, one of the veterans on the team, said they are well prepared for the game and, with the mixture of youth and experience, they should put up a very good performance.

“It’s challenging as one of the older players on the team,” he said. “I bring my knowledge and experience to the team to keep them together and we go from there.”

While this is his first time playing against Puerto Rico, St Fleur said they hope they can avenge their 6-0 loss as they put up a fight to become victorious.

And Wilson, a former junior team player, said since joining the men’s team in March, he’s been pleased to see how they have been able to deal with their recovery and nutrition for the long haul of the three months of training and travel.

“We’re looking forward to the

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Natural supplements in sports nutrition: Elevating athletic performance

A growing trend in the realm of sports nutrition involves the use of natural supplements to boost athletic prowess naturally. In this article, we’ll explore the world of natural supplements, their potential benefits, and considerations for athletes aiming to optimize their performance the healthy way.

Understanding Natural Supplements

Natural supplements encompass a broad spectrum of substances derived from nature. These can include vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, and more. Unlike synthetic counterparts, natural supplements are sourced from real foods and plants, aligning with a holistic approach to nutrition.

The Benefits of Natural Supplements

1. Enhanced Recovery: Natural supplements like tart cherry extract and curcumin have demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, aiding in postworkout recovery. Reduced inflammation means less downtime between intense training sessions.

Improved Endurance: Some supplements, such as beetroot juice and cordyceps mushrooms, have shown potential in boosting endurance and oxygen utilisation, crucial for endurance athletes.

3. Joint Health: Ingredients like collagen and glucosamine can support joint health, essential for athletes susceptible to wear

and tear.

4. Mental Clarity: Natural supplements like omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, are known to support cognitive function, helping athletes stay sharp during competition.

The Importance of Quality and Safety

While natural supplements offer potential benefits, athletes must exercise caution. Not all supplements are created equal, and quality varies significantly among brands. Not only that, for many compounds, what is called the “therapeutic dosage”, meaning the daily amount necessary to most safely and effectively treat disease, is not known. Therefore manufacturers do not hold any liability for any adverse effects or reactions. Lastly, many products that are banned either during competition or at any time by the World Anti-Doping Agency. It’s vital to research thoroughly, consult with a sports nutrition specialist, and choose supplements certified for quality and safety.

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BAHAMAS team and delegates, from left to right are: Phieron Wilson, Carl Lynch, Dion Peterson, Kelsie Johnson-Sills, Kevin Davies, Lesly St Fleur.

ASSISTANT coach Kevin Davies.

VAREL Davis and her executive team will carry out duties for the next two years for the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA).

FROM

“We want to continue on with getting our kids more involved and I really want to see our coaches getting our kids off to school,” she said.

She added that the aim is also to bring the students together and make this year’s GSSSA track and field championships one of the biggest for the 30th anniversary.

Additionally, she wants to award students for their sporting success with rings if the budget allows that to happen.

Another one of the GSSSA president’s goals is to integrate golf and sloop sailing into the schools’ sporting disciplines.

Davis’ executive team for the next two years will include Kendal Campbell (first vice president), newcomer Thurman Johnson (second vice president), Keesha PrattJohnson (secretary), Fiona Tucker (assistant secretary), Neketa SearsKnowles (treasurer), and newcomer Tyrice Curry-Davis (assistant treasurer).

After receiving an overwhelming show of support from GSSSA members, the CH Reeves physical education teacher was grateful that her efforts as president did not go unnoticed.

“They support me and what my plans are and what I try to accomplish, so I am very grateful to all that supported me once again. They know that this job is a lot of work and they know that I put my all in what I do, so I guess that’s why they support me every time that I run,” she said.

She offered special thanks to Minister of Education Glenys Hanna Martin, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture (MOYSC) Mario Bowleg, Virginia Romer, president of the New Providence Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools, and parents for their continued support on her journey as president.

NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS IN SPORTS NUTRITION

FROM PAGE 12

The Role of a Sports Nutrition Specialist

Sports nutrition is a nuanced field and personalised guidance is invaluable. A qualified sports nutrition specialist can assess an athlete’s unique needs, tailor supplement recommendations, and monitor their impact on performance and overall health.

Conclusion Natural supplements can be a valuable addition to an athlete’s nutrition regimen, providing a natural and safe way to enhance performance. However, their use should be approached with careful consideration and expert guidance. As athletes strive for excellence, the incorporation of natural supplements, in conjunction with a wellbalanced diet, can help them achieve their athletic goals naturally and sustainably.

Dr. Kent Bazard, is a Bahamian Sports Medicine Physician, Sports Performance Coach Sports Nutrition Specialist, and Founder of Empire Sports Medicine. Our mission is to empower athletes to reach new heights while safeguarding their health and well-being. We understand the unique demands of sports activities, and we are dedicated to helping athletes prevent injuries, overcome challenges, optimise nutrition and performance.

Tarran Knowles captures Pro League cards in two organisations

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

GETTING in to the gym to develop more mass as a football player has earned big dividends for Tarran Knowles, who now has the distinction of being one of two Bahamians to hold pro cards in bodybuilding in two organisations.

Tired of being knocked around as a small fullback for the Jets in the Commonwealth American Football League, Knowles ventured into the gym to train.

The Infrastructure Support Analyst at the Royal Bank of Canada was then encouraged to get into one of the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s bodybuilding shows.

“Me being the arrogant person that I was at the time, it was like the kid in me that took it to heart,” said Knowles about making the transition. “I decided to put in the work.”

His debut was in 2014 at the National Performance Arts Center, where he placed last in his category. Undeterred, he wowed to everybody that he would be back.

A year later, after putting more time and energy into his preparation, Knowles began to see his improvement on stage, and it was in 2016 that he won his category, and then made the commitment to go for his pro card.

“At that time, the opportunities became more available to venture out onto the international platform,” said Knowles, who also went on to achieve his certification as an ISSA Personal Trainer and Nutritionist and Exercise Therapy.

“I would encourage anybody who has the means and the urge to compete in bodybuilding to not just leave it to compete locally.”

In 2019 in Montreal, Canada, Knowles made his international breakthrough, earning his Pro Elite card. That inspired him to continue to pursue the sport and, last month, he captured Pro League cards in two organisations.

“I made this venture personally. I didn’t share any information or tell anybody what I was doing,” said Knowles, of what he called the best kept secret. “Nobody knew what I was doing until last week when I was going into the competition.

“I didn’t want to share any information because the little that they knew, the less they could interfere with your plans.”

Knowles travelled to Tampa, Florida where he captured the overall title and because of the feedback from the judges, who encouraged him to take it further, he entered the Pro League show in Pittsburgh, where he reigned supreme in two of the three categories he entered in.

“I was grateful that I got the pro cards considering that I can advance to the Pro League side of the competition and leave the Pro Elite side,” he said. “I went pro physique twice, which I think on record

in the Bahamas, has never been done.”

As a certified personal trainer, Knowles said he wanted to find a gym that would be suitable for him to operate with his TKTHABRAND training programme and Empire fitness Center turned out to be the ideal place.

“Dr Kent Bazard welcomed me with open arms,” Knowles said. “The atmosphere here is cool, there’s no micromanagement and you tend to do what you have to do. It allows my brand to live. That is what I want.”

Bazard said he’s proud to be able to have Knowles associated with his Empire Fitness Center, located in the Sea Grape Shopping Center.

“This gym has always been home to great bodybuilders such as Joel Stubbs back in the mid 90s when we first opened,” Bazard said. “So, we’ve always had great bodybuilders here and Tarran is just carrying on the tradition.”

Based on what he saw from the competition, Bazard said he was impressed with Knowles’ presentation. He noted that it will only serve as an inspiration for those who are watching him train in the gym.

“We have two more professional bodybuilders who work out in this gym, and we have a few more aspiring professionals, including females, who work out here,” he stated.

“But the sport in general is one that we have not really tapped into and there is a lot of potential for it.

“We have a lot of talented athletes who do a lot of work, and they perform very well. So, it’s great to see competitors like Tarran earning a living from what he loves doing. We are just happy to help facilitate that for him at Empire Fitness Center.”

After earning his first pro card at the age of 37, Knowles said he felt that he was nearing the end of his career as a bodybuilder. But now at the age of 40, he’s even more inspired to go on.

“The competition is going to be stiff going into the Pro League, so I want to make sure that I am ready,” he insisted.

“I want to make a name for myself and the Bahamas.

“I know there are people who are competing for the Bahamas now, but I don’t just want to say I am going to compete.

“I want to go and compete to win. So, taking eight months to a year off will allow me to see if I can hold some mass before I get too old.”

Knowles is currently trained by Loleta Riley and Chris Gullerrez, who are based in Pembroke Pines, Florida. They work hand in hand to get the job done online, but Knowles said through his own knowledge of the sport as a physical fitness instructor, he’s able to concentrate on the development of his body.

Prior to working with

“But it’s always good to be grounded and humble in this sport.

“One day you could be on top and the next day you could be down. I try my best to be out of everybody’s way, but I try my best to encourage everybody who I come in contact with because I don’t want them to feel like I can’t be approachable.”

Knowles said he felt the whole sport, including the federation, missed the bar when the world went through the COVID-19 pandemic in trying to educate the people on how to stay fit and balancing their nutrition.

“COVID wasn’t about the sickness. It was about getting better and that was what I focused on and that is why I was able to accomplish what I did once we came through it,” Knowles proclaimed.

Although it’s considered an expensive sport, Knowles said if one markets himself properly, he can get the support from the general public. He noted that he compiled his profile, and he provided an expensive report for persons to assist him, especially when he got turned down from one corporate sponsor after another.

He thanked the federation for allowing him to receive the financial stipend from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, which has enabled him to get through some of the emotional, physical and financial roadblocks that he’s encountered in the past.

“God is very important. Without him, none of this was possible,” Knowles stressed. “I am not telling people that they need to go to Church, but I encourage them to have a personal relationship with God or whoever you feel is that significant person to give you the strength.

“I want to thank my mom, Kim Morley, who is a big supporter. She cries more than I do.

“You will need people like that to help you especially when things may not be going as you expected.”

UNIVERSITY OF THE BAHAMAS

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only recently started playing soccer, Thompson pointed out his work ethic and desire to be the best player he can be. “One year ago, he had played a year of high school soccer,” he said. “And now after missing maybe 0.5% of training sessions and being an absolute sponge, he is making a national team. That’s both crazy and amazing at the same time.” Beckford agrees. “For me it’s just amazing to be able to be out there and practicing and learning everything from the other players,” he said. “There are a lot of veteran goalkeepers and goalkeeper coaches out there who are helping me a lot.” The Bahamas plays Puerto Rico at 6pm Saturday at The Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium and then takes on Guyana at 6pm on Wednesday, September 12 in Lenora, Guyana.

“This lifestyle, once you get involved in it, becomes a passion,” Knowles pointed out. “You always want to elevate yourself and challenge yourself. It’s hard to separate that life especially when you are in that environment when you are helping me to transform their lives.

“You always want to go back to yourself and be an example. I had the people behind me. When you are looking to do things, when you have a circle of people who can help you, you can’t fall. This has been a great year for me, and I intend to make my pro debut and see how far I can go with it.”

While he continues to promote his training programme, Knowles said he will take the rest of the year off to spend some time with his family and friends and prepare for his pro debut next year,

the pair, Knowles credits Natasha Brown, the first Bahamian female fitness pro competitor, for the role she played in his genesis to the sport. He was also mentored by Kenny Mackey and Joel Stubbs, the federation’s first vice president and president respectively. Stubbs was also a former pro bodybuilder, who was lauded as having the biggest back in the world.

As a trendsetter with his dual pro cards, Knowles said he will encourage anybody who wants to venture into the sport to establish a protocol for themselves and not to get lost into just having fun, but something that you have to maintain for the rest of your life.

“I speak to as many of the competitors that I can and of course a lot of them are doing very well,” Knowles pointed out.

Since earning his pro cards, Knowles admitted that it hasn’t sunk in yet for him.

“It’s humbling. I didn’t announce that I was going to shows so people didn’t know what my plans were,” he said.

“In the past, I would have told everybody, but this time it worked out for me.

“I was silent, and I allowed my destiny to work out for me. I don’t like to dwell on the past.

“You would be surprised to know that I have a Rubbermaid container that I have placed all of my awards in.

“The only thing I have out is the paper pro card because I don’t want it to get mashed up.”

And after returning home, Knowles said he’s been shown a lot of love and appreciation. He said he knows he will encourage more people who may not like him to respect him and what he has accomplished.

Team Bahamas in ‘tip top shape’ for Nations League

FROM PAGE 12

games this weekend, playing Puerto Rico on Saturday and Guyana next Tuesday,” he said. “It’s going to be a good experience. The team is strong, it’s young and it’s healthy.

“We are looking forward to having a fantastic time and coming out with the victory.”

Since making his debut with the senior men’s national team, Wilson said he’s getting into real good soccer shape and with his teammates and he’s looking forward to putting on a show on Saturday.

Director of Sports Kelsie Johnson, who brought brief remarks on behalf of Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, congratulated the BFA on hosting such a timely sporting event when the focus is more on team sports.

“We want to encourage members of the public to come out on Saturday to cheer on the team,” said Johnson-Sills, who noted that the ministry will be present to lend their support to the BFA and the players.

“It’s a journey. Getting into the higher stage or the top tier of competition is not easy, but I congratulate all of the athletes who, when they step on the field, they wear the flag of the Bahamas on their chest, which makes them super athletes. So, congratulations once again.”

Also present were BFA’s vice president Dion Peterson and Deputy Secretary General Carl Lynch and Ballin’ By Da Beach Sports Management. Tickets for the game are available online – Bahamasfa.net – at or from the box office at the Andre Rodgers

Baseball Stadium. The prices are $35 for VIP with hors d’oeuvre, $20 for adults and $10 for children under the age of 13. While the Bahamas will travel to play Guyana, Puerto Rico will remain in the Bahamas and host Antigua at 7pm on Tuesday at the stadium in their second game of the Nations League.

The Nations League is a qualifier for the Gold Cup, but because there is no Gold Cup until next year, Swan said the Bahamas will have a chance to qualify for League A.

On September 20, the Bahamas women’s national team will host Grenada as they begin their quest for prominence on the international scene.

ANTONIO BECKFORD JUNIOR KELLY

NATHAN WELLS WOOD JULMIS

ABOVE: Tarran Knowles and Dr Kent Bazard.

RIGHT: Tarran Knowles working out.

LESLY St Fleur

IONESCU BREAKS SINGLE-SEASON 3-POINT RECORD AS LIBERTY WIN 8TH STRAIGHT, BEATING THE SPARKS 96-89

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP)

— Breanna Stewart scored 25 points and Sabrina Ionescu broke the single-season 3-point record to help New York beat the Los Angeles Sparks 96-89 on Thursday night, giving the Liberty eight straight wins. New York (32-7) moved a half-game behind Las Vegas for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The Liberty close out the season on Sunday at home against Washington. The Aces have a home-and-home series with Phoenix on Friday and Sunday.

Playoff

The loss put the Sparks (16-23) a halfgame behind Chicago for the final playoff spot. The Sky own the tiebreaker between the teams so Los Angeles would have to win at Seattle on Sunday and have Chicago lose its final two games.

Ionescu topped Diana Taurasi’s single-season 3-point mark and now has 124 this year. The Liberty’s star guard missed all eight of her shots in the first half, including six 3-pointers, before getting going in the second half. Ionescu made a 3 with 9:12 left in the third quarter to tie Taurasi’s mark of 121 made 3-pointers set in 2006. Ionescu then broke the 17-year old mark with a 3 that she banked in from the corner 2 minutes later.

Stefanie Dolson then got hot from behind the arc. New York trailed by 13 midway through the third quarter before she got going. Dolson, who finished with 17 points, hit five 3-pointers over a 5-minute stretch as the Liberty took their first lead since the opening period.

Her fourth and fifth 3-pointer sent the crowd into a frenzy and gave New York an 81-78 lead with 7:23 left in the game. That started a 17-4 run that put the game away. New York hit 17 of 34 from behind the arc in the game.

Layshia Clarendon scored 30 points to lead Los Angeles.

Lead

New York was up 21-14 in the first quarter before Los Angeles scored 12 straight, including the final nine of the opening period. The Sparks extended the lead to 14 in the second before Stewart got New York back within 50-43 at the half. She had 21 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Los Angeles has been decimated by injuries all season and Thursday night’s game was no different. Nneka Ogwumike (knee), Chiney Ogwumike (foot), Karlie Samuelson (abdomen), Lexie Brown (non-covid illness), Nia Clouden (knee) and Katie Lou Samuelson (maternity leave) were all out. That left Los Angeles with eight healthy players.

The Sparks haven’t had more than 11 players in any game this season and lead the league with 205 games lost to injury or illness.

SAC’s Big Red Machine expecting upcoming season to be a great one

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The St Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine continues to be a force to be reckoned within the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) sports and this season they are looking to continue their legacy.

The secondary high school accomplished many successes in the previous season, hoisting championship trophies in softball (junior girls), the cross country championships, the high school nationals, flag football, and at the BAISS track and field championships.

The Big Red Machine has dominated in sports for countless years

and expectations remain the same for the new sporting season. Jason Edwards, SAC head coach, said the school is expecting another great sporting year.

“For the Big Red Machine we expect the upcoming season to be another great one. We are going to do what we always do, work hard, stay committed, and try to motivate these kids and have them overcome certain things,” Edwards said.

With practices already underway for the various sporting disciplines including softball and track and field, the head coach believes that training will get hard but motivation and discipline are key for athletes.

For the 2023 graduate year, SAC saw up to 12 of their student athletes transition to the collegiate

level to continue their studies in the USA. Some of the top Class of 2023 graduates included Amari Pratt, Johnathon Fowler, Tumani Skinner, Ezthia Maycock, Clinton Laguerre, Alexis Brown Jr, Jadyn Demeritte and D’Angelo Collie.

According to Edwards, the secondary school’s ultimate goal is to develop students and create collegiate level student athletes.

“We want to create collegiate student athletes, when you come to SAC our goal is to get you to the next level and we believe winning is a byproduct of that,” he said.

He added that the coaches focus on the individual athletes because the goal is not simply to win but to ensure that athletes try and get better everyday.

Despite losing some top senior

athletes, Edwards is confident in the school’s quest to win their fourth consecutive BAISS track and field title.

“This happens every year and is nothing new, kids leave kids come . . . we expect it to be a good one and expect it to be a competitive meet against the other opponents,” the head coach said.

The coach added that the school is focused on the development of their students rather than recruitment, which helps them to maintain sporting success.

The BAISS sporting season will commence with softball on September 18. Softball will be followed by the cross country championships in October, and the swimming and basketball disciplines begin in November.

RYAN PEPIOT THROWS 6 2/3 PERFECT INNINGS AS JULIO URÍAS’ REPLACEMENT, AND DODGERS ROUT MARLINS 10-0

MIAMI (AP) — Rookie Ryan Pepiot pitched a perfect game for 6 2/3 innings as Julio Urías’ replacement in the Dodgers’ rotation, and Los Angeles routed the Miami Marlins 10-0 on Thursday night for just their second win in seven games.

Josh Bell grounded a single up the middle with two outs in the seventh for the only hit off Pepiot.

Caleb Ferguson allowed Garrett Hampson’s leadoff single in the eighth and Evan Phillips finished the two-hitter with a perfect ninth.

Pepiot (3-0) was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game to take the place of Urías, who was put on the restricted list following his arrest Sunday in Los Angeles on suspicion of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. A 26-year-old right-hander starting his third stint with the Dodgers this season, Pepiot struck out three and induced nine groundouts, throwing 60 of 84 pitches for strikes.

Chris Taylor had five RBIs that included his 15th home run, a double and a single. Miguel Rojas and Will Smith had three hits each.

Miami, which had won six straight, began the night a half-game ahead of Cincinnati for the NL’s last wild card. The Marlins were shut out for the 11th time.

Los Angeles pitched its 14th shutout, one behind

Atlanta’s major leagueleading total.

Marlins starter Braxton Garrett (8-6) allowed one run, three hits, three walks and a hit batter in 3 2/3 innings.

Will Smith hit an RBI single in the third, and

Taylor singled in a run in a two-run fifth that included Kiké Hernández’s runscoring double on a ball down the right-field line that bounced into foul territory, where a ball person grabbed it and threw the ball in the stands. Umpires

determined Mookie Betts had rounded third and allowed him to score.

Amed Rosario hit a tworun single and Taylor an RBI double.

Taylor added a threetun homer in the eighth off Smeltzer.

DEFENSIVE GEMS

Pepiot was aided by his defence. Shortstop Rojas dived and stopped Luis Arraez’s hard smash and threw out Arraez at first. Second baseman Rosario also denied Arraez of a hit when he made a leaping catch of his liner in the seventh.

FROM THE COURT

TO THE MOUND

Recently retired Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem threw the ceremonial first pitch. The 43-year-old played his entire 20-year NBA career in Miami.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara will travel with the club on its seven-game trip to Philadelphia and Milwaukee after being placed on the injured list because of a right forearm strain Wednesday.

UP NEXT Dodgers: RHP Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 5.31) will start the opener of a three game series at Washington Friday. The Nationals will go with LHP MacKenzie Gore (7-10, 4.28).

Marlins: RHP Eury Pérez (5-4, 2.86) is the scheduled starter of the opener of a three-game series at Philadelphia, which starts LHP Christopher Sánchez (2-3, 3.48).

FRANCE STAYS PERFECT IN EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS

PARIS (AP) — Two-time champion France was rock solid again as it resumed its qualifying campaign for the European Championship with a fifth straight win Thursday, while the Netherlands eased to a 3-0 victory over Greece to keep its chances alive in Group B.

France remained perfect and produced yet another clean sheet, beating Ireland 2-0 in Paris and extending its lead to nine points over both the Netherlands and Greece.

The Dutch defeated their Greek rivals 3-0. Both sides have six points, but Ronald Koeman’s team has played one match fewer than Greece.

France has scored 11 goals so far, conceding none.

“We could have scored a bit more tonight, but I’m not going to be picky,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram netted at the Parc des Princes.

The game was played at Paris Saint-Germain’s stadium because of the Rugby World Cup’s opening game scheduled Friday at the Stade de France.

“It’s a big pride,” said Thuram, who scored his first goal for France. “It’s not done yet, we will keep on working.”

Germany will host the 24-team tournament next summer.

In Eindhoven, Denzel Dumfries had three first-half assists for his Dutch teammates Marten de Roon — who scored his first international goal — Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst.

The Netherlands plays Ireland in Dublin on Sunday, when Greece faces last-place Gibraltar in Athens.

LEWANDOWSKI DELIVERS

In trouble after losing two of its opening three games, Poland revived its chances with a brace from Robert Lewandowski in a 2-0 win over the Faeroe Island in Group E. The Czech Republic, still unbeaten, leads the group with eight

points, one more than Albania, after they drew 1-1. Lewandowski took his international tally to 81 goals.

Poland, which has not missed out on qualifying for a European Championship since 2004, is in third place, two points off the pace.

HUNGARY TOPS GROUP G

Leader Hungary stayed undefeated in its group after a 2-1 win in Serbia, which created chances but wasted a lot. The hosts could not hold onto

their lead following Attila Szalai’s own goal and slumped to their first defeat as Barnabas Varga and Willi Orbán then both scored within two minutes.

Second-place Serbia trails three points behind Hungary, which has lost only one of its last 11 matches.

Lithuania and Montenegro drew 2-2 in the group’s other match.

FINLAND MOVES CLOSER

A late goal from forward Oliver Antman gave Finland a 1-0 win at Kazakhstan in Group H and

moved it closer to a second straight qualification to the European Championship.

Antman was perfectly set up in the box in the 78th minute and directed a precise low shot into the back of the net.

Finland, with 12 points from five matches, has a two-point lead over Denmark.

The Danes moved into second place by routing winless San Marino 4-0. Slovenia, trailing Denmark only on goal difference, beat Northern Ireland 4-2.

LOS Angeles Dodgers’ Ryan Pepiot delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

FRANCE’s Marcus Thuram (15) and Kylian Mbappé (10) celebrate after Thuram scored their second goal during the Euro 2024 Group B qualifying soccer match between France and Ireland at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Thursday. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

RAM, SALISBURY REACH US OPEN MEN’S DOUBLES FINAL, AIM FOR 3RD STRAIGHT TITLE IN FLUSHING MEADOWS

NEW YORK (AP)

— Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury have a chance for the first U.S. Open men’s doubles threepeat in more than 90 years.

The No. 3-seeded team pulled out a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the No. 2-seeded duo of Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek on Thursday, moving into the finals with their 17th straight victory in Flushing Meadows.

Ram and Salisbury will face 43-year-old Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden, the No. 6 seeds, on Friday. Bopanna and Ebden beat the veteran French team of Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-6 (3), 6-2 in the first semifinal.

Ram, an American, and Salisbury, from Britain, haven’t lost at the U.S. Open since the 2020 semifinals.

They are the first team to reach three straight finals in Flushing Meadows since the famed Australian duo of Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde from 1994-96, and can become the first to win it three straight times since Americans John Doeg and George Lott Jr. from 1928-30.

They surged ahead by breaking Dodig’s serve in the second game of the third set en route to a 3-0 lead, and the 39-year-old Ram eventually closed it out with a dominant service game in which Dodig and Krajicek could only get one ball back into play.

Bopanna, from India, and Ebden, an Australian, cruised through the second set in 29 minutes after needing 65 minutes to take the first.

Bopanna became the oldest men’s doubles Grand Slam finalist in the Open era, dating to 1968, and can win his first major men’s doubles title.

Ebden is seeking his second, having joined fellow Australian Max Purcell to win Wimbledon in 2022.

Ben Shelton joins past champs Djokovic, Alcaraz and Medvedev in the US Open men’s semifinals

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

NEW YORK (AP) —

When it comes to Ben Shelton and the rest of the men who will be participating in the U.S. Open semifinals on Friday, it’s quite obvious that one of these is not like the others.

First of all, Shelton is unseeded and ranked 47th.

Carlos Alcaraz is seeded No. 1, Novak Djokovic is No. 2 and Daniil Medvedev is No. 3, the first time since 2011 that the top three players in the men’s bracket made it to the final four in Flushing Meadows.

Shelton, a 20-year-old who was born in Georgia and won an NCAA singles title for the University of Florida in 2022, has yet to earn a Grand Slam trophy, let alone the U.S. Open. Djokovic owns 23 major championships overall, Alcaraz two and Medvedev one. Djokovic won titles in New York in 2011, 2015 and 2018 and was the runnerup on six other occasions; Medvedev left as champion in 2021 and was the runnerup in 2019; Alcaraz is the defending champion.

Shelton will be appearing in his first major semifinal.

His opponent Friday, Djokovic? This is No. 47 for him, one more than Roger

Federer for the most by a man in the Open era. Medvedev is in his seventh trip to the final four; his opponent, Alcaraz, has made it this far for the fourth Slam in a row.

“I’m definitely going to try to bring some things to the table that are different and hopefully disruptive on Friday,” Shelton said.

Here’s how new all of this is to him: When Shelton finished off a physically demanding four-set victory against Frances Tiafoe in an all-American quarterfinal on Tuesday night, someone mentioned that he’d have some time to rest, recuperate and prepare to meet Djokovic.

That was news to the kid.

“I’m pretty glad I have two days off from singles. I didn’t know until a couple minutes ago,” Shelton said with his trademark big smile. “They’re like, ‘You know you don’t play ‘til Friday, right?’ That was nice to hear.” But he did not sound overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to test his intimidating left-handed serves — he leads the tournament with 76 aces and a top speed of 149 mph (240 kph) — against Djokovic, who is widely considered the top returner in the game and has won 44% of his opponent’s service games in the tournament (Medvedev

leads that category at 49%).

“Whenever you play somebody for the first time, and someone who has been in this situation so many times and come out victorious so many times, that’s in the back of your head. You just know how rock-solid the guy is and how mentally tough, how physically tough. So that’s definitely something that I have to game plan for,” said Shelton, who had never traveled outside the United States until the beginning of this year and reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in January.

“I also think that it’s an advantage with my game style playing someone who’s

never played me before,” he said. “I think that I can bring some things to the table that maybe you don’t see in your normal match.”

Aside from the zipping serves and hit-it-hard-asyou-can forehands, there’s also the boundless enthusiasm Shelton displays. The biceps flexing and the loud shouts of “Yeah!” after winning points and his victory-celebrating “Hang up the phone, the conversation’s over!” routine that mimics something done by former Florida track and field athlete Grant Holloway, who recently won his third consecutive world championship in the 110meter hurdles. Alcaraz, for one, has taken note.

“I love seeing him play. I really do. And he also has a good time on court. It shows. He smiles. Very aggressive. Big-hitting shots. If I’m not mistaken, he was playing in college a year ago and now he’s in the semifinals of a Grand Slam a year later, facing one of the best players ever,” Alcaraz said. “We’ll see how he responds, but he seems to be doing it with lots of ease, maturity. I’m sure Djokovic will have a tough challenge. It’s going to be an entertaining match to watch.”

WE WERE WRITTEN OFF TOO EARLY: ENGLAND’S BORTHWICK EXPECTS RUGBY WORLD CUP REACTION FROM HIS TEAM

By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer

WRITTEN off without playing a minute of this Rugby World Cup.

That’s how brutal the critics have been with England and coach Steve Borthwick. He said on Thursday that assessment is premature and he expects a reaction from his players.

It’ll have to be straight away as England faces its most challenging pool game first in France, against Argentina in the Pool D opener in Marseille on Saturday.

“There’s a feeling that they’ve been written off a bit too early,” Borthwick said of an England team in one of its deepest ruts. “People called time on them a bit too early.”

“These players have got a hell of a lot more to go and they can’t wait to get stuck in on Saturday night.”

England’s struggles are almost chronic. They started last year under former coach Eddie Jones. His unceremonious firing and Borthwick’s ascent to the job hasn’t made much difference.

England has lost six out of nine this year, including an embarrassing first defeat by Fiji last month in its last game before the World Cup. There, the English missed a golden opportunity to halt the slide just for a moment and pick up an expected win. Instead, they went free-wheeling into a crisis with a shocker of a loss.

The streak has been

exacerbated by disciplinary problems, leaving England without flyhalf and captain Owen

Farrell and ball-carrying No. 8

Billy Vunipola for the start of the Rugby World Cup because of suspensions stemming from red cards for similar high tackles.

Ill-timed injuries have depleted Borthwick’s options and forced him into late callups and plan changes.

When it rains, it pours.

“There’s definitely a

frustration. We feel it as much as anybody. We’re in the thick of it,” stand-in captain Courtney Lawes said. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure that come this weekend we are firing on all cylinders.

“This will be my shot at winning a World Cup. I’m going to give it absolutely everything I’ve got and I’m 100% sure the boys are going to follow me in.”

Maybe it’s a good time to get away, although England clearly

isn’t in the sunny south of France for a vacation.

In an attempt to change the fortunes, Borthwick threw up two surprise selections for the Argentina game when he fasttracked scrumhalf Alex Mitchell and wing Jonny May into the starting team despite them not even making his initial tournament squad and being called in because of injuries.

Elsewhere, George Ford will continue to cover for Farrell at flyhalf and form a new partnership with Mitchell, and Ben Earl starts for Vunipola at No. 8. The inconsistency in performance is matched by forced personnel changes.

The inspiration will have to come from somewhere else.

England did have at least one glimmer of good news, with flanker Tom Curry fit again and set to play his first game since May. He was a pivotal figure in England’s run to the Rugby World Cup final four years ago and might at least be one reminder of better times.

Borthwick also hoped the team still has the backing of the country, even if the rugby analysts have lost faith.

“You sense that people (of) this country feel an attachment to this team, they feel a passion for this team,” he said.

Argentina hasn’t set the rugby world alight itself this year, although it’s not in the kind of slump England is.

The Pumas won just once in the Rugby Championship and

let chances slip through their paws, most notably when they had world champion South Africa on the rack in Johannesburg and couldn’t finish it.

What coach Michael Cheika does have for Marseille that England doesn’t is everyone ready to go, meaning Argentina is at full strength and Cheika’s challenge was the polar opposite to Borthwick’s.

“It was difficult to choose the starting team because they are all available,” Cheika said.

LINEUPS:

England: Freddie Steward, Jonny May, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes (captain), Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje, Dan Cole, Jamie George, Ellis Genge. Reserves: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, George Martin, Lewis Ludlam, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Ollie Lawrence.

Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou; Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Francisco Gómez Kodela, Julian Montoya (captain), Thomas Gallo. Reserves: Agustín Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Guido Petti Pagadizabal, Pedro Rubiolo, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Matías Moroni.

BEN SHELTON, of the United States, reacts during a match against Frances Tiafoe, of the United States, during the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

CARLOS Alcaraz NOVAK Djokovic

DANIIL Medvedev

ENGLAND’s head coach Steve Borthwick watches on as players warm up for the rugby union international match between England and Fiji at Twickenham stadium in London, August. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Wall Street stumbles in mixed trading as Big Tech stocks drop again

By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer

WALL Street slipped in mixed trading Thursday as the threat of high interest rates continues to dog Big Tech stocks.

The S&P 500 fell 14.34, or 0.3%, to 4,451.14 for its third straight loss. The Nasdaq composite was hit particularly hard by the drop for tech stocks, and it sank 123.64, or 0.9%, to 13,748.83.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average held up better than the rest of the market because it has less of an emphasis on tech, and it rose 57.54 points, or 0.2%, to 34,500.73.

Stocks felt pressure from the bond market, where yields rose earlier in the week after a report showed stronger growth for U.S. services industries last month than economists expected. Yields remained high after a report on Thursday said fewer U.S. workers applied for

unemployment benefits last week than expected.

While such reports are encouraging for the economy, indicating a long-predicted recession is not near, they could also keep conditions humming strongly enough to push upward on inflation.

The Federal Reserve has already hiked its main interest rate to the highest level in more than two decades in hopes of slowing the economy enough to drive inflation back down to its 2% target. It's come close, and inflation has cooled from its peak above 9% last summer. But the worry is that the last percentage point of improvement may be the toughest for the Fed.

"Yes, the economy has slowed and inflation has cooled, but employment continues to be a thorn in the side of the Fed, which has made softening the jobs market the cornerstone of its inflation battle," said Mike Loewengart, head of model

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MAXINE MARC, of Golden Gates, New Providence, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 1st day of September, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

portfolio construction at Morgan Stanley Global Investment Office.

High interest rates drag down on prices for every kind of stock. But they tend to most hurt stocks of technology companies and others bid up on expectations for high growth far in the future. Many of those stocks also tend to be the most influential on the S&P 500 because they're the biggest.

Apple is the dominant force on Wall Street because it's the most valuable stock, and it fell 2.9% to follow up on its 3.6% drop a day before.

Nvidia sank 1.7% to bring its loss for the week so far to 4.7%. It and a cohort of other stocks in the artificialintelligence industry have soared this year on expectations that AI could mean explosive future growth in profits.

C3.ai tumbled 12.2% after it said late Wednesday that it no longer expects to be profitable in its final fiscal quarter of the

year, as it invests more in opportunities around generative AI. Analysts also pointed to disappointing profit margin levels for the company during its latest quarter, which was the first of its fiscal year.

While the majority of stocks on Wall Street fell, several helped to limit the losses.

WestRock, a maker of containerboard and other packaging, rose 4.2% after Smurfit Kappa Group said it was in discussions to combine the two companies and keep its headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.

Power companies and other stocks seen as steadier investments also held up better than the rest of the market. Utility stocks in the S&P 500 rose 1.3% as a group. That was nearly double the gain of any of the other 10 sectors that make up the index.

In the bond market, the yield on the two-year Treasury initially jumped after the unemployment report but then eased as the day

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CURRENCY traders work at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. Shares fell in Asia on Thursday after a decline on Wall Street, where strong economic data revived worries that the Federal Reserve might keep interest rates high for longer than hoped. Photo:Ahn Young-joon/AP progressed. It slipped to 4.95% from 5.03% late Wednesday, but it remains above the 4.88% level where it started the week.

The two-year Treasury yield tends to track expectations for the Fed.

Traders still mostly expect the Fed to stand pat on interest rates at its next meeting later this month. But they're betting on a roughly 45% chance of another increase by the end of the year, according to data from CME Group.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which is the centerpiece of the bond market and helps set rates for mortgages and other important loans, fell to 4.24% from 4.30% late Wednesday.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell in China following the latest set of discouraging data on the world's second-largest economy. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.3%, and stocks in Shanghai fell 1.1% after a report said China's exports fell from year-ago levels for the fourth straight month. Its economic recovery has fallen well short of expectations after it removed anti-COVID restrictions. That has removed a big engine of growth for the global economy, but it's also helped to take some pressure off inflation worldwide.

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NOTICE is hereby given that BERNSON JOSEPH, of Wells Lane off Parkgate Road, New Providence, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 8th day of September 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

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ANICONE JOSAPHAT of Carmichael Road, Nassau, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 1st day of September, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

Biden to use G20 summit and Vietnam visit to highlight US as trustworthy alternative to China

By AAMER MADHANI AND JOSH BOAK

Associated Press

PRESIDENT Joe Biden wants to show the world at the Group of 20 summit in India and during a stop in Vietnam that the United States and its like-minded allies are better economic and security partners than China.

White House officials said Biden, who departed Thursday evening for New Delhi, will use the annual G20 gathering as an opportunity for the U.S. to highlight a proposition for developing and middle-income countries that would increase the lending power of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund by some $200 billion.

That is an attempt to offer a significant, albeit smaller, alternative to China's massive Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, which the U.S. views as a Trojan horse for China-led regional development and military expansion. Chinese

President Xi Jinping plans to skip the summit, where Premier Li Qiang will represent the country.

After the summit, Biden and Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will meet in Hanoi and are expected to announce plans to tighten economic cooperation.

Vietnam and China have robust trade relations, but also deep differences. Vietnam, like Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Brunei, has been in a tense territorial standoff for decades with China, which has claimed authority over waters in the South China Sea that are hundreds of miles from the Chinese coastline.

"I think Xi's absence at this particular summit, if that comes to pass, really is a big missed opportunity for the Chinese," said Colleen Cottle, deputy director at the Washington think tank Atlantic Council's Global

China Hub. "And I think it affords the Biden administration even more of a chance to go on the offensive in terms of stepping up and showing ... what their value proposition is to the Global South."

Leaders of the U.S., India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were working to finalize a joint infrastructure deal that could be announced in New Delhi, according to an official familiar with the matter.

If it comes together, the arrangement would involve ship transit between India and Saudi Arabia, then trains through Saudi Arabia and the UAE, likely to Jordan, then ship transit to Turkey and onward from there by train, according to a diplomat familiar with the negotiations.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he could not confirm the deal. He said the initiative is something "that we've invested effort into with our partners.:"

"We believe that connectivity from India across the Middle East to Europe is incredibly important and would bring a significant number of economic benefits, as well as strategic benefits, to all of the countries involved," he told reporters accompanying Biden aboard Air Force one.

Heading into the summit, the U.S. has criticized China for reducing the transparency of its reporting on basic economic data in recent months and for cracking down on companies in China that had been providing such data.

At the same time, the White House has tried to improve ties. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who recently returned from China, was the latest administration officials to engage Beijing amid disputes over technology, security, Taiwan and other issues.

Raimondo told The Associated Press that "the world is looking for the U.S. and China to responsibly manage our relationship." She said the administration's goal is to have a stable economic relationship in which there is consistent engagement.

But Xi's decision to not attend the G20 shows that "we have work to do" regarding communication between the countries, she said.

"Communication is of course, a two-way street," Raimondo said. "Communication does need to lead to action."

Biden said he was disappointed that Xi will not be in New Delhi, where the summit is expected to focus on climate, development and the future of the grouping of leading economies. The U.S. has criticized China's lending practices under Belt and Road as "coercive," saying the $1 trillion infrastructure effort that provides Chinese loan assistance to poor countries often comes with strings attached that restrict the restructuring of debt with other major

creditor nations. China also frequently retains the right to demand repayment at any time, giving Beijing leverage over other countries.

A recent Associated Press analysis of a dozen countries most indebted to China, including Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia, Laos and Mongolia, found paying back that debt is consuming an ever-greater amount of tax revenue. Countries in AP's analysis had as much as 50% of their foreign loans from China and most were devoting more than one-third of government revenue to paying off foreign debt.

Sullivan said the effort to bolster the lending capacity of the World Bank and the IMF would provide a "credible alternative" to China.

Biden included $3.3 billion for both institutions in the supplemental budget request he has sent to Congress. The administration said the money would help leverage nearly $50 billion from the U.S. alone in lending for middle-income and poor countries and up to $200 billion around the world.

COMPANY PULLS SPICY ONE CHIP CHALLENGE FROM STORE SHELVES AS MASSACHUSETTS INVESTIGATES TEEN’S DEATH

By MICHAEL CASEY AND STEVE LEBLANC

Associated Press

THE maker of an extremely spicy tortilla chip sold as the One Chip Challenge and popularized as a dare on social media is pulling the product after the family of a Massachusetts teenager blamed the stunt for his death.

The cause of Harris Wolobah's death last Friday hasn't been determined and an autopsy was still pending as of Thursday, but the 14-year-old's family blames the challenge. Since his death, the Texas-based manufacturer, Paqui, has asked retailers to stop selling the individually wrapped chips — a step 7-Eleven has already taken.

The One Chip Challenge chip sells for about $10 and comes wrapped in a sealed

foil pouch that is enclosed in a coffin-shaped cardboard box. The package warns that the chip is made for the "vengeful pleasure of intense heat and pain," is intended for adults and should be kept out of reach of children.

Paqui, a subsidiary of The Hershey Company, said in a statement posted on its website Thursday that it was "deeply saddened by the death" of Wolobah.

"We have seen an increase in teens and other individuals not heeding these warnings," the company said. "As a result, while the product continues to adhere to food safety standards, out of abundance of caution, we are actively working with retailers to remove the product from shelves."

Authorities in Massachusetts have also responded to

the death by warning parents about the challenge, which is is popular on social media sites such as TikTok.

Scores of people, including children, post videos of themselves unwrapping the packaging, eating the spicy chips and then reacting to the heat. Some videos show people gagging, coughing and begging for water.

"We urge parents to discuss this with their children and advise them not to partake in this activity," Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said in a series of posts about the challenge on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter. "The company warnings state the chips are intended for adult consumption. Other states across the country have seen hospitalizations due to the chip challenge, including teens."

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There have been reports from around the country of people who have gotten sick after taking part in the challenge, including three students from a California high school who were sent to a hospital. And paramedics were called to a Minnesota school last year when seven students fell ill after taking part in the challenge.

"We believe that there should be highstandard, noncoercive lending options available to low- and middle-income countries," Sullivan said

Xi is trying to navigate through one of the most turbulent moments for China's economy in decades.

The Chinese economy is weighed down by a property bubble, local government debt, high youth unemployment and a broader inability to rebound as expected from pandemic lockdowns. Added to that is the longer-term challenge of China's population starting to decline due to aging and lower birth rates.

Most conventional economic analyses assume the U.S. economy and its allies are largely insulated from a Chinese slowdown. There are supply chain risks if factories close in China and global growth struggles. But so far this year, the U.S. economy has outperformed expectations as the Chinese economy has underperformed.

Xi countered in a speech published last month that the U.S. and its allies "cannot curb the greedy

"You can have very mild symptoms like burning or tingling of the lips in the mouth, but you can also have more severe symptoms," said Dr. Lauren Rice, the chief of pediatric emergency medicine at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, noting that this is an opportunity for parents, coaches, teachers to learn about the various social media challenges that are out there and could pose dangers.

"This goes back to the ingredients that are used with the tortilla chip," she continued. "There are some

nature of capital and cannot solve chronic diseases such as materialism and spiritual poverty." He suggested his model of a government with centralized power will do more to serve the interests of "the vast majority of people."

How China navigates through its economic headwinds is a big question for the White House. The administration has tried to have a stable trade relationship, even as it has frustrated China by restricting imports of advanced technology for national security purposes. U.S. officials have emphasized the importance of an ongoing dialogue between the governments of the world's two largest economies.

G20 leaders will also discuss the global impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and joint efforts at combating climate change. Any summit agreements on the climate front are expected to be incremental at best. G20 climate and environment ministers, at their July meeting, were unable to agree on a goal of peaking emissions by 2025, moving to clean energy and a tax on carbon as a way to reduce emissions.

Biden is scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Modi's residence after he arrives in India on Friday evening.

Biden has put much effort into bolstering his relations with Modi, a conservative Hindu nationalist leading the world's most populous country. The U.S.-India relationship will be vital in coming decades as both sides deal with an ascendant China and the enormity of climate change, artificial intelligence, supply chain resilience and other issues.

Biden hosted Modi in June for a pomp-filled state visit.

spices like capsaicin, which is a chemical ingredient that we use in things like pepper spray and so they are very strong chemicals and they can be very irritating. Some of the more severe symptoms that we see can be things like significant abdominal pain or nausea and vomiting."

Dr. Peter Chai, an associate professor of emergency medicine and medical toxicology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said these chips can be dangerous under certain circumstances.

PRESIDENT Joe Biden boards Air Force One for a trip to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci

TEXAS HEAT BRINGS THE STATE’S POWER GRID CLOSEST IT HAS BEEN TO OUTAGES SINCE 2021 WINTER STORM

By JUAN A. LOZANO

Press

Associated

TEXAS' power grid manager on Thursday again asked residents to cut their electricity use as the state endures another stretch of sizzling summer heat. The request carried fresh urgency, coming the day after the system was pushed to the brink of outages for the first time since a deadly winter blackout in 2021.

The request by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which serves most of the state's 30 million residents, came a day after low energy reserves prompted the grid operator to issue a level 2 energy emergency alert. Operating reserves fell as demand surged amid the heat, and power from wind and solar energy sources proved insufficient, according to ERCOT.

It was the first time the council entered emergency operations since a deadly 2021 ice storm knocked out power to millions of customers for days and resulted in hundreds of deaths.

The emergency status remained in place for about an hour Wednesday night until grid conditions returned to normal, ERCOT said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

On Thursday, ERCOT asked residents to conserve power from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. CDT as reserves were again

expected to be low. Much of Texas was covered by heat advisories on Thursday, with high temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius) in Austin, Amarillo, Dallas, El Paso and Houston.

Thursday's call to conserve electricity was the 11th time ERCOT has made such a request since June 20, with

most coming in the last three weeks.

"We request Texas businesses & residents conserve electricity use, if safe to do so," ERCOT said in a tweet.

At about 9 p.m. CDT, the operating reserves had returned to normal conditions, meaning there was enough power for current

A JOGGER passes power lines during a sunset run, Aug. 20, 2023, in San Antonio, as high temperatures continue to stress the power grid. On Thursday, Sept. 7, Texas’ power grid manager again asked residents to cut back on electricity as a prolonged and punishing summer heat wave continued, a day after the system was pushed to brink of outages for the first time since a deadly winter blackout in 2021.

demand, according to the ERCOT website. Around 7:30 p.m. the reserves dipped but were not low enough to prompt a level 1 energy emergency alert.

"Thank you to Texas residents and businesses for your conservation efforts, which along with improved wind conditions and additional reliability tools, helped us get through another tight peak time," ERCOT tweeted.

Besides low reserves, ERCOT said it issued Wednesday's emergency alert because of a "drop in frequency," which refers to the generation of electrical power. A spokesperson for ERCOT did not immediately return an email seeking comment on what caused the drop in frequency.

Thomas Overbye, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Texas A&M University, said such a frequency drop is usually caused by a large power plant going offline, which could have a significant impact.

"These generators have been running, you know, a lot all summer. So that means that maintenance that we might want to do on a generator, they're probably deferring into the time when the temperatures are a little cooler," said Overbye, who also is director of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station's Smart Grid Center.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has said

Photo:Eric Gay/AP

improvements since 2021 have stabilized the grid. Earlier this year, Texas lawmakers passed bills aimed at luring developers to generate more "on-demand" electricity, but the legislation did not extend to renewable sources.

Many Texans remain skeptical of the grid's reliability.

"These situations, today and yesterday, I think are more isolated incidents. But yeah, I certainly understand people's concern about this. It's a reasonable concern," Overbye said.

In June, just before this summer's heat settled into Texas, Abbott vetoed a bill to strengthen energy efficiency in new construction, saying it wasn't as important as cutting property taxes.

Texas is not connected to the rest of the country's power grid, unlike other U.S. states, leaving few options to pull power from elsewhere amid shortages or failures.

In May, regulators warned that demand may outpace supply on the hottest days.

Overbye said he believes the ongoing issues with the power grid will likely result in adding more power generation, particularly through natural gas, and more storage capacity.

"I think people are going to look at this and say, 'We can't have Texas continually saying we don't have enough electricity,'" Overbye said.

WYNN RESORTS TO SETTLE SEXUAL HARASSMENT INACTION CLAIM FROM 9 FEMALE SALON WORKERS

By KEN RITTER Associated Press

WYNN Resorts and nine unnamed women are settling a lawsuit alleging the casino company failed to investigate allegations that female employees were sexually harassed by former company CEO Steve Wynn, according to a court document.

Attorneys for Wynn Resorts and the women who worked as manicurists and makeup artists filed the document Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The women accused company officials of being aware and failing to act on allegations of misconduct before Steve Wynn resigned in February 2018. He was not a named a defendant in the case.

Wynn, now 81 and living in Florida, has paid record monetary fines to gambling regulators but consistently has denied sexual misconduct allegations in multiple courts. The plaintiffs are identified in the lawsuit only as Judy Doe No. 1 through Judy Doe No. 9. Their attorneys, led by Kathleen England and Jason Maier,

did not respond Thursday to emails from The Associated Press. Wynn Resorts spokesman Michael Weaver declined to comment.

Steve Wynn's lawyers in Las Vegas, Colby Williams and Donald Campbell, did not respond Thursday to an email from AP requesting comment.

The settlement was first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro scheduled a Nov. 6 court date to dismiss the case to allow time for completion of "the settlement process, including the issuance of settlement fund," according to the court filing.

The lawsuit was filed in September 2019 in Nevada state court and moved in October 2019 to U.S. District Court. It was dismissed in July 2020 by a federal judge in Las Vegas who faulted it for using pseudonyms and not specifying individual harassment claims.

The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals revived it in November 2021, ruling the nine women could remain anonymous and amend their complaint to add individual harassment allegations.

Banco De Bogota (Nassau) Limited (“the company”)

FINAL NOTICE OF DISOLUTION

Pursuant to Section 248 (2) of the Companies Act, 1992 and a letter of dissolution dated 16 August 2023 issued by the Registrar General’s Department advising that the Company has been removed from the Register of Companies, the Company was deemed to be dissolved on 11 August, 2023.

The aforementioned announcement is made pursuant the Companies Act, 1992 and the Banks and Trust Companies Regulation Act, 2020.

Maria Fernanda Blanco Liquidator Of Banco De Bogota (Nassau) Limited

‘WE’LL BRING BACK CHARM OF DOWNTOWN NASSAU’

FROM PAGE A23

customers to Bay Street and Straw Market vendors.

Mr Cooper said about the Market Slope: “We’ve increased police presence so that is safer and more

pleasant. We’re also closing off Market Slope, that’s the street on the side of the Straw Market and we’ll be creating more high-end creatively-designed loops with Bahamian themes and

authentically Bahamian products being offered.”

East Bay Street will also be undergoing changes in the upcoming months as plans to invite artisans to enhance its ambiance is already under way. “We’re

working along with entre-

preneurs to get involved because we want more activities downtown. We have an overall plan for downtown especially for east of East Street and we anticipate some significant new developments in this area to be announced shortly, including a food market that will also cater to the creative community, as well as other significant initiatives, working along with our partners in the creative arts community,” Mr Cooper said.

SLOW TOURISM SEASON ‘A THING OF THE PAST’

FROM PAGE A23

Mr Cooper also said: “As a result of all of the business strategies that we have put in place, as a result of the hard work of team tourism. As a result of the work we’re doing in terms of research and the use of technology.”

If tourists are not interested in swimming or heading to the beach there are lots of other activities that tourists can take advantage of like planning for their honeymoon

or using one of the many hotel facilities around the country to use for conventions and large corporate meetings.

He also said that tourism this year is the “busiest” it has ever been and set to break 2019’s previous record with 8m visitors for 2023. So far for this year tourism is pacing at 59 percent above 2022 and 30 percent above 2019, which was the country’s busiest year for tourism.

Mr Cooper also said: “We so we see no reason,

barring an act of God, that we won’t surpass 8m visitors this year, which will be a record. In March alone, we had nearly one million business. So this should tell you about the pace at which this is all going. He also said: “We’re building capacity. We’re improving our infrastructure, encouraging stakeholders to open more rooms and accelerate the investment in new, upscale accommodations. “We are aware of some international trends, we

Denver airport job only since mid-2021.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who led the GOP opposition to Biden's first pick, gave a noncommittal statement about the second choice.

COOPER: FIDELITY TO OPEN EXUMA BRANCH ‘SHORTLY’

FROM PAGE A23

our Family Islands revolves around banking. If you don’t have good commercial banking, it really kind of inhibits the ability of a local economy to grow and to expand as it should.”

are always doing research and following the trends in the marketplace. We have launched a new unit to focus on fraternal and large religious tourism business. “We recognise that in Florida at the moment there is a boycott, if you will, by some of the fraternities of the Florida market because of certain comments made by their governor. We are going to continue to stay on cutting edge in terms of our research and we are going to seize opportunities when they present themselves.”

Earlier this year, the MP for North Andros and the Berry Islands, Leonardo Lightbourne, issued a “plea” for intervention to resolve his constituency’s banking crisis while addressing the House of Assembly during the 2023-2024 Budget debate. He explained that said the absence of a physical bank branch in his constituency has forced some pensioners to travel to Nassau to conduct transactions, slicing their fixed income in half. Residents also frequently spend hours commuting to the ATM only for it to be out of service.

“The constituents on pensions have to travel to Nassau because there are no banks. What they are actually receiving in their monthly pension is less than half [of what they are entitled to] because they have to purchase plane tickets, find accommodations, transportation etc,” he added.

“There is no physical presence of a bank in North or Central Andros, so residents have to drive more than an hour only to find out that ATM is not operational in some cases, which is a major inconvenience and disruption not only for the residents, but a major disruption for commerce.”

By DAVID KOENIG

AP Airlines Writer

President Joe Biden on Thursday nominated a former Obama administration official to lead the Federal Aviation Administration after his first choice withdrew in March after running into opposition from Republican senators.

The White House said Biden nominated Michael G. Whitaker, a former deputy administrator at the FAA. He is currently the chief operating officer of a Hyundai affiliate working to develop an air taxi aircraft.

Whitaker's nomination had been expected for months, and Biden's announcement was praised by several industry and labor groups.

The FAA, which regulates airline safety and manages the nation's airspace, has been run by back-to-back acting administrators since March 2022.

The agency faces a number of challenges including a shortage of air traffic controllers, aging technology, and alarm over close calls between planes at major airports. In addition, Congress is deliberating over legislation that will direct the agency's

operations for the next five years.

Whitaker worked as a lawyer for TWA, which was absorbed by American Airlines, spent 15 years at United Airlines, where he became a senior vice president and oversaw international and regulatory affairs, then moved to InterGlobe, a travel company in India.

He was deputy FAA administrator — a job that does not require Senate approval — from 2013 to 2016. He is currently the chief commercial officer for Supernal, a Hyundai subsidiary that is working on an electric-powered air taxi — which would need FAA certification to fly in the United States.

The White House said Whitaker holds a privatepilot license.

Last year, Biden nominated Denver International Airport CEO Phillip Washington, but he withdrew in March after his nomination stalled in the Senate Commerce Committee. Republicans and independent Kyrsten Sinema argued that Washington lacked adequate aviation experience — his background is mostly in city transit systems, having held the

"We must carefully evaluate Mike Whitaker's qualifications, experience, and temperament to determine whether he is the right person to lead the agency at this critical juncture," Cruz said.

The FAA has lacked a Senate-confirmed leader since early last year, when Stephen Dickson, who was chosen by President Donald Trump, quit midway through his five-year term.

Since then, the agency has been run by two successive acting administrators.

The first, Billy Nolen, who left FAA in June to join another air taxi company, Archer Aviation, praised Whitaker's nomination in a recent interview. "I can't think of a better choice," he said. "He will do an amazing job."

Earl Lawrence, a former senior official at the FAA who now works for Xwing, which is developing pilotless planes to carry cargo, said Whitaker's appointment would be a win for companies making drones and autonomous aircraft — in part because of Whitaker's time at Supernal.

"He knows how to support the airlines because he worked at the airlines, and he has worked with the drone folks," Lawrence said. He will "create the environment that it's OK

to move forward" with new technologies. A range of industry groups praised Whitaker as somebody they can work with — which could raise questions about FAA independence from the companies it regulates.

“I would like to plead on behalf of the people of North Andros and the Berry Islands for an intervention and the presence of a local bank. An ATM (automatic teller) machine cannot meet the needs of the people. The North and Central Andros community needs a physical presence desperately,” he said.

Draconian measures are often taken so residents and tourists can get cash on Andros, with some people having to pay pilots $20 to take their client cards to New Providence just to withdraw money from ATMs. Some take the flight themselves and pay up to $300 for the service and ground transportation just to get to an ATM.

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Biden nominates a former Obama official to run the Federal Aviation Administration

Ministry shift ‘to give Family Islands attention they need’

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

CLAY Sweeting, the newly announced Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, said the merger of the two ministries will ensure that the Family islands “get the special attention they need”.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Sweeting said that he was “excited” to take on his new role and that the combining the portfolios will allow a greater focus to be placed on the new developments on the Family Islands.

He said: “I’m excited about my new role. I loved my time at the Ministry of Agriculture as well.

“We’re looking at doing a lot of work through this country, especially in the Family Islands, so they will get the attention. The ministry would now be the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs.

“So the Prime Minister, in his wisdom, merged the two to ensure that the Family Islands were able to get the

CLAY SWEETING

special attention they need as well.”

The Prime Minister gave a national address on Sunday where he announced several changes to his Cabinet including reassigning Mr Sweeting as the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs. He said that combing the two ministries “makes sense” due to the large number of Family Island initiates underway, including the $260m Family Island Airports Renaissance Programme. He said: “As the new Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs,

Minister Sweeting will oversee the significant number of infrastructural projects and upgrades that are underway. Pulling Works and Family Island Affairs together makes sense in our government, because of the scope of our ambitions for our Family Islands.

“With two new airports already opened, and 14 more to go, and major roadworks across multiple islands, we are looking at transformative change.”

Mr Sweeting reflected on some of his accomplishments in his two years as Minister of Agriculture including the $15m Golden Yolk egg production programme and $1.8m in grants to local fishermen and farmers in the last year.

He said: “I think some of our major accomplishments, would have been the Golden Yolk to reduce or eliminate the imports of eggs in this country.

“We also launched grant programmes, last year alone we allocated $1.8m in grants to the fishermen and farmers in this country, a portion of that was specified directly to climate smart agriculture.

“We named sailing as the national sport, so as a lot of things that we accomplished here.” He added that the new Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Jomo Campbell will continue the support to local farmers and fishermen with an upcoming $1m initiative and the continuance of the cultivation centers in New Providence and on the Family Islands.

He said: “This year, we have a million dollars that Mr Campbell would launch and in short order, we also continue to build out the cultivation center that should be up and going in a few weeks, which would be inclusive of some food kitchens, not just here in New Providence, but in the Family islands as well, for processors.”

Mr Campbell said that he was “excited” to take on the his new role and that people can expect him to be a minister that is “open to new ideas” and willing to collaborate with existing stakeholders to ensure that ongoing and new projects are completed.

He said: “I’m happy for the transition, I’m happy for the Prime Minister expressing his confidence in me and I’m excited to be here. As we all know, agriculture is definitely an exciting ministry.

“They should expect for me to be a minister who was open to new ideas, someone who was willing to listen, I come in this knowing that I certainly don’t know everything about agriculture. Nothing can happen without the complete cooperation of the team, I’ve met some of them. I’m fully confident that together we could achieve everything that was started and bring it to fruition.”

“With regard to receiving the baton from Minister Clay Sweeting, in any relay, speed is not the only factor. [There is] also the skill and the technique of receiving that baton [that] can actually impact the outcome of the race. So what I want to do right now is, listen and learn all of the key players involved.”

In July 2022, 35,000 gallons of diesel was spilt into waters off the coast of Great Exuma when a

vessel Sun Oil contracted was delivering fuel. Last month, attorney General Ryan Pinder said he would not reveal how much the government fined Sun Oil Limited the spill, a decision which sparked criticism from the Opposition and environmentalists.

Mr Campbell said that he is proud of the “heavy fines” placed on companies that pollute our environment and that when they are held accountable it lowers the likelihood of reoccurrence. He said: “I’m extremely proud of the fact that under the Ministry of Legal Affairs, we were deeply involved in having some heavy fines levied against those persons who actually polluted our waters. And you know, that’s something to be proud of, because we are now holding persons accountable.

“Once persons realise that they’re going to be held accountable for doing these things that have negative impacts on our environment, then it reduces the risk and the chances of that happening and continuing.”

Kerzner International’s debt in return.”

Calls to Atlantis yesterday for comment were unsuccessful. The report also said that Brookfield also declined to comment.

Brookfield has spent $100m on renovations on Atlantis, and explored selling it in 2019, but the pandemic put a halt to the process.

In February 2020, The Tribune reported that Atlantis would not be

sold at that time, with its owner instead launching a three-year investment strategy including room renovations and additional nightlife venues and new restaurants. Recently, the Shake Shack brand opened in Atlantis.

The news comes a week after Atlantis posted that it has gotten back to prepandemic cash flows by generating $182.3m for the year to end-March 2023.

Revenue per available room (RevPAR), a key indicator of hotel industry performance, matched exactly the $200 generated during that pre-COVID period. And, while Atlantis’ occupancy levels were lagging, the analyst’s report

pointed out that the 56.2 percent achieved during the 12 months to end-March 2023 was not a like-for-like comparison with the 72.2 percent achieved during the same period for 2018 as the Beach Towers has been closed ever since COVID hit.

Maintaining, or confirming, its existing creditworthiness ratings on the various classes of commercial mortgage-backed securities issued to Atlantis debt holders, ratings agency Morningstar said in a report last month: “The collateral reported a net cash flow of $182.3m for the trailing 12-month period ended March 31, 2023, surpassing the year-end 2022 net cash flow of $133.8m, year-end 2021 net cash flow of $24.4m, and in line with the issuer’s net cash flow of $181.3m.”

That latter figure would have been generated in the pre-COVID era at the time

of the last debt refinancing in 2018, which means that Atlantis’ annual cash flow has now rebounded in line with the peaks achieved before the pandemic. The $182.3m achieved for the year to end-March 2023 represents a 36.2 percent year-over-year increase, with the $24.4m generated during the period when the tourism shutdown, including lockdowns and border closures, was at its height.”

Drawing on data provided by STR, the entity that monitors the worldwide lodging industry, Morningstar said of Atlantis: “According to the most recent STR report, the combined occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) for the trailing 12-month period ended March 31, 2023, were 56.2 percent, $355 and $200, respectively, up from 35.5 percent, $277 and $99 for year-end 2021.

GUILTY - FTX EXEC ADMITS ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN DONATIONS

FROM PAGE A24

The purpose of those donations, he said, was to fund political initiatives supported by Bankman-Fried. In a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday, prosecutors said they had obtained private messages in which Salame wrote that Bankman-Fried wanted to support politicians in both parties who were “pro crypto”, while working to get “anti crypto” lawmakers out of office.

A lawyer for Salame, Jason Linder, didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment. Salame’s sentencing was tentatively scheduled for March. He was ordered released from federal custody until then and left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

Bankman-Fried is awaiting trial on charges that he defrauded customers by diverting their money to cover his expenses, make illegal campaign contributions and make trades at a separate crypto hedge fund he founded, Alameda Research.

Three other executives close to Bankman-Fried have already pleaded guilty: Caroline Ellison, Nishad Singh and Gary Wang.

Bankman-Fried’s trial is scheduled for October.

Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty. He was free on bail while awaiting

Chief Engineer

trial, but he was recently jailed after a judge ruled that he had tried to influence potential witnesses in the case, including by giving Ellison’s private writings to news organizations. Before FTX collapsed and declared bankruptcy in November, BankmanFried had been one of the best-known US crypto entrepreneurs. His company hired celebrities, including Curb Your Enthusiasm star Larry David, to appear in TV ads. Bankman-Fried and people associated with his companies, including Salame, were also heavy givers to political campaigns.

Salame was one of the top donors to conservatives during the last election cycle, contributing more than $20m to Republican candidates and causes, according to federal election records. In a private message sent to a confidant, Salam said the donations routed through him were intended to “weed out” the cryptocurrency opponents on the Republican side, prosecutors said in a court filing. After the criminal charges against BankmanFried became public, many lawmakers rushed to return donations. Prosecutors haven’t accused recipients of the donations of any wrongdoing.

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COOPER: FIDELITY TO OPEN EXUMA BRANCH ‘SHORTLY’

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper announced that Fidelity Bank will be opening a branch in Exuma “shortly”, bringing relief to some of the island’s banking woes.

Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Office weekly press briefing yesterday

Mr Cooper said that Fidelity will be opening on Exuma and is also considering putting a branch in Long Island. He added that the government is “being very intentional” with progressing the country’s underbanked Family Island communities.

He said: “Fidelity Bank will be opening in Exuma shortly, I’m delighted to tell the people of Exuma that. I’m also happy to tell you that they are also looking at Long Island.

“I’m also at liberty to say that the government of The Bahamas is being very intentional in terms of advancing banking throughout Family Island communities.”

TRACKING MAP

Commercial banks have progressively withdrawn from the Family Islands over the last ten to 15 years, citing the high operating costs and negative returns associated with maintaining a physical branch presence that results in them incurring losses.

Mr Cooper said that it was a “tragedy” and “simply unacceptable” that many Family Island residents must travel to other Family Islands or New Providence to conduct banking transactions. He added that the government is collaborating with banks to “find solutions” to the banking issues that affect many islands.

He said: “We promised that we would look after the people and that we would not be overtly Nassau-centric. I’m happy to tell you that working along with our banking partners. We’re seeking to find solutions for all of the Family Islands.

“It’s a part of development of commerce in these islands. And really, it’s a tragedy that many of the residents of some of these family islands are having to travel to others islands

to do their banking in 2023 it’s simply unacceptable and we’re being very intentional as to how we’re addressing it.”

Thomas Sands, the president of the Exuma Chamber of Commerce said that the Exuma business community is “excited about the prospect” of having another commercial bank on the island. He added that having an increased banking presence will help the local economy and give residents banking alternatives.

He said: “With the addition of Fidelity to Exuma, we would have two banks as they would be joining RBC. I think it would be a wonderful thing for Exuma, I think it would mean a lot to the local economy, it would give people options and Exuma is excited about the prospect of having Fidelity join us.”

Mr Sands explained that the lack of commercial banks on the Family islands have led to many “challenges” and has stifled the growth of the local economy.

He said: “The challenges that we’re having in a lot of

SEE PAGE A21

Cape Hatteras

Cape Hatteras Highs: 89°F/32°C

Highs: 87°F/31°C

annah Highs: 88°F/31°C Pensacola Highs: 95°F/35°C

Tampa Highs: 87°F/31°C

Daytona Beach Highs: 90°F/32°C

Freepor t Highs: 89°F/32°C

Miami Highs: 92°F/33°C

Nassau Highs: 88°F/31°C

Hav ana Highs: 89°F/32°C

Santiago de Cuba Highs: 90°F/32°C

Cozumel Highs: 87°F/31°C

Belize

Highs: 90°F/32°C

Highs: 87°F/31°C

City Highs: 87°F/31°C

Por t-au-Prince Highs: 99°F/37°C

Santo

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Bermuda Highs: 83°F/28°C

N S W E 4-8 knots N S E W 4-8 knots N S E W 6-12 knots N S E W 7-14 knots N S E W 7-14 knots N S E W 6-12 knots N S W E 7-14 knots N S W E 6-12 knots

San J uan Highs: 90°F/32°C

Domingo Highs: 91°F/33°C

Aruba Curacao

Aruba & Curacao Highs: 91°F/33°C

Highs: 91°F/33°C

Antigua Highs: 91°F/33°C

Barbados Highs: 88°F/31°C

Trinidad & Highs: 91°F/33°C

Trinidad & Tobago Highs: 91°F/33°C

$6.05 $6.11 $6.12 $6.06

Brookfield exploring $2.5bn Atlantis sale

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Brookfield Asset Management is looking to offload the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort - with a price tag of $2.5bn attached.

The news emerged as Atlantis yesterday touted that it was headed for its best ever year to local media, before Reuters reported that a source revealed: “The Toronto-based

Slow tourism season ‘a thing of the past’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper yesterday said the slow period for tourism is a thing of the past as the country can now look forward to year-round tourism and hotel occupancy.

Mr Cooper, speaking at the Office of the Prime Minister’s weekly press conference, told the media that the staff at the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, where he is also the substantive minister, have been working very hard to ensure they build the Bahamas’s tourism brand.

Mr Cooper also said: “We have worked very hard putting in place opportunities for increased airlift from many of our markets where we’re focusing. On the west coast, we’re seeing Jet Blue come in November, we’re seeing much new airlift come from Seattle, LA and

other cities, (like) Alaska Airlines. We see American Airlines ramping up significantly.”

The increased airlift has come at a time when pent up demand is still high, and while analysts are claiming that revenge tourism is a thing of the past, there is still high interest in a Caribbean vacation and The Bahamas is high on the list of favourable destinations.

SEE

asset manager is working with an adviser to solicit potential interest in the property, and could fetch roughly $2.5bn for the luxury resort.”

Reuters continued: “Brookfield took over Atlantis in late 2011 when its previous owner Kerzner International transferred ownership in a debt-for-equity restructuring deal. Brookfield at that time exchanged $175m worth of

SEE

Guilty - FTX exec admits illegal campaign donations

THE former co-chief of executive of FTX Digital Markets, Ryan Salame, yesterday pleaded guilty to making tens of millions of dollars in illegal campaign contributions to US politicians and engaging in a criminal conspiracy to operate an unlicenced money transfer business.

Ryan Salame, the former co-chief executive of FTX Digital Markets, is the fourth high-ranking official at the company or its affiliates to plead guilty to criminal charges.

The Tribune previously reported that it

was confessions from Mr Salame about the misuse of multi-billion dollar client funds that prompted an urgent police probe into possible misconduct, as revealed by Christina Rolle, the Securities Commission’s executive director.

This came in the final hours of the crypto exchange’s implosion, and sealed the decision to put FTX Digital Markets in provisional liquidation.

Yesterday, under a deal with prosecutors, Salame agreed to forfeit up to $1.55 billion in assets. He could also be called as

a witness to testify at the trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who was arrested last year in The Bahamas and extradited to the US to face charges that he committed a host of crimes while running the popular digital currency trading platform.

Salame, 30, entered his plea before a judge in

Manhattan, admitting to the court that he illegally used millions of dollars from a hedge fund controlled by Bankman-Fried to make political contributions in 2020 and 2021 to both Democrats and Republicans.

‘We’ll

bring back charm of Downtown Nassau’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE Downtown Management Authority (DMA) will bring back the charm of Downtown Nassau as the current Revitalisation Unit in the Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Aviation (MOTIA) will “morph” into this new authority, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper said yesterday.

Chester Cooper, Minister of Tourism, Investment and Aviation, said at the Office of the Prime Minister’s weekly press conference that the DMA Bill will be brought to parliament when it reconvenes on October 4.

The DMA Bill allow for monies to be allocated for the new entity as it will be responsible for “parking the upkeep of facilities, the management of derelict buildings, addressing stakeholder matters in terms of ownership and encouraging the upkeep of storefronts and buildings in the downtown area,” Mr Cooper said.

He said: “The reality of it is that there has to be some authority with some teeth to bring focus and bring back the old charm of downtown Nassau. Nassau reimagined as we call it, we’re hoping that this body will in fact be allocated some funding and that’s a matter for the cabinet to determine. But there’s opportunity perhaps through the tourism development fund levee there will be an opportunity for the overall management of downtown through this authority.

“We anticipate that perhaps the Revitalisation unit of the Ministry of Tourism will morph into this authority.”

Downtown Nassau is going through a renaissance with the opening up of the Nassau Cruise Port. The proposed DMA will seek to take the Downtown area to its next phases of development.

Other initiatives include the pedestrianisation of the Market Slope block, where the MOTIA believes it will

traffic and

RYAN SALAME

CHESTER COOPER