09282023 NEWS AND SPORT

‘TOURIS T S T OLD

T O S TAY AWAY’

...but cruise denies passengers advised to avoid Port Lucaya

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

CARNIVAL Cruise Line has denied discouraging its passengers from visiting the Port Lucaya Marketplace in Freeport after vendors alleged the cruise ship is steering guests away from the area because of safety concerns.

Vendors are reeling over

what they say is a significant drop in visitors, the latest blow to the island’s economy.

However, Chris Chiames, the chief communications officer for Carnival Cruise Line, denied their controversial claim.

“While there is a US State Department Advisory with specific reference

HEALTH OF JUNKANOO MEMBERS TO BE SCREENED PRIOR TO RUSH

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Health and Wellness will play a greater role than usual in screening Junkanoo participants this year after some participants experienced severe health events in previous years, including one person who died.

“In recent years, we have sadly witnessed the loss of at least one festival participant during the parade, with several near cases reported,” said Timothy Munnings, deputy permanent secretary in the ministry. “Each life lost is a profound tragedy, and it is our collective responsibility to

BOWLEG:

CHINESE MAY ASSIST STADIUM REPAIRS

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg said discussions with the Chinese government are continuing to help fund the $10m repairs to the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

He expected to meet with Chinese officials yesterday.

He said the Chinese, who donated the $30m stadium to The Bahamas

in 2011, “are willing and able to assist in funding and the preparation and repair of the facility. So, therefore, the government itself may not have to spend the monies that were allocated for the repairs of the stadium.”

The $10m will reportedly be used to repair the stadium and the Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatics

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

LABOUR and Public Service Minister Pia

Glover-Rolle says despite the massive turnout at the British Colonial Hilton’s job fair on Tuesday and Wednesday, there are enough jobs in the country for people willing to equip themselves with the necessary skills. Mrs Glover-Rolle attended the job fair at the Andre Rogers National Baseball Stadium

OBIE INITIALLY ‘felt cold’ on SOCIAL SERVICES SAYS FRIEND

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ADRIAN Francis, a decades-long friend of Obie Wilchcombe, said the former West End Grand Bahama and Bimini minister gradually embraced his role as minister of social services after initially feeling cold about the post.

Mr Francis, a former Guardian Radio and ZNS talk show host who befriended Wilchcombe for 36 years, made the comment on Facebook Live.

He said Wilchcombe

‘enough jobs AVAILABLE FOR SKILLED workers’

, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg

Health of Junkanoo members to be screened prior to rush

take proactive measures to ensure the safety and health of those who contribute to the beauty and festivity of Junkanoo.”

Mr Munnings said the ministry would conduct a mass health screening for the Junkanoo community. His comment came after Youth, Sports & Culture Minister Mario Bowleg announced that $2.8m has been allocated for the Junkanoo events. He said $736,000 in seed money would be shared among groups. S even category A groups will receive $30,000. Eighteen category B groups will get $15,000. Twenty-three D groups will receive $1,500. Twenty fun groups in Grand Bahama will get $2,000. Six category A groups in Grand Bahama will get $9,000, while four B groups will get $4,000.

“Last year after COVID, we had the biggest and safest Junkanoo family event we have ever experienced, particularly New Providence and the Family Islands,” Mr Bowleg said. “The standard of Junkanoo has elevated, and my ministry expects to continuously do the same with all stakeholders.”

Dion Miller, chairman

of Junkanoo Corporation

New Providence (JCNP), said there will be no major changes to the parades. He said officials are in the final planning stages.

“We did have a flyer out in regards to judges where we are asking the public to do a civic duty, come and assist us, and be a judge in these parades,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kendenique Campbell-Moss, the Saxons Superstars’ public relations director, expressed gratitude for the seed funding, noting Junkanoo is expensive. “You’re looking at spending anywhere any particular morning with an excess of at least $150,000, and that’s only on materials,” she said.

YOUTH, Sports & Culture Minister Mario Bowleg announced that $2.8m has been allocated for Junkanoo events. He said $736,000 in seed money would be shared among groups.

Photo: Moise Amisial from page one

A WISE OWL Junkanoo costume seen at recent parade.

MAN shaking cowbells at the Love Rush Junkanoo parade in Abaco.

Photo: Timothy Roberts

Obie initially ‘felt cold’ on Social Services post says long-time friend

initially saw the social services role unfavourably compared to his previous portfolio as minister of tourism in the two Christie administrations.

However, he claimed when Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis recently gave him the option to be the minister of Grand Bahama, minister of immigration or remain in social services, the 64-year-old chose to keep his post.

“He told the PM he wants to stay in social services,” Mr Francis claimed. “This the same ministry he had a problem with in his emotions initially. But he told the prime minister when he got there, I’m prepared to serve you wherever you want me, sir.”

Mr Francis said Wilchcombe wanted the National Insurance Board added to his portfolio, and he wanted to be responsible for ZNS.

“He said I think social services need two other ministries,” he recalled.

“He said I think we need the social one, which is NIB, to get the people’s stuff speedily through the system.”

Mr Francis said before the 2021 general election, Wilchcombe was concerned that the Progressive Liberal Party would deny him a nomination. He was one of the last ratified on the party’s ticket.

However, Mr Francis said Wilchcombe recently felt he was becoming one of Mr Davis’ most trusted colleagues.

“Brave and Obie became very, very close over the last seven to eight months,” he claimed. “They became so close that Obie was almost Brave’s number two in his ear. Every ten seconds, the PM was on the phone to him. I was in his office almost every day, so I kinda know what was going on.

“All Obie kept on doing was pushing the

foundation, pushing the PLP back to the foundation. Let’s go back to the people, and the prime minister began to buy it.”

Mr Francis said he last spoke with Wilchcombe on Sunday night. He said the two discussed the deaths of sporting legend Alpheus “Hawk” Finlayson and Clara Bethel, the wife of Housing Minister Keith Bell.

“He said, man Adrian, we gotta get to working because everybody dying,” Mr Francis said. “He told me call Mario Bowleg and tell Mario Bowleg we have to do a tribute for Hawk Finlayson in the legend’s walk.”

Mr Francis said Wilchcombe was excited after meeting Tyler Perry last week. He said the producer pledged to provide equipment to ZNS and help with

staff training.

Mr Francis said Wilchcombe nearly died three and a half years ago and required surgery after his heart stopped for 47 seconds.

“I would take him food, feed him,” he said.

In 2009, Wilchcombe was connected to an alleged extortion scheme targeting actor John Travolta.

Mr Francis said that

episode wounded him.

“It really caused him to stop –– even with some of his colleagues –– he became very kinda standoffish,” he said. “The John Travolta situation left a major stain in his heart, and some of the people who left him out to dry in the situation with John Travolta, it really, really messed him up.”

Mr Wilchcombe died on Monday.

Dr Rolle: PHA dealing with shortage of cancer medicine and nurses

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

PUBLIC Hospitals

Authority Managing Director Aubynette Rolle said there is a shortage of cancer drugs in the country, but alternative medicines are being used.

“We do have some of the oncolytic or the drugs that are used for cancer patients that we do not have, but we were able to get some of the alternative drugs to be utilized until we are able to access,” she told reporters.

According to international reports, the United States is facing a shortage of drugs, putting patients’ care at risk.

Ms Rolle also noted that officials are trying to address the shortage of nurses in the country, with Ghanaian nurses joining the workforce in a few days.

“We’ve done incentives and trying to improve infrastructure, also salaries, also just talking with the nurses on the retention side of things as it relates to recruitment,” she said.

“We are expecting some Ghanaian nurses in the next few days, also some nurses from the Philippines. As recent as last night, India also reached out to me as well, and so we’re going to use some of our recruiting companies to see whether we can get some of those persons in the country.”

“We are also doing research so that we can really hear from the nurses what’s going on, especially the newer nurses, so we’re looking at things to facilitate, as well as the barriers to the retention of nurses within the country.”

Ms Rolle said officials will do their due diligence to ensure language barriers do not hinder patients’ quality of care.

DR AUBYNETTE ROLLE, managing director of PHA.

“We do have some of the oncolytic or the drugs that are used for cancer patients that we do not have, but we were able to get some of the alternative drugs to be utilized until we are able to access,”

A YOUNG OBEDIAH ‘OBIE’ WILCHCOMBE

‘Tourists told to stay away’

to Freeport and Nassau, our shipboard team has not made any announcements about Freeport,” he said yesterday. “We are confused by the allegations.

As a standard practice, we advise guests visiting destinations to follow wellcited travel advice and stay in main tourist areas, not carry large sums of cash they don’t intend to spend, and not wear lots of jewellery. Our guests love

visiting Freeport.”

Carnival guests comprise a crucial group of potential PLM customers. Of the 20 cruise ships scheduled to arrive in Freeport until mid-November, 16 are Carnival vessels.

On Tuesday, two cruise ships, Carnival Dream and Carnival Sunshine, brought over 7,000 guests to Grand Bahama.

A bus took passengers to the Prop Club at the Grand Lucayan Resort. The visitors stayed there all day, visiting the restaurant and

beach.

Lorenzo McKenzie, the spokesman for the PLM vendors, claimed passengers were told vendors were unfriendly and that visitors could be robbed of cash and jewellery.

He said the persistently low visitor turnout has caused some stores to close.

Vendors, he added, are struggling to pay for their booths.

Mr McKenzie claimed the few passengers who walked to the marketplace yesterday said they were

PHA CONFIRMS 145 INFECTIONS OF DENGUE FEVER WIT H 6 HOSPITA LISED

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

PUBLIC Hospitals

Authority Managing Director Aubynette Rolle said six people are hospitalised with dengue fever. There are 145 confirmed dengue cases as of yesterday.

Five hospitalised cases are in New Providence, and one is in Grand Bahama.

“I’m happy to say that, you know, last week we had quite a number of patients that were

admitted, but we have only five patients admitted for dengue right now in New Providence and in Grand Bahama, we only had one.

“And so right now, we are at a place where we’re able to cope, and we also have a dedicated space where we have nursing those particular patients.”

She noted that the dedicated space can hold up to 13 patients. She said officials have increased fogging exercises and provided mosquito nets.

The Ministry of Health

and Wellness announced the reappearance of dengue fever last month, with the confirmed cases steadily increasing each week.

The disease spreads through contact with the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is most active after dawn and before dusk and lives and breeds in standing water. Health officials caution people to be mindful of any still, clean water that is not directly exposed to sunlight as this is an ideal breeding ground for the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

discouraged from visiting. He said crime should not deter guests because the marketplace has security officers and surveillance cameras.

He noted the Port Lucaya Police Station is adjacent.

He believes passengers are being given the wrong impression of the marketplace.

One vendor, Antoinette Smith, said she only made $15 on Tuesday. Another vendor, Angelo Armbrister, said he made no sales in

the last 16 days.

Last year, Grand Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey announced the launch of a micro-grant programme through which $5000 would be given to creative entrepreneurs in the tourism sector.

Many marketplace vendors reportedly applied for the grant but have not received it.

“We have rent on the 15 of next month, and if we don’t pay, on the 16th your shop is locked,” said a woman identified as Ms

Smith. “So, how are we supposed to make it, pay our bills?”

Jared Russell, a thirdgeneration vendor, said he is discouraged.

“Port Lucaya has now turned into the Bazaar,” he said. “There is no hope, nothing is happening here. We have the golf course, the beach, restaurants, so why aren’t the people coming here? There are almost 270 vendors here, and we can’t get 100 of those passengers to come here.”

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER, His Excellency Thomas Hartley paid a courtesy call on Minister of Energy and Transport the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis, September 25, 2023 at the ministry’s offices.

Photo: Anthon Thompson/BIS

LORENZO MCKENZIE, the spokesman for the PLM vendors

‘Enough jobs available for skilled workers’ says Labour Minister

from page one

yesterday.

Labour Director Robert Farquharson said 1328 people were processed on day one while 400 people attended the fair yesterday.

“More persons showed up than the property or the organisers were looking to hire, but that is normal for job fairs,” Mrs Glover-Rolle told The Tribune “We usually have more candidates show up than available spots. However, I spoke to many of the candidates that came out, and most of them, a few of them in particular, already have jobs and are looking for second opportunities.”

“In terms of supply versus demand in the job market, there are always jobs available in the country. The important thing is finding persons with the

skill sets and the qualifications to meet the job requirements.

“So, I think it’s more of a need of training and workforce readiness training that we need focus on in our nation, which is provided through our National Training Agency and, of course, technical and vocational training with BTVI.”

Mrs Glover-Rolle said there will be more job fairs before the end of the year.

“There are other opportunities that we’ll be presenting through our skills bank.”

“We encourage jobseekers to register at the Department of Labour skills bank where there are a number of jobs available. We seek to match those job opportunities with the skill sets of those who present themselves through the site or through our career fairs.”

BOWLEG: CHINESE MAY ASSIST STADIUM REPAIRS

from page one

Centre as the country seeks to host the World Athletics World Relays and the CARIFTA Swim Championships.

“The cost budgeted for the CARIFTA as it relates to the infrastructure development is some little bit below $2m, about $1.9m,” Mr Bowleg said. “And so, there are other repairs to be done, so we don’t foresee the government itself

spending too much money on the repairs for these facilities.”

Mr Bowleg said 1,500 seats will be added to the Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatics Centre, adding renovations will be completed on time.

Mr Bowleg’s comments come after former Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson said the sports minister must clarify the $10m budget for repairs to the stadium.

“Those people who have the technical

expertise go out and do the scope of work and determine the cost of anything that needs to be done,” Mr Bowleg responded yesterday.

“When it comes to repairing these facilities, it is not a cost which matters. It’s an investment in the facilities for us to have the most eloquent and upgraded facilities for our young people and our athletes to be able to prepare themselves to represent this country at the international level.”

YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg said discussions with the Chinese government are continuing to help fund the $10m repairs to the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

Photo: Moise Amisial

LABOUR and Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle says despite the massive turnout at the British Colonial Hilton’s job fair on Tuesday and Wednesday, there are enough jobs in the country for people willing to equip themselves with the necessary skills.

REPAIRS being carried out at the stadium in March prior to The Bahamas games.

The Tribune Limited

In Hollywood writers’ battle against AI, humans win (for now)

After a 148-day strike, Hollywood screenwriters secured significant guardrails against the use of artificial intelligence in one of the first major labor battles over generative AI in the workplace.

During the nearly five-month walkout, no issue resonated more than the use of AI in script writing. What was once a seemingly lesser demand of the Writers Guild of America became an existential rallying cry.

The strike was also about streamingera economics, writers room minimums and residuals — not exactly compelling picket-sign fodder. But the threat of AI vividly cast the writers’ plight as a human-versus-machine clash, with widespread implications for other industries facing a radically new kind of automation.

In the coming weeks, WGA members will vote on whether to ratify a tentative agreement, which requires studios and production companies to disclose to writers if any material given to them has been generated by AI partially or in full. AI cannot be a credited writer. AI cannot write or rewrite “literary material”. AI-generated writing cannot be source material.

“AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights,” the proposed contract reads.

Many experts see the screenwriters’ deal as a forerunner for labour battles to come.

“I hope it will be a model for a lot of other content-creation industries,” said Tom Davenport, a professor of information technology at Babson College and author of “ All-in on AI: How Smart Companies Win Big with Artificial Intelligence”. “It pretty much insures that if you’re going to use AI, it’s going to be humans working alongside AI. That, to me, has always been the best way to use any form of AI.”

The tentative agreement between the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which negotiates on behalf of the studios, doesn’t prohibit all uses of artificial intelligence. Both sides have acknowledged it can be a worthwhile tool in many aspects of filmmaking, including script writing.

The deal states that writers can use AI if the company consents. But a company cannot require a writer to use AI software.

Language over AI became a sticking point in the writers’ negotiations, which dragged on last week in part due to the challenges of bargaining on such a fastevolving technology.

When the writers strike began on May 2, it was just five months after OpenAI released ChatGPT, the AI chatbot that can write essays, have sophisticated conversations and craft stories from a handful of prompts. Studios said it was it too early to tackle AI in these negotiations and preferred to wait until 2026.

Ultimately, they hashed out terms while noting that the outlook is certain to change. Under the draft contract, “the parties acknowledge that the legal landscape around the use of (generative AI) is uncertain and rapidly developing”.

The companies and the guild agreed to meet at least twice a year during the contract’s three-year term.

At the same time, there are no prohibitions on studios using scripts they own to train AI systems. The WGA left those issues up to the legal system to parse. A clause notes that writers retain the right to assert that their work has been exploited in training AI software.

That’s been an increasingly prominent concern in the literary world. Last week, 17 authors, including John Grisham, Jonathan Franzen and George RR Martin, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI alleging the “systematic theft on a massive scale” of their copyrighted books.

The terms the WGA achieved will surely be closely watched by others — particularly the striking members of the actors union, SAG-AFTRA.

“This is the first step on a long process of negotiating and working through what generative AI means for the creative industry — not just writers but visual artists, actors, you name it,” says David Gunkel, a professor of media studies at Northern Illinois University and author of “Person, Thing, Robot”.

Actors, on strike since July 14, are likewise seeking better compensation from streaming. But they are also demanding safeguards against AI, which can potentially use a star’s likeness without his or her permission or replace background actors entirely.

Attempts to adopt AI “as a normal operating procedure” are “literally dehumanising the workforce”, actor Bryan Cranston said recently on a picket line. “It’s not good for society. It’s not good for our environment. It’s not good for working-class families.”

In other developments, SAG-AFTRA members voted overwhelmingly Monday in favor of a strike authorization against video game companies. The use of AI in gaming is a particularly acute anxiety for voice-over actors.

Some skeptics doubt whether the writers made significant headway on AI. Media mogul Barry Diller, chairman of the digital media company IAC, believes not enough was done.

“They spent months trying to craft words to protect writers from AI, and they ended up with a paragraph that protected nothing from no one,” Diller told CNBC.

Robert D Atkinson, president of the tech policy think tank Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, said limiting AI is unproductive.

“If we ban the use of tools to make organisations more productive, we are consigning ourselves to stagnation,” Atkinson write on X, formerly known as Twitter.

What most observers agree on, though, is that this was just the first of many AI labour disputes. Gunkel expects to see both writers and studios continue to experiment with AI.

“We’re so early into this that no one is able to anticipate everything that might come up with generative AI in the creative industries,” Gunkel said. “We’re going to see the need again and again to revisit a lot of these questions.”

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer

EDITOR The Tribune.

FRIENDS of the Environment (FRIENDS) is a Bahamian non-profit organisation that was established in 1988 with the mission to preserve the environment of Abaco, The Bahamas through education, conservation, and research facilitation. We are writing today to express our concern about a number of issues that have become compounded in Abaco since Hurricane Dorian.

Recently, concerns have been raised in the news and throughout the Abaco community regarding the denuding and mining of hills in Abaco. This is a concern shared by Friends of the Environment. Quarry mining is not a new practice, however the sustainability of mining these hills should be put into question. Now visible more than ever, since Hurricane Dorian decimated the pine forest surrounding Marsh Harbour, these “hills”, known as karst cones, are actually very old sand dunes that have turned to stone. This has happened over a long period of time as rain water will have dissolved some of the sand grains (also known as ooids) in these dunes and cemented them together with aragonite that formed when the dissolved sand dried up. Wind has further eroded and shaped the hills. As sand dunes provide our communities with protection from wind and waves, so too do these hills, and unfortunately they are a finite resource. When they are gone there is no coming back. There are other benefits provided by these hills, including being habitat for native plants and wildlife, tourist attractions and local landmarks,

however Hurricane Dorian has firmly impressed upon our community the need for coastal protection and elevation in the face of climate change and increasing storm events. This is one of a number of issues facing Abaco, issues that have been exacerbated by the passage of Hurricane Dorian and the ensuing rebuild and surge in new construction. Our water table and soils are being damaged through the intrusion of pollutants from legacy waste, hurricane debris, and faulty sewage systems. Hurricane debris is being moved from temporary transfer sites to our central landfill where it is regularly burned in the absence of better management. When mixed debris is burned it creates toxins known to cause cancer. Toxic ash follows the direction of the wind towards nearby communities, farms, and fishing grounds. Where controls should be in place there is a lack of capacity for oversight to follow through with regulations. The rate and scale of development is outpacing the ability of our communities to adapt to it. The scope of development must take into account the nature of our economy and be diligent in preserving our environment with every measure possible, ensuring sustainable tourism into the future. The answers may not be easy, the way out may not be quick...but we need to work together to find solutions to these problems. We entreat the Government to

take steps towards sustainable management of our island for the health and well-being of future generations of Bahamians before the impacts are irreversible. We need a better way to address the development needs of our island rather than compromising the very landscapes and resources that protect and sustain our communities.

To the wider community, we invite discussion on the matter and are willing to collect feedback and information from anyone who would like to have their voice heard on these and other issues relating to Abaco’s environment. Please join us in letting your concerns be known by also writing a letter to the editor. Or, contact us via the methods listed below. All information will be compiled and shared with the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Works (and other ministries relevant to issues raised), and Abaco’s Local Government Councils. On behalf of the Board and Staff of Friends of the Environment: Sincerely, Cha Boyce Executive Director cha@ friendsoftheenvironment.org How to contact Friends of the Environment: email: info@friendsoftheenvironment.org phone: 242-699-2277 WhatsApp: 242-818-5725 or visit our Learning Centre in Marsh Harbour Olivia Patterson-Maura Deputy Director olivia@ friendsoftheenvironment.org Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas, September 25, 2023.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

CABLE Beach Post Office parking lot has that been transferred to Sandals Hotel or the contractor Worlesee Construction because I tried to collect my mail for two days impossible … no parking space and one exit blocked with a rope!

A friend lives on north side adjacent to Sandals … tried to visit them … cars again with construction at Sandals parked the full length … the owners have

patience because I would be calling my friendly wrecker a long time ago. Emergency vehicles would have problems getting through.

Sandals, if you had construction work you know from the past there is no off street parking for the workers, plus your employees (madness of the Ingraham Government allowed you to expand and not provide a single parking spot!!!) How many employees does Sandals have? 3-400 + so

3-400 vehicles.

Contractor use your sense …get your employees to assemble at your base, bus the workers to Sandals so you don’t annoy and disturb the privacy of residents.

Shame on Sandals, you put the people through this before you should be ashamed … Worlesee Construction same goes for you.

PAULA MINNS Nassau, September 27, 2023.

YOUNG girls dressed as living goddess Kumari wait for Kumari Puja, a worship ritual at Hanuman Dhoka, Basantapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023.

Photo: Niranjan Shrestha/AP

Police investigate man found murdered in Coconut Grove area on Tuesday

POLICE are investigating the country’s latest murder and two suicide attempts.

A 21-year-old resident of First Street, Coconut Grove, was killed Tuesday night.

Police said an anonymous caller informed police that a number of shots were discharged in that area. Officers later found a man’s dead body at the rear of a business establishment.

Police said the victim was walking in the area when he was approached by a man who produced a

firearm, shot him and fled the area in an unknown direction.

Meanwhile, police said a 25-year-old man tried to kill himself yesterday.

Police received reports of a domestic complaint at Rugby Drive off Yamacraw Hill Road after 3am. The responding officer reportedly encountered a man who barricaded himself in a room and inflicted two deep lacerations to his wrist with a broken glass. The man was taken to hospital and was listed in serious condition.

Grand Bahama police are investigating the attempted suicide of a 47-year-old woman in Freeport on Wednesday.

Police received reports shortly after 8am that a female resident of Sparshot Road had ingested a quantity of over-thecounter medication in an attempt to take her life.

Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where she is listed in stable condition.

Police are continuing their investigation into the matter.

Man accused of attacking landlord’s SON W ITH KNIFE GRANTED $3,000 BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was given $3,000 bail yesterday after being accused of assaulting his landlord’s son with a knife earlier this year.

Senior Magistrate

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of inappropriately touching his stepdaughter in 2019 claimed he simply went to check on the girl because she suffers from seizures and did not touch her inappropriately as alleged.

The complainant alleges that when she was 18 years old, her stepfather came into her room on the night of May 11, 2019, shone his phone light between her legs and poked her private parts.

Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain

Carolyn Vogt-Evans charged Ochea Knowles, 32, with assault with a dangerous instrument.

Knowles allegedly assaulted Anton King with a knife after the two got into an argument on Misty Flowers Close on March 25.

Rastafarian not getting hopes high on further meetings with govt on cannabis legislation

presided over the trial, and Sergeant Deon Barr served as prosecutor.

Milton Cox represented the accused, whose name is being withheld to protect the child’s identity.

Sergeant Chris Curry testified that the morning after the alleged incident, he went to the defendant’s residence on Montgomery Avenue after receiving a rape complaint.

Sgt Curry said when he informed the defendant of the complaint, the stepfather said: “Rape, officer? The only thing I did was go into my stepdaughter’s bedroom to check on her cuz she has seizures. I then

After pleading not guilty to the charge, the defendant was informed that under his bail conditions, he must sign in by 6pm at Wulff Road Police Station on the last Sunday of every month. His trial begins on February 12 next year.

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

SOME leaders of the Rastafarian community hope they will meet government officials to advocate for changes to the proposed cannabis legislation.

rubbed her back to make sure that she was still breathing.”

Attorney Cox told the officer his client never said he rubbed his stepdaughter’s back, but Sgt Curry disagreed.

Detective Constable

Dario Sturrup testified that during the defendant’s police interview, he denied the allegations.

DC Sturrup said the accused said he stood over his stepdaughter with his phone light turned on to check if she was breathing.

The defendant’s bail will continue until his next trial date on November 16.

MAN RE M ANDED ON CHARGES OF MURDER AND INTENT TO ENDANGER LIFE FOR SHOOTING OF T HEO WILLIA MS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded in custody yesterday after he was accused of fatally shooting a man, who was on bail for murder, outside a bar on Hospital Lane earlier this year.

Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain charged Tamiko Coakley, 26, with murder and possession of a firearm with

intent to endanger life.

Coakley and two accomplices are accused of shooting 29-year-old

Theo Williams outside a bar on Hospital Lane on March 24.

Williams died at Princess Margaret Hospital on May 10.

The victim was himself on bail on a murder charge, accused of killing

Kendrick Clarke in Culmersville on June 23, 2018.

One of Coakley’s

co-accused, Charles Butler, 24, had been previously arraigned for this murder in June.

Coakley was told the matter 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 until the higher court grants him bail.

Coakley’s VBI is due for service on November 23.

MAN ON BAIL FOR MURDER OF JAHKEIL A R MBRISTER JAILED AFTER BREACHING CURFE W FOUR TIMES

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on bail for murder was imprisoned after he was accused of breaching his curfew four times.

Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain charged Ricardo Stubbs, 29, with four counts of

violating bail conditions.

Stubbs was on bail on a murder charge. He and two accomplices were accused of shooting and killing Jahkeil Armbrister during a home invasion in Flamingo Gardens on January 23, 2020.

Stubbs allegedly failed to obey his court-ordered residential curfew four times between April 9 and

May 24.

Following the defendant’s not-guilty plea, prosecutor Sergeant Deon Barr urged that he be denied bail due to the nature of the charges against him.

Stubbs will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his trial on November 28.

The Office of the Attorney General released draft cannabis legislation in August that would let Rastafarian organisations get a religious use licence to distribute cannabis to members as a sacrament. The substance could only be used on the premises for which the licence or exempt event permit is issued.

However, leaders said most Rastafarians are part of the Bobo Ashanti, a mansion that does not use

cannabis in tabernacles.

Yesterday, Jevon Thompson, chairman of the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress True Divine Church of Salvation, said he still hopes government officials will be convinced further to liberalise the substance’s use for religious purposes. “We have a member of our community that is meeting with them, the Honourable Priest Rithmond McKinney,” he said. “I don’t know if anything can be done different from that. He’s meeting with them so our community, we’re going over the document to see what we like from what we dislike and seeing what changes can be made, what solutions, and then by the time we

ready to have another collab with the government we’ll take it to our representative so he could take it to them.”

Mr Thompson said his community members met for three days last week to discuss the legislation. He said he is trying not to get his hopes high.

“You can’t get your hopes up too tough when you’re dealing with these kind of things,” he said.

“You hope for the best, but the process takes some time. This is something new. This isn’t something that we usually deal with all the time. This is like we’re turning a new page or a new chapter, so it comes with the territory, and we didn’t necessarily want to rush it through because we want it done right.”

M an says he ‘was checking her breathing’, DENIES INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCHING S TEPDAUGHTER

JEVON THOMPSON, chairman of the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress True Divine Church of Salvation

The neglect and needs of Caribbean and Pacific states

LAST week, US president Joe Biden asked Congress for an additional $24 billion to support the war in Ukraine. As noted by Mark Cancian, a senior policy advisor with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, and others, this will bring total US aid to a staggering approximately $135 billion.

Since Russia expanded its brutal war on Ukraine in 2022, the US has provided considerably more than military support. It has also given significant financial, budgetary and economic assistance, and humanitarian aid. Many rightly support the defence of Ukraine.

Still, the support from the Global South for US and Western intervention and aid to Ukraine is mixed. While most condemned Russia’s violent breach of Ukrainian sovereignty, condemnation has not been as vigorous by some countries for a variety of geopolitical and other reasons and calculations.

One reason is that many in the Global South query why American largesse has flowed to Ukraine, while many developing countries have historically received relatively paltry economic and development support and assistance from the US, Europe and other Western states.

This includes support for economic and social development, debt relief, grants and low-interest

loans to address climate change, reparations for slavery, and a more equitable global banking and financial system, including in the Bretton Woods institutions, namely the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Many in the Global South, including small island states in the Caribbean and the Pacific, continue to feel like supplicants, begging the developed world for reparatory justice, basic assistance and a more equitable global financial infrastructure.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Motley put it in stark form during her 2022 address to the UN General Assembly: “We have incurred debts for COVID. We have incurred debts for climate. And we have

incurred debts, now, in order to fight this difficult moment with the inflationary crisis and with the absence of certainty of supply of goods.

“Why, therefore, must the developing world now seek to find money within

seven to 10 years when others had the benefit of longer tenors to repay their money?”

Mottley offered this contrast: “But I ask for us to reach a global compact – that financing for development cannot be short-term financing, and that it needs to be at least 30-year money. The world recognised that when it allowed Britain to be able to participate in the refinancing of its World War bonds which were only paid off eight years ago, 100 years after World War One started.

“Or when it allowed Germany to cap its debt service at the equivalent of five percent of its exports, conscious that the cataclysmic experience of war would not have allowed them to finance reconstruction while repaying debts incurred for war.”

President Biden invited the 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum leaders to meet with him in Washington, DC, last week after he was unable to meet with them previously in Papua, New Guinea because of domestic issues in the US. There was warm talk and camaraderie at the recent summit.

Yet, Biden’s meagre promise of $200m for small island Pacific states overwhelmed by the climate emergency, crushing debt and underdevelopment, was juxtaposed to his push for billions more for Ukraine.

For context, the largest donor country in the Pacific is Australia, a country of approximately 25 million. In 2020, the island continent provided approximately $1.4 billion to Pacific nations, around 29 percent of the total foreign aid for the region.

Moreover, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, “the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided $1.65 billion in assistance… The largest donors after Australia and the ABD were Japan, the United States and New Zealand, which spent $477m, $375m and $350m respectively in 2020.”

Meanwhile, back in the US, as reported by the UK Guardian: “There was initial confusion of just how much money the US was going to give the region. In his remarks, Biden had mistakenly said the

US would invest $40bn, then a US official said the amount should have been $40m for Pacific island infrastructure, and that was amended again to $200m in a written statement after the meeting.” The confusion was curious. The story continued: “The visiting leaders, having been feted by the administration, brought down from New York where most attended the UN General Assembly, on a special train to Baltimore where they were taken to an American football game at the Baltimore Ravens’ stadium. There they were brought out on field and celebrated ‘for their roles as American friends in the Indo-Pacific’.”

Over another two days they met with senior administration officials. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield hosted a dinner for the leaders.

To repair decades of diplomatic neglect, the US diplomatically recognised Cook Islands and Niue and the Biden administration has opened new embassies in the Solomon Islands and Tonga. A USAID regional mission will open in Fiji and a US embassy is planned for Vanuatu next year.

If China had not made a strong political, economic and security assistance push among the Forum states, the US would likely have ignored them for many more decades, a reality check Caricom should keep in mind. Biden did meet with Caricom leaders during the Summit of the Americas held in Los Angeles last June.

Still, contrast the meeting with the Forum leaders with the severalhour visit to Nassau of US Vice President Kamala Harris some months ago. She announced an embarrassingly small $100m aid package for Caricom.

In a further embarrassing sign of neglect and indifference by the US to the region, Harris could not even stay overnight for dinner. Tellingly, the Americans seemed oblivious as to how insulting all of this was to Caribbean leaders and The Bahamas, who likely feigned greater appreciation than was warranted.

President Biden and the

US have made a strategic geopolitical and moral decision to oppose Russian aggression and to uphold the inviolability of national sovereignty.

One can support this principle and decision while recalling how the US has brazenly violated the sovereignty of other nations throughout its history. But what is the US’s strategic and moral imperative for the small island Pacific and Caribbean states, most of which are democracies? Is the only calculus to see these states as a competition ground with China? Even if this is the sole or main calculus for the US, it is failing miserably in its support of these states.

The US is so often hyperattentive to a conflict or war, whether Afghanistan, Iraq or Ukraine, where it invests billions or trillions, a good deal of which is spent in armaments for American corporate and military giants. Considerable funds are often wasted or abused through fraud.

A relatively small amount of this treasure would transform the Caribbean and Pacific states. Prime Minister Mottley, like others, has argued that moral pleas to the global powers are insufficient.

Instead, the leaders of these small states must continue to act together to argue and demonstrate that investing in their development is in the self-interests of the great powers.

American foreign policy seems oblivious to the broader development needs of the countries of Caricom and the Pacific Island Forum, and how much a relatively little in American terms can mean so much for the citizens of these states.

With the US preoccupied with various domestic and international matters, small island states must also look to others for survival and development.

This includes China and an increasingly ambitious leading country of the Global South – India – led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who appears to understand the needs of developing countries better than most global powers, including that of the United States and much of Europe.

In a further embarrassing sign of neglect and indifference by the US to the region, Vice President Kamala Harris could not even stay overnight for dinner.

While Biden tries to appear as ‘labour’s best friend’ Trump seems to lose favour

ONE year from this morning, we’ll know who the Democratic and Republican party nominees are in a presidential election contest that will then only be six weeks away. And we’ll know if a third-party candidate or candidates have emerged to challenge America’s deeply entrenched twoparty political duopoly. But this morning and this week, it seems pretty clear that we have also learned something pretty important already. What we have learned is that organized labour in the United States is not going to allow its considerable organizing and financial heft to be divided in such

STATESIDE

a way that favours Donald Trump.

A selective United Auto Workers strike continues to target certain facilities of America’s “Big Three” legacy automobile manufacturers, leading presidential contenders Joe Biden and Trump are appearing in Michigan to make news

and garner headlines.

In becoming the firstever sitting US president to join a picket line, Biden aims to reinforce his status as “labour’s best friend”. While proclaiming his official neutrality in the wage and benefits dispute between auto workers and manufacturers, Biden did reference the significant

concessions made by workers over a decade ago to enable the Big Three to stay in business in the aftermath of the “Great Recession” of 2008-09.

Now, the Big Three are racking up billions of dollars in profits, and Biden agrees with the UAW that auto workers should share in this increased profitability. He said so again on Tuesday.

Trump visited Michigan yesterday, and his reception was markedly different. It says here that this difference will persist, deepen, and lead to a restoration of organised labour’s traditional embrace of the Democratic Party and most of its candidates for elective office.

As one of America’s most powerful trade unions, the UAW has long served as a bellwether for organised labour in the US. And its hostile response to Trump’s appearance at a nonunion facility serves as a preview for labour’s likely role in next year’s political campaign.

Outspoken UAW president Shawn Fain has loudly proclaimed that he wouldn’t meet with Trump in Michigan.

“I find a pathetic irony that the former president is going to hold a rally for union members at a nonunion business,” Fain said in an interview that aired on CNN Tuesday.

“All you have to do is look at his track record — his track record speaks for itself,” he added.

Fain said that during the recession 15 years ago, Trump blamed UAW members and their contracts “for everything that was wrong with these (automobile manufacturing) companies”. He also accused Trump of being unsupportive during a previous major strike.

“The ultimate show of how much he cares about our workers was when he was the president of the United States. Where was he then?” Fain asked, recalling a General Motors strike in September and October of 2019. “(Our members) were out there on the picket lines. I didn’t see him hold a rally. I didn’t see him stand up at the picket line and I sure as hell didn’t hear him comment about it. He was missing in action.”

About his decision not to meet with Trump on Wednesday in Detroit, Fain said: “I see no point, because I don’t think the man has any bit of care about what our workers

stand for, what the working class stands for. He serves a billionaire class and that’s what’s wrong with this country.”

Trump said this in response to an NBC reporter: “The autoworkers are being sold down the river by their leadership, and their leadership should endorse Trump.”

Trump added that “I think he’s (the UAW president) not doing a good job in representing his union, because (at this rate) he’s not going to have a union in three years from now.”

There has been continuing concern among Democratic strategists that Trump’s appeal to disaffected blue-collar Americans could divide organised labour rank and file members to the major detriment of Biden’s reelection chances. And it is true that Trump’s populist, bitterly resentful, xenophobic message does have appeal to many industrial workers in the US. He has been able to reach the hearts and minds of American workers as has no national Republican since Ronald Reagan.

But this week’s events gave evidence that at least for America’s most powerful trade union, Trump has frittered away that advantage. It’s an important development for Biden.

Meantime, while Trump was in Michigan, he was also avoiding the second GOP presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, which was held in Southern California. Trump’s lead in the current polls over his challengers is so huge that most of the major American media agreed with his public assessment that he had little if anything to gain by participating in the debate.

Unspoken but also discussed was the corollary: If he were to participate in one of these debates, Trump might unwittingly give some greater life to one of his challengers if he lost his composure, said something both egregious and damaging, or otherwise wobbled on national TV.

For the debate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum appeared for the debate.

Did you watch it? Could you even find it in your cable TV menu if you had wanted to watch it? Fox appears to have given up on this debate’s potential as a ratings leader once Trump announced he would not be present.

The candidates who did

appear did so by meeting the Republican National Committee’s strengthened polling and fundraising standards for Wednesday’s debate. Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who participated in the first Republican presidential primary debate, did not make the cut this time. Hutchinson, whose manner and policy positions are far too moderate for the appetites of the contemporary Republican Party, was always running a dead-on-arrival candidacy anyhow. He won’t be missed by many.

Maybe the seven other contenders are actually in the same position. There is already much speculation that they are still running to burnish their credentials for 2028, or to raise their profile for a potential position in a renewed Trump administration, either as his vice-presidential nominee or for a cabinet position.

Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to boycott this debate has exacerbated the already difficult position of Ronna McDaniel. She is currently in her fourth term as chair of the powerful Republican National Committee, and won re-election to that post earlier this year with the tacit support of Trump.

But it is the RNC that organises and hosts these campaign debates, and Trump’s scornful disdain of them – and his apparent success in maintaining such a dismissive attitude without any apparent consequences with GOP voters – has made McDaniel and her RNC colleagues look weak and irrelevant.

McDaniel previously served as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party from 2015 to 2017. And she is the niece of Utah Senator and 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, which makes her the grand-niece of 1960s era Republican heavyweight and former Michigan Governor George Romney.

Since McDaniel’s 2017 election as chairwoman of the RNC, however, the Republican Party’s record is such that were it not for Trump’s support, she would have been fired years ago. In fact, rumours persist that Trump asked her to stop using her middle name –Romney – after he had a falling-out with her uncle.

Under her leadership – and Trump’s – the GOP has had a net loss of seven governorships, three seats in the United States Senate, 19 seats in the House of Representatives, and the presidency. In December 2022, well-respected online journal Axios opined that McDaniel “has thus far failed to preside over a single positive election cycle”.

IN becoming the first-ever sitting US president to join a picket line, Joe Biden aims to reinforce his status as “labour’s best friend”.

Photo: Evan Vucci

with Charlie Harper

EDITOR, The Tribune.

SEPTEMBER 28 marks the International Day for Universal Access to Information, a day proclaimed by UNESCO to emphasise the importance of legal and practical frameworks for the public to access information.

This year, the conversation focuses on the role of Artificial Intelligence and e-Governance in enhancing access to information and the necessity of ensuring the ethical use of these technologies. However, here in The Bahamas, we are yet to fully enact key provisions of our own access to information legislation, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) of 2017, stalling progress before we even encounter the dilemmas of the digital age.

The FOIA, which the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG), has staunchly advocated for, seeks to reinforce the fundamental principles of democracy: government accountability, transparency, and public participation in national decision-making processes. It was designed to provide the public with access to government-held information, allowing the citizenry to hold their government accountable and make informed choices.

Despite being enacted in 2017, subsequent administrations have failed to bring into force crucial sections of the FOIA that cover the process for applying for and accessing information, thus hampering the public’s fundamental right to information.

The inability to fully enact the FOIA is a significant bottleneck in our democratic

process. While the world is advancing discussions on the ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence and transparency in e-Governance, The Bahamas struggles to grant its citizens the basic right to access information about the workings of their government. Informed citizens are the backbone of a thriving democracy; they can make enlightened decisions, whether at the polls or in daily life, thereby contributing to a healthier, more inclusive society. We believe that collaborative efforts among the government, civil society, and the private sector can bring about a culture of transparency and open dialogue, essential elements for the progress and sustainability of our democracy. To this end, ORG was proud to partner with the Information Commissioner, Retired Justice Keith Thompson, and the FOIA Unit in early 2022, to offer a Public Educational Town hall on FOIA. In this virtual forum attended by hundreds, it was publicly revealed that as an initial phase of implementation, 10 government agencies will be able to receive and respond to requests for information from citizens. This statement was reiterated during this year’s budget debate, but it remains unclear whether sufficient funding and resources have been allocated for execution of this objective.

Universal Access to Information Day is not merely a symbol but a crucial

reminder of the importance of citizens’ rights to information, a cornerstone for building transparent, accountable, and inclusive societies. ORG continues to advocate for a functional, fair and robust FOIA and invites all stakeholders to join in advocating for the realization of a society where access to information is not a privilege, but a fundamental right enjoyed by all.

The Bahamian public has a critical role in achieving this goal. We encourage citizens to “Get informed” and “Get Involved”, and learn about their rights to public information and how to access and use this tool to better their lives. If the public raises their voices and urges their elected representatives to fully enact and fund all provisions of the FOIA, much can be accomplished.

We hope this day serves as a catalyst for positive change, prompting a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and the right to information in The Bahamas.

In the pursuit of a stronger, more informed Bahamas, let’s continue the conversation on access to information and push for the realization of our rights enshrined in the FOIA. Let us step into the future with a commitment to ensuring that advancements in technology, like AI and e-Governance, are used responsibly to enhance access to information and not to create new barriers.

The Organization for Responsible Governance Nassau, September 26, 2023. September 27, 2023

Bring FOIA enhanced with AI Blame NATO for the deaths

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WITNESS the deafening silence with which western media and politicians fail to place into context the more than 10,000 probably avoidable deaths from flash floods in what was once the most developed country on the African continent: Libya.

That context is that, while the floods may have no human culprit, the breaking of the dams, the dismal state of the country’s infrastructure and the breakdown of its governance all have a very real culprit indeed: NATO.

The barbaric attack on Libya in 2011 was (one hopes) the high water mark of the “democratic world’s” penchant for criminal aggression dressed up as liberation. They sent warplanes

to destroy the Libyan government and replace it with an assortment of extremists - and they did so based on a risible lie.

The country’s leader was murdered while Mrs. Clinton cackled “we came, we saw, he died”. Then the country fell apart (before it fell, too, from the attention span of the dumbed-down western media). A more disgusting and undignified flouting of international norms of behaviour can scarcely be imagined.

It was the ultimate reminder of why NATO must be consigned to the dustbin of history.

And, as so often, it falls to the armies of Russia to get the job done.

Were I a betting man, I

would wager that by this time next year, Russia will have fully humiliated NATO in Ukraine (it is already doing so) and, with Mr. Trump heading back to the White House, the organization will soon thereafter fall apart with the loss of US taxpayer funding.

In a sane world (but probably not in this one) there would then be trials of those who destroyed Libya in the first place.

But as things stand, people of principle and intelligence worldwide will simply have to make do with the defeat and declawing of this dangerous organization.

ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, September 25, 2023.

CLEANING underway yesterday on the main catchment on Dowsdwell Street. The work is an attempt to mitigate flooding, with further drainage work on Bay Street expected to follow.

OFFICIALS, including Tourism director Latia Duncombe, spoke to students at CV Bethel High School and various other schools on a speaker circuit on Wednesday, talking about the importance of Tourism and Green Investment, in celebration of World Tourism Day.

Photos: Moise Amisial

Who’s being listened to on the global stage?

Increasingly not who you might think

Associated Press

TOGO’S foreign minister wasn’t having any of it. He talked of an accelerating “African awakening,” of a resolve to “fight our own battles,” of a refusal to be banished to the children’s table while the musclebound great powers of the 20th century moved chess pieces around the board.

“Nobody is at the centre of the world,” Robert Dussey said in French, his voice emphatic. “We don’t want to be relegated to the background as the world develops.”

Africa was Dussey’s subject. But he might have been one of any number of leaders speaking at the United Nations this past week — the voices of smaller nations that typically command less attention. They come, they air grievances and concerns, and then the oxygen is gobbled up by others — often the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

This year, though, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s high-profile presence notwithstanding, things felt different. Top leaders of four of the five permanent member nations didn’t attend. Climate change helped amplify the concerns of smaller nations — not coincidentally, those most affected by it. And speech by speech, speaker by speaker, it became clear: On the international stage, other voices are beginning to rise — and to be heard.

“The voice of the Global South is growing louder,” said Terrance Michael Drew, prime minister of the Caribbean island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. “The voices and experiences of the Pacific matter,” said Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. “Our appetite for transformative change has never been higher,” said Xavier Espot, prime minister of the small European country of Andorra.

“The General Assembly is always the biggest platform for countries that don’t get a spotlight,” says Anjali Dayal, an associate professor of international politics at Fordham University and an expert on the United Nations and other international organizations.

“But I think this year, we saw that more leaders were paying attention to the biggest constituency of UN countries — countries that are not big powers but that suffer the biggest consequences and very seldom get to cast the decisive vote,” she said.

Where is the momentum coming from? As with so many matters of import these days, there’s no single answer. This year, one development helped clear space for some of the voices: the shallow attendance of major nations’ leaders. Of the UN Security Council’s five permanent members, only the United States, in the personage of President Joe Biden, spoke. The others — Russia, China, France and Britain — chose to send underlings, as did India and Canada.

UN Deputy

Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called that “disappointing.” But it did mean that smaller nations and coalitions had more oxygen. They used some of it to advocate for a broader-based permanent membership of Security Council, the only UN body with the power to take military action and impose sanctions. Only its permanent members can veto resolutions, and frustration about that runs long and deep.

“The global governance architecture has not delivered the equity and inclusion that is required,” said Tandi Dorji, foreign minister of the Asian nation of Bhutan. He insisted representation on the council — which lacks a permanent member from Africa or Latin America — be broadened. “The increasing fragmentation, polarization, and growing inequity we witness in the world today only serve as an urgent cry for strengthening multilateralism.”

The structure of the United Nations, most countries agree, doesn’t fit the current global configuration. An organization built in the postwar mid-20th century to, in essence, prevent the nations who could destroy the world from doing so is not equipped to tackle the fragmentation afoot as the mid-21st century steams toward us with a rapidly evolving global power structure, speaker after speaker said.

Other factors, too, are helping softer voices grow louder. Exhibit A: climate

secondhand account — and people are starting to listen.

“They’re banding together and saying, ‘We are the front line of world’s biggest problems, and the only way we get attention is if we band together.’ That has been remarkably effective in terms of voice,” Dayal said. “They’re saying, ‘Today it’s us. Tomorrow it’s going to be you.’”

The pandemic and

the most affected constituencies, have natural roles driving that as well. “As we rebuild from the pandemic, we must do so with an unwavering commitment to inclusivity,” said Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan. And coalitions are strengthening beyond usual suspects like the G20 and the European Union. There is the Global South

permanent G20 seat for the African Union.

Then there’s sheer population. Africa’s alone is expected to double from its current 1.3 billion by 2050 and make up a quarter of the planet’s people. This year, India surpassed China to become the world’s most populous nation; its leader, Narendra Modi, may have skipped the UN meeting, but he hosted the G20 two

as a key global power — its oomph carries along other less-heard nations’ priorities in its wake, while bigger nations are distracted with other things.

“It seems that the Global North, under the US leadership, is busy resisting China’s growing power and weakening Putin’s Russia,” Zhiqun Zhu, a professor of political science and international relations at Bucknell University, said in an email. “No wonder China is seeking support in the developing world.”

Even Biden focused his UN speech not on the big powers whose leaders didn’t show, but on leaders in the room. “The United States is working across the board to make global institutions more effective and more inclusive,” he said, adding that in the 21st century, “21st-century results are badly needed.”

That, like so many other remarks that followed in coming days, was an acknowledgment of something crucial: Both the community of nations and the UN itself need to address a world that might not have been recognizable to the architects of the post-World War II order and the global organization that rose from its ashes.

change, which has hit the world’s poorest countries hardest — in particular, island nations whose very existence is threatened by rising waters. When the president of the island nation of Kirabati, Taneti Maamau, says his country is “experiencing intensifying severe drought and coastal inundation,” it’s not a

the gradual recognition — finally — of SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres’ yearslong insistence that a multilateral planet is the only way forward also are helping matters.

Much like climate change, the vaccine inequity that the pandemic produced is a pressing topic; smaller nations, as

in general, with its malleable membership but its commitment to developing countries with unique common needs. There is SIDS, or small island developing states, which tell firsthand stories about climate change. And Africa’s voice is stronger than ever as it pushes for equity, buoyed by a new

weeks ago and used it as a forum to trumpet India’s suitability as a leader of the Global South.

China, too, used the General Assembly last week to cast itself as a member of the Global South and the community of developing nations. While that’s a matter of some debate — China also wants to be perceived

Which brings us back to Togo. Dussey surely voiced the concerns of myriad smaller nations when he said, flatly, that it is time to be heard and listened to — individually or as a group, but in a way that befits a 21stcentury civilization where some of the most difficult circumstances are visited upon those with the least resources to cope.

“We are wearied by paternalism,” Dussey said. “We are weary at your condescension. We are weary of your arrogance. We are weary. We are weary. We are weary.”

SAINT Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Micheal Drew addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Saturday at United Nations headquarters.

Photo: Mary Altaffer/AP

THE HASHTAG “#UNGA” sign is shown outside the UN General Assembly Hall at the United Nations, Saturday.

Photo: Ted Anthony/AP

Coach Franklyn Williams laid to rest

SCORES of Bahamians showed up at the Christian Life Ministries to pay their last respects to the late coach Franklyn Williams, who was lauded as an “unsung hero” for the role he played in the development of so many young track and field athletes.

The 63-year-old Williams, the coach of the 4-D Stallions, was laid to rest in his coffin with his trademark cap, whistle and toothpick in his mouth before he was funeralised and interred into Woodlawn Gardens.

Officiating were Rev Trajean Jardorette and associate pastor Carolyn Gordon. Also in attendance were Rev Dr William Thompson, Rev Patrick Paul and district elder Portia Ferguson, who all participated in the service.

COACH Franklyn Williams’ body is placed in a hearse. ENTERTAINER David ‘Funky D’ Ferguson embraces a family member of coach Franklyn Williams.

FAMILY members of coach Franklyn Williams Photos courtesy of Athama Bowe

REV Dr William Thompson and district elder Portia Ferguson.

BAAA president Drumeco Archer, right, shares a moment at the funeral.

REV Patrick Paul and Rev Trajean Hardrette, who officiated at the funeral service.

SHOWN, from left to right, are track and field officials, NACAC president Mike Sands, technician Rev Trevor Moss and coaches Rupert Gardiner and Shaun Miller Sr. MIKE Sands greets one of coach Franklyn Williams’ sisters.

Ayton traded to the Trail Blazers

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Centre Deandre Ayton, who was embroiled in contract talks with the Phoenix Suns and a heated clash with former head coach Monty Williams, has been traded to Portland, becoming the second Bahamian to play for the Trail Blazers.

The move came yesterday in a blockbuster three-team deal in the National Basketball Association that was centred around the Milwaukee Bucks acquiring guard Damian Lillard from the Trail Blazers.

The deal also sent Jrue Holiday from the Bucks to Portland, Jusuf Nurkic from the Blazers to the Suns and Toumani Camara from the Suns to the Trail Blazers. However, all three cannot be finalised until NBA attorneys review the terms and approve the deal.

The 25-year-old Ayton was hoping to team up with Eric Gordon, whom he played with for the Bahamas men’s national basketball team in the Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in August where they advanced to the Qualifying Tournament next year heading into the Olympics in Paris, France.

But, according to reports, the Trail Blazers always had interest in the former No. 1 overall pick in the past and were linked to him again within the last week until the deal came through yesterday. Efforts to contact Ayton for comments were unsuccessful.

Ayton, the number one pick in the NBA draft in 2018, had an up-and-down five-year stint in Phoenix that included some tension with coach Williams, but he still managed to average a double-double for five

JAZZ AND MARLINS PULL EVEN WITH CUBS FOR FINAL NL WILD CARD

straight seasons, including 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in 30.4 minutes per game across 67 contests last season.

But with the acquisition of Bradley Beal to join the duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, there were some concerns as to how the Suns would have utilised Ayton, who is more of a traditional centre who plays on the inside.

After the departure of coach Williams, Ayton signed a four-year/ $132,929,128 contract with Phoenix, including $132,929,128 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $33,232,282.

This season, he’s set to earn a base salary of $32,459,438, while carrying a cap hit of $32,459,438 and a dead cap value of $32,459,438.

While attending the Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp in Nassau, Ayton was spotted by an NBA scout who took him to the United States where he played for Balboa School In California.

He transferred to Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix where he played out his final two years of high school. He then went on to play his freshman year for the Arizona Wildcats before he entered the NBA draft.

After spending the past seasons in Pheonix, Ayton now follows retired centre Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson at Portland.

Thompson, the first Bahamian born player to play in the NBA, was selected as the first overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft as the first foreign-born player to be selected first.

During his eight years where he started at both power forward and centre positions with the Trail Blazers, Thompson was named to the 1978 All-Rookie team, and had arguably his statistically best season in

1981-82 where he averaged 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.

In the 1987 off-season, Thompson was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for centre/forward Steve Johnson.

But after he only played half a season with the Spurs, Thompson was traded again on February 1987 to the Los Angeles Lakers for centre/forward Frank Brickowski and centre Petur Guomundsson plus a 1987 first-round draft pick and their 1990 second-round draft choice, along with an undisclosed

amount of cash. Thompson was acquired as a back-up centre and power forward for coach Pat Riley’s Lakers team that had four players who were overall #1 selections in the NBA draft, including Kareem AbdulJabbar (1969), Magic Johnson (1979), and James Worthy (1982). The trade proved valuable to the 1986-87 Lakers, who went on to defeat Boston for the 1987 NBA title.

Thompson thrived as Abdul-Jabbar’s backup. In game six of the 1987 NBA

Uruguay wins at Rugby World Cup after three yellow cards for Namibia

LYON, France (AP)

— Uruguay capitalised on three yellow cards to Namibia by overcoming a terrible start and winning their absorbing Rugby World Cup pool match 36-26 yesterday.

Los Teros recorded only a fourth ever win at a Rugby World Cup while extending Namibia’s tournament-record losing run to 26 matches since 1999.

The Namibians looked like they would defy the odds — depleted team, fourth and final game in 18 days - thanks to a stunning 14-0 start in the first 11 minutes.

But the yellow cards in the second half helped Uruguay to wipe out a 20-12 halftime deficit and take the lead for the first time in the 54th minute and hold on.

“We had to win,” Uruguay captain Andres Vilaseca said. “Uruguay only had three wins in

history — today we got the fourth.

“The whole union needed the win. We play for our country and for the region. We are growing at such a fast speed with Chile and Argentina. We have been working very hard since the 2015 World Cup. I am so happy for the group.”

One of Namibia’s yellows, to replacement prop Des Sethie, was upgraded to red. But the game finished 14 on 14 after Uruguay received a late yellow card.

Namibia gave away 16 penalties, six in the scrum alone which caused one yellow card, while the other two yellows were for dangerous upright tackles.

“These are things that cost you in test rugby,” Namibia coach Allister Coetzee said.

“There is nothing you can do — you can’t hide about it if you are not up

to it. But I must commend the team for playing until the end.

“Defensively, there were errors in technique in being too upright. It is quite difficult to swallow but in the end Uruguay deserved to win.”

Uruguay was the fresher team — a third game in a comfortable 14 days — but it was stunned from the kickoff. Namibia scored after 59 seconds when Santiago Arata’s errant pass

SEE PAGE 17

Finals, he had 15 points and nine rebounds and played 37 minutes as the Lakers won the series.

The Lakers won another title in 1988, beating the Detroit Pistons, and reached the Finals in 1989, falling to Detroit, and again, in 1991. He retired later that year.

Thompson, 68, is now a commentator for the Lakers and one of his sons, Klay Thompson, is a superstar for the Golden State Warriors, who won four NBA titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.

By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Jon Berti hit a leadoff homer to complete his cycle for the day and the Miami Marlins pulled even in the race for the final National League playoff spot, beating the New York Mets 4-2 last night for a doubleheader split.

Jesús Sánchez also went deep and the Marlins took advantage of an error by rookie third baseman Brett Baty to score twice in the ninth inning. Miami is tied for the third NL wild card with the Chicago Cubs, who lost 6-5 in 10 innings at NL East champion Atlanta. Both teams are 82-76 with four games left. Francisco Lindor had three homers and six RBIs in the doubleheader, becoming the fourth Mets player with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season.

In the opener, Pete Alonso was 4 for 4 with a homer, Lindor drove in four runs and the Mets tagged Braxton Garrett early in rolling to an 11-2 rout. Alonso barely missed a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning of the nightcap when his two-out double caromed off the top of the left-field wall. After an intentional walk to Lindor, left-hander Matt Moore (5-1) retired DJ Stewart on a popup. Miami loaded the bases against Adam Ottavino (1-7) with nobody out in the ninth on two singles and an intentional walk. Xavier Edwards scored the go-ahead run when Baty flubbed a grounder by pinch-hitter Yuli Gurriel. One out later, Bryan De La Cruz added an RBI single. Andrew Nardi got three outs for his third save. Lindor hit a two-run homer right-handed in the opener, then a pair of solo

SEE PAGE 18

MAN CITY OUT OF THE LEAGUE CUP AS LIVERPOOL, ARSENAL CHELSEA ADVANCE

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer

MANCHESTER City seems to win every competition it enters these days except the English League Cup.

Newcastle beat Man City 1-0 yesterday in the third round of the League Cup which also eluded Pep Guardiola’s team during its storied treble last season.

Guardiola’s agitation showed by getting a yellow card in the closing minutes for dissent to the match officials.

“No problem, I accept everything,” Guardiola told the BBC of his booking.

“Congratulations to Newcastle for the victory.”

Newcastle’s reward in the fourth-round draw made 30 minutes after the final whistle is a trip to Manchester in the fourth round to face United. It’s a rematch of last season’s final won by Man United.

Guardiola left star starters Erling Haaland, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden on the bench, yet Man City still dominated the first half without making its possession count with a goal.

Alexander Isak struck in the 53rd for Newcastle which also made sweeping lineup changes to rest key players for another midweek fixture sandwiched between two Champions League challenges.

The goal was created by Joelinton’s dribble into and across the penalty area past four City defenders before squaring a pass that found Isak alone at the far post.

Foden and Jeremy Doku came on in the second half but could not find a leveller as Haaland stayed on the bench among the unused substitutes.

Man City won the League Cup five times in six seasons through 2021 and now

SEE PAGE 19

URUGUAY’s Santiago Arata scores a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Uruguay and Namibia at the OL Stadium in Lyon, France, yesterday. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

BAHAMIAN big man, centre Deandre Ayton has been traded to Portland, becoming the second Bahamian to play for the Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association.

Boxing ‘Mission Accomplished’

FEDERATION, ALL-OUT BOXING CLUB CONDUCT CLINICS FOR OFFICIALS

AFTER all the uncertainties and challenges, the All-Out Boxing Club and the Bahamas Boxing Federation were able to declare: “Mission Accomplished.”

Unable to secure a boxing ring in Grand Bahama, federation president Vincent Strachan shipped one there, went and personally set up the ring and conducted clinics for officials to ensure best results.

Not only did boxing matches take place but a tribute was made to the late Tyrone Oliver. Eunice Oliver and several family members travelled to Grand Bahama for this special occasion.

She was presented with a plaque from All Out Boxing Club.

Also, a Sugar Bert championship belt by Bert Wells, president and CEO of Sugar Bert Promotions USA, who was one of the special guests.

Oliver said her son Tyrone took his belt he won several years ago at Sugar Bert Championship, to have some refurbishment done. Sadly, he never got it back from the individual or company contracted to do the work.

The unknown person/s never contacted his family in that regard.

President Strachan spearheaded a call to the audience for financial contributions to assist Tyrone’s eight-year-old daughter, which was supported by the persons in attendance.

It is anticipated that this would be a regular ongoing process to help the child.

The St George’s Gymnasium came alive on September 22 with 10 exciting matches, male and female.

Night two, September 23 was equally action filled with eight dynamic bouts.

Not bad for a first time for Jermaine Gibson, head coach and president of the Grand Bahama Boxing Association.

Truly the magic is back with boxing in our second city.

Gibson also announced the next event is all set for October 28.

The main purpose is to host regular boxing shows to provide the boxers with actual competitions.

Presently, there are more than 200 boxers on Grand Bahama, the majority of whom are from several high schools.

Day 1 Results

DeVano Dorsette defeated Luciono McPhee Jr, in 3rd round.

Menyenek Bowe lost to Nicholas Doonuate, majority decision.

Andrea Rolle defeated Chanea Stuart in 3rd round (female high school).

Mataya Young won over Tyrah Rolle (female novice).

Keano Cox lost majority decision to Josiah Smith (Novice 135lbs).

Jiraya Francios won majority decision over Louvens Norvilus (high school, 156 lbs).

Peter Grey won over Aladden Ellis (Bimini) 156 lbs novice in 2nd round Special Championship match.

Keanu Greene defeated Michael Felistine in unanimous decision (high school division 185lbs cruiser weight).

Clearance Hepburn defeated Elijah Smith. Majority decision, Novice 185lbs.

Malino Knowles defeated Lincoln Alleyne, referee stopped contest in 2rd round 185 lbs novice.

Day 2 Results

Kaymani Kelly, decision Luciono McPhee Jr, age 13, 120lbs division.

Rosnell Williams decisioned by DaVano Dorsette high school division, 110 lbs category.

Josiah Smith defeated Nicholas Doonuate novice championship, 135 lbs.

Keano Cox decisioned Menyenek Bowe, novice 135lbs.

Jariaya Francios won by decision over Benito Rolle, Championship, age 16, high school division.

Joni Vega defeated Louvens Norvilus, high school, age 16, 256lbs.

Tyrah Rolle defeated Andrea Rolle, majority decision, novice female.

Pro Picks: Lions get another win in Lambeau after ending Aaron Rodgers’ career with the Packers

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer

THE Detroit Lions are going back to Lambeau Field for the first time since ending Aaron Rodgers’ career in Green Bay.

The Packers look just fine with Jordan Love.

The two 2-1 teams meet tonight in an early season battle for first place in the NFC North.

Love, who led an impressive comeback win over the Saints last week, watched from sideline when the Lions knocked the Packers out of the playoffs with a win in the final regularseason game in 2022.

“We know we can win out there, we’ve done it before. But you’ve got to go earn it,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “It’s not going to be given. It’ll be loud, it’ll be a tough environment. They’re playing good, so here we go.”

The Packers haven’t had running back Aaron Jones and wide receiver Christian Watson the past couple of games because of hamstring injuries. If they can return on a short week, that’ll boost an offence that has played well behind Love.

The Lions are 1 1/2-point favourites on the road, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. It’s one of 11 games this week with odds under four points.

Pro Picks likes the road team.

LIONS, 27-20

WASHINGTON AT PHILADELPHIA

Line: Eagles minus 8 1/2

The Eagles (3-0) are undefeated despite playing spotty and sluggish over the first three weeks. The Commanders (2-1) present an opportunity for Philly to put together a complete game.

BEST BET: EAGLES, 30-13

BALTIMORE AT CLEVELAND

Line: Browns minus 2 1/2

Deshaun Watson had his best game with the Browns (2-1) and Jim Schwartz’s defense led by Myles Garrett is dominating. Facing the injury-depleted Ravens (2-1), the line should be higher.

UPSET SPECIAL:

RAVENS, 23-22

ATLANTA AT JACKSONVILLE

Line: Jaguars minus 3

The Jaguars (1-2) have to get back on track across the pond in the first of two straight games in London. Trevor Lawrence and the offence have scored just 26 points combined in two losses. Jacksonville’s strong run defence gets a big test against Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and the Falcons (2-1).

JAGUARS, 24-20

MIAMI AT BUFFALO

Line: Bills minus 3

Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane were unstoppable in a 70-point outburst vs. Denver. If the Dolphins (3-0) are going to uncrown the Bills (2-1) in

BAHAMAS PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOUR TO HOST CLASSIC THIS SATURDAY

THE Bahamas Professional Golf Tour (BPGT) is scheduled to host the Golf Classic this Saturday at the Royal Blue Golf Course at the Baha Mar resort. Golfers will swing into action at 2pm.

The one round of golf is not just open to professionals but there will also be amateur and junior divisions. The classic is another avenue to provide local golfers with the opportunity to showcase their skills in a competitive environment as they look to stay sharp.

DETROIT

the AFC East, they’ll need to beat them. Buffalo has rebounded from a seasonopening loss to the Jets.

BILLS, 29-27

PITTSBURGH AT

HOUSTON

Line: Steelers minus 3

The Steelers (2-1) finally got their offence going. Somehow, the Texans (1-2) routed the Jaguars and an injury-depleted offensive line didn’t allow any sacks, giving C.J. Stroud time to make plays. Now, T.J. Watt is coming. He’s a gamewrecker with six sacks in three games.

STEELERS, 22-16

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT INDIANAPOLIS

Line: Colts minus 1 1/2

Gardner Minshew has filled in nicely for Anthony Richardson and kicker Matt Gay’s ability to make field goals from 50-plus yards is a big plus for the Colts (2-1). The Rams (1-2) look like the rebuilding team everyone expected to see.

COLTS, 23-20

MINNESOTA AT

CAROLINA

Line: Vikings minus 3 1/2

A matchup of 0-3 teams headed nowhere. Hard to believe the Vikings were 13-4 last season. Panthers WR Adam Thielen faces his former team fresh off his best performance catching passes from Andy Dalton.

VIKINGS, 27-20

TAMPA BAY AT NEW ORLEANS

Line: Saints minus 3 Alvin Kamara returns just in time for the Saints (2-1) after Derek Carr went down. Jameis Winston could get another shot vs. his former team. The Buccaneers (2-1) came back to reality against Philadelphia. Tampa can’t run the ball so they have to rely on Baker Mayfield throwing against an excellent defense.

SAINTS, 19-17

DENVER AT CHICAGO

Line: Broncos minus 3

1/2

Sean Payton’s Broncos (0-3) are embarrassed and reeling following a 50-point loss. The Bears (0-3) have lost 13 in a row. Something has to give.

BRONCOS, 24-19

CINCINNATI AT TENNESSEE

Line: Bengals minus 2

1/2

The Bengals (1-2) avoided an 0-3 start, but Joe Burrow’s lingering calf injury is a major concern. The Titans (1-2) are awful on offence despite the presence of Derrick Henry.

BENGALS, 23-18

LAS VEGAS AT

LA CHARGERS

Line: Chargers minus 5

1/2

Justin Herbert’s heroics and Minnesota’s ineptitude at managing the clock helped the Chargers (1-2) avoid an 0-3 start. Jimmy Garoppolo is in concussion

protocol for the Raiders (1-2) and Las Vegas has no chance if he’s out.

CHARGERS, 28-16

NEW ENGLAND AT

DALLAS

Line: Cowboys minus 6 1/2

The Cowboys (2-1) went from dominant to disappointing. Dak Prescott and Co. need to figure out their red zone issues. The Patriots (1-2) can’t keep up with teams that can score, but they’ve got a solid defence and Ezekiel Elliott will be motivated against his former team.

COWBOYS, 23-17

ARIZONA AT SAN FRANCISCO

Line: 49ers minus 14

The 49ers (3-0) are clicking behind a dynamic, versatile offence and stingy defence.

If the Cardinals (1-2) even stay close after shocking the Cowboys, that’s reason for optimism in Arizona.

49ERS, 31-12

Uruguay gets the win at Rugby World Cup

FROM PAGE 15

was intercepted by Gerswin Mouton, who sprinted 60 metres unchallenged to dive between the posts. Namibia pulled further away in the 11th when it churned through the phases and Richard Hardwick put wing JC Greyling away down the left flank for an easy finish in the corner.

Tiaan Swanepoel converted from the sideline on a perfect six-for-six day off the tee.

Uruguay recovered in the 19th after battering the line and flyhalf Felipe Etcheverry offloading to fullback Baltazar Amaya to barge over.

A Swanepoel penalty made it 17-5 then Uruguay received a kickable penalty but Etcheverry set up

a corner lineout which Los Teros mauled. Backs Vilaseca and Nicolas Freitas joined in to drive hooker German Kessler over.

Etcheverry converted from the touchline but Swanepoel added another penalty shortly before halftime, and another at the start of the second period for 23-12.

Namibia was 33 minutes from history when it all started fall apart. Tighthead prop Johan Coetzee was sin-binned in the 48th for collapsing a scrum for a third time in the game. Uruguay exploited the man advantage to pour on 14 points.

Namibia’s seven-man scrum held but Amaya grabbed his second try when he rounded Greyling

and dived over scrumhalf Damian Stevens to plant the ball in the right corner.

Five minutes later, Uruguay took the lead for the first time in the match in spectacular fashion. Scrumhalf Arata picked up loose ball and stepped two defenders on a weaving run to the posts for a stunning solo try.

After 55 minutes, Uruguay led by three at 26-23.

Coetzee returned to the field but matters got worse for Namibia when captain Tjiuee Uanivi was yellow-carded for a dangerous upright tackle and, moments later, teammate Sethie followed him to the sin-bin after catching Bautista Basso in the face with his forearm. Sethie’s card was upgraded to red, the

second red for Namibia in this tournament. A crossfield kick by Felipe Berchesi found Basso for a simple finish but Swanepoel’s fourth penalty lifted Namibia within seven points for a grandstand finish. It evaporated when Berchesi slotted a penalty to deny Namibia a losing bonus point.

Uruguay replacement flanker Eric Dosantos became the fourth player yellow-carded in the match for another upright tackle on Adriaan Booysen.

Both teams finished with the most points they have scored in a Rugby World Cup match. Namibia goes home while Uruguay has one more pool game left against New Zealand next week.

KANSAS CITY AT

NEW YORK JETS

Line: Chiefs minus 9 1/2

Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Chiefs (2-1) face a tough defence that knows it won’t get help from an offence quarterbacked by Zach Wilson. The Jets (1-2) refused to upgrade at QB after losing Aaron Rodgers and their season is in danger of spiraling.

CHIEFS, 27-16

SEATTLE AT NEW

YORK GIANTS

Line: Giants minus 1 1/2

The Giants (1-2) are banged up and beaten up heading into a daunting schedule that starts with the Seahawks (2-1). Seattle is 5-0 in MetLife Stadium.

GIANTS, 23-20

column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here.

Gina Gonzalez-Rolle, director of the junior division of the Bahamas Golf Federation, was excited for the juniors.

“We are honoured that the BPGT has given the junior payers an opportunity to play in this tournament and future tournaments. I think it opens the door for our juniors to be recognised and for people to see how good they can play,” GonzalezRolle said.

The BPGT last hosted a tournament in October 2022 – the Hillshire Farn Open at the Royal Blue Golf Course. Winning that event was David Harris who shot a three-under par 69. Keno Turnquest was second while the tour founder and director, Riccardo Davis, was third.

Part proceeds from the Classic this weekend will go towards junior golf and to autism awareness through REACH (Resources and Education for Autism and related Challenges) – a non-profit organisation that provides parents with comprehensive knowledge and tools in all areas of autism. For more information, interested persons can contact us at bahamasprofessionalgolftour@gmail. com or 433-6303.

The next classic will be the Hillshire Farm Classic set for October 2023. The Bahamas Waste Open will follow that in November with the seasonending tournament, The Tour Championship, being held in December.

The tour sponsors are Suntee, Bahamas Waste, Breeze Resorts, Hillshire Farms, Royal Blue Golf Course, the Motor Vehicle Training School (MVTS) and R & E Imports & Sales. BPGT was first founded in 2018 and has given local and international golfers an opportunity to sharpen their golfing skills while competing. Further, the BPGT will be hosting additional professional tour events from tours in the US, making for a more competitive field for the local professional golfers.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) scores a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday in Detroit. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

DAVID Harris in action.

Orioles sweep Nationals 5-1 and lower their magic number in the AL East to 1

BALTIMORE (AP) — Adley Rutschman homered and drove in three runs, Grayson Rodriguez pitched into the sixth inning and the Baltimore Orioles lowered their magic number to one in the AL East with a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

The Orioles would have clinched the division with a victory and a loss by second-place Tampa Bay, but the Rays won 5-0 in Boston. Baltimore will try for its first AL East crown since 2014 on Thursday night.

Rutchman hit a two-run homer in the third to open the scoring, and Rodriguez (7-4) allowed a run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Baltimore swept the four-game season series against the Nationals, outscoring them 11-1.

Patrick Corbin (10-15) allowed four runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

RAYS 5, RED SOX 0

BOSTON (AP) — Tyler Glasnow pitched five scoreless innings in his final start before the postseason, combining with four relievers on a three-hitter and leading Tampa Bay over Boston.

Josh Lowe had three hits, including a home run, and Isaac Paredes also homered for Tampa Bay, which has clinched a wild-card berth.

Glasnow (10-7) allowed two hits, walked one and struck out nine while throwing just 70 pitches to snap a personal two-game losing streak.

It was his first scoreless outing since August, and just his second of the season. Andrew Kittredge, Jake Diekman, Chris Devenski and Robert

shots from the left side off starter Johnny Cueto early in the nightcap. When he connected leading off the fourth, Lindor immediately pumped his fist and pointed toward New York’s dugout. That drive made the $341 million shortstop the fourth player in Mets history with a 30-30 season. He joined Howard Johnson, Darryl Strawberry and David Wright, the last to accomplish the feat in 2007.

Lindor’s 15th career multi-homer game and first this year gave him 96 RBIs.

After hitting a single, double and triple in the first game, Berti launched his seventh home run of the season to start the nightcap. Sánchez also had a solo shot off Kodai Senga, who surpassed 200 strikeouts in the final start of his splendid rookie year. The right-hander waved to the crowd of 24,966 as he walked off to a standing ovation after whiffing Jake Burger for No. 200 to end the third.

Stephenson each pitched a scoreless inning.

Red Sox starter Brayan Bello (12-11) allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks, striking out three in six innings.

PHILLIES 7, PIRATES 6

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

-- Bryce Harper hit a goahead solo homer in the seventh inning as one of the few regulars in Philadelphia’s lineup in a win over Pittsburgh, a day after the Phillies clinched the NL’s top wild-card spot.

Rookie reliever Orion

Kerkering struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief and earned the win. Gregory Soto struck out the side in the ninth for this third save.

Connor Joe had four hits for the Pirates.

Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, third baseman Alec Bohm, catcher

J.T. Realmuto and right

fielder Nick Castellanos all took the night off.

YANKEES 6, BLUE JAYS 0

TORONTO (AP) —

Gerrit Cole pitched a two-hitter to near his second AL ERA title, Aaron Judge homered twice and New York blanked Toronto to ensure they won’t finish with a losing record.

Cole (15-4) faced two batters over minimum, allowing a single and double to Brandon Belt. He struck out five and walked none, throwing 72 of 105 pitches for strikes. Cole finished his season with 222 strikeouts in 209 innings.

Toronto was shut out by the Yankees for the second straight night.

Back in the lineup after a day off Tuesday, Judge

Senga allowed three hits in five innings and struck out eight to finish 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in his first big league season since arriving from Japan.

The only Mets rookie with more was Dwight Gooden, who holds the major league rookie record with 276 strikeouts in 1984.

Gooden sat in the front row behind the Mets’ dugout Wednesday.

Burger was ejected by plate umpire Ramon De Jesus when he threw down his helmet after taking a called third strike with the bases loaded to end the seventh.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker came out to argue and also got tossed.

The first game was a makeup after the series opener was postponed Tuesday night because of unplayable field conditions.

The infield at Citi Field wasn’t covered with a tarp for at least some portion of last weekend, when rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia began pelting New York City for four straight days.

hit his 36th and 37th home runs. The reigning AL MVP homered to right field off José Berríos (11-12) in the fourth, then hit a seconddeck drive to left off Trevor Richards in the seventh.

DIAMONDBACKS 3, CUBS 0 CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie Brandon Pfaadt pitched shutout ball for the second time in three starts, and Arizona moved closer to an NL wild-card berth by beating Chicago for its eighth win in 10 games. Corbin Carroll hit a tworun double in a three-run third, giving the rookie 76 RBIs, and Tommy Pham had an RBI single for the Diamondbacks, who were outhit 8-4.

Pfaadt (3-9) scattered five hits, struck out eight and walked none in 5 2/3 innings, and Luis Frias Andrew Saalfrank, Ryan

Thompson and Paul Sewald completed the Diamondbacks’ 11th shutout this season. Sewald worked around Lenyn Sosa’s double in the ninth for his 34th save in 39 chances. In his first start with the White Sox, Luis Patiño (0-1) allowed three runs. three hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. The 23-year-old righthander, acquired from Tampa Bay on Aug. 1, retired his first seven hitters, then allowed the next five to reach base. Chicago was blanked for the 13th time.

GUARDIANS 4, REDS 3 CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber shut down Cincinnati for six innings and Cleveland sent manager Terry Francona off with a victory in his final home game.

Bieber (6-6) limited the Reds to one run and five hits in just his second start since July 15 — and maybe his last for Cleveland. Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his MLB-best 43rd save.

The Guardians strung together five straight hits in the second inning off Reds starter Andrew Abbott (8-6), who didn’t get out of the third inning. Tyler Freeman and rookie Brayan Rocchio had RBI singles in Cleveland’s second.

Francona was honored before the game with a touching video tribute chronicling his long tenure in Cleveland, a run that actually began in his boyhood as his dad, Tito, played six seasons as an outfielder with the Indians.

The 64-year-old Francona has been slowed by major health issues in recent

Marlins and their fans on social media for the postponement.

“It’s been weird, but it’s no excuse,” Garrett said.

Even on dry fields, New York (72-86) has been a thorn in Miami’s side all season.

The Mets are 8-4 against the Marlins, outscoring them 59-34 with one meeting remaining.

Alonso, Lindor and Mark Vientos each launched a two-run homer to help the Mets build a 6-0 lead in the opener for Joey Lucchesi (4-0), who took a shutout into the seventh.

MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., center, gestures for a review after he was called out on a tag at second base as New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor, right, and umpire Doug Eddings watch during the eighth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in New York. After review, the call on the field was overturned.

The tarp was on the field Tuesday, but when showers finally subsided in the late afternoon and the tarp was removed, the messy field was too soggy to play.

That forced a doubleheader Wednesday that

affected Miami’s pitching plans in the final days of a heated playoff race — angering team officials, according to a report by The Athletic. Mets owner Steven Cohen apologised to the

years, and said he made the decision to step away after a tough, two-month stretch earlier this season.

TIGERS 4, ROYALS 0, SUSPENDED, 4 INNINGS

DETROIT (AP) — Miguel Cabrera hit his 511th home run to help Detroit take the lead over Kansas City in a game that was suspended by rain. The game, which was delayed for 80 minutes, will be resumed Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. before the scheduled series finale. Detroit starter Tarik Skubal and Kansas City reliever Angel Zerpa were on the mound when play was halted.

METS 11, MARLINS 2,

GAME 1

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso was 4 for 4 with a homer, Francisco Lindor also went deep and drove in four runs, and New York pounded playoff-chasing Miami in the first game of a doubleheader. Alonso scored four times for the first time in his career and finished a triple short of the cycle in busting out of a 5-for-45 slump. He also was hit by a pitch in the eighth.

Braxton Garrett (9-7) was tagged early in a costly loss for the Marlins.

Lindor, Alonso and Mark Vientos each launched a two-run homer to help the Mets build a 6-0 lead for Joey Lucchesi (4-0), who took a shutout into the seventh inning.

Jon Berti was a home run shy of the cycle for Miami. Jazz Chisholm Jr and Nick Fortes opened the seventh with consecutive doubles to chase Lucchesi.

“I had trouble with my cutter today, keeping it up in the zone,” Garrett said. “I’m really proud of the season, and hopefully it’s not the last one.”

POWER COMPANY Alonso tied Howard Johnson for fourth place in Mets history with 192 home runs.

TRAINER’S

ROOM

Alonso scored a careerhigh four runs and finished a triple short of the cycle in busting out of a 3-for-38 slump. He also was hit by a pitch in the eighth.

Garrett (9-7) gave up the homers to Alonso and Lindor. The left-hander permitted four runs and three hits in four innings after allowing only two earned runs in 21 2/3 innings over his previous four starts. He had yielded three runs or fewer in each of his past 10 starts.

Marlins: All-Star infielder Luis Arraez (sprained left ankle) sat out the opener and wasn’t in the starting lineup for the second game, either. Arraez leads the majors with a .353 batting average.

RHP Huascar Brazobán (left hip impingement) was reinstated from the injured list Tuesday night when closer Tanner Scott went on the paternity list.

Mets: RF Starling Marte (right groin strain) will not return this season.

UP NEXT Marlins LHP Jesús Luzardo (10-9, 3.73 ERA) starts the finale of the three-game series Thursday night against LHP David Peterson (3-8, 5.37).

BAHAMAS ROADMASTERS RUNNING CLUB DONATES

$1,000 TO THE BAHAMAS KIDNEY ASSOCIATION

THE Bahamas Roadmasters Running Club (BRRC) continued its efforts as a benefactor to numerous local charities with a recent donation of $1000 to The Bahamas Kidney Association.

The funds represented part proceeds from the club’s annual Midnight Madness 10K (6.2 miles) Fun Run/Walk which was held at 12:00am on June 2the Labour Day holiday.

The Bahamas Kidney Association supports individuals ailing with severe disorders of the kidneys and persons on dialysis as a result of kidney failure.

BRRC president Anastasia Turnquest praised their sponsors and contributors.

“We could not stage our events without the backing of the corporate community,” she stated.

Next up on the club’s calendar is the Bahamas Half Marathon scheduled for November 19, 2023.

Founded in 1990, the Bahamas Roadmasters Running Club is the premier athletic club in The Bahamas, dedicated to promoting a healthy and wholesome lifestyle through the sport of longdistance running.

Members train weekly to prepare for local road races and international marathons.

SHOWN , from left to right, are Tameka Roberts, BKA president, Michael Cunningham, BRRC vice-president and Chantel Min-

nis, BKA secretary.

Photo courtesy of BRRC

BALTIMORE Orioles shortstop Jorge Mateo (3) and left fielder Austin Hays (21) react after a baseball game against the Washington Nationals yesterday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

‘Golden Girl’ Pauline presents book to Dame Marguerite Pindling

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter

AS they reflect on their humble beginnings

as one “barefoot girl” to another, Golden Girl Pauline Davis presented her award winning book “Running Sideways” to former Governor General Dame

Marguerite Pindling. Davis, 57, presented the book to Pindling, 91, during a courtesy call at the wife of the first Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of

the Bahamas, Sir Lynden Pindling, at her home on Skyline Drive on Tuesday.

Accompanied by her publicist Suzanne Mann, Davis said she was humbled to be able to present the book to Pindling. It was the first copy of the book stamped with the international stamp on it. Track and Field Writers of America selected the book as the best Memoir/Autobiography of 2023.

Davis said she’s presenting the book to Dame Marguerite for the role her husband played as her “guiding angel.”

She said she just wanted to come in person to say “thank you” to Dame Marguerite for the support she gave her husband.

In accepting the book, Dame Marguerite said she was so “touched” and “honoured” to have been selected as the first recipient of the book, similar to Sir Lynden presenting Davis with her first running shoes.

Pointing out how it all got started, Davis said she was training with members of the Bain Town Flyers Track Club, headed by coach Neville Wisdom, at Goodman’s Bay early one morning when Sir Lynden approached the group and singled her out.

At the time, Davis said she was a teenager attending the Government High School. She went on to become the Austin Sealy award winner as the most outstanding athlete at the CARIFTA Games hosted at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium in 1984.

She went on to compete for the University of Alabama and was successful in earning medals in both the

update and noted they played just as much of a significant role in her life as did Sir Lynden.

“Her husband has been so instrumental in helping me to become who I am today,” said Davis, who also served as a council member of World Athletics, the world governing body for the sport, and is now a lifetime member. “She’s our Bahamian queen. She’s so beautiful woman and very elegant and she was Sir Lynden Pindling’s wife.

“She had to be a part of his life and what he was doing and so when she asked me if I remember when I got the shoes from him, she knew that he had brought me these running spikes and so the fact that she was able to ask me that, pointed

listening to Lady Pindling, I realised that she knew exactly what he did for me. So I am very delighted to present her with this book for believing in this little barefoot girl from Bain Town. She told me she was a barefoot girl from Andros.”

Clinging to the notion that “it takes a village to raise a child,” Davis said she was elated to know that she had someone as important as the PM looking out for her well being. So she was excited to be able to say “thank you” to Lady Pindling in her husband’s absence.

Mann, a native of Australia currently residing in the Bahamas, said it was so important and an honour for her to give the first copy

PAULINE DAVIS, left, presents her book and a bouquet of flowers to Dame Marguerite Pindling.

SHOWN, from left to right, are Pauline Davis, Dame Marguerite Pindling and Suzanne Mann.