10212024 NEWS AND SPORT by tribune242

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SARKIS’ $1.6BN WIN IN BAHA MAR BATTLE

OSCAR SPURS EVACUATION BUT DAMAGES MINIMAL

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHA Mar’s main contractor perpetrated “an absolute sham and shakedown” on Sarkis Izmirlian while providing “phony” completion dates that ultimately cost his family $845m and ousted them from the project.

In a scathing judgment

released by the New York State Supreme Court on Friday, comprehensively demolished China Construction America’s (CCA) defence in awarding Baha Mar’s original developer the full value of his lost investment plus more than a decade’s worth of pre-judgment interest.

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

A YEAR after Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis set up a commission to review discretionary decisions at the Department of Immigration, prompted by a controversy involving

Keith Bell, no updates on the commission’s work have been disclosed. Immigration Minister Alfred Sears declined to comment when asked about it on Saturday. Ofﬁce of the Prime Minister communications ofﬁcials did not

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

A TOURIST was killed yesterday when a rental 4x4 overturned at Arawak Cay.

The man, who is a 21-year-old American, was a passenger in the vehicle.

His death again placed the spotlight on deadly trafﬁc accidents days after the Ministry of Energy and Transport raised concerns.

After the latest incident, police urged all

drivers and passengers to ensure they wore seat belts.

Assistant Superintendent Demetria Capron said around 11am yesterday, a green rental Ranger 4x4 ATR was at the back of Arawak Cay near the port when the driver began reversing. The vehicle overturned onto its side, injuring a frontseat passenger who was thrown from the vehicle. Emergency Medical Services responded, but the passenger died at the

T WO MEN DEAD OVER WEEKEND IN SEPARATE SHOOTINGS

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

HURRICANE Oscar, a category one storm, caused minimal damage across the south-eastern Bahamas, but many families in Inagua faced fear and uncertainty as they were forced to evacuate their homes to escape the storm’s winds and rain.

A hurricane warning was issued for Mayaguana, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Cay, Ragged Island, and Inagua after Oscar rapidly intensiﬁed from a tropical storm to

TWO fatal shootings over the weekend brought the country’s murder count to 97. Shortly before 9pm on Saturday, an adult man was killed, and another was hospitalised. Police responded to gunshots reported on Martin Close off Cowpen Road, where they discovered the two men with gunshot injuries. One of the victims was transported to the hospital by private vehicle, while the other succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The victims were reportedly standing outside a residence when two masked men exited a silver Japanese vehicle and opened ﬁre. The suspects ﬂed north

BAHA Mar Resort on West Bay Street.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

THE SCENE in Yellow Elder on Graham Drive where a man was shot and killed Saturday. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

HURRICANE Oscar brought over 80mph winds to the Turks and Caicos Islands and southern Bahamas yesterday causing minimal damages.

Oscar spurs evacuation but damages minimal

a hurricane on Saturday, prompting swift preparations, particularly in Inagua, where it made landfall ﬁrst.

As of press time, the Bahamas Meteorology Department reported that Hurricane Oscar remained a category one storm and was heading towards Cuba up to yesterday evening.

The storm was expected to bring hazardous conditions, including signiﬁcant storm surge, heavy rain, and strong winds.

Other south-eastern islands were expected to experience minimal impact as the storm continued moving.

“A cold front will contribute to fresh to strong north-east winds and rough seas across the region while dissipating,” The Bahamas Meteorology Department said in a statement.

Inagua’s island administrator, Herman Gilbert, told The Tribune that high winds and heavy rain damaged several homes, blowing out windows and causing roofs to leak. Ofﬁcers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force began receiving evacuation requests from residents around 7am.

At least 16 people sought shelter at Saint Philip’s Anglican Church Hall yesterday morning.

“My family is in the administrative residence,”

Mr Gilbert said from the Incident Command Centre, where he was assisting with emergency response efforts.

“My sons were able to try to brace that window back up as best as possible. I got reports from my wife that no one is injured at this time. We’re trying to do our best to weather out the storm.”

Oscar’s high winds uprooted trees, downed phone lines, sent roof shingles ﬂying, and destroyed 75 percent of Inagua International Airport’s fence. Police ofﬁcers conducted several patrols, with a full damage assessment planned once the storm passed.

A teacher in Matthew Town, Inagua, reported experiencing high winds but no major damage to her home.

She said most residents had less than 24 hours to prepare, leaving many unable to secure their homes with plywood.

She also noted that some residents were frantic in grocery stores, rushing to buy food, medicine, water, and other supplies.

Meanwhile, Thomas Thompson, a 67-year-old gardener from Crooked Island, said there was light rain, grey clouds, and occasional sunshine. In a video shared with The Tribune, the weather appeared calm, with no signs of severe rain or winds.

MICAL MP Mr Basil McIntosh conﬁrmed he had been in contact with the island administrators in south-east islands and reported no injuries or signiﬁcant damage to homes up to press time.

SUPER Value is sending supplies to the southern islands to assist after the passage of Hurricane Oscar. A total of 12 truckloads were being loaded up today to ﬁll an order placed by the authorities. Defence Force personnel have been assisting with loading.

Photo: The Tribune

Davis shares three-phase crime plan to tackle crime and violence

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip

“Brave” Davis on Friday revealed a three-phase crime plan, led by the police and the Ministries of National Security and Education to tackle gangs, violent crime, and improve public safety, starting in the Englerston community.

At a press conference, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said Englerston was selected for the first round of the “Clear, Hold, Build” initiative due to recent crime trends that indicate a rise in such serious crimes as murder and attempted murder, armed robberies, and reports of gunshots. Eight of the country’s murders this year have occurred within the Englerston community, Mr Fernander said.

assets. The strategy will feature the execution of warrants at known ‘drug and stash houses’, targeting abandoned buildings and derelict vehicles, and aggressive monitoring to disrupt criminal activities via saturation patrols, CCTV, and drone surveillance.

Mr Davis explained that the “build” phase would follow this period and reflect a broader five-pillar strategy that includes prevention, prosecution, punishment, and rehabilitation, supported by recent legislative measures designed to streamline judicial processes.

government agencies, such as the Department of Social Services and the Ministry of Health, to provide necessary support and services to the community. The taskforce will also engage with local organizations and implement programmes aimed at improving the overall quality of life for both young people and the elderly.

Mr Davis continued:

Heights, where police efforts will be concentrated. He also noted plans to engage community organizations and implement programmes to improve the quality of life for both young people and the elderly.

For her part, Englerston MP and Education Minister Glenys HannaMartin highlighted the challenges facing young people in schools and emphasised the need for multi-dimensional and targeted interventions to address the roots of violent crime in the country and engender true change.

The initiative will start on Monday, and the “clear and hold” phase will last approximately three to four weeks, focusing on disrupting gang operations, targeting leaders and members, and removing vehicles and abandoned buildings linked to criminal activities.

Mr. Fernander said law enforcement would

adopt a zero-tolerance approach during this period, actively investigating gang offences and seeking to seize criminal

“The Englerston neighbourhood was chosen by the gang and crime taskforce as the first neighbourhood to benefit from this initiative,” Mr Davis said. “The decision was based on several factors: evidence provided by the Royal Bahamas Police Force on the increase of gang activity, combined with a strong urban renewal presence, community efforts, and the positive work of many local pastors in that area.”

Mr Davis said police will collaborate with various

“The Ministry of Health will engage with people with drug dependencies to provide addiction and mental health support, and this is important because we believe that many of our challenges relate to how we treat persons with mental health issues and trying to bring them back to normality.”

“The intention here is not to criminalize homeless people or local drug users, but rather to offer support and compassion to turn their lives around. With this group, the aim is to implement solutions, not to inflict punishment.”

On Friday, Mr Fernander identified specific high-crime areas in Englerston, including Wilson Track and Montel

Mrs Hanna-Martin expressed pride in representing Englerston, noting its rich history and the achievements of area residents while acknowledging the responsibility to support families and the thousands of children in the area.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, Economic Minister Michael Halkitis, and religious leaders from the Englerston community were present at the press conference.

MUNROE: EIGHT PERCENT RISE IN ARRESTS OVER LAST YEAR AND 48 PERCENT INCREASE IN CHARGES

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe

reported a 48 percent increase in charges against

people this year compared to the same period last year.

He said police arrested 13,551 people for various offences this year, an eight percent rise from 12,546 arrests during the

same period in 2023. Of those arrested, 9,347 were charged in court, a 60 per cent charge rate for both major and minor crimes. He shared this statistic during a press conference at the Office of the Prime

Minister on Friday.

Additionally, he reported 3,669 court returns from the Magistrates’ Courts, which included 2,605 convictions. He noted that 14 cases were discharged due to the defendant’s death, while 74 resulted in acquittals at the end of the trial. The court discharged 562 cases, and the virtual complainant withdrew in 413 cases.

Concerns have been raised about the lengthy timelines for some

criminal trials, as well as issues with alleged violent offenders being granted bail only to re-offend or be killed on the streets.

Officials spoke about plans to expedite criminal trials and address the longstanding court backlog. This includes establishing a court backlog committee, reforming criminal case management, and assigning an additional judge to the criminal division in New Providence. They said several factors contribute to the

delays in the trial process, including access to information, the extension of legal aid assistance to unrepresented persons, and increasing challenges to confession statements.

Mr Munroe’s statistics came ahead of the launch of the “Clear, Hold, Build” initiative, a threephase crime plan jointly led by the police and the Ministries of National Security and Education. The initiative aims to combat gangs and violent crime while enhancing public safety, with the first phase targeting the Englerston community.

Set to launch today, the initiative will last approximately three to four weeks and focus on disrupting gang operations, targeting leaders and members, and removing vehicles and abandoned buildings linked to criminal activities.

Englerston was chosen for the first round of the “Clear, Hold, Build” initiative due to recent crime trends indicating a rise in serious offences such as murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and reports of gunshots. Notably, eight of the country’s murders this year have occurred within the Englerston community.

NATIONAL SECUR IT

Two men dead over weekend in separate shooting incidents

toward Cowpen Road. The second victim, aged 21, is currently listed in stable condition.

Earlier that day, around 10am, another fatal shooting occurred on Graham Drive, claiming the life of a 26-year-old man. The victim was reportedly walking west when he was approached by three men in a grey SUV. The gunmen discharged their firearms, striking the victim multiple times before fleeing. The victim tried to flee but collapsed at the junction of Derby Road. Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived but found no signs of life. The deceased was on bail for murder and armed robbery and was wearing an electronic monitoring device.

These two murders add to a growing list of homicides under investigation by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, including two murders earlier in the month,

which have been connected through ballistics.

On October 1, 27-yearold Carlos Joseph was shot multiple times while holding his eight-month-old child outside his Flamingo Gardens home. He was confronted by a lone gunman who emerged from a white Japanese vehicle. The toddler and another child present were unharmed. This was the 90th murder of the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

On October 3, the 92nd murder was recorded when a 27-year-old man was shot outside a Superwash on Baillou Hill Road. Occupants of a light-coloured Japanese vehicle opened ﬁre before ﬂeeing. The victim was found lying in the parking lot and pronounced dead at the scene.

Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander on Friday conﬁrmed the connection between these two murders.

“We know now, based on our investigation thus

far, that those two matters are connected and they are connected by ballistic, so we believe that they are the same individuals who are responsible. We are following some signiﬁcant leads with respect to both homicides,” Commissioner Fernander said during a press conference on Friday.

Commissioner Fernander said the Royal Bahamas Police Force believes it has solved close to 60 percent of murders this year.

“I continue to say the detective and the ofﬁcers on the streets are doing an excellent job at solving these matters,” he said. “We want to be in the position to prevent these matters from happening and that is our focus and to be able to partner and do just that with a number of initiatives to ensure that happens.”

He noted that over 360 ﬁrearms have been recovered this year, nearly double the number from the same period last year.

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THE SCENE in Martin Close off Cowpen Road after a double shooting that left one man dead and another taken to hospital on Saturday.

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

RBPF at the scene on Graham Drive in Yellow Elder where a man was shot and killed on Saturday.

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Izmirilian deserves an apology

THE judgement in the Baha Mar case has been a long time coming – and it is an absolute vindication for Sarkis Izmirlian.

The case took place in the New York State Supreme Court and pitched Mr Izmirlian against China Construction America (CCA).

It revolved around delays to the opening date and what Justice Andrew Borrok in his ruling described as the contractor, CCA, “knowingly and falsely” promising it would meet the March 27, 2015, opening date while concealing from Mr Izmirlian that this was unlikely to be achieved.

Fraud is the word used by the judge, “at least four instances”, resulting in an award of $1.6bn in damages to Mr Izmirlian – that’s the $845m equity contribution his family provided to the development plus interest.

The contractor is described as having perpetrated “an absolute sham and shakedown” on Mr Izmirlian.

CCA is said to have “ordered or condoned the slowing or stopping” of construction work on Baha Mar in the months leading up to the missed opening in order to “further its commercial interests”.

That is the commercial part of the ruling – but there is also a political dimension. One of the contractor’s senior executives was found to have admitted to all this before Perry Christie, who was prime minister at the time.

Then there is the connection with Mr Christie’s senior policy advisor, Sir Baltron Bethel, who was “point man” in dealing with the Baha Mar dispute.

The US judge ruled that CCA “actively worked to curry favour with the Bahamian government”, with “the record evidence establishes” that $2.3m in payments were made to Notarc Management Group, run by Sir Baltron’s son Leslie, to help “gain access” to his father.

The judge noted: “Mr Liu conﬁrmed in his deposition testimony that he did so because he was ‘looking for help’ from Leslie Bethel, and wanted Leslie Bethel to speak with his father, Sir Baltron Bethel, about proposed edits made by Sir Baltron Bethel to the Heads of Agreement.

“Leslie Bethel reassured Mr Liu that ‘Sir B is one of CCA’s biggest supporters’ and promised to provide further help with the defendants’ interactions with the Bahamian government. Mr Liu reciprocated the sentiment, saying: ‘I am sure about Sir Baltron and yourself as our best friend’.”

Calls from The Tribune to Mr Christie, Sir Baltron and then Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson following the ruling were not returned. Two years ago, Sir Baltron denied any impropriety.

The government did issue a statement. Prime Minister Philip Davis, who was Deputy Prime Minister at the time all this took place, has directed

Attorney General Ryan Pinder “to conduct a review of the recent ruling”. No further comments or decisions will be given until advice is provided by the AG’s ofﬁce on the ruling.

Those who are not comforted by this do not need to look far. In today’s Tribune, we report that a commission set up a year ago to review discretionary decisions at the Department of Immigration, prompted by the actions of Keith Bell in his tenure as minister, has seen no updates disclosed. A full year and nothing. It is easy to believe that these reviews and commissions and investigations are nothing more than a way to push a matter into the long grass and hope it goes away.

When asked on the immigration issue on Saturday, current Immigraiton Minister Alfred Sears declined to comment. The Ofﬁce of the Prime Minister failed to respond at the time of going to press.

How soon then can we expect that a review, not even a commission, will return results on an issue that so closely affects senior ﬁgures from a former PLP administration?

There is more too in the US ruling –including the prospect that Baha Mar’s ﬁnancial crisis could have been averted entirely – if CCA had used $54m to pay sub-contractors. Instead, it was used to fund the purchase of the British Colonial, Justice Borrok ruled.

CCA had said the $54m was needed to pay sub-contractors and cover construction changes, but the judge said this was an “absolute sham and shakedown” and that CCA had other plans for the money.

It can be easy to get lost in all of that – but what it amounts to is that a developer who came to The Bahamas in good faith was subject to treatment that appeared designed to cause problems with the project, resulting in the loss of control and a drawn-out legal process that has secured a $1.6bn award in compensation. The closeness of that process to government ﬁgures at the time is uncomfortable to say the least.

A simple review by the Attorney General is insufﬁcient to get to the bottom of the level of involvement at the time and whether it was or was not appropriate. A far greater investigation ought to be conducted – and actually with the intention for it to be completed and the outcome made public.

This is too big to be swept under the carpet. It affects the reputation of The Bahamas, the trust that future developers can have over the good faith their own projects will be treated with, and the expectation that any wrongdoing will be met with justice here at home.

Mr Izmirlian’s ﬁght has been a long one. And he has been proven right. He deserves an apology, and we all deserve the truth.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

An open letter to PM Davis

EDITOR, The Tribune

DEAR Prime Minister Davis, I trust this letter ﬁnds you well. I am writing in response to the comments you made during the Opening Contribution to the Mid-Year Budget Debate 2023/2024 in the House of Assembly, where you addressed the pressing issue of tax reforms and the impact of our current tax structure on lowerincome individuals. Firstly, I would like to commend your acknowledgment of the regressive nature of our tax regime. It is a crucial step to recognise that under the present system, lower-income citizens are disproportionately affected, as they spend a larger share of their income on taxes compared to those in higher income brackets. This issue strikes at the heart of economic inequality, and I believe that reforming our tax system is essential to creating a more equitable society.

However, I would like to express some thoughts on your position that, at this time, there is no consideration being given to the introduction of personal income taxes or any other income-related taxes. While I understand the complexities and challenges involved

in restructuring the tax system, I believe it is important to consider the long-term beneﬁts of a more progressive taxation approach.

Income-related taxes, especially a well-designed and progressive income tax system, could alleviate the disproportionate burden on lower-income households while ensuring that those with greater ﬁnancial means contribute their fair share. Many countries around the world have implemented progressive tax systems that help to reduce income inequality and provide the government with the necessary resources to invest in public services, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

That said, I understand that introducing new taxes, particularly personal income taxes, can be politically challenging and may raise concerns about stiﬂing economic growth or placing undue pressure on middle-income earners. However, with careful planning and thoughtful execution, it is possible to design a system that is fair, efﬁcient, and equitable.

In fact, tax reforms of this nature could offer longterm benefits by promoting a stronger social safety net, increased investment in essential public services, and greater economic opportunity for all citizens. I would encourage further discussion on this matter, with input from a broad cross-section of society, including economists, tax experts, and representatives from all income groups. There is an opportunity here to address the long-standing issues of inequality in our country and create a tax system that truly reflects our values of fairness, justice, and shared responsibility. I deeply appreciate your leadership on this issue and your commitment to ensuring that our tax system works for the benefit of all citizens, particularly those who are most vulnerable. I believe that with continued dialogue and a willingness to explore innovative solutions, we can move toward a more just and sustainable economic future for our country.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your thoughts on this critical matter.

CENTERVILLE GUY Nassau, September 25, 2024.

Calling for repairs to roads

Silence over progress of immigration commission

respond to questions up to press time.

In October 2023, Mr Davis announced the commission’s formation after Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard leaked documents in July 2023 revealing concerns from senior immigration officials about former Mr Bell’s alleged interference in their work.

One incident Mr Pintard

American

scene.

highlighted involved Mr Bell allowing the release of Chinese nationals staying at the British Colonial Hotel in January 2023, despite alleged irregularities with their work permits. Former Immigration Director Keturah Ferguson had written to the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Immigration, expressing her disapproval of the situation.

The commission, which was set up to review how immigration decisions are made, included former Education

Director Marcellus Taylor, former Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Clifford Scavella, and Alexandria Hall.

In a video shown at an October 2023 Office of the Prime Minister press briefing, Mr Davis said immigration processes and procedures would be reviewed to identify necessary improvements.

“As you may be aware or many persons might be aware, there are a number of discretionary decisions that are made

in the immigration department from the immigration officer that is going to decide where to land the person or not right up to the decision making whether a work permit should be granted, whether status should be granted,” he said.

Mr Davis added that the time had come to review all immigration legislation to ensure its modernisation.

Meanwhile, Ms Hall, the commission chair, noted that the review would take “a significant

amount of time” and appointees would report to the minister of immigration regularly.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to give some preliminary updates to the minister before the end of the year,” she said.

“But you’re talking about looking at processes, changing processes, amending legislation.

This isn’t work that’s going to be done quickly.” She said the minister would decide if their report would be publicised.

tourist dies after rental vehicle overturns near Arawak Cay

“This is the second fatality that happened over the course of the weekend and the third one that has happened over the last two weeks, so we want to implore all of our motorists and all of our passengers to please wear your seat belt,” she said.

“Please slow down, wear your seat belts and wear your helmets.”

Around 4am on Saturday, a trafﬁc accident claimed the life of an adult female motorist. The woman was driving a white Nissan Bluebird east along West Bay Street when she reportedly lost control and collided with the northern boundary wall of Western Esplanade.

Both the driver and her female passenger sustained

serious injuries, with the driver succumbing to her injuries at the scene.

In the past 19 days, New Providence has recorded four fatal accidents. So far in 2024, there have been 60 trafﬁc-related deaths, the majority involving young people, with over 60 percent of the victims being male.

“These victims are daughters, sons, friends, husbands, and fathers,” the Ministry of Transport said in a press statement.

According to data from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, most fatal accidents occur between 4pm and 8am, predominantly from Friday to Monday. In response, the Ministry is launching a national road safety initiative. In the coming days, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Road Trafﬁc

Department, will engage various segments of society to spread the message: “Slow down. Drive safely to arrive alive.”

The Ministry is seeking support from music DJs, students, motorbike enthusiasts, fraternities, sororities, community organisations, and social media inﬂuencers to raise awareness about the dangers of speeding.

“As we go to concerts and parties, let us as a community encourage safe driving,” the Ministry said.

“If we see a young man riding a motorbike, let us encourage him to put on a helmet.”

The Ministry emphasised that road safety is crucial, saying, “Our nation cannot continue to lose so many of its citizens in trafﬁc accidents. Road safety must become the norm.”

Six Defence Force ofﬁcers deployed to Haiti following signiﬁcant unrest

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

SIX defence force ofﬁcers have been deployed to Haiti as part of an advance team for the Multinational Security Support Mission, which aims to stabilise the country following signiﬁcant unrest.

The Davis administration has committed to sending 150 ofﬁcers as part of the effort.

Their deployment comes almost 30 years after 141 Defence Force ofﬁcers participated in a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Haiti between 1994 and 1996.

“This RBDF deployment is notable not only for its mission but also for the groundbreaking inclusion of the first-ever female RBDF officer to be deployed on an international mission, a milestone moment that reflects The Bahamas’ commitment to gender equality and leadership within its armed forces,” the Royal Bahamas Defence Force said in a statement. “The team’s expertise spans several areas crucial to the mission’s success, including Conduct & Discipline, Command Headquarters Assistance, Operations, and Administration.”

The RBDF said the team’s mission, shaped by on-the-ground needs, will focus on several key areas: conducting coordinated maritime patrols to enhance security within Haitian territorial waters; securing strategic ports to facilitate humanitarian aid and promote economic development; implementing measures to prevent illegal migration and human trafﬁcking; disrupting narcotics and contraband trafﬁcking to

safeguard regional security; collaborating with the CARICOM Joint Task Force and international partners for intelligence sharing; contributing to overall Caribbean safety by addressing destabilising activities; and fostering a secure environment to support peaceful political processes in Haiti.

The ofﬁcers will serve for six months in Haiti in what the defence force called “a challenging but necessary deployment aimed at

making a signiﬁcant impact on the region’s security.”

“Their participation not only enhances The Bahamas’ role in regional security but also supports broader CARICOM-led efforts.”

“This deployment serves as a testament to the resilience and unity of the Bahamian people and reinforces The Bahamas’ longstanding tradition of offering a helping hand to its neighbours in times of crisis.”

THE SCENE on Arawak Cay where a male tourist in his twenties lost his life when the Polaris Ranger he was driving overturned on Sunday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Photos: Able Seaman Macmillan Estilien/RBDF

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024

RBDF troops to Haiti, but no easy ﬁx ahead

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

“IMMEDIATE action is required!”

That was a call from a police union on Thursday, posted to what used to be called Twitter, now called X, in a plea for help amid ongoing gang violence in Haiti.

This comes at a time when the ﬁrst Bahamian troops are being deployed to Haiti – albeit only six members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force so far.

The six are an advance team being sent in as part of an international mission led by Kenya, and also involving personnel from Jamaica and Belize.

The goal is to restore stability – and former Prime Minister Perry Christie was in the news last week as he talked of the prospect of elections in Haiti, albeit not for another 16 months.

Mr Christie is part of a three-person team from the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group, alongside former Prime Ministers Dr Kenny Anthony of St Lucia and Bruce Golding of Jamaica.

They have been involved in talks with Haitian stakeholders to ﬁnd a solution to the instability that has been tearing the country apart for far too long.

Mr Christie said last week: “We have a great deal of familiarity with Haiti, and as the closest country here in the region, aside from the Dominican Republic, we share a lot because we have thousands of Bahamian-Haitians or Haitian-Bahamians in our country.”

Prime Minister Philip Davis joined the official

send-off on Friday for the Bahamian advance party – with the overall mission set to include, according to the RBDF, maritime patrols, port security, preventing illegal migration, countering illicit trafficking, intelligence cooperation, regional security and supporting political stability.

A total of 150 personnel will ultimately be sent, in three tours of 50 each.

The port security aspect is particularly of note, given the conflict there has been in Haiti over port access, with gangs having been in control for significant lengths of time over access to ports.

The plea by police on Thursday followed attacks by multiple gangs on several communities in the Port-au-Prince area.

Homes were set on fire, as well as a church, while gunfire peppered the area.

The Associated Press reported at least one woman killed as gangs opened fire in Solino, St Michel, Tabarre 27 and other neighbourhoods, with panicked residents calling radio stations to plead for help.

Solino is one community that has been trying to push back against gang control – although it is reported that gangs still control about 80 percent of Port-au-Prince.

“If there’s no measures against the criminals who are taking control in Solino and Nazon, we will lose the entire capital,” Haiti’s police union said on social media. “No government will be in its place if we cannot reduce such insecurity.”

Also on Friday, the UN voted unanimously to expand the arms embargo

in Haiti to all types of weapons.

The move allows UN member nations to take “appropriate steps to prevent the illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel in Haiti”. Saying and doing though are of course two different things – but the UN pointed out the supply chain that is bringing weapons from the US, especially from Florida.

As well as the Bahamian contingent, more troops are on the way from elsewhere. Kenyan President William Ruto said 600 more officers will arrive next month to join the 400 already in the country.

From elsewhere, the numbers are not so high.

Nearly two dozen from Jamaica, our own initial six. It is difficult to see how that will be enough to wrest control from the gangs who have overrun Haiti for so long and become so entrenched.

Is this surgery to rectify the problem? Or a sticking plaster to cover the wound? Time will tell.

Even the swearing in of Haiti’s provisional electoral council, scheduled for Friday in downtown Port-au-Prince, had to be moved to a safer area, according to Radio Télé Métronome.

If the leaders are not safe enough to be sworn in, how can the citizens be safe enough for their daily lives?

It is of course imperative that Haiti’s problems are addressed.

For Haiti itself, people need the chance to live without the constant threat of violence, without the wave of rapes that has taken place, without the attacks on medical centres, without the kidnappings, the murders, the attacks on police, all that and more.

For the region, a Haiti run by criminal gangs

is a festering sore that will affect neighbouring countries – not only from people fleeing from the violence but from the drugs and guns and crime that will spill beyond its borders. If gangs secure control of Haiti, what is there to stop them from securing a foothold for their crimes in other countries to keep bringing in the money to fund their activities.

Mr Christie’s hopes of an election the year after next mean that Haiti will still be largely leaderless and rudderless, certainly without a democratic mandate for many months to come.

That of course cannot be helped – an election can only happen when an election is safe to happen or has the likelihood of succeeding, but it does nothing to give the current leadership the support it needs to quell gangs and to escape

the sense of having been chosen by outsiders rather than Haitians themselves.

So where does that leave us? As Bahamian officers head to Haiti, we can only hope that they will be safe, that they will have the resources they need, and that they will come home with the job done.

The details of what that job entails have become clearer, but there is still the uncertainty of what will be deemed the end goal, and how the forces will be withdrawn.

One thing is for certain – all sides need our prayers.

The state of things in Haiti show that there is no easy solution – and we should not expect miracles in the months ahead. But if we can reach a point of a safe election, that will be a landmark for Haiti, and a validation of those forces in place to make it happen.

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis greets members of the RBDF some of whom will be deployed to support Kenyan Forces in Haiti.

Photos: Able Seaman Macmillan Estilien/RBDF

SOLDIERS patrol amid the sound of gunshots heard in the distance, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday.

Photo: Odelyn Joseph/AP

Small island states’ ﬁght for justice should maximise international law

INSUFFICIENT atten-

tion has been given to the far-reaching actions taken by several small island states, led by Antigua and Barbuda and Tuvalu, to challenge the destruction of their countries by major global polluters.

In December 2022, these states made a bold request for the ﬁrst-ever advisory opinion on climate change from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). This request sought clarity on states’ obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to protect oceans from the adverse effects of climate change caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In May 2024, ITLOS delivered a historic, unanimous opinion confirming that GHG emissions constitute marine pollution, obligating states to take affirmative steps to protect the marine environment, based on scientific evidence to prevent catastrophic harm. This opinion has opened the door for all states—not just small island developing states (SIDS)— to pursue climate justice. It is also likely to influence how international and national courts address climate change, as other

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

developing states push back against the threats to their countries caused by emissions from industrialised nations.

Frustration with the inadequate outcomes of the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), led small states to take legal action. The COP meetings have been long on promises, but short on meaningful deliverables.

In 2021, on the sidelines of COP26, Antigua and Barbuda, along with Tuvalu, took the initiative to establish the Commission on Small Island States and International Law (COSIS). COSIS was mandated to leverage international law to support SIDS in their ﬁght for climate justice. The organisation has since been joined by several other small states, motivated by the failure of global climate negotiations and their

disproportionate vulnerability to rising sea levels.

Sea level rise is one of the most urgent challenges these nations face. Global sea levels have already risen by more than 10cm between 1993 and 2024, threatening not only the physical existence of islands like Tuvalu and the Maldives but also posing immediate challenges to food security and displacement. Some projections indicate that by 2100, ﬁve percent or more of the land in small island states could be permanently submerged. With no international law obliging other states to accept climate refugees, these small island nations acted urgently to protect their populations from the looming prospect of displacement.

Through COSIS, nine small island states turned to international law for redress. Forty states and international organisations participated in the ITLOS proceedings, and the 2024

opinion is expected to set a signiﬁcant legal precedent. While advisory opinions are not directly enforceable, they provide authoritative interpretations of international obligations. In practice, such rulings create legal precedents that inﬂuence how future cases are judged, both in international courts and domestic legal systems. The ITLOS opinion not only shapes the understanding of climate obligations under UNCLOS but could also provide the foundation for future compensation claims from affected nations against major emitters.

This opinion has already found broader application in other key cases. In January 2023, Chile and Colombia requested an opinion from the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights on state parties’ obligations under the American Convention on Human Rights, speciﬁcally regarding the impact of climate change on human rights such as the rights to life, the rights of children, future generations, and indigenous communities.

Four months later, in April 2023, Vanuatu spearheaded efforts that resulted in a UN General Assembly resolution requesting an advisory opinion from

the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This request sought clarity on states’ obligations under international law, including the UN Charter, the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, regarding the legal consequences for states that have caused signiﬁcant harm to the climate and environment, particularly for vulnerable states and future generations.

The ITLOS opinion can also be used to pressure industrialized nations into more ambitious climate commitments by highlighting their legal duty to mitigate harm. States may face increasing litigation from vulnerable countries seeking reparations or stronger mitigation efforts based on this legal groundwork.

There is also potential for suing coal and oil and gas producing companies which are responsible for a large share of global greenhouse gas emissions and, consequently, to climate change. A recent report shows that 57 oil and gas companies are responsible for 80 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.

These companies have continued to expand fossil fuel production even after the signing of the Paris Agreement. Hence the call by

many small island states for a global levy on them to pay compensation for damage. It is this potential for actionable legal consequences that makes the ITLOS opinion more than symbolic—it establishes a critical link between legal principles and practical climate action, pushing global powers toward greater accountability. International law acts as both a shield and a weapon for small states confronting existential threats. The success of the ITLOS Opinion demonstrates the potential of legal action in securing climate justice. For this reason, small states should unite to fully leverage international law in addressing the profound impacts of climate change—rising seas, shifting borders, food insecurity, and the displacement of their populations.

By the time major greenhouse gas emitters act to save themselves, these islands may already be reduced to mere rocks, unable to claim nationhood or sustain their populations.

The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com.

ÎLET Pelé, an islet in Martinique.

Technological advances to usher in a brave new world?

ALL living things eventually die. Some embrace that inevitability while others run from it for as long as they can. In medicine, we do what we can to prolong this invariable ﬁght, but in reality, it’s nothing more than a delay tactic. No manner of intervention can change the fact that the time will come when we will all die. It’ll be our faces in a death announcement and our bodies that lie in a cofﬁn. Just another tombstone amidst a graveyard of thousands.

Knowing that, there is something quite beautiful about dying with no regrets. Nothing left unsaid; no desire left unfulﬁlled. Living life to the fullest should be a part of everyone’s legacy, but in order to do that for as long as possible, a healthy body and mind is essential. And yet, it almost seems counterproductive since living life for some people means partaking in food, drugs and alcohol in such excess that health becomes compromised. That’s why I’ve always believed that medicine is a balancing act between providing care while making room for patients to enjoy life as best they can.

Fortunately, modern technological advances in medicine are reshaping how physicians diagnose and treat patients and we’re at the cusp of seeing quantiﬁable changes in how the human race ages.

The length and quality of life we get to enjoy as we get older is at the forefront of research initiatives and results are promising enough for me to predict that it’s only a matter of time before both life expectancy and quality of life improve substantially across the globe.

This past week, in one of the greatest mechanical feats of this decade, SpaceX was able to recapture a starship rocket booster at its launch pad using mechanical arms referred to as chopsticks. It was an unprecedented feat that left onlookers in awe and set the engineering world ablaze with excitement. According to founder Elon Musk, this was just another step closer for them to develop fully reusable and quickly re-launchable rockets for multiplanetary life.

The same company now has working robots and is hoping to have over a billion humanoid robots by the year 2040, some designed speciﬁcally for space exploration. A billion humanoids is hard to fathom, but that is now part of a reputable business plan.

Advancements like that garner signiﬁcant media attention with worldwide fanfare and applause while other technological feats can sometimes, for years, go relatively unnoticed.

In light of SpaceX’s recent achievement, I wanted today’s report to focus on some of the medical advancements currently underway that many in the general public may not be aware of.

Surgical robotic systems, for example, already currently offer increased precision and improved visualisation for minimally invasive surgeries. Their use in general, cardiac, orthopaedic and neurosurgical procedures is sure to proliferate in upcoming years. A surgical robot that has the MRI and X-ray images of the patient already uploaded will be able to overlay those images precisely onto a patient, enabling it to work seamlessly with less chance of human error. More speciﬁcally what that means is that the fully-informed robot, programmed with all the information about the bones, cartilage, muscle or

tissue it is working with is less likely to err than the best surgeon performing the same procedure with all else being equal (uninterrupted blood supply, anesthesia, surgical team and operating room team assistance). That’s not to say that the robot would be prepared, at least not at this point in its advancement, to respond instantly should something go wrong, say with a patient’s heart. But we should be willing to accept that the new normal is accepting the fact that in its purest form, robotic surgery is more accurate than that performed by a human.

Just this month, Johnson and Johnson, the American pharmaceutical, medical and biotechnology corporation, announced that they’d submitted a biologics license application to the US food and drug administration (FDA) for a potential new treatment of Myasthenia

Gravis. The drug, called Nipocalimab, marks the ﬁrst treatment of its kind to exhibit long term effectiveness in this patient population. Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disorder where patients exhibit severe muscle weakness because antibodies destroy virtually all communication between the muscles and nerves. Muscles in the eye, mouth, throat and limbs are particularly affected and currently there is no cure.

I’ve also been closely following the “Symplicity” blood pressure procedure, which is an impressive novel technological advancement where a spiral multielectrode cathode and generator is inserted into the artery leading to the kidney. It sends radiofrequency energy to the renal nerves to disrupt the overactive sympathetic signaling that occurs with high blood pressure between the kidneys and the brain. The electrode is then removed. The procedure takes one hour and most patients go home on either the same or the following day. It’s been performed in over 25,000 patients worldwide to date and over 50 percent of patients who’ve received the procedure saw a sustained 10mmhg drop in blood pressure regardless of whether they were on medication or not.

During the 25th International AIDS Conference held in Munich, Germany, this year, a seventh case of someone with HIV being cured was reported. The cure occurred after the infected patient underwent a stem cell transplant from a donor with a genetic mutation known as CCR5-delta 32. Stem cell transplants are dangerous but researchers are hopeful that through gene editing techniques the results can be more easily duplicated. Since the beginning of the epidemic, approximately 42.3 million people have died of HIV according to The World

Health Organization and they hope a universal cure for HIV is found and the AIDS epidemic ends by the year 2030. Imagine if a similar gene editing advance could be found to end inﬂuenza.

Also in Germany, a group of researchers is currently studying a designer cytokine (Interleukin-6) that has been proven to reverse paralysis in mice by regenerating nerves. Paraplegic mice began to move after a single injection and were able to walk after two to three weeks. Trials are now being conducted on mammals with the hope that human trials will commence shortly thereafter. While many years of further study will be needed before a safe and effective treatment is developed for humans, this research is incredibly promising for patients who previously had no hope to ever walk again.

Almost 6,000 miles away from Germany, and as recently as last month, Japanese researchers are conducting clinical human trials of a new drug with the hope that it will be able to successfully regrow teeth. The study will last nearly a year and include up to 30 men, all missing at least one tooth. If all goes as well as during their animal (ferret) clinical trials, the human trials will expand with the hopes to have a drug available for mass production in another six years. Many years ago, I was given the opportunity as a student to watch as a pacemaker was implanted into an older gentleman who’d had multiple heart attacks. At the time I couldn’t imagine the pacemaker they used getting any better because it was already thin and smaller than the centre of my palm. Today, however, Micra is the world’s smallest pacemaker and it measures the size of a large vitamin capsule. Unlike ordinary pacemakers which are implanted in the chest with multiple leads that connect to the heart, Micra has no leads because it’s implanted directly into the heart. Battery life span is between 16-17 years and it’s already being used at major hospitals throughout the US.

Beyond these studies, there are others being conducted on drugs to cure near-sightedness, drugs to slow down and even reverse Alzheimer’s disease, drugs to prevent cancer and drugs that dramatically improve outcomes and prevent disability in patients who’ve had a stroke. Artiﬁcial intelligence is being increasingly used to assist in diagnosing conditions like cancer and eye diseases, enhancing accuracy and speed. In fact, that last sentence was written by the OpenAI generator, ChatGPT.

One hundred years ago, the notion of travelling from one country to another in an aircraft ﬂying at an altitude of 20,000 feet in the air seemed impossible. Electronic televisions didn’t come out until 1927 and it took another 27 years before it was available in colour. Today, because of the internet, we’re able to send an email and text message anywhere in the world or simply videocall the recipient in real time. In another hundred years, humanoid robot assistants readily used to shop and cook for us, chauffeur our cars, clean our homes and babysit our children is quite possible. A built-in Ring camera system that allows us to see and speak through them is almost certain.

If past is at all prologue, the next hundred years will usher in exciting and transformative technological advancements that our ancestors never dreamed of. We are at the cusp of a brave new world and, for better or worse, it’s only a matter of time before we know if that new world is better than the one we have today.

This is The KDK Report.

Nicknamed ‘The Prince of Podiatry’, Dr Kenneth D Kemp is the founder and medical director of Bahamas Foot and Ankle located in Caves Village, Western New Providence. He served as the deputy chairman for the Health Council for ﬁve years and he currently sits on the board of directors for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation in his role as co-vice-chairman.

KENNETH D KEMP

Dr Cox’s monumental work towards BTVI’s accreditation

WHEN Dr Dorcas Cox joined the team at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) over a year ago, she did not imagine the journey she was about to embark on would be so monumental.

Dr Cox’s professional experiences across various industries has equipped her with a diverse skillset that is invaluable for her position as quality assurance and accreditation liaison officer. As aggregator in BTVI’s journey towards accreditation with the Council on Occupational Education (COE), she plays a crucial role.

“I am very pleased with our progress, and I am proud to be a part of

GAIN AN EDGE

A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

the experience,” said the skillful project manager. BTVI’s candidacy of accrediation became effective on September 13, 2024. The institutionwide exercise involves extensive evaluation from curriculum design to infrastructure and student support services. Crossfunctional working teams are creating solutions to meet criteria of ten quality assurance standards. In collaboration, the

teams are streamlining workflows, collecting, monitoring and evaluating data for greater efficiency.

“Using this approach, we give team members developmental exposure while building camaraderie and excitement throughout the institution. The journey has been fast paced,” said Dr Cox.

“I work with subject matter experts to ensure the information and data

provided to evidence successful adherence to quality standards is accurate and relevant. We are advancing towards exemplifying a set of ideals and quality assurance standards. Continuous process and performance improvement across the institution is imperative to meet the needs, pace and demands of industry,” added Dr Cox.

COE is an accrediting agency of higher education institutions recognised by the United States Department of Education. It has over 500 members across the US, including public technical colleges, private career colleges, registered apprenticeship schools and federal institutions.

Dr Cox will be among BTVI team members attending the 2024 COE annual meeting on November 12-14 in Atlanta, Georgia. There will be workshops along with key accreditation and leadership training. The event is exclusively for institutions already accredited or in candidate status.

Though there is much work to be done, Dr Cox is pleased with what has been achieved during the thorough, intense process. She recognised

BTVI staff and faculty for their contributions to the accreditation process, emphasising that it has been a group effort and she sees their commitment to the goal.

“Let’s continue to do more of what works. For us that has been active two-way communication, weekly group brainstorming sessions, e-blasts that keep individuals informed and engaged. Let’s continue to honour our commitment to excellence, believe in ourselves

and in each other, support and encourage each other and celebrate our milestones along the way,” she stated.

Hemingway, after the hurricane

By VERNA KALE Penn State

THE 2024 hurricane season has been especially disastrous, and the casualties and widespread damage from flooding and high winds in towns like Cedar Key, Florida, call to mind another historic hurricane, the Labor Day hurricane of 1935.

As one of the editors of “The Letters of Ernest Hemingway Volume 6 (1934-1936),” with Sandra Spanier and Miriam B. Mandel, I am reminded of the eyewitness account that the writer, then a resident of Key West, Florida, gave of the catastrophic storm that levelled Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key and took the lives of more than 400 people, many of them World War I veterans.

Then, as now, the aftermath of a natural disaster included political finger-pointing. Today the debates center around how resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are allocated or how climate change contributes to the intensity of the storms.

Back then, Hemingway had a different beef with the government, blaming the deaths of hundreds of World War I veterans on the failure to evacuate Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key ahead of the storm.

The calm before the storm Hemingway was no stranger to hurricanes.

A serious deep-sea angler who fished the waters off Florida, he kept an eye on weather patterns. Hurricane season was an anticipated, if dreaded, annual event.

“Now the lousy hurricanes are starting,” he

wrote his friends Jane and Grant Mason in June 1934. “Wish we would get lots of east wind and current … and then have a fine July and August without hurricanes.” Knowing that these conditions were unlikely, he jokingly asked the Masons “and what do you want for Xmas Mr. and Mrs. Mason yourselves?”

In a Sept. 30, 1934, letter, he wrote friends Gerald and Sara Murphy with hopes that he would get through the rest of hurricane season without incident: “no hurricanes yet […] if we get through the next 20 [days] are all right,” and he was glad that he “can fish without having to tie [the boat] up somewhere up some creek.”

The next day, he wrote to fellow novelist John Dos Passos, “Hurricane months if you don’t get a hurricane are fine.”

‘Not a building of any sort standing’

But the following year, when the hurricanes did come, it was not fine.

Over Sept. 2-3, 1935, a hurricane made landfall in the Florida Keys. Occurring in the days before storms were given names, the Labor Day hurricane, as it is commonly known, was the first recorded

Category 5 hurricane in the US

It remains the thirdmost intense storm on record in the Atlantic basin, with a barometric pressure drop to 892 millibars and wind gusts exceeding 200 mph. Much of its damage was caused by the storm surge, and the Overseas Railroad, which had been completed in 1912 and connected the Florida Keys to the mainland, was destroyed and would not be rebuilt.

After the storm, Hemingway wrote to his editor,

Maxwell Perkins, describing its aftermath.

Though communications were down and the island was cut off from the mainland, Key West had sustained relatively little damage.

Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key, however, were a different story.

“Imagine you have read about it in the papers but nothing could give an idea of the destruction,” Hemingway writes.

“The foliage absolutely stripped as though by fire for forty miles and the land looking like the abandoned bed of a river. Not a building of any sort standing. Over thirty miles of railway washed and blown away.”

Worse yet were the human casualties: He notes that the last time he witnessed so many dead in one place was in Europe during World War I as a Red Cross ambulance driver, adding, “We made five trips with provisions for survivors to different places and nothing but dead men to eat the grub.”

Many of the victims were veterans, employed by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration to work on the Overseas Highway construction project. Outraged by the federal government’s failure to send a train to evacuate the workers in time, Hemingway tells Perkins that the veterans “were practically murdered.”

Federal administrators, he adds, “had all day Sunday and all day Monday to get those vets out and never did it. If they had taken half the precautions with them that we took with our boat not a one would have been lost.”

The letter contains graphic descriptions of

the hundreds of dead bodies, rapidly decomposing in the Florida sun as they awaited transport to Arlington, Virginia, to be buried.

‘That smell you thought you’d never smell again’

Hemingway would repeat many of these same details in an article published in the Sept. 17, 1935, issue of the leftist magazine The New Masses.

The article, which Hemingway titled “Who Killed These Men?,” and which was re-titled by the editors as “Who Murdered the Vets?,” criticised the federal government for not evacuating the workers.

“Who sent nearly a thousand war veterans

… to live in frame shacks on the Florida Keys in hurricane months?” Hemingway asks.

Hemingway, no stranger to the sight and smell of the dead from his experiences during World War I, was disgusted not merely by the bodies “swollen and stinking” but by what brought the veterans to the work camps to begin with.

Skeptical of the various government programs of Franklin D Roosevelt’s New Deal, Hemingway saw the Federal Emergency Relief Administration work camps as a way for Washington to conveniently rid itself of hundreds of downon-their-luck veterans, many of whom were

experiencing what we would now call post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I would like to make whoever sent them there carry just one out through the mangroves, or turn one over that lay in the sun along the fill, or tie five together so they won’t float out, or smell that smell you thought you’d never smell again, with luck,” Hemingway writes.

This impassioned response to the disaster in 1935 still resonates. Hemingway recognized that while storms are inevitable, mass casualties do not have to be. The government can’t control the weather, but it can fulfill an obligation to protect the most vulnerable in the path of the storm.

DR. DORCAS COX, BTVI’s Quality Assurance and Accreditation Liaison Ofﬁcer.

COUNCIL on Occupational Education (COE) evaluators, Dr. Carol Puryear and Dr. Myra West react as they enter BTVI’s Fashion Design Studio.

Ernest Hemingway was an avid ﬁsherman. Here he poses with a marlin in Havana Harbor, Cuba.

Ernest Hemingway Collection. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.

Porky’s Gas Station launches ‘Pumping

Pink’ breast cancer awareness campaign

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunmedia.net

PORKY’S Gas Station on East Street south will reduce gas and diesel prices every Friday until November 1st as part of its “Pumping Pink” initiative to raise breast cancer awareness.

Bernard ‘Porky’ Dorsett, operator of Porky’s Rubis Service Station, told reporters on Friday that he has supported the Cancer Society for many years, but the cause became personal when his wife was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Mr Dorsett announced discounts on fuel as part of the initiative in celebration of his wife’s 77th birthday.

Customers will receive a 25-cent discount on gas and a 16-cent discount on diesel

every Friday. For every $50 worth of gas purchased, a $1 donation will be made to the Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, and customers also will be entered into a rafﬂe for a 50-inch TV.

Mr Dorsett hopes that other businesses will be inspired to launch similar efforts in support of breast cancer awareness. He noted how cancer has deeply affected many families.

Last month, the government approved a margin increase for gas retailers — 25 cents per gallon for gasoline and 15 cents per gallon for diesel — after retailers expressed concerns about rising costs under the ﬁxed-margin system. When asked how the price increases have affected his business, Mr Dorsett said that most

customers seek out the cheapest fuel available, focusing more on price than brand.

He acknowledged that some gas retailers may not appreciate his decision to roll back prices after the recent margin increase.

“Coming out of this, I may have some enemies,” he said. “Some folks may say ‘We just got an increase and here it is you’re going to go do this.’”

However, Mr Dorsett emphasized his commitment to helping those in need, stating that material possessions are not the most important thing, but giving back to others is.

With 52 years in the petroleum business, Mr Dorsett hopes to pass his legacy on to his children and grandchildren. The gas station has been in operation since 1972.

BERNARD Dorsett Speaking at Porky’s Gas Station as he introduces a campaign to raise breast cancer awareness.

Photos: Nikia Charlton

Tributes paid to Former Senator Naomi Seymour at funeral

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Senator Naomi Ruth Seymour was remembered for her resilience, service, and unwavering commitment to her country during a state funeral in Grand Bahama on Friday.

Mourners from across the nation, including Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard, cabinet ministers, MPs, and permanent secretaries, gathered to pay their ﬁnal respects at the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King, Freeport. Former prime ministers Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham were also present.

Ms Seymour died on September 20 at the age of 80.

Her journey from a straw vendor to senator and her contributions to Bahamian politics were described as an inspiration.

In his sermon, Rev. Canon Norman Lightbourne, rector of the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King, described Seymour as a ﬁghter and a warrior in the truest sense.

“She fought for freedom, justice, and equality,” he said. “She ran a good race, stayed the course, and remained focused on her purpose. Our lives have been enriched immensely as a result of knowing Naomi, and her passing has created a huge void in our lives.”

“She gave her all to this country; she was resilient; she was a strong Bahamian woman,” Canon Lightbourne said. “We are losing so many of our heroes and heroines. Our country needs strong nation builders from both sides of the aisle.”

Ms Seymour, who suffered from a congestive heart condition, took ill and was admitted to hospital.

Canon Lightbourne, who visited her in the hospital to administer her last rites, said Ms Seymour’s passing serves as a reminder of the importance of giving back to the nation.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis paid tribute to Ms Seymour for her contributions to Bahamian society.

He said she was a proud “Farm Road Girl,” instilled with the values of hard work and faith, which shaped her life.

At just 16, Ms Seymour joined the labour movement alongside Sir Randol Fawkes, where she learned how to stand her ground and speak up for what was right, Mr Davis said.

“It was not an easy life for Naomi,” said Mr Davis, who noted that Ms Seymour moved to Freeport in 1973 as a widow with nine children and set up a stall at the Bahamas Princess Straw Market. He met her in 1974 after he, too, moved to Freeport, and they never lost contact.

They had grown very close in the last four to ﬁve years, he said.

Mr Davis said Ms Seymour shined as a leader when she became president of the Straw Vendors Association in Freeport and fought tirelessly to ensure that vendors could own their stalls.

He noted that her political journey was truly special, beginning as a member of the

FORMER Senator Naomi Seymour

Progressive Liberal Party, standing with Sir Lynden Pindling, and later joining the Free National Movement, working closely with Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitﬁeld.

“Her transition to the FNM wasn’t about changing sides; it was about standing up for what she believed was right. She showed us that even when we see the world differently, we can still be united in our love for this country. We could debate, we could disagree, but at the end of the day, Naomi always reminded us that we’re all Bahamians, and we all want the best for our people.”

Mr Davis continued:

“From the straw market to the highest halls of government, Naomi Seymour was a worthy Bahamian. She lived her life with dignity and purpose, and she never forgot who she was or where she came from.”

“Whether she was crafting beautiful straw hats or advocating for policies in the Senate, she did it all with the same care, commitment, and passion. Naomi’s journey reminds us that no matter where we start, with hard work and dedication, we can reach great heights.”

In 1992, when the FNM won the general election, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham appointed Ms Seymour to the Senate.

Mr Davis said it was a proud moment, but it didn’t change who she was.

He said her legacy lives on, not just in her family, but in every person she helped, every life she touched, and every lesson she taught.

“She showed us that strength doesn’t come from power, but from purpose. That love for community, for family, for country is what truly binds us together,” he said.

In his heartfelt tribute, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard reﬂected on her extraordinary legacy as a dedicated nation-builder, a loving mother, and a passionate political activist.

He described her as a “grassroots warrior” who was fearless in her convictions.

Mr Pintard highlighted her inﬂuential role in Bahamian politics, saying her strength, decisiveness, and wisdom earned her the respect of political leaders across the spectrum.

As an entrepreneur and activist, he said Ms Seymour’s leadership as president of the Straw Vendors Association in Freeport demonstrated her lifelong commitment to advocacy, particularly in defending vendors’ rights.

He praised her ability to balance her political passions with the love and care

TWO VEHICULAR MANSLAUGH T ER cases heard at magistrate’s court

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune

Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

TWO people appeared in Magistrate’s Court on Friday facing separate charges of vehicular manslaughter.

Giamara Burnside, 35, and Michael Plakaris, 41, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans.

Ms Burnside was accused of driving a vehicle with license plate AP8038 east on East Bay Street in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death

she showed to her family and community, describing her as a “straight shooter” who offered honest advice.

Reﬂecting on his personal connection to Seymour, Mr

of Anthony Adderley. The incident took place on May 6, 2024, in New Providence. Meanwhile, Mr Plakaris is accused of driving a maroon coloured 2013 Lincoln MK2 north along Sir Milo Butler Highway, causing the death of Falcom Knowles on April 8, 2024, in New Providence. Each defendant was granted $9,000 bail and has to sign in at their nearest police station on Wednesdays and Sundays. They are scheduled to return to court on February 26 for a Voluntary Bill of Indictment.

Pintard recalled the profound impact she had on his own political journey, offering him guidance on both politics and life. He expressed gratitude

to Ms Seymour’s family for sharing her with the nation, underscoring the lasting inﬂuence she has had on Bahamians from all walks of life. Mr Pintard said her

legacy is one of service, loyalty, and perseverance and that her passing leaves a void that will be deeply felt, but she will always be remembered.

PINK SEA OF SUPPORT FOR CIBC WALK FOR THE CURE

A vibrant pink sea of resilience, hope and support recently ﬁlled the streets of Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and New Providence as participants joined thousands across the Caribbean for the annual CIBC Caribbean Walk for the Cure.

This major fundraising event, aimed at raising awareness and supporting those affected by cancer, brought together community members, survivors and corporate sponsors in a powerful display of solidarity in the ﬁght against cancer.

CIBC Caribbean’s managing director, Jacqui Bend, highlighted the collective strength displayed across

the islands and region at large. “This year’s Walk for the Cure wasn’t just about raising funds - it was about demonstrating the strength of unity. From Abaco to Eleuthera and Grand Bahama to New Providence, islands of The Bahamas came together with countries across the Caribbean as a force, standing strong in the face of cancer. This year’s WFTC perfectly captures the resilient spirit that deﬁnes our communities.”

Bend added: “The funds raised today will not only aid in cancer treatment and research but also reinforce the message that we are stronger together, and no one ﬁghts alone.”

Participants of all ages, from casual walkers to seasoned runners, took part in the walk and run, honouring the memories of those who have lost their battle with cancer while encouraging those still ﬁghting.

Proceeds from Walk for the Cure will beneﬁt local cancer care organisations across The Bahamas.

This year’s event was made even more engaging with appearances by local celebrities such as Bodine Victoria, entertainment and ﬁtness demonstrations from groups such as the Bahamas Harvest Dancers and Cornerstone Fitness, warm-up and cool-down sessions led by Bowﬂex Barbie, and a range of vendors offering

Walk

food and merchandise.

Sponsored prizes were also awarded to participants. Since its inception in 2011, CIBC Caribbean’s

IT’S OFFICIAL, BAHAMAS JOINS GLOBAL TRADITIONAL TAEKWONDO FEDERATION

By SHEANO DORSETT 3rd Dan instructor and National Taekwondo Coach

AS a 2nd Dan Kukkiwon black belt, World Taekwondo certified Level 2 coach, and the national coach for Bahamas Taekwondo, I am thrilled to announce that the Bahamas has officially joined the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation (GTTF), marking a significant milestone in the development of Taekwondo in our country.

This partnership will play a key role in advancing the Bahamas Taekwondo Federation as we strive to build both traditional taekwondo practitioners and worldclass athletes.

I recently had the honour of attending the GTTF Think Tank Summit in South Korea, October 6-11.

The summit brought together taekwondo grandmasters, masters and high-level black belts from over 107 countries.

The event was a gathering of minds and hearts committed to preserving the traditional values of taekwondo while also exploring how to integrate these values into the modern competitive environment.

I was personally invited to the summit by grandmaster Jun Lee, who serves as the head and president of the GTTF and is one of the founding members of the organisation.

Mr Robert Butler, who has been appointed president of the GTTF Bahamas Branch, was not able to attend the event, but still was able to be part of the General Assembly as it was broadcasted online.

At the summit, we participated in workshops led by some of the greatest taekwondo grandmasters from Korea, including the legendary grandmaster Dr Lee Kyu Hyung, a pioneer of traditional taekwondo. These sessions highlighted the importance of balancing tradition with modern standards, something we intend to incorporate fully into our teaching.

Our vision for the Bahamas Taekwondo Federation is to combine the values of

A new chapter for Bahamian martial arts

the GTTF with the Olympic standards, enabling us to train both athletes who aspire to international competition and traditional practitioners who focus on the art’s deeper philosophical elements. We are committed to teaching the full breadth of taekwondo, including poomsae (forms), power breaking, self-defence, sparring and Olympic-style sparring. Our goal is to reach students of all ages and from all parts of the island, ensuring that everyone beneﬁts from the physical and mental rewards of taekwondo training. Being part of the GTTF offers a wide range of advantages, particularly in terms of networking. We now have the opportunity to collaborate with instructors and schools from across the globe, giving our students and athletes much-needed exposure to international standards and

training methods. This network will allow us to access resources that will support the growth of taekwondo in the Bahamas, whether through educational opportunities or partnerships that strengthen our programme.

As the national coach, I have the privilege of working with a dedicated team of athletes, including Keshaun Dorsett, Bernii Anderson, Treymon Wright, and Devonye Edmond – students I have trained since their early years in taekwondo. Together, we have competed in major tournaments across Miami, Orlando and Panama.

Additionally, we are cultivating the next generation of Bahamian martial artists with talented cadets like Shiloh Pennerman, Audley Pearson, Dion Higgins, and Antonio Farrington Jr.

The Bahamas Taekwondo Federation has truly beneﬁted from joining the GTTF, World Taekwondo, and Kukkiwon. By aligning ourselves with these organisations, we are better positioned to continue developing taekwondo in The Bahamas. Our students will learn the full spectrum of taekwondo, becoming well-rounded martial artists

and

for the Cure has grown to become the largest cancer fundraising and awareness event in the region. Over the years, funds raised have signiﬁcantly impacted cancer treatment across the islands of The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean.

HUNDREDS participated in CIBC Caribbean’s Walk for the Cure in New Providence.

BAHAMAS has ofﬁcially joined the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation.

MEMBERS of the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation.

KANSAS RALLIES TO WIN THE WHITE SANDS BAHAMAS NCAA WOMEN’S GOLF INVITATIONAL

AMY DeKock led Kansas with a 2-under-par 70 yesterday and teammate Lily Hirst birdied two of her last three holes to lead the Jayhawks to a comefrom-behind win at the weather-shortened White Sands Bahamas NCAA Women’s Golf Invitational at the Ocean Club Golf Course.

Kansas overtook Purdue, which led by ﬁve strokes after the ﬁrst round.

The Boilermakers still led by three strokes with just a few holes to play before Kansas’ furious rally took hold. Kansas ﬁnished at 15-over-par 158, two strokes in front of Purdue, after trailing by 11 strokes after the ﬁrst round.

“Our team is good, and we enjoy the chase,” said DeKock, a junior from Palm Desert, California. “I am so proud of this team. This is the ﬁrst time we have won three

JONQUEL JONES

FROM PAGE 20

one dime. She shot

5-for-10 and went a perfect 7-for-7 at the charity stripe. Her teammates Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu managed to hit double digits but struggled with efﬁciency.

Stewart scored 13 points and 15 rebounds but shot 4-for-15.

Meanwhile, Ionescu ﬁnished with ﬁve points on 1-for-10 shooting.

The Lynx and Liberty gave each other their best efforts all series long so it was no surprise that game ﬁve went down to the ﬁnal buzzer.

Through three quarters of play, New York had a narrow three-point advantage (47-44) going into the ﬁnal quarter of regulation.

Ionescu knocked down a timely three at the 3:10 mark of the fourth to lift the Liberty to a 56-54 cushion.

WNBA defensive player of the year Napheesa Collier scored on a layup to cut into the slim Libs lead.

Collier once again hit a big bucket, this time it was a two-pointer that put the Lynx on top 60-58 with 1:04 remaining in the game.

Former MVP Stewart found herself in a similar situation to game one at the free throw line. She learned from her previous woes at the charity stripe and canned two freebies to force OT (overtime).

While the Lynx were running out of gas, New York fed off the energy of the electric home crowd.

They scored ﬁve straight points to start the extra period of play and went on to outscore their visitors 7-2 down the stretch.

New York was the best team all season, ﬁnishing with a league’s best record of 32-8.

After falling to the Las Vegas Aces last year, the team came into the season on a mission to get the job done and they did it in dominant fashion.

The city of New York can now celebrate its ﬁrst basketball title win since 1973, when the Knicks won the NBA crown.

KAI JONES

FROM PAGE 20

rebounds and 1.5 assists on 68.8 per cent shooting from the ﬁeld in the home-and-away series. While with the Hornets, Jones put up 3.4 ppg, 2.7 rebounds while shooting 55.8 per cent from the ﬁeld in 46 games played. The athletic Bahamian big was signed to a twoway deal along with NBA pros Jordan Miller and Trentyn Flowers.

The Clippers will play their season opener against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday at 10pm in the newly-built Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

consecutive times in school history.”

Meanwhile, Natashia Kiel of Purdue carded a 1-over-par 73 yesterday over the par 72, 6,385-yard layout that was good enough to share medallist honours at -2 with Chantal El Chaib of Georgia, who had the day’s best round of 4-under 68.

Purdue ﬁnished at 17-over-par 160 as a team, while Baylor ﬁnished third at +19. Texas A&M was fourth, at +23, followed by Missouri (+26), Georgia (+32), Xavier (+38), College of Charleston (+40), Coastal Carolina (+41) and Abilene Christian (+45). The 10-team event was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather on Friday.

Kansas’ comeback was fuelled by DeKock, but Hirst helped the cause with a big ﬁnish, capped by a birdie from eight feet on the fourth hole, her

last of the day. “I’m from England, so I’d be playing in this windy weather if I were home, except that it would be freezing cold,”

said Hirst, who posted a 1-under 71 on Sunday. “You know what they say, ‘When it’s breezy, swing easy.’”

DeKock and Hirst were supported by Lyla Louderbaugh of Buffalo, Missouri, who posted a +4 total, and Lauren Clark of Orlando, Florida, who ﬁnished at +5.

Louderbaugh and Clark shot even par for the ﬁnal round, giving Kansas a second-day total of -3, 10 strokes better than what Purdue posted to lead after day one.

“I told the team that anything is possible if we ﬁnish well,” said a happy Lindsay Kuhle, who is in her fourth season as head coach of the Jayhawks.

“We were tied with two holes to go. We had to believe and take advantage of the opportunity.”

Kiel and El Chaib were the only two players to ﬁnish under par through two days of constant winds that measured a steady 18 miles per hour yesterday. This was the ﬁfth year of the event, which was begun in 2019.

Jonquel Jones delivers WNBA Finals MVP performance to bail out ‘Ice-cold Ionescu’ and Stewart

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu’s ﬁrst shot hit the side of the backboard. Another one soon after hit nothing at all.

After making one of the most memorable shots in WNBA history to win Game 3, the All-Star guard became Ice-cold Ionescu the rest of the way.

Ionescu shot 1 for 19 from the ﬂoor yesterday and Breanna Stewart wasn’t a whole lot better, but the New York Liberty got an MVP performance from Jonquel Jones to bail out her fellow two stars.

Jones ﬁnished with 17 points and six rebounds in the Liberty’s 67-62

overtime victory over the Minnesota Lynx last night and was rewarded with the WNBA Finals award.

Ionescu ﬁnished with ﬁve points, though added eight assists and seven rebounds.

Stewart shot 4 for 15, ending up with 13 points and 15 boards.

The Liberty built what they hoped was their version of the kind of super-team that wins titles when they brought in Stewart from Seattle and Jones from Connecticut to join Ionescu, their former No. 1 pick.

They got the Liberty to the WNBA Finals last year and to the best record in the league this season, but it appeared they would fall short of a title as Ionescu and

Stewart continued to misfire. Ionescu opened the game by missing her first 13 shots, giving her 15 straight misses dating to Game 4, before finally hitting for the only time all night on a 3-pointer with 3:10 remaining that gave the Liberty a 56-52 lead.

But after Minnesota surged ahead for a 60-58 lead, it looked as if the superstars’ struggles were going to doom the Liberty for good.

Stewart missed two free throws with 38 seconds remaining but the Liberty batted out the rebound, only for Ionescu to miss a 3-pointer, then another one after New York again regained possession.

The Liberty got it to overtime when Stewart hit two free throws with

KORN FERRY ANNOUNCES THREE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION

THE Korn Ferry Tour and The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, title sponsor of the tour’s pair of season-opening events in The Bahamas since 2017, announced a three-year contract extension (through 2027) on Friday.

The Korn Ferry Tour will begin its 2025 season at a new venue, as Ocean Club Golf Course - a Tom Weiskopf design stretching over 7,100 yards along the eastern shore of Paradise Island - is set to host the season-opening The Bahamas Golf Classic at the Atlantis resort.

The Tour will then head to The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club, which will be played for the eighth time this coming season. Golf Channel is set to televise both The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island and The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club, marking the ﬁrst time since 2020 that both events in The Bahamas will be televised. Each event will continue to utilise their traditional Sunday to Wednesday tournament schedule, providing a unique live television window for the Korn Ferry Tour’s seasonopening events.

“This extension of our partnership with the Korn Ferry Tour reinforces the growing impact of sports tourism in The Bahamas,” said Mrs Latia Duncombe, director general of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation.

“By hosting these premier events and welcoming back Golf Channel’s coverage, we continue to elevate The Bahamas on the global stage, showcasing our capability to deliver top-tier experiences for golfers and sports fans.”

The 2025 schedule marks the ﬁrst time since 2017 the Korn Ferry Tour will open its season at a new venue, with The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island serving as a continuation of The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, the Korn Ferry Tour’s opening event for the last seven seasons.

5.2 seconds remaining in regulation and got baskets from Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally in OT to win it.

New York was hoping to avoid Game 5 entirely after Ionescu’s 28-footer gave the Liberty an 80-77 victory in Game 3.

But she shot 5 for 16 in Game 4, missing all ﬁve 3-pointers, and Stewart was just 5 for 20 for 11 points.

But the 6-for-6 Jones was the workhorse the Liberty needed, ﬁnishing with averages of 18 points and eight rebounds in the series.

That included 10 points in the ﬁrst half Sunday to keep the Liberty close while Ionescu and Stewart were combining with just Stewart’s ﬁve.

‘Jazz’ and Yankees get ready for World Series

FROM PAGE 20

the stretch. In the 10th inning, Austin Wells walked with one out and Alex Verdugo followed it up with a ground ball that went to Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez, but his throw to rookie shortstop Brayan Rocchio resulted in an error.

Yankees’ Gleyber Torres was struck out by Guardians pitcher Hunter Gaddis but Soto saved the day by launching the ball 402 feet to the centre to seal the game 5-2.

The Bronx bombers took the series 4-1 and will now face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. The team is now eyeing their 28th title in franchise history.

The ﬂashy Bahamian third baseman, who was acquired by the Yankees in July, ended the game 1-for-4 with one hit by pitch and a strikeout.

Chisholm Jr has splits of .147/.216/.265/.481 with ﬁve hits, a homer and a runbatted-in (RBI) during his 2024 postseason run so far.

“Jazz” was all smiles as he spoke with reporters about what it means to make it to the World Series with his newest team.

“These guys are amazing. They are electric and they are a family. I cannot help it. I cannot stop smiling,” he said.

He also commended his teammates for being great at what they do. “I think he did a great job getting

on base. Gleyber [Torres] is the best lead off guy I have seen in the postseason. He gets on base. He hits line drives. Gleyber to Soto to Judge to Big G it is electric. They are the best guys in the game to do it. I am just here watching and enjoying the time,” he said.

PLP chairman Honourable Fred Mitchell congratulated the ﬂashy Bahamian major league player and the Yankees in a press statement. “The Bahamas and Jazz Chisholm have made history again. The New York Yankees won the American League pennant with 4-1 defeat of the Cleveland Guardians in their seven game series. “With this, Jazz Chisholm will become

only the second Bahamian to play in a World Series 48 years following the inspiring feat of Ed Armbrister in the 1975 and 1976 World Series for the Cincinnati Reds.

“Jazz’s performance is another compelling reason for The Bahamas to invest in the orange economy and youth development through sports and culture,” he wrote. Yankees ﬁnished last season 4th in American League East with 82-80 win/loss record. After some notable acquisitions this season, they wrapped up ﬁrst in the division with a 94-68 win/loss record and are looking to go all the way. World Series is slated for Friday, October 25.

FROM PAGE 20

under-30, juniors 15-17, 12-14 and 9-11. Awards will be presented to the ﬁrst three ﬁnishers in each category.

SOFTBALL PUBLIC SERVICE WEEK THE National Public Service Week Softball Tournament is slated to be played at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex from October 26 to November 2. Teams from the various Public Service Departments in the Bahamas Government will be participating. All teams interested in participating are urged to contact tournament coordinator Judy Hamilton for more details.

BSAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS THE Bahamas Scholastic Athletic Association will hold its cross country championships on Saturday, October 26. The event will begin at 10am at Goodman’s Bay. Interested persons are urged to contact Emerrick Taylor at 565-4962, Keno Demeritte at 436-6921 or Mr Burrows at 433-5070 for more information.

BBSF CLASSIC THE Bahamas Basketball Sports Federation postponed its cycling classic on Saturday and will now be rescheduled for Saturday, October 26, at the Perpall Park on West Bay Street. The event is scheduled to begin at 9am on the new date and will cater to the open and masters men and women divisions as well as the boys and girls 15-17, 12-14 and 9-11 years.

AMY DeKock in action at the White Sands Bahamas NCAA Women’s Golf Invitational at the Ocean Club Golf Course.

NEW York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones, left, holds up the MVP award after the Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA basketball ﬁnal series last night in New York. (AP Photos/ Pamela Smith)

DOLPHINS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET TYREEK HILL AND WADDLE MORE INVOLVED AFTER 16-10 LOSS TO COLTS

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS

(AP)

— Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel wants his top offensive playmakers more involved.

The Indianapolis Colts made sure Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle had no chance to make a difference yesterday.

The speedy Hill was limited to one catch for 8 yards and one carry for 5 yards while Waddle caught only one pass for 11 yards in yet another underwhelming performance by the league’s lowest-scoring team.

“I think every (opponent) goes with that objective, because they know how good they

are,” McDaniel said after the 16-10 loss. “They (defences) have acknowledged sometimes that they’ve minimised their involvement by certain things they can do in their game. However, this game, I didn’t see that. So, you have to continue to problem solve. Sometimes you think that you have solved the problem, and then you ﬁnd out you haven’t.”

The Dolphins (2-4) certainly didn’t ﬁnd many ﬁxes yesterday.

Quarterback Tyler Huntley left in the third quarter after injuring his throwing shoulder, the latest chapter during a season the Dolphins have already used four quarterbacks. Huntley was still trying to get acclimated to his hometown

Late ﬁeld goal from 44 and Lions hand Vikings

loss of the season

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)

— Jake Bates kicked a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left and the Detroit Lions beat Minnesota 31-29 yesterday, handing the Vikings their first loss in a back-andforth game befitting of the NFL’s strongest division.

Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 116 yards and two of Detroit’s three secondquarter touchdowns. He also helped Jared Goff guide the Lions 48 yards in four plays to get in range for their rookie kicker while forcing the Vikings to burn their timeouts. Bates is 10 for 10 on ﬁeld goals this season.

Goff went 22 for 25 for 280 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers in his third straight game with a 140-plus passer rating, joining Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999) and Roger Staubach (1971) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to accomplish the feat.

Gibbs had 150 total yards to spearhead a commanding performance by the Lions (5-1) at the line of scrimmage against the defence that entered the week with a rushing average per play (3.6) allowed that was the second-best in the league.

JAGUARS 32, PATRIOTS 16

LONDON (AP) — Tank Bigsby rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns and Parker Washington

returned a punt 96 yards for a score in Jacksonville’s comeback win over New England at Wembley Stadium.

Rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. caught a touchdown pass as the Jaguars (2-5) erased an early 10-0 deﬁcit.

In his second start, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye led one fourth-quarter scoring drive but couldn’t muster a second one as New England (1-6) lost its sixth straight game.

Bigsby scored on a 4-yard run after the Patriots turned the ball over on downs after the two-minute warning.

The win should at least temporarily ease some pressure off Jaguars coach Doug Pederson.

SEAHAWKS 34, FALCONS 14

ATLANTA (AP) — Geno Smith passed for two touchdowns and Derick Hall returned a fumble 36 yards for a clinching score as Seattle snapped a threegame losing streak with a victory over Atlanta.

The Seahawks (4-3) ended Atlanta’s run of three straight victories, shutting down a Falcons offence that averaged 37 points the two previous weeks.

Smith completed 18 of 28 passes for 207 yards, his second-lowest output of the season but more than enough to throttle the Falcons. He connected with Kenneth Walker on a

team’s playbook during last week’s bye and when he left Tim Boyle replaced him. With De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert and Huntley leading the way on the ground, the Dolphins rushed for 188 yards. But aside from connecting with Jonnu Smith seven times for 96 yards and one score, they struggled through the air and Mostert lost a fumble that Indy (4-3) converted into its only touchdown of the game.

The result: Miami scored only 10 points against a defence that started Week 7 ranked near the bottom of the league in total yards, yards passing and yards receiving.

“I think they were phenomenal all game. They’ve

really looked at their role in an expansive way and have been trying to do whatever they can to win the football game,” McDaniel said, referring to Waddle and Hill. “It was frustrating this game because I didn’t anticipate some of the game shaping out that way. I have to find a way, specifically when they’re doing their jobs at a high level. They were very involved in the run game in blocking, and contrary to popular belief, they do play every play.” It hasn’t just been the receivers, though. Miami also committed six penalties, lost the turnover margin, missed a 54-yard field goal that would have tied the score at 13 with 5:14 to play and

couldn’t rally with Boyle leading the ﬁnal drive before turning the ball over on downs.

One solution would be activating quarterback Tua Tagovailoa from injured reserve today, something McDaniel declined to address following the game. The quicker solution would be developing a game plan that gets Hill and Waddle back in sync.

“They’re one of 11 in terms of not just passes — sometimes they’re limited to requiring a lot of attention and emphasis from the defence, which gives other guys opportunities,” McDaniel said.

“But we have to take advantage of those opportunities, and I need to ﬁnd ways to get them involved.”

17-yard touchdown and a huge 31-yard scoring play to DK Metcalf just before halftime.

After Walker’s TD catch made it 24-14 late in the third quarter, Seattle’s defence clinched the victory.

EAGLES 28, GIANTS 3

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Saquon Barkley made a memorable return to MetLife Stadium, rushing for 176 yards and a touchdown and turning early jeers to cheers as he led Philadelphia to a victory over offensively inept New York.

Jalen Hurts scored on two tush-push quarterback sneaks and threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown as the Eagles (4-2) beat the Giants (2-5) for the sixth time in seven games and 14th in 17. Philadelphia’s defence was just as good, recording eight sacks and limiting New York to 119 yards.

What was different this time was Barkley was wearing an Eagles uniform. The second pick overall by New York in 2018, he left as a free agent after last season and signed a threeyear, $37.5 million contract in March. He was greeted by boos but they didn’t last. Barkley was worth every penny yesterday, waking up the Eagles with a 55-yard run around left end to set up his 3-yard TD that put Philadelphia ahead 7-0 in the second quarter. Hurts then connected with Brown on a go route on fourth down to increase the margin to 14-0.

PACKERS 24, TEXANS 22

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)

— Brandon McManus kicked a 45-yard ﬁeld goal as time expired in his debut performance with Green Bay, lifting the Packers past the Texans. Green Bay (5-2) overcame three turnovers to win its third straight and snap the Texans’ threegame winning streak. Green Bay’s Jordan Love was 24 of 33 for 220 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Houston’s Joe Mixon rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Ka’imi Fairbairn was 3 of 3 on ﬁeld-goal attempts and put the Texans (5-2) ahead by making a 35-yarder with 1:44 left.

C.J. Stroud was just 10 of 21 for a career-low 86 yards and was sacked four times.

BENGALS 21, BROWNS 14 CLEVELAND (AP)

— Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a possible season-ending Achilles tendon injury in the ﬁrst half of Cleveland’s loss to Cincinnati yesterday as Joe Burrow got his ﬁrst road win against the Bengals’ in-state AFC North rival.

Watson’s leg crumpled on a non-contact play as he dropped back to pass with 1:26 left before halftime. As he planted, Watson’s calf appeared to quiver before he gave himself up and dropped to the turf.

The embattled Watson, whose tenure with Cleveland has been marked by off-ﬁeld problems, injuries and poor play, covered his head with a towel as he was carted off the ﬁeld. While he was down, players from both teams came off the sidelines to surround him and offer support.

The Browns only announced Watson injured his Achilles tendon and didn’t provide any other speciﬁcs. There’s a strong chance he won’t play again this season, and it’s possible Watson’s days with Cleveland are over.

BILLS 34, TITANS 10 ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Amari Cooper scored the goahead touchdown in his debut with Buffalo and Josh Allen overcame a sluggish ﬁrst half to throw two touchdown passes in his 100th career start to help the Bills rally from a 10-point deﬁcit and beat the Titans.

Cooper’s 12-yard TD catch was his ﬁrst reception for the Bills and came ﬁve days after being acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Ty Johnson also scored on a 4-yard catch, and James Cook and Ray Davis rounded out the rout with touchdown runs.

After being limited to 4 of 11 for 65 yards in the first half, Allen finished 21 of 33 for 323 yards. It marked his 26th career 300-yard game and first this season. And Allen did so against a Titans defence that entered ranked first against the pass and had yet to allow 200 yards passing this season.

Allen improved his career record to 68-32 as a starter, matching four players — Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers — for the

RAMS HOLD OFF RAIDERS 20-15 AFTER QB O’CONNELL GETS INJURED

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

INGLEWOOD, Calif.

(AP) — Kam Curl returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown and Kyren Williams rushed for 76 yards and two scores in the Los Angeles Rams’ 20-15 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders yesterday.

Cobie Durant had an interception and later caused the fumble returned for a TD by Curl for the Rams (2-4), who forced four turnovers by Gardner Minshew. The Raiders’ backup quarterback was forced into action by an early hand injury for Aidan O’Connell.

Jaylen McCollough had two more interceptions for Los Angeles, including the game-clinching pick with 1:18 to play.

Matthew Stafford passed for 154 yards for the Rams (2-4), who snapped a twogame skid during their worst start to a season in coach Sean McVay’s eight years in charge.

Minshew passed for 154 yards for the Raiders (2-5) after replacing O’Connell, who didn’t return after a hand-to-hand collision with Curl during the Raiders’ second offensive series.

The Raiders managed 317 yards in their first game since trading Davante Adams to the Jets, but they were forced to settle for five field goals by Daniel Carlson after repeatedly giving the ball away or struggling in the red zone. Las Vegas has lost three straight.

sixth-most wins in a quarterback’s ﬁrst 100 starts.

COMMANDERS 40, PANTHERS 7 LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Marcus Mariota replaced injured rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels early in the second quarter, Dante Fowler returned an interception 67 yards for a touchdown and Washington routed Carolina.

Concern over Daniels’ status overshadowed the victory after the No. 2 pick and offensive rookie of the year favourite left with a rib injury. His mother posted on social media that “he’s ﬁne,” and given the lopsided score, it would have been more surprising if Daniels returned, and the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner spent the second half on the bench chatting and laughing with teammates.

The Commanders (5-2) did just ﬁne without him for a vast majority of the game after he had a 46-yard run and completed a couple of passes on their opening possession. They already led at that point thanks to Fowler’s pick-6, Andy Dalton’s ﬁrst of two interceptions, the second by Emmanuel Forbes, who returned from being a healthy scratch last week.

The defence dominated, allowing 180 yards, stopping seven of 10 thirddown chances.

CHIEFS 28, 49ERS 18

SANTA CLARA, Calif.

(AP) — Patrick Mahomes overcame two interceptions to deliver a few big plays with his feet and Kansas City remained the league’s only undefeated team, beating San Francisco in a Super Bowl rematch.

The stakes and the quality of play weren’t at the same level as eight months ago when Mahomes and the Chiefs (6-0) beat the 49ers (3-4) 25-22 in overtime for their Super Bowl title in ﬁve seasons.

But the result was the same with Kansas City winning its ﬁfth straight over San Francisco, including two Super Bowls. Mahomes ﬁnished 16 for 27 for 154 yards and has eight interceptions and six passing touchdowns this season. But that has been enough for Kansas City to become the 10th defending Super Bowl champion to start the following season with six straight wins.

The Raiders fell behind 20-6 midway through the third quarter, but had two late drives with a chance to save their game.

After settling for a short ﬁeld goal with 2:46 left after reaching the Los Angeles 4, Las Vegas got the ball back with 1:39 left — but McCollough picked off Minshew’s ﬁnal heave at the Vegas 34.

The Rams improved to 3-0 against the Raiders since they returned to the Los Angeles market, which these two franchises shared for 13 years from 198294. The Raiders have lost six straight games at SoFi Stadium to the Rams and Chargers.

O’Connell was penalised for intentional grounding on the play in which his hand was apparently injured.

JAYDEN DANIELS TO GET FURTHER TESTS TODAY

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jayden Daniels will undergo further tests today after leaving the Washington Commanders’ game against the Carolina Panthers with a rib injury, coach Dan Quinn said, repeatedly adding he had no further update on the rookie quarterback’s status.

“I can not give you an update on Jayden, but I will just as soon as we ﬁnd out,” Quinn said yesterday after Daniels was injured early in his team’s 40-7 win. “I’ll give you some updates just as soon as I ﬁnd out tomorrow, but I do not have any tonight.”

Daniels’ mother, Regina Jackson, posted on social media the simple message, “He’s ﬁne.” Part owner Magic Johnson posted he’s “praying that Jayden Daniels’ injury is not serious!” Seven games into what is turning into a season with playoff aspirations, the Commanders are 5-2 but so far have no clarity about Daniels. “Obviously, it’s going to take some time or whatever it is,” said veteran Marcus Mariota, who replaced Daniels and threw for two touchdown passes and 205 yards. “We have no idea. But I think he was in good spirits, and for the most part you just check on him, how he’s doing and we’ll take it day to day.”

DETROIT Lions head coach Dan Campbell, left, talks with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell after yesterday’s game in Minneapolis.

(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

By The Associated Press

PAYING RESPECTS TO THE LEGENDARY TRACK AND FIELD ICON KEITH HOLLAND PARKER

Photos by Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

BAAA president Drumeco Archer, above left, and a tearful NACAC president Mike Sands, above right, give their remarks at the memorial.

‘JJ’ and Liberty win WNBA title

By TENAJH SWEETING

The third time is usually the charm for most people but for Grand Bahamian

Jonquel “JJ” Jones her fourth trip to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals was the one that counted the most when it was all said and done. Jones had a different look in her eyes and poise in her voice before the start of the series against the Minnesota Lynx and she certainly delivered in the ﬁnal two games of the best-of-ﬁve championship series.

She willed the New York Liberty to their ﬁrst title in franchise history and picked up the ﬁrst WNBA championship of her storied career in the team’s gutsy 67-62 overtime victory at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York, last night.

Her already long list of career accolades got even lengthier last night with a WNBA championship and WNBA Finals MVP that made her the ﬁrst Bahamian to ever accomplish such a feat. Additionally, she is just the third non-American to win the

WNBA crown and the 11th player to go home with both the title and Finals MVP honours.

She was visibly emotional but vocal about her journey to get this point in her career after the game.

“Y’all know my story,” Jones said during her oncourt interview. “Y’all know how many times I’ve been denied, but it was delayed, that’s all it was. I’m so happy to do it here.”

Jones came within arm’s reach of a WNBA title on three previous occasions. She made it to the ﬁnals twice with her former team the Connecticut Sun in 2019 and 2022 and last year with the Liberty. The Grand Bahama native left Eight Mile Rock at just 13-years-old to pursue her dream of being a pro baller. Seventeen years later, she has achieved a feat that has

KAI JONES UPGRADED TO TWO-WAY DEAL

A STRONG showing during the National Basketball Association (NBA) preseason has paid big dividends for Bahamian big man Kai Jones.

The Los Angeles Clippers originally picked the athletic Bahamian centre up on an exhibit 10-day deal during the offseason, but after preseason play he secured the team’s ﬁnal roster spot and a two-way deal. The 6-foot-11 centre has been on the move since being waived by the Charlotte Hornets due to some questionable behaviour a year ago.

Since then, Jones was picked up by the Philadelphia 76ers on a 10-day deal last season, but the opportunity was short-lived as he sustained a hamstring injury before getting to show his true potential for the team. He was then signed by Los Angeles just before their 2023-24 NBA postseason run but didn’t log any minutes with the team during that time.

The former ﬁrst rounder got a chance to prove himself once again with the

Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA preseason. He averaged eight points and ﬁve rebounds in 24 minutes during his preseason campaign to earn him the ﬁnal Los Angeles Clippers roster spot.

Despite being unable to find an NBA home for some time, Jones had a strong run with The Bahamas senior men’s national basketball team during the first window of the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers against Puerto Rico in February. He averaged 13.5 points per game, eight

made the entire process all worth it. She was a force to be reckoned with all series long. In the five games played, the finals MVP averaged 17.8 points per game and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 56 per cent from the field. She led the Libs in scoring in the closeout game with a team-high 17 points, six rebounds and

By TENAJH SWEETING

BAHAMIAN third baseman Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr and the New York Yankees are headed to the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series.

The Yankees advanced to their 41st World Series and ended a 15-year drought after defeating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in game ﬁve of the American League Championship Series on Saturday night at the Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

It was also the team’s ﬁrst time clinching the American League pennant since 2009.

The MLB World Series debut with the Bronx Bombers will make Chisholm Jr just the second Bahamian since the late Ed Armbrister (1975 and 1976) to make it to the biggest stage in the majors.

Armbrister advanced to the World Series twice with the Cincinnati Reds more than four decades ago.

Yankees left ﬁelder Juan Soto cashed in on a threerun homer with two outs in the 10th inning to put the New York-based team in a celebratory mood. With the score locked at 2-2 after

six

innings, Soto came up big for the newly-crowned

pennant winners down

CLIPPERS forward Kai Jones. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

YANKEES’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, and Juan Soto celebrate after Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday, October 19, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A Vásquez)

NEW York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) reacts after being given the MVP Award last night after winning the championship against the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA basketball ﬁnal series, Sunday, October 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)