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Volume: 120 No.206, October 27, 2023

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1

GIBSON AND LYNES TAKE ON MITCHELL Shane and attorney apply for PLP chair ahead of convention

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net FORMER Cabinet minister Shane Gibson and attorney Robyn Lynes have applied to be chair of the Progressive Liberal Party, setting up a race with the incumbent office holder, Fred Mitchell, at the party’s convention on November 9 and 10.

Nominations for offices in the PLP closed yesterday, with no one applying to challenge PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis and deputy leader Chester Cooper up to press time, according to multiple sources.

A move for Mr Gibson to challenge Mr Mitchell grew after he was denied the party’s nomination for

PINTARD CALLS FOR DETAILS OF GOVT DEAL with Miller

Tarrus comes to town

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard wants the Davis administration to disclose the terms under which Leslie Miller’s Summerwinds Plaza will be leased to house the Road Traffic Department.

Mr Miller confirmed the move after Transport and Energy Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis acknowledged earlier this week that the department would move to a location on

SEE PAGE THREE

FUNERAL DIRECTOR SPEAKS OF ‘chaotic state of death-care’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net A FUNERAL director is lamenting the “chaotic state of death care in The Bahamas”.

Ambrose Gibson, the owner of St Ambrose Funeral Home, wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, accusing successive

administrations of disregarding his profession.

He said there are no designated vehicles to transport dead people to the morgue or airport in Family Islands and that dead people –– “clad in a cheap body bag” –– are placed on trucks regardless of weather conditions.

He noted that former SEE PAGE FOUR

SEE PAGE THREE

MUSIC superstar Tarrus Riley performs at the Nassau Cruise Port tomorrow as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations for 100 Jamz - but you will have to act fast to grab a ticket. See PAGE TWO for the full story on a concert weekend with both international and local stars in action.

SAM Bankman-Fried is set to tell a New York judge that Bahamian regulators, and not US bankruptcy attorneys, “were acting in the best interests of customers” immediately after FTX imploded.

Attorneys representing

SAM BANKMAN-FRIED FTX FOUNDER the embattled FTX founder, in legal papers

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

filed late on Wednesday night, said their client would give evidence in a bid to rebut testimony from his former partner, Gary Wang, that he transferred digital assets to the Securities Commission of The Bahamas’ custody “in an effort to retain control” of the crypto currency exchange.

MAJOR developers and resorts last night told Tribune Business they are willing to take their campaign to block Wendy’s Paradise Island restaurant “to the highest level of the judicial system”.

Glen Haddad, executive vice-president of the Paradise Island Tourism Development Association (PITDA), confirmed in writing that they will bring their opposition to the Londonbased Privy Council if that is what it takes.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

‘BahaMas acted in Best interest of ftX custoMers’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

OPPONENTS of wendy’s ON PI WILL FILE APPEAL

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

PAGE 2, Friday, October 27, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

Joining Inter-Parliamentary Union will strengthen efforts to include young leaders, says senator

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net SENATOR Barry Griffin said joining the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will strengthen The Bahamas’ efforts to include more young people in leadership positions.

The IPU is a global organisation of national parliaments that promotes democratic governance, accountability, and cooperation among its members. It also works to empower youth participation in Parliament and create gender parity.

The Bahamas recently became the 180th member of the IPU. The House of Assembly passed a resolution in July to join the organisation.

According to the resolution, a committee of five people will be responsible for organising relations

with the IPU. “In joining the IPU, we were fully aware of the organisation’s efforts to promote greater gender parity and youth participation. The IPU’s track record speaks for itself - with over 35 per cent of the MPs attending IPU Assemblies being women and 1 out of 4 attendees being below the age of 45,” Mr Griffin said yesterday while addressing the IPU assembly in Angola.

Mr Griffin said The Bahamas government embraces diversity in leadership and hopes to contribute to inclusivity and diversity in leadership.

“Through the IPU, our voices are amplified, and we now have a global platform, not only to increase the participation of youth in our democracies, but to also ensure that the perspectives of youth

and those under 45 are reflected in global decision-making,” he said.

Mr Griffin said joining the IPU will assist in bringing global issues like climate change to the forefront.

He said: “Before us, we have global threats, such as climate change, that require decisive and immediate action to save lives and preserve livelihoods. It is through the work of global organisations like the IPU that we have the best shot at taking coordinated action to ensure that all peoples of the world are able to survive and thrive in the face of these looming threats.”

“Colleagues, there is no challenge that cannot be overcome through unity. Let’s continue to work together in the spirit of the IPU, in the spirit of progress, to create a better world for all people

SENATOR BARRY GRIFFIN and all nations.”

Minister of Labour and Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle recently described joining the

union “as a key step in joining countries around the globe in advancing and promoting peace, democracy, human rights,

sustainable development, and the development of effective, representative, and accountable parliaments”.

Thousands expected to attend Tarrus Riley concert at Nassau Cruise Port

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Tarrus Riley concert is fast approaching, and a local DJ wants Bahamians to get their tickets now so they won’t miss out on a spectacular show.

DJ Reality, promotions director at Radio House, said sales have been going well so far, with thousands expected to attend the concert at the Nassau Cruise Port on Saturday.

“I would urge everyone to grab their tickets immediately if they haven’t because ticket sales are going great,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “I think it’s fair to say that thousands will be there based on ticket sales.”

“We have Skybox and Skypods, and most of them are sold out.”

At the concert, guests will be treated to performances from Jah Hem, Julien Believe and others.

Tickets are currently on sale for $150 and can be purchased online at bahamasetickets.com, signatureproduction.net, 100 Jamz on Shirley Street or Aliv’s Harbour Bay and Cable Beach locations.

“People have expressed issues with the prices, but they have to understand it’s just one segment,” Deejay Reality said, defending the ticket prices.

“It isn’t segmented into VIP, general or platinum.

We decided to do away with all of that and give everyone a fair share of seeing Taurus Riley up close and personal, so we’re just going to have one general

TARRUS RILEY area and the earlier you get Where Hit Music Lives,’ there, the better space you we thank our loyal listeners can secure.” for their support over the The event is part of the years.”

100 Jamz’ 30th anniversary “At Tribune Radio celebrations. Earlier this Limited, in addition to supmonth, the radio power- porting local artists and house held a block party providing the best in hit on School Lane, attracting music, we remain steadfast hundreds. in our unwavering commit“We just wanted to ment to amaze our clients do something major for with our unparalleled abilthe 30th, so we decided ity to execute creative and to couple this along with successful sales/marketing the block party and just campaigns and events.” do something like super “We remain optimistic extra,” Deejay Reality said. about the positive developMeanwhile, Tribune ments in the music industry Radio’s chief operating in The Bahamas and look officer Ollie Ferguson said: forward to ongoing success “On the 30th Anniversary for the artists, our listeners of ‘The People’s Station, and our clients.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, October 27, 2023, PAGE 3

Gibson and Lynes take on Mitchell

ROBYN LYNES from page one the West Grand Bahama and Bimini constituency.

Tension between the two men became public in the lead-up to last Friday’s bitter National General Council meeting, when

Kingsley Smith was ratified as the candidate in the upcoming by-election.

Although Mr Davis’ position is not up for grabs, the outcome of the race for chair could reflect his grip on the party. Insiders said he continues to

SHANE GIBSON support Mr Mitchell, who defeated Obie Wilchcombe to be chairman in 2017.

Ms Lynes, 40, is a former senator and was the PLP’s national vice chair from 2009 to 2017.

The chair is responsible

for the organs and apparatus of the party and is its chief executive officer, according to the PLP’s constitution. The chair presides over convention and NGC meetings.

The chair is, along with the party leader, the

FRED MITCHELL spokesperson for the party.

On Wednesday, Senator Quinton Lightbourne, a convention co-chair, said the PLP would discuss marital rape, legalising marijuana for recreational use and transitioning to a republic during closed

sessions. Evening sessions will be open to the public.

Those seeking one of the top three positions in the PLP had to pay nonrefundable fees: $2,500 for the leader, $2,000 for the deputy leader, and $1,500 for the chair.

Pintard calls for details on ‘We need you to line up behind the one’, said PM government’s deal with Miller urging West Grand Bahama to support Smith

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FNM LEADER MICHAEL PINTARD from page one Tonique Williams Darling Highway next to Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Centre.

Mr Pintard accused the PLP yesterday of “cronyism and favouritism”.

“Bahamians everywhere should recall that Mr Miller was already in deep debt to the Bank of The Bahamas for a sum reportedly well north of $20m,” he said.

“This debt was ultimately transferred to the Bahamian people through (Bahamas) Resolve once the PLP realised that it had to scramble to save the Bank of The Bahamas from the PLP-facilitated plunder of that bank.

“We have not forgotten how the approval of ill-advised loans to politically favoured persons by the bank’s PLP-appointed board ended up saddling Bahamian taxpayers with hundreds of millions of dollars when these bad loans had to be transferred to Resolve.

“The Bahamian people are only left to speculate if this is why Mr Miller was given the contract.”

“The opposition demands that the full terms

of this agreement be published and that the public is assured that the entirety of any income generated through this arrangement goes first to settle the debt that Mr Miller owes to the Bahamian people –– any other arrangement would be untenable.”

Mr Miller’s long-time lawyer, Damian Gomez, pushed back on the idea that his client should not have his property leased because he owes the government money.

“If the government owes him rent which they have not paid,” he said, “how can the government say it is owed money by him?”

Mr Miller sued the government when the Minnis administration refused to honour leases the Christie administration entered with him, seeking more than $66m in damages.

Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Grant Thompson initially ruled that the leases were “valid and binding” and awarded him $9.846m in damages.

However, the Court of Appeal allowed the government’s appeal of the ruling and ordered the case be sent back to the Supreme Court for a

hearing before a different judge.

The parties later agreed to negotiate a settlement without further legal action.

The Bank of The Bahamas and Bahamas Resolve are parties to the case.

Mr Miller’s BOB loans –– secured by the plaza –– were moved to the bail-out vehicle when they became delinquent. He and his companies allegedly owe BOB more than $30.5m.

The Tribune understands that as settlement negotiations continue, the plaza is no longer under receivership, with the parties determining how Mr Miller’s account will be handled.

“The lease payments were to go to the bank,” Mr Gomez said yesterday.

“The government refused to pay. It paid a portion initially and then it stopped paying. That is the whole source of the disagreement. The bank was lending money for the purpose of the government getting the space that it was getting. It didn’t pay, so the basis of the bank’s arrangement collapsed because the government didn’t pay what it owed Mr Miller.”

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis urged West Grand Bahama and Bimini supporters to support Kingsley Smith, the Progressive Liberal Party member hoping to succeed Obie Wilchcombe in the constituency.

Mr Smith’s campaign was officially launched in Holmes Rock on Thursday.

“We need you to line up behind the one,” Mr Davis said, saying the party has “done our part.”

“You may be disappointed because you did not get what you wished, but you have who the party wants right now, and so let us all be the PLPs that we are supposed to be,” he said.

Mr Davis said all the potential candidates to represent the party were qualified, but only one could be chosen.

“There is a lot of future for West Enders,” he said, adding: “I thank Robert Grant, Samuel Brown, Paco Deal, and Caleb Outten.”

Kingsley Smith, Jr, 51, is an attorney. He recently resigned as chief passport officer to run for office.

Some PLP supporters have not embraced him because of his previous ties to the Free National Movement.

“I was born out of the belly of the PLP,” Mr Smith told The Tribune on Thursday, adding that his father was a stalwart councillor and his mother was a party member.

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis.

He said his uncles on his mother’s side went with Hubert Ingraham when he left the PLP and joined the FNM. He said he supported the FNM in 1992, his first time voting.

“Throughout the years,” he said, “I would have supported the FNM. However, as time went by, my heart was always and still with the PLP and its philosophies.”

Mr Davis likened Mr Smtih to the prodigal son during his speech.

Mr

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn Smith said it was Mr Davis who had asked him to rejoin the party in 2020.

He said he would be meeting with constituents to hear their concerns and share his plans for the constituency with them.

“I was born and raised in West Grand Bahama, and I know the issues, but people have their individual concerns,” he said.

“Some of the candidates who are in the race are not from the West Grand Bahama community.”

ATLANTIS WORKER STABBED AT BREAKFAST AN Atlantis worker was stabbed by a fellow employee on Tuesday as she worked at a restaurant serving breakfast to visitors.

The attack came shortly before 9am, with the 28-year-old woman being stabbed by a man who also worked at the location.

The Tribune understands the incident took place at Poseidon’s Table at Atlantis, which was initially reported in Wednesday’s Tribune.

However, the incident did not feature on Tuesday’s police reports, and Tribune inquiries about the stabbing

received no response until the early hours of Wednesday morning when police confirmed the attack.

Officers said that the male employee “got into a physical altercation” with the woman, resulting in her being stabbed.

After the attack, police said the victim was taken to hospital where she was treated and discharged on the same day.

Reports of the attack circulated online on Tuesday, although there were conflicting details about the incident.

Police said an investigation is continuing.

The Tribune understands the attacker was held down until security arrived, while guests were evacuated. The restaurant was reportedly closed temporarily after the attack.

There was no comment from Atlantis or the hotel union after queries from The Tribune.

The alleged attacker, a 27-year-old man, is currently in custody and officers said he is assisting police with their investigation.

PAGE 4, Friday, October 27, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

Funeral director speaks of ‘chaotic state of death-care’ from page one Cabinet minister Obie Wilchcombe, who died last month, was flown to New Providence for his autopsy even though Grand Bahama has a lab and a “competent pathologist”.

He said the lab on Grand Bahama “is atrocious”.

“The dead are housed

in refrigerated containers that have no shelves,” he said. “As a result, the dead are placed on the ground or on top of other deceased persons on the few tables that are available. The same practice is in New Providence, to a certain extent.”

He noted there are no morgues in South Andros or the Berry Islands.

“If the morticians

cannot get to those islands immediately to transport the deceased to New Providence, they are not placed in body bags covered with ice until they are transported,” he said.

“The morgues in North Eleuthera and Governor’s Harbour are always inoperative. If a person dies in the north or central Eleuthera, they must be trucked to Spanish Wells

in the north or South Eleuthera.”

He said the morgue in North Andros works intermittingly and that while Exuma and Abaco have quality morgues, “there are no air-conditioning or ventilation in the foyer,” requiring pathologists or morticians to be innovative.

The Ministry of Health declined yesterday to

respond to the specific claims that Mr Ambrose made.

“Managing the sensitive processes of caring for the departed is a collaborative effort that requires coordination among various government agencies and the private sector,” the ministry said.

“The Ministry of Health & Wellness can assure the public that established

pathology protocols are adhered to in health facilities on New Providence, Grand Bahama and throughout the Family Islands. These protocols prioritize the respectful and meticulous care for both the living and the departed across our archipelago.”

The ministry said a morticians bill is being drafted to regulate the funeral services industry.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH WELCOME 37 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FROM CUBA

THE MINISTRY of Health and Wellness welcomed 37 health professionals from Cuba as part of a recruitment exercise. They include X-ray technicians, physiotherapists, lab technicians, biomedical engineers and epidemiologists, who will undergo a one-month familiarisation programme. Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville welcomed the new arrivals and expressed appreciation for the “continued partnership” with Cuba.

Photos: BIS

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that EDNA TALMAE, Jackson Suite, Eleuthera, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 20th day of October 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that SHERLINE NORTELUS, off Courdaeux Avenue, Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 27th day of October 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that LOTAYA TATANIESHA MORRISONTAYLOR née MORRISON, off Jumbey Street, Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 27th day of October 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that MIKENDY NOEL PAUL of Water Street, Big Pond, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 20th day of October, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that TYREKE ROBERT ALCIME, Golden Gates #1, Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 27th day of October 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that MICHAEL EUGENE of Carmichael Road, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 20th day of October, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

PM: Immigration’s exercise of discretion will be reviewed THE TRIBUNE

Friday, October 27, 2023, PAGE 5

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the time has come to review how the Department of Immigration exercises discretion.

In a video played during yesterday’s Office of the Prime Minister briefing, Mr Davis said immigration processes and procedures will be reviewed to see what needs to be tweaked.

“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.

Immigration Minister Alfred Sears said on Wednesday that a commission that Mr Davis established to review how immigration decisions are made comprises former Education Director Marcellus Taylor, former Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Clifford Scavella and attorney Alexandria Hall.

Mr Davis revealed the commission would be formed earlier this summer after Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard leaked documents showing senior immigration officials were concerned with former Immigration Minister Keith Bell’s alleged interference in their work.

Mr Davis said in yesterday’s video message: “We do feel that the time has come for us to review all of the legislation that attends to immigration matters to ensure it is modernised and we want some recommendations from this commission to assist us in that endeavour and, more importantly, to continually to update and report to the minister on matters daily that they think

needs to be brought to the attention for quick action and or reaction.”

Ms Hall, the commission chair, said the review will take a “significant amount of time”, and appointees will report to the minister of immigration regularly.

“To the prime minister’s point in terms of modernisation, we all know from our personal experiences that there are issues with the Immigration Act as drafted because there are gaps,” she said.

She said they will consider how to make the country more attractive for people to move here.

She couldn’t say how long it would take to produce a report.

“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 will decide if their report will be publicised.

Mr Pintard said yesterday that the commission’s remit does not move the “needle in any appreciable way in the right direction”.

He said Mr Davis seems overly concerned with confidentiality.

He also said the problems with Mr Bell’s alleged actions don’t relate to a minister’s discretionary powers.

“We do not doubt that there may be some categories of decisions where, depending on where you stand in the hierarchy of government, you may have discretion,” he said.

“What we did was cite instances where there is no wiggle room for discretion in case the prime minister wishes to be cute and suggest that several of the egregious, unethical, illegal decisions by the minister falls within the parameters of discretionary power.”

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the time has come to review how the Department of Immigration exercises discretion.

AUTHORITIES DISCOVER IMMIGRATION OFFICERS SELLING FOREIGNERS EXTENSIONS TO THEIR VISIT

ACTING PRESS SECRETARY KEISHLA ADDERLEY

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net ACTING press secretary Keishla Adderley said authorities uncovered a scheme where immigration officers were paid to extend foreigners’ time in the country.

She said three immigration officers are expected to be charged concerning the matter.

“A ring of sorts has been uncovered by officials at the immigration

department,” she said during yesterday’s Office of the Prime Minister briefing.

“It’s alleged that immigration officers were involved in the sale of the extension.”

“In other words, they were being paid to secure longer stays in The Bahamas here for persons who entered the country as tourists, and that is presumably to allow them to work here without going through the proper protocols and channels.”

“Now, obviously the immigration department is disappointed at this action which allegedly took place, but the hope is that the prosecution of individuals involved in this ring will deter others from doing the same.”

Authorities recently revealed that three immigration officers were in custody as police investigated a fraudulent work permit scheme.

Two civilians were also previously in custody as part of the probe.

PAGE 6, Friday, October 27, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

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Dead deserve dignity and respect A LETTER arrived in The Tribune’s inbox this week.

It was a lengthy, but heartfelt, plea from Ambrose Gibson, who owns the St Ambrose Funeral Home – and more than anything it asked for simple dignity and respect.

Addressed to Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, it pointed out the “blatant disregard” for the funeral profession not by one administration but “by every successive government”.

Mr Gibson pointed out the flaws in our current facilities – how the Rand Memorial Hospital has a competent pathologist but “the facility is atrocious”. He talked of how the dead “are housed in refrigerated containers that have no shelves. As a result, the dead are placed on the ground, or on top of other deceased persons on the few tables that are available”. He said the same happens in New Providence to some extent.

These, of course, are our loved ones, our family, our friends, our compatriots. We should be able to demonstrate a simple respect for those who have passed – and stacking bodies on top of one another falls far short of that.

Mr Gibson points out that there are no morgues in South Andros or the Berry Islands, where if there is a delay in transporting a body to New Providence, the bodies are placed in bags covered with ice until they are transported.

He says the morgues in North Eleuthera and Governor’s Harbour are “always inoperative”, and bodies in North or Central Eleuthera must be trucked to Spanish Wells.

North Andros, the morgue works

“intermittently”, while those in Great Exuma and Abaco are “state of the art” but there is no air conditioning or ventilation in the foyer.

He goes on to highlight issues with transportation of bodies by air and boat, and the shortage of burial spaces in public cemeteries.

In short, at every turn, there are challenges faced by the industry.

Mr Gibson has a solution, however – calling upon Mr Davis to place the profession under a substantive ministry. His suggestion is for Glenys Hanna Martin to be put in charge, saying “she is the only cabinet minister I see in the public cemetery on a regular basis, she listens, and she is ‘over herself’.”

He also calls for a white paper to be prepared to tackle issues in the industry.

The call is made courteously, but determinedly. And it is a call that has its roots in showing respect to those of us who have passed, as we all must.

During the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, there was great concern over how the bodies of those who died during the storm were stored – so we have had ample opportunity to learn our lesson and to understand where we fall short in showing the proper dignity for the dead.

We hope Mr Davis will listen to Mr Gibson. He may not agree with all of his suggestions – but we can all agree that our family and our fellow countrymen deserve to be treated with respect. And with that comes ensuring that the facilities match up to our needs, and to the skills of those who need to use them.

We commend Mr Gibson for raising such issues.

Illegality of abortion is dangerous EDITOR, The Tribune.

SOME 85 years ago, a doctor in England examined a 14-year-old girl and determined that she was sufficiently developed physically to carry her pregnancy to term.

Still, he performed an abortion and then promptly called the Chief Constable so he would be arrested.

On trial at the Old Baily, his defense was that the continuation of the pregnancy would have made the girl a “mental wreck”.

Alec Bourne was acquitted.

His courage expanded the grounds for lawful abortion from the limited case of saving the life of the woman to protecting her physical and mental health.

He performed the abortion at the request of her parents, after she had been raped by five officers of the Royal Horse Guards.

The case, R v Bourne [1938] 3 All E.R. 615, is a landmark in British law.

Now 85 years later, we prosecute a doctor in Nassau for performing an abortion on a 15-year-old girl at the request of her mother and sister. Tribune, October 17, 2023. Punishment without purpose.

Two years ago in Antigua, a ten-year-old girl was left to carry her pregnancy to term after she had been gang-raped.

What is the basis for our persistent stupidity? Inertia?

Political cowardice? Religious absolutism? Silence?

All the above?

We seem to yield either to an old plantation mentality of brutal punishment or to a new religious dogma that values fetal life above all else. Neither is prudent.

I wonder how often the parents of adolescents ever discuss sex with their children, girls and boys.

It turns out that one of the most effective antidotes to teen pregnancy is a programme that never mentions sex. It’s pre-school education where children gain self-confidence.

But we still shy away from introducing serious, ageappropriate sex education in our schools. We choose ignorance over information.

So, we arrest the doctor and others who provide this essential yet clandestine care are intimidated. This arrest does not stop abortions. It only makes them more unsafe, driving women into riskier situations.

Of course, the fundamental problem is the asymmetry of power. Those with the power to change the law have no need to change it. While those with the need to change the law have no power to do so.

We speak ever so glibly about teen pregnancies.

Almost 80% of those teen pregnancies are the result of relationships with men 20 years and older. More than half of them involve young men 20-24.

Yet we focus on the vulnerable teens rather than on the rapacious, exploitative young men. We even manage to blame the teenage girls.

Are we so incapable of addressing our blatant social challenges?

In March 2022, the very conservative WHO declared access to abortion care a human right and recommended the decriminalisation of abortion. In the last month, PAHO has aligned itself with the WHO’s guidance. I hope this will help us to move forward. But I doubt it.

FRED NUNES Silver Spring, Maryland, US October 20, 2023

SOUTH Africa’s Rassie Van Der Dussen pets a dog during a practice session ahead of their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match against Pakistan in Chennai, India, yesterday.

Photo: Mahesh Kumar A./AP

PLP’s move on Gibson about optics EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE recent decision of Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) leader, Brave Davis, to overlook Shane Gibson as the party’s standard bearer is not just a matter of political strategy; it’s an emblematic statement about where the party stands and the direction it hopes to take. For the astute political observer, this move demands both rigorous analysis and critique.

One cannot ignore the obvious: politics is as much about perception as it is about policy. In an era where soundbites often eclipse substantive discussions and where scandals, regardless of their veracity, can spell the end of a political career, it becomes imperative for a party to strategically choose its candidates. Shane Gibson, despite his laudable service as a government minister, has unfortunately been tethered to perceptions of impropriety.

Even though he has been legally cleared of corruption charges, in the unforgiving

READERS have been posting their views on the stories making the news on tribune242.com.

After Leslie Miller said the government will move the Road Traffic Department into his Summerwinds Plaza for a rate that is “much better than anywhere else”, adding there is “nothing amiss” and “no favours” involved, Sickened had this to say: “Moving Road Traffic from the stadium was a must. The old bowling alley does seem like an appropriate space. They’ll probably have to put a traffic light at the entrance though because it can take a while to get out if you want to go east.”

Birdiestrachan said: “Mr Miller is not a sitting member of the house he is a private citizen unlike that other person. Good luck Mr Miller.”

That prompted this reply from Bahamianson: “Wait, did we not notice the elephant in the room?

His daughter is in Government, no?”

And AnObserver asked: “Shouldn’t the rent be

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net realm of politics, the stains of suspicion rarely fade, especially in the memories of voters. The court of public opinion operates on an entirely different set of rules, often far removed from principles of justice and fairness. It’s a sobering reminder of the aphorism: “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”

In sidelining Gibson, Brave Davis is making a calculated bet. He’s prioritising the party’s broader image over individual loyalty, arguing that the PLP’s appeal to new and independent voters — an increasingly crucial demographic — would be compromised with Gibson on the ticket.

These voters, unanchored by historical allegiances, are often swayed by present perceptions. Davis seems

being paid to Resolve Bahamas/BoB, not Mr Miller?”

The House of Assembly chaplain, Bishop Valentino William, warned parliamentarians not to “sell dreams just for votes” as the by-election in West Grand Bahama and Bimini nears.

The_Oracle had this to say in response: “Geez, what else can they sell?

Bahamians been gobbling up campaign promises and cheap rum and fried chicken for 50 plus years.

No different than the British did when native unrest was detected and thwarted by a public holiday with rum and pig roasts. If we ever wake up there won’t be a legacy/recognisable name on the slate from either party. Disgusted with the lot.”

to understand that being on the wrong side of public opinion is a formula for electoral defeat, no matter how unjust that opinion might be.

It’s a harsh reality of contemporary politics: perception, more than ever, shapes electoral outcomes.

Gibson’s sidelining may feel unfair to many, especially considering his tangible achievements. Still, in the cutthroat arena of politics, sometimes tough decisions are made not for the past or even the present, but with an eye firmly fixed on the future.

In closing, while this decision might seem ruthless to some, it underscores a hard truth: politics is often a game of optics. In sidelining Gibson, the PLP is making a clear statement about its priorities and the lengths it’s willing to go to protect its brand and appeal to a wider, more unpredictable electorate.

THE GATEKEEPER October 26, 2023

And after Wendy’s blasted Atlantis for masterminding a “meritless, aggressive and self-serving campaign” that failed to prevent the fast-food brand gaining planning approval for its Paradise Island restaurant, Becks said: “Sour grapes and just trying to stifle competition.”

Bahamianson said: “I pulled for you, Wendy’s, now reduce your prices.”

Dawes had this to say: “Seems strange for Wendy’s to blast the one company that brings pretty much all the people you wish to sell to, to the area.”

And there was this from Baha10: “. . . and there goes the neighbourhood . . . hard to justify ‘Atlantis’ room rates, much less ‘Ocean Club’s’ with a Wendy’s on your doorstep . . . or for that matter the very name ‘Paradise Island’, as old “Hog” Island seems more appropriate for a fast food destination.”

Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, October 27, 2023, PAGE 7

Library naming ceremony honours George Patrick Stewart

MAN RECEIVES ONE YEAR JAIL ON MOLESTING SIX-YEAR-OLD

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell spoke at a ceremony yesterday to mark the naming of the George Patrick Stewart Library. The library was named in honour of Mr Stewart “in honour of his outstanding contribution to the law of the sea defining the geographical demarcation of the archipelagic nation of The Bahamas and his dedicated, innovative and enduring spirit of mentorship in the development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”. Members of Mr Stewart’s family were in attendance at the ceremony.

Photos: Moise Amisial

A 22-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to one year in prison yesterday after he was found guilty of molesting a six-year-old girl two years ago.

Kashawn Russell faced a charge of indecent assault.

The victim testified yesterday that while staying at a relative’s home watching videos, sometime between May 1 and 31, 2021, Russell entered the room and rubbed her private parts under her dress.

She also said he put his penis to her lips.

During the sexual assault, the victim’s grandmother, with whom she lived, was out with friends.

The grandmother is now dead.

When asked how the incident made her feel, the young girl said it made her feel bad.

After reviewing the evidence, Magistrate Vogt-Evans found Russell guilty. Russell is to serve a one-year prison term at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

TEEN BOY SENTENCED TO 20 MONTHS AFTER MAN ACCUSED OF $25K BANK FRAUD AND ADMITTING TO POSSESSION OF A LOADED PISTOL MONEY LAUNDERING GRANTED $8,000 BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net AN 18-YEAR-OLD was sentenced to 20 months in prison yesterday after admitting to having a loaded gun in the ceiling of his house last weekend.

Magistrate Lennox Coleby charged Elton Toussaint, Yenton McKinney, 19, Belizaire Toussaint, 73 and Maritte Toussaint, 53, with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.

Levan Johnson represented the accused.

A police raid of the

defendants’ residence on Gilbert Street uncovered a black Austria Glock 19 9mm hidden in the ceiling on October 22. This seized weapon was also found with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Following his arrest, Elton admitted owning the gun.

Elton was the sole defendant to plead guilty to the charge. His co-accused, including his parents, pleaded not guilty.

The charges against the remaining three accused were withdrawn.

While attempting to get a lesser sentence for his

client, Mr Johnson cited the man’s young age, early cooperation with police and contrition. He asked the court to spare Elton a lengthy prison term, saying he can be reformed.

Magistrate Coleby sentenced Elton to 20 months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. While there, he must enrol in plumbing or electrical courses.

He was also informed of his right to appeal the sentencing within seven days.

Before being taken into remand, Elton was allowed a moment with tearful family members.

TWO MEN BOUND OVER TO KEEP THE PEACE AFTER ADMITTING TO POSSESSING MARIJUANA

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net TWO MEN were bound over to keep the peace after admitting to two separate drug offences yesterday.

Magistrate Samuel McKinney charged Bershawn Mullings, 25, and Alonzo Riley, 22, with separate charges of possessing dangerous drugs.

Mullings was arrested after police found him with

five grams of marijuana in New Providence on October 25.

Riley was found with two grams of marijuana in a separate incident on the same day.

Both accused pleaded guilty to the charges against them. Under the terms of Mulling’s conditional discharge, he was bound over to keep the peace for six months. Failing these conditions would incur a $500 fine or a three-month prison

term.

Riley’s conditional discharge ordered that he be bound over to keep the peace for one year or risk a similar $500 fine or three months in prison.

After Thompson pleaded guilty to the offence, he was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 or risk six months in prison. He was further bound over to keep the peace for one year, for which defaulting would carry a one-year prison term.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 20-YEAR-OLD man was granted $8,000 bail after allegedly defrauding a bank of over $25,000 this year.

Magistrate Kendra Kelly

charged Cam’ron Cargill with fraud by false pretences and six counts of money laundering.

Alphonso Lewis represented the accused.

Cargill was accused of obtaining $25,384.76 from CIBC First Caribbean Bank by false

pretences between August 22 and September 25. He is also accused of trying to conceal the stolen cash.

After pleading not guilty, Cargill was informed that as a condition of his bail, he must sign in to the Carmichael Road Police Station every first and third

Funeral Service For Theodore Alexander Forbes Sr., 44 of Lawton Avenue, Nassau Village, who died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Friday, 6th October, 2023, will be held at God’s Temple of Praise, Nassau Village on Saturday, 28th October, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Rev. Jerome Johnson assisted by other Ministers of the Gospel will officiate. Interment will follow in Old Trail Cemetery, Old Trail Road.

He was pre-deceased by his father: Theodore Forbes.

Left to cherish his memories are his mother: Mrs. Jennis Sweeting; stepfather: Mr. Peter Sweeting; grandmother: Ms. Ethel Roker; children: Theodore Forbes Jr., Jayden McPhee and Treyvon Forbes; sisters: Latoya Forbes-Smith and Alexia Forbes; brothers: PC 3767 Shaquille Sweeting Sr., Anfernee Sweeting, Tedric Forbes, Christopher Bain and Dominic Fernander; stepsisters: Precious Sweeting-Outten and Shavonne Sweeting; stepbrothers: Peter Sweeting Jr., Leonardo Sweeting, Jeremy and Stanford Russell; brother-in-law: Roderick Smith; sister-in-law: Pylara Sweeting; aunts: Christine Johnson (Emerson), Mary Strachan, Lisa Archer (Creswell Sr.), Angela Taylor (Ernest), Debra Mackey (Samuel Sr.) and Terry Martin (Rev. Ishmael); uncles: Shedrick Forbes Sr. (Karen), Stanley Forbes (Norma), Gregory Forbes (Donna) and Kevin Strachan; special friend: Ms. Valdara Butler; godparents: Stephanie Seymour and Shirley; niece and nephews: Kendiesha Ingraham, Rajah Smith, Shaquille Sweeting Jr., Kayrel Kelly, Floyd Bethel Jr., Lauri Bethel, Lauren Adderley, DàMani Watson and Shamari Sweeting; cousins: Ryan, Carlos, Michael, Emerson Jr., Pastor Albertha, Sophia, Doris, Marcus, Robert Jr., Shavanteh, Hillary, Ashnic, Creslyn, Creswell Jr., Edward, Katherine, Joann, Ishmael Jr.,Yienderia, SamuelJr., Crystal, Teressa, Dan, Shedrick Jr., Latoya and Shedrick II; other relatives and friends: Philip Lockhart & family, Brady’s Linen Staff, Atlantis Staff, Bahamas Waste Staff, B & W Convenience Store, Beverley Cooper & family, Shirley Clarke & family, Bertha Rahming & family, Marina Baillou & family,The sweeting family, Vincent Pierre & family, The Martin family, Patrice Lewis & family, PMH (ICU & Male medical I), Pastor Jerome Johnson and family, St Margaret Road Native Baptist Church and family, Grantonio (Barber) and family, Raymond (Lemon) and family, Tyrone, Valentino (Mojo), God’s Temple of Praise, Charmaine Taylor and family, R.M. Bailey class of 1997, Peter Russell and family, The entire Nassau Village community and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Grace Funeral Home, #36 Rosetta Street on Friday (TODAY) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday at the Church from 12:00 noon until service time.

PAGE 8, Friday, October 27, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, October 27, 2023 PAGE 9

The Department of Archives

Celebrating 52 years of preserving the nation’s literary and documentary heritage T

he Department of Archives is one of the oldest heritage institutions in The Bahamas.

It was officially opened on 15 September 1971, by the Minister of Education, the Honourable Carlton E. Francis, in the old Post Office building on Mackey Street.

However, before this inaugural event took place, work began in 1968 when Dr. Robert Claus the United Nations Deputy Chief of Communications, Archives and Records Services recommended to the Bahamas government that it appoint an experienced professional archivist along with a small staff to preserve the government’s records, pass legislation to govern the preservation of records and provide the proper storage facility to house the government’s records.

As a result of his recommendations, the government, in 1969, identified Mrs. D. Gail Saunders and sent her for training in Archives Administration and Records Management at University College, in London, England. When she completed her training in 1970, she joined Mr. Edward Carson, Archivist and Librarian of Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise who served as the Bahamas’ first Archivist from 1970-1971. Gail Saunders replaced him in September 1971 when he returned to England.

Four months later, in December 1971, the Government passed legislation to give the Archives the legal framework through which it would carry out its mandate to “preserve, conserve and make accessible records to the public”.

The Archives attained Departmental status in 1981. It is now comprised of the following areas: Preservations and Collections Management; the Research Room; Repair and Bindery; Digitization; Records Management, Archival Media and Special Projects. The department also has microfilming and duplication facilities onsite.

In 1988, the Archives moved to the newly constructed extension at the back of its original office and the Repair Bindery Section and the records housed at the Mosko building, Hawkins Hill were relocated there. During the years, 1999 and 2000, the government constructed the Record Centre onto the Archives extension and the records were transferred from the Learning Resources Unit where they had been stored after the closure of the Records Centre on Moss Road.

ADMINISTRATION The Chief Justice is the legal Head of the Department. However, administratively the office is under the Ministry of Education, Technical and Vocational Training. The Director of Archives has responsibility for the daily management and control of the Department.

ADVISORY COUNCIL The Public Records Act mandates that the Minister appoint an eight member Advisory Council that advises the Chief Justice on the work of the Archives. This body has been in existence since 1972.

OUR MISSION To ensure that the historical, literary and documentary heritage of The Bahamas are preserved for future generations by: UÊ VµÕ À }Ê` VÕ i ÌÃÊvÀ Ê both public and private institutions and individuals UÊ*ÀiÃiÀÛ }Ê` VÕ i ÌÃÊqÊV servation methods, preservation microfilming and digitization UÊ*À Û ` }ÊÌ iÊÀ } ÌÊi Û À ment to house the documents UÊ > Ì> }Ê> ÊivviVÌ ÛiÊ Records Management programme UÊ « i i Ì }Ê>ÊV «Ài i sive disaster preparedness plan UÊ*À Û ` }ÊÃiVÕÀ ÌÞÊv ÀÊÌ iÊ records and their custodians OUR VISION To ensure that the Bahamian populace is educated about the importance of the nation’s historical, documentary and cultural heritage through: UÊ/ iÊ«Ài«>À>Ì Ê vÊ Ê> `Ê BGCSE packages UÊ Ý L Ì ÊL iÌÃÊ UÊ `ÕV>Ì > Ê i` >Ê«>V ages of CDs and DVDs using the Department’s oral history collection UÊ 6 Ê i>À }Ê*>V iÌÃÊÃÕV Ê as the 1942 Burma Road Riot UÊ6 ViÃÊvÀ ÊÌ iÊ*>ÃÌÊ ÃÊ UÊ 6 Ê iVÌ Ê i Ì Ì i`Ê º Ê Proud and Singular Heritage”

WHAT WE HOLD

Old Public Records Office Building on Mackey Street.

The Archives is the final repository for all government records. It holds records from the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government. It also has in its holdings ecclesiastical records and records from private individuals.

ABOVE: Photographs – Bahamian Women (The Windsor Memorabilia Deposit.)

LEFT: Microfilm, manuscripts, newspaper, textual records, rare books and CD.

Maps

Plans

ABOVE: Private deposit: The Ray Nathaniel’s Collection: Drawings LEFT: Reel to reel tapes.

Research Room WHO WE SERVE The Department of Archives exists first to serve the Government by preserving and making available records that are essential for the effective administration of public business.

Secondly, it services the public, which uses the records for a variety of reasons. Each Þi>ÀÊÌ iÊ`i«>ÀÌ i ÌÊÀiVi ÛiÃÊ > ÞÊ µÕ À iÃÊ by email, mail, and telephone. However most researchers visit the Archives and undertake their own research.

OFFSITE STORAGE In 2008, the Department of Archives secured an offsite storage facility in Stone Mountain, Georgia to store microfilm copies of the nation’s literary and documentary heritage in the event of a catastrophe.

In 2016, the records were transferred to the Iron Mountain Records Management Facilities in Boyers, Pennsylvania along with the Registrar General’s microfilm library.

Should the records held in The Bahamas be lost due to a devastating hurricane, the Department will retrieve copies of the microfilm for public access.

MOVING FORWARD As the custodian of the nation’s collective memory, the Department will continue to vÕ w Ê ÌÃÊ i}> Ê > `>ÌiÊ Ì Ê >VµÕ Ài]Ê «ÀiÃiÀÛiÊ

WHAT WE DO

Archival appraisals.

and conserve the literary and documentary heritage of The Bahamas and make them accessible to the public.

The Archives is opened to the public weekdays from 10am to 4:45pm.

You can follow us on Facebook @TheNationalArchives242; on Instagram @ nationalarchivesofthebahamas and Twitter @BahamasArchives.

Microphotography

Repair and Bindery.

Arrange and describe records.

FORMER DIRECTORS

Create Finding Ads.

Records management.

DR. D. GAIL SAUNDERS First Bahamian Archivist and Director of Archives Dr. Saunders, the first Bahamian trained as an Archivist, studied Archives Administration and Records Management at University College, London. She became the Government’s Archivist in 1971, Director of Archives in 1981 and Director General of Heritage in July, 2004. She retired from the Public Service in March, 2009. She died on 30 June 2023. Dr. Saunders was instrumental in the iÃÌ>L Ã i ÌÊ vÊ Ì iÊ Ì µÕ Ì iÃ]Ê Õ i ÌÃÊ > `Ê ÕÃiÕ ÃÊ À« À>Ì Ê > `Ê the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. Internationally she served as president of the Caribbean Archives Association and president of the Association of Caribbean Historians. Locally she was also President of The Bahamas Historical Society.

MONICA ELAINE TOOTE

Digitization

Exhibitions and booklets.

Ms. M. Elaine Toote became the second Director of Archives in July 2004.

She retired from the Public Service on 4th May 2017.

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON PUBLIC RECORDS 2023

CURRENT DEPARTMENTAL LEADERSHIP

Back row left to right: Miss Antoinette Seymour, Mrs. April Turner, Recording Secretary Mrs. Portia Ingraham and Dr. Christopher Curry. Front row left to right: Director of Archives Miss Patrice M. Williams, Chairman Dr. Michael Toote and Ms. Medgar Bonimy

UÊ/ iÊ«ÀiÃi ÌÊ ÀiVÌ ÀÊ vÊ ÀV ÛiÃÊ ÃÊ Miss Patrice M. Williams UÊ/ iÊ

ivÊ ÀV Û ÃÌÊ ÃÊ ÃÃÊ ià i iÊ i > iÞ ©2023 Patrice M. Williams

Director of Archives, Department of Archives

Archival Media

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

Prepare BJC and BGCSE Social Studies and History Packets.

FOUNDING members and supporters of The Long Islanders Association (from left) Martha Knowles; Mike Darville; Bob Carroll, Harry Treco, Frank Watson; Mike Cartwright, Irvin Knowles, Carl Treco, Raphael Cartwright, Pat Turnquest, Granville Major, Malachi Knowles, Ivy Dumont, Levi Gibson, Alice Burrows, Edmund Knowles, Chloe Cartwright, Rodman Darville and Frank Taylor. A few unidentified members are also in the photo.

KIWANIS CLUB OF OVER-THE-HILL

On Tuesday, October 24, the Kiwanis Club of Over-The-Hill began its Young Children Priority One (YCPO) programme by donating 75 reading books to the Coconut Grove Preschool. These books will also be used when we resume our reading programme to the children, where Kiwanians volunteer their time to read stories to the children.

Young Children: Priority One (YCPO) is an ongoing service program of Kiwanis International, addressing the needs of young children.

YCPO projects are divided into four categories: General, Maternal and Infant Health, Childcare and Development, Parent Education and Support and Safety and Pediatric Trauma.

LONG ISLANDERS’ ASSOCIATION

The Long Islanders’ Association is gearing up to commemorate a major milestone, celebrating 50 years of its existence - uniting the people of Long Island, supporting the community, and advancing the sport of sailing.

The 50th celebrations include weeklong events that promise to be exciting, igniting an even greater sense of love and pride for Long Island. The Long Islanders’ Association (LIA) president Taynia Farquharson invites Bahamians and visitors to the country to enjoy events that will showcase Bahamian culture, providing fun and entertainment for all. The LIA is proud to launch its 50th anniversary celebration in tandem with the Golden Jubilee - celebrating 50 years of Bahamian independence.

Events kick off on Saturday, October 28, with The LIA Souse Out at RM Bailey Park at 7am, offering a wide variety of souses, as well as boiled and stewed fish and conch. On Saturday, November 4, a Sip and Paint event will be held from 6pm to 8pm at the Big Picture Sip and Paint Studio, Sandyport.

On Sunday, November 5, the LIA will give thanks to God for reaching this golden milestone with a church service to be held at St Agnes Church, Blue Hill Road at 10am.

Wear your favourite Long Island T-shirt on T-Shirt and Trivia Day on Thursday, November 9. Follow The Long Islanders’ Association on Facebook and Instagram, and listen out to local radio stations for trivia time throughout the day to win prizes.

The 50th celebrations will culminate with an elegant cocktail soiree on Saturday, November 11, beginning at 6.30pm at the Nassau Yacht Club, East Bay Street.

From as far back as 1898 when the first organised race was held at Deadman’s Cay, Long Island, there have been sailing races in Long Island. Eventually, interest in this grew so much that it was decided that a three-day regatta should be held in June 1968. This was a great success and the name Long Island Regatta was coined by the organising committee. It was at this point that Hugh Cottis, the Commodore, conceived the Long Island Sailing Club.

After the races on the Whit Monday holiday in 1969, some Long Islanders at the regatta, visiting from New Providence, thought there should be some encouragement for the sailors to want to return to race at Long Island. Fundraising events were organised, the most popular being the steak-outs at the Nassau Lions Club, and for the 1970 regatta, they were able to assist with the financing and trophies.

Finally in August, 1973, The Long Islanders’ Association was formed and was incorporated on November 9, 1973. Since its formation, The LIA presidents were: Edmund Knowles; Carl G Treco; Frank Watson; Leon Knowles; Tex Turnquest; Geoffrey Treco; C Henderson Burrows; Stephanie Harding; Coolidge Cartwright; Ruth Sumner; Gina Coakley; Taynia Farquharson (present).

Over the years, The LIA has made scholarships available to students from Long Island who were not financially able to further their education.

Funding was also made available for sports equipment for Long Island schools, and a science classroom was built at NGM Major High School.

The association also helped with the sports field at Clarence Town, provided copying machines and other equipment for the schools throughout the island, and sponsored various schools with field trips. It has also funded the refurbishment of the Deadman’s Cay

ST Augustine’s College Interact Club members taking part in a clean-up.

KIWANIS Club of Over-The-Hill secretary Kenny Carroll, Coconut Preschool principal Emily Rolle, and president Dominique Gaitor Kiwanis Club of Over-The-Hill.

Health Centre, installed an X-Ray machine, and built and equipped the only mortuary cooler on the island at that time. The association has donated thousands of dollars to people who were ill or in desperate need at some time or the other.

The major events each year are the Mini Regatta at Montagu Beach and the Annual Fair and Raffle on the first Saturday in May at RM Bailey Park - popular for its delicious Long Island mutton.

The most cherished accomplishment of the association to date is the construction and dedication of the Long Island Library and Museum building in Buckley’s, Long Island.

Ground was broken on this site in May 1988 and after many walkathons, raffles, steak outs, boat cruises, dollar days and donations from people across the length and breadth of The Bahamas. It was dedicated on May 26, 1996. The complex is now leased to the Ministry of Education.

More recently, the LIA has transformed the regatta site with the addition of a new bathroom block, a stage with offices for the Paymaster and Police, the addition of a wood deck and stairway, as well as many covered cabanas. At Regatta 2014, the site was officially named “The Long Island Cultural Site” and has been tagged by the Minister responsible for regattas as “The Best Regatta Site in The Bahamas”.

The LIA also established the “Ivy Dumont Scholarship Award” in February 2021 to provide financial assistance to an outstanding student from Long Island or of Long Island descent, either enrolled or planning to enroll in the University of The Bahamas with plans to major in education and willing to teach in Long Island for two years upon completion.

For more information on anniversary celebrations or to purchase tickets for events from the directors, call (242) 467-0504; 803-3285; or 5354064. Look for The Long Islanders’ Association on Instagram and Facebook, or email: longislandersassociation@gmail.com.

ST AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE INTERACT CLUB

The executive members and student body of St Augustine’s College Interact Club have unanimously decided that beach clean-up exercises be an annual event. For the second year in succession, students cleaned Arawak Cay beach. This year, several large garbage bags of litter were collected which included plastic, aluminium cans and lids, wood and other debris.

The over-arching aim of cleaning our beaches is to reduce marine pollution and its detrimental effects on marine organisms and coastal ecosytems. This fun-filled collaborative exercise allowed students to make a positive difference while raising awareness of the consequences of pollution and the importance of combating this pervasive problem.

Charlain Collins, advisor of the club, said: “It gives me great joy to witness first-hand the stellar work ethics and committed service of our students.

They teamed up and worked tirelessly to make this venture a success.”

Students were able to earn community service hours, an integral component encouraged in the student community at St Augustine’s College. Students were commended throughout by passers-by and onlookers.

JOIN in by submitting reports to clubs@tribunemedia.net or call Stephen Hunt on 826-2242.

Regenerative agriculture - it’s a win-win situation PAGE 10, Friday, October 27, 2023

IN our day and age, we look around the world and see so many environmental problems, many of which seem unsolvable. It is rare to find a solution as simple and as impactful as the practice of Regenerative Agri- of One Eleuthera Foundation culture. The practice of Regenerative Agriculture brings positive change to our communities and our globe by reducing pollution, reducing poverty, reducing global freshwater use and even stopping or reversing climate change.

Before I delve into what Regenerative Agriculture practices are, which are not complicated, let’s take a quick look at our current agricultural practices and how they are impacting the world.

Globally, most of our food is currently produced by cutting down forests or grasslands, plowing the soil several times a year, adding fertilizer, water, and pesticides to crops, and once harvested, leaving the field empty until TIM HAUBER the following growing season. This is how most of our food has been Agriculture is the prac- very little understanding produced since the intro- tice of growing food in of soil microbiology. We duction of agri-chemicals a holistic manner that did not realise that a very after the Second World takes into consideration important part of healthy War, and it has caused vast the long-term soil health soil is the microbes, fungi environmental damage. and fertility. It turns out and bacteria that live in The agricultural sector is that soil is a very com- the soil. Our practices one of the largest pollut- plex substance that is full of plowing and adding ers in the world, causing of life and biodiversity, synthetic fertilisers and have been soil degradation, ground- something that we have pesticides water pollution, loss of not been taking into con- slowly killing off these biodiversity, deforesta- sideration over the past 70 important microbes. As of it turns out, soil microbes tion, pesticide buildup, years play many vital roles in and greenhouse gas emissoil health, such as water sions, just to name a few absorption, nutrient of the many problems availability, disease caused. There is resistance, and no doubt that resistance to the current erosion.

All model of regenerative agricultural farming pracproduction tices take is not sussoil health tainable and ecoland that ogy into we will considerasoon run tion. into sigThere are nificant many farmchaling practices lenges in that are feeding considered the world’s regenerative, population such as no-till as we diminCOMPOSTING green waste provides a natufarming, compostish essential ral, nutrient-rich soil additive. ing, crop rotation, resources like soil cover cropping, reducand fresh water. The ing pesticides, proper problems are vast and livestock grazing, and complex, but the good adding agroforestry. news is that regenerative Currently, we import farming practices can stop fertilizer and pesticides to and even reverse many of our soil. Farmers and sci- 95 percent of our food. entists have been focusing As we seek to rebuild these problems. on the minerals in soil with the agricultural sector in Regenerative

THE TRIBUNE

By Tim Hauber

Death Notice For Johnny Nixon, 94 affectionately called “Uncle Johnny” a resident of Baillou Hill Estates & formerly of Little Farmer’s Cay, Exuma, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

He is survived by his nieces: Angela Rolle & Carmen Davis; nephews: Anthony, Rodger, Edward & John Davis; cousins: Jacqueline & Judy Toote and a host of other relatives & friends.

The foregoing information regarding images and well wishes for The Late Johnny Nixon can be disseminated at johnnynixon945@gmail.com

COVER Crops replenish planting fields, restoring and protecting the soil.

MULCHING protects the soil and increases water retention at the root zone of the tree.

The Bahamas and once finished for the season, we There is little doubt in again produce more of immediately plant cover my mind that the future our own food, we are in a crops such as Sunn Hemp of sustainable farming great position to develop or Sudex Grass to protect in The Bahamas can be our farming practices in a and improve soil health achieved by following the more sustainable manner over the hot summer basic principles of Regenthan we would have even months. erative Agriculture. These 20 years ago. This is posComposting: All of our techniques are not complisible now that we have green waste and land- cated or expensive and are a better understanding scaping trimmings are often a return to the more of regenerative agricul- composted in a variety of ‘old fashioned’ ways of ture. We can ensure that compost systems. Com- farming that our ancestors moving forward, our grow- posting is a powerful way practised for millennia. ing practices, whether on a of enriching your soil For more information large or small scale, take with healthy on these farming techsoil health into considniques, feel free to reach eration, enabling us to not out to us here at One only feed ourselves but Eleuthera Foundation future generations (OEF) and Centre as well. for Training and At The Farm Innovation (CTI) at CTI (Centre at ctifarm@ for Training oneeleuthera. and Innoorg. vation) UÊ / Ê in Rock Hauber is Sound, the farm Eleuthera, and growwe are house transitionoperations ing many officer at aspects of CTI & OEF. our farm Established to more in 2012, the regeneraOne Eleuthera CROP variety and rotation: Cassava, okra, lemontive practices.

Foundation grass and aloe all growing well together at We have seen (OEF) is a nonthe CTI Farm. improvements in profit organisation our yields as a result located in Rock Sound, of cover cropping, comEleuthera.

For more posting, no/low till, information, visit www. mulching, and the elimioneeleuthera.org or email nation of broad-spectrum soil microbes as organic info@oneeleuthera. org. pesticides. We are actively matter breaks down.

Mulching: By adding The Centre for Training developing almost half and Innovation (CTI) is of our acreage into a organic matter such as the first and only postleaves and branches regenerative agri-forest secondary, non-profit system that will serve as a around the base of trees, education and training we increase the water learning model for other institution and social farmers throughout the retention and soil quality enterprise on Eleuthera. country. The following for the tree’s root zone.

Crop rotation: We are CTI operates a student simple regenerative farming practices have proven careful not to plant the training campus in Rock beneficial in promoting same crop in the same area Sound, Eleuthera, with a soil health and produced year after year. We try to 16-room training hotel, vibrant, resilient crops on mix in different crops in restaurant and farm. For the same field whenever more information about our farm.

Cover Cropping: When possible to replenish the CTI’s programmes email: info@oneeleuthera.org. our vegetable crops are soil.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, October 27, 2023, PAGE 11

All is fair in love and hamburgers

WHILE the world is at war and innocent women and children are held hostage amidst growing fears of all-out global conflict, the lowly burger has become a hot potato in The Bahamas.

Daily headlines dish out both sides of the beef, decrying support for or opposition to the proposed transformation of a former bank venue on Paradise Island into a new Wendy’s storefront.

Let me say at the outset I am not a fan of fast food.

I much prefer the old-fashioned style of cooking, real down-home preparation of grub. Give me a slowroasted chicken purchased on Saturday at the Farmer’s Market on Gladstone Road and stuffed with apples, celery and onions tossed with freshly pulled marjoram and basil, wrapped in foil and cooked at 325 degrees for as long as it takes on a Sunday afternoon with the aroma filling the kitchen as Sunday chores fill the hours.

I cannot remember the last time I tasted a Wendy’s burger or purchased a McHappy Meal or smacked my lips after a finger lickin’ good box of KFC, though I confess when it comes to KFC, about once a year I am tempted by the distinctive smell of the unofficial favourite meal of The Bahamas. But I resist that momentary temptation on the somewhat imperfect principle that if I am going to do something less than wonderful for my body, it’s going to be four perfectly cooked ounces of thick, juicy, tender red meat known as filet mignon.

By Diane Phillips As I said, I am not a fan of fast food, but I am an avid fan of rights. And I cannot for the life of me understand one good reason why the owners of the Wendy’s franchise should be denied the right to operate a fastfood restaurant where the old Scotiabank was located.

Nobody objected when the former Jiffy Cleaners on East Street and Wulff Road was going to become a walk-up Wendy’s. Nobody objected when Wendy’s on Mackey Street closed its original Bahamas location to move to larger premises further south on Mackey Street. Just as an aside, that original location on Mackey Street, proudly opened

by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas who named the franchise after his daughter and created the square burger because he did not want to cut corners, became the busiest Wendy’s in the entire global franchise under the ownership of the late Norman Solomon.

Remember those famous radio commercials: “Doctors say breakfast is the most important meal of the day”, words that would lead you to believe that eating at Wendy’s was a healthy choice. But Norman Solomon believed in the Wendy’s brand as wholeheartedly as anyone who

ever held a franchise. He checked every restaurant personally every day, greeting those in the kitchen, checking cleanliness and service, saying he had to protect the reputation not just because it was a commercial success but because Wendy’s was the golden girl who kept the birds and wildlife of Ardastra in food and vet care.

But I digress. Please forgive me. I had a nostalgic moment having handled the opening of at least three Wendy’s in The Bahamas along with Dave Thomas and Norman Solomon. As Solomon’s battle with Parkinson’s disease worsened, he sold his beloved Wendy’s to two Bahamian brothers, Chris and Terry Tsavoussis who operate it and their other franchise, Marcos’s Pizza, through their holding company Aetos Holdings Limited. I do not know the brothers, though have met them briefly over the years, nor does that matter.

If you follow the news or check the website, they’ve done their part - updated restaurants, invested, maintained the commitment to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (his main cause) and as I said, they are Bahamian.

This isn’t about Wendy’s, anyway.

AS FOR INCOMPATIBILITY WITH THE CHARACTER OF SURROUNDING PROPERTY, isn’t the proposed site THE SAME SOMEWHAT DATED SHOPPING CENTRE WHERE THERE IS A LARGE, POPULAR dunkin’ donuts?

According to the opposition it’s about traffic it would allegedly generate and incompatibility with the character of Paradise Island, so let’s look at those causes for concern objectively.

The plan, from what has been presented publicly, calls for a storefront, not a drive-through. Since presumably folks would not drive over the bridge and pay a $2 bridge fee to go to a Wendy’s on Paradise Island when there is already a nearby one on the Nassau side, the traffic is already on Paradise Island, much of it parked at the main Atlantis parking area adjacent to the proposed location.

As someone pointed out, when Scotiabank was there, it probably drew more traffic, especially on Atlantis payday, than Wendy’s ever would.

If it were a drive-through, given the location on the corner of a main thoroughfare, I would agree with the opposition, but again let’s remember what is being proposed is not a drive-through.

As for incompatibility with the character of surrounding property, isn’t the proposed site the same somewhat dated shopping centre where there is a large, popular Dunkin’ Donuts? Isn’t there a liquor store? A souvenir shop?

Isn’t this the Paradise Village Shopping Centre that one site describes as “cheery” maybe because of the wide array of signage and colour? Wasn’t there a Quizno’s Subs there a few years ago? For those who say Wendy’s at the end of that centre could reduce property values, I say that shopping centre, like any

once fine-looking lady with a few years on her, could benefit from a facelift.

Visitors and those who work on PI want choices and some of those choices may relate to price point and affordability. Let’s remember a few basics. If Atlantis has foreign-bred offerings, fine dining experiences and a Shake Shack, and a Chicago-based restaurant is coming to Sterling Global’s Hurricane Hole Marina at Paradise Landing and we value our choices, welcoming them all, how do we account for denying two Bahamian brothers the right to open an affordable fast-food eatery basically within walking distance of all of the above?

Let’s turn down the heat on the Wendyphobia since, as I said, for the life of me I can’t figure out where’s the beef.

German authorities say there’s no hope for 4 missing sailors after North Sea ship collision Associated Press GERMAN authorities on Wednesday broke off their search for four crew members missing since their British-flagged cargo ship sank a day earlier following a collision with a larger vessel in the North Sea. A senior official said there was no longer any hope for them.

The Verity, which had seven people on board and was en route from Bremen, Germany, to the English port of Immingham, sank shortly after the collision a little before 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Two sailors were rescued and the body of another was recovered.

Rescue ships and aircraft participating in the search

were unable to locate the four missing crew members on Tuesday, and divers sent down to the wreck of the Verity to check for any signs of life did not find anything.

Officials said that the water temperature at the time of the collision was about 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit), which experience shows most people can survive for about 20 hours.

Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said the entire sea area where the missing sailors might be was searched again during the night without success, and rescuers then stopped the search.

A diving robot was sent down Wednesday to take

another look at the wreckage but didn’t find any people, German news agency dpa reported. The head of the emergency command, Robby Renner, said hours later that there was no longer any hope for the missing.

The larger cargo ship involved in the collision — the Bahamas-flagged Polesie, which had 22 people on board — was able to reach the German port of Cuxhaven under its own steam.

There has been no word on the cause of the collision. Germany’s Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation said it was investigating along with counterparts from the two ships’ flag states.

THIS photo taken on Tuesday in the region of the island Helgoland, in the North Sea and provided by the Seenotretter - DGzRS, shows the search for the missing seamen of the freighter ‘Verity’, which sank after a collision early Tuesday. German authorities say two cargo ships have collided in the North Sea off the German coast and one vessel sank. At least one sailor died and rescuers were trying to find another four.

Photo: Seenotretter - DGzRS/AP

PARTS OF GAZA LOOK LIKE A WASTELAND FROM SPACE, WITH MISSHAPEN BUILDINGS AND SWATHS OF GRAY Associated Press APARTMENT buildings are crumpled. Neighborhoods lie in ruins. Terrain is transformed into moonscape.

The destruction of areas of northern Gaza is visible from space in satellite images taken before and after Israeli’s airstrikes, which followed the raids carried out by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.

In images shot Saturday by Maxar Technologies, four- and five-story buildings in the Izbat Beit Hanoun neighborhood are in various states of collapse. Huge chunks are missing from some, others are broken in half and two large complexes lie in piles of rubble.

The pattern of destruction in the Al Karameh neighborhood can be traced by a widespread pattern the color of ash.

Tightly packed streets in Beit Hanoun look obliterated, with a rare white structure standing out in the gray wasteland.

Israel has carried out thousands of airstrikes since the war erupted on Oct. 7 following a crossborder raid that killed 1,400 people in Israel and took over 200 others hostage. Palestinian health officials say over 7,000 people in Gaza have been killed since the fighting erupted.

With the airstrikes continuing around the clock, the full extent of the damage remains unknown.

The satellite photos provide a glimpse of the devastation, particularly in the hard-hit northern Gaza Strip.

THIS image shows damage to buildings and structures in the neighborhood after bombing at Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza.

Photo: Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies/AP

SPORTS PAGE 12

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2023

Bahamas Bowl is on the move to Charlotte

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

T

he ninth edition of the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl will be hosted in Charlotte at the Jerry Richardson Stadium to commence the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division one Football Bowl Subdivision season.

The venue change and eventual renaming of the bowl game came one week after ESPN Events officially announced that the event would not take place

at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium due to looming renovations.

Clint Overby, vice president of ESPN Events, released a statement expressing gratitude to Charlotte for accommodating the college football bowl game.

“We appreciate the support and willingness of Charlotte and its administration, specifically Director of Athletics Mike Hill, to work with us on relocating this game to Jerry Richardson Stadium.

“We are fortunate to have great partners who understand the importance

of the college football postseason and the positive impact these games have on both student athletes and participating programmes,” said Overby.

The bowl game was expected to take place at 11am on Saturday, December 16, which would have been the first time that the NCAA football event was

played on that day since the inaugural launch in 2014.

With The Bahamas Bowl now relocated to UNC Charlotte’s on-campus stadium, the name will be changed in upcoming weeks and the date has now changed to Monday, December 18 at 2:30pm.

The repairs at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, where the event was first hosted in 2014, are expected to begin on November 1, according to Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg. He first made the revelation

of the impending repairs earlier this month, which will begin with the western grandstand being shutdown to start the process of a $10 million overhaul.

“We have some serious work that is going to be starting on the stadium. I know we are in agreement with the Chinese government to commence some serious repairs, and that is supposed to start on November 1.

“Depending on when they come, along with the technocrats from the Ministry of Works, they will be

SEE PAGE 13

Tennis players shine at Pan Am Games

Ayton

Page 14

ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS LAUNCH ITS DESTINATION SPONSORSHIP CORAL GABLES, Florida – The Islands of The Bahamas officially launched its destination sponsorship during a game that saw the University of Miami Hurricanes go head-to-head against the Clemson University Tigers at the Hard Rock Stadium.

The ‘Canes grounded out a victory on their home turf by toppling the Clemson Tigers 28-20 in double overtime on October 21.

On hand to mark the launch of the multi-year partnership was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation I Chester Cooper.

The deputy prime minister led a small delegation, including Senator Randy Rolle and other ministry executives at the official sponsorship game.

DPM Cooper presented a special gift on-field to Dan Radakovich, UM director of athletics, and met with Julio Frenk, UM President and Josh Friedman, president of UM’s Alumni Association.

The deputy prime minister was also proud to host industry partners, Bahamian students, athletes and professors studying and working at the university.

“We are very enthusiastic about the reach of this partnership and the opportunity to work with such an admired brand as the U,” said DPM Cooper.

SEE PAGE 13

ELITE GIRLS BASKETBALL LEAGUE BACK IN ACTION ON SATURDAY

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

GOOD EFFORT: Team Bahamas competed well at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Sydney Clarke, Justin Roberts and Kevin Major Jr all competed in the singles competition. In the first round, Sydney Clarke - the only female from the Bahamas - faced American Jamie Loeb. She fought but lost in straight sets 6-3, 6-0. On the men’s side, Major Jr played hard against Alan Rubio of Mexico but he fell 6-3, 6-0. Roberts faced Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay. He fought but fell in straight sets 6-1, 6-3. After sustaining first round singles losses, the last opportunity to advance would come down to the Mixed Doubles Event. Clarke and Roberts teamed up and played against Martin Vergara and Leyla Britez of Paraguay in the first round, fighting hard but lost 6-4, 6-2 in a really good effort. The team was captained

by Larikah Russell.

UB Mingoes turn in the largest win ever in international play LAUDERHILL, Florida — The University of The Bahamas men’s soccer team scored early and often against Fort Lauderdale University in The Mingoes’ largest win in international play.

Winger Stanley Grand Pierre scored two goals - his first two as a Mingoe - to lead The Mingoes to the 8-2 win over Fort Lauderdale University at Lauderhill Park yesterday.

Grand Pierre came out strong for The Mingoes off a chip shot in the fourth minute to put The Mingoes up 1-0.

Midfielder Marc Ville then scored off a cross four minutes later to give The Mingoes the 2-0 lead.

Grand Pierre scored his second goal in the 14th minute off a deep run and fighting through a rough tackle to connect to give

SEE PAGE 15

BIG WIN: University of The Bahamas winger Stanley Grand Pierre is smothered by his team mates after he scored his first goal - international or local - as a Mingoe in the match against Fort Lauderdale University yesterday. Mingoes won 8-2.

Photo: UB ATHLETICS

IN an effort to provide more opportunities for the high school players to improve their level of play before they head into international competition, Ryan Turnquest and a group of coaches have formed the Elite Girls Basketball League.

The league, which features six teams comprising of at least eight players each, got started two weeks ago and will continue at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium at 1pm on Saturday.

According to Turnquest, each team, which has adapted a nickname from the Women’s National Basketball Association, is expected to play a minimum of 15 games before they wrap up with the postseason in November.

Turnquest noted that the league came out of the formation of the Elite Basketball Club.

The club was formed be Varel Davis and Shakira Farrington after the decision was made by the Bahamas Basketball Federation to not take the junior girls’ national team to the FIBA Under-16 Girls Tournament because of a lack of funding.

He noted that while the players were quite disappointed after putting in almost four months of practice, they raised some funds to take the team to the AAU Tournament in

SEE PAGE 15

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, October 27, 2023, PAGE 13

National Sports Awards: Who will claim Tourism Impact honours?

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net THE National Sports Awards are on the horizon and with 26 awards to be presented, more nominees have been revealed.

The sporting ceremony will get underway on the front lawn of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium at 6:30pm on Saturday, November 4. The first three categories were dropped earlier this week and an additional group of nominees have joined the others.

Next up for consideration are the candidates for the Tourism Impact Award.

The achievement will be granted to any individual or body who has impacted tourism through sports in The Bahamas. The category observes sporting performances and events.

The nominees for this year’s award are Atlantis Crown, Bahamas Flag Football League (BFFL), Baha Mar Hoops, Battle 4 Atlantis and Don’t Blink Home Run Derby.

Six national teams will vie for the National Team of the Year Award. The Bahamas’ national teams have taken charge in their sporting disciplines throughout the sporting year and will make this category’s decision a tough one to make.

Nominees will feature the CARIFTA swim team, CARIFTA track and field team, men’s national basketball team, men’s national soccer team, Bahamas Special Olympics team, and the Goodwill Swimming Championships team.

Each team has a stake to claim in this category.

The Prime Minister Award for National Pride will be presented to athletes that put the country first and display elements of national pride in their athletic performances.

The candidates are hurdler Devynne Charlton, tennis players Justin Roberts and Marvin Rolle, Miami Marlins centre fielder Jasrado “Jazz” Chishom Jr, Indiana Pacers shooting guard Chavano “Buddy” Hield, former

MAKING AN IMPACT: The Tourism Impact Award is up for grabs at the 2023 National Sports Awards for an individual/body that has made the greatest impact in sports through tourism by their performances or sporting events.

WNBA MVP Jonquel “JJ” Jones, equestrian Anna Camille Vlasov and bodybuilder Terrion Kemp.

The community sports award is also up for nomination between five nominees. The honour will be presented to a programme that uses sports to make an impact in the community by helping athletes and bringing

the community closer.

The nominees are the Jazz Chisholm Foundation, Island Luck Cares Foundation, Peace on Da Streets Organisation, One Eleuthera Foundation and the Buddy Hield Foundation.

The other categories to be awarded are junior and senior high school student athlete (male and female),

Family Island student athlete, collegiate athlete of the year, national secondary athletic school of the year (junior and senior), Family Island Sports Council of the Year, Youth National Team of the Year, National Coach of the Year, Federation of the Year, Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) award, Leevan Sands Courage

Award, Athlete of the Year with disability (male and female), National Sportsmanship, and Minister of Sports- for excellence.

Federations provided the nominees for the various awards.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will continue to release nominees leading up to the event.

DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation I Chester Cooper and Senator Randy Rolle with University of Miami representatives

ISLANDS FROM PAGE 12

The partnership further demonstrates The Bahamas’ close relationship with Florida, specifically Miami, where the rich Bahamian heritage and culture continues to thrive.

Bahamians were recognised earlier this year for their contribution to the growth of the area that is now designated Little Bahamas of Coconut Grove.

“With the close proximity to our shores and deep roots that our island nation holds with Florida, I believe there are countless ways we can maximise this partnership to advance our sports and education sectors and more.”

In the vibrant and bustling Fan Zone, attendees were able to engage with tourism representatives on the many offerings across the 16-island destination located just 50 miles away and were treated to the pulsating and rhythmic Junkanoo rush out. Thousands of attendees had the chance to enter the ongoing sweepstakes for an adventure of a lifetime in The Islands of The Bahamas.

DPM Cooper said the Government of The Bahamas continues to work hard to increase tourist numbers and

forward bookings for 2023 that should result in a new banner year of arrivals to the island paradise.

“This is part of that broad-based strategic effort to position our national Sports in Paradise initiative and ensure that the message is out there that The Bahamas is open for business, with more exciting partnerships in the pipeline,” he added.

The agreement between The Islands of The Bahamas and UM includes game presenting sponsorships, Bahamian themed promotions and on-site activations across UM’s football and basketball programmes.

The Bahamas is known for being the backdrop of many successful major international sporting events, training sessions and more throughout its history and continues to lead the travel market as a mecca for sporting events.

This multi-year partnership with UM is expected to strengthen the country’s national “Sports in Paradise” initiative by positioning The Bahamas as the ideal destination for sports related meetings/conferences, tournaments, events and more.

The partnership was facilitated by Legends, which has managed corporate sponsorships and multimedia rights for UM Athletics since April 2021.

SPORTS NOTES VOLLEYBALL NPVA ACTION THE New Providence Volleyball Association will continue its regular season action tonight with another double header at the DW Davis Gymnasium, followed by a pair of games on Sunday at the same venue.

Tonight 7:30pm - Spikers vs Set-sy Poppers (L) 9pm - Defenders vs Intruders (M) Sunday 3:30pm - Technicians vs Intruders (M) 5pm - Panthers vs Spikers (L) SOFTBALL NPSA ACTION THE New Providence Softball Association’s abbreviated season will continue on Saturday night with a double header in the Bankers Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

Saturday 7pm - I-Bap vs Black Scorpions (L) 9pm - Chances Mighty Mitts vs Cyber Tech Blue Marlins (M) ELITE BASKETBALL LEAGUE THE Elite Girls Basketball League will continue play this weekend at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Games will run from 1-7 pm on Saturday. Entry fee is $2 for adults and $1 for children. Food and drinks will be on sale.

FLAG FOOTBALL YOUTH LEAGUE WEEK two of the Bahamas Youth Flag Football League continues Saturday on the fields opposite the original Thomas A Robinson national stadium.

Ages 6-9 12noon - Team Inne vs Team Sheldeen 1pm - Team Sheldeen vs Team Dawkins 2pm - Team Dawkins vs Team Inne Ages 10-13 11:30am - Team Moss vs Team Dawkins 12:30pm - Team Munroe vs Team Allen 2:30pm - Team Allen vs Team Dawkins 3pm - Team Kevin vs Team Munroe Ages 14-17 11am Team Munroe vs Team Allen 1:30pm Team Chavar vs Team D’Angelo 3:30pm Team Munroe vs Team Chavar Athletics Bahamas Scholastic Athletic Association Cross Country Venue: Goodman’s Bay Beach Date: Saturday, October 28 Time: 10am Volleyball New Providence Volleyball Association Venue: DW Davis Gymnasium Date: Friday, October 27 Time: 7:30pm/9:00pm Women’s MatchSpikers vs Set-sy Poppers Men’s Match- Defenders vs Technicians Upcoming Events BAARK (Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness) presents the third International Potcake Golf Tournament on December 10.

Venue: Royal Blue Golf Course, Baha Mar

BAHAMAS BOWL FROM PAGE 12

THE UNIVERSITY of Miami and The islands of The Bahamas partnership logo.

able to determine that,” the minister said. Despite the relocation to the Jerry Richardson Stadium for 2023, the bowl game will return to the sporting paradise in December 2024.

“We look forward to the bowl returning to The Bahamas next year,” Overby said last week.

The bowl game will feature teams in competition from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Conference USA (C-USA).

The HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl is one of the 17 bowl games that are owned and operated by ESPN Events.

In the eighth edition of the game hosted in The Bahamas, the University of Alabama (UAB) Blazers defeated the Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks 24-20 to earn their second straight football bowl game victory.

The team’s first win of the two came against Brigham Young University (BYU) in 2021 at the Independence Bowl.

The HomeTown Lenders are the event’s title sponsors for the second consecutive year.

PAGE 14, Friday, October 27, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

Leonard and George dominate LILLARD SCORES 39 in Clippers’ 123-111 win over IN BUCKS Trail Blazers to open season DEBUT, WIN

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul George scored 27 points and Kawhi Leonard added 23 to lead five players in double figures as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 123-111 in their season opener Wednesday night.

The Clippers had Leonard and George together for just 38 games last season, when both were derailed by injuries and the team lost in the first round of the playoffs.

But they’re healthy and in the lineup at the same time now, raising expectations for the Clippers as they pursue the franchise’s first NBA championship.

“It feels good,” Leonard said. “I’m happy I had a good offseason and I’m able to get back healthy.”

Ivica Zubac had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook added 11 points and 13 assists — making him the first Clippers player with at least 13 assists in a season opener since Andre Miller in October 2002.

Leonard made all five of his 3-point attempts and the Clippers hit 16 total, the most in a season opener in franchise history.

Their 36 assists also were the most in an opener.

“I love how hard we played tonight and how we competed,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “We’ve got to keep putting it together every night.”

Malcolm Brogdon scored 20 points off the bench to lead the Blazers, who opened the season without Damian Lillard. They traded him to Milwaukee in September, ending an 11-year run in Portland that included seven AllStar selections and eight playoff appearances.

Portland’s Anfernee Simons added 18 points

Deandre Ayton scores four points with 3 steals and a block, grabs 12 rebounds

PORTLAND Trail Blazers centre Deandre Ayton in action against the Los Angeles Clippers last night. and Deandre Ayton had 12 rebounds while in foul trouble most of the game.

Ayton also scored four points and added three steals and a block.

The Blazers had six players in double figures.

The Clippers controlled the game from the start and never trailed. They led by 30 in the second half.

Seven of their first eight baskets were dunks, with five different players contributing.

In all, they had 16 dunks.

“Russ starting the game was tremendous,” Lue said. “He really led the charge for us.”

Los Angeles pulled away to a 20-point lead with a 20-7 run in the second

quarter. George scored 10 points and four players hit 3-pointers during the spurt.

Turnovers were a problem, though. The Clippers committed 17, with four each by Leonard and George.

Terance Mann, who had been named the Clippers’ fifth starter, sat out with a sprained ankle. Robert

(AP Photos) Covington replaced him and had five points.

Portland guard Scoot Henderson started in his NBA debut and had 11 points in 36 minutes.

UP NEXT Trail Blazers: Host Orlando today in their home opener.

Clippers: Visit Utah today in a one-game trip.

HAALAND AND MBAPPÉ ON TARGET IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE VICTORIES FOR MANCHESTER CITY AND PSG

By DANIELLA MATAR AP Sports Writer SUPERSTAR forwards Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé were both on target Wednesday to help boost their teams’ chances of reaching the Champions League knockout stage.

Haaland scored twice in defending champion Manchester City’s 3-1 win at Young Boys in Group G, while Mbappé set Paris Saint-Germain on the way to a crucial 3-0 home victory over AC Milan in Group F. That broke a scoring drought in the competition for Haaland, who has nine in as many Premier League matches this season. Mbappé has eight in eight Ligue 1 games and also netted in PSG’s Champions League opener.

City now just needs to beat the same opponent in two weeks’ time to book its place in the last 16.

Barcelona is in a similar situation after a 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk maintained a perfect start to its Champions League campaign too.

PSG leads a group that is getting ever tighter and leaves Milan, last season’s semifinalist, with the prospect of not even qualifying for the Europa League as a consolation.

GROUP E Feyenoord is in position to advance in its first time back in the group stage in six seasons.

Santiago Gimenez scored twice and Ramiz Zerrouki also found the

target as the Dutch champion beat visiting Lazio 3-1.

Feyenoord moved a point ahead of Atlético Madrid, which was surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw at Celtic. Lazio was a point behind Atlético and three above Celtic.

Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata scored a goal in each half as Atlético had to twice come from behind to salvage the away draw. Celtic scored before halftime through Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma.

Atlético played the last seven minutes with 10 men after midfielder Rodrigo de Paul was sent off following a second yellow card.

GROUP F PSG bounced back from its 4-1 humiliation at Newcastle to move top of its group.

France forwards Mbappé and Randal Kolo Muani scored either side of halftime.

Teen midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery set up two goals, including PSG’s third for South Korea winger Lee Kang-in near the end.

PSG moved two points clear of Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle after the German team won 1-0 at St. James’ Park.

Felix Nmecha turned in Nico Schlotterbeck’s cross in the 45th minute to hand the Saudi-owned English team a first loss on its return to the competition after 20 years away.

Seven-time champion Milan still has not won

PSG’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the Champions League group F soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and AC Milan at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) or scored in Group F and slipped four points behind PSG. GROUP G Haaland hadn’t scored in his previous five matches in the competition, stretching back to last season’s semifinals in May, but he ended that improbable run by blasting a spot kick down the middle in the 67th to put City 2-1 ahead.

The Norway striker wrapped up the victory by curling a shot into the top corner in the 86th minute for his 37th goal in 33 Champions League games.

Manuel Akanji had given City the lead in the 48th, only for the titleholders to

concede four minutes later through Meschack Elia.

City moved onto nine points, three clear of second-place Leipzig after the German team beat Red Star Belgrade 3-1.

Xavi Simons, who is on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, set up David Raum’s opener in the 12th minute and curled a spectacular second into the top-right corner from outside the box in the 59th.

Dani Olmo sealed the result late on after Marko Stamenic had pulled one back for Red Star.

GROUP H Five-time European champion Barcelona

remained on course to advance to the knockout round after two straight group-stage eliminations.

Ferran Torres and Fermín López scored firsthalf goals for Barcelona, which hasn’t advanced past the group stage since Lionel Messi left in 2021.

The Catalan club has three more points than second-place Porto, which won 4-1 at Antwerp thanks to a second-half hat trick from substitute Evanilson.

Antwerp, which had taken a surprise lead, remained pointless.

Shakhtar was six points below Barcelona in the standings.

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 39 points in his first game with his new team and the Milwaukee Bucks regrouped after blowing a 19-point lead to open their season by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 118-117 last night.

The former Portland Trail Blazers star set a record for the most points by a player in his Bucks debut. Terry Cummings scored 34 points in his first game for the Bucks in 1984.

Giannis Antetokounmpo added 23 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 10 of 22 from the floor to become the franchise’s career leader in baskets.

Antetokounmpo has 5,905 career field goals, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made 5,902 baskets with the Bucks from 1969-75.

Lillard put the Bucks ahead for good 105-104 by sinking a 3-pointer with 3:41 remaining. Antetokounmpo got an offensive rebound on his own miss and found Lillard open behind the arc.

His basket started an 11-0 run that gave Milwaukee a nine-point lead with 2:45 remaining. The 76ers scored seven straight points to get the margin down to two, but Lillard answered by sinking another 3-pointer with 1:13 left.

After Tobias Harris sank a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game again, Lillard drove to the basket, drew a foul and sank two game-clinching free throws with 11.5 seconds left. Lillard made all 17 of his free-throw attempts.

Tyrese Maxey scored 31, Kelly Oubre Jr. had 27 and Joel Embiid 24 for the 76ers.

UP NEXT 76ers: At Toronto on Saturday as Nurse faces his former team.

Bucks: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

CRICKET WORLD CUP: DEFENDING CHAMPION ENGLAND LOSES TO SRI LANKA AGAIN BENGALURU, India (AP) — Defending champion England endured yet another abject loss at the Cricket World Cup as an eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka yesterday left its hopes of advancing hanging by a slim thread.

England crashed to 156 all out after opting to bat — its lowest World Cup total since 2003, and the lowest ODI score ever recorded at the batting-friendly M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Sri Lanka pacer Lahiru Kumara led the rout and took 3-35 in seven overs.

Ben Stokes was the top scorer for England with 43 runs.

Sri Lanka then coasted to victory with 24.2 overs to spare, finishing with 160-2. Pathum Nissanka (77 not out) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65 not out) scored attacking half-centuries.

It was Sri Lanka’s fifth consecutive victory over England in World Cups.

“The plan was to attack in the middle overs with disciplined bowling and we were rewarded with wickets,” said Kumara, who was named player of the match.

“Playing a team like England, it was important for me to perform. I had an off day against Australia, but didn’t change much in terms of my bowling plans.”

England’s third successive loss means England has made the worst start of any defending champions since the 1999 World Cup.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, October 27, 2023, PAGE 15

NPWBA elects new officers

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net NEWLY-elected president Anastacia SandsMoultrie, along with a new team of executives, will lead the way for the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association for the next four years.

During the election of the officers recently, Moultrie went in unopposed and for her newest position as president. The elected officers will have their work cut out for them as the NPWBA season has yet to make an appearance since the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted their play.

Although it will be an uphill battle to head in the right direction, Moultrie is excited and confident in the executive team.

“It is always an exciting feeling to be elected to a post but is no easy task looking at the former president and association within itself, particularly because of the way that basketball is for females. I know that I have my work cut out for me, but regardless I have a team of executives who are willing to work,” she said.

The former women’s national basketball team player will not only rely on her experience within the sporting discipline but also the support of her team to get the league back up and running.

The 2023-27 NPWBA executive members are Jeanie Minus (first vice president), Donillo Culmer

BILLS GET 24-18 WIN OVER BUCS

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer

LEADING THE CHARGE: A new team of executives were selected for the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association (NPWBA), to serve for the next four years. (second vice president), Shadell Williams (third vice president), Shakira Farrington (fourth vice president), Britenique Harrison (treasurer), Ashlee Bethel (assistant treasurer), Shermaine Ferguson (secretary) and Judy Hamilton (assistant secretary).

With regards to when the NPWBA league will resume, there is no definitive date set as yet but the team plans to discuss its start in their first meeting.

“Our plans to get back up

and running will be tabled in our first meeting and so far we are just looking to get our feet in the door but first we have to gather and find out the amount of teams we are gonna have,” the newly-elected president said.

One of the many goals of the team over the next few years is to implement programmes at the youth and junior level which will continue to the collegiate level. After witnessing the strength

of the women’s teams that played at the sixth Bahamas Games, there will be a renewed focus on finding players and remaining in contact with them to upgrade women’s basketball.

“One of our first goals is to get some sponsors to keep us up and running.

We need to get our programme running to help with our women’s league.

“We need to make sure we find the players first, keep in contact with them,

and then we will know how to build our league whether they are here in The Bahamas or abroad,” she said.

Once the executive team agrees on a definitive start date for the NPWBA season, games will return to their home at the DW Davis Gymnasium.

With a multifaceted group of officers representing different eras of basketball, the overall plan is to rejuvenate women’s basketball across The Bahamas.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another — shrugging off aggravating an injury to his throwing shoulder — and the Buffalo Bills hung on to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-18 last night.

After a week of questions about his “low-energy” approach and Buffalo’s slow-starting offence, Allen came through for the Bills (5-3), throwing for 324 yards on 31-of-40 passing.

Gabriel Davis had a career-best nine catches for 87 yards and a touchdown, and rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid scored his first career TD on a 22-yard catch.

Buffalo’s defence limited the Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield-led attack to under 200 yards offence through three quarters and 302 overall. And Bills punter Sam Martin contributed by landing three punts inside Tampa Bay’s 10.

Mayfield tried to rally Tampa Bay (3-4) late. He threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans, followed by a 2-point conversion to Cade Otton with 2:44 remaining, to get the Buccaneers within six. But it took Tampa Bay 17 plays and 7:21 to march 92 yards for that score.

MINGOES FROM PAGE 12

ELITE GIRLS BASKETBALL LEAGUE BACK IN ACTION TOMORROW FROM PAGE 12 Orlando, Florida where they placed second. They then took another trip to Indiana, but were unsuccessful. After the resignation of Clarke, Turnquest said he took over with Farrington as his assistant and they were joined by the assistance of his Rockets Basketball Club team-mates Able Joseph and Roosevelt ‘Chicken’ Turnquest.

Women’s national team players joined the coaching staff as they participated in another tournament in Orlando. After engaging them in a series of training sessions at least three times in the afternoons and about twice in the morning with strength and conditioning in the afternoons since August, Turnquest said the idea came up to put the girls into this developmental league on Saturdays and some Sundays.

“This is just an arena for all the girls to come together under one roof and play so that they can develop their skills,”

Turnquest said. “They will play about 15 games and then they will go into the playoffs and then the championship where they will play or rings and trophies.”

The teams competing are the CI Gibson Sparks, Elite Ballers 1 Liberty, Elite Ballers 2 Mercury, Elite Ballers 3 Storm, Lucayans Aces and the SAC Chi-Town.

“We will have fully refereed games which will be played using the same rules that they will play when they go to these tournaments in the US,” Turnquest said. “They normally play six minutes quarters here, but when they go away, they play 16 minutes stop clock.

“I watched the local high school programme here where the coaches only concentrate on winning the high school league championship title and then they move onto the next sport, but the girls are not really developing. So, I want to concentrate on these girls to see if we can get them ready.”

THE ELITE Girls Basketball League, which features six teams comprising of at least eight players each, got started two weeks ago and will continue at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium 1pm Saturday.

From the league play, the coaches will select the best 10 players to represent the Elite Ballers as they participate in a tournament in Orlando November 16-20 and then they will travel again December 16-21 in Las Vegas.

Proceeds from the gate, which include $2 per adult and $1 for children, will be used to aid in their trips,

along with some assistance from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and other corporate citizens.

As the third vice president of the New Providence Basketball Association, Turnquest said the league may make an appearance during the opening night of the NPBA season on November 11. He noted that most of the players

will more than likely be on some of the teams in the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association.

Turnquest revealed that the league will resume in January and continue the same format until March before they have their final window during the summer. There are also plans to take a team on a full AAU circuit in July.

The Mingoes the 3-0 lead.

Mingoes captain Marlon Barnes had three shots on goal earlier in the match and could not make the back of the net. He redeemed himself in the 30th minute with a clean strike, putting The Mingoes up 4-0.

Junior Kelly didn’t want to be left out. Off a cross from Peter Julmis deep in the attacking third, Kelly aggressively attacked the goal for his goal and Mingoes 5-0 lead.

Off a free kick from Ronaldo Green, Evelt Julmis took the ball off his knee and volleyed the ball for the spectacular goal and the 6-0 lead.

To end the half, Grand Pierre was tackled in the 18-yard box and Peter Julmis took the easy penalty kick to end the half at 7-0.

Coming out the break, The Mingoes allowed Fort Lauderdale to score in the 78th and 83rd minutes to put the score at 7-2.

Midfielder Ronaldo Green, who assisted on two goals, got a goal of his own in the 88th minute to secure the 8-2 win for The Mingoes.

Head coach Alex Thompson said the game plan heading into the win was simple. “The game plan was to create opportunities for Julmis and draw the team on the right side and as far as I’ve seen in college soccer and the teams that we played, there’s no one who can mark him one on one,” he said. “Secondly we wanted to overload the midfield with Stanley Grand Pierre coming in from the left and us creating a four versus three situation in the middle.”

Thompson said the team came out determined to pick up the win and the keys were there for it to happen. “The key to winning today was execution,” he said. “We added to our squad Peter Julmis, who is arguably in the best form of his life, Nathan Wells who just had his best national team performance, our man of the match Stanley Grand Pierre, who finally is healthy, and we also got a really good game from our captain Marlon Barnes, who played a bit higher up the pitch and added more attacking power.”

The Mingoes are expected to play United International College at 9am on Saturday in Miami.