11062023 NEWS AND SPORT

HOUSE & HOME MONDAY

HIGH 83ºF LOW 73ºF

CARS! CARS!

The Tribune

CLASSIFIEDS TRADER

Established 1903

L AT E S T

N E W S

O N

T R I B U N E 2 4 2 . C O M

Biggest And Best!

Volume: 120 No.212, November 6, 2023

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1

DEMOLITION GOES ON DESPITE SHANTY FIRE No casualties reported but cause of blaze is still being investigated

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net DEMOLITION of the Kool Acres community will still proceed today despite the blaze that tore through the shanty town on Saturday engulfing more than 70 homes and destroying numerous belongings and personal items.

Ten firefighters and three fire trucks were dispatched

to address the fire and they worked into the night trying to contain the blaze, which started around 4pm that day.

Ministry of Works officials on the scene of the fire said it burned through about 77 structures or 80 percent of the unregulated community, resulting in the destruction of a shanty town that had been in SEE PAGE THREE

LYNES: ‘Dissent anD Differing opinions are not Divisive’

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net FORMER Senator Robyn Lynes repeated her call for respect and unity in the Progressive Liberal Party’s chairmanship race against Fred Mitchell.

“I echo again my sentiments that dissent and differing opinions are not divisive when made

Red Ribbon returns

respectfully,” said the party’s deputy chair.

“The intention to remain respectful and united in this process must be shared across our membership.

“We are one.”

Ms Lynes recently said she would not be intimidated running for chair, insisting her bid is not “anti-leadership”.

SEE PAGE FOUR

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis with belly dancers at the 1001 Arabian Nights-themed Red Ribbon Ball on Saturday. The Bahamas AIDS Foundation’s 27th annual event was held at Atlantis after a hiatus of more than three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pick up tomorrow’s Tribune for full coverage in our Woman and Health section.

Photo: Jade Russell

Gibson backs Smith for by-election

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net THE Progressive Liberal Party presented a united approach at their most recent rally in West Grand Bahama on Friday, with former cabinet minister

Shane Gibson making a guest appearance.

The PLP’s West Grand Bahama and Bimini candidate for the upcoming by-election, Kingsley Smith, publicly thanked Mr Gibson for joining his campaign.

“I need all hands on

decks,” he said.

“I want to thank my brother Shane Gibson for joining the campaign trail.

“In the PLP, we are one big family.

“We have to bring this home, not just for Obie, SEE PAGE FIVE

family seeks answers on son who DieD in Jail

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net A FAMILY has spent more than $8,000 seeking answers after the death of their loved one while on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in July.

Colin Sweeting said his nephew, 38-year-old Javon Spencer Theodore Charlow, was arrested on assault charges and sent to the Bahamas Department

JAVON CHARLOW of Correctional Services (BDCS), where he was held for four months before his death on July 19.

Both of Javon’s parents have passed away and

Javon’s girlfriend, who is also the mother of his three children, also died recently, leaving the children to be cared for by the family.

Mr Sweeting said his family had been trying to cover Javon’s bail, when after persistent enquiries they learned of his death in August.

Mr Sweeting claimed he was told by officials from the morgue that Javon died of pneumonia. He said he

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

Burger king anD kfC eye pi loCations

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net PARADISE Island is bracing for a new fastfood battle with plans to establish Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Burger King outlets set to potentially double the number of such brands to four.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

triple triumph see sports

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 6, 2023, PAGE 3

Demolition goes on despite shanty fire from page one existence for more than 20 years.

Several structures in the shanty town had been marked for demolition today, with eviction notices having been posted for the residents last month by officials of the Unregulated Communities Task Force.

In a press statement released following the fire, the Unregulated Communities Task Force said it visited the shantytown at 10am on Saturday to conduct a “comprehensive examination of the area”, to ensure the community was clear for demolition.

“This process involved removing all persons, hazardous items, and important documents to guarantee the safety of the community. By 1pm, the Kool Acres subdivision was officially declared vacant.”

On the scene of the fire several hours later, Craig Delancey, a member of the task force and the Buildings Control officer with the Ministry of Works said: “We were about to start the demolition on Monday morning, now we’d have to do cleanup and continue with the removal of the remainder.”

He said the cause of the fire is unknown and authorities are investigating, however demolition plans are expected to continue as scheduled.

No casualties or injuries have been reported. However, washers, dryers, stoves, clothes, toys and other items could be seen in burned piles spread throughout the remains of the community.

Mr Delancey said these items were those left behind by the evacuated residents.

“It’s not that they’re without everything. They have evacuated. I would say 99 percent of them have left

A FIREFIGHTER works to extinguish flames at the Kool Acres shanty community to extinguish a blazes that destoryed about 70 homes on Saturday.

Photo: Moise Amisial the place,” he said.

Along with firefighters, Ministry of Works officials and police officers, many Bahamian residents of the area, some evacuated residents of the shanty town gathered outside the community.

Ketteny Lafrance, a former resident of one of the burned structures and a mother of two school-age children, said though she had already moved out of the community, she feels “terrible” watching the sight of her former home going up in flames. She said she is still looking for somewhere for her family to stay.

Referring to Ministry of Social Services officials, Ms Lafrance said: “They took names, but they never called anyone. They only took names. I will find some place.

I will find a place to stay.”

Weeks earlier, Ms Lafrance had been taken into custody

by Immigration officials,

while the officers were in the community posting eviction notices. After determining her documents were in order, she was later released to be with her underaged children who had been left behind.

Another resident of the community known as Chantill, who was not home when the fire broke out, said when he arrived sometime after 4pm and saw fire, he quickly left.

When asked to describe how many structures he saw on fire, he said: “I can’t count.”

He said a lot of the community’s residents had already left, and some people had just been squatting in the structures that had burned.

Police representatives of the Unregulated Communities Task Force have issued a strong warning to the evacuated residents of the Kool Acres shanty town not to form any unregulated structures elsewhere.

“Under section 4(1) of the Buildings Regulation Act Chapter 200, it is an offence to commence any building operations except in accordance with the conditions of a valid building permit and in accordance with the provisions of this Act, any rules and the Building Code.

“Any person who acts in contravention of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.”

In May, Chief Justice Ian Winder ordered the demolition of two shanty town structures, far fewer than the 260-plus the administration wanted destroyed. This forced the Davis administration to rely on the minister of works to initiate a process under the Buildings Regulation Act.

Attorney withdraws his representation of policeman in court for drug related crimes

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net AN ATTORNEY for a veteran police officer facing drug related charges withdrew representation of his client on Friday.

Former Assistant Superintendent Sonny Miller’s lawyer, K Melvin Munroe, made the request before Magistrate Shaka Serville during talks for a trial date.

Last June, Mr Miller and two Colombian men were arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court accused of importing 181lbs of cocaine and 31lbs of indian hemp into Acklins.

The former Police Staff Association chairman faced eight drug-related charges. He was relieved of his duties.

Asst Supt Miller was represented by attorney Bjorn Ferguson at the time.

Present for the talks for the trial date was Darnell Dorsett, acting assistant director of public prosecutions.

She listed availabilities during the week of February 12 and in March. Meanwhile, Mr Munroe suggested availability during the month of March.

However, the magistrate expressed the consideration for the earliest possible date. It was after Mr Serville’s words that the defendant’s attorney had a moment to speak to his client.

After a few minutes, Mr Munroe said he wished to withdraw from the matter.

Mr Miller told Magistrate Serville he had no objection to his attorney’s request when asked by the magistrate.

Magistrate Serville asked Mr Munroe if there was any obligation on his part to assist the defendant in identifying another attorney considering the bar code of professional conduct.

Mr Munroe said he may be in a position to recommend persons.

At one point, the magistrate asked Mr Miller if he was okay, which the defendant confirmed that he was. However some napkins were later handed to Mr Miller to wipe his tears.

The trial date was set for March 11-15 and a status hearing was scheduled for December 15 to allow Mr Miller to update the court on his efforts to obtain an attorney.

PAGE 4, Monday, November 6, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

Lynes: ‘Dissent and differing opinions are not divisive’ from page one She said the party needs an internal reset and someone who could focus singularly on the chair role.

In a recent interview on Beyond the Headlines, Ms Lynes said she is not offended if members of the party choose not to support her.

“I am telling people I am in the race because I feel like I have something to offer,” she said in the interview.

“I am in this race, and I may not be the choice of leadership, but I have been driven by membership, I have heard them, I have listened, and I am here and if they have me, I will serve them.”

Ms Lynes said she does not need a bodyguard, saying: “I am not a damsel in distress.”

Last week, Shane Gibson

announced his withdrawal from the race - which will be decided on November 10, when the PLP hosts its convention.

He pledged his full support for Ms Lynes while suggesting the party has no confidence in the current chairman.

Ms Lynes, 40, however, has remained quiet throughout the public feud, saying her campaign is concentrated on the record of service and the plans she seeks to implement.

The Tribune was told by a source close to Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis that when Ms Lynes discussed a potential chair bid with Mr Davis, he said he supported Mr Mitchell and did not want a contested election.

Mr Mitchell has made it known that he is fully endorsed by the party leader and deputy.

PLP DEPUTY CHAIR ROBYN LYNES

Mitchell says Gibson’s withdrawal a show of ‘no confidence in hiMself’

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

PLP CHAIRMAN FRED MITCHELL

FRED Mitchell said Shane Gibson’s suggestion that the Progressive Liberal Party has no confidence in him as chairman does not add up. He said instead Mr Gibson’s choice to withdraw from the race shows he has no confidence in himself.

Mr Mitchell spoke to delegates in Exuma on Thursday after Mr Gibson, former Labour Minister and Golden Gates MP, dropped out of the race for the party’s chairmanship. The election for the chairmanship of the party is set for November 10 at the PLP’s convention.

Mr Gibson said his decision to drop out would reduce the advantage Mr Mitchell would have

running as the incumbent candidate in a three-way race. He threw his full support behind Robyn Lynes, the party’s deputy chair, who is now the sole challenger for the party’s chairmanship.

Mr Gibson said the fact Mr Mitchell had two challengers when the leadership and deputy leadership of the party is unopposed meant his party had no confidence in him.

Mr Mitchell, who has been publicly at odds with Mr Gibson since his unsuccessful bid under the PLP for the West Grand Bahama and Bimini seat following the sudden death of Obie Wilchcombe, called Mr Gibson’s statements illogical.

“That is a non sequitur, in other words it doesn’t follow. It’s making two and two five and not four.

If it shows anything at all, it shows that they are the ones who have no confidence, not the party.”

Mr Mitchell reiterated that if he is attacked personally, he will fight back measure for measure.

“What I find interesting is that they are seeking to make this an entirely personal attack. Every time you look on social media, there is some salacious story, being spread around, which is directed at me personally, not at matters, which have anything to do with policy.

“I am constrained, by the party’s long-term interests, not to answer everything which people say. I said this to Lynden Pindling, to Perry Christie and to (Philip) ‘Brave’ Davis, that if I’m attacked personally, I reserve the right to attack you back measure for measure,” Mr Mitchell said.

Gibson backs Smith for by-election THE TRIBUNE

from page one not just for the PLP, but for each and every one of you.”

There have been apparent tensions on show in the process leading up to Mr Smith being selected as the candidate in the upcoming by-election, with some of Mr Gibson’s supporters insisting they would not vote. Following this, Mr Gibson and party chairman Fred Mitchell have been publicly at odds, with Mr Gibson initially launching a run to become chairman before withdrawing and offering support to another rival candidate, Robin Lynes.

At the Jones Town Park Rally on Friday, Mr Gibson cheerfully introduced

Monday, November 6, 2023, PAGE 5

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis to the stage while expressing full confidence in Mr Smith’s capabilities.

“Tell them fellas take that,” said Mr Davis following his introduction.

“This is a party; we are a democratic party.

“We have our views, and we encourage each and every one of us to express their views.

“We encourage each and every one of us to pursue our ambitions.

“I am one who always encourages people to pursue their ambitions and that is what we are all about, but when the dust settles, we are one and we are PLP and at the end of the day it is

always one love.”

Women of the PLP party, including Jobeth Colbey-Davies and Lisa Rahming, as well as Dr Michael Darville, and Chester Cooper were in attendance.

Today is nomination day for candidates expecting to vie for the seat to replace Obie Wilchcombe, who died unexpectedly last month.

Nomination papers are expected to be delivered to returning officer Leonard Dames, Jr, at Mount Zion Baptist Church Hall, Jones Town, Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, between 9am and noon.

The West Grand Bahama and Bimini by-election date is November 22.

FORMER PLP MP Shane Gibson stands next to the party’s West Grand Bahama and Bimini candidate Kingsley Smith during a rally.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

A JUNKANOO EVENT IN HONOUR OF OBIE SCHEDULED FOR EARLY DECEMBER

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net DECEMBER will see a new event to honour former Cabinet Minister Obie Wilchcombe, just in time for Junkanoo, according to Mario Bowleg, Youth, Sports and Culture Minister.

With high anticipation for the country’s Boxing Day and New Year’s Junkanoo Celebrations following The Bahamas’ 50th Independence earlier this year, Mr Bowleg said on Friday that Mr Wilchcombe, before his death on September 25, had made a proposal for an event that Bahamians could look forward to in New Providence on December 2.

“Before he died, he

OBIE WILCHCOMBE had presented me with a proposal for an event to

take place, I think it was December 2. Myself and

OBADIAH WILCHCOMBE COMPLEX TO OPEN NOVEMBER 13

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE new multi-million dollar Government Administration Complex in Eight Mile Rock will open on November 13 as the Obediah H Wilchcombe Complex.

This was one of several major developments highlighted at the PLP rally on Friday evening in Grand Bahama.

Other projects for West Grand Bahama include the $300m Eden Resort, a sea wall in Eight Mile Rock, a new junior high school in Holmes Rock, and a new marina and new police station in West End. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and several cabinet ministers encouraged supporters at the rally held in Jones Town to support Kingsley Smith, the PLP’s candidate seeking to represent the West Grand Bahama and Bimini constituency.

Mr Davis said “Kingy” will build upon the plans and complete the work of the late Obie Wilchcombe.

“He is not trying to fill the shoes of Obie Wilchcombe because those shoes are big to fill - nobody will replace Obie,” said the prime minister.

Mr Wilchcombe helped open a new passport office in Bimini, with the help of Mr Smith, who served as chief passport officer before resigning to enter frontline politics.

“We ask the good people of EMR to complete Obie’s mission,” Mr Davis said.

The prime minister told supporters that Smith thought he was making a difference by joining the other party, but it was time to welcome him and many others who felt that way back to the party.

“We need more of our prodigal members to return to the fold,” he said.

Prime Minister Davis said the PLP government has done a lot, but there is still more to do.

“Crime is coming down, and we are fighting to protect the jobs of Bahamians and make sure jobs are meaningful,” Mr Davis said.

It is not right, he said, for employers to be profiting while Bahamians are suffering.

“Casual labour has to stop, and as I told them last Friday, the time has come for them to stop it otherwise I have methods and the means to do it. I asked them to do it voluntarily. If they don’t, I will know what to do to stop it.”

Additionally, Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey noted that the EMR gymnasium will be transformed into a multi-use facility, including a modernday hurricane shelter.

In addition to the major projects for West Grand Bahama, Kingsley Smith told constituents that he will work to ensure that parks are improved, that job training programmes are introduced for young people, and that a fresh market is established for farmers.

“The PLP is in government and with me as your representative; you are not just picking a candidate, you are choosing direct access to the prime minister. With me, your voice, concerns, and aspirations will be heard in the room that matters most,” he said.

“Let’s get this one done for Obie and finish what he started, and with only three years I am committed to continuing and completing the projects Obie started,” Smith said.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, Minister of Tourism, Investment and Aviation; Minister of Energy and Transport Jobeth Coleby-Davis; and Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville spoke at the rally.

the chairman of the JCNP would have seen this request and discussed it. So now our intent is to actually pull this event off in his honour on December 2.

“We are still discussing and planning, all the details will be announced at a later date. But definitely we will look forward to that event, for which he was the visioner.

“It is slated for New Providence and it being the first year, it’s a new project and so we want to see how it comes off and if it’s something that we believe can be annual then we will look at other things,” he said.

Mr Bowleg said more information on the event itself to honour Mr Wilchcombe and other new things will be released later through the Department of Culture for Culture Month in December. He said new initiatives slated for Junkanoo will also be released at that time.

Mr Bowleg said that

Junkanoo celebrations across the islands, from December straight up to June 2024, which are still in the planning and preparation phase for the Ministry, the JCNP and the participating groups will be well supported by the ministry.

“The JCNP, the NJC, the ministry along with the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Committee and the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Association with the major islands is still looking to meet in preparation for those parades.

“In all of the family islands, plans are being made, seed funding is on the verge of being released and materials are also in the process of being purchased in preparation for the family island and also for Junior Junkanoo.

“So, the wheels are turning and we’re hoping by mid-month or the end of this month, all of the necessary funding that needs to be in place will be in place to ensure that the various

groups and schools start their preparations for all of the upcoming parades,” he said.

In September, Mr Bowleg announced that $2.8m had been allocated for the Junkanoo events. He said $736,000 in seed money would be shared among groups.

Seven category A groups would receive $30,000.

Eighteen category B groups would get $15,000. Twentythree D groups would receive $1,500. Twenty fun groups in Grand Bahama would get $2,000. Six category A groups in Grand Bahama would get $9,000, while four B groups would get $4,000.

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

PAGE 6, Monday, November 6, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited

PICTURE OF THE DAY

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-2350 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

The PLP pulls together as a family WHETHER it is at a party level or a national level, election fever is well under way.

The by-election for West Grand Bahama and Bimini is on November 22, of course, but before we get there, the PLP has its own contest to resolve, with a race for the party chairmanship pitting Fred Mitchell against challenger Robin Lynes.

Shane Gibson was the third person in that race, just as he was in the race to become candidate for the by-election.

He lost the latter vote, and dropped out of the former last week.

It is fair to say he has not been quiet in the process, taking particular issue with Mr Mitchell in a dispute over the candidate selection process, during which he contrasted how he “had to work” during his time as a minister, compared to simply flying around and drinking tea and smoking cigars. No names were named, but his intent was clear.

Then he came after Mr Mitchell’s own job in the party, and even as he dropped out last week gave his support to Mr Mitchell’s rival – and sniping that the fact there were two challengers hinted at a lack of confidence in Mr Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell of course fired back – but perhaps with Mr Gibson no longer on the field, that argument has subsided.

For now.

All that arguing, however, brings to mind a conversation with a senior PLP years ago.

That person laughingly said that the PLP was a family. “A dysfunctional family, sometimes, but a family. We fight, we argue, we complain, but we all pull together in the end.”

And on Friday, there was Mr Gibson, despite the arguing, standing on the stage at a PLP rally and supporting the candidate who was chosen ahead of him, before introducing Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis to the stage and

talking unity.

A family indeed.

SHANTY TOWN FIRE THE fire that ripped through the Ê VÀiÃÊÃ > ÌÞÊÌ Ü Ê>ÌÊÌ iÊÜii i `Ê thankfully claimed no casualties.

It did, however, take with it a number of personal belongings of individuals who were due to be evicted from the area ahead of demolition due to start today.

The fire destroyed about four-fifths of the community, and its cause is unclear.

The demolition is expected to proceed today – although we do hope that care is taken to ensure fire investigators can establish the cause of the blaze.

After all, that might even be a matter for criminal proceedings depending on how it started.

There is one other thing we hope too – there had been talk of assistance from social services for those people who are being displaced who are Bahamian, but not those of other nations.

That might include people who have valid work permits or permanent citizenship.

As people pick themselves up after the fire, we do hope support is given to all those affected, especially in speedily replacing any lost documents as people try to find new homes.

Also, when The Tribune spoke to residents of the shanty town last month, a number of them said they had been paying rent to a “man who likes money”.

We hear a lot about the residents of these shanty towns but not enough about those who are making money out of them.

If we are to truly crack down on shanty town development, we should focus on those who rent out the land as much as those who occupy it.

AN AFGHAN refugee girl stands for a photo in a camp near the Torkham Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Torkham, Afghanistan, Saturday. A huge number of Afghans refugees entered the Torkham border to return home hours before the expiration of a Pakistani government deadline for those who are in the country illegally to leave or face deportation.

Photo: Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

Human crisis if no govt plan EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE government of The Bahamas risks causing a humanitarian crisis if they do not have appropriate provisions in place to shelter and support the hundreds of people, including many children, who will be made homeless through its shanty town eviction policy.

Human Rights Bahamas has noted the government’s insistence that it is carrying out the evictions according to the law. We and our international partners in the human rights community will be watching carefully to ensure this is the case.

Regardless of the above, the fact remains that this exercise will still lead to hundreds – and, if the policy is extended to other communities, many thousands – of people ejected into the street without the most basic necessities to support human life. Many of them are without work, vulnerable and already dangerously below the poverty line.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Carrying out this exercise in the absence of a comprehensive support plan would thus constitute a violation of international human rights regulations and multilateral treaties to which The Bahamas is signatory.

According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Housing: “Forced evictions constitute gross violations of a range of internationally recognized human rights, including the human rights to adequate housing, food, water, health, education, work, security of the person, freedom from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and freedom of movement.

“Forced evictions are often linked to the absence of legally secure tenure, which constitutes an essential element of the right to adequate housing. Forced evictions share many consequences similar to those

resulting from arbitrary displacement, including population transfer, mass expulsions, mass exodus, ethnic cleansing and other practices involving the coerced and involuntary displacement of people from their lands and communities.”

HRB calls on the government to disclose its plan to feed, house and care for those it intends to displace next week. We also call on any institutions, such as churches or social clubs, which are connected to the communities being targeted, to do what they can to open their doors and assist those who will be affected, in the event the government fails to live up to its duty to uphold international human rights norms, widely recognized humane practices, and a basic standard of decency and humanity.

As always, we remind the State and its agents – the world is watching.

Remove VAT from healthy food Protection of children needs focus EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE PLP government must act immediately and remove VAT from all essential healthy food items. This PLP Government must move beyond just talk and follow the example of Governments all over the world who have taken definitive action to combat high food prices and the inflation crisis by removing VAT from essential healthy food.

The Central Bank’s latest report has confirmed that we are still in the middle of the inflation crisis and food prices continue to rise.

“Average domestic consumer price inflation — as measured by the All Bahamas Retail Price Index —increased marginally to 4.8% during the twelve months to July, from 4.7% in the same period of 2022, reflective of the pass-through effects of higher global oil prices and other costlier imports. Specifically, average costs for recreation and culture and for food and non-alcoholic beverages accelerated to 15.5%

and 10.4%, respectively, from 3.7% and 8.0% in the previous year.”

Studies have also shown that an effective way of encouraging healthy eating is by making healthy food cheaper.

The government continues to ignore one step that would not only help the poor but also encourage healthy eating. The Government unfortunately believes that they can tax their way to healthy eating which harms the poor and does nothing to bring relief from the rising costs of food.

1.

The Government must take a collaborative approach with major food stores and listen to businesses and consumers to come up with a VAT free list of essential healthy food. This should not be a unilateral decision without consultation.

2.

The Government should use this opportunity to expand the traditional breadbasket list to include healthier food, such as fruits and vegetables.

3. Use the examples of other countries that have changed their course and removed VAT from essential food. In Portugal, the Government has removed VAT from essential food temporarily to bring relief from high food prices. In Spain and Germany, the Government has taken similar measures. In addition, the Caribbean Country of Trinidad and Tobago has done the same.

The PLP government must be concerned and take action to mitigate the impact of food price increases on all consumers, particularly, the vulnerable. We again demand the Government cease its stubbornness and mitigate the impact of rising food prices by immediately removing VAT from essential healthy food items, such as fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods.

J. Kwasi Thompson MP. LLB. JP Shadow Minister of Finance East Grand Bahama MP November 5, 2023

EDITOR, The Tribune.

NOVEMBER 5, 2023, marks the second anniversary of the murder of “Baby Bella” Burrows for a Better Bahamas remembers Grand Bahama children that we lost to murder. The state of child protection in The Bahamas is tragic, and we have not seen the political will needed to make the protection of our most vulnerable a national priority. How many more children will we allow to fall prey to incest, physical violence, emotional abuse and neglect?

I emplore West End and Bimini to elect me to propose an overhaul of the Child Protection Act and mandate child sexual abuse prevention training

for people that work with minors. It took successive governments almost a decade to enact Marco’s Missing Child Alert system and Sex Offender Registry.

I will no longer stand for such blatant ineptitude as it relates to these serious matters. The great people of West End have an opportunity to send me into the House of Assembly to represent their needs and those of the Children of The Bahamas.

A number of Bahamian children have since become victims of homicide, including: UÊ*>Ài ÌÃÊ vÊÌÜ Þi>À `Ê boy charged with manslaughter in 2023 UÊ Ê > Ê > `Ê >Ê V `Ê Ê his care died after a disturbance at their home in 2023.

HUMAN RIGHTS BAHAMAS November 2, 2023

UÊ ÕÀ Þi>À `Ê i Ì Ê Seymour, Jr, killed during a shooting in 2022.

UÊ £Î Þi>À `Ê L ÞÊ ÕÀdered in 2022.

The media reported an almost 50 percent increase in reported cases of child abuse in April of this year.

What’s the status of former senator Trevor Whylly’s court case for him accused of allegedly sexually assaulting a boy?

TERNEILLE BURROWS Candidate for West Grand Bahama and Bimini November 5, 2023 UÊ /",½-Ê "/ \Ê The trial of former senator Trevor Whylly, who is accused of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old boy, is set for December 16.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 6, 2023, PAGE 7

Family seeks answers on son who died in Jail from page one also received information claiming Javon was in a cell with another violent inmate, which led to his death.

“We found out about his death as a result of persistent inquiry. The workers at the mworgue informed us that his death was caused by complications due to pneumonia. We who identified the body only by photograph did not accept that speculation,” Mr Sweeting said.

When Javon’s body was identified by picture by the family, Mr Sweeting claimed there were marks and bruises on Javon’s face consistent with being hit or physically hurt. Mr Sweeting said authorities are now operating based on a physical check of the body, rather than an autopsy.

“There were obvious signs of blunt force trauma.

We have heard many versions of the same tale of how Javon met his death.

They all point to the fact that he was beaten to death by another insane person awaiting trial for causing the death of a lady on the street. They should never have crossed paths.”

Mr Sweeting said officials from the morgue told him that the family would soon be able take the body and start planning a funeral. Therefore, Mr Sweeting said to get a clearer understanding of how Javon died, the family commissioned an independent pathologist from the United States to examine Javon’s body.

“We the family have sought to have Javan’s body examined by an

independent pathologist in order that the truth can be ascertained about his death. The permits, and all legal medical standards of qualification were met and adhered to,” Mr Sweeting said.

However, one day before the pathologist was scheduled to arrive in the country, Mr Sweeting said the coroner informed them an inquest had to be conducted.

“We’re awaiting permission from the coroner to permit the examination from the pathologist. That’s all we want. Either it’s what I’m thinking or it’s what they’re saying and if that’s what it is, wouldn’t an autopsy discover and reveal everything that there is to know.

“Nothing was ever done.

They were telling us to go ahead and take the body to have the funeral service, but that was not to be. Without doing anything, they were ready to release the body.

Mr Sweeting said the coroner has been back on the island since Monday of last week, and he has been asked for additional information regarding the pathologist commissioned by the family.

Mr Sweeting said he has been to the Attorney General’s office for assistance, but no one has reached out to him as yet.

Having spent more than $8,000, Mr Sweeting said he expects to spend $20,000 in total to get answers and “discover the truth”, including paying for permits and documents from the Bahamas Medical Council, the Department of Immigration and extensions on those documents, as well as payment for the pathologist

MORE THAN 300 STUDENTS JOIN NURSING CADET PROGRAMME

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net MORE than 300 high school students in New Providence are a part of the Nursing Cadet Programme 2023, as the Ministry of Health and Wellness strives to keep the art of nursing at the forefront for generations to come.

Gina Dean, director of nursing at the Ministry of Health, on Friday, spoke at the launching ceremony for the programme. She said the programme allows students to learn the basics of the nursing profession.

The students will be taken to the clinics. hospitals, and receive other healthcare service training.

Over the years, the country’s shortage of nurses has been an ongoing major concern.

Many Bahamian nurses have moved abroad to the United States, Canada, and other countries for better career opportunities.

Ms Dean acknowledged that the shortage of nurses has been challenging. But she said the ministry has made efforts to improve the work conditions of nurses, to encourage them to work locally.

“We continuously train new nurses because, in terms of the benefits such as the salary, it is very unlikely a small country like ours will be able to match what they’re able to get in some of the larger countries,” she said.

“But we are just hoping to improve the general nursing working conditions.”

Ms Dean said this year’s group is the largest the programme has had thus far. She added: “So it does help us to be hopeful for the future. “ “We want to make sure that we continuously train and have an intake of new nurses coming in.”

Colin Higgs, the Ministry of Health and Wellness permanent secretary, applauded the programme.

“It’s important to encourage young people to pursue this career. And it’s important that they know that they are appreciated and that we are coming to show our support for them to be involved, and to pursue a career,” Mr Higgs said.

The Nursing Cadet programme is for three years.

It includes students from grades 10-12 in both private and public schools.

Officials said training will begin for the students next week.

US COAST GUARD RESCUES MAN

THE US Coast Guard came to the rescue of a man who needed a medevac while at sea 495 miles off Nassau on Saturday. The Air Station Clearwater air crew responded to a motor vessel after the man experienced severe stomach pain. The aircrew transported the man to Nassau, where emergency medical services were waiting to offer a higher level of care.

JAVON CHARLOW and the use of the Rand Lab or the morgue.

Mr Sweeting said he plans to visit the Attorney General’s office again for assistance as well as BDCS for some answers.

“I have submitted a written request to the coroner.

It has now been four days that I await a reply allowing our family to either confirm our suspicions, or otherwise

confirm that pneumonia destroys the head and face violently. We are being unjustly mistreated even after the initial violation,” Mr Sweeting said.

When contacted yesterday, prison Commissioner Doan Cleare was unable to provide specifics into Javon’s death, but promised to do so when the information was before him.

Healthcare providers suffering NHI payment delays without explanation HEALTHCARE providers enrolled in the National Health Insurance programme are calling for answers after suffering payment delays last month.

A doctor, who spoke to The Tribune on the condition of anonymity on Friday, said providers were left concerned last month after they didn’t receive the funds owed to them as scheduled.

“They didn’t have the funds to pay us for some reason on the 15th which the contract states as the date they pay us. They did pay us 60 percent on the 20th and then yesterday (Thursday), they paid the other 40 per cent,” he said.

“So, something is going on. If you can’t pay your bills on the day you’re supposed to pay them then that’s a problem, so we need to know what’s going on.”

The doctor added that it was the first-time providers were paid so late.

In an email sent to NHI service providers last month, which was seen

by The Tribune, NHI officials apologised for the late payments, but did not state the reason for the delay.

This comes as some raise concerns about NHI’s financial sustainability.

However, a statement issued by the Ministry of Health last month said NHI was progressing steadily while refuting reports that “sought to discredit and defame the work of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and its leadership”.

The ministry called NHI “a Bahamian success story” and said it serves as a model for the region.

Meanwhile, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville recently told the House of Assembly that NHI was preparing to expand as he dismissed claims that the insurance programme is collapsing.

“We’re working our way towards catastrophic healthcare insurance which is clearly outlined in our blueprint for change,” he said. “Catastrophic healthcare is a huge financial burden, but if we do an excellent job at the primary healthcare level we can keep these cases from the hospital and be able to manage the cost associated with catastrophic healthcare,” he said.

He also foreshadowed the coming of the new National Health Insurance Bill, which, he said, will repeal and replace the 2016 National Health Act.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2023

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

Gibson and Lynes challenge may be a sign of disconnect with party base

PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY CHAIRMAN FRED MITCHELL

By TYLER MCKENZIE CONVENTION time is almost upon us, with the PLP gathering on Friday – and the race for the chairman position has been taking all the headlines.

The juicy part of the conversation has surrounded what seems to be a very personal duel between Shane Gibson and Fred Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell is the incumbent party chairman, and is running again. He also holds the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the administration, of course, something that has caused

some debate over whether it is appropriate to hold both roles.

Mr Gibson and Mr Mitchell had a very public disagreement over the former’s candidacy for the West Grand Bahama and Bimini seat, of course. Mr Mitchell fired off shots saying some people ought to know when it is time to move on from public life, despite him being eight years senior to Mr Gibson.

Mr Gibson fired right back, talking about how when he ran a ministry he had to work rather than just fly around, drink tea and smoke cigars. Clearly, no

love lost there.

Mr Gibson lost out on the nomination, with former FNM Kingsley Smith getting the nod instead.

While the renewal of that clash caught the eye, it was perhaps more striking that Robin Lynes is also challenging Mr Mitchell for the role of chairman.

Mr Gibson has now bowed out of the race, throwing his support to Ms Lynes, and certainly within the ranks of the PLP, those I’ve spoken to have talked of her bid as having more substance than Mr Gibson’s.

There certainly has been

a feeling of some discontent among the party ranks.

Some were upset that the candidacy for the byelection went to a former FNM rather than someone with longer party ties, for example.

Mr Gibson’s bid for the seat came along with support in certain sections that feel the current administration has not delivered for them personally. For some, that’s down to wanting to know when contracts are going to come their way – though frankly pandering to such demands would be the wrong way for any government to be approaching things anyway. It doesn’t mean it comes without a cost politically, though.

Whether those frustrations are enough to give Ms Lynes the support she needs to unseat Mr Mitchell, however, I’m not so sure.

It has certainly been enough for Mr Mitchell to take the threat seriously enough to speak out about it. Not that he ever needs much encouragement.

When Mr Gibson stepped out of the race, he said the fact that two people challenged Mr Mitchell, it showed a lack of confidence. Mr Mitchell has quickly fired back to say that clearly as Mr Gibson is no longer running, he has no confidence in himself.

More notably, Mr Mitchell suggested that he had the support of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and anyone who won the race who did not have the PM’s support would struggle to function and carry out their duties.

That is a very top-down

view of matters, I would say. Equally, you could say that any leader who failed to work with the chairman favoured by the party would struggle to function.

Either way, I have yet to see anything about Mr Davis that suggests he would not be pragmatic enough to work with whoever the chairman ended up being – and as Ms Lynes has held the deputy chair post, it is not as if she is far from favour with leadership.

That Mr Mitchell feels the need to shore up his support by leaning on the PM’s support tells me that the race with Ms Lynes is not to be dismissed.

Amid all this to and fro, Ms Lynes herself has been quieter, pointing out that she is simply following what is set out in the party’s constitution, and saying “I think it’s nonsense to say participating in a party process is anti-party”.

She says just as the administration reset its agenda by proroguing Parliament, now it is time to “reset internally”.

She said: “More than ever, now is the time for us to reset to our core values and reinvigorate our traditional base of supporters.

They need to hear the PLP they know. Too many of our members are not satisfied with the direction and the sound, and that is not a critique that is meant to divide or destroy. We must focus on and take care of our home base.”

There it is again, the base of supporters, that idea that there is a disconnect between the top of government and the base of the

party.

Whoever wins, the sounds that have been coming out of this process ought to be heard by the party leadership as the countdown to the next election begins.

Every vote that goes towards Ms Lynes will be a pointer to the level of frustration party members are feeling.

Of course, we should not look just at the PLP. Take a look across the political fence at the FNM, and you will see party leader Michael Pintard.

Despite the FNM constitution mandating a convention every two years – the last being November 2021 – he says that the party is “fine just the way we are right now”.

The split between Mr Gibson and Mr Mitchell is tiny compared to the obvious split between Mr Pintard and former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis – and when the FNM does hold a convention, the leadership itself is likely to be up in the air.

Then there is the role of the former DNA leader, Arinthia Komolafe, to throw into the mix. It is nearly six months since Mr Pintard said she is expected to join the FNM, and rumours are circulating as to what role she might have if she does. If PLPs were frustrated with Kingsley Smith getting a shot at becoming MP, just wait and see how annoyed FNMs will be if Mrs Komolafe gets a senior role ahead of long-time party members.

Interesting times ahead for all.

This wound so deep PAGE 10, Monday, November 6, 2023

AS BLANKETED as it may initially sound, humans enjoy and rely upon the concept of order. Whether it is in law or in life in general, we depend on certain conditions, practices and expectations without which we would be awash in a sea of confusion. On a daily basis, the sun rises and then the sun sets. Simple and easy to understand.

When life is structured, it simply makes more sense.

Random is only random when contrasted with our normal expectations. Comforted by predictability and continuity, our lives revolve

THE TRIBUNE

By DR KENNETH D KEMP

around the maintenance of order. For many, that means we attend school, get a job, possibly get married and have children and then we die. While there are many who will never marry or might hold a job before finishing school, the standard linear sequence of first one, then the other does not

take us by surprise.

Suddenly celebrating Christmas in June would upend our sense of normalcy and create chaos and confusion across the world. Snowfall during the heat of the summer will send scientists and climate change activists reeling with anxiety and staunch

Christians to bended knee.

While we may crave excitement from time to time, we depend on normality. It’s human nature. And when that sense of normality is overturned it can be, even under the best of circumstances, utterly devastating.

So, when parents outlive their children, when a mother loses her only son, the universe feels like it’s imploded because the natural order of life has been corrupted. No one understands this better than the mother highlighted in today’s report.

Her son called her Nick and she called him Buddy.

Nick was born in Nassau in 1960 as the civil rights movement in America was gaining momentum and would lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the most powerful legal document in the war against racial inequality in the history of the modern Americas. As that era of change and demand unfolded, her father worked for the Bahamas government and her mother was one of the first black women in The Bahamas to work for a bank.

Nick says that she had an incredible childhood with her three sisters and their only brother. Vastly different from the world her son inherited, life was a lot simpler. She recalls the excitement of friends showing her their new Barbie dolls and skipping rope for Christmas at a time when getting a bicycle was like winning the lottery. Home, school and church dominated her social calendar and every night, she ate dinner with her parents and siblings together as a family.

By the time she was 23, Nick had already found her passion. She’d worked as a teacher for one year at a private school before transitioning into the banking sector, following in the footsteps of her mother.

She remained there for over 30 years and in a full circle move, she returned to her first passion and became an administrator at a local community college.

There she found immense joy influencing the lives of hundreds of children.

Nick met her husband in 1983. It was love at first sight and they were married three years later in a simple, romantic ceremony.

Her husband’s emotional support guided her through many dark days, including the death of her parents, just two years apart.

Less than 10 years ago, Nick’s father began experiencing pain in his back that became so debilitating that he sought attention from a doctor at a local clinic. Blood work and X-rays were ordered and results were conclusive for lung cancer so diffuse that only one quarter of his lung was still functional. He died within two months of his diagnosis at the age of 75.

Not long before that, Nick’s mother suffered through a more treacherous ordeal. She began having pain in her stomach one evening and assumed it was from something she ate. When the pain didn’t resolve with rest and over the counter anti-inflammatories, her family doctor told her that it was likely from a gall bladder infection. It would be weeks before they realised that she had stomach cancer.

Six months of chemotherapy weren’t enough to save her and she died at

the age of 76.

Losing two people who loved her more than anything in the world created a deep wound in Nick’s heart. She and her husband had one son. So, being a wife and a mother gave her purpose and a reason to wake up every morning.

When asked about Buddy, Nick replied that he was a really happy baby. She had him two weeks before her 29th birthday and from the moment he left her womb he was as

fear had been realized when Buddy was diagnosed with a rapidly growing brain tumour.

Within a week, he underwent a tumour resection followed by 33 rounds of radiation and 42 consecutive days of chemotherapy.

Following a one-month break, he was administered chemotherapy for an additional five consecutive days every 28 days for six months. A follow-up MRI one year later showed that the tumour was gone entirely and his cancer was in remission.

The family celebrated like never before. God had answered their THE DEATH OF A CHILD prayers and CREATES A WOUND SO DEEP Buddy’s life THAT YOU CAN NEVER RECOVER had been spared. His appetite returned and he began putting on weight. He had energy to hang out with his friends and fraternity brothers but he found the most pleasure being with his family, watching sports and listening to music. Life curious quickly fell into a normal as he was active. She says rhythm after an entire year she blinked her eyes and of upheaval but their celhe was already graduating ebration was short-lived. high school at the age of 15.

Two months later in The baby boy she bathed, August 2022, a followclothed and fed and who up MRI revealed a new she and her husband took tumour on the same right from one sporting event side of his brain where the to the next was quickly last tumour was resected. becoming a man of whom Another brain surgery they were immensely was performed, this time proud. by laser, and Nick spent Their happy life felt another Christmas in the like it could go on forever hospital but this time she but in October 2020, the was caring for her son. entire family was exposed Between January and April to the COVID-19 virus 2023, Buddy underwent and became very ill. While more chemotherapy and everyone else slowly recovered, Nick eventually had radiation but a new MRI to be admitted to the hos- in May revealed another pital after she developed tumour this time on the left multiple blood clots in her side of his brain and nearly lungs and literally couldn’t twice the size of the previbreathe.

Months had ous tumours combined. passed and her situation Doctors told Nick and her had now become so life- husband that there was threatening, she was rushed nothing else that they could to Emergency and placed do for their son. He died at in the intensive care unit. home two months later at She remained there just the age of 33, in the august over two weeks, spending of his prime.

The last few weeks of Christmas away from her Buddy’s life were a quiet, family.

By mid-January, when peaceful epilogue to a life she was finally discharged, once dominated by a love she noticed that Buddy of sports and brotherhood. was dragging his feet as he He’d fought incredibly walked. She knew every hard to live but the fight freckle on his body so the was too much for his body. subtle change in his ambu- Friends describe Buddy as lation pattern seemed a gentle giant. He obtained blatant to her maternal eye. a master’s degree in busiImmediately concerned, ness administration at Nick asked Buddy how he the age of 22, he loved to was feeling and he said he listen to Junkanoo music was okay except for the (a proud Saxons fan), he weird odour he kept smell- was active in church and his ing. Not knowing if it was fraternity and he enjoyed a side effect from COVID- playing basketball, softball 19 she took him to see her and baseball. He was quiet, doctor the following day but funny and he craved and from there he was sent Chinese food on a weekly basis. to the emergency room.

As for Nick, she says Buddy was diagnosed as having had a stroke that she has a village who and was kept in the hos- support her but her greatpital for six days before est joy comes from the being released. From then, love of her husband. She’s he was readmitted, dis- still in shock so her pain charged and readmitted to comes in waves and there’s the hospital every month not a day that goes by that for six months straight. she doesn’t think about His symptoms worsened - Buddy or ask God why weakness, blurred vision, he had to die. Her takestomach pain, memory home message is that no loss and occasional con- day is promised to any of fusion and his headaches us so live in the moment became more enfeebling and cherish the people with each visit. Following you love in your thoughts, an exhaustive rigamarole in your words and in your of tests, doctors diagnosed actions because the death him with everything from of a child creates a wound long-term COVID-19, to so deep that you can never demyelinating disease to recover. Hold onto your multiple sclerosis. After kids she says, and never, three MRIs, oral medica- ever let go.

This is The KDK Report. tion and therapy with no UÊ V > i`ʼ/ iÊ*À ViÊ notable improvement, his vÊ* ` >ÌÀÞ½]Ê ÀÊ i iÌ Ê doctor suggested performÊ i «Ê ÃÊÌ iÊv Õ `iÀÊ> `Ê ing a brain biopsy. At that i` V> Ê` ÀiVÌ ÀÊ vÊ > >point, Nick’s concern mor >ÃÊ ÌÊ> `Ê iÊ V>Ìi`Ê phed into frustration. Ê >ÛiÃÊ6 >}i]Ê7iÃÌiÀ Ê Fearing the worst, she iÜÊ*À Û `i Vi°Ê iÊÃiÀÛi`Ê and her husband took >ÃÊÌ iÊ`i«ÕÌÞÊV > À > Êv ÀÊ Buddy to a hospital in the Ì iÊ i> Ì Ê Õ V Êv ÀÊwÛiÊ US for a second opinion.

Nick prayed the entire Þi>ÀÃÊ> `Ê iÊVÕÀÀi Ì ÞÊà ÌÃÊ plane ride there. The same ÊÌ iÊL >À`Ê vÊ` ÀiVÌ ÀÃÊ day of his evaluation, v ÀÊÌ iÊ*À ViÃÃÊ >À}>ÀiÌÊ Buddy was admitted to the ë Ì> Ê Õ `>Ì Ê Ê ÃÊ hospital and Nick’s greatest À iÊ>ÃÊV Û Vi V > À > °

A call to arms against the surge of gang violence THE TRIBUNE

THERE has been a surge in gang violence and gun violence in Latin America and the Caribbean, leading to a high level of murders and heightened fear in many countries.

The figures are alarming not only for the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) but also for all other countries in the Americas, including the United States of America and Canada.

The situation has become so alarming that I was prompted, in my capacity as President of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), to hold a Special Meeting on this matter on November 1, 2023. Representatives of 22 countries spoke, painting a worrying picture from both humanitarian and security standpoints.

The consensus from the meeting was undeniable: this is a challenge too vast for any single country to tackle in isolation.

However, El Salvador claims that its aggressive measures, including jailing 71,000 gang members (about 2% of its population) have brought a great sense of security to a society that had been terrorized by gang violence for decades. Human rights bodies have criticised the administration of President Nayib Bukele, claiming that some of its stringent measures violate human rights law.

The experience in El Salvador is indicative of the tension between strong law enforcement measures to curb the criminal activity of armed gangs and international humanitarian law which demands that, at all times, individuals be guaranteed the enjoyment of fundamental rights and liberties.

How humanitarian law, in respect of uprooting criminal gangs, meshes with the call for a military force to remove over 60 gangs that are tormenting the country, is one of the paradoxes from which some governments have shied away.

In any event, the panel of experts, who vividly described the scale of the problem of guns, gangs and violence, left no doubt about three things: gangs and guns are in the hands of organised criminal enterprises which operate across borders; the infiltration of guns, mostly from the United States of America (US) is fuelling homicides including assassinations; and national law enforcement agencies lack the capacity to cope with the problem by themselves.

Such conditions partly explain the expansion of gang and criminal activity throughout the Americas. But it is not the full explanation; other factors contribute.

Among these are disillusioned, disenchanted and desperate young people who are lured into gangs as a way of getting money and asserting themselves.

The presentation by Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Reginald Armour, to the OAS meeting was as startling as it was revealing.

For example, he pointed out that “in Jamaica, approximately 70% of the violence is related to criminal organizations, despite the Government’s drastic measures to combat gangs, by the implementation of ‘Gang Suppression’ laws and States of Emergency, repeated military and police operations and the arrest of 149 gang leaders”. He observed that “these gangs continue to evolve with new leaders and a ready supply of

Monday, November 6, 2023, PAGE 11

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS illicit firearms originating from the United States”.

Mr. Armour also disclosed that “in Trinidad and Tobago, the combination of firearms and the fragmentation of competing gangs has increased the murder rate, with 614 homicides recorded in 2022”.

This situation in not unique to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the two most populous states of CARICOM, apart from Haiti. In 2022, official figures showed that 5 CARICOM countries were among the top 10 nations in the world with the highest national murder rates per 100,000 people. The 5 countries were: Jamaica, St Lucia, Belize, Dominica and Guyana in that order. Of the other 5 countries, 4 were Latin American: Honduras, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil.

At the OAS meeting, Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, a senior expert at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, pointed out that, “the proportion of firearms involved in national homicides increased from 15% in 1997 to 70% in 2021”. He said that now, around 50 people are murdered with firearms every day. A similar point about the relation between firearms and violence, particularly murder was made by other speakers, including Maria Eugenia Mata of the Ministry of Public Security of Costa Rica.

According to an article from The Economist, “in previously safe countries, murder rates are hitting record levels, including Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Chile. The article calls it the new narco-network: a cocktail of drugs, guns, and migration is fuelling gang violence across the region”.

The Caribbean and Latin America, therefore, lying next to each other geographically with many of them bordering the Caribbean sea, have a common problem and a collective responsibility to their peoples to work together to address it effectively.

Undoubtedly, national efforts are underway, yet law enforcement agencies grapple with being underfunded and

understaffed. Many are also in need of training and equipment. The OAS Secretariat has done a great body of work that assesses strengths and weaknesses within these security forces, and it has expertise that should be utilized to improve national capacity.

In the face of such stark realities – where firearms, gangs, and transnational crime erode the fabric of our societies – the call for action has never been more pressing. We stand at a crossroads where the only path forward is one of unity, collaboration, and unwavering resolve.

It is not just about enhancing law enforcement capabilities; it is about forging an unbreakable chain of solidarity across the Americas.

The OAS is wellplaced to spearhead this initiative, transforming policy recommendations into concrete measures: from tightening firearm export controls in the United States to

POLICE officers take cover during an anti-gang operation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in April 25, 2023, a day after a mob in the Haitian capital pulled three suspected gang members from police custody at a traffic stop and beat and burned them to death with gasoline-soaked tires.

Photo: Odelyn Joseph/AP fostering regional intelligence-sharing protocols, from expanding support for community programmes that address the root causes of gang recruitment to bolstering judicial systems that can withstand the corruption and influence of

organized crime.

OAS member states should commit to mobilizing the necessary political will and financial resources to implement such a plan.

The time for concerted action is now; the cost of delay is simply too great.

(The writer is Antigua

and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. He is also the current President of the OAS Permanent Council. The views expressed are entirely his own. For comments and previous commentaries, see: www. sirronaldsanders.com)

PAGE 12, Monday, November 6, 2023

Govt organ transplant programme start delayed - now to begin early 2024

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net THE launch of the Ministry of Health and Wellness’s organ transplant programme has been pushed to begin operations next year, as the ministry is in the process of drafting legislation, finalising facilities and training health professionals, according Health officials.

Collin Higgs, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, said that although the Bahamas National Organs Transplant Programme was scheduled to be launched by the end of this year, the rigorous preparations needed have resulted in the launch being pushed to a later date.

“We are in the process of finalising facilities for the unit to be set up and we also have three nurses that were sent to England for training.

Also we are drafting legislation related to transplant procedures,” Mr Higgs told

MINISTRY of Health and Wellness Permanent Secretary Collin Higgs.

The Tribune on Saturday.

Although Mr Higgs was unable to confirm whether the nurses being trained had returned as yet, he said they were trained through a three or fourweek programme on how to care for patients who have undergone organ transplant procedures.

“We have identified persons that we want in the unit itself and we’re just waiting for the finalisation and preparation for everything

to be in place, particularly the theatre, to launch the programme.

“I don’t think that we will meet the timeline that we had set to have the first transplant done before the end of the year. I think it will be early in the new year. So within the first quarter of the new year, we should have our first patient transplanted.

We’re only doing kidney transplants from living donors, not from cadavers or people that leave their

organs,” Mr Higgs said.

In June, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said the government expected to launch the Bahamas National Organ Transplant Programme before the end of this year.

During his Budget contribution on June 20, he said as officials determine what is required to execute and sustain the programme, kidney transplants from live donors to improve the quality of life for haemodialysis patients will be the first performed through the programme.

This initiative is expected to reduce the ministry’s cost for the current public haemodialysis programme where more than 600 public patients receive treatment,” Dr Darville said.

“We have also collaborated with partners in Cuba for guidance on the implementation of such a programme and expect to launch this programme before the end of this year.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wendy’s serving food on Pi from a mobile kitchen

WENDY’S MOBILE RESTAURANT ON PARADISE ISLAND AFTER a very public debate over plans to open a Wendy’s restaurant on Paradise Island, the company is now serving food at the site – but from a mobile kitchen.

Psomi Holdings, an affiliate of Aetos Holdings, the Wendy’s and Marco’s Pizza franchisee, blasted Atlantis last week after approval was granted for the Paradise Island restaurant, saying the resort had masterminded a “meritless, aggressive and self-serving campaign” to block the move.

The Paradise Island Tourism Development Association – after the approval was granted – pledged to

appeal against it, even if it goes to the highest court in the land, the Privy Council.

But Wendy’s has already started serving – bringing its mobile kitchen to the site on Thursday.

The company says the kitchen is fully licensed and legally able to operate on the site.

One customer who spoke to The Tribune said: “I don’t see any reason why Wendy’s shouldn’t be allowed to be here. The plaza needs something and it’s not out of place with the other businesses here. It made me laugh to see the mobile kitchen after all the arguments, though!”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 6, 2023, PAGE 13

Stage set for conflict at COP28 with mixed response to outcome of key climate talks still numerous gaps that must be filled if the fund is to be effective in helping poor and vulnerable communities around the world hit by increasingly frequent climate-related disasters.

The meetings delivered on that mandate but were “the furthest thing imaginable from a success,” said Brandon Wu of ActionAid

A VILLAGER holding umbrella to protect himself from the sun, walks over parched land on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, India on May 2, 2009. Tense negotiations at the final meeting on a climaterelated loss and damages fund — an international fund to help poor countries hit hard by a warming planet — ended Saturday, November 4, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, with participants agreeing that the World Bank would temporarily host the fund for the next four years.

Photo: Biswaranjan Rout/AP INDIA Associated Press TENSE negotiations at the final meeting on a climate-related loss and damages fund — an international fund to help poor countries hit hard by a warming planet — ended Saturday in Abu Dhabi, with participants agreeing that the World Bank would temporarily host the fund for the next four years.

The United States and several developing countries expressed disappointment in the draft agreement, which will be sent for global leaders to sign at the COP28 climate conference, which begins in Dubai later this month.

The US State Department, whose officials joined the negotiations in Abu Dhabi, said in a statement it was “pleased with an agreement being reached” but regretted that the consensus reached among negotiators about

donations to the fund being voluntary is not reflected in the final agreement.

The agreement lays out basic goals for the fund, including for its planned launch in 2024, and specifies how it will be administered and who will oversee it, including a requirement for developing countries to have a seat on the board, in addition to the World Bank’s role.

Avinash Persaud, a special envoy to Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley on climate finance, said the agreement was “a challenging but critical outcome. It was one of those things where success can be measured in the equality of discomfort.”

Persaud negotiated on behalf of Latin America and the Caribbean in the meetings.

He said that failure to reach an agreement would have “cast a long shadow over COP.”

Mohamed Nasr, the lead negotiator from Egypt, last year’s climate conference host, said, “It falls short on some items, particularly the scale and the sources (of funding), and (an) acknowledgment of cost incurred by developing countries.”

The demand for establishing a fund to help poor countries hit hard by climate change has been a focus of UN climate talks ever since they started 30 years ago and was finally realized at last year’s climate conference in Egypt.

Since then, a smaller group of negotiators representing both rich and developing countries have met multiple times to finalize the details of the fund. Their last meeting in the city of Aswan in Egypt in November ended in a stalemate.

While acknowledging that an agreement on the fund is better than a stalemate, climate policy analysts say there are

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

USA who has followed the talks over the last year.

Wu said the fund “requires almost nothing of developed countries. ... At the same time, it meets very few of the priorities of developing countries — the very countries, need it be said again, that are supposed to benefit from this fund.”

Sultan al-Jaber, a federal minister with the

United Arab Emirates and CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company who will oversee COP28 next month, welcomed the outcome of the meetings.

“Billions of people, lives and livelihoods who are vulnerable to the effects of climate change depend upon the adoption of this recommended approach at COP28,” he said.

SPORTS PAGE 14

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2023

Rhema Otabor wins silver in the javelin

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

R

ising javelin star Rhema Otabor added her first international medal to the gold she won at the National College Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Track and Field Championships with a silver at the Pan American Games.

In her debut at the Pan Am Games on Friday in Santiago, Chile, 20-yearold Otabor claimed her medal with a heave of 198feet, 7 1/2-inches or 60.54 metres on her first attempt.

She followed with marks of 194-7 ½ (59.32m), 190-7 (58.09m), 187-5 ¼ (57.13m) and 189-1 ¼ (57.64) before she scratched her final toss.

Flor Denis Ruiz of Colombia captured the gold with 207-0 1/4 (63.10m) on her first attempt as well. The bronze went to American Madelyn Harris with 197-0 ½ (60.06m) on her second try.

After her performance, Otabor said she was delighted to win the medal and to have performed so well this late in the season.

It was her second international meet for the Bahamas in her breakout year, coming off her debut at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, where she was 33rd overall.

“I’d say it was kind of expected because I’ve been having practices lately where I’ve been throwing 60 metres or very close to it with some consistency,” Otabor said.

“But all in all, I’m just glad that what’s been

SEE PAGE 19

Shines in Pan Am Games debut

RHEMA OTABOR, of The Bahamas, poses with her silver medal on the podium during a ceremony for the women’s javelin category, at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, on Friday, November 3, 2023.

(AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

DONALD Thomas poses with his bronze medal for the men’s high jump.

(AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

DONALD THOMAS SOARS FOR BRONZE IN HIGH JUMP

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net EACH year, as long as he feels healthy, Donald Thomas said he will be out to make his presence felt on the international scene.

Although he admitted that he was not at full strength, Thomas said he wanted to give it his best shot at this year’s Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

On Friday, the 39-yearold Thomas was beaten out for the silver by Luis Joel Castro of Puerto Rico on fewer knockdowns after they both posted a mark of 7-feet, 4 1/4-inches or 2.24 metres. Luis Enrique Zayas of Cuba took the gold with 7-5 ¼ (2.27m).

After winning a silver in 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gold in 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and bronze in 2015 in Toronto, Canada, Thomas said he was disappointed as he sat on the sidelines and watched as a medal slipped away from him in 2019 in Lima, Peru.

The Grand Bahamian native vowed to return this year and avenge the feat.

He dedicated his performance to the late Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini Obediah Wilchcombe.

“It was a great competition. I was glad that I was able to go out there and compete,” said Thomas, who admitted that he wasn’t at full strength and was able to get a lot of assistance from Dr Rickey Davis, the Bahamas Olympic Committee team doctor and the local doctors at the polyclinic in the Games Village, to get him ready to compete. As he showed up and performed, Thomas said

SEE PAGE 18

‘SUPERMAN’ Swimming, athletics LEEVAN OFFERS receive top honours at HIS EXPERTISE National Sports Awards AT JUMP CLINIC

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net OVER the weekend, the swimming and athletics disciplines took home a majority of the awards at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s National Sports Awards.

Saturday night was a special occasion for all involved in sports with 21 winners taking home their respective awards.

The ceremony took place on the front lawn of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

The Bahamas Aquatics Federation hauled in awards for Federation of the Year, Collegiate Athlete of the Year (male), National Youth Team of the Year, National Senior Team of the Year, and National Coach of the Year.

Lamar Taylor won the award for Male Collegiate

Athlete of the Year and also took home the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) award.

At the collegiate level, Taylor has been nothing short of successful during the 2022-23 season.

He became the first Bahamian to collect three national championships at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Swimming and Diving Championships in March.

The Henderson State University student also became the school’s first individual national champion since 2010.

Additionally, he was named the Great American Conference (GAC) Male Athlete of the Year, the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (NSISC) Male Swimmer of the Year, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA)

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LAMAR TAYLOR

TRAVANO MCPHEE

Division II Male Swimmer of the Year and Henderson State Male Athlete of the Year.

With regards to the BOC award, the 20-year-old secured a gold and bronze medal at the 24th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in San Salvador, El Salvador in June.

Most recently, he earned the first medal (bronze) in the men’s 50m freestyle for The Bahamas at the 19th

Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

The Grand Bahama native finished with a time of 22.13 seconds to smash his previous national record of 22.26 seconds attained at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

The National Coach of the Year award went to Travano McPhee, who

SEE PAGE 15

NATIONAL record holder Leevan “Superman” Sands said he was delighted to be back home. He was even more thrilled to offer his expertise to a large group of athletes at the Red-Line Athletics’ Jump Clinic and their fourth annual Motivational Health & Wellness Seminar.

While the clinic took place on Friday at the original Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, the seminar was held at the National Training Agency and, according to Red-Line Athletics club’s founder and head coach Tito Moss, both events were a resounding success.

“This was the first one that we opened up to all of the clubs,” said Moss, who noted that they wanted to provide an opportunity for as many athletes to get the

knowledge that was being imparted this weekend.

Sands, now in his second year as an assistant jumps coach at Florida State University in the aftermath of his long and illustrious track and field career, was joined by coaches Jason Edwards and Jamieson Pratt.

What was supposed to be a two-hour session turned into four hours because of the enthusiasm of the more than 60 participants.

At the seminar which attracted about 100 competitors and heard from an array of topics, including anti-doping and the doping control process by the Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission; NCAA, What is NIL? (Name, Image, Likeness) by Joyce Johnson; financial wellness, planning, saving by Maud Smith and mental health, mental performance training, confidence training by

SEE PAGE 16

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 6, 2023, PAGE 15

AWARDS FROM PAGE 14

served as the assistant coach for the CARIFTA Aquatics team. McPhee felt that it was great to receive the award and is looking forward to the continued growth of swimming in The Bahamas.

“It is a great honour to be a part of these nominees to be selected over some of the great legends like Tucker those and all the others. I think it has been a long time coming, some long hours coaching, putting up with athletes, parents and everything that comes with being a great coach but I enjoy it, I love it,” he said.

The CARIFTA Aquatics team earned the National Youth and Senior Team of the Year title after some stellar performances at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Curaçao.

The team made history earning a fifth consecutive title at the regional level and recorded their best performance, bringing home 85 medals including 37 gold, 27 silver and 21 bronze.

The Bahamas Aquatics Federation also saw their swimmers flat out dominate at the Goodwill Swimming Championships in August in Kingston, Jamaica.

The 40-member team not only came first, improving on their fourth place finish in 2022, but also hauled in 129 medals.

The aquatics contingent set numerous meet and individual records at the competition.

With swimming earning a number of victories at the National Sports Awards on Saturday night, the newest National Coach of the Year was happy to see the sport receive well-deserved recognition.

“Swimming is doing well.

We came a long way, we will host the CARIFTA Games next year and I encourage all Bahamians to come out and support our local swimmers.

Swimming is doing outstanding not just locally but internationally.

“Algernon Cargill and his executive team are doing an outstanding job and we hope to see some bigger and better things for swimming in the future,” he said.

For athletics, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) saw athletes Jamiah Nabbie, Rhema Otabor, Tylah Pratt, Terrence Jones and Brenden

JAMIAH NABBIE

RHEMA OTABOR

BRENDEN VANDERPOOL

JAZZ CHISHOLM

By ANNE M PETERSON AP Sports Writer

IVANIQUE KEMP

TERRENCE JONES

CRAIG FERGUSON ii

BUDDY HIELD

Vanderpool named award winners.

Nabbie was selected as Female Senior High School Student Athlete of the Year. The Queen’s College student has been a formidable force on the track.

She won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 50th OakTree Medical Center CARIFTA Games in the under-17 girls 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay events at home.

The double CARIFTA gold medallist earned personal bests of 11.67 and 23.67 seconds in the individual events and became the first female to earn a gold medal on the track at the event.

Overall, she was happy to have her talents observed along with having the support of her loved ones at the National Sports Awards.

“It feels amazing to know that people chose me to be the athlete of the year and that I impacted other people this year and it definitely gave me motivation going into next year’s season,” she said.

Vanderpool was presented the Male Senior High School Student Athlete of the Year award.

One of his most remarkable feats came at the 50th CARIFTA Games, where he broke his father Brent Vanderpool’s 36-year-old national record along with the CARIFTA record.

He soared to 5.06m in the under-20 boys pole vault event for gold and a lifelong memory.

His other accomplishments include a silver

medal at the NACAC under-23 Championships in July and a bronze medal at the Pan American under-20 Championships in August.

Otabor, who recently earned a silver medal at the 19th Pan American Games, was voted Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year.

The 20-year-old won the NCAA Division 1 javelin title at the Championships in June for Nebraska University.

She won the event with a throw of 59.49m to become the second Nebraska javelin thrower since 1995 to accomplish this feat.

Additionally, she was the second Bahamian since women’s national javelin record holder, Laverne Eve, to collect the title honours.

Andros native Pratt has made a name for herself in the high jump and long jump events. She claimed the award for Family Island School Student Athlete of the Year. The 16-year-old has racked up first place finishes in four of the last five events she has competed in this year.

She was grateful to receive the award for her hard work and reflected on her initial response to being selected.

“It feels really good to win that award. I am excited and proud of mysel. I was in a state of shock and after that I was just proud because I have to thank God, my family, and my coaches for all the training and intense workouts in the season so I was proud of myself and them,” she said.

Jones was chosen as the recipient of the Minister of Sports Award-For Excellence. The 20-year-old recorded a scorching 9.91 seconds in the 100m sprint at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Florida in April.

He matched Derrick Atkins’ identical national record from the World Championships in Osaka, Japan in 2007. The Texas Tech student also sealed the deal for the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championship in the 60m event in March and became the new record holder.

For the remaining categories, La’Breah Sands, softball MVP for the Grand Bahama Lucayans, came away as the Junior Female Athlete of the Year.

Meanwhile, Craig Ferguson II, representing the Bahamas Sailing Association, won the same award in the male category.

He was happy that his hard work and dedication has paid off and encouraged up and coming athletes to join a sport like sailing, which is not as popular as basketball and track and field, but it can be very rewarding as well.

Miami Marlins star Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm got the Prime Minister’s Award for National Pride.

Chavano “Buddy” Hield was voted Tourism Brand Ambassador of the Year and Ivanique Kemp was given the Sportsmanship Ambassador of the Year honours. The other individual awards went to tennis player Rachel

Thompson for the Leevan Sands Courage Award.

In addition, Special Olympics Bahamas athletes Austin Green and Caitlin Romer were recognised as Male and Female Athlete of the Year with a Disability.

Kennard Mackey, from Eleuthera, was the victor for Family Island Coach of the Year.

The other collective awards were reserved for St Augustine’s College (National Senior Secondary Athletic School of the Year), CH Reeves Raptors (National Junior Secondary Athletic School of the Year), Let’s Swim Bahamas (Community Sports Award), Battle 4 Atlantis (Tourism Impact Award), and Old Timers Softball League (Sports League of the Year).

Varel Davis, head coach of the Raptors, talked about how it felt for them to win the award.

“We feel very honoured to be nominated and be able to win the National Sports Award. This speaks to the programme that was established years ago. We at CH Reeves not only focus on sports but academics as well, “Behind every successful programme you have hard working coaches who day in and day out work with the athletes and get our kids to believe in the talent that God gave them and use it as a stepping stone to better their lives,” Davis said.

More activities will continue for Sport Heritage Month.

Hornets rally to edge Buddy and Pacers 125-124

By MARK AMBROGI Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Mark Williams scored 27 points, Gordon Hayward had 23 and the Charlotte Hornets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 125-124 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.

Terry Rozier scored 22 and has scored 20 or more in all five Hornets games this season.

Tyrese Haliburton tied a career high with 43 points to lead the Pacers, who have lost three of their last four. Buddy Hield scored 19 points with two blocks, two assists in 26 minutes on the floor.

Williams, who made 9 of 12 shots and had seven rebounds, scored nine points in the fourth quarter to help Charlotte rally.

Nick Richards led the Hornets with 10 rebounds.

Williams scored on a layup with 1:03 left to give the Hornets a 125-122 lead.

The Pacers closed the deficit to 125-124 on Buddy Hield’s basket with 29 seconds left.

Hield, who also had six rebounds, was fouled but missed the potential gametying free throw.

Haliburton had a chance but Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, who had 11 assists, forced a turnover before he could get a shot off. “We did a good job inbounding the ball late and obviously on the last play, Melo made a nice play,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said.

AYTON POSTS DOUBLE DOUBLE IN WIN

Hield posts 19 points, 2 blocks, 6 rebounds

INDIANA Pacers guard Buddy Hield (7) goes around Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis on Saturday.

(AP Photo/AJ Mast) Rozier suffered a left record for points in a quarAfter the Pacers shot Clifford said this was their groin strain and needed ter, sank 6 of 8 3-pointers in 33.3% in the first half, Indi- best first half in the five to be helped off the floor the quarter. ana made 81% of its shots games. with a little more than six “Haliburton’s third quar- in the third quarter.

“We’ve got to shoot and minutes left in the game. ter was historic,” Pacers The Hornets, who made make more 3s than that but Clifford said Rozier will coach Rick Carlisle said. nearly 49% from the field their defense had a lot to have an MRI. “We needed to back that in the opening half, shot do with that,” Clifford said.

Haliburton, who had 12 up with a solid fourth quar- 65% in the third quarter.

“Haliburton got going assists, scored 25 points in ter and they threw some The teams were tied in the third. We tried to the third quarter as Pacers hellacious shot making at at 27-all at the end of the double-team him and erased a 54-46 halftime def- us. “It was some unfortu- opening quarter and Char- he took us apart. They icit to take a 96-92 lead. nate situations for us. We lotte led 54-46 at halftime. moved the ball well and we Haliburton, who tied have to continue to work to The Hornets have been couldn’t find a scheme that Jordan Nwora’s franchise shore things up.” hurt by slow starts and worked.”

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Shaedon Sharpe’s cold made his voice a bit raspy, but it didn’t impact his sense of humour.

Sharpe had a pair of clutch free throws and a block that sent the game to overtime before the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 115-113 in their In-Season Tournament opener Friday night.

Despite fighting that cold, Sharpe finished with 22 points and played a teamhigh 46 minutes.

“I had to ask how many minutes are in a game,” he joked.

Jerami Grant led the Blazers with 26 points, including a critical 3-pointer in overtime, and added eight rebounds in Portland’s third consecutive victory.

Malcolm Brogdon had 24 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and three steals.

Deandre Ayton helped out with a double double 16 points and 12 rebounds - with three steals, a block and two assists.

PORTLAND Trail Blazers centre Deandre Ayton, right, blocks the shot of Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane during the second half of an NBA basketball in-season tournament game in Portland, Oregon, on Friday. The Blazers won 115113 in overtime.

(AP Photo/Steve Dykes) “We just never give up,” said Sharpe, treated to “MVP!” chants from the crowd when he went to the line. “We stayed on course.

Everybody competes hard.

We just stay focused.”

Desmond Bane had 33 points and eight rebounds for the Grizzlies, who lost their sixth straight to start the season.

Memphis led 100-90 on David Roddy’s dunk with 3:21 left in regulation before Portland chipped away, getting within 102100 when Brogdon made two free throws.

Sharpe hit a pair of foul shots with 8.3 seconds left to tie it, then blocked Luke Kennard’s attempt from the corner on the other end to send the game to overtime tied at 102.

Sharpe’s step-back 3 gave the Blazers a 109-106 lead with 1:17 left in OT. Grant’s 3 with 39.1 seconds remaining made it 112-108.

“Our offence was pretty good for the most part, despite their game plan, and trying to take Des away and physicality. He still found a way to score 33 and we got 29 assists,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said.

“Defence absolutely failed us.”

TO ADVERTISE TODAY IN THE TRIBUNE CALL @ 502-2394

PAGE 16, Monday, November 6, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

ERIC BAIN REPRESENTS THE BAHAMAS WELL AT THE INAUGURAL PAN AM ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN Eric Bain was the first to represent The Bahamas at the inaugural Pan American Esports Championships in Santiago, Chile, but ultimately fell in the Group A stage.

He battled against Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia competing for a chance to contend for the eFootball title.

The joint effort between the Global Esports Federation and Pan Am Sports was the first time this historic event happened with more non-traditional sports getting a chance to shine along with traditional sports on local and global stages.

Michael Armogan, president of the Bahamas Esports Federation, was very pleased with the strides the nontraditional sport has made especially

after the hosting of the first Pan American Esports Championships.

“The inclusion of Esports in the Pan American Championships marked a monumental stride toward recognising the dedication and skill inherent in electronic sports.

“Witnessing Eric Bain, a proficient gamer and a proud Bahamian, compete at this esteemed event was a deeply heartening experience. His participation did not just symbolise personal achievement but a significant milestone for the Bahamian Esports community,” Armogan said.

In match one, it was Bain versus Bolivia’s player representative in the best-of-three series. His competitor snuck away with a 2-0 win.

The following match featured a similar result with the 26-year-old squared up against Brazil. He went

down 0-2 ahead of the final match.

Match three saw the Bahamian player once again fall short 0-2 but this time against the top ranked Argentina to end his stint at the first Pan Am Esports Championships.

The Bahamas’ Esports player was unable to enter the top 8 in the eFootball tournament but his initial goal was met by raising more awareness for Esports among Bahamians.

The president shared the exact same sentiment and believes that Bain accomplished it.

“His valiant efforts on this international stage have undoubtedly sowed seeds of inspiration. The Bahamas Esports Federation is ardently committed to nurturing this budding interest.

Moving forward, we plan to engage in community outreach, conduct educational programmes, and host local

GAMER Eric Bain representing The Bahamas at the inaugural Pan American Esports Championships in Santiago, Chile. tournaments to fuel the growth of esports here,” he said.

The competition had two categories - open and women - for competitors playing for the Dota 2 and eFootball 2024 titles.

The three-day event concluded with Mexico’s Celic ‘TheArsenalStyle’ Hernandez Valencia winning the first ever gold medal in the eFootball open division.

Brazil’s Henrique ‘Henrykinho’ Silva Mesquita came second and

Argentina’s Lautaro Federico ‘LautaroRaris’ Raris placed third.

Brazil won the women’s category, followed by Argentina in second and Paraguay wrapped up third for bronze.

For Dota 2 in the women’s event, Peru took over against Argentina (3-1) to emerge as the title winner.

The host country, Chile, ended the event with third at the inaugural event.

Peru doubled up the gold medals after winning the

men’s category of Dota 2.

Argentina fell to the victors 0-3 for second. Team Ecuador capped off the event with the third podium spot.

The Bahamas Esports Federation plans to collaborate with educational institutions, host more events in various constituencies and strengthen regional ties with regards to esports in the future.

The 19th Pan American Games and Pan Am Esports Championships ended this past weekend.

RED-LINE ATHLETICS’ FOURTH ANNUAL MOTIVATIONAL HEALTH & WELLNESS SEMINAR

LEEVAN Sands interacts with one of the athletes during the Red-Line Athletics’ seminar on Saturday.

LEEVAN Sands is presented with his gift for particiapting in the Red-Line-Athletics’ seminar on Saturday.

LEEVAN ‘SUPERMAN’ SANDS SHARES HIS EXPERTISE FROM PAGE 14 former American middle-distance runner Chloe Maleski.

Sands, in his address on collegiate recruitment, shared his lifetime story from competing in the 100, 200 and 400 metres before he was converted to the high, long and triple jumps.

He talked about being told by his track coach at Temple Christian that his scholarship was taken away from him to move to Florida to attend Florida Air Academy.

His journey took him to Barton County Junior College before he went on to Auburn University.

As a professional athlete, he recalled how in 2006 he was suspended for using a Vick inhaler.

With his return to competition, Sands informed the young athlete, coaches and parents in attendance, how he suffered another big blow when he fractured his knee at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, but he overcame that obstacle as well and bounced back.

Supported by his mother, Elaine Sands, who encouraged the parents to always follow the progress of their children and to give them all the support they needed, Sands could not have accomplished what he did without her and his

deceased father Leevan ‘Dargon’ Sands.

The married father of four boys said he’s just getting started with his new role as a collegiate coach, but he advised the studentathletes on some important things they need to consider if they are interested in securing an athletic scholarship to attend a division one school or even getting started like he did in junior college.

Sands, who was also accompanied by his sister, former Miss Earth Bahamas Vandia Sands, said he enjoyed his time spent here and he would definitely like to return to do more clinics in the future.

“I didn’t expect all of these kids to show up. I noticed that a lot of our kids are hungry and as a Bahamian coach, I don’t see why I can’t come back and share my knowledge with these kids,” he stated.

“I was very impressed with how receptive they were in everything I had to say. I thought they might have forgotten Superman, but they stayed to the last minute. They didn’t want me to leave.”

As for the seminar, Sands said it was one of the most electrifying addresses he’s ever given.

“I always get kind of nervous when people ask me about stuff like this, but I realised that I have things to share. I have a lot

OLYMPIC triple jump bronze medallist Leevan “Superman” Sands questions a few of the athletes at the Red-Line Athletics seminar on Saturday. of experiences that I need to share. I just need to get more comfortable being in an environment like this, said Sands, who holds the national record at 57-feet, 8 1/2-inches or 17.59 metres.

“Coaching is fine, but anytime someone asks me to speak, it’s nerve-racking. But the good thing is nobody was sleeping.”

The good thing about the session is the fact that Sands said he remembered being in their shoes trying to figure things out and going through the process of getting into school and eventually he settled on Auburn University where he felt comfortable under the tutelage of Bahamian assistant coach Henry Rolle.

Looking back at the decisions that he made, Sands was asked if he had to do it

all again, what would he do differently?

“I think my career was full of excitement and joy with my wife, children and family,” Sands said.

“Everything happened the way it should have happened, even with the suspension and the injuries and now I am able to better coach athletes through all of the obstacles that they face.”

Although he’s still jumping every now and again with his athletes to stay in shape, Sands said having retired from competition, at the age of 42, he’s just enjoying the benefits of his career.

One that spans more than three decades and earned him a bronze medal at the Olympics, World Championship and Commonwealth Games as well as a silver at

the Pan American Games, among others to make him the “greatest Bahamian triple jumper ever.”

Also in attendance was Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Drumeco Archer, who made the point that while all athletes will not end up going to school, they should all look at a different skill course in the event that they don’t get an athletic scholarship to a tertiary institution.

He encouraged the audience to think about pivoting, or moving, shifting, changing and adapting because “all of us will not be Olympians.

“So, my job is not necessarily to ensure that you become Olympians, my job is to ensure that you become wholesome, productive young people.”

Through events such as this done by Red-Line Athletics in “Building Holistic Champions,” Archer said athletes should take a page out of Sands’ book when he was a sprinter before he realised that he was one of the world’s greatest triple jumpers. “So, I want this exercise to be an exercise of reflection for you, an exercise of discovering who you are,” said Archer, a former sprinter and lawyer by profession. “So, I want you to keep that in context because, at the end of the day, this country still needs you.”

He congratulated Red-Line for having the initiative to provide this forum to discover the fundamental things of life that the athletes have to endure in the real world outside of just competing on the track.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 6, 2023, PAGE 17

DOLPHINS COME UP SHORT IN 21-14 LOSS TO CHIEFS DJOKOVIC

By KEN MAGUIRE AP Sports Writer FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Until the Miami Dolphins win the big games, coach Mike McDaniel knows the same questions will be asked.

Miami brought the NFL’s No. 1 offence to Germany and goes home with an 0-3 record against teams with winning records this season after losing 21-14 to the Kansas City Chiefs yesterday at Deutsche Bank Park.

“We knew going into the game that if we’re going to lose what the narrative will be, and that’s fair,” McDaniel said.

“We shouldn’t feel entitled to high opinions from the masses.

“We have to earn that confidence.”

The Dolphins, who are 6-3, mounted a comeback after a dismal performance on offence in the first half.

Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes and Bryan Cook took a fumble return 59 yards for a score

to go into halftime with a 21-0 lead.

Cedric Wilson Jr. caught a 31-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and Raheem Mostert ran for a 13-yard score to put the defending Super Bowl champions under pressure.

But consecutive miscues with the game on the line proved costly for the Dolphins in a matchup that could have AFC playoff implications down the line.

Tua Tagovailoa had a miscommunication with Wilson on an incomplete

pass on third-and-10 from the Kansas City 31. On the next play, Tagovailoa couldn’t handle a snap from the shotgun formation, and the Dolphins turned it over on downs.

Tagovailoa accepted the blame for both — which McDaniel said is why his teammates support him — and lamented their slow start. Miami hadn’t been shut out in the first half of a game since Week 2 of the 2021 season.

“The game is not played in two quarters — it’s

played in four quarters,” Tagovailoa said.

“It’s always tough if you go against a team like that.

Those guys know a thing or two about big games.”

The Dolphins converted just three of 12 third downs and amassed 292 total yards — well under their average of 453.3 yards coming into the game.

Tagovailoa finished 21 of 34 for a season-low 193 yards.

The Dolphins have a bye next week before hosting the Las Vegas Raiders.

Vikings beat Falcons 31-28 ATLANTA (AP) — Newly acquired Joshua Dobbs threw two touchdown passes, including a go-ahead 6-yarder to Brandon Powell with 22 seconds remaining, and also ran for a score, and the Minnesota Vikings rallied to beat the Atlanta Falcons 31-28 yesterday for their fourth straight win.

Minnesota (5-4) overcame the loss of rookie quarterback Jaren Hall to a concussion in the first quarter.

Dobbs led the go-ahead drive after Tyler Allgeier’s 5-yard scoring run gave Atlanta (4-5) the lead with 2:08 remaining.

Dobbs was acquired from the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday. The 28-yearold started all eight games for the Cardinals as a fill-in while Kyler Murray recovers from a knee injury.

Murray’s imminent return made Dobbs available for a trade.

Only five days after the trade, Dobbs made his case to keep the starting job for Minnesota. He completed 20 of 30 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns and had seven carries for 66 yards and another score.

TEXANS 39, BUCCANEERS 37 HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie C.J. Stroud threw for 470 yards and five touchdowns, and his 15-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell with 6 seconds remaining lifted Houston over Tampa Bay in a wild finish.

Baker Mayfield put the Buccaneers on top with a 14-yard TD pass to Cade Otton with 46 seconds left.

But the Texans (4-4) drove down the field and Stroud found Dell in the end zone to give the Texans the lead.

Stroud kneeled instead of attempting the 2-point conversion with kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn out with a quadriceps injury. The Buccaneers fumbled on the final play to give Houston the victory.

EAGLES 28, COWBOYS 23 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts braved a direct hit on his injured left knee to throw for 207 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran for another tush push score to lead Philadelphia. The Eagles are the only 8-1 team in the NFL.

The Eagles did all they could on Dallas’ final drive to cough up the game. Dak Prescott needed to move the Cowboys 86 yards in 46 seconds for the potential winning score — and promptly got 56 yards of Eagles’ penalties to reach the 6-yard-line.

On the cusp of a stunning comeback, Prescott instead was sacked by Josh Sweat for an 11-yard loss.

After a penalty on the Cowboys (5-3) moved them to the 27, Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for 22 yards, but the wideout was tackled by Darius Slay at the 5 to end the game.

Prescott threw for 374 yards and three scores.

Lamb had 11 catches for 191 yards.

RAVENS 37, SEAHAWKS 3 BALTIMORE (AP) — Keaton Mitchell ran for 138 yards and his first NFL touchdown, Odell Beckham Jr. scored for the first time since the Super Bowl two seasons ago and Baltimore routed another first-place team.

Gus Edwards ran for two touchdowns for the Ravens (7-2), who remained tied for the best record in the AFC after holding an opponent to nine points or fewer for the fourth time this season. Lamar Jackson threw for 187 yards and ran for 60 before sitting out the fourth quarter.

The past three weeks in particular, Baltimore has built a compelling case it might be the best team in the NFL. The Ravens thrashed NFC North-leading Detroit 38-6, then won in routine fashion at lowly Arizona. On Sunday, they dominated a Seattle team that remained tied atop the NFC West despite the loss.

COMMANDERS 20, PATRIOTS 17 FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Sam Howell passed for 325 yards and a touchdown and Jartavius Martin had a late interception to help Washington hold on and beat New England.

It marked the first time in Howell’s career he eclipsed 300 yards passing in consecutive games and gave the Commanders their first victory in New England since 1996.

It also snaps a four-game overall losing streak to the Patriots. Washington

MINNESOTA Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) runs for a first down past an Atlanta Falcons’ defender during the second half yesterday in Atlanta.

(AP Photo/John Bazemore) (4-5) turned it over twice but wore down the Patriots’ defence by going 9 of 17 on third down. Brian Robinson added a rushing touchdown to help the Commanders end a twogame skid.

BROWNS 27, CARDINALS 0 CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson threw two touchdown passes — one bouncing off an Arizona helmet — in his second start for Cleveland in five weeks due to a shoulder injury and the Browns held the Cardinals to just 58 yards. It was Cleveland’s first shutout since 2007.

Watson looked rusty and indecisive at times in his first full game since Sept.

24, when he sustained a strained rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder. He completed 19 of 30 passes for 219 yards — 139 to Amari Cooper.

SAINTS 24, BEARS 17 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Taysom Hill caught a touchdown pass and threw for another, Paulson Adebo intercepted two passes and also forced a fumble that he recovered, and New Orleans beat Chicago.

The Saints (5-4) forced five turnovers, intercepting rookie QB Tyson Bagent three times and recovering two fumbles. Those plays tipped the balance

of a game in which the undrafted Bagent and the Bears (2-7) often had the Saints’ defence off balance, outgaining New Orleans 368-301 in total yards and possessing the ball for just more than half the game.

The final turnover — a fumble caused by Demario Davis’ sack and recovered by fellow linebacker Pete Werner — all but sealed it with 2:05 left.

New Orleans needed only one first down — and got it — to run out the clock.

COLTS 27, PANTHERS 13 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kenny Moore returned two Bryce Young interceptions for touchdowns, Jonathan Taylor caught a touchdown pass from Gardner Minshew and Indianapolis defeated Carolina to snap a threegame losing streak.

Indianapolis’ muchmaligned defence had allowed at least 37 points in each of its past three games and had allowed more points than any team in the league, but had no problem slowing down the No. 1 overall pick and a mostly listless Panthers offence.

PACKERS 20, RAMS 3 GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Jones scored Green Bay’s first first-half touchdown since mid-September, and the Packers

snapped a four-game skid by beating Los Angeles.

Rookie tight end Luke Musgrave scored his first career touchdown on a 20-yard reception from Jordan Love, and Anders Carlson went 3 of 4 on field-goal attempts for the Packers (3-5). Love went 20 of 26 for 228 yards despite getting sacked four times.

The Rams (3-6) dropped their third straight as they played without quarterback Matthew Stafford, who sprained a ligament in his right thumb last week in a loss at Dallas.

RAIDERS 30, GIANTS 6 LAS VEGAS (AP) — Josh Jacobs rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns, rookie Aidan O’Connell passed for 209 yards and Antonio Pierce won in his debut as Las Vegas’ interim coach.

Maxx Crosby had three of the Raiders’ eight sacks.

Las Vegas (4-5) held the Giants to 275 yards in the Raiders’ largest margin of victory since beating the Denver Broncos 37-12 on Nov. 15, 2020.

Giants (2-7) quarterback Daniel Jones left one play into the second quarter with a right knee injury.

Tommy DeVito played the rest of the game and passed for 175 yards and a touchdown. Saquon Barkley rushed for 90 yards on 16 carries.

WINS 7TH TITLE AT THE PARIS MASTERS PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic will head to the ATP Finals oozing with confidence.

The top-ranked Serb will take on his rivals at the year-end event starting next weekend on an 18-match winning streak, fresh from a 40th Masters 1000 tournament win.

Djokovic, who has not lost a match since his defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in July, won a record-extending seventh title at the Paris Masters yesterday with a quick and easy 6-4, 6-3 win over Grigor Dimitrov in the final.

Djokovic, who had been pushed to three sets in his three previous matches, enjoyed a comfortable afternoon under the roof of the Palais Omnisports.

“Incredible. To be able to win it after quite challenging circumstances for me this week,” said Djokovic, who was hampered by a stomach virus in Paris.

“Basically, coming back from the brink of losing three matches in a row, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I was very close to losing those matches and somehow managed to find an extra gear when it was needed.”

Djokovic was in total control from the start in the final while Dimitrov got off to a timid start, letting his opponent dictate the play and never found his rhythm.

Dimitrov was secondbest in all areas and the result improved Djokovic’s record against Dimitrov to 12-1.

Djokovic was untouchable on his serve and did not face a single break point as he claimed a 40th Masters 1000 title. Djokovic increased his lead over Alcaraz in the race for the No. 1 spot to 1,490 points, making it more likely he will finish the year as the top-ranked player for a record-extending eighth time.

The Serb dropped just seven points on his serve in the opening set and broke for a 4-3 lead. As he walked back to his chair for the changeover after sealing the first set, he was booed and whistled by sections of fans. Djokovic appeared unfazed and even looked amused.

With a large grin on his face, he provoked the crowd by gesturing in their direction as if encouraging them to whistle and make more noise.

Dimitrov was again in trouble on his serve in the fifth game of the second set and was broken after a series of mistakes. Djokovic did not slow down and won his next serve at love to open a 4-2 lead. He broke again in the ninth game as a last backhand from Dimitrov sailed out of bounds.

Birthday boy Kohli hits record-equalling 49th ODI ton KOLKATA, India (AP) — Virat Kohli celebrated his 35th birthday in style as he hit a record-equalling 49th ODI hundred to help India smash South Africa by 243 runs at the Cricket World Cup yesterday.

Kohli scored 101 not out off 121 balls — to move level in the all-time ODI ton table with another India batting great Sachin Tendulkar — as he powered his side to 326-5 in 50 overs at Eden Gardens. Kohli added 134 runs off 158 balls for the third wicket with Shreyas Iyer who scored 77 off 87.

“I am grateful to God for giving me the chance to play and contribute to the team’s success,” Kohli said.

“It’s great to get a hundred on my birthday in front of this big crowd at this great venue.”

The day got even better for India. Facing the best bowling attack in the

South Africa out for 83 as India stays perfect tournament, South Africa crashed to 83 all out in just 27.1 overs, its second-lowest total in ODIs. Both India and South Africa have already qualified for the semifinals — the top two sides in the points’ table.

India is the only undefeated side in the tournament with eight consecutive wins, and sits atop the table with 16 points.

South Africa has 12 points — six wins in eight games.

The remaining two berths are still up for grabs, as is the order of qualification, which will decide the semifinal matchups. Australia has 10 points, with New Zealand, Pakistan and Afghanistan two points behind. South Africa’s batters fell easily as Ravindra

Jadeja picked up his ODI best 5-33 in nine overs, while Mohammed Shami returned figure of 2-18 in four overs and Kuldeep Yadav impressed with 2-7 in 5.1 overs.

Kohli said batting wasn’t easy despite hitting his fifth ton against South Africa.

“It was a tricky wicket to bat on,” Kohli said. “The pitch was on the slower side and I was told by the team management to bat deep. Shreyas played well and we got a few more runs towards the end.”

Chasing 327, South Africa’s innings was in disarray from the beginning.

In-form Quinton de Kock chopped onto his stumps off Mohammed Siraj in the second over. Temba Bavuma and Rassie van

der Dussen added 16 runs off the next 40 balls, before spin was introduced.

Jadeja bowled Bavuma off his third ball, beating the outside edge of his bat with sharp turn and knocking back the off stump.

Shami then came on and Aiden Markram was caught behind for nine, while van der Dussen was out lbw for 13.

In between, Jadeja trapped Heinrich Klaasen lbw for one run. He also bowled David Miller for 11.

South Africa crashed from 22-1 to 40-5 and then 59-6. Van der Dussen’s 13 runs was the highest individual score among the top six batters.

Marco Jansen top-scored with 14, before falling lbw to Jadeja. He had also

bowled Keshav Maharaj, again with sharp turn.

Jadeja got his fifth wicket with Kagiso Rabada (6) caught and bowled. Yadav brought a swift end to the proceedings and bowled Lungi Ngidi for nought.

Earlier, India chose to bat first and skipper Rohit Sharma gave India a quick start, scoring 40 off 24 balls.

He hit six fours and two sixes, putting on 62 off only 35 balls with Shubman Gill.

Sharma was caught off Rabada (1-48). Gill scored 23 runs before Maharaj bowled him with massive turn in the 11th over.

Kohli and Iyer then came together at 93-2 and weren’t separated until the 37th over as they countered South Africa’s dual spin threat. While Maharaj

finished with 1-30, Tabraiz Shamsi proved expensive with 1-72 from 10 overs.

Kohli reached 50 off 67 balls and then slowed down in the second half of his innings. Iyer meanwhile got to 50 off 64 and scored 27 runs off the next 23, including three fours and a six.

Overall, Iyer hit seven fours and two sixes but fell against the run of play, out caught off a skier at mid-on.

Lokesh Rahul was out for eight runs with van der Dussen taking a splendid catch in the deep. Suryakumar Yadav scored 22 before a reverse sweep went awry and wicketkeeper de Kock claimed a frontal diving catch off his gloves.

At the other end, Kohli punched singles and ran hard as boundaries were hard to come by.

Some 68,000 fans cheered as Kohli got to the recordequalling milestone in the 49th over.

PAGE 18, Monday, November 6, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

Donald Thomas soars for bronze in the high jump FROM PAGE 14 he remembered how a hamstring injury in 2019 in Peru snapped his streak of winning a medal.

But there was no greater feeling this time to get back on the podium. “I might not have been 100 percent, but I went out there and did it,” said Thomas, who too noted that his goal now is to get the elusive medal that has slipped from his grasp in his past four appearances at the Olympics.

While he appeared in Beijing, China in 2008, London, England in 2012 and Tokyo, Japan in 2020, his best performance came in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2018 where he made his only final appearance, placing seventh.

Looking back at his performances over the years, Thomas said he’s motivated every year to compete because of his results, and he’s eager to continue. He won his world title in 2007 in Osaka, Japan, the same year the first iPhone went on sale, and three years before Instagram was launched.

But as he approaches his 40th birthday on July 1, a few weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics, he admits that he still feels that there’s still a lot more left in the tank. “When you line up to compete and you get on that podium, you are jumping against competitors who are out to accomplish the same thing, winning a medal,” said Thomas, who has earned just about every international medal, except the Olympics.

“Age is just a number.

The sky’s the limit. So I just keep going.”

At his age, Thomas said it’s a year-to-year commitment for him. “I don’t want to just show up to these games. I want to be able to compete,” he stated.

“I don’t just want to be one of the greatest. I want to take it one year at a time and see just how my body feels and I just go from there.

“But I know I can compete with the best and before I leave the game, I want to get that medal (at the Olympics). So, we will see how it goes. I’m going to put my all into that to see the outcome.”

In order to achieve that goal, Thomas said he just has to show up in great shape and show his support system in the stands.

MEDAL winners from left, Puerto Rico’s Luis Castro, Cuba’s Luis Zayas and Bahamas’ Donald Thomas, pose on the podium during a ceremony for the men’s high jump at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, on Friday, November 3, 2023.

(AP Photos/Moises Castillo)

MEDAL winners from left, Bahamas’ Rhema Otabor, Colombia’s Flor Ruiz and Madelyn Harris of the United States, pose on the podium during a ceremony for the women’s javelin category, at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

DONALD THOMAS, of The Bahamas, clears the bar during the men’s high jump final at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, on Friday, November 3, 2023.

(AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) “Usually, I get to compete at the games without my coaches,” he pointed out.

“I’ve never had a coach present at the Olympics.

Hopefully, this coming Olympics, the BOC would grant me permission to have my coach at the games.”

Despite the rise of some young competitors like Shaun Miller Jr, Thomas said he’s confident that he will be one of the two of

three competitors to represent the Bahamas in Paris next year. He’s not certain who will join him.

“This is what I prepare for,” said Thomas, who dominated the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships, winning seven titles and has produced a lifetime best of 7-9 ¼ (2.37m) in 2016, second only to Troy Kemp’s record of 7.9 ¾ (2.38) in 1995 in

Nice, France, the same year he won his world title in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Growing up playing basketball while studying at Lindenwood University in Missouri, USA, Thomas was challenged by his teammates to give the high jump a go, given how easy slam dunks came to him.

He cleared 6-6 (1.98m) on his first attempt, 6-11 ¾ (2.13m) on his third, and, two days later, Thomas

found himself competing for the track team, clearing 7-3 ½ (2.22m) in competition.

Two months later, he went on to finish fourth in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne before clearing 7-8 1.2 (2.35m) in 2007 to claim gold at the World Championships.

In the 16 years since, Thomas admits that there have been many ups and downs, but he credits a lot

of his motivation to his son and daughter Dashawn and Kamilah, aged 17 and 10 respectively, who play basketball and do gymnastics.

“They are my world.” he stated. “That’s one of the reasons why I stay competing.

“I’m doing it for them and for my country. But they know my commitment to competing and getting on the podium every time I compete.”

AMERICAN ATHLETES FINISH PAN AM GAMES WITH MORE GOLD MEDALS BUT FEWER PODIUMS THAN FOUR YEARS AGO

By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer THE United States roster of 631 athletes at the Pan American Games finished on the top of the medal table for the 17th time, as expected, but with fewer podiums than four years ago in Lima.

American athletes in Chile won 124 gold medals, two more than in Peru. Medal tables at sports events traditionally take into account gold, silver and bronze to place teams.

The United States also won 75 silver and 87 bronze in Santiago, totalling 286.

In 2019, the American tally was 293 medals.

Women of three team sports yesterday helped the U.S. beat the number of gold medals obtained in the previous Pan American Games: softball, water polo and rugby sevens.

Many athletes were much more interested in spots at the Paris

Olympics than in the colour of their medals. Among those were the men’s and women’s water polo teams; B-girl “Sunny” Choi, who will compete in the first Olympic break dancing tournament; and boxer Joshua Edwards.

As four years ago, Brazil finished second in the medal with its best Pan American Games campaign in history; 66 gold, 73 silver and 66 bronze, a total of 205.

Like the U.S., Brazil did not send most of their top athletes to Chile.

The track and field competitions in Chile took place with few top competitors, as most of them finished their season in September.

The few stars in Chile included U.S. wrestler Kyle Snyder, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade and Canadian swimmer Maggie Mac Neil — all won gold medals.

Mexico had its best Pan American Games in history with a mix of veteran and young athletes.

FROM left, Rachel Sung, Amy Wang, and Lily Zhang of the United States pose with their gold medal for the women’s team table tennis at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) They brought home 52 gold, 38 silver and 52 bronze, relegating

Canada to fourth place in gold medals.

Cuba, once a sports superpower, celebrated fifth place in the medal table, with 30 gold, 22 silver and 17 bronze.

The rest of the top 10 teams at the Pan American Games gold medal table include Colombia (29), Argentina (17), Chile (12), Peru (10) and Venezuela (8).

The organisation of the Pan American Games in Santiago had its struggles since the start of the events.

But the Andean nation managed to get to the finish line for 41 teams, about 7,000 athletes in 39 sports.

During a visit, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, said, “Chile can do greater things,” which made locals hopeful one day the Sumer Olympics could come to their city.

The next Pan American Games will be held in four years in the Colombian city of Barranquilla, near the Caribbean.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 6, 2023, PAGE 19

TEAM BAHAMAS FINISHES WITH THREE MEDALS TWO SILVER AND BRONZE - AT PAN AM GAMES OTABOR

THE Bahamas will finish with three medals - two silver and a bronze - at the 19th Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

Lamar Taylor got the first medal with his silver in the men’s 50 metres freestyle last week.

And, this weekend, Rhema Otabor added another silver in the women’s javelin and Donald

FROM PAGE 14

happening in practice, I was able to replicate it in the actual competition, injury free.”

Looking at the competition, Otabor said it was a great field of competitors with a few over 60-plus metre throwers and others that were in the high 50s.

“So, coming in I knew it was stiff competition,” she reflected. “But I wasn’t necessarily putting too much pressure on myself to do well, I just wanted to feel good, have fun and carry out good technique throughout the whole thing.”

As she heads back to college for her senior year as a Husker at the University of Nebraska where she will be defending her NCAA Championship title, Otabor said she will focus on training in her bid to qualify to compete in the next stage of her development at the Olympic Games in Paris, France, in 2024.

She is setting the pace for her brother, Michaelangelo Bullard, who is also

competing in the javelin.

They are both members of the Blue Chips Athletic Club, headed by Corrington

Maycock. She attributes her success to the support also from her aunts Tiffany Bullard and Leetia Dean.

RHEMA OTABOR, of The Bahamas, competes in the women’s javelin throw final at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, on November 3.

(AP Photos/Fernando Vergara)

Thomas got a bronze in the men’s high jump.

The three medals placed the Bahamas in a three-way tie for 25th place with Haiti and Guyana.

The United States of America topped the list with 125 gold, 75 silver and 87 bronze for a total of 286.

Brazil was second with 205 medals (66 gold, 73 silver and 66 bronze) and Mexico

was third with 102 (52 gold, 38 silver and 52 bronze).

The last competitor to compete was Richard Gibson Jr in the men’s golf competition.

He wrapped up the fourday competition tied for 27th place with Trinidad & Tobago with identical total of 297.

Gibson ended up with rounds of 77-72-73-75.