11252024 NEWS AND SPORT by tribune242

GRANDMOTHER IS RAPED AND KILLED

Suspect is held over murder of 72-year-old breast cancer survivor

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

VERNENCHA Butler, a 72-year-old breast cancer survivor, had just returned home from celebrating her sister’s birthday when she was reportedly raped and killed on Saturday, an incident that sent shockwaves throughout the country.

Her body was discovered early Saturday morning by her son and grandson, who came home hours after she did and reportedly found an

unknown man inside the house.

Angered, the men attacked the suspect, a 25-year-old man known to police, before calling for help.

Their next-door neighbour, Angela Curry, said she was asleep when a loud banging on her door awakened her.

It was Ms Butler’s grandson, who asked for help and told her: “Grammy dead, and one man was inside raping her.”

MISSING BOYS ARRESTED AS SUSPECTS IN BREAK-INS

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

TWO 13-year-old boys who were reported missing in Andros have been found in good health - but have been arrested as suspects in a number of house-breaking incidents. Police said Demester Duncombe and Shantionty Thompson were arrested at about 6.45pm yesterday in the Johnson’s Bay area of Andros.

Officers said they were found in a house with stolen electronics, fishing gear, footwear and flashlights. Earlier, Central and South Andros MP Leon Lundy had called on residents to refrain from “speculation” as authorities investigated the missing teens.

Adriel’s family launches funds plea

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE family of murdered student Adriel Moxey has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $15,000 for her funeral expenses, despite offers from some to cover some costs free of charge. Adriel’s mother, Sasha Moxey, who has schizophrenia, told The Tribune yesterday that the family does not want “free help”, fearing the quality of the work might not meet their expectations.

“Everybody coming to me about they could do it for free,” she said. “I don’t need nobody doing it for free and they ramshack the whole thing. It’s so many people, you don’t know who to trust, so I’m only trusting who I know.”

She explained that Memories Funeral Homes would be handling Adriel’s burial, but funds raised through GoFundMe would help cover other related expenses.

MURDER VICTIM IS SET ON

was granted bail on April 9

HOME OF MURDER VICTIM IS SET ON FIRE

In retaliation, Burrows’ son and nephew, Labron Burrows and Troy Rolle, allegedly stabbed the tenant multiple times in the head and upper body. They were later charged with attempted murder.

Burrows’ death sparked internal tension within the family, with some members arguing over ownership of his property. When The

Tribune visited the ﬁredamaged home on Huyler Street, Burrows’ visibly upset brother appeared to be assessing the building. He declined to speak about the incident, simply saying: “They killed him and then they burned down the house. I wasn’t here. Let justice take its course.”

The brother, who chose not to disclose his name, said he was sleeping when someone alerted him to the ﬁre.

He claimed to have contacted firefighters, but felt they did a “halfway job,” leaving him to finish the work himself. Police did not report the incident, and it remains unclear what led to the fire.

When asked if he believed a family member was responsible for the blaze, he said: “Why should they try to burn down the house? That was just something minor, a misunderstanding. We ain’t gone go that far to do that.”

PINTARD: TACKLE HOUSING CRISIS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

FNM leader Michael Pintard called on the government to intensify efforts to address the country’s housing crisis, proposing a plan to make homeownership more accessible for working-class Bahamians.

In a statement released on Sunday, Mr Pintard emphasised the need for affordable housing solutions that align with the ﬁnancial realities of everyday Bahamians.

“Not everyone will be able to afford a $300,000 home. We need safe, secure, and stylish housing solutions that more working Bahamians can afford,” he said.

The ﬁrst part of his plan calls for the development of housing that matches the earning levels of different demographics. He suggested creating a competition among Bahamian architects, engineers, and urban planners to design homes and neighbourhoods that are not only affordable but also climatesmart, energy-efﬁcient, and sustainable.

“These designs should meet environmental

standards, optimise space use, and foster shared community environments that enhance overall wellbeing,” he added. He proposed offering substantial cash prizes to the best designs that meet these criteria, encouraging innovation in affordable housing development.

He said the second step involves leveraging private capital alongside public initiatives to fund housing projects.

“The government must use its land inventory and underutilised public buildings to create a public-private real estate investment trust (REIT-PPP), where Bahamian investors can pool their resources to fund the development of affordable housing,” he said. He believes that the REIT-PPP would create thousands of homes, including repurposed public buildings and repossessed properties. He stressed that the REIT-PPP should be independent, with decisions made by a board composed primarily of private investors, and that housing qualiﬁcations should be based solely on need and merit, not partisan politics.

The third part of Mr Pintard’s proposal focuses on tackling the legal

and bureaucratic barriers that hinder housing development.

“We need to update our laws to make it easier, not harder, for Bahamians to own homes,” he said. He suggested engaging stakeholders, including financial institutions, to ensure that laws governing homeownership are conducive to growth. He also called for greater transparency in the lending process, with clear disclosures of fees and interest rates, as well as more flexibility for customers to switch lenders if necessary. Additionally, he proposed outsourcing approval processes for building projects to expedite development, allowing government officials to focus on more complex matters.

Mr Pintard concluded by saying that addressing the housing crisis will not only provide more Bahamians with access to affordable homes but will also have a signiﬁcant positive impact on the economy.

“Fixing the housing issue will help jump-start the economy, provide Bahamians with a path to upward mobility, and promote wealth generation,” he said.

THE AFTERMATH of the ﬁre.

Photo: Leandra Rolle/Tribune Staff

Adriel’s family launches funds plea

“The GoFundMe is actually to help the family,” she said. “We can use help with certain things like the repast, and if we could do a wake, stuff like that we will need help with.”

Adriel, 12, a seventhgrade student at Anatol Rodgers High School, was found dead in bushes near Faith Avenue South last

Wednesday, a day after she was reported missing. Police said she was wearing only a shirt, with a cloth tied around her neck.

In a statement on the GoFundMe page, the family described Adriel as a person “ﬁlled with so much potential, love and laughter” whose life was cut too short.

“As we navigate the profound pain of this loss, we want to honour Adriel with

SECURITY FIRMS DISCUSS USE OF FIREARMS

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter

SECURITY ﬁrm workers had varying opinions on whether guards should be supplied with ﬁrearms.

The matter was expected to be discussed during a seminar the Ministry of National Security hosted on Friday that brought together industry experts to discuss the risks, responsibilities, and need for stronger legislation and training in the sector.

Some supported giving guards ﬁrearms under strict conditions, and others warned against hasty decisions that could increase risks. All agreed that rigorous vetting, legislation, and comprehensive training are prerequisites for any decision to arm security guards.

Michael, a veteran with over 20 years at Migraﬁll Security Group, supported arming guards in speciﬁc

scenarios and called for legislation facilitating this.

“That doesn’t mean everyone should carry a ﬁrearm,” he said. “We need to identify areas where it’s necessary and ensure proper training for those selected.”

“There are places where it is clearly needed, so we cannot ignore the fact. Moving forward, legislation must ensure the right protocols for training and oversight. I don’t believe all ofﬁcers should carry ﬁrearms, but individuals in high-risk areas should.”

Another participant who requested anonymity questioned the fairness of current ﬁrearm policies, arguing security guards should have similar access to ﬁrearms as private citizens.

“If an average citizen can apply for a ﬁrearm, receive training from the police, and qualify, then why not security guards?

the beautiful farewell she deserves,” the post said.

The family said all proceeds would go directly towards funeral service costs and memorial arrangements “to honour her spirit and keep her memory alive.” Their plea for assistance comes after offers from some morticians to bury Adriel free of charge.

Denalee Penn-Mackey, a certiﬁed funeral director

and owner of Evergreen Mortuary, said she had contacted the family and is awaiting a response.

“As I stated earlier, in incidents like the one involving little Adriel, there is simply no room for photo ops or grandstanding,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

“I have offered myself and the services of Evergreen Mortuary in a random act of kindness, through giving this little

angel a ﬁtting farewell free of cost as she leaves this broken world to rest forever safely in the Master’s care.”

When asked about the offer, Ms Moxey conﬁrmed that Mrs Penn had contacted her, but said she had chosen someone closer to home.

“The people who doing Adriel’s ceremony, they’re closer to home than anyone else who approached me,”

she said. “The owner of that place used to be my neighbour, and she promised me that she would do a good job with Adriel, so I put it in her hands.”

Police had taken a 32-year-old man into custody in connection with Adriel’s death. The suspect, described as a person of interest, was arrested in the Cowpen Road area last week.

Security guards should also be trained properly. If they meet the requirements, then they should be allowed to carry ﬁrearms,” he said.

Some expressed reservations. Allen Miller, a former law enforcement ofﬁcer with over 40 years of experience, emphasised that arming guards should not be a default solution.

“The real need in the security industry is proper training,” he said. “I’ve

heard security officers say they feel unsafe in high-risk areas and need firearms for protection, but firearms should not be handed out carelessly. It’s a serious responsibility. You cannot just put a gun in anyone’s hands — it requires careful consideration. There are also liability issues for companies if incidents occur.”

Mr Miller stressed that while the security

industry must evolve to meet modern challenges, this should only happen with adequate preparation.

“Too often, guards lack adequate preparation, which is why some feel insecure in their roles. Proper training and preparation must be the foundation for any progress,” he said.

Under current Bahamian law, only citizens or non-Bahamians with spousal permits leading

to citizenship can work as security guards or inquiry agents. All guards and inquiry agents must hold licences issued by the Ministry of National Security, which assesses their character and history. Security companies must also have licences and indemnity insurance to protect guards in case of incidents. Companies employing unlicensed personnel face ﬁnes ranging from $500 to $2,000.

LAWYERS HAVE SAY ON DEATH PENALTY

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE death penalty debate has resurfaced in the wake of two recent highproﬁle murders, reigniting divisions over its place in Bahamian law and sparking calls for reform of the country’s judicial system.

The brutal killing of 12-year-old Adriel Moxey and the sexual assault and murder of a 72-year-old woman last week triggered

a wave of public outcry, with many demanding the return of capital punishment.

However, as the nation grapples with its position on the death penalty, legal experts are warning that the conversation is far more complex than it appears.

Four lawyers emphasised that the death penalty remains a legal option under the Penal Code. The lawyers said the key issue isn’t whether the death penalty is “legal,”

but rather how it is applied — and whether the judicial system, in particular the judiciary’s relationship with the Privy Council, is ﬁt for purpose in the 21st century.

Attorney Bjorn Ferguson questioned the current public dialogue around the death penalty, pointing out that it has been part of the law for centuries.

“The law is clear,” he said. “It’s been on the books. Section 290(2) of the Penal Code clearly deﬁnes

the conditions under which the death penalty may be applied. This shouldn’t be a national debate about whether it’s still legal — it’s about whether it should still be applied in this day and age, and whether we are addressing the underlying causes of violent crime effectively.”

Senator Darren Henﬁeld’s recent call for the removal of the Privy Council as the ﬁnal appellate court in death penalty cases stirred debate.

Mr Ferguson and K Melvin Munroe, another lawyer, argued that undermining the Privy Council would risk destabilising the country’s legal foundation.

“To discard the Privy Council, which has been the ultimate authority for over 200 years, is reckless,” Mr Ferguson argued. “The decisions they make are grounded in constitutional principles that we cannot simply disregard because of political pressure or public sentiment. It’s not just about the death penalty — it’s about maintaining legal consistency and upholding the rule of law.”

British common law has long inﬂuenced the Bahamian legal system, and the Privy Council has served as the ﬁnal arbiter in major criminal and constitutional cases. For many attorneys, the suggestion of replacing the Privy Council is viewed as an attempt to sever ties with established legal precedents, a move that could have far-reaching implications for the country’s justice system.

Mr Ferguson and Mr Munroe, while supportive of applying the death penalty in extreme cases, cautioned against oversimplifying the issue.

“We need to focus on addressing the root causes of crime — poverty, lack of opportunity, and social inequality — rather than just looking for a quick ﬁx in the form of capital punishment,” Mr Munroe added.

ATTENDEES at a workshop for private security ﬁrms.

Photo: Nikia Charlton

Grandmother is raped and killed

from page one

The father and son reportedly made the grim discovery after attending a party where the father was deejaying.

Police have not said how Ms Butler died. Relatives said there were no visible signs of trauma on her body.

Ms Butler’s tragic death, the country’s 111th homicide, came just hours after she attended her elder sister’s 75th birthday dinner, a joyful occasion for the family, who have already endured signiﬁcant losses this year.

After losing her father, two sisters, and overcoming breast cancer earlier this year, the mother of three had looked forward to the night of celebration.

According to relatives, one of her last conversations was with her older sister, whom she called to tell of her safe arrival home that night.

Ms Butler’s nephew, Sherwin Johnson, said his grandmother, Ms Butler’s older sister, and the entire

family are struggling to cope with the loss.

“We’ve never experienced something like this,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “So, you know, the emotions are different. Some of us are not sure what we should be feeling, or if what we are feeling is what we need to be feeling. So, it’s a bit difﬁcult, even for me.”

I’m processing a lot of anger and hurt, you know, because it wasn’t like she was sick. It wasn’t like it was a car accident or anything.”

Neighbours said Ms Butler’s tragic death is the ﬁrst brutal incident to occur at the two-story complex.

“It’s puzzling how he got in here,” said Mrs Curry, a longtime resident of the building. “I’m scared to live up here.”

She said she and Mrs Butler were not close, but she would always greet her whenever she passed her door.

The Ross Corner resident said she plans to urge the landlord to install more lighting, cameras, and bars on the windows.

This latest incident, which follows the tragic discovery of a young schoolgirl’s body days earlier, reignited outrage on social media, with many calling for the resumption of capital punishment as is typical following especially heinous crimes.

Ms Butler, described as a soft-spoken, happy woman, leaves behind a son and two daughters.

Police have taken a suspect into custody in connection with the incident.

TEACHER LOSES $30K BOND FOR EX-COP’S BAIL

from page one

Justice Jeanine WeechGomez informed her that the $30,000 cash bond she had posted for King’s bail would be forfeited to the Bahamian government.

In addition to attempted murder, King faces numerous charges: four counts of possession of a ﬁrearm with intent to endanger life, two counts of possession of an unlicensed ﬁrearm, and three counts of possession of ammunition.

He and accomplices allegedly shot and injured 23-year-old Tavarus Paul as he was walking near Exuma Street and Cordeaux Avenue on February 18. Later that day, King reportedly got into a gunﬁght with Inspector Marcian Frazier, PC Lenn King, and Able Seaman Decordre Glinton, as they pursued the white Honda Accord the suspects were driving. The car crashed near the Baseball Stadium on Bahamas Games Blvd. King allegedly possessed a black .40 Glock 23 model pistol, a black 9mm pistol, 20 rounds of .40 ammunition, and 24 rounds of 9mm ammunition. He was also reportedly in possession of an additional 12 rounds of .40 ammunition.

The condition of his bail was that King was required to wear a monitoring device and sign in at

the airport police station every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday by 6pm. The monitoring device was recovered on May 24, but to date, the suspect has yet to be located.

Coroner Kara Turnquest Deveaux issued an arrest warrant for King last month in an unrelated matter after he failed to appear for a court date following a jury’s ﬁnding of homicide by manslaughter in the police-involved shooting of Valentino Johnson on April 16, 2023.

Ms Rolle testiﬁed on November 6 that King is her nephew and that she had taken him to the police station to sign in on several occasions. She recalled that nothing seemed unusual the last time she took him to the station.

She said when she learned King had absconded, she called other family members and tried to ascertain his location. She insisted that neither she nor any other family members facilitated King’s evasion of the law.

Ms Rolle also presented a death certiﬁcate for her father, Christopher Bain, who had been a surety. The certiﬁcate showed he passed away on October 10. She said the family became aware of her father’s illness in May. While Justice WeechGomez acknowledged Ms Rolle’s “valiant” efforts to

locate King, she still found her liable for the bail bond, stating that the decision would send a strong message to the public.

Justice Weech-Gomez wrote: “It was incumbent on the surety to ensure that Mr King attended trial on every occasion he was required to do so. Ms Rolle testiﬁed that she made every effort to ensure his attendance at court and compliance with the terms of bail, but the fact of the matter is Mr King has absconded and his whereabouts are unknown. The court must ensure that members of society fully appreciate the duties placed upon them. Ms Rolle elected to be one of the sureties for Mr King. There is no evidence that she was coerced or otherwise. Of her own volition, she chose to stand as one of the sureties for Mr King.”

“I am of the view that this case warrants the bail being escheated. Despite the valiant efforts that Ms Rolle has made, the court must send a powerful message to society –– if you elect to stand as surety for bail and the defendant fails to comply with the terms of bail, there will be consequences for your failure to ensure such compliance.”

Bjorn Ferguson represented Ms Rolle in this matter, while Shenicka Carey served as the prosecutor.

POLICE DENY REPORTS OF SCHOOL KIDNAP BID

POLICE have denied reports of an attempted kidnapping at a primary school in New Providence on Friday after a video circulated on social media suggested such an incident took place.

The video showed an injured man on the ground, with another man in the background accusing the man of attempting to kidnap a young girl.

“The gyal throw more

bottle in his head,” the man is heard saying. In a statement released on Friday, police clariﬁed that investigations revealed no such incident took place. They also conﬁrmed that at no point was any student approached or lured by the individual featured in the video.

“The police wish to remind members of the public of its commitment to providing safer communities. Hence,

when an incident occurs, the public is reminded to report the matter to the nearest police station and allow the police to investigate in an effort to substantiate the matter.”

Additionally, police are appealing to members of the public to refrain from spreading false information, stressing that such actions have the potential to desensitise the public when a real incident occurs.

VERNENCHA BUTLER

THE SCENE of the murder.

Photo: Leandra Rolle/ Tribune Staff

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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

Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207

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What future lies ahead for Haiti?

IT IS not long ago that Bahamian ofﬁcers were being deployed to Haiti – and former Prime Minister Perry Christie was talking optimistically about a pathway to elections in that crime-ravaged country.

That optimism is in short supply now.

A surge in gang activity has left Haiti looking as precarious as it has ever been – and with questions over what will come next.

The list of problems stacking up for Haiti looks insurmountable.

Again, the main international airport has closed down after gangs opened ﬁre on commercial ﬂights this month.

A new prime minister was appointed, then thrown out, with another new ﬁgure in place. This time, it is Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

The body that appointed him has been dogged by accusations of corruption of its own.

Doctors Without Borders has suspended critical care in Port-au-Prince after accusing the police of targeting both staff and patients. Those threats included rape and death.

The organisation has been working in Haiti for more than 30 years. No matter what happened in the past, this is the ﬁrst time it has stopped working with new patients.

As for that Kenyan-led mission to intervene and push back against the gangs, Canada’s ambassador to Haiti, André Francois Giroux, said those ofﬁcers are still being deployed – with not even 400 on the ground as yet.

The country director for the Mercy Corps, Laurent Uwumuremyi, said that previously some neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince had been considered safe from the reach of the gangs. Not any more.

The aid group itself is struggling to reach many of the people they

had been helping because of gang violence.

Meanwhile, the closure of the airport and issues surrounding the control of the ports have caused problems with supply of basic goods.

Where those goods exist, the availability is curtailed because of that same gang control.

An alternative to the multi-national force has been proposed – a UN peacekeeping mission.

The US and other countries have suggested the move – but the move is opposed by both Russia and China.

In Haiti itself, there is distrust of UN peacekeepers after an outbreak of cholera in 2010 began as a result of infected sewage from a peacekeepers base in the country.

The country was cholera free until then. Since, more than 10,000 Haitians have died from the disease.

So where does this leave the country?

Out of food. Out of control. Out of options.

We are fools if we think this does not have consequences for ourselves.

On a very immediate level, it raises questions over what happens about the next stage of deployment for Bahamian ofﬁcers.

In the bigger picture, we have to wonder what this means for migration to our country.

Long-term, if Haiti is overridden with crime, what are the implications for crime here at home?

Drugs and guns are being bought up by gangs in Haiti. Crime needs a market. Crime needs money. We may be in the sights of gangs for both.

We ignore the situation in Haiti at our peril. The region cannot stand by and let the nation descend further into chaos.

But what the solution is? That is a much harder question.

A barrel of rotten apples

IF EVER there was a real-life example of that proverbial “one bad apple in a barrel...” of such fruits, New Providence certainly ﬁts the bill. By now, of course, there are more than a few rotten and rotting apples in that barrel, because those contaminating fruits have been allowed to stay there year after year. With recent history providing a premise to go by, the remaining good apples in that barrel won’t have long before they succumb to the rot which is continuously spreading, day by day. It’s simply a matter of time!

Any honest and objective view of the situation in New Providence in particular, and to some extent the rest of The Bahamas, will lead to the conclusion that lawlessness, along with the lack of real consequences, have become so ubiquitous that hardly an eyebrow is raised when the craziest of craziness occurs these days.

Once upon a time, for instance, it was safe to walk those dimly-lit streets of the islands. Then, it became unsafe to walk the brightly-lit streets of New Providence. Now, it is more or less unsafe to wander about even in broad daylight. As a retired police ofﬁcer recently recounted to me ‘in his time, a short wooden baton was his instrument of restraint, when it came to unruly criminals’. Nowadays, criminals are using advanced assault weapons on the streets of our nation, with reckless abandon - even against police ofﬁcers.

Ok, so we all can attest to and acknowledge these modern-day facts. What then is the antidote

for quelling this obnoxious situation of going from bad to worse? Well, we can all meet on Bay Street for another prayer vigil --- as though any and everything of signiﬁcant importance must be held there. We may also increase saturation patrols by our various uniformed branches: Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, armed Immigration personnel, etc. Deployment of surveillance drones, and installation of more CCTV cameras, along with more shotspotters, could be thrown into the mix. A goodly sum of money could also be placed into a cash reward system for informants who direct authorities in the capture of some “bad guys”. Those are but a few of the options which may be considered to remove some of those bad apples from our midst. Alternatively, it might just be easier to instead remove the remaining good apples from that proverbial barrel, and let the rotten apples remain in New Providence, until they turn into a smelly mush. Where then will those good apples go? How about one/ some of those sparsely-populated other 699 islands, rocks and cays? Yes, I jest. With tourism and commerce anchored in the capital, such a fantasy of developing another population center is as real as Santa Claus.

In all seriousness now, how much more horrendous happenings need to be done to get the Government, as well as the

general population, to take an uncompromising stance against the pervasive hooliganism and patent savagery which climbs to new heights every other week or so in this Bahamas? Is there a breaking point, or is our tolerance for such unbridled lunacy so elastic that it can be stretched out ad inﬁnitum?

If we are determined to maintain that colonial model of everything, and leave whatever was left in place just as it was left in place, in this “Independent” Bahamas, then we can keep doing what has always been done, and continue to expect different outcomes. Laws may still be on the books, but Justice seems blind to enforcing so many of them.

When wrong is the order of the day (and night!), what can we expect but disorder!

Those criminal elements in our society (from high and low places) seem to have enough sense to change their modus operandi and weapons of choice with the times, while the rest of the population are left to lock themselves behind “security bars” and such, or otherwise engage in a life and death roulette of traversing our hazardous streets.

That ol’ saying that “ crime doesn’t pay” has given way to a modern reality that not being a criminal in this Bahamas doesn’t pay. So, what kind of choice is that? If you’re not yet a rotten apple, or right next to one, ... make the most of the present, because it’s just a matter of time!

MB New Providence November 23, 2024.

Wake up, Bahamas

EDITOR, The Tribune.

ON September 26, 2011, the nation heard a family’s plea for 11-year-old Marco Archer’s safe return home, and many people joined Marco’s family in holding out hope that the story would have a happy ending, but the hope was shortlived. After frantically searching for more than 48 hours, the boy’s relatives feared that he was picked up by a child molester… Marco Archer was abducted and murdered by a known sex offender… After thirteen years, all of us who are old enough ought to very well remember the case…and the outcome! Then there were was the cases of the missing boys in Freeport Grand Bahama and the tragic

ending with those boys losing their lives… Here we are again. As leaderless members of the nation wring their hands in fear and consternation with respect to a female child who was endowed with tremendous possibilities and has been brutally murdered, The Essential Question Is: How did we come to this? Are we, as usual, will just spew out hot air in the heat of the moment? After nine days once again Bahamians will be labeled as a people who are indeed Nine Day Wonders… While words of outrage are a part of the process, What in the hell are Bahamians are going to be do next…? In silence, will all who can afford it, will retreat or have retreated to their mansions,

their safe places where there are electrically controlled gates, barbed wire fences, alarm systems, live security guards, and guard dogs… while the children, the poor, the indigent, and the wretched of The Bahamas cover in fear wondering: Whose child will be next?

Wake up Bahamas, the watchman is on the wall, he is watching you as he contemplates whether you or your child will be next… Parents must overreact, but must become more vigilant! The Bahamas in which I grew up has changed…and not for the better…Where is there a safe place for any child or adult?

DR DONALD M McCARTNEY Freeport, Grand Bahama November 21, 2024.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE MOON rises behind an observation deck in New York City as seen from Hoboken, New Jersey, on Friday, November 15.

Photo: Seth Wenig/AP

MISSING BOYS ARRESTED AS SUSPECTS

On Friday, police issued alerts for 13-year-olds Shantionty Thompson, last seen on November 20, and Demester Duncombe Jr, last seen on November 10.

THE BAHAMAS National Trust annual Christmas Jolliﬁcation at The Retreat at the weekend. See our Weekend section on Friday for more.

Photos: Dante Carrer/ Tribune Staff

A Jolly weekend

The boys’ disappearance sparked widespread concern on social media.

Community activist Julian Gibson said when people saw the boys in the area or tried to approach them, they ran away.

The alert was issued days after the tragic killing of 12-year-old Adriel Moxey, who had been reported missing before her body was found.

BAIL BREACH IN ROBBERY CASE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused in the kidnapping and attempted armed robbery of a immigration ofﬁcer in 2013 was ﬁned $500 on Friday for a bail breach.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville presided as Cordero Saunders, 34, appeared in court for two counts of violation of bail conditions. Saunders was on bail for charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, attempted armed robbery and two counts of kidnapping. He and accomplices allegedly kidnapped and attempted to rob senior immigration ofﬁcer Shane Gardiner and his girlfriend, Tishka Braynen, at gunpoint in 2013. The decomposed bodies

of the couple were found on Newbold Farms in Fresh Creek, Andros, on December 21, 2013 with apparent gunshot wounds to the head.

While awaiting retrial for these charges, Saunders, while in New Providence, failed to sign in at the Bullocks Harbour Police Station between June 14 and July 8.

The defendant reversed his earlier position and pleaded guilty to the bail breach charges.

Saunders was ordered to pay a ﬁne of $500 or risk two months in prison.

After asking for time to settle his debt, the defendant was told to return to court for payment on February 28, 2025. Inspector Cordero Farrington served as the prosecutor.

WOMAN JAILED OVER $22K THEFT

By PAVEL BAILEY

Staff Reporter

Tribune

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN was sentenced to ten months in prison on Friday after she admitted to stealing $22,000 from a man last year.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville sentenced Nexis Seymour, 29, on two counts of stealing and two counts of money laundering. Nexis reportedly stole $22,000 from Stephen Wrinkle between May 23 and 26, 2023. Nexis reversed her earlier position and pleaded guilty to the charges.

The defendant was sentenced to ten months in prison which will retroactively take effect from her remand in May.

Nexis told the magistrate that she felt saddened by her 18-month jail term she received from Magistrate Kendra Kelly for fraud charges. She indicated she would start her life over when she gets out.

Inspector Cordero Farrington served as the prosecutor.

The same defendant was sentenced to 18 months in prison previously after she was unable to pay $17,000 in ﬁnes for a plot that attempted to defraud CIBC FirstCaribbean of $4,980 last August. In the latest case, Magistrate Serville said the defendant appeared remorseful and had issued an apology to the complainant. He further said the defendant had assisted police with their investigation and deemed her capable of rehabilitation.

THREE BOYS ACCUSED OVER VIDEO

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THREE teenage boys were remanded to Simpson Penn on Friday after they were accused of videotaping the sexual assault of another young male in October.

Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, arraigned a 17-year-old, 11-year-old and 14-year-old, whose names are being withheld because they are minors, on child pornography and indecent assault. The parents of the accused were present for their arraignment. Prosecutors allege that the accused allegedly inappropriately touched a 14-year-old male’s genitals while videoing the assault on October 25. A video of the alleged incident was circulated on social media in early November. The accused were informed their matter would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

The defendants will be remanded to the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys until their VBIs are served on February 11, 2025. Moses Dean and Alphonso Lewis represented the defendants.

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2024

A shocking crime - but violence against women

is all too commonplace

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

IT SHOCKED the nation, so we were told – but given the level of violence in our nation towards women, are we really shocked by Adriel Moxey’s murder?

Don’t get me wrong – we should be. It is outrageous. We should not be living in a world where a little 12-yearold girl has her chance at life taken away before it’s really begun. She was last seen leaving school on Monday afternoon. It was the next day she was reported missing. A lot of blame online has been directed towards her life situation and her family members – and there is much to be learned about what support could have been given to her and her family, certainly. But the blame lies squarely with one person – her killer.

Whatever her home situation was, the killer made a choice to take Adriel’s life. And the terrifying thing for us all is that violence towards women from men such as that is far from uncommon.

‘Days apart, just two examples of the violence inﬂicted on women in our society. Is that just a coincidence of timing? Far from it. According to a survey reported earlier this year, one in four women in The Bahamas have suffered from physical or sexual violence.’

In another incident over the weekend, a woman was killed in her home by an intruder. Police arrived at the scene to ﬁnd two male relatives attacking the suspect. They apparently found the suspect in the home along with their dead relative. Days apart, just two examples of the violence inﬂicted on women in our society. Is that just a coincidence of timing? Far from it. According to a survey reported earlier this year, one in four women in The Bahamas have suffered from physical or sexual violence. That report came from

the Inter-American Development Bank, and was reported in April. The numbers only get worse on closer inspection. Of the women who reported physical violence, almost 65 percent said it was severe. That included being threatened with a weapon. It included being slapped. Choked. Kicked. Even burned. As for sexual violence, 6.6 percent of women said they had been forced to perform degrading or humiliating acts. Others reported psychological and emotional abuse. Of those who suffered psychological abuse, 43.6 percent reported having a miscarriage. The effects of this abuse affects even the unborn. The physical abuse does too. More than one in ﬁve women who were physically abused while pregnant said they had been punched or kicked in their abdomen.

This is also a face of our society that largely goes

unpunished – only about one in ﬁve women told police they were suffering from violence.

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is supposed to mark 16 days of activism to tackled gender-based violence.

Today will also see a press conference by police in which Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander will discuss the death of Adriel Moxey and the latest murder of a woman.

That latest murder takes the total number of killings in the country to 111 for the year. We are experiencing a murder roughly once every three days in this country. That rate seems to have been roughly the same year on year. We are not making a difference in cutting the rates of murder.

But when it comes to rates of violence against women, are we even trying?

When the government had the opportunity to introduce a bill against gender-based violence, it fumbled and came up with the Protection Against Violence Act instead.

Supposedly, the genderbased violence bill was too confusing – even though it was something the country had committed to internationally.

Attorney General Ryan Pinder said in August last year: “It is our position, and that of esteemed professionals, that a regime focused only on gender-based violence has the potential to be confusing, and a broader

application to violence is more appropriate.”

In response, FNM Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis said: “We are concerned about gender-based violence. There is an increase in gender-based violence, and we need speciﬁc legislation to deal with gender-based violence. This legislation does not. Bahamians deserve a bill to provide for the protection of victims of gender-based violence and all connected matters.

“The women of this great country deserve an administration that takes them seriously, not an administration that ignores their own female expert; not an administration that dismisses without justiﬁcation the work of stakeholders, many of whom are female; not an administration that does not take a woman’s allegation of rape and threats of death seriously and not an administration that does not have the testicular fortitude to protect wives from rape.”

At the same time, we have seen the government back away from the possibility of legislation to outlaw marital rape. It stays the case in this country that you have more legal protection from a partner you have not married than one you have. That cannot be an appropriate state of affairs.

But aside from all the protections – or lack thereof – there is a more fundamental issue. And it’s down to the men of the nation.

Women only need these

protections because of what we are doing. Too many men are quick to raise their hands. Too many are quick to look at women as potential victim. Too many think they are entitled to sexually assault, rape or abuse women. Those men do not exist in a vaccum. They are as likely to be as quick with their words as their hands. Other men will have heard them talk this way. Other men will not have spoken out when they could have done.

We must be quick to condemn such behaviour. We must be clear with our brothers that there is no room for such actions. That it is not a joking matter. That we do not encourage men who laugh at the bar about hitting women.

Too often we see cases where we talk about the circumstances surrounding the victim. What about the circumstances surrounding the killer? He does not have to commit these crimes, he chooses to. And time and again such cases see killers and rapists taking it out on the young, the old, the vulnerable. Let’s not shame the victims, let’s blame their attackers. And make clear to every man we know that such behaviour is unacceptable. We don’t seem able to rely on government tackling this issue with any speed – how is that domestic violence shelter coming along? – but we should not only be depending on them anyway. This is a matter for all of us. We should all stand up and say “No”.

THE BODY of schoolgirl Adriel Moxey being taken from the scene after her murder.

Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

PEOPLE OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING CARIBBEAN ARE FREER THAN MOST IN THE WORLD

If you live in an English-speaking Caribbean country, do you consider yourself freer and more fortunate than many others around the world? In a world where freedoms are under siege — where journalists are imprisoned, political dissent is silenced, and religious leaders are persecuted — residents of the Commonwealth Caribbean enjoy liberties that are envied by many. Our nations stand as beacons of democracy and freedom.

Yet, how often do we stop to reﬂect on the freedoms we enjoy? These rights are not only the foundation of individual dignity but also the pillars of national prosperity. And while we may take them for granted, they are far from guaranteed elsewhere in the world.

Globally, the situation is dire. Over 320 journalists are imprisoned worldwide, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Thousands of political prisoners languish in detention for dissenting against oppressive regimes, while organisations like Open Doors document the persecution of religious leaders in several countries including

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

Nicaragua and Iran. These grim realities highlight the freedoms that many in the world do not have.

In contrast, the Commonwealth Caribbean is free of these injustices. Journalists work without fear of imprisonment, citizens practice their faiths openly, and political prisoners are not a feature of our democracies. Nations like Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago rank among the freest in the world, supported by robust legal protections, free elections, and dynamic press freedoms. Antigua and Barbuda, too, is classiﬁed as “free” in Freedom House’s 2024 Freedom in the World report, scoring 85 out of 100, with strong ratings in both Political Rights and Civil Liberties. These freedoms are not only moral imperatives but also drivers of economic growth, as studies show that democratic

nations achieve higher and more sustainable prosperity.

RECOGNISING SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES

While the Commonwealth Caribbean has much to celebrate, freedoms are fragile and must be actively nurtured. This is a collective responsibility shared by governments, opposition parties, and citizens alike. As Nelson Mandela reminded us, “Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them.” Protecting freedom requires building strong institutions, ensuring transparency, and fostering accountability at every level of governance. Political parties play a

‘Globally, the situation is dire. Over 320 journalists are imprisoned worldwide, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Thousands of political prisoners languish in detention for dissenting against oppressive regimes, while organisations like Open Doors document the persecution of religious leaders in several countries including Nicaragua and Iran.’

critical role in this process. Governments must lead with integrity, adhering to truth and transparency to earn and sustain the trust of their people. Policies and decisions should be presented with clarity, grounded in reasoned argument and tangible beneﬁts. At the same time, opposition parties must fulﬁl their responsibility to hold governments accountable constructively. This involves proposing viable alternatives and engaging in critiques that strengthen democratic institutions rather than undermine them.

The misuse of freedoms to promote disinformation, spread division, or serve narrow political purposes undermines the very liberties that are central to democracy. This applies

equally to all political actors. Democracy thrives when governments and opposition parties alike act in the public interest, building consensus and advancing shared goals.

BETTER CONDITIONS DEMAND ACTION WHEN RIGHTS ARE VIOLATED ELSEWHERE

Caribbean citizens, too, have a role to play. While it is their right to demand better services, it is important to recognise the financial, economic, and trade constraints faced by small, open economies. Governments must be held accountable for improving public services, but citizens must also balance these demands with an understanding of the broader challenges. Few stop to consider how much better off they are compared to those in conflict zones or under authoritarian regimes. This perspective does not excuse inefficiency or lack of accountability, but it encourages a responsible conversation about priorities, shared responsibilities, and the collective effort required to sustain freedoms and development. The stark realities of imprisoned journalists, political prisoners, and persecuted religious leaders globally should serve as a wake-up call to value and protect the freedoms enjoyed in the Caribbean. These freedoms are rare and precious. Internationally, the Caribbean also has a moral responsibility to champion these freedoms. The region’s leadership in organisations like the United Nations and the Organization of American States should serve as an example of how small,

free nations can amplify the principles of democracy and human rights. As Martin Luther King Jr warned us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

That is why we must be mindful of the disastrous effects of corruption, weakened institutions, and the disregard for democratic practices in Haiti. These challenges have led to social and political instability, fostering lawlessness and human suffering. We must also remain deeply concerned about the immense suffering caused by conﬂicts around the world. In Sudan, a devastating war has claimed approximately 150,000 lives and displaced millions, leaving people to face starvation and disease. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, ongoing violence in the Kivu region has resulted in mass killings and the displacement of millions. These tragedies, alongside the war in Ukraine and the conﬂict between Israel and Palestinian groups, including the decimation of Gaza, remind us of the fragility of peace and the devastating cost of injustice.

A COLLABORATIVE CALL TO ACTION

As free nations, we cannot ignore the suffering of others. These crises have shattered lives, undermined freedoms, and inflicted untold hardship. They demand our attention and our advocacy for a world where the rights and dignity of all people are protected. The freedoms enjoyed by the people of the Commonwealth Caribbean are the result of generations of struggle and sacrifice, from the abolition of slavery and the termination of indentured labour to the fight for independence. They are not self-sustaining; they require vigilance, courage, and a commitment to principles. Free, fair, and transparent elections must remain the bedrock of our democracies, and institutions that protect freedoms must be fortified. This is not just the responsibility of governments but of all who call these countries home.

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

In 2008, ELSWORTH JOHNSON - then president of the Bahamas Human Rights Associationwrote an article that was published in The Tribune on the issue of hanging. As calls return in the wake of a murder that shocked the nation, Mr Johnson revisits his article.

PLEASE allow me an opportunity to express my views on what I think is a different albeit familiar consideration to the issue of hanging in The Bahamas. I have listened to the varied opinions on this issue which are often charged with emotion and devoid of critical, open, honest and frank analysis.

Our ﬂedgling economy, overly dependent on tourism, has roared back from the ill effects of Dorian, the COVID-19 pandemic and is now suffering from what is considered the ill effects of high inﬂation. Not to mention our growing crime dilemma, the solution to which a large part of our population erroneously thinks is hanging! In 2006, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council unanimously struck down the mandatory death sentence imposed on those convicted of murder in The Bahamas, as being in breach of the Constitution. The decision caused much debate as proponents of the death penalty seem to think that state sponsored executions is the key to riding our society of the scourge of wanton crime.

To an extent, I agree that a form of execution is the key to solving our crime problem. I think that few would disagree that hypocrisy and corruption has infected and/or inﬁltrated the social and moral fabric of our society and have long since executed the conscience of many. There have been a number of crime reports over the years which have provided cogent solutions for our the social dysfunction call crime.

I make no apologies for my cynicism, in saying that I seriously doubt whether the previous reports on crime were even considered let alone implemented.

It is still safe to say, “that our society is more threatened by a pervasive culture of dishonesty, greed and a casual disregard for social norms and formal regulation, than

HANGING IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO OUR COUNTRY’S GROWING CRIME DILEMMA

it is by crime in the narrow since.”

The form of execution of which I spoke is a ﬁgurative execution.

So, I posit the question, who will step forward for our ﬁrst public albeit ﬁgurative hanging for the level of hypocrisy and corruption that exist in our society?

Michael Creaton articulated the vision, philosophy and ideology of our ﬁrst Minister of Education Sir Cecil Wallace Whitﬁeld for the masses. It was to guarantee cutting edge educational facilities and to ensure that the masses were afforded the opportunity of a decent education for Bahamians to their rightful social and economic position in our beloved Bahama Land.

The present disposition is far removed from the vision, philosophy and ideology of Sir

Whitﬁeld.

I say which Minister of Education whether past of present will step forward, accept responsibility and be ﬁguratively hung for our current national educational crisis.

What about our court?

Our country would have produced three successive black Prime Ministers all of whom preached a solemn message of commitment for the poor and marginalised.

Sir Linden encouraged us to step forward to the new frontier; Mr Christie articulated that he would swim in his regurgitation for the people; Mr Ingraham assured us that he would guarantee the safety of the cookie jar. Dr Minnis, “It’s the People’s Time” and Mr Brave Davis “It’s a New Day”.

I would submit that it was under the watch of these five distinguished leaders in their own right and, four of whom are eminent practitioners at The Bar, that the judicial system saw its greatest decline. That august body responsible for protecting the fundamental rights of the least in our society thereby guarantying the rights of the greatest has at times felt it necessary to break with tradition and lament its displeasure at the less than adequate facilities necessary to ensure proper service for member of the public. Tell me which of our darling leader will accept responsibility and step forward for this and I emphasis figurative hanging. Who among our clergyman will step forward and be first, for the misuse of the confidence of the poor? You know what I mean. Just consider the messages of prosperity, observe some of their fancy cars and lavish home and look at the condition of many of their members. Not to

mention the deﬁning silence on issues of national importance. Do new have any takers?

What about those in our society who prey on our young children, the predators, the ones who hang around our schools lying in wait for our young girls and boys?

You can probably ﬁnd one in every sector of our society. Do we have any takers?

While I accept that that that lawful penalty for the commission of crime must be meeting out in a manner that fortify conﬁdence in the administration of justice, I must admit that there has been no scientiﬁc proof provided that hanging is a deterrent to crime.

This I do know, that is respect for the rights of others, honesty, charity and strong family values and community are effective deterrents.

The way forward to solving our crime problem is communal one and not through political rhetoric, hysteria and emotionally charged rash decisions, but rather by ﬁrst acknowledging and eradicating the scourge of dishonesty, indiscipline, hypocrisy, intolerance and hate.

Finally, I strongly recommend a read of a piece written by Ms Candis Dames: The Bahamas is facing a crime crisis... but the nation is not in crisis mode: Crime crisis threatens nation - High crime threatens future. Monday, June 3, 2013. Especially the sentiments expressed by Bishop Gomez who puts it: “We have to shock this nation into facing up to reality and coming together to work together for the common good.”

ELSWORTH JOHNSON

Former president of The Bahamas Human Rights Association Amended version of article published December 2008

ELSWORTH JOHNSON

Spilled milk

ON A recent trip to Nashville, Tennessee, I had a long and somewhat indepth conversation with my taxi driver, hereafter referred to as Cameron. Cameron was a distinguished gentleman with salt and pepper hair and remarkably kind eyes.

Appearing to be in his mid-60s, he was slim with an oversized jacket and faded jeans. As he approached me and gestured to put my bags in the car, I quickly did so in his stead. Cameron offered a warm smile in return. It was the kind of smile that expressed pride and gratitude in equal part. I recognised it immediately because it was the smile my father often gave me growing up. With trafﬁc, it was a near 30-minute drive from the airport to my hotel.

Intrigued by my accent, Cameron asked where I was from and hearing that I was visiting from The Bahamas excited him beyond measure. ‘Beautiful beach’ he shouted, as he motioned his right thumb up and down, repeatedly before saying that ‘It’s better in The Bahamas’. There is a subdued anxiousness that every black man has when visiting a new place for the ﬁrst time. We rarely speak of it amongst one another but we inherently understand what this feeling is. Being blanketed by Cameron’s excitement made me chuckle and immediately feel at ease. So much so that I felt inclined to ask him where he was from. Cameron was born in Ethiopia and moved to The United States with his parents when he was still a baby. In truth, he had no direct recollection of the hardships that spurred their migration except for the stories passed down from his parents to him and his siblings. They left their entire family and all their friends in Ethiopia and when they moved, all they had was one another. John F Kennedy was president and him saying that immigrants came to America for hope of economic opportunity and the hope of personal freedom struck a chord in Cameron’s father. They remained proud of where they were from but America quickly became their home. With a population of

approximately 132 million people, Ethiopia is located in East Africa and at the time was ripe with political turmoil. In 1960, when Cameron was still a baby, there was an attempt to overthrow their Emperor (Haile Selassie) in a coup d’etat led (amongst others) by the commander of the imperial guard. The coup attempt failed but 300 people were killed and the imperial armed forces gained more political importance than ever before. Cameron recalls his family saying that their country felt unnecessarily oppressive even years later and coupled with a burgeoning malaria outbreak, they opted to seek a better life some eight thousand miles away. But, in what

Cameron referred to as a twisted sense of irony, in 1963 President Kennedy was assassinated.

In one of history’s most proliﬁc epidemics, between July and December of 1958, Ethiopia reported 3.5 million cases of malaria that resulted in 150,000 deaths. Among those deaths were some of Cameron’s family members, whom he says are lost but not forgotten. That outbreak was one of the main reasons why his father chose to uproot their family.

In today’s column, after meeting Cameron, I wanted to highlight Malaria since most people don’t know what it is and the devastation it’s inﬂicted throughout history. The timing, I believe, is fortuitous in light of President Donald Trump’s recent

nomination of Robert Kennedy Jr. (nephew of President John F Kennedy) for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services given his previous controversial stance on the danger of vaccines.

For immediate clariﬁcation, Robert Kennedy Jr has emphasised unequivocally (most recently in a National Public Radio interview) that vaccines will not be taken away. Instead, he wants to improve the science on vaccine safety.

It’s important mentioning that Robert Kennedy Jr, an environmental lawyer, has been a long friend and advocate of The Bahamas and for many years he was an instrumental voice in the Save The Bays/ Clifton Pier campaign.

Malaria is an infectious disease spread by female

By DR KENNETH D KEMP

mosquitoes with symptoms occurring within ten to 15 days (or longer) of being bitten. Symptoms typically include vomiting, headache, muscle pain, diarrhea and intense bouts of fever, chills and fatigue. In more severe cases, it can cause organ failure, respiratory distress, seizures, coma and ultimately death.

The mosquito bite transfers the plasmodium parasite that causes malaria to humans. It then travels to the liver, matures and begins reproducing and invading liver cells which eventually break down releasing even more invasive parasites into the blood. When there are approximately 100,000 parasites per milliliter of blood, symptoms occur. Diagnosis is conﬁrmatory with a blood test but symptomology and travel history offer clear markers for early differentials.

For a long time, treatment was primarily focused on prevention via the use of mosquito nets during sleep, insect repellants and consistent drainage of standing water. There are also antimalarial medications aimed at killing the parasite. Fortunately, today, there’s two malaria vaccines widely available and approved by the World Health Organization. Cameron says those vaccines weren’t available when he was younger. When his parents describe how much death they witnessed at the hands of this disease a chill comes over him to this day. They gave the children milk to drink to boost their immune system in a desperate, futile attempt to save them. Looking back, his parents say that the government should have helped more but he adds that hindsight is 20/20. To date, despite the incredible strides that have been made, Malaria continues to be one of the deadliest diseases in the world causing over 600,000 deaths (and 249 million

cases across 85 countries) in 2022 alone. Globally, over 75 percent of those deaths occurred in children under the age of five. Even more astounding is that scientists and medical experts believe that malaria has been responsible for up to one billion deaths or more over the course of history. Fortunately, malaria is not endemic in The Bahamas and has been largely eliminated throughout the Caribbean except on the islands of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). The last documented case of malaria in The Bahamas was in 2012 on Exuma when an infected US traveler visited the island. Before that, in 2006, there were 19 reported cases on the same island in travelers from North America and Europe. Anti-malarial drugs (as well as aspirin, NSAIDs and certain antibiotics) cannot be administered to people who are G6PD deficient so testing for that deficiency is crucial for any Bahamian seeking to travel to any region where malaria may be prevalent. There are no statistics available on how many people in The Bahamas specifically have G6PD deficiency but worldwide estimates suggest the number is around 400 million people.

As I pulled up to my hotel, I asked Cameron one last question. I wanted to know if he’d ever go back to Ethiopia to live once he retired. He said no. America is his home and the only home he truly knows. Many people he loved died from malaria and for many years his family wishes that more of them had moved to the US sooner. But in words that really stuck with me, before driving off he said that crying over spilled milk is an unworthy exercise of one’s time.

Talking about what happened will ensure that people remember the people who died and ﬁght to save others from a similar fate. On a recent trip to Nashville, Tennessee, in my all too brief airport ride, I met Cameron from Ethiopia and he told me that people he loved died from malaria but action and compassion will save the world. It’s safe to say that I and many others would agree. This is The KDK Report.

THE issue of vaccination is back in the news - and of how to tackle malaria around the world.

ROBERT F Kennedy Jr speaks before Republican at a campaign event in September in Michigan for now-President Elect Donald Trump.

Photo: Carlos Osorio/AP

$300m reﬁnancing aims to boost marine conservation

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

THE Davis administration on Friday launched an initiative to reﬁnance $300m of external debt, aiming to enhance marine conservation amid the growing threat of climate change.

The project, called the Debt Conversion for Marine Conservation, was announced by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis during a press conference at Baha Mar resort.

Supported by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), The Nature Conservancy, Standard Chartered Bank, and other partners, the initiative is expected to save an estimated $124m over 15 years.

These savings will fund the strengthening of marine

protected areas, critical conservation projects, and the protection of vital ecosystems. The initiative also leverages guarantees from the IDB, Builders Vision, and AXA XL to secure favourable ﬁnancing terms. Additionally, a $20m endowment, projected to grow by 2039, will ensure the longevity of these climate protection efforts.

Highlighting the initiative’s beneﬁts, Mr Davis said: “For the ﬁshermen who rise before dawn, this project means sustainable waters teeming with life. For families living along our coasts, it means protection from storm surges and rising seas. For our children, it means a chance to inherit a Bahamas where natural beauty is preserved, and economic opportunities abound.”

Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis outlined the debt conversion process, explaining that The Bahamas repurchased $300m of its external debt in US dollars to acquire outstanding euro bonds through a public tender, using funds from a Standard Chartered Bank loan.

He said the project is part of the government’s debt management strategy focused on structuring innovative financing transactions that leverage official support and lower the country’s financing costs.

“The transaction marks the second transaction as part of the building a social and inclusive blue economy in The Bahamas, in collaboration with the IDB, the ﬁrst part of which leveraged a $200m guarantee to raise $500m in the international loan market that

POLICE CRACK DOWN ON BARBER SHOPS IN TRUANCY OPERATION

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

A TRUANCY crackdown has targeted barber shops where students have been hanging out, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police Chaswell Hanna.

ACP Hanna said school resource ofﬁcers had issued warnings in two instances to students and barber shop owners.

Ofﬁcers targeted barber shops near schools that have become known hangouts for truant students, reminding them of the Education Act and the importance of attending classes during school hours.

“We had an incident in the area of CH Reeves,” ACP Hanna said.

“There’s a nearby barber shop that we had a reason to go into based on information, and we found students in there just before, just after school had convened. They were warned, and they were reminded about the Education Act and the

fact that between school hours, nine and three, students must be in school. So they were warned, and we didn’t have any issue from them.”

A similar situation occurred near SC McPherson, with police taking swift action. ACP Hanna said: “We can make application to the licensing authority to have the licence revoked for the barber shop and their business closed down. That’s how serious we are about enforcing the rules of the Education Act.”

In August 2023, the Royal Bahamas Police Force expanded its School Resource Ofﬁcer (SRO) programme by certifying 27 additional ofﬁcers.

“The private schools want the SROs, and the primary schools want the SROs,” said ACP Hanna, adding that plans for expansion to primary schools will be announced by the Education Minister. He added: “One of the issues we found last

semester best with parents coming on campus creating a disturbance because they had some issue with a grade, perhaps, of a child, and we’ve charged parents for assaulting members of the school faculty and staff, so we don’t have any issues with that. We see parents becoming more involved.”

ACP Hanna noted a nearly 17 percent reduction in school incidents compared to the previous academic year.

“The barber shop owners, they know that we mean business,” ACP Hanna said. He also called on the public to report students found in barber shops or other unauthorised locations during school hours.

“If you see kids, whether it be in a barber shop or anywhere where they’re not supposed to be during school hours, we want you to let us know because we need to get them to where they need to be. Their parents send them to school. They need to be in school getting their education.”

OFFICERS GRADUATE FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURSE

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

SEVENTEEN Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) ofﬁcers graduated from the Domestic Violence Facilitators Certiﬁcation Course on Friday in a ceremony at the University of The Bahamas’ American Corner. The programme was coordinated by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) in collaboration with the US Embassy.

Inspector Jackeria Evans said: “We know about domestic violence, we deal with it almost on a daily basis. But it turns out we didn’t fully grasp the various forms it takes, nor the long-term impact it has on victims.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Chaswell Hanna said: “Training is the backbone of modern policing. In 2024 alone, we have trained 721 police ofﬁcers and this course was not an automatic pass. The ofﬁcers had to meet standards and work hard to get here.”

ACP Janet McKenzie added: “This training is not just about enforcement; it’s about empathy, prevention, and empowering survivors.”

The programme covered areas such as trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, safety planning, and case management. Officers were also trained to recognise and address the psychological and financial aspects of domestic violence, often overlooked in traditional law enforcement practices.

was completed earlier this year,” Mr Halkitis said.

“The operation was funded by a 15-year fully underwritten $300m loan from Standard Chartered Bank, and beneﬁted from a comprehensive credit enhancement package, a $200m, credit guarantee from the IDB, a $70m collateralised guarantee from builders’ vision and $30m in credit insurance from AXA XL.”

Mr Halkitis further highlighted the project’s groundbreaking elements, including its status as the ﬁrst debt-for-nature initiative to speciﬁcally link marine protected area commitments to conservation outcomes.

He also noted the special involvement of key private sector players, such as Builders Vision, founded by Lucas Walton, and AXA

XL, providing co-guarantees and credit insurance alongside multilateral development banks for the ﬁrst time.

“And this new ﬁnancing also features a natural disaster and Pandemic event clause, advancing the government’s climate resilience efforts and providing liquidity headroom in the case of adverse climate events,” the minister added.

Through this innovative approach, Mr Davis said his government is “rewriting the rules of engagement for climate resilience and conservation.”

He also hailed the initiative as a signiﬁcant step in addressing global challenges through partnership and innovation.

“The Bahamas is showing the world that we are not passive spectators to the forces of nature

— we are active stewards of our destiny,” the prime minister added. “Standing still is the luxury of those unscathed by climate’s wrath. But for us, every rising tide and every storm is a clarion call to act, to adapt, and to innovate. In forging these partnerships, we are not merely addressing the present crisis; we are building a foundation for resilience that will endure for generations.”

Shirley Gayle, Country Representative for The Bahamas at IDB, (IDB), expressed pride in the bank’s role in facilitating the partnership. She emphasised that the transaction aimed to achieve dual goals: providing ﬁscal support for The Bahamas while delivering tangible environmental beneﬁts.

TWO YEARS’ JAIL FOR CUTLASS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to two years in prison on Friday after he attacked and seriously injured another man with a cutlass on Malcolm Road in March.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville sentenced Omar “Landlord” Adderley, 44, for grievous harm. Adderley chopped Tanario McKenzie on his face and head with a cutlass on March 1.

Prosecutor Inspector Cordero Farrington said McKenzie confronted the defendant for dragging a cutlass on the road while children were playing before he was chopped with the weapon.

The prosecutor said the victim passed out as a result of the attack and had to be

treated in hospital. Inspector Farrington said the victim was in the hospital for four days and suffered a seizure and had to get stitches.

A witness claimed she heard the defendant say he was going to kill someone.

Inspector Farrington indicated a video of the attack was posted online.

The defendant admitted attacking McKenzie, but claimed it was because he was trying to break into his house.

The defendant pleaded guilty at an earlier court date just before witnesses gave their evidence.

Although the court was awaiting a psychological report, Adderley insisted they move on to sentencing. He said that he “wanted to get this over with”. He also claimed he had a mother and kids to take care of.

ATTACK

Inspector Farrington asked for the highest sentence possible noting the life-threatening injuries the victim received.

Magistrate Serville said the defendant could have killed McKenzie and that the charge was just below attempted murder. The magistrate said the defendant could have faced a maximum of seven years in prison.

Adderley was sentenced to two years at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, during which time it was recommended he be enrolled in plumbing courses.

Magistrate Serville told the defendant he did not have to let this offence deﬁne him. He was also informed of his right to appeal.

What next for Haiti as gang violence surges?

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico

Associated Press

WHEN Kenyan police arrived in Haiti as part of a UN-backed mission earlier this year to tackle gang violence, hopes were high.

Coordinated gang attacks on prisons, police stations and the main international airport had crippled the country’s capital and forced the prime minister to resign, plunging Haiti into an unprecedented crisis.

But the crisis has only deepened since the international policing contingent arrived. The main international airport closed for the second time this year after gangs opened fire on commercial flights in midNovember, striking a flight attendant. Gunmen also are attacking once-peaceful communities to try and seize control of the entire capital, taking advantage of political infighting that led to the abrupt dismissal of the prime minister earlier this month.

Now, a new prime minister is tasked with turning around a nation that sees no escape from its troubles as Haitians wonder: How did the country reach this point?

‘No functioning authority’ Bloody coups, brutal dictatorships and gangs created by Haiti’s political and economic elite have long deﬁned the country’s history, but experts say the current crisis is the worst they’ve seen.

“I’m very bleak about the future,” said Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia.

“The whole situation is really collapsing.”

The government is anemic, the UN-backed mission that supports Haiti’s understaffed police department lacks funding and personnel, and gangs now control 85 percent of the capital. Then, on Wednesday, another blow.

Doctors Without Borders announced it was suspending critical care in Port-au-Prince as it accused police of targeting its staff and patients, including threats of rape and death.

It’s the ﬁrst time the aid group has stopped working with new patients since

it began operating in Haiti more than 30 years ago.

“Every day that we cannot resume activities is a tragedy, as we are one of the few providers of a wide range of medical services that have remained open during this extremely difﬁcult year,” said Christophe Garnier, mission director in Haiti.

Lionel Lazarre, deputy spokesman for Haiti’s National Police, did not return messages for comment. Neither did ofﬁcials with Kenya’s mission when asked about the surge in gang violence. In a recent statement, the Kenyan-led mission said it was “cognisant of the road ahead that is fraught with challenges.” But it noted that ongoing joint patrols and operations have secured certain communities and forced gangs to change the way they operate.

André François Giroux, Canada’s ambassador to Haiti, told The Associated Press on Saturday that his country and others have been trying to bolster the Kenyan-led mission. “They’ve done miracles, I

think, considering all the challenges that we’ve been facing,” he said.

“What we have to keep in mind is that it’s still very much in deployment mode,” Giroux said. “There are not even 400 on the ground right now.”

A spokesman for Haiti’s new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, did not return messages for comment. In a statement Thursday, his administration said authorities were strengthening security along the capital’s main roads and had formed a special security council.

“The prime minister renews his commitment to ﬁnd lasting solutions to current problems,” it said.

The statement was issued just days after gangs launched a pre-dawn attack Tuesday around an upperclass community in Haiti’s capital, forcing residents armed with machetes and guns to ﬁght side-byside with police to repel gunmen.

At least 28 gang members were killed, but not before some reached an area near an upscale hotel long considered safe.

“It tells you that there is no functioning authority in Haiti,” Fatton said.

Dwindling aid and growing isolation

A main concern in the ongoing crisis is the temporary closure of the main international airport in Port-au-Prince.

It means critical aid is not reaching those who need it the most in a country where nearly 6,000 people are starving and nearly half of the more than 11 million inhabitants are experiencing crisis levels of hunger or worse. Gang violence also has left more than 700,000 people homeless in recent years.

“We are deeply concerned about the isolation of Port-au-Prince from the rest of Haiti and the world,” said Laurent Uwumuremyi, Mercy Corps’ country director for Haiti.

The aid group helps people including more than 15,000 living in makeshift shelters, but persistent gang violence has prevented workers from reaching a growing number of them in the capital and beyond.

Basic goods also are

left empty since President Jovenel Moïse was killed at his private residence in July 2021.

‘What else are you left with?’

The US and other countries pushed for a UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti at a UN Security Council meeting this week. Only about 400 ofﬁcers from Kenya have arrived, along with a handful of police and soldiers from other countries — way short of the 2,500 personnel slated for the mission.

“This is not just another wave of insecurity; it is a dramatic escalation that shows no signs of abating,” Miroslav Jen a, UN assistant secretary general for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, said Wednesday at the meeting. But Russia and China oppose a UN peacekeeping mission, leaving many to wonder what other options are left for Haiti.

Giroux, the Canadian ambassador, said his country supports a peacekeeping operation “when the time is right”.

dwindling as the suspension of flights has delayed imports of critical supplies.

“Before, there were some neighbourhoods in Port-auPrince that we considered safe that the gangs had never reached, but now they are threatening to take over the control of the entire capital,” Uwumuremyi said.

At least 150 people were reported killed in the capital and 20,000 forced to ﬂee their homes in the second week of November alone.

Overall, more than 4,500 people were reported killed in Haiti so far this year, the UN said.

Jimmy Chérizier, a former elite police ofﬁcer who became a gang leader known as Barbecue, warned that a gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm will keep attacking as they demand the resignation of a transitional presidential council tasked with leading the country along with the new prime minister. The council also is supposed to organize general elections for the ﬁrst time in nearly a decade so voters can choose a president, a position

“Everybody is looking at a peacekeeping mission as a silver bullet,” he said, adding that even if that were to happen, it wouldn’t be able to deploy for another six to 12 months.

“We need to be realistic.”

Giroux said he is hopeful that some 600 Kenyans will arrive in Haiti in upcoming weeks, but added that “none of this matters if the political elite doesn’t get its act together.”

The nine-member transitional presidential council has been marred by accusations of corruption and inﬁghting and was criticized for ﬁring the previous prime minister.

“I’m at a loss for any short-term solution for Haiti, let alone any longterm solutions,” Fatton said. “The gangs have seen that they shouldn’t be afraid of the Kenyan mission.”

He said one option may be for the government to negotiate with the gangs.

“At the moment, it is perceived as utterly unacceptable,” he said. “But if the situation deteriorates even more, what else are you left with?”

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SAYS COLONEL STOLE WEAPONS TO SELL TO HAITIANS

AUTHORITIES in the Dominican Republic have arrested a colonel and nine ofﬁcers accused of stealing weapons and ammunition from the police department’s armory and illegally selling them to people including criminals in neighbouring Haiti, where violence has surged.

The crackdown that began on Sunday is ongoing as ofﬁcials continue to track down weapons and military supplies. The investigation began when authorities started reviewing inventories at the armory.

The Associated Press obtained an ofﬁcial document on Thursday that sheds details on the ongoing investigation, including that the stolen supplies were sold to Haitians.

The document stated that one of the suspects arrested, a woman who lives in the southern Dominican province of Pedernales, which borders Haiti, is accused of receiving dozens of boxes of ammunition of different calibers that were sold from $86 to $99 each. It noted that Miguelina Bello Segura sold them to Haitians who would routinely use them to commit crimes.

The document also stated that the colonel who was arrested, Narciso Antonio Feliz Romero, received cash stuffed into a backpack from an ofﬁcer who sold ammunition via a contact in Haiti.

Attorneys for Bello and Feliz could not be immediately reached for comment.

Overall, the scheme ofﬁcials say was run by Feliz illegally sold more than 900,000 projectiles. It wasn’t immediately known how many weapons and what types were sold or when the group began operating. Ofﬁcials have not released details, saying the investigation is ongoing.

Dominican President Luis Abinader has long criticised the situation in Haiti and taken steps that have frayed the countries’ tenuous ties including targeting migrants and building a wall along the border that both nations share on the island of Hispaniola. Wilson Camacho, head of the Specialised Prosecutor’s Ofﬁce that focuses on administrative corruption, has called the case “extremely serious” and said it placed the country’s national security at risk. Last year, the UN published a report noting that weapons and ammunition reach Haiti largely via the Dominican Republic, and, to some extent, Jamaica. Violence in Haiti has surged in recent weeks, with heavily armed gangs invading once peaceful neighbourhoods and forcing the main international airport to temporarily close after striking three commercial ﬂights.

JOURNALISTS take cover from the exchange of gunﬁre between gangs and police in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on November 11. Photo: Odelyn Joseph/AP

SPORTS

Bahamas suffers 76-62 loss to Cuba

By BRENT STUBBS

The Bahamas men’s national basketball team, with coach John Lucas III leading the charge, suffered a 76-62 loss to Cuba in the ﬁrst of two games in the second window of the FIBA AmeriCup Qualifying Tournament this weekend.

Tavario Miller scored 17 points and eight rebounds and Rashad Davis also came up with 17 points, four rebounds and two steals to lead The Bahamas, but Lucas III said the team just simply didn’t play up to par in their ﬁrst game on Friday night.

No other player was in double digits with Godfrey Rolle II being their next best scorer with eight points. All of the other six players scored at least a point but just two accounted for 34 of their 62 total points.

“Our performance was poor tonight. I’m not going to lie. The performance was poor,” said Lucas III, who is ﬁlling in for men’s coach Chris DeMarco, who was unable to attend the games because he’s serving as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA.

“We let them punch us in our mouth and we didn’t punch back. We got outrebounded and we gave them too many second

ON THE REPLAY:

chance shots, gave up too many offensive rebounds, we didn’t protect the ball, we didn’t share the ball. We were not touching the paint to create other shots.”

Lucas III, assisted by Mychel Thompson and Moses Johnson, admitted that the team got great looks, but they didn’t make their shots, going

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

RISING star VJ Edgecombe said he was delighted to be able to return home this weekend in his freshman year with the Baylor Bears men’s basketball team. However, he only wished his Bears, coached by Scott Drew, would have been successful in winning the Baha Mar Hoops Bahama Championship title. “I’m thankful to be here. I also

5-for-18 from behind the three-point line, 17-for-32 from their two-point shots and 13-for-19 from the free throw line. The Bahamas scored the ﬁrst basket of the game, but Cuba quickly tied it and took the lead and never relinquished. Cuba outscored their opponents in each of the four quarters, gradually

building a lead that allowed them to close the game with a comfortable double-digit advantage.

Yoanki Mensia, who plays in Spain’s ACB league for Casademont Zaragoza, also led Cuba with 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.

The Bahamas, currently 1-2, will now travel to

Washington DC to take on the United States of America. The USA and Cuba are both 2-1 sitting atop Group D after they split their head-to-head matchups during Window 1. Cuba will host Puerto Rico, the other team in the group, who is also 1-2.

Puerto Rico suffered a 108-66 blowout loss to the USA on Friday.

want to thank the Lord for the opportunity to play in The Bahamas,” the native from Bimini said in a postgame press conference.

“I know most international kids never get the opportunity to go home to play the game of basketball so I just want to thank the Lord for that. Not too many international players get the opportunity to go home. I want to thank God for that. I want to thank Baylor and Baha Mar for allowing it to be possible for me.”

TEE-OFF FOR HUNGER THE Bahamas Feeding Network is scheduled to host its 3rd annual Tee-off For Hunger on December 9 with Fidelity as its title sponsor. The tournament is scheduled to begin at 12:30pm at

Edgecombe, 19, scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough for the number 13th ranked Baylor to overcome the No.11 ranked Tennessee Volunteers, who pulled off a 77-62 victory.

The 6-foot, 5-inch guard also contributed three assists, a pair of rebounds and steals and a block shot in this game that they trailed 47-20 at the half and weren’t able to mount a comeback in the second half.

Friday’s loss came after the Bears pulled off a 99-98 win in double overtime against the No.22 ranked St John’s Red Storm, coached by Rick Pitino, as Jeremy Roach canned the game-winning three-point basket.

Edgecombe also hit a three-pointer and ﬁnished with 10 points, four rebounds, three steals, three assists and a pair of block shots in the game that was tied 77-77 at the

THE Courtyard Brawl lived up to its expectations on Friday night as fans were treated to six exciting bouts at Fusion Superplex.

The event was organised by Bahamas Events & Sports and was held in the cool breeze of the evening on the outside where the action certainly heated up inside the ring. There was so much excitement that even two spectators, who paid to come in to watch the show, ended up in the ring squaring against each other in a one-minute exhibition that had the fans screaming for more after the two delighted the crowd.

However, there was more than enough action to keep the crowd entertained as the Red team, managed by Meacher “Major Pain” Major, took on the blue team, managed by Jermaine “Chu Chu” Mackey.

Unfortunately, Major was unable to trend and his team, managed by former Bahamian fighter Johnny Hernandez of Beachfront Boxing, lost the first five matches to Mackey’s team until Justin “the Professor” Symonette taught Teron “the Androsian Giant”

THE Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture hosted its induction ceremony for the National Hall of Fame at the Baha Mar resort on Friday.

The ballroom was packed to witness the ceremony that was hosted by Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt who, along with members of the women’s national softball team, was inducted.

The event was a part of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s National Youth Month, organised by Minister Mario Bowleg, acting director of sports Kelsie Johnson and the sports administration team.

The ceremony, however, was the highlight for the month and the induction list was headed by Prime Minister Philip Davis. The honourees were inducted for their contributions as administrators,

Travis Munnings dribbles the basketball in front of a Cuban defender.

Ministry hosts National Hall of Fame induction ceremony

along with Minister Bowleg. The list of inductees into the class of 2024 are Randolun Swaby Sr for basketball, Randolph “Pro’ Rolle for basketball and

baseball, Dawn Knowles for sports administration, Barbara Knowles for softball, Arthur ‘Reggie the Juicer’ Knowles for softball, former Governor General Kendal Isaacs for basketball, Steve ‘Sir

Bandi’ Hanna for track and ﬁeld, Neko Grant for softball administration, Linda Ford for softball, Douglas ‘Dougie’ Collins for basketball, Nelson ‘Chippie’ Chipman for sponsorship, baseball and basketball,

Oswald Brown for sports administration, baseball and journalism, Gary Bain for horse riding as a jockey and AF Adderley for sports administration and track and ﬁeld. This class was inducted into the Hall of

Fame that got started in 1980 when the ﬁrst three inductees were honoured. They were Durward ‘Sea Wolf’ Knowles and Cecil Cooke for sailing and Everette ‘Elisha Obed’ Ferguson for boxing. A total of

GOVERNOR General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Cheryl Turnquest.

GOVERNOR General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Daisy Walker.

MINISTER of Sports Mario Bowleg, Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Linda Ford.

GOVERNOR General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Janette Poitier.

GOVERNOR General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Prime Minister Philip Davis.

MINISTER of Sports Mario Bowleg looks on as Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt puts the induction jacket on Neko Grant.

GOVERNOR General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Denise Reckley.

GOVERNOR General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Linda Ford.

MINISTER of Sports Mario Bowleg, Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Dawn Knowles.

GOVERNOR General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Oria Knowles.

GOVERNOR General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Audrey Sears.

MINISTER of Sports Mario Bowleg, Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Doug Collins.

MINISTER of Sports Mario Bowleg, Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Alice “Snowball” Wells.

MINISTER of Sports Mario Bowleg, Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Ernestine Butler-Stubbs.

MINISTER of Sports Mario Bowleg, Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and inductee Karen Moxey.

Buddy scores 12 points for Warriors in 112-108 win

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP)

— Andrew Wiggins scored 30 points and the Golden State Warriors secured a knockout round spot in the NBA Cup with a 112108 victory over the reeling New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

Stephen Curry scored 19 for the Warriors, who improved to 3-0 in West Group C and clinched ﬁrst

place in the group when Denver lost to Dallas. Chavano “Buddy” Hield capped his 12-point performance with two free throws with 18.5 seconds left to help Golden State hold New Orleans at bay. Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 24 points but missed a 3-pointer for the lead with 5 seconds remaining — a shot made possible by Brandon Boston Jr’s steal of a Golden State inbound pass.

Golden State’s Draymond Green was fouled as he grabbed the rebound of Murphy’s miss and hit both free throws for the ﬁnal

margin. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl scored 19 points, Brandon Ingram added 18 and Boston 16 for the Pelicans, who fell to 1-2 in

group play and lost for the 10th time in 11 games. Hield contributed 11 points and four assists in a 104-94 loss to the Spurs.

A LATE-GAME RALLY DERAILED BY A MISSED EXTRA POINT AND COWBOYS STUN COMMANDERS 34-26

By The Associated Press

LANDOVER, Md. (AP)

— Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown and the Dallas Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory yesterday that extended the Washington Commanders’ skid to three games.

Seibert, who missed the previous two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt following a low snap. Thomas then took the kick back 43 yards as the Cowboys (4-7) ended their losing streak at ﬁve in improbable fashion.

CHIEFS 30, PANTHERS 27

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

(AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns, Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard ﬁeld goal as time expired and Kansas City beat Carolina to reach double-digit wins for the 10th straight season.

Noah Gray caught two TD passes as the Chiefs (10-1) bounced back from last week’s 30-21 loss at Buffalo and won at the buzzer yet again in a season of narrow escapes.

DeAndre Hopkins also had a touchdown catch for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, who scored on their ﬁrst ﬁve possessions.

Bryce Young ﬁnished 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (3-8), who had their two-game winning streak snapped.

David Moore had six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown.

LIONS 24, COLTS 6

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for two scores and David Montgomery added a third touchdown run, leading Detroit to a victory over Indianapolis.

Gibbs ﬁnished with 21 carries for 90 yards as the Lions (10-1) extended their league-high winning streak to nine straight. Detroit has its been 11-game record since the franchise’s inaugural season in 1934.

Jared Goff continued his sensational season, too, completing 26 of 36 throws for 269 yards. The Colts (5-7) lost their second straight home game and for the fourth time in their past ﬁve games. Anthony Richardson was 11 of 28 with 172 yards while rushing 10 times for 61 yards.

BUCCANEERS 30, GIANTS 7

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Baker

Mayﬁeld catapulted into the end zone on a spectacular 10-yard scramble for one of Tampa Bay’s four rushing touchdowns, and the Buccaneers beat the Giants and new starting quarterback Tommy DeVito, snapping a fourgame losing streak and

extending New York’s skid to six.

The Giants’ decisions this week to bench and then release quarterback Daniel Jones did nothing to help the NFL’s lowestscoring offense. DeVito threw for 189 yards, mostly in the second half with New York well on its way to its sixth straight loss at home, where it is winless.

DOLPHINS 34, PATRIOTS 15

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns, including two scores to running back De’Von Achane, and Miami routed New England.

The Dolphins (5-6) have a thin margin for error the rest of the season but have kept themselves aﬂoat with a three-game winning streak. With their win at New England (3-9) in Week 5, the Dolphins have swept their division rivals in consecutive seasons for the ﬁrst time since 1999-2000.

Tagovailoa, who moved to 7-0 in his career against New England, entered the game with a league-high 73.4% completion rate and went 29 for 40.

TITANS 32, TEXANS 27

HOUSTON (AP) — Will Levis threw for 278 yards and his 70-yard touchdown pass to Chig Okonkwo put Tennessee on top in the fourth quarter and the Titans held on for a win over the Texans.

Okonkwo grabbed a short pass and rumbled for the touchdown to put the Titans (3-8) up 30-27 with 9½ minutes remaining. Safety Eric Murray missed a tackle that would have stopped him near midfield. The Texans (7-5) had a chance to tie it with less than two minutes remaining, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left. He fell to the ground after the miss before getting up and slamming his helmet on the field.

VIKINGS 30, BEARS 27, OT

CHICAGO (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 90 of his 330 yards in overtime to set up Parker Romo’s game-ending 29-yard ﬁeld goal, and Minnesota outlasted Chicago after giving up 11 points in the ﬁnal 22 seconds of regulation.

Darnold threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Addison caught eight passes for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown, and T.J. Hockenson had 114 yards receiving for the Vikings (9-2), who remained one game behind Detroit in the rugged NFC North.

Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears (4-7), who lost their ﬁfth straight.

BRONCOS 29, RAIDERS 19

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Bo Nix passed for 273 yards and had two touchdown passes to break the team’s rookie record, and the Denver ﬁnally won in Las Vegas with a victory over the reeling Raiders.

DALLAS Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (86) celebrates after scoring a 22-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, on Sunday.

The Broncos (7-5) took another step toward an unexpected playoff spot with their second victory in a row.

Las Vegas (2-9) has lost seven consecutive games, its longest skid since the 2017-18 seasons.

Nix ﬁnished 25 of 42, and his 18-yard touchdown pass to Sutton in the third quarter broke the club rookie record of 14 set by Marlin Briscoe in 1968.

Nix and Sutton later hooked up for a 2-yard TD with 5:30 left to give the Broncos a two-possession lead.

PACKERS 38, 49ERS 10

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Josh Jacobs rushed for 106 yards and matched a career high with three touchdowns and Green Bay trounced shorthanded San Francisco.

This marked the ﬁrst time in the past 55 regular-season games that any individual had rushed for 100 yards against the 49ers. That represented the longest a team had gone without allowing a 100yard rusher since at least 1955.

Justin Fields had rushed for 103 yards for the Chicago Bears against the 49ers on October 31, 2021.

Aaron Jones had rushed for 108 yards in the Packers’ 24-21 NFC divisional playoff loss to San Francisco last season.

SEAHAWKS 16, CARDINALS 6

SEATTLE (AP) — Coby Bryant returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown and Leonard Williams had 2 1/2 sacks as the Seahawks tormented Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, and Seattle beat Arizona to move into a tie for the NFC West lead.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had six catches for 77 yards and the ﬁrst offensive touchdown against the Cardinals (6-5) in three weeks.

But it was the defense that made the difference for the Seahawks (6-5) against their division rivals,

(AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Seattle has won six straight and seven of eight over Arizona. The teams play again in two weeks.

PLEASED TO BE HOME

end of regulation and 86-86 after the ﬁrst OT. Coming into the tournament, Edgecombe said he was recuperating from a slight hamstring injury, but he was glad that he was able to play in front of the home crowd.

Edgecombe came to

Baylor after an impressive senior season at Long Island Lutheran, where he helped the Crusaders reach No.2 in the ESPN High School basketball rankings. In July, Edgecombe also played a pivotal role on The Bahamas men’s national basketball team that reached the ﬁnal of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Spain.

The Bahamas lost to Spain and missed the chance to go on to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris, France, at the end of the month.

Edgecombe is already poised to be another Bahamian to make it to the NBA. But right now, he’s trying to take care of business for Baylor, who arguably had their toughest schedule so far this year.

The Bears are now 2-2 versus ranked teams, beating Arkansas and St John’s, while losing to Gonzaga and Tennessee.

They return home to face New Orleans at 1pm the day before Thanksgiving, followed by a December 4 road game against two-time defending national champions UConn Huskies.

Edgecombe, who is considered a prospect for the National Basketball Association, said he’s excited about what the future looks like for basketball in the country and he’s proud to be one of the players to watch.

“It’s a blessing to be a part of that group,” said Edgecombe of the current NBA and collegiate players and those who are in the pipeline for consideration.

EAGLES EARN 7TH STRAIGHT WIN

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Saquon Barkley ran for touchdowns of 70 and 72 yards in the second half and ﬁnished with an Eagles-record 255 yards rushing in the streaking Philadelphia Eagles’ seventh consecutive victory, 37-20 over the Los Angeles Rams last night.

Barkley racked up the ninth-most yards rushing in a game in NFL history largely thanks to his huge TD runs bookending the second half. He sprinted for a 70-yard score on the opening snap of the third quarter, and he added another huge run up the middle with 2:44 to play.

Barkley had 302 total yards while becoming the ﬁrst NFL player with two 70-yard TD runs in a game since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2009. Barkley leads the league with 1,392 yards rushing, including a leaguebest seven 100-yard rushing games in his seismic ﬁrst season with Philadelphia. While averaging 9.8 yards per carry, Barkley obliterated the Eagles franchise record of 217 yards rushing by LeSean McCoy in 2013. He also had the biggest rushing performance ever against the Rams, exceeding DeMarco Murray’s 253 yards for Dallas in 2011.

A.J. Brown caught six passes for 109 yards and a TD from Jalen Hurts, who threw for 179 yards while NFC East-leading Philadelphia (9-2) surged away in a 24-point second half.

The Eagles improved to 4-0 against the Rams in the Los Angeles area since the franchise returned home, but they led just 13-7 at halftime despite dominating both sides of the ball in the second quarter.

Barkley began the third by cutting straight through the heart of LA’s defence and down the Eagles’ sideline for his ninth rushing TD. It was the second-longest run of the longtime Giants star’s seven-year career.

Kyren Williams rushed for a score and Demarcus Robinson caught a TD pass for the Rams (5-6), who lost their second straight home game.

Matthew Stafford passed for 243 yards while getting sacked ﬁve times by Philadelphia’s top-ranked defence, and Los Angeles couldn’t keep up with a Super Bowl contender in the second half of only its second loss in six games.

Puka Nacua had nine catches for 117 yards, and

Cooper Kupp caught a 27-yard touchdown pass with 1:07 to play.

Barkley had a mere 73 yards rushing in the ﬁrst half for Philadelphia, which led 13-7 after Hurts hit Brown for a 6-yard score with 1:27 left on a play initially ruled incomplete, but reversed by video review. Barkley broke open the game and the Rams’ defence with his run up the middle to start the third quarter.

Los Angeles answered that 70-yard dash with Robinson’s short TD catch, his career-best sixth of the season, but Kenneth Gainwell rushed for a 13-yard TD moments later, one play after Barkley’s 31-yard catch-and-run on third and long.

GOLDEN State Warriors’ Buddy Hield, left, tangles with San Antonio Spurs’ Malaki Branham, centre, and Victor Wembanyama, third from left, on Saturday in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

FIGHT NIGHT: BOXING IS BACK IN GRAND STYLE

FROM PAGE 15

Pennerman a lesson in the ﬁnal bout.

The two heavyweights slugged it out for the three rounds, but Symonette used his height to out-jab and work on the body of the heavier Pennerman to secure the only win on the night for the red team.

“The ﬁght was challenging, but I normally ﬁght stick and move and that was the way I practiced. So it wasn’t too far from the way I normally do,” Symonette said. “I just had to stay disciplined for the win. He was a bit bigger than me and I knew he had some power, but I had to stay committed.”

There was even some extra motivation with his girlfriend volunteering to be a ring girl for his ﬁght. He noted that after getting a kiss from her at the beginning of the ﬁrst round, there was no way he could lose.

“I enjoyed boxing out here and in front of this crowd,” he said. “I really enjoyed myself.”

The ﬁghter of the night, however, was Kendric ‘Lil Thunder’ Stuart, who outclassed Alfred ‘Ali’ Kemp. A couple of times, Stuart had Kemp in trouble, but refused to go for the knockout.

“The ﬁght was good.

The ﬁrst round, I came out going to his head and then working the body. In the second round, I threw more punches and in the third round, I applied a lot of pressure.

“With the experience I have, at the end of the day, you always want to encourage people, even in the ring. So sometimes you can take your opponent out or you can go the distance for the victory. I chose to go the distance.”

Having not fought since 2017, Stuart said he really wanted to display his skills in front of the crowd because he was appreciative of all who came and

how everybody cheered for them in the ring. Fans were also treated to the ﬁrst women’s showdown at Fusion with Franissa Russell holding off a late charge by Aimee ‘She Ra’ Newchurch for the win.

“My fight was very tense, very tiring, “ Russell said. “I knew it was going to be a tough one because this is my first time fighting, but I’ve been training for about a year.”

With her ﬁrst taste of competition under her belt, she’s deﬁnitely going to come back for an encore.

Also on the card, Carlos ‘Ofﬁcer KO’ Brown arrested Lloyd ‘Chief’ Green for not providing enough food to entertain the crowd.

“My opponent was a good ﬁghter. He had a lot of literal movement, but with me training everyday on a consistent basis at the Strikers Boxing Club, I was prepared for whatever my opponent threw at me.”

Brown, who has been ﬁghting for six years, said he’s eager to continue his dream of becoming an Olympic champion and eventually make a name for himself on the world stage in the professional arena.

Terrio ‘the Ripper’ Munroe was a little too much for Leslie ‘Lights Out’ Armbrister to handle.

“It was tougher than I expected. I’ve never heard anything about my opponent. I had a couple of injuries coming into the ﬁght, but I make no excuses,” he pointed out.

“I didn’t expect it to last three rounds. I think he won the ﬁrst round, so I had to come back and take the next two. He was a little bigger. I felt his power, but I really wanted this.”

With this being his second ﬁght ever, Munroe said he was enthused by the large crowd and he can’t wait for the next time he gets to compete.

And Juwan Forbes razzle-dazzled his way to a

hard-fought win over Jermaine ‘Showtime’ Allen, who was relentless in his counter attack.

“The ﬁght was exciting. My opponent surprised me. He came out and he wanted it. He put up a good ﬁght. But I was just better out there tonight,” Forbes said.

“There’s a few things I could work on, but I will get on it right away and hopefully next year, I can put on an even better performance. Hopefully we will have even more people out.”

Tommy Stubbs, event organiser and consultant at Bahamas Events and Sports and founder of BES, who hosted the show, said it was a night to remember as they made their contribution to bringing back boxing in the country.

“This was a very interesting night considering that we only did three rounds of blitz for each ﬁght,” Stubbs said. “Everybody had a great time. It was a good family outing.

“I thank them all for showing up and hopefully we can do this again next year. Hopefully it won’t be as cold as it was, but we will talk with Fusion and see how we can develop this for next year.”

During the night, Stubbs and BES took the time out to honour two sports editors Sheldon Longley from The Nassau Guardian and Brent Stubbs from The Tribune. Sportscaster Marcellus Hall was also expected to be honoured, but he was not present.

Two fans also got to compete in a pizza-eating competition and there were a few women who took up the challenge of stepping up into the ring carrying the placards as ring girls along

was Ronn

of Strikers

Club and the judges were Longley,

and

FROM MAUI TO THE CARIBBEAN, COLLEGE HOOPS’ THANKSGIVING TOURNAMENTS A BELOVED PART OF THE SPORT

By AARON BEARD AP

LEA Miller-Tooley

hopped off a call to welcome the Baylor women’s basketball team to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, where 80-degree temperatures made it easy for the Bears to settle in on Paradise Island a week before Thanksgiving.

About 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men’s teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship.

College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill.

For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways ﬁlled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself.

“When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley, the founder and organiser of the Battle 4 Atlantis men’s and women’s tournaments.

“Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realise, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” MTE Madness

The Great Alaska Shootout was the trendsetting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly ﬁve decades

ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his programme’s proﬁle by bringing in national-power programmes, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states.

The ﬁrst edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on November 26, 1978.

The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA programme Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida.

Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales.

Atlantis rising Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability.

It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in The Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the ﬁrst eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name ﬁelds, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean.

“It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said.

“Watching some of these kids, this may be their ﬁrst and last time — and staff and families — that they ever travel outside the United States. … You can see through these kids’ eyes

that it’s really an unbelievable experience.”

ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that ﬁrsthand. His Louisville team ﬁnished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four’s most outstanding player.

“I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said.

“It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he deﬁnitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’”

Popular demand Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildﬁres that forced the event’s relocation last year.

North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savours memories of the team taking a boat out on the Paciﬁc Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams.

“Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very wellrun,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.”

That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ ﬁrst Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season.

And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence — they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.”

Packed schedule The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau,

Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups beﬁtting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups.

“It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.”

On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens today back in Lahaina. It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament on Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona.

Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo’s Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021.

“They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said.

Any drawbacks?

“It’s a 10-hour ﬂight,” he said of Hawaii.

with Makeva Wallace, Amber Stubbs and Ashley Stubbs. The ring referee

Rodgers

Boxing

Stubbs

Danny Stubbs. DJ Ant Andrew Moncur kept the audience entertained, along with MC Kendal Thompson. Richard Rudon served as the sound man.

Basketball Writer

MICHIGAN State head coach Tom Izzo argues a call during the ﬁrst half of an NCAA college basketball game against Bowling Green on Saturday in East Lansing, Michigan. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

THE Courtyard Brawl lived up to its expectations as fans were treated to six exciting bouts at Fusion Superplex.

THE Courtyard Brawl was organised by Bahamas Events & Sports and was held in the cool breeze of the evening on the outside where the action certainly heated up inside the ring. Photos: AF Photography