A
PM: US HASN’T GIVEN CORRUPT OFFICIAL’S ID
Indictment tarnishing Bahamas’ reputation ‘unfairly’, says Davis
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunmedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis appeared frustrated yesterday by US officials’ failure to identify an unnamed high-ranking Bahamian politician mentioned in a recent federal indictment alleging that police and government officials helped smuggle tons of
cocaine through The Bahamas to the US.
According to the US Southern District of New York’s explosive indictment, an unnamed politician was allegedly expected to authorise Bahamian law enforcement to facilitate a $2m cocaine trafficking scheme to the US. “I told them to disclose to
FERGUSON SAYS ALL JUNKANOO GROUPS SUPPORT WITHDRAWAL
By KEILE CAMPBELL AND LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporters
FORMER Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP) chairman Silbert Ferguson claimed yesterday that Junkanoo groups have unanimously agreed to withdraw from the annual parades if the Davis administration insists that both Valley Boys
factions be allowed to compete in the main category of the parades. His comment came as the status of the parades remained uncertain yesterday amid silence from the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP) and the government.
JCNP chairman Dion Miller, who first revealed
Community appeals for help for families affected by Taylor Street fire
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
A HOME was destroyed, and three other houses suffered extensive damage after an unattended candle
sparked a fire on Taylor Street on Sunday. Affected families are staying with relatives or in hotel rooms as the Christmas holiday approaches. Yesterday, some cleared out their homes and salvaged
what they could, the smell of smoke lingering two days after the fire started around 7.15pm. The structure remains intact, but most rooms are charred, and
Bowleg ‘Blindsided’, says JCnP Chairman
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
DION Miller, chairman of the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP), suggested Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg was blindsided by the government’s decision to allow
both Valley Boys factions to compete in Category A of the Junkanoo parades, revealing he was with the minister when a press statement was released under the name of Mr Bowleg’s ministry. “It came as a surprise to the minister and myself,”
TWO RBDF SHIPS TO DEPLOY TO HAITI BEFORE END OF YEAR
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas’ substantial involvement in a multinational security support mission to Haiti may begin by the end of this month, according to National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, who said two boats will be deployed by December 22 to patrol offshore areas, intercept illegal firearms entering Haiti, and prevent migrants from leaving the country. His comment came during a luncheon with local pastors at the Fox Hill Community Centre yesterday.
MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg
THE PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis arrives at the Fox Hill Community Centre for a luncheon with pastors, greeted by FNM protestors chanting that the PM ‘got to go’ and for the removal of the National Security Minister Wayne Munroe.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
Community appeals for help for families affected by Taylor Street fire
belongings were scattered. The houses are uninsured.
“This don’t even feel like no Christmas,” said longtime Taylor Street resident Napo Major.
His sister, brother, two adult nieces, and six children lived at the home.
He said: “My little boy wasn’t here, but he see it on Facebook, and he been questioning me from yesterday, keep calling me off and on, ‘Daddy, what get burned up?’ His tablet and everything, but he don’t believe when they tell him everything.”
Mr Major, 44, said he was home and his two adult nieces were getting tattoos when he saw a fire in the neighbour’s room.
He said he grabbed a bucket of water to extinguish the flames but was too late. The flames grew, prompting others in the neighbourhood to help.
Travan Rolle, Mr Major’s cousin, said she sometimes cries, thinking about everything that must be replaced.
“How the times is now, things hard with money,” she said, expressing frustration with the neighbour in whose house the fire
started.
“It’s like she don’t even care,” she said.
Penny Burrows Rolle, 60, and her two adult daughters live in one of the damaged structures.
Mrs Burrows Rolle said her family has salvaged only a few clothes and other items since the fire.
“We cannot afford to just let it go,” she said about the generational home. “Everyone has been here all their life.”
The residents are receiving help from Shamarco Adderley –– also known as Priest Marcus –– and from other members of the Rastafarian community.
Mr Adderley grew up on Taylor Street and considers those affected family.
“Most we could try do is try see if we could find a place where the family could come together and be and then see how we could also help out and try help with supplies, blanket, sheets, things they need for their health,” he said yesterday.
Superintendent Quincy McGregor, administrator for fire services, said the fire was accidental “due to a light candle being left unattended”.
DAMAGE as a result of a house fire which took place on Taylor Street next to Salem Church destroying two families homes in the process on Sunday.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
PM: US hasn’t given corrupt official’s ID
me the named politician,“ he said during a luncheon with local pastors about how to revitalise the role of churches in Bahamian society. “They haven’t done it yet. My colleagues don’t know.”
“They’re painting The Bahamas as a bunch of corrupt government officials.
“I asked them to identify who they are. Are they public servants? We do have bad apples amongst ourselves, and we got to root them out where we find them. But on several occasions, I asked them to help me identify them, and they haven’t. They’re prepared not to let me know who they are, but they’re prepared to indict them.”
One pastor raised concerns about how The Bahamas’ international reputation could be affected by the lack of information government and police officials have about the people responsible for the alleged crimes.
“I’ve met with them and told them my position on it.”
He noted that he nor Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander, who recently resigned, had any knowledge of the US indictment before it was exposed, suggesting he was just as shocked as the public.
He said he contacted the former Commissioner of Police, senior officers, and the US Chargé d’affaires, all of whom indicated to him that they were unaware of the allegations in the indictment. Nonetheless, he maintained that the country’s standing on the “international scene has never been better”.
Mr Davis said when making allegations, the US isn’t aware of local political parties but sees The Bahamas as just a little “black country.”
He said the country is left struggling to defend itself against major allegations.
“There’s no doubt that it’s tarnishing to The Bahamas a bit and unfairly so,” Mr Davis said, adding that he won’t let the country’s reputation be tarnished unfairly.
At one point, in response to a pastor’s question, Mr Davis played a CBS news recording where dozens of US law enforcement leaders — sheriffs, captains, lieutenants, chiefs of police — were allegedly caught
buying and illegally selling firearms across 23 US states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.
Mr Davis said he did not play the audio to excuse the shocking allegations against The Bahamas but suggested the US is familiar with similar challenges.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell told reporters that the government is still awaiting a response from US officials to a diplomatic note his ministry sent requesting more details about the unnamed Bahamian politician.
US officials have not arrested all Bahamians named in the federal indictment, some of whom are believed to be in The Bahamas. Mr Mitchell declined to discuss possible extradition proceedings, noting he is the minister responsible for such matters.
In response to an allegation circulating last night about the Minister of National Security alleging a conversation took place between the US Chargé d’Affaires and Mr Davis, Mr Mitchell blamed the FNM for the story, saying: “That story by the FNM is a lie.” He did not provide evidence for his claim. from page one
PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS
THE FREE National Movement held a protest yesterday outside of the Fox Hill Community Centre yesterday. The protestors chanted the for resignation of National Security Minister Wayne Munroe and shouted Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, “got to go”. Members of the group said the protest was another day of keeping the government’s feet to the fire following corruption allegations the country has faced.
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
Two RBDF ships to deploy to Haiti before end of year
from page one
Mr Munroe later told The Tribune that each 60-meter vessel –– the HMBS Bahamas and the HMBS Nassau –– will have a crew of about 60 people.
He said the groups will be “switching in and out” and will not be out simultaneously.
“At any point, one should be on station,” he said, adding that each vessel could be out for four to six weeks.
Stressing the purpose of the activity, Mr Munroe said: “You have no maritime security, so people do whatever they like. You would be looking to stop contraband going in, people going out.”
In October, six defence force officers were deployed to Haiti as part of an advance team for the mission.
The government has committed to sending 150 officers as part of the effort.
Kenya is leading the mission, which the United Nations Security Council backs.
According to international reports, Kenya’s forces, helped by about two dozen Jamaican officers, have struggled to rebuff the gangs.
More than 4,500 have reportedly been killed in Haiti this year and gang violence has displaced an estimated 700,000 in recent years as gunmen pillage communities.
defence surprised as Gibson’s cousin called to resume testimony, cour t adjourns
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A SUPREME Court judge adjourned the trial of Adrian Gibson and others yesterday after a defence attorney expressed surprise that a key witness was called to resume testimony.
Rashae Gibson, cousin of the Long Island MP, was recalled to the witness stand for continued cross-examination after being stood down due to legal issues.
As she approached the stand, defence attorney Geoffrey Farquharson exclaimed, “Milady, call who?“ He added: “Where Ms Gibson coming from? We’re in the middle of cross-examining Mr Deal.”
He then asked if an application had been made to call Ms Gibson.
Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson asked whether he had a point of law to argue, to which he replied in the affirmative. She then excused the jury.
Ms Gibson was initially on trial for bribery and fraud-related charges. However, prosecutors dropped the charges after she agreed to become a cooperating witness.
Ms Gibson, who was a shareholder in Elite Maintenance — a company
awarded Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) contracts when Mr Gibson was chairman — previously denied involvement in alleged criminal activities at the WSC. “The first time I ever learned about Water and Sewerage and the contracts was in the courts,” she testified in May. “I had no clue what Elite Maintenance was doing.”
Mr Gibson is facing several charges concerning his tenure as WSC executive chairman under the Minnis administration. The charges stem from his alleged failure to declare his interest in contracts awarded by the WSC.
The Free National Movement (FNM) politician is charged alongside Elwood Donaldson Jr, former WSC general manager, Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson, and Jerome Missick. Defence attorneys representing the accused include Mr Damian Gomez KC, Mr Murrio Ducille KC, Ian Cargill, Bryan Bastian, Ryan Eve, and Raphael Moxey.
Meanwhile, the Crown’s legal team includes Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean, and Rashied Edgecombe.
A RBDF ship sits offshore from its Coral Harbour base.
ADRIAN Gibson’s cousin, Rashae Gibson, arrives at court during the trial of Adrian Gibson and five others on March 4, 2024.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Bowleg ‘blindsided’, says JCNP chairman
Mr Miller told The Tribune yesterday. “We were together just that Sunday night, the minister and the groups. That is a story within itself.”
The press release, dated December 8 and signed by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, said both the World-Famous Valley Boys and the Way Forward group would participate in the category A division, despite the JCNP’s longheld position that only Brian Adderley’s World-Famous group would participate in that category.
Mr Miller has accused the Office of the Prime Minister of meddling in the controversy.
In a leaked email to Mr Miller on Monday, Latrae Rahming, the communications director at OPM, denied efforts were underway to undermine the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture or its minister. “These are not separate entities,” he wrote. “There is only one government, and the government has one unified position.”
Mr Bowleg did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment up to press time.
In September, he told reporters he believed both Valley Boys factions should be allowed to compete in the main category of the parades.
“Junkanoo is there for the people,” he said at the time. “I mean, if it was my decision, in my opinion, I believe that both factions should have been given the opportunity to compete for a prize. That’s just my opinion.”
Ferguson says all Junkanoo groups support withdrawal
that the parades may be cancelled, did not confirm or deny Mr Ferguson’s comment, but during a brief interview with The Tribune yesterday, he said he takes “instructions from the groups”.
“I work for the groups, I was elected by the groups, I speak on behalf of the groups,” he said.
Mr Ferguson said alternative venues and events are being considered if the government does not meet the groups’ demands.
“We will rush somewhere else without them,” he said, emphasising the need to preserve autonomy.
Yesterday, the JCNP postponed a scheduled press conference for the second day in a row, citing “further developing situations”.
Mr Ferguson noted that while the JCNP cannot unilaterally cancel Junkanoo, the collective withdrawal of groups would nullify the event.
He also dismissed Attorney General Ryan Pinder’s warning about the legal and financial risks of allowing only one faction of the Valley Boys to participate.
“He said we can’t exclude one group because it might expose the government to risks, but we follow our rules,” he said.
Accusing the government of political interference, Mr Ferguson claimed the controversy stems from favouritism toward Trevor Davis’ faction, and he noted that Mr Davis is the brother of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.
“If this were any other group, this wouldn’t be an issue,” he said.
The Valley Boys conflict has grabbed headlines throughout the year.
Trevor Davis, the Way Forward leader, has said the division centres around concerns about how the organisation had been running over the years, including the lack of an election.
from page one
DION MILLER, chairman of the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence.
from page one
PROF Dr Magnus Ekedede presented a copy of his book Making Miracles: The Story of Neurosurgery in The Bahamas to Prime Minister Philip Davis on Thursday. Dr Ekedede is pictured with his wife, Dr Rebeca Ekedede, Mr Davis and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Cresswell Sturrup. The book details the medical history of neurosurgery in The Bahamas through a number of cases over the years and is available on Amazon.
Photo: OPM
The Tribune Limited
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It is unfair unless, of course, it is true
BETWEEN the scandal involving allegations of corrupt officials involved in the smuggling of cocaine through The Bahamas and the chaos enveloping Junkanoo at the moment, the government can hardly seem to catch a breath.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis seemed frustrated yesterday when he talked about the former – saying that US officials have failed to identify the high-ranking politician discussed in the US indictment that has so far seen two Bahamian officers arrested, one from the police, one from the defence force.
Mr Davis said yesterday: “I told them to disclose to me the named politician. They haven’t done it yet. My colleagues don’t know.”
Previously, the now former Commissioner Clayton Fernander had also professed a lack of knowledge of anything to do with the indictment.
What this shows more than anything is that despite an investigation of a years-long conspiracy, The Bahamas has been kept out of the loop. We are not trusted with the information.
When you consider some of the allegations – such as wrong information being provided to US drug enforcers and some drug suspects being described as “off limits” – perhaps that is not so surprising.
What it means in practice is that Parliamentarians are possibly sitting right next to a politician who was willing to betray the country for $2m in order to protect drug smugglers.
Mr Davis yesterday lamented: “We do have bad apples amongst ourselves, and we got to root them out where we find them. On several occasions, I asked them (US officials) to help me identify them, and they haven’t. They’re prepared not to let me know who they are, but they’re prepared to indict them.”
What is remarkable in the face of this is that Mr Davis has not announced any kind of thorough investigation to determine the facts for ourselves. This is exactly why calls for a Commission of Inquiry are appropriate – so that we can
investigate what is going on right here and hold whoever is corrupt to account.
As he tried to defend the country’s reputation yesterday, Mr Davis at one point played a CBS news recording about allegations against US law enforcement leaders accused of illegally selling firearms. He said he did not play it to excuse the allegations against The Bahamas but said the US is facing similar challenges.
No one has said the US is without sin – far from it – but it is curious that Mr Davis would attempt to deflect this way having clearly come prepared with the audio ready to play.
Amid all this, all manner of allegations continue to swirl on social media. One such report yesterday even prompted Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell to deny a claim about Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe, while himself alleging that the story was a lie “by the FNM”. He did not provide any proof that this story had come from the FNM – and it is beneath the gravity of the allegations to try to make this into a political fight.
If the allegations in the indictment are true, then those involved did not just betray those in gold shirts, but those in red shirts, green shirts and every Bahamian in the land.
When taking money to protect drug smugglers or bringing guns into the country, we doubt there was any consideration of FNM or PLP among the alleged criminals.
Is the country being smeared unfairly? Well, the only allegations are those in the indictment – that a series of individuals along with corrupt officials smuggled drugs through The Bahamas and into the US.
The only way that is unfair is if that is untrue. Otherwise, these are Bahamians carrying out these actions.
We need to truly address these allegations properly and not turn this into a political or diplomatic shouting match.
Did these actions take place? If so, we need to deal with them. It is as simple as that.
We must remember the past
EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE Mace is symbolic of the authority of the Speaker of Parliament. Without the symbol of the Speaker’s authority, he or she cannot conduct the business of Parliament.
While I despise any and all acts of violence against anyone except in defence of an individual or individuals being physically harmed by another person or persons, it seems to me that the practice of amnesia is quite evident.
I was a student at The Bahamas Teachers” College in 1965. As I recall, it was on 27 April 1965, a
date that is sealed in the political history of The Bahamas for and about the Mace of The Bahamas’ House of Assembly. On that date, supporters of the Progressive Liberal Party gathered on Bay Street. On the date to which I referred, Lynden Pindling, who was the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, tossed the Mace from an upper window onto Bay Street. This symbolic action was to galvanized support for electoral and social change in The Bahamas. The Mace landed on the ground in Parliament Square to the awaiting
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Ghost of Escobar still haunts us
crowd below, broken beyond repair.
However, while we should and must respect all of our Bahamian symbols, the Mace of today was no more sacred than the Mace of 27 April 1965. We must take to heart the words of George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
There is too much at stake when a person does not know or refuses to remember the past.
DR DONALD McCARTNEY Nassau, December 5, 2024.
EDITOR, The Tribune. WITH the shocking US indictment of 11 Bahamians for allegedly facilitating drug trafficking through The Bahamas and the latest drug bust in Acklins, it would now appear that the ghost of the notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar continues to haunt The Bahamas some 31 years after his untimely demise. South American cartels have adjusted their mode of trafficking in order to evade capture by US law enforcement officials. This is why we are witnessing an uptick in drug trafficking in the region. This unfortunately development coincides with the resurfacing of German -Colombian former drug dealer and business partner of Escobar, Carlos Lehder. The name Carlos Lehder is forever associated with Norman’s Cay in the Exumas. Currently living in Frankfurt, Germany, Lehder published his memoir in February of this year, titled the Life and Death of the Medellín Cartel. Lehder’s biography was published by Penguin Random. He was responsible for transporting a staggering 50 tons of cocaine into the US. A lot of that narcotics went through The Bahamas. Some of it stayed here. The high amount of drug addiction and its attendant negative consequences can attest to this. I know of Bahamians who died due to cocaine addiction. The violence that is gripping New Providence is an indirect result of the destructive drug trade of the 1980s. The chickens have come home to roost. Those who were caught up in the trade didn’t see this far ahead. Money was their god. For many Bahamians, the lure of becoming an instant millionaire was too overwhelming. Unfortunately for Bahamians, Lehder told a newspaper named El Pais that Medellín members not only interacted with Cuban, Nicaraguan and Panama high ranking officials, but
with Bahamian officials as well.
I am not trying to castigate our elected officials of yesteryear. But the time has come for Bahamian government, church and civic stakeholders to openly examine the debilitating impact Lehder and Escobar made on this nation. Repentance entails being forthcoming about our collective failure at allowing the Colombians to operate within our borders. Virtually every stratum of our society benefitted from the proceeds of drugs, even the church. To its credit, the government of the day signed Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, an interdiction initiative aimed at fighting the drug trade in the early eighties. But I sense that the then US administration of President Ronald Reagan looked at The Bahamas with jaundiced eyes. I have read where it was claimed that the US had slapped a silent embargo on The Bahamas during the tumultuous 1980s as a way of punishing us for the drug trade. Lehder was captured in Colombia in 1987. He spent 33 years in a US prison, after his 135prison sentence was truncated after testifying against former Panama dictator Manuel Noriega. Noriega, the late Colombian Presidents Alfonso López and Belisario Pentancur and Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega are just several of the high-ranking politicians who had dealings with Lehder and Escobar. Escobar not only collaborated with scandal-ridden officials, but murdered those who stood in the way of his operation. One such unfortunate official was Colombian Cabinet Minister Rodrigo Lara Bonilla. Medellin henchmen assassinated the government official in 1984. Interestingly, that
was during the time of our commission of inquiry. Escobar was elected to the Colombian Congress in 1982.
Dubbed Robin Hood, he and his Medellin henchmen murdered 4,000 people, inclusive of 657 police officers. The Medellin cartel, in its heyday, was earning $420 million per week. Escobar had a net worth of $25 billion. He had even offered to pay off Colombia’s $10 billion national debt in return for political favors. Colombian officials had allowed the kingpin to build his very own prison, La Catedral, where he tortured and murdered two Medallion members. His 7,000 acre estate, Hacienda Nápoles, was built between Bogotá and Medellin. It became a museum after his death. The hippopotamuses from his zoo were allowed to roam the jungles of Colombia. Escobar and Lehder will always be tied to Norman’s Cay. We cannot revise this sordid aspect of our history. But we must insure that it never happens again. Books and movies have been produced about the notorious drug lords. The South American cartels are simply emulating Escobar by shipping their destructive cargo through our archipelago. After reading the El Pais article about Lehder, I came away thinking that the former kingpin and Escobar associate has little to no remorse for the untold number of lives lost due to Medellin. God willing, a future generation of Bahamians will look back at this period in our nation’s history. We have been presented with a grand opportunity to do what our forebears failed to do in the 1980s. We must exorcise the demon of Pablo Escobar. We cannot afford to lose another generation of Bahamians. We cannot afford a repeat of the 1980s.
EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama December 8, 2024.
KEVIN
ENDING of the last race of the 4-day weekend Best of the Best Regatta in Montagu Bay, with boat 10 in a close lead, followed by 5, and 3 on Sunday.
Photo: Ron Lightbourn
OVER
THAT LED TO SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL BEING HARMED AT BEACH
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
TWO men expressed sincere remorse after admitting to injuring a sixyear-old girl while fighting on Cabbage Beach earlier this month.
Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville arraigned Nicklas Major and Awince Lassaver on causing harm and fighting in a public place.
The defendants were engaged in a physical altercation when Major accidentally fell on top of the child.
The defendants immediately stopped fighting and rushed the girl to receive medical attention.
The victim reportedly had to receive 33 stitches to her head and had scratches on her face.
The girl appeared in court with a bandage on her head.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
The accused said they were sorry for the incident.
Major had tears in his eyes as he bent down and
personally apologised to the little girl, who he identified as his goddaughter.
Both volunteered to pay for the girl’s medical bills. The victim’s mother told the magistrate that she wished the defendants didn’t perpetrate the act. She said both are of good character and often help her in life. She expressed her wish that neither man go to jail for the offence. She hopes they learn a lesson.
The girl’s mother indicated that her child still has pending doctor visits and remains on medication. She also noted that doctors recommend that her daughter remain inside this holiday season.
Prosecutor Inspector Cordero Farrington recommended that the accused be placed on a three-year probation period.
While Magistrate Serville scolded the defendants for their reckless actions, he allowed the pair bail on their recognisance until they return for sentencing next week.
33-YEAR-OLD FOUND GUILTY OF 2012 MURDER OF DENNIS TYNES
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 33-YEAR-OLD man has been found unanimously guilty of the 2012 murder of Dennis Tynes, 25, near East Street. Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns presided as the trial of Daniel Delroy Rolle ended yesterday.
Rolle appeared crestfallen after the nine-person jury delivered its verdict.
Prior to Rolle’s conviction, Justice Archer-Minns said Rolle was of good character as this was his first time before the court and he had no other convictions.
The prosecution argued the convict shot the deceased multiple times in his face while he was working on a car behind Needles Inn Restaurant & Bar on Lincoln Blvd off East Street on January 15, 2012.
Rolle confessed to the crime in a subsequent police interview.
A female witness testified that she saw Rolle commit the crime and said that she knew it was him because the two used to hang out. She also claimed she was only a few feet away from the shooter. However, there were inconsistencies in her
description of the suspect, as she flipped between describing him as lightskinned and dark-skinned during her testimony. Rolle maintained his innocence throughout the trial. He testified that he was forced to give a confession under duress. He claimed that officers beat and choked him until he said what they wanted in the interview.
While the prosecution failed to obtain video footage of that interview, they maintained that Rolle made his confession of his own free will.
Rolle’s defence also claimed that multiple witnesses said the suspect was light-skinned, while Rolle is a dark-skinned person. Rolle will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until he returns to court for his probation report on February 12, 2025.
Following the conclusion of the trial, Justice ArcherMinns thanked the jury for their service and wished them a happy holiday.
Calvin Seymour represented the accused.
The prosecution’s team consisted of Destiny Morley, Vashti Bridgewater, Kristian Beneby and Maesha Saunders.
Former police officer accused of incest by daughter acquitted
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 53-YEAR-OLD former police officer was acquitted of incest charges yesterday after his daughter accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021.
The defendant, whose name is being withheld to protect the complainant’s identity, appeared relieved as a nine-person jury — comprising five men and four women — unanimously returned a not guilty verdict.
The trial, presided over by Justice Gregory Hilton, featured testimony from nine witnesses.
According to the complainant, who was born in 2009 and was ten at the time of the alleged incident, the assault happened on the night of March 12, 2021.
She testified that she was using the bathroom when she saw her father watching her. After she finished, she claimed he entered the room, removed both of their clothing and compelled her to perform oral sex on him before pinning her to the floor and engaging in sexual intercourse against her will. She said she was unable to scream
because he covered her mouth, and that afterward he told her not to inform her mother. She also testified that he did not use a condom.
The complainant told the court that the day after the alleged incident, she felt sad and confused, uncertain why her father would want to harm her.
She said she did not believe he hated her or wished to use her as a “sex object.” She reportedly disclosed the assault to her mother the following morning, saying her father had “touched” her and put “his thing” in her.
The court heard that the complainant later recanted her allegations after she and her mother signed a withdrawal statement at the Department of Public Prosecutions. She said she did so because she wanted to keep the family together. She claimed that when she was in the car with her father, he asked her to lie for him.
The complainant testified that she ultimately came forward again in 2022, maintaining that the assault had indeed occurred. She said that she no longer views the defendant as her father, but rather as a stranger,
although she still loves him and wanted justice.
During cross-examination, the complainant denied making up the allegations and rejected the defence’s suggestion that her babysitter’s husband was the one who assaulted her. Her mother testified that she believed her daughter’s account.
She said she no longer trusts the defendant or any man around her daughter and that the day after the alleged incident she noticed the girl’s genital area appeared “open” with a white discharge, redness, and cuts.
She said she later took her daughter to a doctor and moved out of the defendant’s home.
A text exchange between the defendant and his wife reportedly showed him stating that he had “troubled” his daughter but was trying to protect his family.
On March 15, 2021, Dr Inga Pratt examined the complainant. She testified that she observed a laceration at the posterior vaginal opening and a torn hymen, injuries most likely caused by sexual activity. Dr Pratt also noted that the hymen commonly tears during intercourse and that the
complainant’s vaginal bleeding was consistent with the onset of menstruation. She prepared a rape kit, which was submitted to police.
The defendant maintained his innocence, describing himself as a good father who spent time with his children and took them to the beach. He noted that he had 11 other children and served as a police detective for eight years. He claimed to have confronted the babysitter’s husband about the alleged assault and insisted there was an error in the text message, stating he had actually said, “I know I didn’t trouble her.”
He further asserted that he never evaded police, never forced his wife or daughter to drop the charges and that the allegations were fabricated by his daughter to preserve his troubled marriage. Calling the charges “ridiculous,” he said his life had “gone down the drain” since the accusations were made.
The prosecution’s team consisted of Royann Forbes, Cara Butler Whyte, and Tanisha Forbes. The defendant’s attorney was Mario Gray.
Writing our rage
Working individually and together to end gender-based violence
“Choices”
by Nikki Giovanni
if i can’t do what i want to do then my job is to not do what i don’t want to do it’s not the same thing but it’s the best i can do if i can’t have what i want then my job is to want what i’ve got and be satisfied that at least there is something more to want since i can’t go where i need to go then i must go where the signs point through always understanding parallel movement isn’t lateral when i can’t express what i really feel i practice feeling what i can express and none of it is equal i know but that’s why mankind alone among the mammals learns to cry
YESTERDAY, December 10, was Human Rights Day and the final day of the Global 16 Days Campaign, also known as 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
A series of virtual and inperson events was hosted by Equality Bahamas, focused on rage and (anti-) resilience. We have been talking about the ways we experience and acknowledge our emotions, the ways we do not, and the consequences in both cases. These events and direct engagement with people from various walks of life makes it clear that we need more time and space to be in conversation with one another. At Writing Our Rage: A workshop with Staceyann Chin, themes of family, work, friendship, and forgiveness came up. There was considerable space for sharing, and we all struggled, to varying degrees, to find the words for what we feel and what is encapsulated by rage. For many of us in The Bahamas, it seems easier to ignore our feelings, and to go along with whatever is happening or appears to be the norm. We have learned to find workarounds, assuming that there is no way to build or share the new reality we need. Since we can’t do what we want, we must at least try not to do what we do not want to do.
By Alicia Wallace
All problems being As personal as they are Have to be largely Of our own making I know I’m unhappy
Most of the time
Nothing an overdose
Of sex won’t cure of course
But since I’m responsible I barely have an average Intake
On the other hand
I’m acutely aware
There are those suffering From the opposite affliction
Some people die of obesity
While others starve to death
Some commit suicide
Because they are bored
Other because of pressure
The new norm is as elusive As the old Granting problems coming From within Are no less painful
Than those out of our hands I never really do worry About atomic destruction Of the universe
In the writing workshop, we talked about the problems we see in the world around us, but hyperfocused on The Bahamas. When we talk like this, it is almost as though we believe the challenges we face are unique to us and to this place. The truth is that these problems exist in many forms and in many places, some more obvious than others. We, however, as Bahamians and as residents of The Bahamas see the problems as uniquely Bahamian, specific to The Bahamas, and miss the view at the macro level.
At one point in the conversation, the question for all of us was a version of “How did/do you create or sustain the problem?” Staceyann Chin challenged us to think about our own participation in our relationships and our contributions to the dynamics we now feel that we endure rather than enjoy. We were encourage to view ourselves and our own situations as just one part of a larger world where
other people also have interior lives with complications, stressors, and limitations.
Our conversations early in the campaign were about resilience and the expectation that we, as individuals, endure and overcome. It is a mark of good, strong character, the worlds tells us, to be able to go through the worst events under the most trying circumstances and not only survive, but seem happy about it. We are taught to make struggle look good, and keep pride as a priority. As human beings, however, we are not meant to do everything alone. We certainly need community to support us in difficult times. Our resilience, as we learned from author of The Resilience Myth, Soraya Chemaly, is dependent on our ability and willingness to be in community with one another, recognise (and not demonize ourselves for) our needs, ask for help, accept help that is offered. We do not all have the same struggles, so we may not all relate to one another, but it means that we have the means to help one another along using our own strengths, from knowhow to resources.
“Photography” the eye we are told is a camera but the film is the heart not the brain and our hands joining those that reach develop the product it’s easy sitting in the sun to forget that cold exists let alone envelops the lives of people it’s easy sitting in the sun to forget the ice and ravages of winter yet there are those who would have no other season it’s always easy when thinking we have the best to assume others covet it yet surf or sea each has it’s lovers and its meaning for love watching the red sun bleed into the ocean one thinks of the beauty that fire brings if the eye is a camera and the film is the heart then the photo assistant is god
Many among us have never taken the time to think about anyone who is having an experience different from, as in worse than, their own. We are deeply steeped in our own experiences. There hardly seems to be any time to look around, or to pay any attention to what anyone else has going on. That is how we miss it. The needs of the people around us. The struggle in the communities around our own. The lack of infrastructure in the parts of town we do not frequent. The insufficiency of
the laws we do not use and cannot ever imagine using. The view is different from every seat in life. The feel is different too. Not feeling the blast of cold air directly on your back does not mean the air conditioning is not on, or that another person does not need a sweater. In the writing workshop, Staceyann Chin talked about the importance of working together, despite personal difference. It is easy, in small places, to dismiss people in every aspect of life, including the professional, when there are negative experiences in personal relationships. This makes it difficult to carry on any work that we are supposed to do together. We were challenged to find ways to end relationships without completing divorcing ourselves from those people who have value beyond the personal engagement we used to have with them. The work of changing mindsets and environments toward a peaceful, equitable future is too important to succumb to the personal failings that result in severed relationships.
Word Poem” by Nikki
as things be / come let’s destroy then we can destroy what we be / come let’s build what we become when we dream
There is work to do, and it needs everyone’s willing hands in it. Some of us approach this work with deep love for every rocks in this archipelago and the people on them while others come to it with the bitter taste of too many wrong to count that have made our lives hell. From these very different places, we meet at the work site. There are things that should have never been, and those must go. There are things we do no need any more, and those must be released. There are things that have gone missing that need to be found or created anew. There are things are have yet to be and that wait for us to dream them, to plan them, to bring them to fruition. The work ahead of us is great and it is demanding. We have to burn, to chisel, to cut, to sand, to treat, to polish, to dust. We, as a people, have to do this work every single day. We, as individuals, need to see our part, answer the call, and be able to tap in and tap out, knowing that there are others doing their part too, and picking it up when we need to step back. This is community. This is a collaborative effort. This is what it takes to transform. Nikki Giovanni was a world-renowned poet, activist, and educator. She was born on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and she died on December 9, 2024. Her poetry is here to stay.
Excerpt from “Forced Retirement” by Nikki Giovanni
Giovanni
OpenAI releases AI video generator Sora but limits how it depicts people
SAN FRANCISCO
Associated Press
OPENAI has publicly released its new artificial intelligence video generator Sora but the company won’t let most users depict people as it monitors for patterns of misuse.
Users of a premium version of OpenAI’s flagship product ChatGPT can now use Sora to instantly create AI-generated videos based on written commands. Among the highlighted examples are high-quality video clips of sumo-wrestling bears and a cat sipping coffee.
But only a small set of invited testers can use Sora to make videos of humans as OpenAI works to “address concerns around misappropriation of likeness and deepfakes”, the company said in a blog post.
Text-to-video AI tools like Sora have been pitched as a way to save costs in making new entertainment and marketing videos but have also raised concerns about the ease with which
they could impersonate real people in politics and otherwise.
OpenAI says it is blocking content with nudity and that a top priority is preventing the most harmful uses, including child sexual abuse material and sexual deepfakes.
The highly anticipated product received so much response upon its Monday release that OpenAI has temporarily paused the creation of new accounts.
“We’re currently experiencing heavy traffic and have temporarily disabled Sora account creation,” according to its webpage.
OpenAI first unveiled Sora earlier this year but said it wanted to first engage with artists, policymakers and others before releasing the new tool to the public.
The company, which has been sued by some authors and The New York Times over its use of copyrighted works of writing to train ChatGPT, hasn’t disclosed what imagery and video sources were used to train Sora.
WHEN AI GOES SHOPPING: AI AGENTS PROMISE TO LIGHTEN YOUR
PURCHASING LOAD − IF THEY CAN EARN YOUR TRUST
By TAMILLA TRIANTORO Quinnipiac University
ONLINE shopping often involves endless options and fleeting discounts. A single search for running shoes can yield hundreds of results across multiple platforms, each promising the “best deal”. The holiday season brings excitement, but it also brings a blend of decision fatigue and logistical nightmares.
The next evolution in artificial intelligence is AI agents that are capable of autonomous reasoning and multistep problem-solving. AI shopping agents not only suggest what you might like, but they can also act on your behalf. Major retailers and AI companies are developing AI shopping assistants, and the AI company Perplexity released Buy with Pro on November 18.
Picture this: You prompt AI to find a winter coat under $200 that’s highly rated and will arrive by Sunday. In seconds, it scans websites, compares prices, checks reviews, confirms availability and places the order, all while you go about your day.
Unlike traditional recommendation engines, AI agents learn your preferences and handle tasks autonomously. The agents are built with machine learning and natural language processing. They learn from their interactions with the people using them and become smarter and more efficient over time from their collective interactions.
Looking ahead, AI agents are likely to not only master personal shopping needs but also negotiate directly with corporate AI systems. They will not only learn your preferences but will likely be able to book tailored experiences, handle payments across platforms and coordinate schedules.
How AI agents help shoppers Marketplaces such as Amazon and
Walmart have been using AI to automate shopping. Google Lens offers a visual search tool for finding products.
Perplexity’s Buy with Pro is a more powerful AI shopping agent.
By providing your shipping and billing information, you can place orders directly on the Perplexity app with free shipping on every order. The shopping assistant is part of the company’s Perplexity Pro service, which has free and paid tiers.
For those looking to build custom AI shopping agents, AutoGPT and AgentGPT are open-source tools for configuring and deploying AI agents. Consumers today are focused on value, looking for deals and comparing prices across platforms. Having an assistant perform these tasks could be a tremendous time saver. But can AI truly learn your preferences?
A recent study using the GPT-4o model achieved 85% accuracy in imitating the thoughts and behaviors of over 1,000 people after they interacted with the AI for just two hours. This breakthrough finding suggests that digital personas can understand and act on people’s preferences in ways that will transform the shopping experience.
How AI shopping reshapes business
AI agents are moving beyond recommendations to autonomously executing complex tasks such as automating refunds, managing inventory and approving pricing decisions. This evolution has already begun to reshape how businesses operate and how consumers interact with them.
Retailers using AI agents are seeing measurable benefits. Since October 2024, data from the Salesforce shopping index reveals that digital retailers using generative AI achieved a 7% increase in average order revenue and attributed 17% of global orders to AI-driven personalised
recommendations, targeted promotions and improved customer service.
Meanwhile, the nature of search and advertising is undergoing a major shift. Amazon is capturing billions of dollars in ad revenue as shoppers bypass Google to search directly on its platform. Simultaneously, AI-powered search tools such as Perplexity and OpenAI’s web-enabled chat deliver instant, context-aware responses, challenging traditional search engines and forcing advertisers to rethink their strategies.
The outcome of the battle between Big Tech and open-source initiatives to shape the AI ecosystem is also likely to affect how the shopping experience changes.
The risks: Privacy, manipulation and dependency
While AI agents offer significant benefits, they also raise critical privacy concerns. AI systems require extensive access to personal data, shopping history and financial information. This level of access increases the risk of misuse and unauthorized sharing.
Manipulation is another issue. AI can be highly persuasive and may be optimized to serve corporate interests over consumer welfare. Such technology can prioritize upselling or nudging shoppers toward highermargin products under the guise of personalisation.
There’s also the risk of dependency. Automating many aspects of shopping could diminish the satisfaction of making choices. Research in humanAI interaction indicates that while AI tools can reduce cognitive load, increased reliance on AI could impair people’s ability to critically evaluate their options.
• Originally published on www. theconversation.com.
FORTNITE PLAYERS ‘TRICKED’ INTO UNWANTED PURCHASES ARE STARTING TO GET REFUNDS. HERE’S HOW TO APPLY
By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer
CONSUMERS who were “tricked” into purchases they didn’t want from Fortnite maker Epic Games are now starting to receive refund checks, the Federal Trade Commission said this week.
Back in 2022, Epic agreed to pay a total of $520m to settle complaints revolving around children’s privacy and payment methods on its popular Fortnite game. The FTC alleged the video game giant used deceptive online design tactics to trick Fortnite players, including children, into making unintended purchases “based on the press of a single button”.
Consumers could be charged while doing something as simple as attempting the wake the game from sleep mode, for example, or by pressing a nearby button when trying to preview an item, the agency said. The FTC also accused Epic of blocking some users who disputed the charges from accessing the content they purchased.
Beyond a $275m fine related to collecting personal information on players under the age of 13, the settlement included $245m in customer refunds.
Now, the first batch of those refunds are being sent out. On Monday, the FTC announced it was sending over 629,00 payments to eligible customers who submitted claims. About half of those refunds are PayPal payments, which should be redeemed within 30 days, and the rest are checks, which should be cashed within 90 days.
The average refund is about $114, the FTC noted. This first round of payments amounts to a total of more than $72m, according to the agency — leaving about $173m left to be distributed. Impacted consumers can still apply for a refund online. People who are eligible for these payouts include Fortnite players who were charged in-game currency for items they didn’t want or saw their account locked after complaining to a credit card company about wrongful charges between January 2017 and September 2022 — as well as parents whose child made charges on their credit cards without their knowledge from January 2018 through November 2018. You can learn more about applying for a refund on the FTC’s website. The deadline for submitting a claim is January 10, 2025.
A Haitian gang leader accused of massacre to avenge son’s death
PORT-AU-PRINCE
Associated Press
A GANG leader who controls a key port in Haiti’s capital is accused of massacring older people and Vodou religious leaders in his community to avenge his son’s death, according to the government and human rights organizations that estimate more than 100 were killed.
Reports on the number of dead in Port-au-Prince can vary wildly in a country where such killings often occur in gang-controlled, largely inaccessible areas.
Haiti’s government in a statement Monday acknowledged the massacre, saying over 100 were killed in the Cité Soleil neighbourhood, and promised to bring to justice those responsible for “this unspeakable carnage.”
UN Secretary-General
António Guterres condemned the ongoing violence, which saw the killing of “at least 184 people, including 127 elderly men and women, between December 6-8 in the Wharf Jérémie neighbourhood of Cite Soleil,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The UN did not respond to queries on how it obtained those figures.
Guterres called on Haitian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice for this killing and all other human rights abuses and violations, Dujarric said.
Volker Türk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, told journalists earlier Monday that at least 184 people were killed by a
powerful gang leader. Haitian watchdogs also estimated more than 100 were killed, at times citing community residents.
The Cooperative for Peace and Development, a local rights group, said in a statement Sunday its monitoring unit found that around 20 older people were killed. But it noted that unidentified residents in the community controlled by gang leader Micanor Altès, also known as Monel Felix and Wa Mikanò, claimed there were more than 100 victims.
The National Human Rights Defense Network, another local rights group, said at least 110 people were killed between Friday and Saturday. The group and its executive director, Pierre Espérance, did not
say where it obtained that information, and Espérance did not return requests for comment.
The murky information was a worrying sign in a country in the grip of widespread gang violence.
“The fact that we have so many doubts about what happened days after the massacre is a signal that clearly indicates the level of control (gangs) have on the population,” said Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.
The accused gang leader controls the coastal communities of Wharf Jérémie, La Saline and Fort Dimanche and was known for robbery, extortion and hijacking of goods and trucks, according to a UN report earlier this year. “Micanor was not known
witchcraft and harming the child.”
The Cooperative for Peace and Development said that according to information circulating in the community, Micanor accused people in the neighbourhood for causing his son’s illness.
“He decided to cruelly punish all elderly people and (Vodou) practitioners who, in his imagination, would be capable of casting a bad spell on his son,” the group said.
It said gunmen rounded up well-known community leaders and took them to the gang leader’s stronghold, where they were executed. Also killed were motorcycle drivers who tried to save some victims.
for being as brutal as other gang leaders,” Da Rin said. “Not until now.”
The gang leader could not be reached for comment and has not posted on social media. A spokesman for Haiti’s National Police did not return a message for comment.
The National Human Rights Defense Network said the massacre occurred because the gang leader’s child was severely ill, prompting him to seek advice from a Vodou priest. After his son died, he accused older people in the community “of practicing
The group also noted that there’s a ban on people leaving the community “in order to continue to identify (Vodou) practitioners and the elderly with the aim of carrying out the silent killing.”
Da Rin noted that usually killings in Haiti are documented and posted on social media, though they can be difficult to verify. “In this case, there was not even a message on WhatsApp or a video on TikTok, which is very unusual,” he said.
The Cooperative for Peace and Development said Micanor has previously targeted Vodou practitioners, killing a dozen older women and Vodou leaders “wrongly accused of
witchcraft” in recent years.
It’s not unusual for Haitians to seek medical and other advice from Vodou priests known as “oungans.”
The religion that mixes Catholicism with animist beliefs was at the root of the revolution that led Haiti to become the world’s first free Black republic in 1804.
The massacre in Port-auPrince comes two months after over 70 people were killed in the central town of Pont-Sondé, where gangs are vying to control more territory.
Such killings have overwhelmed Haiti’s National Police and a UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police that lacks funds and personnel, with the US and other countries pushing for a UN peacekeeping mission.
“The crisis in Haiti has reached catastrophic levels with allied criminal groups intensifying large-scale, coordinated attacks on the population and key state infrastructure,” Human Rights Watch said Monday as it called for a UN mission.
It noted that “many Haitians live with the constant fear of being killed, raped, kidnapped, or forcibly recruited even as they struggle every day to find adequate food, water, and health care to survive.”
More than 4,500 people have been reported killed in Haiti this year, according to the UN.
Wildfire burns homes and prompts evacuations in Malibu, California
MALIBU Associated Press
THOUSANDS of South-
ern California residents were under evacuation orders and warnings Tuesday as firefighters battled a winddriven wildfire in Malibu that burned near seaside mansions and Pepperdine University, where students watched as flames raced down hillsides and the sky turned deep red.
A “minimal number” of homes burned, but the exact amount wasn’t immediately known, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony C. Marrone said.
An Associated Press photographer witnessed at least one house and a car engulfed in flames.
More than 8,100 homes and other structures were under threat, including more than 2,000 where residents were ordered to evacuate.
Another 6,000 people were warned to be prepared to flee at a moment’s notice as Santa Ana winds with gusts reaching 40 mph (64 kph) made for erratic fire conditions.
Abigail Ballhagen, a junior at Pepperdine University, was in the school’s library when the power went out late Monday and students began screaming. Later, the school evacuated students to the library from their dorms because of the worsening conditions. Ballhagen and Bethany Kronlund, who are co-resident assistants, said bringing the other students there amid the fire’s smoke and encroaching flames was terrifying.
“Ash was everywhere, embers were everywhere,” Kronlund said.
Ballhagen added: “It felt super apocalyptic.”
About 3,000 students sheltered-in-place on campus, a few in a library while others, some wearing pajamas, gathered outside on a sports field as fire lit up the night sky. Someone evacuating in an SUV sped past burning palm trees as the tires kicked up embers.
The university later said the worst of the fire had pushed past the school. Michael Friel, a Pepperdine spokesperson, said parts of the campus had been “singed” but there was no major damage.
It was not immediately known how the blaze, named the Franklin Fire, started. County fire officials estimated that more than 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometres) of trees and dry brush had burned and structures were threatened. There was no containment.
The fire burned amid dangerous fire conditions because of notorious Santa Ana winds expected to last into Wednesday. The withering, dry gusts sweep out of the interior toward the coast, pushing back moist ocean breezes.
Marrone said at least a thousand firefighters would be scrambling to get control of the blaze before about 2 pm, when winds were expected to regain strength.
“Time is of the essence for us to grab a hold of the fire and start getting some containment,” the chief said at a morning news conference.
The fire erupted shortly before 11 pm Monday and swiftly moved south, jumping over the famous Pacific Coast Highway and extending all the way to the ocean, where large homes line the beach and rugged inland canyons are notoriously fire prone. At one point, flames threatened the historic Malibu Pier, but the structure was protected, officials said.
Nick Smyth, 43, lives on a farm in the Serra Retreat community, a short distance inland from the pier. His wife packed getaway bags as a precaution before they went to sleep Monday and a few hours later they heard a neighbour running down the road shouting about a fire.
With flames “lapping the tops of the mountains,” Smyth bundled their two kids and fled for a friend’s house outside of Malibu.
“My son’s got a little bit of shellshock, he’s definitely feeling a little anxious,” Smyth said Tuesday. “They woke up to an inferno outside their bedroom.” He believes their house is safe, but he knows others weren’t as fortunate.
Firefighters working in rugged terrain protected canyon homes overnight as some residents evacuated on foot with their horses. As the sun came up Tuesday, heavy smoke billowed over the Pepperdine campus and the adjacent mountains that plunge toward the coast. A shelter-in-place order was lifted but the school cancelled classes and finals for Tuesday.
“The university understands the worst of the fire has pushed past Pepperdine. However, there are smaller spot fires on campus that are not threatening life or structures, and fire resources remain on campus to address these spot fires as they occur,” Pepperdine said in a statement.
North to northeast winds were forecast to increase to 30 to 40 mph (48 to 64 kph) with gusts up to 65 mph (105 kph) expected later in the day, the National Weather Service’s office for Los Angeles posted on X. Power to about 40,000 customers had been shut off by Monday night, including 11,000 in LA County, as Southern California Edison worked to mitigate the impacts of the Santa Ana winds, whose strong gusts can damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires. Gabriela Ornelas, an Edison spokesperson, said service power was shut off to most customers in Malibu around 6 or 7 pm on Monday.
A KENYAN police officer, part of a UN-backed multinational force, patrols a street in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday.
Photo: Odelyn Joseph/AP
THE FRANKLIN Fire sends a plume of smoke into the sky Tuesday, yesterday, in Malibu, Calif.
Photo: Eric Thayer/AP
NEW PROVIDENCE BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION SEASON TIPS OFF
By
THE 2024-25 New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) season officially tipped off over the weekend in division one and two at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.
Local basketball action spilled over into Monday night at the CI Gibson Gymnasium as teams began their quests to potential postseason contention.
Division one play featured two new teams on Monday night.
Bamboo Shack Elite narrowly defeated the Triple K Stampers 75-71. Over in division two, the TYT Rockets edged out the BIBT Great Whites 73-60. Ricardo Smith, president of the NPBA, said despite some preseason setbacks, he is looking forward to a great season of basketball.
“We got started quietly on Saturday with three very
exciting games on tap. We have great expectations for this season. We would’ve hoped that we could have been at our home site at AF Adderley this year and by now that hasn’t happened due to renovations and repairs going on there to make it suitable for play. It is our hope that as soon as all of that is completed that we can once again have use of the property,” he said. The NPBA games will be played at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium, DW Davis Gymnasium and CI Gibson Gymnasium until an all clear is given for the league to return to its home venue.
“We want to make sure that the clubs understand that we hear them and we want to try and see how best we can meet the requests that they make. That was really the delay. I don’t think I have been this excited before about some of the personalities that are gonna be participating this
Dawn Charlton: ‘It’s time to take a break’
FROM PAGE 16
The show over the weekend came after Charlton made her pro debut last month at the Fort Lauderdale Atlantic Coast Pro Show where she was sixth in another field of 20 competitors in the masters bikini class.
She said she just had to increase her carb load in between the two shows.
“The competition was good. I really enjoyed it,” Charlton said.
“There was an amateur segment and then the pro segment, but there was only the bikini segment.
“This was one of the fastest shows that I’ve ever been to. Usually the bikini is last. We go after everybody. So it was kind of a change. We just did what we had to do and came off stage.”
During the show, Charlton said she made some acquaintances with some really “nice girls” and she also had one of her international team-mates from Team Physique.
“I feel really good. I set out to do what I wanted
to do,” she pointed out. “I wanted to get my pro card and I achieved that.
“Then I wanted to test my ability against the best pros out there, the international athletes out there around the world. So I feel really good about my accomplishments.”
Charlton earned her pro card by winning the overall women’s fitness title at the North American Championships in Pittsburgh in 2014 after she originally got it at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in St Maarten that same year, but it was rescinded.
Now that she has tested the waters as a pro competitor, Charlton said during the offseason, she will continue to work out in the gym at MacFit360 Fitness and Performance Centre West as she increases her calorie intake as she maintains her weight.
Charlton is hoping to get back on stage in the new year between April or May, once she consults with her coach in preparation for the upcoming season.
year. Several national team players are home playing and it is gonna make for a big stir in the country. I think the fans will definitely be in for a treat,” he said.
Division One
Bamboo Shack Elite had three players wrap up the game with double-digit figures to pull off a four-point victory over the Triple K Stampers.
Lenny Oscar scored a team-high 20 points while dishing out six dimes. He struggled from the field, going 5-for-16 but went 7-for-7 at the charity stripe.
His teammates Kriston Munroe and Rameno King managed to put up 12 and 10 points respectively.
Bamboo Shack held a slim 18-14 lead after the opening quarter but the Stampers managed to overtake them on the scoreboard in the second period. Kendrick Humes tied the score at 18 apiece with a two-pointer at the 8:50
mark. He made a layup with 3:07 remaining and extended the Stampers lead to 5 (29-24).
The Triple K Stampers went into the halftime break ahead 35-30.
After trailing by five at the intermission, Bamboo Shack Elite regained their footing in the contest 44-44 thanks to a pair of makes at the free throw line from Munroe.
The teams traded the lead on separate occasions but Bamboo Shack had the advantage 54-53 through three quarters of play.
In the final three minutes of the ball game, Mikhail Rolle kept Bamboo Shack Elite in charge 68-64.
The Stampers came within one (72-71) with less than 14 seconds on the clock, but Bamboo Shack closed out the game with some timely free throws.
Humes had a game-high 21 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Stampers in the loss.
Division Two Davito McIntosh had a strong performance for the Rockets in their season opener against the BIBT Great Whites. He powered his way to a game-high 26 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. He let it fly all night long, making 10-of-23 field goals.
Ra’Sean Minns also had a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards. The Rockets cracked open game one of their season firing on all cylinders. The team ran out to a 28-7 start to end the first quarter. Their momentum continued into the second quarter, where they closed out the first half 41-27.
Alexio Frances helped to trim the Rockets’ lead down to just eight (47-39) with 4:55 left to go in the third period. Despite the Great Whites gaining some ground, the Rockets held on for a 52-46
TIGER WOODS TO RETURN AT THE PNC CHAMPIONSHIP WITH SON CHARLIE
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer
TIGER Woods is returning to the PNC Championship with 15-year-old son Charlie, his first competition since the British Open in July and after having a sixth surgery on his back three months ago.
Woods has played the 36-hole PNC Championship with Charlie every year since 2020. The tournament invites players who have won majors or The Players Championship with family members, typically their children.
“Playing together is something we look forward to and it’s always more special when you’re surrounded by friends and family,” Woods said.
The PNC Championship is December 21-22 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, for 20 teams. New to the tournament this year are
Fred Couples and stepson Hunter Hannemann, and Trevor Immelman and son Jacob. Because the tournament is sanctioned by the PGA Tour Champions, Woods will be able to ride in a cart, key to him playing. He chose to sit out last week at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, where he is the tournament host, because he said his game was not sharp enough to compete against a field of the top 40 players in the world.
Woods set a Masters record in April by making his 24th consecutive cut, but he missed the cut in the other three majors. He had a microdiscectomy in September to alleviate pain down his legs, his sixth surgery on his lower back.
The biggest one was fusion surgery in 2017, and he followed that by winning the Tour Championship a year later and capturing his 15th major
cushion going into the final period. The Rockets ran ahead by double digits again late in the fourth quarter and that was enough to put away the Great Whites for their first win of the season. Frances contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Great Whites in the loss.
In the opening night triple header, the Commonwealth Bank Giants fell to the JD Rockets 85-81. The Tucker Boys snuck past the Mekaddish Millionaires 72-70.
The Your Essential Store (YES) Giants, the defending champions, steamrolled the Cyber Tech Blue Marlins 99-71 in division two. The Sand Dollar High Flyers will make their season debut against the Leno Regulators tonight at 8:30pm in division one play. Division two play will feature the Sand Dollar High Flyers versus the Mason Rockets.
AS a part of the activities for the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby this weekend, organisers Todd Isaacs Jr and Fred Lucius Jr have put together a celebrity softball game.
The event will take place 6:30pm on Thursday at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium, Team Fox celebrities will include Ashy’s TV, Blayre Catalyn, Cache Armbrister, Caspa, Dizzy Izzy, DJ JMAC, DJ Kannon, Guidance Mike, Keano, Mama Benz, Marcellus Hall, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, Ovadose, Robgxt The Juice, Sawyer Boy, Shane Albury, Stefan Legend, Timmay, Trae Sweeting and Vocab Bahamas. Team Isaacs will include Amajahl Knowles, Angelika Wallace-Whitfield, Bahamian Trae, Chantel O’Brien, Coach Lyn, Cohen Wilson, Devynne Charlton, DJ Melody, DJ Ignite, DJ Overtime, Greg Burrows Sr, Jessica Thompson, Judah Forbes, Kai Strachan, Max Romeranz, Mick Massaar, Miss Teen Bahamas, Teddy Sweeting, Tim Smith and Van Johnson.
which is the Athlete of the Year, which was determined by the nominees from the management team and the athletes and coaches voting to determine the winners in all age groups.
“We are going to have a good time and we have spared no expenses in getting some very nice awards for our athletes, coaches, parents and sponsors to show everybody that we appreciate all of them for their hard work,” Moss summed up.
Red-Line Athletics, formed in 2018 and now boasting a membership of about 100 athletes, has had another banner year, not just in the performances of their athletes, but also their achievement in hosting several successful track and field meets and a cross country championship.
BIKINI FORM: It was another day in the office as professional bodybuilder Dawn Charlton made the trek to California to compete in the Battle of the Bay in Union City on Saturday.
CHARLIE WOODS, left, watches his father Tiger Woods, right, watches during the final round of the PNC Championship golf tournament on December 18, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. (AP Photo)
Reloaded Baseball: ‘We look forward to what this next developmental year will bring’
RELOADED entered three teams in the second annual Jazz Fall Ball League this year in the 14-under, 11-under and the t-ball divisions under Jazz White.
The 14-under division consisted of Crispin Rodgers, Isaac Richardson, Teshaz Cartwright, Alexander McPhee, Jaden Dean, Jeremiah Filterman, Thamari Rolle, Laurell Hanchell Jr., Rhamello Bethell, Philip Glinton, Theo Bethel, Coleman Darville and Elwood Tynes with head coach Barry Nairn and assisted by Sam Rodgers Jr. and Javardo Bain.
The 11-under division consisted of Jaycob Clarke, Ethan Burnside, Jayce Devaux,Zachary Landry, Josiah Filterman, Aamir Rahming, Kelsie Munroe, Geralle Gabriel, Reed Ingraham, Jaleel Bowleg, Kyrie Campbell, Tyler Smith, Sion Duncombe, Kairos Robinson with head coach James Clarke, assisted by Norman Bastian lll.
The t-ball division consisted of Jai’r Cooper, Malachi Brown, Ethann Davis, Trevor Davis, Kalis Munnings, Ace Bannister, Daiquiri Pugh, De’Andre Woodside, Makai Demeritte, Royce Hoyte, Damien Bethel, Sage Fox, Chozen Darville, Valdez Higgs, Dallas Rolle with head coach Kenue McPhee, assisted by Kino Williamson, Ocasio Lundy, Jerard Darville and Mornel Brown.
The Jazz Fall Ball Tournament ran for the month of November and ended the first weekend in December of which we saw Jazz White (Reloaded teams in tball, 12u and 14u) compete to the highest levels against the Elite Academies in the country.
In 14u Jazz White (Reloaded) placed second in their division behind Jazz Blue, in 11u Jazz White (Reloaded) went against Jazz Yellow Game 1 Yellow -8 and White -7, Game 2 White-16 and Yellow 6 and the final game White 14 and Yellow 4 to emerge the champions in the 11-under division.
In the T-ball division, Jazz White (Reloaded) won the championship 2-1 to win the tball championship.
The Reloaded teams (Jazz White) took home the championships in t-ball and 11-under, while securing second place in the 14-under division.
“We are excited to see the development of the kids in this programme in just over two years and we look forward to what this next developmental year will bring,” according to a press release.
FROM PAGE 16
FAST TRACK
WINTER CLASSIC
THE Fast Track Athletics Track Club announced that its Fast Track Winter Classic will be held on Saturday, December 14, starting at 10am at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.
The meet will take the form of an odd distance meet with track club competing in non-traditional events and field competitors contesting events from shorter or longer approaches.
Tons of giveaways will be given out to the spectators. For more information, persons are urged to contact 727-6826 or Fast Track Management for more information.
TRACK BAAA ODD
DISTANCE MEET
THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has announced
RELOADED T-ball team. RELOADED under-11 team. RELOADED under-14 team.
that its Odd Distance Track and Field Meet will be held on Saturday, December 14 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
The event will allow field competitors to compete in field events from shorter approaches and track events will be either shorter or longer than the traditional track events.
ROAD RACE BBSF WALK/RUN
THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation is inviting the general public to participate in their Family Fun Run/Walk, scheduled for Saturday, January 11, starting at 6am from the Charles W Saunders High School, Jean Street.
The walk will leave Jean Street and head north to Bernard Road, west on Bernard Road to Soldier Road, south on Soldier Road to Prince Charles Drive and east on Prince Charles Drive to Jean Street. The run will leave Jean Street and head south to Prince Charles Drive, east to Fox Hill Road, north to
Bernard Road and west to Jean Street.
The categories include female and male 15-andunder, 20-and-under, 40-and-under, 60-and-under and over-60. There will also be a Pastors/Ministers/Deacons’ division. Trophies will be presented to the overall winner, while the top three finishers in each group will get medals. Interested persons can contact Ann Thompson at 425-3557 or email ann837609@gmail. com or Brent Stubbs at 42-67265 or email stbbobo@gmail.com. SOFTBALL
BBSF SOFTBALL
LEAGUE
THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation will hold its 2025 softball league, starting on Saturday, February 1 at the Charles W Saunders High School, Jean Street.
The co-ed slow pitch league will allow each team up to a total of 15 players with the registration fee of $200. The deadline for team registration with rosters and team payment is Saturday,
January 25, 2025.Interested persons can tournament director Thomas Sears at 424-2888 or email 242softball@gmail.com or Brent Stubbs at 426-7265 or email stubbobs@gmail.com
BOXING
FIGHT NIGHT AT BAHA MAR
CHAMPION Spirit
Country Club announced its activities this week leading up to the Fight Night at Baha Mar. The public is being invited to attend the following: Public Training - Thursday, December 12 at 4 pm at Champion Spirit Country Club. Experience an up-close look at the dedication and skill of professional fighters during this open training session at Champion Spirit Country Club, a state-ofthe-art performance centre blending wellness, sports, and luxury.
Weigh-In CeremonyFriday, December 13 at 6pm at the Reflections Lounge at Baha Mar.
Catch the intensity as fighters face off on the scale
and set the stage for the ultimate showdown.
Fight Night Press Conference - Friday, December 13 at 6:30 pm at the Baha Mar Convention Centre.
Main Event - Saturday, December 14. Doors open at 6:30pm at the Grand Ballroom at Baha Mar. Be part of the main event in Baha Mar’s elegant Grand Ballroom as the best in boxing go head-tohead in a night of thrilling competition.
ROADRUNNERS AWARDS PRESENTATION
THE Roadrunners Track and Field Club will be celebrating a milestone this year when they host their 24th annual presentation and awards banquet on Saturday, December 14.
The event will be held under the theme: “The Runner Unveiled” and will take place at Sandals Royal Bahamian, West Bay Street. The keynote speaker will be former Roadrunners and neurosurgeon Dr Dominique Higgings.
Special invited guests include Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Drumeco Archer, NACAC president Mike Sands and former athlete and civil engineer Jenero Knowles. The event will again highlight the Roadrunners’ athletes outstanding athletic and academic performances during the past track and field season. Special accomplishments for the track and field season include performances at the AAU Club Championships in Orlando, Florida, honour roll students and BJC and BGCSE successes.
BAAA CHRISTMAS PARTY THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has announced that their Christmas Party in the backyard will take place on Friday, December 20. The event will take place at Sealy’s Backyard in Sea Breeze Lane from 6pm. Prizes and surprises will be given out all night long.
SWIMMERS PERFORM WELL AT ALPHA AQUATICS INVITATIONAL
By TENAJH SWEETING
THE Alpha Aquatics Fall Invitational brought out some brilliant performances from swimmers over the weekend at the Betty KellyKenning Aquatics Centre.
Launy Duncombe, representing Alpha Aquatics, secured three individual victories in the boys’ 15 and over 100m backstroke, 200m and 400m freestyle events.
Duncombe touched the wall in 1:03.29 in the 100m back event for first place.
Second place went to Donald Saunders who came in behind at 1:05.03. Alpha Aquatics’ Michael Fox swam in third at 1:07.57 in the event.
Duncombe also collected a first place finish in the 200m free with a time of 2:10.76. Kevin Johnson, representing the Blue Waves Swim Club, had to settle for the second spot in 2:15.92. Matthew Miller, of the Barracuda Swim Club, ended the race in 2:23.28 for a bronze medal position. The boys’ 15-and-over 100m back champion ended the 400m free in 5:23.64 to secure his third win of the two-day meet. Alpha Aquatics’ Skyler Smith had an outstanding performance over the weekend. She went home with five first-place finishes under her belt.
Smith clinched victories in the girls’ 11-12 200m IM, 100m back, 200m free,
800m free and 50m back events. She sealed the win in the 200 IM finals with a winning time of 2:40.20. Smith went into the 100m back finals with a seed time of 1:11.76 and lowered it to 1:11.02 in the finals. She had an even more brilliant swim in the 800m free finals.
Smith clocked a seed time of 10:34.00 and dipped to 10:18.88 to win the event.
CARIFTA athlete David Singh picked up wins in four out of his six total events over the weekend. He outperformed his competitors in the boys’ 13-14 100m free, 100m back, 200m free and 50m back finals.
The Barracuda Swim Club athlete was in top form in the 100m free finals. He entered the event with
MEN’S NATIONAL CRICKET TEAM ON A ROLL ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE
FROM PAGE 16
go on to play Canada in Canada in August, 2025, where the winner automatically makes it to the World Cup in 2026.
“We have a job to do and we’re playing our best,” Taylor Sr said. “We are playing to the best of our ability, but we just have to keep it up and play a little harder and higher and then we will be able to continue the winning streak.”
It’s an achievement that Moles attributes to the team’s dedication in their practice sessions. This is the third WT20 Qualifier that Moles has coached the Bahamas team in the three years he’s been working with the BCA. Each time, Moles spends at least 2-3 months preparing the team for competition and in preparation for this week’s tournament, he did the same thing.
a seed time of 1:00.11 and shattered it with a final swim of 58.69 seconds.
Singh also had a strong swim in the 200m free finals, clocking 2:13.67 in the win.
Lyall Menzies, of the Black Marlins Swim Club, claimed a pair of first place finishes in the 9-10 age group. He emerged victorious in the 200 IM and 200m free finals.
Menzies posted winning times of 2:59.54 in the 200IM and 2:34.11 in the 200m free.
The Blue Waves Swim Club got some exceptional performances from Kevin Johnson, Christon Joseph and Anthonique Rolle.
Rolle, 8, capped off the meet with five winning performances over the weekend. She earned
bragging rights in the girls’ 8 and under 100m free, 50m breast, 50m fly, 50m free and 50m back finals. Johnson was successful in three out of his five events.
He swam to a winning position in the boys’ 15 and over 50m breast, 100m breast and 200m breast finals.
Joseph, who recently won Jr Male High School Athlete of the Year, pulled off wins in three of his events.
He completed the 200m fly, 400IM and 50m free in the first position. The Mako Aquatics Club also had some top finishers at the Alpha Aquatics Fall Invitational.
Blake Comarcho, 12, came away with wins in the boys’ 11-12 200 IM, 100m back, 200m back and 200m breast finals.
Logan Comarcho, 10, earned a trio of victories in the boys’ 9-10 50m breast, 100m breast and 50m free finals.
Mason Hanna, 8, had a dominant performance in the boys’ 8 and under age group. He brought home wins in the 100m free, 50m breast, 50m fly, 50m free and 50m back events.
Saleste Gibson, the female junior high school athlete of the year, left the meet with four wins. She was a tier above the rest in the girls’ 13-14 200m fly, 200m free, 50m fly and 50m back finals.
Next up on the Bahamas Aquatics Federation’s calendar will be the Bahamas Aquatics Winter Invitational slated for December 20-21.
Tua Tagovailoa’s strong play has helped keep the Dolphins’ playoff hopes alive
By ALANIS THAMES AP Sports Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.
(AP) — Tua Tagovailoa’s teammates have used words like “commanding” and “lights out” to describe the way he has played recently.
The quarterback has had one of the best stretches of his career since he returned from a concussion in Week 8, keeping alive the playoff hopes for the Miami Dolphins.
Tagovailoa threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns — including the winning TD in overtime — to lead Miami to the victory against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on Sunday. With the win, the Dolphins (6-7) have the same record as Indianapolis, and they two games back of Denver (8-5) for the final AFC wild card.
“I don’t think two years ago this game occurs,” coach Mike McDaniel said Sunday of Tagovailoa. “He continues to get better. ... It’s a lot of work, and all of his work is paying off because he’s a naturally gifted quarterback, not only the skill sets but people gravitate towards him. He
makes people better. That’s an incredibly important part of that position.”
After an up-close look at the way Tagovailoa operates Miami’s offence by throwing with anticipation, Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich called him one of the fastest processors in the NFL.
Tagovailoa’s teammates had just as much praise about his impact.
“He’s been playing lights out. He’s been a great leader for this team, not only on offence but also for defence, getting those guys going,” wide receiver Tyreek Hill said. “We’ve just got to follow him, man, like follow his standard because the standard is the standard, and he’s been playing at a high level and guys around him just got to match it.”
The numbers back up Hill’s words.
Sunday was Tagovailoa’s third straight 300-yard passing performance, joining Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in Dolphins history to record three consecutive games with that many yards.
Tagovailoa entered Sunday’s game with a
league-best 74.5% completion rate.
He recorded his seventh straight game with a completion rate of 70% or better, tying the third-longest streak in NFL history.
Going back to Week 10 against the Rams, Tagovailoa has attempted 184 passes without throwing an interception, which is the second-longest streak in his career, and he has thrown at
least one touchdown pass in 34 of his last 35 games.
He was 6 for 7 for 67 yards on the Dolphins’ winning touchdown drive Sunday, which he capped with a 10-yard throw to tight end Jonnu Smith.
“He was commanding,” receiver Jaylen Waddle said. “He really made sure we didn’t kill ourselves with penalties. He wanted everybody to lock in and
SASHA WELLS TO BE INDUCTED INTO ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
FROM PAGE 16
Summit League Championship records in the indoor 60m hurdles with 8.36 in 2020 and the outdoor 100m hurdles of 13.29 in 2021.
Additionally, Wells was a 3x Summit League Track Athlete of the Year; 11x Summit League Event Champion; 21x All-Summit League Selection and 6x Summit League Track Athlete of the Week.
“I think I accomplished a lot there,” Wells said. “I almost didn’t remember how much I did at ORU, whether it was breaking records or even winning so many titles.
“After moving on to other schools, I almost forgot all that I did at ORU.
So it was a great reminder because it gave me the opportunity to reflect on what I did with my teammates and the coaching staff there.” Wells eventually went on to compete in the NCAA Outdoor West Preliminaries Qualifier in 2021 in the 100m hurdles where she ran 13.19 for 18th in the preliminaries and 13.45 for 18th in the quarterfinals; in 2019 in the 100m hurdles in 13.59 for 19th and 2018 in the 100m hurdles. Academically, Wells made the 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America Team; 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team; 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team; 2021 Outdoor Academic
All-Summit League; 202021 Indoor Academic All-Summit League; 2020 Outdoor Academic AllSummit League; 2019-20 Indoor Academic All-Summit League; 2018-19 Indoor Academic All-Summit League and the Summit League Honour Roll in 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18. “I don’t think I can pinpoint one particular win or things that I accomplished,” Wells stated. “I think mostly it was the time that I spent with the people there, whether it was with my team-mates or the coaches, we all really connected. It was like we were family.”
Since ORU, Wells has moved on to compete for the University of Florida
and is now enrolled at Florida International University where she is pursuing her Phd in history. With her focus mainly on her education, Wells said she’s taking a little break from track and field because she will return to competing as a professional athlete in the future.
Wells, 25, is the daughter of Bahamian Olympic sprinter turned politician Renward Wells and Sarah Wells, who along with her older brother Sethren, also competed for ORU. Her younger sister Sierra competed in high school and her other siblings Soren, Soraya and Sakaren are all current members of the Red-Line Athletics track club.
just hone in on the details. That’s was big. He came through, made big plays, was calm in the pocket, o-line had great protection, he delivered the ball.”
What’s working
A big part of Tagovailoa’s growth has been his ability to not force plays down the field that aren’t there. Unlike earlier in his career, he is much more willing to take checkdowns or dump the ball off to running back De’Von Achane or the tight end Smith, who have been excellent this season at gaining yards after the catch.
What needs help
Third down continues to pose problems for the Dolphins. Miami converted just 1 of 9 third-down attempts and are 9 of 35 on third downs in its last three games.
Stock up
Receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. Hill had his first 100-yard receiving game since the opener with 115 yards on 10 catches. With his 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Hill has a TD catch in four of the past five games. Waddle caught nine passes for 99 yards that gave him 4,085 in
his career — the most in a player’s first four seasons in Dolphins history.
Stock down
The secondary, which allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams and 339 yards passing from Aaron Rodgers. It was just the second time this season that Miami’s defence has allowed more than 300 yards passing. There were also several instances of miscommunication in the secondary.
Injuries LT Terron Armstead was limited to just five snaps because of a knee injury that he’s been dealing with for weeks. Armstead was visibly frustrated when he came out of the game and was replaced by rookie Patrick Paul. ... LB Anthony Walker Jr. appeared to re-aggravate a hamstring injury that happened last week.
Key number 0 — The number of times Tagovailoa was hit Sunday on 47 pass attempts.
Next steps
Three of Miami’s final four games are on the road, starting at Houston on Sunday.
AT the International Cricket Club’s Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Americas Qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Bahamas is tied on top of the league points table with a perfect 3-0 win-loss record with Bermuda in the nine-team field.
MIAMI Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) and defensive tackle Calais Campbell (93) celebrate at the end of an NFL football game against the New York Jets on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
THE NEW PROVIDENCE CYCLING ASSOCIATION AWARDS ITS MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS
AFTER another successful year on both the local and international scene, the New Providence Cycling Association awarded its
most outstanding performers with awards on Sunday morning.
The presentation and breakfast feat took place on Saunders
where cyclists
TRENAE Smith receives her award from Annetaa Culmer-Mackey and Jacinda Knowles.
Beach
such as Kevin Daley, Tyrone Paul Jr, Calude Robertt, Andrew Cates, Ilaria Gercvasini, Sienna
Culmer-Mackey, Barron Musgrove Jr, Malcolm Menzies, Tristan Johnson, Fraser Menzies, Erin Pritchard, Tylor Knowles
and Trenae Smith all took home top honours in their respective age groups. A job well done!
WINNERS of the various age groups pictured above with their awards.
ERIN Pritchard receives her award from Barron Musgrove.
TYRONE Paul receives his award from Barron Musgrove.
ELITE senior cyclists Barron Musgrove Jr, Jeff Tynes, NPCA president Barron Musgrove, Kevin Daley, Dwayne Adderley and Jay Major pose above.
ANDREW Cates and Wayne Price receive their awards from NPCA president Barron “Turbo” Musgrove.
JACINDA Knowles and Barron Musgrove present Dwayne Adderley with his award.
FEMALE winners Ilaria Gercvasini, Halcyon Opal Adderley and Erin Pritchard with Barron Musgrove.
BARRON “Turbo” Musgrove poses with the boys 12-14 winners.
CERTIFICATES were presented to, from left to right, Kendrick Cargill Jr, Shirley Mireault, Annetta Culmer-Mackey, Samuel Johnson and Jacinda Knowles.
BARRON Musgrove presents award to Sienna Culmer-Mackey.
QC Comets dominate BAISS cross country
EFFORT: The
THE Queen’s College Comets had a successful showing at the 2024 Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) Cross Country Championships staged at the St Andrew’s school grounds over the weekend.
The Comets secured wins in six out of eight divisions at the meet. The school was
a cut above the rest in the under-13 boys, under-15 boys and girls, under-17 boys, and under-20 boys and girls divisions at the one-day meet. The St Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine clinched the victory in the under-13 girls’ category and Temple Christian School sealed the win in the under-17 girls age group.
TEAM
Queen’s College Comets dominated the 2024 BAISS Cross Country Championships, winning six out of eight divisions at the meet over the weekend.
SPORTS
SECTION E WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024
Undefeated
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
It has been a while since the Bahamas men’s national cricket team has enjoyed any type of success on the international scene, but head coach Andy Moles believes this is the year that they can get back to some level of prominence.
At the International Cricket Club’s Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Americas Qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Bahamas is tied on top of the league points table with a perfect 3-0 win-loss record with Bermuda in the nine-team field.
“We’ve had really good success here,” said Moles, who hails from England. “A lot of people would not believe that we would have been able to achieve this, but the team has worked really well and has applied themselves with good skills and have shown to have good temperance in pressure situations.”
With five more games left to play, Moles said the Bahamas will need to finish in the top three to advance to the knockout stages to be held in Canada in August.
WINNING WAYS: The men’s national cricket team.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. You hear a lot of coaches talk about taking this one game at a time. Unfortunately, I will be one of those coaches at this stage,” Moles said. “But we are really pleased to see that the team is doing well and we know that back in the Bahamas, the cricket fraternity will be very pleased with the way things are going and we know we have a lot of
support. So we will do our best and hopefully give you more to cheer for in the coming days.”
The team, captained by Marc Taylor, includes Julio Jamison Javelle Gallimore, Kavorn Hinds, Dwight Wheakley, Rudolph Fox, Festus Benn, Dwifght Wheatley Jr, Sandeep Goud, Renford Dsvson, Sntonio Harris, Ashoir Nair, Romaine Smith and Eugene Duff.
According to BCA’s president Greg Taylor Sr, the team arrived in Argentina on Wednesday, December 4 and won their first match on Friday by 26 runs over Brazil 89/4-63/9. The team came back on Sunday and beat host Argentina by 18 runs, 119/8-101/5.
On Tuesday, the Bahamas won 117/5-114/6 over Belize. The team will now play Panama, Mexico and
the Cayman Islands. “We just will go out there and play to the best of our ability and make the Bahamian people proud,” Taylor Sr said. “This is the first time that we have gone to a World T20 Cup Qualifier, so we’ve hoping that we can get to India to play in the final in 2026.”
The top three teams from this tournament will
By BRENT STUBBS
RED-Line
Athletics club will hold their fifth annual awards presentation banquet on Sunday at the University of the Bahamas, starting at 4pm.
According to club president and head coach Tito Moss, they will continue to focus on athletic and academic excellence as well as leadership.
“We have most outstanding awards in all divisions, awards for all of our athletes who made the honour roll on both terms, we also have the male and female scholarship of the year awards for the highest GPA,” Moss said.
“We also have the Mike Armbrister leadership award, male and female newcomer of the year awards, the Red-Line Athletics Heart award, which is a new award for the athlete who came back and produced good times and performances despite the setback with the injury and we have the Red-Line Riding athlete award for the best youth athlete.”
Moss said during the event, they will also recognise and honour those parents who have gone beyond the call of duty to assist the club in all of their endeavours.
The event, however, would not be complete without honouring all of the athletes and coaches who made the various national teams this past season.
By BRENT STUBBS
IT was another day in the office as professional bodybuilder Dawn Charlton made the trek to California to compete in the Battle of the Bay in Union City on Saturday.
The legal assistant at Providence Law, encouraged by her coach Paul Riveria to do one more show this year, competed in the bikini division where
she placed ninth out of a field of 20 competitors.
“I left work at 2pm on Friday, jumped on the plane and reached Union City around 11:30pm,” Charlton said.
“I jumped on the stage on Saturday around 2 o’clock and was done at 5 and was flying on Sunday from 4 until 7am to get back to work.”
The 5-foot, 7-inch former soccer player and track and field athlete for the SC McPherson Sharks said
THE SPORTS CALENDAR
although this was just her second pro show since she earned her card this year, she was thrilled with her performance.
“This is definitely the last one for the year. I am done. It’s time to take a break,” said Charlton, who has been competing as a bikini competitor for the past four years.
Charlton started out as a fitness competitor for seven years.
ELECTION OF
OFFICERS
THE Bahamas Triathlon Association has announced that its annual general meeting and election of officers is scheduled to be held at 7pm on Thursday, December 12, at The Bahamas Olympic Association headquarters on Solider Road. Elections will also be live on Zoom, where members who are able to attend can view and vote. The nomination forms can be found on our website https://www. bahamastriathlon.org/documents. The nominees will be sent out Tuesday, December 10 to all BTA members via the WhatsApp group and posted on the website so you can decide on whom to vote at the AGM. If nominees want to add a résumé or
any information about themselves to be sent out, you are more than welcome to. Please send nomination forms and information to secretary@ bahamastriathlon.org. To vote at the AGM you must be a member of the BTA of the age of eighteen (18). This means that current membership must be paid to date (2024). ANDROS HEAT ROAD RACE THE Andros Heats has announced that its fifth annual road race will take place on Saturday, December 14. The top three finishers will be awarded trophies. Fourth place finishers will be awarded medals. Interested persons are urged to contact coach Patty Rolle at 323-8801.
PAGE 12
SASHA Wells, undoubtedly one of the greatest female track and field athletes at Oral Roberts University, will be the second Bahamian to be inducted into the Athletic Department. Wells, who follows Andretti Bain, the greatest Bahamian male track athlete, is set to be inducted into the 2025 ORU Athletic Hall of Fame with former senior associate athletic director Rhonda Fowler, former athletic director Mike Carter, and the 1978 baseball College World Series team. Athletic
And the highlight of the event will be the recognition of the highest award,