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Volume: 121 No.24, December 22, 2023

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‘I WAS VICTIM OF SEX ATTACK IN DETENTION’ Woman claims assault by Immigration officer - and says son was beaten too

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A PREGNANT Jamaican woman claimed she was sexually assaulted in immigration custody and continually abused after complaining about an officer’s actions.

She claimed an officer touched her sexually without her consent.

The 40-year-old woman, who had reportedly been detained since November

11, was released from custody yesterday afternoon after The Tribune contacted immigration officials and persons from the Jamaican Consulate in The Bahamas got involved.

Her lawyers also applied yesterday for leave to issue a writ of habeas corpus concerning her. The application said she was never charged with a crime despite being detained for 40 days with her 11-year-old son.

SEE PAGE FOUR

UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER CALLS TO REGULATE CHUMMING

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net A POPULAR underwater photographer joined calls to regulate chumming following a shark attack that killed Lauren Erickson Van Wart, 44, two weeks ago as she paddle-boarded three-quarters of a mile off Sandals Resort.

Andre Musgrove, a diver, spear fisherman and

So many are still in need

filmmaker, said killing sharks is not sustainable for reducing shark-related incidents.

Mr Musgrove, who became passionate about underwater exploration from a young age, agreed with Bahamas Humane Society president Kim Aranha, who linked chumming in public swimming areas to recent shark SEE PAGE FIVE

THREE years ago, The Tribune reported as people queued from dawn for aid. Yesterday, they queued overnight as they sought help from the Fox Foundation’s Christmas giveaway.

Photo: Moise Amisial

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net DOZENS slept in their cars overnight on Thursday, awaiting food vouchers from the Fox Foundation’s 9th annual Christmas giveback.

SEE PAGE THREE

JUDGE ALLOWS SHIVER TO STAY WITH PARENTS IN US

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net AN American woman accused of plotting to kill her husband had her bail terms varied so she could move to her parent’s home in Alabama, United States, as she awaits trial in the Supreme Court in March.

Justice Cheryl GrantThompson presided

LINDSAY SHIVER over

Lindsay

bail variation hearing on Thursday.

Mrs Shiver, 36, was granted $100,000 cash bail in August after allegedly conspiring in July with two Bahamian men to murder her husband, Robert Shiver.

Since then, Mrs Shiver was allowed to change her residency from Abaco to New Providence.

Shiver’s

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

THE NEXT EDITION OF

THE TRIBUNE WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY AFTER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 22, 2023, PAGE 3

So many are still in need

YESTERDAY, hundreds queued overnight as they sought help from the Fox Foundation’s Christmas giveaway. The Foundation gave away $50 gift vouchers redemable at AML locations.

Photos: Moise Amisial

from page one Many cars wrapped around the stadium despite the rainy weather as people waited to receive the $50 food voucher near the national stadium.

Adrianna Fox, cofounder of the Fox Foundation, said $350,000 worth of vouchers were given out. She said the giveback is critical because it helps to put food on the table for those who need a helping hand.

“Making people smile is what makes us happy,” she told reporters. “We work hard all year, and this is the time where we take the time out to not make ourselves happy but to make the Bahamian people happy.”

Cars were seen out at the stadium from 3am, even though the giveback started at 8am.

Most food vouchers were given out at the stadium, though some were expected to be given in the Kemp Road area. Ms Fox said residents in Kemp Road could expect gifts for children, hams, turkeys, and other essential vouchers.

The food vouchers can be used at Solomon’s or Cost Right. Those who received the vouchers can use them on whichever item they choose.

Meanwhile, Khandi Gibson, founder and president of Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM), said the demand for people in need this Christmas is overwhelming. She said dozens call each day asking for groceries, money, or a place to stay.

FOAM recently held its Christmas giveback. Ms Gibson said many came out despite the rain because

they needed clothing or a hot plate of food.

She said her organisation helps 75 to 100 people monthly. However, she said that the demand for people needing help increased tremendously this Christmas season.

“You have homeless people, domestic violence victims, and people who need groceries or clothing,” she said. “We’re up to the point now where guys have now let go of their pride and now are coming out.”

She said she recently thought of stopping some of her organisation’s services because it was challenging to keep up with expenses. She urged people to make donations so that FOAM can continue to provide housing assistance, buying groceries, and clothing assistance for residents.

US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Usha Pitts and family pictured during a visit this week to Grand Bahama. Local kids got to play frisbee with US Embassy Nassau’s Chief of Mission.

Photos: US Embassy

‘I WAS VICTIM OF SEX ATTACK IN DETENTION’ PAGE 4, Friday, December 22, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

from page one

An affidavit from the woman’s Bahamian fiance accompanied the application.

It said: “I have also been reliably informed through an anonymous caller who claims to be an immigration officer that the applicants have both been physically abused and that the first applicant has been sexually assaulted by an immigration officer at this undisclosed facility.”

The identities of the people involved have been withheld to protect the alleged victims.

Assistant Director of Immigration Peter Joseph confirmed to The Tribune that the woman complained to the police, who are investigating her claims, but said she produced no evidence of her allegations.

The alleged victim tearfully recounted her experience and forwarded pictures purporting to show bruises on her body.

They showed faint black marks on her arms, and her hair appeared badly cut.

She said officers claimed that her injuries were self-inflicted, but she insisted she had no access to objects to harm herself.

“They say I’m a mad woman,” she said. “I didn’t have scissors in there. I don’t have those cutting tools to do my hair like that, and the officer hold me and cut my hair and they take me for a mockery because they say I is a mad woman.”

PHOTOS provided show a bruise on her back and bruises on her arm. She also sent pictures that show marks on her son’s face.

She said the abuse began the day after she

and her son were taken into custody for allegedly

overstaying. They arrived in September.

She said even though she is out of detention, she occasionally breaks down in tears and wants counselling for her and her son.

“They treat me real bad,” she said. “I’ve never been in this drama. I don’t know how I got in this.”

“You can check my records in Jamaica. I never been to jail. I never do nothing bad. I don’t know how I get myself in this.”

She claimed she didn’t see doctors until two weeks after the alleged incident.

She also accused officers of beating her son.

“My child see immigration beating me and tried to help me. They push him. My son’s face is scrub up,” she said. She showed The Tribune photos of bruises on her son’s face.

The woman said some officers sympathised with her and helped her.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 22, 2023, PAGE 5

Underwater photographer calls to regulate chumming from page one incidents.

Mr Musgrove explained that chumming “is putting food scraps fish, crops, animals, marine animal crops into the water, no matter how you’re doing that”.

He noted that chumming happens mostly where fish cleaning locations are located, such as Potter’s Cay Dock and Montagu Beach, “where a lot of fishermen go to clean their fish and charters and stuff”.

“Most of the fish scraps get thrown into the water into the channel,” he said.

“And that’s where you have a lot of bull sharks. Because the bull sharks are there, because they’re being fed almost every single day, these fish scraps travel.

“Constantly putting bait in the water in a particular area is going to attract marine animals to frequent that area.

“I think the first thing that should be looked at is reevaluating how chum is put into the water and putting regulations in place of how it should be done.”

Mr Musgrove said discourse between marina owners and the government should shape the regulations.

“Some regulations can be as basic as, instead of just throwing random baits in the water, instead of doing it in a wild manner, like uncontrolled, maybe it can be put into the bait, or it can be a specific kind of chum, maybe just fish or squid or something so the scent is just in the water and it’s being controlled by the person that’s in the

ANDRE Musgrove filming sharks at Tiger Beach.

water who can see what’s coming around.”

“I think when it comes to the much larger scale fish cleaning, of course, we’re not gonna stop fishing. I fish and spearfish myself.

“But I think looking at

Photo: Andre Musgrove

alternative measures to do after we clean our fish, instead of just throwing it off the dock, maybe there can be collection bins stationed at fish cleaning locations.

“They never need to go on the water around the

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marinas and then they can be deposited in those bins and then later collected and then deposited somewhere further offshore in much deeper water, where tourists or divers or swimmers are far less likely to swim and drop off in

thousands of feet of water where it can sink and still go back into the marine ecosystem.

“I think solutions like that would be a big start on controlling where sharks frequent. And that’s not by killing sharks.

“Sharks are attracted to places they get food and the places that chum the most in The Bahamas would be marina stations or fish cleaning stations where fish are constantly being thrown in the water.”

PAGE 6, Friday, December 22, 2023

The Tribune Limited

THE TRIBUNE

PICTURE OF THE DAY

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

Published daily Monday to Friday

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

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Despite record tourism, many are still in need THREE years ago, The Tribune’s front page said it in clear terms.

“So many in need” – and so they were.

The photograph showed some of the thousands who gathered, some since dawn, to collect food and supplies from Island Luck’s IL Cares food drive.

A company representative said at the time that he did not know the depth of need in the country until he saw how many people showed up for items.

That was during the depths of the COVID pandemic – should things have improved by now?

Well, yesterday, the queues started the night before. People slept in their cars overnight as they awaited food vouchers in the Fox Foundation’s annual Christmas giveback.

The event did not start until 8am, but cars were queuing at 3am.

The Fox Foundation is not alone in its efforts – nor in finding people in need.

In Grand Bahama, Operation Christmas served 3,500 hot meals to residents.

Apostle Phalmon A Ferguson said: “There are so many people in our society who cannot find a hot meal on a daily basis.”

Khandi Gibson, president of Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM), recently held a giveback event too.

She said the demand for help from people in need this Christmas is overwhelming.

Every day, she receives dozens of calls for help.

People who need groceries. Money. A place to stay. People who need clothing. A hot plate of food.

She said: “You have homeless people, domestic violence victims, and people who need groceries or clothing. We’re up to the point now where guys have now let go of their price and now are coming out.”

At the same time, we have heard from numerous charities that donations are not as strong this year.

And yet … we keep hearing boasts from the government that the economy is going strongly.

More than eight million tourists is the boast – so where is the economic boost for those in need? Where is the money bulging in wallets from which donations can be dropped into buckets at the mall?

Earlier this month, straw vendors told

The Tribune that they are struggling despite the tourism records being smashed.

At the Downtown Straw Market, right next to where the cruise ship passengers disembark, the president of the Straw Business Persons Society talked of a vendor making $15 one day, $25 the next.

This as the Deputy Prime Minister talked of direct visitor spending in the Bahamian economy far exceeding $6bn, another record breaker.

Before that, Trades Union Congress president Obie Ferguson said in November that workers were not benefiting as much from record tourism numbers, saying more than 80 percent are lower-spending cruise passengers. The deputy director general of tourism, Dr Kenneth Romer, said oh no, people are benefiting – he said he walked through the straw markets and saw local entrepreneurs getting money from passengers and being able to put “bread on their tables, uniforms on their children and put tithes in their offering plates”.

Yesterday, people queued overnight to put bread on their tables.

Where is the disconnect? How is it that the economy is thriving but people are starving? How can we make sure that the success of the economy is felt throughout the nation?

It is one thing to look at record numbers – where is that money going?

Famously, former US President Ronald Reagan is associated with trickle-down economics, where money goes to the rich and filters down to the poor – though there is plenty of evidence that such an approach does little to help those at the sharp end of the economy.

So what is our policy? How are we helping people to stand on their own feet and make the most of this resurgent economy?

It seems something is certainly amiss.

In the meantime, we applaud those who are reaching out to support those in need. We thank them for their effort, without which so many might be looking at a bleaker Christmas.

But what of the next week? The next month? The next year?

The measure of success for this government – in fact any government - should be how thoroughly the nation feels the strength of the economy.

Right now, there are many who are not feeling that at all.

Retired Boxers Association EDITOR, The Tribune.

KINDLY allow me space in your column to reintroduce the Retired Boxers Association aka RBA Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum to the Boxing fraternity and the public at large.

This organisation was founded in 2019 and chaired by yours truly. The vice chairman is Wellington Miller former chairman of the Bahamas Olympic Association and Amateur Boxing Association. Fred Sturrup serves as a director. Our motto is: Celebrating Excellence In Boxing.

I created this organisation out of a dire need to properly recognise the contributions made by our amateur, professional boxers, trainers, managers, promoters or anyone who would have made a valuable contribution to the development and progress of boxing to our

country. Membership is open to all of the above.

Thus far we have held three events. In 2021, we held a 40th reunion and honoured the 1979 Bahamas team to the Florida/ Caribbean Golden Gloves Championships in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. In June of this year we hosted the RBA Boxers Reunion luncheon and this month we hosted a Christmas luncheon.

These events were attended by some of our outstanding amateur and professional boxers, trainers, promoters and Boxing administrators.

Among our future plans for 2024 includes the hosting of the inaugural RBA Boxing Hall of Fame Awards show.

This event is tentatively scheduled for May. On the programme’s agenda will be the induction of the class of 2024 Hall of Fame awardees, 10 Outstanding Awards, the Nathaniel‘Nat’ Knowles

Lifetime Achievement Award and the Leonard ‘Boston Blackie’ Miller Lifetime Achievement Award.

Also planned is a photo exhibition of 100 outstanding people in boxing.

Our website is up and running - RBA Boxing Hall of Fame.com, it has photos, a registry of boxers trainers and promoters. I encourage persons to visit the site.

We have also plans to build a museum to house and store our history. The goal is to make this a central location for boxing’s history from its inception.

Our organisation is non-profit. It is a work in progress. And as we move forward, more details will be forthcoming.

PAT STRACHAN Founder & Chairman Nassau, December 20 2023.

HANDICAPPED spots doubling for Police parking? This picture was taken at the Seagrapes Shopping Centre and submitted to The Tribune by a reader.

Keep me safe ‘til the storm passes by EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face while the storm howls above me, and there’s no hiding place.

As the sounds of gunfire ring out everyone runs for cover. Leaving two young men’s bullet-riddled bodies lying dead in the streets.

Mothers cry out in anguish when they receive the news: “Your child just got shot.

He is dead.”

Friends and neighbours stand around and watch in fear as the blood of these young men saturate the ground.

A little boy no more than twelve loudly sings: “Precious Lord, hear my cry. Keep us safe till the storm passes by.”

Members of the crowd recognized the words of the song and chimed in. Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more Till the clouds roll forever from the sky.

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Misguided youth caught in a hale of bullets no longer run for shelter. They are like trees so frost bitten by the hale they have become immune to the blast of the wind. They are not afraid to die.

Many times Satan whispered: There is no use to try

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net For there’s no end of sorrow, there’s no hope by, and by.

But the prayer warriors refused to let the enemy destroy our youths’ cries.

But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I’ll rise where the storms never darken the skies.

Keep us safe and warm till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more. Till the clouds roll forever from the sky; Families and friends gather around the graves and plead.

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

For several years we have witnessed the murder rate climb to a point where we were too terrified to even think of leaving our homes at night.

But in a recent report, the Commissioner of Police alludes to a decline in murders this year versus last year.

This means that there is hope and we still reside in a beautiful place.

The onus is now on us to build on that decline by giving the police our full cooperation.

As off as it may sound, I would prefer my child

getting a few whacks on the behind than hearing the sound of the magistrate’s gavel.

Or worse, watches the coroner as he pulls the blanket over his face.

Cloaking our kids can only lead to disaster.

The onus is on us to set an example as parents to refrain from going into the schools to fight with students and teachers.

We always get into trouble for saying this, but children having children is a terrible mix and can only cause problems further down the road.

The majority of crimes are committed by youngsters whose parents are not much older than they are.

It is my Christmas wish that the Ministry of Education places more priority on parental education in schools and at home.

Errant parents should be made to bear the full consequences mandated by law.

With Christmas being just a few days away and 2024 on the horizon we close by saying.

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand.

Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

God bless the Bahamas.

ANTHONY PRATT Nassau, December 20 2023.

Christmas time and no turkey?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

TREASURY gives you a massive allowance $100,000.00+ a year and you cheap you don’t give me anything? Haven’t seen you since September 2021!

Sorry, a particular party

who seems to suggest the cost of this Christmas giving is out of the MP’s pockets. Public believe me the Treasury paying. You are paying for that turkey - ham. MP too lazy not to organise that you do have a ham and turkey on your

table.

Bar humbug … truth don’t lie … dat turkey is from the Treasury … believe me.

J WATSON Nassau, December 19, 2023.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 22, 2023, PAGE 7

Judge allows Shiver to stay with parents in US from page one In her latest application, she sought permission to move to the United States, saying it was financially burdensome to remain in The Bahamas, where she relied on her parents.

She said she was spending over $50,000 at her Bahamas residence, with $7,000 monthly on rent and another $20,000 on car rental.

She said in her application she would not abscond as doing so would destroy her chances of resuming her parental responsibilities.

Cordell Fraizer, who represents the Crown, raised no objections to the bail variation, but noted that Mr Shiver expressed fears for his safety.

Mr Shiver, who appeared virtually, told the court that while he is grateful to be alive due to the swift response of the police, he had an issue with Mrs Shiver’s new address as it was only two hours away from his residence in Georgia.

Mr Shiver asked the court not to let the defendant enter Georgia until the

trial has been completed, noting the risk to himself and his children.

“I am fearful for the physical and mental safety of myself and my three children,” he said in the presence of his attorney, Shawn Smith. “We are of the opinion that with the trial so close, it is not in my children’s best interest to reestablish contact due to the psychological damage a guilty verdict may have.”

Owen Wells, Mrs Shiver’s attorney, offered an alternative address to the court, which was an hour further from the complainant’s location.

However, he said the location was only available seasonally. He knocked Mr Shiver’s request, saying he was trying to use the justice system as a sword against his client in their ongoing divorce and custody hearings.

Mr Wells said his client appeared at all her court dates and that nothing was before the judge that would suggest she would not appear for trial.

Justice Thompson decided that Mrs Shiver

TWO MEN CHARGED WITH ROBBING A MAN AT GUNPOINT REMANDED

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net TWO men were sent to prison yesterday after they allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint in the South Beach area last week.

Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged David Higgs, 25, and Emilio Depass, 24, with armed robbery.

Depass solely faced additional charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.

Ian Cargill represented the accused.

The pair, while armed with a black handgun, allegedly robbed Sean Green of two iPhone 14 pluses, one white and one purple, altogether valued at $1,699, on Cambridge Drive on

December 14. The duo also allegedly stole $410 in cash from Mr Green that morning.

Depass was arrested later that day after he was allegedly found with a black SCCY CPX 1 9mm pistol along with two rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Although Depass pleaded not guilty to the gun charges, both accused were informed the matter would be moved to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). As such, they will be sent to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until the higher court grants him bail.

The pair are to return to court for service of their VBI on April 18, 2024.

Depass’s gun trial commences on the same date.

MAN CHARGED WITH STEALING $5K OF CIGARETTES FROM SHOP

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was ordered to pay $5,000 bail after being accused of a shop break-in in Eleuthera that led to the theft of more than $5,000 worth of cigarettes.

Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt Evans charged Latterieo Duncanson, 43, with shop breaking, damage and stealing.

Duncanson is accused of breaking into My Friendly Store on Dark End Road in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera,

between December 12 and 13, and stealing $5,250 worth of cigarettes.

During the burglary, he is alleged to have damaged the store’s window, camera system and six computers.

After pleading not guilty to the offence, Duncanson was informed that he must be fitted with a monitoring device as a term of his bail. He is also expected to sign in at the Rock Sound Police Station every Monday by 5pm.

The accused returns for a circuit court date fixture on February 26, 2024.

MAN ACCUSED OF INJURING A MAN WITH A SWORD GETS BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was granted bail yesterday after he allegedly injured a man with a sword in Nassau Village last week.

Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, charged Ramon Bethel, 29, with causing harm and assault with a

dangerous instrument.

Bethel is accused of assaulting and injuring Javaho Smith with a sword in the Nassau Village area on December 15.

Following his not-guilty plea, the accused was granted $1,500 bail with one or two sureties.

Bethel’s trial begins on February 15, 2024.

was a person of good character for bail and agreed to let her to move in with her parents.

She ordered that Mrs Shiver be permitted into Georgia only to attend divorce or custody hearings. She also ordered her to remain 100 feet from her husband and his residence. She must be fitted with a new monitoring device before she is allowed to leave The Bahamas.

Her passport would then be surrendered to authorities in the United States.

Details of the case must be forwarded to Interpol.

Mrs Shiver had no comments for the press as she marched out of court into a waiting car.

In a press statement following the hearing, Mr Wells expressed his client’s relief in being allowed to return to her home country.

“Lindsay is thankful the court has agreed to let her return to the US,” he said. “Her attorneys will continue to prepare for trial and we look forward to vigorously defending Lindsay because she is innocent.”

LINDSAY Shiver leaving court yesterday with her lawyer Owen Wells.

Photo: Pavel Bailey

PAGE 8, Friday, December 22, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

When bad things happen to good people THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 22, 2023, PAGE 9

The difference between joy and sadness feels more pronounced, the need to help those who are struggling feels a little more urgent.

A MAN with no home sleeps in his car.

A YOUNG man with a college degree, good job, solid marriage and a sixyear-old daughter is about to start a gofundme page.

He should be sitting on top of the world but instead he is in a financial chokehold that is not his fault. In the past two years, he has lost both parents, had to bear funeral costs for first his mother and more recently his father.

Expenses keep hitting him like a machine gun, barreling down a slide with no ground to stop the flow.

No matter how respected a professional he is, no matter how good a husband or father, this young man who many admire simply cannot make ends meet. He is swallowing his pride as he builds the courage to ask for help.

And he is among the lucky. He is educated, young, healthy, married with a roof over his head.

Another man I know works hard, but ever since his family home burned to the ground a few years ago, he has lived between a couch at a friend’s house and his car. Many times, the car breaks down or a tire is flat. He is trying to find a way this Christmas to buy gifts for his three children who live with their two mothers. All he wants to do is work hard and be a good father. He is willing to live in the car if it means his children will have food and clothing and books they need for school.

In Grand Bahama, there are still people living in cars as if they were in a state of suspended shock from Hurricane Dorian four years ago, desperate to find steady work, but hard put to find a way to get on with life in general.

There is nothing bad about any of these people

By Diane Phillips – the young man whose expenses are dragging him down, the dad who will do anything, give up anything so his children are taken care of, the victims of Hurricane Dorian who cannot seem to move past the past.

Bad things happen to good people all the time.

It’s one of those realities that makes us ask, “If there is a God and God is good, why do innocent children suffer? If there is a God and God is good, why do those who lead a decent, clean life die of cancer?”

Bad things happen to good people -- it’s the reality that makes us question why a smaller nation falls victim to a land-grabbing superpower when its people and its government have abided by the rule of law and done everything a calmer world expects them to do or why drug dealers who poison others flourish.

Forty-plus years ago a conservative rabbi by the name of Harold Kushner tried to explain the theory in the classic book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. The book was a best-seller though not everyone bought Kushner’s explanation that God does what He/She can but cannot manage all the details of the world.

Things may just happen for no good reason at all.

It is only we search for the reason when reason may not be the important element. Is it really more important to understand

why bad things happen to good people or to do our part to make things better?

I’m counting on the latter and I’m counting on you this holiday season.

As shopping and cooking and decorating our homes for the holidays reaches a feverish pitch, what are we

doing as human beings to show true compassion, not just to give a gaily wrapped present to a family member, but to give of our hearts and our generosity to those who need it?

Are we staring at shelves of toys trying to figure out which one our child wants or do we decide instead to go into a grocery wholesaler or retailer and buy staples and non-perishables for someone in need? Did we remember to take a hot meal or a blanket to a homeless person? Did we sacrifice any one thing that we probably did not need anyway so we could do one

more thing for someone who needs a helping hand?

This is the time of year when everyone’s emotions run the gamut – happiness is happier, sadness more poignant.

Depression thrives during what is supposed to be the happiest of holidays. Missing loved ones who lost their lives to illness this year or leaving an empty chair for someone who cannot be present can cause such ache that the heart feels as though it will break in two.

The difference between joy and sadness feels more pronounced, the need to help those who are

struggling feels a little more urgent.

It matters not why bad things happen to good people. What matters is what we do as individuals to make it better for at least one person this holiday season. Just one person. Multiply that by a dozen people and if we each do that little bit, reach out, help someone, help a few more, then truly we will know the spirit of the holidays for it is not about what we get but about what we give, especially to those good people that bad things happen to and it’s not their fault.

PAGE 10, Friday, December 22, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

Faith groups say more foster families needed to care for the children coming to the US alone FLORIDA Associated Press SNUGGLING on the sofa across from the Christmas tree, Sol proudly showed off the dog her foster parents gave her for earning all A’s even though she crossed the southern U.S. border knowing very little English.

“They helped me a lot,” said the 14-year-old eighth grader. Then she blushed, hid her face in Cosmo’s fur, and added in Spanish, “Oooh, I said that English!”

Sol — who is from Argentina — is among tens of thousands of children who arrive in the United States without a parent, during a huge surge in immigrants that’s prompting congressional debate to change asylum laws.

Faith and community groups across the country are trying to recruit many more foster families to help move the children from overwhelmed government facilities. U.S. authorities encountered nearly 140,000 unaccompanied minors at the border with Mexico in fiscal year 2023, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Almost 10,000 are still in custody of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement, according to its latest data.

“It’s amazing the quantity of children who are

SOL, left, a 14-year-old from Argentina, kisses 8-year-old Maddie Hazelton as they play together in the kitchen of Sol’s foster parents, Andy, right, and Caroline Hazelton, in Homestead, Florida, on Monday. Sol is among tens of thousands of children who have arrived in the United States without a parent during a huge surge in immigrants that’s prompting congressional debate to change asylum laws.

Photo: Rebecca Blackwell/AP coming,” said Mónica Farías, who leads the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami.

“We’re actively recruiting parents.”

Program leaders have been going to churches and other community organizations every

Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club, Great Guana Cay, Abaco is looking for:

Human Resources Coordinator Overview: Through the direction of the Human Resources leadership, the Coordinator will be responsible for employee compensation and benefits program, including but not limited to the administration of the Company’s group health plan, wellness initiatives, supplies management, goodwill communications, and employee personnel actions (transfers, promotions, increases, special increases).

The Human Resources Coordinator will be responsible for the administrative and clerical functions of the Department such as maintaining personnel records and assisting with the new team member onboarding program.

The Human Resources Coordinator will also be responsible for championing and promoting good employee relations; on behalf of the Club as one that cares for its team members by developing a culture of professionalism, respect for others, team building, and adherence to the Company’s code of conduct and core values.

The Coordinator is required to have an extensive knowledge of human resources policies and procedures and local Bahamian employment law.

Responsibilities UÊ 1 `iÀÊÌ iÊ i>`iÀà «Ê vÊÌ iÊ Ãà ÃÌ> ÌÊ ÀiVÌ ÀÊ> `ÊÌ iÊ i>`iÀà «Ê vÊ the Department Coordinate the club’s group health plans (Colina Ê > `Ê1 Ìi`Ê i> Ì V>Ài®Ê V Õ` }ÊLÕÌÊ ÌÊ Ìi`ÊÌ ÊÌ i ÞÊi À i ÌÊÊ of employees and dependents, overseeing plan changes (life volume, terminations) and reconciliation of the monthly invoices.

UÊ À` >ÌiÊ> `Êv>V Ì>ÌiÊÌ iÊ >Ê"À i Ì>Ì ÉÊ v À >Ì Ê-iÃà ° UÊ i>`ÊÌ iÊ>` ÃÌÀ>Ì Ê vÊÌ iÊV «> Þ½ÃÊ « ÞiiÊ7i iÃà Program including but not limited to: o Programs to reduce areas experiencing large claims. o Programs to educate staff on common health conditions. Ê Ê ÃÌ>L à }Ê* Þà V> Ê> `Ê7i iÃÃÊ*À }À> ð UÊ ` ÃÌiÀÊ> `ÊV À` >ÌiÊÌ iÊi « ÞiiÊ «i Ã>Ì Ê> `Ê i iwÌÃÊ portfolio.

Requirements UÊ >V i À½ÃÊ i}ÀiiÊ Ê Õ > Ê,ià ÕÀViÃÊ > >}i i Ì]Ê Õà iÃÃÊÊ Ê > >}i i Ì]Ê ÀÊ>ÊÀi >Ìi`Êwi `° UÊ *ÀiÛ ÕÃÊiÝ«iÀ i ViÊ Ê Õ > Ê,ià ÕÀViÃÊ Ê Õ ÊÎÊÞi>ÀÃÊ vÊÊ Ê experience in a private club or hospitality industry.

UÊ *À Ûi ÊiÝ«iÀ i ViÊÜ À }Ê Ê>Ê À` >Ì À½ÃÊV>«>V ÌÞÊ Ê Õ Ê Ê Ó ÎÊÞi>ÀÃÊ UÊ *À Ûi ÊiÝ«iÀ i ViÊÜ À }Ê Ê>Ê Õ Ì « i ÕÌ iÌÊ «iÀ>Ì UÊ - Õ `Ê Ü i`}iÊ vÊÌ iÊ > > > Ê « Þ i ÌÊ >Ü° UÊ *,É ]Ê ÀÃÌÊ `Ê iÀÌ wi`° Interested applicants may apply on or before December 31, 2023: www.careers@Bakersbayclub.com

weekend to find more families like Andy and Caroline Hazelton, Sol’s foster parents.

Over the past four years, the Hazeltons — a couple in their early 30s living in a Miami suburb, with three biological daughters ages 8, 6 and almost 2 — have fostered five migrant minors for several months and more for shorter periods. Two teens were from Afghanistan, but most came from Central America.

“Our faith inspired us,” Andy Hazelton said, adding they felt the need to respond to the Gospel exhortation of helping others as one would help Jesus when they heard about families being separated at the border.

Like other foster families, the Hazeltons say they focus not on the often stridently divisive politics of immigration, but simply on assisting children in need. A globe ornament on their living room Christmas tree is marked with dots for the birthplaces of each family member.

“Every Christmas we have new kids in our home,” Caroline Hazelton said, adding that even the Muslim Afghan teens, who had never seen a stocking bulging with presents, quickly joined the festivities.

Like most youths in these programs, those boys were eventually reunited with their birth family — the mother hugged Caroline for ten minutes, sobbing in gratefulness. With Sol, whose father has gone missing on the journey across the desert, and other children without relatives in the United States, foster families’ commitments can last years.

As Sol packed her school lunch in a “Stranger Things” bag under Cosmo’s watchful eyes, the Hazeltons said they would be happy to have her stay forever and already refer to their four daughters.

Regardless of the length of stay, foster parents say they need to give the children enough stability to get comfortable with unfamiliar U.S. customs — from air conditioning to strict school routines — and to learn more English.

“We’re never going to be like their parents.

Thank God we live in a country where things can be easier,” said Carlos Zubizarreta. A foster child himself 50 years ago, he’s been a foster parent in the Miami area for about 30 children over nearly two decades, in addition to having biological, now adult children.

Nevertheless, he always finds it hard when each foster child leaves after they’ve shared nightly dinners, vacations, and household tasks like car maintenance. Zubizarreta plans to continue to foster as long as he feels that is what God is calling him to do.

In Baltimore, Jason Herring has been a foster father for a year, to five children from Central America through a program run by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service that focuses on short-term care for those whose return to biological parents is being assessed by the government.

He says he is not religious — initially, he feared he wouldn’t be accepted in the program for being gay. That led him to sympathize with the plight of children suffering because of adult decisions they have no power over.

“I understand what it feels to be the other,” he said. “You don’t have to be a perfect parent, just be there.”

Like all foster families, those taking in unaccompanied migrant children must be licensed by their state, and often receive extra training specific to immigration law and trauma, said Amanda Nosel, the Lutheran agency’s program manager for foster care in Baltimore.

“There’s certainly a national shortage in foster parents right now. We have so many kids who need homes,” Nosel said.

Acclimating to a new country in a caring family setting is especially important given the deep and increasing level of trauma these children carry, from what they had to flee in their countries through the journey to the United States.

“It’s trauma on top of trauma on top of trauma.

Kids are just living in survival mode,” said Sarah Howell, a clinical social worker in Houston with long experience counseling migrant children, including a teenage girl

she’s raising.

They often internalize fear and grieving so much that they appear mature beyond their age, while still being terrified that any new familial relationship will abandon them. It takes a while before foster parents are relieved to see regular child or teen behavior make an appearance — even if that means refusing all but junk food or sibling bickering, it’s still a sign of normalcy.

“All of them are kids, but with an adult age,” said Bernie Vilar, who works as a mentor in a home for vulnerable youth, including those who age out of Miami’s Catholic Charities foster care. Vilar, 24, was homeless when he was younger, and he tries to pass on the passion for education that helped him survive that.

But he says many are too burdened by the debts they owe the smugglers who brought them to the U.S. to be interested in anything but work, while others struggle with depression after witnessing death and violence on their journeys.

Brandon Garcia, 20, seems to have beaten the odds. After crossing alone at 15 because his parents told him he would have no opportunities in Guatemala’s Indigenous highlands, he spent six months living with the Hazeltons and is now in Vilar’s group home, finishing technical college.

He still misses his family, but loves the Hazeltons’ daughters as his own sisters. At a holiday party in a suburban Miami bowling alley organized by the Catholic Charities program, he played with them at intervals between bites of pizza and aiming for strikes with other young men.

Garcia said the speed of change as he adapted to the United States was hard, but he has never thought of going back.

His happiest moment came when the Hazeltons brought him to Orlando’s theme parks — a holiday tradition that they plan to continue this year with Sol – and they watched the fireworks display.

“I felt the same happiness as with my family,” Garcia said. “I told myself, this is a country of great opportunities, and I have to take advantage of them.”

SPORTS PAGE 11

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2023

Pratt and Newman national champions

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER ‘CONFIDENT’ SWIMMING COMPLEX WILL BE READY FOR CARIFTA

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

T

he 2023 Giorgio Baldacci Open National Tennis Championships saw Simone Pratt and Baker Newman claim the championship hardware for the women’s and men’s divisions respectively.

Pratt upset the first ranked Sydney Clarke yesterday in the women’s singles finals.

Meanwhile, Newman overpowered Rodney Carey Jr to claim his third national victory.

The finals were spectacular for the women and men’s divisions as both ended in three sets yesterday. The third ranked Pratt had to earn her trophy after Clarke gave it all she had in their championship showdown.

The 22-year-old notched the set one victory 7-6(5).

The newly-crowned women’s national champion recovered despite the windy weather conditions and stole set two 6-3. She solved Clarke’s formula in the final set and dominated her 6-1 to win her second national honours in over a decade.

“I feel like it was a great match, we both came out to play. It was a lot of windy conditions again today. I just had to go out there, face the wind and move my feet. I feel like I played my game and I was able to come out with the win today,” Pratt said.

She talked about what changed for her mentally in the final set.

“In the third set I said to myself I have to come out with strong shots, not a lot of mistakes and errors.

I just played more aggressively, opening up the court and I feel like that’s what really gave me the win,” she said.

For her the victory felt great and she is now going to work on preparing herself to represent The Bahamas at the Billie Jean King Cup tournament next year.

MARIO BOWLEG

second set as he steamrolled Carey Jr 6-0. With

EXCITEMENT is slowly building for the 2024 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships to be hosted in Nassau, Bahamas March 28 to April 7.

However, concerns have arisen regarding whether the repairs at the Betty Kelly-Kenning Aquatic Centre will be completed on time and how the ongoing renovations affects the athletes’ preparation ahead of the swimming championships.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg declared his confidence in the swim facility’s facelift being concluded in time for The Bahamas’ fifth hosting of the regional competition.

“I am quite confident in the present contractor that is dealing with the pool.

We intend to have a press conference that will deal to the repairs of the pool in January so then you will be updated on where we are at with the pools.

“I am sure come Easter we will be hosting this event, there is no doubt about that, there is no question about that,” Bowleg said.

With renovations underway at the national facility, the pool is currently inaccessible to swimmers which has relegated the athletes to practicing for the marquee event in 25 metre pools ahead of their potential sixpeat at home.

Algernon Cargill, president of the Bahamas Aquatics Federation, echoed the sentiments of the minister and said Team Bahamas will be ready.

“We are confident as the minister said that the facility will be ready in February in time for the athletes to be able to qualify to represent The Bahamas. We have no doubt that the athletes will be ready. They are

SEE PAGE 12

SEE PAGE 12

ALL FOR ONE: The third ranked Simone Pratt dropped first ranked Sydney Clarke in a three-setter yesterday in the Giorgio Baldacci Open National Tennis Championships to become the 2023 women’s national champion.

Photos: Tenajh Sweeting/Tribune Staff

A FIRM VICTORY: Baker Newman knocked off Rodney Carey Jr in the men’s singles finals at the Giorgio Baldacci Open National Tennis Championships yesterday at the National Tennis Centre.

The battle of the veterans ended with Newman earning bragging rights over Carey Jr

SPORTS CALENDAR BAAA Odd Distance Track and Field Meet Date: Friday, December 22 Venue: The original Thomas A Robinson Stadium The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) is set to host their first track and field meet of the season on Friday from 1-6pm at the aforementioned venue. The event will feature divisions, including under-7, under-9, under-11, under-13, under-15, under-17, under-20, and open.

MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY FUN WALK THE Men’s Department of Macedonia Baptist Church is scheduled to hold a Family Fun Walk Race to kick off the new year and the beginning of its Men’s Anniversary at 6am on Saturday, January 6. The event will honour the late Minister Charles Albury, who passed

yesterday. After winning back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016, the 28-year-old secured his third crown in a

Dec 2023

away this year. It starts at the church on Bernard Road, Fox Hill, and heads west on Bernard Road to the Village Road round-a-bout and returns on Bernard Road to the church.

Awards will be presented to the first three finishers in each category for men and women. Registration fee is $20 per person. Interested persons are urged to contact Brent Stubbs at 426-7265 or stubbobs@gmail.com for further information.

A BASEBALL CHRISTMAS THE National Sports Authority is slated to host a Baseball Christmas at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium December 22-23.

The public is invited to come out and get signed autographs from the Bahamian pro baseball players, who will also compete in a series of games. Tickets are priced at $5.

three-setter. He got off to a slow start against his opponent and fell 2-6. However, something clicked in the

Parenting a young athlete in today’s world PARENTING a child athlete is a multifaceted challenge that requires more than just sideline support. As a parent and a sports medicine professional, I’ve experienced and witnessed the hurdles and joys of this journey.

Here, I’ll share not only the challenges but also practical solutions and real-world examples to guide parents in this rewarding yet demanding role.

Financial Commitment: Balancing Dreams and Budgets The cost of sports can be staggering. However, planning and budgeting can help manage these expenses.

Seeking out community grants, sponsorships, and second-hand equipment are practical steps to reduce financial strain.

For instance, various corporate and civic entities, and even private citizens

DR KENT BAZARD provide financial assistance for sports registration and equipment, making these expenses more manageable. Like they say “you have not if you ask not.”

Training and Health Management: Prioritising Well-being The physical demands on young athletes are intense. To manage this, regular rest days and cross-training can prevent overuse injuries.

Engaging with healthcare professionals like me for personalised training plans and medical management is essential. Shameless plug incoming: comprehensive programmes like ours at Empire Sports Medicine integrates sport-specific training with medical support and mental conditioning.

Nutrition: Crafting the Right Fuel Nutritional challenges are common but addressing them can be straightforward.

Consulting a nutritionist or a sports physician like myself can lead to a

SEE PAGE 14

PAGE 12, Friday, December 22, 2023

THE TRIBUNE

MINISTER BOWLEG ‘CONFIDENT’ SWIM COMPLEX WILL BE READY FOR CARIFTA FROM PAGE 11 currently training in 25 metre pools here in Nassau and Grand Bahama. Marvin for example, he won all of those CARIFTA medals last year training in a 25 yard pool at McCallie School,” the president said.

“While it would be ideal to train in the 50m pool…we know how to improvise and we will certainly improvise ensuring that Team Bahamas is ready for 2024,” he added.

Team Bahamas had a record showing at the 2023 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships in Willemstad, Curaçao.

The swim team was greeted by the sounds of sweet junkanoo music at home after hauling in an historic 85 medals which included 37 gold medals, 27 silver medals and 21 bronze medals.

Marvin Johnson, who recently committed to the University of Florida, played an integral role in The Bahamas’ five peat, capturing nine medals at the event.

Although the swimmers are unable to practice at the Betty Kelly-Kenning Aquatic Centre, Johnson said it is not a major setback.

“I was born and raised in Freeport, Grand Bahama, to train in a pool that is small has not been something new to me. When you speak about swimming in a 50m pool, it is not what makes you a great swimmer.

“I think something that The Bahamas and the Bahamian people in general really have is

we love to fight and we love to race so no matter what length of the pool they put me in or I train in, when it comes to race day I am ready to represent The Bahamas to the best of my abilities and it has been working so far,” the top swimmer said.

Elle Theberge, who is looking to make her third CARIFTA Aquatics team, said training in the 25m pool is a bit of an adjustment for her.

“It is a bit of an adjustment for me but our coach is pushing

us very hard in the pool, making sure that we are ready either way.

“We are able to work on other things like our turns so it is very helpful for us in that aspect,” she said.

The government allocated $10 million to facilitate the repairs at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium along with the Betty Kelly-Kenning Aquatic Centre. Renovations began in November and are expected to be done by March, according to Minister Bowleg.

SIMONE PRATT, BAKER NEWMAN EARN TITLES AT THE OPEN TENNIS NATIONALS

Rams hold off Saints 30-22 to surge forward in NFC playoff race

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer INGLEWOOD, Calif.

(AP) — Matthew Stafford passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns, rookie Puka Nacua had nine catches for a career-high 164 yards and a score, and the Los Angeles Rams surged forward in the NFC playoff race with a 30-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints last night.

Kyren Williams rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown, and Demarcus Robinson added 82 yards receiving and another score in the fifth victory in six games for the Rams (8-7), who are above .500 for the first time since Week 1.

With its second win in five days during a selfdescribed remodeling season, Los Angeles also jumped past Minnesota (7-7) and moved to sixth in the NFC standings in its bid to secure a wild card playoff spot — and an increasingly possible opening-round showdown with the Detroit Lions, Stafford’s team for 12 seasons.

Los Angeles led 30-7 with 12:44 left in the fourth quarter after scoring on six of its first eight possessions, but allowed its opponent to

make it interesting for the second straight week.

Derek Carr threw TD passes to Juwan Johnson and A.T. Perry on the Saints’ next two drives, with a 2-point conversion trimming the Rams’ lead to eight points with 3:53 to play.

But Nacua recovered an onside kick and then got a key first down on a 9-yard jet sweep, and the Rams ran out the clock on their fourth straight home victory.

Carr passed for 319 yards and hit Rashid Shaheed for an early 45-yard TD for the Saints (7-8), whose twogame winning streak ended with a painfully slow start and 458 yards allowed by their defense.

Although this loss hurts its chances, New Orleans is still in serious contention for a playoff spot and the NFC South title because it finishes the season with two games against division opponents, starting with Tampa Bay on New Year’s Eve. Stafford had yet another outstanding game down the stretch in his 15th NFL season. He has 14 touchdown passes and one interception in the Rams’ last five games, and he has

FROM PAGE 11

LOS Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, top, makes a catch over New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner during the first half of an NFL football game last night.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis) thrown multiple TD passes one touchdown in its previ- Rams jersey. The two-way in five straight games for ous 12 quarters of play. superstar and two-time only the third time in his Los Angeles led 17-7 at AL MVP will now play his career. halftime when Stafford led home games about 13 miles Williams, who missed a 35-second scoring drive from SoFi Stadium after four games at midseason ending in a short TD throw agreeing to a $700 million with a sprained ankle, still to Robinson in the final contract with the Dodgers became the Rams’ first minute. this month.

1,000-yard rusher since After Rams safety Ohtani was named The Todd Gurley in 2018 with Jordan Fuller intercepted Associated Press’ Male his latest impressive burst. Carr’s long pass on New Athlete of the Year for the He has six 100-yard per- Orleans’ first drive of the second time in three years formances in his last eight second half, Stafford led earlier Thursday. games. another TD drive ending in INJURIES Nacua also had the most three consecutive runs for Saints: RT Ryan Ramproductive game in the 27 yards and a TD by Wil- czyk (knee) missed his last two months during his liams for a 27-7 lead. second straight game. ... breakout rookie season, The Saints had three RB Kendre Miller (ankle) while Robinson caught drives end when they failed missed his sixth straight a TD pass in his fourth on fourth down in Rams game. straight game. territory. Chris Olave finRams: Rookie DB Tre Los Angeles went 95 ished with nine receptions Tomlinson (hamstring) yards in 14 plays consum- for 123 yards. missed his first game of the ing more than half of the SHO’S HOUSE season. first quarter on its opening Shohei Ohtani attended UP NEXT drive, which ended with a the game, greeting playSaints: At Tampa Bay on fourth-down TD pass from ers on the sideline about Dec. 31.

Stafford to Nacua. New an hour before kickoff Rams: At the New York Orleans had allowed just and receiving a No. 17 Giants on Dec. 31.

his opponent now on the ropes, Newman delivered the final blow to take it 6-1. “Its been a long week, this is match number four.

It started off a little slow, Rodney was playing well at the start. I felt like it took me a little bit to kind of sink in today because it is day four at it, but I picked it up from the start of the second set. I didn’t let the first set phase me and I just kept playing and competed,” he said.

Despite the physical toll endured at this week’s Giorgio Baldacci Open National Tennis Championships, the national champion was very proud of his efforts in the end.

“It feels great to win. I am proud of myself, I had a lot of adversity this week.

Conditions were tough and I haven’t played that many tournaments lately so I just threw myself into it and I am happy,” he said.

Elana Mackey, last year’s defending champion, ended her tournament experience in third place after ousting Takaii Adderley in three sets. The match between the two lasted 3.5 hours.

Adderley, the 2023 junior national champion, won 7-5 in set one.

However, Mackey reeled off consecutive wins 6-3, 6-2 to close out her opponent and the 2023 tennis year.

Kansas City aims to lock up AFC West, continue dominance of Raiders in Christmas Day matchup

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The one-sided nature of the Chiefs’ recent history with the Las Vegas Raiders perhaps appropriately mimics the way the AFC West has turned into a one-team division since Andy Reid arrived in Kansas City just over a decade ago.

After second-place finishes in his first three seasons, Reid has led the Chiefs to seven straight division titles, and they could clinch their eighth on Monday with a victory over the Raiders — or a tie if the Broncos lose to the Patriots the previous night. The only streak longer in NFL history belongs to the Patriots, who won 11 straight AFC East championships from 2009 to 2019.

“That’s something we talk about at the beginning of the year: Our first goal is to win the AFC West,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “We have to be ready this week, and that would clinch our first goal if we are able to do that.”

The Chiefs (9-5) also are trying to keep their hopes alive of earning the AFC’s No. 1 seed and lone first-round playoff bye.

They head into the weekend two games back of the Ravens and a game behind the Dolphins, whom they have already defeated.

The Chiefs have an easier

finishing stretch than either of those teams, and it begins with Las Vegas (6-8), which they have beaten six straight times and 11 of the last 12 in a series dating to Sept. 16, 1960, when the Chiefs were in Dallas and the Raiders in Oakland. In fact, the Raiders have won only once at Arrowhead Stadium since Oct. 28, 2012.

“It’s a team that I’m just tired of losing to,” said Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson, who thought back to their 31-17 loss to the Chiefs in late November. “We’ve got the pieces.

We’ve got the guys to be able to beat that team, and unfortunately we took an ‘L.’ That’s something I thought about for a long time. I’m happy that it’s back, that we’ve got an opportunity.”

Despite the lopsided nature of the rivalry, the Chiefs and Raiders remain just that: rivals.

There is a mutual hatred between the franchises, borne of the days of Len Dawson and Jim Otto, nurtured through the era of Bill Kenney and Jim Plunkett, and continuing into the present. Mahomes is 10-1 in his career against the Raiders.

“Any time you play a team like this,” Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell said, “you got to stay within yourself.

Play one play at a time.

Obviously there is history between the two teams, but I think any game you have

KANSAS City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay (50) celebrates in front of New England Patriots centre David Andrews (60) after intercepting a pass thrown by quarterback Bailey Zappe, not shown, during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, December 17.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa) to lock in on each play, each situation, try to stay ahead of the sticks and just make smart decisions.”

PLAYING ON CHRISTMAS This is not the first time the Raiders and Chiefs have played on Christmas Day — the Chiefs won 31-30 in overtime in 2004, when Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez had two TDs apiece for Kansas City.

The Chiefs also have a December 25 win over the Broncos in 2016 and a Christmas loss to the

Dolphins in the divisional round of the playoffs in 1971.

The only other game the Raiders have played on Christmas was in 2017, when they lost at Philadelphia.

AND PLAYING SANTA Mahomes gives his offensive line gifts each year, and this year it was tricked-out golf carts that the big fellas whipped around the Arrowhead Stadium parking lot.

Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams heard

about it and was impressed, but noted that his own rookie QB probably won’t have anything quite so extravagant lined up for his guys. “It’s a lot better than some gifts that I’ve seen quarterbacks give across the league. That’s a hell of a gift,” Adams said, “but Aidan’s bank account I don’t think is ready for that.

So he’ll do that when he’s ready.”

FLUKE OR FABULOUS The Raiders raised plenty of eyebrows a week ago,

when they set a franchise scoring record in their 63-21 victory over the Chargers.

They scored a club-record 42 points in the first half, and eight different Raiders reached the end zone.

Now, they need to prove that it was not a one-off occurrence.

“We’re not expecting to have 60 points every time we go out there, but it was more the style and togetherness that we played with,” Adams said.

“When you can go out there and play together like that and everybody does their job and play at a high level, it’s fun. So, hopefully we can continue to do that.”

FINISHING MATTERS The Raiders have gotten off to good starts in two of their last three games against Kansas City, jumping out to a 17-0 lead in their October 2022 matchup and leading 14-0 earlier this season. In both cases, the Chiefs rallied for victories.

SPEAKING OF FINISHING The Chiefs are last in the NFL in fourth-quarter scoring, averaging 2.8 points per game — a full point behind Arizona, the next-to-last team. They were shut out

by New England last week and managed only a field goal the previous week against Buffalo.

“We’ve got to do better there,” Reid said.

“Bottom line, you have to score.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 22, 2023, PAGE 13

FALL FOR Ja Morant has 20 points PISTONS 25TH STRAIGHT TIME, in first home game after MOVE WITHIN LOSS OF TYING NBA SINGLEsuspension, Grizzlies SEASON RECORD beat Pacers 116-103

By CLAY BAILEY Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant had 20 points and eight assists in his first home game following a 25-game suspension to help the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Indiana Pacers 116-103 last night.

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 31 points and also had seven assists.

Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points and seven rebounds.

Bane was 11 of 26 from the field and 5 of 12 from 3-point range, while Morant shot 7 of 15.

Memphis was still relishing in Morant’s return Tuesday night in New Orleans when the he scored 34 points and made the winning, spinning layup as time expired.

He was suspended by the NBA for waving a gun at least twice on social media.

Obi Toppin led Indiana with 22 points. Tyrese Haliburton added 17 points and 14 assists, and Buddy Hield and Myles Turner each had 15 points.

Memphis, which led 86-77 entering the third, stretched it to 17 at the midway point of the fourth and coasted to its second straight victory.

The Pacers were coming off a 144-113 victory in Charlotte on Wednesday night.

With Morant back, the Grizzlies seem to have a new attitude that showed in the first half. By the midway point of the second quarter, Memphis was shooting at 60% overall and 50% form 3-point

BUDDY HIELD SCORES 15 WITH FOUR ASSISTS, TWO STEALS

MEMPHIS Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman (2) dunks ahead of Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield (7) in the second half last night.

(AP Photo/Brandon Dill) range. The lead had reached 22 points.

But the Pacers had a 27-6 run to cut Memphis’

advantage to 58-56 at halftime. And by early in the third, the Pacers had erased the lead after a pair

of baskets from Haliburton. Pacers host Orlando tonight and Grizzlies face Atlanta tonight.

DETROIT (AP) — Kelly Olynyk scored 25 points and the short-handed Utah Jazz beat Detroit 119-111 last night for the Pistons’ 25th straight loss — one short of the NBA single season record.

The 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers share the record at 26. The 76ers hold the overall mark at 28, a skid that started in the 2014-15 season and carried over into 2015-16.

Back in action Saturday night in Brooklyn, the Pistons are 2-26 under firstyear coach Monty Williams.

THUNDER 134, CLIPPERS 115 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai GilgeousAlexander scored 31 points, Chet Holmgren gave Oklahoma City the lead for good with a dunk he threw off the backboard to himself and the Thunder ended Los Angeles’ nine-game winning streak.

Holmgren had with 23 points and Lu Dort added 21 for the Thunder, who shot 58.6% from the field to win for the fifth time in six games.

James Harden scored 23 points and Paul George added 22 for the Clippers, who hadn’t lost since falling at Golden State on Nov. 30. Los Angeles forward Kawhi Leonard was out with a bruised right hip.

BUCKS 118, MAGIC 114 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Milwaukee beat Orlando for its sixth consecutive victory — all at home on the longest homestand of the season.

The Bucks have won 15 straight games at Fiserv Forum, their longest single-season home winning

streak since 1991-92 when they won their first 18 at home.

Damian Lillard added 24 points and eight assists for Milwaukee.

Franz Wagner scored 29 points for Orlando. The Magic have lost four in a row.

BULLS 114, SPURS 95 CHICAGO (AP) — Coby White scored 22 points and Chicago handed San Antonio its 21st loss in 22 games.

White had 12 points in the fourth quarter to help the Bulls break it open.

DeMar DeRozan finished with 21 points after scoring 27 the previous night in a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Devin Vassell led San Antonio with 21 points.

Prized rookie Victor Wembanyama had a season-low seven points and five rebounds after setting an NBA record for a teenager with eight straight double-doubles. The No. 1 overall draft pick played 22 minutes after missing a blowout loss Tuesday night at Milwaukee.

PELICANS 123, CAVALIERS 104 CLEVELAND (AP) — Trey Murphy III scored 28 points while starting in place of New Orleans star Zion Williamson — out with an illness — and the Pelicans pulled away in the second half to beat undermanned Cleveland.

Williamson didn’t travel with the Pelicans, who have been battling a flu bug that has been making its way though the team and affecting several other players in the past few days. Murphy started for the first time this season and made six 3-pointers as the Pelicans won for the fifth time in six games.

Shohei Ohtani is AP Male Athlete of the Year for the 2nd time in 3 years

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Before Shohei Ohtani stepped into the bright lights of Hollywood and signed the most lucrative contract in professional sports history, baseball’s two-way superstar put together yet another season of unparalleled brilliance from Tokyo to Anaheim.

What can this singular talent possibly do next?

The Los Angeles Dodgers are eagerly paying $700 million to see for themselves.

But what Ohtani already did in 2023 — both for the Los Angeles Angels and for Japan’s team in the World Baseball Classic — is the reason he was selected as The Associated Press’ Male Athlete of the Year for the second time in three years.

“Shohei is arguably the most talented player who’s ever played this game,” said Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, after signing Ohtani to a 10-year contract last week.

Ohtani edged Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi and tennis great Novak Djokovic for the AP honor in voting by a panel of sports media professionals.

Ohtani received 20 of 87 votes, while Messi and Djokovic got 16 apiece.

Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets’ NBA Finals MVP, got 12 votes.

After winning his first AP Male Athlete of the Year award in 2021, Ohtani has joined an impressive list of two-time winners of the honor, which was first handed out in 1931.

Multiple-time winners include Don Budge, Byron Nelson, Carl Lewis, Joe Montana, Michael Jordan,

Michael Phelps and fourtime honorees Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong.

Four-time winner LeBron James is another generational superstar who chose Los Angeles as a free agent, while two-time honoree Sandy Koufax remains one of the greatest players to wear Dodger Blue.

Ohtani has upended decades of conventional wisdom during his six years in the majors, even surpassing most achievements of Babe Ruth while playing in an infinitely more difficult era.

Most new frontiers in sports are crossed incrementally and gradually, but Ohtani has toppled barriers that stood for a century with peerless skills, confidence and hard work.

Ohtani unanimously won the AL MVP award in 2021, and he repeated the feat in 2023 after finishing second in 2022 to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, last year’s AP Male Athlete of the Year.

This year began with Ohtani’s dazzling MVP performance for Japan’s championship team in the World Baseball Classic — complete with a clinching strikeout of Angels teammate Mike Trout. He then turned in his third consecutive spectacular season both on the mound and at the plate in Anaheim despite an early end after he injured his pitching elbow in August.

Ohtani led the AL with 44 homers, 78 extra-base hits, 325 total bases and a 1.066 OPS as the Halos’ designated hitter. He also held hitters to an AL-best .184 batting average while ranking second in the league with 11.39 strikeouts per nine innings and third with a 3.14 ERA at the time of his injury.

LOS Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws against the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning during the first baseball game of a doubleheader on July 27 in Detroit. Shohei Ohtani has been named The Associated Press’ Male Athlete of the Year for the second time in three years.

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya) “There’s nobody like him, pitched 9 2/3 innings, rack- one of the majors’ best hitand there’s nothing that you ing up 11 strikeouts with a ters while he waits to see if would say he can’t do,” 1.86 ERA. his pitching elbow will heal former Angels manager The championship game again.

Phil Nevin said late in the ended in storybook fashion “One of the many things season. “Anything is possi- with Ohtani striking out we’ve come to appreciate ble with Sho. I don’t know Trout, the three-time AL over the years about Shohei who else you could say that MVP and Ohtani’s longtime is watching him never take about in baseball history.”

Angels teammate, for the a pitch off, no matter the Ohtani left Japan in late final out in Japan’s victory score of the game,” Fried2017 to pursue his dreams over the U.S. man said. “I’ve seen him in at his sport’s highest level, Ohtani then turned games where his team is up and his exploits are fol- in another outstanding, big or down big, grinding lowed in microscopic detail unique season with the each pitch late in an at-bat by his fans in his homeland. Angels before he hurt his — hustling, doing everyWhen he got his first chance elbow and eventually had thing he can to leg out an to play for Japan in the a second surgery that will infield hit late in a game.”

World Baseball Classic last almost certainly prevent While Ohtani has redespring, Ohtani seized the him from pitching in 2024, fined what’s possible moment with both hands. just as he missed nearly in modern baseball, he Ohtani was outstand- all of 2019 and 2020 as a accomplished another ing in Japan’s games in pitcher. unprecedented feat Tokyo and Miami, batting His injury history did by signing his record.435 with four doubles and nothing to suppress his setting contract.

The a homer despite getting free-agent value, partly deep-pocketed Dodgers walked 10 times. He also because Ohtani can remain eagerly invested in the

29-year-old Ohtani’s next decade while knowing his worldwide fame generates revenue no other baseball player can touch.

“I’m still in the pinch-me phase, to be honest,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Can’t believe we’re going to have the opportunity to have him wear a Dodger uniform. One of the most talented players ever to put on a baseball uniform is now a Dodger.”

Ohtani did nearly everything except win with the Angels, who haven’t had a winning season since 2015.

When he hit free agency this winter, he eventually chose the nearby club that has had only two losing seasons in the 21st century, none since 2010.

The Dodgers won the aggressive competition for Ohtani’s services by offering that gargantuan — and structurally creative — contract, but also a supportive environment on the West Coast, supremely talented teammates and the resources to get more — along with a winning culture around a team that has made 11 consecutive playoff appearances.

“I can’t wait to join the Dodgers,” Ohtani said through his translator, Ippei Mizuhara.

“They share the same passion as me. They have a vision and history all about winning. I share the same values.”

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THE TRIBUNE

MACRON SAYS A SECURITY CRISIS COULD FORCE RETHINK OF OLYMPIC OPENING SHOW

By JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press

PICTURED, from left to right: Tina Lightbourne, City of Hope (formerly, Cancer Treatment Centers of America), Bahamas Half Title Sponsor; Anastacia Turnquest, BRRC President; Shantell Cox, Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group; Melissa Major, MD Patient Navigation Services; and Michael Cunningham, BRRC Vice President.

ROADMASTERS RUNNING CLUB PRESENTS $5,000 TO SISTER SISTER BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP, MD PATIENT NAVIGATION SERVICES BAHAMAS Roadmasters Running Club (BRRC), is pleased to present part proceeds from their 11th annual Baha >ÃÊ > vÊ >À>Ì ÊEÊ£ä Ê Race Series to Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, and MD Patient Navigation Services. Each received the amount of $5000.

Sister Sister Bahamas, started by three compassionate and concerned women, seeks to bring about awareness and care to individuals who have been diagnosed with

breast cancer. MD Patient Navigation Services’ mandate is helping patients navigate the health system across its many facets toward ensuring appropriate care is being rendered to the patient and support to their family members.

Since members of the running club have also experienced health challenges, the club found it fitting to partner with various local non-profit organisations to help others who may be facing similar situations. Established in 1990, BRRC is

the leading sports club whose concentration is the promotion of distance running in The Bahamas thereby, encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

They prepare interested persons for running marathons (26.2 miles) or a half marathons (13.1 miles) locally and internationally.

Over the years the club has engaged the local and international running communities through their two annual signature events, Bahamas Half Race series (held in November) and the Midnight Madness

£ä Ê Õ Ê ,Õ É7> Ê ­ i `Ê in June).

Believing in benevolence, the club and its members have given back significantly to the Bahamian community throughout the past years.

Club President Anastasia Turnquest said.

“It’s through the generous contributions of our sponsors, contributors and race participants that we are able to be a blessing to others.

“Individually we may not be able to do a whole lot, but when we combine

our efforts, we make a tremendous impact.”

She expressed her gratitude to the corporate entities and individuals who have generously supported their initiatives.

“We believe exercise is the key to a healthy life. We encourage interested runners to run with us every Saturday,” according to Michael Cunningham, the club’s vice president.

The club can be contacted at www.bahamasroadmasters.com or VÉ \ÊÓ{Ó°ÎxÇ°ÇäÎx

CAN ARSENAL, LIVERPOOL OR ASTON VILLA END MAN CITY’S PREMIER LEAGUE DOMINANCE?

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — While Manchester City is away, its Premier League title rivals have been getting into position to try to end the three-time defending champions’ domestic dominance.

Pep Guardiola has spent this week in Saudi Arabia, aiming to add the Club World Cup to the treble of trophies his team won in 2023. But back home, its title defense is faltering after a run of just one win in six games in England’s top division.

And having won the trophy in five of the last six seasons, City appears to face a wider challenge to its supremacy than at any point under Guardiola.

Fourth-place City trails leader Arsenal by five points and doesn’t return

to league play until Dec. ÓÇÊ >ÌÊ ÛiÀÌ °Ê ÀÃi > Ê i`Ê the league for 248 days last season before finally being overtaken by City, but this time there are challenges from several angles, with Liverpool and Aston Villa both in contention.

ARSENAL It remains to be seen what lessons Arsenal has learned after pushing City so close last season. No team has led the Premier League for as long in a campaign without winning the title.

Arsenal spent heavily to build on its rapid progress last year, with Declan Rice joining for a reported $138 million transfer from West Ham in the offseason.

It is paying off so far as Mikel Arteta’s team sits atop the Premier League and will be guaranteed to retain first place by Christmas if it beats Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

Liverpool trails Arsenal by one point.

Arsenal has already shown its credentials by beating City twice this season, first in a penalty shootout in the Community Shield and then in the league at Emirates Stadium in October.

A win against Liverpool would be further evidence that it could go one better than last year.

LIVERPOOL Of the likely challengiÀÃÊÌ Ê ÌÞ]Ê ÕÀ}i Ê ««Ê ÃÊ the only manager who has gotten the better of Guardiola through Liverpool’s title triumph in 2020.

Second-place Liverpool’s resurgence has come as a surprise given it missed out on Champions League qualification last season and has seen a host of star players depart over the past 18 months. ÕÌÊ ««Ê ÃÊ iÊ iÊ has put together a squad

that is capable of challenging again — and his team is still in contention to win four trophies this season, having advanced to the semifinals of the League Cup and the round of 16 in the Europa League.

Liverpool plays Arsenal next month in the third round of the FA Cup. Much may depend on Mohamed Salah’s form, given Liverpool no longer has the firepower of Sadio Mane to call on, with Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota less prolific than the Senegal forward.

ASTON VILLA Unai Emery has worked wonders with a team that was threatened with relegation when he took over last season.

Villa — level on points with Liverpool and in third place on goal difference — plays Sheffield United on

Friday with a shot to take the league lead.

Villa is the surprise package of the season, having beaten City and Arsenal in recent weeks.

Few expect Villa to maintain its challenge, but few expected Emery’s team to be in this position at this stage of the season either.

OTHER CHALLENGERS It is unlikely that a challenge to City will from anywhere else this season, but Tottenham impressed at the start of the campaign before injuries took their toll on Ange Postecoglou’s team.

Spurs are a point behind City in fifth place.

Sixth-place Newcastle is five points behind City, and Manchester United is in seventh a further point back.

Neither of those teams look likely to mount a serious title bid.

LE PECQ, France (AP) — The giant opening ceremony extravaganza that Paris is planning to hold on the River Seine to launch the Olympic Games could be moved if France is hit again in the run-up by extremist attacks, French President Emmanuel Macron said.

Macron’s comments in a television interview on Wednesday night were a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the deep layers of planning for the July 26 ceremony. Many details about the show remain shrouded in secrecy to preserve its hoped-for wow factor. The security, with tens of thousands of police and soldiers deployed, will be intense.

The athletes will be paraded through the heart of the French capital on boats on the Seine — for the first Summer Games opening ceremony held outside of a usual stadium setting. Both banks of the river will be lined by hundreds of thousands of spectators, behind multiple security cordons.

“We are preparing an opening ceremony that is unique, which I hope will make the French very proud,” Macron told public broadcaster France 5. “It will be a moment of beauty, of real art, of celebrating sport and our values, with the Seine and the capital as the theater.”

But he said plans could be revisited for security reasons. He cited deadly extremist attacks that hit Paris in 2015 as an example of the type of severe crisis that could force a rethink.

“You’re 15 days from the Olympic Games. You have a series of terrorist attacks. What do you do?

Well you don’t organize (a ceremony) on the Seine,” Macron said.

“Since we are professional, there are obviously plan Bs, plan Cs, et cetera.

“You have to be prepared for everything,” he added. “If there’s a surge of international or regional tensions, if there is a series of attacks ... that’s a plan B.” But for the moment, Paris Games organizers say the ceremony along the Seine is their plan A. Prize-winning French theater director Thomas Jolly is overseeing its artistic content and the closing ceremony at the Stade de France on Aug. 11.

Speaking at an endof-year news conference on Wednesday, before Macron’s subsequent TV interview, chief Paris Games organizer Tony Estanguet said the Seine ceremony is “the only project that we are working on.”

Parenting a young athlete in today’s world FROM PAGE 11 tailored meal plan. An effective strategy is to involve young athletes in meal planning and preparation, making nutrition education a practical activity.

For inspiration, look at how professional youth sports academies

incorporate nutrition education into their programs.

Logistics: Streamlining the Sports Schedule Transport logistics can be simplified through carpooling with other parents, which fosters a sense of community. Additionally, selecting local or regional competitions over distant

ones can reduce travel demands, although living in the Bahamas this is not always possible. For example, I will have to travel out of the country at least ten times in 2024 for my daughter to compete in her sport of gymnastics. Travel and entry fees add to the high cost of sport parenting as we discussed earlier.

Make a schedule and prioritize events that are high quality and are of the greatest benefit to your child’s progression and exposure.

Especially if it is a college sport as coaches often scout these events.

Coaching and Peer Influence: Building Positive Relationships A positive coach-athlete relationship is key. Parents should facilitate open communication with coaches and encourage their children to do the same. Peer influence can be harnessed positively by encouraging

team-building activities.

The success of Norway’s youth sports programs, focusing on enjoyment and personal development, exemplifies this.

Balancing Academics and Home Responsibilities Time management is crucial. Tools like digital planners or apps can help young athletes manage their schedules effectively.

Encouraging a routine that balances sports, academics, and home duties is vital, as seen in the practices of student-athletes in successful college sports programs.

Emotional Well-being: Understanding and Support Teen mood swings are normal. Open, non-judgmental communication is key to understanding their emotional world. Discourage mindless use of media and encourage them to spend time online and offline with persons who

have similar circumstances, but moreover who are supportive and not destructive.

As parents, understand that your child is under immense pressure, even without the pressure to win.

Be involved, learn your child’s short so you can empathize with their position. It can be challenging for teens to see that you will love them no matter what. In challenging times, get help. Consider seeking guidance from a psychologist, pastor or counselor...or if you’re fortunate enough, a mentor athlete presently in the sport. Even better if they are Bahamian.

In Conclusion: A Journey of Growth and Discovery Raising a child athlete is about fostering growth in sports and life. By addressing the challenges with practical solutions and learning from successful examples, we can guide our young athletes towards

a fulfilling and balanced sporting journey. Through this article, I hope to provide not just an insight into the challenges of parenting a child athlete but also practical solutions and real-world examples to navigate this path effectively.

Remember, the goal is to raise well-rounded individuals who thrive both in and out of the sporting arena.

UÊ ÀÊ i ÌÊ >â>À`Ê ÃÊ >Ê Bahamian sports medicine physician, sports performance coach, sports nutrition specialist and founder of Empire Sports Medicine. Our mission is to empower athletes to reach new heights while safeguarding their health and well-being. We understand the unique demands of sports activities, and we are dedicated to helping athletes prevent injuries, overcome challenges, optimise nutrition and performance.