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Volume: 119 No.33, January 11, 2022

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PRIZED OFFICER SHOT BY POLICE Why did marine who was trained to calm situations lunge at cop? By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE officer shot and killed a Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer who allegedly “charged” at him and tried to disarm him early yesterday morning. The deceased is 39-yearold Rodney “Persian” Adderley, a leading seaman in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Friends and co-workers have been

left in shock at the killing of the “humble” seaman and have questioned the police’s version of the events. However last night in a joint statement, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defence Force said body worn camera footage had been viewed by both agencies and was “consistent” with the account from officers.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis warned the Omicron variant of COVID-19 will seriously affect unvaccinated people in the coming months. His comment during a national address on Sunday night came as COVID-19 cases continue to skyrocket. The country recorded 1,458 cases from January

REOPENING SCHOOLS REMAINS ON COURSE PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says the government is still aiming to reopen schools for faceto-face learning within two weeks, though he said the decision will ultimately depend partly on advice from health officials. Mr Davis toured several schools under renovation yesterday with Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin and Works Minister Alfred Sears. SEE PAGE FIVE

SEE PAGE SEVEN

7 to January 9, including a record 818 cases on Friday. Hospitalisation numbers, meanwhile, reached the triple digits over the weekend and now stand at 110 with five people in the intensive care unit. “With several million new cases recorded globally every day, we are going to see very high case counts here, too,” Mr Davis warned. SEE PAGE FOUR

- SEE PAGE NINE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BRAVE - DON’T TAKE RISKS, GET THE JAB By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PETER YOUNG: GETTING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC ISN’T OUR ONLY WORRY

$700M PRIZE ON JUST $31M DIGITAL SPEND By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

RODNEY “Persian” Adderley, who was shot dead by a police officer yesterday morning.

A MAN WHO LEFT HIS MARK ON THE WORLD LEGENDARY Bahamian actor, activist, director and ambassador Sir Sidney Poitier died on Thursday, aged 94. Sir Sidney was the first black actor to win an Academy Award – for his role in Lilies of the Field – in 1964. He served as the Bahamian Ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 2007 and, in 2009, he was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom. “It is with great sadness that I learnt this morning

ACTOR Sidney Poitier pictured in Beverly Hills, California, on June 2, 2008. of the passing of Sir Sidney Poitier,” Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said

at a briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday, flanked by Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell. “Our whole Bahamas grieves and extends our deepest condolences to his family. But even as we mourn, we celebrate the life of a great Bahamian, a cultural icon, an actor and film director, entrepreneur, civil and human rights activist and latterly, a diplomat.” SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

THE Bahamas stands to gain a $715m boost if it invests just $31m to close its “digital infrastructure gap”, says the Inter-American Development Bank. The bank says The Bahamas’ could enjoy economic returns 23.3 times greater than the investment required to bring internet networks up to standard. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

WOMAN AND HEALTH

- INSIDE BUSINESS SECTION

PAGE 2, Tuesday, January 11, 2022

ATLANTIS presents a $4,000 cheque, along with donated food and clothing, to Khandi Gibson of FOAM at Agape House.

THE TRIBUNE

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

ATLANTIS $4K TO AID CHARITY EMPLOYEES of the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island donated food, clothing and a $4,000 cheque to a local charitable organisation. Khandi Gibson, founder of Families of All Murder Victims, said the donation was appreciated. “During COVID-19 we had our arms so long to the Bahamian public, we made sure no one was turned away... I want to thank the Atlantis community outreach along with the executive management team that really supported our organisation, especially during this time because I went to my office many days, many weeks without having (anything) to provide to the Bahamian

people other than a prayer, there were times when I couldn’t pay my staff,” Ms Gibson said. FOAM was founded to assist families of murder victims, but since then has expanded to become an outreach centre for those in need. An Atlantis representative said the company came together to assist those who are less fortunate. “We received over 1,400 individual articles of gently used clothing, and over 2,200 pounds of canned goods. I am so proud to be a part of Atlantis because it really speaks to the generosity of our individual team members,” Carey Turnquest, Atlantis’ director of food and beverage, said.

THE TRIBUNE

A man who left his mark on the world from page one

“We admire the man, not just because of his colossal achievements, but also because of who he was. His strength of character, his willingness to stand up and be counted, and the way he plotted and navigated his life’s journey. The boy who moved from the tomato farm of Cat Island to become a waiter in the United States, the young man who not only taught himself to read and write, but who made the expression of words and thoughts and feelings central to his career. “The man who expressed his rage against racial injustice through quiet dignity. The humanitarian who used his steely determination, not just to better himself, but to better the world that he lived in, filtered through the milk of human kindness and all of it achieved without sacrificing integrity, charm, elegance or wit. “These things don’t come easy, but the fight can be good. Your peers don’t give you an Oscar, you win an Oscar. Success is not a given, but it can come to those who translate talent into craft and perseverance,” Mr Davis said. Asked by a reporter if he thought the country did enough to recognise Sir Sidney when he was alive, Mr Davis said he thinks more could have been done. In 2012, the government named the northbound Paradise Island bridge in Sir Sidney’s honour. “I think we did a lot to give him his flowers while he was alive. We have not done enough, I think. We intend to sit as a government to see what else we can do to mark his bearing in The Bahamas and the world. . .” he said, adding that this will be a discussion point moving forward.

In response to a reporter, Mr Davis also said his government will focus on developing the orange economy as one of the key pillars of economic growth, adding that Sir Sidney’s death will propel the government to intensify its efforts to embrace that opportunity. Tributes for Sir Sidney have poured in from those at home and abroad. Leader of the opposition Free National Movement Michael Pintard said Sir Sidney was a constant source of inspiration. “Today, we join the world, including the global cinematic community in mourning the passing of Sir Sidney Poitier, a Bahamian son, a truly gifted artist and a passionate activist,” Mr Pintard said. “Sir Sidney, through his work and off the screen contributions revealed his incredible spirit, loving soul and cultural talents to the international community. His gifts and pride in his native land brought recognition to the Bahamas and in time he became one of our nation’s most outstanding ambassadors and cultural icons. “He was born in Miami, the son of Bahamian tomato farmers, spent his early years on stunningly beautiful Cat Island, wore clothes made from flour sacks and got into the usual boyish mischief. “Then he left Cat Island and set out on a remarkable journey that eventually brought him recognition and acclaim around the world. “Sir Sidney Poitier shook up the American film industry, shattered the glass ceiling which relegated black actors to minor or demeaning roles and became the first black actor to win an Oscar for his performance in the film ‘Lilies of the Field’.

“His life was a source of inspiration for millions around the world, especially disadvantaged young people. His life ignited a fire in the hearts of thousands of Bahamians. He was endowed by his Creator with a keen intellect, talent, natural dignity and graciousness, all of which earned universal admiration. “Sir Sidney’s career began during very difficult times as America was on the verge of a great movement for civil rights. It positively impacted that struggle, especially with the 1950 movie ‘No Way Out’, in which he played a black doctor opposite a racist character played by his friend Richard Widmark, and later on the movie ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ with renowned American actress Katharine Hepburn which also confronted the race issue. “Sir Sidney became active in the civil rights movement along with friends like Harry Belafonte. He introduced some of his friends to The Bahamas, including Belafonte, Miriam Makeba and Sammy Davis, Jr.” Mr Pintard lamented how the ruling class of the day tried to prevent one of Sir Sidney’s movies from being shown locally. “The 1950 movie sent shock waves through the Bahamian social and political establishment when the political masters of the day refused to allow it to be shown here. This led to the formation of the Citizens Committee by a number of prominent Bahamians which not only agitated to have the movie shown but broadened its campaign for greater social equality and political progress. In the face of a vigorous campaign the authorities relented and the movie was shown in Nassau theatres, much to

the delight of the population,” he said. “While we have named the new Nassau Paradise Island bridge in honour of Sir Sidney it would be wonderful to name the School of Arts at the University of the Bahamas in his honour add to that one of the adjacent streets. “As a creative myself he was a constant source of inspiration for me as well as thousands of Bahamian artists and artisans. “On behalf of the Official Opposition and on my own behalf I offer sincere condolences and deep sympathy to Sir Sidney’s wife, children and other relatives. His life will always be an inspiration to us. May he rest in peace.” American director and actor Tyler Perry said on Facebook, “Around this time last year Cicely Tyson was releasing her book and promoting it. I had no idea she would pass away shortly thereafter. Now, to wake up this morning to a call that Sidney Poitier has

Tuesday, January 11, 2022, PAGE 3

passed away... all I can tell you is that my heart broke in another place. The grace and class that this man has shown throughout his entire life, the example he set for me, not only as a black man but as a human being will never be forgotten. There is no man in this business who has been more of a North Star for me than Sidney Poitier.” American talk show host Oprah Winfrey released a statement saying, “For me, the greatest of the ‘Great Trees’ has fallen: Sidney Poitier. My honour to have loved him as a mentor. Friend. Brother. Confidant. Wisdom teacher. The utmost, highest regard and praise for his most magnificent, gracious, eloquent life. I treasured him. I adored him. He had an enormous soul I will forever cherish. Blessings to Joanna and his world of beautiful daughters.” Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper wrote on Facebook: “We have lost an icon; a hero, a mentor, a fighter, a national treasure.

“I was conflicted with great sadness and a sense of celebration when I learned of the passing of Sir Sidney Poitier. Sadness that he would no longer be here to tell him how much he means to us, but celebration that he did so much to show the world that those from the humblest beginnings can change the world and that we gave him his flowers while he was with us. “He will be missed sorely, but his is a legacy that will never be forgotten.” Sir Sidney was born prematurely on February 20, 1927, weighing just three pounds, in Miami, where his parents had gone to deliver tomatoes from their farm on Cat Island. He spent his early years on Cat Island and he quit school at 12 to help support the family. Three years later, he was sent to live with a brother in Miami. When he was 16, he moved to New York and enlisted in the army before pursuing acting. • A life in pictures - see pages 11,12,13,14

INGRAHAM PAYS TRIBUTE TO ‘PROUD SON OF THE BAHAMAS’ FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham also gave condolences in the wake of Sir Sidney Poitier’s death. “I was surprised and saddened to learn of the passing of Sidney Poitier, the giant of American film and stage productions, Oscar winner and the proud son of The Bahamas,” Mr Ingraham said in a statement released on Friday. “The child of Cat Island sharecroppers who were working in Florida’s agricultural fields at the time of his birth, Sidney rose from a humble childhood spent in Cat Island to become a masterful Broadway stage and Hollywood film star, the first Black man to win a coveted Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the 1963, Lilies of the Fields. “I join with all expressing deep sorrow at his passing, but most especially in expressing thanks and appreciation for his important contribution to the advancement of Black people the world over. “Sidney Poitier was 94 years old, a mighty age. His was a long, productive, and meaningful life that served to expose racial inequalities both in the United States of America and in this country. His support, together with that of a number of his contemporary Black film actors, played an important role in the struggle for civil rights in America. His Oscar win opened the door through which countless talented Black and other minority

actors would follow. “I was especially happy when, breaking with a lifelong commitment not to become involved in official government bureaucracy, Sidney accepted the invitation from my government to serve as non-resident Ambassador of The Bahamas to Japan. I was not surprised when his presentation of credentials to the Japanese Emperor, Akihito, on April 16, 1997 was carried by the BBC news and major American news outlets but was amazed that the event was considered of such note that the BBC interrupted its regular broadcasts to carry the ceremony live. “Reports were that the Emperor broke with his own protocol to speak with the new Ambassador as a fan of his films. Indeed, Sidney’s Bahamian roots (were) not infrequently a subject of my light exchanges with world leaders. “I was pleased when the PLP government named the second Paradise Island Bridge constructed during my second term in office, in honour of Sidney Poitier.” He extended condolences to Sir Sidney’s wife and children, particularly his daughter Pamela “who has made a home for herself in Cat Island” and to all his extended family in The Bahamas and abroad. “We shared in your pride in his tremendous accomplishments, and we join you now in lifting him up as a premier son of The Bahamas. May he rest in peace,” Mr Ingraham said.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, January 11, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

BRAVE - DON’T TAKE RISKS, GET THE JAB

from page one

“The vast majority of vaccinated Bahamians will experience Omicron either as an asymptomatic infection, or a bad cold, or suffer through a few days of aches and pains. “However, a tiny percentage will require hospitalisation. Nonetheless, our hospitals face a very serious threat. That’s because there are still many thousands of unvaccinated Bahamians, and many will become infected with Omicron. “This virus is going to hit our unvaccinated population very hard. Even though a smaller percentage will require hospitalisation than with previous variants, remember how extremely

contagious Omicron is; a small percentage of a very large number is still a lot of people, and can overwhelm our hospitals. Indeed, on Thursday of last week, the director of the World Health Organisation warned that a ‘tsunami’ of cases was overwhelming health systems across the world.” Mr Davis noted that the government’s free testing programme was launched last week. One thousand people are expected to be tested today. “The 400 slots we offered daily were filled very quickly, so we expanded the number of free tests to 800 today and we will offer 1,000 a day beginning on Tuesday,” he said. “We will also, of course,

be expanding free testing nationwide. We have also started the distribution of free medical-grade masks at clinics and at vaccination sites in New Providence. In the coming week, we will also be distributing these masks at schools, for the teachers who are working there now, and in churches as well. Properly worn medical-grade masks are far more effective in blocking transmission of the Delta and Omicron viruses. “Cloth masks alone are just not effective enough. We are working with NEMA to expand the distribution of free masks to Grand Bahama and the Family Islands as well; we expect to have more details for you later this week. Until you receive your

CONCERN OVER SPIKE IN CASES IN INAGUA By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE recent increase of COVID-19 cases in Inagua has left residents there concerned and on heightened alert, according to island administrator Marlon Leary. On Friday, the Ministry of Health recorded 15 new cases for the island and another two on Saturday, pushing its overall tally to 79 since the start of the pandemic. Inagua is currently one of several islands experiencing an increase in infections as the country grapples with yet another COVID-19 surge. Yesterday, Mr Leary told The Tribune that while the situation has concerned residents, there is also a sense of relief there as a large percentage of the population is fully vaccinated. However, he said in view of the increasing infection rates, officials have been appealing for residents to strictly adhere to current health measures. He said: “Residents are very concerned and we’re trying to emphasise the fact that your best prevention measures are wearing your mask, sanitising and that, and for the most part, we have a lot of persons or most persons in our

community are fully vaccinated and even a larger part of the community would’ve gotten their first dose of the vaccine. “We understand that this variant is highly contagious and we’re doing the best we can. We continue to tell people that if you’ve tested positive, stay home in quarantine and with this recent spike, I think everyone is really concerned now.” He also said while most people appear to be following current health rules, there have been reports of people breaking quarantine. “They’re taking the precautions for the most part. You still have a few people who want to be out and we’re had reports of a few (people breaking quarantine), but the police (are) constantly on patrol, seeking out persons and so they are constantly on the lookout and we’re on the ball.” As for what may have caused the spike in cases, the island administrator attributed it to recent holiday travel. “We just came out of the holiday season and you have family members coming in to spend this time of year and you had family members going to Nassau and coming even from the US so I think that probably was the main reason for the increase.

“We may have had one or two events where they had persons out. I don’t know if that contributed to the increase, but we have been discouraging persons from practising and those kinds of things.” He said that despite rising infection rates, many on the island, including himself, do not feel there is a need for more restrictive measures. “We don’t think there is a need for more restrictive measures,” the local official added. “We just need everyone to be responsible to do what they’re supposed to do and what is right. Even when we had restrictions, people were still doing what they wanted to do so everyone just needs to be responsible and take the necessary precautions because restrictions hurt the economy and we need money to survive.” There ​ have been 28,968 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in The Bahamas. Two hundred and ninety-one new cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Saturday while there were 818 new cases recorded on Friday, which was a single day record for The Bahamas. On Sunday, officials recorded 349 new cases. Meanwhile, 110 people are currently in hospital with the virus.

medical-grade mask, I urge you to double mask and to make sure the material of the masks is tight across your mouth and nose. “The importance of masking goes up when you are indoors where there is no fresh air to disperse virus particles. When someone with COVID breathes, or talks, or coughs or sneezes, they exhale small infectious virus particles that can hang in the air for hours indoors – long after they’re gone — if the space is not ventilated. If you wear the right mask and you wear it properly, you are reducing the amount of virus particles you inhale substantially.” Mr Davis referred to tightened requirements for entry at the country’s borders. A negative

COVID-19 test taken within three days of arrival is now needed to enter The Bahamas. “While we preferred to require PCR tests, the testing shortages and delayed lab reporting in many countries, including in the United States, made this – for the moment – unworkable for returning Bahamians and visitors alike,” he said. He added that officials have been expanding hospital capacity to meet the expected increase in hospitalisations. “We have opened four tents at Princess Margaret Hospital, and we have successfully recruited 50 additional nurses and 12 doctors. We are expanding both our infrastructure and

our human resources. We are also expanding our vaccine and booster access and outreach,” he said. He said due to the contagious nature of Omicron, many people will face multiple exposures to the virus in the coming weeks. He encouraged people to get vaccinated and those who are vaccinated to get booster shots. “If you are vaccinated, and especially if you are vaccinated and boosted, you have given yourself an excellent chance at experiencing the virus merely as an inconvenience, rather than as a life-threatening disease,” Mr Davis said. As of January 8, 156,777 people have been fully vaccinated in the country, officials said.

HOPES FOR NEW COVID FACILITY NEXT MONTH By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net WITH COVID-19 hospital rates rising once again, acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Phillip Swann said officials are hoping to open a new COVID facility that can accommodate up to 100 patients by next month “at latest”. Dr Swann said a contract was awarded last week for renovations to begin on the Grosvenor nursing building, which was temporarily acquired by the government following negotiations with University of The Bahamas to help strengthen the nation’s response to COVID. News of the partnership between the two parties was announced by Health Minister Dr Michael Darville earlier this month. Yesterday, Dr Swann said he understands that renovation work has already started. “The contract was signed last week and the work started last week,” he said. “I can’t say what the timeline (is) but I know there’s an accelerated timeline to get it up where it needs to be in the shortest time as possible as well as staff identified to assist in that area should we have not gotten what we have gotten already, which is the nurses from Cuba which we expect in the country shortly. “So, I know it should be no more than four weeks at least… at the latest next month.” This comes as hospital rates for COVID-19 continue to rise in the country. According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Health, 110 people are currently in hospital sick with the virus, with five of them in the intensive

ACTING Chief Medical Officer Dr Phillip Swann. care unit. At the beginning of the month, there were only 36 hospital cases. Yesterday, director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme, Dr Nikkiah Forbes reiterated the majority of people being hospitalised with COVID19 are the unvaccinated. “Largely, the persons being admitted requiring oxygen, they’re unvaccinated persons and given how contagious Omicron is and the large number of sick people, we also have people presenting with other problems and persons are testing positive for COVID,” she said. “While overall, (the Omicron variant) is not as severe as Delta, it’s still a challenge for people who are unvaccinated and immunocompromised. We’re still having presentations with people requiring a large amount of oxygen and even need to be incubated and so it is very challenging,” she said. Yesterday, Dr Swann said the biggest concern for officials is not bed capacity, but rather a manpower shortage in the public healthcare system. Last week, Dr Darville said about 130 healthcare professionals were out of the system due to COVID19, including 100 in New

Providence and 30 in Grand Bahama. However, the acting CMO said a number of those workers are set to return to work this week. Further, some 50 nurses from Cuba are expected to be in the country soon. “The issue is not one necessarily of capacity but one of healthcare workers able to manage the patients that arrive at the hospital,” he said. “I know that at least 10 of (those healthcare workers) that were out of the system would have been safe to return to work yesterday and it’s probably even more. Bear in mind that these (quarantine numbers) would have accumulated since the surge which was about two weeks, so they would have been a part of that surge. So, even with the isolation period of ten days, a lot of them would have been returning to work this week.” Regarding the nation’s overall COVID situation, Dr Swann said officials are continuing to monitor cases. However, he also raised concern about the number of social activities happening in contravention of current COVID rules. Videos of large social gatherings showing little to no social distancing have recently circulated on social media, sparking public concern. “So, there’s (a) balance that we’re working towards,” the acting CMO said when asked about potential restrictive measures. “I think there’s some things that can be considered if we continue to have the high numbers. We’re getting some early reports of where a lot of activities occur and a lot of them are occurring at home and it is really incumbent on individuals who are participating in these events to understand that their little time of joviality can have serious effects on not just them, on their families, but the economy.” He added: “Even if you put in restrictions, do you have enough police to go around to ensure that every Tom, Dick and Harry is abiding by these restrictions? I don’t think so. . .so, the reality is persons need to understand that there’s a certain level of responsibility that is expected.” When pressed if officials plan to recommend restrictions if cases continue to increase, he replied: “I think it’s too early to take that track. I think a number of steps have to be taken before we get to the point and I’m having a number of conversations with the national security forces to figure out what are some of the other measures that can be put in place to strengthen the policing of protocols.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 11, 2022, PAGE 5

Davis: Never forget Majority Rule PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis urged Bahamians to never forget the significance of Majority Rule Day. Speaking at a wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the event at the Progressive Liberal Party’s headquarters yesterday, he said the occasion was “a symbolic reminder of the significant role the Progressive Liberal Party and the father of the nation played in bringing about one of the most consequential and transformational events in our history, eclipsed only by the abolition of slavery in 1834.” Mr Davis said: “With the addition of national independence on July 10, 1973, these three epic events changed the course of Bahamian history forever and etched in the annals of history the Bahamian national identity and the depth of our indomitable spirit. “We must never grow weary of telling our story lest we lose our identity and heritage as a people. Further — and more nationally

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and wife Ann Marie laying a wreath.

FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Apostle Raymond Wells, Ann Marie Davis, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper and Cecelia Cooper at a church service at the Living Waters Kingdom Ministries. Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff — as a free, modern, democratic and independent state, history must record that Majority Rule Day is also an occasion where all Bahamians come together to reflect on and celebrate the enduring principles of democracy. Today then, I stand with my Bahamian brothers and sisters from all walks of life in memorialising this day as a seminal

moment in the ever-evolving Bahamian story.” Mr Davis paid tribute to the many unsung heroes and heroines whose endearing and enduring legacies of selflessness and shared sacrifices, he said, remain the gold standard of our national culture in both public life and in the way we conduct our personal affairs with one another.

“I continue to draw, conviction, inspiration and influence from the passion of the Suffragettes, the labour movement, the church and from countless Bahamians who put it all on the line to secure a more perfect Commonwealth,” he said. He also remarked on the role the late Sir Sidney Poitier played and the

contributions he made during the country’s journey to Majority Rule. “As a Bahamian with dual citizenship, Sir Sidney used his celebrity status in the struggle for civil rights fighting racism, bigotry and injustice in both the United States and The Bahamas. “Many Bahamians still recall his speaking to the issue at a reception in his honour to the then United Bahamian Party (UBP) government in recognition of his Academy Award for ‘Lilies of the Field.’ “A well-known story in PLP circles is his assistance to the Progressive Liberal Party in the run up to the 1967 general elections.

There is an iconic photo of Sir Sidney and Sir Lynden at the back of an open limousine celebrating the 1967 victory. May he rest in peace.” As a beneficiary of their sacrificial work, he also thanked Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Milo Butler, Sir Randol Fawkes, Sir Clifford Darling, Dame Doris Johnson and Sir Sidney — for their “passion, faith, perseverance and uncompromising commitment to social justice, democracy, freedom and a sense of fair play.” The Bahamas gained majority rule for the first time on January 10, 1967. On that day both the PLP and the United Bahamian Party (UBP) won 18 parliamentary seats during the general election, with the remaining two going to Randol Fawkes, of the Labour Party, and Alvin Braynen, an Independent. Mr Fawkes sided with the PLP, helping the party to form the first black-led government. Mr Braynen became Speaker of the House.

REOPENING SCHOOLS REMAINS ON COURSE from page one

“We are still aiming to have the schools open within two weeks or as quickly as possible,” he told reporters. Addressing students, he added: “I know that you are anxious to be with your friends, to learn with your friends and to interact with your friends. That’s the best means of learning, by being amongst people that you are comfortable with. I’m promising them that we will get you back into classrooms as quickly as possible. “This exercise here we are dealing with was one of the challenges with opening schools, which was that the actual plant, the schools, were in dire need of repairs. “The good news here is that the variant that is rampant does not in fact

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training Glenys Hanna Martin during a school tour. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff have the consequences as previous variants and we are watching that and we are analysing it now... We do note though that we’ve yet to have vaccines for children and we are working assiduously to have it in. We also note that vaccines are not available for children under five years of

age which would impact our pre-schools and we intend to at least try to have, very soon, vaccines for children in the country.” Asked why schools have not been reopened even as other gatherings have taken place in the country, Mr Davis said: “If I were to give an educated guess,

knowing that we don’t have vaccines in the country for children, they are more susceptible to contracting the virus than those who would have been vaccinated and if they were to contract the virus the outcome would be far different than if they were in fact vaccinated. Do we take that chance with the lives of our children, I think not.” Mr Davis did not say whether the government will tighten requirements for inter-island travel as cases continue to surge. “Part of our challenge is we’re an archipelago and the virus is occurring in each community at different scales and so, depending on which island you’re coming from and going to, (that) will dictate what necessary measures have to be put in place. So, it is very difficult to answer that question in

a way that will be in any degree of certainty. All we can say is that measures that we put in place for interisland travel will depend on the risks involved from one island to the next,” he said. Mr Davis reiterated the government’s position that harsh restrictions like curfews and lockdowns are off the table. “I’m relying on you, I’m relying on the Bahamian people,” he said. “We know that we are best when we are in trouble. We come to each other’s rescue. There’s no need in our view for lockdown or for curfew. What we need to do is be responsible one to another and understand that one of the worst things that I could imagine is if I have COVID and I am spreading it to you because I wouldn’t want to be responsible for the consequences.”

Officials had planned to reopen public schools in the second week of January with a hybrid model involving face-to-face instruction. However, in late December, Health Minister Dr Michael Darville said the resumption of face-to-face learning in public schools had been postponed by at least two weeks as officials grappled with the fourth wave of COVID-19. The Ministry of Education, Technical and Vocational Training later said all public and private schools could only reopen this month on a fully virtual basis. This does not apply to daycare centres. The ministry said this decision would be revisited within 14 days at which time a further assessment will be conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

COOPER PLEDGES TEMPORARY FIXES AT ‘DEPLORABLE’ AIRPORT By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper has condemned the “deplorable” working conditions of airport employees at the Grand Bahama International Airport, promising to seek support from Cabinet to allow some temporary “fixes” at the facility. He indicated immediate short-term fixes are needed to bring relief to the operations at the airport in Freeport which was devastated by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019. While in Grand Bahama recently, Mr Cooper expressed concern over “the difficult circumstances” under which customs and immigration officers are working at the airport. “So, when we talk about deplorable, we talk about customs officers sitting outside to complete an entry — five at a time in a trailer and having outhouses — and I really think we can do better,” he said at the airport. “This is a distressing experience and each time I arrive at this airport, I am rather distressed that over two years very little has been done here, and it is a constant reminder of Hurricane Dorian and the circumstances faced by the people in Grand Bahama. “We are thankful to the staff who provide services here at this airport under very difficult circumstances. They persist in providing service to the general public, and we are thankful to them.” The GBIA is vulnerable to flooding during storms. It experienced about a 20ft storm surge during Hurricane Dorian, which battered the terminals and buildings. Under the Minnis administration, the government purchased

GBIA in April 2021 from the Freeport Harbour Company, which is part of Hutchison Port Holding of Hutchison Whampoa Group. Plans were to redevelop the airport through a public-private partnership arrangement. Mr Cooper, who is also Minister of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation in the newly elected Davis administration, said he visited the airport shortly after the general election to ensure it was a safe operation. “We visited the tower and inspected the equipment. We wanted to make sure it was safe for tourists and the general public, for Bahamians and the residents, to use the facility. We were satisfied with the safety elements. “We are now very concerned about the working conditions of our citizens, many of whom still operate five or six at a time in a small trailer and using outhouses,” he said on Thursday before leaving for New Providence. The sight of the airport is not only a painful reminder to residents, he said, but it is not welcoming to visitors and investors coming to the island. The facade here on the buildings that have been terrorised by Hurricane Dorian is a constant reminder, and it is a gateway to our second city. “We are hoping to attract big investors here to the island. So over and beyond the sheer pain to our residents, it is not a welcoming experience for investors to Grand Bahama. We are hoping to negotiate a deal for the Grand Lucayan hotel over the next few months, and the natural first question of any investor arriving on the island is, ‘my God, what are you going to do with this airport?’ “So, we made some determinations today that notwithstanding the fact

that we will do a PPP on this airport in the medium to longterm, there have to be some immediate short-term fixes. “We will have that discussion with our colleagues at Cabinet with some specific proposals provided by executives of the Airport Authority and staff here on the ground to see that we can bring some immediate relief to the operations here. “The message today is while we are operating safely, we are comfortable that we can accommodate our international partners who bring

guests to this island. We have discussed, along with the Ministry for Grand Bahama, some of the short-term fixes that we are going to be examining to bring those to fruition fairly quickly. “We do not want to say more than that at this point. We do not want to make specific commitments right now until we have done some costing analysis,” Mr Cooper said. “But we see that the former domestic building seems to have fared relatively well compared

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to some of the warehousetype buildings. I will see what we can do here as a temporary measure. “Naturally, with big plans to build a world-class airport, there is the natural inclination not to invest more money. “I think it is an immediate need and, therefore, I will go back to my colleagues and the board of

the Airport Authority, and we will urge them to give us the support to cause there to be some fixes.” Mr Cooper thanked the public officers, customs and immigration officers, Airport Authority employees, and others who continue to serve notwithstanding the very difficult circumstances at GBIA.

TEMPLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

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PAGE 6, Tuesday, January 11, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

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Pope: Health care a ‘moral obligation’ POPE Francis suggested yesterdaythat getting vaccinated against the coronavirus was a “moral obligation” and denounced how people had been swayed by “baseless information” to refuse one of the most effective measures to save lives during the pandemic. Francis used some of his strongest words yet calling for people to get vaccinated in a speech to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, an annual event in which he sets out the Vatican’s foreign policy goals for the year. Francis, 85, has generally shied away from speaking about vaccination as a “moral obligation,” though his COVID19 advisors have referred to it as a “moral responsibility.” Rather, Francis has termed vaccination as “an act of love” and that refusing to get inoculated was “suicidal.” On Monday he went a step further, saying that individuals had a responsibility to care for themselves “and this translates into respect for the health of those around us. Health care is a moral obligation,” he asserted. He lamented that, increasingly, ideological divides were discouraging people from getting vaccinated. “Frequently people let themselves be influenced by the ideology of the moment, often bolstered by baseless information or poorly documented facts,” he said, calling for the adoption of a “reality therapy” to correct this distortion. “Vaccines are not a magical means of healing, yet surely they represent, in addition to other treatments that need to be developed, the most reasonable solution for the prevention of the disease,” he added. Some Catholics, including some conservative US bishops and cardinals, have claimed that vaccines based on research that used cells derived from aborted fetuses were immoral, and have refused to get the jabs. The Vatican’s doctrine office, however, has said it is “morally acceptable” for Catholics to receive COVID-19

vaccines based on research that used cells derived from aborted fetuses. Francis and Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI have been fully vaccinated with PfizerBioNTech shots. Francis repeated his call for universal access to the shots, particularly in the parts of the world with low vaccination rates, and called for revisions to patent rules so that poorer countries can develop their own vaccines. “It is appropriate that institutions such as the World Trade Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization adapt their legal instruments lest monopolistic rules constitute further obstacles to production and to an organized and consistent access to health care on a global level,” he said. Francis delivered the speech to a much smaller group of diplomats than usual, and skipped the part of the audience that ambassadors relish: a chance to greet him personally and exchange a few words. The restrictions were clearly a response to the exponential rise in coronavirus cases in Italy. On other topics, Francis lamented Syria’s devastation, calling for “political and constitutional reforms” so the country can be “reborn,” and urged that any sanctions avoid targeting civilians. He didn’t single Russia out by name but called for “acceptable and lasting solutions” for Ukraine and the southern Caucasus inspired by “reciprocal trust and readiness to engage in calm discussion.” And he also urged more open communications to avoid culture wars, without mentioning gender ideology or other hot-button topics by name. “(Some attitudes) leave no room for freedom of expression and are now taking the form of the ‘cancel culture’ invading many circles and public institutions. Under the guise of defending diversity, it ends up cancelling all sense of identity, with the risk of silencing positions,” he warned. By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

Majority Rule Day EDITOR, The Tribune.

AMID the surging COVID-19 numbers on New Providence, The Bahamas is gearing up to commemorate Majority Rule Day on January 10. Recently, the media reported that three groups of Haitian migrants were apprehended by law enforcement officers in Exuma, Anguilla Cay and Eleuthera. Six months removed from the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, Haiti remains a bloody mess. On New Year’s Day, interim Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry had to flee Gonaives during a service at Cathedral Saint - Charles - Boromée, which was held to commemorate the 218 anniversary of Haiti’s independence from France. Haitian rebels had opened fire on the Haitian leader and his entourage. Henry was appointed to his post approximately two weeks after Moïse’s death. According to The Borgen Project, nearly 25 percent of Haitians live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.25 per day. And nearly 60 percent of Haitians live on less than $2 per day. To understand the wealth disparity in Haiti, the top 20 percent of Haitian households hold 64 percent of the total wealth, according to The Borgen Project. The Bible says in Psalm 33:12 that blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Haiti’s centuries-old economic, social and political malaise is due to the sinister, malevolent foundation its spiritual forebears laid. Three of the most important Haitians of the revolution era were Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Dutty Boukman. It was Boukman, a

voodoo priest captured in Senegambia, Africa, and transported to the Caribbean by European slaveholders, who presided over a voodoo ceremony at Bois Caïman in August 1791. Boukman was also a catalyst in organising the slave revolt, which would mushroom into a full-scale war between the French, the Haitian mulattos and the black slave population. During the voodoo ceremony, Boukman and the other participants drank blood from an animal that was sacrificed. Within months of the rebellion, Boukman was captured and executed by the French in November 1791. On January 1, 1804, Dessalines declared Saint Domingue an independent state, changing its name to the Arawak Haiti. Haiti is the first Black republic in the Western Hemisphere. Dessalines would later take on the title Emperor Jacques I. In 1806, his life would come to a violent end during a mulatto revolt. The Bois Caïman voodoo ceremony is the main reason American evangelical Pat Robertson once alleged that Haiti’s ongoing crises is due to it being dedicated to Satan. Sir Lynden O Pindling and the first Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government took the opposite approach from their Haitian counterparts – albeit separated by nearly 180 years. The Bahamas was built on the Judeo-Christian tradition. Christianity is referenced in the preamble of the Bahamian Constitution. The PLP would partner with the Rev. Harcourt W. Brown and the Baptist community in the fight against the stranglehold of the White minority government. Not

having any oil at commercial quantity or gold, diamond and other mineral mines, The Bahamas’ unprecedented prosperity is nothing short of miraculous. In the lead-up to the January 10, 1967 general election, one Euthal Rodgers of Deep Cay, Andros, viewed that election as spiritually paralleling the Passover in the Old Testament. As the 1967 election would be held on the 10th day of the first month, so was the Passover held on the 10th day of the first month (Abib) of the Hebrew sacred calendar. The general election victory would usher in majority rule and freedom from the Bay Street oligarchs. To Rodgers and other religious Black Bahamians, the United Bahamian Party administration and its European ancestors were likened to Pharoah and the Egyptians who oppressed the Hebrews for 400 years. Sir Lynden, according to them, was our Bahamian Moses. And Majority Rule Day was our Exodus and Passover. In fact, according to historian Michael Craton, the PLP would use the theme song of the film Exodus for its election campaign. Credit must be given to Sir Lynden and the first PLP administration for steering The Bahamas towards the Judeo-Christian tradition, instead of the African superstitious religions of our ancestors. The Bahamas would’ve never achieved the success it has enjoyed had the leaders of the quiet revolution followed the example of Boukman and the other Bois Caïman voodoo participants. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama January 6, 2022.

Tackling rape in The Bahamas EDITOR, The Tribune. A WOMAN while walking to the bus stop was kidnapped and rape by an unknown assailant, a woman was raped in her home by an intruder, these are just a few of the recent reported rape cases in this country. Back in 2020, “reports of sexual offences increased by 34% with 213 cases, compared to 159 in 2019. These offences include rape, unlawful sexual intercourse and attempted rape”, according to the Commissioner’s nationwide crime statistics report. Since then there have been increasingly more incidents of rape and sexual assault cases. In the midst of this pandemic, there is a rape endemic. Our women and girls are crying out for help! Rape is a very serious crime, and no rape is justifiable. Regardless of a woman’s actions, no woman deserves to be physically, verbally or sexually abused. A woman’s body, appearance, or her clothes are not invitations for rape or any form of sexual violence. Amnesty International 2013 periodic review recommendation regarding violence against women called upon the government of The Bahamas, “To ensure that the proposed strategic plan to address sexual violence includes elements of prevention, investigation and punishment of acts of violence, but also service provision and redress for victims, awareness raising, education and training, and systematic data collection and research.” While there are some efforts being made to bring about awareness, yet not enough is being done to curtail this endemic. We must change our cultural tendency of victim-blaming. It is not only offensive and traumatising, but it further decreases the likelihood that victims will seek help and support due to fear of being further shamed or judged. And

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net as long as there are those within our society who trivialize rape, normalize sexual violence, embolden perpetrators, and put the blame on the victim instead of the perpetrator, the rape culture will continue to persist in this country. An article in The Tribune newspaper back in February 2016 as reported by the National Task Force for Gender Based Violence mentioned, “The Bahamas leads the Caribbean in the number of recorded rapes. The issue of rape, its magnitude and impact in the country demands further attention. The Bahamas has the highest incidence of rape per capita in the Caribbean”. This report is not only appalling, but extremely troubling for any woman or girl living in this country. Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr Ban Ki-moon stated, “There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.” The truth is that Rape Culture in our country is perpetuated in so many ways such as: the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, glamorization of sexual violence, disregard of women’s rights and safety, victim-blaming, trivializing sexual assault, sexually explicit jokes, tolerance of sexual harassment, male promiscuity. Our culture of publicly scrutinizing a victim’s dress, mental state, and an individual’s motives. Our tolerance of gender-base violence in movies and on television, defining and generalizing “manhood” as dominant and sexually aggressive and “womanhood” as submissive and sexually passive, assuming only promiscuous

women get raped, refusing to take rape accusations seriously and the all too famous statement, teaching women to avoid getting raped. All of which are extremely dangerous and need to stop! Victims of rape are our families, friends and loved ones. Rape victims are young and old, rich and poor, short and tall, educated and uneducated. Women can be raped regardless of their physical attributes such as the nationality, skin colour, body size, facial features, hair style, clothing, socioeconomic status or location. Although men and boys are victims of rape, it is women and girls who are overwhelmingly affected. Like everyone, human - being women and girls - have the right to live in a safe and healthy environment, free from violence. To eliminate this crime against women and children requires all stakeholders, not just the government or law enforcement, but the entire community, our churches, the media, community representatives and private sectors. We must build a society free from all forms of violence especially against all women and girls, from today let us put an end to rape and rape culture by taking it seriously, speaking up against abuse and holding perpetrators accountable. Educate our men and boys about respecting and protecting our women and girls. Together, we can build a safe society where women no longer feel unsafe walking any hour of the day or night or being alone in their homes. We must fight to End Rape, and End Rape Culture! SHERVONNE CASH-HOLLIS Advocate, Founder 242 Domestic Violence Support Network Inc. Nassau, January 8, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 11, 2022, PAGE 7

Marine shot by police

from page one “The investigation of this shooting incident is being conducted jointly by the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force,” the joint statement said. “The video footage from the police body (worn) camera was secured and viewed by both agencies and are consistent with the accounts of the officers. “The Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force want to assure members of the public that both agencies have a long and friendly relationship of mutual cooperation and will continue to work together to keep our country safe. “Once the investigation into this incident is completed, the file will be forwarded to the Coroner, who will conduct an inquest into this matter. We look forward to the inquest in this matter being conducted as soon as reasonably practicable.” According to reports, the incident took place on Dunmore Avenue in the Chippingham area while officers were on routine patrol. Police said shortly before 4am on Monday, officers were alerted to a complaint about a suspicious vehicle

parked near a vacant lot on Dunmore Avenue. Officers were subsequently dispatched to the area and upon arrival, they noticed a man in the vehicle. After being ordered out of the vehicle, the man “charged” at one of the officers, police said. “The officer attempted to evade his oncoming aggression. However, the suspect continued and attempted to disarm the officer,” police said. “Being aware of the threat to his life, the officer discharged his service weapon at the suspect, hitting him in the upper body.” Emergency Medical Services were called, but later pronounced the victim dead. Her Majesty’s Coroner also visited the scene and was briefed on the initial facts. Yesterday, many friends and family members reacted to news of Adderley’s death, calling for more answers behind the incident. Adderley’s longtime coworker, Kimsley Ferguson Jr told The Tribune yesterday that police details of the shooting did not fall in line with his character. Describing the 39-yearold as a quiet man who was professionally trained to handle confrontations, Mr Ferguson said he

found it mind boggling the marine would just attack an officer. He added that he didn’t believe the police’s version of the story. “I don’t think that scenario happened at all,” the RBDF marine said yesterday. “Persian was one who trained both marines and police to defend themselves against those same tactics. “His quiet and humble demeanor wouldn’t go into attack mode. He was more so a voice of reason. “Persian has served 13 years in a job he loved. He completed many overseas courses with distinction and was able to return home and share the knowledge amongst his comrades,” his colleague said. The RBDF marine said family and friends have been robbed of a good person and are now searching for answers. “I’m honestly still in shock. It seems somewhat surreal because I know the type of person... “He was quiet and reserved and always spoke positivity to his peers and subordinates. He was a humble Christian that always used an opportunity of conversation to speak life into someone along with words of wisdom from The Bible,” Mr Ferguson added. The RBDF posted a statement of condolences to

Adderley’s family on Facebook yesterday. The agency said Adderley enlisted in the RBDF as a member of New Entry 45 on May 15, 2008. Upon completion of new entry training, he was drafted to the Squadron Department. He was later drafted to the Military Police Department on October 25, 2011 and to the Southern Command on July 20, 2020 where he served until his death. “A dedicated and committed individual, Adderley was a highly qualified training instructor,” the RBDF said, noting he took part in numerous training courses including taser training; close quarter combative system; use of force continuum and non-lethal training, among others. He was a recipient of the Minister of National Security Commendation for his role in the planning and execution of Exercise Trade Winds 2018, and humanitarian efforts on Abaco after the passage of Hurricane Dorian. He was also a recipient of The Commander Defence Force’s Commendation as well as a certificate of appreciation from the Royal Bahamas Police Force for joint operations. “Adderley served any department that needed training for its personnel.

Training is what he enjoyed and was very passionate about. He was quiet and humble but always sought to get the job done while ensuring that those with whom he interacted benefited from his knowledge and experience,” the RBDF said. The agency extended condolences to Adderley’s family on behalf of Commodore Dr Raymond King and the entire force. Monday’s incident marks the first police involved shooting for the year. Last year, there were 21 police-involved shootings recorded, 13 of which were fatal. Police said the findings of Monday’s shooting will be forwarded to the Coroner’s Office for a coroner’s inquest. A statement was also issued last night by the Coalition of Independents, claiming that “story released by the Royal Bahamas Police Force simply does not add up”. Party leader Lincoln Bain said: “Officer Adderley was a decorated and respected officer who was chosen to represent the Bahamas internationally at Trade Winds in 2018. This is an event for which the best of the best officers is selected. He was also the officer of the year runner up in 2016. He was well respected by many as an officer and as a

gentleman. “While we await the full facts in this matter it is clear to many that this matter needs to be investigated more deeply. The story released by the Royal Bahamas Police Force simply does not add up. This is not a statement on the police force but a statement in reference to this specific incident. We are grateful and support the police in their efforts to keep our nation safe. The people however must feel that the police force will protect them from any individual officer who acts ultra vires to his duties. “We call on the government to fully investigate this matter to clear the names of the police officers involved and/or to deliver justice for the defence force officer who was slain. We further call on the government to issue body cameras to every police officer on patrol and to release footage of police involved violent incidents to the public. This is to protect the officers from false accusation and to protect the public from rogue officers. Due to an apparent rise in police shootings, there is an apparent growing tension between citizens and officers. The issuance of body cameras and the release of body cam and CCTV footage to the public will aid in restoring public confidence.”

POLICE PROBE THREE SEPARATE WEEKEND SHOOTINGS POLICE in New Providence are investigating three separate shootings that occurred in the capital on the weekend. In the first incident, a man was shot in the chest on Bimini Avenue during an argument with another man before 4pm on Sunday. Police said they were

alerted to the shooting after the man was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. “Investigations revealed that the victim was on Bimini Avenue when he got into an argument with another male. The male produced a firearm and

shot him in the chest before leaving the scene.” The victim was listed in serious condition, police added. Nearly three hours later, police were informed of another shooting near Montagu ramp after 7.30pm involving two men. Police said: “Investigations revealed that the

MAN ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama man was arraigned on charges of attempted murder and firearm and ammunition possession in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Marcus Bailey, 44, of Williams Town, appeared

before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debby Ferguson in Court No 1. He was charged with attempted murder. Bailey was not represented by counsel. He was not required to enter a plea to the charge. Bailey was also charged with two counts of possession of an unlicensed

firearm with intent to endanger life, one count of possession of ammunition, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and one count of causing damage. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and bail was denied. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correction until April 8, 2022.

males were approached by occupants of a small Japanese vehicle. A passenger produced a firearm and opened fire, hitting them both about their body.” Both victims were taken to hospital where they are in serious condition. In the third incident, a man was standing in the

street in Gambier Village when he was approached by another man dressed in dark clothing, who shot him before fleeing the scene after 9pm. Police said they were called to the scene and found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to his left thigh.

He was subsequently transported to the hospital and is in stable condition. Anyone with information on any of these shootings is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS (8477).

PAGE 8, Tuesday, January 11, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Having a bad hair day? Not if Ronnie can help it THEY call her “Fabulous Ronnie”, and it is by no mistake. She is more than a local cosmetologist who is known for making women look fabulous. When you meet her, you understand why her clients rave about her, why her family is so devoted to her and why she has become so successful. Sharron Neely is the owner of the very first hair restoration clinic in The Bahamas that is Bahamianowned with an exclusive line of Bahamian haircare products. This coming Saturday Fabulous Ronnie Hair Restoration Clinic will officially open its doors downtown on Bay Street. This is an amazing accomplishment for the little girl who grew up in Lowe Sound, Andros. It was 22 years ago that she started out braiding hair on her parents’ porch in New Providence. Rich with island roots, Ronnie came from a family of hair braiders. It was 1999 and the Atlantis Resort had recently opened: “When I started out, I was still living at home. Business was really good. Everyone wanted their hair shingled – natural hair and synthetic hair… especially the casino girls,” said Ronnie. “I used to be a cocktail waitress and still do hair on the side. I was working for seven years and I never missed a shift. I never left them high and dry without my shift covered. I gave them the best of me. I realized that I was putting so much energy and effort into someone else’s business. I decided to invest in myself.” During these years, Ronnie met and married the love of her life Rico Neely, a Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer. They got a three-bedroom house and began building their life together. Ronnie gave birth to twins Rico Jr and Ricah, and they couldn’t be happier. She started out braiding on the porch like before but eventually, she and her husband decided she should turn the third bedroom into a salon. The twins were small and

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

enjoyed sharing a room and playing together. They made a separate entrance for the room and eventually, they added a bathroom. From that small homebased salon in Elizabeth Estates, Ronnie attracted women from all walks of life. She went from being just a braider to becoming a wig and weave expert, and a cosmetologist with a wide range of skills. Police officers, nurses and executives passed through her doors. She has a talent for creating hairstyles that really suit her client’s face. Word of mouth spread and she came highly recommended. But what many did not know is that the island girl had big global dreams; and while some saw her successful home salon as the goal, she saw it as a stepping stone. Originally, Ronnie wanted to become a nurse. She always had a passion for the medical field. But she ended up getting pregnant when she was supposed to be pursuing nursing school. Although things turned out differently and hair became her career, Ronnie knew that education would be the key to elevating her life. She went to a trusted mentor, well-known industry veteran in cosmetology, Dot. Dot recommended a beauty school for her, and the journey began. She enrolled in the National Institute of Cosmetology in Washington, DC. Ronnie always had dreams of pursuing tertiary education after graduating from RM Bailey High School. Today, Ronnie can say she went all the way. She has earned a PhD. She is officially a trained cosmetologist, trichologist and formulator. She has bridged her passion for medicine with her love of beauty, and she can service her clients with true hair

care. As a cosmetologist, she is an expert at applying cosmetic procedures, therapies and treatments to beautify the hair, skin and nails. As a trichologist, she has paramedical skills to help people with issues such as hair loss, hair breakage, oily or dry scalp and psoriasis. As a formulator, she has learned how to create her own hair care formulas that will bring about the best results for her clients. With this trifecta, Ronnie has upped the ante on what haircare in the Bahamas should be. She has brought in state-of-the-art tools for her clinic, and will solve problems for men, women and children. Currently, she has a ten-year-old client who had a bad case of alopecia, now resolved. All throughout the years Ronnie was serving her clients, she wanted to do more than just fix their hair. She wanted them to have healthy hair from the inside out. Beauty school was just scratching the surface: “I remember when I was in one class and the instructor asked us to introduce ourselves. I was listening to everyone. I asked myself what it was that separated me from the rest of the class. The answer was nothing. As I listened to them talk about their skills in cosmetology, I would say, ‘check, check’… I could do all the things that they were listing. But what made me different? Nothing. I took a general census of myself and decided I wanted more.” When Ronnie returned home, she made it a point not to be one of those stylists who just like to gel, spritz and style. She wanted to understand the science of hair care. Her husband helped to push her in this direction. His personal philosophy is to always try to understand the

science behind the things one chooses to do. “He would always push me to understand why certain techniques are used… why certain products are used,” she shared. “So, I decided to get more into hair care and tap into this market. I realised how many people have issues with brittle, breaking hair and hair loss. People felt trapped and didn’t know what to do. I found so many women who have severe hair damage. Hair loss is almost like a disability. It takes away your confidence. It affects not only women, but men and even children.” While at beauty school, Ronnie’s class paid a trip to the factory of a wellknown hair product brand. During the tour, the host pointed out that there was only about seven percent of the natural raw material that was being touted on the label. To her, it felt like the company was lying on its label and cheating its customers. When she challenged the host, he said they were there “to make money, not friends”. With that, she felt determined to branch out beyond the beauty box. “That sparked my interest in formulation,” she said. “I started to dabble with my clients. I would use things like hibiscus in my products, taking baby steps with all the herbs, using it to see what would happen. I always wanted to know the benefits and how these things could help my clients. The medical

profession has really lifted the veil for the beauty profession, and we are able to do so much more to help people.” “I pursued formulation in school. It opened up a whole lot of do’s and don’ts, why’s and why nots. The dots just kept connecting. Living in The Bahamas we are surrounded by so many herbs. I learned how to pull medicinal properties out of plants, herbs, seeds and barks. I would test whatever the claimed benefit was for the hair. To see the results, I was getting for my clients pushed me to learn more and more.” As Ronnie educated herself, she was able to fulfil her dreams of travelling and meeting successful people. As she studied for her Doctorate, she came under the tutelage of professionals like plastic surgeons, medical doctors, trichologists, and some of the best in the beauty business. It opened her mind and broadened her horizons, and she saw bigger goals of who she could be. “I have a strong support system that made such a difference,” she confessed. She is now the proud holder of a Doctorate Degree in Professional Cosmetology from the Texas State Institute of Cosmetology and Barbers. She is still pursuing other courses as she continues to expand her repertoire to better serve her clients. Her twins, now 22, are succeeding in their own right. Rico Jr is a chef, studying in New York. He

RONNIE and her husband Rico Neely with their children Rico Jr, Ricah and Skye.

FABULOUS Ronnie - cosmetologist. trichologist and formulation expert in hair care products. Her home salon, left, has attracted customers from all walks of life over the years. hosts the camp “Cooking with Nuncy” for kids when he comes home during his breaks. Ricah runs her own tutoring academy that is growing by leaps and bounds. Her academy is based on global best practices and focuses on life skills in addition to academics. They push their mom to strive to be her best as they continue to carve out their own niches in life. Ronnie and Rico also have another addition, three-year-old Skye – their daughter who naturally has taken over everyone’s life and filled it with joy. Ronnie’s support base also includes her sisters Natasha, Kisha and Sibeo. Ronnie is also the founder of the Fabulous Wives Club – a spiritually-based club for wives, supporting them with Biblical principles to give their best to their families. These women, she says, are her extended family and an important part of the “relentless” support system that has pushed her this far in life. She says she has been able to do it all because of the grace of God on her life. She is excited about what this new chapter in her life has to offer. She has rebranded and is moving into a storefront downtown that will elevate her as a pioneer in her field. Fabulous Ronnie’s Hair Restoration Clinic offers a wide variety of services, including, protective styles; custom wig construction and installation for men and women; hair colouring and extensions; treatments for alopecia, postpartum hair loss, trichotillomania, dandruff and more; micro needling; microblading; red light therapy and more. Ronnie is a down-to-earth person with a magnetic personality. She is looking forward to offering hair consultations, where she can sit and have heart to heart talks with people about their hair journey before she even starts offering them a service. In addition to her services, she has a product line which includes: restoration shampoo; restoration conditioner; restoration treatment; rice water treatment; rose water; liquid hibiscus; and edges grow back. For more information, email fab.ronnie@hotmail.com. “I’m bridging the medical world and the beauty world and I am so honoured to have the first hair restoration clinic in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,” she said. “I am so happy to know I can assist persons who felt all was lost with instant hair gratification, day-to-day aesthetics, styling, pulling out that natural beauty, and finding things about them that they would never even look at. Then there’s natural nation… showing people that their natural hair is beautiful. For those who want the weave and make up, I have them too. Whatever makes you happy. To love yourself is amazing!”

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Tuesday, January 11, 2022, PAGE 9

GETTING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC ISN’T THE ONLY THING WE’VE GOT TO WORRY ABOUT AFTER reflecting in last week’s column about events in The Bahamas and Britain during the past year – in particular about the coronavirus crisis and a mood of growing optimism for the coming year – it might be interesting to look today at developments on the world stage as well. Throughout history, prophets and seers have sought to anticipate the future, even predicting specific outcomes. But forecasting is a hazardous business. Amid perpetual uncertainty, the unexpected is always just around the corner and can make earlier calculations worthless. So, many agree soothsayers should do no more than express probabilities. That does not deny, for example, the validity of special methods used by banks and businesses in assessing risk. But, generally, in international relations there are so many imponderables that, realistically, countries are limited to anticipating broad trends and developments which may affect their national interests. Historians suggest that in the aftermath of a pandemic politics tends to become more turbulent. People who have suffered from the death of loved ones and prolonged personal deprivation in one way or another tend to blame their own governments – justifiably or not – for failing to curb the effects of a pandemic. They want an end to it and a return to their normal lives. They also know it may have had a damaging effect on relationships between nations while existing disputes, conflicts and rivalries continue to ebb and flow. So, as the current coronavirus crisis is

The Peter Young column far from over, commentators broadly agree that at the start of 2022 the world is in an especially unsettled and unpredictable state and, in geopolitical terms, it could be living dangerously during the course of the coming year. There is invariably a plethora of public views about varying issues around the globe, but space constraints today allow mention of only a few. For many Western democracies, 2021 was a year of indecision, disunity and discord. The prime example is the US itself. Not even the most charitable of observers could call President Biden’s first year in office a success and many now believe the Democrats will lose control in November of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. His ratings are consistently low and some consider he is too old for such a high pressure job while his foreign policy has been branded by some in the UK press as a “complete disaster”. One example was the severely botched withdrawal

HERE IS THE NEWS... IT’S THE BEEB’S BIRTHDAY THE British Broadcasting Corporation is perhaps one of the best known bodies in the world. This year marks the centenary of its founding. The vision of its first Director General, Lord Reith, in 1922 was that it should inform, educate and entertain. As a publicly-funded broadcaster, it operates under a Royal Charter, which, inter alia, protects its editorial independence. It receives an annual licence fee from British households, companies and organisations for using equipment to receive live TV broadcasts. Whatever its critics may say – and there are those in Britain who love to complain about it for one reason or another and, in particular, because of its perceived lack of impartiality – the BBC remains a revered institution and a national asset. It is at the heart of the country’s public service broadcasting system and touches the lives of millions living in the UK as well as huge numbers living beyond its shores. One reason for its worldwide fame is that, in addition to its domestic programming, it broadcasts around the globe, not only in English but also in the languages of many other countries - and I recall many years ago in Northern Nigeria watching this working in practice as I sat with people listening intently on their portable shortwave radios to the BBC’s overseas service in the local language of Hausa. The Corporation enjoys generally a worldwide reputation for accuracy, reliability, truth and honesty. As a result, it has wideranging influence and is an important part of British so-called soft power. As a public service broadcaster, it has become the envy of the world as a trustworthy global news provider. But, of course, it is also so much more than a purveyor of news, since the Corporation is known for the high standard of its coverage of sport, comedy, drama and entertainment, not to mention excellent documentaries on a variety of subjects. To celebrate its 100th

birthday, the BBC is reported to be planning a special programme which will reflect the unique role the cherished national broadcaster has played in the lives of so many from its creation up to the present day. It has announced a bumper year of sports, events and landmark commissions for TV, Radio and Online to reflect its original purpose to inform, educate and entertain the nation – and all under the banner BBC100. Notwithstanding all these positive aspects, there is always a downside since nothing is perfect. Not everyone is content with the BBC. Over the years it has been criticised for harbouring a Left-wing bias. Its Royal Charter stipulates that as a public broadcaster it should exercise impartiality and objectivity in the public interest. It is required to identity the main strands of discourse in the country and to give each an opportunity to be heard so as to provide “a level playing field for competing views to be expressed, heard, answered and debated”. But, for some, it is failing to comply with these charter obligations. For example, in recent times the BBC has been accused of too great an emphasis on youth, diversity and minority groups, and even of attempting to rewrite English history. Moreover, some of its journalists have been under fire in the UK press for showing political bias and what has been described as a Left-wing progressive take on everything. Some also argue that the organization has become a bureaucratic and unaccountable monolith and that in modern times it should be opened up to competition. Nonetheless, for many in Britain and overseas the BBC remains a cherished and much appreciated institution on which they depend for news and entertainment. So, it is reasonable to expect a majority will be looking forward to celebration of its 100th anniversary during the course of this year.

from Afghanistan which has not only infuriated other nations but allowed the brutal Taliban regime to take a stranglehold over the country. Another is his negative stance on the Northern Ireland Protocol in relation to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on the grounds it could imperil the power-sharing Good Friday Agreement. This is said to be preventing negotiation of a UK/US trade deal. But, most importantly, the President’s attempts to rein in Vladimir Putin’s aggressive behaviour in relation to Ukraine by threatening “massive consequences” seem to have had little effect so far. The Russian leader’s deployment of thousands of troops near the border appears to be continuing while he has made clear his opposition to Ukraine’s potential membership of NATO. However, talks at official level are now taking place in Geneva and it remains to be seen to what extent they will be affected by new tensions over Kazakhstan. Reportedly, the EU is being sidelined over Ukraine as Biden and Putin talk to each other directly while leaving the bloc a virtual bystander in this huge security issue in its own backyard. But perhaps this is not surprising when the EU itself has many disagreements over foreign policy, defence and security. Other major issues causing particular concern are China’s military exercises near Taiwan which are seen by some as rehearsals for a possible invasion while President Xi Jinping tightens his grip on power domestically. Then there is the serious worry that new infectious variants of coronavirus will follow the Delta and Omicron strains and cause further widespread disruption. In addition, there are continuing problems in relation to climate change. Despite pledges at COP26 last November to limit global warming to the 1.5C target, analysts are now saying the world will still become warmer by at least 1.8C from pre-industrial levels, and more likely by 2.4C. Meanwhile, there is the danger Iran may be closer than ever to building a nuclear bomb while talks continue to try to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal – and

SIDNEY Poitier receives the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. Photo: J Scott Applewhite/AP

A son to be proud of IT SHOULD surely come as no surprise that the passing last week of Sidney Poitier, at the age of 94 has stimulated an extraordinary outpouring of tributes together with enormous sadness and regret. He was not only a brilliant actor and Hollywood icon himself but also a trailblazer credited with breaking racial barriers for his fellow black actors and regarded as an inspiration and “guiding light” for them. He was equally said to be someone who lit up the lives of so many other people as well. Everyone is aware, of course, that Sidney Poitier was the first such actor to win an Oscar – and this was in 1964. But the many accolades and outpouring of love for him from around the world are a testament to his extraordinary life and achievements in other fields as well and the indelible mark he has left on so many. It has been widely recorded that he was a philanthropist, philosopher and humanitarian as well as an activist who promoted social and racial justice; and, at a personal level, he was reputed to be warm and gracious with an unwavering sense of decency and a loving husband and father. His achievements were recognised in the US in 2009 when he received from the then President, Barack Obama, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. To those of my generation, his films during the 1960s which brought him tremendous box office success – like “Guess there are serious concerns about political repression in Belarus, ongoing conflicts like the civil war in Ethiopia and the brutality of the military regime in Myanmar, including the most recent harsh treatment of political leader

Who’s Coming to Dinner”, “To Sir, With Love” and “In the Heat of the Night” – were essential watching and made a trip to the cinema a real pleasure. Surprisingly, however, as far as I can see in the many international tributes to him there has been little reference to his Bahamian background and the official recognition in his own country of his life and outstanding achievements. He was knighted by The Queen as long ago as 1974 – and Sir Sidney was a true Son of The Bahamas. Not only, of course, was the new bridge to Paradise Island named after him in 2012 but he also served as Bahamian ambassador to Japan as well as to UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. It has also been so interesting and inspiring these last few days to delve once again in to his book entitled “The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography” which was published in 2007. In this excellent memoir he looked back at his celebrated life and career, and his account of family life growing up on Cat Island is fascinating, revealing and heart-warming. Sidney Poitier was a man of extraordinary talent and achievement. In the words of famous Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, who paid a notably warm and heartfelt tribute to him, he was an “iconic trailblazer” - “You are and always will be the true measure of a man – yours was a life well lived”.

Aung San Suu Kyi. Against this background, many consider the West now needs strong leadership in the face of growing authoritarianism around the globe. But the current US President is preoccupied by troubles at home

- the pandemic, high inflation, violent crime, chaos at the southern border and “wokeism” in education – and, to the consternation of many, there are serious doubts that he will ever be able to provide what is needed on the world stage.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, January 11, 2022

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GUIDELINES ADJUSTED FOR THOSE EXPOSED TO COVID-19 THE Health and Wellness Ministry has released adjusted guidelines for people who test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to positive cases. Those who have tested positive for the virus — and are asymptomatic or have mild to moderate illness — can now leave isolation after seven days, provided they test negative at the end of the seven days. However, after isolation, the person must wear a N95/ KN95 mask for up to three days. People who are COVID19 positive, but severely symptomatic or immunocompromised should isolate for 20 days, according to the new guidelines. However, people in this category can consult with their physician who may recommend a shorter isolation period, of no less than ten days. “The Ministry of Health and Wellness reminds the public that quarantine and isolation

are public health measures intended to reduce the spread of diseases, such as COVID-19,” the ministry said in a statement issued on Friday. “The way that COVID-19 behaves, continues to change. To help protect the citizens and residents of The Bahamas, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to adjust its public health measures as necessary. “The following updated information applies to vaccinated and unvaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19: COVID19 isolation: isolation is used to separate people with COVID-19 from others. “If you have tested positive with a RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and are asymptomatic or have mild to moderate illness and are not immunocompromised you should: isolate for seven days. Day one of isolation begins the day after you (have

taken) your test. On day five, six or seven of your isolation you can test again with a RT-PCR or RAT. If your test is negative you can be released from isolation; however, you must wear an N95/ KN95 mask for up to three days after your release. “Or isolate for ten days if no test is performed on day five to seven or the test at day five to seven is positive and your symptoms have improved (if applicable), with at least 24 hours without medication and no fever present, then you can be released from isolation. “If you have tested positive with a RT-PCR or RAT and are severely symptomatic or immunocompromised you should: isolate for 20 days and continue to monitor the severity of your symptoms or have a consultation with a physician. The physician may determine if you can be released from isolation earlier

(no sooner than ten days), or if longer isolation is required.” New quarantine guidelines have also been released for people who are in close contact with COVID-19 cases. The ministry said if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and you are fully vaccinated and are not immunocompromised, you are not required to quarantine. However, after you are informed of your exposure you should take a RT-PCR or RAT on day five. “Limit your movement to only essential activities (medical care and work if the necessary protective measures are in place) until your day five test results return as negative. If you are returning to the healthcare setting, continue to practice physical distancing, proper use of personal protective equipment and sanitizing in

public spaces for a period of ten days. “If your test is positive, follow the above stated guidelines for isolation.” Someone who is immunocompromised is required to quarantine for ten days. “On day ten you can test with a RT-PCR or RAT. If your test is negative, you can be released from quarantine on day 11. If you are returning to the healthcare setting, continue to practice physical distancing, proper use of personal protective equipment and sanitizing in public spaces for a period of fourteen days. If your test is positive, follow the above stated guidelines for isolation.” Individuals who are immunocompromised and test positive for COVID-19 or are in close contact of cases, should adhere to the existing policies for quarantine and isolation, the ministry said.

Nearly 8,000 held in Kazakhstan protests MOSCOW Associated Press NEARLY 8,000 people in Kazakhstan were detained by police during protests that descended into violence last week and marked the worst unrest the former Soviet nation has faced since gaining independence 30 years ago, authorities said yesterday. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev yesterday described the unrest that followed initially peaceful protests against rising energy prices as a “terrorist aggression” against the mineral-rich Central Asian nation of 19 million and dismissed reports that authorities targeted peaceful demonstrators as “disinformation”. Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry reported that 7,939 people have been detained across the country. The National Security Committee, Kazakhstan’s counterintelligence and anti-terrorism agency, said the situation has “stabilised and is under control”. Yesterday was declared a day of mourning for the victims of the violent unrest, which the health ministry says killed 164 people, including three children. The demonstrations began on January 2 over a near-doubling of prices for vehicle fuel and quickly spread across the country, with political slogans reflecting wider discontent with Kazakhstan’s authoritarian government. In a concession, the government announced a 180-day price cap on vehicle fuel and a moratorium on utility rate increases. As the unrest mounted, the ministerial cabinet resigned and the president replaced Nursultan Nazarbayev, former longtime leader of Kazakhstan, as head of the National Security Council. One of the main slogans of the past week’s protests, “Old man out,” was a reference to Nazarbayev, who served as president from Kazakhstan’s independence until he resigned

in 2019 and anointed Tokayev as his successor. Nazarbayev had retained substantial power at the helm of the National Security Council. Despite the concessions, the protests turned extremely violent for several days. In Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, the protesters set the city hall on fire and stormed and briefly seized the airport. For several days, sporadic gunfire was reported in the city streets. The authorities declared a state of emergency over the unrest, and Tokayev requested help from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russia-led military alliance of six former Soviet states. The group has authorized sending about 2,500 mostly Russian troops to Kazakhstan as peacekeepers. Tokayev has said the demonstrations were instigated by “terrorists” with foreign backing, although the protests have shown no obvious leaders or organization. On Friday, he said he ordered police and the military to shoot to kill “terrorists” involved in the violence. In a statement on Monday, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said the peaceful protests “were hijacked by terrorist, extremist and criminal groups”, including radical Islamist fighters with combat experience. Speaking yesterday at an extraordinary virtual summit of CSTO, Tokayev promised to reveal to the world “additional evidence” of a “terrorist aggression” against Kazakhstan. He stressed that the demands of peaceful protesters have been “heard and met by the state,” and the unrest that followed involved “groups of armed militants” whose goal was to overthrow the government. Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed that sentiment, calling the unrest “an act of aggression” masterminded from abroad. “The events in Kazakhstan are not the first and not the last attempt at interfering in the internal affairs of

our states from the outside,” Putin said at the summit. The Kazakh president added that “constitutional order” has been restored and the “large-scale antiterrorist operation” in the country will soon wrap up, along with the CSTO mission. The foreign militants involved, Tokayev charged later Monday, came from “mostly Central Asian countries, including Afghanistan,” and some from Mideast nations. Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee said Monday that “hot spots of terrorist threats” in the country have been “neutralised”. The committee also told Russia’s Interfax news agency that authorities released well-known Kyrgyz musician Vikram Ruzakhunov, whose arrest over his alleged participation in the unrest sparked outrage in neighboring Kyrgyzstan. Ruzakhunov was shown in a video on Kazakh television saying he had flown to the country to take part in protests and was promised $200. In the video, apparently taken in police custody, Ruzakhunov’s face was bruised and he had a large cut on his forehead. Kyrygzstan’s Foreign Ministry had demanded Ruzakhunov’s release, and the country’s authorities on Monday sought to open a probe on charges of torture. Yesterday evening, Ruzakhunov returned to Kyrgyzstan. He told a local TV channel that he came to Almaty on January 2 to visit a friend, but several days later, as the protests turned violent, decided to travel back to Kyrgyzstan and was detained. In jail, Ruzakhnunov heard from cellmates that confessing to going to Almaty with the purpose of taking part in the protests and being offered money for it was the quickest way to get deported home, so that’s what he decided to do. “It was a path (home), so I decided to implicate myself, even though I didn’t do it,” Ruzakhunov said.

VENDORS clean their store that was broken into and looted during clashes in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Monday. Kazakhstan’s health ministry says more than 150 people have been killed in protests that have rocked the country over the past week. Photo: Vladimir Tretyakov/NUR.KZ via AP

SAFETY DOOR FAILURE BLAMED IN BLAZE THAT KILLED 17 NEW YORK Associated Press

INVESTIGATORS sought answers yesterday for why safety doors failed to close when fire broke out in a New York high-rise, allowing thick smoke to rise through the tower and kill 17 people, including eight children, in the city’s deadliest blaze in more than three decades. A malfunctioning electric space heater apparently started the fire Sunday in the 19-storey building in the Bronx, fire officials said. The flames damaged only a small part of the building, but smoke poured through the apartment’s open door and turned stairwells into dark, ash-choked death traps. The stairs were the only method of escape in a tower too tall for fire escapes. Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the apartment’s front door and a door on the 15th floor should have been self-closing and blunted the spread of smoke, but the doors stayed fully open. It was not clear if the doors failed mechanically or if they had

FIREFIGHTERS work outside the apartment building in the Bronx yesterday. Photo: Yuki Iwamura/AP been manually disabled. Nigro said the apartment door was not obstructed. The heavy smoke blocked some residents from escaping and incapacitated others as they tried to flee, fire officials said. Firefighters carried out limp children and gave them oxygen and continued making rescues even after their air supplies ran out. Glenn Corbett, a fire

science professor at John Jay College in New York City, said closed doors are vital to containing fire and smoke, especially in buildings that do not have automatic sprinkler systems. “It’s pretty remarkable that the failure of one door could lead to how many deaths we had here, but that’s the reality of it,” Corbett said. “That one door

played a critical role in allowing the fire to spread and the smoke and heat to spread vertically through the building.” Dozens of people were hospitalized, including several in critical condition. Mayor Eric Adams called it an “unspeakable tragedy” at a news conference near the scene yesterday. “This tragedy is not going to define us,” Adams said.

“It is going to show our resiliency.” Adams lowered the death toll from an initial report on Sunday, saying that two fewer people were killed than originally thought. Nigro said patients were taken to seven hospitals and “there was a bit of a double count.” The dead included children as young as four years old, City Council Member Oswald Feliz said. An investigation was underway to determine exactly how the fire spread and whether anything could have been done to prevent or contain the blaze, Nigro said. A fire department official said the space heater had been running for a “prolonged period” before the fire began. What caused it to malfunction remains under investigation, spokesman Frank Dwyer said. Fire then spread quickly to nearby furniture and bedding, Dwyer said. Nigro said the heat was on in the building before the fire started, and the space heater was being used to supplement it. But Stefan Beauvogui,

who lived with his wife in the building for about seven years, said cold was an ongoing problem in his fourth-floor apartment. Beauvogui said he had three space heaters for the winter — for the bedrooms and the sitting room. The heating system that was supposed to warm the apartment “don’t work for nothing.” He said he had complained, but it had not been fixed. Large, new apartment buildings are required to have sprinkler systems and interior doors that swing shut automatically to contain smoke and deprive fires of oxygen, but those rules do not apply to thousands of the city’s older buildings. The building was equipped with self-closing doors and smoke alarms, but several residents said they initially ignored the alarms because they were so common in the 120-unit building. Bronx Park Phase III Preservation LLC, the group that owns the building, said it was cooperating fully with the fire department and the city and working to assist residents.

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Tuesday, January 11, 2022, PAGE 11

Sir Sidney Poitier: A trailblazing life in his own words

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer AS A trailblazing actor to generations of Black performers in Hollywood, Sidney Poitier often spoke about his larger offscreen role. Poitier, who died Thursday at the age of 94, entered the film industry at a time when portrayals of African Americans were generally stereotypical. But Poitier, who refused to play such caricatures, emerged as a matinee idol, an Oscar-winning actor and one of the most potent and graceful screen presences of his time, paving the way for countless who followed him. In interviews and in his 2000 autobiography, “The Measure of a Man,” Poitier spoke and wrote about the hardships, responsibilities and importance of his historic ascent in Hollywood. Here are excerpts of Poitier in his own words through the years. “There was almost no frame of reference for us except as stereotypical, one-dimensional characters. ... Not only was I not going to do that, but I had in mind what was expected of me — not just what other Blacks expected but what my mother and father expected. And what I expected of myself. ... To walk through my life as my own man.” — From a 2000 interview with Oprah Winfrey. “OK listen, you think I’m so

inconsequential? Then try this on for size. All those who see unworthiness when they look at me and are given thereby to denying me value - to you I say, I’m not talking about being AS GOOD as you. I hereby declare myself BETTER than you.” — From his memoir. “I felt very much as if I were representing 15, 18 million people with every move I made.” — From his memoir. “It’s a choice, a clear choice. If the fabric of the society were different, I would scream to high heaven to play villains and to deal with different images of Negro life that would be more dimensional. But I’ll be damned if I do that at this stage of the game.” — On playing heroic, altruistic characters, from a 1967 interview. “I can tell you what I think the flak was about. For a long time, I got all the jobs — one picture after another after another. And the roles I played were very unlike the average Black person in America at the time. The guy always had a suit, a tie, a briefcase! He was a doctor, lawyer, police detective. Middle-class. The characters weren’t reflective of the diversity of Black life. I don’t know that I wouldn’t have had resentments myself, had I been an actor on the outside looking in.” — On criticism of his on-screen persona, from a 1995 interview with the Washington Post. SEE PAGES 12 & 13

SIR Sidney Poitier pictured sharing a joke with then Prime Minister Lynden O Pindling at Gambier House in Oakes Field.

SIR Sidney Poitier with then Tourism Minister Brent Symonette at the Bahamas Hotel Association’s Quincentennial Commomorative Ball at Merv Griffin’s Paradise Island Resort and Casino.

SIR Sidney Poitier being interviewed by Mary Kelly in 1964.

SIR Sidney Poitier at the 18th Beaux Arts Masked Ball in 1993 as Phyllis Albury and Sammy Bethel look on.

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SIR SIDNEY POITIER, left and above, pictured with four children who greeted him at the airport as he arrived with a copy of Uptown Saturday Night ready for a premiere at the Shirley Street Theatre in 1974. The children were all students from the Stapledon School and are pictured left with their teacher, Gwen Robertson. The school was a beneficiary of the premiere screening.

Sir Sidney Poitier: A trailblazing life in his own words from page 11 “In the original script, I looked at him with great disdain and, wrapped in my strong ideals, walked out,” he wrote. “That could have happened with another actor playing the part, but it couldn’t happen with me.” — On returning a white man’s slap in 1967’s “In the Heat of the Night,” from his memoir. “I was happy for me, but I was also happy for the ‘folks.’ We Black people had done it. We were capable. We forget sometimes, having to persevere against unspeakable odds, that we are capable of infinitely more than the culture is yet willing to credit to our account.” — On becoming the first Black actor to win an Oscar in 1964, from his memoir.

“I was part of an influence that could be called paving the way. But I was only a part of it. I was selected almost by history itself. Most of my career unfolded in the 1960s, which was one of the periods in American history with certain attitudes toward minorities that stayed in vogue. I didn’t understand the elements swirling around. I was a young actor with some talent, an enormous curiosity, a certain kind of appeal. You wrap all that together and you have a potent mix.” — From a 1992 interview with the Times of London. “Those of us that go before you glance back with satisfaction and leave you with a simple trust. Be true to yourselves and be useful to the journey.” — Accepting the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992.

SIR Sidney Poitier during a game of golf at the Grand Bahama Hotel and Country Club at West End, Grand Bahama, with Bob Toski, golf director at the Ocean Reef, Key West, course, in 1966.

SIR Sidney Poitier pictured with, from left, Sammy Davis Jr, Quincy Jones and Terrence McNeely on board the yacht Conchy Joe which had a two-day stay in Nassau before sailing to George Town, Exuma.

SIR SIDNEY POITIER, left, with, from left, Brent Symonette, Mrs Symonette, Baltron Bethel, Mrs Bethel, Irene Randall, Calvin Lockhart, Eva Gabor and Merv Griffin.

SIR Sidney Poitier with the Oscar he won for Lillies of the Field, pictured alongside Annabella, who collected the best actress Oscar on behalf of Patricia Neal.

SIR SIDNEY POITIER, fourth from left, with, from left, Sir Milo Butler, Christine Smith, Reginald Poitier, Marguerite Pindling, then Prime Minister Lynden Pindling, Joanna Shimkus, Patricia Isaacs, Clement Maynard, then Minister of Tourism, Kendal Isaacs, then Leader of the Opposition, Lady Butler and Carlton Williams.

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Tuesday, January 11, 2022, PAGE 13

SIR Sidney Poitier presenting the authentic Western gun used by him in Buck and the Preacher to Lady Thurlow. He donated the gun and two antique silver cases, a pair of binoculars and two sculptors books hand-done in pewter in aid of an auction.

SIR Sidney Poitier with executives of the Bahamas Film Promotion Bureau at a lunch on board a 40ft yacht. From left, Cordell Thompson, Darlene Davis, Mr Poitier, Julia Burnside (a cousin of the star and employee at the Ministry of Tourism), and E John Deleveaux.

SIR Sidney Poitier shaking hands with Captain Albert Allusi, of the yacht Casa Rodi, before sailing to George Town, Exuma for the Out Island Regatta.

SIR Sidney Poitier pictured with family members.

MEMBERS of Sir Sidney Poitier’s family pictured in 1964.

PAGE 14, Tuesday, January 11, 2022

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Sir Sidney Poitier 1927-2022

SIR Sidney Poitier pictured at his Winton Heights home in 1974 discussing the Nassau premiere of his movie Uptown Saturday Night.

SIR Sidney Poitier narrated the opening and closing scenes of a film on the Bahama Islands Open in 1971. He is pictured here with camera crew Gene Bunting, left, Barbara Bunting, kneeling, and director Mort Schwartz.

SIR Sidney Poitier pictured in 1976.

SIR Sidney Poitier at the Coral Harbour Golf Club in 1970 with club pro Jim Morton, left, and manager Michael Mosko.

SIR Sidney Poitier in one of his starring roles in Porgy and Bess.

SIR Sidney Poitier with his Oscar.

SPORTS PAGE 15

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022

Athletes burn up track at Texas A&M Indoors By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

W

ith the focus on getting some of his talented senior members off to school on athletic scholarships, coach Tito Moss took a 20-member team to the Texas A&M Indoor High School Track and Field Meet over the weekend. Also at the meet on Saturday on the campus of the Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, Moss’ collegian daughter Megan Moss, a junior at the University of Kentucky, lowered her personal best time of of 57.85 seconds indoors to 54.37 in the women’s open 400 metres. Four members of the Red-Line Athletics team made it to the finals of their respective events. Brandon Hutchinson had the highest position, placing fifth out of a field of 22 competitors in the boys’ triple jump with a personal best leap of 14.05 metres or 46-feet, 1 ¼-inches. Shimar Bain was sixth out of 288 competitors in the boys’ 200 in 21.69, Jaylin Plakaris was eighth in a line-up of 158 competitors in the boys’ 400m in a lifetime and indoor best of 49.50 and Otto Laing came in 10th out of 258 competitors in the boys’ 60m in a personal best of 7.05. Moss, who travelled along with coaches Earl Rahming and Rachante Colebrook and some of the parents, said the meet was a good indication of where the athletes are, considering the fact that there is very little or no events being staged in the Bahamas due to COVID-19. “With the uncertainty we are facing with COVID19, I just want to give my seniors an opportunity to compete with other seniors in an indoor environment,” Moss said. “We try to do this every season. “But we felt good about their performances in this meet. They shoed up and showed off. So we were happy with that. We had about 12 of them who turned in personal best performances and four of them made finals out of the 20 kids we took on this trip.” In some of the other results posted, Lacarthea

COACH Tito Moss took a 20-member team to the Texas A&M Indoor High School Track and Field meet over the weekend in an effort to get some of his talented senior members off to school on athletic scholarships. The meet was held on Saturday on the campus of Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. Cooper got 28th in the girls’ 400m in 59.06 just ahead of Nya Wright, who was 29th in 59.25, while Kennedi Knowles was 65 in 1:02.53 and Shanai Sweeting was 82nd in 1:03.69. Sara Williams was 48th in the girls’ 800m in 2:33.97, Joshua Miller was 34th in the boys’ 200m in 22.52, Laing came in 40th in 22.59, Tumani Skinner was 48th in 22.72, Jonathon Fowler was 73rd in 23.03 and Ryand Forbes was 78th in 23.12. Fowler was also 32nd in the boys’ 60m in 7.13, Miller was 34th in 7.13, Bain was tied for 40th in 7.15, Pakaris was 71 in 7.23,

Skinner was 115th in 7.36, Quinton Rolle was 148th in 7.46 and Morgan Moss 201st in 7.59. Red-Line Athletics also entered two teams in the boys’ 4 x 400m relay with the first team placing sixth in 3:26.19. The other team finished 13th in 3:30.52. They also had a girls’ 4 x 400m relay team that was 13th in 4:02.84. In February, Moss said they are expected to travel to Kentucky to once again compete in the University of Kentucky’s High School Invitational where the senior athletes can be placed in the spotlight to

be viewed by coaches for athletic scholarships. “I have 12 athletes graduating this year and I want to get them off to school,” Moss said. “We just want to give them the opportunities with the uncertainties that we are faced with here in the Bahamas without track and field season. “We will have to go overseas so that these athletes can get the exposure that they need to get off to college.” On the local stage, Moss said their Red-Line Athletics Track Meet, which was scheduled for this month, will be postponed until March. He noted

that the Ministry of Health has denied the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ the opportunity to stage any meets at this time because of the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country. The BAAA had to postpone its Odd Distance Track Meet on Saturday. The meet is normally used as the pacesetter for the BAAA’s ensuing season. It’s not known if the BAAA will reschedule the meet or move along with its programme as it prepares athletes for the return of the CARIFTA Games in Jamaica over the Easter holiday weekend.

Ayton, Page 17

COUNTDOWN UNTIL THE RETURN OF CARIFTA GAMES By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net OVER the weekend, the Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association officially launched the 100-day countdown for the return of the region’s top prestigious track and field competition – the CARIFTA Games. North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) President Mike Sands, along with secretary general Keith Joseph, were special guests of the JAAA and Minister of Sports Olivia Grange. Sands, a former president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, thanked Grange and the Jamaican government for coming forth and working in partnership with the JAAA in relaunching the games, which were called off for the past two years due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re very pleased and happy that Jamaica has taken up the challenge to host those games on such short notice,” Sands said. “It’s exciting to know that the games will be returning to Jamaica after some hiatus. “As we know, Jamaica has been a perennial powerhouse in the region and all of our athletes from the inception of the games from 1972 to now, the vast majority of our athletes have come through the system so we all understand the significance of what the games means to the development of sports in our region.” As is the norm with the staging of the meet, Sands said there are always diamonds in the rough and track and field stars born and they expect the same pattern to be formed when the games are staged over the Easter holiday weekend in Kingston. Under the health and safety protocols, which hindered the hosting of the games over the past two years, Sands said they are looking at the possibility of whether or not they will be able to have any fans in the stands in the Jamaican National Stadium. He noted that NACAC had a conference call with all of their member associations and everybody is eager to send their teams to Jamaica to compete in the

SEE PAGE 18

Greene and Pennerman in the spotlight at Purdue By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net IT was only their season opener, but head coach Norbert Elliott said it was good to see his Boilermakers triple/long jumper Tamar Greene and former sprinter Keanu Pennerman get in some early action as Purdue University kicked off its 2022 indoor track and field season. On Saturday at the Gene Edmonds Memorial Invitational at Purdue University’s Lambert Fieldhouse in West Lafayette, Indiana, Greene opted to contest the long jump where he placed seventh with a leap of 7.15 metres or 23-feet, 5 1/-inches. The winning leap was 7.22m (23-8 ½) by Safin Wills, a junior at Purdue. The triple jump was won by Welre Olivier, a sophomore at Northern

Colorado with 15.59m (51-1 ¾). Although he has graduated and is back home in the Bahamas, Pennerman made the trek to his alma mater where he contested the men’s 60m, coming in fourth in the final in 6.94 seconds after he posted the same position in the preliminaries as he advanced in a time of 6.95. Antonio Mitchell II, a senior competing unattached for Purdue, won the race in 6.81. Pennerman also ran the second leg of the unattached men’s 4 x 400m relay team of Malcolm Dotson, Noah McBride and Justin Dwyer, which placed second in 3:23.02. Purdue won the race in 3:22.74. Looking at the performances of both Greene and Pennerman, Elliott said the low\-key meet was a good test to see where they are as they prepare for the upcoming season and

KEANU PENNERMAN

NORBERT ELLIOTT

TAMAR GREENE

the possibility of qualifying for Team Bahamas at the World Championships in July in Eugene, Oregon. “This is early season and this is just an opportunity for them to gauge where they are,” Elliott said. “You can’t really perform at your peak in the first meet of the season, so I’m really pleased with what I saw from both of them.” Greene, one of the country’s top triple jumpers, decided to get in a few

leaps in the long jump as he worked out the knits and got ready for his season year at Purdue. “Tamar has never really been a long jumper, so we were just working on some things,” Elliott said. “We just wanted to see where he was at this point of the season so when he gets ready to peak, we know what he needs to do to compete at that point.” With Pennerman, Elliott said he was pleased to

see him return to his “old stomping ground” and from what he saw, he was impressed. “He looks good. He looked good for his first meet. He’s trying to make the World Championship team, like Tamar, so he too wanted to gauge to see where he’s at,” Elliott said. “He looked good for his first meet. “If he can stay healthy, he should do very well. His problem is he’s always been prone to injuries. But if he can stay

healthy, he will do very well.” Last year, top male sprinter Samson Colebrooke graduated from Purdue and is now training in Atlanta, Georgia in preparation for this season. Like he did in qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, Elliott said he’s looking forward to Colebrooke qualifying for the World Championships as well. Aside from Greene, the only other Bahamian left on Purdue’s roster is Vinajah Adderley, who has taken the year off and is back home. But Elliott said he expects the jumper to be back next season to continue her career as a Boilermaker. Purdue will travel to Chicago, Illinois this weekend to compete in the Wisconsin Midwest Invitational on Saturday where Greene is expected to contest the triple jump.

PAGE 16, Tuesday, January 11, 2022

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Barty pulls out Sydney event, heads straight to Melbourne By DENNIS PASSA AP Sports Writer AFTER winning both the singles and doubles titles at the Adelaide International, top-ranked Ash Barty has decided she doesn’t need any more tournament action before the Australian Open. Barty announced yesterday that she’d travel directly from Adelaide to Melbourne Park and skip the Sydney Tennis Classic. Geographically, that makes sense -- it’s much easier to get directly from Adelaide to Melbourne. But from a career standpoint, having a week off to fine-tune ahead of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year is more important. “It’s been an extraordinary week. We’ve been able to play lots of matches in singles and doubles,” Barty said yesterday. “We’ve had plenty of court time, which is great.” Later Monday, Nick Kyrgios also pulled out of the Sydney tournament after contracting the coronavirus, placing him in doubt for the Australian Open which begins next Monday. “I just want to be open and transparent with everyone, the reason I have had to pull out of Sydney is because I tested positive for COVID,” Kyrgios posted on Instagram. “I am feeling healthy at the moment with no symptoms.” Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova beat Arantxa Rus 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 at the Sydney tournament later Monday.

ASH Barty celebrates with the trophy on Sunday. Photos: Matt Turner/AAP Image via AP) At the Adelaide International 2 tournament, Australian qualifier Alexsandar Vukic beat sixth-seeded Alexander Bublik 7-6 (5), 6-2. The 25-year-old Barty has two Grand Slam singles titles — the 2019 French Open and last year’s Wimbledon — but she dearly wants to win a major on home soil. No Australian woman has won the title since Chris O’Neill in 1978. That’s a 44-year drought, and one that Barty hears about all the time. Her best finish at Melbourne Park was

in 2020, when she lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Sofia Kenin. She reached the quarterfinals last year. On Sunday, Barty won the Adelaide International singles title for the second time in three years, 6-3, 6-2 over Elena Rybakina. She won the doubles with her Billie Jean King Cup teammate Storm Sanders. It was Barty’s first tournament since losing in the third round at the US Open in September to American Shelby Rogers. But she hardly looked rusty in Adelaide, beating

Coco Gauff, Kenin and 2020 French Open winner Iga Swiatek en route to the title. “I feel good leading up to an Australian Open,” said Barty. She has been a prolific winner on the women’s tour since the start of 2019, winning 11 of the 32 tournaments she has contested. There are joint ATPWTA tournaments this week in Adelaide and Sydney ahead of the Australian Open. There were six tournaments decided on Sunday, with Canada winning the

ATP Cup team event in the final over Spain. Elsewhere, top-seeded Rafael Nadal beat American Maxime Cressy, 7-6 (6), 6-3 at Melbourne and another American, Amanda Anisimova, beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 to win her second WTA title. Second-seeded Simona Halep beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 6-3 to win the WTA 500 event in Melbourne. In the Adelaide International men’s final, Gael Monfils beat Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-4.

MAPLE LEAF RULES: CANADA WINS ATP CUP WITH WIN OVER SPAIN SYDNEY (AP) — Felix Auger-Aliassime clinched the ATP Cup title for Canada on Sunday with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 singles victory over Roberto Bautista Agut to give his country an insurmountable 2-0 lead against Spain. Denis Shapovalov opened the match for Canada with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Pablo Carreno Busta. Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov won a deciding doubles against Russia on Saturday in the semifinals to knock out the defending champions. And with the title on the line, they played their best tennis to defeat twotime finalists Spain. “The emotions are unbelievable,” AugerAliassime said on the ATP website. “There’s no better feeling than winning. We left everything out there. We came back from far in this competition, losing our first four matches. But we never stopped believing.” Auger-Aliassime saved 10 of the 11 break points he faced and had 15 aces. Shapovalov had lost four of five previous matches against Carreno Busta. “Couldn’t have wished for a better start. If it wasn’t for Denis the past two days, we wouldn’t be here right now,” Auger-Aliassime said.

JUDGE SAYS DJOKOVIC CAN STAY IN AUSTRALIA BUT SAGA NOT OVER By ROD MCGUIRK and MARK D BAKER Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic returned to the tennis court yesterday for training, having won a legal battle to stay in Australia to play in the Australian Open after his exemption from strict coronavirus vaccine rules was questioned. But the government is still threatening to cancel his visa and deport him. The unvaccinated tennis star was released after being confined to an immigration hotel for four nights — a drama that has gripped many in Australia and beyond. Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reinstated Djokovic’s visa, which was pulled after his arrival last week because officials said he didn’t qualify for an exemption to a rule that all non-citizens be fully vaccinated. Djokovic’s lawyers say that since he recently recovered from COVID19, he didn’t need to be inoculated.

The judge ruled the No. 1 player had not been given enough time to speak to his lawyers before the decision was made and ordered the government to release him from the Melbourne quarantine hotel where he was held. But government lawyer Christopher Tran told the judge that the immigration minister “will consider whether to exercise a personal power of cancellation.” That would mean that the nine-time Australian Open winner and defending champion could again face deportation and could miss the tournament, which starts on January 17. It could also bar him from the country for three years. Late last night, Djokovic tweeted out a photo that showed him and his team standing on one of the main show courts of the tournament. He was already back to training, his brother told reporters in Serbia. “I’m pleased and grateful that the Judge overturned my visa cancellation. Despite all that has happened, I want to stay and

try to compete @AustralianOpen,” Djokovic said in the post. The back and forth has caused a furor in Australia, where many initially decried the news that Djokovic, who has been a vocal skeptic of vaccines, had received an exemption to strict rules to compete in Melbourne. Many felt the star, who court documents say is not inoculated, was being given special treatment since Australians who aren’t vaccinated face tough travel and quarantine restrictions. But when border police then blocked the 34-yearold on arrival, others cried foul, saying he was being scapegoated by an Australian government facing criticism for its recent handling of the pandemic. The tennis star’s brother, Djordje Djokovic, told television network Prva in Belgrade, Serbia: “This is definitely politics, all this was politics.” Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal called the controversy “a circus” and said he supported the decision allowing his rival to play in

FANS cheer outside an immigration detention hotel where Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is confined in Melbourne, Australia, on Monday. An Australian judge who will decide whether topranked tennis star Novak Djokovic plays in the Australian Open has questioned what more the Serbian could have done to meet Australia’s coronavirus entry requirements. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Melbourne. “Beyond me agreeing or not with Djokovic on certain things, there’s no question that justice has spoken and has said that he has the right to take part in the Australian Open,” Nadal said yesterday during an interview with Spain’s Onda Cero radio. Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s conservative government is seeking reelection for a fourth term in polls due by May. While his government was widely praised for containing the nation’s COVID-19 death toll at the start of the pandemic, he has recently loosened some rules, just as omicron cases have been rapidly surging. He has been criticised for that strategy as well as for shortages of rapid antigen tests and for refusing to make the tests available to all for free. At yesterday’s court hearing, Djokovic’s lawyers argued their client did not need proof of vaccination because he had evidence that he had been infected with the coronavirus last month. Australian medical authorities have ruled that people who have been infected with COVID19 within six months can receive a temporary exemption to the vaccination rule. Judge Kelly noted that Djokovic had provided officials at Melbourne’s airport with a medical exemption

given him by Tennis Australia and two medical panels. “The point I’m somewhat agitated about is what more could this man have done?” Kelly asked Djokovic’s lawyer, Nick Wood. Wood agreed that his client could not have done more, noting that transcripts of Djokovic’s interview with Border Force officials and his own affidavit revealed that he repeatedly told officers he had done everything he thought was required of him. Djokovic’s lawyers described the cancellation as “seriously illogical.” But lawyers for Home Affairs Minister Andrews said in their submission that the vaccination exemption could only be granted for travellers who had recovered from a serious bout of COVID-19. “There is no suggestion that the applicant (Djokovic) had ‘acute major medical illness’ in December” when he tested positive, the written submission said. But in the end, the government lawyers conceded that the decision to proceed with interviewing Djokovic in the early hours of Thursday and cancel his visa before he could contact Tennis Australia or his lawyers was unreasonable. Djokovic was told at 5:20am on Thursday that he

had until 8:30am to respond to a notice of intention to cancel his visa. His comments were sought instead at 6:14am. The decision to cancel his visa was made just over an hour later. Minister Andrews did not immediately responded to a request for comment. But a spokesperson for Alex Hawke, minister for immigration, citizenship, migrant services and multicultural affairs, acknowledged the court’s decision, adding the minister’s personal discretion remains in play. “The minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing,” the spokesman said. Still, at a news conference in Belgrade, Serbia, Djokovic’s family declared victory. “This is his greatest victory, greater than all the Grand Slams that he has won,” his mother, Dijana Djokovic, said. The virtual hearing crashed several times because of an overwhelming number of people from around the world trying to watch the proceedings. At one point, an expired court link was apparently hacked and broadcast pornography, The New Daily News website reported. Djokovic has 20 Grand Slam singles titles, a men’s record he shares along with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

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Tuesday, January 11, 2022, PAGE 17

Ayton: ‘My feet were burning’ By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net DEANDRE Ayton returned to the floor following his time in the NBA’s health and safety protocols for COVID-19 but is still working his way back to peak conditioning to help his Phoenix Suns back to the win column. Ayton missed six games but returned in a 123-100 loss to the Miami Heat at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on January 8. He finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and shot just 4-5 from the field in 32 minutes. “My feet were burning a little bit, but other than that, I felt like I was moving fine,” Ayton said following the Suns’ practice session on Sunday. “Everyone said I was moving pretty good. Just trying my best to stay in the weight room and hurry up and get back in shape.” The Suns, 30-9, will travel to face the Toronto Raptors tonight on the first game of a five-game road trip. During his time in the protocols, Ayton said he was asymptomatic. “I was just at home just healthy as can be just

sitting here watching the game and playing (NBA) 2K, and shaking my head. I was really healthy. Didn’t have any symptoms at all,” he said. “I was testing every day. Testing every day, coming back twice a day. Levels were just down, levels wasn’t where it was supposed to be and I think that’s why I was really in protocols. Levels were low.” Despite not being able to participate in team activities, Ayton said he remained connected to his teammates as they went 4-2 over that timespan. “Honestly, it brought back bad memories of when I was suspended,” Ayton told reporters. “I couldn’t be a part of the team or couldn’t just join the team. It brought me some bad memories. Just sitting at home not being with the team. I felt left out, but my teammates made sure in the group chats and stuff, they were checking up on me. They made me feel good. I was supporting them on as well.” Last week, Ayton was 10th among frontcourt players in the Western Conference with 177,115 votes when the league announced the first fan

PHOENIX Suns’ Deandre Ayton (22) prior to an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat on Saturday in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb) returns of NBA All-Star Voting. Ayton is fourth among centres behind reigning MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets (1,649,809), Karl-Anthony

Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves (474,794), and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz (218,819). The next NBA All-Star fan voting update will be shared on January 13.

Ayton is averaging 16.8 points and 11 rebounds per game on 63 percent shooting from the field. Ayton has 15 double doubles in 25 games this season.

McPhee-McCuin and Rebels’ win streak snapped By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE win streak ended at 13 for Yolett McPheeMcCuin and her Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball programme. The Rebels suffered their first loss since opening night in November when they fell 70-58 to the No.7 ranked Tennessee Volunteers, at the SJB Pavilion Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels fell to 13-2 overall, 1-1 in the vaunted Southeastern Conference. Despite their trademark defence forcing the Vols into 22 turnovers and getting double digit steals, Tennessee, the top rebounding team in Division I controlled the boards on both ends of the floor and nearly doubled the Rebels on the glass, 46-28. Tennessee improved to 15-1 and are still

undefeated in the SEC at 4-0. The Vols took an early 23-10 lead and the Rebels were unable to recover. “There were some things that I liked from our team in our second game of SEC play and there were some things I didn’t like,” McPhee-McCuin said. “Tennessee is a top 10 team for a reason, the margin is very small and I thought in the second quarter we lost our identity and had to dig really deep just to keep it competitive.” The SEC is host to five teams ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press poll, including No. 1 South Carolina, No. 5 Tennessee, No. 12 LSU, No. 17 Georgia, and No. 19 Kentucky. Ole Miss returns to action continuing with its second game of a threegame SEC homestand against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Thursday January 13.

MISSISSIPPI head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin looks at the overhead monitor for a replay of a foul called against her team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee in Oxford, Miss., on Sunday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V Solis) The Rebels were listed at No.6 in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll, the highest projection in programme history since the conference began the practice in 2007-08. Ole Miss was also picked to finish eighth in

the SEC Preseason Media Poll, its best in that poll since 2015-16. Last year, the Rebels finished the season 15-12, for their first winning season since 2016-17. After an 11-11 regular season, 4-10

in the SEC, they advanced to the first SEC Quarterfinal since 2004. Their résumé included three wins against ranked teams and four Top-50 NET wins. They eventually fell to Rice in the WNIT title game. McPhee-McCuin said the goal this season is clear - advance to the NCAA Tournament. “We need to look like we’re a tournament team and that was my focus,” McPhee-McCuin said. “This programme hasn’t been in the NCAA Tournament since 2007. We’re trying to get into the tournament so for me, this was great for us. “We needed to see where we were, we [as coaches] knew where we were but our players needed to see where we were because rebounding has been an issue for us and they just annihilated us on the glass.”

MCCOY’S DOUBLE DOUBLE LEADS TIGERS TO 10TH STRAIGHT VICTORY By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net MALACHI McCoy and his Benedict Tigers continue their win streak to highlight Bahamian players in NCAA Division II. McCoy posted a team high 16 points and season high 15 rebounds in the Tigers’ dominant 111-68 win over Edward Waters College on January 8. It was their 10th consecutive win. And it was his third consecutive double double, and fifth double double of the season as he continues to establish himself on

both ends of the floor in his junior season. The Tigers made a season high 16 three pointers, including McCoy’s first three pointer of the season. The Tigers improved to 11-3 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Led by McCoy, Benedict dominated on the boards, out-rebounding Edward Waters 59-35. Benedict travels to take on Morehouse next Saturday. The next home game will be January 22 against Savannah State. The junior forward is averaging a near double

double in his third season with the Tigers at 10.2 points and a team leading 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent from the field. Lathaniel Bastian and the Angelo State Rams won their final non conference game of the season with an 80-78 win over UT Permian Basin on January 6. Bastian was reinserted to the starting lineup and finished with nine points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes. With the win, the Rams improved to 10-3 overall on the season, 1-1 in the Lone Star Conference.

ASU had a January 2 matchup against St Mary’s postponed prior to their win over Permian Basin. They will continue LSC play on January 13 when they face Midwestern State and cap a busy weekend against Dallas Baptist University on January 15. Bastian is averaging 12 points and a team leading 7.8 rebounds per game with four double doubles in his first season with the programme. Jonathan McFall and Slippery Rock University will have their next three games rescheduled. A road game at No.10 ranked Indiana University

is now scheduled for January 17, a home game against Clarion University is rescheduled to February 14 and another road game against California University will be played on February 21. SRU will return to play when they host Seton Hill University on Saturday. In his first year with the programme, the junior guard is second on the team in scoring at 17 points per game and third in rebounds at 6.1 per game. He leads the team with 16 blocks, a 92 percent clip from the free throw line and 58 percent shooting from the field.

THOMPSON RETURNS TO HELP WARRIORS BEAT CAVALIERS SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Klay Thompson scored 17 points in his return from two devastating injuries that sidelined him more than 2 1/2 years, helping the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-82 on Sunday night. Thompson was 7 of 18 from the field and 3 of 8 from 3-point range. He added three rebounds, an assist and a steal in 20 minutes, walking off the court to a thunderous ovation followed by chants of “Klay! Klay!” from the Chase Center crowd. Stephen Curry had 29 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Jordan Poole added 14 points for Golden State. The Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak to tie Phoenix for the NBA lead at 30-9. Lamar Stevens had 17 points and four rebounds for Cleveland. Thompson missed 941 days and hadn’t played since tearing the ACL in his left knee in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against Toronto. While rehabbing from surgery for that injury, he tore his right Achilles tendon scrimmaging on his own in November 2020. The five-time All-Star finally made his much-anticipated return, and reached two career milestones — 12,000 points and 1,800 3-pointers. GRIZZLIES 127, LAKERS 119 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Memphis set a franchise record with its ninth straight victory, getting 16 points and a breathtaking block from Ja Morant against Los Angeles. Morant’s block came in the first quarter, when he soared from behind Avery Bradley as he tried for a layup, caught the ball with both hands and smacked it off the glass about halfway up the backboard. Morant also threw down an alleyoop dunk off a lob from Bane in the third quarter, nearly hitting his head on the rim a night after sitting out against the Clippers with left thigh soreness. Desmond Bane had 23 points, Jaren Jackson Jr added 21 and Memphis won for the 12th time in 13 road games. LeBron James scored 23 of his 35 points in the first half. He made 14 of 19 shots and added seven assists. MAVERICKS 113, BULLS 99 DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists for his third triple-double of the season and Dallas beat Chicago, running its season-best winning streak to six and ending the Bulls’ at nine. Doncic, back in the lineup after missing the previous game with a right ankle sprain, had his first tripledouble since November 29. The Mavericks’ streak is their longest since also winning six straight in March-April 2016. Dallas’ Kristaps Porzingis missed his 5th straight game and coach Jason Kidd his second straight while in the NBA’s health and safety protocol. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine scored 20 points each for Chicago.

Baylor remains unanimous No. 1 in AP Top 25, USC hits No. 5 By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer REIGNING national champion Baylor isn’t showing any sign of loosening its grip on No. 1. The Bears remained the unanimous No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the fourth time in five weeks. That came after Baylor (15-0) beat Oklahoma and TCU last week to push its winning streak to 21 games dating to last year’s title run in the Indianapolis bubble. That streak is the third longest in the Big 12’s 26-year history, trailing Baylor’s 23-game run in 2019-20 and Kansas’ 22-game stretch in 1996-97. The Bears enter this week as the only team in the top 10 of KenPom’s adjusted efficiency rankings for both offence (120.6 points per 100 possessions) and defence (89.6).

They trailed by nine early in the second half of Saturday’s win at TCU, but ended up winning by double figures for the 12th time this year. “I think when you’re a No. 1 team, everybody is going to look at you in situations like this,” point guard James Akinjo said. “They want to see how you respond.” THE TOP TIER No. 2 Gonzaga and No. 3 UCLA each climbed two spots after losses by Duke and Purdue, while Auburn and Southern California were new additions to the top five. For the Tigers, they jumped five spots after beating South Carolina and Florida to push their winning streak to 11 games. Then there were the Trojans, who climbed two spots to their highest ranking since last reaching No. 5 in December 1974 after beating California on Thursday.

USC (13-0) joins Baylor as the last two unbeaten teams in Division I men’s basketball. Arizona, Purdue, Duke, Kansas and Michigan State rounded out a reshuffled group of the same top-10 teams from last week. RISING No. 13 Wisconsin had the biggest jump in this week’s poll, leaping 10 spots after upsetting the then-No. 3 Boilermakers along with beating Iowa and Maryland in Big Ten play. The Purdue and Maryland wins were on the road. “For me, knock on wood, this group has been terrific,” Badgers coach Greg Gard said after the Iowa win. “I can’t even get mad at them. They just give me everything they’ve got dang near every day. They haven’t had a bad day — maybe a snippet of a bad day, but they quickly corrected it.”

No. 12 LSU was the other big riser, climbing nine spots after wins against ranked Kentucky and Tennessee teams. In all, 12 teams climbed in Monday’s poll, including No. 19 Texas Tech (six spots), No. 14 Villanova (five) and No. 17 Xavier (five). SLIDING No. 24 Alabama had the biggest fall, sliding nine spots after losing to a Missouri team that was 6-7 entering the game. No. 21 Texas and No. 23 Providence each fell seven spots as the week’s other big tumblers. In all, 10 teams fell in the poll, including the Blue Devils falling six spots after losing at home to Miami on Saturday night in their second game back from a COVID-19 outbreak. STATUS QUO Baylor and Michigan State were the week’s only teams to hold their position from last week.

WELCOME Illinois re-entered the poll at No. 25 after opening the year at No. 11 but falling out before the end of November. That came after the AP Top 25 featured no new teams for each of the past two weeks. FAREWELL (FOR NOW) Colorado State (No. 20) fell out of the poll to make room for Illinois after its 30-point loss at San Diego State on Saturday, marking its first loss this season. CONFERENCE WATCH The Big 12, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences each had five ranked teams, followed by the Big East with four and the Pac-12 with three — all coming in the top six. The Atlantic Coast, American Athletic and West Coast conferences each had one ranked team.

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Trent donates bats during visit to Mario Ford Baseball Camp By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net BEFORE leaving to begin spring training camp in Tempe, Arizona, centre fielder Trent Deveaux took the time out to spend Saturday, giving some instructions to players in the Mario Ford Baseball Camp as they returned to Windsor Park. Deveaux, who was home for the Christmas holiday and to participate in the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby, said there’s nothing like spending time boating and enjoying the fresh air with family and friends. At the same time, he visited his long-time coach and mentor Mario Ford. After spending some time instructing the youngsters on how to be more productive as players in the sport, Deveaux made a donation of wooden bats and other equipment to help them in achieving the things he instructed them to do. “I can’t be home and not come out here and help out coach Mario and the camp,” Deveaux said. “It’s just good to be here.” Having spent some considerable time at the Mario Ford camp, Deveaux said he’s just delighted to see him continuing to work with the youngsters, exposing them to the basic fundamentals before they head off to further enhance their skills in the leagues at Freedom Farm and the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN). Ford said when he got the call from Deveaux, he gladly accepted the opportunity for him to come in and share his knowledge. “These kids are hungry and eager to learn the game,” Ford said. “Everyone has a different style of playing, so once we can continue to give them the basic fundamentals, it’s easier for them when they move on. “But it’s hard to compete out there because these kids in the major and the minor play baseball year round.

TRENT DEVEAUX, pictured 5th from left, donates bats to the Mario Ford Baseball Camp on Saturday. They might take a break or two for the holidays, but they continue to play the game. So we have to continue to encourage our kids to do the same. That’s why I do my programme nine months out of the year.” And after a brief hiatus where he had to go to Columbus Primary to conduct his clinics, Ford said it’s good to be at their base on his home ground of Windsor Park just opposite his family home structure where he grew up playing the game, along with cricket. “We’re still waiting for the park to be reopened, but right now, we’re making it work,” Ford said. One of those players who took advantage of the opportunity to hone his skills while waiting to resume league play at JBLN is Derryus Rolle. He said his father, Member of Parliament for South Beach, Bacchus Rolle, enrolled him in the game at the age of four and he fell in love with it. “I want to play it all the time,” said Rolle, who is developing as one of the bright young pitchers to watch as he follows in the footsteps of his father, a

former baseball/softball player and current head coach of the University of the Bahamas Mingoes men’s basketball team. If there’s not enough pressure to succeed, his mother, Kimberly Rolle, is a former outstanding female basketball player who is now the athletic director at UB. And he has an older brother, Deuce, who is presently off to school in the United States playing basketball. At nine years old, Derryus, a fifth grader at Queen’s College, can also play on the infield at third or first base. He said he was inspired to see players like Deveaux as a professional because he never got to see what his parents went through as athletes. He only heard about their stories. Deveaux, 21, is expected to remain in Arizona for spring training until March when he will get his next assignment. Now in his fourth season as a pro, Deveaux said he has gone through his ups and downs, but it’s his job and he has to make the sacrifice to get to the next level. “I’ve been working hard to ensure that when I get back, I am in

MARIO FORD, left, and young campers during a batting drill. tip-top shape to perform,” said Deveaux, who used the time over the break to engage in some training activities with some of the other professional baseball players in the country. “This year, I want to have an even higher average and a lower strikeout rate, so I’ve been working on that. I think if I can continue to improve that, I can continue to move up the ladder and hopefully get closer to making it to the major league.”

Last season, Deveaux closed out play in the Arizona Complex League with the Los Angeles Angels’ rookie affiliate, but he’s not sure where he will start this year. During his past season, he did get to play with D’Shawn Knowles in the Angels organisation, and against Zion Bannister and Keithron Moss, both in the Texas Rangers organisation, as they both play in the west coast. In 22 games, Deveaux made 67 plate appearances

with 20 hits, including a double, a pair of triples, while driving in eight runs and scoring 11 times. He also stole two bases, was walked seven times and struck out on 16 of his trips to the plate. With this being his fourth year in the minor league, Deveaux said it’s interesting to watch how the players, especially in the Dominican Republic, don’t attend school, but rather dedicate their lives to becoming a professional baseball player. “That’s why I wanted to share my knowledge with these players in the camp, who want to go on to become professional players too,” he said. “Once they start young like this and they put in the work, they can do it too. “With players like us coming home and sharing our knowledge, they know that they can achieve it too. When you have living proof like Jazz Chisholm, who is doing his thing in the majors and other players like myself in the minors, we can inspire the next generation of baseball players.” With Chisholm as the seventh Bahamian to crack the majors during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Deveaux said it was a treat to watch him in a complete season with the Miami Marlins this year. It gave him “goose bumps” seeing him perform and motivated him to try even harder to follow in his footsteps and the path that was paved before him through the pioneers of the sport in Andre Rodgers, Tony Curry, Ed Armbrister, Wenty Ford, Wilfred Culmer and Antoan Richardson. And with the new Andre Rodgers Stadium near its completion, Deveaux said once they can gain access to the facilities whenever they come home, it will help to develop even more young players to excel in the sport because the scouts will be coming to see who the next talent is available in the Bahamas.

CAMERON SMITH SETS PGA TOUR RECORD, OUTLASTS RAHM AT KAPALUA By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Cameron Smith has a place in the PGA Tour record book for finishing 34-under par, the lowest of anyone in history. Just as important as a number to the unassuming Australian is a name. Over the final two days at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, and particularly the final two hours Sunday at Kapalua, Smith had to hold off Jon Rahm, the No. 1 player in the world. They were never separated by more than two shots over the final 28 holes. Smith had to protect a

one-shot lead over the final seven holes, with the Spaniard applying enormous pressure every step of the way. “I felt like I couldn’t miss a shot, otherwise Jon was going to overtake me,” he said. Smith never really did. The final act was a putt from just over 90 feet away on the 18th hole, down a ridge and then picking up speed with the grain, knowing that two putts for a final birdie likely would be enough. It settled about 3 feet from the cup, Rahm missed his eagle putt from just outside 50 feet and Smith rapped in for an 8-under 65, the final stroke of a masterpiece.

“Unreal round,” Smith said. “Something I’ll never forget.” The numbers are what made this most memorable, no matter how predictable. A forecast of occasional showers and tropical gusts gave way to four days of sunshine, very few clouds and even less wind. The fairways were soft and the greens were pure, a product of rain before this elite field of PGA Tour winners even arrived on Maui. There was no defence of the Plantation course. The final three rounds featured the three lowest average scores in the 24 years the tournament has been held at Kapalua. A year ago in typical breezy conditions, Harris English won in a playoff after finishing 25 under. Five of the six years before that, the winning score was 21 under or better. “When you come to a golf course where the only defence is wind — you expect 20 miles an hour here, and we usually shoot 20 to 26 under and win the tournament — you get the same golf course with no wind, what do you expect?” Rahm said. “You have 50-yard fairways, soft greens, we’re going to shoot low.” Rahm had few complaints. He tied the Plantation course record

CARIFTA FROM PAGE 11 meet, notwithstanding the magnitude of competition that will be displayed from the athletes based on the time lost. Sands said they are hoping that

with a 61 on Saturday, and had 66 each of the other three rounds to finish a 33-under par. That wins any other week, usually by a mile. Just not this one. Until the start of the new year, only three players had ever reached 30 under or lower on the PGA Tour. Ernie Els held the record at 31-under par when he won at Kapalua in 2003. Jordan Spieth won at Kapalua at 30 under in 2016. Dustin Johnson finished at 30 under at Liberty National to start the PGA Tour postseason in 2020. Three players were better than that this week alone. Matt Jones finished two

shots behind at 32 under, thanks to a pair of eagles and a 50-foot birdie putt in a five-hole stretch on the back nine as he tried to keep pace. “If you told me I would have shot 32 under, I would have been more than happy to sit in the clubhouse and let everyone play and see what happens,” Jones said. Els and Spieth each won by eight shots. Johnson won by 11. Smith won by one. He and Rahm were tied for the lead starting the final round, and it was simple to keep score. Smith pulled ahead with a short birdie on No. 4 and a 20-foot birdie on No. 8. Rahm closed the

gap with a 15-foot birdie on No. 11. The rest of the time, they were matching shots, matching putts. And then Rahm ran out of holes and had to settle for the second-lowest score to par in history and a runner-up finish. “I have every reason to be smiling,” Rahm said about his score. “It’s a bittersweet moment.” No matter the score, or the conditions, it was an ideal start to the year for Smith. One of his goals was to crack the top 10 in the world for the first time, and his fourth career PGA Tour victory moved him to No. 10. Two of his victories were the team variety in New Orleans. The two individual titles were in Hawaii, with Smith winning the Sony Open in Honolulu two years ago. With a lei draped around his neck, he headed over to the next island with loads of confidence from the way he played and who he beat. “There’s many reasons why Jon Rahm is the best player in the world and I witnessed it over the weekend,” Smith said. “But to be able to hold him off, yeah, it was quite satisfying. I feel like I did a lot of work over the offseason. What better way to kind of start a season with holding him off.”

the corporate citizens of Jamaica will come forth and lend their support to the government and the JAAA in ensuring that the games will be a tremendous success. As for the accommodations for the games, Sands said the Local Organising

Committee is in the process of completing all of the negotiations and will be advising all of the participating countries of what to expect when they come to participate in the games. The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has had a

setback after the Ministry of Health denied them the opportunity to stage their Odd Distance Track Meet over the weekend. The meet was to kick off the local 2022 season. All other meets in January have already been called off as well.

CAMERON Smith holds the champions trophy after the final round of the Tournament of Champions golf event on Sunday at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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Tuesday, January 11, 2022, PAGE 19

49ers clinch playoff berth by holding off Rams in overtime By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer INGLEWOOD, California (AP) — When the Los Angeles took an early 17-0 lead on the San Francisco 49ers, George Kittle had several Rams chirping their excitement in his ear about a shift in this one-sided rivalry. “I was like, ‘A lot of time up on that clock, boys,’” the 49ers’ star tight end said. No matter what jams the Niners got into this season, they were resourceful enough to get their season back on a playoff path. And once again, their winning route went right over the Rams. The 49ers clinched a postseason berth with a 27-24 overtime victory over the NFC West champion Rams on Sunday, thanks to Robbie Gould’s 24-yard field goal with 2:45 left in overtime and a game-ending interception by rookie Ambry Thomas. “Getting off to a slow start and then coming back like we did, it took everything,” said quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who passed for 316 yards. “We say that a lot of weeks, but this one really did. I felt it after the game. I know a lot of guys in that locker room did. “It was worth it, though. It was one of those games you won’t forget any time soon.” Jauan Jennings caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Garoppolo with 26 seconds left in regulation for the 49ers (10-7), who are playoff-bound for only the second time in eight years after beating the Rams for the sixth consecutive time. San Francisco roared to a 7-2 finish to the regular season bookended by two wins over the Rams (12-5). LA won an anticlimactic division title anyway, thanks to Seattle’s simultaneous victory over Arizona. Sixth-seeded San Francisco will play at Dallas next Sunday afternoon, while the fourth-seeded Rams will host the Cardinals in the first playoff game in SoFi Stadium history next Monday night. “Our guys are so resilient,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I’m very proud of them, and I’m just glad that we

SAN Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas (20) celebrates after catching an interception in overtime of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in Inglewood, California. The 49ers won 27-24. (AP Photo/Mark J Terrill) get to go into the tournament and be a part of it.” Deebo Samuel rushed for a touchdown and threw a scoring pass to Jennings in regulation for the Niners, who made a deliberate 69-yard drive to open overtime. The Rams got the ball back, but Thomas made his first career interception on Matthew Stafford’s long throw down the Rams’ sideline. San Francisco celebrated wildly on the field after extending its longest winning streak in this California rivalry since the 1990s. The Niners also won after falling behind by 17 points for the first time since the 2012 NFC championship game. Cooper Kupp caught a go-ahead TD pass from Stafford with 2:26 to play for the Rams, whose fivegame winning streak ended. The loss cost Los Angeles the No. 2 NFC seed and the strong chance to host at least two playoff games. “This is a tough feeling,” coach Sean McVay said.

“Our guys did a good job being able to navigate through the season. To be able to still win the division is a good accomplishment, but I don’t know that right now is the time to celebrate that.” Stafford passed for 238 yards and three touchdowns while winning the first division title of his 13-year NFL career, but Los Angeles is headed into the postseason on a down note. “There are some plays out there I want back,” Stafford said. “I guess (a division title) is nice. It means you get a home playoff game. But we would have rather won the game, for sure.” The Rams went ahead 24-17 on Kupp’s 4-yard TD catch, and the teams traded punts before Garoppolo led the Niners on an 88-yard drive in 61 seconds, capped by Jennings’ score over the middle. San Francisco won the toss and capitalised. Garoppolo played solidly through an injured right thumb and improved to 6-0 in his career against

Los Angeles, but Samuel made the most impressive throw of the day when he hit Jennings with a wobbly 24-yard TD pass over the baffled Rams defence for the tying score late in the third quarter. Jalen Ramsey kept the Rams in the game with a diving interception of a tipped ball in the end zone with 7:42 to play when San Francisco was in range for a go-ahead field goal. Kupp became the fourth player in NFL history to lead the league in receptions, yards receiving and TD catches this season after finishing with seven catches for 118 yards. He made two huge catches on the Rams’ goahead drive, but didn’t get another touch. CAM THE RAM Cam Akers ran the ball five times and caught three passes in his season debut for Los Angeles. The second-year pro tore his Achilles tendon shortly before training camp, but made an exceptionally quick recovery.

STREAK ENDS McVay won his third division crown, but also lost when leading at halftime for the first time after a 45-0 start to his career with the Rams. Los Angeles’ winning streak with a halftime lead was the second-longest in NFL history, trailing only a 49-game run by Green Bay in the 1930s. INJURIES The 49ers played without star left tackle Trent Williams, who couldn’t return from an elbow injury incurred last week. Backup guard Colton McKivitz filled in. Niners punter Mitch Wishnowsky was sidelined in the first half by a concussion, forcing Gould to punt and fullback Kyle Juszczyk to hold for kicks. Safety Talanoa Hufanga went out in the first half with a knee injury. Safety Jordan Fuller, the Rams’ leading tackler, injured his right foot early in the fourth quarter. UP NEXT 49ers: Visit Dallas. Rams: Host Arizona.

JAGUARS ‘EARN’ TOP OVERALL SELECTION FOR APRIL’S DRAFT THE Jacksonville Jaguars’ 3-14 record this season earned them the top spot in April’s NFL draft, the second consecutive year they will pick first. The tentative order of the first round, not including teams in the playoffs, was announced yesterday by the NFL. Playoff results will determine where the 14 teams making the postseason will select. For example, the winner of the Super Bowl selects last and the loser selects next to last in all rounds, regardless of the record of the clubs in the regular season. Losers of the conference championship games select 29th and 30th in all rounds, according to the reverse order of their standing. Same process for losers in the divisional round, who will select 25th through 28th, and losers of wild-card games, who will pick 19th through 24th. In the case of ties, earlier slots go to teams that faced the lowest aggregate of won-loss records overall, with other tiebreakers potentially in play. • The current order for non-playoff clubs: Jacksonville (3-14) Detroit (3-13-1) Houston (4-13) New York Jets (4-13) New York Giants (4-13) Carolina (5-12) Chicago (6-11, traded to New York Giants) Atlanta (7-10) Denver (7-10) Seattle (7-10, traded to New York Jets) Washington (7-10) Minnesota (8-9) Cleveland (8-9) Baltimore (8-9) Miami (9-8, traded to Philadelphia) Indianapolis (9-8, traded to Philadelphia) Los Angeles Chargers (9-8) New Orleans (9-8)

MIAMI DOLPHINS FIRE COACH BRIAN FLORES AFTER 3 SEASONS By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer MIAMI GARDENS, Florida (AP) — Back-toback winning seasons were not enough for Brian Flores to keep his job as coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins fired Flores yesterday, a somewhat surprising move that came less than 24 hours after the team finished a 9-8 season. Flores went 24-25 while failing to make the playoffs in his three seasons in Miami, but finishing this year with eight wins in the final nine games. The primary issues that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross cited for the decision seemed to have little to do with the on-field product and more with communication within the team’s braintrust — though there were no specific examples offered of how the team determined Flores wasn’t the right fit in those regards. “I’ve been looking at this over three years now and watching the organisation grow,” Ross said. “I think an organisation can only function if it’s collaborative and it works well together, and I don’t think we were really working well as an organisation ... to win consistently at the NFL level.” It wasn’t a total housecleaning: General manager Chris Grier is being retained. Grier has been with the Dolphins for 22 years, the last six seasons as GM and the last three of those overseeing all football operations.

Ross spoke highly of the work done to the roster over those three years. “If you look at our roster, we have a very fine, I think excellent, roster of young players,” Ross said. “This was all done in the last three years. We had an old, aging roster before it that was leading us nowhere but to mediocrity. And I think if you look at our roster today, you see our salary cap, the players we have, I think we’re well-suited for the future.” It was already shaping up to be an offseason where the Dolphins would go through what has almost become an annual tradition of sorts, that being the process where they determine if their current starting quarterback should be their starter for the future. And that dance — to stay with Tua Tagovailoa or not — will surely still happen. The Dolphins considered trading for embattled Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson this past fall and may do so again; Grier, in his last remarks to media in early November, said if someone viewed “as being one of the top players around the league” comes available “at any position, you look at it and try and go for it.” “It’ll be up to the head coach in terms of what he does with the quarterback,” Ross said. “As I’ve said before, I have a lot of confidence in Tua.” Ross is a Michigan graduate and the largest donor in that university’s history, and the Dolphins could look at

Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh as one of the possible candidates to take over. But Ross, professing his love for Harbaugh, tried to quell that possibility, saying he won’t be the person who takes the coach away from Michigan. “I have no coach in mind at this point,” Ross said. “We’re going to do a thorough review and interview process.” Flores was hired in February 2019 and immediately began overseeing a rebuild. Miami started 0-7 in his first season, 1-3 last season and 1-7 this season. His teams always found ways to get better as the season went along, going 20-8 in games played in November, December and January. “The credit goes to the players, coaches,” Flores said after Sunday’s 33-24 win over New England, one that finished off the Dolphins’ first sweep of the Patriots since 2000. “I am always going to feel like and wish I could have done more. And our guys did work hard, from the players and coaches, obviously our support staff. It’s a special group. I’m happy, I’m proud to be a part of it.” The next morning, he wasn’t a part of it anymore. “I’m sick,” Dolphins cornerback Nik Needham tweeted. The next Miami coach will be the team’s 11th since its most recent playoff victory on December 30, 2000. Dave Wannstedt was the coach that day; the coaches that have followed, in order, were Jim Bates,

MIAMI Dolphins head coach Brian Flores directs his team during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) THE DROUGHT Nick Saban, Cam Cam- to make in-house, such as Miami’s last playoff win eron, Tony Sparano, Todd defensive end Emmanuel Bowles, Joe Philbin, Dan Ogbah, tight end Mike was just over 21 years ago Campbell, Adam Gase and Gesicki and wide receiver and counting. Of the 31 other NFL Mack Hollins. A speedy Flores. wideout to stretch defences teams, 29 have at least THE LAST TWO Miami went a combined will surely be sought; Miami one win in that span, with 19-14 over the past two tried this season with Will Detroit and Cincinnati seasons. Only nine teams Fuller, who was paid $10 (which has a chance to — Green Bay, Kansas City, million and caught four change that this coming week) being the exceptions. Tampa Bay, Buffalo, the passes before getting hurt. New England has a leagueTUA’S TIME Los Angeles Rams, PittsTagovailoa has started high 30 playoff wins since burgh, New Orleans and Indianapolis — were better 21 games for the Dolphins. Miami’s last postseason That’s not a big sample size, victory. in that span. NEXT STEPS except by Miami standards. CAP MATTERS Other than finding a The Dolphins could have Only three quarterbacks about $75 million in cap in the post-Dan Marino coach, other top priorities space this offseason, though era — Ryan Tannehill (88), will be deciding whether to a significant chunk of that Jay Fiedler (58) and Chad re-sign Gesicki and looking would disappear if they Henne (31) — got more at the landscape to see how acquired Watson. There are regular-season starts for the offensive line and running game can be improved. also big free agent decisions Miami than Tagovailoa.

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England clings on for a draw in dramatic 4th Ashes test SYDNEY (AP) — England’s tailenders resisted Australia’s bowlers in fading light Sunday to clinch a draw on a dramatic final day of the fourth test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Jack Leach, Stuart Broad and then Jimmy Anderson batted out the final 10 overs under immense pressure after Pat Cummins and Scott Boland took three quick wickets in the final session before Steve Smith removed Leach with two overs remaining to set up a nervous finale to a gripping test match. At stumps, England finished on 270-9 with Broad unbeaten on eight and Anderson not out on nought to give England its best result of the five-match series that Australia leads 3-0. “It’s a small step forward,” said captain Joe Root. “I think coming into the game I spoke a lot about putting some pride back into English cricket and into the test performance. “The fight, desire and character shown today and throughout the five days has done that in a small way.” With the final hour approaching, Cummins removed Jos Buttler and Mark Wood in the space of three balls to turn the test on its head after it was looking increasingly likely that England would earn a draw after its most determined batting effort of the series. Boland then continued his torrid start to test cricket by having first-innings

centurion Jonny Bairstow caught by Marnus Labuschagne for 41. It was Boland’s 14th wicket in just his second test after making his test debut in the third test at Melbourne where he was named man of the match. But Broad and Leach saw out the remaining 10 overs despite Australia have all its fielders around the bat in catching positions as the fading light meant Australia had to bowl spinners Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith in the final three overs. “From the position we found ourselves in at certain points in this game, to be able to sit here having drawn... was going to take a good performance and I’m really proud of the way the guys dug in and managed to do that,” Root said. Earlier in the session, Stokes, no stranger in proving to be an immovable object for Australia after his heroics in the 2019 Ashes series in England, did not appear to let the pain of his left side injury curtail his attacking shots as he crushed ten boundaries and a six as part of his 60 runs, to go with his 66 in the first innings. But Lyon eventually made the vital breakthrough as he caught Stokes in two minds as to whether to play at a ball or leave it. In the end, he did neither and guided a simple chance to Smith at slip. It was the ninth time that Lyon has taken Stokes’ wicket, including twice in this match.

ENGLAND’s Ben Stokes bats against Australia during the fifth day of their Ashes cricket test match in Sydney on Sunday. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) As the final hour loomed, England’s tail, but Leach basically can’t predict it at Cummins (2-80) made a and Broad and then Ander- all,” said Cummins when breakthrough when trap- son found a way to survive asked about the timing of ping Buttler lbw for 11. despite up to nine fielders his declaration on Saturday. On-field umpire Paul Reif- in close catching positions. “I thought the wicket still fel initially rejected the It was the third time in wasn’t playing too many appeal before Cummins the past 12 months that tricks and I thought if they referred to the TV umpire, Australia’s attack has batted really well, 350 was who reversed the decision. failed to bowl out a team pretty achievable out there. Two balls later Cummins on the final day, having “I thought 110 overs was dismissed Wood with a twice squandered winning enough time but having the vicious in-swinging delivery positions against India last luxury after the way Uzzie that hit the tail-ender on season, and again here at (Khawaja) and (Green) the foot for a much easier the SCG on Sunday. batted we had enough runs lbw decision for Reiffel to “I think first of all the in the bank and that we confirm. Boland then had weather played a bit of a could effectively attack for Bairstow caught to expose part in this game and you those whole 110 overs.”

Before tea, Root and Stokes combined for a 60-run partnership from 26 overs before Boland had the English skipper edging through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 24 to give Australia renewed optimism it may be able to bowl England out. Needing to bat out the day to draw the test after being set an improbable 388 to win, the tourists lost a very defensive-minded Hameed (9) and Malan (4) in the morning session. But Zak Crawley decided that attack was the best form of defence as he unleashed eight boundaries on his way to a 69-ball half-century. Hameed was dropped by Carey off Cummins, but only survived a few more overs as he again edged through to Carey, who made the catch, to give Boland yet another wicket. Lyon (2-28) was introduced into the attack and in his third over found a way through Malan’s defences to have England at 74-2 after the first hour of play. Crawley’s enterprising innings was halted at 77 after 13 boundaries when Cameron Green (1-38) captured the 23-year-old opener leg before wicket. Usman Khawaja was named man of the match for his twin centuries — just the third player to achieve the feat at the SCG — in his first match since 2019. Khawaja, who scored 137 in the first innings, followed up with an unbeaten 101 off 138 balls as part of a 179run partnership with Green in the second innings.

ARSENAL OUT OF FA CUP, LIVERPOOL AND TOTTENHAM AVOID UPSETS By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Third-round exits in the FA Cup don’t come along very often for Arsenal. Unless, that is, Nottingham Forest is the opponent. Failing to transfer its improved Premier League form to the world’s oldest knockout competition, Arsenal was beaten 1-0 by second-tier Forest on Sunday in the second big shock of the third round — the stage where top-flight clubs enter the draw. It’s only the second time in 26 seasons that Arsenal has fallen at the first hurdle. Forest was responsible for the other occasion, too, in 2018. “We were not good enough,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said, “and we have to apologise for it.” Tottenham and Liverpool avoided the same fate as Arsenal, launching comebacks after falling behind at home to thirdtier opponents. Tottenham beat Morecambe 3-1 and Liverpool won 4-1 against Shrewsbury. ARSENAL OUT By conceding an 83rdminute goal to substitute

Lewis Grabban at the City Ground, Arsenal became the highest-ranked casualty of this season’s FA Cup. So inept was Arsenal’s display that Arteta’s team failed to have a shot on target against Forest, a former European champion which has fallen on hard times since the turn of the century and is ninth in the Championship. “It’s brilliant to get through and I hope the players now really believe in what we’re doing,” said Forest manager Steve Cooper, who is looking to lead the team back to the Premier League to play top-flight football for the first time since 1999. It was in stark contrast to Arsenal’s recent performances in the Premier League which have helped to lift the team into the Champions League positions. Just last week, Arsenal outplayed leader and defending champion Manchester City before imploding after a secondhalf red card. Arsenal wore an all-white strip for the match, instead of the usual red, in a stand against knife crime.

ARSENAL’s manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English FA Cup third round soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at the City Ground, Nottingham, England, on Sunday. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) AVOIDING UPSETS Firmino, who came on as a Dele Alli, who were also The FA Cup has served A little bit of luck — or substitute. removed as part of a triple up some surprises at the Liverpool manager change and sprinted off so third-round stage, no bigger maybe it was pinpoint prethan Newcastle losing at cision — proved crucial in Jürgen Klopp was back in as not to waste any time, turnaround the dugout after spending was stark. home to third-tier Cam- Tottenham’s against Morecambe. time in isolation following a Ndombele, Spurs’ record bridge United on Saturday. With his team trailing positive test for the corona- signing, walked straight 1-0 after 73 minutes, Tot- virus, which came amid an down the tunnel instead tenham midfielder Harry outbreak at the club which of watching his team’s Winks sent in a free kick led to the training ground fightback. from near the corner flag getting closed for two days. “I was a player and it on the left wing and the ball “This was the team we happened sometimes to me flew over everyone and into could line up today and the that someone was unhappy the top corner. boys did really well,” Klopp with my performance,” said “This one I meant,” said of his makeshift team. Tottenham manager Antopositive COVID-19 cases Winks said, laughing. PLAYER PETULANCE nio Conte in an attempt to were reported in the IreSubstitutes Lucas Moura Many of the bigger teams play down the incident. land camp following recent and Harry Kane added fur- have used the third round LEEDS testing, and two players ther goals in the final five to give game time to their COMPLAINS being ruled out due to minutes for Spurs, who fringe squad members, but West Ham won an allinjury, resulting in Ireland denied Morecambe a place two players in particular Premier League matchup having a severely depleted in the fourth round for the didn’t take advantage of against Leeds 2-0, with the squad. first time in their 101-year their opportunity. crucial opening goal — The second CG history. Arsenal’s back-up left scored by Manuel Lanzini Insurance One-Day InterLiverpool started back, Nuno Tavares, suf- — controversially awarded national scheduled for its comeback against fered the ignominy of after a potential offside Sabina Park on Tuesday, Shrewsbury much earlier, getting substituted in the against Jarrod Bowen. January 11 has therefore equalising seven minutes 34th minute against Forest Leeds players complained been postponed. after going behind in the because of a poor display. about it on the field, and CWI and CI are in dis27th. He reacted by throwing its chairman did so via his cussions to review the Kaide Gordon, one his gloves to the ground in Twitter account. match schedule and are of five academy players frustration before taking his Bowen added a second in working to explore all poshanded a start in a youthful place in the dugout. the stoppage time as Leeds sibilities for the series to Liverpool lineup, became Tottenham midfielder made a third-round exit for be completed. the second-youngest Tanguy Ndombele, mean- the ninth time in the last 12 The five members of scorer in the club’s his- while, was noticeably slow seasons. the Ireland team who tory — at 17 years and 96 as he strolled off field with Premier League teams have returned positive days — with a coolly taken his head down after getting Wolverhampton and NorCOVID-19 results remain goal for 1-1 before Fabi- substituted while his team wich also advanced after in isolation under the care nho scored either side of a was losing to Morecambe. beating lower-league teams and supervision of the cheeky backheel goal from The comparison with Sheffield United (3-0) and medical teams. fellow Brazilian Roberto teammates Bryan Gil and Charlton (1-0), respectively.

More Ireland virus cases forces 2nd ODI delay in Jamaica KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — The West Indies and Ireland have postponed their second one-day cricket international scheduled for Tuesday (today). Ireland was too depleted to play after two more positive coronavirus cases in camp plus two players becoming injured, Cricket West Indies and Cricket Ireland said in a joint statement on Monday. No names were mentioned, but the Irish have five players in total isolating. Paul Stirling, Simi Singh and Ben White tested positive last week and missed the first ODI on Saturday, when the host won by 24 runs. The boards were reviewing the schedule and hoping to complete the

ODI series. The third and last match is scheduled for Friday. A one-off Twenty20 was down for Sunday. All are at Sabina Park in Kingston. Ireland’s tour of the United States and West Indies has been badly disrupted. A three-ODI series against the U.S. from Dec. 26-30 was canceled after virus cases, initially, among the match officials. A member of the Ireland staff and several U.S. players tested positive before the second ODI. Cases spread and both teams came to be considered close contacts, forcing the series to be called off. – Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Cricket Ireland (CI) issued a joint statement after two further

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Tuesday, January 11, 2022, PAGE 21

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