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TRAGEDY OF NEW MUM SHOT DEAD
Boyfriend survives after turning gun on himself after killing By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A 21-YEAR-OLD woman was shot and killed in front of her newborn son on Saturday evening by her boyfriend moments before he reportedly tried to kill himself. The deceased woman, identified as photographer Heavenly Terveus, was found lying on the floor next
to her son and boyfriend by relatives inside her parents’ home on Miami Street. The man, who is suspected of shooting her before attempting to kill himself, is said to be the father of Terveus’ onemonth-old son. Superintendent of Police Audley Peters told reporters on the scene that officers received information about SEE PAGE TWO
FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard on Friday blasted Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis for breaking quarantine last month as the nation battled its fourth COVID-19 wave, labelling the decision as a “very serious one” and a “betrayal of his oath to uphold the law.” Meanwhile, former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands has called for the Prime Minister’s resignation in view of the incident. They were responding to
Mr Davis’ recent revelation that he left quarantine to purchase Christmas gifts at former Taxicab Union President Leon Griffin’s store on Bay Street just moments before receiving news of his death. However, in a statement released on Friday evening, the Office of the Prime Minister said Mr Davis did not breach the 2021 Health Services Rules by leaving quarantine last month, saying the nation’s leader had not been ordered to sequester by a medical professional. SEE PAGE THREE
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said face-to-face learning, which resumes in public schools across the country today, is necessary and can no longer be delayed as officials fight to address the “emergency” that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the education system. Her comments during a national address last night came as rumours spread that the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) will lead educators on industrial action today in protest of the resumption of face-toface learning. SEE PAGE THREE
FURY OVER PROPERTY TAX VALUES
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
CALLS FOR PM TO RESIGN OVER ISOLATION BREACH By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FACE-TO-FACE LEARNING ‘CAN NO LONGER BE DELAYED’
REAL property taxpayers were yesterday said to be “absolutely livid” after receiving bills that doubled and tripled their 2022 payments following the New Providence revaluation. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
FAMILY’S QUESTIONS AS CRASH CLAIMS 3
HEAVENLY TERVEUS, right, and Fenron Ferguson, the father of her son. Ms Terveus was shot and killed on Saturday evening.
CRUISE SHIP SAILS TO BAHAMAS TO AVOID FINE By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A CRYSTAL Cruises ship was diverted to The Bahamas over the weekend after a United States judge issued an arrest warrant for the vessel over its unpaid fuel bills, according to international reports. The Crystal Symphony was enroute to Miami following a two-week cruise in the Caribbean when it received news of the
THE CRUISE liner Crystal Symphony pictured in 2013. warrant, which stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Peninsula Petroleum Far East in Hong Kong last week.
However, while en route to the US, the ship changed its course and instead sailed to Bimini. According to reports, the ship will be seized if it docks in Miami and fails to pay some $1.2m in monies owed for its fuel purchases. When contacted for comment yesterday, West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe said he was made aware of the issue on social media. SEE PAGE TWO
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A FATAL car crash that killed three young men has highlighted the weak quality of emergency services in Long Island and other Family Island communities, with the mother of one of the young men saying the families are incensed at how authorities responded to the crash. SEE PAGE FIVE
INSIGHT MUCH A-DUBAI ABOUT NOTHING
SEE PAGE TEN
PAGE 2, Monday, January 24, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
Tragedy of new mum shot dead from page one the shooting shortly before 6pm. He said upon arrival, officers were directed to a single-storey home where
they discovered the bodies of a man and woman lying on the floor in one of the bedrooms. EMS were called and later pronounced the woman dead. However, the man was taken to hospital
where he is listed in critical condition. The son of Heavenly Terveus and Fenron Ferguson, who was also in the room at the time of the incident, was taken to hospital, but has since been discharged.
Police said: “Initial investigations revealed that the male, who is the boyfriend of the female, came to the residence and entered the room where the female and infant were located. He locked the door and moments later, other occupants of the residence heard the sound of gunshots. Following their entry into the room, the male and female along with her male infant were found on the floor. From all indications, the evidence suggests that the male shot the female and then turned the firearm on himself.” The police press liaison officer could not say what led to the incident, but said investigations in the matter are ongoing. News of the fatal shooting sparked outrage on social media with renewed calls for an end to domestic violence. Yesterday, loved ones and friends of the victim were inconsolable when The Tribune visited the scene. One neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said the incident has left the tight-knit community in total shock and disbelief. According to the neighbour, the 21-year-old recently moved back in the area after giving birth last month. “I was here when the incident unfolded,” she said. “I just heard gunshots and then came out the house and then I heard the mother and stepfather screaming. I didn’t know that she got shot, but it was when the neighbour went in the room and saw her on the ground and the baby was underneath her and the neighbour grabbed the baby.” She described Terveus as a sweet and loving person who had a promising future. “She was a very sweet and down to earth person. Very young and full of life and full of potential,” the neighbour added. “She had a lot of goals going for herself. She had a business called Heavenly Photography and I watched her grow up as a young lady from primary school to junior and senior, you know when she graduated and she was also in the Rangers programme and what not and her name says it all, she was heavenly.” The neighbour said the young mother was also excited about motherhood. In fact, hours before her death, Terveus wrote a heartfelt message to her son, calling him her “reason for living”. “To my son, my first pain, my reason for living, I may be your first love but you are my last true love. I didn’t know what I was missing until you came. God knew I needed you and that you would completely change my life,” she posted on Facebook. “Day in and day out, I wondered how will I do
HEAVENLY TERVEUS this. I’ve had no experience She also called for other than my godchild who stronger leadership in the I was scared to hold when way men are socialised to she was born. Not knowing interact with women and anything about mother- for institutions of the state hood, here I am a month to become more proactive later like a pro being the in situations where there is best mom I can be. Nine evidence “that the health, long months for a lifetime wellness, personal safety of love, laughter, happiness and security of our children and joy. I wouldn’t want it and women” are at risk. any other way. For his part, Supt Peters “You are perfect. You urged people to use their are the best thing that ever discernment before enterhappened to me. I love you ing into relationships. beyond words can ever He told reporters on express. You are my strength; Saturday: “All of us when I promise to love and nurture entering a relationship, we you as long as I live.” have to be discerning as to The death elicited strong the person who we decide reaction from members of to enter relationships with the community. and in entering relationAnn Marie Davis, rep- ships we have to…. use best resentative of the Office practises to ensure that our of the Spouse, said she is relationships are whole“personally horrified by this some and affords us neutral inexplicable tragedy”. benefits. She said the killing has “And when you desire put the issue of domestic to leave a relationship, use abuse and gender-based necessary tactics that will violence back into the encourage you to exit that spotlight. relationship without caus“Yet again social media ing injuries to both parties is replete with commen- and there are all kinds of tary by colleagues of other precautions that you the victim on first-hand can take to ensure that you accounts about unhealthy have successful relationrelationship warning signs, ships. Seek out counsellors, rumours of domestic abuse read books that will help and threats and acts of you in developing emointimidation intended to tionally, mentally and silence those who dared to exercising money managing act and speak up for the skills... and practice the best victim,” Mrs Davis said in a practices that will cause you statement. to have a healthy and proMrs Davis said more must ductive relationship,” he be done to raise the alarm added. when someone we know is The police investigation in an abusive relationship. into this incident is ongoing.
CRUISE SHIP SAILS TO THE BAHAMAS TO AVOID FINE from page one
While he could not say how long the ship would remain in Bimini, Mr Wilchcombe said he understood the Crystal Symphony was a Bahamas flagged vessel. “I became aware as you did through social media,” the minister told The Tribune yesterday. “I have been keeping abreast of the development with Hong Kong relative to the situation there and the file for bankruptcy and that’s in Hong Kong. I did follow up to determine whether or not that was going to affect their property in Bimini and I was told ‘no, it’s not’ and
that was a separate matter. “The vessel I understand does fly The Bahamas flag so I believe that assists in them changing their schedule and landing here.” Some 700 people were reported to be on board the vessel. Attempts to reach Minister of Housing and Transport Jobeth-Coleby Davis were unsuccessful up to press time yesterday. According to Cruise Critic, after the collapse of parent company Genting Group, Crystal Cruises “has announced it will cease sailings on a temporary basis while its executive team examines options for it to continue operations”.
69 MIGRANTS REPATRIATED SIXTY-NINE migrants were repatriated on Friday. The Department of Immigration said 59 Haitians left New Providence at 9.30am on Friday on a Bahamasair charter flight for Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The group included 47
men, nine women, and three minors. On the same day, ten Cubans were repatriated from New Providence to Havana, Cuba at noon onboard a Bahamasair flight. The group consisted of seven men, two women and one minor.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, January 24, 2022, PAGE 3
Calls for PM to resign over isolation breach from page one “As Christmas approached, Prime Minister Philip Davis was informed that he had been exposed to persons who had tested positive for COVID,” the OPM’s statement said. “ Between the 22nd and the 24th of December, he took three COVID tests — two PCR and one antigen — all of which were negative. Because the Prime Minister has had two vaccine shots and a booster shot, in addition to a prior infection, and because he had multiple negative test results, he was informed he posed little transmission risk.” The statement continued: “At no time did the Prime Minister breach the regulations in the Health Services (COVID-19) (Prevention and Management of Community Spread) Rules, 2021. The Prime Minister was not ordered into quarantine by a medical officer, as described in Article 19 of (of the Health Services Rules).” The Prime Minister made the remarks about leaving quarantine while speaking at Griffin’s memorial service held at the Progressive Liberal Party’s headquarters on Thursday. Mr Griffin was found shot in the head outside his home by his wife, former Cabinet Minister Melanie Griffin on the night of December 23, 2021. Speaking at Thursday’s memorial, Mr Davis told attendees: “To all of my parliamentary colleagues and persons present, I think I was the last person that Griffin spoke to before he was killed in person. After that conversation, I got a telephone conversation with Melanie. “I was supposed to be in quarantine and Christmas was nearing as we know and I ordered all of my Christmas gifts and I needed to pay for them
so, I called the store and I said, ‘Look, I’m in quarantine and I need to pay for the things, but I can’t be seen out.’ “They said ‘Well when we close the store, we’ll let you know when the store is empty and you can come by.’ So, they called the aide about ten minutes after six to say, ‘All clear, come now.’” Mr Davis said he met Mr Griffin shortly after entering the store and added the two spoke briefly, reminiscing of the past. “The store was empty. Only the workers were there and surprisingly ‘Griff’ was there. I didn’t expect to meet ‘Griff’ and we started to talk,” Mr Davis said. “I said, ‘Griff, I ain’t see you for ‘lil while.’ He said, ‘Well, Brave, I’m here’ and he spoke about some of the Christmas season. I said ‘Griff, you remember years ago when you and I would’ve been by Bright Leaves talking.’ That’s where we hung out often when he was president of the taxi union. We’ll be just right around the corner. We’ll be there and have lunch and talk. “I remember reminiscing about those days and then he started to express to me some things. What a wonderful conversation,” the Prime Minister added. Mr Davis went into quarantine on December 22 after being exposed to the virus from a close relative at a family gathering. Among those close to him who tested positive was his wife, Ann Marie Davis. However, after multiple tests, Mr Davis said he maintained a negative status. In a statement released Friday, Mr Pintard lambasted Mr Davis’ behaviour as “irresponsible” and said it speaks to him and his government’s “less than serious” attitude as it relates to enforcing current health rules.
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis at the funeral service for Leon Griffin, alongside former Prime Minister Perry Christie. Photos: Addis Huyler He also said the Prime Minister’s actions could have resulted in serious consequences for the country. Mr Pintard said: “Prime Minister Davis’ admission to breaking the COVID19 quarantine law enacted by his own government is a betrayal of his oath to uphold the law. It is a very serious offence for the head of a government to breach laws that he has a legal obligation to uphold. “This irresponsible behaviour of the Prime Minister undermines his and his government’s moral authority to compel the public to follow laws that he has willfully chosen to ignore. And as it is another example of the less than serious attitude of the government in promoting and upholding health protocols to contain and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the population. “Sadly, his behaviour has been revealed only days after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Level Four travel notice for The Bahamas advising Americans not to travel here because of the rampant spread of the disease. There must not be one law for the Bahamian citizen and another
ATTENDEES at the funeral service for Leon Griffin. law for the leader. Law abiding citizens may justifiably question whether this Prime Minister has the moral authority to lead
the charge in the midst of COVID.” According to the 2021 health services rules, people who break quarantine after
being kept in isolation by a medical professional may be subjected to a fine of up to $1,000 or up to two years in prison.
redress the many longstanding deficiencies in our education system.” She said the ministry has established a task force which will identify all of the children who have been missing from school for extended periods, “physically find these children and facilitate appropriate interventions to address learning loss and accelerate learning.” “For older children, this may require engagement with tertiary institutions for special programmes,” she said. “That task force comprises education professionals, including special
education, school psychological services, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, Office of the Attorney General, The Bahamas Christian Council, Ministry of Health and Wellness, BYVI, NTA, representatives of the Bahamas Educators Managerial Union, Bahamas Union of Teachers, Bahamas Education Counsellors and Allied Workers Union. The launch of its work commenced several days ago in the Freetown Community and will shortly spread out nationwide. We have tasked ourselves to complete the identification of
and intervention for these children in the shortest possible time.” She said: “My brothers and sisters - our children must be all that they can be. This is not about me. This is about the children. This is about the next generation. I know that many parents are anxious and even worried about what the future holds for their children. We must partner to ensure that your children are given the best opportunity possible. We pledge to do all that we can to achieve positive and even outstanding results for your children.”
FACE-TO-FACE LEARNING ‘CAN NO LONGER BE DELAYED’ from page one
BUT President Belinda Wilson could not be reached yesterday, but sources have told The Tribune that the union has complained that the resumption of in-person learning has come at short notice. Last night, Mrs Hanna Martin appeared to address this complaint, saying even though the reopening of schools was postponed by two weeks, she, Health Minister Dr Michael Darville and Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis have made it clear that they did not anticipate a lengthy delay. “The last two years have seen unrelenting disruptions in education,” she said. “The fully virtual learning experience has proven to be difficult for students, teachers and parents alike, for a variety of reasons. This has been especially so for children with special needs and children from lower economic communities. We also know that thousands of children have fully fallen off the radar having been absent from school for two years. These children span the range of pre-school to grade 12. Where are these children now? And what will be their fate? We are in an emergency.” Mrs Hanna Martin said education officials have worked with the Ministry of Health to ensure there are adequate campus protocols, “inclusive of the reduction
in the number of students allowed on campus at any given time, mandatory mask wearing, ventilation, including maximised use of outdoors, mandatory social distancing, continuous observation and isolation where necessary.” She added: “This first week, commencing, January 24, has been deemed a transitional week allowing each individual school administration, teachers, students and parents to reacclimatise to face-toface instruction. In the first phase children who do not have uniforms are free to come to school appropriately dressed. Going forward, we will work closely with the Ministry of Social Services to ensure that children needing assistance are able to access (the) same in an efficient manner.”
Nonetheless, she said the Ministry of Works’ recent discoveries at TA Thompson Jr High School and Uriah McPhee Primary School will require that in the short term some students will have to remain in virtual learning. Mrs Hanna Martin said the ministry will incorporate diagnostic testing of every child to ascertain the extent of learning loss. “A learning recovery committee has been established by the ministry to provide recommendations and develop strategies for appropriate responses and learning recovery programmes, based on the extent of learning loss of each child,” she said. “These programmes will focus primarily on the foundations of literacy and numeracy. This emergency is also an opportunity to
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MOXEY LEADS WAY FOR FREE TESTS By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
GRAND Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey was the first to be tested during the launch of the free COVID19 testing programme in Grand Bahama on Saturday. She was given a tour of the testing facility located at the Foster Pestaina Hall at Christ the King Pro-Cathedral Church in Freeport. Dr Frank Bartlett, head of the COVID-19 Taskforce in Grand Bahama, was also present. Another free testing facility also will be launched in Eight Mile Rock so that the island’s residents will know their status – a promise that the Davis administration had made during its election campaign. The facility at Christ the King will be open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm, providing free rapid antigen tests. “We are so excited for this day,” said Ms Moxey after her tour of the facility. “The Ministry for Grand Bahama has partnered with the Ministry of Health and Wellness for this pilot project of free testing for COVID-19 on Grand Bahama. “We are happy that Christ the King has agreed to assist and facilitate this today. We are so grateful for the partners who have come on board. This is part of the Davis administration’s pledge to free testing. It was pledged throughout the campaign, and this is the fulfilment of that. We
Crisis point for GB over COVID hospitalisations By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
GINGER Moxey takes the first test at the launch of the free COVID-19 testing programme in Grand Bahama. intend to have it roll out in other communities. EMR will be the next one, and other communities throughout the island will (follow).” The government is also distributing free KN95 masks. Dr Bartlett said residents who come to the facility to test should have no symptoms. “That is the single most important aspect,” he said. “So, if you are having any symptoms, then you should contact a private physician or go to the public clinics so they will give you a referral.” He noted that free testing is also available at Rand Memorial Hospital on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9am and 11am. Dr Bartlett said those who are symptomatic should be screened at the hospital. “We started today (Saturday) where we are doing the rapid antigen testing. So, if you need to do a PCR test, then that has to be done at a
375 NEW CASES CONFIRMED THE Ministry of Health recorded 375 new cases of COVID-19 over a threeday period last week, with cases falling to the double digits for two of those days for the first time this month. On Thursday, January 20, 222 cases were recorded. On Friday January 21, 84 cases were recorded and 69 cases
THE TRIBUNE
were recorded on Saturday January 22, the lowest figure so far this month. According to the latest dashboard, 155 people are in hospital with the virus with 12 of them in the intensive care unit. Seven hundred and twenty-nine people have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
private facility based on the recommendation from the Disease Surveillance Unit.” Those who get tested at CTK will be contacted with their results by the Disease Surveillance Team (DST). However, he indicated that they continue to have challenges with reports getting to the DST in a timely fashion. Dr Bartlett said if one to two days have passed and persons have not received a call from DST if they are positive, they should contact the team at 350-6700. If people do test positive, Dr Bartlett said the screening tests at the CTK facility are always followed up with a PCR test. “That would be done once we are positive at the hospital, or if you opt to have it done at a private facility,” he explained. Dr Bartlett stressed that KN95 masks are preferred over cloth masks, and are being distributed because they are more effective. He said the mask must be properly sealed around the nose and mouth. “You should not feel any air escaping around the sides. If you have a beard or goatee, it is not going to be any benefit to you wearing a KN95 mask. So, you have to make sure it has a proper seal,” he emphasised. Free testing was rolled out in New Providence earlier this month after a pilot programme in several Family Islands.
COVID-related hospitalisations are at a “crisis” on Grand Bahama, according to Dr Frank Bartlett, head of the island’s COVID-19 taskforce who reported that there are some challenges with space and staff shortage at Rand Memorial Hospital. Dr Bartlett reported that there were 40 patients in hospital on Friday – the highest number of hospitalisations for COVID to date. However, that number fell to 35 on Saturday. He also reported they had some 44 staff in quarantine three weeks ago. “We have challenges on several fronts. One is with space requirements, and, as of yesterday (Friday) we would have had 40 persons in hospital. We have never had 40 persons in hospital with COVID,” he said on Saturday. “GB, specifically, we are really in a crisis. And in Nassau, we are in a crisis. So, we need to be able to clearly understand that. There are no mincing words about that.” Dr Bartlett said healthcare workers are seeing more hospitalisations with the Omicron variant. “We would have maxed at 35 in the peak of the Delta at the beginning of the year. And on average, we have some 30 to 34 persons who are COVID positive in hospital. So you could imagine basically what it is like now for us managing and making sure persons don’t get cross-contaminated.” Dr Bartlett said they have been ensuring the Accident & Emergency Room is only for emergencies. Patients with crushing chest pain, or who have been involved in an accident with significant injuries are the only patients they would like to see come to A&E. Any
other issue or medical challenge would not be served, he said. Dr Bartlett said they are also experiencing challenges with triage. “One of the other issues is space requirements, and what is needed for that. We also have challenges with some staff being out. We have 44 staff in quarantine,” he reported. “If you look at three weeks ago, we would have had some 44-plus staff members out in quarantine. That number is now nine or 11, so we are doing much better here in GB. “But we are having similar challenges as it relates to staffing. So, not only is it an issue with space and how do we place those patients and test them in a timely fashion and move them as quickly as possible in areas they need to be going to.” However, Dr Bartlett said the “saving grace” has been the fact that Omicron is milder than the Delta variant. “With the Delta we had to meet on a daily basis, sometimes twice a day to address a few problems,” he said. “A lot of the positive cases that are in hospital now are cases that come in for some other reason… and who happen to test COVID positive. “So, that is the only saving grace which means once the other problems are taken care of… in three to four days they are out. We would send three patients out and three patients would come in – so it is a revolving door, and that is the only thing that has been keeping us afloat as it relates to not having to resort to our contingencies,” Dr Bartlett explained. So, our space is still a crisis and everybody needs to understand that.” Dr Bartlett was concerned about the inordinate number of requests for events health officials are getting, which has created
a misconception of the situation. He said the dashboard does not reflect the full story. “Do not just rely on the dashboard,” he said. “The dashboard reflects PCR testing, it does not reflect the rapid antigen tests. And what you are seeing here in GB, if you look at the national statistics, half of the total tests we do are PCR, the other half are rapid antigen tests. “But in GB, we have more rapid antigen tests that are not reported on the dashboard than we have PCR tests. So, the true burden of the disease is not accurately reflected on the dashboard,” he explained. “Now, the good news is that it is trending down and the reason we still have a high level of concern is because we still have that high level of hospitalisation. “I think we have relaxed somewhat in that we do not have as many people dying, or as many deaths as we would have had in the previous Delta wave,” Dr Bartlett said. At the beginning of Delta, he said officials recorded one to two deaths every day. And after two to three weeks, it went down to every other day. “We finally got to the point where we are not necessarily having a significant number of deaths, but please understand we are still in a crisis mode,” the physician stressed. He warned that if they continue to have increased hospitalisations, it could mean recommending restrictions. “We still have an inordinate amount of hospitalisation. So, as long as we have hospitalisations, and we are looking at not relaxing and if the number increases, then we have to start looking at restrictions because we have to find some way to be able to make sure that our community remains safe,” he said.
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THE TRIBUNE
Monday, January 24, 2022, PAGE 5
FAMILY’S QUESTIONS AS CRASH KILLS 3
from page one
Mandie Constantakis, 20, Trevon Roxbury, 18, and Manoli Constantakis, 18, were two minutes from home when their Nissan Infinity crashed into a residence in the settlement of Mangrove Bush around 9pm on Friday, rocking the small island community and sparking a flurry of tributes from around the country. While Roxbury and Mandie were pronounced dead on the scene, Manoli was airlifted to New Providence where he later died from his injuries. His mother, Amber Constantakis, said doctors in New Providence told her Manoli could have survived if he had been brought in sooner. She said it took police and the doctor on the island more than an hour just to reach the scene of the crash and it took the nurse about an hour to get there. She said: “(The police) didn’t want anyone to take them out of the car but my husband, he heard a sound, so he grabbed my son – his back and butt were like half way out the window – so he yucked him out and started to make him alert or whatever and by the time as they took him to the clinic I had already had my clearance from my insurance company for (an) air ambulance. “They couldn’t leave until the doctor on Long
FROM left, Manoli Constantakis, Mandie Constantakis and Trevon Roxbury. Island gave the okay to say yes he needs this air ambulance. The doctor, she took over two and a half or maybe three hours to get to the clinic to attend to my son. My best friend who is a physician in Nassau was on the phone advising the nurses at the clinic what to do to my son to keep him alive.” Mrs Constantakis said the air ambulance arrived to transport her son about five hours after the crash.
She said although her son’s COVID-19 test was negative, officials were determined to carry him in an ISO chamber used to transport suspected COVID-19 patients. “He had internal bleeding, he was hurting everywhere, he was traumatised, he was in and out of consciousness and they had him on the ground, on the floor at the airport trying to put him in this bag for over an hour and a half,”
she said. “The doctors in Nassau said if he would’ve came to that emergency room even two or one hours earlier he might have made it because his injuries weren’t that severe, he just had a lacerated spleen and his liver was lacerated but the problem was when they put him in that bag, he started to holler and he panicked and got claustrophobic and the doctor said he wanted to get out and he ripped out his two IVs
that were giving him fluids. It was all because of that stupid bag and I don’t see why the government have that policy in place.” Mrs Constantakis said her son, their only child, was a loving, high-spirited man and the life of the party. Cousins Manoli and Mandi were inseparable and were close “from birth,” she said. The two shared a love for fishing and talked openly about someday
taking over the family’s fishing business, Constantakis Sea Enterprises. “He and Mandi used to pick up products when the big boats come in,” Mrs Constantakis said. “They said they were practising and learning the business so that when their dad retired Mandi was gonna be the guy that did the paperwork; Manoli was gonna fish but still do the lifting. They had it all planned out, with how they were going to take the load off their dad.” According to Mrs Constantakis, Manoli and Trevon were classmates from primary school until the tenth grade when Manoli left to pursue his career in fishing. The two were always close, she said, and the three men enjoyed hunting and fishing together. Long Island MP Adrian Gibson released a statement over the weekend about the deaths. “The untimely and sudden deaths of these young men, who were all so very full of life, has sent shock waves throughout our island,” Mr Gibson said. “This is an unprecedented tragedy and our thoughts are with their families in this difficult time. “I spoke to the parents of all of the young men and expressed support and heartfelt condolences on behalf of myself, my family and the people of Long Island.”
FORBES: WE’RE NOT OUT OF THE OMICRON WAVE YET By PAVEL BAILEY
A LOCAL infectious disease expert has said that despite the recent fall in COVID-19 cases, the country is “not out of the Omicron wave just yet”. Dr Nikkiah Forbes, director of the National HIV/ AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme at the Ministry of Health, said on Friday that even with the recent decline in COVID cases following the holiday Omicron spike, it is still too early to say that the country has reached the peak of the latest coronavirus wave. In an interview with The Tribune, Dr Forbes discussed how the country is still early in the Omicron wave and explained that to track the progress of waves in infectious diseases, you must observe a sustained trend over a period. The presence of the variant has not been officially confirmed in The Bahamas, however, due to the explosion of cases in recent weeks, officials have said they believe the strain is in the country. “The week of January that ended January 8 was a high for us in (the) country as it relates to the number of COVID-19 cases and the week following that, the cases, they were lower. To say that there is a significant trend as it relates to a decline you need to look at a sustained decrease over a number of weeks, it’s generally three weeks or more,” Dr Forbes said. While she cautioned the public not to take the downward trend in cases as a sign that the country is exiting the fourth wave, she
voiced her optimism that the recent downtick in cases is something that could possibly continue. It is hopeful that the downward trend or the downward report in the number of cases in the week that was January 15, it is hopeful that that is something that will continue. It is a bit early to predict and forecast that and what we have to do is continue to monitor these trends and, in the meanwhile, there are things we should do. We all need to take personal responsibility and do what we know works to reduce the spread in COVID-19.” As parents prepare to send their children back to in person classes on Monday, Dr Forbes believes that while there will always be a chance of COVID19 outbreak at schools, if proper safety protocols are in place the risk to students and faculty can be minimal. “We know that COVID in schools, once there are appropriate prevention protocols and mitigation steps in place that COVID in schools, can actually, the rate of it and transmission can be lower in schools than it is in the community. “But the important condition is that there have to be protocols and mechanisms and support and mitigation in place, and that is actually something that is required at all levels. So, it starts from home. From when the students are at home, persons in the home that are eligible for vaccination, that will help significantly.” She said that as children below the age of 12 are unable to get vaccinated for COVID-19, the adults in
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their life should get the shot to reduce the risk to both their children and others catching the disease. Dr Forbes also advised parents that young children can be taught to follow safety protocols and wear masks if it is presented to them in a way that is age appropriate or fun, such as in rhymes and songs. She explained that also maintaining safety protocols in schools is key to reducing the risk of COVID19 exposure.
“In the schools once the protocols are in place with mask wearing and everybody has to wear a mask, the teachers, the students, the adults, all the other persons that are a part of the staff of the school, it has to be consistently worn. Spacing in the classroom for example. Staggered breaks are another example. Screening for illness, clear strategies for if someone gets sick, what happens, who goes in quarantine,
what happens to the person who is sick; those strategies have to be robust and in place to reduce the chance of a high chance of transmission.” Despite these precautions Dr Forbes stressed that there is no way these strategies can fully eliminate the possibility of a COVID19 outbreak in school, but that by keeping the rate of transmission low the country can keep the situation in control and safeguard
public health. “We have to understand that there will not be zero COVID cases in schools, just like there will not be zero COVID cases in country. It’s how you keep it at a rate that’s low or if there is someone that is identified as a case they are identified early and isolated, there’s the necessary support. For example, contact tracing and the rest of the public health measures. That’s very, very important.”
PAGE 6, Monday, January 24, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
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Prime Minister must answer over quarantine trip PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has some serious questions to answer. Mr Davis was in attendance at a memorial service at the PLP headquarters for Leon Griffin when he startlingly admitted to leaving quarantine. He was telling the story because he believes he was the last person that Mr Griffin spoke to before he was killed. The situation came about because the Prime Minister had some Christmas shopping to pay for at a shop owned by Mr Griffin – and left quarantine to do so. He called the store, told them that he was in quarantine but he needed to pay for the items, “but I can’t be seen out”. An arrangement was made which led to an aide to the Prime Minister calling him when the store was closed when Mr Davis visited the store, entering by a side entrance. There are two different situations here that require answers. The first situation is the matter of whether Mr Davis broke the rules in leaving quarantine. Certainly, in saying he couldn’t be seen and entering by a side entrance does not look good. Further, there is no justification in leaving quarantine to go to pay for something. There are no end of ways in which Mr Davis could have arranged payment, from paying by card over the phone, making an online transfer, or arranging for the money to be dropped off on his behalf. The second situation is that if what Mr Davis says is true, and he was one of the last people to see Mr Griffin alive, then has he been interviewed by the police about the matter? The two men talked at length, it seems – did Mr Griffin raise anything that might be of value to the investigation? Already, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle has suggested the motive behind the fatal shooting was not armed robbery – but did Mr Davis have anything to say to Mr Rolle on the matter, or other investigators? It seems remarkable that the Prime Minister of the country was the last
person to see a murder victim before their shooting. Mr Griffin had been the owner of the local franchise of a jewellery business locked in a $34m legal battle with an overseas supplier. Had he raised any concerns regarding that process with Mr Davis? One of the steps in investigating the shooting will have been to retrace Mr Griffin’s steps, to establish the events that led up to the incident. Mr Davis has placed himself firmly in that chain of events. He may have heard something, he may have seen something. Either way, he ought to be interviewed by police if he has not been already, in order to gather any evidence in the case against Mr Griffin’s killer. Mr Davis may have not wanted to be seen on his Christmas shopping trip – but now every detail of his outing should be made clear. Mr Davis talked about that conversation with his friend at the memorial because he felt it was important – it may be so in more ways than one.
Our world
EDITOR, The Tribune.
Sometimes, it can be hard to deal with all the gloom and doom. A news operation is no different. The Tribune reports on the stories that take place, that need to be told. Too often those stories are murders or fatal crashes, as appear on today’s front page. After the lengthy pandemic, many people are beaten down and that can take its toll. When the days come to celebrate those moments of light when people are celebrating their achievements, setting records or leading the way, we have to make the most of them. When the tough days come, we have to try our hardest to find reasons, to change the world around us to stop the killings. This is the world we live in, and we have to be honest about it if we hope for better.
No wonder hotels close with these rules EDITOR, The Tribune. HOW sad to read in The Tribune that the British Colonial Hotel is closing down. My husband and I spent our honeymoon there in 1982 and have been regular visitors ever since. The location was excellent and all the amenities were of the highest standard. We shall really miss staying there. However, if our problems in coming to you for two years now are any indication it has become extremely difficult to visit The Bahamas. For decades it was easy with good flights and easy entry at the airport. Now all the rules are so complex we cannot complete them in the short three-day time frame from a rapid antigen
test to entry. The Health Visa is a nuisance and takes valuable time from our regular schedule to complete. Whoever drew up these rules should try to go through the hassles themselves, including booking flights in co-ordination. Our travel agent has urged us to book elsewhere where entry is far easier as he has had to send his other regular Bahamas visitors to other countries. We could not come when your borders closed and then later there were very few flights. Then we had the PCR test complications in obtaining them and getting to you within five days. Our agent advised us two months ago that with a double vaccination certificate we could now enter. So we booked
immediately. Now we are told about the additional test and we cannot find anywhere to obtain it with great shortages. We have had to cancel the trip once again. No wonder hotels are closing. It is so sad to see The Bahamas decline in interest. Our travel agent says that it is unbelievable that your Tourism Ministry and Government rules have allowed such harm to your main industry when there are so many other destinations to travel to these days. I hope the situation will improve very soon. We love The Bahamas. ELIZABETH WARNER Baltimore, USA January 23, 2022.
Wear a mask, Minister EDITOR, The Tribune.
I IMPLORE the Minister of Health and Wellness to fine all persons that can be identified, seen on social media - in newspapers or on News not wearing a mask. Isn’t it $200 per incident? Ministers appearing in front of TV journalists without masks - standing less than 4ft apart, without a mask are putting the journalists in serious danger of
being infected. Unless Ministers taking up wear masks, if every time they have a photoopportunity in their offices, no one is wearing a mask. Where are the COVID Police-Ambassadors? Where are the RBDF? Treasury (us tax payers) paying for all those cars. Throughout Cable Beach... downtown visitors are walking around maskless. Why?
Clint Watson and standards in public office
Can Ministry make up similar signs, which both FNM and PLP used for the election… the ones you stick in the ground which simply say… You Are Required To Wear A Mask At All Times! Fine $200.00 or not. Are we serious? Be nationalistic folks - nation first and comply. K ALBURY Nassau, January 13, 2022
WHEN he was the host of Beyond the Headlines at Eyewitness News, Clint Watson, now Press Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, saw it as his job to hold certain public officials accountable. In my opinion, he was especially hard on the FNM and then Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. His leanings became even clearer, especially in the lead-up to the general election. Many people watched on TV his fawning interviews with then Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis and other senior PLPs. Now Mr Watson, who is Mr Davis’s press secretary, is a public official who must be held accountable for his actions related to the trip to Dubai for the World Expo. The public deserves answers to a number of questions, especially since the PLP and Mr Watson promised transparency and accountability. Mr Watson is the director of the gospel choir Shaback that went to Dubai. Was favoritism shown in the selection of his choir? Did he personally ask the prime minister or other officials to send his choir? Did Mr Watson lack the judgment to see how this might look? There is a report that the Bahamas National Youth Choir was approached by a representative from the Ministry of Tourism to represent The Bahamas in Dubai. As reported in The Nassau Guardian, Dexter Fernander, the director of the choir, “said the choir was under the impression that it would represent the country but found out through unofficial channels
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net that that was not to be the case”. The Guardian report stated: “Fernander said discussions were underway since 2019 for the choir to be a part of Expo 2022. In November of 2021, he said, a Ministry of Tourism representative reached out noting that the choir was being considered but nothing else ever came of it. “‘That person never even called back to say we were not accepted, but it is what it is,’ Fernander said. He added, ‘I found out on social media just like everyone else. I was like, ‘Oh, OK. I guess the choir isn’t going.’ “Unfortunately, I wish they had told us earlier. We had an opportunity to go to Nashville also for the Martin Luther King special Let Freedom Sing concert that’s happening in the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.” Was Mr Watson’s group chosen over the National Youth Choir? Who made the decision? Was Mr Watson involved in the decision-making process? Again, was there favoritism shown to the press secretary’s choir. Was the selection of his choir a conflict of interest? One can imagine if a similar thing happened at the White House in the US or at Downing Street in Britain or in the press office of the Jamaican prime minister, there would be many questions. Further, how many members of his choir went to Dubai? Were members of the choir initially slated to
be paid for their services? Was Mr Watson initially slated to be paid as choir director? What were the full costs to send the choir? Will Mr Watson please demonstrate full accountability and lay out all of the facts on the decision to send his choir to Dubai, including his involvement in the decision, and the costs and any funds paid for the choir for the trip. Mr Watson has an obligation to abide by the standards of public life he liked to talk about on his former television talk show. Mr Watson should know a basic lesson about public service. You are not the star. Your principal or boss is who you are supposed to project. When you become the story instead of your boss, you are failing terribly at your job. I believe that The Dubai trip has undermined Mr Watson’s standing and credibility with much of the public and the cultural community. As Wilfred Burrows III wrote in a Facebook Post: “Furthermore, Mr Clint Watson as press secretary to the OPM will hopefully learn after this debacle that in the world of politics, sacrifices in your personal life must be made to ethically fulfill certain roles. “There is no way one can think that it is acceptable for him in his dual role as press secretary and leader and director of Shaback to have them travel and represent the government, furthermore with him front and centre! Whether they were a show choir or not, it is simply not appropriate.” BAHAMIAN PATRIOT Nassau, January 23, 2022
Mitchell inappropriate EDITOR, The Tribune. IT WAS with shock and disbelief that I read the disparaging and insulting remarks made by the Foreign Minister of this country about one of our nation’s journalists. I was waiting for the Press Association to defend their colleague, but I heard naught but the sound of gentle silence. The remarks made by the Minister (as I refrain
from using the word Hon) were inappropriate to say the least, and belittled the speaker more than the person spoken about. The remarks further illustrated, what the Minister knows to be true, that it is not right for a Minister of government to also be a Chairman of the governing political party. There is clearly a conflict of interest. Mr Mitchell must decide if he wants to be a Minister of
the government and a representative of all Bahamians or if he prefers to be Chairman of the PLP and act on behalf of his beloved co-members. He would do well to remember the words of the late Mahatma Gandhi. “Politics without principles will destroy us.” JEANNE THOMPSON Nassau, January 23, 2022.
I
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, January 24, 2022, PAGE 7
Police arrest three over gun and drugs By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
GRAND Bahama Police arrested three men in connection with separate illegal firearm and ammunition and drug possession incidents last week. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle reported that a man was taken into custody on Friday following the discovery of an illegal firearm and ammunition at a residence in Freeport. According to reports, shortly after 5pm a team of officers from the Southwestern Division, Mobile Division, and K-9 Unit acting on intelligence,
executed a search warrant at a residence at Golden Dew Loop, in the Wellington Pinder Height Subdivision. ASP Rolle said officers knocked on the front door and heard a noise coming from the inside of the residence, but the occupant refused to open the door. He said officers gained entry to the residence and found an adult male inside. During a search of the master bathroom, officers allegedly found a plastic bag containing a black Austria Glock Pistol, with a magazine containing 13 live rounds of ammunition. The man was arrested, and investigations are continuing.
ASP Rolle also reported that officers arrested a male suspect at Eight Mile Rock on Thursday in connection with illegal drug possession. Reports are that shortly before 6pm on Thursday, a team of officers from the Predator Unit and K-9 Unit went to a bushy area in Martin Town, Eight Mile Rock. Mr Rolle said K-9 Barco assisted with the discovery of a quantity of suspected marijuana which was hidden under a wooden object in the bush. The drugs were handed over to the Drug Enforcement Unit, which is investigating the matter. An arrest was also made in East Grand Bahama
on Thursday evening that resulted in the discovery of illegal firearm and ammunition and illegal drugs. ASP Rolle reported that shortly after 8pm a team of officers from the Northeastern Division were on special duty patrols in the area of the McLean’s Town Government Dock when they observed a blue Ford Fusion vehicle parked with a man sitting in the passenger seat. The officers smelled a strong scent of marijuana emanating from inside of the vehicle. He said when the officers approached the vehicle, the man began acting suspiciously. Mr Rolle said the man was ordered out of the
vehicle. The man complied, then jumped into the driver’s seat, and attempted to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. Police searched the vehicle and found a black KEL TEC sub-machine gun, along with a magazine, containing nine live rounds of 9mm ammunition. He said the officers also discovered a quantity of suspected marijuana. He said investigations are continuing into the incident. ASP Rolle also reported that shortly before 1pm on Thursday, a team of officers from the Coopers Town Police Station on Abaco were on routine patrols when they observed the driver of a
WOMEN ACCUSED OF SMUGGLING DRUGS A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE FOR BAHAMAS FARMING By LEANDRA ROLLE marijuana into the DepartTribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THREE women accused of smuggling drugs and other items into the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services were charged in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Doris Bethel, 31, Joan Johnson, 34, and Charmaine Higgs, 45, were arrested after police alleged they found them with three and 3/8 ounces of marijuana on January 18. It is further alleged that the group took several prohibited articles, including a silver Samsung cellphone, black wifi box and black plastic wrap containing suspected
ment of Correctional Services on the same day. During their hearing before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, the three pleaded guilty to possession of dangerous drugs. However, they denied taking the prohibited items into the prison. Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt ordered the women to complete 40 hours of community service. They were told failure to comply would result in two months in prison. They were also ordered to maintain good behaviour for four months. If they fail to do so, the women will spend two months behind bars. The accused will return to court on May 20 for trial.
SURVEY OF CIVIL ORGANISATIONS KANOO, the digital wallet firm, is teaming up with several groups for a national survey of civil society organisations (CSOs). The initiative is in partnership with The One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF), The Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG), Civil Society Bahamas, and Intel Cay. Kanoo is matching donated funds to the group to offer $1,000 in “Kanoo dollars” prizes which will be raffled off among all civil society groups to complete the survey. The prizes will be given out at the conclusion of the survey. The survey — launched in late 2021 to assess information about the impact of CSOs across The Bahamas — has received a good response, but the group wants to make sure all organisations are counted. Data collection and survey research company Intel Cay has also doubled the number of people in its call centres to directly contact groups and assist them in completing it. The survey is also being disseminated via social media and the charities’ websites. “According to a 2019 survey conducted by ORG measuring the size of the sector, our current survey has only gained the participation of approximately ten percent of the groups out there,” Intel Cay cofounders Keiran Chase and Queswell Ferguson said. “Our survey agents have been reaching out to these organisations and following up intently to make the participation process as easy as possible. As we continue, we look forward to assisting in creating new
information that is needed to have well-informed discussions and yield effective results.” Kanoo’s public relations and communications manager Scieska Adderley said the company’s decision to join the CSO survey initiative is part of the company’s overall mandate of giving Bahamians throughout the archipelago the “power to prosper”. “We’ve recognised the need for help is great throughout The Bahamas, given the challenges we’ve experienced as a nation recently,” said Ms Adderley. Mark Palmer, lead of OEF Social Enterprise Accelerator, said: “In order to find out how we can assist and strengthen the non-profit sector, it’s critical that we know who is doing what and where.” He added that individual data will be kept confidential. ORG executive director Matt Aubry said the survey is essential to ensuring the viability of the country’s civil society sector. “Better understanding the sector offers a direct link to understanding the capacity of The Bahamas toward sustainable social and economic development,” he said. The survey will continue throughout January. CSOs can access the survey on the Civil Society Bahamas website or www.intelcay.info/ CSOMAPPING2021. Contact Mr Palmer at info@oneeleuthera.org with any questions. Private sector partners wishing to support this project can contact Mr Aubry at maubry@orgbahamas.com.
BAHAMIAN leaders toured Eeden Farms in Hamilton, Ohio, on Friday, to get a preview of plans for the Eeden Acres Farms coming to Nassau’s Gladstone Road. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis was joined by and Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting and members of the Agricultural Development Committee Philip Smith and Dion Smith, Ohio State government leaders, investors, and stakeholders such as Sysco Bahamas president Karen Casey, members of the private sector (including FTX Digital Markets CEO Ryan
ATTENDEES at the tour of Eeden Farms in Ohio. Salame and bank representa- outdoor farm with 100 pertives as they toured the 70K cent renewable energy and Farm owned by 80 Acres 97 percent less water. Eeden Farms began its Farms, a commercial indoor approach to hydroponic hydroponic farm. The Gladstone Road farming in 2021. Founder farm will grow produce Lincoln Deal wanted to indoors without GMOs or bring a farming system to pesticides. The farm will The Bahamas that could produce over 300 times withstand hurricanes and more food than a traditional other challenges.
Blue Honda Fit acting suspiciously. The officers beckoned for the driver to stop the vehicle. Upon approaching the vehicle, he said they smelled a strong scent of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. During a search of the driver, officers allegedly found a plastic wrap, containing a quantity of suspected marijuana in the groin area of the suspect. During a further search of his front right pants pocket, police found two additional plastic wrapping of suspected marijuana. Mr Rolle said the man was arrested and investigations are continuing into the matter.
THEFT TRIAL
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A SENIOR magistrate on Friday granted bail to a 45-year-old man accused of stealing over $5,000 from another man. Dexter Cartwright appeared before Senior Magistrate Carolyn VogtEvans, charged with stealing by reason of service. It is alleged he stole $5,500 cash from Brian Adderley which was in his custody. Cartwright denied the offence and the trial was set for March 30. He was granted bail at $5,000 with sureties and must report to Elizabeth Estates Police Station once a month.
MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
One rule for Davis, another for the rest?
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis at the funeral service for Leon Griffin at the weekend.
By MALCOLM STRACHAN
care of each other. Let’s all take care of each other in the coming weeks, as one big Bahamian family.” PRIME Minister Philip At the time, then, it “Brave” Davis has revealed seems clear he felt that he broke quarantine – so according to the rules, he is it one rule for him and had to self-isolate. another for the rest of us? On Thursday of last There has been a rush week, the next piece of by the Office of the Prime the story emerged. Mr Minister to suggest Mr Davis was at a memorial Davis didn’t actually break service at PLP headquarany rules as he hadn’t been ters for Leon Griffin, the ordered into former Taxiquarantine cab Union ‘I was supposed to by a medipresident cal officer be in quarantine who was – so let’s and Christmas was shot dead look at the on Decemwhole story nearing as we know ber 23, the from the and I ordered all day after beginning. Mr Davis of my Christmas Mr Davis went into went into gifts and I needed quarantine. quarantine to pay for them so, Speakat around I called the store ing at the 11.30pm on memorial, and I said, “Look, Wednesday, Mr Davis December I’m in quarantine said he 22. His wife, and I need to pay thought Ann Marie, he was tested posi- for the things, but I one of tive for can’t be seen out”.’ the last COVID, people to along with see Mr several visitors at a family Griffin alive. gathering. He said: “I was In a broadcast from his supposed to be in quarplace of isolation, Mr Davis antine and Christmas said despite testing nega- was nearing as we tive for the coronavirus, he know and I ordered all would remain in isolation of my Christmas gifts and I because it was the “respon- needed to pay for them so, sible” thing to do. I called the store and I said, He said: “I still need to ‘Look, I’m in quarantine do the responsible thing and I need to pay for the and self-isolate according things, but I can’t be seen to the rules. Being apart out’. from your family is not easy “They said ‘Well, when – and is especially difficult we close the store, we’ll let during Christmas-time. But you know when the store is the most important part of empty and you can come being in a family is taking by’. So they called the aide
LEON GRIFFIN, who Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he talked to during a visit to his store after Mr Davis left his quarantine location.
the
about ten minutes after six to say, ‘All clear, come now’.” Look closely at three of those elements there – firstly, Mr Davis said he was “supposed” to be in quarantine, and told the store that and that he “can’t be seen out”. He then has an aide get involved to tell him when the coast is clear so he’s not spotted. He went on to say he went into the store “through the side door” and went in to find the store empty apart from the workers and Mr Griffin. He spent some time talking to Mr Griffin, who then walked Mr Davis to the car after their business was concluded. He said: “I left [and] went to my isolated spot. I got there and, five minutes later, I got this call [about the shooting of Mr Griffin] and I couldn’t believe it.” It would seem very apparent that whatever statements have been issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Davis was under the impression that he should be in quarantine, and conscious he shouldn’t be seen by anyone if he went to the store. This wasn’t a great matter of state that he broke quarantine for – it was to pay for his Christmas shopping. It beggars belief to think the Prime Minister of the land couldn’t find another way to make a payment if it was so desperately needed, or the shop could simply
A FACEBOOK post by have former Health Minister taken his payment after he COVID-19 Dr Duane Sands, calltesting supemerged from quarantine. ing for the resignation There may have been plies and were of Prime Minister public rancour, to a scramble to show he allowed continuing in Philip “Brave” Davis. didn’t do anything wrong, quarantine at her position but at that moment, Mr home before was too much Davis seemed to think they produced a negative of a distraction to the he shouldn’t be going COVID-19 test result. government’s efforts and Following that incident, therefore untenable.” anywhere. Already, there has been the chairman of the PLP He concluded: “This a strong reaction. FNM Fred Mitchell said the has sent the wrong mesleader Michael Pintard said party’s position was always sage to our people as the offence was “a very seri- that Dr Duane Sands nobody is above the law ous one” and a “betrayal of “must go and go now with and everybody should be his oath to uphold the law”. no excuses, gamesmanship held accountable for their or rumina- actions.” Every tion?”. person who ‘This wasn’t a great Interestingly, Mr Davis’ He went behaviour looks very much has abided by matter of state that on: “This like the row surrounding quarantine and not gone he broke quarantine is the right UK Prime Minister Boris decision out for far for – it was to pay Johnson over parties held because more essenat his 10 Downing Street Bahamians tial tasks for his Christmas office during lockdown, than Christ- shopping. It beggars already feel with people again claimand are dis- ing it is one law for those mas shopping belief to think the gusted with in power and one for everymust be what appears one else. asking why Prime Minister of to be two they didn’t the land couldn’t Two of those parties do as they find another way to sets of rules took place on the eve of – one for the the funeral of Prince Phillike and go and lip, who died on April 9 out. If it’s fine make a payment if it FNM their friends, last year. Government offifor the Prime was so desperately and cials offered the Queen Minister, why needed, or the shop donors cronies – and a temporary easing of isn’t it fine one for eve- restrictions to allow more for anyone could simply have rybody else.” mourners to attend Prince else? taken his payment Mr Mitch- Philip’s funeral than the The after he emerged ell also rules allowed. Buckingformer pointed to ham Palace declined, as it from quarantine.’ Minister a case in was felt they should be an of Health, the United example, not an exception. Dr Duane Sands, has gone even fur- Kingdom, where the chief Whatever the exact letter ther and called for the medical officer for Scotland of the rules that are being Prime Minister’s resigna- resigned after breaking closely examined now, Mr tion. Mr Sands of course curfew rules by twice visit- Davis fell short of being an offered his own resigna- ing her second home during example, and all to go and tion from his post for his the curfew. pay for his Christmas shopMr Mitchell said: “Like ping. I suspect this is not actions relating to six permanent residents who Dr Sands, Ms Calderwood going to be the last we hear landed in the country with determined that in light of on this matter.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022 PAGE 9
WHEN TOMORROW NEVER COMES
A UNIVERSAL unwavering truth is that at some point, we will all die. How, when or where will never truly be known in advance. And yet we rarely live each day as if it were our last. We constantly take people for granted, keep new clothes neatly folded away waiting for a special event and intrinsically anticipate multiple goals can be accomplished tomorrow or the day after. But what if tomorrow never comes and you knew that when you closed your eyes you’d never wake back up? Would you have any regrets or would you be happy with what you did that day? Or as someone famously once said, “I never heard anyone on their deathbed say, ‘I wish I had spent another day at the office’.” I suspect every graveyard across the world is stock full of regrets and unfulfilled promises to self. Truth is, dying is not something we ever want to face head-on so in dismissing it, we also forget about its inevitability. The concept of death is chilling, sensing the emptiness and loss of never seeing our loved ones again. But one of the deepest threads that connects us as human beings is the loss of one we love is something we will have to endure at some moment - and it will change our lives. We often relegate discussing or even thinking about this until we
By DR KENNETH D KEMP
reach senior age and death looms ever-presently. But a quick glance through the obituaries and it becomes painstakingly obvious that death is no longer an oldpeople’s dilemma. No one knows this better than the patient highlighted in today’s report who, in less than two years, lost more than ten close family members, including three brothers, two nieces, one nephew, three cousins, her aunt and her father-inlaw. They each died from either COVID-19, crime, heart disease, a stroke or cancer and she feels these issues must be addressed particularly in the black community. It is an unfathomable loss and the dynamics of her life have changed forever. This patient is one of the most remarkable I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing and when speaking to her earlier today, she said prayer and her strong faith in God got her through every challenge she’s faced. As the eldest in her family, she also realised she has to remain calm and provide a shoulder to cry on for those
she holds most dear. But her strength was shaken years prior at the death of her stillborn son who was cremated by the hospital without her consent and when her beloved mother died. Those were the two times that brought on a mountainous crashing wave of pain and depression that was all-consuming. Her desperate fight to overcome that pain has provided her with an understanding that helps her with each successive loss and an inner peace knowing the divine presence has the final say in the circle of life. According to her, every day when we open our eyes, we open the greatest gift of life and nothing else is important without that one gift so, when we see life through that lens we are able to cope with anything. She’s learned regret is a poor companion on this road of life, and it doesn’t belong in our future. When death comes we carry too much disappointment and need to grieve and ask for strength to move on because at some point we will have to do it again. She
knows she may not have a lot of money to help others but she can give a smile, offer a prayer to those in need and hope each day that if it’s her last, she’s done something worthwhile for her fellow man on that day and all the days before. When asked what else she’d like for readers to take from her story, she suggested something I was not expecting, given the grief she has endured and how she has managed to move forward, still offering forgiveness and prayer. She said plainly that death brings an emotional strain and you don’t need a financial strain as well. She recommends estate planning which sounds like a fancy term but even for those with little, not leaving your loved ones with huge debts to bury you takes planning. Make sure an insurance policy with a death benefit is in place. Have a discussion with your loved ones about what they want in their obituary and how they’d like their funeral to be organized. She did it for her mother and it was the
last most powerful gift she could provide to honour her memory. Views on death vary widely from one culture to another. Native Americans, for example, believe that sickness manifests when one is out of balance with nature and in death ancestors return to guide the spirit. Those who practice Hinduism, on the other hand, believe in reincarnation where a deceased person returns in the form of another. They refer to this birth, life, death, rebirth as the cycle of samsara and their faith teaches that the atman (or soul) moves into a new body immediately following death and if an atman has good karma from a previous life, it will be reborn into a better life. African death rituals alternatively include covering all the windows in the house and removing the bed of the deceased. Bodies are then taken on a circuitous confusing path to the burial site in hopes the deceased will remain an ancestor and not wander back home. Whatever tradition your culture holds, it is a difficult
self-reflecting time and an unyielding reminder of the fragility of life. Personally, I’ve also had one too many encounters with death but I believe it’s made me more empathetic and much more appreciative of the loved ones who remain. After the deaths of my grandparents, uncles, brother, father and closest cousin, I became ever more attuned to the fact that today is not refundable. Such are lessons one never wants to learn but are best learned sooner rather than later. Many people have asked me where I find the time to write a weekly health column but for me healing a patient’s foot and ankle issue or helping them to walk again is easy but helping them share their stories so that others can walk through life a better version of themselves – now that’s a legacy to be proud of and one I’ll want in my obituary, when tomorrow never comes for me. • Nicknamed ‘The Prince of Podiatry’, Dr Kenneth D Kemp is the founder and medical director of Bahamas Foot and Ankle located in Caves Village, Western New Providence. He served as the deputy chairman for the Health Council for five years and he currently sits on the board of directors for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation in his role as co-vice-chairman.
PAGE 10 MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022
Much A-Dubai about nothing
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
By FREDERICK SMITH QC
United Arab Emirates. Today it is the most populous city in the UAE; a global real estate and DUBAI’S lightning economic powerhouse explosion onto the world that is home to among scene is exactly the kind other things, the world’s of example The Bahamas tallest building, tallest needs to break out of our hotel, largest shopping sad cycle of stagnation and centre, largest indoor mediocrity. Prime Minister theme park, busiest Davis should be applauded airport and the longest for having the initiative and fully automated metro netimagination to lead the way work. Sadly, unlike Freeport, in connecting us with one of almost overnight, it became a the most stunning economic vast, glittering metropolis; a revolutions in modern modern wonder of the world. history. And this is not, as is often Instead, his enterprising claimed, merely the result effort has been engulfed of vast oil wealth. In fact, in a cacophony of jeal- its modest reserves comous braying, small-minded pared with the surrounding carping and politically moti- Emirates meant Dubai had vated bellyaching by those to concentrate on developwho would rather see The ing other sectors before Bahamas locked in a death the oil ran out. If not, as spiral of squandered oppor- the country’s former leader tunities than acknowledge Rashid bin Saeed Al Makthe positive, progressive toum once observed: “My and transgrandfather formational rode a camel, ‘If small desert potential starmy father tribes can cause ing us in the rode a camel, face. an economic oasis I drive a MerThis is to like Dubai to spring cedes, my say nothing son drives a of the uncon- up mightily from Land Rover, scionable the bare desert his son will abuse and drive a Land sands; if a country resentment Rover, but his hurled at the of tiny villages son will ride a Bahamians can erect a world camel.” tasked with So the class, high-tech showcasing decision was our culture metropolis on the taken to and energy resource-starved use oil revto the world. enue, while People like island of Singapore; it lasted, to Clint Watson, then surely diversify whose obvi- Bahamians can into trade, ous talent tourism, and charisma raise a magic city hospitality, have been from our crystal aviation, real besmirched waters and take the estate, finanjust because cial services he happens to world by storm.’ and much also work for more. Oil government. Neither per- production is now less formers like Clint, nor the than one percent of the Prime Minister, should be country’s GDP and its having to justify or defend world-class level of develthe cost or composition of opment far outstrips any of such a valuable expedition its oil wealthy, but also oil – the vast majority of which dependent neighbours. was paid for by the gracious We have our own “oil” hosts in any case. here in The Bahamas, and In the grand scheme of it is not to be found at the things, this whole penny- end of a drill bit, or in an pinching “controversy” is aragonite mining pipea storm in a teacup, a silly dream. Our invaluable sideshow, much ado about natural resource is our prisnothing. A million dollars tine, beautiful environment is a pittance to pay for the which - in normal times priceless lessons and oppor- brings seven million visitors tunities that come through to our islands every year. contact with one of the We can and must use this most exciting economic suc- inexhaustible wealth source cess stories in the world. as a starting point, a springLike Freeport in 1955, in board, much as Dubai did 1960, Dubai was a tiny, incon- with oil, to catapult The sequential fishing village on Bahamas into a diversified the Persian Gulf coast of the and prosperous future. As
Dubai continues to explode, Freeport continues to atrophy; its unique infrastructure, existing from the 1960s, crumbling to sand from the political ignorance and shortsightedness of both the FNM and PLP. It is instructive that while lacking anything like the unparalleled natural abundance we enjoy, Dubai was able to grow their own tourism industry from less than 400,000 visitors in 1892, to more than 16 million in 2019. It is now the fourth most visited city in the world. The Bahamas should be seeking connections with new economic miracles like Dubai, Singapore and even Miami – the rise to global status of which hinged upon the same strategic geographical advantages that we enjoy here. We
hr@grsweeting.com
should be intensely focused on absorbing the rich lessons on offer in these places and working hard to bring multiculturalism, ethnic diversity, investment and knowhow to our shores to make our own dreams of a great leap forward reality. If small desert tribes can cause an economic oasis like Dubai to spring up mightily from the bare desert sands; if a country of tiny villages can erect a world class, high-tech metropolis on the resourcestarved island of Singapore; then surely Bahamians can raise a magic city from our crystal waters and take the world by storm. In the 1960s, we almost did. But the exciting, audacious, visionary experiment known as Freeport was quickly dashed upon the rocks by the same jealous, insecure, ignorant, shortsighted attitude that has once again raised its ugly head to attack our Dubai delegation. Xenophobia and political interference have killed the goose which was laying our golden eggs and in the intervening 60 years, we appear to have learned nothing. Our governments have remained in the grip of a blinkered hostility, an anxiety-driven obsession with maintaining a stranglehold on Freeport and in particular keeping foreign “invaders” out at all costs. Freeport is now less than a shadow of what it could have been; a glaring monument to self-sabotage and self-defeating ignorance. But Freeport can still become the Dubai, the Hong Kong, or even the Silicon Valley of the West – and the Venice or Monte Carlo of the Caribbean to boot! All the requisite ingredients are still there – the revolutionary Hawksbill Creek Agreement and the ethos of laissez-fare freedom it sired; the unparalleled geographical advantage of being at the nexus of several important trade routes and on the doorstep of the largest
economy in the world; an already existing and well established industrial zone; a low population density and the vacant real estate needed for exponential expansion – all lying dormant, waiting for leaders with the foresight and courage to resurrect this bold, ambitious project. There is no need to reinvent the wheel; just cut the red tape and roll out the red carpet. The Davis administration should focus on attracting new investment, cutting-edge industries and yes, foreign entrepreneurs and experts to Freeport in the greatest possible numbers. We need new global people, sources of investment in hospitality, entertainment, trade and industry. We need innovative minds in cutting-edge emerging fields in technology, agriculture, finance and renewable energy. Freeport could become a global business centre, the headquarters of numerous high-tech companies, a crucible of research and invention [especially in climate change resilience, embryonic like Coral Vita], and at the same time, home to the most daring and spectacular tourism wonders imaginable, the playground for the rapidly growing South Florida economy and an attraction to visitors from around the world. But this would require relinquishing our national insecurity and xenophobia, embracing foreign investment, tearing down regulatory red tape, opening the doors to immigration. We should be inviting the world to take part in a new and audacious economic experiment, not just as visitors, but to live and work by the thousands, giving Bahamians opportunities to joint-venture with intrepid and successful foreigners so that WE can finally become owners of our economy, employing thousands of expats to work for us, as is the case in Dubai, in Abu Dhabi, in Singapore. Our current immigration policy
- so jealously guarded by the political elite - has condemned us to an opposite nightmare reality in which all low-paying menial work goes to Bahamians while foreigners are brought in to hold the top jobs. What a sick perversion of “Bahamianisation”! The proud Bedouin tribes who built Dubai – from which I am fortunate to be descended on my mother’s side – have gone from fishermen and nomads to millionaires and financial barons within a few generations. Though the term Bedouin means ‘desert dweller”, they are now an advanced, cosmopolitan urban population. They have welcomed and embraced foreign involvement and even immigration, to the point that they are now offering citizenship to investors, inventors, scientists, doctors, specialists, talents, intellectuals, artists and their families; anyone who can contribute to this daring and still evolving economic project. Yet they have not surrendered their identity in the process; far from it. Bedouin cultural practices and concepts have been preserved and even enhanced through the wealth and progress that has been built. Their traditional way of life is cherished and celebrated, its legacy safe and secure in perpetuity – precisely because Dubai had the courage to look outward and embrace the future. Bahamians can and should learn from this example. We must shelve our fears, banish our insecurities and use what the world has to offer to help revolutionise our economy, elevate our people and ensure our own culture and traditions are preserved and protected. I therefore beseech my PLP government: make friends in Dubai. Bring my Bedouin cousins here! Bring any and all who will help The Bahamas cast off the chains of stagnation and complacency, protectionism and insecurity. Our future as a nation depends on it. If the economic turbulence of the last few years has proven anything, it is that we cannot continue along the same path; our economy and society are simply too fragile and vulnerable to survive. And so I applaud the our “Brave” Davis administration for ignoring the naysayers and holding firm in the face of petty controversy. I encourage them to continue thinking outside the box and seeking out exciting connections for The Bahamas around the world. Above all, I ask them to please revisit the dream that was Freeport with a fresh perspective, and do all they can to help realize its full potential. The Prime Minister should remember, like the genesis of Freeport with the Hawksbill Creek Agreement in 1955, economic miracles like Dubai and Singapore were ignited by visionary leadership, by fearless individuals in power who had the daring and initiative to take the first step. The opportunity is there for the taking if he will only but grasp it.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022 PAGE 11
Democracy in Barbados fully entrusted to the new Mia Mottley government World View
REJECTING the accusations of bullying and despotism that were levelled at Mia Mottley, the overwhelming majority of the electorate of Barbados returned her and her Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to government for a second By SIR RONALD SANDERS consecutive term at general elections held on January 19. Not only did the majority demonstrate their confidence in her, they returned her to office unanimously. As occurred in the general elections of 2018, they gave her and the BLP every seat in the 30-member House of Representatives. This result also put to rest any allegations that the majority of the people of Barbados are unhappy about their country becoming a Republic. If this unhappiness existed, the general election was the time to demonstrate it by voting against Mottley – that did not happen. BARBADOS Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley at the COP26 UN While the Constitution of Climate Summit, in Glasgow, Scotland, in November. Barbados does not require 63.9 percent. Three things OAS. He is a Senior Fellow a referendum, it may be could have accounted for at the Institute of Commonmany people might have the smallness of the poll, wealth Studies, University been unhappy that one was among them: fear by older of London and Massey not held to allow them to citizens of contracting the College in the University vote on the matter, but any COVID-19 virus; convicdiscontent was clearly not tion by traditional DLP profound enough to cause supporters that their hastily the majority not to support assembled team, including her. those who were rejected in And, make no mistake 2018, was not electable; and about it. The January 19 some disaffection by BLP general election was most supporters. definitely about Mia MotWhatever the reason for tley’s leadership. The BLP the low poll, Mia Mottley campaign placed her front and the BLP won all 30 and centre of the elections seats in the House of Repcontest, declaring “Safer resentatives for a second with Mia” as its principal time, and they did so demoslogan. The main opposi- cratically in a transparent tion, Democratic Labour process. The Prime MinParty (DLP), also made her ister and her government leadership style the target now have a mandate to of their crusade. implement the programmes So, if the elections were and policies detailed in the a judgment by the people manifesto they presented to of Barbados on Mottley’s the Barbados people. stewardship of the counOne of the accepted try’s affairs, it should now principles of democracy is be obvious to all, except “a belief in shared power: the disgruntled leadership based on a suspicion of conof opposition parties, that centrated power (whether the majority of the elector- by individuals, groups or ate are satisfied with her governments)”. In the performance. absence of an official oppoOn the issues that mat- sition in the parliament of tered to the Barbadian Barbados, power of govpeople when ernment has Mottley was been conelected in ‘If the elections centrated in 2018, she were a judgment Prime Minand her gov- by the people ister Mottley ernment and the BLP. tackled them of Barbados The Prime successfully Minister and on Mottley’s in the three stewardship of her governyears and ment have eight months the country’s to be acutely they held affairs, it should aware that office. These the majornow be obvious included: ity of the to all, except overflowing electorate sewage on the the disgruntled of Barbados south coast have trusted leadership of of the island; them with the poor com- opposition parties, proper stewmuter service that the majority ardship of because the nation’s of the electorate of insuffiaffairs. Given cient buses; are satisfied with this great inadequate trust that has her performance.’ garbage been placed collection in them, they now have an resulting from an inad- obligation to consult widely equacy of collection trucks; and deeply with representapoor and deteriorating tive bodies, including the water supply; disrepair of private sector, trade unions roads and decline in foreign and specialist non-governreserves necessary to cover mental organisations in imports of goods, including their administration of the food. affairs of the Barbadian She inherited these issues people. from the government of Such proper stewardship her predecessor, Freundel requires the inclusion of Stuart. He undermined the all in the society to equal chances of his Democratic opportunity; openness in Labour Party in the Janu- listening to the views of ary 19 general elections by groups and taking account declaring its ten-year period of their positions; and strucin office, between 2008 to tured machinery for frank 2018, mostly under his lead- discourse. ership, as “glorious”. The The Prime Minister and electorate manifestly did her government have a not agree with him in 2018, great chance to demonstrate nor in 2022. to the people of BarbaAs for restoring respect dos - and the world -that for the country in the inter- democracy and democratic national community, very principles can be delibfew would dispute that Mia erately and thoughtfully Mottley quickly established upheld and strengthened, high regard for Barbados particularly when the electhat redounded to the ben- torate has entrusted them efit of the country’s image. so fulsomely with the power She has been fearless in of government. her representation of the In accomplishing this, rights of small states and Mia Mottley can win her advocacy for attention another ‘first’ among all to their interests. the other firsts that she has While at the time of writ- already attained as a waring the official figures are rior for people’s rights and not available, it seems that a champion of democracy. the turn out at the poll for • Responses and previthe January 19 elections was ous commentaries: www. low – possibly around 45 sirronaldsanders.com percent. At the 2018 elections, the voter turn out was (The writer is Antigua 60 percent, and the average and Barbuda’s Ambassador between 2003 to 2018 was to the United States and the
PAGE 12, Monday, January 24, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
EMIRATES TO EXPLORE TOURISM INITIATIVES WITH BAHAMAS
THE SIGNING of the Memorandum of Understanding by Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell and HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Emirates Group.
EMIRATES has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Public Service of The Bahamas to explore joint initiatives to promote tourism to the island nation. The MoU was signed by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group chairman and chief executive, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service, The Bahamas Fred Mitchell at the Emirates Group Headquarters in Dubai. Also present at the meeting were Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ chief commercial officer; Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ senior VP commercial operations for the Americas; and HE Tony Joudi, ambassador of The Bahamas to the UAE. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “Across the world, Emirates plays a key role in boosting tourism to various destinations by providing
travellers with reliable, convenient and comfortable flight options for travel. We are delighted to work with The Bahamas to strengthen transport links and to support the country to welcome tourists from around the world. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.” Mr Mitchell said: “We are happy to be working together with Emirates to promote The Bahamas as a destination of choice for travellers from across the world. The Bahamas is truly an unmatched destination offering a wide variety of leisure experiences that can appeal to every visitor. We are grateful to the support offered by Emirates and we look forward to welcoming tourists from the UAE and other global markets to The Bahamas.” Through the MoU, Emirates will develop initiatives to promote The Bahamas as a tourism destination to customers across its global network, including
developing enhanced connectivity to Lynden Pindling International Airport from American gateways through its codeshare and interline partners. Additionally, through its tour operating arm Emirates Holidays, the airline is also making available to customers and its travel retail partners across its markets, a range of travel packages, including hotels and flights to The Bahamas. Currently Emirates customers can connect to the Nassau airport on codeshare flights with JetBlue from four major US airports including Boston (BOS), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK) and Orlando (MCO). Customers can also opt to fly through Toronto on interline flights with Air Canada to Nassau and George Town. Emirates operates a modern fleet of Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft to a network of more than 120 destinations across six continents.
Audit of human resources to begin in public services By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net STATE Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle revealed on Friday her ministry will be conducting a human resources audit across the public service sector starting next month. Mrs Glover-Rolle made the announcement after unveiling her ministry’s tenpoint plan for reforming the public sector at a meeting held with stakeholders. The audit, which is a part of the ministry’s reform initiative, will address skill gaps, productivity in the workplace, among other things, to ensure proper staff placement, according to Mrs Glover-Rolle. She also noted special units should be in place by the first of February to assist with completing the audit. “So, we have talked about building capacity, about people wanting
government jobs. but we have to make sure that from a proper human resource perspective that we’re not just hiring people haphazardly and that we’re looking to see where those persons fit when we build capacity,” she said. “So that will include us having to look at the productivity in the workplace and having to actually figure out where there are gaps and where there are places in the public service where we need to build capacity and understanding the personnel that we have now, their skillset. “We have persons throughout the service who are skilled in one area, but working in another. Once we fix that organisational structure in the public service then we know who to identify and who to attract so that we could build the proper capacity.” The minister said while there are no plans to reduce staff following the audit’s
completion, civil service workers must not come to the false conclusion that they cannot be fired. “As I addressed in our summit, there’s a concept that you can’t be terminated from the public service,” she said. “The Employment Act speaks to progressive discipline…but we have to ensure that the law is in place in terms of having our human resources unit and ensuring that they’re facilitating what the act says. “The concept that people think that they can’t be disengaged from the public service is actually erroneous. The Employment Act speaks to how people are disengaged, but if we aren’t ensuring that those mechanisms or those pathways are in place where people would be disengaged — so I won’t say they will be disengaged because of the audit, but if you’re not performing on any job even in the public service,
there’s a pathway by which you can be disengaged.” News of the audit comes amid a hiring freeze in the public service. However, the state minister said it is her hope the government will hire new people through its 52-week employment programme by summer. She said: “The main pathway for entrance to the public service has been the 52-week programme which we are remodelling, redeveloping that programme and using that in collaboration with external programmes like University of The Bahamas and like BTVI to engage workers into the service. That programme, if approved by Cabinet, is set to be re-introduced as usual in the summer of this year.” As for leases on government buildings, Mrs Glover-Rolle said some nine to 12 million dollars in rental fees were being
wasted by the former administration on buildings that were not being occupied. However, she said the Davis administration was planning to address this by cancelling those leases. “In the last few years, three to four years, we have engagement of leases that are being paid to landlords and they’re receiving payment for these leases and the buildings are empty,” she said. “We have had the opportunity to begin the audit of our accommodations and we are well on the way of disengaging millions of dollars in leases that would’ve been engaged and the buildings are unoccupied. The matters are before the AG now for review and determination.” Other initiatives that are part of the government’s plan include complete digitisation of ministry operations, the launch of the public service virtual
call centre and infrastructure expansion. “Cries for reform in the public service are becoming deafening from both our internal and external stakeholders,” Mrs Glover-Rolle said. “We are at a critical point, with the future of the service hanging in the balance, and there’s no more time for talk. Focused, deliberate, aggressive action is the only solution. But that action will take lots of work, lots of strategising and lots of change management. “So, the Ministry of Public Service, under this ‘New Day’ administration, as noted in our Blueprint for Change and expanded in the new day agenda for the public service, speaks to a reimagining of how we run the public service in every aspect and function, bringing us into a 21st Century model for efficiency and productivity.”
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN STUDENT ENROLMENT AT BTVI By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THERE has been a significant increase in student enrolment at Bahamas Technical and Vocational Training Institute, which is soon expected to reach 7,000 students. Dr Robert Robertson, BTVI president, spoke about the figures while in Grand Bahama on Thursday. He said that BTVI’s enrolment in Freeport is expected to double by the
summer. “BTVI currently has 6,000 students. We are almost at record enrolment and at the end of this term we will be at 7,000 students,” he told Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey. Dr Robertson and Veronica Collie, associate vice president BTVI, paid a courtesy call on the minister at the Office of the Prime Minister in Freeport. He told Ms Moxey that the institute has a lot of
interests, especially in Grand Bahama, for the information and communication technology programme. “We have approximately 500 students from Grand Bahama currently enrolled in the ICT programme, which was a major programme started in Freeport. “We expect to have 1,000 students in that programme by summer 2022,” Dr Robertson said. He said the ICT programme generated its first
graduating group last year and some students have gone onto schools like Georgia Tech and Purdue, with scholarship funds, in addition to advanced credits. He said the programme is growing fast. Dr Robertson said they are also looking to offer new programmes, including an allied health course. “We are working with a school in the US on an allied health programme, which is also important here. We will have visitor
booths here on the ground within two weeks from New England Institute of Technology,” he said. He said that they are going to ensure the school will also come to Freeport on February 8. When asked how BTVI is operating in a COVID environment, Dr Robertson said it is challenging, but students are adjusting well. “We are operating with challenges like everyone else. We are virtual and we use a blended methodology. So, the courses are offered
online, but there are boot camps. So, if you are doing nail technician or carpentry, you need to come in and do some hands-on work, but the courses are fundamentally online. “And many of our students want online. They don’t want to go back to face-to-face. A lot of the students are on another island posted as police and defence (force) officers, and they would not be able to continue their studies if we were not online,” he explained.
NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER POSTPONES HER WEDDING AMID COVID SPIKE
WELLINGTON, New Zealand Associated Press
NEW Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is postponing her wedding after announcing new COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday following the discovery of nine cases of the omicron variant in a single family that flew to Auckland to attend a wedding. The so-called “red setting” of the country’s
NEW Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
pandemic response includes heightened measures such as required mask wearing and limits on gatherings. The restrictions will go into effect today. Ardern stressed that “red is not lockdown”, noting that businesses can remain open and people can still visit family and friends and move freely around the country. “Our plan for managing omicron cases in the early stage remains the same as
delta, where we will rapidly test, contact trace and isolate cases and contacts in order to slow the spread,” Ardern told reporters. But her own wedding plans are on hold. The 41-year-old prime minister was planning to tie the knot next weekend. “I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic and to anyone who’s caught up in that scenario, I am so
FEARS OF A COUP IN BURKINA FASO
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso Associated Press
MUTINOUS soldiers seized control of a military base in Burkina Faso’s capital yesterday, raising fears of a coup attempt in the West African nation as gunfire rang out for hours amid growing frustration with the government’s handling of the Islamic insurgency.
The apparent mutiny came one day after the latest public demonstration calling for President Roch Marc Christian Kabore’s resignation. Yesterday, security forces used tear gas to disperse crowds seeking to publicly support the mutineers. Crowds also vandalised a building occupied by the president’s political party and set it on fire.
Defence Minister Aime Barthelemy Simpore told state broadcaster RTB that a few barracks had been affected by unrest not only in the capital of Ouagadougou but in other cities too. He denied, however, that the president had been detained by the mutineers, even though Kabore’s whereabouts remained unknown. “Well, it’s a few barracks.
There are not too many,” Simpore said. “In some of these barracks, the calm has already returned. So that’s it for the moment. As I said, we are monitoring the situation.” A news headline on the state broadcaster described the gunfire as “acts of discontent by soldiers”. “Contrary to some information, no institution of the republic has been targeted,” the headline continued.
sorry,” she said. New Zealand had been among the few remaining countries to have avoided any outbreaks of the omicron variant, but Ardern acknowledged last week that an outbreak was inevitable given the high transmissibility of the variant. The country has managed to contain the spread of the delta variant, with an average of about 20 new cases each day. It has seen an increasing number
of people arriving into the country and going into mandatory quarantine who are infected with omicron. That has put strain on the quarantine system and prompted the government to limit access for returning citizens while it decides what to do about reopening its borders. About 93 percent of New Zealanders aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated, and 52 percent have had a booster shot.
REGINA KING’S SON DIES IN APPARENT SUICIDE
IAN Alexander Jr, the only child of award-winning actor and director Regina King, has died. He turned 26 on Wednesday. “Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian,” a family statement shared on Saturday by a King spokesman said. “He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about
the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time.” The spokesman confirmed the death was suicide. Mr Alexander Jr was the son of the “One Night in Miami” director and her former husband, record producer Ian Alexander Sr.
SPORTS PAGE 13
MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022
NFL, Page 15
Gaither, Charlton record breakers
ROMAD DEAN SCORES SEASON HIGH 38 IN WIN
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
I
t was a record breaking performance meet for both sprinter Tynia Gaither and hurdler Devynne Charlton as they led the way for a few Bahamians competing at the 2022 Texas Tech’s Red Raider Invitational over the weekend. At the Texas Tech University’s Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas, Gaither established her meet record in the women’s 200m invite in a winning time of 23.44 seconds, erasing the previous mark of 23.58 that was set by Cierra White of Nike in 2018. Ashley Spencer was second in 23.70. Gaither’s performance came after the Adidas representative got fourth in the final of the women’s 60m invite in 7.45. She went into the final with the fourth fastest qualifying time of 7.43. Also qualifying for the final was Charlton with the sixth best time, although she matched Gaither’s time. However, Charlton, representing Puma, did not contest the final.
TYNIA GAITHER
DEVYNNE CHARLTON
CHARISMA TAYLOR
TAMAR GREENE
Her younger sister Anthaya Charlton, a freshman at the University of Kentucky, just missed making the cut for the final in ninth place in 7.67. Devynne Charlton, a graduate assistant at the University of Kentucky where she trains under Bahamian head coach Rolando Greene and assistant “Golden Girl” Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, concentrated more on the hurdles. Competing in the women’s 60m hurdles invite, Devynne Charlton clocked 7.99 for her meet record, replacing the previous time of 8.10 that was set by Taliyah Brooks in 2020. Demisha Roswell, a junior at Texas Tech, was second in 8.02.
Anthaya Charlton, competing in her signature event in the long jump, was seventh with a best of 19-feet, 6-inches or 5.94 metres. Another Bahamian Alexis Tilford-Rutherford, a freshman at the University of Houston, was ninth with 19-1 ¼ (5.82m). Monae’ Nichols, a senior at Texas Tech, won the event with 21-10 ¼ (6.66m). Also at the meet, University of Houston’s freshman Camille Rutherford came in fifth in the women’s 60m in 7.38 after she matched the same time for the sixth best in the preliminaries. Texas’ junior Julien Ford, the fastest qualifier in 7.17, won the final in a facility and meet record of 7.10m. Rutherford was also 11th in the women’s 200m in
25.12. Texas’ junior Kynnedy Flannel won the race in a new meet record of 22.97. And Kentucky’s Megan Moss didn’t get to complete the women’s 400m that saw Texas’ junior Kennedy Simon clock 52.15 for the win to erase the meet record of 54.00 that Bahamian Lanece Clarke established in 2018. The Wildcats are slated to return to Lexington to compete in the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet on Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29 at Nutter Field House in Lexington, Kentucky. Taylor pops lifetime best Competing at the Hokie Invitational in Blackwood, Virginia, Tennessee’s junior Charisma Taylor soared
a lifetime best of 20-9 ¾ (6.31m) for second place in the women’s long jump. Madisen Richards, competing unattached, won with 20-9 ¾ (6.34m). Greene settles for third At the Larry Wieczorek Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday, Purdue Boilermakers’ fifth-year senior Tamar Greene got third in the triple jump with the fourth-best jump in the Big Ten in 2022 with 51-0 ¼ (15.55m). Greene and Purdue, coached by Bahamian Norbert Elliott, travel to compete in either Lexington, Kentucky, for the Rod McCravy Memorial and Bloomington, Indiana, for the Indiana Relays. Both meets will be held from January 28-29.
ROMAD Dean and his Crestwood Prep Lions returned to play in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association and the highly touted senior prospect turned in a season high scoring effort. Dean finished with a season high 38 points in an 83-78 win over New Horizon Academy when league play resumed. Crestwood improved to 6-1 while New Horizon fell to 6-3 on the year. It was the first game for the Lions since they finished third at one of the most prestigious winter tournaments on the prep basketball circuit in the United States last December. The Lions finished the City of Palms Classic in the win column and finished third in the Signature Series bracket with a 68-56 win over Victory Prep (Bradenton, Florida). Dean finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocked shots in the finale. He averaged 25.5 points
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MINISTER: ‘GOVERNMENT IS NOT STOPPING YOU FROM PLAYING SPORTS’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg called on sporting bodies to be more innovative and diversified in their leadership, while advising them of the revision of the Bahamas Sports Advisory Council, provisions for the development of faculties for the seventh Bahamas Games in 2023 and to make the federations more selfsufficient as they relaunch sports in paradise. The Progressive Liberal Party’s Member of Parliament for Garden Hills made his comments during the Meet & Greet Sports Event organised by the newly formed Bahamas Event Sports (BES), headed by the husband and wife team of Tommy and Mekeva Wallace-Stubbs on Saturday in Fusion Superplex’s VIP lounge. His address was made to a number of sporting
bodies, including rugby, baseball, softball, track and field, rowing, flag football, E-Sports, the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association, the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) and the Ministry of Education, all of whom had a representative that gave some remarks. During the event, BES also presented awards to fitness guru Leonardo Dean, GSSSA president Varel Davis, baseball coach Mario Ford, NPBA president James Price and Flamingo Sports Club president Michael Butler for their commitment and dedication to sports over the years. The presentations were made by Carlos Foulkes of Fusion, NACAC president Mike Sands, former baseball executive Athama Bowe, BES representative Richard Rudon and Minister Bowleg. As he addressed the “white elephant” in the
MARIO BOWLEG room, Bowleg answered the question of “when will sports start?” He said as long as sporting bodies can play outside and they have less than 30 persons gathered together, they can commence their activities. “So the government is not stopping you from playing sports, especially those in non-contact sports like baseball, softball, golf and track and field and all of those (sports), you can play,” Bowleg said. “Nothing is stopping you from playing. “What I think we need to do is be more innovative in
our approach to when we’re playing these sports. Basketball wants to know when they can start. They have to go outdoors. They don’t want to go outside. “If you stay inside, you can’t play because only 20 people the government will approve to allow you to play. In basketball, you already have 12 people on a team and two teams that’s already 24. So that’s not going to happen.” Bowleg said his ministry and himself will always have an open door policy, although it’s best to book an appointment, so that he can hear and discuss any complaints or issues that any sporting body has as it relates to sports in the country. “We can always have these straight shooting conversations to see sports move to the next level,” said Bowleg, who noted that he continues to have dialogue with persons who contact him on a personal level as well.
As the immediate past president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, Bowleg said one of the things he has noticed in his new role as minister is that there is a problem with leadership in the majority of the Bahamas’ sporting bodies. “Many people who play the game or coach the game, believe they can lead their sporting federation to the next level,” said Bowleg, who used legendary Erving ‘Magic’ Johnson as a prime example in trying to coach the Los Angeles Lakers because of his success as a former player in the NBA, but it didn’t work out. “We must move away from believing that because we partake in those disciplines that we should be the one to lead those organisations.” In short order, Bowleg said he will revise the Bahamas Sports Advisory Council, which will advise the minister, he noted that the council will be made
up of persons from various sporting disciplines to move sports further and to collaborate for the betterment and development of sports moving forward. “That advisory council will not only be made up of persons of sporting disciplines, but people of different ethnic colour, who know how to raise money,” Bowleg said. “So I’m going to get out of the little box and do a lot of things differently. In a few weeks, there will be a lot of changes made in the ministry because we can no longer be the same. “If we want change, change has to happen and once these changes are made, changes will happen. Some may like me for the change and some may not. “But it doesn’t matter to me. I’ve always done it my way and you can tell sweet Jesus from today on and forever more to come, I will continue to do it my way.”
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YOUNG AND INDIANS LOSE IN PR FINALS
JOHNSON POSTS TWO DOUBLE DOUBLES
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
CHAVEZ Young concluded his offseason in the final series of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC), commonly known as the Puerto Rican Winter League. Young and his Mayaguez Indians advanced to the league final, but lost in five games (4-1) to the Caguas Criollos in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The Criollos advanced to the Caribbean Series with the win. The Toronto Blue Jays prospect finished the season hitting .296, with a .457 on base percentage, an .902 OPS and slugging .444 with a double, home run, five RBI and 13 total bases. A 24-year-old outfielder, he spent his last offseason
with the Canberra Cavalry in the Australian Baseball League. He hit .217 with a .467 OPS, five hits, YOUNG two runs, one RBI, five total bases and two stolen bases. He spent his last minor league season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the AA Eastern League. Over the course of the year, he had the most productive hitting stretch of his career in August. In that timespan, Young led the Fisher Cats to a 6-3 record and his 9-game hit streak included a .588 average with three home-runs, three doubles, 10 RBI, five runs scored, and three stolen bases. He
had five multi-hit games including 3-5 with a home run, three runs, and four RBI in a 12-0 win over Hartford on August 17, 2-5 with a home run and one run and two RBI in a 3-2 win over Hartford, and 3-4 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored in a 5-3 loss to Hartford. Young appeared in 78 games with the Fisher Cats and hit .265 with 74 hits and 52 RBI. He also had an .758 OPS, slugged .409 with 20 stolen bases, 41 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples, and seven home runs. Young was also called up to Spring Training prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and in his short time there, impressed the Blue Jays’ front office in the Grapefruit League both on the field and to move up the rankings and entered the top 30 on the prospect list.
CHRISTOPHER Johnson has emerged as an offensive leader for the Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville Cardinals. Johnson had a career best scoring outing for the second consecutive game with 31 points and 12 rebounds in an 82-76 win over Garrett College on January 21. The 6’3” guard shot 14-19 from the field en route to surpassing the 20-point barrier for the sixth time this season. It was also his fifth double double of the season. Johnson began the week with 22 points and 13 rebounds in an 82-73 win over Lackawanna College on January 15.
JOHNSON Johnson currently leads the Cardinals in rebounding at 8.1 boards per game, including 2.3 on the offensive end. He is also second on the team in scoring at 15.2 points per game. In his first start, Johnson made his Cardinals debut and finished with 13 points
and eight rebounds in a 75-64 win over Bryant and Stratton College. Johnson posted his first double double with 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 93-73 loss to Louisburg College on November 7. He also had 23 points and 11 rebounds in an 85-75 loss to College of Southern Maryland, and 12 points with 11 rebounds in a 75-66 loss to Chesapeake College. Johnson spent his true freshman season with the Seward Community College Saints where he made just nine appearances and averaged 1.6 points per game. The former St George’s Jaguars alumni was also a member of the Bahamas junior national team that claimed the 2016 Caribbean Basketball Confederation U-16 Championships.
PAGE 14, Monday, January 24, 2022
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Chelsea shakes off blues with customary win over Tottenham By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — Once Hakim Ziyech’s curling, dipping strike landed in the Tottenham goal, Chelsea never looked back. Sure, it took until two minutes into the second half to break the deadlock and the Moroccan was justified in ranking it “10 out of 10.” But the space gifted for Thiago Silva’s header from Mason Mount’s free kick in the 55th minute to seal a 2-0 win yesterday was a snapshot of this most lopsided of London rivalries. Chelsea should never have doubted its fourmatch winless run in the Premier League would end on Sunday. Not even with former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte going nine league matches unbeaten at the start of his Tottenham reign before the visit to Stamford Bridge.
It’s now 33 wins for Chelsea against Tottenham in the Premier League era — more than against any other opponent. Not since 2018 has a Tottenham player even scored against Chelsea in the league when the north London side last won this derby. “Over the last couple of weeks we haven’t had the results we wanted,” Mount said. “So you start looking around you and teams are creeping up, teams have more games than us. “So then we start getting in a difficult position. So today was a massive game, with Tottenham coming up on us and having games on us to get three points was massive for us.” Tottenham will have complaints that Harry Kane was denied a first-half goal when it was ruled out for what appeared his slight touch on Silva before racing
A MEMBER of staff removes a flare from the pitch during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park, London, yesterday. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) through on goal to meet Ryan Sessegnon’s cross. But for all Kane harangued referee Paul Tierney at halftime, Tottenham crumbling so soon after the break made the win for Chelsea look
inevitable. Tottenham was also denied a spot in the League Cup final by Chelsea winning both semifinal legs this month. Victory for Thomas Tuchel’s side shores up a top-four place that was
starting to look shaky before winning for the first time since December 26. Chelsea stayed a point behind second-place Liverpool, which won 3-1 across London at Crystal Palace through first-half goals from Virgil Van Dijk and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Fabinho’s penalty. “The first 35 minutes was brilliant and some of the best stuff we have played all season,” Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said. “Exactly the way we want to play and if somebody had an explanation for what happened after 35 minutes, I would like it.” The results will give a flicker of hope that Manchester City can still be caught after the champions were held at Southampton to Saturday to now sit only nine points in front of Liverpool having played a game more. While Tottenham is in seventh place,
the coronavirus postponements distort the standings. Tottenham fell to 11 points behind Chelsea but with four games in hand. And Man United is only two points ahead in the fourth Champions League place having played two more games than Tottenham. What helped Conte slightly was Arsenal being held 0-0 by Burnley on Sunday. Arsenal did move above Tottenham into sixth place on goal difference but having played an extra game. Tottenham couldn’t recreate the drama from Wednesday night when two stoppage-time goals turned around a game at Leicester to win. And Leicester disappointed again yesterday after Danny Welbeck’s downward header in 82nd gave Brighton a 1-1 draw by cancelling out Patson Daka’s strike.
BURKINA FASO BEATS GABON ON PENALTIES TO REACH LAST 8
BURKINA Faso’s players look on during a penalty shootout of the African Cup of Nations 2022 round of 16 match between Burkina Faso and Gabon at Omnisport Stadium in Limbe, Cameroon, yesterday. Burkina Faso beat Gabon 7-6. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Tunisia knocks Nigeria out of African Cup GAROUA, Cameroon (AP) — Nigeria’s 100 percent record in the group stage meant nothing as it was knocked out 1-0 by Tunisia in the last 16 of the African Cup of Nations yesterday. Youssef Msakni’s low, swerving shot just after halftime was the only goal, leaving Nigerian players slumped on the field in disappointment at the end. Nigeria’s task was made even harder when Everton’s Alex Iwobi was shown a straight red
card for raking his studs down the ankle of Msakni in the 66th minute. Iwobi was sent off seven minutes after he arrived as a substitute. Nigeria had emerged as maybe the top contender for the title after it was the only team to win all its group games. Tunisia lost twice in the group stage and only went through as one of the best third-place teams but closed Nigeria down
in a cagey game in Garoua on the first day of the knockout stage. “We allowed them to get a foothold in the game,” said Nigeria’s Joe Aribo. “Can’t take anything away from them, but we should have been better.” Tunisia got the job done without coach Mondher Kebaier, who was isolating in his hotel room instead of standing on the sidelines after a positive test for the coronavirus.
Tunisia will play Burkina Faso in the quarterfinals. Burkina Faso beat Gabon in a penalty shootout in Limbe earlier yesterday. Host Cameroon plays tournament debutant Comoros in the last 16 today, when Comoros looks like it will be forced to field an outfield player as a goalkeeper because of a virus outbreak in its squad. Guinea plays Gambia, another debutant, in the other game.
GAROUA, Cameroon (AP) — Burkina Faso beat Gabon in a penalty shootout to reach the quarterfinals in the first knockout game at the African Cup of Nations yesterday. Substitute Ismahila Ouédraogo buried the decisive spot kick and Burkina Faso won the shootout 7-6 to finally prevail over a brave Gabonese effort. Burkina Faso led 1-0, and Gabon had a man sent off in the 67th. But 10-man Gabon equalised in injury time through an own-goal by Burkina Faso midfielder Adama Guira to send the game to extra time. It stayed 1-1 through extra time of the round-of-16 game. Burkina Faso twice had opportunities to win the shootout after Gabon players missed. But Burkina Faso players stepped up and also failed. Ouédraogo’s winning penalty was the 18th of the shootout. He scored after Gabon’s Lloyd Palun hit the post for his team’s third and final miss. Burkina Faso was 1-0 up in normal time through a first-half goal by captain Bertrand Traoré when Gabon had defender Sidney Obissa sent off with just over 20 minutes to go for a second yellow card. Obissa had blatantly pulled a Burkina Faso attacker back by the shirt off the ball as the Burkinabes were surging forward. It was a miserable day for Obissa, who picked up his first yellow card when he gave away an early penalty with a push on Burkina Faso’s Issa Kaboré on the edge of the area. Traore missed that penalty at the start of the game but made up for it 10 minutes later when he ran onto a through ball and slotted his shot underneath Gabon keeper JeanNoël Amonome, who had come rushing out. Chasing the game at 1-0 down, the 10 men of Gabon lived dangerously after Obissa took a walk but they raised themselves for one final effort from a corner in the first minute of injury time and the ball bounced off Guira and into his own net to take it to extra time.
BAYERN ROUTS HERTHA 4-1 TO REAL MADRID HELD BY ELCHE AT HOME ON TOUGH DAY FOR BENZEMA RESTORE 6-POINT BUNDESLIGA LEAD By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid needed a stoppagetime goal by Éder Militão to salvage a 2-2 home draw against Elche and keep its advantage over Sevilla at the top of the Spanish league yesterday. Madrid struggled in what was a disappointing afternoon for its top player this season, Karim Benzema, who missed a penalty kick in the first half and had to be replaced in the second because of an injury. The draw kept Madrid four points ahead of second-place Sevilla, which also had to rally from two goals down to escape defeat against Celta Vigo and earn a 2-2 draw at home on Saturday. Madrid has won once in its last three league games,
while Sevilla drew two in a row. Third-place Real Betis moved closer by winning at Espanyol on Saturday. Manuel Pellegrini’s team is 10 points from the lead after 22 matches. Benzema’s struggles began when he missed an opportunity from close range with only the goalkeeper to beat inside the area in the first half. Moments later Benzema, Madrid’s top scorer this season, had his chance to give his team the lead from the penalty spot, but the France striker sent his shot way over the crossbar. To cap an unusually frustrating day, Benzema had to leave the match in the 58th because of an apparent muscle injury. He grabbed the back of his left leg as he headed for the locker rooms. Lucas Boyé and Pere Milla scored a goal in
each half to give Elche a 2-0 lead, but Madrid pulled closer with Luka Modric’s penalty kick in the 82nd and evened the match with Militão’s firm header off a cross by Vinícius Júnior. Vinícius, who also missed a few good chances, picked up a yellow card that will see him suspended from the next match. Madrid had beaten Elche 2-1 in extra time on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey. Coach Carlo Ancelotti had not used Benzema, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Militão in that match. Eden Hazard, who scored the winner in extra time Thursday, returned to the starting lineup yesterday after not having earned many minutes because of a series of injuries.
By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BERLIN (AP) — For only the fifth Bundesliga game this season, Robert Lewandowski didn’t score. He didn’t have to as Bayern Munich outclassed Hertha Berlin 4-1 yesterday to restore its six-point lead in the Bundesliga. The visitors should have won by even more with Bayern having a host of missed chances. It also saw two goals rightly ruled out through VAR. Corentin Tolisso and Thomas Müller scored in the first half before Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry rewarded Bayern’s dominance in the second. Substitute Jurgen Ekkelenkamp scored seconds after coming on for Hertha’s consolation goal, but the scoreline didn’t
reflect a game in which the home team had four attempts at goal compared to the visitors’ 30. “It was fun for 90 minutes,” Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich said. “We controlled the game.” Lewandowski, who scored a hat trick as Bayern won 5-0 in the teams’ previous meeting in August, remains on 23 goals after 20 rounds of the league. Leipzig defeated Wolfsburg 2-0 in the early match, stretching the visitors’ winless run to 11-games across all competitions. Wolfsburg’s slump is good news for Hertha, which remains just three points above the relegation zone, one point above Wolfsburg. That’s not good enough for Hertha’s long-suffering fans, who had been led to believe European
qualification was just the start after Lars Windhorst invested 374 million euros ($425 million) in the club since 2019. Local media reported that around 80 Hertha fans crashed the team’s training session on Saturday to berate the players following their German Cup defeat at home to city rival Union Berlin on Wednesday. A DJ played yesterday to a virtually empty stadium before kickoff – only 3,000 people were allowed in the 74,475-capacity Olympiastadion due to measures against the coronavirus. In contrast to Hertha, Bayern had a whole week to prepare for the game as there was no German Cup distraction. The Bavarian powerhouse was knocked out by Borussia Mönchengladbach — 5-0 — in the previous round.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, January 24, 2022, PAGE 15
Chiefs rally past Buffalo 42-36 in OT in wild playoff game By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce in the corner of the end zone early in overtime, and the Kansas City Chiefs rallied to beat the Buffalo Bills 42-36 last night in a sizzling finish to a wild divisionalround weekend. The lead changed hands three times in the final two minutes of regulation before Harrison Butker, who earlier missed a field goal and extra point, drilled a 49-yarder for Kansas City as time expired to force overtime. The Chiefs won the coin toss, marched swiftly downfield against the NFL’s top-ranked but exhausted defence, and right into their fourth straight AFC title game. They’ll play the Bengals next Sunday night for a spot in the Super Bowl. Mahomes finished with 378 yards passing and three touchdowns, including a 64-yarder to Tyreek Hill during the thrilling final minutes of regulation. The Chiefs ended the Bills’ season inside
By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer
KANSAS City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills last night. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Arrowhead Stadium for the second straight year. Josh Allen did everything in his power to prevent it. He threw a go-ahead
touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis with 1:54 left in the regulation, then another to Davis — his playoff-record fourth TD catch — with 13
seconds remaining. Yet that was enough time for the Chiefs to set up Butker’s tying kick. Allen finished with 329 yards passing, and
Davis with eight catches for 201 yards, in a loss even more devastating than their defeat to Kansas City in last year’s AFC title game.
GAY’S 30-YARD FG LIFTS RAMS OVER BRADY, BUCCANEERS 30-27 By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Matthew Stafford outplayed Tom Brady in the final minute, moving the Rams into position for a last-second field goal that gave Los Angeles a 30-27 victory over the Buccaneers yesterday after the seven-time Super Bowl champion led Tampa Bay on a late tying drive. Stafford threw for 366 yards and two touchdowns, and Matt Gay’s 30-yard field goal as time expired sent the Rams (14-5) into next Sunday’s NFC championship game at home against the San Francisco 49ers. Brady rallied the Bucs from a 27-3 second-half deficit with help from three Los Angeles turnovers, tying the game on Leonard Fournette’s 9-yard run on fourth-and-inches with 42 seconds remaining. The NFL’s all-time passer leader didn’t get an opportunity to finish the job. And it’s uncertain if that was the final game for Brady, who’s undecided on retirement. Stafford led the Rams downfield after the ensuing kickoff, using completions of 20 and 44 yards to league receiving leader Cooper Kupp to set up Gay’s third
GOULD’S FG ON FINAL PLAY GIVES 49ERS 13-10 UPSET OF PACKERS
field goal of the day. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Stafford said. “I mean, we sure let ‘em back in the game with a bunch of mistakes on offence. Our defence played outstanding. We’ve got to clean some stuff up, do a little better job in the turnover department. “This is a tough team, man, this is what we’re all about. Just happy to get a win and keep on moving.” Earlier, Stafford found Kupp wide open behind the Bucs secondary on a 70-yard scoring play that put Los Angeles up 17-3 early in the second quarter. “Man, he’s the heart and soul of this offence,” Stafford said. “What he’s able to do down in, down out, whether it’s in the pass game, run game — he’s an unbelievable competitor.” Stafford, who had never won a postseason game before beating Arizona in the previous week’s wildcard round, completed 28 of 38 passes without an interception. The 13-year veteran also scored on a 1-yard run as the Rams (14-5) advanced to next Sunday’s NFC championship game at home against the San Francisco 49ers. Brady completed 30 of 54 passes for 329 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked
RAMS outside linebacker Von Miller (40) celebrates with defensive end Aaron Donald (99) after Miller sacked Buccaneers QB Tom Brady and caused a fumble last night. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) three times and lost a fumble. Fournette also scored on a 1-yard run for Tampa Bay, which pulled within 27-20 on Brady’s 55-yard TD throw to Mike Evans, who made the catch with Jalen Ramsey in pursuit with 3:20 left. The Bucs (14-5), who lost to the Rams for third time in two seasons, were trying to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the Brady-led New England Patriots during the 2004 season. Stafford played one of his best games of the season in the September meeting, when he threw for four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 34-24 Rams win in Los Angeles.
He got off to another fast start Sunday, completing nine of his first 12 passes for 176 yards and the TDs to Blanton and Kupp to open a 17-3 lead early in the second quarter. It was 20-3 at halftime, and the Bucs were fortunate their deficit wasn’t bigger. With the Rams on the verge of scoring again in the closing seconds of the second quarter, Cam Akers fumbled at the Tampa Bay 1 and Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield recovered to keep the defending champs to keep from falling behind. Akers initially was ruled down by contact, but a lengthy review of the play determined the ball was beginning to come loose before the running back’s helmet hit the turf.
The Rams built the lead to 27-3 on Stafford’s quarterback sneak, with help along the way from some uncharacteristic mistakes by the Bucs. That included unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for taunting and Brady, who was flagged while arguing unsuccessfully for what he felt should have been a penalty on the Rams for a hit that appeared to bloody his lip. The Rams were generous, too, continuing to hurt themselves in the second half. Kupp, who had nine catches for 183 yards, lost a fumble, and the offence failed to take advantage of Von Miller sacking Brady to a force a fumble at the Tampa Bay 25 when centre Brian Allen snap sailed past Stafford in shotgun formation and recovered by the Bucs. Finally, Suh forced a second fumble by Akers at the Los Angeles 30, giving Brady an opportunity to tie it in the last two minutes. Evans finished with eight catches for 119 yards. Fournette, activated from injured reserve after missing four games with a hamstring strain, rushed for 51 yards on 13 carries and had nine receptions for 56 yards.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Robbie Gould lived up to his name. On a field littered with snow flurries, Gould made a 45-yard field goal Saturday night as time expired and the San Francisco 49ers knocked off the top-seeded Packers 13-10 and possibly ended Aaron Rodgers’ tenure in Green Bay. Gould has made all 20 of his career playoff fieldgoal attempts. His latest helped the 49ers complete an improbable comeback by scoring 10 unanswered points in the last five minutes. “I always trust Robbie. He’s as good as gold, man,” Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said. “He always is.” The 49ers (12-7) continued their postseason hex on Rodgers and advanced to an NFC championship game matchup Jan. 30 at either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14-4) or Los Angeles Rams (13-5). Those teams played yesterday in Tampa. This marks the 17th conference championship appearance for the 49ers, the most by any team since conferences were formed in the 1970 merger. The 49ers had been tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers. San Francisco’s win, coupled with the Cincinnati Bengals’ 19-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans earlier in the day, marked the first time both No. 1 seeds lost in the divisional round in the same season since 2010. Green Bay won at Atlanta and the New York Jets won at New England that season. “It’s dangerous, man. When a team gets hot, it’s dangerous,” Garoppolo added. “So we’ve just got to keep this thing going, focus on next week now, and keep this thing rolling.” Rodgers went 20 of 29 for 225 yards and dropped to 0-4 in career playoff starts against the 49ers. He’s the first quarterback in NFL history to lose four playoff starts to a single opponent. He now enters an uncertain offseason. After skipping the Packers’ mandatory minicamp in a standoff with management, Rodgers said he was uncertain whether this would be his last year in Green Bay. Rodgers said last month he was keeping all options open. Rodgers didn’t want to speculate on his future Saturday night, though he said he didn’t want to be part of a rebuild if he keeps playing.
McPherson FG as time expires lifts Bengals past Titans 19-16 By TERESA M WALKER AP Pro Football Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Maybe, just maybe, these young Cincinnati Bengals really are that good. Especially with the way they keep ending postseason droughts. And with their latest victory putting them in the franchise’s first AFC championship game in 33 years — and a win away from the Super Bowl. Rookie Evan McPherson kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the fourth-seeded Bengals past the top-seeded Tennessee Titans 19-16 on Saturday to end the NFL’s longest active road playoff skid. “He’s got ice in his veins,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said of McPherson. “There’s not much more to be said. He’s just as cool as it gets.” A week after snapping a 31-year playoff victory drought, the Bengals (12-7) finally won their first road game in the postseason after losing their first seven. They reached the 1981 and 1988 Super Bowls by
winning on their home field. “We’re here to make some noise, and teams are going to have to pay attention to us,” Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow said. Cincinnati will play in the AFC championship game next Sunday at the winner of the Buffalo-Kansas City matchup. They play in the other AFC divisional round game Sunday. The Bengals intercepted Ryan Tannehill three times, setting up two of McPherson’s four field goals. Logan Wilson picked off Tannehill with 20 seconds left. Burrow hit Pro Bowl rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase with a 19-yard pass, then the Bengals ran twice to set up McPherson for the win. “That’s a kicker’s dream,” McPherson said, “to have the game on your shoulders.” Burrow shook off being sacked nine times as Tennessee tied an NFL mark held by four other teams for the most in the postseason. He threw for 348 yards to become the first quarterback taken No. 1 overall to win a divisional game within his first two seasons.
BENGALS kicker Evan McPherson (2) celebrates his game-winning field goal against the Titans with Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) after an NFL divisional round playoff football game, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Chase finished with 109 yards receiving. Joe Mixon ran for the Bengals’ lone touchdown, a 16-yarder on their first drive of the third quarter. “We found a way all year,” Burrow said. “Man, crazy, crazy game. That’s a really, really good team. Unbelievable defensive line. They had a great plan on defense. Credit to them, we found a way at the end.”
The Titans (12-6) wrapped up their 25th season in Tennessee with their third straight loss on their own field as the AFC’s No. 1 seed. They haven’t won at home since January 2003 in the postseason. “I don’t think Ryan or myself or anybody did enough to win the game,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. “That’s how it goes. It’s never going to be about
one person, not as long as I’m head coach, which will be a while.” Tennessee had Derrick Henry, the 2020 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, on the field after he missed nine games with a broken foot. He ran for a touchdown and finished with 66 yards. Tannehill was picked off on the Titans’ first play of the game. His second came on first-and-goal at the Bengals 9 in the third. He finished with 220 yards passing. A.J. Brown had five catches for 142 yards. Burrow was the NFL’s most sacked quarterback during the season, just ahead of Tannehill. The Titans sacked him on his first snap and had three in the first quarter alone. Burrow became only the second quarterback to win an NFL playoff game despite being sacked nine times, joining Len Dawson who beat Buffalo for the 1966 AFL championship. The Titans had plenty of opportunities to win. Henry was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the Cincinnati 37 instead of Tennessee
trying a long field goal for the lead with 7:16 left. They also got the ball back with 2:43 left and plenty of time to drive for the winning field goal themselves after scoring 10 points within 90 seconds late in the third quarter, tying it up at 16. Tennessee showed little awareness of the clock, running only one play before the clock stopped for the 2-minute warning. On the third play, Tannehill’s pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was picked off by Wilson setting up the Bengals for the winning field goal. “All day we were just shooting ourselves in the foot,” Brown said of the Titans. Tannehill summed up the pain of the loss, “This hurts. Hurts bad.” McPherson converted for his 11th field goal from 50 yards or longer, the most in a season for one player. He also became the first kicker in NFL history with at least four or more field goals in multiple games in a single postseason. “He stepped up big and got us to where we need to go,” Burrow said.
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Winless in ‘21, Kang starts new LPGA year with victory By JEFF BABINEAU Associated Press ORLANDO, Florida (AP) — Danielle Kang readily admits she, and her golf game, remain a constant work in progress. She spent much of the offseason finding a way to be “comfortable being uncomfortable.” It seems to be working. On a difficult championship test at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, Kang ran off five birdies in a seven-hole stretch in the middle of her round, posted the low score yesterday at 4-under 68 and sprinted away to a three-shot victory at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. “My mental game was really good,” said Kang, who was winless in 2021 after having won in each of her previous four LPGA seasons. “I had a really good attitude all day today
and yesterday. I know I left some putts out there, but I never let it get to me, and I kept having to give myself birdie chances as much as possible.” Kang finished at 16-under 272, three shots clear of Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70). Kang was the lone player to break 70 on both weekend days (69-68), and the only player to shoot in the 60s all four rounds. The 29-year-old American now has six LPGA titles. In her only previous visit to Lake Nona, Kang missed the cut at the Gainbridge LPGA last year. But when asked about it during this tournament, Kang said she had no recollection. On a blustery, cool Florida day that made birdies scarce and scoring difficult, Kang poured in more than her share, making six birdies. She took control of the tournament early on the back nine with three
consecutive birdies starting at the par-3 13th. A highlight of the round was a hard-earned bogey at the 393-yard 16th, where Kang pulled her approach nearly into a penalty area and had to play away from the hole on a difficult bunker shot. She then twoputted from about 90 feet, converting a bogey putt from 10 feet. “A massive bogey,” said Kang’s caddie of five years, Englishman Olly Brett. Gaby Lopez, one of three players to hold the lead Sunday, experienced an up-and-down day, cooling after a hot front nine to finish third, four shots behind Kang. She played her way into the lead with three consecutive birdies starting at the fifth hole, but couldn’t keep up the pace and ended up with a 72. Playing alongside Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam — one a current No. 1, one a former, and 72-time
LPGA champion — Lopez found the experience to be valuable and educational. “Starting Sunday with the World No. 1 and Annika? It’s exactly where I want to be,” she said. Korda, who took a oneshot lead into Sunday, shot 75 and slid to a tie for fourth. Korda did not make her first birdie of the round until the 15th hole. It certainly wasn’t a continuation of her first 54 holes, when Korda made 16 birdies and an eagle. “Overall, you know, I didn’t play very good,” Korda said “But I’m going to take some positives away from this week, and hopefully I can kind of take it into the next two.” She plans to play the LPGA’s first three events in Florida, then take six weeks off, creating her own offseason after a long and highly successful 2021 campaign.
DANIELLE Kang poses next to the championship trophy on the 18th green after winning the Tournament of Champions LPGA golf tournament yesterday. (AP Photo/Phelan M Ebenhack) Given how Korda had Lowe for the title in the been a solid closer all last celebrity division. Lowe and Sorenstam season, her play Sunday was somewhat stunning. would go to extra holes She had entered the final to decide a celebrity round coming off seven winner, with Lowe shockconsecutive rounds in the ing the World Golf Hall of 60s at Lake Nona, and 11 Famer when he rolled in a consecutive rounds in the 25-footer for birdie on the 60s overall dating to last first extra hole, the par-4 season. She didn’t have to 18th. Sorenstam had a putt just look far to find the LPGA record-holder for con- inside Lowe’s but when the secutive rounds in the 60s: ball failed to drop, victory Sorenstam, who once put was his. “I basically beat together 14 in a row, was her on one hole,” Lowe in her group, vying against said. He had someplace to former MLB pitcher Derek be. “See you at the bar.”
NADAL REACHES AUSTRALIAN OPEN QUARTERFINALS FOR 14TH TIME By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rafael Nadal finally got the better of a crazy, long tiebreaker and knew he’d won half the battle. After saving four set points and missing with the first six of his own, Nadal finally clinched a tiebreaker that lasted 28 minutes and 40 seconds to set himself on course to secure a spot in the Australian Open quarterfinals for a 14th time. After his 7-6 (14), 6-2, 6-2 fourth-round victory over fellow left-hander Adrian Mannarino yesterday, Nadal is potentially just three wins away from a men’s record 21st Grand Slam singles title. He later reflected on a tiebreaker where momentum swung wildly; where chants of “Let’s go Rafa, Let’s go!” rang out; where a point was decided on a 25-shot rally with both players scrambling at full stretch; and that ended only when Nadal volleyed from deep in the court and Mannarino’s reflex reply skewed wide. “Well, you know, I played a couple,” he said, smiling, in reference to long tiebreakers. “But, yeah, (it was) a crazy one, chances
for both. And, yeah, lucky to win that tiebreak at the end, no? “Half of the match in the tiebreak, without a doubt.” Nadal will next play Denis Shapovalov, the 22-year-old Canadian who finished off a 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Olympic gold medallist Alexander Zverev on Margaret Court Arena less than an hour later to reach the last eight in Australia for the first time. Shapovalov had to isolate after testing positive for COVID-19 when he arrived in Australia ahead of the year’s first major, but recovered quickly to help Canada win the ATP Cup in Sydney and now reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the third time. Women’s No. 1 Ash Barty advanced to the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year when she beat 20-yearold American Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 6-3. Barty is aiming to be the first Australian woman to win her home Grand Slam title since 1978 and has gone through the first four rounds without dropping a set. Anisimova, coming off a third-round upset over defending champion Naomi Osaka, broke Barty’s opening service game of the second set — a first for
RAFAEL NADAL, of Spain, celebrates after defeating Adrian Mannarino of France in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair) the tournament — but the Wimbledon runner-up two-time major winner Matteo Berrettini comresponded by taking six of pleted a Grand Slam set the last seven games. with a 7-5, 7-6 (4), 6-4 win Barty beat Anisimova in over 19th-seeded Pablo the semifinals of the French Carreno Busta in the last Open in 2019 on the way match on Day 7. to winning her first Grand The seventh-seeded BerSlam title and won her rettini has now reached second at Wimbledon last the quarterfinals at all four year. of the tennis majors and She’ll next play No. will next play No. 17 Gael 21-seeded Jessica Pegula, Monfils, who beat Miomir who beat fifth-seeded Maria Kecmanovic 7-5, 7-6 (4), Sakkari 7-6 (0), 6-3. 6-3. French Open chamThe 35-year-old Monfils pion Barbora Krejcikova made it to the last eight for breezed to a 6-2, 6-2 win the second time in 17 trips over two-time Australian to Melbourne Park. Open champion Victoria Nadal, in his 17th camAzarenka and is into the paign in Australia, is now last eight for the third time tied with John Newcombe in four Grand Slam events. in second spot on the
all-time list for most Australian Open quarterfinals, one behind Roger Federer’s 15. It’s also the 35-year-old Spaniard’s 45th time into the last eight at a Grand Slam tournament, which is third on the all-time list behind Federer (58) and Novak Djokovic (51). He shares the men’s record of 20 major titles with Federer and Djokovic. But he’s the only one of the trio playing in this tournament. Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic was deported on the eve of the tournament because he didn’t meet Australia’s strict COVID-19 vaccination rules. Federer is recovering from injury. Mannarino, who didn’t finish his 4-hour, 38-minute four-set, third-round win over No. 18 Aslan Karatsev until after 2 a.m. on Saturday and appeared to be hampered by an abdominal or upper leg injury, threw everything at Nadal in the opening set on Rod Laver Arena, where temperatures approached 33 Celsius (91 F). “After first set I couldn’t really fight against Rafa,” said the 33-year-old No. 69-ranked Mannarino. “You know, he was playing too well for me not to be 100 percent. The second and third set just went all
the way for Rafa, so that’s it.” The first set lasted 85 minutes, including the ‘breaker, but after getting early breaks in the second and third sets the match was over in 2 hours, 40 minutes. “I’m very happy I survived that first set, without a doubt,” said the sixthseeded Nadal, who saved one of the only two breakpoint chances he faced, and converted five of 17. “That crazy first set was so important.” The No. 14-seeded Shapovalov spent almost 11 hours on court through the first three rounds, winning twice in four sets and once in five, and was surprised by the relative speed of his 2-hour, 21-minute win over Zverev. “Definitely happy with where the game is at,” he said. “I played pretty smart today.” Shapovalov reached the US Open quarterfinals in 2020 and was a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year, his career-best run to date at a major. He’ll have to step it up against one of the greatest in the game. “It’s always an honour to go up against a guy like Rafa,” Shapovalov said. “It’s always fun. Always going to be a battle against him.”
Column: ‘Games must go on’ spiel grows weaker by the day By JIM LITKE AP Sports Columnist THE Olympic Charter runs 112 pages and reads like something Gwyneth Paltrow would have written if she were in charge of the Games instead of Goop. “The goal of Olympism,” the charter reads, “is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.” OK, forget about all that high-minded stuff. The International Olympic Committee and their Chinese handlers abandoned any such appeals not long after the bid was awarded in 2015. Forget about all the human-rights abuses in the host nation since then, too. With two weeks left until opening ceremonies, the sales pitch has been pared down to “the Games must go on,” because we all need a diversion right about now. True enough. What the hosts still won’t say is what they hope to divert your attention from. To be sure, the Games will go on because ... well, because of all the money plowed in beforehand and all the renminbi to be vacuumed up still. They should go on, too, because of all those years of sacrifice by thousands of athletes and officials for their shot at a
moment of glory in the glistening winter sun. To deny them that chance, at this late date, serves no one’s purpose. But if you thought last summer’s Tokyo Olympics were hollowed out, just wait. In just the past 10 days or so, athletes were threatened by the organising committee with “certain punishments” for saying or doing anything that would offend their Chinese hosts, which experience suggests could be ... literally anything. Several delegations urged anyone headed to Beijing to take “burner” phones instead of their personal devices because of concerns over government spying. Ticket sales to events were canceled, meaning the few spectators the organising committee allows to attend will be there by invitation only. Even that modest attendance goal won’t be easy in a nation where more than 20 million were under some form of lockdown as China tries to quell a series of COVID-19 outbreaks. Rushing back to Beijing for another Olympics was a bad idea from the get-go. That was in 2015, when the stink of Russia’s dopingand-corruption-addled Sochi Games still lingered. A half-dozen potential European bidders dropped out, leaving the bid committee with only one other
A WORKER labours to assemble the Olympic Rings onto of a tower on the outskirts of Beijing, China on January 5. The Beijing Winter Olympics are fraught with potential hazards for major sponsors, who are trying to remain quiet about China’s human rights record while protecting at least $1 billion they’ve paid to the IOC. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) neighboring and even gone out of their choice. That was Almaty, threatening Kazakhstan, a country Taiwan, and was accused way to help paper over every bit as authoritarian recently of “disappearing” those transgressions — with but nowhere near as rich. tennis star Peng Shuai after predictable results. Six weeks ago, the Biden Deservedly, the IOC and she made a sexual assault China have been on the allegation against a close administration had seen ally of President Xi Jinping. and heard enough to cancel defensive ever since. Worse, perhaps, the plans to send US diplomats, It was China’s bad luck to land the Winter Games in IOC’s involvement has a move mirrored by several what turned out to be the resembled nothing more nations since. Not long after that, the time of COVID. But the than the lookout on the They NHL cited uncertainty hosts turned those Olym- crimes-in-progress. pic ideals on their head any don’t see any abuse and caused by the pandemic to sure won’t talk about it. hold back all of its players number of times since. The regime in Beijing is If anything, the swells in from the hockey tournaenslaving Uyghur Muslims charge and the corporate ment. Earlier this week, in Xinjiang province, crush- sponsors who line their NBC said it won’t be sending dissent in Hong Kong, pockets have stayed silent ing announcing teams to
China, citing the same safety concerns raised when the network pulled most of its broadcasters from the Tokyo Games. The Olympics have a useful and instructive history, packed with both moments of heroism. Think of American sprint medallists John Carlos and Tommie Smith raising gloved fists at the 1968 Summer Games, or Englishman Derek Redmond blowing out a hamstring midway through a 400meter semifinal, getting back up and struggling up the track to cross the finish line in his father’s embrace. The first opened our eyes to injustices beyond the track, the second reminded us that striving to finish what we started can be its own reward. Or, as the Olympic charter frames it: “Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.” There will be no shortage of glorious sports moments on the stage in Beijing. If you want them served up with a side of “social responsibility” and “respect,” you’ll probably want to find something else to watch on TV for those two weeks.
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Utah Jazz lose 4th straight against Golden State, 94-92 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jordan Poole scored 20 points to lead a balanced Golden State scoring attack, and the Warriors held off a late Utah rally to beat the Jazz 94-92 last night. Royce O’Neale rebounded Bojan Bogdanovic’s missed 3-pointer with a hand in his face and O’Neale couldn’t convert a tip-in as the final buzzer sounded. Stephen Curry added 13 points, but struggled again with his 3-point stroke a month after becoming the all-time NBA 3s leader, going 1 for 13 from deep and 5 of 20 overall. Brother-in-law Damion Lee did his part for the Warriors, coming off the bench to hit four big 3-pointers and scored 12 points for a team that was looking to build some momentum off Curry’s buzzer-beater in a 105-103 win over Houston Friday night. Bogdanovic scored 21 points while Rudy Gobert grabbed 18 rebounds to go with 12 points for the Jazz, who lost their fourth straight to the Warriors. HEAT 113, LAKERS 107 MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler broke LeBron James’ record for triple-doubles in a Miami uniform, Duncan Robinson scored 25 points and the Heat held on late to beat Los Angeles. Butler finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists for Miami, his 10th regular-season triple-double for the Heat — one more than James had in his four Miami seasons. Caleb Martin scored 15, Bam Adebayo scored 14 and Gabe Vincent had 11 for Miami, which wasted most of a 26-point firsthalf lead. James carried the Lakers yet again, finishing with 33 points — his 17th consecutive game with at least 26 — and 11 rebounds. Russell Westbrook scored 24 for the Lakers, former Heat guard Avery Bradley added 15 and Carmelo Anthony scored 11. NUGGETS 117, PISTONS 111 DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic scored 34 points, including four free throws in the closing seconds, and Denver held on to beat Detroit. Jokic also had nine rebounds and eight assists, just missing a fifth straight triple double. Will Barton had 14 points and Aaron Gordon added 13 points for the Nuggets, who went 4-2 on a sixgame homestand. Isaiah Stewart, Cade Cunningham, Cory Joseph and Trey Lyles each scored 18 points for the Pistons, who have lost four of five. MAVERICKS 104, GRIZZLIES 91 DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic had 37 points, 11
ROMAD FROM PAGE 13 and 11.5 rebounds per game for the tournament. The Lions were sidelined during the entire COVID-19 pandemic in the North York section of Toronto, but won the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championship in 2019-20. Despite a lack of league play, Dean has travelled to the
JAZZ forward Rudy Gay (8) shoots a 3-point basket over Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) during the first half yesterday. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) rebounds and nine assists and seven straight over the Spurs. Kristaps Porzingis had 15 points, Jakob Poeltl had 25 points and 10 eight rebounds and a season-best rebounds and Dejounte Murray six blocks as Dallas beat Mem- added 19 points and 12 assists for phis. The Mavericks never trailed San Antonio. and led by as many as 22 points After trailing by as many as 15 in winning for the 11th time in points in the fourth quarter, the their last 13 games. They took Spurs closed to 111-109 on Murthe season series 3-1 and pulled ray’s steal and breakaway layup within four games of the South- with 33.2 seconds remaining as west Division-leading Grizzlies. part of an 8-4 run. Embiid would Ja Morant had 35 points and 13 seal the victory with a pair of free rebounds for the Grizzlies, going throws with 14.9 seconds left. 14 for 31 from the floor while the MAGIC 114, rest of the team shot 23 for 68 BULLS 95 (33.8 percent). ORLANDO, Florida (AP) — TIMBERWOLVES 136, Moritz Wagner scored 23 points, NETS 125 younger brother Franz Wagner MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — added 18, and Orlando defeated Anthony Edwards scored 25 a short-handed Chicago team. points, D’Angelo Russell had 23 DeMar DeRozan scored a seapoints and 10 assists, and Minne- son-high 41 points for Chicago, sota defeated Brooklyn. while Coby White had 22 points. Karl-Anthony Towns over- Nikola Vucevic hit two of Chicacame a poor shooting night, go’s five 3-pointers and scored 13 scoring 15 of his 23 points in the points to go with his 13 rebounds fourth quarter as the Wolves put before fouling out. the game away. Jaylen Nowell Ending a nine-game home added 16 points, Taurean Prince losing streak, the Magic won 15 and Jaden McDaniels 14 for at home for just the third time Minnesota. this season — and the first since Kyrie Irving scored a game- December 1. Wendell Carter Jr high 30 points for the Nets, and had 19 points and seven rebounds Patty Mills had 21 points, includ- for an Orlando team that led ing five 3-pointers. by as much as 20 points in the Kessler Edwards added 15 second half and had to withstand points, and James Harden had 13 a third-quarter run by the Bulls. points and 13 assists for BrookHAWKS 113, lyn, which is 2-2 since losing HORNETS 91 leading scorer Kevin Durant to a CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) sprained ligament in his left knee. — Trae Young scored 30 points Anthony Edwards became the and tied a season-high with eight youngest player in NBA history 3-pointers, and a streaky Atlanta to amass 300 3-pointers at 20 team defeated a cold-shooting years and 171 days. Charlotte team for its fourth 76ERS 115, straight win. SPURS 109 De’Andre Hunter chipped in SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) with 20 points for the Hawks, — Joel Embiid had 38 points and who led by 27 in the fourth quar12 rebounds, and Philadelphia ter. Miles Bridges and LaMelo held off a late rally to beat San Ball each finished with 19 points Antonio. for the Hornets, who missed their Tobias Harris added 18 points first 19 3-point attempts and shot and 11 rebounds and Furkan an abysmal 11.1 percent (4 of 36) Korkmaz had 17 points for Phil- from beyond the arc. Ball and adelphia. The 76ers have won Terry Rozier were a combined
0 for 14 from long distance as Charlotte had its three-game win streak snapped. TRAIL BLAZERS 114, RAPTORS 105 TORONTO (AP) — CJ McCollum had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Jusuf Nurkic had 11 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth straight double-double, and Portland beat Toronto. Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little each had 19 points and Ben McLemore had 17 for the Blazers, who never trailed. Pascal Siakam scored 28 points and Fred VanVleet had 19 for Toronto, which fell behind by 34 points in the first half before cutting the gap to four, 105-101, on a 3 from VanVleet with 1:24 remaining. But Simons answered VanVleet’s late 3 with two of his own, putting Portland up 111-101 with 40 seconds left. CELTICS 116, WIZARDS 87 WASHINGTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 51 points — 48 of them in the first three quarters — and Boston breezed to a big win over Washington. Tatum made nine 3-pointers and shot 18 of 28 from the field. He had 31 points by halftime and reached 50 on a drive to the basket with about 4:30 remaining in the game. He added a technical-foul free throw with 3:55 to play and then checked out of the game while the crowd in Washington, which included plenty of green-clad Boston fans, gave him a standing ovation. Bradley Beal scored 19 points for the Wizards, who never led in coach Wes Unseld Jr.’s return from being on the COVID-19 health and safety protocol list. Washington, which has one game remaining on an eight-game homestand, has dropped three in a row. KNICKS 110, CLIPPERS 102 NEW YORK (AP) — RJ Barrett had 28 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and New York beat Los Angeles. Julius Randle had 24 points and nine rebounds, helping New York stop a three-game slide. Evan Fournier made four of the Knicks’ 16 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Cam Reddish made his debut for New York after he was acquired from Atlanta in a January 13 trade. The No. 10 pick in the 2019 NBA draft had two points and two rebounds in five minutes of action. Reggie Jackson scored 26 points for the Clippers, and Ivica Zubac had 17 points and 13 rebounds. Los Angeles has lost seven of its last 10 games.
United States to participate with the Lions and at the AAU level with Adidas Grassroots Elite. He was profiled by Rivals.com to expand on his recruitment that has now featured several teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 rankings. A 6’7” wing, Dean said his plan is to declare early and spend his senior season focused on his on court production. “I am trying to go on official visits this summer, I would like
Dean averaged 14.1 points, 13.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in his last season with the Lions. He led the team in both rebounds and blocks but is looking to diversify his game once play can resume. He was also nominated for Canada’s premier prep basketball showcase as one of 198 players named to the BioSteel All Canadian Games - 2020 Boys Nominees List.
to commit early so I don’t have to worry about any recruiting stuff during my senior year,” Dean said. “I will be looking closely at the school’s academics first and foremost, without the academics I won’t be able to play basketball and go far with it. I want to go to a school where the guys play hard and go to a programme where the style fits me and I have a defined role with what I do. I want to play pro basketball, so a school who will help me get there.”
BUCKS forward Khris Middleton, right, shoots against Kings centre Richaun Holmes in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jon Durr)
MIDDLETON SCORES 34, BUCKS HOLD OFF KINGS MILWAUKEE (AP) — Khris Middleton scored 34 points and Jrue Holiday added 26 to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 133127 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, making up for the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP sat out with right knee soreness one night after scoring 30 points in a defensive struggle against Chicago. The defending NBA champions (3019) won their third straight game and second in two nights. Middleton sank a clutch 3-pointer with 1:09 left after the Kings (18-30), who trailed by as many as 15, rallied within three points. After Harrison Barnes converted a layup for the Kings, Holiday threw down a left-handed dunk to give Milwaukee a 126-120 lead with 47.6 seconds remaining. Donte DiVincenzo added 20 points for the Bucks, who made 21 of 42 3-point attempts one night after shooting 19.4% from behind the arc. Barnes paced Sacramento with 29 points, and Tyrese Haliburton had 24. SUNS 113, PACERS 103 PHOENIX (AP) — Mikal Bridges tied a season high with 23 points, Bismack Biyombo matched his career best with 21 and Phoenix won its sixth straight game by beating Indiana. Biyombo also grabbed 13 rebounds as the Suns improved their NBA-best record to 36-9, shaking off a tough night for leading scorer Devin Booker. He had just 11 points on 5-of-23 shooting, including 0 for 6 from 3-point range. Chris Paul added 18 points and 16 assists to help Phoenix equal its best start through 45 games. The short-handed Pacers were coming off impressive back-toback wins against the Lakers and Warriors but couldn’t keep the momentum going. Chris Duarte and Lance Stephenson both scored 17 points. CAVALIERS 94, THUNDER 87 CLEVELAND (AP) — Darius Garland had 23 points and 11 assists, and rookie Evan Mobley added 15 points and a season-high 17 rebounds to lift Cleveland over Oklahoma City. Jarrett Allen added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have won six of seven. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder across the board with 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Kenrich Williams scored 12 points and Luguentz Dort had 10 before being ejected for elbowing Kevin Love in the head. Cleveland lost forward Lauri Markkanen to a sprained right ankle in the second quarter.
MINISTER: ‘GOVERNMENT IS NOT STOPPING YOU FROM PLAYING SPORTS’ FROM PAGE 13 Under this government, Bowleg said they have approved for the next 10 years, a total of $40 million for facilities development throughout the entire Commonwealth of the Bahamas. “We do believe that if you have the proper facilities, especially in the Family Islands, we will be able to develop those diamonds in the rough and the next Stevie Gardiner will not have to come from Abaco to go to Nassau to attend school to prove that he’s the best in the country,” Bowleg said. “And I assure you that as of the next budget year, we will commence our development and upliftment and preparation of those facilities in those Family Islands. We will strategically approach each Family Island one at a time so that we can ensure that all sporting disciplines have a home and place for the upcoming 2023 Bahamas Games.” As a country in an archipelago, Bowleg said it’s
incumbent of sporting personalities to develop more opportunities for persons to participate in sports like rowing where there are countless scholarships available, especially for young women. He commended Nassau Rowing Club president Kyle Chea and his executive team for their initiative to try and get the sport instituted within the schools and into both the calendar for the GSSSA and the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools to get more scholarships. And he noted that because of the popularity of the sport, he also wants to see American football implemented into the school system so that it can attract more young men to participate. While they work on it, Bowleg said they hope to utilise the Flag Football programme to introduce more players to the sport. Bowleg recalled how the former administration, led then by Prime
Minister Perry Christie, had regulated a fund for sports derived from the taxing of the gaming industry. He noted he’s going through the books and his predecessor, Dr Daniel Johnson, who chairs the committee, has assured him that they will seek to provide those funds that should be earmarked for sports. “You can not solely depend on the government for funding. We can’t do it,” Bowleg said. “We must find ways and means to find funding to assist those federations,” he added. And while he said he wants to encourage federations to become selfsufficient, he said he and his ministry will be obligated to raise the grants offered to the sporting bodies, considering that there’s been a drastic decline from the $80,000 that was given under the leadership of Prime Minister Lynden Pindling in 1991 to $20,000 that was offered in the last administration headed by Dr Hubert Minnis.
“It is my mandate that I increase the grants to federations and those grants will be to where they should have been 31 years ago,” he said. In short order, Bowleg said his ministry will also roll out their incentive grants to federations who can produce more diamonds in the rough by going into the inner cities and finding those athletes who don’t have the financial means to compete with those athletes who do and subsequently earn the rights to making the national teams to the detriment of those who can’t afford it. “Take the parks and hit the golf balls and the kids with no shape and no shoes will ask you to let them swing the tennis rackets and the golf clubs,” Bowleg said. “And I assure you, we will find our diamonds in the rough. “The best is not because my child could pay for it or your child could pay for it.” And Bowleg said his ministry will reintroduce Sports in Paradise where the
federations can benefit by bringing more international sporting events to the country, rather than watching the international entities make all of the profit of hosting the events here. He noted how the Bahamas Volleyball Federation was approached through the late DeVince Smith, about doing some of the things that were done in basketball with the Summer of Thunder. But unfortunately, it didn’t materialise and since his death, nobody in the sport has followed up. Had the federation created their own tournament during the off-season, Bowleg said he believes that the federation would have been in a better position to secure some much needed funds to make them more self-sufficient. “Federations, make yourself self-sufficient. If you want to find a way on how to do that, why can’t we as Bahamians go to the NCAA Final Four and sell the Bahamas and your discipline and tell them if you
come, you can have good games, very competitive games. Come and play. “And I assure you that Sports in Paradise will not be a government thing. It would be a federation thing. The movement and upward mobility and the development of sports is not in the government’s hands, it is in your hands. As the minister, Bowleg said he will do whatever it takes to assist the sporting bodies. “Your job is to come and tell me what you want and how we can do it. I will help you to do that, but I can’t do it by myself. We have to depend on each other. A basketball man can not take track and field to the next level. A track man can not take soccer to the next level,” he said. “It takes you who have that passion for that discipline to play your role in your part and I assure you that with me at the helm, you will see great changes for you and your athletes as we take sports to the next level.”
THE TRIBUNE
‘Golden Girl’ Shaunae enjoys Atlantis AFTER completing their training session at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Bahamian “Golden Girl” Shaunae Miller-Uibo and her Pure Athletics Track Club teammates took some time to relax and enjoy the sights of New Providence. One of the places they visited was the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island where they were greeted by Russell Miller, executive vice president of hotel operations. Miller-Uibo and her husband Maicel Uibo were joined by British long jumper Jazmin Sawyers, American sprinter Lynna Irby and Trinidad & Tobago sprinter Khalifa St Fort, along with Pure Athletics’ founder and head coach Lance Brauman. Miller-Uibo and her husband were married at Atlantis on February 4, 2017. They now reside in Orlando, Florida, where they train with the Pure Athletics Track Club.
Monday, January 24, 2022, PAGE 19