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MARINA SALE A HUGE BOOST FOR FREEPORT
US developer buys Port Lucaya for 200 condo/hotel project By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A WELL-KNOWN Freeport marina is “under contract” to be sold as part of a deal involving construction of a new 200-unit condo hotel, Tribune Business confirmed yesterday. James Sarles, principal of James Sarles Realty, said the Port Lucaya Marina’s pending acquisition by a Florida-based investor was one of several investments
that could “return Freeport to life in 2022”. He said the marina deal, together with projects such as Doctors Hospital’s planned Grand Bahama expansion, the Western Atlantic University Medical School and the O2 Resort development (see other article on Page 1B), had left Freeport “at the precipice for the first time” when it came to significant economic growth. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
CHARITY SEEING 20% HIKE IN FOOD PRICES By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
AN increase in food prices at the grocery store has had an adverse affect on one local charity. Bishop Walter Hanchell of Great Commission Ministries explained how inflation has affected his organisation when he spoke to reporters after being presented with cash donations to assist with the purchase of meat by
members of the Senate. The organisation was also presented with fruit and vegetables. Mr Hanchell said his group feeds about 500 people a day on average. In recent weeks, many people have complained about a spike in prices, particularly when shopping for groceries. Bishop Hanchell said Great Commission is also feeling the pinch. SEE PAGE FOUR
BAHAMAS BOUND
THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit The Bahamas next month. The Royal couple, pictured here in an image from their YouTube channel, are expected to also visit Belize and Jamaica. See PAGE THREE for the full story.
PEDESTRIAN DIES IN HIT AND RUN CRASH
BTC SYSTEM UPGRADE COMPLETED END 2023
A MALE pedestrian is dead after a hit and run incident in western New Providence yesterday morning, police said. According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force,
THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) chief executive, Andre Foster, says it plans “to become a real attacker” in the battle
By PAVEL BAILEY
sometime around 1.30am officers were informed about a traffic accident that occurred on Prospect Ridge. When responding officers arrived in the area, they found a man lying in the street unresponsive who SEE PAGE THREE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
for market share with ambitions to build-out its new network by end-2023. Mr Foster said all subscribers will enjoy better quality broadband internet and TV services when it completes the transition from its copper infrastructure. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
DOG ATTACK OWNER FACES COURT By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A 27-YEAR-OLD man was charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a dog attack that left a woman in hospital last month. Jymal Gibson stood shackled before Magistrate Shaka Serville yesterday after being accused of causing grievous harm to his neighbour,
ALICIA BARTON, pictured after the dog attack. Alicia Barton, on January 28 by negligence.
Prosecutors say Gibson committed the offence when he failed to properly secure four pit bull dogs on the day in question which “unlawfully” caused grievous harm to Ms Barton. However, Gibson has denied the allegation. News of the dog attack made headlines earlier this month. Ms Barton, a cancer survivor, told The Tribune
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SEVEN
PETER YOUNG: MORE CARROT, LESS STICK OVER UKRAINE?
- SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Tuesday, February 15, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
CAT ISLAND SAILING COMMUNITY PAYS ITS RESPECTS TO SIR GODFREY KELLY
CLASSIC images from the inaugural Cat Island regatta, above and right, and below, Sir Godfrey Kelly starting the regatta. TRIBUTES have been paid to Sir Godfrey Kelly from the sailing community, with the president of Cat Island Sailing Club hailing him as a “giant of a man”. Club president Sharine Poitier-Johnson paid her respects to Sir Godfrey, who was one of the founders of the Cat Island regatta in 1956 when he was the then Member of Parliament for Cat Island. Sir Godfrey, 93, died at his Eastern Road home at about 10.30am on February 10 shortly after eating breakfast. An avid sailor, he competed in the 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics. He was bestowed with a knighthood in Queen
Elizabeth’s 2020 New Year’s Honours. He was officially knighted at a ceremony at Government House in September of that year. Mrs PoitierJohnson joined with executives and members of the Cat Island Sailing Club and the wider community in the island to extend sympathy to Sir Godfrey Kelly’s wife, Lady Sonia Kelly, and the entire Kelly family on his passing. She said: “Sir Godfrey Kelly represented Cat Island constituency in the
SIR Godfrey Kelly presenting funding for a regatta in Cat Island.
House of Assembly from 1956 to 1968. He also served as the first Minister of Education 1964 to 1967. After his representation in Cat Island, he went on to serve in the senate. “Sir Godfrey’s representation and contributions to the people of Cat Island is longed lived and we will continue this mandate in his honor. The pandemic has changed the way we execute large gatherings but no doubt we will continue to promote Cat Island and its historic attributes to the Bahamas and indeed the world. While I did not have the opportunity to meet this giant of a man, presidents and committee organisers before me boast of his kindness, humility and generosity to the upkeep of our regattas. “Up to 2019 prior to the pandemic, Sir Godfrey consistently funded Cat Island Regatta along with The Ministry responsibility for regattas.” The first Cat Island Regatta was held in Knowles on May 24, 1956, and was sponsored by Sir Godfrey and Sir Harold Christie. It began when Sir Harold sponsored Captain Harold King and sent him to George Town for the races. Exuma was the only island that held an annual regatta three years prior. Mrs Poitier-Johnson said: “Sir Godfrey saw the potential in the local boat owners and the economy hence he along with the late Sir Harold Christie, his brother David Kelly and Peter Christie who were all racing in the Snipe boats in Montagu Bay, decided to lend their expertise to the late Herbert King in the sailing area to form a
committee and organise the first regatta in Cat Island which is in its sixty-Six years and still lives up the original mandate despite financial challenges. Mr. Kelly has been a steady supporter from the regatta’s inception. The four-time Olympic sailor was the last of the original organisers of the Cat Island Regatta. “May 1956 saw the creation of the regatta, which has been moved to the Emancipation holiday weekend in the Bight. To help christen the regatta, the committee was able to secure a total of 48 boats to compete, all of whom had one unique stipulation
– they all had to be work boats from the various settlements out of Cat Island.” On the 60th annual regatta in 2016, Sir Godfrey gave his account of the inaugural event, saying: “They were the means of communication in Cat Island and the roads were very bad on the island, so the only way the residents got from one settlement to the other was often by boat. That was why we had so many boats to compete in that first regatta. They also used the boats for fishing, but the main form of transportation was by these same work boats.” “When the starting gun sounded, they pulled up their anchors, hoisted their sails as the races began,” Sir Godfrey said. “It was quite extraordinary to think that after all these years, we are now going into the 60th year that we will still have the Cat Island Regatta.” In Tokyo, Japan, in 1964, Sir Godfrey became the first Bahamian in his class to win a race, the same year that Sir Durward “Sea
Wolf” Knowles went on to win the Olympic gold medal when he teamed up with the late Cecil Cooke in the Star Class. Coupled with his decorated political and sporting contribution, Sir Godfrey was a lawyer by profession and a member of The Bahamas Bar for more than 65 years. Mrs Poitier-Johnson said: “He was a true Bahamian statesman, a man to be admired for his sense of integrity, good humor and patriotism who supported communities throughout The Bahamas. May his soul rest in eternal peace.” Sir Godfrey is survived by his wife Sonia Kelly, his granddaughter Katherine Ann Elza, and his sisters-inlaw, Lady Ann Johnstone and Nancy B Kelly, MBE. A funeral service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau on Friday at 11.30am. A viewing will be open to the public on Thursday, from 1pm until 6pm. • See funeral service notice on page 10.
SIR Godfrey and Lady Sonia Kelly’s last visit to Cat Island when he was honoured at the 60th annual regatta.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, February 15, 2022, PAGE 3 PRINCE William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge at the first ever Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London in October last year. Created by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, The Earthshot Prize has led a global search for the most inspiring and innovative solutions to the greatest environmental challenges facing the planet - and during the couple’s visit to The Bahamas they are expected to visit Coral Vita, a winner of a $1m prize in the awards. Photo: Alberto Pezzali/AP
Duke and Duchess to visit The Bahamas By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit The Bahamas next month. Local government officials, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to discuss the matter, confirmed their expected Royal visit to a Tribune reporter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to host
a press conference today on the matter. According to international reports, the couple will also visit Jamaica and Belize in what will be their first major overseas tour since before the pandemic. The visits will coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The Daily Telegraph, a United Kingdom-based newspaper, reported the Royal couple will be in the region for about 12 days.
This newspaper understands that representatives of the monarch were recently in The Bahamas to discuss the planned visit. The couple will reportedly visit Coral Vita, a coral farm in Grand Bahama focused on reef restoration that was named one of the five $1m winners of the Duke’s inaugural Earthshot prize last year. Some observers say the planned visit is to help shore up support for the
monarchy in the region. Barbados recently became the latest country to remove the Queen as head of state as it transitioned to a republic. Since then, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has said The Bahamas will eventually become a republic too, although the process for making the change is more difficult here than in Barbados. “I suspect that there will be a cascading effect
since Barbados - arguably the most conservative of CARICOM societies - has done so,” Mr Mitchell said. “The whole question of whether or not a republic is impatient of debate, but the political reality is that unless the younger generation buys into it, it will go nowhere. “(Transitioning to a republic) is not the official policy of the government, but in a democracy we must always seek to build
a consensus for change and where I am now positioned both in time and space, I do not have the luxury of dithering.” Prince William’s brother, Prince Harry, visited The Bahamas, Belize and Jamaica in 2012 during a royal tour for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
STORR: CABINET TO ADVISE ON DOMES By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
DISASTER Reconstruction Authority executive chairman Alex Storr said the authority will advise Cabinet on how best to repurpose domes in Abaco that were never used, adding the DRA no longer supports sending the domes to Family Islands for storage purposes. “The dome project was something that had Cabinet approval from the previous Cabinet,” he said yesterday, “so in order to do anything with the domes other than the prescribed purpose we have to write to Cabinet. And so we have one or two
ALEX STORR, executive chairman of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority, speaking on Friday. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
PEDESTRIAN DIES IN HIT AND RUN CRASH
from page one
was later pronounced dead by Emergency Medical Services. Initial investigations of the accident uncovered that the male pedestrian was struck by the driver of a small Japanese vehicle that fled the scene heading west. The identity of the victim has not been released at this time, as police are awaiting
formal identification from his next of kin before further details will be disclosed to the public. The Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Traffic Section will continue to investigate this incident. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Department at 502-9991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS (8477).
ideas that are on the table. “The project manager had submitted something that we submitted to Cabinet, but after doing some further investigations into that, that would perhaps be an expensive undertaking so we’re currently trying to find another purpose for the domes.” Mr Storr said the former project manager wanted the domes shipped to Family Islands and used for storage purposes. “The idea was to ship them to the different administration offices on Family Islands to allow them to use them as storage,” he said. “But what would have to go along with them to prep each dome and to make
them hurricane resistant would cost a lot of money and also to remobilise the domes, bring them in from the island, send them back to the different islands, the combined cost would perhaps add another $20,000 - $30,000 to the already high cost of those domes.” Mr Storr said the operations committee of the DRA hasn’t made its final report yet on how to repurpose the domes. He said the authority is re-evaluating the current use of domes in Spring City “because some of them may have even had issues with mould and other things, so that’s something we have under re-evaluation. But persons who are currently
in them are being given first priority for any new housing that comes available.” Mr Storr told the Nassau Guardian that it cost nearly $1m in shipping and storing the domes in 48 shipping containers. The Minnis administration spent more than $6m on nearly 200 domes that were supposed to be used as temporary housing for Abaco and Grand Bahama residents after Hurricane Dorian.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, February 15, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
MEMBERS of the Senate make a presentation to Great Commission Ministries on Wulff Road yesterday.
Charity seeing 20% hike in food prices from page one “It has affected us because we shop on a regular basis in the food stores to buy food for our food bank and it seems as though the cost has jumped up about 20 percent,” he said. “That’s how it feels to us and we feel it, so I can imagine how the average Bahamian feels and particularly the poor Bahamians, the ones that are in the lower class. I don’t know how they can do it with minimum wage because when you go into the food store, you get a half a trolley of food and you spending $200-300. So, if that’s all you make, how (are) you gonna survive? So it’s hard on the Bahamian people right now.” “I thank God for the Department of Social Services and Urban Development for all that they do. I thank God for the different agencies working to help bring relief to the poor and the suffering, but we need to inject some more money into this area because we have too
Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
19 NEW CONFIRMED COVID CASES THE Ministry of Health and Wellness recorded 19 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the nation’s confirmed virus toll to 32,950. The country has 6,533 active cases.
Forty-four people are in hospital with the virus, three of whom are in the intensive care unit. Meanwhile 766 people have died from the disease since the start of the pandemic.
many Bahamians that are suffering.” Asked if the situation has made it more difficult in terms of the work he does, Bishop Hanchell explained: “Because of the increase in cost for food, I believe the overall cost of living has increased. Not just food but other items, but food, in particular, because it has gone up, we get less for the same amount of money which has put a great strain on us.” The bishop asked those who are able to do so, to set something aside to assist Great Commission Ministries so they can feed people, shelter the homeless, and care for those who are suffering. BAMSI donated fresh fruits and vegetables to the
feeding programme, which were mostly grown locally in The Bahamas. Senator Dr Erecia Hepburn, also BAMSI president, spoke about encouraging people to know where to shop and buy Bahamian. “This is a $20 BAMSI box,” she pointed out. “As you can see, this box (can) probably last a family of four for at least a week, two weeks’ time. So, what we have to do is to start to encourage our people to know where to shop as well. We have a distribution centre... I don’t know if you go to the food store, but I (hear) a lettuce in the food store is seven something. “So you getting a $20 box that has a variety each week of different locally grown Bahamian produce. So
Rite of Christian Burial For Tyrone Bernard Strachan, 56
of Montell Heights will bw held on Wednesday, 16th February, 2022, 11:00am at the Catholic Cemetery, Infant View Road. Officiating will be Deacon D’Arcy Rahming. Cremation was held.
He is survived by two sons: Cabrad and Quinten Strachan (Delray Beach, Florida); four sisters: Leonie Johnson (Miami, Florida) Joycelyn Smith, Hilda and Thelma Strachan; three brothers: Edison Knowles, Luther Strachan (Vero Beach, Florida) Paul Strachan; two sisters-in-law: Helen Knowles and Terry Strachan; two brothers-in-law: Holston Johnson and Winston Smith; 23 nieces: Sharon Chea Roberts, Karen, Mizpha, Shavonne and Carolyn Johnson, Pamela Victorian, Edrica Knowles Tooth, Melisa, Vanessa, Shamara & Denny Knowles, Tanya Knowles Roberts, Christina, Ariel & Anastasia Strachan, Stacy Devaux, Tacarra Lightbourn, Takehisa &Patrinka Charlton, Crystal & Neoshie Roberts, Bridgette Smith and Bernice Bain; 18 nephews: Holston Johnson Jr., Edison Jr., Ira, Garson, Jamal, Andre and O’Neil Knowles, Luther Strachan Jr., Quintonb and O’Neil Strachan, Tomiko and Dario Charlton, Lavardo and Valentino Bain, Jason & Shannon Smith, Joel Lightbourn, Inspector Torriano Roberts; relatives & friends including: Stephanie Strachan (Delray Beach, Florida) Eric Taylor, Michael Bain, Shirlene & Family, Monalisa Saunders, Keith Allan & Family, Patsy and Brianna Beckford, Edith Coakley & family, Sally Mae Sturrup & family, Idell Hanna & family Elouise Davis & family, Charmin Lockhart & family, Daryl & Shawn Smith & family, Rudolph & Betty Williams & family, Beatrice Marshall & family, Diane Taylor & family, Brenda Taylor & family, Elenore Evans, Doreen Strachan, Enid Taylor, The Montel Heights Family, Gary Pyfrom & family, O’Neil Holbert &family, Leroy Adderley &Family James & Candy Gilbert & family, Valentine Goodridge & family, Jacaranda Street family, Carol Gilbert & family, Sylvia & Donna Hamilton & family, Carolyn Gilbert & family, Patrice Roberts & Family, Erlene Ford (Miami, Florida), Jenny Albury, Sherilyn Fernander & Family Jackie Smith (Orlando, Florida) & Family, Ruth Williams, Edwin Rolle & The Community of Port Howe & New Bight, Cat Island; special thanks to: all the staff at Male Surgical Ward P.M.H., Deacon D’Arcy Rahming The Holy Family Catholic Church and Curtis Memorial Mortuary and many others to numerous to mention.
BISHOP Walter Hanchell warned of the effect of increased food prices on the work of the Great Commission Ministry. obviously we want people to eat local. We want to encourage people to eat healthy and we want to encourage people to always buy Bahamian. And our prices are affordable and competitive.” Meanwhile, Bishop Hanchell added donations
have been “fairly good” despite the economy. “It could be better and I wish that it would increase, but we will not complain because so many people have reached out to help us.” He highlighted that his
organisation may be known for its feeding programme, but their focus is also on sheltering homeless. He said Great Commission is in the process of constructing a 100-bed homeless shelter on Carmichael Road, which is estimated to cost $3m.
REVISED BUILDING CODE ‘THIS YEAR’ By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
WORKS and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears said the government will this year bring a revised building code to Parliament and will undertake consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders shortly. Mr Sears made the remarks at a signing ceremony for the United Nations’ Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF). “In the Ministry of Works and Utilities, we’re currently reviewing the building code of The Bahamas because in the assessment reports which were done of the damage of Hurricane Dorian in Abaco and in Grand Bahama, we appreciate that we need to enhance and better support, build up the capacity of the inspectorate component of the ministry,” he said. “In addition we need to make the building code more robust because the 180 miles an hour wind, tidal wave over the land
WORKS and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears. of 20ft high — we have to reconceive how we put resilience in the built environment. So within this year, the ministry, the government will be presenting to Parliament a revised building code and consultation with all of the stakeholders will be underway shortly with respect to that. And that is one way in which we will be building resilience so that in the future we would have better preparedness in the
built environment.” In the Speech from The Throne, read during the opening of Parliament in October 2021, the Davis administration referred to plans to enhance the country’s building code. “The government will introduce a new and progressive building code to increase resilience in the face of climate change,” Governor General Sir Cornelius A Smith said at the time.
THE TRIBUNE
Grand Bahama straw vendors: We are hurting
Tuesday, February 15, 2022, PAGE 5
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net STRAW vendors on Grand Bahama said they are hurting and appealed to the government to resume the bi-weekly stipend that was discontinued in December. The vendors at Port Lucaya Marketplace said they are not making enough to pay their rent and are having to dip in their savings to keep their booths open. “It is horrible, and especially how the government (stopped) the stipend they were giving us every two weeks; it is hard,” said Suzie Russell. “I been coming out here for two weeks and I only make $15, and I have bills to pay,” said the vendor. “I can’t go in the food store because now you are paying taxes on breadbasket items and even your meds.” Ms Russell said things are very rough. “If the hotel (Grand Lucayan) opened, we could see some progress, but until then something needs to be done. Even on boat days there is no tourists. So, imagine sitting down here every day with bills to pay, children to feed, and you going home with less than $50.” She said the stipend kept many vendors afloat. “We do not even make minimum wage out here,” Ms Russell said. “So, we are hoping the government starts that stipend again so we can get that couple of dollars so we can be able to pay our bills.” The government’s unemployment assistance programme expired on December 31, 2021. Last week, an official said it is up to the Cabinet to
MERIEN Bastian said there has been no improvement in the situation at Port Lucaya. decide whether it will be continued. The vendors also complained about rising food costs due to inflation. Vendor Merian Bastian said: “You got to eat and feed your kids and they gone up on everything at the food store – you can’t even get three bags of groceries with a $100.” Ms Bastian said there has been no improvement in the situation at Port Lucaya. “If the hotel opened, it would be so much better for us,” she said. Marilyn Davis said: “We are hurting in this market! Port Lucaya is just like a dead place. The cruise ships come in and we do not even see the people. Where are they going?” The vendors believe that the tour operators are taking cruise visitors elsewhere. “Things are very bad out here; some days we come out here for a whole week and we don’t make a dollar.
BEVERLY Gray said: “My head is underwater and I am drowing.”
PAIR ACCUSED OF IMPORTING FIREARMS REMANDED TO PRISON By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A MAN and a woman accused of importing several firearms, including a prohibited weapon, into the country were remanded to prison pending their bail hearing. Keith Higgs, 25, and Abigail Nelson, 21, a Jamaican, were arrested after police allegedly found them with eight unlicensed firearms, including a black Austria Glock and black JMT rifle — the latter of which is a prohibited weapon — on February 7. Police said the two were also found with dozens of
unfired rounds of ammunition the same day. The defendants are also accused of conspiring to import and importing the firearms and ammunition into the Bahamas this month. However, they denied the allegations during their hearing before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday. After accepting the accused’s not guilty pleas, Magistrate McKinney remanded them into custody until February 21 for a bail hearing. Both are represented by attorney Wendawn Miller-Frazer.
And we still must pay rent. I must dip in my little savings to pay the rent. “The hotel — they need to do something with that. I don’t like to talk politics, but the government needs to come and deal with this situation,” she said. Ms Davis continued: “They (the government) been down here over and over, and they have not even come in the market to see how we are doing in the market. It is very bad. “Somebody has to come to our rescue. The government and the Port Authority have to do something about this situation in Grand Bahama,” she said. On the matter of inflation, Ms Davis said that prices in the food store are “outrageous.” “I don’t have small children, but I have grandchildren. And… if things are hard for me, what you think about people who have small kids? It is very bad. “They stop the stipend, and the food vouchers from social services, some people ain’t getting that no more. We put them there and they need to come down here and talk to us – it is not fair to us.” Vendor Beverley Gray said it is a struggle every day. “My head is underwater, and I am drowning,” she said. “I cannot even pay the rent for my booth. There
MARILYN DAVIS, who said Port Lucaya is just like “a dead place”. Photos: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff will turn around for us. The stipend was stopped, but I am asking the government to please give us that back, please. We would greatly appreciate that because sometimes you come out here and you don’t make a dollar,” she said. “We were out here from 8am, it is now 1pm and we made nothing yet. We can’t even make the rent.” A food vendor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said prices on the island keep increasing. “What is so sad, you are paying almost $6 for half a DOROTHY Bain was hopeful, saying that she is expecting a turn gallon of milk, and almost around in economic fortunes. $9 for a gallon of milk. It is is no one coming in Port food store. Mr Brave Davis, hard for parents and single Lucaya, and I am ready to I am calling on you, please - mothers who have kids to maintain. And now you are give up. we need help,” she begged. paying 10 percent VAT on “They took the stipend “At the end of the day bread basket items. This away and we have no tour- when you go home, you should not be,” she said. ists coming to Port Lucaya. have nothing to give your “Grand Bahama has There are over 1,000 tour- children. It is so sad, please been hurting from Dorian; ists coming to this island, help us. I asked that you the hotel is closed down and they say they have please give us the sti- and Port Lucaya is basithem in a bubble - nobody pend that we were getting cally just sitting. It is almost is coming to Port Lucaya.” before,” Ms Gray said. like a timebomb waiting to Ms Gray said that she Dorothy Bain, who oper- explode because we don’t and other vendors are fully ates a booth at Port Lucaya, really have any tourists vaccinated. She appealed to said although it is tough, she coming here. We must trust the government for help. is expecting a turn around. God who is our source,” she “I have to drive past the “We are expecting things said.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, February 15, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
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Royal visit a litmus test for The Bahamas THERE will be a Royal visit to The Bahamas next month, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge due to arrive in the country. It comes at an interesting moment for The Bahamas, in the wake of Barbados becoming a republic last year. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis was in attendance for the ceremony that marked Barbados cutting its remaining links from the Royal family – but there seems little appetite for The Bahamas to follow suit. It will be interesting to see Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell’s interactions with Prince William and his wife, Kate, as Mr Mitchell is one of the few to speak up about the prospect of a republic for The Bahamas. After Barbados’ move, he said he thought there would be “a cascading effect since Barbados”, though he conceded that “try as I might over my lifetime I have been unable to fire up the succeeding generations” on the issue of making a similar transition. He said of those succeeding generations: “Perhaps they have more important things to do.” In 2012, when Prince William’s brother, Prince Harry, visited The Bahamas as part of a Diamond Jubilee tour, there was great enthusiasm for the visit. Prince Harry was greeted with rousing speeches, performances by the Bahamas National Boys Choir, the Bahamas All Stars, the Royal Bahamas Police Youth Band and more. He gave it his resounding endorsement at the time, telling performers and those at the event at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium: “You are a magnificent spectacle. You’re doing your country proud and looking damn smart.” While Mr Mitchell’s republican thoughts might have been dismissed by the Prime Minister’s press secretary, Clint Watson, saying such a prospect was “not on our agenda right now”, the visit will remain a litmus test for the enthusiasm The Bahamas may or may not still have for its Royal connections. The greeting for Prince Harry was warm and genuine, if we perhaps
lumbered him with too many visits to church services and meetings rather than the music and youth events he seemed more comfortable with. It is also a good opportunity to show the world what The Bahamas is all about. When the Duke and Duchess arrive, the eyes of the world – and the camera lenses of the world’s media – will be on us. What will we have to show them? Will we see the same enthusiasm as in 2012, or have our links to the monarchy faded since then? As we say, an interesting moment indeed.
Grand Bahama Prime Minister Davis may have recently questioned investor confidence in Grand Bahama – but what do we see here? The Port Lucaya Marina is to be bought up by a Florida-based investor in a deal that will see the construction of a new 200-unit condo hotel. Mr Davis raised the doubts after his visit to Dubai, saying of investors: “They are willing to invest in The Bahamas, and when asked if they wish to come to Grand Bahama, there is always some reluctance on their part.” He added: “I had a conversation in Dubai with a person who came to Grand Bahama and looked at the projects, and their desire to invest just waned because… something that did not connect for them.” Well, if Dubai investors aren’t interested, let’s reach out more to investors from the United States instead. It’s great news that a Florida investor is interested – so let’s build on that, and pitch to investors at events in the US. We already have the geographical advantage there, in that we’re only a short plane or boat ride away for many. Sometimes in the push to find new investor markets, we overlook the ones that have served us well in the past, so let’s make the most of all our connections, both old and new.
Securities sales EDITOR, The Tribune. THE performance of The Central Bank sale of Securities recently is exceptionally significant not because the securities were over-subscribed but only 25% of a $34m offer caught interest of those who purchase. On taking office the Rate for 91-day Treasuries was 2.64%… come December 2021 they are now shown at 2.79% for 90-day. Trending up to attract investors – bad sign. Has B$ borrowing hit a brick wall? Also our US$ Bonds from the Moody’s story in September have been on a slippery slope…the scary issue is if we were to
try to borrow like Minnis administration did forget 8.95% look for 10 plus even 11%. Can the continuance of a good robust Tourism sector compensate with increase US$ earnings and spend in the commercial sector? See an observer to your Business section on line commented surely this is a warning and spends like the $31m further on the Baseball Stadium is beyond rational and nothing from a economic perspective supports it. We have to see revenue collections up… we have to see new projects - talk is cheap approve and require the investor to break ground in six-eight months
at the max. Didn’t Minnis, like the Christie Government, leave a pile of proposals? Albany wants to buy the long dead South Ocean stop pussy footing around - sign asap. Doesn’t Sarkis Izmirlian have a project for out west - approve and lets get the flow coming in more positively. PM you have to be exceptionally careful on Capital Projects. Cabinet must only approve the most absolutely necessary ones … fancy political decisions gone, sir, you do not have that latitude or grace.
1956-2016, as we recognised a giant of a man and a philanthropist to the regatta. Sir Godfrey also served as the Member of Parliament for Cat Island and the Minister responsible for education. Sir Godfrey was an outstanding sailing athlete. He competed in 1960, 64, 68 and 72 Olympics. While serving as president, I especially looked forward in great anticipation to meeting with Sir Godfrey before each regatta. He was witty, sharp and astute. He had a
memory that was unbelievable even at that late stage in his life. I truly enjoyed my meetings with him and always came away feeling truly impressed by his wisdom. I wish to convey my condolences to his wife, Sonia and his entire family. May his soul rest in peace!
STEPHEN MOSS Nassau, February 4, 2022.
A sailing legend EDITOR, The Tribune. I WAS saddened to learn of the passing to Sir Godfrey Kelly, co-founder of the Cat Island Regatta which started in Knowles, Cat Island in 1956. I first came to know Sir Godfrey when I served as President of the Cat Island Sailing Club Association, organisers of the regatta. I was especially honoured to have been president in 2016 when the regatta celebrated its Diamond Jubilee anniversary
PAT STRACHAN Past President, Cat Island Sailing Club, Nassau, February 14, 2022.
Davis’ LA Rams media strategy EDITOR, The Tribune. WITH the Cincinnati Bengals set to face the Los Angeles Rams at the $5 billion SoFi Stadium in Super Bowl LVI, politically astute NFL enthusiasts in The Bahamas can see faint parallels between the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government and the team representing the NFC. With a 12-5 record in the 2021 season, the Rams and its general manager, Les Snead, mortgaged its long-term future and sustainability in order to get to the Super Bowl, when the team traded away two first-round picks (2022 and 2023); a 2021 third round pick and its former quarterback, Jared Goff, for 33-year-old Matthew Stafford. Stafford played for 12 seasons for the Detroit Lions, who drafted him as the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. With just $5m in available cap space, Los Angeles will be hard-pressed to retain the services of outside linebacker Von Miller, corner back Darious Williams and possibly wide receiver Odell Beckham. While Stafford is playing on a five-year $135m deal, defensive tackle Aaron Donald is on a sixyear $135m contract, with $86.9m guaranteed. With elite free agents Andrew Whitworth, Beckham, Leonard Floyd; coupled with the blockbuster trades for Stafford and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the Los Angeles Rams fit the very definition of a rental team, with its unorthodox approach to building its roster being lauded by some and scoffed at by others. Whatever one’s opinion of Snead and head coach Sean McVay, their gamble has produced a legit Super Bowl contender in the Los Angeles Rams, although I suspect that the chickens will eventually come home
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net to roost, considering that Stafford is now 34 years old. With that being said, what are the similarities between the PLP and the Rams? I believe they can be seen in Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis’ shrewd strategy in dealing with the Fourth Estate. Since the PLP’s lopsided general election win, the governing party has employed Clint Watson, who formerly hosted Eyewitness News’Beyond the Headlines - a programme that proved to be a thorn in the side of the Free National Movement government of Dr Hubert Minnis. Subsequent to the hiring of Watson at the Office of the Prime Minister as press secretary, it has been reported in one particular pro-PLP news site that three journalists, once employed at Our News, are now at the Office of the Prime Minister and two other government ministries respectively. Additionally, it has been reported that former Guardian Radio talk show host Nahaja Black has been employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work at its Canadian office. Obviously, the PLP offered these talented journalists upward mobility and lucrative deals their former employers in the private sector simply could not match. The fact that they would all leave the private sector for presumably five-year jobs is evidence that they were all given offers they simply could not refuse. The private media industry cannot compete with the government financially. Each year, the government doles out millions in subventions to ZNS.
It helps that the government has a massive advantage from a revenue standpoint, as it collects well over $1 billion in taxes annually. These hirings are being interpreted as Davis building a bulwark of defense in his public relations strategy in protecting his administration from the Fourth Estate, which has taken successive governments to the woodshed. Davis is well aware of the public relations bludgeoning the media inflicted on the Minnis, Christie and Ingraham administrations. Rather than engaging the Fourth Estate head on, hire professional journalists who know the ins and outs of the media industry. Let them deal with their former media colleagues. These hirings might be costly, but they are strategic nonetheless. This reminds the writer of the Rams going on an unsustainable hiring binge to compete in the NFC West - something they struggled to do with Goff under centre. Hence, the acquisition of Stafford during the off season. Again, the hiring of the journalists was a stroke of genius from a political standpoint for the PLP, although the vexing issue of an ever-expanding government coupled with the $10 billion national debt is now being perceived as being placed on the back burner, notwithstanding the formation of the Private Sector Debt Advisory Committee. Moreover, the relevance of the Bahamas Information Services and the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas will be questioned, now that the Davis administration seems to be putting in place public relations officers in many of the government ministries. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama February 13, 2022.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, February 15, 2022, PAGE 7
Two charged over murders By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A MAN and a teenager were remanded to prison yesterday after being charged with two separate murders. Prosecutors allege that Dyanza Gibson, 19, killed Dave Miller, Jr, on January 17 while being concerned with others. He is also accused of trying to murder Reubens Elusme on the same day.
According to reports, the murder and attempted murder incident happened in the area of Key West Street and Robinson Road. Police said they found two men suffering from gunshot injuries after being alerted to the shooting and later had them taken to hospital. However, one of the men, later revealed to be Miller, died upon arrival at the hospital. During yesterday’s arraignment, Gibson was
not required to enter a plea to the charges and the matter was adjourned to March 25. The accused was told his case would be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court for trial through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). As a result, bail was denied and he was remanded to prison. Also appearing in court on a similar offence was Lashon Davis, 20, who is accused of killing Carlin Smith on January 29.
According to police Smith and a woman were sitting in a vehicle outside their residence on Comfort Street when they heard gunshots. Moments later, Smith realised he had been shot and was then taken to hospital where he later died. Davis was also not required to enter a plea to the charge and the case was adjourned to April 4 for a VBI to be served. He also has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
$3,000 FINE FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A 50-YEAR-OLD man was fined $3,000 yesterday after pleading guilty to drug possession with intent to supply. Roosevelt McKenzie appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday after police found him with one pound of marijuana on Feb 12. He was one of several men who appeared in court on drug-related charges. Before sentencing, the Crown prosecutor told the magistrate that the accused had been convicted of a similar offence in 2019. As a result, he was fined $3,000 or one year in prison. Ricardo Adderley, 20,
was also charged with drug possession after police found one ounce of marijuana in his home on February 11. According to court documents, officers, armed with a search warrant, went to a home on Baltic Avenue and Pyfrom Road sometime around 10.40 am that day. While there, police searched one of the bedrooms where they found two Ziploc bags hidden in a pair of Nike sneakers. As a result, Adderley was arrested and taken into police custody, where he admitted to the offence. When given the chance to speak, Adderley pleaded guilty, saying he used the drugs to stay focused and calm. He also begged the court for leniency, noting he
was sorry for his actions. In response, Magistrate McKinney fined him $500. He was told that failure to pay the fine would result in him spending three months behind bars. Alexander Coakley, 44, and 46-year-old Wilca Deleveaux were also charged with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply in separate matters. Police allege they found Coakley with 14 grams of Indian hemp on February 11. While Deleveaux is accused of having over an ounce of marijuana in his possession on February 13. However, both men have denied the charges and were subsequently granted bail at $1,000 with one surety. Their matters were
also adjourned to April 4 for trial. Tristan Black, 35, is also accused of several drug related offences. Prosecutors say Black conspired to possess a quantity of Indian hemp with intent to supply and was found in possession of the same on January 25 while being concerned with others on Grand Bahama. He is also accused of possessing a quantity of hashish with intent to supply the same day. It is further alleged that he conspired to possess the drugs. However, Black has denied the offences and his matter was adjourned to April 4 for trial. He was also granted bail at $25,000 with one or two sureties.
JAILED FOR INDECENT ASSAULT ON 14-YEAR-OLD By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A 39-YEAR-OLD who admitted to touching a teenage girl’s private parts last year was yesterday sentenced to one year in prison. Matthew Butterfield, a security guard, was charged with indecent assault after he touched a 14-year-old girl’s vagina while she
was at her aunt’s home on August 4 of last year. Butterfield had initially denied the offence, but changed his plea to guilty during his second appearance before Magistrate Samuel McKinney. The prosecutor in the case said the child’s mother reported the incident to police shortly after it happened. She was also present in court during yesterday’s hearing.
When asked by Magistrate McKinney if the child had received therapy, the mother replied: “Not as yet. I have to make an appointment.” As a result, Magistrate McKinney sentenced Butterfield to one year in prison and also placed him on two years probation or in default, one year in prison. He was also ordered to pay $500 towards counselling for the child. Failure
to do so would result in an additional six months behind bars. Marvin Moss, 49, was also charged with indecent assault in a separate offence yesterday. Prosecutors allege Moss indecently assaulted a ten-year-old girl on February 10. However, Moss denied the allegation and his matter was adjourned to February 18 for a bail hearing.
ONE of the injuries suffered by Alicia Barton.
DOG ATTACK OWNER FACES COURT from page one
she had just arrived home that day when the animals attacked her. “I got out of the car. I didn’t see the dogs. So, when I got out of the car, I saw the dogs charging toward me and I tried to run back to the car, but I slipped down and they just jumped all over me,” she told this newspaper shortly after the incident. She also said the incident left her nursing severe
head, arm and leg injuries. During yesterday’s hearing, Magistrate Serville asked about Ms Barton’s current condition, and was told by Gibson’s attorney, Bjorn Ferguson, that she was currently “convalescing” at her home. However, prosecutor Inspector Kenny Thompson said he could neither deny nor confirm that fact. As a result, the matter was adjourned to June 21 for trial. Bail was also granted to Gibson at $2,500 with one or two sureties.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, February 15, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
100 YEARS YOUNG
GOVERNOR General Sir Cornelius A Smith visited the home of newest centenarian Philip Glen Antonio on Friday. Also present during the Governor General's visit was Mr Antonio's sister Elizabeth Moses who celebrated her 103rd birthday in January. Photo: Letisha Henderson/BIS
THE CLASSROOM THAT CAN GO ANYWHERE
CASUARINA McKinney-Lambert and Denise Antonio tour the mobile outdoor classroom.
Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT BAHAMAS ACADEMY Bahamas Academy of Seventh-day Adventist is looking for candidates to fill the following positions in the 2022 - 2023 school year
• Teacher • Business • English Language MINIMUM CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS • •
Bachelor’s degree A minimum of two year’s teaching experience
BAHAMAS ACADEMY CUSTODIAN JOB OPENING
CASUARINA MCKINNEY-LAMBERT, executive director of BREEF, speaking to reporters.
A MOBILE outdoor classroom on board a brand-new fully electric vehicle was launched last week by the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) as part of their ongoing efforts to make marine environmental education safe, fun and engaging. The electric outdoor classroom vehicle, soon to be outfitted with solar panels, was donated to BREEF through a strategic grant from the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNDP Resident Representative Denise Antonio welcomed the initiative as a groundbreaking and positive development for amplifying messages on the environment and integrating the population into sustainable development efforts. “I congratulate BREEF for acquiring a sustainable mode of transportation using sustainable energy resources to reinforce public education related specifically to marine conservation and biodiversity and renewable energy. I am encouraged by the role of young people in this effort and encourage them to remain vocal and creative in advocating for change that matters,” she said. Educational resources on marine biodiversity and conservation, renewable energy and sustainable development will be delivered aboard the mobile classroom to local schools and field study sites across New Providence, through BREEF’s “Young Reporters for the Environment: Giving our Marine
Bahamas Academy is seeking the services of a Custodian. The successful candidate must be mature, able to use landscaping tools and familiar with basic carpentry, painting and plumbing skills. At least 5 years’ experience would be an asset. Interested persons may submit applications to: aburrows@sbcadventist.org.bs Download the application form from the website at www.southbahamasconference.org Submit the completed application from along with copies of professional degress and resume to THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION, 135 Tonique Williams-Darling Highway, Nassau, Bahamas or mail the completed application form, copies of professional degrees and resume to THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION, P.O. Box N-356, Nassau, Bahamas or email the completed application form to aburrows@sbcadventist.org.bs
YOUNGSTERS at the launch of the retractable mobile outdoor classroom.
Environment a Voice” project, also funded through the GEF SGP/UNDP grant. BREEF executive director, Casuarina McKinney-Lambert acknowledged the support. “As an archipelago, The Bahamas is dependent on a healthy ocean that sustains lives and livelihoods. BREEF’s Young Reporters for the Environment helps inspire young people to become active stewards of the waters around us and active participants in the sustainable blue economy. This new electric vehicle allows us to not only take students to the ocean, but bring the ocean to students,” she said. During the outdoor classroom session students were asked what motivates them to protect our marine environment. Makhi Gray, age 9, said: “I love the water and seeing all the fish, I don’t want to see them going extinct. Fish are important too; they keep our coral reefs healthy by cleaning the algae off of them.” The debut of the electric vehicle classroom further empowers the young people to make learning about solar energy more fun and support the nation’s goals to embrace alternative energy sources. The Bahamas has pledged to “fully embrace” the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to include the nation’s energy policy to derive 30 percent of energy needs from renewable sources. Students interested in learning more about The Young Reporters for the Environment programme and how to register can call BREEF’s office at 242-3279000 or email breef@breef. org.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, February 15, 2022, PAGE 9
WHY NOT MORE CARROT LESS STICK OVER UKRAINE?
THE endless swirling information in the international media about what might happen next in Ukraine remains as intense as ever. Is the world drifting towards war in eastern Europe because of Russian aggression? If so, that could turn out to be the deadliest conflagration on the continent since the end of the Second World War in 1945. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied any intention of invading Ukraine, it is now feared in the West that eastern Europe is on the verge of a potential humanitarian catastrophe as well as economic disaster, and there is a general determination this must be prevented. Responsibility for the immediate situation lies firmly at Putin’s door - however justified his broader concerns about NATO and European security may or may not be. The present crisis has been created by his amassing some 130,000 combat troops and armaments on the border with Ukraine and conducting military exercises in neighbouring Belarus. With its vast intelligence sources, the US is arguably best placed to predict the timing of any invasion. It is now saying there is “extremely detailed” information about invasion plans and that such an attack could happen as early as this week. Western countries are taking their cue from the Americans in threatening Putin with massive sanctions if he pushes ahead with an invasion. As has been well publicised, President Biden has warned of a decisive response and “swift and severe costs” and, reportedly, Secretary of State Blinken has separately told his opposite number, Sergey Lavrov, that an invasion will be met with “a resolute, massive and united transatlantic response”. Meanwhile, the Russians themselves contend that Western countries are fanning tensions over Ukraine “for their own geopolitical ends”. They say
the West is not interested in serious negotiations and will not take seriously Russia’s concerns about NATO and the security of Europe. How often over the last few weeks have we heard these messages in various forms from both sides. Putin’s main demand is Ukraine should not become a member of NATO. But he knows the West cannot agree to rule this out since it is a matter for Ukraine itself as a sovereign country to determine. He also wants to push NATO forces back from his own borders which means out of parts of eastern Europe. In response, Western leaders agree a tough and uncompromising reaction is needed by meeting strength with strength. It is interesting to look at the background. The experts say the Kremlin’s overall strategy is to end the US’s global hegemony and to drive a wedge between Washington and the EU. Putin is on record as calling the collapse of the Soviet Union the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” He wants to re-establish Russia’s de facto control over as much as possible of the former Soviet Union - and that means bringing the sovereign countries on its western borders back into its sphere of influence, particularly Ukraine which was incorporated into the USSR in 1945 but which is said to be sliding fast into
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin during a joint news conference with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban yesterday. Photo: Yuri Kochetkov/AP the Western orbit - except forces and Russian-backed for the separatist eastern rebels in eastern Ukraine. part of the country. Or perhaps Ukraine could Some commentators in be declared a neutral state Britain are now wondering like Finland which adopted whether, in order to pre- formal neutrality during vent an immediate attack the Cold War and stayed on Ukraine, something is out of NATO. That could needed in the way of con- mean Ukraine temporarcession and compromise ily renouncing its NATO rather than publicly berat- ambitions - at least in the ing and threatening Putin foreseeable future - despite with massive sanctions that its long-term commitment could cripple the Russian to joining the organisation. economy. It almost goes without They suggest Western saying that a war in Ukraine leaders should heed what - a large country with a the Russian ambassador in population of some 43 milSweden is reported to have lion equipped and ready to said in a recent hard-hit- fight back against a Rusting press interview about sian invasion - is a terrifying the need to understand prospect. It would have devthe Russian mentality: the astating humanitarian and more the West threatens, economic consequences the stronger the Russian and could lead to a direct response becomes. US/Russian confrontation They ask, therefore, in a conventional conflict what is happening to diplo- that could quickly escalate macy. It is said talks are into nuclear war – and that continuing but, according is an outcome too terrible to media reports, all that to contemplate. happens is further stern warnings to Putin. Little is said publicly about a possible diplomatic solution by introducing concessions that would outweigh the costs of war for Putin. For example, an offer of new negotiations on wider European security issues including reduction of missiles, arms control and transparency about military exercises; or revival of the Minsk Agreement of 2014-15 designed to end war between government
HEADLINES like “grass roots rebellion has paralysed Canadian capital” make alarming and surprising reading since Canadians are reputed to be among the most law-abiding people on the planet. These refer, of course, to what are being called the “Freedom Convoys” of truckers which have been using their vehicles recently to gather in cities like the capital Ottawa and bring them to a gridlocked standstill. Border crossings like the Ambassador Bridge linking Michigan to Ontario, which carries some 25 percent of the annual trade between the US and Canada, have also been blocked. What is particularly interesting is whether these occurrences in Canada may have repercussions elsewhere. Other countries wonder whether it is a one-off situation or a manifestation of what some are calling a global freedom movement that is funded by international farright groups and involves the exercise of power by the so-called common man challenging those in authority who may be overstepping the limits of their own power. Some are suggesting this is a rallying cry against big government intervention, and it is noteworthy that similar protests have now occurred in Britain, France and New Zealand as well as a gathering in Australia. Reportedly, the protests began in response to a
vaccine mandate brought in recently by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government requiring all Canadian truckers to be vaccinated or to quarantine on their return from the US. This was after truck drivers working the cross border routes had previously been exempt from such mandates as they were considered essential workers. Ninety percent of them have been vaccinated and the Canadian Trucking Alliance has disavowed the protesters as not being representative of the Canadian haulage industry as a whole. Leaders of the “Freedom Convoy” say, theirs is a fight for freedom within a democracy against a dictatorial government arbitrarily imposing unnecessary mandates on ordinary people. They claim to represent the working class or blue collar worker against an arrogant elite telling them what to do; and, as long as it is peaceful, civil disobedience is a timehonoured tradition in their country. The protests have been described as a “primal scream of rage and frustration” from a segment of the population who are fed up with two years of pandemic restrictions. But they have now snowballed in to a wider movement pushing for an end to all COVID mandates and in general opposition to Trudeau’s government in a country said to be beset by rising inflation, supply
chain difficulties and labour problems. According to reports, some observers in Canada consider Trudeau has handled the situation unwisely by dismissing the “Freedom Convoy” as a “small fringe minority” and accusing its activists of bigotry, racism and even Nazism. He refuses to negotiate with them because they hold views he maintains are unacceptable. But fringe groups anywhere can have a disproportionate influence on public opinion - especially truckers who play an essential role in a country’s economy - and now he is facing a spiralling crisis in which he himself is the focus of widespread rage. Despite the grievances of the truckers, in a democracy an elected government is empowered by the vote of the people to make decisions and, while peaceful demonstration is at the heart of the democratic system, most people agree the broader issue of what is good for the majority should always take precedence over the actions of a minority. Most people also agree civil disobedience needs to be limited and controlled if the actions by a minority become unreasonable and get out of hand. That said, politicians rule in a democracy at the will of the people. So it behoves them to listen to the voters even to fringe groups - most of the time if they want to prosper in government.
THE FAILED POLICY OF APPEASEMENT AT MUNICH
The Peter Young column
DISGRUNTLED TRUCKERS OR A WORLWIDE PROTEST?
In stating over the weekend that Russia is “highly likely” to invade Ukraine, the British Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, was also reported to have remarked that there was a “whiff of Munich in the air”. This was, of course, a reference to the policy of appeasement in the 1930s which failed to prevent the Second World War. Appeasement is a legitimate tool of diplomacy used to placate a potential aggressor if it is in the interests of the country concerned to do so in order to ward off possible danger and harm, particularly in the short term. But, historically, it will always be associated with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s policy in dealing with Hitler and Nazi Germany. This culminated in the Munich Conference of September, 1938 and an agreement reached between Germany, Britain, France and Italy that permitted Hitler’s annexation of the Sudetenland in western Czechoslovakia where some three million people of German origin lived. This followed his absorption of Austria into Germany earlier the same year, and the Munich Agreement did not stop Germany’s occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia the following year.
In September, 1939 Hitler’s forces invaded Poland and, in response, Britain declared war on Germany. The deadliest conflict in history, affecting the whole world, had been unleashed. Thus, giving in to a dictator in a vain attempt to stem his territorial ambitions had resulted in failure, and appeasement had been given a bad name. Ever since, it has become almost a pejorative term. Nonetheless, amid heavy criticism of Chamberlain at the time for being so naïve as to think that at Munich he had really achieved what he proclaimed was “peace in our time”, historians attest to the admiration many had for his perseverance in seeking to maintain peace even though he badly misjudged Hitler’s intentions. It can be argued there are parallels between Munich and what is happening now in relation to Ukraine in so far as an aggressive dictator is intent on making a land grab by force. But the circumstances are wholly different because of the solidarity displayed by NATO countries and the direct involvement of the US. All have agreed on a stern and uncompromising response to Putin’s aggression and are taking action accordingly.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Funeral Service for Sir Godfrey Kenneth Kelly, K.C.M.G., C.M.G., D.M
THE TRIBUNE
‘Sliver of hope over Ukraine’
prominent Attorney, died at 10.30am on 10th February, 2022 peacefully at home. He was 93 years old. Sir Godfrey was born in Nassau, Bahamas on 21st December, 1928 to Charles Kenneth Kelly and Edna Frances Kelly née Moore. After completing his early education at Queen’s College in Nassau he attended McDonogh School in Baltimore from 1945 to 1947. He then became an articled law student in the Chambers of Sir Kenneth Solomon for a year before leaving for England in 1948 to read law at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University and the Middle Temple in London. He received a B.A. degree in law in 1951 and his LL.B. in 1952 and was called to both the English and Bahamas bars in 1953. He received his M.A. in 1957 and his LL.B. degree was re-designated LL.M in 1989. After completing his studies he returned to Nassau and re-joined Sir Kenneth Solomon’s law firm which was established by him in 1905. Sir Godfrey retired from practice in 2019 after practising for 66 years. Sir Godfrey participated actively in the affairs of The Bahamas Bar Association serving as Secretary (1954-1960), Vice-President (1983-1984) and Registrar of Examinations (1986-1988) and as a Lecturer to articled law students and an examiner for 11 years. He was Legal Adviser to the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce from 1954-1960. He was active in politics for 16 years and was first elected to represent the Cat Island constituency in the House of Assembly in 1956 and won re-election in 1962 and 1967 and served until 1968. He was a delegate to The Bahamas Constitutional Talks in London in May of 1963. When ministerial government was introduced on 7th January, 1964, Sir Godfrey was appointed Minister of Education after serving as a Member of the Board of Education for 7 years prior. He remained Minister until January 1967. He was appointed to the Senate in 1968 where he again served the people of The Bahamas as Leader of the Opposition until 1972 when he retired from active politics. Sir Godfrey was a keen sportsman, enjoyed tennis, skiing, shooting fishing and boating. He was particularly proficient in sailing and represented The Bahamas in Yachting events as a Dragon Class skipper in the Olympic Games of 1960 (Rome), 1964 (Tokyo), 1968 (Mexico) and 1972 (Munich) and in the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1962 in Jamaica where he won a Gold Medal. In 2011 he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame. He and the late Sir Harold Christie were the founders of the Cat Island Regatta an annual event since 1956. Sir Godfrey was the Senior Honourary President of Star of The Bahamas Charity Guide No. 35 and was the recipient in 1986 of the Start of The Bahamas Scroll of Honour. On 10th July, 1998 in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of an independent Bahamas the Government presented Mr. Kelly with a Silver Jubilee Award for his contribution to Law. In the 2019 National Honours he was made a Member of the Order of Distinction. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours of June 1999, Her Majesty appointed Sir Godfrey a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of The Bahamas. In the New Year’s Honours of 2020, he was appointed Knight Commander. Sir Godfrey is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sonia Lady Kelly, one granddaughter, Katherine Anne Elza, who is also an attorney, his sistersin-law, Lady Winifred Anne Johnstone and Nancy B. Kelly, M.B.E., numerous nieces and nephews including Steven Kenneth Kelly (Susan), Lynn Marion Lowe (Christopher), Andrew Jordan Kelly (Sylvia), David Gregory Booth Kelly (Shelle), Candace Kelly, cousins George Kelly, M.B.E. (Norma) and lifelong friends. He was predeceased by his two children, Godfrey Ian Kelly and Linda Anne Elza, his two brothers, David Albert Charles Kelly, C.B.E. and Basil Trevor Kelly, C.B.E., his sister-in-law, Joan Paula Kelly and his nephews, Gary Herbert Kelly and Reginald Scott Kelly. A special thanks to Dr. Dean Tseretopolous, Dr. Angela Kunz, Dr. Ian Kelly, Mr. Elisha Forbes and Mr. Geo Martin Digma for their loving care and attention over the years. The Funeral Service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street, Nassau on Friday, 18th February, 2022 at 11.30am. A viewing will be open to the public on Thursday, 17th February, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Lyford Cay Foundation Inc. for the Sir Godfrey Kenneth Kelly Memorial Scholarship (P.O. Box N7776, Nassau, Bahamas) or direct deposit to Lyford Cay Foundation, Inc. Account No. 101-422-4, Old Fort Branch, RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) or The Bahamas National Trust (P.O. Box N-4105, Nassau, Bahamas), or direct deposit to Bahamas National Trust, Account No. 056251111996, RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited in memory of Sir Godfrey Kenneth Kelly, K.C.M.G., C.M.G., D.M.
RUSSIAN tanks during military drills in the Leningrad region, Russia. Photo: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP troops could move on try to draw Russia into “endMOSCOW Ukraine as soon as Wednes- less talks” and questioned Associated Press day, Monday’s meeting whether there is still a chance THE Kremlin signalled between Putin and Foreign to reach agreement. Lavrov yesterday it is ready to keep Minister Sergey Lavrov replied that his ministry talking with the West about suggested otherwise. wouldn’t allow the US and At the session with its allies to stonewall Russia’s security grievances that led to the current Ukraine Putin, Lavrov argued that main requests. crisis, offering hope that Moscow should hold more The US reacted coolly to Russia might not invade talks with the US and its Lavrov’s comments. its beleaguered neighbor allies despite their refusal “The path for diplomacy within days as the US and to consider Russia’s main remains available if Russia European allies increas- security demands. chooses to engage conMoscow, which denies structively,” White House ingly fear. Questions remain about it has any plans to invade principal deputy press secRussian President Vladimir Ukraine, wants Western retary Karine Jean-Pierre Putin’s intentions, however. guarantees that NATO won’t said. “However, we are And countries are evacuat- allow Ukraine and other clear-eyed about the prosing diplomats and on alert former Soviet countries to pects of that, given the for possible imminent war join as members. It also wants steps Russia is taking on the amid the worst East-West the alliance to halt weapons ground in plain sight.” tensions since the Cold War. deployments to Ukraine and US officials said the On a last-ditch diplomatic roll back its forces from East- Russian military contrip, Germany’s chancellor ern Europe — demands flatly tinued apparent attack said there are “no sensible rejected by the West. preparations along The talks “can’t go on Ukraine’s borders. A US reasons” for the buildup of more than 130,000 Russian indefinitely, but I would defence official said small troops on Ukraine’s bor- suggest to continue and numbers of Russian ground ders to the north, south and expand them at this stage,” units have been moving out east, and he urged more Lavrov said, noting that of larger assembly areas Washington has offered to for several days, taking dialogue. Britain’s prime minis- conduct dialogue on limits up positions closer to the ter said Europe is “on the for missile deployments Ukrainian border at what edge of a precipice” — in Europe, restrictions on would be departure points if but added, “there is still military drills and other Putin launched an invasion. time for President Putin to confidence-building In a phone call on step back.” France’s for- measures. Lavrov said pos- Sunday, US President Joe eign minister, Jean-Yves sibilities for talks “are far Biden and Ukrainian PresiLe Drian, told French tel- from being exhausted”. dent Volodymyr Zelenskyy His comments, at an agreed to keep pushing evision that “all elements” orchestrated both deterrence and diplowere in place for a strong appearance Russian offensive, but for TV cameras, seemed macy. Zelenskyy’s office “nothing shows today” that designed to send a message also quoted him suggesting Putin has decided to launch to the world about Putin’s a quick Biden visit would own position: namely, that help — a possibility that one. Despite warnings from hopes for a diplomatic solu- was not mentioned in the Washington, London and tion aren’t yet dead. White House summary of Putin noted the West could the call. elsewhere that Russian
EMERGENCY POWERS INVOKED TO DEAL WITH CANADA TRUCK PROTEST OTTAWA, Ontario Associated Press CANADIAN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has invoked emergency powers to try to quell the protests by truck drivers and others who have paralysed Ottawa and blocked border crossings in anger over the country’s COVID19 restrictions. Trudeau ruled out using the military and said Monday that the emergency measures “will be time-limited, geographically targeted, as well as reasonable and proportionate to the threats they are meant to address”. For the past two weeks, hundreds and sometimes thousands of protesters in trucks and other vehicles have clogged the streets of Ottawa, the capital, railing against vaccine mandates and other virus precautions and condemning Trudeau’s Liberal government. Members of the selfstyled Freedom Convoy have also blockaded various US-Canadian border crossings, though the busiest and most important — the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit — was reopened over the weekend. “This is the biggest, greatest, most severe test Trudeau has faced,” said Wesley Wark, a University of Ottawa professor and
national security expert. Invoking the Emergencies Act would allow the federal government to declare the Ottawa protest illegal and clear it out by such means as towing vehicles, Wark said. It would also enable the government to make greater use of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the federal police agency. One of the protest organisers in Ottawa vowed not to back down in the face of pressure from the government. “There are no threats that will frighten us. We will hold the line,” Tamara Lich said, though several truckers did agree to move their rigs out of a residential area and consolidate them on Parliament Hill to avoid disturbing people living in the neighborhood. Cadalin Valcea, a truck driver from Montreal protesting for more than two weeks, said he will move only if forced: “We want only one thing: to finish with this lockdown and these restrictions.” Doug Ford, the Conservative premier of Ontario, which is Canada’s most populous province and includes Ottawa and Windsor, expressed support for emergency action before the meeting with Trudeau, saying: “We need law and order. Our country is at risk now.”
But at least three other provincial leaders — from Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan — warned the prime minister against taking such a step, some of them cautioning that it could inflame an already dangerous situation. “At this point, it would not help the social climate. There is a lot of pressure, and I think we have to be careful,” said Quebec Premier François Legault. “It wouldn’t help for the polarisation.” The protests have drawn support from right-wing extremists and armed citizens in Canada, and have been cheered on in the US by Fox News personalities and conservatives such as Donald Trump. Other conservatives pushed Trudeau to simply drop the pandemic mandates. “He’s got protests right around the country, and now he’s dropping in the polls, desperately trying to save his political career. The solution is staring him in the face,” said opposition Conservative lawmaker Pierre Poilievre, who is running for the party’s leadership. In other developments, the Mounties said they arrested 11 people at the blockaded border crossing at Coutts, Alberta, opposite Montana, after learning of a cache of guns and ammunition.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, February 15, 2022, PAGE 11
FREE TICKETS FOR 10,000 FANS AT CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer
LOS Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, left, holds the Vince Lombardi trophy during a press conference while posing for photos with league commissioner Roger Goodell following the NFL football team’s Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Rams bask in Super Bowl win, hope McVay, Donald want another By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean McVay looked and sounded very much like somebody who had been up all night celebrating his first Super Bowl victory when the coach showed up early yesterday morning to discuss his Los Angeles Rams’ hometown coronation. “It’s an incredible honour to be here,” McVay said, his sandpaper rasp accentuating his sarcasm. “It’s also torturous to have a team win a championship and then make you come the next morning to a press conference this early.” With the Rams’ 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, McVay has finally reached the culmination of a journey he began in early 2017 as the youngest head coach in modern NFL history. Just over five years later, the 36-year-old is also the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl — and the trip left him exhausted, but thrilled. McVay said nothing yesterday about the possibility of walking away from football soon, as the burnout-prone coach has suggested when asked about it over the years.
But he didn’t sound like he was finished with his work on a team he built into a champion. “I’ve been surrounded by great people,” McVay said. “When you get around great players, great coaches that are all committed and working in the same direction, pulling that rope in the same direction, good things can happen. When you have the right foundational pieces ... because of those guys’ success, other people get opportunities to grow.” Aaron Donald also hit his career’s peak by making the decisive defensive play on Cincinnati’s final snap, harassing Joe Burrow into a fourth-down incompletion to finish a Super Bowl performance that included two sacks. The three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year finally has his first ring — and the 30-year-old star also sidestepped questions about early retirement immediately after the victory. Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff says the team will wait until its celebrations die down to figure out how serious McVay and Donald are about starting life after football, but he is optimistic they’ll both be back.
“I think all of these guys are wiped,” Demoff said. “When you get to this point, the gas tank is empty and you’re sitting there holding a trophy. I think that’s daunting to some degree when you wake up this morning and realize you’ve got to go do it all over again, and you don’t have the energy. So I think the talk is actually natural. “And I would agree. I don’t think Sean’s current pace is sustainable in terms of how much work he puts in if you want to have a family. But I think the one thing, these guys all love football. They love being around each other. ... These are all natural questions that are hard to answer in the moment. A month away, two months away from everybody, and I think things will feel a lot better.” Not even a Super Bowl championship affected Rams owner Stan Kroenke’s career-long reluctance to speak publicly about his many sports teams, but Demoff said the billionaire who built SoFi Stadium was “happier than I’ve ever seen him” after raising his first Lombardi Trophy. “He took the two biggest risks in the NFL that I can think of in the last decade,”
Demoff said. “Buying land to build a stadium, hoping to get the opportunity to become the Los Angeles Rams again, and hiring a 30-year-old head coach when everybody wanted a major name. Those two risks culminated last night with unbelievable reward.” The Rams have done everything big since Kroenke relocated them to Los Angeles from his native Missouri six years ago. Landing in a glamorous town that had largely forgotten them, the Rams got everybody’s attention again by developing an appetite for risks and stocking their roster with veteran stars. Many of those stars played key roles in the Rams’ 16th and final victory. From Donald and Von Miller to Matthew Stafford and Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles’ big names loomed large in the grand finale. “There were so many guys on this team that have just respected this game, have put in the work and the time,” said Kupp, who looked less annoyed than his boss to be awake shortly after sunrise. “That was a huge thing coming into this. So many guys just said, ‘Hey, we’ve got guys here that deserve a Super Bowl.
We’ve got to win this for them.’” It happened one last time in the Super Bowl when Cincinnati scored 17 consecutive points to take a 20-13 lead several minutes into the third quarter. The Rams’ offence managed just three points from seven consecutive possessions before its final drive — a 15-play, 79-yard imperfect masterpiece ending in Kupp’s 1-yard TD catch. “We talk a lot about just being able to do your job,” Kupp said. “We went through a little bit of a lull there leading into halftime and through that third quarter. We just needed to keep pushing and keep trusting in the details of things.” The Rams kept the party going at Disneyland later Monday, and they’ll get a victory parade in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Free agency is only four weeks away, and the Rams must make decisions on several key players: Miller, receiver Odell Beckham Jr, starting cornerback Darious Williams, offensive linemen Brian Allen and Austin Corbett, and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day. They’re also waiting for Andrew Whitworth’s decision on retirement.
LONDON (AP) — In an unprecedented move, 10,000 fans will be able to attend the Champions League final for free. The gesture by competition organiser UEFA for the biggest club final in world football stands in contrast to the cheapest tickets for the Super Bowl on Sunday costing thousands of dollars. Each club will receive 5,000 tickets for the showpiece in the Russian city of St Petersburg on May 28, which have to be given to loyal supporters rather than to sponsors or club officials. “Football fans are the lifeblood of the game,” UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement, “and we thought it would be a nice way to recognise the difficulties they have experienced over the last two years and how they nevertheless still managed to support their teams and live their passion even when away from the stadiums.” There will also be 8,000 free tickets split between the finalists in the Europa League in Budapest, Hungary and 6,000 for the final of the inaugural edition of the third-tier Europa Conference League in Tirana, Albania. For UEFA’s senior women’s club competition, 6,000 fans can attend the Champions League final for free at the Juventus stadium in Turin on May 22. UEFA said the giveaway for the four finals in May will not impact amounts of cash distributed to clubs. The cost of the two cheapest tickets will also be frozen for the men’s Champions League final for at least the next three seasons, with category 4 remaining at $80) and category 3 at ($204), UEFA said in a statement. “Fans do not have an unlimited amount of money to spend on football,” FSE said in a statement. But Kupp had a confident answer when asked if he thought the Rams could become the first NFL team in nearly two decades to repeat. “Certainly,” he said. “If you’re going into a season and didn’t think you could win it all, it would be a pretty depressing place to play from.”
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RETURNS: PSG-REAL MADRID HIGHLIGHTS LAST 16 THE Champions League is back. It’s the start of the knockout stage, with the headline match being the meeting between European football’s aristocrat — the 13-time winner Real Madrid — and an upstart in Paris Saint-Germain, which is looking to be continental champion for the first time. A look at that match and the three other firstleg games in the last 16 this week: TODAY: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN VS. REAL MADRID Paris Saint-Germain’s dream of winning a first Champions League title faces a potentially rude awakening against 13-time champion Real Madrid. PSG has struggled all season against teams that play quickly on the counterattack and Madrid is arguably the best around at swift transition play. However, those attacks rely heavily on star forward Karim Benzema’s movement, touch and awareness. He is in the Madrid squad but doubtful to play as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since last month. Madrid hasn’t reached the final since
completing a straight hat trick of European Cups in 2018. Now Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti travels to face the side he once coached with only one win in four matches in all competitions. Without Benzema it will be more difficult, and a backup option is resorting to perennially out-of-favour Gareth Bale. Once the world’s most expensive player, the forward only made his first appearance since August when starting in the 0-0 draw at Villarreal on Saturday. But PSG is probably even more reliant on Kylian Mbappe than Madrid is on Benzema, and Mbappe’s injury-time winner on Friday against Rennes glossed over another laborious performance. Even without Benzema, Madrid has the edge in midfield with Luka Modric and Casemiro. SPORTING VS. MANCHESTER CITY A welcome draw — on paper, at least — and a fully fit and in-form squad, Manchester City is in great shape at the start of the knockout stage as the English club goes in search of that elusive Champions League title. City’s only loss in all competitions since October 30 — a run
PSG’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the French League One soccer match against Rennes at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 11. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) of 20 games — was 2-1 at Leipzig in the final match in the Champions League group stage, which meant little since Pep Guardiola’s team was already assured of advancing. Indeed, more significant than the loss was the red card shown to Kyle Walker that will deprive Guardiola of his first-choice right back for both legs against Sporting and the first leg of the quarterfinals should City progress. Joao Cancelo, rested like Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte in the Premier League at the weekend, will fill in at right back with Oleksandr Zinchenko set to cover on the left. City, the beaten finalist last season,
is heavy favourite against a Portuguese opponent which is making only its second appearance in the knockout stage, and first since 2008-09. On that occasion, Sporting was humiliated 12-1 on aggregate by Bayern Munich. Sporting was in the competition’s group stage this season for the first time since 201718 and finished ahead of Borussia Dortmund to advance. The Portuguese champions relinquished a two-goal lead in a heated 2-2 draw at domestic league leader Porto on Friday, staying six points off the top. WEDNESDAY: SALZBURG VS.
BAYERN MUNICH The importance of captain Manuel Neuer to Bayern Munich was illustrated in the Bavarian powerhouse’s shock loss to promoted Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Neuer opted for surgery on a troublesome knee problem at this stage of the season on the premise that he can be fit again for the business end, including Champions League semifinals. Replacement goalkeeper Sven Ulreich has played twice in the Bundesliga, and Bayern has lost both games. While the 33-year-old Ulreich has shown his prowess before, it’s clear that Bayern’s defenders don’t play with the same security when Neuer, the Germany goalkeeper, isn’t there. Salzburg came from behind to beat Rapid Vienna 2-1 on Friday. Salzburg’s German forward Karim Adeyemi is reportedly a transfer target for Bayern’s Bundesliga rival Borussia Dortmund, but he will need to avoid a yellow card if he wants to make the second leg in Munich. INTER MILAN VS. LIVERPOOL The San Siro will be a familiar stadium for Liverpool. After all, the six-time
European champions have already played there this season having been drawn with AC Milan in the group stage. Liverpool beat Milan 2-1 away in December in the final group game to complete a clean sweep of six wins, becoming the first English team to do so. It bolsters Liverpool’s status as one of the favorites for a title the club last won in 2019, especially with Mohamed Salah back in its ranks after the African Cup of Nations. Salah has scored 11 goals in his last 11 Champions League matches, and 23 goals in 27 games in all competitions this season. Inter is also a multiple European champion — the last of its three titles came in 2010 — but is playing in the last 16 for the first time since 2011-12. The Italian team, engaged in a tight race for the Serie A title with Milan and Napoli, will be without Italy midfielder Nicolò Barella, who is suspended. NEXT WEEK The remaining first legs are next week with Chelsea’s title defense resuming against Lille, Juventus at Villarreal, Manchester United away against Atletico Madrid and Benfica hosting Ajax.
PAGE 12, Tuesday, February 15, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
RUSSIAN SKATER CAN COMPETE, BUT MEDAL CEREMONY WON’T BE HELD
FROM left, Elana Meyers Taylor, of the United States, Kaillie Humphries, of the United States, and Christine De Bruin, of Canada, pose at the podium for the women’s monobob at the 2022 Winter Olympics, yesterday in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
By JAMES ELLINGWORTH and GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writers
(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
BEIJING (AP) — Russian teenager Kamila Valieva has been cleared to compete in the women’s figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics despite failing a pre-Games drug test, setting her up for an attempt at a second gold medal. Whatever happens on the ice, Valieva will not get a medal ceremony moment in Beijing. Nor will any skater who finishes in the top three with her. The Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared Valieva to skate less than 12 hours after a hastily arranged hearing that lasted into early Monday morning. A panel of judges ruled that the 15-year-old Valieva, the favourite for the women’s individual gold, does not need to be provisionally suspended ahead of a full investigation. The court gave her a favourable decision in part because she is a minor, known in Olympic jargon as a “protected person,” and is subject to different rules from an adult athlete. “The panel considered that preventing the athlete to compete at the Olympic Games would cause her irreparable harm in the circumstances,” CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said. Now, Valieva and her fellow Russian skaters can aim for the first podium sweep of women’s figure skating in Olympic history. The event starts with the short programme today and concludes Thursday with the free skate. The International Olympic Committee said yesterday afternoon that if Valieva finishes in the top three, there will be no medal ceremony during the Games. There will also be no ceremony for the team event won by Valieva and the Russian team a week ago. “It would not be appropriate to hold the medal ceremony,” the IOC said. Valieva landed the first quadruple jumps by a woman at the Olympics as the Russian team won gold in a dominant performance. The decision not to award medals also affects Nathan Chen and the rest of the second-place American team, who will leave Beijing unsure if they won silver or gold. It would be Chen’s second gold of the Games. If Valieva and Russia are disqualified, Japan moves up to silver and Canada wins bronze. “We are devastated that they will leave Beijing without their medals in hand, but we appreciate the intention of the IOC to ensure the right medals are awarded to the right individuals,” the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in a statement.
STRIKING GOLD IN BEIJING BEIJING (AP) — A roundup of gold medals from Monday, February 14, at the Beijing Games: BOBSLED WOMEN’S MONOBOB Former Canadian bobsledder Kaillie Humphries easily won the inaugural women’s monobob event. It was her third Olympic gold medal and her first for the US. It was also the first sliding medal for the US in seven events so far at the Beijing Games. Elana Meyers Taylor of the US won silver. It was the fourth medal of Meyers Taylor’s career, the most won by anyone in USA Bobsled history. Christine de Bruin of Canada won bronze. Humphries, who also has four medals, began sliding for the US in 2019 and got her citizenship in December. That allowed her to represent the US in Beijing. FIGURE SKATING ICE DANCE Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France broke their own ice dance world record to win the Olympic gold medal that narrowly eluded them four years ago in Pyeongchang. Papadakis and Cizeron scored 136.15 points to “Elegie” by the early 20th century French composer Gabriel Faure. That gave them 226.98 points Russian world champions Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov took silver with 220.51 points while the American duo of Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue claimed bronze in their final Olympics. The two have already The IOC decision also means the fourth-place finisher in the women’s event will have a good chance to move into the bronze position. Shortly after the CAS ruling, Valieva skated at practice, watched by her coach, Eteri Tutberidze. She completed her programme without a fall, drawing a smattering of applause from the Russian media watching. Reaction around the world ranged from support of the young skater to complaints that Russian doping had once again damaged a sporting event.
Roundup of Olympic gold medals from Monday, February 14
CHINA’s Xu Mengtao celebrates after winning a gold medal in the women’s aerials finals at the 2022 Winter Olympics, yesterday in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) announced they plan to retire. FREESTYLE SKIING WOMEN’S AERIALS Xu Mengtao of China landed a jump with three somersaults to win Olympic gold in women’s aerials on a frigid evening. Xu becomes the first woman from China to win the Olympic ski aerials event. She instantly knew her run was a gold-medal In addition to her status as a minor, the CAS ruling cited fundamental issues of fairness, the fact she tested clean in Beijing and that there were “serious issues of untimely notification” of her positive test. Valieva tested positive for the heart drug trimetazidine on December 25 at the Russian nationals, but the result from a Swedish lab didn’t come to light until a week ago, after she helped the Russian Olympic Committee win the team gold. Reasons for the sixweek wait for a result from Sweden are unclear. In a statement, WADA
TOTAL
1.
Norway
9
5
7
21
2.
ROC
4
6
8
18
3.
United States
7
6
3
16
4.
Germany
8
5
2
15
5.
Austria
5
6
4
15
6.
Canada
1
4
10
15
7.
Netherlands
6
4
2
12
8.
Sweden
5
3
3
11
9.
France
3
6
2
11
10.
Italy
2
5
4
11
Source: IOC & Sportradar
Updated Feb. 13 at 10:59 p.m. EST
worthy jump, too, pointing up at the sky soon after landing. She later leaned back and screamed into the cold air as the temperature hovered around minus-10 Fahrenheit. Xu scored a 108.61 to edge defending champion Hanna Huskova of Belarus. American Megan Nick was a surprise bronze medallist, holding off teammate Ashley Caldwell. suggested RUSADA slipped up by not signalling to the Stockholm lab that Valieva’s sample was a priority to be analysed so close to the Olympics. Her case has caused havoc at the Olympics since last Tuesday when the team event medal ceremony was pulled from the schedule because of the positive test. The Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA) immediately suspended her, then lifted the ban a day later. The IOC and others appealed, and an expedited hearing was held Sunday night. Valieva testified via video. Athletes under 16 like Valieva have more rights under anti-doping rules and typically aren’t held responsible for taking banned substances. The focus of any future investigation will be on her coaches, doctors, nutritionists, etc. This ruling only addresses whether Valieva can keep skating before her case is resolved. It doesn’t decide the fate of the one gold medal she has already won. Those issues will be dealt with in a separate, longerterm investigation led by RUSADA, which took the sample in St Petersburg. The World Anti-Doping Agency will have the right to appeal any ruling by RUSADA, and also said it wants to independently investigate Valieva’s entourage. The Valieva case means Russian doping has been
SKI JUMPING MEN’S TEAM Austria won Olympic gold in the ski jumping team event at the Beijing Games. Manuel Fettner jumped 128 metres Monday night on his final jump to seal the first-place finish. The team of Fettner, Stefan Kraft, Daniel Huber and Jan Hoerl combined to score 942.7 points, beating
Slovenia by 8.3 points with a combination of jaw-dropping distances and style that impressed the judges. The Slovenians earned silver and Germany won bronze. Norway, Germany, Japan and Poland followed after the first round in the last ski jumping event of the 2022 Olympics, but they couldn’t keep up with the top two nations.
KAMILA VALIEVA, of the Russian Olympic Committee, leaves the ice after a training session at the 2022 Winter Olympics Sunday in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J Phillip) a major theme for a six Madison Hubbell and straight Olympic Games. Zachary Donohue offered, “This appears to be “No comment.” another chapter in the Nikita Katsalapov, who systematic and pervasive along with Victoria Sinitdisregard for clean sport sina won the silver medal by Russia,” US Olympic for the Russians, said and Paralympic Committee simply: “Go Kamila!” CEO Sarah Hirshland said Hubbell and Donohue in a statement. could have their silver Hirshland said the medals upgraded to gold in USOPC was “disappointed the team competition. by the message this deci“There’s no done deal sion sends” and suggested yet, but I know all the athletes were denied the people in the team want to confidence of knowing they receive the medals here as a competed on a level playing team’” Hubbell said. field. “If we miss that At the rink today, the opportunity, it’s huge ice dance competition was disappointment.” decided as the CAS preThe IOC now says it will pared its verdict. “organise dignified medal Gold medallists Gabriella ceremonies once the case Papadakis and Guillaume of Ms Valieva has been conCizeron of France and cluded,” whenever that may American bronze medallists be.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, February 15, 2022, PAGE 13
Simons scores 31, Trail Blazers beat Bucks without Giannis MILWAUKEE (AP) — Anfernee Simons scored 31 points and the Portland Trail Blazers capitalised on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 122-107 last night for their third straight victory. Simons has averaged 30 points and has shot 18 of 39 from 3-point range during Portland’s winning streak. Antetokounmpo didn’t play for the Bucks due to a sore left ankle. Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game he believes it’s a short-term issue. Josh Hart scored 27 points and Jusuf Nurkic had 23 points and 16 rebounds as the Trail Blazers continued to thrive after reshaping their roster at the trade deadline. Portland outrebounded Milwaukee 58-43. BULLS 120, SPURS 109 CHICAGO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 19 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter and Chicago beat San Antonio for its fourth straight victory. It was DeRozan’s seventh consecutive game with at least 30 points, extending his career high. The All-Star is the first player with such a streak for the Bulls since Michael Jordan during the 1996-97 season. Nikola Vucevic had 25 points and 16 rebounds for Chicago, which lost 131-122 at San Antonio on January 28. Coby White
made five 3-pointers and finished with 24 points. The Bulls played without All-Star Zach LaVine, who missed his second straight game due to periodic soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. Coach Billy Donovan said LaVine also will miss Wednesday night’s matchup with Sacramento. San Antonio had won three of four. Lonnie Walker IV scored 21 points for the Spurs, and All-Star Dejounte Murray had 19 points and 11 assists. NETS 109, KINGS 85 NEW YORK (AP) — Seth Curry scored 23 points in his Brooklyn debut and the Nets downed Sacramento to snap their 11-game losing streak. Curry was one of five players who finished in double figures for Brooklyn. Bruce Brown set season highs with 19 points, six assists and five steals. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 19 points, Cam Thomas added 14 off the bench and Andre Drummond contributed 11. De’Aaron Fox had 26 points for the Kings. The new-look Nets debuted two of the three players acquired from Philadelphia in last Thursday’s star-laden deal with the 76ers. Curry and Drummond started at off guard and centre, respectively. Ben Simmons, the centrepiece of the trade for the Nets, sat on the bench.
By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer
TRAIL Blazers’ Josh Hart (11) gestures after making a basket during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks last night in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) PELICANS 120, RAPTORS 90 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 23 points and New Orleans shot a season-best 58.4% to defeat Toronto. Brandon Ingram had 10 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, leaving him two short of his first tripledouble when he was pulled after playing 29 minutes because the game was not close — and because New Orleans plays again Tuesday night. Jonas Valanciunas had 18 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes, and reserve big man Jackson Hayes added 14 points for the Pelicans, who never trailed. The Pelicans had a season-high 36 assists on 45 field goals and tied a season best with 16 3-pointers on 36 attempts (44.4%).
Fred VanVleet scored 20 points and Pascal Siakam added 18 for the Raptors, who have lost two straight following an eight-game winning streak. WIZARDS 103, PISTONS 94 WASHINGTON (AP) — Kyle Kuzma scored 17 of his 23 points in the third quarter and Deni Avdija had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds as Washington handed Detroit its eighth straight loss. Kentavious CaldwellPope added 16 points for the Wizards. Saddiq Bey led the Pistons (12-45) with 24 points. Cade Cunningham, who leads NBA rookies in scoring, was in foul trouble much of the game and finished with 12. Washington (26-30) won for the third
time in 12 games. Detroit, held scoreless for more than four minutes late in the fourth quarter, is 4-25 on the road. THUNDER 127, KNICKS 123, OT NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Giddey had a triple-double of 28 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds, and Oklahoma City rallied from an 11-point deficit in the second half to beat New York in overtime. Giddey, the sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft, shot 11 for 22 from the field for the Thunder, who snapped a five-game losing streak. Tre Mann scored 30 points and Darius Bazley added 23. Julius Randle had a triple-double of 30 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the struggling Knicks, who have lost nine of 11.
Gonzaga back at No. 1 in AP Top 25, Wyoming enters poll By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer GONZAGA keeps finding its way back to the top of the The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. The Zags reclaimed the No. 1 ranking yesterday for a third stint this season atop the AP Top 25, moving up one spot to swap places with Auburn after the Tigers fell to No. 2 following their first loss since November. Mark Few’s Bulldogs earned 56 of 60 first-place votes to reach No. 1 for a fifth week this season. Gonzaga (21-2) was the preseason No. 1 after last year’s run to the NCAA championship game for what became its only loss. The Zags spent three weeks at the top before falling out after a loss to Duke, and also spent a week at No. 1 in midJanuary before being supplanted by Auburn. It’s become a regular position for Gonzaga over the past four seasons, one no other team in the country can match. Going back to 2018-19, Gonzaga has
spent at least four weeks at No. 1 each season, including last year’s wire-to-wire hold on the top spot. The Zags have now spent 31 of 72 weeks at No. 1 in the poll over the past four seasons, with Duke (11) and Baylor (10) the closest competitors. This year’s Zags are doing it again with a highpowered offence that leads the country in scoring (90.0 points per game) for the fourth straight season. Gonzaga has also led KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency metrics for the past three seasons and entered the week ranked second to Purdue (122.6 points per 100 possessions). Gonzaga has four players averaging in double figures and three others averaging at least 7.4 points. “That’s kind of how we play,” leading scorer Drew Timme said after Saturday’s win against Saint Mary’s. “You look at the scoreboard and it’s, ‘Oh, he had 20, he had 20.’ It’s just how we play the game. I think that’s the beauty of this programme and what (Few) has built here.”
SNUB TO SUB: ALLEN NAMED ALL-STAR REPLACEMENT FOR HARDEN
AUBURN head coach Bruce Pearl. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) THE TOP TIER Bruce Pearl’s Tigers earned the other four firstplace votes despite losing in overtime at Arkansas last week to snap a 19-game winning streak, which saw them spend three weeks at No. 1 in the programme’s first stint at the top. Arizona climbed one spot to No. 3 followed by Kentucky -- which has its highest ranking since spending a week at No. 1 in November 2019 – and Purdue. Kansas was next at No. 6, followed by reigning
national champion Baylor and Providence, which climbed three spots to No. 8 for its highest ranking since spending a week in that same position in January 2016. Duke and Villanova rounded out the top 10, with the Wildcats making the week’s biggest jump by climbing five spots. RISING Villanova’s climb came after wins against St John’s and Seton Hall in the Big East, while No. 17 Southern California rose four spots after wins against Pacific and No. 13 UCLA. In all, 11 teams moved up from last week’s poll. SLIDING Houston had the week’s biggest slide, falling eight spots to No. 14 after losses to SMU and Memphis last week. No one else took a significant tumble, with Purdue, Duke, No. 11 Texas Tech, No. 18 Ohio State and No. 19 Michigan State all falling two spots. Nine teams fell from last week’s rankings. STATUS QUO No. 20 Texas and No. 24 Connecticut were the only
two teams to hold their positions from last week. WELCOME IN No. 22 Wyoming, No. 23 Arkansas and No. 25 Alabama were the week’s new additions, with the Cowboys from the Mountain West Conference earning their first ranking since spending a week in the 2015 poll and only the program’s second appearance since the 1987-88 season. The Razorbacks and Crimson Tide have both spent multiple weeks in the poll this season. FAREWELL (FOR NOW) Marquette, Saint Mary’s and Xavier fell out from last week’s rankings. CONFERENCE WATCH With Arkansas and Alabama returning to the poll, the Southeastern Conference tied the Big Ten for the national lead with five AP Top 25 teams. The Big 12 had four, followed by the Pac-12 and Big East each having three. The Atlantic Coast, West Coast, American Athletic, Ohio Valley and Mountain West conferences each had one ranked team.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jarrett Allen went from being snubbed to a sub. Passed over in fan voting and overlooked by coaches as a reserve, Cleveland’s centre will replace an injured James Harden at this year’s All-Star Game in Cleveland and give the Cavaliers two All-Stars for the first time since 2018. Allen’s strong second season with the Cavs has helped push them among the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The 6-foot-10 Allen was rewarded yesterday by being chosen to take Harden’s place by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Allen will join teammate Darius Garland for this year’s event at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Both will play for Team LeBron (James), which will be coached by Phoenix’s Monty Williams. Harden is dealing with a left hamstring issue that is delaying his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers. Harden, who was chosen by coaches as an All-Star reserve, was traded last week by the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal for Ben Simmons. This is the first All-Star selection for Allen, who is averaging 16.2 points, a career-high 11.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots in 49 games. The 23-year-old is also second in the league in field-goal percentage (66.5%). Shortly after learning Harden would miss the game, the Cavs began recampaigning for Allen, who was passed over last week when Silver named Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball as Kevin Durant’s replacement. “He should have been named an All-Star reserve from the jump,” said teammate Kevin Love, a five-time All-Star said of Allen. “I told him, that doesn’t really matter how you get there. He’s been so consistent for us. “He’s been a leader in that respect, brings it every single night. Posts a doubledouble, shoots extremely well from the floor. He’s a guy that wants to get better, a guy that wants to lead. It’s such a skill to play hard every single night and J.A. does that. He produces for us time and time again.” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff was equally effusive. “I’m not knocking anyone else and obviously I’m biased, but I don’t know of anybody who deserves it more,” Bickerstaff said before Allen was selected. “If you talk about valuing the things that we’re supposed to value as a league and highlighting that, it’s impact on winning and being high-character people and teammates. Because of Jarrett and what he’s done for this team, we are where we are right now in a competitive Eastern Conference.”
Iowa State up to No. 6 in women’s AP Top 25, Gamecocks No. 1 By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer IOWA State has reached its best ranking in 20 years in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll while South Carolina remains the unanimous choice at No. 1. Iowa State (21-3) moved up three spots to sixth yesterday — its highest mark since the 2002 season — and has a huge week ahead with games against No. 14 Texas and No. 15 Oklahoma. The Cyclones then play No. 7 Baylor next Monday. Longtime Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly couldn’t remember the last time his team had such an important stretch. “It’s a really big week going to Texas where we haven’t played them very well lately and Oklahoma
is playing at a very high level,” Fennelly said. “It’s one of those weeks you hope to have in February.” The Gamecocks received all 30 votes from a national media panel after beating Kentucky and Georgia on the road last week. Stanford, Louisville, N.C. State and Indiana rounded out the top five. The Cyclones, who were sixth on January 7, 2002, hold a one-game lead over Oklahoma and Baylor in the Big 12 standings. Iowa State has only won the conference’s regular season crown once, in 2000. This is only the second time in the programme’s history that the Cyclones have reached 20 wins in their first 23 games, joining the 200-01 team. Iowa State was missing star Ashley Joens, who averages 19.9
SOUTH Carolina head coach Dawn Staley yells to her players on the court during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia on Sunday in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) points and 9.3 rebounds, when it lost to Texas because of COVID-19 protocols. She is back now. “This team is evolving into a really solid team that has done things the right way,” Fennelly said. “We’ve gotten healthier over time and that has helped us
and we’ve won some close games.” No. 7 Baylor and No. 8 Arizona follow Iowa State while Michigan fell from fourth to ninth after losing at Michigan State and Northwestern. UConn dropped two spots to No. 10.
Virginia Tech is back in the Top 25 at No. 23 after beating then-No. 11 Georgia Tech and former No. 23 North Carolina last week. CONFERENCE RANKINGS Louisville and N.C. State are two of six Atlantic Coast Conference teams ranked this week. The SEC and Big Ten each have five teams in the poll. The Big 12 has four and the Pac-12 two among Power Five conferences. SNAPPED UConn’s nine-year undefeated run of conference wins ended against Villanova last week; the Huskies hadn’t lost a regular season or postseason conference game in either the Big East or American Athletic Conference since 2013, when they fell to Notre Dame. UConn
rebounded with wins over DePaul and Marquette and still has not had back-toback losses since 1993. GAME OF THE WEEK No. 12 Tennessee at No. 1 South Carolina, Sunday. The top two teams in the SEC will square off with the Gamecocks hoping to put some space between themselves and the rest of the conference. ESPN will be on hand for the third-ever “College GameDay” at a women’s basketball game.
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The Bahamas Golf Federation congrats ‘young chef Chris’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net NORMALLY only the performances of the players are celebrated on the golf course, but today the Bahamas Golf Federation is recognising the achievement of rising young star Christopher Knowles in the classroom. In being selected as the top performer in the 2021 BGSCEs exams during the Ministry of Education’s National Examinations Awards Presentation earlier this month, the BGF is calling it an even-par, comparing it a score produced by an expert golfer. Knowles, the son of Dr Ronald and Richelle Knowles, started playing golf in the summer of 2015 when he was 10 years old. He’s now a 17-year-old 12th grader at Queen’s College and has a younger brother Michael following in his footsteps. “At the end of practice, our coach, Georgette Rolle-Harris, taught us the core values needed in the game,” said Knowles about his introduction to the sport. “I learned about honesty, responsibility, confidence and good sportsmanship. “As I continued to play golf and developed a passion for it, I realised many of these values were also life lessons. These played a significant role in helping me become self-disciplined and focused on the high academic goals that I pursued.” Knowles said all of the values Rolle-Harris spoke to him about, assisted him during his high school years when the pressures of course work, exams, and college applications became daunting. “Now that I am preparing for the subsequent phases in life, I know these values that Georgette, the other coaches, and parents at Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy have instilled within me will prove to be a valuable asset for me as I go through with becoming a medical student and eventually a dermatologist,” Knowles said. Rolle-Harris, the founder and head coach of Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy, said since Knowles began in the programme in the fall of 2016, he’s been able to progress very quickly, which is why she’s delighted about his achievement in school. “He was one of the lucky recipients of the 2017 Ocean Club Junior
PANEL
FROM PAGE 16 establish fairness and preserve girls’ sports against LGBTQ advocates, who say the low number of transgender studentathletes suggests the issue is more about culture war messaging than levelling an unfair playing field. “To those that think that I’m just trampling on women’s sports, or that this is a solution looking for a problem: All three of my daughters have played (against) transgender athletes. So this is happening in our state,” Republican Rep. Kera Birkeland, the proposal’s sponsor, said yesterday. In Utah, efforts to regulate transgender student-athlete participation in women’s sports stalled last year amid concerns from Republican Gov. Spencer Cox and Jazz owner Ryan Smith, who worried passing a ban could jeopardise efforts to bring big events to Utah, such as the 2023 NBA AllStar Game. Governors in South Dakota, North Dakota and Louisiana vetoed bills targeting transgender student-athletes last year amid fears of backlash from athletic organisations. But states that passed bans haven’t faced boycotts like North Carolina did when the NCAA and NBA relocated events in response to the passage of a 2016 state law limiting which public restrooms transgender people could use. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem this month signed into law a ban on transgender girls from
GINA Gonzalez-Rolle with young chef Christopher Knowles. Golf Scholarships. This was definitely a game changer as he was able to practice and play year round. He always had a great mind so many of the sessions were filled with his thought-provoking questions about the golf swing and life,” said Rolle-Harris, who serves as the head golf professional at Baha Mar. “As he got older and began to prepare for BJCs and BGCSEs, golf became a weekend hobby for him. He then would mostly be seen playing golf with his younger brothers each Saturday or Sunday. He is one who is able to quickly prepare for a golf tournament because his fundamentals are solid. We are more than proud of Christopher becoming the first male to top the BGCSE examinations.” Gina Gonzales-Rolle, a director of the BGF and the chairman of the BGF’s junior development programme, said Knowles is an amazing young man with great morals and standards, adding that whatever he puts his mind to he can do it and he does it well. “He doesn’t give up easily neither does he allow anything to
playing in women’s sports at the youth and college level. Of the about 85,000 participating in sports overseen by the Utah High School Activities Association, only three student-athletes have gone through the association’s transgender participation eligibility review process. Birkeland, said yesterday she knew of more participating, but she didn’t elaborate. The association, governed by representatives from schools throughout Utah, follows its own procedures to evaluate transgender student-athletes and ensure their gender identity is “not for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage.” But politicians in the Legislature have argued the issue is public policy that should be overseen by elected officials. The Associated Press last year reached out to two dozen lawmakers in the more than 20 states considering similar youth sports measures and found that only a few times has it been an issue among the hundreds of thousands of teenagers who play high school sports. Birkeland, who coaches junior varsity basketball when not in Utah’s Legislature, said she has had conversations with many girls who feel it’s unfair for transgender athletes who’ve experienced some of the effects of male puberty to participate alongside them, she said Monday. The girls, she said, would take comfort if they knew a panel tasked with levelling the playing field reviewed their eligibility.
MUNNINGS FROM PAGE 16
behind Sporting CP. He has reached double figure scoring in six games this season, highlighted by
make him afraid, it seems as though he takes small strides to make great big steps. I consider Chris to be extremely talented. He placed third in the first ever national school championship held last March and put his team in position to place second in their division,” Gonzales-Rolle said. “Because of his studies in school he did not have the time to practice as much as he wanted to this year because he spent many late nights studying and putting his all in to be on the top of the leader board. I am so proud of all of his accomplishments including his books which he wrote.” As a mentor for Knowles, Gonzales-Rolle said it has been easy to work with him. “Once I ask him to assist in any way he makes the time to help. I look forward to seeing his dream of being an amazing dermatologist who plays golf well on recreational level,” said Gonzales-Rolle as she congratulated Knowles on behalf of the BGF junior division. Rolle-Harris, also a director of the BGF, calls Knowles a “great role model for our junior golfers,” who has great time management
skills and has offered to assist junior golfers to efficiently plan for BGCSE exams. “We are looking forward to having more of our junior golfers following in his path,” she stated. In providing his advice to young people, Knowles encouraged them to find a sport they truly love and use it as a tool to increase their health and fitness because he believes in the old myth that all school and no play makes Jack a dull boy. “Sports are an excellent avenue to make friends, learn about teamwork and sportsmanship, and become more responsible and mature. Life is all about balance, try to find a happy medium,” he said. “If you set goals, make plans, and keep up with deadlines, you can excel at a sport while excelling academically. “Sports like golf can be used to aid in your higher education as many golf scholarships are available. Balance is the key - eating and sleeping well, exercising through sports, studying hard, and putting your best effort into everything you do will allow you to have a stable, meaningful life.” In thanking God for the trust he placed in him, Knowles said he only excelled and became who he is today because of his faith in God. “Psalm 9:1 says “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders,” Knowles quoted. “The Lord has certainly graced me with his wonders. I am grateful that I have been able to use the gifts he has bestowed upon me and use them to their fullest advantage. “I have not only God to thank but also all those who have positively impacted my life and extend my gratitude to these coaches, including Georgette Rolle-Harris, Gina Gonzales-Rolle, Marcus Pratt, Tony Singh and Fred Taylor for specifically for being instrumental in my success at golf.” Knowles is expected to tee off once again for Queen’s College when the BGF hosts the second Inter-school National Golf Championships from the week of March 21 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. He is also expected to be one of the players competing in the BGF’s Junior National Championships, scheduled for April 2-3 at the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island.
REP. KERA BIRKELAND, R-Morgan, speaks during the Senate Health and Human Services Standing Committee at the Utah State Capitol, on February 24, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP)
IN this file photo, Troy Williams, Equality Utah executive director, speaks during a House Education Committee meeting at the State Office Building in Salt Lake City. (Kristin Murphy/The Deseret News via AP) Birkeland said commission approval could bring legitimacy to transgender athletes who feel targeted. However, University of Utah pediatrician Jennifer Plumb, who said her child is transgender, argued special scrutiny would make transgender kids feel more singled out. “When we start talking about these ‘Verify
a season high 18 points and eight rebounds against his former club UD Oliveirnese. He also scored 17 against Lusitania and 15 against Academica. Munnings is currently in his second season in the LPB. Last
that you’re girl enough, or verify that you’re boy enough (policies),’ these kiddos, they shake in their proverbial boots,” Plumb said. The proposed commission passed through a legislative committee on a 6-3 vote yesterday, with Republicans in favour and Democrats opposed.
year he averaged 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for UD Oliveirense. Benfica eliminated UD Oliveirense in the quarterfinals of last season’s playoffs. The versatile 6’7” forward played for the Golden State
If the bill is enacted, the new commission would be composed of members including physicians, mental health professionals, statisticians and athletic trainers. The panel of experts — all appointed by Cox and leaders of Utah’s Republican-supermajority Legislature — would create criteria for participation and evaluate individual cases based on provided medical information about gender transition, including hormone treatments. In Utah, all students participating in grade or high school sports upload birth certificates. Transgender students who apply to participate in a “gender-designated interscholastic activity” that doesn’t correspond with the sex listed on their birth certificate would be sent to the commission. But people — including transgender student-athletes — can apply and change their birth certificates. Birkeland acknowledged basing commission criteria on birth certificates creates a loophole in her proposal. In red states like Utah, lobbyists who oppose establishing new state laws governing when transgender athletes can participate in youth sports remain in discussion with lawmakers over the proposal, rather than opposing it outright. “We just don’t believe it is necessary for the Legislature to identify the specific physical characteristics that the commission consider to determine whether an individual teenager is allowed to play a particular sport,” said Troy Williams, executive director of Equality Utah.
Warriors in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League. In his best performance in Las Vegas, he scored eight points on 2-3 shooting from beyond the arc in an 80-79 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
ALTIDORE JOINS NEW ENGLAND AFTER 7 YEARS IN TORONTO FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Former US national team forward Jozy Altidore signed with Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution yesterday. Altidore left Toronto last week after seven seasons when that team exercised a contract buyout. The 32-year-old agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Revolution through 2024. New England said Toronto remains responsible for a portion of Altidore’s salary through 2023. “I believe Jozy can continue to be an outstanding goal scorer, and we will work hard to get him back to full fitness and in good form over the next couple of months,” New England coach Bruce Arena said in a statement. Altidore scored four goals in 16 MLS matches last season and had 62 in 139 regular-season matches with Toronto. He also has played for the New York Red Bulls (2006-08), Villarreal (2008, 2010-11), Xerez (2009), Hull (2009-10), Bursaspor (2011), AZ Alkmaar (2011-13) and Sunderland (2013-15). Altidore has 42 goals in 115 appearances for the US from 2007-19, last appearing in the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. He is a two-time US Soccer Federation player of the year. Altidore is married to former US Open tennis champion Sloane Stephens.
USA, IOWA DOMINATE WRESTLING EVENT AT RANGERS’ STADIUM By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer IT didn’t go exactly as planned, but those involved in setting up the Bout at the Ballpark wrestling event at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas — home of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers — deemed the event a success and a step forward for the sport. USA Wrestling’s men’s and women dominated international competition and Iowa defeated Oklahoma State 23-9 in a college dual on Saturday night. The event combined international and collegiate competition for the first time. REV Entertainment collaborated with USA Wrestling, FloWrestling and the Iowa and Oklahoma State programmes with the intent of helping to raise the sport’s profile. Though the men’s team from Iran and the women’s team from Mongolia pulled out because of visa issues, REV Entertainment said the event drew 12,028. “I think it was a great effort by a lot of people to make it happen,” Oklahoma State coach John Smith said. “It’s too bad we didn’t get to see all of the best wrestlers, but that’s what it is. I think it was a great experience. I think in the end, these guys will remember it. ... Considering all the situations, it was a successful event for wrestling.” REV president Sean Decker said planning took a little more than a year. “Globe Life Field was transformed for this oneof-a-kind event,” he said. “It is one of our goals as a company to combine state-of-the-art events with world-class talent, and seeing that play out in the form of a wrestling dual was just as we imagined.”
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, February 15, 2022, PAGE 15
ATTORNEY ARGUES FOR BAFFERT, MEDINA SPIRIT TO KHRC STEWARDS
MILLIE Vlasov and Gulliver du Saint-Chene go clear in the 1.40m CSI 4* Sunshine Tour at Vejer de La Frontera, Cádiz, Spain.
Equestrian Millie displays strong performance in Spain’s Andalusia Sunshine Tour EQUESTRIAN Millie Vlasov is firmly on the path to representing The Bahamas at the 2023 CAC Games after her strong performance in the first weekend of the Andalusia Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain. Riding at the CSI 4* level, Vlasov rode one clear round after another at successively higher heights. Her final clear round aboard Gulliver du Saint-Chene in Sunday’s 1.40m class meant
On path to represent Bahamas at the CAC Games in 2023 that Vlasov has met the first of the minimum eligibility requirements for qualification to the individual equestrian event at the CAC Games, scheduled to be held in May 2023 in El Salvador. The weekend began with Vlasov
and her long-time partner Beaumont M/V placing 8th out of a field of 135 in the 1.20m class. On Saturday, Millie had another clear round, wrestling a fresh and forward Etos HBC around a challenging 1.30m course.
“I had to work with him,” Vlasov acknowledged. On Sunday, Vlasov found herself in exalted company, riding the 1.40m course designed by Luis González Molina against the likes of the 2012 Olympic individual gold medallist, Steve
Guerdat of Switzerland, and 2016 Olympic team gold medallist Penelope Leprevost of France. However, Vlasov and her horse Gulliver du SaintChene made short work of the course, going clear in a time of 62.54 seconds and ultimately placing 39th in the field of 102. Vlasov will continue to compete in the Sunshine Tour under the guidance of her coach Gilles Bertrand. She intends to move up to the 1.45m level next week.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — An attorney for Bob Baffert believes the Hall of Famer trainer and embattled Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit “will be fully exonerated” after stating to Kentucky racing stewards that the colt’s failed drug test for a steroid resulted from a prescribed topical salve rather than an injection. Medina Spirit’s derby win is in jeopardy following the failed postrace drug test for betamethasone last May. Churchill Downs has suspended Baffert for two years following the latest in a recent series of failed tests by his horses. Representatives for Baffert and the horse met yesterday with Kentucky Horse Racing Association stewards and contended there was no violation because state rules allow the use of topical salves. Betamethasone is legal in Kentucky, but prohibited on race day. Attorney Clark Brewster said in a statement last night that rules in Kentucky and other jurisdictions restrict only betamethasone acetate or sodium phosphate, which are injected into a horse’s intra-articular joint. Brewster added, “The false narrative regarding this case was sprung early and spread widely by uninformed or malevolent accusers and by careless reporting.” The hearing was closed to the public and media, and a decision could come this week. A message left with a KHRC spokeswoman was not immediately returned. Medina Spirit died on December 6 after a workout at Santa Anita racetrack in California. Results released last week from a necropsy on the horse revealed no definitive cause of death.
ELLA Saidi
MARIPOSA Monarchs varsity team.
KATARINA Coello
BAHAMAS INTERSCHOLASTIC EQUESTRIAN LEAGUE REGULAR SEASON ENDS THE Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League regular season came to a close last weekend, with riders from grades 4-12 in schools across New Providence marking the league’s first year as Region 13 of Zone 4 of the US-based Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA). The final show was held at Camperdown Equestrian Centre, and was officiated by judge Robert Robold of Cocoa, Florida. The league featured a 4-show series, with riders amassing points in team and individual categories with the goal of advancing to the Regional Finals competition. Teams required 20 points total to qualify for Regionals, while individuals required 18 points. Teams and individual riders celebrated as the final points were tallied and those who qualified for the Zone 4 Region 13 Regional Finals were identified.
BLUE Marlins varsity team.
In the end the CEC Blue Marlins varsity and the Mariposa Monarchs varsity are expected to face off in the Varsity Teams division. The Mariposa Gold Drops team were the sole qualifiers in the Futures Teams division, and so were automatically awarded the title of Futures Team Regional Champions. Twenty-one riders qualified at different levels for the individual classes, from the Varsity Open to Beginner Walk Trot. All qualified riders will compete at the Region 13 Regional Finals scheduled for February 26-27 at Mariposa Stables. The winning teams and riders of the Regional Finals will automatically qualify to represent The Bahamas in the IEA Zone 4 Hunt Seat Finals competition, set to be held March 20-21 at the Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina.
SPORTS PAGE 16
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022
National Family Island Regatta cancelled for third straight year By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
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or the third consecutive year, the National Family Island Regatta has been cancelled due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, National Regatta chairman Danny Strachan has confirmed. “I am saddened to confirm that as we were required to do in 2020 and 2021, the 2022 version of the National Family Island Regatta is cancelled,” Strachan announced in a press release to the media. “Once again, the National Family Island Regatta Committee reviewed available options. Cancellation is in the best interest of all of us. The continuing uncertainty of the pandemic requires this.” Strachan, who now resides in Exuma, said Clay Sweeting, the minister responsible for regattas, and the regatta desk in the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs have all been advised about the cancellation. “We do not wish to unintentionally encourage any regatta-specific expenditure by sloop owners, sailors, vendors, businesses, community organisations, magazine advertisers and sponsors,” Strachan said. “Nor do we wish to encourage hotels and other room rental facilities to hold their facilities for Regatta goers.”
THE NATIONAL Family Island Regatta has been cancelled for the third consecutive year due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, its chairman Danny Strachan (shown inset) has confirmed. While Strachan admitted that it hurts, he wants to remind everyone involved that “this too shall pass” and it is his hope that everybody will get through the pandemic together. “We hope that all who hold the National Family
Island Regatta dear will, along with the committee, seek to re-imagine options for staging a meaningful and safe regatta when national and international circumstances will permit us to appropriately gather. “Hopefully, we will stage
the event next year after we all would have spent yet another year recovering from the pandemic. We will recuperate and grow from strength to strength.” The National Family Islands Regatta is considered the biggest regatta
staged in the country. It’s normally held during the last week in April each year, but was last staged in 2019. Hopefully, after being cancelled for the last three years, Strachan said they can get back to the level they were in the past.
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ROMAD DEAN ON THE RISE IN OSBA By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net ROMAD Dean continues his series of impressive performances in the second half of the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association season. In the four games since the calendar flipped to 2022, Dean has averaged 27.2 points per game and his Crestwood Prep Lions have gone 5-1. In his most recent game, Dean finished with 28 points in a 97-89 win over Vanguard North Prep Sunday afternoon in Ontario, Canada. The Lions improved to 10-3 on the season. When play resumed on January 20, Dean began his streak with a season high 38 points in an 83-78 win over New Horizon Academy. He followed with 31 points in a 98-97 loss to United Scholastic Academy, 21 points in a 119-102 win over New Horizon Academy in the second matchup of the season, and 18 points in a 105-98 win over Southwest Academy. Dean also put up impressive numbers for the Lions at Deandre Ayton’s “Duel in the Desert” at Dream City Christian School in Glendale, Arizona on the Grind Session circuit. He won Powerade Player of the Game Honours for his 18-point, 10-rebound performance in an 83-65 win over BFL Prep. In 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 and 11.5 rebounds per game for the tournament. A 6’7” wing, Dean said his plan is to declare early and spend his senior season focused on his on-court production.
Expectations loom large for infielder Daunte Stuart By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net FOLLOWING a breakout campaign as a sophomore, expectations loom large for Daunte Stuart headed into the upcoming 2022 campaign as one of the top players in the Southland Conference. The Northwestern State infielder was named a preseason All-Southland Conference first team selection based on his
performances in the 2021 season. Stuart, at 5’11 180 pounds, played last season predominantly at second base and was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball magazine. He became the first position player in school history to win the award. He was also previously named to the Southland Conference second team when the league announced its annual awards. Stuart was the Demons leader in
DAUNTE Stuart batting average (.278), doubles (13), home runs (7), RBIs (30) and total bases (84). He drew more walks than any other player in the
Utah proposes panel to decide when transgender athletes play By SAM METZ Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah lawmakers advanced a proposal yesterday to create a commission of political appointees to make decisions about transgender student-athletes participating in youth sports — diving into a heated debate that has taken place in dozens of Republican-led statehouses. The idea is the latest attempt by Utah
Republicans to add state oversight to youth sports and follows stalled efforts to pass an outright ban. Fights over bans in other statehouses have become touchstones for the broader LGBTQ rights movement, sparking legal battles and outcry. Utah’s proposed “School Activity Eligibility Commission” would create criteria and evaluate transgender student-athletes’ physical characteristics and how they compare to “baseline
ranges” for their age and gender. Its decisions would determine which transgender athletes can participate in all “genderdesignated” youth sports, though lawmakers have focused on the idea of transgender girls competing in leagues that match their gender identity. The debate pits parents’ groups and social conservatives who believe a policy is needed to
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Southland Conference and ranked 16th in the nation with 44. His walk total ranks sixth in school single-season history, one away from moving him into a three-way tie for fourth place. After an 0-4 start, Stuart followed with a team long 10-game hitting streak which ran from February 21 to March 7 - a team leading 12 multi-hit games and tied for the team lead with eight multi-RBI games. Over the course of the streak Stuart
homered in three of four games. Another season highlight came in his team’s fourgame sweep over Nicholls’ State when he went 4-11 with four runs, four RBI, and the first multi homerun game of his career. In game two, Stuart had a career outing when he went 2-2 with four RBI, drew four walks, scored four runs and hit two home runs in a 13-6 win. Defensively, Stuart was a part of a team best 22 double plays. He
improved his numbers from a true freshman season where he started all 16 games at second base. He was one of three Demons to swipe three bases and finished third on the team in batting average with .281 and included a nine-game hit streak. The Demons open their 2022 season by hosting former Southland Conference rival Stephen F Austin at 6:30pm February 18 at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
TRAVIS MUNNINGS ELIMINATED FROM EUROCUP QUALIFIER CONTENTION By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TRAVIS Munnings and Sporting Lisboa Benfica have been eliminated from FIBA EuroCup playoff contention but remain strong contenders locally in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB). Munnings finished with a team high 19 points and eight rebounds, but Benfica dropped a crucial result Sunday, 89-72 to Sporting CP. With the loss, they fell to 2-4 in Group K, while Sporting CP (4-1) and CSM
TRAVIS Munnings CSU Oradea (4-1) clinched spots in the EuroCup quarterfinals.
In 14 EuroCup games, Munnings has averaged 8.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Locally in Portugal, Munnings is averaging 8.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, shooting 54 percent from the field and 47 percent from threepoint range. He posted his first double double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds in a dominant 86-64 win over Ovarense. It was the 11th straight win for Benfica and they improved to 15-2, second in the league
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