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MAN SHOT DEAD BY POLICE ‘FIRED FIRST’ DISNEY ‘NEAR TRIPLES’ JOBS IN PROJECT’S CONSTRUCTION

Officers’ vehicle struck by bullets during gun battle By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A MAN, who allegedly shot at police, was killed by officers on Antigua Street yesterday. The incident took place after officers received a report before noon about a “disturbance” at a church in the area and responded to the call. Police press liaison officer Superintendent Audley Peters said the victim was in his late 20s. It is understood that he

was not a resident of the area. Supt Peters said a pistol was recovered from the deceased. He told reporters that when officers arrived at the scene, they saw a male fitting the description that they were given travelling along Antigua Street. “This male had in his possession a firearm and as a result of that the officers called control to seek further assistance and while doing so they followed the male.” SEE PAGE TWO

MURDER IN GRAND BAHAMA TAKES YEAR’S TALLY TO 48 By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A MAN believed to be in his early 40s was shot and killed at his home in Grand Bahama early yesterday morning, pushing the country’s murder count to 48 so far for the year, according to this newspaper’s records. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle

said officers were alerted to a shooting in the Bruce Avenue area shortly after 8.30am. According to reports, a man was at his home when a vehicle pulled up. One of the male occupants got out of the vehicle, produced a firearm and began firing shots in his direction. “He was shot about the body multiple times,” the police press liaison officer said. SEE PAGE TWO

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

WORLD LEADERS AT CRYPTO CONFERENCE FORMER British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former US President Bill Clinton at the Crypto Bahamas conference yesterday. See PAGE FIVE for more photographs from the event.

ENGLERSTON MP Glenys Hanna Martin admitted yesterday that she struggled with the Davis administration’s decision to return value added tax to breadbasket items, adding that she hoped all food items would be free of the tax one day. The MP was yesterday again responding to St Barnabas MP Shanendon

GLENYS HANNA MARTIN MP Cartwright’s repeated calls in the House of Assembly

PM: ‘WE’RE FIRST TO SELL BLUE CARBON CREDITS’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

for the government to bring relief to people who are struggling. While both MPs rehashed points from the day before —which were at the heart of a heated argument between the two on Wednesday — Mrs Hanna Martin revealed that she at some point had not always been at ease with the Davis administration’s reintroduction of VAT on breadbasket items.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has given a glimpse into what his administration’s plan for economic and climate resiliency for The Bahamas will look like amid an inflationary climate and a looming hurricane season. Mr Davis said the government intends for The Bahamas to be the first country to sell blue carbon credits and it is envisioned this will generate some of the resources needed to make progress toward transitioning the country to renewable energy and building climate resilient infrastructure.

SEE PAGE THREE

SEE PAGE THREE

‘I STRUGGLED WITH BREADBASKET VAT DECISION’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

DISNEY Cruise Line yesterday revealed it is near-tripling the number of construction jobs created by its Lighthouse Point project to 300 amid hopes that Eleuthera can attract up to $1bn in total investment over the next decade. Joey Gaskins, Disney’s regional public affairs director for The Bahamas and Caribbean, told the Eleuthera Business Outlook conference that it planned to go well beyond the 120 construction jobs it “promised” the Government in the Heads of Agreement for the development on the island’s southern tip. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

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PAGE 2, Friday, April 29, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

OFFICERS at the scene in Antigua Street yesterday putting down evidence markers, including on a police car reportedly hit by gunfire. Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

Man shot dead by police ‘fired first’ from page one A short time later, the male entered into a yard west on Antigua Street and the officers rode up and returned and when the officers returned the male jumped the wall from the yard and discharged his weapon at the officers,” Supt Peters said. “The officers, being aware of the threat towards their lives, produced their service weapons and shot the suspect, injuring him. EMS was called and following their assessment, the service technicians determined there were no signs of life.” Asked about the nature of the disturbance at the church, Supt Peters would not disclose that detail. He also would not say if police suspect the deceased was attempting to rob the church, but said that was not information received in the initial investigation. The police officers involved were not injured in this incident, however

POLICE on the scene of the shooting on Antigua Street yesterday.

Supt Peters said they will have to follow the protocols for officers who face situations such as this. A police vehicle was hit by bullets. The coroner visited the scene and an inquest will be held into the incident. Last week, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe confirmed that police-related coroner’s inquests have not yet resumed as the director of public prosecutions has yet to appoint a lawyer to marshal the cases. However, inquests into other matters have started after hearings were initially delayed due to the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, according to Attorney General Ryan Pinder. Last year, 21 policeinvolved shootings were recorded, 13 of which were fatal. The Tribune had previously reported that The Bahamas has one of the highest per capita rates of police involved killings in the world, with 11 recorded in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

MURDER IN GRAND BAHAMA TAKES YEAR’S TALLY TO 48 from page one “That male then would’ve fled to the residence where he collapsed, and he was pronounced dead. EMS personnel attended the scene, and they discovered no signs of life.” Although police have not identified the victim, a relative told The Tribune the deceased is Javon Pinder aka “JP”, a father of two. However, he declined to speak further about the shooting. According to ASP Rolle, the victim was known to police. Asked if officers are concerned about retaliation in view of the incident, he said: “It’s not safe to assume that it’s going to be retaliation, but we keep our ears open and prepared for anything that comes forth. “We just want to urge the public to put those guns down again. We cannot say that enough because

like you said, it could be your very own or a family member. If you have any information of where a firearm may be, contact the police and get that firearm off the streets to save another life being lost on Grand Bahama,” he added. ASP Rolle also told reporters that police are following some leads into the shooting and that officials are hoping to soon conclude the investigation. Thursday’s homicide comes after a man was shot and robbed on Soldier Road in New Providence on Wednesday night. Sources say the victim is a man who was acquitted of murder last year. However, Superintendent Audley Peters was unable to confirm his identity when asked about it yesterday. “There was a robbery that occurred last night where a male was in front of a residence in conversation with a friend,” Supt Peters

A BODY being taken from the scene in Grand Bahama yesterday.

said yesterday. “The male was approached by two men and when he saw them coming, he approached them and asked them what the situation was. Apparently, an altercation ensued and one of those suspects shot that male and took his vehicle along with some other personal items. The victim was transported to the hospital where he is receiving treatment for his injuries and that investigation is ongoing at the moment – his condition is not life threatening.” The shootings come as police and the Davis administration seek to get a handle on violent crime in the country and after 22 homicides were recorded in March, one of the deadliest months on record in the country. Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call police at 919, 5029991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 29, 2022, PAGE 3

‘PROGRESS BEING MADE’ IN APPOINTING FIRST US AMBASSADOR SINCE 2011 By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net US SENATOR Christopher Dodd said he’s been told that officials are making progress to find a new US ambassador to The Bahamas, more than ten years after the last American ambassador stepped down. The country has not had an American Ambassador since 2011 when Nicole Avant stepped down from the post. She was appointed to the position in June of

2009 by President Barack Obama. While there have been several people nominated for the position over the years, no one has yet been appointed to the role. Among the most recent picks for the position were real estate developer Douglas Manchester and entrepreneur and philanthropist William A Douglass, who were both nominated by US President Donald Trump in 2017 and 2020 respectively. However, both nominations have since been

withdrawn. Asked about the Biden’s administration’s plans to appoint an ambassador to The Bahamas, Senator Dodd said he was told that work is currently underway in that regard and added that officials are hoping to hear some good news soon. However, he said one of the challenges in getting the position filled was “domestic politics”, but refrained from providing additional details on the issue. “I had a good conversation with the Prime

Minister (Phillp) Davis in The Bahamas,” Senator Dodd said at a virtual press briefing yesterday. “We had a phone conversation and a virtual conversation as he wasn’t able to be in Barbados for the other meetings and I want to tell you the first thing I brought up before we got into discussions with some of the other issues that I just addressed. “I made a personal commitment probably not being appreciated in the administration of the State Department, but I

know exactly the problem. It’s been 11 years since we had an ambassador in The Bahamas and I promised that whatever I can do that will see to it that you get the ambassador. I’m told that progress is being made on that. I’ve asked about it and they told me that it’s moving along. We’ve had a problem – a lot of it has been domestic politics which I’m not going to go into here, but it’s been a very slow process to even get nominations, to get hearings and to get people

confirmed. It’s beginning to open up and move along and I’ve been told that there’s some good news, we hope, pending on The Bahamas when it comes to that question. But I want you to know that it was the first conversation the prime minister and I had about issues and he talked about the other ones as well, but this was the first matter that came up.” Wendall Jones, founder of Jones communications, is currently serving as the Bahamian ambassador to the United States.

PM: ‘We’re first to sell blue carbon credits’ from page one Additionally, he said officials were currently reviewing proposals in renewable energy sources, especially solar. There are also plans to use reverse-metering to credit people who generate more electricity than they use. He said this was essential to reducing the costs of living and costs of doing business in The Bahamas. Meanwhile, Mr Davis said the government is also transitioning the public sector to a fleet of electric vehicles and retrofitting government buildings with renewable energy components. Further, an agreement was signed with the European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank to support the construction of solar energy projects, including two micro-grids for generation and storage capacity in Abaco. The energy infrastructure there was badly damaged by Hurricane Dorian. This agreement will also fund solar energy projects in New Providence and includes training so that more Bahamians can take part in the solar industry. However, he said, change was not happening fast enough. The prime minister made the comments during the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum in Miami, Florida where he urged regional heads to stand together for accelerated change. “Friends, across our region, we share the same goals,” Mr Davis said. “We need to build economic and climate resilience in our countries. That means energy security and a transition to renewable energy. It means protecting our forests and seas. It means access to more innovative financing mechanisms and debt solutions that recognise that those who contribute the least to carbon emissions are suffering the most from

the world’s failure to move quickly enough. As I like to say, what happens in highemissions countries doesn’t stay in high-emissions countries. “Economic and climate resilience are not would-liketo-haves, they are must-haves. That is the path to survival. That is why we must continue to stand together and advocate for accelerated change. We can be more than advocates for change, though. We can also be agents for change.” Mr Davis praised his administration’s introduction of “landmark” legislation to regulate carbon credits last week. “(It) creates for the first time a framework to compensate The Bahamas for the significant role we play as a carbon sink. With conservation and restoration, our seagrasses and mangroves can continue to play a critical role in removing carbon from the atmosphere. “We intend to be the first country to sell blue carbon credits. We hope many of our regional neighbours will follow suit. We believe that selling blue carbon credits in the voluntary carbon markets will generate at least some of the resources we need to make real progress in transitioning our country to renewable energy and building climateresilient infrastructure. In this way, carbon markets can be an important bridge to a renewable energy future for countries such as ours. “We have committed to generating at least 30 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2030. Our National Energy Policy outlines the country’s pivot to a more modern, diversified, efficient, competitive and affordable energy sector, which will include updating our legal and regulatory regime.” He urged those at the forum to keep reminding the world that “time is up” and that promises are not the same as action on climate change.

‘I STRUGGLED WITH BREADBASKET VAT DECISION’ from page one

“The issue here that I am speaking of and I don’t want to dwell on this because certainly and I don’t need the member to speak of my constituency,” the education minister said. “What I want to say to him is that I am one who has an extremely keen insight into what people are going through in this country and what they have been going through for quite some time, for a couple of years now, it’s not new. “The only observation I made earlier and acknowledging the level of hardship people are experiencing is that when the Free National Movement increased VAT to 12 percent, by 60 percent on the backs and heads of the Bahamian people, the same poor people that the member for St Barnabas (is) talking about, he

supported that. “He’s in opposition now and he wants VAT off breadbasket items. Personally I am hoping that we will see VAT come off food in general but I think the rationale was — and this is something that I myself struggled with — but the rationale was what the government did was reduce VAT to 10 percent. So, it took the global pressure off the Bahamian people. “What it did do though was reimposed it on breadbasket items and the reasoning was, and the one that West Grand Bahama uses a lot but he doesn’t do it when he turns the coin over, (is) that exemption was benefitting big restaurants, big food suppliers, etc, and that it was anticipated that whatever hardship that would be immediately faced would be offset by other agencies like the Department of

Social Services.” In January, VAT was reduced from 12 percent to 10 percent across the board with few exemptions, but also reintroduced on breadbasket items which had been zero-rated under the Minnis administration. “But these are tough times,” Mrs Hanna Martin continued. “We also know, and the member should be honest about this, that there are competing external pressures, which are also impacting the cost of fuel. That’s nothing to do with breadbasket items or VAT and he knows that. So, you don’t throw it in to try and convolute some perception. We have external factors that are affecting ability and the costing of food and supplies. “We are in unusual times and so I would not want the member to conflate all of the issues that we are facing because you don’t want to give the suggestion that

you don’t think the Bahamian people understand the global environment that they’re in.” She went on to remind the St Barnabas MP that there were members of his party who were removed from government appointments because they did not vote in favour of increasing VAT from 7.5 percent to 12 percent during the Minnis administration. Mrs Hanna Martin reminded Mr Cartwright that he was not one of them. In June 2018, then Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis fired then Bain and Grants Town MP Travis Robinson and Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller from their posts as parliamentary secretaries and then Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine from his post as chairman of the Hotel Corporation for breach of the Manual of Cabinet and Ministry Procedure.

Mr Robinson was parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Tourism while Mr Miller was parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Social Services. The men broke ranks from the Free National

Movement and voted against the Minnis administration’s increase of value added tax along with FNM backbencher Reece Chipman and the Progressive Liberal Party, which was in opposition at the time.

PAGE 4, Friday, April 29, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

‘Inflation is raising costs for helping the hungry’ By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

LESTER Ferguson speaking at the opening of the Bahamas Feeding Network operations centre yesterday. Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

A LOCAL feeding organisation says the current period of inflation as well as the reintroduction of value added tax on breadbasket items has increased its operational costs. Bahamas Feeding Network executive director Lester Ferguson told reporters his organisation has seen a 12 to 15 percent jump in food costs compared to pre-pandemic periods. He spoke to reporters after a ceremony celebrating the BFN’s new building in the Fox Hill community, which is a few doors away from their previous location. He was asked how much the organisation’s food bill had increased after VAT was reintroduced on breadbasket items. “I know that each month we spend, we provide at least, and this is just from purchases and not the in-kind, at least over $125,000 a month. If we compare that with what we did before the pandemic, we’re probably seeing anywhere from (a) 12 to 15 percent increase over that amount.” Asked if inflation is affecting BFN’s overall operations, he said: “Oh, absolutely.” He explained: “Now, we have to pay VAT on breadbasket items. So that has certainly impacted our bottomline. Of course, the price of food has gone up because of shipping and other factors. So it cost us more. It costs more to

provide the kind of food resources. “Because we’re now a network, we’re able to get better pricing because we’re buying in bulk for all of these organisations so we can levy some better pricing but certainly our food bill has gone up and that certainly because of the impact of the pandemic on our economy and, of course, now having to pay VAT on (bread)basket items … it means that there’s another 10 percent that we have to find.” The opposition Free National Movement has repeatedly called on the government to repeal VAT on breadbasket items. These goods were zerorated under the Minnis administration, however the tax was reimposed on them in January when the Davis administration reduced VAT from 12 percent to 10 percent across the board with few exemptions. This week, Super Value’s president Rupert Roberts backed the calls for VAT’s removal from breadbasket items as a means to ease the burden soaring inflation has imposed on hard-pressed consumers still struggling to recover from COVID-19’s fall-out. Yesterday, the BFN executive director said the need for food is not as acute as it was during the early days of the pandemic yet there are still people who struggle. “We find, and the comments that we get back from our feeding partners because we engage with them on a regular basis, is that there are people coming to them for assistance, more people coming

for food. Whereas it looks as if economically we’re beginning to rebound and that might be so in a number of ways for a number of sectors, there are still people who struggle.” Asked what the need is two years into the pandemic, he said: “Not as acute as it was because, of course, at that time many people were unemployed and we still have people who struggle to make ends meet. Today when we serve or when we provide resources to our partner feeding programmes, we provide about 60,000 meals a month. So the need is still real. Like I said before the pandemic it became more acute during the pandemic. Now that we’re kinda getting back to some regularity in terms of people going back to work, (but) for many the need still exists.” Meanwhile, Mr Ferguson noted the organisation has been settling in the new location for the last month and is tweaking its operations. “Like was said earlier we’re revisiting, going back to the model of being able to directly support other feeding programmes in the communities in New Providence. Of course, we make available food, food parcels from our location here to individuals but our primary focus really is to help the other organisations. So somebody who lives in, for example in one of the communities in Bain Town or out Carmichael Road, they don’t have to come here. They can go to one of the locations closer to them in order to access food supplies.”

THE RIBBON cutting ceremony at the new Bahamas Feeding Network operations centre.

SUMMIT TO DISCUSS COVID AND CLIMATE CHANGE By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

REGIONAL leaders are expected to discuss COVID-19’s impact, the effects of climate change as well as disaster preparedness at the ninth Summit of the Americas scheduled to be held in Los Angeles this summer. The summit, held every three years, will take place on June 6–9 in California under the theme “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future”. Special advisor for the summit, US Senator Christopher Dodd said yesterday the event will not only allow for regional leaders to affirm shared interests, but also to discuss national issues of concern and come up with solutions to challenges being faced in the hemisphere. He was speaking during a virtual press briefing about the upcoming event and its significance for people in the Caribbean. “When President Biden, my friend and colleague in the Senate for 30 years asked me to serve as the special advisory for the ninth summit of Americas, he shared with me how much he values the summit process and how important he considers the countries and people in the Caribbean to that summit process as well,” Senator Dodd said. “That’s why my very first trip as special advisor was to Bridgetown, Barbados. From April 18 to the 20, I made it my mission to carefully listen to CARICOM as a government, to hear what is on their minds and the minds of their constituents, what matters to them and how we can ensure

that this summit, beginning from about a month from now reflects the priorities of the Caribbean.” He also said: “We need to be able to discuss the issues that are critically important to our respective countries and that we listen to each other about those particular issues and that we do everything we can to try and cooperate and collaborate so we can lead the agenda and not just expressing our views and opinions but we’re actually working on ways that we can do the things needed to get back on our feet: the climate change issues, the financial reform issues, obviously the effects of the pandemic and what’s that meant to our respective countries, particularly in the CARICOM nations, the natural disasters – the repetitive hurricanes that you face. “I was highly moved when I learned of my conversations with my colleagues in the CARICOM nations and what happened in Antigua and Barbuda where an entire population in Barbuda had to be moved to Antigua after that hurricane. That was the level of devastation and I think we all know what’s coming down the road again and we need to be talking about how we can work together in preparing these events that we’re going to be sharing in the coming days so we can pull together and come up with ideas on how to cooperate in those matters.” Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis is expected to attend this year’s summit, which will be his first as head of government of The Bahamas. In 2018, his predecessor, Dr Hubert Minnis travelled to Lima, Peru, to attend the eighth Summit of the Americas.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 29, 2022, PAGE 5

WORLD LEADERS AT CRYPTO CONFERENCE

IN these photographs posted to social media by Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, former US President Bill Clinton and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair can be seen in attendance at the Crypto Bahamas event yesterday.

First Pine Crest homes to be completed next month By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE first set of homes in the government’s affordable housing programme will be completed next month, according to Jobeth Coleby-Davis as she insisted the construction process aligned with the highest standards available. The minister, who has responsibility for housing and transport, defended the homes at the Pine Crest Subdivision in direct response to former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis who recently visited the subdivision near the South Beach area and scrutinised the manner in which the homes were being constructed. Mrs Coleby-Davis said there were no cutting corners, adding the houses were made from concrete blocks and reinforced with poured concerts and steel columns with beams inside. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works Bacchus Rolle said the homes were being built with advanced construction technology and the end result would be a superior or significantly stronger structure. The members of Parliament made the comments during debate on a resolution to transfer parcels of lands to the Ministry of Housing for the purposes of providing new dwellings for persons of moderate means. “A key function of the

Department of Housing is to ensure that quality homes are being constructed,” Mrs Coleby-Davis told Parliament yesterday. “The department is aware of inaccurate information in the public domain relating to the Pine Crest Subdivision. While we are open to criticism and feedback, let me emphatically state that the public comments by some are grossly exaggerated and built on a false and misleading premise that is likely motivated by the need to sow seeds of political mischief and undermine public trust in the project. “The Pine Crest Subdivision features homes that are built at the highest standard, even surpassing the recommended standards. We went above and beyond to ensure that these homes will be safe—even through the most adverse weather. Looking at the structures, you will note the architectural shingles, highly elevated foundations, and the use of hurricane impact windows. This isn’t one of those pre-election housing ploys being rushed along at the end of a term.” She continued: “There are no cutting corners here. We are delivering this housing project early so we had plenty of time to build these structures according to the highest standards. “Looking at the structures, you will note that they are made from concrete blocks and reinforced with poured concrete and steel columns with beams

inside the blocks. Any experienced contractor would inform you that this method is locally approved and has been in use for decades in The Bahamas. This is a fact. Anyone who is saying otherwise needs to get their information from better sources or simply stop talking about things that they know nothing about. “But that is the issue isn’t it? There are politicallymotivated commentators out there who care more about attacking and scoring points than they care about the truth – even at the risk of undermining a project that is for the benefit of everyday Bahamians.” “It gives me great satisfaction,” she also said, “to advise this honourable House that the first set of homes in the Pine Crest Subdivision will be available in May 2022 – yes, that’s next month. “Like I said: there are no pie-in-the-sky promises here. The process was done the right way from start to finish, and we were able to deliver in record time.” For his part, official opposition Leader Michael Pintard said minority members of Parliament were in support of the affordable homes project. However, he called on the government to offer the option of buying land only, so that would-be homeowners could choose a contractor and housing plan of their own. He said should the Free National Movement be elected to the government

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under his leadership, it was his intention to offer plots of land for purchase and turnkey options. He further questioned why the environmental impact assessment and topography study were not attached to the resolution,

adding there were also concerns about the flora and fauna in the area and whether the area was prone to flooding as is the case with the neighbouring Pinewood Gardens community. In response, Mrs

Coleby-Davis said all of the required studies were either complete or in the process of completion, adding there had been no need to attach them because the focus yesterday was on the transfer of property to the Ministry of Housing.

PAGE 6, Friday, April 29, 2022

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Increased disease risk likely from climate change CLIMATE change will result in thousands of new viruses spread among animal species by 2070 — and that’s likely to increase the risk of emerging infectious diseases jumping from animals to humans, according to a new study. This is especially true for Africa and Asia, continents that have been hotspots for deadly disease spread from humans to animals or vice versa over the last several decades, including the flu, HIV, Ebola and coronavirus. Researchers, who published their findings Thursday in the journal Nature, used a model to examine how over 3,000 mammal species might migrate and and share viruses over the next 50 years if the world warms by 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), which recent research shows is possible. They found that cross-species virus spread will happen over 4,000 times among mammals alone. Birds and marine animals weren’t included in the study. Researchers said not all viruses will spread to humans or become pandemics the scale of the coronavirus but the number of cross-species viruses increases the risk of spread to humans. The study highlights two global crises — climate change and infectious disease spread — as the world grapples with what to do about both. Previous research has looked at how deforestation and extinction and wildlife trade lead to animal-human disease spread, but there’s less research about how climate change could influence this type of disease transmission, the researchers said at a media briefing Wednesday. “We don’t talk about climate a lot in the context of zoonoses” — diseases that can spread from animals to people, said study co-author Colin Carlson, an assistant professor of biology at Georgetown University. “Our study ... brings together the two most pressing global crises we have.” Experts on climate change and infectious disease agreed that a warming planet will likely lead to increased risk for the emergence of new viruses. Daniel R Brooks, a biologist at

University of Nebraska State Museum and co-author of the book “The Stockholm Paradigm: Climate Change and Emerging Disease,” said the study acknowledges the threat posed by climate change in terms of increasing risk of infectious diseases. “This particular contribution is an extremely conservative estimate for potential” emerging infectious disease spread caused by climate change, said Brooks. Aaron Bernstein, a pediatrician and interim director of The Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, said the study confirms long-held suspicions about the impact of warming on infectious disease emergence. “Of particular note is that the study indicates that these encounters may already be happening with greater frequency and in places near where many people live,” Bernstein said. Study co-author Gregory Albery, a disease ecologist at Georgetown University, said that because climate-driven infectious disease emergence is likely already happening, the world should be doing more to learn about and prepare for it. “It is not preventable, even in the best case climate change scenarios,” Albery said. Carlson, who was also an author on the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said we must cut greenhouse gas and phase out fossil fuels to reduce the risk of infectious disease spread. Jaron Browne, organizing director of the climate justice group Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, said the study highlights climate injustices experienced by people living in African and Asian nations. “African and Asian nations face the greatest threat of increased virus exposure, once again illustrating how those on the frontlines of the crisis have very often done the least to create climate change,” Browne said. BY DREW COSTLEY AP Science Writer

UKRAINIAN refugee children and helpers ride a chain carousel in Frankfurt, Germany, yesterday. About 180 children were invited by the fun fair for free rides. Photo: Michael Probst/AP

Moncur issue is a distraction EDITOR, The Tribune. THE former Senator the Hon Rodney Moncur and I go back decades as community activists and influencers. He has no known public scandal attached to his name. He is a graduate of C C Sweeting; a businessman and a Justice of the Peace. I might add that he professes to be a stable family man. All in all, despite his sometimes-outlandish utterances, Moncur is a good and productive Bahamian. For these reasons, I fail to understand the uproar about him being retained as an independent contractor by the Ministry of National Security. I would suggest that that ministry simply state what the correct position is and terms thereof. This is a non-issue and yet another unnecessary distraction to the important work being done by this vital ministry.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net With crime spiking, we need all hands on deck. If Moncur brings something to the table as he appears to do, at least to the powers that be, so be it. It is not as if Moncur will have access to confidential files or information. He will be an independent contractor, whatever that means so there should be no need to speculate as to the exact work which he will be called upon to do. If he were to have been convicted of a serious crime, I would be the first one to object to placing him within Munroe’s portfolio. Other than that, what is the big deal? Some suggest that Moncur’s selection of Munroe as a sort of co-host of his mediocre talk show (in my opinion) may have

given the latter an unfair electoral advantage in the months and weeks leading up to the general elections. Nothing short of an act of God could have derailed the PLP and Brave coming to power in 2021. Minnis and the FNM had become so ‘hated’ politically that just a small tip on the shoulder would have triggered their eventual and inglorious demise. The credit for this lies squarely with the rightthinking members of the wider Bahamian society. Moncur should not, however, be used as a scapegoat. While asking puerile questions about Moncur perhaps Dr Minnis will tell us about the details of contracts alleged to have been awarded to persons unknown while he was the Competent Authority. ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, April 28, 2022.

Bitcoin and The Bahamas EDITOR, The Tribune.

BOY full blast all cylinders the PR from OPM but possibly they could have done a Google search first before all the claims - exclamations and use of superlatives. The Bahamas could be the first actually having opened up the sector in the Caribbean, but certainly not globally. A Google search would have confirmed Barbados

is working on it and others. Suggest the player FTX doesn’t have a very good understanding of geo-strategic issues... timing for this conference is questionable with the Ukraine and Russian issues so front and centre – also at the time, next week’s crucial to the outcome, certainly uncertain – you really believe the US will leave bitcoin alone if they know Putin is using it to avoid to get

around the economic-financial sanctions US and their allies have imposed? Yes, a ‘eureka moment’ in The Bahamas but caution EU setting up stricter regulations to monitor Bitcoin transactions - US a lot of thought. Let’s hope a positive step, but honestly suspect ill timed. T ALBURY Nassau, April 28, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 29, 2022, PAGE 7

TWO ACCUSED IN CASES OF CAUSING HARM By PAVEL BAILEY TWO men were granted bail after being charged in Magistrate Court’s yesterday on separate charges of causing harm. Percival Ferguson, 24, appeared in court represented by Ellsworth Johnson before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on a charge of causing harm. Ferguson is alleged to have caused harm to Kalei Simmons on April 15 at Frank Edgecombe Street, in Fox Hill. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge against him and elected to continue his case in the Magistrate’s Court. As Ferguson had no antecedents, he was granted bail at $4,000 with one or two sureties on condition that he sign in at Fox Hill Police Station at the last Sunday of

each month before his trial. He was then warned by the magistrate not to interfere with any witnesses in the matter. His next court date is June 27. Another man, Tevin Evans, 23, also appeared before Magistrate Vogt Evans on a causing harm charge. On April 26 at Caspian Road, Evans is alleged to have caused harm to Chardonnay Knowles. In court, Evans pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. As he also had no antecedents, he was granted bail at $2,000 with one surety on condition he signs in at South Beach Police Station by 7pm on the last Sunday of every month. He was also told not to interfere with any witnesses in his matter. He returns to court on June 22.

MAN DENIES SERIES OF PARADISE ISLAND THEFTS By PAVEL BAILEY

A MAN was charged in Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a series of thefts on Paradise Island that included over $5,000 worth of smart TVs and almost $200 worth of alcohol. Robert Collie, 43, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain on charges of attempted stealing, shop breaking, stealing and receiving. On March 23, Collie is alleged to have stolen three black 55” LG flat screen smart TVs from the Atlantis resort at a total value of $3,900.36. On April 6 he is alleged to have attempted

to steal a fourth LG smart TV from Atlantis valued at $1,300.12. Collie is also accused of breaking into Pisces Restaurant on April 21–22 between 5.30pm and 7.20 am and stealing $196 worth of assorted beers. In court, the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. While the magistrate denied Collie bail, he was informed that he could apply to the Supreme Court for pretrial release. Until then, he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Collie’s case was adjourned to August 29.

MAN IN COURT OVER ASSAULT RIFLE FIND By PAVEL BAILEY

A MAN was charged yesterday after being found in possession of a prohibited assault rifle and 33 lbs of drugs. Orales Jerimere, 29, stood before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on three separate charges of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply, a prohibited weapon and ammunition. On April 25 in New Providence, Jerimere was

arrested for being found with a banned Del-Ton Inc 5.56mm calibre assault rifle with the serial number DTI-5215176, as well as 14 live rounds of .223 ammunition without a licence. He was also caught with 33lbs of Indian hemp on the same day, the prosecution maintains. He pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. Jerimere was then remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his bail hearing on May 2.

FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham presented copies of his book to 40 school principals. He is pictured with Grand Bahama primary school principals.

Ingraham tours GB for book launch FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham presented his new book to Grand Bahama school principals at the Sir Charles Hayward Library yesterday. Thanks to donations by Sawyer’s Fresh Market and the Grand Bahama Port Authority, which each donated 20 books, all school libraries will have a copy of Mr Ingraham’s book of speeches, “I say what I mean, and I mean what I say.” When addressing the principals, Mr Ingraham said his book editor, whom he has known for 30 years, urged him to write the book. While first objecting, he said, he

remembers making a long speech in May 1985 which resulted in him being “kicked out of the PLP”. In this speech, he said he did not know how history would judge him “but I was taking a particular course of action, and I was going to sleep very well that night because I said what I meant, and I meant what I said.” The publication of the book was funded “by a very generous Bahamian” and copies are being sold at cost. It is hoped the sales will fund volumes two and three. Mr Ingraham hopes to write his autobiography next year.

“You will find in the book much information that can assist students and others in appreciating and learning what happened in the country during the 15 years that I had the opportunity to be prime minister,” he said. He also held a book signing at Sawyer’s Fresh Market and an official launch at the Grand Lucayan’s great lawn. This morning, he will make a courtesy call on Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey and speak to students at the Jack Hayward Senior High School. Photos: Andrew Miller/BIS

PAGE 8, Friday, April 29, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

The impossible made real HOW many times in your life have you said something like this? “That could never happen. It’s impossible.” “Not in my wildest dreams can I imagine that ever coming true.” “I’ll never get through this. It’s over. This is all there is or ever will be.” “No way. Not now, not ever.” I suspect we’ve all said those kinds of things in one form or another. We’ve all bumped up against the impossible in our lives. And we all live with our own version of what is and what isn’t possible. Most of the time we live our life based on what we consider to be possible. We consider the range of possibilities and then we decide, choose a direction for our life, take our next step, all within the boundaries of what is possible. But what if life is bigger than that? What if the impossible can be made real? What if the impossible really does happen? What if the impossible is possible? I know that doesn’t make sense. And I can’t explain it. I don’t know how it happens. I only know that it does. I’ve seen it happen in my life and I’ll bet it’s happened in your life too. What did you consider an impossibility that was one day

By the Rev Canon S Sebastian Campbell, CM realised, an impossibility that happened? Or maybe it was just too painful, and you vowed to never risk being hurt like that again. Either way you had closed the door on love and intimacy until he or she opened it in ways you never imagined possible. The message of Easter is clearly that of the risen Christ conquering and overcoming that which was insurmountable. On Easter day he appears to His disciples even though they were locked behind closed doors. Then He offers this traumatised bunch a message of hope, “peace be unto you.” Then he challenges them to do the impossible, he sends them out into a hostile environment, Jerusalem. “As the Father sent me, even so send I you.” This is insane, to send his friends on a suicidal mission. Remember what Jesus himself said about this environment, “Jerusalem, O Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and all those sent to you.” The

world had to be conquered; this nigh Impossible mission required the brave at heart, empowered by God almighty. That explains Jesus breathing on them, consequently they received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers. Within this context we place ourselves; we are called to make impossibilities real. Emancipation in 1834 after three hundred years of slavery was an impossibility made real. Men and women, made in the image and likeness of God were enroute, albeit long and tedious, to being recognised and accepted as human beings and all that means. Who thought it possible that sons and daughters of slaves would upset the applecart on the 10th January 1967, becoming rulers in their own land of birth. Majority rule was a dream for hundreds of years and then independence was indeed an impossible dream. Even so that the

Death Notice For Doris Gibson, 73

of Falcon Crest, Eastern Estates died at her residence on Saturday, April 23rd, 2022.

She is survived by her son: Ambrose Gibson; daughters: Sherene Harris and Christina Galanos; son-in-law: George Harris; daughter-in-law: Patricia Gibson; grandchildren: Calay Gibson, Abiel Harris, Josiah Harris and Athena Galanos; great grandchildren: Ambri Johnson; sister: Gloria Brown; brother-in-law: Livingston Brown; nephews: Omar and Cameron Brown; uncle: Hermis Pratt and a host of other relatives and friends. Arrangements for the funeral service are being finalized and details will be announced at a future date.

great father of the Nation, comin”. All these vestiges Lynden Oscar Pindling, in of our enslavement, to 1967, could himself only see which we cling on tenainternal self-government. ciously must be relegated With time the campaign to relics of the dark past. was for independence. The We would one day not Abaco movement was hell bow down to White Colobent on making this dream nial Masters coming to our still-born, indeed with many shores as superior beings. others even We must in the official evolve our own ‘Who thought opposition, national dress FNM, who led it possible and stop playa campaign that sons and ing with our of, “not-now”. minds of seekLike Martin daughters of ing to look like Luther King, Jr, slaves would other people I have a dream, upset the to be accredmany more ited. The days impossibilities applecart on the of colonial will become 10th January wigs and gowns real, for there 1967, becoming and addressis no arsenal ing people greater than rulers in their as ‘mer-lord’ an idea whose own land of must come to time has come. an end. This birth. Majority The republic new generaof the Baha- rule was a dream tion or ever mas will one for hundreds of evolving generday become ations must see real. We need years and then achievements it, it’s the only independence of the past as way to make was indeed steppingstones sense out of on which they Independence. an impossible are beckoned Independence dream. ‘ to build. as it stands is Now what a farce. However, it must about our own individual only be seen as a step in impossibilities, name them the direction of our total one by one. Don’t allow mental liberation. Fr them to take us to suicidal Cartwright Davis rightly thoughts. says, “emancipation still Have you ever had one

of those times in life you thought you would never get through? You limped through life going through the motions. It felt as if you had lost everything. Your grief and loss had locked out the possibility of a new life but one day something happened. Something changed. The world looked different. You felt different. A door opened and what you once thought was impossible was your new reality. We all have stories like that. We could each talk about a time in our lives when the impossible was made real. So, what about you? What are the doors of impossibility for you today? What possibilities have you locked out of your life? We all have our locked doors of impossibility. I wonder what is being unlocked and opened for you and me today. We’ll never know unless we consider the impossible possible. So, what if, instead of starting with what we consider possible, reasonable, realisable, we began with the impossible. Let’s not get trapped by what we think is possible. Let’s go to the place of impossibility in our life. That is where Jesus is showing up. That’s where He is breathing peace.

THE TRIBUNE

What it takes to breathe new life into historic Nassau By Diane Phillips

PARTS of this column first appeared nearly five years ago. Sadly, it remains all too relevant. The Tribune has agreed to re-run it today at my request in light of the Davis administration’s commitment to rescuing and resuscitating the historic city of Nassau. In the five years since stay at the W. They stay at the column’s publication the W because they want in November of 2017, the to see New York. We have world has changed. Except to give visitors a reason to for the cruise port, down- want to see Nassau and the town Nassau has not, unless opportunity to experience you consider that it has the authentic Bahamas, the gotten a little older, a little culture, food, music, shopshabbier, even less authen- ping, crafts, art. We need to tic. The heartbeat of a living make the world outside the city is struggling to sur- resort as interesting as the vive, swarming with people world within it. Above all, visitors want but lacking in ideas and authenticity. vision with its They want an very beauty ‘The world has experience and magic changed. Except cannot threatened. for the cruise port, they get where What come Nassau needs downtown Nassau they from and a is a residential has not, unless they component. you consider that memory can take back Cities come alive when it has gotten a home with people live little older, a little them. They in them. As shabbier, even cannot tell our much as I story. That is thought I less authentic.’ our job and would never right now we say this, I no longer oppose are failing at it, but it is not a single area of high rises on too late. A thousand ideas the east side of East Street have been floated – a Busiso long as there is a view of ness Improvement District, the water between buildings grant-writing for historic and green space to make it preservation, a block-byenvironmentally friendly. block incentive programme, I urge that a limited area a public-private partnerexemption be granted only ship. Now we must all pull on the northern side of Bay together, turn ideas into Street from the old Nassau reality and transform the Shipyard property to Eliza- historic treasure that is beth Avenue. The property Nassau before another five on which Lands and Sur- years passes and more of veys sits is among the most the magic is lost forever. valuable and should be For the original column, converted to a public space see Tribune November for events and concerts or 17, 2017. We start partway sold to a private consor- through to cut to the chase. tium for redevelopment. Government office is not the highest and best use for either that or Government Printing. I am talking about saving Nassau also needs autonomy and a govern- the city of Nassau and ing body, a city manager or though I never thought I mayor with a council with would say this, there is only taxing authority, respon- one way to do it and that is sibility, accountability and vertical. transparency. First the background. Stakeholder buy-in, The City of Nassau is home including hotel industry to irreplaceable architecpartners, is essential. tural treasures, buildings People do not travel to New whose lines not only please York because they want to the senses from the street

CREATING AN URBAN IDENTITY

Friday, April 29, 2022, PAGE 9 DOWNTOWN Nassau as it is today and, below, as Diane Phillips discussed in her November 2017 column - little has changed since then.

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here w o g to e g a r u o c s It take before you haven’t gone

THE TRIBUNE

BY DIANE PHILLIPS

star conaudience. And her OU’VE probatinued to rise. McCartbly never heard Just as Stella others in of Stella McCaney went where had rtney. I never and mid-fashion high landed she tying planet had either, until r- not gone - to favou my everyof vation on the cover magazine, preser business ng - and just as ite October. day dressi the Fast Company, in s fash- she made a success of has McCartney, a famou out, is unexpected, Nassau the ion designer, it turns , wom- an opportunity to do courknown for her men’sclothing same. But it will take the part of on ge en’s and children’s coura bags, caps age, governas well as shoes, owners, partners, facilities financing and even gifts. fashion, ment, just In the world of a public that says this is not her and we never did it she is a star. It got her because mean stardom but what makes way before does not the that not do it in to where she is should we to (even upwards? her interesting idea of future. a solution be to build saving so integral shment, but could someone whose I am talking about and city like Nassau, the New with need of some refurbi rty tax for seven y of - which is sorely in well-heeled starts finest the city of Nassau for to the histor vement real prope ht I DOWNTOWN Nassau the of The real impro which years for owners and a premise that that nei- though I never thoug , so much a part only the city of Nassau aside, the for our buy residences World d is the one centre who clothes are those e). And would say this, there is neede the those to lives, s our will is reason Nassau which we with courage. It most compelling ther rub nor irritat rtney one way to do it and that nment, our judiciand for starts owner, in the new McCa name Nassau goveronce the heartbeat of do so are economic t. The take a courageous what made ary, per could simply lineage, vertical. the background. pmen hing develo her or and not develo somet al es was s find dsman nation famou First, our financial servic enterpull East or daughter home historic city and particu- ombu and the first one to or more glamorous like Port though she is the City of Nassau is its east to be robust shopping McCartney The the half dozen ceable architec- larly the property to of Beatle Paul experience, today ng and together es who own the Nassau. grapher to irrepla ngs d the tainment hold the key to creati and first wife, photo What tural treasures, buildi For years, we argue with a hand waiting to be held, national so famili of East attenlines not only please defining our new Linda McCartney. bulk of the land east key to commercial shipping desperate for a little sting was whose street urban identity. would the the intere is traffic her from that truck made the senses east, Street tion and affection. Nassau and, its heavy whose rows of From East Street g us the future of Nassau move from downher courage. The key to a new u and when level but very have to starin clear the ly to the city’s Twenty years ago, ty was open gable and box gablea opportunities are town Nassau to n. East or Port Nassa heart we cannot possibal. roofs tell in the face and the word sustainabili way for revitalisatio recom- the survival of the old surviv the conshipa se of er to becau must be them more likely Knitting togeth It was the first No new buildings story of the city which current increasand see New in the Historic its concrete walls and uction sortium is step one. refer to physierected, ping wars drawn, mendation commissioned preserved at lies in gaintrade, stamina have been cal ing pieces of constr plans must be Nassau Study two-storey level has and supplies, equipment are hiding them. though existing ones that try of Tourism population. than natural no new life Minis ntial the by reside a ting mixed and rogues The right blend of rising were denied when submibe and the Nassau Tourism No living city thrives withresource pres- evolved and t may romantics. in it. nt Board ervation, use developmen ted for approval and Developme the late out a population living continuing They are the on and along a stretch part of the new plan. Comlife. And red by McCartneyinked the of People bring it to of lted and autho long has remains and linked the deterioration nearly half a mile potential munity must be consu and Jackson Burnside. Shipping the only way to make the concept of sus- downtown Nassau warehous- the the power and Arawak Cay. The city to the east of historic town hall meetings to with moved into life ing along forums. Redeu Container by apportainability to to breathe new areas, social media could include 56-acre Nassa 2012. s inevitable. waterfront. Nassau work is it as tall the creation of seem all the surrounding opened in velopment a piece of t They remind spilling over with ben- two towers, as much as 12 Port the five years since, tioning construction. It clothing. She This is not wha In has vertical us of why efits to properties south of to 14 storeys high to make shunned fins, we want to show have a cottage feel area it moved from Nassau is the Meeting Street, rejuvenat- the numbers work. Ideally, the singly become extra may still right type of shutfurs, feathers. ts. the increa of the with gues ng s would , roof capital and es. She eschewed our ing and reinvigorati one of the tower of the space for more cranes Bahamian touch uction ters and side the days, long entire economy of New es out materials that be on the south trusses and constr e Imagine young famili airlift, when peopl ence. even in their handy perhaps for a stroll in the evening, pollute in befored and goods and sup- Provid fronts across the street. side, materials, y, the best disposal would Water On the north for some, but not some of cafes, a small art galler l threads arrive water. have reinvented the new Nassau will favour of natura included plies were traded by or a movie t use of world jazz highes tores, and prosucbooks that wouldn’t. She animals Nassau’s deep andstrong themselves with great nting have five- to six-storey resi-, the most valuable water- in the park, runners in the images of the did not tected harbor with its and cess. What is preve rty in the region. l blocks with shops ng, cyclists on n the same dentia hool, fitness centre, front prope buildings have early morni doing ne. whose feathers she did not flow through easter from nd. Imagi No new d us wel- a pre-sc new life the weeke McCartney could night spots, pluck, or fur she leaving western entrances create y in Nassau where we been erected, no n restaurants, If Stella s, largel nearly five millio grocery or deli has evolved and the conskin, in her design livestock a clean, healthy and clothes in now boutique , That is come imagine designing s a year who the lamb and the and on safe trading depot. with open spacesg tinuing deterioration of a way no one else had, surely the gate- visitor mostly along u seems enting g and joggin to graze in fields the waterfront of World, a traipse through a downtown Nassa not what we can imagine re-inv ront kept parks, cyclin area New n the to is prairies. rodde of Nassau waterf ation way inevitable. This must downt a- trails. guests. the city t’s role would She taught a gener 200 city with a history that our by artificial respir have with nmen show to alive Gover others want foolish takes , it is in a way the istered by cruise be to expedite, provide we that polyester celebrated. How More importantly leave immense success all over to ignore tion admin grate and be ing the years to disinte oceans, it would be of us to gate- passengers, according incentives, includ the first not what we want to This world. Imagine. Then dig re that pollut Partne of u tial fibers of Nassa on en. poten micro the courage. one of the the as part of the story we Downtown Fields, who has possible creati zone for New for our childr of a deep for making clothing ship’s Ed yet way t be the legacy real economic eness of canno his hardest to forgiv world’s least known trying tell. ence, been did Provid for She worst pollutants. she did Sentimental valueecting make improvements. and resurr not preach. What d an preserving struck a nerve, reache

Y

level but whose rows of open gable and box gable roofs tell a story of shipping and trade, wars and supplies, rogues and romantic characters. They are the remains of warehousing along the waterfront. They remind us of why Nassau is the capital and of the days, long before airlift, when people arrived and goods and supplies were traded by water. Nassau’s deep and protected harbour with its strong flow through eastern and western entrances created a clean, healthy and largely safe trading depot. That is the waterfront of the gateway to the New World, a city with a history that must be celebrated. How foolish it would be of us to ignore the potential of that gateway as part of the story we tell. Sentimental value for preserving and resurrecting the city of Nassau aside, the most compelling reasons to do so are economic and for national development. The historic city and particularly the property to its east hold the key to creating and defining our new national urban identity. From East Street east, opportunities are staring us in the face and we cannot see them because the old concrete walls and increasing pieces of construction equipment are hiding them. The right mix of mixeduse development rising on and along a stretch nearly half a mile long has the power and potential to breathe new life into all the surrounding areas, spilling over with benefits to properties south of Meeting Street, rejuvenating and reinvigorating the entire economy of New Providence. Waterfronts across the world have reinvented themselves with great success. What is preventing us from doing the same in Nassau where we welcome nearly five million visitors a

year who now traipse through a mostly downtrodden area kept alive by artificial respiration administered by cruise passengers, according to Downtown Nassau Partnership’s Ed Fields, who has been trying his hardest to make improvements. But the real improvement needed is the one that starts with courage. It will take a courageous owner, ombudsman or developer to be the first one to pull together the half dozen or so families who own the bulk of the land east of East Street that is the key to the future of Nassau and, possibly to the city’s very survival. Knitting together a consortium is step one. New plans must be drawn, though existing ones that were denied when submitted for approval may be part of the new plan. Community must be consulted with town hall meetings and social media forums. Redevelopment could include two towers, as much as 12 to 14 storeys high to make the numbers work. Ideally, one of the towers would be on the south side of the street. On the north side, the new Nassau will have 5-6 storey residential blocks with shops, a pre-school, fitness centre, restaurants, night spots, boutique grocery

or deli along with open spaces, parks, cycling and jogging trails.

GOVERNMENT’S ROLE TO EXPEDITE

Government’s role would be to expedite, provide incentives, including the possible creation of the first real economic zone for New Providence, forgiveness of real property tax for seven years for owners and for those who buy residences in the new Nassau which we could simply name Nassau East or find something more glamorous like Port Nassau. For years, we argued that the commercial shipping with its heavy truck traffic would have to move from downtown Nassau to clear the way for revitalization. It was the first recommendation in the Historic Nassau Study commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism and the Nassau Tourism and Development Board and authored by the late Jackson Burnside. Shipping moved to Arawak Cay. The 56-acre Nassau Container Port opened in 2012. In the five years since, the area it moved from has increasingly become extra space for more cranes, roof trusses and construction materials, handy perhaps for some, but not

the best and highest use of some of the most valuable waterfront property in the region. No new buildings have been erected, no new life has evolved and the continuing deterioration of downtown Nassau seems inevitable. This is not what we want to show our guests. More importantly, it is not what we want to leave for our children. This cannot be the legacy of a city like Nassau, so integral to the history of the New World, so much a part of our lives, the centre for our government, our judiciary, once the heartbeat of our financial services and robust shopping and entertainment experience, today a hand waiting to be held, desperate for a little attention and affection.

HIGH RISES EAST OF EAST STREET, PORT NASSAU

The key to a new Nassau East or Port Nassau and the survival of the heart of the city which must be preserved at its current two-storey level lies in gaining a residential population. No living city thrives without a population living in it. People bring it to life. And the only way to make the city to the east of historic Nassau work is by apportioning a piece of it as tall vertical construction. It may still have a cottage feel with the right type of shutters and Bahamian touches. Imagine young families out for a stroll in the evening, cafes, a small art gallery, bookstores, jazz or a movie in the park, runners in the early morning, cyclists on the weekend. Imagine. If Stella McCartney could imagine designing clothes in a way that no one else had, surely we can imagine re-inventing the city of Nassau waterfront in a way that others have with immense success all over the world. Imagine. Then dig deep for the courage.

PAGE 10, Friday, April 29, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

CHAUVIN APPEALS CONVICTION FOR MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD

MINNEAPOLIS Associated Press

FORMER Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is appealing his conviction for murder in the killing of George Floyd, arguing that jurors were intimidated by the protests that followed and prejudiced by heavy pretrial publicity. Chauvin asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals in a court filing on Monday to reverse his conviction, reverse and remand for a new trial in a new venue, or order a resentencing. Last June, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill sentenced Chauvin to 22 1/2 years in prison

after jurors found him guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin pinned the Black man to the ground with his knee on his neck for 9 minutes, 29 seconds. Floyd had been accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. Three other fired officers face state trial this summer after being convicted in federal court earlier this year of violating Floyd’s civil rights. Chauvin’s attorney, William Mohrman, laid out a number of challenges to his conviction, including that the trial should not have been

held in Hennepin County, where Floyd was killed. “The overwhelming media coverage exposed the jurors — literally every day — to news demonising Chauvin and glorifying Floyd which was more than sufficient to presume prejudice,” the brief said. In the months that followed Floyd’s killing, protesters took to the streets in Minneapolis and around the country to protest police brutality and racism. Some of that unrest was violent. Mohrman said several potential jurors expressed concerns during jury selection that if Chauvin was acquitted they would fear for their personal safety and worried about more violence.

He said several of them said they were intimidated by the security measures implemented at the courthouse to protect trial participants from protesters. The filing also cited the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright by a police officer in nearby Brooklyn Center that sparked mor protests during Chauvin’s trial. It says jurors should have been sequestered after selection to avoid being prejudiced by reports of that slaying. It also cited a $27m settlement reached between the city and Floyd’s family that was announced during jury selection, saying the timing of that prejudiced jurors in the case.

FORMER Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in court previously.

Explosions rock Kyiv as Russians fire on capital KYIV, Ukraine Associated Press RUSSIA pounded targets from practically one end of Ukraine to the other Thursday, including Kyiv, bombarding the city while the head of the United Nations was visiting in the boldest attack on the capital since Moscow’s forces retreated weeks ago. At least one person was killed and several were injured in the attack on Kyiv, including some who were trapped in the rubble when two buildings were hit, rescue officials said. The bombardment came barely an hour after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a news conference with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who said Ukraine has become “an epicenter of unbearable heartache and pain.” A spokesperson said Guterres and his team were safe. Meanwhile, explosions were reported across the country, in Polonne in the west, Chernihiv near the border with Belarus, and Fastiv, a large railway hub southwest of the capital. The mayor of Odesa in southern Ukraine said rockets were intercepted by air defenses. Ukrainian authorities also reported intense Russian fire in the Donbas — the eastern industrial heartland that the Kremlin says is its main objective — and near Kharkiv, a northeastern city outside the Donbas that is seen as key to the offensive. In the ruined southern port city of Mariupol, Ukrainian fighters holed up in the steel plant that represents the last pocket of resistance said concentrated bombing overnight killed and wounded more people. And authorities warned that a lack of safe drinking water inside the city could lead to outbreaks of deadly diseases such as cholera and dysentery.

FIREFIGHTERS put out a fire after a Russian rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, yesterday. In Zaporizhzhia, a crucial way station for tens of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing Mariupol, an 11-year-old boy was among at least three people wounded in a rocket attack that authorities said was the first to hit a residential area in the southern city since the war began. Shards of glass cut the boy’s leg to the bone. Vadym Vodostoyev, the boy’s father, said: “It just takes one second and you’re left with nothing.” The fresh attacks came as Guterres surveyed the destruction in small towns outside the capital that saw some of the worst horrors of the first onslaught of the war. He condemned the atrocities committed in towns like Bucha, where evidence of mass killings of civilians was found after Russia withdrew in early April in the face of unexpectedly stiff resistance. “Wherever there is a war, the highest price is paid

by civilians,” the UN chief lamented. Separately, Ukraine’s prosecutor accused ten Russian soldiers of being “involved in the torture of peaceful people” in Bucha. Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova did not say her office had filed criminal charges, and she appealed to the public for help in gathering evidence. Russia denies it targets civilians. During his nightly video address, Zelenskyy renewed a pledge to hold Russian soldiers accountable for crimes they commit and said about the ten identified earlier Thursday: “Some of them may not, after all, live until a trial and fair punishment. But only for one reason: This Russian brigade has been transferred to the Kharkiv region. There they’ll receive retribution from our military.” In the attack on Kyiv, explosions shook the city and flames poured out of

windows in at least two buildings — including one residential one — in the capital, which has been relatively unscathed in recent weeks. Plumes of smoke could be seen over the city. The explosions in northwest Kyiv’s Shevchenkivsky district came as residents have been increasingly returning to the city. Cafes and other businesses have reopened, and a growing numbers of people have been out and about, enjoying the spring weather. It was not immediately clear how far away the attack was from Guterres. “I was shocked to be informed that two rockets have exploded in the city where I am,” the UN chief was quoted as telling the BBC. “So this is a dramatic war, and we absolutely need to end this war and we absolutely need to have a solution for this war.” Getting a full picture of the unfolding battle in the east has been difficult

Photo: Efrem Lukatsky/AP because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extremely dangerous for reporters to move around. Several journalists have been killed in the war, now in its third month. Also, both Ukraine and the Moscow-backed rebels fighting in the east have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone. Western officials say the Kremlin’s apparent goal is to take the Donbas by encircling and crushing Ukrainian forces from the north, south and east. But so far, Russia’s troops and their allied separatist forces appear to have made only minor gains, taking several small towns as they try to advance in relatively small groups against staunch Ukrainian resistance. Russian military units were mauled in the abortive bid to storm Kyiv and had to regroup and refit. Some analysts say the delay

in launching a full-fledged offensive may reflect a decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to wait until his forces are ready for a decisive battle, instead of rushing in and risking another failure that could shake his rule amid worsening economic conditions at home because of Western sanctions. Many observers suspect Putin wants to be able to claim a big victory in the east by Victory Day, on May 9, one of the proudest holidays on the Russian calendar, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II. As Russia presses its offensive, civilians again bear the brunt. “It’s not just scary. It’s when your stomach contracts from pain,” said Kharkiv resident Tatiana Pirogova. “When they shoot during the day, it’s still OK, but when the evening comes, I can’t describe how scary it is.” Ukraine’s military said that Russian troops were subjecting several places in the Donbas to “intense fire” and that over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces had repelled six attacks in the region. Four civilians were killed in heavy shelling of residential areas in the Luhansk region of the Donbas, according to the regional governor. Columns of smoke could be seen rising at different points across the Donetsk region of the Donbas, and artillery and sirens were heard on and off. In Mariupol, video posted online by Ukraine’s Azov Regiment inside the steel plant showed people combing through the rubble to remove the dead and help the wounded. The regiment said the Russians hit an improvised underground hospital and its surgery room, killing an unspecified number of people. The video couldn’t be independently verified.

TAIWAN BATTLES ITS WORST OUTBREAK OF COVID-19 YET TAIPEI, Taiwan Associated Press

TAIWAN, which had been living mostly free of COVID-19, is now facing its worst outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic with over 11,000 new cases reported Thursday. Cases have been on the upswing since late March. In April, the island’s central authorities announced that they would no longer maintain a “zero-COVID” policy like the Chinese government’s in which they would centrally quarantine positive cases. Instead, the government is asking people to quarantine at home if they test positive, unless they show moderate to severe symptoms. Chen Shih-chung, the island’s health minister, announced Thursday they had found 11,353 new cases, along with two

deaths. During the daily press briefing held by the Central Epidemic Command Center, he said 99.7% of the cases in the current outbreak either had no symptoms or had mild symptoms. Chin Siz-rong, a 24-yearold travel agent in Taipei, isn’t planning to take any extra precautions because he already got a booster COVID-19 vaccine and is used to wearing a mask. He said he switched to takeout when he eats out alone, but still will go to restaurants with friends. “I already got three shots, and now everyone is saying its severity is like a cold. So I’m not too afraid for myself,” said Chin. Most of Taiwan’s 858 COVID-19 deaths came from summer 2021. Until this month, it had been the island’s one major outbreak in the pandemic. Taiwan has been

relatively lucky throughout the pandemic, but also has maintained strict border controls with a twoweek quarantine on arrival required for all visitors. Domestically, mask wearing is universal both outdoors and indoors. Masks are legally required on public transportation and in places like shops and theaters. In the past few weeks, as cases have ratcheted up, people scrambled to buy up rapid tests with stores selling out in just a few hours. Convenience stores across Taipei were unsure where their next delivery would come from. Difficulty buying rapid tests is likely due in part to the government’s thought throughout the pandemic that there are few benefits to mass testing. The health minister last year said that public funds and medical resources could better be

used elsewhere. That changed with last year’s outbreak. The central government this month said it would work with Taiwanese companies who manufacture tests to ensure that everyone would have access. A system was rolled out Thursday that limits each person to buying one pack of five tests per trip. Each purchase must be linked to an individual’s national ID to ensure that there is no stockpiling. Experts are worried about the five million people who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who did not complete a full vaccination course are four times more likely to get moderate or severe symptoms compared to those those who have gotten a booster, said Ho Mei-Shang, a vaccine expert in Taiwan who has

also worked for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to Central News Agency. Most vulnerable in Taiwan’s outbreak this time are children and the elderly. The vaccination rate among people over 75 is 72.5%. However, only 59.1% in the same age group received a booster. Wang Zi-yu, 78, said she overcame her hesitation and got three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. “I thought not getting the vaccine is worse. In the beginning with the AstraZeneca vaccine, I was worried,” she said, referring to concerns that the vaccine could cause a rare blood clot. “And then later I got the Moderna shot and didn’t have any negative reaction. It was fine.” Many of her friends are concerned about the side effects of getting the COVID-19 vaccine, Wang added.

Society’s youngest are also not protected. Some schools have switched back to remote learning based on the number of positive cases each school is reporting. The island is opening up vaccine shots to children ages 6-11 next week. A two-year-old boy in New Taipei City died last week, the youngest victim of COVID-19 in Taiwan. His condition deteriorated rapidly after testing positive in a rare case. Still, officials urged the public to not panic, saying that Taiwan was better prepared with vaccines and ways to ensure moderate and severe cases would get prompt attention. “We want to tell the public, from the medical world, please rest assured,” said Chiu Taiyuan, a lawmaker who also heads the Taiwan Medical Association.

SPORTS PAGE 11

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2022

Ayton and top-seeded Suns finish off Pelicans By PETER FINNEY JR Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chris Paul went 14 for 14 in the best shooting night in NBA playoff history, Devin Booker returned from a hamstring injury to hit a late 3-pointer and the Phoenix Suns beat the New Orleans Pelicans 115-109 last night to finish off the first-round series in six games. Paul had the most field goals without a miss in a playoff game, hit all four of his free throws and had eight assists as the topseeded Suns overcame a 10-point halftime deficit. Phoenix will face the Dallas-Utah winner in the second round. Paul helped put the Suns up for good, at 102-101, on an assist on Deandre Ayton’s dunk with 2:12 left. Ayton had 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting. The Suns erased the 10-point halftime deficit by making 13 of their first 14 shots in the third quarter

to take a 77-74 lead. At that point, Paul was 10 of 10 from the field and Ayton was 6 of 6. Paul had 13 points in the quarter, but New Orleans used an 11-5 run to take an 85-82 lead into the final period. Booker played for the first time in nine days since injuring his right hamstring after scoring 31 points in the first half of Game 2. He scored 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting and had five rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes. Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 21 points. The game got chippy in the second quarter — there were 16 fouls called — and the Pelicans seemed to revel in the physical play, outsourcing the Suns 30-20 to take a 58-48 halftime lead. TIP INS Suns: Phoenix coach Monty Williams said Booker ramped up his conditioning while nursing a hamstring injury by playing one-on-one with assistant

NEW Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles between Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) and centre Deandre Ayton (22) in the first half of game 6 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series last night in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) coach Jarrett Jack in the last several days. “He’s been on the floor with Jack a few times, doing the best

he can to get to that point,” Williams said. Pelicans: The Pelicans started the season 1-12

and 3-16 but still made the play-in tournament and pushed the top-seeded Suns to a Game 6.

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

EXPECTATIONS loom large for reigning WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones and her Connecticut Sun as the franchise is expected to be a major contender once again in pursuit of its first title. The Sun open their 2022 campaign at 1pm Sunday when they host a preseason matchup against the JONES Atlanta Dream at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. A promising 2021 season saw the Sun franchise produce the MVP, Most Improved Player, Coach of the Year, set franchise records in wins, winning percentage, and points allowed. It ended in disappointing fashion with a loss to the eventual champion Chicago Sky in the semifinals. “We’ve been talking about championship or bust, last year was a bust because we didn’t get a championship,” Jones said during training camp. “This year is the year to finish things and we feel that and we know that.” The regular season opener will be May 7 on the road against the New York Liberty and the home

SEE PAGE 16

NFL DRAFT: BREAKING DOWN PLAYERS SELECTED IN 1ST ROUND By RALPH D RUSSO AP College Sports Writer WASHINGTON Nationals shortstop Lucius Fox (26) in action during a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park, yesterday in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) when we started playing baseball,” Fox told the Washington Post following the historic game. “I don’t take it as pressure, I take it as pride, I get a lot of support from the people back home. And just making it at this level is a big deal for us. So I’m

proud of what we’ve done so far and looking forward to doing many more great things in the future with this game.” Both players were members of the 2015 International Signing Class. Chisholm made his MLB debut in 2020 while Fox

received the call this past offseason. He made his MLB debut and his first career start on April 10. “He’s just like a big brother to me. The love I have for Lucius is just like anyone else who’s my blood,” Chisholm said about Fox before he

reflected on the moment, “I feel like, for us, it’s super important. “Just to show the kids that anybody could do it. We always go back, we always go home and talk to the kids and be like, ‘Bro, we’re from the same place you are.’”

MILLER-TOOLEY NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BAHAMAS BOWL A RECOGNISED leader in the sports industry, Lea Miller-Tooley has been named the executive director of ESPN Events’ Bahamas Bowl. The Bahamas Bowl, which has featured seven editions and is the longestrunning international bowl game in college football history, is played annually in Nassau’s Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. ESPN Events began operating the bowl in May of 2015. “Lea’s work in intercollegiate athletics coupled

IN WNBA, JONQUEL JONES AND SUN BEGIN PRESEASON ON SUNDAY By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Jazz, Marlins sweep Fox and Nationals JAZZ Chisholm Jr and the Miami Marlins completed a three-game sweep over Lucius Fox and the Washington Nationals. Chisholm was out of the lineup on a scheduled rest day, but Fox started his second consecutive game at shortstop when the Marlins took a 3-2 win in the series finale at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. Fox is still in search of his first major league hit after he finished 0-2 with a walk. In the first game of the series, Chisholm went 1-5 in the Marlins’ 5-2 win Monday night. In game two of the series Tuesday night, The 24-year-old duo made Bahamian baseball history when they became the first pair of Bahamas-born players to appear in the same Major League Baseball game since 1961. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other pair of Bahamians to play in the same game were Andre Rodgers and Tony Curry, who faced each other six times during the 1960 and 1961 seasons. “Just to do it with Jazz means a lot. We spoke about this moment from when we were kids

Tiger Woods, PAGE 13

with her leadership and knowledge of the country make her the ideal executive director,” said Clint Overby, vice president, ESPN Events. “We are excited to have Lea lead our efforts in the Bahamas and look forward to future opportunities to showcase the country and demonstrate a top-notch bowl experience for the participating schools.” Bowl week in Nassau always lives up to the slogan “Bowl Games are Better in the Bahamas” with a mix of sun, sand and football in one of the

LEA Miller-Tooley world’s most beautiful tourist destinations. The

game is televised annually on ESPN. Miller-Tooley is the founder and president of Complete Sports Management, an all-encompassing sports marketing agency that founded the Bahamas Bowl in 2014. The core capabilities of her agency include the creation of sporting events, event management, men’s and women’s basketball global tours and sponsorship creation. In addition to the Bahamas Bowl, MillerTooley’s Complete Sports Management group has

created other top-tier sporting events, including the women and men’s annual Battle 4 Atlantis Basketball Tournament. The agency also runs the Crossover Classic and The Invitational, as well as foreign college basketball tours all over the world. Prior to founding Complete Sports Management, Miller-Tooley worked for IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, in business development. She also worked in finance in New York City for Morgan Stanley and BMO Capital.

THE players chosen in the first round yesterday of the NFL Draft: 1) Jaguars — Travon Walker, 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, Georgia Breakdown: Speed and athleticism for his size and build are prototypical and he could probably add some weight without losing much of what makes him special. Pass-rush technique needs work. Fact: One-year starter whose production (13 tackles for loss and 9 1/2 sacks) was just OK playing as part of a deep rotation at Georgia. Notable: The last team to pick No. 1 overall in consecutive seasons was Cleveland, which picked an edge rusher (Myles Garrett) in 2017 and a quarterback (Baker Mayfield) in 2018). The Jags went QB (Trevor Lawrence) and then pass rusher in Walker. 2) Lions — Aidan Hutchinson, 6-6, 265 pounds, Michigan Breakdown: Relentless and efficient pass rusher with a good combination of technique and an assortment of moves. Overall athleticism is a notch below

SEE PAGE 12

PAGE 12, Friday, April 29, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Miller praises PM for helping to boost morale of CARIFTA athletes in Jamaica By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net IMMEDIATE past president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee Wellington Miller is in agreement with Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis that sports is a deterrent to crime in the country. Miller was referring to Davis’ decision to join Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg in accompanying Team Bahamas to the 49th CARIFTA Track and Field competition in Kingston, Jamaica, over the Easter holiday weekend. While the team finished second behind powerhouse Jamaica, it was confirmed during the congress meeting that the Bahamas will host the 50th version of the top junior regional track and field competition next year to commemorate the country’s 50th Independence celebrations. “I want to congratulate the Prime Minister for going to Jamaica to help boost the morale of the young athletes, particularly since there was no sporting events held for the past two years because of COVID19,” Miller said. “I think

WELLINGTON Miller that was a great gesture and a great boost for the young athletes. When you hear them talking about next year when those athletes who didn’t get a chance to win a medal or those who didn’t get to go, will have a chance to shine right here at home, I think it’s great for the country.” Miller, who is also a past president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation, said Davis and his Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture revealed plans for the return of the World Relays as well as the Bahamas Games, all of which would bode well to help curtail some of the crime that has escalated in the country, mainly by young men.

“I’m happy that the Prime Minister recognises the power of sports and what sports can do for the development of the young people in our country,” he said. “Sports help you to socialise, which is an issue young men have a problem with. “He also talked bout training to compete in an event and that is where discipline comes in and when you have a disciplined person, who have a strong healthy body that can achieve so much more than just resorting to violence and crime.” With more emphasis being placed on sports, Miller said the Bahamas can help to root out some of the social ills that have caused a lot of havoc on the streets with so many youth turning to crime and violence. “There are many young people out there who want to be able to compete in some wholesome sporting activities,” Miller said. “We just have to find the right solution to get the country back on track. “These events could help to build the morale of so many of our people and when they get the opportunity to be able to participate

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis poses with the medical staff of Team Bahamas at the CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica.

PRIME Minister Philip Davis greets members of Team Bahamas, including Jason Woodside Jr. in different types of sporting events, it takes their minds off the social ills in our country.” Miller said young people don’t have to be active competitors, but if they are given the opportunity to serve as volunteers and officials in a lot of sporting events, it gives them something to do and keeps them occupied at the same time. “The Prime Minister

wants to make the Bahamas a sporting nation and with the idea of making it relevant on the country, will only bode well to the contribution of the youth of this nation. “I want to commend the Prime Minister and the Minister of Sports for the direction that they are heading into with sports development in the country.”

Miller said it’s incumbent on Bowleg and his staff at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to embrace all sporting federations and associations, especially those which are preparing to host international competitions in the Bahamas over the next few months. While the CARIFTA track and field competition will be back in 2023, Bahamas Aquatics has secured the rights to host the swimming competition in 2024 after winning their fourth consecutive title over the Easter holiday in Wildey, Barbados. The Bahamas is also looking forward to hosting the Babe Ruth Caribbean Championships July 7-11 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, the first in a series of international baseball competitions being planned for this year. Bowleg, the immediate past president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, said all of the events are a part of the relaunch of Sports in Paradise - a concept the Progressive Liberal Party coined during their previous administration in office under then Prime Minister Perry Christie.

NFL DRAFT FROM PAGE 11

some elite pass rushers who have gone in the top five in recent years like the Bosa brothers. Fact: The Heisman Trophy runnerup last season is the son of former Michigan defensive lineman and team captain Chris Hutchinson. Notable: The last time the Lions picked a player from Michigan in the first round was OL Jeff Backus at 18th in 2001. 3) Texans — Derek Stingley Jr., 6-1, 195, LSU Breakdown: Strong man-to-man technique. Plays balanced to mirror receivers. Can get lost in zone coverage and in run support. Fact: Stingley was an AllAmerican as a freshman but injuries (foot in 2021) and regression by the rest of the defense undercut his next two seasons. Notable: Matches the highest drafted cornerback in the common draft era. Last time the Texans selected a cornerback in the first round was 2015 (Kevin Johnson, No. 16). 4) Jets — Ahmad Gardner, 6-2, 190, Cincinnati Breakdown: Tall, longarmed and fast. Moves his lanky frame smoothly and plays aggressively at the line of scrimmage. Not a lot of power in his game and he can get grabby, but the corner nicknamed Sauce was the definition of lockdown. Fact: Did not allow a TD reception in his three-year college career. Notable: Gardner is the highest drafted player ever from Cincinnati and the first cornerback taken in

GEORGIA defensive lineman Travon Walker catches a pass during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on March 5 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

CINCINNATI cornerback Ahmad Gardner poses on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jae C Hong) the first round by the Jets since Dee Milliner (No. 9) in 2013. 5) Giants — Kayvon Thibodeaux, 6-5, 258, Oregon Breakdown: Pounces past blockers to make plays in the backfield with uncanny burst and length. Long, lean build doesn’t lend itself to adding weight. Fact: Former five-star recruit seemed destined to be a first overall draft pick after freshman season, but between injuries and a shortened pandemic season

NORTH Carolina State offensive lineman Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine March 4 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

he never put together a fully dominant year. Notable: Giants had not drafted a defensive end/ edge rusher in the first round since taking Jason Pierre-Paul (No. 15) in 2010. 6) Panthers — Ikem Ekwonu, 6-4, 310, North Carolina State Breakdown: Light on his feet and able to lock up defenders with his long arms. Can get a little too aggressive at times — 10 penalties in his career — but it comes with a desirable toughness. Scores high marks for leadership and likability off the field. Fact: Nicknamed Ickey after former Bengals running back Ickey Woods by a youth football coach. Notable: Ekwonu is the first offensive lineman taken in the first round by Carolina since Jeff Otah (No. 19) in 2008. 7) Giants (from Chicago) — Evan Neal, 6-7, 335, Alabama Breakdown: Remarkable combination of size and explosive athleticism. Balance and sustaining blocks need to become more consistent, but as long he keeps his weight in check there is a lot to like. Fact: Started 40 games and missed only one in his three-year career, which ended as an All-American.

MICHIGAN defensive end Aidan Hutchinson celebrates being selected by the Detroit Lions as the second pick in the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Notable: Alabama has had at least one first-round pick for 14 consecutive years, tying the record set by Miami from 1995-2008. 8) Falcons — Drake London, 6-5, 210, Southern California Breakdown: Enormous catch radius with long arms and good hops. Makes lots of contested catches and runs through tacklers after the catch. Top-end speed is lacking and route running needs more precision. Fact: Was on the way toward Heisman Trophy consideration in 2021 before a right ankle fracture cut his season short. Notable: Second straight season the Falcons have drafted a pass catcher first, after taking TE Kyle Pitts No. 4 last year. 9) Seahawks (from Denver) — Charles Cross, 6-5, 310, Mississippi State

Breakdown: Good size and length, Cross plays with balance and patience as a pass blocker. Could use some bulk and his run blocking will need development after playing in pass-happy offense. Fact: Blue-chip prospect out of Mississippi elected to stay in his home state over offers from Southern California and Florida State. Notable: Cross is Mississippi State’s first top-10 pick since the Eagles took RB Michael Haddix at No. 8 in 1983. 10) Jets (from Seattle) — Garrett Wilson, 5-11, 185, Ohio State Breakdown: Highly skilled at tracking the flight of the ball. Works the sideline adeptly with excellent footwork and has speed and precision to run away from defenders. On the lean side. Fact: Playing with other

star receivers limited his production, but he caught 23 touchdown passes in 33 career games with 19 starts. Notable: The last time the Jets took a receiver in the first round was Santana Moss in 2001 11) Saints (from Washington) — Chris Olave, 6-1, 188, Ohio State Breakdown: Quickness to win off the line of scrimmage and speed to get separation in the open the field. Like his teammate, Wilson, he lacks power, but he’s hard to cover and catches pretty much everything. Fact: Set an Ohio State record with 35 touchdown catches. Notable: Last time the Saints selected an Ohio State receiver was Michael Thomas with in the second round (47th overall) in 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 29, 2022, PAGE 13

Embiid cans 33 points, 76ers close out the Raptors in Game 6 By IAN HARRISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Joel Embiid had 33 points and 10 rebounds, James Harden added 22 points and 15 assists and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 132-97 in Game 6 to end the firstround series last night. Philadelphia will face Miami in the second round. The top-seeded Heat beat Atlanta in five games. Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points, going 5 for 12 from 3-point range, and Tobias Harris had 19 points and 11 rebounds, to help the 76ers finish off the Raptors with a blowout after losing the past two games. Danny Green scored 12 points and shot 4 for 7 from 3-point range as the Sixers finished 16 for 40 from beyond the arc. The Raptors struggled from 3-point range, going 7 for 35. Chris Boucher had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto, Pascal Siakam fouled out with 24 points, Gary Trent Jr had 19 and Scottie Barnes 18. Toronto lost in the first round for the first time since being swept by Washington in 2015. Toronto played without all-star guard Fred VanVleet. He missed his second straight game because of a strained left hip flexor. Toronto’s Precious Achiuwa had 17 points in Game 5 but didn’t score yesterday until making a free throw in the fourth quarter. Achiuwa drove for a dunk at the end of the third but the basket was waved off because it came after the buzzer. He shot 1 for 7 and scored three points. Toronto trailed 70-67 after Siakam made a hook shot with 9:42 left in the third, but Maxey hit three 3-pointers as the 76ers broke the game open with a 17-0 run over the next four-plus minutes, opening

PHILADELPHIA 76ers centre Joel Embiid (21) collides with Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half of Game 6 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Toronto last night. (Photos: Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) an 87-67 lead with 5:20 left in the quarter. Raptors coach Nick Nurse called timeout after Harden connected from distance with 3:52 left in the third, putting the Sixers up 92-70. Philadelphia took a 99-78 lead to the fourth. PLAYING VILLAIN After being called for a foul in the third quarter, Embiid responded to vulgar chants from the fans by cupping his hands around his ears. He did the same while heading to the bench for a fourth quarter timeout. Boos rained down after Embiid dunked in the 76ERS guard James Harden (1) drives to the net under pressure from Raptors forward Scottie fourth, then ran down the Barnes (4) during the second half of Game 6 last night. court with his arms raised TIP-INS Raptors: Siakam had in the airplane celebration attempts, then missed its 76ers: Coach Doc Rivers seven of Toronto’s 15 he used against Toronto in next 10. the 2019 playoffs. The Raptors shot 12 was called for a technical assists. Former Raptors guard SHOT CHART for 17 in the first quarter, foul in the fourth for arguToronto made seven making 5 of 19 after their ing that Harden had been Cory Joseph attended the fouled on a 3-point basket. game. of its first eight field-goal hot start.

T-wolves try to avoid ‘hero’ ball, stay alive vs. Grizzlies By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — After frittering away a double-digit-point fourthquarter lead twice in this series, the Minnesota Timberwolves could have already defeated the Memphis Grizzlies by now and be preparing for the second round. The Timberwolves will try to stave off elimination by the Grizzlies in Game 6 tonight instead, aiming to show the league, their fans — and perhaps themselves — that they have an ample supply of the late-game resolve needed to be a factor in the NBA playoffs. What they don’t necessarily need, though, is one of their stars to take over. One of the main reasons why the Wolves have been unproductive in the final stretches of games is a stagnant offence and forced shots from one of the trio of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards or D’Angelo Russell. “Everybody wants to be the hero, and that’s not how you’re going to win these games,” coach Chris Finch said after practice yesterday. Edwards tied Game 5 with 3.7 seconds left on a fadeaway corner 3-pointer. The second-year guard has

quickly established himself as a true clutch player, so having the ball in his hands with the clock winding down is not at all a negative for Minnesota. The problems can arise, though, when there’s little passing to or from him to set up the best looks at the basket. “It was me. I was a lot of that, what coach talked about,” Edwards said, reflecting on his Game 5 decision-making. He had 22 points but took 20 shots to get there. Russell has had some ill-advised attempts, too, including a 10-foot pull-up in traffic with 12.3 seconds left in Game 5 that missed badly. Entering the series, guard Patrick Beverley was the only player on the Wolves with any postseason experience of significance. “We’re young,” Edwards said. “I think we all know that, and we’re learning as we going.” The Grizzlies are just as inexperienced on this stage, but they’ve been the better team in the last half of the fourth quarter, even if the other 90% of the game has mostly gone the way of the Wolves. Ja Morant belied his age by quite a bit in Game 5 by scoring his team’s final 13 points, including the last-second

TIMBERWOLVES centre Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots the ball above Grizzlies guard Ja Morant in the second half during Game 5 on Tuesday in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) layup that lifted Memphis second-chance points in for sure on the road against to victory. the final period, and Clarke a really tough team.” The rally in Game 5 finished with 21 points and Taking a early lead at came after Jaren Jackson 15 rebounds off the bench. Target Center could go a Jr fouled out, prompting The Grizzlies last long way toward sending coach Taylor Jenkins to advanced to the second the Grizzlies to a Game 1 go to a super-small lineup round in 2015, when none on Sunday at Golden State. with Morant next to Tyus of their current play“You don’t want to give Jones, Desmond Bane, ers were around, nor the a team like that any life,” Dillon Brooks and Bran- coaching staff. Jones said. don Clarke. “I’m just focused on how “When you have a Brooks and Clarke we’re going to play our best chance to close out an helped defend Towns, and basketball still. So hope- opponent in a playoff Clarke dominated in the fully come out with that series, you’ve got to try to fourth quarter with seven physical edge, that mental take advantage of it. of his 10 rebounds on the edge you’re going to need,” “We obviously don’t offensive end. Memphis Jenkins said. “You just want this to go to a seventh had a 12-0 scoring edge in need to take it up a notch game.”

TIGER WOODS HEADS TO SOUTHERN HILL FOR PGA PRACTICE ROUND By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer TIGER Woods flew to Oklahoma yesterday for a practice round at Southern Hills, the first step in deciding whether he can play in the PGA Championship. The 18-hole practice round while walking came three weeks before the start of the PGA Championship being held May 19-22 at Southern Hills in Tulsa. A person with knowledge of his plans, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because only Woods can authorise such information, confirmed the practice round. Woods made a remarkable return to golf at the Masters following his February 23, 2021, car crash outside Los Angeles that shattered bones in his right leg and ankle. In his first time competing and walking a course, he made the cut for the 22nd straight time, though he tired on the weekend and his limp was more noticeable in rounds when he shot 78-78. He finished in 47th place out of the 52 players who made the cut. Golf Channel reported that Southern Hills head pro Cary Cozby caddied for Woods yesterday. Tulsa TV station KOTV showed an overhead shot of Woods putting. He was wearing a black sleeve on his right leg. Southern Hills last hosted a major in 2007, when Woods won the PGA Championship for the second straight year and fourth time overall. That week featured his lowest score in a major, a 63 in the second round with a birdie putt that spun in and out of the cup on the final hole. Woods left Augusta National unsure of when he would play next, although he confirmed he would be at the British Open at St Andrews this summer. He has entered the PGA Championship and the US Open at Brookline in June, though that was a formality as an exempt player. Woods’ movement was picked up by internet sites tracking his private plane from South Florida to Tulsa, Oklahoma, along with a photo on Twitter showing the plane on the tarmac. It didn’t generate the same buzz as when he went to Augusta National a week before the Masters, uncertain then if he would play the first major of the year. Southern Hills is not as strenuous a walk as Augusta National, except for the steep decline walking off the first and 10th tees and the inevitable uphill climb back toward the clubhouse, with only slight elevation along the way. While tired after the Masters, Woods could only see himself getting better. “I don’t quite have the endurance that I would like to have had, but as of a few weeks ago, didn’t even know if I was going to play in this event,” he said after final round at Augusta National. “To go from that to here, we’re excited about the prospects of the future, about training, about getting into that gym and doing some other stuff to get my leg stronger, which we haven’t been able to do because it needed more time to heal.” Similar to the Masters, Woods likely won’t decide whether to play the PGA Championship until that week.

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LUCAYAN BASKETBALL CLUB GETS SOME HARDWARE By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ALTHOUGH they fell short of last year’s success, head coach Ricardo Lees said he was still satisfied with the performances of his Lucayan Basketball Club at the three-day Super 6 Tournament in Orlando, Florida. The club returned this week from its Easter tour from April 16-26 where they also got in a college tour of several schools, including Southeastern University, Rollins College and Tamp University, with the view of getting athletic scholarships for some of their players. The Lucayans’ under-16 boys team won the title by 25 points, while their junior boys lost a nail-biter in the final, the senior ended up with the consolation third place finish and the senior finals fell short by one game of advancing to their championship. Last year during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lucayan Basketball Club participated in the tournament where they won all of the boys divisions they competed in. This year, however, Lees said the competition was waiting for them to return. “Our Easter tour was different this year because we were faced with obstacles and a lot of injuries,” Lees said. “Through it all, we want to thank God for the lessons learned. Our teams really pulled together and supported each other through this Easter Tournament. “Our under-16 boys dominated during the championship game and really showed their strength even though a number of our players were injured. I want to thank God for giving us this opportunity to compete.” Ian Porter, a member of the victorious under-16 boys team, best described it when he stated that this was by far their best trip because the competition was really tough, but they managed to persevere through the instructions from their coaches. “This year, we knew the competition wasn’t going to be easy,” he stated. “Everybody was coming out with their A game. We were target because last year we got the victory. A few of my teammates were hurt and so I had to step up and be the player coach expected me to be. “I know I had to come out and play harder and encourage my teammates to play hard as well because everybody was out for us. But overall, we got the victory that we expected to get.” Tamaro Butler, Lucayan’s co-founder with Lees and a coach for the Lady Lucayan team, said all of the teams did their best. “The boys performed exceptionally

LUCAYAN Basketball Club members returned this week after its Easter tour April 16-26 at the three-day Super 6 Tournament in Orlando, Florida. They also got a college tour of several schools, including Southeastern University, Rollins College and Tamp University, with the view of getting athletic scholarships for some of their players. well. The girls did alright. There were a lot of obstacles and things that we had to overall,” he said. “We had a lot of new players and not enough time to build the chemistry, but they performed as good as they can, given the circumstances.” Butler said he felt that as a club, they learned a lot of things about each member and what they need to work on and improve upon as they gear up for their next trip. But he noted that the trip was definitely a successful one. Claire Ferguson, a member of the Lady Lucayans, said despite not winning, they gained a lot of exposure. “I think our team did better than expected. The level of competition was high. It wasn’t what we expected. It may have been higher,” she stated. “I think I performed well, but I could have been smarter.” She thanked God for providing her with the ability and talent to lead the team and the coaches and the club for providing them with the opportunity to travel and compete. As a result of what they experienced, she noted that

whenever they return, their goal is to win the title. And Franco Moncur, who coached the junior team, said the teams can hold their heads high because they did their best. “We got close to achieving all of our goals,” he said. “We didn’t meet 100 percent of our goals, but we got three teams to the playoffs and championship level. “They performed very well. We got to see where they are and every game was close. So I feel our level of preparation and our competition was right on target.” Now that they are back home, Lees said Lucayan Basketball Club will now prepare for the upcoming Fox Foundation Lucayan All-Star game that will feature some of the best players from both the public and private schools. A date and venue has not yet been determined for the event, but he promises that it will be an exciting one for the public to enjoy. Following that, the Lucayan Volleyball Club will prepare to take their boys and girls teams off to Florida to compete in a series of volleyball tournaments during the summer.

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Friday, April 29, 2022, PAGE 15

Making Bahamian baseball history

JASRADO ‘JAZZ’ CHISHOLM JR AND LUCIUS FOX ARE FIRST PAIR OF BAHAMAS-BORN PLAYERS TO APPEAR IN SAME MLB GAME SINCE 1961 By HOWARD FENDRICH AP National Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Growing up as childhood friends in the Bahamas, Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr and Lucius Fox talked about one day reaching the majors together. On Wednesday night, they shared a ballfield as starters in the big leagues — Chisholm at second base for the Miami Marlins, Fox at shortstop for the Washington Nationals. They are the first pair of Bahamasborn players to appear in the same Major League Baseball game since 1961. “It was a super important day for me,” Chisholm said after Miami’s 2-1 victory over Washington. “I just can’t wait to see what we have in the future,” he said. Chisholm, who reached the big leagues in 2020, led off the game with a single and ended up going 2 for 3. Fox, a rookie, was 0 for 4 and is still searching for his first hit in the majors. “I was really pulling for him to get his first hit — and then throw him out at second base,” Chisholm said with a smile. “Like, ‘Hey! Great hit! And now you’ve got to go back.’” Both players are 24 years old and from Nassau, Bahamas. The country has a population of about 400,000 and nine Bahamian-born players have played in the majors. According to the Nationals, who cited the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other pair of Bahamians to play in the same game were Andre Rodgers and Tony Curry, who faced each other six times during the 1960 and 1961 seasons. “If not the whole, a lot of the Bahamas was watching tonight,” Fox said. “Hopefully, we were able to inspire some kids to play baseball and just inspire people to take that leap. The world has a lot to offer, and you can’t be afraid to take chances and bet on yourself. So hopefully we inspired people in the Bahamas to do that tonight.” Chisholm said the two have known each other since they were 3 or 4 years old, played in Little League together and lived together for a few years in their early teens. They host an annual baseball youth clinic back home. On Tuesday, after Fox sat out the opening game of the Miami-Washington series, the two pals met for a meal and a chance to catch up. Chisholm figured they would swap jerseys yesterday. “We made history tonight,” he said, “so why not?”

JASRADO “Jazz” Chisholm Jr and Lucius Fox (26) on Wednesday night (April 27, 2022), shared a ballfield as starters in the big leagues — Chisholm at second base for the Miami Marlins, Fox at shortstop for the Washington Nationals. They are the first pair of Bahamas-born players to appear in the same Major League Baseball game since 1961. (AP Photos)

Rolling Marlins hand reeling Nationals 8th straight loss By HOWARD FENDRICH AP National Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Music blaring, smiles all around, the Miami Marlins are enjoying postgame time these days — five victories in a row, a winning record and second place in the standings will do that. Especially for a team, as left-hander Trevor Rogers pointed out after his longest start and first win of this season, coming off a 67-95 finish in 2021. “It’s just a different vibe in this locker room. We know that we can do it this year,” Rogers said. “Last year was last year and it was very unfortunate — but that was last year,” he added. Rogers allowed one run in six innings, the bullpen made a lead stand up again, and the Marlins already have exceeded their best stretch of last season after a sweep-completing 3-2 victory over the the reeling Washington Nationals

before an announced crowd of 12,454 yesterday. The 2021 Marlins never put together more than four consecutive wins. They’re currently 10-8 after a 1-4 start; the franchise hasn’t been above .500 during the month of April since 2017. And other than the 60-game, pandemicshortened 2020 season, Miami last finished with a winning record in 2009. “You have to be able to string together wins if you’re going to go anywhere,” manager Don Mattingly said. “And that shows you, hopefully, that our club’s getting ready to play every day.” Rogers (1-3) came in with a 6.94 ERA but lowered that to 5.09 after giving up just two hits against a Nationals lineup that has produced merely 16 runs during an eight-game losing skid. Cole Sulser worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to get his first save of 2022 in his first chance.

MIAMI Marlins manager Don Mattingly speaks with reporters in the dugout before a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park yesterday in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) “It’s hard to win,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said, “when you’re scoring one or two runs a game.” Patrick Corbin (0-4) lost again for Washington, despite his best outing of the season, with three runs — two earned — in six-plus innings. “It’s been a tough week or so for us,” Corbin said. Neither club was exactly perfect yesterday. Plenty of

misplays, wayward pitches, etc. The Nationals went ahead 1-0 in the first on Josh Bell’s RBI double after a wild pitch and a passed ball helped get a runner to third. Miami tied it with an unearned run in the third, when the Nationals made two miscues: a throwing error on shortstop Lucius Fox — a rookie who is also 0 for 20 and drew

attention by vomiting on the field during Sunday’s game — and a fielding error on centre fielder Victor Robles. Corbin pitched into the seventh for the first time this season but that did not go well once he got there. Brian Anderson led off with a double after Robles twisted and turned and couldn’t find the ball, losing his hat and sunglasses in the process. A scary moment came next: Corbin hit Miguel Rojas on the flap of his helmet, leaving him with a bruised jaw. Rojas tried to spin out of the way and ended up face-down in the dirt. “Kind of shocked me to see that,” said Corbin, who immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head on the infield grass. Mattingly and a trainer came out to check on Rojas, who remained in the game and eventually went to first base; as soon as he did, Martinez removed Corbin.

“He was rattled,” Martinez said about his left-hander. Righty reliever Victor Arano entered, and Mattingly went to a left-handed pinch hitter, Jesús Sánchez, who promptly singled in the go-ahead run. After a groundout produced the first out, Arano’s wild pitch led to another run and a 3-1 lead for Miami. Washington pulled within one on consecutive doubles in the eighth, but Sulser struck out Bell to end the threat. “Big out,” Mattingly called it. UP NEXT Marlins: Return to Miami for a six-game homestand that begins today against Seattle. RHP Elieser Hernandez (1-1, 5.87 ERA) starts the opener. Nationals: Head out on a three-city, nine-game road trip, starting at San Francisco. RHP Aaron Sanchez (0-1 8.31), who played for the Giants last season, will be on the mound night for Washington.

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JONQUEL JONES FROM PAGE 11

opener follows on May 14 when the Sun host the Los Angeles Sparks at the Mohegan Sun. An eventful offseason for Jones saw her sign a new two-year deal worth $205,000, slightly under the WNBA supermax of $228,094. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict forced Jones to cut her offseason short with Russian Premeir League club UMMC Ekaterinburg. UMMC was among the group of Russian clubs disqualified from the FIBA EuroLeague Women 20212022 season. Jones led the Foxes to an undefeated regular season and the top overall seed in both the EuroLeague and RPL. She reportedly makes more in a month playing for Ekaterinburg than she does an entire season in the WNBA. “I’m going to have to deal with it. Because I feel like while the league is making the right and necessary strides to pay us more and ensure that if we don’t want to go overseas, we don’t have to, I just feel like in my situation, the money is not comparable,” Jones told ESPN. “I have to think about the financial status of my family and everybody else, and also the opportunities that I’m leaving if I don’t go.” A short offseason in Russia meant Jones had the rare opportunity to be present at Sun training camp this year. The Sun currently have six players that are either reigning or previous All Stars. Sun head coach Curt Miller said the team’s depth will be its strength. “There’s going to have to be really honest dialogue in the locker room. We know JJ needs touches, at the same time [Alyssa Thomas] is our engine and Courtney [Williams] I believe always has the ability to be a leading scorer on a team. And then you would be crazy not to play through Brionna Jones, one of the most efficient players in the league. And we haven’t even started to talk about [DeWanna Bonner] or Jasmine [Thomas]. … And then some up and coming young pros around those six players,” he said to the Hartford Courant. “My challenge is to put the best five players on the floor at times. What does that look like? Maybe some unconventional lineups. Could you have some ginormous lineups on the floor to potentially in some ways get your best lineup on the floor? … That’s what we didn’t have the luxury to do last year.” Jones opted out of the shortened 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns but returned in 2021 to deliver the best season of her career. In addition to league MVP, she was also named to the All-WNBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, the Associated Press Player of the Year and AP First-Team Honours. She also won the WNBA Peak Performer Award as the league’s top rebounder for the third time in the last five seasons and was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the months of May, August, and September. The 2022 WNBA season will be the league’s 26th edition. Planned changes to the league’s schedule included an increase to 36 regular season games for each team, which is the most games ever scheduled in a single WNBA season. The WNBA’s second Commissioner’s Cup will also take place this season. This postseason will also be highlighted by the return of an all-series playoffs, which was last used in 2015. There will no longer be two rounds of single-elimination games, with byes into the second round for the third and fourth seeds and into the semifinals for the top two seeds. The first round will now be best-of-three series and involving all eight playoff teams and played with a 2–1 format. The higher seed will host the first two games. Also, the playoffs will not be reseeded after the first round.