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FAMILY’S DESPAIR AT BELLA’S DEATH
Police quiz couple after four-year-old dies from ‘injuries’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE family of a fouryear-old girl who died in hospital on Friday after being brought to the facility with injuries is struggling to accept the situation, with one relative sorrowfully telling The Tribune yesterday “we sent her to her death”. According to police, sometime around 5pm officers received information from medical practitioners at Princess Margaret
Hospital that a female child was brought into the facility unresponsive. Police said initial investigations revealed the child, a resident of a major subdivision, sustained several injuries to her body, from which she later died. Police are awaiting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, however. Although police have not officially released the child’s name, she was identified as Bella Walker by relatives SEE PAGE THREE
GOVT TARGETS VACCINE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12 By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said yesterday officials are hoping to receive paediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine for five to 11-yearolds as soon as possible to assist with the successful opening of schools for
face-to-face learning. The minister would not commit to a timeline yesterday for the restart of in-person learning, telling The Tribune assessments of both schools and clinics are ongoing. However, he said there were protocols officials intend to use to guide the SEE PAGE FOUR
BELLA WALKER, who died in hospital on Friday.
NEW HEALTH RULES JUDGES DISMISSES BPL ARE ‘TOO INFLEXIBLE’ WORKERS’ JOBS CLAIM By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Cabinet minister Dr Duane Sands has warned the proposed
COVID-19 rules are too “inflexible and draconian”, and threaten to “create hardship” for businesses and citizens unless amended. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THREE Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) staff accused of playing key roles in the
DAVIS SETS HIS STALL AGAINST OIL By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he is “not minded” to allow oil drilling in The Bahamas and is completely opposed to oil exploitation in the country. He was speaking to reporters on Friday after his delegation returned from the United Kingdom where the COP26 summit
THE STENA Icemax drilling ship used by the Bahamas Petroleum Corporation. and other meetings were held. He said: “I am not in any
definitive position now to say, but as I speak having come from COP conference and having had conversations with world leaders, having had conversations with technical people, I am minded not to allow oil drilling and for certain at this time I am not prepared to move toward oil exploitation. Because you could still, cap and monetise; you could still exploit.”
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE THREE
$1.9m fraudulent invoices scam that rocked the utility have lost their wrongful/ unfair dismissal claims after a ruling on Friday by Justice Ian Winder. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
INSIGHT
WILL BRAVE WORDS BE BACKED UP BY BOLD ACTION?
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Monday, November 8, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
POP-UP SITES TO PROVIDE JABS
HEALTH officials have started offering COVID-19 vaccinations at pop-up sites recently, with shots being given out at Arawak Cay on the weekend. Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson shots were available at the site yesterday and Saturday. A pop-up vaccination event was also held at
the Mall at Marathon on Saturday. According to the latest data, 136,238 people in the country are fully vaccinated as of November 6. This number includes Bahamians and residents who were fully vaccinated abroad and registered on the vax.gov.bs platform. Photos: Racardo Thomas/ Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 8, 2021, PAGE 3
Family’s despair at Bella’s death from page one
who spoke to The Tribune yesterday. A man and woman have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with the matter, police said. Their relationship to the victim was not disclosed. When contacted about online speculation about the child’s death, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle said yesterday: “We do not speculate, but are awaiting an autopsy.” Mary Grant, Bella’s 79-year-old great grandmother, said the “friendly and smart” little girl
primarily lived with her and her 81-year-old husband since she was a two-weekold baby. That changed about two months ago when she was sent to New Providence to live in a female relative’s care. “Everybody is crying (saying) we send Bella to her death,” Mrs Grant tearfully said yesterday. “Everybody. I couldn’t sleep last night. Oh Jesus! “I am in mourning. I didn’t sleep last night. We had that baby from two weeks to four-years-old. We just send her home to her (female relative) about two months now and the
baby gone? You know what kinda stress that is on me? I am 79 years old. “My daughter is the (child’s) grammy, but the baby stays here with me.” Mrs Grant said she has not been in contact with any official so she was unsure of the child’s cause of death. Asked about online speculation about the child’s injuries, Mrs Grant tearfully said it was not something she wanted to accept. “I hear that too but they ain’t say it. Oh God I don’t want (to) hear that, Jesus!” She reflected on Bella’s outgoing personality. “My husband (is) 81 and I (am) 79 and we cook (our)
AN IMAGE created by the family in tribute to Bella Walker. own breakfast and she’ll activists and an Office of come in the kitchen and the Prime Minister official. she’ll say ‘Grammy what’s In a tweet Sunday, Transfor breakfast?’ like she is a port and Housing Minister grown person. She was too JoBeth Coleby-Davis said advanced for her age and so as a mother of a young girl smart. Everybody loved her. she was deeply saddened You would have loved her.” by the news. Mrs ColebyThe family is hoping jus- Davis said while she joined tice is served, Mrs Grant the call for justice among said. concerned citizens, more The death sparked out- must be done through legisrage from scores of people lation and policies. on social media. Social Services and Among them are par- Urban Development Minliamentarians, community ister of State Lisa Rahming
implored Bahamians to take a stand against genderbased violence and violence against children. “We can only do this by being our brother’s keeper, protecting each other and by this we would have a safer Bahamas,” Ms Rahming said. Office of the Prime Minister communications director Latrae Rahming said in a tweet that more had to be done to protect the nation’s children.
DAVIS SETS HIS STALL AGAINST OIL from page one
BRITAIN’S PRINCE WILLIAM, right, speaks with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, last Tuesday. Photo: Alastair Grant/AP
PM HOPES SUMMIT WILL BE FRUITFUL IN CLIMATE FIGHT By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip Davis says he’s an optimist and hopes the COP26 summit is fruitful in the fight against climate change even though the cynicism of critics is warranted. Mr Davis said officials are uncertain about whether the summit will produce “the kind of action coming out of it that The Bahamas and other countries were calling for”. He spoke to reporters Friday afternoon after his delegation arrived at the Lynden Pindling Airport from Europe where they attended the summit in Scotland and participated in other meetings in the United Kingdom. He nonetheless highlighted the scope of the event. “In the wider conference there were approximately 25,000 delegates,” he said. “To fully appreciate the scale, understand that it took about 20-25 minutes just to walk to some meetings, because they were in another part of the complex. Once you appreciate the scale, hopefully that gives you an idea how busy we have been on your behalf.
“We had formal and informal discussions with leaders and representatives from virtually every continent. There were meetings with many of our CARICOM friends in the region: Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Surinam, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, just to name a few. I met for the first time the African leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Togo and Niger as well as the Secretary General of The African Association. “There were informal meetings with our North American friends, President Biden of the United States and Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and some of our European friends from the United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Luxembourg and others. There was also a formal meeting with the Special Envoy from China, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and others. “Apart from meetings with leaders, there were some significant meetings with prominent organisations such as The Nature Conservancy, The Green Climate Fund and IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency.
“Outside of COP, in Glasgow and London, we also held conversations with financial and legal bodies to discuss the challenges we are currently facing and to pursue opportunities to support our national developments. We explored ways of securing financial support to help with our current fiscal situation, especially in relation to the management of debt and driving economic growth, technology and other support, and the need to improve our infrastructure and defences against the adverse effects of climate change. “It would not be appropriate for me just yet to provide details of those conversations. We don’t want to be premature in any way and embarrass partners with whom discussions are ongoing, and promises not yet concretised. “Some of the meetings had more specific purposes, such as the workshop on ‘Gender and Climate Change’ which were attended by my wife and the wife of the Minister of The Environment. I am happy to report that the ‘Office of the Spouse’ will be incorporating issues on climate as a top priority. This will support the urgent work we need to do to sensitise Bahamians to the
actions that are needed to make our country more resilient. “Just before leaving, I signed a key document called a ‘Nationally Determined Contribution’ which now allows The Bahamas to sit around the table when critical decisions are being made. For example, The Bahamas can now sit at the table when the Ministers of Finance meet to discuss the issues of COP 26.” Mr Davis said it is regrettable that such opportunities were lost under his predecessor. “Whether through ignorance or neglect, it means that The Bahamas lost out on a number of potential benefits, especially in terms of financial support, which will only now become available,” he said. Mr Davis added that he invited a number of world leaders to attend next year’s 50th Anniversary of Independence celebrations. “Among those to say yes, I was pleased that Prince Charles was very enthusiastic, as was Prince William at another event,” he said. “As Prince Charles represented the Queen at the original Independence Ceremony in 1973, this was a wonderful gesture,” he said.
“Exploitation is something that I’m not (in favour of), with the world going the way it is, I will be going with the world.” Asked if oil exploration in The Bahamas was raised as an issue during the summit, Mr Davis said: “There are no extant oil drilling leases going forward. The question of oil drilling did arise, did come up. “There is an understanding that the elimination of fossil fuel completely may be a pipe dream and/or nothing that we will see in our lifetime, but is something that we all will be moving towards. “So, you will hear them talk about alternative energy, but they don’t ever talk about what they call the net zero which is now the new term they are adopting to see where countries will get to net zero meaning eliminating fossil fuel altogether, but no one is talking about it now, it can’t be done now, they see that 20, 30, 50 years into the future. “So, for us we are reviewing the situation and we are moving towards monetizing our carbon credits so that at the end of the day, that if we need new revenue streams to provide the services that our people need and I could get it from the monetisation of my carbon credits.” In March of this year, when the Progressive Liberal Party was in opposition, Mr Davis told the Nassau Guardian his administration would be amenable to extending the licences of Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) “within the established legal regime”. “First of all, I will address it in accordance with legislation that is in place,” Mr Davis said at the time, according to the Nassau Guardian. “There is a legislative regime in place and we will follow that regime. We will follow the law and have it considered in the context of that legislative regime.” Asked by that daily whether a Davis administration would green light BPC for further oil exploration, Mr Davis said: “Once it conforms with the laws and the regulations that are in place; unless there is something that is outside of that norm, that is what we will follow.” In February, BPC announced it had ceased its drilling operations after having failed to find commercial volumes of oil. Mr Davis formerly represented BPC when in opposition.
PAGE 4, Monday, November 8, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Govt targets vaccine for children under 12 from page one
resumption of face-to-face instruction whenever it should occur. Last week, the United States Food and Drug Administration authorised the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID19 vaccine to include children five through 11 years of age. That authorisation was on the basis of an FDA in-depth and transparent evaluation of the data which included the views of independent
advisory committee experts who overwhelmingly voted in favour of making the vaccine available to children in this age group. “We just got the tranche of the 134,000 (doses) from the United States and we are hoping that the next tranche they may consider us and put some paediatric doses with that,” Dr Darville told The Tribune yesterday. “That’s what we’re hoping for. That’s what we’re trying to see if we could get. “But we would like to have it in country as soon as possible to assist with
DARVILLE PREPARING IN CASE OF FOURTH WAVE By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net WHILE daily COVID19 cases continue to trend downward, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said officials are starting “to prepare for war when there is peace” in the event of a fourth coronavirus wave. He was commenting on the notably low virus numbers in recent weeks. Over the weekend there were 25 new cases — 16 confirmed on Saturday and nine on Friday. There were 19 new cases on Thursday and four additional deaths reported. The deceased include two men and two women between the ages of 58 to 86, who died between October 20 and 28. The victims were from New Providence, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and Andros. “Overall, the data is showing that the numbers are falling, but it’s obvious that COVID still exists in The Bahamas and the chances of fully eradicating COVID anywhere in the world is very, very slim,” Dr Darville said yesterday. “The numbers are going down. COVID moves in
waves and then you go into a wave and then there is a need to start preparing the country for the possibility of another wave. “We went through a very serious third wave. We still have some remnants of it. We need to watch it very closely. We need to practice what we need to practice so that we don’t have (more) spread and at the end of the day hopefully God is on our side we’ll keep the numbers low and try to keep as many people from the hospital as we possibly can. “But this is the battle that will be ongoing for many years and look at what’s going on in Germany. There is another wave that’s there. So, for us it’s basically starting to prepare for war when there is peace and that’s what we are doing at the Ministry of Health now that if we do get into another wave, we’ll be better prepared.” The latest confirmed cases brought the country’s coronavirus toll to 22,529 as of Saturday. At last report, 55 people were in hospital with the virus. There have been 661 COVID-19 deaths, while 67 other deaths remain under investigation.
By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
With October recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the trio teamed up to raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer by hosting a unique and fun event at Shell’s Golden Gates location. “Sun Oil is committed to supporting causes that impact Bahamians and so many of us have been impacted by breast cancer,” said Rufus Johnson Jr,
the opening of schools and knowing whether or not some parents would want to have their children have it.” Asked if it was likely schools would resume in-person learning in January, the minister said: “I don’t—I don’t want to give a date because one hat don’t fit all. “We first went into the southern Bahamas, central and now we are going into the northern areas because we saw that it was low lying fruit. We don’t have the population size and once (the Ministry of)
Education is satisfied that the schools are ready and speaks with the staff and we go in to make sure that we have what we need in place for the protocols to work, we’ll begin to make those recommendations. “But we are working very diligently to get some sort of face-to-face or some sort of hybrid model moving quickly because the kids are falling behind. So, this is a serious matter that we have at hand but we don’t want to just start opening schools and education and health didn’t have the opportunity to
visit the schools. “So, it’s a very tedious process. We are pretty much visiting every school or as many as we possibly can.” Last week, Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said officials were hoping to soon announce a date for the resumption of face-to-face learning but disclosed that several schools will be unable to open due to an unsatisfactory state of repair. Speaking in the House of Assembly at the time the Englerston MP did not give a timeline for the in-person
opening of schools. However, she said the schools that suffered “egregious neglect” and will not open include L W Young, Yellow Elder Primary, C W Sawyer Primary, Ridgeland Primary, Sybil Strachan Primary, Uriah McPhee Primary, S C McPherson Junior High School, Gerald Cash Primary School, Carlton Francis Primary and the Centre for the Deaf. All Family Island schools are ready to open with the exception of George Town Primary and L N Coakley High, both in Exuma, Mrs Hanna Martin said.
HELPING HANDS
HANDS for Hunger held a breakfast in the park event at Sutton Street, off Kemp Road, at the weekend. Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
OBSTACLE COURSE CHALLENGE RAISES CANCER FUNDS AN obstacle course challenge put on in collaboration with the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, Chickcharney Chirren and Sun Oil Ltd has left gas consumers happy and the cancer awareness entity with a nice donation.
marketing manager for Sun Oil Limited. “As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we decided to create an exciting way to raise both awareness and funds for the cause. “We take our responsibility as a corporate citizen very seriously and every year seek ways to bolster the fight against cancer in The Bahamas. Despite the challenges of the current
environment, we are committed to fueling causes that impact our community and our customers.” Sun Oil demonstrated its corporate social responsibility in an exceptional and unique way when it teamed up with Chickcharney Chirren who created the fun obstacle challenge course. In exchange for a donation to the Cancer Society, customers were able to attempt the course and compete for an opportunity to win a month’s supply of free fuel from Shell. Fuel vouchers were awarded to all who attempted the course with
top prizes going to the three customers who completed the course in the shortest time period. The winners are - Jacodd Adams, first place, Shane Dean Sr, second place, and Decordray Burrows, third place. A month’s supply of fuel was awarded to the overall winner while the second and third place finishers also received two weeks of free fuel. All COVID-19 protocols were in place for the obstacle course challenge. “We truly appreciate Sun Oil partnering with the Cancer Society of The Bahamas to assist with our
ongoing programmes and campaigns to bring awareness to cancer,” said Lovern Wildgoose, director for the Cancer Society of The Bahamas. The organisation encourages all women over 40 to get their mammograms every year noting that mammograms save lives. For more information, contact the Cancer Society at 323-4482 or email cancersociety@hotmail.com. All donations went directly to the Cancer Society, who were also on hand at the event to answer questions and provide information on its services.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 8, 2021, PAGE 5
BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson.
Union president warned of school failings ‘months ago’ By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
AN alarm was sounded several months ago that not only was the Ministry of Education’s virtual platform inoperable, but that schools were in a dire need for repair, according to Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson. Mrs Wilson spoke to The Tribune on Friday following Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin’s disclosure in Parliament that many students are now considered drop-outs because they could not access the virtual platform. She further stressed her disappointment that the former
Minnis administration did not ensure that the annual school repair programme continued. Following the September 16 general election, BUT had an extensive meeting with Mrs Hanna Martin when these concerns were aired. “Many concerns were discussed, including the concerns surrounding schools being closed and the myriad of challenges teachers and students face with the LMS and EMIS and the virtual platform in general,” Mrs Wilson said in remarks sent to The Tribune. “Another meeting will be held with a view to having these issues resolved sooner than later.
“Minister Hanna Martin and President Belinda Wilson are communicating daily on various matters. Schools will not reopen face-to-face or in a hybrid model without the Bahamas Union of Teachers being at the table.” She also said: ““President Wilson was saying for the past 20 months that the virtual platform is inoperable and inadequate so she expects that to be addressed. The alarm was sounded months ago by Wilson who said publicly that there are many schools that repairs were incomplete. “So, schools’ physical plant must be conducive for learning and the safe occupation of teachers and
students. The BUT is ready to work with the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health to ensure that education gets a muchneeded reboot.” In the House of Assembly Wednesday, the minister said while officials hoped to soon announce a date for the resumption of faceto-face learning, several schools will be unable to open due to an unsatisfactory state of repair. The Englerston MP did not give a timeline for the in-person opening of schools. However, she said the schools that suffered “egregious neglect” and will not open include L W Young, Yellow Elder Primary, C W Sawyer
Primary, Ridgeland Primary, Sybil Strachan Primary, Uriah McPhee Primary, S C McPherson Junior High School, Gerald Cash Primary School, Carlton Francis Primary and the Centre for the Deaf. All Family Island schools are ready to open with the exception of George Town Primary and L N Coakley High, both in Exuma, the minister said. “We understand that there is much anxiety and angst and growing concern as to the question of the resumption of face-to-face instruction as it is clear that this is the ideal method in teaching instruction and student learning for a myriad of reasons,” Mrs
Hanna Martin said at the time. “It is also understood the pressures placed on children, teachers and parents operating in a hybrid or fully virtual school environments and those who have fallen outside of the system and the damage being caused. We are preparing for the resumption of faceto-face instruction in our public schools, but cannot do so until our health officials say that it is safe to do so and mandate the requisite health protocols to be undertaken to assure a safe environment for all. “We must also work closely with parents and the unions to seek to allay any concerns they may have,” the minister said.
PLANS FOR HURRICANE SHELTER AND SOUP KITCHEN IN GB By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Evangeline Jervis Community Service Distribution Centre has resumed plans to build a 4,000 sq ft hurricane shelter/soup kitchen to serve as “a proper shelter facility” for Grand Bahama. Representatives from the non-profit organisation say they need support and financial donations from the local community to complete the project, which
was initially started nearly two years ago following superstorm Dorian. Work was put on hold in March last year due to the coronavirus outbreak and was resumed in February of this year. “The foundation is out of the ground, and we are on our way,” representative Arlene Sands said at a recent press conference at the site. The proposed structure will be 4,200 sq ft, four feet above the ground. It will be fully equipped with a
generator and solar power. There will be female and male bathrooms with showers, lockers, and a large kitchen, a large open multipurpose area that will be used as a sleeping area during hurricanes, and a dining area all year round. There will be portable partitions to keep families together. Once completed, it will be able to accommodate 350 people. The shelter project is located at the Freeport Seventh-Day Adventist
Church on Gambier Drive. During Dorian, the church housed 400 residents in its sanctuary. “We all know in 2019 Hurricane Dorian devastated the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco,” Ms Sands said. “The majority of shelters that were being used were destroyed. We recognised that Grand Bahama needs a proper hurricane shelter, and that is where this dream came alive.” Evangeline Jervis Community Service Distribution
Centre has been working in the community since January 2009, providing food, clothing and relief yearround to residents. “We do not get government funding nor are we backed by any big organisations,” Ms Sands said. “Hence, we are here to sensitise the public that we need persons to support and partner with us to help us make this dream a reality.” Letters have gone out to corporate citizens, but she said anyone who feels the
need to assist is welcome to help. During closed hurricane season, the proposed building will be used as a soup kitchen providing hot meals daily to those in need. The Grand Bahama Port Authority and its Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation have pledged their support to EJCSDC. Also, Pastor Kenneth Lewis of the Methodist Church, and Grand Bahama Christian Council, and Pastor Eddie Victor support the project.
SURVEY BEING CARRIED OUT OF NATION’S ORGANISATIONS TO address the social, cultural, and economic issues that face the country, One Eleuthera Foundation, the Organization for Responsible Governance, Civil Society Bahamas, and Intel Cay are launching a national survey of not-for-profits, faith-based organisations, and other mission-based groups. The survey will assess organisational information about these groups, including the type of services they provide, how many people they benefit, the role they play in our communities, and the size of their staff and budgets. This information will help provide a clearer picture of how many civil society groups are operating across the archipelago and their impact, a press release from ORG noted. The survey was developed by OEF, ORG and Civil Society Bahamas. Intel Cay, a data collection and survey research company in The Bahamas, has partnered with the groups to ensure the survey is accessible and user friendly. The survey is being sent out via the social media
and websites of the charities, while Intel Cay will be phoning the organisations using its call centre and directly assisting participants with completing the survey, organiser said. Over 1,000 groups that have actively operated across The Bahamas will be targeted to take the survey. The survey is a follow-up to a 2019 exercise to map the existing civil society, which was organised by ORG, and funded by The Templeton Religion Trust. This initiative was spearheaded by Mark Palmer, who currently leads the OEF Social Enterprise Accelerator (OEFSEA) programme and sees this initiative as immediately essential. “After the dual crisis
of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, our country has developed many needs,” Mr Palmer said. “Whether these are health-related, social, cultural, environmental, or economic not-for-profits and civil society organisations (CSOs) can make a critical difference in our communities. We as a sector need to know which groups are out there and what they can offer so we can better organise efforts for CSO’s to support The Bahamas.” To date, a comprehensive list of the not-for-profit and civil society groups operating in The Bahamas does not exist, although the 2019 mapping exercise identified
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more than 800 groups. The Not-for-Profit Act enacted in 2020 required all not-for-profit groups to reregister, provide validating information and agree to adhere to a level of financial regulation. Matthew Aubry, ORG’s executive director, pointed out that gathering this information also has implications for greater partnership among civil society, government, and the private sector. “During the recent national crises, there have been numerous examples of not-for-profit’s working with the other sectors to make a significant difference,” he said. “Whether it be the NPO-led Food Distribution
Task Force helping 57,000 families survive through the COVID crises or the charities involved in the ongoing massive relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, or the arts and cultural groups contributing to the growth of the orange economy through new and innovative business models. Civil society in The Bahamas has tremendous yet untapped potential. A better understanding of the civil society sector provides a direct link to understanding the capacity of The Bahamas to manage its challenges and help our nation and its people to thrive.” The data will be used to support a further study on
the social and economic impact of civil society, ORG’s press release noted. The survey will run for the next four weeks. This week Intel Cay’s team will be reaching out via phone to all not-for-profits, faithbased and mission-based groups to offer assistance with completing the survey. If groups wish to participate independently, they can access the survey on the Civil Society Bahamas website or at www.intelcay.info/ CSOMAPPING2021. Any groups with questions on the survey or other private sector partners wishing to support this project can contact Mark Palmer at info@ oneeleuthera.org
PAGE 6, Monday, November 8, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
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We are failing our children THE children of our nation seem to be caught in the middle of an almighty mess. According to both Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, and Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson, a string of schools are not ready for the return of students to the classroom. Mrs Hanna Martin said last week that there was no timeline for the return to the classroom – and those schools that would not open amid “egregious neglect” included L W Young, Yellow Elder Primary, C W Sawyer Primary, Ridgeland Primary, Sybil Strachan Primary, Uriah McPhee Primary, S C McPherson Junior High School, Gerald Cash Primary School, Carlton Francis Primary and the Centre for the Deaf – as well as George Town Primary and L N Coakley High, both in Exuma. Meanwhile, Mrs Wilson says she met the minister shortly after the election in September to warn her that schools were in dire need of repair. Worse, the virtual platform for children to log on to from home to be able to continue their education is also experiencing problems, it seems. Mrs Wilson says that the virtual platform is “inoperable and inadequate”, and she says she has been sounding the alarm over that for the past 20 months. Now, of course, there is political capital to be had for the new administration in pointing the finger at its predecessor, but what matters is what is happening here and now for our children. Not able to go to the classroom, not able to learn effectively from home – they’re caught in a no man’s land where there is no path forward for them. For some, it will be a battle just to get them to re-engage with school at all if they have been left to drift for so long. Then we have the prospect of vaccines arriving for five - to 11-year-olds to help with the return of face-to-face learning. It’s been hard enough to get parents to take vaccines voluntarily – now it will be a challenge to get the children of those same parents to get their jabs, even if it does make it safer for them to return to school. Some of our children are being left behind, and we need to ensure that we find a way to help them to catch up. That’s not just academically, some will be experiencing challenges socially as well after being away from schools and their friends for so long. It won’t be easy, and simply fixing schools whose repairs should have been
done long ago won’t be a cure on its own. But there is no excuse for schools not being ready with all the extra time they have had beyond the usual summer repair period – and that needs to be sorted out as soon as possible. Even sooner there needs to be a resolution to problems with virtual learning – we can’t blame students for falling behind if the technology is failing them. Beyond that though we need to think carefully about how we help this generation of children to overcome this long gap in the centre of their school life. Mrs Hanna Martin – and Mrs Wilson – face a tough task. That they’re starting out speaking with one voice is a good beginning.
Oil policy How does Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis feel about oil? Well, speaking on Friday after his return from the climate conference, he said that he is “minded not to allow oil drilling” in The Bahamas. Wind back in time, however, and there he was representing the Bahamas Petroleum Company while he was in Opposition. It’s very easy to oppose oil drilling right now – as there is no one with a licence to do it. But it would be interesting to see if his former clients, now with a new name of Challenger Energy Group PLC, were to return if that position would change. If he is not minded to allow oil drilling, put it in writing, put it in law. That would be one firm step to take after a conference that could too easily become a talking shop rather than something that spurred real action. Or would he rather listen to the Mr Davis of last year, who said he supported oil drilling if it is done in an “environmentally friendly” manner. Back then, he said: “If we have a natural resource of oil, why should we allow it not to be exploited for the benefit of the Bahamian people?” Perhaps he has had a change of heart, but if so we might need to see more than him being “minded” one way or another. Which Mr Davis is our leader now? The one lauded for his comments at the climate change conference? Or the one who represented BPC and talked of environmentally friendly drilling? The answer will be in the actions that follow his words.
Jitneys and COVID EDITOR, The Tribune.
I READ with interest reports of the Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville’s presentation to Parliament on the new COVID regulations. I was surprised to find no mention made about public transportation. Taxi drivers do not cater to Bahamians except from the airport. However, as far as jitney (public bus transportation) drivers are concerned, the pandemic is apparently
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over. They are packing passengers in buses as tightly as they can fit. Jitney drivers do enforce wearing the mask and few provide hand sanitizers, but social distancing is no longer a requirement. To what extent buses are cleaned and disinfected each day, I don’t know. Ought operators be made to? Minister Darville was quoted as saying: “The virus spreads more rapidly indoors, and indoor gatherings with poor ventilation and large numbers of people can become super spreader events, ones which could threaten the progress we’ve made.” That being the case, it behooves Mr Darville to carefully examine the jitney operation – what can be done to prevent a “super spreader event” from
kicking off in one of those buses. That is especially the case as schools are re-opening for face-to-face learning. For what it’s worth, Stephen Morse, professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Medical Centre warned that mass transit be approached with caution. He noted that “there is always some risk of infection. After all you are entering a public space.” To reduce the risk significantly, he suggested wearing a multi-layered mask and maintaining good hand hygiene. Perhaps Mr Darville would not mind taking the jitney to work so he can understand first hand what I am talking about. GLADSTONE THURSTON Nassau, November 6, 2021.
A new day? EDITOR, The Tribune
LET me congratulate the fifth Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Mr Philip “Brave” Davis. He led the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to soundly defeat the Free National Movement (FNM) lead by Dr Hubert Minnis in the last general elections. The Bahamian people spoke decisively and they have bestowed overwhelming confidence in Prime Minister Davis to lead the country. The big question is whether he will be able to retain that confidence. The last five elections have seen one term administrations. For the most part, Prime Minister Davis has gotten off to a fantastic start. His ministerial appointments seem to be well placed and the country appears to be more energized. Hopefully this continues in the long term. As Minister of Finance, Mr Davis has placed himself even more in the decision making process to effect the country’s daunting fiscal position. His fiscal policies will be under a microscope and his detractors are seemingly already in attack mode.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net In order to improve our fiscal health, in my view several things need to happen. 1) The public service needs to be reduced and government workers collectively need to become more productive. Bahamian governments have known for years that the cost of the public service is unsustainable, but none of them has made the politicaa decision to stop the bleeding. More automation is needed because this will also aid in reducing government spending. 2) As a former Minister of Works, Prime Minister Davis needs to ensure that the issuance of government contracts is depoliticized. Successive governments have used the tendering process to return political favours to their cronies. Additionally, contracts have been issued for works that engineers at the Ministry of Works are aptly qualified to perform. Will the Davis government be brave and stop this blatant wastage of public funds? 3) The Davis
administration needs to stop the hiring of temporary workers just to gain political points? This action further adds to our rising debt and puts undue strain on our already limited financial resources. 4) The Davis led government must ensure that outstanding public funds are collected? This includes real property tax, national insurance contributions and mortgage payments from the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation just to name a few. Prime Minister Davis in the early stages of his term looks like a seasoned and capable politician and his honest demeanour and charisma along with sound financial decisions will hopefully catapult the Bahamian economy into much needed growth. He extended the curfew from day one, he will decrease VAT, his government has tabled the Town Centre Mall post office lease deal and his communication with the media is very refreshing. Is it really a new day? We will know for sure in the upcoming months. DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau, November 7, 2021.
Prayers for the FNM EDITOR, The Tribune. MY DEAR Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I am thanking you for another day in my right mind, health, and the wisdom, understanding, faith, patience, courage and the determination to keep You foremost in my mind, heart and soul. Please, Jesus, as I thank you for my many blessings, I am also asking you to bring bountiful blessings on Mr Hubert Alexander Minnis and his Free National Movement party during this critical time. Jesus, You and I know that the former Prime Minister and his government, have done their best as the leaders for the first time and after only nine years of being politicians – this is a heavy responsibility. Then he was welcomed with the results of a past hurricane, and then getting to face the worst hurricane in the century, Dorian. This hurricane almost destroyed two islands, and then the horrible COVID-19 virus. Only God knows how they were able to achieve, what was accomplished. It was your blessings and mercy that they were guided to make what was accomplished. Also donations from many other
countries, private businesses and other persons. Please, dear Jesus, give them the courage to face and be able to survive the mean, cruel and untrue things being said and done to hurt their feelings, with absolutely no gratitude for their efforts and successes accomplished. Dear Jesus, please deal with The New Day Prime Minister, his cabinet, House members, supporters and followers, give them all the blessings of faith, courage and wisdom to accept the things they can change, and also that they cannot change. Dear Jesus, you know, like I do, that the PLP had 24 years of uninterrupted leadership and more to do, so much more than they did and expect the past government to do in 41/2 years, that they had over 30 years to do what was expected of them. Jesus, you know how it feels to do all the good you can, to all who can and then be cruelly treated and be shamefully treated. Please, dear Jesus, give us all the blessings of life, to live and see all they will do and accomplishing this their five-year term of “A New Day”. As a woman of 86 years old and a qualified teacher
of 44 years, who taught from January 1959 to June 1985, with 8 B.J.C., 4 G.C.O.L.and a B.A. in Primary Education from The College of St Benedict in Minnesota, U.S.A. After graduating from B.T. College in 1966 and was never given a promotion from being a certified teacher with now a pension of $740.50, from 23 years to 50 years and 17 of those years on five islands and six schools from Mayaguana to Andros and I am not alone in this. Who is “The Government to be ashamed?” As I read recently in The Nassau Guardian. Schools on the islands 1. Andros, Lowe Sound three years. 2. Eleuthera, Deep Creek - five years and Gregory Town - five years. 3. San Salvador, Cockburn Town - one year. 4. Abaco, Cooper’s Town - one year. 5. Mayaguana, Pirate’s Well - two years. We had water wells, outdoor toilets and no electricity for most of these years. There were no Janitresses at all in my time. Thank you for printing my letter. SHELAH P MURRAY Nassau, November 5, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 8, 2021, PAGE 7
Gibson upset his defeated rival was invited on Long Island trip By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson has taken issue with Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville for inviting a defeated election candidate on an official trip to Long Island. Mr Gibson said he was slighted by Dr Darville who was accompanied on the trip by Tyrel Young, the Progressive Liberal Party candidate for Long Island in the recent general election. Dr Darville and the members of the ministry’s COVID-19 technical team recently visited islands in the southern and central Bahamas to conduct an urgent assessment of the situation there. Mr Gibson said the opportunity provided by the minister should have been for himself, the sitting MP for Long Island. “I believe in respect,” Mr Gibson said in the House of Assembly last week. “Though we might be on different sides politically, no member from the opposite side could say that I went to their constituency without giving them the courtesy of informing them and/or even inviting them. “I have never visited anyone’s constituency without telling them. It is simply the decent, respectful thing to do. Worst still, to bring along the loser – the fella who lost the race – so he can pretend to be MP is an insult to the people of Long Island who voted and duly elected their MP. Make no mistake about that. It is an affront to the people of Long Island. “That is a courtesy afforded to the MP, not the losing candidate. Given that, my interest was piqued by seeing the losing candidate Tyrel Young on an official trip to Long Island with the Minister of Health. He is not the MP. He is not an employee of the Ministry of Health. “So, I wondered... who is paying for this? Are taxpayers being made to pay for a political poke in the eye towards the sitting MP? “Subsequent to that trip, I noted that Mr Young has in recent days been appointed to chair the BAMSI board. So, why was he on that trip and why are taxpayers funding it? Was he detecting COVID in some unknown capacity?”
Mr Gibson said he was pleased to hear about investments in Family Island clinics and expressed interest in seeing the IDB funded works undertaken at the clinic in Deadman’s Cay, a settlement in Long Island. “Notably, we were also promised works – from the Ministry of Health’s capital budget – to the second major clinic, ie the Simms Community Clinic,” he said. “Both clinics have fallen into a state of disrepair. We are desperately in need of consistent medicine supplies and increased nursing staff. “In conducting renovations to our clinic, we are keen to have telemedicine and lab services put in place so that Long Islanders are not forced to fly to New Providence for medical issues that can be addressed locally and/or for blood tests and other simple lab works. This is how we decentralize healthcare on these islands.” Mr Gibson updated Parliament on the much talked about Long Island International Airport. “I have spoken to the member for Exuma about the new Long Island International Airport,” he said. “He has pledged that the airport will be constructed. “When we left office, both the landside and the airside of the airport had been tendered. I am advised that the tender evaluation had been completed and, given the same, the airport was at the stage for an imminent contract signing. “I intend to pay a great deal of attention to advocating for this much needed airport.” Mr Gibson also spoke out about a recent Water and Sewerage Corporation notice about impending disconnections. At the onset of the pandemic, disconnections at WSC were put on hold because so many consumers were out of work. As the former executive chairman of WSC, Mr Gibson said a snap disconnection exercise would leave many without water. In regards to the corporation itself, he said annual audits have all been compiled and that his team had years of audits ready to table on September 22 when they thought Parliament was to resume after the summer break. He said those audits were printed and left at WSC.
INDECENT ASSAULT ACCUSED ON REMAND By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
A 60-YEAR-OLD man accused of indecent assault remained on remand pending a probation report to assist the magistrate in considering an appropriate sentencing. According to previous reports, Vernal Munnings
was to return to court for sentencing on Friday. However, when Munnings returned, Magistrate Shaka Serville, said he was of the view that more information was needed before sentencing. A probation report was ordered. The matter was adjourned to December 20.
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ADRIAN GIBSON, MP for Long Island.
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021
Will Brave words be backed up by bold action? By MALCOLM STRACHAN IT has been a good week for Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis – with the spotlight falling on him as he spoke at the international climate conference in Scotland. But now he has come home to real questions about what The Bahamas’ role will be in the battle against climate change. Mr Davis must be commended for catching the world’s attention at the conference. When he spoke about how “we cannot outrun your carbon emissions, we cannot outrun the hurricanes which are growing more powerful and we cannot outrun rising sea levels, as our islands disappear beneath the seas,” he painted a picture in stark terms of the dangers facing us, and in doing so was picked by Bloomberg for its quote of the day. He went on to talk about Hurricane Dorian, and how we still don’t know exactly how many died – another priority for this government to pick up from its predecessor. That has to be something the government pushes to clarify rather than just use as a soundbite, so we hope to hear more. He warned: “Without change if we are lucky - we will become refugees. Without change - if we are unlucky - then we will be left to the mercy of future Hurricane Dorians. More of my people will die. More will be left traumatised and homeless. “People will be forced to flee... but flee to where? These are my neighbours, my family, my friends. My plea is both urgent and deeply personal. And I make it on behalf of all humanity.” That’s no exaggeration of the risks – it has long been predicted The Bahamas would see islands being submerged as seas rise because of melting ice caps. So well done, Mr Davis, for speaking so plainly – but what next? Well, he has given some indication of the way forward since his return from Scotland. He indicated he is “not minded” to allow oil exploration in the country. That may be a low-hanging fruit given there are no current companies with oil licences, although the former Bahamas Petroleum Company has said it is seeking to obtain some. More crucially in that statement, he said that one of the things the country is doing is “we are moving towards monetising our carbon credits so that at the end of the day that if we need new revenue streams to provide the services that our people need
and I could get it from the monetisation of my carbon credits.” In other words, using our position as a low level polluter to generate income for the country. That doesn’t directly address anything to do with the environment itself but rather serves as a way to bring
us more funds. Money seems to have been at the core of a number of meetings too, with Mr Davis saying: “We explored ways of securing financial support, especially in relation to the management of debt and driving economic
growth, technology and other support, and the need to improve our infrastructure and defences against the adverse effects of climate change.” So, more money – but what will we do with it? Mr Davis has already put one
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and his wife, Ann Marie, going over his speech before his presentation in Glasgow.
action plan in place – albeit a peculiar one. He said: “I am happy to report that the Office of the Spouse will be incorporating issues on climate as a top priority. This will support the urgent work we need to do to sensitise Bahamians to the actions that are needed to make our country more resilient.” Not to belittle the Office of the Spouse, but that’s a big job for an office with a small budget. And, for that matter, an office that not so long ago the PLP were opposed to and which the current occupant only found an interest in after being briefed by civil servants, apparently. So far, there has been little indication of concrete action. For example, what are the infrastructure upgrades for which Mr Davis has been asking for funding? Where are we planning to place flood walls? What preparatory work are we doing for when such a need arises? Beyond that, there has been little talk of switching from our own use of fossil fuels or to introduce greater incentives for renewable energy. With so many of our road journeys being a short distance in comparison with residents in other countries, there is an opportunity to encourage a switch to electric vehicles for many citizens. That will require creating the infrastructure to support such vehicles – not least of which is the ever-present challenge of Bahamas Power & Light – but with so little talk about such projects, it is clear it is not a high priority. Or at least, not yet. Among those unimpressed by Mr Davis’ speech was reEarth president Sam Duncombe, who called it “entirely underwhelming.” She got to the heart of the matter when she asked: “So we should do nothing, but fly around and beg for money?” She continued: “Our environmental review process is nothing but a sham covering up for proper consultation and honest review of projects. “We thought this was a ‘new day;’ sounds a lot like same day, same vacant rhetoric.” This is, of course, still the start of this new administration, but that is also the start of an opportunity to make sure there is action as well as words. Mr Davis has won plaudits for the speech he gave. Imagine the praise he would receive if he backs it up with action. The Bahamas is renowned for its beautiful waters and its environment. Mr Davis has the chance to make it a leader in fighting to protect those resources. It is in his hands.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021 PAGE 9 DO we really need to go through the looking glass to reach a world where we can tackle obesity?
Pleasantly plump Part one
SOME of the most beloved children’s novels lie within the portal fantasy genre. The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter are just a few standout examples. In them, the lead characters are given the opportunity to be transported to an unreal world and once there, their true adventurous journey begins. The unreal world becomes real in children’s novels and in the lives of many adults because it affords the opportunity to overcome any issue or crisis they would struggle with in the real world. In the fantasy world, they have the freedom to be someone else, someone better. All in the hope that this visualised perception of who they want to be is ultimately actualised when the story ends. Many times, they tackle subjects like strength and courage, overcoming obstacles, racism and good vs evil; all of which are familiar topics that have and continue to fuel many novels and blockbuster movies. Few, if any, focus primarily on fitness, health and wellness and to the best of my knowledge even fewer tackle the obesity epidemic. Why authors don’t discuss it more openly escaped my understanding until writing today’s report. It’s because in our society, beauty has become synonymous with selfworth and never more so than in the age of Instagram. So, with that understanding, to be obese is to be worthless and unattractive and, therefore, unworthy to be the hero of any given novel. As hard as we in the medical profession try to obfuscate this destructive lie, this media-driven perception unfortunately persists. So, the subject is blatantly avoided to the point that it’s become easier within our society to talk about racism and abuse than being fat. But how can we correct a problem if we first don’t acknowledge that we have a problem and then refuse to address the other health ramifications that have metastasized because of that same problem? To add further substance
to this discourse is the fact that it is abundantly clear that many of the deaths attributable to COVD-19 across the globe occurred notably in patients who also suffered with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Such aforementioned NCDs were in turn either caused or exacerbated by being overweight, having a sedentary lifestyle or both. COVID-19 has furthermore exposed many of the vulnerabilities within our fragile, underfunded health care system. An aggressive solution to fixing these vulnerabilities must encompass a preventative focus that aims to improve not only the quantity but also the quality of those lives that are ultimately saved. The fact that the Ministry of Health has added wellness to its portfolio suggests the current government is of the same mindset. At the age of 20, one of my former patients weighed over 300 pounds and after giving birth to six children it climbed to over 400 pounds. As a youngster, she may have been told she was pleasantly plump. But as her weight increased over the years, so did her reluctance to engage in exercise. Even the act of walking caused burning and pain in her feet, legs and knees so she became increasingly sedentary. She was also inconsistent with taking her high blood pressure and diabetes medications. Her health further deteriorated after she contracted Hepatitis C through an adulterous relationship with a neighbour and close friend of her husband of almost 30 years. Her breathing was intensely laboured when performing everyday tasks and she found it incredibly difficult to sleep when lying flat. She related that it felt as though she was choking on liquid and refused to see a cardiologist. In fear that she may choke in her sleep and die, she resorted to sleeping while sitting in an upright position. She soon developed lymphedema where both her legs became swollen, hard and hyperpigmented
By DR KENNETH D KEMP
and put in a little more effort every day, then any fitness goal can be achieved and eventually surpassed. Dorothy told Toto it was time to go home and clicked her heels three times. Together we’re telling you that it’s time to get healthy and there’s no better time than today. Heel click one – Heel click two – Heel click three.
and on a Sunday afternoon, while in the bathroom, she fell, hit her head and lost consciousness. By lying flat for that prolonged period of time she was unable to breathe and by the time her lifeless body was discovered by her eldest son, she had already succumbed to her injuries. She died alone on her bathroom floor at the age of 48. The day she purchased and walked into her home for the first time she cried for hours. It was a small modest home but it was hers and other than her children, she felt it was her greatest accomplishment in life. I suspect at her age she never imagined that four men would visibly struggle to lift her demised body out of the very same home that she so deeply cherished. As opposed to beloved children’s novels, unfortunately for us we can’t just travel to a fantasy world and then click our heels to return home a better version of ourselves. So instead, you have to have the desire to improve your health and then you have to be willing to work. I would also be remiss without mentioning that many cases of obesity stem from some untreated
psychological trauma that must simultaneously be addressed. Fitness Guru Jimmy
Mackey refers to it as the “show-up mind-set”. Showing up is half the battle but if you can at least do that,
• Nicknamed ‘The Prince of Podiatry’, Dr Kenneth D Kemp is the founder and medical director of Bahamas Foot and Ankle located in Caves Village, Western New Providence. He served as the Deputy chairman for the Health Council for 5 years and he currently sits on the board of directors for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation in his role as co-vice-chairman.
PAGE 10 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
TUVALU’s Prime Minister Kausea Natano arrives for the COP26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, Scotland, last Monday.
Photos: Phil Noble/AP
LEADERS OF SMALLER ISLANDS STAND UP AMID CLIMATE DESTRUCTION AND UNKEPT PROMISES COP26 in Glasgow offered no hope to small island states which continue to face destruction and extinction. COP26 was always going to be nothing but a theatrical performance, well-choreographed by the world’s industrialized nations that want to give the impression that they are actually taking strong and enforceable action to curb Climate Change. As I write the formal meeting is not ended. The fanfare is completed, principal actors have made obligatory presentations and left the stage to the negotiators. But the script is already written. All that was going to be offered has been put on the table and it amounts to more promises without binding and enforceable commitments, and no money that could make a difference. Representatives of small and developing states attended with little hope and even less expectations. Yet, they were determined to raise their voices again, hoping that, at last, they might be heard. Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley was impressive when, at the opening ceremony, she declared that a 2-degree Celsius rise in
World View
By SIR RONALD SANDERS
global temperature would be a “death sentence” for island and coastal communities. The President of Palau, Surangel S. Whipps, Jr, was equally strident, saying “you might as well bomb our islands instead of making us suffer only to witness our slow and fateful demise.” But, in truth, the leaders of industrialised nations who attended came with their positions already taken. The strategy was clearly to make more promises to ward off criticism, even though previous promises remain unfulfilled. Among the earlier promises were that they would pay a $100 billion annually into a global fund to help developing countries adapt to climate change and mitigate further rises in temperature. The other broken pledge was that they would ensure that the global temperatures were kept to 1.5 °Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The world is on
track now for a minimum of 1.9 °Celsius if major polluting countries honour the commitments they have made. At that point, small islands and low-lying coastlands will be in calamitous conditions. All that the industrialised nations have done is to extend the pledges for meeting commitments to 2050 and 2070, while maintaining or increasing their greenhouse gas emissions in the short to medium term. This means that over the next two decades, small island states and countries with low-lying coastlands will suffer significant erosion and other extreme weather conditions that will hurt their economies, displace people from their habitats and cause civil disruption as employment is reduced and poverty increases. There were three major commitments arising from the conference. “The Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration
ANTIGUA and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Alphonso Browne at the COP26 summit. on Forests and Land Use” is not transparent, it has no binding obligations for financing and no enforceable date has been set. Deforestation is already a global environmental and humanitarian crisis. Action should be taken now, or the absorption rate of CO2 by forests will continue to decrease significantly, thus accelerating the pace of Climate Change.
A pledge to cut methane emissions is also not transparent and not enforceable. In any event, China, India and Russia are major methane emitters and they have made no commitments, even though methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas, after carbon dioxide. On coal production – one of the greatest drivers of greenhouse gas emissions – while 40 countries agreed to phase it out, no such commitment was made by the major coal producing countries – China, India, Australia and the US. Given those realities, however much COP26 may be hailed – as were past COP meetings – it delivered little for small island states except an initiative by a few countries, including Australia, India and the UK to help them build climate resilient infrastructure. Enough details are not yet available to determine the efficacy of this initiative which has limited participation by rich countries. The most significant event for small states surrounding COP26 was one which two of them took to establish a Commission of Small Island Developing States on Climate Change and International Law. The two countries, Antigua and Barbuda and Tuvalu have since been joined formally by Palau while other small states are settling internal procedures to join the collective action. In announcing the establishment of the Commission on the first day of COP26, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, explained that all efforts to get polluting countries to address the loss and damage that they have inflicted on small states, have been ignored. “We are pursuing the matter in the international legal system on the basis that he who damages must provide restitution. In other words, the polluter must pay.” Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation and international
lawyer, Dr Anne Gallagher, hailed the commission’s establishment as a “wonderful, welcome and overdue development” since “the existing rules of international law have not been utilized to their full extent to hold countries to account for actions that they know are causing damage and continue to cause damage.” The first act of the Commission, which is supported by a team of experienced international lawyers, will be “to request advisory opinions from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the legal responsibility of States for carbon emissions, marine pollution, and rising sea levels.” Kausea Natano, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu whose island is facing extinction summed up the objective of forming the Commission. He said, “For us, climate justice is a matter of survival. It is time to put words into action, to save small island states, and to save the world from impending disaster.” There are, of course, sceptics of this bold move by small countries, but the initiating leaders have nothing to lose by standing-up for justice for their nations. The alternative is to sit by while their countries suffer interminable damage and losses to the detriment of their people – and that’s the very least of it. So, hail the leaders of Antigua and Barbuda, Tuvalu and Palau for their courage, resolve and leadership at a time when all three qualities are needed. • Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own).
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 8, 2021, PAGE 11
EIGHT DEAD IN CRUSH AT TRAVIS SCOTT CONCERT
ORTEGA SEEKS RE-ELECTION IN NICARAGUA MANAGUA, Nicaragua Associated Press
EMERGENCY personnel respond to the Astroworld music festival Travis Scott performing. HOUSTON after attending the concert. Associated Press “It’s very devastating. No one wants to see or hear INVESTIGATORS yes- people dying at a festival,” terday worked to determine Suarez said. “We were here how eight people died in a to have a good time — a crush of fans at a Houston great time — and it’s devasmusic festival, as friends tating to hear someone lost and loved ones mourned their lives.” the victims and a makeshift The dead, according to memorial of flowers and friends and family memcandles took shape at the bers, included a 14-year-old site. high school student; a Authorities planned to 16-year-old girl who loved use videos, witness inter- dancing; and a 21-year-old views and a review of engineering student at the concert procedures to figure University of Dayton. The out what went wrong Friday youngest was 14, the oldest night during a performance 27. by rapper Travis Scott. The Houston officials did not tragedy unfolded when the immediately release the viccrowd rushed the stage, tims’ names or the cause of squeezing people so tightly death. they couldn’t breathe. Thirteen people Bouquets, votive can- remained hospitalised dles, condolence notes and Sunday. Their conditions T-shirts, including a Scott were not disclosed. shirt, were left outside the City officials said they site at NRG Park. were in the early stages of Michael Suarez, 26, came investigating what caused to the growing memorial the pandemonium at the
in Houston on Friday, and, left, sold-out Astroworld festival, an event founded by Scott. About 50,000 people were there. Authorities said that among other things, they will look at how the area around the stage was designed. One concertgoer said that as a timer ticked down to the start of Scott’s show, held in a fenced-off parking lot, the crowd pushed forward. Screaming and panic ensued, and people began passing out. On video posted to social media, Scott could be seen stopping the concert at one point and asking for aid for someone in the audience: “Security, somebody help real quick.” In a tweet on Saturday, Scott said he was “absolutely devastated by what took place”. He pledged to work “together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need”.
Assassination attempt on Iraq Prime Minister fails BAGHDAD Associated Press THE failed assassination attempt against Iraq’s prime minister at his residence yesterday has ratcheted up tensions following last month’s parliamentary elections, in which the Iranbacked militias were the biggest losers. Helicopters circled in the Baghdad skies throughout the day, while troops and patrols deployed around Baghdad and near the capital’s fortified Green Zone, where the overnight attack occurred. Supporters of the Iranbacked militias held their ground in a protest camp outside the Green Zone to demand a vote recount. Leaders of the Iran-backed factions converged for the second day on a funeral tent to mourn a protester killed Friday in clashes with security. Many of the faction leaders blame the prime minister for the violence. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi suffered a light cut and appeared in a televised speech soon after the attack by armed drones on his residence. He appeared calm and composed, seated behind a desk in a white shirt and what appeared to be a bandage around his left wrist. Seven of his security guards were wounded in the attack by at least two armed drones, according to two Iraqi officials. Al-Khadimi called for calm dialogue. “Cowardly rocket and drone attacks don’t build homelands and don’t build a future,” he said in the televised speech. Condemnation of the attack poured in from world leaders, with several calling Al-Khadimi with words of support. They included French President Emmanuel Macron, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Saudi Arabia called the attack an apparent act of “terrorism”. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah elSissi on Facebook urged all sides in Iraq to “join forces to preserve the country’s stability”. “The perpetrators of this terrorist attack on the Iraqi state must be held accountable,” US President Joe
Biden said in a statement. “I condemn in the strongest terms those using violence to undermine Iraq’s democratic process.” Later yesterday, al-Khadimi met with Iraqi President Barham Salih and headed security and Cabinet meetings. A security video showed the damage to his residence: a van parked outside the residence badly mangled, a shallow crater near the stairs, cracks in the ceiling and walls of a balcony and broken parts of the building’s roof. Two unexploded rockets were filmed at the scene. There was no claim of responsibility, but suspicion immediately fell on Iranbacked militias. They had been blamed for previous attacks on the Green Zone, which also houses foreign embassies. The militia leaders condemned the attack, but most sought to downplay it. It was a dramatic escalation in the already tense situation following the October 10 vote and the surprising results in which Iran-backed militias lost about two-thirds of their seats. Despite a low turnout, the results confirmed a rising wave of discontent against the militias that had been praised years before as heroes for fighting Islamic State militants. But the militias lost popularity since 2018, when they made big election gains. Many hold them responsible for suppressing the 2019 youth-led anti-government protests, and for undermining state authority. The attack “is to cut off the road that could lead to a second al-Kadhimi term by those who lost in the recent elections,” said Bassam al-Qizwini, a Baghdad political analyst. “They started escalating first in the street, then clashed with Iraqi Security Forces, and now this”. On Friday, protests by supporters of the pro-Iran Shiite militias turned deadly when the demonstrators tried to enter the Green Zone where they had been camped out, demanding a recount. Security forces used tear gas and live ammunition.
There was an exchange of fire in which one protester affiliated with the militias was killed. Dozens of security forces were injured. Al-Khadimi ordered an investigation. “The blood of martyrs is to hold you accountable,” said Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, addressing al-Kadhimi in recorded comments to supporters. He blamed him for election fraud. In the strongest criticism of the prime minister, Abu Ali al-Askari, a senior leader with one of the hardline pro-Iran militias, Kataib Hezbollah, questioned whether the assassination attempt was really al-Kadhimi’s effort to “play the role of the victim.” “According to our confirmed information no one in Iraq has the desire to lose a drone on the residence” of al-Kadhimi, al-Askari wrote in a Twitter post. “If anyone wants to harm this Facebook creature there are many ways that are less costly and more effective to realise that.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh condemned the assassination attempt on al-Khadimi and indirectly blamed the US. The escalation also reveals a level of nervousness among Iran and its allies as they realize that political results don’t always translate into control, said Joseph Bahout, a director of research at the American University of Beirut. “This is an act depicting fear of loss of control. Al-Khadimi is being now perceived as a Trojan horse for more erosion of Iran’s grip on the country,” Bahout said. Al-Kadhimi, 54, was Iraq’s former intelligence chief before becoming prime minister in May last year. He is considered by the militias to be close to the US, and has tried to balance between Iraq’s alliances with both the US and Iran. Prior to the elections, he hosted several rounds of talks between regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia in Baghdad in a bid to ease regional tensions.
Marsin Alshamary, an Iraqi-American research fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, said the attack resurfaced the long-term challenge of how to curb the powers of the militias without triggering a civil war. For al-Kadhami, the stakes are now higher if he is to remain as prime minister. “He doesn’t have a political party and so he is susceptible to direct attack with no party to negotiate or protect him,” she added. Iraq’s election commission has yet to announce the final results. The parliament could then convene,
elect a president and form a government. The US, the UN Security Council and others have praised the election, which was mostly violence-free and without major technical glitches. But the unsubstantiated fraud claims have cast a shadow over the vote. Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who won the largest number of parliament seats in the October 10 elections, denounced the “terrorist attack”, which he said seeks to return Iraq to the lawlessness and chaos of the past. While al-Sadr maintains good relations with Iran, he publicly opposes external interference in Iraq’s affairs.
NICARAGUAN President Daniel Ortega sought a fourth consecutive term in elections yesterday against a field of little-known candidates while those who could have given him a real challenge sat in jail. More than 13,000 polling places opened yesterday morning even as the opposition denounced more arrests of its leaders in activists around the county in the hours leading up to the vote and Ortega railed against alleged interference from the United States. The opposition called on Nicaraguans to stay home in protest of an electoral process that has been roundly criticized as not credible by foreign powers. The election will determine who holds the presidency for the next five years, as well as 90 of the 92 seats in the congress and Nicaragua’s representation in the Central American Parliament.
BID TO WIPE OUT POLIO IN AFGHANISTAN ISLAMABAD Associated Press
THE Taliban-run Afghan public health ministry announced yesterday the start of a four-day nationwide polio vaccination campaign aimed at inoculating children under age five. For the past three years before taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban had barred UN-organised vaccination teams from doing door-to-door campaigns in parts of the country under their control. The group apparently was suspicious the team members could be spies for the previous government or the West. Because of the ban and ongoing fighting, some 3.3 million children over the past three years have not been vaccinated. “Without any doubt polio is a disease that without treatment will either kill our children or cause them with permanent disability, so in this case the only way is to implement the vaccination,” said Dr Qalandar Ebad, the Taliban’s acting public health minister. Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan are the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic.
SPORTS PAGE 12
Djokovic, page 16
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021
‘CHASING DREAMS AND ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE’ By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
KINGS guard Buddy Hield (24) and Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) battle for the ball during the first quarter in Sacramento, California. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
‘Buddy’ scores 17 with 3 steals in loss to Pacers By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
C
havano “Buddy” Hield continues to have some of his best games of the season in head-to-head matchups with other Bahamian players. Hield scored 26 points and added four assists in his Sacramento Kings’ 140114 win over Kai Jones and the Charlotte Hornets at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on November 5. Hield made eight of the Kings’ franchise record 22 three pointers en route to the lopsided win. Jones played sparingly and the Hornets have continued to sideline their 2021 Draft class thus far this season. Hield, the six-year veteran guard, got the rookie forward’s attention and both players shared a private moment in the game’s
Deandre Ayton sits out with injury final seconds as teams left the floor. In his second game of the weekend, Hield followed with 17 points and made five three pointers in last night’s 93-91 loss to the Indiana Pacers at the Golden 1 Center. On October 27, Hield and the Kings got the better of Deandre Ayton’s Phoenix Suns in the first head-to-head matchup between the two this season. Both players had season high performances in the Kings’ 110-107 win at the Footprints Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Hield scored 26 points in just 27 minutes. He shot 7-11 from three-point range and grabbed five rebounds with two blocked shots. Ayton had his first double double of the year
PACERS guard Chris Duarte (3) drives to the basket past Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) last night. (AP) with a season high 21 points and tied a career high with 21 rebounds. He also shot an efficient 9-12 from the field. He joined Charles Barkley and
Amare Stoudemire as the only Suns players with multiple 20-20 games in the last 30 years. Ayton missed his second game of the season Saturday night as he continues to recover from a right leg contusion. The Suns defeated the Hawks 121-117 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Ayton has been in and out of the lineup since he suffered the injury on October 30 in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He missed the following game on October 31 against the New Orleans Pelicans and was listed as day-to-day. He returned to the lineup on November 4 with 16 points and 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes of a 123111 win over the Houston Rockets.
“I think it’s just being cautious,” Suns head coach Monty Williams said. “I don’t want to speak for our medical team, but based on what I know it’s caution.” The Kings will host the second matchup, against the Suns this week on November 8, as the venue shifts to the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. They will also host game three on Sunday, March 20 and the Suns will host the final regular-season meeting between the teams on April 10. Jones and the Hornets will host the Kings at the Spectrum Center on December 10. He will face Ayton when the Hornets travel to the Footprint Center on December 19 and they will host the Suns at the Spectrum Center on January 2.
NATIONAL Sports Heritage month will bridge the gap between generations, honouring the country’s local sporting heroes both past and present. The theme for this year’s celebrations are “Chasing Dreams and Achieving Excellence.” Said Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg: “It is during this month that my ministry recognises the many outstanding contributions of athletes of today and heroes of yesterday.” Active athletes expected to be honoured will include Miami Marlins’ infielder Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Mike Strachan, Charlotte Hornets forward Kai Jones, Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield, Phoenix Suns centre Deandre Ayton, Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones, and sprinters Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo. The month also traditionally includes the new inductees to the National Sports Hall of Fame. The 2021 class will include Laverne Eve, Oral Hudson, Joe Demeritte, William Thompson, Charles Thompshon, Stella Knowles, Gena Mackey, Nell WildgoodeRussell, Sheila Culmer, Bert Bell (posthumously) and Barbara Thompson (posthumously). Sports Heritage Month is recognised as a time period reserved for the celebration, promotion and awareness of activities designed to showcase the contributions of sports to the national development of The Bahamas. It is also a time to reflect the unity of the Bahamian sporting community, exhibit the value of sports disciplines to the overall development of our people, and to congratulate the outstanding performances of Bahamian athletes hailing from all islands of The Bahamas. In his first address to the House of Assembly as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Bowleg outlined how the celebration of Sports Heritage month is just one of the areas the government expects to improve the country’s overall development of sports.
Rain washes out Mark Knowles’ Baha Mar Cup By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedias.net WHILE he would have liked to put on the exhibition between some of the top tennis players in the world, retired tennis professional Mark Knowles was delighted to have been afforded the opportunity to provide some valuable instruction for the cadre of visitors. Over the weekend, Knowles brought back the Baha Mar Cup, but while the marquee event featuring renowned tennis stars Andy Roddick, James Blake, Victoria Azárenka and Patrick McEnroe was called off on Saturday because of the rain, Knowles said hosting the clinic for the children was just as important. “Everything went very well. Obviously, we had a terrific turnout for the kids, which is always the most important component,” Knowles. “We probably had 50-60 kids, which was so impressive. They got to play with Andy Roddick, James Blake, Victoria Azárenka and Patrick McEnroe. “It was an invaluable experience for the kids. That went very
well. Then we started the proam. We were almost finished with the programme as we interacted with the sponsors. Unfortunately, the rain came and we were bitten a little by the weather, so we couldn’t have the exhibition, which was a bit of a shame because we had such a stellar lineup. But we can’t control the weather. Overall it was a great event.” In expressing his gratitude to Baha Mar resort to stage the event after a break because of the coronavirus pandemic, Knowles also thanked the local sponsors who all showed up and supported the event. Among the list are Jeff and Jill Everette, Mark Holowesko, Bahamas Waste Management, HG Christie, Juan Bacardi from Bristol Cellars and a lot of close friends, who assisted in one way or the other. “It means something, especially in such difficult times, for them to continue to lend their support and give their financial opportunities to the kids,” Knowles said. After retiring from the sport as a grand slam champion in doubles in all four majors – Australian
Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open – either with his Canadian male partner or AnnaLena Gronefeld of Germany, his concentration switched to the formation of his Mark Knowles Foundation. The foundation is enabling Knowles to carry out his passion, which is to assist as many young Bahamians in the Bahamas to follow in his footsteps as one of the top players in the world, something he did from 1992 to 2016. Knowles, 50, was a fivetime Olympian who enjoyed the second longest tenure as a member of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s prestigious Davis Cup team, having played for 14 years producing a 41-32 win-loss record, including 23-25 in singles and 18-7 in doubles. Only Marvin Rolle, now the player/captain, has participated longer, last year reaching his 17th season. Today, Rolle is one of the local professional players who conduct the training site at the Paradise Island’s Tennis courts. Also included are Philip ‘PJ’ Major, Kevin Major Jr, Oneil Mortimer and Danielle Thompson.
“Obviously, I forget where I came from. I was once a kid with big dreams as well,” he said. “Fortunately, it takes a team to make it happen,” he said. “My parents and my family got it started. But there were a lot of people who helped on the journey along the way. “So I’m happy with all of the support I got. I was fortunate to have a great career and a long career, but that’s just a part way through life. The most important thing is what kind of mark you will leave. Tennis has given me so much and I love my country the Bahamas so much so I will continue doing what I’ve been doing.” When he saw the look on the young players’ faces today, Knowles said he was even more enthused, although that was off-set by the rain and the cancellation of the tennis exhibition by the visiting international stars, when they lauded the talent displayed by the Bahamian rising stars. “That makes me so proud because I am so proud of the Bahamas and our kids and the way they represent our country,” Knowles said. “So it’s always good
to give them the opportunity and to empower them to believe that they could achieve anything that they put their mind to. So, I think events like this are very important. It’s close to my heart, so I truly enjoyed doing it.” Although he resides in Dallas, Texas, Knowles is currently with the Tennis Channel in their studio in Los Angeles and he’s also on the board of the AP Tennis, which affords him the opportunity to travel around the world, keeping track of the men’s tennis. “So I’m fortunate, I’m staying busy. I’m staying close to tennis. We have a great junior programme here in the Bahamas called Mark Knowles Tennis Bahamas. We have about 40-50 kids and I have a lot of great pros helping me out. “We’ve set up a nice foundation to produce champions, not only on the court, but off the court also.” This week, Knowles is heading to Italy for a board meeting for the ATP. “I won’t have any time to relax and enjoy my time at home, but I will be back in December to spend some time with “family and friends.”
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 8, 2021, PAGE 13
Jaguars stun Bills 9-6 in game with no touchdowns JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville had the better Josh Allen on this Sunday, with the standout linebacker intercepting a pass, making a sack and recovering a fumble in a 9-6 upset of the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo’s star quarterback with the same first and last names turned over the ball three times, including twice in the second half. He didn’t have a second-half turnover in any previous game this season. The Bills (5-3) lost for the second time in seven games. The Jaguars (2-6) rebounded from a debacle at Seattle a week ago. Buffalo’s Allen completed 31 of 47 passes for 264 yards, with the two interceptions and a fumble. The first of two deciding moments came on a thirdand-2 play at the Jaguars 37 with about 5 1-2 minutes remaining. Allen fumbled after getting pressured by Dawuane Smoot. The other Josh Allen recovered. Buffalo got the ball back in the waning minutes and advanced to the Jaguars 39. But Smoot sacked Allen on third down. It was Jacksonville’s fourth sack of the day. Allen got the first one. It was the first time a player sacked a quarterback with the same name since the NFL started counting sacks in 1982. Allen and Allen had been looking forward to this meeting, although Buffalo’s Allen made it clear he didn’t want to get acquainted with Jacksonville’s Allen in the backfield. It nonetheless happened when Allen beat Dion Dawkins off the edge. CHIEFS 13, PACKERS 7 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 166 yards and a touchdown, Kansas City relentlessly blitzed the Packers’ Jordan Love in his highly anticipated first start in place of Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, forcing the reigning MVP to miss his first game since the 2017 season. Love responded by going 19 of 34 for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception, both of them coming in the fourth quarter when the Packers were trying to rally from a 13-0 deficit against the defending AFC champs. Love’s touchdown pass to Allen Lazard with 4:49 left gave Green Bay a chance. But Mahomes threw a dart to Tyreek Hill on thirdand-10 near midfield with less than two minutes left for a first down that allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock. Travis Kelce had five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown for the Chiefs (5-4), who have won their three of their last four games despite a problematic offence. They finished with just 237 yards against Green Bay. Mason Crosby yanked a 40-yard field-goal attempt
in the first quarter. He had a 37-yarder blocked in the second period. And when the Packers punted later in the half, one of their downfield blockers accidentally touched the ball with his toe and the Chiefs recovered, eventually turning it into a chip-shot field-goal. The Packers nearly did the same thing when Amari Rodgers muffed another punt early in the second half. CARDINALS 31, 49ERS 17 SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — James Conner ran for two touchdowns and caught a 45-yard TD pass from backup quarterback Colt McCoy for the shorthanded Cardinals. The Cardinals (8-1) were playing without quarterback Kyler Murray and receivers DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green but still had little trouble completing the season sweep against the 49ers (3-5). Conner scored on TD runs on back-to-back drives in the first quarter to stake the Cardinals to a big lead they never relinquished. Conner’s long catch-andrun TD on Arizona’s first drive of the second half helped put the game out of reach. Conner finished with 173 yards from scrimmage and now leads the NFL in TDs with 11, all scored in the past seven games. BRONCOS 30, COWBOYS 16 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Teddy Bridgewater threw for a touchdown and had a sneak for another, and the Broncos stymied the NFL’s No. 1 offence, ending the Cowboys’ sixgame winning streak. Dak Prescott returned after missing a game with a strained right calf but couldn’t get the Cowboys (6-2) moving until two meaningless late touchdowns that merely avoided what would have been their worst shutout loss at home since 1985. The Broncos (5-4) sacked Prescott twice, both by rookie Jonathon Cooper for the first of his career, and generally made him uncomfortable in their first game since trading star pass rusher Von Miller — and with new team sacks leader Malik Reed (hip injury) inactive. The lead reached 30-0 in the Broncos’ seventh consecutive victory in the series, a streak that goes back to 1995. Prescott threw two touchdown passes to Malik Turner in the final five minutes. RAVENS 34, VIKINGS 31, OT BALTIMORE (AP) — Justin Tucker kicked a 36-yard field goal with 16 seconds left in overtime. The AFC North-leading Ravens (6-2) rallied from a 14-point third-quarter deficit and survived an acrobatic interception by Minnesota’s Anthony Barr
JACKSONVILLE Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) celebrates after sacking Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen during the first half yesterday. (AP Photo/Phelan M Ebenhack) on the first possession down the right sideline to of overtime. Barr tipped give him six catches for 126 Lamar Jackson’s pass and yards on the day. caught it out of the air, Even with top Falcons giving the Vikings the ball receiver Calvin Ridley unaat their 38, but Minnesota vailable while addressing went three-and-out, and mental health issues, Ryan Baltimore drove into Tuck- completed 23 of 30 passes er’s range again. without a turnover. This was a much easier Saints coach Sean Payton kick than Tucker’s previous started Siemian on the winning effort — a record- heels of Jameis Winston’s setting 66-yarder to beat season-ending knee injury Detroit earlier this season. a week ago, and intermitIt was the third overtime tently mixed in Taysom game of the season for Hill behind centre. Siemian each team. They both had passed for 249 yards and split their first two. It was two touchdowns without an another agonising loss for interception, and Hill comthe Vikings (3-5), who have pleted both of his passes for not dropped a game all 33 yards. But both quarterseason by more than seven backs were hindered by a points. combination of penalties, The Ravens took a dropped passes and protec31-24 lead on Le’Veon tion breakdowns. Bell’s 1-yard run with GIANTS 23, 3:29 remaining in regulaRAIDERS 16 tion. The Vikings tied it EAST RUTHERon a 1-yard pass from Kirk FORD, N.J. (AP) — Xavier Cousins to Adam Thielen McKinney returned an with 1:03 to play. interception 41 yards for Jackson threw for 266 a touchdown early in the yards and three touchdowns second half and picked off with two interceptions. He another errant throw by also ran for 120 yards on Derek Carr late. 21 carries. It was his 10th Daniel Jones threw a career 100-yard rushing 30-yard touchdown pass game, tying Michael Vick’s to Evan Engram and regular-season record for Graham Gano added three quarterbacks. field goals — the last after FALCONS 27, McKinney’s second pick — SAINTS 25 for New York (3-6). Filling NEW ORLEANS (AP) in for the injured Saquon — Matt Ryan hit Cordar- Barkley, former Raider relle Patterson for a 64-yard Devontae Booker ran for gain with a minute to go, 99 yards before leaving late setting up Younghoe Koo’s with a hip injury. 29-yard field goal as time Carr threw a 2-yard expired. touchdown pass to Hunter Ryan passed for 343 Renfrow for the Raidyards, connected twice with ers (5-3), who are an Olamide Zaccheaus for NFL-worst 3-16 after a touchdowns, and the vet- week off over the last 19 eran quarterback also ran years. The usually accufor a score on a bootleg. rate quarterback also Ryan’s second scoring pass missed a wide-open Darren gave the Falcons a 24-6 lead Waller for another score with 10:39 left in the fourth just before halftime as the quarter. But the Saints ral- Raiders settled for three lied to briefly take the lead short field goals by Daniel on Trevor Siemian’s 8-yard Carlson, who also missed pass to Kenny Stills with a 25-yarder in the second 1:01 left. half. New Orleans then missed Carr, who was 30 of 46 for a 2-point conversion try 296 yards, drove Las Vegas for the second time in the to the Giants 13 in the final game, leaving the door minutes. On second-and-10, open for the Falcons to win he was strip-sacked by with a field goal. Quincy Roche and Leonard Ryan needed just one Williams recovered to ice play to burn the Saints’ the game. defence for his fourth comPATRIOTS 24, pletion of more than 30 PANTHERS 6 yards in the game — and CHARLOTTE, N.C. his second long connec- (AP) — Mac Jones overtion with Patterson. The came two early turnovers versatile running back beat and threw for 139 yards and rookie Paulson Adebo a touchdown, J.C. Jackson
SCOTLAND DEFEAT STREAKING WALLABIES 15-13 EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Scotland defied the odds to upend Australia 15-13 in an edgy rugby test at a packed Murrayfield yesterday. The Scots brought back their Six Nations side after the 60-point romp over Tonga last weekend, and were undercooked compared to a Wallabies team on a five-match winning roll out of the Rugby Championship. But two teams with similar attacking intent and style were overexuberant and tried to force too much. The game descended into a ragged, tight affair which suited Scotland, which improved the longer it went. Scotland scored two tries to one. “The exciting thing is that we can get better in set-piece and open play,” Scotland captain Stuart Hogg said. Australia was brilliant while it had a man in the sin-bin bridging the interval, scoring 10 points to lead after a halftime deficit. Scotland’s belief was growing, however, its scrum was dominating, and it retook the lead with a superb corner try by replacement hooker Ewan Ashman on debut. James O’Connor’s second penalty put Australia up by one with 15 minutes to go, but Scotland counterpart Finn Russell kicked the home side ahead in the 69th and they held on comfortably to beat the Wallabies a third straight time.
SCOTLAND’S EWAN ASHMAN, right, scores a try as Australia’s Izaia Perese tries to defend during the rugby union international match between Scotland and Australia at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, yesterday. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell) “At halftime we knew we hadn’t played our best rugby, but there was a fire about us in that second half which was great to see, and there was an edge to our set-piece,” said Gregor Townsend, unbeaten against Australia as the Scotland coach. Scotland flanker Hamish Watson scored the only try of an error-prone first half, powering over from a beautifully executed lineout move that fooled Australia. Australia thought it was going to equalise just before halftime when captain Michael Hooper reached out and touched down. But in a double blow, the try was cancelled and Allan Ala’alatoa was sin-binned. Romain Poite, refereeing his 73rd and last
test, harshly decided the prop’s glancing touch of the chin of Scotland No. 8 Matt Fagerson was a yellow card offence. A 14-man Australia responded superbly with a penalty by O’Connor, playing his first test in Britain in 10 years, and a converted try by flanker Rob Leota, set up by replacement back Izaia Perese in an impressive debut. They led 10-7. Scotland fired back and was denied by a try-saving tackle by Nic White, but when Perese looked to be driving Ashman over the sideline, the hooker somehow dotted the ball in the left corner. It was no surprise. Ashman was the top try-scorer at the under-20 world championship in 2019. O’Connor edged Australia back in front in the 65th but Russell replied in kind for 15-13 after a fourth penalty against the Australia scrum. Australia didn’t threaten a fifth lead change over the last 11 minutes and Scotland won out, on attack, to the delight of its first home crowd in 20 months, 67,000 strong. “We got caught at our end in the last 20 (minutes) with a lack of discipline and decision making,” Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said. “We got penalised in possession a bit when we thought we had them under pressure and we struggled to get our game going.” Australia goes to England next Saturday, when Scotland welcomes world champion South Africa.
returned one of three Sam Darnold interceptions for an 88-yard touchdown for New England. Rookie running back Rhamondre Stevenson had 106 yards from scrimmage before leaving with a head injury, and Damien Harris and Hunter Henry scored touchdowns as the Patriots (5-4) improved to 4-0 on the road. Darnold had another miserable outing for Carolina. He finished 16 of 33 for 172 yards with three picks, two by Jackson after the Panthers (4-5) reached the red zone. Darnold has been intercepted nine times and thrown only one touchdown in four career games against the Bill Belichickcoached Patriots. Even the return of Christian McCaffrey from a five-game absence couldn’t help Carolina’s offence. Christian McCaffrey had 14 carries for 52 yards and caught four passes for 54 yards in his return to the starting lineup. But Carolina’s only points came courtesy of its defense, which forced two Jones turnovers in New England territory in the first half — one off Brian Burns’ sack-fumble and another when former Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore had an interception. DOLPHINS 17, TEXANS 9 MIAMI GARDENS, Florida (AP) — In the NFL’s most turnover-filled game in more than five seasons, the Dolphins got 244 yards passing and a touchdown throw from surprise starter Jacoby Brissett. The game between two teams that entered with 1-7 records and both on seven-game losing streaks lived up — or down — to its billing. The Dolphins and Texans combined for nine turnovers. Miami had five, Houston four, and somehow the Dolphins (2-7) won anyway. It was Miami’s first win while committing at least five turnovers since October 18, 1990. The Dolphins had been 0-21 in such games since. And it was the most turnovers in an NFL game since the New York Jets and Kansas City also combined for nine on Sept. 25, 2016. Brissett filled in again for Tua Tagovailoa, who missed the game with a finger injury on his throwing hand. Ka’imi Fairbairn had three field goals for Houston (1-8). Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor returned after missing most of the season with a hamstring injury and was far from sharp. Taylor completed 24 of 43 passes for 240 yards, with three interceptions. CHARGERS 27, EAGLES 24 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Justin Herbert threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and Dustin Hopkins kicked a 29-yard
field goal with 2 seconds remaining. Herbert threw for 356 yards, completing 32 of 38 passes. He got 1 yard on a sneak on fourth-and-1 from the Eagles 28 with 1:45 left, setting up Hopkins’ kick. The Chargers (5-3) snapped a two-game losing streak. The Eagles (3-6) still haven’t won a home game in four tries under rookie coach Nick Sirianni. The teams traded touchdowns on four straight drives in the second half before the final series. Los Angeles went ahead 16-10 on Herbert’s 8-yard TD pass to Donald Parham Jr, but Hopkins missed the extra point. The Eagles quickly answered with Kenneth Gainwell running in from the 1 to take a 17-16 lead. Hurts completed 3 of 4 passes on that drive for 63 yards. He was 4 of 9 for 54 yards to that point. Herbert then ran in from the 8 and connected with Jared Cook on the 2-point conversion to make it 24-17. But Hurts drove Philadelphia back down the field and fired a 28-yard TD pass to DeVonta Smith to tie at 24-24 with 6:07 left. Smith had five catches for 116 yards. It was the second 100-yard game for the rookie and 10th overall draft pick. Facing the NFL’s worst run defence, the Eagles took advantage. They had 176 yards rushing, including 62 from Hurts. BROWNS 41, BENGALS 16 CINCINNATI (AP) — Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes, Nick Chubb ran for 137 yards and the Browns, sparked by cornerback Denzel Ward’s early 99-yard interception return for a TD, capped a chaotic week by smashing the Bengals. The Browns (5-4) came in desperate for a win after dropping three of four. Their situation turned dramatic on Wednesday when star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr was exiled for poor behaviour and the team decided to release him. But like last year, when Mayfield played more freely after Beckham suffered a season-ending knee injury at Cincinnati, Cleveland’s QB was on target. The Browns put together their most complete game this season to humble the Bengals (5-4), who hurt themselves with mistakes as they dropped their second straight. Burrow threw two interceptions and was sacked five times — three by blitzing cornerback Troy Hill — and Bengals rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase dropped two passes, one in the end zone. Leading 24-10 at halftime, the Browns put it away on Chubb’s 70-yard TD sprint in the third quarter, triggering a wild celebration along Cleveland’s sideline.
FRANCE EDGES ARGENTINA 29-20 IN BACK-AND-FORTH THRILLER PARIS (AP) — Lock Thibaud Flament scored a try on his test debut and hooker Peato Mauvaka came off the bench to make the game safe with his first at international level as France beat a muchchanged Argentina 29-20 on Saturday. Scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli and left winger Mateo Carreras late on grabbed tries for an Argentina side that made eight changes from the side which lost 32-17 to Australia in the last match of a disappointing Rugby Championship campaign. Flament, who once played club rugby in Argentina, took a feed from flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert 10 minutes into the second half to slide over the line for a try converted by fullback Melvyn Jaminet, who collected 19 points with a solid kicking display. That loosened up France after a turgid first half, and 55,000 fans at Stade de France cheered when veteran centre Gael Fickou set up standout scrumhalf Antoine Dupont to loop
around the left for a second try three minutes later. But a TMO decision ruled it out for a knock on by Jaminet. Dupont captained the side in the absence of Charles Ollivon and started alongside Jalibert in the halves, with Romain Ntamack at inside center. Ntamack was disappointing and replaced. Jaminet kicked France to 6-0 but after Emiliano Boffelli fluffed a penalty kick, Jalibert’s 22 dropout was charged down by flanker Pablo Matera, and Cubelli dived over for a converted score to nudge the Pumas ahead after 22 minutes. Tired of the constant pushing and shoving after the whistle, referee Ben O’Keeffe stopped it when he sin-binned Argentina flanker Marcos Kremer and France hooker Julien Marchand. France came out of halftime 9-7 up, but within 10 minutes Boffelli’s long goalkick restored Argentina’s one-point lead in a gritty contest.
PAGE 14, Monday, November 8, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
ÁLVAREZ STOPS PLANT TO BECOME UNDISPUTED 168-POUND CHAMPION By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer
ALBERT Korir of Kenya crosses the finish line first in the men’s division of the PERES JEPCHIRCHIR, of Kenya, crosses the finish line first in the women’s divi- New York City Marathon. sion of the New York City Marathon in New York yesterday. (AP Photos/Seth Wenig)
Comeback story: Korir wins NYC Marathon two years after 2nd By JAKE SEINER AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — New York sought a comeback story for its 50th marathon, and Albert Korir delivered. And for a city whose sports fans don’t accept second best, Peres Jepchirchir came through with a memorable first. Korir and Jepchirchir made it a Kenyan sweep at yesterday’s New York City Marathon, with Korir winning the men’s race two years after finishing second and Jepchirchir becoming the only woman to take a marathon major in the fall after earning an Olympic gold medal. The second oldest of the world’s marathon majors returned after cancelling in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a city where over 34,000 have died of COVID-19, organisers hoped for an uplifting celebration akin to the marathon staged two months after the 9/11 attacks. “It was fantastic,” Korir said. On streets emptied 21 months ago except for ambulances rushing to aid a city paralysed by the coronavirus — and later filled with anguish and frustration in the days after George Floyd’s murder — there was simply joy yesterday as around 30,000 runners made their
way through the city’s five boroughs. Brooklynites cheered for the early rising wheelchair competitors between sips of coffee. Throngs on Manhattan’s First Avenue welcomed runners off the Queensboro Bridge. Cowbell-swinging supporters in the Bronx waved runners into the final stretch. They clapped and hollered for the elite and the every-runner. Shalane Flanagan, the 2017 champion, ran her sixth marathon major in six weeks — a first made possible because the Boston, London and Tokyo Marathons were pushed from spring to fall by of the pandemic. The 40-year-old American is calling her journey Project Eclipse because of how rare the opportunity was. “I thought the fans were a whole other level today,” she said. “The enthusiasm was so infectious. I felt like everyone had this deep sense of gratitude.” Also on the course: Dr. Jose Alfredo Jimenez Gaxiola, a Mexican ICU doctor who worked through the pandemic and survived his own bout with COVID-19; Kellie Roe Kenny from Califon, New Jersey, a survivor of the 9/11 attacks who first ran in 2001 in memory of co-workers who died; and Chris Nikic, the first athlete with Down syndrome to complete a full Ironman Triathlon.
Molly Seidel finished fourth in her first race since taking bronze at the Tokyo Games, becoming the first American woman since Deena Kastor in 2004 to earn an Olympic medal. She revealed yesterday that she broke two ribs about a month ago, but she still finished in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 42 seconds, the fastest time ever by an American woman in New York. “Every build up has challenges,” Seidel said. “This was an interesting one.” Seidel said she was motivated to run New York because it would be the first time her family could see her race since the 2020 Olympic trials — international travellers were banned from attending the Tokyo Olympics. “I hope there’s a beer waiting for me at the hotel,” Seidel said. “We will be going crazy tonight.” In the men’s pro race, Korir overtook Morocco’s Mohamed El Aaraby and Italy’s Eyob Faniel around the 18th mile and quickly took out any drama. He won in 2:08:22. “It was not an easy race,” Korir said. “But I enjoyed it.” It was Korir’s first victory in one of the World Marathon Majors and his first time atop any podium since winning the Ottawa Race Weekend Marathon in 2019. The 27-year-old Korir finished second to
Geoffrey Kamworor in 2019 by 23 seconds and didn’t race again until this June because of the pandemic. El Aaraby held on for an improbable second-place finish after coming in 11th at the Tokyo Olympics. Faniel was third. Jepchirchir was side by side with countrywoman Viola Cheptoo and Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh from the time they entered the Bronx until they got to Central Park’s entrance. Moments after guzzling two energy gel packets, Jepchirchir turned on the jets and pulled away, winning in 2:22:39 for the third fastest time by a woman in NYC Marathon history. “It’s not easy,” she said of the New York course. “Toward the finishing line, I felt something I’ve never felt before to finish a marathon.” Jepchirchir, 28, took gold at the Tokyo Olympics marathon in August and came back on a short recovery to win a race once dominated by her hero Mary Keitany, a four-time winner in New York who recently retired from the sport. Cheptoo finished second in her marathon debut and quickly found her brother, Bernard Lagat, who was broadcasting the race on ESPN. Yeshaneh was third. Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men’s wheelchair race for the
fourth time, finishing more than 6 1/2 minutes ahead of the next racer for his first title since 2017. Australia’s Madison de Rozario won the women’s wheelchair event, holding off past champions Tatyana McFadden and Manuela Schär for her first Big Apple victory. The field was shrunk by about 40 percent this year to help keep runners distanced, and participants had to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of race day. Runners registered for the 2020 race that was wiped out were given the option of a full refund or entry into the 2021, ‘22 or ‘23 races. The non-competitive field had its share of famous athletes, too, including U.S. women’s national soccer team alumni Abby Wambach, Lauren Holiday, Kate Markgraf and Leslie Osborne. Former New York Giants runner back Tiki Barber raced for the seventh time. Tony Award-winning actress Kelli O’Hara was slated to perform the national anthem before testing her lungs on the course, while two members of British rock band Mumford & Sons also were signed up to run. The entrants also included “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” contestants Matt James, Tyler Cameron, Tayshia Adams and Zac Clark.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — With a destructive barrage of power punches in the waning minutes of a difficult fight, Canelo Álvarez added another achievement to his overflowing list of boxing accomplishments. The Mexican poundfor-pound superstar is the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world. Álvarez became the first four-belt world champion at 168 pounds in boxing history Saturday night, stopping Caleb Plant in the 11th with two dramatic knockdowns. Álvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) added Plant’s IBF title to his own WBC, WBA and WBO belts with a steady tactical performance culminating in a display of his vaunted power to finish the previously unbeaten Plant at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. “It was truly an historic night, and I’m so proud to be a part of it,” Álvarez said. Canelo is generally recognised as the top fighter in the world regardless of weight class. After battering the bigger Plant with dozens of punches that finally accumulated to leave Plant crumpled on the canvas, Álvarez had complete dominance at 168 pounds — just as he planned when he came out of the pandemic break with a goal to win every super middleweight belt. After winning four fights in a gruelling 11-month span, Canelo is the sixth man to be a four-belt champion. He joined junior welterweight Josh Taylor as the only current undisputed champs of their weight class. “I’m proud to be one of the six,” Álvarez said through a translator before dedicating the win to his Mexican fans. After stopping three of his previous four opponents, Álvarez had to grind through a challenging matchup with the tenacious Plant (21-1), who usually moved backward and worked behind his jab to stay away from Canelo’s power. Álvarez remained persistent and racked up a volume of quality punches — and in the opening seconds of the 11th, he sent Plant crashing to the canvas with a vicious combination followed by an uppercut while Plant tried to duck away.
BEATEN AFTER 7 MONTHS, LIVERPOOL STUNNED BY SOARING WEST HAM By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — The sound of West Ham fans singing “I’m forever blowing bubbles” could still be heard around the bars of the London Stadium an hour after beating Liverpool. Liverpool hadn’t only been prevented from going a club-record 26th match unbeaten. Jürgen Klopp’s side was also dislodged from third place in the Premier League by West Ham with a 3-2 victory on Sunday. There hasn’t been much to celebrate at West Ham, especially in the five years since moving into the stadium at the centrepiece of the 2012 Olympics. It’s still an imperfect venue — reconfigured around a running track — but the fan dissent and disorder is fading into the past as David Moyes has the club dreaming of unprecedented highs and its fans happily singing the club anthem. “This season reminds me of the Boleyn Ground,” West Ham forward Michail Antonio said of the old stadium. The atmosphere inside, everything to do
LEICESTER City’s Harvey Barnes celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds and Leicester Citt at Elland Road, Leeds, England, yesterday. (Richard Sellers/PA via AP)
ARSENAL’s Emile Smith Rowe celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Watford at the Emirates Stadium, London, yesterday. (John Walton/PA via AP)
with West Ham right now is unbelievable.” West Ham, whose highest league finish was third in 1986, is looking like title contenders two years after Moyes took charge of a team a point above the relegation zone. Building on a sixth-place finish last season — missing out on the Champions League spots by two points — West Ham has now opened a topflight season by winning seven of 11 games for only the second time.
Bowen in the 74th when a corner was headed in by Kurt Zouma through Alisson’s raised hands. Although Divock Origi pulled one back, scoring on the turn, Liverpool couldn’t find another goal to avoid a first loss in any competition since being knocked out of the Champions League last season by Real Madrid in April. It’s even further back — into February — since the 2020 champions lost in the Premier League. There’s now only
There was a helping hand from Alisson Becker. The Liverpool goalkeeper flapped in the air to allow Aaron Cresswell’s inswinging corner to go through his hands in the fourth minute. After Trent Alexander-Arnold equalised at the end of the first half, Jarrod Bowen ran at the Liverpool defence before slipping the ball to Pablo Fornals whose shot was helped into the net by Alisson’s weak touch. Another assist came from
a three-point gap between West Ham and leader Chelsea, while defending champion Manchester City is only ahead in second on goal difference. ARSENAL SOARING Arsenal moved up to fifth after Emile Smith Rowe clinched a 1-0 victory over Watford to go 10 matches unbeaten in all competitions after opening the Premier League with three losses. Watford finished with 10 men after Juraj Kucka was shown a second
yellow card for catching Nuno Tavares in the 89th as Claudio Ranieri’s side remained two points and a place above the relegation zone. TOTTENHAM FRUSTRATED A new manager hasn’t resolved Tottenham’s attacking struggles in the league. Antonio Conte saw Tottenham fail to register a single shot on target on another lackluster day for Harry Kane in a 0-0 draw with Everton. It’s now 3 hours, 47 minutes in the league — stretching into Nuno Espirito Santo’s ill-fated reign — since the north London club hit the target. It was too late for Tottenham to take advantage of the man advantage when Mason Holgate was sent off in the 90th for a foul on a dangerous foul on PierreEmile Hojbjerg. Everton is in 11th place and Tottenham is two places better off. LEICESTER HELD A curling finish from Harvey Barnes secured a 1-1 draw for Leicester at Leeds, cancelling out Raphinha’s free kick. Midtable Leicester has 15 points, four more than Leeds.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, November 8, 2021, PAGE 15
DEFENCE CARRIES TITANS PAST RAMS 28-16 FOR 5TH STRAIGHT WIN By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Byard returned Matthew Stafford’s second consecutive interception 24 yards for a touchdown, and Tennessee’s defence carried the Titans to a 28-16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in a showdown between conference co-leaders last night. Jeffery Simmons had three of Tennessee’s five sacks of Stafford during a stifling performance against the Rams’ prolific passing offence. Stafford crucially threw back-to-back interceptions that the Titans turned into 14 points in 11 seconds of the second quarter, sending them well on their way to their fifth consecutive victory.
Ryan Tannehill passed for 143 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score for the Titans (7-2), who managed just 194 offensive yards in their first game without injured NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry. Adrian Peterson rushed for just 21 yards, but the veteran running back made a 6-yard TD run with 3:00 left in the first game of his 15th NFL season. The Titans got a decisive stop on downs near midfield with 6:39 to play, and Tennessee’s defence nearly kept the Rams out of the end zone for just the fourth time in 73 games under Sean McVay — but Sony Michel caught a 3-yard TD pass with 24 seconds left. The Titans’ defence dramatically changed the game in the second
quarter. Stafford inexplicably flung a desperate pass into the heart of the defence to avoid taking a sack for a safety, and Long returned his interception to the Rams 2. Geoff Swaim caught a touchdown pass on the next snap — and right after the kickoff, Stafford’s throw to Robert Woods on the sideline was returned by Byard for his first career pick-6. Stafford passed for 294 yards and threw the 24th pick-6 of his career — most among active quarterbacks — during easily the worst game of his debut season with the Rams (7-2). Los Angeles’ four-game winning streak ended in just the fourth meeting in 15 years between two teams with their conferences’ top records. After generating MVP talk for his
outstanding eight-game start to the season, Stafford looked shaky and confused against Tennessee’s defence in the first half. Los Angeles, the NFL’s leastpenalised team, also got flagged 12 times for 115 yards — the most yards in McVay’s career. Aaron Donald was whistled for roughing the passer while Tannehill was throwing the ball away on third down with five minutes to play. The call extended a drive that ended in Peterson’s 6-yard run for his 119th career rushing TD and 125th total touchdowns, tying him with Walter Payton for 11th-most in NFL history. UP NEXT Titans: Host Saints on Sunday. Rams: Visit 49ers next Monday night.
Durant, Harden help Nets beat Raptors for 5th straight win TORONTO (AP) — Kevin Durant had 31 points, James Harden scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and the Brooklyn Nets won their fifth straight game, beating the Toronto Raptors 116103 yesterday. Blake Griffin had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Patty Mills scored 13 points to help Steve Nash earn the victory in his first game in his home country as an NBA head coach. Harden also had 10 rebounds and eight assists. Durant was playing in Toronto for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon while playing for Golden State in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals. The 11-time All-Star shot 11 for 18, going 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and 6 for 6 at the free throw line. He had seven rebounds and seven assists. Fred VanVleet scored 21 points for Toronto. Raptors forward Pascal Siakam made his first start of the season after missing the first 10 games because of left shoulder surgery. Siakam scored 15 points in 25 minutes. WARRIORS 120, ROCKETS 107 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jordan Poole scored 15 of his 25 points in the first quarter and Golden State beat
Houston. Stephen Curry added 20 points and three steals to help the NBAleading Warriors improve to 8-1 with their fourth victory in a row. Jae’Sean Tate led Houston with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Rockets have lost eight straight and are tied with New Orleans at an NBA-worst 1-0. WIZARDS 101, BUCKS 94 WASHINGTON (AP) — Bradley Beal scored 30 points and Washington beat Milwaukee. Kyle Kuzma added 15 points and 10 rebounds to help Washington snap an eight-game losing streak in the series with the Bucks. Montrezl Harrell also had 15 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 18 rebounds for the defending champion Bucks. They have lost five of six to drop to 4-6. CLIPPERS 120, HORNETS 106 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul George scored 20 points, Reggie Jackson added 19 and the Los Angeles beat Charlotte for its fourth straight victory. Luke Kennard had 18 points for Los Angeles, and Terance Mann finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. LaMelo Ball, from nearby Chino Hills, had 21
NETS forward Kevin Durant (7) looks to move the ball as Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) defends during second-half in Toronto yesterday. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) points for the Hornets in their fourth straight loss. Miles Bridges also had 21 points for the Hornets. CAVALIERS 126, KNICKS 109 NEW YORK (AP) — Ricky Rubio scored a career-high 37 to help Cleveland beat New York. Cleveland has won four in a row to improve to 7-4. Evan Mobley added 26 points, Jarrett Allen had 18 and Darius Garland 16. Rubio’s previous career high was 34 with Utah against San Antonio in 2018. Julius Randle led New York with 19 points.
MAGIC 107, JAZZ 100 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Cole Anthony scored 10 of his season-best 33 points in the fourth quarter and keyed a game-closing 24-11 run in Orlando’s victory over Utah. Wendell Carter Jr added a season-best 22 points and 15 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell scored 21 points for Utah. Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 15 rebounds. THUNDER 99, SPURS 94 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Mike Muscala scored 20 points in 14 minutes and Oklahoma City
Larson wraps up comeback season with 1st NASCAR title By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer AVONDALE, Arizona (AP) — Kyle Larson won. That was the expected result of NASCAR’s season-ending championship race, right? Larson closed his comeback season in NASCAR with his first championship yesterday. He capped his return from a nearly yearlong suspension with a title-winning victory at Phoenix Raceway. Larson was in tears during his cooldown laps as he reflected on his rebuild from out-of-work NASCAR driver to Cup champion. “I was just thinking about the journey and how tough of a road it’s been to get to this point for so long, but especially the last year-and-a-half,” Larson said. “I haven’t felt an atmosphere like this maybe ever. With the pressure of this race and everything that was on the line, to win this championship, every one of these fans made me feel it. “I was trying to tell myself to just chill out, stop tearing up. I make fun of my dad all the time for crying, and I’m worse than he is. I can’t believe it. I didn’t even think I’d be a racing a car a year-and-a-half ago.” Larson led seven times for a racehigh 108 laps but was running fourth, last among the title contenders, as Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin controlled the championship late in a pair of Toyotas. Then a caution reset everything. Because he won the pole Saturday in the qualifying, Larson had the first stall on pit road and the shortest sprint back onto the track of the four title contenders. He silently prayed for a flawless service call from his Hendrick Motorsports crew to get the No. 5 Chevrolet back on track ahead of his three title rivals. Wow, did the No. 5 team deliver. Larson’s crew performed its second-fastest stop of the season — a
KYLE LARSON, right, and his son Owen celebrate after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race and championship yesterday. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) span that stretches 38 races — and Larson went from last among the final four to first. “I knew the only way we were going to pull it off is if our pit crew got us off as a leader, and damn, they did. That was just crazy,” Larson said. “Those guys nailed the pit stop.” Larson controlled the restart with 25 laps remaining, quickly cleared Truex, then held off several of Truex’s challenges. There was no stopping Larson, just as he’s been impossible to stop all season, and he drove to his 10th Cup victory of the year. He beat Truex to the finish line by an easy .398 seconds. “There were so many points in this race where I did not think we were going to win,” Larson said. “Without my pit crew on that last stop, we would not be standing right here. They are the true winners of this race. They are true champions. “I’m just blessed to be a part of this group. Every single man or
person, man and woman at Hendrick Motorsports, this win is for all of us, and every one of you. This is unbelievable. I’m speechless.” Truex, the 2017 champion, finished second and was followed by Hamlin, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate. Hamlin is 0 for 5 in championship finales and was the only driver among the final four contenders who did not lead a lap Sunday. Truex has finished second in the championship standings three times in the four seasons since his 2017 title. “Ultimately, we needed to beat him off pit road. It’s unfortunate, but we win and lose as a team,” Truex said. “That’s three times we’ve been second, and that sucks. Second hurts, I’m not going to lie, especially with the car we had and the job the guys did.” Hamlin, who raced Larson all season for the regular-season title that ultimately went to Larson, has firmly maintained that Larson should be the champion. But it didn’t soften the blow of another title defeat for the three-time Daytona 500 winner. “Any time you can win 10 races in a year, you’re absolutely a deserving champion,” Hamlin said. “They did a great job on the last pit stop and got him out there, and he just set sail after that. Proud of my team ... just a really good year. A really, really good year, and things just didn’t pan out.” Chase Elliott, the reigning champion and NASCAR’s most popular driver, led 94 laps but finished fourth. “I was really proud of our group. I thought we brought a really good car ... just didn’t work out,” Elliott said. “But look, proud of our team, a lot to build on, and also congrats to Kyle ... very, very deserving champions, and glad to see Kyle have success. “When you’re a good driver and a good person and you surround yourself with good people, success is warranted. It’s good to see that.”
rallied to beat San Antonio. The Muscala made 5 of 6 field goals and 7 of 9 free throws in one of the most productive offensive games of his career. PACERS 94, KINGS 91 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Caris LeVert scored 22 points and Indiana held off Sacramento after blowing a 15-point lead. Domontas Sabonis had 17 points and 10 rebounds to help Indiana to its first win in Sacramento since 2018. T.J. McConnell added 17 point. Harrison Barnes scored 22 points for Sacramento.
PERFECT PAKISTAN FACES AUSTRALIA IN SEMIFINALS, NEW ZEALAND VS ENGLAND SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Pakistan remained the only unbeaten team at the cricket T20 World Cup and stormed into the semifinals with an emphatic 72-run win over Scotland in their last Group 2 game yesterday. The 2009 champion, which won all five of its group games, faces Australia in the semifinals, while England meets New Zealand. Shoaib Malik smashed 54 not out off just 18 balls -- Pakistan’s fastest fifty in a Twenty20 game -- and captain Babar Azam (66) notched his fourth half century in the tournament to lead their side to a strong 189-4 after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. Scotland fought timidly to reach 117-6 and ended the tournament with five successive losses in the Super 12s. Scotland had qualified on the back of three straight wins that included an upset victory over Bangladesh. Richie Berrington topscored for Scotland with an unbeaten 54 but other batters struggled against both spin and pace. Legspinner Shadab Khan claimed 2-14 in yet another convincing win for Pakistan. Malik’s brutal onslaught saw the most experienced T20 player in the world smashing a total of six sixes as he took the inexperienced Scotland bowling apart in the last five overs. Legspinner Chris Greaves (2-43), who had claimed two wickets, was hit for 26 by Malik in the last over as the batter brought up his half century off the last ball with a six over midwicket. Babar continued his supreme batting form in the tournament, hitting five boundaries and three sixes before holing out in the deep off Greaves in the 18th over. Mohammad Hafeez struck 31 off 19 balls as Scotland conceded 77 runs in the last five overs. Pakistan finished top of Group 2 with 10 points, two more than second-place New Zealand.
VERSTAPPEN WINS IN MEXICO, EXTENDS LEAD IN F1 CROWN CHASE MEXICO CITY (AP) — Red Bull earned itself one heck of a Formula One fiesta. Max Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix with a dominant race yesterday to stretch his season championship lead over Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. Teammate Sergio Perez was the first Mexican driver in race history to not just lead the race, but also to earn a podium when he finished third. And the result pulled Red Bull nearly even with Mercedes in a team championship worth millions of dollars at the end of season. While Verstappen and Perez basked in the chants of “Olé! Olé!” from the massive crowd during the podium ceremony and Perez’s father wildly waved the Mexican flag, Hamilton could only watch and listen. He had to know he’s running out of time and races to catch Verstappen in pursuit of a record eighth F1 season title. Verstappen now leads Hamilton in the championship by 19 points with four races left, starting next week in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Verstappen won in 2019 and likely will be favored to again. The two have traded the lead several times this season, and even crashed into each other twice, in F1’s tightest title chase in years. “Today with their superior speed, if they work to carry that into the next ones, we may be in trouble, or we will be in trouble,” Hamilton said.
Verstappen certainly isn’t taking anything for granted. The 24-year-old Dutchman is chasing his first F1 championship and earned his ninth win of the season, his second in a row and third in Mexico City in four years. “I don’t believe in momentum,” Verstappen said. “Every single race we have to nail the details. ... Its going to be really tight and exciting through to the end.” Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas pulled a big surprise in qualifying when the Mercedes cars earned their first front-row lockout of the season. Bottas was on pole to start, Hamilton second and Verstappen and Perez in third and fourth. Their advantage last only a few seconds. Verstappen bolted off his line and used the slip stream behind Bottas on the long starting straighaway to snatch the lead by the first corner. Bottas got tapped by McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and his car spun, dropping him to the back. That left Hamilton in a Red Bull sandwich: Verstappen in front and Perez right behind, with Bottas no longer in play to help him defend his position. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff was annoyed after the race that Verstappen was able to make the move so easily. And by getting knocked to the back, Bottas finished 15th. Mercedes now leads Red Bull by just one point in the team constructor’s championship.
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Djokovic beats Medvedev for record 37th Masters title By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer THOMAS Pieters
PIETERS WINS PORTUGAL MASTERS FOR 1ST VICTORY SINCE 2019 VILAMOURA, Portugal (AP) — Thomas Pieters shot a 3-under 68 in the final round to win the Portugal Masters for his first European Tour victory since 2019 yesterday. The Belgian ended at 19 under for the tournament (265) at the Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, two shots ahead of Frenchman Matthieu Pavon and Danish players Nicolai Hojgaard and Lucas Bjerregaard. It was Pieters’ fifth European Tour win in 171 starts. His last victory had come two years ago at the Czech Masters. “It felt like a long time between victories,” the 29-year-old Pieters said. “It’s hard. I was happy to come up to the 18th with a two-shot lead.” Pavon, who shared the lead entering the final round, lost ground after a triple bogey on the par-5 12th, when he twice found the water. He ended with a 1-under 70 after making two more bogeys coming in. Bjerregaard had five birdies on his last nine holes to close with a 5-under 66, while Hojgaard made his only bogey of the day on the 18th to finish at 7-under 64 for the best round yesterday. Padraig Harrington closed with a 4-under 67 to finish nine shots off the lead in a tie for 12th place. Richard Bland was among those who finished a shot ahead of him in a tie for eighth. The Portugal Masters was the final tournament in Europe before the tour heads to Dubai to close out the season.
PARIS (AP) — The day after ensuring he finishes No. 1 for a record seventh year, Novak Djokovic beat No. 2 Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the Paris Masters final yesterday for a record 37th Masters title. Djokovic moved one clear of fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal for Masters trophies, and nine ahead of Roger Federer, the other tennis great with 20 majors. It also gave Djokovic a record-extending sixth Paris Masters title and put him 6-4 up overall against the No. 2-ranked Medvedev, who is pushing hard to dethrone him in world tennis. The veteran Serb had lost to Medvedev in straight sets in the U.S. Open final two months ago and had not played a tournament since. Medvedev looked strong early on but top-seeded Djokovic, who beat him in straight sets in this year’s Australian Open final, withstood punishing rallies against an opponent nine years younger. Djokovic’s double break against a tiring Medvedev, the defending champion, gave him a 5-2 lead and the chance to serve for an 86th career title. Second-seeded Medvedev swiped a ball into the crowd in frustration after a fan yelled just as he was serving at 30-40 down in that game, and he pointed to the crowd in frustration at the changeover. Some rowdy fans have cheered serving errors and double-faults, or shouted just before serves throughout the week. Chair umpire Aurelie Tourte finally had enough, after her earlier requests for calm and in previous days from other umpires. “When you see players on the baseline who are just about to serve,” she said, “stop making noise for nothing.” A poor service game from Djokovic gifted Medvedev a break back to 5-3. But on his first match
SERBIA’s Novak Djokovic celebrates defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev during the final match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena in Paris, yesterday.
SERBIA’s Novak Djokovic poses with his trophy after defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the final match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena in Paris yesterday. The day after ensuring he finishes No. 1 for a record seventh year, Novak Djokovic beat No. 2 Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the Paris Masters final for a record 37th Masters title. (AP Photos/Thibault Camus) point, Djokovic won a thrilling long rally befitting a great final with a forehand winner deep into the left of the court. He hugged his rival warmly at the net. “I suffered a lot, well done to you. I really wanted to win but you’re so strong,” Medvedev said on court in near-fluent French. “I hope we play many matches like this, and we win a few each.” Djokovic seemed overawed by Medvedev’s language skills.
“What a magical level of French you have. My level is not like Daniil’s but I try,” Djokovic responded in French. “I also suffered a lot today and also in New York, but this is a great rivalry developing.” Djokovic celebrated with his wife, his young son and daughter. “Today was very special for me because my family is here,” Djokovic said. “It’s the first time both of my children are together to watch one of my matches.”
The contest was intense from the outset. Serving at 30-40 down in the sixth game, Medvedev saved a break point with a forehand winner before holding and then pressuring Djokovic at 0-40 down. The 34-year-old Serb saved two break points but could only applaud as Medvedev’s sliced backhand drop shot gave him the break. The 25-year-old Russian served out the set when Djokovic returned long.
Djokovic was in his record-extending seventh final here and found his range to break and then hold 4-1 in the second set. Serving at 5-3, Djokovic saved three break points in a thrilling 12-minute game featuring tight rallies. Djokovic hit an ace on his third set point to level a tense match that had the crowd on their feet after improbable retrieves or winners from both. There was a downside, though. Earlier, Tourte had already intervened to demand “a bit of respect for the players” after one fan shouted just as Djokovic was about to serve at 15-30 down in the third game. She also told one fan to stop filming with a phone during play and twice asked for a door to be closed high in the stands as people were walking in and out of it. “Why not go for a walk outside?” she asked. Tournament director Guy Forget earlier said that fans sometimes went too far in their exuberance, cheering errors and double-faults from opponents who faced Frenchman Hugo Gaston. During his semifinal match on Saturday, Djokovic was annoyed when his double-fault drew loud cheers. “There was a real desire to show one’s joy, one’s emotion at being here,” Forget said. “Sometimes, if I may say so, it was borderline toward the opponent.” But Djokovic’s week was a special one, as he moved one ahead of childhood idol Pete Sampras for No. 1 year-end finishes. In a stellar year in which he won three majors, Djokovic eclipsed Federer’s all-time mark of 310 weeks at No. 1 on March 8 and will finish 2021 having held the top ranking for 348 weeks. He now turns his attention toward a recordequalling sixth ATP Finals title to tie with Federer. The season-ending event starts on November 14 in Turin.
Russia beats Switzerland 2-0 to win Billie Jean King Cup By KAREL JANICEK Associated Press PRAGUE (AP) — Russia won both singles matches to defeat Switzerland 2-0 in the final of the Billie Jean King Cup on Saturday to claim the trophy for the fifth time. Liudmila Samsonova rallied to capture the decisive point with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tokyo Olympics singles champion Belinda Bencic. “It’s too many emotions now,” Samsonova said. “It’s unbelievable. I’m unbelievably happy.” Daria Kasatkina gave Russia a 1-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Jil Teichmann. The competition was formerly known as the Fed Cup. The trophy includes $1.2 million in the prize money for the winner with another $650,000 for the Russian Tennis Federation. Samsonova broke the Swiss star in the opening game of the final set and held on to serve it out when Bencic’s backhand sailed long. Bencic stayed calm in the opening set against the big-hitting Russian, who produced 16 unforced errors compared to her three, and got the key break in the eighth game. Samsonova improved in the second set, hitting 14 winners before serving it out.
TEAM of Russia celebrates after winning their Billie Jean King Cup final tennis match against Switzerland in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) The 22-year-old Sam- because of a left leg injury. she converted for a 4-3 lead. little bit better the nerves,” sonova beat Sloane Russia has all of its players She was not able to hold Kasatkina said. her serve in the followIt was the second vicStephens 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 and in the top 50. Samsonova’s victory ing game but got another tory for the Russian in the teamed up with Veronika Kudermetova to win the came after she beat Bencic break for 5-4 before serving tournament after beating doubles in Friday’s semi- twice at WTA tournaments the match out on her first Canada’s Carol Zhao in the group stage to improve finals against the United in Berlin (final) and Lux- match point. (quarterfinals) The Russian stormed her record in the competiStates on her debut for embourg this year. the opening set, breaking tion to 5-1 while Teichmann Russia. In a dominant display, Teichmann three times and recorded her first loss after She replaced originally selected Russian No. 1 Kasatkina blasted a fore- dropping her serve once. three wins. “An amazing feeling,” Anastasia Pavlyuchen- hand winner to earn a “I think the beginning was kova at the last minute. break point in the seventh very important, we were Kasatkina said. “I won the Pavlyuchenkova withdrew game of the second set that both nervous but I managed first match (in the group
stage), now I play in the final and I’m happy I’ve brought this very important point to my team.” Russia had reached its first final since 2015 in the competition it won in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008. The Swiss reached their first final since finishing runner-up in 1998, their only final appearance. The 12 teams in the tournament were divided into four groups of three in a new competition format. Only the group winners advanced to the semifinals. Russia dominated Group A in the tournament after victories over defending champion France and Canada before eliminating the United States in the semifinal. The United States is the most successful nation in the competition with 18 trophies. Switzerland advanced to the semis from Group D, considered the toughest in the tournament, defeating both the Czech Republic and Germany on the way. In the semifinals, the Swiss swept Australia 2-0, winning both singles matches. Prague’s tournament failed to attract bigger names including Garbiñe Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova and Aryna Sabalenka, who opted to get ready for the WTA Finals that open Wednesday in Guadalajara, Mexico.
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