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MINNIS DEFENDS RCL’S LAND LEASE
Insists project brings jobs but agrees length of deal was not usual By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has defended the agreement his administration struck with Royal Caribbean for the lease of Crown land on Paradise Island. Press Secretary Clint Watson said last week the Davis administration will not let Royal Caribbean lease seven acres of land for 150 years. “I agree that the standard lease time is 100 years,” Dr
Minnis said in the House of Assembly yesterday. “I accept that and I am certain that RCL would have no problem with reverting rather than 150 to 100 years.” Toby Smith, a Bahamian entrepreneur who is behind a $2m investment in the Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club, has an ongoing court matter in which he alleges that he has a valid lease for two parcels of land included in RCL’s agreement.
FORMER Health Minister Dr Duane Sands believes the government should move away from rapid antigen testing and instead require all travellers seeking to enter the country to produce a negative RT-PCR test in response to heightened concerns over the Omicron variant. Stressing now is the time for the country to act in preparation of a potential
SEE PAGE FOUR
VAT INCREASE HAD $2BN HIT ON ECONOMY
CONSUMER spending shrank by $2bn in the year after the Minnis administration hiked VAT to 12 percent, the Auditor General’s Office calculated in a report. The report said tax filings showed money spent on goods and services in the Bahamian economy nosedived in 2018-2019 by 34 percent year-over-year. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
SEE PAGE THREE
fourth COVID wave, the former Cabinet minister recommended the rule be applied to both vaccinated and unvaccinated people and added the test submitted should be no older than three days. Dr Sands spoke after the government-imposed travel restrictions against several African countries, including Botswana and Zimbabwe, in view of concerns of the new strain, which has since been identified as a variant
- SEE PAGE EIGHT
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
‘MAKE ALL VISITORS TAKE PCR NOT ANTIGEN TEST’ By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FACE TO FACE: IF YOUR PARTNER IS AN ABUSER, YOU HAVE TO END IT
FIRST DAY ON THE JOB THE NEW Leader of the Opposition, Michael Pintard, in the House of Assembly yesterday. He pledged yesterday to hold the government’s feet to the fire. See PAGE THREE for more. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
MAN FOUND DEAD AT WHEEL OF HIS CAR By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net POLICE are investigating after a man was found shot dead in the driver’s seat of a running car on Hospital Lane last night. According to Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters, shortly after 8pm officers were called to the area after receiving information about gunshot sounds in the community.
POLICE on the scene of a homicide on Hospital Lane North. Photo: Racardo Thomas/ Tribune Staff “Upon arrival of first responding officers, they
met a grey Nissan March with (its) engine running parked at an angle on the corner of Hospital Lane and an unknown named road. The officers inspected the vehicle and discovered a dark male slumped over the front seat,” the police press liaison officer told reporters at the scene. ASP Peters said Emergency Medical Services were called and later pronounced the victim dead. SEE PAGE SEVEN
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
...DAVIS SAYS PLAN WAS TO GO TO 15 PERCENT
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net WHILE outlining plans to steer the country in a new direction, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis insisted the former government planned to increase value added tax to 15 percent. Mr Davis told Parliament this was the suggestion of the International Monetary Fund’s technical report that either the structure of the tax be changed or it suffer a rate increase. SEE PAGE FIVE
PETER YOUNG: SO MUCH TALKING AS DESPERATE CONTINUE TO DIE
- SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Tuesday, November 30, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
THE TRIBUNE
FNM leader ‘will hold govt’s feet to the fire’ By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net NEWLY appointed Official Opposition leader Michael Pintard yesterday pledged to hold the government’s feet to the fire and make legislative recommendations geared towards strengthening the country’s democracy and creating equal opportunities for all Bahamians. He made the comments after he received his instruments of appointment from Governor General Sir Cornelius A Smith during a brief ceremony at the Paul Farquharson Conference Centre. In an interview with reporters, Mr Pintard also addressed speculation that he plans to change the make-up of the Senate. While the Marco City MP insisted current rumours about possible Senate replacements are not accurate, he refused to say whether he intends to keep the current senators appointed by his predecessor in place. “All present rumours are certainly fake news,” Mr Pintard told reporters. “We have not had a chance as a team to sit down and discuss the way forward. I believe in collaborative leadership, and it is my intention even as it relates to the Senate to hear all recommendations. “The only thing I would say and I think it’s important that women factor heavily in the Senate and if we’re going to make an adjustment in the decision we make then we should send a clear signal that that’s a part of our commitment.” In his first speech as opposition leader, Mr Pintard thanked his family members, constituents, parliamentary colleagues and the Free National Movement party for their support and endorsement, adding he “was humbled” for the opportunity to serve. Mr Pintard’s words of gratitude came after he rose to
FNM party leader Michael Pintard being presented with his instruments of appointment by Governor General Cornelius A Smith. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff become the party’s fifth leader on Saturday, securing 67 percent of the total votes cast at the FNM’s one-day leadership convention. Outlining his plans to transform the organisation yesterday, the former Cabinet minister said his first order of business was to hold a meeting with all party members to find out what exactly led to their crushing defeat at the election polls in September. He said: “(We want) to convene a meeting with all organs of the party and we intend to move throughout every constituency meeting with supporters in general (including) those that stayed at home, those that worked a campaign so we can do a proper assessment of what made a difference in the decisions that they made either to stay at home and as foot soldiers, what were they hearing on the ground.
“That’s a very important as part of the post-mortem. We’ve sent out a clarion (call) to FNM members throughout the country and so we will begin to engage in discussions with a number of them who’ve not participated in recent times.” Among those who attended yesterday’s ceremony include former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, FNM MPs Kwasi Thompson, Iram Lewis, Adrian Gibson, Shanendon Cartwright, Adrian White, and several other former Cabinet ministers. Although former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis did not attend the ceremony, Mr Pintard still thanked him for making several opportunities available to him, which he said helped further his political career. The new FNM leader also noted that under his direction, he will ensure that women and
young people have a seat at the table, contributing to national development. “We will ensure that in every organ of our party and every opportunity possible, we would assist in ensuring that you are present and that your voice (informs) legislation, policies and programmes that we put in place,” Mr Pintard added. “It is our commitment to make sure on (a) regular basis that we hear the voices of our Bahamian people reflected through associations who live on the frontline of the challenges that we face and those throughout our Family Islands who live on the frontline of unequal delivery of services and who desire to ensure that they have opportunities while it can’t be all but much like their counterparts, their fellow citizens in New Providence and Grand Bahama.” As it relates to governance, Mr Pintard promised to hold the government’s feet to fire and ensure that its policies are nondiscriminatory and will benefit all Bahamians. He added: “We will continue to work to ensure that in Parliament, we engage in constructive engagement with members of the government. We intend to hold their feet to the fire but at the same time, where it is necessary, we will make recommendations on how they might improve legislation in our Parliament. “It is true that much of the legislation that they will focus on is legislation that we have left behind, legislation that we have prepared but even in the amendment of these legislation, we will ensure that the legislation assists in deepening our democracy, increasing the ease of doing business and that it unleashes opportunities for Bahamians of all socioeconomic brackets – men and women throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”
Tuesday, November 30, 2021, PAGE 3
MINNIS DEFENDS RCL’S LAND LEASE from page one Mr Watson said Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis believes he can bring an amicable solution to the dispute. Dr Minnis said: “It has always been the government’s policy that we do not sell Crown land to foreigners or give Crown land to foreigners. As a matter of fact we look at the global picture as to the advantage of leasing Crown land to foreign nationals. Rather than one or two individuals benefiting, we look at the global picture to ensure that the nation would benefit. “With respect to RCL, yes it’s a lease of $140,000 per year (for) 25 years with extension. But the benefit certainly outweighs the lease of the property. RCL would embark on a $55m lease of that particular property and in fact they are even increasing that. There would be many jobs available for Bahamians. All of the investment on the property would be run by Bahamians and RCL would assist Bahamians with funding to ensure they are intimately involved. “In addition to that there will be 80 Bahamians involved in the construction; excellent salaries. Upon completion of the project there will be an additional 150-200 Bahamians who will be hired at a salary of thirty to forty thousand dollars per annum. Most importantly, RCL presently brings about one million tourists to The Bahamas. With this project the numbers would increase which would benefit all Bahamians, especially those within the hospitality and tourism industry. “In addition to that, individuals must be mobilised to (the property) by ferry boats. RCL will enter engagement with Bahamians so that Bahamians will be involved and possibly own the ferry boat between the cruise line and the property itself. We know today that the ferry boats that are utilised today may not meet the certification or the standards that will be required by the International Maritime Organisation and, therefore, RCL would ensure that the Bahamians have adequate ferry boats that will meet the certifications and standards. This would create vast entrepreneurship and wealth for Bahamians as opposed to one individual; and I won’t get into that at this particular time but the decision was Bahamians at large would be involved as opposed to one or two individuals.”
SANDS ANNOUNCES BID TO RUN FOR FNM CHAIRMAN By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net FORMER Elizabeth MP Dr Duane Sands has officially announced his bid to run as chairman of the Free National Movement, promising to be an “accessible, vocal and inclusive” chairman if elected. Although the former Minister of Health has previously spoken of his plans to run for the position, he officially announced his bid in a Facebook post yesterday. He told party delegates: “We’ve recently made a decision as a party to
elect a new leader — Mr Michael Pintard — who has accepted the torch and the mandate to move us forward united as FNMs. “I wish to congratulate him on being elected the sixth leader of the Free National Movement in our 50-year history. I have pledged my support to him directly. “As we continue to forge a winning team as we rebuild, it is my intention to run as chairman of our great party at the February 2022 convention.” He also said: “As former deputy chairman of the Free National Movement, I know the
POLICE PROBE TWO SUNDAY SHOOTINGS POLICE are investigating two separate shootings which left a woman and a man wounded on Sunday. Police said after 1pm on Sunday, a woman arrived at the Elizabeth Estates Police Station. She told officers that she was sitting on her porch at her home on Maura Crest, Elizabeth Estates when she heard the sound of gunshots. She immediately took cover and later realised that she was shot in her right calf. The victim was transported to the hospital and is listed in stable condition. In the second incident, shortly after 2pm on Sunday a man was at the junction of Market Street and Robinson Road when he was approached by the occupants of a white jeep. One
of the passengers produced a firearm and discharged the weapon in his direction, hitting him in the right thigh and left ankle. The victim was transported to the hospital via Emergency Medical Services. His condition is listed as serious. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing. Police also arrested a man for gun possession. Shortly after 9pm on Sunday, officers from the Operations Unit acting on information, executed a search warrant on a residence at Mangrove Street off Charles W Saunders Highway. During the search, one of the officers discovered a pistol along with 12 unfired rounds of ammunition. As a result, a man was taken into custody.
PM FLIES TO BARBADOS PRIME Minister and Minister of Finance Philip “Brave” Davis left the country yesterday to travel to Barbados to observe that nation’s transition to a republic. He will return to the country on Friday. Minister of Education Glenys Hanna Martin will act as Prime Minister in his
absence. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper and his wife Cecilia Cooper departed Nassau for Zurich on Sunday. They were accompanied by MOTIA Executive Director Dr Kenneth Romer and aide Sgt Kevin Duncombe.
importance of constituencies and associations and it is my goal to help rebuild and strengthen the associations across The Bahamas. Strong associations provide a forum for expression of ideas and views from people whose visions and aspirations should guide the direction of our organisation. “I am committed to being an accessible, vocal and inclusive chairman if elected by you delegates.” Former Immigration Minister Elsworth Johnson has also announced his intention to contest the post. Yesterday, Dr Sands
suggested that former Deputy House Speaker Don Saunders and former Golden Gates MP Michael Foulkes could be entering the race as well. However, when contacted by The Tribune yesterday, Mr Foulkes declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, Mr Saunders could not be reached for comment despite several attempts made by this newspaper. However, he has previously told The Tribune he was considering running for the position of FNM chairman. “We have a deep bench in the Free National Movement. I am not hoping to
achieve the role of chairman by denigrating or diminishing anybody else. I think that my reputation and my qualifications should stand on their own,” Dr Sands said when asked what makes him stand apart from other contenders. “I like Elsworth Johnson. I like Donald Saunders. I like Michael Foulkes. With that said, at the end of a respectful honourable campaign, it is my hope that delegates see the merit of a Duane Sands of chairman supporting Michael Pintard and the other leaders of the Free National Movement.”
Yesterday, former Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells said he is also considering offering himself up for a leadership position when the party holds its convention in February. He said: “I will consider a run for leadership. Leadership is any one of the positions in the council. That could go from the chaplain right up to the deputy leader, but I certainly will pray about it and speak to my family about it and talk to both the current leader and former leader and I’ll make a decision. For me, it’s not about the role, but more about the goal.”
PAGE 4, Tuesday, November 30, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
‘WE NEED NEW MINDSET TO END ABUSE’ By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says Bahamians must work to break the glass ceiling in society that condones acts of sexual and physical violence against women and children. While expressing his support for the Zonta Club, which is observing 16 days of activism in the fight against domestic violence on children and women, Mr Davis said there was a level of embarrassment attached to certain acts against these groupings of society that have been hidden in the closet. He said men must take the lead on speaking out on this kind of injustice. “More has to happen insofar as the voice of men are concerned in speaking to and about gender violence,” Mr Davis said in Parliament yesterday. “I think we have to accept that there are some cultural issues that attend to this that’s (a) deep rooted (problem) that might require a whole resetting of the mindset and attitude of men and women because if they don’t speak up, we will not know. “Very often they are content to just live in the circumstance
they find themselves when they don’t necessarily have to.” Mr Davis pointed to his time as a magistrate when he presided over matters of abuse on women and children. “I know about it. I recall being on the bench as a magistrate and children reporting their fathers to the police and the wife or the girlfriend chastising and punishing the child for doing so. There is some embarrassment attending to these facts, but we have to rise above that now. We have to find ways and means to encourage men to speak out, women to speak out and that is one way we’ll get it done.” He alluded to another situation in which a father said he was simply “checking” his daughter because she came home late from school. “They found that as acceptable. The mother found it as acceptable too when in fact that was a cultural practice. “That’s the kind of glass ceiling that still has to be broken in this society today.” Mr Davis said he firmly supported the efforts of those who speak out against violence against children and women, adding there had to also be a resetting of the words — whether in jest or not — that are used to
ZONTA members outside the House of Assembly yesterday, along with a Rotary Club member marking “16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls”. refer to women. When she spoke on the issue, Education, Technical and Vocational Training Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said that The Bahamas had some of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. She expressed a view that
men also needed a voice in the debate on marital rape in order to steer proper national discussion. For his part, newly sworn in Official Opposition leader Michael Pintard said in days gone by sexual predators were not dealt with harshly, adding
that young men needed to be taught to see young women in a positive light. He also echoed his calls for the criminalisation of marital rape, saying there were many instances by which a woman could decide that she did not want to engage with her husband intimately.
Travel limits ‘to buy some time’ on COVID By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday said the government instituted new travel restrictions on several African countries in a bid to “buy some time” as there are too many unknowns regarding the characteristics of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. He said his administration was far from complacent as it faced the possibility of the potentially more transmissible variant infecting people in The Bahamas. In response to the new variant, on Sunday the government announced the imposition of travel
restrictions against Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe and South Africa. The Bahamas is now denying entry to non-residents who recently visited those countries. However, as it relates to Bahamians and residents who travelled from those areas, officials said while they will not be prevented from entering the country, they will be required to self-isolate for two weeks at their own expense as a precautionary measure. Mr Davis said he was aware this was not perfect protection, but the move bought time. “New COVID-19 cases are down, COVID-19
hospitalisations have declined, our US travel advisory has improved from a level four to a level three, and economic projections indicate our economy is on the way up. Yet with reports of a new, possibly more transmissible COVID variant, we are far from complacent,” Mr Davis said in the House of Assembly. “Everyone is tired of COVID, but unfortunately, both governments and families need to remain vigilant and engaged in this battle against the virus. There is no single perfect protection against COVID, so we should all take multiple steps to protect ourselves and remember that when we are careful, we are also protecting our friends, our families, our co-workers
and our communities. “Let’s hold our gatherings outside instead of inside whenever possible because the virus is airborne and can linger in the air for hours in poorly ventilated indoor rooms. If you have to be in a crowded, indoor space, wear two masks, or a medical-grade mask. “I urge everyone to listen to doctors and medical experts from around the world – and get vaccinated. I am very pleased to announce that for the first time during this pandemic, our country now has enough vaccines for all Bahamians who choose to take advantage of this lifesaving inoculation. This is an enormous relief.” Mr Davis said the scientific community around the
world is at work studying the new variant and officials here planned to share updates as new developments come. The new variant was first identified in Botswana and South Africa, he noted, adding the world owes the scientists and public health officials in those countries a debt of gratitude for moving so quickly to share their data. Noting that other countries around the world have taken similar actions to those by The Bahamas, Mr Davis said: “This is not perfect protection; the variant has been identified in several other countries as well. The idea is to buy some time until we have more clarity. “We just don’t have enough clinical data to
know with confidence yet how transmissible the new variant is, or whether it induces more severe disease. “We have to stay alert, stay flexible, and continue to combat the Delta strain, which is still circulating and remains a threat.” He said despite these difficult times, there are reasons to be optimistic. “Real GDP is expected to return to positive growth this year, to two percent, and is expected to peak at eight percent in 2022. “To keep the nation headed in a positive direction, to take advantage of the rebounding of the Bahamian economy, we must take immediate action to foster and sustain stronger economic growth.”
‘MAKE ALL VISITORS TAKE PCR NOT ANTIGEN TEST’ from page one
of concern by the World Health Organisation. Local officials have said it’s only a matter of time before the strain arrives here.
The new travel policy, which went into effect yesterday, states the country will no longer be allowing entry to non-residents who recently visited Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe and
South Africa. Bahamians and residents who travelled from these areas will not be prevented from entering the country, however they will be required to self-isolate for two weeks as a precautionary measure.
PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR KING’S COLLEGE SCHOOL The public is advised that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for King’s College School on Western Road, New Providence, The Bahamas is now available for review. The private development will include educational facilities for early learning, primary and high school students at the 10-acre location. The project is proposed to be completed in three phases. Phase 1 comprises the development of the main building and associated ground floor, first floor, porte-cochere, early learning school, pool and changing rooms, tennis and padel courts and two soccer fields. Phase 2 and Phase 3 will include the construction of two small additional buildings comprising further classrooms. A public meeting will be conducted as follows: Date & Time: Tuesday, December 21st, 2021 at 6pm Virtual Conference Log-in: https://zoom.us/j/8526170223 Information about the project and a downloadable version of the EIA are available at https://www.kingscollegeschool.bs/consultation. The EIA is available to the public for review at the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) during normal business hours. The public is invited to send written comments to inquries@depp.gov.bs or info@kingscollegeschool.com no later than 21 days after the date of the public meeting as noted above.
Dr Sands said: “I am certainly not surprised by the response of the government. Back in March of 2020, The Bahamas did a similar thing and I was an integral part to that discussion. With that said, I think we need to do considerably more if we’re going to impact what really is going to happen in The Bahamas. “I think it’s time for us to move away from rapid antigen testing for travellers coming to The Bahamas vaccinated or not. It is time now that perhaps we move to PCR testing for everyone and the discrimination against persons that are unvaccinated, it’s time to roll that away.
“The issue is how do we keep this a safe, profitable and viable tourism destination. So, this stop gap measure may buy us a few days but in and of itself, I think we need to understand that it’s time to prepare for the worst even as we hope and pray for the best,” he added. Former Health Minister Renward Wells also commented on the new strain yesterday, saying the Free National Movement will be closely monitoring the government’s response to the new threat. He said during the onset of the pandemic, the Minnis administration moved quickly and aggressively to
limit the risk of imported cases and added he hopes the government’s decision to further re-open the economy does not result in increasing infection rates. “The Omicron variant seems to be challenging the global community and I’m very, very concerned that nations around the globe are responding to Omicron in the way it has given the fact that all the science on this new variant has not yet been put out,” Mr Wells said. “But it is a good thing and it sort of signals in The Bahamas that we have to take the Omicron seriously because you have nations such as the UK, United States and others around the globe putting particular measures in place to protect their people at this time so we’re going to see. “You know the (Davis) administration was very critical of us when we did not have testing for Bahamians over a three day period, those who went into Florida and came back and so I’m not going to criticise them because we’re seeking to work and to see to that the lives of the Bahamian people are protected and as I’ve said the proof of the pudding is going to be in the eating and I’m hoping that the openness that we now see and have in the country does not lend itself to increasing numbers should a variant come.” According to international reports, more than a dozen countries have since detected the new strain, including Canada, England, Spain and Australia.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, November 30, 2021, PAGE 5
Minnis called on to explain pricing for Prospect Ridge By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has called on his predecessor to explain the proposed pricing for the Prospect Ridge housing lots, telling Parliament the sum was insufficient to cover the estimated price tag of infrastructure for the development. Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced in March that his administration planned to allow people between
the ages of 18 and 45 to buy 95x100 feet lots for a maximum cost of $50,000. The Prospect Ridge community was to have approximately 300 lots. Forty percent of the lots were to be multi-family properties available at a cost of $50,000 while 60 percent of the lots were to be single-family properties, sold for $40,000. Mr Davis questioned yesterday how Dr Minnis came up with this price, as the project would have cost Bahamians an estimated $15m to ensure the needed
infrastructure was in place. By The Tribune’s calculations, the project would have to be fully subscribed at a cost of $50,000 per lot to have amounted to the $15m it would cost to install the needed infrastructure. Mr Davis did not reveal yesterday whether there were other costs associated with the development of the subdivision for young professionals. “At some point the member for Killarney will have to explain how he came up with the price for these lots when there was
no analysis done of the cost of the infrastructure,” Mr Davis said as he presented his administration’s 2021/2022 Supplementary Budget. “Our initial review of the project revealed that the development would cost the Bahamian people approximately $15m and the collective price of the lots do not cover the estimated cost of the infrastructure. “Perhaps Prospect Ridge was merely a distraction or a campaign ploy, without a real or sincere intention to see it through. It is difficult
otherwise to understand the basic lack of analysis and cost projections.” The project has been a hot button topic and the subject of scrutiny since the Davis administration took office. Earlier this month, Transport and Housing Minister JoBeth ColebyDavis branded the proposed Prospect Ridge subdivision for young professionals an “election ploy”, while revealing a key government department questioned various aspects of the proposed development. As she reiterated that
critical steps were absent from the process, the minister said the “indisputable facts” were that proper protocols and procedures were ignored to advance the project – the brainchild of Dr Minnis. She made the comments in the House of Assembly earlier this month before tabling the Department of Environmental Planning & Protection’s response to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the housing development, which was ultimately rejected due to major questions that arose.
from page one
remember that the member for Killarney told the Bahamian people that he went to election eight months early because the country faced ‘headwinds’ and ‘tough decisions’. “We said at the time that he wanted Bahamians to vote before he raised their taxes, and this major tax increase appears to be what he had in mind. Raising VAT to 15 percent would have turned headwinds into a hurricane. “Raising VAT to 15 percent wouldn’t have been just a tough decision, it would have been a terrible decision that would have plunged our economy into a downward spiral, past the point of no return,” Mr Davis said. Standing on a point of order, Dr Minnis said “categorically” there was no consideration on the FNM’s agenda of raising VAT. He later said the government’s decision to reimpose VAT on breadbasket items will hurt the poor. Still Mr Davis maintained the IMF’s suggestion was never disclosed to Bahamians, adding: “But you know
there are a lot of flies on walls and they fly around a lot, but sometimes they land on the wrong wall and guess what? Flies could talk too.” As he unpacked his government’s plans for the economy, Mr Davis said his administration’s plan was more progressive. “Broadening the base also means that we now have the room to lower the VAT rate to 10 percent, a reduction that many Bahamians were eagerly awaiting. Once again, there were those who said that this was a promise that couldn’t be kept.” As for the 2021/2022 Supplementary Budget, Mr Davis said the government planned to meet all of its major objectives while not adding a single dollar to the national debt. “This budget seeks to stabilise our country’s finances while also providing some relief for the Bahamian people. The already poor state of the economy at the beginning of the pandemic, coupled with the blunt force use of lockdowns by the previous administration, made an already bad situation
much, much worse. “With this new plan and vision to restore our country, this Supplementary Budget is designed to achieve three major goals: it provides much needed relief to the Bahamian people; it reallocates funding to match the ministerial portfolios of the government; and it provides funding for critical expenditures, which were neglected by the previous administration. “It is also important to point out that we are accomplishing these objectives while not adding a single additional dollar to the national debt that was forecast in the original FY2021/22 Budget tabled in May. In fact, this Supplementary Budget begins the process of reducing the extraordinary levels of borrowing seen under the former administration by reducing the government’s projected deficit for the fiscal year.” He continued: “I want to repeat that – we intend to take care of people and reduce the deficit at the same time. This balanced approach, of meeting the
needs of the Bahamian people while practising fiscal discipline, reflects the competent and compassionate approach we are bringing to governing during these very difficult times. “Our Supplementary Budget recognises there is an urgent need for change in this country that cannot wait for the next fiscal cycle.” Mr Davis said officials in the Ministry of Finance were trying to ascertain where billions of borrowed dollars were spent. “Exceptional levels of borrowing, high and unsustainable deficit levels, and no plan to rectify this crisis. This is the economy that we inherited. “What makes the situation truly infuriating is that we still struggle to see what happened to all this expensive, borrowed money. There certainly is not a single major road, school or hospital to show for it. “Where did all the billions of dollars go? We are determined to find out, and when we do, we will certainly let the Bahamian
people know.” Mr Davis also addressed budget decreases at certain key ministries. He said there is a $2.1m decrease at the Ministry of Education. The decrease was the result of the findings of an audit to remove all inactive persons from the payroll. Other savings were identified due to the continuation of virtual learning, with certain expenses associated with in-person learning and thus not required for a portion of this school year. He said the operations of the ministry were not impacted. The Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture also saw a $1.9m decrease in its budget that represented savings due to there being no Junkanoo parade this year. The Ministry of the Environment saw a $7.8m decrease. The represented money transferred to the ministry related to the Bahamas National Trust, as well as the transfer of The Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority to the Ministry of Works and Utilities.
...DAVIS SAYS PLAN WAS TO GO TO 15 PERCENT He referred to former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ comments last week which explained that he called an election eight months early because the former government was facing “headwinds.” Mr Davis said this was proof of the former government’s intention to increase VAT from 12 percent to 15 percent. “In the most recent IMF technical report, the scenarios recommended for consideration included this one: raising the overall VAT rate to 15 percent, while keeping the existing VAT exemptions and leaving in place the scenario where the government was paying VAT for wealthy foreign companies. “I want the Bahamian people to hear me very clearly. When we came to office, (an) analysis performed by the IMF indicated that if the government didn’t change its VAT structure, VAT would have to be raised to 15 percent. Imagine that. “Now, I know you all
DAVIS CRITICISES BUDGET FOR PARKS AND BEACHES AUTHORITY By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the budget for the Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority soared almost 150 percent under the Minnis administration in what he called “reckless and irresponsible behaviour”. During a contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday, he said: “In the 2021/22 fiscal year, it had an
approved budget of $15.2m. After contingencies, its total budget was around $28m, an increase of 86 percent against budget. An increase that coincided with electioneering. “I am now told that because of new contracts issued in the months of July, August and September of this year, the projected expenditure of the Authority for this fiscal year is $37m. That’s an increase of almost 150 percent against the budgeted amount and in dollars,
it’s an increase of $22m. I want that to sink in for a moment. I also want it to sink in that a number of these contracts were awarded to clean middle and high-end subdivisions, like Blair and Westridge, to name a few. “The member for St Barnabas will undoubtedly have a lot of explaining to do. As a result of this reckless and irresponsible behaviour by the member, as of September 30, 2021, after only four months into the fiscal budget, the
Authority had already utilised almost 60 percent of its budget for the entire year, with eight months still remaining. The roadside contracts in Killarney alone had risen to almost $400,000. “I suppose that none of this should be surprising when we remember the $20m on sidewalks at the height of the pandemic, when hospitals were collapsing and Bahamians were homeless and hungry. Even so, the truth of it all will be revealed, and they
will be held to account for their reckless decisions, made for short-term political benefit at the expense of the country.” Former Minister of Works Desmond Bannister has said the Minnis administration did not spend $20m solely on sidewalks, but said the multimillion-dollar project included sidewalks, work on drainage, Family Island docks and community parks, etc. Earlier this month, Works and Utilities
Minister Alfred Sears said all contracts at the Beaches and Parks Authority were renewed shortly before the general election. He said according to the management team, some of the contractors did not perform satisfactorily. St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright, the executive chairman of the body during the Minnis administration, countered earlier this month that he operated fairly and sought to bring credit to the organisation.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, November 30, 2021
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An end to unity, the start of the blame game TALK of a less combative relationship between the political parties has not lasted very long. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has pointed the finger of blame at the previous administration over COVID measures, over the Prospect Ridge housing development – and now claims that Dr Hubert Minnis would have raised VAT to 15 percent if he had been returned to office. The premise of his claim is thin, to say the least. A report by the International Monetary Fund recommended that The Bahamas raise VAT to that level – but there seems to be no commitment anywhere that Mr Davis has shown for The Bahamas to agree to that. A recommendation is just that, a recommendation – it doesn’t bind The Bahamas to it, and if it did, Mr Davis would be bound just as much as Dr Minnis. Just as Mr Davis says raising VAT to that level would be a “terrible decision”, so too Dr Minnis would have had a choice, and there’s no indication he would have taken the IMF up on their recommendation. It brings to mind the dispute when Mr Davis claimed there was a $1bn hole in the finances shown in the pre-election report only for it to seen that he was measuring something different from what was required in the report. Yesterday, Mr Davis also took the time to attack the “reckless and irresponsible behaviour” of the previous administration over the budget for the Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority – returning to a topic already debated in the House. To what end? Did it move us forward in any way? Or was it just part of the blame game, to criticise his predecessors rather than get on with the business of his own government? If you don’t like the size of the budget for the authority, Mr Davis, tell us where you’re going to cut it and get on with it. The authority has been moved into the Ministry of Works and Utilities from the Ministry of Environment, so we’ll see how his new plan works and what will or won’t be funded. Meanwhile, Mr Davis says the government will meet all of its major objectives while not adding a single
dollar to the national debt. We wish him good luck with that – and we shall await the upcoming debt management report to see how his policies will manage such a task. Different governments have different priorities, different approaches. What one deems essential, another finds unnecessary. Changes in direction are nothing new. But why do we have to find ourselves in this seemingly endless back and forth cycle of one blaming the other and vice versa and on it goes, a perpetual pointing of fingers, all too often without the actual evidence to back it up? If there is a problem, bring the evidence – otherwise it’s all just noise.
Land lease One area that did need an answer was the remarkable lease of Crown Land to Royal Caribbean for just $140,000 a year for up to 150 years. Former Prime Minister Dr Minnis did just that yesterday – defending his decision to sign the deal, but saying that there would be “many jobs available for Bahamians” and saying that the “benefit certainly outweighs the lease of the property”. He said there would be 80 Bahamians involved in the construction stage on “excellent salaries” and 150-200 upon completion of the project earning $30-40,000 a year. That said, he admitted that it was unusual to have a lease for so long, and was quick to suggest that Royal Caribbean would have no problem reverting to 100 years. Well, if that’s the case, why didn’t you do that in the first place, Dr Minnis? The annual rent still seems low for a project that could well earn that sum in just a day or two of operation. There could be a silver lining, however, in that as much as we are committed to Royal Caribbean for that length of time, so too are they committed to us. Can Mr Davis make changes to the deal that raises the rent and cuts the length of the lease? We will see – and we look forward to the new deal being tabled for us all to see.
Under siege in Canada EDITOR, The Tribune. PRESENTLY the middle class, along with the working class are under siege by a government searching for answers on how to resolve a bitter problem created by the government themselves. How do we pay Canada’s huge national debt? Sure we have been told the expenditure of a near trillion dollars, all borrowed by our national and provincial governments, was for the nation’s benefit. Sure there have been and remains absolutely no transparency, in black and white proving why, where and how these multi-billions of dollars have been spent, and who are the beneficiaries of this expenditure. How will this massive debt be paid off? Well it’s difficult to say. The present liberal administration in Ottawa seems to be expanding upon further expenditures such as full time $10.00 a day childcare, followed up with possibly establishing a Pharmacare Programme, with full time dental and drug plans. Further spending to assure the electorate is pacified and ready for the economic hammer to drop. In late 2022, after the provincial elections have taken place in Ontario and elsewhere, the governments of Canada, provincial and municipal will come for your wallets, your saved moneys, your
inheritances and place a subtle, yet difficult to understand bill in front of you. A bill that must be paid. There will be no transparency (understanding) or accountability (who and whom issued and got paid these massive amounts of money). We have experienced a new technique of parliamentary decision making in the past, the ability to place hundreds of hidden bills within one larger more appealing bill (i.e. Climate Change Bills). Pass one, and all are passed. Decisions in Council, emergency directives and Ministerial Decree’s have and will continue to happen. The new national crisis will be the payment of a national debt, a credit card that will reach its limit soon enough. One can ask our government poetically “What about us? What about the times you said you had all the answers? What about us? What about all the broken happy ever afters? What about us? What about all the plans that ended in disaster? What about us? What about love? What about trust? We are problems that want to be solved. We are children that need to be loved. We are willing, we came when you called.
But many fooled us, enough is enough! The Canadian Public need to open their eyes to what has happened in our land. Those with little respect for Canadians’ national funds have and continue to squander our collective wealth, and will shortly come for whatever else we may possess. These politicians and bureaucrats have been found to be of little creativity and certainly of low caliber when asked how they will solve our many national crisis. For example the tar sands of Alberta. Ottawa and the many powerful lobby’s that oppose these sources of energy fight to close down this provinces’ main source of employment and revenue. Do these protagonists have any real alternative for Alberta? Save the planet, and we will work it out in time. False prophets and opportunists with power, power over you, you and me too. We are the searchlights, we need to see in the dark We are rockets, pointed up at the stars. We are millions of beautiful hearts (Canadians) And you have sold us down the river too far. It’s now the time to let them know. We are awake, opened eye and in the know. Ready. STEVEN KASZAB Ontario, Canada. November 29, 2021.
Penalties for gun possession are too low EDITOR, The Tribune.
LIKE most of our problems, the answer to the reduction of violent crime in this country is maddeningly simple. Almost all murders in The Bahamas involve illegal handguns. The availability and even the price of illegal handguns in The Bahamas directly reflects the penalty for being found with one. Criminals will even tell you that. Yet every time we have another murder, an assortment of police and politicians bore us with monotonous rubbish about young men being able to resolve their differences – as if bad tempers, rather than robbery and criminal enterprises, were the motivating factor behind
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net epidemic levels of violent crime. Through it all, one thing is certain: if the penalty for having an illegal firearm were commensurate with their impact on our society, murders in the Bahamas would be drastically reduced. In that light, it is interesting that Andrew Holness, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, is now actually calling for the death penalty for simple possession of an illegal firearm – with the only possibility of a lighter penalty being where the convicted person provides information as to
where and from whom he obtained it. While I do not personally support the death penalty, this is the right kind of thinking if Jamaica (and The Bahamas) is ever going to start addressing the impact of illegal guns. Unfortunately, in The Bahamas, the judiciary and certain politicians have contrived to ensure the prevalence of illegal firearms will continue no matter how successfully the police make arrests, because the penalty for possession is so light and bail (even for murder) is readily available as a mechanism for revenge killings. ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, November 29, 2021.
Protocol breach EDITOR, The Tribune. ANNOUNCING Ambassadorial candidates before the country receiving them has accepted is a No-No... can’t you remember back in 2012 Christie
did the same and had to rescind nomination of H E Dr Ellison Rahming to the US post and switch him to the UN? Why can’t we follow accepted protocols? Same goes name has
been out there almost officially the High Commissioner to CARICOM. D HUGHES Nassau, November 26, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, November 30, 2021, PAGE 7
Speaker ‘ashamed’ of actions in House HOUSE Speaker Patricia Deveaux told members of Parliament she was “ashamed” by actions that took place in the House of Assembly yesterday, describing certain behaviour as unparliamentary. “There are several situations I’d like to address before we meet again,” she told members after last night’s debate ended. “One, when members rise from this day forward, they will say to me whether
it’s a point of order, point of clarification and you’ll respect the member and the other member will sit. There will not be two members on their feet. I allowed it to happen today because I want to clarify your behaviour today.” She also told members that noises from cell phones and laptops will not be tolerated going forward. “Respect,” she said. “This is the people’s House. This is not our house. They put
us here to do a job. After today, you will meet a new Speaker in this chair... and I don’t want any member to tell me from this day forward whether I allow a point of order or not. “I allow members to get up, I hear them, I make the final decision. No member will tell me what is a point of order or not from this day forward. “I am here to bring respect to this chair. And whether you like it or not,
COURT HEARING FOR BELLA’S MOTHER TODAY By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE mother of D’onya Bella Walker will appear before the Supreme Court for an emergency bail hearing today. This comes a day after her own mother’s first appearance before a judge in an impending legal battle for the custody of the little girl’s remains. Police said the four-yearold died from blunt force trauma after sustaining several injuries to her body on November 5. The child’s mother, Ostonya Walker, has been charged with child cruelty and exposing a child to grevious harm, while the woman’s reported boyfriend, Darion Smith, was charged with the murder of Bella. They were both denied bail at their arraignment earlier this month and although Walker’s bail application was scheduled to be heard yesterday afternoon, an issue at the Department of Public Prosecution’s office led to the matter being adjourned.
BELLA WALKER As a result, Walker’s bail application will be heard in the Supreme Court today. Bella’s death has sparked a disagreement between her paternal and maternal relatives as it relates to who has the right to bury the four-year-old. Attorney Bjorn Ferguson, who is representing grandmother Monalisa Walker, has said the murdered toddler’s body was removed from the morgue and taken to a funeral home without the consent of anyone who has legal custody of her remains.
In a letter dated November 25, he also said Bella’s mother had sole custody of the child and by virtue of the fact that she had been remanded, had given that authority to her mother, Monalisa Walker, to deal with the burial arrangement while the situation played out. Mr Ferguson and Monalisa Walker, as well as Maria Daxon, who represents Bella’s paternal family, appeared before Justice Loren Klein yesterday. When the press was allowed into the courtroom, the judge said while the case sparked much “public interest”, the matter that would be heard before him contained “sensitive details” and “personal allegations” that if reported prematurely, could potentially prejudice the upcoming criminal proceedings. He said in view of this fact, he would exercise his discretion and excuse the media from reporting the hearing. Nevertheless, Justice Klein said his ruling will be delivered in open court when the time comes.
ACCUSED ‘SWORE AT POLICE OFFICER’ By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A WOMAN cursed at an officer who attempted to arrest her after she allegedly damaged her exboyfriend’s car, a court was told. Prosecutors accused Deandra Barr of smashing the windows and slashing the tyres of her former partner’s car on August 1. They also accused her of acting in a disorderly manner and resisting arrest when police tried to detain her for the offence. She denied the allegations when she first appeared before Senior Magistrate Carolyn VogtEvans and the matter was adjourned for trial. When Police Constable 3667 John McKenzie gave evidence, he said around 10.40pm on the night in question, he and a team of
officers were dispatched to a disturbance in the Sandilands Village area. He said when they arrived, he saw a man standing next to a car that had all of its windows and tyres damaged. The court was told that when officers spoke to the man, he told them his girlfriend had damaged his car after they had a verbal argument. PC McKenzie said when he and his team went to the area where the man told them Barr had fled, his female partner approached the accused and informed her that she was being arrested. “She then began to resist and threw her hands towards the female officer saying: ‘Don’t (expletive) touch me,’” the officer testified. “When she warned her to stop, Barr continued to use obscenities and started to fight (my partner).” PC McKenzie said that was when he “got involved
to help restrain and handcuff” Barr. He said they were able to subdue her and put her in a marked police vehicle a short time later. He said afterwards, they took her back to the area to see the car she was accused of damaging before taking her to the Elizabeth Estates station to be booked in. Yesterday, Barr was not represented by an attorney. When she cross-examined PC McKenzie, she suggested that an officer placed a knee on her chest while another one pointed a gun at her private parts when they detained her. In response, PC McKenzie said he had to use whatever force he needed to restrain her. However, the officer stated he “did not know anything” about a weapon being placed near Barr’s genitals. The matter continues on February 14, 2022.
PAIR ACCUSED OF SEX WITH CHILDREN By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
TWO men were yesterday remanded to prison after it was alleged that they had unlawful sex with two children in separate incidents last week. In the first case, Kenneth Mott, 29, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt accused of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a
12-year-old girl on November 22. Due to the nature of the charge, he was not required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to next year for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). In the meantime, Mott was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
In a separate case, prosecutors said Phillip Miskalin, 25, had unlawful sex with a 12-year-old girl on November 20. Like Mott, Miskalin was not required to enter a plea during his arraignment before Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt. He also returns to court in 2022 to be served with his VBI. In the interim, he was denied bail and remanded into custody. He also has the right to apply for bail in the Supreme Court.
‘PAY $400 OVER DRUGS OR GO TO JAIL’ By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 24-YEAR-OLD woman who was caught with more than three ounces of marijuana must pay $400 to avoid spending three months in prison. Police arrested Darrinique Rolle when they found her trying to discard the drugs in her residence on November 26.
She owned up to one count of possession when she appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday. The prosecution said that around 9.15am on the day in question, officers went to Nassau Village to execute a search warrant on Rolle’s home. The court was told that when the accused noticed the police, she “quickly entered her residence” which prompted
officers to follow her inside after informing her of their search. When they did, they found Rolle in the bathroom kneeling by the toilet with 16 marijuana foil wraps. She was subsequently arrested and charged. After pleading guilty yesterday, Rolle was fined $400. Magistrate McKinney said if she did not pay the fine, she would be sentenced to three months on remand.
respect will be given from all sides. I am ashamed of the behaviour today and it will not go any further. Now I want you to go and think on those things.” Her admonishment drew laughter from the opposition bench, prompting a row in the House between the Speaker and those on that side. “Is it funny?” she asked, pointing to opposition members. “I want to know, is it funny? Did I make a joke?”
An opposition member asked for an opportunity to answer the question, to which the Speaker said the member must answer “yes, or no,” as to whether her remarks were funny. The opposition member then said from his seat that the Speaker was not talking to children. “I am not talking to children, but do not act as children,” Ms Deveaux said, before rising to her feet after an opposition
member stood and sought to speak. She accused opposition members of making a mockery of the chair by laughing at her remarks. She also told one seated opposition member that he was being disrespectful and threatened to have him removed from the chamber before the situation calmed down. The House of Assembly will meet again on Wednesday.
MAN FOUND DEAD AT WHEEL OF HIS CAR from page one “Following their assessment of the body, a male was pronounced lifeless on scene having appeared to be suffering from wounds consistent with gunshots,” he added. ASP Peters said the victim appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s. He also noted that details of the incident were “sketchy” at the time and appealed for anyone with information to come forward. “Again, we continue to appeal to members of the public to continue to report persons who they are familiar with being in possession of firearms so that we, the police department, can take
POLICE on the scene of a homicide on Hospital Lane North last night. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff action,” ASP Peters added. “As of late, we would’ve taken a number of persons in custody after finding them in possession of firearms and those persons are before the courts now waiting their day for trial.” The country’s latest murder comes after a man was found shot dead in
Eleuthera early Sunday morning. It also follows a string of shooting incidents over the weekend that left seven people injured and in hospital. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS (8477).
‘TORTURE VICTIMS’ MUST WAIT UNTIL 2022 By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THREE people who accused police of torturing them for confessions in 2018 will have to wait until at least 2022 to have their case resolved. Supreme Court Justice Loren Klein adjourned the matter to June 2022 after government lawyers filed a number of documents yesterday morning. Charvette Strachan, Dale Gibson Jr and Kenton Fines allege they were tortured at the Governor’s Harbour Police Station in Eleuthera in January 2018. The three were arrested while police investigated an armed robbery at the C and AA Service Station in
Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, which involved the shooting of Joel Stubbs, an employee of the station. The trio were later released from police custody without being charged. Ms Strachan and Mr Gibson Jr have already testified in the case. Mr Fines has not yet done so. At the beginning of yesterday’s sitting, Justice Klein announced that he has refused the plaintiffs’ application for interlocutory judgment against the defendants because the defendants failed to make discovery. Attorney Fred Smith, QC, encouraged the judge to reverse his decision in view of the late filing of additional documents. “Quite apart from the lateness of them, what
both of those statements evidenced is that there is obviously and there has been a wealth of documentary evidence that simply hasn’t been provided,” he said. Justice Klein ruled that “costs thrown away by (yesterday’s) adjournment ought to fall with the defendants”. Mr Smith wanted costs to be awarded on indemnity basis – higher than standard because of the defendants’ actions. “There was no excuse for what happened today,” he said, referring to the late disclosure of documents. “This is an appalling conduct of a trial in all the circumstances.” Justice Klein ultimately declined to award costs on indemnity basis.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, November 30, 2021
WHEN Tinagay Foster recently saw a violent act against a woman go viral on social media, it hurt her to the core. She wasn’t just hurt because society seems to shamelessly disseminate violent videos and photos on social media. It wasn’t just because it was another episode of violence against women, which she abhors. Tinagay was very hurt because she too had been a victim of abuse. She immediately took to social media to make a clarion call to women to get out of abusive relationships. For years since she got out of her toxic relationship, Tinagay has been partnering with Zonta Bahamas to share her story with other young ladies in an effort to give them the inspiration they need to walk away from domestic violence. “On February 14th, 2013, I met death,” Tinagay said. “I met death and I looked him in the face for three years of my life. I almost married death and despite the physical, verbal emotionally and sometimes sexual abuse I faced, I still stayed in the relationship thinking I could have fought and won, or changed death’s face. But ladies out there who are in this situation, I’m here to tell you to get out now! You can’t change him!” As simple as the two words “get out” may seem, they are some of the most difficult words to come to terms with for a domestic violence victim, she said. Not all victims are women; but statistically, they represent the majority of victims in domestic violence cases. From experience, she says women tend not to get out of these situations as soon as they need to because: they are ashamed; don’t want to start over; this is not their first abusive relationship; they are afraid; or they feel as if they can’t make it without their partner. “Listen, I had all these excuses,” Tinagay shared. “Despite what my mom, my friends and everyone else around me said, I didn’t listen. I didn’t listen because I felt like they couldn’t tell me what to do because they didn’t understand what I was going through. But guess what, I am someone who has been
THE TRIBUNE
Face to Face
By FELICITY DARVILLE
through it and can tell you - move now before it’s too late! “I tried several times to get out. I filed for four bound overs (to keep the peace) and never I went to court. I called the police approximately nine times and still took him back. I began to pray to God to move him but every time I left and he called and said, ‘I love you, I’m sorry’, I let him back in. “It’s going to come a time when you’re going to realise to stop making excuses… but for some people it’s too late. You see, from the first punch to my abdomen eight months into the relationship, I got a sign, but didn’t get out. Two months later when he left a hand
print in my face… it was another sign, but I didn’t get out. Then it went from bad to worse. He called me what he wanted to – worthless, ugly, good for nothing, dirty, stupid, fat and sloppy… that’s just some of what I could recall. “He locked me in the room several times. He would head butt me, spit on me and call me garbage. He would hit me with anything he could grab and when I got free, I would
run outside and he would run after me. At one point he ripped my dress off in the street! Neighbours watched. I guess they felt I deserved it for not getting rid of this man… they were used to it. “My eyes started to open when my 12-year-old son at the time got involved. As this man attempted to drag me off, my son ran out, jumped over me and punched him in the face. By the time I looked up he went to hit my child back. My son ducked and I screamed at him to go inside. When your kids get involved, your time is almost up… get out now!” On that day, Tinagay made up her mind to get out of the relationship. She went to the courts to
IF YOUR PARTNER IS AN ABUSER THERE’S ONLY ONE SOLUTION - YOU HAVE TO END IT
room and he locked the door. I saw death,” she said. “He started complaining to me about why I doing this to him. I was afraid. Then with all his might, he head butted me. I instantly felt my head swelling. I started to scream that I need ice. I felt head swinging and I prayed inside, ‘God, please don’t let me die!’ I laid on the bed. Then I thought, ‘how I am going to get out of this’! I began to beg him to let me go bathe saying that I was late for work. I had to say, ‘baby, please’. He watched me take a bath and get in my car, which he had blocked in. I had to kiss him goodbye! He followed me to make sure I didn’t go to the police station. When he disappeared, I made up my mind, and I went to the police. It was over! I chose to live and not to die.” Since then, Tinagay has come a long way, feeling empowered and knowing her worth. She finished school and became a Registered Nurse. She then pursued a Master’s degree in Nursing Education. She is currently pursuing TINAGAY Foster a PhD. has gone from “My dreams domestic are up ahead violence victim and I will conto Registered tinue to help all file Nurse, now young women another studying for a by giving them order to PhD. a voice,” she said. bind the man “You are not over to keep the stuck. A diamond is peace. This time she showed up at court to never stuck, but it pushes through the earth and rises make sure it went through. Tinagay was determined at the top. I am a survivor, to keep him blocked out of a Lady, a Queen, an unfintheir lives. But the battle ished diamond!” She encouraged anyone was not completely over. “After keeping him who is a domestic violence blocked out for two abuse victim to immedimonths he walked back in ately get out of the situation my house, straight into my and “seek help, seek counseling from the church, and trust God”. The Zonta Club of New Providence was instrumental in helping her and other girls get the message of their campaign to “Say No to Gender-based Violence”. They are a part of the “Orange the World” campaign as well as the United Nations’ UNiTe campaign to end violence against women and girls. Internationally, the 16 Days of Activism to End Genderbased violence helps bring awareness about the vexing societal problem, and call on all members to be a part of the solution.
Funeral Service for
URILLA JANE COLLIE, 86
a resident of New York & formerly of Hard Hill, Acklins, will be held at St. John’s Native Baptist Cathedral, Meeting Street, on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Bishop Michael Symonette & Bishop Carrington Pinder. Interment follows in Old Trail Cemetery, Old Trail Road.
CENTREVILLE MP Jomo Campbell is pinned with an orange bow by a Zonta member outside of the House of Assembly yesterday. Each year, Zonta Club of Englerston. On November New Providence teams up 18, the 2021 Trafficking with various NGOs to help in Persons Webinar was make the campaign success- held. Superintendent of ful. This year, the Rotary Police Tess D Newbold, Clubs of the Bahamas are Superintendent Janet proud participants. The McKenzie, and ZCNP men have a white ribbon President Marisa Mason campaign, and are encour- Smith were the presentaging men to join in and ers, speaking on “how to take the global vow to end identify human traffickers violence against women and the tools to disrupt this and girls. Other NGOs par- heinous crime and human ticipating this year include rights violation”. Sadly, Caribbean Women in Lead- this is a concern for the ership, Kiwanis Clubs of the Bahamas. Zonta Eleuthera Bahamas, the Royal Baha- members are actively parmas Police Force, and the ticipating. Many offices are Crisis Centre. The Depart- decorated in orange this ment of Gender and Family month, and every Friday, Affairs, Ministry of Social government and corporate Services and Urban Devel- employees are wearing opment, is always an active orange t-shirts. Efforts, led participant. by Jewel Edwards, have Yesterday in the House of reached far and wide on Assembly, Prime Minister the island, with the message Philip “Brave” Davis, along that “Eleuthera has gone with Minister of Educa- orange!” tion Glenys Hanna-Martin, Yesterday, Parliamenmade a pledge to look at tarians were pinned with all of the ways government orange bows by Zonta could assist in making sure members to remind them that legislation was in place of their commitment to to help support efforts to helping to push legislaend gender-based violence. tion to help bring an end Office of the Spouse repre- to violence in Bahamian sentative Mrs Ann Marie society. Zonta is proud to Davis has been an active have led the first Women spokeswoman for the cam- in Parliament session under paign this year. She and the commission of former Mrs Patricia Minnis, former Speaker of the House of Office of the Spouse repre- Assembly, Halson Moultrie. sentative, tied the first bow There, they presented a together in the Englerston Resolution to End Gendercommunity for the Orange based violence. the World campaign 2021. On International Human On Saturday, Mrs Davis Rights Day, December was back in Englerston 10, ZCNP will hold their with Zonta Club of New annual “Walk in My Shoes” Providence (ZCNP) for a campaign in Rawson community outreach effort. Square from 10am to 12 The 16 Days of Activism noon. On Saturday, Decemto End Gender-based vio- ber 11, Zonta and the Crisis lence runs from November Centre will host the webi25 - the International Day nar “Behind the Veil”. On of activism to End Violence December 12, the final Against Women and Girls, webinar will examine the to December 10 - Interna- role of the church in ending tional Human Rights Day. gender-based violence. On Friday, November 26, See the Zonta Club of Zonta held a workforce New Providence Facebook readiness programme in page for more details.
She was survived by her Niece: Denie Collie; Nephew: Steve Collie; cousins: Kym Nixon, Pallis Lockhart, Duane & Darold Nixon, the descendants of the late Lorenzo and Rose Symonette, descendants of the late John & Marion Symonette, the descendants of the late Kenneth & Alvena Cox, the descendants of the late William Collie; God Daughter, Sybil LoveLL, the family of the Late Hervis Bain and Beverly Bain; numerous other relatives and friends. Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 1-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
A POLICE station in Eleuthera decorated as Zonta Eleuthera works hard to “Orange the World” to end gender-based violence.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, November 30, 2021, PAGE 9
So much talking as the desperate continue to die THE SCREAMING UK media headlines said it all – “Tragedy in the Channel”. Last week, 27 people were drowned when their small boat capsized as they made their way from France across the English Channel. This was a disaster waiting to happen but entirely avoidable. It was a direct consequence of the greed and lack of concern displayed by human-trafficking gangs. They have been accused of criminal negligence for charging huge sums and cramming too many people into small, flimsy inflatable dinghies for the perilous 21-mile journey across the channel to England which is one of the busiest waterways in the world. But this tragedy can also be attributed to the failure of Britain and France - two of the richest countries in the world - to take effective joint action to stop these illegal crossings by migrants willing to pay extortionate amounts of money to people-smugglers in order to travel to the UK despite the real risk of losing their own lives. Mass migration around the world over hundreds
The Peter Young column of years - either voluntarily or through displacement because of conflict or financial deprivation - has produced significant economic and social benefits to the receiving countries concerned. Obvious examples are the US as a land of immigrants, together with Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Britain, too, has traditionally been a haven for those fleeing persecution; and, while the nation has gained in many respects over the years from an
influx of those seeking safety and security, it has also benefited as a result of ordered immigration from within the Commonwealth. Sadly, however, around
IN CONNECTION with my separate piece on this page about migrants crossing the English Channel, there is an aspect of immigration that is causing increasing concern; namely, a limited but growing tendency among policy-makers to give less and less credence to the existence of international borders. Some say this is evident in the Biden administration’s handling of the immigration crisis on its southern border with Mexico, and in Britain there have been accusations in the press that some senior officials in the Home Office are hostile to border controls, with fanatics even believing frontiers should be fully open. Critics also claim the UK Border Force is not being used to protect the nation’s frontiers properly while in the Home Office there is too much emphasis on the promotion of diversity and the pursuit of identity politics. Whether or not that is true, if these claims can be justified, such action would be in defiance of the wishes of the political masters of those concerned and of the British public as a whole which, at the last election in 2019, voted in a Conservative government with a thumping majority. Such issues prompt reflection on the significance of the nation-state. There are, of course, many who believe in the completely free movement of people as so-called citizens of the world. In some ways, this is a fine ideal often driven by a fear of nationalism which,
it is contended, creates wars. Indeed, European integration is based on this founding principle as the European Union continues its relentless quest for ever closer political union within the bloc leading to a federal super state. In more modern times, the claim that nationalism creates wars is a questionable proposition when ideologies like fascism, communism and Islamic fundamentalism have caused some of the worst conflicts; though it can be argued, for example, that in Germany fascism and the rise of Hitler became a form of extreme nationalism after beginning as a response to devastation and economic collapse after the First World War and the Treaty of Versailles that followed it. It is said patriotism and nationalism are often confused as they are sometimes used interchangeably. The former focuses on people and the latter on the state. It is generally agreed patriotism means loyalty and devotion to one’s own country and a sense of pride, affection and attachment to it in the belief that it is the best in the world. But that does not necessarily result in any sense of compulsion to force it on other people. By contrast, nationalism is a more unforgiving form of allegiance to one’s country, with a strong national identity based on a belief of superiority and sometimes a desire to impose it on other countries. In the words of George Orwell,
patriotism is of its nature defensive whereas nationalism is inseparable from power and that can include aggression towards others. Be that as it may, the world is based on the nationstate - and after the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 this was regarded as the best structure for constitutional order and the protection of liberal rights while the concept of sovereignty became the basis of international law and diplomacy. That said, it is, of course, the case that the world has now become more integrated and interconnected in so many institutional and practical ways through, for example, the UN and its specialised agencies together with numerous other international bodies - and establishment of the rules-based international order on which world trade is based. The global village is a reality. But, despite adhering to obligations under international conventions, the nation state ultimately rules the roost. So, many believe that it is unrealistic to seek to remove borders and allow free movement of people around the world because without borders a country cannot exist in its present form. Certainly, one of the reasons for Brexit was to enable Britain to control its own borders and, if the crisis of illegal migration across the English Channel is not fixed soon, Mr Johnson could well face a leadership challenge from within his own party.
IT WAS good to learn recently of another example of what has been a busy UK presidency of the G7 world’s leading economies. It has been announced that Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will host her counterparts - the Foreign and Development Ministers of G7 countries - at a meeting in the iconic city of Liverpool from December 10 to 12. This follows the two global summits of COP26 - the climate change conference in Glasgow this month - and the G7 gathering of leaders hosted by the Prime Minister in Cornwall in southwest England earlier in the year. Southeast Asian countries which are members of ASEAN have also been invited to a G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting for the first time – and their attendance looks to be a sign of the UK’s growing tilt towards the Indo-Pacific. It also builds on the Cornwall
meeting which included representation from Australia, India, South Korea and South Africa. As for the agenda, the Foreign Secretary has said she wants to discuss how to build closer economic, technology and security ties globally and to develop a worldwide network that advances freedom, democracy and enterprise and encourages like-minded countries to work together from a position of strength. More specifically, there is likely to be a focus on human rights and on global health issues including post-COVID economic resilience, and, most importantly, the new variant, Omicron, which suddenly is having a serious effect around the world. Prior to the summit there will be a meeting of the World Health Assembly to consider the benefits of developing a
WHO convention to provide a framework for greater co-operation in relation to pandemic preparedness and reaction. Mr Johnson has been quoted as saying that the world needs a pandemic treaty to ensure proper transparency and the sharing of data. So it appears that Britain wants to lead efforts to promote a global approach to pandemics, including an early warning system. All this activity should surely be welcomed by other countries since assuming it brings results - it ought to benefit them in the long-term. It seems to be an example of the flexing of Britain’s muscles as a global player post-Brexit. As such, it will come as no surprise to those who wanted the nation to break free - as they saw it - from the tentacles of EU membership and assert its influence on the world stage.
WHERE WILL IT ALL END?
BRITAIN UNSHACKLED
the world there is now an illegal migrant crisis that has spread alarmingly in recent years - not just across the short stretch of water between Britain and France but in countries like Italy, Greece, Spain, and, most recently, on the border between Poland and Belarus. There will always be genuine asylum seekers fearing for their lives in their own countries, but there are now also vast numbers who are simply - and some say understandably - seeking a better life in developed countries which offer law and order and security together with the provision of welfare benefits for those with no resources. In recent years, migrants - now mainly from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and a number of African countries - have gathered in makeshift camps in northern France and have stowed away on lorries waiting at ports like Calais to cross the Channel by ferry. After the French authorities made access to these ports more difficult, crossings by small boats increased, with unprecedented numbers taking advantage of this illegal route by which some 26,000 migrants have reached Britain so far this year; and they are doing so in the mistaken belief that getting to the UK will automatically lead to a permanent right to stay there. This current number is about three times the figure for the whole of 2020 while asylum claims have hit the highest level for nearly 20 years, with a backlog of more than 65,000 asylum applications awaiting a decision. Meanwhile, according
A MAKESHIFT migrant camp in Calais, northern France, on Saturday. Photo: Rafael Yaghobzadeh/AP
to the latest figures, deportations have dropped from about 47,000 in 2013 to less than 8,000 last year. Commentators now say these large numbers and last week’s terrible drowning incident have at last forced people to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem so that the migrant crisis is now seen in Britain as a national emergency. Public anger is apparently skyrocketing and there is now speculation that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government itself could be in jeopardy unless he takes effective action to stop this activity that is making a mockery of UK laws and is undermining the fairness of the existing official immigration system. There is general agreement the problem can be resolved if Britain and France have the will to act together. Their leaders pledged some while ago to co-operate in order to stop the gangs by destroying their business model and “making the route unviable”. But it comes as a considerable surprise that over the weekend there was a meeting in France to discuss the situation and Britain did not attend it or, rather, the British were “disinvited” after a diplomatic spat about their new five-point plan being made public in advance of bilateral talks. Mr Johnson recently warned those contemplating the journey across the Channel that “we will send
you back”. So, turning the boats around or later returning migrants to France is part of the new plan because they were, of course, already in a safe country and therefore should not have been making the journey in the first place. The plan also includes a proposal to send UK Border Force personnel to help patrol French beaches and coastal waters, to share intelligence and to deploy drones and ground sensors - and such extra help would be in addition to the $70m promised last June by the UK as part of a deal to beef up French border patrols. Bizarrely, instead of co-operating fully the two sides are indulging in a blame game, with the French Interior Minister claiming migrants are encouraged by the promise of “the Eldorado of England” consisting of generous welfare benefits, an “attractive” labour market and lack of identity checks. To most people, the lack of co-operation is alarming. Some observers are describing it as a deliberate part of Macron’s Brexit punishment strategy, though this remains debatable. But I cannot help thinking the whole controversy is a reminder of how here in The Bahamas the issue of illegal migration from Haiti is handled so much better - with immediate deportation as long as, of course, this is done in accordance with the country’s own laws.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, November 30, 2021, PAGE 11
HALL of Fame alumni Bishop Arnold Josey displaying BRANDON Hutchinson of Leonard House is presented with his FORMER PE teacher and basketball coach Felix ‘Fly’ Musgrove shares a special moment with some SACers. his SAC colours. awards from honouree, Ms Sonja Knowles.
Big Red Madness tribute to principal Sonja Knowles
IT was a fitting Big Red Machine Madness tribute as the faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni and friends came together on Saturday to help close the door on a long and illustrious career of Sonja Knowles as a former student, teacher, vice principal and principal of St Augustine’s College. In a show of gratitude and appreciation to Ms Knowles, SAC’s Athletic Department put on a Big Red Machine sporting frenzy between students of the four houses – Seton, Alcuin, Bernard and Leonard - in various competitions ranging from a three-point shooting contest, a home run derby and a mixed medley relay. SAC’s athletic director Jason Edwards said there was no better way that they could honour Knowles, who will demit office at the end of the school year in December. “Big Red Madness was just a small taste of the SAC experience,” Edwards said. “Our athletes were on full display and for me to say it was exciting would be an understatement. This event was first intended to be for the student population to engage in activities outside of the classroom but it quickly turned into something more meaningful. “It was only right that this event be in honour of our principal Ms Sonja Knowles who is a sports enthusiast and avid sports fan. The Big Red Madness was embraced fully by SAC alumni. The students got the chance not only to compete in sports but to also interact with many alumni and long time SAC supporters. It’s safe to say SAC PRIDE is alive and here to stay.” Edwards thanked the administration, teachers, parents, alums, faculty, staff and his committee for helping to make the event such a success that many persons in attendance were calling for it to become an annual event. Saturday, however, belonged to Ms Knowles, who was proud as a peacock as she strutted around SAC’s playing field, absorbing every moment of the activities, as well as engaging in conversations with so many people. She even took the time out to dance her feet off at the end of the DJ competition that brought the curtain down on one of her memorable moments she will take into her sunset. “It was a wonderful event, and it was well-attended. Inter-house sports is one of the pillars of SAC’s foundation where sports and school pride is concerned,” said Knowles after she engaged in the awards presentation to the winners of the various competitions. “Due to the pandemic, the students haven’t been able to enjoy any extra-curricular events in such a long time. It was great to see them engaging in friendly competition. I also enjoyed seeing SAC alumni and I appreciate those who took the time to wish me well in the next chapter of my life.”
SAC cheerleaders get ready for their chant.
LEONARD’s Azariah Smith receives her awards from prinicipal Sonja Knowles.
IT’s a family affair at SAC’s Big Red Machine Madness.
SAC home run derby scorers tallying the most hits.
SAC’s faculty staff getting the job done.
SACERS showing their pride.
SETON’s Dior’Rae Scott collects her award from Sonja Knowles.
As a former alumni, Marici Thompson, who will assume her new post as principal when school reopens in January, expressed her kudos on the SAC pride exhibited and what could be her introduction to a promising tenure in office ahead of her. “I was elated to see the amount of SAC alumni who came out to the event, and I look forward to it becoming an annual event. I really do,” she said. “I think coach Jason Edwards and his team did a really great job. Of course, I am happy that the students got the opportunity to fellowship with one another through sports.” At the end of the day, there were no overall winners, but just the fact that the student-athletes got a
chance to display their skills were more than enough for them to fathom in the COVID-19 environment, which has hindered all sporting activities outside of the popular inter-house competition. With no competition since the start of the pandemic in March, 2020, the student-athletes were just delighted to engage in their own rivalries and secure bragging rights until sporting activities return to some sort of normalcy. On the court, Neil Gibson of Seton emerged as the bantam boys’ champion over Trent Evans of Bernard. Leonard’s Azariah Smith took home the junior girls’ crown with Dior-Rae Scott of Seton as the runner-up. Seton’s Carmeljo Woodside won the
junior boys’ title over William Sturrup of Bernard. Arianna Gomez of Alcuin clinched the intermediate girls’ title with Leonard’s Azariah Marshall as the runner-up. The boys’ title went to Bernard’s Jeloni Morrison with Brandon Hall of Leonard as the runner-up. “I feel really good about the event. At first I was kind of nervous, but after the first round, that nervousness went away,” said 15-year-old Gomez, a 10th grader. “I’m just proud to win this event in honour of Ms Knowles. She was a great principal and she’s leaving now. I will definitely miss her.” And in the senior girls’ division, Orielle Johnson of Alcuin pulled off the
win over Gabrielle Murphy of Seton. Jaden Percentie of Leonard was the senior boys’ winner with Brian Carey of Seton as the runner-up. Percentie also carted home the overall trophy for producing the most shots. “I feel good about my performance. I really wanted to do something special since we didn’t have a season,” said Percentie, a 18-year-old 12th grader who hopes to make it to the professional ranks in the sport. “I practiced a lot so I expected to do very well. Plus, I wanted to let Ms Knowles go out with a bang. She will be missed. She’s one of a kind. You can’t replace her. She’s Ms Knowles.” On the field, the home run derby saw Leonard’s
Tatum Watkins and Seton’s Neil Gibson capture the bantam girls and boys’ crown, Seton’s Dior’Rae Scott added the junior girls title to her triumph in the three-point competition and was joined by Sherman Ferguson of Leonard with the boys’ title. There were no competitors in the intermediate girls, but Leonard’s Brandon Hall captured the intermediate boys’ trophy. The senior girls’ was won by Alcuin’s Camryn Russell and Leonard’s Brandon Hutchinson powered through to victory in the senior boys’ division. Hutchinson also was declared the overall champion with the most hits. “I just want to thank SAC for accepting me into their school and for allowing me to participate in sports here,” said Hutchinson, who transferred to SAC in grade nine from Grand Bahama in 2018. “I just hope that we have some inter-school sports next year because I’m looking forward to representing the school.” As for the event, the 17-year-old Hutchinson, who is now in the 12th grade, said it was definitely a good way to get the student-athletes acclimatised to some sporting activities again after being off for a while. He was proud to salute Ms Knowles before she leaves office. In what turned out to be the highlight of the day, the infamous SAC track brought back so many memories for those old enough to remember and those only young enough to hear about it, as the mixed gender 4 x 400m relay, which is fast becoming a staple to watch at various track and field meets, took place. Alcuin set the stage winning the bantam and junior races. Seton showed their prowess in the intermediate division, while Bernard reigned supreme in the seniors. The only house shut out of a victory on the track was Leonard. The event certainly displayed some of the top talent that SAC has to offer if they get the chance to participate in any BAISS events next year. Unfortunately, Knowles, who served previously as the chairman of BAISS, won’t be there to bask in her SAC pride as the principal. Annastacia Sands, another member of SAC’s Athletic Department, summed up the event as an “awesome” one and without a doubt, the best way sports wise to show their appreciation to the woman who continued the SAC dynasty after replacing the late Leviticus ‘Uncle Lou’ Adderley. “This was the first time that we in the PE Department decided to do something that was different and it was only fitting that we did something special to honour our principal as she gets ready to leave SAC,” Sands said. “It was called the Big Red Madness, but the turnout was a lot more than we anticipated. “So we’re glad that we could hold the event and to honour our principal, who was a big supporter of sports here at SAC.”
PAGE 12, Tuesday, November 30, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
BLTA Thanksgiving Smashdown fundraiser a smashing success MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg was in attendance as the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) held a Thanksgiving fundraiser event at the National Tennis Centre (NTC). Minister Bowleg came on the court and played, hitting some forehands and backhands. The event was very successful and featured men’s doubles, ladies’ doubles and mixed doubles for all age groups. Timothy Dames, BLTA treasurer, led the fund-raising effort. He was assisted by tournament organiser Shena Bowleg. Wes Rolle was tournament director. President Perry Newton thanks them for a well-organised tournament and all those persons who supported this fund-raising initiative. The BLTA encourages all to be a part of the next opportunity to improve the tennis landscape. Together we will ensure tennis is sustained for future generations.
MEET THE WINNERS Female Rita Roy - 1st Sapphire Ferguson - 2nd Patti Symonette - 3rd Madissan Bowleg - 4th Male Ken Kerr - 1st Godfrey Virgil - 2nd Bud Cambridge - 3rd Cory Francis - 4th Mixed Marsha Williams - 1st Ted Rolle - 2nd Julian Robinson, Bud Cambridge - 3rd
MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg (shown above with participants) came on the court and played, hitting some forehands and backhands as the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) held a Thanksgiving fundraiser event at the National Tennis Centre over the weekend.
Chinese team reports racial abuse at table tennis worlds HOUSTON (AP) — Chinese officials’ formal complaint of racist abuse toward one of their players at the table tennis world championships in Texas was taken “very, very seriously,” the sport’s governing body said. A racial slur seemed to be directed by an unidentified spectator at Liang Jingkun during his match on Friday at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. The sixth-seeded Liang went on to beat Liam Pitchford of England. “We got a complaint from the Chinese Table Tennis Association and we noticed something on one night ourselves,” said Steve Dainton, chief executive of the International Table Tennis Federation. “And as soon as we got that complaint, together
CHINA’S LIANG JINGKUN, left, looks on as Lin Gaoyuan, right, returns a volley during a men’s doubles match at the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships on Friday in Houston. (AP) with the local organizers, we took it very, very serious, and we started to take action,” Dainton told Chinese broadcaster CGTN America. Liang advanced to the men’s singles semifinals and lost on Sunday to top-seeded teammate Fan Zhendong, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist.
The ITTF’s newly elected president, Petra Sörling, said the issue was taken “very, very, seriously” by the organization she was elected last week to lead. “We are standing against racism, and for us, ‘Table Tennis. For All. For Life’ is reality. It’s not only our motto,” Sörling told CGTN.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, November 30, 2021, PAGE 13
Boxer Hield has eyes on ‘24 Paris Olympics By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
D
espite falling short of his goal at the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships, Carl Hield said he’s not yet prepared to give up on his amateur boxing career. He wants to continue competing for the Bahamas through the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. Home for a brief break last week after he completed his duties with professional boxer Rashield Williams at the World Boxing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, Hield said he’s now focusing his attention on preparing for the 2022 Commonwealth Games “First of all, I want to give God thanks for giving me the strength and the guidance and protecting me and opening all of the doors that he did for me this year,” Hield said. “I had a good year, but the World Championships didn’t go as I expected. “It was the first big international competition in two years for me, but next year is going to be another big year with the Commonwealth Games taking place, so I’m looking forward to that.” The 2022 Commonwealth Games is scheduled for July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England, and Hield is hoping that he can participate in at least three or four competitions before the event. After that he said his concentration will be on 2023 when the 24th Central American Games will take place in Panama City, Panama, at a date yet to be announced, the Pan American Games, scheduled for Santiago, Chile, from
October 20 to November 5 and Olympic Qualifier with the date and venue has not been disclosed as yet. “I was representing the Bahamas for a very long time, but I’m not interested in turning pro,” Hield said. “The good thing about the sport is that it’s like track and field where you could go pro and still fight as an amateur. “So I will continue to box as an amateur for as long as I can.” There were some issues in Serbia where Hield and Williams were not supplied with the Bahamas uniforms, but Hield said he can not speak on the situation because he wasn’t given any explanation by the amateur boxing president Vincent Strachan, who was the head of the delegation. As the flag bearer for the event, Hield said he was disappointed that the boxing federation was unable to provide the uniform for the team, but he didn’t let it discourage him. Looking back at both his and Williams fights, Hield
CARL Hield is flanked by his fiancé Irina and two daughters Carlina and Carolina. said he really thought they both pulled it off, but it wasn’t meant to be and they got eliminated early in the competition. “We just have to get in more fights before the competition,” Hield said. “So next year, I’m looking at doing at least a show in
February and again in June in Venezuela, which should prepare me for the Commonwealth Games. “You can train, train and train, but you really need the competition to get sharper. “So once we can get in some competition leading
up to the games, we will be better prepared when we step into the ring.” Since 2009 when he was introduced to the sport by Ray Minus Jr, Hield has been carrying the Bahamian flag, sometimes as the lone representative for the island nation.
CROATIA ADVANCES TO DAVIS CUP SEMIS AFTER BEATING ITALY TURIN, Italy (AP) — Croatia became the first team to reach the Davis Cup semifinals after seeing off Italy 2-1 yesterday. With the singles squared, the top-ranked doubles team of Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic had no trouble seeing off Fabio Fognini and Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-4 in the decider. Sinner replaced Simone Bolelli after winning his singles, which took nearly three hours. But he and Fognini couldn’t get a break point against Pavic and Mektic, winners of Wimbledon and the Olympics this year. Croatia, a two-time champion, awaits Serbia or Kazakhstan. Their quarterfinal is Wednesday in
TIGER
FROM PAGE 16 do in my leg. At the same time, as you know, I’ve had five back operations. So I’m having to deal with that. So as the leg gets stronger, sometimes the back may act up.” Woods was recovering from another back procedure at the start of the year when he ran his SUV over a median and it toppled down a steep hill on a winding, sweeping road in the Los Angeles suburbs on his way to a television shoot at a golf course. Doctors said he shattered tibia and fibula bones in his right leg in multiple locations. Those were stabilised by a rod in the tibia. A combination of screws and pins were used to stabilise additional injuries in the ankle and foot. He last played at the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie, and then had a fifth back procedure that kept him out the early part of the year before the accident.
Madrid. Borna Gojo set up Croatia’s win by surprisingly taking the opening singles against Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-2. Gojo, who is 252 places below the 27th-ranked Sonego, turned around a 4-1 deficit in the opening set to force the tiebreak. Sonego rallied in the second set but continued to make errors in the third, including wasting three break points in the seventh game. “I knew third set it was either one’s game — one set, anything can happen,” Gojo said. “It was a really tough game at 4-2 and I managed to hold. So, yeah, I’m really happy.” Sinner evened the score when he beat former U.S.
Woods already had one remarkable comeback, winning the Masters in 2019 after fusion surgery, his fourth on his lower back. He won the Zozo Championship in Japan later in the year for his 82nd career victory on the PGA Tour, tying Sam Snead for the all-time record. “I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life. After my back fusion, I had to climb Mt. Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did. This time around, I don’t think I’ll have the body to climb Mt. Everest, and that’s OK. I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there. “But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me.” Woods is to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in March. The Masters is the first full week of April. Woods didn’t have a timetable, only that he
FULTON TOPS FIGUEROA, UNIFIES WBO, WBC SUPER BANTAM TITLES LAS VEGAS (AP) — Stephen Fulton Jr. unified the WBO and WBC titles Saturday night with a majority decision over Brandon Figueroa in a matchup between undefeated super bantamweight world champions. The showdown was set up earlier this year with each fighter capturing a world title by defeating an undefeated opponent, as Fulton bested Angelo Leo in January to capture the WBO belt, and Figueroa stopped Luis Nery in May to earn his WBC title. The champions combined to throw over 1,700 punches over 12 rounds according to CompuBox. In the sixth round, each fighter landed power shots, with Figueroa connecting on 36 to Fulton’s 34. In a frantic 10th round, Figueroa looked to have Fulton hurt after numerous flurries of power punches. However, Fulton was able to recover in the final two rounds to win both the 11th and 12th on two judges’ cards. That final push helped Fulton hold on with the score of 116-112 from two judges overruling a 114-114 card. Both fighters believed they had done enough to win and were open to a rematch. “I was catching him in between every shot he was throwing,” Fulton said. “He was making it sloppy and rough.” Figueroa said: “I hurt him like five or six times. I put the pressure on for the whole 12 rounds, landed the cleaner shots and hurt him. I thought I only lost four rounds at the most.” In the co-main event, top super bantamweight contender Ra’eese Aleem remained unbeaten with a majority decision over Mexico’s Eduardo Baez in a 10-round bout. “I’m coming off a long layoff, so I was a little bit rusty,” Aleem said. “I wanted to stop him, but he kept bringing it. I did what I had to do.”
ALBANY FROM PAGE 16
CROATIA’s Marin Cilic celebrates after scoring a point against Italy’s Jannik Sinner during their Davis Cup men’s single Finals tennis match at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy, yesterday. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Open champion Marin Čilić 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Ranked No. 10 in the world, he rode passionate home support in Turin, even encouraging the fans
several times to cheer even louder. “It’s an amazing feeling of course, I don’t have the voice anymore,” Sinner said with a laugh.
The other quarterfinals this week are: Britain vs. Germany today in Innsbruck, and the Russian team vs. Sweden on Thursday in Madrid.
TIGER Woods watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the PNC Championship golf tournament on December 20, 2020, in Orlando, Florida. Woods posted a video on social media on November 21 of him swinging a wedge for the first time since badly injuring his right leg in a February 23 car accident in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Phelan M Ebenhack) wished the recovery was going faster than it was. He said he could envision a career like Ben Hogan after his near-fatal car accident. Hogan played a limited schedule, though he still dominated the
majors, including winning all three that he played in 1953. “I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day — never full-time ever again — but pick and choose, just like Mr. Hogan did. Pick and
choose a few events a year and you play around that,” he said. “I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on,” he said. “It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”
Championship and 2021 Open Championship, will make his tournament debut and be joined by 2020 U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau and defending Hero World Challenge winner Henrik Stenson. Starting this year, the winner of THE PLAYERS Championship also received an invitation to the Hero World Challenge, with Justin Thomas set to compete again at Albany. Xander Schauffele returns to Albany following his gold medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. An avid vacationer to the Bahamas, Woods has been a staple on the local sports tourism scene since the inception of the Bahamas’ version of the event in 2015. The Tiger Woods Foundation has been the event’s primary charitable beneficiary, along with the Tavistock Foundation and Bahamas Youth Foundation. Past champions in the event have included Bubba Watson, Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and most recently, Henrik Stenson. Stenson’s win at the 2019 event also raised funds toward Hurricane Dorian Relief through a challenge issued by the event’s title sponsor, Here MotorCorp. Hero MotoCorp issued a challenge to the field and pledged $500 for every birdie, $1,000 for every eagle and $2,500 for every ace with proceeds given to the One Bahamas Fund. The Players raised $184,500 and One Bahamas planned to match the donation for a total of $369,000.
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MESSI AND PUTELLAS WIN BALLON D’OR AWARDS By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer PARIS (AP) — Lionel Messi won the men’s Ballon d’Or for a recordextending seventh time yesterday, ending the year in style after a brilliant final season with Barcelona and earning his first major international trophy with Argentina. Alexia Putellas became the third winner of the women’s award for an outstanding season with Barcelona and Spain. The 34-year-old Messi led Argentina to the Copa America title in July after losing in four major international finals. “I’m very happy to be here, happy to keep fighting for new trophies,” he said through a translator. “I don’t know how many years I have left, but I hope many more. I’d like to thank all my (former) teammates at Barcelona and Argentina.” Messi finished with 613 points to top prolific Bayern Munich and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski on 580. “I would like to say to Robert that it’s an honour to be your rival, and everyone would say you deserved to win it last year,” Messi said.
Awarded by France Football magazine, the Ballon d’Or has been given out to men every year since 1956 when Stanley Matthews won. Both 2020 awards were cancelled because the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the season. The 33-year-old Lewandowski set a new single-season scoring record for the Bundesliga with 41 goals — one more than late Germany great Gerd Müller — when he scored in the last minute of the last game. Lewandowski netted in 19 consecutive games in all competitions for Bayern from February to September and he just missed out on equalling the record of scoring in 16 Bundesliga games in a row. Overall, he already has 25 goals in 20 games for Bayern this season. His 11 goals in 12 games for Poland this year took his international tally to 74 in 128 games, just six less than Messi. Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho was third with 460 points after helping the London club win the Champions League and his nation win the European Championship. Real
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Madrid and France forward Karim Benzema was fourth on 239. Putellas helped Barca win the treble and scored 26 goals in 42 games overall. The midfielder netted in the Champions League final against Chelsea, and in August she was named UEFA women’s player of the year. “I’m very emotional, it’s a very special moment,” she said at the Paris ceremony through a translator. “I would like to start by thanking all my teammates, especially my current (Barcelona) teammates. For me it’s a collective success.” The only previous women’s award winners are Norway striker Ada Hegerberg in 2018, and U.S. forward Megan Rapinoe in 2019.
Putellas tallied 186 points to finish far ahead of club and country teammate Jenni Hermoso on 84. Hermoso netted 31 goals to top the Spanish first division scoring charts for a third straight season. Hermoso was joint-top scorer in the Champions League with Chelsea’s Fran Kirby on six goals. Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr placed third in the voting after 21 goals in the English Women’s Super League and six for Australia at the Tokyo Games. Kerr has maintained her excellent form with 13 goals in 12 games this season. Messi, meanwhile, counts two more Ballon d’Or awards than longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who was sixth in the voting.
Messi’s staggering tally of 672 goals for Barcelona included an extraordinary 50-goal league season in 2012; 96 league goals across 2012 and 2013; eight Spanish league and six Champions League scoring titles. In his final season with the Spanish giant he netted 38 overall, winning his last trophy with a superb performance in the Copa del Rey final. At the Copa America, Messi was inspirational, finishing joint-top scorer with four goals and leading with five assists. Then he stunned the soccer world by joining Paris Saint-Germain. He has made a modest start with four goals in nine games. But he remains a constant threat, even when he’s not in top form, as he showed on Sunday in a 3-1 win at Saint-Etienne where he set up all three goals. In other awards, the Kopa Trophy for the best under 21 player went to 19-year-old Spain and Barcelona midfielder Pedri. He caught the eye at Euro 2020 and reached the Olympic final. The Lev Yashin for best goalkeeper was won by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who helped Italy win the Euros.
Nuggets beat Heat to snap 6-game skid MIAMI (AP) — Nikola Jokic returned and scored 24 points, Aaron Gordon added 20 and the Denver Nuggets snapped their longest losing streak in nearly six years by beating the short-handed Miami Heat 120-111 on Monday night. Bones Hyland scored 19 and Will Barton added 14 for the Nuggets, who had dropped six straight. Jokic hadn’t played in the last four of those because of a wrist injury but finished with 15 rebounds and seven assists. Jeff Green scored 12 for Denver, which shot 58% on the day it was revealed Michael Porter Jr. will need back surgery. Porter has been limited to nine games this season. Bam Adebayo finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds for Miami, which was without its two leading scorers — Jimmy Butler was out with a bruised tailbone, and Tyler
Herro missed the game with what the Heat called general body soreness. Kyle Lowry had 17 points and 14 assists. TIMBERWOLVES 100, PACERS 98 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — KarlAnthony Towns scored 16 of his 32 points in the third quarter and Anthony Edwards added 21 as Minnesota rallied past Indiana. The Timberwolves trailed by 12 early in the third before Towns led a comeback that sent them to their seventh win in eight games. Michael Beasley hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer for Minnesota with 51.5 seconds left in the fourth. D’Angelo Russell had 21 points and a season-high 11 assists for the Timberwolves. Domantas Sabonis had 16 points, a career-high 25 rebounds and 10 assists for Indiana. Malcolm Brogdon added 25 points but the
Pacers lost for the third time in four games. BULLS 133, HORNETS 119 CHICAGO (AP) — Lonzo Ball and the Chicago Bulls won the battle of the Ball brothers, riding a stellar performance by Nikola Vucevic to a win over LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets. Chicago shot a season-high 59.6% from the field and had five players score in double figures. Vucevic had a season-best 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points, and Zach LaVine, a game-time decision because of an illness, finished with 25. With patriarch LaVar Ball watching and wearing a black hat that read “I Told You So,” Lonzo Ball improved to 2-1 in three NBA meetings with the youngest of his two brothers. He had 16 points and eight assists,
UB MINGOES TRACK & FIELD KICKS OFF SEASON WITH ANNUAL TIME TRIAL AT TAR STADIUM THE University of The Bahamas track and field team unofficially kicked off the season with its annual time trial yesterday at The Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Runners for the UB Mingoes team participated in trials in the 60 metres, 60m hurdles, 150m, 350m and 600m distances early Monday morning with the dew still in the air and the sun just coming up. Head coach Ednal Rolle said he felt great about the team’s performance considering the many challenges the team has been facing as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. “After such a long time without competing because of the pandemic and just getting back into competing on the collegiate scene I am pleased with the time the athletes are turning in,” Rolle said. “This shows us that most of them are ahead of where they were during the pandemic. This makes me very excited about the upcoming season.” With the long layoff because of the pandemic he says team members need to get more comfortable with each other to build team spirit. “I think the team needs some more camaraderie because we have not
been able to practice as much as we would like to have as a team,” he said. Being in a virtual world has impacted the team’s concentration as well Rolle said. “I also need them to get more focused for the upcoming season. Sometimes they allow their lifestyle to interfere with their training and their school work and now it’s just a matter of getting that focus back.” UB quarter-miler Donya Roberts ran the 60m and 350m events as a way to get himself ready for the 400 and he said he felt good on the track. “I feel really confident,” he said. “I was working on my speed and this is really helping me in that aspect of my race. Hopefully, I keep progressing and can get a faster pace in the 400 metre event.” The Mingoes expect to open the season locally at the T-Bird Flyers meet, scheduled for January 14-15, 2022 at The Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. Abroad, the team is looking forward to The University of Miami Hurricane Invitational on March 12, 2022 in Coral Gables, Florida.
and LaMelo Ball had 18 points and 13 assists.Terry Rozier scored 31 points for the Hornets. Charlotte trimmed a 23-point deficit to four with 7:31 left, but Chicago responded with a 9-0 run. 76ERS 101, MAGIC 96 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Seth Curry scored 24 points, Tobias Harris had 17 and Philadelphia needed free throws in the final minute to beat Orlando. Magic (4-18) showed grit in a fiery second half and rallied from 16 down to tie it 93-all on Mo Bamba’s dunk with 57 seconds left. Sixers just hung on from the line. Ty Maxey made two for the lead, Joel Embiid hit 3 of 4 and Maxey added two more to help the Sixers avoid an embarrassing defeat. Embiid scored 16 points on 4-for16 shooting. Franz Wagner led the Magic with 27 points.
DAVIA McKinney in 600m.
SIERRA Sears leads the pack in the 600m.
KENDRICK THOMPSON, UB multi-event specialist, competes in the 350 metre event during the Mingoes Time Trial yesterday at The Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Thompson also competed in the 60m hurdles event. Photos courtesy of UB Athletics
WASHINGTON BEATS WILSON, SEAHAWKS 17-15 FOR 3RD WIN IN A ROW LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Kendall Fuller intercepted Russell Wilson’s pass on a last-minute 2-point conversion attempt, and Washington held on to beat the Seattle Seahawks 17-15 last night for the team’s third consecutive victory. Wilson led the Seahawks on a 10-play, 96-yard touchdown drive in the final three minutes. He connected with Freddy Swain on a 32-yard TD pass with 15 seconds left but came up just short of leading a memorable comeback on his 33rd birthday. Washington (5-6) moved into the final NFC wild-card spot with the win.
DUKE JUMPS TO NO. 1 IN RESHUFFLED AP TOP 25, PURDUE TO NO. 2 By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer MIKE Krzyzewski’s final team at Duke has reached a familiar milestone: No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. The Blue Devils jumped four spots to the top of yesterday’s poll following a win against Gonzaga that knocked the Bulldogs from the top spot. That adds to a record haul of top rankings both for the Duke programme and for Krzyzewski, who is set to retire after the season. This is the 127th week at No. 1 for Krzyzewski and the 145th for the Blue Devils, ahead of the late John Wooden (121) and UCLA (134). The Blue Devils are No. 1 for the first time since spending two weeks there in November 2019, and it comes after a tumultuous season amid the pandemic that saw the programme fail to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995. Duke (7-0) reloaded with a top-tier recruiting class featuring 6-foot-10 star Paolo Banchero and is back among the nation’s elite. When the Blue Devils visit Ohio State today in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, it will mark Duke’s 255th game as a top-ranked team under Krzyzewski compared with 161 games as an unranked team. “It’s not about me, it’s about us,” Krzyzewski said after Friday night’s win against Gonzaga in Las Vegas. “This is our moment together, not my moment.” THE TOP TIER No. 2 Purdue earned nine first-place votes and moved up a spot behind Duke in a reshuffled poll that saw no team hold its spot from the previous week and three new teams join the rankings. It is the Boilermakers’ highest ranking since last reaching No. 2 late in the 1987-88 season. Gonzaga fell to third, while reigning national champion Baylor rose two spots to No. 4 after winning the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. UCLA fell three spots to No. 5 after a 20-point loss to Gonzaga last week, while Villanova, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky and Arkansas round out the top 10. RISING Florida made the week’s biggest jump by climbing nine spots to No. 14 after beating California, Ohio State and Troy last week. No. 11 Arizona and No. 12 BYU each rose six spots, with the Wildcats making a rapid climb under first-year coach Tommy Lloyd after making their poll debut only a week ago. No. 17 UConn also made a significant jump of five spots after finishing third at the Battle 4 Atlantis, which included a wild, 115109 double-overtime win against a ranked Auburn team.
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Tuesday, November 30, 2021, PAGE 15
ACC, BIG TEN, PAC-12 LAUNCH MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE By RALPH D RUSSO AP College Sports Writer
McPhee-McCuin, Rebels win Raising the BAR Invitational By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net YOLETT McPheeMcCuin has led Ole Miss Rebels to a six-game winning streak and their first in-season tournament since 2014. The Rebels claimed the BAR Invitational title with a 64-45 win over the California Golden Bears Saturday at Haas Pavilion in Berkley, California. Ole Miss improved to 6-1 with their first win over a power five opponent this season. It was the first loss of the season for California who fell to 5-1. Defensively, they limited the Bears to just 23 percent shooting from the field and 11 percent from threepoint range. It was the fourth time this season the Rebels limited opponents to less than 50 points. In the first round of the event, the Rebels defeated San Diego State 62-48. The Golden Bears defeated
Furman 82-73 in the first round. According to the organisation, the Raising the BAR, powered by Cal, hopes to “elevate the voices, stories and people in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging space.” The acronym BAR stands for Basketball, Activism and Representation. After a loss to Belmont in the home opener, the Rebels have reeled off their most wins in the month of November since 2017 and picked up its first in-season tournament title since winning the Nugget Classic in 2014. “I was very nervous that was our first game, that kind of test out the gate. That’s on me but I needed to see where we were so we know where to go,” McPhee-McCuin said after the loss to Belmont. “I needed us to have this type of film and be tested the way that we could. Easily I could have
HEAD coaches of participating teams in Cal’s Raising The B.A.R. Invitational (l-r): Yolett McPheeMcCuin (Ole Miss), Jackie Carson (Furman), Charmin Smith (Cal), and Stacie Terry-Hutson (San Diego State) started off with another Ole Miss was also picked “They’re competing type of opponent, but this to finish eighth in the SEC really hard. We’re excited. was intentional because we Preseason Media Poll, We have high expectawant to be an NCAA Tour- its best in that poll since tions. We’ll be ready to nament team.” 2015-16. compete... The Rebels were listed at “We’re deep in a lot of “This year is going to No.6 in the SEC Preseason positions. We have a lot of show that we’re going to be Coaches Poll, the highest experience. I couldn’t tell around for a long time.” projection in programme you who our starting five The Rebels will look to history since the confer- would be today,” McPhee- extend their win streak to ence began the practice in McCuin said following the seven when they host New 2007-08. team’s first practice, Orleans.
THE Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten and Pac-12 launched an initiative yesterday to raise awareness of the importance of mental health as part of their conference alliance announced earlier this year. Teammates for Mental Health will be unveiled this week during basketball games involving the three conferences, including the ACC/Big Ten women’s and men’s challenges. The centrepiece will be a public service announcement that will air throughout the 28 games being played from November 29 to December 2. The PSA includes men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) and Wayne Tinkle (Oregon State), Maryland women’s coach Brenda Frese and others, and it will air on ESPN, the ACC Network, the Big Ten network and the Pac-12 Network. The initiative will also include in-arena signage and lapel pins for coaches to wear during games. The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 announced in the summer the conferences were forming an alliance to work together on scheduling, plus off-field issues like the future of NCAA governance and athlete welfare. “When the Alliance was formed back in August, you know, people paid a lot of attention to the schedule pieces. And Kevin and I and George have been emphatic that that is a component of it, but you also have major issues from an NCAA standpoint and the future college athletics,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said. “But at the core of it for us is really the student athlete experience.”
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021
NBA, Page 14
TIGER’S HERO WORLD CHALLENGE TO ROCK ALBANY GOLF COURSE By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
Canada ‘shot the lights out the gym’ By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
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nother dominant performance from Canada left the Bahamas senior men’s national basketball team winless in the first window of the FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers. Canada took a decisive 113-77 win in the second game of the neutral site back-to-back in Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic. David Nesbitt led The Bahamas with 18 points, Travis Munnings had 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Mychel Thompson and Dominick Bridgewater each finished with 12 points. “Tough to say too much when you lose the game by this many points. With Canada you are playing against EuroLeague players, ex-NBA players so you know you are playing an uphill battle because they
are very talented,” Nesbitt said. “They shot the lights out the gym. We tried to take it to them at a fast pace to wear them down but they did a good job against that.” Canada led wire to wire and was again efficient from long distance, 21-42 on three pointers while The Bahamas was just 8-30. “They played two great games, we had a game plan and executed it, we just ran out of gas,” head coach Moses Johnson said. “We know it would be tough with two days of practice getting guys to try to come in and synergise over such a short period while those guys have been together for some time, but I’m proud of the guys’ effort. They never quit even with adversity, they came here and represented the country well.” Kyle Wiltjer led six Canadians in double figures with 25 points.
Senior men’s national basketball team winless in first window of FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers Kassius Robertson scored 15, Phil Scrubb scored 13, Kenny Cherry scored 11 and Thomas Scrubb added 10. “We knew they were going to come out and play tough after the first game,” Phil Scrubb said. “They gave us a good run in the first half especially but I think we responded really well with a good team effort.” Canada took game one 115-73. Bridgewater led the Bahamas with 13 points, Nesbitt scored 12, Thompson scored 11 and JR Cadot finished with nine. Group C also includes The Dominican Republic and The US Virgin Islands.
Canada and the DR are 2-0 while The Bahamas and USVI are 0-2. In the 2nd window, The Bahamas will face The USVI on February 24, 2022, and The Dominican Republic on February 27, 2022. In the 3rd and final window, The Bahamas will have its second matchup against The USVI on July 1, 2022, and will conclude with the second matchup against Dominican Republic on July 4, 2022. Sixteen teams will compete in the Americas region, vying for seven spots. The top three teams from each group will qualify for the second round of qualifiers.
In the second round, the 12 teams that qualified will be divided into two groups of six. Subsequently, the three best teams from each group, and the fourthplaced team will qualify to the World Cup. The FIBA World Cup 2023 will take place August 25 to September 10 in multiple countries for the first time - Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines. A total of 80 countries are left vying to be among the 32 teams at the 2023 World Cup. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will qualify teams directly for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games or through 4 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Prince Strachan’s 52-yard TD reception on ‘You Got Mossed’ By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
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rince Strachan concluded his high school football career with a play that garnered national recognition by the worldwide leader in sports. Strachan’s 52-yard touchdown reception against Champagnat Catholic in Saturday night’s Florida High School Athletic Association playoff game was featured on the “You Got Mossed” segment of ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” on November 27. The 6’4” Strachan, outleapt a defender on a deep pass near the sidelines and outraced and completed the play with 20 yards after the catch for the go ahead score. Strachan’s John Carroll Catholic Golden Rams saw their season conclude with a 38-28 loss to the 2-time defending state champion Lions in FHSAA Region 4-2A title game. The Rams finished their season 7-3 and played in
a regional final for the second consecutive season. During this season’s playoff run, the Rams opened the playoffs with a 41-20 win over the No.4 seed True North Classical Academy Titans. Strachan finished with two receptions for 43 yards. The Rams defeated another higher ranked opponent with a dominant 35-0 shutout over the No.1 seed Avant Garde Academy Sharks. Strachan finished with two receptions for 65 yards and one touchdown. On the season, Strachan finished with 33 receptions for 773 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, all team leads. He also averaged 21.8 yards per catch and 80.1 receiving yards per game in nine contests. His varsity high school career concluded with 70 receptions for over 1,400 yards and 26 touchdowns. Last season he finished with a team-leading 33 receptions for 633 yards and eight touchdowns last year. His yardage and touchdown totals were second on the team.
PRINCE Strachan’s 52-yard touchdown reception against Champagnat Catholic in Saturday night’s Florida High School Athletic Association playoff game was featured on “You Got Mossed” segment of ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” on November 27.
He also averaged 18.6 yards per catch and 57.5 receiving yards per game in 11 contests. In last year’s playoff run, Strachan had key contributions in both playoff wins. He finished with four receptions for 62 yards and one touchdown in a 33-27 win over First Academy in the opening round and followed with three catches for 75 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown in a 48-13 win over Holy Trinity Tigers in the semifinals. Strachan was named to the ESPN West Palm Top 63 List for the class of 2021 which traditionally highlights the top players in the West Palm Beach and Treasure Coast area in Florida. Strachan has picked up several offers thus far from Charleston Golden Eagles, Lenoir Rhyne, St Thomas, and Notre Dame College and has also drawn interest from the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Prince is the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts receiver, Mike Strachan, who was selected in the seventh round of April’s NFL Draft.
THE Hero World Challenge is still days away from an official tee-off, but the professional golf world will be fixated on the Albany Golf Course today. Tournament host and golf icon Tiger Woods will make a much anticipated address to the media at a press conference for the first time since his harrowing car accident last February. The general public had an opportunity to see Woods for the first time since the aforementioned accident when he posted a video to his Instagram just over a week ago. The brief video showed Woods in a return to the golf course taking a swing and captioned “Making Process.” The Hero World Challenge returns to The Bahamas after the 2020 edition was cancelled due to COVID-19. The four-round, 72-hole stroke play event features $3.5 million purse, a $1 million winner’s prize and Official World Golf Ranking points awarded. It now features 20 of the top golfers on the PGA Tour after the field was expanded from its traditional 18. The schedule of events will begin with the pre tournament Pro-Am on Wednesday, December 1. The main event tees off Thursday and concludes on December 5. Collin Morikawa, winner of the 2020 PGA
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WOODS SAYS A RETURN TO THE TOP NOT A ‘REALISTIC EXPECTATION’ By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Tiger Woods says he expects to play golf again, just not very often, and he doesn’t see himself reaching the top of the sport again because “I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me.” He says he can see himself picking certain tournaments to play, but not a full-time schedule. His extensive video interview with Golf Digest, with whom he has a financial relationship, was published yesterday ahead of his first press conference since his right leg was badly damaged in a February 23 car crash in the Los Angeles suburbs. Woods is the tournament host of the Hero World Challenge. The 15-time major champion raised hopes of another comeback when Woods posted a three-second video hitting a short iron with the message, “Making progress.” He didn’t make it sound as though a return was around the corner. “I have so far to go,” he said. “I’m not even at the halfway point. I have so much more muscle development and nerve development that I have to
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