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BRAVE’S ‘NEW DAY’ FOR ALL WORKERS By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
Mr Davis said the execution of the memorandum of understanding signifies PRIME Minister Philip the government’s commit“Brave” Davis has revealed ment to social dialogue and the government has final- “our steadfast desire to work with our ised its national social partners policy on in national labour relations development”. which includes He restated a comprehenhis administrasive review of tion supports the Minimum “organised Wage Act and as an increase in PRIME Minister Philip labour” through this the national “Brave” Davis yesterday. “we minimum wage. Photo: Racardo Thomas/ vehicle could best Speaking at Tribune Staff achieve what the Internais best for the tional Labour Organisation’s (ILO) common good”. “I’m extremely pleased to launch and signing of the Decent Work Country advise that my government, SEE PAGE THREE Programme yesterday,
$200M PLAN TO BRING COTTON BAY TO LIFE By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
COTTON Bay Holdings Limited will partner with the Ritz Carlton Reserve brand in a $200m project in South Eleuthera that will employ 300 people during construction and 200 people during operation, according to officials. A new Heads of Agreement for the project was signed at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday. The project will feature 60 villas and about 90 rooms, according to Daniel Zuleta, a representative
of Cotton Bay Holdings. The project will involve the redevelopment of properties in Eleuthera and will be completed within 48 months, Mr Zuleta said. Minister of Tourism and Investments Chester Cooper said: “This is an important occasion for the people of South Eleuthera. We anticipate that this project will do wonders for the economy, the landscape of Eleuthera and, of course, the people of Eleuthera in terms of not just jobs but potential entrepreneurial opportunities.” SEE PAGE FIVE
FACE TO FACE: TWO WOMEN WITH A VISION TO HELP BUSINESSES GROW
- SEE PAGE EIGHT
ANXIETY FOR HOTELS OVER MANDATORY PCR TESTS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Government was yesterday urged to avoid “knee jerk reactions” to new COVID variants amid fears “across-the-board” PCR testing could undermine their Christmas trade. Benjamin Simmons, of the The Other Side and Ocean View properties in Harbour Island/Eleuthera, said returning to a policy of requiring PCR tests for both vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists “would definitely discourage a large volume of our guests”. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
BAZAAR BLAZES AGAIN
‘TOBY MUST BE GIVEN ALL THE HELP NEEDED’
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
FLAMES rising from the International Bazaar yesterday after another fire at the venue in Grand Bahama. A blaze last month resulted in the destruction of a dilapidated commercial building at the location. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
BELLA’S FATHER TO LAY HER TO REST By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A SUPREME Court judge yesterday ruled in favour of murdered toddler D’onya Bella Walker’s father concerning custody of the four-year-old’s body, ending a week-long court battle with the child’s maternal relatives over the issue. Bella, four, died last month after sustaining
BELLA WALKER several injuries which police said were caused by blunt
force trauma. Her mother, Ostonya Walker, has since been charged with child cruelty in connection with the incident while her boyfriend has been charged with murder. Since Bella’s death, her maternal and paternal relatives have been embroiled in a legal battle as to who has the right to bury the four-year old’s remains. The legal fight was initiated by the maternal relatives. SEE PAGE THREE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis urged his investments chief to give Bahamian entrepreneur Toby Smith “all the assistance necessary” to ensure his success in emails seen by Tribune Business - only to snub him 12 months later for Royal Caribbean. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
PETER YOUNG: STAY CALM AND CARRY ON - BUT PLANS MAY HAVE TO CHANGE
- SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Tuesday, December 7, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 7, 2021, PAGE 3
THE NATIONAL Tripartite Council ceremony yesterday.
Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
Brave’s ‘New Day’ for all workers from page one pursuant to the National Tripartite Council, has finalised its national policy on national and labour relations. This historic policy includes the adoption of The Bahamas Decent Work Country Programme 2021... the adoption of a national child labour policy, a ratification of ILO convention 159 regarding vocational, rehabilitation and employment for disabled persons,
LABOUR Minister Keith Bell.
establishment of a National Productivity Council, enactment of legislation to establish a liveable wage and a comprehensive review of the Minimum Wage Act and an increase in a national minimum wage. “And, of course, we intend to amend the laws to cause the Industrial Tribunal to ensure that their decisions are more efficiently enforced.” Labour Minister Keith Bell noted previously outside of Cabinet that a
reasonable “workable” wage for Bahamian workers is “coming very soon”. He said: “We had a meeting with the unions this morning and the... Prime Minister addressed the unions directly and indicated that this is a government which has heard their concerns, their issues and at this morning’s meeting at Cabinet we intend to address a number of those matters. I cannot speak too much about it because I don’t
want to pre-empt anything the Prime Minister would want to address today.” The Progressive Liberal Party’s ten-point plan in its Blueprint for Change includes a promise of a reduction of VAT and the recommendation to the National Tripartite Council that it move towards a minimum wage of $250 per week. The party’s leaders previously said in March they will reduce Value Added Tax to ten percent for one year as part of an economic plan.
BELLA’S FATHER TO LAY HER TO REST from page one
Bella’s maternal family was represented by Bjorn Ferguson, while the paternal family was represented by Maria Daxon. In his ruling yesterday, Justice Loren Klein sided with Bella’s father Deno Alexander Smith Jr, entrusting her remains into his care so he could determine where and how she should be buried. Justice Klein said he came to the decision after taking several matters into consideration, including Bella’s relationship with both sides of the family and the burial wishes of each respective family. He said based on the evidence submitted, it was clear that the four-year-old had spent most of her childhood with paternal relatives in Grand Bahama before her death. “The evidence is overwhelming as to where Baby Bella had the closest connections during her life, both temporally, geographically, and in terms of relationships. “Although there are some minor disputes and, on this point, I prefer the defendant’s evidence, it would appear that Baby Bella spent roughly two months and three weeks out of the four years of her tragically short life in Nassau,” Justice Klein said yesterday. “Even accepting the evidence of the mother, at most the period would’ve been six months. In fact,
counsel for the defendant pointed out to the court that none of the affidavits filed on behalf of the plaintiff was able to speak to any significant time spent with Baby Bella, over which any relationships or bonds were formed for reasons that appear obvious.” The judge also told the court that while he had no doubt that both families were sincere in their wishes relating to Bella’s burial, he noted that he had preferred the plans expressed by Bella’s paternal family members. “The mother wishes a private ceremony in New Providence, with both sides of the family in attendance, and would like the child buried with a night light. Incidentally, no reason has been proffered as to why a private funeral is desired, and this also seems to be a unilateral decision,” he said. “On the other hand, the paternal family would like the child to be funeralised in a church which she attended and buried in the community where she grew up among family and supposedly friends. There is also no suggestion that the funeral if held in Grand Bahama would be private, and it would be surprising if there would not be persons from the community who would wish to pay final respects to Baby Bella, considering how the tragedy has captured the public imagination. “I must say that with respect to the
THREE HURT IN SUNDAY SHOOTINGS THREE people, including two women, were shot in two separate incidents on Sunday. Police said shortly before 9am, officers were called to a shooting incident that took place on Polhemus Street. Responding officers were told that a man was shot in the face by an unknown male who fled the scene on foot. The victim was transported to the hospital via a private vehicle and is listed in serious condition.
The second incident took place around 9.20pm. Police were told that two women were shot while on Peter Street. Officers responded and met two women suffering from apparent gunshot injuries. One of the women was shot to her stomach and the other to her upper right thigh. Both victims were transported to the hospital and are listed in stable condition. Both matters are under investigation.
reasonable wishes of the surviving family, I would have to prefer those expressed by the paternal family.” During the case, maternal relatives had argued that Bella’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. They also insisted that Bella’s biological mother had sole custody of her since her father never signed her birth register. However, Justice Klein countered that although the father was not
registered on Bella’s birth certificate, it didn’t appear that his paternity was ever in dispute. Taking all these matters into consideration, Justice Klein said he was of the view that Bella’s father made out a more “cogent and compelling” case. He also sought to assure the court that Bella’s mother’s criminal charges did not influence his judgment in the case. He said: “Having regard to all the circumstances of this case and for the reasons that have been given, I would order that Serenity Funeral Home
and Crematorium shall be entitled to act on the instructions of the defendant Deno Smith Jr for the purposes of making funeral arrangements and for burial of the deceased D’onya Bella Walker, and shall release her body to him for that purpose. “As indicated, I do not propose (and it would be improper) to micromanage the specific details of Baby Bella’s final arrangements by condescending to time, place and manner of burial. Her remains are being entrusted to her father for burial, which the court hopes and
expects will be carried out generally in the manner indicated.” Justice Klein added that it was his hope that the maternal relatives also be included in the funeral arrangements, noting they too are entitled to say their goodbyes in a respectful and dignified manner. “During the hearing before me, the idea of a suitable memorial being conducted in Nassau prior to her final interment in Grand Bahama was mooted as a possible compromise, but that is a matter for the parties,” he concluded.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, December 7, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Halkitis: We must stay vigilant over finances By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
WITH the new Omicron variant continuing to spread in neighbouring countries, Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said The Bahamas must remain vigilant and practice discipline to sustain the improving fiscal picture. According to reports, the variant has been identified in at least 17 US states and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is predicting a likely increase of new infections. “Signs are pointing to an improving economy and we are hopeful,” Senator Halkitis said in the upper chamber yesterday during debate on the 2021/2022 supplemental budget. “We remain cautiously optimistic that we have seen the worst of the pandemic but we know that we must remain vigilant in our health precautions and disciplined in our fiscal management because as Omicron has shown us, we are not out of the woods as yet. “Omicron has showed us that with its appearance and the reaction to it, and I smile, because the reaction has been very acute and possibly hysterical. “But even in that hysterical reaction there are implications to the economy and so we must be careful. We’re not out of
MINISTER of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis. the woods.” The minister said the government was also changing its fiscal targets to ensure improvement of stability to the fiscal house. “The government is targeting potential real economic growth of at least
three percent per year for the next five years, rather than the low growth rate previously experienced for decades of roughly 1.5 percent per year. This growth level would result in lower levels of unemployment and higher revenues for the
Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff government. “The government plans to boost capital expenditure to 3.5 percent of GDP on an ongoing basis as one of the key initiatives to underpin and enhance the potential growth of economic activity. The
government will prioritise both direct investment in public infrastructure and greater reliance on economically and fiscally sensible public-private partnerships.” In addition officials are also forecasting an increase
of recurrent revenue. “The aforementioned fiscal targets are expected to positively affect the deficit over the medium term. Based on initial estimates for the remainder of the (fiscal year) 2021/22, recurrent revenue is expected to increase by $92m to $2,336.5m, due to increased immigration fee revenue, the proceeds of the real property tax amnesty and upticks in domestic activity ahead of original projections. “Recurrent expenditure is expected to increase by $53.3m to $2,879.2m as compared to the original budget estimates given the reallocation across ministries and increases in hardship support and social benefit allocations and provision for settling arrears in back pay and gratuities as previously mentioned. “Capital expenditure will fall by $54.2m to stand at $316.2m as PPPs and other forms of financing are pursued and budget provision for capital projects are aligned with the execution schedule.” As a result, Mr Halkitis said the deficit is expected to improve to $858.9m for 2021/2022 compared with $951.8m in the original budget estimations. In turn, the deficit as a percentage of GDP will decrease to 7.4 percent versus 8.2 percent as stated in the original estimates.
COOPER OPTIMISTIC OMICRON WON’T HURT TOURISM By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net TOURISM and Investments Minister Chester Cooper said officials are cautiously optimistic the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron, will not significantly affect the tourism industry and investments. His comment came during a Heads of
Agreement signing for the Cotton Bay project in South Eleuthera. Mr Cooper said since coming to office, the Davis administration has seen robust interest in investments. Asked about COVID-19’s impact on those potential projects, he said: “We do not live in a vacuum on these issues. We haven’t yet seen any
new cases of this new variant in The Bahamas, but we know it’s a matter of time. We see some changes in the international travel policy. The United States, they’ve implemented new travel requirements, shortening the period of time that a test is valid for example. We think that we can manage this effectively. We have enhanced our protocols
Funeral Service For Jeffrey Jerome Johnson, 56
a resident of #72 Palm Beach Street will be held at 11am on Thursday, 9th December, 2021 at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Wulff & Baillou Hill Roads. Officiating will be Reverend Father Roderick Bain assisted by Reverend Father Christopher Higgs. Cremation will follow.
He is survived by his brother: Marvin Roy Johnson; aunt: Susan Hunt; his loving godmother: Patricia Thomas; nieces: Secara, Aries, Kaliah and Marva Johnson, Telanna and (Adrian) Newbold, Oranique Rolle, Tenae Brice; nephews: Duran, Marvin, and Kipral Johnson, Giovano Bowe, Whitney Brice Jr., Kurt Stubbs Jr., Terrance Strachan Jr., Robert Cartwright; 8 grand-nieces; 5 grandnephews; special siblings: Karen Curtis, Rhonda (Terrance) Strachan, Marcia Moss, Kurt Stubbs, Gia Davis, Zoe Saunders; childhood friends: Robert Munroe, Christopher Wright, Donald Miller, Lionel Rolle, Donald Deveaux Lenny, Gregory, and John Wilson; other relatives and friends including: Mrs. Maxine Wright and Family, Daphane Davis and Family (Care Giver), Diana Johnson and family, Carol Moss and Family, Grace Douglas and Family; Whitney Brice Sr., St Barnabas Church Family, Romel Cargill, Sidney Cartwright and Family; Shirley Clarke and Family, The Munroe Family, The Rumcay community, Joi Strachan (Miami, Fla.) Karen Bullard Jordan (James) (Miami, Fla). Shirley Adderley and Family, The Wilson family, The Neely Family, Leafred Mackey Sr., Leafred Mackey Jr., Wellington Pinder and Family, Valentino Josey and Family, Christopher Gibson and Family, Sandra Cartwright, Elaine Simmons (Fla.), Kathy and Lisa Devaux and Family, Bianca Harvey Joseph and family, the Engerston community, and many others too numerous to mention. Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Cedar Crest Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd, Robinson and Baillou Hill Roads on Wednesday, from 12noon to 5pm.
and we are working along with our testing partners to ensure that testing is readily available in all of our main island destinations. “It is important that we move and transition with the times. We are concerned that if there is a quarantine required on return to the United States that might be harmful to our industry and harmful to
our advancement in terms of our rebound, but so far it appears, and I’m not a health expert, but so far it appears that this variant is no more dangerous than the Delta variant based on the results over the past two weeks. We are cautiously optimistic. We have been through this before. We have managed it effectively. The professionals
at the Ministry of Tourism are speaking actively with the professionals at the Ministry of Health and we are ready to face whatever challenge might come.” Last month, Tourism Director General Joy Jibrilu said projections for the first and second quarter of 2022 are strong despite recent surges in COVID-19 cases in key markets.
ALFRED Sears with members of the Town Planning Committee. Photo: Tanya Smith-Cartwright/Tribune Staff
TOWN PLANNERS ‘TO TACKLE BACKLOG’ By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY Keenan Johnson, the newly appointed chairman of the Town Planning Committee, said his team is ready to tackle the department’s backlog, which is priority when the work commences. Mr Johnson was announced chairman, along with the rest of the committee’s members, by Minister of Public Works and Utilities Alfred Sears yesterday at the Ministry of Works. The appointment of this committee is the third in a series of board and committee appointments being carried out at the Ministry of Works since last week. Prior to this committee, the boards of Water and Sewerage Corporation and the Beach and Parks Authority were named last week by the Minister of Works. “Listening to everyone’s bio, I couldn’t help but have a great level of confidence and comfort in my ability to execute this role given the diverse backgrounds — engineers, accountants, construction experts and legal,” said Mr Johnson.
“I want to give you a level of confidence, minister, that we are up for the task and we will do what is necessary. Minister alluded to the fact that this Town Planning Committee is directly linked to the ongoing development of this country. “So we know that we have a great task at hand. This administration itself has always placed a focus on the ease of doing business and we think that this committee is also a focal point in ensuring that that actually happens.” Mr Johnson noted several times that his committee was up for the job and ready to commence duties. He indicated that the work will start after he and committee members receive a briefing from the Director of Town Planning. “We are ready to get to work,” he said. “We are ready to roll up our sleeves. We know that there’s a lot to be done and that is going to start today. “The first thing we will do is have a briefing with the director. We are going to sit down with the director. Once we have that briefing, we are going to meet. “It is our intention to meet within the next week. We know that there is a lot
to be done and so as soon as we have that briefing we are going to schedule our meeting. “We are going, as best as possible, to address any backlog that we may have. I think that is the key priority right now.” Naming the committee, Mr Sears laid out its main function. “The function of the committee is critical because it is the gateway for the development of the built environment of The Bahamas,” Mr Sears said. “It is to ensure that structures which are built are in compliance before the sanction is given, at least preliminarily to the building code and other building requirements. “It is in essence the gateway and as we seek to ensure that our built environment is sustainable, resilient, given the challenges that we face in a hurricane zone.” Besides Mr Johnson, the other members of the board are: certified public accountant Aaron Jones; businessman Ralph Hanna; civil engineer Author Jones; civil engineer Rev Denzil Rolle; attorney Glenda Roker and Pierre Charlow.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 7, 2021, PAGE 5
THE HEADS of Agreement ceremony as Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper are pictured with Cotton Bay executives.
Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
$200m plan to bring Cotton Bay to life
from page one
Cotton Bay officials have been trying to secure the project forward for years, with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis saying the journey to yesterday had been arduous. “As you know times (have) changed,” Mr Cooper said when asked about why the journey took so long. “The development has gone through a period of metamorphosis. As you would recall we indicated earlier that the first signing was done under the Christie administration. “We look to the future. We are confident that the investors and their partners are now ready to proceed and we are confident that this time is the charm. We do not want to spend too much time reflecting on the past. We
do know that the environment now is ripe for investments. We do know that the people of South Eleuthera are embracing this project. We wanted to ensure harmonious development with the people of South Eleuthera, ensuring there was beach access, for instance opportunity for Bahamians…” Officials did not release the Heads of Agreement to the press and it is not clear when or whether the document will be made available to the public. Mr Cooper, nonetheless, said the government has created a new compliance unit to ensure compliance with agreements. He said he believes the Cotton Bay agreement will empower locals. “One of the things we’re going to be doing in Bahamas Invest is to implement a compliance unit to really
look at all the Heads of Agreements that we have signed previously to ensure that there has been compliance with all of the terms and agreements,” he said. “As we move forward that same unit will look at the new Heads of Agreements to really ensure that we are all living up to our obligations. In all of our Heads of Agreement over successive generations, there is language to ensure that Bahamians benefit. We want to ensure that that continues. We want to ensure an equitable level of Bahamian employment versus work permits and we want to ensure there is an integration of the development into the community in terms of using local artisans, infusing art and culture, Bahamian entertainment as best as possible and causing there to be entrepreneurial advancement.”
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis watches as the document is signed.
PINDER SLAMS MINNIS FOR NOT HAVING SEEN IMF REPORT By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ admission that he did not see the International Monetary Fund’s report recommending a VAT increase to 15 percent was criticised yesterday as evidence that he was “not fit for the job” of leading the country. Attorney General Ryan Pinder chided the Killarney MP in the Senate, telling senators this was at its worst proof that the then-Prime Minister showed an “insatiable appetite” for power no matter the consequences to the country. Ahead of the upper chamber’s passing of the
2021/2022 supplementary budget, Mr Pinder echoed the position that due to the IMF’s recommendation, the former Minnis administration held a snap election because it was not prepared to take on a tax increase without getting a fresh mandate from the public. However, last week Dr Minnis said his administration did not consider raising the tax, adding that before losing office in September, he did not see the advice of the IMF that this was necessary. Mr Pinder accused Dr Minnis of being too busy campaigning to see the report. “The way they managed the VAT administration of this country would have
resulted in having to raise the rate again to 15 percent,” Mr Pinder said. “The former Prime Minister commissioned a report from the IMF to study the VAT regime of this country in response to how they were managing it with multiple exemptions and multiple in the zero-rating category. “That IMF report came back with a recommendation to raise the rate to 15 percent. “In any event, I agree personally with the Prime Minister of this country when he intimated in that other place that that IMF report – and the consequences of how they administered this VAT regime – caused them to call a snap election because
they weren’t prepared to take that burden on themselves before an election. They (the Minnis administration) needed a new mandate and in my opinion, it caused the snap election. “Not only is this shocking, but the political mischief of the member for Killarney when he said he had no sight of the IMF report.” Mr Pinder added: “This is the same Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas who commissioned the very same report (who) says he did not receive the report. He (Dr Minnis) did not see the report because he was too busy campaigning. “Not seeing the report that he commissioned is even worse than the bad
decision he made as Prime Minister. As such it is more and more clear that he was not fit for the job. “It can’t be good governance to say that the Prime Minister of a country can no longer govern and turn his attention to the matters of such important national interests as its tax regime because he was campaigning for an election in which his woeful administration got rolled out. “This is the height of political mischief and dishonesty and or ineptitude, you choose or even worse it’s an insatiable appetite for power no matter what the consequences are to the country.” The Minnis administration commissioned the report, but, according to Dr
Minnis, the IMF presented it in September as officials were preparing for the election. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said when his party assumed office, it saw the analysis from the IMF which noted if the government failed to adjust its VAT structure, VAT would have to be raised to 15 percent. Mr Davis said based on the report, it was his belief the Minnis administration was intent on raising VAT. Mr Davis was justifying his decision to put VAT back on breadbasket items during debate in the House of Assembly last week. The Davis administration plans to reduce VAT to 10 percent with few exemptions.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, December 7, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
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Can we pay for the promises? PROMISES, promises. Promises have been put on the table by the administration of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis – now let’s see if the government keeps them. Yesterday, Mr Davis said the government had finalised its national policy on labour relations. You may remember before the election a whole hullabaloo with the PLP having struck a deal with umbrella unions the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas and Trade Union Congress, only to find out later that many of the member unions hadn’t even seen what was signed up to. Well, yesterday, more promises included a review of the Minimum Wage Act and an increase in the national minimum wage. Previously, Labour Minister Keith Bell promised that a “workable” wage would be “coming very soon” and Mr Davis said that the new deal would include “enactment of legislation to establish a liveable wage”. It probably hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice that our economy is far from soaring right now. As much as there are encouraging signs with the resurgence of tourism, we still face the lingering costs of both the pandemic and Hurricane Dorian. The deficit is high, the debt is higher. In short, these promises will cost money – and there’s not a lot of that about. As a significant employer itself, many of these increased costs will fall directly onto government’s own shoulders. Budgets will have to accommodate more money in workers’ pockets for those liveable wages.
So let’s see where we are 12 months from now. A promise is easy to make, but can also be easy to break. The government believes its measures are affordable, it would seem, so let’s see how they make the dollars stretch. There are other things to come in this policy that we will be eager to see as well – a national child labour policy that we hope will ensure the protection of children, action on “rehabilitation and employment for disabled persons” that we hope will give opportunities to those too often denied. Over to you, Mr Davis. We eagerly await the outcome.
All change
Speaking of seeing how things turn out 12 months later, emails show that former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was apparently extremely keen for Bahamian entrepreneur Toby Smith to be given “all the assistance necessary” to ensure the success of his $2m Paradise Island Lighthouse and Beach Club project. The email, sent on January 22, 2019, read: “Kindly ensure Toby receives all the assistance necessary… He must be assisted to ensure success.” A year later, Mr Smith was seemingly snubbed in favour of Royal Caribbean. Mr Smith was first in the queue, but Royal Caribbean got the Crown Land lease grant. Mr Smith is in the middle of a court action over the matter – but how soon things can change in a year.
Republic talk EDITOR, The Tribune. INTERNATIONAL investors look for safe havens in which to place their funds and conduct business. Before our family began to invest in The Bahamas several years ago we were assured by your Investment Authority and Nassau lawyers that indeed The Bahamas was such a place. Foremost in our thinking and those of other Canadian investors whom we know was that you were, like Canada, a Constitutional Monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II and a local Governor-General and were thus stable and had impartial British style courts. We felt our investments were well protected. However, over the past few months we have felt very uneasy about events and signals coming from your Government officials. This has also created unease amongst other Canadians with whom we speak regularly. The news reports on
Canadian television and in the media a few months ago of your former Prime Minister arguing with the then Opposition MPs about who would take credit for removing The Queen’s portrait from your currency and not placing it on any new denomination banknote was very bad publicity here. We felt that this undermined all the statements from your Government departments. Now this week we have read that your Foreign Affairs Minister has stated that it is his quest working with new MP’s to work for a republic. This is very disturbing news. He had just returned from the Barbados republic ceremony. Many Canadian investors, including ourselves, have pulled our investments out of Barbados. The fact that the Barbados people were denied a referendum on whether they wanted a republic sent a bad signal about a government acting
in an arbitrary way. Also the fact that Communist China is becoming heavily involved in Barbados is quite worrisome. Very few investors want to get involved in failing and heavily indebted third world republics. We sincerely hope that the political leaders in The Bahamas will think very seriously before abolishing a system of government which not only brings prestige to your country, but assures overseas and local business people that they are in a country with a solid and proven foundation. Countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand have prospered over the years by maintaining the Westminster system and The Bahamas has been a valued partner. Let us hope common sense will prevail. PETER JACOBSEN Canada, December 5, 2021.
Postal problems EDITOR, The Tribune. IN A recent conversation with a friend, he mentioned that years ago one could mail a letter in Nassau and it would be received within a week! This bit of nostalgia is even more remarkable because this week I received a 2021 calendar that was post marked March 2021. Now we all know the saga of the General Post Office building that seemed to be in a state of disrepair for decades and how that affected the delivery of mail for more years than I want to recall. But apart from the unhealthy conditions
that postal employees had to work in, they seemed to muddle through while the higher ups felt no pressure to deal with the situation. If it had not been for the explosion of the internet and email, the country would have gone back into the dark ages. So that begs the question about the idea of building a permanent post office building that was floated by Transport and Housing Minister Jobeth ColebyDavis, why we would invest in a new post office building, when the government’s track record for maintenance is so poor, for a service that we have gotten
accustomed to not having? To make my point, was that fact that the post office had to spend thousands of dollars in newspaper advertising, rather than using their own postal system, to send out notices to the public that box rentals were due. To my mind it would make more sense to support the employees who provide this necessary service in a building whose maintenance bills the taxpayers do not have to foot, then pay for the building’s implosion after a few decades of use. JOANNE SMITH Nassau, December 4, 2021.
Open letter to university president EDITOR, The Tribune. BELOW is an open letter to Dr Rodney Smith, in response to his communication of October 26, to the University Community. Dear Dr Smith, I trust that this letter finds you well. I have decided to pen this as a concerned alumni. I would be remiss if I didn’t respond to your email dated October 26th, 2021. In your email to faculty, staff and the wider university community, you outlined some of the reasons why you are seeking an extension of your contract as President and CEO of UB. Let me remind you, that under your leadership as President and CEO the University was given an average of $30m per year by way of government subvention for the period 2014 - 2020 (a total of over $200m), however for the same period, under your leadership, the institution has failed to produce audited financial statements. Under your leadership as President and CEO enrollment has remained flat
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net year over year for the same period 2014 - 2020. Similarly, graduation numbers have remained the same year over year with 2020 showing a decline. During your presidency UB has experienced a loss in revenue streams (college prep) but at the same time has seen an increase in hiring and expenses year over year for the aforementioned period. Meanwhile, there has been no significant fund raising which is critical to the success of the institution. Additionally, there were significant project cost overruns in the millions of dollars specifically related to the Banner software implementation. UB has not yet achieved SACS accreditation because the institution does not have some of the key requirements to make an application, one of the main requirements being audited financial statements. Moreover, you were the champion of a board resolution which usurped the collective responsibility
and authority of the board to the executive committee during the majority of the COVID-19 crises, a time when organisations all around the world looked to their boards to guide them through uncharted waters. The crafting of this resolution was diabolical in my opinion and goes against the very essence of shared governance, the foundation upon which the UB Act was drafted. The true ramifications of this decision have yet to be revealed. Having said all that has been said above, how can you have the expectation that your contract should be extended by reasonable deliberations by a prudent jury of your peers concerned solely with national development and transparency. In my opinion you have failed the institution and by extension you have failed the people of The Bahamas. I wish you well in all of your future endeavours and hope that you enjoy your retirement years. RENO A W MILLER Concerned Alumni Nassau, December 5, 2021.
Auditor General praise EDITOR, The Tribune I HAVE total admiration of the Auditor General he is doing his Constitutional best to ensure Government and the governance of our finances are on the straight and narrow... he needs tripling of his staff or financial assistance where through his Office he may retain private sector Accountants to expedite a complete audit of Government in each fiscal year with no waiting... Minister of Finance if there is one thing we need is this. The Auditor General’s statement that civil servants are obstructing and otherwise his work must come with the strongest disciplinary action against those who are obstructing...don’t spare the proverbial cane, Mr Auditor. Civil Servants
if you have something to hide I suggest you admit and just leave. The J&J some 20,000 could expire late December — on scientific advice essentially from J&J and Astra Zeneca as to the health safety of using the 20,000 J&J vaccines as boosters or number three shot between now and December 31st. Remember the first tranche of the donated Astra coming from India was – 20,000. Hon Fred Mitchell’s comment as to what goes on a Tuesday to Cabinet is exceptionally valid... a senior PS once told me the average items on the Agenda was 160-200 items some, as Minister Mitchell confirmed, as silly as approving a flight to
Andros. For public’s interest only Ministry of Tourism and Ministry for Foreign Affairs handle their own money... the rest have to go through Cabinet, etc… On the new Covid deviant — publicly we must thank the authorities of South Africa for being so upstanding and globally responsible by making the news of their scientists discovering this new variant....yes, South Africa got tarred by this with blockades bans, etc... but the world community must praise South Africa.... one hopes other states will follow suit in a similar event unlike what occurred with the first strain of COVID. Kudos South Africa! MARCIA THOMPSON Nassau, December 2, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 7, 2021, PAGE 7
SCHOLARSHIP GIFT FROM FRATERNITY By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A GRAND Bahama student was awarded a $500 scholarship for winning the Kappa Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s annual essay competition. The winning student was Angel Percentie, of Bishop Michael Eldon High School. NT Knowles, chapter president, said Angel is the recipient of the $500 Najee Culmer Scholarship Award, named in honour of a member of their local chapter who had died. He said the chapter hosts an essay competition annually during Achievement Week, which is a nationally mandated programme implemented by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. There were 11 entrants this year. Mr Knowles said the
winner from each chapter competes in a district competition where all district winners compete, and an international winner is selected. “For us in Grand Bahama, she was the winner for our chapter, and she has the opportunity, if she wins the district level, to win an additional $500,” he said. According to Mr Knowles, at the national level the scholarship awards for first place is $5,000; $3,000 for second place; $2,000 for third place; and $1,000 for fourth place. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity observed its Founder’s Day on November 17. The fraternity was founded on the campus of Howard University on November 17, 1911, by four young men. Mr Knowles said Achievement Week is held during the week of Founder’s Day.
OMEGA Psi Phi Fraternity Inc Kappa Lambda Lambda Chapter in Freeport awarded Angel Percentie, a student at Bishop Michael Eldon High School, a scholarship for winning its annual essay competition. From left, NT Knowles, chapter president, Angel Percentie, and Remmington Wilchcombe, keeper of records and seal. “We want to bring more with the topic due to my themselves about current students. “I feel it is a very awareness to the Achieve- prior job experiences over topics and the chance to good initiative because ment Week programme the summer and later as a win scholarships.” every little help counts, for Omega Psi Phi and our freelance beta reader for Shakaba Hudson, 16, and I am happy that it is an founders. We want to link international clients,” she and Clinique Robinson, annual thing,” she added. it to the fact that we have said. also of BMEHS, were also As part of Achievement a commitment towards She gained a lot of global among the entrants. Week, Mr Knowles added scholarship and emphasise exposure and worked “When I read the topic, the fraternity also pushed the essay competition,” he with customers in Japan, it intrigued me and it some of their health initiastated. Africa, and elsewhere, encouraged me to think tives, partnering with the Angel, a 12-grade stu- which she incorporated in about the reasons why Grand Bahama Health dent at BMEHS, was her essay. young people should shift Services with diabetes surprised when she “I was surprised when their mindset toward self- screenings. learned she won the essay I got the call that I had employment,” Shakaba The fraternity’s next competition. won,” she said. “I think said. main social action initiative “I decided to compete it is great that Omega Psi She said the scholarships is their youth mentorship in the essay competition Phi is giving young people awarded by the fraternity programme for young men because I was familiar an opportunity to express are very beneficial for in January 2022.
AG says locations reviewed for use as specialist courts By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder said officials are in the process of reviewing appropriate locations for speciality courts to ensure the proper administration of justice. Among these is a court that will only hear matters related to sexual offences, Mr Pinder said. Other courts to be placed at appropriate locations include a Juvenile Court, Family Court and Commercial Court. He said in the first instance there would be a review of buildings already under lease by the government to see if any can accommodate speciality courts. “We also believe that the efficient administration of justice is not only a necessary obligation to the Bahamian people, but likewise will also significantly contribute to the ease of doing business and international perception of a place people feel comfortable doing business,” Mr Pinder
said during a contribution in the Senate. “I have been working with the Chief Justice and other members of the Bar to identify the way forward in this regard. In the first instance, it is the consensus that a series of ‘speciality’ courts is required, not only for the proper administration of justice, but also in order to ensure the efficiency we all desire. This is a rather involved process as suitable facilities need to be identified and retrofitted appropriately, and then the operational implementation must be rolled out. “In the first instance, we will conduct a review of buildings already under lease by the government to see if any can accommodate the speciality courts,” he said. “We will seek the necessary technical advice in their establishment, and seek the necessary legislative amendments necessary to make them happen. “This in my opinion, and the opinion of others is a fundamental element of increasing the effective and efficient delivery of justice.
The government also plans to move the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) as well as the Freedom of Information Unit (FOI). Mr Pinder said both will move into renovated spaces at the Bahamas Financial Centre. He said the Financial Centre space was secured in January 2021 by the former government and former Attorney General, however the space was never used nor renovated. “One year of vacant possession at the cost to the Bahamian taxpayer. We will ensure that the leased space is occupied with a new and cutting-edge delivery of services from the RGD and the FOI,” said Mr Pinder. “Necessary expenditure from our budget this year will be for the continued digitisation project for the RGD. The functions of the RGD are imperative not only for the social welfare of the country with marriages, births, deaths and necessary registrations, but it is also the backbone of an effective commercial delivery, being the department
TEENAGER ACCUSED OF MURDER By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A TEENAGER was yesterday charged with murdering a man in Hospital Lane last month. Brandon Adderley, 18, was charged before Magistrate Samuel McKinney with murdering Diano Nixon on November 29. According to reports, shortly after 8pm that day,
officers were called to Hospital Lane after receiving information about the sound of gunshots in the community. Upon arrival, responding officers saw a grey Nissan March with its engines running parked at an angle on the corner of Hospital Lane and an unknown named road. An inspection revealed a dark male slumped over the front seat. Emergency
Medical Services were called and later pronounced the victim dead. Adderley was not required to enter a plea to the charge during yesterday’s hearing and the matter was adjourned to Jan 13 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment. Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim.
HOLIDAY CUT SHORT AFTER DRUG FIND By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net AN American couple’s vacation in paradise was cut short after they were caught with 24 grams of marijuana last week. Karl Dixon, 55, and Cindi Dixon, 53, were arrested after they were found with the drugs while vacationing in The Bahamas on December 4. The duo pleaded guilty to simple possession of dangerous drugs during their arraignment before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday. The court was told that sometime around 2.30 pm on the day in question, officers were summoned to Prince George Wharf where they later met a security guard who handed over the cruise passengers
along with a few containers containing suspected marijuana. Police prosecution said the couple was cautioned, arrested and taken into police custody where they admitted to the offence. The court was also told the defendants claimed they used the drugs for medical purposes. This was also supported by their attorney, who told the court that Karl Dixon was a cancer patient. The attorney explained that the couple was visiting The Bahamas for the first time to enjoy “sun, sand and sea” before Dixon underwent surgery. However, he said their vacation plans eventually came to a halt after the two were kicked off the cruise ship they were on, resulting in them being taken into police custody.
He argued that the couple, who had no prior convictions in The Bahamas, were not aware that marijuana was illegal in the country and were extremely remorseful for their actions. The court was also shown a certificate verifying that Dixon used marijuana for medical purposes. As a result, he was subsequently granted a conditional discharge, granted he does not commit the same offence. Meanwhile, Dixon’s wife was fined $500 or one month in prison. During yesterday’s hearing, Magistrate McKinney also cautioned the couple to make sure to do their research before travelling, saying a “simple search” would have enlightened them as to what is permitted and not permitted in The Bahamas.
responsible for everything company and entity related, both domestically and internationally. For too long the functions of the RGD have been plagued by inadequate facilities, technology that doesn’t function appropriately, service delivery issues and a lack of organisation and maintenance of orderly
files and documentation. “These vexing issues are currently in the process of being remediated by the move to new facilities, and the development of a purpose-built online platform for the delivery of these vital functions. “The government has retained a firm to develop
an online platform for the RGD that will be modelled after the successful Cayman Island RGD platform, allowing for the delivery of services to all parties online and in as expedited a fashion as possible. This will go a long way to improving the ease of doing business,” Mr Pinder said yesterday.
Graveside Service for Leonard Collins Jr., 61 affectionately called “Len”
of Yeoman Wood, Sanderling Circle, Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas and formerly of 6th Street, Coconut Grove, New Providence, Bahamas will be held at Lakeview Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum, John F. Kennedy Drive, Nassau, Bahamas on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 at 11a.m. Officiating will be Reverend Ronald Campbell assisted by Deacon Michael Nairn. He is survived by his son: Leonard Collins III; grandchildren: Lenair, Lenae and Leonard Collins IV; sisters: Inez Stubbs, Miriam and Margaret Collins; brother: Clement Simmons; aunts: Deaconess Rena McPhee and Loretta Collins; uncles: Raymond and John Collins; nieces: Kershan Stubbs, Nicola Duncombe, Jacqueline/Clyde Symonette, Sophia/Earl Campbell, Dawn/Rinaldo Johnson, Magnol Simmons and Eileen East; nephews: Andronicus Douglas, Monako/MonalisaDouglas, Ian/Latoya Brown, Valentino Brown, Sean Simmons, Charles/Gevell Simmons; grand nieces & nephews: Patrenda Smith, Kayja, Andronaya, Raven and London Douglas, IndineshaBrown, Anfernee Duncombe, Kenya Campbell, Alexia and Ashleigh Johnson, Angelica and Madison Symonette, Seaniqua Simmons, Clydon, Najee, Sabreo and Delano Stubbs, Devane, Devonte and Andrione Douglas, Francois Carey, Xavier Symonette, R. Amari Johnson, D’Mar Bodie; great grand nieces and nephews: Gianna, Gabrielle, Tatyana, Alexiou, Cael, Dmaranea and Claynyss; cousins: Ted Curtis, Basil Adderley, McCola Bodie, Edmond, Prince, Lincoln, Stanley, Edroy, Theresa, Veronica, Vanessa, Brooke, Helena, Colette, Marva, Barbara, Sherry, Terry, Patrice and Aaron Collins, Olive, Melvina, Fredrick, Benjamin and Ira Jr. McPhee, Mae and Alice Munnings, Lazanta Thompson, Nathalie, Sylvia and Fred Ramsey, Verdell Cooper and Family, Esther McKinney and Family, Ethelyn Pratt, Olivia Nixon and Family, Orick Jr. and Family, Lovely Rolle and Family, Lorna Pitts and Family, Michael, Johnathon, Christopher, Kathleen, Rodell and Sidney Nairn, Donna Reynolds, Carol Osbourne, Dr. Olga Clarke and Family, Louise Saunders and Family, Leonard, Idamae and Deborah Johnson, Janet Sands and Family, Melanie Hanna and Family, Clara Brookes and Family, Catherina Jones and Family, Cosette Johnson and Family, Higgins Family, Vandalyn James and Family, Francis Thompson and Family, Prescola Allen and Family, Doramae Seymour and Family, Hazel Brown and Family, Elsiemae Burrows and Family, The Strachan Family Reunion; other relatives and friends: Ulysses Willis, Donna Coakley, Mark and Paulette Knowles, Kevin Curtis, Anthony Perry, Henry Brice, Christopher Munnings, Ruthmae Bridgewater, Netta Brice, Carlie Brown, Simeon Brown, Denise Clarke, staff and patients of Dialysis Centre (Freeport), Dwayne Russell, Rev. Veronica Bain, Cheryl Bain, Mary Davis, AntonietteSaunders and Family, Donnieka Bastian, Troy Ward, Eugenie Smith and Family, Kayla Nixon, Sharlene Butler, Jocelyn Ferguson, Kathrina Armbrister, Susan Darville, Amethyst Dennis, Annamae Newbold, Sheron McKinney, Jackie Smith, The Community of Sanderling Circle Yeoman Wood (Freeport), The Community of Rolleville, Exuma, The Community of Sixth Street, Coconut Grove, Cable Beach Straw Vendors; special thanks to: His Grace Bishop Neil C. Ellis and First Lady Patrice Ellis, Mount Tabor Family, Reverend Ronald Campbell and Family, Bishop Karvin Bain and Family, Rev. Victor Cooper and Family, Bishop Kirklyn Smith and Family Deacon Michael Nairn and Family, Carol Clare, Malcolm and DarshannAdderley, staff of Male Surgical Ward (Rand Memorial, Freeport), Dr. Odia Stubbs (Public Health, Freeport), Principal Nursing Officer Cheryl Bain (Rand Memorial, Freeport) Senior Nursing Officer Patricia Newbold (PMH), Staff of Male Surgical 1 Princess Margaret Hospital, the management and staff of Evergreen Mortuary. Relatives and friends may pay their last respects at Evergreen Mortuary, Parkgate Road on (TODAY) Tuesday from 10:00am-5:00 pm.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Two women with a vision to help businesses grow
THE TRIBUNE
Face to Face
REGINA Smith and Kentisha Ward have a vision. They see a future where Bahamians become more self-sufficient and create a nation of producers. They have a dream of reducing hunger by transforming food waste into By FELICITY DARVILLE value added products. They envision reducing the international agencies to national debt by increas- enhance the products and ing national exports. Most services that Grow will importantly, they have a offer. Most importantly, vision of food sustainability they are raising funds through entrepreneurship. through the Arawak X PlatThese are lofty goals, form. Grow: The Food Lab but absolutely necessary joined the initial wave of for our survival. Both of companies to launch on the these ladies are currently Arawak X crowdfunding entrepreneurs with their platform on October 25. own amazing products. “This allows us to reach They both faced the same our funding goal in addiissue – they needed to tion to giving Bahamians meet the standards neces- and others the opportunity sary to become exporters. to invest for only $16 per That need is one faced by share,” said Regina. entrepreneurs all over the “Can you imagine… country who want to take the average cost of a meal their business to the next today, can secure food seculevel. Regina and Kentirity in the future. sha decided they not only “Our campaign goal is needed to fill this gap for set at $1.8 million for this themselves, but for their first phase. Once funding fellow Bahamians. With is achieved, we intend to that, Grow: the Food Lab break ground immediately. was born. Grow: The Food Lab will Our goal is very ambitious but we understand be The Bahathe urgency mas’ first ever ‘We will open of a project FDA certified processing our doors to local like this and accepted the plant. It is a companies who challenge and one-stop shop need access to a have been prefor creatives, world class facility paring for this processors, opportunity.” farmers, bakers in order to take Regina and and chefs, their businesses Kentisha are connecting a to the next level.’ combining community years of expeand providing rience that services to help Bahamithey both have as procesans start or accelerate their business. By being a part sors and manufacturers to of a community, business launch a business to help owners can save on vari- local businesses and with ous aspects of producing a the capacity to scale up and food product that is FDA expand to international approved. They can save markets. “Investing in Grow is an on the extensive process required for testing their investment in all Bahamian product, the FDA registra- businesses,” Kentisha said. “We will open our doors tion fees, the costly aspect of capital investment for to local companies who production and manufac- need access to a world class turing, as well as saving on facility in order to take packaging and labelling. their businesses to the next The processing plant will level. We can process jams, offer industrial packag- sauces, flours, ice creams ing services as well as cold and more – basically, any and dry storage facilities to kind of local produce can meet the growing needs of be processed in our facility. “As food processors Bahamian manufacturers ourselves, we understand and food processors. The vision is now within firsthand the challenges reach. These ladies have in bringing our products officially formulated such as my pepper sauces the business concept, and Kentisha’s popsicles to researched the market, they market. “With no FDA certified have a business plan and they are ready to put it into processing plants in The action. They are actively Bahamas, we both encouncreating programmes tered similar obstacles with with the public and pri- getting our products up to vate sectors, academia and international standards,
therefore opening new markets, allowing for export and potentially new revenues. Currently, there are markets asking for Caribbean products but currently, we are unable to meet this demand. We’ve developed the solutions that led us to starting this facility that will make life a lot easier for businesses within our industry and provide them with opportunities to grow.” Regina is currently the owner of Firehouse Spice Co, which manufactures seasonings, sauces and condiments from locally sourced produce. Regina’s experience and skill set lies in project management, research and development. She is passionate about sustainable and environmental practices, especially in a local application to help the Bahamian economy and its people. Firehouse Spices has been operating for six years as a wholesaler and a retailer. Distributing locally to restaurants and stores. Recently, Firehouse Spices obtained placement in the United States distribution market, with products being sold as far north as New York. Her products have also been featured on the US Embassy, Washington DC portal representing The Bahamas. Regina is a facilitator of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs programme hosted by the US Embassy and the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC). She shares her networking and business development tools needed for aspiring women entrepreneurs to succeed. She is a 2004 graduate of St Augustine’s College and went on to attain a degree in Tourism Management from the College of the Bahamas, where she graduated in 2010. She went on to become a 2018 alumna of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative program. Her network with the University of Virginia and Cornell University provides direct contact with their food science departments and innovation centres. Regina is also a Project Officer at the Bahamas Development Bank.
WINSTON ROLLE, of Arawakx, Regina Smith, Kentisha Ward, and Bria Deveaux, of Arawakx.
KENTISHA WARD, Moses Taylor, of Red Sea Bahamas, and Regina Smith.
Kentisha is the owner of Pop Stop, a gourmet popsicle company. In addition, this Barry University graduate is the lead consultant for the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture organization’s Agribusiness Incubator in Grand Bahama and Abaco. Her expertise range includes operations management, marketing branding and packaging, research and development, start-ups and agriculture. She is passionate about entrepreneurship and education. Kentisha also spends her spare time teaching entrepreneurship at BTVI. Pop Stop Gourmet Popsicles has been in operation since October 2015. These delicious popsicles are sourced from local fruits and vegetables to process into final products. She started with just $10 and today, her company is wholesaling and retailing to local markets. Pop Stop has expanded to restaurants, resorts and local food store chains, creating valuable distribution networks. Kentisha has also taught entrepreneurship at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute. A 2005 Queen’s College graduate, she also assists her alma mater through the QC Centre for Furthering Education, where she has served for five years, assisting many local start-up entrepreneurs. The concept of Grow: the Food Lab came about when both partners came across the same roadblocks to scaling up and exporting their products. After years of exploring the markets individually, they decided that building a space for all was more beneficial than building a facility for each manufacturer. They will create a facility that will foresee the challenges that small local farmers, processors and food entrepreneurs
face, thereby addressing the national problem of food security and sustainability. There were so many steps or learning lessons on the way. Whether it was Regina potentially having all of her products seized by US Customs due to non-FDA compliance but, successfully navigating that process, or Kentisha standing in her kitchen hearing an international buyer request 121,000 cases of soursop pops and having no capital to scale up from a home kitchen producer to commercial manufacturer. “I remember when I first started Firehouse,” Regina said. “My goal was to export to the US. At that time, I didn’t know how or when it would happen, but I knew one day it would. Year after year, trade shows to markets, I kept pushing. Even when there were power outages and equipment that got damaged, I made the sacrifice to repurchase, regroup and start again. Through the OWN Bahamas Foundation and the SBDC Program, I did receive funding and opportunities that were able to catapult me to where Firehouse is today. I have secured an international distributor and Firehouse is being featured in Dubai at the 2021 Expo! “For me, it’s time to share the knowledge and experience with the wider community and create a network of Bahamians that will empower each other, and will work together to achieve our national goals of food sustainability and security. As long as you can think of it, you can achieve it!” The two co-founders envision a future where a local jam maker will be able to use their facility to process and package their uniquely Bahamian products for export to the US. Local chefs will be able to use GROW’s prep kitchen to serve their clients without having to rent an entire
restaurant space. “We envision a food campus where every sector of the supply chain is served,” Kentisha explained. “Our vision is to ensure that the entire ecosystem is serviced in some form by our operations. Five years from now, we want to have a model that can be duplicated at varying sizes throughout the country. Grow: The Food Lab will serve as a hub for young entrepreneurs to put their culinary interest to the test and allow them a place to connect and create amazing products.” Grow’s honorary advisory board includes: Janet Johnson, a tourism veteran with more than 40 years’ experience; Vanessa Benjamin, an executive leader in conservation and non-profits; Janet Bullard, a veteran bankerturned-attorney; Sumayyah Cargill, an educated industrial engineer; and Zeleka Knowles, an international civil servant and non-profit specialist. Farmers like Whitlyn Miller, producers like Moses Taylor and chefs like Simeon Hall and Keshla Smith-Clarke are already giving Grow: the Food Lab high marks and are excited to be a part of a community set to shape the way of the future for Bahamian manufacturing. Whitlyn Miller says farmers could get into creating all sorts of by-products if they have a place to go to produce them. Celebrity Chef Hall says such a concept is “long overdue”. “To the farmer that grows, the producer that processes and the chef that cooks, we are here to help you grow,” Kentisha said. Grow: the Food Lab can be found on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and LinkedIn. Arawak X still has the funding platform available for Bahamians to invest in this business, but the window is closing. Visit www.growbahamas.com, or email info@growbahamas. com for details.
THE TRIBUNE
STAY CALM
Tuesday, December 7, 2021, PAGE 9
HERE we go again. That is likely to be the tired and irritated reaction of most people in the UK in the face of new restrictions after the recent discovery in South Africa of Omicron, the name given to a new strain of COVID-19. Until about ten days ago, Britain was still in what people have been calling post-COVID mode with a return to some limited measure of normality. This was despite a recent surge of new cases of the Delta variant in some other European countries which, according to the WHO, accounts for the vast majority of infections globally. The situation became so serious in Austria, for example, that a new lockdown was imposed. Towards the end of November, it emerged that Omicron – a highly potent and easily transmissible variant but one which so far has caused no deaths – had not only been found in South Africa but was beginning to surge there and, reportedly, has now spread quickly to some 40 different countries. The immediate response was predictable, with many – including The Bahamas – tightening restrictions on travel, in particular from South Africa and other countries in that region. In Britain, the government introduced a new set of measures, including mandatory mask-wearing on public transport and in shops and communal areas and more testing, quarantine and self-isolation for all visitors entering the UK. The new strain was soon found there, and this precipitated an overreaction by a small number of members of the public bordering on hysteria and despair. But others considered the new restrictions to be hardly draconian and they judged them to be sensible and precautionary pending further study of Omicron by
scientists. However, in the last few days the travel rules have been tightened further to include pre-departure testing for all visitors to the UK in an effort to stamp out this super-variant. The Chief Scientist at the WHO has said that, although Omicron is highly transmissible, it is not yet clear whether it is milder than the Delta variant. But scientists are predicting that in a few months this new strain may account for more infections than Delta and, as it spreads rapidly, it could become the world’s dominant COVID strain. Meanwhile, the WHO has urged people to be prepared and cautious but not to panic because the situation is different from a year ago. As for the overall UK public reaction to these latest developments, it is always said stoicism is one of the positive virtues of the British. They are reputed to stay calm and show good sense in the face of adversity. But, as one commentator put it, this most recent COVID crisis is testing the patience, forbearance and resilience of even the toughest individuals. The new restrictive measures imposed at very short
TODAY marks the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surprise attack on the US Pacific Fleet which was at anchor at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. In the historic words of President Roosevelt, December 7, 1941 was “A day which will live in infamy”. It precipitated America’s entry into the Second World War following its period of neutrality and isolationism during the 1930s. I wrote briefly about Pearl Harbour this time last year. But on today’s significant anniversary it might be interesting to look at the reasons behind the Japanese attack. On the morning of that fateful day – a Sunday – Japan launched its horrific attack with several hundred bombers and fighters which
succeeded in crippling or destroying 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes, though fortuitously three aircraft carriers were out on manoeuvres at the time and escaped the attacks. Dry docks and airfields were also destroyed. A total of 2,403 sailors, soldiers and civilians were killed and about 1,000 people were wounded. This dastardly attack to knock out the US fleet was a gamble that initially succeeded but which in the long-term turned out to be a fatal mistake. Japan wanted to put the fleet out of action so that it could continue unhindered with its conquest of all of Southeast Asia. What is less well known is that simultaneously it had attacked Hong Kong, Guam, Malaya,
LAST week, I spotted an interesting little gem in the UK press about the so-called groupthink of actors. The author, a well-known journalist and commentator, contended in provocative fashion that those in the arts field – particularly Hollywood actors – tended most of the time to “spout the same soggy stew of wokery”; and he wondered how much wisdom the rest of us should expect from people whose primary qualification is pretending to be what they are not while impersonating and speaking the words of others. For me, such a cynical and overly simplistic characterisation of the acting profession created doubts about the rest of the article. But the author is surely correct about people in the arts being generally to the Left in politics, with most of them thinking and speaking alike on political issues. Nonetheless, although they may be reasonably accused of groupthink in preaching to others, they are entitled to their opinions as much as anyone else. What is more, their supporters may legitimately ask why people should give any greater credence to the opinions of journalists, who like all human beings, are also flawed in one way or another. While everybody is fallible to a greater or lesser
degree, the difference surely is that journalists have varied views on most matters and shy away from any notion of groupthink. They are supposed to be trained to exercise objective judgement while putting aside prejudice, bias, cant, dogma and their own personal beliefs. They invariably study and research an issue and delve beneath the known facts to enable them to reach an informed and reasoned conclusion. If all that sounds like a counsel of perfection, it is said to be essential to effective journalism and, at the very least, something for which to aim. As an additional comment, thinking people live in a state of perpetual curiosity. They like to challenge the status quo or the received wisdom on an issue - when they consider such action may be justified - and, even if, by so doing, they may be in a minority. They know there are few absolute truths and that even right and wrong may have different meanings in other countries and cultures. So views and opinions vary. But being able to express them in a free society makes life interesting, and that includes actors even if they only speak with one voice - though, to quote an old cliché, it is a mark of a civilised society to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.
The Peter Young column
notice are playing havoc with the travel plans of many people over Christmas and the New Year. This happens to include my wife and me. We have bought air tickets to London to spend the festive period with family and friends in England. But we are now faced with quarantine or self-isolation on arrival and the danger of not being allowed to return here in January if local restrictions are tightened to include incoming flights from the UK where cases of Omicron are reported to be increasing. Judging from what happened at the height of the crisis last year, that danger is all too real, with various people at that time unable to return home for many months because of The Bahamas’ restrictions and the cancellation of flights. Being kept away involuntarily from your home base for any length of time can be disastrous for anyone and obviously avoided, if at all possible. All this leads one to reflect on what is happening right now here in The Bahamas. From everything I hear, even though at the beginning of the pandemic last year Dr Minnis and his colleagues moved swiftly and aggressively to limit imported cases, people generally now seem to have greater faith in the new PLP government’s handling of the ongoing COVID crisis – and that is despite what looks to have been mismanagement in handling the 20,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccines. Reportedly, they are due to expire by the end of the year and may have to be discarded – and, inevitably, this makes people wonder what is happening in this country about booster jabs. As a clear summary of the current situation for the country, one can do no better than read what the
Prime Minister said last week, as reported in The Tribune on November 30. He explained that new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations were down but the country should not become complacent when a new variant – the nature of which was still uncertain – had appeared. So imposing travel restrictions in order to “buy time” while awaiting more clarity will surely
be generally recognised as the right policy. Mr Davis’ remarks about keeping the nation headed in a positive direction by fostering and sustaining stronger economic growth will also be widely welcomed. It seems to me an indication of exactly what is needed at such a difficult time – a balanced and proportionate approach to what has become a long-term problem. But, while it must
surely be right to continue to persuade as many people as possible to be vaccinated, I, for one, hope coercion in the shape of official vaccine mandates will not ultimately be used here. What is more, that may not anyway be needed since a strong incentive is likely to be the US ban on the unvaccinated entering the country – for, as everyone knows, people love to shop in Miami!
Thailand and the Philippines and later occupied and ravaged other territories as well. This was in pursuit of its determination to build a Pacific empire while it coveted the British, French and Dutch colonial possessions in the region. Japan’s goal to become a major global power went back to the 1930s, but its imperial ambitions were thwarted by its lack of natural resources – in particular, oil, coal and iron. So the nation began its aggressive expansionism during the decade before the Second World War broke out in 1939. Briefly, it invaded the Chinese province of
Manchuria in 1931 for its resources and to obtain a foothold on the continent of Asia. This was followed by all-out war with China that by 1939 had ended in stalemate and Japan was forced to find new resources further afield. This meant looking southwards; for example to British Malaya for rubber and the Dutch East Indies for oil. Historians say that Japanese leaders had hoped that following the Pearl Harbour attacks the US would negotiate for peace and allow them to retain their new conquests and solidify their Asian empire. But, of course, that was a huge miscalculation.
America went immediately on to a war footing and became involved worldwide in what was to become the most destructive global conflict in human history. Defeat of Japan in the Pacific took nearly four years to achieve. During a long period of bloody fighting the Americans gradually dislodged the Japanese forces from each of the occupied islands. Working their way north, this culminated in the US bombing the Japanese mainland itself and dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan’s surrender followed soon afterwards. Thus, Japan launched a war because of its growing
nationalism and the need for natural resources to sustain its imperial ambitions. But forcing an isolationist US into the war could only lead to one outcome. Once the sleeping giant was aroused, Hitler’s and Mussolini’s fates were sealed and Japan would likewise be defeated – however long it took. Britain’s wartime leader, Winston Churchill, wrote later that “to have the United States at our side was to me the greatest joy” because he knew that, with the Americans’ political will and overwhelming military power, the Allies would, indeed, ultimately prevail.
AND
CARRY ON - BUT PLANS MAY HAVE TO CHANGE
A TIME TO REMEMBER AND ASK, WHY DID JAPAN ATTACK?
SHOULD WE LISTEN TO THE HOLLYWOOD BUBBLE?
PAGE 10, Tuesday, December 7, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
BRITISH WOMAN TESTIFIES ABOUT GROOMING BY GHISLAINE MAXWELL NEW YORK Associated Press
A BRITISH woman testified Monday that Ghislaine Maxwell pressured her into giving Jeffrey Epstein sexual massages when she was still a teenager, assuring her she would have “fun” with him. The woman — testifying at Maxwell’s sex-abuse trial in New York City using the pseudonym “Kate” to protect her privacy — described one episode during the mid-1990s at
Epstein’s Palm Beach, Florida estate where Maxwell left out a schoolgirl’s outfit with a pleated skirt for her to wear for the financier. “I thought it would be fun for you to take Jeffrey his tea in this outfit,” the witness recalled Maxwell telling her. After a sexual encounter that followed, the British socialite “asked me if I had fun” and told her, “You are such a good girl,” she said. The witness was the second woman to take the witness stand against
Maxwell in federal court in Manhattan. But unlike the first, she was at the age of consent in Great Britain and the United States during her sexual contact with Epstein, so the judge barred her from detailing specific sex acts. Maxwell, 59, has denied charges she groomed girls as young as 14 for Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019. Her lawyers say the government is making her a scapegoat for Epstein’s alleged sex crimes. The woman who testified
yesterday said she met Maxwell at age 17 through a friend of hers she had dated on and off, and was eager to be friends with the British socialite. Maxwell told her Epstein, then her boyfriend, was a philanthropist who could help her with her singing career, she said. Maxwell also told her that Epstein was “demanding” when it came to sexual massages, saying it was “very difficult to keep up” with his needs, the witness said. After agreeing to give him massages in London,
she was later flown on commercial flights to Florida, where she said the interactions continued when she was 18. Maxwell’s demeanor was “almost like a schoolgirl,” she said. “Everything was fun. Everything seemed to be like a fun, silly joke.” She said she resisted “disengaging” from Maxwell and Epstein “because I had witnessed how connected they both were and I was fearful,” she said. Asked about wanting to testify anonymously, she
said, “I have a huge amount of humiliation and shame around the events that took place” and wanted to protect her child. On cross-examination, a lawyer for Maxwell got the witness to acknowledge instances where she had spoken out publicly about Epstein and Maxwell using her real name. She also asked whether her history of drug and alcohol abuse affected her memory. “It has not had an impact on the memories I have always had,” she said.
New York mandates vaccine for private sector employers NEW YORK Associated Press FROM big Wall Street banks to corner grocery stores, all private employers in New York City will have to require their workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the mayor announced Monday in the most sweeping vaccine mandate of any state or big city in the US. The move by Mayor Bill de Blasio comes as cases are climbing again in the US and the worrisome but little-understood omicron variant is gaining a toehold in the nation’s largest city and elsewhere around the country. “We in New York City have decided to use a preemptive strike to really do something bold to stop the further growth of COVID and the dangers it’s causing to all of us,” he said. De Blasio, a Democrat with just weeks left in office, said the mandate will take effect December 27, with in-person workers needing to provide proof they have received at least one dose of the vaccine. And they will not be allowed to get out of the requirement by agreeing to regular COVID-19 testing instead. The measure will apply to roughly 184,000 businesses not covered by previous vaccine mandates, ranging from multinational corporations to mom-andpop businesses in the city of 8.8 million people, according to a spokesperson for the mayor. The city’s private-sector workforce is 3.7 million. Also, anyone 12 or older who wants to dine indoors at a restaurant, go to a gym or see a show will have to produce proof of having received two shots of the vaccine, up from the current requirement of one dose, the mayor said. And children five to 11 will have to show proof of at least one shot. De Blasio said the moves are aimed at staving off a spike of infections amid holiday gatherings and the cold weather, which drives more people indoors, where the virus can spread more easily. Phil Penta, who runs a specialty grocery store called Three Guys from Brooklyn, said the impending mandate could put him
A MAN walks off a vaccination bus at a NYC mobile vaccine clinic in Midtown Manhattan, yesterday. in a bind by forcing him to fire valued employees who are holding out against the vaccine. “Everybody wants to do the right thing, but the right thing is different for everybody,” said Penta, who said the vast majority of his roughly three dozen employees have been vaccinated. He added: “I respect the right to say they don’t want to take it.” Vaccine rules across states and cities vary widely, with some states resisting any mandates and others requiring the shots for government employees or certain sectors that run a particularly high risk, such as health care workers. But no state has announced a broad privatesector mandate like New York City’s, according to data compiled by the nonpartisan National Academy for State Health Policy. President Joe Biden sought to impose a less far-reaching mandate nationally, requiring
employees of businesses with 100 or more workers to either get vaccinated or undergo regular testing. But federal courts have blocked that plan for now ahead of the Jan. 4 deadline. De Blasio said he expects his mandate to survive any legal challenges. Employees will be able to ask for religious or medical exemptions. The mayor said he will release more details next week about how the mandate will be enforced. About 5.9 million adults in New York City have gotten at least a first dose, out of seven million people age 18 and up. That translates to 84 percent. About 5.8 million New Yorkers of all ages are fully vaccinated. Cases of the omicron variant have been reported in about one-third of the states, but scientists cannot say for certain yet whether it is more dangerous than previous versions. US health experts have strongly urged people to get
their shots and a booster, saying they believe the vaccine will still offer protection against the new variant. The delta variant still accounts for practically all infections in the US, and a rise in cases in recent weeks has swamped hospitals, especially in the Midwest and New England. New York City is averaging just under 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 per day, up from about 820 a day at the start of November. “Vaccination is the central weapon in this war against COVID. It’s the one thing that has worked every single time across the board,” de Blasio said at a virtual news conference. “A lot of folks to me in the private sector have said to me they believe in vaccination, but they’re not quite sure how they can do it themselves,” he continued. “Well, we’re going to do it.” Vaccinations are already required in New York City for hospital and nursing
Photo: Mary Altaffer/AP home workers and for city employees, including teachers, police officers and firefighters. A vaccination mandate for employees of private and religious schools was announced last week. Some other private-sector employees, including those at restaurants, gyms, theaters and other entertainment sites, were also required to be vaccinated under rules issued earlier by the mayor. De Blasio, who leaves office at the end of the month and has indicated he may seek the nomination for governor of New York next year, has sought to portray himself as a national leader in the fight against COVID-19. His other vaccine mandates have largely survived legal challenges, and he has credited the policy with raising vaccination rates among the reluctant. The new mandate takes effect days before de Blasio leaves office and Democrat Eric Adams is due to
be sworn in. Evan Thies, a spokesman for Adams, said in a statement that the mayor-elect “will evaluate this mandate and other COVID strategies when he is in office and make determinations based on science, efficacy and the advice of health professionals.” The Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, which includes some 30,000 businesses big and small, said it supports the tightened measures. But other industry groups said the plan would add to the strain on businesses still struggling to recover from the pandemic and find enough employees. Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, a leading business group, said it is unclear who will enforce the mandate and whether it is even legal. “It is hard to imagine that the mayor can do what the president is being challenged to accomplish,” Wylde said.
HAITIAN GROUP RELEASES THREE HOSTAGES PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti Associated Press A RELIGIOUS group based in Ohio announced yesterday that a violent gang in Haiti has released three more hostages, while another 12 remain abducted. The statement from Christian Aid Ministries said the people were released on Sunday in Haiti and are “safe and seem to be in good spirits”. The group provided no further details. On November 21, the religious organisation announced that the 400 Mawozo gang had released the first two hostages of a group of 17 kidnapped in mid-October. There are 12 adults and five children in the group of 16 US citizens and one
Canadian, including an eight-month-old. The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang has threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands are met. Authorities have said the gang was seeking $1m per person, although it wasn’t immediately clear that included the children in the group. “We are thankful to God that three more hostages were released last night,” said the statement from Christian Aid Ministries, an Anabaptist missions organization based in Berlin, Ohio. “As with the previous release, we are not able to provide the names of the people released, the circumstances of the release, or any other details.” The group reiterated its request for supporters to devote Monday through Wednesday as days of
prayer and fasting “to intercede for those who are still being held as well as those who have been released”. The release comes amid an ongoing spike in kidnappings in the capital of Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in Haiti. On Sunday, a gang leader known as “Ti Lapli” posted a YouTube video warning people not to cross in upcoming days through the Martissant community, which has been the site of violent clashes between warring gangs. “Insecurity has increased,” the gang leader said. “I invite the people of Martissant to stock up on food and gasoline. The next few days will be difficult... We will not remain with our arms crossed in face of those who try to destroy us.”
A PERSON at the Christian Aid Ministries headquarters at Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, yesterday. Photo: Odelyn Joseph/AP
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 7, 2021, PAGE 11
HERO WORLD CHALLENGE PGA TOUR
Tiger Woods greets the fans at Albany
TIGER Woods poses for a photo with fans during the trophy ceremony of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
LEGENDARY golfer Tiger Woods greets fans on Sunday during the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
Hovland denies Morikawa No. 1 By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — The 24-year-old rising star put a nice ribbon on a three-win year in golf by posing with Tiger Woods at the trophy presentation Sunday in the Hero World Challenge. It just wasn’t the winner anyone imagined. Not even Viktor Hovland thought it was realistic he could rally from six shots behind Collin Morikawa, the steady hand who was poised to reach No. 1 in the world with a victory. Instead, the Norwegian did the unthinkable in a final round at Albany that was pure chaos. He looked up from a greenside bunker on the ninth hole and saw Morikawa sliding fast with a pair of double bogeys. Hovland seized on the opportunity with back-to-back eagles and closed with a pair of bogeys he could afford for a 6-under 66 and a one-shot victory. “I didn’t think a win was going to be very possible,” Hovland said. “But I know this course is tricky. You can make birdies, but it’s easy to make bogeys and doubles. If I put a good score up there, you never know what’s going to happen.” Just about everything did. On the same hole Hovland holed a bunker shot for eagle, Sam Burns went from a tie for the lead to a triple bogey when it took five shots to get up a slope from 15 yards away. Jordan Spieth and Henrik Stenson were penalised two shots for hitting shots off the 17th tee while playing the ninth hole. Scottie Scheffler was seven shots behind, made a triple bogey on his fourth hole and still nearly won. The biggest surprise was Morikawa — Hovland’s roommate for the week at Albany — who took a five-shot lead into the final round and wasn’t even a serious factor over the final hour. Two double bogeys and a 41 on the front nine sent him to a 76.
“A little sad to see him not play his best today,” Hovland said. “He’s a great player and I expected him to just kind of roll away with the victory. But sometimes this sport is not that easy and I’m sure he’ll come back even stronger.” Ultimately, this was about the other 24-year-old adding to his big year after wins in Germany on the European Tour and Mexico on the PGA Tour. His third win of the year against a 20-man elite field moved him to No. 7 in the world. Morikawa, the British Open champion and first American to be No. 1 on the European Tour and newly engaged as of Tuesday, looked like he would breeze to a fourth win of the year in the Bahamas. But he missed three birdie chances from 10 feet or closer at the start of the round and then went sideways when his approach on No. 4 sailed into a big bush and led to double bogey, and the same thing happened — presumably with mud on the ball — at the par-5 sixth for another double bogey. A chunked wedge on the par-5 ninth led to bogey. A victory would have made him the 25th player to reach No. 1 in the world since the ranking began in 1986. That position still belongs to US Open champion Jon Rahm, who didn’t play this week. Hovland was among five players who had at least a share of the lead at some point. That changed on the reachable par-4 14th. In the group behind Burns, who made his triple bogey, Hovland had a lie so challenging in the bunker he thought about aiming away from the flag to make sure it stayed on the green. “But I decided to just give it some extra speed, which has kind of been one of the things I’ve been struggling with around the greens,” he said. “If it’s a high-pressure situation, I tend to hit it soft instead of going for the open face and hit it hard.
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper, left, and Hero World Challenge PGA Tour winner Viktor Hovland.
ON THE REPLAY: Norwegian Viktor Hovland, above, Collin Morikawa (top right), of the US, and Bryson DeChambeau (above), of the US, in action during the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour. Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff And I decided to do that there and it worked out.” He followed with a 7-iron to 20 feet on the par-5 15th for eagle to stretch his lead, and he wasn’t done. Hovland’s next shot dropped next to the cup for a 3-foot birdie. He finished at 18-under 270. Scheffler narrowly missed a fifth straight birdie on the
CROWDS enjoy the Albany Golf Course during Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge on Sunday.
18th hole. He shot 66 and finished one shot behind, ending a year in which he made a sterling Ryder Cup debut but still has yet to win on the PGA Tour. Bryson DeChambeau finished his day with a triple bogey from the water. He was leading after 36 holes and finished in a tie for 14th in the 20-man field.
Spieth and Stenson were at the bottom of the pack all day. And they were assured of staying there when they walked back to where the ninth tee had been all week, not realising that it was used as the tee for the par-3 17th hole and they should have been playing about 25 yards farther ahead.
They had to replay the hole and add two shots to their score. It was that kind of day, and the action never stopped until Woods — in a red shirt, of course — handed the trophy to the Norwegian. Hovland is the third straight international winner, following Henrik Stenson and Rahm.
SHOWN, from left, are Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, Hero MotoCorp CEO Pawan Munjal, tournament host Tiger Woods and winner Viktor Hovland.
PAGE 12, Tuesday, December 7, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
BAAA NACAC AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIALS North American, Central American and Caribbean Age Group Championships December 17-18 in Nicaragua
AFTER two gruelling days of intense competition, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations determined the eight-member team to represent the country at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Age Group Championships. Here, our young athletes compete in the trials for the big event over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The team is scheduled to travel to Nicaragua to compete in the championships December 17-18. Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune staff
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 7, 2021, PAGE 13
Patriots out-run Bills in 14-10 victory By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Damien Harris scored on a 64-yard run in blustery conditions in which Mac Jones attempted just three passes, and the New England Patriots shored up their familiar place atop the AFC with a 14-10 win over the Buffalo Bills last night. Defensive back Miles Bryant sealed the victory by batting down Josh Allen’s pass at the goal line with Buffalo facing fourthand-14 at New England’s 18 with 1:55 remaining. The Patriots leaned heavily on their ground game out-gaining the Bills 229 to 99 in yards rushing, with the cold, windy snowy night negating Allen’s strongarmed passing attack. New England (9-4) won its seventh consecutive game, improved to 6-0 on the road this season and now has a two-win edge over the Bills (7-5) in the AFC East standings. Harris finished with a season-best 111 yards rushing and opened the scoring on New England’s ninth play from scrimmage. Facing third-and-5, Harris
burst though a gaping hole up the middle and was untouched on his way to the end zone. With the Patriots facing winds gusting up to 40 mph, coach Bill Belichick succeeded on a 2-point conversion, with Brandon Bolden scoring just inside the left pylon. The Patriots never trailed with Nick Folk hitting two field goals — both with the wind at his back — from 34 and 41 yards. The Bills continued their inconsistencies by losing four of their past seven, and have not won consecutive games since capping a 4-0 run spanning September 19 to October 10. Though the two teams meet once more in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on December 26, Buffalo’s path to repeat as division champions, never mind earn a third straight postseason berth, is suddenly muddied. The AFC’s wild-card race now features four teams with seven wins. The Bills also dropped to 5-5 against AFC opponents and 3-1 against division opponents. The Bills defence continues to be susceptible against the run. The 222
By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer
BILLS wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) can’t hang onto a pass in the end zone with Patriots free safety Devin McCourty (32) defending during the second half last night. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) yards rushing allowed on end Jonnu Smith tipped the NFL’s third quarterback Monday came two weeks ball to himself— in the first to win nine games in his after Jonathan Taylor half. rookie season, joining Pittsscored five times and According to Elias burgh’s Ben Roethlisberger gained 185 yards rushing Sports, the Patriots had the in 2004, and Dallas’ Dak in the Indianapolis Colts fewest yards passing and Prescott in 2016. 41-15 win at Buffalo. became the first team to He also joined RoethJones was relegated to attempt just one one pass lisberger and Prescott in handoff duties in attempt- in the first half since at least becoming the NFL’s third ing one pass — a 12-yard 1978. He finished 2 of 3 for rookie QB to win his first completion in which tight 19 yards in becoming the six road starts.
Embiid scores season-best 43 points, 76ers top Hornets in OT CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joel Embiid had a season-high 43 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, and the Philadelphia 76ers held off the short-handed Charlotte Hornets 127-124 in overtime last night. Tobias Harris returned from a one-game absence due to illness and had 21 points and 11 rebounds as the 76ers shot 52.9 percent from the field and earned back-to-back wins for the first time since November 4-6. Kelly Oubre Jr had 35 points with six 3-pointers for the Hornets, but missed a 3 at the end of the first overtime that would have tied the game and sent it to a second extra period. Charlotte played without five players, including starters Lamelo Ball, Terry Rozier and Mason Plumlee because of NBA health and safety protocols. Embiid had six of Philadelphia’s eight points in overtime. The Hornets, who played only eight players, were 2 of 9 from the field in overtime. THUNDER 114, PISTONS 103 DETROIT (AP) — Shea Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and 13 assists, Luguentz Dort scored 28 points and Oklahoma City rallied past Detroit in a battle of teams that entered with eight-game losing streaks. Detroit led by 16 in the third quarter and 12 early in the fourth, but the Pistons were outscored 25-8 in the final five minutes of their ninth straight loss. Cade Cunningham had 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, while Jeremi Grant added 20 points. GRIZZLIES 105, HEAT 90 MIAMI (AP) — Dillon Brooks and Desmond
Bane scored 21 points each, and surging Memphis beat Miami. The win was Memphis’ fifth straight without leading scorer Ja Morant, who hurt his left knee against Atlanta on November 26. The Grizzlies have not trailed during their streak. All five Grizzlies’ starters finished in double figures. Steven Adams had 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Tyus Jones and Jaren Jackson scored 14 points each. Miami’s Jimmy Butler returned from a fourgame absence because of a bruised tailbone and scored 10 points before leaving for the locker room midway through the third quarter. He didn’t return. Tyler Herro had 24 points and Kyle Lowry finished with 17 points for the Heat, who have lost four of five and three straight at home. HAWKS 121, TIMBERWOLVES 110 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Trae Young had 29 points and 11 assists, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 23 points and short-handed Atlanta beat Minnesota. Danilo Gallinari scored 20 points off the bench for Atlanta, which was without injured wings Cam Reddish, Bogdan Bogdanovich, Solomon Hill and De’Andre Hunter. Luwawu-Cabarrot had a career-high seven 3-pointers, shooting 7 of 14 as the Hawks set season highs with 25 makes and 49 attempts from beyond the arc. Karl-Anthony Towns had 31 points and 16 rebounds for Minnesota in his return after missing one game with a tailbone contusion. Anthony Edwards added 20 points for the Wolves, who were
AYTON FROM PAGE 16 time in 20 games dating to October 27. The Spurs had their 4-game winning streak snapped. All five San Antonio starters scored in double figures, led by Murray’s 17 points. Bryn Forbes added 15 points off the bench. The Suns pushed ahead by 16 points late in the third quarter, but settled for a 79-70 lead going into the fourth. The Spurs chipped away at the lead until Doug McDermott made a 3-pointer with 6:10 left that tied it at 88-all. It stayed tight from that point forward though the Suns never trailed. Cam Johnson — who had 13 points — made a corner 3-pointer with 1:10 left that pushed them ahead 103-97. JaVale McGee also had 13 points off the bench. The Suns trailed for the majority of the first half, but used
RAIDERS’ PLAYOFF HOPES TAKE HIT AFTER 4TH LOSS IN 5 GAMES
HORNETS forward P.J. Washington knocks the ball away from Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid during the first half last night in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) also short-handed without starting guards D’Angelo Russell and Patrick Beverly. Michael Beasley scored all 24 of his points in the second half for the Wolves. BUCKS 112, CAVALIERS 104 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo came back from a twogame absence and scored 27 points on his 27th birthday to help Milwaukee defeat Cleveland. The two-time MVP also had 12 rebounds in his return from a sore right calf as the Bucks won for the 10th time in 11 games. Jrue Holiday had 20 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Khris Middleton provided 21 points and eight assists. Pat Connaughton scored 12, and Bobby Portis had 10 points and 16 rebounds. Jarrett Allen led the Cavaliers with 25 points and nine rebounds on 10-for-12 shooting.
Lauri Markkanen scored 20, Kevin Love 15, Evan Mobley 12 and Darius Garland 10. PACERS 116, WIZARDS 110 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Domantas Sabonis finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to help Indiana snap a fourgame losing streak with a win over Washington. Caris LeVert had 19 points and Malcolm Brogdon added 17 points and eight assists for the Pacers, who had lost five straight in the series, including last season’s play-in round game. Three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal scored 34 points to lead the Wizards, who have lost three straight and four of five. Beal appeared to hurt his left shoulder early in the fourth quarter during a tussle for a loose ball but returned following a timeout and finished the game. Washington was doomed
by its sloppy play early in the second game of a back-to-back. BULLS 109, NUGGETS 97 CHICAGO (AP) — Zach LaVine scored 32 points as Chicago beat Denver and moved into a tie with Brooklyn atop the Eastern Conference. The Bulls took a big hit a few hours before tipoff when leading scorer DeMar DeRozan entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vucevic each had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and all five starters scored in double figures for Chicago. The Nuggets lost for the eighth time in 10 games despite a triple-double by Nikola Jokic. The reigning MVP finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and a seasonhigh 15 assists. Will Barton and Monte Morris each scored 19 points. Aaron Gordon added 18 points.
a late push to take a 51-48 lead at halftime. Phoenix had 32 points in the paint before the break, led by 10 each from Ayton and McGee. Jakob Poeltl had 10 points and six rebounds for the Spurs. TIP-INS Spurs: G Devin Vassell (right quad) didn’t play. ... Backup F Drew Eubanks didn’t play in the first half but had eight solid minutes in the second half. He had four points and four rebounds. Suns: G Devin Booker (left hamstring strain) missed his third straight game. F/C Frank Kaminsky (right knee) and F Abdel Nader (right knee) also weren’t available. ... The Suns missed their first seven 3-point attempts before Cam Payne knocked one down early in the second quarter. SPURS centre Jakob Poeltl (25) drives past Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) to UP NEXT Spurs: Begin a five-game home- score during the first half last night in Phoenix. Ayton posted 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a block but he had five turnovers in 35 minutes. stand against the Knicks tonight. (AP Photo/Ross D Franklin) Suns: Host the Celtics on Friday.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A few weeks ago, Derek Carr stood up at the podium after a lopsided loss and proclaimed that this year’s version of the Raiders would be different and could avoid another collapse in the second half of the season. After the Raiders fell to Washington 17-15 on Sunday for their fourth loss in five games to deal a big blow to their dwindling playoff hopes, Carr was far less optimistic. Another game plagued by slow starts on offence and an inability to finish drives with touchdowns have taken a big toll on the Raiders (6-6). “That’s frustrating. You know because you try to emphasize, you try to fix it, and you go and it doesn’t happen,” Carr said. “It happens one time, and it doesn’t happen every time. Each play tells its own story. It’s frustrating, I wish I could stand up here and break down the whole thing. ... To answer your question, it is frustrating that you emphasize something, it looks good one week, then the other week, and then it’s not. We just got to keep working.” After a promising start to the season with a 5-2 record, the Raiders have fallen apart since the bye week as the resignation of coach Jon Gruden following the publication of his offensive emails and the release of receiver Henry Ruggs III following a fatal DUI crash have taken a toll.
GIANTS CLOSE TO 5TH STRAIGHT LOSING SEASON AFTER LOSS TO MIAMI By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — As the losses mounted over the course of the season, the New York Giants could always look at the standings in the weak NFC and recognise they were a game or so out of a wild-card playoff berth. It’s time to end the wishful thinking. The Giants (4-8) are going nowhere in 2021, other than probably back to the drawing board. With their 20-9 loss to Miami, New York is on the verge of a fifth straight losing record, and fifth straight year out of the postseason. Not only did the Giants lose backup quarterback Mike Glennon — who was starting for the injured Daniel Jones (neck) and sustained a concussion — but New York might be forced to start inexperienced Jacob Fromm, the former Georgia star who was signed off the Bills’ practice squad last week. The step forward Giants fans anticipated after a 6-10 first season under rookie coach Joe Judge has turned into a leap backward. Just watch the replay of Sunday’s loss, an awful performance. Remember this sequence in the third quarter. With a first-and-10 at their 27, Glennon was sacked on consecutive plays, losing 20 yards. On third-and-30 from the New York 7, there was a delay-of-game call. That coach Joe Judge said after the game he saw progress is baffling. It seems a rebuild is once again on the horizon. General manager Dave Gettleman probably won’t be asked to oversee this one, and there are questions whether Judge is kept around if a new GM is hired.
PAGE 14, Tuesday, December 7, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Boiler up! Purdue No. 1 in AP Top 25 for the first time By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer PURDUE is No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the first time. The Boilermakers were a unanimous No. 1 in the poll released yesterday to move up from No. 2 last week. Reigning national champion Baylor moved up to No. 2, with Duke, UCLA and Gonzaga rounding out the top five. Purdue (8-0, 1-0 Big Ten) reached No. 2 in consecutive seasons under Gene Keady from 1986-88 and matched its previous high last week, receiving nine first-place votes from a 61-person media panel. The Boilermakers routed Florida State last week and opened Big Ten play with a 77-70 win over Iowa on Friday, sliding into the top spot after previous No. 1 Duke lost to an unranked Ohio State squad that is now No. 21. Until this week, Purdue had the
second-most appearances in the AP poll — 379 weeks — for a school that had never been ranked No. 1 (Maryland, 434 weeks). “They deserved to be No. 1,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said after the loss to Purdue. “They can hurt in so many ways. They have depth, experience and size. It’s going to be a hard team to beat.” Purdue was knocked out in the first round of last season’s NCAA Tournament, but returned its top eight scorers, including allconference forward Trevion Williams. The Boilermakers can challenge teams in variety of ways, from sophomore guard Jayden Ivey attacking off the dribble to dropping the ball in the post to 7-foot-4 sophomore Zach Edey. Purdue is winning by an average of 25.6 points per game, the closest being the seven-point win over Iowa. “You want to get in close games and win them,”
Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “It really helps you through the season.” FALLING ZAGS Gonzaga plays one of the nation’s most difficult nonconference schedules every season and this year has been no different. The Zags (7-2) typically win the big early-season showdowns, but haven’t been able to do it with as much frequency this year as they try to integrate several new players. Gonzaga looked unstoppable in early wins over Texas and UCLA. The Zags weren’t so dominating their last two games against AP Top 25 teams, losing to Duke in Las Vegas on Nov. 26 and No. 16 Alabama in Seattle on Saturday. “I just think we have to have more of a sense of urgency,” Gonzaga big man Drew Timme said. “We just got to fix it. But we’ve got a lot of time to fix it. We’ll be fine.”
PURDUE forward Trevion Williams celebrates after a basket against Iowa during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., on Friday. Purdue won 77-70. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) He’s right. Most teams would love to “drop” to No. 5 in the AP Top 25. RISING AND FALLING Alabama (7-1) had the biggest jump in this week’s poll, climbing seven spots after their win over Gonzaga. Southern California was next, moving up four spots to No. 16 following wins over Utah and Washington State last week. BYU had the biggest drop, losing 12
spots to No. 24 after losing to Utah State in overtime and scraping past Missouri State 74-68. Florida lost six spots to No. 20 following a sevenpoint loss to Oklahoma. HELLO AND GOODBYE Ohio State moved back into the Top 25 after its win over Duke. The Buckeyes had dropped out of the November 22 poll following a loss to Xavier. No. 25 LSU is ranked for the first time
Tennessee women back in top 10 of AP Top 25, SC still No. 1 By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer TENNESSEE is back in the top 10 of The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll for the first time in nearly three years. The Lady Vols, who moved up two spots to No. 9 yesterday, haven’t been in the top 10 since December 31, 2018. For years, Tennessee set the standard in the poll, appearing in the first 10 spots for 212 consecutive weeks from March 10, 1997, to December 18, 2008. Only UConn has a longer streak in the history of the poll; the third-ranked Huskies were ranked in the top 10 this week for the 312th consecutive time. South Carolina remained a unanimous No. 1, garnering all 30 votes from a national media panel. N.C. State was second, breaking a tie with UConn. Stanford and Baylor rounded out the top five. Duke, LSU and Colorado all returned to the rankings this week for the first time in a few years. The Blue Devils, who upset then-No. 9 Iowa in the Big Ten/ACC challenge, joined at No. 19. It’s the first appearance in the Top 25 under coach Kara Lawson, who took over the program last season.The Blue Devils, who were last ranked November 1, 2018, are 8-0 this season. Duke played only four games last year before cancelling the rest of the season because of COVID-19 concerns. LSU (6-1) entered at No. 24 after beating then-No. 14 Iowa State last week. It’s the first time the Tigers are in the Top 25 under new
coach Kim Mulkey, who won three NCAA titles at Baylor before returning home. The Tigers were last ranked on December 2, 2019. “It’s a positive and shows these young players, ‘Hey, we’re headed in the right direction,’” Mulkey said. “We celebrate the little things. We’ll celebrate today. I’m going to show them.” Colorado (8-0) is No. 25, its first poll appearance since Dec. 26, 2016. “It means everything,” Buffaloes coach JR Payne said of getting ranked. “We’re excited to be here and want to keep climbing.” Oregon dropped out of the poll, ending a streak of 80 consecutive weeks ranked dating to the preseason poll in 2017 that was the sixth-longest active streak. Florida State and Florida Gulf Coast also fell out. GOING STREAKING Tennessee’s long run in the top 10 would go back even further if not for finishing the final poll of the 1997 season at No. 11. Before that, the Lady Vols were in the top 10 every week since the final poll of the 1986 season. CLIMBING COUGARS BYU, which entered the poll last week, jumped five spots to No. 16. It’s the best ranking ever for the school. BYU will be tested at Oklahoma on Friday. STATS OF THE WEEK Before Duke’s win over Iowa, teams ranked in the top 10 had been 47-0 against unranked opponents. ... Aliyah Boston made 22 of her 24 shots from the field this week in wins over North Carolina A&T and Kansas State,
FIBA FROM PAGE 16 Playing out of Group C, the Bahamas is currently winless at 0-2 with the USVI, while Canada and the Dominican Republic are 2-0. The Bahamas will take on the USVI in their most pivotal game on February 24, 2022 before they go on to face the Dominican Republic on February 27, 2022. That will set the stage for the third and final window when the Bahamas will have its second matchup against the USVI on July
JORDAN Walker (4) of Tennessee drives while defended by Virginia Tech’s Georgia Amoore (5) in the first half of an NCAA college women’s basketball game in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Sunday. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP) and she averaged 25 points, 15.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. GAME OF THE WEEK No. 8 Maryland at No. 1 South Carolina, Sunday.
1, 2022, and its final match against the Dominican Republic on July 4, 2022. The Bahamas will have to emerge as one of the top three teams from their group to qualify for the second round of the tournament where the 12 teams that qualify will be divided into two groups of six. The three best teams from each group, and the fourth-placed team, will qualify to the FIBA World Cup 2023 that will take place August 25 to September 10 in multiple countries for the first time. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will qualify teams
The Terrapins will be the latest challenge for the Gamecocks, who have already beaten top-five teams N.C. State and UConn this season.
directly for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games or through 4 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. Against Canada, Johnson said they were only able to assemble the team in time in two practices before their first game because of players coming from different parts of the world. “It’s going to be virtually important as we prepare for the next window that we spend at least 5-6 days with the entire team so that we can put in the plays necessary to ensure that we are successful.” Once they can get through to the second round, Johnson said they expect to have the services of
Maryland rebounded from a pair of losses in the Bahamas to North Carolina State and Stanford with wins over Miami and Rutgers.
Golden State Warriors’ assistant coach Chris DeMarco, who is the head coach for the team. Additionally, he said they anticipate that NBA players Chavano “Buddy” Hield, Deandre Ayton and Kai Jones, along with some of the veteran players in the European League, will be available to represent the country. The goal, he said, is to qualify for the World Cup for the first time and then take a shot at earning the rights to compete in the Olympics. With the players available, Johnson said they can do it. They just have to assemble them on the team at the same time.
in nearly two years after stretching its undefeated start to eight games with a win over Ohio last week. Memphis dropped out of the poll from No. 18 after stretching its losing streak to three games with losses to Georgia and Ole Miss. Michigan fell out from No. 24 after scoring 51 points in a 21-point loss to North Carolina. The Wolverines had been as high as No. 4 on the list this season.
BOWLEG FROM PAGE 16 understands the need to have an active sporting programme, which brings a lot of relief and less stress to those persons who can also benefit from an entertainment and economical standpoint. “With the event in Grand Bahama, persons were able to watch it online and the student-athletes and coaches were happy to be back on the court, doing what they love, as they entertained the fans,” Bowleg said. “So with it being properly policed by the COVID19 officers, the necessary regulations were adhered to, which means that it can be done,” Bowleg said. “So we’re looking for more associations and federations getting their sporting events off in the next couple of weeks.” With Grand Bahama getting off the ground this weekend, there have been a few basketball tournaments and other low-key sporting activities in New Providence, which showed the fact that the country is slowly getting back to some type of normalcy. “GSSSA has presented their proposal and I’ve met with BAISS,” Bowleg said. “They have made it clear their intention to provide the necessary protocols to be able to resume their competitions. “The associations, which I call the night league, have also done the same, including the Bahamas Basketball Federation. They have been given their approvals from the Ministry of Health, so it’s up to them adhering to the protocols that have been put in place.” One of the main criteria for their sporting activities to take place is to ensure that the athletes and officials produce negative rapid testing results on a regular basis. “If those rules are adhered to, I’m sure that we will be on the road to having sports returned to its rightful place in the Bahamas,” Bowleg said. “It’s up to those associations who have been granted permission to work on their time frame to resume their activities. “There’s no blockage for any sporting body to perform. It’s opened, but they must proceed with caution as they work towards getting restarted. So we anticipate that those who have not had any activity yet, will be working towards restarting in January.” As far as the schools are concerned, both the GSSSA and BAISS may be hampered from the fact that they are working towards a full return of their students in the classroom after the focus before the start of the new school year in September was on virtual classes.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, December 7, 2021, PAGE 15
Dolphins hit their bye week, and some aren’t eager to stop By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer MIAMI GARDENS, Florida (AP) — Mark it down: The Miami Dolphins will not win a game this week. Bye weeks are undefeated. And, at least in some corners of the Dolphins locker room right now, they’re also unwanted. The Dolphins beat the New York Giants 20-9 on Sunday to run their winning streak to five games, continuing to eradicate some of the stench from the sevengame losing streak that immediately preceded this run of victories. They’re rolling right now, which explains why some players sound like they would happily forgo the four-day break from official team activities that starts Thursday. “Me personally, I’d rather just keep going,” Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker said. “We’re hot right now.” Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a slightly different perspective. “I understand what Bake’s saying,” Tagovailoa said. “I think it goes both ways. You take some time off, but you’re not really taking time off.” For starters, it’s not really a “bye week.” It’s more like a bye half-week, and that’s just from the physical side of football. Tagovailoa said the mental work would continue, and coach Brian Flores and players were in the facility yesterday. They’ll do a walk-through on Wednesday, Flores said. From there, the minivacations can begin. Players and coaches, if they so choose, head out of town for some relaxation. Some may just stick close to home; after all, a recent cool snap is ending and temperatures in Miami by the end of the week will be in the low-to-mid 80s. “Our guys have got to be smart,” Flores said. “They’ll have some time off, but my big message to
them is be safe, spend some time with your family, go, enjoy yourself, relax -- but be safe. That’s the big thing. Enjoy yourselves. They’ve earned it, but be safe.” Some found it puzzling that the Dolphins didn’t want their bye week after playing in London earlier this season. In the 60 instances to that point of a team playing in London since the NFL began its International Series in 2007, 55 had a bye week to follow. The Dolphins went a different route, as they did once before. They kept working and, eventually, got on a winning streak. “A lot was made of that and, I think, maybe opinions are different now,” Flores said of not having the post-London bye. “I don’t know. But like I said then, this is the schedule we have and we’re just going to play it out. It’s good to have some time right now for us to reassess, re-evaluate, and for the players to get some rest.” WHAT’S WORKING Miami’s defence has given up 55 points in the five-game winning streak. The Dolphins have yielded only four touchdowns in those games, and one of those was an easy one set up by Cam Newton connecting on a 64-yard pass. Otherwise, field goals, turnovers or punts have been the end result of almost all opposing drives. WHAT NEEDS HELP The Dolphins were 6 for 14 on third downs against Carolina, then 6 for 15 this past week on third downs against the Giants. Those numbers are OK, certainly not bad, but in tougher games down the stretch sustaining drives might be crucial. STOCK UP LB Jaelan Phillips. He’s the first Dolphins player since Cameron Wake in 2015 to have at least two sacks in back-to-back games. He’s the first rookie to do so for Miami since Marco Coleman in 1992.
STOCK DOWN K Jason Sanders. He’s up to six missed field goals this season, though Sanders made a big one at the end Sunday to put the game away. At 74 percent for the season, he’s on pace for his
least-accurate year in the four he’s spent with Miami. INJURIES WR Will Fuller gets another week now to try and get back on the field. The Dolphins aren’t sure of the status of RB Patrick Laird, who left Sunday’s
game with a knee injury. “We’re going to have a little extra time to let guys heal. We’re still running some tests and we’ll see where that is,” Flores said. KEY NUMBER 1 — number of teams that started 1-7 and then
reached 7-7. That would be the 1974 Jets. The Dolphins will try to join that club when they play the Jets in their next game. NEXT STEPS After this week off, the Dolphins play host to the Jets on December 19.
SPORTS PAGE 16
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021
Ayton scores 14 in win By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Paul had 21 points and 10 assists, Jae Crowder added a season-high 19 points and the Phoenix Suns held off the San Antonio Spurs for a 108104 win last night. The ageless Paul had multiple highlights in the final few minutes, helping the Suns become the first team to 20 wins this season. The 36-year-old Paul made his presence felt on defence with a stellar play, poking the ball away from a driving Dejounte Murray, who was about to score on a fast break with 1:30 left that would have cut the Phoenix lead to one point. Instead, the ball deflected off Murray and
Suns 1st team to 20 victories out of bounds. The 11-time All-Star added a 16-foot jumper seconds later while being fouled. Paul converted the free throw for a three-point play and a 108102 lead. Phoenix was playing its first game since having its franchise-record 18-game winning streak snapped against Golden State on Friday. The Suns didn’t appear fazed by the setback and won for the 19th
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NFL, Page 13
MINISTER: GSSSA HAS PRESENTED A PROPOSAL ‘AND I’VE MET WITH BAISS’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
SPURS guard Dejounte Murray (5) shoots over Suns centre Deandre Ayton, left, during the first half last night in Phoenix. Ayton posted 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a block but he had five turnovers in 35 minutes. (AP Photo/Ross D Franklin)
‘Tiger’ Sighting: Woods greets fans
LEGENDARY golfer Tiger Woods waves to fans during the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, on Sunday. SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 11 Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
AFTER watching the successful hosting of the Island Luck Cares Foundation senior and junior boys’ basketball tournament over the weekend in Grand Bahama, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said he doesn’t see why the same can’t be done in New Providence. With all major sporting activities put on hold since the coronavirus pandemic outbreak in March, 2020, very few sporting bodies have been able to reactivate their normal sporting functions, based on the protocol measures put in place. But Bowleg said he had the opportunity to meet with the executives of both the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association and the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) with the view of resuming competition in 2022. “It wasn’t so much the return of sports, but what was so amazing was the fact that the student-athletes were happy to know that they could get involved in some type of physical activity that would allow them to get their mental minds and physical bodies in state of being able to compete again,” he said. “That in itself shows that we want to have a healthy mind and body in this country and sports is one of those vehicles in the country that we need to ensure that persons do not have any mental stress because of the unavailability to perform and live in some type of normalcy.” As a former player, coach and administrator in basketball, Bowleg said he
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Johnson looks ahead to next round of FIBA WCup ‘23 Qualifiers By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net HE was elevated from being an assistant coach to the head coach of the Bahamas Basketball Federation men’s national basketball team for the first round of the first window of the FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers. But after losing their first two games to Canada on neutral grounds in Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic, Moses Johnson said he’s confident that the team will be in a better position going into the second round. “The first time experience was awesome. It was a rewarding one to represent the country as the new head coach after being on the sidelines with the team in the past,” Johnson said. “Standing out front was nothing new, no jitters. I was just eager to get to
work and to see what the team would produce. So it was something that I was looking forward to. It was a humbling experience as well, seeing the level of competition that we faced and we were right up there with them.” The team, led by the trio of Travis Munnings, Mychel Thompson and Domnick Bridgewater, fell to Canada 115-73 in the opener and 113-77 in game two of the back-to-back meetings. The other members of the team were Michael Carey Jr, Shakwon Lewis, JR Cadot, Kemsy Sylvestre, Willis Mackey Jr, Rashad Davis, David Nesbitt, Mark St Fort and Kentwan Smith. Moses, who was assisted by Eleuthera’s former NBA player Dexter Cambridge, admitted that whenever they step on the court, the Bahamas has to produce its best team in order to stand a chance against their rivals. “Our guys were able
BAHAMAS Basketball Federation senior men’s national basketball team. to stand with them, but we got a little fatigued at the end when they made their runs,” Johnson said. “We were able to stand tall with one of Americas’ elite, so it
was a rewarding experience for me. “They knew that the Bahamas is not a pushover, having taken the United States to the limit, taking
Puerto Rico to the limit and berating Mexico, teams know that they can’t just bring any team, but they have to bring a team that will be very competitive
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 - NOON THOMAS A. ROBINSON NATIONAL STADIUM VS.
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when they play against the Bahamas,” Johnson said. “So we have to match the quality of the teams that we play against. The Americas are now bringing their best, so we have to match up by trying to get our best to compete.” When he talks about the best, Johnson said they will need players like the Coleby brothers, DeShon Taylor, Tavario Miller and Danrad Knowles, who were unavailable for one reason or the other. “We hope to have some of these guys available when we play the February window, which is going to be very critical for us,” Johnson said. “That will separate the teams and so we will need to win at least one, if not all two of the games we play against the US Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic.”
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