04292024 NEWS AND SPORT

MINNIS: THE NATION WILL KNOW IF I RUN

• Former leader does not support one-day convention

• Bannister says planned FNM event is a ‘farce’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister

Mr Bannister said if Dr Minnis runs for leader, he will be “on the frontline” to support him.

Dr Minnis, however, has not confirmed his plans.

Dr Hubert Minnis does not support his party’s decision to host a one-day convention in June, saying this does not give the Free National Movement enough time to showcase its talent and policies. Former Deputy Prime Minister Desmond Bannister went further, calling the planned one-day convention a “farce”.

SEE PAGE THREE

GBPA BRACES FOR GOVT TO LAUNCH ARBITRATION

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) is bracing for the Government to formally initiate arbitration proceedings as early as this week after talks failed to break the deadlock over the latter’s $357m demand. Tribune Business understands that last-ditch talks involving attorneys representing both sides made little headway in resolving the dispute over whether Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority owes such a sum.

Volunteers battle Abaco fires

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

VOLUNTEER firefighters spent over 30 hours battling a number of fires that erupted in Marsh Harbour and Spring City on Friday.

“Everything is under control now,” said Roscoe Thompson, chairman of the Marsh Harbour/Spring City Township, yesterday. “No homes were destroyed, no businesses were lost.

TWO DEAD IN ELEUTHERA AS CAR HITS TREE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were killed in a traffic accident in North Eleuthera on Saturday when the driver lost control of his vehicle and ran into a tree. The car was travelling north on King’s Highway in Upper Bogue, Eleuthera, when it exploded on impact.

The two rear-seat passengers escaped, but the two front-seat passengers died in the blaze, with their charred remains recovered by local volunteer firefighters.

“And then in Spring City, no homes or businesses were destroyed, but one derelict building from Dorian did catch from the bush, but it was an old derelict building.”

“From the one at the old government clinic, it did burn up into the back of Sweeting’s Village, Vision Heights and some businesses along the way, the Kidney Centre, The Zone behind the Methodist church, places like that, but no buildings lost.”

The two survivors were airlifted to New Providence. The incident comes days after traffic officials expressed concern about the rate of traffic fatalities so far this year, which is outpacing last year’s rate.

FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

Photo: Dante Carrer

Volunteers battle Abaco fires

from page one

At least four blazes were tackled by firefighters over the weekend. Fire Chief Danny Sawyer had earlier told The Tribune a fire erupted at a Disaster Reconstruction Authority site “where they had all the hurricane domes stored in trailers, and it burned up into the back of Spring City”.

Mr Thompson said although police and Defence Force officers helped, there was little government assistance.

“We don’t rely on government,” he said.

“The only thing that I don’t like, where government could help us out, is some of the heavy equipment operators, getting them to help with pushing a fire break before it jumps.”

MIDNIGHT SHOOTINGS LEAVE TWO PEOPLE DEAD

TWO fatal shootings took place on Sunday, resulting in the death of a 27-year-old man and what is believed to be a male juvenile.

Both incidents took place shortly after midnight.

The first incident took place on Graham Drive, Yellow Elder Gardens.

Police said the 27-year-old victim was inside a residence talking with a sibling when they heard a knock on the door. On opening the door, a man known to the family produced a firearm, shot the victim multiple times and fled. Emergency medical

technicians responded and confirmed there were no signs of life.

The second incident took place at Royal Palm Estates subdivision off Cowpen Road.

It is reported that a 41-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman were at their home when they heard a knock at their door. On opening the door, an unknown man forced himself into the home along with an accomplice.

The homeowner confronted the suspects and in a struggle managed to disarm one of the suspects

and then shot him multiple times. The second suspect briefly exchanged gunfire with the homeowner before he fled hunharmed.

The alleged suspect, believed to be a juvenile male, was taken to hospital with multiple gunshot wounds to his body but succumbed to his injuries.

While investigating the scene, police found a large quantity of suspected marijuana and a firearm containing ammunition and arrested the 41-year-old man. The drugs weighed 705lb with an estimated street value of $705,000.

SCENES from Abaco over the weekend as firefighters tackled a series of blazes.

A COURTESY call was paid on Prime Minister Philip Davis by members of the Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network and a top scientist from the National Center for Atmospheric Research. From left, director of meteorology and senior vice president BACSWN Trevor Basden, NCAR scientist Prof Roelof Bruintjes, Prime Minister Philip Davis, Robert Carron, Minister of Agriculture Jomo Campbell and John Bostwick, co-counsel of BACSWN.

Graduation ceremony held for empowerment project

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE Community Empowerment Project hosted its first graduation ceremony at First Baptist Church where participants had taken classes, gaining skills in mathematics, English, baking, jewellery making, grooming, and straw plaiting.

St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright said that the programme aimed to enhance the skills of elders for their development and further contribution to their communities.

“It’s truly inspirational because it continues to remind us that no matter their age or where you are in your development that you have the opportunity to grow and to improve your skill set and your competencies,” he said.

“So this is something that is vitally important, this meshes with a number of things we’ve been doing in the constituency in terms of continuing education, so this is truly inspirational today.”

Education, Technical and Vocational Training Minister Glenys

Hanna-Martin spoke to the graduating class of more than 20 women, saying the programme came about when Carol Roach and Dr Nevelene Evans approached her with an idea to “fill a gap”

for people already out of school.

“They wanted to create a programme that would allow men and women in the community to be empowered and to be able to engage in the cottage

industry, self-sustaining, self-employment developing skill sets,” she said.

“They were impassioned, determined, and made the sacrifice to do what is necessary for what happens here today.”

Dr Joan Wilson, one of the instructors, said: “I have never seen such excitement

– if I had this 40 years ago when I was in the public schools I would’ve been blown away – but these people because they are actually getting a second chance, they are so excited, they are so hungry.

“They are doing homework, they’re asking for homework and they are working out those problems, they are getting through, and they are now learning concepts that they’ve never learned before, so now that they get it, they can pass this on to their children, their grandchildren and others in their home that they have influence over.”

ATTENDEES at the Community Empowerment Project graduation ceremony.

New leaders take on Haiti’s chaos

IT HAS been less than a week since the transitional presidential council was installed in Haiti, and the list of demands on the Caribbean nation’s new leaders is rapidly growing. Haitians want security, food, jobs — and they want them now.

The members of the council, tasked with with bringing political stability to Haiti, are under immense pressure to produce quick results, despite a deepseated crisis that has been years in the making.

Making Haiti safer is a priority. More than 2,500 people were killed or injured from January to March alone, and more than 90,000 have fled the capital of Portau-Prince so far this year amid relentless gang violence.

“The task is really monumental,” said Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia.

Gangs have burned police stations, opened fire on the main international airport that has been closed since early March, and stormed the country’s two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.

Gangs now control 80 percent of Portau-Prince, and though they have long depended on powerful politicians and the country’s economic elite for their survival, they are increasingly becoming self-sufficient.

“How you extricate yourself from that is very complicated,” Fatton said. “I don’t expect he presidential council to come up with a solution.”

However, the council could push for disarmament and find ways to ease poverty in the slums, he added. “Those gangs are simply not going to go away by simply saying, ‘We want you to be nice guys’.”

The nine-member council acknowledged the challenges it faces after it was sworn in early Thursday at the National Palace, located in an area in downtown Port-au-Prince that has been under attack by gangs in recent weeks.

Gunfire erupted during the ceremony as some officials looked around the room. Hours later, the new interim prime minister, Michel Boisvert, addressed the council.

“The task ahead is daunting,” Boisvert said. “I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the population expects a lot from you ... everything becomes a priority alongside security.”

How exactly the council plans to tackle the daunting tasks is unclear. Its members have met behind closed doors with top government officials as they prepare to choose a new prime minister, a Cabinet and a provisional electoral commission. They will also establish a national security council.

However, no strategy to quell gang violence has been publicly announced. Several council members did not return

messages seeking comment on Friday.

After the swearing-in ceremony, curious pedestrians slowed down as they passed by the building of the prime minister’s office.

Some were openly displeased.

“Thieves and gangs! That’s all they are!” yelled a man as he drove past on his motorcycle.

There wasn’t much hope at a crowded makeshift shelter set up at Haiti’s former Ministry of Communications — a building the government had abandoned due to gang violence.

Rose Hippolite, 66, was forced to flee her Port-au-Prince home with her four children after gangs raided their neighborhood. They have now spent two months in the yard of the ministry building, sleeping on the ground or sitting in a corner when it rains, waiting for the ground to dry out.

Gunshots ring out every day across the city. “We live in fear,” she said.

“Only God knows if the new leaders will help.”

Nancy Philemon, a 42-year-old mother of six children, sat under a large and tattered umbrella nearby, selling candy and other small items to shelter refugees.

“I don’t have any hope,” she said.

“Instead of things getting better, they are getting worse. ... There is no safe place anywhere.”

Haiti’s National Police remains largely overwhelmed by gangs that are better armed and have more resources. More than 15 officers have been killed by gangs so far this year.

Lionel Lazarre, general coordinator for the SYNAPOHA police union, told The Associated Press over the phone on Friday that the council must prioritize security “above everything.”

Police need so much, he said, including combat helicopters, armed vehicles, drones, high-caliber weapons and infrared thermal imaging for nighttime operations.

“It is important to us that the council meet with us urgently,” Lazarre said. “I believe if there is political will, we have hope things can change.”

There is hope because for the past three weeks, police have managed to prevent gangs from taking over the National Palace and multiple police stations, he said.

Fatton, the Haitian expert, said he heard predictions on the radio about how the council is doomed to fail “if things don’t change with the security situation.”

“They have a very short period of time to get their act together and get results,” he said.

By DÁNICA COTO Associated Press

Concerns over Bill on electricity

EDITOR, The Tribune.

KINDLY permit me to publicly express my views on the Electricity Bill, 2024, which would permit Bahamas Power and Light (BPL), or any electricity supplier, to set their own tariff rates for three years without approval from the Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA).

According to reports, this legislative initiative is connected with the government decision to enter a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with a company to manage the transmission, distribution and generation of electricity at BPL.

Unsurprisingly the government has yet to disclose whether such a PPP would involve a local or foreign entity or a combination of both and equally unsurprising, very little details were made public.

I accept that BPL is desperately in need of assistance, financial and otherwise. I also accept and appreciate why a private partner/investor would want some degree of flexibility and freedom in respect to rates it can levy, however I do not see the necessity or the wisdom in the government removing/ suspending regulatory oversight in the area of tariff imposition in the manner it did.

unbridled powers to implement tariff as they wish.

Whether BPL remains a single entity or is subdivided into three separate entities, does not lessen my concern, because whether operating separately or jointly, it will still be capable of employing monopolistic and commercially manipulative practices.

Also, it is extremely unwise to turn the country’s main electrical grid over to private interest and leave them unrestrained, especially in respect to rates that can be levied on citizens and the business community which is the life blood of the economy.

It is always the government’s responsibility to ensure that appropriate measures are in place, either through legislative enactment or by way of policy initiatives, to ensure that electricity and other essential utilities are efficiently produced and accessible to the users at a rate reasonably commensurate with its cost with an allowance made for any investing partner to recoup a reasonable return on investment.

to mismanagement, neglect and poor political decisions.

BPL is also just the latest in a number of troubling PPPs which carries a “foul odour” due to a lack of transparency and an almost contemptuous posture being displayed by the government when asked for information.

It was also reported, that under the bill, the Minister responsible for energy may by order, for a period of three years, adjust the tariff for any public electricity service provider based on the need of any category of persons stated in the order.

I appreciate that there ought to be some legislative provision in the bill to protect vulnerable persons and entities, and if it is the intent to accomplish this objective by empowering the minister, I still find it somewhat unwise and enormously troubling for a political figurehead to be so empowered.

And this is not intended to convey any personal disrespect or mistrust towards or ill intent on the part of the minister identified in the bill. Our society is just too politically polarised and any decision made will be met with political derision and contempt.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

VERY unusual for the PLP to copy the FNM but for some reason painting white the curbs along our roads is at full force everywhere Government employees are painting away. Is this finding jobs to lower unemployment just finding something to do even so inane. So fresh today but by a day or so the shining white curb is marked up - rubbed up by vehicles riding or brushing the curb - so really why paint the curbs anyway?

Shirley Street near Doctors Hospital might as well remove that pedestrian crossing and the new fancy solar flashing light because very, very few cars stop… see people needing to cross - no speed up and drive straight past. Put an undercover policeman you would fill the Treasury in two days!

Painting of pedestrian crossings most need urgent refreshing...if you want to paint things do them … the tampering strips, yellow, near Baha Mar - on Airport Highway so worn a joke you don’t see them or feel them the effect of warning the drivers is no longer... paint them if you want to paint, but this painting of curb is, oh so-colonial and to me a waste of time as in days the curb is black again which says a lot more.

Moral, stop wasting Treasury money on really stupid ideas.

PAULA MINNS Nassau, April 25, 2024.

If the intent was to provide a level of comfort for a prospective investor, it may have been more preferable to have an agreed upon set of metrics which would trigger a rate review and a corresponding adjustment. It is not prudent, in my view, to construct a legislative arrangement which gives the private partner

Irrespective of whether electricity is provided by private or public carriers, there ought to be oversight by a commission or a body, particularly in area of provisioning, allocation and tariff imposition.

As Bahamians we ought to be universally disturbed that BPL is one on a long list of PPPs involving essential public utilities and entities which have been brought about mainly, due

There are agencies well qualified and trained who can provide the representation required for those persons and entities who may need special attention and protection.

Having not read the bill, I would reserve further comments for the time being, however, given what has been made public thus far, the bill ought to be revisited.

CLAUDE B HANNA April 28, 2024

BPL must stay under URCA

EDITOR, The Tribune

TAKE the already high

had burn-outs every single appliance burnt from high voltage - thousands of dollars worth damaged and BPL will give you little or nothing and even then after a big fight.

BPL must remain under the ambit of price-fee schedule of URCA. BPL must increase damages for appliance burn outs.

BPL must stop low voltage. BPL must ensure that Government and its agencies are all compliant just like everyone else...no millions owed and only paid

when BPL can’t buy fuel. There is absolutely no way the Davis-Cooper Government should even think of taking BPL away from price scheduling...all that is coming very obviously is massive price hikes...crippling of the hotel industry across the country and every household. No - No, No BPL must stay under the ambit of URCA. This is a very sinister proposal.

25, 2024.

POPE Francis arrives for an audience with Hungarian pilgrims in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, on Thursday.

Photo: Alessandra Tarantino/AP

‘Stay vigilant’ over robberies

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander urged residents to stay vigilant and heed warnings to remain safe, following three armed robberies this week.

Police have repeatedly warned residents to be careful and not to put themselves in situations to be a target of crime such as – making business transactions with strangers in unsafe areas, not being aware of one’s surroundings, and failing to be extra cautious when driving at night.

“They have to listen to what we are telling them to save lives because we don’t want nothing to happen to nobody,” Commissioner Fernander told reporters on Thursday. “But they have to listen to the safety tips that we continue to say. We will just have to continue to patrol those areas and where we see people hanging out late, we will just have to ask them to please leave. But it’s a concern and we’re asking members of the public to please adhere

to our safety tips.” On Wednesday, a man was robbed after meeting up with a customer he met on Facebook. The armed robbery incident happened after 5pm in the area of Bangladesh Crescent off Carmichael Road. Police said the victim arranged a jewelry sale with an unknown man that he met on Facebook. Upon his arrival at the agreed location, he met the man dressed in all-black clothing who requested to see the jewelry item. The unknown man then reportedly produced a firearm and robbed him of several jewelry pieces before fleeing the area. People who are meeting up with others to sell items have been advised by police to utilise the services of the Royal Bahamas Police Force when conducting business transactions with strangers.

Commissioner Fernander added that business owners can also go to their local officers in their community if they have any safety concerns or need any assistance when securing their establishment at closing time. There were two other

NINE MONTHS’ JAIL FOR CAR BREAK-IN

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to nine months in prison on Friday after he admitted to breaking into a car on Baillou Hill Road last year and stealing hundreds of dollars worth of property.

Magistrate Raquel Whyms charged Stephen Wilkinson, 34, with two counts of stealing and damage each.

Wilkinson and an accomplice while on Baillou Hill Road and John Street reportedly broke into Teaneea Brown’s brown 2021 Suzuki Ortega through the right front glass window on November 13, 2023.

The suspects are said to have stolen $485 worth of property including a floral Kipling backpack, a black

Totto backpack and a black Alcatel tablet.

At that same date and place the defendant also reportedly broke into Verna Rolle’s green 2007 Diahatsu Terrios through the rear glass window. The suspects reportedly stole $709 worth of property from Rolle’s vehicle including a Gold Pulse watch, a purple S20 Samsung phone, perfume, a driver’s license, $50 cash and a handbag and purse set.

While the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of stealing and damage each, he pleaded not guilty to the remaining two charges.

Wilkinson was sentenced to nine months in prison for one car break-in and is expected to return for trial for the outstanding charges on June 16.

PREGNANT WOMAN DISCHARGED AFTER ADMITTING TO SLAPPING

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A VISIBLY pregnant woman was granted a conditional discharge on Friday after she admitted to slapping another woman last week.

Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr charged Shameka Colebrooke-Sweeting, 28, with causing harm.

The defendant reportedly slapped Barbara Kelly Rolle after the two got into argument over children on April 21 in New Providence.

Following her guilty plea, the defendant was ordered to compensate the complainant $500 or risk six months in prison.

The defendant is expected to return to court for a report on May 2.

GUN POSSESSION ACCUSATION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail after he was accused of having a loaded gun in New Providence last month.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville charged Anthony Klonaris, 27, with possession of an unlicenced firearm and possession of ammunition.

Klonaris was allegedly found with a brown Glock .380 pistol along with four rounds of .380 ammunition on March 24.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution objected to bail, but it was granted to Klonaris at $7,000 with one or two sureties.

His trial begins on October 27.

Tonique Lewis represented the defendant.

MAN JAILED OVER $1,600 DRUGS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to nine months in prison on Friday after he admitted to having $1,600 worth of drugs last week.

Magistrate Raquel Whyms charged father Wittington Kelly, 65, and son Devon Kelly, 28, with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

The pair were reportedly found with 1lb and 6oz of marijuana on April 25 in New Providence.

Devon was the sole defendant to plead guilty to his charge, while his coaccused entered a not guilty plea. The charges against Wittington were withdrawn after his son was sentenced to a nine-month prison term.

armed robberies occurred this week.

A man and woman were robbed in a parking lot at West Avenue around 11pm on Wednesday. According to preliminary reports the pair were inside a purple Honda Fit L/P #DA5651 in the parking lot of a business establishment when they were accosted by three unknown men in a white Mitsubishi Bus. Two of the men were armed with handguns as they robbed the victims of their vehicle and

personal belongings.

On Thursday, a man and woman were also robbed shortly before 1am at Montague Beach. The pair were inside a gray 2013 Nissan Note when they were confronted by two unknown men, one of whom was armed with a firearm. It is reported that the culprits robbed them of their vehicle and personal belongings before they fled the area, traveling east along East Bay Street, making good on their escape.

POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander earlier this month. Photo: Dante Carrer

Game on for FNM

...but will party make most of convention?

By TYLER MCKENZIE

THE FNM has named the date for the convention that should take it through to the next election.

For the party, it is a chance to set the table and, more importantly, clear out the behind the scenes arguments that have plagued the party.

The question is, will the party take advantage of that? And be able to make the most of the stumbling by the PLP most clearly shown of late by the Prime Minister’s inability to come up with any kind of good answer on marital rape legislation.

We’ll come to the PLP in a moment – but for now the focus is the other party, the FNM, although sometimes that seems to have been two parties in recent times, one led by Michael Pintard, the other led by former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

The mess that has been the Richard Johnson saga epitomises the party’s troubles. Court cases, an alleged assault outside the party headquarters, allegations from Mr Johnson that party leaders were involved in the physical attack… the whole thing is a mess.

Mr Johnson is a supporter of Dr Minnis, and has frequently criticised the FNM’s leadership. The back and forth reached such a point that even a Supreme Court judge had to tell the party to cut it out.

Justice Deborah Fraser, just over a year ago, ruled that Mr Pintard, party chairman Dr Duane Sands and Mr Johnson should not personally attack each other or other FNM members in public until she ruled on Mr Johnson’s lawsuit against the FNM leaders. Mr Johnson was seeking $500,000 in damages after being barred from FNM council meetings. A quarter of a million of that was being sought for “mental distress”.

So if we are expecting the FNM to gather round on June 1 and sing kumbaya, we are probably going to be off the mark.

The convention needs to

be done. Of that there is no doubt. The question of who should lead the FNM needs to be settled – but so do questions of other roles in the party.

For the leadership question, there is the obvious speculation as to whether Dr Minnis shall indeed challenge Mr Pintard for the top spot.

That may be the likely challenge for people to consider inside the party, but for the public, that battle is between the man they kicked out of office and the man who has struggled to make his mark as leader since.

I have lost count of the number of times the FNM has largely agreed on a PLP policy but tried to make noise about how they would just do it differently. By now, we ought to have a clear idea of what Mr Pintard believes in, what policies he would wish to drive forward, and how his premiership would differ from those who went before him. We do not.

Dr Minnis has a better instinct for catching public attention and a sharper way of making points – but he was dumped from office by a large margin, and I have not heard any voices pining for his return. A lot of people will never forgive him for not just his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, but for his manner in that period, when he seemed aloof, if not arrogant.

I do not know who is telling him that the people want him back – but if they are the same people who advised him to call an early election only for him to get kicked out, he might want to be careful of such advice. Perhaps the question should not be will Dr Minnis challenge Mr Pintard, but rather who else should lead instead of either one.

Dr Minnis, of course, has ridden the rough waters of leadership battles before – his split from the Rebel Seven led by Loretta Butler-Turner left a rift in the

FNM that has never fully healed.

The ideal scenario for the FNM would be that it emerges unified from the convention and with its team ready to go as the election countdown clock begins.

The worst case scenario would be for the party to go through convention, with all of the cost attached and so on, only to wind up right back where we are, with a party still divided and with sniping and battling going on behind the scenes.

For the party, this convention needs to clear the air. Whoever loses should back the winner, and if they don’t, then they should not expect a nomination. All in. Or all out. There has been little sign so far that such an outcome would be likely.

The irony for the FNM is that having gone from a landslide defeat in the last election, they are being given plenty of chances by the PLP to make inroads

with the voting public.

Brave Davis managed to take a report by the US correctly identifying that women do not have equal rights in The Bahamas and so badly handle it that he ended up saying that women are “ruling us, man” and saying that in public service “more than 80 percent are dominated by females. Look in the industry”.

He went on to say that “men have become endangered species in this country” in what seemed to be a reference to the number of young men that are victims of crime but which was so poorly expressed that you have to solve that statement like a puzzle.

He has repeatedly failed to come to a clear statement on marital rape legislation, seemingly his latest trick being to say that it is not in his blueprint from the election countdown, when actually a commitment to equality for women is in there, while other things the

government has done are nowhere to be found in the document.

Then there is the fact that after committing in his very first speech as Prime Minister to lifting the “veil of secrecy”, we seem to be lacking transparency as much as ever – be it on government contracts, also criticised in that US report, or the Freedom of Information Act that never seems to be coming our way, the failure to even respect the basics of public disclosures, or busily putting the legislation in place for an overhaul of BPL without telling people – or workers – what that overhaul will look like.

Add to that the number of people who feel that, despite boasts of record numbers in tourism, they are not gaining the benefit personally and the opportunity is there for the FNM to stage a strong election campaign.

But will they?

June 1 is not far away. It’s up to them.

KILLARNEY MP and former Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, Free National Movement deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright and Opposition Leader Michael Pintard during a sitting of the House of Assembly on April 17.

Photos: Dante Carrer

OPPOSITION Leader Michael Pintard during a sitting of the House of Assembly on March 6.

The costs of workplace violence too high to ignore

By MIRANDA KITTERLIN-LYNCH Florida International University

VIOLENCE and harassment on the job are all too common: More than 1 in 5 workers worldwide have experienced it, according to the International Labor Organization, with women slightly more likely to be affected than men.

In the US, more than 2 million workers face violence on the job each year – and those are just the cases that get reported.

The effects of workplace violence are profound, including physical and emotional suffering, destroyed careers and harm to companies and society. And it comes at a remarkable economic price.

Although estimates differ, researchers have put the cost of workplace violence

at as much as US$56 billion annually – and that’s likely an undercount.

As a professor who researches tourism, a field in which workers are often mistreated, I’m all too aware of the dangers of violence and harassment.

In this article, I’ll be following the International Labor Organization’s Convention No 190, which defines “violence and harassment” together as acts that “result in, or are likely to result in, physical, psychological, sexual or economic harm”.

SERVICE WORKERS ARE AT RISK

No industry is free of violence, but the problem is prevalent in the service sector. For example, in 2021, 10,490 violent crimes were reported in US restaurants. Up to 90% of women and 70% of men working in this field reportedly encounter some form of sexual harassment.

Similarly, a survey by the AFL-CIO found that 53% of hotel workers had experienced harassment on the job. From 2018 to 2020, the number of assaults in grocery stores rose 63%, while assaults in convenience stores rose 75%. Meanwhile, 3 in 4 health care workers report exposure to workplace violence.

At the same time, men of color and women of all races, who are at elevated risk of having already experienced discrimination, are overrepresented among service industry employees. These are the people who stand to benefit the most from a cultural change around workplace violence.

COMPANIES FAIL TO PRIORITISE SAFETY

A 2001 poll of executives by the insurance company Liberty Mutual showed that, on average, for every dollar invested in improving workplace safety, approximately $3 or more is saved. The potential for cost savings was made clear in another Liberty Mutual report published about two decades later. It found that on-the-job violence cost the health and social services sector nearly half a billion dollars in 2022 alone.

Despite this fact, only about 30% of businesses have established safety and health programs, according to the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In other words, companies are willing to shell out billions of dollars to deal with the effects of violence – lawsuits, insurance claims, staff turnover and property damage

– while failing to invest in prevention. The good news is that violence is now recognized by OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as a significant public health issue in many workplaces in the US. In many instances, industry and government are taking the issue seriously. But what can be done?

OPPORTUNITIES AND SOLUTIONS EXIST

Several big studieshave looked at the effectiveness of variousinterventions against workplace violence. By implementing preventive measures such as training programs, effective reporting systems and regular risk assessments, and by maintaining a healthy work environment, organizations can significantly reduce the threat of workplace violence. Research shows that a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging lens in the workplace helps create a feeling of safety and confidence that fosters security. Many employees will have experienced forms of discrimination in varying degrees of severity throughout their time in the workplace. By adopting a DEIB-informed approach and expressing cultural sensitivity, workplaces can become safer environments for everyone. It’s also crucial to have good data about the issue. Unfortunately, statistics on workplace violence are often siloed by industry – or even at the company level – and lack detail about important factors such as gender, age and disability. Without better data collection, researchers will continue to have an incomplete understanding of the problem. Finally, there’s a role for social enterprises in fighting workplace violence.

Speaking personally, in 2022 I became aware of a Chicago-based company, PAVE Prevention, which, using a human development approach, has developed organizational assessment tools to deliver curated human safety training. Their evidence-based approach encompasses a variety of interventions against workplace violence and works toward creating meaningful change in industries across the country. It will take robust cultural change to end harassment and violence in our societies, including in the workplace. But such change is possible. Using moral imagination, managers can lead businesses ethically and successfully. Profit doesn’t need to come at the cost of human well-being –or vice versa.

• Originally published on www.theconversation.com

Record support for UBFIT event

IN the largest-ever outpouring of support for UBFIT Nassau to date, more than 700 walkers, runners, bikers, and skaters recently participated in the 5K, 10K and 15K race courses through the streets of Nassau in support of health, wellness, and higher education.

The event on April 20 raised approximately $80,000.

“This is the largest ever group we’ve had for UBFIT since we started, and it’s very fitting that it’s our 50th anniversary and we’re getting the largest turnout, well over 700,” said UB president Janyne Hodder. “People are looking happy and celebrating. For us at UB, being in the community and a part of the community is who we are.”

Doctor’s Hospital Health

System is the three-year title sponsor, making a commitment of $71,000.

“It’s in keeping with our commitment to supporting community initiatives and supporting educational initiatives,” said Doctors Hospital marketing director Alexis Burrows. “When the UBFIT team came to us and said the donations and the proceeds from this event go back into the university, they help students, they help faculty, they help the overall experience at UB, it was a no brainer for us.”

There were also corporate booths and a display by the Bahamas All Stars Marching Band. UBFIT co-chair Kandice Weech said organisers were extremely grateful for the huge support for UBFIT 2024. “In our

seventh year of UBFIT, we are absolutely thrilled and grateful for the success of this year’s race,” said Ms Weech. “UBFIT has become a fitness fundraising staple in the country, and we can only see growth and future expansion in years to come. We look forward to seeing everyone in year eight, and we are grateful to everyone that participated, contributed and volunteered to make this race a success.”

Cerio Rolle, winner of the 5K run category, said UBFIT 2024 definitely lived up to the hype, while Kohen Kerr, said winning the 10K run category capped off a positive firsttime experience. UB’s assistant professor of mathematics, Dr Moussa Kounta, won the 15K running category.

BULLETPROOF VESTS DONATED TO ASSIST GRAND BAHAMA POLICE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND Luck has donated 15 bulletproof vests to the Royal Bahamas Police Force in Grand Bahama.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles, officer in charge of the Grand Bahama District, said the donation will help protect officers as they carry out their duties. The presentation took place on Friday at the Gerald Bartlett Police Headquarters in Freeport.

Derek Roberts, the security manager at Island Luck, said: “Our CEO, Sebas Bastian, COO, Adrianna Fox, and CFO, Dirk Simmons, were discussing ways to assist the men and women of the GB division of the

CORRECTION

RBPF. They acknowledged the commitment and dedication of the police officers who leave their families daily and nightly to protect us. They also realised that in order to protect us, the police officers have to be protected too.”

ACP Knowles said: “Our officers are expected to protect life and property, and it is certainly true that they should be protected in order for that to happen. These vests will be issued to officers in the different divisions in Grand Bahama.”

Ms Knowles said officers in Grand Bahama are now equipped with body cams in addition to bulletproof vests. She added the shot spotter technology has been very effective in Grand Bahama.

“Last weekend, Sunday

morning after 1am, the technology sounded, and we were able to respond very quickly and apprehend someone in possession of a firearm, so we know the technology is working very well here in Grand Bahama,” she said.

ACP Knowles believes that partnership with the corporate community is very important. She said: “As we reach our hands across the community, we hope that corporate partners will partner with us in making our community safer. I think it is very important that other corporate entities come on board. We are not looking for charity, but we certainly would accept help every now and then. This shows us that IL has the best interests of our officers in mind, and we are grateful for that.”

IN FRIDAY’S TRIBUNE, a picture in Diane Phillips’ column had an incorrect caption owing to a production error. The correct names in the photograph above should be Brittanaya Smith (daughter), Delores Knowles (mother and grandmother), Glen Smith (husband and farmer), Gabrielle Smith (great granddaughter) and Bridget Smith (wife of Glen Smith). We apologise for the error.

OVER BAHAMAS ASSAULT CLAIM

A CIVIL lawsuit against former Texas Tech basketball player Pop Isaacs was dismissed this week after he had been alleged in the assault of a 17-year-old girl during the team’s trip to The Bahamas in November.

Isaacs’ attorneys said in a statement on Wednesday that the parties to the lawsuit had agreed to dismiss “all claims that have, or could have been, alleged as against one another”.

The plaintiffs, the parents of the alleged victim, filed a motion for dismissal on Tuesday in a district court in Lubbock County, Texas, where the university is located. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, citing the dismissal document, said that motion was signed off later on Tuesday by the presiding judge in the case.

BEACHES SHUT AS SHARK ATTACK INJURES TOURIST

A SHARK attacked a British tourist on Friday off Tobago, prompting the government of Trinidad and Tobago to close seven beaches and a marine park. The man was in intensive care following the attack. The closure included beaches along the northwestern coast of the island of Tobago. The attack occurred at Turtle Beach along Great Courland Bay.

The government said in a statement that shark sightings were reported in the Grafton area and the Buccoo Reef Marine Park. Officials said the closures will allow the Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries to investigate the incident and “neutralise the shark threat, if possible”.

Biden and Netanyahu talk amid pressure on Israel and Hamas

TEL AVIV, Israel Associated Press

THE White House yesterday said US President Joe Biden had again spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as pressure builds on Israel and Hamas to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages and bring a ceasefire in the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza.

The White House said that Biden reiterated his “clear position” as Israel plans to invade Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah despite global concern for more than 1 million Palestinians sheltering there. The US opposes the invasion on humanitarian grounds, straining relations between the allies. Israel is among the countries US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit as he returns to the Middle East on Monday.

Biden also stressed that progress in delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza be “sustained and enhanced”, according to the statement. The call lasted just under an hour, and they agreed the onus remains on Hamas to accept the latest offer in negotiations, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn’t authorised to comment publicly. There was no comment from Netanyahu’s office.

A senior official from key intermediary Qatar, meanwhile, urged Israel and Hamas to show “more commitment and more seriousness” in negotiations. Qatar, which hosts Hamas’ headquarters in Doha, was instrumental along with the US and Egypt in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages. But in a sign of frustration, Qatar this month said that it was reassessing its role.

An Israeli delegation is expected in Egypt in the coming days to discuss the latest proposals in negotiations, and senior Hamas official Basem Naim said in a message to The Associated Press that a delegation from the militant group will also head to Cairo. Egypt’s

state-owned Al Qahera News satellite television channel said that the delegation would arrive on Monday.

The comments by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari in interviews with the liberal daily Haaretz and Israeli public broadcaster Kan were published and aired Saturday evening.

Al-Ansari expressed disappointment with Hamas and Israel, saying each side has made decisions based on political interests and not with civilians’ welfare in mind. He didn’t reveal details on the talks other than to say they have “effectively stopped”, with “both sides entrenched in their positions”.

Al-Ansari’s remarks came after an Egyptian delegation discussed with Israeli officials a “new vision” for a prolonged cease-fire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss developments.

The Egyptian official said that Israeli officials are open to discussing establishing a permanent cease-fire in Gaza as part of the second phase of a deal. Israel has refused to end the war until it defeats Hamas.

The second phase would start after the release of civilian and sick

hostages, and would include negotiating the release of soldiers, the official added. Senior Palestinian prisoners would be released and a reconstruction process launched.

Negotiations earlier this month centered on a six-week cease-fire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages held by Hamas in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

A letter written by Biden and 17 other world leaders urged Hamas to release their citizens immediately. In recent days, Hamas has released new videos of three hostages, an apparent push for Israel to make concessions.

The growing pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a cease-fire deal is also meant to avert an Israeli attack on Rafah, the city on the border with Egypt where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is seeking shelter. Israel has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles. The planned incursion has raised global alarm.

“Only a small strike is all it takes to force everyone to leave Palestine,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asserted to the opening session of the World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia, adding that he believed an invasion

would happen within days.

But White House national security spokesman John Kirby told ABC that Israel “assured us they won’t go into Rafah until we’ve had a chance to really share our perspectives and concerns with them. So, we’ll see where that goes.”

The Israeli troop buildup may also be a pressure tactic on Hamas in talks. Israel sees Rafah as Hamas’ last major stronghold. It vows to destroy the group’s military and governing capabilities.

Aid groups have warned that an invasion of Rafah would worsen the already desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza, where hunger is widespread. About 400 tons of aid arrived Sunday at the Israeli port of Ashdod — the largest shipment yet by sea via Cyprus — according to the United Arab Emirates. It wasn’t immediately clear how or when it would be delivered into Gaza.

Also on Sunday, World Central Kitchen said that it would resume operations in Gaza on Monday, ending a four-week suspension after Israeli military drones killed seven of its aid workers. The organisation has 276 trucks ready to enter through the Rafah crossing and will also send trucks into Gaza from Jordan, a statement said. It’s also examining if the Ashdod port can be used to offload supplies.

The war was sparked by Hamas’ attack on October 7 into southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities, who say another 250 people were taken hostage. Hamas and other groups are holding about 130 people, including the remains of about 30, Israeli authorities say.

Israel’s retaliatory assault on Hamas has killed more than 34,000 people, most of them women and children, according to health authorities in Gaza, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their tally.

The Israeli military blames Hamas for civilian casualties, accusing it of embedding in residential and public areas. It says it has killed at least 12,000 militants, without providing evidence.

WEINSTEIN BACK IN HOSPITAL AFTER APPEAL COURT RULING

NEW YORK Associated Press

HARVEY Weinstein’s lawyer said on Saturday that the movie mogul has been hospitalised for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.

Attorney Arthur Aidala said Weinstein was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after his arrival on Friday to city jails.

“They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. He’s got a lot of problems. He’s getting all kinds of tests. He’s somewhat of a train wreck health wise,” Aidala said.

Frank Dwyer, a spokesperson with the New York City Department of Correction, said only that Weinstein remains in custody at Bellevue. Thomas Mailey, a spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, said Weinstein was turned over to the city’s Department of Correction pursuant to the appeals ruling. Weinstein had been housed at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles northwest of Albany.

On Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals

vacated his conviction after concluding that a trial judge permitted jurors to see and hear too much evidence not directly related to the charges he faced. It also erased his 23-year prison sentence and ordered a retrial.

Prosecutors said they intend to retry him on charges that he forcibly performed oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and raped an aspiring actor in 2013.

Weinstein remained in custody after the appeals ruling because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

For some time, Weinstein has been ailing with a variety of afflictions, including cardiac issues, diabetes, sleep apnea and eye problems.

Aidala said he spoke to Weinstein on Friday afternoon after he was in transit to New York City from an upstate jail less than 24 hours after the appeals ruling, which was released Thursday morning. He said his client’s ailments are physical, adding that mentally he is “sharp as a tack. Feet are firmly planted on the ground.”

The lawyer said it usually takes state corrections and prisons officials a week or two to arrange to transport a prisoner.

MOURNERS pray over the bodies of Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Nuseirat, at the Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Saturday.

Photo: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

SPORTS

PAGE 15

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2024

Otabor, Cartwright win

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

While some of the top elite athletes took care of business in China and Bermuda, a number of collegiate and local athletes were in action in various meets in the United States of America.

It was a good showing over the weekend as some of these athletes will be here this weekend as

World Athletics brings the sixth edition of the World Relays back to the Bahamas after the fourth and fifth editions were held elsewhere.

Otabor and Cartwright double victory at Drake Strongwoman Rhema Otabor took the victory in the women’s javelin throw with a toss of 193-feet, 11-inches or 59.12 metres at the Drake Relays. Versatile Denisha Cartwright, in her senior year at Minnesota State, also

captured the victory in the women’s university/college 100m hurdles in 12.71, well ahead of junior Alexis Glasco of Kentucky, who did 12.96.

Angel Pratt, a junior at North Dickinson State, got eighth in the women’s 400m hurdles for universities and colleges in 1:01.26.

Hannah Antkoviak, a junior at Olivet Nazarene, won the event in 56.20.

Troynelle Miller from Nicholls Town, Andros, competing as a junior for

Central Arkansas State, was 11th in the 100m in 11.82, while Pratt was 29th in 12.04.

Charlton leading the way in Shanghai For the second consecutive meeting outdoors this season, Devynne Charlton bowed out to Puerto Rico’s Jasmine CamachoQuinn at the finish line in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Wanda Diamond League in Shanghai, China.

This time, CamachoQuinn took the tape in

12.63, followed closely by Charlton in 12.64.

Jamaican Danielle Williams made it a tight fit right at the end for third in 12,74.

World record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria got disqualified.

Sprinter Anthonique Strachan turned in her season’s best of 23.35 for sixth place in the women’s 200m.

Great Britain’s Daryll Neita held off a strong field

SEE PAGE 16

Remembering legendary boxer, coach Ray Minus Jr

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FROM the young to the old and a girl in between, a group of amateur and professional boxers put on a series of exhibition matches on Saturday night to help celebrate the one year anniversary death of legendary boxer/coach Ray Minus Jr.

It was April 27, 2023 when Minus Jr died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ASL), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, at the age of 58 and his daughter Rayshell Minus-Rolle said they were pleased with the support they got from the boxers and the general public at the National Boxing Gymnasium.

“I felt the show went well. It was the first Ray Minus Jr Memorial Boxing Show, but it will be an annual one and we will make it bigger and better,” she said. “We just wanted to get our feet wet and so it went well. It was a job done well by both the amateurs and the professionals.”

The amateur boxers all came from the stable of current national boxing coach Valentino Knowles, who trained the boxers at the National Boxing Gymnasium. He said he used his boxers in the exhibition because none of the other clubs participated in the show.

Some of the competitors were too young to know who Minus Jr was and there were more others who would have gleaned from his wealth of

SEE PAGE 17

THE SPORTS CALENDAR

April, 2024

‘JAZZ’ HITS HIS SECOND GRAND SLAM HOMER OF THE SEASON

MIAMI (AP) — Nick Senzel homered twice and drove in five runs as the Washington Nationals erased an early seven-run deficit to beat the reeling Miami Marlins 12-9 yesterday.

Trey Lipscomb and Jacob Youg had three hits while Alex Call reached base five times on two singles, two walks and a hit by pitch for the Nationals. The comeback was the Nationals’ largest since they overcame a 9-0 deficit to defeat the Marlins 14-12 on July 5, 2018.

The Marlins lost their sixth straight and fell to an NL worst 6-23. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit his second grand slam homer of the season for Miami, which is 2-14 at home.

SEE PAGE 18

REACH FUN RUN/WALK

ATTRACTS HUNDREDS FOR WORTHY CAUSE

THE Resources and Education for Autism and Related Challenges (REACH) non-profit organisation closed out Autism Awareness Month on a high note. Their annual fun run/ walk event, hosted at Montagu Beach, was the final awareness event for April and up to 300 participants showed up to support the worthy cause on Saturday.

Dwayne Gibson, chairman of REACH, was really appreciative of the support garnered from the public this time around.

“It feels good because it demonstrates that there is more understanding of the disorder and there is more willingness from people to

SEE PAGE 16

NPBA PRESIDENT: WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

A LITTLE over a week ago the New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) postseason ended with the Discount Distributors Rockets crowned as champions.

BASKETBALL NPWBA POSTSEASON THE New Providence Women’s Basketball Association completed its regular season last week and is gearing up for the start of the postseason on Tuesday at the DW Davis Gymnasium. Here’s a look at the final team standings in the regular season: 1. Elite Ballers - 10-1; 2. Foxxy Defenders - 6-5; 3. Sand Dollar Flyers

TRACK HURDLES CLINIC WORLD indoor 60m hurdles record holder Devynne Charlton is scheduled to host a free hurdles clinic for female 100m hurdlers immediately following the completion of the World Athletics’ sixth World Relays. Charlton, who will be representing the Bahamas on the women’s 4x100m relay team at the World Relays this weekend at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, will conduct the clinic in New Providence and Grand Bahama. The first segment of the clinic will take place on Monday, May 6 from 4-7pm at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Then on Tuesday, May 7, she will stage the second segment at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex at the same time. Gifts will be presented to the first 50 competitors to register from 4-4:30 pm at both stadiums or contact her father and coach David Charlton at 357-7829..

SEE PAGE 18

One of the main objectives for Smith going into the 2024-25 NPBA season is to continue to enhance the culture of the night league.

“We are trying to create a new culture. The NPBA has

Ricardo Smith, president of the NPBA, and his executive team have served at the helm for almost a year and he is looking to improve on the strides they have made this season both on and off the court. “I feel that we did a fairly good job in the first year. We are not gonna sit down and pat ourselves on the back because we have a lot of work to do. I think that we have made significant strides in some of the objectives that we have put together. I believe a lot of the work that has started, we must now do the necessary things to make sure that what we have planted was not planted in vain,” the NPBA president said.

to be a more professional organisation. We have to make better plans and strategise what we want to do with regards to making the organisation more profitable, making sure we attract more fans to venues and looking at where we are at as an organisation to make sure we are progressing and growing,” Smith stated.

Last summer, the newlyelected NPBA executive team listed 10 main objectives for their first year in office which included a plan to adopt a new marketing strategy.

For the upcoming season, the NPBA president is hoping to increase the promotion of the division one and two teams.

“You have to have a full marketing strategy and you cannot sit down and say you want people to come to the

RICARDO SMITH

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

JAZZ Chisholm Jr. celebrates after he hit a grand slam against Nationals yesterday. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

RAYSHELL Minus-Rolle receives an oil portrait of her deceased father, Ray Minus Jr, from artist Kermit Miller.

REACH Fun Run/Walk attracts hundreds for a worthy cause

want to support. The numbers are now 1:30, it is still prevalent in boys and is now impacting different families all over so they are being exposed to the disorder and I think that has allowed for persons to come out, share and participate in events like this,” Gibson said.

He is hoping that the record-setting number of participants helped to raise a lot of funds to sustain the initiatives for REACH.

“We tend to attract a large number of runners from various groups and a lot of walkers who want to stay healthy. We think we have broken a record in terms of the number of participants with almost over 300. The conditions were wonderful to run and walk. We are really hopeful that this was a strong fundraiser event for our organisation,” he said.

The fitness event brought out a number of persons who have relatives that are autistic.

Z Eve Maycock Dorsett, who was one of the event’s top finishers, is an avid supporter of the REACH non-profit organisation.

“I always participate with REACH because it is an organisation that I can recognise because I had an autistic brother. I always support them and I enjoy it every time I come out,” she said. As for the event, she found it very enjoyable.

“I enjoyed it fully. I came out and ran five miles and it was a very good race. I love it. I just came out and executed my race and came first overall. I cannot wait for next year,” Dorsett said. She was thankful to the non-profit organisation for giving kids diagnosed with autism a “fighting chance”.

Kendall Gibson, who is 22-years-old, supported the event for her brother.

“It feels really good and it makes me feel really happy that I am doing it for a good cause. I have a brother who is on the spectrum so I am doing it for him,” she said.

Gibson was happy to witness the growth in the number of supporters.

“It feels so good to see. Over the years it wasn’t that big of a crowd so to see that amount expand over the years was so good to see today, she said.

Liesl Hanna was another participant that felt her

participation was bigger than just running or walking.

“It was great. I like to support them every year. It is not just about walking and running but also to support them because I have a brother who has autism. I will always support them,” she said.

Hanna commended the REACH organisation for their efforts to raise awareness and support those with autism in the various communities.

“It was awesome because I think there were more people than last year. They do an awesome job. I didn’t know about REACH until they started the different events and activities but so

far they have been doing a good job,” she said. Individuals interested in keeping up with REACH can visit their R.E.A.C.H Facebook page or the www. reachbahamas.org website.

Otabor, Cartwright victorious at Drake Relays

FROM PAGE 15

of Americans for the win in 22.62. Anavia Battle got second in 22.99 and Sha’Carri Richardon was third in 23.11.

Both Charlton and Strachan are expected to be a part of Team Bahamas this weekend at the World Relays with Charlton in the women’s 4x200m and Strachan in the mixed 4x400m relay as both teams seek to qualify for the Olympic Games in August.

Laquan Nairn placed 10th in the men’s long jump with a leap of 7,48m on his third attempt. He scratched his first attempt and cleared 7.46m on his second. American Marcus Dendy took the top spot with his season’s best of 8.05m on his second clearance.

Charlton soars at LSU

While big sister was clearing the hurdles in China, little sister was popping a big jump at the Louisiana State University Invitational where she won the women’s long jump with a wind-aided leap of 22-1

FROM PAGE 15

gym. That has to be done well in advance so that you can pre-sell the season. A lot of what we have to do is sitting down with venues and finding out where we are playing on what day to figure out how to sell that to the public, businesses and to civic groups. We have to make sure we are

1/2 (6.74m) in her fourth attempt, Her only other legal mark was 21-10 3/4 (6/67m), which came on her second try. Nia Robinson of Nebraska led after popping 21-11 3/4 (6.70m) on her first attempt, but had to settle for second as Charlton roared back. Also at the meet was Camille Rutherford, who competed in the women’s invitational 100m where she was seventh in 11.22.

Aleia Hobbs and Favour Ofili, both of Tiger Olympians, came through in a photo finish in 10.78 for first and second, PENN RELAYS Stubbs leads the way for Queen’s College Taysha Stubbs saved her best for last as she won the girls’ javelin championship title with a toss of 154-9 (47.27m) on her sixth and final attempt as a few schools from Nassau and Grand Bahama participated in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

Annae Mackey was fifth in the girls discus

able to pre sell and upsell the league prior to its opening,” he said.

Smith acknowledged that there were a few shortcomings this season with regards to coverage but they want to take it a step further by establishing a NPBA media team.

“Everybody has seemed to lessen their coverage of local basketball and it’s sad. We are now gonna have to find money for advertising in the local media houses

championship with 137-6 (412.91); Robert Deal III was 14th in the boys’ discus throw championship with 152-0 (46.33m) on his second attempt; J’Kaiyah Rolle was 17th in the girls long jump championship with 16-8 1/2 (5.09m) and Alexander Komalafe didn’t clear the opening height of 5-3 in the girls high jump championship.

Everette Fraser, Ishmael Rolle, Rohman Rolle and Jonathaqn Harris placed fifth in the high school boys 4x100m international race in 42.33. The same team got 15th in the 4x100m heats in 42.61.

Also fifth in the girls 4x400m was the quarter of Kei-Mahri Hanna, Kristi Ford, Taylor Robinson and Akaree Roberts in 3:54.38.

Sarsha Wright, Rache Pantry, K’Leigh Davis and Jamiah Nabbie were 52nd in the girls 4x100m heats Zion Miller, Brandon Mackey, Kenny Moxey and Zion Davis were ninth in the 4x400m in 3:25.22.

In other individual events, Annae Mackey

and that is just the reality. You have to get the message out and while social media is good there is nothing that will ever replace mainstream media.

“We have to look at creating within our own organisation a media team that will be putting out information on a regular basis,” he said. Before the start of the 2023-24 NPBA season, the games were moved from long-time venue AF

was fifth in the girls discus championship with 137-6 (412.91); Robert Deal III was 14th in the boys’ discus throw championship with 152-0 (46.33m) on his second attempt; J’Kaiyah Rolle was 17th in the girls long jump championship with 16-8 1/2 (5.09m) and Alexander Komalafe didn’t clear the opening height of 5-3 in the girls high jump championship.

SAC

The Big Red Machine’s best showing came from the quartet of Darvinique Dean, Alexis Roberts, Bayli Major and Nya Wright as they won the high schools 4x400m relay in 4:55.83 over Grand Bahama’s Bishop Michael Eldon.

The boys team of Shevano Nixon, Eagan Neely, Jahcario Wilson and Morgan Moss posted a second place finish in the boys 4x400m heats in 3:22.85.

The team of Khylee Wallace, Dean, Zaria Stapleton and Wright was ninth in the girls 4x100m heats in 47.10

Despite the change in venue due to ongoing repairs at AF Adderley, fan attendance has been inconsistent.

During the offseason, the NPBA president is expecting teams to retool their rosters with the best talent available to display a more competitive brand of basketball for fans. “The teams have to now look at the

and in the girls 4x100m international event, the team of Stepleton, Dean, Wright and Roberts were also ninth in 48.88.

And Khalon Christie, Nijae McBridem Kion Burrows and Nijae McBride clocked 52.52, but it was only good enough for 93rd place in the boys 4x100m relay

Individually, the duo of Dior-Rae Scott and Kamara Strachan was seventh and eighth respectively in the girls javelin championships that was won by their rival Stubbs from QC. While Scott threw 138-5 (42.19m), Strachan did 137-4 (41.86).

Bayli Major placed ninth in the girls triple jump championship with a leap of 39-0 (11.89m) on her third attempt.

Bishop Michael Eldon Keyezra Thomas, Phoebe Thompson, Aaliyah Evans and Janiyan Rolle captured the top spot in the girls 4x100m heats in 48.55.

Evans, Thomas, Rolle and Thompson came in second behind SAC in the

new players coming on the scene. There are some of our division two teams that could have beaten some of our division one teams.

“It is now up to those teams to begin to recruit those players that could make the difference or could decide how better their team can improve on the floor.

“We are gonna be involved from an executive standpoint to find out what is happening with these teams, what is their personnel and look at records to determine if you continue with the team.

“People want to see a competitive brand of basketball,” he said.

Lastly, the executive team will look to implement a select team to

high school girls 4x400m in 3:59.54.

Thompson, Thomas, Rolle and Evans clocked 47.61 for sixth place in the high school girls 4x100m international race, ahead of SAC.

The quartet of Arcady Thompson, Havano Bridgewater, Jaiden Inbgraham and Alexander Coleby were 11th in the high school boys 4x400m relay in 3:54.12.

Coleby, Bridgewater, Ingraham and Thompson combined to run 47.02 for 76th in the 4x100m heats St John’s College William Minors, Jayden Cooper, Khyro McPhee and Mattias Brice finished 11th in the boys 4x400m championship in 3:40,79 and Garvin Josey, Jayden Cooper, Khyro McPhee and Matthias Brice combined for 37th in the boys 4x100m in 44.81.

Their girls’ 4x100m team of Kennedi Knowles, Ta’mia Taylor, Samiya Adderley and Payton Knowles got 98th in 51.84.

represent New Providence at national events.

The team will be selected by coaches and based on their season statistics.

“Next year we have to begin to kickstart some of the plans that we have put forward. We need to have a select team that is gonna travel internationally from division one and division two. There is a whole lot of work that we have to do to get where we need to be.

“A select team is a selection from all of the teams and the best of the best in the league. It will give everybody an opportunity. We will be looking next year to have the selected team travel,” he said.

The 2024-25 NPBA regular season will return this fall.

Adderley Gymnasium to the CI Gibson and Kendal GL Isaacs facilities.

Dunkin’ Donuts Bahamas, Rubis Bahamas and Caribbean Bottling Company partnered with REACH for the final event of Autism Awareness Month.

MAKING AN IMPACT - The REACH Fun Run/Walk event attracted hundreds of supporters over the weekend to close out a successful Autism Awareness Month.

MAKO AQUATIC SWIM CLUB CAPTURES THE TITLE AT HORIZON DISTRIBUTORS BLUE WAVES MEET

THE Mako Aquatic Swim Club captured the title at the Horizon Distributors Blue Waves Meet that was held at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex over the weekend.

Mako Aquatics Club accumulated a total of 1,428.50 points to beat out host Blue Waves Swim Club, who earned second place with 1,239. 50.

The Barracuda Swim Club was a distance third with 714 4.

The Lyford Swim Club got fourth with 338 5 and the Mantas Swim & Water Polo Club rounded out the top five with 294.

The Alpha Aquatics was sixth with 209, the Lightning Aquatics was seventh with 203; Black Marlins Swim Club was eighth with 151; the Freeport Aquatic Club was ninth with 47 and the Sea Waves Aquatic Team completed the ten-team field with two points. The top individual

performances in the various age groups are as follows: 8 & Under WomenAnthonique Rolle, Blue Waves Swim Club, 52; Zeni Dorsett, Blue Waves Swim Club, 48; Skyrah Chambers, Mako Aquatics Club, 46.8

& Under Men - Mason Hanna, Mako Aquatics Club, 59; Avyn Mckenzie, Mako Aquatics Club, 51; Ari Rolle, Mako Aquatics Club, 31. 9-10 Women - Isabella Munroe, Mako Aquatics Club, 63; Hannah Astwood, Mako Aquatics Club, 37; Cailyn Dean, Blue Waves Swim Club, 36. 9-10 Men - Logan Comarcho, Mako Aquatics Club, 57; Dylan Musgrove, Blue Waves Swim Club, 49; Kymani Cooper, Mako Aquatics Club, 47. 11-12 Women - Tiah Seymour, Mako Aquatics Club, 57; Nai’a, Belton, Mako Aquatics Club, 39; Summer Black, Lyford

WINNERS AWARDED AT 68TH NATIONAL FAMILY ISLAND REGATTA

Boxers fight in honour of legendary boxer, coach Ray Minus Jr

FROM PAGE 15

experience as a Bahamian and British Commonwealth bantamweight and lightweight champion, who fought three times for a world title shot.

Two of the latter boxers were Kenny ‘Bahama Pride’ Stubbs and ‘Marvellous’ Marvin Smith, who entertained the crowd in the final bout of the night in a three-round exhibition for one minute each round.

“Even though I am a grandfather now, I just had to push myself to get in some type of shape to help inspire some of the younger fighters,” said Smith, who made his return after last fighting in 2005.

“Somebody prepared the way for me and so I wanted to give them the exposure that I got. Ray was a good man. He was a nation builder. He gave up unselfishly to train a lot of people, including his brother, Kenny Minus, who beat me.”

Stubbs, who last fought in Nassau Village when he took on Smith and Minus Jr, went up against his arch-rival Quincy ‘ThrillA-Minute’ Pratt, said it was good to be back in the ring.

“I took a little while to get adjusted, but it was a good fight,” Stubbs said.

“We did it for Ray. He was the first coach who trained me. People may not know, but Marvin Smith introduced me to Quincy, who introduced me to Ray Minus Jr.

Another pro exhibition was between Anthony ‘Pyhso’ Woods and Lionel Bain. What it ended up being was an all-out brawl between the two fighters.

“He came to fight and so I had to make it a real fight,” said Bain, who apologised to the referee, who slipped and fell trying to avoid one of the punches thrown at Woods.

Woods said Bain started it first.

“He should know better. I ain’t scared of nobody,” Woods said. “I was ready. I wanted to do this for Ray Minus Jr, the old coach. I couldn’t let him beat me even though it was just an exhibition.”

In making her debut in the ring, 15-year-old

Hannah Cartwright stopped Huel Hanna in the second round after he received four standing eight-counts by referee Vincent Strachan, two in the first and two in the second.”

“I feel like he could have hit me, but he didn’t want to because I was a female,” said Cartwright, an 11th grader at RM Bailey who was first introduced to

boxing by her step-father Monty Barr, who encouraged her to defend herself.

“I was definitely disappointed that he didn’t even try to hit me. I could take a blow, but I hope I can get a rematch with him and he comes after me and hits me with a blow.”

Hanna, a 16-year-old 11th grader at Government High, said he was put in the ring against a girl and there was no way he was going to attack her, claiming that “it was awkward, but I don’t hit girls.”

All of the other bouts were between boys in the amateur segment of the show.

Anthony Bastian, a 17-year-old Government High student, took advantage of his opportunity to seal the deal against his opponent, Lariko Baker. He admitted that it ended quicker than he anticipated.

“I felt like I was underestimated, but I knew my

performance was good,” he said. “I was so into the fight, I really didn’t know what happened.”

In another fight that was stopped, Mario Goddazd, a 17-year-old 12th grader at Galilee Academy, admitted that he made a mistake by not putting up his hands after he got an eight-count from referee Strachan.

“As you can see, I was beating him, I was beating him, but I got caught off balance and I fell and the referee thought I was knocked down and he started to give me the eight count,” he said.

“I was so focused on winning the fight in that third round, but with it being an exhibition, I didn’t know he was going to stop it because I didn’t raise my hands. But I wish I could fight him again.”

Dario Smith, a 15-yearold 11th grader at Government High, said it was an exhibition so he

didn’t want to show his opponent everything he had in his package. “I just wasn’t fighting at my full potential. I was just throwing some light punches,” he said. “It was an exhibition and so I wasn’t throwing a lot of punches.

“My opponent surprised me. He was boxing longer than me, so I expected that he knew that he had to raise his hands after the referee gave the eight count.”

Cayden Higgs, an 11-year-old fifth grader at Yellow Elder Primary, said he had a lot of fun in the ring against his close friend.

“I knew we were not going to have any hard feelings,” Higgs said. “I know if I can continue to keep up my fight, work hard in the

gym, I could do very well in the sport.”

Artist Kermit Miller, the proprietor of Bahamian Expressions in Oil, was on hand to present MinusRolle with an oil painting of her deceased father, Minus Jr. “This portrait took me about two weeks. Not too many Bahamians paint in oil like I do,” Miller said. “Ray and I were very close. I was working at Whim’s Auto at the time and Ray had his boxing gym across the road. We spent many years communicating. I was working then in Whim’s Auto and Ray had his boxing club right across from me. He was in boxing and I was in the martial arts, so we talked about a number of things.”

YOUNG swimmers compete in the Horizon Distributors Blue Waves Meet at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex over the weekend. Mako Aquatic Swim Club captured the title.

Photos: Dante Carrer

THE 68th National Family Island Regatta came to a close on Saturday in Elizabeth Harbour, George Town, Exuma. Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper and Clay Sweeting, the Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, were both on hand to speak during the closing ceremonies and to assist in the presentation of awards to the various winners. Here’s a look at how they finished in the various classes of competition: Class A - Ed Sky - champions; Running Tide, second place and New Legend, third place. Class B - New Susan Chase - chsmpikons; Lonesome Dove, second place and Tari Anne, third place. Class C - Sassie Sue - champions; Bul Reg - second place; Xena - third place. Class E - Sugar Loaf - champions; Lady Annmarie - second place; Lady Kayla - third place.

A GROUP of amateur and professional boxers put on a series of exhibition matches on Saturday night to help celebrate the one year anniversary death of legendary boxer/coach Ray Minus Jr. Photo: Dante Carrer

Brunson and Knicks beat 76ers for 3-1 lead

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

NEW York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson reacts during the first half of

Game 4 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers yesterday in Philadelphia.

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

chasing them, and scored 21 second-chance points.

FROM PAGE 15

“That’s a tough one. You feel really good after the second inning up 7-0,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “The record is the record until we figure it out. I have to figure it out because I don’t like losing. I hate losing.”

It was the second consecutive game the Nationals scored double digit runs in the series after their 11-4 win on Saturday. The Nationals will seek the fourgame series sweep today and have already surpassed last season’s wins against Miami, when they finished 2-11.

Down 7-0, Washington narrowed the deficit with a five-run fourth off Marlins starter Ryan Weathers. Young hit an RBI double and scored on CJ Abrams’ two-run double. Senzel then connected with a tworun shot.

“The Philadelphia fanbase is, I said this before, they’re very relentless and very passionate. I mean, I’m an Eagles fan, I would know,” said Brunson, who won two national passed the 46 points scored by Bernard King in 1984.

OG Anunoby added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and took on some of the defensive assignment against Embiid in

just going to push myself and obviously it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to.”

Embiid finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Tyrese Maxey

DiVincenzo missed his first seven. But Hart grabbed 17 rebounds and the Knicks kept going after missed shots, especially when it was clear Embiid didn’t have the energy to keep

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said his team, which finished with a 52-42 rebound advantage, looks at offensive rebounds as valuable shots.

“So we understand how important that is,” he said, “and we’ve got some guys that are great at it. They’re relentless.”

CLIPPERS EVEN SERIES WITH AFTER BLOWING 31-POINT LEAD

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer

DALLAS (AP) — Paul George and James Harden are two-for-two without Kawhi Leonard in the Los Angeles Clippers’ firstround playoff series against Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks.

The healthy LA stars can afford to shrug over the blown 31-point lead in Game 4.

George and Harden each scored 33 points while playing key fourth-quarter roles to help the Clippers hold off a huge rally fuelled mostly by Irving for a 116111 victory yesterday to even the first-round series

at 2-2. “We knew they would make a run,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “But also, we didn’t think we’d come into this building and be up 31 points either.

“So I told our team, just get the win, however you’ve got to get it. In the playoffs, it don’t matter how you win.”

Leonard was out with right knee inflammation again after missing the series opener, then playing in both Dallas victories. The Clippers aren’t sure he’ll make it back for the third Western Conference first-round meeting between these teams in the past five seasons.

The teams have split a pair on each other’s home court.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Irving scored 40 points for Dallas, including an acrobatic layup with 2:15 remaining for a 105-104 lead that was the first for the Mavericks since the middle of the first quarter.

Doncic had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his fourth career playoff triple-double — all against the Clippers — while clearly struggling with right knee soreness that had him questionable until he warmed up before the game. “He did everything he could,” coach Jason

Kidd said. “I thought he competed on both ends. He put us in position to take the lead there in the fourth. We just came up short.”

George scored 26 points in the first half, when the Clippers’ lead reached 55-24 on a 3-pointer by Harden.

The high-scoring stars combined to go 11 of 15 from long range as LA finished 18 of 29 overall.

After Irving’s go-ahead layup, George hit his first basket of the second half, a fadeaway 3 from the corner.

Irving missed a layup, and Harden converted a three-point play for a

110-105 lead. The 10-time All-Star scored 15 points in the fourth, hitting five of his well-known floaters that were mostly absent in the first three games.

This is part of why the Clippers added Harden in an early-season trade, giving them another option with a star such as Leonard sidelined.

“I’m blessed to be able to change it up and be a facilitator or a scorer,” Harden said. “My mindset coming to this team was doing whatever it takes to win and get to the end goal. Whether that’s scoring or facilitating, I think it goes possession by possession and game by game.”

FROM PAGE 15

- 6-5; 4. Lady Sparks - 3-7; 5. Shift Lady Eagles 2-9.

Here’s a look at the matchups for the playoffs: Tuesday

7pm - Shift Lady Eagles vs Elite Ballers.

8pm - Sand Dollar Lady Flyers vs Foxxy Defenders.

Saturday

7pm - Foxxy Defenders vs Sand Dollar Lady Flyers.

8pm - Elite Ballers vs Shift Lady Eagles. If necessary, the third and deciding games will be played on Monday. The best-of-five championship series will begin on Tuesday, May 7 at the DW Davis Gymnasium at 7:30pm.

BASKETBALL

NEX-GEN

THE third annual Nex-Gen Elite Training Basketball Camp, hosted by JR Basketball Academy, is all set for June 24 to July 13 from 9am to noon at the Telios Indoor Gymnasium on Carmichael Road.

The camp, powered by Frazier’s Roofing, will provide training for game situations, shooting, passibng, ball handling, defense and footwork for boys and girls between the ages of 8-19 years.

“I don’t think we blinked when were down 7-0,” Young said. “Let’s get a couple here and couple there. We did a great job of putting pressure on them constantly. A couple of big hits here and there and next thing you know we’re suddenly in the lead.”

Senzel put Washington ahead 9-7 with a three-run drive off reliever Anthony Bender (0-2) in the fifth. The 411-foot shot over the wall in center was Senzel’s fifth of the season.

The Nationals padded their lead in the sixth, when Ildamero Vargas raced home on the front end of a successful double steal.

Derek Law (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings of relief. He lost his first decision before getting the win in Friday’s series opener. Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth for his ninth save. Weathers allowed six runs and five hits in four-plus innings. The left-hander walked three and hit three batters.

Miami hit around in a sixrun first against Washington starter Patrick Corbin. Chisholm’s blast made it 4-0, Dane Myers and Vidal Brujan hit consecutive triples and Nick Fortes capped the early outburst with an RBI single.

Special guest will be Dalton Reitmeier, the head coach at Rabun Gap School in the United States. He is a four-year NCAA athlete and the owner of ‘Get Reit Stay Fit.’ He played at IMG Academy.

JR Cadot, the camp director, is the owner of JRC Basketball Academy. He is a Division One college basketball player, who had an NBA pre draft invite and experienced 1-0 years as a FIBA pro basketball player. He also played on the Bahamas team that played in the FIBA World Cup Qualifier, Registration is now open. Interested persons can contact Cadot at 535-9354, email jrcbasketballacademy.com or go online to www.jrcbasketballacademy. com

FAST TRACK INVITATIONAL

FAST Track Athletics announced that its third annual Spring Invitational will take place over the weekend of May 10 and May 11 at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex. The entry fee will be $10 for adults and $5 for children.

For more information, persons are asked to contact 242-727-6826 or fasttrackmanagamentoo@ gmail.com

RED-LINE TRACK CLASSIC

THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club’s third annual Red-Line Youth Track Classic is set for 9am to 5pm May 25-26 at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and