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SHOT MARINE HAD ‘MENTAL ISSUES’ Body cam footage backs up officer’s version of events

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the leading seaman police killed on Monday had mental challenges that were known to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and had been addressed by the agency.

Mr Munroe, who defended the decision not to publicly release body cam footage of the incident, said the video is consistent with officers’ description

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

BEACHES BUDGET OVERRAN UNDER PLP

of what they say happened when they encountered Leading Seaman Rodney Adderley in Chippingham shortly before 4am.

“He had mental challenges that were addressed by the Defence Force,” Mr Munroe said.

“He may have been at that point mentally challenged, we don’t know, the inquest would tell, but I want to stress that the Defence Force did engage aggressively with his situation, did provide him help

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Works Alfred Sears says resolving the controversy at the Public Parks and Beaches Authority is “a high priority” with major spending overruns not confined only to the Minnis administration.

There were also cost overruns under the Christie administration - with $11.1m overspend in 2016-2017.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

SEE PAGE THREE

NEW RESTRICTIONS ABOUT TO COME IN?

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville says health officials are looking at tightening restrictions as COVID-19 cases continue to skyrocket in the country.

The country recorded 521 cases on Monday as hospitalisation numbers increased to 118 with six people now in the intensive care unit.

“We are very concerned with the number,” Dr Darville told reporters before a Cabinet meeting yesterday. “As a matter of fact our team at the Ministry of Health (is) reviewing some of the protocols. The Bahamian people could rest assured that the circumstances that (are) at the hospital, we are working diligently to ensure that SEE PAGE FOUR

ALICIA WALLACE: PLANNING FOR LIFE’S CHALLENGES HELPS WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH

EX-SENATOR’S NEW VP ROLE AT ATLANTIS

FUTURE PRICE TO PAY IF KIDS MISS SCHOOL

FORMER Senator Viana Gardiner has taken up her new role as vice president of public affairs and special projects at the Atlantis resort, a company representative confirmed yesterday.

The Tribune had previously reported that Ms Gardiner had resigned from the Senate effective New Year’s Eve. SEE PAGE FIVE

PARENTS speaking to visiting members of the Ministry of Education team during the walkabout in the Freetown constituency to reach students not engaged on the ministry’s learning management system.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna Martin and Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe canvassed the Freetown constituency yesterday to

gain insight into parents’ and students’ needs amid a learning gap brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Munroe is the Member of Parliament for the area.

The walkabout was scheduled in part to reach students who have not

been engaged with the Ministry of Education’s learning management system (LMS).

Ms Hanna Martin said some children in the public school system have not used the LMS for about two years.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE TWO

TECHNOLOGY: TELESCOPE EYE OPENS IN SPACE

- SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, January 12, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

SOME of those taking part in the event at Uriah McPhee school yesterday and the walkabout in the Freetown constituency.

GLENYS Hanna-Martin. Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training.

MINISTER of National Security Wayne Munroe.

Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

Future price to pay if kids miss school from page one

“There’s a phenomenon that we are very concerned (about) which research is showing is happening globally where children are not logging on for varying reasons and we’re doing a study now to find out to get an understanding (of) what all of these reasons are so that we can meet those reasons, but in the meantime we anticipate that there are children who have not been online for two years and they’re out there and they’re out there nationwide and they’re out there in this community,” she said.

“And we need to go out there today.

Raise awareness to this community and to the nation that we are going to go out there to fight for our children.

We (are going) to find them. We’re going to bring them in. We’re going to bring them an opportunity in this life.

We’re going to do it.”

For his part, Mr Munroe said the need to get children in classes is not only an education issue, but in his judgment, it is a national security issue that has to be taken seriously.

“I urge everyone to take it very seriously,” Mr Munroe said. “If we think we’re having problems now, all you need to do is not get a grip of this and look in the next 10, 15, 20 years. So, children will not be (signing) on or dropping off for one or two reasons.

Either because of neglect on their part and their parents’ part or some real reason. We need to know which it is and I’ll be blunt: if it’s neglect, if it’s just you don’t care and don’t check you have to change it. You have to do better.

“If it’s some reason we can assist then do please let us know, but (they should) not have any excuse for not receiving the opportunities that are being freely provided to them.”

As for the situation in the

MINISTRY of Education workers during the Freetown constituency walkabout. constituency, he said some parents have raised issues about the availability of tablets and internet.

“I’ve spoken with the principal and the administrators. I’m satisfied that if your tablet goes bad you bring it. You can’t tell them it’s gone bad because you may have sold it or some such thing, but if you bring it in, it will be replaced. At the constituency headquarters here we have a number of children whose parents say they (have) issues with getting online and so they get online at the constituency headquarters.”

He said parents need to make sacrifices to make sure their children are getting an education.

“Let’s stop making excuses. The generation that came before us sacrificed to bring us here. . .Get with

YESTERDAY’s walkabout in the Freetown constituency.

it. Access the opportunities that are available to you. Sacrifice where sacrifices are necessary. . .Maybe one less club outing. Maybe one less hair job, nail job. Sacrifice to get it done for children.”

The Tribune also spoke with a few parents in the area.

Michelle Adderley has three children. She said while the family has Wifi, there are issues logging on to the LMS. She also said she had an issue with the tablet her children use, which compounded the issues she faced with online learning.

Another parent, Stacia Cartwright, 41, said she is looking forward to hybrid learning resuming in schools, saying her daughter has also had an issue logging on to the LMS.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 12, 2022, PAGE 3

Shot marine had ‘mental issues’ from page one and support and if he was in fact suffering from mental issues that caused him to charge an armed policeman who was trying to holster his weapon, then that’s what it is, but if it is the case...

I want to stress that that does not denigrate from the good service he gave his country and the Bahamian people must never forget that. Heroes are human as well.”

Mr Munroe confirmed that Adderley was not armed. Police officers’ lack of non-lethal weapons has been raised during Coroner’s Court inquests into killings before. However, Mr Munroe said he does not believe that is pertinent to the current case given the circumstances.

“The issues surround this, when you deal with specific incidents, I do not believe that a police officer going to a report of a suspicious vehicle that fits the description of what wanted persons use to do nefarious things and notorious killings, is going to leave his police car armed with a taser,” he said. “I would have wholly expected the officer to leave the car armed with a handgun because we’ve had a number of murders, 119, not all of them of a particular character, but certainly too many of this character.

“The police need nonlethals more to protect themselves because I’ve learned surprisingly that a lot of policemen get beat up by members of the public and are injured so, in that regard, yes. But the public cannot expect policemen who receive information that indicates that they may be confronted with an armed person from the profile of what is happening in the country, to come out armed with a non-lethal weapon. That would put the police at a disadvantage and certainly it would not be something that I would be advocating.”

Mr Munroe urged people to come forward with

footage of incidents, saying he does not have high regard for those who complain that they do not come forward because they fear for their lives.

“As I’ve said to members of the public that if they have security footage, if they have cell phone footage of any activity of the police, they are encouraged to provide it to the police who are investigating any matter because it will be objective evidence,” he said.

“All of that material gathered is sent on to the coroner and at the inquest which is a public hearing, open to the public, open to the press, it will be seen.”

Mr Munroe said people should have more trust and faith in the police.

“After a law enforcement officer discharges his duty or purported to do so, if he does so wrongly, the public has had demonstrated to it that the officers end up charged with homicide,” he said.

“There was a shooting in Exuma where the officer ended up charged with homicide so why the public would have any doubt about that is beyond me.

It disrespects the police when you say to people, who you say they must put their lives on the line for you, that you’re not prepared to extend to them the same thing you extend to people who are charged with crimes before the court.

“The police will investigate. You give them all the material, if wrongdoing is found, regardless of who is the wrongdoer, they end up before the courts. And it’s about time that you have that respect. When I was on the other side, my job basically was to get material and when I got it I provided it in a circumstance like this to the police and if it’s cogent and persuasive it makes your point.

Sometimes if you don’t have objective material then the job of the law is to cross-examine to put facts out, but we have to move

from a circumstance where we do not extend to people who are charged with risking their lives to protect us the same standard that we extend to persons charged with crimes.”

Mr Munroe also spoke of speculation he heard about the incident.

“I heard all sorts of nonsense over the event.

The report is there was a report of a suspicious male in a car in an area where we’ve been experiencing a lot of shootings and so one would think that the police would go with a view that you have the car, a car of the type that’s been used in a lot of shootings, mysteriously parked early in the morning so they must investigate. So, if it were one of you who were going to that scene after all that you have reported, mightn’t you think that something in there might be looking to kill somebody? It turned out not to be the case, but that is what will inform somebody when they’re putting their lives on the line early in the morning.”

Mr Munroe, explaining why the body camera footage will not be released to the public, said the people must learn to trust the police.

He said: “The main reason that you do not release it is you need to weed out people who will lie, who will give false statements to say they saw something that they did not see. I expect that people will find out that once they’ve committed their lie to a statement and they find themselves before the court. We need people to cooperate with the police in telling the truth and don’t give fiction.”

As for body cameras, he said there is a pressing need for more of them.

He said: “In meetings with the technical section of the ministry, we’ve been looking at expanding the acquisition of the body cams that we have and there’s a body cam too that was demoed for me that

LEADING SEAMAN RODNEY ADDERLEY permits the commander to view the body cam footage live in the field. Now that is a bit more expensive

than the body cam that just records, but it’s a resource matter so the officers with mobile patrol they are fitted

with them. Ideally, as we expand the inventory we will fit more and more officers with them.”

NO APPROVAL FOR EVENT - BUT POLICE OFFICERS PRESENT

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

ONE of the promoters behind an event that took place over the weekend told The Tribune that while no approval from officials was given for the party, police officers were present.

However, Kelsey Pierre said that no citation was given.

Footage and photos of the event circulated on social media recently, showing a crowd of people gathered near a stage with little social distancing and mask wearing observed.

The video prompted some negative reaction on social media as a number of scheduled events had to be cancelled amid the surge of COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.

In late December, the Ministry of Health and Wellness had announced that due to the increase in cases, effective immediately, it would not approve any large gatherings and would suspend all current approvals.

“Gatherings with more than 30 people outdoors and 20 people indoors will not be permitted until further notice.

“According to the rules, persons should provide a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination,” according to the ministry’s COVID-19 alert.

Mr Pierre explained yesterday that he could not say

off hand how many people attended the Blue Notes birthday celebration on Saturday at Luna night club on Saunders beach.

He estimated that there were about 200-300 persons there, but listed the precautions that he said had been taken.

“People have their personal opinion on things, but like I said, we have been doing this for years and other places still hosting the same things like Aura and Bond and I don’t see it being judgemental about the situation and it’s something we’ve been doing and we took safety (precautions),” he said.

“We check for COVID testing. We check for vaccination cards and we also had a stationary company there to take COVID testing in case those persons didn’t have those things on hand,” he told The Tribune.

Asked about protocol for social distancing, he said: “After a while after all the alcohol was consumed (people) probably (came) together, but we had both upstairs and downstairs open where people could have social distance.”

Asked if police were present, he answered: “Most definitely.”

Attempts to reach officials for comment were unsuccessful yesterday.

The footage follows a number of images circulating on social media showing crowds at different events that have raised concern.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, January 12, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Nursing chief dismayed at shortage amid spike

By PAVEL BAILEY AMANCHA Williams, head of the Bahamas Nurses Union, says the shortage of qualified nurses is dismaying to hospital staff as the country faces another COVID spike.

With the number of cases now in hospital having risen to 118, Ms Williams said the overflow of cases is “strenuous” and “challenging” to nurses. She told The Tribune that one of the main challenges of nursing staff is available bed space as many of the wards are closed due to exposure to the coronavirus. All these excess patients then end up in the Accident and Emergency section which puts additional strain on the workload of those nurses, she said.

“I think the major issue is that when the patient comes in, we have difficulty having bed space because we still have a lot of wards that are closed,” she said yesterday.

AMANCHA WILLIAMS, head of the Bahamas Nurses Union.

“And if a ward is exposed, then the ward shuts down from admission, so this has allowed an overflow.”

After nearly two years of combating the pandemic, many of these nurses are “burnt out,” she said, with each successive COVID-19

wave further taxing the healthcare system. This shortage in nurses also extends to the healthcare systems in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Exuma, The Tribune was told.

However, Ms Williams

commended recent government efforts to recruit over 50 nurses from Cuba, who should be in the country soon. She noted that several nurses have just completed the Nursing Council’s exam to enter the field as registered nurses (RN)

MINISTER of Health Michael Darville outside Cabinet yesterday.

and trained clinical nurses (TCN) no later than February or March. She, however, raised fears that even when these new workers enter active service, senior nurses will still have to be reallocated to train them, and that as it stands now, public healthcare nurses are at their “max”.

She said: “Even when the (new) staff comes, who do you think is going to have to train them?”

To properly address the situation, she urged the government to redouble efforts to educate the public on COVID-19 prevention, calling on officials to be more proactive in reaching out to the various entities responsible for those matters.

Ms Williams stressed that the country cannot afford to shut down, thereby cutting off the critical circulation of funding necessary to fight COVID-19.

She said if the government truly wants the

country to remain open, Davis administration officials have to ensure that policies set out by the Ministry of Health are carried out and policed by the COVID-19 team. She further recommended a crackdown on large crowds and social gatherings, calling on those who are enforcing these policies to eliminate these public health risks for the time being.

The government has said gatherings have to be limited to 20 people for indoor events and 30 people for outdoor events.

In addressing the public’s response to the ongoing pandemic and how people can make nurses’ jobs easier, Ms Williams urged people to join them in taking responsibility for their own health.

“We put patients first.

That’s what we want to say to the public, but you have to then work with us,” she said.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

NEW RESTRICTIONS ABOUT TO COME IN? from page one

patients who do come in, whether it is for COVID, or for other reasons, are able to get services and we’re doing the necessary adjustments to bring in the necessary staff to keep the services up and going.”

Asked about restrictions, he added: “We’re looking at it. What we’re concerned about like every country in the world, when we begin to see signs of exponential growth spread, we have to look at the protocols as it relates to people coming close to proximity to one another and make some adjustments.

“We intend to do so but we are watching the numbers. That 800-plus number I think was on Friday and that is of great concern to us. Some of the discussions will be taken today in Cabinet.”

He was referring to the country’s single day record of 818 new cases, which were recorded on January 7.

Dr Darville said as of yesterday, between 160 to 180 healthcare workers were out of the system.

He also said people have responded aggressively to the government’s free testing programme.

“For us the threshold was over 400,” he said. “We are pleased with the way how the programme is going and it is a pilot programme and that pilot programme gives us a clear indication of what the level of community spread is in country and so far the results are indicating that even though there is community spread it is not as bad as we initially anticipated at this time.

“Over 1,000 antigen tests were done at the Kendal Isaacs Gym and the other was the Melia and the

results in terms of positives were not as high as we initially anticipated. I can’t give that result right now.”

Health officials warn that antigen tests are particularly less sensitive at identifying the Omicron variant, especially among asymptomatic people.

Dr Darville said officials are working to include antigen test results in the information shared with the public.

“Antigen test results are not a diagnostic test,” he said. “They are screening tests. In our new digital platform we will definitely take into consideration reporting of symptomatic antigen positive cases.

That is still being worked on. Our digital platform is being constructed…this will give the computer software technicians the tools necessary to incorporate some of our medical algorithms to ensure that our

testing and contact tracing and real time reporting is consistent with regulations so that we do not have contamination of false negatives.”

Dr Darville said the government’s programme to incentivise vaccination uptake, which included cash prizes of $500 and in some cases more, has not been as successful as officials expected.

“We’ve seen some increase in vaccine uptake,” he said. “We thought that the incentive programme through social mobilisation we would’ve seen more individuals come out to be vaccinated and once again we tell the Bahamian people one of your greatest tools in the toolbox is vaccination and when we look at the cases at the hospital the majority of admitted cases for COVID are unvaccinated.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 12, 2022, PAGE 5

Sears: We’ll deal with union on BPL issues

By PAVEL BAILEY WORKS and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears says he is confident the chairman and board at Bahamas Power and Light will have detailed consultations with the union representing line staff to address long standing issues.

Last week, president of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union Kyle Wilson told reporters his members were fed up over unresolved issues, such as unsafe working conditions.

“We will not sit by idle and have our lives at risk, the lives of the members at risk, the lives of the public at risk concerning these issues alright?

And so, the time for talk is up, we demand, and we require action or there will be action,” Mr Wilson told “Our News” last week.

Asked about the concerns yesterday before heading into a Cabinet meeting, Mr Sears acknowledged the issues the union has.

“The union at BPL, as they stated last week, has a number of long-standing issues related to human resource, related to pension

and health and safety,” Mr Sears said. “I met with the president of the union several times and officers of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union and most recently I would have met with the TUC, Mr Obie Ferguson, and the president of the BPL union amongst others and discussed their concerns.

“I’m confident that the chairman and the board at BPL will be having more (detailed) consultations with the union to address the concerns.”

When asked when these meetings would take place, Mr Sears says they should occur later this week.

Addressing union concerns over the BPL board and its newly elected chairman, Mr Sears that while the BPL board maintains autonomy over its own governance, a rapid assessment is being conducted on certain issues at BPL with a report soon to be delivered on the matter.

Yesterday Mr Sears also discussed the numerous major road projects his ministry has planned for this fiscal year.

“We have a number of major road projects for New Providence.

One of which is the reengineering and the

redevelopment of the Village Road area. Also, of course, the flooding on East Bay Street and road projects which also include Carmichael Road and various streets within New Providence,” he said.

He also addressed the fact that due to the impact of Hurricane Dorian, many of the Ministry of Works’ resources had to be diverted to reconstruction efforts in Grand Bahama and Abaco. He reassured the public that continuing road work is still a major priority.

“The road work is a national concern.

Our teams have been travelling throughout the Commonwealth to various islands. We have road work being done in Eleuthera and Exuma, in Andros, throughout the Commonwealth. So, it’s a question of prioritising based on the resources we have available to us at this time.”

Mr Sears also sought to allay any public fears that with the rise in COVID19 cases, the Straw Market would be shut down. He said he is unaware of any plans to close the market nor any other business as he has been given no such recommendation by health officials.

MINISTER Alfred Sears outside Cabinet yesterday.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

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EX-SENATOR’S NEW VP ROLE AT ATLANTIS from page one She told The Tribune at the time that she had resigned for professional reasons, adding that she would be taking on a new job. She was appointed to the Senate last October by then opposition leader, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

In a statement issued after the news broke, Free National Movement leader

Michael Pintard said: “On behalf of the Free National Movement (FNM), I wish to extend my gratitude to Senator Gardiner for her service to the Bahamian people in general and to the Free National Movement in particular.

“While serving in the Senate, she set a very high standard in her contribution to debates. Senator Gardiner also carefully and meticulously prepared for

each debate. She was thorough in her research which was reflected in the content of her public comments in interviews and press releases as well as during her contributions at party meetings.”

Prior to her appointment to the Senate, Ms Gardiner was head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit.

The FNM has not yet announced her replacement.

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PAGE 6, Wednesday, January 12, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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We cannot lose a generation of students IN ALL of the talk about COVID-19 and its effects, it is easy to be swamped by the numbers.

That has been even more so than ever lately – with days of hundreds of new cases, including as many as 818 in a single day.

What can be lost in it all is the human dimension. One of those aspects is how nursing staff and doctors are swamped, with colleagues coming down with the virus and still having to struggle on serving people in need.

Another of the aspects is the education of our young people – and the number being left behind amid distance learning.

In this column in the past, we have questioned how families who may be in homes without internet, without electronic devices – even sometimes without power are supposed to keep up with the day-to-day education of children stuck at home.

Some of those children may have only limited access to online capability, if any at all, and when they do they may have to share that access with other family members.

Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin put it in stark terms yesterday, that some students have not used the ministry’s learning management system for about two years.

She said: “Children are not logging on for varying reasons and we’re doing a study now to find out to get an understanding (of) what all of these reasons are so that we can meet those reasons, but in the meantime we anticipate that there are children who have not been online for two years.”

It’s not just children being left behind though – it is a question of what is filling that void for them as well.

As Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe says, it is an issue of national security.

He said: “If we think we’re having problems now, all you need to do is not get a grip of this and look in the next ten, 15, 20 years.”

It is reassuring to see the problem being treated seriously – and with a proper understanding of the consequences if we don’t deal with it.

This far into a pandemic, of course we should have a better idea of the problems facing our students – we should know beyond a doubt rather than be needing to do a study now, but there seems to be a definite concern to tackle the matter.

The pandemic has seen enough tragedy with the lives lost and families shattered – we cannot let there be another tragedy of a missing generation of students.

We need to pull those students back into the education system – and give them the future they deserve.

Overspending

After all the noise from the current administration about the overspend at the Public Parks and Beaches Authority by the Minnis government – lo and behold it turns out there was an overspend at the authority under the Christie administration too.

Will we hear as much talk of scandal about that from the current office holders? Or will that one get conveniently forgotten?

More to the point, does that mean that there’s actually a structural problem and the department is being asked to handle more than its budget will allow?

Budgets should never be regularly ignored or exceeded – but perhaps that means the initial budget was inadequate, or that the department needs restructuring to actually fit the budget it has.

Either way, if you’re unhappy with overspend under Minnis, you should be equally unhappy with overspend under the previous government – and get to the bottom of why one authority regularly overshoots.

That is, of course, as long as it’s not just partisan talking points without any real aim to fix the matter.

Sir Sidney a hero of The Bahamas EDITOR, The Tribune.

SIR Sidney Poitier was a Bahamas National Treasure and priceless Jewel to the world, which shared his God-gifted talent of acting with the world on the world stage on television and in movies.

He was born in Florida where his parents,

Bahamian tomato farmers, had gone to sell their Bahamian grown tomatoes. He later moved to New York, where he started taking acting lessons and began his acting career in Broadway Shows in New York.

He then started acting on television and in over 80 movies, he shocked the world when becoming the

first ever lack Bahamian African American to win the Best Actor Oscars Academy Award in the 1950s. My Bahamian Hero - Sir Sidney Poitier.

May his soul rest in peace.

PEDRO SMITH Nassau, January 7, 2022.

Bahamas Republic EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE reason why the UK keeps its antiquated colonial institutions relevant is by the awarding of various gongs - OBE, MBE and, of course, the top gong a knighthood. Then tin pot politicians and the rich and famous can put “ Sir” before their name. A nonsense in reality but for egotists and narcissists i.e. the majority of politicians/ rich and famous it caresses their bloated egos.

Generally the poorer and less educated parts of the Commonwealth kow-tow to the UK and keep these meaningless awards. The more astute nations and hats off to Barbados can see through this nonsense and take the sensible decision to cut ties with their previous colonial oppressors and in effect discard Victorian England.

Of the two political parties here the PLP by far and away love the pomp of the knighthoods the most,

so sorry Fred Mitchell you are spitting into the wind with talk of a republic. I understand your motivation bearing in mind your lifestyle the chance of the “Sir” tenuous at best for you, but were you to fall foul is with the likes of your present PM who no doubt would love the tap on the shoulder and rise Sir Brave.

THE REALIST Nassau, December, 2021.

Make the next act the best EDITOR, The Tribune.

HAVING celebrated a bountiful 2019 with unprecedented record-breaking tourist arrivals. We reaped the benefit of its harvest for the first two months of 2020.

But unexpectedly, out of nowhere, in March, COVID-19 struck, and the country took a dramatic change, spiraling out of control.

Not in our wildest dreams did we imagine we would be where we were.

Stuck in the new ordinary, a mask-wearing people who couldn’t hug or kiss friends and family.

We could not even give our departed loved ones the homegoing service they deserved, nor commemorate our love with the beautiful matrimonial ceremony we dreamed of.

Church services and social activities were suspended as the country went into curfew mode.

In the same month, the Governor-General signed a proclamation placing the country under emergency rules. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis assumed the position of competent authority and made some disastrous decisions that disrupted the entire country’s sophistication.

While those decisions, according to him, were made with the best interest of the people in mind, a lot of them were not carefully examined before implementation. And brought undue hardship to the nation.

We thought 2020 was terrible. 2021 with the deadly Delta Corona variant casting its net of lamentation, making thousands seriously ill and causing the death and hospitalization of hundreds were worse.

However, hindsight is foresight; no matter how sad or severe, what is done cannot be undone.

Coronavirus, though a bitter pill, is not the end of the world.

We are resilient people that have weathered hardship before.

Someone said, “It’s going to be challenging, but we’re going to make it.”

From all appearances, if we were to take it at face value, the immediate future does not look bright, but the saying “behind every dark cloud, there is a silver

LETTERS

letters@tribunemedia.net lining” rings true.

Annie said, “the sun will come out tomorrow.”

Most of all we have God’s promise that He will never leave or forsake us.

With all of the associated graveness, it’s not easy to find anything to be cheerful about. However, the coronavirus has brought with it some positives.

Despite being unable to socialise with people other than close family, thanks to technology, we are getting closer now than before.

I am getting WhatsApp calls from friends I have not seen or heard from in months. No they aren’t asking for loans.

Virtual schooling has given parents a more significant opportunity to pay closer attention to their children’s learning.

Thanks to my daughters, Lauralee, his Auntie and Kristy, his mom, and his teachers, my grandson TJ is on the high honour roll again.

Civic-minded community members are going out of their way to show love and help the less fortunate.

Special thanks goes out to the Fox Foundation.

The frontline healthcare providers we have always taken for granted are now recognised for risking theirs and their family’s lives to help keep the nation safe and healthy. Doctors, Nurses, and Policemen, we do not know what we would have done without you.

Thank you.

Recently, more people are reading the Bible and connecting with their inner spiritual self and drawing closer to God. Behind every unfortunate situation, if we looked close enough, we can find something useful in it; COVID-19 is no exception.

On September 16th, with the mantra it’s a new day, the Progressive Liberal Party, with a clean sweep, became the government. Giving the country hope with a more precise direction of where we are headed and how we will get there.

Put an end to the dictatorial rule of the selfproclaimed Competent Authority.

It has only been a little

over three months, and already, the naysayers are predicting doom and gloom.

While opposition is needed to keep the government’s feet to the fire, opposing just for opposing sake is a waste of time and will only stifle progress.

Need we be reminded that according to Timothy 2:1-3 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people — 2. for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour…”

Our Prime Minister is Phillip Davis, and as long as God is willing, he will be our leader and it would be in our best interest to always intercede on his behalf.

With the Delta variant lingering and the omicron variant looming, the government is challenged, but holding its ground.

Not prone to panic like its predecessor.

“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear” Florence Nightingale.

As the countdown begins leaving the vestiges of 2021 behind and we look forward to 2020.

Bracing ourselves for the possibility of a new COVID wave. Let us make the next act the best act of our lives.

Let us do all we can to protect each other by obeying the established COVID-19 protocols.

Wear our masks, practice safe distancing, wash and sanitize our hands frequently, and please get vaccinated.

As a recovering COVID survivor I cannot express enough how important it is to get vaccinated.

I say recovering because, after almost two years, I’m still aching from the lingering aftermath of coronavirus.

If it was at all possible for me to give the nation one Christmas present it would be that everyone gets vaccinated.

I would not want anyone to experience what I went through.

God bless the Bahamas.

I love you.

ANTHONY PRATT Nassau, December 24, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 12, 2022, PAGE 7

Three accused after series of armed robberies

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

TWO men and a juvenile were charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with armed robbery.

Louken Desinord, 22, Harold Burrows, 18, and a 16-year-old appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville accused of robbing several people of cash between November and January.

Police alleged that Desinord, being concerned with another, used a handgun on January 6 to rob Germaine Celestine of $300, the property of Esso Service Station.

Desinord is further

accused of robbing Shernla Thurene on the same day of the same amount of cash, belonging to Rubis gas station.

During yesterday’s hearing, the accused was not required to enter a plea to the charges and the case was adjourned to March 11 for a service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Burrows and the 16-yearold also appeared in court yesterday.

The two face three counts of armed robbery after police alleged that they used a handgun to rob Djuno Graçaron, Jacques Israel and Jamsley Richmond of $100, $250 and $150 respectively on

December 29.

The minor was further accused of robbing Verlande Thelusma of $300 and Jonelle McDonald of an undetermined amount of cash, all belonging to John Chea on November 12. Police said he committed the offences with another.

Neither defendant was required to enter a plea yesterday and the case was subsequently adjourned to March 11 for a VBI. Burrows was remanded to prison, while the juvenile was sent to the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys.

They have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

TWO HELD AFTER CAR CHASE POLICE arrested two men on Monday who led them on a car chase and had firearms.

Sometime after 3pm, officers from the SouthCentral Division were on routine patrol when they were dispatched to a complaint of the sounds of gunshots in the area of Ridgeland Park west.

While heading to the scene, the unit saw a white coloured Japanese vehicle

being driven at a high rate of speed, a police crime report said. The officers beckoned the vehicle to stop, however, the driver continued and turned north onto Blue Hill Road.

A chase followed. The suspects later turned west onto University Commons, where the driver crashed into a lamp pole in the vicinity of the National Insurance Board.

Two male suspects got out of the vehicle, one who was armed with a highpowered assault rifle, police said. The officers caught and arrested both men.

A field search was conducted, during which a 9mm pistol with 15 unfired rounds of ammunition were discovered. The assault rifle contained ten rounds of ammunition.

An investigation is ongoing.

MAN ADMITS HOUSE BURGLARY

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 31-YEAR-OLD man who admitted to unlawfully entering a woman’s home and stealing several items last week was remanded to prison yesterday.

Ken Forbes stood before Magistrate Shaka Serville, charged with unlawful entry

by night and stealing for actions he committed on January 6.

Police said on the date in question, Forbes entered into Shaudline Pierre’s home at Hutchinson and Meadows Streets with intent to commit a felony.

He is further accused of stealing after police found him with a pair of Nike tennis shoes and a red and

black Samsung phone suspected of being stolen.

The accused admitted to the offences during yesterday’s hearing.

However, the magistrate deferred sentencing to January 17, at which point the facts of the case will also be read by the prosecution.

As a result, Forbes was remanded to prison in the interim.

FERGUSON TAKES OVER AS LEADER OF BAHAMAS FEEDING NETWORK

NINE years and tens of thousands of meals distributed after its launch, the Bahamas Feeding Network announced a change in leadership this week.

Reverend Lester Ferguson, pictured, has been appointed its new executive director. He is one of founding directors of the non-profit organisation and he replaces Philip Smith, who served in that post since the organisation was formed in 2013.

Mr Smith resigned to accept a position at a new NGO, but will remain on the board of directors of BFN. The announcement of the change came from BFN chairman Felix Stubbs.

“The Bahamas Feeding Network thanks Philip Smith for his years of dedication to the eradication of hunger in our Bahamas,” said Mr Stubbs.

“Philip’s passion and his tireless energy, compassion and fund-raising have truly made him the face in the fight against hunger for nearly a decade and we are pleased that he will remain on the board.

“We wish him every success and we welcome Lester Ferguson, a man whose purpose-driven life has impacted and uplifted countless numbers of men, women and children whose lives are better today because of his encouragement.”

Rev Ferguson was

the first Bahamian divisional commander of the Salvation Army in The Bahamas, leading that organisation for ten years.

Following that post, he headed the policies and regulations unit of the then newly enacted Persons with Disabilities Equal Opportunities Act. Since 2017, Rev Ferguson has been the pastor of the Grants Town Wesley Methodist Church.

He praised his predecessor and said he is excited to tackle the work ahead.

“Philip Smith along with the founder of the Bahamas Feeding Network, Frank Crothers, grew a vision of pulling together a few churches, feeding centres and soup kitchens in 2013 into a national network of more than 100 civic, secular and religious organisations feeding thousands every week,” Rev Ferguson said.

“Philip’s drive and commitment inspired a team of volunteers who before COVID prepped, cooked and packed thousands of hot meals a week and post pandemic packaged enough groceries to keep a nation from starvation.

His tireless fund-raising ensured there were always supplies. I am honoured to help continue the mission of the Bahamas Feeding

Network. One of the objectives of the network is to be a resource for feeding centres across Nassau, and I look forward to further strengthening all of our partnerships to help hungry families in our nation.”

Mr Smith estimates that BFN was responsible for putting tens of thousands of meals on the tables of Bahamians since 2013.

“The Bahamas Feeding Network could never have done this without the incredible support of believers in what we were doing; we are grateful for the contributions of a number of local and international organisations and businesses whose unwavering generosity kept our mission alive, especially during the last two years of the pandemic,” said Mr Smith. “We would never have even started without our founder, His Excellency Frank Crothers and our board members. We have come a long way and I salute our staff, volunteers, donors and other partners who are here every day – they are the real heroes. I believe we could not have found a better person than Lester Ferguson, who has been an active board member since the beginning, to take the Bahamas Feeding Network into the future.”

Public Notice

PAIR ACCUSED OF INTENTIONAL LIBEL

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A MAN and a woman were charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with intentional libel.

Brittney Strachan, 23, and Kendrick Edgecombe,

37, appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville accused of unlawfully publishing defamatory material about Melbert Munroe on January 7 intending to defame him.

The two denied the offence during their hearing yesterday.

Their attorney told the

court that he hoped to have the matter resolved by next month and asked the magistrate for the two to be released on their own recognisance.

This was granted by Magistrate Serville and the matter was adjourned to February 7 for a mention report.

MAN ‘THREATENED TO KILL HIS SISTER’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 33-YEAR-OLD man accused of assaulting his younger sister and threatening her with death

was yesterday granted bail before his trial.

Clayton Kemp was arrested after being accused of assaulting his sister with a knife and threatening her with death on January 8.

During yesterday’s

hearing, Kemp denied the charges, insisting he was in prison on the day in question. He was granted $2,500 bail with one or two sureties and the matter was adjourned to February 7 for trial.

Please be advised that all persons or entities holding valid contracts with

Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority are asked to present themselves at the National Sports Authority on Wednesday and Thursday, January 12th & 13th, 2022 respectively between the hours of 9am and 5pm, to provide documents necessary to ensure payment of any arrears owed on the contracts.

The following documents are required: • Copy of contract • Government issued ID or if a corporate entity evidence that you can act on behalf of the corporate entity (Power of Attorney) along with the

government issued ID. • Tax Compliance Certificate • NIB Company Registration Certificate • A copy of a Valid Business License • VAT Certificate, if the annual valule of the contracts with the authority was in excess of $80,000.00 • Bank accout information as no termination payment would be made to third party accounts on behalf of terminated contractors.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, January 12, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Tackling and planning for life’s challenges helps with our mental health IN RECENT years, there has been an increase in conversations about and focus on mental health.

More and more, people are recognizing it as a part of our overall health and wellbeing, requiring at least as much attention as we give to our physical health.

We have experienced and witnessed the impact of traumatic events on our own lives and the lives of people around us. We know the kind of support we have needed at some point, where the gaps are in accessing the necessary resources and services, and the privilege we may have had that helped us to meet our mental health needs.

For most of us, mental health resources and services - especially culturally relevant options - are not readily available and accessible. In fact, we may not even be aware we need them, much less where to find them.

Fortunately, there are tools and practices that we can use to prevent or minimize crises and/or try to maintain a healthy state of being. They include personal assessments, planning and organisation, therapy, boundaries and support systems.

By Alicia Wallace PERSONAL ASSESSMENT

It can be helpful to zoom out and look at our lives in broad categories. We may choose to look at our physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and financial areas of life. For some, it may be more useful to look at goals and obstacles. It may even be a good idea to ask questions. What are my best assets? What are my greatest challenges? What are my fears?

The way we assess our lives depends on how we live.

Living situations, family dynamics, employment status and income and physical health are just a few consideration and factors that affect us. Based on them, we can all identify three to five categories that would give us the best view of where we are and what it means for our mental health.

For example, university students putting themselves through school may choose

to look at academic goals, finances and social life.

Some may find the more they work, in order to make more money to cover rent, the less they spend time with friends and this may lead to them feeling lonely, being jealous of friends and reacting badly, or losing sleep because they are trying to do it all. Knowing these things can help them to plan for the year ahead because the patterns are identified, some of the outcomes are known, and it may be easier to avoid the negative ones.

SPEND TIME PLANNING AND ORGANISING

Uncertainty will always exist. Unexpected occurrences will come up, and we will have to deal with them. Some things, however, are quite predictable.

This is especially so when we have made personal assessments, set goals

and charted paths for ourselves.

One of the reasons organisations do SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges) analyses is that they know it is both possible and necessary to make predictions and plans to ensure or avoid particular events.

It is just as helpful for individuals to make personal forecasts and use that information to properly plan our lives.

A practice as simple as planning a day the night before can help us to feel and be in more control and to accept our responsibility for what happens.

For some, this could be a simple list of things to do or expect, while for others it could be an hourly schedule of activities and considerations. More long term, a person planning to purchase a car may look at their expected income on a monthly basis and set an amount to save and identify a date by which they will have the money to make the purchase.

By planning and organising our activities and goals, we take some of the guesswork out of our lives. When we know what to expect, we can properly prepare for it and reduce the anxiety that often comes with uncertainty and can bring

GN- 2662

the feeling that we cannot handle what may come.

TRY THERAPY

While it is good to have trusted family members and friends to talk to, there is nothing like having sessions with a trained, licensed therapist. A therapist does not solve people’s problems or tell them what to do.

They listen, ask questions and help to guide people by providing tools to handle whatever is coming up in their lives.

For example, a person may be struggling to make a decision about a relationship. The therapist does not make the choice for their client. They may ask why the decision is so difficult, what the person would do if they prioritised their own feelings and what they think would happen if they did whatever they are thinking about doing. They may also offer some exercises which could be as simple as listing pros and cons. They may also remind the person of the goals they have already stated for themselves and encourage them to make decisions that put them on that path.

Therapy is not a way to delegate decisionmaking to another person or to be constantly validated no matter what you do, but to explore ourselves, including our needs, wants, challenges, and behaviours, with the help of a professional who can give reminders, encourage accountability, and provide support during difficult times. One of the main goals is to learn healthy ways to get through whatever comes our way.

The biggest barrier to therapy, of course, is the cost, but there are options out there. Some therapists offer special rates for people with low incomes, there are online options that may have lower costs, and some communities offer group therapy. If you have health insurance and haven’t done so already, find out if there is coverage for therapy. Some employers may also offer assistance, especially if the demand is high. The more we ask, the more decisionmakers become aware of the need.

SET BOUNDARIES

Simon Wilson

We have to know our own limits. There are people in the world who will take without ever giving, and there are people who will push without a single thought about how they are affecting the person they push. Is someone always asking to borrow money and never paying it back?

Decide whether or not you can afford to keep “lending”. If someone is really struggling financially and you are able to help, it may be more reasonable to tell them you can give them a particular amount on a monthly basis for a particular period of time, but that’s it. If you can’t really afford

it, it’s time to be upfront about it.

Does someone always call you to complain about a situation they can change? It’s okay to say you don’t want to talk about that any more, and you can always add that you’ve discussed the solution numerous times or any other relevant information that would help.

Setting boundaries is often uncomfortable at first. It is difficult to change a pattern, and unpleasant to deal with other people’s feelings about what we need to do for ourselves.

They do, however, get used to it, and if they don’t, maybe it’s time for them to see themselves out. You have to do what it takes to take care of yourself, and that includes shifting your own behaviour and transforming relationships and interactions that no longer support the healthiest version of yourself.

IDENTIFY YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM

It is important to know who you can call on in challenging times. It may not be the same person for every situation. There may be one person who will let you rant for as long as you want, another who will sit quietly while you cry, another who will show up with a hot meal, and another who will pick up your children and keep them for a weekend while you do whatever you need to do.

Who has your back?

Who reserves judgment?

Who keeps you in check?

Who shows up when you call at the last minute?

Who distracts you with fun activities? Make a list of the people who make up your support system, the role they play, and the situations they would be the best people to help you work through. By writing or typing this somewhere, you make it easier to reach out to them because you don’t have to think about it in an already difficult moment. Even better, if you let them know they are on your list and why, they will know what you need from them when you call.

One of the best things we can do for ourselves is be honest about where we are, the challenges we face and the kind of support we need. Try to plan for what you know is coming. Use the resources available to you and advocate for yourself when your needs are not being met.

We have a long way to go where mental health resources and services are concerned and the conversation is happening now.

We have to remember some of us can do more for ourselves than others, and everyone deserves to be in a good health and have their basis needs met.

As you prioritise your mental health, whenever possible, speak up about the need for better access for everyone, especially those in situations of vulnerability.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 12, 2022, PAGE 9

SPACE TELESCOPE’S ‘GOLDEN EYE’ OPENS, LAST MAJOR HURDLE

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s new space telescope opened its huge, gold-plated, flowershaped mirror Saturday, the final step in the observatory’s dramatic unfurling.

The last portion of the 21-foot (6.5-metre) mirror swung into place at flight controllers’ command, completing the unfolding of the James Webb Space Telescope.

“I’m emotional about it. What an amazing milestone. We see that beautiful pattern out there in the sky now,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, chief of NASA’s science missions.

More powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope, the $10 billion Webb will scan the cosmos for light streaming from the first stars and galaxies formed 13.7 billion years ago. To accomplish this, NASA had to outfit Webb with the largest and most sensitive mirror ever launched — its “golden eye,” as scientists call it.

Webb is so big that it had to be folded orgami-style to fit in the rocket that soared from South America two weeks ago. The riskiest operation occurred earlier in the week, when the tennis courtsize sunshield unfurled, providing subzero shade for the mirror and infrared detectors.

Flight controllers in Baltimore began opening the primary mirror Friday, unfolding the left side like a drop-leaf table. The mood was even more upbeat Saturday, with peppy music filling the control room as the right side snapped into place. After applauding, the controllers immediately got back to work, latching everything down. They jumped to their feet, exchanged high-fives and cheered from behind masks when the operation was finally complete 2 1/2 hours later, doing their best to remain socially distant because of the global surge in COVID-19 cases.

“We have a deployed telescope on orbit, a magnificent telescope the likes of which the world has never seen,” Zurbuchen said, congratulating the team. “So how does it feel to make history, everybody? You just did it.”

His counterpart at the European Space Agency, astronomer Antonella Nota, noted that after years of preparation, the team made everything

ENGINEERING teams at NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Mission Operations Center at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore monitor progress as the observatory’s second primary mirror wing rotates into position on Saturday.

The last portion of the 21-foot (6.5-metre) mirror swung into place at flight controllers’ command, completing the unfolding of the James Webb Space Telescope – the riskiest part of the mission. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) look “so amazingly easy.”

“This is the moment we have been waiting for, for so long,” she said.

Webb’s main mirror is made of beryllium, a lightweight yet sturdy and cold-resistant metal. Each of its 18 segments is coated with an ultra thin layer of gold, highly reflective of infrared light. The hexagonal, coffee table-size segments must be adjusted in the weeks ahead so they can focus as one on stars, galaxies and alien worlds that might hold atmospheric signs of life.

“It’s like we have 18 mirrors that are right now little prima donnas all doing their own thing, singing their own tune in whatever key they’re in, and we have to make them work like a chorus and that is a methodical, laborious process,” operations project scientist Jane Rigby told reporters.

Webb should reach its destination 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometres) away in another two weeks; it’s already more than 667,000 miles (1 million kilometres) from Earth since its Christmas Day launch. If

ENGINEERING teams celebrate at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore as the second primary mirror wing of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope unfolds. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) all continues to go well, science observations will begin this summer.

Astronomers hope to peer back to within 100 million years of the universe-forming Big Bang, closer than Hubble has achieved.

Project manager Bill Ochs stressed the team isn’t letting its guard down, despite the unprecedented successes of the past two weeks.

“It’s not downhill from here. It’s all kind of a level playing field,” he said.

CES GADGET SHOW TURNOUT FALLS MORE THAN 70 PERCENT THANKS TO COVID

PEOPLE view the Snapdragon Digital Chassis at the Snapdragon booth during the CES tech show last week in Las Vegas. The thousands of people who gathered in Las Vegas for this week’s CES gadget show were a fraction of the usual crowd for the influential tech conference, the event’s organiser said. (AP Photo/Joe Buglewicz, File)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Attendance at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas fell more than 70% compared to its previous in-person event two years ago, its organiser said Saturday.

The Consumer Technology Association said that more than 45,000 people attended the multi-day event on the Las Vegas Strip that ended Friday.

More than 170,000 were there for the 2020 convention. The latest numbers updated figures the CTA released Friday, which showed that 2022 attendance was greater than 40,000 people.

The COVID-19 pandemic led the CTA to

take 2021’s conference online, but the trade group decided eight months ago to bring a physical CES 2022 back to Vegas. That proved challenging amid a global spike in infections caused by the fast-moving omicron coronavirus variant that emerged late last year.

Conference attendees were required to wear masks on the exhibition floors that opened last Wednesday and show proof of vaccination before they arrived.

But the rise in COVID19 cases led a number of big tech companies to pull out of the conference in the weeks before the event.

TECHTALK CHRYSLER AIMS TO BE ALL ELECTRIC BY 2028

LONDON (AP) — Chrysler plans go all electric by 2028, the latest automaker to announce a shift away from gasolinepowered engines under rising pressure to act on climate change.

The company said last week that it will launch its first electric vehicle by 2025. Chrysler announced its electric plans along with a new AI-enabled vehicle system powered by a battery that it says can travel 350 to 400 miles (563 to 644 kilometres) per charge.

Fiat Chrysler is part of Europe’s Stellantis, the parent company that also owns PSA Peugeot.

“Our brand will serve at the forefront as Stellantis transforms to deliver clean mobility and connected customer experiences,” Chris Feuell, CEO of the Chrysler brand, said in a news release.

Stellantis last month announced a strategy to embed AI-enabled software in 34 million vehicles across its 14 brands in a bid to gain $22.6 billion (20 billion euros) in annual revenue by 2030. It’s part of a broad transformation in the auto industry, as companies race toward more fully electric and hybrid propulsion systems, more autonomous driving features and increased connectivity in cars.

All top automakers are working on electric vehicles amid concerns about climate change.

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PAGE 10, Wednesday, January 12, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Omicron may be headed for rapid drop in US/UK SCIENTISTS are seeing signals that COVID-19’s alarming omicron wave may have peaked in Britain and is about to do the same in the US, at which point cases may start dropping off dramatically.

The reason: The variant has proved so wildly contagious that it may already be running out of people to infect, just a month and a half after it was first detected in South Africa.

“It’s going to come down as fast as it went up,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle.

At the same time, experts warn that much is still uncertain about how the next phase of the pandemic might unfold. The plateauing or ebbing in the two countries is not happening everywhere at the same time or at the same pace. And weeks or months of misery still lie ahead for patients and overwhelmed hospitals even if the drop-off comes to pass.

“There are still a lot of people who will get infected as we descend the slope on the backside,” said Lauren Ancel Meyers, director of the University of Texas COVID-19 Modeling Consortium, which predicts that reported cases will peak within the week.

The University of Washington’s own highly influential model says the number of daily reported cases in the US will crest at 1.2 million by January 19 and will then fall sharply “simply because everybody who could be infected will be infected,” according to Mokdad.

In fact, he said, by the university’s complex calculations, the true number of new daily infections in the US — an estimate that includes people who were never tested — has already peaked, hitting six million on January 6.

In Britain, meanwhile, new COVID-19 cases dropped to about 140,000 a day in the last week, after skyrocketing to more than 200,000 a day earlier this month, according to government data.

Kevin McConway, a retired professor of applied statistics at Britain’s Open University, said that while cases are still rising in places such as southwest England and the West Midlands, the outbreak may have peaked in London.

The figures have raised hopes that the two countries are about to witness what happened in South Africa, where the wave crested at record highs and then fell significantly about a month later.

“We are seeing a definite falling-off of cases in the UK, but I’d like to see them

fall much further before we know if what happened in South Africa will happen here,” said Dr Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at Britain’s University of East Anglia.

Differences between Britain and South Africa, including Britain’s older population and the tendency of its people to spend more time indoors in the winter, could mean a bumpier outbreak for the country and other nations like it.

On the other hand, British authorities’ decision to adopt minimal restrictions against omicron could enable the virus to rip through the population and run its course much faster than it might in Western European countries that have imposed tougher COVID-19 controls, such as France, Spain and Italy.

Shabir Mahdi, dean of health sciences at South Africa’s University of Witwatersrand, said European countries that impose lockdowns won’t necessarily come through the omicron wave with fewer infections; the cases may just be spread out over a longer period of time.

On Tuesday, the World Health Organization said there have been seven million new COVID-19 cases across Europe in the past week, calling it a “tidal wave sweeping across the region”. WHO cited modeling from Mokdad’s group that predicts half of Europe’s population will be infected with omicron within about eight weeks.

By that time, however, Hunter and others expect the world to be past the omicron surge.

“There will probably be some ups and downs along the way, but I would hope that by Easter, we will be out of this,” Hunter said.

Still, the sheer numbers of people infected could prove overwhelming to fragile health systems, said Dr Prabhat Jha of the Centre for Global Health Research at St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

“The next few weeks are going to be brutal because in absolute numbers, there are so many people being infected that it will spill over into ICUs,” Jha said.

Mokdad likewise warned in the US: “It’s going to be a tough two or three weeks.

We have to make hard decisions to let certain essential workers continue working, knowing they could be infectious.”

Omicron could one day be seen as a turning point in the pandemic, said Meyers, at the University of Texas.

Immunity from all the new infections, along with new drugs and continued vaccination, could render the coronavirus something with which we can more easily coexist.

LONDON Associated Press

residence. The email from the prime minister’s private secretary, Martin Reynolds, was sent to dozens of people and urged attendees to “bring your own booze”.

The event was scheduled for May 20, 2020 — the same day the government held a televised news conference to remind people group gatherings were banned indoors and out.

The police force said yesterday it was “in contact with” the government over the claims. A senior civil servant is also investigating.

Johnson has insisted he personally broke no rules, but British media reported that he and his wife, Carrie Johnson, attended.

JOHNSON ACCUSED OF BREAKING LOCKDOWN

BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced a wave of public and political outrage yesterday over allegations that he and his staff flouted coronavirus lockdown rules by holding a garden party in 2020 while Britons were barred by law from meeting up with more than one person outside their households.

Opposition politicians called for a police investigation after broadcaster ITV published a leaked email invitation to “socially distanced drinks” in the garden of the prime minister’s Downing Street office and

SPORTS PAGE 11

Buddy, Page 13

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022

Tennis ace Justin Roberts earns Battle of Boca title

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND TENNIS BAHAMAS PROGRAMME LAUNCHED

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Bounces back from hamstring injury

A

fter taking almost a year off to recuperate from a hamstring injury, top-ranked Bahamian tennis player Justin Roberts returned to the international scene in grand style, winning the Battle of Boca Men’s Open Championships.

At the Rick Macci Tennis Centre in Boca Raton, Florida, Roberts clinched the title with a hard fought 7-6, 3-6, 10-6 win over Christian Langmo.

Saturday’s was Roberts’ first tournament since July, but he was very pleased with the progress he made in rehab to get back on the court in such fine form.

“I did a lot of phototherapy and worked out with my strength and conditioning coaches to work on the areas that I needed to improve on my body,” said Roberts of the injury he sustained in his last tournament in Ecuador.

“I watched a lot of video with my coach on how I should be playing coming back from the injury. It was a lot of hard work and patience, so it was good that it all paid off and I could get back on the court at such a high level.”

Coming off the rehab, the six-foot Roberts, who plays righthanded, said he’s excited because he has seen improvement in his game in a lot of areas.

“I feel strong and overall, I just feel like a better tennis player,” said Roberts, who turned 25 years old on December 4.

“I’m just so happy to be back out on the court competing and winning again.”

SEE PAGE 13

TOP-ranked Bahamian male tennis player Justin Roberts, left, receives his winning pay cheque after winning the Battle of Boca Men’s Open Championships at the Rick Macci Tennis Centre in Boca Raton, Florida.

FOR the past 19 years, Kevin ‘KJ’ Major and Philip Major Jr have been holding court as two of the country’s top players from the junior to the senior level. Today, the closely knitted family members are combining their talent to provide instructions to the next generation of players.

They have formed their own tennis programme, Island Tennis Bahamas, which was officially launched yesterday with teaching sessions for players from 4-19 years. They operate from both the Atlantis and Baha Mar Tennis Centres between the hours of 4-7:30pm, but also conduct sessions as requested during the day.

PJ Major, who at 25, is the brother of 26-year-old KJ Major’s father, Kevin Major Sr, said after spending so much time on and off the court together, they decided to form their own organisation after working the past year as coaches in the Mark Knowles Tennis Academy.

“We both know that tennis is near and dear to our hearts and because someone did it for us, we wanted to give some of the players an even better experience than we had,” PJ Major said. “We want to make sure that we do our best as role models to display our passion as we help to grow the sport.

SEE PAGE 14

PGA TOUR STAYS IN HAWAII, KORN FERRY PREPARES FOR BAHAMAS PGA TOUR SONY OPEN Site: Honolulu Course: Waialae CC. Yardage: 7,044. Par: 70.

Prize money: $7.5 million. Winner’s share: $1,350,000.

Television: Thursday-Saturday, 7-10:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 6-10 p.m. (Golf Channel).

Defending champion: Kevin Na. FedEx Cup leader: Talor Gooch.

Last week: Cameron Smith won the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

Notes: The field features 22 of the 38 players who began the new year on Maui in the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Kapalua winner Cameron Smith at No. 10

is the only player from the top 10 after Bryson DeChambeau withdrew with what he said were sore wrists. ... Justin Thomas in 2017 is the last player to sweep the Hawaii swing. ... The field includes Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, Takumi Kanaya and world No. 1 amateur Keita Nakajima, all three past winners of the Asia-Pacific Amateur.

Jim Furyk and Jerry Kelly are playing on sponsor exemptions ahead of starting the PGA Tour Champions next week on the Big Island.

Charles Howell III is making his 21st consecutive start at the Sony Open. He has career earnings at Waialae of just over $3 million without ever having won. He has

six finishes in the top four. ... Matt Jones shot 62-61 on the weekend at Kapalua to finish third. It ties the low weekend score on the PGA Tour previously set by Patrick Rodgers at Sea Island in 2019 and Steve Stricker at the Bob Hope Classic in 2009. None of them went on to win.

Next week: The American Express.

KORN FERRY TOUR THE BAHAMAS GREAT EXUMA CLASSIC. Site: Great Exuma, Bahamas.

Course: Sandals Emerald Bay GC. Yardage: 7,001. Par: 72.

Dates: January 16-19 (Sunday-Wednesday).

Prize money: $750,000. Winner’s share: $135,000.

Television: None.

Defending champion: Tommy Gainey.

Last tournament: Joseph Bramlett won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship on September 5.

Next week: The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic.

LPGA TOUR Last tournament: Jin Young Ko won the CME Group Tour Championship.

Next week: Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

Race to CME Globe winner: Jin Young Ko. EUROPEAN TOUR Last tournament: Thriston Lawrence won the Joburg Open.

Next week: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

DP World Tour leader: Thriston Lawrence.

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS Last tournament: Phil Mickelson won the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Next week: Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

Charles Schwab Cup winner: Bernhard Langer.

OTHER TOURS PGA Tour of Australasia: Australian PGA Championship, Royal Queensland GC, Brisbane, Australia.

Defending champion: Adam Scott.

Asian Tour: Singapore International, Tanah Merah CC (Tampines), Singapore. Defending champion: New event.

‘It’s our appeal to the ministry to allow our sport to continue’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH their season opener postponed over the weekend, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is now more concerned about the remainder of its calendar of events heading into the return of the CARIFTA Games this Easter.

The BAAA was denied the opportunity to stage their annual Odd Distance Meet on Saturday at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium because of the stringent health and safety protocols put in place by the Ministry of Health over the rise in cases in COVID-19 and the latest variant, Omicron.

But BAAA president Drumeco Archer said the precedent set could have an adverse effect on their season moving forward, especially as they try to provide a wholesome environment for their athletes to train and compete in.

Based on the requirements by the Ministry of Health, Archer said the BAAA saw the wisdom by mandating that all of its

athletes, coaches and government authorities officials provide a negaso that we can deliver tive COVID-19 test 24 safe and productive hours prior to the staging competitions for the of their events. sake of the opportuni“I believe that would ties,” he stated. “This have provided us with would be the third year the greatest degree of that we have been chalaccuracy and proteclenged with these issues, tion any social gathering which have had a drastic could afford,” he said. impact on the scholas“Unfortunately, the Mintic opportunities for our istry of Health denied student-athletes. the application.

We “Not being able to ARCHER believe our sport has showcase themselves always been the leader in follow- locally and internationally, and ing the guidelines and protocols regionally, has been a tremendous of COVID-19 and it’s our appeal strain on the athletes to be able to to the ministry to allow our sport free education in this country. So to continue.” it’s far reaching, the decisions that With the Jamaican government are being made. I believe we have and the Jamaican Amateur Ath- a robust regime that is second to letic Association launching their none. The requirements being 100-day campaign leading up to imposed on all of our stakeholders the hosting of the CARIFTA and the testing we are imposing Games in April, Archer said the are higher than any standard that BAAA is concerned about the is being implemented elsewhere fitness level of their athletes and particularly in a 15,000 seat arena the manner in which they pre- where we can distance ourselves pare them for their international and still feel safe.” competition.

While the Odd Distance was “We need to work very care- called off this weekend, Archer fully and very closely with the said he’s optimistic that the

Ministry of Health will reconsider its position and allow them to stage the meet this weekend where there is a vacant spot on their calendar.

“With the protocols we are imposing, it allows us to provide a safe environment in which are athletes can compete,” Archer said.

With the precedent already set for their sport, Archer said he has noticed that there are other events with a lot more persons involved being held and so they are asking the government to consider their recommendations so that it won’t have an adverse effect on their athletes.

In addition to the Odd Distance Meet, both the T-Bird Flyers and the Red-Line Athletic Track Clubs have announced that their meets, which were also scheduled for this month, have been called off because they were not given the permission by the Ministry of Health to host them.

To the athletes, Archer expressed his sympathy to them, but would only like to encourage them to continue to train and prepare for the upcoming season

as if there is one heading into the CARIFTA Games.

“We’re going to try to be as competitive as we can,” said Archer of the Bahamas, which normally provides the stiffest challenge to the perennial kingpins, Jamaica. “There is only way to remain competitive and that is to continue training.

“So my recommendations to the athletes are to remain safe, create and continue to create a safe and healthy environment by following the safety and health protocols, but we simply can not stop training right now. The stakes are just simply too high.”

After hosting a series of events last year, mainly without any fan participation in the stands, Archer said it’s their hope that they will be allowed to have a full scale calendar of events this year, especially with the CARIFTA Games returning after a two-year hiatus.

The Games, the brainchild of Barbados’ Austin Sealy in 1972, should have been preparing for its 50th golden anniversary in Barbados. But those celebrations have been delayed and are now expected to take place next year.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, January 12, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

IMPROVED BARCELONA TAKES ON REAL MADRID IN SUPER CUP CLÁSICO

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — The last time Barcelona faced Real Madrid, the team was still coping with the departure of Lionel Messi and one of its worst financial crises ever.

Ronald Koeman was still at the helm, and the Catalan club struggled on and off the field.

The 2-1 loss at Camp Nou in the Spanish league last October came as no surprise to most, highlighting Barcelona’s fragility at the moment.

But things are different as the rivals enter their second “clásico” of the season in the Spanish Super Cup semifinals in Saudi Arabia today.

Barcelona appears to be back on track after restructuring its finances and showing signs of

improvement on the field under coach Xavi Hernández.

“It’s a different scenario now,” Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué said. “We were going through a tough moment at that time. We are doing better now and we hope to take advantage of it.”

Triumph in the Super Cup could mean a turning point for Barcelona, the veteran defender said.

“In the situation we are in, each victory, and hopefully the title, would mean a big boost for us,” Piqué told Movistar. “It would give us more confidence and would be important going forward.”

Barcelona has several players back from injury who were unavailable for that league match against Madrid last year, including young midfielder Pedri González.

Since then it also added some

new signings who could make a difference on Wednesday, including veteran Brazil defender Dani Alves and young Spain international Ferran Torres.

Torres and Pedri recently tested positive for the coronavirus but were cleared Monday to make the trip to Saudi Arabia to join the squad.

“We have to continue with the rebuilding process,” Hernández said Tuesday. “Tomorrow will be a good test to know where we are.”

The former Barcelona great said Madrid is the team in best form in Spain at the moment. The Catalan club trails its rival by 17 points in the Spanish league with a game in hand.

Barcelona has drawn two of its last three matches in the competition while Madrid won two of its last three.

“There may be a big difference in the standings right now but these games are always even,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

The Spanish Super Cup is being played in Saudi Arabia again after the coronavirus pandemic transferred last year’s edition back to Spain.

The Spanish soccer federation reached a deal reportedly worth 120 million euros ($136 million) to play in Saudi Arabia beginning in 2020. The competition was expanded to four teams instead of two and moved from the start of the season to its midpoint. The changes were made despite criticism from human rights activists and complaints from fans who preferred the competition stayed in Spain.

The other semifinal match will be played Thursday between

defending Spanish league champion Atlético Madrid and Copa del Rey runner-up Athletic Bilbao.

“It makes no sense to go to Saudi Arabia to play our tournament,” veteran Athletic midfielder Raúl García said. “We are not thinking about the fans anymore.”

Madrid made it to the “Final Four” after finishing second to Atlético in the league last season.

Barcelona qualified as the Copa del Rey champion.

Madrid has been in great form heading into Saudi Arabia after a superb start to the season from its attacking duo of Karim Benzema and Vinícius Júnior.

Atlético Madrid enters the Super Cup trailing Madrid by 16 points with a game in hand. Athletic is five points further behind Atlético.

Without Ronaldo, Manchester United labours to FA Cup victory over Villa

ASTON Villa head coach Steven Gerrard follows the action during the English FA Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Aston Villa outside Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, on Monday.

(AP Photo/Jon Super)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United laboured to a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup thanks to Scott McTominay’s early goal on Monday.

McTominay met a curling cross from fellow midfielder Fred with a glancing header in the eighth minute to seal a home match against second-tier Middlesbrough in the fourth round next month.

Yet the victory will do little to inspire confidence among United’s fans that Ralf Rangnick, the interim manager until the end of the season, is close to getting the best out of the fallen giant of English soccer.

Ronaldo was absent because of a hip injury that Rangnick described as “minor,” and United was fairly lacklustre as an attacking force at Old Trafford, especially in the second half as Villa launched a wave of attacks.

The visitors had two goals disallowed -- both for offside -- and United goalkeeper David De Gea was again his team’s most impressive performer with a string of diving saves. Ollie Watkins also struck the crossbar in the first half after an error by United defender Victor Lindelof.

“We had to suffer a lot on the pitch,” United center back Raphael Varane said.

It proved to be a disappointing return to United’s stadium for Steven Gerrard, the Villa manager who was handed a hostile reception owing to his previous links with Liverpool -- United’s great rival.

Gerrard was unable to select Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho, who was signed on loan from Barcelona last week but is currently in France awaiting a work permit.

Still, in Jacob Ramsey and Emi Buendia, Villa had two midfielders with the guile and drive of Coutinho

and who outshone more celebrated players in United’s midfield. Rangnick has called for United to control games better but his players weren’t able to do that against Villa, whose passing was sharper and more incisive. “To say that this was a perfect game, nobody would believe that.

Of course it was not,” Rangnick said. “We still have quite a few things we can get better at, but a clean sheet was important today and we worked together. “Still a lot of things to improve but it is easier to do that with a 1-0 win.”

The most contentious moment came when Danny Ings thought he equalized by bundling the ball home from close range in the 51st.

The buildup to the goal was scrutinized at length by VAR, and it was deemed that Ramsey had been standing in an offside position before he became active in blocking off Edinson Cavani prior to Ezri Konsa heading the ball across goal to Ings.

Eight minutes later, Watkins slid in to score but again the goal was disallowed for offside against Ings in the buildup.

“The lads gave a lot in terms of performance but we need to learn and close the gap from a performance that was nearly good enough,” Gerrard said. “We dominated for large parts but we were not ruthless enough.

“I’ve seen enough tonight in terms of the performance to know that I can get to where I want to get to but we need to learn and learn quickly.”

United will be hopeful that Ronaldo is fit to return for the team’s next game, at Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

“He’s told me that he’s had that problem for the last couple of days,” Rangnick said of Ronaldo.

“Again, in a cup game when you can play 120 minutes, I thought it would be better to not take any risks.”

TOUGH DAY FOR SALAH’S EGYPT, MAHREZ’S ALGERIA AT AFRICAN CUP DOUALA, Cameroon (AP) — Mohamed Salah was kept in check as Egypt lost 1-0 to Nigeria on a superb goal by Kelechi Iheanacho in their first game at the African Cup of Nations yesterday.

Riyad Mahrez also had a tough day as he and his Algeria teammates missed several goal-scoring chances to open their title defence with a surprising 0-0 draw with minnow Sierra Leone, which is playing in its first major tournament in 26 years.

The results threw some of the pre-tournament predictions out the window as early as Day 3 at the African Cup in Cameroon. If there was a team to watch at the tournament it was Algeria, on a run of 40 games unbeaten since 2018.

And if there was a player to watch it was Liverpool’s Salah, the Premier League’s leading scorer who has a claim to being the best in the world right now.

Might be time for a bit of a re-think.

It is early in the tournament, though. The top two

teams in each group progress automatically to the knockout stages and there’s the best part of a tournament still to play.

As Algeria missed chance after chance in its Group E opener in Douala, coach Djamel Belmadi became increasingly angry on the sidelines.

When Algeria spurned its last opportunity in the last act deep in injury time, the 2019 African Cup-winning coach dropped to his knees and slammed his hands on the ground.

Sierra Leone is playing in its first African Cup since 1996. But Algeria found no way past Sierra Leone goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara, who celebrated the result as if it was a tournament win.

Sierra Leone squad players sprinted from the bench onto the field at the end to join his celebrations.

For just one day, a 22-year-old goalkeeper who plays for East End Lions in Freetown, Sierra Leone had the better of Manchester City’s Mahrez and the rest of Algeria’s powerful forward line.

EGYPT’s Mohamed Salah in action in front of Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo during the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Egypt and Nigeria in Garoua, Cameroon, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Footografiia) Algeria had countless openings.

Yacine Brahimi hit two shots right at Kamara in quick succession at the start of the second half. Algeria substitute Sofiane Bendebka couldn’t get his effort on

target with Kamara on the ground after making another save in the 67th minute.

Mahrez was denied when Kamara brilliantly got his fingertips to a low shot that was destined for the bottom

corner in the last 10 minutes. Algeria put Sierra Leone under siege for most of the second half, but when striker Baghdad Bounedjah, another substitute, headed weakly and straight into Kamara’s arms for the

final miss, Belmadi’s frustration erupted.

Nigeria was meant to be a team in crisis after firing coach Gernot Rohr last month and installing Augustine Eguavoen as his replacement on an interim basis. Nigeria also is without top striker Victor Osimhen of Napoli and two other key forwards for the tournament.

Iheanacho, who’s been warming the bench at Leicester in recent months, seized his chance in an early meeting of two of the tournament heavyweights to start Group D. He controlled a cross from Moses Simon and, all in one move, fired a swift shot into the top right corner for Nigeria’s winner in the 30th minute.

Salah had one real opportunity for Egypt late in the game, but Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye came out and blocked Salah’s shot with his left leg.

Eguavoen said the game plan was relatively simple: “Try to keep Salah off the ball and play high-pressure football at the other end.”

Mané saves Senegal, Morocco defeats Ghana BAFOUSSAM, Cameroon (AP) — Sadio Mané saved Senegal with a 97th-minute penalty to beat Zimbabwe 1-0 at the African Cup of Nations on Monday.

Morocco won the first meeting of heavyweights with a late goal to edge Ghana, also 1-0.

Neither game produced much high-quality soccer despite them involving three title contenders but they didn’t disappoint that many fans in Cameroon as both were played in front of sparse crowds.

Poor attendances when the host nation is not playing is a perennial problem for the African Cup. This year, only people who are fully vaccinated against COVID19 and can show proof of negative virus tests are allowed into the stadiums.

The stringent restrictions were brought in late because of the omicron variant, meaning the crowds might be even smaller than normal.

Crowds will also be capped at 60 percent of the stadium’s capacity for all games not involving the home team. Neither of the stadiums used for the four games on the second day of the tournament were remotely near 60 percent full.

Senegal, Africa’s top-ranked team, opened its campaign with an unconvincing win in Group B over a Zimbabwe team ranked 101 places below it. It was a win nonetheless as Senegal sneaked victory despite being without goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and captain Kalidou Coulibaly, who have tested positive for the virus.

Other teams also made do without key players because of positive virus tests as many might have to throughout the monthlong tournament. Gabon was missing Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nice midfielder Mario Lemina when it beat tournament debutant Comoros 1-0 in the day’s last game.

Every game ended 1-0 as Guinea beat Malawi in the other game. Mané sent goalkeeper Petros Mhari the wrong way and drilled his very late penalty into the left corner at the Kouekong Stadium in Cameroon’s western city of Bafoussam. The Liverpool forward took his chance after Zimbabwe midfielder Kelvin Madzongwe was penalised for handball in the fourth minute of injury time as the game suddenly ended in drama.

Zimbabwe protested vehemently but referee Mario Escobar of Guatemala stuck by his decision after referring to a video review, which is being used at every game at the African Cup for the first time. Madzongwe had thrown himself to the ground trying to block a shot and the ball struck his arm.

A first-half goal from Issiaga Sylla gave Guinea its victory over Malawi in the other Group B game, which followed

Senegal-Zimbabwe at the same stadium.

Morocco-Ghana at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde seemed headed for 0-0 when Sofiane Boufal suddenly pounced on a loose ball that bounced off a Ghana defender to score Morocco’s 83rd-minute winner in the Group C opener.

Ghana captain Andre Ayew finished the game with a bandage wrapped round his head and blood seeping through it after a clash of heads with Morocco skipper Romain Saiss.

Gabon striker Aaron Boupendza stepped up in the absence of Aubameyang to smash home Gabon’s winner with a leftfoot strike into the roof of the net from a tight angle. Boupendza celebrated with a cartwheel and back flip and Gabon got what it needed from its opening game without its two best players.

There have been virus outbreaks in many of the 24 squads and it seems the African Cup will

soldier on through them. In an update to its tournament rules because of the virus, the Confederation of African Football has said teams must fulfil fixtures if they have at least 11 players healthy and available, even if it means they won’t have any substitutes. The positives — tests that is — kept coming on Monday when the Egypt soccer federation announced its president, Gamal Allam, tested positive while in Cameroon. He did not have symptoms and all of the players tested negative, the federation said.

Cameroon’s African Cup opened Sunday when the host team beat Burkina Faso 2-1, finally ending a three-year wait for this tournament for the Central African nation. Cameroon was stripped of the right to host the 2019 African Cup and then saw its second chance in 2021 postponed for a year because of the pandemic.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 12, 2022, PAGE 13

Ayton scores 16 as Suns cool off streaking Raptors, 99-95 TORONTO (AP) — Devin Booker scored 16 points, including the goahead basket with 1:02 remaining, and Deandre Ayton canned 16 as the Phoenix Suns beat Toronto 99-95 last night to snap the Raptors’ longest winning streak of the season at six games.

Jae Crowder scored 19 points, Chris Paul had 15 points and 12 assists and Mikal Bridges added 12 as the Suns improved to 31-9, matching the franchise’s best record through 40 games.

OG Anunoby scored 25 points, Pascal Siakam had 22 and Fred VanVleet added 21 for the Raptors, who lost for the first time since December 28 against Philadelphia.

Chris Boucher had 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Raptors, who played without injured starters Scottie Barnes and Gary Trent Jr. Trent missed his second straight game because of

a sore left ankle, while Barnes sat out with a sore right knee.

The Raptors led 83-81 after Boucher made a pair of free throws with 6:19 left, but Crowder and Bridges each hit a 3-pointer before Ayton capped an 8-0 run as Phoenix opened an 89-83 lead with 4:13 to go, its biggest of the game.

Siakam stopped the run with a basket and Anunoby added a 3 to make it 89-88 with 2:36 to play.

Booker fouled Anunoby as they scrambled after a loose ball with 1:41 left, and the Toronto forward made both to put the Raptors up 90-89. After three missed 3-pointers by the Suns, Booker hit a go-ahead jumper with 62 seconds left and, after Siakam missed, Paul’s pull-up jumper made it 93-90 with 32 seconds remaining.

Anunoby cut it to one with a driving basket, but Booker restored the threepoint cushion with a pair of free throws.

RAPTORS forward Pascal Siakam (43) protects the ball from Phoenix Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) during the second half in Toronto last night.

(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) Toronto’s Khem Birch and Paul each converted a pair of free throws and the Suns sent VanVleet to the line with four seconds left.

He made the first and missed the second, but Phoenix’s Jalen Smith grabbed the rebound and

Ayton pushed the lead to four with a pair of free throws. VanVleet scored 10 points in the first as Toronto led 31-23 after one, but Crowder answered with 13 points in the second as the Suns cut the deficit to 48-46 at halftime.

Siakam hit a tiebreaking jumper with 8.8 seconds left in the third to give the Raptors a 71-69 lead heading to the fourth.

TIP-INS Suns: F Cam Johnson (left ankle) was not available after being injured in Saturday’s loss to Miami.

Landry Shamet returned after missing the past three games while in the health and safety protocols.

Justin Jackson (personal) did not travel to Toronto.

Phoenix coach Monty Williams said Jackson could rejoin the team Friday in Indiana.

Ish Wainwright (health and safety protocols) was not available.

Phoenix signed C Bismack Biyombo for the remainder of the season.

Raptors: Siakam had four assists in the first quarter.

He finished with seven.

Yuta Watanabe missed the previous four games after entering the health and safety protocols.

CAVS HOLD OFF LATE RALLY, HAND HIELD AND KINGS 5TH STRAIGHT LOSS

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif.

(AP) — Jarret Allen had 18 points and 17 rebounds, Darius Garland also had a double-double and the Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Sacramento Kings 109-108 on Monday night.

Kevin Love scored 19 points, Evan Mobley added 17 and Lauri Markkanen and Cedi Osman finished with 15 points apiece.

Garland had 12 points and 11 assists as the Cavaliers completed the season sweep of the Kings.

As good as the win felt, Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff wasn’t entirely pleased. The Cavs committed 17 turnovers that led to 20 points, allowed 15 offensive rebounds and went scoreless over the final 2 ½ minutes.

“It’s a win so we’ll take it but it wasn’t our best,” Bickerstaff said. “We talk about playing with purpose and discipline for 48 minutes. We didn’t do that tonight. We can’t put ourselves in these type of positions. We have to improve because it’s going to cost us down the stretch if we don’t.”

Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and eight assists

for Sacramento. Chavano “Buddy” Hield added 19 points.

The Kings have lost a season-worst five straight.

Cleveland led 109-99 with 2:34 remaining but went cold. Sacramento went on its biggest run after that and got within 109-108 on two free throws

by De’Aaron Fox. After the Cavaliers turned the ball over, Fox missed a 15-footer as time expired.

“We did all we needed to do to put ourselves in a position to win, We just couldn’t quite get over the hump,” Kings interim coach Alvin Gentry said.

“If you tell me that I could get De’Aaron Fox a foulline jumpshot to win the game, I’ll take that. If we play that way night in and night out we’ll change the direction of our team.”

The Cavaliers led going into the fourth quarter, fell behind by three, then went on a 14-2 run to take a comfortable lead. Mobley, quiet for most of the evening, made a pair of baskets during the run then later made a three-point play to make it 106-99. Markkanen followed with a 3-pointer before the Kings made their late push.

“The message today was to come back how we were

CAVALIERS forward Lauri Markkanen (24) defends Kings guard Chavano “Buddy” Hield (24) during the second half in Sacramento, California, on Monday night. The Cavaliers won 109-108.

(AP Photo/Randall Benton) two weeks ago,” Allen said. “We were rebounding the ball, protecting the paint, doing everything that made us a good team.

It was a huge step in the right direction.”

Coming off a seasonlow two points in Sunday’s 96-82 loss to Golden State on Sunday, Love got the Cavaliers going early and had 14 points in the first half including a 3-pointer

that put Cleveland ahead by 12.

The Kings got within 47-45 on Marvin Bagley III’s dunk but Garland hit a 3-pointer atop the arc for the Cavaliers and Osman followed with a pair of free throws. Osman later scored on a reverse just before halftime to make it 62-49. Lamar Stevens scored six of Cleveland’s first 11 points in the third

quarter and fed Allen with an alley-oop pass but Hield made back-to-back 3s then added a third beyond the arc to help Sacramento get within 84-79.

TIP-INS Cavaliers: Allen had his double-double before halftime.

Kings: Richaun Holmes and Damian Jones remain in the NBA health and safety protocol.

JA MORANT SCORES 29, GRIZZLIES TOP WARRIORS FOR 10TH STRAIGHT VICTORY

By CLAY BAILEY Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant scored 29 points, including five in the final minute, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Golden State Warriors 116108 last night for their 10th straight win.

Ziaire Williams and Tyus Jones had 17 points each for Memphis. Jones keyed a fourth-quarter rally that put the Grizzlies ahead for good. He finished 6 for 8 from the field, including connecting on all five of his 3-point attempts.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points, while Klay Thompson finished with 14 points.

Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II scored 13 each.

The teams had a closely played game in the second half until consecutive 3-pointers by Jones gave Memphis a 109-100 lead with 3:33 left to play. That was enough of a buffer for the Grizzlies to keep their franchise-record win streak going, Memphis holding Golden State to 18 points in the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies were the ones connecting from 3-point range in the first half hitting 8 of their first 13 from outside the arc.

That allowed Memphis to build an 18-point lead in the second quarter.

Morant had 18 points in the half, but Golden State trimmed the deficit to 59-51 at halftime. Despite missing his first five shots in the game including all three of his 3-pointers in the half, Curry had 12 points at the break.

The Warriors then turned up the defensive pressure, particularly with Payton shadowing Morant, to open the second half. Curry got untracked from 3-point range and the Warriors defence contributed to four early Memphis turnovers and the Grizzlies starting 1 of 7 after halftime.

Then it settled into a playoff-type atmosphere with intensity on the court and the loud Memphis crowd on its feet and deeply involved. The teams exchanged leads, neither getting much more than a one-possession advantage and Golden State led 90-87 entering the fourth.

EMBIID SCORES 31, 76ERS BEAT ROCKETS FOR 7TH STRAIGHT WIN HOUSTON (AP) — Joel Embiid had 31 points and eight rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the Houston Rockets 111-91 Monday night for their seventh straight win.

Embiid turned in his seventh straight 30-point game and also had six assists. He was 9 of 16 from the field and made all 13 of his free throws. He’s the second player in NBA history to score exactly 31 points in four straight games. Bob McAdoo was the first to do it for the Buffalo Braves in November 1973. Embiid entered Monday averaging 26.8 points per game, sixth in the NBA. Philadelphia has the longest winning streak in the Eastern Conference and the second-longest run in the NBA behind Memphis’ nine-game string.

CELTICS 101, PACERS 98, OT BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and Jayson Tatum had 24, carrying Boston over Indiana in the first of a home-andhome series between the teams.

Robert Williams III had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Boston, including a key block in OT. The Celtics won for the fourth time in six games.

Torrey Craig led the Pacers with 19 points and Lance Stephenson scored 14 but missed a potential tying 3-pointer late in OT. Indiana has lost seven of eight.

TRAIL BLAZERS 114, NETS 108 PORTLAND, Ore (AP) — Anfernee Simons had 23 points and 11 assists, and short-handed Portland took

JUSTIN ROBERTS FROM PAGE 11

On his way to the final, Roberts said he defeated some quality players, but he was more impressed with his triumph over Langmo, who is currently ranked at No. 476 in the world on the ATP Tour, compared to Roberts, who is pegged at 910.

“It shows my level is where I want it to be,” Roberts said. “I just want to keep building on this for the rest of the year.”

advantage of James Harden’s absence for a victory over Brooklyn.

Harden was out with a hyperextended left knee.

Kyrie Irving started in his second game of the season and finished with 22 points.

Kevin Durant led all scorers with 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets.

Robert Covington had 21 points, including five 3-pointers, for the Blazers, who saw all five starters score in double figures.

KNICKS 111, SPURS 96 NEW YORK (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 31 points in his first home game since hitting his first career buzzer beater, leading New York over San Antonio.

Evan Fournier returned from a one-game absence with 18 points for the Knicks, who broke open a

With this being his first tournament for the year, Roberts said he didn’t know what to expect as he now plays full time as a professional tennis player having completed his academics at Arizona State University in 2019.

“I haven’t played since July, but I know I was training well, so I felt I could do well,” he said.

“There were not that many strict COVID-19 rules in Florida, but it was good for me to get some high level matches in before I leave on Sunday to go to Cancun, Mexico.”

While in Mexico, Roberts will compete in two $15,000

game that had been close throughout by outscoring the Spurs 18-2 to start the fourth quarter.

The Knicks won for the third time in four games to reach the midpoint of their schedule at 20-21.

Dejounte Murray scored 24 points for the Spurs, who finished a 1-6 road trip.

Jakob Poeltl had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

HORNETS 103, BUCKS 99 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball hit the go-ahead basket with 15 seconds left, Terry Rozier scored 27 points and Charlotte beat NBA champion Milwaukee for the second time in three nights.

Ball scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half, and Miles Bridges added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, who have

KAYLAH Fox with her trophy.

won six of eight games and improved to 12-5 at home.

Khris Middleton had 27 points and 11 assists, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks, who also lost 114-106 to the Hornets on Saturday night.

Ball sank the winner when he drove across the lane, swept the ball above his head and launched an off-balance 10-foot runner.

PISTONS 126, JAZZ 116 DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham scored 18 of his career-high 29 points in the third quarter to help Detroit erase a 22-point deficit and beat Utah.

Saddiq Bey added 29 points for Detroit, which is 4-2 in 2022 after finishing 2021 with 18 losses in 19 games. Lead assistant coach

tournaments before he returns to participate in two more tournaments in Naples, Florida, in February. Once he stays healthy, Roberts said he’s also looking forward to representing the Bahamas once again on the Davis Cup team.

“KJ (Kevin Major) and I talk about it all the time,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to hopefully being a part of the team once again and if we do, we hope to do some damage as we move the country up from zone III to zone II. “I just have to remain health because that’s definitely one of

76ERS centre Joel Embiid (21) shoots as Rockets centre Daniel Theis (27) and forward Christian Wood defend during the first half on Monday. (AP) Rex Kalamian took charge with coach Dwane Casey having entered COVID-19 protocol.

Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points for Utah, and Hassan Whiteside had a season-high 21 points as well as 14 rebounds.

my biggest goals this year, playing again for the country in Davis Cup.” Note: The BLTA congratulated Roberts on his performance as well as Kaylah Fox who competed well at the Delray Championship in Florida. Fox advanced out of the round of 16 in the Under-12 competition.

Fox won 6-1, 6-2 over Melanie Constandache and 7-5, 6-1 over Sabrina Luqman. She then advanced to the final after defeating Kate Ensor. Fox played well in the final, but lost to Nicoletta Contento 6-1, 7-5.

PAGE 14, Wednesday, January 12, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

49ers-Cowboys playoff rivalry resumes after long wait

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif.

(AP) — Kyle Shanahan was a teenager watching on the sideline when the heated playoff rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers reached a fever pitch with three straight NFC title game matchups.

Now Shanahan will take a starring role when one of the NFL’s great rivalries resumes as head coach of the 49ers instead of son of their offensive coordinator when San Francisco visits Dallas on Sunday in a wildcard matchup.

“I think that’s as cool as it gets because that’s the coolest part of my childhood growing up I feel like,” Shanahan said. “It was seventh grade, eighth grade, ninth grade, ‘92, ‘93, ‘94, every single year. I thought we were the best team in the league. ... I remember being on that sideline and just watching how good the Cowboys were and it was unbelievable. And the next year, going to Dallas for the home-field advantage.

And we all know what happened there, that one wasn’t even close.”

Shanahan then went into a deep dive on the meeting the next season that San Francisco won as if the game happened last week instead of more than a quarter-century ago.

“As you can tell, those games I still remember them,” he said. “Those are part of my childhood, that was such cool football because everyone knew that for those three NFC championships, those three years were the Super Bowl.”

The 49ers-Cowboys playoff history is a rich one from back-to-back conference title games in the early 1970s, the iconic “Catch” in the 1981 season and then the heated rivalry in the 1990s when the Cowboys won the first two meetings on the way to Super Bowl titles and then the Niners took the third game.

“Boy, were the games close,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on his radio show. “It was just nip and tuck all the way, and it was a play here, a play there, and that’s the playoffs. These things are just razor thin as to how you can end up advancing in these playoffs. In those years, it made a lot of difference.”

This will be the eighth time these franchises have met in the postseason, tied for the second most of any matchup in the Super Bowl era to the nine games between the Rams and Cowboys.

But with six of the previous matchups coming in the conference title game, few rivalries have had as many big games or star players such as Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders, Steve Young, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin.

“I’m damn fired up, man,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. “Are you kidding me? The early 90s Dallas-Niners, some of the championship games, for me, coming up and watching those ones, I can hear (John) Madden and (Pat) Summerall talking it through. My first Dallas and Niner playoff game, I’m pretty fired up to do it man. It’s exciting.”

It’s been a long time coming as this will be the first playoff matchup since the 1994 season when the Niners beat the Cowboys in the NFC title game.

In fact, this is the first time since 1998 that both teams are in the playoffs in the same season, meaning the current players don’t have the same nostalgia to the rivalry. “Not at all,” Shanahan said. “I wish I could say yes, but some of these players were born in the 2000s. So you like to think so, but every day in the quarterback room, when I ask certain questions like, ‘Have you seen Wedding Crashers?’ And they don’t even know that sometimes.”

COWBOYS running back Emmitt Smith (22) makes his way through 49ers’ defensive backs Merton Hanks (36) and Bill Romanowski (53), for a 4-yard gain in the second quarter of the Cowboy’s 38-21 NFC championship win on January 23, 1994, in Irving, Texas.

(AP Photos/Eric Gay)

COWBOYS defender Deion Sanders (21) knocks the ball away from 49ers receiver Jerry Rice (80) in the second quarter on November 12, 1995.

• Here’s a look at the history of the playoff rivalry.

AMERICA’S TEAM The teams squared off in the first three years after the merger with the Cowboys beating the Niners for the NFC title game in 1970 and ‘71 and again the next year to help launch their status as “America’s Team.”

In the first meeting at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, Dallas used 143 yards rushing and a TD from Duane Thomas and two interceptions of John Brodie to win 17-10.

Dallas’ defence dominated again the next year with three more interceptions of Brodie in a 14-3 win that led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl title. The next meeting in the divisional round at Candlestick Park helped Staubach earn the moniker of “Captain Comeback.”

Staubach entered the game in the fourth quarter with Dallas down 28-13

and led the team on three scoring drives. He threw a 20-yard TD pass to Billy Parks with 1:20 left to cut the deficit to 28-23. After a successful onside kick, the Cowboys won it on a 10-yard TD pass from Staubach to Ron Sellers with 52 seconds to play.

THE CATCH The Niners fell off after that three-year run, but got their revenge with a lategame comeback of their own to launch a dynasty in the 1981 NFC championship game.

San Francisco took over at its 11 with 4:54 to play trailing 27-21 when Montana took over. He picked apart Dallas’ Doomsday Defence with a quintessential West Coast offence drive.

Then the Niners faced a third-and-4 at the Dallas 6 with less than a minute to play when Bill Walsh called “Spring Right Option.” Montana rolled right and couldn’t find an

open receiver immediately. Then with Ed “Too Tall” Jones and the Dallas defence closing in, Montana launched a high pass that seemed headed out of the end zone.

But Dwight Clark leaped over Everson Walls in the back of the end zone and came down with “The Catch” to give San Francisco a 28-27 lead.

The win was sealed when Danny White lost a fumble and San Francisco won its first of five Super Bowl titles in a 14-year span two weeks later.

“Start of a dynasty,” former 49ers president Carmen Policy said. “I don’t let myself go down the road of what would have happened if he doesn’t make that catch.”

HOW ‘BOUT THEM COWBOYS While the Niners dynasty was launched with that win, it was the start of Dallas’ demise under coach Tom Landry.

The Cowboys bottomed out with a one-win season in Jimmy Johnson’s first season in 1989 before beginning a steady rise.

That helped lead to the Cowboys making it to the 1992 NFC title game in San Francisco against a stacked Niners team led by Steve Young and Jerry Rice.

But the young Cowboys didn’t flinch, getting two TDs from Smith to build a 23-20 lead and then Aikman helped seal it with a 70-yard pass to Alvin Harper to set up another TD. The rematch the next season wasn’t nearly as tight with the Cowboys building a 28-7 halftime lead on the way to a 38-21 win after Johnson guaranteed victory earlier in the week. Johnson punctuated both wins with his “How ‘bout them Cowboys!” proclamation in the victorious locker room.

“I’ve been talking all week,” Johnson told his team. “If you’re gonna talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk. Thanks to you guys, y’all did the walkin.”

RAIDERS’ CARR AFTER CLINCHING PLAYOFFS: ‘JOB IS NOT DONE’

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer AFTER their fourth straight nail-biting win was put in the books, the Las Vegas Raiders let out a season’s worth of emotion out with a boisterous locker room celebration.

Players sang and danced as the Raiders clinched a playoff berth for the second time in the past 19 seasons and first time since 2016 with a 35-32 overtime victory Sunday night against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Now, they’re on to Cincinnati to face the Bengals.

“Job is not done,” quarterback Derek Carr said, quoting his sports idol Kobe Bryant. “It does feel good. It’s exciting, but I don’t set out to just make the playoffs, although it’s been since 2016 and I didn’t even get to play. It feels cool. It’s awesome, but you know our goals. This is one of them, but there is more after that, too.”

Few thought the Raiders (10-7) could reach those

goals this season after coach Jon Gruden resigned over the publication of his offensive emails in October, receiver Henry Ruggs III was cut after being charged in a fatal DUI that killed a 23-year-old woman, and Las Vegas lost five of six games.

But the Raiders responded with four straight wins to end the season, becoming the first team in NFL history to win the final four games by four points or fewer.

“If you said you thought we were going to do this, I’m going to kick you,” Carr said. “No one thought that, but the people in the building did and we acted like it, and the fact that we did it, the emotions, the feeling.”

The formula for success the past month has been consistent. The defence has stepped up its play and delivered key stops, Carr has led clutch drives and Daniel Carlson has finished it off with game-winning field goals on the final play

ISLAND TENNIS

FROM PAGE 11 “The sport has done so much for us, building our character and we know that there are so many kids who would love to play tennis and need somewhere to go and so we hope to do an outreach programme in the communities to help to continue to grow tennis and give them something productive to do.”

KJ Major said: “I know the kind of impact that we can make with these players on and off the court and helping them to become professional athletes,” he said. “Our job is really to nurture them and watch them grow into what they want to be.

in three of the past four weeks.

Now the Raiders need to put that sense of accomplishment in the past and prepare for a rematch with the Bengals, who won the first meeting 32-13 in Week 11.

“We’ve had a one-game, one-practice, one-play, one-day mentality here for a long time now,” interim coach Rich Bisaccia sad.

“I think they went through yesterday’s victory and they took care of it last night in the locker room. ... We’re onto to what’s next.”

WHAT’S WORKING Pass rush. Maxx Crosby and company harassed Justin Herbert all game with three sacks and pressured him on 18 dropbacks.

Crosby had 11 of the pressures and two sacks himself, giving him 101 pressures for the season, third-most ever tracked by Pro Football Focus.

Quinton Jefferson added eight pressures from the interior.

“It’s not so much about us, but it’s about them and providing the opportunities for these kids to learn and grow in their own home and not have to go to the various tennis academics to train. When they travel, we want them to go just to play. We will be offering them a high level of mental, fitness and recovery training. So when you put those three together, you create a natural athlete instantly.”

Through the programme, KJ Major said the players will decide their own destiny as they choose whether they just want to play at the junior level, advance to the senior or go all the way and become a professional player.

“They won’t have anything to hold them back. I think that’s a great thing to have in your own backyard because a lot of people

WHAT NEEDS HELP Fourth-down defence.

Almost all the good the Raiders did defensively was wiped out by the failures on fourth down. The Chargers converted a fourth-and-2 on a TD drive in the second quarter and were stopped on a fourthand-1 run in the third. But in the fourth quarter and overtime, Herbert converted fourth downs of 6, 21, 10, 10 and 9 yards to go with completions and another on a penalty.

The six conversions were the most in a game since at least 1991 and Herbert was 6 for 6 for 106 yards on fourth down for the most yards thrown on fourth down in a game since at least 1991. The Raiders have allowed 17 of 23 fourth downs to be converted on the season for a league-worst 72.4 percent.

STOCK UP RB Josh Jacobs ended a mostly disappointing third season in the NFL with the most productive game

KEVIN MAJOR JR, left, and Philip Major Jr. in the Caribbean have to travel to get it, but now you have players who bring their knowledge

of his career. He had 26 carries for a career-best 132 yards, including seven carries for 69 yards in overtime to help set up the win.

Jacobs gained a career-high 130 of his yards rushing after contact, according to NFL NextGen stats.

STOCK DOWN TE Darren Waller. The Raiders were hoping for a big boost with Waller’s return but he had little impact. He had two catches for 22 yards on nine targets and also had a drop as he and Carr seemed out of rhythm most of the game.

NEXT STEPS The Raiders visit the Bengals on Saturday in a matchup of two of the four teams with the longest playoff droughts.

The Bengals last won a playoff game January 6, 1991, with their eight-game skid starting the following week with a loss to the Raiders.

The Raiders last won on January 19, 2003, in the AFC title game against Tennessee.

directly to them,” PJ Major said.

“We have a unique aspect to share with them.”

Oneil Mortimer joins PJ and KJ Major as coaches in the programme. In addition to teaching tennis, Island Tennis Bahamas provides a full range of professional amenities, including personal fitness, headed by Laron Miller, mental training by Dr Wayne Thompson, physical therapy or recovery coach by Janet Gibson and Angela Mackey, who will serve as the yoga and mobility coach.

When they’re not actually on the court practicing, Island Tennis Bahamas will provide video training and help to facilitate the players in their exposure to international matchplay throughout the Caribbean and the United States of America.

BROWNS EXPECT MAYFIELD TO ‘BOUNCE BACK’ AS STARTER

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns aren’t ready to throw Baker Mayfield away just yet.

The quarterback’s subpar season didn’t cost him his starting job, with general manager Andrew Berry saying yesterday the Browns “fully expect” Mayfield to return as their quarterback after an injuryplagued 2021.

Mayfield played most of the season with a torn labrum in his left, nonthrowing shoulder, and the injury contributed to him regressing and the Browns (8-9) missing the playoffs.

He’ll have surgery on January 19.

Mayfield’s shaky season — and the team’s hesitancy to sign him to a long-term extension — fuelled speculation the Browns might go in another direction at quarterback.

That’s still possible. It is the unpredictable NFL after all, and things can change in a heartbeat or with one phone call.

But Berry at least temporarily kept the polarising QB on top of the depth chart.

“We fully expect Baker to be our starter and to bounce back,” Berry said on a Zoom call. “We’re looking forward to Baker obviously getting healthy in the offseason and then putting good work through the spring and with his coaches for having the type of season that we know he can have moving forward.”

Mayfield first got hurt while trying to make a tackle in Week 2, and played most of the season with a protective harness that prevented his shoulder from popping out.

Berry reiterated coach Kevin Stefanski’s stance that the Browns were comfortable with the decision to keep playing an injured Mayfield because he was medically cleared and performed up to standards in practice.

“We felt good about the information that we had throughout the year and on hand,” he said. “The reality of it is we all wish that we and everybody across the team were able to perform better and allow us to reach the playoffs this year.”

Mayfield finished just 6-8 as a starter with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, including seven in his last three games. He ranked near the league’s bottom in several statistical categories, including completion percentage.

Berry said part of the rationale for sticking with Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, is familiarity.

“I think it’s easy to forget this point of year that what we’ve seen with Baker over the past several years,” Berry said. “We’ve been with Baker for a long period of time. We know his work ethic, we know his drive and we’ve seen him as a talented passer in this league. We are looking forward to him getting healthy and continuing to make improvements.”

“We created a programme for everyone to be able to develop their skills,” PJ Major said.

“You never know what could become of it, so we just wanted to reach out to as many kids in the Bahamas as we can in the sport of tennis.”

Although they are actually involved in getting their programme off the ground, both PJ and KJ Major said they will continue to do their part in representing the country at the international level.

While they missed the participation in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s annual Giorgio Baldacci National Open Tennis Tournament in December at the National Tennis Centre, they’re hoping to be ready for the final selection tournament for the Davis Cup team later this year.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 12, 2022, PAGE 15

LAVERN EVE WINS MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH MEN’S FAMILY FUN WALK RACE RETIRED Bahamian sporting icon Lavern Eve, back home for the holidays, displayed her keen sportsmanship by winning the ladies’ division of the Macedonia Baptist Church Men’s Family Fun Walk Race on Saturday.

Miguel Thompson emerged as the winner of the men’s segment of the race that started at the church grounds on Bernard Road, travelled west to the Village Road rounda-bout, turned around and headed east back to the church grounds.

The race was held as a part of the celebrations for the Men’s Anniversary

that will be celebrated on Sunday, January 30.

Among those on hand to support the event were Rev Stephen Ferguson, the director of the Men’s Department of the Bahamas National Baptist Convention, Rev Harrison Thompson, advisor to Rev Ferguson, Rev Bernal Bullard, men’s evangelism director, Wellington Miller, former president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee and Sean Bastian, the assistant director of the University of the Bahamas Mingoes’ Athletic Department.

Host senior pastor Rev Dr Hartman Nixon and

his wife, Minister Laverne Martha Nixon, also were in attendance.

Eve, the country’s most decorated javelin thrower, said it was good for her to be home and supporting her church.

“We don’t know what this year will bring, but I do hope that you and your family are safe and away from this COVID-19 and protect yourself,” she said.

“But it was a good way to start the day.”

And her elder sister Beryl Eve, who also returned home from Houston for the Christmas holiday, said it was good to start the year off right

and she wished everybody would stay healthy and she hopes that everyone would stay fit.

In presenting a charge to the officers and members of the men’s department, headed by Minister Brent Stubbs, Rev Ferguson, of Hillside Missionary Baptist Church, said he was proud to come over to Macedonia and help as they continue their pursuit in excellence.

Rev Thompson, who hails from Faith United Missionary Baptist Church, said despite the pandemic, the event went off very well and he felt like he’s in shape because he shed about two pounds. And

Rev Bullard from New Bethlehem Baptist Church advised Macedonia men to continue to push the young men and to make them feel appreciated and a part of the church, no matter how they look.

In that way, they will expand the ministry, he said.

• The awards, presented to the first three finishers in each category, were as follows: Women’s 25-and-under – Shonte Ferguson.

Women’s 45-and-under – Ashley Williams-Mounts, Petula Burnside.

PARTICIPANTS of Macedonia Baptist Church Men’s Family Fun Walk Race receive their medals and certificates on Saturday.

Women’s 60-and-under – Lavern Eve, Denise Colebrooke-Sweeting, Williamae Russell.

Women’s 60-and-over – Minister Laverne Nixon.

Men’s 15-and-under – Donato Adderley, Frederick Williams Jr, Augustus Mott.

Men’s 25-and-under – Miguel Thompson.

Men’s 45-and-under – Minister Denero Rahming.

Men’s 60-and-under – Yelverton Williams, Rev. Stephen Ferguson, Sean Bastian.

Men’s 60-and-over – Rev. Harrison Thompson, Rev, Bernal Bullard, James Strachan.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 12, 2022, PAGE 17

DIGITAL BANKING CAN’T BE ‘RAMMED DOWN THROATS’ FROM PAGE 22 in getting to a more digital environment.” Mr Bowe then suggested that much of the criticism, and concern, over the reduction in bank branch networks and efforts to pivot away from reliance on cash and cheques was misplaced.

“I’ve seen a lot of criticism about the reduction in bank footprints and the move to reduce the amount of cash and cheques circulating in the economy,” he told Tribune Business.

“That demonstrates a bit of ignorance on the part of people who have not travelled extensively in Europe and parts of Asia, where cash and cheques are almost obsolete instruments.

“The move to digital just means doing business easier.

I think The Bahamas has to catch up with the times.

It’s not about reducing the quality of service; it’s about how we make service more value-added and standing on the teller line counting bills is not value-added.

“To expand business lines into small business development and venture capital, you improve your efficiency on basic services and client services elsewhere with more value-added services.”

Mr Bowe, though, reiterated that patience and education are required by the Bahamian commercial banking sector to encourage a greater client take-up of online and digital banking services.

“It requires collaboration with the customer,” he told this newspaper.

“We shouldn’t ram it down their throats. That’s not then approach we should take. It’s like Mary Poppins with the medicine; make it taste sweet. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

The number of commercial bank branches in The Bahamas has declined by almost 30 percent over the past seven years, the Central Bank’s governor revealed last October.

Data unveiled by John Rolle as part of his Abaco Business Outlook conference presentation showed the scale of the commercial banking industry’s retreat from physical presence

operations, with branch numbers declining from 86 in 2014 (and 88 in 2008) to just 61 presently - a reduction of some 25 locations.

The decline was more pronounced in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands, where there was an-almost 40 percent falloff in bank branch locations from 38 in 2014 to 23 at the current time. As for New Providence, bank locations dropped by just over 20 percent or ten over the same period to reach 38.

Mr Rolle declined to go into details on the reasons for the branch network shrinkage, and said he and the Central Bank focused on eliminating the “digital divide” or “uneven access” that Bahamians enjoy to

digital financial services and products.

He noted that, parallel with the reduction in physical branch locations, the number of automated banking machine (ABM) sites had risen by 91 percent in just over a decade.

And Charles Littrell, the Central Bank’s inspector of banks and trust companies, told the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) in November 2021 that this nation’s banking fees reflect the reluctance of persons to switch to digital banking.

“Bank fees are a great thing for politicians to whinge about,” he said.

“Most banks would be happy not to charge those fees.......Our banking habits

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 56° F/13° C

TAMPA

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Breezy with showers, some heavy

Mostly cloudy with showers

Some rain and a t‑storm in the a.m.

Winds gradually subsiding

Partly sunny and comfortable

Mostly sunny and windy

High: 75°

Low: 64°

High: 76° Low: 63°

High: 75° Low: 60°

High: 76° Low: 63°

High: 78° Low: 62°

AccuWeather RealFeel

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AccuWeather RealFeel

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73° F

62° F

75°-58° F

74°-62° F

79°-60° F

77°-56° F

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 72° F/22° C Low: 68° F/20° C

10‑20 knots

S

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 61° F/16° C

8‑16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 64° F/18° C

E S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

W

uV inDex toDay

THURSDAY

N

N

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TONIGHT

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 57° F/14° C

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 62° F/17° C

MIAMI

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 64° F/18° C

7‑14 knots

KEY WEST

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 67° F/19° C

NASSAU

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

3:43 a.m.

3:51 p.m.

2.4 1.9

10:10 a.m. 0.4 10:01 p.m. 0.0

Thursday

4:33 a.m.

4:42 p.m.

2.5 1.8

11:03 a.m. 0.4 10:47 p.m. 0.0

Friday

5:19 a.m.

5:29 p.m.

2.5 1.9

11:50 a.m. 0.3 11:32 p.m. 0.0

Saturday

6:02 a.m.

6:14 p.m.

2.6 1.9

12:33 p.m. 0.2 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Sunday

6:43 a.m.

6:55 p.m.

2.7 2.0

12:15 a.m. ‑0.1 1:14 p.m. 0.1

Monday

7:22 a.m.

7:36 p.m.

2.8 2.0

12:56 a.m. ‑0.1 1:52 p.m. 0.0

Tuesday

8:00 a.m.

8:15 p.m.

2.8 2.1

1:36 a.m. ‑0.2 2:30 p.m. 0.0

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:57 a.m.

5:40 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

1:39 p.m.

2:28 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Jan. 17

Jan. 25

Feb. 1

Feb. 8

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

S

E

W

8‑16 knots

S

8‑16 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 77° F/25° C Low .................................................... 64° F/18° C Normal high ....................................... 77° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 65° F/18° C Last year’s high ................................. 80° F/27° C Last year’s low ................................... 61° F/16° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 1.38” Normal year to date ..................................... 0.49”

ELEUTHERA

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 64° F/18° C

impose costs on the banks that are reflected back in their fees..... Probably 80 percent of the fees generated are [the result of] the choice of people in how they do business. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for that.”

Asserting that a significant portion of bank fees were designed to cover costs associated with inperson banking at branches, Mr Littrell added: “We’re in the middle of a pandemic.

Do your banking online, do your banking on a mobile phone, look at remote payment systems and things like that.......

“If people are too lazy to switch, then it’s their own damn fault. Don’t come complaining to us about fees when you could have switched.”

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 70° F/21° C

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 68° F/20° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 72° F/22° C

10‑20 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 78° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

6‑12 knots

6‑12 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS NE at 8‑16 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots NNW at 6‑12 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots SSW at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots SSW at 4‑8 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots

WAVES 6‑10 Feet 4‑7 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 8‑12 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 8‑12 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 5‑9 Feet 4‑8 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 7 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 6 Miles 8 Miles 6 Miles 7 Miles 8 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 6 Miles 9 Miles 4 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 77° F 77° F 78° F 75° F 77° F 76° F 80° F 80° F 78° F 78° F 77° F 73° F 79° F 78° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 78° F 80° F 80° F 77° F 77° F

PAGE 18, Wednesday, January 12, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Inflation to wipe VAT cut savings

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net RISING inflationary pressures could wipe out any consumer savings generated by the VAT rate being cut to 10 percent, a supermarket executive warned yesterday.

Atwell Ferguson, Golden Gates Supermarket’s general manager, told Tribune Business that “any reduction in the VAT would be good for the consumer”.

However, he lamented that the reforms implemented on January 1 - while slashing the rate from 12

percent to 10 percent will also result in the levy being placed on so-called ‘breadbasket’ foods and medications.

He spoke after Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, told the weekly Office of the Prime Minister’s media briefing that the elimination of VAT ‘zero ratings’ and exemptions on breadbasket foods would benefit small, inner-city grocery stores where such products accounted for a high percentage of their sales.

Rather than being owed substantial VAT refunds, or credits, by the Government, Mr Wilson said the changes

would “reduce the burden for small businesses”. They will now be able to ‘net off’ the VAT paid on their inputs against that collected from consumers as breadbasket items are now VAT-able.

“As you know on breadbasket items, which comprise for many small businesses [and] small retail grocery stores, the majority of their sales, those persons could not recover the VAT on the sale of those goods,” Mr Wilson said of the previous VAT regime.

“So many small businesses, small grocery stores, had to carry accounts receivables, VAT receivables, from the Government,

refund receivables, for a long period of time, so that change was made, which really benefits small businesses.”

Mr Ferguson agreed that reintroducing VAT on breadbasket items makes it “much easier” for him to recover input tax payments on those items, given that the business previously had to wait months for refunds in addition to time spent separating VAT-able and exempt/zero rated goods.

He added: “It is much easier to assess if everything is straight across the board than just trying to figure out what is right or whatever. It is the customer who will be affected and

will have the issue with it, because anything that goes up they will have an issue with it.”

However, Mr Ferguson warned that any forecast savings from the VAT rate cut may not be realised due to worldwide price and cost hikes. “Worldwide, inflation is starting to rise.

Everything is starting to go up and I can’t really say when it is going to go down.

But we are bracing and anticipating that it will go up some more,” he said.

Harry Bunch, Phoenix Supermarket’s general manager, said the VAT rate reduction to 10 percent is not a major concern as

consumers will adjust rapidly to the change.

“With VAT being placed on breadbasket items, it will help our business to recover VAT from the Government. Consumers will argue today but will go along with the programme after the dust has settled,” he said.

“Last year, with COVID19, people spent more in Christmas 2020 than they did at Christmas 2021.

People spent a lot of money last year in the food store, especially during the time when the Government was trying to regulate what time people could shop on certain lockdown periods.”

NEW LOCATION DRIVES 80% OF DECEMBER SALES RISE FOR AID FROM PAGE 22

we wanted to open a store there and the space was available. In the Mall [at Marathon], we have a lot of customers that go there but do not come to Wulff Road.”

The AID president, meanwhile, pledged that the retailer’s product selection will be far greater in 2022, but warned consumers not to expect any relief on price until the global supply chain crisis eases.

He added that much depends on when the US

will cease providing the COVID-19 relief that is encouraging persons to stay off work, and Chinese manufacturing receiving some relief from the draconian pandemic lockdown measures that Beijing has increasingly implemented in recent weeks.

“AID’s product availability will be much better in 2022, but consumers will not see pre-pandemic prices again until inland freight in the US and ocean freight from Asia are significantly reduced,” Mr Watson told Tribune Business.

“Freight quotes from Asia to Nassau are the same now as they were during the peak season, and although rates from Asia to the US have declined significantly they are expected to remain relatively high for months to come.

“As long as the US government continues to provide workers with COVID-19 relief, and as long as China continues its impractical COVID-19 zero tolerance policy, supply chain bottlenecks will continue to cause rising prices for Bahamian consumers.”

EDUCATION AMONG TOP ‘DEVELOPMENT GAPS’ FROM PAGE 22

related to infrastructure such as telecommunications and digital adoption, energy, transport and water.

“Deficiencies also arise in other areas such as environmental performance, education, governance and the business environment, economic complexity, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and financial inclusion, and health.

“Closing the gap in infrastructure is essential as energy, telecommunications, transport, and water and sanitation are key enablers of the production of other goods and services and will also help narrow

the gap in the remaining areas for development.”

Noting that Hurricane Dorian inflicted $206.6m worth of damage on Bahamian energy infrastructure, the IDB said outdated equipment as well as weather-related catastrophes were responsible for the frequent outages and electricity supply disruption that undermines productivity and economic efficiency.

“According to Compete Caribbean’s latest ProteqIN survey in 2021,83 percent of the surveyed companies in The Bahamas reported suffering from power interruptions. In a typical month they experienced on average 2.5 outages that lasted 2.7 hours. High electricity

costs, and low reliability and service quality, negatively impact competitiveness of the productive sector,” the IDB said.

“Although the telecommunications infrastructure in The Bahamas is ample and reaches a large share of the population, compared to other Caribbean countries both mobile and fixed broadband access are more costly and average connection speeds are slower.

“Moreover, the sector’s exposure to natural disasters is double that of other Caribbean countries because it relies on electrical infrastructure as well as on its own infrastructure.

The impact of Hurricane Dorian on

telecommunications is estimated to have been US$97.6m.”

Turning to water, the IDB pronounced that the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s infrastructure was “deficient”, and service provision inefficient, even prior to Hurricane Dorian and the $53.8m in damages it inflicted in Abaco.

“The gap in transport is evidenced by the lack of good inter-island connectivity, especially with more remote islands. There are 53 licensed airports (28 government-owned and operated) and air connectivity is comprehensive but outdated, and inadequate infrastructure makes

transportation inefficient,” the report added.

“Further efforts to close the development gap will have positive spillovers not only on all productive sectors, but also on the population’s well-being and quality of life. An uninterrupted and cheaper power

January 21st, 2022

supply will directly boost competitiveness and lower the economic burden on households. Access to clean water will prevent diseases.

Efficient transport will save time in the movement of both people and goods.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 12, 2022, PAGE 19

‘SCARED TO DEATH’: MARINA CALL FOR 5-DAY TEST RETURN FROM PAGE 22

and Christmas, collectively with Omicron we saw a lot of cancellations. I don’t think it [Christmas] was as good as last years and years in the past. It was just a very confusing time. We had boats cancelling and not coming, guests testing and deciding not to come.

“We had all sorts of challenges, and putting the new protocols out before Christmas caused a lot of confusion and some people just gave up. I had one boat owner say they were just going to wait because of the confusion. It’s easier. It was a pretty major obstacle right before Christmas. It wasn’t terrible but was not great. The season was not anything special, but not as bad as it could have been.”

The Government subsequently backed down on its requirement for a mandatory PCR test, although the three-day testing window

it announced then remains in effect. “We need to get over this and move on,” Mr Maury told Tribune Business.

“I heard from quite a few marinas that they were getting cancellations last minute and stuff like that, but we were busy enough that it didn’t significantly impact the holidays. Hopefully this COVID version passes through and, if Spring does not bring us any new surprises, it may give us more business.

We’ve got a month-anda-half before we get busy again.

“It’s so damaging to business with all these protocols, and it kind of hurts. We’ve got to get past this...... Putting all these medical protocols in place is not helping us.”

CHRISTIE GOV’T INCURRED HUGE PARKS, BEACHES OVERSHOOT

The accounting firm also noted: “Contracts are assigned by the Authority to each member of Parliament to have discretionary powers over for their area.”

Mr Cartwright himself voiced concerns over this, saying the Authority must move away from a “system weighted heavily on the recommendations of MPs” as to who receives work.

journey across the Florida straits in time.

“We’re still trying to get a gauge on who has delayed versus cancelled,” they said, adding that they have suspended reservations until February 1 in the hope the market settles down. “We got some cancellations right off the bat.

“It seems that 10 percent are going to forget about The Bahamas this year, and the rest are waiting for The Bahamas to change its protocols again. Hopefully they will go back to something more reasonable than 72 hours. It’s just impossible to plan.”

The ABM president, though, will likely be further discomfited by Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, indicating before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that

FROM PAGE 22

However, fiscal year 2018-2019 was the only time under the Minnis administration when the Authority came in on budget, having been allocated $13.85m for the 12 months to end-June 2019. In the prior year, 2017-2018, total spending was $15.634m despite Parliament’s “approved estimates” granting it just $7m - a 123 percent overrun that more than doubled the initial Budget.

The same trend continued through the last three years of the Minnis administration. In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the Authority was allocated a $19.1m budget but received some $6.8m in “contingency” financing from the Ministry of Finance to take total spending to $25.9m.

This occurred as the initial $19.1m was used up during the year’s first nine months.

For 2020-2021, the initial $15.2m budget was already exceeded by March 2021 with some $18.557m spent.

A further $13.7m in supplementary “contingency” funding was received to take the Authority’s total spend for that fiscal year to $28.9m - a 90 percent cost overrun.

And, with $9.3m of its $15.2m budget spent during the first four months of the 2021-2022 fiscal year, an accounting firm hired by the Davis administration said this “extrapolates” to a $27.9m spend for the full fiscal year - another 83.6 percent spending overrun. The Government used these findings to justify terminating all the Authority’s existing contracts as it seeks to get control of its costs.

It is unclear, though, why both the Minnis and Davis administrations persisted with under-estimating the Authority’s spending needs in the annual Budget. The former pegged the agency’s estimated future budgets at $13.68m and $11.628m for 2021-2022 and 20222023, respectively, despite knowing it had overshot its full-year 2020-2021 budget in the first nine months.

And the Davis administration in its supplementary Budget maintained its predecessor’s subsequent spending estimates of $15.2m for the current fiscal year; $19m for the 2022-2023 fiscal year; and $20m for 2023-2024 despite clearly already knowing the extent of the spending overruns.

The Davis administration-commissioned report into the Authority by K (Kendrick) Christie & Company Chartered Accountants concluded: “We believe that the extra budgetary allocations were fuelled more by the demand and requests for economic stimulation rather than by any real needs on the ground.”

However, the data could also be used to support arguments by Shanendon Cartwright, the FNM’s St Barnabas MP, and the Authority’s former executive chairman, that the agency has been “woefully under-funded” since its creation and “a larger conversation” is required about its role, responsibilities and how much funding it should actually receive.

further COVID-related restrictions are being contemplated to combat the surge in Omicron cases after more than 800 fresh infections were confirmed last Friday.

No details were given on what these restrictions might be, although the Davis administration has previously ruled out going back to blunt instruments such as lockdowns and curfews. A further 521 cases, including 422 on New Providence and 59 on Grand Bahama, were detected on Monday to bring the total number of active cases to 6,195.’

Hospitalisations are also continuing to rise, with some 118 COVIDpositive patients now requiring tertiary care.

However, of these, just six are in the intensive care unit. The numbers, though, again underscore just how

Meanwhile, Mr Sears, speaking ahead of the two-day “arrears” payouts to contractors whose deals with the Authority have been cancelled, said he anticipated receiving “shortly” a formal report from its Board that will provide a road map for moving the agency forward.

With the payouts beginning today, the minister said: “I’m waiting to get a formal report. I’ve heard informally that the payouts have gone well because there have been so many irregularities. The decision was made to settle with the contractors, and I should get a report shortly from the Board.

“I’m not trying to micromanage it. The report will address what they have done thus far, and then the way forward. I expect I will be getting that soon.

The Board has just been appointed. We have to give them an opportunity, as they had to come off the bat and deal with this emergency situation.

“I’m looking forward to receiving the report with what was done in December with the payouts, and to see the way forward. The Board is reviewing, and I’m reviewing, and before I give any comments I want to

difficult it is to balance lives and livelihoods, and the economy with public health.

Robert Sands, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president, previously gave the industry’s full support to the Government’s revised travel protocols including the three-day window in which visitors have to perform a test, get the results, upload them to the health travel visa website and obtain approval.

He added that the Ministry of Health and Wellness had justified keeping the three-day window on the basis that this would enable it to pick-up 50 percent more infected cases than with the five-day window.

While this would still work for hotel-based vacationers, those in the boating/yachting world could be thrown off-schedule if bad weather

make sure I have their input and feedback.”

Mr Sears did not go into what he meant by “irregularities”, but said he did not want to provide “a running commentary” on the findings by K Christie & Co, adding: “The report speaks for itself. There is no question that the findings will have to be assessed, and I will wait for the Board.

“From a governance standpoint, the questions will be the lessons to be learned and the compliance mechanism.

Once I’ve gotten the report from the Board we will report to Cabinet, and Cabinet will have an opportunity to be briefed and any directions it wishes to give.” McKell Bonaby, the Mount Moriah MP, chairs the Authority’s Board.

Mr Sears said the Government is placing great importance on addressing the Authority’s woes.

“It’s a high priority item because the functioning of the Authority is critical.

We have verges that must be attended to, we have beaches that must be maintained, and we have parks that must be maintained, and we have other objectives that are specified in the statute which the Authority needs to deliver

NOTICE International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000)

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Any person having any claim against SYRA DUNE JH LIMITED is required on or before the 11th day of February, 2022 to send their name, address and particulars of the debt or claim to the Liquidator of the company, or in default thereof they may have excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is approved.

GSO Corporate Services Ltd., of 303 Shirley Street, Nassau, The Bahamas is the Liquidator of SYRA DUNE JH LIMITED. GSO Corporate Services Ltd. Liquidator

delays their departure to The Bahamas.

The boating/yachting industry has been one of the niches that led The Bahamas’ tourism revival following 2020’s COVIDrelated lockdowns, and Mr Maury raised concerns that efforts to attract the this market’s high-spending clients could be stalled by the insistence on a three-day COVID testing window.

“A lot of people are complaining about how long they have to wait to get tested; three-four hours,” he said of conditions in Florida. “I know people have given up. Christmas and New Year went pretty well. We were busy and it was good, but it certainly wasn’t anything major because of Omicron.

“There was so much confusion, and the change in the protocols that came out right before the holidays

on and see how it can meet those objectives.

“It’s a high priority because the Authority serves a very critical role in maintaining the public infrastructure with the verges, the parks and the beaches, and also the provision of lifeguards. There are very important functions that must be carried out, and as these problems are being solved we have to be proactive. How do we move forward expeditiously to fulfill these functions?”

The report by K Christie & Co raises questions as to whether Bahamian taxpayers were getting value for money from the Authority’s spending, and whether there was sufficient transparency and accountability over the use of monies. It did not, though, levy any accusations or suggestions of fraud, corruption and any other wrongdoing.

And while the report highlighted numerous deficiencies in internal controls,

practices and procedures, along with governance concerns over how regularly the former Board met, some observers will likely argue that, sadly, such weaknesses - while concerning - are par for the course at most Bahamian state-owned bodies.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that CONSTANTINO DELGADO SANCHEZ of Holiday Drive, South Beach, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 12th day of January, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

PAGE 20, Wednesday, January 12, 2022

NICK DAMIANOS

MARK HUSSEY

THE TRIBUNE

BIANCA ARANHA

CHRISTOPHER ALBURY

JONATHAN MORRIS

ANGELIKA BACCHUS

REALTOR’S $1.1BN IN LISTINGS BRANDED AS ‘RECORD-SETTING’ A BAHAMIAN realtor says it listed “a record-setting” $1.1bn worth of real estate in 2021 while also describing sales volumes as “history-making”.

Lana Rademaker, Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty’s chief brokerage officer, in a statement confirmed that sales volumes had increased by 400 percent, or five-fold, year-over-year when compared to 2020 levels.

“We attribute the history-making sales activity of 2021 to our outstanding sales team, whose

expertise and commitment to deliver maximum results to our clients differentiates them as the leaders in the luxury real estate markets throughout the Bahamas,” she said. “Based on our record-breaking numbers this year, we have a positive outlook for 2022.

“We have developed a top-tier team of sales, marketing and administrative professionals who are energised and motivated to be exceptional in their field of expertise. With the power and global reach of the Sotheby’s International

Realty brand, combined with the strength of our team, we anticipate that next year’s activity will remain strong for our brokerage.”

Nick Damianos, the realtor’s top-producing agent, said the affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty’s global marketing reach and other tools had helped give the Bahamian company an advantage over competitors.

“Sotheby’s International Realty’s support infrastructure, global referral network and proprietary

marketing platforms have been in place for years, which allowed us to seamlessly scale-up operations as market activity increased exponentially,” he said.

“After a year of stifled travel and activity in 2020, the key challenge in 2021 was to adequately escalate service across our entire archipelago and, with the help of an incredible support team, we were able to meet buyer and seller demand on a scale neverbefore imagined.”

Besides Nick Damianos being named overall top

producer and listing agent for 2021, Mark Hussey was announced as top producer and listing agent for the Nassau sales team. Bianca Aranha was named top producer at Bahamas Sotheby’s International Realty, the newly-established Baha Mar-based subsidiary of Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty.

Christopher Albury was top producer and top listing agent in Abaco, while Jonathan Morris earned the title of top producer for the Eleuthera sales team. Angelika Bacchus

BACKING FOR FINANCIER’S TREASURE CAY PURCHASE

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CONTROVERSIAL Austrian financier’s bid to acquire the Treasure Cay Resort was yesterday backed by one stakeholder as the only way to prevent the community suffering further economic blight.

Doug Benson, the Bahama Beach Club Owners Association’s president, told Tribune Business he supported Dr Mirko Kovats’ effort to purchase the property since it promises an end to 20 years of stagnation.

“I’m in favour of the development and, if Dr Kovats doesn’t close, I’d say we’re looking at another multiple years’ of what we’ve experienced in the last two decades. I think he’s

our best shot right now,” he argued.

Referring to the lack of redevelopment since Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco in September 2019, Mr Benson said he has seen Dr Kovats’ plans and believes he has the resources - financial and otherwise - to return Treasure Cay back to some level of operational status.

Rejecting other potential investors, he charged: “They only popped up when Dr Kovats was announced as a potential purchaser of the Treasure Cay Resort, but the resort had been in trouble for the past 20 years, well before Hurricane Dorian and nobody stepped up then.”

Referring to Treasure Cay’s current owners, Mr Benson added: “I know the Meisters. They’re out, and anyone else other than Dr

Kovats, they’re going to come along and we’re going to start this process all over again.

“We’ve been through this.

We’ve seen people come in and make offers only to have the Meisters torpedo it, but I think the kids are now running the show and they want out, and so I’m hoping that Dr Kovats closes and he has the money to invest that causes all boats to rise.”

Tribune Business understands that a sales agreement between Dr Kovats and the Meisters has been signed, and now both parties need to close a deal that has been in negotiation since at least 2020 as well as obtain all necessary government approvals. However, other Treasure Cay residents are opposed to any sale to Dr Kovats.

A resident of Lyford Cay, the Austrian financier made

an unsuccessful attempt to buy the former South Ocean property in southwestern New Providence prior to its acquisition by Albany’s developers. And he is also running into opposition from Love Beach residents over plans to develop a condominium complex there.

Amid earlier assertions that he has a tendency to sit on property in The Bahamas and do nothing to develop it, the financier has also attracted controversy in his native Austria throughout his business and investing career, despite building his publicly-listed industrial group, A-Tec Industries, into a conglomerate that once featured over 70 companies and more than 10,000 employees, with turnover pegged at more than one billion euros.

Numerous companies he was involved with early in

his business career became insolvent, and Dr Kovats has faced numerous civil lawsuits during his business career, being criminally indicted twice.

He was sentenced to six months’ probation in 2000 by the Vienna High Court over the bankruptcy of a nightclub he had invested in.

Dr Kovats was also charged over another nightclub insolvency in 2007, although he was never convicted.

Tribune Business’s own research also found that Dr Kovats and a fellow executive were fined by Austrian regulators in 2012 for providing misleading information to the capital markets, thus harming investors. Following a two-year period of turbulence that began in 2011, A-Tec moved to restart business activities in 2013, after undergoing a reorganisation.

BPL BOARD TO ADDRESS WORKER SAFETY CONCERN

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday pledged that Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) will this week address workplace health and safety concerns that have been raised by its line staff union.

Alfred Sears, minister of works and public utilities, speaking to reporters ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting, said: “The union at BPL, as stated last week, has a number of long-standing issues related to human resources, related to pensions and health and safety.

“I met with the president of the union several times,

Legal Notice

NOTICE Ombgro Limited Pursuant to the Provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 notice is hereby given that the above-named Company has been dissolved and struck off the Register pursuant to a Certificate of Dissolution issued by the Registrar General on the 22nd day of December, 2021.

EMERA INCORPORATED (“Emera”) Notice to Holders of Depositary Receipts DIVIDEND NOTICE A dividend of CAD $0.165625 per Emera depositary receipt (CAD $0.6625 per common share of Emera) will be payable on and after February 15, 2022 to depositary receipt holders of record as at February 1, 2022. Dividends will be subject to applicable withholding tax.

and officers of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU), and most recently I would have met with the TUC (Trades Union Congress), Mr Obie Ferguson and the president of the BPL union amongst others, to discuss their concerns.

“I’m confident that the chairman and the board of BPL will be having more detailed consultations with the union to address the concerns. They should be meeting this week.”

Kyle Wilson, the BEWU’s president, recently made a series of complaints about the working conditions facing his members at BPL. In particular, he said long-standing safety issues have not been addressed, adding that this was something he is not prepared to tolerate any more.

Mr Sears, though, dismissed the BEWU’s criticisms of the recentlyappointed BPL Board. “The chairman has just been appointed, and the Board has just been appointed.

“The Act gives the Board the governance responsibility, and the Board is familiarising itself and getting up to speed. And, as you know, we have a rapid assessment of BPL on certain issues being undertaken as we speak, and we should be receiving a report from Deloitte with respect to that rapid assessment.”

Mr Sears said there are several roadworks projects that that Davis administration has inherited from its predecessor that will be

was top listing agent in the Eleuthera market.

Sales agents who received the Circle of Excellence Award, recognising the firm’s group of top-performing sales agents for 2021, were Vanessa Ansell and Christopher Ansell of The Ansell Group; Samira Coleby; Monty Roberts; Craig Pinder; and Christina Cunningham.

Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty has eight offices in The Bahamas.

Mr Benson, meanwhile, said: “I think the real problem with Treasure Cay is it is unlike the other cays like Guana Cay, Green Turtle Cay and Elbow Cay, in that over the last several years we didn’t have the local organisation that the other cays had.

“We didn’t have the local government to get things done. We had the Meisters and they were already on their way out. The resort has been for sale ever since I bought in 2011. And I know it had been for sale for a long time before that.

“Now, finally, Dr Kovats comes in with an offer and it is accepted by the Meisters.

For some of us that have business interests there we know we need help. There is nothing going on because the Meisters have not been putting anything back into the Treasure Cay resort.

We’ve got the one dock, with the marina rental, and Florence’s Café. They are the only business interests really going on.” continued. He added that the “re-engineering and redevelopment of Village Road” was one such project, and there will also be a focus on addressing the flooding issues on East Bay Street.

He added that “Carmichael Road and various streets within New Providence” are also included.

“Due to Hurricane Dorian, a lot of the resources by necessity had to be diverted to the areas which were impacted specifically, East Grand Bahama and also in Abaco, where I would have spent three days about two weeks ago, so the roadworks are a national concern,” Mr Sears said.

business@tribunemedia.net

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022

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‘Scared to death’: Marina call for 5-day test return

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE ASSOCIATION of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) president yesterday urged the Government to revert back to a five-day COVID testing window as moving to three days has “scared everybody to death”.

Peter Maury, who also runs Bay Street Marina, told Tribune Business that while the industry had generally enjoyed a decent Christmas-New Year period it had also been hit with “last-minute cancellations” due to a combination of the Omicron variant and The Bahamas’ release of new travel entry protocols.

While the Government subsequently adjusted those measures to allow fully vaccinated visitors to enter The Bahamas with a rapid antigen test rather than mandating the more expensive, and less readily available, RT-PCR test, he argued that the announcement’s timing “caused a lot of confusion” and deterred some

• Sector hit by ‘confusion’ over entry protocol change • Suffered ‘last-minute cancellations’ over Christmas • Testing and weather windows must ‘align’ to work boats from travelling during the peak festive season.

And, with Florida’s COVID testing demand outstripping capacity and test kit supply, Mr Maury voiced fears that vessel crews and guests will struggle to obtain results and be able to sail to The Bahamas within the required three-day window especially if the weather is bad.

He warned that the country has just six weeks to “get this sorted out” before the marina industry ramps back up for the start of the peak Spring season in mid to late-February, adding that maintaining the three-day COVID testing window for all visitors could result in a less

Education among top ‘development gaps’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE BAHAMAS faces its biggest “development gaps” in the areas of education and environmental performance, an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report has confirmed.

The multilateral lender, in its justreleased Caribbean Quarterly Bulletin, said a development gap analysis it had performed on The Bahamas revealed multiple deficiencies in sectors related to human capital, governance, infrastructure, utilities and business development.

The Bahamas, according to the IDB, fared especially poorly when it came to education and the environment with both returning scores of around -80 with -100 being the greatest “development gap” possible. Weaknesses in education outcomes, with a national ‘D-’ BGCSE grade average having persisted for decades, are especially well-known and remain a key source of economic and social concern.

Meanwhile, negative -50 “development gap” scores were also recorded by The Bahamas in the areas of “governance, business environment and social capital” and “economic complexity, innovation and diversification”. The scores for “small and medium-sized enterprises and financial inclusion”, and “telecommunications and digital adoption”, were around -40 and -30, respectively.

Smaller developments gaps were identified in the areas of energy, transportation, health and water, with The Bahamas achieving positive scores in tourism, gender gaps, sanitation, agribusiness, and financial institutions. However, the rankings provide an insight as to why The Bahamas may have struggled to reach an average of 2 percent annual GDP growth in every decade since the 1980s.

The IDB pegged the average annual GDP growth achieved by this nation in the 1990s at 1.7 percent, a level that many may consider as surprisingly low given that it featured a Bahamian tourism revival via Atlantis and other major resort developments. The average growth rates achieved for the 2000s and 2010s were pegged at 1 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively.

“Growth in The Bahamas has been modest during the last two decades, with annual real GDP growth averaging 1 percent in the decade of the 2000s and 1.3 percent in the 2010s,” the IDB bulletin said.

“A gap development analysis performed by the IDB indicates that given the country’s level of income per capita, there are deficiencies in several areas

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buoyant season than originally anticipated.

“I had to go out and tie-up a big boat,” Mr Maury told this newspaper. “I talked to the captain, and he said testing is a huge pain in the ass for them.

He told me how bad it is. He told me how ridiculous it is what they have to go through.

For us, going from five days to three days is a waste of time.

It scared everybody to death.

What’s the difference between three days and five days?

“The captain said that even to get a rapid antigen test takes one day [in Florida]. One half of the crew has to go in one day and get it, and then the other

half of the crew the next. They have to file their paperwork and do their entry and visa online.... He’s already past his three days....

“The five days doesn’t stop the virus. Just do the health travel visa and let people come over. Going back to five days would give them at least a bit of room, but this three days is just too hard to get the test,” he continued.

“I hope this is over within the next six weeks. If we don’t get this sorted out in six weeks, we will not have such a great Spring. Rolling back the PCR test is good, but we at least need to roll back to five days.

It’s too difficult to reach a test facility and everything else.”

A homeowner at a major Family Island condo and marina complex, speaking on condition of anonymity, yesterday backed Mr Maury by saying that The Bahamas’ threeday COVID testing window “doesn’t work” unless it aligns with a “weather window” that enables boats and yachts to

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Digital banking can’t be ‘rammed down throats’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A SENIOR banker yesterday said the industry must adopt the “Mary Poppins with medicine” approach in encouraging more Bahamians and businesses to switch to digital transactions.

Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, told Tribune Business that Bahamian commercial banks cannot afford to “ram online banking down clients’ throats” and, instead, should adopt the fictional film character’s motto that “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down” via detailed explanations/demonstrations of how this will benefit their lives and companies.

Arguing that “The Bahamas has to catch up with the times”, he added that those railing against the shrinkage of commercial bank branch networks, and efforts to reduce cash and cheque circulation, were “a little ignorant” of what is happening elsewhere where those payment mechanisms are increasingly becoming obsolete.

Mr Bowe said Grand Bahama, out of all Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) locations, was leading the way on card, digital and online banking, which he attributed to the multiple hurricanes that have hit the island in recent years. This, he suggested, had forced Grand Bahamians to rely more on

electronic payments and transactions when physical branch locations were closed.

“It’s very interesting that Grand Bahama, which has been battered so many times over the years, they are the branch that sees the greatest card activity,” the Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief told this newspaper. “People in Grand Bahama are avoiding the branch, and are using debit and credit cards, using the ATM and using online.

“It appears our brothers and sisters in Grand Bahama have adapted more readily to the online world. Grand Bahama leads in cards issued and spending on cards, less cash and less activity in the branch. In recent years, a high number of businesses have demonstrated they are willing to take on merchant services.

“Grand Bahama may turn out to be the pilot and lighthouse for the rest of The Bahamas

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ALFRED SEARS QC

SHANENDON CARTWRIGHT

Christie Gov’t incurred huge Parks, Beaches overshoot • Parties’ greatest excesses seen in election run-ups • Resolving Authority’s ills branded as ‘high priority’ • Minister to ‘shortly’ receive report on way forward

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister says resolving the controversy at the Public Parks and Beaches Authority is “a high priority” with major spending overruns not confined only to the Minnis administration.

Alfred Sears QC, minister of works and public utilities, who has responsibility for the Authority, told Tribune Business he understood the process of paying out monies owed to contractors on all cancelled agreements was going well despite the existence of “so many irregularities”.

Research by this newspaper, though, reveals that cost/spending overruns at the Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority date back to when it was conceived by the last Christie administration.

In particular, for the fiscal year 2016-2017, the state-owned agency exceeded its approved $15m annual budget by 74 percent with total spending ultimately hitting $26.1m.

The Authority, similar to what occurred under the subsequent administration, exceeded the full-year budget within the first nine months by spending $19.48m to end-March 2017. The extent of the spending overshoot matches those years that are now being investigated, with the greatest overruns under both the Christie and Minnis administrations occurring in the run-up to general elections.

Figures showing that seemingly-excessive costs were also incurred under the last Christie administration provide added context to the Government’s current probe into the Public Parks and Beaches Authority, while suggesting that any blame cannot be solely attributed to the Minnis government even though it appears not to have fixed these ills.

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New location drives 80% of December sales rise for AID

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A MAJOR Bahamian retailer yesterday revealed that its newly-opened Blue Hill Road and Coconut Grove store was responsible for 80 percent of the December sales increase seen in Nassau.

Jason Watson, Automotive Industrial Distributors (AID) president, told Tribune Business that total Nassau sales were up 15.6 percent yearover-year for the month with its latest location opening on December 6 following a multimillion dollar redevelopment.

“December sales in Nassau were up 15.6 percent. Roughly 80 percent of that increase was due to operations at the new Blue Hill Road store,” he said

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTORS (AID) in e-mailed replies to this newspaper’s questions.

“Christmas season sales went well, especially in Nassau, as total sales were record highs for November and December.

AID opened two new locations

in Nassau during 2021. The Baillou Hill and Coconut Grove location made a significant impact on sales despite not opening until December 6.

“Sales in Georgetown were also good but sales in Freeport

were sluggish compared to 2019 and 2020. COVID is definitely disrupting businesses again in the new year.”

The second of the two new locations referred to by Mr Watson is AID’s Harbour Bay outlet, the retailer fulfilling its long-standing ambition to establish a presence in the East Bay Street-based shopping plaza with the February 1 opening of a 5,500 square foot space next to Logo’s Bookstore. Its main Wulff Road store gives it three sites in Nassau.

“The space was available, and I always wanted to get a location in that area,” Mr Watson explained at the time.

“A lot of customers that go there would never find themselves going to Wulff Road, so

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