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WOMAN KILLED ON WAY TO PRAYERS Victim dies from yet another stray bullet in gangland attack A WOMAN who was on her way to a prayer meeting was shot by a stray bullet and died on Robinson Road last night, police said.

Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters said the woman was shot by a gunman who was firing his weapon at another man.

The male victim was also wounded and is in hospital, police said.

Police were alerted to the shooting on Robinson Road opposite Ida Street around 7pm.

ASP Peters said the incident took place when a

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

CDC RAISES ALERT BACK TO LEVEL 4

group went to a home to collect a friend and were approached by a gunman.

“A party went to a house to collect a friend,” he said at the scene. “On their arrival at that residence they were approached by a male who left that residence brandishing a firearm. The male ran from that residence and as he ran, the suspect who brandished the firearm started to discharge that weapon at him and as a result he ran south along Ida Street onto Robinson Road.

SEE PAGE THREE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has raised this country’s travel warning from level three to level four due to the “very high” level of COVID-19 infections, advising people to avoid travel to The Bahamas.

The country was raised from level two to level three — “reconsider travel” — two weeks ago.

SEE PAGE FOUR

OUT-OF-DATE J&J VACCINES BINNED

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville confirmed yesterday that the government discarded Johnson & Johnson vaccines that expired in December.

Dr Darville said he was not certain how many vaccines were thrown away.

At the beginning of December, there were 20,000 Johnson & Johnson

vaccines which faced imminent expiration. Although the government increased use of the vaccines at the prison and traded some to a foreign incentive group, some of the vaccines were ultimately discarded.

Before Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Dr Darville said: “All of the doses of vaccines that went into expiration, they have been discarded.”

SEE PAGE FOUR

ALICIA WALLACE: IF PEOPLE CAN’T AFFORD FOOD, HOW CAN THEY SAVE?

HUNT FOR ‘DOWNED AIRPLANE’

THE SCENE on Robinson Road last night after a woman was hit by a stray bullet and killed as she went to a prayer meeting.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

BAILED SUSPECT SHOT DEAD OUTSIDE HOME

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A MAN, released on bail on Christmas Eve, was fatally shot on Monday night.

The shooting incident also left another man listed in serious condition in hospital.

Police have not officially released the identity of the deceased, but family told The Tribune yesterday he is Dave Miller Jr, 29.

DAVE MILLER JR His father was also shot dead in the Coconut Grove area several years ago.

Police said shortly before 8pm on Monday, they were alerted to a shooting in the area of Key West Street and Robinson Road.

“This resulted in two adult males being shot about their bodies; they were transported to the hospital via private vehicles,” a police crime report noted. “One of the males succumbed to his injuries on arrival at the hospital and the other is listed in serious condition.”

SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

POLICE officers and Defence Force officers searched waters at the eastern end of New Providence last night after receiving a report of a downed plane.

However, officers found no debris and were unable to confirm that a plane had crashed up to press time, according to Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters.

SEE PAGE FIVE

TECHNOLOGY: EUROPE SEEKS ASTRONAUTS

- SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, January 19, 2022

THE TRIBUNE BAHAMIAN performers in Dubai this week.

ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis yesterday. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

Halkitis: Dubai trip chance to boost investment

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis defended the trip to Expo 2020 in Dubai, saying the event was an opportunity to establish connections and hopefully boost foreign direct investment.

The trip has drawn scrutiny after Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis led a large delegation to Dubai.

Some have questioned how the cultural acts were chosen to represent the Bahamas. There were also questions about the cost of the trip.

“There were some funds allocated late last year, just over $1m,” Mr Halkitis said before a Cabinet meeting yesterday. “At the conclusion of the mission, when everyone is back and all of the expenses are settled then we will know the true cost and I think there was a commitment to make that available and so that will be done.”

Mr Halkitis said it should not take long to get a financial accounting of the trip, adding this could be just a “couple of weeks”.

He added: “I also just want to make this final point, in that we are a small, open economy. We don’t export much. We depend on foreign investment for the growth of our economy and so missions such as this to the extent that they can attract foreign investment, they can begin to make connections that can lead to investments. And even with the performers being exposed to not only Dubai, but 190 countries that are participating, if opportunities become available, for example, for them to perform elsewhere that is a plus. But we hear the concerns about the cost.

“We think it’s well spent and, at the end of the day, we want to be able to give a ledger to say this is what we allocated, this is what we spent and here are some of the benefits that we think are accruing to us. Some

will be immediate and some will be longer term.”

Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister Latrae Rahming has claimed the Minnis administration approved $1.7m for the trip, more than what the Davis administration approved.

However, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has said his “government was not prepared to sponsor a feel-good trip or vacation for anybody.”

Mr Halkitis said: “This is a multi-year project. It’s been going on for about six years. Monies have been spent over the years. Late last year, we allocated an amount of money to assist to make sure that we are able to put on a good show and acquit ourselves well.

“So I would not technically say that it went over budget but, at the end of the day, we will do an accounting and we will see when everybody is back and all the expenses are settled. I don’t anticipate that we would’ve gone over budget, no.”

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THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 19, 2022, PAGE 3

WOMAN KILLED ON WAY TO PRAYERS from page one “The suspect continued discharging his firearm and as a result, the lady, who was exiting a vehicle to attend a prayer meeting

at a church here on the grounds, was shot in her chest and face several times.”

Responding officers found her lying on the ground. She died from her injuries at the scene.

ASP Peters said the male victim who

ran from the scene collapsed on Washington Street and Robinson Road.

He was taken to the hospital for treatment for injuries to his lower body.

The woman victim’s age and identity were not known up to press time.

Police are asking anyone with information on this shooting to call police at 502-9991, Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

BAILED SUSPECT SHOT DEAD OUTSIDE HOME from page one

RELATIVES of the shooting victim speak to The Tribune yesterday.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

The deceased’s aunt said his mother is still in shock over the killing.

Debra Penn, one of the victim’s aunts, said she was present on the night of the murder.

“Somebody came to my door for him saying that they want to purchase apple juice and vodka. I told them they need to come to the door so I can see them,” she said.

She said her nephew went outside a few minutes later.

“Five minutes after, I heard like seven shots and I didn’t run to the front.

My other daughter went to the front. He was on the ground — him and the other guy lay out on the ground. He got shot in his back.”

The Tribune was told the deceased had been accused of attempted murder.

“That was almost seven years ago,” a loved one recalled. “They don’t have no evidence. His father was shot in 2016. They found the man who shot his father.”

Miller Jr was out on bail awaiting the start of his trial.

Another loved one said the deceased was someone they could depend on.

“You don’t even have to call twice and he just comes to your need, to your rescue,” she stated.

Another aunt said the deceased had told family that people were out to kill him.

Asked to whom he was referring, his aunt said: “They are persons that are enemies. They are people that are in jail. They are persons who were jealous. They be jealous for no reason.

“Like I said he ain’t going out there to look for no

problem, but if a problem arise here he is going to deal with it.”

The 29-year-old’s death marks the third murder in the family. An aunt said it feels “traumatising”.

Police are also investigating a shooting that took place after 7pm on Monday at Adderley Terrace off Carmichael Road.

The victim in that case was walking along Adderley Terrace when he was approached by occupants of a small Japanese vehicle. One of the occupants produced a firearm and discharged it in his direction hitting him in the lower back, police said.

He was taken to hospital where his condition is listed as stable.

Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call police at 502-9991, Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS(8477) or the nearest police station.

CONCERNS OVER FOOD AID PROGRAMME ‘LUDICROUS’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

PHILIP Smith, former executive director of the Bahamas Feeding Network, says a probe into the operations of the former government’s feeding initiative could potentially overshadow the magnitude of aid brought to thousands of people who were in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BFN, which Mr Smith headed at the time, was among seven organisations that comprised the National Food Distribution Task Force.

He said there was never a time when he doubted the operations of the task force headed by Mrs Susan Larson.

For the task force to now be the subject of scrutiny is “disappointing”, Mr Smith said when contacted yesterday.

“What’s interesting too is that the leaders did it without charging, I mean it was voluntary and so I see it as ungrateful that you put in all that time,”

Mr Smith said. “It was quite stressful, you know, having to deal with thousands of persons who were desperate and then this is the thanks you get. It’s disappointing.”

Mr Smith defended Mrs Larson. He thinks when the audit of the programme is concluded, it would be determined that the probe was a waste of time.

“I thought we were very transparent. We had very, very good NGOs who were experienced and also very transparent and professional.

“Susan Larson, she was just amazing in her reporting transparency so I am surprised, very surprised.

I think what they will find is that it’s really a waste of time.

“I mean I don’t know the reason behind whether they’re suspecting something went wrong, but I can assure you that it was run very well and I must say thanks to Susan Larson. She went over and beyond in ensuring that we were very transparent and accountable.

“So, everything is in place. Anything they need to know I am sure Susan Larson, it’s right at her finger tips.

“Any of the organisations running the task force, I think there were seven of us, I’m sure all of them are very, very professional and could find and give them that information very, very easily whatever they require.”

He continued: “So, to see these things in the papers it’s just absolutely ludicrous.”

On Monday, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said he was certain that “every red cent” spent by his administration for the programme could be accounted for.

Dr Minnis criticised the Davis administration, saying thorough meetings should have been held with the now defunct National Food Distribution Task Force and other entities involved before “shooting off with information that is incorrect.”

Dr Minnis insisted the task force was built on

integrity and transparency.

On Monday Mrs Larson was due to meet with auditors looking into the programme’s operations.

Additionally, Dr Minnis noted the release of preliminary information into an audit of the programme was being used as a distraction from ongoing backlash over the large delegation sent to Dubai for a world expo.

He was responding to claims outlined in a press statement released on Sunday disclosing the Davis administration was “concerned” about preliminary details which have emerged from the process of auditing the former government’s COVID-19 spending.

Director of communications in the Office of the Prime Minister Latrae Rahming said in the statement that payments totalling more than $9m were paid out to an entity that did not appear to be classified as a non-government organisation (NGO), among other things.

Mr Rahming also said early accounts indicate

no evidence that an internal control environment related to the food programme and the task force was designed and implemented by the office of the Financial Secretary of the Ministry and the Department of Social Services.

There was no evidence that the office of the Financial Secretary, Social Services and the task force collaborated to design policies, procedures and best

practices aimed towards the execution of the task force’s duties, inclusive of reporting and monitoring, he said.

There was also no evidence of authorised contracts in place with the NGOs under the food programme, he also said.

When contacted, Mrs Larson said it was important for the audit to be concluded before making any comment.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, January 19, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

THE DELIVERY of 38,400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in August.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

J&J vaccines were binned from page one “It is as simple as that.

Vaccines that have expired are of no more value. It’s unfortunate but Bahamian people’s appetite for Johnson & Johnson was not what we initially expected.

“And so life goes on. We

have to continue the vaccination programme and we need to really encourage Bahamians everywhere to get vaccination — those who have not — and then for those who want their boosters, our sites are open.”

Dr Darville lamented last year that many Bahamians

seemed uninterested in the J&J vaccine.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has said discarding vaccines would send a terrible message to the international community.

He said last month: “When the J&J vaccines were purchased, they were

purchased by the African platform in conjunction with CARICOM and we paid a deposit of $45k. The aim was for the vaccine to be utilised, especially in the Family Islands, the prison, detention centre and facilities like that.

“My records would reflect that they were only utilising about 30 per week, which

meant that if you did the calculation, they were doing about 4.2 J&J vaccines per day. Just reviewing that would inform them that they would run into serious problems.

“If they were monitoring this properly, they would have made contact with other nations that have J&J, see where their

expiration dates are and do an exchange as opposed to throwing away the taxpayers’ money, with us having already paid $45k as deposit and that was only 15 percent deposit, with more outstanding monies to be paid and possibly 20,000 vaccines to be thrown away.”

vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants,” the CDC notes.

This comes as the Ministry of Health said a combined 526 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded on January 16 and 17.

Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper said yesterday the increased rating did

not come as a surprise as many countries around the world experienced a surge in cases due to the Omicron variant.

Mr Cooper is also Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation.

“We are aware of the United States Centers for Disease Control issuing a level four travel advisory

for The Bahamas,” Mr Cooper said in a statement. “The move was not unexpected given the exponential rise in cases over the past two weeks.

“However, during the latest wave of COVID19 infections, we have not noticed a dramatic increase in hospitalisations for severe symptoms and deaths have been rare.

“As the Minister of Health has pointed out, we believe we are at or nearing a peak in this wave of COVID-19 infections.”

Despite what appears to be milder symptoms from this variant, the Ministry of Tourism remains vigilant and poised to pivot when needed, he further said.

“Our hotel properties and tourism amenities are following proper protocols and have in place additional measures to make sure the travel experience is a safe one. Our health visa system for visitors remains in place as does our testing regime for all travellers.

“The recently launched free testing system has given us another tool in tracking the spread of COVID-19. In addition, our healthcare system has recently been bolstered by additional nurses and doctors.”

He said officials were hopeful they would see a drop in infection numbers in the coming weeks.

“When this happens, we are confident that the

rating will be favourably reviewed. In the meantime, we are satisfied that our health protocols remain strong.

“We are actively engaging the Ministry of Health and our stakeholders to ensure that we strike the appropriate balance to protect public health, maintain robust tourist arrivals and a vibrant economy.”

As COVID-19 cases continue to climb, there are 148 people in hospital.

Of this number 141 are moderately ill and seven are in the Intensive Care Unit.

Seven hundred and nineteen people have died from the virus since the start of the pandemic, according to the Ministry of Health.

CDC RAISES ALERT BACK TO LEVEL 4 from page one

The CDC’s website says people should “avoid travel” to The Bahamas, but added that if they do travel there, they should be fully vaccinated.

“Because of the current situation in The Bahamas, even fully

Graveside Service For Clayton McDonald, 67

of Cat Island will be held on Thursday, January 20th, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Mausoleums, John F. Kennedy Drive. Officiating will be Dr. Marie McDonald.

He is survived by his sisters: Olga, Fanny, Brenda, Delcine, Margaret, Monique and Debra; brothers: Teddy (Salome), Johnny (Marie), Edwin (Rose), Greg, and Trevor (Shavana); nieces: Eileen, Philippa (Julian), Shantell, Sheniqua, Kesna, Tamara (Jack), Teshan, Nikez (Domonic), D’Adra, Indira, Kelda (Richard), Akera, Jaime, Jonelle, Jonya (Craig), Janae, Viorese, Dacia, Asha, Kiera, Noreanda, Kameka, Reneisha, Renneika, Patricia, Regina, Dorinda, and Recole; nephews: Donnie, Terrel, Kevin, Torrey (Lamara), Kyle, Jamal (Gabrielle) Anwar, Michael (Alvern), Preston, Anthon, Henry (Johnette) Quincy; numerous grand nieces and nephews; 1 uncle: Ivan McDonald; 1 aunt: Emma Strayhorn of Delray Beach Fla.; cousins: Mary, Izetta, Louise, Lula, Lucile, Betty, Deborah, Sandra and Thelma, Joe (Wendy), Ivan, Marcian, Patrick (Marva) and Vince (Allison), Deanne, Elridge, Julie, Brenda (Royal), Sheila, Anushka, Karen (Roland), Cheryl (Trevor), Ronnie, Charles, Ernest and Wendell; other relatives and friends: Newton McDonald, Lilly McDonald, Edgar Bonamy, Hencil Strachan, Robert Bonamy, Gloria Jennings, Teddy Flowers, The McDonald, Newbold, Rahming, Thurston, Strachan, Rolle families of Bennett’s Harbour, Nurse Creswell, Nurse Stuart, Elva Dean and the larger communities of Bennett’s Harbour and The Bluff, Cat Island.

Viewing will be held at the Serenity Suite at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Limited, Robinson and Soldier Roads on (TODAY Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. at 6:00 p.m.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 19, 2022, PAGE 5

Darville: Time for face-to-face learning to resume in schools

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said he believes it is time for some form of face-to-face learning to resume in public schools.

However, he said many things are needed for health officials to support this move, including sufficient hospital beds and the ability to provide free testing in the schools. This comes as a group of parents are planning a peaceful protest at the end of the month to agitate for the resumption of in-person learning.

“We’ve been working very diligently with the Ministry of (Education),” Dr Darville told reporters

before a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

“We’re very concerned about our schools and the fact that we must move quickly to get them open.

Discussions will be ongoing today again with the Minister of Education and even at the Cabinet level. I remain optimistic.

“We are looking at the numbers and we are beginning to see some signs that we may be moving in the right direction, but with that being said, things can change. But I am of the view, like many people throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, that the time has come for us to be able to have some sort of face-to-face, whether it be a hybrid model or direct for our kids

and I look forward to our kids getting back to school as soon as possible.”

He added: “Many things have to be put in place.

One, we have to ensure that free testing is available because that will be a part of the protocol. If you happen to have a child or children who become positive, what are the strategies for testing? Two, we need to make sure that our teachers are safe. Three, the Ministry of Education must make sure that the schools are ready and four, I need to make sure that our hospital system remains open in the event that we do have kids who may be positive and as you can see we’ve brought in some additional nurses.

We’re ensuring that we provide sufficient bed space.

It’s a group of things that need to be in order for us to give the green light.”

Earlier this month, a group of parents expressed support for the opening of schools for face-to-face instruction, despite a continued surge in COVID-19 cases.

Laureen Singh, a concerned parent, social worker and teacher, speaking on behalf of others with the same view, said schools should not be closed while the country is fully open.

She pointed specifically to restaurants and local social hotspots that continue to host patrons alongside fully functioning gyms and beauty salons among others.

“The health professionals are saying this new variant

of Omicron is speedy, but not deadly,” Ms Singh said in an earlier interview.

“This is what they want to see towards the end of a virus; that it mutates fast and speedy and this is the end now.

“The virus was never stronger because the kids were in school. The private schools were open.

They were hybrid, they were Room and Zoom. The cases never got higher from schools. Around the world, UK, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the US, Canada, they were open for the last two years and cases were not skyrocketing through the schools. They can trace it back and it was not through the schools, but yet it’s the first thing to shut down.

Everything else in The

Bahamas is open, why is it schools are not open?

“Why is it not being spread in the hotels, in the gyms, in the restaurants?”

Officials had planned to reopen public schools in the second week of January with a hybrid model involving face-to-face instruction.

However, in late December, Dr Darville said the resumption of face-to-face learning in public schools had been postponed by at least two weeks as officials grappled with the fourth wave of COVID-19.

The Ministry of Education, Technical and Vocational Training later said all public and private schools could only reopen this month on a fully virtual basis. This does not apply to daycare centres.

OFFICERS HUNT FOR ‘DOWNED AIRPLANE’ AFTER REPORTS from page one Officers were expected to resume their search this morning.

ASP Peters said: “Sometime around 9.50pm we received reports of a plane crash in the area of Solomons Lighthouse along the Eastern Road. Immediately our marine assets were dispatched and they included a Defence Force and police marines. They combed the area along the Fox Hill Creek. However, there was no debris found of any plane in the vicinity. Subsequently, our search has ended. We also would’ve made contact with the Air Traffic Control who confirmed that there were no planes in this area during the time of the reporting of

the plane crash.”

He said police have information about the person who filed the report, adding that the person who made the report said they believe they saw a flare gun signal.

He could not say exactly what time authorities arrived at the scene.

“Shortly after the complaint was made a senior officer would have arrived on the scene and confirmed with the police control room that he was here,” he said. “A sea asset collected that officer and he along with the other rest of officers inclusive of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force combed the area, this general area, proceeding further west…and was not able to discover debris of any fallen craft in the vicinity”.

THE SCENE last night as officials searched for signs of a crashed plane.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

PARTIES UNITED AGAINST GBPC RATE RISE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE regulatory approval for a rate increase in the cost of electricity in Grand Bahama, the government and the official opposition do not believe it is a good time as the island’s economy is still struggling to recover.

On Monday, the Grand Bahama Port Authority announced it has approved Grand Bahama Power Company’s rate case application for a base rate increase of 3.3 percent as opposed to 6.3 percent initially proposed for residential and commercial customers. The increase would take effect on April 1.

This comes after a 45-day public consultation exercise conducted by GBPA, in its regulatory capacity.

In a statement released by the government yesterday, it was noted that a Cabinet committee was formed shortly after the filing of the rate adjustment in September 2021, comprising Ministers Obediah Wilchcombe, Alfred Sears, Michael Darville, Ryan Pinder and Ginger Moxey.

“The committee engaged with both the regulator, GBPA and the utility company, and the GBPC, to advocate for the residents and businesses of Grand Bahama at a time when the impact of Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19 is still evident,” according to the statement.

“From the outset, the committee issued a strong response to the initial filing of the application and clearly stated that the Davis administration does not support any rate increase on any portion of the customer base on Grand

Bahama Island.

“Since this time, the committee met with both the GBPA and GBPC and emphatically reiterated the government’s position that this is not the time for an increase in power rate, especially in light that residents and businesses are still trying to rebuild.”

Despite the approved increase being lower than what was initially proposed, the government said “any increase is difficult for the many residents and businesses still struggling to survive”.

There has been mixed reactions to the increase by some businesspersons and residents. One Grand Bahama business owner called it “wicked” while another said he was not concerned about it.

“At a time when things are so bad, they are finishing putting their foot on people’s faces and at the end of the year they brag about the profits they are making,” said a restaurant owner who did not want to be identified.

“It is a horrible idea,” said another resident. “I don’t understand why we pay more here in Freeport than in Nassau.”

A businessman in the light industrial sector was not bothered at all by the increase.

“I don’t see nothing wrong about a 3.3 percent increase in the base rate,” he said. “That is not going to have any affect on most businesses in the grand

scheme of things.”

He noted his power bills have been consistent from month to month. When asked whether he had solar panels installed at his business, he said that it is something that he is thinking about doing.

“I am considering getting solar to eliminate my power bill. I don’t think we would even notice it (the increase).”

Meanwhile, the opposition Free National Movement expressed its disapproval of the decision to approve the rate increase.

“Grand Bahamians in the last few months have had to endure increased VAT costs on breadbasket items and medication, increased inflation causing a rise in the cost of living and the increase in construction costs with VAT now added to construction services.

The GBPA has approved the rate case application that will increase electricity costs by 3.3 percent,” the FNM said.

The party stated that while the regulator claims to have conducted public consultation, the majority of Grand Bahamians were not able to have their views heard.

“In addition, the vast majority of Grand Bahamians that had the opportunity were absolutely opposed to any rate increase at this time,” according to the statement.

The party noted that Grand Bahama’s economy continues to struggle through post-storm recovery that requires new and increased investments. It claimed one of the largest impediments to investments has been the cost of electricity in Grand Bahama.

“This decision is counterproductive and will make it even more difficult to

attract and expand investments. While we are sympathetic to the economic plight of GBPC, we are even more mindful of the struggling residents and businesses fighting their own economic challenges and this increase will only be another blow to the island’s recovery,” the party said.

Meanwhile, GBPC said it was pleased to receive a response from the regulator on its September 2021 rate filing.

The company said the base rate adjustment approved by the GBPA of an increase of 3.3 percent will have a varying impact on customers depending on customer class and energy consumption. Also

approved, it said, was the establishment of a new tier of customers, representing about 20 percent of the residential customer base that consume 200kWh or less per month.

“GBPC’s monthly bills encompass base rate and fuel charge rate,” said Nikita Mullings, the utility’s chief operating officer. “The total monthly energy bills will increase by two percent to 2.5 percent depending on consumption levels. For the average residential customer, this represents about $3.50 per month.”

Ms Mullings pointed out that those residential customers who consume up to 200kWh per month – those who fall in the new efficient user tier – will

see no increase in their rate.

“Further, residential customers consuming 201 to 350 kWh will see an increase of one percent or less. These two classes of customers represent 42 percent of our residential customer base and will experience a total increase of one percent or less, translating to under $1 per month,” she explained.

GBPC said that it will take the opportunity, between now and April 1, when the new rates come into effect, to deliver a robust energy efficiency programme to guide customers in managing electricity use and minimising monthly energy costs.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, January 19, 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,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Throwing away vaccines is shameful THE news that we are throwing away vaccines should be a cause for national shame.

At the same moment as a Bahamian delegation is showing off to the world at the Dubai Expo – attended by 192 countries - here we are binning vaccines many of those countries might need.

If that doesn’t sound ridiculous enough, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis calculates that only about 30 of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines were being used a week, or about 4.2 per day.

As Dr Minnis says, “Just reviewing that would inform them that they would run into serious problems.”

He added: “If they were monitoring this properly, they would have made contact with other nations that have J&J, see where their expiration dates are and do an exchange as opposed to throwing away the taxpayers’ money.”

The question of money rubs more salt into the wound – with us having paid $45,000 already as a 15 percent deposit, and more money to be paid. So we will be paying for vaccines we’ve tossed in the garbage.

If people are concerned about the size of the Dubai travel bill as a sign of how this government is managing our money, they should be doubly concerned at us paying literally money for nothing now.

We do not know if efforts were made to trade the vaccines before their expiry date, with Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville seemingly shrugging off the matter, saying: “All of the doses of vaccines that went into expiration, they have been discarded. It

is as simple as that. Vaccines that have expired are of no more value.”

He seemed to blame the Bahamian people for a lack of appetite for the vaccine.

Even if we didn’t trade the vaccine, could we not have donated it to a country in need? Anything would have been better than just letting it sit on a shelf until it was no more use.

If the government isn’t monitoring the all-important vaccines close enough to see this problem coming, what else aren’t they keeping a close watch on?

It certainly doesn’t reassure us about how the administration is looking after the public health – or the public purse.

Travel warning The change in the travel warning from the CDC in the US for The Bahamas seems to be lagging behind.

We have had the travel warning moved back up to level four due to the “very high” level of infections.

However, while cases are still high – 526 new cases on January 16 and 17 – the numbers are slightly down on the week before, with 818 cases recorded on one day alone just over a week before.

It seems that the CDC could be more responsive as the case numbers change – and if numbers do drop, we hope the travel warning won’t be delayed in moving back down to level three, then two.

The Omicron surge is far from over – but let’s deal with it at the level it is right now, not the level it was a week or two ago.

Flat on our face over good service EDITOR, The Tribune.

THERE is a science for providing service unfortunately we talk a lot about being ‘Better and Better’ but we fall flat on our face many times when suggesting you are offering the general public a reasonable level of service.

Money transfer companies are exceptionally popular - must be making ‘000’s but my experience raises the obvious - when service quality fails, boy does it hurt.

Over two plus hours on line... at least one customer behind me on line able to jump the line by going to the BTC counter and bypass the ten customers who had been patiently waiting for service...now when you get to the cashier there was no extra time for processing so why the delay? Usual excuse the system, or was it blatant slowness and lack of

responsiveness to the business customers?

Surely someone should have come out and told the long line of patiently waiting customers we have a system issue we regret there will be a delay. When I left at 4.00pm there was a line of over thirty people...did they get served?

No, not a word... not an apology from the cashier so if you ‘N-Go’ seems the customer waiting means nothing. Shame on you!

The same goes in our, oh so friendly banks... Christmas time and less cashiers than usual... what is that saying for sure to me a loud screaming story... We couldn’t care less about you, the customer! To all those in the service industry that give good service, thank you.

Anyone tried calling any Government Office this week? Ring... ring... ring all day long and rarely a

response… no difference, Editor, for the bad don’t care service of the Banks and Transfer Co... they don’t care we pay and they dish out the worst service.

SOS to Real Property Tax people incredible system down seems crashed the new Tyler system which the FNM installed must have totally failed... how many million did we pay for that? There are responsible Tax payers who want to pay, but are being stopped... The usual early pay concession/discount has to be extended as a result of the inability to Property Tax/Inland revenue to perform. Only $600m in arrears under property tax... can see why?

‘Tis the Season, but these issues make you fume!

B FERGUSON Nassau, December 21, 2021.

Leave the schools shuttered EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Prime Minister is a man after my own heart.

In the midst of the ongoing pandemic he is focus and relentless on getting the nation into a recovery mode. The economy is showing vital signs of improvement and more and more Bahamians are going back to work and/starting new businesses. Churches; restaurants and other social venues are gradually reopening. There are some who are calling for the reopening of schools, especially within the public sector.

I would advise the PM and the Minister of Health & Wellness to leave the schools shuttered for the rest of this month. Yes, we all agree that it is not a good thing for schools to remain closed after almost two long years. There are collateral damages being done to the finances of guardians and parents who are obliged to have a care giver/housekeeper in place; the purchase of tablets or lap tops and the burden of keeping the electricity on so as to power the devices and to have access to data. The students themselves have lost a lot of educational and tuition time within the class rooms.

The current available

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net health and scientific data indicate that the virus, especially the Omicron off shoot, is trending down and hospitalisations related to the virus are also declining. In some countries around the world many of them are confident that they would have seen the peak of that particular strain. In addition new vaccinations and pills are being rolled out even as you read this. We, like others, are adapting to the stark knowledge that the pandemic is not going to go away anytime soon. That being the case, should we or should we not reopen the public and other schools?

It is common information, data based, that a majority of Bahamians and their households have yet to be vaccinated and may not even do so at all due to misinformation and any number of bogus excuses.

My position is that when a nation is at war, and we are in a prolonged and unprecedented mother of all wars with COVID-19 and its half sisters. If I held political sway in The Bahamas, I would make it mandatory for All Bahamians and

residents to be vaccinated or be required to take a weekly test in order to work; congregate or simply to move about freely; mix and mingle.

Some might suggest that this would be too harsh or possibly unconstitutional and maybe it would be so.

The fact of the matter, however, is that we are in this all together and we owe a duty of care to each and every other Bahamian and resident. It is highly irresponsible for unvaccinated individuals to just walk and drive around without being jabbed once much less twice as is recommended. It cannot be left up to individuals to be responsible and/ or safe.

All public schools should remain shuttered for another month or so.

Alternatively conduct small classes in large auditoriums or playing fields which most of the schools throughout the nation have. A rotation system could be introduced where three days per week are allocated to two different groups of students who would be tested before classes and after where possible. Other than this we are between a rock and a very hard place.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, January 16, 2022.

Parks authority audit The new Singapore?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

DO TWO wrongs ever make a right - Public Parks Authority contracts comments of FNM Leader.

The published audit of the Parks Authority and the comments of the new leader of the FNM contrast to the extent that one really wonders how far political stupidity will go?

It seems clear to me that the management of Treasury funds and the correctness of granting contracts might have been breached – there has to be a serious question why

the majority of contracts seem to have been in Killarney - Golden Gates and of all constituencies St Anne’s? These constituencies are significant as to who pre-election were the representatives.

For the new leader to posture and support the paying of the contractors in the circumstances is highly questionable and trying to bring criticism on the new administration for cancelling and not paying contracts fees which his administration did not pay is certainly a deviation of transparency and good management.

Editor, clearly Government will be well advised that a full urgent audit must take place of the operations of every aspect of the last administration.... Auditor General must be given the funds to contract external Auditing professionals for this purpose... waiting three-four years for a Government Audit is a waste of time... We need the full detailed audit within sixmonths at the most after the close of the fiscal year.

R KNOWLES Nassau, December 21, 2021.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THERE is an article in the business section reference turning The Bahamas into the equivalent of Singapore. For a small country Singapore has a staggeringly successful economy with commensurate high standard of living for its citizens. Very idealistic but highly unlikely unfortunately for the Bahamas.

Singapore has a superb education system whereas the Bahamas - what can you say?

If you can’t afford the private schools the state schools are pretty much a baby sitting service for single parents with D being the national examination average. Education is the cornerstone for any chance of rapid economic growth coupled with ambition and work ethics. Ambition and work ethics are directly dependent on high quality education this is an example of a double whammy.

Sadly the vast majority of Bahamians who go overseas to university do not

come back which is in effect a not so subtle brain drain.

You would need politicians with real vision to make the changes to our education system. Frankly that’s a non starter the two party system here is all about status quo and maintaining it. The chance of The Bahamas becoming the new Singapore whilst a lovely idea are in reality an unlikely pipe dream.

THE REALIST Nassau, January 18, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 19, 2022, PAGE 7

$50K TO FEED THE HUNGRY

AML Foods Limited’s Feed 5000 programme has now fed more than 50,000 Bahamians in need since its launch.

AML Foods Limited has distributed $50,000 in food vouchers to feeding programmes in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Exuma, proceeds from its annual Feed 5000 holiday initiative.

The company donated an initial $20,000 to launch the programme and $30,000 was raised at the registers from customers shopping at Solomon’s, Cost Right, Fresh Market, Exuma Markets and Domino’s Pizza.

Recipients of the Holiday Meal Packages were the Bahamas Feeding Network and Hands for Hunger in New Providence, The Grand Bahama chapter of the

Bahamas Red Cross, and The Exuma Foundation (Bahamas) in Georgetown, Exuma.

Since launching the programme in 2016, AML Foods has raised and distributed more than half a million dollars in food vouchers to charitable organisations - equating to more than 12,500 Christmas meals, feeding more than 50,000 Bahamians in need.

Renea Bastian, VP of marketing and communications, said: “It truly demonstrates that when we work together, we can make a huge difference and positively impact the lives of Bahamians suffering from food insecurity in our country.”

$1M DRUG DEFENDANT ‘JUST TRYING TO MAKE MONEY’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE officer yesterday testified how one of the men accused of being involved in a near $1m drug operation in Exuma last year told the police on the day of his arrest that he “was just trying to make some money”.

Assistant Superintendent Adrian Knowles, attached to the Exuma division, reported the remarks while giving testimony at the trial of Basil Johnson, 42, Alfraido Poitier, 41, and Kevin Dean, 49.

The three men are charged with conspiracy to possess drugs with intent to supply and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply after officers alleged they had $872,000 worth of marijuana in their possession on May 30, 2021.

The men have denied the allegations.

During yesterday’s trial before Magistrate Samuel McKinney, ASP Knowles told the court that around

noon on May 30, he was on marine patrol with other officers in the area of Farmer’s Cay, Exuma when he saw a blue vessel heading north.

ASP Knowles said after the vessel was stopped, police questioned the two men on board— revealed to be Johnson and Poitier— about their whereabouts and whether any illegal firearms or drugs were on board the vessel.

ASP Knowles said the men told officers “no”.

According to the officer, a search was then conducted which resulted in the discovery of a “number” of croker sacks containing suspected marijuana.

ASP Knowles said the men were subsequently arrested. He added that while under caution, Johnson told police “Y’all got me. I was running low on cash.”

After the men were arrested, the witness said officers took the vessel and suspected drugs to Barraterre, Exuma where a more thorough search of the

vessel was conducted.

Upon doing so, ASP Knowles said a total of 29 croker sacks were pulled from the boat, dated and initialled by him and later handed over to officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit.

Asked about the demeanour of the suspects, ASP Knowles said the men just “looked straight ahead” and added that none of the officers were able to identify them.

He also told the court that the suspects were separated after arrest.

Asked if the men told police anything while they were being transported to Exuma, the officer reiterated that Johnson told him “he was trying to make some money”.

However, during cross examination, Johnson’s attorney, Wendawn MillerFrazer, challenged his testimony, suggesting her client never made those statements.

She further implied police had a hidden agenda when they stopped the

‘PAY $400 FINE OVER DRUGS’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 45-YEAR-OLD man who was found with more than two ounces of marijuana last week was yesterday ordered to pay $400 to avoid spending two months behind bars.

Police arrested Ricardo Wells after they discovered 2 and 7/8 ounces of Indian Hemp at his home on Sunday, January 16.

The court was told that on the date in question, officers armed with a search warrant, went to a home on Falcon Crest where they met Wells.

The prosecution said after Wells was shown the warrant, police conducted a search of the home and its surrounding property.

However, while searching, officers found a Ziploc bag containing suspected

marijuana in the bushes near the home.

As a result, Wells was arrested and taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit where he admitted to the offence and claimed the drugs were for his personal use.

During his first appearance before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday, the accused pleaded guilty to one count of possession of dangerous drugs.

His attorney begged the court for leniency, noting that her client — a computer programmer — was currently searching for employment.

She told the court that Wells had a “spotless” record and started using drugs after he was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said he was extremely remorseful for his actions and deserved a second chance.

In response, Magistrate McKinney fined the defendant $400.

He was warned that failure to pay the fine would result in two months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Also appearing before court on similar charges was 61-year-old Perry Feaster of south Bimini.

Feaster was arrested in New Providence after airport security officers found seven grams of marijuana in his luggage on January 12.

The Bimini resident pleaded guilty to drug possession during his arraignment yesterday.

After accepting his guilty plea, Magistrate McKinney granted him a conditional discharge.

The 61-year-old was told that if he failed to be of good behaviour for six months, he would be fined $400 or ordered to spend two months in prison.

PROBATION OVER MARIJUANA

By PAVEL BAILEY

Woodside to get out of his vehicle, they noticed a susA MAN, taken to court picious paper fall out of his on marijuana charges yes- car and upon further search terday, was placed on six of his vehicle uncovered six grams of Indian hemp with months probation, Anwar Woodside, 33, of a total value of $20.

When the accused Grace Avenue, appeared appeared in court, he before Magistrate Derence pleaded guilty to the Rolle Davis on charges of charges, but said in his possessing Indian hemp. defence that he only used Woodside was caught the drugs to cope with in possession of the drug stress from bills and his after officers pulled over work as a diesel mechanic. his heavily tinted Honda While he claimed to have Civic near Kemp Road at total control of his habit around 8pm last Thursday. in his statement before the After officers instructed court, he also accepted all

his wrongdoing in this case and urged the magistrate to deliver a swift verdict.

“Whatever you want to make this happen and get done, I’ll accept it,” he said.

Magistrate Davis accepted his guilty plea and granted Woodside six months’ probation with a clean record. Woodside was, however, cautioned that if he is caught committing any other offence in that time, he would receive a $350 fine or failing to pay that, he would spend one month in prison.

MAN JAILED FOR STEALING TV

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 40-YEAR-OLD man who admitted stealing a television set from a local restaurant on Christmas Day was sentenced to 14 months in prison yesterday.

Reginal Jean appeared before Magistrate Kendra Kelly charged with shopbreaking, stealing and attempted stealing.

According to court

documents, Jean broke into Hidden Treasures restaurant on Marigold Farm Road and stole the restaurant’s flat screen TV valued at $500.

The accused was further charged with trying to steal $10 from Kimberly Thompson on January 16.

Jean pleaded guilty to the charges, telling the court he had a “cocaine” problem and was under the influence when he committed the acts.

Asked about the location of the stolen item, the accused said he didn’t know where it was.

As a result, Magistrate Kelly sentenced him to one year behind bars for each count of shopbreaking and stealing. The sentences will run concurrently.

He was further sentenced to two months in prison for the attempted stealing offence and the magistrate also ordered that he receive drug counselling.

vessel.

However, ASP Knowles denied Mrs Frazer’s assertions, arguing that police only searched the boat to satisfy their suspicions.

Meanwhile, Dean’s attorney Robyn Lyons questioned the speed of the vessel in question.

ASP Knowles said he couldn’t recall, but revealed it took a while for officers to arrive in Baraterre because there were some issues with the boat’s engine.

Tonique Lewis, who represents Poitier, also questioned the witness which mainly centred on police interaction with her client.

Asked if Poitier jumped

in the water or tried to evade police, the senior police officer replied “no”.

Also asked if Poitier told police anything to suggest the drugs were on the boat, the assistant superintendent again replied “no”.

Sgt Alonzo Lewis also testified of his involvement in Johnson’s and Poitier’s arrest.

Sgt Lewis said he was among the officers who discovered the drugs aboard the boat and helped transport them to mainland Exuma.

“Aroma believed to be marijuana was emanating from the packages,” he said.

The police sergeant also said while questioning

Poitier and Johnson, one of them, believed to be Johnson, told him they were en route to New Providence from Georgetown, Exuma.

He also claimed that both men told police before their search that there were no drugs or illegal weapons onboard.

However, Sgt Lewis said drugs were found underneath the boat’s floor hatch and he also noted that Johnson did not seem surprised when officers found the packages with suspected marijuana.

Meanwhile, Poitier, he said, had “little if anything to say”.

The case continues on February 17.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, January 19, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

IF PEOPLE CAN’T PAY THEIR BILLS OR PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE MR COOPER, HOW ARE THEY EXPECTED TO SAVE?

By Alicia Wallace

MINISTER of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper says Bahamians do no save or invest enough, and increasing savings and investments is critical to national growth.

He said less than 30 percent of Bahamians contribute to pension plans and less than eight percent invest in securities. He went on send their children to prito say his Ministry would vate schools because they run a financial literacy cam- have help from the other paign in order to encourage parent, family members, or saving and investment scholarships. Some people among Bahamian people. go out for lunch every day It is, of course, true, that because they have a few we need to save and invest dollars each day, but not more than we currently do $100 to buy cooking gas.

It is easy to make judgand that financial literacy is important, but there is ments. We can watch not enough attention on the people’s spending and make assumptions about their main issue - low income.

There are many people sources of income and their who are not able to save decision-making processes, but we do not money. They have all of the are not spend- ‘People aren’t information. ing recklessly saving money?

We all want to or being irrebe able to buy sponsible with Financial a car battery if the resources literacy! People ours dies. We they have. aren’t keeping want to be able They do not to pay for a have enough. up with their doctor’s visit if They are bills? Financial we are feeling either strugliteracy!

People unwell and to gling to make have no probends meet, or aren’t making lem buying still trying to investments? the prescribed figure out how medication. to even do They need that. All of the financial literacy! We want to send our chilpeople having Young people dren on the this experience field trips, pay are not living using credit for the pizza below the pov- cards to stay parties and parerty line. They afloat? Financial ticipate in the are not all gift exchanges. making mini- literacy!’

We would mum wage.

Many of them are people like to help our retired we see, work with, and parents buy a new refrigerator when the old one speak to on a regular basis.

There is usually no just stops without warning. way to make a distinction We want to donate to that between people who are co-worker’s fundraiser to financially comfortable and get the medical care they those who are facing chal- need. To get something lenges. Some people have to wear for the funeral, to cars because there is no stock up on toiletries at a other way to safely get to local wholesaler, to take a and from work every day, professional development and their expenditure on course. To do these things, gas frequently cuts into we need to have money. their grocery budgets. Some Not just a pay cheque or people are well-dressed direct deposit, but money because they have been we can touch. Money we lucky to acquire a lot of can spend. Money that does basics and a few outstand- not already have another ing pieces. Some people job to do, like paying the

electricity bill.

Doing these things requires disposable income that is higher than our expenses.

Having an income higher than our earnings is requirement for saving money.

“Financial literacy” gets thrown around quite often. People aren’t saving money? Financial literacy!

People aren’t keeping up with their bills? Financial literacy! People aren’t making investments? They need financial literacy!

Young people using credit cards to stay afloat? Financial literacy!

While financial literacy is important - and ought to be a part of the school curriculum and offered by institutions we regularly engage (including workplaces, financial institutions, and faith-based organizations) - it will not eradicate poverty or the financial struggles of people receiving low incomes.

There has to be real intervention. We need to make it possible for people to earn enough money to live while challenging and uprooting systems and practices that are financially oppressive and predatory.

Conversation about changes to value-added tax have significantly quieted now that they are officially in place. The issues still exist. There is now tax on bread basket items. These items, essentially for every household, now come at a higher cost, disproportionately impacting low-income households. The decrease in value-added tax from 12 percent to 10 percent does not make up for this increase on bread basket items which are supposed to low-cost due to the high rates of purchase of these necessary goods.

DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper.

Value-added tax on need to figure it out for ourbread, rice, flour,and selves. This, while we watch baby food is absurd at any the memes fly about Expo time, and especially now 2020 in Dubai which, by as so many are struggling all accounts, has not been through the pandemic that worth the $1m commitment has significantly impacted by the Cabinet.

Communications director employment and earnings while responsibilities in the Office of the Prime Minister Latrae Rahming remain the same.

The change in value- said: “We believe and we added text is an example of maintain our view that we a sweeping change assumed are going to give The Bahato be minor because the mas the exposure required specific conditions of a on the global stage. It is a group of people in situa- justified investment when tions of vulnerability where we give our people exponot properly considered, if sure on the world stage at all. If we are going to talk so people could see the about “financial literacy,” talent.”

Bahamians love to show perhaps we need to start off.

We enjoy the spotlight with the people who are making national decisions when we are doing well. that affect the (financial) Give us Shaunae Miller at lives of the people in The the Olympics, Sir Sidney Poitier on the big screen, Bahamas.

There seem to be a set of Jonquel Jones in the circumstances under which WNBA and Buddy Hield in the NBA, and and count the government underon us to argue with anyone stands the need to spend from anywhere until it is money for the benefit of the agreed that we have the country. For a time, there best beaches in the world. was the national food task We love to look good. Let’s force and money allocated not forget, however, that we to assist people impacted want to live good too. by the COVID-19 panIf our presence at Expo demic. There was a time 2020 in Dubai brings benebread basket items were fits to the country - benefits VAT-free. There was even that we will all see and feel a brief period within which - great. Bring it on. That it was recognized that men- cannot, however, be a strual hygiene products are replacement for food, water necessities and should be and shelter. We cannot tax-free. Now, these obvious be expected to celebrate points are being challenged a large delegation traveand the suggestion is we ling to Dubai, a seemingly lacklustre pavilion and illsuited performances while people directly impacted

by Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19 receive less support and are expected to fend for themselves.

What is the point of promoting The Bahamas on the international stage to the tune of millions of dollars (when including the other investments mentioned with regard to Expo 2020) when so many people in The Bahamas are left to figure out how they will pay rent and electricity bills and buy grocery when they are still unemployed or underemployed as a result of the

disasters we are still reeling from and experiencing now? Is there a financial literacy course for that?

We cannot accept rebuke for low or non-existent savings or investments when people are challenged to meet their most basic needs. We cannot accept the message that our financial problems are ours to solve, individually, especially when we are trapped in the old promise of tourism - which has proven volatile in the most trying times - that has not been addressed by any government administration. We cannot expect financial literacy to give us what we need to have healthy financial lives.

We have to demand more of the government. It is its responsibility to ensure our basic needs are met. It needs to look at the Bahamian economy and the opportunities for growth. It needs to address the longstanding issue of minimum wage. It needs to acknowledge the informal economy and the needs of informal workers. It needs to address the specific needs of people in situation of vulnerability including women, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ people, elderly people, and migrant people.

It unacceptable to spend millions on the international stage while withdrawing much-needed financial support from the Bahamian people while promising to educate us about money.

We already know some of the most important things about money - too many of us do not have enough of it, and the way we are being taxed and the way the government is (not) providing services does not redistribute wealth to move us toward equity. We need to meet our most basic needs first.

There can be no saving or investing before we have the money we need today.

That is financial literacy 101, and the government needs to start there.

RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Visit Sixty2Sixty Art Gallery’s website to view images from current and past exhibitions. Coloured Bahamas by Kenel Augustin, Artist Block by June Collie, and Dear Diary, During the Pandemic I… by Ashley Cooper are among the exhibitions you can view from the comfort of your own home. Currently on display in the gallery on East Bay Street is Preston Hanna’s Cay to Serenity, focused on finding inner peace. Stop by the gallery and/or visit sixty2sixtyartgallery.com.

2. Support the Bahamas National Youth Choir (BNYC). Make a donation, share videos, and encourage booking agents and event organizers to consider the BNYC. There have been many expressions of disappointment about the exclusion of the BNYC, and we need to remember that there are ways to support it beyond the conversation about Expo 2020 in Dubai.

The same can be applied to

a wide range of issues and incidents that draw ire and need more positive interventions. Let’s start here.

BNYC needs support getting to Carnegie Hall, and donations can be made to its bank account at First Caribbean International Bank, Shirley Street branch, account number 27038410.

Contact BNYC at bnycsecretary@gmail.com to find out how you can support its work in other ways.

3. Get orange essential oil. January tends to be a difficult month for many of us, whether it is because of the weather, financial issues, struggling to keep resolutions, or the stress of a new calendar year. Orange essential oil is great for boosting moods and adds a pleasant scent to the room.

Use it in a diffuser, make a simple room spray, or create an oil blend to rub on your wrists, behind your ears, or on your neck. Its other uses include relieving stomach aches, reducing pain, and increasing alertness.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 19, 2022, PAGE 9

EUROPE NARROWS HUNT FOR NEXT ASTRONAUTS, EYES CREWED FLIGHTS BERLIN (AP) — The European Space Agency has narrowed the candidate list for its next generation of astronauts, including dozens who have a physical disability.

The agency announced last year that it had received a record number of 22,589 applications from people hoping to become the continent’s next generation of space travellers.

ESA said Tuesday it has reduced these to fewer than 1,400 — 29 of whom have a physical disability — and hopes to cut the shortlist down to several tens of candidates by the end of the year for the four to six positions on its astronaut training programme.

The agency’s director-general, Josef Aschbacher, said the selection process would be accompanied by a feasibility study to determine the implications of choosing candidates with disabilities “but, yes, we are committed at ESA to open space to everyone.”

ESA has for decades relied on its Russian and American counterparts to launch astronauts into space. Currently the agency has several places booked on American commercial launches.

But Aschbacher said Europe may finally get its own crewed spacecraft if ESA member states approve the idea at a meeting later this year.

“We are not only talking of launches, we are talking of human exploration,” he said, adding that future missions would seek to send astronauts to the moon “and beyond.”

In the meantime, the agency will continue to develop its robotic capability, including a spacecraft capable of carrying large loads to the Moon that would support joint missions with partners such as NASA. ESA is also in the early stages of working on a probe that would

ASTRONAUT Luca Parmitano of Italy, seen on screen, flashes a thumbs up, as he controls the Space Rover, rear, which successfully picked up a rock during a training exercise of the European Space Agency, ESA, in Katwijk, near The Hague, Netherlands, in November. The agency announced last year that it had received a record number of 22,589 applicants from people hoping to become the continent’s next generation of space travellers. ESA said Tuesday it has reduced these to fewer than 1,400 — including 29 of whom have a physical disability — and hoped to cut the shortlist down to several tens of candidates by the end of the year for the four to six positions on its astronaut training programme.

(AP Photo/Peter Dejong) fly to an ice moon, such as Saturn’s Enceladus, to recover a sample and bring it back to Earth.

“It could be that there’s very simple, primitive life in the water underneath the ice cover,” said Aschbacher.

One challenge is that with current technology, the round-trip could take decades to complete.

Time is also a factor in the

replacement of one of ESA’s science satellites, Sentinel 1-B, which stopped functioning properly in late December.

Simonetta Cheli, the agency’s director of Earth observation, said the root cause of the malfunction was still being investigated and it was too soon to say whether the successor model, Sentinel 1-C, will need to be modified to avoid

suffering a similar fate.

Any delay in replacing Sentinel 1-B could cause problems for scientists who rely on the satellite’s data for their research, including into climate change.

“Of course, we would need to try and look for options to launch the satellite as soon as possible if 1-B terminates its own lifetime,” said Cheli.

VIRGIN ORBIT LAUNCHES SEVEN SATELLITES

By JOHN ANTCZAK ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Virgin Orbit rocket released from a jet flying off the California coast carried seven small satellites into space on Thursday as the company kicked off a year in which it plans to ramp up the pace of launches, including two originating from Britain.

Virgin Orbit’s modified Boeing 747 took off from Mojave Air & Space Port in the Southern California desert, flew out over the Pacific Ocean and dropped the LauncherOne rocket from its left wing.

The 70-foot-long (21.3metre) booster ignited at an altitude of about 35,000 feet (10,668 metres) and hurtled skyward.

The company later confirmed that all of the satellites were successfully deployed into the proper orbit.

“Another fantastic day for the Virgin Orbit team, and a big step forward for our customers,” the company tweeted.

RICHARD Branson The payload included satellites for the U.S. Defense Department, the Polish company SatRevolution and the international company Spire Global.

It was Virgin Orbit’s third launch carrying satellites for customers. Two previous launches carried multiple

satellites into orbit in January and June 2021. The company’s first launch, a demonstration flight, failed in May 2020.

Virgin Orbit, founded in 2017 by British billionaire Richard Branson, went public last month.

The company is targeting the market for launching small satellites. It touts the mobility of its air-launch system compared to the limitations of fixed launch sites.

“The tremendous thing about using a 747 is we can put them into any orbit from anywhere in the world,” Branson said from the British Virgin Islands during the company’s launch webcast.

“There’s only I think a couple of handfuls of countries that have the capability of sending satellites to space from their own countries and now all 180 countries can use Virgin Orbit,” he said.

“You just need to ring us up.”

The company plans six launches this year, including two for the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force that will originate from Cornwall

TECHTALK NICKEL MINE DEVELOPER HAS MAJOR COMMITMENT FROM TESLA TAMARACK, Minn.

(AP) — The company that plans to develop a nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota has made a major supply deal with Tesla, the electric vehicle maker.

Tesla has committed to purchasing 75,000 metric tons of nickel concentrate over six years from Talon Metals’ planned mine in Tamarack, which is about 50 miles (80 kilometres) west of Duluth. Talon hopes to open the mine by January 2026, but has not yet started the permitting process.

Nickel is a key ingredient of electric vehicle batteries.

“This agreement is the start of an innovative partnership between Tesla and Talon for the responsible production of battery materials directly from the mine to the battery cathode,” Talon’s CEO, Henri van Rooyen, said in a statement.

Tesla would claim more than half of the mine’s production of nickel concentrate, which would be further refined before it could be used to make batteries, the Star Tribune reported.

“The Talon team has taken an innovative approach to the discovery, development and production of battery materials, including to permanently store carbon as part of mine operations,” Drew Baglino, Tesla’s senior vice president of powertrain and energy engineering, said in a statement.

Talon is developing a system that would capture CO2 from the air and permanently store it in rock waste from the mine.

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THE TRIBUNE

RUSSIA MOVES MORE TROOPS WEST AMID UKRAINE TENSIONS

A CONVOY of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea yesterday. Russia has concentrated an estimated 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons near Ukraine in what the West fears could be a prelude to an invasion.

MOSCOW Associated Press RUSSIA is a sending an unspecified number of troops from the country’s far east to Belarus for major war games, officials said Tuesday, a deployment that will further beef up Russian military assets near Ukraine amid Western fears of a planned invasion.

Amid the soaring tensions, the White House warned that Russia could

attack its neighbor at “any point,” while the UK delivered a batch of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.

Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said the joint drills with Belarus would involve practicing a joint response to external threats.

Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine from several directions, including from its ally Belarus.

The US again stressed its concern yesterday, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki describing the Russian forces’ move into Belarus as part of as “extremely dangerous situation”.

“We’re now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack in Ukraine,” she said.

A series of talks last week between Russia, the US and NATO failed to quell the tensions over Ukraine. US

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Friday in another attempt to defuse the crisis.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said yesterday it has received a shipment of antitank weapons from the UK, noting that they will help “strengthen our defence capability”.

Russia already has started moving troops for the war games in Belarus. Fomin

said it would take through February 9 to fully deploy weapons and personnel for the Allied Resolve 2022 drills, which are expected to take place February 10-20.

Fomin didn’t say how many troops will be involved, but mentioned that Russia will deploy a dozen Su-35 fighter jets and several air defense units to Belarus. The deployment would bolster an estimated 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and other heavy

weapons who are already amassed near Ukraine.

Russia has denied an intention to attack its neighbour but demanded guarantees from the West that NATO will not expand to Ukraine or other exSoviet nations or place its troops and weapons there.

Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscow’s demands during Russia-US negotiations in Geneva and a related NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels last week.

Warning: US faces wave of Omicron deaths in coming weeks THE fast-moving Omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the US are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March.

The seven-day rolling average for daily new COVID-19 deaths in the US has been trending upward since mid-November, reaching nearly 1,700 on January 17 — still below the peak of 3,300 in January 2021. COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents started rising slightly two weeks ago, although still at a rate ten times less than last year before most residents were vaccinated.

Despite signs omicron causes milder disease on average, the unprecedented level of infection spreading through the country, with cases still soaring in many states, means many vulnerable people will become severely sick. If the higher end of projections comes to pass, that would push total US deaths from COVID19 over 1 million by early spring.

“A lot of people are still going to die because of how transmissible Omicron has been,” said University of South Florida epidemiologist Jason Salemi. “It unfortunately is going to get worse before it gets better.”

Morgues are starting to run out of space in Johnson County, Kansas, said Dr Sanmi Areola, director of the health department.

More than 30 residents have died in the county this year, the vast majority of them unvaccinated.

But the notion that a generally less severe variant could still take the lives of thousands of people has been difficult for health experts to convey. The math of it — that a small percentage of a very high number of infections can yield a very high number of deaths — is difficult to visualise.

“Overall, you’re going to see more sick people even if you as an individual have a lower chance of being sick,” said Katriona Shea of Pennsylvania State University, who co-leads a team that pulls together several pandemic models and shares the combined projections with the White House.

The wave of deaths heading for the United States will crest in late January or early February, Shea said.

In early February, weekly deaths could equal or exceed the delta peak, and possibly even surpass the previous US peak in deaths last year.

Some unknown portion of these deaths are among people infected with the delta variant, but experts say Omicron is also claiming lives.

“This is Omicron driven,” Shea said of the coming wave of deaths. The combined models project 1.5 million Americans will be hospitalised and 191,000 will die from mid-December through mid-March.

Taking into account the uncertainty in the models, US deaths during the Omicron wave could range from 58,000 to 305,000.

Yet, it’s become increasingly clear that the risk from Omicron is lower than from previous variants.

New evidence from nearly

70,000 patients in Southern California suggests omicron is causing milder illness than delta.

A study, posted online and cited during a recent White House briefing, found patients with omicron had a 53 percent lower risk of hospitalisation with respiratory symptoms, a 74 percent lower risk of ICU admission, and a 91 percent lower risk of death.

The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, comes from researchers at Kaiser Permanente and University of California, Berkeley.

“It’s hard for me to say straight out it’s good news,” said study co-author Sara Y Tartof, a Kaiser Permanente research scientist.

“Maybe there’s good news in the sense that if you are infected your chance of becoming severely ill are decreased, but from a societal perspective it’s a very heavy burden for us. It remains a serious situation, and we need to maintain practices and behaviors we know protect us.”

Overburdened hospitals could also contribute to more deaths, said Marc Lipsitch of Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and scientific director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s forecasting centre.

“In places with extremely short staffing and overloads of patients, as the medical professionals have been telling us, the quality of care begins to suffer,” Lipsitch said.

“That may also lead to higher death rates, but that’s not in any of the models that I’m aware of.”

A PET shop is closed after some pet hamsters tested positive for the coronavirus in Hong Kong yesterday.

Photo: Kin Cheung/AP

HONG KONG TO KILL 2,000 ANIMALS AFTER HAMSTERS GET COVID-19 HONG KONG Associated Press HONG Kong authorities said yesterday that they will kill about 2,000 small animals, including hamsters, after several tested positive for the coronavirus at a pet store where an employee was also infected.

The city will also stop the sale of hamsters and the import of small mammals, according to officials from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. The pet shop employee tested positive for the delta variant on Monday, and several

hamsters imported from the Netherlands at the store tested positive as well.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, animals do not appear to play a significant role in spreading the coronavirus. But Hong Kong authorities said they are not ruling out transmission between animals and humans.

“We cannot exclude the possibility that the shopkeeper was in fact actually infected from the hamsters,” said Edwin Tsui, a controller at the Centre for Health Protection.

While this coronavirus

most likely jumped from animals to humans in the first place, the outbreak became a pandemic because the virus spreads so easily between people.

Minks are the only known animals to have caught the virus from people and spread it back, according to Dr Scott Weese at Ontario Veterinary College.

Leung Siu-fai, director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, said during a news conference that owners should keep hamsters at home, and not take them out.

SPORTS PAGE 11

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022

Brent Spence was a ‘first class’ umpire

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Having formed a relationship with Spence after they made a national team trip in Colombia, umpire Martin ‘Pork’ Burrows said they travelled together to officiate at softball games for the BSF in Ababo when the sport was at its highest level.

“When we travelled on the national team, I was a coach and Brent was an umpire,” Burrows said. “I was very impressed. We came back and we had a couple of trips to Abaco for about two to three years.

We became very close. He was a very nice person. He loved his family, especially his son.”

SEE PAGE 15

SEE PAGE 15

THE LATE umpire Brent Spence is pictured fourth from left. Spence passed away on Thursday in Grand Bahama where he was a mechanical technician at the Freeport Container Port. death of his mother, to stay with his grandfather. At the age of four, he was adopted by the late Livingstone Parks and his mother.

Although they knew each other for seven years prior to being married, his wife said after their children were born, they left Eleuthera for Grand Bahama in 2006 (where she was born) and they spent the past 15 years there.

“He was a first-class gentleman. As an umpire, you would want to go on the field with him because of the level of professionalism that he brought to the table,” recalled Thomas Sears, the chief umpire for the BSF. “As an internationally certified umpire,

he carried out his job diligently.”

Spence, who attended the Governor’s Harbour All-Age School and played for the Governor’s Harbour Hustlers, started as an umpire in 2003 under the late Arthur ‘Old Art’ Thompson. Spence went on to attain a level three certification along with Michael Hanna in the World Baseball/Softball Confederation, just one level below that of Sears, who is at level four.

The highest level is five, which is an instructor.

“He was a first-class gentleman, who loved sports and softball in particular,” Sears said. “He loved his family dearly. Anytime

he travelled to the round robin, he brought his son with him. He was a first class family man, who also loved God, not necessarily in that order. He will be missed.

“I spoke with him in November and he said he was coming along very well. He had just come back from the United States where he was getting his heart checked out. When he came back home, he said everything was going well. Low and behold, January came and I got the news. That was a shocker.”

Sears said once the funeral is finalised, he will definitely be making the trip to pay his last respects.

‘THEY ARE PLAYING SPORTS ALL OVER THE WORLD AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. WHY NOT THE BAHAMAS?’ THE Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Athletic Association (GBSSAA) and the Grand Bahama Primary Schools Sports Athletic Association (GBPSSAA) are calling on the relevant government ministries to allow the resumption of sporting activities in the schools in Grand Bahama.

In a joint statement released by Oswald ‘the Insider’ Simmons, the scheduling commissioner for the GBSSAA and the president of the GBPSSAA, there is no reason why sports should not be allowed to commence when the schools in Grand Bahama go face-toface with their classes.

On a small scale with all of the health and safety protocols in place, Simmons said the core sports like basketball, track and field, soccer, volleyball and softball could be played.

“They are playing sports all over the world at the school level. Why not the Bahamas?” he asked. “The students are eager to play after two to three years of not playing at home.

“God bless some of the coaches in track and field, basketball and the baseball camps for taking their athletes to the United States of America to play in various tournaments and events.”

From where they stand, Simmons said there are too many people who want to tell the associations what to do and what they can’t do.

“They need to let the associations do the work,” he stated. “The students, the coaches and executives

B

rent Spence was considered a “first class” internationally certified umpire, who cared just as much about the sport as he did for his family, according to the Bahamas Softball Federation (BSF) in mourning the loss of the official who was based in Grand Bahama.

The native of New Providence, who moved to Eleuthera at the age of two where he went to school and began playing softball, Spence passed away on Thursday. He was a mechanical technician at the Freeport Container Port in Grand Bahama.

The 57-year-old served as the deputy chief umpire in charge of the Northern Bahamas, which includes Abaco, Bimini and Andros.

He left to mourn his wife Rochelle, son Brent Jr and two daughters Brennae and Breah and a host of relatives and friends.

“He was a hard worker.

He died trying to get back to work,” his wife of 25 years said. “We found out in September when he fell out in the United States that he had a heart problem. From September to January, he was trying to get back to work. He went back on Tuesday and he died on Thursday.

“He was definitely a hard worker, who was committed to being a great provider.“ After being born in Nassau, Spence was sent to Gregory Town, Eleuthera at the age of two, upon the

Morant, Page 16

BSF’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, ELECTION OF OFFICERS SET FOR MARCH 26

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AFTER calling it off last year because of the spread of COVID-19, the Bahamas Softball Federation has announced that its annual general meeting and election of officers will now be rescheduled for Saturday, March 26.

The venue time has not been disclosed, but current president Ted Miller has it emphatically clear that he will not be seeking another term in office, especially considering the fact that his wife, former BSF executive Dorothy, needs special care and attention due to her complications from COVID-19.

When the AMG and elections were in motion before they were called off, veteran umpire Thomas Sears and long-time manager/ player Alphonso ‘Chicken’ Albury had indicated their desire to run.

With the new date being set, it’s understood that former versatile player Jennifer ‘Jenny’ Dotson is also planning to put her name in the hat for the top post for the governing body of the sport in the country.

“We’re going to hold our elections in person because the virtual thing won’t work for us,” Miller said.

“We’re going to have it here in Nassau, but we haven’t selected the venue yet. But we’re working on putting everything together and will inform

TED MILLER

THOMAS SEARS

the membership in short order.”

Although he has been around in the sport for quite some time, Miller was elevated to the presidency of the BSF in 2015 and he served for the past seven years, including the extra year due to the fact that they couldn’t hold the elections last year as planned.

During his tenure in office, Miller admitted that he didn’t get to do all of the things that he had set out to do before he took over from Burkett Dorsett.

“We got Exuma and Inagua playing softball again, but because of the hurricane, it kept Long Island from playing,” Miller said. “But when they wanted to come back, the pandemic came into play and that stifled the progress I wanted to make for the sport.

“I wanted to have Exuma, Long Island, Inagua and Bimini back in the federation to rebuild softball, but we fell short of that. I didn’t expect it to go that way. But

I don’t want to prolong any kind of progress that someone would like to bring to the sport.”

And with his own personal obligations to deal with, Miller said his focus of attention has to change.

Looking back, he noted that he doesn’t regret one day he spent in office and under normal circumstances, he felt he would have been able to achieve a lot more of the goals and aspirations that he had for the sport.

“I really wished that I could have gotten more done,” he stated.

Like he did prior to the postponement of the AGM, Sears said he’s still committed to running for president of the BSF. “There’s some things that I need to do and I think I’m still the person to do it,” Sears said.

Using the old adage that if you continue doing the same things you were doing, you will get the same results, Sears wants to do some things differently so

that they can get a different result moving forward.

“I do believe that the constitution has to be reviewed and amended to coincide with the times we currently find ourselves in,” Sears said. “There is a new normal in sports and so we have to change with the times.

“I’m currently reviewing my platform to see how we can unify softball because

softball needs to be unified.

There’s too much separation in softball. I think a unified softball will do wonders for the participation of our youth and fostering the support for the not so young as we concentrate on getting people back into the ballpark.”

While he had a slate of officers he was working with before the elections were called off, Sears said

he will be contacting those persons and others at the end of the month to ascertain their interest in serving on the board with him.

There’s no indication yet what are the intentions of both Albury and Dotson and anybody else who might be vying for office.

There is also no word yet on when the nominations for the elections will be closed.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, January 19, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Morikawa back in Middle East to start Race to Dubai defence

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer IT has been a half-year since Collin Morikawa won the British Open and he has gotten somewhat used to being introduced as “champion golfer of the year.”

This week is the first time the Californian has been referred to as the “reigning Race to Dubai champion” and he likes that, too.

“There’s a lot of weight that’s on (my) shoulders right now,” Morikawa said yesterday. “It’s a great weight to have and I want to come back as strong as ever.”

The first US golfer to finish a season as No. 1 on the European tour, Morikawa is back in the Middle East to start the defence of a year-long title he claimed so memorably in Dubai in November.

He’s down the United Arab Emirates’ coastline this time, making his first appearance at the Abu Dhabi Championship — an event that, to many, marks the start of the European tour.

And for Morikawa, it’s about maintaining the high standards he set in the first couple of years as a professional, even though that is a big ask for someone already with two majors and standout Ryder Cup debut on his résumé.

“It’s a very unusual 2 1/2 years of turning pro for me, obviously with COVID and a lot of other things in the world,” said Morikawa, who won the US PGA Championship in 2020.

“It’s just embracing being in the present — I

think that’s the biggest thing, is how I enjoy the time wherever I am in the world.”

He has seen quite a bit of the world in recent months, too. Just take the location of his last five events: The CJ Cup in South Korea, the Zozo Championship in Japan, the World Tour Championship in the UAE, the World Challenge in the Bahamas, and, most recently, the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Morikawa hasn’t finished lower than seventh in that period, and is ranked No. 2.

He missed the opportunity to go to No. 1 by squandering a five-shot lead heading into the final round in the Bahamas and finishing tied for fifth, an improbable turn of events for a player who has proved to be so assured under pressure.

As someone who often appears and sounds wise beyond his 24 years, it’s no surprise to hear he took that experience as a positive.

“I get over things pretty easily, and I think for me it’s motivation, right?”

Morikawa said. “How do I learn off these bad events and how do I, you know, if I miss a cut or whatever it may be, how do I not have that happen again?

“I don’t look at it as highs and lows. I think that’s for me the wrong way of how I put it in my head.

For me, it’s just you have a good week, you have a bad week, things happen and that’s what we do.”

Viktor Hovland overhauled Morikawa to win in the Bahamas and is also in the stacked field this week at Yas Links, which

COLLIN Morikawa walks off the first green after making par on January 9 during the final round of the Tournament of Champions golf event at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.

(AP Photo/Matt York) has taken over from Abu The tour is resuming detailed green-reading Dhabi Golf Club as the after its 2022 season launch books that is now in force. host of the Abu Dhabi was halted after just one of “When you have greens Championship, with its $8 the three planned events in like this and you have a million prize fund.

South Africa late last year lot of new slopes and you Also playing is Rory because of the outbreak of have to learn a golf course, McIlroy, who was last seen the omicron variant of the I’m going to have to do my on the European tour coronavirus. homework,” said Moriphotographed in a ripped Morikawa said the con- kawa. “I’m going to have to T-shirt soon after his final- ditions at Yas Links will spend a little more time out round meltdown that let in be tough because of the there preparing and learnMorikawa to win in Dubai. narrow fairways, the strong ing what to do because if I Adam Scott and defend- winds predicted for the end don’t know where a slope is ing champion Tyrrell of the week, and the nature and I somehow hit it there Hatton are other big names of the undulating greens. and I’m a little surprised, teeing off on Thursday to Especially in light of that’s going to be a probstart their 2022 seasons. the recent ban on heavily lem for the entire week.”

US OPEN CHAMPION 19-YEAR-OLD RADUCANU DEFEATS SLOANE STEPHENS MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Emma Raducanu has beaten Sloane Stephens 6-0, 2-6, 6-1 in a seesawing firstround match between US Open champions yesterday in the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

The No. 17-seeded Raducanu won the first set in 17 minutes and seemed to be in complete control of her debut main draw match at Melbourne Park.

But Stephens, the 2017 US Open winner, converted her fifth break point chance to open the second set in a 12-minute game that finished on a pair of double-faults from Raducanu, the 2021 US Open winner.

Two early service breaks gave Raducanu a 5-0 lead and she served it out to finish in 1 3/4 hours. It was her first win of 2022.

Raducanu will play No. 98-ranked Danka Kovinic in the next round.

The match brought Day 2 to a close, finishing minutes after men’s fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas wrapped up the programme on Rod Laver Arena with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 win over Mikael Ymer.

Tsitsipas, a runner-up at the French Open and a semifinalist in Australia last year, will play Sebastian Baez in the next round.

GOLF GOES TO NETFLIX AND IT HAS COMPETITION FROM TENNIS

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer HONOLULU (AP) — Formula One racing got a huge boost in interest in North America through the Netflix series “Drive to Survive.”

Netflix now is expanding to a documentary series on golf, with the PGA Tour and the organisers of the four major championships granting access for a behind-the-scenes look.

Among those who have signed up (without pay) to participate are multiple major champions like Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa. Also on the list are Max Homa and Joel Dahmen, who have revealed their personalities through various social media.

For the players, it’s a chance to increase their exposure and grow their brands. Koepka was said to have spent an hour with the producers during the Hero World Challenge.

Rick Anderson, the chief media officer at the PGA Tour, said the Netflix series will allow golf to tap into a new and diverse audience and “give fans an an authentic look into the real lives of our athletes, and

what it’s like to win — and lose — during a season on the PGA Tour.”

Golf, however, will have competition in the Netflix sports documentary space.

Tennis also will have a series with Netflix in partnership with the ATP Tour, the WTA Tour and the four Grand Slam tournaments, starting with the Australian Open this week. That is sure to include the drama of Novak Djokovic, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and was given an exemption to enter Australia, only to be deported when Australian authorities revoked his visa.

What makes the tennis series different from golf’s is that it will include men and women, who play their Grand Slam events at the same venues.

Missing from the list of PGA Tour players is Jon Rahm, the No. 1 player in the world, FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy. Also missing is Bryson DeChambeau, who said last week while promoting the Saudi International that it “wasn’t a deal that was struck that was very well for my side.”

DeChambeau said people already get a good look at his life through a YouTube channel and Instagram. He

BROOKS Koepka watches his tee shot on the second hole during the first round of the Tournament of Champions golf event at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.

(AP Photo/ Matt York)

said the Netflix golf series would be “cool to see” and have interesting stories to be told about players not as well known, like Harry Higgs.

“I don’t want to take the light away from them for their potential to grow themselves in a manner that’s unique to them, where they’re already pretty far behind,” he said.

“They have the opportunity to grow a lot more than I do in that regard.”

TIGER AND HEALTH Tiger Woods is a lead investor in a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that hopes to raise $150 million in an initial public offer to acquire a sports and health technology company.

The SPAC is Sports & Health Acquisition Corp., and it indicated in a prospectus filed with the SEC that it wants to target a company valued between $600 million and $1 billion.

A SPAC is often referred to as a “blank check” entity designed to go public without having to deal with the traditional IPO process.

The prospectus, filed last week, said it wanted to target business in the sports and health technology sectors with three verticals — fan engagement, consumer-facing health and fitness technologies, and health and well-being.

Woods is joined by former tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and her husband, David Lee, a twotime NBA All-Star when he

played for the Golden State Warriors.

Woods, a 15-time major champion with a recordtying 82 wins on the PGA Tour, badly injured his right leg and ankle in a car crash last February outside Los Angeles. He played in the PNC Championship with his 12-year-old son in December but has not said when he can return to the PGA Tour.

GOING ‘PUBLIC’ One regret PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has about the Player Impact Program is when he said at the Tour Championship that the results will not be made public.

“I didn’t handle that well when asked the question,” he said.

Monahan said once the results of the PIP are finalised — Phil Mickelson already announced on Twitter that he won the $8 million top prize — they will be known.

“We’re going to release it to the players, and therefore it will be released publicly,” he said with a smile.

The PGA Tour player of the year vote has never been publicised even to the players. For years, the tour has announced only who was on the ballot and who won, and there have been some years when the margin likely was close, such as Tiger Woods over Vijay Singh in 2003 and Patrick Cantlay over Jon Rahm last year.

Monahan said he is considering releasing vote

totals this year. If that’s the case, it would also indicate voter turnout.

“That’s OK,” Monahan said. “It might get guys to vote.”

PLAYER ADVISORY COUNCIL Two of the top four players in the world are on the 16-member Player Advisory Council, which consults with the PGA Tour board and the commissioner on various issues.

Jon Rahm (No. 1) has served before, while Patrick Cantlay (No. 4) is on the PAC for the first time.

Cantlay, Webb Simpson, Billy Horschel and Peter Malnati are now on a ballot to determine which two should be co-chairs of the PAC, and then move up to become player-directors on the PGA Tour board for a three-year term starting in 2023. The election ends February 14, the Monday after the Phoenix Open.

Asked why he agreed to be on the ballot, Cantlay said, “I hope to be playing the PGA Tour for a long time, and if I have a chance to make it better, I probably should.”

The other PAC members are Paul Casey, Austin Cook, Joel Dahmen, Harry Higgs, Russell Knox, Brooks Koepka, Justin Lower, Graeme McDowell, Maverick McNealy, Trey Mullinax and Will Zalatoris.

YOUTH IS SERVED The player who finished third in the Singapore International on the Asian Tour

was five years younger than the winner, not extraordinary except the winner, Joohyung Kim, was only 19.

Ratchanon Chantananuwat, the 14-year-old Thai amateur, made a strong run and had the lead at one point in the final round. A double bogey on the 17th hole gave him a 69 and left him two shots out of the playoff.

Chantananuwat twice made the cut on the Asian Tour when it resumed late last year, including a tie for 15th. With a third-place finish in Singapore — the teen’s first time playing outside Thailand — he becomes the youngest player to crack the top 500 in the world ranking.

The previous record belonged to Ryo Ishikawa, who won the first professional event he played at the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup on the Japan Golf Tour at 15 years, eight months. He started his OWGR record at No. 397.

Chantananuwat is at No. 463.

DIVOTS The Cazoo Classic on the European Tour will be played this year at Hillside Golf Club, the links course adjacent to Royal Birkdale.

Cameron Smith of Australia reached No. 10 in the world for the first time by winning at Kapalua.

He lasted only one week, bumped out by Hideki Matsuyama winning the Sony Open.

The Sony Open was the second time Hideki Matsuyama played a bogey-free weekend to win. He also did that at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai in 2016.

STAT OF THE WEEK The 14 times Rory McIlroy has started a new year as a pro, he has been runner-up five times and finished third five times.

He has only finished out of the top five on two occasions — a tie for 11th in 2008 and a missed cut in 2013, both in Abu Dhabi.

He starts this week in Abu Dhabi.

FINAL WORD “Every week you have a chance to do something great.” — Matt Kuchar.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 19, 2022, PAGE 13

EMMA RADUCANU, left, of Britain is congratulated by Sloane Stephens of the US after winning their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

GARBINE MUGURUZA, of Spain serves to Clara Burel of France during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships on Tuesday.

(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)

Andy Murray wins in Australia for 1st time since 2017

BY JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Five years and five long sets later, five-time Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray finally has won another match at the season-opening Grand Slam tournament.

The former No. 1-ranked Murray, playing thanks to a wild-card invitation as he continues his career comeback from hip operations and thoughts of retirement, beat 21st-seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 yesterday to reach the second round at Melbourne Park.

He lost a five-setter in the first round in 2019 — a match he, and everyone else, thought might have been his last in Australia — after missing the 2018 edition with an injury. He missed the 2020 tournament with a pelvic injury and last year’s event because of COVID-19.

“It’s been a tough three, four years. Put in a lot of work to get back here,” Murray said in his postmatch TV interview at John Cain Arena, which was formerly known as Hisense and is parochially referred to as the People’s Court.

“I’ve played on this court

many times, the atmosphere is incredible. This is the one where I thought I’d played my last.

“Amazing to be back, winning a five-set battle like that. Couldn’t ask for more.”

Murray beat Basilashvili in a three-hour three-setter last week in Sydney, where he reached the final of the tuneup tournament. This one went almost four hours.

When the 34-year-old Murray clinched the win on his third match point, he turned to the back of the court, closed his eyes and pumped his fists to celebrate.

After walking over to his courtside chair and dropping his racket, he returned to the court, punched the air and yelled “Let’s go!”

It was Murray’s 49th win in an Australian Open singles match, moving him ahead of Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl into fifth-place all-time.

According to the International Tennis Federation, it’s the most match wins at a Grand Slam tournament without winning the title, surpassing Lendl’s 48 at Wimbledon.

Regardless, match win No. 50 in Australia is the immediate priority. He next plays Taro Daniel, a qualifier from Japan.

“I think there’s things in my game I can do better,” said Murray, who lost the 2010 final to Roger Federer and four others to Novak Djokovic. “Would love to have a deep run here, if possible.

“It’s something I’ve not had in one of the Slams since I’ve come back from the injury, and it’s something that’s motivating me.”

Murray’s wasn’t the only dramatic five-setter that finished in the early evening on Day 2.

Ninth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime fended off Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 0-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Maxime Cressy overcame 20 double-faults to upset fellow American and No. 22-seeded John Isner 7-6 (2), 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-7 (4), 6-4.

Second-seeded Daniil Medvedev, one of the biggest potential beneficiaries of Djokovic’s deportation, had a much more routine first round.

Nine-time champion Djokovic was already back in Serbia — two days after losing his legal challenge to stay in Australia despite being unvaccinated against COVID-19 — when Medvedev went into Rod Laver Arena for a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (3) win over Henri Laaksonen.

Aiming to be the first man in the Open era to win

his second major title in the very next Grand Slam appearance after his first such trophy, Medvedev advanced along with No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, No. 5 Andrey Rublev, No. 11 Jannik Sinner, No. 13 Diego Schwartzman and No. 15 Roberto Bautista Agut.

That’s where things could get more tricky: He next faces the mercurial Australian Nick Kyrgios.

Nobody has dominated in Melbourne like Djokovic, who is unbeaten in the 18 combined semifinals and finals he’s reached at the Australian Open, including last year’s victory over Medvedev for the title.

But Medvedev avenged that with his breakthrough major title at the US Open, where his victory meant Djokovic’s bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam finished one win short.

“I like pressure,” Medvedev said. “Always want to do better than I did last year, (but) it’s not going to be easy.”

That’s something Leylah Fernandez has had to confront.

The 19-year-old Canadian lost 6-2, 6-4 to 133rd-ranked wild-card entry Maddison Inglis in her first Grand Slam match since her runner-up finish at the US Open.

ANDY MURRAY, of Britain, reacts after defeating Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia in their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships yesterday.

(AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) The venue and the vibe were a long way from her run to the final against Emma Raducanu at Flushing Meadows last September.

Raducanu fared better in her debut at the Australian Open. The 17th-seeded Briton beat 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-0, 2-6, 6-1 in a seesawing night match that brought the Day 2 programme to a close.

Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka appeared to be on the way out before she rallied from a set and a break down, winning nine straight games before completing a 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 128-ranked Storm Sanders.

Third-seeded Garbiñe Muguruza, meanwhile, kept a perfect streak intact when she won her first-round match at the Australian Open for the 10th straight time, beating No. 77-ranked Clara Burel 6-3, 6-4.

“Very tricky. You’re always nervous going out there on Rod Laver, which I love, and starting a Grand

Slam campaign,” Muguruza said. “Very happy the way I played and, of course, controlling the nerves.”

Muguruza, a two-time major champion who was the 2020 runner-up in Australia, next plays French veteran Alize Cornet.

Also advancing were No. 6 Anett Kontaveit, 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek, 2021 French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, two-time major winner Simona Halep and 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur, who rallied to beat Robin Anderson 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 to start her 20th — and last — Australian Open singles campaign.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova lost to Sorana Cirstea for the second straight year, this time 6-2, 6-2 in the first round.

“Yeah, I think that she likes my game, that she just is going for it,” said Kvitova, an Australian Open finalist three years ago.

“But the season is long, so I hope that it will turn around.”

Column: Boost in Women’s Open purse, are men’s majors next?

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer HONOLULU (AP) — The US Women’s Open is nearly doubling its prize money to $10 million, an announcement that was celebrated across golf and genders.

The LPGA Tour this week starts its 73rd season of running a league all on its own, and no one begrudges the players finally getting paid big money for its biggest major, or the plan for them to play at storied courses.

“My first thought was, ‘Good for them.’ It’s great to see the women’s game getting the attention it deserves,” said Webb Simpson, who won the US Open in 2012 when the purse for the men was $8 million. “I think they’re in a great spot.

Even so, it wasn’t long before Simpson and other men raised a question that has been brewing for several years and gained renewed traction with the Women’s Open deal.

What does this mean for them?

The year after Simpson won his US Open, the USGA signed a 12-year television contract with Fox Sports worth just over $1 billion. The deal began in 2015, and the prize money for the US Open that year was $10 million, only $2 million more than when Simpson won.

“My next thought was if they’re doing that, great,” Simpson said. “But I think the players have a general

understanding of how much money they make at each US Open. I would like it go way up. I’d like to see ours double. We’re seeing The Players Championship at $20 million this year. I think the tour has put a healthy pressure on the majors to increase as well.

“Here’s the deal,” he said. “We all know they have it, or the ability to do it without compromising their business model.

As a player, it makes us happy not so much that it’s more money, but I feel like they’re showing us respect.”

It’s not just the USGA, which is getting attention because of what it announced for the women.

The US Open purse last year was $12.5 million, the largest among majors. The Masters and British Open offered $11.5 million, while the PGA Championship purse was $12 million. The PGA Tour this year has seven events worth $12 million or more.

The announcement is a not-so-subtle way for the tour — especially with The Players going to $20 million — to motivate the majors to raise their stakes.

“They want to do that because it’s our flagship event, but I think what I’ve heard from the tour is it also should continue to push the majors to match us because of the calibre of tournament they should be,” Jordan Spieth said.

“The purse should represent that.”

At the heart of the conversation is how

JORDAN Spieth hits from the fairway on the fourth hole during the first round of the Tournament of Champions golf event on January 6 at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.

(AP Photo/Matt York) much money the majors responsible for the majority The USGA annual meetare making from PGA of the USGA income, they ing is February 19, which Tour players at their should know where it goes. is the same week the PGA championships.

He isn’t expecting a big Tour is playing for a $12 Income from the US increase this year from any million purse at the Genesis Open helps pay for the of the majors, no matter Invitational. other 15 events the USGA how high the prize money CEO Mike Whan would runs this year, all of which at the PGA Tour climbs. rather wait until after that lose money. It’s no different “That’s been the tour to discuss what the USGA with the PGA of Amer- policy for so long,” Sned- has in mind for the US ica or The R&A or even eker said.

Open at The Country Club Augusta National, which “Instead of addressing in Brookline, Massachuruns three amateur events the elephant in the room — setts, this year. and the Drive, Chip and four tournaments we have The majors are about Putt for kids. no control over — keep prestige. That’s where legaBrandt Snedeker first punching up The Players to cies are created. A green started beating the prize push them to keep up with jacket is more meaningful money drum in a players us. They’ve always been than greenbacks. And playmeeting at Torrey Pines lagging behind The Players. ers aren’t going to boycott after the USGA’s television I don’t know at what point a major if the money isn’t deal with Fox. He believes they have to start catching what they think it should if PGA Tour players are up.” be. “It’s not the money

issue I’m upset about. It’s an honour to be at the Masters,” Simpson said.

“But as the game has evolved, and their revenues have evolved, I think the purse should evolve, too.”

Billy Horschel, who describes himself as a big fan of the LPGA, believes every major purse should be at $20 million.

One player suggested the majors go even higher because they’re the biggest events, each with a TV contract and the biggest galleries, selling the most merchandise.

And that’s where the conversation starts. More than a response to the women are questions about how much the majors make and how much they pass along to players who drive revenue.

“I don’t think the men are going to be upset if we don’t get a massive boost,” Spieth said.

“It’s great for the game what’s happening with the U.S. Women’s Open. I think it will draw more eyeballs because of that. It’s more taking a look through all the other major championships and saying, ‘What makes sense?’”

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Ghana eliminated from African Cup in shock loss to Comoros GAROUA, Cameroon (AP) — Four-time champion Ghana was eliminated in the group stage at the African Cup of Nations yesterday with a 3-2 loss to tournament debutant Comoros in a shocker that eclipsed a series of big surprises already in Cameroon.

Two days after defending champion Algeria was beaten by Equatorial Guinea for one of the biggest upsets in African Cup history, Ghana’s collapse provided a new, possibly better contender.

In a tumultuous game, Ghana fell behind in the fourth minute, had captain Andre Ayew harshly sent off in the 25th, and was 2-0 down in the 61st.

The Ghanaians levelled with two goals in 13 minutes late in the game, only to concede again when Ahmed Mogni swept in his second in the 85th minute to give Comoros undoubtedly its biggest soccer moment ever. It sent Ghana home at the bottom of Group C with a draw and two losses and its worst performance ever at the African Cup. Ghana is a traditional power of African soccer and has made at least the semifinals in six of the last seven African Cups and was last dumped out in the group stage in 2006. Its squad of players from top clubs was pitted against a Comoros team whose twogoal hero Mogni plays in the third division in France.

Morocco won the group after a 2-2 draw with Gabon in another pulsating game. Morocco, which had already qualified, twice came from behind and snatched the point that won the group with a curling free kick from Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi with six minutes to go.

Gabon was missing its three best players with captain Pierre-Emerick

GUINEA’S JOSÉ KANTÉ, top, leaps over Zimbabwe’s Knowledge Musona yesterday to avoid a tackle during their African Cup of Nations match.

REFEREE Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda gestures to the players during the African Cup of Nations 2022 group B soccer match between Zimbabwe and Guinea at the Ah- REFEREE NGWA YUVEN, right, hands a soccer ball to Senegal’s goalkeeper Edouard madou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cam- Mendy, left, during the African Cup of Nations 2022 group B soccer match between Malawi and Senegal at the Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam, Cameroon, yesterday. eroon, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) (AP Photos/Themba Hadebe) Aubameyang and midfielder Mario Lemina sent back to their clubs for more medical tests after suffering from the aftereffects of COVID-19.

Forward Denis Bouanga was among a new group of players to test positive for the virus.

Gabon still advanced second in the group and Comoros has a chance to move on to the knockout stages as one of the best third-place teams and really write a fairytale in its first major tournament. It’ll have to wait on other results to see if that happens.

Ghana was out of sorts straight from the kickoff at Roumdé Adjia Stadium in the northern city of Garoua and its defence was a shambles when El Fardou Mohamed Ben Nabouhane waltzed through the

middle and hit a shot into the bottom corner for Comoros’ opener.

The killer blow for Ghana came with Ayew’s red card. He slid in when Comoros goalkeeper Salim Ben Boina spilled the ball and did get a toe to the ball, but also sent his boot crashing into the keeper in his follow through.

Boina went off on a stretcher and was replaced, while Ayew had to wait for referee Boubou Traore to watch the incident on VAR before the official came back on the field and plucked a red card from his pocket.

It seemed harsh and Ayew watched Ghana’s demise from the stadium seats wearing a baseball cap pulled down low.

Earlier, Senegal qualified atop Group B but only with a 0-0 draw with Malawi.

And Zimbabwe, which had already been eliminated, provided yet another surprise by upsetting Guinea 2-1 in the other Group B game.

Despite the loss, Guinea also advanced behind group winner Senegal as those two teams took the automatic qualifying places as expected but not in the manner expected.

Senegal ended up winning just one of its three group games, its opener against Zimbabwe and only after Sadio Mané buried a 97th-minute penalty. Senegal’s other two games were 0-0 draws.

Senegal might have even lost after Malawi was awarded a late penalty when Bouna Sarr was whistled for pulling back Gomezgani Chirwa on the edge of the area. Referee Blaise Yuven Ngwa of

Cameroon checked VAR and changed his mind and cancelled the penalty when it seemed Sarr had indeed impeded Chirwa.

Guinea captain Naby Keita did his best to revive his team against Zimbabwe with a left-footed rocket into the top corner for Guinea’s goal.

But Guinea lost and Keita received a yellow card from referee Salima Mukansanga, who became the first woman to take charge of an African Cup game. That yellow meant Keita is suspended for Guinea’s last 16 game.

Seven teams are through to the round of 16: Host Cameroon, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Morocco and Gabon. The last three groups and the third-place qualifiers will be decided today and Thursday.

FURTHER EPL DISRUPTION SEES BURNLEYWATFORD POSTPONED AGAIN LONDON (AP) — Burnley’s English Premier League match against Watford has been postponed for a second time, leaving the last-placed team having played five fewer games than some others.

It was a coronavirus outbreak in the Watford squad that led to the game being called off initially in December. Now it’s a shortage of players at Burnley that has seen the league agree to postpone their attempt to play yesterday.

It is the 22nd time a Premier League game has been postponed since December linked to the coronavirus, including Burnley’s meeting with Leicester on Saturday.

As well as coronavirus cases, the league again took into account Burnley’s injuries and Maxwel Cornet being with Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations in accepting that the club lacked 13 outfield players to contest the fixture.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche said earlier Monday that only 10 “recognised first-team players” had been able to take part in a practice. The squad was further depleted last week when Newcastle activated a release clause to sign striker Chris Wood.

“We’ve worked really hard to get games on when we’ve been stretched but it’s just too far below the threshold,” Dyche said.

Burnley is a point behind Newcastle but having played three games fewer, having also had a postponement due to a snowstorm in December.

Norwich, which is two points off last place, has played four games more than Burnley.

Teams like leader Manchester City have played 22 matches, while Burnley has played 17 — the fewest in the league.

The league has seen a third consecutive week of a reduction of coronavirus infections, with 33 positive cases in the week to Sunday from tests on players and staff at the 20 clubs.

SCHOOL KIDS IN LONDON TAKE AN AVID INTEREST IN AFRICAN CUP

By TOM MITCHELL Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Just about every schoolyard in England echoes with a semi-heated debate about which Premier League soccer team is better.

This month, with the African Cup of Nations underway in Cameroon, many students in London have plenty more to argue about.

Nathan Williams, though, didn’t have to search long among the 24 teams at the tournament to pick his favourite.

He’s originally from Ghana, and that’s who he is hoping will win the title in Yaounde on February 6. “It’s just the same when everyone here was supporting England last summer,” said Williams, a 17-year-old student from west London, referring to last year’s European Championship.

“Ghana’s my country and I’m going to follow them, support them and watch their games.”

The African Cup, which is always a cause of concern for

European clubs because they lose some of their best players in the middle of the season, was delayed a year because of the coronavirus. It’s now dealing with the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Only fully vaccinated fans with proof of negative virus tests will be allowed to watch games at the six host venues in five cities.

In Britain and other countries, the games are being shown live on television, making it easy for the students in London — a city renowned for its diversity and multiculturalism — to follow along with the tournament.

“The last tournaments were so hard to watch so I’d usually just check score updates,” said 18-year-old student Philmon Teklemichael, who lives in south London and is supporting Ethiopia at the tournament.

“This year, I just have to flick on my TV and it’s right there.

It’s great.”

The expanded tournament, now with 24 teams instead of

16, has led to even more people taking interest. But you don’t have to have ties to Africa to watch.

“I never really followed it before, but now I’ve found myself watching it,” said Kliz Christy Reginold, who is originally from Sri Lanka but now lives in west London.

“Several of my friends were watching it and I got interested.”

As for choosing a team, well, everyone has their own reasons.

“I’m supporting Nigeria, mostly to annoy my friend, who’s Ghanaian,” Reginold said. “You’ve got to have a team to support.”

Along with her students, religious education teacher Niamh Mcilduff is also keeping an eye on the African tournament.

She has chosen to support Nigeria because, like her home country of Ireland, they have St Patrick as a patron saint.

“I want to be involved,” Mcilduff said, “so if I’m going to chose anyone, I have to be able to relate to them.”

A GABON’s fan cheers during the African Cup of Nations 2022 group C soccer match between Gabon and Ghana at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Friday, January 14.

(AP Photo/ Themba Hadebe)

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 19, 2022, PAGE 15

Titans lean on Ryan Tannehill’s experience vs young Joe Burrow

By TERESA M WALKER AP Pro Football Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn.

(AP) — Ryan Tannehill disputes the idea he ever lost his mojo as the Tennessee Titans quarterback.

In a season where Tannehill was one of only three Titans on the offence to start every game during the regular season, the 10-year veteran led Tennessee to a 12-5 record and the AFC’s No. 1 seed. That’s a first for a quarterback who never played in the postseason until coming to Tennessee in 2019.

That makes having a third straight shot at playoff success even more fun for a quarterback who loves winning.

“I love doing that and I’m proud of our guys and the way we’ve ... fought

through a lot and continued to find ways to win,” Tannehill said. “So, it hasn’t always been perfect and pretty — it’s football, it never is. So, the fact that we can continue to find ways to win has been a lot of fun.”

Now the Titans hope to tap into Tannehill’s experience Saturday in the divisional round against his young counterpart, Joe Burrow.

The quarterback who won the national championship with LSU before becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft just snapped a 31-year playoff win drought for the Cincinnati Bengals (11-7) in his NFL postseason debut.

“I’ve played in a lot of big games throughout my career,” Burrow said yesterday. “Whether it’s this year, I mean every game

the last half of the season was a playoff game or those games playing in the college football playoffs and the national championship I think I’ve been in that situation before.”

Tannehill, the highest player drafted in 2012 still playing, will be making his fifth playoff start with Tennessee. He has postseason wins over Tom Brady and Lamar Jackson from the Titans’ run to the AFC championship game two years ago.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel has made it clear he loves Tannehill, particularly the quarterback’s toughness.

Only Burrow was sacked more (51) than Tannehill (47) during the regular season.

“His toughness is second to none,” Vrabel said. “I know that being a

professional quarterback requires a level of toughness. I am not going to say that our guys aren’t tough, but we know that Ryan has a very high ability to stand in there and not flinch.”

Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor knows that, and Tannehill, only too well.

He was a graduate assistant at Texas A&M when Tannehill played both wide receiver and quarterback, and Taylor also coached quarterbacks including Tannehill for four seasons with the Dolphins.

Taylor said Tannehill can make every throw and the former pre-med student could have played receiver in the NFL if he had wanted.

Tannehill caught 55 passes for 844 yards and five touchdowns his first season in college.

TENNESSEE Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

CINCINNATI Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

“He’s a tremendous quarterback,” Taylor said. “It’s no surprise he’s helped that team get in the position they’ve been in these last couple of years. He really executes that offence at a high level and he can make a defence pay if you let him.

They’ve got the right quarterback on board there.”

Tannehill’s experience certainly paid off for Tennessee as Titans shuffled through 91 players, an NFL record in a non-strike season. Derrick Henry, the 2020 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, missed the final nine games. Wide receivers A.J. Brown and Julio Jones both had stints on injured reserve.

So while Burrow was rewriting the Bengals’ record book with a 108.3

passer rating, 4,611 yards passing and 34 TDs, Tannehill’s best statistic might be how the Titans won their most games and also earned the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2008.

Tannehill did match his career high with seven TD runs, but he had his lowest passer rating since 2015.

He also had 14 interceptions while throwing for 3,734 yards and 21 TDs. He helped the Titans win three of their final four games to clinch that top seed.

How much will his added experience help Saturday?

“Hopefully it helps a little bit,” Tannehill said. “You have been there before.

The experience is not new.

At the end of the day, you have to go out and execute and play well.”

PACK SET FOR 49ERS REMATCH AFTER WINNING SEPTEMBER THRILLER

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer IT was the rally that sparked the Green Bay Packers toward the NFL’s best regular-season record.

The Packers had split their first two games — a blowout loss to New Orleans and a home victory over Detroit — before visiting San Francisco for a Sunday night matchup.

After getting the ball at Green Bay’s 25-yard line with 37 seconds and no timeouts left, Aaron Rodgers drove the Packers into position for Mason Crosby’s 51-yard winning field goal as time expired.

That 30-28 victory was part of a seven-game winning streak that helped the Packers win a third straight NFC North title. Nearly four months after that September 26 thriller, the Packers (13-4) and 49ers (11-7) meet again Saturday night in an NFC divisional playoff game.

“Getting that win streak and getting everything rolling, it was huge, the implications on the NFC and the standings,” Packers running back Aaron Jones said.

SCHOOLS FROM PAGE 11

of these associations are ready after two years of inactivity. Let’s get it together and let the children play the core sports again.”

Without having the full blown leagues, Simmons said the association should be given permission to stage tournaments or jamboree-style competition for the team sports. Individual sports like track and field should be easier to conduct

SPENCE

FROM PAGE 11

“After the game, Brent went home. He never went out like me and Charles Fisher. When I came home, Brent had already washed my uniform and had it pressed and ready for me to wear. That was the type of person he was.”

During one of their trips, Burrows said Spence made him ride out the whole island of Abaco to make sure his son got to take in all of the sights on the island.”

Spence, according to Burrows, was the life of the party. He didn’t indulge in anything more than a soft drink, but Burrows said Spence made a lot of funny comments to keep everybody entertained.

“I know one time I went to Freeport and he was coaching his son’s team and I told him I needed to go somewhere when he finished,” Burrows pointed out.

“He threw me his car keys and told me to drive.

When he came to Nassau, whenever he needed to go somewhere, I passed him my keys and told him to go.”

The Packers used that game as a catalyst to earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed, which included a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the conference playoffs. Saturday’s forecast in Green Bay calls for a high temperature of 21 and a low of 5 with a 50 percent chance of snow.

“Hoping for a loud crowd that has a nice enjoyable afternoon, maybe doesn’t go too hard, leaves some room for some enjoyment from like 7-10:30pm on Saturday night,” Rodgers said.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to be back at Lambeau for a playoff game in prime time.”

Quite a bit has changed since these teams last met.

San Francisco’s Elijah Mitchell missed the regular-season matchup with a shoulder injury. Deebo Samuel had a season-low 52 yards from scrimmage, including zero yards rushing on just two carries.

Samuel, an All-Pro receiver, has since become a major factor in the 49ers’ ground attack and teamed up with Mitchell for 168 yards rushing on 37 carries in a 23-17 victory at Dallas on Sunday. They could

bother a Green Bay run defence that allowed three of its last five opponents to gain at least 5 ½ yards per carry.

Two seasons ago, the 49ers rushed for 285 yards in a 37-20 NFC championship game victory over the Packers.

Raheem Mostert, who ran for 220 yards and four touchdowns that day, won’t be available Saturday after suffering a knee injury in the 49ers’ season opener. “This is a physical

because there’s very little physical contact with one another, Simmons pointed out.

“The students need to be active so they can be able to secure athletic scholarships for their future,” he summed up. “It will also keep a lot of the children out of trouble.”

During the first day of competition for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in March, 2020, the Ministry of Health and the Bahamas Government shut down all sporting activities that drew large crowds

as a result of the spread of COVID-19.

The ban is still in existence with no activities returned to schools because they have been limited to virtual classes over the past two years. While some schools have staged face-toface classes, they have not been granted permission to resume their sporting activities.

There’s no indication from the Ministry of Health as to when the schools will be given the green light to resume any type of sporting activities.

Immediate past BSF president Burkett Dorsett called Spence an “excellent umpire,” who went on to advance himself in the sport at the international level.

“He was a very nice person on the whole,” Dorsett said.

“I know he was sick and had gotten better, but I guess the good Lord had better plans for him.”

Dorsett offered his condolences on behalf of his wife and family and the World Baseball/Softball Confederation and the English Caribbean Softball Confederation.

BSF president Ted Miller said Spence was one of the top umpires in the sport and carried out his responsibility in the Northern Bahamas with dignity.

“We didn’t have any problems with him during our time in administration,” Miller said. “He was a quiet fellow, always willing to help. He helped Thomas Sears with training and we could count on him when we had our national events.”

On the field, Miller said he watched as Spence controlled the game whenever he officiated.

“He was a very nice person. Everybody could

get along with him,” Miller said. “He did a good service for the federation. I watched him as he progressed up the ranks to an international certified umpire and he did many international trips for us as an umpire.”

From her vantage point as the chief statistician.

Rozina Taylor said Spence was a very competent umpire and it was a delight to watch him perform on and off the field.

“If there’s one thing I could say about him, it’s that he was always impartial when he was calling a game,” Taylor said. “He was never seen pulling for anybody. You could rely on him whether it’s in the regular tournament, a playoff game or the championship.

“There are some umpires who would be intimidated calling a game, but he was never that. He will definitely be missed because of the way he handled himself.”

The Tribune Sports Department joins the BSF and its members, especially those in the Northern Bahamas, in expressing our condolences to Spence’s family.

May his soul rest in peace.

PACKERS kicker Mason Crosby (2) kicks the game winning field goal from the hold of Corey Bojorquez during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, on September 26, 2021. The Packers and 49ers clash on Saturday.

(AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) football team that brings in all three phases, offensively, defensively and on special teams,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And we are going to have to get our

minds right to have a physical football game.”

The changes for the 49ers aren’t restricted to the running game. Rookie cornerback Ambry Thomas was left inactive for the loss to the Packers but has since become a vital contributor. Jauan Jennings, who has emerged as a reliable third-down target late in the season, played just three offensive snaps in the regular-season loss to the Packers. “It’s just nice to see when a team’s executing better,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “When you feel like guys are practicing, playing better together as a unit. And I think we’re in a better spot now than we were at that time.”

One thing that hasn’t changed about the 49ers: They’re still capable of delivering major comebacks.

They trailed Green Bay 17-0 back in September but took a 28-27 lead in the final minute before Rodgers and Crosby came through.

The 49ers fell behind 17-0 again in the final week of the regular season but secured a playoff berth by coming back to beat the Los Angeles Rams 27-24 in overtime on the road.

The 49ers followed that by grabbing a 23-7 lead at Dallas and holding on for the victory.

A third straight road upset this weekend would send the 49ers to the NFC championship game. “If you look at them as of late, this is a confident group,” LaFleur said of the 49ers.

“You can see it on tape.

You can see it in how they’ve played. We’re going to have to play every play like it’s our last play for the duration of the game.”

PAGE 16, Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Expectations skyrocket in Grizzlies’ Ja Morant’s 3rd season

By TERESA M WALKER AP Sports Writer A SEASON that started with All-Star goals for Memphis guard Ja Morant have grown far beyond that.

The third-year point guard has emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate.

Opposing coaches use words like “special,” a “true All-Star” and “one of the NBA’s best players period” to describe Morant. “I don’t know any other way to put it,” Lakers assistant coach David Fizdale said. “The guy is a superstar. I don’t see anybody that’s had a real true answer for the guy. What he’s done against some of the best teams in the league, the best defensive coaches, the best defensive minds, has been really impressive.”

Morant has had high expectations since Memphis drafted him with the No. 2 overall selection in 2019. He helped end a playoff drought leading the Grizzlies to play-in wins over San Antonio and Golden State to earn the No. 8 seed before Memphis lost to Utah in five games to cap his second season.

Now he’s helped Memphis become one of the NBA’s best. The Grizzlies have won of 22 of 27, including 12 of the last 13, and only Phoenix has more wins than Memphis’ 31 tied with Golden State.

Memphis also has road wins over both the Suns and Warriors this season.

And Morant is a major reason why.

Morant has improved his scoring each of his first three seasons, and he is averaging a career-high 24.4 points a game along with 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He joins Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic as the only NBA players averaging at least 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists a game.

Curry, James and Jokic have a combined seven MVP awards. “I’ve been working to be in the position that I am right now,” Morant said after becoming the only NBA player this season to win consecutive pIayer of the week awards. “I’ve just got to continue to keep playing my game. Continue to be aggressive out there on the floor and do whatever it takes for us to get a win.”

THE TRIBUNE

TOWNS’ THREEPOINT PLAY HELPS WOLVES EDGE KNICKS 112-110

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

MEMPHIS Grizzlies guard Ja Morant stands on the court before an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 13 in Memphis, Tennessee.

(AP Photo/Brandon Dill) Coaches around the league are taking notice.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Morant reminds him of Tony Parker with how easily the Grizzlies guard gets to the rim no matter what a team does to try to stop him.

“He also has a little mid-range game with the floater, he’s starting to shoot the three ball well, his speed is uncommon and when you put all those things together and add unselfishness and competitiveness to that, you’ve got a hell of a player on your hands,” Popovich said.

Morant has ramped up his scoring to a new level as well.

He became the first player ever to score at least 40 points in backto-back games against a team led by James in the same season and the first player since the merger with consecutive 40-point double-doubles against the Lakers, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The Grizzlies won both.

Morant came into the NBA showing the ability to slice to the basket or drive to the paint before dropping in a floater. He keeps increasing the creativity,

including a spinning move after leaving his feet for a layup late in Monday’s 119106 win over Chicago.

He’s also third in the NBA averaging 14.8 points per game in the paint. The guard uses his speed to zoom down the court to finish fast breaks, putting him second in the league averaging 4.3 points per game.

What other coaches are saying: — Steve Kerr. The Golden State coach believes Morant’s confidence is at an all-time high.

“We caught him last year on kind of a lull, and he struggled in a few games when we were here,” Kerr said. “Even though he was great over the course of the year, I think he’s (consistent) night in and night out and that’s the sign of a true all-star, top level player, which he is.”

Morant spent the offseason working on his game, especially his 3-point shot.

He’s shooting a career-best 35.5 percent beyond the arc.

— Detroit coach Dwane Casey. He grew up in Kentucky and heard former Murray State coach Tevester Anderson rave

about Morant. “The young man can carry a game,” Casey said. “He can control a game with the basketball.

He’s smart, he’s gritty, he’s tough, so that’s what worries you the most about the Memphis Grizzlies right now.”

— Minnesota coach Chris Finch. He calls Morant fearless and an uncanny shotmaker who can make tough shots.

“At the end of the game, he can make the tough shots, draw the contact, make the right play,” Finch said. “He can get to the rim and make the shot in the paint and has great closing ability. The athletic package, the speed and the size. There’s a lot of things to admire about what he does.”

That’s why the Grizzlies turn to Morant needing a bucket at the end of games.

Morant drove through three Suns for the winning bucket December 28 in the final second on the clock and says he welcomes that pressure.

“It feels like that’s when I shine the most,” Morant said. “I like to be the one to take that shot, make or miss, just have to deal with it. I can’t help it.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns converted a go-ahead threepoint play with 29 seconds left and the Minnesota Timberwolves edged the New York Knicks 112-110 last night.

The Knicks got a strong game from Kemba Walker in his return from a nine-game absence with a sore left knee and nursed a lead for most of the fourth quarter.

But the Timberwolves rallied and then held on when Alec Burks missed a 3-pointer that would have won it for New York.

Anthony Edwards scored 21 points and Towns had 20 for the Wolves, who won for the sixth time in eight games to level their record at 22-22.

D’Angelo Russell added 17 points.

Evan Fournier scored 27 points and Julius Randle had 21 for the Knicks, who lost for the second straight day and dipped back below .500 at 22-23. Walker scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half.

The Knicks were protecting one-point leads when Walker made 3-pointers with 5:27 and 4:36 remaining, and his third straight made it 107-102 with 3:41 to play. But the Wolves didn’t allow another basket and got the ball back for the pivotal possession after an instant replay review overturned a call and ruled the ball out of bounds off the Knicks with 48 seconds left.

Towns made a strong move and score while being fouled by Randle, making it 111-109. Randle was fouled on the other end but made only one free throw, leaving Minnesota ahead by one.

Patrick Beverley made one free throw with 19 seconds left and that was it for the scoring.

LUSIA Harris Stewart shows off some of her medals and awards from her basketball career, January 10 in her home in Greenwood, Miss. Harris, who was the only woman to be drafted by an NBA team and scored the first points in women’s basketball history at the Olympics, died yesterday, her family announced. She was 66. (AP Photo)

Women’s basketball pioneer Lusia Harris dies at 66

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer LUSIA Harris, who became the only woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team and scored the first points in women’s basketball history at the Olympics, died yesterday, her family announced. She was 66.

“We are deeply saddened to share the news that our angel, matriarch, sister, mother, grandmother, Olympic medallist, The Queen of Basketball, Lusia Harris has passed away unexpectedly today in Mississippi,” the family said in a statement.

“The recent months brought Ms Harris great joy, including the news of the upcoming wedding of her youngest son and the outpouring of recognition received by a recent documentary that brought

worldwide attention to her story.”

Harris, who died in her native Mississippi, was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz in the seventh round in 1977, but didn’t try out for the team because she was pregnant at the time.

The San Francisco Warriors tried to draft Denise Long in 1969, but the NBA blocked it because she didn’t meet the criteria to be drafted — in part because of her gender.

Harris helped Delta State University win three straight national titles in the 1970s and earned a silver medal for the United States at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Harris was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 as the first Black woman to earn that honour. She was later enshrined into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. “She will be

remembered for her charity, for her achievements both on and off the court, and the light she brought to her community, the state of Mississippi, her country as the first woman ever to score a basket in the Olympics, and to women who play basketball around the world,” the statement said.

Harris averaged 25.9 points and 14.4 rebounds at Delta State, lifting the team to a 109-6 record during her time there. She’s still the school’s all-time leader in scoring (2,981 points) and rebounding (1,662).

Harris was named to the US women’s team in 1975.

The following year, women’s basketball made its Olympic debut and Harris scored the first points in the first game of the tournament. She was the subject of a 2021 short film titled “The Queen of Basketball” that detailed her career.