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Volume: 121 No.48, January 31, 2024

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TOO EASY TO BEAT THE BAIL MONITORS Company overseeing ankle bracelets under review, says Davis

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander said people on bail for serious crimes have been able to remove their ankle bracelets easily with just a paper clip –– a concerning fact for authorities angered about people on bail committing serious crimes.

During a press conference yesterday, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the work of the company electronically monitoring the people on bail is now under review because of reports that the system is failing.

Authorities note that people on bail for serious crimes comprise a large SEE PAGE THREE

BOY SAYS UNARMED DAD WAS SHOT IN THE BACK BY POLICE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net AN 11-year-old boy who saw police kill his father testified during an inquest in the Coroner’s Court yesterday.

The boy claimed his father was unarmed and had his hands in the air when he was shot in the

back.

Police killed Tony Jamal “Foolish” Penn Smith, Valentino “T-Boy” Pratt and Trevor “Coopz” Cooper on Commonwealth Avenue in the early morning of May 17, 2019.

Tony Smith, Jr, Smith’s son, was six at the time of the shooting.

SEE PAGE FIVE

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis sits in a police vehicle as crime fighting technologies are demonstrated after a press conference at Police Headquarters.

Photo: Dante Carrer

Prodigal Sons told they must pay LICENSEES OF back $30,000 seed money by March GBPA ALARMED by mitchell’s COMMENTARY

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Prodigal Sons has until March 31 to repay the government $30k in seed money after failing to participate in the recent Boxing Day and New Year’s

Day parades, the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture said in a statement yesterday.

The ministry said an investigation has been launched into all Junkanoo groups who received seed funding but did not participate in the parades.

The ministry said the group would not get future funding from the government if it failed to repay the funds.

It said conditions of funding are outlined in agreements signed by SEE PAGE FOUR

personal residence.

“While he was not advised of the reason for the police visit, police officers asked him to get into their vehicle to ‘answer a few questions’,” the FNM said in a statement. “The officers asked if he was recording them, to which he replied that he was not, and he then asked if the officers

THE Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) yesterday praised the Prime Minister for soothing the fears of multiple licensees and investors “alarmed by recent unsettling commentary” from Fred Mitchell.

Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority, in a statement responding to Tribune Business inquiries, did not name the “members of the Davis administration” who it was referring to but there can be little doubt it was the minister of foreign affairs since he has been its most vociferous public critic.

SEE PAGE FIVE

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

FNM ACCUSE POLICE OF COLLUDING WITH PLP

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Free National Movement is accusing the police of colluding with operatives of the Progressive Liberal Party as it investigates last year’s physical attack on FNM vice chairman Richard Johnson outside the party’s headquarters in November.

FNM LEADER MICHAEL PINTARD The FNM said officers visited the workplace of a senior FNM party officer on Monday and later his

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

PAGE 2, Wednesday, January 31, 2024

THE TRIBUNE

PM views crime fighting technologies at police HQ

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis along with several Cabinet Ministers and members of the RBPF reviewed issues and technologies related to crime fighting during a press conference at Police Headquarters. For stories see PAGE THREE. Photos: Dante Carrer

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 31, 2024, PAGE 3

Too easy to beat the bail monitors

from page one

number of perpetrators and victims of violent crimes.

Some of them have been found without their ankle bracelets. Others have had their batteries uncharged.

Mr Davis told reporters during a press conference yesterday: “The discussion that was had with the commissioner of police was that we need to review the arrangements we have with that company and to determine whether or not they are fit for the purpose going forward.”

“It is unacceptable that we rely on the monitoring bracelets, which are embraced for a specific purpose, and that is to monitor persons on bail to ensure that they do not commit further offences, to be able to track them, to ensure that they will be around for their trial.

“What we are hearing is that that is failing, and failure is not an option in our fight against crime. It is a complex issue, and we need to have tools that are effective to enable us to dismantle the issues that impact crime.”

The ankle monitoring bracelet provides the location of people, some of whom have curfew requirements to meet.

Earlier this month, Mr Munroe said Commissioner Fernander would meet leaders of the company responsible for the monitoring system, Metro Security Solutions, to discuss their issues.

Yesterday, Commissioner Fernander said the company is now adjusting the bracelet because police

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave; Davis an Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander. found that people being electronically monitored can remove their devices with a paper clip.

“One of the individuals that we arrested, we had him do a demo on how he got his monitoring device off, and we recorded it, and I had a meeting now

with the company so that they could view that device now to strengthen that to ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

“But it would be amazing if you were to see how easily the individual was able to take that off with

a paper clip, just with a paper clip!”

Carlos Reid, a consultant in the Ministry of National Security, told The Tribune last year that Metro Security Solutions is doing an ineffective job monitoring people on bail.

The company’s

president, Orion Bethel, countered that police don’t always respond to notifications about people breaking bail conditions.

Mr Munroe defended the company in the past, saying he hadn’t received complaints from the Royal Bahamas Police Force

Photo: Dante Carrer about defects with the monitoring system. He said the lack of official complaints meant police were satisfied with the service.

He noted that if breaches were found with Metro Security Solutions, the contract could be terminated.

Lawyers criticism of BaiL act amendment ‘misdirected’ and ‘misconceived’, says Pm

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net AFTER defence lawyers critiqued the Davis administration’s planned amendments to the Bail Act, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said some of their criticism was “misdirected” and “misconceived”.

“I have seen the chatter and heard some of the

comments that the proposed amendments are infringing on the discretion of the court. I don’t share that view,” he said during a police press conference yesterday.

Mr Davis tabled an amendment in the House of Assembly last week that would ensure bail is automatically revoked for people who violate their bail conditions.

Magistrates can

currently punish people who violate their bail conditions by fining them, as they often do, even when those people are accused of serious crimes such as murder.

The amendment would remove this option and force magistrates to remand the accused.

Some defence laws said the amendment would merely delay bail grants because it won’t stop

davis caLLs on Businesses to join Programme using cctvs with faciaL recognition technoLogy

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis wants businesses to call the Ministry of National Security and join a programme involving use of facial recognition CCTVs. Mr Davis said police have been testing and evaluating the technology for two years, calling it an extraordinary success.

“This technology can identify faces and licence plate numbers and detect guns,” he said.

“Many businesses, large and small, have agreed to be part of this major CCTV expansion. If you aren’t onboarded already, I urge you to call the national security. Every camera we add will make a difference in our ability to prevent and

detect crime and apprehend criminals.”

Facial technology CCTV use has been controversial.

In 2019, the National Institute of Standards and Technology reported that facial recognition CCTV systems falsely identified African-American and Asian faces 10 to 100 times more than Caucasian faces, according to the New York Times.

As part of that study, researchers accessed more than 18 million photos of about 8.5 million people from mug shots, visa applications and border-crossing databases in the United States.

Earlier this month, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe acknowledged that the technology might wrongly identify someone as a criminal, but said: “Being arrested on

suspicion and being held up to 48 hours is part of the price we pay for living in a free, democratic, orderly society”.

Mr Davis’ call for businesses to join the programme mirrors the police’s call in November for people and businesses with security cameras to join a programme letting police monitor their video feeds to fight crime.

FUSUS would reportedly integrate various policing tools such as CCTV, ShotSpotter, bodyworn cameras, electronic monitoring, and drones into a real-time platform.

The technology is used in some American cities and is being eyed in other locations worldwide, though critics are concerned about how it could lead states with high surveillance rates.

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accused people from applying to the Supreme Court, where the judges can use their discretion to release them.

Mr Davis said the amendment was considered because of concerns about the impact of giving people with serious crimes bail, adding that statistics over the past two years prove bail to be a “death sentence” for those accused of serious

offences.

He said he would further address the matter during his contribution to the House of Assembly today.

“It is not about fettering the discretion of the court,” he said, “it’s about a person on bail being placed on bail on conditions, that person breaching their bail, and the consequence of that breach is that the bail

would be revoked.”

“Once the bail is revoked, they are remanded to the prison, which does not preclude them from applying again for bail, when the court’s discretion would be engaged, not before.”

The debate about bail always intensifies during high murder periods such as the current one; 19 people have been murdered thus far.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Gibson’s lawyer cross examines Cargill-Sherman focusing on her claim of being terminated

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net TESTIMONY continued in the criminal trial of Long Island MP Adrian Gibson and his co-accused yesterday, with a defence attorney attacking a witness’ claim that she was “terminated” from a senior position within the Water & Sewerage Corporation.

Ian Cargill questioned Mynez Cargill-Sherman, a senior manager at the WSC, under cross-examination about her understanding of the word “termination”.

She replied that it meant to end or to “be relieved of something”.

This comes after she testified that Elwood Donaldson, the corporation’s former general manager, “terminated” her as head of WSC’s health and safety department.

When asked how long she had been employed at WSC, Mrs Cargill-Sherman said she began in 1989 as a clerk and moved up the ranks.

Mr Cargill, who represents Mr Donaldson, asked the witness if she held different job titles since the start of her employment at the company up to 2019.

She replied: “Yes, sir.”

Mr Cargill said: “You accept and you agree that you were elevated a number of times and that during your elevation, your job description changed, your duties would change.

In other words, they would add some duties and take some duties from you.”

The witness agreed, telling the court she served in several departments during her tenure at the corporation.

Mr Cargill said: “Now, based on your description prior to 2019, you would’ve been terminated on several occasions.”

Mrs Cargill-Sherman denied this, insisting she was transferred.

Mr Cargill asked her “to this court what is the difference between your movement in the corporation prior to 2019 compared to after 2019 that leads you to believe you were terminated by Mr Donaldson”.

She said she was asked to head the health and safety department, but it was taken away from her without explanation.

Mr Cargill then noted the witness’ earlier testimony, when she agreed that some duties were added and

THE TRIBUNE

PRODIGAL SONS TOLD THEY MUST PAY BACK $30,000 SEED MONEY from page one Junknaoo groups.

Youth, Sports & Culture Minister Mario Bowleg said earlier this month that the Prodigal Sons blamed “unforeseen circumstances” for dropping out of the parades, an explanation he found inadequate.

He said he planned to meet with the group to get more information.

“The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture supports the social programme that the Prodigal Sons Junkanoo group conducts in the community,” his ministry said.

“We are grateful that they provide a safe and creative space for both the young and old to become involved and participate in Junkanoo, one of the foremost

cultural expressions of The Bahamas.”

“The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, who stands in proxy for the government and people of The Bahamas, must ensure that all recipients of assets and or funding must dispense of the same in a manner befitting its intended purpose. In this instance, seed funding was disbursed to all Junkanoo groups, and it was expected that the funds would be used to help prepare groups to participate during the Boxing Day and New Year’s Junkanoo Parades.”

Representatives of the Prodigal Sons group have been unreachable by The Tribune since it was revealed that the group would not participate in the Boxing Day parade.

Pia Glover-Rolle says a ‘peacefull meeting’ will take place with Labour, the hotel union and Atlantis

LABOUR and Public Services Minister Pia Glover-Rolle.

ADRIAN Gibson on his way to court last week. taken away from her during her movement within the corporation.

When asked if she was demoted, the witness replied: “You could call it demoted.”

But Mr Cargill pushed back, asking: “So your salary decreased then?”

She said only her responsibility allowance decreased.

The lawyer then contended that she was the one who asked to be relieved.

She said she “cried out for help,” adding: “I was being abused and used.

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That’s different from asking to be relieved.”

Mr Cargill responded: “The same people who you say were abusing you promoted you and gave you good review.”

Mr Gibson, the sitting MP for Long Island, is facing corruption charges concerning his tenure as WSC executive chairman under the Minnis administration.

The charges stem from Mr Gibson’s alleged failure to declare his interest in contracts awarded by the WSC. The FNM politician is

charged with Mr Donaldson, Jr, Rashae Gibson, his cousin, Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson and Jerome Missick.

Damian Gomez, KC, Murrio Ducille, KC, Bryan Bastian, Ryan Eve, Raphael Moxey, Christina Galanos, Ian Cargill and Donald Saunders represent the defendants.

Meanwhile, the Crown’s prosecutors are acting Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean and Rashied Edgecombe.

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net TOP executives of the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) and Atlantis Resort were scheduled to meet yesterday to try to resolve wage increase issues for employees who fall under the tipping category.

Labour and Public Services Minister Pia Glover-Rolle told reporters yesterday that a “peaceful meeting” would be held with Labour director Howard Thompson, BHCAWU president Darrin Woods, and a resort official.

Last week, the BHCAWU protested at the Sidney Poitier Bridge to agitate for members who receive tips.

Mr Woods said workers were tired of fighting for a pay increase, declaring: “Enough is enough.”

Mrs Glover-Rolle said the Department of Labour was informed that the union would meet at the bridge.

“We generally know what’s happening in the country, as in regard to labour relations,” she said on the side-line of the Public Service’s ‘Reimagination takes Form’ conclave at the National Training Agency.

“But the unions have a right to protest. Again, President Woods says it was not a protest. It was a meeting of his members at the foot of the bridge that morning and that’s what they did.”

Mrs Glover–Role said Labour director Howard Thompson met with Mr Woods on the morning of the demonstration at the bridge, adding it was decided Mr Thompson would conduct a lunch meeting yesterday with the hotel union president and an Atlantis senior executive.

Mr Thompson, in a statement, said he hopes the meeting will help to bring down the temperature and allow reasonable heads to prevail.

The BHCAWU has reportedly agreed to “stand down” until negotiations are completed.

Meanwhile, Mrs GloverRolle said she also remains optimistic that an amicable agreement can be made between BHCAWU and Atlantis.

She continued: “I understand that negotiations have gone well except for one clause in the negotiations that is the matter of contention. So, I think they’ve been actually negotiating in good faith. But there’s one clause that is a matter of the tip category that needs to be ameliorated. So I’m hopeful that Atlantis and the BHCAWU will make resolution on that.”

Last week, Russell Miller, president of The Bahamas Hotel and Restaurant Employers Association, said he was surprised by the BHCAWU’s protest. He said the association and the union had already agreed to all of the financial conditions in the contract.

“Given that we were in the final stages of completing these negotiations with the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union “BHCAWU,” we are surprised and disappointed by the statements made by BHCAWU’s president, Darrin Woods,” Mr Russell said in a statement.

“Both sides had already agreed to all financial and non-financial terms and conditions in the new agreement, and we were in the process of vetting and binding documents for signature.”

“This unexpected, eleventh-hour impasse is incredibly unfair to our bargaining unit team members, who have worked without an agreement since 2013 due to the union’s failure to put a new contract forward. We have continued to honour and operate under the terms of the expired agreement without fail. We will not allow today to derail our commitment to finalising a new agreement as soon as possible,” Mr Russell said.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 31, 2024, PAGE 5

FNM accuse police of colluding with PLP from page one were recording him, which they confirmed that they were. The FNM officer then requested that they cease recording him, and he then attended a police station with the officers and gave a statement at their request or suggestion about the alleged attack upon Mr Richard Johnson at FNM headquarters – the matter in which they were interested.”

The FNM said before the man entered the police car, “social media operatives” associated with the PLP and others publicly said he “was currently in police custody”, suggesting they had insight into police operations or intentions. They also published the man’s image.

“Affixed to these widely circulated notes, was the emblem (crest) of the RBPF,” the FNM said.

“The preemptive timing of the posting of these notes makes it obvious that information of the movement and activity of RBPF officers had to have been shared with political operatives. At no time has the RBPF disassociated itself from these notes.

“We do not consider this a coincidence, as it represents yet another example of a coordinated attempt at character assassination and political collusion between operatives of the PLP, other interested parties and a small group of officers of the RBPF. Yesterday’s experience is like recent experiences of other FNM officers. There is

now a clearly established pattern, which is deeply disturbing.

The FNM has offered its continued cooperation to the police in their investigation into the alleged attack upon Mr Richard Johnson. The matter referred to herein is not consistent with, nor appropriate to the conduct of a police force in our democracy.

“It is a fundamental belief of the FNM that we are policed by consent, and the continued legitimacy of the RBPF is dependent on public confidence in its independence, transparency, and accountability. We are concerned that through their rank and uninhibited political interference and dog whistle politics, the PLP are not only undermining the great

offices of the state through corruption and incompetence but also the great institutions of this country like the RBPF.” Mr Johnson was involved in a physical altercation outside the FNM’s headquarters on November 30. He publicly linked the attack to FNM leaders without evidence, prompting the leaders to file a defamation complaint with the police.

Mr Johnson sued the FNM in 2022 after executives barred him from council meetings.

In December, Supreme Court Justice Deborah Fraser banned Mr Johnson from attending the party’s meetings or visiting its headquarters or precincts until any further court order.

FNM LEADER MICHAEL PINTARD

BOY SAYS UNARMED DAD WAS SHOT IN THE BACK BY POLICE from page one He told the court he was in the bedroom with his mother, father and nine-year-old brother just before police arrived.

He said his mother woke up his father when a white van entered the yard.

Soon after, police stormed into the mansion, and the family heard gunfire downstairs.

He said Smith, Sr, put his head through the cracked upstairs bedroom door while holding Smith Jr’s brother as two officers came up the stairs.

He said Smith, Sr, dropped the boy when officers pointed weapons at him. He said his father held his hands up and said: “Please don’t shoot. Children are inside”.

He said he was standing by the bed when an officer ran inside the room and shot his father from behind. The officer reportedly shot him again as he fell to his knees and then fell flat in the bedroom doorway. The child claims his father was shot two to three times and that both officers had AR-15s.

He said his father was unarmed.

He said until that night, he had never seen a real gun.

He said the officer who remained near the stairs during the shooting pushed his brother down several steps of stairs after he left the room.

Smith, Jr, described the officer who shot his father as tall, slim and dark-skinned.

He said the officer in the bedroom gestured with his hands for Smith, Jr, to go downstairs. He and the other residents were taken outside and escorted to the Fox Hill police station.

Smith, Jr, told K Melvin Munroe, the attorney who represented the 15 officers who are the subject of the inquest, that he only knew one of the other dead men as “T-boy”. He explained

that that was the name people called him while he was living in the home.

He told the attorney that he recognized the guns used in the shooting from the Fortnite video game and that he knew the difference between a real gun and a virtual one.

The child couldn’t tell Ryzard Humes, an attorney for the deceased’s estate, if his father had a car. He said all he could remember was a silver and black car inside the mansion’s gate.

While being questioned

by Romona Farquharson Seymour, another attorney for the estates, Smith Jr said he never heard the police identify themselves that night. In addition to saying that officers never asked his father to put his brother down, he claims his father was silent as authorities shot him.

Inspector Jake Petty, a firearm inspector at the police armoury, testified that nine of the officers in the inquest were qualified to handle firearms.

He explained that officers are trained to assess situations to understand if they should arrest or draw firearms to subdue suspects. He also said it is up to the officers’ discretion whether to discharge their weapons and that they should stop firing if a threat is incapacitated or killed.

The officer told Mr Humes that he did not document the guns the officers had at the time of the shooting and that he couldn’t say who was responsible for doing so.

He said the rules of engagement change for armed and unarmed suspects because an armed suspect is more dangerous. Asked if officers shoot near civilians, Inspector Petty said officers are taught to look at their surroundings before discharging their weapons.

Inspector Petty told Mrs Farquharson Seymour that the 5.56 Colt M4 Rifle,

A BODY being removed from the Scene of a police involved shooting in Blair Estates on May 17, 2019 which some of these officDefense Force Chief have weapon proficiency. asked if their training was ers were qualified to carry, Petty Officer Terrance Chief Petty Officer Smith on par with the RBPF, the looks similar to an AR-15 Smith said the two said his marines are trained marine said no. He said as they are in the same gun Defence Force officers in to asses threat levels to because the Defence Force family. this inquest were part of ascertain the level of force is military personnel, He agreed with her that his Commando Squadron. needed to subdue threats. they train differently to officers should not fire on He said these officers When acting Coroner accommodate their unique an unarmed suspect. passed basic training and Kara Turnquest-Deveaux situations.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, January 31, 2024

THE TRIBUNE

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Police must stay away from bias THERE are serious matters to be considered after the FNM complained of collusion between PLP operatives and the police.

The accusation arises out of the ongoing investigation over the alleged attack on the party’s vice-chairman, Richard Johnson, in November.

To be clear, that investigation is thoroughly warranted. Political nonsense around it is not.

On Monday, police officers reportedly visited the workplace of a senior FNM and later his home – which, if that is part of the investigation, it leads where it leads. Fair enough.

He was asked to answer a few questions, and after some discussion about whether each was recording the other, he agreed to attend a police station to give a statement, says the FNM. Officers at his home had asked him to get into a police car.

However, what has raised some concern is that even before he entered the police car, apparently the word was running around on social media that the man was in police custody.

How did they know that? Was it announced beforehand to certain parties that police were going to speak to this man? Who leaked it to be spread around on social media?

The chief concern here is that it reflects badly on the independence and integrity of the police force.

How can there be faith in the investigation if tittle tattle is being spread around while the investigation is ongoing? How does that make anyone believe that the investigation is fair and unbiased?

It also strikes to the core of faith in the training of officers to do the right thing.

As an officer, first and foremost should be the job in front of you, no more, no less.

This is not the first time there have been concerns over whether officers have been acting appropriately in the course of their duties.

For example, after a murder in April

of last year, gruesome crime scene photos were leaked and shared on social media of a mother and daughter killed in the incident.

Police vowed to investigate, but months later there was still no update of whose phone may have taken and shared such pictures. Relatives believed they could only have come from the police.

Perhaps this is why Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander needs so many deputies, with us now having 14 deputy commissioners in what appears to be a top-heavy force.

Commissioner Fernander pointed to a lack of leadership in the force, noting a viral video of two young officers arguing in a police station and noting a “lack of supervision”.

Now we have 14 commissioners, perhaps one of those could lend a supervisory overview to see how it is that word went around of officers calling in on an officer of the FNM before the police car door even closed.

We need to have full faith in our police force that every investigation is approached in an even-handed fashion.

There should be no one chasing clout to spread the word on a noteworthy investigation or sharing gruesome pictures from a crime scene. That is individuals scoring points, not devoting themselves to the task at hand.

There seemed to be no outcome in the investigation of who shared the crime scene pictures – will an investigation of who leaked news of this latest incident be approached with more vigour?

As it stands, we have yet to hear if there will be an investigation at all.

There should be.

Police investigating political opponents of the incumbent government is a trademark of dictatorships. We are not that, and such behaviour should be stamped out, lest it be encouraged.

MAYA GABEIRA, from Brazil, rides a wave during the Nazare Big Wave Challenge surfing tournament at Praia do Norte, or North Beach, in Nazare, Portugal, on Monday, January 22.

Photo: Armando Franca/AP

Disturbing trend in democracy EDITOR, The Tribune.

WE ARE witnessing a disturbing trend in our Bahamian democracy. The recent video clip from the House of Assembly has left many of us feeling uneasy, and rightfully so. Prime Minister Davis’ attempt to discredit the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Michael Pintard, through character assassination and unfounded accusations raises serious concerns about the direction of our nation.

The clip reveals a worrying pattern of weaponization.

The Prime Minister appears to be using the Royal Bahamas Police Force, an institution vital to our safety and security, as a tool for political gain. This transformation of the police into a political instrument erodes public trust and undermines the very foundation of our democracy.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister’s accusations against Mr Michael Pintard lack any concrete evidence and, in my opinion, were a blatant misrepresentation of the facts as he knew them, especially coming from a learned King’s Counsel. PM Philip Davis in responding to the rebuttal

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net

by Leader of HMOO Michael Pintard showed that PM Philip Davis was aware of his actions, and appeared to be deliberately engaged in twisting of facts to elicit a particular perception of Michael Pintard in the public’s eye.

A careful examination of Mr Pintard’s press conference fails to reveal any direct accusation of lying against the Commissioner of Police. This attempt at deflection by PM Philip Davis reeks of desperation, a smokescreen to divert attention from the critical issues facing our nation.

The true concerns of Bahamians lie elsewhere.

We are grappling with a pervasive sense of insecurity as violent crime continues to plague our communities. The Prime Minister’s administration has failed to effectively address this crisis, leaving many of us feeling vulnerable and disillusioned.

This is not the time for political squabbles and character attacks. This is the time for leadership, for solutions. We deserve a government that prioritizes

our safety and well-being, not one that engages in divisive tactics for personal gain.

We call upon Prime Minister Davis to: • Cease the weaponization of the Police Force: This institution must remain neutral and serve the public, not political agendas.

• Focus on addressing the real issues plaguing our nation: Crime, poverty, and economic hardship demand immediate and effective action.

• Engage in respectful and constructive dialogue with the opposition: This is not a zero-sum game; collaboration is essential for the betterment of our country.

We, the people, deserve better. We deserve a government that acts with integrity, accountability, transparency, and a genuine commitment to the common good. Let us raise our voices, demand integrity, accountability, and transparency, and work together to build a brighter future for the Bahamas.

With hope and determination.

C ALLEN JOHNSON Nassau, January 30, 2024.

Representative democracy EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHEN we say that we have a representative democracy here in The Bahamas, are we simply flamming again, like that tale about the Governor General being the Head Of State? We all know that

the Prime Minister runs things even the selection (and de facto appointment) of the Governor General. This brings to mind that saying: The wrongest thing one could ever do is know a lie and think it true!

Compared to the apparent

insoluble traffic problem conjesting our streets in New Providence during “rush hours” daily, our violent crime epidemic can be said to be clogging the arteries of our minds and sense of wellbeing. That feeling of comfort and safety which should accompany

our representative democracy is absolutely absent these days. In reality, it would appear that that relatively small minority of criminal hooligans hold sway over the majority of decent, law-abiding Bahamians today.

So, the problem is clear. What then is the solution?

Firstly, let’s just agree that there could be no one perfect solution to our (violent) crime problem here in The Bahamas today. Much like a good pot of peas ‘n rice, bowl of conch salad, some boil fish and potato bread, various ingredients have to come together in just the right way. So too, all hands on deck (except, of course, the criminals) would be much more effective in navigating our ship of state around those wide and treacherous shoals of wanton criminality we now face.

Many of us look to the government to hand down solutions for everything. True, we hire our representatives to represent us in this representative democracy.

They ought to earn their keep in coming up with legislation, policies and programmes to improve our way of life, promote prosperity, and maintain good law and order for all Bahamians. So, how has that been working in these 57 years of Majority Rule, or essentially 51 years of Independence? We may continue for another 49 years or on and on ad infinitum, to do the same things and look for different outcomes. Or, we can change our mindsets, as well as our directions.

Is it so hard to see that the wrongest thing one could ever do is know a lie and think it true?

Based upon the history of referendum in our life time, should we not have learnt a good lesson by now? Since good guidance doesn’t appear to be coming from the top (representatives) down to the people (represented), how about sending some directives to them? Petitions are at least worth a try. How about each community (whether block association or constituency) selecting a liaison to gather the stance of that demographic population on various issues of importance?

Political partisanism should be strictly prohibited. Paper or electronic polling should be collated, and then forwarded to the respective MPs. Once the voice of the people has been sounded, the representatives in this representative democracy must present those positions to government for consideration and/or action.

Today, crime might be the pressing issue. However, any and everything which affects the well-being of Bahamians ought to be made to go through that seive of responsible representative governance; from the people to the politicians/administrators of government. A system of petitions, like anything else, could be corrupted and steered off course from its fundamental intent. However, it’s being offered here as but one bullet in the chamber of our gun to fight the crimes we face today.

Those hoodlums have their (metal) bullets. Should we not have our (mental) bullets, too?

MB New Providence January 23, 2024

Budding teen entrepreneur opens new takeaway restaurant THE TRIBUNE

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net CHRISTOPHER Edouard helped fund his way through school by working as a grocery store packing boy.

Now, the 19-year-old is opening a restaurant: “Chris – Takeaway. “ He told The Tribune that growing up, his parents did their best to support him with the little money they had.

His father worked as a janitor at Atlantis, and his mother was deported back to Haiti when he was young. He said he started working as a packing boy at Super Value in grade four. He used the tips he made from his shifts to help buy his school uniform, lunch money, and other necessities.

“It was for me to get it on my own because my parents didn’t have much,” he said. “I didn’t want to ask them a lot. I rather when I need things to get it myself and to help and support team.”

Mr Edouard, who attended RM Bailey High School, said he was a packing boy until grade

Wednesday, January 31, 2024, PAGE 7

10. While in school, he became passionate about technology. He took a leap of faith by quitting his packing job and starting his own mobile phone repair business called “Chris Tech”.

He said he learned how to fix phones by watching YouTube videos. The phone business later expanded into repairing laptops and tablets and selling technology accessories.

Mr Edouard, who also sells clothing as another source of income, noted he used his multiple sources of income to invest in starting his takeaway restaurant.

“My goal was to be a professional soccer player. I think it’s still my goal because I love the sport. But for me to make it I have to go to college, and I don’t think my parents could afford college.

So, I had to find another dream, which was to be a multiple business owner,” he added.

Asked what inspired him to start his restaurant, Mr Edouard said he worked a summer at Sammy’s Chicken as a cleaner and became motivated at

CHIRTOPHER Edouard’s first business was mobile phone repair company called “Chris Tech”.

Community group WeHEAL forms to address issue of deadly violence in the country

DWIGHT Ferguson’s 2023 multi-media installation at Elizabeth Estates Park showing Tar Pillows below the Sculpture entitled “Circle of Hope 2” A COMMUNITY group has been formed to address the issue of deadly violence in the country.

WeHeal (WH) said with the murder total standing at 19 for the month that “it is time for we, the people, to take a stand and shed light on the dysfunctional aspects of our society that are allowing this carnage to proliferate”.

The group said we should start a conversation about how and why hate is being fuelled and to suggest and examine solutions to defuse it.

The group has permission from Dr Ian Strachan to use his play “Gun Boys Rhapsody”, to start the discussion and during February, free screenings of the play will take place at

various community venues followed by “honest indepth discussions”.

WH is composed of artists, pastors, psychologists, educators, anthropologist, community leaders and cultural activists. Members include Dr Colin Archer, Conchalay Conchalar, Cristin Carole, Dwight Ferguson, Dr Ian Strachan, Michael Brooks, Nicolette Bethel, Pam Burnside, Rosemary Hanna, Shelagh Farrington, Terneille ‘TADA’ Burrows.

The group said: “We cannot progress if we do not work together. Rather than remain divided, we must no longer disrespect our motto of ‘Forward, Upward, Onward, Together’. Instead, we must come together in community and as a people.”

how well the restaurant was doing.

“I want to own multiple businesses. I don’t want to do just one business because everything has a season. Some seasons, things might be slow, so you will have to go to the other business. So I opened up a takeaway to move a step ahead.”

Mr Edouard said he had some challenges starting the restaurant because a lot of people didn’t want to rent their buildings to him because he’s only 19. He noted that it took some time to find his current location but he’s grateful that the owner believed in his dream.

Chris – Takeaway, located on Fire Trail Road, officially opened on Monday.

Mr Edouard said the first day was “very difficult”, but he wouldn’t get discouraged.

He added that there were challenges to meeting the demand of the large crowd that came to support and having enough food supply. He said that currently, he has a staff of four but eventually wants to hire more people.

CHRISTOPHER Edouard stands at the door of his newly opened takeaway - Chris’s Takeaway on Fire Trail Road.

What is safety and how do we build it?

PAGE 8, Wednesday, January 31, 2024

THE news over the past few weeks has, given the number of murders record just in the first month of 2024, lingered on the issue of safety. Several politicians have expressed concern about the level of crime — with some even calling for capital punishment as if that is a solution — while the prime minister has promised more intrusive policing, the US Embassy has issued its travel advisory, and Chief Superintendent reportedly said The Bahamas is still a safe place.

What is safety? It is defined in different ways by different people, usually discussed and assessed in relative terms. What is considered safe in New Providence is much different, for example, from Cat Island. Someone living in New Providence may consider an area safe because they feel confident that they can get out of their vehicle, lock it, unlock the door to their home, enter, lock it, and go to sleep with ease. Someone living in a Family Island, like Cat Island, may consider an area unsafe because they have to concern themselves with locks and be more cautious when moving about outside of daylight hours.

Being on some of the Family Islands is like entering different worlds.

It is almost automatic to slow down—walking, driving, grocery shopping, conversations, and thoughts — as daily activities seem to be less of a race. People often attribute the marked difference between New Providence and Grand Bahama and the Family Islands to the population density and the degree to which life is and can be simple in ways that are almost unimaginable in New Providence.

Population alone, though, cannot be the full story. The sense of community in the Family Islands is an outstanding feature, and it does not exist in New Providence. In fact, it seems that New Providence has given up on that kind of community as people find themselves able to buy

THE TRIBUNE

By Alicia Wallace

The sense of community in the Family Islands is an outstanding feature, and it does not exist in New Providence.

safety for themselves.

We have leaned heavily into neoliberalism, ignoring problems as long as we can prevent ourselves from experiencing them.

A drive around New Providence is evidence of the number of people who, when they can afford it, choose to buy safety within the walls of gated communities. Vacant land and houses within them are exorbitantly priced, and the maintenance fees are like another mortgage payment. Security at the entrance, whether controlled by technology or human beings, is a major selling point.

Shared amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts, and clubhouses are another big draw. Once limited to the wealthy and “deep west” where no one wants to drive unless without good reason, these gated communities started popping up in the east two decades ago. Now they

can be found in other parts of the island with different price points, but similar concepts.

Gated communities are more than just sets of houses. They are neighbourhoods all on their own. They seem to do a better job of upholding their own rules and maintaining the common space than the government does outside of those walls. There are playgrounds with equipment that is clean, replaced when needed, and regularly used by children.

The swimming pools are cleaned on a set schedule and the surrounding areas are kept clean, so there is no litter blowing in the wind. Sidewalks are clear, making it possible for people to go on walks and runs, to use strollers and wheelchairs, and to enjoy the outdoors. Speed bumps control traffic and repair of roads saves drivers the stress of dropping

into holes and need new tyres far too often. Gated communities seem to be, in most cases, places where things simply work as they should.

The people who live in gated communities, of course, pay for the experience, but taxpayers also pay for things to simply work out here in the outside world. We pay for the streetlights to come on when it is dark, properly illuminating the area.

We pay for the roads to be maintained. We pay for bushes to be cut back.

We pay for sidewalks that continue for the length of the road instead of suddenly ending without so much as a ramp for wheeled devices. We pay for crosswalks to be properly painted and marked with signs. We pay for public goods and services that we do not get at a reasonable standard, and this affects our safety, both perceived and real.

Safety in relationships is a common workaround for living in a place that does not inspire confidence that victims of crimes are all criminals.

People who might otherwise choose to live alone

decide that it would be better to live with at least one other person.

Sometimes a parent or two, sometimes a sibling, sometimes a partner, sometimes a friend, and sometimes a complete stranger. There is someone to stand by the door and watch while they walk to or from the driveway. There is someone to call and ask to turn on the outside light when they realize they will get home a bit later than planned. There is someone, in a worse scenario, to notice that they did not get home at the usual time, or an hour later, or two hours later.

More and more, LGBTQI+ people leave The Bahamas to find safety. Some of them have parents who send them to university and help them to stay wherever they go. Some are able to get transfers through work for multinational corporations. Some seek asylum in countries like Canada. Some take the risk of completely starting over without having a longterm plan. What is most important is that they escape the violence

and discrimination experienced here and that, even if reported, is not counted as a specific form of violence that must be addressed.

Most of us look out for ourselves. Some of us have the money to make that easy. Some of us find ways to escape.

Some of us choose to ignore because there seems to be nothing else we can do. Some of us are doing what we have to do to survive. Others are doing everything possible to live separate and apart from who they consider “other.” Money makes it easy to build new communities and decide not to drive past a certain street. Relationships make it a bit easier to have some comfort, even if it is not freedom, much like living within walls is not true freedom.

Safety is not something we can snap our fingers and create for all of us to enjoy. Safety is a condition that we have to build, transforming our environment and the people in it. We have to address the root causes of crime, and this requires investment in community.

RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Donate an eSIM to someone in Palestine. This gives Palestinians a way to communicate with one another, access information, and share their experiences with the rest of the world while they resist the occupation and genocide enacted by Israel that has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023. There are several apps that can be used to donate eSIMs with data. Go to gazaesims.com for detailed instructions.

2. Read a book about the history of Palestine and the aggression the Palestinian people have experienced from Israel and the imperialist countries that support it. There are numerous reading lists available online including plutobooks.com/free-palestine-reading-list and lithium.com/40-books-tounderstand-palestine. Free ebooks, including Palestine Speaks and The Case for Sanctions Against Israel, are available for download at versobooks. com.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 31, 2024, PAGE 9

ELON MUSK SAYS FIRST HUMAN HAS RECEIVED AN IMPLANT FROM NEURALINK

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS and LAURA UNGAR NEW YORK (AP) — According to Elon Musk, the first human received an implant from his computer-brain interface company Neuralink over the weekend.

In a Monday post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Musk said that the patient received the implant the day prior and was “recovering well.” He added that “initial results show promising neuron spike detection.”

The billionaire, who cofounded Neuralink, did not provide additional details about the patient. When Neuralink announced in September that it would begin recruiting people, the company said it was searching for individuals with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Neuralink is one of many groups working on

linking the nervous system to computers, efforts aimed at helping treat brain disorders, overcoming brain injuries and other applications. There are more than 40 brain computer interface trials underway, according to clinicaltrials. gov.

Neuralink reposted Musk’s Monday post on X, but did not publish any additional statements acknowledging the human implant. The company did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ requests for comment Tuesday.

Neuralink previously announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved its “investigational device exemption,” which generally allows a sponsor to begin a clinical study “in patients who fit the inclusion criteria,” the FDA said Tuesday. The agency pointed out that it can’t confirm or disclose information about a particular study.

Neuralink’s device is about the size of a large coin and is designed to

be implanted in the skull, with ultra-thin wires going directly into the brain. In its September announcement, Neuralink said the wires would be surgically placed in a region of the brain that controls movement intention. The initial goal of the so-called brain computer interface is to give people the ability to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone.

In a separate Monday post on X, Musk said that the first Neuralink product is called “Telepathy” — which, he said, will enable users to control their phones or computers “just by thinking.” He added that intial users would be those who have lost use of their limbs.

It’s unclear how well this device or similar interfaces will ultimately work, or how safe they might be.

Clinical trials are designed to collect data on safety and effectiveness.

Laura Cabrera, who researches brain science at Pennsylvania State University, said that even though Neuralink uses an

TECHTALK

GM MADE $10B LAST YEAR DESPITE AUTOWORKERS STRIKE, SAYS IT WILL BRING BACK PLUG-IN HYBRIDS TO US

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer

ELON Musk pictured in 2023. According to Musk, the first human received an implant from his computer-brain interface company Neuralink over the weekend.

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool, File) innovative procedure – robotic surgery – to get the device in the brain, no one has implanted it before in humans and much remains unknown.

Brain surgery is “not a trivial thing,” she said, pointing to significant potential risks such as brain hemorrhage or seizures. “And so I think we have to be mindful that even though they’re using a novel way to implant the device, we just don’t know if it’s truly going to be a … safer approach for human patients.”

She pointed out that Neuralink’s competitors

plan to use their devices for medical applications only, but Musk has been outspoken about going beyond medicine. For example, Cabrera said, Musk has talked about implants for the masses that will allow people to record everything that happens to them and access the information when they want — which may raise red flags for some.

“We know that he has very bold claims,” she said. “People not really assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the technology is something that I worry about.”

STUDENTS RECOGNISED FOR COMPLETING CYBER BOOTCAMP MORE than 40 students were recognised and awarded certificates and prizes for completing the Bahamas-Huawei Cyber Bootcamp this month.

The Camp was held January 8-26 and sponsored by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal, the Chinese Embassy, Huawei Technology Co. Ltd., and Cable Bahamas.

Parliamentary Secretary Wayde Watson addressed the closing ceremony on behalf of Prime Minister Philip Davis on Friday at C.W. Saunders Fellowship Hall.

Mr Watson remarked that the impact of educational initiatives such as the bootcamp should not be underestimated. Such events, he said, not only foster “vital” technical skills but a stronger sense of community.

He said the bootcamp was aligned with the government’s mission of nurturing Information and communication technology’s talent.

“This government’s Blueprint for Change sets out a progressive agenda to drive opportunity, equity, educational programmes, and a strategy set forth in our administration,” he said.

The camp, he said, was much more than a training programme.

“For some it may be the start of a flourishing career, for others, it may be as much as a second chance.”

Extending congratulations, Dai Qingli, Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas, said the children exhibited remarkable commitment and discipline.

“You fully joined in the

AWARDS are presented to students.

OFFICIALS at the event.

discussions, you asked questions, shared experiences and made the most of the time,” the ambassador said.

“The certificate is not only a hard-earned result of three weeks of hard work but will also instill an interest in technology in your hearts; for that you will benefit for many more years to come.

“The success of the first ever cyber bootcamp for me is three

PARLIAMENTARY Secretary Wayde Watson. words – friendship, partnership and life-changing power of technology. All of us experienced all these things,” said the ambassador.

With the assistance of the stakeholders, the students and their parents, she committed to explore how to build on the success of

DAI QINGLI, Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas. the first cyber camp, expand the training and make technology accessible and affordable to more young people in The Bahamas.

Among those in attendance were Keith Bell, Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal; Jomo Campbell, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources; State Minister Lisa Rahming; ITU Ambassador Leon Williams; Gregory Butler, Urban Renewal Deputy Director; parents, Urban Renewal representatives; and executives of Huawei. Participants included: Jesus Castellano Franchi, CEO of Huawei Bahamas; and Lillemae Longley, Operations Manager of Urban Renewal.

Guests were entertained by the students and Urban Renewal leaders. They also viewed a video which featured highlights of the bootcamp.

The participants received certificates and gifts from Huawei and the Chinese government.

(BIS Photos/Mark Ford)

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors’ net income rose 12% last year despite losing more than $1 billion when many of its plants were shut down by a six-week autoworkers’ strike. The company also announced that it will bring back some plug-in gaselectric hybrids as electric vehicle sales growth slows.

The Detroit automaker made just over $10 billion last year, up from $8.9 billion in 2022. Excluding one-time items the company made $7.68 per share, easily surpassing the $7.57 projected on Wall Street, according to FactSet. Full-year revenue was $171.84 billion, about 10% more than in 2022. That also beat estimates of $167.26 billion.

The company predicts a small improvement in earnings this year even as it plans for lower vehicle selling prices due to increased discounts.

Shares of General Motors Co. jumped 7.8% in Tuesday afternoon trading.

Without giving much detail, CEO Mary Barra said the company is bringing back some plug-in gas-electric hybrid models in the U.S., reversing a strategy to focus on electric vehicles. She told analysts on a conference call Tuesday that GM would resurrect the plug-in hybrid powertrains on selected vehicles in North America, in part to help comply with more stringent fuel economy requirements that will start in 2027 in the U.S. Plug-in hybrids can go a relatively short distance on battery power before a gaselectric propulsion system kicks in.

GM, Barra said, is still committed to eliminating tailpipe emissions from light duty vehicles by 2035. “But in the interim, deploying plug-in technology in strategic segments will deliver some of the environmental benefits of EVs as the nation continues to build its charging infrastructure,” she said.

TOP PAID iPHONE APPS (US): 1. Minecraft, Mojang 2. Geometry Dash, RobTop Games AB 3. Heads Up!, Warner Bros.

4. Shadowrocket, Shadow Launch Technology Limited 5. HotSchedules, HotSchedules 6. Papa’s Freezeria To Go!, Flipline Studios 7. Bloons TD 6, Ninja Kiwi 8. MONOPOLY, Marmalade Game Studio 9. Plague Inc., Ndemic Creations 10. The Wonder Weeks, Domus Technica

PAGE 10, Wednesday, January 31, 2024

THE TRIBUNE

Ann Marie Davis visits Queen’s College

ANN MARIE DAVIS, the wife of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, visited Queen’s College yesterday during a POSH Girls Symposium, where she took time to sit and speak with some of the students.

Photos: Moise Amisial

Awarding excellence and inspiring the best in Claridge Primary students

By TIMOTHY ROBERTS Tribune Night Editor troberts@tribunemedia.net “NEVER letting rest, Till my good gets better and my better gets best.

Forward ever, backwards never.

We are going to be the smartest kids in the whole wide world.

Wakanda forever!”

Andrew Wilson, businessman and owner of QBC started the Claridge Primary School’s mid-year awards ceremony with a pledge he

has said many times with the students here, some since he began working to inspire the best in them six year’s ago.

He recounted that one of the students the first time he came to read for Ms Johnson’s class asked him, When we graduate grade six will you still be here?” Mr Wilson told him, “god-willing I will be here when you graduate university.”

In the six years since Mr Wilson adopted the school he has provided a media lab, [articipated in reading to the children and has also

brought prizes to incentivise the students to work harder and earn higher grades.

He thanked the parents for the role they play “in the development of our children, our nation’s greatest resource, there is no replacement for you.”

He said with their support, and encouragement to spend more time studying and less time on phones and other distractions “they can become the smartest kids in the entire world. And when they become the smartest kids in the entire world,

they will become the most prosperous people in the entire world. And they will be able to take care of you in style during your golden years. So please, let us continue to encourage our students.”

He also encouraged those who did not make the honour roll to keep working hard and that they could still get there, adding, “If you make the honour roll

by Summer you can come to my store and get a bicycle,” eliciting excited cheers from all the students.

BUSINESSMAN ANDREW WILSON

The Community of

FOX HILL

gets much needed help It is with great pleasure, that we announce the launch of THE URISEMAE FARRINGTON FOUNDATION. This cornerstone’s objective, is to accommodate the well deserved but less fortunate high achievers who dare to go beyond the level of normalcy into the environment of excellence. Those that have the desire to evolve by pursuing their educational dreams, we are here to equip you with the necessary contrivance to accomplish your well deserving endeavor.

This program accommodates primary to tertiary students that meet the foundation’s requirements.

Offering textbook assistance to all primary and secondary schools and partial financial aid for colleges and trade schools.

The foundation is seeking out the young vibrant individuals within the Fox Hill community to be our first recipients. As we grow, we will seek to include the wider public.

Persons are encouraged to visit The Urisemae Farrington Foundation, www.theurisemaefarringtonfoundation.com and complete the application.

CLARIDGE Primary School students making the honour roll received a certificate and a prize - courtesy of Andrew Wilson and QBC - as well as for students receiving Most Improved Student awards.

Students achieving honour roll for the first time were also given a bicycle.

Photos: Moise Amisial

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 31, 2024, PAGE 11

Man accused of disarming a police woman charged with attempted murder

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was imprisoned yesterday after being accused of attacking and disarming a woman police officer last month after a high-speed chase following an alleged housebreaking.

Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, charged Kenneth Sweeting, 29, with attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and aggravated assault.

Police reportedly engaged the defendant in a chase on

Ocean Street and Malcolm Road after responding to a housebreaking alert in the area at noon on January 18. Authorities stopped the silver coloured Nissan Cube the suspects were driving on Pebbles and Jumbey Drives.

Sweeting, after getting out of the vehicle, is accused of lunging at Officer Kimberley Rolle-Francis and attempting to take her Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol.

When the accused successfully wrestled the gun from the officer, her partner, PC Jayson McHardy, shot Sweeting in his hand and lower torso.

The defendant was then detained and successfully treated for his gunshot injuries in hospital.

A search of the vehicle found suspected stolen goods. A 34-year-old male accomplice was also arrested at the scene of the shooting.

Sweeting was told that his case would be moved to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He will be sent to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until the higher court grants him bail.

The accused’s VBI is due for service on April 3.

MAN FOUND GUILTY OF POSSESSION OF LOADED GUN GETS THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS JAIL TIME

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was sentenced to three and a half years in prison yesterday after being found guilty of having a loaded gun on Commonwealth Boulevard in 2021.

Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, presided as Brandon Brown’s trial on

charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition came to a close.

Brown, 28, was on a scooter when he was stopped by police on Commonwealth Blvd on September 19, 2021. When searched officers found a black .40 pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition.

Brown maintained his

innocence during the proceedings.

After reviewing the evidence submitted at his trial, Magistrate Allen found Brown guilty.

Brown was then sentenced to serve 42 months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. He has seven days in which to appeal his sentence.

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO HOUSEBREAKING AND CAR THEFT AND RECEIVES SIX-MONTHS IN PRISON

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was sentenced to six months in prison after admitting to stealing a car from a residence in Pride Estates last week.

Magistrate Kendra Kelly charged Deangelo Delancey, 24, with two counts of stealing, two counts of receiving, two counts of deceit of a public officer and housebreaking.

Delancey is accused of

breaking into the residence of Cleo and Sahaila Walters in Pride Estates on January 22. He allegedly stole a silver coloured 2014 Honda Fit valued at $8,500.

The accused is also alleged to have stolen $2,000, a gold Rolex bracelet valued at $750, a $600 AP watch and a $120 GPS car tracker.

Delancey is accused of giving false statements to Inspector B Moss on January 27 to evade arrest.

Although the accused pleaded guilty to the housebreaking and stealing charge concerning the car, he pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges. The receiving and deceit charges attached to the car theft were dropped.

While Delancey’s bail was set at $4,000 for the pending charges, he was sentenced to six months in prison for the car theft.

The defendant’s trial for the remaining charges starts on March 6.

Funeral Service For Marion Elizabeth Dean-McPhee, 70 of Mt. Royal Avenue and Tenwich Street who died on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024, 11:00am at Bahamas Harvest Church, John F. Kennedy Drive. Officiating will be Pastor Mario Moxey assisted by Pastor Paul Scavella and Pastor Sterling Thompson. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.

She was predeceased by her husband: Joseph McPhee; parents: Joseph & Elizabeth Dean; brother: Joseph Dean Jr.; sister: Costella Maria Ramsey Left to cherish and honour her life are her children: Myrmidon, Jeroboam, Tiffany, Cordero (Danielle) McPhee, Terrance Pedican, Wesley Victor, Jackson Thompson, Dameon Forbes; grandchildren: Myrkeeva & Arianne Johnson, Danmari Fowler, Josette McPhee, Jeroboam Jr., Sheena, Shavante, Shade, Shante, Rehaboam, Arielle & Jeremiah McPhee, Alethia Hart, Corey Taylor, D’Shardonnay Fritz, Ashton Miller, Anthon Pratt, Liam McPhee, Makayda & Malika McPhee, Brenden Cartwright, Brandon & Tesley Victor; Jaylen & Jaydawn Thompson; great grandchild: Jeroboam McPhee III; brother: Brendan Colton; sister: Joan Mackey; in-laws: Sterling (Christine) Thompson, Edwin Thompson, Wendell (Katrina) Lawrence, Donna (Ken) Etienne, Cynthia Bain, Ivan (Clara) McPhee, Princess Ferguson, Harold (Sandra) McPhee, BrendaMe McPhee, Gwendolyn (Franklyn) Stuart, Prince (Linda) McPhee; nephews: Terrance (Denalee), Marco (India) and Clifford Jr. (Kara) Mackey; nieces: Chavette (Dwayne) Lewis, Tangie Mackey and Shaneka Dean; cousins: Judy McPhee, Michael Jones, Ann Russell, Debbie Chea, Rodney & Oralee Smith, Samuel & Josephine Gay, Franklyn Farrington & Raj Farrington, Lorraine Burrows, Cyprianna Burrows, Mary Burrows, Gaynell Funes, Andrew & Patrice Burrows, Eva Burrows, Anita Burrows, Patricia & Harold Strachan, Bernadette & Rohan Metholall, Regina Mohabir, Edward & Stacey Burrows, Martin & Lisa Burrows, Catherine & Danny Persaud, Margaret Shurland, Maria & Jeff Rolle, Carol Weatherford, Anthony & Shannon Fountain, lan & Rose Evenette; lifetime friend: Marilyn Rolle & Family; special mention: Katrina Marche, Lilah Kemp, Joy & Eric Cotell, Rosemary Knowles & Family, Positive Convenience Store & Crew, Debrah Cartwright, Patricia Coakley, Bonnie (Kevin) McKenzie, Michael & Monica Rolle, Elizabeth Johnson, Dwight Forbes, Steven Hepburn; numerous other relatives and friends including: Pastor Mario & Erika Moxey and Bahamas Harvest Church Family, Pastor Neville & Tanya Miller, Dr. Nicholas Fox, Dr. Darron Halliday & PMH Oncology Department, Dr. Damali Jones, Dr. Margo Munroe, Nurse Marcia Hutcheson, Patrick Davis, Chargrega McPhee & Comprehensive Pharmacy, Mario & Tanya Stevenson, Myrlouse Julmiste, Lorna Hart, Terone Brooks, Marvin (Nancy) Pinder & Carey, The Bahamas Bus & Truck Family, Georgiemae Bethel, Enid McKinney, Sonia Bowe-Adderley, Simmone Bowe, Val Moore & McDonald’s Palmdale Breakfast Crew, Deidre Cooper, Karen’s Kreations, Rose Williams, Michael Johnson, Maria (Khiwan) Dorsett, Patricia Deveaux, Aldeka & Annie Colebrooke, Naffeesha (Orville) Fuller, Tamal Hanna, Anthon Pratt Sr., Mount Royal Community. Marion was well-known and loved by so many people whom she encountered. Please pardon our inadvertent omission of any names during this time of our grief.

Viewing will be held in the Legacy Suite of Vaughn O. Jones Memorial Center, Mt. Royal Ave. and Talbot Street on (TODAY) Wednesday from 12:00noon to 5:00pm and on Thursday at the Church from 10:00 am to service time.

The Board of Directors of FOCOL Holdings Limited (FOCOL) is pleased to present the audited results for the year ended September 30, 2023.

Total Net Profit and Comprehensive Income for the year ended September 30, 2023 was $32.6 million compared to $21.4 million for the previous year.

FOCOL’s 2023 performance represents a return to the company’s pre-pandemic level of earnings combined with early signs of growth across various business segments. The combination of a rebound in the local economy and early results from new investment initiatives contributes to the steady upward trend in the company’s overall performance.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (AUDITED) (Expressed in Bahamian dollars - $000)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (AUDITED) (Expressed in Bahamian dollars - $000)

Management is focused on delivering world-class excellence as it prepares to embrace emerging growth opportunities across various sectors.

The Board of Directors wishes to thank our loyal customers, dedicated staff, and shareholders for their continued confidence in FOCOL Holdings Limited.

Sir Franklyn Wilson, KCMG Chairman.

Copies of a full set of the audited financial statements can be obtained via request to bpinder@sunoilbahamas.com.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, January 31, 2024

THE TRIBUNE

Brazil, facing calls for reparations, wrangles with its painful legacy of slavery

A PEDESTRIAN walks past the Sonhos de Liberdade mural created by artist Acme, which honours leaders in the fight for racial equality, in the Porto art district of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Black and biracial Brazilians still face discrimination and are more likely to be poor, imprisoned and die a violent death.

Photo: Bruna Prado/AP RIO DE JANEIRO Associated Press THE executive manager for institutional relations at a Brazilian state bank took the microphone before roughly 150 people at a forum on slavery’s legacy in his country, which kidnapped more Africans for forced labour than any other nation.

“Today’s Bank of Brazil asks Black people for forgiveness,” André Machado said to the mostly Black audience at the Portela samba school in Rio de Janeiro.

“Directly or indirectly, all of Brazilian society should apologize to Black people for that sad moment in our history,” he said, reading a statement to audience members who sat watching from plastic chairs, their eyes fixed upon him.

Brazil — where more than half the population self-identifies as Black or biracial — has long resisted reckoning with its past. That reluctance has started loosening.

Public prosecutors have begun probing Bank of Brazil, Latin America’s

second-largest financial institution by assets, with $380 billion, for its historical links to the slave trade. Their investigation could yield a recommendation, an agreement or filing of legal action, and they invited Bank of Brazil to start a dialogue with Black people at the Portela school in the working-class Madureira neighbourhood.

Ghyslaine Almeida e Cunha, a spiritual leader of the Afro-Brazilian religion Umbanda, travelled from the Amazonian city of Belem for what she called “an historic moment.” She welcomed the apology and announcement of measures, though the bank stopped short of pledging compensation.

“I came to say – on Portela’s sacred soil – that, yes, we do want reparations,” said Cunha.

Brazil enslaved more people from Africa than any other country; nearly 5 million kidnapped Africans disembarked in Brazil, more than 12 times the number taken to mainland North America, according to estimates

from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade database.

Brazil was the last country in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery, in 1888.

Valongo Wharf in Rio, which UNESCO calls “the most important physical trace of the arrival of African slaves on the American continent,” was only excavated in 2011.

Discrimination remains, and Black and biracial Brazilians are more likely to be poor, imprisoned and die violently. Fewer than a third of managerial positions are held by those groups, and they comprise one quarter of representatives in Brazil’s Lower House of Congress.

On Dec. 7, a Senate committee heard experts arguing that Brazil needs to prioritise compensation. And when Carnival kicks off next week, a samba school parading before tens of thousands of spectators and millions more TV viewers will present the story of a Black man whose family is seeking reparations.

Brazil’s nascent clamour for reparations joins

existing movements abroad. In the US, New York, California and Illinois have established task forces on the issue.

In November, the African Union partnered with Caribbean countries to form a “united front” to persuade European nations to pay for “historical mass crimes”.

Institutions such as Harvard University and the Bank of England have been confronting their historical ties to the slave trade, although neither has endorsed direct financial reparations.

And in 2021, President Joe Biden expressed support for a federal commission to study a national plan for reparations for Black Americans, but he has not supported any of the efforts at the state level.

Such discussions in the US inspired Brazilian nonprofit Educafro to sue the federal government in May 2022, Irapuã Santana, the lawyer who filed the suit, told The Associated Press. The organization, which fights for better access to education for Black and biracial

Brazilians, is demanding an apology and a fund to combat racism, among other measures.

Brazil long projected itself as a inclusive democracy that had left racism behind. Only in recent decades has there been a concerted effort to publicly debunk that myth.

The country has so far mostly dealt with slavery’s legacy through affirmative action, particularly its 2012 law obliging public universities to reserve a certain number of spaces for Black people.

But many on the right argue the past is irrelevant, and deny that any compensation is due.

They are likely to fight any widespread push for reparations.

“What debt? I have never enslaved anyone in my life,” Jair Bolsonaro said in a TV interview in 2018, months before he won the presidency. The former leader and current standard-bearer for the right has questioned the basis for quotas, saying Black and white people should be treated equally. In October, his son proposed ending racebased quotas, and almost one-third of senators supported the measure.

Advocates for further atonement disagree.

“Faced with the horror of 350 years of slavery, quotas are insufficient. We need to expand the discussion on reparations,” said lawyer Humberto Adami, president of the Racial Equality Commission of the Brazilian Lawyers Institute.

That demands for reparations are for the first time being heard in public, prominent places is partly a reflection of the political climate ushered in by leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took office in January 2023. Last year, prosecutors started investigating Bank of Brazil, which is cooperating.

Its largest shareholder at one point was José Bernardino de Sá, a slave trader responsible for transporting around 19,000 Africans to Brazil, according to historical research that sparked prosecutors’ investigation. João Henrique Ulrich, who in 1842 was caught running a slave barracks in Angola’s capital, was a bank director for almost a decade.

Beyond individual ties, the institution allowed clients to declare enslaved Black people as financial assets to guarantee loans that built the economy — one example of how “slavery is central to Brazil’s formation,” said Thiago Campos Pessoa, one of the historians.

In addition to apologizing, Bank of Brazil announced measures to facilitate jobs for Black people and said it “works

intensely to confront structural racism.”

Bank of Brazil declined a request for an interview, instead referring AP to its Nov. 18 statement read at Portela and its recent initiative to finance projects benefiting Black women.

Lula appointed Tarciana Medeiros to lead the bank, and she is its first-ever Black president. He has pledged to further racial equality, and created the country’s first ministry dedicated to the issue.

The family of João Cândido, who served in the navy two decades after Brazil abolished slavery, hope a more receptive executive branch will finally hear their pleas.

After witnessing a sailor’s flogging, Cândido led a revolt against regular whipping by officers in 1910.

He and fellow mutineers were tortured, and only two survived — including Cândido. Kicked out of the navy, he and his family missed out on pension benefits and promotions, then he fell into poverty, according to prosecutor Julio Araujo, who also leads the Bank of Brazil probe.

Cândido’s family is demanding compensation from the federal government. They also want him inducted into the nation’s official pantheon of heroes, Adalberto Cândido, 85, the sailor’s only living son, said in an interview in Sao Joao de Meriti, on Rio’s outskirts.

Reparations “would make a difference because we are a modest family.

We’ve always earned the minimum wage, which in this country is a joke,” said Cândido, who started working at 14. He spoke in front of Cândido’s last home, where a colourful mural depicts his story.

That story will take centre stage in one of the top Carnival parades.

In the warehouse where samba school Paraiso do Tuiuti is constructing its giant floats and fashioning gold-sequined sailor costumes, references to slavery abound — such as a print of French painter Jean-Baptiste Debret’s depiction of a slave being whipped.

Jack Vasconcelos, who created the school’s parade theme, said he decided to honour Cândido because violence reminiscent of slavery continues to occur. He cited a Black delivery man’s whipping with a dog leash by a white woman in Rio last year.

That delivery man will perform as Cândido during the parade, which aims to help society remember slavery – one form of reparation, Vasconcelos said.

“But we also need to fight for tangible reparations, not just contributing to memory,” Vasconcelos added.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 31, 2024, PAGE 13

AYTON SCORES 18 POINTS AS BLAZERS BEAT 76ERS 130-104

By ANNE M PETERSON AP Sports Writer PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — Jerami Grant scored 27 points, Deandre Ayton added 18 and the Portland Trail Blazers took advantage of reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid’s absence to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 130-104 on Monday night.

Malcolm Brogdon added 24 points and nine assists for the Blazers, who had lost four of their previous five games. Rookie Scoot Henderson had 22 points.

“I think every time we step out there we’re getting better and better,” said Jabari Walker, who led all players with 12 rebounds.

“It’s exciting to see.”

Kelly Oubre Jr. had 25 points for the 76ers, who lost their third straight as Embiid watched from the bench with a sore left knee.

Philadelphia was also without Tyrese Maxey.

Matisse Thybulle’s 3-pointer put Portland up 98-78 as Philadelphia struggled without Embiid, who was out for a second consecutive game. At one point the Blazers went on a 19-4 run and led by 31 points in the final quarter.

It was Portland’s largest margin of victory this season — and it came on the second night of a backto-back. Portland fell to the Bulls 104-96 on Sunday.

“I just think our guys are starting to get some synergy with each other,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said.

“They’re starting to get to know each other and it’s fun to watch. We just keep talking about moving it, moving it, moving it. I don’t know who’s shot it’s going to be.”

Embiid, who is averaging 36 points and 11.4 rebounds a game, also sat out of the 76ers’ game against Denver on Saturday. He appeared

to injure the knee last Thursday against Indiana.

It was Embiid’s 12th missed game this season.

He can only miss five more to remain eligible for the league’s awards, including MVP, which he won last year.

Maxey missed a second straight game because of a sprained left ankle.

“Had a good start to the game, first quarter defensively was excellent. Pretty much through the second quarter too until about four minutes to go. They went on a big run, a lot of stuff at the rim and dunks and things like that. We just never really got back to guarding the ball,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said.

Tobias Harris, who missed the last two games with the flu, closed the first quarter with a 16-footjumper to give Philadelphia a 28-20 lead.

Grant’s layup pulled the Blazers to 36-35 but

TRAIL Blazers centre Deandre Ayton (2) dunks the ball on 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) and forward Paul Reed, left, during the second half on Monday night.

(AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Portland couldn’t pull in front until Ayton’s dunk late in the first half made it 54-53.

The Blazers led 58-55 at the break and Grant led all scorers with 20 points.

Portland pushed the lead to 73-63 on Jabari Walker’s

layup. Brogdon put the Blazers up 80-63 with a layup midway through the third quarter.

“It was too easy for them coming out in the third quarter,” Harris said. “That hurt us. That gave them a lot of momentum, and that

All-Star shooting showdown: Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu is happening

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer STEPHEN Curry is headed back to NBA AllStar weekend. Sabrina Ionescu will be waiting for him.

The shootout that both of them wanted is officially a reality, the NBA announced Tuesday. “Stephen vs. Sabrina” will happen as part of All-Star Saturday Night in Indianapolis on Feb. 17. Curry, the NBA’s all-time 3-point king, will take on the reigning WNBA 3-point shootout queen and single-season record holder Ionescu.

“Stage is set! Let’s get it,” Curry posted on social media.

Ionescu responded simply: “Let’s go!”

This matchup was months in the making.

Curry was wired with a microphone for Golden State’s game last Thursday night against Sacramento and had a discussion with Warriors teammate Brandin Podziemski about Ionescu, who scored an almost-perfect 37 points in the WNBA’s 3-point contest last summer. That topped Curry’s NBA 3-point contest best of 31.

“I think I’ve got to challenge her,” Curry told Podziemski.

Ionescu responded on social media: “Let’s getttttt it!! See ya at the 3 pt line.”

In fact, she technically initiated the challenge: Ionescu posed for a photo imitating Curry’s famous lights-out pose while holding her trophy at the WNBA AllStar event and raised the possibility of a matchup happening.

The NBA was more than happy to make it happen.

Curry will shoot from the NBA 3-point line with NBA basketballs, and Ionescu will shoot from

SPORTS NOTES

FROM PAGE 16 BASKETBALL PRIMARY SCHOOLS TOURNEY THE New Providence Public Primary Schools Sports Association will continue its basketball competition for boys today at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, starting at 9am.

BAISS PLAYOFFS THE Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools will continue its basketball postseason today at the

GOLDEN State Warriors guard Stephen Curry warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday in San Francisco.

(AP Photo/Nic Coury) the WNBA 3-point line with WNBA basketballs.

At stake: bragging rights and a lot of cash for charity — Curry’s Eat.Learn.

Play. nonprofit and Ionescu’s SI20 Foundation will receive a donation from the NBA and WNBA for participating.

Every shot they make — $1,000 for regular 3s, $2,000 for money-ball 3s and $3,000 for deeper 3s from nearly 30 feet — will bring a donation from State Farm to the NBA Foundation “to support economic empowerment in the Black community,” the league said.

Curry has four of the five highest single-season 3-point make totals in NBA history, with his record of 402 coming in the 2015-16 season. Ionescu led the WNBA with 128 made 3s last season, while shooting nearly 45% from distance.

RISING STARS No surprise here: Victor Wembanyama is headed to his first All-Star weekend.

The San Antonio rookie and No. 1 overall pick in Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium with sudden death action, starting at 4pm.

Wednesday Junior girls - #1 St. Augustine’s College (4-0) vs #4 Charles W Saunders (1-3).

Junior boys - #1 St John’s College (11-0) vs #4 St Augustine’s College (8-3).

Senior girls - #1 Kingsway Academy (7-0) vs #4 Queen’s College (4-3).

Senior boys - #1 Charles W Saunders (10-0) vs #4 Queen’s College (6-4).

YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL THE Bahamas Youth Flag Football League will be hosting a free offensive

NEW York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu shoots a 3-point basket during the first half of Game 3 of a WNBA basketball semifinal playoff series against the Connecticut Sun on September 29, 2023, in Uncasville, Conn. Stephen Curry is headed back to NBA All-Star weekend. Ionescu will be waiting for him. The shootout that both of them wanted is officially a reality, the NBA announced yesterday.

(AP Photo/Jessica Hill) last year’s NBA draft was one of 28 players picked for the Rising Stars games, to be held on the Friday of All-Star weekend, Feb. 16. No. 2 pick Brandon Miller of Charlotte and No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson of Portland are joining Wembanyama among the rookies selected for the games — the format is a mini-tournament with the seven-player rosters, and a championship game after two semifinals. Henderson is in the event for a third time, after being picked

twice when he played for the G League Ignite in 2022 and 2023.

Also picked from the rookie class was Oklahoma City teammates Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace, Washington’s Bilal Coulibaly, Utah’s Keyonte George, New Orleans’ Jordan Hawkins, Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., Dallas’ Dereck Lively II and Golden State’s Podziemski.

From the second-year class are Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, New Orleans’ Dyson Daniels, Detroit

teammates Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, Utah’s Walker Kessler, Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin, Sacramento’s Keegan Murray, Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe, Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. and Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams.

Reigning slam dunk champion Mac McClung was one of seven G League players picked for the event, along with Izan Almansa, Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland, Tyler Smith, Oscar Tshiebwe and Alondes Williams.

camp February 3 and Feb 10 @ the multipurpose field at the Sports Center. Kids ages 6 - 17 are invited to attend and can sign up by email byffl242@gmail.com.

This is the first official event for the BYFFL this year and will be followed by the 2nd Annual High School Tournament planned for April 13.

5K RUN/WALK Bahamas Feeding Network THE Bahamas Feeding Network will hold its 5K Fun Run/Walk & Health Fair on Saturday, February 3. The registration fee is $20. Interested persons can register online

at www.facebook.com/ qcpharmacypi or www. bahamasfeedingnetwork. org. For more information, persons can also contact 242-605-9559, 242-395-9559 or 242-676-2676.

TENNIS Inaugural Valentine’s Doubles Classic Open Invite THIS February, during the season of love, Insurance Management and The Gym Tennis Club of Winton invite tennis players in the country to experience the “love of the game” with their inaugural Valentine’s Doubles Classic Tennis Open Invitational.

The tournament will begin

on February 10 and tennis players from all around the island will converge at the Gym Tennis Club in Winton to battle it out in a “doubles” only tournament featuring four categories, including: Men’s, Ladies, Over 55, and the always entertaining Mixed Doubles category.

Interested players should e-mail “gtctourbah@gmail. com” to get their registration forms.

Insurance Management and the Gym Tennis Club encourages fans and those who want to discover the love of tennis, to come come out, cheer, enjoy and even hit a ball or two.”

was when the game slipped away.”

Patrick Beverley finished with 14 points for the Sixers, who pulled their starters midway through the final quarter. Only three Philadelphia players reached double figures.

EX-NBA STAR RAJON RONDO ARRESTED IN INDIANA LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Indiana State Police arrested two-time NBA champion Rajon Rondo on Sunday in southern Indiana on misdemeanour gun and drug charges, police said.

The 37-year-old former guard was initially stopped for a traffic violation in Jackson County, police said in a news release. An investigation began Sunday afternoon after a caller said a black 2022 Tesla was travelling recklessly on I-65 South between Indianapolis and Louisville, the release added.

A state trooper smelled marijuana coming from the car and an ensuing search found a firearm, drug paraphernalia RONDO and suspected marijuana, according to the release. The four-time All-Star was taken to the Jackson County Jail where he immediately posted bond and was released. A juvenile in Rondo’s vehicle at the time was released to a family member.

Rondo’s initial court hearing has been scheduled for February 27 in Jackson County Superior Court.

The Associated Press could not immediately reach an attorney listed for Rondo.

Rondo was prohibited from carrying a firearm because of a non-contact court order that was issued in August. It was the second protective order issued against him.

The initial one came in 2022 when a Louisville woman said Rondo became enraged and threatened her life, according to the protective order.

The woman asked a judge that Rondo seek anger management classes, counselling and a mental health evaluation. That emergency protective order was dismissed in June 2022 after both parties “reached an agreement,” according to court records.

In March 2023, another EPO was taken out against Rondo by the same woman.

That case ended when the sides agreed to the currently binding court order in August.

TO ADVERTISE TODAY IN THE TRIBUNE CALL @ 502-2394

PAGE 14, Wednesday, January 31, 2024

THE TRIBUNE

Tatum scores 30, comes up with late blocks as Celtics hold off Pacers 129-124

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and had two blocks in the final 30 seconds to help the Boston Celtics hold off the Indiana Pacers 129-124 last night.

Jaylen Brown added 25 points and Derrick White finished with 24 to help Boston win its season series with Indiana, 3-2.

The Pacers eliminated the Celtics in the quarterfinal round of the In-Season Tournament in December.

Aaron Nesmith led the Pacers with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Pascal Siakam finished with 23 points and Myles Turner added 17. All-Star Tyrese Haliburton had 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting and 10 rebounds.

The Celtics led by 20 points late in the first half, but Indiana rallied and trailed 127-124 when White blocked a tying 3-point attempt by Nesmith. Tatum then denied an attempt by Turner at the rim, leading to a shot-clock violation.

Jrue Holiday extended Boston’s lead with two free throws. Nesmith pushed the ball up the floor and Tatum was called for a foul with 11.2 seconds on the clock as he appeared to cleanly block the shot.

Boston challenged the

BOSTON Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, left, looks to move against Indiana Pacers’ Buddy Hield during the first half of an NBA basketball game last night in Boston. Hield finished the game with 12 points.

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) call, and the foul was over- a sprained left ankle. His with 17 points and 12 Queta’s dunk off a pass turned after review. presence inside kept Indi- rebounds. from Tatum to give the After stumbling at the ana honest defensively and The Pacers went on a Celtics a 106-103 edge start of the teams’ two pre- helped Boston’s shooters 25-10 run in the third quar- entering the fourth. vious outings, the Celtics spread the Pacers out. ter to regain the lead at The Celtics surged to came out energised.

It produced open 94-93. begin the final period, Kristaps Porzingis looks for the Celtics, who Boston responded over using a 16-9 run to build a returned to the lineup after knocked down 17 3s on the the final 4:11 of the period, 122-112 cushion with just missing two games with night. Porzingis finished ending it with Neemias over five minutes to play.

SHOCKERS FROM PAGE 16

RICHARD Gibson Jr tees off.

GOLFERS FROM PAGE 16

probably one of the best experiences that I’ve had in and around the game of golf, despite not being able to make the cut.”

Johnson, a 39-year-old trader by profession and the second highest ranked international golfer in the country, said his caddie Anderson Petino from Colombia gave him a good appreciation of what they go through during the various tournaments they attend.

Gibson Jr and Johnson will participate in the 69th Gasparilla Invitational at the Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club in Florida February 22-24.

The three are also looking forward to representing the Bahamas again at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships later this year in Barbados, once they get through the BGF’s trials at the National Championships.

BAISS PLAYOFFS FROM PAGE 16

game. The Giants will play the winner of the St Augustine’s College vs Charles W Saunders game scheduled for today at 4:30pm.

Malcolm Rahming, head coach of the Giants’ junior girls, was happy to see the team advance.

“We missed it by one point last year. We came and finally redeemed ourselves. We have to make more layups, we did not make enough today but I

alone in the first half, finished with a game high 22 points. What she didn’t score, Eva Hilton’s guard Azaria Duncombe made up with six points.

Head coach Zindora Munnings said her girls gave it their all from start to finish in the five games they played in the tournament.

“I am so proud of these girls,” she said. “I am so proud of our captain Azaria Duncombe and Raynique Tinker, our overall scorer and assistant captain. They played together as a team, they worked together as a team and they won as a team.

“Team work makes the dream work. They were consistent and they believed in themselves and they went out there and played to the best of their abilities and we came out as champions.”

Letiva Russell scored four points in the loss for Sadie Curtis, whose coach Michaela Butler-Capron didn’t have to look too far to determine what went wrong.

“I felt really good that we made it to second place. The girls played awesome, so I was very proud of them,” she said.

“But their big girls were very quick. They were able to dribble the ball up the court and so it was a little hard to keep up.”

In the semifinals played just before the final two games, Eva Hilton nipped Sandilands Primary 6-5 as Tinker scored all of their points. Derricka Smith had four in the loss. am still glad we pulled out the win so next game I am prepared to make layups, sharper passes and play more team ball,” the coach said.

The Comets’ junior boys showed resilience in a nailbiter against the Jordan Prince William Falcons.

The team thwarted the Falcons’ chances of making it back to the championships by defeating them 44-43.

The Falcons seemed poised to return to the final round, leading 22-17 at halftime.

However, with the score tied at 43 after a Comets comeback, the team was fouled down the stretch.

RAPTORS TOP BULLS 118-107 CHICAGO (AP) — Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 points, Bruce Brown added 19 points and seven rebounds, and short-handed Toronto rallied past Chicago to snap a season-high five-game skid last night.

Jordan Nwora scored 17 points in 19 minutes and Dennis Schroder added 16 points and 10 assists for the Raptors, who trailed by 16 in the second quarter but regained the lead late in the third and held on from there.

DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 25 points and Ayo Dosunmu had 21. Chicago has lost three of four.

KNICKS 118, JAZZ 103 NEW YORK (AP) — Donte DiVincenzo made a career-high nine 3-pointers and scored 33 points, Jalen Brunson had 29 points and nine assists, and New York wrapped up one of the best months in franchise history with its eighth straight victory.

The Knicks finished 14-2 in January. That was their most wins in a month since going 14-0 in March 1994 and just one shy of their most ever, when they were 15-3 in December 1968.

Collin Sexton scored 22 points for Utah, which lost in New York for the second straight night to finish its road trip at 2-4. The Jazz were beaten 147-114 by Brooklyn on Monday.

HAWKS 138, LAKERS 122 ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young scored 26 points, knocking down his first six attempts from 3-point range, and the Atlanta handed Los Angeles its second double-digit loss in as many nights.

The Lakers, playing without Anthony Davis after a 135-119 loss at Houston on Monday, slipped back below .500 at 24-25.

Austin Reaves scored 28 points and James added 20 in a lacklustre performance before a standing-room-only crowd.

Dejounte Murray had 24 points for the Hawks.

PREMIER LEAGUE: ARSENAL UP TO 2ND WITH WIN

GIRLS champions Eva Hilton celebrate their victory.

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer

GIRLS runners-up Sadie Curtis pose above.

And in the other game played, Sadie Curtis held off Uriah McPhee 67-6.

Russell, J’Lynn Bain and Rhamika Bethel all scored a pair of points.

Brinae Braynen was the top scorer in a losing effort with four.

In other games played to complete the pool play, Sadie Curtis def. Yellow Elder 4-2 and Centreville doubled up CW Sawyer 6-3 in pool B and in pool C, Claridge Primary knocked off EP Roberts 12-5 and Palmdale The Comets converted a single free throw to take the win. The team will face the winner of the Giants vs Big Red Machine game today.

Rueben Monks Jr, head coach of the Comets, said his message to the team was patience.

“I just told them to be patient and just keep cracking at it.

“We weren’t playing the best defence and were missing assignments and layups but I just told them it is one of those games where everything isn’t going right but you just gotta keep playing through it,” Monks said.

Primary got by Uriah McPhee 9-8.

In the pool championship games, Eva Hilton clobbered Garvin Tynes 24-6 in pool A; Sadie Curtis doubled up Centreville 8-4 in pool B, Uriah McPhee held off Palmdale 7-6 in pool C and Sandilands won over Thelma Gibson 12-2.

Association president Latoya Bain said she was pleased with what she saw.

“It was a competitive tournament,” she said.

“The four teams who

played in the final four spots were right there last year, so it was good to see them back at it again.

“But it was fun and it was competitive. That’s what it’s all about, getting the children to learn the fundamentals of the game, dribbling, passing and shooting the ball.”

With the boys starting their competition today, Bain said she anticipates that there will be a lot of fireworks because boys really love playing basketball.

The Giants senior girls returned to the finals for a second straight year after ousting last year’s opponent 45-29. SAC fell behind 14-10 in the opening quarter.

However, the Giants’ lead then blossomed to 37-27 and they never gave an edge after this point.

The Giants will match up against the winners of the Kingsway Academy vs QC senior girls’ game.

Oswaldo Taylor, head coach of the Giants’ senior girls, said last year was a missed opportunity but the team has returned with vengeance. “This is hard work right here. We missed

our opportunity last year to win it all but this year we are coming back with a vengeance.

“The defence was superb, the full court press is our main defence. That is what we stuck with all year long and what got us to this spot where we are at,” Taylor said.

The coach added that the Giants will look to play smarter basketball in the next round.

The Falcons’ senior boys played against Kingsway Academy. Scores were not available up to press time.

The BAISS sudden death playoffs continue today at 4:30pm.

WITH one team scoring after just 18 seconds and another after 21 seconds, the Premier League made an explosive return yesterday following the competition’s short winter break.

Arsenal left it much later for its goals in a win that kept the pressure on Liverpool at the top.

Just when it looked like being another frustrating match for Arsenal’s oftenprofligate attack, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka scored in the second half to help the team beat Nottingham Forest 2-1, jump into second place and trim the gap to first-place Liverpool to two points.

Arsenal might be able to maintain a title push heading into the final months of the campaign, but can Aston Villa?

Unai Emery’s team has been the big surprise this season but a 3-1 loss at home to Newcastle slowed its bid for a finish in the Champions League places, with Villa staying in fourth place. There were five games in total and 16 goals scored, three of them coming for Luton striker Elijah Adebayo in a 4-0 thrashing of Brighton that lifted his team out of the relegation zone.

Adebayo’s first came after just 18 seconds and it was barely the quickest of the night, with Ben Brereton Diaz scoring after 21 seconds for Sheffield United in its 3-2 loss at Crystal Palace.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, January 31, 2024, PAGE 15

DEVYNNE CHARLTON

KEN MULLINGS

Athletes of the Month

Charlton and Mullings run away with January honours D

evynne Charlton and Ken Mullings put on stellar performances in January to run away with the first Player of the Month honours for 2024. The Tribune Sports section will recognise the efforts of athletes across all sporting disciplines and award a male and female candidate at the end of each respective month, culminating with the selection of the junior and senior athletes of the year.

Charlton and Mullings both opened their indoor seasons in record-breaking fashion.

Ken Mullings Male Winner The multi-event athlete got his season started by shattering the 35-year-old indoor pole vault record set by Brent Vanderpool in February 1988 in Annapolis, Maryland. He soared to a height of 5.03 metres at the Illini Open hosted at the University of Illinois Armory in Champaign, Illinois earlier in January. The 26-year-old surpassed Vanderpool’s previous national record performance of 4.95m. In the event, Mullings leapt to 4.43m on the first attempt, next he cleared 4.58m, 4.73m, 4.88m and ended with his winning height of 5.03m.

The new indoor pole vault national record holder was also successful in the men’s 60m hurdles where he claimed a first place finish in 7.83 seconds, a personal best at the time.

Additionally, he ended in sixth place in the men’s shot put with a throw of 15.25m.

holder ran the second fastest qualifying time with 7.98 seconds before hitting her world-leading mark. She placed fourth in the 60m prelims in 7.38 seconds.

Her best performance of the month came in the 60m hurdles at the 2024 Texas Tech Corky Classic

Last weekend, Mullings turned heads once again with another record-setting performance, this time in the men’s indoor heptathlon at the Illini Challenge hosted at the University of Illinois Armory in Champaign, Illinois. He shattered the standard set by himself one year prior at the same event with a total of 6,340 points across seven events.

Last year, he amassed a total of 5,933 points.

The former University of The Bahamas student was able to obtain personal bests in six of the seven events competed in. He came first in the 60m in 6.83 seconds (944

points), long jump with 7.52m (940 points), shot put with 15.91m (846 points), high jump with 2.14m (934 points), 60m hurdles in 7.76 seconds (1,043 points), and pole vault with 4.95m (895 points). Mullings came sixth in the 1,000m event in 2:52.68 (738 points).

Devynne Charlton Female Winner Charlton opened up her indoor season with a bang, beginning with a worldleading time of 7.88 seconds in the 60m hurdles at the Rod McCravy Memorial Track and Field Meet at the Norton Sports Centre in Louisville, Kentucky. The hurdles national record

in Lubbock, Texas. She ran a blistering 7.75 seconds, earning her second straight victory in the event and lowering her previous national record of 7.81 seconds achieved in 2022 at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

The 28-year-old’s latest

accomplishment positioned her in a five-way tie as the 13th fastest woman to compete in that event.

Both athletes will look to continue their positive strides as the World Indoor Championships and Paris Olympic Games are right around the corner.

SPORTS PAGE 16

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2024

Amateur golfers Gibson, Johnson miss the cut

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

I

NOLAN JOHNSON and his caddie Anderson Petino lining up a shot.

TEAMS ADVANCE IN BAISS SUDDEN DEATH PLAYOFFS

t wasn’t the type of performance that Richard Gibson Jr anticipated in his return to the Latin America Amateur Championships.

For Nolan Johnson, he was just thrilled to be playing in the event for the first time in Panama.

The duo are back home after playing in the tournament from January 18-21.

Santiago De LaFuenta of Mexico won the title,

beating out Omar Morales, who led for the first three rounds.

“My performance for the week overall was okay, but my biggest issue that I had was getting off the tee with my driver,” said Gibson Jr, who is the highest ranked international amateur golfer in the country. “I had some issues getting off the tee with my driver and that caused me to miss the cut.

Whenever I was hitting the driver well, the spots that I was, I would have finished in the top 10 if I had gotten those shots off.”

Based on what he and his brother and caddie Rayshard saw, the 32-year-old Gibson Jr said he was right on target for a good showing in his third appearance at the tournament.

“I also had an elbow injury and because of that, I couldn’t swing the club as I would have liked to,” Gibson Jr said. “It looked like a lot more younger guys and collegiate players, so it was a very competitive tournament.”

Overall, Johnson said it was a good debut for him as he tried to soak it all in.

“I didn’t play as well as I wanted to,” he admitted after he finished with his score of 173 with rounds of 88 and 85. “Even though it was my first time, I felt my game was strong enough to make the cut.

“I didn’t simply because I didn’t perform well on the putting green. I made too many mistakes around the putting green, although I was able to drive the ball well off the tee and hit some very good approach shots.”

Not able to find the fairways during his two days of competition forced Johnson

Buddy Hield scores 12 in loss to Celtics

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net FOUR teams advanced to the championship round of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) playoffs last night while their potential opponents square off today at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.

The second seeded St John’s College Giants sent the third seeded Queen’s College Comets home after destroying them 42-26 yesterday.

The Giants were firmly in charge for a large portion of the game. The Comets managed to tie the game at 18 apiece with 59.4 seconds on the clock in the second quarter.

However, an unanswered 6-0 run by the Giants stomped away their hopes and gave them a 24-16 lead going into the break.

The third quarter began and the Giants erupted to a 10-point lead, running up the score to 32-22 after a pair of successful free throws.

The victors picked up the pace and pushed the lead to as much as 14 and they never looked back to not only secure the win but a spot in the championship

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BOSTON Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, left, shoots against Indiana Pacers’ Buddy Hield during the first half of an NBA basketball game last night in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 14

SPORTS CALENDAR BASKETBALL NPWBA SEASON HALTED AFTER playing just one game to get their season underway over the weekend, the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association was served notice that the rest of their season will not be able to continue right now at the DW Davis Gymnasium.

Association president Annastacia Sands, on behalf of her executive team, released the following statement: On behalf of the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association, we are informing you that the league will be closed until further notice. Davis is installing new bleachers and they have closed the gym for about three weeks.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused,” the release stated. “Thank you for your support and see you when we reopen.”

The gym serves as the home for the NPWBA. The AF Adderley Gym is

Jan. 2024

closed for repairs as well, while the CI Gibson Gymnasium is being occupied by the New Providence Basketball Association and the Anatol Rodgers Gymnasium is not available.

The Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the only other government-owned gym, is accommodating the private and government schools basketball playoffs and championships this week and next week before the men’s national team prepare for the Americas Cup. NPBA ACTION THE New Providence Basketball Association will continue its regular season action this week with the following games on tap: Today (Wednesday) 7pm - Cyber T4ech Blue Marlins vs Rhythm Rebels (DII) 8:30pm - Zulu Media & Symphony vs Discount Liquors Rockets (D1)

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to join Gibson Jr in watching the rest of the weeklong competition from the sidelines.

“Other than that, the event was good,” Johnson said. “I met some of the best of the best amateur golfers in the Latin American and Caribbean region and I also got to meet our own Bahamian Fred Perpall, who is the president of the United States Golf Association.

“For me, I took it all in and I sucked it all in. It was

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EVA HILTON SHOCKERS EMERGE AS CHAMPIONS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AT the end of two exciting days of competition, the Eva Hilton Shockers emerged as the girls’ champions of the New Providence Public Primary Schools Association’s Sherman Smith Basketball Tournament.

In concluding a complete sweep of all of their games played on Monday and Tuesday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, Eva Hilton shocked the Sadie Curtis Blazers 34-6 behind the brilliant performance from Raynique Tinker.

While the Shockers celebrated as champions, defending champions Sandilands Primary had to settle for the consolation third place prize as they blanked Uriah McPhee 16-0.

Today, the boys will begin their competition as they prepare to crown their new champion on Thursday or Friday, depending on the amount of teams that participate.

But for now, the spotlight is on Eva Hilton.

Tinker, one of the starting twin towers for the Shockers, was unstoppable as she worked her way inside for 14 points, half of which came off second chance shots, as she dominated in the paint for the team’s 22-2 lead at the half.

Tinker, who had already outscored Sadie Curtis

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SAMUEL P HAVEN SOCCER NATIONALS APRIL 25-MAY 4 THE Samuel P Haven Jr High School is excited to announce the dates for the 2024 Soccer Nationals, set to take place from April 25 to May 4.

This prestigious event, a collaboration between the Bahamas Football Association (BFA) and the Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training (MOETVT), will see top high school teams from across The Bahamas competing for soccer supremacy. Last year’s tournament featured stellar performances from teams hailing from New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco.

Defending girls’ champions CR Walker Knights, and boys’ champions, Lyford Cay Dragons, are geared up to defend their titles in what promises to be an event filled with skill, passion and exciting soccer play. “The collaboration with the BFA and the Ministry of Education has been instrumental in elevating the standard and reach of this tournament,” said Carl Lynch, BFA deputy general secretary and tournament coordinator.

“It’s more than just a game, it’s a platform for young talent to shine and for islands across The Bahamas to unite in

celebrating the spirit of competition and the love for the game.”

This year’s tournament will span 10 days, culminating in a final showdown where the champions will be crowned.

Fans and supporters can expect a thrilling showcase of future soccer stars, exemplifying teamwork, determination and exceptional athletic ability.

“Join us in experiencing this celebration of soccer, where young athletes demonstrate their prowess and communities from across the islands come together in support and enthusiasm,” Lynch said.

BAHAMAS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OWCS THE Bahamas Esports Federation (BESF) proudly announces a significant advancement for our esports community.

Following discussions with Overwatch Esports Product Lead, Bailey McCann, it has been confirmed that The Bahamas will be eligible to participate in the 2024 Overwatch Championship Series (OWCS).

This inclusion is a monumental step for the esports landscape in The Bahamas, providing an open platform for Bahamian

teams to engage in international competition. While the initial announcement from Overwatch Esports highlighted eligible countries for the NA region, The Bahamas was not mentioned among the NA nor LATAM countries listed. However, we are now assured that Bahamian players have the opportunity to partake in this prestigious series. The BESF has been at the forefront of advocating for broader participation opportunities for our players.