02012021 NEWS AND SPORT

HOUSE & HOME THURSDAY

Strawberry Créme Pie

i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 79ºF LOW 59ºF

CARS! CARS!

The Tribune

Volume: 118 No.46, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

L A T E S T

N E W S

CLASSIFIEDS TRADER

Established 1903

O N

T R I B U N E 2 4 2 . C O M

Biggest And Best!

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1

NOTHING TO HIDE

Christie and Davis insist party’s reputation is clear amid Nygard allegations

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie said in a new Canadian television programme that he has “no fear of any investigation” into his conduct in public life concerning Peter Nygard.

He spoke via a phone interview with reporters for CBC Television’s The Fifth Estate, an episode of which aired last week.

“I spent 43 years in public life,” Mr Christie said.

“There’s no equivocation about my commitment to integrity so I just want to be able to say it clearly, and as strongly as I possibly can to you, I have no fear of

any investigation into my conduct in public life, full stop.”

During the episode, several clips of Nygard and Mr Christie together are shown. One video shows Mr Christie at the wedding of one of Nygard’s daughters in Winnipeg, Canada in 2011.

During a speech at the event, Mr Christie, then leader of the opposition, described Nygard as a “significant personality in The Bahamas, known for his philanthropy”. “(He is) a contributor to those who are in need.”

Describing how they met, Mr Christie said: “He was having some difficulty SEE PAGE THREE

...AS DAMES DECLARES ALL CLAIMS WILL BE EXAMINED

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames has again expressed confidence in the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s capability to investigate local complaints against Lyford Cay homeowner Peter Nygard despite allegations of bribery made against officers.

“The Fifth Estate”, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) television programme, last week aired an eyebrow-raising piece on Nygard’s “pamper parties” at Lyford Cay where it is alleged women

and underage girls were drugged and raped.

The broadcast featured claims from former Nygard associates who alleged local politicians and senior police officers received money to help conceal the 79-yearold’s alleged offences.

The programme recounted much of the same allegations The Tribune has extensively reported over many months stemming from civil and criminal actions lodged in the US and Canada.

When asked by The Tribune yesterday if there were fears the latest TV SEE PAGE THREE

FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie alongside Peter Nygard and two unidentified women in Las Vegas. One of the women has a rolled-up wad of cash in her bra.

Photo: Stephen Feralio

16 CANDIDATES FOR PLP’S ELECTION LIST

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Candidates Committee of the Progressive Liberal Party has finalised 16 candidates to represent the party in the next general election, a group that includes old hands and new faces that will help form the

PLP’s team - in addition to the five incumbent PLP MPs. The party could hold a National General Council meeting as soon as this week to consider the recommendations and ratify the candidates, two sources told The Tribune yesterday.

SEE PAGE FIVE

GOVT BORROWING ROSE BY $2.2BN IN LAST SIX MONTHS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government’s gross borrowings leapt four-fold year-over-year to more than $2bn during the six months to end-2020, it was revealed yesterday, exceeding what was projected for the full fiscal year.

The so-called “fiscal snapshot” and report for the 2020-2021 first half, which covers the six months from July 1 last year, disclosed the Minnis administration borrowed a total $2.12 billion compared to just $530.9m during the same period in the prior fiscal year.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

POLICE SHOOT DEAD FLEEING SUSPECT Insight

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was killed in a police-involved shooting yesterday after he attempted to “evade” officers, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.

The incident occurred after 5pm, when police received reports of a disturbance at the Bahamas Hot Rod Association situated

A VEHICLE at the scene of last night’s shooting. at Corridor Seven between Bethel Avenue and Yellow Elder Way. Units were dispatched and on their arrival,

they found a gathering.

Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters told The Tribune by phone that the gathering breached COVID-19 protocols and police were trying to force the patrons to leave that area.

“As a result of this gathering, the officers established a checkpoint at the entrance of the venue SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

NO COMMENT? IT’S NOT FOR A LACK OF TRYING

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Monday, February 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Building goes up in flames on Bay Street

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net AN abandoned two-storey building on Bay Street was engulfed in flames Friday afternoon, destroying the structure.

Kenneth Morris, the officer in charge of the Fire Department, said the fire at the building, which is near Government Publications,

did not damage nearby structures.

“Sometime around 3:26pm the fire department received a call of a building fire on Bay Street,” he told reporters.

“As a result of this call, the fire department responded with three fire appliers (and) eight officers where we met a two-storey stone structure engulfed in flames. The fire was

attacked, controlled and later extinguished, resulting to damages to that building only.”

Mr Morris said he couldn’t comment on whether a body was at the structure and police spokesman Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters later said reports that human remains were found at the site were unfounded.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, February 1, 2021, PAGE 3

Nothing to hide from page one

with his residency and I was introduced to him and facilitated the granting of that certificate that enabled him to be resident in The Bahamas.”

Another video clip showed Mr Christie meeting Nygard in Las Vegas.

The episode also shows Nygard celebrating the Progressive Liberal Party’s 2012 election victory.

“Isn’t that wonderful, we won, we won, we won,” Nygard says in the clip. “It’s one of the best nights in my life. I never thought I’d get so involved in politics, let alone be the key instrument in making it happen.”

The US Department of Justice charged Nygard with sex trafficking and racketeering offences in December and authorities arrested the fashion mogul in Winnipeg that month.

Dozens of women over a 25-year period have accused Nygard of sexual misconduct.

Nygard is currently trying to secure bail ahead of extradition proceedings.

His lawyers said in a Canadian court last week that he would be under constant video surveillance and have a security guard watching the outside of his house if he is released on bail.

PETER Nygard with senior PLPs after the Christie election victory.

DAMES DECLARES ALL CLAIMS WILL BE EXAMINED from page one

NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames at the weekend.

programme painted police in a bad light, Mr Dames expressed confidence in law enforcement in investigating allegations.

“No one ever wants to hear allegations about individuals, especially in public service, and you know I would expect that the police will and are looking at. I mean there were any number of complaints that were filed that I’m aware of and that the police are currently investigating and so we’ll see where it goes,” he said.

Asked if police are currently looking into claims, he responded: “Of course.

No one is above the law,

okay, and we’re not going to be a part of any coverup, okay. If allegations are made against individuals whether in public service, whether in the police force, whether in any agency there’s an obligation to follow through on that to determine whether there is any validity to it or otherwise. Anyone would want to know that if you accuse me of something that you want it to be looked into to clear your name. Right, so this is no different.

“So, no one is above the law... and so one of the positions of this government since coming into power and we say that we will deal with corruption - public sector corruption

POLICE SHOOT DEAD FLEEING SUSPECT from page one and as vehicles were leaving the entrance of the venue itself, officers made checks of those vehicles along with the persons,” he said to reporters at the scene.

“One such vehicle in an attempt to evade the officers at the checkpoint accelerated his vehicle towards the officers and as the officers beckoned him to stop he failed to do so.

“So the officers pulled their service weapons and discharged it at the occupant of the vehicle. The vehicle itself was driven some 300 yards further west along Corridor Seven where it crashed along a northern wall.”

EMS took the man to hospital where he died.

Police said a weapon was found in the man’s vehicle.

The victim is said to be in his mid-20s. He was the only person harmed in the incident, according to initial police reports.

Asked if the police involved were wearing body cams or had a dash cam on

OFFICERS investigating the vehicle after last night’s shooting and, top, the vehicle being taken away from the scene.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff their squad car, ASP Peters initial stages of this body time when the commissaid he could not confirm cam (roll out) it was only sioner makes his decision to this. determined that the mobile allow other officers to use However, he said officers officers who are first the body cam that decision from the Mobile Unit are responders would be the will be made.” outfitted with body cams. persons who will be wearing This is the first police He explained: “In the the body cam and until such involved killing this year.

and wherever it falls. Wherever it leads you know law enforcement will follow.

That’s how it ought to be and I won’t accept anything otherwise.”

Last year Mr Dames told this newspaper police will investigate claims that Nygard concealed his alleged sexual crimes by bribing local law enforcement officials - brought to light in a US lawsuit.

However, Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle told reporters in December the police force had not receive any official complaints of “complicity” with any officers.

“We have not received any complaints about complicity of any officers of

the Royal Bahamas Police Force currently or present,” Commissioner Rolle said previously. “…But like, I said. I’m not going to go any further with that and the matter is now before a judge and please don’t draw this commissioner into that.”

The police chief also admitted officers visited Nygard’s home in Lyford Cay in 2019 as a part of an investigation into sexual assault allegations made against him but found that he had already left the country.

His comments came after Nygard was charged by the US Department of Justice with sex trafficking and racketeering last December.

PAGE 4, Monday, February 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

CANCELLED FLIGHTS - BUT NO WORD OF BAHAMIANS STUCK IN CANADA

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has no reports of Bahamians being stuck in Canada after airlines there cancelled Caribbean flights.

Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau recently announced the country’s main airlines (Air Canada,

WestJet, and Sunwing) were cancelling all services to Caribbean destinations and Mexico — so called “sun destinations” — until April 30.

The Canadian government has also mandated new testing and three-day quarantine periods upon arrival in the country in response to concerns about new coronavirus variants.

In a statement issued on

Saturday, the Bahamian ministry sought to clarify some social media accusations which claimed there was no Bahamian High Commissioner in Canada to assist those seeking to return home as Alvin Smith returned to The Bahamas last year after completing his tour of duty on November .

The statement noted: “The ministry wishes to clarify that while there is currently

no high commissioner in Canada, there is a very competent foreign service officer in the post, Ms Chanelle Brown, who is serving as chargé d’affaires until High Commissioner Designate, Kenneth Russell is in post.

The ministry reported 18 November 2020 on the end of the tour of duty of High Commissioner Smith and that Ms Brown would serve as chargé.

“Ms Brown and the team

are in close contact at all times with the Bahamian community in Canada.

Reports from the chargé are that the orders to give effect to the measures announced by the (Canadian) federal government are not yet in place.

“It would be premature for the High Commission to make a general announcement until the government has provided more details.

Furthermore, while the airlines will be making arrangements with their customers who are in Canada to organise flights home, no Bahamians have reported concerns to the High Commission….the High Commission, as it always does, will monitor the situation closely and take steps needed if any national is found to be in distress.”

Nursing chief: We still have not been paid

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Nurses Union President Amancha Williams is disappointed her members have still not been paid money owed to them by the government.

Meanwhile, Labour Director John Pinder sought to justify this telling The Tribune that due to the state of the country’s financial affairs, government has to prioritise what it spends.

However, he said nurses will be paid at some point.

In December, after being promised payment over a period of several months, Nurse Williams issued government an ultimatum giving it to the end of that month to release the funds.

But, government has failed to pay the promised COVID-19 stipend and overtime owed to nurses who worked for up to 16 hours a day during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Speaking with The Tribune Friday, Nurse Williams confirmed that the nurses have still not been paid and at this point, all communications between the Ministry of Health and the BNU have been cut off.

She said: “We can’t just sit down and take this. These guys are no longer even answering us. It’s like we are nobody. This is where we are at? We had a meeting with the Minister (of Health) after Boxing Day and we saw him last week Friday after being awarded

by Jones Communications.

He said he was going to call me on Saturday and he

AMANCHA WILLIAMS never did. He brushed us off. They have not paid us what’s owed from the 31st (December).

“They do not answer our calls. We tried to get some information from the Permanent Secretary, but nothing’s happening.

The question is where is Labour? Where is the Director of Labour? Where is the Minister of Labour?

When these things are not happening and they know they are not doing right by the employees, then they should step in. Why should the public have to suffer?

Asked if industrial action was the next step for workers, seeing that they were not getting anywhere with receiving monies owed, Nurse Williams was non-committal.

She said there are many things to look at before considering industrial action, however, she did not say that that form of action would not be taken.

The Tribune contacted the Director of Labour to inquire as to when the nurses would receive their funds. He said he felt confident that the government would make good on its promise of paying what is owed to the nurses, but the timing was bad as “things are tight” with the government’s finances.

The Tribune also asked Mr Pinder if there was

anything he could do to oversee and speed up the process.

Mr Pinder said: “It is very little I can do besides to ensure that the government is committed to paying them.

And, I already know that the government is committed to making those payments. The minister made mention of that and the prime minister made mention of that. It is just unfortunate that things are very tight at this time.

“I think the government’s focus at this time is trying to keep the civil service employed and salary going. I am sure, at some point, the nurses will get what they are entitled to.

They have demonstrated their commitment to being on the front line during the pandemic and the government has committed to those payments.”

Mr Pinder went on to explain that although the government has acknowledged that the money is owed and will be paid, it now has to prioritise with its spending.

He continued: “The revenue is down in the country for a whole fiscal year so far, so the government has to prioritise. There are people who are owed overtime and some other benefits, but meanwhile you have to look at the people who you have to pay salaries to. One thing civil servants know is that the government will owe you, but the government will pay you. It’s guaranteed that you will be paid. Now sometimes it’s late, but you will be paid.”

Nurse Williams said she is very disappointed in the manner in which the government is treating its frontline workers.

TOTAL CASES

TOTAL DEATHS

NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES SATURDAY 24 CASES

LATEST DEATHS

8,207 176 NEW PROVIDENCE 13 GRAND BAHAMA 5 ABACO 4 ANDROS 2

FRIDAY

•A 94-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE DIED ON JANUARY 27.

9 CASES

NEW PROVIDENCE GRAND BAHAMA

7 2

THURSDAY

7 CASES

NEW PROVIDENCE 5 GRAND BAHAMA 1 ANDROS 1

TOTAL TESTS

60,416

HOSPITALISED

11

CASES IN ICU

0

RECOVERED

6,784

94-YEAR-OLD NEW PROVIDENCE WOMAN DIES FROM COVID THE country’s COVID19 death toll has risen to 176 after a 94-year-old woman died from the disease in late January.

According to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 report dated January 28, the New Providence woman

died on January 27.

Officials also reported seven new cases on Thursday and nine on Friday, mostly from the nation’s capital.

Of the cases confirmed on Thursday, five were in New Providence

while there was one each in Andros and Grand Bahama. Of Friday’s cases, seven were in New Providence while two were on Grand Bahama.

There were 8,183 total confirmed cases up to press time.

LARGE BLAZE BREAKS OUT AT ABACO LANDFILL SITE THE Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA) advises residents of Abaco to report unauthorised dumping and foraging at the Great Abaco Sanitary Landfill, located on Snake Cay Road, in the wake of a large fire that continues to burn at the site.

Thomasina Wilson, senior deputy director, Department of Environmental Health Services, in collaboration with the DRA said, “The Ministry of Works created the Snake Cay site in the aftermath of Dorian. It was intended to be used as a temporary holding site for debris until the

government had an opportunity to prepare a proper waste management site.”

She added: “Unfortunately, the debris was never removed. Removal is a complex undertaking as municipal waste must be sorted and taken to the open-air disposal site and

hurricane debris must be taken to the debris management facility. The necessary resources have not yet been put in place to allow for an effective debris removal plan to be executed.”

She said as a result, debris continued to accumulate beyond the temporary site’s intended capacity as people kept dumping their waste even after the launch of the main debris management site in Spring City.

“People enter the Snake Cay site after-hours for unauthorised purposes when the main debris management site is closed.

Many are foraging and burning fires at this prohibited site even after being instructed to cease these activities. As anticipated, this behaviour eventually leads to situations like the fire that is burning today,” she said.

She stressed that people should stop contributing to the problem through the indiscriminate dumping of waste and debris at the prohibited site. Ms Wilson said to report any unauthorised or suspicious site activities to the authorities by calling 911 or 919.

Assistant Chief Timothy McDonald of the Marsh Harbour Volunteer Fire and Rescue believes that while the fire does pose a threat to the surrounding area, it can be contained.

“Due to the volume of compacted debris, we don’t believe that simply dumping water from our fire

THE BLAZE at Great Abaco Sanitary Landfill. trucks will be able to put it situations emerge due to out. So, we have mobilised human interference and nona bulldozer to dig fire lines compliance, other disaster around the burning area to recovery efforts are affected. contain the fire and prevent “Whenever we use it from spreading to other resources, be it human or areas. monetary, to put out fires “There’s a real possibility and address other hazards as of this fire spreading to the a result of non-compliance surrounding bushy areas or on the part of residents, we even spreading to other sites. must accommodate these There are a lot of people unexpected expenses. The burning fires throughout the end-result is that other recovisland, and there needs to be ery efforts are inevitably an immediate crackdown on impacted due to this comthis behaviour as it puts us all pletely avoidable situation, if at risk.” only people would follow the Mr McDonald also con- rules,” Mr Grant said. firmed suspicions that, “the He said as the DRA prefire was likely intentionally pares to relaunch its Small started by people searching Home Repair Programme for copper.” and the dome housing proAll residents of Abaco ject, it is vital that resources are encouraged to report go towards providing housfires by contacting the ing and other assistance for Marsh Harbour Volunteer the victims of Hurricane Fire and Rescue at 577- Dorian. However, as such 2000, Mr McDonald directly fires are an environmental at 577-1221 or Fire Chief and health hazard for the Danny Sawyer at 477-5901. people of Abaco, the govWendell Grant, project ernment must get involved director for the DRA, wants in order to prevent a bad the public to know that when situation from becoming fires and other hazardous worse, he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, February 1, 2021, PAGE 5

Davis criticism of PM ‘may have exposed him to prosecution’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Office of the Attorney General said Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis has exposed himself to possible criminal prosecution for claiming that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis breached rules of the emergency powers order.

The statement came after former Nassau Village MP Dion Smith wrote an opinion piece claiming that Dr Minnis was liable to criminal prosecution and faced criminal penalties for failing to submit a report that details the “expenditures, suppliers for the goods and services procured and the reasons those suppliers were chosen” as Section 11.2 of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19 Pandemic) Regulations require.

Mr Davis has backed Mr

Smith’s analysis, prompting the AG’s Office to say in a statement that they “are wrong in law and on the facts”. The AG’s Office said the men could be exposed to “possible liability in civil law” and criminal prosecution if Dr Minnis were to make a complaint of criminal libel.

The statement said: “As recited by Mr Smith in his ‘opinion,’ the Emergency Powers Regulations empower the competent authority ‘by order’ to waive procurement rules. If he does so, then the obligation of the minister of finance to report on all such procurement activities related to public health and safety to Parliament, within six weeks after the expiration of any proclamation of emergency, would arise.

“However, the fact is that the competent authority has never issued any order to waive any

procurement rules.”

Mr Davis, who first raised the issue in the House of Assembly last week, noted during a press conference yesterday that he received no response at the time.

“They didn’t have an answer,” he said. “Then they spent a few days scrambling and yesterday they had their attorney general issue a laughable statement trying to get their man off on a technicality.

“Their argument, which they accompanied with ridiculous legal threats, amounts to this: the prime minister didn’t issue an order to waive the procurement rules – he ignored them, without issuing the order. And therefore, he wasn’t obligated to report to Parliament how he’s spent the people’s money.

“This is the response of a government who spent their last campaign promising transparency and accountability.”

PLP leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis in Parliament last week.

16 CANDIDATES FOR PLP’S ELECTION LIST from page one The five incumbent PLP MPs - leader Philip Davis, deputy leader Chester Cooper, Glenys Hanna-Martin, Picewell Forbes and Vaughn Miller - have been guaranteed a nomination.

Otherwise, the Candidates Committee’s recommendations include former ministers Fred Mitchell in Fox Hill, Alfred Sears in Fort Charlotte, Keith Bell in Carmichael and Michael Halkitis in St Barnabas, The Tribune understands.

Other recommendations include Clay Sweeting in South Eleuthera, Jobeth Coleby-Davis in Elizabeth, Leslia Brice in Seabreeze, Jomo Campbell in Centreville, Wayde Watson in Bain and Grants Town, Jamal Strachan in Nassau Village, Mario Bowleg in Garden Hills, Zane Lightbourne in Yamacraw and Bacchus Rolle in South Beach.

Three more candidates have been identified but their names were not available.

PLP officials were tight lipped when asked about the party’s candidates yesterday. When contacted, one expected nominee said they were told not to speak to the media.

Nonetheless, the party has moved to quickly build up its campaign apparatus

in anticipation of what it expects to be an early election.

Kevin Simmons, a close ally of party leader Philip “Brave” Davis, is said to be the campaign coordinator.

The likely move to confirm some candidates follows an unusually tense and bitter nomination process that was at times subject to claims of unfairness.

Younger PLPs, some of whom feel pushed aside in favour of older candidates, have been especially critical of the process. Convinced they can bring a fresh perspective that would serve the party well in governance, some are now disillusioned with the PLP. The Tribune understands officials at the highest level of the party asked several young aspirants to end their campaign for a nomination for the next election.

“The electorate told the PLP to become a more youthful party,” one young member said recently, “but the message being sent is it doesn’t make sense joining the party and working your way up because young people who did that aren’t being considered for candidacies.”

Asked about this yesterday, Mr Davis said his party will have a “significant amount of young people” as part of its team.

“You will see when they are unveiled, there will be

disappointments but the road to governance has many parts and roles to play and the fact that they may not be a candidate does not necessarily mean they are excluded from my (prospective) government. And so sometimes it worries me that people only see their role as an MP and they don’t see the bigger picture. At the moment there are only 39 seats.

“We’ve had nearly 300 persons apply for seats and there will be disappointments and everyone who applied they all indicated that they understood the likelihood is there that they will not be nominated even though they will wish to be and they all said that they will be willing to accept the decision and I hope that will carry through.”

Mr Davis touched on themes that will likely form part of the PLP’s pitch to voters during a press conference yesterday.

“I have just returned from a few days traveling in the Family Islands,” he said.

“I want to be as clear as possible, across this country, there is terrible suffering.

“I have never seen so many Bahamians hurting so badly at the same time.

It is absolutely clear that we need to step up immediate relief to families and we need a roadmap for the way forward. People need help now, and we need to rebuild our economy so that it is more fair and inclusive.”

Recommendations by PLP Candidates Committee Philip ‘Brave’ Davis

Chester Cooper

MP, Cat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador

MP, Exumas and Ragged Island

Glenys Hanna-Martin

Picewell Forbes

MP, Englerston

MP, Mangrove Cay and South Andros

Vaughn Miller

Fred Mitchell

MP, Golden Isles

Candidate, Fox Hill

Alfred Sears

Keith Bell

Candidate, Fort Charlotte

Candidate, Carmichael

Michael Halkitis

Clay Sweeting

Candidate, St Barnabas

Candidate, South Eleuthera

Jobeth Coleby-Davis

Leslia Brice

Candidate, Elizabeth

Candidate, Seabreeze

Jomo Campbell

Wayde Watson

Candidate, Centreville

Candidate, Bain and Grants Town

Jamal Strachan

Mario Bowleg

Candidate, Nassau Village

Candidate, Garden Hills

Zane Lightbourne

Bacchus Rolle

Candidate, Yamacraw

Candidate, South Beach

• Three further candidates confirmed but not yet revealed

PAGE 6, Monday, February 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

The new PLP - same as the old one?

SO much for a new-look Progressive Liberal Party.

The first list of candidates for the next election is out – and despite party leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis promising “a new slate of candidates”, there are a lot of familiar names to be seen.

A list of names have been revealed.

Five of those are incumbent MPs – including Vaughn Miller who switched from the FNM and it seems likely was promised the chance to run in his seat again.

Then come the old hands – party chairman Fred Mitchell gets to run again in Fox Hill, Alfred Sears runs in Fort Charlotte, Keith Bell in Carmichael and Michael Halkitis in St Barnabas.

So out of 18 names revealed, half are incumbents or old, familiar names.

Another promise by Mr Davis was to encourage more women to join frontline politics. Philip Galanis said after Mr Davis won the leadership of his party that “more and more women need to be encouraged to participate at various level, and I think that’s going to happen increasingly and remarkably with Mr Davis at the helm”.

Nothing remarkable to see in the list of names so far in that regard, with incumbent Glenys Hanna-Martin joined on the list by just two women – Jobeth Coleby-Davis contesting Elizabeth, and Leslia Brice in Seabreeze.

Young members of the PLP find themselves feeling left out too – with older members finding their way to the candidacy instead.

One young member said recently: “The electorate told the PLP to become a more youthful party, but the message being sent is it doesn’t make sense joining the party and working your way up because young people who did that aren’t being considered for candidacies.”

If the intention was to present a new face for the PLP, something distinctly different from the Christie administration voted out in a landslide in 2017, this doesn’t look like it so far.

Granted, there are more names to come – but this looks far from a revolution.

As for Mr Davis, he hinted at what is likely to become an election theme when he talked about the “terrible suffering” he has seen in the Family Islands, adding that “we need to rebuild our economy so that it is more fair and inclusive”.

We shall see how inclusive his final election line-up will be soon enough – then it will be time to show us policies,

not catch phrases, that will help to restore an economy battered by a hurricane and a pandemic.

Whoever wins the next election, that will be no easy task.

Nygard’s legacy

The spectre of Peter Nygard continues to loom over The Bahamas.

In a new Canadian television programme, former Prime Minister Perry Christie says he has “no fear of any investigation” into Peter Nygard, even as clips of Mr Nygard with Mr Christie appeared – including at the wedding of one of Mr Nygard’s daughters during which Mr Christie hailed the entrepreneur as “a contributor to those who are in need”.

Such links between Mr Nygard and the PLP come as no surprise to readers of The Tribune – but Mr Nygard made no secret of it himself, saying on video “We won, we won, we won” and describing Christie’s election victory as “one of the best nights of my life. I never thought I’d get so involved in politics, let alone be the key instrument in making it happen”.

The PLP of today may seek to play down Nygard’s connection to the party in the past, but it would do better to confront its connections and do all it can to provide all information it can about his involvement.

Investigations are still going on into Mr Nygard’s behaviour – he is charged with sex trafficking and racketeering in the US – while allegations of bribery have been made here in The Bahamas involving politicians and police officers.

A police investigation drags on here – with National Security Minister Marvin Dames expressing confidence in the police force’s ability to investigate complaints despite there being little sign of progress.

The crucial part of all this is that there are Bahamians who have made accusations against Peter Nygard, including a number of women who have made allegations of rape. The longer this investigation continues without a resolution, the longer justice is denied.

Are we really content to let such accusations against a foreign investor go unanswered? Are we happy to let Bahamian women suffer injustice?

Nygard’s legacy should be a determination to do better – and not simply allow such claims to be swept under the table.

Timing is everything over credit bureau EDITOR, The Tribune.

YOUR Monday, January 18th, Business Section headlines: “Credit Bureau to hit 30% borrowers”.

Timing is everything it is said and this just confirms it.

The large majority of the people of this country are down and out, through no fault of their own, and the Government and many NGO’s are struggling to just put food on their tables. But the Clearing Banks Association thinks that this is a good time to announce that 30 percent of the people will not be able to borrow money in future.

CORRECTION

THE front page of Friday’s Tribune inadvertently had the wrong dateline. It read Thursday, January 28, 2021, instead of Friday, January 29, 2021. We apologise for the error.

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

One has to wonder if Mr Kenrick Braithwaite was around in September of 2019 when Hurricane Dorian destroyed the lives and livelihoods of so many in Abaco and Grand Bahama.

And where was he last year when COVID-19 went trundling through the world, destroying the entire Global Economy and not least of all, the Bahamas economy.

Could no one have told Mr Braithwaite that striking terror in the hearts of Bahamians, many without jobs and many more unable to buy food, would not be a well-timed announcement?

I read The Tribune every day, and not a solitary politician, Government nor Opposition, has had the guts to denounce the timing, if not the machinery, of a Credit Bureau at this time.

Another “well-timed” (LOL) suggestion is in today’s Tribune Business, where Sothebys George

Damianos says that he was shocked at the run down and dilapidated state of downtown Nassau and recommended that all (other) parties concerned should now give it a jolly good polishing.

But it wasn’t so shabby when he and almost the entire Bahamas Real Estate Association relocated their businesses to Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay, and Albany.

Nor was it so shabby when most of the legal fraternity quickly followed, they in turn being followed by many of the private banks and other businesses moving west, in what can only be described as a modern day Gold Rush.

Downtown has looked like this for years, which only goes to show how infrequently Mr Damianos actually gets out of Lyford Cay. RIP VAN WINKLE Nassau, January 20, 2021.

Jamaal Rolle is on holiday

Complaints against police EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE violent attack on the 117th United States Congress and US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 6th must be of concern to law-enforcement agencies and democratic governments and societies around the world, particularly in this region.

Media reports disclosed that the Chief of Police received information from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the New York Police Department of the likelihood of violent conduct from a so-called peaceful crowd of demonstrators who would be marching to the Capitol City. The Chief of Police and his executives would have observed the gross misconduct of some groups at a large number of demonstrations, eg “Black Lives Matter” and the ProTrump supporters against the election results.

The violence and looting demonstrated by groups infiltrating the “Black Lives Matter” protesters and the violent moods of those protesting the election should have been signs of what could have been expected in the Capitol City. The Chief of Police claims that he applied to a political office to get approval for reinforcements days prior to the march. He claims that he made six applications for resources from the National Guard to supplement his Police Unit. His applications were refused.

The National Guard was activated in the middle of the attack, in which one policeman was killed and several others injured.

The protection of international and national events, parliamentarians and judicial officials and high profile visitors is the responsibility of the Commissioner of Police and the Royal Bahamas Police Force. We have been well trained by the United Kingdom Police Officers, who were the responsible police administration in our Colonial past. Those of us who attended Police Colleges in the UK were exposed to an extensive amount of this training, including Crowd Control and Police Preparation for any and all incidents. The risks involved with the socalled peaceful incidents.

The risks involved with the so-called peaceful protests and marches may be heightened by one or more of the following: the size of the crowd; the sensitivity of the issues, the level of rhetoric being used by those opposed, the manner in which the media (Talk Shows in particular) present the issues and the demeanor of the leaders and the public.

Most important are awareness of and alertness to pre-incident indicators as important means to prevent problems from developing.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Pre-incident indicators are any signals that an attack is being planned, about to or likely to occur. A surveillance detection programme may be the most important security precaution that can be taken as it could provide information on criminal elements involved, whose agenda is to create mischief and aid and abet violence and disorder. Nothing to do with the issues.

Our Security and Intelligence Branch of the Force has been efficient and effective over the decades. The branch was started by the British and continues to be an important Unit of our Police Service. We also have the National Intelligence Unit. The Royal Bahamas Police Force has been excellent in providing, security and safety services to royalty, (UK & Arab), Presidents, Prime Ministers, movie stars and many other high profile visitors.

The Force has been commended and awarded by Her Majesty the Queen for the administrative and security services provided during her visits to The Bahamas. Prime Ministers of CHOGM have made commendable remarks about us.

We had our share of high profile visitors, who were targets for death in their own countries. Most notable among them was the Shah of Iran, who resided in a house at the Ocean Club for a few months.

He hired security personnel from the USA and The Bahamas. There was the leader of an African nation, who could not return to his country after a coup d’état.

Politicians, union leaders, media personnel and others who criticise the Police for their presence at protests, marches and demonstrations should learn from the Washington incident. It is very true that our Constitution provides for freedom of Speech, protests, demonstrations and marches.

However, the security, safety, comfort and freedom of movement of those of us not involved in the protests must be protected.

Police intervention in the approval of applications to protest, etc, is needed (a) To control the movement of traffic, (b) To ensure, that there is no clash with another protesting group; (c) To ensure, that the event is adequately policed for the prevention of crime and to preserve good order.

We had our share of the so-called “peaceful” demonstration when taxi drivers closed our Airport by parking vehicles blocking all entrances and exits. The Police were unprepared.

A general strike involving hotels and supported

by BEC and other unions.

Police Officers holding

barricades were hit on their fingers and sprayed with mace. Arrests were made.

A group of the protesters proceeded to Central Station, but were met by armed Police personnel.

Bottles were thrown at a tour bus at a Cable Beach hotel. A boy was injured.

Paradise Island Bridge was blocked and a man, who was mistaken to be a hotel executive, was pulled from his car and assaulted. A group of Church leaders on a march to ZNS studio were stopped at the gate.

Their demonstration was to take place outside the gate, which was locked by security personnel. They took the gate off the hinges and entered.

Finally, the most frightening of all. I was sent to the airport for crowd control. The commissioner had permitted a group of senators, bishops and other high profile Bahamians to demonstrate peacefully in an area where the Cuban delegation would exit the airport for the visit to the Attorney General’s Office to discuss settlement for the lives lost and the destruction of the Defence Force boat. On arrival at the airport I met with the group of about 20 high profile Bahamians led by a government senator. I was given the assurance that they would stand on the side of the street and hold the placards. I trusted them.

Superintendent Grafton Ifill of the Security & Intelligence Branch warned me that there would be misconduct and advised that we use another exit bypassing the protesters. I did not agree. As the limo with the delegation from Cuba reached the area of protest the protesters blocked the road and used the placards to bang on the vehicles. In the limo were two Cuban military personnel with the delegates. They were armed. Had they panicked there could have been gun shots and injuries. I was spoken to very harshly by the A G Paul Adderley for not heeding the advice of Special Branch. He understood my reason which was trust in the caliber of persons demonstrating.

Crimes committed against political leaders, judicial executives and other high profile persons will continue to be a fact of life. Assaults on institutions, such as Parliament buildings, international and national events such as the Capitol in Washington, DC, and the House of Parliament in Port of Spain, Trinidad, will continue. No protective measure will ever entirely eliminate the threat. However, proactive planning is an effective means of eradicating attempts and maintaining control.

PAUL THOMPSON, Sr, ACP-Ret. Nassau, January 28, 2021.

Where will Bahamians go?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I OPERATE a travel ASUE on WhatsApp and have sent clients on a regular basis to both Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Florida has always been a popular destination for these travellers — on any given long weekend look for the suitcases in Sawgrass!

Since the United States has introduced some of the harshest entry requirements in the whole world, my clients no longer want to visit Florida. They claim they would rather go to the Mall here—at Marathon!?—than be forced to take a COVID19 test and quarantine in the U.S. I cannot understand why the newly elected

President has designed rules so cumbersome such that these travellers would choose not to travel.

Please keep in mind many of these clients have second timeshares in Fort Lauderdale and personally know the waitstaff at every Cheesecake Factory in Broward county.

Sawgrass Mills desperately needs Bahamian shoppers to survive. According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the leisure and hospitality industry lost over 23,000 jobs in 2020. The outlook remains grim for 2021 — but unnecessarily so! If US officials understood just how much retailers were hurting, they might be more keen on easing restrictions

and letting Bahamians back in.

If these harsh quarantine restrictions remain in place, I wonder where these Bahamian tourists will go? Fresh Market is hardly a substitute for Walmart. The writer is presently unaware whether Town Centre Mall is still in operation. Cost Right?

No — we need Sawgrass!

Having flown Bahamasair to and from both Fort Lauderdale and Miami—older readers will still remember D60’s hayday—for most of my life, it is truly a shame to see such strict measures spoil a national pastime.

CALYPSO Nassau, January 25, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, February 1, 2021, PAGE 7

BTVI probe into misconduct claim

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Technical and Vocational Institute is carrying out an investigation into alleged misconduct, board chairman Kevin Basden has told The Tribune.

“I can confirm that an investigation is ongoing,” Mr Basden said yesterday.

“I cannot get into the specifics so as not to impede and or influence that investigation one way or the other. It is important from the board’s perspective that we look at the facts in every instance and not go simply based on what somebody said. There is an independent investigation presently underway based on allegations which would have been brought to our attention.

“The board of directors at BTVI does not support corruption in any form or fashion and at any level of the organisation. When we find any instances of corruption, we will deal with it appropriately.

“So we are not standing by idly. The matter is being investigated. I am not going to speak to you specifically in terms of names because I don’t want to compromise any one individual in one way or the other,” Mr Basden said.

This comes amid allegations circulating in a flyer which claims that two BTVI staff members were fired for being a part of a theft ring at the school and that another employee who was allegedly involved has gone unpunished. There is also a

voice recording circulating with the same allegations.

BTVI recently issued an internal memo “from the desk of the president” which quoted the institution’s policy on “open communication”.

The memo warned that “any employee who willfully creates or distributes anonymous documents, letters and phone calls etc containing libelous, slanderous, defamatory, erroneous, scandalous or unfounded information and is disruptive to the mission, administration, students and educational environment of the institute shall be subject to disciplinary action, inclusive of summary dismissal for extreme violation of the policy.”

It is unclear if the posts circulated on WhatsApp prompted the memo. Mr Basden would not confirm if any employees have been fired.

“An allegation can be made and sometimes a person may say something that is not quite correct,” Mr Basden also said. “In fact sometimes it may not be true at all. So we are having it investigated thoroughly and the chips will fall where they may.

“We do not support corruption in any way and we will conduct the investigation so it is fair. We believe in being firm. So from that perspective, we can assure the Bahamian public that whatever we find, we will deal with it appropriately.”

President of the Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas Daniel Thompson said he cannot confirm if the contents of the flyer are true or false, but he knows

SUNDAY SERVICE

MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames was among those attending Sunday morning service at New Destiny Baptist Cathedral this weekend, with Bishop Delton Fernander, president of the Christian Council church, officiating.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey Sr./Tribune Staff

that there are management issues at BTVI. UTEB is seeking to become the bargaining agent for BTVI staff.

He said: “BTVI is plagued with numerous issues of mismanagement, numerous issues of inappropriate administrative practices and I think the president, Dr Roberts, indicated that these problems existed before his time, however, he has been at the helm for almost six years. So as far as we are concerned he is totally accountable for any mismanagement that takes place at the institution.

“After six years if he is not able to put together a proper promotion system or a proper organisational system, then the blame lies clearly at his feet. So to blame his predecessors is unacceptable, because then

I would have to ask the question, ‘what has he been doing in this country for the last five or six years?’”

He also said: “When you have a structure that is so haphazard and unprofessional, then there exists a significant amount of mismanagement and other maladies at our institution of higher learning, BTVI. Ultimately the board of directors in particular, Kevin Basden and the minister of education, must take responsibility for what’s happening at that institute. While UTEB is seeking recognition, we recognise that there (are so many) inconsistencies and mismanagement at that institution.”

The Tribune reached out to BTVI President Dr Robert Robertson, but he was not available for comment.

KEVIN BASDEN

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Clumsy words which could cost the government dear

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

LAST week’s events in the House of Assembly may rank among the darkest of days of Bahamian political history. As a people, we have far too often entertained the level of buffoonery that goes on when the people’s business should be what’s being tended to. Nonetheless, as we have not made it clear to our Members of Parliament the code of conduct we would like to see adhered to, we continue to be subjected to the same type of antics.

To date, COVID-19 has snuffed out the lives of 2.2 million people globally, 175 of which, are Bahamians.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ claims the PLP, namely, Opposition leader Philip Davis “wanted Bahamians to die” was an alarming assertion against the backdrop of such a tragedy.

“A government under the direction of the leader of the opposition would sit and watch a disaster. By opposing the emergency measures, the opposition was advancing a policy of chaos, sickness and death,” the Prime Minister said.

He added: “It is sad to see the position that party has taken in such a crisis.

“We are acting and making the tough decisions to save lives. Yet, they oppose us at every turn just trying to be popular. Their reckless and irresponsible positions are a danger to the country.”

For perhaps the most important person in government to stoop as low as the Prime Minister did was totally unwarranted and unbecoming of a leader. While this is not meant to serve as defence for Davis - whose reputation is damaged by being second in command in the former PLP administration - there are levels we should not want to sink to in politics. This particular occasion was certainly one of them.

As we watch, the US is taking on the gargantuan task of trying to put itself back together after being nearly completely torn apart by former US President Donald Trump.

Following the 2016 US election, a study by the American Psychology Association titled “Stress in America” revealed that 63 percent of Americans viewed thinking about their country’s future as a “significant source of stress”.

Giving further credence to the trauma the former US President caused, 56 percent reported being stressed out by the political climate. Even more

concerning, as we view level. However, his tone at parallels between The times has a familiar ring to Bahamas and our northern it. neighbours, those numWhile Trump’s penchant bers increased to 69 and to dismember America 62 percent, respectively, seems genuinely reflective when the of his charsame study ‘For perhaps the most acter, it is was done in important person in more prob2018. able the And even government to stoop Prime though such as low as the Prime Minister’s tactics may Minister did was tendency have helped to make Trump to be totally unwarranted wild claims successful about the and unbecoming of politically, PLP is a leader.

While this in terms of his use of is not meant to serve political commanding a legion as defence for Davis gamesmanof cult supship. whose reputation porters, it But why still turned is damaged by being play the out the second in command game so majority of dangerin the former PLP Americans ously? For administration preferred power? a differ- there are levels we Power ent kind of should should not want to leadership. not come This is a sink to in politics.’ at the teachable price of moment for Bahamian pol- our dignity. Rather, the iticians. Albeit Dr Minnis responsibility of leaderis surely not on Trump’s ship should be given on

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and Opposition merit It leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis alone. is an in the House last week.

Likeabsowise, lute the shame governand the ment’s Baharecord on mian people COVID-19, deserve better. and more comThis, unfortunately, prehensively, how it is not the first time the governed the coun- prime minister has drawn try, should be what is comparisons to Trump. reflected upon when the Furthermore, I could final analysis is made – hardly think of a modernnot fear-mongering with day leader in a democratic abusive language and society who would be hypothetical extremes worse to associate with. about what the PLP Defamatory and divisive “would have done” had statements like those that they been in power. were made in Parliament We’re dealing with peo- will not appeal to the ple’s lives, not merely majority of rational thinkvotes on election day. ing Bahamians – FNM When grown men behave supporters or not. like children in what is There was a line crossed, supposed to be an honour- and unless the Prime Minable place, whichever side ister tempers his reliance of the political aisle you on hyperbolic statements, represent, Members of Par- he too, will meet a similiament ought to take a step lar fate. Just as President back and ask themselves Trump has earned himif that is truly what they self the title of “worst US want to imbue as Bahamian President ever”, Minnis leaders. is being stroked with the

same brush in the Bahamian context.

In a misstep-filled and calamity-laden government term - not necessarily of the government’s doing upstaging the PLP after the resounding rejection from the Bahamian people four years ago was supposed to make a 2022 re-election easy. Yet, more and more, it seems like the Bahamian electorate are clamouring for the opportunity to give the axe to this government, unless the party changes its leadership first.

This is not meant to disparage the Prime Minister.

That could not be further from what is at the heart of this discussion.

Rather, hopefully, leaders that are blessed with the opportunity to represent Bahamians in Parliament are reminded that they are to do so with decorum and change course.

This is not the way the Bahamian people want to be led and certainly not the example our future leaders should want to follow.

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

INSIGHT

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 PAGE 9

When you read ‘no comment’ or ‘not available’ it’s not for a lack of trying

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net BASED on many accounts of ongoing experiences, it is evident the once treasured Fourth Estate of The Bahamas is now an ignored entity which is shown much disrespect by its formerly eager partners - Bahamian Cabinet Ministers.

Political hopefuls in The Bahamas usually latch themselves on to members of the Fourth Estate, getting to know them by name and calling on them for many a favour. They do this to remain visible and relevant at all times in the news, making their chances of gaining the desired political seat more possible.

In this new millennium, these men and women seem to have taken a nose dive whereas communication with the media is concerned. It appears that once they have secured their seat in Parliament and they are sworn into their ministerial duties, “mum” becomes the word and haughtiness and disdain for the press sets in.

Is this a newly taught and learned behaviour?

No longer are they servants of the people, but the people have become servants of theirs. The honeymoon is now over and journalists now receive scraps of information from the Cabinet or nothing at all. Are they still preaching accountability or is it now a situation where they can be accountable if they choose or when they choose to be.

No one knows more than a journalist, how frustrating it is to continuously call a Cabinet Minister or a government official for commentary and have to use the words, “to no avail” in a story because they have refused to answer their phones or return messages.

They watch their phones ring without end; look at their Whats App messages to show the “blue tick” of receipt and make the conscious decision to ignore it all.

In years gone by, Cabinet Ministers were proud to relay their Ministries’ successes or clear up their downfalls in the press. Sir Lynden Pindling, Prime Minister for 25 years, could always be heard returning calls through his secretary, Helen Smith, making sure journalists were satisfied with correct information.

After him came Prime Minister, Hubert Ingraham, with ‘Governance in the Sunshine’ – a time when accountability was enforced and at any given time, a journalist could receive a call from the Prime Minister himself, or through his secretary, Denise Williams, with information bringing clarity for their stories. Mr Ingraham and his Cabinet were always accessible.

He demanded it from his Cabinet.

After Mr Ingraham came Prime Minister Perry Christie who would also return calls and never fail to show respect for the press and for the most part his Cabinet did the same.

Since 2017, the current administration has had two people assigned as press secretaries in the Office of the Prime Minister, however the press never hears from them and most of the time questions go unanswered, deferred or are just ignored. Going even further, this is the first time in this writer’s 30 years of journalism that she remembers not having any access to the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, as a journalist, except at occasional press conferences when he either does not entertain questions at all or responds to hard press questions with disdain and sometimes hostility. The press is not an enemy.

No doubt in the 2022 election the press will once again find a temporary set of “friendly” Ministers who answer their phones on the first ring hoping to showcase their work in time to impress the citizenry for election.

I spoke with some senior

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaking to the press - but access to the Prime Minister has been more limited than with his predecessors, as the media has found. journalists to get their views And, he said some of the some are able to reach min- events or highlight yourself. you have about it, put it on this vexing subject. current Cabinet Minis- isters who media colleagues You ought to be doing the aside because it is a part of Jerome Sawyer, execu- ters’ attitude is as if, ‘I will can never each. Another same thing when it comes your job to be accountable tive producer, OurNews at choose when I am answer- point is that accessibility to us asking questions to get to the press.

Cable Bahamas, is not only able’, but they should be does not necessarily trans- clarity and information.

“So when media calls or frustrated by this, but won- answerable all the time. late to accountability, so “Cabinet Ministers must media reaches out or asks ders if Cabinet Ministers The Guardian’s executive while we may have access always remember that they questions, it always baffles and government officials editor, Candia Dames, told to certain ministers, that are accountable, more than me why Cabinet Ministers understand the me: “We have does not mean they are anything else, most of all. don’t respond or respond importance of ‘Since 2017, seen in the past always forthcoming with They are accountable to the in such a condescending having a good the current where individu- information. people of The Bahamas and way. They are thererelationship als who are in “Reporters tend to have the way of being account- fore, displaying how they with the Fourth administration opposition, can- some luck hanging out able to the people of The feel about the Bahamian Estate. didates seeking outside Cabinet and Par- Bahamas is by speaking to people, because we are only has had Mr Sawyer two people to get elected, are liament in reaching some the media. We represent servants of the Bahamian said, “In one very accessible to ministers, but it is unfor- the people and we pro- people, providing answers word it is frus- assigned the media. They tunate that the current vide accountability to the for the Bahamian people or trating. It goes as press bang down our administration has in some people. So Cabinet Minis- information.” back to a fundadoors to make respects proven to be as ters ought to see the media As Mr Sawyer said, not secretaries mental lack of our front page. unaccountable and secre- as that vehicle and that tool all politicians, Cabinet Minthe understand- in the Office Once they get in tive as their predecessors. to communicate account- isters, in particular, follow ing of the role of of the Prime office, some duck It’s amazing how arrogant ability to the Bahamian the frustrating pattern of the media and and dodge and and out of touch some poli- people.” not communicating with how that role is Minister, do not demon- ticians get when they taste Mr Watson says he is the Fourth Estate. Few they tied to the role however the strate a sincere power.” amazed when Ministers are in numbers, but their of Ministers and press never commitment to Clint Watson, news direc- refuse to respond to the accountable actions are people in governtransparency or tor, EyeWitness News. press. truly appreciated. ment. Oftentimes hears from accountability. and host of the nightly “I’ve said it over and All Cabinet officials I think what them and most “This group programme, “Beyond the repeatedly, the media can and their support staff can happens is they of the time in office is no Headlines”, says the Fourth make or break your politi- take a page out of newly will, from very different. They Estate is a partner of gov- cal career,” said Mr Watson. appointed US Press Secreearly on, deter- questions go talked a lot, for ernance and should be “The way you respond to tary Jen Psaki’s book. No mine who they unanswered, instance, about treated as such. us is what we will portray matter how hard the press will talk to, what deferred or are fully enacting Mr Watson said: “The to the people. Your lack of questions are, she answers things they will the Freedom of media is a partner in gov- response to us is what we them to the best of her abiladdress and what just ignored.’

Information Act, ernance. They are the will portray to the people. ity, never showing hostility, things they won’t of making that Fourth Estate! We have a I think it’s something that admits when she does not address. a priority. Coming to the partnership, which means government’s should put it have the answer and has no “I think it goes back end of their term, this has you have to be accountable place when Cabinet Minis- problem on any day saying, sometimes to a fundamen- still not happened. The PM to us, to respond to us just ters are sworn in to say - to “I will find that answer out tal lack of understanding appointed a press secretary, how you are when you want be responsive to the media and circle back to you on because a good relationship who started off by having to call on us to cover your and told whatever hang ups it.” with the media and when I weekly press conferences, said good, I don’t necessar- but that fell away and we ily mean a friendship, but a have never gotten an explarelationship that is based on nation for why there is no open communication will longer a press secretary. lead to a much better pres“In opposition, Minnis entation for that Minister pledged to have quarterly or that Ministry.” press conferences, but Mr Sawyer calls for would that was clearly a joke. We be politicians to be trained still find that some minisin the “art of politics” to ters scoff at demands for include media relations. He accountability and it is difwarns of having adversarial ficult to get in touch with relationships with the press. many of them when we are He continued, “Even if pursuing stories and seekyou don’t always have the ing answers. There are a answers you find a way few exceptions, Dr Duane to answer. That’s impor- Sands, Peter Turnquest and tant! The press, as I have Brent Symonette, were conto remind people all the sistently accessible. They, time, is made up of human of course, are no longer beings, and if you create in Cabinet. I am personan adversarial relation- ally always able to reach ship with a human being the Attorney General, there are some things that Carl Bethel, or get a timely will happen. Not answer- return call. Darren Hening or not returning calls or field, the Foreign Affairs not commenting is not an Minister, is usually always option. accessible.

Getting in “When those individuals touch with Renward Wells, are in opposition, the doors Romauld Ferreira or the are wide open. They are Prime Minister himself, for constantly communicating me, would likely take an act with the press. The minute of God. they come into govern“Early on, Desmond ment then the relationship Bannister was responsive changes. People who pre- but has gone underground sent themselves for political since our criticisms of his life, need to be trained in handling of the BPL board the art of politics. Not just fiasco. Dionisio D’Aguilar, party politics and how to the Tourism Minister, has win, but the public side of not been responsive in being a politician – how to recent times. He used to present yourself, how to be. Maybe he has taken deal with the media, how to offence to our criticisms of behave in a crisis. the botched rollout of the He said all of these things tourism reopening. are part of a training that “It is important to note our politicians do not seem here that different reporters to have or do not seem to have different relationships want, to their detriment. with different ministers. So,

PAGE 10 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech during a meeting of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, in December.

Photo: Michael Sohn/AP

A second UN term for a champion of causes crucial to the Caribbean UNITED Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced his availability to serve a second term when his current term ends on December 31.

Arguably, Guterres is the UN Secretary-General who has paid the greatest attention to the concerns and challenges of the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Over the last four years, the policies and priorities he has vigorously pursued and tirelessly advocated have aligned with the interests of the people of the region.

When three Caribbean countries experienced grave destruction in 2017 and 2019, Guterres made it his business to fly to them, not only to witness the devastation but to make the world aware of the catastrophes, and to formulate plans to help.

Visiting Barbuda in 2017, weeks after the ravages of Hurricane Irma, he walked with the people who had suffered in the disaster that left no inhabitable house and no functional building.

Guterres told the world, “I have been in areas torn by conflict. In my own country, I have seen earthquakes, I’ve seen storms […] I have never seen such a highlevel of devastation like the one that I witnessed in Barbuda.”

Moving from Barbuda to Dominica, which was the worst affected because its population was much larger, the UN Chief declared, “the link between climate change and the devastation we are witnessing is clear, and there is a collective responsibility of the international community to stop this suicidal development.”

He immediately launched an agenda on the theme of connecting climate change to natural disasters. Justification for his campaigning and advocacy was bolstered two years later, in 2019, when Hurricane Dorian demolished islands of the Bahamas chain. Again, turning up to focus world attention on the catastrophe, Guterres told global audiences, “Hurricane Dorian has been classified as Category 5. I think it’s Category Hell.”

The Secretary-General recognised the links between natural disasters caused by climate change, the accumulation of unsustainable debt by countries struggling to rebuild infrastructure and economies, and the crucial need for better debt forgiveness; debt rescheduling; and access to concessional financing from the International Financial Institutions.

He has championed this stance relentlessly.

As recently as January

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

25, he told a Climate Adaptation Summit meeting in The Netherlands, “We are facing a climate emergency. We are already witnessing unprecedented climate extremes and volatility, affecting lives and livelihoods on all continents. According to the World Meteorological Organization, there have been more than 11,000 disasters due to weather, climate and water-related hazards over the past 50 years at a cost of some $3.6 trillion.

Extreme weather and climate-related hazards have also killed more than 410,000 people in the past decade, the vast majority in low and lower middleincome countries”.

And, he added, “We must expand the provision of liquidity and debt relief instruments to developing and middle-income countries that lack the resources to relaunch their economies in a sustainable and inclusive way”. Guterres was commanding world attention to issues confronting the Caribbean region with the authority that Caribbean countries alone cannot muster.

He has also stressed that “The share for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in total climate finance remains small, representing only 14 per cent and 2 per cent of flows respectively”. In that context, he has argued for “support for regional adaptation and resilience initiatives, that would allow, debt-foradaptation swaps for the Caribbean or the Pacific Islands and provide much needed liquidity to vulnerable countries in dire need”.

Similarly, since the middle of 2020, he has been warring for developing countries, particularly small states, over the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his unflagging championship, on January 25, he told the World Economic Forum in Davos, “Inclusive and sustainable recovery around the globe will depend on the availability and effectiveness of vaccines for all, immediate fiscal and monetary support in both developed and developing countries, and transformative longer-term stimulus measures”.

Declaring that “Vaccines must be seen as global public goods – people’s vaccines”, Guterres told the world’s leading economic

and financial leaders, “If developed countries think they will be safe if they vaccinate their own people while neglecting the developing world, they are wrong”. He argued that what is required is “full funding for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator and its COVAX facility led by the World Health Organization (WHO)”.

Countries in CARICOM, which now have no vaccines and little prospect of getting sufficient, under the existing COVAX programme of the WTO to inoculate their populations, strongly agree with Guterres’ position.

It is significant that he attended CARICOM Heads of Government Meetings in 2019 and 2020 to hear their concerns first-hand.

On January 28, the Secretary-General outlined his priorities. They reflect concerns expressed by CARICOM leaders, including promoting vaccine equity, providing access for the world’s poorest countries; combatting climate change and biodiversity loss; conquering the grave impacts of poverty and inequality; and strengthening multilateralism to ensure delivery of public health, peace and a healthy environment.

Undoubtedly, there’s good reason for all CARICOM leaders to take leaves from the books of Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, who pledged his support by letter to Guterres on January 12, and British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who on the same day, “warmly welcomed the secretary-general’s decision to run for a second term and congratulated him on a successful first term”.

António Guterres, by just doing his job with fidelity to the countries he represents – including small states – has proven himself very worthy of the unequivocal support of CARICOM countries.

• Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own).

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, February 1, 2021, PAGE 11

Military takes control of Myanmar ‘for one year’ NAYPYITAW, Myanmar Associated Press MYANMAR military television said that the military was taking control of the country for one year, while reports said many of the country’s senior politicians including Aung San Suu Kyi had been detained.

A presenter on militaryowned Myawaddy TV announced the takeover and cited a section of the military-drafted constitution that allows the military to take control in times of national emergency. He said the reason for takeover was in part due to the government’s failure to act on the military’s claims of voter fraud in last November’s election and its failure to postpone the election because of the coronavirus crisis.

The announcement and the declaration of a state of emergency follows days of concern about the threat of a military coup — and military denials that it would stage one — and came on the morning the country’s new Parliament session was to begin.

The takeover is a sharp reversal of the partial yet significant progress toward democracy Myanmar made in recent years following five decades of military rule and international isolation that began in 1962. It would also be shocking fall from power for Suu Kyi, who led the democracy struggle despite years under house arrest and and won a Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.

The military’s actions were already receiving widespread international condemnation.

New US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken issued a statement expressing “grave concern and alarm” over the reported detentions.

“We call on Burmese military leaders to release all government officials and civil society leaders and respect the will of the people of Burma as expressed in democratic elections,” he wrote, using Myanmar’s former name.

“The United States stands

IN this May 6, 2016, file photo, Aung San Suu Kyi, left, Myanmar’s foreign minister, walks with senior General Min Aung Hlaing, right, Myanmar military’s commander-in-chief, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.

Photo: Aung Shine Oo/AP with the people of Burma in their aspirations for democracy, freedom, peace, and development.”

The office of the UN secretary-general was also among those to issue a statement condemning the developments as a “serious blow to democratic reforms”.

The detention of the politicians and cuts in television signals and communication services on Monday in the country were the first signs that plans to seize power were in motion. Phone and internet access to Naypyitaw was lost and Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party could not be reached. Phone service in other parts of the country was also reported down, though people were still able to use the internet in many areas.

The Irrawaddy, an established online news service, reported that Suu Kyi, who as state counsellor is the nation’s top leader, and the country’s president, Win Myint, were both detained

in the pre-dawn hours. The news service cited Myo Nyunt, a spokesman for the NLD. Its report said that the party’s Central Executive Committee members, lawmakers and regional Cabinet members had also been taken into custody.

A list of other people believed to have been detained, compiled by political activists who asked not to be named for security reasons, included filmmaker Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, writer Maung Thar Cho, and prominent veterans of the country’s 1988 student protest movement, such as Ko Ko Gyi and Min Ko Naing. Their detention could not immediately be confirmed.

The military TV report said Commander-in-Chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing would be in charge of the country, while Vice President Myint Swe would be elevated to acting president. Myint Swe is a former general best known for leading a brutal crackdown

MORE THAN 5,000 ARRESTS IN PROTESTS ACROSS RUSSIA MOSCOW Associated Press CHANTING slogans against President Vladimir Putin, tens of thousands took to the streets Sunday across Russia to demand the release of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, keeping up nationwide protests that have rattled the Kremlin. More than 5,100 people were detained by police, according to a monitoring group, and some were beaten.

The massive protests came despite efforts by Russian authorities to stem the tide of demonstrations after tens of thousands rallied across the country last weekend in the largest, most widespread show of discontent that Russia had seen in years. Despite threats of jail terms, warnings to social media groups and tight police cordons, the protests again engulfed cities across Russia’s 11 time zones on Sunday.

Navalny’s team quickly called another protest in Moscow for Tuesday, when he is set to face a court hearing that could send him to prison for years.

The 44-year-old Navalny, an anti-corruption investigator who is Putin’s best-known critic, was arrested on Jan. 17 upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from nerveagent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin.

Russian authorities have rejected the accusations.

POLICE detain a man during a protest against the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the Siberian city of Omsk, Russia, yesterday.

He was arrested for allegedly violating his parole conditions by not reporting for meetings with law enforcement when he was recuperating in Germany.

The United States urged Russia to release Navalny and criticised the crackdown on protests.

“The US condemns the persistent use of harsh tactics against peaceful protesters and journalists by Russian authorities for a second week straight,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter.

The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected Blinken’s

call as “crude interference in Russia’s internal affairs” and accused Washington of trying to destabilise the situation in the country by backing the protests.

On Sunday, police detained more than 5,100 people in cities nationwide, according to OVD-Info, a group that monitors political arrests, surpassing some 4,000 detentions at the demonstrations across Russia on January 23.

In Moscow, authorities introduced unprecedented security measures in the city centre, closing subway stations near the Kremlin.

on Buddhist monks in 2007.

He is a close ally of former junta leader Than Shwe.

As word of the military’s actions spread in Yangon, the country’s biggest city, there was a growing sense of unease among residents who earlier in the day had still been packed into cafes for breakfast and had been doing their morning shopping.

People were removing the bright red flags of Suu Kyi’s party that once adorned their homes and businesses. Lines formed at ATMs as people waited to take out cash, efforts that were being complicated by internet disruptions. Workers at some businesses decided to go home.

Monday’s parliamentary session was to be the first since last year’s election, as tension lingered over recent comments by the military that were widely seen as threatening a coup.

The military, however, maintains its actions are legally justified, though Suu Kyi’s party spokesman as

well as many international observers have said it is in effect a coup.

The 2008 constitution, drafted and implemented during military rule, has a clause that says in case there is a national emergency, the president in coordination with the military-dominated National Defense and Security Council can issue an emergency decree to hand over the government’s executive, legislative and judicial powers to the military’s commander-in-chief.

The clause had been described by New Yorkbased Human Rights Watch as a “coup mechanism in waiting”.

It is just one of many parts of the charter that ensured the military could maintain ultimate control over the country at the expense elected politicians.

The military also was guaranteed 25 percent of seats in Parliament and control of several key ministries, especially those involved in security and defense.

The 75-year-old Suu Kyi is by far the country’s most popular politician, and became the country’s de facto leader after her party won 2015 elections, though the constitution barred her from being president. She had been a fierce antagonist of the army during her time under house arrest.

Nevertheless, once in power Suu Kyi had to balance her relationship with the country’s generals and even went on the international stage to defend their crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in the country’s west, a campaign the U.S. and others have labeled genocide. That has left her reputation internationally in tatters. She remains wildly popular at home, where most supported the campaign against the Rohingya.

Suu Kyi’s party captured 396 out of 476 seats in the combined lower and upper houses of Parliament in last November’s polls.

The military, known as the Tatmadaw, has charged that there was massive voting fraud in the election, though it has failed to provide proof. The state Union Election Commission last week rejected its allegations.

Amid the bickering over the allegations, the military last Tuesday ramped up political tension when a spokesman at its weekly news conference, responding to a reporter’s question, declined to rule out the possibility of a coup. Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun elaborated by saying the military would “follow the laws in accordance with the constitution.”

Using similar language, the military chief told senior officers in a speech Wednesday that the constitution could be revoked if the laws were not being properly enforced. Adding to the concern was the unusual deployment of armored vehicles in the streets of several large cities.

On Saturday and Sunday, however, the military denied it had threatened a coup, accusing unnamed organisations and media of misrepresenting its position.

SPORTS

PAGE 12, Monday, February 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

CLARKE AND BLAZERS SUFFER SECOND STRAIGHT MATCH LOSS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net SYDNEY Clarke and her University of Arlington Blazers at Birmingham suffered their second straight match loss, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Friday at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex in Atlanta.

The Yellow Jackets swept through the doubles winning all three courts, but the Blazers got two wins from Clarke and Annalisa Smith in singles to avoid another shutout.

“My team’s performance was good. We’re still figuring out the best matches, best pairings for doubles and then getting everyone on one accord to stick with the strategies that we practice,” Clarke told The Tribune after the tournament.

“We just have to believe in ourselves mainly and be confident in the strategies that we set ahead of time instead of wondering away from it, or not being confident in the match to use it.

Once we get more confident and a little more aggressive, we should get better results in doubles.”

Clarke, the former top junior female player at age 19, won 7-6, 6-4 over Monika Dedaj after Smith pulled off their only other win 6-1, 7-5 over Sophia Sassoli.

“It was good for me to win my second match. My first match I played against the University of Alabama was a great experience for me because I took that and when I fell down, I didn’t do it this time,” Clarke said.

“I was in the same position against a tough opponent. The games were all close and I had to come

from behind. But this time, I was mentally tough and I didn’t fall down in the pressure points. If I made a mistake, I moved on quickly and tried to win the next point.”

With an improvement in her forehand, Clarke said she was able to dominate more at the net as she was more aggressive with her feet.

As for the Blazers, as a team, Clarke said they just have to be able to close out their matches more by coming to the net and not sitting back. “Most teams are bigger and stronger than us, so we have to be quicker and faster to come to the net and put vollies away, instead of being overpowered by their shots,” she said. “So as a team, I think we need to get better at volleying and take better shot selections. If we can do that, we can be in a better

SYDNEY CLARKE

WTA players tuneup for Open after quarantine MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australians Sam Stosur and Daria Gavrilova had contrasting fortunes in their first matches at home after long absences yesterday in the first round of the Yarra Valley Tennis Classic at Melbourne Park.

Stosur, playing her first competitive match since March and now ranked 112, lost 6-2, 6-0 to 16th seeded Czech Marie Bouzkova in just over one hour.

The 2011 U.S. Open champion took a break from tennis in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic and the birth of her first child. She didn’t hit a ball for two and a half months before returning to the training court in September, beginning to work towards next month’s Australian Open.

Stosur hasn’t made any firm plans for the coming year but said she hopes to play all four Grand Slams.

“It’s about getting through the Aussie summer and then after that it is hard to know, given we are still going to need to quarantine if we want to come home,” Stosur said. “It makes it tough to make a schedule given the family circumstances now.

“Ten years ago I’d jump on a plane and not come back for a year but I am not in a position to do that at the moment.”

Gavrilova, ranked 451 and playing as a wildcard, won her first match on home soil since 2019, easing past Slovakia’s Viktoria Kuzmova 6-2, 6-0.

The 26-year-old made a return at WTA level at last year’s French Open after missing a full year with injury. She will face 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the second round after Williams had a first round bye.

“I’ve seen her training on Instagram,” Gavrilova said in a courtside interview.

“She doesn’t look rusty at all.”

Venus Williams, the oldest player in the tournament at 40, took only 65 minutes to beat Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-3 in her first round match.

Australia’s World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty had a first round bye in the singles but combined with Jennifer Brady of the United States to win her doubles opener.

“It’s exciting for all of tennis to be back and getting a few matches hopefully under my belt before (the Australian Open) starts would be good,” Barty said.

“It’s an adjustment, but come the Australian Open the crowds will be here and there’s going to be a really nice vibe.”

Former Australian Open semifinalist Danielle Collins of the United States, seeded 13th, beat Belgium’s

Ysaline Bonaventure 6-3, 6-3 in just over 75 minutes.

Fellow American Shelby Rogers joined Collins in the second round with 6-2, 7-5 win over No.12 seed Fiona Ferro.

The Yarra Valley Classic and the Gippsland Open, being played concurrently at Melbourne Park, are the first WTA tournaments of the season for most players who have just emerged from quarantine ahead of the Australian Open.

More than 1,000 players and officials went into a two-week quarantine from Jan. 14 when the first of 17 flights chartered by Tennis Australia landed in Melbourne and Adelaide.

OSTAPENKO ADVANCES The 2017 French Open champion Jelana Ostapenko of Latvia, seeded 13th, beat Sara Errani of Italy 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, in a first round match between former top-5 ranked players in the Gippsland Trophy.

Ostapenko, currently ranked 45 and one of four Grand Slam champions in the draw, needed 1 hour, 46 minutes to win her first match of the season. She also posted her maiden win over Errani who was seeking her first win over a top-50 player since April, 2018.

Errani, now ranked 131, beat Ostapenko in their

SAMANTHA STOSUR, playing her first competitive match since March and now ranked 112, lost 6-2, 6-0 to 16th seeded Czech Marie Bouzkova in just over one hour. (AP) only previous meeting at the 2015 US Open.

Ostapenko took time to add accuracy to her power game but eventually hit 56 winners.

Caroline Garcia of France, seeded 12th, launched her season with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Australian wildcard Arina Rodionova.

“It was a lot of emotions to get back on court,

finally,” Garcia said. “I tried to stay very calm and play one point at a time and I think I improved during the match so that’s the most positive thing about today.”

Kaia Kanepi of Estonia fought back from the brink of defeat to beat another Australian wildcard, Astra Sharma, 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 after being two points from defeat at 1-6, 3-5.

MILLER-UIBO FROM PAGE 16

of Washington was second with 18-10 3/4 (5.73m).

Taylor won the 60m hurdles in 8.35, just shy of her PR of 8.30 as she easily beat out second place finisher Aaliyah Wilson of Washington, who did 8.55.

“My season opener was pretty good. It was my first full approach long jump in a couple of years, so it was decent,” Taylor said. “The hurdles were good. I have some small things to work on so that I’ll be ready for the next meet.”

SWIM MEET

FROM PAGE 16 the standard of 26.99; 54.91 in the 100m free to surpass the standard of 55.09 and 1:57.80 in the 200m free to surpass the standard of 2:02.84.

In the boys’ 13-14 50m butterfly, both Tristan Ferguson (28.35) and Amauri Bonamy (28.41) surpassed the standard of 28.51. Also in the 13-14 50m free, teammates Ayrton (33.39) and Caden Wells (33.52), both surpassed the standard of 33.98.

Anish Roy of Mako won the 11-12 200m backstroke in 2:45.93 to surpass the standard of 2:47.67.

David del Cueto, the head coach of Alpha, said the meet was a very good one. “Not only Alpha, but all of the swimmers from the other clubs swum very

position as the season progresses.”

The Blazers are scheduled to be back on the court Tuesday when they are expected to host ULM at George Ward Park.

“Considering that we lost two straight, I’m just focusing on making the next match better than the last one,” Clarke said.

“Whether we win or lose, I just want to put in 100 percent and make sure that my performance is much better than average. “I just want to push myself that whatever I practice, I can put it into the game and I’m able to adapt to whatever situation I’m in. I just want to go out there and play and give it a good fight.”

Whatever happens, Clarke said she wants to leave it all on the court, knowing that she would have given 100 percent in her effort.

DENMARK RETAINS MEN’S HANDBALL WORLD TITLE AHEAD OF OLYMPICS CAIRO (AP) — Denmark will go to the Tokyo Olympics as world men’s handball champion after beating Sweden 26-24 in the final yesterday.

Mikkel Hansen scored seven goals and goalkeeper Niklas Landin Jacobsen had 15 saves as Denmark kept the title it won for the first time in 2019. The Danes are also the reigning Olympic champions after beating France in the 2016 final.

Spain added a world bronze medal to its European title after beating France 35-29 with eight goals from Alex Dujshebaev.

The world championship took place amid disruption because of the coronavirus pandemic, with three teams — the United States, the Czech Republic and Cape Verde — withdrawing due to virus cases, either before the tournament began or during the preliminary round.

The Tokyo Games, postponed at the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, are set to open July 23.

Taylor is slated to be back in action on Friday when she is expected to compete in the triple jump in Arkansas.

She boasts a lifetime best mark of 43-3 3/4 (13.20m) that she did in 2019.

TAYLOR With this being a short season, Taylor said she has to be at her best in order to qualify for the NCAA National Indoor Championships, scheduled for March 11-13 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

good,” said the Cuban native, who has been coaching here for the past year and-a-half.

“I think we had some very good times in this meet. Alpha had some very good times, but I was happy with what I saw from all of the clubs.” del Cueto said with the coronavirus pandemic, they were forced to stage the meet without any fans in the stands. He said all of the clubs abide by the protocol rules, which helped to make the meet a success.

The meet attracted four competitors from Turks and Caicos, who were coached

by Lemin Hamilton Sr, a Bahamian native who has been working there for the past 15 years, who said they brought the four swimmers here to try and attain their CARIFTA standards.

“We don’t have a certified 50m pool, so we asked to be able to compete in the meet so that they can qualify,” said Hamilton Sr, a former

swimmer for the Sea Bees and Swift Swim Clubs. “I’m glad that they did because two of our boys did our standards.

“So we want to stay here hopefully until the Barracuda meet and hopefully the two boys who came close to qualifying will also get to compete so that they can qualify too.”

Lemin Hamilton Jr qualified in the 11-12 100m freestyle in his time of 1:11.04 for second place behind Mako’s Anish Roy, who won in 1:03.91. Hamilton Jr surpassed their standard of 1:13.

And in the 50m free, Hamilton Jr got third in 32.03 and Jaden Davis was sixth in 32.40 as they both went under their standard of 32.72.

The other two competitors, who are here until Februry 22, are Tajhari Williams and Mateo Gardiner.

All four competitors will be training with the local clubs during their stay.

SPORTS

PAGE 14, Monday, February 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

NETS STUN WIZARDS, NUGGETS END JAZZ WINNING STREAK AT 11 WASHINGTON (AP) — Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook hit 3-pointers in a wild 3.8-second sequence in the final seconds to help the Washington Wizards stun Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets 149-146 last night.

Westbrook had 41 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and NBA scoring leader Beal had 37 points. In the fourth quarter, Beal had 22 points and Westbrook had 15. Durant, second in the NBA in scoring, also had 37 points.

With Washington down 146141, Beal hit a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left. Garrison Matthews deflected Joe Harris’ inbounds pass to Westbrook and he made a 3 with 4.3 seconds left for a 147146 lead.

Kyrie Irving found Timothe Luwawu-Carbarrot under the basket with 2.9 seconds left, but his layup attempt spun around the rim and failed to drop. Beal added two free throws with 0.7 seconds left as the Wizards broke a fourgame losing steak and improved

to a still NBA-worst 4-12. Harris scored a career-high 30 points, and Irving had 26 for Brooklyn.

The Nets had won four in a row.

James Harden sat out because of a thigh contusion, the first game he has missed since being traded from Houston to Brooklyn on January 13.

The Wizards are 1-4 since resuming play after a 13-day layoff that included six postponements due to COVID-19 related issues.

NUGGETS 128, JAZZ 117 DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic matched his career high with 47 points and fast-starting Denver ended Utah’s winning streak at 11.

Jokic was 17 for 26 from the field, hit all four of his 3-point attempts, made 9 of 10 free throws and had 12 rebounds and five assists. He scored 33 points in the first half.

Will Barton added 18 points, and Jamal Murray had 16 to help

the Nuggets win for the sixth time in seven games.

Utah lost for the first time since January 6 at New York. Bojan Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 29 points, and Donovan Mitchell had 13 in 31 minutes after missing two games while in concussion protocol.

Denver hit all eight of its 3-point attempts and shot 80 percent in the first quarter.

The Nuggets kept it going in the second, going 13 of 24 from the field and finishing 15 of 17 from long range in the first half to take a 79-54 halftime lead.

76ERS 119, PACERS 110 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tobias Harris scored 27 points and Furkan Korkmaz added 17, including the go-ahead baskets in the fourth quarter, to help Philadelphia complete a frantic rally against Indiana.

The 76ers trailed by 16 early in the fourth but closed on a 31-6 run for their sixth win in seven

games — this time without AllStar centre Joel Embiid, who sat out with a sore back.

Malcolm Brogdon led Indiana with 25 points, and Domantas Sabonis had 21. The Pacers have lost five of eight.

RAPTORS 115, MAGIC 102 TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Pascal Siakam had 30 points and 10 rebounds in Toronto’s victory over Orlando.

Kyle Lowry had 12 points and 14 assists, and Aaron Baynes added eight points and 16 rebounds to help the Raptors snapa three-game losing streak.

Rookie Cole Anthony led Orlando with 16 points. The Magic have lost 11 of 13.

TIMBERWOLVES 109, CAVALIERS 104 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Malik Beasley scored 23 points and rookie Anthony Edwards had 23 in his second straight start in Minnesota’s victory over Cleveland.

Minnesota snapped a threegame losing streak and won for just the third time in 17 games.

Andre Drummond had 25 points and 22 rebounds — his third 20-20 game of the year — for Cleveland.

CLIPPERS 129, KNICKS 115 NEW YORK (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points and Los Angeles rang up the highest point total of the season against the NBA’s leading defence, beating New York for its 10th victory in 11 games.

The Clippers shredded the NBA leaders in fewest points allowed per game to break away after leading by one after two quarters. They surpassed the 102.7 points per game the Knicks had been allowing with their first basket of the final quarte.

Reggie Jackson added 18 points and Paul George had 17 to help the Clippers improve to 16-5.

Julius Randle had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks.

BUDDY & AYTON FROM PAGE 16

three steals. He shot 6-15 on three pointers.

With the Kings trailing 103-101 late in the fourth quarter, Hield came up with a steal from Miami’s Bam Adebayo.

He finished that possession with a go-ahead three pointer with 1:44 left in regulation to put the Kings ahead 104-103.

Hield extended the NBA’s longest active streak of games with a 3-pointer to 85, four shy of matching Dana Barros for the fourth-longest in league history.

The record belongs to Golden State’s Stephen Curry, who had one in 157 consecutive games.

The Kings (8-11) will continue their road trip on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Ayton shrugged off last Wednesday’s five-point effort in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and posted a pair of double doubles in wins for the Suns.

He finished with 18 points and 17 rebounds as the Suns scored a

BBF/FIBA FROM PAGE 16

guys home to practice when we can’t get access to the only gym that is of the legal international specifications,” Bowleg said. “They want us to go and practice in AF Adderley Gym, but it is not adequate for international play.”

After travelling to Minnesota to play in the second round of the qualifier, the federation had hoped they could have secured the third and final round here, using the makeshift gym in

PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) drives as Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney defends during the second half last night in Phoenix.

(AP Photo/Matt York) 111-105 win over the Dallas Mavericks Saturday night to improve to 10-8 on the season.

Ayton was sidelined for part of the first half with a left shoulder injury but returned in the second half to make several key plays down the stretch to seal the win. He finished an alley-oop from Chris Paul to give the Suns

either the Atlantis resort or Baha Mar, but the government turned down their request.

Puerto Rico jumped on the opportunity and will host the game, which will provide them with the home court advantage when they take on the Bahamas in what could be the deciding factor in which of the two countries will advance.

As for their financial woes, Bowleg said they have approached Baha Mar, the national team’s official sponsor who, along with a few other corporate sponsors, have not gotten any favourable responses as yet.

a six-point lead (102-96) with 1:44 left to play.

In Thursday’s 114-93 win over the Golden State Warriors, Ayton finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

He was just 5-7 from the field and added four assists.

Ayton ranks ninth in the league with 11 double doubles.

“At the last window, we got a grant from the Ministry of Sports for $20,000, which they indicated it was all they were willing to give us,” Bowleg said.

“At the end of the day, if they were not willing to allow us to use the gym to train in, it doesn’t make sense going back to them for any more money.”

“When you think about it, nothing happened last year, so there should be money in the ministry’s kitty,” Bowleg said.

“There was no junkanoo and there was no regatta and so they had money.

And based on what we are trying to achieve, they

KINGS guard Buddy Hield (24) drives to the basket during the second half against the Miami Heat on Saturday in Miami. (AP)

should be able to assist us some more.”

The federation has a 24-member pool from which to select Team Bahamas that will play the USA on February 18 and Puerto Rico on February 20.

The list comprises of Elyjah Clark, Lynden Rose Jr, Dominic Bridgewater, D’Shon Taylor, Michael Carey Jr, Travis Munnings, Kentwan Smith, Mychal Thompson Jr, brothers Kadeem and Dwight Coleby, Willis Mackey, Nashad Mackey, Tavario Miller, David Nesbitt, Jaron Cornish, Godfrey Rolle III, Zane Knowles Shaquille ‘Shaq’ Cleare, Ahmad

Pratt, Ronnie ‘JR’ Cadot, Corey Sands, Adam Johnson and Kemsey Sylvestre.

Grand Bahamian Norris Bain is expected to coach the team in the absence of head coach Chris DeMarco.

DeMarco will not be available because of his commitment to the Golden State Warriors where he is an assistant coach in the NBA. The Bahamas would need a win over Puerto Rico or two losses from Mexico to have an opportunity to qualify.

The Bahamas holds the tiebreaker over Mexico by the aggregate score of the first window last February.

From the three legs of competition, the top three teams from each group will qualify for the FIBA AmeriCup 2022. AmeriCup is the FIBA Americas championship.

The United States won the last edition of the event in 2017.

At the last window in November, the Bahamas lost 99-59 to the USA and 91-85 to Puerto Rico.

The Bahamas dropped to 1-3 at the group stage of the qualifiers and moved into a tie with previously winless Puerto Rico. Team USA is currently 4-0 and guaranteed a top three spot and AmeriCup berth.

COLLIE JR CONTINUES PRODUCTIVE LASHANN HIGGS AND CLUB SUFFER START TO SEASON FOR WARRIORS 87-69 LOSS TO 3RD RANKED GIRONA

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net DOMINIQUE Collie Jr continues his productive start to the season at the plate for the Webber International University Warriors baseball.

The junior outfielder extended his consecutive game hit streak to four and the Warriors took a 3-2 edge in a three-game weekend series against the Florida National Conquistadors.

In game one, Collie finished 1-4 (double), drove in five RBI, with two stolen bases and scored two runs in his team’s 14-6 win.

Webber scored three runs in the bottom of the first and were off and running from there, scoring in each of the first four innings to lead it 9-5. In the end, Webber finished with 15 hits as a team.

In his first at bat, Collie reached on an error but was left in scoring position after an inning-ending double play. He walked in the third and reached in the fourth on a fielder’s choice.

He went on to steal both second and third but was again left on base. With the bases loaded in the eighth,

DOMINIQUE COLLIE Collie hit a bases-clearing double to right centre. He eventually advanced to third on a wild pitch and was then plated by Angel Diaz for the game’s final run.

In game two of the series, Collie was again 1-4 with a double in the Warriors’ 7-3 loss on Saturday. As a team, Webber collected just five hits. In fourth, Collie doubled down the right field line and then eventually advanced to third on a pass ball. Webber left two men stranded in the inning which proved to be their best scoring opportunity of the afternoon.

In the second game of Saturday’s double header,

Webber only had six hits but managed a walk off to win 7-6 on an error in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Collie finished 1-3, drove in one RBI and scored one run.

Webber will host Warner University on Tuesday, February 2, in the first of a home-and-away series.

Game two will be played the following day in Lake Wales, Florida.

In the season opener, Collie tripled to left centre in the eighth inning to drive in two runs, but the Warriors’ rally fell short in a season opening 6-3 loss to Keiser University.

On the season, Collie is hitting .286, slugging .571 with eight RBI, three runs and two stolen bases.

Collie was an international signing by the Diamondbacks in March 2017. He spent two seasons in Minor League Baseball with the Arizona Diamondacks organisation.

Collie spent last summer with the Palm Beach Diamond Ducks in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League (SFCBL).

In 18 games he hit .237 with 11 runs and four stolen bases.

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net CAN it get any better for Harbour Island native Lashann Higgs and her Club Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre in the Spanish Women’s Professional Basketball League?

On Friday night, the 2020 University of Texas graduate and Club Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre suffered a 87-69 loss to the third ranked Argon Uni Girona for their third straight defeat as they dropped to 4-17 to remain in 14th place in the league standings. “It’s always difficult to lose a game, but all we can do is to learn from it and move onto the next game,” Higgs told The Tribune in an interview after the team’s defeat.

In 23 minutes on the court, Higgs exploded for a game high 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field for an 83.3 percentage, 1-of-4 from the three-point line for 25% and 5-of-6 (83.3%) from the free throw line.

She also had a rebound and an assist, while commiting four fouls. Their next best scorer was

LASHANN HIGGS American forward Sara Rhine with 10 points and six rebounds.

American guard Chelsea Gray led Argon Uni Girona (now 19-2) with 19 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

“All I can do is play as hard as I can, be a supportive teammate and continue to push myself,” said Higgs of her performance. “But a leading performance is something I try not to make my primary focus, but only on how to make my teammates and myself better.”

The 24-year-old 5-foot, 9-inch shooting guard continues to lead Club Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre with an improved average of 16.0 points

per game. She is also logging 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists.

Club Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre, coached by Pepe Vazquezm, will take a break before they play their next game at home against the sixth ranked Maquin Ensino, who are 11-11, when they return to action on February 11.

During the break, Higgs said he’s sure that they will be “watching film and pinpoint what needs to be done better in the next game and apply it.”

With just seven more games left on the regular season schedule, Club Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre will need to get on a winning streak in order to make the playoffs.

If they don’t make it, Higgs said it would still have been a “decent start to begin my professional career” and now all she has to do is “work on my craft to improve my game as much as I can.”

In the meantime, Higgs said she will use the break to “rest my mind and body” as she tries to “disconnect from the game” before things pick back up for the final stretch of the season.

SPORTS PAGE 16

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST, 2021

Shaunae Miller-Uibo clocks personal best, wins 200m

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A

nother year and another impressive performance for Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

Coming off an undefeated season in the limited competition held last year when the coronavirus pandemic broke through, Miller-Uibo stormed out of the blocks to win the women’s 200 metres at the American Track League #2 on Sunday in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in a personal best of 22.40 seconds.

Running away from American Shamier Little from the start of the races, the 26-year-old reigning Olympic Games’ 400m champion tied the Randal Tyson Stadium record that was set by American Bianca Knight on March 14, 2008.

Little, a 400m hurdles specialist, was the only other competitor in the race.

The 25-year-old

trailed in the 6-foot, 1-inch Miller-Uibo for second place in her lifetime best of 23.40.

“I give God all the thanks and praise for allowing me to compete and finish the race healthy,” said Miller-Uibo after the victory. “Our main goal today was to get a chance to see exactly where we’re at in training and from today’s race, it shows we’re in a good place.

“So I’m happy with my performance and it’s back to training from here.”

Miller-Uibo, competing in her first indoor 200m since her freshman year at the University of Georgia, erased the Bahamian national record of 22.68 that was established by Pauline Davis-Thompson at the 5th World Indoor Championships in Barcelona, Spain, on March 11, 1995. Her time is now ranked as the ninth fastest of all-time.

Miller-Uibo added the mark to her national 300m

And erases Pauline Davis-Thompson’s national record

MILLER-UIBO record of 35.45 that she set at the Millrose Games in New York City, New York on February 3, 2018.

They go along with her outdoor national records of 16.23 in the 150m straight at the Adidas Boost Boston Games on May 20, 2018 in

Boston; the 200m in 21.74 at the Diamond League on August 29, 2019 in Zurich, Switzerland; the 200m straight in 21.76 also at the Boost Boston Games on June 4, 2017; the 300m in 34.41 at the Golden Spike Ostrava on June 20, 2019 in Ostrava, Czech Republic and the 400m in 48.37 at the World Championships on October 3, 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

Also at the meet was jumper LaQuan Nairn.

Without any jumping events to participate in, Nairn contested the men’s 60m where he was sixth in his heat in 6.92 for 11th place overall.

Taylor pulls off double dose of victory At the UW Indoor Preview inside the Dempsey Indoor, Washington State University’s sophomore Charisma Taylor made a successful season debut with a double dose of victory.

While she didn’t compete in her speciality in the triple jump, Taylor soared to victory in the long jump with a leap of 18-feet and 10 3/4 inches or 5.76 metres, well off her personal best of 19-9 1/2 (6.03m). Jelani Heath

SEE PAGE 12

SWIMMERS QUALIFY FOR POSTPONED CARIFTA GAMES

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ALTHOUGH it was announced last week that the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Barbados have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, more than a dozen swimmers have attained the qualifying standards at the Alpha Aquatics Invitational.

The two-day meet was held on Friday and Saturday at the Betty Kelly-Kenning Aquatics Centre where two of the four visiting competitors from the Turks and Caicos Islands also earned their berths in the top regional swimming championships whenever they are rescheduled.

The CARIFTA Swimming Championships was originally set for March 26 to April 6, but the president of the Barbados Amateur Swimming Association, Cheryl Lady Forde, said they were forced to postpone the championships due to the current COVID-19 situation in Barbados and, by extension, in the region.

The announcement by swimming comes on the heels of track and field, which declared a few weeks ago that the CARIFTA Track and Field competition in Bermuda has been delayed from the Easter holiday weekend to July 2-4.

At the Alpha Invitational, Rachel Lundy of Mako surpassed the CARIFTA standard in three girls’ 15-and-over events. In the 400m freestyle, she did four minutes and 53.10 seconds to surpass the standard of 4:53.10; 2:37.93 in the 200m individual medley to surpass the standard of 2:40.10 and in the 200m free in 2:16.07 as she dipped under the standard of 2:17.59.

Keianna Moss, representing Mako, did three standards as well, taking the 15-and-over 50m backstroke in 32.17 to surpass the

SEE PAGE 13

BBF DOES NOT HAVE PROPER TRAINING VENUE

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ALREADY faced with the task of securing the funding to travel to the FIBA AmeriCup 2020 Qualifier in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas Basketball Federation now finds itself without the proper venue to train in.

Federation president Mario Bowleg said it’s disheartening that they can’t get the use of the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the only legal size gymnasium on the island to prepare Team Bahamas for the February 19-20 match-up against the United States of America and host Puerto Rico.

The federation’s request to use the gym for their practices were denied by the Competent Authority for health safety measures as it relates to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We obviously need to get the team together earlier, which will only cost us more money, which we don’t have, if we have to get the team in Puerto Rico earlier before the games are played so we can practice and bring the team together in a cohesive unit,” Bowleg said.

“It doesn’t make any sense for us to bring the

SEE PAGE 14

AYTON AND HIELD TAKE NBA SPOTLIGHT

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

the standard of 57.78. Also, competing in the boys’ 13-14 division, Caleb Ferguson of Alpha clocked 4:35.27 to surpass the standard of 4:35.36 in the 400m free.

Mark-Anthony Thompson did the standard of 4:27.36 in the 15-and-over 400m free in a qualifying time of 4:26.37 and he did 30.75 in the 50m breaststroke to surpass the standard of 32.09.

Luke Thompson, competing unattached, won the 15-and-over 50m butterfly in 26.69, surpassing

CHAVANO “Buddy” Hield enjoyed his best shooting stretch of the season the last three games in the state of Florida while Deandre Ayton restarted his streak of double doubles over the weekend.

Hield’s Sacramento Kings began their road trip with a win last Wednesday against the Orlando Magic, followed with a win over the relocated Toronto Raptors in Tampa on Friday and concluded with a loss to the Miami Heat Saturday night.

Over the three games in Florida, Hield averaged 23 points per game on 52 percent shooting from the field and 55 percent from three-point range. He also averaged 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

In Saturday’s 105-104 loss to the Miami Heat, Hield finished with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and

SEE PAGE 12

SEE PAGE 14

SWIMMERS compete in the Alpha Aquatics Invitational at the Betty Kelly-Kenning Aquatics Centre. More than a dozen swimmers attained the qualifying standards for the CARIFTA Games on Friday and Saturday.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff standard of 32.88; 1:10.45 in the 100m back to surpass the mark of 1:13.17 and 2:37.94 in the 200m back to surpass the standard of 2:44.28.

Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson of Alpha qualified in the girls’ 15-and-over 200m breast in a time of 2:59.58. The qualifying mark was 3:01.91. Jamilah Hepburn, however, won the 50m breaststroke in 36.54 over Thompson, who did 37.47. They both surpassed the standard of 37.65.

Delaney Mizell won the girls’ 15-and-over 100m breaststroke in

1:22.33, well over the standard of 1:24.24 and in the 50m free in 28.16 to surpass the standard of 28.16.

And Rhanishka Gibbs of the Barracuda Swim Club took the 13-14 100m breaststroke in 1:20.90 to surpass the standard of 1:24.92.

On the boys’ side, there were some outstanding qualifying performances as well.

Caleb Ferguson, representing Alpha, produced his mark in the boys’ 15-and-over 400m free in 4:26.37 to surpass the standard of 4:27.36. Ferguson also doubled up in the 100m free in 57.64 to surpass