02172023 NEWS AND SPORT

TRUDEAU PLEDGE ON AID TO HAITI

Canadian PM also promises climate

change funding

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AS HE addressed regional leaders at the 44th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday pledged to offer $44m in funding to aid Caribbean countries in the fight against climate change, while also unveiling his nation’s plans to help bring stability to Haiti. He said Canada will

deploy navy vessels to conduct surveillance, gather intelligence and maintain a maritime presence off the Haitian coast in the coming weeks.

In a 13-minute long speech to government heads yesterday, Mr Trudeau, who is among dozens of leaders in The Bahamas attending the three-day CARICOM meeting, also spoke on the vexing issues of gun smuggling and human trafficking. He committed his nation to

SEE PAGE THREE

LIGHTHOUSE LAND LEASE LACKED SIGNATURE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN entrepreneur battling to restore Paradise Island’s lighthouse yesterday suffered a setback in his fight with the Government and Royal Caribbean after the Supreme Court found he does not possess a valid Crown Land lease.

Sir Ian Winder, the chief justice, ruled that “regrettably” there was no binding lease agreement between Toby Smith’s Paradise Island Lighthouse and Beach Club and the minister then-responsible for Crown Lands (exprime minister, Dr Hubert Minnis) because the latter did not execute the necessary paperwork by applying his signature.

INSURER: NEW VAT POLICY WILL INCREASE COSTS

By LETRE SWEETING lsweeting@tribunemedia.ne

BAHAMIAN consumers will “undoubtedly” see increased cost of services at pharmacies and other places due to the new interpretation of the VAT Act regarding remittance on medical insurance and healthcare services.

This is according to Julian Rolle, BAF Financial’s managing director and a member of the Bahamas Insurance Association.

He spoke yesterday at a Rotary Club of West Nassau meeting.

The changes in the treatment of VAT, imposed by the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) and the Ministry of Finance starting

DOG ATTACKS 12FT SHARK - AND LIVES!

A REMARKABLE video circulating on social media shows a dog chasing off a 12-foot hammerhead shark.

The video, which was filmed on Wednesday at Stocking Island, Exuma, shows a tour party spotting the hammerhead shark as it swims through the area. Moments later, as it swims near shore, a dog jumps down off a dock before seemingly falling into the water, and seeming to chase it away through the water. Some witnesses suggested

the dog was trying to bite the shark.

Both dog and shark seemed to separate to swim another day. The dog’s owner reported their pet was uninjured and perfectly fine.

Rebecca Lightbourn, of Exuma Watersports, said that the dog was a frequent sighting during their tours and they often fed the dog treats. She said: “The

CANADA Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in talks with Haitian Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry yesterday.

Photo: BIS

THIS screen capture from a viral video shows the dog on the back of a 12 ft hammerhead shark Wednesday.

CANADIAN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pictured yesterday as he attended the CARICOM meeting in The Bahamas.

Photo: Austin Fernander

IMAGES FROM CARICOM

PHOTOS from CARICOM’s morning sessions which featured an address from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau would later address questions from the press.

Photos: Austin Fernander

Trudeau pledge on aid to Haiti

providing $1.8m in support for the further strengthening of border and maritime security in the Caribbean.

He also said Canada was working to expand and simplify access for trusted travellers from CARICOM countries and others in the region. With respect to climate change, Mr Trudeau said the environmental threat was real and promised over $40m in funding support which he said will go towards several CARICOM and regional projects geared towards building climate resilience.

“With many small island nations here today, you know better than anyone threats posed by powerful storms that are increasing in strength and frequency to the threats rising sea levels pose, climate change is here, and it is real,” he told government heads at the Baha Mar resort.

Mr Trudeau said he knew access to climate and concessional funding was one of many challenges Caribbean countries faced when responding to the effects of climate change and committed Canada to doing what it can to assist them.

“Today, I am announcing $44.8m in new funding to tackle the climate crisis in the Caribbean,” he revealed. “This funding will support projects with regional organisations like the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund that will improve marine and coastal ecosystem management,

increase water security and help governments better respond to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters.”

Other topics being discussed at CARICOM include food and energy security, irregular migration and assistance for Haiti. The high level talks end today. While speaking on the crisis in Haiti, Mr Trudeau said Canada, like many other countries, was greatly concerned by the increasing turmoil there and added that the toll of human suffering in the troubled nation was something that weighed heavily on his mind. He said while Canada has already provided support to Haiti, the country wanted to give more assistance and announced plans to deploy Canadian navy vessels to assist with surveillance there and also maintain a maritime presence off the Haitian coast. This comes amid increased illegal migration activity from Haiti, with many leaving the crisis torn nation to seek a better way of life.

“We’ve provided direct support to bolster the Haitian National Police so that Haiti has the tools and support to solve this situation, including deploying surveillance aircraft and vital strategic security equipment and vehicles and additional delivery of emirates vehicles in the coming days,” Mr Trudeau added.

“And today, I am announcing that Canada will also deploy the Royal Canadian Navy vessels to conduct surveillance,

gather intelligence and maintain a maritime presence off the Haitian coast in the coming weeks.”

He also pledged $12.3m in humanitarian assistance for Haiti and an additional $10m to support the International Office on Migration to support Haitian migrants.

As it relates to sanctions, he revealed that targeted sanctions have already been imposed on 15 people who have abused their power to support criminal activity in Haiti and said, “Today, I am announcing a sixth round of autonomous sanctions against two more individuals.”

Prime Minister Trudeau said “now is the moment” for leaders to join hands to come up with solutions to restore peace to Haiti.

“Together, with CARICOM, Canada and our international partners can help Haitians bring an end to the crisis and build a better and more hopeful future for their country,” he said.

Following his address, Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis, who is also the chairman of CARICOM, thanked Mr Trudeau for his empathy and commitment to addressing regional issues of concern and “putting your money where your mouth is”.

“We thank you for that,” Mr Davis said, “and, of course, the stabilisation of Haiti’s institutions, infrastructure and communities is integral to the security of the Caribbean region and to its future.”

CANADIAN NAVY TO STRENGTHEN AND STABILISE HAITI

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE deployment of Canadian navy vessels to Haiti will not be used to intercept migrants trying to flee the troubled country, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed yesterday.

Prime Minister Trudeau held a press conference yesterday where he told reporters Canada is working to strengthen the Haitian National Police’s efforts to stabilise the Caribbean nation.

However, he gave no clear indication if Canada will be sending out forces or boots on the ground to

assist in Haiti’s worsening state.

Mr Trudeau pointed out for the past 30 years Canada has sent many missions to Haiti in pursuit of providing the country relief. But he said that the focus right now is to strengthen Haiti’s police forces.

“We’ve continued to step up and be there for the Haitian people and we have made commitments that we will continue to do that,” he told reporters at a press conference at the Atlantis resort hours after he announced plans to send Canadian boats to Haiti during a CARICOM event at Baha Mar.

“However, we also must learn from what has worked and what has not worked in

DOG ATTACKS 12FT SHARK - AND LIVES!

from page one

hammerhead we do see quite often - getting a clear shot like that not necessarily the case. And never usually that close to shore.”

She said of the dog:

“We feed him chicken hot dogs when we visit.”

She confirmed the dog had reached safety back on shore, and other sources confirmed to The Tribune that the dog was “100% fine”.

the past. And that’s why our focus now is on ensuring that through strengthening the Haitian National Police, equipping them better, ensuring the best for them in their ability to do their jobs,”

Mr Trudeau said.

In terms of funding CARICOM nations that are willing to go on the ground of the troubled nation, Mr Trudeau did not give an answer as to whether Canada would provide the crucial funding.

Throughout the press conference, Mr Trudeau highlighted that in order to resolve the unrest in Haiti there needs to be a focus on keeping Haitian people and Haitian leadership at the centre of the solutions being created.

The political and social crisis in Haiti has led to a high level of illegal migration, as many have fled the troubled country in hopes of a better life.

Canada is set to deploy Royal Canadian Navy vessels to assist with surveillance and also maintain a maritime presence off the Haitian coast, according to Mr Trudeau.

Asked if he could pledge that the navy vessels won’t be used to intercept migrants who are trying to flee Haiti, the Canadian prime minister confirmed the ships are not there for interception.

“The Canadian ships are not there and will not be

there to intercept migrants. They are there to assist the Haitian National Police in their efforts to control the gang activity,” he stressed.

Canada’s extensive support to Haiti has also sparked the question about how it would take the lead on tackling Haiti’s issues.

Mr Trudeau explained that Canada’s support to Haiti has been ongoing since September, as he described Canada as being “elbows deep” in its efforts to assist the country.

He mentioned Canada’s use of sanctions, humanitarian aid for the Haitian people, and support to the Haitian National Police.

Mr Trudeau said: “Canada

stepped up last September, with significant heretofore unseen sanctions directly against the economic and political elites that in Haiti are so directly responsible for the ongoing instability. Not just the political instability, but the violence and the support of gangs in this country.

“As we stepped up on sanctions, we also stepped up with support for the Haitian people through humanitarian aid. Support for the police, through equipment, we have strengthened our presence in the embassy, to be able to engage more, in fact, find and see what is most necessary on the ground.”

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DURING his morning address at CARICOM, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged $44m to assist programmes on climate change for the region as well as lending aid from the Canadian navy to assist in strengthening and stabilising Haiti.

Photo: Austin Fernander

Death Notice For

Wesley Ruben Rolle, 70

a resident of Guinep Tree Street, Pinewood Gardens died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Sunday, February 12, 2023.

He is survived by his sons: Chad Michael and Willis Rolle; grandchildren: Kaysan and Khai Wes Rolle; sisters: Sandra Kemp, Marilun Bullard, Peggy Bethel and Diane Rolle; brothers: Leo, Felix, Larry and Gary Rolle; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

SCENES from the CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) on Wednesday at Baha Mar.

Photos: Anthon Thompson/BIS

INTERNATIONAL arrivals on Wednesday including, far right, Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness speaking to Bahamas

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper.

Photos: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS

Sweeting aims to cut imports by a quarter

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

AGRICULTURE, Marine Resources and Family Affairs Minister

Clay Sweeting said yesterday officials hope to reduce imports by 25 percent by 2025.

During a press conference yesterday, Mr Sweeting was joined by Mario Lubetkin, assistant director general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, when they discussed ways to strengthen food security.

Mr Sweeting said the partnership with FAO will aid in developing agricultural food systems in The Bahamas, noting the government’s efforts for a national agricultural policy.

“We’ve already started to develop some aspects of that. And how we can further develop in regard to legislation, regulations, foreign policy, as well as domestic investment in agrifood systems. This is one thing that we’re excited about,” Mr Sweeting said.

“As we will continue to develop agrifood systems in The Bahamas, modernising agrifood systems, (and) involving Bahamians in ensuring that we help to reduce our imports by hopefully 25 percent by 2025 with our commitment to CARICOM,” Mr

Sweeting said. Food accessibility in the country has become an ongoing challenge due to inflation and the high cost of living. The high cost of food has made it more challenging for people to sustain a healthy diet.

Mr Sweeting acknowledged this and said his ministry is aiming to expand local produce that will be set at an affordable price.

“In order for Bahamians to buy local naturally grown food it would have to be cheaper. So that’s why when I speak about this national food policy it’s a way to ensure that Bahamians who farm locally are able to import stuff dutyfree and are able to receive concessions so that they can be competitive in the marketplace.”

He continued: “So for us at the ministry, we’re trying to find ways to ensure that local produce is cheaper for Bahamians to buy. Because at the end of the day, if you have to choose between a healthy meal, and something that’s cheaper, a lot of times Bahamians will choose the cheaper option.”

Mr Sweeting also said officials are launching an initiative in a few days that will assist in expanding a niche in the market that will allow more affordability.

However, the minister explained to reporters that there is still much work to be done to modernise the agriculture industry in the

country.

Mr Sweeting said in recent times more younger people have become interested in school programmes, noting there are still more participants needed in the industry.

For his part, Mr Lubetkin stressed that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, and the imbalance of food availability there have been ongoing challenges in food security.

Mr Lubetkin said that

food insecurity can be tackled through countries working together to find a solution.

“I think that each one of us, each one of the countries, because we support the countries, are finding a

partial solution — the point is how we can combine and I think that is part of the discussion,” he said.

FAO is also assisting the ministry in qualifying for funding of $10m for small island developing states.

MINISTER of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Affairs Clay Sweeting with assistant director general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Mario Lubetkin; sub-regional director of FAO Dr Renetra Clarke and Bahamas Ambassador to FAO HE Winston Pinnock yesterday.

INTERNATIONAL leaders arriving for CARICOM on Wednesday included Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and St Vincent and Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. Photos: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS

The Tribune Limited

Canada PM putting money where his mouth is

AFTER the ceremony – and the protests – of the start to CARICOM, yesterday saw delegates getting down to business.

While a lot of work was being done in different events, the eye was caught particularly by the words, and actions, of Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Mr Trudeau is attending the event as a special guest. He doesn’t have to be here. And he seems to mean business.

Already, Canada has been carrying out surveillance flights over Haiti to collect intelligence on gang activity.

Yesterday, Mr Trudeau followed that up by announcing the deployment of naval vessels to conduct surveillance and maintain a maritime presence off the Haitian coast.

There was also money put down, $1.8m in total, to strengthen border and maritime security in the Caribbean as he spoke of the need to tackle the issues of gun smuggling and human trafficking.

He said: “We’ve provided direct support to bolster the Haitian national police so that Haiti has the tools and support to solve this situation, including deploying surveillance aircraft and vital strategic security equipment and vehicles and additional delivery of emirates vehicles in the coming days.”

There was more, too, with more sanctions being imposed – two more people added to the list of 15 people said to have abused power to support criminal activity in Haiti.

That still falls a few steps short of the call for foreign military intervention issued by Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry – but it is a good sight more than has been seen so far in response to that call.

Our own Prime Minister, Philip “Brave” Davis, said that Mr Trudeau was “putting your money where your mouth is” and thanked him.

There is of course a double measure to that. Canada has taken these steps forward – the question that hangs in the air is “What is everyone else doing?”

Oddly enough, that’s a question that hangs over the other major debate – climate change.

For a long time, the criticism of the international political arena is that there has been a lot of talking about climate change which has not been matched by action. Mr Davis has in particular since taking office pushed for actual practical steps to ensure the nations most affected by climate change, including ours, are compensated by the nations who contribute most to the problem.

Again, Mr Trudeau had announcements on that front, with $44.8m in funding to go towards groups such as the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund.

When one considers the billions of dollars in damage suffered by The Bahamas in Hurricane Dorian – estimates there have ranged from $3bn to $8bn –then that $44.8m may seem like a drop in the rising ocean, but nor is there the pretence that this is all that is needed.

“You know better than anyone threats posed by powerful storms that are increasing in strength and frequency to the threats rising sea levels pose, climate change is here, and it is real,” he told government heads at the conference.

In both cases, these contributions are not enough on their own to deal with the whole problem, but they are forward steps that need to be matched – and more – by others.

Someone has to go first on Haiti. Canada seems to be taking those first steps.

The goal has to be to help Haiti. Not tell it what it needs. And that goal has to be the same for nations such as ours on the issue of climate change. Offer support, experience – and money to make things happen.

If this CARICOM conference is the tipping point to turn talk into action, then The Bahamas will have played its part. What we do next to follow Canada’s lead? That we shall see.

Defend our freedoms

EDITOR, The Tribune.

LIKE many Bahamians, I watched several clips circulated on social media on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. As I watched, I was very disturbed to see what was transpiring and now find it not only necessary to put pen to paper, but important to do so.

I watched some clips over and over again to grasp the reality of what was taking place and I now need to have some answers.

Is a permit required to be on a public beach? Does an exercise group, a prayer group, association or club gathering on the beach need permission to do so? I am not talking about hosting a cook-out, for which there are requirements, I am talking about just gathering to fellowship or “hang out”.

When did it become illegal for Bahamians to gather at the beach? I am not looking at this with political eyes because right now the only colours I am seeing is Aquamarine Gold and Black. Bahamians, wake up. Eighteen persons arrested and hauled away like animals from a public beach. They were not on private property, they were told to go to the beach and then herded like cattle.

I watched in dismay as the lady was manhandled to the ground by officers and then forced into a bus on the very day that CARICOM chose to present Dame Janet Bostwick with an award for her long-time and ongoing struggle for women’s rights and I shed a tear. Tears for the hypocrisy of an administration that

would utter such directives to our law enforcement officers to arrest and deprive its citizens of their constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of movement. Who were they disturbing on the beach? Who could have even heard their protests on the beach if they were so doing? We must be careful what message we give to the world. When the leaders of a country, under normal conditions, try to restrict the movements, speech and rights of its citizenry, it is a blatant breach of their fundamental and constitutional rights. There is no state of emergency and no need for restriction of movement. There is no threat to the security of delegates from or by the Bahamian people and our armed forces have measures in place to provide more than adequate protection. So why mistreat Bahamians at a time when Caricom is trying to find a resolve to the pending issues of sister countries. Bahamians, we are a passive people but there comes a time when we must stand up, stand together and speak up for our rights and the rights of Bahamians yet unborn.

While we are celebrating our 50th anniversary of Independence, and it is a milestone, the Bahamas is still struggling and trying to recover from a worldwide pandemic that had great economic downfall in the region and the world. We are trying to recover and need assistance in certain areas like some other countries in this region, yet we find it necessary to

Alcohol, drugs and gambling

EDITOR, The Tribune.

We’ve got burglars robbing the Lord’s House

pull money out of thin air to resurface and touch up roads that the Caricom delegates would travel.

We forget the daily cries and pleas of the Joe-blow citizens for potholes to be fixed and roads resurfaced in areas that are travelled every day, every week, every month by Bahamians. We throw caution to the wind and spend what we don’t have to entertain and impress by hosting a meeting that was scheduled for Suriname. We give the false impression that we have it all together when so many of our people are hurting and in need. Bahamian people… not PLPs, FNMs, DNAs, COIs, Bahamians.

Let the region see that we have potholes and uneven surfaces. Let them see that we have people living on the streets. Let them see that we have food banks and charities feeding the hungry and less fortunate. Let them see that while we may be a little better off, we are not as rich as we pretend to be. Let them see that we too, need a little help.

Yesterday was indeed a wake-up call for us and I do hope that some serious thought and consideration is given by this administration for the way people are treated in a Democratic Society while trying to have their voices heard.

This land is your land, this land is my land… this is our Bahamaland. May freedom always reign and may God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

VANESSA A SCOTT, JP Nassau, February 16, 2023

IN JESUS put all your trust, all your belief, and all your heart. Not in alcohol, drugs and gambling, or any destructive vice. Just because God has given man the fruit of the earth for sustenance, this doesn’t mean God is the Creator of the alcoholic beverages and pain killers man makes from it. God created the grapes, but not the fermented wine. God created the marijuana plant, but not the joint used for smoking or the medicinal medication. Through the perversion of the gift, God gave man, the devil corrupted his nature.

All human suffering and woes grow on one tree, but this tree has several different branches:

1. Physical or natural calamities beyond the control of man, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes or fires;

2. Conscious or ignorant violation of natural law;

3. The result of wrong moral decisions bringing blight and sorrow;

4. Selfishness – which is at the root of the trouble we bring on ourselves and our fellowman.

The tree which supports all these branches is called “SIN.” Our ancestors, including past and present politicians, have walked a long treacherous journey for freedom, liberty and equality for all. They marched against the vices which include alcohol, drugs, gambling and marijuana to name a few. Only to have some of the same politicians, lawyers, religious leaders, and former Governors General re-enslave our people by talking about legalizing these vices. This is the reason why dishonesty and corruption proliferates in our country; and the reason why 90% of our politicians don’t comprehend how the world works. There was a documentary on “the legalisation of marijuana,” watched in one

of the US States. During the documentary, a reporter asked a US official about the negative effect marijuana had on its users, and the officials’ reply was “the profit is worth the risk”.

In essence, all who are in agreement with the legalisation of marijuana is saying just that - that the profit is worth the risk.

When I look around from the 1980s to present, I see destruction and grief suffered by many families. There are millions of dollars invested in commercials to induce our people to these vices. We can only pray for a generation ready to take a stand against these destructive vices.

Beware my friend, my name is marijuana, alcohol, tobacco and gambling. We entered this country illegally without a passport, ever since then, we have been hunted and sought by the DEU, Interpol, junkies and pushers and plain clothes officers, mostly by users who need a quick fix.

We are more valued than diamonds, more treasured than gold.

Use us just once and you too will be sold:

We’ll make a school boy and school girl forget their books;

We’ll make a beauty queen neglect her looks;

We’ll take a renowned speaker and make him a bore;

We’ll take mama and papa, and make them stoop lower;

We’ll make a school teacher forget how to teach;

We’ll make a preacher, not want to preach.

All kinds of people have fallen under our wing;

Just look around, and you can see the results of our sting;

We’ve got daughters and sons turning on their parents

We’ve got husbands and wives pimping their spouse. We are the king of vacillation, anarchy and crime, and the prince of destruction.

We’ll cause the organs of your body to malfunction;

We’ll cause your babies to be born hooked

We’ll turn the most honest of men into crooks;

We’ll make you rob, steal and kill

When you’re under our power you have no will.

Remember my friend, our names are marijuana, alcohol, tobacco and gambling.

We’ve destroyed actors, politicians and sports heroes;

We’ve decreased bank accounts from millions to zero;

We’re a bad habit, too tuff for the man

We’re laughing at you now… By the power of your own hands, you are destroying your life.

We’re the secret of the decline of one of the greatest world empires the world has ever known. GOLDEN BABYLON ruled the world from 626 to 539 BC.

Yeah, we’re raising hell in your country and all over the earth

Don’t believe us just check us out you quack (I didn’t say crack)

We’ve made it where, shooting and stabbings are common on the block.

Well, now you know, what will you do?

Remember my friend, it’s all up to you.

If you decide to jump in our saddle you better ride us well.

For on the pale horse of marijuana, alcohol, tobacco and gambling, we’ll ride you straight to HELL!

We live in one of the most sophisticated societies that have ever existed. Why have we subjected ourselves to this level?

TWO Prime Ministers - Justin Trudeau of Canada and Philip “Brave” Davis of The Bahamas - shaking hands yesterday during the CARICOM meeting being hosted in our country.

Photo: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS

Western Air makes emergency landing

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

A WESTERN Air flight had to make an emergency return shortly after takeoff from Lynden Pindling International Airport yesterday morning after the pilot observed that the landing gear had not fully retracted. The incident happened around 7am yesterday morning on Western Air’s flight 701 which was scheduled to land in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Thirty-two passengers and a flight crew of three successfully landed

without further incident and no reported injuries.

One of the passengers on board the aircraft was Kwasi Thompson, East Grand Bahama MP.

In an interview with this newspaper yesterday, Mr Thompson said he is grateful to have been kept safe despite what transpired.

“We took off pretty normal, but it was shortly after takeoff that we heard a loud, well not loud, but a continuous noise which was unusual,” he told this newspaper yesterday.

“It didn’t appear that the landing gear was going in properly. So, the pilot came

on the system and said that the landing gear was not going in and that he would have to turn around and come back to the airport.”

He continued: “Things seem pretty normal, he (the pilot) made the turn to come back, but I think when people started to get a little concerned was when we took several times to land or several attempts to land.”

Other passengers, said Mr Thompson, began to pray as they were afraid.

“The stewardess came with a very loud voice and said ‘Emergency, emergency. Put your heads down and keep your heads

down,’” he said. “I think then you know people got very, very concerned that something may happen.”

He also thanked God and the flight crew for keeping everyone on board safe.

In a video widely circulated on social media, passengers onboard the flight are heard clapping and screaming cheers of joy as the aircraft finally landed back at LPIA.

In a press statement yesterday, Western Air confirmed that the flight landed safely after “visual confirmation of gear position”.

The statement read: “This

MAN HELD WITHOUT BAIL ON ATTEMPTED KILLING OF A POLICE OFFICER AND ARMED ROBBERIES

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday accused of two separate armed muggings and the attempted killing of a police officer in the nation’s capital last week.

Emerson Johnson, 25, stood before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on charges of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm

and two counts of armed robbery.

It is alleged that on February 9 in New Providence, while being concerned with others and being armed with a handgun, Johnson robbed Eugene Stuart of his Burgundy coloured 2011 Nissan March, which is valued at $3,500.

On the same day, it is further alleged that Johnson robbed Marquin Taylor of $50 in cash as well as his Alcatel phone.

Then on February 11, he is accused of attempting to shoot and kill CPL 3766 Arnold Fox. Following this argument with the police, Johnson was arrested for having a black .45 Glock Austria pistol. Because of the gravity of the offences, the accused was told he was not required to enter a plea in court at that time. He was informed that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of

a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

The accused was also told that as the magistrate did not have the jurisdiction to grant him bail he had the right to apply for it through the higher court.

Until bail is granted, the accused will be sent to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Johnson’s VBI is set for service on April 24. He is represented by attorney Alphonso Lewis.

MAN ON RELEASE FOR ARMED ROBBERY CAUGHT SECOND TIME WITH FIREARM, DENIED BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was denied bail yesterday after being accused of having a loaded gun while on release for pending armed robbery and firearm charges.

Lusconder Jean, 21, and Pedro Knowles, 22, faced Magistrate Samuel McKinney on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and

possession of ammunition. Jean faced an additional charge of possession of ammunition.

The two men are accused of being found a black Taurus 9mm pistol on February 13 in New Providence. At the time of their arrest it is alleged that the defendants were also found with 12 unfired rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Then on February 14 Jean is further accused of having a single

additional round of 9mm ammunition.

In court, the defendants both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution objected to Jean’s bail application citing that he was on bail for a pending armed robbery charge at the time of the offence. It was also pointed out that Jean had an ongoing firearm charge in the same court from October of last year.

Magistrate McKinney

said that Jean’s bail had been denied given the likelihood that he would reoffend if it was granted. However he was informed of his right to reapply for bail through the Supreme Court.

Knowles was granted bail at $7,500. He is expected to sign in at the Grove Police Station every Wednesday and Friday by 6pm. Their trial is set to begin on March 16.

morning (Thursday) on flight 701, after takeoff, the captain received an indication that his nose landing gears did not fully retract.

“After completing their climbing sequence and appropriate checks, they performed a few low approaches to allow for a visual inspection from the tower (and team members on the ground) to confirm the position of their landing gears.

“Once they indicated the landing gear appeared to be down and locked, they landed safely.”

The company noted that as a measure of precaution

and procedures, the flight attendants prepared passengers in a “brace position”.

“The aircraft landed safely and as reported the passengers and crew are well,” Western Air said.

“The majority of the passengers opted to proceed on the next flight to Freeport. We are grateful for the professionalism the crew demonstrated in following their procedures and we are thankful to our passengers.” Western Air said the maintenance team will be completing its inspection and review to determine the reason for the incident.

‘Placemaking’ important to engagement and innovation

I RECENTLY had the opportunity to travel from my residence in the United States to visit Eleuthera and to join fellow One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) board members for our quarterly meeting at the Rock Sound campus.

It was a wonderful weekend, partly because the boards of OEF and the Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) had the opportunity to meet, strategise, and fulfill our fiduciary responsibility to the organisation.

We also had time to get to know each other better and discuss our perspectives on pathways for social impact. Furthermore, we also had the opportunity to engage with staff and the broader community while on campus.

Even beyond our board meetings, this weekend made me consider the importance of campuses like OEF/CTI and how they can bring people together, providing a space for civic learning and action while demonstrating the importance of place-making.

It made me consider the significance of what the geographer Yi-Fu Tuan defines as (place), which helps us feel a sense of belonging, and (space), which gives us a sense of freedom and openness. As I will show, campuses like the one at OEF/CTI and other public-serving spaces allow diverse community participants to partake and have access to space and place in ways that facilitate learning, connection, and creativity.

I hope you will soon find the time to visit OEF/CTI’s diverse, approximately fifty-acre campus. Over time it has expanded quite organically to meet the needs of the organisation and community it serves and trains. Board members recently returned to the campus after COVID-19 forced our meetings online.

While we were grateful for the technology that kept us together, we were eager to return to in-person meetings where we would

By Dr Kim WilliamsPulfer

have ample time to provide professional insight and learn from the experiences of staff’s day-to-day knowledge about community needs. Furthermore, we sought to engage with the broader community and understand their use and value for the campus and how we, as an organisation, could better serve them.

As board members, the OEF/CTI campus provided us with “civic space”, which organisations like the European Civic Forum define as “spaces which allow [community members] to come together, share their interests and concerns and act individually and collectively to shape their societies”. The campus serves as a valuable civic space for board members, staff, and the community to think and grow together “in real-time”, strengthening enduring community development practices while identifying innovative strategies that can further enhance social impact relevant to community needs.

As we continue this in-person board meeting practice, we hope to deepen our cross-community connections through increased engagement and learning.

After our board meetings concluded on Saturday afternoon, we found numerous tents and stalls erected around the pool and grounds as OEF/ CTI partnered with The Ministry of Tourism to host its Annual Food and Craft Festival. Community members and visitors to the island ate, purchased well-made local crafts, and danced the night away while enjoying beautiful performances, even fire dancers.

I was most thrilled to see the children enjoy themselves, and it was clear that they felt included in the day’s activities. There were scores of them next to the bouncing castle and a stall selling bright, shiny glow-in-the-dark toys. They played in an open green space, blew bubbles, and met new playmates. If you were a tired parent looking for a night out with your children, this was the place.

The designated “kids corner” and the high walls of the campus protected children from the street and kept them safe. Additionally, the staff was proud of how the space was utilized and worked eagerly to make artisans, Ministry officials, visitors, and community members feel welcome. In this instance, the campus served the community of South Eleuthera by bringing us all together. Scholars and community development practitioners also talk about the importance of placemaking. For example, a report published by MIT entitled, “Places in the Making” defines placemaking as a way “to build on improved public space, spark public discourse, create beauty and delight, engender civic pride… sup-

com-

munity health and safety, grow social justice, catalyse economic development, and promote environmental sustainability and nurture an authentic sense of place”.

OEF/CTI’s campus offers a unique large-scale meeting place for entertainment, education, economic and social development, as well as civic engagement while maintaining the architectural and people influences of the island of Eleuthera, which helps contribute to the community in many tangible and intangible ways. Visitors to The Bahamas valued the opportunity for weekend entertainment while locals caught up with each other in a relaxed and festive atmosphere. Artisans and entertainers had the opportunity to share and sell their work and perform for an eager crowd.

I also want to highlight how the role of publicly engaged spaces like OEF/ CTI’s campus creates a setting that supports a broadened definition of education. Campuses like OEF/CTI facilitate traditional education while supporting a variety of “experiential” learning forms. In addition to the organisation’s numerous offerings throughout the year, the weekend depicts a broader form of educational opportunities.

Children formed new friendships and, we as participants learned how local craft men and women inno-

vatively reused local materials, observed alternative and innovative forms of farming, better understood our local foodways as culture, and enhanced our skills in becoming strong changemakers as staff or Board members of a community development organization. Intellectual exemplar (with Bahamian roots, I might add) Dr WEB Du Bois expounds upon a broadened definition of education as “not one thing… nor is it a matter of schools. Education is the whole system of human training within and without the schoolhouse walls which moulds and develops man”. This weekend reveals how OEF/CTI’s campus serves as a place that advances a broader appreciation of education from youth into adulthood. Indeed, it was a spectacular weekend, but an even more valuable perspective is one that focuses on the power of public spaces like OEF/CTI’s campus. The vivid description of the weekend shows how the campus, with its varying possibilities of civic space, placemaking, and an expansive definition of education, is fruitful in building stronger communities to promote and even more robust culture of giving and generosity. It is one of the many places where we can learn that our sum of experience is greater than our parts as we are interdependent. We can find connections within a larger community and have space to creatively

plan for social transformation in partnership with local input. Undoubtedly, building this campus took tremendous foresight from the organization’s founding leadership and capable staff along with the support of advocates, donors, volunteers, and a lot of sweat equity. While campuses like OEF/CTI require a lot of energy and commitment, we should support the development and advancement of other spaces across our archipelago. We need these kinds of spaces and places in varied sizes and compositions to provide communities with rich opportunities to work together to achieve their aspirational goals for improvement and transformation.

• Dr Kim Williams Pulfer is a board director of One Eleuthera Foundation. Established in 2012, the One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) is a non-profit organisation located in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. For more information, visit www.oneeleuthera.org or email info@oneeleuthera. org. The Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) is the first and only postsecondary, non-profit education and training institution and social enterprise on Eleuthera. CTI operates a student training campus in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, with a 16-room training hotel, restaurant and farm. For more information about CTI’s programmes, email: info@ oneeleuthera.org.

of One Eleuthera Foundation

DR Kim Williams-Pulfer

HOLIDAYS EXACT A TOLL ON OUR SOUL, JUST BRING ON THE SUPER SPORTS

By Diane Phillips

SUPER Bowl Sunday was enough excitement for the week so when Valentine’s Day rolled around 48 hours later, some of us just weren’t quite ready for another celebratory occasion, though there’s little doubt that restaurants were full, jewellery was flying off the shelf and you couldn’t find a red rose in town unless you spray painted it. For many, this was the week of consumption collision. Stats were stunning. Americans made their way through 100 million pounds of chicken wings on Sunday. Really? They downed 325 million gallons of beer. And that’s without the game going into overtime. If they were lucky enough to be at the stadium watching –and consuming – in person they shelled out $17.50 for a 25-ounce can of Bud Light that sells for $3.50 down the road.

With a 30-second ad slot going for a cool $7m, host network Fox raked in revenue at the same rate as last year’s host, NBC, did for the single hottest day in sports. Figures differ widely as to what the Super Bowl nets, ranging from $130m to more than $600m and that’s not counting private betting.

Despite the hoopla and hollering, here’s the surprising part. Super Bowl Sunday spend doesn’t hold a candle to what we spend on Valentine’s Day. Consider the $2.5bn dropped on chocolate alone in 2022, including 58 million pounds in 36 million of

those heart-shaped boxes, according to the National Confectioners’ Association. That’s just the start. With the $4bn-plus dished out to dine out, $5.86bn for jewellery, plus all the moola for soppy cards and clothes and trinkets and more, Valentine’s Day pumps $27bn into the US economy. And the latest trend? Increasing the spend by buying Valentine’s Day gifts for pets. There’s no question –Hallmark holidays are hot. They drum up business, bump up and pump up economies. But what do they do for our psyche? If you really don’t like Halloween or you find yourself alone on Valentine’s Day, or you lost your dad recently and the hole in your heart hurts even more when Father’s Day rolls around, what is the price we pay for the day when we are supposed to celebrate and all we want to do is jerk the calendar page ahead to the next day.

Let’s be honest and face the price we pay when we are on the outside of a Hallmark holiday, when we know those around us have a reason to celebrate and we don’t, or we feel guilty for not feeling like celebrating. Hallmark holidays exact a toll on our soul, a high or low that is, at its root, artificial – a day marked on a calendar designed in part to make us feel appreciation for something, anything, but really created to drive commerce. Hallmark holidays are just plain good for business.

And that is why we have mixed feelings about them. Something deep down inside where our real feelings reside tells us Hallmark holidays are not real. They are not like Christmas or Chanukkah or Kwanzaa or Easter or Passover where

we are marking what we believe are moments that changed history and we commit ourselves to honour them by being better, doing better, helping more, stretching ourselves. They are not like watching Simone Biles knowing that while what

TRANSITION HOUSING SOLUTION – CONVERTED SHIPPING CONTAINERS

AS HAITI’S political crisis worsens, and more flee the country to find safety and refuge in other places, including The Bahamas, and while the courts have cleared the way for the demolition of shanty towns, the need for temporary or transition housing increases.

In many places, converted shipping containers are being used. Would they serve the purpose here? A new 20-foot container

runs less than $2,500 and shipping companies have used ones for sale for less. Conversion with windows, bathroom, cooking facility and sleeping arrangement can be completed for a surprisingly small sum if done in bulk. Power can be supplied by solar panels on container roofs.

Converted containers are increasingly in demand elsewhere for temporary housing after weather

events or other natural disasters that cause widespread displacement.

This is not commentary on the rights or wrongs of shanty towns, except to urge a door-by-door assessment and a show of humanity towards all. This is only intended as a partial, possible temporary solution to what could become a vast homelessness problem that would only result in more of what the administration wishes to clear.

PATRICK Mahomes celebrating during a parade for the Kansas City Chiefs after their Super Bowl win - and penguins with Valentine’s cards at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Money may not buy you love - but plenty of money was spent between Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day. The winner in spending? Valentine’s Day - with $2.5bn spent on chocolate alone.

she is doing doesn’t seem physically or humanly possible, it is the real thing. No one made it up. It’s not like National Pizza Day or Belly Laugh Day which, by the way, was January 24th of this year, in case you missed it. Shouldn’t we find a reason to laugh every day?

I feel like Scrooge talking about trumped up reasons to celebrate but if you substitute the phrase “spend money” for the word celebrate, you’ll get it. These holidays are important, they are important for economies. They just don’t do for us what a Super Bowl Sunday or a US Open does where we are watching the real thing, the best of the best giving their best whether football or tennis or some other

sport. They make us behave a certain way because that is the way we are expected to act on that day, to buy a card, or flowers, or jewellery, to make us go out to dinner when we would love nothing better than to get into sweats and watch a movie on Netflix.

Still, they’re not bad. Just artificial. That said, Mother’s Day is less than three months away. Mark your calendar, May 14. Mothers are definitely worth celebrating and the holiday was a $31.7bn injection into the American economy last year (wish we had local figures), all the more reason to raise a glass, make a reservation and get ready to shower her with love. Just like we should every day.

Photos: AP

Michigan State University gunman’s note reveals possible motive in shooting

THE MAN who shot eight students at Michigan State University, killing three, was found with two handguns and a note containing a possible motive for the attack, police said Thursday.

The 9 mm guns, dozens of rounds of ammunition and the two-page note were found with Anthony McRae when he killed himself Monday night after being confronted by police, said campus deputy chief Chris Rozman. Investigators said they still were trying to pin down a motive, three days after the violence at the 50,000-student campus in East Lansing, but the note was a key point.

“It appears based on the content of the note that he felt he was slighted in some way by people or businesses,” Rozman said at a news conference. “Did a mental health issue amplify that or was it a component of that? We’re not sure at this point. We’re working our best to try to determine that as best as possible.”

McRae, 43, was the lone shooter and had no connection to the victims or to Michigan State as a student

or employee, police said. Rozman described the investigation as “massively complex.”

The shootings happened Monday during evening classes at Berkey Hall and nearby at the MSU Union, a social hub where students can study, eat and relax. Students across the vast campus were ordered to shelter in place for four hours — “run, hide, fight” if necessary — while police hunted for the gunman. Some residence halls were a mile away from the shooting scenes. Students have described breaking windows and taking other desperate steps to escape Berkey Hall, which will stay closed through the spring term.

McRae walked nearly 4 miles toward his Lansing home after the shootings and said nothing before killing himself in front of police, said Lt. Rene Gonzalez of the state police.

McRae’s father, who shared the house, told police that “his son does not have any friends,” Gonzalez said. “He pretty much sat in his room most of the time.”

McRae had a misdemeanour gun conviction in 2019, though it didn’t bar him from having the handguns,

which Rozman noted were purchased legally but not registered.

The students who died were from suburban Detroit: Brian Fraser, 20, Arielle Anderson, 19, and Alexandria Verner, 20.

One of the five wounded students was upgraded to stable condition at Sparrow Hospital. The others remained in critical condition but with “signs of improvement,” interim university President Teresa Woodruff said.

Two of the students are from China, according to a statement from the Chinese Consulate in Chicago.

Classes remain suspended through the weekend, Woodruff said.

The briefing by police followed a Wednesday night vigil on campus that drew thousands of students.

Tom Izzo, the university’s revered basketball coach and father of a student, offered words of comfort.

“Our hearts are heavy. Our loss has been great. Our lives have been permanently changed,” said Izzo, head coach since 1995. “But with a shared commitment to help each other, and a promise to remember those we have lost, we will learn to find joy once again.”

CHINA SANCTIONS LOCKHEED MARTIN, RAYTHEON FOR TAIWAN SALES

BEIJING Associated Press

CHINA yesterday imposed trade and investment sanctions on Lockheed Martin and a unit of Raytheon for supplying weapons to Taiwan, stepping up efforts to isolate the island democracy claimed by the ruling Communist Party as part of its territory.

Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Technologies Corp’s Raytheon Missiles and Defense are barred from importing goods into China or making new investments in the country, the Ministry of Commerce announced. It said they were added to the “unreliable entity” list of companies whose activities are restricted because they might endanger national sovereignty, security or development interests.

It wasn’t clear what impact the penalties might have. The United States bars most sales of weapons-related technology to China, but some military

contractors also have civilian businesses in aerospace and other markets.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war. The island of 22 million people never has been part of the People’s Republic of China, but the Communist Party says it is obliged to unite with the mainland, by force if necessary.

President Xi Jinping’s government has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwan by flying fighter jets and bombers near the island and firing missiles into the sea.

The United States has no official relations with Taiwan but maintains extensive commercial and informal contacts. Washington is obligated by federal law to make sure the island’s government has the means to defend itself.

The United States is Taiwan’s main supplier of military equipment.

Raytheon Missiles and Defense, part of Raytheon Technologies Corp, was awarded a $412 million

contract in September to upgrade Taiwanese military radar as part of a $1.1 billion package of US arms sales to the island. Boeing Defense received a $355 million contract to supply Harpoon missiles.

Beijing responded to that sale by announcing sanctions against the CEOs of Raytheon and of Boeing Defense but gave no details of what they were.

Lockheed Martin has supplied Taiwan’s military with radar, helicopters and air traffic control equipment. It plays a role in the island’s development of its own fighter jet and navy frigates.

In China, Lockheed Martin has sold air traffic control equipment for civilian airports and helicopters for commercial use. Beijing announced plans for the “unreliable entity” list in 2019 in response to US restrictions imposed on Huawei Technologies Ltd., a Chinese maker of telecom equipment.

MICHIGAN Associated Press

FLOWERS seen at the base of The Rock on the campus of Michigan State University, in East Lansing, Michigan Tuesday, to honour the victims of Monday’s shooting on campus.

Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/AP

CHINA on yesterday, imposed trade and investment sanctions on US military contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon for supplying weapons to Taiwan, stepping up efforts to isolate the island democracy claimed by the ruling Communist Party as part of its territory. Photo: Bill Sikes/AP

CARICOM spouses luncheon at Lyford Cay Club

INSURER: NEW VAT POLICY WILL INCREASE COSTS

from page one

on April 1, are in relation to insurers needing to remit VAT on their premiums as well as for other medical services provided such as hospitalisation, doctor’s visits, purchase of medication, therapy and other services.

Mr Rolle said these VAT changes will require changes in the systems at the point of payment for service providers throughout The Bahamas.

“That means when you walk into your pharmacy, they need to be charging you differently. Everybody’s got a computer system. All of these need to be changed. When that happens over at Doctors Hospital and at your physician, all of those changes will need to take place,” Mr Rolle said.

“These changes in systems is another thing that will undoubtedly increase the cost of services. What was once a simple process of charging a copay to someone with insurance will now involve charging VAT on services, which in some cases have yet to even be determined,” he said.

Mr Rolle stressed that previous statements made by the BIA in response to this issue are just the start of an education campaign it plans to go on in order

to accurately inform its clients of the changes that will be taking place and not a bid to change the government’s mind on the issue.

“As a part of the education campaign at the BIA, we can include numerous examples on our website to make sure that we further educate the public,” Mr Rolle said.

“The purpose of BIA’s public statements is really not to get the government to change its mind. We don’t want them to change the new interpretation of the rules, although we believe that would be in the best interest of the public. The reason for the information that we’re sharing is simply to educate and inform our clients as to the impending changes and what the change will mean for them going forward,”

Mr Rolle said.

In a statement released last month, the Ministry of Finance accused the BIA of seeking to politicise a technical issue while missing the real concerns of the Bahamian public through this framing of the issue.

Mr Rolle addressed this saying: “I would like to stress that the change in the interpretation is not a political issue. It is not an insurance industry issue, though the DIR sought to anchor it with us, it’s not our issue. This is an issue for the individuals

receiving service under a medical insurance policy as they will now have to settle the entire VAT portion of their bill for all medical and related services.”

Mr Rolle added: “This change in interpretation doesn’t make any more money for us. The numbers based on this new method specifically impact our clients and increase the cost of healthcare.”

In 2020, the DIR performed an audit on a member of the BIA and determined the treatment of the VAT Act, which was being applied since inception of the law, was not consistent with the law. That change in interpretation is completely different from the interpretation and rules communicated to the insurance industry in 2014, which were followed by all the participants in the industry, Mr Rolle added.

Last week, Mr Rolle told The Tribune Business that “no one wants to pay an additional 36 percent on their medical insurance” from April 1, when consumers will have to bear the full VAT burden on claims payments.

Mr Rolle argued that the increased financial burden this change in VAT treatment will impose on ordinary Bahamians has yet to be properly digested or understood.

TEENAGER FOUND WITH KNIFE GIVEN CURFEW

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A teenager admitted in court yesterday to having a knife on George Street. The 14-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux in the

presence of his guardian. There he faced a charge of unlawfully carrying arms.

The boy was arrested on February 13 on George Street when police found him with a knife without lawful cause.

He pleaded guilty to the charge. As he awaits a report, the magistrate extended the boy’s police

bail, but imposed a 4pm to 8am residential curfew from Monday to Friday. The defendant is to remain indoors every Saturday, but is allowed to attend church on Sundays from 9.30am to 2pm. The defendant is expected to return to court for a probation report on June 27.

THREE GRANTED $60K BAIL ON COCAINE CHARGES

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO men and a woman were granted $60,000 bail in court yesterday after being accused of smuggling $1,000,000 worth of cocaine into the country through Bimini last weekend.

Rudolph Higgs, 52, Jesnel Etienne, 41, and

Rochelle Higgs, 51, stood before Magistrate Samuel McKinney. There they faced charges of conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

It is alleged that around 10am on February 12, officers arrested the three defendants after a search of their vessel at the Cat Cay

Marina in Bimini uncovered 249 lbs (96 kilos) of cocaine. The drugs have an estimated street value of $1m. In court all three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were granted bail in the sum of $60,000 each. The trial in this matter is set to begin on April 24.

THE OFFICE of the Spouse, headed by First Lady Mrs. Ann-Marie Davis, hosted the spouses of CARICOM government heads to a luncheon

meeting held at the Lyford Cay Club on Thursday, 16th February 2023. Also in attendance were Hon. Lisa Rahming, State Minister for Social Services and

Urban Development; Hon. Ginger Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama Affairs; and Hon. Jobeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Housing and Transport.

SCENES from spouses’ luncheon today at the Lyford Cay Club.

Photos: Ulric Woodside/BIS

CARICOM leaders and representatives take a family photo together yesterday.

Photo: Anthon Thompson/BIS

BAHAMAS GOOMBAY PUNCH SUPPORTS THE ST VALENTINE’S DAY REGATTA

OVER the weekend of love the Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC) is pleased to partner with the St Valentine’s Day Regatta at Fort Montagu.

The team will be on site both days supporting the regatta through samplings, games and a chance to win prizes.

CBC recently launched The Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup at the Best of the Best Regatta in December 2022.

The competition is open to all A-Class vessels, the winner of which will be determined by cumulative points totalled from three major regatta

events (Best of the Best, National Family Island and Long Island Regatta).

The victor will be announced upon the completion of the Long Island Regatta in Junethis year and will receive a $5,000 cash prize, a $8,000 stipend towards advancing the sport for their island’s junior sailing club, and exclusive congratulatory Goombay cans from September until January 2024.

“Bahamas Goombay Punch is a Coca-Cola Bahamas heritage brand. The face on the can is tremendously popular across

JUNIOR TENNIS PLAYERS FACE OFF IN BAHAMA

PURE WATER AND ICE TOURNEY

ANOTHER junior tournament has successfully closed on the island of Freeport, Grand Bahama.

The GBTA’s Bahama

Pure Water & Ice tournament featured some good competition amongst the junior ranks in the U12, U14, U16 and U18 categories. The winners are:

Boys U12 Winner - Chase

Newbold. U12 Runner Up -Kingston Rees.

U14 Winner - Patrick Mactaggart. U14 Runner Up - Reeves Mahelis.

U16 Winner - Jerald Carroll. U16 Runner Up - Khai

Rees.

U18 Winner - Jerald

Carroll. U18 Runner UpJackson Mactaggart.

Girls U12 Winner - Danielle Saunders. U12 Runner UpLondyn Mortimer.

U14 Winner - Kaylah

Fox. U14 Runner UpMillie Beukes.

U16 Winner - Jalisa

Clarke. U16 Runner UpTatyana Madu.

U18 Winner - Jalisa

Clarke. U18 Runner UpSaphirre Ferguson.

The BLTA congratulates the tournament participants and organisers and also extends special congratulations to the double crown winners - Jerald Carroll and Jalisa Clarke.

The Bahamas and is synonymous with our Nation,” said CBC brand manager, Karla Wells-Lisgaris.

“As we move towards our 50th Independence, we’re thrilled to celebrate all things Bahamian and felt Goombay was the ideal brand to partner with Bahamian regatta sailing.”

The organising committee of the regatta has expressed their thanks for the continued support of CBC in their efforts to keep the regatta culture alive not only in New Providence but across the Bahamas.

SPORTS NOTES

VOLLEYBALL

NPVA CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE New Providence Volleyball Association will begin its best-of-five championship series at the Anatol Rodgers Gymnasium on Sunday.

At 5:30pm, the ladies match-up will be played between the Johnson Spikers and the Panthers.

The men’s feature contest will pit the Defenders against the Warhawks at 7pm.

CYCLING

KING OF THE HILLS

THE New Providence Cycling Association will stage its King and Queen of the Hills Cycling Championships at 8:30am on Sunday on top of the hill in front of the Medical Arts building on Marcus Bethell Way.

All categories will be contested in the men and women divisions and for boys and girls.

TRACK BAAA RELAYS

THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations will return its popular Relays Championships to its calendar on Saturday at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

The event will kick off at noon and will feature relays for both clubs and schools. There will also be the open men and women’s 100m, men and women elimination mile and on the field, shot put and discus for under-17 and under-20 boys and girls.

JADRIAN TURNQUEST, CBC marketing manager, and Eleazor James Johnson Jr, St Valentine’s Day Regatta chairman.

Durant cheered by fans, says Suns have ‘all the pieces’

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX (AP) — Kevin Durant watched the Phoenix Suns from afar over the past few years, admiring the budding nucleus of Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.

Now he’s thrilled to be a part of it.

“We’ve got all the pieces to be successful,” Durant said.

The 13-time All-Star was introduced yesterday on the floor at Footprint Arena in front of about 3,000 fans, who showed up in the middle of the afternoon just to hear the veteran forward answer a few questions.

Many were already wearing his No. 35 jersey, which has been a hot seller at the downtown fan store since GM James Jones pulled the blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets just before last week’s trade deadline.

Nearly every time Durant tried to speak yesterday, he was interrupted by cheers from fans overjoyed by the biggest superstar arrival in Phoenix since the Suns traded for Charles Barkley in 1992.

The two-time Finals MVP soaked in the applause, but said he didn’t deserve it.

“I appreciate your warm welcome, but we’ve got work to do,” Durant said.

He later added: “I feel like I’ve still got to prove myself. I want to

put good stuff on film every day. That’s the only thing I’m concerned with at this point in my life, is putting good stuff on film every night. I’m looking forward to doing that for Suns fans and hopefully they accept me after that.”

The 34-year-old Durant is still playing at an elite level, averaging nearly 30 points per game this season. He initially asked for a trade last summer and the Suns were interested before Durant patched things up with Brooklyn. They finally got him, less than 24 hours before the trade deadline. The Suns paid a hefty price,

sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, first-round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029, and other draft compensation to the Nets.

Bridges was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year while Johnson has evolved into a versatile scorer. Bridges, Johnson and Crowder were all instrumental in the team’s run to the Finals two years ago, where it lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.

Durant is recovering from a sprained knee ligament, and when he returns he will join a Phoenix lineup that suddenly could be one

of the best in the Western Conference. He said he hopes to be back soon after the All-Star break.

Durant and Booker played together on the US team that won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics last year.

“I think I’ve built my game around being efficient, taking good shots, making good plays on both ends of the floor,” Durant said. “I think my defence feeds my offence. I like to take shots in the mid-range, I like to cut to the basket, I like to do the little things throughout the offence and I think that’s what makes you a versatile player and adapt to any offence.”

The Suns were on the upswing even before Durant’s arrival. They struggled with injuries for most of the first half of the year, but have won 11 of their last 14 games and entered Thursday fourth in the West at 32-27 — one-half game ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers, their opponent last night.

Booker (groin) and Paul (hip) have both recently returned.

Now the Suns are adding one of the game’s most gifted scorers. Phoenix has never won an NBA championship, losing in the finals in 1976, 1993 and 2021.

“That’s why we play the game of basketball,” Durant said. “We understand that. But I’m more concerned about what we do every day as a team, what you guys don’t see. I think that’s what really brings championships.”

All-Star weekend arrives, as NBA heads to Salt Lake City

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

SALT LAKE CITY

(AP) — If so inclined, and if fellow captain LeBron James was to cooperate with his own selections, Giannis Antetokounmpo could pick Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Lauri Markkanen to play on his team Sunday night.

Imagine that: an AllInternational All-Star starting lineup.

It’s one of the many possibilities for this weekend’s events in Salt Lake City.

NBA All-Star weekend is almost here, with many of the principals arriving in Utah yesterday and a few more set to arrive on Friday in time for the official three-day lineup to begin.

More than 60 players from the NBA and G League will be part of the showcase — the All-Star Game on Sunday, the dunk, 3-point and skills competitions on All-Star Saturday, and the Rising Stars games for first- and second-year players on Friday.

“You can never take this for granted,” said Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks forward who is heading to his seventh All-Star Game.

“You never know how many times more you’re going to be an All-Star. I don’t take this for granted. And by the way, thanks for all the fans who voted for me as captain. I don’t take that for granted. We have

FROM PAGE 16

had to squeeze his way through fans to get to the putting green. Fans began chanting Woods’ name when he arrived. The applause when he was announced wasn’t quite as loud, mainly because so many people were holding phones high above their heads to get a picture.

Woods played with his son in the 36-hole PNC Championship in December while riding a cart.

Previously it was The Open at the home of golf, where thousands of fans packed every hotel balcony, peaked out windows and filled every seat in the grandstand as he crossed the Swilcan bridge for likely the last time.

Woods opened with a good pitch to 4 feet for

NEW-LOOK LAKERS PAST PELICANS

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— LeBron James had 21 points in his first game since becoming the NBA’s career scoring leader, and Anthony Davis had 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the new-look Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-102 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

D’Angelo Russell had 21 points and seven assists during his warm welcome home to the Lakers, who won for just the second time in six games. Los Angeles’ five new players all made their home debuts after last week’s busy trade deadline, and the Lakers never trailed in one of this up-and-down team’s most impressive performances of the season.

“There was a huge emphasis on getting this win,” Davis said. “Guys came out and played with a lot of energy and urgency. ... It was only our first game together, but it looked good.”

James only had to play a season-low 29 minutes after taking the previous three games off to rest his sore left ankle and foot immediately after he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record February 7.

to go there, have fun, enjoy the time with our kids.”

Of the 10 starters on Sunday night, barring any changes to the rosters because of injuries, six were born outside the U.S., which is a record. The nine internationally born AllStars ties a record.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Donovan Mitchell, the Cleveland guard who spent the first five years of his NBA career in Utah until he was traded last summer. Mitchell still has deep ties to Utah; he’s throwing a comedy show for charity this weekend to benefit Kearns High School, a place that he worked closely with when he played for the Jazz.

“You learn to appreciate those moments,” said Mitchell, who had to miss last year’s All-Star Game in Cleveland because of an upper respiratory issue.

“You learn to appreciate those things because they saw me grow up. I was a young kid, just happy to be drafted and then given a role to be one of the leaders on the team early, making the playoffs, having big moments, having struggles, ups and downs. And to grow into who I am today, I’m forever grateful, forever thankful.

“So to be there my first time as a starter, back on the team that I was a fan of as a kid, there’s just so many different things you can point to.”

For some — Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Sacramento’s De’Aaron

birdie on the par 5, the easiest hole at Riviera, and he followed with two more pars before missing the green and then a par putt from 10 feet on the long par-3 fourth. As for his legs, there was a noticeable limp as he descended a steep cart path from the first tee, and they will be tested at the end of his five-hour round when he has to climb the 52 wooden steps that lead to the clubhouse. Homa won at Riviera two years ago and called it the coolest thing he had ever done in golf, and for good reason.

Fox, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr and Markkanen of the host Jazz — this will be their first All-Star Game appearance. For James, it’s his 19th trip to an All-Star Game. And this one will be like none other, with the NBA set to pay tribute to him passing Kareem AbdulJabbar earlier this month as the league’s career scoring leader with a halftime ceremony on Sunday night.

The league started eyeing All-Star weekend as the right time to properly fete James a few weeks ago when it looked like the timing would be right for

him to break the record before the events in Salt Lake City, and then the plans began in earnest after he moved into the No. 1 spot last week.

James said he’ll be doing some studying for the Los Angeles Lakers’ stretch run over the break, but he said he’s also looking forward to some time off. He missed three games with foot and ankle issues, then returned and played only 29 minutes in the Lakers’ win Wednesday over New Orleans — so he should be fully recharged for the last 23 games.

“I’ve got a game on Sunday, but we don’t play again until Thursday,” James said. “It’ll be great

not only for me, but for the rest of the group as well.”

And for Utah, hosting been 30 years in the making. The last time the league’s midseason showcase — though in this case, midseason is more like three-quarters of the way through the season, with all teams having between 21 and 25 games left on their 82-game schedule — came to Salt Lake City was 1993.

“This is a really important moment for our state to shine,” Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith said. “I mean, it’s been 30 years. To give you an idea of what the difference is, 10 times the hotel rooms needed to be secured ... and we’re ready for it.”

season, most recently three weeks ago down the coast at Torrey Pines. He began his round on the 10th, regarded as the best short par 4 in the US, went long of the green, hit a flop shot into the back bunker and then holed out for birdie.

The finish was even better. The wind that made Riviera feel like Alaska on Wednesday was mostly gone, giving way to mild weather. Homa hit wedge to 4 feet on No. 7, another wedge to 2 feet on No. 8 and finished with an 8-foot birdie on No. 9.

He grew up about 30 miles away and used to attend this tournament as a fan. He also won when his beloved Dodgers and Lakers were world champions. Oh, and Woods is the tournament host and presented him the trophy. Victories are not routine for Homa, but he is getting used to them. He already has won twice this

“I feel really good about what we’ve got brewing, but we need to lock in,” James said. “It’s the first time we’ve all been on the floor together, so we wanted to see what it looks like, and the first 40 minutes looked pretty good.”

Russell’s debut was actually a homecoming, because he played his first two NBA seasons for Los Angeles before getting traded four times and eventually returning last week. Russell was clearly thrilled to be back in Hollywood, putting on an impressive playmaking performance while also repeatedly exhorting the crowd to standing ovations for the Lakers.

After he hit a 3-pointer in the second half, Russell celebrated by pointing at the letters on his chest and screaming to the fans: “Like I never left!”

“I love those moments,” Russell said. “We had Bron tonight, and we seemed a little more fluid. Everybody pitched in. Everybody played a major part in keeping the lead, maintaining it, getting stops. I like what we showcased tonight.”

The Lakers hit the AllStar break in 13th place in the 15-team Western Conference at 27-32 — but the season isn’t over yet, and they’ve got promising reinforcements.

Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley joined James and Davis in the Lakers’ 30th starting lineup of the season, while Mo Bamba fouled out in 16 minutes as the backup center in his Lakers debut.

“It was just hot,” said Beasley, who scored eight points. “We wanted to make a statement and do what we do.”

Brandon Ingram scored 25 points and C.J. McCollum had 22 points and nine assists in his return from a one-game absence with a sprained right ankle for the Pelicans, who lost for only the second time in six games.

“We just didn’t play with a sense of urgency, and those were my end-of-game comments to our team,” coach Willie Green said. “We have to play with more force and have a sense of urgency that we just didn’t have tonight. Not a great effort on our part.”

That gave him a oneshot lead over Rahm, who won his first two starts of the year in Hawaii and the California desert.

Rahm had a chance to get back to No. 1 last week in Phoenix — that went to Scottie Scheffler — but has another opportunity this week.

A STATUE of former Utah Jazz player Karl Malone is shown in front of the Vivint Arena before the start of the NBA basketball All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City. More than 60 players are making their way to Salt Lake City for All-Star weekend, some of them for the first time, one of them for the 19th time. And while some events will tout the league’s future, many will be celebrating the past.

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

TIGER Woods watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club yesterday in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)

SUNS forward Kevin Durant, speaks to the media after being introduced during an NBA basketball team availability yesterday in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

including five-of-six free throws. Coming out of the locker room, CI Gibson turned it up a notch for a 50-39 lead at the end of the third, highlighted by Butler’s six. They continued to push the button, out-scoring Anatol Rodgers 28-22 in the fourth to clinch the victory as Delia connected on 12 and Joseph had 10.

Junior girls Raptors 40, Lions 12: Riccara Beadle exploded for a game high 22 points, scoring for HO Nash by herself to earn the MVP honours as CH Reeves completed a two-game sweep to clinch the title.

Tajhanique Morley scored 11 and Durya Poitier had five.

“It feels great. Hats off to Patty Johnson and her HO Lions. They are always a team to reckon with,” said CH Reeves’ coach Varel Davis. “All season, we knew that we had the team to do it and so it really feels good that we won again. It’s been quite a while since we had this feeling. It’s so sweet to get it again.”

The Raptors led off with a 10-7 lead behind six from Beadle and four from Morley as they took control. They went up 20-9 at the half. By the third, they were out front 22-9 as the Lions failed to score.

Shanovia Moxey had six and Shaniyah Munroe added five in a losing effort.

Senor girls Rattlers 47, Knights 40: Jada Francis and Phillippa Ferguson canned 20 and 17 points respectively to pace CI Gibson to a comeback win to even the senior girls’ series at 1-1 and force the decider today. Traineia

GAMES

FROM PAGE 16

will do for New Providence teams. Hopefully by the next conclave, we will have a definite decision on that.”

One suggestion that was put forth was that the athletes stay in the Games Village on a rotational basis, which would allow them to remain there while their discipline is taking place. Smith said they have put forth that suggestion as well to the finance committee and is waiting on their final decision.

Name changes

While a petition was made by the Abaco Sports Council to change their names from the Loyalists to Survivors and Long Island, who have asked to use Sheep Runners as their names, Smith said they have agreed to go along with the name changes.

“With the outcome of what they went through

Green helped out with eight. Shenell Stewart led CR Walker with 16 points.

Shamaraja Cummings had seven, Kaiesa Johnson had six and Raynia Russell had four.

The Rattlers polished off the Knights with a 16-6 advantage in the first quarter. At halftime, they built a 30-13 lead. The Knights, however, responded in the third to cut the deficit to 37-27. And they used a 13-10 spurt to make it close, but it was a little too late.

“We came out and played excellent ball today,” coach Kevin Johnson said. “This is supposed to be over, but we came back after losing the first game. We played better defensively and we continued their two best players. Now all roads lead down here tomorrow (today). So we will see what happens.”

Junior boys Sharks 46, Royals 41: LaQuare Collins and Kami Davis both scored 12 points to lead a balanced scoring attack as SC McPherson staved off elimination and forced a deciding game three today. “It feels good. We just one more game to go,” said the highly spirited coach Lacricia Swann. “We expect the same intensity.”

Emmitt Smith and Malachi Cadeam both added eight and Aljah Pierre added four points.

The Sharks took a 12-5 lead at the end of the first quarter and went up 27-17 at the half. They stayed on top 39-29 after the third and held on as the Royals outscored them 12-7 in the fourth. Darius Hanna had a game high 18, Charles Delva and Wimdishy Paul both had seven and Khamani Davis had four.

with Hurricane Dorian, we have agreed to go along with Abaco and grant them their name change,” Smith said. “This is their strongpoint and their rally time, so we have decided to accommodate them and Long Island. “We have already changed their logos and they will be displayed at the next conclave. So, everything is a go for them.”

Finances for Councils

Although he can say that the finance committee has given verbal approval to the Games Secretariat, they are still working out the minor details before they provide the seed fundings to the island sports councils and federations, who will be responsible for staging the various disciplines for the games.

“I’m in constant negotiations with members from the finance committee and a lot of it is centred around finances,” Smith revealed. “We have allocated a proposal for both island

GIANNIS BREAKS BUCKS’ ASSISTS MARK, LEAVES WITH WRIST INJURY

CHICAGO (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo broke the Milwaukee Bucks’ career assists record last night against the Chicago Bulls before leaving the game with a sprained right wrist.

The two-time MVP came in needing two assists to break Paul Pressey’s record of 3,272 from 1982 to 1990. Antetokounmpo also is the Bucks’ career leader in blocks, triple-doubles, free throws made, free throws attempted and minutes. Antetokounmpo matched the assist mark when he fed Brook Lopez for a 3-pointer two minutes into the game and broke it when he passed to Jevon Carter for another 3 that bumped Milwaukee’s lead to 19-10 in the first quarter.

Antetokounmpo was hurt trying to block a finger roll by Chicago’s Coby White after the guard drove past him early in the second quarter. He jammed his wrist against the stanchion and stayed down grimacing in pain before heading to the locker room.

He finished with a season-low two points, seven rebounds and three assists in nine minutes.

A seven-time All-Star, Antetokounmpo came into the game third in the NBA in scoring at 32.5 points per game and tied for the league lead in rebounding at 12.3 while averaging 5.5 assists.

councils and federations to be increased by more than 50 percent for each entity from 2001-2023.

“The total payout would come to about $600,000, but I’m not going to say who will get what. We have 10 island councils and 14 federations and so we are still looking at that. The way the decision is going, I believe we will get the funding because the games have to go on.”

Smith, however, said they are still waiting on the projected budgets from both the island councils and federations, and they are slowly trickling in. He said as soon as they have all of them in, they will be in a better position to get the finances that they need from the finance committee.

“We have incorporated a zone connection with the Family Islands so that we can better communicate with them and to deal with any matters that might arise,” he said. “We will be having weekly meetings

with the sports councils and the federations so that we won’t have any further hiccups when we meet for the final time in April.”

But Smith warned the island councils not to rely solely on the seed money that will be provided by the government, but to do their part as well in securing their own funding to help with their team’s participation in the games.

Uniforms for competition

Smith also noted that the Games Secretariat invited Chris Brown to the conclave over the weekend so that he could present uniform products for the games.

“I’ve seen his presentation and I believe it will go well because he’s a Bahamian and as a Family Islander, we believe that he will get some support,” Smith said. “He’s made contacts with the various island councils and so they are in the process of doing their own negotiations.”

Torch Run

During the conclave, Lundy and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg talked about the importance of the Torch Run that will travel throughout the length and breadth of the archipelago in time for the start of the games.

The torch will leave New Providence and travel all the way to Inagua in May and will move up to Grand Bahama and Bimini in the north before it returns to New Providence just in time for the opening ceremonies for the games.

Valley Boy Doyle Burrows, a former long-time employee of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, has been commissioned to construct the torch along with Stephen Bain.

“Each island and their councils will have a direct part to play in hosting the torch as it makes its way through the Bahamas,” Smith said. “What we suggested to them is to have

a mini-fair or fundraiser while the torch is on their island to benefit the funding they need for their team.”

Competitions for Bahamas

Games

The island councils from New Providence, Andros, Grand Bahama, Long Island/Rum Cay, Abaco, Bimini & The Berries, Exuma/Ragged Island, Eleuthera/Harbour Island/ Spanish Wells, Columbus Isles (Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador) and MICA (Mayaguana, Inagua/Crooked Island/ Acklins/Long Cay) will be competing in the following sporting disciplines during the games: Softball, basketball, track and field, lawn tennis, swimming, soccer, beach soccer, volleyball, beach volleyball, bodybuilding and powerlifting, boxing, cycling, baseball, youth Olympic sailing, regatta sailing, golf. There will also be exhibitions in rowing and Edu Karting moto sports.

BARCELONA, MANCHESTER UNITED PLAY 2-2 THRILLER IN EUROPA LEAGUE

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer

BARCELONA and Manchester United served up a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Europa League knockout playoffs yesterday that outranked anything seen in the Champions League this week.

The former European champions traded leads in a

JOHNSON FROM PAGE 16

honouring persons who made their contributions to softball, and he included Johnson in this year’s enshrinement.

“Every year they have an induction thing, and I just went over there to be with him and the next thing I know he told me that I was being inducted,” Johnson said.

“I am happy, I am honoured, and I am surprised that they even thought about me in that light.

“But I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed my time playing with them. We played with some semi-pros. The shortstop actually played Triple A in baseball. He played shortstop, but he was giving signs to the outfielders from short. I learned a lot of things playing with them.”

back-and-forth second half of their first-leg game at Camp Nou.

Barcelona struck first in the 50th minute on defender Marcos Alonso’s header from a corner and levelled in the 76th when Raphinha’s cross from the right wing curled into the net untouched.

United’s defence was distracted by Robert

Now retired as a longtime banker and former heralded pitcher for the perennial kingpins Budweiser Eagles in the New Providence Softball Association and was the mainstay for about two decades on the Bahamas men’s national team, Johnson said he’s appreciative of this latest honour just as he was of the previous two.

Johnson is best remembered for pitching all 19 innings of a 2-1 victory for the Bahamas over New Zealand at the 1980 ISF Men’s World Championships.

He also struck out 12 batters in a no-hitter in nine innings over Mexico for the bronze medal for the Bahamas.

The 65-year-old Eleuthera native is now basking in his glory at home and enjoying life to the fullest.

Lewandowski’s failed attempt to connect.

In between, Marcus Rashford showed just why Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández described him as one of the most dangerous forwards in Europe.

Rashford beat goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen at his near post with a shot from a tight angle in the 53rd then created United’s go-ahead goal seven minutes later.

Receiving the ball at the touchline from a corner taken short, Rashford dribbled into the penalty area then fired a low cross that was flicked on by Bruno Fernandes and bounced up to ricochet into the net off defender Jules Koundé for an own goal.

“If you face number one of Spain in an away game and you are the dominant team, you can see this as a positive,” United manager Erik ten Hag said.

United goalkeeper David de Gea preserved the lead with late saves, after ter Stegen’s best saves were in the first half to keep out shots by Rashford and Wout Weghorst.

A game of 35 attempts on goal was watched by former United manager Alex Ferguson, now aged 81, in the stadium where his team won the 1999 Champions League final. It sets up an enticing second leg at Old

Trafford next Thursday with a place in the round of 16 at stake.

Barcelona has never won the second-tier European competition — never even reached the final in 52 years as the UEFA Cup then the Europa League — and its 13th attempt looks to be no easier.

EUROPA LEAGUE

A game between two former Champions League finalists saw Monaco captain Axel Disasi score with a long-range shot in stoppage time to seal a 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen.

Juventus was held 1-1 by Nantes, after leading in the 13th on Dušan Vlahovic’s goal, and seemed sure to be awarded a penalty for a handball in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Instead,

after a two-minute review and consulting the pitchside screen, Portuguese referee João Pinheiro awarded Nantes a free kick for a foul by the Juventus player Bremer.

Shakhtar Donetsk’s first competitive game of 2023 during the midwinter break for the Ukrainian league was a 2-1 win over Rennes in a “home” game played in neutral Warsaw.

Shakhtar’s first game since selling star winger Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea saw his replacement on the left flank, Dmytro Kryskiv, open the scoring in the 11th minute.

Sevilla, the record sixtime champion, eased to a 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven, and Salzburg will take a 1-0 lead to Roma

next week thanks to Nicolas Capaldo’s header in the 88th. Coach José Mourinho’s team almost levelled when Andrea Belotti’s header was pushed on to the crossbar by goalkeeper Philipp Köhn.

Ajax drew 0-0 at home to Union Berlin, the surprise Bundesliga title challenger. Sporting Lisbon got a stoppage-time goal from defender Sebastian Coates to draw 1-1 with Midtjylland.

EUROPA CONFERENCE

LEAGUE

Fiorentina’s 4-0 rout of home team Braga was the standout performance in the Europa Conference League knockout playoffs. Forwards Luka Jovic and substitute Arthur Cabral each scored twice, and Braga had defender Vitor Tormena sent off for a late tackle on Jovic.

Five of the eight games ended in 1-0 wins for the home team: Trabzonspor over Basel, Qarabag against Gent, Ludogorets over Anderlecht, and AEK Larnaca against Dnipro-1 of Ukraine.

Lazio’s goal against Cluj by Ciro Immobile came deep in first-half stoppage time after Lazio defender Patric was sent off. It was 0-0 in Norway between Bodø/Glimt and Lech Poznan.

MANCHESTER United’s Marcus Rashford, left, scores against Barcelona during their Europa League playoff first leg soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

GSSSA CHAMPIONS: The CH Reeves Raptors junior girls with their trophies after winning the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s best-of-three basketball championship series last night.

GSSSA CHAMPIONS: The CI Gibson Rattlers senior boys with their trophies after winning the GSSSA best-of-three basketball championship series last night at Kendal Isaacs Gym.

Photos: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

SPORTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2023

RICHARD ‘LION HEART’ JOHNSON GETS THIRD INDUCTION

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LONG after he’s retired from playing, Richard ‘the Lion-Heart’ Johnson is still receiving the awards of his accomplishments as a pitcher, both locally and internationally.

After being inducted into the International Softball Federation’s Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Bahamas Softball Federation’s Hall of Fame in 2009, Johnson was invited back to Houston, Texas on January 28 when he was enshrined into the Fast Pitch Legends Hall of Fame of the Greater Houston Area.

Johnson’s latest accolades came from his participation in the league from 1986 to 1988 with the Houston Flyers. He remembers vividly how they played in the ISC World Championships where they lost 1-0 as they got eliminated from making it to the final.

James Ward, the president of the Houston Softball League, was

SEE PAGE 14

Durant, page 13

GSSSA champions crowned

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The CI Gibson Rattlers and CH Reeves Raptors have regained bragging rights as the senior boys and junior girls champions in the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s best-of-three basketball championship series. While the two schools wrapped up their divisional titles with two game sweeps over their rivals Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves and HO Nash Lions yesterday at Kendal Isaacs Gym, the senior girls and junior boys will go down to the wire in the third and deciding games, scheduled for today.

CI GIBSON RATTLERS SENIOR BOYS VICTORIOUS, CH REEVES RAPTORS JUNIOR GIRLS WIN TITLE

Johnson will have a chance to go after his second title in the series as his Rattlers’ senior girls bounced back to hold off CR Walker 47-40 to even the series at 1-1. They will play after the 5pm junior boys’ matchup, also tied at 1-1, after the SC McPherson Sharks rallied to beat the DW Davis Royals 46-41.

Senior boys Rattlers 78, Timberwolves 61: Head coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson said it was time for him to finally avenge two losses he suffered to his former student and player Denycko

Bowles, who moved from Doris Johnson to Anatol Rodgers this year.

“At the end of the day, I’m happy that we won,” said Johnson, whose Rattlers last won the title in 2016. “I’ve lost two times to my former student and so it was time for me to get one. These young guys were just hungry for it and they played for it.”

Johnson got a balanced scoring attack from his Rattlers as most valuable player James Delia and Tashon Butler provided a 1-2 punch with 25 and 21 points respectively. Dieunel Joseph had 20, Stevahko

Jacques had eight and Brian Cezalien chipped in with six. Gerrad Rolle and Jude Vil both had four. Jefferson Bethel scored 14, Xavier Thompson and Kirkwood Rolle had 13 apiece and Lavardo Saunders chipped in with seven in the loss for Anatol Rodgers. The Rattlers went up 23-10 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to 10 with two three-pointers from Butler and six from Delia. But they fell behind 36-34 at the half, sparked by Thompson’s seven points,

SEE PAGE 14

‘Finishing touches’ on Bahamas Games

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH just about five months left before the return of the Bahamas Games, the Games Secretariat is putting the finishing touches on the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the games.

Over the weekend, the Games Secretariat, commissioned by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, hosted another conclave for its 10 Island Council representatives and 14 sporting disciplines during the sixth edition of the games, scheduled for July 7-15.

The games, which was first staged in 1989, are making a return after a 21-year hiatus with the fifth edition taking place in 2001 with a projected budget of $1.3 million under the theme: “Challenges are chances for the Courageous.”

During the conclave at SuperClubs Breezes, which was chaired by Games Secretariat chairman Martin Lundy, one of the biggest issues that provided some healthy discussion was the drafting of athletes for the various teams.

Additionally, there were some discussions on whether or not New Providence athletes will be allowed to stay in the

designated Games Village with their Family Island counterparts, a change in name for the Abaco and Long Island Sports Councils and uniforms being provided for sale by Golden Boy Chris “the Fireman” Brown.

Keith ‘Belzee’ Smith, who serves as the secretary/treasurer for the Games Secretariat, noted that after meeting with the finance committee of the Bahamas Government, he was in a better position to answer some of the queries that came up during the conclave.

OWLS STOP UB MINGOES 77-71 IN NORTH MIAMI

THE University of The Bahamas Mingoes stayed close with the Florida Palms University Owls and led by as much as nine points in the Skinner Classic action Wednesday in North Miami.

But a late surge by The Owls stopped The Mingoes from picking up a win in the tournament with the 77-71 loss.

Dave Lindsey led the Mingoes with 25 points in the loss. Guard Theodore Grant put up 15 points to go along with five assists and five steals. Timothy Grant contributed 10 points for The Mingoes.

The Mingoes and The Owls tied the game five times, including halftime at 42-42, and the game had 11 lead changes.

The Skinner Classic brings together host Fort Lauderdale University, Atlantis University, Florida Palms University and The University of The US Virgin Islands in action at The Scott Galvin

Community Center in North Miami. “It was a very good game for us and it really came down to

possession,” assistant coach Lavar Johnson said.

“Anytime you have 20 turnovers in the game it’s usually a problem for us. This game was very much in reach for us. Dave Lindsey came out with 25 points and played pretty well. The game pretty much came down to one free throw.”

With 37 seconds left in the game and The Owls up 73-70, Edgecombe drove baseline and got fouled and sent to the line to shoot two free-throws.

He missed both and The Owls were able to extend the lead to win the game.

The Mingoes outscored The Owls in the paint 42-38 but were outrebounded 42-36 in the close game. The Mingoes second game is set for Thursday night against Atlantis University and finish the tournament against Fort Lauderdale University Friday night.

“We anticipated this before the conclave and so we tried to present a clear picture of what the draft entitled,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t go over that well because some of them came with their own interpretation of what they expected.

“At the end of the day, we decided to revisit the draft so that we can include some of the requests of the council because several different scenarios were brought up, one of which is that if an athlete is selected by New Providence and he is offered something better

playing for his home team or the birthplace of his parents, he or she will play for that island.”

Smith said the Games Secretariat will not condone such actions and they will have made the necessary amendments to the draft before it goes into effect on April 15.

By then, New Providence would have already selected its team and those athletes who are not on the team will be eligible for the draft, but will only be selected if they are from the respective island that drafted them.

“We will have our final conclave on April 14-15, which will allow us to complete all of the things that we needed to gather from the sports councils and the federations. So, I believe that the conclave over the weekend was successful, and we have agreed to continue to dialogue with them to deal with any matters that may arise before they come back for the final conclave.”

Living accommodations

While the final decision has not been made as yet, Smith said he still has further discussions with the Bahamas Government’s financial committee to iron out their budget so that they can determine the accommodations and travel arrangements for the games.

“So, the jury is still out on whether or not we would allow New Providence Sports Council teams to live in the Games Village,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, we haven’t designed a Games Village as yet because we are still trying to gather data for accommodations.

“When that is determined and after my negotiations with the finance committee is completed, we will be in a better decision to make a determination on what we

SEE PAGE 14

Tiger Woods brings buzz to Riviera, Homa takes early lead

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— The scene was similar to the last time Tiger Woods played against the world’s best, minus the size and the history. Fans packed onto every balcony on every level of the Riviera clubhouse yesterday, all of them straining for a glimpse.

Woods made the Genesis Invitational feel like must-see golf in his first competition since the British Open at St Andrews last summer.

That meant missing another California native, Max Homa, close out his round with three straight birdies for a 7-under 64 and a one-shot lead among early starters.

Jon Rahm opened with a 65 as he bids to return to No. 1 in the world, while Matt Kuchar opened with a 30 on the front nine and settled for a 66.

Hardly anyone was watching them, which was to be expected considering Woods was playing. He has commanded all the attention for the last 25 years, and now Tiger sightings are rare, given his legs that

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have been battered by knee surgeries (left) and a car crash (right). The space behind the first tee at Riviera was crammed so full that Seamus Power

TIGER Woods acknowledges the gallery on the ninth hole during the first round of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club yesterday in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/ Ryan Kang)

CHRIS “Fireman” Brown making a sales pitch to the Bahamas Games as Harrison Thompson and Keith ‘Belzee’ Smith look on.

UB guard Dave Lindsey advances the ball against Florida Palms University at The Scott Galvin Community Center. He scored 25 points. (UB ATHLETICS)