03252024 NEWS AND SPORT

BOY ACCUSED OF

KILLING

Mom at school play when told of deadly Eleuthera stabbing

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE mother of one of the country’s latest murder victims was at a school play on Friday when she learned Topaz Baillou, 25, had been stabbed to death - allegedly by a minor who is related to the victim.

The incident has rocked the family’s small, closely knit community in Upper Bogue, Eleuthera, according to the island administrator, Stephen Wilson, who said the alleged killer and the victim did not get into problems.

By JADE RUSSELL

HARTNELL

ALBANY’S principal investor has admitted that pleading guilty to securities fraud is “a devastating and self-inflicted humiliation I will have to live with for the rest of my days”.

Joe Lewis, the Bahamasbased British billionaire who spearheaded the southwestern New Providence community’s multi-million dollar development, told the southern New York federal court that he had allowed “hubris and childish exuberance to impede my judgment” over the insider trading scheme for which he is now seeking to be spared jail time.

TWO SHIP CREW DEAD AFTER ENGINE ROOM MALFUNCTION

TWO Holland America Line crew members died on the line’s Nieuw Amsterdam’s ship when it was moored at Half Moon Cay in Eleuthera on Friday.

Police said around 9.30am, the captain was alerted by the ship’s automatic fire alarm system to a malfunction in the ship’s engine room.

The vessel’s fire response team was activated. On arrival in the engine room, they encountered

St Gregory’s Anglican Church’s Palm Sunday march

CONGREGANTS of St Gregory’s Anglican Church marked Palm Sunday yesterday. Photos: Katie Longley

Shock as tornado hits woman’s home

from page one

gust of wind blew inside her house, and she heard a loud bang.

“I crouched down on the side of my bed on the floor, and all we heard was the bang and the crashing and things falling inside the house and outside,” she said, adding that the tornado appeared to last about five minutes.

She said she was in her bedroom at the time, her husband was in the front room, two sons were asleep, and one son was at work.

When the wind from the tornado forced her bedroom door shut, her husband had to help her get out. She soon realised part of the roof had fallen inside one of her son’s rooms.

“The door from my son’s room was on the floor in the middle of the corridor, and the sheetrock was on his bed,” she said. “The windows were wide open, which were originally closed. And the blinds were on the bed as well. From there, we went out to the front room area, and the front door was blown wide open and it was full of debris from outside.”

She said roof damage caused rain to leak inside.

The winds carried away her garbage cans but brought the bins of her

neighbours to her backyard. The back window of her husband’s car was shattered, and now the car won’t start.

“I was scared because I’d never experienced anything like that,” she said.

Mrs Miller’s family moved into their home in 2008. In 2019, during Hurricane Dorian, their roof suffered damage that cost over $11,000 to repair. Although the house is insured, she said it would still be expensive to repair the roof again. She is grateful that her home was not destroyed and that no one was hurt. She said her family lost no personal belongings.

“Roofing is expensive,” she said. “So I know that it’s going to be in excess of $11,000.”

The night after the incident, her family removed the debris, got a tarp for the roof, and slept inside the house. Mrs Miller said some parts of her house were unscathed, and some of her neighbours’ homes were unharmed.

“I try to always look at the positive in issues,” she said. “I try never to dwell on the negative because negativity tends to get you nowhere. So in all things, there is always something positive that comes out of it.”

Two ship crew dead after engine room malfunction

from page one

sweltering condensation caused by a steam leak, which was immediately rectified.

The two crew members were found unresponsive with severe burns and were

pronounced dead by a district medical doctor.

In a statement, the cruise line said: “All of us at Holland America Line are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with our team members’ families

at this difficult time. The safety, security and welfare of all guests and crew are the company’s absolute priority. The appropriate authorities were notified, and the cause of the incident is currently being investigated.”

Bahamian man and American man dead in Andros vehicle accident

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN and an American man died after a fatal car accident in Andros on Saturday.

The 43-year-old American was reportedly driving a red Toyota truck around 1am when it collided with a black Honda car on Queen’s Highway south of Staniard Creek. EMS pronounced the drivers of both cars dead at the scene. The three passengers of the black Honda were taken to the Fresh Creek Medical Clinic for observation and medical treatment. Natasha Scott told The Tribune on Sunday that her uncle Avery Sherman is one of the passengers receiving medical attention after the crash. She said the dead Bahamian driver was Lloyd White, whose wife, Carla White, was also injured in

the crash. Oramea Dean is the second injured female passenger.

The identity of the American driver was not confirmed before press time.

Ms Scott said her family is praying for her uncle to pull through.

The Serious Accident Reconstruction Team (SART) from the Traffic Division in New Providence will travel to the island to conduct further investigations into the incident.

PHOTOS of damage to Deidra Millers’ car and home due to a tornado.

Photos: Deidra Miller

Bahamas makes climate submission to International Court of Justice

“We are in a new climate era, where climate impacts will increasingly drive geopolitical and economic instability. International institutions must rise to the occasion and insist on decisive action.”

“We are in a new climate era, where climate impacts will increasingly drive geopolitical and economic instability. International institutions must rise to the

occasion and insist on decisive action,” said Prime Minister Philip Davis. “The Bahamas is calling on the ICJ to make clear the legal obligations of states to reduce harmful policies and protect current and

future generations from the most devastating impacts of climate change.”

Mr Pinder said: “The ICJ’s advisory opinion will provide much-needed guidance on the responsibilities of states to address

climate change. It will strengthen the legal framework for climate action and hold states accountable for their contributions to the crisis.”

the attention of the Court to the significant and ongoing impacts of climate change on the nation’s economy, and the impacts which future generations of Bahamians are likely to encounter.” from page

According to the press statement, The Bahamas’

submission details climate change impacts encountered at a national and individual level, including sea level rise, ocean acidification, extreme weather events, and harm to coral reefs. The Bahamas draws

COA DENIES GOVT APPEAL IN MATTER OF FORMER OFFICER IN WRONGFUL ARREST CASE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal refused to grant the government leave to appeal to the Privy Council after the courts found that a former police officer was entitled to damages because he was wrongfully arrested and detained by his colleagues in 2016.

Former Sergeant Theodore Neilly expressed support for Coalition of Independents Deputy Leader Maria Daxon

at the Central Detective Unit on September 1, 2016, shortly after she was arrested for allegedly defaming Assistant Commissioner Leon Bethell and Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade. A colleague overheard Sgt Neilly call for the release of Ms Daxon and claimed that he said, “No justice, no peace.”

Sgt Neilly was called back to work by then Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander and questioned about his

remarks.

Sgt Neilly was told that he had to see Commissioner Greenslade at police headquarters, but was denied the right to drive there in his personal car.

Then Chief Superintendent Fernander reportedly instructed inspectors Alexis Roberts and Michael Johnson to take Sgt Neilly to police headquarters in an unmarked police Jeep.

In his civil suit against the force, Sgt Neilly successfully argued that he was taken to police

headquarters against his will in seating reserved for prisoners and that he was not told why he was going there.

The Supreme Court awarded him damages, but the Court of Appeal ordered that only nominal damages be assessed.

In its latest appeal attempt, the government submitted that the Court of Appeal erred in judging that Sgt Neilly was unlawfully detained when CSP Fernander ordered him to accompany him to police headquarters to meet the commissioner.

The appellants also submitted that the Court of Appeal erred in not finding that Sgt Neilly, as an officer of the RBPF, had a duty to comply with lawful orders.

Court of Appeal Justice

Indra Charles found that the submissions in the appeal were never argued during the trial or in a previous appeal.

She wrote: “In the exercise of our discretion, leave should not be granted to appeal to the Privy Council unless it can be demonstrated that there is an arguable case to succeed on appeal and that the appeal involves a point of general public importance.”

“The issues sought to be argued as a basis for granting leave to appeal were never canvassed before the trial judge or before this court. Further, none of the issues raised are issues of general public importance. More importantly, the issues were not pleaded and never argued before the trial judge or this court. Put differently, these issues are being raised for the first time.”

While Sir Arthur Barnett found that the current appeal raised no matter of general public importance that warranted a case before the

Privy Council, he also said that the applicants could appeal directly to the apex court.

“The obligation of a subordinate officer to obey the order of his superior and the scope of that obligation was never the issue before the court below or this court,” he said. “If that was the point of law, the applicants wish to have determined by the Privy Council, this is not the case for the determination of that issue.”

“No doubt, if the applicants still wish to pursue the matter, they are always at liberty to apply directly to the Privy Council for leave to appeal, and the Board will itself consider whether the proposal appeal raises a point of general public importance that warrants its consideration on the facts of this case.”

K Melvin Munroe represented Sgt Neilly.

Death Notice for Nicholas Christopher Bates

born November 17, 1977 in Boston, Massachusetts to Astrid and Alan Bates, died at Doctors Hospital, Collins Avenue, Nassau on Wednesday, 20th March, 2024.

He is pre-deceased by his father, Alan Bates; survived by his mother, Astrid Bates; and his sister Fina Johnson. Attended King’s School Canterbury in England for boarding school and then furthered his education in Canada and Rhode Island.

Was a lover of life and his friends and especially the Bahamas and the Ocean.

You will be very missed by all.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RYAN PINDER

Boy accused of killing relative

from page one

for the year to 34. Yesterday, a 42-year-old man was killed in the Kennedy Subdivision after a gunman fired multiple gunshots in his direction before fleeing into a white Japanese vehicle parked nearby. The victim was standing outside a residence on Gilda Street when the shooting happened around 11am.

Another man with him, aged 41, is in the hospital in critical condition.

In the Eleuthera incident, police said Baillou and the male suspect were involved in an argument while driving after 8pm.

When they arrived at their destination, the minor allegedly produced a sharp instrument and stabbed Baillou in his upper body. Baillou reportedly got out of the car and collapsed a short distance away.

Aldada Thurston said she was supposed to meet up with Baillou, her friend of 11 years, the night he was killed, but she didn’t learn about his death until the next day, having spoken to him hours before his death.

She said he was a hard-working electrician and a father of one son.

She said he was kind and helpful and a confidant of hers.

“We knew everything about one another,” she said. “We had many ups and downs.

But we always made it back to each other whether it was just to hang out or just catch up. Topaz was also a kind person, he loved to help others even when he didn’t have it.”

She said she never knew of issues between Baillou and his alleged attacker.

The victim’s mother is a respected teacher at Harbour Island Green School, an official on the island told The Tribune.

Mr Wilson, the North Eleuthera administrator, said the incident highlights the need for peaceful conflict resolution.

“My understanding is that these young boys, they weren’t a problem to the community,” he said. “I’ve never heard of them being involved with any activity that ever caused them to be named in a negative light. It’s a tragic situation. I really give my sympathy out to the mom.”

DIAMOND DEPOSITORY DEAL WOULD HELP ENSURE BOTSWANA NOT ‘HELD HOSTAGE’ BY GLOBAL NORTH

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis elaborated on his hopes of turning Grand Bahama into a depository for diamonds from Botswana during the closing press conference of his trip.

He previously said a depository was discussed during the visit as a way to facilitate Botswana’s exports to the United States in a collaboration between the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Freeport Container Port.

Mr Davis said the idea is to ensure insurance against the global north’s assault on the diamond industry.

“There has to be an alternative,” he said. “The Bahamas is very near to the largest consumer market of diamonds in the world, the United States of America.”

“For The Bahamas, it will create jobs for my people in Grand Bahama. And, of course, the

exchange of upskilling our Bahamian people to appreciate the diamond industry will also be an advantage and a plus for us. We provide this mechanism for Botswana to ensure that they are not held hostage by the global north. I think that will be the advantage for them.”

Mr Davis said Botswana could demand that

developed countries meet the African country on its terms.

Botswana’s president, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, also thanked Mr Davis for his efforts to assist the country as it faces challenges.

Botswana is one of the world’s largest sustainable diamond sources and the country’s leading producer by value.

TOPAZ BAILLOU

PICTURE OF THE DAY

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What we know after the Moscow massacre

THE Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people, the most deadly attack in Russia in years. Though the US says it has evidence backing up the jihadists’ claim, that didn’t stop Moscow and Kyiv from pointing the finger at each other Saturday as the war in Ukraine rages on.

Much remains unknown about the Friday night attack, including whether it related to a security alert the U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued two weeks earlier and whether it signals a resurgence of the group in the West.

Russia continues to investigate after detaining 11 suspects but it wasn’t possible to confirm the authenticity of statements issued by Russian investigators. Here is a look at some of what is known so far.

WHO CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, first Friday and then again Saturday, on the social media channels that they typically use to issue statements. In their Saturday statement they said the attack had come in the “the natural framework” of the ongoing war between the extremist group and countries they accuse of fighting Islam. IS is an offshoot of al-Qaida that took over much of Iraq and Syria in 2014. It launched a genocidal campaign against the Yazidis, a religious minority that lives in northern Iraq, as well as other groups. By 2018, it had been largely defeated on the battlefield by a US-led coalition, but it continues to operate in desert hideouts in both countries. Its regional affiliates are also present in Afghanistan, West Africa and the Far East.

A Pakistani security analyst, Syed Muhammad Ali, said that if it is confirmed that the group carried out the grisly concert hall massacre, it could be seen as revenge for Russian airstrikes against IS hideouts in Syria. He noted that the group has been badly damaged by Russian airstrikes in Syria in recent years.

US CONFIRMATION

A US official told The Associated Press that US agencies said that IS-K, a Central Asian affiliate of the Islamic State group, was responsible for the attack. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that IS-K has long targeted Russia.

Russia’s FSB, the Federal Security Service, said that it disrupted an attack by the same group that was aimed at a Moscow synagogue just a few weeks ago.

WHO IS IS-K?

The group takes its name from Khorasan Province, a region that covered much of Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia in the Middle Ages. The branch started with several hundred Pakistani Taliban fighters who took refuge across the border in Afghanistan after Pakistani military operations drove them out of their home country. Its fighters have repeatedly carried out attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

IS-K has thousands of members and is the Taliban’s most bitter enemy and top military threat. The group has continued to carry out attacks in Afghanistan and beyond since the Taliban takeover. They were behind the August 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that left 13 US troops and about 170 Afghans dead during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan. IS-K also claimed responsibility for the bomb attack in Kerman, Iran, in January that killed 95 people at a memorial procession for Gen Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian general who was killed in a US drone strike in 2020.

HALLMARKS OF AN ISLAMIC

STATE ATTACK

A security expert, Olivier Guitta, argues that there is much to back up the Islamic State’s claim, including the fact that the group had specifically threatened Russia.

He noted that it took place on a Friday during the holy month of Ramadan, a time favored by jihadis. And once again the target was a concert hall, just as in the 2015 attack on the Bataclan theater in Paris and the Manchester Arena attack in 2017.

“The modus operandi of the attack is classic ISIS,” said Guitta, using an acronym referring to the Islamic State group. He is the managing director of GlobalStrat, an international security and risk consultancy firm in London.

A US WARNING

The US Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert to US citizens on March 7 saying it was monitoring reports that extremists had “imminent plans to target large gatherings” in Moscow, including concerts. Putin denounced the US warning as an attempt to scare Russians.

The March 7 warning advised US citizens to avoid large gatherings for the coming 48 hours. The bloody attack came just over two weeks later.

ACCUSATIONS AMID THE BACKDROP OF WAR

In an address to the nation on Saturday, Putin said authorities have detained a total of 11 people in the attack, including four suspected gunmen in what he called “a bloody, barbaric terrorist act”.

He said Russian authorities captured the four suspected gunmen as they were trying to escape to Ukraine through a “window” prepared for them on the Ukrainian side of the border. He didn’t mention IS at all.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said it “categorically rejects” accusations by Russia that it was involved and considers them an attempt “to further fuel anti-Ukrainian hysteria in Russian society.”

In the same statement, the ministry in Kyiv suggested that the Russian government itself might be involved. It said: “The Russian regime has a long history of bloody provocations by its special services .... There are no red lines for Putin’s dictatorship. It is ready to kill its own citizens for political purposes.”

By VANESSA GERA Associated Press

EDITOR, The Tribune. THE press release concerning the joint press conference of Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi on March 18, probably emailed to the local press by either a Bahamas Information Services (BIS) or Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) representative, was a tactical strategy. It was forwarded to dispel complaints that this trip to Botswana isn’t bearing any meaningful fruit for the Bahamian people. The personnel at BIS or the OPM is well aware of the rumblings by many Bahamians on Facebook regarding the excessive oversea trips by Davis and members of his Cabinet since coming to office in September 2021. Indeed, this will mark the second time Davis has visited the continent of Africa in 2024, which is a little over two and a half months old.

It was either in late January or early February Davis visited Uganda in order to attend a summit.

So far, the complaints of the unprecedented level of travelling seem to not be fazing Davis. My guess, as I’ve postulated in this space already, is that Davis believes that Bahamians are so traumatized by the previous Free National Movement government under Dr Hubert Minnis that they’re willing to overlook the constant travelling. I don’t know of any previous Bahamian prime minister who has travelled this often. Davis is certainly setting a new precedent. But it is really not my intention to give the pros and cons of Davis’ many oversea trips. My issue is what was stated in the press release about The Bahamas being

“prepared to open doors for the people of Botswana to come and learn The Bahamas’ approach to tourism and hospitality”. The press release also mentioned this country’s commitment in helping Botswana in developing its digital currency, among other vague pledges of cooperation between the two countries. Botswana exports diamond and copper ore. It is one of the largest diamond producing countries in the world in terms of value and volume. Botswana’s mineral industry is robust. It also has a robust agrarian sector. The African country produces beans, pulses, groundnuts, cotton, potatoes, tomatoes, wheat, onions, oranges, bananas, watermelons, maize, millet, sorghum, cabbages, spinach and carrots. From the looks of it, Botswana really needs nothing from The Bahamas, which produces hardly anything worth mentioning. In my opinion, The Bahamas has diddly-squat to offer Botswana. Regarding Botswana coming to The Bahamas to learn about our approach to tourism, wouldn’t it be more feasible to get that information via zoom? Botswana is 7,817 miles from Miami, Florida. That should give you an idea of the distance that South African country is from The Bahamas. Moreover, Botswana can learn about ways to enhance its hospitality industry by simply going on YouTube. I am left with the impression that President Masisi believes that the success of the tourism industry is due to some ingenious strategy by the current Progressive

Liberal Party government. Truth be told, our close proximity to South Florida is the number one reason why The Bahamas has such a successful tourism industry. If Masisi wants his country to emulate the kind of success The Bahamas has achieved in tourism, he would need to relocate his country to somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico or in the Atlantic Ocean or Pacific Ocean off the coast of the United States. A more realistic alternative would be to network with South Africa and President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose country welcomed nearly eight million international tourists in 2023. Before the COVID outbreak in 2020, Botswana was averaging about 1.7 million tourists annually. While that figure pales in comparison to The Bahamas’ annual tourist numbers, at least Botswana has a diversified economy. Unlike The Bahamas, Botswana is not heavily reliant on the hospitality industry. It can survive a massive setback in tourism, unlike The Bahamas that would become another Haiti overnight.

I hope this contribution isn’t viewed as a slight on The Bahamas. Far from it. I am just being brutally honest. Our country runs on a consumer based economy that is extremely vulnerable to outside factors. The COVID lockdowns were sober reminders of this harsh reality. We produce virtually nothing. And we have virtually nothing to offer Botswana, or Kenya or Uganda. I view these trips to Africa as nothing more than an opportunity for PLP officials to visit the Motherland, the home of our African ancestors.

KEVIN

CATHOLIC faithfuls attend a Palm Sunday mass at the start of Holy Week in San Lorenzo, Paraguay, yesterday.

Photo: Jorge Saenz/AP

Bahamasair and BALPA sign five-year $500k deal

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMASAIR and the Bahamasair Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) on Friday signed a five-year industrial agreement valued at $500k, that increases the retirement age to 65 along with salary increases, navigation production pay, and other benefits.

The new agreement is retroactive and expires in 2027.

Over 68 Bahamasair pilots are expected to benefit from the new agreement, which replaces the previous contract that expired in December 2022.

TRACY COOPER, BAHAMASAIR MANAGING DIRECTOR

“It isn’t the fact that this is a brand-new contract,” said Tracy Cooper, Bahamasair Managing Director. “It is just an updated contract and so there have always been items in the contract that are beneficial for the pilots to make sure everything is fine with them. “Obviously the whole time, the ability for sick days, the ability for navigation production pay, a few other items that are inside the agreement, but it is just an updating of the contract that we

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO HAVING ASSAULT RIFLE NEAR HIS HOUSE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday after he admitted to having a banned assault rifle near his home on Wilson Tract last week.

Magistrate Lennox Coleby charged Rosemond Etienne, 27, with possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition.

Alphonso Lewis and Levan Johnson represented the accused. Etienne was arrested after police found a black Serbian AK-47, along with 21 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, wrapped in a blue cloth in a derelict minivan near his house on March 19.

After the defendant pleaded guilty to the

charges, Mr Lewis stated in mitigation that his client was remorseful for his actions and had cooperated with police from the onset.

The attorney went on to say that Etienne pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to spare the court’s time and that he is also an employed father. Mr Lewis implored the magistrate to temper justice with mercy and asked for leniency in Etienne’s sentencing.

Magistrate Coleby ordered that the defendant serve 48 months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services during which time he will be enrolled in plumbing and electrical classes. Before being taken into remand the defendant was allowed a short time with relatives who were present in court.

GUILTY PLEA FOR HAVING BODY ARMOUR LANDS MAN A $2K FINE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was fined in court after he admitted to having body armour without a permit.

Magistrate Lennox Coleby charged Kerrigan McCoy, 31, with possession of body armour.

would have had prior.”

Mr Cooper said the company is elated to have finally signed the agreement.

Given the increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65, Bahamasair’s Chairperson, Tanya Pratt, called the renewed agreement a special day as she revealed that some recently retired pilots will be engaged on a contractual basis.

The national flag carrier’s decision to lift its long-standing mandatory pilot retirement age of 60 by five years will ensure smoother succession and prevent a pilot shortage.

“This is indeed a special day for all of us here at the table. It speaks to the strength of negotiation, it speaks to the level of respect that we have for each other. It also speaks to the fact that we all have one common goal and that is for the betterment of our staff and by extension, the company and so we’re so happy to be here today,” she said during a press conference on Friday.

Mark Johnson, BALPA President, expressed gratitude, commending management for the ability to negotiate in a professional manner.

NASSAU CRUISE PORT JOINS WITH THE DIGNIFIED GIRL PROJECT TO DONATE FEMININE PRODUCTS TO FOUR GROUPS

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

IN celebration of International Women’s Month, the Nassau Cruise Port partnered with the Dignified Girl project to donate 300 bags filled with essential feminine products to four organisations on Friday.

The Ranfurly Home for Children, Bahamas Crisis Centre, Public Hospital Authority, and PACE (Providing Access to Continued Education) Bahamas each received 75 bags containing menstrual pads, panty liners, and soap. Each organisation also received a $500 donation from the Nassau Cruise Port (NCP).

“When you think about women, you have to think about the most vulnerable people in our community,” said Shawn Gomez, marketing and communications manager of the cruise port. “And think about the fact that each of us bleed, regardless of if we want to.”

“And so I believe that these products should be accessible to everyone who bleeds and these type of things to help them through the monthly cycle.”

McCoy was arrested after he was found with a black bullet proof vest without authorisation from the licensing authority on March 7.

After pleading guilty to the charge, McCoy was fined $2,000, for which failure to pay would risk nine months in prison.

HOUSE BREAKING AND STEALING ACCUSED REMANDED WITHOUT BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was denied bail on Friday after he was accused of breaking into a Golden Gates home earlier this month.

Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, charged Frero Senat, 36, with housebreaking and stealing. Senat allegedly broke into the residence of Oenise Supreme between 1pm to 4pm on March 16 and stole $1,700 in cash. After pleading not guilty to the charge, Senat was told that he would be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his trial begins on May 21.

Donna Major represented the accused.

MAN GETS $1,500 BAIL ON CHARGES OF ASSAULTING POLICE AND HAVING DRUGS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail on Friday after he was accused of having several types of drugs and assaulting a police officer at Atlantis last week.

in New Providence. On the same day McQuay is accused of alleged disorderly bah-

and cursing in the presence of ASP K Campbell at the Atlantis Resort, where he is alleged to have assaulted Inspector J Brown while resisting arrest. After entering a not guilty plea to all charges, his bail was set at $1,500 with one or two sureties. McQuay’s trial begins on June 18 – 19.

Magistrate Raquel Whyms charged Anatole McQuay, 48, with obscene language, disorderly behaviour, assaulting a police officer, possession of dangerous drugs and two counts of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. McQuay was allegedly found with 3 grams of mar-

Phillipa Dean, founder of the Dignified Girl Project, said her organisation’s mission is to ensure every child and adolescent female has access to essential hygiene products.

Cleopatra Christie, administrator of The Bahamas Crisis Centre, said the donation was important, considering 95 per cent of the centre’s clients are women and young girls.

“This particular gift comes in very handy for us. What we realise from time to time, there are many

Maya Nottage, regional marketing director of the cruise port, noted that 50 per cent of port’s staff are women.

women out there who are not able to afford these very basic items. And so we we try to keep our pantry full of these items so that we will be able to provide them for clients who are in need,” Ms Christie said.

Braniska Bullard, brand ambassador of the Ranfurly Home, said 13 of the 21 children at the Home are girls. She noted that the quasi-private Home is heavily dependent on donations from the public.

“Just being able to be thought of and being able to give these products to our girls means the world to us,” she said.

RANFURLY Home brand ambassador Braniska Bullard accepts a donation presented by Nassau Cruise Port (NCP) Regional Marketing Manager Maya Nottage and The Dignified Girl Project Founder Philipa Dean as part of an initiative by the NCP and The Dignified Girl Project on Friday. Photo: Dante Carrer

How long until we feel govt’s spending?

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

THE pockets of the people have been hit with quite a toll in recent weeks. It would be nice if we could see government reining in spending to ease the pain.

Let’s start with the announcement of an increase in NIB of an initial 1.5 percent – which started off with the minister responsible for NIB, Alfred Sears, telling Parliament it would be 1.5 percent every two years for the next 20 years.

The Office of the Prime Minister quickly dashed to say oh no, only the first 1.5 percent increase has been decided on, and yet despite Mr Sears having misinformed Parliament on the matter – if OPM is right –we have not seen or heard from him since.

Still, we knew we were going to have to pay more. We know that a single increase of 1.5 percent is not going to do the job of fixing NIB. And we can expect from experience that the government isn’t going to set the record straight on what is going to be done any time soon.

Still, businesses can start planning how to deal with an increase in contributions, and what adjustments this first wave of increases will require to keep the business going. Employees pay part of the rise, employers the rest, so it is going to hit the bottom line, and businesses will have to adjust accordingly.

Plenty of people though have been saying that if NIB wants to fix its balance, it can start by demanding that government agencies pay back what they have borrowed.

Then there are the new costs for boaters. The increase in fees has already been described as “selfinflicted inflation” by the FNM’s finance spokesman, Kwasi Thompson.

He was not the only one to point out the number of Bahamians who use boats out in the Family Islands in pretty much the same way as Nassauvians use their cars.

Paul Maillis, the secretary of the National Fisheries Association, called it a “bitter pill to swallow for everyday Bahamians”.

Mr Thompson, meanwhile, read out various opinions on the fees sent to him, such as: “The requirements listed are extreme.

Annual survey, maintenance records, crew training and so on. These are unreasonable requirements. Surveys are expensive. Most crew have no formal training. Maintenance records are non-existent.”

Another said: “What passes for seaworthy? Where is the basic list of safety requirements for registration? Annual inspection; this means that an officer of the Port Department will have to travel to each boat … nationwide! Nobody can bring their boats to the Port Department. This is not like driving your car to an inspection centre for road traffic.”

Another said: “It appears that they will bite off more than they can chew, and will need to increase the fees in order to pay enough staff to perform the administrative duties associated with these amendments.”

Into the middle of this concern about costs on the public drives, literally, the prime minister, in his

near-$200,000 new BMW.

And to go with it? A substantial delegation from The Bahamas jetting off to Botswana.

If the punchline of a joke is all about timing, then the government landed this one perfectly.

You will recall the previous trips the government has dashed off on that we were assured would make a difference to The Bahamas, and yet from which few tangible benefits have actually been spelled out.

Well, now it’s Botswana’s turn to be absolutely, 100% worth taking such a large delegation to and we’ll see the benefits in the future.

Source? Bro, trust me.

Back in February last year, as he has a number of times, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, talked of not wanting to increase the burden on poor people.

He was speaking in the context of the then discussion about an increase in NIB rates. He said: “I’m going to try to resist putting

“I’m going to try to resist putting more burden on our poor working class.”

- Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis

more burden on our poor working class.”

Later, in June, when announcing the date if not the amount of the NIB rise, he said: “We do not wish to impose any additional burden.”

Then again, in November 2022, when talking about inflation, he insisted that “the costs of this global inflation crisis must be a shared burden” and not put on the backs of struggling Bahamians alone as he asked businesses to do their part.

If it is to be a shared burden, then it is perfectly fair for people to ask the government to show how it is sharing the burden.

A new BMW for a cool fifth of a million. A substantial delegation jetting off to Botswana with no information on how much

the trip is costing the public or who provided the flights. And other costs – such as using the public purse to pay for a memorial for Obie Wilchcombe. A fine man, but if people wanted to hold a memorial, they didn’t need to take money from the Budget to do so.

And then, of course, there is the prospect of the corporate income tax, which while the government says it will not directly affect Bahamians, what do they think global businesses affected by a 15 percent tax will do to the Bahamians working for them? Job cuts, pay freezes and reduced contracts to suppliers are all likely outcomes. There is a distinct gap between the government’s talk on burden sharing and the costs they are imposing

on people’s shoulders.

Some are already straining, but even for those who are not, one of these may be the straw that breaks their back.

If these extra costs are essential, then we must bear them. But at the same time, government must avoid spending so visibly lavishly. To see the PM driving by in his expensive car while we judder over potholed roads is a frustration, doubly so if we do not feel that government is doing its part to rein in the spending.

Even before the effects of these costs are being felt, there is a feeling of resentment among many that government needs to do more. When the costs begin to bite, that resentment may well become real anger.

Thirsty future? Urgent action for Caribbean and Latin America

IN the face of escalating global environmental challenges, water scarcity and water stress have emerged as critical issues that threaten the livelihoods and well-being of millions of people.

Nowhere are these challenges more acute than in the Caribbean and Latin American regions, where countries grapple with the harsh realities of limited freshwater resources.

Among these, Antigua and Barbuda stand as a poignant example of struggle in the face of severe droughts and the pressing need for potable water.

Antigua and Barbuda is a drought-ridden country, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. The line in

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem of the Ancient Mariner, “Water, water, everywhere; nor any drop to drink”, has applied to the country before when it has experienced periods as long as seven years without rainfall to fill reservoirs. That situation could still exist today if it were not for a deliberate policy position by the present government to invest heavily in desalination

and reverse osmosis plants, as a priority, to satisfy the need for water by the local population and the tourism industry on which the country’s economy depends.

The Antigua and Barbuda government and its public utilities supplier have spent large sums of money on desalination and Reverse Osmosis plants to convert seawater into a lifeline. Yet, this

solution comes at a steep price, making the cost of water in Antigua and Barbuda per head of population amongst the highest in the world. Recently, in order to continue to manufacture water to satisfy the needs of the country, the utilities provider has had to raise water rates. This decision has escalated expenses at a time when disruption of global supply chains, resulting from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts, such as the Russian war against Ukraine, has already raised the cost of living.

The gravity of the situation in the Caribbean is underscored by the World Resources

Institute, which identifies several Caribbean nations as experiencing “extremely high” levels of water stress. These countries include Dominica, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and St Kitts-Nevis, with the latter three also being designated as water scarce. Latin American countries are not immune.

According to the World Bank, over the last two decades, Latin America has experienced 74 droughts, causing more than US$13bn in damage. The Bank says that this phenomenon impacts agricultural and livestock production and farmers’ livelihoods, especially those living in vulnerable conditions. For example, more than 50 percent of 1.9 million small-scale farmers live under these conditions in the Dry Corridor, an ecological region on the Central American Pacific coast affected by drought and food insecurity.

While the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have acknowledged the crisis — highlighting the need for investment in non-conventional water sources and advocating for integrated water resources management — their actions fall short. The crux of the issue lies in the misalignment of their concessional financing lending policies with the urgent needs of the most affected countries. This gap between recognition and response leaves nations, like Antigua and Barbuda, to bear the brunt of securing water for their people and economies.

The repercussions of this financing misalignment extend beyond economic strains, touching the very core of societal health and food security. The global water crisis, with over 703 million people lacking access to clean water, is not just a statistic but a daily reality for many in the Caribbean and Latin America. The time spent by women and girls fetching water and the deaths of children from water-related diseases are heart-wrenching reminders of the human cost of inaction.

In the case of Antigua and Barbuda, its policy decision to invest in manufacturing water to fulfil the needs of the population, undoubtedly results in higher costs now. However, it also puts the

country in a better position to alleviate the water scarcity and stress problem which will intensify through factors, such as population and tourism growth and the impacts of climate change. The strain now will considerably ease the pressure in the future, contributing to both tourism development and public safety.

This brings us to a pivotal moment where the urgency to act cannot be overstated. While Antigua and Barbuda and similar nations undertake significant financial burdens to address water scarcity, the role of international financial institutions to support these efforts is indispensable. It is imperative that these institutions realign their lending policies to offer low-cost financing for urgent water infrastructure projects, enabling equitable access to water for all.

With the global investment need in the water sector surpassing $1.37 trillion and a sixfold increase required to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the time for real action on water issues is overdue. The cost of inaction will be measured in human suffering and lost opportunities for sustainable development.

Critical to this is a change in policy by the Boards of Directors of the World Bank and the IDB. That change must come from the major governments that control the policies of these institutions. They must ensure that lending policies match real development needs and provide financing on terms that will allow vulnerable countries to purchase the desalination and reverse osmosis plants they require, through affordable repayment schemes.

Today, with 2.2 billion people globally lacking safely managed drinking water, 3.5 billion lacking access to safely managed sanitation, and 2 billion lacking access to basic hand hygiene facilities, the importance of urgent and aligned action is great.

The time for action on addressing the real water issue, rather than talking about it, has long passed.

The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. The views expressed are entirely his own. -

POTWORKS Dam as seen in 2018, Antigua and Barbuda continue to struggle with drought conditions and limited fresh water supply. Photo:Antigua Met Service

Sophia Walker: BTVI helping to boost and enhance employment skills

IT has been over ten years since Sophia Walker began serving on Programme Advisory Committees (PAC) of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI). It’s a role she takes seriously as she recognises that such committees ensure students are abreast of contemporary industry trends, readying them for the world of work.

“These committees are crucial to providing skills and training for people wishing to enter their chosen fields, while enhancing the skillset of those currently employed. I was in the corporate arena for over 20 years, spanning several industries in positions from entry level to vice president before deciding to focus on growing my own company. My fellow PAC members and I offer our expertise and the best insight into the required level of education and training needed to meet labour market needs,” said Ms Walker.

“Further, as committees, we are provided opportunities for networking and mentoring, learning from each other, supporting one another, and by extension the students of BTVI and the wider community,” she added.

Over the years, Ms Walker has been a member of BTVI’s Business PAC, but has also served as Chairperson of the Information Technology (IT) and Electronics PAC. The Technology Management professional has over 18 years of experience and expertise in project management, graphic and web design, IT and data management, and is currently the owner of AIFOS Design & Consulting. Ms Walker said she takes her advisory responsibilities seriously, noting that it is imperative to

GAIN AN EDGE

ensure the curriculum is industry-driven and relevant for current and future jobs. “It’s been a dynamic process of continuous programme improvement. As industries grow and change and the needs of clients too, programmes are continually monitored and adapted to ensure effectiveness and relevance,” she said. Offering over 40 programmes, BTVI recognises the need for industry input. PACs ensure programme alignment with current industry standards, help develop curriculum, maintain quality, offer networking opportunities and facilitate continuous improvement.

Meanwhile, Acting Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr Pleshette McPhee emphasised that student success drives the committees. “Our PAC members benefit students by

ensuring they learn relevant skills, gain real world insight, network with industry professionals, boost their employability and enjoy an improved learning experience,” said Dr McPhee.

“Overall, we look for PAC members who are able to bring a combination of industry experience, subject matter expertise and a commitment to TVET, making them valuable contributors to our programme development and improvement efforts,” she added.

“Gain An Edge is a collaboration of Lyford Cay Foundations, the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and the University of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on issues surrounding education. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia.net.

SOPHIA WALKER, BTVI PROGRAMME ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER

Can you be Christian and support the death penalty?

By MATHEW SCHMALZ

College of the Holy Cross

POPE Francis has declared the death penalty “inadmissible”. This means that the death penalty should not be used in any circumstance. It also alters the Catholic Catechism, a compendium of Catholic doctrine, and is now binding on Roman Catholics throughout the world.

But in spite of his definitive statement, Pope Francis’ act will probably only deepen the debate about whether Christians can support capital punishment.

Is the death penalty un-Christian?

THE TWO SIDES

In its early centuries, Christianity was seen

As a Catholic scholar who writes about religion, politics and policy, I understand how Christians struggle with the death penalty – some cannot endure the idea and others support it as a way to deter and punish terrible crimes. Some Christian theologians have also observed that capital punishment could actually lead to a change of heart among criminals who might repent when faced with the finality of death.

with suspicion by authorities. Writing in defense of Christians who were unfairly charged with crimes in second-century Rome, philosopher Anthenagoras of Athens condemned the death penalty and wrote that Christians “cannot endure even to see a man put to death, though justly.”

But as Christianity became more connected with state power, European Christian monarchs and governments regularly carried out the death penalty until its abolition in the 1950s through the European Convention on Human Rights. In the Western world, today,

“For Pope Francis, the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life are the core values of Christianity, regardless of the circumstances.”

only the United States and Belarus retain capital punishment for crimes not committed during wartime. But China, and many nations in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa still apply the death penalty.

According to a 2015 Pew Research Center Survey, support for the death penalty is falling worldwide. However, in the United States a majority of white Protestants and Catholics continue to be in favor of it.

Critics of the American justice system argue that the deterrence value of capital punishment is debatable. There are also studies showing that, in the United States, capital punishment is unfairly applied, especially to African-Americans.

CHRISTIAN VIEWS

In the Hebrew Bible, Exodus 21:12 states that “whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death”. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus, however, rejects the notion of retribution when he says “if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also”.

While it is true that the Hebrew Bible prescribes capital punishment for a variety of offenses, it is also true that later Jewish jurists set out rigorous standards for the death penalty so that it

could be used only in rare circumstances. At issue in Christian considerations of the death penalty is whether the state has the obligation to punish criminals and defend its citizens.

St Paul, an early Christian evangelist, wrote in his letter to the Romans that a ruler acts as “an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer”. The Middle Ages in Europe saw thousands of murderers, witches and heretics put to death. While church courts of this period generally did not carry out capital punishment, they did turn criminals over to secular authorities for execution.

Thirteenth-century Catholic philosopher Thomas Aquinas argued that the death penalty could be justified for the greater welfare of society. Later Protestant reformers also supported the right of the state to impose capital punishment. John Calvin, a Protestant theologian and reformer, argued that Christian forgiveness did not mean overturning established laws.

THE POSITION OF POPE FRANCIS

Among Christian leaders, Pope Francis has been at the forefront of arguing against the death penalty.

The letter accompanying

the Pope’s declaration makes several points.

First, it acknowledges that the Catholic Church has previously taught that the death penalty is appropriate in certain instances.

Second, the letter argues that modern methods of imprisonment effectively protect society from criminals. Third, the letter states that this development of Catholic doctrine is consistent with the thought of the two previous popes: St Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

St John Paul II maintained that capital punishment should be reserved only for “absolute necessity”. Benedict XVI also supported efforts to eliminate the death penalty.

Most important, however, is that Pope Francis is emphasizing an ethic of forgiveness. The Pope has argued that social justice applies to all citizens. He also believes that those who harm society should make amends through acts that affirm life, not death.

For Pope Francis, the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life are the core values of Christianity, regardless of the circumstances.

Originally published on www.theconversation.com. This is an updated version of an article first published in 2017.

Labour on Campus career fair at CI Gibson Senior High School

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

STUDENTS of C I Gibson Senior High School had the opportunity to speak with professionals from several industries ranging from medical, hospitality, security, and law enforcement as the school, in collaboration with the Department of Labour, hosted its ‘Labour on the Campus’ career fair.

Roughly 34 companies that included Atlantis, Doctors Hospital, Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), National Training Agency (NTA), and more set up stalls bolstering their respective pamphlets and flyers explaining what their respective line of work offers, inclusive of benefits, and explanations on how interested persons may get involved.

C I Gibson’s principal Chavez Rutherford told reporters that the aim of the career fair was to give her students the chance to see opportunities available to them after graduation, underlining that regardless of

whether one decides to pursue a college education or not, they must still be a productive member of society.

“By being a productive member of society, means that you need to actually get a job, someone that is willing to take care of themselves, take care of their family and make a positive future for themselves,” Principal Rutherford said.

All 750 students attending the high school will be allowed to walk through the career fair that will be split into phases, according to the C I Gibson principal.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what the students think as well as what the employer thinks the students have to offer and how qualified and how capable they are of joining the labour force.”

Principal Rutherford said that the school tries to have a career fair every year, however, this year the fair was a little bigger than what they’re used to. Simone Thurston, manager of the Public

Employment Services

Unit in the Department of Labour, said that career fairs inside schools is an ongoing initiative to add more skilled labour to the country’s workforce.

“It’s very important for us at this time because from where I sit at the Department of Labour, there is a skills gap, especially with those young persons so we are here and we’re taking every opportunity to try and assist at building that skills gap wherever we can,” she said.

According to Ms Thurston, last year the career fairs resulted in over 800 job placements.

“It’s a good thing when you’re able to place, if only 100 job seekers, those are persons that won’t need assistance elsewhere and so it’s important for us to do our part in assisting job seekers in finding gainful employment.”

According to Ms Thurston, they are looking to have other career fairs at two other schools, though those schools have not yet been identified.

Poland demands explanation from Russia after a missile enters its airspace during attack on Ukraine

KYIV Associated Press

POLAND demanded an explanation from Russia on Sunday after one of its missiles strayed briefly into Polish airspace during a major missile attack on Ukraine, prompting the NATO member to activate F-16 fighter jets.

It was Russia’s third big missile attack on Ukraine in the past four days, and the second to target the capital, Kyiv.

The governor of the Lviv region, Maksym Kozytskyi, said on the Telegram platform that critical infrastructure was hit, but he didn’t specify what precisely was struck. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Later, authorities said that rescuers had just put out a fire at a critical infrastructure facility in the Lviv region, which had been attacked with missiles and drones at night and in the morning.

The head of Kyiv’s military administration, Serhiy Popko, said Russia used cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers. An air alert in the capital lasted for more than two hours as rockets entered Kyiv in groups from the north. He said the attacks were launched from the Engels

district in the Saratov region of Russia. According to preliminary data, there were no casualties or damage in the capital, he said. Armed Forces Operational Command of Poland, a member of NATO, said in a statement that there was a violation of Polish airspace at 4:23 am (0323 GMT) by one of the cruise missiles launched by Russia against towns in western Ukraine. The object entered near

Oserdow, a village in an agricultural region near the border with Ukraine, and stayed in Polish airspace for 39 seconds, the statement said. It wasn’t immediately clear if Russia intended for the missile to enter Poland’s airspace. Cruise missiles are able to change their trajectory to evade air defence systems.

Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz later told reporters in a televised news conference that the

Russian missile would have been shot down had there been any indication that it was heading towards a target in Poland. He said that Polish authorities monitored the attack on Ukraine and were in contact with Ukrainian counterparts.

Polish and NATO F-16s were activated as part of the strategic response.

He said the missile penetrated Polish airspace about a kilometre or two (a half-mile to around a mile)

as Russia was targeting the region around Lviv in western Ukraine.

“As last night’s rocket attack on Ukraine was one of the most intense since the beginning of the Russian aggression, all the strategic procedures were launched on time and the object was monitored until it left the Polish airspace,” he said.

On the diplomatic front, the Polish foreign ministry said that it would “demand explanations from the Russian Federation in connection with another violation of the country’s airspace.”

“Above all, we call on the Russian Federation to stop the terrorist air attacks on the inhabitants and territory of Ukraine, end the war, and address the country’s internal problems,” the statement read.

Andrzej Szejna, a deputy foreign minister, told the TVN24 broadcaster that the foreign ministry intended to summon the Russian ambassador to Poland and hand him a protest note.

Henryk Zdyb, the head of the village of Oserdow, said in an interview with the daily Gazeta Wyborcza that he saw the missile, saying it produced a whistling sound.

“I saw a rapidly moving

object in the sky. It was illuminated and flying quite low over the border with Ukraine,” he told the paper.

Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, there have been a number of intrusions into Polish airspace, triggering worry in the European Union and NATO member state and reminding people of how close the war is.

“We have to come to terms with the fact that the war is taking place right next to us, and we are part of the confrontation between the West and Russia,” commentator Artur Bartkiewicz wrote in the Rzeczpospolita newspaper Sunday.

In 2022, two Poles were killed in a missile blast. Western officials blamed those deaths on a Ukrainian air defence missile that went astray, but also accused Russia of culpability because it started the war, with the Ukrainian missiles launched in self-defence.

On Saturday night, one person was killed and four others were wounded in a Ukrainian missile attack on Sevastopol on the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula, city Gov. Mikhail Razvozhaev said on his Telegram channel.

A WOMAN holds a sign during a protest in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday March 24, 2024, to demand the freedom of Ukrainian Mariupol’s Azovstal defenders still being held prisoners by Russia. (AP

Photo/Enric Marti)

PHLEBOTOMIST Precious Farrington demonstrates how to draw blood at the Public Hospitals Authority desk during the Labour on The Campus job fair held at C. I. Gibson Senior High School yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer

SPORTS

Bethel and Charlton are leading the way

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

GBRIANNE BETHEL

trailed Madisen Richards, who opened the competition in the first round with her winning leap of 21-2 ¾ (6.47m).

Also at the meet, versatile Charisma Taylor, coming off her sixth-place finish behind Devynne Charlton’s spectacular performance at the World Indoors in Glasgow, Scotland, showed her versatility as a sprinter, coming through the finish line in first place in her heat of the women’s 200m in 24.14 for fifth place overall.

said Bethel, who is preparing for the sixth World Relays to be staged at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium May 4-5. “I ran my season’s best in every event, so I was very pleased with my performances.”

of the performances from other Bahamians elsewhere in the USA over the weekend.

Anthaya Charlton 2nd

At the Florida State University Relays at the Mike Long Track in Tallahassee, Florida, World indoor champion and world record holder Devynne Charlton’s youngest sister Anthaya Charlton pulled off a second place finish in her specialty in the women’s long jump. Her leap of 20-feet, 11 1/4-inches or 6.38 metres on her second attempt

BEST

Jacqueline Madogo, a senior of the Royal City Athletics Club, won her heat in 23-20 for the fastest time overall.

Jackson and Coakley second

At the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational at the Cobb Stadium in Coral Gables, Florida, Calea Jackson took advantage of her home field for second place in the women’s discus with a heave of 166-3 (50.69m) on her third attempt. Milina Wepiwe, a freshman at Harward, took the victory with 172-0 (52.42m) on her first try.

Meanwhile, Xavier Coakley, competing in his specialty in the men’s 110m hurdles, got second in 14.61 with University of the Bahamas’ senior Trent Strachan fifth in 16.25. Everett Delate, a junior at

Colorado School of Mines, won the race in 14.20.

Coakley also placed 18th in 23.25. The event was won by Ezra Mellinger, a senior at Duke, in 20.78.

Olympic quarter-miler Alonzo Russell from Grand Bahama, who is preparing to compete in the World Relays as well, was third in the men’s 200m in 21.03. The event was won by Duke’s senior Ezra Mellinger in 20.78. In other events featuring students from the University of the Bahamas,

OF THE BEST BASKETBALL CLASSIC: WHO WILL BE THE LAST TEAM STANDING?

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports

THE CR Walker Knights swept aside the St John’s Giants in the allNew Providence senior girls’ best-of-three final of the Best of the Best Basketball Classic on Saturday night.

Who will be the last team standing in the allGrand Bahama senior boys’ final between the Sunland Baptist Stingers and the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons when they clash tonight at the St George’s Gymnasium?

Only two teams participated in the girls’ series of the joint Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Grand Bahama Secondary Sports Athletic Association Classic, sponsored by Aliv. The Knights, coached by Aikia

Rose, powered their way to an impressive 47-34 win over the St. John’s College Giants, coached by Oswaldo Taylor in game one on Friday. Raynia Russell, the most valuable player, led the attack with for the Knights with a game high 18 points. Reyanna Green paced the Giants with 15. In game two on Saturday, CR Walker completed the two-game sweep of the best-of-three series with a close 30-26 win over St John’s College. Once again, Russell canned eight points to lead the Knights in the win and the Giants got a game high 13 points from Green, but it wasn’t enough to force a third and deciding game. Tonight, the boys championship will be played between the number two ranked Stingers and the

third ranked Falcons in a rematch of the GBSSAA finals where Sunland prevailed over Tabernacle.

The Falcons, however, handed the Stingers their only loss so far in the tournament after they won 51-50 in their headto-head matchup in the tournament.

Sunland Baptist, coached by Jay Philippe, clinched their berth into the final as they chopped down the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves, coached by Denykco Bowles 54-47 on Saturday night.

Edwin Ferguson led the way for the Stingers with a game high 24 points and Xavier Thompson had 17 in a losing effort for the Timberwolves.

The Falcons, coached by Kevin Clarke, pulled off a

sophomores Branique Strachan and Candace Murphy placed 25th and 27th in times of 12.31 and 12.94 behind American Nia Ali, who won in 11.41. Strachan was also 25th in the 200m in 25.52 as Aaliyah Butler, a sophomore sat Georgia took the win in 23.05. Murphy, on the other hand, was 17th in the 100m hurdles in 15.48 that was won by Ali in 12.86.

In the men’s 100m won by Hakim Sani Brown of Puma in 10.02, UB freshman Rashaa’d

Farquharson and sophomore George Minnis were 16th and 17th in 11.33 and 11.37 respectively.

In the men’s 400m, won by Tumbleweed Track Club’s Trevor Stewart in 46.24, UB’s Ihevinne Joseph got 10th in 48.84 and senior Dennis Williamson was 12th in 49.58.

And sophomore Rashad Evans ended up ninth in the men’s javelin with a toss of 124-5 (37.92m). Georgia’s senior Marc Minichello won the event with 270-1 (82.32m).

THE SPORTS CALENDAR

BAHAMIANS ADVANCE IN NCAA MARCH MADNESS

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN collegiate basketball players and coaches experienced success in the men and women’s brackets of the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) March Madness basketball tournament over the weekend.

The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels, led by Grand Bahama native Yolett “Coach Yo” McPhee-McCuin, ran away with a 12-point victory over the 10th seeded Marquette University Golden Eagles at the Joyce Center in Notre Dame, Indiana on Saturday.

The Lady Rebels’ 67-55 win secured them a spot in the second round against no. 2 Notre Dame at 2pm today.

In the men’s tourney bracket, Fredrick King and the Creighton University Bluejays came up big versus the University of Oregon Ducks 86-73 in a game that went to double overtime at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Saturday. The Bluejays are now set to take on no. 2 Tennessee Volunteers in NCAA Sweet 16 action at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan on Friday.

Meanwhile, AJ Storr and the no. 5 Wisconsin Badgers came up short against the no.12 James Madison Dukes 72-61 in their NCAA March Madness first round matchup to witness their season come to an early end on Friday.

Ole Miss Rebels vs Marquette Golden Eagles “Coach Yo” and the Lady Rebels cracked NCAA Sweet 16 territory last season for the first time in 16 years and are a win away accomplishing the feat again after knocking off the Golden Eagles on Saturday. The Rebels and Golden Eagles both appeared determined not to go home but, in the end, Ole Miss and forward Madison Scott would have the final say to propel the team to a second

SEE PAGE 18

BASEBALL BAHAMAS SEVENTH

THE final standings for the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Under-15 Baseball World Cup, held last week in the Dominican Republic, has been released.

The team returned home on Friday after finishing in a two-way tie for fourth place with Panama and a 2-3 win-loss record in Pool A. The Bahamas, however, ended up seventh in the two pools combined.

Puerto Rico took the top spot, followed by the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Brazil, The Bahamas, Cuba, Panama, Team WBSC, Argentina and Peru.

The team was greeted home with a reception in the foyer of the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium on Friday night hosted by the Bahamas Baseball

Mar. 2024

Federation. It was the first time that The Bahamas participated in the tournament.

SPORTS EASTER CAMP

Looking for something constructive for your children to do during the Easter break, then let them participate in the Sports Camp at the Kingsway Academy School. The free-for-all camp will run from today through Thursday from 10am to 1pm. There will be basketball, volleyball, flag football and soccer. A number of campers from the United States visiting the Bahamas are expected to be participating as well.

BBSF TOURNEY

THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation will hold a meeting at 6pm on

ON THE RISE: Anthaya Charlton pulled off a second place finish in her specialty in the women’s long jump at the Florida State University Relays at the Mike Long Track in Tallahassee, Florida.

Dasani hydrates Team Bahamas and Team TCI for CARIFTA Aquatics 2024

ON Friday, March 29, athletes from 26 Caribbean nations will take to the pools at the Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre to compete in the 2024 CARIFTA Aquatics Games.

Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani, has donated all water and isotonic required to hydrate Team Bahamas and Team TCI.

“As a company we are deeply invested in our local community, our partnership here with CARIFTA Aquatics, is a reflection of our corporate values,”

explains Cara DouglasAdderley, senior marketing director, Caribbean Bottling Company. “It is truly an honour for us to donate 300 cases of Dasani water, and Powerade combined. These products will be used to refuel and hydrate the athletes representing our country throughout the competition.” “We are thrilled to welcome athletes to The Bahamas as they embark on five days of exhilarating competition. These dedicated athletes have devoted themselves to rigorous training, and now they are

MARIO FORD BASEBALL CAMP IN FULL SWING AT WINDSOR FIELD

THE Mario Ford Baseball Camp is now in full swing at the Windsor Field.

But according to Mario Ford, the organiser, they have added a new twist with the different age groups being matched against each other. There are three under-15 and three under12 teams. Each team plays two games each Saturday beginning at 9am.

“We want them to display their baseball skills and we work on them improving their game skills,” Ford said.

Last week, Ford presented Liam Henderson with a brand-new glove after he was considered the most improved plyer in the undr-12 group. Henderson, a softball pitcher for St John’s College, is participating in the camp for the first time.

“He just came when we started camp and I saw him pitching consecutive weeks. He said he was doing it for the first time, but he’s enjoying it,” Ford said. “So we have to work on improving his pitching skills.”

ready to dive into the pool and proudly represent their countries,” said Algernon Cargill, president of Bahamas Aquatics.

“It’s a testament to the talent and dedication on display here, and we are honoured to be a part of this historic moment.”

The 2024 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships will be held in Nassau, March 29 to April 7. It will include three aquatic disciplines – swimming, open water and water polo.

For more information and tickets, please visit CariftaAquatics.com

MARIO Ford making a presentation to Liam Henderson. The Mario Ford Baseball Camp is now in full swing at the Windsor Field.

SHOWN, from left to right, Jadrian Turnquest, marketing manager, CBC, Christine Wallace-Whitfield, Bahamas Aquatics executive.

Sandilands and Centreville Primary girls and boys volleyball champions

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SANDILANDS Primary and Centreville Primary emerged as the girls and boys champions of the New Providence Public Primary Schools Sports Association’s 2024 volleyball championships.

At the and of the weeklong competition on Friday at the Kendal Issacs Gymnasium, the champions were decided in what turned out to be some keenly contested matches.

Sandilands took the girls’ crown with a 2-1 victory over EP Roberts. The set scores were 7-15, 15-11 and 10-0. Tashena Tima of Sandilands was named the best server.

Centreville got third place with a 2-0 sweep over Yellow Elder with scores of 15-10 and 15-14.

In semifinal play, Sandilands def. Centreville identical scores of 15-3 and 15-3, while EP Roberts won 15-10 and 15-8 over Yellow Elder.

The quarter-finals saw Yellow Elder win 8-15, 15-12 and 10-3 over Garvin Tynes and Centreville got by Claridge 15-10 and 15-12.

On the boys’ side, Centreville won the title over Stephen Dillet, coached by Margaret Albury, with a two-game sweep of 15-9 and 15-9. Israel Mott of Centreville was the best server.

Sybil Strachan, coached by Greer Thompson, finished third after they knocked off Cleveland Eneas 10-15, 15-7 and 10-1.

In the semifinals, Stephen Dillet won 15-2 and 15-5 over Cleveland Eneas and Centreville took care of Sybil Strachan 15-7 and 15-13.

All matches in the quarterfinal play were sweeps with Stephen Dillet winning 15-4 and 15-13 over Sandilands; Sybil Strachan defeated EP Roberts 15-11 and 15-11; Centreville knocked off Garvin Tynes 15-2 and 15-7 and Cleveland Eneas got by Yellow Elder 15-7 and 15-13.

NPPPSSA president Latoya Bain noted that this was one of their most competitive tournaments and she thanked the Ministry of Education for allowing them to host the event and the New Providence Volleyball Officials Assocation, headed by Kirk Farquharson, for officiating all of the games.

“It was a success. You could see the improvement in the kids,” Bain said. “They were setting the ball a lot more and not just trying to get the ball over the net. Their serves were also good.

“Even though some schools didn’t make it to the finals, you could see the improvement in all of them. It was a big improvement compared to last year.”

“The event was a success and it was ran professionally,” Bain summed up. Naaman Lightbourne of Cleveland Primary, the vice president of the association, presented the awards to the winners. The association will now prepare for its final event for this calendar with track and field scheduled for April 24-26 at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium. they finished in the preliminary rounds:

Girls Pool A - Sandilands

Primary 5-0. Garvin Tynes 4-1. Claridge Primary 3-2. Woodcock Primary 2-2. CW Sawyer 1-4 and TG Glover 0-5. Girls Pool B - EP Roberts 5-0. Centreville

The boys, according to Bain, were extremely competitive between Sybil Strachan, Cleveland Eneas, Centreville and Stephen Dillet.

Boys

GIRLS champions Sandilands Primary.

BOYS champions Centreville Primary.

GIRLS third place Centreville Primary. BOYS runners-up Stephen Dillet.

GIRLS runners up EP Roberts.

FIDELITY SPRING CLASSIC TOURNEY

THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) 2024 Fidelity Spring Classic Tournament is off to a rousing start for juniors at the National Tennis Centre (NTC).

Despite the rainy weather over the weekend, juniors in the U12, U14, U16 and U18 divisions made their mark to advance to today’s semifinals and beyond. Action will continue this morning at 9am.

Tatyana Madu, who won the U14 girls crown last year, has returned with the same poise that earned her the trophy last time around.

Playing in the no.1 singles position, Madu bested Jasleen Salkey comfortably 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday to book a spot in today’s U16 girls semifinals against Caitlyn Pratt. Madu had to overcome a shaky start to the match by her standards but quickly rounded into form to advance to the next round.

“My match was pretty good. I played my game. It took a while for me to get into the match because the balls were more fresh to me but once I got my rhythm it was smooth sailing,” she said.

For the former U14 girls champion, her strategy was simple - finish it off.

“After I won that first set, the first few games in the second set she started to crack a bit. She did start trying to get back into the game towards the end but I just finished it,” she said.

Today, Madu is hoping to play her game to the best of her abilities which will hopefully lead to a win.

She has a busy day ahead of her at the NTC as she will also face Jalisa Clarke in the U18 girls singles finals. Clarke dropped Aryauna

Davis 6-1, 6-2 to make it to the final round.

Patrick Mactaggart won the U14 boys division last year and is determined not to leave the Fidelity Spring Classic empty-handed. He outlasted Reeves Mahelis in straight sets 6-0,6-0 to now await his semifinals opponent.

Mactaggart will match up against the winner of the quarterfinals between no. 4 Jack Boals and Chase Newbold. After a relatively smooth victory, the former champion is confident going into today’s matchup.

“I feel very good after winning this match 6-0,6-0.

“Tomorrow is a new day and I am feeling very strong and confident in my game. I would say I am definitely ready for tomorrow,” he said.

Coco advances to Miami Open fourth round vs. Garcia, who beat Osaka

set to beat Océane Dodin 6-4, 6-0 and advance to the fourth round of the Miami Open for the second time in her career.

Gauff won 10 straight games after Dodin took a 4-2 lead in the opening set, thanks partly to nine double-faults by Dodin at critical moments.

Gauff has just one loss in her past 23 matches in the United States. That defeat came against Maria Sakkari at Indian Wells earlier this month.

Gauff, who turned 20 on March 13, is the youngest American player to hold a top three seed at Miami.

The reigning U.S. Open champion, who is from South Florida, attended the event growing up and said capturing a title there

would be special. “It would be really cool to win here at home,” said Gauff, who was born in Delray Beach, Florida. “I think the best part about winning here is just being able to drive home with the trophy and not have to fly and pack. ... And I’m a Dolphins fan, so maybe if I win here they can win another trophy at the Super Bowl.” Gauff will face No. 27

Caroline Garcia, who defeated Naomi Osaka 7-6 (4), 7-5 yesterday in a match in which the pair combined for 28 aces.

Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, came up short despite playing some of her best tennis of the season in Miami. She beat 17thranked Elina Svitolina 6-2, 7-6 (5) on Saturday, which was her second win over a top-20 opponent in her

Similar to Madu, Mactaggart will also play in a second match but in the U14 boys singles division. He is slated to face Julius Williams in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, no. 3 Ayai Bethel will go head-to-head against Chase Newbold for a chance at making it to the U14 boys finals.

In today’s finals matchups, Pratt and Briana Houlgrave will battle it out on the court for bragging rights in the U14 girls division.

The former defeated Danielle Saunders 6-2, 6-1 while the latter knocked off Sarae Rodgers 6-0, 6-0. Jackson Mactaggart is set to face Panagiotis Mousis and Isaiah Cambridge will meet Boals in the U18 boys semifinals today.

previous four matches. In other women’s matches, fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula defeated No. 35 Leylah Fernandez 7-5,

All churches interested in participating in the volleyball tournament, scheduled for April 25-27, are urged to attend as the rules and regulations will be discussed.

FAST TRACK

INVITATIONAL

FAST Track Athletics announced that its third annual Spring Invitational will take place over the weekend of May 10 and May 11 at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

The entry fee will be $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more information, persons are asked to contact 242-727-6826 or fasttrackmanagamentoo@ gmail.com

RED-LINE

COCO Gauff returns a ball

Dodin, of France, in their women’s third round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament yesterday.

Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

BAHAMIANS ADVANCE IN NCAA MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT

Tennis ace Sydney Clarke closes out Senior Day

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS she was honoured with three of her teammates on Senior Day, Sydney Clarke felt it was only fitting to show her gratitude by securing a victory for the University of Arlington at Birmingham women’s tennis team.

On Saturday in their final home game at the Hoover Met Tennis Complex, Clarke pulled off a thrilling three-set victory for the Blazers as they knocked off Western Kentucky 4-2.

“It was exciting, but it was also sad at the same time,” said Clarke, who was honoured along with fellow senior players Adela Wasserbauerova, Annalisa Smith and Maggie White.

“It was a mixture of emotions because it started to sink in as the matches wrap up that this is my last year playing under UAB so it’s exciting, but also sad so I’m just soaking in the moment and just enjoying the win. It was a great day.”

Just before they started playing, there was a brief ceremony where the coaching staff presented the four graduating players with their flowers and a portrait of themselves.

Not only was it a gratifying feeling afterwards to push their record to 11-8, Clarke said it was even more satisfying to secure the victory in her singles.

Wasserbauerova, Vanessa Mellynchuck and Smith each earned straight-set victories, while Clarke had a three-set thriller to clinch the match in the finale with a 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 decision over Sayda Hernandez (WKU).

Clarke also teamed up with Wasserbauerova in doubles and they were leading Sofia Blanco and Sayda Hernandez of WKU 5-4, but the match was not completed.

“We played a really good team. All week we were looking forward to getting this win. So we were really happy for that,” Clarke said. “This team was very feisty, but we were able to outcompete them today, so that was good.” The Blazers hit the road to Memphis to take on two AAC opponents in Memphis on Friday, March 29 at 3pm, followed by Wichita State on March 30 at 1pm. “We started the season off rough, but we turned it around, so I’m hoping this week when we play Memphis and Wichita, two schools who are ranked at 50 and the other is 52, we hope that we can play them very well and get a ranking as a team,” she said. “But as our match went on against Western Kentucky, we continue to get better. We are starting to

peak. So I just hope that it continues as we move into conference play very soon.”

As for the entire day, Clarke said she enjoyed it thoroughly.

“We had a lot of support from the fans. They really pulled me through my match today, so I am really grateful for them coming out and supporting us,” she stated.

“And so it was nice to clinch the match on my big day when we closed out our season at home on Senior Day. That is something that I really appreciated. I was able to share the moment with my team-mates, the coaches and the fans on the sidelines.”

Clarke is a 22-year-old former student of CR Walker Secondary High and Windsor Academy, who is studying mass communication - broadcasting. She is the oldest child of Shayvon and Bernard Clarke and her youngest sister Sarai Clarke is following in her footsteps as one of the country’s top junior female tennis players.

FROM PAGE 14

straight NCAA Second Round appearance. Scott scored a game-high 20 points complemented by 6 boards and four dimes in 35 minutes played. Ole Miss guard Kennedy Todd-Williams put up 15 points and pulled down 7 rebounds in the opening round win. The Lady Rebels trailed by two after the first period of the contest but regained their composure in the second quarter with their best offensive output of the ball game. The no.7 team put together a 10-0 run during this quarter and went on to outscore the Golden Eagles 22-17 going into halftime.

The defensive presence of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) team interrupted the Golden Eagles’ offence leaving them without a made field goal in three out of the final four minutes of the second period. The 2023 Battle 4 Atlantis women’s champions went into the locker rooms ahead by 3 (36-33).

Despite shooting 43.5 per cent from the field, Ole Miss along with the Golden Eagles struggled to put together a formidable offensive stretch in the third. Both teams scored 13 apiece but the Rebels once again had a three-point advantage to close out the quarter.

The swarming Rebels defence was on full display in the fourth quarter of round one. The Golden Eagles were unable to clear double digits and were relegated to just 25 per cent shooting from three in the game. Ole Miss led by as much as 11 and kept Marquette’s scoring at bay allowing them just one field goal in the final two minutes of the game. They outscored their opponents 18-9 en route to their round two appearance.

Ole Miss outrebounded their opponents 43 to 33 in the win.

The Rebels will have their hands full against no. 2 Notre Dame in their first ever matchup today.

Creighton BlueJays vs Oregon Ducks

The Bluejays kept on rolling in the NCAA D1 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday. Andros native King did not register any minutes against the Ducks but his team pulled off a hard-fought win. The matchup was a see-saw affair between both teams featuring six ties and two lead changes in just the first half.

Oregon guard Jermaine Couisnard was on fire against the Bluejays. He scored 15 of his game-high 32 points in the first half to put the Ducks ahead 32-30 with 1:46 on the clock. The Bluejays then managed to connect on back-to-back three-pointers courtesy of Steven Ashworth and Baylor Scheierman to go into halftime ahead 36-34.

The matchup remained tightly-contested the rest of the way as the Bluejays forced OT after Scheierman nailed a go ahead jump shot with 9.0 seconds to go tying the score at 62 apiece.

In the final moments of the first overtime, Creighton University advanced 71-68 on the scoreboard following a pair of made free throws by Ashworth. However, Couisnard hit a timely three ball to tie the game and force an extra five minutes of play.

The Ducks ran out of gas in the second OT while the Bluejays outscored them 15-2 to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16.

Wisconsin Badgers vs James Madison Dukes

Storr and the no. 5 Badgers saw their season come to an untimely end against the Dukes on Friday at the Barclays Center. The Dukes overwhelmed the Badgers in the first half, forcing them to commit 14 turnovers, which translated into a 33-20 lead going into the intermission.

The Bahamian guard struggled against the Dukes’ defence. He was the team’s second highest scorer with 13 points but shot 5-for-14 from the field and failed to connect on any of his three point attempts. Despite the tough scoring night, he managed to collect 4 rebounds and 2 steals in the loss.

Storr’s team shot 37.3 per cent from the field and 38.1 per cent from deep. The Dukes picked the ball off 14 times compared to 6 steals earned by the Badgers. The Rebels and Bluejays will continue their NCAA D1 basketball journeys this week as they look to take it all the way.

NPBA PLAYOFFS: POWER TEAMS KEEP ON ROLLING

THE opening round of the New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) playoffs saw some teams keep their postseason dreams alive while others were sent home to try again next season in division one and two.

The Commonwealth Bank Giants demolished the field all season long to close out the regular season with an undefeated record leading up to the NPBA Playoffs. The Leno Regulators (6-10 win/loss record) proved to be no match for the defending champions which resulted in them being swept 2-0.

The Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets are in prime position to make another deep postseason run after sending the Zulu Media & Symphony packing in sweeping fashion on Friday night at the CI Gibson Gymnasium.

Over in division two, the Your Essential Store (YES) Giants said good riddance to the BIBT Great Whites, ousting them 2-0. The Cyber Tech Blue Marlins had an identical result against the Heat Waves.

Division One

The CB Giants are moving like a well-oiled machine in the NPBA. In both games of the first round, they blew out the Regulators by an average of 51 points. Dominating the final game of the shortlived series was Giants’ veterans Dylan Musgrove and Jackson Jacob.

Musgrove was relentless on the offensive side of the ball scoring at will to finish with 39 points. Defensively, he was equally as impressive stealing the ball 8 times while crashing the glass on 4 occasions. He shot 19-for-26, good for 73.1 per cent in the dominant win.

Meanwhile, Jacob ended the series with 27 points paired with 6 dimes and 5 steals.

The Rockets have retooled their roster and are watching it pay dividends. They obliterated the Zulu Media & Symphony in back-to-back games by more than 30 points. In the final game, they won 99-57. Jonathon McFall and Georgio Walkes mailed in 18 and 19 points respectively to propel the Rockets to the semifinals.

Division Two

The YES Giants placed the final nail in the coffin with a 102-50 blowout win over the Great Whites last week Thursday.

Matthew Saunders paced both teams on the stat sheet with a game-high 23 points for the defending champions. He was one rebound shy of a doubledouble with 9 on the night.

The Blue Marlins coasted into a 19-point victory over the Heat Waves last night. Tyrese Porter pitched in 18 points along with 9 rebounds and 5 helpers for Cyber Tech in the series win.

The NPBA playoffs continue tonight at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

BEST OF THE BEST BASKETBALL CLASSIC: WHO WILL BE THE LAST TEAM STANDING?

FROM PAGE 14

42-38 decision to eliminate the Rattlers, coached by Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson, who were still in a celebratory mood as the recently crowned GSSSA and Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic champions.

Gianno Murray scored a game

high 14 for Tabernacle Baptist Academy and Sebastian Jacques had nine in the loss for CI Gibson.

Here’s a look at the other games played on Saturday:

Anatol Rodgers 51, Gateway Christian 30: Xavier Thompson scored 13 points in the win for the Timberwolves and Sherrick Ellis had 12 in the loss for the Eagles.

CW Saunders 50, CC Sweeting 49: Raymone Woodside scored 11 in the win for the Cougars, while Brenden Danville had a game high 12 in the loss for the Cobras.

CI Gibson 41, St. George’s High 29: The Rattlers got 16 in the win from Condea Smith, but Deryl Williams went down with a game high 24 for the Jaguars.

Tabernacle Baptist 51, Sunland Baptist 50: Jonah Bain came through with 20 for the Falcons in their showdown, while De’Nage Kelly had a game high 25 in the loss for the Stingers. St. George’s High 46, CW Saunders 41: Kevaro Russell’s 13 points was enough for the Jaguars to overcome the Cougars, who got a game high 16 from Raymone Woodside.

Sunland Baptist 54, Anatol Rodgers 47: Edwin Ferguson produced a game high 24 points as

the Stingers eliminated the Timberwolves, who got 17 in the loss from Xavier Thompson.

Friday’s results were as follows:

CI Gibson 43, Gateway Christian 25: Gerard Rolle paced the Rattlers with 15 in the win. Sherrick Ellis had a game high 19 in the loss for the Eagles.

Sunland Baptist Academy 57, CC Sweeting 34: Edwin Ferguson and De’Nage Kelly shared game high honours with 19 each as they routed the Cobras, who also had a pair of high scorers in Emmanuel

Adams and Sylvano Gibson with eight apiece.

Tabernacle Baptist 64, CW Saunders 39: Joshua Williams’ game high 18 was enough to push the Falcons to a big win over the Cougars, who got 17 from Raymone Woodside in the loss.

St. George’s 41, Anatol Rodgers 36: Deryl Williams scored a game high 20 points to help lift the Jaguars to their rout over the Timberwolves as Jefferson Bethel put in 11 in the loss.

MISSISSIPPI head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin claps during the first half of a first-round college basketball game against Marquette in the NCAA Tournament on

Saturday, March 23, 2024, in South Bend, Ind.

(AP Photo/ Michael Caterina)

SYDNEY Clarke poses with her other three team-mates on Senior Day as they prepare to graduate from UAB.