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$60M RESORT IN LINK TO US FRAUD Cat Island project’s promoters probed for oil and gas scheme

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE government was last night urgently reviewing the legitimacy of a $60m Cat Island resort project after its principals were charged by US federal regulators with playing key roles in a multi-million dollar investment fraud.

A spokesperson confirmed that the Almost Paradise development, due to have a virtual public hearing on its Environmental Impact Assessment next Tuesday, was being

examined after this newspaper’s investigation raised concerns about its promoters, the Sahota family.

Legal filings in the north Texas federal court reveal that Manjit ‘Roger’ Sahota, and his family’s corporate entities were allegedly the largest recipients of funds from what the US Securities & Exchange Commission has branded as “an oil and gas offering fraud conducted over three years”. The US capital markets regulator described the venture as a classic Ponzi scheme.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

AMID a spike in murders in the country, Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard has questioned the Davis administration’s plan to arrest the situation.

Mr Pintard said given the circumstances, 35 murders in three months, the government should have already been prepared to present

Bahamians with immediate, short term and long-term goals for crime fighting.

His comments came the day after he attended an urgent crime conclave called by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis with key stakeholders to address the increase in murders. Mr Davis on Sunday was said to be readying to release greater details about his administration’s plan in the coming days.

SEE PAGE THREE

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

MINNIS: KEEP OVER-THE-HILL PROJECT ALIVE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is urging the Davis administration to continue all of the initiatives outlined under the umbrella of the Overthe-Hill redevelopment project rolled out by the previous government.

Dr Minnis defended the project yesterday as “beautiful”, while pointing to “successful” work done at Southern Recreation Grounds, which was a part of the Over-the-Hill project.

SEE PAGE FOUR

13-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED OF STABBING AT AF ADDERLEY

PINTARD: GOVT SHOULD ALREADY HAVE A PLAN

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

FACE TO FACE: OVERCOMING EVERY OBSTACLE

JUNKANOO FOR INDEPENDENCE? JUNKANOO performers yesterday at an event to mark Sir Franklyn Wilson becoming an honorary member of the Saxons Superstars. Yesterday, Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg also hinted that there could be a Junkanoo event for July’s Independence celebrations. See PAGE TWO for more.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net YOUTH, Sports, and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg has responded to backlash about a Junkanoo rush out held on Bay Street during last week’s Royal visit, saying the event was held because it was the right “timing” amid low COVID19 cases.

The Junkanoo rush was held last Friday, during a “Taste of The Bahamas” event in Parliament Square

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg. for Prince William and his wife, Princess Kate. It drew criticism from some as being unfair as for the past two years, normal Boxing

Day and New Year’s Day Junkanoo parades were not held due to COVID-19 restrictions. A virtual Junkanoo event was staged and broadcast in January.

However, Mr Bowleg revealed yesterday there are plans for a Junkanoo event during the country’s independence celebrations in July.

“The secretariat who was responsible for the preparation for the Duke and Duchess, Leslia Brice, SEE PAGE TWO

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A TEENAGER was charged with attempted murder yesterday in connection with a stabbing incident at AF Adderley Junior High School last week. ​ The boy – age 13 – is accused of trying to kill a male student on March 23.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

PETER YOUNG: UNWISE WORDS OF A US PRESIDENT

- SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, March 29, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

‘Vola’ Francis hopeful of Bay St return as Sir Franklyn is honoured

By PAVEL BAILEY

THE leader of the Saxon Superstars is hopeful for a full return of Junkanoo parades on Bay Street this year with proper government and stakeholder collaboration.

Percy “Vola” Francis spoke to the media after the Shell Saxon Superstars coordinated a Junkanoo rush out at Sunshine Holdings yesterday as part of celebrations for Sir Franklyn Wilson’s 75th birthday.

Sir Franklyn was made an honorary member of the Saxons at the event.

Sir Franklyn, a lifelong friend of Mr Francis, was deeply honoured by the surprise ceremony and said jokingly that “only in The Bahamas” can a “work stoppage” be so fun.

“This is simply amazing.

This is an unauthorised work stoppage. You know Americans have this thing about ‘only in America’— that’s foolishness. ‘Only in The Bahamas’. Only in The Bahamas do you have unauthorised work stoppage like this and everybody is having fun and everyone happy,” Mr Wilson said.

On the sidelines of the

PERCY “Vola” Francis pictured yesterday.

event, Mr Francis expressed his optimism for a possible full return of Junkanoo to Bay Street later this year.

His comments came the same day Minister of Youth Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said a Junkanoo rush out for last week’s Royal visit was a test run for a Junkanoo parade at this year’s independence celebrations in July.

The parades have been on hold for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I particularly don’t know what to do with myself after being out of the parade for two years and it is good news to hear Junkanoo is around the bend and hopefully to be held sometime, I guess, during the course of the year,” Mr Francis said.

Mr Francis also called for collaboration between the major Junkanoo stakeholders in the immediate future, as he said that they should be the ones to decide how Junkanoo goes forward.

“One of the things that I have in my mind is I would like for us as groups to come together as a group and to strategise as to where we should take Junkanoo after being off Bay Street for two years,” Mr Francis said.

In regards to Junkanoo group funding, even though Mr Francis stated that the Saxons have sponsorship through Shell Bahamas he

SIR FRANKLYN WILSON, who was yesterday made an honorary member of the Saxons Superstars.

Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff Junkanoo alive in the country.

“Today I’m delighted that we were able to honour Sir Franklyn on his 75th Diamond Jubilee, and their (Sun Oil and Shell Bahamas) sponsorship for the past 30 plus years. So you can imagine the amount of monies that they have pumped into us, if you added all up over 30 years it’s going to be an FROM left, Tommy Turnquest, director of Sunshine Holdings; insurmountable amount of Shelly Wilson, VP of Sunshine Insurance; Anthony Robinson, money.”

“And so we thank Mr deputy chairman, Sunshine Holdings; Lady Sharon Wilson; Sir Franklyn Wilson; Percy “Vola” Francis, leader of Shell Saxons Su- Wilson, we thank Sun Oil perstars; S Rosel Moxey, president, Sunshine Finance Ltd; Dexter and Shell Bahamas for Adderley, CEO of FOCOL; and Sharlyn Smith; attorney, Sunshine their continual contribution and on behalf of the Shell Holdings Ltd. Saxon Superstars I want to acknowledged that other groups. say that we are really happy Mr Francis also expressed to what has happened groups may have troubles finding funding in these his delight at being able to today on our behalf and we difficult times. He sug- honour Sir Franklyn on his are going to continue to be gested that there should be birthday and said that he is the pace setters in keeping an increase in government thankful for Shell Bahamas’ Junkanoo in the country subsidies to assist Junkanoo continued help in keeping alive.”

THE PRESENTATION to Sir Franklyn Wilson by Percy “Vola” Francis yesterday.

JUNKANOO FOR INDEPENDENCE? from page one

is also responsible for the independence celebration,” Mr Bowleg said. “That along with the partnership with this ministry and various other ministries (and) the cultural commission will be planning the 49th and 50th independence celebration.

“Yes, you saw Junkanoo at the Duke and Duchess’ visit and it’s intended to have Junkanoo also during the independence celebration. We again, we encourage people to go and be vaccinated. We believe that the trend of COVID-19 right now is in a great position for us, so unless something happens that I’m sure all of us in this room don’t want to see that there’s no spike there’s great possibility there will be Junkanoo during the Independence celebration.”

He said officials did not

plan to have Junkanoo solely for the Duke and Duchess and added “they came at the right time”.

“Once again it’s all about timing. So to the critics, if the Duke and Duchess had come during the time we had a spike we wouldn’t have had Junkanoo - not under this administration,” he argued.

“Again it wasn’t just for them….it was at the time again this was a test and trial as we move to Labour Day, as we move to the 49th, as we move to 50th celebration which we intend to ensure that we celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Bahamas in a grand style and one of our greatest grand style of celebration in our culture is to show our culture through Junkanoo. And so Junkanoo is coming whether they like it or not. Say that to those critics that you know the JCNP. along with the NJC, and the ministry is going to do all we can to

ensure that we put the necessary protocols in place along with the other stakeholders like the Ministry of Health.

“We’re going to have Junkanoo - not because we’re worried about the critics. We’re going to have Junkanoo because it’s what the people want.”

His comments came as the plans for the upcoming E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival were announced. The festival is a competition of the arts, music, dance, drama, and visual arts and will be held digitally again this year. The final date for entry or the official adjudication period for the festival begins April 1.

Asked if there was going to be a push to have a bigger budget to provide for the arts in schools, the minister confirmed “most definitely”. He could not say how much as presently the budget is being discussed.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 29, 2022, PAGE 3

THE CONCLAVE held on Sunday by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, which was also attended by FNM leader Michael Pintard.

Photo: BIS

Pintard: Govt should already have a plan from page one The Tribune did not get a response yesterday to inquiries about when these details would come.

Contacted yesterday, the Marco City MP reiterated that the FNM presented several recommendations to the government, adding that Bahamians expect to see action from the Davis administration.

Among them is a

comprehensive crime commission that looks at various dimensions in response to violent crime.

“Because when you have an upsurge in crime one of the things that’s critical is what are your next steps over the course of the next seven days, 14 days, 30 days, etc, and so I think that this is something that is expected of any administration that this is what the discussion entails,” Mr Pintard said yesterday.

“What can the public reasonably see in response to what is happening and so, one, you would expect that the government would be able to outline to allay fears. Two, that a clear message and signal is sent to the community.

“Thirdly, speak to the general public and some of the messages we need to send out is not to gangs or criminal enterprises but some of it is to them in terms of how we ought to navigate

relationships that we are in when they are not panning out the way we desire. That would mean the government in conjunction with faith-based organisations, the association of psychologists, psychiatrists in The Bahamas, helping men and boys know how to interact positively in their relationships even when there is a crisis rather than reacting with violence.”

In its Blueprint for Change, the Progressive

Liberal Party committed to enhancing crime fighting methodologies in an “aggressive war against crime”.

Additionally, the blueprint said the PLP would ensure that the necessary reforms are executed for a safe Bahamas, adding: “We will strengthen the nation’s border protection with increased funding to RBDF and Immigration Department. We will increase investment in the Community Policing Unit

for community policing throughout The Bahamas.

We will introduce researchbased analysis and policies on countering anti-social behaviour, violence and crime. We will establish partnerships between the Department of Corrections, BTVI, UB and the National Training Agency.”

Further, the PLP said it would increase levels of crime with proven, effective crime management measures.

FOCOL CHIEF: LITTLE WE CAN DO OVER $6 GAS PRICES

By PAVEL BAILEY

THE president and CEO of FOCOL Holdings Ltd said that local gas distributors have little say over fuel prices due to global supply issues, after Bahamian prices jumped past $6 a gallon.

Dexter Adderley acknowledged the sharp rise in gas prices during an interview on the sidelines of an event at Sunshine Holdings yesterday and reiterated comments made by other fuel industry executives in recent weeks.

He spoke after fuel prices crossed the $6 threshold at two major providers over the weekend, with Rubis at $6.33 and Esso at $6.16. FOCOL is the sole licensed Shell distributor in the country. Shell’s fuel is currently at $5.50 a gallon.

Mr Adderley acknowledged that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine contributed to the hike in gas prices, as well as some countries’ ban on Russian oil, resulting in a shortage.

Russia is the world’s third largest oil producer. He said that as The Bahamas relies entirely on imported oil to meet its needs, its gas wholesalers have little say over prices, as they operate

on a fixed cost.

“As we know the war between Russia and Ukraine certainly has impacted global oil prices and The Bahamas being a total importer of petroleum products that would translate directly into an increased cost of product,” Mr Adderley said.

“Our local industry is price controlled and so basically the wholesalers and the retailers, they pass on a fixed cost on a per gallon basis to the end consumer.

So, we have very little control on the ultimate pump prices.”

Shell’s prices are lower than its competitors.

Asked about this, Mr Adderley said this was a result of Shell’s fuel reserves at the time of the latest oil cargo. He, however, stated that gas prices are likely to trend upwards across the board in the coming weeks.

“In a regulated market you basically sell at your cost plus the regulated market and so it all depends on how much fuel you have in your tank at the time when you purchase your new cargo. And so, generally if prices are trending up all the oil companies will trend up in some time frame, so it may happen

within a week, two weeks it all depends on your inventory at the time of product received.”

When asked by a reporter why gas wholesalers don’t stock up on supplies to offset global price rises, the FOCOL CEO said doing so is “risky business”.

“Stocking up on supplies, that’s risky business because no one knows, we do not know where the

prices are going. Tomorrow prices can collapse for one reason or the other. Then we will have the opposite problem, we would have stocked up on high-cost products that the consumers are saying on the international markets prices have collapsed, why is our prices so high? And so essentially we take what the market gives, we try not to predict the market

because that’s risky business,” he said.

While Mr Adderley could not predict if oil prices will continue to rise as the conflict in Ukraine continues, he said that he hopes that global suppliers can stabilise the supply of oil so gas prices can go back to normal.

“We hope and pray that the rest of the suppliers around the world can

adjust and stabilise the supply of oil products globally and hopefully that will translate into some stabilisation. However, we do not know where that’s going to happen, when that’s going to happen but ultimately that’s the way it works.

So, we hope and pray that things settle down and that prices resume to a level that consumers are comfortable with,” he said.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, March 29, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Minnis: Keep Over-The-Hill project alive from page one Earlier this month, Press Secretary Clint Watson said a unit formed under the Minnis administration to administer the redevelopment project no longer existed and the people once assigned to it were no longer involved.

“As you know the previous administration had a unit called Over-the-Hill redevelopment project,” Mr Watson said during a March 17 OPM press briefing.

“That unit doesn’t exist but the work continues. A number of projects, particularly the redevelopment of the Southern Recreational grounds, is continuing.

“They’re continuing under different entities under different initiatives, but the work continues and as a matter of fact will be expanded for these particular communities.

“But the Davis administration didn’t have a specific need for that particular unit. A lot of those persons who were in that unit are no longer here, but the work continues and the people will feel the impact of the administration and are now still feeling,” Mr Watson said.

While Dr Minnis commended the government for allowing some of the work to continue, he said he was not surprised that it was

now being passed off as a PLP programme under different ministries.

He said once done properly, the redevelopment project could be considered one of the many components the country uses to combat crime.

“The Davis administration is very good at continuing projects but under a different name, trying to move it away from people knowing that it’s an FNM project and that’s not unusual for them. But they must continue, I am happy they said they will continue,” Dr Minnis told The Tribune yesterday when he was contacted.

“If you are moving individuals and dismantling the unit you must find individuals who have a direction, a vision for the Over-the-Hill project and ensure that what we had commenced would continue. That is they must continue the wifi initiative in all parks.

That is essential and that was clearly demonstrated during the pandemic.

“They must continue to introduce water to those that do not have proper indoor water and introduce indoor toilet facilities. They must continue with the regular garbage collection so as to keep the area clean because it has been demonstrated that you need more regular organised collections rather than some of the other areas that only

need collection once per week. The need for collection is more.

“They must also, the bill was already in Parliament, they must expand the project to the Englerston area, the St Barnabas area, part of Fox Hill, part of Kemp Road, Gambier and other depressed areas.

“They must continue the tax exemption components in such places and expand it and they must continue

to look at the possibility as you advance to introducing electrical metres in homes and businesses to ensure individuals’ lights stay on. It is really important that this continues.”

Back in 2020 an official with the Over-the-Hill redevelopment project told The Tribune that residents and businesses in economic empowerment zones of New Providence had accessed about $1m in tax concessions

since the programme was launched in 2018.

Then programme manager Kemi Jones said about 40 residents and businesses had been approved for concessions according to the latest figures, with more than 80 applications submitted and in some stage of processing.

The initiative at the time was among Dr Minnis’ marquee promises in opposition as he pledged to

improve the impoverished areas. During his time in office those communities could import materials for constructing, equipping and completing buildings without paying taxes if they qualify.

Critics slammed the penetration of the concessions and Ministry of Finance officials at one point projected the government would lose $7m annually because of the exemptions.

TRAFFIC BACKED UP ON VILLAGE ROAD AMID ROADWORKS

FRUSTRATED drivers yesterday found themselves backed up in traffic on Village Road as roadworks got under way.

Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 29, 2022, PAGE 5

Wilson not surprised by learning loss survey

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net AFTER a recent Learning Management System survey revealed the extent of children who did not attend virtual classes, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said changes must be made to improve the delivery of quality education to students.

“I am not surprised by the results of the government’s report entitled ‘Survey of Infrequent and Non-users of the Learning Management System (LMS)’ conducted by the Department of Statistics February 2022,” Mrs Wilson said in a voice note yesterday.

She said it only confirms what has been said for the past two years, that many students did not use the LMS. Not to mention, scores of students were not attending school virtually, teachers used Zoom and Google Classroom for their instruction, and user ID and

password did not work, she said.

“Some students were no longer attending public schools. Students did not receive log-in information from the Ministry of Education and no internet service.

All of these things were said and highlighted by the Bahamas Union of Teachers over and over and over because we were getting the information directly from our teachers on a daily basis,” Mrs Wilson said. “The objective of the survey was to ascertain why the ministry’s platform was not fully utilised by the children who never logged on or who only logged once.

Well the Ministry of Education has the data, now what?

“I have pertinent questions. What changes will be made to the curriculum? What new policy will be created and adopted? What new strategies will be implemented to ensure that these same things will not reoccur if we had to revert

fully-to-fully online learning? Has anything been done to improve the LMS since the results of the survey? I doubt it.

So changes must be made to improve the delivery of quality education to our students. I implore, I urge the Ministry of Education to begin the work now because the more time elapses the wider the learning gap opens.”

According to the report, whose contents were published by the Nassau Guardian last week, about half of the 499 households questioned in the government survey said there was at least one child in the home who did not attend virtual classes.

According to the report, when asked why students were not using the LMS, those surveyed said that the “teachers used ZOOM (47 percent); their user ID and passwords did not work (21 percent); they were no longer attending public school (19 percent); the

THE BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president, Belinda Wilson.

Back in Januteacher used Google Classroom (16 percent); ary, there were new about the they did not receive login complaints information from the Ministry of Education’s Management Ministry of Education (11 Learning percent); or they had no System, with issues caussome delays in internet service (seven ing teaching and reports of percent)”.

users being unable to log on to the system. Mrs Wilson released a voice note about the problems she said were experienced with the LMS at the time, calling it “a new term with the same old issues”.

TRIBUTES PAID AFTER DEATH OF ‘TRUE WARRIOR’ ANITA DOHERTY

ANITA DOHERTY

TRIBUTES were issued yesterday for deceased former educator and civic leader Anita Doherty.

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former teacher, sports lady, coach, headmistress and civic leader Anita Doherty,” Progressive Liberal Party Vice Chair Grand Bahama Julian Sawyer said in a statement yesterday.

“She is a beloved figure in our community across all divides. I spoke with the leaders of the party this morning and they have asked me to convey the shared sense of loss.

“She made immeasurable contributions to Grand Bahama and to Freeport and the wider Bahamas.

Many children have passed through her hands and benefitted from her tutelage.

“She will be sorely missed. On behalf of the leader, Hon Philip Brave Davis, our Deputy Chester Cooper, our Chair Fred Mitchell, our officers and the entire parliamentary

team, I express our condolences.”

Doherty was born in Nassau but moved to Grand Bahama at age five.

According to her official biography posted on the government of The Bahamas’ website, she began her teaching career at Hawksbill All Age School in Grand Bahama in 1970 and later transferred to DW Davis High School in Nassau where she taught for four years. She returned to Grand Bahama to assume a teaching position at Freeport Anglican High School in 1979.

She also had a sporting career during which she represented The Bahamas in the Pentathlon during the Commonwealth Games in Edinborough, Scotland in 1970. She has also represented The Bahamas in netball, hockey and softball.

She was also a former president of the Pilot Club of Freeport, governor of COED Clubs for Pilot International, and a board member of YMCA.

In September 2008, she was appointed the principal of Bishop Michael Eldon School.

She was also inducted into the Grand Bahama Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

In a post to its Facebook page, Bishop Michael Eldon School said Anita Doherty was loved by students and staff.

“She was a great leader who led the school to many successes from the sporting arena to the academic arena,” the post said. “She was a true warrior - always fighting for the rights of all. Mrs Doherty joined the BMES family in 1979 and served as principal from 2008 – 2017. “She was a force to be reckoned with and she touched the lives of thousands of the people in the Grand Bahama community. We love her and honour her memory.”

According to reports, Ms Doherty was taken to the hospital over the weekend where she later died.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, March 29, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

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Being prepared is first step in crime strategy BARELY had our recent Royal visitors departed the country, having brought the international spotlight our way, than Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis turned the media spotlight onto an old problem – crime.

Mr Davis held an “urgent” conclave on Sunday to address the sharp increase in murders this year. Previously, Acting Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander had said a number of murders have been part of a “tit-for-tat” situation between gang members and that a turf war for drugs was underway in the country.

The Prime Minister, while saying there are no “quick fixes”, said that he would have more to say in the coming days, and that immediate measures were able to be identified that would help to reduce levels of crime.

None of those measures, it would seem, have been put in place so far and we await to hear what actions Mr Davis will take.

Among those present at the conclave was the leader of the Free National Movement, Michael Pintard, who offered his party’s suggestions for tackling crime.

Yesterday, however, he cast doubt on the Davis administration’s plans, saying that the government should already have been prepared to present immediate, short-term and long-term goals for crime fighting.

Mr Pintard said: “When you have an upsurge in crime one of the things that’s critical is what are your next steps over the course of the next seven days, 14 days, 30 days, etc, and so I think that is something that is expected of any administration that this is what the discussion entails.”

He has a point. We are still not so far into the Davis administration – it was only in September that the PLP won office. By now, we should still be implementing their proposals from

the campaign trail rather than calling a conclave for ideas and discussion.

Essentially, we haven’t really seen Plan A yet, so put that in place to start with.

The party had a “Blueprint For Change” ahead of the election, although it was rather light on crime policies, talking of being committed to “enhancing crime fighting methodologies in our aggressive war against crime” without offering specifics, and introducing “research-based analysis and policies on countering anti-social behaviour, violence and crime”. It also talked of dealing with increased crime in Abaco by implementing “proven, effective crime management measures”.

And that was about it. Still, perhaps the first step would be explaining what these enhancements would be and what has been done to introduce such analysis and policies.

If not, then have we arrived at this moment with a spike in murders and an urgent meeting because we do not really have a plan?

Credit to the Prime Minister for responding – and including the Opposition in the discussion at the conclave.

But crime has been a spectre haunting The Bahamas for many years now and Mr Davis is very familiar with rising crime levels from his own time in office previously. Rushed policies and laws are generally bad policies and laws that fail to stand up to the test of time. That’s the last thing we want.

We should be thinking strategically and coherently – not just for next week, but for next month, next year – and the next generation. The policies any government implements needs to find ways to keep young people out of a life of crime, not just deal with those already involved.

So we look forward to hearing from Mr Davis about his next steps. And soon.

Abortion and marital rape EDITOR, The Tribune.

THERE is no such legal creature as “marital rape” and I, as a trained lawyer, am sick and dead tired over the miss abuse application of that terminology. In law, rape is rape....the forcible sexual intimacy between a male and female, regardless of marital status. A woman’s or man’s body belongs to him or herself, apart from God as our Creator.

That being said, no man has the right to force sexual intercourse upon his wife. Husbands are not normally raped even if many men would welcome such a move by otherwise cold and frigid wives. I have been on the blocks for a long time and have been twice married, not to mention multiple female consorts before I caught myself. I have never had to rape anyone. Yes, a little tough persuasion, but never behaviour which would have/could have amounted to rape itself.

Why would a real man have to rape anyone, much less his wife who lives with him and sleeps, I presume in the same bed? Leg, to put it delicately, is available in The Bahamas like white on rice. There is no need to have to rape anyone, much less your wife. The common law already provides ample

legal relief where a man forces himself on a female or even, God forbid, another male. Rape is rape and is well defined within our Criminal Procedure Code and other long standing laws.

There is no need to tweak this or to waste time in parliament on a non-issue. To debate otherwise is pure distraction and shaving cream. The bottom line is that - Yes a man, regardless of marital status is able to rape his wife but there is no need, in my view, to pass specific legislation. Married women or estranged wives already have protection under the law.

Illegal abortions or the taking of the life of an unborn person is tantamount to murder and should be viewed as such.

If one is going to engage in sexual activity either wear a condom in the case of a male or utilise the myriad selection of birth control pills and other known methods. In this day and age, there is no need or expectation of ‘unwanted pregnancies’. The choice is stark: Keep your legs closed or simply use birth control methods.

God alone has the power to procreate and He alone should be in a position to state when human life begins or end. Some say

that it is the woman’s body and I fully agree with that.

It is dead wrong, however, to abrogate to any woman the inherent ‘right’ to unilaterally determine who is to live or who is to be aborted. Of course, there are always legal exceptions that may play out; rape and incest readily come to mind.

Incest could result in mentally challenged infants and rape could impose severe challenges for the female.

As a man who follows the dictates of The Lord Jesus Christ, I am a proponent of the principle: “Behold I came that there may be abundant life”.....God is the God of life and renewal, not a God of destruction for mere personal or convenient reasons. For decades many Bahamian doctors and some midwives, allegedly, have performed what is commonly known as ‘D&C’ procedures whereby whatever is in the womb is sucked out and discarded in a plastic bag on the altar of convenience, for a fee, of course.

This is a gross crime against God and humanity and should be criminalised to the maximum. Selah.

Jr

ORTLAND H BODIE, Nassau, February 24, 2022.

In honour of Anita Doherty EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT HAS been widely circulated on social media and confirmed that The Bahamas at large and the Grand Bahama and East End communities have lost a warrior of a woman in the person of Anita Doherty. A former Chief Councilor for the City of Grand Bahama, and a well-known athlete, Anita received many accolades in her lifetime and has held many titles. The title with the most significant impact to most of us who remember her, however, must be “Mrs D” a name used by her former students.

Anita Doherty stood as a living timeline that connected Freeport High to Freeport Anglican High to BMES. For every student who feared her, I cannot imagine that there are any of us that cannot call her name in love. Mrs D was perhaps the only authority figure in our lives who told us to “scatta matta fadda,” glare those green eyes at us, point those worn hands, and with one look, get us moving, all without anyone reacting in anger or writing her name in curse words on some classroom board or internet one. We loved her; every single warrior she taught or principled loved her, which is an amazing feat.

There are two personal memories of Mrs D that I’d love to share.

1) She made space for the lonely.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Several years ago, in celebration of something or another, the Freeport High Alumni Association held a banquet at the Grand Lucayan for a reunion. My grade hadn’t been out of school for ten years yet, so of our class of (I think) 62, only two of us made it. Ms D spotted me right away, “come and sit with me,” she said brightly, and just like that, I was no longer alone. I honour that quality in Mrs D. She would have met thousands of students in her years, yet she made every one of us feel special and like we were not alone. Those of us left to honour her memory ought to ask ourselves how we can do the same.

I thank God that in the heavens beyond this life, she is surrounded by all of those she helped and is not alone.

2) She got us to take on whatever was in front of us with strength and grace.

Mrs D was at my wedding in New Providence. I don’t know if she was in town for some ACEA meeting or if she boarded a plane to sit in that church, but she was there. My dad died three years before I got married, and as I stood at the end of that aisle, the weight of missing him crushed me.

My mom’s gentle hands were entwined in mine,

but she couldn’t get me to move. “My Daddy” was the muffle sobbed that I yelled, though the words were probably so lost in my sobs, I’m not sure what anyone else heard. The next thing I heard, though, was the voice of Anita, “walk on the left,” Dougherty. I cannot recall what words she said, but whatever it was, combined with those piercing greens, got me moving. I hold that memory of her smiling face dear in my heart. I thank God that she is in a place where she will smile forever.

There are so many other ways Mrs D has impacted my life. Later in life, I learned that she recommended me to be a guest on Deborah Pratt’s teen talk show on ZNS back in the day, long before I would come to host Bahamas at Sunrise on the same channel. She brought my name to the Freeport Council to be placed on their Wall of Fame as Most Outstanding Student in 2006, again something I learned only recently. In private and public, Mrs D has rooted for me all along the way, and the best part is that I am not alone or unique.

She did it for every student she called her own, which is why she will be missed.

Take your rest, Mrs D. It’s time to “scatta matta fadda.”

ANASTARCIA PALACIOUS Nassau, March 28, 2022.

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THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 29, 2022, PAGE 7

‘I arrived illegally 20 years ago’, migrant accused of fraud told officers

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A HAITIAN man accused of entering into a fake marriage told immigration officers that he came into the country on an illegal vessel over 20 years ago, a court heard yesterday.

The remarks were reported by Chief Immigration Officer Vonetta Darling-Flowers during the ongoing fraud trial of Geno Joseph, 42.

Joseph is accused of lying to an immigration officer and trying to obtain a Bahamian residential spousal permit from the Department of Immigration in 2019 under false pretences.

Police also allege that Joseph made a false declaration of marriage in 2006 and was found in unlawful possession of a number of Bahamian and Haitian legal documents.

However, he has denied the allegations.

Mrs Darling-Flowers continued her testimony of her role in the case after initially giving evidence last year.

When she took the stand

yesterday, the witness told the court that last February, she conducted a record of interview with the defendant in Abaco to determine his status.

During the interview, the immigration officer said the accused gave her several documents relating to his status, which he retrieved from his home in Murphy Town upon their request.

She said the documents included a spousal permit, marriage certificate, his parent’s birth certificate among other important items.

She also testified that Joseph told her that he got the documents from his cousin to help him find a job in the country.

According to Mrs Darling-Flowers, Joseph also told immigration officers how he used certain documents at several local banks to get a Haitian passport.

She also said during the interview, Joseph admitted to his true identity and also stated how he came into the country.

“He advised that he entered The Bahamas sometime in 1998 by an illegal vessel,” the immigration officer testified.

However, defence attorney Keith Seymour argued that the witness could not confirm that the defendant entered the country illegally.

But, Mrs Darling-Flowers responded that system checks were done to confirm the matter.

Mr Seymour insisted that he stood by his statements and argued that the witness had no evidence to conclude that his client came into the country illegally.

In respect to the witness’ evidence about Joseph’s documents, the defence attorney reserved cross-examination after he advised the court that he was not in possession of the items.

Also testifying in court yesterday was Katie Gibson from the RBPF’s financial crime investigation branch.

Ms Gibson testified how she made enquiries at several government agencies, including the Passport Office, to ascertain the status of the defendant.

However, she said no information was found on the accused.

The case continues on May 24.

13-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED OF STABBING AT AF ADDERLEY from page one

The incident resulted in the injured boy being taken to hospital. His condition is not known at this time.

During yesterday’s hearing, the accused was not required to enter a plea to the attempted murder charge before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux.

The minor was told that he will return to court May 31 for the service of a

voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Bail was also denied and he was remanded to Simpson Penn Centre for Boys until that time.

He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

In a separate matter, 26-year-old Cody Newton also appeared in court.

Newton is accused of using a handgun to rob Maverick Major of $200 on April 11 last year.

Police further allege that

he tried to kill Major and two other men the same day.

The accused was not required to enter a plea to the charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt and his case was adjourned to July 6 for a VBI. He was also remanded to prison and advised of his right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

Newton is represented by attorney Ian Cargill.

MAN WHO PUNCHED PREGNANT WIFE ORDERED TO TAKE ANGER MANAGEMENT

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 32-YEAR-OLD man was yesterday ordered to attend anger management classes for three months after admitting to punching his pregnant wife during a heated argument last week.

Police arrested Sony Augustin after his wife reported to officers that he assaulted her on March 25.

The woman said she was at her residence when she and Augustin got into an argument about his whereabouts.

During the verbal altercation, the pregnant woman said the accused punched her in the face and about the body, causing injuries.

Police action was requested, and August was subsequently arrested and admitted to the offence.

His wife also admitted to

hitting her husband with a comb in an interview with police, insisting her actions were in self defence.

However, Augustin’s attorney argued that his client was the one defending himself in the situation and accused the wife of being the aggressor.

“The wife is a police and they have been properly trained in self-defence and the fact that this man put her there…it makes no sense,” the attorney said.

He further noted the two had a strained relationship and that Augustin was willing to sever ties with his wife after several years of marriage.

“He loves his wife but sometimes he goes out to get a drink and sometimes he doesn’t hear his phone,” the attorney added.

The attorney went on to note that his client, who had no prior run-ins with the law, was extremely

remorseful for his actions and asked the court for leniency.

After listening to the attorney’s explanation, Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis accepted the accused’s guilty plea, but warned him against reoffending.

He said his actions were not becoming for a man and noted that he could have used peaceful means to resolve the situation.

“I don’t condone hitting her at all, especially where she’s pregnant,” the magistrate said.

However, having taken into consideration the accused’s clean record, Magistrate Rolle-Davis said he would not impose a custodial sentence on the accused.

Instead, Augustin was ordered to stay away from his wife and attend anger management classes for three months.

MAN FINED AFTER BEING CAUGHT STEALING

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 30-YEAR-OLD man who stole from a woman’s car last week was yesterday ordered to pay $250 to avoid spending eight months behind bars.

Paul Farquharson III was arrested after he was caught red handed stealing Apple airpods from a woman’s vehicle on March 25.

Police say officers found the accused committing

the act sometime between 12.30am and 1.30am that morning.

The vehicle in question was parked near a local club, the court was told.

During his hearing before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis yesterday, the accused admitted to the offence.

When asked about his reasons for stealing, the accused told the court he had a “dope” problem and said he was unemployed.

Still, he acknowledged

that his actions were wrong.

“It was a bad decision... I’m sorry,” he said, while asking the court for leniency.

In response, Magistrate Rolle-Davis ordered Farquharson to compensate the woman for what he had stolen. The value of the stolen airpods is $200.

He was also fined $250 and told that failure to pay the fine would result in him spending eight months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

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PAGE 8, Tuesday, March 29, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Overcoming every obstacle WHEN Aneesah Abdullah was a teenager, she aspired to work at the United Nations (UN) one day. She was an avid reader of the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, and Reader’s Digest. She soaked up news on world affairs and with it, she found inspiration to make a difference in the world. From the Rwandan Genocides to Yitzhak Rabin and the Peace Accords, she read of world events and felt compelled to do her part to make a better world. Today, she is living out that dream. She is the United Nations Country Coordination Officer for The Bahamas. In her role, she supports the strategic planning, coordination, monitoring and reporting of UN country level programming and partnership to advance on Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in line with the national priorities of The Bahamas. This is the first time that The Bahamas has UN representation on such a level and as a Bahamian, she proudly takes on the challenge.

“This job allows me to support the renewed, formal, and unprecedented collective engagement of the UN Development System in The Bahamas,” she told me.

“Personally, it’s an opportunity for growth and development. As the first in the post, I have quite a bit of latitude in shaping the foundation for the work of the Office. This means creating (hopefully) impactful mechanisms which bring the comparative advantages of the UN system to bear on relevant national priorities.”

In meeting Aneesah, you will find a woman as downto-earth as she is focused and determined. She is highly educated and has put her knowledge to work in practical ways, bent on ensuring that any project she engages in is not just rhetoric, but brings tangible results. In this way, she can bring about real changes that impact people’s lives for the better. That’s exactly what she intends to do as UN Country Coordinator.

As a young girl in a Muslim family, there was

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

no television in Aneesah’s home. So, her thirst for reading gave her a vehicle to be transported all over the globe. Her father’s spiritual pilgrimage in the Muslim faith also provided opportunities for the family to experience life beyond the borders of New Providence, where the homestead is. His quest for higher spiritual knowledge took the family to Saudi Arabia. There, Aneesah was born. Her two elder siblings were born in The Bahamas.

Her father’s journey to becoming an Imam led him to Guyana, where he met his wife and Aneesah’s mother, and it also took him to India. The family returned to the Bahamas for a time before they journeyed to Saudi Arabia.

Once his tutelage in Islamic law was complete, he took his family to Los Angeles, where he served the Muslim community there.

The family grew to include four boys and two girls and together, the children attended a private Muslim school. Aneesah recalls that in addition to standard secular subjects, she learned about cultural history, including African American and Native American history, being inspired by the stories of great leaders like Harriett Tubman and powerful native tribes like the Sioux. She was also taught Islamic studies and Arabic; and in this way, she developed a well-rounded education even beyond the scope of secular schooling.

Aneesah’s love of reading was fuelled by her parents.

Her mother gave her children the classics to read and expand their mindsets, while their father held education as a priority, wanting the best for them. Her thirst for knowledge was encouraged by one of her teachers, Sister Shaheedah, who inspired her students to pursue their dreams. One

day while at school, Sister Shaheedah shared with the class, her own definition for determination.

“She said that determination meant doing what you want and no one can stop you except for Allah… there’s no insurmountable obstacle,” Aneesah said.

“If it is meant for you… it is meant for you. It really colours how you approach life.”

As simple as it sounds, such a word can define and shape a lifetime of possibilities, as it did for Aneesah. Today, she holds a Master of Arts in Human Rights from the University of London as well as a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration with Distinction from the College of The Bahamas, an Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education from Ashworth College.

Along with these degrees, she has earned a number of professional certificates covering disciplines, including project management, human rights, gender training, and training on the UN Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Aneesah may have never arrived at such accomplishments had she been bound to others opinions of herself as a Muslim woman, or a woman in general. When we see the Muslim woman in her hijab and abaya (garments and head covering), we may think that her life is

ANEESAH ABDULLAH

one filled with restriction – one where the fulfillment of one’s dreams and aspirations stand to remain an illusion. But Aneesah has proven that this is not so. She managed to come this far without ever compromising her faith.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Aneesah occasionally was exposed to the stares, the points and the giggles.

It did not move her… possibly because she had the love and protection of her family, positive role models who were incredibly proud of their Islamic identity, and the comfort of a circle of schoolmates all facing the same thing. Learning early to disregard others’ opinions of her allowed her to steer her course steadfastly.

It was around the age of 15 when Aneesah began to question why she was worshipping the way she was.

It is the juncture many a teenager will have to face as they learn to look at the world through their own spectacles and not that of their parents.

She read the Quran cover to cover, along with a trusty Arabic dictionary.

By doing this she made her own discovery: “I developed a one-on-one relationship with the Creator. I discovered that I am solely responsible for my actions and only to the Creator am I answerable.

It’s made it quite easy to not entertain or succumb to what people think about how or what I should be. .

Ultimately, if you are following a certain set of principles generally applicable to humanity, and you aren’t harming society, then you should pursue your path. So, I don’t view it (Muslim life) as contradictory to any path I had chosen.”

These wise words should guide many a family who face the issues that arise when a child seeks their own path. Aneesah’s grandmother knows it all too well. The child she gave birth to as Frederick Sturrup changed his name to Fareed Abdullah and took on a religion which she did not understand. Imam Fareed would have to face the same parental feelings when Aneesah left the family nest in Los Angeles to chart her own path. She returned to the Bahamas and lived with her grandmother, Virginia Dames Sturrup of Rolletown, Exuma. Shocking as it may have been for him and her mother Zorina, it seems apparent that she inherited some of her father’s adventurous spirit and thirst for knowledge.

She was a teacher in Los Angeles and when she came home, she continued to serve as a private tutor for children, some of whom are college graduates today. But she also became a civil serv-ant. She had an opportunity to work at the Bureau of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Community Development, where she co-drafted the Bahamas’ 6th Periodic CEDAW Report. She was there as the Bureau transitioned to the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, where she had, among other things, oversight on key gender-based violence projects. By June of 2018, Aneesah became a project officer for the Sustainable Development Goals Unit (formerly the Economic Development and Planning Unit) in the Office of the Prime Minister – during which time she was seconded to the National Emergency Management Agency and served as partner coordinator during the post-Hurricane Dorian response.

In April of 2021, Aneesah made history when she was appointed as the first United Nations Country Coordinator for The Bahamas. Since then, the Bahamas has signed on to the Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) which will lay the frame-work for the UN and The Bahamas to work together to achieve the SDGs. Garry Conile, Resident Coordinator for the UN’s Multi-country Office in the Caribbean, travelled to Nassau to make the announcement and meet with Government officials.

“I applied for the job because it seemed like a natural next step following my role in the Sustainable Development Goals Unit, and the requirements for the post aligned closely with my work experience,” Aneesah told me.

“I knew that I was qualified, but so are others in The Bahamas. Fortunately, though, I was offered the post. One of the key reasons for applying was to continue the work I had resumed with the SDG Unit to facilitate the Bahamian government to be a part of the MSDCF – a process that began in 2017.”

Aneesah saw the signing through, and the framework will be in existence for the next five years.

UN representatives from UN Women, UNDP, the International Office of Migration, UNICEF, PAHO and others were on hand for the signing. Minister Alfred Sears signed for the Bahamas, and Prime Minister Philip E Davis was on hand for the signing.

After the signing, the press conversed with Prime Minister Davis. When the issue of gender equality was raised, Mr Davis pointed out that Bahamians resoundingly rejected a referendum designed to allow married Bahamian

women to automatically pass on their citizenship to their children. To date, this law remains a thorn in the side of many Bahamians.

Aneesah is fortunate that her father is Bahamian and could pass on his citizenship to her; otherwise, she would have been coming home to the Bahamas in an attempt to conquer the tedious process of applying for citizenship.

With these and other issues, including violence, still to be addressed, Aneesah hopes to make a difference in her position.

Today, she will be taking part in working meetings between the United Nations and the National Reporting Cooperation Mechanism (Chaired by the Office of The AttorneyGeneral and Ministry of Legal Affairs), in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The focus will be to provide training on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as well as treaty body reporting guidelines.

Aneesa’s contributions to her country includes “supporting the bridging of gaps in the laws, policies, and programmes (particularly in cases where they may be discriminatory),” and ultimately working, in her professional and personal capacities, to support the creation of a more inclusive, productive and peaceful society.

While schooling at the College of The Bahamas (now University of The Bahamas), yet another teacher inspired her: “Yvette Pintard-Newry, a lead professor, reminded me of the best in people.

She is a woman who values diversity and encouraged critical thinking. I became an adjunct professor at UB after she encouraged me to apply.”

While working in the public service, she met other powerful women, including Nicola VirgilRolle, whom she considered a “phenomenal” director, and Permanent Secretary Phedra Rahming, who created a just environment for employees in the Ministry.

With great examples of women leaders in her family, her faith and in the professional space to admire, Aneesah has become a successful woman in her own right.

I asked her what it meant to her, being a Muslim woman: “It’s quite personal (despite my outward dress) and it means striving to adhere to a set of key principles and guidelines set out in the Qur’aan (Islam’s holy book) and the Sunnah (traditions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him) which ultimately lead to the betterment of myself and any society in which I may happen to live. It embodies a private contract of sorts between myself and my Creator - without the influence or interference of anyone else.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 29, 2022, PAGE 9

Unwise words of a US President S

O much information about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, now into a second month, is being bandied about that it is said that people are finding it increasingly hard to separate the im-portant from the less significant and from that which is just plain wrong. It seems they are searching for reliable information and, in particular, for any indication that the horror of the fighting in all its forms – not least the murderous attacks on civilians – may somehow be brought to an end.

With that in mind, it has been interesting to study what the more reputable commentators writing in the UK press have been saying in reaction to President Biden’s provocative remarks during a speech in Poland at the weekend after he had been talking to refugees.

As is now being reported ad nauseam in the international media, not only - in reply to questions from the press - did he call the Russian leader a “butcher” but, in unscripted and apparently off-the-cuff remarks, he even said, with heightened emotion, “For God’s sake, this man must not remain in power”.

Many might privately agree with him. But, inevitably, such comments by a US President are being interpreted as a call for regime change in Russia itself and, thus, interference in its internal affairs. Such a perceived threat is unacceptable in international affairs. Moscow has reacted angrily to his words which are a propaganda gift to the Kremlin, and the incident has served to heighten tension at a particularly fraught time between the West and Russia as the possibility of nuclear war continues to grow.

For Western observers, the

only explanation is that Biden did not realise the significance of what he was saying. Predictably, the White House immediately started clawing back on his remarks by stating that he did not mean regime change in Russia, which was a matter for the its own citizens, but that Putin should be stopped from exercising power over neighbours in the region. While such a clarification is understandable, it is at best disingenuous and the damage has been done. It beggars belief that Biden could have been drawn into such an unwise public comment and the fact that it was unscripted made it all the worse because his words can be seen as reflecting his and his government’s genuine belief and aim that the only way of ending the war in Ukraine is for Putin to be forced out of office in one way or another.

In an otherwise resolute, fiery and impassioned speech, the US President sent a tough message about the unity and strength of

NATO following its emergency summit meeting earlier in the week at which it announced more supplies of weapons and other military equipment to Ukraine and a stronger and larger NATO presence in the region. In referring to this, he also warned Putin in the most stark terms about the strength of NATO’s reaction as an organisation were Russia to “step one inch” onto the territory of any one of its member states.

All this is now being seen as the strongest message yet to Putin about the resolve of the West to secure an end to the Ukraine war, and it could even be a game changer. In the President’s words, “this is a battle between democracy and dictatorship... the power of the people is stronger than that of one dictator and Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia”.

But, in the eyes of many commentators who have been following the gaffe-filled past of a presidency of little more than a year so far, President Biden should not be allowed to go off script and risk making a bad and dangerous situation even worse. Although it is the case that to a former KGB thug like Putin actions speak louder than words, public comments at this level can have serious repercussions.

Putin is said to believe the West is weak and, if he is pushed into a corner, most people believe he will not back down.

He opposes what he regards as the US’s pursuit of worldwide hegemony and also insists that Ukraine is not a sovereign country but rather part of Russia – and, if he is finally thwarted there, he could lash out at the West with chemical or even nuclear weapons. The danger is that a misstep could precipitate a wider conflict. So some

PRESIDENT Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian refugees and humanitarian aid workers during a visit to PGE Narodowy Stadium, in Warsaw, Saturday.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with young award-winning culture professionals via videoconference in Moscow, Russia, Friday.

(Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

sort of face-saving formula is needed for the Russian armed forces to quit Ukraine as long as the terms of withdrawal are acceptable to the Ukrainians themselves. But this requires

cool heads and careful handling – not headstrong comments by a US leader who seems not to understand the implications and consequences of his own utterances.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

T

THE DUKE and Duchess of Cambridge with Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and Ann Marie Davis at the Office of the Prime Minister. Photo: Eric Rose/BIS

Royal visitors get a warm welcome in The Bahamas A

s a weekly newspaper columnist myself, I am reluctant in principle to criticise the press. But I have to say that I think the UK media’s description of the 12-day tour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas which ended at the weekend has been flawed in a number of respects. Instead of stressing the positive aspects of the visits, the media has tended to look for what went wrong and to harp on drama, disharmony and controversy – some of it manufactured – because that is what sells newspapers.

The press has drawn attention to so-called public relations gaffes and branded the tour “tone deaf”, trouble-hit and even embarrassing while indulging in misleading headlines about “ditching” The Queen.

Some newspapers falsely claimed that the tour was as an attempt to dissuade realms like Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas, who have The Queen as their Head of State, from following the footsteps of Barbados to become republics – and they seemed to delight in reporting that the Jamaican Prime Minister bluntly told the visitors about a referendum on the issue planned for later in the year. Then there was criticism about travelling in the same Land Rover in Jamaica as the Queen did in 1953 and that somehow that “reeked of colonialism”. Some criticised the supposed bad optics of greeting children through a wire fence there while it was also claimed that the issue of slavery reparations marred the

tour for the visitors. Some in Britain even suggested the whole trip should have been called off because of the war in Ukraine.

In my view, most of this is off the mark. The purpose of the tour was to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year; and, judging from the reception the Duke and Duchess received, the visit overall was a success. They were treated like rock stars with everybody wanting to get a glimpse of them. From the television coverage, they apparently received a warm welcome in Belize and Jamaica and their visits to both countries seemed to go well, while here in The Bahamas the visit did not just seem to go well - we know it did so because we saw it for ourselves! They received a wonderful welcome both officially from the Prime Minister and from the wide variety of people they met from different walks of life.

Despite being under intense scrutiny with every comment, gesture and expression endlessly analysed, they unerringly show themselves to be friendly, courteous, dignified and interested in the people they meet and are adept at asking appropriate questions. It has also always been the case that both of them are particularly good at talking to children of all ages.

One example of their humour and down-to-earth approach was the Duchess’s comment at the Sybil Strachan Primary School about bringing the rainy weather of Friday with them from England.

Later in the day, what a shame it was that the rain persisted during their sailing in a regatta in Montagu

Bay. Those of us watching from the balcony of the Royal Nassau Sailing Club were disappointed on their behalf that they were prevented from enjoying the glory of Montagu Bay in the sunshine which has become renowned around the world for its scenic and unspoilt environment and for the excellent conditions it provides for sailing.

There is no space today to examine in any depth the two issues that the press attempted to play up – reparations for slavery and realms becoming republics. In Jamaica, Prince William echoed the words of his father in Barbados last year in expressing sorrow about what he called the atrocity of slavery. But he was in no position to go further and address the concerns of those demanding reparations. This is now a subject of debate. But many believe it should not be forgotten that Britain banned the slave trade and prohibited slavery in its colonies 200 years ago which was well before action was taken in the US – and they ask how realistic or fair it is to make the present generation pay for the sins of their forefathers.

The other issue of realms and republics seems to be widely misunderstood. I know from personal experience as a former High Commissioner that Britain has always maintained that any decision to make the transition to a republic is entirely a matter for the countries themselves as they weigh up the pros and cons. Prince William reiterated this when he spoke here in The Bahamas about supporting “with pride and respect your decisions about your future”. Realms

are essentially a symbolic constitutional arrangement following the ending of a country’s colonial status.

If they later change to become a republic, they normally - like Barbados - stay within the Commonwealth and continue to enjoy a close relationship with Britain.

But realms are already wholly independent sovereign states and there is no direct involvement or interference by Britain in their affairs.

In The Bahamas, as far as I can judge, the position is as described by a former Attorney General in 2020 who said the transition may be inevitable at some point but that there is no real appetite or momentum among the Bahamian people for it yet, nor is there mainstream political will.

It is clear from the Duke of Cambridge’s unprecedented statement at the end of the tour that he and the Duchess have gathered a great deal from the experience of varied, interesting, enjoyable and successful visits in the three countries and now want time to reflect on what they have learnt.

How good it is to be able to report that, despite efforts by the press to find fault and look for what could go wrong, there seems to be general public agreement that they possess a magic touch in connecting with people. They have earned plaudits and appreciation from a wide cross-section of the local communities with whom they spent time during their whirlwind tour – and it must be obvious to everybody that they acquitted themselves extremely well as The Queen’s representatives.

his was the title of a piece I wrote in March last year, but perhaps it is worth repeating as a reminder of this magical time of the year in the northern hemisphere when the clocks have gone forward to give us all lighter evenings and with the prospect of long months of summer just ahead.

Spring heralds new beginnings and the renewal of the natural world as it emerges from winter hibernation and migratory birds return from their sojourn in Africa as the weather gets warmer. As the past slate of personal grief and hurt and of disappointment and failure is wiped clean, it is a time of hope and the promise of rebirth and renewal.

People in northern climes rejoice at the end of another long and hard winter even if some in Britain may have been fortunate enough to have broken it up with a skiing holiday in February enjoying the sunshine at a mountaintop resort in the French Alps.

Here in The Bahamas, of course, winter is the high season for tourism and what good news it is that visitors are now coming back to enjoy the unique attractions of this country after such a long period of disruption during the pandemic.

But, although we are spared the extremes of winter suffered by those living further north, it is also stimulating to experience the differences in weather brought about by the change of seasons in these parts.

At the risk of repetition, I refer again to that most memorable symbol of the arrival of the spring season in England. No, not the sight of new born lambs frolicking in a sunlit meadow but the sight of daffodils. The emergence of these flowers each year was made famous by one of England’s best loved poets, William Wordsworth.

His work “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”, which is also commonly known as “Daffodils”, is revered by so many because of the picture it paints of the beauty of Nature together with its encouraging message of fresh beginnings and hope for the future – and so much so that some people delight in reciting this poem to anyone who will listen since it is dear to their hearts!

PAGE 10, Tuesday, March 29, 2022

ETHIOPIA URGED TO RELEASE JOURNALIST

ETHIOPIA is being urged to uphold its international commitments to the freedoms of expression and the press by releasing journalists it has imprisoned.

Two lawmakers in the US Congress — Reps Adam Schiff of California and Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania — have joined press freedom advocates in calling for the immediate release of journalist Amir Aman Kiyaro, who has been held for four months without charges.

Kiyaro’s continued detention is due to be reviewed in court today, when the state must formally charge him or release him, according to the judge in the case.

Ethiopia, which has adopted the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and as a member of the African Union, should be obliged to release Kiyaro and other journalists, according to Schiff and Scanlon.

Kiyaro, 30, a video journalist accredited to The Associated Press, was detained on November 28 in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, under the country’s war-related state of emergency powers.

‘DON’T SAY GAY’ BILL SIGNED IN FLORIDA

FLORIDA Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill yesterday that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, a policy that has drawn intense national scrutiny from critics who argue it marginalises LGBTQ people.

The legislation has pushed Florida and DeSantis, an ascending Republican and potential 2024 presidential candidate, to the forefront of the country’s culture wars, with LGBTQ advocates, students, Democrats, the entertainment industry and the White House denouncing what critics have called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

DeSantis and other Republicans have repeatedly said the measure is reasonable and that parents, not teachers, should be broaching subjects of sexual orientation and gender identity with their children.

“We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination,” DeSantis said to applause before he signed the bill into law.

Public backlash began almost immediately after the bill was introduced.

Democratic President Joe Biden called it “hateful”.

THE TRIBUNE

Shanghai starts China’s biggest COVID lockdown in two years BEIJING Associated Press CHINA began its most extensive coronavirus lockdown in two years yesterday to conduct mass testing and control a growing outbreak in Shanghai as questions are raised about the economic toll of the nation’s “zero-COVID” strategy.

Shanghai, China’s financial capital and largest city with 26 million people, had managed its smaller previous outbreaks with limited lockdowns of housing compounds and workplaces where the virus was spreading.

But the citywide lockdown that will be conducted in two phases will be China’s most extensive since the central city of Wuhan, where the virus was first detected in late 2019, confined its 11 million people to their homes for 76 days in early 2020. Millions more have been kept in lockdown since then.

Shanghai’s Pudong financial district and nearby areas will be locked down from Monday to Friday as mass testing gets underway, the local government said. In the second phase of the lockdown, the vast downtown area west of the Huangpu River that divides the city will start its own five-day lockdown Friday.

Residents will be required to stay home and deliveries will be left at checkpoints to ensure there is no contact with the outside world. Offices and all businesses not considered essential will be closed and public transport suspended.

Already, many communities within Shanghai have been locked down for the

A DELIVERY man walks by police officers with protective suit outside a hotel in Shanghai, China, on March 15. past week, with their housing compounds blocked off with blue and yellow plastic barriers and residents required to submit to multiple tests for COVID19. Shanghai’s Disneyland theme park is among the businesses that closed earlier. Automaker Tesla is also suspending production at its Shanghai plant, according to media reports.

Panic-buying was reported on Sunday, with supermarket shelves cleared of food, beverages and household items.

Additional barriers were

being erected in neighborhoods Monday, with workers in hazmat suits staffing checkpoints.

In-person observations of the April 5 Tomb Sweeping Festival have been canceled and memorials will instead be held online.

Some workers, including traders at the city’s stock market, were preparing to stay within a COVID-19 “bubble” for the duration of the lockdown.

Li Jiamin, 31, who works in the finance industry, said she had packed several days of clothing and supplies,

and her company was sorting out sleeping and eating arrangements.

“The overall impact is still great,” Li told The Associated Press, pointing especially to losses suffered by workers in the informal sector who have no such support.

Huang Qi, 35, who works at a local university, said he had undergone a lockdown at home before and prepared for the new round by stocking up.

“I think if the closure continues like this, our school workers will not be

affected much, but what about those who work in the real economy? How can their business be maintained?” Huang said.

“I still hope that our society can find a better balance between ensuring normal life and epidemic prevention and control,” Huang added.

Shanghai detected another 3,500 cases of infection on Sunday, though all but 50 were people who tested positive for the coronavirus but were not showing symptoms of COVID-19.

UKRAINIAN FORCES ‘HAVE RETAKEN’ TERRITORY LVIV, Ukraine Associated Press

UKRAINIAN forces claimed to have retaken a Kyiv suburb and an eastern town from the Russians in what is becoming a back-and-forth stalemate on the ground, while negotiators began assembling for another round of talks today aimed at stopping the fighting.

Ahead of the talks, to be held in Istanbul, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country is prepared to declare its neutrality, as Moscow has demanded, and is open to compromise on the fate of the Donbas, the contested region in the country’s east.

The mayor of Irpin, a northwestern Kyiv suburb that has been the scene of some of the heaviest fighting near the capital, said yesterday that the city has been “liberated” from Russian troops.

Irpin gained wide attention after photos circulated of a mother and her two children who were killed by shelling as they tried to flee, their bodies lying on the pavement with luggage and a pet carrier nearby.

A WOMAN walks past a destroyed tank in the town of Trostsyanets, Ukraine, yesterday.

Photo: Felipe Dana/AP And a senior US defence official said the US believes the Ukrainians have retaken the town of Trostyanets, south of Sumy, in the east.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss US intelligence assessments, said Russian forces largely remained in defensive positions near the capital, Kyiv, and were making little

forward progress elsewhere in the country.

The official said Russia appeared to be de-emphasising ground operations near Kyiv and concentrating more on the Donbas, the predominantly Russian-speaking region where Moscow-backed rebels have been waging a separatist war for the past eight years.

Late last week, with its forces bogged down in parts of the country, Russia seemed to scale back its war aims, saying its main goal was gaining control of the Donbas.

While that suggested a possible face-saving exit strategy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, it also raised Ukrainian fears that the Kremlin intends to split the country in two and force it to surrender a swath of its territory.

Meanwhile, a cyberattack knocked Ukraine’s national telecommunications provider Ukrtelecom almost completely offline. The chief of Ukraine’s state service for special communication, Yurii Shchyhol, blamed “the enemy” without specifically naming Russia and said most customers were cut off from telephone, internet and mobile service so that coverage could continue for Ukraine’s military.

Also yesterday, an oil depot in western Ukraine’s Rivne region was hit by a missile attack, the governor said. It was the second attack on oil facilities in the region near the Polish border.

JUDGE: TRUMP LIKELY COMMITTED CRIMES WASHINGTON Associated Press

A FEDERAL judge yesterday asserted it is “more likely than not” that former President Donald Trump committed crimes in his attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 election, ruling to order the release of more than 100 emails from Trump adviser John Eastman to the committee investigating the insurrection at the US Capitol.

The ruling by US District Court Judge David Carter marked a major legal win for the House panel as it looks to correspondence from Eastman, the lawyer who was consulting with Trump as he attempted to overturn the presidential election.

“Based on the evidence, the Court finds it more likely than not that President Trump corruptly attempted to obstruct the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021,” Carter, who was nominated by former President Bill Clinton, wrote in the ruling submitted in the

federal Central District of California.

Eastman was trying to withhold documents from the committee on the basis of an attorney-client privilege claim between him and the former president. The committee responded earlier this month, arguing that there is a legal exception allowing the disclosure of communications regarding ongoing or future crimes.

Charles Burnham, an attorney representing Eastman, said in a statement Monday that his client has a responsibility to his attorney-client privilege and his lawsuit against the committee “seeks to fulfill this responsibility”.

“It is not an attempt to ‘hide’ documents or ‘obstruct’ congressional investigations, as the January 6th committee falsely claims,” Burnham said.

Taylor Budowich, a Trump spokesperson, also responded to the judge’s decision, calling it an “absurd and baseless ruling by a Clinton-appointed Judge in California”.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, March 29, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Final Four has a blue tint with power programmes

March 17-18

Portland

1 Gonzaga 93 16 Georgia St. 72 8 Boise St. 53 9 Memphis 64

Buffalo

5 UConn 63 12 New Mexico St. 70 4 Arkansas 75 13 Vermont 71

San Diego

6 Alabama 64 11 Notre Dame 78 3 Texas Tech 97 14 Montana St. 62

Greenville

7 Michigan St. 74 10 Davidson 73 2 Duke 78 15 Cal St. Fullerton 61

Fort Worth

1 Baylor 85 16 Norfolk St. 49 8 North Carolina 95 9 Marquette 63

Portland

5 Saint Mary’s 82 12 Indiana 53 4 UCLA 57 13 Akron 53

Milwaukee

6 Texas 81 11 Virginia Tech 73 3 Purdue 78 14 Yale 56

Indianapolis

7 Murray St. 92 (OT) 10 San Francisco 87 2 Kentucky 79 15 Saint Peter’s 85

11 Rutgers 87

16 Bryant 82

11 Notre Dame 89 (2OT)

Second Round March 19-20

S

NCAA TOURNAMENT

Sweet 16

1 Gonzaga 82

March 24-25

Elite 8

9 Memphis 78

Second Round

Sweet 16

March 24-25 1 Gonzaga 68

W

1 Arizona 85 (OT)

1 Arizona 60

Elite 8

March 26-27

March 19-20

FINAL FOUR

4 Arkansas 74

4 Arkansas 53

8:49 p.m.

WEST

New Orleans April 2

2 Duke

6:09 p.m.

SOUTH

6 Colorado St. 63

11 Michigan 76

11 Michigan 75 3 Tennessee 88

3 Tennessee 68

3 Texas Tech 59 2 Duke 78 7 Michigan St. 76

14 Longwood 56

2 Villanova 50

10 Loyola Chicago 41

2 Villanova 63

April 4

2 Duke 85

7 Ohio St. 54

7 Ohio St. 61

NATIONAL All times EDT CHAMPIONSHIP

2 Duke 78

2 Villanova 80

2 Villanova 71

1 Baylor 86

15 Delaware 60 1 Kansas 83

1 Kansas 79

16 Texas Southern 56

1 Kansas 66

8 UNC 73

8 San Diego St. 69

9 Creighton 72

8 UNC 93 (OT)

9 Creighton 72

1 Kansas 76

8 UNC 69 5 Saint Mary’s 56

5 Iowa 63

12 Richmond 51 4 UCLA 66

12 Richmond 67

4 Providence 61

4 UCLA 72

4 Providence 79

EAST

1 Kansas

8 UNC

MIDWEST

6 Texas 71

11 Iowa St. 54 11 Iowa St. 56

3 Purdue 64 3 Purdue 81 10 Miami 50

7 Murray St. 60

10 Miami 79 15 St. Peter’s 67

All times EDT

15 St. Peter’s 70

the Motor City Cruise Suns and 22 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots in a 117-104 loss to the Cleveland Charge.

Jones’ rebounds per game totals ranks eighth in the G-League, higher than many players who have all had a significant run in the NBA, including Jordan Bell, Tacko Fall, Greg Monroe and others.

James Plowright, who covers the Hornets and Swarm beat for SB Nation, detailed Jones’ recent growth that has been on full display over this recent stretch of game. “The difference in Kai Jones game

10 Miami 70 2 Auburn 61

from summer league to now is seismic. In Summer League he was playing power forward and forcing shots inside while contested, over dribbling on the perimeter, overly commuting to offensive rebounds and generally trying to do too much,” he said in a series of tweets.

“Now watching him in the G League he’s playing almost exclusively the five, but his play style is the thing that has changed the most. [Jordan] Surenkamp has completely simplified the game for him, he’s now playing much more like a traditional big.”

4 Providence 66 13 South Dakota St. 57 6 LSU 54 11 Iowa St. 59 3 Wisconsin 67

3 Wisconsin 49 15 St. Peter’s 49

game ranks sixth out of all centres, and his steals per game puts him at 35th out of all players in the G-League.

Jones has played sparingly in the NBA with the Hornets but has been one of the top players on the Hornets roster since he was recalled. He also posted 17 points and 11 rebounds in a 112-100 win over the Westchester Knicks on March 26, 15 points and 12 rebounds in a 123-112 win over the Lakeland Magic, 15 points in a 125-84 loss to

13 Chattanooga 53

11 Michigan 55

3 Texas Tech 73

FROM PAGE 16

4 Illinois 54

4 Illinois 53

11 Notre Dame 53

KAI JONES

12 UAB 68

5 Houston 72

2 Villanova

16 Wright St. 70

5 Houston 82

5 Houston 68

12 N. Mexico St. 48

1 Arizona 87

9 TCU 69

5 Houston 44

4 Arkansas 69

March 17-18

8 Seton Hall 42

9 TCU 80

March 26-27

First Round

HUNTER

FROM PAGE 16 fans in the pavilion, I would like to thank you for being some of the best in college basketball. Most importantly I would like to thank my brothers, the people who stayed with me through every practice, game, and long talks about basketball and life.

With that being said, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal.

Forever pushing P……23 out.” Hunter came to Ole Miss as a consensus three star prospect in 2019.

San Diego

First Round

16 Wright St. 93

E

2022

MW

First Four

Pittsburgh

12 Indiana 66

Indianapolis

16 Texas A&M-CC 67

Dayton, Ohio March 15-16

Pittsburgh

12 Wyoming 58

Fort Worth

16 Texas Southern 76

DUKE head coach Mike Krzyzewski, second from right, huddles with players during the second half of a college basketball game against Arkansas in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA men’s tournament in San Francisco on Saturday.

(AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Villanova has been its the Elite Eight. The WildStrengths: The buffed-up efficient best at both ends cats smothered Houston in Wildcats often bully teams in the NCAA Tournament, San Antonio, winning 50-44 around the floor on offence beating Delaware, Ohio to reach the Final Four for and defence. Villanova also State and Michigan to reach the third time in six seasons. shoots 83% from the freethrow line, on pace to break Harvard’s NCAA record of 82.2% set in 1994.

Weaknesses: The Wildcats were already thin and lost second-leading scorer Justin Moore to a torn Achilles tendon against Houston in the Elite Eight.

Star: Collin Gillespie.

The senior guard tore his ACL late last season, but has been a huge reason Villanova is back in the Final Four with his steady leaderNORTH Carolina’s Armando Bacot reacts during the first half ship and clutch shooting. against St Peter’s in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament, Key contributor: Jeron Sunday in Philadelphia. maine Samuels. The 6-7 (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) senior plays bigger than

Buffalo

VILLANOVA guard Collin Gillespie passes around Houston guard Jamal Shead during the first half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday in San Antonio.

(AP Photo/David J Phillip)

KANSAS’ Remy Martin reacts during the second half in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday in Chicago.

(AP Photo/Nam Y Huh)

14 Colgate 60

Milwaukee

COACH K’s final chapter will have a distinctly blue tint.

Two weeks of upsets and underdogs in the books, the Final Four is down to four blue blood programmes: Kansas, Duke, North Carolina and Villanova.

Kansas faces Villanova, then it’s Duke-Carolina for the first time in the NCAA Tournament in New Orleans.

This is going to be good, so here’s a quick rundown of the last four teams left standing: KANSAS Final Four road: The Jayhawks (32-6) looked vulnerable after consecutive late-season losses, but rounded into form at just the right time. While the other No. 1 seeds dropped off in the NCAA Tournament, the Big 12 champions beat Texas Southern, Creighton and Providence to reach the Elite Eight. Kansas rolled into its 16th Final Four by

crushing Miami 76-50 to win the Midwest Region.

Strengths: Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun can both score in bunches, shoot from the perimeter and beat defenders off the dribble.

Remy Martin is an immediate adrenaline boost off the bench.

Weaknesses: The Jayhawks overwhelmed Miami in the paint in the Elite Eight, but have been mediocre in the post at times.

Star: Agbaji. The 6-foot-5 senior is explosive and coming off his best game of the NCAA Tournament, scoring 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting against Miami.

Key contributor: Martin.

The Arizona State transfer enters the game like he’s shot off a launching pad, changing the complexion with his quickness and fearlessness.

VILLANOVA Final Four road: The Wildcats (30-7) had some shaky stretches earlier in the season, but have won 14 of 15, including the Big East Tournament.

7 USC 66 10 Miami 68 2 Auburn 80 15 Jacksonville St. 61

Greenville

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer

As a true freshman, he played in 27 games, primarily off the bench, averaging 12.1 minutes per game and averaged 2.9 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.

He scored a career-high eight points in a November win over Western Michigan and finished with seven points and a career-high three blocks in a February win over Vanderbilt, tying for the most blocks by a Rebel in a game throughout the season. As a sophomore, he appeared in 25 contests off the bench, averaging 2.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game. He shot

his size and is a difference maker at both ends of the court.

DUKE Final Four road: Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final of 42 seasons in Durham suffered a few bumps in the road, including a blowout to North Carolina in his final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils (32-6) have seemed determined to send Coach K out on top since the NCAA bracket began, blowing out Cal State Fullerton, then grinding out wins over Michigan State, Texas Tech and Arkansas to reach the Final Four for a record 13th time under Krzyzewski.

Strengths: The Blue Devils have multiple scoring options and are No. 1 in KenPom’s offensive efficiency ratings. Krzyzewski has shown the game hasn’t left him behind as he heads for the exit, making key adjustments that propelled Duke to the Final Four.

Weaknesses: Duke has been good on the defensive end lately, but had some rough moments earlier in the season, particularly in the loss to North Carolina.

The Blue Devils have good 3-point shooters in A.J. Griffin and Wendell Moore, but have been inconsistent from the arc.

Star: Paolo Banchero.

A likely top-3 pick in this year’s NBA draft, the 6-10 freshman is a matchup nightmare for opponents.

Banchero has the size to post up smaller players, can shoot from the perimeter and beat defenders off the dribble.

Key contributor: Mark Williams. Duke’s 7-1 sophomore centre is a dominating force on the defensive end, blocking and altering shots.

He’s also got a good post game and finishes with authority.

NORTH CAROLINA Final Four road: The Tar Heels (28-9) got their first season under Hubert Davis off to a shaky start, looking like they’d miss the NCAA Tournament.

Davis has since pulled the right strings, leading North Carolina to wins over Marquette, No. 1 seed Baylor and UCLA to reach the Elite Eight. The Tar Heels ensured a blue blood Final Four by crushing upstart Saint Peter’s 69-49.

Strengths: Armando Bacot is one of the best big men in the country, freshman Caleb Love is a dynamic scorer and R.J. Davis a steady floor leader who also can score in bunches.

Weaknesses: Davis’ rotation doesn’t go much beyond the starting five, which nearly cost the Tar Heels against Baylor. North Carolina has been better defensively late in the season, but had some real clunkers on that end earlier.

Star: Bacot. North Carolina’s big man can be dominating, as he was with 20 points and 22 rebounds against Saint Peter’s.

Key contributor: Brady Manek. Oklahoma transfer proving to be a force.

48 percent from the field, 33 percent from beyond the arc. His sophomore season was highlighted by a career high 11 points in the Rebels’ 70-62 win over the Kentucky Wildcats and was named to the SEC Winter Academic Honour Roll. This past season, Hunter played just over 10 minutes a game and averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 rebounds per game in 29 appearances. Prior to Ole Miss, Hunter concluded his prep basketball career at British Colombia Christian Prep and was recognised as one of the top players in Canada.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 29, 2022, PAGE 13

SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO FUN RUN/WALK, SOUSE OUT & WELLNESS DAY ‘A BLESSING’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net HAVING ascended to the top of the world as a two-time Olympic and now World Indoor Championship women’s 400 metre champion, Shaunae MillerUibo said it was important for her to come back home and give back to the community where she got her career started.

Amidst the celebrations of her victory in Belgrade two weeks ago, she joined forces with the Stapledon Gardens Neighbourhood Crime Watch for the Shaunae Miller-Uibo Fun Run Walk, Souse Out and Wellness Day on Saturday at the McKinney Avenue Park in Stapledon Gardens.

“It was a blessing because this is the community where I grew up,” said MillerUibo, who was flanked by her husband Maicel and parents May and Shawn Miller Sr. “So it’s good to come back home and to be able to celebrate like this is just a blessing.”

Miller-Uibo, who is now preparing for the outdoor season and her bid for her first World Championships outdoor title, said she would have liked to have had more participants for the early morning riser.

But she said she was still appreciative of those

GOLF

FROM PAGE 16 has helped me to develop my game to a high level,” he said. “The team performed very well. We won the first round on Thursday and we came back today (Monday) and swept the whole thing.

All of our teammates won something.”

Ethan Mul, a senior at Windsor Academy, said they had a great team and it showed in the performances with the results they posted as they avenged their loss to St Andrew’s last year.

“We have some D1 golfers from around the world come to our school to assist our players and that has helped in our performances,” he said. “We believe we have players who have the ability to become D1 players as well.

So I’m super happy with my team. We took the private school division and the overall team trophy, so I’m very happy with our performances.”

Deborah Pownall, the head coach for Queen’s College, said her Comets performed exceptionally well, especially the senior girls, in carting off the team title.

“They did good. They were really nervous Thursday. It really took them a while to settle in and today (Monday), we just came out here to have some fun and enjoy the competition,” she said. “They are a lot happier today because they performed very well. We only won the senior girls, but we came second in the junior boys and girls and third in the senior boys.”

One of the Comets, Biswapriya Pati, celebrated her 16th birthday on Monday.

“I’m actually very proud of my team. We kind of got a late notice for the training, but we came out here and we gave it our best shot,” said Pati, who intends to celebrate her birthday with her teammates.

She assured their rivals that Queen’s College will be back bigger and stronger next year.

Gina Gonzalez-Rolle, chairperson of the BGF’s junior golf development programme, noted that the weather brought new impetus to the tournament because they saw a few new players emerge as champions as they joined some of their regular players who were expected to make their presence felt. She noted that they are looking forward to the majority of these players taking centre stage this weekend when the BGF’s Junior Nationals is held at the Atlantis resort on Saturday and Sunday.

who showed up and participated, as well as the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials (BACO) and the Stapledon Gardens community for their support.

In the walk segment, the winners were Dom Smith in the women’s 18-35 category, Ruth Fisher in women’s 36-59, Kaye Bastian in women’s 60-andover, Trevor Forbes in the men’s 36-59 and Arlington Hanna in the men’s 60-and-over.

Second place finishers were Elvia Storr in the women’s 36-59, Ruth Brave in the women’s 60-and-over, tied in the men’s 60-andover were Michael Dillet, Ian Fernander, Father James Palacious and Leslie ‘Potcake’ Miller.

And third place went to Gaynell Ferguson in the women’s 36-59 and Rufus Swann in the men’s 60-and-over.

In the running category, Charlee Fisher took the 17-and-under women’s title, while Eve Maycock-Dorsett was the 36-59 winner and Francis Adderley came through in the men’s 60-and -over.

“Running is a part of my thing and when I heard Shaunae was going to be here, I had to come out and support it,” Maycock-Dorsett said.

“It went very well. It was a breeze for me. It was a Quite relieved after they had to halt the remainder of the finals on Friday because of the rain with only the lower primary boys and girls competing, tournament director Georgette Rolle said as it turned out, they made the right call in pushing the rest of the finals for Monday.

“We were able to have one of our sponsor representatives from Lowe’s, Riann Sands, come out and help give out some of the awards and we also had Minister of Sports Mario Bowleg, for the majority of the day to give out some awards as well,” she said.

“So I think it all turned out very well. Despite the weather, I think it was meant to happen today (yesterday).”

Looking at the average scores produced over the week-long tournament, Rolle said it was a vast improvement from the initial tournament last year and she’s just happy that her Fourteens Club Golf Academy was able to provide the vehicle to help the junior golfers in their pursuit in the sport. She noted that their efforts in assisting the BGF’s junior programme was well worth it.

Craig Flowers, the driving force behind the creation of the Driving Range, said although he knew the date and the time for the tournament, they had some challenges at the property, which came as a result of COVID-19 and others because of mechanical failures, but they managed to get everything sorted out to assist the BGF in the smooth operation of the tournament.

“We were able to get the golf course in a semi condition, good enough to host the tournament and that’s a good thing,” he said. “We are very proud that the Bahamas Golf Federation chose to use the golf property here for the event. I’m certain that the magnitude of this tournament could have been played on any of the other golf properties, but we are happy to know that they chose this one.

“So we are hoping that we can get on an even keel like Atlantis, or Baha Mar, or Albany or Bakers Bay and the other resorts, so that we can hold more events like these in the future.

“We know that Mother Nature has to take its course to be able to grow the grass to the point that it is in the right condition so that we can compete with the other facilities for other events in the future.”

• Here’s a look at the final individual and team scores at the conclusion of the tournament:

morning exercise for me. I did it in about 34 minutes. It was good weather, but not much competition.”

Maycock-Dorsett said she’s very proud of MillerUibo and that was why she participated.

“It was certainly a very good experience and I’m happy to see the community getting involved,” said Adderley, a former outstanding baseball/softball player, who has now ventured into total fitness activities.

“I think it was very good to come out here and support Shaunae, our world-class athlete. I’m definitely looking forward to being a part of the second, third, fourth and fifth editions and any others that I can support.”

As the youngest competitor to participate at age 10, Charlee Fisher, a fifth grader at Kingsway Academy, said she just

enjoys running and so she wanted to participate and share in the celebrations for Miller-Uibo.

“It was good, but it felt pretty long,” said Fisher, who is developing as a sprinter in the footsteps of her father and ZNS sportscaster Charles Fisher, but is an idol of Miller-Uibo, saying “I want to be like her.”

Representing a group of runners who participate in as many events as they can, Fr Palacious said they want to emphasize physical fitness, health, body, mind and soul and at the time share in the celebrations for Miller-Uibo.

“However old you are, walk at your pace, however fit you are, try to get even fitter because we are really an unfit country, but we could change that one person at a time,” he summed up.

“If our presence here can inspire somebody, then I think the whole country is better off as a result of it.”

Also on hand and even participating was Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, who said it was a good event because he needed to stay fit as a politician.

“Anytime you put on events to get people to become healthy and physically by strengthening your body, I always want to support it,” he said. “I believe

COVID-19 has allowed a lot of us to become overweight and so the mere fact that the Crime Watch community put on this event and for our ‘Golden Girl,’ I wanted to come out and give my support.”

Tomark, the vice president of the Crime Watch Association, presented a plaque that read: Stapledon Gardens Community Watch salutes Shaunae MillerUibo, two-time Olympic gold medallist and World Indoor 400m champion” as they expressed their gratitude to her for her achievement as a member of their community.

Miller-Uibo’s father, Shaun Miller Sr, said the park brought back a lot of memories because having been born and raised in the community, this was where he got her start in the sport.

“We had about three parks in the afternoon that we trained but this one, in particular, we would ride our bikes here as an entire family and we would put in about two hours of training and then they could ride their bikes again,” he said.

He said when they were approached by the Stapledon Gardens Community to join forces to put on the event, they didn’t hesitate because they saw the importance for the Neighbourhood Watch Committee to help curtail crime in the area.

Lower Primary Girls Team Results - 1st Place - Windsor School at Old Fort- Team Score of 169 - Zara Greaves, Taylor Davis, Adrielle Goncalves and Esther Boesel.

2nd Place - Eva Hilton Primary School - Team Score of 199 - Jamiah Miller, Diana Pierre and Kazmyn Rolle.

3rd Place - Home School - Team Score of 200 - Zion Poitier, Zeden Poitier and Zaire Poitier.

Top 10 Individuals 1st Place - Zara Greaves, Windsor School at Old Fort - 44; 2nd Place - Safari Hanna, The Meridian School - 53; 3rd Place Lenita Vickerie, Gavin Tynes Primary School - 57; 4th Place - Regan Olivia Moxey, Summit Academy 58; 5th Place - Taylor Davis, Windsor School at Old Fort - 60; 6th Place - Jamiah Miller, Eva Hilton Primary School - 63; 6th Place Sarah Scheidecker, Nassau Christian Academy - 63; 6th Place - Payton McKenzie, Xavier’s Lower Primary School - 63; 9th Place Zaire Poitier, Home School - 64; 10th Place - Adrielle Goncalves, Windosr School at Old Fort - 65; 10th Place - Diana Pierre, Eva Hilton Primary - 65.

Lower Primary Boys 1st Place - Lyford Cay International School - Team Score of 123 - Luis Ortiz Von Bismarck, Andre De La Torre, Philippe Ciampini and Aden Jones; 2nd Place - Windsor School at Old Fort - Team Score of 136 Maximilien Demole, Jack Fox, Thomas West, Hawthorne Wood and Adam Turnquest; 3rd Place - Eva Hilton Primary School - Team Score of 169 - Antonio Hernandez, Fritzner Sylvester and Zhvargo McKenzie; 4th Place - Claridge Primary School Team Score of 197 - Samuel Joseph, Nazario Major and Javardo Ingraham.

Top 10 Individuals - 1st Place - Maximilien Demole, Windsor School at Old Fort - 36; 2nd Place - Luis Ortiz Von Bismarck, Lyford Cay International School - 38; 3rd Place - Antonio Hernandez, Eva Hilton Primary -40; 4th Place - Andre De La Torre, Lyford Cay International School - 41; 5th Place - Philppe Ciampini, Lyford Cay International School - 44; 6th Place Oliver Van Oselan, St. Andrews - 45; 7th Place - Thomas West, Windsor School at Old Fort - 50; 8th Place - Jack Fox, Windsor School at Old Fort - 50; 9th Place - Aden Jones, Lyford Cay International School 52; 9th Place - Reef Harvey, Home School - 52.

Upper Primary Girls 1st Place - Eva Hilton Primary School - Team Score

of 145 - Caitlin McWilliam, Aiyanna Hernandez, Janai Miller, Rihanna Hanna and Brenae Knowles; 2nd Place - Queen’s College Team Score of 188 - Isabel Grimes, Arianna Forbes, Kaleah Brown, Tatyana Clarke and Vonteneke Rolle; 3rd Place - Palmdale Primary- Team Score of 191 - Kimya Poitier, D’Maya Hudson, Ria Thompson, Khyielle Wallace and Aliya Pinder; 4th Place - Carlton E. Francis Team Score of 204 - Destiny Pratt, Janique Edwards, Paris Case, J’Mayah Mullings and Abigail Cleare.

Top 10 Individuals - 1st Place - Haley Hall, Jordan Prince William - 34; 2nd Place - Maddison Carroll, Sandilands Primary - 39; 3rd Place - Kayleigh Rolle, The Meridian School - 40; 4th Place - Tatum Adderley, E.P. Roberts Primary School - 44; 5th Plaace Caitlin McWilliam - Eva Hilton Primary School 45; 6th Place - Renaisha Dill, C.W. Sawyer Primary School - 47’; 7th Place Aiyanna Hernandez, Eva Hilton Primary School - 49; 8th Place - Janai Miller, Eva Hilton Primary School - 51; 9th Place - Alyssa Richards, St. Thomas Moore - 52; 10th Place - Rylee Cunningham, Home School - 54.

Upper Primary Boys 1st Place - Windsor School at Old Fort- Team Score of 115 - William West, Harry White, Hugo Johnston, Maximillian Landry and Nicholas Turnquest; 2nd Place - Lyford Cay International School- Team Score of 128 - Sebastian Halewyck, Francisco Ortiz Von Bismarck, Juan Pedro Viana, Lucas Klonaris and Oliver Brooke; 3rd Place St. Andrews International School- Team Score of 132 - Mirko Gervasini, William Mahelis, Caleb Davis and Harrison Van Olselan; 4th Place - Eva Hilton Primary School- Team Score of 154 - Rashawn Hanna, Juan Wilson, Antonio Bain, Anton Davis and Yelisey Smith; 5th Place Queen’s College- Team Score of 162 - Liam Eneas, Deon Flowers, Lathan Bowleg. Khai Neely and Hiram Tinubu.

Top 10 Individuals - 1st Place - William West, Windsor School at Old Fort - 35; 2nd Place - Mirko Gervasini, St. Andrews - 38; 3rd Place - Harry White, Windsor School at Old Fort - 38; 4th Place - Sebastian Halewyck, Lyford Cay International School -39; 4th Place - Zachary Christopher Joseph, Claridge Primary -39; 4th Place - Briland Cunningham, Home School -39; 7th Place - WIlliam Maheilis, St. Andrews -41; 7th Place - Kai Bastian, St. Thomas More -41; 7th Place - Edward Johnson,

Windsor School at Old Fort - 41; 10th Place - Hugo Johnston, Windsor School at Old Fort -41.

Junior Boys 1st Place - Windsor School at Albany- Team Score of 94 - Aidan Gorospe, Kerrington Rolle, Oliver White and Camdyn Forbes; 2nd Place - Queen’s College - Team Score of 112 - Luke Grimes, Rhan Miller, Michael Knowles, Alexander Knowles and Atarri Moss; 3rd Place- St. Andrew’s International School - Team Score of 125 - Reeves Maheilis, Axel Dridi. Enea Gervisini.

Thomas Robinson and Aidan Robinson; 4th Place - Lyford Cay International School - Team Score of 134 - Patrick Tomlinson, Alec Hooper, Erik Jensen, Jose Vianna and Thomas Briard.

Top 10 Individuals - 1st Place - Aidan Gorospe, Windsor School at Albany - 28; 2nd Place - Kerrington Rolle, Windsor School at Albany - 31; 3rd Place - Luke Grimes, Queen’s College - 35; 3rd Place Oliver White, Windsor School at Albany - 35; 5th Place - Camdyn Forbes, Windsor School at Albany 36; 5th Place - Rhan Miller, Queen’s College -36; 7th Place - Reeves Maheilis 38; 8th Place - Axel Dridi, St. Andrews - 41; 8th Place - Michael Knowles, Queen’s College - 41; 8th Place Percival Richardson, A.F. Adderley Junior High - 41.

Junior Girls 1st Place - Windsor School at Old Fort- Team Score of 127 - Lilly Bisterzo, Elyse Hanna, Olivia Ott and Tysha Johnson; 2nd Place - Queen’s College - Team Scores of 145 - Chemari Pratt, Daliah Hamilton-Knowles, Cianna McWilliam and Bailey Bostwick; 3rd Place- Lyford Cay International School Team Score of 166 - Sophia Briard, Sofia Klonaris and Cassandra Carlino; Team 4 - Kingsway- Team Score of 177 - Taylor Sands, GHailey Ellis and Arranique Brown.

Top 10 Individuals - 1st Place - Chemari Pratt, Queen’s College - 35; 2nd Place - Lilly Bisterzo, Windsor School at Old Fort - 36; 3rd Place - Kamaya Burnside , D.W. Davis Junior High - 41; 3rd Place - Elyse Hanna, Windsor School at Albany - 41; 5th Place - Olivia Ott, Windsor School at Albany - 50; 6th Place - Taylor Sands, Kinsway Academy - 51; 7th Place - Daliah HamiltonKnowles, Queen’s College - 53; 8th Place - Sophia Briard, Lyford Cay International School - 54; 9th Place - Sofia Klonaris, Lyford Cay International School - 55 ; 10th Place - Beyonce Knowles, H.O. Nash Junior High - 56.

SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo

RANGERS’ BANNISTER ASSIGNED TO SPRING TRAINING

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net ZION Bannister continues his progression within the Texas Rangers organisation and was called up to the club’s main roster for Spring Training.

On March 26, the 20-year-old 6’3” 189pound outfield prospect was assigned to the Spring Training roster for Cactus League play in Surprise, Arizona.

Bannister was signed by the Rangers in July 2019 and made his debut on the Dominican Summer League roster the following month.

As a member of the DSL Rangers 2 he hit .273 with six hits, one RBI, and a .333 OPS. He progressed to the AZL Rangers of the Arizona Rookie League on August 15 as a late season call up and appeared in 37 games where he hit .227 with six doubles, two home runs and 15 RBI. Bannister went 2-5 with his first professional home run and five RBI in the ACL Rangers’ 14-12 win over the ACL Indians on July 12. Bannister’s two-out, grand slam in the eighth inning provided the go-ahead runs for the Rangers in the come from behind win.

Alongside fellow Bahamian Keithron Moss, Bannister helped the club clinch the 2019 ACL title.

Following the season, he was assigned to the Rangers’ Futures roster in September.

Senior Boys 1st Place - Windsor School at Old Fort- Team Score of 105 - Zadok Smith, Alex Dupuch, Jaden Ward, Ethan Mui and Kaizer Briggs; 2nd Place- Lyford Cay International School - Team Score of 112 - Jackson Mactaggart, Nolan Kull and Patrick Mactaggart; 3rd Place - Queen’s College - Team Score of 114 - Andrew Benjamin, Christopher Knowles, Arjun Shetty Pericles Maeilis and Ravaro Underwood; Team 4 - St. Andrew’s - Team Score of 136 - Benjamin Dupuch, Stanley Wilson and Robert Holcombe.

Top 10 Individuals 1st Place - Anton McDonald, Aquinas College - 31; 2nd Place Jackson Mactaggart, Lyford Cay International School -33; 2nd Place - Benjamin Dupuch, St. Andrews - 33; 4th Place - Zadok Smith, Windsor School at Albany - 34; 5th Place - Alex Dupuch, Windsor School at Albany - 35; 7th Place Windsor School at Albany - 36; 8th Place - Jermaine Dawkins, C.R. Walker Senior High - 39; Christopher Knowles, Queen’s College -39; 8th Place Nolan Kull, Lyford Cay International School - 39.

Senior Girls 1st Place- Queen’s College- Team Score of 180 - Mia Underwood, Lauren Ramsey and Biswapriya Pati.

Top 10 Individuals - 1st Place - Tyesha Tynes, St. John’s College - 35; 2nd Place - Miljojka Gojkovic, Teleos Christian School - 45; 3rd Place - Mia Underwood, Queen’s College - 48; 4th Place - Elvanique Rolle, Charles W. Saunders - 49; 5th Place - Gabrielle Pratt, Kingsway Academy - 52; 5th Place - Shenell Stewart, C. R. Walker Senior High - 52; 7th Place - Nataija McPhee, Greeneville Preparatory - 54; 8th Place - Shenique Stewart, C. R. Walker Senior High - 57; 9th Place - Biswapriya Pati, Queen’s College - 64; 10th Place - Lauren Ramsey, Queen’s College - 68.

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THE TRIBUNE

LEGENDARY SPORTING ICON ANITA DOHERTY WAS ‘MOTHER TO ALL’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THERE are so many words to describe the late legendary sporting icon Anita Doherty, but her mentor Wayne Smith aptly noted that she was a “mother to all” she came in contact with.

Doherty, a renowned former versatile athlete who coached just about every sport played in the Bahamas, passed away early Monday morning at the Rand Memorial Hospital at the age of 73.

The veteran educator for the past 45 years in both New Providence and Grand Bahama leaves behind her husband, John Doherty, a son John Jr, his wife Tara and two children Sean and Hadyn and numerous brothers and sisters.

One of her sisters, Deidre, remembered Anita as the “icon of the family.

She was the head of the family of the girls. She is the matriarch of our family.

She was my go to person, she was loving and generous and she was a true big sister. I was happy to share her with the world.”

Smith, who worked with Doherty in a number of levels in Grand Bahama and in particular in the high school system, recalled her as a “mother, an educator, a financier and as a big sister,” he said. “Everything that makes up a family, Doherty was.

“In the world of education, even if their mothers were alive, she became an instant parent to the children who she associated with. She was able to get the children to do a lot of things that even the parents couldn’t get them to do. She had that power over them to get them to do it.”

Smith said the children felt obligated to carry out her wishes because of the love, respect and admiration that they had for Doherty. They felt they had to do it because Doherty told them to do it.

A native of New Providence, Doherty moved to West End, Grand Bahama at the age of five with her parents and went on to attend the West End All Age School, the Hampton’s Girls School in Jamaica and Ulster College of Physical Education in Northern Ireland.

She returned home in 1970 and began her teaching career at Hawksbill All Age School in Grand Bahama before transferring to New Providence to teach at the DW Davis Junior High School.

After four years, she was back in Grand Bahama where she took up a post at the Freeport High Anglical High School, now the Bishop Michael Eldon School, where she became a household name.

Apart from her teaching profession, Doherty was an avid sports woman who excelled in a number

of sports, representing Jamaica, Ireland and the Bahamas in field hockey, tennis, softball, netball and track and field were her major accomplishment came as a member of the Bahamas’ team in 1970 at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.

She can also be remembered for the roles she played as a director of the YMCA Keep Fit, president of the Bahamas Netball Association, secretary of the Grand Bahama Softball Association, treasurer of the InterScholastic Sports,

a member of the committee that organised the 1977 CARIFTA Games, president of the Grand Bahama Tennis & Squash Club, president of the Grand Bahama Athletic Association, vice president of Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations and secretary of the Coed Pilot International.

At the 25th Silver Anniversary Banquet in July, 1998, the Bahamas Government recognised her for contribution to the growth of the nation. In November, 1998, she was honoured by

the Zonta Club of Nassau Women’s ‘Living Legends’.

In 2005, she was inducted into the Grand Bahama Sports Hall of Fame. She was then inducted into the Bahamas Hall of Fame in 2011. Then in 2014, she was honoured by the Kamalamee Organisation.

She served as chief councillor (Mayor) for the city of Freeport from 2005-2008 and was currently working with the Grand Bahama Sports Council that is preparing for the return of the Grand Bahama Games this summer in preparation for the next Bahamas Games, tentatively set for next year.

Smith said in all of the accomplishments that Doherty achieved, many people didn’t know that she followed in her father’s footsteps and was an avid sailor and also a co-pilot, having flown many flights with her pilot husband.

“When you talk about people making an impact, whether you went to any school in Grand Bahama, the one person they knew was Anita Doherty. “Me personally, I always told her that Doherty is not a Bahamian name. No one knows your husband, but everybody knows Anita Doherty.

She made the name popular throughout the length and breath of the Bahamas.”

He noted that she was quite acquainted with Bahamian businessman Craig Flowers, who served as a pilot with her husband when they lived in

Liberia. “When you talk about Doherty, there isn’t anyone who hasn’t heard of Anita Doherty, not only here in Grand Bahama, but in New Providence,” Smith said. “Anita Doherty was a household name. She has always been honoured for something. She was truly a national hero.”

Ricardo Lightbourn, a long time sportscaster in Grand Bahama, said the Bahamas has lost another sporting icon. “She has always been that person who has always been involved in community activities from day one, as a former athlete, coach and administrator,” Lightbourn said. “She was one of those persons whom you emulated, but she has also groomed and pushed so many young people to be the best they could be.

She left a legacy that will be hard to forget.”

According to Lightbourn, Doherty is one who will be remembered as a national hero at the highest order because of the mammoth work she has done with so many young people.

On a personal note, she was never one that looked and wanted any attention or credit for what she did.

Whenever you wanted to interview her, she rarely took the spotlight, but tried to push those who were with her or the student athletes whom she helped to groom and nurture. She will be sorely missed. May her soul rest in peace.

NACAC President Mike Sands is flanked by members of Swift Athletics Track Club.

SWIFT ATHLETICS TRACK CLUB JOINS IN WORSHIP AT HOLY SPIRIT

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net IN their continued effort to give God thanks before and during the track and field season, the Swift Athletics Track Club returned to church where they worshipped at Holy Spirit on Sunday.

During the service, Rev Fr Neil G Nairn gave his blessing to the team and North American, Central American and Caribbean president Mike Sands provided some inspiring words of encouragement.

A luncheon followed in the parish hall.

Also in attendance was Nilkkita Thompson from the NACAC office, Ann Thompson from the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations office and veteran coach Ronald Cartwright.

With their athletes preparing for the final CARIFTA Trials this

FINAL FOUR FROM PAGE 16

“You take all those experiences with you, and you try to emulate them and be them, and do the things they do and put the work in like they put in and just pray that it works out for you,” Samuels said.

“Those guys taught us a lot. … They’re a big part of the reason that we are the way that we are today,” Gillespie said. “We learned a ton from those guys. Now we play for those guys.”

weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, club president and head coach Andrew Tynes said it was fitting for them

to attend another worship service.

“We basically attend church twice a year, at the beginning of the year and

close to the CARIFTA trials so the kids could go and get their blessing between the trials and for the rest of the year,” said

Tynes, who also stated that with NACAC overseeing the return of the CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica, over the

Easter holiday weekend, it was important to get the boys and girls to share in the activities.

He noted that a few other persons involved in track and field were also invited to attend.

He said he was really pleased that the kids got their blessing from Father Nairn and the words of encouragement from Sands.

Hopefully, based on their performances so far this season, Tynes said he’s looking forward to a number of athletes from Swift Athletics qualifying at the trials or being named to the team for relay duties.

Following the trials on Friday and Saturday, the BAAA is expected to select, ratify and announce the team to represent the Bahamas at the games, which will make its return for the first time since 2019 because of the restrictions imposed around the sporting world with the coronavirus pandemic.

Brunson, now with the Dallas Mavericks, said he spoke with Gillespie on Sunday, the day after Nova beat Houston 50-44.

The Mavs guard also made sure to mention fifth-year forward Dhami Cosby-Roundtree, who played in all 40 games as a true freshman in 2017-18, but sat out last season and hasn’t played since December because of multiple surgeries on his legs.

“The whole team is family. But those three in particular, playing with them, I’m really proud of

them. They’re special. From a class that really, honestly, besides us, the team, no one really believed in them,” Brunson said after the Mavericks beat Utah on Sunday night, when Paschall got a rare start for the Jazz.

“But us, as a family, as a programme, we knew that they could do it. They brought us back to the promised land.”

Leading scorer Gillespie (15.6 points per game) and top rebounder Samuels (6.5 per game) are both graduate students and fourth-year starters for

coach Jay Wright after the extra season of eligibility all players got because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Samuels played only 98 seconds combined in two late-game appearances in the 2018 Final Four.

He entered the semifinal win over Kansas with 1:28 left, and was only in for the final 10 seconds of the 79-62 victory over Michigan in the title game.

In this NCAA Tournament, Samuels is shooting 63 percent (26 of 41) while averaging 17½ points and 8½ rebounds a game.

He had 16 points and 10 rebounds against Houston, with his 3-pointer on the first shot putting the Wildcats ahead to stay.

That was after he scored 22 points in their Sweet 16 win over Michigan.

Gillespie played more than Samuels in that 2018 Final Four, with eight minutes in the semifinal and then 16 in the championship game when he had four points — on 4 of 4 free throws — and five rebounds.

While he is shooting only 33 percent this postseason,

10 of his 15 made field goals are 3-pointers.

His only basket against Houston came when, after a timeout and the Cougars within two, he stepped just inside the arc and hit a long jumper with 5:02 left.

Wright likes how the former and current players stay in touch with each other.

“I know Jalen, Mikal and the guys are really proud of Jermaine’s development and Collin’s development and the way they lead this programme,” Gillespie said.

REV Fr Neil G Nairn is flanked by members of Swift Athletics during their church service at Holy Spirit Anglican Church on Sunday.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 29, 2022, PAGE 15

Queen’s Baton Relay makes a stop in Bahamas from April 2-4 IMMEDIATELY following the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Bahamas is set to receive another Royal visit.

The Queen’s Baton Relay makes its stop in the Bahamas April 2-4 as the countdown to the Commonwealth Games continues.

The Queen’s Baton is the preeminent symbol of the Commonwealth Games,

which is scheduled to be held in Birmingham, England, July 28 to August 8, 2022.

The Baton left London on October 7, 2021, and it will travel to all 72 Commonwealth countries and territories before arriving in Birmingham for the start of the Games.

The Bahamas’ Commonwealth Games Association will provide several opportunities for members of the

THE QUEEN’s Baton Relay makes its stop in the Bahamas April 2-4 as the countdown to the Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held in Birmingham, England, July 28 to August 8. public and country representatives to interact with the baton, which carries a personal message from Queen Elizabeth II. The message will be removed

and revealed publicly during the Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, events are planned for New Providence, Spanish Wells and

Harbour Island between April 2 and 4. On April 5, the baton will be transported to Turks and Caicos Islands to continue its 294day relay. The Bahamas

No regrets, no what ifs for Kyrie Irving after home debut

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving is not about to look back now.

Not at a loss in his first home game.

Nor at how many more losses in home games might have been avoided if he were playing previously.

His refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus left him ineligible to play in home games until Sunday, when a 119-110 loss to the Charlotte Hornets dropped the Brooklyn Nets into a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

It took 75 games into the season for Irving to finally play at Barclays Center, and it may be too late for the Nets to turn into the championship contender that was widely expected.

But he said the sacrifices of he and his teammates make his refusal to get vaccinated as mandated to perform in New York

F1 RACE

FROM PAGE 16

expressed concerns about human rights. Questions were asked this weekend whether lucrative deals signed with Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia — which reportedly pays $55 million per year to host the race — are worth it given everything else that can come with a race; and whether commercial interests take priority in making the final decision to host races.

And it seems like there’s a long queue to join F1, which is holding a record 23-race season. The sport’s popularity has risen with the Netflix series “Drive to Survive” and was boosted by last year’s thrilling duel for the drivers championship between Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen.

“The good news is that Formula One is in a great moment, where a lot of countries would like to host,” F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said.

City worth it. “That’s the only thing that I’m really focused on, is the now and getting back ready for the next game and just going from there,” Irving said.

“But the point of this season for me was never to just take a stand. It was really to make sure I’m standing on what I believe in and freedom. Freedom.

I don’t think that’s a word that gets defined enough in our society, about the freedom to make choices in your life without someone telling you what the (expletive) to do.”

Irving said that could apply to politicians or anyone who holds positions of power.

“So I’m standing for freedom, so that’s in all facets of my life and there’s nobody that’s enslaving me,” Irving said. “There’s nobody telling me what I’m going to do with my life and that’s just the way I am.”

Irving’s teammates and many of his fans seem to

Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been accused of “sports-washing” their human rights records by using high-profile sporting events to project a favorable image of the countries.

A 10-year F1 deal signed with Qatar starts as from 2023 — after the inaugural race last year — and Bahrain’s contract was extended until 2036.

Qatar is set to host the soccer World Cup and is under scrutiny over working conditions for migrant workers preparing the Gulf nation for kickoff on November 21.

A familiar refrain is that the presence of high-profile sports events can be a force for change. “We believe what we’re doing will have a very positive impact in the political situation,” Domenicali said.

F1 terminated its contract with Russia after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel said he

NETS guard Kyrie Irving (11) shoots in the second half on Sunday in New York.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo) accept his stance. He got a loud ovation before the game from the sellout crowd of 18,166, the largest crowd ever for a Nets game at Barclays Center. But, perhaps tired from playing

on back-to-back nights for only the second time this season, his game wasn’t there.

He shot 6 for 22 from the field and finished with just 16 points and 11 assists.

“Not the result we wanted, but definitely grateful that we were part of history tonight and we got to do it here,” Irving said.

The Nets didn’t know when he would get opportunity until Mayor Eric Adams exempted athletes and entertainers from the mandate last week, in time for the end of the NBA regular season and for the start of the Major League Baseball’s.

But with the loss Sunday giving the Hornets the head-to-head tiebreaker if the teams finish tied, the Nets would be ninth in the East if the season ended Sunday. That means they would need to win two games in the play-in tournament just to make the postseason.

It’s doubtful they would be in that spot with a fulltime Irving, a perennial All-Star who scored a career-high 60 points earlier this month.

“We’re not even looking at it. We’re not even thinking about it that way,” Kevin Durant said. “He’s here now. This is the situation we’re in. Put our heads down and go to work.”

They have seven games left, all but one of them in New York. Without Irving, the Nets could have been in real danger of not even making the playoffs.

With him, Brooklyn can still salvage the season, which is where Irving is focused.

“I mean honestly, there’s no time to consider the past,” Irving said. “It’s not going to do anybody in our locker room or anybody any justice thinking about what could have been, the shoulds and the coulds.

We only can control what we can control moving forward.”

wouldn’t have raced there anyway. Other drivers agreed and, during preseason testing, they wore “No War” messages as they gathered behind a flag of Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition against the Iran-backed Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital of Sanaa in September 2014.

The kingdom entered the war in Yemen in 2015 and has been internationally criticised for its airstrikes killing civilians.

Overnight airstrikes on Sanaa and Hodeida — both held by the Houthis — followed the attack by rebels on the oil depot in Jiddah.

If F1 should not be going to places that are at war, like Russia, then why go to Saudi Arabia? “It’s different if one country invades another country, or if something is going on with terrorists,” Williams team principal Jost Capito said.

Team principals were asked on the weekend how

financial factors influence decisions to stay.

“We shouldn’t shy back or shut ourselves off from these countries because of the criticism that we’re getting,” McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said. “I see the unique chance we have in sport to share this passion for Formula One, to drive this positive change.

“Not just on the economics, for the country here, but also in terms of positive change on the society.”

There has been backlash involving other events in the past, for instance Saudi Arabia came under scrutiny after buying Premier League soccer club Newcastle.

And in 2019, singer Nicki Minaj pulled out of a concert in Saudi Arabia to show support for women’s rights, gay rights and freedom of expression.

High-profile people within F1 are aware of the ongoing questions.

“Does Saudi Arabia and some of the other Middle Eastern countries share the same values, the same culture as we do in Europe?

They don’t. Are they where we want them to be? No,” Mercedes head of motorsport Toto Wolff said Saturday.

“I’d rather come here and make the spotlight shine on the region so it needs to be in a better place, rather than say ‘I’m not going there, I don’t want to hear anything of it.’”

He was asked if it was appropriate racing just miles from an attack.

“For us, is it acceptable to race (near) where there is a drone rocket that is going in a petrol tank? Certainly not,” Wolff said. “But for here, within their culture, these things happen. I don’t want to say ‘Well I’m not racing,’ because I’m generally someone who wants to give people the chance to better themselves.”

will be represented at the Commonwealth Games by athletes competing in several disciplines. The full team is expected to be announced in July.

THITIKUL WINS JTBC CLASSIC FOR FIRST LPGA TOUR TITLE CARLSBAD, Calif.

(AP) — Atthaya Thitikul won the JTBC Classic on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title, three-putting for bogey on the second hole of a playoff to outlast Nanna Koerstz Madsen.

“It’s just crazy in my mind right now,” Thitikul said.

“I cannot believe that I became LPGA winner. It’s feel amazing as well.”

After Koerstz Madsen’s 15-foot bogey putt hit the edge of the cup and stayed out away, the 19-year-old Thitikul rolled her 10-foot par try close and holed out for the breakthrough victory.

“A lot things going through my head,” Thitikul said. “But one thing that I really want to focus is like just, `Do your every single shot.’ Just like, `If you lose, if you win, this is another chance to learn. So do your best every single shot.’

That’s it.”

At 19 years, 25 days, Thitikul is the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour since Brooke Henderson in the 2016 Portland Classic at 18 years, 9 months, 23 days.

The Thai player also has two victories on the Ladies European Tour.

Koerstz Madsen lost two weeks after winning a playoff in Thailand to become the first Danish champion in LPGA Tour history.

They matched pars on the first extra trip down 18, with Thitikul missing an 8-foot birdie try. Koerstz Madsen drove left on the second playoff hole and hit her second from an awkward stance near the cart part into the greenside water.

“It’s a hard shot,” Koerstz Madsen said. “It’s a hybrid from the rough — not a very good lie, above the feet. I just tried not to pull it too much from that lie, and then obviously I did not pull it. I pushed it quite a lot.”

Thitikul shot an 8-under 64, making nine birdies and a bogey to post at 16-under 272 at Aviara Golf Club in the final event before the first major of the season next week at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage.

OSAKA MAKES MIAMI QUARTERFINALS, SAYS SHE’S MORE GRATEFUL

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer MIAMI GARDENS, Florida (AP) — Making the quarterfinals at a tournament used to be no big deal for Naomi Osaka. It was only a shock if it didn’t happen.

Things are a bit different now.

The former world No. 1 has made it through to the quarterfinals at the Miami Open — just the second time she has managed to advance that deep in any tournament over the last year. Osaka beat Alison Riske of the U.S. 6-3, 6-4 yesterday, moving into a round-of-eight matchup with Danielle Collins.

Osaka’s only other quarterfinal appearance in the last year was at an Australian Open warmup tournament in Melbourne

in January. Before that, her most recent quarterfinals trip was at Miami a year ago.

“It’s really funny for me, because last year here I made it to the quarters, too,” Osaka said. “It was after I won Australia and I wasn’t that grateful. I kind of expected to win.”

Wins these days just mean more, after ongoing struggles and time away from the game to deal with her mental health. Her ranking in the world has dipped to No. 77 — it could get somewhere around No. 30 if she wins the Miami title — and she hasn’t won a tournament since that Australian Open victory last year.

But her stay in Miami so far has been nothing but happiness, with three easy wins — all in straight sets — and the added benefit of

NAOMI OSAKA, of Japan serves to Alison Riske, during the Miami Open tennis tournament yesterday in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) a walkover victory in there win her fourth-round match against No. 8 Ons Jabeur, as well.

“This is really one of the 6-2, 6-4.

The win likely ensured funnest times of my life,” Osaka said. “I’m really that Collins is locked into the top 10 when the world grateful.”

Collins, the No. 9 seed rankings reset early next from the U.S., needed just week. She could be as high over an hour yesterday to as No. 8 depending on

how far others go in the tournament.

Collins is 0-2 in previous matches against Osaka, both straight-set losses on hard courts, one in 2018, the other in 2019.

“When Naomi is at the top of her game, she’s very, very hard to beat,” Collins said.

Daria Saville also got into the quarterfinals, surviving a three-hour match to beat Lucia Bronzetti 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. Saville has climbed a staggering 500 spots in the world rankings in about a month and-a-half; she was 627th in the world in midFebruary and could make the top 100 if she wins her next match against either No. 22 Belinda Bencic or Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

No. 2 Iga Swiatek, who is already assured of moving to No. 1 next week, also rolled into the quarterfinals

with a 6-3, 6-1 win over No. 14 Coco Gauff.

In the men’s third round, Daniil Medvedev is now two wins away from reclaiming the No. 1 world ranking.

The top seed in Miami beat Spain’s Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-4. A trip to the semifinals is all it would take for Medvedev to leapfrog Novak Djokovic and return to No. 1.

Next up for Medvedev: American Jenson Brooksby, who rallied from 0-4 down in the third set to upset No. 15 Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

“I competed until the end,” Brooksby said.

Defending champion Hubert Hurkacz also advanced, the No. 8 seed fighting past No. 29 Aslan Karatsev 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. No. 14 Carlos Alcaraz got by No. 21 Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4.

SPORTS PAGE 16

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

National high school golf champions are crowned

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A

fter a rain delay on Friday, the Bahamas Golf Federation finally got a chance to complete its National High School Golf Championships yesterday at the BGF’s Driving Range.

St John’s College Giants’ Taniesha Tynes and Aquinas College’s Anton McDonald emerged as the senior girls and boys individual divisional winners, while Aidan Gorospe of Windsor School at Albany and Chemari Pratt, of Queen’s College, captured the junior boys and girls crowns.

Tynes, a 10-year veteran of the sport whose goal is to become a professional golfer, shot a score of 35 to win the senior girls’ title over second place finisher Miljojka Gojkovic of Teleos Christian School with 45 and third place finisher Mia Underwood of Queen’s College with 48.

“I played with some very good players, but I’m a very strong mental player and I tried to keep composure,” said Tynes, a 16-year-old 11th grader. “I knew if I had a bad hole, I still had enough time to make it up.”

McDonald, who is preparing to graduate from Aquinas College this year, said golf has become his passion. But he said having put in the practice, he was able to move up from ninth place in the initial

tournament last year to the top of the ladder this year.

In finishing first with 31, McDonald held off a strong field - both Jackson Mactaggart of the Lyford Cay International School and Benjamin Dupuch of St Andrew’s posted an identical 33 for a two-way tie for second.

“I think I played well.

The field here was very competitive. It just took a lot to come back from last week to come back stronger to win it today (Monday),” said the 17-year-old. “I think I played very well. Compared to last year, the competition was much better because a lot of the mediocre players certainly improved their game and so the competition was just better this year.”

As for the team competition, Windsor Academy and Queen’s College took the bragging rights in the boys and girls.

“We had an exceptional showing today (Monday).

In the qualifying rounds, all of our teams placed first and we had a few on the podium for the individual awards,” said Windsor Academy’s head coach Katie Roach. “We knew that it was going to be some stiff competition, but we played pretty good and came out on top in the upper school primary boys, the junior girls and boys (grades 7-9) and the senior boys (grade 10-12).”

With such a wonderful tournament put on by the BGF’s junior development programme and

25 points with 13 assists.

Keifer Sykes added 16 points for Indiana.

RAPTORS 115, CELTICS 112 TORONTO (AP) — Pascal Siakam had a season-high 40 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out, and the Toronto Raptors beat the short-handed Boston Celtics 115-112 in overtime last night.

Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby scored 14 points apiece, Thad Young and Gary Trent Jr. each had 12, and Scottie Barnes scored 10 before fouling out as Toronto snapped

IN NBA’S G-LEAGUE, KAI JONES HAS CAREER HIGH 30 POINTS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net KAI Jones continues to put up dominant numbers in the G-League with the Charlotte Hornets affiliate Greensboro Swarm.

Jones scored a career high 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 139-119 win over Long Island Nets at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina on Sunday.

He shot 12-18 from the field and 1-4 from threepoint range to go along with three blocked shots on the defensive end.

This season, Jones is averaging 17.9 points, 10.9 boards, 1.6 steals and 1.9 blocks over 31.6 minutes.

His elite defensive efficiency jumps right off the stat sheet. His blocks per

SEE PAGE 12

QUEEN’s College senior girls winning team on the medal podium. Craig Flowers, far left, and Gina Gonzalez-Rolle, look on. the Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy, Roach said St Andrew’s will be back as a well-oiled machine to continue to do their best.

Alex Dupuch, an 11th grader, played in the tournament for the first time for Windsor Academy, but he was thrilled in helping

them to secure the senior boys’ team title. “I go to the Golf Academy and that

SEE PAGE 13

‘BUDDY’ SCORES 26 IN LOSS, RAPTORS TOP CELTICS IN OVERTIME INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 29 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks past the Indiana Pacers 132-123 last night.

Clint Capela and Kevin Huerter each contributed 22 points and Capela added 15 rebounds for the Hawks, who are 10th in the Eastern Conference. Trae Young had 14 points and 16 assists.

Buddy Hield scored 26 points for the Pacers, who have lost four consecutive games and are out of playoff contention.

Tyrese Haliburton scored

Osaka, Page 15

a four-game home losing streak against the Celtics. Boston fell one game behind Miami for first in the East.

KNICKS 109, BULLS 104 NEW YORK (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 28 points, Alec Burks had 27 and New York extended its winning streak to four games by beating Chicago.

Obi Toppin had 17 points for the Knicks, who remained 4 1/2 games behind Atlanta for 10th place in the Eastern Conference and the final play-in spot with only six

games remaining. DeMar DeRozan scored 37 for the Bulls, including 15 in the fourth quarter.

CAVALIERS 107, MAGIC 101 CLEVELAND (AP) — Darius Garland had 25 points and 12 assists, leading Cleveland to a victory over Orlando in a game in which the Cavaliers lost rookie big man Evan Mobley to a sprained left ankle.

Mobley, the No. 3 overall pick, landed on the foot of Franz Wagner while defending under the basket in the second quarter.

NUGGETS 113, HORNETS 109 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 19 rebounds and 11 assists for his 19th tripledouble of the season, and Denver held on to beat Charlotte.

Aaron Gordon added 21 points and Will Barton scored 18 for the Nuggets, who earned a split of the season series. Miles Bridges had 27 points and LaMelo Ball added 22 points, 11 assists and six rebounds for Charlotte, which fell to 1-13 in the second night of back-to-backs.

SAMMY HUNTER ENTERS TRANSFER PORTAL

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net AFTER three years with the Ole Miss Rebels, Sammy Hunter has entered his name into the transfer portal and search for a new programme to continue his athletic and academic career.

Hunter issued a statement yesterday to his official social media accounts.

“First off I would like to thank God for the opportunity to play the game I love, basketball. I want to thank coach Davis and especially coach Levi for the opportunity to play at a power five school,” Hunter said.

“To all the friends I have made I want to say thank you for always accepting and welcoming me into the Ole Miss community. To the

SEE PAGE 12

Full circle: Villanova Was it worth it? F1 race in Saudi Arabia leaders got Final raises questions Four taste in 2018

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jermaine Samuels and Collin Gillespie were both on the floor for the final seconds of Villanova’s national championship game victory four years ago. They were true freshmen on a title team with five NBAbound players.

Now they are fifth-year seniors leading the Wildcats, who are in another NCAA Final Four after Samuels was the South Region MVP and third-team AP All-America point guard Gillespie made a clutch shot late in the regional final.

“It’s crazy how things have come full circle,” Samuels said. “Back then, it was amazing to watch those guys from the sidelines. I had front-row tickets to some of the greatest Villanova basketball players to ever put on the jersey.”

The Wildcats (30-7) have made the Final Four for the third time in the past six NCAA tourneys — they also won it all in 2016. They play in the first national semifinal game Saturday at the Superdome in New VILLANOVA head coach Jay Orleans against Big 12 champion Kansas, the Wright. (AP) only No. 1 seed left in this year’s tourney.

When Villanova won the 2018 title at the Alamodome, the roster included All-America guard Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Final Four MVP Donte DiVincenzo, Eric Paschall and Omari Spellman, all NBA draft picks. Phil Booth played professionally overseas.

SEE PAGE 14

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Auto Racing Writer

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — When a missile flew into an oil depot close to the track hosting the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, discussions among Formula One teams and drivers switched from human rights to personal safety.

The big question: Was it safe to remain in Jiddah and compete in the second race of the F1 season after Friday’s attack about 11 kilometres (seven miles) away?

Emergency meetings were held long into the night before the decision to race was confirmed at noon on Saturday. World champion Max Verstappen won

FERRARI driver Charles Leclerc walks in the pit lane after qualifying session for the Formula One Grand Prix in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

(AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Sunday’s race but he says answers are still needed.

“About the race here, well, we had a lot of

guarantees that of course we would be safe,” the Red Bull driver said.

“But I think after this weekend all the drivers (will) sit together (and) will speak to F1, and of course team bosses, to see what’s happening for the future.”

The attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted the North Jiddah Bulk Plant, just southeast of the city’s international airport, where F1 fans flew in for Saudi GP. The attack came two weeks after 81 people were put to death in Saudi Arabia in the kingdom’s biggest mass execution.

Even when F1 ran its inaugural event at the circuit last December, drivers

SEE PAGE 15