04112024 NEWS AND SPORT

THE mother of Omar Davis, Jr –– the highachieving young accountant killed in 2022 –– said the 15-year sentence her son’s killer has received is a “slap on the wrist” that does not bring justice. Normand Toussaint, initially charged with murder, took a plea deal on Tuesday for a reduced charge of manslaughter. Supreme Court Justice Franklyn Williams, KC, sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment. Omar’s partially decomposed body was found in a garbage bag in the trunk of a vehicle on August 16, 2022, after he reportedly suffered multiple wounds By

THE mother of 17-yearold Elron Johnson broke down in tears and could not complete her testimony in the Coroner’s Court yesterday as the inquest into the teen’s police-involved killing after trying to rob the Double Dragon Restaurant on East Bay Street last year continued. An off-duty officer shot and killed Johnson as he fled the restaurant on June 15, 2023. Belinda Johnson was excused from the witness stand after becoming emotionally distraught.

NEMA sends fire tanker to assist in Andros fire

island for decades.

“Even though they have a fire unit, they could only take so much at a time,” he said. Mr Russell said he contacted several shipping companies for help after learning that a Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessel was on a mission in the southern Bahamas. North Andros residents have implored the government to send more resources to the island, claiming the fire is out of control. Some have had to leave their homes due to health concerns, while others were taking shifts watching the blaze.

Long-time resident James Storr said the situation had not improved up to press time yesterday.

“What’s happening is plenty Androsians over the last few days haven’t catch more sleep,” he said. “They’re watching their house and some watching their building or apartments. It’s like we’re doing shifts, people rotating to help watch the fire.”

Captain Russell said a team from New Providence was sent to the island yesterday to begin assessments and determine how best to prevent spread.

With the fire mostly contained to the forest, he said firefighters would concentrate on surrounding areas that may be affected.

North Andros MP Leonardo Lightbourne said forest fires are a legacy issue that have plagued the

“In this regard, the stakeholders are committed to ensuring that lives are not lost and homes and businesses remain safe,” he said in a press statement yesterday.

Chief meteorological officer Kaylinda WardForbes said forest fires are not unusual around this “dry period”.

She could not confirm reports that the fire affected air quality in South Florida.

“The surface winds are really from the southeast, so that would be pushing

the smoke northwestwards from Andros towards the Bimini and South Florida area,” she said. “Fire is burning in the Everglades as well, but we have footage of a webcam that is at the dock and the port in Bimini Bay and the skies are very hazy.” She said she has not received complaints about low visibility from pilots because of the smoke.

“It’s not to the point where it would inhibit any aircraft,” she said. “We haven’t heard anything from Air Traffic Control or from any of the pilots.”

A LARGE forest fire in North Andros has kept residents on high alert for over a week now, as NEMA prepares to send a 2,000 gallon tanker to assist the lone fire engine on the island.

‘15 years too little for killing my son’

to his head and upper body, including stab wounds.

Omar’s mother, Gia Whymns, is puzzled by the case’s resolution, including why prosecutors settled for a manslaughter charge when the evidence for murder was allegedly strong.

“Why he couldn’t get 25 years?” she asked yesterday. “He should have been charged with murder because he jook Omar up more than once and he clean up everything, put him in the back of his trunk, jump in his car, had people helping him, and park his car where his body start getting decomposed.”

“When I bury Omar, I couldn’t even had open coffin. I had to close the casket.” Prosecutors have pursued plea deals partly to shorten the length of criminal trials and reduce the backlog of cases.

Ms Whymns, however, said she was initially assured that prosecutors would pursue the maximum penalty for Omar’s killer.

“The prosecutor told me when I first went to him for the interview, we get this, we get this, we get this, we got all the recordings and all of this and all of that we need to put him away for a long time,” she said.

“Then (Tuesday) he just jumped up and says, we ain’t taking no more than 15 years. He come to me like that was such a good thing and I was looking at this man like, mister, your head can’t be good, hey?”

Ms Whymns claimed prosecutors had a video showing someone helping Toussaint put Omar’s body in a car, but declined to charge that person because of his age –– another decision she disagrees with.

Before his death, Omar had graduated with a double degree from Central State University, where he achieved a 4.0 cumulative GPA. He was scheduled to start an internship with a major accounting

firm in Atlanta. During his childhood in Kemp Road, his father was murdered. His success, despite his background, struck a chord with many who learned his story.

Prosecutors alleged that a fight broke out between Omar and Toussaint over something the former had on his phone.

Two years later, the question of what her son had on the phone still plagues Ms Whymns.

She said if she could talk to her son again, she would ask him what was on the phone.

“What you have on this phone what this boy want that he want hurt you for?” she asked.

She added that speculation and inferences about her son’s sexuality haven’t diminished her love for him.

“I mean, I am hearing stuff but I can’t say because I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know him the way people describe, at least not even people, what this Normand person describing him as.”

“But I don’t care if that was the case. I don’t care. I love my son no matter what.”

“That’s my son, nobody else.”

Ms Whymns said she has not forgiven her son’s murderer. “All (Tuesday) he tell me ‘bout he sorry and this his first time killing and all kind different things,” she said. “He turn round and say have his deepest sympathy. I just shake my head because I ain’ even on your run right now. You done spending this little bit of time in jail, coming out and enjoying your life and take my son life?”

She said dealing with her son’s death has not gotten easier.

“It’s never going to get easier because I have so much memories with Omar,” she said. “When I see young men doing so good and you know, I just saying, oh lord, this could have been my son right here.”

“Looking at my next little boy, I can’t never forget about it and it’s killing my next son more than it’s killing me because I trying to be strong for him so that he can’t see me breaking down.”

Tearful mother unable to complete testimony

to legally acquire a firearm in The Bahamas is 18.

Greenslade of the police armoury testified that Inspector Lavaro Moxey, the subject of the inquest, passed his police firearm certification exams.

He said police officers are trained to shoot an armed threat to themselves and the public until that threat is eliminated. He said officers are trained to hit targets at centre mass, not aim for their extremities.

When shown footage of Johnson crawling on the ground near an abandoned building in an apartment complex, Inspector Greenslade said the threat had not been eliminated because Johnson was still holding a firearm in his right hand.

He noted that footage from earlier that night showed Johnson firing in the direction of an officer. Johnson eventually stopped shooting, saying: “Don’t shoot, I give up.” However, Inspector Greenslade suggested this could have been a ruse to lure the officer into a trap since the teen still had the gun in his hand.

After watching an injured Johnson drag himself on the ground, the officer commented that the young man had a “fighting spirit”.

He maintained that Johnson posed a threat to the officer while on the ground because he never put the gun away. He said Johnson had enough time to discard the weapon if he intended to surrender.

He called the situation “terrifying”. When court marshall Angelo Whitfield asked if he would have handled things differently,

he said he would have discharged more rounds. In response to a question from a juror, he clarified that for a suspect to surrender, they must discard their weapon.

Sergeant Jonnel NixonAdderley of the firearm registry said the deceased was not registered to have a firearm.

She also told Mr Whitfield that the minimum age

During cross-examination from K Melvin Munroe, Inspector Moxey’s attorney, Sgt Adderley confirmed that the deceased had an unlicensed firearm.

Meanwhile, Police Constable Geronimo Parker testified that he went to the scene in response to calls of an armed robbery. He said he found Johnson

lying on the ground in a black hoodie and a grey mask and saw a black pistol and spent bullet casings in the vicinity. PC Parker said after identifying himself as an officer,

the deceased told him: “I won’t shoot anymore. I give up.”

She said the EMS personnel told her they had to quickly take Johnson to the hospital. from page one

PC Parker’s partner that night, Sergeant Felicia Patton, told acting Coroner Kara Turnquest-Deveaux

that she saw EMS cut Johnson’s shirt to find his wounds.

OMAR Davis Jr and his mother, Gia Whymns

PM dismisses concern GBPA dispute will undermine investor confidence

a walkabout of East Bay Street. “We have billions of dollars in the pipeline already agreed to and more about to come.”

“If it’s going to destroy investors confidence, why are they still coming? The number of projects I still have on my desk to talk about and to deal with are astronomical. The challenge, why is this capital not being attracted to Freeport?

“It’s being attracted in Exuma, being attracted to Cat Island, it’s being attracted to Abaco, to Bimini, to the cays and the Exumas. Why not Grand Bahama, and that’s just the question we have to answer.

“If investor confidence

has been shaken, why do we still have all the interest to invest in The Bahamas as a whole, not in Grand Bahama in particular.”

The Davis administration sent a demand letter to the GBPA, giving it 30 days to pay $357m allegedly owed to the government over the last five fiscal years for public services it has provided. Mr Davis said arbitration proceedings would begin if the GBPA failed to pay.

The authority dismissed the demand as ill-founded, arguing that Freeport’s $200m annual tax revenues far exceed what the government invests in the city.

Mr Davis discussed the government’s demands for the GBPA during a meeting with 16 licensees on Saturday.

D’s Car Rental owner

Darren Cooper believes the administration has not consulted enough of the 3,000 licensees in Freeport, saying he was offended by the limited representation during Saturday’s meeting.

“I did everything within my power to find out how I could get on the list,” he said. “I was very taken aback when I was told no one could be added to the list.”

Mr Cooper believes the Davis administration’s monetary demand adversely impacts licensees and those paying service charges in Freeport.

“My question is why, prime minister, are you refusing to meet with the wider community of Grand Bahama, in particular those licensees who requested a

meeting with you almost a year ago?” he asked.

“We are the ones being requested to pay this bill by the government, not LUSCO, not GB Utility, not the Haywards or St Georges. It is coming at the management of the city of Freeport, everything raised for the management, including licence fees and service charges used to maintain the city.”

Sarah Kirkby, the CEO of Barefoot Marketing and Locations, is among those who believe the government’s battle with the GBPA will harm investor confidence.

“With everything going so well, with Carnival and Weller Development and the Shipyard, and the good news about the airport, it concerns me about what

other people are going to think coming in here,” she said.

“Our island is poised for development, and it relies on the good relationship between the government and the GBPA. It is disheartening to see this break down this way.”

“Just randomly saying that amount of money sounds like we are not paying our way. We have worked hard to put money into the coffers of the government through immigration, customs and road license taxes. We have no idea how much that actually is because there is no accounting given to the people about that.”

Ms Kirkby, who is a member of the Freeport Licensee Association and the Grand Bahama

Chamber of Commerce, was also disappointed that the president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce was not invited to Saturday’s meeting.

Attorney Kirk Antoni, meanwhile, urged the government to release the report outlining the money the GBPA allegedly owes the government and produce an accounting of revenue that Freeport has generated during the same period.

“It is unfortunate that the people who live in Nassau and the Family Islands who never worked and lived in Freeport do not know how Freeport operates,” he said. “It is a completely different entity than living in Nassau, and they make these wild accusations.”

DAVIS SAYS DETAILS ON BPL TRANSFORMATIVE DEAL TO COME WHEN ‘ALL THE DUCKS IN A ROW’

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the government will reveal more details about a deal to transform Bahamas Power and Light (BPL)

when it has “all the ducks in a row”. BPL unions and the Free National Movement have been critical of the government’s silence about a reported effort to separate BPL’s transmission and distribution sides from the generation side with the help of new partners.

The prime minister said in the House of Assembly last month that the agreement’s details –– including the financial, contractual and other obligations that the government and chosen private sector partners will have to each other –– are

still being worked out as he urged the opposition, critics and the Bahamian people to “stay tuned”.

Pressed yesterday on when more information will be given, Mr Davis said: “When we have all the ducks in a row. We’re still talking with the various parties to the arrangement. The energy committee and their technical team are working through all those issues, and once we have a position to tell the public, we will do so.”

Kyle Wilson, the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union’s (BEWU) president, recently said he has heard nothing about the deal since meeting Mr Davis last month. “It’s just a big wait and see,” he told the Nassau Guardian. “Tensions and frustrations are just mounting and mounting and mounting.” Transport and Energy Minister JoBeth ColebyDavis said in the House of Assembly that there will be no layoffs, adding that BPL needs $1bn to address its debt and deteriorating infrastructure.

PM promises to fix drainage on East Bay Street but businesses concerned over consultation

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis toured the East Bay Street area yesterday and said the government would fix drainage issues, but some are concerned the project is gearing up without their input and would hurt their business if roads are uprooted.

Mr Davis and various officials, including Works Minister Clay Sweeting, toured the area yesterday.

Mr Davis, a previous holder of the office of Minister of Works, said he is familiar with the challenges and that relief from the flooding woes is underway.

“Yes, when you have a downfall, there will be some retention,” he said.

“The question is how long will that retention remain and throughout.”

“I’ve been seeing remarkable results from what has been happening, and once completed, I think the drainage will be

that much quicker than it is now.”

Mr Sweeting said as a Ministry of Works team works on drainage systems in the area, it will emphasise cleanliness. He said a collaborative approach among utility companies would ensure the removal of Water and Sewerage Corporation and Bahamas Power and Light materials, which may be blocking drains. “We’ll remove those, get them realigned so that hopefully in the not too distant future we’ll have proper drainage here in downtown, Dowdeswell Street and also proper roadworks,” he said. He said up to $2m has been allocated for drainage works, and the Davis administration is looking to increase the budget for road works from $15m to $45m or more in the next budget cycle.

Cristobal Gomez, general manager of Nassau Tile, the second oldest business on Dowdeswell Street

after The Tribune, commended Senator Randy Rolle and the Downtown Revitalisation Unit for engaging stakeholders but said the Ministry of Works has not communicated its plan or timeframe for the drainage repair project.

“While the prime minister’s brief visit to Dowdeswell Street today with a large delegation and the now famous luxury BMW was nice, what would be better would be clear communication from the government to area residents, businesses, and property owners of what the scope of work and timeframe is,” he said.

“No one is denying the work needs to be done but the Ministry of Public Works should communicate clearly, consistently, and frequently to area stakeholders so that we can mitigate the negative economic impact of the project.” Senator Rolle told The Tribune his team will ensure stakeholders receive the necessary information.

Disclosure chairman would not say who filed

meet today “because we’re now going through the declaration, so basically that’s all I can say at this juncture, and once we’re finished with those, which will take some time, we will give that information to the prime minister’s office and the leader of the opposition and they will do the necessary dissemination of that information”.

Cabinet ministers who said they met the deadline include Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper,

Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, and Works and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting.

Some, like Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, declined to say if they did.

Mr Mitchell later said in the House of Assembly he was “irritated” by journalists contacting him, saying it was none of their business. Last year, Bishop Cooper revealed that 90 per cent of parliamentarians filed by the March 1 deadline.

HIRING NOW

He added that many senators and senior civil servants failed to disclose their assets, income and liabilities. The names of those who missed the deadline were not revealed.

The Public Disclosure Act empowers the prime minister and the opposition leader to act concerning delinquent filings by forwarding the matter to the Office of the Attorney General for prosecution. The penalty for not disclosing is a $10,000 fine and/ or up to two years in prison.

A company is looking for an experienced accounting clerk. Confidentiality, excellent organizational skills, and accuracy are important qualifications for this position.

Knowledge/Skills:

• Experience with data entry, record keeping and other day-to-day financial and operational tasks.

• Organizational, verbal, and written communication skills is a must.

• Proficiency in QuickBooks

• Strong understanding of accounting processes and internal controls

• Excellent leadership and supervisory skills

• Excellent critical thinking skills

• Excellent communication skills and customer relations

• Excellent time management skills

• Ability to work well with minimal supervision

• Strong team player

Duties:

• Using bookkeeping databases, spreadsheets and software

• Posting financial transactions using Quickbooks software

• Receiving and recording vouchers, cash and checks

• Entering debits and credits into software applications and databases accurately

• Producing a variety of reports including income statements and balance sheets

• Checking for accuracy in reports, figures, and postings

• Reconciling and reporting any discrepancies found in the records

FROM left are Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Bahamix General Manager Ryan Rahming and Ministry of Works Senior Drainage Engineer Henry Moxey during a walk through Downtown Nassau yesterday. Photos: Dante Carrer

Andros fire highlights out islands’ need for resources

– although this is the season for such events.

is something

surprise

learn

the mostly contained fire is sparking warnings

outlets about smoke affecting Florida. Local 10 news weather forecast graphics showed the wind bringing smoke right to Fort Lauderdale, while elsewhere it was highlighted that there was only one fire truck on the island – as The Tribune had reported.

Further inquiries revealed a number of local residents who had to leave their homes, fearing for their health because of the blaze.

One resident said it was out of control, another talked of how the smoky air was affecting her sinuses, several other residents left the area, while some took it upon themselves to organise shifts to watch the blaze to warn people in case it spreads towards buildings.

The fire is reportedly in the middle of the forest, and hard to access, but it is of note that a blaze defined as mostly contained is causing issues all the way over in Florida.

The local MP has stirred in response – Leonardo Lightbourne talking about how forest fires are a legacy issue that has plagued the island for decades.

And National Emergency Management Agency director Captain Stephen Russell set about sending an extra fire truck to North Andros to bring the tally fighting the fire to two. That is due to arrive today. Thankfully, there have been no injuries, it would seem.

There has been a spate of recent fires

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I HAD filed an appeal at NIB in September 2021. It would appear that for some reason the appeal was “sat on” for about two years. I protested and the door suddenly and finally opened. In late January 2024, I was finally able to stand before the Board of Appeals; a very distinguished, warm and level-headed panel of nine persons. I had an earlier invite to appear in October 2023. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend at the time and had to reschedule.

The appeal process went really well, and I was very proud of that panel. Their decision, in my view, was a wise, fair and very courageous one as they had thoroughly weighed all the evidence brought before them. After reading their decision in February, I also realised that “the decision was a unanimous one” and my heart was greatly warmed. Not only because I had won the appeal; but also because of the satisfactory sense of knowing that justice can still be found in this country for those who truly seek it and are

A recent fire near the airport road had people concerned about the emergency response, while another bush fire has broken out in Crooked Island.

Homes are not in immediate danger in that Crooked Island fire, but as someone noted on a video that circulated of the blaze, “pray for rain”.

There is a broader question of the resources that are devoted to our islands, of course.

As arguments rage over whether Grand Bahama has been properly maintained by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, for example, it might be instructional to look across at islands such as Andros and ask whether the government-provided defence of a single fire truck is adequate.

And as one person asked yesterday, the government has created a Youth Guard in order to help with emergency and disaster situations – should they be helping to tackle such fires? Have they had training for such? What have they been doing so far?

A single fire truck would struggle at the best of times – especially if it needs to stop fighting the fire at any stage and have to go to refill with water, with the blaze flourishing while it replenishes instead of having another vehicle ready to step in.

And perhaps some greater guidance would be useful in this dry period, to advise people on how to avoid actions that might start such fires.

For now, we are thankful that no one has been hurt. That being the case, it is a moment from which we can learn –should worse blazes be still to come.

ready and willing to fight to ensure that it happens. This was very comforting to me and that idea alone caused a smile to appear on my face. My initial thought was: “Thank God, that the future of our country still appears to be in very good hands!” I have been waiting to receive my benefit payment since the ruling, but it seems that Mr Shane Albury is having “a really tough time organising and getting all of his ducks lined up in a single row”. He said something one week about awaiting word from “his colleagues in Claims”. Then the week he promised that payment should have come, turned out to be nothing short of an empty bag. Something was said about a timeline not being able to be honoured! Wow! What a black eye! I registered this claim in September 2021, it is now April 2024. Mr Albury, the way you kept juggling dates and times around was very awkward to me. The thing is, that I do not follow directions down a rabbit hole” all that well. Remember, snakes can be found at that level

too. That is why I like and appreciate the glare of “the sunlight” because --it is the “best disinfectant” known to mankind.

Mr Albury, if I were your sibling, how long would I have had to wait to get straight? If I were closely related to your colleagues in Claims, those same ones that you said you are waiting to hear from, do you think they would have hollered back by now? No, no, please, you don’t have to answer that; it is just a rhetorical question that has crept its way across my open mind. But I trust that between your “willingness to make it happen,” the Claims Department, and the challenges that you spoke of, things can be swiftly ironed out now.

I also understand that Mrs Sheryl Charlow has moved off the scene (perhaps into retirement). That is bitter-sweet, please send her my warmest regards. She was a manager whose words had substance and will be sorely missed! THE LONG WAIT Nassau,

10, 2024.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AFTER I saw photos of former Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis with former Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney in Long Island to promote the former’s book “The Power of Determination”, I told a family member that it looks like Minnis is building an alliance. Not surprisingly, Desmond Bannister, who served as deputy prime minister under Minnis, was also present. I recall Bannister last year calling on current FNM Leader Michael Pintard to convene a national convention. It was widely viewed as a tacit renunciation of the Pintard administration. On the outside looking in, I cannot point to anything that Bannister has done or said that would even remotely suggest that he supports the current FNM leadership. I don’t think Bannister would shy away from admitting where his allegiance lies. With Pintard’s announcement that he wants the FNM to hold a convention this coming Fall, I suspect that Minnis will challenge Pintard for his former post. McCartney’s endorsement of Minnis to The Nassau

Guardian is an indication that the two have ironed out their differences. It might also be an indication that McCartney is entertaining thoughts of rejoining the FNM -- the party he abandoned in 2011 to lead the DNA. One year later his DNA party would capture over 13,000 or eight percent of the votes cast in the general election. McCartney’s party effectively played the role of spoiler to the detriment of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and the FNM. McCartney’s acceptance of a Senate post from former FNM Leader Loretta Butler-Turner in 2016, despite knowing full well that Butler-Turner had orchestrated the removal of Minnis as FNM Leader in the House of Assembly, is additional evidence that he opposed the Killarney MP. But apparently, the two have patched things up and are, based on my belief, building an alliance. If my hunch is correct, I suspect that McCartney will be given the post of deputy

leader of the FNM. There has to be some motivating factor to McCartney’s 180 degree turnaround regarding Minnis. Not surprisingly, there seems to be a large segment of FNMs who are still nursing a grudge against McCartney, and are suspicious of his glowing approval of Minnis. Also worth noting is that McCartney, at least from what I read in The Nassau Guardian, said nothing about Pintard. The fact that he wants Minnis to be Prime Minister again means that he wants Minnis to be FNM Leader. His silence regarding Pintard is deafening. Pintard must now brace himself for the fight of his political life in the upcoming national convention, as he will be going up against, I believe, a well-oiled Minnis campaign that will feature McCartney. It will be interesting to see if Arinthia Komolafe will support Pintard or the Minnis and McCartney team. If Minnis is planning on a comeback, I hope this will not fracture the opposition. I will have more to say about this in the coming days, God willing.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama April 10, 2024.

ANOUK Garnier ascends by rope under the Eiffel Tower during an attempt to beat a record for climbing up a rope yesterday in Paris. Anouk Garnier successfully climbed up the 110 meters (361 feet) from the ground to the second story of the tower. Photo: Laurent Cipriani/AP

American couple rebuild after Hurricane Dorian devastated their Guana Cay retirement home

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

AMERICANS Norvell and Mark Slezycki went on an emotional roller-coaster after Hurricane Dorian swept away their dream retirement home in Great Guana Cay, Abaco.

After struggling to determine their next move, the husband and wife decided to rebuild in the same location, this time constructing a home they hope could withstand category five hurricane winds.

Mr Slezycki told The Tribune he felt defeated when he first saw the pictures of his home’s destruction in 2019.

Only the foundation of the previous house remained intact, with the couple’s roof, family photo albums, furniture, and collectable books all gone.

“I just couldn’t believe that everything was gone,” Mrs Slezycki said. “It was just like a war zone and everything piled up. We don’t even know where our roof went. We never found our roof.”

The couple’s love for The Bahamas pushed them to use their life savings to rebuild the oceanfront home, construction of which began in January

2020 and is 95 per cent complete.

Lacking money to hire a contractor, Mr Slezycki rebuilt the house himself, though the COVID-19 pandemic delayed their rebuilding efforts.

“We couldn’t afford the wind insurance,” he said. “So, we saved a lot of money by not having that. And with the fact that the government had let us bring in materials duty-free and VAT-free for the first couple of years, we were able to afford to rebuild it.”

The couple spent about $90,000 on materials and furniture, repurposing some of the wood from the previous structure.

Mr Slezycki said one of the original house’s biggest flaws was a 10-foot overhanging roof pointing near the ocean and its lack of hurricane straps. The new house does not have an overhanging roof but has an abundance of hurricane straps, hurricane windows, and doors. “The house itself is strapped in half a dozen different ways that the old house wasn’t,” Mr Slezycki said. “I got support posts inside that are tied into the beach. It’s not going away this time.” The retired couple was

Five charged with defrauding Water and Sewerage Corp, including two former

FIVE people, including two former Water and Sewerage Cooperation (WSC) employees, were granted bail yesterday after they were accused of defrauding WSC of tens of thousands of dollars from 2019 to 2020.

no plans to.

employees

Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged former WSC senior superintendent Trevor Roberts, 60, with 47 fraud-related charges and former WSC accounts clerk Witchell Wilson, 47, with seven fraud-related charges. The pair were charged with Adasha Pickering, 36, and the husband and wife, Romel, 53, and Vanessa Rolle, 51. Roberts faced four counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences,

MAN ACCUSED OF HAVING GUN AND AMMO PLEADS NOT GUILTY

A 28-YEAR-OLD man was granted bail of $8,000 after he was allegedly found with a loaded gun on a motorcycle last month.

Magistrate Lennox Coleby charged Sean Miller with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition yesterday. Miller was allegedly found with a tan Glock Austria 19 9mm pistol and 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition after being stopped on a motorcycle on Mantol Street on March 30. After pleading not guilty to the charges, Miller was told he would need one surety to sign his bail. His trial begins on May 3.

MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY ON DRUG CHARGES GRANTED BAIL

A MAN was granted $9,900 bail after he was accused of having illicit drugs last week. Magistrate Raquel Whyms charged Osborne Newbold, 43, with possession of dangerous drugs and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. Newbold was allegedly found with ten grams of methamphetamines and five-quarter ounces of cocaine on April 4 in New Providence. Following his not-guilty plea, Newbold was told he must sign in at the East Street South Police Station by 7pm every Thursday. His trial begins on May 30. By

in Florida when Hurricane Dorian hit in 2019 and received gut-wrenching pictures of their destroyed home from a neighbour.

Mr Slezycki flew to Abaco several weeks later, but his wife couldn’t bear to visit initially. The rebuilding process

has been bittersweet for them because some of their neighbours never returned to the cay and have

Asked if they were anxious about the upcoming hurricane season, they said they won’t live in “what ifs.”

MARK and Norvell Slezycki

The ghosts of vicious colonial and racist mindset endure

Parts of this column have appeared previously.

THERE is a racist and colonial mindset born of European imperialism that perdures. This mindset was on nauseating and full display in a jeremiad some years ago by someone writing under the moniker, “The Ghost of Junkanoo Future”.

The Ghost wrote in the first person plural so it may be assumed that the writer is now Bahamian, or that is the impression he or she wants to give.

The letter is of a certain genre: a classic racist screed that celebrates the superiority and accomplishments of the colonial masters while denigrating and depreciating the colonized in general, and Africans in particular, all of whom are supposedly inherently inferior.

The heart of darkness and lies by such racists have often infected some of the colonized, who internalised the imperialist venom of those who have been responsible for some of the worst genocides in history, particularly the African slave trade.

This genre has a pernicious and upended racist equation, treating the colonizers as the civilized, and those enslaved and exterminated through genocide are branded as the supposed savages.

A number of the developmental failures and challenges of The Bahamas noted by the Ghost, which are not unique to us, have been observed in detail by Bahamians for years, including this writer and other commentators.

But the conflation of these challenges with gross misrepresentations, distortions and outright lies require deconstruction and dismantling so that the mindset and intellectual dishonesty of such an individual is exposed.

Balance requires an

understanding and recognition of our weaknesses and challenges as well as our strengths and accomplishments. The Ghost is woefully lacking in balance and has gone off the deep end in his bile masquerading as analysis. To bolster his benighted attack on The Bahamas, the Ghost vomited a number of obvious falsehoods including: “We have no artists of international renown …” Because an artist may not be internationally recognised does not negate how gifted is an artist or the quality of his or her work.

Still, notice the telling word: “no”! Either the writer is tremendously ignorant or purposefully supplying mistruths, or a dangerous combination of both.

The deconstruction of this lie alone explodes the racist and colonial conceit of the Ghost, whose general argument collapses under the weight of a more genuine counter narrative based on facts.

Amos Ferguson is widely celebrated internationally. Renowned Bahamian artists include: Max Taylor, Brent Malone, Antonius Roberts and John Cox, the Creative Arts Director at Baha Mar.

The Ghost appears not to know about the brilliant Kendal Hanna and the late Chan Pratt, one of whose works was presented to a former president of the United States. The works of Eddie Minnis and his daughters appear in homes and galleries in quite a number of countries.

The Ghost may want to read the numerous clippings from international magazines on the arts program at Baha Mar, which celebrates Bahamian artists, including Cox, who attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), one of the more prestigious art school in the United States.

While the Ghost may not appreciate Bahamian art and culture, the former and current owners of Baha Mar recognize that both are selling points for a sophisticated and travelled international audience.

For the benefit of the Ghost, who has shown himself to be a purposeful ignoramus, here is a list of a number of Bahamians who attended RISD: Dionne Benjamin-Smith, John Beadle, Clive Stuart, Jolyon Smith, Nadine Seymour-Munroe, Jennifer Maubry, John Cox, Christina Hermanns, Jace McKinney, Khia Poitier, Monique Rolle, Jessica Colebrook and Michael Edwards.

A number of these artists were trained at the then College of The Bahamas by Antonius Roberts and Stan Burnside, another reputable artist along with his brother the late Jackson Burnside, all of whom exhibited internationally.

The works of Janine Antoni have been exhibited at the Whitney and the Guggenheim in New York City. Lillian Blades is represented by a gallery in the United States.

Tavares Strachan has also exhibited internationally, and works out of New York City. Lavar Munroe

has gallery representation in London and has exhibited at the Venice Biennale.

Blue Curry and Lynn Parotti are both Londonbased Bahamian artists, whose works have been shown in a number of exhibitions in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

Then there are other artists such as: Ricardo Knowles, who worked in Paris for a number of years, Jeffrey Meris, Jodi Minnis, Giovani Swaby, the multitalented Khia Poitier, who excels in a number of arts, and Heino Schmid.

The Bahamian Project notes on its website: “Heino [Schmid] was the recipient of the Commonwealth Connections Residency for 2010 and participated in the International section of the 2010 Liverpool Biennial. “He has taken part in

should be flipping burgers.

The Ghost talks about our inability to attract investment yet in the same 25 years he says he has been living here we have seen unprecedented investment in the Bahamas amounting to billions in our tourism infrastructure.

Perhaps the Ghost has a dismal view because he or she got burned because of ignorance, arrogance and underestimating the natives, a mistake others before have made. Many natives have great experience in dealing with arrogant foreigners.

The Ghost proposes the recolonisation of The Bahamas: “Brexit is on the way. Let us hold our heads up and go back to London, for help. Let’s ask we be reincorporated into the UK for a fixed term, with a devolved assembly, until we develop.”

many group and solo exhibitions in The Bahamas, United States, Netherlands and United Kingdom and has received numerous awards. Recently, he was invited to participate in VOLTA NY, a critically acclaimed satellite art fair to The Armory Show.” Bahamian success stories are ignored by individuals such as the Ghost because they do not fit into a jaundiced and deeply biased narrative.

That The Bahamas is excelling in the visual arts is a rejoinder to the self-serving lies of the Ghost. But more importantly it is a testimony to what such a small nation has accomplished in a relatively short period.

Despite the many artists noted in this commentary, there are a number of others who are unmentioned because of the restraint of space.

What is a lacuna is that we should be doing better in the literary arts, though we are making strides, with highly imaginative poets and writers such as Patricia Glinton- Meicholas.

The Ghost has compiled a litany of distortions and falsehoods to maintain a culde-sac of lies such as “… 90 percent of our citizens and residents are a collection of burger-flippers not even remotely employable by any known Western standard.”

The Bahamas is a solidly middle class nation, something the Ghost may easily check, though factchecking or truth-telling are clearly not strengths of this individual.

But sadly, this is how the Ghost’s hopelessly prejudiced mind sees the thousands of Bahamians who populate our professions, many of whom have distinguished themselves with excellence.

To the Ghost this is what our robed judges who happen to be black should be doing: flipping burgers; and our distinguished Rhodes scholars, educators, clergy, medical doctors, civil engineers, hospitality managers, airline pilots etc., all

The Ghost’s message to a sovereign Bahamas: reimpose the colonial yoke of an imperial power that kept us as unequal citizens; that treated Caribbean immigrants, including some in the Windrush generation with contempt; and that is still a racist and class bound country.

We are proud to have assimilated the contributions of many cultures into a new Bahamian and Caribbean culture, forging something new out of what Caribbean Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott described as “fragments of epic memory”. The Bahamian Diaspora also showcased our treasury of talent. Bert Williams was born in the Bahamas in 1874. He left his homeland for the United States at around the age of 10.

By the time of his death in 1922, he was considered “one of the greatest comedians of the world” and “by far the best-selling black recording artist before 1920.”

Comedian WC Fields considered Williams a comic genius. Williams was not one of the most notable black entertainers of his generation. He was simply one of the best entertainers of his generation.

Though Sidney Poitier is more well-known today, in various ways, Williams broke more ground than the former, achieving phenomenal success as a recording artist, becoming one of the highest paid artists in the world at the time. He was a film actor who also produced, directed and starred in a silent film of his own. He performed on Broadway with the Ziegfeld Follies and did a command performance at Buckingham Palace. Though stymied by the vicious racism of his time, Williams broke many barriers.

Many commented on the remarkable degree to which Williams kept innovating, honing his excellence through not only dogged practice but also by trying new things, by improvising, by expanding his repertoire.

The Bahamas has developmental challenges, which we must honestly acknowledge, even as we acknowledge our success as a nation in creative arts and other fields of endeavour.

THE CELEBRATED comedian Bert Williams starred was a leading black vaudeville performer and film star in the early 1900s. Photo: Bettman / Corbis

US policitical landscape evolves into a kind of three-ring circus

A KIND of three-ring circus is evolving in Washington, New York and in other centres around the US. Two of the rings are located overseas. The other one is at the center of political life in America, and it does not bode well for Donald Trump and the Republican Party he has come to dominate. The GOP-led Arizona Supreme Court earlier this week astonishingly ruled to basically reinstate a 160-year-old state statute that has the practical effect of outlawing abortion in Arizona. This swing state, long dominated by the relatively moderate former senator John McCain and other centrist Republicans, just got more deeply purple and the Democrats might just sweep all major offices on the state ballot in November as a result.

Both Donald Trump and his acolyte and US senate candidate Kari Lake have tried to edge back from the relative absurdity of the state high court’s decision. But it looks like some lasting damage has been done to the GOP brand in a state Trump needs to win in November and now probably won’t. Abortion access restrictions may well still be a winning issue for some Republicans in local and House of Representatives elections this fall. But most Americans see the Senate as the higher-level legislative body where the big picture of US national interest should predominate. That’s how the drafters of the US Constitution saw things, too.

As things look this morning, the Democrats seem poised to snatch narrow victory this fall from the jaws of what six months

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper

ago looked like a hopeless quest to retain control of the upper chamber.

Let’s look at the math.

The Dems (and two crusty independent New England senators who declare as independents but almost always vote with their Democratic colleagues) hold a slim 51-49 edge in the Senate now.

West Virginia’s Democratic senator Joe Manchin, acknowledging the inevitable, won’t run again, and a Republican will replace him. It’s doubtful that US President Joe Biden will even appear in the Mountain State, so hopeless are his party’s prospects there. So that leaves a 50-50 split in the Senate in January.

Hardly any observer sees Democratic possibilities of flipping a currently Republican Senate seat in November. So the Dems’ game plan is simply to defend their incumbents.

It says here that’s exactly

what will happen. There are some key states where the GOP will try hard to unseat Democratic incumbents or, in the case of deep blue Maryland, to ride former Republican governor Larry Hogan’s personal popularity to a flip.

While that prospect caught attention when he announced his surprise candidacy two months ago, Hogan’s prospects have dimmed, even in the face of a hotly contested Democratic primary election coming up in less than a month.

Hogan is hurt by his evident disdain for Donald Trump and by his state’s overwhelmingly blue voters’ reluctance to give control of the Senate to Republicans. Few pundits even discuss Maryland now. Time will tell, but Trump’s vindictive supporters have taken control of the state party, and it will take an unexpected turn of events

for them to wholeheartedly back Hogan’s candidacy.

In Arizona, Senate candidate Lake probably just saw her chances evaporate in the wake of the state high court’s abortion ruling.

Incumbent Democrats in Montana (Jon Tester), Ohio (Sherrod Brown), Pennsylvania (Bob Casey), Nevada (Jacky Rosen) and Wisconsin (Tammy Baldwin) will attract a lot of media attention in the months to come. Breathless analysts will pontificate about how close their races will be, and how momentous would be their failure to win reelection.

And while the Dems’ margin in the Senate is admittedly razor’s edge thin, the value of incumbency is profound. These five, along with Arizona’s former astronaut and current Democratic senator Mark Kelly, have not stumbled in office.

We will see how vigorously the Republicans actually try to unseat these popular politicians this fall. America’s two major political parties enjoy their long-standing duopoly, and are well known for their reluctance to seriously contest races their gut tells them they’re unlikely to win.

Furthermore you can bet that every spare Republican dollar this year will be spent in support of Trump’s campaign for president or to help pay his legal bills and obligations. We have plenty of evidence that he cares only about himself. The GOP’s Senate hopefuls will feel the sting of that painful lesson later this year.

on a global level, marking its path towards Europe, anti-colonial resistance, and deeper underlying decolonial processes while fighting Russia’s war on its territory.”

That’s all certainly true. It is also true that Ukraine’s president Zelensky has expanded the draft age for Ukrainian men to meet current manpower deficits. It’s also true that following the disappointing results of a much-anticipated Ukrainian military offensive last fall, the Russians are gradually regaining some of the territory they lost in 2023.

While Biden is doing whatever he can to keep the pipeline of American military assistance to Ukraine flowing, Republican infighting has so far crippled legislative efforts to resupply Ukraine more aggressively. The military outlook, while not exactly bleak, is also certainly not rosy.

Enter Trump. His “secret” plan to end the RussiaUkraine war has just been leaked to the press. It’s fairly simple, and corresponds pretty closely to a forecast made in this space several months ago.

Basically, the deal would be as follows: A ceasefire would end the current conflict that has debilitated both sides. Some formula could be found that would tacitly acknowledge Russian hegemony over both Crimea

RING

The second ring in America’s current political circus surrounds Ukraine. The prestigious Kennan Institute, bearing the name of the architect of the Western post-World War II policy of containment of the menacing Soviet Union, described the current state of play in Ukraine as follows: “As the full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues into its third year, Ukraine is grappling with multiple identities

and large parts of the Donbass (Don River basin) area in eastern Ukraine that the Russians seized at the beginning of the war and that are ethnically at least half Russian, as is Crimea. While this has not formally been identified as part of Trump’s plan, the plus for Ukraine would be a fast track to full membership in the European Union and probably also into NATO. This would provide as strong a set of political, military and economic guarantees of protection against future potential Russian aggression as are available to most of the rest of Europe, West as well as East. Trump’s idea is hardly novel. Neither Putin nor Zelensky would publicly endorse it now. Biden, French president Macron and other Western leaders won’t support it yet either. But in many minds, only one thing would materially change the basic outlines of the deal outlined above. That would be Putin’s disappearance from the Kremlin, via military coup, illness or assassination. None seems presently likely.

The third ring in the circus is around Gaza. Here, Biden’s staunch pro-Israel bias is being shaken by the intransigent obduracy of Israel’s president Benjamin Netanyahu. Here’s how the White House described a recent phone call between the two leaders: “President Biden spoke by telephone with Prime Minister Netanyahu. The two leaders discussed the situation in Gaza. President Biden emphasised that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable. He made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers. He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps. He underscored that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilise and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians, and he urged the Prime Minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring all hostages home. The two leaders also discussed public Iranian threats against Israel and the Israeli people. President Biden made clear that the United States strongly supports Israel in the face of those threats.” In the week that has passed since this conversation, very little appears to have changed. Some of Israel’s most public friends and advocates in American public life have urged Netanyahu to listen to Biden and change his course. Maybe he will. We will see.

RING ONE: DONALD TRUMP AND GOP

TWO: TRUMP’S UKRAINE PLAN LEAKED

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

Five charged with defrauding WSC, including two former employees

13 counts of money laundering, six counts of falsification of accounts, six counts of forgery, two counts of fraudulent breach of trust and 16 counts of stealing by reason of employment.

Wilson was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences, fraudulent breach of trust and five counts of stealing by reason of employment.

Pickering was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences and five counts of stealing by reason of service.

The husband and wife faced charges of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences and 15 counts of stealing by reason of service.

Two other defendants, Marvin Scavella, 56, and Veronica Newbold, 72, also faced fraud charges but were not in court.

Their attorney, Donna Major, informed the chief magistrate that they were both ill, and she gave the judge their sick slips.

Roberts allegedly conspired with others to defraud the WSC between February 15, 2019, and June 15, 2020.

Roberts is further accused of fraudulently obtaining $29,043.50 from Invictus Trading between June 6, 2019 and September 9, 2019. On November 13, 2019, Roberts allegedly illegally acquired $17,880 and a further $7,093 on December

9, 2019.

He also allegedly fraudulently obtained $35,880 from from Invictus Trading between September 9, 2019 and November 13, 2019.

Roberts allegedly falsified and forged six invoices purporting to show payments to Kevin Cooper c/o Innovative General Maintenance between April 4, 2019, and August 20, 2019

He is further accused of appropriating $117,826.50 from the company through false pretences between April 4, 2019 and June 15, 2020.

Roberts allegedly acquired $90,847.56 from the WSC, payable to Shalom Development Company, between June 6, 2019 and June 3, 2020.

He allegedly conspired with Scavella and Newbold to commit fraud between February 15, 2019 and June 15, 2020.

Along with those two, he also allegedly acquired $18,673 from Invictus Trading between June 5 and 25, 2019.

Roberts allegedly conspired with Vanessa and Romel Rolle to commit fraud between April 15, 2019 and June 4, 2020.

Wilson allegedly conspired with Pickering and Roberts to commit fraud by false pretences between January 16, 2019, and June 30, 2020.

While working at the WSC, Wilson allegedly stole $30,000, payable to PICCS General Maintenance, between January 16,

2020 and June 30, 2020. She also allegedly fraudulently obtained $30,000 while working as a WSC clerk during that timeframe.

Pickering is accused of stealing $30,000 from the WSC, payable to PICCS General Maintenance, between January 16, 2020 and June 30, 2020.

The Rolles allegedly stole $81,766 from the WSC, payable to RGM Services, between April 15, 2019, and June 4, 2020.

All five defendants were informed that they were not required to enter a plea as their matter would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Although prosecutor Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom did not object to the defendants’ bail, he asked that they surrender their passports, noting the total amount they allegedly stole was about $546,820.

Bail for Roberts and the Rolles was set at $25,000 with one or two sureties.

Pickering and Wilson’s bail was $15,000 each with one or two sureties.

Under the terms of their bail, they must sign in at their local police stations on the last Friday of every month. Their VBIs are set for service on July 25.

Scavella and Newbold will appear in court for arraignment on April 25.

Keod Smith represented Roberts. Donna Major represented the other defendants.

Saxons say thank you for water company’s support

BEHIND the vibrant costumes and electrifying beats of Junkanoo parades are committed members, mentors, and supporters such as Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Ltd (CWCO).

In a heartfelt acknowledgment of years of generous support, the Saxons Superstars’ brass section, High Voltage Brass, recently visited the water supplier to present a plaque of appreciation. Jeremy Adderley, speaking on behalf of High Voltage Brass, said, “Without CWCO’s support, we would not have had the brass costumes needed to compete and secure our two-straight victory. “Their support also helps us as we plan lessons for our young members to enhance their musicianship skills, not just for Junkanoo but for college and beyond.”

in developing future leaders.

Mr Adderley highlighted that the plaque is a token of High Voltage Brass’ immense gratitude for CWCO helping the Saxons Superstars keep culture alive and for being a steadfast partner

A Twinings Toast to Reconciliation:

He added: “Every year, it is a struggle to make it to Bay Street. Many of our members are eager to participate, despite their circumstances, and every year our group continues to grow. Thanks to CWCO’s generosity, we look forward to continuing to grow and succeed

Two of the nations foremost matriarchs meet for afternoon tea, featuring Twinings of London just in time for the launch of the Tea-riffc Mother’s Day Contest presented by Horizon Distributors. Dame Marguerite Pindling and Rt. Hon Eileen Dupuch-Carron met at the home of Mrs. Carron for the frst time in 70 years to discuss many of the current issues pressing our nation. The tea of choice for the occasion was Twinings Tea which has made a soaring return to the market thanks to its new wholesale distributor, Horizon Distributors. General Manager of Horizon Distributors Alvan Rampersaud was on hand to showcase the selection of teas presented in offcial Twinings Tea boxes. The timing of this informal tea party could not have been more perfect as Horizon Distributors prepares for its frst offcial campaign, where mothers all over The Bahamas will be eligible to win a series of incredible prizes along with a case of Twinings Tea. For more information on the contest and other products sold by Horizon Distributors, interested persons can call 242-603-3279 or email info@horizondistributorsbahamas.com.

alongside their great team and establishment.”

Henderson Cash, CWCO’s general manager, said, “Receiving this plaque from the Saxons Superstars is a profound honor for us at CWCO. It symbolises the strong relationship we’ve built over the years, rooted in mutual respect and a shared commitment to preserving Bahamian heritage. “Our support for the Saxons Superstars’ brass section is emblematic of our broader mission to invest in our community’s vibrancy and the potential of its young people. We are deeply committed to continuing this support and fostering the traditions that make our culture so unique.”

THE SAXONS Superstars’ brass section, High Voltage Brass, recently visited Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Ltd. (CWCO) to present a plaque of appreciation.

CCA helps domesic violence unit

CHINA Construction America donated 51 furniture sets to the Domestic Violence Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. The handover took place at the Chinese Embassy, Shirley Street, April 3. In attendance were: Representative of the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, Ann Marie Davis and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Dai

Qingli. Making the presentation was China Construction America International V-P, Nico Ju; and receiving the donation on behalf of the Royal Bahamas Police Force was Assistant Commissioner of Police/Human Resources - Domestic Violence Unit, WPO Janette McKenzie.

UK link to boost Nassau and Paradise Island

THE Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board (NPIPB) has announced a collaboration with Finn Partners, a renowned global marketing and communications firm, for travel trade representation in the United Kingdom. This strategic partnership marks a new chapter for Nassau and Paradise Island’s presence in the UK market.

Led by Chris Woodbridge-Cox, senior partner at Finn Partners, the dedicated team brings decades of experience in the travel industry, offering unparalleled expertise and innovative strategies to enhance Nassau and Paradise Island’s visibility and

engagement within the important UK travel sector.

“We are thrilled to partner with Finn Partners as we continue to expand our reach and strengthen relationships within the UK travel trade market,” said Joy Jibrilu, CEO at Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board.

“Chris Woodbridge-Cox and his team’s deep understanding of the industry and proven track record make them the ideal partner to drive our growth and success in this key market.”

In conjunction with this new collaboration, Nassau Paradise Island bids farewell to its longstanding partnership with AMG

after 30 years of successful collaboration. The decision to end the agreement with AMG was reached amicably and reflects NPIPB’s commitment to exploring fresh opportunities and approaches in its marketing and representation efforts.

Ms Jibrilu added: “As we transition into our next stage of growth, we extend our sincere gratitude to AMG for their invaluable contributions and dedication over the past three decades. We are extremely appreciative of their efforts, and we look ahead to continued growth and success in the UK market.”

Photos: Anthon Thompson/BIS

BTC HOSTS FARMERS MARKET ON GB

AS A means to encourage its employees to adopt healthier lifestyles, BTC recently hosted its second annual Easter Farmers Market on Grand Bahama. Team members were able to take home a variety of fresh herbs grown by the One Eleuthera Foundation, serving as the perfect accompaniment to supplement their Easter meals. The herbs included mint, fever grass, scallions, parsley, cilantro, and chives. The BTC Easter Farmers Market was a courtesy gesture to employees from its CEO, Sameer Bhatti, who was also in Grand Bahama last week with a few members of his senior leadership team to greet the team and show their continued support of the market.

MP holds Easter event for seniors

SENIOR citizens in the Marathon area were the focus of an Easter outreach by Member of Parliament Lisa Rahming.

A number of events organised by the MP and her team focused on families, youth, women’s empowerment, and men’s upliftment - but elders wer the prime focus at Easter. In an event at the Marathon Urban Renewal Centre, the MP, centre officials and Team Marathon prayed, laughed, and chatted together. At the end of the day, each senior citizen received a tray of hot cross buns and food vouchers. For the sick and shut-ins, MP Raghming made a visit to their homes in the Marathon constituency.

SPORTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024

Comets in the win column

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) soccer season is winding down as the playoffs loom but the Queen’s College Comets’ junior girls appear to be locked in and ready.

The defending champions remained undefeated for the season after defeating Windsor School 3-1 in a rematch of last year’s finals yesterday at the Queen’s College campus.

Queen’s College junior girls defeat Windsor 3-1 in finals rematch, stay undefeated in BAISS soccer

The junior girls ended their regular season with a 4-0-0 (win/loss/draw) record thanks to the latest victory.

Dion Peterson, the team’s assistant coach, spoke about how it felt to wrap up the season without a loss. “For us it is kind of expected because I don’t think our junior girls have lost a game in the last three years. We just approach

each game as we should by doing the right things and trying to play the game the right way,” he said.

The Comets’ Omari

Downes was one goal shy of completing the hat trick in Wednesday’s soccer matchup. She scored the team’s first goal of the game at the 7th minute. Windsor, last year’s runners-up, were locked at 1-1 with QC going into the

second half of the game. The second half of the contest began and the Comets were suddenly firing on all cylinders.

The host school advanced to 2-1 on the scoreboard after Eydan Hamilton fired a shot a few steps away from the halfway line at the 46th minute mark. Eight minutes later, Downes was once again involved in the action as

she scored her second goal of the game to not only shift the score to 3-1 for the Comets but also place the nail in the coffin against Windsor.

Coach Peterson credited Windsor for a competitive match. “They are a pretty good team so we had to play defensively for the first part of the game but

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

FOUR teams remain in the New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) postseason but only one team from division one and two can claim the respective titles hanging in the balance.

The Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets and Produce Express Rockets shut down the Sand Dollar High Flyers and Cyber Tech Blue Marlins in the division one and two semifinals respectively at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium on Tuesday night.

The division one Rockets waved goodbye to the High Flyers after defeating them 99-95 in game four of the best-of-five series.

In division two, the Produce Express Rockets ended their series 3-1 after downing the Blue Marlins 79-75.

Division One It would not be a NPBA playoffs without the longstanding rivalry between the defending champions Commonwealth Bank Giants and last year’s runners-up coming to a head.

The two powerhouse teams will meet for yet another NPBA Finals as the Rockets locked down their ticket to the last dance on Tuesday night.

Christopher Storr, Johnathon McFall and Roosevelt Whylly were the perfect trio for the Rockets in the elimination game.

THE SPORTS CALENDAR

IT is that time of the year again where fans cling to team loyalty, sports rivalries intensify and playoff teams jockey for a prime position in the respective playoff brackets in hopes of making a deep postseason run.

The curtains will close on the National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season on Sunday, April 14 but as the intensity of the playoffs draw near, Bahamians are currently battling to secure a favourable seed down the stretch. Portland Trail Blazers big man Deandre Ayton will miss the NBA playoffs for the first time since his sophomore season in the NBA but the other senior men’s national basketball team members Chavano “Buddy” Hield and Eric Gordon are in the playoff hunt.

For Hield, if the Sixers continue with their winning ways he will make his NBA playoff debut for the first time in his eight-year NBA career.

Currently, the Philadelphia 76ers are rolling since the return of reigning league MVP Joel Embiid from a meniscus injury.

The team took a tumble down the Eastern Conference playoff ladder, dropping from the third seed to play-in territory in Embiid’s absence.

Despite the minor setback, the team from the “City of Brotherly Love” has now picked up six consecutive victories and is now in a good position to overtake Hield’s former team - the Indiana Pacersin the standings.

During the last six games, the Grand Bahama native has averaged 9.5 points per game, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

Most recently, he scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds against the Detroit Pistons. He was efficient in the ball game, shooting 50 per cent from

April, 2024

TRACK and field is set to become the first sport to introduce prize money at the Olympics, with World Athletics saying yesterday it would pay $50,000 to gold medallists in Paris. The move is a symbolic break with the amateur past of the Olympics in one of the games’ mostwatched events.

The governing body of athletics said it was setting aside $2.4 million to pay the gold medallists across the 48 men’s, women’s and mixed events on the track and field programme for this year’s Paris Olympics.

Relay teams will split the $50,000 between their members. Payments for silver and bronze medallists are planned to start

Paris gold medallists will receive $50,000

from the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe told reporters that the move is meant “to recognise that the revenue share that

we receive is in large part because our athletes are the stars of the show.”

The prize money will come out of the share of Olympic revenue that the IOC distributes to World Athletics.

However, the move could upset the balance of power in the Olympic movement ahead of the Paris Games. Coe said World Athletics only gave the International Olympic Committee “a heads-up” of its intentions on Wednesday morning, shortly before it published its announcement.

ROAD RACE:

MOTHER ME MINISTRY

THE Mother Me Ministries presents a fun run/walk race on Saturday, April 13, starting at 5:30am at Goodman’s Bay. The race will travel to Sandyport and return to Goodman’s Bay where free glucose and blood pressure testing will take place. The entry fee is $25 per person and $20 each for groups of 10 or more. Interested persons can call 324-0034.

VOLLEYBALL: BBSF TOURNEY

THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation is set to hold its final registration meeting for for all churches wishing to participate in its volleyball tournament at 7pm on Thursday, April 18.

The tournament is scheduled for April 24-27 at the DW Davis Gymnasium. The registration fee is $200 per

team for a total of 12 players. Awards will be presented to the winners at the completion of the tournament.

FAST TRACK INVITATIONAL

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

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

RED-LINE TRACK CLASSIC

THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club’s third annual Red-Line Youth Track Classic is set for 9am to 5pm May 25-26 at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The entry deadline is May 15 with a fee of $19 per athlete and $10 per relay team.

UNDEFEATED: QC Comets junior girls defeat Windsor 3-1 in BAISS soccer finals rematch

we saw some holes and were able to exploit it in the second half. “It was a very good game because they are one of the better teams

we have played all season,”

Peterson said. With the BAISS soccer playoffs scheduled to begin next week Wednesday for the junior girls, coach Peterson is anticipating a

great performance from the team. “I am pretty confident in them. I think that we have a good chance. We just have to play the games but we will definitely be ready,” he said.

The BAISS soccer regular season is slated to end next week Monday. Wednesday Results Senior Boys - Windsor School defeated Lyford Cay International School 1-0

St Andrew’s won against Aquinas due to a forfeit

Junior Girls Lyford Cay International School and St Augustine’s College ended their match in a 0-0 draw

MONACO (AP) —

After dominating on aggressive hard courts, Jannik Sinner made a smooth transition to softer clay by beating Sebastian Korda 6-1, 6-2 in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday.

But defending champion Andrey Rublev was eliminated after a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Alexei Popyrin.

The second-seeded Sinner won 95% of points on his first serve and saved all three break points in improving his record to 23-1 this year. He has three titles in 2024, including the Australian Open — his first major trophy — and recently the Miami Open.

“I moved quite well in these conditions,” said the 22-year-old Italian, who reached the semifinals at Monte Carlo last year. “Every year it is tough to come here and perform well but I am happy with the performance.” Sinner faces Jan-Lennard Struff today in the third round, where he will join two-time champions Novak Djokovic — who won on Tuesday — and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The 12th-seeded Tsitsipas routed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-1, 6-0 and next faces No. 5 Alexander Zverev in a contest between big servers. Djokovic takes on unseeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

The sixth-seeded Rublev dropped his serve three times against Popyrin, who next faces No. 11 Alex de Minaur in an all-Australian contest at the Monte Carlo Country Club, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea.

“I am feeling really comfortable on (clay) and happy to beat a guy who was in form, confident and the defending champ,” Popyrin said. “It was an awesome match.”

LEVERKUSEN’S UNBEATEN RUN, KLOPP’S FAIRYTALE FINISH AT STAKE IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTERS

THE Europa League has reached the quarterfinals, with Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool looking the teams to beat. Here are the narratives at play ahead of the first-leg matches today:

STILL

UNBEATEN

It’s 41 games and counting for Bayer Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso.

FAIRYTALE ENDING

Another team bidding for a treble is Liverpool, in manager Jurgen Klopp’s final season in charge. The English League Cup has already been secured and the team is embroiled in a tight Premier League title race with Arsenal and Manchester City, with only one point separating the three clubs with seven games left.

If Liverpool reaches the Europa League final, it would be Klopp’s final game in charge after nearly nine years — ensuring fans of the Reds would make the short trip to Dublin in their thousands in the hope of a fairytale ending for the German coach. Next up for Liverpool is Atalanta. They met in the

In what is turning into an historic season, the German club has yet to be beaten in any game in any competition and takes that undefeated streak into a home game against West Ham. Leverkusen is on course to clinch its first ever Bundesliga title this weekend, with the team having built a remarkable 16-point lead. The trophy will be theirs if second-place Bayern Munich loses to Cologne on Saturday, otherwise on Sunday if Leverkusen wins at home to Werder Bremen. Alonso’s team is also in the German Cup final, so a treble of trophies is on. West Ham is having another impressive season in Europe after winning the Europa Conference League last season.

group stage of the 2020-21 Champions League, with each team winning away.

COMPLETING THE SET

Lifting the Europa League would see AC Milan complete the set in continental soccer.

Milan, a seven-time winner of the European Cup or Champions League, has also won the discontinued European Cup Winners’ Cup twice, as well as the UEFA Super Cup a record five times but has never triumphed in the Europa League, or the UEFA Cup as it was previously known.

The Rossoneri have never even reached the final — something Roma, its opponent in the quarterfinals, achieved twice, losing both in 1991 and last year.

Milan is no stranger to allItalian knockout matches, having beaten Napoli in the Champions League quarterfinals last season before losing to Inter Milan in the semifinals.

MARSEILLE

Marseille’s resurgence under coach Jean-Louis Gasset has ground to a halt. After winning his first five games in charge, with 18 goals scored during that run, Gasset’s

side has lost the past four matches. Marseille’s bad habits have returned, with defensive lapses, sloppy play in midfield and a lack of cutting edge up front all too apparent recently. At least Pierre-Emerick

Aubameyang is still scoring, though, and he has 23 goals this season.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker has been particularly strong in Europe this campaign with 11 goals in 11 games. But Gasset also needs someone else to step up in attack against Benfica.

CONFERENCE LEAGUE

It’s also the quarterfinals of the Conference League today, with Aston Villa hosting Lille in the standout matchup.

Villa is managed by Unai Emery, whose pedigree in Europa is well-known after winning the Europa League on four occasions — three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal — and also getting to the final with Arsenal.

Also, Olympiakos is at home to Fenerbahce, Fiorentina heads to Viktoria Plzen and Club Brugge and PAOK. Olympiakos and PAOK are hoping to reach a home final in Athens.

Paris gold medallists get

$50,000

FROM PAGE 15

In response, the IOC said it was up to each sport’s governing body to decide how to spend its share of Olympic revenue.

“The IOC redistributes 90% of all its income, in particular to the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs),” the IOC said. “This means that, every day, the equivalent of $4.2 million goes to help athletes and sports organiSations at all levels around the world. It is up to each IF and NOC to determine how to best serve their athletes and the global development of their sport.”

The modern Olympics originated as an amateur sports event and the IOC does not award prize money. However, many medallists receive payments from their countries’ governments, national sports bodies or from sponsors. “I’m probably the last generation to have been on the 75-pence (95-cent) meal voucher and secondclass rail fare, competing for my own country. So believe me, I do understand the nature of the transition we’ve been in,” Coe said.

The British runner won gold in the 1,500 metres at the 1980 and 1984 Games in an era when Olympic track was on the verge of opening up to professional athletes.

“It’s a completely different planet from when I

was competing, so it’s very important that this sport recognises the change in that landscape and the added pressures on many competitors.”

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee awarded $37,500 to gold medallists at the last Summer Games in Tokyo in 2021. Singapore’s National Olympic Council promises $1 million for Olympic gold, a feat only achieved once so far by a Singaporean competitor.

In sports like tennis and golf, the Olympic tournament is the only time in a season that many pro players compete for free, with medals on offer but no prize money. But Coe didn’t want to speculate on whether other events could follow track and field’s lead. “I’ve always made it a point not to speak on behalf of other sports,” Coe said.

The move by World Athletics could be seen as an indicator of Coe’s intentions for the Olympics as a whole if he makes a run for the IOC presidency.

“I haven’t ruled it in, and I certainly haven’t ruled it out,” Coe said last year when asked whether he would consider running for the IOC’s top post when Thomas Bach’s term ends in 2025. The IOC typically disapproves of any public campaigning for the presidency and Coe’s comments drew criticism from Bach. There’s no sign yet of any other Olympic sport

following track’s lead. World Athletics is an outlier financially since it gets almost all its funding from its own events like the world championships. The governing bodies for many smaller sports depend on their IOC payments to survive the four-year cycle until the next Games.

World Aquatics, which oversees events like swimming, diving and water polo, told The Associated Press it considered introducing Olympic prize money in the run-up to the last Summer Olympics in Tokyo but instead opted to increase prize funds at

its own competitions. Its world championships paid $20,000 per individual gold medal this year.

Olympic gold medallists in track and field will still earn less prize money than at World Athletics’ own world championships. Last year’s edition in Budapest paid out prize money down to eighth place with $70,000 on offer for individual gold medallists.

Athletes will have to pass “the usual anti-doping procedures” at the Olympics before they receive the new prize money, World Athletics added.

It’s uncertain how prize money would fit into the American college system, though recent changes that allow players to profit from sponsorship deals have undercut restrictions on athlete payments.

“I sincerely hope so,” Coe said when asked if he expected the NCAA to allow college athletes to accept Olympic prize money. “The rules and protocols have changed, and I can’t imagine the NCAA would think that this is in any way other than helpful for the support and the ecosystem that the athletes are now operating under.”

NEW YORK (AP) —

Jake Burger hit a three-run homer on his 28th birthday and the Miami Marlins beat the New York Yankees 5-2 last night for just their second win this season.

Ryan Weathers (1-1) allowed three hits and three walks in five scoreless innings for the Marlins, who at 2-11 had matched the team record for worst 12-game start set in 1998. Weathers got his first big league win in almost a year, since defeating the New York Mets for San Diego on April 11 last year.

New York dropped to 10-3 as the Marlins stopped the Yankees’ four-game winning streak.

Giancarlo Stanton homered in the sixth off Bryan Hoeing for his third home run in five games and fourth this season. Stanton’s home run was his first against the Marlins — his original team — and he has now homered against all 30 clubs.

Juan Soto hit an RBI double in the eighth, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Tanner Scott escaped a two-on jam by retiring Anthony Rizzo on a popup and striking out Gleyber Torres.

Tim Anderson, running on the pitch, scored from second base on Nick Fortes’ ninth-inning grounder. Scott got five outs for the Marlins’ first save this season, retiring Aaron Judge on a game-ending flyout with the bases loaded.

Marcus Stroman (1-1) gave up four runs, four hits and four walks in five innings on a cool, breezy night. He had not allowed an earned run in 12 innings over his first two starts.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ejected in the seventh inning by plate umpire John Bacon after arguing a called strike to Alex Verdugo.

It was Boone’s first ejection this season and 34th in seven seasons and 883 games as New York’s manager.

Nick Gordon walked leading off the third, Fortes had a hit-and-run single through the hole on the right side vacated when Torres moved to cover second, and Luis Arráez grounded an opposite-field RBI single to left.

Burger drove a flat slider 425 feet into the visitors’ bullpen in left-centre for his third home run this season and a 4-0 lead.

By DAVE

AP Sports Writer

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) —

Min Woo Lee stared at the 20-pound dumbbell sitting in the corner of the gym with unbridled contempt.

Just days earlier, while performing the last rep in a series of side glute bridges, the Australian had thrown it down and somehow clipped his finger. Bad luck made even worse by the timing. The three-time winner on the European tour was due to fly out soon for the Masters, and the swelling in his damaged digit was bad enough to head to the doctor.

“I thought it was OK because I could move it. It was just red,” Lee said. “Then they came in and said, ‘You’ve broken it.’”

He recounted the story after a practice round at Augusta National this week, because even with a broken finger, there was no way the 25-year-old Lee would miss playing in the season’s first major. And that’s in many ways a testament to the reverential nature of the championship and the great lengths those fortunate enough to be invited will go through to play in it. “Well, this tournament has meant so much to me

in my life and my family,” said Tiger Woods, who has played through more injuries than anyone while winning his five green jackets over nearly three decades. “It’s been a part of my life to have won here as my first major as a pro, hugging my dad, as you saw, then a full circle in 2019 to hug my son,” he said. “It has meant a lot to my family. It’s meant a lot to me. I always want to keep playing in this.”

So there was Woods, with his fused ankle and balky back, carefully traversing the hilly property again this week. There was no way Fred Couples would let his own chronically sore back keep him away. Or Jordan Spieth would let his ailing wrist cause him worry. Or Cameron Smith would concern himself with a bit of food poisoning, Wyndham Clark his own back or Akshay Bhatia that shoulder that popped out on his way to victory last weekend at the Texas Open. “I’ve had it happen two, three times. I had a full dislocation playing pickleball a couple years ago,” Bhatia said. “It’s a weird, weird experience, because I had so much adrenaline so I had no pain kind of in that playoff. But it is definitely

something we’re going to have to work towards, and I have a lot of trust in my team that we can tee it up on Thursday.”

Couples has been withdrawing from events on the PGA Tour Champions because of his latest back trouble, but the 1992 Masters winner has done everything possible to be on the grounds this week. He had several cortisone shots last week, and he even brought his physiotherapist, Chad Beauchamp, all the way from Southern California to help him out. In fact, Couples put off an MRI to better determine

what is causing the pain until next week, after the Masters. “I’m not hitting it very far and I have a lot of woods in my bag, as you can see,” he said, “so hopefully I can get through it.”

Spieth has been dealing with an injury to his extensor carpi ulnaris, a major tendon in the wrist. It tends to flare up on him, and when that happens, the three-time major winner can find himself unable to do much for a day or two.

“Typically, as the week goes on, it gets better and better, using it more and more,” Spieth said. “But yeah, it’s something that I don’t think there’s really anything I can do other than rest. And I’m not resting it anytime soon.”

The sports landscape is filled with tales of perseverance, often on the biggest stages — think Willis Reed playing through a torn muscle for the Knicks in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, the Dodgers’ Kirk Gibson on two bad legs hitting a walk-off homer in the 1988 World Series or Kerri Strug’s vault on a broken ankle to help the U.S. win gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

How about Woods, who was dealing with a stress fracture after arthroscopic

knee surgery when he arrived at Torrey Pines for the 2008 U.S. Open? He seemingly played the week on one leg and beat Rocco Mediate in a playoff.

More recently, and more timely, Tony Finau was playing the Par 3 Contest on the eve of his Masters debut in 2018 when he holed out for an ace. Finau took off to celebrate, missed a step and gruesomely dislocated his ankle.

But

LAMONT MARCELL JACOBS,

the field and canning 55.6 per cent of his threepoint attempts. If the NBA playoff picture remains the same in the Eastern Conference, the 76ers will face the eighth-seeded Miami Heat in the play-in tournament. The winner will then move on to face the second-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and the loser will take on the winner of the ninth versus tenth seed for a chance to play the leagueleading Boston Celtics. Hield and the Sixers have two games remaining on the calendar against the fourth-seeded Orlando

Magic and the Brooklyn Nets. With the Pacers a mere game ahead of Philadelphia in the standings, a chance at securing the sixth seed is possible for Hield’s latest team. In the Western Conference, Gordon and the Phoenix Suns appear to be trending in the wrong direction headed into the start of the postseason. The Suns are now on a two-game skid following a 105-92 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. Gordon’s team currently owns the seventh seed out West but with the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers all hoping to swap spots, the Suns cannot afford anymore losses. Nonetheless, the senior men’s national team player is averaging 7.7 points, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals in the last 10 games. The current playoff picture has the Suns positioned to play the Kings in the play-in tournament and the winner of this matchup will take on the defending champions Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, the loser will face the winner of the ninth seed versus tenth seed matchup for a first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

points

dished out three assists. Meanwhile, McFall and Whylly scored 21 points apiece and the latter pulled down 13

boards for a double-double performance. The contest was close the entire way between the High Flyers and division one Rockets.

Going into the second period, the Rockets had the advantage 23-20 but it would be the High Flyers soaring ahead 47-43 headed into the halftime break.

Despite having the lead after the first half, the High Flyers trailed by double digits (65-54) with 3:42 left on the clock in the third after McFall canned a three-pointer.The Rockets then concluded the third quarter with just a fourpoint (70-66) separation on the scoreboard.

From this point, the High Flyers were able to pull within two in the final quarter of the series but they never mustered up enough momentum to regain the lead.

Jeremy Neely powered his way to a game-high 25 points along with four assists in the tough loss.

Dave Davis earned a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Division Two

The Your Essential Store (YES) Giants and Produce Express Rockets will meet

again for a rematch of last year’s NPBA Division Two Finals.

The Rockets took care of business against the Blue Marlins thanks to an electrifying performance from Anton Williams. He brought out his “A game” and scored a game-high 28 points and rounded up four rebounds and two steals. Additionally, he shot 8-for15 from the field, good for 53.3 per cent on the night.

It was anybody’s game at halftime as the Blue Marlins clung to a slim two-point lead (35-33). The third quarter began and Christian Manace made a jump shot to push the Rockets ahead 36-35 with 9:39 remaining on the clock.

It was a see-saw affair the rest of the way but the Rockets came out of the third period up by one (57-56).

Williams was vital for the Rockets down the stretch in the fourth quarter. He made four shots at the charity stripe after two separate foul calls which helped his team to secure the narrow win.

Outside of the playoffs, Ayton’s season will end earlier than he is accustomed to on Sunday against the Kings. The NBA Play-In Tournament

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Klay Thompson scored 27 points, Stephen Curry had 23 and the Golden State Warriors capitalised on Anthony Davis’ injury absence for a 134-120 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. Andrew Wiggins had 17 points for the 10th-place Warriors, who hit 26 of their 41 3-point attempts — including an astonishing 16 of 23 from Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green, who went 5 for 5 in the first half by himself. Golden State’s 26 3s were the most ever allowed in a game by the Lakers.

Even after a decade as the coach of a scoring machine, Steve Kerr can still be impressed by his Big Three.

“I didn’t feel like we played that well, but we made a million 3s,” Kerr said. “The ball was going in, but I didn’t think we were sharp. A lot of possessions where we weren’t just quite locked in and we were a little bit disjointed, but the ball kept going in. ... To shoot 63% from 3, that’s crazy.”

The Warriors (44-35) have won eight of nine down the stretch to move within a half-game of ninthplace Los Angeles (45-35).

Golden State also won the head-to-head tiebreaker between the rivals, putting home-court advantage for a potential 9-10 play-in game next week in the Warriors’ hands over their final three regular-season games.

Green said the Warriors are “very confident” about their postseason chances after showcasing the height of their capabilities.

“We’ve kept that same sentiment all along, just about what we feel this team is capable of,” Green said. “At times this year it hasn’t always come together for us, but we feel like it’s coming together at the right time. We’ve always felt like if we get a chance, we know what it takes.”

LeBron James had 33 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds for the Lakers, who had won eight of nine before taking back-to-back home losses in the past three days.

Austin Reaves added 22 points and Rui Hachimura had 20, while D’Angelo Russell struggled to 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Samuel Gibson poured in a team-high 23 points complemented by 11 rebounds for the Blue Marlins in a losing effort. The official start date for the NPBA Finals has not been released as yet but competition is expected to begin as soon as this weekend.

Storr paced the victors with 23

and

76ers’ Buddy Hield in action during an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons Tuesday in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/ Derik