04142022 NEWS AND SPORT

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Volume: 119 No.100, April 14, 2022

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DAVIS SAYS NO TO NIB INCREASE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday there will be no increase in National Insurance Board contributions until his administration is able to arrest the hardships facing Bahamians.

Mr Davis said despite it being a “watershed moment” for NIB, he knows many people are facing difficult times, adding it would be a last resort to place any more financial burden on their backs at this time.

Meanwhile, former Labour and NIB Minister Shane Gibson said

SEE PAGE THREE

NO EASTER SHUTDOWN AS GAS DEALER STRIKE IS OFF

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Government was yesterday urged to give gas station operators some reward for letting “common sense prevail”, as the industry pledged “there’ll be no shut down on this island” over the Easter weekend.

Vasco Bastian, the Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association’s

BRINGING HOME THE FISH FOR FRIDAY

yesterday that rescuing the NIB fund would come down to increasing contributions over a period of time in increments.

He said the fund had never been adequately contributed to since inception due to political opponents that viewed NIB as just another tax on Bahamians.

There has been much public discourse regarding the state of the fund this week after State Minister with responsibility for NIB Myles Laroda told The Tribune that the latest actuarial review predicted its depletion by 2028 unless urgent action was taken.

vice-president, said residents and businesses will be able to fill up as normal following yesterday’s meeting with the government.

Declining to comment on the discussions, Mr Bastian would only say: “There’ll be absolutely no shut down on this island. Everything is normal. Everything is normal. People can go ahead and fill up their vehicles at the station of their choice.”

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

A BUYER picks up some fish from Ma-Maggie Fresh Fish yesterday - as vendors spoke about the challenge facing fishermen because of the rising cost of fuel. See PAGE THREE for the full story.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

GOVERNOR GENERAL IS BPL ‘MAY BREAK LAW’ IF RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL IT ABSORBS RISING COSTS GOVERNOR General Sir Cornelius A Smith has been released from Doctors Hospital and is now “resting comfortably” at home, according to a statement from his office.

Sir Cornelius, 85, was released from the hospital

yesterday, almost a week after he was admitted to the facility after he felt unwell during an official visit to Eleuthera.

According to Press Secretary Clint Watson last

SEE PAGE FOUR

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

CONCERNS were voiced yesterday that Bahamas Power & Light could be violating the law by failing to fully pass its fuel

costs on to consumers.

The fears were raised after Pedro Rolle, BPL’s chairman, suggested the utility was absorbing rising prices itself rather than passing the cost to customers as required by the Electricity Act. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

‘ABUSERS SHOULD COMPENSATE VICTIMS’ HAPPY EASTER

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SOCIAL Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe wants laws changed so people convicted of abuse must financially compensate their victims.

Meanwhile, a leading advocate for women’s rights said The Bahamas government did nothing to protect people from gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MINISTER of Social Services and Urban Development Obediah Wilchcombe.

Their comments came after the United States released its annual human rights report on The

Bahamas. The US said violence against women and children increased during the pandemic as lockdowns and curfews limited the ability of vulnerable people to seek refuge.

Such increases in domestic violence were observed around the world in what some called the “shadow pandemic”. In 2020, Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, called for a ceasefire on SEE PAGE SEVEN

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PAGE 2, Thursday, April 14, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Regattas and festivals return

MINISTER of Agriculture and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting yesterday.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

By PAVEL BAILEY

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

AGRICULTURE and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting yesterday announced the relaunch of festivals, homecomings and regattas after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a press conference yesterday, Mr Sweeting said he is happy to bring these events back to the nation with the recent rollback in safety restrictions amid low coronavirus case numbers.

“We are happy to announce the relaunch of regattas, homecomings and festivals throughout the islands of The Bahamas.

These magnificent events are known as the heartbeat of the islands as they create numerous opportunities for family islanders,” Mr Sweeting said.

He added: “After the onslaught of the COVID-19 in 2020 many of our superb A, B and C class boats have not been able to sail on our breathtaking waters. For these sailors who are masters of the sea, I am told many of them give up time and jobs and other pursuits to participate in sailing our awe-inspiring waters. With such passion that these men and women demonstrate, it’s little wonder why the government of The Bahamas decided to name sailing its national sport.

“Ladies and gentlemen as a minister from the Family Islands I am indeed excited for the future of our festivals, homecomings, and regattas. There is no nation in the world more suitable for sailing competitions and these marvellous events.

In the future we hope to advance the sport even further and provide opportunities for Bahamians and family islanders alike.”

The Ministry of Agriculture is sponsoring this year’s National Family Island Regatta in Exuma for C and E Class Ships slated for April 21 to 23.

Chairman of National Family Island Regatta Committee Danny Strachan explained how he worked with the government to conceive the upcoming regatta on short notice.

While Mr Strachan felt that it would be too much of a financial strain on class A and C boat owners to repair their boats after two years of disuse so suddenly, he said a scaled back regatta with just C and E class vessels was feasible.

“I thought that a special championship regatta for the C and E class was possible but it would require substantial funding from the government for it to meet the standard for which fans would expect and require. Therefore, we are here today to confirm that the government and Minister Sweeting has provided the necessary funds which are supported by contributions from some of our loyal and valuable sponsors,” Mr Strachan said.

He added that the Ministry of Agriculture is providing “almost 70 percent” of the funding for this event.

Other sponsors include AML foods, Caribbean Bottling Company, ALIV, BTC and the Friends of Exuma Foundation.

Although not at its usual scale, this year’s National Family Island Regatta championship will play host to hundreds of sailors and over 50 boats competing over three days. This regatta in George Town, Exuma, has already booked out the island and will consist of three cups including the Governor General, Prime Minister and Ministry of Agriculture Cups.

As of April 13, the ministry has received requests for eight other regattas this year.

Mr Sweeting said that he is hopeful that the upcoming Exuma regatta as well as future ones will help stimulate Family Island economies.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 14, 2022, PAGE 3

Davis says no to NIB increase from page one Following this, he told reporters on Tuesday that contributions would likely increase within a year to sustain the fund, however he added that the increase had not yet been approved

by Cabinet.

With Mr Davis’ outright rejection of this assertion it is not clear what the government intends to do concerning NIB. At the same time, he defended Mr Laroda as simply stating the facts of the 11th actuarial review.

“Let me say, I know what the Bahamian people are experiencing,” Mr Davis said in a video released yesterday by his press secretary Clint Watson. “These are difficult times and it would be a last resort for me to put any more burden on their backs.

“The actuaries over the

last 10, 15 years have been predicting that the fund is jeopardised because of us not having raised the contributions to NIB. “Recommendations were being made from 2003, 2004 to raise the contributions.

Yes, we are at that watershed moment but I am not going to at this time put any further burden on the Bahamian people.

“We’ll see how we could be innovative and creative to ensure that we do not do or embrace such an initiative until we have brought the relief that is necessary to allow that to happen.”

He continued: “The minister of state in my office was just speaking the facts as what was said in the actuary report. They are recommending and they are urging that we do so and as was his duty he is bringing that report to Cabinet for us to look at and discuss.

“We will consider it but

as insofar as what my views are on it, it’s not going to happen, not now, not until we have brought the relief to the Bahamian people and we have put to bed some of the issues that can’t make them sleep when they go to bed.”

When he was contacted yesterday, Mr Gibson said he was not surprised by the latest warning about the fund’s viability.

He said: “We knew from day one that the plan was being underfunded. When they first decided to start National Insurance and when the actuary told them what contributions individuals and employers needed to make to sustain the plan at that time they thought it was too high.

“As you know the Free National Movement at that time viewed it as another form of taxation and they opposed it and so because of all the opposition and them wanting

the plan to be accepted, they decided to start at the rate they started at.

“Every single actuarial review if you look at them you’ll see a warning that unless the plan was properly funded that it would run out of money by a certain time. So, this comes as no surprise.”

Mr Gibson said various governments did not want to lose political favour, which was why contributions had not increased until 2010. However he said there must be an increase to sustain it.

“Every time you talk about increasing anything in The Bahamas where it will cause individuals to pay more, it’s a concern for the government,” Mr Gibson said.

“So, obviously you can’t have it in one bite, but you can have it in multiple bites where for instance you decide over the next

FUEL COSTS UP - AND SO IS PRICE OF FISH AND HOT CROSS BUNS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE rising cost of fuel coupled with inflationary pricing at grocery stores have sparked price increases among fishermen and bakeries that produce the Easter season favourite - hot cross buns.

Yesterday, two bakeries and one of the associations that represent fish and conch vendors at Potter’s Cay Dock told The Tribune a price increase was inevitable given the current economic climate.

Cathy’s Bakery co-owner Kim Gold said the high cost of eggs and raisins along with a doubling of the price on pans was a key contributing factor in how her hot cross buns were priced this season.

Last Easter, Ms Gold said her plain buns were priced at $12.95 per dozen and $15 for raisin buns. However, this year she is charging $15 for plain and $18 for those with raisins.

“The eggs alone — the price is high,” Ms Gold said yesterday when contacted by The Tribune.

“Two weeks ago, or maybe three weeks ago including VAT, they were almost $4.

Now some stores have them priced at almost $7 and some seven plus just for a

dozen regular eggs and it’s ridiculous.

“I haven’t seen a gigantic increase in flour but definitely eggs. I have also seen a super increase in the raisins also because they know bakers need those for buns.

“With that alone when you could have charged a certain price you now have to incorporate this eightdollar carton of eggs. So, you have to go up a dollar or two.

“Also, the price of the baking pans for the buns, the store where I got mine a few weeks prior I would have spent $1.50 inclusive of the lid, but now I’ve had to pay $3 for each pan with lid so that’s double.”

Ms Gold said while some customers have complained about paying more for Cathy’s buns, she has had to turn down some customers due to having limited baking capacity as a homebased business.

Da New Model Bakery added yesterday that their pricing increased by about a dollar. However, bulk ingredient purchases allowed the bakery to curb the price hike.

“This year we were able to absorb rising costs somewhat,” Giovanni Johnson, a manager at the store, said.

“Because (we were) getting a lot of stuff ahead of this time we are able to absorb it. There was a slight change

PUBLIC NOTICE The Launching of Paul Thompson’s booked was schedule for April 22nd and 24th has been POSTPONED. A new date will be announced at a later date.

FISH being sold at Montagu yesterday and, right, at Gregory Fish Enterprise - where Royal couple the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited during their stay in The Bahamas.

Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff in price but nothing really, really crazy. We went up like a dollar. Last year they were like $12.”

He said business was a little slow, but admitted that Bahamians are usually last minute with orders.

He anticipated having to bake about four batches — 80 dozen buns per batch — this week.

Fish and conch vendors have also been challenged by the cost of fuel, according to Ormanique Bowe, Potter’s Cay Dock Fish, Fruit and Vegetable Vendors Association president.

She said: “Because of the rising price of fuel in the past few weeks most of the conch guys and fishermen have been complaining of it affecting their catch

because they can’t stay out long. They have to refuel in Chub Cay and Bimini and it’s expensive.

“I believe that it’s now $200 plus for a kit of snapper. So, because of the cost a lot of the boats did not bring snappers.

“The market now has a lot of Margaret fish because the snappers are more expensive. Even the cost of conch has gone up. One conch is now between $4 and $6.”

Ms Bowe said something must be done about the rising cost of fuel — which is now more than $6 a gallon in New Providence — as vendors were definitely feeling the pinch, which translated to higher costs for consumers.

20 years it’ll go up one or two percent. I’m not sure but whatever it is you do it gradually over a period of time rather than trying to do it all at once.”

He also said: “If you look at it National Insurance has been the single greatest achievement of any government of The Bahamas. “ Asked about claims from some that NIB had been used as a slush fund over the years, Mr Gibson said: “No. If you look at it, NIB right now is worth $2bn.

Where could you find to invest National Insurance funds in the country that would give a decent rate of return?

“National Insurance has so much money they have to put it in non-interest bearing accounts in the Central Bank just to have somewhere to lodge it and so if you look at the returns they’ve gotten over the years from government

projects there has been a decent rate of return. In some cases returns as much as eight or nine percent. So any financial advisor who says National Insurance was used as a slush fund, I think you need to check their credibility.

“Now you’ll find the average Bahamian that doesn’t understand the amount of money National Insurance takes in and what they do with it they would probably make those statements.

“That is why years ago the government approved allowing NIB to invest overseas and you know if you do that there is a surplus of 25 percent that you have to pay to Central Bank they waived that because National Insurance had so much money that they didn’t have anywhere to invest it and so government’s investment has been very good for National Insurance over the years,” Mr Gibson said.

PAGE 4, Thursday, April 14, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Business still not fully returned at Fish Fry

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net BUSINESS at Arawak Cay has still not fully rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic and a few businesses are still closed, according to Arawak Cay Conch, Fish, Food Vendors Association President Rodney Russell.

He said about five vendors have not reopened since the pandemic out of the 32 stalls located at the popular venue.

“You must understand we suffered a lot during COVID. Some of our business owners have not yet reopened their establishments for the simple reason it’s because they are sceptical about the pandemic, that because it’s not over we’re still trying to be safe.

We’re still hoping that we keep our customers safe, our patrons and our families,” he said yesterday.

“Therefore some of us

MINISTER of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting and Minister of Works and Utilities Alfred Sears touring Arawak Cay yesterday.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff are scanty operating. Some of us are using windows to serve the goods through.

Some of us are more bold.

So we’re having persons sit in, but we’re learning to cope with all adverse situations we found ourselves in

and hope that it will be getting much, much better.”

Mr Russell said some restaurant owners are

older and their children are expressing concerns about their parents operating.

“We have several businesses that are still closed.

The owners, because they are more elderly Bahamians, they are sceptical because their children are saying ‘Well mummy, I don’t think they need to open up at this time.’ But the association is encouraging all business owners to come back to their establishment so that we can put Arawak Cay once again on an even keel,” he said.

He said one impediment to business at Arawak Cay is the closure of the entrance gates at night.

However he hopes stakeholders can sit down with law enforcement to work out the issue.

“The impediment is once one comes to Arawak Cay about 8.30 (at) night on a weekend you’ll find the gates are closed and those gates are manned by

persons with red stripes running from their waist to the top of their shoes telling persons they cannot come inside,” he said.

He added that there has been some improvement in business - and that he anticipated a good turnout for the Easter holiday.

Bruno Minnis, of Bruno’s Seafood and Steak Bar, also said some vendors are still struggling to open.

“Some of them still didn’t rebound yet, but they are glad to know that there is some light now ahead of us,” he told reporters.

“We look forward to having a good Easter.”

He said he has seen some uptick in business leading up to the holiday.

Ricardo Williams, of Drifters, said his business along with another will be hosting an “Easter Explosion” for customers where they can bring their children to have some free popcorn, cotton candy, and snow cones.

ARAWAK CAY BATHROOM REPAIRS COMPLETE EARLY NEXT MONTH

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a tour of Arawak Cay yesterday, a government official said some unfinished repair work to bathrooms at the popular eatery and hangout spot should be completed as early as this week with the remainder expected to be completed by early next month.

Agriculture and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting, Minister of Works and Utilities Alfred Sears and other officials toured the site, something Mr Sweeting said had been planned for a few weeks.

Acknowledging issues with bathrooms at the site, he said officials assessed them a few months ago and

repair work started about a month ago.

However, due to shortages with supplies and getting items, the repair has taken longer than normal.

But he said an issue with water should have been fixed yesterday.

“We’re glad to say that the bathrooms on the west side of Arawak Cay should be completed by this week with automated bathrooms, not just manual, and the ones on the east side should be completed at the end of April, beginning of May,” he said.

“So, we came here to (assess) those along with the Ministry of Works and the minister of works to also look at the whole cay, port itself and see what’s necessary and what repairs need to be done to regulate

it and get it up to par.”

Asked about other concerns from vendors, Mr Sweeting added that some of those are minor bathroom and sewerage issues, but the water problem should have been fixed yesterday.

Meanwhile, Mr Sears explained other areas of improvement at which the government is looking.

“We’re accompanied by Water and Sewerage Corporation, BPL, also our acting chief architect so that as we go about we can scope works to improve this complex and really give it the best appearance and utility so that these Bahamian entrepreneurs can thrive. So we’re looking at the grounds,” he said.

“We’re looking at the buildings. We’re dealing with issues of the disposal

of waste, such as oil, and which if it’s put down the drain can cause back up and clogs. So issues about quality of the operation, not just the physical infrastructure, but the process of work and the disposal of waste we are looking at and will be addressing in a comprehensive way.”

Mr Sears added that there is a meeting set for today with BPL as well as the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority to develop a comprehensive programme to address lighting on the streets, parks and cultural places.

“We’re talking about the public infrastructure which will be the roads, the sidewalk, the promenade which right is behind us, the buildings here — they’re being scoped,” Mr Sears said.

“We will engage with the stakeholders. The vendors have associations and we will meet with the representatives of the vendors.”

As for timeline, he reiterated Mr Sweeting’s estimation on the bathroom repair and said a scope of works needs to be done for other improvements.

“In terms of the other improvements, we will be scoping those works and once they’re scoped and quantified we will be carrying it to Cabinet at the first opportunity to get the resources in order to do the work,” he told reporters.

Arawak Cay Conch, Fish, Food Vendors Association President Rodney Russell said it is good news for those at Arawak Cay as there were some establishments that were not able

to do their business properly because there were no bathroom facilities to relieve customers.

“Especially our female customers, female Bahamians who frequent Arawak Cay, there’s no place for them to go and to relieve themselves which is very poor. We’re grateful that in a short order the minister had promised the Arawak Cay business owners that as early as next week these facilities will open so I would like to let the ladies know that our bathrooms will be up and running again,” the president said.

Bruno Minnis, the owner and operator of Bruno’s Seafood and Steakbar, said it felt good to see two ministers hear their concerns and see the work that needs to be done.

GOVERNOR GENERAL IS RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL from page one

week, Sir Cornelius was airlifted from Eleuthera to New Providence last Thursday after suffering from what is believed to be heat exhaustion.

“From all indications and initial assessments it appeared the Governor General may have

experienced heat exhaustion,” Mr Watson said last week.

“According to the Secretary to the Governor General Jack Thompson they were in Eleuthera on official business. They enjoyed a ‘great’ ceremony at PA Gibson Primary School, North Eleuthera and proceeded to take photos outside after that

event.

“His Excellency complained of not feeling well.

He was taken to the local clinic and seen by a doctor, who advised that he seek further medical attention.

“His Excellency was airlifted to Nassau and taken by ambulance to Doctors Hospital. During the entire ordeal he was awake and aware.”

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 14, 2022, PAGE 5

260,000 VEHICLES - AND ONLY 436 OF THEM ELECTRIC

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE more than 260,000 registered vehicles in The Bahamas contribute significantly to the country’s air pollution, a Department of Road Traffic official said at a World Health Day Symposium hosted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Pan American Health Organisation.

Of the registered vehicles in the country, it was reported that there are only 436 hybrid or electric vehicles, accounting for 0.2 percent.

Commander Bertram Bowleg, acting Road Traffic controller, believes the country should move in the direction of Europe where bicycles are the main mode

of transportation in The Netherlands.

The symposium focused on climate change and its linkages to health.

Speaking on the topic of air pollution, Mr Bowleg said that transportation by sea, air, and land contributes to the problem.

“The Bahamas is a small nation and I saw it fit to share data collection regarding the amount of (vehicular) transportation in our little country and how much we as a nation contribute to our own air pollution,” he said.

Mr Bowleg reported that there are currently 263,672 registered vehicles in the Road Traffic Department’s management system.

This only accounts for eight islands in the country, he stated.

Mr Bowleg provided numbers for only seven islands.

In Abaco, there are 15,014 registered vehicles; Andros, 523; Eleuthera, 12,208; Exuma, 4,439; Grand Bahama, 43,506, Long Island, 966; and New Providence with 186,690 vehicles.

In the case of Andros, Mr Bowleg explained: “Andros was just placed on the system so the number we got from Andros is only those that are on the system right now.”

He provided a breakdown of the registered vehicles in the country.

He reported that cars accounted for 222,005; trucks, 23,602; golf carts, 4,586; miscellaneous 2,820; motorbikes 2,097; and bicycles, 47.

“I went to Europe and the number is upside down; they have more bicycles than the use of cars and they have bicycle garages – not car garages, and I saw thousands of them,” he said.

“We as a nation need to move in that direction. We are very small compared to Rotterdam and Amsterdam and those other countries.”

Commander Bowleg indicated that of all vehicles on the system, only 436 are hybrid or electric.

He said that the 23,602 registered vehicles that are classified as trucks include the big rigs that carry sand and delivery trucks.

Mr Bowleg noted that less than five percent of registered vehicles are high pollution vehicles.

“Those are the tractors and excavators with the high stacks that give off black smoke,” he explained.

He stressed that the number of cars in the country has increased significantly over the years, since 2016.

“Now, we have 263,672.

You can see the vast difference in our country over the years, adding more and more pollution to our little (country).

Mr Bowleg said the registration of electric and hybrid vehicles was less than 20 in 2016.

He stated that the number “jumped drastically” in 2017, but then started to decrease year after year because high demand for those cars drove up the cost.

“The industry noticed that electrical cars were being bought and were so much in demand the price almost doubled, and people decided to go back to the regular vehicles.”

He said the Ministry of Transport is working towards adapting to climate change mitigation initiatives.

Among some of the measures taken, he noted the introduction of a road traffic system has helped progress the ministry to a cashless and paperless work environment and reduce waste.

Mr Bowleg said that the department is working towards improving inspection standards to ensure vehicles can only be registered after meeting global benchmarks.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BACK AT COUNT BASIE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE official launch of Port Lucaya Marketplace Xperience on April 19 will signal the return of live Bahamian entertainment at the Count Basie Square and an authentic experience for visitors and residents of Grand Bahama.

The event – created through partnership between Port Lucaya Marketplace, the Ministry for Grand Bahama and the Ministry of Tourism — will feature a live band, fashion show, conch demonstration, limbo, and Junkanoo.

It will take place between 9am to 2pm daily during the months of April, May, and June. It is expected to invigorate the marketplace and stimulate economic activity to bring relief to struggling straw vendors and tenants.

Grand Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey told vendors and tenants early this week in the square that Port Lucaya Marketplace plays a critical role in the restoration of Grand Bahama.

“We see a bustling Port Lucaya where entertainment is non-stop and vendors have money in their pockets,” she said. “It is indeed Grand Bahama’s time, and with this DavisCooper administration, we are empowered to move our island forward. I assure you of my commitment to Grand Bahama and its progress.”

A spokesperson for Port Lucaya Marketplace said: “We heard the cries of tenants and vendors, that we need more entertainment and things to do when the (tourists) visit our shores and marketplace. . .and we are going to bring back the miracle city to GBI.” When Ms Moxey and Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper toured Port Lucaya Marketplace last month they saw and heard the plight of straw vendors there. The vendors said the lack of entertainment and beach access in the area has resulted in fewer visitors.

Last month, Ms Moxey announced that the government would give monetary assistance to hurting straw vendors at Port Lucaya Marketplace and other industry workers on that island.

She said the initiative will cost the government $177,000, with payments to be made in the sum of $500

to vendors at Port Lucaya Marketplace, the Farmer’s Market located downtown, the Fish Fry site in Eight Mile Rock and workers in the harbour area.

The first 50 vendors received the emergency grant on Friday April 8.

“We visited the beach access (on Sunday) and set a plan in motion to make the area viable for tourists and vendors,” she told the vendors this week.

“We are in ongoing meetings to make Grand Bahama the home of events and entertainment. I see Grand Bahama as the events and entertainment centre of The Bahamas where we experience year-round events and year-round income for our economy.

“We are in ongoing talks with airlines to increase lifts from key cities in the US and Canada. We are creating new experiences on Grand Bahama. We are relentless in promoting Grand Bahama around the world. We are promoting an orange economy to support Bahamian entrepreneurs, artists, artisans, creatives and product providers to help promote them and increase opportunities for many.”

The vendors were encouraged by Lonzinia Bethel, of Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation in Freeport, to ensure that visitors receive authentic Bahamian experiences and products when they come to Port Lucaya.

She explained that

a review of tourist exit reports show that visitors want genuine connection to the places they visit.

“They want to walk away with an authentic feeling.

We need you to step into the spotlight with innovative and creative ideas.

You can no longer take the stickers off trinkets from China, the Philippines and Malaysia and put a Bahamas sticker on it,” she said.

Ms Bethel urged vendors to also take advantage of the handicraft classes offered at BAIC to help them create authentic Bahamian souvenirs.

They were also told to upgrade their knowledge of the country by participation in the Bahamas Host programme.

Ms Moxey said Grand Bahama is poised for growth and development and urged people not to sit on the sidelines and complain, but to become involved.

She also highlighted some investments that are expected soon, saying the government is in final negotiations with investors on the sale of the Grand Lucayan and that they are working in partnership with the Carnival Corporation for the groundbreaking to establish a new cruise port next month.

She said the government will soon launch the “Beautiful Grand Bahama” project, an empowerment programme, where some 300 people are expected to be employed in various capacities for a 12-week period.

CELEBRITY Artist Jamaal Rolle - now the Ambassador-at-Large for Cultural Affairs, with British High Commissioner Sarah Dickson this week as he presented a copy of the Tribune cartoon he drew for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

ARTIST TURNED AMBASSADOR PRESENTS ROYAL CARTOON AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE for Cultural Affairs Jamaal Rolle presented a copy of a Tribune cartoon this week to the British High Commission.

Mr Rolle, who recently left his Tribune role to take up his ambassadorial appointment, presented a copy of the cartoon he drew for the visit of Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

He said: “I truly enjoyed (the) courtesy call with Her Excellency Sarah Dickson, British High Commissioner to The Bahamas.

“We exchanged gifts and indulged in engaging discussions with a primary focus on how to advance our Orange Economy and key projects on how to build a stronger partnership with projects in the United Kingdom for Bahamian Creatives.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, April 14, 2022

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Is the PLP ship veering off course?

IS EVERYONE in the Davis administration on board the same ship?

A well-run ship should have everyone headed in the same direction – and yet, that doesn’t seem to be the case in our government at present.

The latest example has been the three-day saga involving Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Myles Laroda, as captured on the front pages of The Tribune this week.

Day one saw him talking about the parlous state of NIB finances, which might only last six more years unless something is done urgently.

Day two saw Mr Laroda suggest that increases to NIB contribution rates were coming soon.

And yesterday, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis quashed such talk, saying there will be no increase – at least until the hardships affecting Bahamians have been tackled.

Given the effects of the COVID pandemic are still with us, both physically and economically, that probably won’t be the “soon” that Mr Laroda was suggesting.

In fact, Mr Davis bluntly said: “It’s not going to happen, not now, not until we have brought the relief to the Bahamian people and we have put to bed some of the issues that can’t make them sleep when they go to bed”.

There was no mention of what that might mean for the junior minister, who let his statements wander so far forward that it took the Prime Minister to make a statement to correct him.

He’s not the first minister the Prime Minister has had to intervene with, however.

Also, recently, Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe managed to suggest that sex with a 14-year-old girl by a 40-year-old man was not rape, in a matter prompted by a court case, and that the sentence of four years was too harsh.

The public backlash was so much that, again, the Prime Minister had to step in, saying on Twitter: “Let’s be clear: grown men should stay away from children.

The law is designed to protect children, who cannot meaningfully offer consent, and it should be enforced to the fullest extent.”

He later said that Mr Munroe had no need to resign, saying: “He has already expressed his regrets in my

conversations with him and if you hear what he has to say it appears to be more about his personal view and he has to come to learn as a young politician that when he holds the post as he does, his personal views may be best kept to himself.”

This isn’t Mr Munroe’s first unwise moment either – having previously gotten into a tangle over the Prison Commissioner being placed on leave, and concerns being raised about Mr Munroe having represented two deputy commissioners in a lawsuit seeking to quash that commissioner’s appointment. That prompted Mr Davis to say he did not know Mr Munroe had represented the deputy commissioners – and the handling of that probe is now being placed in independent hands.

It is not just ministers, however.

Elsewhere, we have seen decisions announced, and then rowed back.

The Water and Sewerage Corporation was going to resume disconnections, and now they are not.

Bahamas Power and Light announced a proposed increase in electricity costs due to rising fuel prices, and now they are not. In that case, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said that “heads must roll” for the announcement being made “without leave of the government”.

BPL now seems to be saying it will absorb the cost of rising fuel prices – which some are pointing out might be breaking the law.

There’s a pattern here, of course – trying to keep citizens happy by saying oh no, we won’t disconnect you, we won’t put the bills up, but the costs are rising all the same, and those bills will come due one day.

It seems Mr Davis is at the wheel of the PLP ship, but a number of those on board have no idea of the direction they are going.

Is this a communication issue within the government? Or are some simply not signing up for Mr Davis’ agenda?

Something certainly doesn’t seem quite right, and if the Prime Minister steps in to clean up your statements, that ought to be a matter for some serious self-reflection, at the least.

As for Mr Davis, these disruptions are of no use to him as he tries to keep the party on course. Perhaps some shuffling in the ranks might be in order.

Big Pharma and price controls EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS WE hear about Easter gas station strikes, because of price controls, I have heard about strange medical and insurance practices before, but came across a doozer today.

There is an insured price for a given medical exam

and a cash price for the same exam of about one half.

The co-pay on the insured exam is about $3,500.00 and the insurance would pay $700.00.

So a total cost of about $4,200.00 if insurance is paying. Almost double the cash price of $2,200.00.

Maybe government

should consider price controls on the Medical & Insurance businesses and let the market manage the gas stations.

These people make Al Capone look like a Sunday school teacher.

RUMPLESTILTSKIN Nassau, April 11, 2022.

TWO giant statues made out of metal bees greet visitors to the once-a-decade Dutch horticultural exhibition called Floriade, in Almere, Netherlands, on Monday, that aims to showcase ways of making urban areas more sustainable as global populations increasingly shift to cities.

Photo: Peter Dejong/AP

Who gains from a long war?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

GREED is an antidote to good judgment. The profitoriented military industrial machine that drives western countries to pursue endless wars is simply incapable of sensitivity to the fact that, thanks to its antics, the world is now closer to self-destruction than at any point during the Cold War, which ended in 1989.

That Russia (a nation, like the USA, with enough nuclear weapons to extinguish humanity) has been pushed into an existential corner for no good reason is of no more importance to those profiting from the west’s proxy war in Ukraine than were the lives of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Libyans and Syrians lost in previous profit-driven western wars of aggression.

Let’s consider for a moment who it is that will benefit from yet another “forever war”.

Russia? Certainly not. As a continental nation with troublesome neighbours from the Baltic to North Korea, it has (like China) adopted a defensive strategic stance throughout its history, fearing instability of any kind on its borders.

This is why its demands regarding Ukraine (if you actually listen to them, rather than to discredited western media) were both reasonable and defensive in nature.

Do the people of the United States benefit? Of course not. Their tax dollars, which could easily have brought universal access to healthcare up to genuine first world standards (it presently lags Cuba in infant mortality rates), have instead been spent on needless military aggression all over the world.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net More is spent on “defence” than on education in a country that has not been threatened militarily since the War of 1812.

Who do you think profits from that?

The American people?

Britain, for its part, is the most militarily belligerent country in human history.

Of the 191 sovereign states existing today, only 22 have not been invaded, attacked or colonised by the United Kingdom. Yet during most of that history, its own people lived at no higher a standard than the foreign victims of the ruling class whose greed drove those wars.

A clue to who benefits from this particular war is to be found in the nature of the aid being sent to Ukraine by the west.

Russia has captured hundreds of expensive Stinger and Javelin missile systems in Ukraine and displayed them to anyone interested in reporting it – which obviously excludes the western mainstream media.

The manufacturers of these weapons systems, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, are among the largest contributors to political campaigns in the Unites States. Between them, these companies reported net sales of more than $120 billion last year.

Very obviously, they (and the warmongering politicians whom they fund) will benefit from an endless proxy war in Ukraine. But the funding will ultimately come from the American people, who benefit nothing from it.

In short, to quote the

imprisoned Julian Assange, modern western wars are “largely a wealth transfer from US taxpayers to military contractors.”

The “aid” from the American taxpayer will prolong a conflict in Eastern Europe that will enrich the corporations that fund politicians who love wars and lie through their teeth to provoke and maintain them. Almost every war since the Second World War has followed this pattern.

This is why Western politicians are so determined to avert a truce that a now pummeled Ukraine is actively seeking, instead frantically channeling advanced arms into the country.

Don’t be fooled by the lies, oversimplifications and false narratives of the corporate mainstream media.

What we are seeing in Ukraine is not a plucky Mr Zelensky heroically resisting a regional psychopath who woke up one day wanting to devour his neighbour.

Rather, it is Mr Putin who is the plucky resister, finally (and reluctantly) confronting a vast and arms-industry-driven western colossus that is pursuing a policy of ‘containment’ against Russia (and China) and using Ukraine as an instrument of that agenda – as it also uses Taiwan.

The western politicians relishing this proxy war would never of course dare to directly confront Russia, China or any other country capable of actually defending itself. But, as the viral quip goes, they are prepared to fight Putin to the very last Ukrainian.

ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, April 9, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

OMAR ARCHER BAILED AND IS TOLD TO STAY OFF SOCIAL MEDIA

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net OMAR Archer was granted $8,000 bail ahead of his intentional libel trial yesterday.

The 50-year-old appeared before Magistrate Kendra Kelly for a bail hearing related to an intentional libel charge brought against him on Monday.

The charge in question stems from a WhatsApp note allegedly recorded

by Archer last month, in which accusations were made against National Security Minister Wayne Munroe.

Police said Archer posted the defamatory remarks on social media with the intention of causing shame to Mr Munroe.

However, he has denied the allegations and was remanded to prison on Monday pending his bail hearing.

Upon his return to court yesterday, Archer faced an additional charge of abetment to causing harm.

Prosecutors allege that his defamatory remarks indirectly “instigated”, “procured” and “encouraged” the causing of harm to Mr Munroe, Chakara Davis and two minors.

At yesterday’s hearing, the former contractors registrar in the Ministry of Works pleaded not guilty to the offence and even claimed to have no knowledge of the charge.

Still, the Crown prosecutor, Sgt Vernon Pyfrom, asked for bail to be denied on the grounds that Archer had a pending criminal case of a similar offence and

was likely to reoffend after release.

The prosecutor argued that while the charges were not “physical” in nature like murder, etc, they still had far-reaching implications and could cause emotional and physiological damage to the complainant.

In response, Archer agreed that while some statements made in the public domain can be hurtful, it does not negate the fact that people have rights that ought to be protected.

He also suggested that the offence of intentional libel was unconstitutional and even told the court there is a need for law reform in the country.

In his closing submissions, Archer asked the court for leniency and to consider the fact that he has a son who is heavily dependent on him.

“He’s very stressed out by what is going on right now,” he said.

After listening to both arguments, Magistrate Kelly ultimately granted Archer $8,000 bail with one or two sureties and told him to report to the police station nearest to him once a week.

Magistrate Kelly further ordered him not to have any contact with witnesses connected to the case and not to make comments on social media regarding Mr Munroe or Ms Davis.

“Stay off social media, sir,” she said.

Failure to comply with those conditions could result in his bail being revoked.

Archer will next return to court June 14 for trial.

Thursday, April 14, 2022, PAGE 7

‘Abusers should compensate victims’ from page one abuse, acknowledging a “horrifying global surge in domestic violence”.

In response to the US report, Mr Wilchcombe said yesterday: “I have seen the excerpts from the US report. It is consistent with our finding that necessitated our efforts to effectively address each matter highlighted.

“Obviously discussion is required. I do, however, feel compensation should follow the conviction of the abuser. Many women remain in homes of abuse because they do not have the financial wherewithal to live in freedom.

“The state should maintain psychological assistance for all victims.

I have asked the attorney general to give consideration to the imposition of compensation to victims of abuse.”

He added: “We will bring into effect the report of the Gender Violence Commission that completed its work in 2015.

“Unfortunately, over all these years, we have not made good of what was obviously constructive and meaningful work led by Justice Ruby Nottage, Dr Sandra Dean Patterson and Dr Robin Roberts.

That work, if it had been implemented, could have caused progressive steps to be made in The Bahamas, severely impacting

this vexing issue that is now impatient of debate.”

The National Task Force for Gender-Based violence was established in 2013 because of “escalating incidence and deaths due to gender-based violence,” according to the report.

Some countries took measures to address increased gender-based violence during the pandemic.

Asked during a press conference in 2020 about his administration’s plans to protect vulnerable people, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis pivoted and highlighted the capacity of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The United States’ criticism does not surprise Prodesta Moore, chair of Women’s United, who said more resources were needed to help vulnerable women.

“That’s what their topic is and that’s no news, it has heightened, it has been very much increased as a result of the pandemic,” she said. “People were at home, were out of work in the same house with the offenders. The anger increased, people didn’t know what to do so a lot of women, we could tell by the amount of reports that came through, the deaths that came through that it was heightened so I’m not surprised that the US has made a report on this information.

Asked if The Bahamas did anything to counteract

WOMAN ACCUSED OF AIDING MURDER BID

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 25-YEAR-OLD woman was remanded to prison yesterday accused of aiding in the attempted murder of a man last week.

Nashante Hall stood before Magistrate Samuel McKinney, charged with abetment to attempted murder.

Police allege that Hall, while being concerned with others, purposefully aided and abetted in the attempted killing of

Javon Saunders on April 8.

During yesterday’s hearing, Hall was not required to enter a plea to the offence.

She was told the case will be forwarded to the Supreme Court for trial through a voluntary bill of

indictment to be served on July 25.

Bail was denied and the accused was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until that time.

However, she has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

the increased violence, she said: “Not at all.”

“Just recently we’re talking about the Genderbased Violence Bill,” she added. “That’s been hanging around from 2016 and we’re continuing to agitate for that because just having a draft bill out there, you already had a task force that presented a very comprehensive strategic plan and it’s just sitting there in a book format. So nothing really has been done to the extent where we are serious about dealing with the amount of violence and crime that has been happening.”

The US also said the country has failed to effectively enforce provisions of the Equal Opportunities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Among other things, the US highlighted the lack of accessible transportation for people.

Mr Wilchcombe said: “I raised the question of transportation for the

disabled and the elderly in my address to Parliament six months ago. We have since met with (Department of) Road Traffic to design a plan for services. I am pleased with the progress being made.

These issues have been hanging over the nation’s head for years, creating an ugly image of a country built on love, respect and decency.

“In so far as the Equal Opportunity Act, we have created the Inspectorate Office; all public buildings must be accessible to persons with a disability.

We are introducing sign language to all national events. Close captions will be started as well. And we will work with the AG’s Office to strengthen legislation that will give police authority to invoke fines for those who park in spaces made available for persons with disabilities. We are also leading the way in asking corporate Bahamas to provide employment for persons with disabilities.”

Public Notice Please Note that I,

CLINTON O. CLARKE Attorney-At-Law.

I’m not the father of CLINTON C. TAYLOR also known as

CLINTON C. CLARKE JR. Attorney-At-Law.

PAGE 8, Thursday, April 14, 2022

“CLEANLINESS and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them.”

– Benjamin Disraeli.

A FRIEND in his late 60s recalls walking along Market Street and coming upon a teenage boy around the age of 13, who was sitting in a car eating guineps, discarding the seeds and shells onto the road, even though there were several garbage bins within easy reach.

The older man gently upbraided the teenager, who responded with an expletive that rhymes with truck followed by – in this instance – the very personal pronoun, “you”. The friend was disturbed, but not shocked.

Why would a young teen eat guineps and then casually and nastily discard the remains of the fruit in a public area close to Bay Street, so heavily trafficked

by Bahamians and tourists?

Why was he unable to see that he was disrespecting himself, others and the environment? And why did he deem it okay to be crude and disrespectful to someone old enough to be his father? Where did he learn such behaviour at such a young age? How many of our young people are similarly minded?

Another dear friend, who owns a retail store situated on well-kept and clean premises, describes how a few weeks ago a female client came to purchase a number of products. The driver of the car, a man in his mid-40s, remained in the automobile eating his lunch.

When he was finished he opened the car door and raked the remainder of the food from his Tupperware onto the open, spotless paved parking lot near the entrance to the store. A few steps away was a garbage bin into which he could have easily deposited the leftovers.

The teenager and the older man both were in eyesight of garbage receptacles. What level of sloth, nastiness and indifference must one have to mindlessly throw food waste out of a car, much less on an open space in public in broad daylight?

The filthy habits of many are an old story. But

it continues to worsen as our standards continue to decline. And we have become even more bellicose and defensive if someone seeks to correct our behaviour.

We are more prone to engage in such behaviour in The Bahamas because we know there are few to no consequences. How did we get like this?

A colleague, who once served as a teacher in the government-operated school system, remembers that in the 1970s, she could easily part fighting students or correct someone using abusive language.

UNACCEPTABLE

Knowing that their behaviour was incorrect and unacceptable, a young person might have responded, “Sorry, Sir” or “Sorry, Ma’am”. Today, such an intervention might spark retaliation. Why have so many become so violent and retaliatory?

Moreover and worrying: many young people and adults no longer see their behaviour as wrong or unacceptable. Many are as lacking in basic civility as they are in basic ethical norms.

Low and poor standards and behaviour are now normative. Many no longer recognise that there is a problem. One has to first recognise that one is sitting atop a trash heap before realising that something must be done to clean up one’s surroundings.

We have become so inured to disorder and incivility that it is background noise, like the mostly young men who regularly terrorise other motorists, homeowners and business establishments with their over-revved and noisy motorcycles, including on Sundays.

During a meal outside at the popular and wellappointed Café Johnny Canoe in Cable Beach, this columnist watched as a group of four young Bahamians in their early 20s pulled up to the entrance of the restaurant on the ubiquitous silver scooters that may be rented for dashes around various areas.

The leader of the pack, parked his scooter directly in front of the main entrance, blocking the entryway. The other three, which included another

THE TRIBUNE

male and two females, followed suit.

The Bahamians and tourists on the outside looked on curiously, with annoyance, and with civic disgust.

Thankfully, the other young man in the group was prevailed upon to move the scooters from the entryway.

He recognised that their behaviour was inappropriate and did not make a fuss.

The parking of the scooters in the entryway and the discarding of the guineps and food, constitute more than self-absorption. It is an arrogant disregard for civility, for respect for others and for basic order. It is a lack of ethical consideration on many levels, including adherence to social and civic values which bind a well-ordered society.

Despite our heavily Christianised public performances, replete with utterances of God’s goodness, cross-wearing, and loud proclamations of faith, many of us still blatantly disregard the elemental belief that “cleanliness is next to godliness”.

One of Methodism’s founders, John Wesley, may have been the originator of the admonition we know today, though there may have been an earlier provenance of the aphorism.

LACK OF CIVILITY, RESPECT AND CLEANLINESS: WE LIKE IT SO!

CLEANLINESS

Wesley often spoke of cleanliness: “Let it be observed, that Slovenliness is no part of Religion: that neither this, nor any text of Scripture, condemns neatness of ap-parel: certainly this is a duty: not a sin: ‘Cleanliness is, indeed, next to godliness.’ “ If this mantra has any ethical and spiritual resonance and relevance, we are far from godly because of the widespread despoiling of our environment with trash breezily deposited on our highways and in bushes used as dumping grounds.

All over New Providence, fast food packing and foodstuff and discarded tins and bottles help to fuel our rodent infestation. But most seem not care. We like it so!

Bahamians happily take wedding, birthday and other photos in beautifully landscaped areas such as the Cable Beach area near Baha Mar. They delight in the manicured flora.

Yet, some throw garbage in the ponds not far from

where they take photos.

We flock to public beaches and leave them looking like wastelands.

Along the derelict and mostly shabby portion of East Bay Street – minutes from the heart of Bay Street, including the Cabinet Office, the Houses of Parliament, and the Nassau Cruise Port at Prince George Wharf – there are idle rows of dingy and dilapidated buildings, a perennial eyesore for some Bahamians and many visitors.

On this mini-patch of urban wasteland, in the centre of the City of Nassau, some of the most prime and expensive real estate on New Providence, reside defunct buildings, desperately, hopelessly, waiting for dismantling or renewal, neither of which is imminent.

Some years ago, observant motorists may have noticed a crumbling wall on an upper floor from which hung a dangling toilet. The toilet remained in full view of thousands of motorists, including public officials, for many months. Why did

it take so long for the toilet to be covered?

Likely, for many, they did not see it. Others who saw it may have simply ignored the porcelain eyesore. For many others, it made no difference. It was simply a part of the grimy and grungy landscape to which we are accustomed. We like it so!

Imagine the scores of tourists who must have wondered how a destination that claims to be one of the most pristine and beautiful places on earth could have a toilet exposed in its main downtown area for the world to see. What lovely Bahamian pride!

Cue theme song: “It’s better in The Bahamas … ooh la la la, ooh la la…”

On University Drive, not far from the Police College, there is a series of metal barriers atop a ridge to protect motorists from falling into the ravine below. Sections of the barrier have been replaced a number of times because of accidents.

UNSIGHTLY

But it is amazing how long it can take for the unsightly damaged barrier to be repaired. After the most recent repair, a mangled damaged portion of the barrier was simply dumped next to the new barrier. It has sat there for endless months. Few even notice it. Few perhaps care.

We like it so.

Is it any wonder that someone thought it acceptable to begin a business with swimming pigs on a beach in Adelaide without permission or regard for the residents and businesses in the area?

When standards atrophy, many, if not most things, are acceptable. Gradually,

there are no standards by which to measure good order and civility. Many come not to know any better, like that 13-year-old boy with his guineps. This is the “standard” that he may know.

Governments have the responsibility to enforce basic cleanliness, decency and civility, something at which we often fail. Still, it remains the primary responsibility of other civilizing institutions, especially the family, to teach basic cleanliness and respect.

Must it be the role of government to tell citizens not to defecate or urinate in public? A former senior director at Environmental Health has recited to this columnist the many challenges he had in his long and distinguished career to promote a cleaner and environmentally healthier Bahamas.

It is going to take, if it is possible, extraordinary reeducation and much greater enforcement to even begin to address the cultural mindsets and habits to which many are happily and slothfully accustomed.

The former official would agree with British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881): “Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them.”

Most of us used to have a cultivated taste for cleanliness and order. But today, fewer and fewer Bahamians enjoy such a taste. Our poor and unhealthy diets are sadly not confined to food. We have also greedily cultivated a taste for an innutritious diet of disorder, disrespect and dirty public spaces. We like it so!

JOB OPPORTUNITY Property Maintenance Manager - to oversee day-to-day operations of multiple commercial properties in Nassau. The Maintenance Manager is responsible for overseeing all daily maintenance, repairs, security, janitorial services, landscaping, etc. and to handle tenant maintenance complaints. Responsible for performing periodic property inspections to ensure tenant compliance with leases, scheduling routine service and maintenance on equipment and proper upkeep of the property.

The following qualities are desirable for job selection:exceptional communication and organizational skills, details oriented, customer service experience, ability to work under pressure, self-motivated, self-directed, assertive, group problem solving and the ability to take direction and be an effective part of a property management team.

Project or property management experience required.

Qualified applicants are to email a current and complete resumé to: bahamasmaintenancemanager@gmail.com

by April 25th, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 14, 2022, PAGE 9

Putin and his ‘lost’ Ukraine

FORMER presidential advisor Fiona Hill.

STATESIDE

with Charlie Harper

IRREDENTISM is a ten-dollar word most often employed to describe the origins of wars and other geopolitical disagreements.

Irredentism means political or popular movements whose members claim and seek to occupy territory on behalf of their nation that they consider “lost” to their nation, based on history or legend.

Irredentism seems to define pretty clearly the basis for Vladimir Putin’s invasion of and continuing attempt to wipe out Ukraine as a nation distinct from his own Russia. Fiona Hill, the English-born and naturalised US citizen who has advised US presidents Bush, Obama and Trump on Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe, has recalled that Putin once muttered to Bush that “Ukraine is not a nation.”

Hill has joined a chorus of other experienced experts in predicting that while Russia has seemingly abandoned its effort to capture Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv and other parts of central and western Ukraine in favour of a sustained assault from the east, the Kremlin’s ambitions are unlikely to be satisfied by simply occupying territory

in eastern Ukraine that is arguably as much or more Russian than Ukrainian anyhow.

But Hill points out that while Putin’s motives for his current land grab are rooted in irredentism, the effects of this war are much broader than territorial.

In speaking with reporters in recent weeks, she has reminded readers and listeners that when Adolph Hitler and the Nazis broke their 1939 non-aggression pact with Moscow in 1941 less than two years after signing it, a key target was Ukraine – the “breadbasket of Europe”.

Hill points out that “Ukraine’s an enormous country, 40 million population, the largest country territorially in Europe except Russia, and one of the most fertile, important countries on earth for several centuries in terms of food production. Back in 1900, key Ukrainian Black Sea port city Odessa was one of the richest, fastest growing cities in Europe.

And it was the centre of the whole European grain trade. And it’s continued to be that. People have just forgotten about that.”

“And now, the larger implications of this conflict

are becoming evident. And they will have knock on effects. I mean, again, this is now planting season, and Ukrainian farmers are not out there in their fields, planting the grain that feeds much of the Eastern Hemishphere and keeps famine at bay.”

If the calculus in Ukraine’s self-defence now includes food for Africa and parts of Europe and the Middle East, the notion that this war is simply a “regional conflict” is profoundly debunked. Imagine the knock-on effects around the world, where hunger is already a huge problem in many areas and was becoming more dire even before Putin invaded.

No one needs to be reminded that food prices are rising, and it is not unreasonable to expect that this will continue. Add the cancellation of food supplies from Europe’s breadbasket and things will only get worse.

As if we needed another reason to wish for the rapid end of this savage invasion.

But its end seems perhaps further away than ever.

Putin’s paranoia about the West just got reinforced.

No longer relying on wishful thinking for their

security are Sweden and Finland, whose studious neutrality has been a European political hallmark for 75 years and more. Earlier this week, both Nordic nations began moving to apply for membership in NATO, which could be routinely approved by the end of the summer.

Finland in particular must feel under extreme Russian

threat. The Finns share an 830-mile-long border with Russia and fought a vicious winter war against Russian forces 80 years ago that cost both nations dearly but left Finland resolutely independent.

If you’re Putin and already paranoid about Western expansion and encirclement of your western border, how much more

jittery and insecure must you now feel?

“We don’t intend to be isolated,” Putin said. “It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern world - especially such a vast country as Russia.

The war will continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set,” Putin said.

SOARING APPLICATIONS FROM OVERSEAS TO US COLLEGES SOME recent data confirms what many Bahamian parents already suspected: Applications to US colleges and universities from overseas students have soared in the past two years.

Results from the Common Platform, an online application that facilitates the often-complex American college admissions process, show that the number of international applicants to US institutions of higher learning has surged by 34 percent in the past two years.

Two reasons are cited for this dramatic increase, which is three times as great as the rate of increase in college applications by American high school students. The first is the easing of the COVID pandemic and associated relaxation

of travel restrictions. That would be expected. The pandemic-related complications in securing foreign visas, including to the US, have been a source of real vexation for many people across the world.

The other principal reason may not be so readily apparent. That is the decision by most US colleges and universities to make optional the submission of results from the standardised ACT or SAT tests. These examinations, which have for decades been key admissions factors in the US, have had imputed value as a yardstick against which to measure students from America and all over the world without respect for the relative overall academic standards of their high schools.

The SAT and ACT are seen as levelers that can provide a reliable comparison of the readiness to handle academic work at American universities between college applicants from The Bahamas, Italy, Vietnam and the US, for example. The pandemic helped to spur a suspension of the SAT/ACT requirement in American higher education.

Bahamian parents often must find special classes or tutors for their high school children who aspire to attend American universities. Furthermore, while SAT/ACT authors try to minimize bias in their examinations, an American student has a natural advantage in that his or her curriculum often features course content more

compatible with Americanwritten standardised test questions.

The president of the International Association for College Admission Counseling said recently that “two major barriers to foreign students studying in the US have been lifted.

One is the ability to leave their country and get visas.

The other is the (ACT/ SAT) testing changes.”

New York University’s admissions officer said “we do think that being test optional has probably lowered a barrier for many students who might have a hard time getting to those tests.”

The test optional policy may be temporary and

fade away as the pandemic recedes. A few universities have already rescinded their policies and resumed requiring the SAT/ACT, but most have left them in place at least for the next year.

It’s worth thinking about for families considering tertiary education for their children.

SENIOR BMW TECHNICIAN An established Bahamian local company is seeking applications from suitably qualified persons to fill the position of Senior BMW Technician for long-term commitment, growth and longevity.

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Computer literate.

At least five (5) years’ experience in Automobile Dealer service environment.

Must be team oriented, flexible and focused on maintaining a high level of customer service.

German Automotive experience, a plus.

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Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Interested persons should send resumes and supporting documents to: P. O. Box N-9240 Nassau, Bahamas OR email address: mediavacancy242@gmail.com

Application Deadline: April 18, 2022

PAGE 10, Thursday, April 14, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

GB CHARITY LAUNCHES HOME REPAIR INITIATIVE THE Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation, a charity founded by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, and funded entirely by private donations, is launching a new home repair initiative.

The programme, which begins Easter Monday, will

assist people who are still recovering from the longterm impacts of Hurricane Dorian.

The GBDRF and SBP Bahamas are donating $450,000 to the programme, which will employ local licensed contractors to restore 50 homes

throughout the island. The programme will be targeting the elderly, the disabled, and single mothers with children.

Ian Rolle, GBDRF director, said: “Our hearts go out to our fellow residents of Grand Bahama who are still challenged by the

after-effects of the storm, as well as coping with the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic on our economy.

“SBP has really shown what it means to be our brother’s keeper. We are grateful for their partnership to provide relief efforts not only to homes in Freeport, but also in the eastern and western ends of Grand Bahama.”

Formed in 2019, the GBDRF has provided more than $2.6m in local aid, and partnerships with NGOs and volunteers. GBDRF Home Pilot Programme, in partnership with SBP, renovated homes on West Pioneers Way, Clark Avenue, Explorers Way, Rum Cay Place, and Hyde Park Drive areas at a cost of $622,000. GBDRF also supported the local Rotary Muck and Gut Programme donating $100,000 towards materials for interior walls and roof repairs, and labour costs for 41 homes in East Coral Estates (Pioneers Loop).

The GBDRF Home Repair Programme

IAN ROLLE sourced furniture and appliances from a resort in Orlando valued at $2.5m and funded all shipping and clearing costs amounting to $857,000. Some 300 families were supplied with stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, living and bedroom sets, entertainment centres, televisions, patio furniture and more.

GBDRF also donated

$15,000 to the Rich Halpern Home Repair Programme, $3,000 to the Pastor Eddie Victor Home Repair Programme, $155,000 to SBP’s Mould Remediation Programme, and $15,000 to the Queens Cove Clean Up Project, among other donations.

For those who wish to donate, visit gbdisasterrelief.org/donations.

Career Opportunity VP, CREDIT RISK Commonwealth Bank is the premier Bahamian Bank with branches located in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera. We are committed to delivering superior quality service, to training and developing our employees, to creating value for our shareholders and to promoting economic growth and stability in the community.

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REMUNERATION PACKAGE: Commonwealth Bank is a Great place to work! We offer an exciting work environment with the opportunity for growth and development. We also offer a competitive compensation package, reflecting the successful applicant’s experience and qualifications, including a performance based incentive plan, health, vision, dental and life insurance, and a pension plan.

Qualified individuals should complete the online application and submit their resumes by Friday, April 22, 2022 to: executive.search@combankltd.com “ Commonwealth Bank sincerely thanks all applicants for their interest in becoming a part of our team, however, only those applications being considered will be contacted.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 14, 2022, PAGE 11

AN EASTER MESSAGE FROM RT REV LAISH BOYD An Easter message from - and that God has.

Therefore, here are some the Rt Rev Laish Boyd, Bishop of the Anglican things about Easter that we Diocese of The Bahamas should not forget.

E - Everyone. This Holy and the Turks and Caicos Day and what it means is Islands.

“YOU yourselves are a for EVERYONE. Eveletter... to be known and ryone can experience the read by everyone; and 2 newness and transforming power of the Corinthians cross - but we 3:2-3 – have to tell AS we cel- ‘If we show them about it. ebrate Easter, love and respect A All we recognise others, they may times. Easter that this DAY is a season for is about God learn something ALL TIMES. doing a won- about God from In every age, derful thing, that. If we feed a the message of raising Jesus the Gospel is from the dead. hungry person, timely and relEaster also he/she may be evant. It never represents well-fed enough grows old. It newness and never ceases renewal, God to forget hunger to be a source making a way and to focus on where there is some other things of strength for those who call absolutely no way - giving about life...but we upon the name of the risen new life and have to do the a new start ENLIGHTENING.’ Christ - but we have to let where there is “those” peronly death or what appears to be other sons know about it.

S - Someone. Easter is irreversible circumstances.

The power of Easter for SOMEONE who feels is found in how much we rejected and downtrodden, believe in God and follow and has no hope left. This is Him, in how much we the kind of dismal hopelesslive the fact that God is a ness that the power of Jesus game-changer who can do overturns. It is this life all things. Easter is real for that only God can restore. others when God is real for We must let SOMEONE us. What we believe and know that such things are how we love is the only real possible.

T - Tell someone. The testimonial that Easter has

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relevance and integrity of the Gospel often depends on what we have experienced from others who claim to know God, or from communities of people who claim to know God, like the Church.

Similarly, others know about God and the Church through knowing us. All of us have the power to TELL the good part of God’s story and of the Church’s story...so let’s do it.

E - Enlighten. The light of the Gospel shines through our lives, our thoughts, words, actions and priorities. If we show love and respect others, they may learn something about God from that. If we feed a hungry person, he/ she may be well-fed enough to forget hunger and to focus on some other things about life...but we have to do the ENLIGHTENING. R - Rejoice. Let us REJOICE in God’s power and all that God has done for God’s world. Our lives and actions may cause others to look on the bright side and to REJOICE as well.

Easter is about what God has done for the human race - FOR US - and about what we can do for others.

Commit to sharing Easter joy today.

Happy Easter from the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands!

THE Rt Rev Laish Boyd, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

PAGE 12, Thursday, April 14, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Let us go to Galilee THE angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He has been raised, as He said.

Come, see the place where He lay, then go quickly and tell His disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him.” (Matthew 28:5-7).

Jesus lives! “He is alive, He is alive, He is alive! The power of death has done their worst and Jesus hath His foes dispersed.” The cry of the early Christians was “Alleluia Christ is risen!”

Response: “The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!” Visiting the graveyard is not an attractive exercise, outside of a funeral, it is thought to be a place of obeah, witchcraft and under dealings.

Today’s gospel presents one of the most unusual reasons for a visit to the cemetery; just to see the tomb, very early in the morning when one could see scarcely ones palms. Mary Magdalene and another woman came to the graveyard in the wee hours of the morning. Why go early. Could it be they forgot to do something on Friday? Very early in the morning is a sign of urgency.

We can infer that the early graveyard visitors hardly slept the night before. They were not interested in the tomb, but the one inside the tomb. It was the first opportunity they had, because remember, Jesus was buried in a hurry on Friday, to beat the Sabbath curfew. Curfew was lifted early Sunday morning. On the Sabbath Jesus lay dead in the tomb, while His spirit roamed the underworld, we say “he descended into hell.”

But on the third day – Sunday - “Up from the grave He arose!” We celebrate it every week on a Sunday. Let us go to Galilee. A critical mind would

By the Rev Canon S Sebastian Campbell, CM wonder why the angel at the graveyard and Jesus, Himself, could send the women to inform the disciples to meet Him in Galilee. “Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.” Why Galilee as a location for meeting the risen Lord? Galilee was the venue for most of Jesus’ Ministry.

It was located in modern day Northern Israel, which in Jesus’ day was part of the Roman Empire. Those hated people who held God’s chosen people, the Jews, in bondage. Jesus grew up in Nazareth of Galilee; in Cana of Galilee Jesus changed water into wine (his first miracle). Galilee was where most of Jesus’ disciples got their vocation. Galilee was where Jesus gave his greatest sermon - that sermon called “the Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5, 6,7). Galilee was where Jesus was transformed. Galilee was said to be a province with a halo.

(Read St. Matthew chapter 4:23-25).

It was in Nazareth of Galilee where Jesus was rejected and He went on to Capernaum, another town in Galilee where He fed thousands and walked on the water. So, we sing the song, “Put your hands in the hand of the man who stilled the water. Put your heads in the hand of the man who calmed the sea, take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently. Put your hands in the hand of the man from Galilee. Galilee is mentioned 67 times in the Bible where 25 of Jesus’ 33 miracles were performed and 32 parables were taught. Galilee was the maternal home of the Ministry of Jesus. Hence,

the need to anchor the resurrection narrative where the story begins. There is still more we must underscore about Galilee. This Galilee where Jesus anchored his ministry was known for political unrest, for thieving and revolts. It was a hotbed for political and economic instability.

Galilee was known for cultural confusion. Like The Bahamas of today it had a mix, diverse group of people always, fighting for their turf - they were always fighting Jesus; Gentiles, Romans, Greeks - mixed up like conch salad.

A mixed-up people, always rowing and fighting. It was a volatile environment, a place of anxiety and fear. (Does this sound like anywhere you know today?)

It’s into such a volatile and diverse region Jesus goes to do ministry. Now you see how crazy and yet powerful when Jesus goes home to Nazareth of Galilee and says: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me..” (Luke 4:18).

It’s no accident now that the angel tells the disciples to go to Galilee to see Jesus again (Matthew chapter 28:5-7). It’s no accident that Jesus sends his disciples out in their apostolic mission from Galilee. Jesus leaves the graveyard and returns to Galilee, to all its ambiguity and instability. To those who would be his disciples, Jesus says, “Let us go to Galilee.”

Resurrection needs to be experienced in Galilee, my Galilee, your Galilee. Our place of testing - our place where people are blowing up in our faces, place of ambush.

1. I have moved from one Galilee to the next in my

own ministry – places without modern conveniences of electricity, portable water, wifi computer and telephone. In this Galilee where I do ministry I am ambushed, take a licking, and keep on ticking.

2. The church must minister in Galilee. Where what is the real challenge of the church today? Galilee is made most competitive in the midst of the pandemic.

We must reboot and find creative ways of ministry to our children, our teens, our young adults and especially to our seniors. The prevailing challenges need resurrection power. This is our Galilee. In spite of a pandemic the challenges of our Galilee hovers around us. We must get down to ministering in our Galilee.

3. Children still must be brought to Jesus, youths still must be challenged to be involved in their church and love their God. 4. Crime, murder, drugs, stealing, broken families are still real. We must be relevant to the times or throw the towel in and look elsewhere for something to do. Galilee needs resurrection.

Today we are invited to enter and deal with our own Galilee; face up to our challenges. We should be able to bear witness to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, not just by words, but also by our actions.

We are challenged by this invitation to Galilee to live a resurrected life. We are all called today to head to Galilee to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus,

not just by physical feasting, but by our spiritual communion with the Lord.

For this reason, St. Paul writes us in Colossians chapter 3:1-4 that if we are raised with Christ, we should seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. May the resurrection of our Lord bring about the emptying of our physical and spiritual burdens. May the resurrection of our Lord open the doorway to our Galilee of witnessing by our words and actions.

Happy Easter and may the days ahead become steps towards going out of ourselves. The tomb demonstrates the empty works of the devil and his promises.

The empty tomb shows that without God in our lives we are cut off and can do nothing (John 15:5). The empty tomb shows that the words of our Lord on the Cross is real: “It is finished” (John 19:30). That means He has paid our debts and we do not owe anymore. So, as he said to the women (Matthew 28:10), the Lord is telling us today: “Do not be afraid.” A critical mind would wonder why the angel at the graveyard and our Lord Jesus Christ Himself could send the women to inform the disciples to meet Him up in Galilee. “Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.” Why Galilee as a location for meeting the risen Lord?

Galilee is very central in

the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. The visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary announcing the coming of the Saviour through the Virgin birth took place in Nazareth; the most insignificant towns in Galilee “where no good thing could come” (John 1:43-46).

Most of the apostles got their vocation around the Galilee region, including the fisherman that became fishers of men (Matthew 4:18-22). Most of the outstanding teachings and miracles of our Lord took place in Galilee. In fact, Galilee could be said to be the maternal home of the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, the need to anchor the resurrection narrative where the story began. Going to Galilee has to do with going back to the roots to bear witness and testify to the fact and power of the resurrection.

This witnessing is what we see Peter doing in the first reading today. In his testimony, he began by tracing the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ back to Galilee where he went about doing good, healing those oppressed by the devil and God was with him. In Galilee, it will become evident that the one whom they knew very well and who eventually died on the cross and was buried, has risen.

In Galilee, it will become lucid that one who changes water into wine (John 2:111) has come back from the dead to life.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 14, 2022, PAGE 13

Learning how to restore mangrove population

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net MANGROVE education and training is underway on Grand Bahama for some 30 participants at the Rand Nature Centre as part of a major Mangrove Restoration Project by Waterkeepers Bahamas and Earthcare Bahamas.

The project - which is aimed at restoring the mangrove forests at Dover Sound - is being funded through a grant from the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund. The goal is to harvest and plant 30,000 mangrove propagules.

The Mangrove Action Project (MAP), a wellknown international mangrove conservation group, was brought in to conduct education and proper training for a week, which began on Monday. This is to ensure the successful mangrove restoration.

According to Rashema Ingraham, executive director of Waterkeepers Bahamas, the mangrove restoration project with Earthcare Bahamas will be carried out in a phased approach.

She said: “The first phase of this project is for 12 months, and it is funded under the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund, and that’s where we are looking at the collecting 30,000 (mangrove propagules).

But we know that over 40,000 hectares of mangroves were destroyed during Hurricane Dorian.

And so, when you think about timeline, this is not a one-year project, this is a phased project that will last for more than five years.”

Ms Ingraham said they have started inviting volunteers, including nine from Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc and four from Earthcare, to help with the potting process. She reported that to date they have nearly 3,000 propagules in their nursery at Coral Vita that are being closely monitored.

“Volunteers are helping us to reach our number. On Saturday, we potted an estimated over 300 propagules and prior to potting those we had a little over 2,500 in the nursery,” she said.

She stated that an extended training programme for the Mangrove

EARTHCARE Bahamas volunteers Delores Kellman and Sylvie Carey measuring growth of propagules potted.

Photos: Waterkeepers Bahamas Restoration Project is being hosted by MAP and will continue until Thursday at the Rand Nature Centre from 9am to 3pm.

“They will help us to think beyond what we are doing for restoration in the country,” she said. “We are pleased that over 30 persons singed up to be a part of that training.”

Ms Ingraham said the out-planting of the mangrove propagules is expected in the Fall of 2022.

“So, we will have a minimum of five out-planting exercises where the wider community involvement is anticipated to help us plant as many before the end of the year.”

Alfredo Quarto, cofounder of MAP, said that training and education are important to ensure successful restoration outcome for the long term. He reported that there is a 70 to 80 percent failure rate in restoration attempts.

“The mangrove loss due to the hurricane is something we can’t really stop, but we can try to stop the wrong approach to restoration which is causing failures if plantings are in the wrong places. We are trying to educate people on what the signs are for proper places to plant and methods to restore mangroves so there will be success in the long term.

“We know there is a lot of problems with mangrove loss that people are addressing with wrong approaches, and we are trying to avoid that here, hopefully making it a process which helps restore a successful longterm approach.”

Mr Quarto said MAP was formed in 1992 after seeing the problems with mangrove destruction to the shrimp farming at that time in Thailand, and in other countries. “We formed MAP to address problem of mangrove forest lost.

We are actively engaged in mangrove conservation and restoration, and education work. But since then, we expanded it more in a sense of education and restoration now.”

Laura Michie, of MAP, said the four-day training workshop, includes trips into the field so that participants can look at mangroves and biodiversity. “They will be looking at different species of trees and how important all those are; what was lost and how we can restore it; waterflow and the soil; and plant new species. We are enhancing knowledge of participants in mangrove ecology, biology, and a bit of history of mangroves, we are teaching them the right techniques and best practices for mangroves restoration.”

Ms Michie said that 70 percent of GB’s mangroves

PUO AKA president Yvonne Pearson measuring length of mangrove propagule before potting. were destroyed during put them in the right spot it the mangroves propagules, Hurricane Dorian in 2019. is destined to fail. So, this potting, and watering them “We know how important training is so important. By for restoration of our manmangrove systems are to the end of it, we will prob- grove forests,” she said.

Richeena Campbell, ecosystems to coastal ero- ably be rethinking our plans sions and fisheries, she said. going forward. We were first vice president, said: We are here working with going on what we thought “Service is the heart of Earthcare and Waterkeep- was going to work, and we our organisation, and what ers to help them restore come to find out some of better way to serve our the mangrove forests. This the strategies were not that community than to prois really important for us, good. So, it is great that tect our land and country. and we worked all over the prospect of this project Target five of our Sororthe world with lots of dif- is much higher now that ity’s programme is global ferent groups, NGOS, MAP has come and enlight- impact, where we partner communities, governments, ened us with all of their with local organizations to have national and scientists, and lots of groups experience.”

Ms Ingraham said com- international influence. that want to restore their munity involvement is also Waterkeepers Bahamas mangrove forests.”

Gail Woon, founder of important for the success has been monumental in Earthcare Bahamas, said of a restoration project. Pi contributing to initiatives the training is an “eye- Upsilon Omega president to build and rebuild our Yvonne Pearson said the environment. Pi Upsilon opening” experience.

“What we learned yes- potting of mangroves was Omega Chapter ladies put terday was eye opening an awesome experience. “I their hands on the soil. We because some of the tech- think it is something espe- delved into protecting our niques we were going to do cially our young people habitat by planting and potwe are finding out would be should have an opportunity ting mangroves one by one bad and relying on one spe- to participate in. We are to create a better land for cies alone. And finding out more than happy to lend generations to come,” she if we don’t choose the site, our assistance measuring said.

Man charged with terror after attack in Brooklyn subway NEW YORK Associated Press THE man accused of shooting ten people on a Brooklyn subway train was arrested Wednesday and charged with a federal terrorism offense after a daylong manhunt and a tipster’s call brought police to him on a Manhattan street.

Frank R James, 62, was taken into custody about 30 hours after the carnage on a crowded rush-hour train. He was awaiting arraignment on a charge that pertains to terrorist or other violent attacks against mass transit systems, Brooklyn US Attorney Breon Peace said, and carries a sentence of up to life in prison.

There is no indication that James had ties to terror organisations — international or otherwise — and the motive remains unclear, Peace said.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether James, who is from New York but has lived recently in Philadelphia and Milwaukee, has an attorney or anyone else who can speak for him. A sign taped to the door of James’ apartment in Milwaukee asks that all mail be delivered to a post office box.

Tuesday’s shooting left five people in critical condition, but all ten gunshot victims were expected to survive.

Police had initially said on Tuesday that James was being sought for questioning because he had rented a van possibly connected to the

NEW York City Police lead subway shooting suspect Frank R James, 62, into a car and away from a police station yesterday.

Photo: Seth Wenig/AP attack, but weren’t sure whether he was responsible for the shooting.

In recent months, James had railed in online videos about racism and violence in the US and about his experiences with mental health care in New York City. In some videos, he criticised Adams’ policies on mental health and subway safety.

The gunman set off smoke grenades in a crowded subway car and then fired at least 33 shots with a 9 mm handgun, police said. At least a dozen others who escaped gunshot wounds were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries.

The shooter escaped in the chaos, but left behind numerous clues, including the gun, ammunition magazines, a hatchet, smoke

grenades, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van.

That key led investigators to James, a New York City-area native who had more recent addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin.

Federal investigators determined the gun used in the shooting was purchased by James at a pawn shop — a licensed firearms dealer — in the Columbus, Ohio, area in 2011.

The van was found, unoccupied, near a station where investigators determined the gunman had entered the subway system. No explosives or firearms were found in the van, a law enforcement official who wasn’t authorized to comment on the investigation and did so on the condition of anonymity told The Associated Press.

Police did find other items, including pillows, suggesting he may have been sleeping or planned to sleep in the van, the official said.

Investigators believe James drove up from Philadelphia on Monday and have reviewed surveillance video showing a man matching his physical description coming out of the van early Tuesday morning, the official said. Other video shows James entering a subway station in Brooklyn with a large bag, the official said.

In addition to analyzing financial and telephone records connected to James, investigators were reviewing hours of rambling, profanity-filled videos James posted on YouTube and other social media platforms as they tried to discern a motive.

In one video, posted a day before the attack, James, who is Black, criticises crime against Black people and says drastic action is needed.

“You got kids going in here now taking machine guns and mowing down innocent people,” James says. “It’s not going to get better until we make it better,” he said, adding that he thought things would only change if certain people were “stomped, kicked and tortured” out of their “comfort zone”.

In another video he says, “this nation was born in violence, it’s kept alive by violence or the threat thereof and it’s going to die a violent death. There’s nothing going to stop that.”

23 INJURED IN TEXAS STORMS NEARLY two dozen people were injured when tornadoes swept through central Texas as part of a storm system that was expected to spawn more twisters and damaging winds yesterday.

The storms caused widespread damage Tuesday in Salado, about 50 miles north of Austin. Bell County Judge David Blackburn said 23 people were injured, one of them critically. Twelve of the injured were taken to hospitals, Blackburn said.

“There’s not much left,” said Blackburn, the county’s top elected official. “Large trees are uprooted and overturned and stripped.

Buildings really reduced to rubble... Power lines, power poles, are scattered all over the place. It’s pretty devastating.”

Tornadoes were also spotted on Tuesday in Iowa, but there were no reports of serious injuries.

In Lincoln, Nebraska, powerful wind gusts knocked down tree limbs and caused some roof damage. A possible tornado also caused damage in the Minnesota town of Taopi.

Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik said dispatchers began getting calls from residents trapped in their damaged homes not long after a tornado warning siren sounded at 10.30pm. on Tuesday.

SPORTS

PAGE 14, Thursday, April 14, 2022

PAGE 14

THE TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2022

Antoan Richardson says Padres coach’s words ‘reeked undertones of racism’

MINISTER of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting.

MINISTRY ‘WOULD SUPPORT PUSH FOR SAILING IN SCHOOLS’

By PAVEL BAILEY MINISTER of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting says that his ministry would support a push for sailing in schools as the government moves to make it the national sport.

At a press conference yesterday at the Island Traders Building, Mr Sweeting was asked by reporters if the government had moved to officially make sailing the national sport. He said yes and that a formal announcement will be made soon.

“It’s already been confirmed through Cabinet and we will continue and make a formal announcement in months to come,” Mr Sweeting said.

Asked if there is a push to make sailing more mainstream among the public, the minister said that while the ministry has stumbled in its support of sailing over the years, there is already a large youth participation in the sport.

“The ministry has done a great job in the past, and I think we have lost our way a little bit with regattas and we will continue to do that,” he said. “Across the nation though we have a lot of young individuals getting involved in sailing. I mean even in Eleuthera itself we probably have around 40 to 50 young persons involved in sailing.”

Clyde Rolle, vicecommodore and race coordinator of the National Family Island Regatta Committee, expanded on the minister’s comments by explaining that there were over 300 sailors involved in just two classes of next week’s regatta.

He said that there are currently hundreds of children involved in sailing throughout the nation and that the waiting list to join a sailing programme is years in advance.

“I can say that there are hundreds of young kids involved in sailing right now. As a matter of fact the E class boats that were introduced about 10, 15 years ago we have them being built five and SEE PAGE 15

Resolution reached after incident in Tuesday’s game

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net SAN Francisco Giants first base coach Antoan Richardson was ejected from Tuesday night’s contest against the San Diego Padres but the story that emerged was the confrontation that led to the incident.

Richardson said Padres coach Mike Shildt yelled an expletive toward the Giants’ dugout that “reeked undertones of racism.”

According to Richardson, Shildt approached the Giants dugout in search of Giants reliever Alex Wood, prompting an exchange between the two coaches. “[Shildt] yelled, ‘You need to control that [expletive]. At that point in time, I went to the top step and said, ‘Excuse me?’ because I couldn’t believe what I heard. At that point in time, [Greg] Gibson, the crew chief, decided to toss me from the game,” Richardson told reporters following the game.

“I say this because his words were disproportionately unwarranted and reeked undertones of racism when he referred to me as ‘that [expletive],’ as if I was to be controlled or a piece of property or enslaved. I think it’s just really important we understand what happened tonight. And the second part that’s equally disappointing is that me being tossed by that umpire empowers this coach to continue to have conversations like that with people like me, and that’s really unfortunate that’s what happened

SAN Diego Padres third base coach Mike Shildt, back to camera, hugs San Francisco Giants first base coach Antoan Richardson after they spoke at a news conference Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

SAN Francisco Giants first base coach Antoan Richardson, centre, speaks at a news conference next to San Diego Padres third base coach Mike Shildt on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) tonight.”

Richardson said Gibson justified his ejection by calling him the instigator in the incident.

“The umpire said to me that I was instigating,” Richardson said. “At that point in time, I asked: ‘This person called me a [expletive], and I’m being an instigator?’”

Following Richardson’s ejection, he was replaced by Alyssa Nakken who became the first woman in MLB history to coach on the field during a regular-season game.

“I’m really excited that Alyssa got her opportunity

to make her major league debut, and I’m very proud of her,” Richardson said. “I think she did a really wonderful job, and we got a win, so that’s the most important thing.”

The incident between the two reached a resolution yesterday when Richardson and Shildt embraced prior to the series finale.

“In no way did I believe that he is a racist,” Richardson said, “What I was trying to do was just bring awareness to how words impact certain communities, even though they may not have ill intent. Helping us to be more aware of what those

things mean when we do share them.”

Shildt added: “I’m grateful for Antoan clearing that up. Clearly misinterpreted and I think he knows this.

My value as a human is to love people and that’s exactly what I represent, so I appreciate him clearing that up for myself and my family. It’s really important that is clear.”

Richardson has been an outspoken voice on the role of minorities in the sport.

In July 2020, he joined several players and staff that knelt during the national anthem in protest before the Giants’ 6-2 exhibition

victory against the Oakland Athletics.

The group included right fielder Jaylin Davis, who is African American and appeared in 17 games for the Giants. Davis said he leaned on Richardson for support as one of the few minorities in a leadership position within the game.

“I think this is more something we want to use as an opportunity to bring awareness that sometimes words that are harmless are very insensitive to others, and it’s really important that we are conscious of the things we are saying,” Richardson said Wednesday alongside Shildt, “I appreciate him taking ownership and understanding the impact of his words, and that we can move on from this and play baseball.”

BLTA RESPONDS TO PARENTS’ CONCERNS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Lawn Tennis Association executives have responded to claims made by a group of parents regarding logistical issues around the junior national team programme.

BLTA President Perry Newton said that statements made by the group at a press conference earlier this week not only damage the coaches, but the junior national team programme itself. He stood by the selection and ratification process of the coaches.

“Some of the comments made by parents in a press conference on Monday were defamatory in nature as they belittled the coaches who served on the BLTA national tennis teams,” Newton said. “The comments have the potential to damage the good reputation of certified and qualified coaches.

“The standard for national team

representation as a coach is outlined by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) under which the BLTA is governed. All the coaches possess the coaching prerequisites, as the ITF approved their nomination ahead of competition.

These coaches are certified and are actively coaching, some with many years of experience in the coaching arena.

The trips in question were the

World Juniors team competition in El Salvador on February 19-27 and the Junior Billie Jean King and Junior Davis Cup from March 4-12 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

“It is not best practice for parents to choose national coaches and not in keeping with the practice of the BLTA over the many years of its existence. Even though parents may prefer their personal coaches or desire a particular coach over another coach, it does not give them cause to disrespect the coach selected or denigrate the coach’s ability,” he said.

“The attacks to the coach’s competency or suitability is based on opinion and not facts as the BLTA’s selection is guided by the ITF’s standards. Restricting coaches from serving who qualify creates a barrier and promotes a classist environment.

“Two coaches who hail from Freeport were considered by some of the parents as not a part of the

tennis community despite the fact that one of the coaches participated at the highest level as a former Fed Cup player and former national team coach and is instrumental in coaching tennis in Grand Bahama,” Newton continued.

“The tennis community is comprised of persons all over The Bahamas, and not just in Nassau.

To restrict the tennis community to Nassau or within a particular sphere limits the growth of the sport. The coaches were capable and competent. All of the recent coaches served as national team coaches except for one, and that particular coach was able to coach the team to the quarterfinals, a very good firsttime coaching result . . . The BLTA fielded four teams in a two-week span in March 2022. Out of the four teams that competed for The Bahamas, one made it to the Finals and another to the Quarterfinals. The coaches and players performed to SEE PAGE 15

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 14, 2022, PAGE 15

BLTA RESPONDS TO PARENTS’ CONCERNS FROM PAGE 14 the best of their ability on these teams. There were many talented players from various nations competing and The Bahamas made a very positive impact.”

As for funding junior national team trips, Newton said they continue to seek alternative means to facilitate the growth of the sport at all levels.

“The ITF paid 100% of accommodations for players and coaches on all the trips.

“The BLTA covered 100% of the coaches’ flight costs and coaching fees,” he said. “The association also covered 100% of baggage costs and covered travel incidentals.

“The BLTA also covered 50% of all the players flight costs and was also able to assist those players who travelled from outside of The Bahamas (which is not the norm). The association continues to seek ways to absorb the costs of the national teams.

“The BLTA sends approximately eight teams per year with costs ranging from $4,000 $13,000 each, depending on the team,” he said, “A lot of information that has been circulated has been misrepresented and has the potential to be inflammatory. The association has met with the parents prior to travel and during travel. We are witnessing the attacks on the coaches’ competencies in the media despite positive results from the competitions.

“The Bahamas has obtained great successes in tennis regionally and was able to have three out of seven teams in the last nine months in the Finals of a regional competition with one advancing to the Qualifier stage.

“The BLTA is pleased with the talent we possess, as we continue to strive to make a mark on the international stage.

It is important to move towards building all aspects of the sport and not to tear down persons.

“This is not beneficial to the sport or its stakeholders.”

INDIANA Pacers’ Buddy Hield in action during an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Saturday, in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 133-120.

(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Buddy Hield excited about the coming season at the Pacers

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BUDDY Hield had a strong conclusion to the 2021-22 season for the Indiana Pacers and he is looking forward to his future with the third franchise of his NBA career thus far.

Hield was traded to the Pacers in February and in 25 games with the club, he averaged 18.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.

He shot 45 percent from the field and 36 percent from three point range in just over 35 minutes per game.

Prior to the trade, Hield averaged 14.4 points per game and made 182 three pointers, and was shooting a career-low 37 percent in 28 minutes per game with the Sacramento Kings.

Hield said one of his main goals this offseason is to improve his three point percentage.

“Take time off? I don’t know. I hate being bored,” he said.

“I’m excited about this coming summer, I’m excited about this

coming season.”

Hield ranked fourth this season in both three point makes (262) and attempted (716) this season.

As a Pacer, Hield reached another career milestone as one of the NBA’s premier shooters. He moved into 50th place in career three-point field goals made when he surpassed 1,397 through his six year career.

He achieved the mark in a 132123 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 28.

He shot 5-7 from three point range and finished with 26 points on the night.

Hield surpassed former Three Point contest champion Brent Barry and at the conclusion of the season, has made 1,417 three pointers. He now trails the Hawks’ Danilo Galinari at no.49 on the all time list with 1,426.

He played in 385 of 388 possible games during his time with the Sacramento Kings. He left as the franchise’s all-time leader in three point field goals made.

Despite the three point career

milestone, Hield said the move to Indiana has afforded him new opportunities that have allowed him to display his skillset on the floor.

“I’m proud of myself,” Hield told reporters after the milestone performance against the Hawks.

“I was able to do a lot of things I wasn’t able to do over there in Sacramento. I make plays for my teammates. [Rick Carlisle] has trusted me a lot to do more, and that’s something I wanted to do.

In Sacramento, they didn’t let me do that. I was just a guy to stand in the corner and just catch and shoot.

Change is great for me. I’m happy with the change.”

Also on his résumé, Hield made more three point field goals than any other player through the first 400 games of their NBA career. He set the mark of 1,209 three pointers in his 400th on November 12, 2021. Hield also became the fastest player to make 1,000 career threepointers in NBA history. He set the mark in just 350 games to reach the milestone faster than Curry, who

held the previous record of 369 games.

The Pacers depth chart at guard now includes Hield, Malcolm Brogdon, Tyrese Halibuton, Lance Stephenson and rookie Chris Duarte.

Halliburton came over to the Pacers alongside Hield and Tristan Thompson while All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday were dealt to Sacramento.

Halliburton, in just his second season, is still under his rookie contract and is considered the point guard of the future while Brogdon is owed $67.6 million over the next three seasons but cannot be traded until the offseason because of his recently signed extension in October 2021.

“It doesn’t matter where he’s at, he’s a fun guy, high spirit. I think everybody knows what Tyrese can do already . . . Everybody loves him,” Hield said, “Everybody loves to play with him. He’s a willing passer and everybody likes to play with a willing passer.”

MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, strikes a pose as he celebrates with Jesús Aguilar after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, in Anaheim, Calif.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

SAILING IN SCHOOLS FROM PAGE 14

six at a time right now.

The junior programme that we have around the islands right now, they can only take so many juniors at a time in the programme and some of those programmes are booked out years in advance. They can’t take anymore into the programme, especially here in Nassau,” Mr Rolle said.

He said that sailing has the potential to rival track and field in terms of popularity in The Bahamas.

“So sailing is looking good and don’t look at sailing as something that people don’t know about.

Because the kids become very excited when it comes to sailing and when it comes to junior sailing.

And I must give Danny (Strachan, chairman of National Family Island Regatta Committee) some credit, he has been behind us in this for years and this is going to continue to go from strength to strength.

It’s probably going to be one of the strongest sports along with track and field in the country.”

Mr Sweeting said he would be willing to work alongside other ministries to get sailing into schools to widen its influence.

“So I think anything that we do as a government if it’s sailing being announced as the national sport that it would be (driven) by the government to help facilitate whether it’s included in the schools as part of the curriculum or if it’s sponsoring events in the Family Islands so that they can get involved as well. But nationwide I think that you can see that people are getting involved in the sport and we will do as we can as a ministry work along with the Ministry of Sports to drive this.”

Homer for Chisholm, Fox makes second start

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JAZZ CHISHOLM JR homered for the second time this season and Lucius Fox received his second Major League Baseball start Tuesday night.

Chisholm hit a game tying two run shot in the eighth inning but the Marlins eventually fell 4-3 to the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Los

Angeles, California.

His 353 foot shot over the short wall in right field off Angels reliever Mike Mayers scored Jon Berti to tie the game 3-3.

The Angels went on to win in walk-off fashion as they swept the series.

The Angels’ Tyler Wade who would eventually go on to score the go ahead run, entered as a pinch runner in the ninth.

His attempt to steal second base initially appeared to be

unsuccessful when he slid past the bag, and Chisholm applied the tag, but he was ruled safe after a review.

“He was out,” Chisholm told reporters after the game, “His heart was beating really fast, so I think he knew he was out, too.”

Wade took third on a wild pitch and scored on a Max Stassi RBI single.

Chisholm’s first home run of the season came on opening day in the

Marlins’ 6-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Also on Tuesday night, Fox got his second start of the season at shortstop for the Washington Nationals in a 16-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.

Fox went hitless and was not in the lineup in yesterday’s series finale, a 3-1 win for the Nationals.

Last Sunday, he made Bahamian history with his MLB debut.

Fox got the start at

shortstop, flashed his defensive prowess on one side of the ball, and got his first RBI of his MLB career with a squeeze bunt in the Nationals’ 4-2 win over the New York Mets at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. The 24-year-old infielder also scored the game’s final run to lead the Nationals to their first win of the season as he became the eighth Bahamian to play in the MLB.

PAGE 16, Thursday, April 14, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

RED SOX ROUGH UP EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ IN 9-7 WIN OVER TIGERS

By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer DETROIT (AP) — Eduardo Rodriguez left pitches over the plate and his former teammates took advantage.

Jackie Bradley, Kiké Hernández and Rafael Devers hit consecutive RBI doubles in the fourth inning to chase Rodriguez, and the Boston Red Sox held on to beat the Detroit Tigers 9-7 Wednesday and win the three-game series.

“He was middling a lot and when we got him in the zone, we did damage,” manager Alex Cora said.

Boston went into the fifth inning ahead 7-1 and led by 9-2 after batting in the seventh, and its comfortable cushion became a precarious two-run lead going into the final inning.

Hansel Robles got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by getting Jonathan Schoop to pop up on the infield and retired the side in order in the ninth, earning the save.

“He did an amazing job,” Cora said.

Nathan Eovaldi (1-0) allowed up Schoop’s solo home run in the first inning and not much else until Akil Baddoo hit a solo homer in the fifth.

Eovaldi allowed two runs, four hits and a walk over five innings.

Rodriguez (0-1) gave up a tiebreaking sacrifice fly to Alex Verdugo for the second out in the fourth before third baseman Jeimer Candelario made a throwing error on Christian Vazquez’s grounder on a rainsoaked field.

Boston made the most of the opportunity, hitting three straight run-scoring doubles to left to end Rodriguez’s outing.

“If you make a mistake, you’re going to pay for it,” Rodriguez said.

“That’s what happened in that inning.

“Too much of the plate and too much of the strike zone.”

Trevor Story followed with a RBI single off Rony Garcia to give the Red Sox a 7-1 lead.

Rodriguez allowed up seven runs — two earned — five hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings in his second start with the Tigers. He signed a $77 million, five-year contract in Detroit after playing in Boston for six seasons.

Tigers rookie Spencer Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 amateur draft, cleared the fences for the first time in the majors with a two-run homer in the seventh to cut the deficit to 9-4.

“It’s something to build on,” Torkelson said.

Detroit scored five runs over the seventh and eighth innings.

Jake Dieskman entered with no outs in the eighth and struck out pinch hitter Miguel Cabrera and Baddoo before giving up Victor Reyes’ single and hitting Austin Meadows to let the Tigers pull within two runs and to end his appearance.

TRAINER’S ROOM Red Sox: Story played after missing three games with an illness. “He told me this morning, `I’m ready to go,” Cora said.

“I’m not gonna go against that.” ... SS Xander Bogaerts was given the day off due to general soreness, according to Cora.

Tigers: SS Javier Báez was a late scratch with a sore right thumb. ... OF Robbie Grossman, who left Tuesday’s game after the sixth inning with an injury, did not play in the series finale. “We’re going to give it 24 hours,” manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday morning. “It sounds like it’s less groin and a little bit more back tightness.”

THAT HURTS The start of the game was delayed briefly after home plate umpire CB Bucknor appeared to get hit in the throat by one of Rodriguez’s warmup pitches.

ARIZONA Diamondbacks’ Seth Beer (28) heads home with the winning run as Houston Astros relief pitcher Ryan Pressly (55) walks off the field during the 10th inning of a baseball game Wednesday, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 3-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Marte, Beer help D-backs rally past Astros 3-2 in 10 innings

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Seth Beer’s dramatic game-winning, three-run homer was the talk of Arizona’s opening day.

He came through in a critical situation again Wednesday.

Beer tied the game in the 10th inning with an RBI single, and Ketel Marte followed with a game-ending sacrifice fly to give the Diamondbacks a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros.

The game was full of missed opportunities for both teams — tied at 1-all through nine innings — until each scratched across runs in the 10th.

The Diamondbacks got the better of the exchange, falling behind in the top of the 10th before scoring two runs off Houston closer Ryan Pressly (0-1).

“If the ball leaves the yard, that’s great,” Beer said. “But in that situation, if you’re

muscling up against a guy like Pressly, that’s when you get in trouble. So you just stick to your approach and try to find a barrel.”

Beer, a rookie with an easy-to-remember last name, became an immediate fan favourite at Chase Field with his opening-day heroics.

This time, he helped the D-backs snap a four-game skid despite leaving 14 runners on base. The teams split the two-game series.

“There’s two or three punches we’ve got to throw at one time and we’ve got to land them all before we start putting up crooked numbers,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “I think we’re delivering some body blows, we’re getting runners on base, and eventually someone’s going to slug at the right time.”

Arizona’s Sergio Alcantara began the 10th inning on second and Jake McCarthy’s sacrifice bunt moved him to third. Beer’s sharp single through the drawn-in

infield got past Houston second baseman Jose Altuve to tie the game at 2-all. Geraldo Perdomo and Cooper Hummel followed with walks off Pressly to load the bases.

Marte hit a deep flyball to left that Chas McCormick dropped, but it didn’t matter because a tagging Beer would have easily beaten the throw.

The Astros looked like they might steal a win in the 10th.

Jeremy Peña was the automatic runner and Jason Castro walked before a passed ball by Arizona’s Jose Herrera allowed both runners to advance. Michael Brantley was intentionally walked, and Alex Bregman’s sacrifice fly brought home Peña for the 2-1 lead.

Merrill Kelly started for the Diamondbacks and threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits, two walks and striking out six.

He didn’t get much run support, which has been a recurring problem for the D-backs early in the season.

Oliver Perez (1-1) got the last out of the 10th.

Arizona took a 1-0 lead in the second after Ketel Marte was hit by a pitch on his right foot with the bases loaded, bringing home Pavin Smith.

Plate umpire Jim Reynolds didn’t see the ball hit Marte but a D-backs challenge confirmed the ball glanced off Marte’s foot.

The Astros tied the game in the seventh when Martin Maldonado’s sacrifice fly brought home McCormick.

Houston starter Framber Valdez struggled with his command, needing 76 pitches to get through three innings. He gave up only one run despite surrendering two hits and five walks. Houston’s pitchers walked nine batters and hit three.

Altuve is still encouraged by the Astros’ first week.

“We’ve won four out of six,” Altuve said. “That’s a good start for us. We’re going to keep playing game by game and hopefully keep winning.”

WALK THIS WAY Arizona leadoff hitter Cooper Hummel reached base five times, four times via walks and once on a single.

Lovullo has said the rookie’s ability to force long at-bats and coax walks is a big reason he made the roster.

TRAINER’S ROOM Astros: OF Yordan Alvarez was out of the lineup for a second straight day because of an illness.

UP NEXT Astros: Houston is off Thursday before continuing its trip at Seattle on Friday.

The Astros are scheduled to start RHP Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 4.50 ERA).

Diamondbacks: Arizona has the day off Thursday before its first trip of the season, starting with a threegame series against the Mets.

RHP Zach Davies (0-0, 3.60) is scheduled to start Friday for the D-backs. He’ll face RHP Chris Bassitt (1-0, 0.00).

Webb strong for 8 innings, Giants edge Padres 2-1

By JOE STIGLICH Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Logan Webb pitched four-hit ball over eight innings and Luke Williams doubled home the only runs he needed as the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 Wednesday.

Webb (1-0), who emerged as the Giants’ ace last season, allowed one run. He retired 22 of the final 24 hitters he faced, striking out seven and walking none in a game that wrapped in 2 hours, 11 minutes.

The eight innings pitched were a career high. Through his first two starts, Webb has surrendered two runs over 14 innings.

“He was fantastic,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said.

“He’s a No. 1 starter for a reason on a really good team.

“He’s got a really good sinker, really good changeup off that and a good breaking ball. Once he got past the first inning he really got into a rhythm.”

San Diego lefty Sean Manaea (1-1) was also stingy, holding San Francisco to two runs over six innings of fourhit ball. But Williams’ two-run double in the second erased a 1-0 San Diego lead and wound up being the deciding hit.

Williams said the game plan against Manaea was to target pitches low in the zone.

“The first pitch was a ball, but I was kind of able to see that spot where I wanted to hit it,” Williams said. “The second pitch, he threw it right there, just a little more middle, and I put it in play.”

Aware that he was on a pitch count of 90-95, Webb lobbied Giants pitching coach Andrew Bailey for a chance to go deep in the game.

His previous career high was 7 1/3 innings.

“I told Bails before, ‘If I’m kinda cruisin’, let me pitch the eighth’ because I know I haven’t finished the

SAN Francisco Giants’ Logan Webb pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

eighth, so I was wanting to do that,” Webb said.

The Padres threatened in the ninth against Giants reliever Camilo Doval.

Jake Cronenworth reached on a one-out infield single, Eric Hosmer walked with two outs and Doval hit Jurickson Profar to load the bases.

But Doval struck out pinch hitter Matt Beaty on an off-speed pitch to close out his first save.

The Giants captured a series that featured plenty of tension. Melvin was not pleased Tuesday night when the Giants stole a base and bunted for a single while leading by a wide margin.

That contributed to a yelling match between Padres third base coach Mike Shildt and Giants first base coach Antoan Richardson, with Richardson saying Shildt made comments that had “undertones of racism.”

Richardson and Shildt patched things up in a Wednesday morning

conversation and hugged on the field.

“I don’t believe he’s a racist,” said Richardson, who is Black. “I think, though, to the important point, he’s recognising that some of his words, our words, are powerful and they’re impactful. And we just want to bring awareness to a situation that I think is important for our community.”

Shildt, who is white, acknowledged he used inappropriate language and said he appreciated Richardson saying he was not a racist.

San Diego got to Webb for a run in the first. Manny Machado doubled with one out and Cronenworth drove him in with a triple over the head of right fielder Heliot Ramos.

But that was it, as Webb allowed just one base runner between the first and seventh innings. He pumped his arms triumphantly as he walked off the mound in the eighth following a strikeout of Padres leadoff man Trent Grisham, his final hitter.

TRAINER’S ROOM Padres: RHP Austin Adams was placed on the 10-day IL with a right forearm strain and RHP Pedro Avila was recalled from Triple-A El Paso. ... LHP Blake Snell, dealing with an adductor injury, did not throw his scheduled bullpen session Wednesday. A decision on his next start has not been announced.

Giants: Right-handed reliever John Brebbia was reinstated from the bereavement list and RHP Yunior Marte was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.

UP NEXT Padres: San Diego begins a 10-game homestand Thursday against Atlanta, with RHP Joe Musgrove (0-0, 3.00 ERA) taking the hill.

Giants: San Francisco opens a three-game series at Cleveland on Friday behind LHP Carlos Rodon (0-0, 1.80).

THE TRIBUNE

CAMPAZZO SUSPENDED FOR GAME 1 FOLLOWING SHOVING INCIDENT

Thursday, April 14, 2022, PAGE 17

Sorry, not sorry: Heat aren’t fazed by the lack of believers MIAMI Heat forward Udonis Haslem.

(AP Photo/John Raoux)

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Udonis Haslem started the Miami Heat postseason with an apology.

It wasn’t a real apology.

Haslem, like many other Heat players, is amused by the notion that the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs isn’t considered a favourite to win the Eastern Conference title. Miami doesn’t have an MVP candidate, didn’t have anyone qualify for the top 20 in the league’s scoring race, and according to FanDuel Sportsbook only has the third-best odds of winning the East behind Milwaukee and Boston.

“It might not be the sexiest,” Haslem, the longtime Heat captain and 19-year veteran, said of Miami’s 53-29 regular season mark.

“We ain’t got nobody out here scoring 85 points in one game. Ain’t got none of that. But we are winning basketball games collectively as a unit and as a team. I’m sorry to everybody in the basketball world that that’s not sexy enough for you guys, but we’re thankful for the guys that we have and the opportunity that we have to be the No. 1 seed.”

Miami opens the playoffs at home on Sunday afternoon; the Heat will find out their opponent on Friday night.

By then, the Heat expect to have centre Bam Adebayo — out because of a stint in the league’s health and safety protocols — back and ready for Game 1. He was the only Heat player missing Wednesday when the team resumed practice after a two-day, players-only, bonding trip to the Bahamas.

“In terms of whether there’s motivation because people are counting us out or not giving us a due respect, each person can translate that on their own,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I think the more powerful motivation is what we’re trying to play for and compete for, which is the hardest thing you attempt to do in a team sport, to compete for a title.”

It might seem surprising to some that a team that made headlines a few weeks

DENVER (AP) — The NBA has suspended Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo for Game 1 of a firstround playoff series against Golden State for a shoving incident in the regular season finale.

Campazzo forcefully pushed down Los Angeles Lakers guard Wayne Ellington in the second quarter Sunday.

Campazzo was assessed a flagrant foul 2 and ejected from the game.

The NBA also announced Wednesday that Ellington received a $20,000 fine for what the league said was escalating the incident by posting a threatening comment on social media after the game.

Series Campazzo will sit out when the Nuggets begin their series Saturday at Chase Center against the Warriors. He averaged 5.1 points, 3.4 assists and 18.2 minutes this season.

“It’s unfortunate,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after practice. “Facu sent me a message the other day apologising for what happened in that Laker game.”

Campazzo helped the Nuggets beat Portland in the postseason a year ago, before they were swept by Phoenix.

“He’s definitely a guy that we could throw into any series and trust him,” Malone said. “Obviously, with the league’s ruling now that won’t be the case for Game 1.”

ago for an in-game argument — All-Star forward Jimmy Butler exchanging words with Spoelstra during a time out, then Haslem getting involved in a rather demonstrative way — went on vacation together. Whatever caused that argument was forgotten by the next day anyway, since some players arrived for work the following morning and found Butler and Haslem already in the locker room and carrying on with their usual brand of conversation and nonsense.

The Heat insist they’re united. They bicker, and that argument wasn’t the worst dustup the team has experienced this season, but Haslem said that’s all part this team’s DNA. “Typical day in Miami, man,” Haslem said of the time-out mess last month.

“That’s how we get stuff done around here. We believe in eye-to-eye communication. ... You say what you’ve got to say, I’ll say what I’ve got to say, I love you, you love me, let’s get back on the basketball court, let’s play.”

That dustup came during a four-game Miami losing streak.

When that slide ended, the Heat won six straight to lock up the No. 1 seed in the East before losing a meaningless regular-season finale in Orlando.

Most Heat regulars didn’t play in that game, and the Bahamas trip then got underway.

Being the No. 1 seed guarantees nothing; no top seed has won the East title since Cleveland in 2016, and a top seed has only made one East final in the last four years — that being Milwaukee, when it lost to Toronto in 2019.

But the Heat, just as they were in the bubble two years ago when they went to the NBA Finals as the East’s No. 5 seed, insist that they believe they have enough to contend for a title.

“I feel good. I do,” Butler said. “I don’t put a ceiling or basement on anything, man, because we can’t control everything.

“I just know that if we focus in on us, and what we can control, and what we’re capable of, we’re going to be OK.”

QUARTERBACK DEREK CARR GETS 3-YEAR EXTENSION FROM RAIDERS

By W.G. RAMIREZ Associated Press

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Through a season of turmoil, Derek Carr performed at his best. So the Las Vegas Raiders have given the veteran quarterback a three-year contract extension.

The extension is worth $121.5 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press, speaking Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

Despite all of the issues with the Raiders last season, including the resignation of coach Jon Gruden, Carr helped them to the playoffs as a wild card in the tough AFC West. He threw for a careerhigh 4,804 yards and 23 touchdowns as Las Vegas went 10-7 before losing at Cincinnati in the postseason.

“I’ve only wanted to be a Raider again and I told my agent (Tim Younger), I said, ‘I’m either gonna be a Raider or I’m gonna be playing golf.’ I don’t want to play anywhere else,” Carr said during Wednesday’s news conference. “That’s how much this place means to me.”

Carr said it also meant a lot for him to structure the contract so the team could keep key components around him for a long time while building “a championship team.”

“We made sure guys like Chandler (Jones), guys like Davante (Adams), guys like hopefully Hunter (Renfrow), and Foster (Moreau) and those guys can stay here,” said Carr, the longesttenured quarterback in the AFC. “I went through a heartbreak already the last time I signed my contract, my best friend (Khalil Mack) left. And I didn’t want that to ever happen again.

“This was an opportunity for me to prove to the team, to the organisation, to our fans, that the way we’re gonna structure this is so we can keep everyone together and really have real continuity, really have something to build on.”

An eight-year veteran, Carr, 31, was entering the final year of his deal, worth nearly $19.8 million in base salary. That contract was for five years at $125 million, the richest in the NFL at the time

JACKSONVILLE Jaguars offensive tackle Cam Robinson.

JAGUARS LT ROBINSON SIGNS ONE YEAR, $16.7M FRANCHISE TENDER

By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer

LAS Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in December. The Raiders have given Carr a three-year contract extension, a person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin, File) he signed it in 2017.

He said he told his agent he was willing to play out his contract if it wasn’t extended.

“At the end of the day I want to be a Raider and I am crazy enough to go out there on one year, especially with the guys that’ll be around me. I said I’ll take that chance,” he said.

“Thankfully, it’ll be four more.

Hopefully, we can build on that and I can finish and just do what I set out to do nine years ago, and that is to win a championship.”

The new deal puts him more in line with what veteran starting quarterbacks make throughout the league.

When healthy, Carr has been a starter for nearly all of his time with the Raiders and has made three Pro Bowls.

Carr had a career-high and franchiserecord 4,804 passing yards in 2021 and was the only quarterback in the league to finish among the top five in both passing yards and completion percentage (68.4).

Carr holds franchise records

for passing yards (31,700), passing touchdowns (193), games with multipletouchdown passes (59), games with a passer rating of at least 100 points (44), and 300-yard passing contests (31).

Last month at the owners meetings, new Raiders coach Josh McDaniels seemed to stress the importance of finding the money for Carr. Wednesday he reaffirmed that in a prepared statement “Derek Carr has been the leader of this franchise for a long time and we are thrilled to continue that relationship moving forward,” McDaniels said.

“He has been a great example of someone who always puts the team first, and we appreciate his desire to keep doing that while leading on and off the field.

It is clear how much Derek cares about this organisation, his teammates and winning. I look forward to the opportunity to work with him this season and beyond.”

Extending Carr is the latest move in a busy offseason. Carr will have All-Pro Adams added to his receiving group in a trade with Green Bay, and standout pass rusher Jones as a free agent.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson signed his franchise tender Wednesday, guaranteeing him $16.7 million this season.

Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke and new coach Doug Pederson have said repeatedly they hope to sign Robinson to a long-term deal.

The former Alabama standout has started 61 games over five seasons since Jacksonville drafted him with the 34th overall pick in 2017. But he’s been far from one of the league’s best blind-side protectors.

Using the franchise tag on him for a second straight year was a surprise move considering the Jaguars drafted Stanford left tackle Walker Little with the 45th overall pick last year in hopes of pairing him up with quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the foreseeable future. Little started the final two games of the 2021 season and played well, leading some to believe Baalke would move on from Robinson.

But with Robinson back for a sixth season, Little will compete with Jawaan Taylor at right tackle. With Robinson, Little and Taylor in the mix, it’s unlikely the Jags would draft Alabama’s Evan Neal or North Carolina State’s Iken Ekwonu with the No. 1 pick in two weeks.

Instead, they’re seemingly poised to go with a pass rusher — probably Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson — or try to trade out of the top spot in hopes of picking up more draft capital.

Either way, the team’s offensive line will be revamped.

Longtime centre Brandon Linder retired after eight injury-filled seasons, and Jacksonville let starting guards Andrew Walker and A.J. Cann leave in free agency.

The Jags signed five-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff to a three-year, $49.5 million contract that included $30 million guaranteed. They also brought back versatile backup guard/tackle Will Richardson and longtime backup center Tyler Shatley.

But holes remain. The team is expected to use at least two of its 12 draft picks to bolster a line that allowed Lawrence to get sacked 32 times in 2021.

PAGE 18, Thursday, April 14, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

MATCHDAY: BARCELONA, ROMA LOOK TO ADVANCE IN EUROPE A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Thursday: • EUROPA LEAGUE All four quarterfinal matchups are well-poised with three of them tied at 1-1 from the first leg.

That includes one involving Barcelona, the title favorite looking to win the one trophy not in its collection.

The Spanish team, playing in Europe’s second-tier competition for the first time since 2004 (when it was called the UEFA Cup), got a second-half equalizer from Ferran Torres against Eintracht Frankfurt last week. West Ham and Lyon are also tied 1-1 heading into the second leg in France, as are Leipzig and Atalanta ahead of the return match in Italy. Portuguese club Braga travel to Scotland protecting a 1-0 lead over Rangers.

• EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE Norwegian champion Bodo/Glimt will be without its coach for possibly the biggest match in its history.

Kjetil Knutsen was suspended for his part in a brawl with Roma’s goalkeeping coach, Nuno Santos, near the locker rooms in last week’s first leg that was won 2-1 by Bodo/Glimt thanks to an 89th-minute goal.

Bodo/Glimt’s appeal was dismissed by UEFA on Wednesday.

Roma were beaten 6-1 away by Bodo/Glimt in the group stage, representing the heaviest defeat of Jose Mourinho’s managerial career, while the teams drew in Italy.

Marseille lead PAOK Thessaloniki 2-1 ahead of the return match in Greece, while PSV Eindhoven vs. Leicester (0-0) and Slavia Prague vs. Feyenoord (1-1) are tied going into the second legs of Europe’s third-tier competition.

BODØ/GLIMT COACH SUSPENDED FROM ROMA GAME FOR TUNNEL BRAWL NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Norwegian soccer club Bodø/ Glimt will be without its coach against Roma on Thursday after UEFA dismissed an appeal against a suspension while he and the Italian team’s goalkeeping coach are being investigated for fighting that broke out after the first leg.

UEFA said Wednesday it declined to overturn the suspension of Kjetil Knutsen. He cannot have contact with his players at the Stadio Olimpico when Bodø/Glimt faces Roma in the Europa Conference League quarterfinals.

Fighting allegedly broke out in the tunnel after Bodø/Glimt won the first leg 2-1 with an 89th-minute goal in Norway.

Roma goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos and Knutsen were provisionally suspended for one game Monday by UEFA’s disciplinary panel while it “decides on the merits of the case.”

Both Santos and Knutsen face longer bans from UEFA competitions if assault charges are proven.

Bodø/Glimt are having its best run in Europe and Roma is seeking its first title in a UEFA competition.

LIVERPOOL’S Ibrahima Konate celebrates scoring his side’s first goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Benfica, at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool in Champions League semis, quadruple dreams alive LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — A place in the Champions League semifinals secured. The dream of an unprecedented quadruple of trophies still intact.

Key players rested amid a hectic schedule.

Liverpool are in a good place entering the home straight of what could turn out to be the club’s greatest ever season.

Even conceding two late goals to draw 3-3 at home to Benfica couldn’t take the smile of Jurgen Klopp’s face.

“The day we qualify for the semifinals of the Champions League and I’m not happy, please come here and knock me out,” the Liverpool manager said Wednesday after seeing his team advance from the quarterfinals 6-4 on aggregate.

With Liverpool inflicting significant damage by winning the first leg 3-1 in Lisbon last week, Klopp was confident enough to rest stars like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold for a return match against Benfica that turned into a wild, end-toend contest at Anfield.

Roberto Firmino’s second-half double put Liverpool 3-1 ahead on the night and 6-2 ahead on aggregate, only for Klopp’s team to ease off the pace.

Benfica took advantage by getting behind Liverpool’s makeshift defence to score

LIVERPOOL’S Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring his side’s third goal. through substitute Roman Yaremchuk and rising star Darwin Núñez, but the gap was too much to make up.

“It was pretty comfortable,” Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said, “but we’re disappointed with the goals we conceded.”

Ultimately, Liverpool have coasted into the last four of Europe’s top club competition and are there for the 12th time — tying the record for an English team with Manchester United — and the first since the last of their six title triumphs in 2019.

Villarreal await Liverpool in the last four. Despite the

Spanish team eliminating both Juventus and Bayern Munich and their coach, Unai Emery, being a master strategist of European competitions, it’s pretty much a dream scenario for Klopp and his team.

The quadruple of major trophies might really be on for Liverpool, already the winner of the English League Cup, currently in second place in Premier League — just a point behind Manchester City — and into the semifinals of the FA Cup. That Klopp was able to rotate so heavily against Benfica — even Andrew Robertson and Fabinho

(AP Photo/Jon Super) had the night off — should enable Liverpool to field a full-strength team against Man City in the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

City weren’t in such a luxurious position Wednesday, taken all the way by Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital where a 0-0 draw sealed a 1-0 aggregate victory. City, which will face Real Madrid in the semifinals, saw Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker go off with injuries in an often brutal game against Atletico, on the same night Klopp kept his best players fresh and relied on his backups.

Ibrahima Konaté was one

of them and he followed up his goal in the first leg — his first both for Liverpool and in the Champions League — with another header to open the scoring off Kostas Tsimikas’ outswinging corner.

Gonçalo Ramos made it 1-1 in the 32nd minute — keeping Benfica in with the unlikeliest of chances — with a goal that had a hint of fortune about it. The ball ricocheted to the 20-yearold forward from a tackle

by Liverpool midfielder James Milner and his finish from the edge of the area was emphatic past Alisson.

Firmino is no longer first choice for Liverpool following the arrivals of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz but the Brazil striker staked his claim for a starting spot in the team’s big upcoming games with a double in the space of 10 minutes.

His first goal came after mistakes from goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who fumbled as he attempted to gather a through-ball, and centre back Jan Vertonghen, who hurried his resulting clearance.

Jota drove the ball back into the middle of the area and Firmino applied the finish in the 55th.

The Brazilian volleyed in Tsimikas’ free kick to make it 3-1 but Liverpool let Benfica back into the match.

“We were 6-2 up on aggregate and maybe we relaxed,” Jota said.

MAN CITY FEND OFF ATLÉTICO, REACH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIS

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

MADRID (AP) — In the end, it was Pep Guardiola getting the better of Diego Simeone in the battle of contrasting styles in the Champions League.

Atlético Madrid couldn’t find a spark for its struggling attack and was held to a 0-0 draw by Guardiola’s Manchester City on Wednesday in a game that featured more heated exchanges and rough fouls than clearcut chances and fluid play.

The result put City through to the semifinals thanks to their 1-0 win in the first leg at home, and kept alive their hopes of winning Europe’s top club competition for the first time.

But the game was marred by ugly scenes as the teams left the pitch.

A scuffle had broken out between players during the final minutes as Atlético accused City of time wasting, and the animosity spilled over into the tunnel as the teams walked off after the game. Extra security had to be called in to keep players and officials from the two camps separate.

Some players had to be restrained as police officers intervened.

“We have to congratulate our rivals, they played a great match with the type of soccer that we are used to seeing,” Simeone said. “It hurts to be eliminated but I’m proud of what we are and of how we compete.”

Atlético tried to leave behind their more defensive-minded approach and created some danger, but they still managed only three attempts on target after having none in the first leg.

“In the second half, they were better than us and we were lucky that we didn’t concede,” said Guardiola, who became the first coach to reach nine Champions League semifinals.

“Overall, though, we are in the semifinals and it’s deserved.”

The hosts played the final minutes

MANCHESTER City’s players celebrate after the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester City at Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) a man down after defender Felipe was sent off for kicking an opponent.

The benches had been cleared a few moments earlier as Atlético’s players appeared upset with City’s attempt to waste time.

The match ended with more than 12 minutes of stoppage time and Atlético had a couple of goods chances to break the deadlock but couldn’t capitalize on them.

Runner-up last year, City will next face Real Madrid, who eliminated defending champions Chelsea on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

In the other quarterfinal on Wednesday, Liverpool advanced past Benfica to set up a semifinal against Villarreal, the modest Spanish club who eliminated Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Atlético were able to have the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium at full capacity after the Court of

Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday accepted the club’s appeal to overturn UEFA’s closure of a 5,000-seat section as punishment for a fan’s Nazi salute in the first leg in England.

The club were trying to reach the semifinals for the first time in five years.

Atlético are now winless in their last seven Champions League games at home, while City are unbeaten in its last 13 away games in all competitions, with 10 wins.

Playing in their 100th Champions League game from group stage to final, City controlled possession early on and kept Atlético from creating any significant threat.

Criticised for playing overly defensively in the first leg, Atlético tried to press forward more often at the Metropolitano and ended with more total attempts than City. But Atlético’s top forwards, including starters Antoine Griezmann and João Félix, failed

to score again, as did veteran Luis Suárez after coming off the bench near the end.

“We had our chances,” Atlético midfielder Koke Resurrección said.

“When the ball doesn’t go in, all we can do is congratulate our rivals. But Atlético deserved more.”

Atlético have been held scoreless in their last three matches in all competitions, with only four total shots on target.

Griezmann nearly found the net with a volley from outside the area in the 57th, Rodrigo De Paul’s shot just missed wide in the 70th and substitute Matheus Cunha came close in the 86th when his close-range shot was blocked in front of the goal.

City had one of their best chances when Ilkay Gundogan hit the post from close range in the 30th.

The English side have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight away games in all competitions.