05172024 NEWS AND SPORT

The Tribune

‘ABUSER STALKING ME FROM PRISON’

Victim urged forum to ‘note red flags, they only get worse’

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

TWO years after a video of Petra Curry’s boyfriend running her over with his car while she held their daughter went viral, Ms Curry said she and her children are still suffering the consequences of the attempted murder

–– and her abuser is allegedly still contacting her from jail. Ray Sands, 34, beat and ran over Ms Curry with his car on Key West Street on November 15, 2021. The disturbing video of the attack sparked calls to address violence against women and children.

LIGHTNING STRIKE AT SCHOOL IN GB SENDS STUDENTS TO HOSPITAL

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport

Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

EIGHT students and a teacher were taken to the Rand Memorial Hospital yesterday after lightning struck the Bishop Michael Eldon School.

Lightning hit a tree on the school campus shortly after 9am, travelled underground and hit a concrete pavement where several students were standing. Emergency Medical Services initially transported four students who were injured by flying debris. Small rocks were embedded under a student’s skin, according to school

Two shot while in a vehicle on Ferguson Street, one man dead

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

A 22-YEAR-OLD man on bail was murdered yesterday, the 51st murder of the year. A 28-year-old man who was with him was shot and taken to the hospital.

Two men were reportedly inside a silver coloured Suzuki Solio travelling east on Ferguson Street when they were obstructed by the driver of a small grey

Japanese vehicle as they approached the intersection of Rupert Dean Lane. Three masked men –– two armed with handguns and one wielding a

‘THERE’S NO HOSPITAL WITHOUT PYSICIANS”

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

MORE than half of surveyed doctors feel the new $290m hospital is not “fiscally sound”, the Medical Association of The Bahamas (MAB) president said yesterday, as she warned: “There’s no hospital without the physicians.” Dr Gemma Rolle, unveiling

feedback from Association members, told Tribune Business there were multiple unanswered questions over the proposed project including why the Government is investing hundreds of millions of dollars into “a brand new, state-of-theart hospital when we cannot even utilise what we have now”. MOTHER OF SUSPECTED SUICIDE VICTIM SPEAKS OUT

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunmedia.net

THE mother of Destiny Hamilton, an Instagram influencer found dead in Abaco with a laceration to her wrist, said “unauthorised statements” have been made about her daughter. Gladys Hamilton’s statement yesterday came after

WILL BE

DR GEMMA ROLLE, president of Medical Assoc. of The Bahamas.

THE SCENE on Augusta St near Ferguson St where two men were shot. One of the men was transported to hospital while the other died at the scene.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Govt holds second townhall meeting on proposed hospital

MINISTER of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville speaks during the second consultation meeting on the proposed new hospital at Living Waters Kingdom Ministries yesterday.

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Two shot while in a vehicle on Ferguson Street, one man dead

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high-powered weapon ––got out of their vehicle and opened fire on the victim’s car.

The two victims

attempted to flee the scene in their vehicle, but were pursued by the three masked men. Ultimately, Brandon Adderley, 22, was fatally wounded.

Police received a report about the shooting around 3.45pm.

Chief Superintendent of Police Chrislyn Skippings said the victim was found with a loaded

Lightning strike at school in GB sends students to hospital

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administrator Tiffany Sweeting-Smith.

Four more students were later taken to hospital for evaluations of eye, ear, and chest issues.

Samantha Rahming, a parent, said the ordeal was frightening.

“My son has a lot of lacerations because debris hit him, and his shirt was bloodied,” she told The Tribune at the hospital.

“You hear about lightning and how people don’t survive. It could have been worse. This was actually his morning to pray in the car. It shows how important it is to pray.”

“The weather was bad, and I really don’t think the children should have been in school, national exam or not.”

Mrs Sweeting-Smith said students were changing classes, and a group from the 10th-grade were near

to where lightning hit the tree.

“The students were struck by bits of rock, rubble, or debris,” she said.

“Two students were injured, and two other students standing nearby said they felt the impact or burst of energy from the lightning. The four of them were brought in by ambulance. In addition, four other students went to the Emergency Department because the thunder had impacted their hearing due to their proximity to the lightning strike.”

Mrs Sweeting-Smith said the bright flash affected another student’s vision.

She said doctors were also evaluating a teacher for numbness in her arm.

“Everyone is in good spirits and thank God for keeping them safe, as things could have been worse,” said Ms Smith, adding that she had never experienced

anything like this in her 16 years at the school.

The weather also disrupted the school’s phone and Wi-Fi services.

School principal Cynthia Wells said classes were dismissed after the incident, but some students stayed to complete their national examinations.

Claire Fox received a call about her injured grandson and rushed to the school.

“I was at home when I received a call that Bishop Michael Eldon School had been struck by lightning and that my grandson was affected by the sound of the lightning. It was so loud that his ear was ringing and hurting, and he started experiencing chest pain. They said, you need to come now and take him to the hospital.”

Severe weather conditions in Grand Bahama also caused widespread flooding and delayed flight operations at the airport.

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some friends and relatives of her daughter, including her cousin, Bennae Beneby-Pinder, publicly disputed the police’s preliminary characterisation of the death as a suicide.

firearm and was being electronically monitored for murder and firearm-related matters. He is the second person this week to be murdered while on bail. Another man, also on bail, was killed in Grand Bahama.

Carlos Reid, an anticrime activist and a consultant at the Ministry of National Security, said: “Imagine couple of them bullets, while these children walking from school, hit some of them children. Then what? It could’ve been your own children. It could’ve been your grandchildren. We all are a part of this, and we all gotta come together and solve this.”

“Sadly, our beautiful angel hurt herself, and we lost her,” Ms Hamilton said. “Understandably, this loss has left Destiny’s family, friends, and countless supporters reeling with grief and disbelief. Such grief and disbelief prompted several people to issue statements allegedly from or on behalf of Destiny’s family.”

“This statement represents the first and only official communication from us.”

Ms Hamilton said the family hoped for privacy and sensitivity.

“However,” she said, “with sensitive details of Destiny’s passing being released to the public and unauthorised and unsubstantiated public statements being made by various individuals, immeasurable additional pain has been inflicted on Destiny’s

grieving loved ones. Destiny’s beloved husband and college friend have unfairly and unnecessarily become targets of all manner of vitriol.

“We thank the Royal Bahamas Police Force for recognising the effect of the wrongful release of sensitive details surrounding Destiny’s untimely passing.”

Ms Hamiliton said her family is letting authorities conclude their investigations.

“Let us honour Destiny’s memory by remembering the joy, positivity, and inspiration she brought to so many lives,” she said.

Chief Superintendent of Police Chrislyn Skippings said earlier this week that officials are awaiting a pathologist report to confirm Destiny’s cause of death. Destiny had over 20,000 followers on Instagram. Her content concerned lifestyle, beauty, and fashion.

She was found in a bathroom in Guana Cay around 8.30am last Thursday with a lacerated wrist.

DESTINY Hamilton with her husband.

THE SCENE on Augusta St near Ferguson St where two men were shot yesterdday. One of the men was transported to hospital while the other died at the scene.

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Rastafarians unhappy over fee for cannabis licences

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

RASTAFARIANS

are unhappy about being required to pay for cannabis licenses, and marijuana advocates believe the Davis administration is letting the black market for marijuana flourish by not comprehensively addressing the recreational use of the drug.

Priest Rithmond McKinney, a leader in the Rastafarian community, and Valentino Elliot, the president of the advocacy group Marijuana Bahamas, reacted yesterday to the compendium of cannabis bills the Davis administration tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

The bills legalise cannabis for religious purposes by allowing organisations to obtain an organisation licence and letting people get an individual use licence.

However, the initial cost of a religious use licence is $1000, and the non-refundable annual fee is $1000 for organisations and $500 for individuals.

Although Priest McKinney said the bills are a step forward for his community, he said: “I don’t think we

should be able to pay a fee for any of those licences, especially for individual and the organisation.

“Once they could prove and know they themselves as Rastafarian, especially the elder rasta who would’ve been through all of the atrocities, then I don’t think they should pay.”

Priest McKinney said officials promised to consult his community further, but did not do so.

Rastafarian leaders had recommended 11 changes to the original draft bills, but most of their recommendations were not accepted. For example, the provision that people convicted of an offence under the Dangerous Drugs Act, the Proceeds of Crime Act, or the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation Act) are ineligible for a licence remains. Rastafarians argue this prevents most members from getting a licence because of the high number of people previously convicted for possessing the substance.

The new bills also mandate that Rastafarian organisations be incorporated as non-profit organisations to obtain a religious organisation licence.

Priest McKinney said his community is prepared to follow this and any other requirement.

“Of course, we have one or two non-profit organisations in the Rastafarian community so we are willing to prepare ourselves and meet any requirement to make sure that we’re in standard with the law going forward to benefit from the bill,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Elliot criticised the government for not widely consulting interested groups and said the proposed regime is not broad enough.

People without a licence who are found with up to 30 grams of marijuana can get a fixed penalty fine of $250. This is the only element of the legislation that concerns the decriminalisation of marijuana possession.

Mr Elliot said: “I think that they need to revamp this and go back to the table and also add some inclusions to this because as it’s just pertaining to medical and religious at this particular point, we’re leaving out some of the major generating factors of it in recreational and industrial and I think we need to be able to tap into those markets a little bit more in

order for us to have a solid hold on a particular market that we’re trying to bring on stream.”

“The way the bills are drafted now, it still gives into a particular black market we know to be very present in this day. If it is illegal to sell marijuana or cannabis now, there are still going to be persons that are going to be found selling it and trying to do their own thing.”

He said the government’s decision to ignore the recreational use of cannabis leaves room for many “grey areas.”

“There are going to be some persons who are actually going to try in their own way to see if they can get medical cards, so this is going to be a grey area,” he said.

“The reason why I said it that particular way is because they should’ve opened the door to recreational and single adults use with the inclusion of industrial use, meaning they could’ve done it with some form of limits to it.”

Experts note that countries that decriminalise possession of small amounts of marijuana often start conservatively and liberalise their laws as time passes.

PINDER: NEW FIREARM BILL WILL BE ‘ALL-ENCOMPASSING’

By KEILE CAMPBELL kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder said government would introduce a new Firearms Act to target untraceable firearms and 3D guns, require routine inspection of guns for those licensed to have them and provide greater detail about which guns are prohibited.

He also said government may prevent people with a criminal record, mental illness, alcohol or substance abuse disorder, and those who fail to complete a gun safety course from getting a firearm licence or renewing their licence.

He said the new bill will be “all-encompassing, having broad application and will go a long way to addressing the scourge of firearms in our country”.

He said it would target “ghost guns”, unserialised and untraceable firearms, “including gun kits, assembling firearms from kits, as well as the production of 3D firearms”.

He said people in the country are printing firearms components using 3D printers and assembling them to produce a working firearm.

He said no legislation currently regulates such technology.

He said the new legislation would have “a much wider coverage of illegal firearms” and would detail what is prohibited in terms of high-powered firearms, assault weapons, submachine and machine guns and any parts, accessories, and ammunition for such weapons.

“We have persons who have properly licensed firearms who then convert them into an automatic type of weapon or other weapon which is not a licensable firearm, and because we don’t have firearm inspections, there’s no way for you to actually know that they’ve done this to a licensed firearm,” he said. “All you do is renew your licence.”

“We will call for routine inspections of licensed firearms.”

Officer who shot Collins testifies he thought he was ‘dead man’

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE officer who killed Aliko Collins testified during a Coroner’s Court inquest that he thought he was a “dead man” because Collins allegedly cornered and pulled a gun on him while he was on a walk in Pinewood Gardens in 2017.

Now-retired Superintendent Basil Collie, the subject of the inquest, also alleged that two of the deceased’s accomplices

grabbed this firearm after he shot Collins. The inquest into the killing of Collins, 21, continued before acting Coroner Kara Turnquest-Deveaux yesterday. Superintendent Collie alleged that an armed Collins accosted him on Bamboo Blvd in the early morning hours of February 8, 2017, prompting him to fatally shoot the deceased.

Superintendent Collie told the five-person jury that around 4.50am on the day of the shooting, he told his

wife and daughter he was going for his regular morning walk.

He said he took his 9mm pistol, a red barbell, and a PVC pipe. He claimed he got the pipe to fend off dogs.

Supt Collie recalled that five minutes into his walk he was violently cut off by a silver coloured vehicle.

He said he became in fear for his life and his family when three men got out of the vehicle. He claimed he saw the deceased, wearing all black,

of #53 Yorkshire Street, Cable Beach will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 10am at I.P.A.D Ministry, Martin Close off Cowpen Road. Apostles Ivry and Denise Johnson will officiate. Cremation Will Follow.

The Radiance of this “Opal of A Gem” will always glow in the hearts of his: Wife: Sharon Sylvia Cox-Greene; Two Sons: Ryan William Greene and Corey Brown; Two Daughters: Dr. Ricquel Wylma Greene and Chundira Brown; One Granddaughter: Sheyenne Jones; One Great Grandson: Aaron Harris Jr.; One Brother: Archie Minus; Three Sisters: Melvern Brown (Don), Patricia Minus and Meltoria MinusRolle (Berkley); Numerous: Nephews and Nieces; One Aunt: Iris Donaldson; Mother-in-law: Dorothy Cox; Four Brothers-in-law: Frank, Arron, Trevor and Michael Cox; Five Sisters-in-law: Marilyn Edwards, Pastor Karen Murphy (Sheldon), Carol Williams, Gina Deveaux (Ryan) and Anita Cox; Other Loving Family and Friends Including: Garnet Ferguson Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lawrance and Julius Chisholm, Philip Swaby, Vanru Hepburn, Alvion Greene and Small.

Public Visitation will be in the “Opal Suit” Emerald Memorial Mortuary, at Memories Funeral Homes in the Mount Royal Plaza, #85 Mount Royal Avenue North on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 1pm to 5:00pm “There will be no viewing at the Church”. Guest book can be signed at www.emeraldmemorialmortuary.com

approach him. He claimed the deceased yelled at him, “Boy, come here.”

He said the deceased soon pointed a weapon at him and once again said, “Boy, I said come here.”

Supt Collie said he began to back away from his assailants and dropped his weight and pipe.

Supt Collie claimed that after dropping these items, he pulled out his weapon and identified himself as an officer before firing at the deceased.

He said after the deceased fell, the two other men immediately hurried back to their vehicle.

He claimed the two men then reversed, grabbed an object from Collins’ body and drove away from the scene.

He suspected the item the two men picked up was a gun.

An investigating officer had testified earlier that no weapon reportedly belonging to the deceased was retrieved from the scene.

Supt Collie said after the incident, he knocked on neighbours’ doors to get them to contact the police.

He said he had not walked that route again.

He said the experience changed his life.

Calling the incident “devastating”, he said he took action to neutralise a threat.

He told K Melvin Munroe, his lawyer, that he was unaware of what happened to the other two suspects because he was told to go home after the scene was processed.

When questioned by Angelo Whitfield, who marshalled the evidence, Superintendent Collie said he acted in accordance with his training and that he turned his weapon over for testing according to police protocol.

Answering questions from the jury, Superintendent Collie said he never saw the deceased with a Carlo Rossi bottle, nor did he see him draw it as a weapon. He said although he only saw the deceased with a weapon, he suspected the other two men were also armed.

A young woman testified that before Collins’ shooting, she was accosted by him and two other men while she was walking alone on Cowpen Road around 3.30am.

She said that night, she saw a grey or silver Nissan pass her before it turned around and came towards her.

She calmly told the jury that a passenger in the front seat tried to grab her through the window.

She claimed that soon after, the car stopped and two passengers exited and walked towards her.

She said she heard the driver say, “come now, come get this thing”, which she interpreted as a reference to a firearm.

She said she started yelling for help and ran backwards into someone’s yard. Men came to her aid a short time later, causing her assailants to flee. The young woman said she was in fear for her life throughout the ordeal and thought the men might rape her.

She recalled that later that day, while giving her statement at the East Street Police Station, two young men came in saying that their friend had been shot. Although she said she did not immediately connect the pair with her assailants, she connected the two with her attackers after she saw their bulletdamaged car in the police parking lot.

She identified this same silver Nissan vehicle with the back window glass blown out in a photo shown in court.

The young woman agreed with Mr Munroe that she would not go to the police to make up a story. She added that she did not know her assailants.

Following this ordeal, she said she learnt not to walk alone at night. She also said that she would not wish this experience on anyone.

‘Abuser stalking me from prison’

After being charged with attempted murder, Sands accepted a plea deal to spend 15 years in jail.

In commemoration of International Day of Families, the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting held a forum on ZNS on Wednesday in which Ms Curry and other domestic violence victims spoke about their experiences.

During the forum, Ms Curry urged other victims to note red flags because they “never change; they only get worse”.

“I blame myself because I feel as if I stayed in a relationship that was dead from the beginning,” she said.

“And every time he abused me, he kept saying he would not do it anymore, and it got worse. Even his mother encouraged me to leave him, and

I did not leave him.”

Sands reportedly went to Ms Curry’s home to speak with her. After an argument, he head-butted the woman and dragged her onto the road, pulling her hair while she held their one-year-old daughter.

After onlookers separated the two, Sands entered his Nissan Note and ran Ms Curry over before crashing into a wall. Ms Curry suffered road rash and multiple broken bones and ribs. She was bedridden for four months.

Ms Curry said she does not remember anything about the incident, but she was told about it while she was in the hospital two weeks later. She saw the videos when she was released, more than four weeks after the attack.

“The only question I had was why,” she said. “Why did he do this?

Why it happened? Why me? Why do so much bad things keep happening? What have I done for him to keep constantly hurting me and doing things to me over and over?”

Ms Curry said she was repeatedly a victim of domestic abuse during the couple’s three-year relationship.

She recalled one of many alleged incidents: on June 28, 2020, three weeks after giving birth to their daughter, he accused her of failing to interact with him.

She said he stabbed her three times with a pair of scissors, causing wounds to her back and neck.

“The court gave him a fine of $800 or spend three months in prison,” she said.

“After the fine was paid, he was released from prison. He called and said he wanted to be in his daughter’s life.

He promised that he was going to change, and I made back up with him, and things got worse and worse every time.”

Ms Curry said the plea deal Sands got was “a slap in the face”.

“The court system failed from the beginning,” she said. “They should have never offered him a plea deal.

“My niece was almost injured. If she didn’t jump, she would have gotten hit as well, and they dropped the charge against my niece because she wasn’t physically hit by the vehicle, so the court system failed from the beginning.”

Ms Curry said Sands continually contacts her from jail, adding: “That means he hasn’t gotten over it.”

“He still is contact me. He still is call me. He still is Facebook message me from jail.

“The first time he actually messaged me was three days after the accident happened. November 18, 2021, he messaged me.

“He pretended to be a customer because I sell little children’s clothing, and he messaged asking if there is any new stock, and I said, no I’m in the hospital.

“Then a couple of days later, he messages again off the same number and he was like, he tired of pretending of being a customer, this him and he sorry for what he did and all of this and all of that.”

Recalling another instance, she said: “He contacted me two days before he went to court.”

“He told me to go to the court, make an affidavit, and tell them that I want to drop the charges so he can be released.”

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe acknowledged that

contraband is repeatedly found in the cells of prisoners as a result of corrupt correctional officers but said he could not speak to this specific incident.

Ms Curry said the car incident left her unemployed. Her children, including two girls and one boy, are still processing the trauma and are unable to receive therapy.

“Sometimes I feel as if I don’t know what I’ve done to be going in this survival mode,” she said.

“I always have to protect my kids because I don’t know what’s going to happen to them, like only me one to fend for them.”

“I only want my kids to get the help they need, the treatment they need, because talking about the accident, my son still breaks down because my son and my daughter were there and still talk about it.”

Islandwide Cabling clebrates 10 years by donating to 10 charities

By KEILE CAMPBELL

ISLANDWIDE Cabling and Consulting

Services celebrating the company’s 10th anniversary yesterday by continuing to donate to local charities.

The company’s owner has pledged to donate $1,000 to ten charities. Timothy Walker, IslandWide Cabling’s

ISLANDWIDE Cabling and Consulting Services celebrate its 10th anniversary by donating to 10 charities.

SIXTEEN GB STUDENTS COMPLETE YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL AMBASSADORS PROGRAMME

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SIXTEEN students in Grand Bahama completed the Youth Environmental Ambassadors (YEA) program, which aims “to cultivate a generation of eco-warriors.”

The five-week programme culminated on May 11 at the Mary Star of the Sea Auditorium, with an exhibit of projects on artificial reefs, mangroves, coral, and their associated ecosystems.

Students from Lucaya International, Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Academy, Sir Jack Hayward Junior High, Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High, Summit Heights Preparatory, and St. George’s High participated this year.

In its 11th year, the YEA program has been a catalyst for change, empowering and nurturing

YEA, Matari Turnquest uses graphs to show the similarities between fish species inhabiting mangroves and coral reefs.

young environmentalists. The participants, through their projects, have made significant strides in understanding and addressing local environmental challenges.

“The YEA program stands as a beacon of hope, guiding our youth towards a future of environmental stewardship and community engagement,” said Andurah Daxon, YEA Program

Coordinator. Ms Daxon encouraged the participation of other schools in Grand Bahama. She believes it is essential that young people become stewards of preserving and protecting the environment.

Young persons can learn more about the programme and how to join at connect@waterkeepersbahamas.com

owner and founder, told The Tribune the celebrations started with a celebratory event during which he donated to four charities.

He said in the second phase of the donation initiative, his company contributed to three more charities: the Nation

Singing Bishop Feeding Foundation, The Cancer Society, and Great Commission Ministries, each receiving $1,000.

He said he tries to donate wherever he can.

“I do believe in giving in charity and I do believe in trying to help the community as best

that I can and I thought that celebrating my tenyear anniversary, this would be a great way to just give back,” he said.

“Not a lot of companies make it to ten years.”

He said consistency in charitable activities was key in deciding to whom to donate.

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RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.

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Haiti’s crisis a focus in DR’s elections

AS soaring violence and political turmoil grip neighbouring Haiti, the Dominican Republic will hold elections Sunday that have been defined by calls for more crackdowns on migrants and finishing a border wall dividing the countries.

Politics in the two Caribbean nations sharing the island of Hispaniola have long been intertwined. Haiti’s spiral into chaos in recent years has coincided with a harsh crackdown by its Dominican neighbour.

President Luis Abinader, a clear frontrunner race as he seeks reelection in the presidential race, has begun to build a Trump-like border wall along Haiti’s border and carried out mass deportations of 175,000 Haitians just last year. Dominicans also will be choosing members of Congress.

“We will continue to deport everyone who is illegal from any country,” Abinader said in a debate in late April. “A society that doesn’t do that is chaos and anarchy.”

Abinader, who has also pledged to strengthen the nation’s economy, said he would finish construction of the border wall with Haiti. His closest competitors – former President Leonel Fernández and Santiago Mayor Abel Martínez – have echoed his calls to ramp up the actions against migration.

The crackdown has marked an intensification of longtime policies by the Dominican government that human rights groups have alleged are discriminatory and put vulnerable people at risk.

Fernández, of the People’s Force party, said Dominicans were “afraid to go out into the streets” despite Abinader’s policies. He also said he would continue crackdowns while respecting human rights.

Dominican voters seem to be rewarding Abinader for the crackdown, with the incumbent favoured to get more than the 50% support needed to win in the first round of voting. If no candidate reaches the 50% mark a runoff between the top vote-getters would be held.

Ana Pagán, a 34-year-old supervisor at a communications company in the country’s capital of Santo Domingo, said she approved of the border wall being built and the measures taken by the government.

“No foreigner who wants to stay

here in the Dominican Republic should do so illegally, and that’s what (the government) has said,” she said.

However, Pagán said the wall doesn’t solve all of the country’s issues, and she referred to what have been the other key electoral issues for Dominicans: crime and endemic corruption. Pagán said many of the country’s security problems come from corrupt officials allowing smuggling and other crimes.

While Dominican voters want continued a government crackdown on migrants, many of the hundreds of thousands of Haitians in the Dominican Republic live in fear.

Haiti, long stricken by tragedy, has been in a downward spiral since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Gangs have warred for power, injecting terror and turmoil into the lives of many in the Caribbean nation.

In recent weeks – following the prime minister’s resignation – a transition council tasked with choosing Haiti’s new leaders has offered a small dose of hope of easing some of the country’s many woes.

The ongoing violence has forced many to flee their homes and seek refuge in places like the Dominican Republic and the United States. The Dominican government’s policies have stirred concerns among both newly arrived migrants and Haitians that have long called the Dominican Republic home.

Yani Rimpel, a 35-year-old Haitian businesswoman in the eastern city of Veron, has lived in the country for 20 years. She told the AP she’s never seen such uncertainty among Haitian communities, something she attributes to Abinader’s migratory policy.

Two weeks ago, she said immigration agents broke into her house at dawn with heavily armed soldiers in tow. She said they searched the house and stole cash she saved up to buy and sell merchandise, leaving her without any means to support herself.

“If (Abinader) stays in power, I can’t live here. I’m going to have to move back to my house in Haiti. Because here I have no value. I’m not safe. I don’t have a way to live here if he continues” as president, she said.

By MARTÍN ADAMES ALCÁNTARA and MEGAN JANETSKY Associated Press

New Day but no changes for BPL

EDITOR, The Tribune. WILL BPL be able to cover the additional KW’s needed for our summer consumption? Oh great development suddenly we have a Ministry of Energy, but renaming does nothing to the service - fluctuation in voltage - outages or nothing at all. Did you hear the good Minister’s comments on ZNS recently? Bulla, be ready for everything unfriendly from BPL… She talked not a single definitive

statement that the new Ministry of Energy has any good news. The stand-by generator providers will smile you getting a further expensive contract...Nothing changed remember those contracts before 2021 New Day on Energy - simply words. Absolutely nothing on alternative solar, didn’t New Day quite soon after election in September 2021 suggest they have a mega contract for Nassau

by LPIA … two plus years on only new Ministry name and huff and puff. Editor, Minister talked about three-four energy issues and in my opinion said nothing. BPL New Day isn’t happening. Voltage fluctuations are again very common. Refrigerators - computers frying! K ALBURY Nassau, April, 2024.

EDITOR, The Tribune. ORDINARILY only in politics, all over the globe, when a political leader is ‘defeated’ in an electoral poll, especially if the same is democratic and free from political influence, they simply walk aside, off the stage and exit the remainder of the play, so to speak. Now, of course, if there may be doubts about the legitimacy and/or conduct of those elections.

I am not a conspiracy supporter, but as a trained lawyer, with extensive knowledge of Constitutional Law, which basically is universal, I am more than persuaded that the Hon Donald J Trump, former 45th President of the United States of America, was ‘robbed’ of the Presidency in 2020. Even a legal student, much less a qualified advocate, could have seen through the smoke screens and mirrors. Defeated or not, President Trump early on expressed a desire to return to the Oval Office and during the recently concluded Republican primaries he trumped all of his contenders and is now the presumed nominee of the Republicans.

Now, despite that fact, he’s on a criminal charge up in New York where the overtly partisan presiding judge and the hell bent prosecutors he is actually leading the current President in almost all of the swing states. What does all of this have to do with Bahamian politics? Shortly after the devastating electoral defeat of the FNM in 2021, Doctor Hubert A Minnis stepped down as Leader of that party, as he rightfully did. Under our law there is nothing to hinder him from seeking to become Leader, de facto and de jure, of the rump FNM again.

I reiterate that I am not; never have been and it is unlikely that I will ever be an FNM and most of my other habits are good, in my view. Upon his resignation, the Hon MP for Marco City over in Freeport was elected to lead that badly demoralised entity. Some called him the ‘Great Hope’ for the future of the FNM and by extension, a future Prime Minister, God forbid, of this wonderful nation.

Having had the opportunity to actually ‘know’ Mr Pintard from our days growing up in Step Street, Fox Hill and observing him in his public life over decades, I always knew that while he may have ambition that knows no bounds, he may not be prime ministerial material. As a lifelong student of politics and one who believes in strong leadership, whether it be in governance or in opposition, I would prefer an individual who appears to be secure in his own skin; possess the necessary gravitas and, of course, comes seeped in life’s experiences and nuances. While many in the FNM blamed Minnis for its massive defeat, keep in mind that no administration is entirely run by the person who at any given time may be of the same party. Minnis made some terrible calculations and decisions, but I am sure that he did not do so in a vacuum. There were at least four core members of his kitchen cabinet and at least ten of his MPs who were anti-Minnis from day one. Shortly after his coming to office, The Bahamas was brought to its knees by the double whammy of two consecutive hurricanes, back to back. Within a matter of months thereafter, the pandemic now famously known as COVID-19 swept the entire world and almost crippled The Bahamas. At that time, no one all over the place, had any idea as to what to do and just how to do it, The Bahamas included. Minnis, unfortunately, for him, is not a naturally gifted orator and his communication skills, or lack thereof, showed up big time. During a recent televised appearance on a programme hosted by Jerome Sawyer, which few Bahamians watched, he candidly admitted this. Pintard on the other hand is an actor and comedian of long standing and like the late Fidel Castro of Cuba or a third world politician, he is capable of talking one to literal death while

saying absolutely nothing that makes commonsense in my view. Oftentimes he reminds me of people like the late Sir Cecil WallaceWhitfield, a former ‘leader’ of the FNM and MP for, ironically, Marco City, and former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Perry Gladstone Christie. They could wax eloquently, but never really said a single word that in my view made sense. The PLP led by the Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, KC, MP, with the unprecedented progress being made across the board in The Bahamas, region and globally , will more than likely be in power for the next seven straight years. Who will emerge from within the ranks of a floundering FNM to successfully challenge the Davis juggernaut? When you want a man’s job done, you send in a man and not a boy, with all due respects. Minnis now seems to be contrite and may be making the right moves to return as de facto and de jure leader of the rump FNM. Pintard, on the other hand comes across ‘as my way or the highway.’ Ingraham was said to have a similar trait and it ended badly for him back in the day. Minnis is a political phenomenon of the highest order. Bahamians, by and large, believe in second chances.

Sir Cecil, God bless his soul, was defeated in the then St Agnes constituency by the late Hon Bruce Braynen and shortly thereafter he moved over into Freeport and concentrated on Marco City. He was re-elected to The House of Assembly but he never ascended the greasy pole. Pintard has been rejected, electorally, at least once, when he ran against Brave some years ago. Minnis has never yet been defeated by all and sundry at the polls. Neither of them, however, will ever be able to remove Brave anytime soon, if the Lord continues to tarry. Yesterday’s men like Mr Maurice Moore hold themselves out to be political ‘wise men’ but they are just that, yesterday’s men. To God then, in all things, be the glory. ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, May 15, 2024.

A MAN prays holding Slovakia’s flag outside the F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital, where Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was shot and injured, is treated in Banska Bystrica, central Slovakia, yesterday. Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times and gravely wounded Wednesday, but his deputy prime minister said he believed Fico would survive.

Photo: Denes Erdos/AP

‘Do not get involved in unnecessary

conflicts,’

warns CSP Skippings

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AHEAD of Carnival weekend, Chief Superintendent of Police Chrislyn Skippings warned people not to get involved in “unnecessary conflicts,” emphasising that police presence will be felt during the events.

The road march will begin at 10am. Parking will be prohibited along the parade route, and road closures will begin at 9am.

The parade will start at Arawak Cay and travel west to Goodman’s Bay. Participants will travel back to Arawak Cay from Goodman’s Bay, a rest spot.

“What we would wish to bring to the public’s

attention as the parade is moving, along that route, it will not allow for any, for no ATVs to be a part of it,”

CSP Skippings said. “When we talk about ATVs, we’re talking about those four-wheelers. No golf carts will be permitted in the parade.”

“No motorbikes will be permitted, and no unauthorised vehicles will be allowed to enter or drive along the route of the parade. The only vehicles that will be allowed will be those vehicles that have gotten clearance from the organisers of the carnival parade.”

She said West Bay Street won’t have much space for parking on either side of the street.

“So there will be some

persons who are thinking that we’re going to leave early and park our cars along the route,” she said.

“You won’t be allowed to sit in your car and watch the parade. You’d have to get a chair and sit along the route of the parade so that you can watch the parade.”

There will be no sidewalk vendors.

“We will have a cadre of officers out there to police the parade to ensure that both spectators and those who are participating in the event, that they are safe,” CSP Skippings said.

“We are also going to have officers who are going to be checking for persons who are selling items along the route, and if we find that there are breaches, we’re going to take action.”

Three teens charged over the murder last weekend of two teenage boys

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THREE teenage boys were sent to jail yesterday after they were accused of two separate murders in New Providence this month.

Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Carlson McIntosh, aka “Carlson Smith”, 18, with murder. McIntosh is accused of shooting and killing 15-year-old Ricardo Bridgewater, Jr, at his home on Thrushes Avenue on May 11. McIntosh was told that his matter would be moved to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Before being taken into custody at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS), McIntosh was informed of his right to apply for bail through the higher court.

McIntosh’s VBI is set for service on September 19.

Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, charged a 15-yearold male, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, with murder and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Magistrate Allen charged a 16-year-old male with accessory after the fact to murder.

Both juveniles were arraigned in the presence of their guardians. The 15-year-old boy is

accused of shooting and killing 18-year-old Renick Jean-Louis in Quintine Alley while playing basketball on May 10. The suspect reportedly got into an argument with the victim before the shooting.

The 16-year-old boy allegedly aided the younger suspect in evading capture in the aftermath of the shooting.

Jean-Louis died of his injuries in hospital.

After both teenage accused were informed that their matter would proceed by way of a voluntary bill of indictment, they were also told that they would be remanded to the adolescent unit of BDCS.

The VBIs are due for service on August 27.

Man accused of unlawful sex with teen girl

By PAVEL BAILEY

Staff Reporter

A 36-YEAR-OLD man was imprisoned yesterday accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl last Sunday. Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans charged John Charles with unlawful sexual intercourse. Charles allegedly had unlawful sexual intercourse with a teenage girl on May 12 in New Providence. Charles was informed that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment.

The accused was also told of his right to apply for bail through the higher court while on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Charles’ VBI is set for service on August 8. Frank Saunders represented the accused.

American man charged with indecent exposure

PAVEL BAILEY

By

Tribune

Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN AMERICAN man was denied bail yesterday after he was accused of indecently assaulting and exposing himself to a woman earlier this week.

Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn VogtEvans charged Michael Beauregard, 57, of Fort Lauderdale, with indecent assault, indecent exposure and assault. Beauregard allegedly indecently assaulted and exposed himself to a woman in New Providence on May 14. That day, he allegedly assaulted a man as well.

After the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, prosecutor Inspector S Coakley objected to his bail, calling the American a potential flight risk. Inspector Coakley also said the accused is a boat captain.

Beauregard will remain on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his trial begins on July 4.

THE PENTECOST Pray Parade Committee presented the Royal Bahamas Police Force with two bulletproof vests to assist in their crime fighting efforts. May 19 marks Pentecost Sunday and a pray parade will be held. The parade will start promptly at the historic Church of God Prophecy East Street Tabernacle at 2:30pm. All person persons participating are asked to be on time for the lineup which starts at 2pm.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

CHIEF Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings speaks to reporters during a press briefing at Police Headquarters yesterday. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Recruiting the right board members to your non-profit

OFTEN, I hear leaders in non-profit organisations mention that they wish they had additional board members to assist with their organisation’s operations and fundraising activities. As chairman of One Eleuthera Foundation and an active board member, I have seen firsthand what works to achieve an active and cohesive board and productive environment. Key to this is the implementation of an effective board recruitment process. The board of directors leads an organisation at a high level and is responsible for establishing strategic priorities and protecting its stakeholders’ interests.

Board recruitment is simply the process of identifying and selecting a candidate to serve as a member of the board of directors for an organization. This can be a very challenging exercise, especially in the nonprofit sector. Many nonprofits struggle to find qualified individuals with the right temperament, skill sets, expertise, perspectives and community connections who can effectively contribute to the board’s governance and advance the organisation’s mission. Even when the right board member is identified, challenges may still arise regarding board effectiveness, unwillingness to fundraise and confusion about board members’ roles. As John Maxwell said, “You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with.”

While the goal of every nonprofit is to recruit persons who are passionate fundraisers and who understand and can clearly communicate the organisation’s mission, this may prove difficult. The reason is that most people think of recruiting in terms of hiring staff; however, for nonprofits, it is just as important to attract and retain quality board members. These individuals have a fiduciary responsibility to manage the organisation’s interests

By Mario Smith

in an ethical manner and eventually become the cheerleaders for the mission and fundraisers for the organisation. Central to the success of the onboarding process is the establishment of a proper board recruitment programme that addresses diversity and inclusion. This allows for enhanced discussions, rounded decision making, and better performance at the board level. This diversity should not only be reflected in the board’s demographics but should also include the attitude and skills each director brings to the table.

Conduct a board skill analysis

Prior to the recruitment of a new board member or the replacement of an existing member, an analysis of the existing board should be performed to identify any gaps and to determine exactly what skills or experience is needed to help your organisation achieve its goals and to ensure that it can adequately respond to the needs of the community.

This may be accomplished by using a board competency matrix to determine what skills may be lacking and to direct the search for the appropriate candidate. For example, suppose the board currently has several members with backgrounds in accounting or finance. In that case, it may be necessary to attract someone with deep community connections or a person with a corporate governance or legal background to ensure that the organisation is cognizant of the regulations governing the sector and that the requirements necessary to ensure compliance are met.

Once this analysis has been completed and you have a better idea of precisely what your organisation needs, you can begin your search by reaching out to current board members, staff and volunteers and ask them to recommend candidates who may be a good fit for your organisation. Be mindful of potential conflicts of interest, as while candidates whose interests align with that of the organization may be ideal, you want to ensure that you are not competing for the same donors in instances where they may be affiliated with another organization.

Know Your Candidate (KYC)

Following this step, proper due diligence should be performed, including obtaining and reviewing resumes and making inquiries within the community, so that you may learn as much as possible about the potential candidate and determine whether their values align with those of the organisation.

BELOW: Members of the OEF board roll up their sleeves and participate together in a seedling transplant

Use the interview process to get to know your candidate. Given how critical this step is to the recruitment process, I recommend meeting with the candidate in person in a casual environment. In my experience, this has proven helpful in not only learning more about them but also getting a better feel for whether they may or may not be a good fit for the organisation. Be upfront and honest about the commitment and never be afraid to ask the tough questions, such as:

• Do you have the time to dedicate to the organisation, and what other commitments do you currently have?

• Are you able to assist in fundraising activities?

• Why are you interested in serving on the board?

• What skills and experience would you bring to the board?

• How do your personal values align with the organisation’s values?

• How do you view the role of a board member?

• What do you see as emerging trends in the sector?

• What are your expectations for the board and the organisation?

Implement a board orientation programme

Once your candidate has been confirmed, you should ensure a smooth and seamless onboarding and integration process. While you may hope that your new recruit joined your board because of your mission, vision, and values, never assume that they fully understand your organisation. Non-profits can be complex, so it is worth sharing the organisation’s rich history and successes and your personal story of why you joined and remain a member. Never underestimate the impact and importance of these stories to the recruitment exercise. Secondly, you may wish to prepare an orientation manual or as much information as possible on your organisation, including its history, mission and values, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, strategic priorities, and the most recent annual report, along with any other policies or procedures that may be relevant. Your onboarding process should also include a discussion of your organization’s expectations regarding confidentiality and how conflicts of interest are managed to ensure that the new member is knowledgeable about the organisation and has a good understanding of their role and responsibilities. In conclusion, a robust board recruitment process is vital to succession planning and can significantly impact an organisation’s operations. While board recruitment may seem daunting, implementing a well-considered board recruitment process is a critical first step in establishing a strong foundation for board service, enhancing diversity, and fostering inclusion. To further enrich the board experience, ongoing training and annual board evaluations should be implemented. This will greatly assist in determining how well the board is performing and pinpoint any necessary adjustments to ensure that the board’s activities reflect the organisation’s strategic priorities. These efforts will benefit your organisation’s overall success and sustainability while elevating your work in the sector and paving the way for greater societal impact.

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

of One Eleuthera Foundation

MARIO SMITH, chairman of the board at One Eleuthera Foundation

ABOVE: OEF board directors regularly meet in person at the organization’s campus in Rock Sound, Eleuthera.

exercise inside the organization’s 1.1-acre Oasis Grow House at the CTI Farm.

The more things change the more they stay the same

EVERY year, the mango tree blossoms, delivering up its sweet and juicy fruit. Likewise with the sapodilla that plops and drops from high above. We expect these things, the enduring love of mango, the sticky splat from the dilly you didn’t pick in time.

Those are the things that stay the same. They are the dependables in our lives, like the sun rising in the morning or school bells ringing to signal the end of day. They do not need to change. But some things do. Some things need desperately to change and I wonder why, when they are so obvious, when they smack us right in the face, we don’t see it and act on it? Like how we tolerate child abuse or incest. How is it that as intelligent as we think we are, as technologically advanced as we know we are, as capable of achieving more than any generation ever before us, we still can’t get it right when it comes to the issue of crimes against children, and especially rape and incest. Are we deliberately turning a blind eye – or is the truth even worse, do we just not give a damn?

When it comes to how the law treats rape of a child, we are right back where we were more than a dozen years ago. The discussion over marital rape

By Diane Phillips

has reached the national level and could affect election outcomes, but the most abhorrent of all matters of rape – that of the innocent little boy or girl – has been lost in the heartfelt cacophony of voices of those seeking righteousness for the abused adult.

When it comes to the rape of innocent young boys and girls, the more things change, the more they stay the same. In 2011, I wrote a rare letter to the editor. The headline was Words matter – this crime was rape. The letter was one of fewer than a half dozen I have written to the editor in more than 40 years. I wrote it because I was flabbergasted by a news story that week, disgusted not just that a criminal only got three years for what was unlawful sex with a sevenyear-old, but furious that the crime he was charged with was called unlawful sex. As I said in that letter, “There is no such thing as unlawful sex with a sevenyear-old. That act is rape.”

In the same daily

this week, just below a feel-good story about Ranfurly, the headline mirrored the one 13 years earlier.

“MAN ACCUSED OF UNLAWUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH PRE-TEEN GIRL.”

According to the story, the man was charged with molesting the pre-teen girl four times in as many months between June and October 2023. A voluntary bill of indictment is sending the case to the Supreme Court. Why was he charged with unlawful sex? Why do we not call it by its rightful name, rape?

Ask that pre-teen girl who has probably not even started menstruation yet what she is feeling. Did she scream out for help and call “unlawful sex”?

Did her mother ask her if that man had “unlawful sex” with her? Or did they call it by its rightful name, rape? Is she being counselled, cared for, consoled and prepared to go on without shame or guilt or hate or remorse?

In the days of

One eyesore down, another to go, who is responsible?

WHILE the massive collapsed structure on the East West Highway was demolished and carted away after years as Nassau’s supersized eyesore and in its place is the new Easy Car Sales location, another massive eyesore is just as startling and moves up to first place in offensive.

It’s the twisted steel and concrete hull of a former City Market, now a mashed up, tangled mess of roof and fallen windowless walls on the northwest corner of Village and Wulff Roads. Hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles pass the sight daily glancing or staring at the remains of a building spilling its rusty guts. We shake our heads and silently wonder who is responsible, how can this still be standing, why isn’t someone

forced to clean it up, isn’t it the law? Park, walk up close to what’s left and what you will see is the hollowness of the building, the only life left a few light brown potcakes, their bones protruding, one running away though only three legs touch the ground. It is as if the dogs found a home that matched their own imperfections, one where there was no one to make fun of them because they are the finest things in sight. The obtrusive ugliness is accompanied by a sense of how temporary everything is. The abandoned derelict structure was once leased by what was, in its day, one of the largest businesses in The Bahamas. The last City Market closed in 2012.

There is no such thing as “unlawful sex” with a seven-yearold. That act is rape.

SafeBahamas, one of the strongest ads we created was a black and white image, the sad, wrinkled face and furrowed brow of an elderly woman who looked like she could have been anyone’s grandmother. The line underneath read: The rapist got seven years. She got life. Here is the letter to the editor from so many years ago that bears repeating today as a man faces charges of unlawful sex with a pre-teen and the child faces life as a victim of rape:

Letter to the editor13 years later and we are still calling rape of a child unlawful sex

Last week’s headline in a daily paper stunned readers: Man Gets 3 Years for Unlawful Sex with a 7-Year-old. While initial shock focused on what seemed a light sentence for such a heinous crime, there was another equally

disturbing message. The choice of words in the headline “unlawful sex” was a reflection of how the crime was viewed.

There is no such thing as “unlawful sex” with a seven-year-old. That act is rape.

We would not say that a person convicted of fatally shooting someone was sentenced for “prematurely ending the life of”. We would call it by its proper name, murder.

Why, then, do we say unlawful sex when we mean rape? By using the wrong words in the criminal code or in a headline, we diminish the cruelty of the act. We mask the deed and avoid the troubling thoughts about its lifelong impact on the victim. Many years ago, a police report in Florida said of a rape victim, she was released unharmed.

Think about that concept: how is a rape victim unharmed?

Neither the police nor

the newspapers use that phrase any longer. It was only a matter of calling their attention to it.

We now need to urge the same for Bahamian news and law enforcement or legal officials. A child who is sexually abused has not had sex. He or she has been violated.

Words do matter. They shape thoughts and thoughts shape behaviour. In honesty, there is honour, even when it hurts.

I am not sure what unlawful sex is, or what the outcome of the marital rape debate will be, but I do know one thing for sure.

When a heinous crime is committed that robs a child of her innocence, trust and playfulness, when it scars her for life, the time for debate is over. There is no such thing as “unlawful sex” with a seven-year-old. That act is a crime and it is a crime called rape.

JOB VACANCIES The Tribune

is seeking new members of staff to add to its team.

We are seeking candidates to fill three roles:

Website Manager/Page Designer

The successful candidate will be an experienced journalist with an ability to edit stories, design news pages using Indesign and similar software and manage a dynamic website and associated social media. The role requires being able to help break news quickly and ensure regular updates around the clock to the www.tribune242.com website, as well as live coverage when appropriate and liaising with both the reporting team and the publisher.

It will also involve designing graphics suitable for various platforms, including the website, in-paper and for various social media outlets. Experience with HTML and other website skills are a must, as well as familiarity with handling content management systems.

The role also involves page design to support The Tribune’s design team. It is a senior journalist role requiring notable experience in the field.

Photographer

We are seeking a photographer to join our staff, covering news, sport, business, features and more. The role requires enthusiasm and accuracy as well as an eye for the best photograph and the determination to capture it on camera.

The successful candidate will have familiarity with photo editing software such as Photoshop or similar, and will have their own transport and camera. Your duties will include coverage of local and international figures, and capturing the daily events for both online and in the pages of The Tribune.

Business Reporter

The Tribune is also seeking a business reporter. Enthusiasm for business is a must, and previous writing experience or journalism training would be an asset. An interest in environmental subjects would also be a positive as the newspaper continues to expand its coverage.

Applicants for any of the above roles should apply with a resume and any examples of work to Managing Editor Stephen Hunt at shunt@ tribunemedia.net

Send your application to The Tribune, P.O. Box N-3207, Nassau, The Bahamas

Deadline for all applications is May 20, 2024.

SPORTS

FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024

Gymnast Kia Bazard captures the regional title

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After dominating the Florida State Gymnastics Championships in Lakeland, Florida in April, Bahamian Kia Bazard came back this month and extended her winning streak at the 2024 Region 8 Xcel Championships in Greenville, South Carolina.

The 14-year-old ninth grader at Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida, was representing the Orlando Gymnastics Club as she competed at the Greenville Convention Center against competitors from Tennessee, South and North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

She was tied for first place on the vault with a score of 9.275 and 9.600 on the floor, but was ninth on the beam with 9.300 and tied for ninth

on the bars with 9.025 for her total of 37.200.

Bazard’s concentration has been on the vault and floor and before the championships, she emerged as the winner of those two routines in every competition she competed in this year.

So going into the regional championships, Bazard just knew that she had a big performance in her. “My performance at regionals wasn’t perfect and I know I have lots of work to do, but I am proud that I was able to enter regionals and score as high as I did,” she said. This was Bazard’s first appearance at the regionals and she admitted that she was extremely proud of her accomplishment.

“Regional was very competitive. There were a lot of talented girls from all over the US competing for the number one spot,” she

SEE PAGE 12

Wrestler Shannon Hanna II ranked 14th at last chance Olympic qualifier

By TENAJH SWEETING

Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

SHANNON Hanna II

had one last chance to try and book a trip to France for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games but he came up short at the World Olympic qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey, last weekend.

Competing in the 65kg freestyle category, the 23-year-old finished his third international competition ranked 14th overall.

He easily bested Nauru’s Lowe Bingham 10-0 in the qualification round.

The Campbell University student then advanced to face Korea’s Junsik Yun who narrowly defeated him

4-3 in the pre-quarterfinals.

Despite the shortcomings, the Pan-Am bronze medallist is taking it as a learning experience to improve his craft.

“I definitely think I could have won my last match but I look at it like a learning experience. I believe that where I am at in my level of wrestling compared to the guys that qualified and are gonna medal this year, I just have to make minor adjustments.

“I gave myself the opportunity to get better. In my first match I felt good and confident going out there. Ultimately, I had fun even in the match that I lost. I got to watch it back with my coach and

THE SPORTS CALENDAR

TRACK START BLOCKS & RELAY

CLINIC ANDREW Tynes, head coach of the Swift Athletics Track Club, has been invited to conduct a two-day clinic this weekend for block starts and relay passing in North and Central Andros.

Tynes, an Olympian and former Bahamas national 200m record holder, will conduct the free clinic at the Carl Oliver Track and Field Stadium in North Andros, starting today from 3:30 to 6pm and again on Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

During the clinic, Tynes will instruct the participants on how to use the starting blocks, how to set the starting blocks, how to push out

saw that there were some small adjustments that could have won me the match. I already feel like I got so much better just by competing in those two matches. I am not too mad about my performance. I went out and tried my best and gave myself an opportunity to get better,” he said.

Hanna got his international journey started with a bang. He won the Bahamas’ first international medal at the 2024 Pan American Wrestling Championships in Acapulco, Mexico, back in February. Since then, he has competed in two other

May, 2024

of the starting blocks, what to do in the exchange zones for the relay, how to receive and pass the baton, what to do if the baton drops and how to pass the baton in the 4 x 400m relay. The clinic is sponsored by Leonardo Lightbourne, the Member of Parliament for North Andros and the Berry Islands. It will be coordinated by Bria Cleare, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s sports officer in Andros.

TRACK RED-LINE YOUTH CLASSIC REGISTRATION is currently underway for the Red-Line Athletics’ third annual Youth Classic. The event

SEE PAGE 15

IN the intricate tapestry of sports-related injuries, few conditions present as vexing a challenge as the enigmatic sports hernia. Defined by its elusive nature and ambiguous symptoms, sports hernia poses a significant diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for athletes and clinicians alike. In this discourse, we delve deeper into the realm of sports hernia, shedding light on its prevalence in specific sports, the biomechanical underpinnings of injury, and the athlete’s presenting complaints.

Prevalence in Sports and Athlete Presentations:

While sports hernia can affect athletes across various disciplines, it is commonly observed in sports that involve rapid changes in direction, sudden accelerations, and high-impact movements.

Athletes participating in sports such as soccer, ice

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER Serena Norius earned her professional bodybuilding card last year, she is finally getting to compete on the same international stage with her husband, Jimmy Norius.

The husband-and-wife team just participated in the NPC Pittsburgh Championships and IFBB Pittsburgh Pro last weekend and now they are preparing for the New York Pro Show this weekend.

In Pittsburgh, Serena Norius made it to the final in her pro debut, while Jimmy Norius didn’t advance in what turned out to be a fiercely contested show that featured eight Olympians.

“It was very impressive of Serena making the final in her first pro show,” Jimmy said of his wife.

SEE PAGE 12

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor

JAYDIAN Smith could have easily stayed in the United States and made his presence felt at the collegiate level. But he decided to take his talents to Asia where he is competing for Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology in Taiwan.

Before he went to Taiwan, Smith played basketball for the St John’s College Giants, Hope Academy and the CC Sweeting Cibras. He left The Bahamas in grade 11 to complete high school in Canada where he attended Sa-Hali Secondary School in British Columbia.

The 6-foot, 8-inch forward then went to Strength and Motion Prep Academy in San Antonio, Texas where he earned an athletic scholarship to attend St Petersburg Junior College in St Petersburg, Florida. This past year, Smith decided to play with CHU.

hockey, football, and rugby are particularly susceptible due to the dynamic nature of their movements and the repetitive stress placed on the groin and pelvic region. Athletes presenting with sports hernia often describe

a constellation of symptoms, including:

Groin Pain: The hallmark symptom of sports hernia, groin pain typically manifests as a dull, aching sensation that worsens with physical activity, especially during movements involving twisting, turning, or kicking.

Pelvic Discomfort: Athletes may experience discomfort or tenderness in the lower abdomen, pelvic region, or inner thigh, often exacerbated by activities that engage the core musculature or adductor muscles.

Decreased Athletic Performance: Sports hernia can impair athletic performance, leading to diminished speed, agility, and power output. Athletes may notice a decline in their ability to perform explosive movements or change direction with precision.

SEE PAGE 14

FINALLY, BODYBUILDERS SERENA AND JIMMY NORIUS ARE COMPETING TOGETHER

Jimmy Norius said Serena competed against six Olympians and about 18 women in her class. “So for her to perform at that level of calibre against these seasoned competitors is a milestone. So I’m impressed with her performance.”

Not making any excuses, but Jimmy Norius, who celebrated his 49th birthday on Wednesday, said competing against eight Olympians, the majority of whom are half his age, he felt he did his best, despite the fact that he also competed with a shoulder injury.

“These guys are in a much better position than I am in terms of the quality of food and the access to the gyms is totally different from what we experience in Nassau,” he said.

“The guy who won is from Afghanistan and the guy who got second was from the USA. I just wanted to test the waters. I got my pro card on the elite side and then I got my pro card on the NPC side, so I just want to see how well I can compete.”

Norius, however, said he would prefer competing in the masters category where the competitors he’s facing are over 40 years and

they are not as competitive as the younger and more vibrant competitors in the open division. In New York, Jimmy Norius said Serena Norius is expected to compete against 30 competitors and, if she can finish in the middle of the pack or even make the final, they will be extremely proud.

Jimmy Norius said he’s also looking forward to making his presence felt in New York, hopefully in the masters category.

“It’s all about the experience,” he said. “You won’t know how well you can perform by watching it on YouTube or Instagram. You have to be on stage against

these elite, top-notch competitors to see how you will look against them.

“We’re not that far behind these athletes. We just need the gym support in Nassau and the quality of food to eat. You have to be in the right environment and get the right system.

“I was fortunate to get some sponsors to make it here.

“But being in a place and being there for like six months to train and compete is very hard. So we are

appreciative of whatever support we can get.”

The Norius will compete on Saturday and depending on how well they perform, Jimmy Norius said it will

determine whether they will stay in the open division or just perform in the masters category. The show will also prepare the Norius duo for their return to Pittsburgh

in September where they will participate in the Masters World Championships in the hopes of getting the spots they deserve in their age group.

Kia Bazard captures regional title in South Carolina

FROM PAGE 11

pointed out after she outduelled them all. Despite her win, Bazard said there’s always room for improvement and she intends to continue to work on all of her flaws as she aims to get better day by day.

But looking back at her performance, she acknowledged that she was entirely thrilled with her floor routine.

“It helps me to express myself and show all of the work that I put in, she stated.

She thanked God, her parents, Felecia and Dr Kent Bazard, her family and friends in the Bahamas and the community that keep pushing her to strive for greatness every day.

Among those persons who helped her to excel are Anthony Colon, her team rec. gymnastics coach; Katie Friedel, the team coordinator/management;

Brittany Wilburn and Ricky Raggins.

They took over from coach Trevor Ramsey, who coached her at Nassau Nastics before she left the Bahamas last year as a student at Queen’s College for Florida.

Bazard noted that she couldn’t do it without their assistance because they helped her to enjoy her journey through the sport.

“I love this sport so much. I will never stop loving it,” she quipped. “It has a dear place in my heart. I would love to compete for the Bahamas in the Olympics and show off my skills and my talents.”

It’s interesting how she got started in the sport.

“My parents put me in gymnastics because they saw that “I was very powerful and jumpy all around the house and also clumsy, so they thought I was a perfect fit for gymnastics,” she recalled.

But she noted that it actually started from the cradle as her father had her walking on the railings from a baby.

What he didn’t know was that he was grooming a gymnastics champion in the making.

“I am extremely proud of her. She came a long way in a very short time,” said her father Dr Bazard, who operates the Empire Fitness and Sports Performance Center.

“Even though in the Bahamas, we are at a disadvantage due to infrastructure and access to high-level training, she received a very good foundation at Nassau Nastics and was able to turn it into a very strong junior career.”

Bazard will now prepare for the Optionals on May 28 before she participates in the gymnastics camp over the summer hosted by the Orlando Gymnastics in Orlando.

JAYDIAN SMITH MAKING HIS PRESENCE FELT IN TAIWAN

After topping the league standings with just one loss during the regular season, they advanced to the sudden-death final, only to suffer their second defeat.

“It’s a different culture. You have to adjust to their culture and stuff like that,” Smith said.

“It wasn’t easy making it to the championship because we had to play against bigger and tougher teams.

“We had guys like the African guys, who are much bigger and taller. It wasn’t an easy road to the championship, but we got there.”

For Smith, there could have been more adjustments made to his new environment, but he was quite satisfied with the outcome of his season. “I had a good season this year. a good season,”

stated Smith about playing in the collegiate league.

“In the Taiwan College League, some of the guys are smaller than the US college players.

“But they are fast, so you just have to adjust to the fast pace and the different set of rules.”

With the season finished, Smith took a break to come home to spend time with his family and friends. “It’s great to be back home. I was missing a lot of food and stuff like that,” said Smith, who couldn’t help but digest some conch and seafood. “It was also good to enjoy Mother’s Day at home.”

He honoured his mother, Gia Culmer, along with his father Dennis ‘Chuckie’ Smith, the owner and captain of the Silent Partner, which sail in the various sloop boat sailing competitions.

Smith, 21, will be leaving on Sunday to return to Taiwan. He’s eager to get back because he has some summer games to participate in with CHU before the season starts with the new school year in August.

“We have some teams coming in from the US to play against our teams, so we have to get ready for those scrimmages,” Smith pointed out.

“I just have to work on my shooting and ball-handling.”

Like in the US college system, Smith can waive his eligibility and go on and play professionally. But he admitted that he wants to stick around and gain some more exposure and experience at college before he ventures into the pro ranks.

“I still want to be a student and see how I can figure out what it is

I want to do after college,” said Smith, who is currently studying foreign languages where it is mandatory for him to take on some Chinese lessons. “It ain’t easy, but I’m working on it.”

Hopefully by the time he’s done with college, Smith said he will be fluent in Mandarin Chinese, the official language spoken in Asia and Taiwan to be more specific. No doubt, he will also be in a position to launch his pro basketball career in Europe, if he doesn’t get anything sorted out in the National Basketball Association (NBA) or its D-League in the United States of America.

And if the opportunity presents itself, Smith said he would certainly like to offer his skills to play for the men’s national basketball team, if not this year, some time in the very near future.

HANNA II FINISHES 14TH OVERALL AT LAST CHANCE OLYMPIC QUALIFIER, COMES UP SHORT

FROM PAGE 11

international tournaments in hopes of qualifying for the big dance. Although he did not achieve his goal, the experience gained over the last few months have been

where

JAYDIAN SMITH

BEST IN THE REGION: Bahamian gymnast Kia Bazard on the balance beam in competition.

THE HUSBAND-and-wife team of bodybuilders Serena and Jimmy Norius are preparing for the New York Pro Show this weekend.

‘JJ’ SCORES 14 TO HELP LIBERTY BEAT CLARK AND FEVER

Anthony Edwards and Timberwolves blow out Nuggets

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)

— Breanna Stewart ruined Caitlin Clark’s regular season home debut by scoring 31 points to lead the New York Liberty to a 102-66 win in front of a sellout crowd of 17,247 last night. In Indianapolis’ most anticipated rookie debut since Peyton Manning in 1998, Clark did not deliver the expected performance. For the second straight game, she struggled with foul trouble. The rookie finished with nine points, seven rebounds, six assists and three turnovers, none after the first quarter — a dramatic improvement over the 10 she had Tuesday night.

Clark also was two of eight from the field and just one of seven on three-pointers. Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones each scored 14 for New York, which has won eight straight over Indiana. Jones also had 10 rebounds. Aliyah Boston had a game-high 12 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana. The Liberty didn’t just make life difficult for Clark, they made things tough for Indiana.

Stewart helped New York seize control by taking a 25-16 lead after one quarter. And when the Fever cut the deficit to 32-27 midway through the second quarter, Stewart answered with four straight points to spur a 12-0 run that gave the

Liberty a 44-27 cushion late in the first half.

Indiana finally responded by closing the third quarter with 12 straight points, the first seven coming courtesy of Clark, to make it 67-56 after three.

But the defending Eastern Conference champs opened the fourth quarter on a 12-0 spurt and cruised to their second straight victory.

MAKING THE TRIP

Indianapolis is quickly becoming a favourite destination for Clark’s former teammates and coaches.

Ex-Hawkeyes guard Gabbie Marshall showed up and posed for a photo with her longtime friend following Clark’s first home preseason game last week.

offence during Game 5 in Denver while Conley sat out with soreness in his right calf muscle, and the 17-year veteran point guard clearly helped keep the half-court sets crisp and organized in his return. The Wolves held the Nuggets to 14 points in the first quarter, tied for the second-lowest total in the league this postseason behind Miami (12 points) in a Game 3 loss to Boston in the first round.

Murray had a devil of a time doing anything productive against McDaniels and the rest of the NBA-leading defence that snapped to life after revealing some sizeable

cracks over the previous three games. Murray, who had a 3-for-18 clunker in Game 2, tried everything from leaners, fadeaways and spot-up 3-pointers. He even air-balled a finger roll from the baseline, then got backed down in a bad matchup by Naz Reid in the post on the subsequent possession for a flip-in that put the Wolves up 43-24. McDaniels tipped in a missed 3-pointer by Reid at the halftime buzzer to make it 59-40, a sharp contrast from the 55-foot swish Murray had at the end of the second quarter in Game 3 to cap an 8-0 run over 20 pivotal seconds of that contest.

Pacers hope home cooking energises push to even series with New York, force Game 7

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer

THE Indiana Pacers’ season is on the brink. It’s win or it’s over.

So the last playoff team with a perfect home record has to dig deep and make the most of the energy it receives from its own crowd as it tries to rebound from an embarrassing loss at New York with a seasonsaving win Friday night in Game 6.

“What’s known doesn’t need to be spoken about. Guys know the intensity we have to bring,” Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton said after Thursday’s practice. “We’ve got to have a level of desperation that we’ve never had before, and we’ve got to be ready to go for 48 minutes and understand every possession matters even more than it has all playoffs.”

Getting to this point certainly didn’t occur through happenstance. The young Pacers have provided a difficult challenge for the second-seeded Knicks.

Indiana stopped a franchise-record, 10-game playoff losing streak with a Game 2 victory at Milwaukee in the first round, and then eliminated the Bucks 4-2 for their first series win in a decade. After losing the first two games at New York, the Pacers posted

two home wins to even the series. On Tuesday, though, things went awry. The Knicks outrebounded, outhustled and outworked the Pacers in a 121-91 blowout. New York moved within a win of reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first

time since 2000 when it lost to the Pacers in six games.

So the Pacers’ season suddenly comes down to this; keep their 5-0 postseason home record intact and Game 7 goes back to New York. Lose and their breakout season is over.

“We’ve got to play harder, we’ve got play with

a greater level of execution,” said Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, who helped lead the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA championship in 2011. “If you can’t come up with a ball and have level of possessions for the game, you’re not going to in the second round of the playoffs. We’ve got to do better, much better.”

The Knicks, meanwhile, are trying to advance while playing short-handed.

Three key players — forwards Julius Randle and Bojan Bogdanovic, and center Mitchell Robinson — have missed the entire series after opting for surgeries. None of those three are expected back even if the Knicks return to Madison Square Garden for Sunday’s Game 7.

Defensive stalwart OG Anunoby went down with a hamstring injury in the second half of Game 3. His availability for Game 6 remains unclear after coach Tom Thibodeau said Thursday that Anunoby was doing “light work, very light,” which is an upgrade from earlier this week when Thibodeau said Anunoby was doing work in the pool.

What has worked for the Knicks is All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, who has topped the 40-point mark six times in 11 playoff games, including 44 points

on 18-of-35 shooting when the Knicks needed him most Tuesday night.

And with two days off, New York got some extra time to rest while pondering the possibility of facing top-seeded Boston — if it can win one more game.

“I’m definitely excited,” said Brunson, the league’s top scorer in the playoffs at 33.9 points per game. “I was always taught by my parents never to be afraid to fail no matter what the situation is, no matter the

‘higher pressure’ moments or whatever. If you win great, if you lose, learn from it, that’s just my mindset.”

Or get ready for another elimination game Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

“I think the most important thing is to not get lost in the hyperbole and the distractions and focus and lock into the task at hand, which is winning the game,” Thibodeau said. “So put the necessary work into it and don’t get lost.”

TIMBERWOLVES guard Anthony Edwards dunks against then Denver Nuggets during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series last night in Minneapolis.

(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

INDIANA Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith (23) reacts to a foul called against him during the first half of Game 5 in an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks on Tuesday in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

INDIANA Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) is defended by New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game yesterday in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

St Cecilia’s School victorious

THE 2024 Archdiocesan Track & Field Meet was held over the course of two days, kicking off on Thursday, May 9. This exciting event is one of the largest sporting events on The Bahamas Catholic Board of Education’s calendar.

Atheletes from St. Thomas More School, Sts. Francis & Joseph School, Xavier’s Lower School and St. Cecilia’s School compete in the Archdiocesan Track & Field Meet.

The event is an important one and a testament to the commitment of Catholic schools to foster environments where students are able to learn and grow in every aspect. Athletics is an integral part of the total education programme of CBE schools.

“The Archdiocesan Track and Field Meet allows our students to demonstrate their athletic prowess, discipline and perseverance, to interact socially with their classmates and Catholic schoolmates and engage in healthy activities. All of which may be utilised as lifelong skills, and seen in the adults who have graced any of our Archdiocesan schools,” explained Dr Alexandria RobertsBowe, director of Catholic Education.

This year St. Cecilia’s School broke St. Francis & Joseph School’s eightyear winning streak to be crowned winners of the 2024 Archdiocesan Track & Field Meet. In addition to their overall win, St Cecilia’s School also won the junior division. The Strikers lost the Primary School Division to Sts. Francis & Joseph School. Catholic Board of Education primary schools have

a sporting legacy, which is evident in the number of alumni who have gone on to achieve success in athletics both nationally and internationally.

Sts. Francis & Joseph School placed second overall at the Archdiocesan Track & Field Meet. St. Xavier’s Lower School secured 3rd place and St. Thomas More School finished 4th. “The day was an enjoyable one and we are grateful to our dynamic team of teachers and staff for organising this event and parents and family for their unwavering support,” concluded Dr RobertBowe. She added: “We are extremely proud of the efforts of our students today and delighted to provide a venue to nurture their God-given gifts and talents.”

OVERALL RESULTS

1st place - St. Cecilia’s School, 763 points 2nd place - Sts. Francis & Joseph School, 703 points 3rd place - Xavier’s Lower School, 691 points 4th place - St. Thomas More School, 666 points PRIMARY SCHOOL

CATEGORY

1st Place - Sts. Francis & Joseph School, 464 points 2nd Place - St. Cecilia’s School, 456 points 3rd Place - Xavier’s Lower School, 437 points 4th Place - St. Thomas More School, 406 points

JUNIOR

CATEGORY

1st Place - St. Cecilia’s School, 307 points 2nd Place - St. Thomas More School, 260 points 3rd Place - Xavier’s Lower School, 254 points 4th Place - Sts. Francis & Joseph School, 239 points

Biomechanical Mechanisms of Injury: Understanding the biomechanics of sports hernia is crucial for elucidating its underlying pathophysiology and developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies. The mechanism of injury often involves a combination of factors, including: Repetitive Stress: Prolonged and repetitive stress on the muscles and tendons surrounding the groin and pelvic region can lead to microtrauma and tissue degeneration, predisposing athletes to sports hernia.

Muscle Imbalance: Imbalances in muscle strength and flexibility, particularly between the adductor muscles and the abdominal wall, can disrupt the dynamic stability of the pelvis and increase the risk of injury during high-velocity movements. Poor Biomechanics: Faulty movement patterns

and biomechanical deficiencies, such as excessive pelvic tilt or inadequate core stabilization, can place undue strain on the soft tissues of the groin and contribute to the development of sports hernia.

Developing a Management

Protocol:

In managing sports hernia, a multidisciplinary approach is essential, involving collaboration between sports medicine physicians, physical therapists, and sometimes, surgeons. The management protocol typically consists of:

Conservative Treatment: Initial management focuses on conservative measures, including rest, ice, physical therapy, and

anti-inflammatory medications. Specific exercises targeting core strength, pelvic stability, and hip mobility are often prescribed to alleviate symptoms and facilitate recovery.

Injection Therapies:

In cases refractory to conservative measures, injection therapies, such as corticosteroid injections or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, may be considered to reduce inflammation and pain in the affected area.

Surgical Intervention:

When conservative measures fail to provide relief, surgical intervention may be warranted. Various surgical techniques, such as herniorrhaphy, adductor release, or pelvic floor

repair, may be employed depending on the underlying pathology and individual patient factors.

Conclusion: In conclusion, sports hernia represents a multifaceted challenge in the realm of sports medicine, characterized by its intricate interplay of biomechanical factors and clinical manifestations. By recognizing its prevalence in specific sports, understanding the biomechanical mechanisms of injury, and addressing the athlete’s presenting complaints, clinicians can adopt a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and management. Through targeted interventions aimed at optimizing biomechanical

function and mitigating risk factors, athletes can overcome the complexities of sports hernia and return to peak performance with confidence.

• Dr. Kent Bazard is a Bahamian sports medicine physician, sports performance coach, sports nutrition specialist, and founder of Empire Sports Medicine and Performance.

Our mission is to empower athletes to reach new heights while safeguarding their health and well-being. We understand the unique demands of sports activities, and we are dedicated to helping athletes prevent injuries, overcome challenges, optimise nutrition and performance.

YOUNG athletes compete in the 2024 Archdiocesan Track & Field Meet held over the course of two days, kicking off on Thursday, May 9.

THE 2024 Archdiocesan Track & Field Meet is one of the largest sporting events on The Bahamas Catholic Board of Education’s calendar.

BAHAMAS LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION PARTNERS WITH POLICE AND URBAN RENEWAL IN FOX FILL

THE BLTA’s Play Tennis Bahamas programme is partnering with the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and Urban Renewal in a tennis community initiative in the Fox Hill community.

The objective is to provide positive alternatives for our young children to develop and grow. Many of the children would not normally have the opportunity to play tennis so tennis has now come to the community.

The BLTA has partnered with urban renewal in prior years, welcoming children to the National Tennis Centre from the following communities - Centreville, Bain’s Town, Farm Road, Marathon, Englerston, Nassau Village, Pinewood and Jubilee Gardens.

The focus of the Play Tennis Bahamas programme is to have the kids playing from day 1 in a fun environment. The work in this programme was recognised in 2023 by the International Tennis ( ITF) with the award of tennis excellence, with the programme receiving noteworthy mention. So it was fitting to have our ITF Development Officer for the Caribbean Mr

PARTICIPANTS enjoy the BLTA’s Play Tennis

initiative in the Fox Hill community.

John Goede accompany the BLTA to the Fox Hill community for a tennis session and to meet the RBPF Urban Renewal programme coordinators.

Said BLTA president Perry Newton: “It is a pleasure to collaborate with

the Royal Bahamas Police Force to positively impact our communities. We can definitely reach our young children through tennis.

“It can provide a channel for their energies, it can inspire them to excel and it provides many

opportunities for advancement and growth. “It is also a fun sport, developing discipline, teamwork skills and physical fitness all at the same time,” he added. We congratulate the RBPF and Urban Renewal on this community outreach

collaboration with the BLTA. We extend special thanks to Urban Renewal ASP Adderley, Inspector Burrows and team and to coach Elanqua Griffin. We also thank the ITF for their support with tennis racquets and equipment

and we are very appreciative for the guidance from our development officer Mr Goede.

The development work continues, offering tennis to the children in the various communities throughout The Bahamas is pivotal.

Italian Open: Tommy Paul feels right at home on European clay, Swiatek to play Sabalenka in final

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer

ROME (AP) — Unlike most Americans who can’t find their footing on clay when they come to Europe, Tommy Paul feels right at home on the red dirt.

That’s because he grew up playing on the surface in Greenville, North Carolina.

“That was all I played on, even before going to play hard-court tournaments. The green clay, not the good stuff,” Paul said.

“I’m comfortable on it. I’m really enjoying my time on it right now.”

Is he ever.

Paul beat ninth-ranked Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 yesterday to reach the Italian Open semifinals and follow up his straightset victory over defending champion Daniil Medvedev two days earlier.

It’s the best result on red clay of his career. At least at the senior level.

As a junior, Paul won the French Open boys’ title in 2015.

In the semifinals today, the 16th-ranked Paul will face Nicolas Jarry, who rallied past Monte Carlo Masters champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. The other semifinal will feature 2017 Rome champion Alexander Zverev

FROM PAGE 11

is scheduled for Saturday, May 25 from 11am to 5pm and on Sunday, May 26 from 1-5pm.

Athletes can register at Redlineathletics242@ gmail..com. The deadline is May 20. Crystal trophies will be presented to the winners in the under-7 to under15 divisions, trophies to the divisional winners and medals for the top three finishers in each event. Trophies will also be presented to the winners for the Elimination mile, open 4 x 400m and distance medley relays. The event will cater to all of the track and field events for the age group athletes ranging from 8-and under20. There will also be one or two events for the open category. Interested persons can contact Red-Line Athletics’ coach Tito Moss at 425-4262 for further details.

against Alejandro Tabilo, who eliminated top-ranked Novak Djokovic in the third round. Two Chileans — Jarry and Tabilo — will appear in the semifinals of a Masters 1000 event for the first time since the introduction of the format in 1990. In the women’s semifinals, top-ranked Iga Swiatek extended her winning streak to 11 matches with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff.

TRIATHLON THIRD BEAUTIFUL

BAHAMAS EVENT THE Sea Waves Triathlon Club will hold its third annual Beautiful Bahamas Aquathon and Triathlon, sponsored by the Bahamas Triathlon Association, on Saturday, May 26 at 7am. The event will serve as a qualifier for the 2024 CARIFTA Aquathon and Triathlon. Categories for boys and girls are 16-19, 13-15, 11-12, 9-10 and 8-and-under. However, to compete in their respective age groups, athletes must not change birthdays by December 31, 2024.

BAHAMAS ILCA (OPEN) NATIONALS THE Nassau Yacht Club will host the 2024 Bahamas ILCA (Open) Nationals, sponsored by Super Value, this Saturday and Sunday. The event currently has 22 competitors scheduled to participate from New Providence, Exuma, Harbour Island and Grand Bahama which represents their largest number of entries in recent years. It will be the last major Regatta for

Swiatek, who is attempting to complete the “dirt double” by winning the Madrid Open and Italian Open back-to-back, will face second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

Sabalenka beat Danielle Collins 7-5, 6-2 to hand the retiring American only her second loss since early March.

It’s a rematch of the Madrid final.

“I’m happy to be playing so consistently because it means that we’re doing

the junior sailors before they represent The Bahamas in multiple events this summer. The first event begins at 10:30am on Saturday and Sunday morning.

JOHNSON’S BASKETBALL CAMP

GET ready for the annual Coach Kevin Johnson’s Basketball Camp 2024.

Coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson has announced that his camp will run from June 24 to July 12 at the CI Gibson Secondary High School and will run daily from 9am to 1pm. For $120 for three weeks, campers will get a chance to play and learn the fundamentals of the game of basketball from professional instructors.

everything well,” Swiatek said. “So really proud of myself and of the team as well.”

Paul got in extra training on clay this season because of an ankle injury that cut short his hard-court season in March. “My whole team has kind of tried to get me to not play early in the clay court season, to have a longer training block,” he said. “This year I was kind of forced to do it.”

Paul’s two coaches both have clay-court pedigrees.

Interested persons can sign up by contacting coach Johnson at 636-9350 or email: coachkjjohnson@ gmail.com

CHESS

BCF GENERAL

MEETING

THE Bahamas Chess Federation will hold a general meeting at 3pm on Sunday, May 19 in the conference room at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Secretary Angel Pratt revealed that the meeting is open to members only.

CHESS: SEYMOUR

TOURNEY

POSTPONED

THE Bahamas Chess Federation has announced that the Warren Seymour Classic that was scheduled

Brad Stine guided Jim Courier to two French Open titles and Hugo Armando’s best surface as a player was clay.

“(Armando) is the one who works with me a bunch on the dirt before starting the season,” Paul said.

“Brad came down also to Boca. We worked on moving back a little bit, taking a step back, letting points kind of develop and settle.”

Paul broke the big-serving Hurkacz seven times

for this weekend has been postponed. The 5-rounds swiss tournament will now be rescheduled over the weekend of June 29-30.

SOFTBALL NPOTSA ACTION

THE New Providence Oldtimers Softball Association will begin its 2024 season this weekend at the Archdeacon William Thompson Softball Park at the Southern Recreational Grounds. Here’s a look at the fixture of games for Sunday: 2pm - SWD Boyz vs Dozer Pros. 4pm - Corner Boys vs KC Construction. The official opening ceremonies will take place on Saturday, June 1.

but also dropped his own serve six times.

“My game plan coming in was, I got to get in as many of his service games as possible and try and get a couple of breaks. So on that aspect, I did very, very well today,” Paul said.

“But my next match, I’m probably going to focus on holding serve a little bit more.”

Before beating Medvedev, Paul had never defeated a top-20 player on clay. Now he’s defeated two top-10 players back-toback for the first time in his career — on any surface.

Paul is attempting to become the first American man to reach the Rome final since Andre Agassi won the trophy in 2002.

Together with Gauff and Collins, there were three American semifinalists.

Rome is the last big warmup tournament before the French Open starts in 10 days and Paul has never been past the second round at Roland Garros — at the senior level.

Paul was better on the longer rallies than Hurkacz and twice came back from a break down in the deciding set.

Hurkacz eliminated record 10-time Rome champion Rafael Nadal in the second round.

BASKETBALL

NEX-GEN

THE third annual Nex-Gen Elite Training Basketball Camp, hosted by JR Basketball Academy, is all set for June 24 to July 13 from 9am to noon at the Telios Indoor Gymnasium on Carmichael Road. The camp, powered by Frazier’s Roofing, will provide training for game situations, shooting, passibng, ball handling, defense and footwork for boys and girls between the ages of 8-19 years. Registration is now open. Interested persons can contact Cadot at 535-9354, email jrcbasketballacademy.com or go online to www.jrcbasketballacademy.com

POLAND’s Iga Swiatek in action during her match against Coco Gauff at the Italian Open tennis tournament yesterday. (AP Photos/Andrew Medichini)

BELARUS’ Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Danielle Collins of the United States during a semi final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament yesterday.