05222024 NEWS AND SPORT

PUZZLER

The Tribune

MURDERS UP BY 13%

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander said murders are up 13 per cent compared to the same period last year, and police will review its crime-fighting strategies and beef up patrols to clamp down on gun violence.

“All boots will be on the ground to ensure that this beautiful country of ours remains safe,” he said during a press briefing. “We can’t stop it, but we will try and we will do our best and

...AS TWO MEN ARE SHOT AT PALMDALE SHOPPING PLAZA

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TWO security officers were shot in broad daylight during an armed robbery in the Palmdale area, with Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander condemning the “bold” attack.

The officers from a private firm were preparing to deposit two bags of money in a bank when a silver coloured Japanese vehicle approached. A gunman got out of the car and demanded cash from the officers. When the officers ran towards Lowe’s Pharmacy for refuge, the gunman shot them. One of the officers was robbed of a

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander defended investigations into the disappearance of

Devin Isaacs, 16, after the teen’s mother criticised authorities for sending a Marco’s Alert four days after he was reported missing.

“There’s two sides of the story,” Commissioner

Fernander said during a press briefing yesterday. “Our officers were on board with that from day one. They even went as far as getting footage and

EMPLOYEE OF GB POWER COMPANY ELECTROCUTED

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A 55- YEAR-OLD employee at the Grand Bahama Power Company suffered severe burns after being electrocuted on the job yesterday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3pm at the power plant on Peel Street, where

the male worker came in contact with a live wire. He was taken to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.

Although no official identification has been released, The Tribune has learned that the injured worker is Stewart Courtney, a plant supervisor.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 22-YEAR-OLD man was imprisoned yesterday after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman during a home invasion in Eleuthera last week.

Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Deandre Symonette with rape and burglary.

Symonette is accused of breaking into the residence of a woman in Rock Sound and raping her between 1am and 7am on May 13.

POLICE on scene where

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander speaks to the press at the scene of a double shooting at the Palmdale Shopping Centre yesterday. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

TWO MEN ARE SHOT AT PALMDALE SHOPPING PLAZA

from page one

bag containing an undisclosed amount of cash.

Commissioner Fernander visited the scene noting that Palmdale is a busy area filled with shoppers, motorists, and businesses.

“This is a congested area,” he said. “They are very bold, very bold individuals. As we continue to say to members of the public, if you see something, say something. It is hitting home to all of our doors. Right now, this crime situation is not only the police. It’s a whole collective approach to dealing with this crime situation. We now have to take this fight to another level.”

Commissioned Fernander also encouraged business owners to work with the police.

He said he saw business owners carelessly depositing deposit bags. Bystanders took cover from the rain while

watching police investigate the shooting. The entrance to Lowe’s Pharmacy was blocked off with yellow tape, and police officers were on guard.

One woman said she stopped to buy something from Lowe’s on her lunch break and couldn’t believe the shooting happened in there.

An elderly man standing outside of Starbucks said: “Buddy, if Palmdale ain’t safe, nobody safe in Nassau.”

Police know the plate number of the gateway car and believe the suspects followed the victims to the Palmdale area.

One officer, aged 59, suffered gunshot wounds to his upper body, while the other officer, 29, sustained a gunshot wound to his lower back.

said he rushed to the scene when he got the disturbing news of the shooting.

“It is brazen, it is arrogant, and it is extremely risky,” he said. “Any member of the public could have been perusing this area when this dastardly, cowardly deed happened.”

Mr Hanna was joined by retired Assistant Commissioner Solomon Cash. Mr Cash said although he and other officers

Bishop Hulan Hanna, a senior pastor of the Church of God of Prophecy and a retired assistant commissioner of police, said one of the victims was a member of his church. He

are retired, they will always stand with the Royal Bahamas Police Force in the fight against crime.

THE SCENE at Palmdale Plaza where two men were injured when they were shot during a robbery of two deposit bags yesterday.

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

RETIRED Assistant Police Commissioner Solomon Cash (left) and Church of God of Prophecy Senior Pastor Cleveland Hanna (right) speak to reporters.

CHURCH of God of Prophecy Senior Pastor Cleveland Hanna speaks to reporters.

Murders up by 17%

we can’t do it alone. We need that partnership to work along with us.”

Commissioner Fernander said police are questioning four men in connection with the fatal shooting of a man on bail in Grand Bahama last week.

The victim was found in an unfinished building on Bronze Drive, off Midshipman Road.

He said police are also following significant leads into a double shooting that left a man dead on Ferguson Street Thursday.

The victim and another man were reportedly travelling east on Ferguson Street when they were obstructed by the driver of a small grey Japanese vehicle.

As they attempted to flee the scene, the three masked men pursued them and fired shots in their direction, fatally wounding one of them.

Commissioner Fernander said police uncovered a firearm from the deceased at the scene and linked the weapon to two recent murders.

However, he declined to say which murders the guns were connected to or if they were used by the deceased.

The police chief also highlighted two “significant” seizures of illegal firearms, including an incident where customs officers discovered a box containing nine pistols and a quantity of ammunition and drugs at the airport.

The weapons were on display at yesterday’s press conference.

“We are working with our US partners,” he said. “We suspect that they came in from the US and were destined to a courier company here in Nassau. That matter is under active investigation as we speak.”

He also noted last week’s arrest of a man who had 13 pistols, two high-powered weapons and over $300,000 worth of suspected marijuana hidden in his home.

Commissioner Fernander said police spent the entire weekend trying to get details on how the firearms were smuggled into the country.

“I know they are armed with information, and this investigation will continue,” he said.

When the man and his mother were charged in court, he pleaded guilty to a litany of firearm and ammunition offences.

checking the area. As mentioned, doing some door-to-door and trying to reach out to individuals, some of his friends, and we are still on top of that, but get the facts and the bottom line is we’re trying to ensure that we find this young child.”

The teen’s mother, Tashana Thompson, told The Tribune she was upset about the length of time it took for police to send out the alert and credited her relentless efforts online for getting authorities’ attention. Yesterday, Commissioner Fernander expressed disappointment in her remarks, noting that a missing person alert is usually sent out for young children, but was issued because the teen is still a minor.

initiative and said we would send it out because that is a missing person,” Commissioner Fernander said.

“That still is a child and we had that our missing person flyer that was out and I made the decision yesterday evening to send it out through Marco’s Alert and we did just that.”

Ms Thompson said she last saw her son, also known as “Joey”, after 9pm on Wednesday at home.

The mother of three said she found out about her son’s disappearance after waking up from her sleep.

“I believe he gone outside to talk to somebody with the intention of coming back inside. Somebody holding him against his will,” she said.

However, Commissioner Fernander said police do not suspect the teenager is being held hostage based on information they have received.

“This individual is 16 years, but we still used our

“We are following some leads as to where this individual may be and hopefully between now and the end of the day, we may find him safe and sound,” he said. from

POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander highlighted two “significant” seizures of illegal firearms, including an incident where customs officers discovered a box containing nine pistols and a quantity of ammunition and drugs at the airport during a press conference yesterday.

Photos: Leandra Rolle

POLICE COMMISSIONER CLAYTON FERNANDER

Murders up by 13%

we can’t do it alone. We need that partnership to work along with us.”

Commissioner Fernander said police are questioning four men in connection with the fatal shooting of a man on bail in Grand Bahama last week.

The victim was found in an unfinished building on Bronze Drive, off Midshipman Road.

He said police are also following significant leads into a double shooting that left a man dead on Ferguson Street Thursday.

The victim and another man were reportedly travelling east on Ferguson Street when they were obstructed by the driver of a small grey Japanese vehicle.

As they attempted to flee the scene, the three masked men pursued them and fired shots in their direction, fatally wounding one of them.

Commissioner Fernander said police uncovered a firearm from the deceased at the scene and linked the weapon to two recent murders.

However, he declined to say which murders the guns were connected to or if they were used by the deceased.

The police chief also highlighted two “significant” seizures of illegal firearms, including an incident where customs officers discovered a box containing nine pistols and a quantity of ammunition and drugs at the airport.

The weapons were on display at yesterday’s press conference.

“We are working with our US partners,” he said. “We suspect that they came in from the US and were destined to a courier company here in Nassau. That matter is under active investigation as we speak.”

He also noted last week’s arrest of a man who had 13 pistols, two high-powered weapons and over $300,000 worth of suspected marijuana hidden in his home.

Commissioner Fernander said police spent the entire weekend trying to get details on how the firearms were smuggled into the country.

“I know they are armed with information, and this investigation will continue,” he said.

When the man and his mother were charged in court, he pleaded guilty to a litany of firearm and ammunition offences.

checking the area. As mentioned, doing some door-to-door and trying to reach out to individuals, some of his friends, and we are still on top of that, but get the facts and the bottom line is we’re trying to ensure that we find this young child.”

The teen’s mother, Tashana Thompson, told The Tribune she was upset about the length of time it took for police to send out the alert and credited her relentless efforts online for getting authorities’ attention. Yesterday, Commissioner Fernander expressed disappointment in her remarks, noting that a missing person alert is usually sent out for young children, but was issued because the teen is still a minor.

initiative and said we would send it out because that is a missing person,” Commissioner Fernander said.

“That still is a child and we had that our missing person flyer that was out and I made the decision yesterday evening to send it out through Marco’s Alert and we did just that.”

Ms Thompson said she last saw her son, also known as “Joey”, after 9pm on Wednesday at home.

The mother of three said she found out about her son’s disappearance after waking up from her sleep.

“I believe he gone outside to talk to somebody with the intention of coming back inside. Somebody holding him against his will,” she said.

However, Commissioner Fernander said police do not suspect the teenager is being held hostage based on information they have received.

“This individual is 16 years, but we still used our

“We are following some leads as to where this individual may be and hopefully between now and the end of the day, we may find him safe and sound,” he said. from

POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander highlighted two “significant” seizures of illegal firearms, including an incident where customs officers discovered a box containing nine pistols and a quantity of ammunition and drugs at the airport during a press conference yesterday.

Photos: Leandra Rolle

POLICE COMMISSIONER CLAYTON FERNANDER

Darville: Cannabis Bill ‘a good start’ with potential further discussions

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville defended the legislation the Davis administration tabled last week to create a cannabis regime, insisting the bills are a “good start” and that further consultation is possible.

Although the administration consulted on the bills for almost eight months, many interest groups still have complaints about the bills.

The Rastafarian community is unhappy about paying for organisation or individual use licenses. Advocates for the recreational use of marijuana note that the bill does not facilitate this.

Dr Darville said officials met with Rastafarians and noted their concerns.

“As far as we were concerned, there could be potential further discussions, but a decision was made that we would go ahead with the legislation as was because just like the Rastafarians believing that they should not pay licensing fees, there are the groups who feel they should not be paying licensing fees,” he said.

“We’ll come back to it, but I think in general, the legislation needed to be laid in the House of Assembly.”

“We’ve had it out for public consultation for almost eight months and we’ve had back and forth with many different organisations. I think the time has come for us to debate this legislation; pass it. We could always come back to tweak it. “

“We have to form an authority. We have to have any electronic prescription and the list goes on and on. There will be other opportunities to discuss these finer details or who should be exempt from licences or who should not pay for this or that.”

Dr Darville said the Bahamas Cannabis Authority could look at what needs to be tweaked once the legislation is passed.

“There is no piece of legislation that’s going to satisfy everybody, but as far as we’re concerned, we think it’s fair and we are prepared to look at it again,” he said.

Regarding marijuana for recreational use, Dr Darville said the administration wanted to address the medical use of the drug.

PMH blood bank’s new location commissioned

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRINCESS Margaret

Hospital’s blood bank has been relocated to 1st Terrace off Collins Avenue.

The site used to be an emergency medical technician station, according to Health Minister Dr Michael Darville.

He and other officials gathered for a commissioning ceremony yesterday.

He said the move was special for him and the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) because many blood bank employees have been working in difficult conditions for the last ten to 15 years.

He said although the new location would better

serve workers, it wouldn’t be the blood bank’s last destination.

He said the government is considering constructing a new facility where staff can be comfortable with proper equipment.

“Our lab and our blood bank are key elements to the function of our hospital and knowing it, it is our responsibility to ensure that we are able to provide the services at the standard that they truly deserve,” he said.

“I want to speak a little bit about the future of the blood bank because we’ve had the opportunity to travel to different hospitals around the world and to look at their blood banks and see how the blood bank has become a digitised facility. We intend to

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that MPHO JANIEL MOORE of P.O. Box N-7620 #197 Soldier Road, Nassau The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 22nd day of May, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that SILVERS JAMES MILFORT Nicholls Town, Andros, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 22nd day of May, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

follow suit where we are able to follow our donors from a digital platform and begin to get more Bahamians to donate blood because blood is life.”

“We recognise the challenges posed by ageing infrastructure at our facilities, particularly at Princess Margaret Hospital, our largest and busiest. These challenges have significantly impacted our blood bank staff, who have diligently worked in sub-optimal conditions to deliver essential services.”

“As you know, the blood bank has been very old, just as old as the hospital, which is some 71 years old and with the increase of all of the comorbidities that we have persons with surgical procedures, etc, we always

have a need for blood and outside of that, though, based on infrastructural issues, we had issues in terms of mould in

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that TICHA ALCIME of Wulff Road, Cumberbatch Avenue, Nassau The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 22nd day of May, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

Road, Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 22nd day of May, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that REGINALD BIENAISE of #13 Drake Avenue, Freeport, Grand Bahama The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 22nd day of May, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ODALYS GUZMAÑ MARTINEZ of Silver Gates, Silverado Close, Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 15th day of May2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

MINISTER of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville speaks to reporters during a ceremony to commission the new location of the Princess Margaret Hospital Blood Bank at First Terrace yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

that particular area.”

MINISTER of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville and Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Manag-

ing Director Dr Aubynette Rolle cut the ribbon during a ceremony to commission the new location of the Princess Margaret Hospital Blood Bank at First Terrace yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

JUDE CHARLES of Farrington

Employee of GB Power Company electrocuted

A number of police officials were at the plant investigating the incident.

According to initial police reports, the male worker was carrying out his duties when he came in contact with a live line, resulting in him receiving an electric shock and burns to his upper body.

EMS personnel responded and took him to the hospital.

After learning of the accident, family, friends, and several co-workers went to the Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital to await word of his condition.

Because there is no burns centre in The Bahamas, the company has arranged for the injured worker to be airlifted to Florida for treatment.

Two men rescued from disabled boat near Samana Cay by US Coast Guard

TWO people have been rescued from a disabled vessel off the coast of Samana Cay.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force notified the US Coast Guard on Sunday that two men were reported overdue and were last seen leaving Samana Cay on

May 15 aboard their 18ft recreational vessel. The boaters were found on Monday after aircrews aboard an HC144 Ocean Sentry plane from Coast Guard Air Station Miami and an MH60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater were launched to assist. The Ocean Sentry plane located the vessel 55 miles from land and dropped a parachute emergency supply kit with food, water and a radio - but the two men were unable to retrieve the kit. The Jayhawk helicopter,

PARTS of eastern New Providence were left without power yesterday because of severe lightning conditions.

In a statement posted on Facebook yesterday morning, BPL said the areas affected included Elizabeth Estates, Fox Hill, Twynham, Yamacraw, and Winton.

Arnette Ingraham, a senior manager at BPL, told The Tribune around 5pm yesterday that most of BPL’s primary feeders were

restored. But, nearly an hour later, the power provider reported more outages in the Chippenham area, Sunshine Park, Pride Estate, Flamingo Gardens, Pinewood Gardens and Fire Trail East due to yesterday’s thunderstorm. This latest blackout comes after a weekend of power cuts throughout New Providence. BPL officials blamed the outages on a generation shortfall and increased

demand caused by soaring temperatures.

“The company maintains that load shedding remains a possibility if unforeseen incidents impact available capacity at its plants and if temperatures continue to hover over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, increasing demand. Nonetheless, BPL assures its customers that it uses all available resources to limit supply interruptions,” the power company said in a statement over the weekend.

part of Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, arrived on the scene but was unable to communicate with the two men. A rescue swimmer was deployed and the two men were hoisted to safety and

transported to Spring Port Airport in Acklins. No medical concerns were reported.

MH60 pilot Lt Scott Kellerman said: “Everyone maintained a tight focus and nailed their roles. I’m

super proud of how we came together to bring those guys back to safety. It’s moments like these that remind us why we train so hard and why we joined the Coast Guard in the first place.”

A MAN adrift on a disabled boat is lifted aboard a US Coast Guard helicopter yesterday. Photo: USCG

WORKERS gathered at a GB Power station where a man was electrocuted yesterday.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

PICTURE OF THE DAY

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SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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How long must we ‘stand by’, commissioner?

POLICE Commissioner Clayton

Fernander was in front of the cameras yesterday as he announced that murders were up 13 percent compared to last year – and soon after he was on the ground at another shooting scene with two men injured at Palmdale Plaza.

But among the answers he gave, there was one question that is still waiting for an answer. We will come to that shortly.

First of all, there is the concern over the levels of murder our country is experiencing, to which he promised “all boots will be on the ground”. We were not aware any boots were being spared at present.

He went on to say about the murder rate: “We can’t stop it, but we will try and we will do our best and we can’t do it alone. We need that partnership to work along with us.”

No one group – police or otherwise – should have to do it alone, but we have faced successive years with a murder count above 100 and, heaven forbid, but we are headed that way again.

The commissioner was also on the defensive after concerns were raised by the mother of missing Devin Isaacs.

The 16-year-old went missing four days before a Marco Alert was sent out yesterday to try to find him, and his mother said she was upset that it took that long to send the alert out.

Commissioner Fernander, unwisely, said he was disappointed in the remarks of the concerned mother, and that “there’s two sides of the story”.

He insisted that officers “even went as far as getting footage and checking the area” after Devin was reported missing.

We hope for a safe outcome for

Devin – anyone with information is urged to contact the police.

And so we come to the area where there is an unanswered question.

About six weeks ago, on April 9, The Tribune reported that the commissioner had received recommendations from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning the potential criminal prosecution over police killings that received adverse inquest findings within the last year.

These include the deaths of Deangelo Evans, Shanton Forbes and Dino Bain, which were found to be homicide by manslaughter at the Coroner’s court. Since then, the commissioner has not provided an answer as to what those recommendations were – nor have there been any charges put before the criminal court as a result.

When asked last week about the matter, the commissioner said only to “stand by”.

The mother of Deangelo Evans told The Tribune that the family is tired of waiting. They are tired of standing by. It was 2018 when Deangelo was killed, and now that a Coroner’s court jury has ruled it homicide, the family is wondering why the wait goes on.

Deangelo’s mother highlighted a case with two officers being charged over an alleged theft, saying that they were quickly charged – and wondered why her son’s case was not being dealt with at similar speed.

A conclusion to the matter is important for both sides – family and the officers involved. Until answers are reached, a cloud hangs over the whole matter.

How long must people stand by?

That is an answer Commissioner Fernander must still give.

Importance of f nancial controls

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN today’s dynamic economic landscape, where financial risks and regulatory requirements are constantly evolving, robust financial governance is essential for sustainable growth and credibility. Therefore, it is important to emphasise the critical role of maintaining strict financial controls and compliance within organisations and businesses.

One key aspect of financial controls is ensuring proper authorization procedures for withdrawals and disbursements. This involves establishing clear protocols for approving financial transactions, such as requiring dual signatures or authorisation from designated officials.

By implementing these controls, organizations can prevent unauthorised access to funds and mitigate the risk of fraud. Compliance with banking and other applicable regulations are another crucial component of financial control. Organisations must stay abreast of regulatory changes and ensure that their practices align with industry standards and legal requirements. This not only helps avoid penalties and legal issues but also fosters trust among stakeholders, including investors, customers, regulators, and organisation members. Adherence to auditing and reporting standards is equally important. Regular audits and transparent financial reporting enable organisations to assess

Plight of women and children

EDITOR, The Tribune. “SUFFER (ALLOW) THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME”:

HOW long the abuse of women and children has existed on the planet; hundred years, five, thousand… always been there. In society knowing it was here, suddenly it becomes more transparent; those with money cannot hide it any longer. The corruption attached to businesses, governments and the rich hardly ever made it to the newspapers. But a transparency is beginning to happen. We’re now seeing things that one never imagined could happen. Compassion is finding a home in the hearts of many.

It was said that could not happen; old axiom, if you have enough money, power, or influence, you can keep everything hidden or pay for it to go away. That has stopped in recent times. How many famous people are going to jail for what they have done in the past? The numbers are increasing daily. What has been seen in long past times is not acceptable now.

shall be exposed. It’s in the field. The level of human consciousness cannot any longer conceal the tragedies against women and children in this nation. Can the level of women now in the higher ranks of leadership in our nation speak to a change of compassionate direction for our women and children? Even to this day we cannot come to a definite decision on marital rape!?

When we follow the headlines, we learn that there will be a lot of famous and rich people who are the serious perpetrators and abusers. Mother Earth can no longer tolerate the abuse of her children; the consciousness of humanity neither can allow such crimes against children and women. This is the beginning of the clean-up and the beginning of light across this planet; but this will take probably a generation before we can look back and see the dramatic results.

of more and more internal enemies of the state. Yes, our children are the “darlings” of the nation. But they can so easily become the demons unless they are properly nurtured and cared for.

Call them “darlings” only when we have done everything in our power to assure that every child in our land becomes an esteemed, proud, loved, cherished and cared-for individual. When we have made certain he/she is securely set on the path of self-esteem, self-worth and productivity, then and only then, can we claim them as our darlings.

We need to be even more vigilant now as many families, in this very rich country, can only afford one meal per day for their children. What a tragedy this is as it sets the stage for further sexual molestation of women and children being enticed by unconscionable criminals. And I end with this powerful admonition of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who witnesses daily the scourge of absolute poverty in his country:

their financial health accurately, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders. This transparency enhances investor confidence, strengthens relationships with financial institutions, and promotes a culture of integrity within the organisation. Maintaining strict financial controls and compliance is not just a regulatory necessity but a strategic benefit for organisations and businesses. By prioritising these principles, organisations can safeguard their financial integrity, build trust with stakeholders, and position themselves for long-term success.

CARLYLE BETHEL Nassau

May 17, 2024.

Now there is a turning point in this country, this planet. It’s the beginning of the clean-up. So many things will be seen all through this planet, exposing the horror going on with the abuse of children; kidnapped off the streets, never to see them again; sold into sexual slavery. Some even bred for bearing and giving birth to other children. What can be more horrible! Some have even had their stomachs ripped open to obtain the child they’re bearing to be used for medical purposes like stem cell therapy. What can be more horrible! Right here is this nation, not long ago, this heinous crime was perpetrated against young girls by a well-known demonic individual. It was going on for a long time right under the noses of many. These crimes were committed in the underground of the influential, or celebrities, or even the filthy rich, where no one can touch them.

Those who support this despicable action use their power and wealth and prey on our children. But now we must come together to expose perpetrators and secure our future, our children’s future, and our grandchildren’s future. All

Many community partners now will be the catalyst to bring about resolutions to this age old crime against the most vulnerable in our society. We wish to have this holy and bold place to which they can freely flee to obtain the care, love, warmth and solace they so deserve. Compassion is beginning to happen in our society. We all need to become aware, be courageous, fearless in pursing the demons who prey up our children and women.

In our nation we have only just recently passed into law the necessary instruments to deal with sexual offenders, namely Marco’s law. However, we still lack the fortitude, or cohunes, to institute the accompanying tool of for the public listing of sexual offenders. This may be the next step of courage to be unmindful of those in high places who may have historically offended in this regard.

We need to be eternally mindful of the poignant warning given by Marian Edelman when she writes: “Inattention to children by society poses a greater threat to our society, harmony and productivity than any external enemy.”

We are presently smack in the midst of this reality with the daily birthing

“A church that is in solidarity with the poor can never be a wealthy church. It must sell all, in a sense, to follow the Master. It must use its wealth and resources for the sake of the least of Christ’s brethren.” Tithing was never meant to enrich the ecclesiastical gang. And who is the church? WE ARE THE CHURCH! “Suffer the little children to come to me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Or will we continue setting them on a path of suffering and want, where no tender and caring hands reach out to them and lead them into the Arms of Jesus?

Our blessed women and children need a holy place where even the angels find a home, a fortress to which our children and those much above child age can find refuge. It is a home of benevolence augmenting the metamorphosis of a place where all children are safe.

Those who welcome souls into this abode are way showers, the bearers of the light of enlightened consciousness. We pray our nation of my years of growth and independence become the shining light for many nations to follow.

JOSEPH DARVILLE VP RIGHTS

A MAN cools himself off during a hot summer day at a park in Karachi, Pakistan yesterday.

Photo: Fareed Khan/AP

International ship and port facility seminar

and Port Facility

Man charged with rape after home ‘invasion’

from page one

Symonette was informed that his matter

would be moved to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Symonette’s VBI is due for service on July 25. Mark Penn represented the accused.

FIVE YEARS JAIL FOR MAN WHO ADMITS TO HAVING 15 GUNS AND $300K OF MARIJUANA

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to five years in prison after admitting to having 15 firearms and more than $300,000 worth of marijuana in his home on Sandilands Village Road last week.

Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Kyle Carter, 30, and his mother, Cheryl Key, 59, with possession of firearms with intent to supply, five counts of possession of ammunition with intent to supply, two counts of possession of ammunition, three counts of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply, seven counts of possession of a component part of a firearm and three counts of possession of body armour.

Carter faced an additional charge of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

Police reportedly pulled Carter over for recklessly driving a black van on John F Kennedy Drive on May 15. While a small quantity of drugs was found in his possession, a subsequent search of his residence

resulted in a major drug and firearm exposure. Police reportedly seized 15 firearms, including nine 9mm pistols, one .40 pistol, two .45 pistols, an FN Herstal Belgium FS2000 5.6x45 calibre pistol rifle, an AM 15 multi-calibre rifle and an FN Herstal Belgium FS2000 5.6.45 calibre rifle. Police further confiscated 60 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 121 rounds of .45 ammunition, 100 rounds of .40mm ammunition, 394 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 33 rounds of .223 ammunition, 20 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 18 rounds of 5.7x28mm ammunition and three black bulletproof vests. Twelve 9mm magazines, two 5.7mm magazines, a tan and black conversion kit frame, a black auto-sear, three 9mm drum magazines, a 9mm double drum magazine and a 7.62x.223 drum magazines were also found.

Police also confiscated 41 marijuana gummies, 145 THC vape packages, 45 THC vape pens, 1.4oz of marijuana and an additional 157.5 lbs of marijuana, which had a street value of $315,000.

Carter pleaded guilty to all charges against him, while his mother pleaded not guilty to her charges.

Ryzard Humes, who represented Carter, argued that the young employed client was remorseful for his actions and pleaded guilty at earliest opportunity to spare the court a lengthy trial. He also noted that the guns were found in the defendant’s home and that Carter had no prior legal problems. The attorney said his client is capable of rehabilitation.

Prosecutor Inspector Deon Barr asked Magistrate Reckley to consider the current climate of gun-related violence when considering the sentencing.

Carter was sentenced to five years in prison for the firearm charges and three years for the drug charges to be served concurrently.

Ms Key was granted bail at $9,500 for one or two sureties. She is expected to sign in at Elizabeth Estates Police Station twice a month.

She will return for a status hearing on her charges on June 18.

Tonique Lewis represented Ms Key.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF STEALING $90K FROM MAN SHE WORKED FOR GRANTED $50K BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN was granted

$50,000 bail yesterday after she allegedly stole $90,000 from a man’s bank account over a period of nine months last year.

Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Omesha Smith, 26, with eight counts of stealing by reason of employment, eight counts of money laundering (acquisition), 18 counts of forgery and 18 counts of falsification of accounts.

2022, and April 17, 2023.

Smith is accused of stealing $90,950 from Garth King’s CIBC account by forging withdrawal slips and falsifying the bank’s computer systems while employed there between July 18,

After pleading not guilty to all 52 charges, Ms Smith was told that under the terms of her bail she must sign in at her local police station on the last Friday of every month. She must also wear a monitoring device.

The defendant’s trial begins on August 6. Ian Cargill represented the accused.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF CAUSING HARM AT RESTAURANT

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN was granted bail yesterday after she was accused of injuring a person at a restaurant on East Street South last week.

Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans charged Marie Renard, 42, with causing harm. Renard is accused of injuring Nonese Legerme during a physical altercation at the Jamaican Jerk Shack Stop & Go on East Street South on May 14. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Although prosecutor Inspector S Coakley objected to bail, Renard was granted $2,000 bail with one or two sureties. She must sign in at the South Beach Police Station on the last Sunday of every month. Renard’s trial begins on July 24.

SENIOR Commander Berne Wright speaks during the International Ship

Security Seminar (ISPS) at Police Headquarters yesterday.

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Bahamian politics a race to the bottom

IT looks like we are in for another race to the bottom. We are now halfway through this term, and the Free National Movement will decide who its leader will be in the coming weeks. While the two candidates, from what we have seen thus far, are quite different, neither inspires confidence.

The party itself has a significant amount of work ahead of it to define itself and prove itself to a new generation of voters and the voters who refused to show up for it in 2021. Two and a half years later, this work has not even begun. In fact, it seems to be working against itself. It is not even trying to play the role of Opposition, failing to draw attention to the governance failures, failing to offer solutions, and failing to model better practices. Member of Parliament for St. Anne’s seemed to be upset by the announcement that The Bahamas now recognises Palestine as a state. The Bahamas took far too long to take this step, particularly as we witness, on a daily basis, the settler colonialism and genocide, by Israel, of Palestine and the Palestinian people. The Bahamas was the last CARICOM country to recognise Palestine as a state, and this is an embarrassment. White has now added to the embarrassment by his weak attempt to challenge it, and using “traditional allies” to do it. He said, “Our traditional allies, Madam Speaker, are countries that we haven’t aligned our position with, and I find that on such an important international issue, now it’s a national issue.”

The genocide of the Palestinian people has been an issue at the international, regional, and national levels for years, and without recognition of the same. As stated in the Caribbean Feminist Statement Against Israel’s Settle Colonial Project and Ongoing Genocide in Palestine, “We, Caribbean people, who have arisen from histories of genocide, enslavement, indentureship, and colonialism, remain firm and unwavering against all attempts at settler colonialism, apartheid, arbitrary arrests and detention, displacement and forced exile, confiscation of land and territories, sexual violence, and other human rights violations carried out by any State against any ethnic, racial, or geographic population. These images of violence are all too familiar.”

Over the past 228 days, we have seen the displacement of over 900,000 people from Gaza. We have seen the destruction of schools, mosques, and hospitals. We have watched as journalists

By Alicia Wallace

report on the conditions with the eery sound of weapons flying overhead. We have read about the hunger, seen the images of injuries and death, and heard the cracks in the

of these international decisions are being made, why we are agreeing one way or the other.”

Anyone who is serious about leading a political party, not to mention leading a country, must demonstrate their values.

voices of thousands of people who continue to speak against the violence they are experiencing without end and call on us, the rest of the world, whoever our allies may be, to help them. When we, human rights advocates, call on the government to fulfill its obligation to protect, promote, and ensure access to human rights, there is talk of “sovereignty.”

When we reference the United Nations human rights mechanisms that The Bahamas has voluntarily adopted and ratified, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), “sovereignty” comes up. When the United States Embassy flies the PRIDE flag at its locations, “sovereignty” is thrown around. For some reason, though, when it comes to The Bahamas taking a principled position — the right position — on the statehood of Palestine, it is time for The Bahamas to worry about its allies and their wishes. Why might that be? There are far too many people in positions of leadership who are illequipped, unprepared, and generally opposed to human rights, regardless of sovereignty or allyship. It seems, in fact, that they are playing a game that has nothing to do with the wellbeing of the people they claim to serve.

White said, “[…] the people of this nation, Madam Speaker, should be informed I think on a more regular basis on why some

He said this about the decision by The Bahamas to recognize Palestine as a state. He did not say this about countless other decisions made by the Government of The Bahamas with no announcement at all. There are no questions about the financial bills that are pushed through quickly and without consultation. There are no questions about the way The Bahamas votes at the United Nations on a regular basis. There are no questions about participation in InterAmerican processes or the decisions made therein. The continued failure of government officials to disclose assets is not a conversation this week. Why might that be?

Several human rights advocates have been calling on the government to communicate with the general public about its commitments and activities in international spaces. In fact, we have used international spaces and processes to demand that the government inform the Bahamian people of its commitments and to make human rights mechanisms accessible to the public. When we talk about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it should not be a cloudy concept for the general public, but a clear set of rights that we all can easily apply to their own lives, even if we cannot perfectly recite them. When we reference CEDAW, it should not evoke fear. When we remind the country that migrants are human beings with human rights, it should not be surprising or confusing. Perhaps successive administrations have enjoyed the low access to information for the general public which enables

them to distract, to lie, and to create enemies of human beings rather than the inequitable systems we live within. Migrant people have always been scapegoats of choice, haven’t they?

It is no surprise that Minnis is not only running for leadership of the Free National Movement again, but that he is so easily and confidently referencing his spectacular failure from 2017 to 2021 — which even he was in a rush to escape with a nonsensically early general election — saying “Let’s do it again,” is a sure sign of delusion or confidence that, in a race to the bottom, he is a good bet. Rather than focusing on the state of the country, largely due to his egotistical, sloppy, tyrannical “leadership” and the current administration that is taking full advantage of the terrible precedent set in many areas, including undisguised abhorrence for the press, he has taken aim at some of the most vulnerable people in the country. Instead of acknowledging the harm already done by terrible decisions and devastating inaction, he is going the lazy route of scapegoating Haitian migrants. He said that he would “aggressively deport all undocumented people” and claimed he would

regularize those who have been in The Bahamas for a long time. These two promises are not aligned. The first is, in fact, quite troubling when we should know what is happening right now in Haiti. (It is important that we do not pretend that he was talking about all migrants. He meant, as they always mean, Haitian migrants).

Pintard, on the other hand, said the Free National Movement should not “make every immigrant a tyrant”. He pointed to willingness to collaborate and a duty to solve problems. It is cause for concern that these conversations do not seem to be taking place within the party and, importantly, across the obvious factions. Is there no clear direction for the party? No shared values? No clarity on what leadership means and looks like in practice?

We have not seen strong leadership from Pintard who has been in the ideal position to demonstrate his ability over the past few years. The current Opposition has fallen into the same practices as every Opposition before it, opposing for the sake of it, criticizing at every turn, and offering no solutions. It is old, it is tired, it is ineffective, and it serves no one. This is unfortunate, not only for a party that is vying for leadership

in the next general election, but for the people of The Bahamas who need a true, properly functioning Opposition. Anyone who is serious about leading a political party, not to mention leading a country, must demonstrate their values. These are not centering hatred of people or particular groups of people. Values are indicative of positions on pressing issues. People who are serious about leadership are clear in their positions. If they cannot decide for themselves, they certainly cannot be trusted to listen to and make decisions in the best interest of others. When will the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement figure out who they are and where they stand on critical issues? How will they communicate their identities to us? What will it take for them to be truly people-centred? Who, within these parties, are leaders with the competence to listen, learn, collaborate, communicate, and act with the most vulnerable in mind? If it takes anywhere near two more years to see manifestos and charters, we need to be clear that there are no leaders in these parties, and there are no parties prepared to lead.

KILLARNEY MP and Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis during his campaign launch for Free National Movement (FNM) Party Leader at Baha Mar on Friday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Is that Her? AI voice sounds like Scarlett

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer

OPENAI on Monday said it plans to halt the use of one of its ChatGPT voices that “Her” actor Scarlett Johansson says sounds “eerily similar” to her own.

In a post on the social media platform X, OpenAI said it is “working to pause” Sky — the name of one of five voices that ChatGPT users can chose to speak with.

The company said it had “heard questions” about how it selects the lifelike audio options available for its flagship artificial intelligence chatbot, particularly Sky, and wanted to address them.

Among those raising questions was Johansson, who famously voiced a fictional, and at the time futuristic, AI assistant in the 2013 film “Her”.

Johansson issued a statement saying that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had approached her in September asking her if she would lend her voice to the system, saying he felt it would be “comforting to people” not at ease with the technology. She said she declined the offer.

“When I heard the released demo, I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference,” Johansson said.

She said OpenAI “reluctantly” agreed to take down the Sky voice after she hired lawyers who wrote Altman letters asking about the process by which the company came up with the voice.

OpenAI had moved to debunk the internet’s theories about Johansson in a blog post accompanying its earlier announcement aimed at detailing how ChatGPT’s voices were chosen. The company wrote that it believed AI voices “should not deliberately mimic a celebrity’s distinctive voice” and that the voice of Sky belongs to a “different professional actress”. But it added that it could not share the name of that professional for privacy reasons.

In a statement sent to The Associated Press following Johansson’s response late Monday, Altman said that OpenAI cast the voice actor behind Sky “before any outreach” to Johansson.

“The voice of Sky is not Scarlett Johansson’s, and it was never intended to resemble hers,” Altman said. “Out of respect for Ms Johansson, we have paused using Sky’s voice in our products. We are sorry to Ms Johansson that we didn’t communicate better.”

San Francisco-based OpenAI first

rolled out voice capabilities for ChatGPT, which included the five different voices, in September, allowing users to engage in back-to-forth conversation with the AI assistant. “Voice Mode” was originally just available to paid subscribers, but in November, OpenAI announced that the feature would become free for all users with the mobile app.

And ChatGPT’s interactions are becoming more and more sophisticated. Last week, OpenAI said the latest update to its generative AI model can mimic human cadences in its verbal responses and can even try to detect people’s moods.

OpenAI says the newest model, dubbed GPT-4o, works faster than previous versions and can reason across text, audio and video in real time. In a demonstration during OpenAI’s May 13 announcement, the AI bot chatted in real time, adding emotion — specifically “more drama” — to its voice as requested. It also took a stab at extrapolating a person’s emotional state by looking at a selfie video of their face, aided in language translations, step-by-step math problems and more.

GPT-4o, short for “omni”, isn’t widely available yet. It will progressively make its way to select users in the coming weeks and months. The model’s text and image capabilities have already begun rolling out, and is set to reach even some of those that use ChatGPT’s free tier — but the new voice mode will just be available for paid subscribers of ChatGPT Plus.

While most have yet to get their hands

on these newly announced features, the capabilities have conjured up even more comparisons to the Spike Jonze’s dystopian romance “Her,” which follows an introverted man (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in love with an AI-operating system (Johansson), leading to many complications.

Altman appeared to tap into this, too — simply posting the word “her” on the social media platform X the day of GPT-4o’s unveiling.

Many reacting to the model’s demos last week also found some of the interactions struck a strangely flirtatious tone. In one video posted by OpenAI, a femalevoiced ChatGPT compliments a company employee on “rocking an OpenAI hoodie,” for example, and in another the chatbot says “oh stop it, you’re making me blush” after being told that it’s amazing.

That’s sparked some conversation on the gendered ways critics say tech companies have long used to develop and engage voice assistants — dating back far before the latest wave of generative AI advanced the capabilities of AI chatbots. In 2019, the United Nations’ culture and science organisation pointed to “hardwired subservience” built into default female-voiced assistants (like Apple’s Siri to Amazon’s Alexa), even when confronted with sexist insults and harassment.

“This is clearly programmed to feed dudes’ egos,” The Daily Show senior correspondent Desi Lydic said of GPT-4o in a segment last week. “You can really tell that a man built this tech.”

AI COMPANIES MAKE FRESH SAFETY PROMISE AT SUMMIT

LEADING artificial intelligence companies made a fresh pledge at a mini-summit on Tuesday to develop AI safely, while world leaders agreed to build a network of publicly backed safety institutes to advance research and testing of the technology. Google, Meta and OpenAI were among the companies that made voluntary safety commitments at the AI Seoul Summit, including pulling the plug on their cuttingedge systems if they can’t rein in the most extreme risks.

The two-day meeting is a follow-up to November’s AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in the United Kingdom, and comes amid a flurry of efforts by governments and global bodies to design guardrails for the technology amid fears about the potential risk it poses both to everyday life and to humanity. Leaders from ten countries and the

European Union will “forge a common understanding of AI safety and align their work on AI research”, the British government, which co-hosted the event, said in a statement. The network of safety institutes will include those already set up by the UK, US, Japan and Singapore since the Bletchley meeting, it said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the opening session that seven months after the Bletchley meeting, “We are seeing life-changing technological advances and life-threatening new risks — from disinformation to mass surveillance to the prospect of lethal autonomous weapons.”

The UN chief said in a video address that there needs to be universal guardrails and regular dialogue on AI. “We cannot sleepwalk into a dystopian future where the power of AI is controlled by a few people — or worse, by algorithms beyond human understanding,” he said.

The 16 AI companies that signed up for the safety commitments also include Amazon,

Microsoft, Samsung, IBM, xAI, France’s Mistral AI, China’s Zhipu.ai, and G42 of the United Arab Emirates. They vowed to ensure the safety of their most advanced AI models with promises of accountable governance and public transparency.

It’s not the first time that AI companies have made lofty-sounding but non-binding safety commitments. Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft were among a group that signed up last year to voluntary safeguards brokered by the White House to ensure their products are safe before releasing them.

The Seoul meeting comes as some of those companies roll out the latest versions of their AI models.

The safety pledge includes publishing frameworks setting out how the companies will measure the risks of their models. In extreme cases where risks are severe and “intolerable,” AI companies will have to hit the kill switch and stop developing or deploying their models and systems if they can’t mitigate the risks.

AI CHATBOT WILL ‘RECALL’ EVERYTHING YOU DO ON A PC

MICROSOFT wants laptop users to get so comfortable with its artificial intelligence chatbot that it will remember everything you’re doing on your computer and help figure out what you want to do next.

The software giant on Monday revealed a new class of AI-imbued personal computers as it confronts heightened competition from Big Tech rivals in pitching generative AI technology that can compose documents, make images and serve as a lifelike personal assistant at work or home.

The announcements ahead of Microsoft’s annual Build developer conference centred on fusing its AI assistant, called Copilot, into the Windows operating system for PCs, where Microsoft already has the eyes of millions of consumers.

The new features will include Windows Recall, giving the AI assistant what Microsoft describes as “photographic memory” of a person’s virtual activity. Microsoft promises to protect users’ privacy by giving them the option to filter out what they don’t want tracked, and keeping the tracking on the device. It’s a step toward machines that “instantly see us, hear, reason about our intent and our surroundings”, said CEO Satya Nadella.

“We’re entering this new era where computers not only understand us, but can actually anticipate what we want and our intent,” Nadella said at an event at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

The conference that starts Tuesday in Seattle follows big AI announcements last week from rival Google, as well as Microsoft’s close business partner OpenAI, which built the AI large language models on which Microsoft’s Copilot is based.

• Cyberattacks against water utilities across the US are becoming more frequent and more severe, the Environmental Protection Agency warned Monday as it issued an enforcement alert urging water systems to take immediate actions to protect the nation’s drinking water.

About 70 percent of utilities inspected by federal officials over the last year violated standards meant to prevent breaches or other intrusions, the agency said. Officials urged even small water systems to improve protections against hacks. Recent cyberattacks by groups affiliated with Russia and Iran have targeted smaller communities.

Some water systems are falling short in basic ways, the alert said, including failure to change default passwords or cut off system access to former employees. Because water utilities often rely on computer software to operate treatment plants and distribution systems, protecting information technology and process controls is crucial, the EPA said. Possible impacts of cyberattacks include interruptions to water treatment and storage; damage to pumps and valves; and alteration of chemical levels to hazardous amounts, the agency said.

“In many cases, systems are not doing what they are supposed to be doing, which is to have completed a risk assessment of their vulnerabilities that includes cybersecurity and to make sure that plan is available and informing the way they do business,” said EPA deputy administrator Janet McCabe.

Recent attacks are not just by private entities. Some recent hacks of water utilities are linked to geopolitical rivals, and could lead to the disruption of the supply of safe water to homes and businesses.

SEOUL, South Korea Associated Press

SCARLETT Johansson poses for photographers at the photo call for the film “Asteroid City” at Cannes.

SPORTS

11

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2024

Major Jr withdraws from Davis Cup team

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

One day after earning his way on the Davis Cup team at the final trials over the weekend, veteran Kevin ‘KJ’ Major Jr has decided to withdraw his spot for several reasons.

The 29-year-old professional tennis player, in a letter submitted to The Tribune and circulated on social media, said his decision stems from recent actions taken by the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association and president Perry Newton, which he perceives as unfair and lacking in transparency.

“Our number one player Baker Newman, who has been a dedicated member of the team since qualifying in December 2023, was inexplicably removed from the team at the last minute,” Major Jr said.

“This action is not only unjust but also detrimental to the team’s morale, cohesion and success. Abrupt decisions are unfair to the players who have worked

hard to secure their positions and contribute to our collective success.”

Major Jr finished as the runner-up to his younger cousin Michael ‘MJ’ Major Jr in the final on Sunday at the National Tennis Centre. They were to join Baker Newman and Rodney Carey Jr, who won the December trials at the Giorgio Baldacci Open, along with Justin Roberts who, as the top ranked Bahamian, was exempted from the trials.

When they heard that veteran player/coach Marvin Rolle was replaced by Ricardo Demeritte, Major Jr said he and other players requested the BLTA to allow Rolle to remain on the team because of a mirroring of a situation faced by the country’s Junior Davis Cup team with Demeritte.

Major Jr said the request by the under-16 boys to have Demeritte as captain was met by the BLTA as they appointed former Davis Cup player turned coach Philip Major Jr, leading to a favourable

SEE PAGE 12

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor

DAY one of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming National Primary Schools Championships got started with a bang, but had to be halted because of “Mother Nature.”

With thunder and lightning striking over the original Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium yesterday, officials had to call off the rest of the proceedings and will resume competition today at 9am.

Up to that point, only two field events and two track finals were completed for the 54 participating teams competing, the majority of whom are from Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.

In the field events, Grand Bahamian Caitlyn Pratt of Freeport Gospel took the title in the girls’ 13-andunder long jump with her winning leap of 4.30 metres.

Maliya Smith of Temple Christian was second with 3.96m and Danasia LaFleur of Sunland Baptist Academy was third with 3.95m. Fellow Grand Bahamian Abigail Maycock of West

13

Norius and wife take stage in New York, don’t make finals

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JIMMY Norius said he and his wife Serena Norius had a little more competition than they anticipated this weekend in New York.

The duo, coming off their appearance at the NPC Pittsburgh Championships and IFBB Pittsburgh Pro the week before, competed in the New York Pro Show on Saturday. But Norius noted that they both failed to advance to the final in what was a stiffer show to compete in than they did in Pittsburgh.

“I thought Pittsburgh was tough, but the show in New York had a lot more competitors because it was a qualifying show for Mr Olympia,” Norius said.

“Once you placed in the New York show, you had bragging rights so a lot more people came to it.

Because more people came, even if Serena had finished in the middle of the field, she would not have made the finals.

“So both of us didn’t make the final. It was just that tough for us.”

Based on what they saw, Norius said if they had come to the show with a more conditioned look, they probably could have scored higher in the competition.

“It seemed as if the judges were going with more size and conditioning,” Norius said.

“The two shows we competed in were Mr Olympia qualifiers, so I think the judges were looking for the athletes with more size and weight rather than going with the smaller athletes,” he added.

With the back-to-back experience at the professional level, Norius said he will not continue competing

THE SPORTS CALENDAR

TRACK RED-LINE YOUTH CLASSIC REGISTRATION is currently underway for the Red-Line Athletics’ third annual Youth Classic. The event 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 under-15 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

May, 2024

the track and field events for the age group athletes ranging from 8-and under-20. There will also be one or two events for the open category. Interested persons can contact RedLine Athletics’ coach Tito Moss at 425-4262 for further details.

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

SEE PAGE 13

in the open division, but rather concentrate on passing his knowledge and expertise on to the younger competitors here in the Bahamas as a coach.

He said he would only be interested in competing in the masters category where he gets to compete with guys who are 50 years and older and not have to contend with the stronger competitors in the open division.

However, he said his wife is just getting started in the sport.

So she is expected to be back on stage in another open show in September. She will also compete in the masters category.

“My wife is from Italy and she lives in the Bahamas with me, so I have to be responsible for her,” he said. “I have to start looking at ways to make some money in the sport and not just spending it all

competing. “I need to put some things in place so that if anything happens to me, she is secured.

“She is just 40 (years of age) and a novice, so I can encourage her to continue to compete. But my first show was in 1998. I am tired and I need to make some money.

“I can’t continue to compete with these guys, boys. It’s more hard work for me to get the results that I need competing against these guys.

“I never really felt my age until after the show. These guys are in their 20s. I can’t compete with them at this stage.”

With this being their first time in New York, known as the “city that never sleeps,” Norius said he and his wife are taking in some of the sights before they make their return to the Bahamas and start the reality check of what they will do next.

VETERAN CYCLIST JAY MAJOR OVERALL WINNER OF LUCOZADE

THE New Providence Cycling Association held its Lucozade Sprint Classic No.2 on Sunday at the Clifton Heritage Park. Veteran Jay Major was the overall winner, while junior Sienna Culmer-Mackey had the fastest time for the ladies. There were a number of categories for the juniors, which drew a lot of attention. Here’s a look at the results posted:

Senior 1 ( 3 laps) - 1) Jay Major:47:40; 2) Patrick Paul47.40; 3) Kevin Daley-47.44; 4) Justin Higgs - 48:45. Senior 2- 3 laps - 1) Tyrone Paul- 52.09. Masters 3 laps - 1) Andrew Cates- 48.54; 2) Wayne Price- 52.06; 3) Dwayne Adderley - 52.55. Open Females ( 2 laps)1) Opal Adderley- 48:13; 2) Marija Brueckner- 53.24. U23 males- (3 laps) - 1) Barron Musgrove Jr. - 48:45.’

U23 Females- (2 laps)1) Sienna Culmer-Mackey - 42:58. 15 -17 males - (2 laps)1) Brian Burrows DNF ( mechanical). 12 to 14 males (2 laps) - 1) Tristan Johnson- 38:50; 2) Royce Colebrook- 46:08; 3) Nathaniel Adderley- 46:55.

14

35.00.

12 to

Elite (2-3 laps)1) Jayden Smith ( no time available for the last lap.); 2 laps

lap)

CYCLIST Jay Major

SERENA and Jimmy Norius share a special moment together.

STEPPING DOWN: Kevin Major Jr in action in this file photo. INSET: Kevin Major Jr, right, and Michael Major Jr after their tennis match.

BAHAMIAN EQUESTRIANS BRING HOME MEDALS AFTER FINAL LEG OF THE GRAND CARAIBE TOUR

BAHAMIAN equestrian

athletes Katerina Coello, Sienna Tinker and Erika Adderley made a strong showing in the final leg of the 2024 Grand Caraibe Tour, bringing home broad smiles and a fistful of medals and awards.

The Grand Caraibe Tour is composed of four showjumping competitions, held from October to May in the southern Caribbean. This season’s final leg took place in May at Les Ecuries de la Coulisse in Trois-Rivières, Guadeloupe, and featured 52 riders from eight countries (Antigua, The Bahamas, Bermuda, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Martin and Suriname).

The competition was run under French Equestrian Federation (FFE) rules and featured three height categories: Espoir (obstacles 0.85 – 0.90m); Elite, (obstacles 0.95 – 1.0m), and Grand Prix (obstacles 1.05-1.10m).

Day 1 of the competition was a speed class while Day 2 was held in a tworound format, with the first round against the clock and a jump-off in the event of first-round ties.

All courses were designed by FEI course designer Joseph Martin of France.

The Bahamas athletes competed as individuals (four riders were required for a team) and were coached by European-based Grand Prix rider and trainer Rai Burch of Bermuda.

Like all the riders visiting from other countries, they rode horses donated by riders from stables across the island of Guadeloupe.

Riding unfamiliar horses posed no problem for the Bahamian athletes.

In the Espoir Division, Katerina Coello aboard Victoria St. Pierre was one of the few riders in the competition with 3 clear rounds.

On Day 1, she went clear in 66.31 seconds to place 6th in the speed class, and on Day 2 she posted a double clear in the first round and the jump-off to finish 5th.

In the Final awards ceremony, Katerina finished just off the podium, placing 4th of 34 in the Espoir Division, and was named “Most Elegant Rider” of

the competition. In the Elite Division Sienna Tinker, riding Titeuf, posted a time of 70.20 seconds for the fastest round in the Speed class, a performance that was good enough for 4th place despite just clipping the final plank jump for four jumping faults. Despite not making the jump off on Day 2, the pair rode strongly to finish 8th out of 18 overall in the Elite Division. In the Grand Prix Division, Erika Coello riding Dixit du Cap

had a rough go the first day with four fences down, but rebounded on day 2, reaching the jump off to earn 6th place. Overall, she and Dixit placed 8th out of 10 in the Grand Prix Division.

Equestrian Federation president Cathy RamsinghPierre, who accompanied the delegation to Guadeloupe, was full of praise for the Bahamian riders, and gratitude to the host barns of Guadeloupe and the organizers of the Grand Caraibe Tour.

“The Grand Caraibe Tour embodies a spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition combined with a high level of technical excellence,” said Ramsingh-Pierre.

“The Bahamas is honoured to have been invited to participate in these interactions which strengthen our bonds as equestrians in the region. We have been invited to participate in the full Tour next year, and our goal will be to field a complete team.”

Kevin Major Jr withdraws from Davis Cup team

outcome for the team.

“We are now in a similar situation, requesting the replacement of Ricardo Demeritte with our longstanding and highly successful captain, Mr Marvin Rolle, who is highly respected and admired not only by the Davis cup team but tennis in the Bahamas and around the world,” Major Jr said.

“Our long lasting captain Marvin Rolle has an outstanding track record and has guided us to numerous victories both as a player and a coach. Despite our earnest requests, the BLTA has chosen not to act in the same fair manner as it did with the junior team.”

Major Jr, who has played for seven years on the team between 2013-2023, said this inconsistency highlights a lack of fair play and transparency within the BLTA.

“As the players representing our beautiful country, we believe our voices should be heard and respected in decisions that directly affect us,” he said. “Due to these circumstances, I cannot participate in a system that disregards

fairness and the well-being of its players.

“I also call for the resignation of the current BLTA administration, as this situation clearly demonstrates a pattern of unfair and non-transparent behaviour. I hope the BLTA will take these concerns seriously and work towards creating a fairer environment for all athletes.”

Efforts to contact Newton were unsuccessful up to press time last night.

The Davis Cup team, when finalised, will play in Asuncion, Paraguay, June 17-22 in the Americas Group III in a field that includes Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Jamaica and host Paraguay.

The countries will be split in two groups - one with four teams in Pool A and five in Pool B. The two teams finishing on top of each pool will be promoted alongside the nation finishing in third place.

The nation finishing at the bottom of pool B will be relegated alongside the nation finishing in eighth place. All of the other

ONE day after earning his way on the Davis Cup team at the final trials over the weekend, 29-year-old pro tennis player Kevin ‘KJ’ Major Jr has decided to withdraw his spot for several reasons.

teams will remain in Group III for next year. The Billie Jean King Cup is scheduled for August 5-10 in Tacarigua, Trinidad. Former national champion and long-time Fed Cup (as it was formerly called) player, Kim O’Kelley, will travel as the captain of the team that is expected to comprise the December Invitational winners Simone Pratt and Sydney Clarke and final trials winners Danielle Tghompson and Tatyana Madu.

Countries expected to participate along with the Bahamas are Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Costa Rica, El Savlvador, US Virgin Islands, Jamaica, St Lucia, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago. There will be a two-stage round-robin format. Three pools of four teams on Monday to Wednesday. Teams finishing in the same position in the first pool stage will compete in a second-robin ThursdaySaturday to determine final positions. Two countries will eventually be promoted and all of the others will remain in Group III.

ALL THE TEAMS can be seen at the 2024 Grand Caraibe Tour.

SIENNA Tinker and Titeuf placed 4th in the Elite Division Speed Class.

THE BAHAMAS contingent, from left to right, Sienna Tinker (Elite Division), Equestrian Federation president Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre, Katerina Coello (Espoir Division), and Erika Adderley (Grand Prix Division).

FRANK ‘PANCHO’ RAHMING NATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS CALLED OFF DUE TO THUNDER, LIGHTNING

FROM PAGE 11 Competition resumes at 9am today, same venue

Grand Bahama emerged as the champion of the girls’ 11-and-under high jump after she soared 1.30m for the victory, taking the title over MiKyla Sears of Lewis Yard, who matched the same height but had more knockdowns. Tamai Brown of Claridge Primary was third with 1.29m. New Providence dominated on the track as Elexia Strachan of Temple Christian captured the B girls 11-and-under 1,200m in 4:35.66. Her teammate Kalia Symonette was second in 4:49.72 and Grand Bahamian Anna Green of Lewis Yard was third in 4:55.82. The 11-and-under B boys 1,200m was won by Deon Fowler of Cleveland Eneas in 4:23.34. Liam Bethel of Palmdale Primary was second in 4:27.01 and Ian Bodie of Martin Town Primary took third place to Grand Bahama in 4:28.58. The meet, being held in honour of Frank “Pancho” Rahming, the long-time national coach and former

assistant director of sports at the ministry, made its return after it was stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rahming, the proud retired patron, was beaming with excitement as he assisted the Ministry and the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials yesterday in the smooth operation of the meet.

“It’s good to see that the meet has continued this year,” Rahming said.

“It was stopped because of COVID-19 and now this is the first year after COVID-19, so it’s good to see it back.”

From what he saw, Rahming said it was obvious that the athletes wanted to compete, but there was nothing that they could

Kingsway junior girls have perfect season, win volleyball title

THE Kingsway Academy Saints junior girls completed a perfect season by winning the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools volleyball title last week over Lyford Cay International.

The Saints, coached by Juliet Douglas-Sands, marched to a 3-2 victory at the Aquinas College courts. The team members were Rakia Duncombe, Daenelle Johnson, Anaija Clarke, Joya Sands, Johanna Johnson, Lilianna Rolle, Andica Curtis, Nikayla Butler, Nicole Butler, Brianca Butterfield, Shayla Outten, Nyla Munroe and Kaylee Johnson.

Douglas-Sands said she was extremely proud of their victorious season.

“The girls have been committed all year,” she said. “Last year’s defeat motivated them to come out and battle with renewed determination. They displayed passion, teamwork,

and dedication at every turn. I had no doubt that this season would have ended any other way.”

From the first practice to the final whistle of the championship match, Douglas-Sands said their journey was one of resilience and collective spirit.

“Each player brought their best to the court, contributing to our shared goal of transforming last year’s disappointment into this year’s triumph,” she said. “The belief in their potential and their unwavering commitment have been evident throughout.”

The victory, she added, is a testament to their relentless spirit and the power of unity.

“I couldn’t be prouder of these young athletes,” she summed up. “Their hard work has truly paid off, and their story is an inspiration to all, proving that with passion, teamwork and dedication, any challenge can be overcome.”

do about good old mother nature.

“We decided yesterday (Monday) to start (Tuesday) at 9:30, no later than 9:45am because of the heat and we started, but now we have this lightning and thunderstorm so we have to stop.”

Kerry Baker, the deputy director of sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, said there’s nothing they could do about mother nature, but it’s good that the youngsters are getting a chance to compete.

“At this time, we will have to make some adjustments,” he said. “Our technical team at the Ministry and the officials of the meet will get together and see how best we can complete the schedule.”

In the meantime, Baker said there’s nothing like

giving honour where honour is due. “It’s about time. We need to continue to acknowledge our past and former athletes,” he said. “We know that Mr Rahming has made some valuable contributions to the growth and development of sports, especially track and field, so it’s only fitting for him to be recognised.”

The official opening ceremonies are expected to kick off today’s activities at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium at 9:30am. The meet will run all day today and wrap up on Thursday, starting at 9:30 am.

Athletes will be presented with medals based on their top three finishes in each event. There are overall divisional trophies to be distributed as well.

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.

SOCCER

HAVEN HIGH SCHOOL CLASSIC THE Bahamas Football Association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Technical & Vocational Training, will host the Samuel P Haven Jr High School Soccer Nationals 2024 at the Roscow AL Davies Fields starting today.

Here’s a look at the schedule of events:

Today 4:30 pm - Girls Division: RM Bailey vs. St. Andrew’s. 5 pm - Girls Division: CR Walker vs. Queen’s College. 6 pm - Boys Division: Anatol Rodgers vs. St. John’s College.

Thursday 4:30pm - Lyford Cay Intl. vs. Anatol Rodgers.

5pm - Boys Division: Government High School vs. Windsor.

6pm - Boys Division: Lyford Cay Intl. vs. CR Walker.

May 27 - 10am - Draw for Semi Finals pairings at the Roscow AL Davies Field.

May 30 - Semi-finals

4:30 and 6pm.

May 30 - Finals.

4pm - 3rd Place Boys and Girls.

5:30pm - Girls Championship game.

7pm - Boys Championship game.

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

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

Natasha Brown and Frank “Pancho” Rahming, right. The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming National Primary Schools Championships is expected to resume competition today at 9am.

PLAYERS from the Kingsway Academy Saints junior girls’ team wait for the volleyball.

KINGSWAY Academy Saints celebrate their junior girls’ volleyball title.

Goombay Punch Cup makes major waves in sailing

CARIBBEAN Bottling

Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, is involved in many community service initiatives throughout various sectors of The Bahamas. One being sailing, which they promote through their annual Goombay Punch Cup competition.

The Goombay Punch Cup, which was launched in 2022, measures the performance of various sailing sloops across the Best of the Best Regatta, National Family Island Regatta and the Long Island Regatta.

During the Long Island regatta, the team with the most points across the three events is crowned the winner.

Aside from bragging rights, the winning sloop is awarded $5,000.00, and a custom congratulations Goombay Punch 12 oz can.

Each year, The Bahamas’ Goombay Punch Cup is announced and celebrated with limited edition commemorative 12 oz cans that are only available in the country.

The 2023/2024 season cans include: Ants Nest, Barbarian, Cobra, Eudeva, Susan Chase and Lonesome Dove.

Before sailing was crowned the national sport of The Bahamas, CBC understood the beauty and cultural significance of the sport. This understanding

inspired the creation of the Goombay Punch Cup.

“Regattas are a major cultural event in the country. So, we thought it would be great to further amplify this aspect of our culture and to give Bahamians more reasons to visit the Family Islands,” said Karla Wells-Lisgaris, director of CBC.

Keith Carrol and Emile Knowles, co-captains of New Legend in the Class A and first-time winners of the Goombay Punch Cup during the 2022/2023 season, said they were overwhelmed with joy when they were announced as the winners.

“Winning the Goombay Punch Cup was like winning a NASCAR race to me and the crew,” Carrol said.

“Winning made me feel really proud. I hope this is a feeling that all the Classes A, B and C can experience, being acknowledged for your work,” Knowles stated.

The Long Islanders have been sailing for over 40 years and said they were introduced to sailing from their elders, which reiterates the value of sailing to Bahamians.

Knowles, a third-generation sailor, touches on how he began sailing and what it means to him.

“I was introduced to sailing by my grandfather, father and cousins. To me sailing is my hobby, it is

my favourite thing to do, but I know it’s also something I must do. Yes, it’s my responsibility to pass it down to the next generation.” Knowles said.

CBC knows the importance of passing along cultural practices and traditions.

In addition to the winners receiving prize money, the junior sailing club of the winning sloops’ island is awarded an $8,000.00 stipend.

“Bahamian culture is very important to us and regattas are a big part of who we are. For us we wanted to have a financial aspect of the campaign to allow Bahamian children to push the sport of sailing forward,” Wells-Lisgaris said.

Sandra Cooke, president of Long Island’s Mack Knowles Jr. Sailing Club, was in disbelief when she learned they would be awarded a generous stipend.

“I was in complete and utter shock. We had no idea what was going on. We were on the stage and then they announced us, and I was just completely speechless,” Cooke said.

“That moment felt like we won the lottery, I’m getting excited from just talking about it again. We are truly grateful to Caribbean Bottling Company. Sailing is expensive and you cannot even begin to imagine what this has meant for

our junior sailors,” Cooke explained.

Cooke along with coaches Dian Knowles and Cameron Knowles used their stipend to purchase boat parts such as sails and dollies and took their club to various junior regattas around the country.

Regattas such as this February’s Sir Durward Knowles National Junior Sailing Championships where they took home first place for a Greet Fleet won by Eulano Knowles.

Drake Knowles, a member of the Mack Knowles Junior Sailing

Club, speaks to the impact the Goombay Punch Cup has had on his sailing career.

“All of my team members finally have boats that are up to sailing standards now. That means everyone can look forward to Long Island junior sailors winning more championships at regattas.” Knowles said.

As summer approaches and sailors around the country are logging in hours practicing with their sloops and maintaining their boats, Caribbean Bottling Company looks forward to announcing the 2023/2024

season Goombay Punch Cup winner.

With the completion of the National Family Island Regatta in Georgetown, Exuma the sloop leading the scoreboard is non other than Susan Chase, led by Stefan Knowles.

The highly anticipated announcement of the next Goombay Punch Cup winner will be made in June during the Long Island Regatta. Until then, to keep up with Goombay Punch Cup participants and to learn more about the competition, visit www. cbcbahamas.com

MAN CITY FANS PARTY AS GUARDIOLA’S DOMINANT TEAM

WINS A RECORD FOURTH STRAIGHT PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City fans could hardly stand the wait for the final whistle.

Not because they feared a last-minute twist and the unlikeliest of comebacks from West Ham.

The tension during the dying moments of the Premier League season at Etihad Stadium was simply because fans couldn’t wait to get the party started after a record fourth straight English top flight title for Pep Guardiola’s dominant team.

A 3-1 win on the day made certain of that and soon a sea of light blue shirts

flooded the field. Flares and the smell of sulphur filled the air and delirious fans danced, posed for selfies and simply savored the moment - ignoring the futile pleas from the stadium announcer and messaging on the big screens instructing them to return to their seats.

Winning has become a familiar feeling in these parts. And there is no sign of it getting old.

“It feels just as amazing as the first one. We worked so hard for it,” City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said. “It has been a tough battle with Arsenal and Liverpool this year, and you know to be here again doing something historic is amazing.” Four titles in a row is also six in seven seasons for Guardiola, who has won 17 trophies and counting since heading to the blue half of Manchester in 2016. That number could rise to 18 as soon as next week when City plays Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

In all, Guardiola has won 38 trophies as a coach at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City to strengthen the case for him to be considered the greatest manager of his era. By comparison, Carlo Ancelotti has won 28, including a record four Champions League titles — one more than Guardiola

— and the chance to make that five when Real Madrid meets Borussia Dortmund in this year’s final of European club soccer’s most prestigious competition.

“Everyone in football is in awe of his (Guardiola’s) coaching but there is more to it than that,” outgoing West Ham manager David Moyes said. “Four in a row is incredible.”

Another question that will be debated long and hard is whether this City team should be considered English soccer’s greatest of all time.

No other English team has won four titles in succession. Not during Liverpool’s dominant era in the 1970s and 80s - and not during United’s in the 90s and 2000s.

That alone sets City apart - and by winning the Champions League last season, it has also completed a full set of major trophies during an era of unprecedented success.

“In terms of numbers, nobody has been better than us - the records, the goals, the points and four in a row,” Guardiola said. “If I land here tomorrow and you say I will win six Premier Leagues in seven years, I would say ‘Are you crazy?’ It’s impossible. We have done something unbelievable.”

Guardiola took over a team that was already among the wealthiest in the world after being bought by the ruling family of Abu Dhabi in 2008 and had won two Premier League titles before his arrival. He has gone on to create a near-unstoppable force domestically and continues to hold off the challengers to City’s throne.

Arsenal has taken up the fight, previously offered by United and then Liverpooland pushed City to the wire this season, having fallen away during the run-in a year earlier.

Still, Mikel Arteta’s team couldn’t quite get over the line and finished two points behind the champion after a 2-1 win against Everton in its final game on Sunday.

Arsenal looks likeliest to push City closest in the coming years, especially now that Jurgen Klopp has stepped down at Liverpool, while Man United looks set for a period of more upheaval.

Whether Arsenal will be able to go one better in the future remains to be seen, given City’s financial power to strengthen further and the age of key players like footballer of the year Phil Foden and backto-back Premier League golden boot-winner Erling Haaland.

“We got the message from Mikel and his players. We have to make the right decisions in the next years because they are here to stay,” Guardiola said.

“They are so young and have experience in the Champions League. For two years (they) were close.”

How long Guardiola stays on could have a big bearing on City’s continued rule. His contract runs until the end of next season.

The outcome of the 115 charges made against City for alleged financial wrongdoing could also be significant. City denies wrongdoing.

That fight is off the field and still to come.

Right now, as far as City’s fans are concerned, another party has only just begun.

SO CLOSE Arsenal could do no more. A 2-1 win against Everton at Emirates Stadium meant City had to beat West Ham to retain its title. It also meant the Gunners lost just once from the turn of the year to the end of the season.

That 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa proved to be decisive though, giving City an advantage it never relinquished.

“What can I say? I feel sorry for all the Arsenal fans. We gave our best but it wasn’t enough,” Arsenal forward Kai Havertz said. “Maybe in two or three months we can say it was a good fight. Right now I feel like we deserve more.”

Having spent $138 million on Declan Rice and also recruiting Havertz ahead of this season, Arteta will have to weigh up how to improve his team further.

A prolific striker may be his priority, but his team only scored five fewer goals than City and ended with the same goal difference.

“Now we have to be more

determined, very courageous, very ambitious, and we need to go to a different level. We need to deliver,” Arteta said.

KLOPP’S FAREWELL

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign ended with a 2-0 win against Wolves.

While his farewell campaign ultimately ended in disappointment as Liverpool’s title bid fizzled out, Klopp’s status as an Anfield and Premier League icon is secure. The German is standing down after winning a full set of major trophies in more than eight years at the club.

“When you are in it, you forget sometimes how great it is,” Klopp said. “You take it for granted. Now I stand here, I’m just so happy I’m a part of the club’s history. It’s wonderful.”

With Champions League qualification already secured, fourth-place Aston Villa was routed 5-0 at Crystal Palace. Tottenham, in fifth, ended the season with a 3-0 win at last-place Sheffield United.

LUTON RELEGATED

Luton’s relegation was confirmed after a 4-2 loss at home against Fulham.

Nottingham Forest, which was one place above Luton, beat second from bottom Burnley 2-1.

UNITED PAIN Manchester United must beat City in Saturday’s FA Cup final to secure European soccer for next season. Even a 2-0 win over Brighton couldn’t prevent Erik ten Hag’s team from finishing eighth in the standings — United’s lowest in the Premier League era.

“It is not good enough by far,” Ten Hag said. “Although we had less than 60 points two years ago, 58 points, eighth is the worst performance. It is the truth, but we should have done better.”

Newcastle finished seventh, above United on goal difference, after a 4-2 win at Brentford.

Chelsea beat Bournemouth 2-1 and finished sixth in the table, with Moises Caicedo scoring a goal from just past the halfway line.

Mauricio Pochettino has managed to salvage a troubled season by qualifying for Europe, yet his future has become a source of increased speculation. “That is a question for the owners and the sporting director,” he said.

LONG Island’s Mack Knowles Junior Sailing Club members pose behind stunning blue waters at the Sir Durward Knowles National Junior Sailing Championships. Pictured smiling, left to right, co-coach Dian Knowles, Giovanni, Suo, Eulano Rolle, Kristos Knowles, Drake Knowles, Dakota Knowles, Edward Knowles and President Sandra Cooke.

MANCHESTER City’s Kyle Walker celebrates with the Premier League trophy after the English Premier League soccer match against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on Sunday. Manchester City clinched the English Premier League after beating West Ham in their last match of the season.

(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Tatum scores 36, Brown hits three to force OT and Celtics edge Pacers 133-128 in Game 1

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 36 points, including 10 in overtime after Jaylen Brown’s tying 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Boston Celtics rallied just in time for a 133128 victory over the Indiana Pacers last night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Jrue Holiday added a season-high 28 points and Brown finished with 26.

Tyrese Haliburton had 25 points and 10 assists for the Pacers, who knocked down 13 3-pointers and scored 56 points in the paint against a Celtics team still playing without 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis.

But Boston dialed up its defence, finishing with 11 steals — three each by Brown, Tatum and Holiday.

The Celtics become the first team in NBA playoff history to have three players record 25 points and three steals in a game.

“We keep talking about protecting home court,” Celtics forward Al Horford said. “It’s whatever it takes.” Pascal Siakam added 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Myles Turner finished with 23 points and 10

on me” for not calling a timeout to advance the ball before their turnover that set up Brown’s shot. Asked about the 21 turnovers Indiana committed, Haliburton said many of them were preventable. he said. “I just felt like more of them were proba bly on us than them forcing turnovers.” when their opponent scores 100 or more points.

“I think we always knew that there’s always a chance. We’ve seen crazy stuff happen all the time,”

“I don’t think that we think we lost the game until we actually lost the game and that’s part of the reason why we were so resilient.”

Indiana went back ahead 123-121 when Haliburton hit all three free throws after being fouled with 1:46

Tatum then muscled in a layup and was fouled by T.J. McConnell.

He completed the threepoint play to put Boston ahead for good.

The Pacers turned it over again, this time by Haliburton. The ball found its way to Tatum at the top of key. He pumped, sidestepped a defender and sunk a 3 to make it 127-123 with 43 sec-

PACERS centre Myles Turner (33) dunks the ball against Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the second quarter of Game 1.

Derrick White and Siakam traded layups. Holiday was fouled and hit two

free throws to give Boston a 131-125 cushion. “It’s unfortunate we did so many good things in this game that it

came down to a couple of mistakes at the end, but it’s the NBA playoffs,” Carlisle said. “We’ve got to learn

from it and we’ve got to bounce back.”

Game 2 is Thursday night in Boston.

WOLVES REACH CONFERENCE FINALS BRIMMING WITH TALENT AND TENACITY IN QUEST FOR FIRST NBA CHAMPIONSHIP

By ARNIE STAPLETON

AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves reached the Western Conference finals brimming with talent, trust and tenacity after staging the biggest Game 7 comeback since the NBA began tracking playby-play data 28 years ago.

The Wolves trailed the Denver Nuggets by 15 points at halftime Sunday night and by 20 points just over a minute into the third quarter.

With the crowd rocking Ball Arena, the Timberwolves didn’t flinch. They doubled down on their dogged defence and roared back for the most monumental victory in the franchise’s 35-year history.

They did it behind a terrific transition game and an unwavering superstar in Anthony Edwards for a stunning 98-90 victory over the reigning NBA champions.

The Wolves will face the Dallas Mavericks beginning tonight at Target Center.

“The fans have been waiting for this moment, and this team has brought them this moment,” said Karl-Anthony Towns, adding that it certainly wasn’t lost on him that Sunday marked Minnesota all-time great Kevin Garnett’s 48th birthday.

“Shoutout to KG, happy birthday, KG,” Towns said.

“Here’s your present from all of us.”

Garnett led Minnesota to its first conference finals 20

he won an NBA title in 2008.

The Wolves would miss the playoffs 16 times in the next 17 years, making it only in 2018, when they lost in the first round to Houston.

Things began to turn around for the Timberwolves when they drafted Edwards No. 1 overall in 2020. They made it back to the postseason party the following year, losing to Memphis in Round 1.

After hiring head coach Chris Finch off Michael Malone’s staff in Denver, the Timberwolves hired away the Nuggets’ roster architect Tim Connelly, who built the Wolves explicitly to unseat his former team in Denver.

Connelly’s first major move was a bold get of Rudy Gobert that was as risky as it was unconventional — he sent five players and five picks to Utah for the star defender — but going big was no small part of this breakthrough season for the Timberwolves.

“I think when Tim Connelly made that trade, everybody was laughing at him like, ‘What is he doing?’ But he made a great team,” Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic said as this series began.

Jokic and the defending NBA champions knew that well before losing their semifinal series in such humbling fashion to a team, like theirs, that was assembled largely at Connelly’s direction.

As Jokic noted Sunday night, Connelly’s deep, versatile roster can adapt to any style, meet any challenge and, as Sunday night showed, overcome the longest of odds.

The Timberwolves’ resolve was hardened a year ago when they lurched into the playoffs with a short-handed team that was quickly dispatched by Denver in five games in Round 1.

Fueled by that disappointment, the Wolves won 56 games this year, produced the league’s top defence and led the Western Conference for most of the season before finishing a game behind Oklahoma City and Denver for the No. 3 seed.

The Wolves made sure seeding didn’t matter.

After their four-game dispatch of the Phoenix Suns that marked their first playoff sweep in franchise history, the Wolves were unfazed by the Nuggets’ 20-5 record in the playoffs over the last two years or by their Western Conferencebest 36-8 record at home this season.

The Wolves won three times in four games at Ball Arena. They took Games 1 and 2 in Denver before losing three in a row.

Facing elimination, they recovered with a 115-70 demolition of the Nuggets in Game 6, the biggest win over a defending champion in NBA history. And they followed up that win with an epic Game 7 comeback.

“The series was wild and this game was just a microcosm of the entire series,” Finch said.

Towns and Jaden McDaniels each scored 23 points in the clincher. Edwards finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists with most of his contributions coming in Minnesota’s surgical 60-37 second half that knocked out the Nuggets, who got 35 points from Jamal Murray and 34 from Jokic.

Up next are the fifthseeded Mavericks, who reached their second conference championship in three years. They lost to eventual champion Golden State in five games in 2022, but that was before Luka Doncic had Kyrie Irving as his sidekick.

The Wolves won three of four against Dallas in the regular season, with the Mavs winning the only game in which Doncic and Irving both played. Dallas was without both its stars for both losses in Minnesota.

“Honestly, I think for us we’re just so happy for this moment, that we can’t even think about the next moment,” Towns said.

“I’m thinking about it,” Edwards playfully interrupted. “I will say for us, if we continue to play Timberwolves basketball, it will fix a lot of problems that we may have with that team and what they do best,” Towns suggested. “So as long as we play Timberwolves’ brand of basketball, I like our chances.”

WEMBANYAMA BECOMES 1ST NBA ROOKIE TO MAKE FIRST-TEAM ALL-DEFENCE

NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama’s latest accolade was like none other. The San Antonio centre has become the first player in NBA history to make the league’s All-Defensive first team as a rookie. The league announced the teams yesterday, and Wembanyama appeared on 98 of the 99 ballots cast. Defensive player of the year

Rudy Gobert of Minnesota headlined the team and was the only unanimous selection. He was joined on the first team by Wembanyama, Miami’s Bam Adebayo, New Orleans’ Herb Jones and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis. “Coming into this league, obviously he had high expectations because he’s 7-3 and shooting step-back 3s. I think a lot of people

paid attention more to that than what he actually did on the defensive end,” Adebayo said of Wembanyama. “So, for him to get firstteam, first come around, it’s obviously a great accolade for him.”

The second-team AllDefence picks were Chicago’s Alex Caruso, Orlando’s Jalen Suggs, Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels and Boston teammates

Derrick White and Jrue Holiday. It was Gobert’s seventh All-Defense pick, all of them as a member of the first team. Davis is now a five-time All-Defence player, and a three-time first-team selection. Adebayo made AllDefence for the fifth time, and his first as a member of the first team. Jones made the team for the first time.

“I feel it’s a long time coming, obviously,” Adebayo said of his first first-team nod. “Just staying in this moment, enjoying it, blessed to be able to be one of the ones selected.” Wembanyama is now the sixth rookie in NBA history to make the AllDefensive Team — with the other five all earning second-team nods in their first seasons. Those five were San Antonio’s Tim Duncan in 1998, the Spurs’ David Robinson in 1990, Washington’s Manute Bol (1986), Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon (1985) and Milwaukee’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970). The All-NBA team will be revealed today. If Wemby makes it, he would be the first rookie to earn that distinction since Duncan did 26

BOSTON Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks the ball against Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the first quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals last night in Boston.

(AP Photos/Michael Dwyer)

MINNESOTA Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards reacts after hitting a basket over Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon in the second half of Game 7 of their second-round playoff series on Sunday in Denver.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

BAHA MAR HOSTS ITS SECOND ANNUAL GOLF INVITATIONAL FOR CHARITY

By PAVEL BAILEY

Staff Reporter

BAHA Mar hosted its second annual golf invitational for charity over the holiday weekend, netting nearly $200,000.

The Baha Mar Resort Foundation hosted the charity event over three days at its 18-hole Royal Blue golf course.

According to Baha Mar president Graeme Davis, the funds raised will be distributed throughout the local community, including the Bahamas National Trust, Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled, the Bahamas Humane Society and BAARK.

Nets nearly $200,000 over holiday weekend

“This event provides a fun way to raise funds that will make a direct and substantial impact on our community,” Mr Davis said. The event kicked off with an auction at ECCHO (Expressive Collaborations & Creative House of Opportunities) on Friday. The golf tournament followed on Saturday, and a family fun day was held on Sunday.

Robert Sands, senior vice president of government and community relations

at Baha Mar, said he hopes the event will continue to grow and enrich the local community.

“We hope to continue making this tournament a success, providing a platform to inspire more young people and strengthen our relationship with the community and corporate partners,” he said.

“It’s important that both the foundation and our annual invitational evolves year after year,” stated Sands.

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky.

(AP) — Every step Xander Schauffele took Sunday toward becoming a major champion brought small reminders that it was never going to be easy. It wasn’t just Bryson DeChambeau pushing in the PGA Championship until he finally caught Schauffele with a birdie on the last hole at Valhalla. It was the mud on Schauffele’s golf ball after a good drive on the 16th. It was the tee shot on the 17th that kicked back into a bunker instead of forward into the fairway.

Needing birdie on the par-5 18th for the win, he

hit what he thought was a good drive until Schauffele walked up and saw it had rolled close enough to a bunker that he couldn’t get a clean shot at the green.

“I just kept telling myself, ‘Man, someone out there is making me earn this right now,’” Schauffele said. “I get up there and just kind of chuckled. I was like, ‘If you want to be a major champion, this is the kind of stuff you have to deal with.’” There was one other message he preached along the back nine.

“I told myself this is my opportunity — capture it,” Schauffele said.

A gutsy shot from the fairway — standing in the bunker with the ball above his feet, he worried about a shank — came up some 35 yards short with a perfect angle, and his pitch up the slope to 6 feet gave him the moment he always wanted. And then the 30-year-old Californian, a hard-luck runner-up to Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy the last two months, delivered some magic of his own. He swirled in a 6-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win a thriller at Valhalla.

The putt denied DeChambeau — and LIV Golf — a chance at another major title and put Schauffele in the record book with the lowest 72-hole score in major championship history.

“I just kept telling myself, ‘I need to earn this — earn this and be in the moment.’ And I was able to do that,” Schauffele said. “I don’t really remember it lipping in. I just heard everyone roaring and I just looked up to the sky in relief.”

And with that, the Olympic gold medaLlist got something even more valuable in silver — that enormous Wanamaker Trophy after a wild week at Valhalla.

He closed with a 6-under 65 to beat DeChambeau, who was entertaining to the very end by turning a huge break into an unlikely birdie on the 16th hole and a 10-foot birdie on the par-5 18th for a 64.

“Shot 20-under par in a major championship,” DeChambeau said.

“Definitely disappointing, but one that gives me a lot of momentum for the rest of the majors.”

Schauffele became the first player since Phil Mickelson in 2005 at Baltusrol to win the PGA Championship with a birdie on the last hole to win by one. Even the last shot had drama.

Schauffele crouched to study the putt and couldn’t figure out which way it was going to break. He played it straight, with just enough speed that when it caught the edge of the cup gravity was starting to take over.

Schauffele, who exudes California chill, raised both

arms above his head with the biggest smile before a hard hug with Austin Kaiser, his caddie and former teammate at San Diego State. DeChambeau was on the range, staying loose for a potential playoff, watching Schauffele from a large video board. He saw the winning putt fall, and walked all the way back to the 18th to join in with so many other players wanting to congratulate the 30-year-old. Brooks Koepka won the PGA Championship last

year and remains the only LIV Golf player to win a major. DeChambeau was close to matching him.

“I gave it my all. I put as much effort as I possibly could into it and I knew that my B game would be enough,” DeChambeau said.

“It’s just clearly somebody played incredibly well.

Xander’s well deserving of a major championship.”

Viktor Hovland, the FedEx Cup champion who wasn’t sure he even belonged at Valhalla while trying to work his way out of a slump, also had a 10-foot putt to tie DeChambeau.

He missed the birdie, then missed a meaningless par putt and shot 66 to finish third.

Schauffele, who began this championship with a 62 to tie the major championship record, finished at 21-under 263 with that winning birdie. That beats by one shot the major record previously shared by Koepka in the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive and Henrik Stenson in the 2016 British Open at Royal Troon.

XANDER Schauffele celebrates after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Valhalla Golf Club on Sunday. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

FOR CHARITY: The Baha Mar Resort Foundation hosted its second annual golf invitational for charity over the three-day holiday weekend at its 18-hole Royal Blue golf course.