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‘WE’RE GOING IN RIGHT DIRECTION’ PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis leading the way to Parliament for the Budget yesterday.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

• Proposals to raise civil servant pay

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis yesterday predicted additional revenue growth for The Bahamas, adding that $2.8bn is projected in total revenue for the upcoming fiscal year.

• New fund • 50 percent • FNM: What aims to boost more to social about growth Family Islands service budget of economy?

This, he said, represented a 19.9 percent increase over the prior fiscal year.

Mr Davis said during the first nine months of the 2021/22 fiscal year, the country’s revenue performance had increased by $617.6m or 50.2 percent to $1,847.3m when compared to the previous year.

According to Mr Davis,

“this largely reflected improvements in tax revenue of $526.4m or 50.9 percent, and non-tax revenue increases of $90.9m or 46.5 percent.”

Now with the 2022/23

fiscal year set to begin soon, the Prime Minister said more revenue growth is expected, signalling further rebound of the country’s economy.

“The current budget

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projects a significant rebound in the Bahamian economy,” Mr Davis said during his budget contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday.

“Total revenue is projected at $2,804.4bn, a 19.9 percent increase over the prior fiscal year when the economy was in the early stages of an

MINISTER DENIES HITTING POLICE OFFICER WITH CAR

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

TRANSPORT and Housing Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis has denied claims that she assaulted a Royal Bahamas Police officer with her vehicle over the weekend during a

MINISTER of Housing and Transport JoBeth Coleby-Davis.

Carnival event.

Her denial yesterday

economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.

It incorporates many of our revenue enhancing strategies and outcomes such as, increasing real property tax collections and compliance; an improved VAT performance based on the economic rebound; and growth in other fees as a SEE PAGES 3, 4, 5

RELEASED SEX OFFENDER DIES FROM INJURIES

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

came after the Police Staff Association released a statement saying the officer involved retained an attorney as he had to seek medical attention for his injuries and was then discharged.

The PSA said it was

A SEX offender released from prison last week died in hospital early yesterday morning after being found on a track road suffering from injuries about the body.

SEE PAGE TEN

SEE PAGE TEN

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

PAGE 2, Thursday, May 26, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

THE SANDALS resort in Exuma.

SANDALS TO INSTALL DETECTORS AFTER TOURIST DEATHS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

WHILE not revealing the cause of death of three American tourists at its Emerald Bay property earlier this month, Sandals has said the fatalities were not linked to the resort’s air conditioning system, food and beverage service, landscaping services or foul play.

In a statement yesterday,

Sandals said it had taken additional measures to install CO detectors in all guest rooms at Emerald Bay and all guest rooms throughout the portfolio.

On Monday, The Tribune reported from a reliable source that carbon monoxide poisoning was found to be the cause of death of married couple Michael and Robbie Phillips of Tennessee and Vincent Paul Chiarella of Florida.

They were found dead in two separate villas at Sandals on May 6 after they were stricken by an unknown illness and sought medical help in the hours before their deaths.

Donnis Chiarella, wife of Paul, was the lone survivor.

“We remain devastated by the unimaginable event that occurred at Sandals Emerald Bay Resort earlier this month that resulted in the loss of three lives, including

two members of our beloved travel advisor community, and the recovery of a fourth guest,” Sandals said in a statement yesterday. “We wish to once again extend our deepest sympathies and our heartfelt condolences to the Phillips and Chiarella families.

“Despite initial speculation, Bahamian authorities have concluded the cause was an isolated incident in one standalone structure that

housed two individual guest rooms and was in no way linked to the resort’s air conditioning system, food and beverage service, landscaping services or foul play.”

The statement continued: “Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our guests and team members is and will always be paramount. It is for this reason that we have taken additional measures such as engaging environmental safety experts for a

comprehensive review of all systems across the resort.

In addition, CO detectors have now been placed in all guest rooms at Sandals Emerald Bay and although not mandated in any Caribbean destination where we operate, detectors will be installed in all guest rooms throughout the portfolio.

“Our entire team is keeping the families in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

DEAD MAN FOUND IN FRONT OF HOUSE POLICE are investigating a homicide that occurred in the Ridgeland Park area on Tuesday night.

According to reports shortly after 10pm, police were called to Roland Street where a shooting incident occurred.

A patrol unit was dispatched, and on the officers’ arrival, they were directed to the body of a man who was found lying on the ground in front of a house.

Police said he was suffering from wounds consistent with gunshots.

Emergency Medical Services were summoned to the scene and on their

arrival the EMTs rendered medical attention.

However, they concluded that there were no signs of life.

Initial investigations reveal that the victim was standing outside a residence, when he was approached by a gunman who shot him several times about the body, fatally wounding him.

This matter remains under active investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the criminal investigations department at 502-9991/2, Crime stoppers at 328TIPS or the nearest police station.

ABACO MURDER PROBE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net POLICE in Abaco are investigating a homicide on the island that happened on Tuesday.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle reported that the body of a man was discovered with apparent gunshot injuries in Dundas Town.

According to reports, officers of the Marsh Harbour Police Station received a report shortly before midnight of a man being shot in the area of the Teachers Credit Union. When police

arrived at the scene, they saw a dark-skinned man lying face-up with multiple injuries about the body and head that were consistent with gunshots.

ASP Rolle said officers found five .223 live rounds of ammunition next to the victim’s body.

He also said that witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing a small black vehicle leaving the scene at a high rate of speed.

EMS personnel responded along with a medical doctor who pronounced the victim dead.

Investigations continue.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2022, PAGE 3

‘We’re going in right direction’

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Ministers en route to Parliament to deliver the Budget communication yesterday. from page one result of improved revenue administration.”

Mr Davis also forecast total expenditure at $3,368.4m, with recurrent expenditure projected at $2,997.2m, and capital expenditure estimated at $371.1m.

“As a result of these operations which incorporate prudent fiscal management principles, the fiscal deficit under the current budget is estimated at $564.3 m or 4.3 percent of GDP. I wish to remind this Honourable House that this projected outturn does not include potential revenues from asset sales, such as receipts from the sale of the Grand Lucayan Hotel in Grand Bahama.”

Yesterday, Mr Davis also touted the efforts of his administration to pay down on the country’s arrears and unpaid bills it met upon assuming office last year.

He had previously

claimed that nearly $1bn in liabilities and unfunded obligations were left behind by the previous Minnis administration.

The prime minister said yesterday: “Madam Speaker: A few short weeks ago, during my midterm budget contribution, I reported to the House that, upon coming to office, we encountered an estimated $1bn in unsettled claims, unpaid bills and arrears.

“I am now happy to report that, over as many months, we have conducted an extensive exercise to pay down arrears, and reconcile outstanding balances.

“However, we still have a number of inherited arrears which we believe it is important to liquidate. In this regard, we will be seeking Parliamentary approval for a Supplementary Budget for additional recurrent expenditure of $216,928,017 and capital expenditure of $34,491,123.”

“These balances are owed to hardworking

women and men, who have given their time, energy and resources, to contribute to the development of this nation, and months later, still haven’t been paid. This harmful practice cannot be allowed to continue,” he said.

He also gave a breakdown of monies owed by the government.

“These outstanding balances include: $56.7m owed on insurance for public servants; $45m in arrears owed to the Water & Sewerage Corporation to settle balances with vendors; $30m for the completion of the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium; $19.0m in outstanding payments owed to Doctor’s Hospital for COVID-19 emergency support; $6.4m in outstanding rent payments; $6.0m in outstanding legal claims; and $4m for the restoration and refurbishment of public clinics.”

He continued: “Just as our recently established credit bureau encourages citizens to make timely

payments, so too must we in government be timely in paying our bills. In short order, Madam Speaker, we will bring to this House amendments to the Public Financial Management Act that will help to address these challenges. Going forward, the new PFM Act will allow all tax arrears collected to be deposited directly into the Sinking Fund.”

“These funds will be directly earmarked to the settlement of debt, because in many cases we have already borrowed to settle the arrears. This amendment would increase fiscal discipline, as future governments would not be able to rely on arrears to fund current expenditure. Madam Speaker, as a result of operations, the resultant deficit in FY2021/22 is estimated at $756.6m or 6 percent of GDP. This represents a $100m reduction in the projected deficit for the fiscal year.”

Yesterday, Prime Minister Davis tabled two

$200M DEVELOPMENT FUND TO HELP FAMILY ISLANDS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration’s 2022/2023 Budget will set up a $200m Family Island Development Trust Fund to facilitate immediate and significant investment in infrastructure at the out islands.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced yesterday that the government plans to allocate 10 percent of overall revenue collected in the Family Islands from property tax and road traffic fees to create the fund.

This fund, he said, would be a sub-fund of the National Infrastructure Fund.

He also said funding was provided to capitalise the Grand Bahama Health Centre Development Company, the entity which will construct the Grand Bahama Hospital. This is being facilitated through a loan for $150m, which is now being finalised.

Mr Davis said: “We also propose to leverage the aviation-related revenue to create a fund for aviation infrastructure, which would be another sub-fund of the National Infrastructure Fund.

“This, combined with the Family Island Development Trust, will accelerate the reconstruction of Family Island airports. It will also end the practice of Family Island infrastructure

improvements being made a lesser priority than infrastructure improvements in New Providence.

“It is important to note, however, that this does not mean that we will exclude Family Island projects from future capital budgets of the Ministry of Public Works.

Far from it.

“It just means that the Family Islands will have their own dedicated fund to ensure that they keep pace with national development.”

The government also plans to reduce its carbon footprint through the installation of renewable energy systems throughout the Family Islands and increase the number of electric vehicles in the government’s fleet.

PLANS FOR NEW PRISON AND $6M FOR NEW DEFENCE FORCE VESSELS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced that the government will increase funding to further strengthen national security services in the country.

The plans include a new prison by way of a public private partnership and a $6m allocation for new Royal Bahamas Defense Force vessels.

“To make our communities safer, we are also

investing in our efforts to combat crime by investing in the construction of a new prison complex, using a public private partnership vehicle.

“We are also allocating $6m in funding for the purchase of new vessels for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. We have also increased our capital allocation for the RBPF to allow them to purchase the necessary crime fighting tools.

Mr Davis said this budget also includes funding to

comprehensively address the scourge of crime.

“We need to catch and punish those who break our laws. But we also desperately need more solutions that focus on the prevention of crime, so that we can break the terrible cycles of violence that grip our country.

“In addition, our Second Chance programme will reduce recidivism, and give people who have paid their dues to society a chance at a future,” Mr Davis said.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff resolutions in the House of Assembly that would authorise the government

to borrow $690,702,027 for the next fiscal year once approved.

PAGE 4, Thursday, May 26, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Plan for minimum wage rise and extra pay for civil servants

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net AS he unveiled his administration’s plans for the next fiscal year, Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis announced a series of policy initiatives that are envisioned to assist Bahamians struggling with the inflationary high cost of living.

Mr Davis yesterday outlined three key priorities for his administration in the upcoming fiscal period, which includes bringing relief to Bahamians struggling with inflation, stimulating job creation and strengthening the nation’s security.

As such, Mr Davis told the House of Assembly that not only had the government submitted a proposal to the Bahamas Public Services Union to increase minimum wage in the public sector with incremental increases starting in July 2022, but there were also salary increases planned for teachers, adding that both educators and nurses were to receive a retention bonus.

The Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP added that in this budget the government would reduce the duty on a significant number of food items to bring relief to citizens and residents.

Acknowledging the financial hardships faced by many Bahamians, Mr Davis said his government planned to offset rising costs through targeted wage increases for workers in the public sector.

“The first priority is to help Bahamians cope with a cost-of-living crisis,” Mr Davis told members of Parliament. “Bahamians were

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis presents the 2022 Budget Communication.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff prompting on some food items for already struggling with high Bahamians, energy prices, high food his administration’s view the restaurant and tourism prices, and expensive hous- that there needed to be an sector – and construction ing costs. In recent months, increase. materials such as roofing, “We also believe that plumbing and electrical geopolitical conflict and continued supply chain dis- the rate of minimum wage supplies. ruptions around the world needs to increase because The prime minister have caused prices here at of the general erosion of said more details will be home to go up even further, spending power of ordinary released during the budget which has put the squeeze Bahamians - an impera- debate but noted that on everyone, especially the tive which has been made strengthening the country’s middle class and the most more urgent by the current food security will be espelevel of inflation. To this cially key to “how we will vulnerable.”

He also said: “We have end, we have submitted feed our nation and bring included amounts for pay the proposal to BPSU to down the cost of living.” increases for most public increase minimum wage in “We have increased our officers,” the prime minis- the public sector with incre- food security allocation by ter said. “This is because mental increases starting in $1.5m to aid the provision we recognise that public July 2022. of greenhouses and other “We have also engaged smart technology for food officers have not had a general salary increase since union leadership on the production in the Family we were last in office, and issue of a contributory pen- Islands, as well as to provide we have therefore engaged sion plan,” he also noted. training and capacity-buildthe leadership of the vari- “Contrary to popular belief, ing for farmers in the use of ous public service unions a significant portion of the more modern technology,” to reach an agreement. At public service workforce Mr Davis added. this time, we also like to has no pension. This is “In the new budget, we announce the full reinstate- simply untenable and we are continuing to provide ment and payment of all hope that our partners in support to farms by allothe labour movement share cating $500,000 to secure outstanding increments.

Regarding the mini- our view, and seek to cor- broilers, and $600,000 in mum wage, Mr Davis rect this anomaly within the form of livestock to said there was a gen- this fiscal period.” increase the supply of fresh Other relief measures meats in the market; we eral erosion of spending power among ordinary include duty reductions are investing $300,000 to

restore the feed mill at our Gladstone Road location to ensure that farmers have ample domestic supply of feed for livestock; and we are also providing $500,000 in grant support to farmers.

Mr Davis also announced expanded tax concessions for first time homeowners, saying the move brings aspiring homeowners one step closer to their dreams of buying a home.

“Currently, concessions are available for persons who purchase a home for the first time. We are expanding these concessions so that people who purchase a home, or purchase land and construct their first home, or purchase a house and renovate it to be their first home, will receive the same level of concession.”

“For those who are constructing or renovating their first home, we also are refunding up to $40,000 in cash for any VAT paid for construction services or materials purchased, once the occupancy certificate is provided within eighteen months of the commencement of construction. We are also increasing the level of exemption for first home buyers from $250,000 to $300,000 and reducing VAT on property transfers below $1m for individuals.”

As it relates to the government’s plans to create more jobs for ordinary Bahamians, Mr Davis said the budget will increase investment in public infrastructure and create direct partnerships with institutions to provide expanded job training opportunities.

More details in this regard will be announced in the days ahead, he said, while also announcing plans to enhance the country’s national healthcare, saying

$10m has been budgeted for catastrophic healthcare in the 2022/23 budget.

Mr Davis said this means “the government can provide meaningful assistance to long-term dialysis patients, heart patients and others facing serious medical issues.”

“There is no doubt that the world’s problems - from intensifying hurricanes to deadly viruses to energy shocks and supply chain interruptions – have all washed up on our shores,” Mr Davis said in closing remarks.

“The perils are real – but so is the promise of what we can become, if we move forward together. This budget provides a foundation to strengthen our nation, to lift ourselves up, to face the future with strength and optimism. This budget provides support for the here and now, and also charts the way forward for a brighter tomorrow.”

Yesterday, Mr Davis, while at Superclub Breezes, was unable to say how much the minimum wage would increase by.

He only said officials were waiting to come to an agreement with BPSU before making a final decision.

“We have an idea what the figure is. We have made an allotment for it in the budget but we cannot decide on what that is until we’ve made an arrangement and agreement with the union but we want them to know that the money has been allotted and we just want them to sit down and agree and we are incrementally moving the minimum wage to a livable age over the next five years. We’re going to start in July and move on from there,” he said.

for.

This comes after concerns were raised about the former administration’s feeding programme.

The Davis administration has said they have no record of how more than $10m given to two NGOs under the now disbanded National Food Distribution Task Force was spent.

He said: “The audit of the food programme recently tabled in the House, showed that there was no accounting for a sizeable portion of the funds allocated to assist

citizens during the pandemic. We are intent on taking the steps necessary to avoid a repeat of this outcome in the future.”

As for other related assistance, Mr Davis said his administration has increased the allocation to Urban Renewal by an additional $500,000.

He said this will allow for “expanded reach into inner city communities, through more meaningful educational and community programmes, including its world-renowned marching band.”

50 PERCENT MORE TO SOCIAL SERVICE BUDGET

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis said the 2022/2023 Budget will provide a financial boost for the social assistance needs of Bahamians who continue to struggle beneath the pressures of inflation.

He said his administration made a permanent increase in social assistance by 50 percent

by comparison to pre-pandemic levels.

There has also been approved funding increases for non-governmental organisations by ten percent “across the board” in an effort to provide relief to hurting Bahamians.

In this vein, he said that money has been allocated for two local feeding programmes, headed by Bishop Walter Hanchell and Bishop Lawrence Rolle.

“They have provided meals throughout the pandemic and continue to do so now with little to no public sector support,” Prime Minister Davis told parliamentarians yesterday.

“I’m sure the whole House will want to join me in thanking Bishop Hanchell and Bishop Rolle, who, with such little support, fed thousands of people during the pandemic.

“However, our support

to these hard-working NGOs goes even further.

Under this new budget, all property owned by religious organisations, trade unions, civic organisations and burial societies will now be exempt from the payment of Real Property Tax. This reduction in taxes will put money back in the pockets of the entities to allow them to further their reach in communities.”

However, Mr Davis was also clear that the government will ensure that taxpayers’ monies sent to NGOs will be accounted

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2022, PAGE 5

FNM leader Michael Pintard gives his response to the Budget yesterday.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/ Tribune Staff

FNM: What about growth of economy?

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net OFFICIAL Opposition Leader Michael Pintard was critical of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ budget presentation yesterday, saying it ought to have been about growth.

Mr Pintard was of the view that what was presented yesterday by Mr Davis did not follow what was laid out in his administration’s fiscal strategy report.

“How will we grow the economy because even prior to Dorian there was a sluggish growth rate that was not adequate to absorb existing unemployment and as more students graduate, growing unemployment,” he said during a press conference yesterday that followed Mr Davis’ presentation.

“We’ve come through Dorian, we’ve come through COVID. The prime minister says they have a plan. That plan was outlined in the fiscal strategy report to some extent.

They are presently not following that plan and so we want to understand what is the growth strategy of this administration. This budget should have provided us with a glimpse into that unfortunately it didn’t.”

Mr Pintard listed issues that in his view were unsatisfactorily addressed in the budget and others that were left out.

“There were several concerns that we had as we listened and we listened to several priorities we thought that the government would address in a very poignant way. One of those priorities was the cost of living. It is at crisis level now and we fully expected the prime minister would’ve outlined a series of actions to address that issue.

“Secondly, there is a need for job creation given the fact that we’ve just come through a pandemic preceded by Dorian and even prior to that we had sluggish growth in the economy.

We fully expect emerging out of COVID the government would’ve had a growth budget one that stimulates employment generation. The third priority that they would’ve addressed national security with a significant amount of debt.

“The Progressive Liberal Party came to office promising a New Day. Unfortunately, once again we have another demonstration of the fact that (the) government is in large measure out of touch with the tremendous hurt and pain that many Bahamians are experiencing and when given an opportunity to address it in terms of the priority of spending we do not believe it fully reflects their understanding. We believe in part this is due to a prime minister that, while quite busy, is inattentive to many of the details required for him to flesh out a growth budget and a plan of action to

address unemployment and the serious level of crime and a healthcare system that is tremendously challenged.”

Moreover, he questioned how the government would meet its revenue target as it is believed this budget has increased expenditure.

“One would recall that the government projected that it would earn $1.3bn that’s their revenue target.

We have said previously we did not see how they would get to that pathway.

This budget communication did not provide us with a road map on how they are going to get to the $1.3 billion that they projected. We don’t believe the revenue enhancement strategies outlined will get them there.

We don’t believe that cost saving or cost cutting measures will get them there.

“In fact, this budget has gone up quite dramatically in terms of expenditure…. so we have increase expenditure and again we don’t see how revenue enhancing measures or cost cutting, which is very thin here, is

going to get them to the revenue target and if they’re not going to get to those revenue targets it begs the question on how they’re going to handle existing or recurrent expenditure that we have in the country and projected developments that they have outlined in their plan.”

Mr Pintard also talked about the concern of debt management as he stated the prime minister outlined a “substantial amount of funds” that the government plans to borrow.

“We would like to know to what extent has he or his team put in place measures to save us from the high interest rates that we are presently paying. We expected to hear in this budget concrete strategies on how he would better manage the debt of the country. Well obviously that is not the case.

The global minimum tax initiative, again globally this is being accepted. This administration has indicated it is not at all at odds with it but again we have

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not heard in this budget a definitive movement in this direction.”

He added: “We wonder to what extent has the government given serious consideration to how it will able to sustain and pay for some of the things that it has mentioned in this Budget. We saw no clear plan. We heard a significant amount of borrowing which came at the tail end in two resolutions but clearly within context the government did not explain how its intended high-level borrowing is going to impact the figures outlined in the Budget.”

National Insurance Board is at risk of the funds being depleted if concrete actions are not taken, but felt this was not addressed

by the government in the budget.

Mr Pintard also questioned the plan with regards to inflation, arguing the government had been short in outlining this. The opposition renewed their position on VAT applied to breadbasket items.

“In this budget that they are prepared… to change the rate of VAT on some items this now flies in the face of an earlier claim by the government that they thought it best to keep VAT at a consistent level across all commodities.

So we now ask them in light of the fact that you found a way to be flexible in the application of VAT and the rate, why are you not taking VAT off the breadbasket items? Why

are you not taking VAT off medicine and why are you not increasing it for the wealthy as it relates to transactions that are over $2m?”

Regarding public service increments, Mr Pintard said: “The increments he talked about in the public service, this is something that happens in the natural course of things and cases where increments have been paused it has been in the midst of crisis where there was a financial and governments did not see the ability to provide at the time it was due, but both administrations again have had moments where it’s been paused and where it’s been re-introduced. So we are happy that this is happening.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, May 26, 2022

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The right direction - if the figures add up THE debut full Budget for Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has arrived – and as ever with a Budget there is a lot to digest.

Starting with the best news, it is that the country’s revenue performance is improving. That, of course. comes from a starting point of being at a standstill with global tourism at a halt and lockdowns to stop the spread of COVID, but it is the speed of the recovery that is encouraging.

Tax revenue is up by half, and Mr Davis expects more revenue growth ahead.

There are some questions about the figures – the FNM highlighting what they felt were some inconsistencies from the mid-year Budget just a few months ago, and the $1bn hole that Mr Davis talked about in the government’s finances in terms of liabilities and unfunded obligations seems likely never to be fully explored as he spoke about having paid down arrears and outstanding balances. FNM leader Michael Pintard pointed out an increase in expenditure in this budget, but a lack of revenue enhancing measures or cost cutting, which made him query how the government could hit its financial targets.

So what other talking points were there?

Well, there was talk of a new prison to be paid for with a public-private partnership, and $6m for new Defence Force vessels.

There’s a $200m Family Island Development Trust Fund to improve infrastructure in the outer islands, to be funded by 10 percent of revenue collected in the Family Islands from property tax and road fees. That will be one to watch, and we look forward to more detail on spending and oversight.

Then there are extra wages – with a proposal to increase the minimum wage, and salary increases for teachers, and

retention bonuses for both teachers and nurses.

Mr Davis was not oblivious to the rise in the cost of living recently, pointing out these rises would help Bahamians deal with that surge in costs.

There is more money for Bahamian farming, and for infrastructure, plus a move to improve healthcare, although the $10m allocated for catastrophic healthcare in the Budget will likely not go very far.

Then there is an extra 50 percent for the social services budget, and a large exemption for religions organisations, trade unions, civic organisations and burial societies – which will all now be exempt from property tax.

One area the government hasn’t lived up to its targets is in its plans to cut subsidies to state-owned enterprises, such as Bahamasair and the Water & Sewerage Corporation. In fact, it’s going the other way – with the amount of subsidies going up by almost $31m in this Budget.

Overall, though, it seems a positive Budget. Extra money for a number of workers, progress towards a minimum wage increase, and some improved funding for areas that could use it – particularly the Family Islands and social services as they take on feeding those affected by the pandemic previously handled by the National Food Distribution Programme.

There are some questions over whether the government can meet the financial targets it has set – but the positive direction of revenue is to be welcomed, and we must hope that continues.

Is there anything startling in the Budget? No, there are no rabbits being pulled out of hats to amaze us all – but there was never likely to be given the country’s financial position.

More analysis shall come, of course, as we all take a closer look as details are released.

The hypocrisy of America EDITOR, The Tribune.

A SHOOTING at a school in Texas. 19 dead children, many wounded and two adults killed. The first thing you notice is the parents of these students appear to be primarily Hispanic.

Then ICE shows up.

Apparently even with such a horrible incident, the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, a department with Homeland Security is looking for illegal immigrants even within an historic situation like this. Imagine you are a parent in fear that your child is threatened and perhaps missing or worse, then The Federal Government’s Goose Stepping Agents of ICE appear. Possible illegal immigrants who showed up to see if their children are safe may very well be arrested, incarcerated and deported.

I was in New Orleans a while back with my wife.

She is a descendent of

Chinese immigrants to Canada. While visiting this wonderful city, we walked into a large protest against I.C.E. tactics. Thousands of people who have family members and friends picked up by this agency’s agents.

Imagine the kids are home, and you are having dinner, and suddenly a bunch of armed security break into your home and take you or a family member away.

Is happening in Russia, China, Saudi Arabia or some far off dictatorship?

No, it’s happening in good old America. Some agents approached us as we spoke to the protesters. Our Passports saved us from a possible ride in the paddy wagon.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free”.

Yah, at the foot of Lady Liberty. Sure legal immigration is preferred, but many of your neighbours are from nations of chaos, social fear and tyranny. Give ‘em a break folks. Show them

the courtesy of the chase, and leave them to find their little ones, cherish them, or in fact grieve their loss.

An idea... Gun Control.

Use all those ICE agents in a process of identifying, interviewing and approving individuals who want weapons. That is what they are folks. Made to kill.

Most mass murders prefer hand guns, semi and automatic weapons over shot guns and long rifles. Stop persecuting honest gun owners who are hunters and sports minded. Outlaw everything except shot guns and long rifles. Simple. Outlaw the common practice of public officials allowed to receive and accept “bribes”- sorry donations from the NRA and Gun Lobby. Put a stop to America’s “illegal” immigrant Centred genocide as well.

STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario, Canada.

May 25, 2022.

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PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis arriving to present the 2022 Budget Communication yesterday.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

Compare Davis v Zelensky EDITOR, The Tribune.

HAD PM Davis been in Volodymyr Zelensky’s shoes, I would want him to do the following: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made Time’s The 100 Most Influential People of 2022.

In a recent Jerusalem Post article, there’s mention of him being a comic book hero.

Zelensky has become an international superstar since the ill-fated start of the Russian/Ukrainian War on February 24. Some 13 million people have since been displaced with a death toll among civilians topping 3,000.

Russia now controls Kherson, Mariupol, Donbas, Luhansk and Donetsk - areas Russian President Vladimir Putin now considers consolation prize, after failing to overtake Kyiv.

Russian proxy militia groups overtook Crimea in 2014, after the pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych was deposed as Ukrainian President, after not signing a deal with the European Union in 2013.

Considered the Bible Belt of Europe, Ukraine gained its independence in 1991, subsequent to the collapse of the USSR. Calling the current war a “special military operation,” the Kremlin has stated that it aims to “demilitarise and de-Nazify” Ukraine.

Putin has gone on record as stating that he wants to protect Russians under Ukrainian jurisdiction who have been subjected to eight years of genocide.

His exploits have led the US and the international community of accusing him of War crimes.

This war seems to have started over Ukraine

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net flirting with NATO - a Western 30-member defensive military alliance that now has a presence in the Baltic and Central and Eastern Europe.

Based on my understanding, Zelensky had proposed Ukraine becoming a neutral state, which means that his state would be non-alinged and non-nuclear, with no foreign military bases in its territory.

The neutrality proposal came in late March. We are now a week away from June. The Russians are obviously not impressed by the proposal.

Putin has accused NATO of engaging his country militarily through Ukraine.

He has already punished Poland and Bulgaria by cutting gas supplies. The US has banned Russian gas and oil.

This ban on oil has led cargo shipping companies to increase their costs of shipping supplies to merchants.

The merchants have passed on those cost increases to consumers.

I recently saw a 12-count pack of Bubba Hamburgers priced at $46 in a local grocery store.

A gallon of gasoline in The Bahamas is well above $6.

The Bahamian middleclass and poor are being decimated with record breaking inflation, with the state hardly being in the position to ameliorate the economic situation. And all because Volodymyr Zelensky decided to play hardball with Vladimir Putin by poking the Russian Bear.

A few weeks after the war commenced, Bahamian

politicos were posting Facebook memes of Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and Zelensky, with the aim of comparing the two leaders.

For the critics of Davis, Zelensky came out on top.

However, I strongly disagree with this unfair comparison. If Davis were in Zelensky’s shoes, I would want him to capitulate to the Russians in order to prevent an unnecessary war. Context is paramount.

Suppose the Davis administration invites the Russians to build a nuclear weapon strictly for “scientific purposes” on Andros or Grand Bahama.

And suppose that the US and Russia were still engaged in the Cold War, similar to what transpired during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

As an independent, sovereign country, would you want The Bahamas to defy the White House and go ahead with the Russian nuclear initiative some 60 miles away from the State of Florida?

It would obviously be suicidal for the Davis administration to do so, as the RBDF is hardly a match for the formidable US Army.

Yet that is how I view the Zelensky situation, even if he truly relishes his 15 minutes of international fame.

The Ukrainian President seems to be a noble, courageous man.

However, the flirtation with NATO in the face of Russian opposition tells me that while he has done a stellar job of keeping his friends (US and the EU) close, he has failed to keep his enemies (Russians) closer.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama May 23, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2022, PAGE 7

Pair face court charged with drugs possession

By PAVEL BAILEY

A WOMAN and a man were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a drug related charge.

Keva Smith, 20, represented by Audrey Bullard-Bonamy, and Omar Johnson, 42, stood before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney on charges of possession of dangerous drugs.

At around 4.30pm on May 23 at Smith’s residence on Ethel Street, officers, acting on a search warrant,

discovered suspected drugs in the bathroom’s toilet bowl.

These drugs were contained in 12 zip lock baggies and two foil wrappings and were later positively identified as 7 oz of Indian Hemp.

After Smith’s arrest, she admitted in a police interview to trying to flush the drugs down the toilet.

In court, she pleaded guilty to the charge against her while Johnson pleaded not guilty.

During her plea of mitigation, Attorney Bullard-Bonamy pointed

out that her client had no prior convictions and that Smith only tried to flush the drugs as she realized the consequences of her actions.

After Smith’s arrest Bullard-Bonamy said that her client was remorseful for what she had done and promised to never do it again.

Smith’s attorney continued her plea by highlighting that the accused did well in high school, completing her BGCSEs. As such, she said that Smith deserves a chance to pursue tertiary education in business.

$4,500 FINE FOR SHOTGUN OWNER

By PAVEL BAILEY

A MAN was fined $4,500 in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges related to having an unlicenced shotgun and ammunition.

Craig Deveaux, 22, of Sapodilla Boulevard, represented by Karim Higgins, stood before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney on charges of possession of an unlicenced shotgun and ammunition.

At around 4.45pm on May 22, officers acting on a search warrant, went to a green triplex, where at the accused’s apartment they found an unlicenced black and silver shotgun.

In addition to the s/n of that shotgun being erased authorities also found six unfired shotgun shells.

After his arrest, Deveaux admitted to the offence in an official interview, but elected not to sign the police Record of Interview.

In court, he pleaded guilty to both charges against him.

As part of his plea of mitigation, Higgins said that his client is young, and that young people make mistakes.

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It was because of his youth and his early plea of guilt that Higgins asked the magistrate to be lenient in his ruling. He further claimed that the accused deserved a second chance.

In view of this, Magistrate

McKinney sentenced Deveaux to a fine of $4,000 on the shotgun charge and a further $500 for the ammunition possession.

Failure to pay these fines would result in one year and/or six months in custody.

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With that and Smith’s early plea of guilt in mind, Bullard-Bonamy implored the court for leniency and asked that they place her client on probation and conditional discharge.

In view of this Magistrate McKinney gave Smith a second chance to be a productive citizen by putting her on probation for a year.

Failing this would result in the accused having to pay a $500 fine or spending three months in prison for any future offence.

Smith’s co-accused Johnson was discharged in the matter.

MAN ACCUSED OF SEX WITH 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

By PAVEL BAILEY A MAN was charged in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday with having sex with a 13-year-old girl and having pornographic videos of her on his phone.

Pedric Dean Jr, 28, stood before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on charges of unlawful sexual intercourse and possession of child pornography.

On May 15 in New Providence, Dean is accused of having sexual intercourse with the 13-year-old. On the same day police also found nude videos of the minor on his phone.

Because of the severe nature of the charges, Dean was not required to plead in the Magistrate’s Court. He was told that his case would proceed by way of Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI).

The magistrate informed the accused that his case would be tried in the Supreme Court, where he can also apply for bail.

Until bail is granted, Dean will be sent back to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS).

The accused is expected to return to the Magistrate’s Court for service of his VBI on July 21.

PAGE 8, Thursday, May 26, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

“GUN ownership is a more important right than voting. Voting is not really a human right at all but a privilege that should be reserved for those who are qualified to do it properly.

It should be easier to buy a gun than vote.”

– Christian right commentator Matt Walsh “The United States of America has always had guns. It’s our history. We were built on the JudeoChristian foundation and with guns.”

– Rep. Brian Babin (Texas Republican) A RIGHT-WING authoritarian president of a large industrial nation, with a large black population continuously goes on verbal rampages attacking minorities and his enemies with virulent language. Though adept at manipulating the media, the president is not overburdened with intellectual acumen and empathy.

The president was initially highly dismissive of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He loudly supports various right-wing positions to buttress his support with conservatives and the business elite of his country. He favoured loosening laws governing gun-ownership.

He plays fast and loose with various democratic norms. Questions of corrupt practices pervade his administration. Resignations of top officials are rife in his government. His environmental policies have been regressive and his record on climate change is paltry.

He is bolstered in office by evangelical Christian nationalists. This includes a good number of blacks and women, who vote for him and like his so-called pro-family rhetoric and initiatives, despite his caustically racist and misogynistic attitude and language.

No, this is not Donald Trump. Welcome to Brazil and the presidency of the highly volatile Jair Bolsonaro, whom some have referred to as, “the Trump of the Tropics”. For reference, Brazil has the largest black population outside of Africa.

He once declared to the Brazilian newspaper, Zero Hora, his explanation as to why he told the legislator, Maria do Rosario, “I wouldn’t rape you, you don’t deserve it.”

Bolsonaro told the journal: “She [do Rosario] doesn’t deserve to be raped because she’s very ugly. She’s not my type, I’d never rape her. I’m not a rapist, but if I was, I wouldn’t rape her because she doesn’t deserve it.”

He once stated: “I have five children. Four were boys, on the fifth I got weak and had a daughter.”

He spoke in a 2017 speech about a visit to a quilombolo, a settlement founded by people of African origin: “Look, the lightest African descendant there weighed 100 kg. They don’t do anything. They don’t even

BRAZIL President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday.

Photo: Andre Penner/AP to the defense of religious serve for reproduction.”

And yet, many black displays on public propwomen flock to his banner erty, to nativist reactions to because of his stance on non-white, non-Christian abortion and other issues, immigrants.” and his deep-seated racism and vulgar misogyny.

CONTEMPT

In his contempt for gays, the rabidly homophobic president was emphatic in an interview with Playboy: “I wouldn’t be able to love a gay son. I wouldn’t be a hypocrite, I’d prefer a son to die in an accident than appear with a moustacho.”

Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro won the respective presidencies of their country in great measure because of the support of evangelical Christians, many of whom are Christian nationalists.

Christian nationalism is mostly resident in evangelical churches and among the religious right, moreso than in other Christian churches. Importantly, not all evangelicals are Christian nationalists. The two groupings should not be conflated.

There is diversity among evangelicals in many areas.

Rutgers Professor Joseph Williams offers this definition of such nationalism in the US, though it is applicable to other nations: “Christian nationalists insist that the United States was established as an explicitly Christian nation, and they believe that this close relationship between Christianity and the state needs to be protected – and in many respects restored – in order for the US to fulfill its God-given destiny.

“Recent scholarship underscores the extent to which these efforts to secure a privileged position for Christianity in the public square often coincide with efforts to preserve the historical status quo on issues of race, gender, and sexuality.”

He also notes: “The practical ramifications of such views involve everything from support for laws that codify specific interpretations of Christian morality,

THE DANGERS AND CONCEITS OF CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM Christianity is the state religion, nor does it grant any religion the right to force its doctrines or force its will on other citizens.

NATIONALISM

Christian nationalism is a subset of religious nationalism, the blending or merging of state power with a specific religion of religious grouping, privileging these groups, while failing to promote the same privileges and protections to typically smaller religious groups.

Religious nationalism is an ancient phenomenon with contemporary examples. Today, in a number of Islamic states in the Middle East, some Muslim sects are granted more state support and largesse than others.

In India, a nation in which approximately 79 percent of its population is Hindu, some in the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP Party) and other nationalists, promote intolerance and even hatred toward Muslims and other religious minorities.

Modern India was founded on the values of pluralism and secularism in order to guarantee the rights of all in one of the most diverse countries in human history.

Christian and other religious nationalists are consumed by alleged threats to the nation, including the so-called threats from ethnic, religious and sexual minorities. Both nationalisms are highly racist and chauvinistic, typically led by men with toxic and often puerile machismo.

In a prayer in the US Senate chamber during the January 6, 2021, invasion, Jacob Chansley, dressed as a so-called shaman, offered this “prayer” as he thanked his “heavenly father” that he was able to: “Send a message to all the tyrants, the communists, and the globalists, that this is our nation, not theirs, that we will not allow the America, the American way of the United States of America to go down.”

SECULAR

RACIALIST

His racialist prayer continued as he deployed God and Christ in the service of a violent racist agenda: “Thank you divine, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent creator God for filling this chamber with your white light and love, with your white light of harmony. Thank you for filling this chamber with patriots that love you, and that love Christ.”

Such nationalisms are profoundly anti-democratic and an attack on religious pluralism and freedom, which ironically, the nationalists say they are seeking to preserve.

The truth is they mostly seek to preserve their freedom and not that of those who are supposedly not entitled to such liberty including: blacks, religious minorities, Jews, migrants, Haitians, name any easily demonised or castigated group.

Neither the United States nor The Bahamas are theocracies, though some religionists seem to believe that their particular and often fundamentalist worldviews should reign supreme in a democracy.

This includes those Christian nationalists who believe that their specific notions of Christianity should reign supreme in public policy in areas ranging from gay rights to various social policies.

The Bahamas Constitution does not protect or advance any notion of Christendom, in which

As a secular state, we enjoy freedom of expression and conscience. We enjoy freedom of religion, a pivotal freedom historically in the advancement of democracy.

In a secular democracy, religious freedom is a part of a charter of rights and freedoms from which citizens ought not to be excluded because of a circumstance of birth. Freedom of religion is a critical element of pluralism, both of which emerged as central democratic themes following the French and American revolutions.

Some are still learning the lessons of the democratic revolutions beginning in the 18th century.

It is one of those ironies that it is typically through secular states and constitutions and democratic pluralism that human rights and social justice are more greatly advanced than by those who claim to love their neighbours as themselves, but who fail to guarantee to their neighbours the same rights they so dearly cherish.

In the United States, the chokehold of the religious right, other right-wing groups and various gun conglomerates and lobbies on mostly the Republican Party is killing Americans.

Samuel Perry is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma. His books on Christian nationalism include: Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States (with Andrew Whitehead) and White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy (with Philip Gorski).

Writing in Time yesterday after the massacre of innocents at Texas primary school by a young killer using “a handgun, a military-style rifle and high-capacity magazine,” he wrote: “As we show in our recent book The

Flag and the Cross, white Christian nationalism is ultimately about controlling who gets access to cultural and political power, and thus is fundamentally anti-democratic.

“Access to guns is about protecting the freedoms of white conservatives to suppress disorder. This is why, among white Americans who believe the United States should be a Christian nation, 82% believe ‘The best way to stop bad guys with guns is to have good guys with guns.’

“The goal isn’t to rid the world of gun violence. The goal is to suppress ‘bad guy violence’ with righteous violence – our violence.

And that requires guns.”

Where in Scripture does Rep Brian Babin find a warrant from Jesus Christ for his theologically blasphemous statement: “The United States of America has always had guns. It’s our history. We were built on the Judeo-Christian foundation and with guns.”

Of course the recent massacre in Texas may not be about race. But it is about America’s gun fetish and culture and the easy access to such brutal weaponry no matter the motive or circumstance, though such guns are used to brutalize minorities with deadly and precise regularity.

Thank God, that here in The Bahamas we have sensibly, like most other nations in the world, restricted access to gun ownership. This is one instance of American insanity and permissiveness from which we have been restrained in the promotion and protection of the preciousness of human life.

Christian and religious nationalism is fundamentally not about adoration and love of the Creator of us all, made wonderfully in God’s image and likeness.

Such debased nationalist ideologies are about – dangerously and conceitedly – making God in the image and likeness of a so-called pure race.

And also the concomitant dehumanisation of those not made in the same supposed image of a so-called master race, to whom God has decidedly not singularly given heaven and earth.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2022, PAGE 9

The effect of the West’s sanctions on Russia

A LOCAL resident walks next to a house destroyed in a Russian shelling in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko)

components used in the production of tanks and other military equipment.

“Why is Russia apparently having so much trouble buying essential goods? Part of the answer is that many of the world’s democracies have banned sales to Russia of a variety of goods — weapons, of course, but also industrial components that can, directly or indirectly, be used to produce weapons.”

Krugman and others see the most damaging effects of the western-led sanctions in the areas generally reserved for government procurement, not in the headline-grabbing effects of compelling one Russian oligarch to sell his beloved Chelsea soccer team or several others to suffer the humiliation of impoundment of their mansions and yachts.

But the theory goes further. Krugman writes that “Russia seems to have lost access to imports even from countries that aren’t imposing sanctions. There

H

ERE’S a bet that you’re thinking a lot less this morning about the war in Ukraine than you were just a couple of weeks ago. It’s become kind of old news. That’s kind of amazing, considering that this is the first major land war in Europe in most all of our lifetimes – since 1945. You may well be thinking about skyrocketing gas prices at the pump, food prices that seem to increase every time you visit the supermarket. You may be aware of a general sense of unease in the world, with stock markets on roller coaster rides up and down and dark talk of a coming recession. Or worse.

You may blame part or all of the above on the Ukraine war. But chances are, unless there is some new horrific brutality by the Russian army or some lurid, dramatic revelation such as the Ukrainian report this week that there had been a recent assassination attempt against Russian president Vladimir Putin, you’re not paying as much attention to the grisly details of this gruesome war. There hasn’t been a military breakthrough since the Russians concluded that their plan to blitz through to Kyiv wasn’t working and redeployed to eastern Ukraine.

Still, from a military perspective, the long-term Russian goal is clear enough and it wouldn’t be a high percentage play to bet against their success. Eastern Ukraine, roughly around the Don River basin, is not clearly Ukrainian in many places. The residents identify as Russian, and this is the area that Russia has occupied for eight years, along with Crimea – which isn’t incontrovertibly Ukrainian either. So Russian activity in this area of eastern Ukraine is bound to succeed to some degree, and even to generate some local support.

But that’s not where the Russian vision ends.

From the evidence of their dogged assault on Mariupol, the Russian army clearly intends to extend its control along the entire western shore of the Sea of Azov so Russia can achieve a “land bridge” between its southeastern provinces and occupied Crimea. Then, judging by the actions of the Russian navy and marines, the plan is to extend Russian control all along Ukraine’s southern coast, to include the critical Black Sea port city of Odessa, and onward to the Dniester River in the west. There, a Russianspeaking relic of Soviet rule called Transdniestria effectively divides Ukraine from Moldova. Russian troops have garrisoned in Transdniestria for years.

This would effectively make Ukraine a landlocked nation, surrounded

by Russian occupied or controlled territory, cut off from the seaports through which its massive grain exports are shipped and subject to even tougher

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the State Council in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday. (Sergei Guneyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

blackmail from Moscow over the fees it now earns through energy transshipments from Russia and the east across Ukrainian territory to Western Europe.

Its autonomy and indeed its practical independence would be gone. Ukraine would become as much a de facto part of the new Russian empire as much as Belarus is already becoming. Its sovereignty would be an illusion.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. While the Russians appear to have blown key regional centre Mariupol back to, and perhaps beyond, the stone age, their forces are generally stalled along a lengthy front west of the Don valley. And since the ignominious sinking of the “Moskva,” there hasn’t been too much in the news about Russian naval achievements. There have even been sporadic reports that the Ukrainians have pushed their foes back to pre-February 24 lines.

It certainly seems that attrition and continued civilian suffering lie ahead militarily.

While the US and the West have been rushing key artillery and other weapons and plenty of ammunition to the Ukrainian army, the Americans have continued to resist establishment of a “nofly zone” in the airspace above Ukraine that the US would certainly end up enforcing. US president Biden continues to hew to the line that America will not be drawn into a shooting war with a Russian military that possesses such an awesome nuclear arsenal. The real western hopes in deterring Putin lie elsewhere.

Their hopes lie in the onerous and wide-ranging sanctions regime that the West has imposed on Russia. These economic sanctions were widely discussed by Biden and

other western leaders well before Putin moved into Ukraine in February, in the hope that detailing their effects would deter him. Obviously, it didn’t have that effect. Complicating matters has been the refusal of many international world producers of oil and natural gas to ramp up their output, which would of course ease the sting of boycotting Russian energy exports for Western Europe.

In fact, there are many reports that Putin and Company have been raking in the dollars and Euros as the price and value of their oil and gas exports has risen significantly. It’s not a big step to the conclusion that the sanctions have not worked as well as their western authors hoped and claimed that they would.

But there is a growing school of thought that argues exactly to the contrary. One of its most well-known proponents is Paul Krugman. This winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize for economics has a Yale and MIT education and distinguished professorial service at Princeton and the London School of Economics, where he holds the title of Centennial Professor. Krugman has also been one of the most respected columnists at the New York Times for many years. His views are worth paying attention to, and he argues that Putin is actually losing the sanctions struggle – and badly.

“Russia’s surging balance of payments surplus is actually a sign of weakness, not strength — it largely reflects a plunge in Russia’s imports, which even state-backed analysts say is crippling its economy.

Russia is, in effect, making a lot of money selling oil and gas, but finding it hard to use that money to buy the things it needs, reportedly including crucial

are reliable estimates that this Spring, exports from allied democracies to Russia were down 53 percent from normal levels (and early indications are that they fell further in April). But exports from neutral or pro-Russian countries, including China, were down almost as much — 45 percent.”

This response from the non-aligned arises not so much from an allegiance to the ideals of the US or the West.

Rather, the economist argues, the concern is “being on the wrong side of sanctions. If you make sales to Russia that might be seen as helping Putin’s war effort, wouldn’t you worry about facing sanctions yourself?”

Krugman concludes that “Russia’s trade surplus is a sign of weakness, not strength; its exports are sadly holding up well despite its pariah status, but its economy is being crippled by a cutoff of imports. And this in turn

means that Putin is losing the economic as well as the military war.”

Lurking behind the worldwide effects of the western sanctions against Putin and the Russian economy is a potentially significant subtext.

The US in particular is able to exert the economic power it wields in such circumstances because the world’s trade is largely conducted in dollars. When the US wishes to punish nations for their transgressions, it has an array of tools at its disposal, because of the universality and primacy of the dollar.

Russia is experiencing this now.

What if the American willingness to leverage its financial clout – the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are housed only three blocks from the White House, after all – led other nations to rethink the predominance of the dollar? A rogue thought now, but it’s gaining currency.

PAGE 10, Thursday, May 26, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

MINISTER CONFIRMS HOSPITAL CASE RISE NOT DUE TO COVID HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville has confirmed that the increase in COVID-19 cases is not linked to the rise in hospital admissions, but is associated with a high volume of people suffering complications from chronic non-communicable diseases.

In a press statement released earlier this week, Dr Darville said there has been an uptick in positive virus cases over the

past three weeks, adding samples were collected to test for the Omicron BA.2 variant.

With this, he said the Disease Surveillance Unit has turned specific focus on schools in the country.

He said: “This Ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training as well as with the unions on ways to mitigate the potential spread in our schools so that we do

not disadvantage our children from getting access to education.”

Regarding chronic noncommunicable diseases, the health minister described it as a “common occurrence in countries battling CNCD’s because the pandemic pushed these comorbidities to the back burner as it relates to usual care”.

Hospital officials are working assiduously, he said, to address bed spaces to accommodate a surplus

in admission cases.

Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) managing director Aubynette Rolle added that a number of positive cases are being recorded at the hospital because testing for the virus is a prerequisite for admission.

Much of it, Ms Rolle said, falls into the category of a secondary diagnosis.

She echoed a previous statement by Mr Darville who confirmed that there is

no cause for alarm when it comes to adequate supplies of medicine.

Bahamians and residents are urged to continue to follow the COVID-19 safety protocols which help to limit the spread of the virus. Persons can also guard themselves from severe COVID-19 infection by getting the COVID-19 vaccine, 1st and 2nd boosters and extended series doses for persons who are moderately to severely

immuno-compromised.

Appointments can be made online at vax.gov.bs or walk-ins are welcomed at vaccination sites. Persons with mobility challenges may request a home visit by emailing vax242.mobile@ gmail.com.

The public is encouraged to access community clinics for primary and urgent care and the Princess Margaret Hospital Emergency Department for emergency care only.

Minister denies hitting police officer with car from page one

MINISTER of Housing and Transport JoBeth Coleby-Davis speaks to reporters yesterday.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

awaiting the outcome of the investigation into the matter.

However, the minister yesterday said what has been claimed is not true.

“I gave my comment that everything that was said was untrue,” she said in an interview outside Parliament yesterday.

“I stand by that and my grandmother always taught me that the last laugh is the best one and so it’ll be cleared up.”

Asked if she thought she was being targeted politically the minister replied: “I probably am. It will be cleared up.”

In a separate interview at Parliament, she also said: “I will wait for all of the other information to come forward, but I stand

by my statement that that is untrue. That is not my character.

“I had my three-year-old daughter with me on Saturday. So, I would never act out in her presence. Even if it was my character I would not.

“That is not my personality and I would not do that in the presence of my threeyear-old daughter and so it’s untrue.”

While the PSA did not name the MP in its statement, which was posted on its Facebook page, it alleged that a female driver of a silver coloured SUV struck a police officer with her vehicle after he informed her that he was instructed not to let any vehicles through.

PSA executive chairman Ricardo Walkes said: “This officer also said that she shouted at him ‘Do you

know who I am!’ as she attempted to drive around the barricades and hit him another two times before he moved from her path being in fear for his safety and she sped away.

“He had to seek medical attention and was treated at the hospital for his injuries and later discharged.”

Mr Walkes said he thought the days of “Do you know who I am” were long gone.

He went on to note that no one was above the law.

“As an association we will not stand idly by while the rights of our members are infringed upon. The officer has retained an attorney as we await the outcome of the investigation into this matter,” he said.

The Free National Movement earlier this week called for answers over the situation.

RELEASED SEX OFFENDER DIES FROM INJURIES from page one

Superintendent Audley Peters confirmed to The Tribune that Alden Scott, 55, died sometime after 2am yesterday.

Mr Peters said the matter came to the police’s attention on Saturday afternoon after Scott was found on a track road in Yellow Elder Gardens.

He said: “He was suffering from injuries about the body, was removed and taken to the hospital via ambulance and treated by the medical practitioners and succumbed to his injuries this morning (Wednesday). We will await an autopsy report to give us instruction as to how we’re

going to classify the death.”

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe was also contacted yesterday, but told this newspaper he was out of the country and would await a full briefing from police on his return before he made a statement.

The minister announced last Friday that Scott was being released from prison that day. The minister also revealed that Scott was being released after an indecent assault conviction, for which he was sent to prison for two years. The incident involved touching the hips of a nine-year-old girl.

His previous offence involved raping a 17-yearold. For that offence he

was imprisoned in 2014 and released in 2020.

The minister also said that the registrar of the sexual offenders list and the commissioner of the correctional institution deemed him a significant risk to public safety. Viewing their submission to him and hearing the offender, Mr Munroe also determined that he is a significant risk and would be directing public notification of his release.

At the time, Minister Munroe noted the concern of possible retaliation against persons who are the subject of a public notice. He said if it is manifest as a reality, it could lead to courts directing against public notifications.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2022, PAGE 11

SHAVON Munnings (centre in black with candle) held a candlelight vigil on Tuesday in memory of her sister, Tiffany Smith, 30, a mother of four who was murdered 17 years ago by her husband. Ms Munnings, founder of Fallen Angels Candlelight Reach Out, has held the vigil annually for more than a decade to raise awareness of domestic violence. The vigil preceded a three-day Domestic Violence Awareness Conference at First Holiness Church grounds.

Photo: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff

Candlelight vigil is held in memory of murdered sister

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama resident Shavon Munnings launched a Domestic Violence Awareness Conference on Tuesday with a candlelight vigil at the First Holiness Church in Freeport.

Ms Munnings, the founder of Fallen Angels Candlelight Reach-Out, lost her sister, Tiffany Smith, a mother of four who was murdered 17 years ago by her husband on May 24. Since then, she has vowed to raise awareness of domestic violence to help other victims.

A small gathering of people assembled at 7pm on the church grounds, with lit candles in memory of Ms Smith, who died at age 30. It was still very emotional for Ms Munnings as she recalled the day she got news of her sister’s death.

“Today (Tuesday) is the day that I lost my sister Tiffany, to the evil spirit we call domestic violence,” she said. “And I vow to continue to move forward with this (annual vigil) even though it hurts. It’s been 17 years, but I still feel like I just got the news.”

Ms Munnings said while the turn-out could have been better the important thing is to be able to reach someone.

“If we can just reach one woman, one person one year at a time, then I know her death is not in vain. I encourage women to first love themselves more,” she told the gathering.

Ms Munnings said Ms Smith was a happy person and was full of life.

“She gave a great testimony before she died. And I remembered her sitting on the bed that day dressed in all white. She had this smile on her face and she was happy and content that very day,” she recalled.

She said that her sister left behind four children, who are adults now with young children, who will never get to meet her.

Ms Munnings believes her sister has found eternal peace. She said that she has been able to forgive her murderer.

“I saw my sister in my dream. And if she is happy in death, why walk around with this burden of hate and unforgiveness. I had no

TIFFANY SMITH other choice but to forgive (him).”

The first day of the conference started on Wednesday evening with keynote remarks from Pastor Robert Lockhart, of Calvary Temple Assemblies of God Church.

Ms Munnings said that speakers would impart words of encouragement and empowerment to reach both victims and perpetrators.

Pastor Cedric Beckles will address the conference on Thursday, and Prophetess Rochelle Higgs will speak on Friday.

The conference will climax on Saturday with a hot meal feeding for about 200 to 300 people and a fun day for the children.

PAGE 12, Thursday, May 26, 2022

AML LAUNCHES NEW SMART REWARDS SCHEME AML has launched a new smart rewards scheme for its Solomon’s brand.

Using a card, customers can earn and redeem points in all of the participating locations.

“You have the ability to earn in one brand and redeem in another, the choice is yours,” said AML loyalty manger Khandira Hall. “Sign up is fast, free, and easy in-store or online at www.amlfoods.com or on any of the brands’ Facebook pages. Furthermore, points are automatically tracked so you can never misplace or lose them.”

The first 2,000 customers signing up for the programme will receive $5.

To learn more about My Solomon’s Smart Rewards, visit any of the stores in Nassau, Freeport or Exuma or view online at www.amlfoods.com.

AML Foods Limited’s Food Distribution includes its retail division - Solomon’s Super Centre, Solomon’s Yamacraw, Solomon’s Fresh Market, Solomon’s Lucaya, and Exuma Markets – and its club division - Cost Right Nassau and Cost Right Freeport; the Company’s Franchise Division consists of ten Domino’s Pizza locations in Nassau and Freeport.

THE TRIBUNE

AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY EVENT HELD AT CHRISTIE PARK

MEMBERS of the congregation at the African Liberation Day event held at Christie Park yesterday.

Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

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NYABHINGI sound by the Daniel #1 Band.

HOTEL EMPLOYEE ACCUSED OF STEALING $60,000

By PAVEL BAILEY

A WOMAN was granted $20,000 bail in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday where she was accused of stealing $60,000 from an Eleuthera hotel where she had worked for several months.

Gerrina Mel-Maria Cunningham, 43, of North Eleuthera, represented

by Maria Daxon, stood before Magistrate Kendra Kelly on multiple charges.

These include six counts

each of money-laundering (acquisition), falsification of accounts and stealing by means of employment.

Between December 6, 2020 and June 8, 2021 Cunningham is alleged to have stolen a total of $60,000 in debit/credit card payments from her former employer, the Dunmore Hotel in Harbour Island.

This was done through the manipulation of the Room Master/IQ Point of Sale System to illicitly transfer the money to an RBC account.

In court, the accused pleaded not guilty to all 18 charges against her.

As the prosecution did not object, she was granted $20,000 bail with two sureties.

Under the conditions of her bail, she is expected to sign in at the North Eleuthera Police Station every Wednesday before 6pm.

Failure to comply will result in Cunningham’s bail being revoked.

Cunningham’s trial will begin on August 10.

ARMED ROBBERY ACCUSED FACES COURT

By PAVEL BAILEY

A MAN was yesterday remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services after facing an armed robbery charge in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Antion Gibson, 23, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans charged with armed robbery and receiving.

On May 21 in New Providence, while armed with a handgun, Gibson is alleged to have robbed Mario Stubbs of his $2,000 black Sym motorcycle.

Because of the serious nature of the offence, the accused was not required to enter a plea at that time.

He was told that his case would proceed by way of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI).

Magistrate Vogt-Evans

also informed Gibson that his matter would be heard in the Supreme Court.

There Gibson can officially make his plea and also apply for bail.

Until such time that it is granted to him, the accused will be sent back to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Gibson will return to the Magistrate’s Court on July 21 for service of his VBI.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2022, PAGE 13

UK PM FAULTED FOR LOCKDOWN PARTIES BUT WON’T QUIT

FLOWERS and candles are placed outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, yesterday, to honour the victims killed in Tuesday’s shooting at the school.

Photo: Jae C Hong/AP

Texas gunman ‘said he was going to shoot up school’ UVALDE, Texas Associated Press THE GUNMAN who massacred 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas warned in online messages sent minutes before the attack that he had shot his grandmother and was going to shoot up a school, the governor said Wednesday.

Salvador Ramos, 18, used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle in the bloodshed on Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which ended when police stormed a classroom and killed him. He legally bought the rifle and a second one like it last week, just after his birthday on May 16, authorities said.

“Evil swept across Uvalde yesterday. Anyone who shoots his grandmother in the face has to have evil in his heart,” Gov Greg Abbott said. “But it is far more evil for someone to gun down little kids.”

Investigators shed no light on the motive for the attack, which also left at least 17 people wounded.

The governor said Ramos, a resident of the small town about 85 miles west of San Antonio, had no known criminal or mental health history.

But about a half-hour before the mass shooting, Ramos sent the first of three messages online, Abbott said. Ramos wrote that he was going to shoot his grandmother, then that he had shot the woman. In the last note, sent about 15 minutes before he reached Robb Elementary, he said he was going to shoot up an elementary school, according to Abbott. Investigators said Ramos did not specify which school.

Ramos sent private, one-toone text messages via Facebook, and they were “discovered after the terrible tragedy”, company spokesman Andy Stone said. He said Facebook is cooperating with investigators.

As details of the latest mass killing to rock the US emerged, grief engulfed Uvalde, population 16,000.

The dead included Eliahna Garcia, an outgoing ten-year-old who loved to sing, dance and play basketball; a fellow fourth-grader, Xavier Javier Lopez, who had been eagerly awaiting a summer of swimming; and a teacher, Eva Mireles, with 17 years’ experience whose husband is an officer with the school district’s police department.

“You can just tell by their angelic smiles that they were loved,” Uvalde Schools Superintendent Hal Harrell said, fighting back tears as he recalled the children and teachers killed. “That they loved coming to school, that they were just precious individuals.”

Amid calls around the US for tighter restrictions on firearms, the Republican governor repeatedly talked about mental health struggles among Texas young people and argued that tougher gun laws in Chicago, New York and California are ineffective.

Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who

THIS photo provided by Manny Renfro shows his grandson, Uziyah Garcia.

The eight-year-old was among those killed in Tuesday’s shooting.

THIS photo provided by Siria Arizmendi shows her niece, Eliahna García, ten, who was among those killed in Tuesday’s shooting.

is running against Abbott for governor, interrupted Wednesday’s news conference, calling the tragedy “predictable”. Pointing his finger at Abbott, he said: “This is on you until you choose to do something different. This will continue to happen.” O’Rourke was escorted out as some in the room yelled at him, with Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin calling him a “sick son of a bitch”.

Texas has some of the most gunfriendly laws in the nation and has been the site of some of the deadliest shootings in the US over the past five years.

“I just don’t know how people can sell that type of a gun to a kid 18 years old,” Siria Arizmendi, the aunt of victim Eliahna Garcia, said angrily through tears. “What is he going to use it for but for that purpose?”

Lt Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN that all of those killed were in the same fourth-grade classroom.

The killer “barricaded himself by locking the door and just started shooting children and teachers that were inside that classroom”, Olivarez said. “It just shows you the complete evil of the shooter.”

Police and others responding to the attack also went around breaking windows at the school to enable students and teachers to escape.

Officers eventually broke into the classroom and killed Ramos in one last exchange of gunfire, authorities said.

The attack in the predominantly Latino town was the deadliest school shooting in the US since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.

The tragedy was the latest in a seemingly unending string of mass killings at churches, schools, stores and other sites in the US. Just tenb days earlier, ten black people

were shot to death in a racist rampage at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket.

In a sombre address to the nation hours after the attack in Texas, President Joe Biden pleaded for Americans to “stand up to the gun lobby” and enact tougher restrictions, saying: “When in God’s name are we going to do what has to be done?”

But the prospects for any reform of the nation’s gun regulations appeared dim. Repeated attempts over the years to expand background checks and enact other curbs have run into Republican opposition in Congress.

The shooting came days before the National Rifle Association annual convention was set to begin in Houston, with the Texas governor and both of the state’s Republican US senators scheduled to speak.

On social media in the days and hours before the massacre, Ramos appeared to drop hints that something was going to happen.

On the day he bought his second weapon last week, an Instagram account that investigators say apparently belonged to Ramos carried a photo of two AR-15-style rifles. That post tagged another Instagram user, one with more than 10,000 followers, asking her to share the picture.

“I barely know you and u tag me in a picture with some guns,” replied the Instagram user, who has since removed her profile. “It’s just scary.”

On the morning of the attack, the account linked to the gunman replied: “I’m about to.”

Instagram confirmed to The Associated Press that it is working with law enforcement to review the account but declined to answer questions about the postings.

Investigators are also looking at an account on TikTok, possibly belonging to the shooter, with a profile that reads: “Kids be scared

IRL,” which stands for “in real life.”

Investigators do not yet know why Ramos targeted the school, said Steve McCraw, director of the Department of Public Safety.

“We don’t see a motive or catalyst right now,” he said.

Officers found one of the rifles in Ramos’ truck, the other in the school, according to the briefing given to lawmakers. Ramos was wearing a tactical vest, but it had no hardened body-armor plates inside, lawmakers were told. He also dropped a backpack containing several magazines full of ammunition near the school entrance.

One of the guns was purchased at a federally licensed dealer in the Uvalde area on May 17, according to state Senator John Whitmire, who was briefed by investigators. Ramos bought 375 rounds of ammunition the next day, then purchased the second rifle last Friday.

On Tuesday morning, Ramos shot and wounded his grandmother at her home, then left. Neighbours called police when she staggered outside and they saw she had been shot in the face, Department of Public Safety spokesperson Travis Considine said.

Ramos then crashed his truck through a railing on the school grounds, and an Uvalde school district officer exchanged fire with him and was wounded, Considine said. Ramos went inside and traded more gunfire with two arriving Uvalde police officers, who were still outside, Considine said. Those officers were also wounded.

Dillon Silva, whose nephew was in a classroom, said students were watching the Disney movie “Moana” when they heard several loud pops and a bullet shattered a window. Moments later, their teacher saw the attacker stride past the door.

“Oh, my God, he has a gun!” the teacher shouted twice, according to Silva. “The teacher didn’t even have time to lock the door,” he said.

On Wednesday morning, volunteers were seen arriving at the town civic center with Bibles and therapy dogs. Three children and an adult remained at a San Antonio hospital, where two of them — a 66-year-old woman and 10-year-old girl — were listed in serious condition.

Uvalde is about 75 miles (120 kilometers) from the Mexican border.

Robb Elementary, which has nearly 600 students in second, third and fourth grades, is a single-story brick structure in a mostly residential neighborhood of modest homes.

The close-knit community, built around a shaded central square, includes many Hispanic families who have lived there for generations. It sits amid fields of cabbage, onions, carrots and other vegetables. But many of the steadiest jobs are supplied by companies that produce construction materials.

The attack came as Robb Elementary was counting down to the last days of the school year with a series of themed days. Tuesday was “Footloose and Fancy,” with students wearing nice outfits.

AN INVESTIGATIVE report released Wednesday blamed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other senior leaders for allowing boozy government parties that broke the UK’s COVID-19 lockdown rules, and while Johnson said he took “full responsibility” for the breaches, he insisted he would not resign.

Revelations that Johnson and his staff repeatedly flouted restrictions they imposed on Britain in 2020 and 2021 have fuelled outrage in the country and led to calls from opponents for Johnson to step down over the scandal known as “partygate”.

Most lawmakers in Johnson’s governing Conservative Party have stood by him for now, and it’s not yet clear if senior civil servant Sue Gray’s report will change that, despite its detailed descriptions of alcohol-fuelled bashes in the building where the prime minister both lives and works.

Gray investigated 16 gatherings attended by Johnson and his staff while UK residents were barred from socialising, or even from visiting sick and dying relatives, because of coronavirus restrictions.

Gray’s report concluded that the “senior leadership team... must bear responsibility” for a rule-breaking culture. She said there had been “failures of leadership and judgment” in the prime minister’s 10 Downing St office.

“Those in the most junior positions attended gatherings at which their seniors were present, or indeed organised,” she said.

A separate police investigation resulted in fines for 83 people —including Johnson — making him the first British prime minister found to have broken the law while in office.

Speaking to lawmakers after the report was published, Johnson said he took “full responsibility for everything that took place” and was sorry — but denied he knowingly break any rules. He said he was “humbled” and had “learned a lesson” but it was now time to “move on”.

Critics, some of them in the Conservative Party, have said Johnson lied to Parliament about the events.

Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to resign.

REALITY STAR DUGGAR JAILED FOR CHILD PORN FORMER reality TV star Josh Duggar was sentenced yesterday to about 12 1/2 years in prison after he was convicted of receiving child pornography.

Duggar was also convicted of possessing child pornography in December, but US District Judge Timothy Brooks dismissed that conviction after ruling that, under federal law, it was an included offence in the receiving child pornography count.

Prosecutors had asked US District Judge Timothy Brooks to give the maximum term of 20 years to Duggar, whose large family was the focus of TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting”. They argued in a pre-sentencing court filing that Duggar has a “deep-seated, pervasive and violent sexual interest in children”.

The judge sentenced Duggar to 12 years and seven months in prison, one day after denying a defence motion to overturn the guilty verdict on grounds of insufficient evidence or to order a new trial.

US Attorney David Clay Fowlkes said he was pleased with the sentence.

“While this is not the sentence we asked for, this is a lengthy sentence,” Fowlkes said outside the courthouse.

Duggar, whose lawyers sought a five-year sentence, maintains his innocence.

Defence attorney Justin Gelfand said he is grateful Brooks declined to impose the full 20-year sentence requested by prosecutors.

SPORTS PAGE 14

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022

NBA, Page 17

Davis highlights sports in Budget

by RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A

ccording to Prime Minister Philip Davis, the development of the local sporting community and the country’s sports tourism product will figure prominently in his administration’s plans for the immediate future.

In his 2022-23 Budget Communication in the House of Assembly yesterday, the Prime Minister highlighted several initiatives, including both new and returning events.

“We have already relaunched our ‘Sports in Paradise’ initiative to diversify our tourism product,

and have already secured a pipeline of sporting events such as the Babe Ruth Caribbean Championships,” he said. “We have also included a $1 million allocation to facilitate the hosting of CARIFTA, funding for our bid to again host the World Relay Games, funding to support the return of The Bahamas Games, and a 10 percent increase in grants for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.”

National Sports Authority Chairman Greg Burrows also serves as Babe Ruth Caribbean Region Commissioner.

The tournament will be hosted July 7-11, 2022, featuring the under-12 division with about 10-12 teams participating in the Babe Ruth

PM Davis Region Caribbean Championship and 10 teams in the 16-and-under division for the International Baseball Tournament.

Several countries are expected to field teams in both divisions, including The Bahamas, Curacao, US Virgin Islands, Mexico and Puerto Rico. In April,

The Bahamas secured the bid to host the 50th edition of the CARIFTA Track and Field Championships, which coincides with the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence.

The Bahamas last hosted the event in 2017.

The return of the Bahamas Games for the first time in over 20 years has been dubbed the “Golden Jubilee Games.”

The five previous versions of this Olympic-style festival occurred in 1989, 1991, 1995, 1998 and 2001.

The World Athletics World Relays is also set to make its return to The Bahamas under the Davis administration.

The Bahamas hosted the first three editions of

the event from 2014-17 at the Thomas A Robinson stadium.

It shifted to Yokohama, Japan in 2019 and Chorzow, Poland in 2021.

Guangzhou, China will be the next hosts of the biannual event in 2023.

Mr Davis said the financial support of elite athletes who represent The Bahamas internationally is a pillar of his administration’s plan to continue the process of future athlete development.

“Our athletes have contributed so much to The Bahamas. Their successes inspire our student-athletes at home and promote our country on the international stage,” he said.

“Recognising this, we

BAHAMAS ALL PRO CELEBRITY WEEKEND ALL SET

Lucius Fox Player of the Week, Knowles promoted, Young back in AAA

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net D’SHAWN Knowles and Chavez Young received call-ups in their respective organisations while Lucius Fox was named Player of the Week to highlight play from Bahamians in minor league baseball.

Just days after he hit his first home run this season for the Inland Empire 66ers, D’Shawn Knowles received the highest promotion of his professional baseball career.

Knowles was assigned to the Tri City Dust Devils of the Northwest League in High A baseball.

The 21-year-old outfielder, ranked No.30 in the Los Angeles Angels pipeline, was recently named the California League Player of the Week with the 66ers.

Knowles enjoyed an eight-game hit streak dating back to May 15.

He hit his home run shot last Saturday night against the San Jose Giants.

His solo shot in the seventh broke a scoreless tie en route to a 3-0 win.

On the season he has had a series of late-game heroics which included a pair of walk-off hits.

Twice in the series against the Stockton Ports, Knowles delivered lategame heroics and another walk-off win for the 66ers.

Knowles led the 66ers with a .331 batting average, 23 RBI, an .889 OPS and nine stolen bases in his second season assigned to the club.

In 84 games last season, he hit .227 with a .280 OBP, a .635 OBP, five home-runs, 48 RBI, and a team leading 31 stolen bases. After a brief rehab assignment in

have restored the funding to the Elite Athletes Programme as part of our effort to enhance support for our athletes and sporting programmes.”

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg is expected to detail the further impact the budget will have on the local sporting landscape when he delivers his contribution to the House of Assembly.

“This budget provides a foundation to strengthen our nation, to lift ourselves up, to face the future with strength and optimism,” Davis said.

“This budget provides support for the here and now, and also charts the way forward for a brighter tomorrow.”

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

D’Shawn Knowles

CHAVEZ Young

Single A baseball with the Dunedin Bluejays, Chavez Young is one stop away from the majors with the Buffalo Bison in Triple A baseball.

The 24-year-old outfielder made his debut with the Toronto Blue Jays affiliate last night and went 1-3 in the Bison’s 1-3 win over the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park.

His time in Dunedin was highlighted by a perfect day at the plate (3-3) and his first home run of the season in the Blue Jays’ 4-0 win over the Daytona Tortugas on May 20 at

Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona, Florida.

In six games with Dunedin he hit .278 and slugging .444 with one stolen base.

Lucius Fox continues to have a successful adjustment period to the Rochester Red Wings and was named the organisation’s Player of the Week.

He led the team in hits (8), RBI (four) and extra base hits (three) last week to earn the organisational award.

After a slow start the Washington Nationals prospect is enjoying his

LUCIUS Fox best hitting stretch since he was optioned to Triple A. His week was highlighted when he finished 3-4 with a home run and two RBI against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs on May 20.

After going hitless in his first four games with the Red Wings, Fox went 11-25 in his next five games, including three multi-hit games and a perfect 3-3 night with a stolen base against the Iron Pigs.

Since he joined the Red Wings, the versatile infielder is hitting .268 with 5 RBI, one home run and three stolen bases, slugging .515 with an .838 OPS.

THE local football community will join with several National Football League personalities for a weekend of football and fellowship.

The Bahamas All-Pro Celebrity Weekend, powered by Rev with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, will host a series of events in Nassau, June 9-13.

The visiting guest list of NFL personalities will be highlighted by the latest Bahamian drafted into theleague - Michael Strachan of the Indianapolis Colts and Bahamian descendant - Rashad Fenton of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Other guests include four time pro bowler and iconic quarterback Michael Vick, All-Pro wide receiver Keenan Allen of the Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins edge rusher Melvin Ingraham, and free agent safety DJ Swearinger.

SEE PAGE 16

Tokyo a candidate Carapaz keeps slim for track and field Giro lead, Buitrago world championships wins tough 17th stage

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — The $1.4 billion Tokyo national stadium, built by the Japanese government for last year’s Olympics, is being viewed as a site for the track and field world championships.

An inspection team from World Athletics — the governing body of the sport — met with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike yesterday and was to tour the stadium today.

The next world championships, which were postponed from 2021 to make way for the Olympics, will be held in July in Eugene, Oregon. Budapest, Hungary, is set to host in 2023.

Tokyo would be considered as a favourite for 2025.

That choice is expected in July. The 2027 venue also has yet to be chosen.

A GENERAL view of National Stadium during an athletics test event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games on May 9, 2021.

(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Antti Pihlakoski, the chairman of the inspection team, praised Tokyo. But neither he nor Koike took any questions at a brief photo opportunity at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building.

Pihlakoski said World Athletics had four

candidates for 2025. He did not name them but they are reported to be Tokyo, the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, Singapore and a venue in Poland.

“I do believe that there is no other city in the world

SEE PAGE 15

LAVARONE, Italy (AP) — Race favorite Richard Carapaz maintained his slim overall lead of the Giro d’Italia after a tough 17th stage which was won

by Santiago Buitrago for his first grand tour victory.

Carapaz remained three seconds ahead of 2020 runner-up Jai Hindley — with just four days of racing remaining — after both crossed the line together at the end of the 168-kilometre (104-mile) route from Ponte di Legno to Lavarone, which packed in almost 4,000 metres (13,000 feet) of climbing.

Mikel Landa finished six seconds behind the duo but moved into third overall, 1 minute and five seconds behind Carapaz. He surpassed João Almeida who was dropped on the second of the two top-category climbs that came in the final 40 kilometres of the race. “It’s been a really hard stage,” said Carapaz, who rides for the powerful Ineos Grenadiers team. “I think we’re happy, every day everything is being defined a bit more, everything is clearing up in the (general classification) and I’m happy to have the jersey for another day.”

Buitrago had been in tears after finishing second on Sunday’s 15th stage.

There were more tears from the Colombian cyclist yesterday, but this time of joy after soloing to victory.

The 22-year-old recovered from a crash halfway through the day to get back to the breakaway and then launched his attack towards the top of the final climb, cresting it alone and speeding down the final eight kilometres.

Buitrago, who rides for Team Bahrain Victorious, finished 35 seconds ahead of Gijs Leemreize — who had been leading on the steep climb to Monterovere — and 2:28 ahead of Jan Hirt.

“I’m really emotional. It’s my first Giro,” Buitrago said. “I needed to have a cold head on the final climb … I felt like I had the legs and I wanted to try and I went for it. I knew I had to go over on my own to try and win the stage.”

Today’s 18th stage should see a sprint finish after a flat circuit around Treviso at the end of a 156-kilometre (97-mile) route from Borgo Valsugana, that includes two fourth-category climbs.

“Tomorrow will still be an important day,” Carapaz said. “We have to get through the remaining days, no day is easy and we’ve got a really difficult weekend coming up.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2022, PAGE 15

NEXX Basketball: JR Cadot to launch ‘Dream Again’ camp

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net NEXX Basketball, an organisation founded by Bahamian national team and former professional basketball player JR Cadot, will be launching his ‘Dream Again’ Basketball Camp next month.

Cadot, a former NCAA division one player at Texas Christian University in Dallas, Texas, who has since retired from playing professionally, will stage the camp from June 27 to July 15 at the Remnant Tabernacle of Praise Gymnasium on Carmichael Road.

However, Cadot said because space is limited due to the COVID-19 health and safety protocols, they will only be able to accommodate the first 70 boys and girls between the ages of 9-17 years.

Sponsored by Bahamas Faith Ministries, Aliv, Asa H Pritchard/Teatime and CP Louis Private Bus Co./Transit, the camp is designed to teach the fundamentals of the game with emphasis on individual offensive and defensive skills as well as teamwork.

“It’s a basketball camp for kids who are interested in learning the game,” Cadot said.

“We want to encourage, inspire and build young men and women on and off the court.

“The kids are our future and so we want to invest in them by providing them with the opportunity to teach them the skills that

we have provided as pros,” he said.

Cadot, a devoted Christian, said his aim is to build from the foundation because he believes that “a house without a foundation, would eventually fall.

“So, we want to be able to teach them the proper skills so that they can build their own foundation going forward and be better prepared to become better basketball players.”

Having gone through the process himself, Cadot said he learned a little late in the game when he enrolled in Sheridan Junior College in Wyoming where he played from 2008-2010 that he realised how important it is to have that foundation.

He said he’s looking at several of his former teammates on the men’s national basketball team and those playing overseas as professionals to come in and assist, along with a former NBA Academy coach, whom he won’t name yet.

Through the camp, Cadot hopes to provide the exposure for the participants for several basketball scouts who either will be in town or will be viewing the camp online.

Each morning, the participants will go through their basketball drills.

After a break, they will be instructed in some life skills experiences and the perspective from executives on why and what is needed for them to make the national teams.

At the end of the day, they will have friendly 5-on-5 full basketball games

BAHAMIAN national team and former professional basketball player JR Cadot in action, far right. to make it a fun experience at the same time as they put into practice some of the lessons that they

will be taught from the instructors. Interested persons are urged to contact Cadot at 535-9354 or email

nexxtbasketball@gmail.com for more details.

The registration deadline is June 20.

Weightlifting: 11 candidates in election amid Olympic crisis LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Two American women are among a total of 11 candidates running for president of weightlifting’s troubled governing body, looking to lead it out of crisis as the sport risks being dropped from the Olympics.

The candidate list for next month’s election was published by the International Weightlifting Federation, which was branded one of the “problem children” of the Olympics by the IOC last year because of persistent issues with integrity, leadership and doping.

Weightlifting’s place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is at risk after its quota of medal events and

athletes were cut for the 2020 and 2024 Summer Games in Tokyo and Paris, respectively.

The IWF’s election will be held during a June 25-26 meeting in the Albanian capital Tirana, with Americans Ursula Papandrea and Paula Aranda among the presidential hopefuls.

Papandrea was removed as interim leader in 2020 in fallout from the ouster of long-time IWF president Tamás Aján, a former IOC member.

The IWF has been in turmoil since irregular finances and doping cover-ups during Aján’s 20-year presidency were exposed in January

2020 by German broadcaster ARD. Aján’s son-in-law Attila Adamfi is one of 16 candidates running for the role of general secretary, according to the IWF list.

Adamfi was the IWF’s director general at the end of Aján’s presidency.

Nine of the presidential candidates are also running in the election for general secretary, including long-time sports official Zhou Jinqiang of China. Zhou is currently a board member at the International Judo Federation.

China won seven gold medals in weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics last year, where the IOC allowed

196 athletes to compete in 14 weight categories. The totals had been 260 lifters in 15 events at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The IOC further cut weightlifting’s quotas to 120 athletes and 10 events — five each for men and women — in Paris.

Weightlifting and boxing’s governing body IBA, which is in a years-long dispute with the IOC, were cited as problems by IOC president Thomas Bach last December when both sports were left off the initial slate of sports for 2028.

The IOC is set to make a final decision for Los Angeles next year.

TOKYO WORLDS FROM PAGE 14

that could have organised (Olympic) competitions during the COVID time, and did it in a very great manner,” he said. “And all of the sporting world owes you a very deep thank you.”

Sebastian Coe, the head of World Athletics, said last year in Japan that he wanted to bring the championships to the city. Coe is not known to be in Tokyo this time.

Many of World Athletics’ sponsorship deals are brokered through Dentsu Inc., the giant Japanese advertising and public relations company.

Three of the top four World Athletics sponsors are Japan-based companies: athletic apparel manufacturer Asics, watchmaker Seiko, and Japanese electronics company TDK. The other is the Qatar National Bank.

Dentsu was the main driver in lining up more than $3 billion in local sponsorship for the Tokyo Olympics and is a powerful player in Japanese business, politics and media. Much of Dentsu’s clout is in sports marketing and handling issues around broadcast rights.

Tokyo held the world championships in 1991 and Osaka was the host in 2007. Koike said she recalled the 1991 championships and Carl Lewis’ world record of 9.86 seconds in the 100-metre dash.

“His overwhelming run is still fresh in the memories of all residents of Tokyo and all of Japan.

And I too clearly remember those days,” Koike said.

Coe, a two-time Olympic 1,500-metre gold medallist and a former member of the British Parliament, is a powerful player in his own right and is viewed as a possible successor to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. Bach’s term ends in 2025.

The Japanese city of Sapporo is also among the favourites to land the 2030 Winter Olympics. It is competing with Salt Lake City and Vancouver.

The IOC is expected to name the venue for the Winter Olympics in May 2023 during meetings in Mumbai, India. It could also make a dual award and name the 2034 host city.

HAMMON HAS LAS VEGAS ACES OFF TO SIZZLING START ON OFFENCE

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer BECKY Hammon vowed before the season tipped off that the Las Vegas Aces would be shooting more 3-pointers this year.

It was a safe declaration to make when she was hired considering the team has been last in the league in attempts since moving to Las Vegas from San Antonio in 2018. The Aces averaged just 13.5 attempts last season.

But Hammon’s squad hasn’t just surpassed low expectations, they’re second in the league averaging nearly 26 3-pointers a game. They tied the WNBA record with 18 made 3s in Monday night’s rout of Los Angeles.

“Basketball is a game of confidence,” Hammon said after the win. “You see one or two go in the basket, people get rolling ... it becomes real fun as an offensive player, especially when you know your teammates are going to find you when you’re open.”

The Aces made 162 3s all of last season. This year they’ve already made 85.

Las Vegas is leading the league in scoring at 93.3 points a game and has topped 100 points in three of the team’s first eight games.

“It just seems like it’s a breath of fresh air for all of us,” said Las Vegas star

A’ja Wilson, who hit two 3-pointers in Monday’s win. “I would definitely say we’re having fun.”

The Aces sit atop the league standings and The Associated Press WNBA power poll with a 7-1 record.

POWER POLL This week’s WNBA poll: 1. Las Vegas (7-1): All five starters are averaging in double figures in scoring which makes the Aces even more difficult to guard.

2. Connecticut (4-1): After a season-opening loss the Sun have won four straight games. Connecticut did lose guard Jasmine Thomas to a knee injury in the team’s victory over Indiana. The team announced she’s out for the season with a torn ACL. Connecticut has a busy week ahead with two games against Dallas and one against Washington.

3. Washington (5-2): No. 3 overall draft pick Shakira Austin has been a strong addition to the Mystics.

She’s averaging 9.9 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting nearly 64% from the field this season.

4. Chicago (3-2): The Sky welcomed back WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper after she completed a stellar overseas season.

Now that the team is “whole” again according to coach James Wade, the Sky will look to string some wins together.

PHOENIX Mercury centre Tina Charles (31) looks to pass while Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (22) guards during the second half of a WNBA basketball game on Saturday in Las Vegas.

(AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt) 5. Dallas (4-2): The Phoenix. Atlanta could get Wings have gotten a solid a boost from Tiffany Hayes, start to the season from who has been resting since guard Marina Mabrey. She’s returning from her overseas averaging 15.8 points, 4.3 commitment. rebounds and 3.7 assists and 8. Phoenix (2-4): The is been a nice compliment schedule hasn’t been kind to Arike Ogunbowale. to the Mercury with three 6.. Seattle (3-3): Former of their first six games league MVP Breanna Stew- against the Las Vegas Aces. art returned from a positive Phoenix has missed guard COVID-19 test and the Skylar Diggins-Smith the Storm won both their last two games with a nongames. Seattle will look COVID-19 illness. In the to keep it rolling with two last game she played, the games against New York veteran guard had words this week. on the bench with Diana 7. Atlanta (4-2): The Taurasi and the two had to Dream have gotten off to be separated. 9. Los Angea strong start behind No. les (2-5): The Sparks have 1 pick Rhyne Howard. a busy stretch with three The schedule gets a little games in the next six days. more challenging with a After losing at Las Vegas road game in Washing- Monday night, Los Angeton before the team hosts les travels to Indiana and

Minnesota after a home game against Phoenix on Wednesday.

10. Minnesota (1-6): The Lynx will get forward Natalie Achonwa back after she was cleared to return from a right hamstring injury she suffered on May 8. Minnesota has two home games this week and will honor former Lynx great Seimone Augustus on Sunday when L.A. comes to town. Augustus is an assistant coach for the Sparks.

11. Indiana (2-6): The Fever have dropped four straight games and have missed No. 2 pick NaLyssa Smith, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury for the past three contests.

She’s averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds a game.

12. New York (1-4): A week of practice could help the Liberty as they begin a three-game road trip in Minnesota on Tuesday. New York has been plagued by injuries and signed 2020 Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield to a hardship deal. Her first game is against her former team the Lynx. New York will be without Betnijay Laney (right knee), Jocelyn Willoughby (left quadricep tendon), DiDi Richards (right hamstring), Lorela Cubaj (concussion).

PLAYER OF THE WEEK Jackie Young of Las Vegas was voted the AP Player of the Week after

averaging 20.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4 assists to help the Aces go 4-0. Alyssa Thomas of Connecticut and Arike Ogunbowale of Dallas also received votes.

ELITE COMPANY Candace Parker of Chicago became the third player in WNBA history with twi triple-doubles in her career. Parker had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists — the last to Courtney Vandersloot who also has accomplished the feat — in a win over Washington on Sunday. The triple-double by Parker was the 12th in league history and at 36 years of age she is the oldest player to do it.

Sheryl Swoopes, who also has two triple-doubles, got her second at 34.

“To be in the company with Sloot, who does it on a regular basis and will probably end her career leading the league in assists, and Sheryl Swoopes, who I grew up watching and idolizing, I’m humbled by it,” Parker said. “I realize that there are more that are coming behind me. I hope that coaches are watching, that the point forward is where it’s at.”

GAME OF THE WEEK: Aces at Sky, Saturday.

Two of the top teams in the league will meet on national television in Chicago. The Sky will look to slow down the league’s top offence.

PAGE 16, Thursday, May 26, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Ramirez homer caps 5-run 1st, Rays beat Jazz-less Marlins 5-4

By DICK SCANLON Associated Press ST PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Harold Ramírez homered in a five-run first inning, Colin Poche struck out Jesús Aguilar to strand the bases loaded in the ninth and the The Tampa Bay Rays held on for a 5-4 victory over the Miami Marlins last night before another small crowd at Tropicana Field.

Drew Rasmussen (5-1) won his fifth straight decision over six starts, giving up three runs and six hits in five innings with seven strikeouts. It was the first time in six starts he gave up more than one run.

Tampa Bay scored in the first ining for the sixth time in seven games. Down by five runs early, the Marlins closed with three runs in the fourth.

Brian Anderson singled leading off the ninth, and throwing errors by third baseman Taylor Wells and shortstop Wander Franco gifted Miami an unearned run im the ninth. Garrett Cooper’s two-out walk loaded the bases, and Poche struck out Aguilar on a 94.9 mph pitch for his third big league save, his first since Sept. 23, 2019.

Miami has lost five of its last six and is 6-16 following a 12-8 start.

The game drew a crowd announced at 7,520, the Rays’ fourth straight home game with less than 10,000 and 12th this season.

Tampa Bay improved to 21-5 when scoring first.

Cody Poteet (0-1), in his second start, gave up five runs, four hits and three walks in three innings.

Franco hit an RBI double in the first for his third hit in 41 at-bats and scored on Randy Arozarena’s two-run double. Ramírez

followed with his second home run this season.

Jorge Soler led off the fifth with his ninth home run, the first of four straight hits off Rasmussen that included Jacob Stallings two-run double.

Soler hit a long drive to left in the eighth off J.P. Feyereisen that initially was called a home run, then was changed to a foul. It would have been the first earned run of the season off Feyereisen, who struck out all three batters he faced in his 18th relief appearance.

Tampa Bay’s Manuel Margot, activated after spending 10 days on the injured list with a strained right hamstring, extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an infield single in the fourth.

Right-hander RHP Dusten Knight was optioned to Triple-A Durham.

TRAINER’S ROOM Marlins: RHP Anthony Bender went on the 15-day IL with back stiffness. ...

The contract of INF Willians Astudillo was selected from Triple-A Jacksonville.

Rays: RHP Pete Fairbanks, on the 60-day IL all season with a right lat strain, is scheduled to throw off the mound for the first time on May 31. ... RHP Luis Patino (left oblique strain) threw 25 pitches in a side session.

UP NEXT Marlins: LHP Trevor Rogers (2-5, 5.20) is to pitch Friday night against RHP Ian Anderson (3-3, 4.07) in the opener of a three-game series at Atlanta.

Rays: LHP Ryan Yarbrough (0-0, 4.20) will start tonight against LHP Nestor Cortes (3-1, 1.80) in the opener of a four-game series against the New York Yankees.

CHISHOLM JR MISSES 2ND STRAIGHT GAME DUE TO SORE LEFT HAMSTRING

MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr slides into third base during the ninth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Atlanta Braves.

JAZZ Chisholm Jr slides into third base, advancing on a double by Garrett Cooper during the ninth inning of baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

(AP Photos/Gaston De Cardenas)

ROMA BEATS FEYENOORD 1-0 TO WIN CONFERENCE LEAGUE TITLE

By LLAZAR SEMINI Associated Press TIRANA, Albania (AP) — José Mourinho had described Roma as “a giant club” lacking a trophy room to match the team’s social dimension and passionate fan base.

Well, the Giallorossi claimed their first European title in more than six decades yesterday to crown Mourinho’s first season coaching in the Italian capital.

Nicolò Zaniolo scored in the first half, goalkeeper Rui Patrício made some big saves in the second and Roma beat Feyenoord 1-0 to win the inaugural edition of the third-tier Europa Conference League.

“Today wasn’t work, this was history,” Mourinho said. “Either you write it or you don’t and we wrote it. I’ve been at Roma for 11 months and I realised the moment I arrived what it meant — that they were waiting for this.”

It’s Roma’s first European trophy since winning the 1961 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup — a tournament considered to be the precursor to the UEFA Cup and Europa League. It’s also the first title of any kind for Roma since winning the 2008 Italian Cup. “Now we’ve got to celebrate — a lot,” said Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini.

“But then we’ve got to keep going. A real team wins then comes back even stronger than before.”

Besides the few thousand Roma spectators inside the small National Arena in Tirana, some 50,000 fans watched the game on giant screens at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

At the final whistle, the fans at the Olimpico celebrated on the pitch waving banners and chanting the team’s songs There were violent clashes in Tirana between fans of both clubs ahead of the final, and dozens were deported back to Italy.

Álvarez, Golovkin set third rivalry bout for September

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Canelo Álvarez and Gennady Golovkin will complete their memorable fight trilogy in September. Álvarez and Golovkin will resume their rivalry September 17 after a four-year break, promoters Matchroom Boxing announced Tuesday. Álvarez already said he intended to take the fight while speaking at his invitational golf tournament in Naucalpan, Mexico, on Monday.

The fighters met in 2017 and again in 2018 for two highly entertaining middleweight matchups. They fought to a split draw in the first bout, and Álvarez won a narrow majority decision in the second meeting.

The third fight will be a 168-pound super middleweight contest between the 40-year-old Golovkin (421-1, 37 KOs) and Álvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs), who will turn 32 this summer. Álvarez is the undisputed world

champion at 168 pounds, holding all four major titles.

“I feel very happy and proud to be able to give the best fights, and this fight won’t be an exception,” Álvarez said in a statement. Álvarez announced earlier this year that he intended to fight Golovkin in the fall after taking on light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in May. That plan was put into question after Bivol upset Álvarez by unanimous decision on May 7.

Bivol hoped to book a rematch with the biggest star in boxing after his breakthrough upset, but Álvarez ultimately decided to proceed with the most lucrative potential bout and the resumption of a remarkable rivalry.

The location for the third fight wasn’t announced, but its scheduling on Mexican Independence Day weekend makes it likely to be held in Las Vegas. The fighters’ first two meetings were on the same holiday weekend at T-Mobile Arena on the south end of the Las

CELEBRITY FROM PAGE 15

The weekend is centred around the instructional camp for aspiring student athletes, hosted by the players on Saturday, June 11 at the Thomas A Robinson stadium.

Friday June 10, will begin with a community service event in conjunction with the Bahamas National Trust for a cleanup effort among the mangroves.

Later in the evening, the venue shifts to Sapodilla for a cocktail hour followed by a charity dinner, proceeds of which will go toward the Bahamas Association of American Football. “It’s really an all-around experience where the

CANELO Álvarez lands a punch against Gennadiy Golovkin in the 12th round during a middleweight title boxing match on Saturday, September 15, 2018, in Las Vegas. Alvarez won by majority decision. Álvarez and Golovkin will resume their rivalry September 17 after a four-year break, promoter Matchroom announced.

(AP Photo/Isaac Brekken) Vegas Strip, and both were redemption after his shocking loss to Bivol. sellouts.

In the fighters’ first bout, The third bout is likely ringside observthe richest fight currently most possible in boxing, given ers thought Golovkin had both fighters’ large fan done more than enough bases and the entertain- to beat Álvarez, who ing nature of their rivalry had previously lost only to date. Golovkin and his to Floyd Mayweather in fans believe the former his career. But while one middleweight kingpin won judge favored Golovkin both of the first two fights, and another scored it a judge Adalaide while Álvarez is in need of draw,

players will have an opportunity to engage with the community, give back to the community and have a little bit of fun.,” event organiser Jonathan Lord said.

“That’s what the weekend is all about, to give a full overview of what The Bahamas has to offer both on and off the field.”

The event provides an opportunity for young players to interact with and learn from Strachan for the first time since he made his historic NFL debut.

“People don’t realise how huge it is for Mike to have made the NFL but moreover making the final roster as a seventh round pick so this is an amazing opportunity for him,” Lord said.

“Radshad Fenton, he hasn’t been here in about two years, but

he’s frequent here. His grandmother and aunts still live here, but when he saw the flyer that [Swearinger] posted, Fenton reached out to find out more information and to become involved in this.”

The instructional camp is a highly anticipated part of the agenda for both the players and organisers.

“Keenan Allen, he’s so excited.

He’s excited at the prospect of having these kids running routes,” Lord said.

“He said the instructional physical part of it will be cool but it’s really the knowledge of the game that is going to be important for these kids, it’s understanding the basic fundamentals first then starting to graduate into the

Byrd inexplicably called it 118–110 in favour of Álvarez, who was consistently outlanded by Golovkin throughout the bout. Álvarez tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug clenbuterol between the first two fights, and his suspension meant the rematch was postponed from May to September. While many ringside observers again thought Golovkin had won, two judges favoured the improved Álvarez 115-113, and the third scored it a draw.

Both fighters initially expressed interest in a third meeting for 2019, but the sides drifted apart while Golovkin dealt with management squabbles and Álvarez moved on to less daunting challenges. Álvarez spent 2021 collecting all four major titles at super middleweight.

Golovkin has fought only four times in four years since his loss to Álvarez, also breaking up with longtime trainer Abel Sanchez during that stretch.

various aspects of positions and then the overall game.”

Event co-organiser Alex Guerrero has been organising similar events in the Dominican Republic.

“When I was curating the event and doing research on The Bahamas and looking at case studies of communities that aren’t privy to football, I saw a case study of a camp in Ottawa and the camp now going on its 10th year, the community itself has been significantly impacted in those 10 years, from kids going to college down to businesses thriving,” Lord said. “[Alex] has actually done camps in the Dominican Republic and he has said the same thing, those football camps have impacted local communities.”

After he reclaimed two of his middleweight belts before the pandemic, Golovkin ended a 16-month ring absence in April by stopping Ryota Murata in Japan.

Matchroom signed Álvarez with strong plans for a third fight with Golovkin in September — and the Mexican superstar is in need of a bounce-back fight after he struggled mightily in his second career bout at light heavyweight. Bivol won 115-113 on all three scorecards in a fight that probably wasn’t that close.

“The Canelo vs. GGG trilogy is the biggest fight in boxing, and I am delighted to get this made for September 17,” Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn said.

“These are two men that bitterly dislike each other and want to end this incredible series with a blistering KO. “I truly believe this will be the most thrilling fight between these two great champions and it will be fireworks from the first bell to the last man standing.”

Lord said he anticipates the event becoming a staple on the country’s Sports Tourism calendar.

“Two years ago the idea came about and we had some entry level conversations, then COVID happened. Back in October I helped put a meet-and greet together with Mike Strachan and I revisited the issue and at the time I didn’t realise how big football is in The Bahamas,” he said, “The Bahamas is an easier sell, no doubt about it. It’s a beautiful country, it has that exotic name to it but having something to back that after you say “hey I’m doing a camp in The Bahamas” - you’ve got the interest - but that’s where it was critical for us to have a structure.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2022, PAGE 17

Celtics run past Heat 93-80, move 1 win from NBA Finals

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, Jayson Tatum added 22 and the Boston Celtics moved to the brink of a berth in the NBA Finals, running away after halftime to beat the Miami Heat 93-80 last night and take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference title series.

Al Horford had 16 points and Derrick White added 14 for the Celtics. Tatum finished with 12 rebounds and nine assists.

Bam Adebayo scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Heat, who shot 32% in the game — after shooting 33% in Boston’s 20-point win in Game 4. Gabe Vincent added 15, Jimmy Butler had 13 and Duncan Robinson scored 11 for Miami.

The Heat were 7 for 45 from 3-point range.

Game 6 is in Boston on Friday night, where a pair of newly named trophies bearing the names of Celtics legends will be waiting.

The Bob Cousy trophy goes to the East champs, the Larry Bird trophy to the East finals MVP, and the Celtics are one win away from being the first team to hoist them.

This series has seen massive momentum swings — a 44-14 Miami run in Game 1, a 60-21 Boston run in Game 2, a 46-20 Miami run to open Game 3 followed by a 57-33 Boston run in the same game, and a 26-4 spurt by the Celtics to open Game 4.

The Game 5 run was just as one-sided.

The score over a 6 1/2minute stretch of the second half: Celtics 24, Heat 2. The turnaround was 59-58 Boston to 83-60 Boston, and that was that.

Boston outscored Miami 32-16 in the third quarter, holding the Heat to 17% shooting in that period.

The margin was only 11 at that point — but soon, the game was in zero doubt. A 14-2 run was how Boston opened the fourth quarter, Brown capping the flurry by making three 3-pointers in a span of 2 1/2 minutes, and the lead was out to 23.

Brown then sealed matters with a down-the-lane dunk with 5:19 left, the lead was 18 at that point and the countdown was on for Boston.

The Celtics haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 2010. There have been four East finals trips since then, with two losses to Miami and two to Cleveland. There were also two chances — Game 6 in 2012 against the Heat and Game 7 in 2018 against the Cavaliers — when the Celtics had a chance to claim the conference title simply by winning a game on their home floor.

They lost both, LeBron James serving as the official thwarter both times, with 45 points to save Miami in the 2012 game and 35 to lift Cleveland in the 2018 clincher.

He won’t be in the Celtics’ way Friday night.

Miami will need somebody to provide

BOSTON Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket as he is fouled by Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals playoff series last night in Miami.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) some semblance of an impersonation.

Offence was in short supply in the first half, but Miami’s defence appeared to be giving the Heat hope.

Miami led 19-17 after one and 42-37 at the break.

Tatum was 1 for 9 at intermission, Butler 2 for 8, and the teams combined to shoot 37.8% from the field and 21.6% from 3-point range.

It was the lowest-scoring first half of a conference finals game since May 28, 2014, when the Heat and Indiana combined for 75 points at the break in what eventually became a 93-90 Pacers win.

And Miami, somehow, got colder to start the second half. The Celtics did not.

The Heat missed their first nine shots from the

field after the break, not getting anything to fall until Butler fended off contact and scored on a drive that got Miami within 49-48 with 6:53 left in the third.

But soon, the Celtics had control. Of the game. And the series.

TIP-INS Celtics: Marcus Smart picked up two fouls in the first 3:51 of the first quarter, then picked up two more in the first 3:15 of the third quarter. ... White and Robert Williams III were a combined 7 for 8 in the first half, while the rest of their teammates were a combined 6 for 26.

Heat: Tyler Herro (groin) missed a second consecutive game. ... Max Strus was 0 for 9, Kyle Lowry was 0 for 6, and the Heat starting guards are a combined 1 for 28 in their last two games. ... Miami missed its first six shots, a marked improvement after missing its first 14 to start Game 4.

HORFORD WATCH Game 6 will be the 140th playoff game for Horford.

Nobody has been in more postseason contests without appearing in the NBA Finals — something that he and the Celtics could change with one more win over Miami.

CELEBS DJ Khaled was back in his customary seat near the Heat bench. Among the other stars in the sellout crowd: Alex Rodriguez, Paul Pogba, Jimmy Buffett, Xavien Howard and Brooks Koepka.

Alcaraz saves match point to remain in French Open

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer PARIS (AP) — This was the sort of point in the sort of contest that, if 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz eventually reaches the heights so many believe he will, the lucky folks on hand at Court Simonne Mathieu last night just might regale dinner guests for years with tales that begin, “We were there when ... .”

Not, mind you, the match point Alcaraz saved in his second-round French Open marathon against Albert Ramos-Vinolas, a fellow Spaniard who is 15 years his elder. That one, necessary as it was, of course, to the eventual 6-1, 6-7 (7), 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4 outcome in the No. 6-seeded Alcaraz’s favour, was rather mundane: a three-stroke exchange that ended with Ramos-Vinolas pushing a nervous-looking forehand into the net while serving for the win at 5-4 in the fourth set.

No, instead, let’s examine what happened on a break point at 4-all in the fifth, with Alcaraz leading, Ramos-Vinolas serving, the crowd holding its breath and the stadium clock already reading 4 hours, 31 minutes. On the sixth of what would become 15 strokes, Alcaraz tried one of his feathery drop shots.

Ramos-Vinolas got to it and responded by sending the ball off the baseline, forcing Alcaraz to race to his left to flick a no-look backhand lob.

Ramos-Vinolas replied with an overhead to that corner, sending Alcaraz well wide of the doubles alley for another defensive backhand lob. VinolasRamos guided this one to the opposite corner, pushing Alcaraz to his forehand side, so he sprinted, then slid almost into the splits, to retrieve that one. Yet another lob produced yet another overhead, again back to Alcaraz’s left, and this time he came up with a down-the-line backhand passing shot that RamosVinola volleyed into the net.

Some in the crowd were on their feet during that series of exchanges; all were by the end. RamosVinola chucked his racket into the net. Alcaraz raised his arms and index fingers to the sky — a gesture for “No. 1,” a spot expected of him one day, perhaps soon — while in the stands, his coach, 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, pointed to his temples.

Alcaraz wouldn’t cede another point. He had trailed by two sets to one.

He had been a point from defeat. He had been down 3-0 in the fifth set. He made 74 unforced errors.

He accumulated 31 break points but frittered away 23 of them. None of that mattered.

On a day he was not at his best — never quite able to show off all of the shotmaking that carried him to a tour-high four titles and a 30-3 record in 2022, and that earlier this month

SPAIN’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas in five sets, 6-1, 6-7 (7-9), 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, during their second round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium yesterday.

(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) made him the first player ever to beat Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the same clay-court tournament — he thought and hustled his way through the finish line.

“At the end of the third set, I thought I was going to lose,” Alcaraz said.

“I knew I had to change something or I would lose.”

The day also included a straight-set victory for defending champion Djokovic and a comeback for No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev from a two-set hole, while 13-time champion Rafael Nadal reached 300 career Grand Slam match victories by beating Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 in the second round at Roland Garros.

The only real blip for 13-time French Open champion Nadal last night in Court Philippe Chatrier

came near the end, when he was broken by the 139th-ranked Frenchman while serving for the match at 5-3.

There was a loss for reigning U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu — the 19-year-old’s French Open debut ended against Aliaksandra Sasnovich with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 defeat — and a 6-2, 6-4 win for Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic against 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu.

Seeded Americans Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova — who defeated Naomi Osaka in the first round — Sebastian Korda and John Isner advanced.

So did past Grand Slam champs Angelique Kerber, Victoria Azarenka and Sloane Stephens.

Most attention, however, was on Alcaraz, just

as it has been for much of 2022 as everyone searches for the Next Big Thing to supplant the Big Three in men’s tennis.

The guy some call “Carlitos” — and who refers to himself as “Charlie” — is skilled. He is tenacious.

He is young; in April, in fact, he became the youngest man to break into the top 10 of the ATP rankings since Nadal did it in 2005.

This is just the sixth Grand Slam tournament for Alcaraz, whose best showing was the U.S. Open quarterfinals last September. It was the 42nd Slam for the 44th-ranked Ramos-Vinolas, who also has one quarterfinal appearance to his name.

Alcaraz improved to 18-1 on clay this season, another reason his name is in the discussion, along with Djokovic’s and Nadal’s chiefly, about who could leave Roland Garros with the title. That lone loss came at the Monte Carlo Masters last month against Korda — who happens to be Alcaraz’s next opponent.

Alcaraz said he will rewatch that match to see how to try to reverse the result.

Good as he might already be, his oft-stated desire to keep improving bodes well for what might come down the road.

He called the backand-forth struggle against Ramos-Vinolas “a lesson.”

“I need to learn from these types of matches,” Alcaraz said, “these types of situations.”

RED-LINE ATHLETICS MEET WAS A SUCCESS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

TITO Moss was elated that the weather held up and the Red-Line Athletics’ second annual Oaktree Sonja Knowles Track Classic was a tremendous success over the weekend.

The two-day meet was held on Saturday and Sunday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium with close to 700 athletes from every local club in New Providence participating.

“We had a lot of excitement by adding the masters category and there was some keen competition from the coaches, especially in the long jump, as they tried to show their athletes how to do what they were coaching them,” he said.

“I’m so pleased that the constituents that we serve, the athletes and coaches, were pleased with what we put together. I think everybody who came and participated, enjoyed themselves. So, to me, it was a great success.”

This year, while Red-Line continued to honour former St Augustine’s College principal Sonja Knowles by naming the meet after her, this year’s recipient of recognition was William ‘Knucklehead’ Johnson, a former head coach of the Big Red Machine’s track and field team.

“It’s been long and coming, but it’s a good feeling to see people go back that far and to honour and recognise you for what you have done,” Johnson said.

“When you start competing, you don’t think this far down the road when they honour and recognise you for your achievement. So, I’m appreciative of what they did.

“Back then, our parents were not as supportive of what we did in training and competing. I remember the days that me and Rupert Gardiner put in the work to prepare ourselves to compete. It wasn’t easy.”

Johnson, who still holds the Bahamian national record of three minutes and 45.72 seconds, thanked his personal coach Frank ‘Poncho’ Johnson and the late Thomas A Robinson, Winston ‘Gus’ Cooper and Dr Bernard Nottage for the role they all played in his track career.

Gardiner, an arch-rival and close friend, said it was good to see Johnson get his flowers while he’s alive and able and not when he can’t really appreciate it.

“Red-Line-Athletics really did a good job in honouring him today,” Gardiner said. “William Johnson has done a great job as an athlete and even as a coach at SAC. So, kudos to him on this welldeserved recognition.”

Moss said he was pleased to honour Johnson because he gave him his first opportunity to coach a team when he volunteered to assist the Big Red Machine team.

“It was a blessing to have been afforded that opportunity to coach,” Moss said.

“Whenever I went to him, he was always willing to support me.

“He was one of the premier distance runners in his era and still holds the Bahamian national record in the 1,500m. So, I was honoured to have been able to honour him in this way.”

He said it’s important that they give people their flowers while they are alive and he noted how Knowles has been appreciative, just as Johnson, about the gesture towards them.

Moss noted that as they prepare for the third edition next year, Red-Line Athletics will be looking at ways to improve on what they achieved in the previous two meets.

“One of the things we want to look at is how we can finish the meet off in time so that we can add more events that are not normally ran in our local meets,” he said.

PAGE 18, Thursday, May 26, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Today, 11 UB Mingoes student athletes graduate ‘with Class’ THE University of The Bahamas Mingoes will graduate one of its largest classes of studentathletes during this year’s commencement.

Eleven UB Mingoes are expected to receive their degrees in this class from five different sports: Bulinsky Cousin (men’s soccer); Alivia Culmer (women’s volleyball); Donovan Dean (men’s basketball); Shanntanna Etienne (women’s volleyball); Daniel Hall (men’s basketball); Kaneisha Johnson (women’s softball); Romica Josey (women’s track and field/cross country); Christoph McKenzie (men’s basketball); Aaron Munnings (men’s soccer); Davia Wright (women’s track and field/cross country); Donovan Dean (men’s basketball); Jervane Turnquest (men’s soccer).

Athletics Director Kimberley Rolle said she is excited to have such a large class graduate. “This is an impressive class of studentathletes who have made a huge impact on the programme on many different levels,” she said. “They all had their fair share of challenges during their tenure; however, I am so pleased they persevered and have arrived at this point in their lives. I share in their excitement of getting to this point and can’t wait to see what’s ahead for them.

Rolle noted that while UB Athletics Department does push their student-athletes in the athletic arena, it is important the programme aids in the development of the whole person.

“I have seen the maturation of all of these student-athletes over the course of time,” AD Rolle said. “While we push them hard in their respective sport, we also challenge them about the game of life and to now make a difference in our country. I am confident they are far better today than they were four or five years ago, and that is extremely gratifying.”

Bulinsky Cousin Bulinsky Cousin didn’t have the easiest route to becoming a Mingoe. He didn’t quite have the qualifications to get into UB. “He was broken about that,” head coach Dion Godet said.

That tackle didn’t stop the striker though. He attended another institution to get his grades up and then transferred to UB. Cousin made an immediate impact on the pitch and carried that persistence into the classroom. That tenacity was well rewarded as the civil engineering technology major graduates with a 3.20 GPA. “As a member of the Mingoes I was always pushed to be a hard worker on and off the field with the support from my teammates, coaches, professors and the many friends I met on my college journey here at UB,” Cousin said. “I also learned to always strive to be the best and keep pushing as a student-athlete even through tough times.”

Godet calls Cousin the “picture of persistence” on the pitch. “He is not a natural talent but he has a willingness to try and believes in best,” he said. “I am pleased to see his development and wish him all the success.”

Alivia Culmer Alivia Culmer captained the women’s volleyball team to one of the best seasons in the programme’s history— coming within a few wins of making it to the playoff in the New Providence Volleyball Association’s 2019-2020 season.

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The computer information systems major said her best memories of wearing the Mingoes uniform is the relationships on and off the court with her teammates – despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact.

“The relationships I’ve built through volleyball, those ladies have become my sisters, they are relationships that will continue on outside of UB and outside of volleyball,” she said.

“My experience at UB, though it was cut short due to the pandemic, is one I will always remember. I have built many long-term relationships with athletes and non-athletes.”

She added that she’s learned a lot as a Mingoe.

“I have learned a lot of self-control and more importantly, being on the team has also taught me patience.”

Culmer said she is not certain if she will keep playing “but who knows what the future holds for me,” however she knows she wants to give back to the sport. “Volleyball will always be my love and first passion and if my assistance is ever needed coach Raymond Wilson and coach Sydline Justillien know how and where to find me.”

Shanntanna Etienne Shanntanna Etienne leaves a huge mark at UB not only as a volleyball player but as a founding vice-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

The SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience and is intended to provide input on rules, regulations and policies impacting student-athletes and their collegiate experience. The SAAC was formed three months before the COVID19 pandemic shut down sports worldwide.

The bio-chem major said she’s grateful to her coaches for bringing out her talent.

“My best memory was being able to watch my coaches bring me from not knowing about the sport to a point of actually being good in the sport,” she said.

“My progress while being at UB is something I will always treasure.”

She added that she learned a lot about herself in the volleyball programme. “I’ve learned patience, teamwork, and school spirit while being a Mingoe,” she said. “It’s not always about winning but it’s about encouraging and lifting up your team members and fellow Mingoes when they might not be able to do it for themselves.”

She may take off the blue Mingoe uniform but blue will never leave her. “Being a Mingoe and representing my school was my best college experience by far and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I will always bleed blue!”

Daniel Hall Daniel Hall joined the men’s basketball team right after the team transitioned from Caribs to Mingoes.

“I will never forget that experience,” he said.

“There were a lot of new things happening and expansion of things already in place such as media day and homecoming.

“I think being a part of formative years of Mingoes athletics will always stick with me.”

He added that his secondbest experience was his first basket on an international tour for UB “but ultimately it’s trumped by that experience of helping to form The Mingoes Culture.”

As a Mingoe he said he learned the importance of hard work.

“Our coach would often say ‘we’re a team full of guards’ and so coming in as a guard on a team full of guards to play guard one would see the challenge in that,” he said. “This definitely further developed my persistent spirit and it is now a trait that I believe will assist me in my future endeavours.”

encouraging someone can make a difference in their day and their life.”

ROMICA Josey

BULINSKY Cousin

ALIVIA Culmer

DAVIA Wright

SHANNTANNA Etienne

DONOVAN Dean

DANIEL Hall

AARON Munnings

JERVANE Turnquest

KANEISHA Johnson The marketing major hopes to one day either manage international basketball teams or represent players.

“I’d like to start with player scouting for a few years,” he said. “I believe in order to be able to represent athletes I must first know exactly what teams would look for in them.

So, scouting will be a good experience and learning opportunity for me.”

Kaneisha Johnson Kaneisha Johnson ends her time as a Mingoe but leaves with the memory of being a part of the first UB women’s softball team.

However, she said it’s the memories of camaraderie that will remain with her as she graduates.

“My best memory as an athlete had to be my very first Mingoes Awards,” she said. “It was so much fun showing out with my team and watching how well everyone got along pre-Covid.”

After graduation the computer information systems major said she hopes to become a cybersecurity expert. “I aspire to further my knowledge of information technology first though.”

During her time at UB the infielder said she truly understood the maxim of trusting the process.

“It really is true when people say that comparison is the thief of joy,” she said.

“Focusing on my journey and realising that there can be no flowers without rain was a big part of me being able to push forward and graduate.”

Looking back on her time in UB she imparted some advice to those coming into the institution. “To all the freshman I would say to soak it all in, experience everything you can, join clubs and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” she said. “You can’t expect to be boring at a school that has a blue flamingo as a mascot.”

Romica Josey Track and field head coach Ednal Rolle calls Romica Josey one of, if not, the most supportive athletes he’s coached in his entire career - not just at UB. “She is special and it is very rare to find an athlete like her,” he said. “I’ve seen

CHRISTOPH McKenzie her grow throughout the years in Exuma and at C.V. Bethell. She was always a positive person on the track and in the classroom.

She was one who I knew was always going to hit the books as hard as she hit the track.”

Rolle added Josey worked hard on the track in practice and tried to put it together on the track but “sometimes she just could not get over her mental block but it was never because she wasn’t putting in the effort.”

Josey also helped charter the SAAC at UB as the committee’s founding secretary and was instrumental in making it a success. “She was a huge driving force behind the formation of the committee,” founding advisor Christopher Saunders said. “She believed in making sure athletes had a voice.”

She was also a big fan for her fellow Mingoes at meets. Her best memory was when the team travelled to University of South Florida this year and the team was able to socialise with her teammates. “I had my best time ever at that meet but I also enjoyed the time we spent at the restaurant. We shared jokes and spoke about some of our life experiences. It was a great time off the track.”

After graduation the law and criminal justice major said she hopes to earn her master’s degree in international relations and one day work at The Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She added that being a Mingoe has taught her many things about life and how to face challenges.

“What I have learned while being a Mingoe is that life is filled with ups and downs, and disappointments at times,” she said.

“What we do during those times determines what the days that follow will be like.

I have learned to learn from every experience in life and to not allow it to bring me down but to create a better version of myself.”

Christoph McKenzie Christoph McKenzie ends his four years at UB as captain of the men’s basketball team.

The computer information systems major said he’s had some exciting times in the Mingoes uniform but

his favourite was at the 2018 homecoming game against The University of the U.S. Virgin Islands. With about two minutes to go in the third quarter and The Mingoes down two points, McKenzie had a put back dunk to tie the game. “I still remember that dunk,” he said.

Over his four years in the programme, McKenzie said he’s met “some amazing people and made new lifelong relationships” that are important to him.

“Those relationships helped me along my journey and I appreciate everyone dearly,” he said.

“Also, I would like to say without God and my family I wouldn’t have been able to achieve such an accomplishment. I’d say thanks to coach Bacchus Rolle, coach Lavar Johnson, coach Taige Adderley, AD Rolle and the whole athletics department for giving me the opportunity to play for the team and also granting me an education. I am forever grateful.”

McKenzie said he has big plans after graduation. He is going to explore a professional basketball career.

“After my professional career I will become an IT support specialist.”

Aaron Munnings Aaron Munnings played for the UB men’s soccer side as goal-keeper but head coach Dion Godet called him “my cross.”

Godet said Munnings was an intelligent and brave young man. “Aaron was always the one with solid introspect on how the game was won or loss,” Godet said. “I found him to be a gentleman of even keel and was always respectful.”

So with all of that Godet still calls him his cross.

“In some far away land Aaron believes himself to be a striker and sometimes as the goalkeeper flash of the dream would show up in the game while in goal,” Godet said. “I know Aaron will go far in the future, it was a pleasure to play a small role in his success story.”

For Munnings, he said he will remember his first international tour with the Mingoes in 2019.

“I was incredibly excited but also nervous at the same time because it would be my first time playing internationally,” he said.

“My teammates were very helpful and supportive which helped my confidence to play to the best of my abilities.”

The art major now moves on to pursue acting and is hoping to enrol in a programme after graduation and hopes to carry some of that tenacity with him. “As a Mingoe, I reaffirmed my belief that supporting and

Davia Wright Davia Wright will graduate UB with a degree and a record.

The law and criminal justice major set the Mingoes women’s 3,000m record at The University of Central Florida Black and Gold meet in March 2022 as she ran a personal best 11:03.57.

She said she loved travelling with the team and building bonds as both a track and field and crosscountry participant.

“My best memory was travelling with my team and growing closer as we cohabitated on our trips and encouraged each other along the way,” she said.

Her next goal is to move forward in her field. “I will also continue pushing forward on my journey mainly focusing on entrepreneurship with the expansion of my life as it relates to cryptocurrency, music, businesses and generating passive and active income.”

She said being a part of the Mingoes family helped her to learn to “never listen to the crowd” and to forge her own path.

“A lot of people frown on me attending UB and discouraged it as well,” she said, “but despite the challenges I faced I enjoyed my time at UB and I will never regret it.”

Donovan Dean Donovan Dean will graduate with a degree in economics and finance and he said he intends to pursue a career in the investments industry. The basketball forward said that some of his favourite memories in a Mingoe uniform was not in the games but the fellowship with teammates after morning practices.

He added that he will probably just play basketball recreationally after graduation but takes something very important with him after his time on the court. “I learned that it takes sacrifice for the team to grow,” he said.

Jervane Turnquest Men’s soccer defender Jervane Turnquest embodied the fictional Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

As a defender on the field his main duty was to disrupt offensive penetration and that sometimes meant extreme pressure on the other side and even tackling offensive attackers.

“Jervane did the dirty work on the team and yet he was an absolute gentleman,” men’s soccer head coach Dion Godet said.

“He was always smiling, always willing and always seeking to improve.”

Off the pitch, Turnquest was one of the most polite and respectful players in the programme. At matches he was the one to ask about his teammates and looked out for them. He was the one to make sure everything was set before leaving the pitch.

“I am very proud to say I watched this kid become an excellent young man,” Godet added. “We need to see more of the Jervane attitude in our young men if we are to be a civil, progressive country.”

After graduation, Turnquest said expects to head to The United Kingdom to pursue a career in law with the intent of returning home.

He added, he leaves the soccer programme with some great memories and some great outlooks on life.

“What I learned as a Mingoe is no matter how hard things get you have to keep pushing because nothing in life is easy and you will get curve balls when everything seems straight,” he said. “UB has given me some of the best moments of my life and I will never forget them. I will continue to rep them and will forever bleed blue.”

The UB Commencement Ceremony is expected to be held 5pm today at The Atlantis Convention Center with more than 600 listed graduates.