05282021 NEWS AND SPORT

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Volume: 118 No.127, May 28, 2021

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HOW WORRIED SHOULD WE BE? Minister admits debt is ‘elephant in the room’ as official says it’s only a temporary concern

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net FINANCIAL Secretary Marlon Johnson said that although the country’s high deficits and debt are a cause of concern, they are not a cause for alarm, insisting an economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic will prevent the need for new taxes.

He spoke during a Ministry of Finance press conference yesterday.

The deficit for the current fiscal year is on track

to reach an unprecedented $1.3bn while the deficit for the next year is projected to be a similarly extraordinary $951.8m.

Mr Johnson said of the deficit: “These are temporary and transitory. These are not structural. Where countries run into trouble is when they have structural deficits, meaning when an economy is at full tilt you’re still running big deficits.

The deficits are occasioned because we had a substantial shutdown of the economy.”

SEE PAGE THREE

FORECAST UP TO ‘80 PERCENT’ RECOVERY BY NEXT SUMMER

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Finance’s top official yesterday predicted the Bahamian economy will regain 80 percent of its pre-COVID capacity by June 2022 with key taxes forecast to rise by a similar magnitude.

Marlon Johnson, the acting financial secretary,

said improved tax revenue flows over the past four to five months - together with the vacation rental market’s return to 70 percent of preCOVID business levels and signs the tourism plant is “gearing back up” - meant he was “very confident” the economy will return to four-fifths of pre-pandemic output in a year’s time.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

MARIJUANA BILL DOESN’T LIVE UP TO HIGH HOPES

SEE PAGE EIGHT

JUDGES REJECT KILLER’S APPEAL

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed the 25-year sentence of a man who was convicted of the manslaughter of a woman who was shot and killed during an attempted robbery over a decade ago.

In 2009, Valentino Dorsette and two other men attempted to use a 9mm firearm to rob Tagia SEE PAGE SEVEN

TWO HELD FOR ABACO ACCIDENT

BREAKING BALLET BOUNDARIES

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ISABELLA BOYLSTON, a principal ballerina with the American Ballet Theater, will be taking part in the upcoming ArtSea Dance workshop in Nassau. She will host a ballet class and a Q&A session and the event will also encourage boys to overcome the stigma of taking part in ballet. See today’s Weekend section for the full story.

Photo: Deborah Ory

MARCO ALERT MOVES STEP CLOSER

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

A CONTRACT signing between the Ministry of National Security and Multimedia Technologies Ltd for a little over $1.9m has propelled the muchanticipated MARCO Alert one step further towards protecting the country’s children.

The public warning alert

THE MARCO’s Alert contract signing yesterday. system signing took place at the Ministry of National Security yesterday. Two

other contracts were also signed: one for the audio-visual integrated communication system with Multimedia Technologies Ltd and a long-term service agreement between the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Damen Shipyard Group.

In May 2017 — following a second trial — Kofhe Goodman, of Yorkshire Drive, was convicted of

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

A HAITIAN couple have been arrested in connection with a traffic accident that resulted in serious injuries to a child and woman in Abaco.

SEE PAGE FOUR

NOT THE FIRST TIME WE GOT TOUGH TO BEAT DISEASE

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Friday, May 28, 2021

ROTARY HELPS OUT DEPT OF CORRECTIONS THE Rotary Club of Nassau in conjunction with Nassau Agencies Ltd made a generous donation to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services yesterday.

The items include a laptop, 55-inch flat screen television, hand-held digital thermometers, Beep disinfectant spray and hand sanitisers.

The laptop and television will assist the inmates with the e-Learning platform, a new initiative that is coming on stream soon.

Additionally, this learning platform will be an integrated set of interactive online classes that will aide in providing the education, information, tools and resources to enhance the inmates’ level of education.

This gives each inmate the opportunity to be a more productive citizen upon successful re-entry and reintegration into society.

Further, the disinfectant spray and hand sanitisers will be distributed and used throughout the various housing units in keeping with COVID-19 protocols and the department’s mandate to ensure proper sanitisation measures within the institution.

In attendance at the event was Stephen Dean, president of the Rotary Club of Nassau, along with some of the club’s members; Commissioner of Corrections Charles Murphy; senior officers of the department and Tonesha Smith, who made a presentation on behalf of Nassau Agencies.

THE TRIBUNE

THE ROTARY Club of Nassau making a donation of electronics and sanitary equipment and supplies to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services yesterday.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 28, 2021, PAGE 3

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER GLITCH CAUSING TROUBLE AT BPL BAHAMAS Power and Light said a “technical issue” at its Blue Hills Power Station led to power cuts in eastern New Providence on Wednesday night.

“A technical issue at our Blue Hills station affected the circuit feeding the area in question,” BPL said. “Our team was able, however, to restore power within less than two hours.”

The issue is under investigation, BPL said.

Earlier this week, Works Minister Desmond Bannister said BPL will have to hold accountable those responsible for the recent island-wide power outage that has sparked concerns about the company’s ability to provide reliable electricity this summer.

On Tuesday, Mr Bannister was asked if he is concerned about BPL’s

ability to provide stable power this summer in view of several recent outages, including an island-wide outage on May 20.

“I have specific concerns,” he said.

“They are not load shedding incidents. BPL is going to have to hold the persons who cause them responsible. Where persons have caused them, BPL is going to have to hold them responsible. I

expect that the CEO of BPL or persons responsible in BPL will issue the appropriate releases.”

Wärtsilä, the company that has an agreement with BPL to maintain and operate the Clifton Pier Station A Power Plant, released a statement on Friday blaming the May 20 power outage on an operational glitch.

The company said: “At around 2.30am on

May 20, an operational glitch at the Clifton Pier Station A resulted in generating units going offline.

This event triggered an island-wide outage on New Providence. Wärtsilä together with BPL personnel worked swiftly to remedy the situation.

Power was restored to the first group of customers at 3.15am and by 6.30am, power was restored to approximately 95 percent

of the customer base on New Providence.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconveniences caused as a result of this outage. Although this kind of occurrence is rare, be assured that Wärtsilä is already in the process of investigating this matter to determine the root cause of the failure with a goal of making sure that there would not be a recurrence.”

THE TRADITIONAL walk by the Prime Minister and members of the government to the House of Assembly for the presentation of the Budget this week.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff

Minister admits debt is ‘elephant in the room’ as official says it’s only a temporary concern from page one “As the economy opens up, our revenues are returning and that means these are not structural, so we will reflate out of it. Yes, these are reasons for caution and concern, but these aren’t reasons for alarm. It would be reason for alarm if these were structural and long-term so going into the next year and the year after, the deficits will come down.”

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced only targeted tax increases during his budget communication on Wednesday.

Asked if new taxes that affect a broader range of people will eventually be needed to take care of the public debt, Mr Johnson said no.

“To the extent to which we can get the economy opened – meaning all of us being vaccinated – that creates more economic activity which by itself generates additional revenue,” he said.

“To the extent that the Accelerate Bahamas plan

FINANCE Minister Kwasi Thompson.

works with small business and investment, and we get the economy on a stable growth trajectory, that takes care of all the considerations around increased revenue.

The short answer is the extent to which we can get back on a firm, sustained economic footing, that obviates the need for additional taxes.”

Finance Minister Kwasi Thompson described the elevated deficit as the “elephant in the room.”

“Commentators have pointed out that the current fiscal year and the one to come have elevated borrowing by some $2bn,” he said.

“As the Prime Minister said yesterday, in this administration, we do not gloss over this fact. The $1.3bn deficit in this current fiscal year and the $951m deficit projected for the 2021/2022 fiscal year, it really reflects the extreme economic crisis caused by Dorian and the pandemic and our response to these crises.

“This is what has caused us to postpone, but only

temporarily, the path.”

Meanwhile, the Progressive Liberal Party criticised Dr Minnis’ budget communication on Wednesday, saying it “lacks credibility” and is “weak on solutions” to address a looming “debt crisis”.

“This is a budget that presents nothing to measurably confront the dire situation we are in,” Chester Cooper, PLP deputy leader, said.

“It frankly lacks credibility. It appears to build upon the weak policy and a lack of strategy that undergirded the previous budget. The reality on the ground is that unemployment is still sky-high, and Bahamians are still catching eternal hell. In the face of the greatest fiscal crises in the modern Bahamas, this budget is weak on solutions.

“There is a looming debt crisis because of the levels of borrowing, weak negotiations and the onerous terms of loans undertaken by this administration, with no plan articulated today to address this with urgency,” Mr Cooper said.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BUDGETED FOR UNTIL SEPTEMBER

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

STATE Minister for Finance Kwasi Thompson said the government has budgeted for the extension of unemployment benefits until September.

“It’s about trying to transition from the government continuing to pay out the unemployment benefits to the government now finding ways to stimulate the private sector to create employment,” he said.

Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson said the

Ministry of Social Services has seen a bump up in their budget. According to the 2021/2022 budget, the department has received $81.5m, about $20m more than last year’s allocation.

Mr Johnson said: “If come September those persons are still unemployed, the plan is to transition them off to a Social Services programme.”

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said on Wednesday that $118m was spent in government funded unemployment assistance, including direct cash for unemployed and

self-employed Bahamians.

“While neighbouring countries may have only provided unemployment assistance for up to three months, my government made the conscious decision and have committed thus far to extend unemployment assistance for some 15 months already to end July 2021,” Dr Minnis said.

“While neighbouring countries may have only provided unemployment assistance for up to three months, my government made the conscious decision and have committed thus far to extend

unemployment assistance for some 15 months already to end July 2021.”

Dr Minnis said up to March 2021, $25.9m was spent on COVID-19 public health and safety measures to ensure the healthcare system and healthcare workers had what they needed to function.

Thirty-two and a half million dollars was spent in social assistance, mostly through the food assistance programme.

Forty-four and a half million dollars was spent as part of a payroll support programme which allowed private businesses to use

tax credits to pay their employees.

Dr Minnis said $53.3m was spent in business continuity support to entrepreneurs and small businesses and $5m was given to private schools above their budgeted subventions to provide operational and payroll support.

As part of the government’s COVID-19 programme, more than 1,000 small businesses were approved for loan and grant financing. Dr Minnis said this represented a collective total of $45m that was allocated and disseminated

through the Access Accelerator Programme of the Small Business Development Centre.

Dr Minnis said the upcoming budget anticipates some $100m will be spent in direct COVID-19 related support in the form of food assistance, unemployment assistance and health sector support.

In acting during the pandemic, Dr Minnis said his administration sought to protect the wellbeing of citizens and residents, maintain economic stability despite the COVID-19 crisis and “plant the seeds for an accelerated recovery.”

PAGE 4, Friday, May 28, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Experts link up to help vulnerable populations A NEW collaboration between the government of Canada and the Pan American Health Organisation is being launched to improve the health and protection of populations in situations of high vulnerability due to COVID-19.

To meet this target, Canada is contributing CAN$50 million (close to US$40 million) in support of PAHO’s critical work in the Caribbean and Latin America towards readiness and access to COVID-19 vaccines for at-risk women, migrants, refugees, transient persons, indigenous and vulnerable populations in areas where health conditions are typically precarious.

“This collaboration was born with the common vision that COVID-19 vaccines should not be a privilege but a right for every person, regardless of their ethnicity, economic condition, gender, migratory status or whether they reside in a city or rural area,” said PAHO Director Carissa F Etienne.

“Canada’s contribution will help Caribbean and Latin American countries

make meaningful progress on access to COVID-19 vaccines for every eligible person, starting with the most vulnerable — most frequently women.”

Activities will include technical cooperation to strengthen all instances and stages of the COVID-19 vaccination deployment in Latin America and the Caribbean. This incorporates training for public health workers and health care professionals on equitable COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as well as comprehensive technical cooperation on regulatory and oversight processes, reinforcing immunisation policies and vaccine delivery strategies, supporting vaccine procurement, logistics and cold chain challenges, strengthening communication strategies, and advocating for fair access and allocation of vaccines, a press release from PAHO said.

“Populations like migrants and indigenous communities move across areas and borders, and many times they do not have access to the health coverage they need,” said PAHO Director of

Health Emergencies Dr Ciro Ugarte. “By offering vaccines to transient populations, countries in the Caribbean and Latin America can deter additional burdens to their national health systems due to infections while mitigating further transmission of the virus. This alliance is pivotal to offer much-needed technical cooperation for a comprehensive response against COVID-19, to save lives and leave no one behind.”

As a key partner to PAHO, Canada is committed to working with its counterparts and international organisations to control the spread of COVID-19 around the world. This collaboration is vital to helping those affected by the pandemic and protecting their health and safety, PAHO said.

Canada has actively engaged with PAHO since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on its response and facilitating access to vaccines in the Americas, including through the COVAX Facility.

TOTAL CASES

TOTAL DEATHS

NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES WEDNESDAY 62 CASES

RECENTLY CONFIRMED DEATHS

11,684 229 NEW PROVIDENCE GRAND BAHAMA CAT ISLAND

TOTAL TESTS

96,400

45 16 1

HOSPITALISED

47

• A 100-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE DIED ON MAY 25.

• A 46-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM ANDROS DIED ON MAY 25.

• A 34-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM NEW PROVIDENCE DIED ON MAY 25.

CASES IN ICU

4

RECOVERED

10,593

MENTAL HEALTH ALERT AHEAD OF NEW HURRICANE SEASON THREE NEW DEATHS CONFIRMED

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AS hurricane season approaches, Grand Bahama residents are being urged to pay close attention to their mental health due to the post-traumatic stress experienced after Hurricane Dorian two years ago.

Psychologist Dr Gregory Swann said Dorian was a traumatic event for many people, which can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it — and most people who go through traumatic events have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping.

According to Dr Swann, there has been an uptick in mental health depression in Grand Bahama that has a direct correlation between exposure to the storm and the coronavirus pandemic.

“Suicides and suicidal attempts, those numbers are up over the years prior to Dorian,” he said. “And we think there is a direct correlation between exposure to Hurricane Dorian and having to suffer during the (COVID-19) pandemic.

“PTSD is when someone

may have been exposed to a traumatic event – they witnessed it or were confronted or involved in one.

And clearly, Dorian would meet that definition.”

Dr Swann said people with PTSD may have received a serious injury or witnessed death during the storm, etc. He noted that PTSD persists for a period of about three to six months and individuals may experience recurring thoughts, flashbacks, inability to sleep, and abnormal behaviour.

“While this is mental health month, I think it is important that, particularly in our community of GB, we pay attention to our welfare,” he said.

“It is important that persons who would have been intimately exposed to Hurricane Dorian two years ago, mitigate any issues associated with their physical and psychological well being in the upcoming hurricane season,” Dr Swann added.

He suggested people get back to their normal routine to minimise anxiety.

“What we encourage residents to do as quickly as possible is continue to return to their normal environment. They must try to return to their communities

and surroundings they are familiar with to help them deal with any anxieties that may have occurred as a result of being displaced.

Getting back to their familiar environment will really help those persons severely affected by the hurricane.

“Given that we are in the middle of a pandemic, obviously it will complicate the process,” he said.

Additionally, he said people should get involved in community support services and talk about their feelings with friends and family.

If issues continue to persist, Dr Swann said individuals should reach out and seek more structured professional services, such as help from the Department of Social Services, or mental health professionals through the Rand Memorial Hospital or private medical institutions.

“In Grand Bahama, we put together a mental health and psycho-health social team that oversees mental health services in the community through the schools, government agencies, and public services, which provide whatever support a person might need,” he explained.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1.

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THE country recorded 62 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday and three new deaths.

According to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard, 46 of those new cases are infections in New Providence, 16 are on Grand Bahama and the remaining one is in Cat Island.

Fifteen of the COVID-19 cases reported by Grand Bahama were confirmed between November 2020 and early May. They have been incorporated in these newly confirmed cases.

Thirty-six women and 26 men make up the count for

the 62 new cases.

The latest deaths are a 100-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman. The two women who died are from New Providence, the elder one dying on May 25 and the younger one on May 26. The man is from Andros and he died on May 25.

Out of the 62 who recently tested positive for the virus, only one has a history of travel within the past 14 days.

Forty-seven people are currently hospitalised at Princess Margaret Hospital, Doctors Hospital, South Beach Clinic and Grand Bahama Health Services. Four of them are currently in the intensive care unit at Doctors Hospital.

The total number of

confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Bahamas stand at 11,684 with deaths at 229.

Due to the high rates of COVID-19 on Cat Island and Andros, the competent authority has those islands on lockdown for the next two weeks.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, 10,593 people were fortunate enough to have recovered, 90 of them listed as the latest to have recovered on Wednesday.

So far, 96,400 COVID19 tests have been administered locally – 400 completed recently with 62 positive results, 329 negative results, eight repeated and eight inconclusive.

Results of newly confirmed cases were reported within 24 to 48 hours after the swabbing date.

TWO HELD FOR ABACO ACCIDENT from page one

Superintendent Stephen Rolle thanked the public for their assistance and continued support in helping the police with their investigations in the matter.

He said a Haitian male

and female resident of Dundas Town were taken into police custody in reference to a video circulating on social media involving an accident that occurred on Tuesday shortly before 5pm. The child was detained at the Marsh Harbour Clinic

and the adult female was flown to New Providence for further medical attention.

He said both are listed in serious but stable condition, and the matter is under investigation by officers from the Abaco district.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 28, 2021, PAGE 5

CHARLES Marco alert moves step closer SIR CARTER TO from page one

killing young Marco Archer between September 23 and 28, 2011.

Archer, a sixth-grade student of Columbus Primary, disappeared from Brougham Street on September 23, 2011 and was found dead days later. His family had reported him missing after he failed to return home from a neighbourhood store where he went to purchase candy.

His family made public pleas for his safe return however, on September 28, police discovered his body in bushes behind an apartment complex on Yorkshire Drive.

The Mandatory Aggressive Action for Rescuing Children Operation (MARCO) Alert is designed to be on par with the Amber Alert in the United States which alerts citizens across America electronically when a child goes missing.

“The billboards are only here in New Providence,” said Minister of National Security Marvin Dames.

“This contract we signed today will give us the ability to communicate cross country via cell phone.

There is no difference from the Amber Alert in the US. These are all mass communication systems.

“If a kid is missing in the States, the Amber Alert

THE SISTER of Marco Archer, Tanzia Archer-Humes, speaking during the contract signing yesterday.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff goes up, you’re gonna have the same thing and it will go to your phone. We can’t put boards in the front of every household but you have a TV and you have a cell phone. If something happens, instantaneously, whether it’s the police, whether it’s NEMA, they can send that alert to you.

It’s a warning. ‘This kid is missing, if you see or get any information call us right away.’

“So what it does really is gives us the ability to send mass communications out in an instant in every

community in this country.

We are taking it to another level. We can even do this on your TV, so this is how mass communication systems work. It’s not just a billboard, but there are a lot of mechanics behind a billboard. So information has to be sent to that and there is a process. That is the technical side of it and that is where the money is really… the software and things of that nature.”

Touted as having a proven record of service to The Bahamas government, Rudolph Walker, CEO of Multimedia Technologies, said he is thankful for the opportunity to bring such technology to the country. Sometime in 2019, the government signed a contract with this company to start the work on the alert system and shortly thereafter the company erected four electronic billboards in New Providence at a cost of some $2.7m.

“Thanks to the government of The Bahamas in particular the Ministry of National Security for affording us this opportunity to implement such an advanced public alert warning system and audio-visual integration for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force,” he said.

“Emergency notifications over cell phones, be they 2G, 3G, 4G or 5G, is a key step in a more efficient and modernised civil protection

for the citizenry of The Bahamas. This technology has been deployed throughout North America as well as Europe and I would like to say that The Bahamas is among the first to really deploy it in the Caribbean.

“The underlying technology is based on a technology called cell broadcast which allows public warning messages to reach specific areas in the Bahamas or even the entire population within seconds.”

Mr Walker said the difference with his mass communications platform and that of a telecommunications carrier is that Multimedia Technologies will be able to interrupt transmission of any electronic device, be it cell phone, television or radio, in order to broadcast an emergency message.

On hand for the signing was Tanzia Archer-Humes, Marco’s sister, who said if her brother had been alive, he would have been 21 years old. She was happy for the advancement towards child protection, but said the occasion also brought back painful memories.

“It is a bittersweet feeling,” she said. “Unfortunately we had to lose Marco for this to happen and we are grateful that it is finally coming to an end and it will be in place whereas other kids could be saved. Everyone can benefit now in areas that we were

not fortunate to benefit. We know he will go down in history and we can always say he did not die in vain.

“It is still sad and it hurts to think about it sometimes.

This (the signing) puts you right back to that place, but again I can smile and we can be grateful to see that something good came out of it.”

Asked about the sex offenders registry which was promised by government to go along with the legislation related to the MARCO Alert, Mr Dames did not want to put a time frame on it, but promised it for this quarter.

“We are well on our way with the sex offender register,” he said. “We are working on all the foundational issues. Cabinet would have approved this recently.

We are building out all of the locations. We have been doing a lot of work in the background and we would have run a number of testings on an electronic registry. That is still advancing so we are hoping to make that a reality very shortly.

“The team has been working now, even throughout the pandemic. So we are putting in place, policies and guidelines and everything consistent with the regulations in the legislation. We want to make certain that once we are up and running, we are up and running.”

RBDF SIGNS DEAL FOR AUDIO-VISUAL SYSTEM

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force is advancing in modernisation and efficiency after signing contracts yesterday for an audio-visual integration system and expert maintenance training for the upkeep of its fleet.

Multimedia Technology Ltd signed a contract with RBDF worth $939,619.10 to provide the force with an audio-visual system.

“Currently, decentralised Royal Bahamas Defence Force operations are disadvantaged when vessels are out of cell phone range, patrolling our extensive 100,000 square miles of sovereign waters,” Minister of National Security Marvin Dames said.

“Whilst they are able to make use of expensive satellite phone systems for audio connections, they are unable to transmit video

footage. This new software makes it possible to now transmit both audio as well as video footage in real time, as any arrest, incident or operation dictates.

This information can be viewed and accessed at any command centre under the Ministry of National Security’s purview to create a common operating picture for various law enforcement officials.

“As a part of this contract, Multimedia Technology will be installing enabling technology on various RBDF satellite bases around the Bahamas including Ragged Island, Inagua, RBDF and select RBPF operating centres in and several areas in New Providence under a two-year contract that is costing the government $939,619.10.”

Rudolph Walker, CEO Multimedia Technologies Ltd, said this system will connect all RBDF bases.

“This platform is going to be located at the Coral

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

The administrator said that the officers are to wear non-political colours.

“They were reminded of that today, and to wear dark colours, like black. They will have an ID badge and

Harbour Base,” Mr Walker explained. “The purpose of this platform is to allow for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to establish secure connectivity to all its remote bases. The network will be used to transport sensitive intelligence data within the organisation as well as provide connectivity to all relevant government agencies such as Royal Bahamas Police Force, NEMA, BPL, Customs, Immigration, etcetera. I would like to thank the Ministry of National Security and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force for the opportunity to partner with Multimedia Technology to deliver such state-of-the-art technologies.”

The RBDF signed a service agreement contract for over $5.5m with Damen Shipyards yesterday as well.

“This is a significant undertaking, which has been in the making for a while. This contract valued at $5,620,250 is not the final

CENSUS OFFICERS SWORN IN FIFTEEN people in Grand Bahama were sworn in yesterday as listing officers for the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

Administrator for the City of Freeport Kathy V Smith conducted the swearing-in ceremony at the Administrator’s Office in the National Insurance Board complex.

This is the first time the Department of Statistics will create a Census building/dwelling register for the country. It is also the first time that an online National Census of Population and Housing will be conducted.

In compliance with the Statistics Act of 1973, all listing officers must be sworn in before going into the field.

During the event, each lister took an oath and signed the legally binding oath of secrecy.

Ms Smith said that listing officers will begin going out to gather information on Friday.

“The Census really begins in September, but they will be getting persons’ email and telephone contact because this year it will be online,” she said.

Ms Smith said that listing officers will email people the Census questionnaire online by Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI).

More people will be hired as listing officers in June, she said.

we are asking the public to please cooperate with the officers. The process is very short because they will just be collecting persons’ email and telephone contact,” she said.

Death Notice For Deaconess Bethsheva Adderley, 69 of Spice Street, Pinewood Gardens and formerly of Dumfries, Cat Island died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Sunday, May 23rd, 2021.

She is survived by her father: Reuben Stubbs; son: Philip Brown; sisters: Brendlee Gray, Valderine Rolle, Judy McQueen, Rosetta Duncombe, Martha Johnson, Barbara Capron and Fedreka Minnis; brothers: Jerome and Caleb Stubbs; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and other relatives.

Funeral arrangements are being finalized and details will be announced at a later date.

step of a great friendship, but rather the beginning of a partnership that the government of The Bahamas has merged with,” said Mr Dames.

“When the initial Sandy Bottom Project agreement between the government of The Bahamas, VAN Oord, and Damen Shipyard Group was signed in 2014, this significant undertaking ushered in a new era in the history of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.”

He said since that time, numerous goals were accomplished through the partnership. These include the acquisition of nine new patrol and auxiliary craft, the refit of two Bahama Class vessels, improvements were made, and new jetties built, docks and breakwaters.

“We also completed warehouses and facilities, ramps, an operations centre and workshops, and lastly, a state-of-the-art ship’s bridge simulator at the Coral Harbour Base,” he continued. “Impetus for today’s contract signing is the commander (of the) Defence Force’s insistence on extending the operational availability and useful life of the organisation’s fleet by transitioning from breakdown maintenance to planned maintenance underscored by this pending relationship with

Damen Shipyard Group.”

Ruben Schot, Damen Shipyard’s regional service manager for the Americas, said the signing is a continuation of a “trusted relationship”.

“The Long-Term Service Agreement is primarily aimed at the vessels’ crew to operate, maintain ships’ systems in a safe and technical manner,” Mr Schot said. “The long-term service agreement is further aimed at assisting the vessels’ crew with the transfer of knowledge as the training centre with the key to become independent.

“Today marks the continuation of a trusted relationship between the Damen Shipyards and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the commitment from both sides to protect the islands of The Bahamas and its inhabitants.

“We believe that the setup of the current Long Term Service Agreement has been performed in such a way that the responsibilities and commitment are placed at the right place within the right organisations to ensure that the fleet of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force will be ready for its duties based on the main focus of the transfer of knowledge. I am convinced that this will bring the service of the RBDF to another level.”

LIE IN STATE AT HOUSE

THE body of the late Sir Edward Charles Carter, KCMG, will lie in-state today in the foyer of the House of Assembly from 8.30am to 3pm.

The general public is invited to view the body from noon to 3pm. Following this will be the flag presentation to the family and the sounding of the last post.

The former Progressive Liberal Party Cabinet minister and veteran broadcaster died at the age of 78 earlier this month.

CHARLES CARTER He was elected to the House of Assembly as a member of Parliament for the Progressive Liberal Party in 1982 and served a second term in 1987. He represented the Holy Cross constituency and served in the Pindling administration as minister of health and minister of foreign affairs.

In 1992, the Ingraham administration passed a law opening the airwaves to all who wanted private licences. In 1993, that administration started to issue the licences and Sir Charles was in 1999 granted a licence to open his radio station, Island FM. He was appointed to the Senate in 1997 by the PLP, but had to resign his seat as the law stipulated that no politicians were to have radio licences.

From 2004 to 2007, Sir Charles held the positions of publisher and general manager of The Nassau Guardian. He was knighted in 2016.

He is survived by his wife Lady Muriel Carter, as well as sons, Eddie and Mark Carter.

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PAGE 6, Friday, May 28, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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No cause for alarm or the elephant in the room?

IS the country’s level of debt and its deficit something to worry about, or not?

Well, it depends who you talk to, it would seem. Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson was yesterday playing down the worries, saying that while they are a cause for concern, they are not a cause for alarm – though that’s a distinction that’s hardly comforting.

Ask Finance Minister Kwasi Thompson, though, and he says the increased deficit is “the elephant in the room” – which we would hope no one is actually ignoring.

Both men point, however, to the idea that a resurgence in the economy, particularly through tourism, will ease those worries. In other words, the problem is temporary, not because of a long-term structural problem.

Is it, though? Because the Budget has us on some precarious ground as we try to work our way out of that debt.

Let’s take a look at how we’re planning to balance the books. There’s the plan to finally implement a tax on patron winnings at web shops. The government had thought that would bring in $17.9m, but that forecast has jumped to $41m in large part because of the long wait.

That’s been challenged in court, however, so it’s betting on a legal victory for a government that has lost its fair share of those.

Another means of revenue raising is the increase in real property tax revenues – expected to increase by more than $54m because of greater enforcement and better administration. That sounds hopeful given that other areas of revenue collection have been suffering. If people can’t afford their water or their light bills, they’re not likelier to have any spare dollars when the taxman comes to call.

Then there’s the extra taxation on Airbnb rooms. That’s a new line of revenue, but again it depends on the build-up of tourism and when that will get back up to full speed.

Even a former FNM finance guru, former Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing, described the projections as “optimistic”.

And if the government doesn’t hit its $2.244bn revenue target? Well, that means it doesn’t have the money for the incentives it put on the table in the Budget or the deficit gets even wider.

It’s putting a lot of weight on getting absolutely everything right, with not a lot of leeway for error – or for people coming up short on what they owe.

Kwasi Thompson, meanwhile, also cautioned about successive administrations having used taxpayer funds as “band aids” to cover up their failure to grow the economy and create sufficient jobs. He pointed to a reliance “for too long” on the government as the main employment generator through a bloated civil service – but if the civil service is bloated, why is the government hiring a whole new swathe of new graduates in its Budget plan?

It seems a whole lot has to go right to ensure that our economy doesn’t go horribly wrong – without much room for a safety net.

The key as ever is to get the economy back open – and to give people a reason to trust that it’s safe to come to The Bahamas on holiday or for business.

The biggest part of that is controlling the virus, and that means getting shots in arms, and ensuring we have enough vaccines for everyone. We’re not there yet either.

So yes, we would say there’s plenty to worry about – and plenty of incentive to make sure everything goes right.

Dennis Dames declares war EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS A Free National Movement (FNM) supporter since the 1970s, I am ready to cast my net on the other side. The party has been transformed in to a sweetheart political organisation – where the leaders appear to be following in the footsteps of their whore-mongering predecessors.

FNM leaders and standard bearers of today, seem to be more obsessed with their sweeties, hoes and bastard making pursuits, rather than the good of the country – in my opinion.

I have made more political contributions and sacrifices than many of them past and present. I have been in the FNM trenches most of my life fighting PLP corruption and victimisation – while many of the present day FNM leaders were PLPing-it-up.

Yes, the FNM party has lost its way since the advent of Pindling’s most illustrious protégé – in 1989.

I’ve been blacklisted and sidelined a long time ago in my party, the Free National Movement, (FNM). I am always ready to serve my beloved country, The

Bahamas; and nothing will stop me – as long as there is God’s breath in me.

Indeed, the FNM has become a selective lovers, family and friends society.

The Bahamas and Bahamian people deserve better than that. I will continue to fight for a better country, and not allow the FNM to bury me alive.

Dennis Dames will rise again, and I have declared war on the politically and - in my opinion - morally corrupt FNM. DENNIS DAMES Nassau, May 27, 2021.

Speaker’s suit is beyond the pale EDITOR, The Tribune.

WATCHING the HOA proceeding yesterday, I was flabbergasted with the Deputy Speaker’s oft attire sitting in the Speaker’s Chair in a tan suit. I had the good fortune of speaking to this gentleman before on his attire. Is there any regards for standards with this crew?

Let me suggest, sir, you

goggle “Obama’s Tan Suit August 2014” and the flak he got in wearing a tan suit.

Please take note of the Leader of the Opposition the Honorable Philip Davis who is always properly attired, the former departed Speakers must be crying out in their graves looking down on the low standards that is allowed today.

There is absolutely no

excuse for improper attire.

Dark colours are the proper attire for the HOA in the future, gentlemen, keep the standards high as you met them, stop the desecration of this Honourable place, don’t lower the standards!

KELLY D BURROWS Freeport, Grand Bahama, May 27, 2021.

Do the right thing EDITOR, The Tribune.

LAST week Atlantis announced that they were severing ties with 700 employees.

It was not bad news for some employees because now they could get on with their lives putting Atlantis behind them.

For others, while they saw the writing on the wall, they held on to a glimmer of hope, praying that it would all blow over and they would soon be back to work. They were not prepared. But, the die has been cast, and life must go on. Sadly, with age being a factor for some and not many jobs available, reemployment will be a challenge.

In her summary on Tuesday Audrey Oswell made the following comments: ‘‘This decision does not reflect the work and effort of these individuals.

It will reduce the size of many teams throughout the organisation”.

While these comments may have been intended to soften the pain, it does not shorten the depth of the dagger that’s been plunged into the hearts of many. Adding hurt to injury Atlantis is offering to pay severance pay in installments over three months.

Please put your self in my shoe. I have not worked for more than a year; bills are out of control. My job has been discontinued, and now you tell me I have to wait three months for my final paycheck. This is hard. It is not an easy pill to swallow.

Nevertheless, we are thankful for the employees that are still employed and are praying for the continued success of the company.

By the way, for clarification’s sake. With so many Bahamian managers having been fired can Ms Oswell please explain why ex-pat restaurant managers are working and what they are doing that Bahamians can’t do?

There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on businesses and society at large. But it is also a time when one must temper business with mercy.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net While 700 persons have been sent home, anywhere between three and five thousand are being impacted.

Shifting gears, in recent times, Minister Dames and commissioner Paul Rolle touted the fact that crime is down. And they may be right. It might be down, but is it under control? Almost every other week, several young persons are gunned down in the streets. Crime might be down, but it is not under control. Four young men murdered at one time in broad daylight and you say what?

The talk is that the majority of killings are gang-related, and they are killing each other stay out of their way, and you’re safe. Fine but what about those children that died by bullets not intended for them? How come they weren’t safe?

But there’s still hope because while some of our young men are snared by the glitter and gore of the crime culture. There are much more than them who are trying to live peaceful and respectful lives.

Unfortunately for some of them, that has changed their ways and are now productive citizens its been a challenge because negative, jealous people are always trying to bring them down.

Case in point, there is a young entrepreneur who made some youthful mistakes now owns a successful business on Arawak Cay is finding it challenging to operate duress free and not be pressured by people who are green-eyed of the way he has changed and how successful he has become.

“You write bitter accusations against me and bring up all the sins of my youth.”

Job 13:36 It is instances such as this that causes reformed young people to backslide and revert to their former lifestyle. Fortunately, this young man has strong family ties and a lot of people’s support. He is staying strong.

“Do not remember the sins of my youth and my

rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.”

Psalms 25:11.

We do not know how long COVID-19 is going to be around. But we do know that we as a society have to help love and protect each other to the best of our ability. And that does not mean just wearing a mask and social distancing.

An excellent place to start is with our young men. Have we given any thoughts as to why so many of them turn to a life of crime? Could economic opportunities be one of the reasons? Lack of jobs and low-paying jobs. Are there reasons why our boys are turning to a life of crime? Are we giving the work to the foreigner because we don’t want to pay our young men what the job is worth?

One might ask what does this have to do with crime. “Ok, we turn away our qualified young man who has utility bills and a family to maintain. However, pay the immigrant who is already a burden on the economy with no utility bills as much as $50-$100 less than the job is worth.

What do you think our young man is going to do?

He has a hungry baby to feed.

Petty crimes like purse snatching, housebreaking, shoplifting, and yes, prostitution are, for the most part, crimes of need. Last year before the beverage merchants shut down the recycling bottle collection on any given day, you could see scores of young men and women who did not want to beg or steal on the streets collecting bottles.

Today, unfortunately, some of the same persons are still on the street doing whatever they can to survive. You see them.

We have a generation to save, we can not lay down and play dead while COVID-19 runs amok throughout the nation. Do the right thing, help to fight crime. Pay our young men what the job is worth.

God bless the Bahamas.

ANTHONY PRATT Nassau, May 26, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 28, 2021, PAGE 7

Man ‘beat JUDGES REJECT KILLER’S APPEAL me and held knife to my throat’ from page one

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN yesterday testified that a man brutally beat her before holding a knife to her throat during a domestic dispute earlier this year.

Neikei Anderson, 28, was accused of harming a woman and damaging an iPhone 11 cellphone he had bought her.

He denied the allegations when he first appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney and the matter was adjourned to trial.

When his accuser testified yesterday, she told the court that on January 16 she was sitting at a table in her home with Anderson, who had helped her bring some bags inside her house. She said that evening another male friend knocked on her door and asked for her.

She claimed that when the accused asked her who it was, she did not answer at first because he was “very aggressive” and she was afraid. She said when she did respond, she told the accused that he knew who it was.

“He kept on asking me while choking, punching and slapping me,” she said.

“He choked me at least four times. I passed out, but every time I came to, I was urinating (on) myself.

It wasn’t a period where he stopped hitting and stomping me.”

The woman claimed Anderson also took a curtain rod and beat her on her thighs and the side of her face. She said during the attack, her nose was broken, and her left eardrum was ruptured. She also said he held a knife to her throat and used it to stab holes in her mattress.

“While he had the knife to my throat, he asked me if I wanted my daughter to grow up without a mother. It didn’t stop, it just kept going from one thing to the next.

I just closed my eyes and prayed (because) I thought that was it. I kept asking him to stop (and) I yelled for help because I didn’t know what else to do.”

The complainant said Anderson also took her

cellphone and all of the cash that was in her wallet before he left. She claimed that sometime later, she found out she was two months pregnant, but had suffered a miscarriage.

The accused was not represented by an attorney during the proceedings.

When he cross-examined the complainant, he asked her if she remembered telling him she would pay him back “some funds” she owed him.

In response, she told Anderson that although he had sent $200 to her account, she paid him back “earlier that day.” She insisted that him taking the cash out of her wallet had “nothing to do with” the money she supposedly owed him.

Yesterday, Corporal Phylicita Gibson, the officer who interviewed Anderson in custody, also testified under oath.

She said when she interviewed Anderson on February 4, he told her he was at the complainant’s residence about to have sex when a male knocked on the bedroom window and called out the woman’s name. Cpl Gibson said the defendant told her he was going to the front door to see who the male was, but the complainant held him back. She said Anderson added that when he shoved her off, the woman fell but he did not look back to see if she got injured.

Cpl Gibson also said the accused denied getting a knife, threatening the complainant or damaging her cellphone. However, she said he claimed he did take the cellphone and $80 in cash because he was the one who had bought her the device, and the funds were the balance of $300 that he had given her earlier that day.

Cpl Gibson also said Anderson denied harming the woman and claimed she sustained her injuries when she got in a physical altercation with some girls at Fish Fry. Anderson’s witnesses are scheduled to testify on June 24. He is also set to take the stand at that time.

MAN DENIES RECEIVING STOLEN MOTORBIKE

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 31-YEAR-OLD man who denied dishonestly receiving a stolen motorbike was yesterday granted bail ahead of his trial.

Edwis Hall was arrested after he was accused of being found with a Honda motorcycle that was suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained on May 24.

He denied one count each of unlawful possession and receiving when he appeared before Magistrate Samuel

McKinney.

As a result, the case was adjourned to June 28 for trial. Hall was granted $1,000 bail in the interim.

Yesterday, the accused was also charged with one count of simple possession after officers found one gram of Indian hemp in his home on May 24. He admitted the offence and was bound over to keep the peace for six months. If he is convicted within that time frame, he could risk being fined $250 or spending one month in prison.

THE Judicial and Legal Service Commission has announced the appointment of new judges to the Supreme and Magistrates Courts.

“During the past several years, there has been a reduction in the number of justices of the Supreme Court caused in part by the retirement of two judges, the elevation of two other judges to the Court of Appeal and another judge who commenced her preretirement leave this year.

Meanwhile, the volume of the work of the Supreme Court has continued to increase during that period of time,” the JLSC said.

To address these concerns, the JLSC has advised Governor General Sir C A Smith to make the following appointments under Article 92(2) of the Constitution.

Effective May 31, Juanita Denise Lewis-Johnson, Jeanine Weech-Gomez and Andrew Forbes will be Supreme Court justices. Neil Braithwaite and Camille Darville-Gomez

will be appointed as Supreme Court justices effective June 14 and August 3, respectively.

The JLSC said Magistrates Court has also been affected by recent developments, including the retirement of two magistrates in 2020 and the resignation of a New Providence magistrate earlier this year. The elevation of Deputy Chief Magistrate Forbes and Coroner/Magistrate Weech-Gomez to the Supreme Court will further exacerbate these issues.

In order to address the “urgent need” to appoint new magistrates to deal with the volume of work in Magistrates Court, the following appointments have been advised under Section 13 of the Magistrates Act: Algernon Allen, Jr, Kendra Kelly, Shaka Seville, and Ian-Marie Darville-Miller as stipendiary and circuit magistrates effective June 14 and Simone Brown as stipendiary and circuit magistrate effective July 5. Ms Brown will be assigned to the northern region.

NEW JUDGES ARE APPOINTED

Soles-Armony of a white Honda Accord while she was sitting outside her mother’s home in Sea Breeze Estates.

The deceased, who lived with her husband in St Kitts and Nevis, was in Nassau to visit her family and to introduce her infant to her relatives.

During the course of the attempted armed robbery, Soles-Armony was shot when she refused to open her car door.

She later died from the gunshot wound, which led to Dorsette being charged with murder and attempted armed robbery.

Six years later, Dorsette was found guilty of manslaughter and attempted armed robbery and sentenced to 25 years for the manslaughter conviction and 15 years for the attempted armed robbery charge. Both of the sentences were ordered to run concurrently from the date of his conviction.

Dorsette recently applied for an extension of time within which to appeal his conviction and sentence on the grounds that “prejudicial evidence made by (a) prosecution witness at trial resulted in an unfair trial.” He also argued the trial judge failed to point out evidence that could “undermine (the) reliability of the confession”.

However, Justices Sir Michael Barnett, Roy Jones and Carolita Bethell denied his appeal after ruling that there was “no lurking doubt” as it related to the safety of his conviction.

VALENTINO DORSETTE In his judgement, Justice Jones said he believed Dorsette’s counsel did not provide “any reasons” for the appellate court to “interfere with the sentencing discretion of the trial judge”.

“The directions by the trial judge to the jury during the trial and summing up were adequate to remind them of their duty to decide the case on relevant evidence alone,” he said.

“Furthermore, the case against

the intended appellant, including his confession and possession of the LG Cookie cellphone, was a compelling one. The judge... explained to the jury that the truth as to whether the confession was made and whether it was true was a matter for them to decide as the finders of the facts. He also directed them that it was for them to determine whether the confession was or may have been obtained by force or oppression. This was a proper direction. Accordingly, we have no lurking doubt as to the safety of the conviction.”

In his concurring view, Sir Michael said while he agreed with the decision of Justice Jones, his view on ground two of Dorsette’s appeal was “slightly different”, so he prepared a “short judgment” to outline it.

“The judge’s statement that ‘there’s no allegation that the defendant was beaten to make these oral or written statements on the 12th of August 2009’ was in my judgment not fair to the appellant as he clearly had given evidence that he was beaten from the beginning of his questioning by the police officers,” he noted.

“The direction in my view should have been more balanced. Having said that, I have no doubt that if the judge had given the more balanced direction as I have suggested, the jury would still have convicted him.

His allegations of beatings were not supported by any other evidence and contradicted by his aunt’s testimony. I have no doubt of the safety of the conviction and would have applied the proviso in any event.”

PAGE 8, Friday, May 28, 2021

THE TRIBUNE THE MARIJUANA bill has been a long time coming - as can be seen by this picture of the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana holding a briefing back in 2019 but after all that thinking and waiting and debating, is the outcome worth it?

Marijuana bill doesn’t live up to high hopes AFTER numerous columns in this very space, offering sound advice and some viable options for the Bahamas, and all Bahamians in regards to the legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana and the construction of the Marijuana Bill.

I can honestly say I am thoroughly disappointed in what I’ve seen floating around as the alleged “leaked” version of the proposed Marijuana Bill.

It is lacking severely!!

The alleged “leaked” bill closes off the industrial, religious and recreational uses of marijuana and only concentrates on the medicinal purposes and the special interest groups attached.

Expungement of criminal records for simple possession of marijuana was also presented initially but wasn’t addressed at all in the “leaked” bill.

The Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana recommended that marijuana should be legalised as a sacrament for the Rastafarian community and other groups that practice the use of marijuana, especially as a religious sacrament.

The commission further recommended that such groups be allowed to cultivate cannabis for sacramental use in zoned or regulated areas.

Sadly, the leaked bill

A Comic’s View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA

does not address these recommendations.

Point blank, it does not allow people to possess marijuana for religious purposes.

My good brethren, the royal ambassador for the Ethiopian African Black International Congress, Rithmond McKinney, high priest of the local Rastafarian Bobo Shanti Tribe, raised points of contention with the proposed law changes.

“With the present government about to table the new Medical Cannabis Bill 2021, the injustices our communities have faced for over 50 years still exist. We are bluntly trampled on by this unclear repressive bill that’s not designed to benefit not just the Rastafarian community, but the wider Bahamas.”

McKinney has long called for and lobbied publicly for the Rastafarian community to be a part of the marijuana industry when it finally becomes legal.

Citing that

Rastafarians have suffered the most because of their open religious usage of marijuana.

McKinney also stated that he remains disappointed by the government’s delay in bringing the proposed bill to Parliament and the lack of movement on amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act 2021, that would allow for Rastafarians to freely smoke marijuana as a religious sacrament.

The Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana recommended decriminalising possession of up to one ounce of marijuana but did not recommend a penalty for being caught with that amount.

In the “leaked” bill, it would remain illegal to possess any amount of marijuana for non-medical purposes in The Bahamas, if the draft legislation passes Parliament and is enacted.

However, people caught with two ounces or less of the substance would be given a notice similar

to what traffic violators Mr Cartwright also critireceive when they commit cised the fact that the Bill offences. does not allow people to They would not be cultivate small amounts arrested or detained. of cannabis plants at their According to the draft place of residence for nonbill, people would have 30 medical purposes as is days from the allowed in some date of their ‘All this countries in the notice to pay region that have their penalty time wasted decriminalised to the Public “politicking” possession of Treasury in about the small amounts New Proviof marijuana, dence or in Marijuana Bill including Grand Bahama and this is Jamaica, Trinior to any Mag- the best this dad and Tobago istrate’s Court and Dominica. or Administra- administration I agree tor’s Office on and the Bahamas with Mr Cartother islands. wright on this, National My other the maximum good friend Commission on fine in St VinMr Renaldo Marijuana could cent and the Cartwright, come up with?’ Grenadines the founder for having two of Marijuana ounces of canBahamas, said that a $500 nabis or less is $185. fine for possession of two While the fine in Jamaica ounces of marijuana or less is a paltry $5. would be “ridiculous”.

Some Caribbean coun“It disenfranchises tries offer no penalties people who are poor,” he for possessing specified said. amounts of marijuana.

“They don’t have any Not to be forgotmoney to pay the fine. And ten Mr Terry Miller, why are we giving Baha- chairman of the Bahamians fines for a joint or mas Cannabis Research two?”

Institute (BACARI), told “They are trying to Tribune Business that the make it seem like they proposed Medicinal Canare doing us a favour by nabis Bill 2021 also failed to saying it isn’t an arresta- speak specifically to indusble offence, but I feel trial hemp and was instead like it doesn’t make a focused almost exclusively difference.” on medical marijuana.

“One of the things not circulated in the media was anything about industrial hemp, because what was reported almost seems to speak to industrial hemp, but it steps a little bit out of that area.”

Industrial hemp cultivation has been one of BACARI’s main goals, with Mr Miller praising the value in commercialising industrial hemp a billion dollar industry globally due to its multiple uses from clothing to medicine and paper production to name a few.

Ironically, the Marijuana Bill is full of inconsistencies, eerily similarly to the present administration.

All this time wasted “politicking” about the Marijuana Bill and this is the best this administration and the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana could come up with?

Sadly, if one really dissects the “leaked” Bill it appears to be yet another lucrative industry, earmarked for “special interests groups” once again!

The “haves” will continue to have while the “have nots’’ will continue to have nothing, without any real chance of ever getting any skin in the game.

The Marijuana Bill, like this current administration, seems to be slowly going up in smoke!

READERS’ VIEWS THIS WEEK Readers have been reacting to this week’s stories on tribune242.com.

The news that government debt remains on course to top $10 billion by the end of the next fiscal year prompted Joeblow to say: “This country is a sinking ship being run aground by those who have no concept of fiscal responsibility. Idiots who, over successive decades, have borrowed in good times and bad to prop up an inefficient and wasteful public service, dole out questionable contracts and generally mismanage the country’s financial affairs with nothing to show for it.

Seems like a good time to abandon ship!”

Tell_it_like_it_is said: “All I’m hearing is spend, spend, spend. How will the mounting debt be addressed? Smh.” To which Sickened replied with: “It won’t be their problem. That’s how every government looks at it.”

And Tribanon had this to say: “My top 3 quick takes: “1) Not unexpectedly, a totally directionless and most reckless spend-spendspend budget; “2) Minnis in just one term as PM will be

responsible for well over 20% of our national debt accumulated since July 10, 1973; he has coronated himself as the all-time ‘King of Borrowing’.

“3) The external component of our national debt, i.e. the portion denominated in foreign currencies, is at an unprecedented dangerously high level as a result of hard currency borrowings being used to fill the gaping hole in our foreign currency reserves created by the very sharp decline in revenue inflows denominated in foreign currencies.”

• Robert Myers, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s principal, warned The Bahamas must rapidly “convert tax burners to earners” following official confirmation that its direct national debt is now almost the same size as the economy.

Dawes had this response: “This is

obvious, but this has been said for at least 20 years and still whoever is in power is unable to manage to even get remotely close to this.

But don’t worry, I am sure they will be thinking of some new taxes to help deal with any shortfalls.”

Donald asked: “When is government going to get out of private business? I believe government loses money with an airline, bank, hotel, cable, water, electric, etc. Create private sector competitors.

Too much opportunity for corruption when public funds are used for private business.”

And after the government pledged to “take whatever action is necessary” to prevent Nassau Airport Development Company defaulting on its $480m debt as it remains in breach of a key investor term, Realitycheck242 said: “I don’t think there is any government agency, corporation, department or state owned enterprise that is solvent right now. Massive debts is the order of the day in all of them.”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 28, 2021, PAGE 9

This isn’t the first time we’ve had to get tough to beat a disease

By Diane Phillips WHEN the first local super spread.

It’s not a crime to be cases of COVID-19 were reported in March last year, afraid of a virus that can The Bahamas headed by kill or leave long-lasting a medically trained Prime effects on mental and physical health. It’s already killed Minister, got tough.

It wasn’t the first time - the economy. Do you really wait till you see what we want to go through that did long before those of again? Applaud the hotels us writing or reading this like Atlantis that are requirtoday were alive. But it ing anyone working on the was predictable. In my premises to be tested every column of March 27, 2020, five days and Royal CaribI wrote: “When you con- bean for insisting that every sider that Hubert A Minnis crew member and all guests has been a doctor ten over 18 be fully vaccinated.

This isn’t about sometimes longer than he has been Prime Minister, you one’s freedom. This is can appreciate his medical about survival. If you don’t stop-the-spread-at-any-cost want to get vaccinated, fine. But understand that approach to COVID-19.”

So the doctor/Prime Min- you will pay the price of ister immediately limited being barred from some the number of touchpoints safer environments until we and opportunities for inter- reach herd immunity and action. That was quickly this nightmare is behind us.

Secondly, this is a great followed by full emergency powers that went beyond time for officials, NGOs and a shutdown of schools, businesses to get creative public gatherings and non- and incentivise vaccination. essential business and Look at the results in Ohio after the commanded state which that we ‘This isn’t about an inorstay inside someone’s freedom. had dinately except for rate 90 minutes This is about survival. high of COVID a day during If you don’t want introduced which we to get vaccinated, the Vaxwould be fine. But understand a-million allowed lottery.Adults fresh air in that you will pay offered their our own the price of being arms up for yard so long a jab and as we wore a barred from some a shot at mask. safer environments being one We acquiuntil we reach of five lucky esced. What winners of else could herd immunity a millionwe do? and this nightmare dollar prize.

We grumis behind us.’

The lottery bled, we extended obeyed. It is to 12 to what we always do. Grumble and then do what we are 17-year-olds who got a chance at a full scholarship told.

But now as the country to any Ohio state college or prepares to re-open fully university. Within 14 days with airlines reporting of the introduction of the excellent bookings for June lottery, vaccinations shot up and even more for July, and the rate of new cases with major hotels looking at declined by a whopping 35 up to 80 percent occupancy percent.

Thirdly, why are we all as the summer wears on and with Royal Caribbean and so shocked by The BahaCrystal Cruises announc- mas taking a tough stand on ing they will homeport in slamming the door on the The Bahamas, it is worth face of disease? Look at the looking at how far we have surprising history of how come to reach this level of we’ve done it before. We comfort and what we have built a whole quarantine to do to make sure we don’t headquarters and convalescent hospital on Athol blow it.

First, we need to stop Island to separate those criticising those who are infected from those who insisting on staff, crew or could become infected. No visitors either being fully one balked at the ambitious vaccinated or showing a undertaking in response to negative rapid antigen test the 1852-53 cholera outresult. Anything short of break. According to an that as people start to move article by Kelly Delancy about freely and visitors in the 2018 Journal of the arrive from all over the Bahamas Historical Sociworld is inviting a resur- ety, the outbreak was taking gence of a spread or even a some 70 lives a week and

A SKETCH of the Athol Island Quarantine Station - used to check for disease on incoming vessels in the 19th century. the death toll in Nassau reached 696 with Harbour island and Eleuthera reporting nearly 400 by the time cholera gave way to a series of yellow fever outbreaks.

With the construction of the Athol Island Quarantine Station - and harbour pilots stopping incoming vessels to check for disease in the mid-19th century - The Bahamas was applauded for being first in the region to take such strong measures to keep the deadly disease from overwhelming the country and its people.

That quarantine station accessible only by boat and located north of eastern Nassau remained operational until the violent hurricane of 1929 damaged it so severely that it was abandoned. In 2004, Delancy reports that archaeologists “identified ruins of the convalescent hospital, store, physician’s office, keeper’s dwelling, keeper’s kitchen, flagstaff, latrine building, stone jetty and access steps from the original wharf.”

Though the original pier is little more than broken pilings and jutting rebar, the courageous among us can anchor off Athol Island near the beach and clamber over the rocks to the highest elevation to see what remains of the steps and a foundation that remind us – this is not our first goround with taking strong measures to keep disease at bay. Strong measures are demanded if we are to go on living in a country that depends on a moving local population and those who migrate for pleasure or commerce. We can do it by raising our arm for a vaccine or we can raise our hand in protest and drag this tragedy out even longer than it needs to be.

Anyone want to offer a million-dollar prize for Bahamasvax-a-winner?

If you ever wondered where the word quarantine came from…

Every new thing we think is novel has a past. The subject of quarantine sent me on a search to learn where

this somewhat awkward word got its start. Turns out it was nearly 800 years ago when Europe wanted to protect its coastal settlements from plagues and epidemics. The word comes

from the Italian quaranta giorni, meaning 40 days, which makes perfectly good sense considering that the root quar mans four. Think quartet or quartering a chicken ahead of souse.

Public Viewing for

LEROY GODFREY HANNA, 56 of Rasberry Court, E. Armbrister Street, will be held on Friday 28th May 2021 at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cremation will follow.

Leroy is survived by his Mother: Janice Hanna; Brothers: Michael ‘Sarge’ (Stephanie) and Sergio (Joniquequa/ Bebes) Hanna; Sister: Nichole Hanna; Aunts: Carol (Lewis) Williamson of Danville Va., and Joan Pratt of Freeport G.B.; Uncles: Leslie (Father figure to the crew in Anderson St.) and Kendal Hanna; Nieces: Kendra Colebroke, Colette (Xavier) Harrington and Paige Hanna, Jordan, Kamryn and Khloe Hanna; Cousins: Charmaine (Bernard) Miller, Anastacia (Rodd) Hanna, Kevin, Dennis (Denise), Gareth (Nina) and Brad Hanna, Tristan and Travis Miller, and Roddae Bethel; The Children, Grand Children and Great Grand Children of the late Beryl and Arthur Barnett (Precious/Special Family), the Friends and Families from our childhood area, Anderson Street, Goal Alley and Comfort Streets; The Hanna, Heastie and Tynes, especially Aunt Iris, The D’Albenas family with whom Leroy shared and enjoyed a great deal of his life.

There might be persons who should be included but because of fading memories etc. we may have left you out specifically, it is not intentional.

May His Soul Rest in Peace!

Social distancing will be strictly enforced.

PAGE 10, Friday, May 28, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

BIDEN ORDERS INTEL PROBE OF COVID-19 ORIGINS

PRESIDENT Joe Biden yesterday ordered US intelligence officials to “redouble” their efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to a Chinese laboratory.

After months of minimising that possibility as a fringe theory, the Biden administration is joining worldwide pressure for China to be more open about the outbreak, aiming to head off GOP complaints the president has not been tough enough as well as to use the opportunity to press China on alleged obstruction.

Biden asked US intelligence agencies to report back within 90 days. He directed US national laboratories to assist with the investigation and the intelligence community to prepare a list of specific queries for the Chinese government. He called on China to cooperate with international probes into the origins of the pandemic.

Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have promoted the theory that the virus emerged from a laboratory accident rather than naturally through human contact with an infected animal in Wuhan, China.

Biden in a statement said the majority of the intelligence community had “coalesced” around those two scenarios but “do not believe there is sufficient information to assess one to be more likely than the other”. He revealed that two agencies lean toward the animal link and “one leans more toward” the lab theory, “each with low or moderate confidence”.

BRITISH PM DEFENDS VIRUS RECORD AFTER ATTACK PRIME Minister Boris Johnson yesterday rejected claims by his former chief aide that he botched Britain’s coronavirus response and is unfit for office, denying an allegation his government oversaw tens of thousands of needless deaths.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock also hit back after Dominic Cummings singled him out for criticism in an excoriating attack on the government.

Cummings, who left his job as Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s top adviser in November, claimed the government’s slow and chaotic initial response, and Johnson’s failure to learn from mistakes, meant that tens of thousands of people had died unnecessarily.

“People did not get the treatment they deserved.

Many people were left to die in horrific circumstances,” he said during his hours of testimony to lawmakers on Wednesday.

MURDER CHARGES OVER BLACK MAN’S DEATH THE Washington state attorney general yesterday charged two Tacoma police officers with murder and one with manslaughter in the death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died after telling them he couldn’t breathe as he was being restrained.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed charges of second-degree murder against Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins, and first-degree manslaughter against Timothy Rankine.

Witnesses reported seeing Burbank and Collins attack Ellis without provocation, and Rankine is accused of putting pressure on Ellis’ back as the man said he couldn’t breathe.

Ellis, 33, was killed on March 3, 2020, just weeks before George Floyd’s death under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer triggered a nationwide reckoning on race and policing.

HEAVY construction equipment is used to sift through rubble to uncover valuables before it is transported away from the scene of a building destroyed in an airstrike in Gaza City yesterday.

Photo: John Minchillo/AP

Israel strikes on Gaza ‘may be war crimes’ GENEVA Associated Press THE top UN human rights body yesterday passed a resolution aimed to intensify scrutiny of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, after the UN rights chief said Israeli forces may have committed war crimes and faulted the militant group Hamas for violations of international law in their 11-day war this month.

The 24-9 vote, with 14 abstentions, capped a special Human Rights Council session on the rights situation faced by Palestinians. The session and the resolution were arranged by Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries, which have strongly supported Palestinians in their struggles with Israel.

The resolution, which was denounced by Israel, calls for the creation of a permanent “Commission of Inquiry” — the most potent tool at the council’s disposal — to monitor and report on rights violations in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. It would be the first such COI with an “ongoing” mandate.

The commission is also to investigate “all underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict” including discrimination and repression, according to the text. Amid signs that the resolution would pass, its authors added more teeth to its language with a late revision on Wednesday.

The revised text calls on states to refrain from “transferring arms” — the recipients were not specified — when they asses “a clear risk” that such weapons might be used to commit serious violations of human rights or humanitarian law. That appeared aimed to countries that ship weapons to Israel.

“Today’s shameful decision is yet another example of the UN Human Rights Council’s blatant anti-Israel obsession,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. “This travesty makes a mockery of international law and encourages terrorists worldwide.”

The Palestinian Authority welcomed the resolution, saying it amounted to “international

recognition of Israel’s systemic oppression and discrimination against the Palestinian people.”

“This reality of apartheid and impunity can no longer be ignored,” it added.

China and Russia were among those voting in favour. Several Western and African countries voted no.

British ambassador Simon Manley said the commission’s “overly expansive mandate ... risks hardening positions on both sides,” and Austrian ambassador, Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, said the session “continues the regrettable practice of singling out Israel for criticism in the Human Rights Council.”

Russian envoy Olga Vorontsova said the resolution “has the goal of establishing all of the facts behind all alleged violations in the latest period.” Venezuelan Ambassador Hector Constant Rosales said a resolution “condemning the genocidal action of the Israeli government” was urgently needed.

Israel had called on “friendly” countries to oppose the meeting,

and the United States — while not a member of the 47-member state body — did not take part, even in its status as an observer state. An array of countries denounced the latest violence and urged efforts to address the roots of the Mideast conflict.

After the vote, the US mission in Geneva said the United States “deeply regrets” the move to create an “open-ended” Commission of Inquiry. It said some unspecified member states of the council “have chosen to engage in a distraction that adds nothing to ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian efforts” in the region.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, who spoke early in the session, called on Israel to allow an independent probe of military actions in the latest spasm of deadly violence, which left devastation and death in the Gaza Strip before a ceasefire last week.

The 11-day war killed at least 248 in Gaza, including 66 children and 39 women. In Israel, 12 people also died, including two children.

STUDY SEEKS ORIGINS OF ‘GHOST NETS’

HONOLULU Associated Press

“GHOST nets” from unknown origins drift among the Pacific’s currents, threatening sea creatures and littering shorelines with the entangled remains of what they kill.

Lost or discarded at sea, sometimes decades ago, this fishing gear continues to wreak havoc on marine life and coral reefs in Hawaii.

Now, researchers are doing detective work to trace this harmful debris back to fisheries and manufacturers — and that takes extensive, in-depth analysis on tons of ghost nets.

The biggest concern is that derelict gear keeps killing fish and other wildlife such as endangered Hawaiian monk seals, seabirds and turtles long after it’s gone adrift, said Drew McWhirter, a graduate student at Hawaii Pacific University and one of the study’s lead researchers.

“These nets bulldoze over our reefs before they hit shore,” McWhirter added. “They leave a path of destruction, pulling coral heads out, and can cause a lot of ecological damage.”

Ghost nets foul oceans throughout the world, but the Hawaiian Islands — with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to the east and another gyre of floating trash to the west — are an epicenter for marine waste.

HAWAII Pacific University graduate student Drew McWhirter, left, and Raquel Corniuk, a research technician at the university’s Center for Marine Debris Research, pull apart a massive entanglement of ghost nets on Wednesday in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Photo: Caleb Jones/AP Past efforts to identify origins of nets have proven difficult because debris comes from so many countries and nets have few, if any, unique identifying marks or features.

Experts believe many nets are lost accidentally, but boats occasionally ditch nets to avoid prosecution when fishing illegally. Other fishermen cut away portions of damaged nets instead of returning them to shore.

The ghost net study is being supervised by Hawaii Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research co-director, Jennifer Lynch, a research biologist with the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

“We’re going to have a very challenging time... trying to identify it back to its source,” said Lynch.

“And if we fail... that’s going to be increased evidence for policymakers to see the importance of gear marking and potentially bring those kinds of regulations to the front.”

For Lynch, it’s not about pointing fingers. Rather, she hopes the study, which will be presented to the fishing industry first, will help develop new ways to prevent damage to the marine environment.

“We’re doing this study in a very forensic way where we’re gathering as much evidence as we possibly can

so that we can present the best, most accurate story,” Lynch said.

The crew gets ghost nets from three sources: The main Hawaiian Islands, the fishing grounds of the Hawaii longline tuna fleet that often snags nets — and the shores of the uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which are part of Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument.

An April cleanup expedition to Papahanaumokuakea — the largest protected environment in the United States and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — brought back nearly 50 tons (45 metric tons) of nets and other lost gear.

In a shed on the university’s campus, researchers pull apart bundles of fishing gear, noting the relationships between items. Then samples are taken to a lab for analysis.

“We only really need a small sample here to really understand how it’s constructed,” said Raquel Corniuk, a research technician at the university.

Researchers look at about 70 different aspects of each piece of net, including its polymer types. “We look at how it’s twisted. Is it twisted versus braided? We are trying to look at how many strands does it have, its twine diameter, mesh stretch size,” Corniuk said.

The information is entered into a database,

which will help scientists find patterns that could lead to manufacturers and eventually individual fisheries or nations.

The researchers have spent about a year collecting data and hope to have findings peer reviewed and published this year.

Among the ghost gear are fish aggregation devices — or FADs — floating bundles of material fishing vessels leave in the ocean to attract fish. The devices have receivers linked to satellites, but when they drift outside designated fishing areas, they’re usually abandoned.

Mike Conroy, president of West Coast Fisheries Consultants, works with purse seine and gillnet operators off California. He said FADs are prohibited in U.S. waters and that fishers do everything they can to prevent loss of nets. “An average one of those nets is going to run the operator somewhere between 150 and 250 grand,” he said.

Conroy acknowledged ghost gear is a problem.

“These types of research activities will point the finger in the right direction,” he said. “I think what you’ll see is that West Coast fisheries probably aren’t contributing much.”

The researchers have already found debris from all corners of the Pacific, including Asian countries and the US West Coast.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 28, 2021, PAGE 11

ZIDANE

BOWS OUT

AT REAL

REAL Madrid’s head coach Zinedine Zidane.

MADRID Associated Press ZINEDINE Zidane is stepping down as Real Madrid coach, again.

The club said yesterday the Frenchman is leaving his job, a few days after a season in which Madrid failed to win a title for the first time in more than a decade. “(Zidane) decided to bring an end to his current spell,” the club said in a statement. “We must now respect his decision and express our gratitude for his professionalism, dedication and passion over the years and what he means to Real Madrid.”

Zidane had a contract through June 2022.

“Zidane is one of Real Madrid’s great icons and his legacy extends beyond what he has achieved as

Photo: Fermin Rodriguez/A{

a coach and player at our club,” Madrid said. “He is aware that he has a place in the hearts of the Real Madrid fans and that he will always have a home at Real Madrid.”

Zidane left the club for the first time after leading Madrid to one of its most successful runs from 20162018, with three consecutive Champions League titles.

In his two years and five months in charge, Madrid won a total of nine trophies, including two Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, one Spanish league and one Spanish Super Cup. He only won the league title once and a Spanish Super Cup in his second stint.

He quit the first time less than a week after leading the team to its third straight Champions League title, saying it was time for

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PRIZE MONEY ON RISE FOR NEXT THREE YEARS CHAMPIONS League teams will get more prize money for the next three years from a near eight per cent rise in total revenue to 3.5 billion euros ($4.27 billion) from broadcast and sponsor sales tied to UEFA’s three club competitions.

Total revenue is set to rise by 250 million euros ($305 million) annually through 2024 compared to the 2018-21 period, the European Leagues group said Thursday in an online conference.

Champions League clubs will get a small increase while 235 million euros ($287m) in prize money will be allocated to the Europa Conference League, a third-tier competition that launches next season.

The 32 Champions League clubs will share just over 2 billion euros ($2.44 billion), compared to 1.95 billion ($2.38 billion) each season from 2018-21. Small deductions are made from each club to help pay back broadcasters for disruption during the coronavirus pandemic last season.

Each Champions League club will get a basic fee of 15.64 million euros ($19.1m), compared to 15.25 million euros ($18.6m) in each of the past three seasons.

They get more from match results, advancing through each knockout round, a share of broadcast rights and as a reward for historical titles and success. The highest-earning club could get about 130 million euros ($160m).

The Europa League was worth 560 million euros ($684m) this season when there were 48 teams in the group stage.

From next season, the Europa League will pay out 465 million euros ($568m) with 32 teams in the group stage. It is worth a combined 700 million euros (854 million) with the 32-team Europa Conference League.

a change and that he didn’t see it clearly that the club would keep winning with him in charge.

Zidane had been dismissing talks about his future recently, saying that he would discuss it with the club. He said he believed that Madrid could do well without him as coach.

Madrid president Florentino Pérez had said sometime ago he was pleased with Zidane and hoped the would stay with the club.

Among the possible candidates being talked about to replace Zidane were Massimiliano Allegri, Antonio Conte, Xabi Alonso, and former Madrid great Raúl González, who has been coaching Madrid’s “B” team — just like Zidane was before taking over the over the main squad for the first time in 2016.

Zidane, who was yet to speak publicly after Thursday’s announcement, left as the second-most successful coach at Madrid, trailing the 14 titles won by Miguel Muñoz in his 14 seasons at the club in the 1960s and 70s. Zidane was at the club’s helm for 263 matches, with 174 victories, 53 draws and 36 loses.

Zidane’s second stint as coach began in March 2019, less than a year after he left for the first time. The team was in crisis after a disastrous season that included losses to rival Barcelona and elimination to Ajax in the round of 16 of the Champions League.

But his second run ended with Madrid enduring its least successful season since 2009-10, which was the last time it didn’t win a title.

Madrid fought for the Spanish league title until

the final round but finished two points behind city rival Atlético Madrid, failing to defend its title and lift backto-back league trophies for the first time since 2007-08.

In the Champions League, Zidane led the team to the semi-finals, eventually eliminated by Chelsea. In the Copa del Rey, Madrid lost to thirddivision club Alcoyano in the round of 32.

Zidane had to deal with a series of setbacks in his squad because of injuries. It was without captain Sergio Ramos for nearly the entire second half of the season, and he also couldn’t count much on Eden Hazard.

Other key players who were not available for extended periods included Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vázquez and Marco Asensio.

Zidane struggled to put together a consistent

starting lineup, and he often tried to switch schemes between matches. A move to a 3-5-2 formation worked well in some games but failed miserably in others, giving him little confidence to set up his teams.

In addition to Zidane’s departure, there’s also doubt about whether Ramos will return, and major signings are not likely as the club continues to struggle financially amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Ramos was among several players who posted messages thanking Zidane.

Others included Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Marcelo, Lucas Vázquez, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Raphael Varane.

“I wish you all the best.

You deserve it,” Ramos said on Instagram. “Enjoy life, enjoy family.”

COACHES READY FOR EURO TEST THE last two World Cup winners, the defending European champion, and a World Cup finalist. Not to mention a Champions League winner and a Premier League champion. There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship.

A brief look at six of the top coaches in the tournament: JOACHIM LÖW (Germany) Löw has coached more games at the European Championship (17 spread over three editions) and won more matches (11) than any coach in tournament history. While he can add to those numbers this year, Löw has already announced that he will step down after the tournament.

Löw has been in charge for nearly 200 games — the most memorable being a 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semifinals. Germany then beat Argentina to win the World Cup. But Germany finished last in its group at the 2018 World Cup and Löw has since gone back on a decision to drop experienced players Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels.

Expectations are low for this Germany time.

DIDIER DESCHAMPS (France) Deschamps captained France to titles at the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship and is now looking to complete a similar double as coach of Les Bleus after guiding the team to the 2018 World Cup title. Deschamps

immediately when Dalić guided Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final. Duplicating the success of 2018 would be a surprise.

CLOCKWISE from top left, Joachim Löw, Roberto Mancini, Luis Enrique, Zlatko Dalic, Didier Deschamps and Fernando Santos. could have been chasing a third consecutive title if his team had not lost the 2016 European Championship final to Portugal. Deschamps, who took over France in 2012, previously coached Monaco, Juventus (in Serie B) and Marseille. France is a favorite for another title.

FERNANDO SANTOS (Portugal) Santos coached Portugal to the European title in 2016 then also won the inaugural UEFA Nations League with a squad led by Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s one of five coaches to have led two different teams at the European Championship after being in charge of Greece in 2012. His career as a club

coach has also gone back and forth between Portugal and Greece with stints at Porto, AEK Athens, Panathinaikos, Sporting Lisbon, Benfica and PAOK. Portugal is not expected to repeat its 2016 success.

ZLATKO DALIĆ (Croatia) Dalić is the rare European coach who made a name for himself in the Middle East. A former midfielder who never represented his country, Dalić coached Al-Hilal to the Saudi Crown Prince Cup then reached the Asian Champions League final with Al-Ain. Croatian soccer federation president Davor Šuker has acknowledged that it was a gamble hiring Dalić in 2017. But the gamble paid off

LUIS ENRIQUE (Spain) Having won just about everything as coach of Barcelona, including the Champions League, Luis Enrique is still looking to leave his mark with Spain. He left the Spain job for five months in 2019 to be with his 9-year-old daughter, Xana, who died of a type of bone cancer. Now he’s attempting to make Spain the first fourtime European champion and he’s going to do it without any Real Madrid players — marking a first for Spain at a major tournament. “Lucho,” as the coach is known, decided to drop Sergio Ramos following a season in which the veteran defender was plagued by injuries. Spain is considered an outside contender.

ROBERTO MANCINI (Italy) A former star forward for Italy, a Serie A champion as both player and coach, and a Premier League winner as manager of Manchester City, Mancini guided Italy to a perfect 10 wins in 10 qualifying matches. He was tasked with reviving an Azzurri squad that failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and has already been given a contract extension through the 2026 World Cup. A four-time World Cup champion, Italy’s lone European Championship title came in 1968. A title isn’t expected of Italy this time.

PAGE 12, Friday, May 28, 2021

BRADLEY’S HIT IN 10TH GIVES BREWERS 6-5 VICTORY OVER PADRES

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP SPORTS WRITER MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackie Bradley Jr. delivered the type of clutch hit that could help him pull out of his season-long slump.

Bradley’s two-out shot off the right-field wall brought home Omar Narváez in the 10th inning to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

“I feel like that was special for him,” said Brewers shortstop Willy Adames, who had four hits, a threerun homer and four RBIs. “We all need an at-bat like that, but I feel like for him it’s really special.”

Bradley signed a $24 million, two-year deal with the Brewers in March after eight seasons with the Boston Red Sox. He is hitting .157 with his new team.

“My performance has been abysmal, and there’s no excuse for it,” Bradley said. “But I’m going to continue to come in every single day, put the work in and kind of let the chips fall where they may.”

That made his big hit Thursday particularly satisfying.

Bradley’s big play helped the Brewers earn a four-game split with the Padres, who had won in 10 innings a day earlier. The Padres lost for just the second time in 13 games.

Eric Hosmer had a two-run homer for the Padres. Fernando Tatis Jr. went 2 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs, though the shortstop also committed two errors on one play.

Keston Hiura led off the 10th with a sacrifice that advanced Narváez, the automatic runner who started on second under pandemic rules. Luis Urías hit a fly to right that wasn’t deep enough to score the runner.

Bradley responded with a hit off Miguel Diaz (2-1) that was officially ruled a single.

Successful “This is a guy that’s done a lot of great things in his career,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Played in some huge games, been really successful in enormous games. He’s gotten off to a slow start. There’s no other way to slice it. It’s been frustrating for him for sure.

“But, look, moments of success and being the hero on a day like this, it lets you sleep easier and it puts a smile on your face.”

Brent Suter (4-3) held the Padres scoreless in the 10th, thanks in part to a couple of nice plays from Urías at third base.

While Bradley’s hit gave the Brewers the victory.

Adames was the biggest star of the game as he continues making an impact since coming over from Tampa Bay on Friday.

“I’ll use the word ‘leader,’ “ Counsell said.

“That’s what it is. He does a lot of things really well, and I think his positive attitude rubs off on others.

His energy rubs off on others.”

Adames’ homer off Craig Stammen put the Brewers ahead 5-3 in the seventh.

Adames then made a huge play in the field after San Diego tied the game and nearly took the lead in the eighth against Devin Williams.

Jurickson Profar led off the eighth a walk, stole second and scored on Tatis’ bloop hit to left.

Tatis advanced to third when Hosmer singled.

That brought up pinchhitter Manny Machado, who lined a double to right-center that brought home Tatis with the tying run.

Hosmer also tried to score on the play but was thrown out by Adames.

“They ran a clean cut and relay, and Adames came up and threw an absolute strike,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler said.

“If it’s anywhere left and right... I think Hos gets in there.”

THE TRIBUNE

Reds beat the Nationals 3-0 after Washington wins suspended game 5-3

By IAN NICHOLAS QUILLEN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Sonny Gray pitched six innings of two-hit ball and the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Nationals 3-0 in seven innings on Thursday night for a split after Washington won 5-3 in the completion of a suspended game.

Trea Turner and Josh Bell hit run-scoring singles in the sixth inning for the Nationals in the finish of a game that started Wednesday night.

Gray (1-3) struck out five, walked one and required only two putouts from his outfield to complete Cincinnati’s first series win in Washington since 2015.

“The thought the whole day was challenge guys and throw seven innings,” said Gray, who threw 54 of 90 pitches for strikes and was removed partially because he took a liner to his glove on his final out.

“I think that just made the decision easy for me,” said manager David Bell, who expects Gray to be fine. “He was in a little bit of pain. I think even for a pitcher, it’s a little bit shocking to get a ball hit that hard back at you.”

Eugenio Suárez hit his 11th homer and first leadoff shot of his career. The drive came against Stephen Strasburg (1-2), who allowed all three runs and departed after a two-run fifth.

Jesse Winker singled in a run off the second-base bag and Tyler Naquin doubled inside the left field line. Gray also singled in the inning, one of five hits Strasburg allowed.

“I thought he kept us in the ballgame,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Unfortunately, we’re out of the inning and the ball hits the base. The next guy hits the ball to left field.”

Lucas Sims worked the ninth for his third save.

Washington led 3-0 when Wednesday night’s game was suspended in middle of the fourth inning following

CINCINNATI Reds Eugenio Suarez runs to third on a single by teammate Jesse Winker during the fifth inning of the resumption of a rain-delayed baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Washington, Thursday. Winker was out at second. (AP Photo/ Manuel Balce Ceneta) a rain delay of 3 hours, 4 minutes.

When it resumed Thursday afternoon, Austin Voth (1-0) allowed two hits in two scoreless innings to follow the four scoreless innings Joe Ross pitched on Wednesday.

“For me, I tried to treat it like I was coming out of the bullpen,” said Voth, who has 21 starts over his big league career but none this season.

“Today kind of felt normal,” he added. “Like I was preparing for a day game. It didn’t seem too weird.”

Daniel Hudson allowed two inherited runners to score in a three-run eighth, and Brad Hand worked the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances.

Nick Castellanos and Tucker Barnhart singled in runs for the Reds, and Kyle

Farmer added a sacrifice fly.

Winker had four hits.

“We didn’t quit,” Barnhart said. “We put some good at-bats together in the eighth. We just couldn’t get anything going in the ninth.”

Ross and Starlin Castro singled in runs Wednesday, and Alex Avila drew a bases-loaded walk off Jeff Hoffman (3-4), who gave up two runs, two hits and five walks in 1 1/3 innings.

TRAINERS ROOM Reds: Hoffman, who was placed on the 10-day injured list after he left Wednesday’s game with shoulder soreness, returned to Cincinnati and was evaluated. “He has a shoulder impingement,” Bell said.

“It’s not going to require surgery. He’s going to have an aggressive rehab on it and try to get back as quick

as he can.”

Nationals: RHP Tanner Rainey was activated from the COVID-19 injured list and RHP Kyle McGowin was optioned to Triple-A Rochester.

Rainey came on to start the eighth, allowing three runs and three singles without retiring a batter.

McGowin appeared as the 27th man on the roster in the second game. ... RHP Erick Fedde has been cleared to participate in baseball activities on Friday but remains on the COVID19 injured list. “He’s missed some time,” Martinez said of Fedde, whose last start came on May 16. “We’ve got to figure out a good game plan for him to keep him healthy.”

‘BE A BALLPLAYER’ Gray helped his own cause with five infield

assists, a single and a run scored while being bumped up to eighth in the lineup.

“I just tried to be a ballplayer, slide my pants up and try to play baseball,” Gray said. “It was a fun baseball game.”

A FIRST-RATE IDEA Suarez is 4 for 12 with a walk and two homers since moving up to the leadoff spot to start the series, lifting his average 12 points to .160.

“If anything, it’s just kind of shifted his mindset a little bit,” Bell said. “Just really good swings he’s taking.

UP NEXT Reds:: RHP Vladimir Gutiérrez makes his major league debut Friday at Wrigley Field.

Nationals: LHP Jon Lester (0-2) starts Friday against Milwaukee.

MANOAH DOMINATES TO WIN DEBUT, BLUE JAYS SPLIT DH WITH YANKS

By LARRY FLEISHER Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A poised and confident Alek Manoah dominated the Yankees with six innings of two-hit ball to win his major league debut, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York 2-0 on Thursday in a doubleheader opener.

New York rebounded to win the second game 5-3 behind Aaron Judge’s tying, two-run homer in the third inning off Robbie Ray and Gary Sánchez’s go-ahead solo drive in the fourth.

Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette hit back-to-back homers in the third inning off Domingo Germán (4-3), and Toronto improved to 6-3 against the Yankees this season by winning the makeup of Wednesday night’s rainout. Bichette provided a 3-1 lead in the second game with a three-run homer.

A 23-year-old right-hander selected 11th in the 2019 amateur draft, Manoah (1-0) was brought up after throwing only 35 professional innings in the minor leagues.

His mother Susana, wearing a white Blue Jays jersey with her son’s name and with her son’s name on the back, was part of a cheering section that stood out among the sparse crowd for the late-afternoon start and was visible crying when he faced AL batting champion DJ LeMahieu to start his big league career. She later blew her son kisses from the stands.

“I think everyone was hearing the Manoahs today,” the pitcher said with a chuckle.

Manoah became the the second Blue Jays starting pitcher to throw six scoreless innings in his debut after Mauro Gozzo in 1989.

“I just want to take it all in, and just really enjoy the moment,” Manoah said. “Obviously. there’s another outing in five days, so I got to get ready for that, but just for today, just want to hug my whole family and I think that’s what I’m going to enjoy the most, is how many people came out to see me, called off (work) sick, made excuses whatever the case may be.

They made sure to be here, so I think that’s what I’ll remember the most.”

Manoah, a burly 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, wore jersey No. 6, his Triple-A number, and a favourite of

13th homer. Judge added a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Jonathan Loiasiga (4-2) pitched a scoreless fifth inning around three hits in relief of Jordan Montgomery, and with closer Aroldis Chapman sick, Chad Green pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.

TORONTO Blue Jays Alek Manoah delivers a pitch during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the New York Yankees Thursday, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) his because LeBron James wore it with the Miami Heat.

Manoah walked LaMahieu on four pitches but then struck out Rougned Odor on three pitches, the last a changeup. Judge swung so hard in missing a 3-1 fastball that he fell, then was way behind in striking out on a 97.3 mph full-count pitch, Manoah’s fastest of the game.

“I think those first four pitches were the most nervous, most excitement I had all day, and then after those four, I was kind of like I don’t want to suck,” Manoah said. “So let’s lock it in right here and let’s start pitching. Forget about everything else, we got to pitch.”

Manoah allowed singles to Miguel Andújar in the second and fifth inning. He struck out seven and walked two, throwing 60 of 88 pitches for strikes and getting 10 swings and misses. He threw 30 fastballs, 26 sliders, 19 sinkers and 13 changeups “It was a little odd,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Manoah’s cheering section. “It was a little unique and certainly

different playing here.”

Jordan Romano worked a 1-2-3 seventh for his second save, finishing a two-hitter in the seven-inning game under pandemic rules. New York did not advance a runner past first base as the Yankees were blanked for the second time this season. Toronto pitched its fourth shutout.

Semien and Bichette gave the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead by hitting 374foot homers in a four-pitch span.

Semien hit his 13th homer by lining a 2-1 fastball to left and Bichette followed with his 10th by driving a 1-1 changeup to left.

German allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings, dropping to 4-1 in seven starts since he was recalled on April 22.

In the second game, Sánchez put the Yankees ahead 4-3 with a 444foot drive over the left-field fence on a full count slider from Ray (2-2), Sánchez’s sixth home run this season.

Judge sent a 3-0 fastball onto the netting in Monument Park in center field, a 440-foot drive for his

TRAINER’S ROOM Blue Jays: OF George Springer (strained right quadriceps) caught fly balls and threw to bases. Manager Charlie Montoyo said it was the best Springer has felt since injuring his quad but did not say what the next step would be. Springer has been limited to four games due to the injury. ... RHP Travis Bergen (left shoulder impingement) was placed on the injured list, retroactive to May 24. ... LHP Tommy Milone (shoulder inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day IL. .... RHP Anthony Kay (blister) who was optioned last week to Triple-A Buffalo was placed on the injured list and is expected to start a rehab assignment Sunday.

Yankees: RHP Corey Kluber (sprained right shoulder) was placed on the injured list and was awaiting a second opinion. He exited Tuesday’s game with right shoulder tightness and is expected to miss two months. ... 1B Luke Voit (oblique strain) was placed on the injured list. ... DH Giancarlo Stanton (strained left quadriceps) could be activated for Friday’s series opener in Detroit. ... It was unclear whether Chapman would travel with the team to Detroit. ... LHP Zack Britton (bone spur in left elbow) will start a rehab assignment Saturday for Double-A Somerset. ... RHP Luis Severino, who had Tommy John surgery on Feb. 27 last year, threw about 35 pitches to hitters Wednesday and is getting close to starting a minor league rehabilitation assignment. . OF Estevan Florial and RHP Albert Abreu were recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to replace Kluber and Voit. Florial started the second game and hit a double in the sixth.

UP NEXT Blue Jays: LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (4-2, 2.53 ERA) starts Friday’s series opener at Cleveland.

Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (6-2, 1.81 ERA) starts Friday’s series opener at Detroit.

THE TRIBUNE

BUCKS PUT HEAT ON BRINK, WIN 113-84 FOR 3-0 SERIES LEAD

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Another game. Another blowout.

The Milwaukee Bucks have a chance to sweep the Miami Heat out of the playoffs, and they’re making the task of dispatching the reigning Eastern Conference champions look very simple.

Khris Middleton scored 22 points, Jrue Holiday added 19 points and 12 assists and the Bucks took a 3-0 lead in their East first-round series with a 113-84 victory in Miami on Thursday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds for Milwaukee, which can finish the sweep and move into the East semifinals with a win Saturday afternoon.

“The last two games haven’t been easy,” Antetokounmpo said.

“Obviously, we were up 30, but it’s not easy. ... I’ll say this: I’ll say by us doing our job, I’m not surprised that we’re able to win a game because once we focus on ourselves, play together, have fun and be tough, good things are going to happen. And in these three games, good things have happened for us.”

Miami has lost three games by 29 points or more this season — all against Milwaukee, two of them in the last two games of this series. The Bucks held leads of 51 and 36 points against Miami in games earlier this season; the margin got to 32 on Thursday night.

And as if Milwaukee needed another edge, there’s this: No team in NBA history has ever squandered a 3-0 series lead.

Control “We’re not worried about that. We control what we can control, and that’s how we play, that’s how we prepare, how we compete,” Miami forward Jimmy Butler said.

“Not too worried about what history says and all of that good stuff, but we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Butler scored 19 points and Bam Adebayo had 17 for Miami. Nemanja Bjelica — little-used by Miami this season, then called upon Thursday out of desperation for any sort of outside shooting — scored 14 points.

Milwaukee outrebounded Miami 56-41, held the Heat to 38% shooting and became the first team to top Miami by at least 29 points twice in the same playoff series.

And that’s after the Bucks beat Miami by 47, in Miami, back in December.

“We’ve got to continue to work,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.

“They have so many weapons on the other side. They do a lot of things that are hard to guard. Defensively, our focus, our attention to detail has got to stay high.”

The biggest Miami crowd of the season, by far — 17,000 in a building that in pre-pandemic times called 19,600 a sellout — showed up, most of them in their seats by tip-off, hoping that they would see the start of a turnaround.

Instead, in the biggest game of the season, they saw Miami’s slowest start of the season.

The Heat managed only eight points in the game’s first nine minutes, the fewest they managed in such a game-opening span since last August and the fewest to open a game on their home floor since Nov. 14, 2018.

It was 26-14 Milwaukee after one quarter, then the lead swelled to as much as 19 — 44-25 late in the second before got to 49-36 at the half.

That matched the fewest points allowed by the Bucks in a first half in more than three years.

“They’re making shots and they’re making tough ones,” Adebayo said.

“And the ball won’t go in for us.”

The margin swelled to 27 in the third quarter.

More than a few of those 17,000 fans didn’t stick around too much longer.

Friday, May 28, 2021, PAGE 13

THE LAKERS CELEBRATE PLAYOFF HOMECOMING IN 109-95 WIN OVER SUNS

LOS Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, top right, scores past Phoenix Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) and forward Jae Crowder (99) during the first half in Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Davis had 34 points and 11 rebounds, LeBron James added 21 points and nine assist and the Los Angeles Lakers celebrated their first home playoff game in more than eight years with a 109-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night in Game 3.

Dennis Schröder added 20 points and the seventh-seeded defending NBA champs took a 2-1 lead with their second straight victory in the first-round series. Los Angeles pulled away from erratic Phoenix in the second half for the second straight game, and a fierce late rally by the Suns came up short.

Game 4 is Sunday in Los Angeles.

Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the second-seeded Suns, who are in an early hole in their first postseason series in 11 years.

Phoenix also came unglued in the final minute when Devin Booker and Jae Crowder both were sent to the locker room early.

Booker scored 19 points on 6-of19 shooting, but the star guard was ejected with 35.4 seconds to play after committing a flagrant foul against Schröder. Moments later, Crowder got a technical foul, following Booker off the court after apparently trying to confront Schröder.

Phoenix also got another quiet game from Chris Paul, who played just 2 1/2 minutes in the fourth quarter even though coach Monty Williams said the star point guard’s shoulder had healed. Paul had seven points and six assists in 27 minutes.

Roughly 7,000 masked fans watched inside Staples Center as the Lakers hosted their first playoff game in their downtown arena since April 28, 2013. Los Angeles won its 17th title in the Florida bubble last October and the legions of fans confined to watching their beloved team’s rebirth on television turned up in force for this streak-breaking win.

Davis scored 18 points in the third quarter while staking the Lakers to a 17-point lead, and Wesley Matthews hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter while Los Angeles pushed its margin to 21.

Cameron Payne hit three 3-pointers in a late rally, but the Suns couldn’t get closer than eight points.

Phoenix won the series opener in

lead of the series midway through the third quarter when Schröder’s three-point play put them up 67-51, and Davis made a series of tough buckets to keep LA’s lead at double digits even without a 3-pointer in the quarter.

TIP-INS Suns: F Abdel Nader (knee) remained the only player in the series unavailable due to injury. ... Mikal Bridges had six points in 34 minutes.

Lakers: Starting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went to the locker room in the third quarter after bruising his left quadriceps. He didn’t return. Caldwell-Pope scored five points in 26 minutes. ... Andre Drummond had six points and 11 rebounds.

LONG TIME COMING The Lakers’ eight-year, two-month gap between home playoff games was an unprecedented stretch in franchise history.

Before the six-year postseason drought that ended last season, the Lakers had only missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons once in their first 66 seasons of existence.

The Lakers’ most recent playoff game at Staples was Game 4 of a firstround sweep by San Antonio in 2013.

That was the season that began with championship aspirations and ended with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash sidelined by injuries.

PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) grabs a rebound over teammate Mikal Bridges (25) during the first half. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) impressive fashion, but the Lakers answered with much-improved play in a 109-102 victory in Game 2. The Suns were the NBA’s best road team during their outstanding regular season, but the Lakers are proving to be the nightmare matchup most expected when the champs slipped to the bottom of the bracket due to injuries.

Williams said before the game that Paul was “a full go” after his bruised right shoulder that clearly limited him in both games in Phoenix. The 11-time All-Star point guard still didn’t appear to be playing at his

usual strengths at Staples Center, his former home with the Clippers.

Both teams got off to solid offensive starts in Game 3, but both then fumbled through a dismal second quarter featuring just 28 points on combined 9-for-39 shooting.

The Lakers also got a worry when Davis came down awkwardly and appeared to be moving gingerly both before and after halftime.

But Los Angeles made a 16-6 run out of the break led by James, who increased his aggression and broke down Phoenix’s defence.

The Lakers took their biggest

KING VS JAE James had another yet lively meeting with Crowder — his former Cleveland teammate, his opponent in last year’s NBA Finals against Miami, and the Lakers fans’ leastfavorite Phoenix player, as evidenced by numerous derogatory chants of his name.

James got a standing ovation when he drew an offensive foul on Crowder with seven minutes to play.

Crowder also struggled from the field, to Staples Center’s delight: He missed his first seven shots, including six 3-pointers, before finally hitting a jumper with 6:43 left.

BIG SWITCH Torrey Craig and Frank Kaminsky effectively bumped Dario Saric from the Suns’ rotation for Game 3.

Saric, who scored six points in 26 minutes and occasionally got roasted on defence by James in the first two games, didn’t play.

The Colonel’s Choice – part two THE PRESS BOX

By IÑIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA

After KFC Nassau refurbished the infield, dugouts and outfield fence caps there was only the grass to be attended to.

No easy task I might add.

Especially with excited starry eyed 10-year-olds asking insistently “Coach Naughty what about the outfield grass, they gonna fix that to?”

After intense weeding and raking, the original grass that was salvageable was landscaped properly and maintained, leaving about three quarters of the outfield still in dire need of grass, or field turf which is quite a pretty penny.

After a few phone calls I was lucky enough to come across the good folks at AG Five Star and Turf Ltd. in Abaco.

They are huge baseball fans and supporters of youth sports, and to make a long story short a special order of grass will be in town in late July to be laid and preened in August and September, ready for the 2022 season to kick off in November.

Now the only hurdle I had left to jump was . . . who’s going to pay for the special order of grass?

Back to the phones to tap in to my inner “Chili Palmer” and, what do you know, two more calls landing two generous donations from John’s Shoes and Mega Malt.

In addition to some anonymous donors that came onboard after reading last weeks column and contributed handsomely.

The “dream” of the outfield having grass has become a reality.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, Digi Print and Signs Ltd. came on board to donate all the sponsorship signage for the entire 12U /10U field.

Watch out, by the opening of the 10U season, Major League Baseball fields won’t have anything on “The Colonel’s Choice” field at Freedom Farm.

Thank you again to KFC Nassau and the aforementioned sponsors above, and all of your generosity in this regard thus far, you are setting a great example as corporate sponsors.

Please continue to support youth sports and the

youth of our nation in any way you can.

Until next week I’m off to practice, the mighty Groupers of the Freedom Farm 10U division have

two games this weekend on their new field.were able to adjust in Game 2.

However, the Suns should still feel confident in this match-up.

Not all teams have a player who can go toe-totoe with the Lakers’ big men especially Davis. The Suns have Ayton. And maybe he’s all they need.

DEANDRE THE GIANT

On another note, despite trying to eliminate my Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, hats of to our very own Deandre Ayton.

Ayton has averaged 21.5 points and 13.0 rebounds in 39.3 minutes in his first two postseason games, shooting a remarkable 21-of-24 from the field while regularly defending Anthony Davis.

Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis admitted that Deandre Ayton’s offensive rebounding killed them in Game 1.

Ayton had a total of 16 rebounds — eight of which were from the offensive boards. This translated to 12 secondchance points for the Suns.

One would assume that there’s no way Ayton would out-rebound the massive Lakers squad.

Surprisingly, this was the reality the Lakers faced in Game 1.

Suns Head coach Monty Williams seems to have identified that the Lakers switch on pick-and-roll situations.

This makes sense since a lot of NBA teams have opted to play small ball. Also, the Lakers have a very disciplined set of players who are also diligent in their defensive rotations.

DEANDRE Ayton and LeBron James.

However at the end of the day, it’s still the bigger player who has the advantage and due to defensive switches and or bad matchups, Ayton has been the ‘bigger’ player when it counts.

Davis and the Lakers

PAGE 14, Friday, May 28, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

GABI LAURENT, second from left, is pictured with Ranger College men’s basketball team after they won their first Regions 5 Championship title.

Laurent gets the top job from back page Additionally, Laurent said he will also be looking at helping to recruit some male players for Ranger College as well when he returns home.

“I don’t have the words

to explain it,” said Laurent about becoming another Bahamian head coach in any sport, particularly basketball. “I am just so proud.”

No one seemed to admire Laurent’s accomplishment more than Bowleg, who is now the president of the

BBF. “When I got the call last night (Wednesday), that was one of the happiest and proudest moment in my lifetime to see a former player, who I helped to get off to the same school where he obtained his education, to play and move up the ranks

as an assistant coach in the men’s programme and now to be the head coach of the women’s programme,” Bowleg stressed.

“To be able to get the recommendation and then the nomination and now to become the head coach of the women’s team tells me

that which he learnt over the years under the various coaches, has certainly elevated him to this position today.”

Bowleg said it bodes well for the Bahamas to have another Bahamian advance to the coaching ranks and it will only benefit the

country, the BBF and basketball in general, as they continue to move to the next level.

Laurent, the son of single parent Eda Lubin, is married to Breanna Laurent and they are the proud parents of a son, Jamir King Laurent.

Cartwright makes Trojans switch

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN collegiate football player, Michael Cartwright, officially announced his intention to transfer and join the Virginia State University Trojans football programme.

In April, the redshirt freshman offensive lineman announced his intention to leave the North Carolina Central Eagles and enter the transfer portal following his

two-year tenure with the programme.

“I just want to thank God for everything he’s done for me because without him none of this will be possible...I’ll be committing to Virginia State University. I would like to thank Coach Barlow [head coach Reggie Barlow] and Coach Watson [offensive line coach Trumaine Watson] for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m locked and ready to work. Let’s get it.”

The Virginia State University football team finished the 2020 season 8-2 and secured a spot in the NCAA Super Region 2 Playoff.

The 6’5 330 pound offensive lineman was a redshirt as a true freshman in 2019 and did not see time during the 2020 season.

“I just want to thank the NCCU family for making me feel so welcomed the past two years. I’ve made a lot of life lasting friendships and I’ve done things I’ve never thought I would’ve never done but I’ll never regret any moment of it. My time and experience at NCCU will last a lifetime. Thank you NCCU football for the opportunity you guys gave me when nobody else would.”

Carwright entered NCCU as a 3-star rated offensive tackle by 247Sports. He was selected the top performer

at the Nike “The Opening” Combine in Miami, Florida. As a senior he was named to the Miami Herald’s All-Dade Class 5A Independent Football First Team with 65 pancake blocks. Champagnat won the 2017 Florida High School Athletic Association State Championships Class 2A State Championship and finished as runners up in 2019. In high school he was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, track and field). In basketball, averaged 12.6 points and 15 rebounds per game and In track and field, became Champagnat’s first multiple district champion in the shot put.

Prior to his senior season, Cartwright, re-entered the recruitment cycle when he de-committed from the University of Indiana Hoosiers in December 2018. He originally announced his commitment to join the Hoosiers last July but according to Cartwright, the second chance at recruitment gave him an opportunity to “re-evaluate everything and to make the best decision for me as a person, player and most importantly a student.”

Cartwright previously received offers from the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Kent State Golden Flash, UCF Knights, UAB Blazers, Georgia State Panthers, Temple Owls, UMass Minutemen, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Tulane Green Wave, FIU Golden Panthers, Marshall Thundering Herd, FAU Owls, Southern Mississippi Eagles, Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions and the Pittsburgh Panthers.

MICHAEL CARTWRIGHT, who will be switching from the North Carolina Central Eagles to join the Virginia State University Trojans.

FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH FOR SANDS from back page

After she fouled her first attempt, Sands came back and did 19-11 (6.07m) on her second attempt to sit in second place. She emerged to the top of the standings in the third round. She did 19-0 3/4 (5.81m) on her fourth and fouled her final two jumps.

Destiny Copeland, a sophomore at Indiana Tech, was second with 20-0 1/4 (6.10m).

Also on Thursday, Wayland Baptist’s senior Coshan Campbell won her heat of thed women’s 800 metres in two minutes and 12.36 seconds for the third fastest qualifying time for today’s final.

And on Wednesday as

well, Indiana Tech women’s 4 x 100 metre relay team of Sha’londa Terry, Soyinne Grenyion, Derica Gibson and Bahamian Antonishka Deveaux won their heat in 40.70 seconds for the third fastest time in the preliminaries.

Deveaux was also sixth in her heat of the women’s 200m in 24.65 for 21st overall as she didn’t advance.

Jaqual Bush, a Southeastern University freshman, won the heat in 23.59 for the second fastest qualifying time. The fastest time was posted by Willim Carey’s senior Aniekeme Etim in 23.55.

And Campbell, running the second leg, watched as her Wayland Baptist’s team got disqualified in the women’s 4 x 800m relay. The

other members of the team were Kosgei Dorcas, Elizabeth Williams and Teresha Jacobs.

Meanwhile, a number of Bahamians are competing for their respective schools at the NCAA West and East Regionals in their bid to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, scheduled for June 9-12 at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

NCAA West Regional At Bryan-College Station in Texas, there was a protest lodged in the preliminaries of the women’s 100m hurdles that featured three Bahamians.

Oral Roberts University’s senior got a third place finish in her heat in a season’s best of 113.19 for the 18th best time,

while team-mate Gabrielle Gibson trailed her in 19th in 13.20 after she was fourth in her heat as they both advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinal.

However, Washington State’s sophomore Charisma Taylor was sixth in her heat in 13.37 for sixth in her heat. She placed 28th overall, but didn’t move on.

Two Bahamians also turned in season’s best performances in the women’s 100m preliminaries to move onto Saturday’s quarterfinal.

Grand Bahamian Brianne Bethel, a junior at the University of Houston, came in second in her heat in 11.12 for seventh overall and freshman Camille Rutherford was third in her heat in 11.27 for 14th spot.

The duo came back in the 200m with Bethel getting second in her heat in 22.91 for 10th overall, while Rutherford was third in her heat in another season’s best 23.22 for 21st overall as they both advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals.

The Regional got underway on Wednesday as Arkansas’ senior Laquan Nairn had to settle for 27th in the men’s long jump with his best mark of 24-3 1/2 (7.40m) coming on his first attempt.

Nairn followed that with 22-5 (6.83m) on his second attempt and fouled his third. He will be back in action today when he compete in his specialty in the triple jump.

Also today, Kyle Alcine, a junior at Kansas State, will

be competing in the men’s high jump and on Saturday, Serena Brown, a junior at Iowa, will be competing in the women’s discus.

NCAA East Regional In Jacksonville, Florida, University of Kentucky’s Megan Moss posted her lifetime best of 52.39 on Thursday for second in her heat of the women’s 400m as she advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals with the sixth fastest time.

Today, Indiana’s junior Jyles Etienne will be featured in the men’s high jump, while Purdue’s junior Tamar Greene will compete in the triple jump, senior Samson Colebrook will have double sprint duties in the 100 and 200m and Miami’s Xavier Coakley will be in the 110m hurdles.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 28, 2021, PAGE 15

A familiar name but Tarajh taking his own path as a sportsman

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net TARAJH Hudson could have easily followed in the footsteps of his father Oral Hudson as a volleyball player, but he’s excited about notching his own name in the throwing events in the sport of track and field.

Over the weekend at the 18th Star Performances Track Classic at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Hudson inked his name on another Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ junior national record when he won the under-20 boys’ discus.

The Blue Chips Athletics’ representative had a winning toss of 180-feet, or 54.87 metres that replaced the previous junior national record held by Drexel McIntosh of 179-8 (54.78m) that he posted at the BAAA’s junior Nationals on June 12, 2015.

It was the second national record breaking heave by Hudson this year. On March 19 at the Red-Line Athletics Track Classic, Hudson surpassed McIntosh’s old mark of 52-1 1/4 (15.88m) in the shot put with his winning feat of 52-10 (16.10m).

The St Augustine’s College 2020 graduate, however, said he was particularly pleased with his latest accomplishment, which was also listed as a qualifier for the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships.

“It was good. We’re coming down to the end of the local meets, so it’s a good place to be,” said the 18-year-old Hudson. “I still want to improve a little bit

more, but to continue to improve and get better each meet is a good thing.”

In his series of throws, Hudson’s best performance came on his fourth attempt, which showed his ability to adjust to the competition and come through in the clutch situation.

“I went into it with a different mindset than I usually do,” Hudson said. “I was just concentrating more on executing the techniques that coach (Corrington Maycock) and I worked on in practice.

“I knew that once I continue to improve on my technique, the distance would come. So I got to the meet and just tried to stay composed until it was time to compete.”

The NACAC Championships is scheduled for , but Hudson said he would have to wait on the BAAA’s ratification or at least until after the National Championships to confirm his spot on the team.

Hudson, however, said the goal wasn’t NACAC, but rather the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in which he would have to throw at least 187-0 (57.00m) to qualify.

“I’ve been hitting the qualifying standard in practice over the last couple of weeks,” he noted. “Saturday wasn’t the best day for discus throwing. We had a head wind, so that affected my throws a little.

“So I have to learn how to deal with those conditions so I can throw even further than I am right now, regardless of the wind and which direction it is going in. But I am pretty close to the qualifying mark.”

Over the next few weeks, Hudson said he will continue to work on his strength with the heavier

weights as they go back into the gym to train. He also wants to focus on his technique where he has to utilize the space in the circle on the field.

“I still have a few more inches in the circle where I could use the full eight feet,” he said. “So I am going to be working on the little details in the throw and be ready to improve on my distances.”

Although he was hoping to go to the Carifta Games and turn in another stellar performance for the Bahamas, Hudson said he just has to remain focused on the bigger prize ahead of him.

“I’m not disappointed that Carifta was canceled, but I understand why,” he insisted. “You don’t want to go to the meet and something bad happens in reference to Covid-19.

“Coming into the season, Carifta wasn’t my main goal or the focus, so I feel if it was, I would have been disappointed. But the main focus for the beginning of the season was to try to make the World Junior team and I’m pretty close to it, so I’m not really upset about not going to Carifta.”

At 6ft 4ins, Hudson had all the potential to be an outstanding volleyball player like his father.

But he admitted that he fell in love with track and field and the field events, particularly his signature event in the discus.

“I played high school volleyball up to grade nine and a little in grade 10,” he said.

“But my father never forced us to stick with the sport, but continued to excel in whatever we wanted to do.

“I don’t think it was a letdown to him that I started to throw because he saw the

improvements that I was making. Going into throwing allowed me to create my own path and not so much

follow in his footsteps.”

Hudson has two older siblings, Taja and Tarajo, born to parents Taraseta

and Oral Hudson, whom he indicated have all been great inspiration to him in his throwing events.

BAHAMAS BOWL TO RETURN AFTER PANDEMIC BREAK THE 2021 bowl season will begin in The Bahamas this year as the longestrunning international bowl game in college football history, the Bahamas Bowl, will be played Friday, December 17, at noon ET. After a year away due to the pandemic, the Bahamas Bowl will play its seventh edition in Nassau’s 15,000seat Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, and the game will air in the United States on ESPN. “We are thrilled to

return to the bowl lineup and to be the opening game of Bowl Season this year,” said Bahamas Bowl executive director Richard Giannini.

“The bowl has been a fixture on the Bahamas sporting calendar since 2014, and the game has provided tremendous competition for our partner conferences at Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference.

“We have a fun gameday atmosphere for our fans

who attend the bowl, and it is a yearly showcase of the beauty of the Bahamas on ESPN. We know that the 2021 bowl will remind everyone why ‘Bowl Games are Better in The Bahamas’.”

Each year, American football fans travel to Nassau to see their universities play in the only bowl game played currently outside the United States.

The inaugural bowl game in 2014 saw WKU beat Central Michigan 49-48

in a memorable offensive shootout. In 2015, Western Michigan beat Middle Tennessee 45-31, Old Dominion held off Eastern Michigan 24-20 in the 2016 game, Ohio beat UAB 41-6 in 2017, FIU rallied to beat Toledo 35-32 in 2018 and Buffalo defeated Charlotte 31-9 in 2019.

As with the first six editions, the 2021 Bahamas Bowl will feature teams from Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference.

For more information on the 2021 Bahamas Bowl, visit BahamasBowl.com.

The game is one of 17 college bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. The Bahamas Bowl, the longest-running international bowl game in college football history, will provide student-athletes, conference partners, alumni, fans and sponsors a first-class international bowl experience while promoting The Bahamas

and highlighting the educational and athletic opportunities for the youth of The Islands through college football.

The seventh Bahamas Bowl will take place in Nassau, Bahamas on December 17, 2021, at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium between schools from Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference. The game will be televised nationally in the United States on ESPN.

SPORTS PAGE 16

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

LAURENT GETS THE TOP JOB

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net GABI Laurent, a former standout with the CC Sweeting Cobras men’s basketball team coached

by Mario Bowleg, has been elevated to the head coaching job of the Ranger College Lady Rangers basketball team.

Laurent, who graduated from CC Sweeting in 2011 and went on to play for the Rangers men’s basketball that same year, becomes just the second active Bahamian head coach of a women’s basketball programme.

Starting from the junior college level where he worked previously as an assistant coach of his alma mater under coach Larry Brown, Laurent joins Grand Bahamian Yolett McPhee-McCuin, who isin her fourth season as the head coach of the Ole Miss Lady Rebels team in NCAA Division One, While a member of the Cobras’ team, Laurent said he clearly remembers how Bowleg took them to the Coaches Clinic where they were used to demonstrate the plays to the visiting coaches from the United

States and Canada.

“I started learning from there,” Laurent said. “The players started calling me ‘coach’ because I could remember all of the plays the coach taught us.”

Brown, who was then the head coach of the Bahamas Basketball Federation men’s national team, recruited Laurent to play for him at Ranger College after he saw me play in an AAU basketball tournament with coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson in Orlando, Florida.

“When I came to Ranger, our team was the first team to win the conference title in 43 years,” Laurent recalled. “The second year, I didn’t play, but I was Larry’s assistant and we won the title again.”

After leaving for a short period of time, Brown returned to Ranger College this year and he reunited with Laurent as his assistant. When he didn’t coach, Laurent took over.

This year, Ranger College won the Conference Tournament again and they went on to win the Region Five title and they went on to play in the Final Four in the National Junior College Championships, the only school to have done it three

BAHAMAS BOWL WILL BE BACK

SEE PAGE 15

GABI Laurent holding the Ranger College men’s first Regions 5 championship title, won on April 10. out of five times.

“After the women’s coach (Bill Foy) resigned, he invited me into his office and was getting my input about the team, only to find out that he had recommended me for the job,” Laurent said “I was amazed by that because he was the coach of the team for 50 years and he came to me for advice. I didn’t know that he had me as the first choice to take over his position.”

Having assisted with Ranger College women’s basketball and soccer teams

for the past two years, Laurent said he went into his new position with some level of experience working with women.

“I feel great. I have a lot of confidence. I’m well prepared,” he said. “I was blessed to have worked with some great coaches like Mario Bowleg, Kevin Johnson, Larry Brown and Bill Foy and a few division one coaches at Baylor, Texas Tech and Pierre View College. I think I’m ready.”

Laurent, 27, said he’s eager to get to work. He’s already started recruiting,

selecting his first nine players and is trying to fill the final three spots. He said he intends to come back home this summer to start a recruiting process for next year.

At the same time, he is also expected to assist McPhee-McCuin with the women’s basketball team. He noted that he and McPhee-McCuin have already talked and will be meeting in the US very soon to start their preparation for the team.

SEE PAGE 14

‘I feel great. I have a lot of confidence.

I’m well prepared.

I was blessed to have worked with some great coaches like Mario Bowleg, Kevin Johnson, Larry Brown and Bill Foy and a few division one coaches at Baylor, Texas Tech and Pierre View College. I think I’m ready.’

ANFERNEE SEYMOUR FROM TRAGEDY JOINS THE 500 CLUB TO TRIUMPH

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net ANFERNEE Seymour’s recent production at the plate for the Kane County Cougars produced a career milestone.

Seymour tripled in the third inning on Wednesday night against the Gary Southshore Railcats to record the 500th hit of his professional baseball career.

He finished the night 2-5 with a double, triple, stolen base and an RBI but the Cougars’ saw their five game winning streak come to an end in a 7-6 loss at US Steel Yard in Gary, Indiana.

Hit number 501 was his double in the ninth inning.

Seymour hit .333 with four stolen bases in the series against the RailCats, a 2-1 edge for the Cougars who improved to 6-3 on the season. In game one he went 2-5 with an RBI and two stolen bases in Kane County’s 5-4 win. He followed with a 1-5 night with a run and another stolen base in a 5-1 win.

The veteran outfielder recorded hits in eight of his last nine games and has stolen at least one base in five consecutive games.

On the season, he is hitting .233 with a league leading 10 stolen bases and six runs.

Seymour was one of the Cougars’ first signees this season, the franchise’s first in the American Association of Professional Baseball.

The AAPB is an independent Major League Baseball Partner League.

The Cougars were formerly members of Minor League Baseball’s Midwest League, but the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a reorganisation of the minor leagues.

Seymour last appeared as a member of the Miami Marlins organisation with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp of the Double A Southern League. In 2019 Hurricane Dorian forced a premature end to the Southern League season.

Seymour finished the season just nine hits shy of 500 for his minor league career. On the season, he hit .261 with a .314 OBP, a .648 OPS and slugged .333 in 103 games. He totaled 72 hits, 92 total bases, 13 doubles, two triples, one home run, 28 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 30 runs scored.

Following the season, he opted for free agency in November.

He was originally drafted by the Marlins in 2014 and spent two years in the organisation before he was traded to the Braves in 2016 and returned to the Marlins for a second stint in 2018.

FOR SANDS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net A YEAR AGO, versatile Bahamian jumper Bria Sands skipped the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Outdoor Championships because of the death of her father, Leevan Sands Sr, On Thursday at the Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Alabama, the Life University senior just missed out on capturing her second title in two nights as she had to settle for second place in the women’s triple jump.

After taking the lead on her second attempt with a leap of 41-feet, 0 1/4-inches, Sands watched as Marian (Indiana) freshman Naomi Walters surged out front on her third attempt with 41-2 1/4 (12.55m).

Sands could only muster a distance of 41-0 1/2 (12.51) to trail Walters. While Walters struggled the rest of the way, Sands was consistent in the 12m mark, but none was able to push back out front.

Sands’ performance came after she made her triumphant return on Wednesday by capturing her first title in the women’s long jump with a leap of 20-feet, 2 1/2inches or 6.16 metres on her third attempt.

“I feel good. I am elated and looking forward to my next two events,” said Sands after her victory

BRIA SANDS in the long jump. “I just want to stay focused and give it all I got.”

Sands’ performance this week will be dedicated to her late father, which is one of the reasons why she

is so excited and optimistic about her return to the championships after missing last year.

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