05302023 NEWS AND SPORT

GAS DEALERS WANT 30 CENT INCREASE

Association: Govt discussed change to fuel margins

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

PETROLEUM retailers say they refuse to become “paupers” as they intensify demands for a 30 cent per gallon margin increase which they have been seeking to obtain from the Government since April 2022.

The Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association said it has been negotiating an adjustment in the gasoline

and diesel margins with the Davis administration for the past 13 months despite the government’s public stance that it will not agree to such an increase because it would also raise the cost of fuel for motorists and businesses.

The association said it agreed to wait for global oil prices to drop from their Ukraine invasion peak before any margin changes were implemented.

RCI UNVEILS CONSULTATION OVER BEACH RESORT PLAN

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ROYAL Caribbean International has released its first public consultation report for the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island - answering questions on issues such as wastewater treatment. The document’s release

comes as the company prepares another public consultation on June 8.

The first report was completed in 2021. The supplemental consultation period comes as critics question the project’s environmental impact.

Numerous questions were submitted to RCI,

CLINT WATSON MOVING TO ZNS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CLINT Watson is expected to step down as press secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister to become the new general manager of ZNS, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

One source said the change would be confirmed as early as Thursday.

In January, Mr Watson told reporters he was working with the state broadcaster as it goes

TWO DEAD IN WEEKEND OF VIOLENCE

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were murdered in separate incidents over the weekend, bringing the country’s murder count to 47 for the year. The first incident occurred around 11.30pm on Friday in the area of Hospital Lane.

A 20-year-old man was allegedly accosted by two armed men who emerged from a southwestern track road and opened fire on him.

Police were alerted to the incident via Shot Spotter technology. Upon arriving,

SEE PAGE THREE

MAN’S LEG IS NEARLY SEVERED IN AURA CLUB

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrrolle@tribunemedia.net

through an “improvement and upgrade” in its news department.

He would replace current ZNS acting general manager Andrew Burrows.

The reason for the leadership shift has been the subject of speculation among some.

One ZNS board member, who declined to speak on the record because of

FESTIVITIES at the Aura nightclub in Atlantis ended abruptly on Sunday night when a reveller suffered a gruesome injury that left his foot partially severed.

A video sent to The Tribune showed a man in distress on the club’s floor as a woman carefully held his foot in her hand, trying to prevent an even worse injury.

An eyewitness recalled hearing a woman screaming for help before seeing

SEE PAGE THREE

50th on Bay Street Festival celebrates independence

THE 50th on Bay Street Festival encouraged Bahamians to attend wearing national colours. The free street festival included an appearance by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, and there were chef demonstrations, music, entertainment, giveaways, a kids zone, food and more.

Photos: Austin Fernander

Clint Watson moving to ZNS

the sensitive nature of the matter, said the Davis administration wants someone at the helm of ZNS who has a close relationship with Mr Davis and administration members and who could help ensure the government’s message reaches the public. Some board members are said to be concerned about the station’s declining status in The Bahamas and want to see it reformed for the digital era.

Mr Watson served as director of news at Eyewitness News before joining the Davis administration. Before that, he was a reporter and editor at ZNS.

As press secretary, he helped formalise the role, making it a more public

NCTUB

position and accessible to reporters. Previous press secretaries had rarely engaged reporters or taken questions from the press –– though Anthony

Newbold did so for a short time at the start of the Minnis administration.

Under Mr Watson, pre-Cabinet interviews with ministers have also become more formal,

though some reporters have complained that the new process gives them less access to ministers than before. The OPM now hosts a weekly press briefing. It is

T WO DEAD IN WEEKEND OF VIOLENCE

from page one

they found a man unresponsive on Rogers Corner suffering from multiple gunshot injuries. The man died of his injuries at the scene.

The second incident occurred on Sunday around 3pm on Crepe Myrtle Avenue off Solider Road.

According to reports, the man was walking north towards Soldier Road when he was approached by a man dressed all in red and armed with a high-powered weapon, who shot him multiple times in his body.

unclear who will host the briefings when Mr Watson leaves.

In February, the OPM announced that Keishla Adderley was appointed deputy press secretary.

C ALLS ON GOV T TO REGULARISE CONT RACTUAL EMPLOYEES

BY JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter Jrussell@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) officials have called on the government to put an end to contractual work of employment, adding workers hired on a contract are being stripped of basic employment benefits.

Sherry Benjamin, vice president of the NCTUB, who also serves as the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union’s (BCPOU) president, spoke to reporters on Friday. She said workers in contractual

employment need to be regularised in organisations.

“We don’t know where this creature came from with contractual staff,” Ms Benjamin said. “However, it’s a creature that we’re trying to stamp out because it doesn’t benefit the workers in this country and it doesn’t benefit the employers.”

“What is happening now is you have persons on these long-term contracts and they are not able to go to the bank to just simply borrow money to buy a car or to get a home. There is no future for those persons.”

The vice president noted

man’s leg s nea l SEVERED IN AURA CLUB

a man on the ground with blood all around his ankle area.

“I saw him on the ground once the music stopped because it stopped kind of abruptly because everyone was confused and you kind of look over to the DJ’s wall and he’s on the floor and you see blood on his ankle or his foot is in a weird twisty direction,” said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous.

“I don’t like blood, so I was gagging and trying to run away but my friends were there, and they were looking at it and we all thought his foot snapped. We didn’t really get close enough to see like his foot was off of his body.”

“And so, they kicked us all out. They told us all to leave and as I was leaving, three police officers were coming inside and from there I got the video and I saw what happened and it was something else. It was wild.”

The woman said nothing was suspicious to suggest that a fight or a shooting occurred.

“That’s the part where we have no idea,” she said, “It looks like he was shot or someone sawed his foot off, but I don’t know anything for a fact and we didn’t hear anything that sounded like a gunshot.”

“It was just strange.”

Atlantis representatives declined to comment.

Police officials also offered no comment up to press time yesterday.

that contract work of employment has become a norm now, stressing the government needs to step in to address this matter.

“If you look at the Employment Act, a contract is supposed to be for a specific time period and a specific task. These people are doing work that regular employees do,” she said. “But yet they don’t have the benefits of regular employees.”

Ms Benjamin said these workers urgently should be regularised to receive the benefits of a full-time employee.

Secretary General, Daniel Thompson, said

employers often refuse to move workers from a contractual basis to permanence for the company’s advantage. He said once a worker isn’t permanent an employer can pay them less money, not offer pension, along with other benefits.

Additionally, the union has been ongoing with negotiations between the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) for the signing of its first industrial agreement for its faculty members.

“We have been at this negotiation now for 10 months,” he said.

“On Tuesday of this week, we submitted the

final draft after the negotiation process, and we are now waiting for BTVI to respond. And once they respond hopefully we can set a date to sign,” Mr Thompson said.

He added: “Though the government, on the one hand, advocates and supports good industrial relations. We find that many of these individual organisations have their own culture, their own mindset, and their own objectives.”

Mr Thompson said that ideally the signing is expected to be done during Labour Week.

The assailant reportedly fled the area in a small Japanese vehicle.

The victim was taken to hospital by a private vehicle, but died later of his injuries.

Meanwhile, police reported that a woman was shot and hospitalised after two other women argued in a bar on Minnie Street shortly after 1am on Friday.

As the argument escalated, one of the women went to her car, a silver coloured Japanese vehicle, and got a firearm, according to preliminary police reports. Shots were then fired at the bar, resulting in a woman employee being shot in both legs although she was not involved in the argument.

from page one

from page one

Former cabinet minister George Smith has died

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Cabinet

Minister George Smith, a nation-builder who remained active in politics as a mentor and advisor years after leaving the frontline, died on Friday. His death sparked tributes from Progressive Liberal Party and Free National Movement politicians. He was 83.

Mr Smith was a delegate to the London Conference on Independence in December 1972.

Born in Exuma, he won as a PLP candidate in the 1968 general election, serving continuously for 29 years. He formerly served as minister of agriculture, fisheries and local government.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, who had appointed Mr Smith as a PLP’s candidates committee member before the last general election,

remembered Mr Smith as a steadfast advocate for Bahamians.

“George served with distinction in various roles throughout his career, from his early days as a young member of the National Committee for Positive Action (NCPA) to his most recent roles as Special Advisor for our 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations and as the Non-resident Envoy to the Republic of Singapore,” he said. “His unwavering dedication, wealth of experience, and keen understanding of the intricacies of Bahamian history and identity made him a pillar in our society.

“As Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Local Government, George played a significant role in the accelerated production of agricultural and marine products, leading to the economic empowerment of many Bahamians. He also served as Chairman of the Bahamas

Telecommunications Corporation during the introduction of cellular services and of the Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas, overseeing key developments in our tourism sector.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said Mr Smith cared about the advancement of Exuma.

“His constituents will attest to the personal help and assistance lent by their MP, quietly and regularly, not for public attribution,” he said. “He was especially generous to Exumians studying abroad and in need of financial assistance. I served in Cabinet for two years along with George.

“Of those who served with us then, only five, including myself, remain -- the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie, the Hon. Loftus Roker, the Hon. Phillip Bethel and Kendal Nottage. A lifelong faithful and committed PLP, George never permitted his political affiliation to colour his personal relationships.

“I can never forget the political ridicule that he received from some of our PLP colleagues when he defended my right to express my strong views on the government’s mishandling of the illicit drug trafficking problem besetting our country in the 1980s. Even after I called for his resignation from the Cabinet, he refused to support my expulsion from the party.”

Meanwhile, Mr Ingraham’s successor, Perry Christie, remembered Mr Smith’s appreciation for history and its meaning.

“Throughout his service as a parliamentarian,” he said, “George was acclaimed by friend and foe alike as a model MPamong the best of the best - for his exemplary dedication and accessibility to his constituents and for the infrastructural improvements that were effected under his political leadership.”

DARVILLE SAY CONSTRUC TION TO SOON START ON NINE CLIMATE-FRIENDLY CLINICS

PLP Chairman and Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell noted Mr Smith was still an active councillor of the PLP.

“The instant remembrances are those of myself and Sean McWeeney, KC, in our twenties going around The Bahamas and especially in Exuma, Long

Island and San Salvador with the Smith brothers campaigning and in the process learning The Bahamas and what it means to be Bahamian,” he said.

“The experiences were for me life changing and the relationships formed, ideas hatched are eternal.”

RCI UNVEILS CONSULTATION OVER BEACH RESORT PLAN

from page one

according to its first report. Vaughn Robert, senior vice president at Atlantis, was among those who submitted questions, including about the company’s proposed desalination and wastewater treatment plants (WWTP).

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville announced the government will be building nine climate-friendly clinics which will also be able to be used as hurricane shelters. He also noted that “We are very close as it relates to our e-clinical records, our ability to integrate the islands and ground emergency medical transport systems and how we integrate it and tie it into air transport to move cases to the capital for tertiary care.”

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

CONSTRUCTION will soon begin on nine new “climate-friendly” clinics that will serve as hurricane shelters, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said.

It is not clear where the facilities will be built.

Dr Darville announced the plan while speaking on climate change’s impact on healthcare during a meeting with Dr Barbosa da Silva, Jr, the new Pan American Health Organisation director.

The meeting was one of several Dr Darville attended after leading a delegation to Geneva, Switzerland, for the 76th World Health Assembly last week.

In speaking with Dr Barbosa, the health minister underscored the need for

climate-resilient facilities for small island developing states.

He said: “I’m about to construct nine new clinics that are climate-friendly throughout the area and hopefully will act as hurricane shelters in preparation for gale force winds during the hurricane and the passage of the hurricane.

“And so, for us the delivery of primary healthcare is constantly interrupted by these devastating cyclones that are usually Cat 4 or Cat 5 with winds that are more than 200 miles per hour and compounded with surge.

“The last hurricane we had, we had twenty feet surge.

“This is the reason why we speak specifically about small island developing states and the impact of climate change.

So, for The Bahamas, climate

change is the number one issue that affects the delivery of healthcare services.”

Dr Darville also spoke about his ministry’s digitisation efforts, saying: “We are very close as it relates to our e-clinical records, our ability to integrate the islands and ground emergency medical transport systems and how we integrate it and tie it into air transport to move cases to the capital for tertiary care.

On recruitment, Dr Darville noted the country’s close ties to Cuba.

“If I go to Cuba to recruit,” he said, “I go to Cuba to recruit simply because they have a surplus of healthcare professionals that they are willing to send outside of their country and we bring those individuals in and we pay for their services.

“We are not asking for it free, we pay for those

services, but it is a very difficult situation where you are seen as if you are doing something that is wrong, and this is a bare mechanism for survival.”

The WHO assembly ends today. The prevalence of noncommunicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance and universal health coverage were expected to dominate this year’s agenda.

Dr Phillip Swann, the registrar in the Chief Medical Officer’s office, highlighted the need to improve mechanics for better data collection from health systems and on health outcomes in The Bahamas.

He told the assembly last week that a systemic review showed The Bahamas was “in jeopardy of not meeting” its targets.

RCI responded: “In 2019, during initial planning, Royal Caribbean explored linking to the existing sewage line on Paradise Island, but the recommendation from multiple consultants – and consistent with best practices in The Bahamas – is to process all (100%) wastewater through an onsite WWTP.

“The proposed WWTP will consist of (a) transfer station, (b) above grade Membrane Bioreactor treatment system, (c) disinfection of effluent, (d) an effluent storage tank, and (e) polishing equipment to treat the effluent further for irrigation purposes. The WWTP will be designed to accommodate inflow and collection and provide treatment at levels in excess of the design load condition.”

RCI said wastewater will receive primary, secondary and tertiary treatment and “treated water will be used for irrigation and other beneficial reuse best practices will be employed”.

Mr Roberts also asked for alternatives that would create less impact by reducing the project’s footprint or by doing less land development.

In response, RCI said:

“With development, there is always an alternative of

‘no action’ which leaves the proposed site untouched. Given the significant amount of previously impacted acreage, the state of disrepair of nearly all of the buildings on the site and their potential risk to adjacent properties as a result of high winds due to tropical events, the eroding state of the existing infrastructure on the island, and the hazard created by the current property (rebar on the beach, holes on the property, etc.) to individuals trespassing the property from adjacent properties/ business, if the site is not transformed it will continue to fall into disrepair.

“In addition, repairing most of the existing infrastructure is no longer possible. Clearing and demolition of the current site for the construction of the new Beach Club will help mitigate these concerns, not to mention the economic benefit created based on the unique structure of the Royal Beach Club.”

Mr Roberts also asked how RCI would protect its development from harmful discharges, claiming the company has a “history of discharging oil, toxic waste and falsifying records”.

RCI said in response: “No one’s history is perfect, but over 30 years ago we took a stance and began our Save the Waves programme. Since then, Royal Caribbean has a formidable environmental record for consistently going above and beyond the environmental regulations put in place by various authorities around the world.”

FORMER Cabinet Minister George Smith

PM calls port ‘major step forward’ in revitalising Downtown Nassau

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis hailed the opening of the new cruise port as a “major step forward in the transformation of Nassau” on Friday, emphasising the importance of the opening to the downtown area.

He said: “Downtown Nassau holds an important place in our history, culture, and economy. While redevelopment is challenging, we remain committed to the revitalisation of downtown Nassau. We are taking bold steps to address these challenges, including demolishing existing eyesores and creating room for new development.”

Mr Davis said the goal of the new port was to ensure that “visitors who step ashore will be immersed in our heritage, creativity and excellence”. The $300m project expands the port capacity, while Mr Davis also noted the presence of a Junkanoo museum, amphitheatre and more.

In his speech, he called on investors to help “shape the future of Nassau and create a vibrant and prosperous urban centre that we can all be proud of”.

The event was a redcarpet occasion featuring such celebrities as American model Tyson Beckford

and actor Anthony Anderson. Highlights included live performances, a Junkanoo rush-out, and a mini-drone light show in the sky.

“As we move forward with our ongoing plans for redevelopment, we will redefine how visitors and locals alike interact with the downtown area in fundamental ways,” Mr Davis said. “Bay Street and the surrounding area should be grounded in the Bahamian experience in ways that demonstrate the best elements of our culture, people, and way of life.

“The port is a testament to this vision. This extensive $300m redevelopment project expands our capacity and enhances our offerings.”

“It brings with it many opportunities for Bahamian ownership and employment. Not only are there jobs directly related to the operation of the port itself, there are also formally designated areas for hair braiders, taxis, tour operators, and vendors of all kinds. Over 70 Bahamian businesses, including food vendors, Bahamianmade goods and craft stores, and tour operators, will occupy this space.”

Mr Davis also acknowledged a partnership with the University of The Bahamas that will see a 2,400sq ft space used for culinary students to build experience while showcasing

Bahamian food.

Mr Davis said the government remains committed to revitalising the city. He said there are steps to address these challenges, including demolishing existing eyesores and

creating room for new development. Nassau Cruise Port CEO Mike Maura emphasised the expansive nature of the project. He added: “We also have mega yacht berth. We

have a ferry terminal with 16 berths. We have a west marina with 14 berths, all combining for 1.9 miles of vessel berth here at Nassau Cruise Port.

“While the pandemic slowed the aggressive

growth of the industry, there is no question that cruising is back with record-breaking forecasted growth. Just a short while ago, Nassau welcomed 20,554 passengers in a single day.”

PINTARD SAYS GREATER URGENCY NEEDED TO REVAMP BAY STREET

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard said the government needs to show greater urgency in revamping downtown.

His comment came after Friday’s grand opening of the $300m Nassau Cruise Port.

“There is a need for urgent collaboration between the government and the private sector to breed life at Bay Street,”

Mr Pintard said. “It is most unfortunate that we have taken so long over successive administrations.”

He said his party would collaborate with the Davis administration to revitalise the area.

“It is something that both administrations have collaborated on. The goal has been to transform the downtown area and one pivotal piece of transforming downtown is to upgrade the port.”

“We know that The Bahamas is one of the leading destinations in terms

of cruise visitors but there is a need to enhance the onshore activities to make sure that we are delivering authentic Bahamian products and, of course, demonstrating the power of our culture. This is an important step in that direction, but again, it is only a step.”

Mr Pintard highlighted the importance of displaying Bahamian culture and heritage.

The multimillion-dollar port is expected to increase visitor spending yield and lure tourists downtown.

TWO TRAFFIC FATALITIES, BOTH WOMEN, IN ACCIDENTS OVER WEEKEND

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

TWO women were killed in separate traffic accidents in New Providence over the weekend, prompting police to advise drivers to slow down.

The deaths bring the country’s unofficial traffic death count to 22 for the year. The first incident occurred on Friday around 3.30pm on Prince Charles Drive.

According to reports, a white Daihatsu Mira driven by a woman was travelling east along Prince Charles Drive when it collided with a white flatbed truck travelling west.

Consequently, the truck driver lost control and collided with a utility pole and a vehicle parked on the street’s southern side.

Both drivers were injured during the accident; however, the woman received serious injuries and died on the scene.

She has been identified as Philippa Deveaux.

Around 11.15pm that day, a black GMC Canyon truck and a silver colored Nissan Cube collided at McKinney and Johnstone Avenue, Stapledon Gardens.

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Both drivers were injured during the accident, but only the woman driver of the Nissan Cube died on the scene of her injuries.

Due to the number of fatal accidents over the weekend, police again urged people to follow the rules and regulations governing the streets.

FNM leader Michel Pintard said that there needs to be greater urgency in rivitlising the Downtown Nassau area adding that his party is willing to collaborate with the Davis administration to make it happen.

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis brought remarks during the opening ceremony for the $300m renovated Nassau Cruise Port.

Photo: Moise Amisial

The Tribune Limited

What next for Downtown?

AS the ribbon was cut on the new cruise port on Friday, much of the discussion was centred not on the new facility – but on what it means for Downtown.

Reassuringly, it seems there is unity across the political spectrum that something needs to be done to improve the Downtown area.

Admittedly, the decline in Downtown has also occurred across that same political spectrum. Both parties have presided over years of the area becoming tattered and rundown.

The port itself has an obligation to provide $8m to beautify the area –although $1m of that has reportedly already been spent on renovating the tourism building at the north end of Rawson Square to turn it into a police station, as well as on moving vendors into the square and demolishing old shacks.

That $8m will be very welcome, but $8m won’t go very far on its own to create a sea change in the district.

The Bank of The Bahamas alone has written off more than that over the abandoned plans to build a new headquarters in the downtown area.

FNM leader Michael Pintard has called for greater urgency in revamping downtown – and sought collaboration between the government and the private sector. He did, notably, lament that it was “most unfortunate that we have taken so long over successive administrations”.

He is also open to working with the government – and a bi-partisan approach could avoid such issues as a bank headquarters being junked after a change of administration.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis,

speaking at the opening of the port, called on investors to “shape the future of Nassau and create a vibrant and prosperous urban centre that we can all be proud of”.

He pointed to the demolition of “existing eyesores” and said his government remained “committed to the revitalisation of Downtown Nassau”.

He talked of “bold steps” – well, how bold, exactly?

If we are still only calling on investors, we are not at the stage of having a grand plan, it would seem. Where is the plan for which those investors should give their support?

In the ideal world, the opening of the port would have matched the completion of downtown renovations to give the whole area a new zest and vitality.

One thing that the owners of the port and the businesses downtown share is the common goal of encouraging more visitors to come off the cruise ships –wallets that never leave the ship will never be opened at businesses around town.

Some efforts to beautify the area need little in the way of expense – start with a drive to clean out the litter-filled alleyways along Bay Street. Urban Renewal could take the lead. It could coincide with our Independence countdown – we could Pick Up With Pride.

Downtown will need more substantial efforts than just that, of course, but as long as we are content to leave such a mess, no one will believe we really intend to tackle the larger issues.

We have said before in this column, the opening of the port is not an end, but a beginning. It is time for those who would lead our country to write the next chapter.

Why attack Atlantis?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHAT is the purpose of these public attacks on Atlantis? They are a Bahamian corporate entity with the right to free speech, and to defend their interests.

Their very ethos is protecting, promoting and selling ecology, so why would they not be interested in what happens right next door?

Likewise, RCI have convinced the government that their proposed project has merit and benefits. They are, therefore, entitled to attempt to advance their vision.

They are both our

partners, not our rivals nor enemies. We granted them that status. And where is the Minister for Investments? Is his job to invite investors to The Bahamas for the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to slap around?

If the Minister of Foreign Affairs finds it expedient to insert himself in the current matter, he should exercise the tools of his portfolio and use a little diplomacy, not threats by reference to old stories that have absolutely nothing to do with the current owners. He should invite the

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts

EDITOR, The Tribune

heads of the two companies to meet in private and try to find a win-winwin solution for Atlantis, RCI and the people of The Bahamas. While the PLP may have the gavel (for the moment), it is not a sledgehammer to smash those who may have dissenting views. We expect them to promote and protect the interests of all, so that the country may grow and prosper.

Mr Prime Minister, a little order please.

SHAYNE DAVIS

Nassau, May 25, 2023.

IT is an age old quote that has vibrated through history for almost as long as civilisations have been around. The expression: ‘Beware of Greeks bearing gifts is still true and relevant to this very day. The Bahamas, both before colonialism as we know it and long before Columbus walked our shores developed a dubious reputation of an unsavory nature as a land of pirates; a land of bootleggers; a land of land speculators; a land of white-collar crime (fraud and corporate sleight of hand} and most recently as a nation for sale.

The bulk of the players over the years have been foreigners and their Bahamian associates. In the 1940s and 50s when prohibition was in full swing in the USA, The Bahamas (Bahama Islands) was a known haven and facilitator for rum running from our shores into the USA. Big profits were made and countless people, mostly Americans would have lost their lives on the pursuit of financial gains. It is alleged that a few Bahamian families actually started their accumulation of fantastic wealth and privilege as a direct result of bootlegging and even gun running and smuggling of migrants into the USA.

Long before this Columbus and his fellow Europeans: the British; the Spanish and a handful of other national came over into this part of the world looking for gold and to establish cotton plantations and other profit generating businesses. They all imported black Africans over here. Some landed in the USA where they toiled day in and day out or were subjected to all sorts of inhumane treatments. The males were beaten into submission and, it is said, that their females, inclusive of girls were publicly raped and otherwise sexually assaulted right

before their very eyes as a means of demoralising them and forcing them into submission.

Much later came the fraudsters and white-collar proponents. Most of us who are not too young to remember this or too old to have forgotten, will recall most British and Canadian ‘investors’. They ‘bought’ huge tracts of land from the governments of the day and, allegedly, swindled countless of uneducated and native Bahamians, black and white, of tens of thousands of virgin land which they then flipped while pocketing millions of dollars before ‘abandoning’ developments. Others came in and opened banks and insurance companies. A few even got casino licenses for a pittance and, allegedly, consultancy fees. Grand Bahama and Paradise Island were vital cogs in the wheel.

IOS and Bernie Cornfield, along with Robert Vesco and the Shah of Iran were, at first, welcomed into The Bahama Islands after, apparently becoming tight with our home-grown politicians and their cronies. IOS became large overnight. Vesco and prominent Bahamians opened at least one major bank, which still exist today under a different corporate identity.

Bahama Sound, over in Exuma, has yet to recover or proceed from the hey days of multiple foreign developers and investors.

After this came the transnational drug dealers. Mind you, there is little doubt that the bulk of the smuggled narcotics was destined for the USA; Canada and Europe. Unfortunately, many of their local allies themselves were partly compensated in duffle bags and kilos. What they did not personally consumed they sold or gave away to

other locals. Thereafter the phrase was coined: ‘A Nation for Sale’ and the rest is history. Drug and turf wars became the other of those days as they are to this very day. Our politicians; lawyers and law enforcement officers were ensnared, in numerous cases, to facilitate drug trafficking without any concern or regard for the mental and societal consequences. Bahamians were walking the local streets, mumbling to themselves and counting lamp poles. The rest were admitted to Sandilands or incarcerated in Fox Hill Prisons or extradited to the USA.

The latest ‘growth’ criminal industry is human smuggling and the importation of illegal ammunition and firearms. It is my firm suspicion that these activities are being aided and abetted by some of our law enforcement officers and local money launderers. With the advent of digitalisation and the emergence of crypto currency it is inevitable that we shall see even more Greeks bearing gifts. The Davis administration must ensure that due diligence is conducted on All incoming investors, for whatever purposes. If it is to buy or flip a hotel or resort.... due diligence. If it is an ‘investor blowing his horn... due diligence’.

The recent ‘failures’ of an internationally acclaimed group to ‘buy’ The Grand Lucayan recently fell through because, allegedly, it was unable to access the required funding. This is After a deal was struck and closure should have been months ago. A week or so ago, a young man, claiming to be a billionaire crypto outfit crashed and burned spectacularly and ongoing federal and local investigations are playing out. Again, I say, beware of Greeks bearing gifts.

A WATERSPOUT that formed north of Rose Island at 11.36am yesterday, in this photograph from SiWeather Storm Spotter AQ01 Aquashores Charters.

TWO A MERIC ANS AND A CUBAN WERE ARREST ED ON COC AINE FIND IN BIMINI

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

Two Americans and a Cuban national were arrested in Bimini after they were allegedly found in possession of suspected cocaine on Sunday.

Reports are that shortly before 1am, officers attached to the Alice

Celebrating 220 years since the raising of the Haitian flag

Town Police Station were in the King’s Highway area when they saw three men in a golf cart acting suspiciously. On searching the men, police found a quantity of suspected cocaine. The two Americans, both aged 23, and a 25-year-old Cuban were arrested and taken into custody. Grand Bahama Police

discovered a firearm and ammunition at a local beach in the Freeport area. According to reports, officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department, acting on a tip, went to a track road in the area of Xanadu Beach shortly after noon on Saturday where they discovered a pistol and ammunition. No arrest was made.

INJURED AF T ER ARGUMEN T BE T WEEN T WO WOMEN LEADS TO ONE FIRING SHOTS AT BAR

WOMAN

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

A 25-year-old woman is in hospital following a shooting incident Friday morning involving two other women.

Shortly after 1 am on Friday, two women were involved in an argument outside a bar on Minnie Street. As the argument escalated, one of the women went to her car, a

silver coloured Japanese vehicle, and got a firearm, according to preliminary police reports. The firearm was fired at the bar and resulted in a female employee of the bar, not involved in the initial argument, being shot in both legs.

“Emergency medical technicians responded and transported the victim to Princess Margaret Hospital for medical attention. Her injuries are not

life-threatening, and she remains stable in the hospital,” said the police. Police are actively investigating this matter and are requesting the public’s help in locating those in connection with this incident. Anyone who may have information regarding this or any other incident, is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 502- 9991/2/3 or CRIME STOPPERS @ 328- TIPS(8477).

SMALL BUS INE SS E S LO SS OF BUS INE SS I S BLAMED ON VAT ON CHAR T ER YA C H TS

BAHAMIAN small businesses servicing the charter yacht industry are hoping the government will reconsider last year’s imposition of Value Added Tax, which they say is driving international vessels away from Bahamian marinas and causing harm to their livelihoods.

The charter yacht industry is often seen as an ultra-elite luxury sector that is very lucrative for yacht owners and marina operators. However, some small businesses benefit from vessels that use The Bahamas as a base for charter operations.

With the imposition of Value-Added Tax (VAT) on foreign-owned yachts last year, however, these local businessmen say their customers are being driven away from The Bahamas and towards other regional destinations with lower fees and taxes.

“We have noticed a falloff in business from charter yachts since the new tax

came in,” said Nevron Harris, of Slims Upholstery. “Before, we used to get three or four jobs a month but now it’s much less. Some months, we get no jobs at all from the industry, as the yachts are going to other destinations where it is cheaper to operate.”

On July 1, 2022, the Department of Inland Revenue imposed a new VAT rate of ten per cent, requiring all foreign-flagged charter yachts to pay this rate on the value of their charter contracts. Marina operators saw a decline in yacht traffic over the crucial Christmas period, blaming the downturn on The Bahamas’ loss of competitiveness with other destinations in The Caribbean.

Another Bahamian whose company supplies cleaning services to yachts, but who did not wish to be named, said: “There has been a sharp decline in services to the yachting industry since the introduction of these new taxes. A

few of our regular clients who had been stationed here told us that they have moved to jurisdictions with sun, sand sea and lower fees. It is our prayer that this is addressed so we and other vendors who provide services and employment can return to those good old days.”

The downturn is taking place against the backdrop of a hugely successful first-ever instalment of the Bahamas Charter Yacht Show, held in February, which attracted more than 40 vessels – easily topping the leading regional shows on its first attempt. Marina operators and service providers say the show’s success demonstrated the huge potential for the country to become the epicentre of the Caribbean charter yachting world, creating hundreds of new jobs across a number of service industries, were VAT to be removed and the price of entry made attractive for yacht owners once again.

THE ANNUAL Haitian Cultural Festival which includes Haitian Flag Day, was held at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium on Saturday featuring food, music and more. Chairman of the Haitian Cultural Festival, Tetley Love, is called on all who flew their Haitian flags on that day to do so with respect.

Photo: Moise Amisial

Sir Franklyn Wilson & Sean McWeeney discuss The Bahamas’ 50th Independence

IN THE very room where young college and university students brought political leaders together to debate prior to Bahamian Independence, two of these former youth leaders sat on a stage more than 50 years later to talk about the ideals that led to the formation of a new Bahamas.

Sir Franklyn Wilson and Sean McWeeney, KC, were both very young men with high ideals, pursuing tertiary education. They were both major players in a group of Bahamian university and college students from abroad, called Unicoll. These students would make a significant impact on the Bahamian political landscape.

They brought members of the two major partiesthe United Bahamian Party and the Progressive Liberal Party - and other political leaders together for a series of debates. Their ideals included living in a country with equal opportunity and respect for mankind, regardless of race, social status or origin. Many of these young Unicoll members drew inspiration from the nation builders celebrated as the country now embarks upon its 50th Independence anniversary.

Both men were featured guests at the 50th Independence Anniversary Distinguished Conversation on the topic “A Return to Idealism” held at the University of The Bahamas Performing Arts Auditorium held on May 9.

Mr McWeeney pointed out that one common denominator that people who epitomised idealism in The Bahamas had, was a true sense of selflessness, serving their country above self.

“There were individuals who, at various times in our history, have risen above themselves - sometimes in just one single spectacular verse that emblazons them into history - in other cases the cumulative accomplishments of a lifetime,” Mr. McWeeney said.

“Deep down, there was always a subjugation of self to the service of higher ideals that make us better than we were before.”

“We could refer to it as the power of one - individuals who do not wait on the government or someone else to do things for them. They go out there, through their own initiative, do something truly historic and transformative.”

During the course of the discussion, both men gave

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

examples that the nation could look at for lessons on the kinds of ideals necessary to propel the country forward.

The National Independence Secretariat and the Antiquities, Monuments and Museum Corporation of The Bahamas (AMMC) partnered to host the Distinguished Conversation. The moderator was managing director of AMMC and University of The Bahamas (UB) associate professor Dr Christopher Curry. The guests were engaged in this conversation by Dr Ian Strachan, president of UB North and Dr Tracey Thompson, oral and public historian and AMMC board director.

A prime example of a Bahamian idealist, according to Mr McWeeney, was Rodney Bain. Long before he became the noted Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Bain was set to teach in Cat Island. There, he had such a monumental impact on the young people, that some of the nation’s greatest leaders rose up from Cat Island

Mr McWeeney said Mr. Bain was responsible for transforming an entire generation, impacting the likes of people such as former Commissioner of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, BK Bonamy, Sidney Russell, diplomat Dr Davidson Hepburn, and former Supreme Court Justice Joseph Strachan.

Sir Franklyn pointed to pioneer in the credit union movement in The Bahamas, Bobby Glinton. He travelled throughout the Caribbean at his own personal expense to visit credit unions and learn from them. He brought those ideas back to The Bahamas, based on the ideal of economically empowering the masses. His efforts contributed to the foundation of successful credit unions in the country today.

Mr McWeeney took a moment to hail the marines of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force who were involved in the HMBS Flamingo incident. These marines, especially the four who lost their lives (Fenrick Sturrup, David Tucker,

Edward Williams and Austin Smith) paid the ultimate price with their lives.

“Their simple act of unparalleled bravery will forever be a part of Bahamian history,” Mr McWeeney said.

He also hailed Dr CR Walker as a man of high national ideals who impacted him greatly.

“He was the smartest man I have ever met in my entire life,” Mr McWeeney said of Dr Walker.

He was a young reporter at the Bahamian Times when he was called to interview Dr Walker.

Dr Walker was short in stature but huge in personality. He was a linguist with several languages under his belt. He was a medical doctor, a builder, an outstanding politician and Parliamentarian, teacher, social reformer and “philosopher extraordinaire”.

Dr Walker was a brilliant man of wisdom, which he poured into the young McWeeney over the course of an afternoon interview at his house.

“I don’t think a month goes by that I don’t think of what CR Walker said to me over the course of that afternoon,” said.

Mr McWeeney, a King’s Counsel, served as Attorney General of The Bahamas from January 1989 to August 1992. He was a Senator from 1985 to 1992, and for a portion of that time, he was leader of the government in the Senate. During his tenure as Attorney General, he also acted as Minister of Foreign Affairs on several occasions.

His career in public life was spurred by Sir Franklyn Wilson, who invited him to join Unicoll when he was just 17 years old. A year after joining Unicoll, the young Sean became president.

“We were not thinking about what we could do to advance our own causes,” Sir Franklyn said.

“We saw the need to look deeper to try to understand our country.”

Unicoll, which later became Unicomm, he said, was the result of the idealism of Perry G Christie,

former Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Bernard Nottage, former Minister of National Security. The idea was to agitate for meaningful changes in their country, rather than coming home to party during their college breaks. At the time, the young Franklyn was attending university in Canada, and Christie and Nottage were schooling in the United Kingdom. This was around 1964/65. Those young men began to meet in what was the Government High School auditorium, UB’s current Performing Arts Theatre.

Sir Franklyn said Mr Christie’s ideal was that they “owe it to the country” to push for changes that would positively affect their future.

Those young powerhouses began hosting political debates and inviting some of the country’s top leaders. Sir Franklyn recalls that in one instance, they invited Sir Stafford Sands and Sir Lynden Pindling, leaders of the United Bahamian Party (UBP) and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) respectively, to debate on the topic of economics in The Bahamas.

Sir Stafford did not show, and a chair with his name tag sat empty. That night, speaking to a crowd packed with young Bahamians, the young political leader Lynden Oscar Pindling was able to rally much support.

Sir Franklyn believes that had Sir Stafford appeared, there was a chance that things might have gone differently for the party.

A UBP member did take up an invitation to one of those debates - Peter Graham. Sir Franklyn recalls that MP Graham “acquitted himself extremely well in that audience”.

Another white Bahamian who made an impact on the black political landscape was MP Donald McKinney. He was a prominent white Bahamian and member of the “Bay Street Boys”. McKinney broke ranks and became one of only two UBP Parliamentarians to support the 1956 antidiscrimination resolution presented by MP Etienne Dupuch, editor of The Tribune newspaper from 1919-1973.

Mr Dupuch moved a resolution in the House of Assembly that helped to pave the way for the modern independent country we now know and celebrate at 50 years of Independence.

Mr McWeeney pointed out that McKinney paid for that decision, as he was not given another nomination to run with the UBP in the next General Elections.

Perhaps the highest form of national idealism in Sir Franklyn’s mind, was exemplified by Sir Cyril St John Stevenson. He said that Sir Cyril saw the injustice in his country, and in 1950, he helped to form the Citizens Committee.

However, Sir Cyril felt that more needed to be done to come against the oligarchy. He took his own resources and went to England to meet with members of the Labour Party and the Fabian Society, in order to understand the workings of opposition parties, and to align himself with individuals of similar views to his.

”He didn’t stop there,”

Sir Franklyn said.

“He needed to see if this idea was working in the Caribbean. He funded his own trip and went to Jamaica. He saw Bustamante and Manley (Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition). He went to both sides. Having seen that, he came back to The Bahamas, convinced that a political party could work.”

Sir Cyril, William Cartwright, and Sir Henry Taylor, all joined hands with other like minded activists, to form the Progressive Liberal Party.

Unicoll brought together powerful young men who eventually ended up becoming major players in several political organisations. They all knew that with Majority Rule as the order of the day, one day they would take the reins of government and lead the people towards a new future for their country.

It was in 1971 that this group, while on Clifford Park at a Queen Elizabeth celebration, burned the Union Jack. They knew that they had to evolve from just a pressure group, and they had to decide if they would form their own political party.

Mr McWeeney points out that when Sir Franklyn (who was in his early 20s at the time) was courted by Sir Lynden and the PLP, Unicoll was at a crossroads. Some decided to follow Sir Franklyn and join the PLP. Others, like Dwight Sawyer, joined Paul Adderley and Orville Turnquest with the Free PLP, which eventually became the Free National Movement.

Dr John McCartney, who was a political professor at Purdue University, was convinced that Unicoll should become its own political party. Thus, the Vanguard Nationalist and Socialist Party was formed.

Sir Franklyn Wilson is currently the chairman of Sunshine Holdings Limited (SHL), one of the oldest and largest conglomerates in The Bahamas. He is a legislator and land developer whom Mr McWeeney referred to as one of the greatest philanthropists in the country. Sir Franklyn has been extensively honoured by government and private entities for his contributions to the business landscape and national development of The Bahamas.

“The greatest change we have all noticed in some 50 years, said Mr McWeeney, “is back when we started, we wanted to know what we could do to help advance the country.”

“Today, the question is, ‘What board can I get on, and how much does it pay?’ In that, is reflected the erosion of idealism. Back then, these people didn’t give a thought to that. They wanted to know how they could advance their talents in a very positive way. Their ideals formed the generations before us and our generation.”

The 1973 Masterclass series continues during the month of June with three discussions taking place on June 1, 14 and 28. For more information, visit www.celebrate-bahamas.com or visit Celebrate Bahamas across social media platforms. Numerous events are planned leading up to Independence Day - July 10, 2023. Call (242) 604-1020 or Email independencebahamas@gmail.com for more information.

SIR FRANKLYN WILSON, (center, left) and Sean McWeeney, KC, (center, right) seated with their wives (Mrs Sharon Wilson, former President of the Senate and Mrs Cyprianna McWeeney, former Miss Bahamas and businesswoman) with members of the National Independence Secretariat and the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation standing behind them.

MEMBERS of the National Independence Secretariat including Chair, Ambassador Leslia Miller-Brice (far right) and Permanent Secretary Jack Thompson (second from left).

SIR FRANKLYN WILSON, (seated, left) and Sean McWeeney, KC, (seated, right) were featured guests at The Distinguished Conversation: A Return to Idealism presented by the National Independence Secretariat and the The Antiquities, Monuments & Museum Corporation (AMMC). Standing, left to right, Dr Christopher Curry, AMMC Managing Director; Ambassador Leslia Miller-Brice, Chair, National Independence Secretariat; S Rosel Moxey, Chair, Board of Directors, AMMC; Dr Tracey Thompson, AMMC Board Director

Reports that WHO seeks to impose regulations in case of a future pandemic raises concerns

RECENT reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) is trying to impose new protocols and requirements on its member states in dealing with future pandemics is causing concern in Britain and other countries.

Indeed, this information seems to have unleashed a fierce public reaction amidst fears that a United Nations specialised agency wants to transition from an advisory organisation in to a controlling international authority. The issue is especially interesting in the context of the recent coronavirus pandemic and in light of fears of the possibility of another such case lurking around the corner.

According to the UK press, new powers for the WHO are being considered as part of an updating of the agency’s International Health Regulations.

These set out obligations for its 194 member states to prepare for and respond to disease outbreaks and other public health risks.

But now, among numerous suggested changes, there are proposals to create what amount to “legally binding” responses by them to health emergencies, thus turning the WHO from a body providing guidance and assistance to issuing recommendations that will become compulsory and enforceable.

It is also being suggested that member states would be required formally to recognize the WHO as the global authority on public health measures. This would mean, in effect, that the body would be empowered to dictate the health policies of individual countries and impose border controls and closures, quarantines, lockdowns and vaccine passports, as

The Peter Young column

well as demanding levels of budgetary expenditure. Thus, their plans show a major change for the organisation from a member-led advisory body to a health authority with powers of compulsion.

Some will welcome such a move on the grounds that it is good, in principle, that a UN specialised agency in such an important field as health should, where necessary, be enabled to go beyond its purely advisory powers because it is desirable to have consistency of action worldwide in dealing with a pandemic like coronavirus which, by definition, knows no borders. Coordinated international action, it is argued, would help make the world a safer place. By contrast, others see it as an unacceptable assault on the sovereignty of member states who believe that the WHO should be a trustworthy and reliable scientific advisory body which also facilitates the provision of vaccines, medication and supplies, but nothing more than that. Moreover, individual

INFORMATION that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is trying to impose new protocols and requirements on member states regrarding future pandemic events seems to have unleashed a fierce public reaction amidst fears that a United Nations specialised agency wants to transition from an advisory organisation in to a controlling international authority. The issue is especially interesting in the context of the recent coronavirus pandemic and in light of fears of the possibility of another such case lurking around the corner.

countries have different demographics and conditions and a centralised UN agency could not realistically impose a “one size fits all” regime. Growing opposition to the WHO’s plans is partly based on the body’s perceived poor track record in providing scientifically sound advice for managing international disease outbreaks and, in particular, for its unsatisfactory handling of the coronavirus pandemic – not least for taking too long to warn the world about its seriousness. Furthermore, it has come under fire for its stalwart defence of China, including its repetition of Beijing’s dismissal of claims that the virus could have leaked from the Wuhan laboratory. The WHO’s probe into the origins of COVID-19, which concluded that the Wuhan leak theory was extremely unlikely, was widely seen as a whitewash. More

VARIED LEGACY OF FAMOUS WORLD STATESMAN

SELF-CENTRED

narcissist, genius, world statesman, war criminal.

These are some of the labels pinned on Dr Henry Kissinger who reached the impressive age of 100 this past weekend and remains, even as a centenarian, a controversial figure whose legacy overall remains mixed.

Kissinger worked for two US presidents – Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford –first as National Security Adviser and then as Secretary of State. At his peak in the 1970s – after having received the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in bringing the Vietnam war to an end in early 1973 - he was famous for his tireless shuttle diplomacy and became one of the world’s most powerful and well known political figures as a colossus of Western foreign policy and perhaps – at the timeone of the most influential men on earth. He seemed to hold the fate of nations in the palm of his hand as he pursued US interests around the world and, allegedly, was not averse to stoking conflict abroad if he deemed that to be advantageous to those interests. He also courted publicity and made sure he was photographed with Hollywood stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Raquel Welch while also being notably active on the Washington social scene. So he became a celebrity as well as a statesman. He was voted one of the most admired men in America and famously coined the phrase that “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac”.

Now, as a retired statesman, it is said that Kissinger’s views are still listened to in the US because of respect for his exceptional achievements in the field of foreign affairs. Among the most significant of these were the ending of the Vietnam war, détente with the Soviet Union that included President Nixon’s groundbreaking visit to Moscow in 1973 and rapprochement with China when he masterminded Nixon’s historic visit there the year before.

FORMER Secretary of State Henry Kissinger marked his 100th birthday on Saturday, outlasting many of his political contemporaries who guided the United States through one of its most tumultuous periods including the presidency of Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War.

Kissinger was lauded by most parts of the political and media establishment in the US and it is noteworthy that, with his bipartisan approach, he became a consultant and adviser to every president since Nixon. Surrounded by powerful friends, reportedly he is still feted by the rich and famous as a celebrity intellectual.

So he is widely revered at home – except, of course, by liberals who regard him as a callous warmonger.

Notwithstanding all this, in studying the range of foreign press commentary about his reaching the 100year milestone, I was struck by the range of divided opinion abroad about him as a statesman and America’s top diplomat. His legacy is flawed outside his own country. It has been described by some as “tortured and deadly” and is at the very least mixed, with many calling him a war criminal and a person who should never have been allowed to wield such power.

Critics remind us that Kissinger’s chief priority was to end the Vietnam war which had already cost tens of thousands of American lives. But he was said to be deeply opposed to cutting and running. So, initially, he intensified the war by bombing North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, causing the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians while simultaneously pursuing peace talks with the North

recently, however, it has called for a new inquiry, saying that “all hypotheses remain open” and require further study.

In defence of its quest for wider powers, a WHO spokesperson claims that the organisation’s plans are a process led by its member states whose agreement would doubtless take account of their own national laws and regulations.

Nonetheless, in the view of many this still represents an unprecedented land grab by the WHO.

In the UK, a group of Tory MPs has written to their own government to express concern about the body’s attempt to grant itself new powers and to demand that this should be blocked because it would “appear to intrude materially into the UK’s ability to make its own rules and control its own budgets”. These MPs are calling for a debate and vote on

the issue in the House of Commons.

It is the case, of course, that all this is still at a relatively early stage. But it is surely unlikely that any British government would allow the WHO to dictate its health policy or budgets. As commentators have pointed out, no UN agency has the legal authority or the means of enforcement to compel any member state to do anything. Nonetheless, the conspiracy theorists, who maintain that this is another step towards the establishment of world government, are out in force. Historians say that after the creation of the UN in 1945, world leaders hoped the organisation would herald a new era of global governance that would prevent conflicts and settle disputes between nations. That turned out to be an unrealisable Utopian dream, which was anyway opposed by conservatives and libertarians as a threat

to democracy; and the world developed instead a mixture of treaties, agencies and platforms for multilateral co-operation under a new international order after the Second World War. Britain is already taking a robust stand against the WHO’s efforts to increase its powers. Foreign Office Minister Andrew Mitchell has been quoted in the press as saying that, while the UK is supportive of a pandemic treaty currently being negotiated by national governments which could speed up the sharing of data on new pandemic threats, “we would never agree to anything that crosses our points of principle on sovereignty or prevents the UK from taking decisive action against future pandemics”. It will be interesting to watch how this situation develops –fraught with difficulty as it is.

Vietnamese in Paris. He has also been accused of “enabling” genocide in places like East Timor and Eastern Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and, allegedly, indirectly supporting, for example, the Pinochet military coup in Chile in 1973.

Historians claim that Kissinger’s greatest intellectual achievement was to make the case for hard-headed realism in world affairs; and one of his well-known quotations was that the enemy of stability is an “excessively moralistic” approach to foreign policy which leads to “ineffectual posturing or adventuristic crusades”.

That looks to be advice ignored by President Bush when he was persuaded to invade Iraq in 2003 – and even more so by Prime Minister Blair who shamelessly supported him.

Whatever Kissinger’s legacy, however, British historian Dominic Sandbrook, in commenting about his becoming a centenarian, has written of the extraordinary achievement of a shy, stammering Jewish refugee who fled as a boy from Nazism in his home country of Germany and became one of the most powerful men in the world - as Sandbrook says, humorously, an impressive effort for a short, bookish fellow with thick glasses and an even thicker accent who had escaped persecution in his own country to enjoy enormous success as an adult in America!

TURKISH President and People’s Alliance’s presidential candidate Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech at the presidential palace, in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dissipated a challenge by an opponent who sought to reverse his increasingly authoritarian leanings, securing five more years to oversee the country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia that plays a key role in NATO.

Ali Unal/AP

lea e e gan se es ANOT HER FIVE YEAR TERM BY MERE FOUR PERCENT

e ’s s ngman

TOP of the international news agenda in recent days has been the unprecedented presidential re-run election in Turkey last weekend after the first round two weeks ago failed to produce a winner with the required 50 per cent of the vote. On Sunday evening, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in power for the last two decades, emerged victorious, winning 52 per cent of the vote against his opponent’s 48 per cent and securing a new fiveyear term in power.

Having already examined in this column the background and significance of this election after the first round, it would be superfluous to write about it further – apart, that is, from emphasising that the nation’s strategic significance has not changed so that Erdogan’s victory

matters to the West. Most importantly, over the years he has become known for his independent foreign policy. Turkey is a key member of NATO and provides military aid to Ukraine. But it also maintains close links with Russia, including bilateral trade and contributing to the UN-brokered grain deal. It refuses to condemn the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine but agreed to Finland joining NATO. The West needs Erdogan as an ally and will surely now try to persuade him to approve Sweden’s NATO membership.

Meanwhile, with Turkey’s economy in a dire state with roaring inflation, it is said that Erdogan will need to stabilize the country’s finances and attract foreign investment while also taking action to restore trust over his

so-called mishandling of the disaster of February’s earthquakes. Immigration from Syria is another major issue.

In his victory speech, political heavyweight Erdogan called for unity while at the same time ridiculing his opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who in the end was no match for the winner’s welldrilled campaign and emphasis on the strength, continuity and stability that a sitting president could offer. However, the experts point to the stark fact that almost half of the electorate in this deeply polarized country did not back Erdogan’s authoritarian vision of Turkey. So observers await developments in this important country with interest and even some concern.

Photo:

Photo: Susan Walsh/AP

Heat get 103-84 Game 7 win over Celtics

ADVANCE TO NBA FINALS

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) —

Jimmy Butler scored 28 points and Caleb Martin had 26 points and 10 rebounds in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals last night to help the Miami Heat beat the Celtics 103-84 and turn back Boston’s attempt at an unprecedented comeback.

The Heat recovered after blowing a 3-0 lead in the series and advanced to the NBA Finals for the second time in four seasons. They will face the Western Conference champion Nuggets, with Game 1 set to be held in Denver on Thursday night.

Bam Adebayo scored 12 points with 10 rebounds for Miami, which is the first No. 8 seed to play for a championship since the 1999 New York Knicks.

Top-seeded Denver has been waiting since sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers on May 22.

Butler was named the Eastern Conference finals

Most Valuable Player, an award named after Celtics Hall of Famer Larry Bird.

Game 6 hero Derrick White scored 18 for Boston, which was hoping to become the first NBA team ever to advance after falling behind 0-3 in a bestof-seven series.

Jaylen Brown scored 19 with eight rebounds but went 1 for 9 from 3-point range.

Jayson Tatum, who scored a Game 7 record 51 points against Philadelphia in the conference semis, had 14 points with 11 rebounds after turning his ankle on the first play of the game and limping through 42 minutes.

The Celtics led by five points early before conceding a 14-4 run to end the first quarter and then giving up 16 of the first 22 points in the second.

Boston cut the deficit to seven points late in the third, but Miami took a 76-66 lead at the break and scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to pull away. The Heat took the first three games

– two of them in Boston –and needed just one more win to reach to the NBA Finals.

that have opened a 3-0 lead in an NBA playoff series has ever failed to advance.

themselves up by watch ing a documentary on the

Boston Red Sox comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the New York Yankees on their way to the 2004

When the Celtics took the floor for Game 4 in Miami, ex-Yankees Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter Boston won Games 4 and 5 by double digits and

JONQUEL JONES HELPS LIBERTY HAND SUN FIRST LOSS OF SEASON

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) —

Breanna Stewart scored 11 of her 21 points in the decisive third quarter to lift the New York Liberty to an 81-65 win over the Connecticut Sun on Saturday.

had a cushy lead in Game 6 before Miami rallied back to take a one-point lead with 3 seconds left.

The Heat appeared to clinch it when Marcus Smart’s desperation 3-pointer rimmed out, but White scored on a putback in the final 10th of a second to force a decisive seventh game.

Back at home, the Celtics greeted their fans with a pregame video intercutting highlights from the Red Sox comeback with their own. 2004 Red Sox catalyst Kevin Millar recorded a message to hype up the crowd.

But the heavily favoured Celtics couldn’t repeat the feat.

Jonquel Jones scored the first basket of the game, but didn’t do too much after that, finishing with seven points for the Liberty. Stewart, who scored a franchise and career-high 45 points in her home debut last Sunday, took over in the third. Saturday marked the first regular season game that Jones played against her former team. The 2021 MVP was traded in the offseason from Connecticut to New York as part of a three-way deal that sent Liberty guard Rebecca Allen to the Sun. Jones had played her entire career with Connecticut since being acquired in a draft day trade in 2016 from Los Angeles. The Liberty trailed 38-32 at the half before putting up 25 points in the period. Stewart hit three of New York’s five 3-pointers in the quarter and also had four steals to give the Liberty a 57-51 lead heading into the fourth.

Courtney Vandersloot kept the momentum going in the final quarter, both by scoring and finding open teammates. She finished with 18 points and 10 assists for the Liberty (2-1). Sabrina Ionescu added 17 points.

Tiffany Hayes scored 16 points and DeWanna Bonner added 14 to lead the Sun (3-1), who lost in the WNBA Finals last season.

Denver Nuggets perfect the drama-free path to their spot on NBA’s big stage

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets don’t brawl with other teams or bicker among themselves. It’s been almost a decade since they fired a coach. Their most spectacular highlights often involve sublime skip passes across the court — or a backward, half-court shot from their mascot, Rocky, during a break in the action.

Some might call them downright boring. The Nuggets call it beautiful. Their no-drama way of doing business, both on and off the court, doesn’t grab tons of headlines. But it has set the franchise up for success and brought it to its first NBA Finals in 47 years in the league. The team that cemented itself into first place in the Western Conference on Dec. 20, then cashed in by making it to the final, is the virtual opposite of those it has mowed down in both the regular and postseasons. Those teams are studded with stars, or in the headlines after big trades, or featuring front-line players who are semiregulars on the police blotter, or filled with injuries and other drama up and down the roster and on the bench.

Even the team they’ll face in the finals, whether it be the Celtics or Heat, is wrapped in a drama-soaked and potentially historymaking series. Less than a week ago, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla — who got the job this season after his predecessor was found to have had an improper relationship with a staffer — was on the hot seat, his team down 3-0 and his ability to coax the best out of a talented roster under

question. After a buzzerbeating tip-in to tie the series 3-3, that all changed.

The Nuggets: They swept the Lakers and have been waiting and practicing for a week.

“If you’re going to win at a high level, you can’t have distractions,” seventh-year coach Michael Malone said during one of his team’s many off days between the conference final and the NBA Finals, which start Thursday. “You have to have guys that get along — on the court, off the court — and come together and share in a common goal.”

Only minutes after the Nuggets dispatched the Lakers last Monday, all the talk after the game was about LeBron James. In this instance it was whether the NBA’s all-time leading scorer would be back for another season (he turns 39 this year) and how that decision would impact one of the league’s glamour teams going forward.

James, though, made sure to shine some of the spotlight on the Nuggets.

“Me and A.D. (Anthony Davis) were talking in the locker room,” James said. “We came to the consensus, this is, if not one of the best teams, probably the best team, we’ve played since we’ve been together for all four years. Just well orchestrated, well put together. They have scoring. They have shooting. They have play-making. They (have) smarts. They have depth.”

They also have a twotime MVP in Nikola Jokic who is part of a roster that seems, for now at least, immune from the wheelings and dealings that capture headlines and can make or break franchises.

Last offseason, Jokic signed a supermax contract

that locks him up through 2028. Jamal Murray is signed through 2025. Michael Porter Jr., whose signing of a max contract in 2021 raised some eyebrows considering his history with injuries, is inked with guaranteed money through at least 2026.

“What I also love about this franchise is that when guys don’t fit into the culture, they’re not here anymore,” Malone said.

“We have guys that understand that being selfless is a huge part of being a Denver Nugget and guys who continue to buy into that, whether they’re playing or not playing.”

Last season, in a push to find a winning combination while Murray languished with a knee injury, they

brought in everyone from DeMarcus Cousins to Bones Hyland to Austin Rivers. That group got dispatched by the Warriors in the first round. Drama came mostly in the debate about whether Murray should have hurried back from his torn ACL in time for the playoffs. He didn’t, and that decision looks brilliant today.

It’s not to say the Nuggets never produce any headturning headlines. A few times during minislumps this season, Malone challenged the players by going to the media and suggesting they were getting “soft.” But the players didn’t object; in fact, they mostly agreed with their coach. There was the moment in Game 4 of the conference

semifinals when Jokic made contact with Suns owner Mat Ishbia on the sideline when Joker snatched the ball away to try to quickly get it back into play. That led to about 12 hours of speculation that Jokic might get suspended for a game. Didn’t happen. He got a $25,000 fine and, before the next game in Denver, tossed a ball to Ishbia on the sideline, then walked over to share a handshake and a hug. Denver then sucked the rest of the life from that series by winning Games 5 and 6 by 16 and 25 points.

The Nuggets and their fans have chafed at being overlooked through much of this season — overshadowed by the megatrade that brought Kevin Durant to the Suns, or another chapter in the Kyrie Irving soap opera, or stories about Ja Morant and guns, or anything about the Lakers

— or the Warriors, who conceded that a preseason fight in practice between teammates Draymond Green and Jordan Poole undercut trust on the roster and made it hard to win.

When it comes to producing those kind of headlines, the Nuggets couldn’t compete.

On the court — a different story.

“You never hear stories about a Nuggets player getting in trouble,” former Denver player, coach and front-office executive Dan Issel said.

“You never read in the press about a Nuggets player shooting his mouth off about somebody else. You don’t read about a Nuggets player putting a screwy tweet out there. They’re just a hard-working team that wants to win a championship, and that’s the part that I admire the most.”

HEAT forward Jimmy Butler, left, shoots as Celtics centre Robert Williams III defends during the second half in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals last night in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

DENVER Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic (15) celebrates after Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, centre, missed a layup attempt as time expired in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Final series on Monday in Los Angeles. Denver won 113-111 to win the series.

(AP Photo/ Ashley Landis)

Alcaraz, Djokovic face brief trouble late in straight-set wins

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

PARIS (AP) — Pretty much everyone expects to see, and likely wants to see, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic face each other in the French Open semifinals. There’s work to be done first, of course, and both began their journeys at Roland Garros with straight-set victories yesterday against opponents making Grand Slam debuts.

These were supposed to be straightforward chances to ease into the clay-court tournament for the two popular picks to win the men’s trophy — and it turned out that way, other than a brief late blip for each.

Djokovic, a 22-time major champ seeded No. 3, was up first in Court Philippe Chatrier, facing 114th-ranked Aleksandar Kovacevic, a 24-year-old from New York.

Djokovic served for the victory at 5-4 in the third set but got broken there. Not surprisingly, he quickly righted himself and won 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1).

“Made me work for my victory,” Djokovic said.

“I played really well and held things under control for 2 1/2 sets and then lost my serve and things got a little bit on a wrong side for me,” said the 36-yearold Serb, who can break the men’s mark for most Slam titles he currently shares with Rafael Nadal, the 14-time French Open winner sidelined by a bad hip. “But I managed to hold my nerves and played pretty much a perfect tiebreak.”

Next came Alcaraz, a one-time major champ seeded No. 1, in Court Suzanne Lenglen, facing 159th-ranked qualifier Flavio Cobolli, a 21-yearold from Florence, Italy.

Alcaraz held three match points to close things at 5-3 in the third set but couldn’t convert, then found himself at 5-all minutes later. Not surprisingly, he quickly righted himself and won 6-0, 6-2, 7-5.

Before the start of the tournament, Djokovic called Alcaraz the logical pick to take the trophy, given his recent form on clay: 21-2 as of Monday,

with three titles. Hard to argue.

On the other hand, Djokovic also noted that he loves the best-of-fiveset format of majors and not-so-accidentally mentioned the 22-1 gap in such championships.

Other seeded men advancing on Day 2 in Paris included No. 12 Frances Tiafoe, No. 14 Cam Norrie, No. 15 Borna Coric, No. 18 Alex de Minaur, No. 19 Roberto Bautista Agut and No. 26 Denis Shapovalov. Among the seeded women moving into the second round: No. 5 Caroline Garcia, No. 14

Beatriz Haddad Maia, No. 20 Madison Keys and No. 22 Donna Vekic. Seeds on the way out included No. 12 Belinda Bencic and No. 16 Karolina Pliskova in the women’s bracket and No. 10 Felix Auger-Aliassime and No. 25 Botic Van de Zandschulp in the men’s.

Part of the group of past Grand Slam champions who won yesterday were Stan Wawrinka and Sloane Stephens.

Wawrinka edged Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-7 (2), 1-6, 6-4 across more than 4 1/2 hours, while 2017 U.S. Open title

OPEN: STEPHENS LEADS FOUR AMERICAN WOMEN INTO 2ND ROUND

PARIS (AP) — Back on her “favorite court in the world,” Sloane Stephens looked sharp in her opening match at the French Open with a 6-0, 6-4 win over twotime major finalist Karolina Pliskova.

While Stephens’ only Grand Slam title came at the 2017 U.S. Open, she’s also had sustained success at Roland Garros, finishing as a runner-up to Simona Halep in 2018 and reaching two quarterfinals on the red clay in Paris — including last year.

“This is my favourite court in the world, so I’m super happy to be back,” Stephens told the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier. “To start a Slam on your favourite court, your favourite surface, is always incredible.”

winner Stephens defeated two-time major finalist Pliskova 6-0, 6-4.

“One of the big reasons why I keep playing is to relive those emotions. It was special today again to be here, a lot of support, a lot of fans here.

“It helped me a lot today to stay in the match and to keep fighting for it,” said Wawrinka, a 38-year-old whose three major titles include the 2015 French Open but has dealt with a series of injuries in more recent years.

“If I can stay five more minutes on court, I will do it.”

TODAY IN SPORTS - FEDERER BREAKS JIMMY CONNORS’ OPEN ERA RECORD OF 233 GRAND SLAM MATCH WINS

By The Associated Press

MAY 30

1903 — Flocarline becomes the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes.

1908 — Jockey Joe Notter misjudges the finish of the Belmont Stakes and eases up on his mount, Colin, whose career record to that point was 13-for-13. Notter recovers from his mistake and holds off Fair Play, who came within a head of defeating Colin. When he retired, Colin’s record stood at 15 wins in as many starts.

1911 — Ray Harroun wins the first Indianapolis 500 in 6 hours, 42 minutes and 8 seconds with an average speed of 74.59 mph.

1912 — Joe Dawson wins the second Indianapolis 500 in 6:21:06. Ralph Mulford is told he has to complete the race for 10th place money. It takes him 8 hours and 53 minutes as

he makes several stops for fried chicken. The finishing rule is changed the next year.

1951 — Lee Wallard wins the Indianapolis 500, becoming the first driver to break the 4-hour mark with a time of 3:57:38.05.

1951 — Ezzard Charles beats Joey Maxim in 15 for heavyweight boxing title.

1952 — At 22, Troy Ruttman becomes the youngest driver to win the Indianapolis 500.

1955 — Bob Sweikert, an Indianapolis native, wins the Indianapolis 500. Bill Vukovich, seeking his third consecutive victory, is killed in a four-car crash on the 56th lap.

1957 — European Cup

Final, Madrid: Alfredo Di Stéfano and Francisco Gento score as defending champions Real Madrid beats Fiorentina, 2-0.

1971 — Willie Mays hits his 638th HR, sets NL record of 1,950 runs scored.

1974 — 17th European Cup: Ajax beats Juventus

1-0 at Belgrade.

1985 — The Edmonton Oilers win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year with an 8-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5.

1986 — Barry Bonds makes his MLB debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1987 — Mike Tyson beats Pinklon Thomas by TKO in round 6 in Las Vegas to retain WBC/ WBA heavyweight boxing titles.

1993 — Emerson Fittipaldi wins his second Indianapolis 500, by 2.8 seconds. Fittipaldi takes the lead on lap 185 and holds on, outfoxing Formula One champion Nigel Mansell and runner-up Arie Luyendyk.

2004 — In Cooper City, Fla., Canada easily beats the United States in a three-day cricket match,

the first competition on American soil sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.

2005 — Johns Hopkins wins its first NCAA lacrosse title in 18 years, beating Duke 9-8 to complete an undefeated season.

2009 — Travis Tucker hits an RBI single with one out in the top of the 25th inning to give Texas a 3-2 victory over Boston College in the longest baseball game in NCAA history.

2009 — English FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, London (89,391): Chelsea beats Everton, 2-1; Frank Lampard scores 72’ winner.

2010 — Dario Franchitti gets a huge break from a spectacular crash on the last lap to climb back on top of the open-wheel world to win the Indianapolis 500.

Franchitti’s second Brickyard victory in four years helps his boss, Chip Ganassi, become the first

owner to win Indy and NASCAR’s Daytona 500 in the same year.

2011 — Jim Tressel, who guided Ohio State to its first national title in 34 years, resigns amid NCAA violations from a tattoo-parlor scandal that sullied the image of one of the country’s top football programs.

2012 — Roger Federer breaks Jimmy Connors’ Open era record of 233 Grand Slam match wins by beating Adrian Ungur of Romania 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3 in the second round of the French Open.

Federer, who owns a record 16 major championships, is 234-35 at tennis’ top four tournaments. Connors was 233-49.

The Open era began in 1968.

2015 — English FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, London (89,283): Arsenal beats Aston Villa, 4-0; Gunners’ 12th title.

She helped American women go 4-0 through the first few hours of play on Day 2 of the tournament after a 1-4 start on Sunday, when the only U.S. victory came in a match between two players from the country: Jessica Pegula beat Danielle Collins.

Madison Keys, the runner-up to Stephens in New York six years ago and a semifinalist at Roland Garros in 2018, beat Kaia Kanepi 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 on Monday to improve her career record in the first round of majors to 35-5.

Keys next plays American qualifier Kayla Day, who eliminated French wild-card entry Kristina Mladenovic 7-5, 6-1.

Also, Croatian-born American Bernarda Pera beat former No. 2-ranked Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (6), 6-2.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a finalist in Paris in 2021, breezed past Czech teenager Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2, 6-2; and 22nd-seeded Donna Vekic beat qualifier Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 7-5. Stephens was down a break in the second set against Pliskova but then won three straight games to close it out.

Stephens had a 19-16 edge in winners and committed only 10 unforced errors to 31 by Pliskova, who lost in the finals of the U.S. Open in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2021.

“This court is a bit tricky. You have to play on it a lot to understand when the wind is blowing and where it’s coming,” Stephens said.

“The more you play on it, the more you understand it. But it’s a very complicated court. But that’s what makes it so amazing.”

Stephens won a small clay-court tournament in Saint Malo, France, at the start of the month and also reached the semifinals of the Morocco Open last week after only playing a total of three matches at bigger clay events in Madrid and Rome.

le es e ’s a ale s e as e e n s a s n e l a e nal a es a e

By JAMES ROBSON and STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writers

LEICESTER, England

(AP) — Seven years after the most improbable Premier League title triumph of all, Leicester was relegated from English soccer’s top division on Sunday while Everton pulled off another last-day escape to extend its 69-year stay.

Leeds was also consigned to the drop with Leicester and already-relegated Southampton as the league season reached its conclusion.

Everton’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth meant Leicester’s 2-1 victory against West Ham was ultimately meaningless. Leeds’ miserable campaign ended in a 4-1 loss at home against

Tottenham. Leicester’s demise stands out because of the dramatic nature of its fall after experiencing the most spectacular period in its history in recent years.

By winning the title as a 5,000-1 shot in 2016, it provided the Premier League with its greatest fairy tale - being crowned champion two years after being promoted from the second tier.

In 2021 it was celebrating victory against Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, a period that also saw it achieve back-toback fifth-place finishes. Relegation was not seen as a realistic threat this season — even after a summer in which Leicester failed to make major moves in the transfer market. In the Premier League, however, fairy tales do not

guarantee happily-everafter endings and Leicester now faces an uncertain future with interim manager Dean Smith out of contract and a host of its star players likely to leave in the summer.

“The Premier League is where everybody wants to be playing,” Smith said afterward. “It feels raw now, it hurts and everybody will be devastated. But with the infrastructure it’s got it will bounce back.”

While those words were encouraging, there is no guarantee that Leicester will be back in the top flight any time soon.

Top players like James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes could all depart and will have suitors from leading clubs. Smith could offer no

guarantees about his own future, saying his interim deal was now over after completing the final eight games of the season.

“There have been plenty (of clubs) over time where you’ve had knocks and your job is to bounce back and make sure you improve on the things that have let you down and I’ve no doubts the club will.”

Relegation closes a chapter on a remarkable period in Leicester’s history and it remains to be seen how the club’s chairman, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, reacts to the disappointment.

In March the club announced a pre-tax loss of 92.5 million pounds ($114 million) for the previous financial year. It is likely to have to spend again to rebuild from here.

While it was a day of anguish for Leicester, Everton was celebrating once again as the league’s great survivor. Having been in the top division since 1954, it pulled off another great escape, having avoided relegation on the final day of the season in both 1994 and 1998 previously.

The Merseyside club, which only narrowly avoided the drop last year, took it to the wire yet again this season.

Abdoulaye Doucouré smashed home a 57th-minute goal to earn the win that sparked jubilant scenes at Goodison.

Everton’s fate was always in its own hands, starting the day in 17th place, two points above Leicester and Leeds. It is a triumph for manager Sean Dyche,

who was hired in January and tasked with the job of turning the club’s season around. “I’ve just told the players we can’t be in this state,” he said. “A magic day but at the end of the day we shouldn’t be in this shape.

“You are only a big club if you are doing big things. It is one and we need to get it back to being one.”

UNITED FINISHES 3RD

Two cup finals and now a third-place finish in the Premier League. For Erik ten Hag, it has been a strong first season at Manchester United. United rallied to beat Fulham 2-1 thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes to finish above Newcastle in third place. Newcastle could only draw 1-1 at Chelsea.

SPAIN’s Carlos Alcaraz plays a shot against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris yesterday. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

BAHAMAS LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION

HOSTS 2-DAY UMPIRE TRAINING COURSE

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) hosted a two-day umpire training course at the National Tennis Centre this past weekend.

The classes were held from May 26-27 with a morning and evening session. The course saw 20 participants register for the umpire training sessions which included 10 women.

BLTA’s focus behind the two-day training was to help with the development and training of officials at all levels as the demand and popularity of local tennis steadily grows.

Mickey Williams, officiating manager and host of the training, talked about the importance of the two-day course. “I think it’s a very necessary step in the development process, both for officials and for players, because as officials we have a responsibility to educate the players on the rules and procedures so this will serve two purposes,” Williams said.

He added that it will give people who want more knowledge of the rules a place to start and also serves as a stepping stone for those with a desire to start officiating.

Participants were taught the rules of tennis, code violations, time violations, medical timeouts, how to correct errors during matches, and were given the chance to score improv matches in efforts to give them a hands-on feel for the officiating side of tennis.

Trivea Culmer, one of the 10 women participants, talked about her reason for signing up for the training course.

“Two of my sons are presently playing tennis, as a parent, I thought it was imperative for me to learn more about the game because they would be participating in matches and tournaments,” she said.

Culmer believed that it was an opportunity to not only gain more knowledge but to give back to the BLTA because they offer a few free programmes to kids in the community. Overall, she

acquired a wealth of knowledge over the two-day span, including expectations of the umpire and the technicalities of the game. She deemed the course as very beneficial.

Julian Robinson, a male participant, said he decided to sign up for the training course due to his love for tennis and to increase his knowledge about the sport he has played for a few years.

Additionally, he wanted to offer his service to local and international events. Robinson added that although he had a surface level knowledge about the game, the course was very beneficial as it allowed him to dig deeper and learn about the nuances of the sport for a better understanding.

With an influx of tennis events scheduled for the BLTA, including the sixth edition of the Bahamas Games scheduled for July 6-14, BLTA president Perry Newton expects to see the new officials at their upcoming events.

“The course has been good. It is very needed because part of the sport is officiating to ensure that the game is played within the rules so we are glad that we have so many persons that have taken advantage of this experience,” Newton said.

Additionally, he said the goal is for the trainees to follow in the path of Mickey Williams who officiated at an international level and for participants to gain experience in local and sporting arenas abroad.

The president was also very pleased with the amount of newcomers at the course and the women who signed up to make their presence felt in a male-dominated field.

“We have a lot of females. They are right now one of the rare assets that if you can add them to your organisation they add value [to it] because sports is primarily dominated by men so we are pleased to have 10 or 11 females taking part in the call,” he said.

Next up on the BLTA’s sporting calendar is the junior nationals to be held June 10-11 for the under-8 and under-10 divisions.

CENTREVILLE PRIMARY STUDENTS ENJOY PLAY TENNIS PROGRAMME

PLAY TENNIS: Students of Centreville Primary partake in the BLTA’s Play Tennis programme for the fourth week at the National Tennis Centre.

CLASS IN SESSION: The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) hosted a two-day umpire training course at the National Tennis Centre over the weekend.

to compete in one of the biggest decathlon events in the world was an historic feat for the Bahamas.

“I was satisfied with my performance this past weekend,” said the 25-year-old Thompson, who is training in Dallas, Texas. “Again, a new personal best and national record shows that my hard work is paying off.

“Competing with Ken Mullings is fun. We enjoy every moment and events over the past two days, and we gave it our best.”

Thompson has been invited to compete in Decastar Invitational in Talence, France from September 23-24, a World Athletics Combined Events Tour gold level meeting.

Although he didn’t secure an invitation yet, Mullings, 26, admitted

SOCCER NATIONALS

FROM PAGE 16

the tenacity of the Knights’ goalkeeper Raynia Russell led to the team completing a clean sheet. No team was able to score a goal against the Lady Knights at last week’s nationals or GSSSA championships. Russell’s prowess as a goalkeeper did not go unnoticed, she was awarded as the golden glove winner for the school.

“I am very excited. I know once you have confidence, do your best you put it all on the field. I thank my teammates for getting back and trying their best to help as we played throughout the whole week,” the goalkeeper said.

Although the Lady Knights appeared hobbled after a gruelling week of soccer matchups they can now celebrate as the 2023 GSSSA soccer champions and winners of the Samuel P Haven Jr Soccer Nationals.

Tia Rolle, head coach of the Lady Knights, talked about the impressive showing from the team.

The coach said the game plan was to reserve their energy and after scoring a goal they would defend their own. She said the team was definitely tired after competing at 11 games in three weeks in addition to two championship games which were a longer duration than the regular season games. She added that the keys were defence and team chemistry as the girls gave it all they had while proving to be true champions.

The Warriors wrapped up the competition in second with their Edisa Bain taking home Most Valuable Player for the girls and claiming the golden boot honours after finishing with five goals.

The senior boys of the Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) quelled the momentum of the Government High School (GHS) Magic. GHS looked to collect another trophy to pair alongside their GSSSA championship earned earlier last week. However, the Dragons came out on

GARDINER

PAGE 16

way for the group of Bahamians as she skipped, hopped and jumped 45-feet, 9 1/4-inches or 13.95 metres to win the women’s triple jump and earned one of three berths into the NCAA Championships.

Taylor also secured her berth in the 100m hurdles where she placed fifth in 12.80 and she did it in the long jump with her leap of 20-5 1/4 (6.23m) for 11th overall.

Shaun Miller Jr of Ohio State soared 7-1/4 (2.14m) for second place to advance to the NCAA Finals. Tony Jones, a senior at Mississippi State, cleared the same height, but got the win on fewer knockdowns.

Anthaya Charlton, a freshman at the University of Kentucky, earned her berth into the NCAA Finals with her sixth place

that he still has some more work to get back on track.

“It was an amazing experience, lovely weather and the crowd was engaged,” Mullings said. “The competition was stacked. I loved every moment of it.”

As for competing against Thompson, Mullings said it was good to have the Bahamas represented by a pair of athletes.

“It’s always fun competing against him,” said Mullings, who trains out of Chicago, Illinois.

“I just got to step my game up and get back on the winning streak.”

Mullings, however, was not sure exactly when he will be back in action, although there are several meets on the horizon.

Thompson started the event with second place in the men’s 100m in 10.82 for 1,028 points. Mullings was eighth in 10.60 for 952 points.

In the long jump, Thompson was eighth with

top and defeated the team 1-0. The lone goal for the team was scored by Dragons’ Xavier Dupuch late into the second half of the game. Despite an anticlimactic finish for the Magic, they capped off the high school nationals in second place and Peter Tilusnord was awarded as one of the golden boot winners with three goals.

LCIS’ Michael Massey took home Most Valuable Player honours and his teammate Vance Wheaton was awarded the Golden Glove winner.

Phil Carroll, head coach of the Dragons, talked about the finals win for the school. “We felt that we were in control of the game for the most part credit to the opposition because they were managing to keep us out of the goal, and were offering a big threat on the counter attack as well,” he said.

Carroll said despite the quickness of GHS, he felt that his team was managing the game well. He added that the Dragons were prepared for the physical game because the local teams bring a lot of intensity and passion but he told the boys to stand up to it.

Overall, he said it felt great and he was proud of them despite the end of the game, he felt the opposition deserved more for their effort up to that point.

Third place The QC Comets secured third place in the competition after defeating the senior girls of the LCIS Dragons 3-2 after a penalty shootout.

Alexis Williamson, who played a big role in helping the Comets to advance, was given the opportunity to serve as the team’s head coach in their final game and her final year at the school.

The team captain talked about the Comets win for third place at the high schools soccer nationals.

“It feels great, yesterday we had a setback because I got injured but I am glad that my team stepped up and that they were able to come third. We wanted to come first but we did our best and I am very proud of my team,” Williamson said.

For the boys, the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves

in the women’s 100m in 11.08.

Javonya Valcourt, a freshman at Tennessee, clocked 52.31 for fifth place to advance to the NCAA Championships. Megan Moss, a junior st Kentucky, missed out after she placed 32nd overall in 53.87.

Wanya McCoy also missed out on an individual spot in the men’s 100m after he clocked 10.07 for 12th overall for one of the fastest times ever ran by a Bahamian. He was consistent running 10.10 in the preliminaries.

McCoy also missed out in the 200m, coming much closer than in the century. He completed the half-lap race in 20.45 for 13th overall. The top 12 competitors moved on.

NCAA Division II Championships

At the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships, Denisha Cartwright, a

at Minnesota State,

7.48m for 930 points, while Mullings was 17th with 7.26m for 876 points. In the shot put, Mullings had the better showing with 14.87m for 11th and 782 points. Thompson

was 26th with 13.48m for 697 points. Mullings also soared 2.06m for fourth place and 859 points. Thompson did 2.00m, for eighth place with 803 points. Thompson closed

out the first day of competition with fourth in the 400m in 47.22 for 947 points. Mullings was 21th in 49.84 for 822.

On the final day of competition, Mullings did 14.32 for 11th ahead of Thompson, who did 14.40 for 14th for 924 points.

Thompson got ninth in the discus with a heave of 64.63m for 808 points. Mullings did 43.64m for 22nd place with 683 points.

In the pole vault, Thompson was 21st with 4.50m for 760 points.

In the discus, Thompsson came close to a victory with 64.73m for 808 points and Mullings did 5:17.38 for 22nd place with 454 points.

The duo closed out the competition in the gruelling 1,500m run with both competitors struggling with Thompson clocking 4:56.44 for 19th and 712 points. Mullings trailed him in 22nd place in 5:17.38 for 464.

they don’t get to swim in a lot of short course meets. It’s normally long course, so coming home and competing in a short course meet was good for them.

“We had some big swims from Marvin Johnson, Nigel Forbes, Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson, Kianna Moss, just to name a few. Overall, it was a good meet. We had a lot of swimmers in the younger age groups who had a chance to qualify for the Nationals.”

The Nationals is scheduled for June 15-18 and as the head coach for Mako Aquatic Club, McPhee sent a message to their rivals that they are coming out to continue their winning streak as they go after their fifth straight championship title.

Thompson, who came home from school, said it is mind over matter as she used the meet to prepare for the Nationals. She took the 18-and over age group division for girls with a total of 50 points. The Alpha Aquatics’ member outduelled Mako’s Kyla Bethell, who had 39 for second place.

“I swam well. I wasn’t looking for any specific times. I just have to look back at the end where I need to improve on,” said Thompson, who is studying at Howard University. “I am really excited about Nationals.”

Thompson, who is pursing a degree in health science and pre-dental, said she’s been thrilled to see the vibrant youth programme being ran by the association and the clubs.

“I just hope that a lot of the swimmers stay focused and committed, especially during their final year (in high school. If they want to go to college, they have to learn to be focused, dedicated nd committed.”

One of the competitors Thompson faced was Rhanisha Gibbs, who is preparing to head off to college in August. “I think the competition was very good. I was glad that I got the chance to compete against some of the collegiate swimmers like Zaylie,” Gibbs said. I think this gave me the opportunity to see where I am at going into Nationals. I feel very good about my performances.”

Forbes, a Grand Bahamian native, also had one of the most outstanding performances on the boys’ side. He was undefeated in all of his events, but finished fifth in the age group division with 50 points.

“I was very pleased with my performances. I thought it was very good,” said Forbes, who is graduating from St George’s High School and is heading to Texas Christian University in August. “I enjoyed the 200 free the most because I had the most fun.”

took down the Lucaya International School (LIS) Buccaneers 2-1. The Timberwolves’ two goals were scored by Tommy Valburn and Guenson Belvy to claim third place in the competition.

Oliver Lynch, head coach of the Timberwolves, talked about the victory. He said the team got off to a shaky start due to some rainy weather earlier in the day that affected their warmups.

The coach said the team started out flat as LIS got out to a 1-0 lead.

However, his team was able to score two more goals in the game and defend their goal for the win.

Other outstanding performances from the meet came from the following swimmers:

Girls 8-and-underCailyn Dean, Blue Waves, 62 points, Kirsten Rolle, Blue Waves, 58 points.

Boys 8-and-under - Dylan Musgrove, Blue Waves, 53 points; Mason Hanna, Mako Aquatics, 46.50.

Girls 9-10 - Isabella Munroe, Mako Aquatics, 61 points; Taylen Nicholls, Mako Aquatics, 61 points.

Boys 9-10 - Adrian Dean, Mako Aquatics, 58 points; Asher Bastian, Mantas Swim 7 Water Polo Club, 53 points.

Girls 11-12 - Saleste Gibson, Barracuda, 60 points; DF McKenzie, Mako Aquatics, 59 points.

Boys 11-12 - Christon Joseph, Blue Waves, 67 points; Harold Simmons, Mako Aquatics, 61 points.

Girls 13-14 - Alanna Murray, Black Marlins, 67 points; Summer McKinney, Mako Aquatics, 49 points.

Boys 13-14 - Kevin Johnson, Blue Waves, 56.50 points; Malcolm Menzies, Black Marlins, 50 points.

Girls 15-17 - Grace Farrington, unattached, 57 points; Elle Theberge, Mako, 52 points.

Boys 15-17 - Caden Wells, Black Mantas, 58 points; Marvin Johnson, Mako Aquatics, 57 points.

junior

won the

women’s 100m hurdles in 12.94, well ahead of her nearest rival Kiara Smith, a junior at Missouri Southern, who did 13.13.

Cartwright, however, had to settle for second in the 200m in 23.10 as Duvonne Franklin, a senior at California, was the winner in

22.77. And in the 100m, Cartwright placed fourth in 11.13. The race was won by Franklin in 11.09.

STEVEN GARDINER, of The Bahamas, is congratulated after winning the men’s 400 metres at a Diamond League athletics meet in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

DECATHLETE Ken Mullings.

DRAGONS FINISH FIRST: The Lyford Cay International School Dragons closed out the Government High School Magic to prevail as the Samuel P Haven Jr high schools soccer nationals champions.

GIRLS RUNNER-UPS: The senior girls of the Bishop Michael Eldon School Warriors finished second at the high schools soccer nationals after falling short to the CR Walker Knights.

THIRD PLACE FINISHERS: The Queen’s College Comets finished third at the Samuel P Haven Jr High School Nationals this past weekend.

Photos: Tenajh Sweeting

HANDS ON WITH LEARNING FOR CAREER IN CHEMISTRY

HIS ultimate career goal is to become a research chemist. Already the holder of a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of The Bahamas, Keardio Ferguson is well on his way to fulfilling his dreams.

In fact, while he prepares to begin another Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at the University of the West Indies next year, Keardio is wasting no time. Since fall 2022, he has been studying welding at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI).

“Studying welding aligns with my career goals of being a material scientist with a focus on metallurgy and thermodynamics. My steel fabrication instructor, Maverick Moxey, helped me to narrow my focus in material science to metallurgy. His teaching style is hands on. That’s how I learn best,” said Keardio.

“In his class, I am able to apply mathematics utilising the measuring tape. I display skills learned. The

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

ROY Burrows Jr was named the Outstanding Senior Scholar of the College of Business at Central State University, Ohio.

Roy, who graduated this month with a double degree in accounting and business administration with a concentration in finance remained active on campus as a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Central State Honors College, Delta Mu Delta Honor Society, and Golden Key International Honor Society while maintaining a 3.93 grade point average.

Roy’s goal is to become a certified public accountant — a dream he has had since high school. He enjoys playing piano, organ, and bass guitar. He is self-motivated and wants nothing but success in his life. He also believes the sky is the limit, and, with God’s guidance, he will accomplish anything and everything he puts his mind to.

• Do you know a student you would like to see featured in Student Spotlight? Send a picture and brief details to jsimmons@ tribunemedia.net.

The BTVI Story

welding programme helps me understand metal on a practical level,” he said.

Keardio explained that material science is a specialisation in research chemistry, and he is fascinated by it.

“Material scientists are researchers who focus on the production of new compounds and products for use by the general public. There are different types of plastics in use, from those used in microwave safe containers to water bottles. These are created by material scientists in collaboration with chemical engineers,” he explained.

Keardio also has his sights set on a graduate degree in chemistry, which he intends to follow up with supplementary degrees.

“I want to do a Bachelor of Science in physics and mathematics and an Associate’s Degree in engineering. I want to do straight research. Chemistry research includes fields that interconnect. You have to do some physics, some calculations and even make up formulas. Math and physics are crucial to understanding concepts and might be needed to answer just one question in chemistry,” he said.

Meanwhile, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 4.0, Keardio is clearly focused. However, the full-time student has found time to tutor two fellow students in mathematics – a subject he was not always good at.

School supports REACH

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Education Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the St Andrew’s International School Student Council and the Staff and Teachers Association (SASTA) recently presented REACH, the Bahamas Resource and Educational Source for Autism and other related challenges, with a cheque. SASTA sold blue ribbons and other autism-related products and the student council held a bake sale with all proceeds being donated to REACH.

Students and teachers alike enthusiastically supported both events as part of the school’s ongoing community efforts.

“The student council is absolutely delighted to donate to REACH,” said Mia Trotman, St Andrew’s student council president. “We had a lot

of fun planning, promoting, baking goodies, and raising money through our bake sale initiative. We hope that these funds make somebody’s life a little bit better.”

“It’s always a privilege to collaborate and give back to our community partners especially an organisation such as REACH, which works tirelessly to raise awareness, educate and support members of the autism community,” said Philippa Sands, SASTA member.

BTVI OPENING ABACO SITE

THE Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) has announced a new site will be opening in Abaco.

The former Dundas and Murphy Town Primary School site will become BTVI Abaco, offering courses in construction, cosmetology and business trades. The campus will incorporate green energy and the renovations are projected to span over four months.

During the contract signing ceremony on the site, BTVI’s interim president, Dr Linda A Davis, described it as an “historic day”.

She said: “This symbolises in a very concrete way the importance of what we are doing at BTVI.”

Renovations are also ongoing in Green Castle, Eleuthera, with proposed renovations in Grand Bahama

and a new campus on the horizon for Exuma.

The buildings will make provision for a multi-purpose beauty trades space, including hair styling, barbering and massage therapy. There will also be a multi-purpose room to accommodate carpentry, plumbing and electrical. This is in addition to a general-purpose classroom space.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training Zane Lightbourne, said the BTVI campus will be a part of the rebuilding of the Abaco economy following Hurricane Dorian. He said: “These grounds are still a reflection of some of the damage of Hurricane Dorian, but there will be a new building and restructuring.

“REACH is a non-profit organisation that aims to increase autism awareness and education in The Bahamas by providing free services and resources to children and families affected by autism,” said Guerda Culmer, board member REACH.

“We appreciate this donation from the St Andrew’s International School student and teacher associations as it will help us continue to do our important work.”

“It’s enjoyable to see the excitement experienced by others when they learn a new concept. Math is enjoyable, as it can be used in different aspects of life from statistics and probability in games to meteorology or research,” said the focused young man, who was curious about science from childhood. Always one to fully utilise his talents, Keardio said while in university he intends to use welding to assist with finances.

“A trade will help me when I go off, as I can work part-time and still attend school to achieve my dreams. A trade can also be used for self-employment,” said the 23-year-old.

Keardio added that he is grateful for the Bahamas Government tuition grant, which makes tertiary-level learning accessible to all eligible Bahamians. A lesson to all who would take advantage of the opportunity.

• “The BTVI Story” is a bi-weekly column which highlights the who, what and why of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), a tertiary institution where individuals ‘Discover the Possibilities’ related to various trades. The column is produced by BTVI’s Office of Public Relations.

The Lyford Cay Foundation and the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board announced a five-year $250,000 tourism leadership scholarship programme. The two scholarships, each valued at up to $25,000 per year will prepare promising industry professionals to move into critical industry leadership positions.

Lyford Cay Foundations chairman Basil Goulandris, said: “This is the first tourism leadership scholarship to be offered by the foundation and we are delighted to partner with an organisation which represents the leading hoteliers and business minds in the tourism sector,”

“We all know how important the tourism sector is for The Bahamas...We enjoy one of the highest per capita incomes and qualities of life in the region.

“However, we know that many more need these opportunities, and we hope that by helping tourism scholars achieve higher education in competitive, globally recognised tourism programs they will be better prepared to lead the way.”

It’s also about building hope. This is today a reflection of the progressive Bahamas. This is giving people the skills to build our own country.”

Central and South Abaco MP and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism John Pinder said: “The skilled workforce is helping with the growth and recovery of Abaco. You see it in the resilience of the people. New skills are being brought to Abaco; therefore, this is economic empowerment. It puts a smile on my face.”

• The University of the Bahamas had its 2023 commencement ceremony last week with more than 500 graduates.

UB’s Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony was held on Thursday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. The 2023 Commencement Class comprised 583 people from nine academic units.

KEARDIO FERGUSON

THE CONTRACT signing in Abaco.

FROM left, Janice Gaitor, director of student support; Philippa Sands; Beth Hall; Khalilah Barr, VP student council; Guerda Culmer, REACH; Mia Trotman, president student council; Sienna Cheetham; Keva Bain; Jessica Knowles, SASTA member, Kayleigh Sturrup, SASTA president.

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2023

Gardiner wins in Morocco

Athletes shine in meets overseas

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Steven Gardiner and Anthonique Strachan both showed that they are on track for the World Championships, while a couple of collegiate athletes, including Joel Forbes, Terrence Jones, Charisma Taylor and Denisha Cartwright, shined on the collegiate scene over the weekend.

Rabat DL

At the Rabat Diamond League, Gardiner sped to victory in a scorching time of 44.70 seconds to leave the rest of the field well behind. American Vernon Norwood was his closest challenger, but he ran 45.11. Also at the meet, Anthonique Strachan sped to a personal best of 22.15 for second place in the women’s 200m as she trailed

Jamaican Shericka Jackson, the winner in 21.98. Both Gardiner and Strachan have qualified for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August.

NAIA Outdoor Championships

At the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Joel Forbes erased a 25-year-old record that Chris “The Fireman” Brown left on the books. Forbes, a sophomore at Cumberland in Tennessee, ran 1:49.32 to remove Brown’s old mark of 1:49.54 that he established on August 17, 1998, at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

NCAA West Regional

At the West First Round in Sacramento, California, Grand Bahamian Terrence Jones continues to post impressive numbers as a junior at Texas Tech.

Jones, who earlier this year tied the national record at 9.91, came close to duplicating that feat with his 9.93 clocking to guarantee his berth in the NCAA Championships at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Champiobships

at the Mike Myers Stadium in Austin Texas. Karon Dean, a junior at UTEP, was 44th overall in 10.55. Antoine Andrews, a freshman at Texas Tech, also booked his ticket to the NCAA Championships with a 14th place in

ANOTHER NATIONAL RECORD FOR DECATHLETE KENDRICK THOMPSON

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOR the second time this year, Kendrick Thompson has broken the Bahamian national record in the decathlon.

Over the weekend at the Gotzis Multi in Gotzis, Austria, Thompson accumulated a total of 8,211 points for ninth place as he improved on his previous national record of 8,038 with his fourth-place finish at the 63rd annual Mt SAC relays st the Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, California. Former national record holder Ken Mullings had to settle for a two-way tie for 15th place with 7,983 points. He was joined by Marcel Meyer of Germany with the same total. Canada got a sweep of the first two spots with Pierce LePage taking the title with 8,700 points, followed by Damian Warner with 8,619. Sander Skotheim was third with 8.590.

Despite their performances, Thompson said he and Mullings being invited

SEE PAGE 14

the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.74.

NCAA East Regional

At the NCAA East Regional in Jacksonville, Florida, Tennessee’s senior Charisma Taylor led the

SEE PAGE 14

KNIGHTS, DRAGONS TAKE HOME HARDWARE

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Samuel P Haven Jr National High School Soccer Championships commenced from May 19-27 to see which school would take home the championship hardware after more than one week of soccer action. The teams of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) took on the teams of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) to make for some competitive matchups.

After multiple rounds of soccer, the GSSSA’s CR Walker Lady Knights wrapped up the nationals as champions.

Additionally, the senior boys of Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) secured the nationals win for the Dragons.

Finals The CR Walker Lady Knights wrapped up the Bishop Michael Eldon School Warriors 1-0 to

seal the finals win for the school. The Lady Knights came off a tough week of competition as they competed four days, including back-to-back days, to earn

their GSSSA championship win. The game between the dominant Knights and Grand Bahama’s team was evenly matched in the first

half of play as no team was able to score a goal.

However, the Lady Knights finally scored their first goal of the game and kept the Warriors scoreless

SWIMMERS MAKE A SPLASH AT MAKO MEET

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IN the lead up to the Bahamas Aquatics’ National Championships in two weeks, the Mako Aquatic Swim Club hosted a successful Mako Third Annual Oak Tree Medical Invite on Saturday at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

The event saw the return of many of the collegiate and high school students competing in the United States of America or in Canada, as well as a team from the Turks & Caicos Islands and Grand Bahama.

Meet organiser Travano McPhee said the event was good for two reasons in that it allowed swimmers who didn’t qualify for the nationals to do so and secondly to provide an opportunity for the swimmers coming home to stay competitive.

as a result of some tough defence.

The brilliant showing by their defence along with

SEE PAGE 14

“We had an excellent turnout from the senior members all the way down to the age groups. Normally

SEE PAGE 14

STEVEN GARDINER, of The Bahamas, smiles after winning the men’s

400 metres at a Diamond League athletics meet in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

KNIGHTS TAKEOVER: The senior girls of the CR Walker Knights secured the championship hardware for the 2023 Samuel P Haven Jr High Schools Soccer Nationals.

Photo: Tenajh Sweeting