06062023 NEWS AND SPORT

PM: sin tax? not this ye aR

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunermedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the government would not introduce a sin tax anytime soon. His comment came after his administration tabled the Customs Management (Amendment) Bill in the House of Assembly last week, legislation that would let the minister of finance make regulations providing for the payment

of a health and wellness levy on the importation of specific goods and domestically manufactured good “deemed to have a negative impact on health and wellness”.

“No, that is not going to be done this year,” Mr Davis said about a sugar or sin tax. “I don’t see it coming very soon either.”

He said: “We are attempting to cause Bahamians to understand what sugar is to their health.”

“We have put a

Davis: ‘We cannot afforD for n ational insurance to fail’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunermedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis suggested increasing National Insurance Board contribution rates is on the table for the government. He is expected to

Hay WarDs W illing to part-sell at gbpa - but oppose govt majority

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Hayward family is willing to part with some of its Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) ownership interest to aid Freeport’s revival, it was revealed yesterday, but does not believe the Government should take “majority” control.

Rupert Hayward, grandson of former GBPA co-chair, Sir Jack Hayward, told Tribune Business his family is “here to stay”and ready to sell a portion of its 50 percent GBPA equity ownership “to the right partners at the right price” - so that Freeport can attract the investment

and skills it needs to drive the city’s transformation.

Speaking after Prime Minister Philip Davis KC last week placed the GBPA and its owners, the Hayward and St George families, on notice that he plans to take “decisive action” to reverse Freeport’s near two-decade

decline, he said himself and “blue chip” partners have already presented the Government with a plan to do just that.

Warning that “fighting between key stakeholders will only be to the detriment of the people of Grand Bahama”, Mr Hayward told this newspaper he hopes Mr Davis will “actively support” his proposal given that the Government plays a major role in it, with collaboration between Nassau and the GBPA is critical to driving Freeport forward.

“We are long-term stakeholders in Grand Bahama, long-term shareholders in the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and its

announce the way forward for NIB during his contribution to the budget debate in the House of Assembly tomorrow.

“We cannot afford for National Insurance to fail,” he told reporters yesterday. Asked if he planned to

bain alloW eD appeal to supreme court

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal has granted Lincoln Bain permission to appeal its decision supporting a Supreme Court order that he repay monies on a failed investment.

Sir Michael Barnett, president of the Court of Appeal, ruled on May 25 that Mr Bain and Bani Shoe Warehouse, a business on Mackey Street partially owned by Mr Bain, can appeal the court’s decision in support of the Supreme Court decision to the Privy Council. Sir Michael said

Davis: ‘We stand for consumer rights’ at opening of Consumer Affairs new offices

THE Ministry of Economic Affairs opened the Consumer Affairs and the Consumer Protection Commission building yesterday, with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis calling the opening an “historic milestone”.

“As we inaugurate the consumer affairs building today, we are making a clear statement: We stand for consumer rights,” Mr Davis said. “We envisage this building as a pillar of consumer protection, casting its shadow of security across every corner of our beloved nation,

especially our cherished Family Islands.”

Mr Davis said while the government is committed to bringing relief to Bahamians, his administration’s vision extends beyond just economic recovery.

“It extends to compassionate social relief,

enhanced security and safeguarding your rights as consumers,” he said. “In essence, protecting consumer rights is our investment in you. It is about your wellbeing, your health, your safe and your economic prosperity.”

Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis also highlighted consumer protection as a priority for the government. He said: “What we want is to ensure that buyers of goods and services are safeguarded against unfair practices in the marketplace. It is critical

that the ecosystem of the supply demand, price and profitability work for both businesses and the consumer growth to achieve economic growth, inclusivity, and sustainable national development.” The building is located off Tonique Williams Darling Highway.

THE Ministry of Economic Affairs opened the Consumer Affairs and the Consumer Protection Commission building yesterday, with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis calling the opening an “historic milestone”.

Photos: Austin Fernander

Pintard says Davis administration’s VAT deadline change placing ‘pitfalls’ in way of entrepreneurs

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement bashed the Davis administration for its impending change to the value added tax reporting deadline, stressing the government continues to place burden on businesses.

Starting July 1, the timeframe in which Bahamian companies with annual turnovers exceeding $5m can file and pay their VAT returns will be 14 days,

down from 28 days.

“The government continues to place pitfalls in the way of entrepreneurs and businesses, large and small,” the FNM’s press release said.

“The Prime Minister’s reference to a large taxpayer unit at the Department of Inland Revenue is laughable –– this class of business has always been given focused attention by DIR professionals, given their significance to the overall VAT revenue collected.

“However, the Prime

Minister’s continued assault on these entities and, by extension, small businesses is no laughing matter. These entities have lamented the significant increase in cost and the ease of doing business.”

The FNM argued that cutting short the VAT filing time will cause more harm than good.

“With these compressed timelines, many accountants will find it difficult to meet client’s needs, inadvertently causing defaults due to unconsidered due to unconsidered

circumstances and multiple client filings,” the press release said. “We must also consider the businesses that rely on outside accounting professionals to accumulate the relevant data to make the filing.

“According to business owners, because of the PLP’s lack of consideration, already struggling businesses will be stretched thin to be able to complete hundreds of journal entries and postings from previous month-much less reconcile with import customs

entries, verify account receivable payments, ensure accuracy, balance, file, and pay-all within 14 days.”

The FNM said the Minister of Finance seems to be detached from the harsh realities impacting many small and medium size businesses.

The statement continued: “Ironically this pressure is being placed on the business community as the government continues violate not only the law but also the deadlines relative to public procurement

and other acts that mandate timely reports.”

The VAT Amendment Bill 2023, which defines a “large taxpayer” as an entity with annual turnover of $5m or more, stipulates: “A registrant that is a large taxpayer must file with the Comptroller a VAT return in the prescribed form within 14 days after the end of each tax period whether or not tax is payable by the registrant in respect of the period.”

BTVI faculT y proT es T s Talled negoTIons, calls for goVT In T erV en TIon

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

FACULTY of Bahamas

Technical and Vocational Institute protested stalled industrial agreement negotiations yesterday.

Negotiations between the Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas (UTEB) and BTVI have been ongoing for the past ten months.

The union, representing some 30 BTVI

faculty members, pleaded with the government to intervene.

“The reason we’re here today is to plead to the government, yet again, for much-needed intervention,” said Mario Gay, a faculty member at BTVI.

“It has been two months since the conclusion of the negotiations and now it appears that BTVI management is refusing to sign the industrial agreement and are

a nn MarIe daVIs responds To rex M ajor

from page one

lamented efforts to criminalise marital rape, saying people lie.

Yesterday, Mrs Davis said some people must be educated on the subject.

“I like Rex Major, but I didn’t agree with him,” she said. “People tend to have different views on marital rape if they don’t speak to people, read the stories, talk about it and get educated on it and what it’s all about.

“I invite the good pastor to talk to people that this has happened to and read up on it and get a little knowledge on it, because people are in a place where because they haven’t seen it or experienced it or lived it, it doesn’t happen, but it does happen.”

Marital rape, which the Davis administration is considering criminalising, is an emotive, divisive issue among Bahamians.

Mr Major’s comments came less than a week after

Attorney General Ryan Pinder revealed that the failure to criminalise marital rape was other countries number one human rights concern with The Bahamas during the recent United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review.

Mr Major said: “I’m not supposed to say this, but I’m troubled by the concept of the rape in the House because people could lie, and the easy way to get out of this husband which I don’t want any more is I gon’ tell people he rape me.

“Now how you gon’ prove? His sperm is there anyway, all the time. What’s the proof? And don’t fool yourself, some people will get rid of you like that. This is a critical issue here, very critical.”

“People lie and they have liars with them cuz we don’t want this man no more. I gat me eye on something fresh. I’m serious. Let’s be careful how we tread this road here now.”

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attempting to renegotiate items that have already been agreed to by both sides.

“This is not right, this is unfair, this is not a show of goodwill, and quite frankly, it suggests that the opposite side is stalling. We are making a plea to our government to intervene so that after this long ten months, the agreement will finally be signed this week. No more negotiations, just sign the agreement.”

During the peaceful protest on the institute’s outskirts yesterday, union members held signs and chanted: “no more stalling”.

While both parties reportedly agreed on most articles in the proposed agreement, they failed to see eye to eye on staff remuneration packages.

The union previously indicated that the current salary structure at BTVI is inadequate, and, as

such, the group is pushing for staff members’ salaries to become similar to that of staff at the University of The Bahamas or other quasi-government agencies.

Secretary General of the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) Daniel Thompson had previously said the agreement was expected to be signed during labour week, but that did not happen.

Mr Thompson, also

the president of UTEB, had said the final draft was submitted, and that his union was awaiting a response from BTVI.

“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 previously said.

FNM leader Michael Pintard released a statement saying “The government continues to place pitfalls in the way of entrepreneurs and businesses, large and small,” decrying the impending change to the VAT reporting deadline for businesses with annual turnovers of $5m or more.

Lincoln Bain allowed to appeal to Supreme Court

although the appeal might be “meritless”, the applicants have the right to appeal to the highest court.

“We are of the view that the appeal is meritless,” Sir Michael’s ruling said. “It is settled law that the Privy Council will not overturn concurrent findings of fact by a trial judge and a Court of Appeal save in exceptional circumstances.

“With some hesitation, we do not consider that the proposed appeal falls within the category of an abuse of process. As the claim meets the monetary threshold of $4,000.00, we grant leave to appeal to the Privy Council on the usual terms and conditions.

The applicants are given 90 days to prepare the record.”

Recapping the case, Sir Michael said Zinnia Rolle allegedly signed an agreement on April 23, 2010 for Mr Bain to hold $40,000 of her funds in a trust for three years. Interest at ten per cent was to be paid annually, with an option for Mr Bain to invest these monies on her behalf if she wanted this. The plaintiff claimed she never exercised this option and that Mr Bain never returned what amounted to $64,000 with interest.

In a second contract

dated May 4, 2010, Ms Rolle became a partner in Bani Shoe Warehouse.

It was expected that she would supply the establishment with merchandise and would receive 30 per cent of all sales, but she did not receive money from this business deal.

Mr Bain and his legal team, which includes attorneys Tanya Wright and Maria Daxon, maintain that the $40,000 given to Mr Bain was to acquire the children’s shoe department of Mr Bain’s business. They deny receiving any funds for investment. They further claimed that in November 2010, Ms Rolle ceased to operate the kid’s shoe business after a fire.

In 2021, Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson ruled in favour of Zinnia Rolle, ordering Mr Bain to repay Ms Rolle $64,000.

Mr Bain appealed that ruling to the Court of Appeal last year. The court upheld the Supreme Court’s decision. However, Sir Michael condemned the length of legal proceedings under Justice Grant-Thomson as a “blight on the administration of justice” and struck down the ruling that Bain repay the $64K by February 28, 2022, or risk a 90-day prison term.

Union says revised diploma criteria creates greater inclUsiveness

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Educators Counsellors and Allied Workers Union president defended the revised criteria for a high school diploma yesterday, saying the changes create greater inclusiveness for students with different learning styles.

Sandra Major, president of the BECAWU, who also served as a member of the Bahamas High School Diploma National Review Commission, dismissed criticism that the changed criteria lowered the education standards.

“Why would we in this season lower a standard if we are trying to make The Bahamas better?” she asked. “What we’re trying to do at the high school diploma is be inclusive. What we’ve never spoken to is the children with a different learning style.”

“You must understand some children are academic, some children learn with their hands. The difference does not make one better than the other. It makes each person an individual.”

Following the Ministry of Education’s announcement of the changed

requirements, many Bahamians took to social media to express their disagreement with the new criteria for a high school diploma.

One Facebook user said: “That’s why a lot of our kids not aiming high because they know D is a pass grade, they just settle for that. I will make mines take it over, I don’t care if they are in grade 13.”

Another user said: “Standards just gon’ keep getting lower.”

One woman who claimed to be a teacher called the revised criteria “pathetic”.

Asked if teachers generally supported or opposed the new requirements, Ms Major said she hasn’t seen criticism among educators.

“No teacher has come so far and said anything negative about the changes. Most people were pleased that the credit was discontinued,” she said.

She said many people were happy the 27-credit hour requirement for students was removed. She said that students who fail a class would no longer be penalised was another major change that was well received.

“The persons who would say the standards have been lowered has to

explain what that means because I don’t understand that,” she said. “Because the way it’s set up now, it means that we are causing children who are better at something else the equal opportunity to receive a high school diploma. Not all children are academic, but they must have math and English and whatever other subjects they are good in.”

Ms Major said a lot of students were failing high school because of “silly reasons”.

She noted the commission’s recommendation to reduce the punctuality and attendance rate to accommodate circumstances out of a student’s control.

She noted students had been penalised if their parents did not attend three parent-teacher conference meetings.

Despite the changes, Ms Major acknowledged some students may still not apply themselves fully.

“Teachers can only do so much,” she said. “We can take them as far as we can go, but if you don’t have the support of their parents to push their children in the correct direction, we’re still going to be fighting.”

Death Notice For

Richard Trelawney Russell, 60

a resident of Yonder Road, New Providence, Bahamas, who died at his redence on Sunday, 4th June, 2023.

Left to cherish his memories are his mother: Juanita; daughter: Meagan and husband William Hunt; grandson: Amir Hunt; brothers and sisters: Alverd (Al) & wife Sharlene, Myrtle & husband Robin Pinder, Brian & wife Tonya and Tania & husband Constantine (Dino) Mosko; ‘Brother’ Kevin Harrison and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memories Funeral Home and will be announced at a later date.

mUrder victim remembered as peacefUl man who strUggled with addiction

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunmedia.net

NEIGHBOURS of a 65-year-old man beaten to death identified him as Michael “Mikey” Pratt, a peaceful man who appeared to struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.

Police said shortly after 10pm on Saturday, police were summoned to a residence in Malcolm Road where the victim had

sought help after being beaten by a group of men.

After emergency medical technicians took him to the hospital, he died of his injuries sometime around 4am on Sunday, bringing the country’s murder count for the year to 50.

Residents of the area, who declined to speak on the record because they did not want the publicity, said the man had Parkinson’s disease and seemed to be an active user of

drugs and alcohol. When The Tribune visited the area yesterday, the man’s home showed visible signs of fire damage and was surrounded by garbage and damaged vehicles.

Despite such circumstances, residents said the man was not troublesome.

They wondered what happened to prompt such a traumatic event.

They said Mr Pratt had children who live abroad.

Home of the 65-year-old man who was beaten to death on Saturday. Neighbours say ‘Mikey’ Pratt was a peaceful man who appeared to struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.

Photo: Austin Fernander

THe Court of Appeal has granted Lincoln Bain permission to appeal its decision supporting a Supreme Court order that he repay monies on a failed investment.

THe Bahamas Educators Counsellors and Allied Workers Union president, Sandra Major, defended the revised criteria for a high school diploma yesterday, saying the changes create greater inclusiveness for students with different learning styles.

PM: Sin Tax? Not this year

from page one

framework in place to determine whether or not it will be done but nothing is happening with that. It’s not gonna happen anytime soon. We’re talking to the industry to see how they’re able to lessen sugar in the ingredients for sodas etc and because the stats have shown that that is one of the significant contributors to non-communicable diseases, something that this country is struggling with as I speak.”

Health and Wellness

Minister Dr Michael Darville has frequently discussed his desire to introduce a sin tax.

In March, he said opposition from local producers of sugary beverages is one obstacle preventing the government from racing to introduce a sin tax.

“I am pushing (for a tax),” he told The Tribune, “but I have to push

from the health perspective. I am only the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Finance has to ultimately make the decision and it has to be a discussion with the wholesale food distributors as well as the local beverage manufacturers in the country.

“You take, for instance, Coca-Cola. They produce all of the sodas, so the minute we talk about adding a tax on sugary beverages, it’s going to be pushback from that industry. So all of our local producers are definitely against it because it will affect their bottom line. But the health and wellness of the country is more important than an industry that is manufacturing something that is now creating a problem in the community and for our ability to push back or fight back against non-communicable diseases.”

According to The

Bahamas STEPS 2019 report, the country exceeds the regional prevalence for obesity and hypertension. In addition, the report found that 85.3 per cent of the population does not meet the minimum daily intake/ consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The report recommends the government enact legislation to reduce the demand for unhealthy food products.

“Specifically,” the report says, “elimination of trans fats legislation and taxation of sugary beverages; and earmarking these taxes to support wellness. For example, evidence shows that a tax on SSBs (sugar-sweetened beverages) that increases retail price by 20 per cent can reduce consumption by approximately 20 per cent.”

Davis: ‘We cannot afforD for n ational insurance to fail’

from page one

announce an increase in contribution rates, he neither confirmed nor denied.

“Let me just say: We cannot afford for National Insurance to fail,” he said.

“We have heard the actuarial report. We’re taking that into consideration and, yes, I will be speaking to it in more detail when I speak again in the debate.”

Pressed further on whether contribution rates will be increased, he replied: “If I’m advised by all of the experts that to do nothing, National Insurance will fail, then I said to you I will not let it fail. Do

I have to say more?”

Recommendations for a rate hike were outlined in the 11th actuarial review of the National Insurance Board, which predicted the fund could be depleted by 2028.

State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Myles Laroda, who is responsible for NIB, has repeatedly warned of the fund’s dire state.

In April, he told Progressive Liberal Party supporters at a meeting that the fund is “basically running on fumes” and can only be stabilised when the contribution rate is increased by 1.5 per cent for the third or fourth time in the future.

Mr Laroda said that while extending the retirement age, cutting benefits, or combining these two options have been considered, only increasing contribution rates will address the problem.

“When (NIB) started out, you were collecting benefits on $400 a week; now it’s almost $700 a week,” he said. “You were paid out to a few thousand pensioners; now you’re paying out to 43,000 pensioners. We’re paying benefits even though you did not increase the amount that was due into the fund. And so the reality is something has to be done if this is going to be saved.”

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Position Title: Database Administrator

Job Summary:

The Database Administrator will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of our company’s databases. You will be responsible for managing and maintaining our databases, implementing security measures, optimizing database performance, and troubleshooting any issues that arise.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Manage SQL Server databases through multiple product lifecycle environments, full cycle

Configure and maintain database servers and processes, including monitoring of system health and performance

Apply data modelling techniques to ensure development and implementation support efforts meet integration and performance

Independently analyse solve and correct issues in real time providing problem resolution end-to-end

Refine and automate regular processes, track issues, and document change

Performance Tuning and Optimization (PTO), using native monitoring and troubleshooting tools + experience with backups, restores and recovery models

Knowledge of High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) options for SQL Server + experience working with Windows server, including Active Directory

Requirements:

- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

- Proven experience as a Database Administrator or in a similar role.

- Strong knowledge of database management systems, such as Oracle, MySQL, or SQL Server.

- Proficiency in SQL and database query optimization.

- Experience in database backup and recovery procedures.

- Familiarity with database security best practices and access control mechanisms.

- Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.

- Strong attention to detail and ability to work with large datasets.

- Effective communication and collaboration skills to work within a cross-functional team.

- Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Qualified individuals should submit a resume by June 22nd, 2023 to hrdepartment@islandluck.com

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunermedia.net

PRIME Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis said his administration believes gas retailers can profit in the current business environment despite their complaints and demands for adjustments to the price-controlled margin regime.

Petroleum dealers temporarily stopped selling diesel last month in protest of their conditions.

“They did not have to stop selling to get my attention, but I think at the end of the day, there has to be a balance here,” Mr Davis said yesterday. “There has to be a balance between profitability and affordability.

“Unfortunately, we are in a vortex. We have a very consumptive society.

Everything that we have is important. We can’t control what is happening in other jurisdictions, and a lot of times, what happens in other jurisdictions impact us here in a very negative way, so until such time as we are able to control some of those things that we can, that’s what we’re working on.”

Mr Davis said the government is trying to see how best it can help businesses grow while ensuring affordability for Bahamian consumers.

“We still believe that there is room for profitability as they are presently constructed and we continue to listen to them to see how we could help and the minister of economic affairs will indicate that we did move to help them last year when oil prices was going out of the roof and things were just becoming

crunch,” he said.

“We see an easing of inflation. We see an easing of prices around the world. That will come to bear here in The Bahamas soon. It takes a little while for us to catch it because of supply chain and chain issues but as soon as things catch up, there’ll be a levelling off soon.”

Gas station operators have been urging the government to increase their margins by 50 per cent, which would raise them from the present 54 cents per gallon of gasoline to 81 cents.

Their margins have not been adjusted in 12 years despite rising inflation.

Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis has repeatedly said officials want a solution everyone can live with and that the government would not reduce its margin.

POSITION AVAILABLE

MALL GENERAL MANAGER – The applicant must have a degree in business or a related field and have at least ten years of progressive experience as a general manager of a retail mall or enclosed shopping center. This experience to include hands on experience in the areas of construction management, renovation management, security, accounting, budgeting, marketing, property maintenance, tenant relations, public relations, life support systems, and both new lease and lease renewal negotiations.

The applicant should have earned a Certified Shopping Centre Manager’s (CSM) designation or a Certified Property Manager’s (CPM®) designation or similar/equivalent commercial property management designation or degree. They should also have excellent oral skills, written skills, negotiation skills, budget versus actual accounting analysis and must be computer literate in Word, Excel, Sage, Yardi and other Microsoft applications.

All qualified applicants are to submit a resume and cover letter of qualifying experience by June 16th 2023 to mgm@themallatmarathon.bs

on fuel margin, ‘ t here has to be balance bet W een profitability anD afforDability’

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the government would not introduce a sin tax anytime soon. His comment came after the Customs Management (Amendment) Bill was tabled in the House of Assembly last week, which would let the minister of finance make regulations providing for the payment of a health and wellness levy on the importation of specific goods and domestically manufactured good “deemed to have a negative impact on health and wellness”.

PRIME Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis said his administration believes gas retailers can profit in the current business environment despite their complaints and demands for adjustments to the pricecontrolled margin regime.

The Tribune Limited

Marital rape and our laws

Brazil’s plan to halt deforestation

BRAZILIAN president Luiz Inácio

Lula da Silva unveiled a plan on Monday to end illegal deforestation in the Amazon, a major campaign pledge that is a critical step in addressing the country’s significant carbon emissions from the region.

This strategy, set to be implemented over four years, provides a roadmap to achieve the ambitious goal of halting illegal deforestation by 2030. Lula’s term ends January 1, 2027, so full implementation would depend on the willingness of whoever comes after him to continue the work.

On Monday, Lula’s administration also pledged to achieve net zero deforestation, that is, replanting as much as is cut down, by restoring native vegetation stocks as compensation for legal vegetation removal.

Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with almost 3% of global emissions, according to Climate Watch, an online platform managed by World Resources Institute. Almost half of Brazil’s carbon emissions come from deforestation.

Lula announced his government would readjust Brazil’s international commitments to cut emissions, called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, back to what was promised in 2015 during the Paris Agreement.

Brazil committed to reduce carbon emission by 37% by 2025 and 43% by 2030. Lula’s predecessor, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, had scaled back the commitments.

As part of the announcement, Lula increased a conservation unit in the Amazon by 1,800 hectares (4,400 acres), which frustrated environmentalists. His government has pledged to prioritize the allocation of 57,000,000 hectares of public lands without special protection, an area roughly equivalent to the size of France.

In a speech, Environment Minister Marina Silva said the federal government would create more conservation units, pending further studies and agreements with state governments.

These areas have shown increased vulnerability to deforestation, as land invaders displace traditional communities and clear the land with the hope of gaining ownership recognition from the government.

“Brazil will once again become a global reference in sustainability, tackling climate change, and achieving targets for carbon emission reduction and zero deforestation,” Lula said.

During the event, there was a tribute to British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous affairs specialist Bruno Pereira, who were killed a year ago during a trip in the Amazon. Several people have been arrested.

The new measures mark the fifth phase of a large initiative called the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon. Created 20 years ago, during Lula’s first term, the plan was largely responsible for curbing deforestation by 83% between 2004 and 2012. The plan was suspended during Bolsonaro’s time in office.

One of the main goals is to stimulate the so-called bio-economy, such as the managed fishing of pirarucu, Amazon’s largest fish, and acai production, as an alternative to cattle-raising, which is responsible for most of deforestation.

The action plan also establishes measures to increase monitoring and law enforcement and pledges to create new conservation units.

These measures are also a response to recent limitations Congress placed on Silva, the environment minister, particularly influenced by the so-called beef caucus representing agribusiness interests.

Lula vetoed the legislation passed by Congress, which aimed to allow the cutting of remaining areas of the Atlantic Forest, a coastal rainforest that has suffered significant destruction.

“The agribusiness group is a well-organised political group that defends interests in Congress, with many affiliated lawmakers,” Creomar de Souza, political analyst and CEO at Dharma Politics consultancy, told The Associated Press. “And this creates room for what happened last week: the capacity this group has within Congress to shape and impose its agenda.”

According to Suely Araújo, a senior policy advisor at the Climate Observatory, the action plan is crucial for the reconstruction of Brazil’s environmental governance.

For her, remarkable aspects of the plan include the integration of data and systems for remote monitoring and accountability, the alignment of infrastructure projects with deforestation reduction goals and rural credit policies tied to achieving zero deforestation.

However, it is still unclear how the compensation for legal deforestation will be carried out, including the instruments and the level of responsibility of the private sector.

“It will also be necessary to fight against the serious setbacks looming in the Congress agenda,” said Araújo. “There will be no zero deforestation if it approves destructive measures.”

By CARLA BRIDI and FABIANO MAISONNAVE Associated Press

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THERE is talk of a coming change to our marriage laws. To the extent the new law criminalises non consensual sex within marriage, it would in our view, be unconstitutional for two reasons. First, Article 22 Constitution protects freedom of conscience. This includes we say, the right to be married in accordance with one’s religious beliefs, especially where the belief was practised at the time the Constitution was passed. Since Christians and Jews are married on terms that exclude marital rape, a law criminalising non consensual sex within marriage may be seen as an attack on them.

Second, Article 27 Constitution grants to individuals nation-wide freedom from the compulsory acquisition of property without compensation. So if Parliament imposes a legal separation on the public (which is what results when a wife is able to claim her husband raped her) in place of a full marriage, it must compensate husbands for the diminution of that marriage. This is so even though marriages are now solemnised almost exclusively under licence, lending the appearance that Parliament can change the terms of marriage at will without compensation.

The Article 22 cannot be fully appreciated without some knowledge of the Bible. As the term “marriage” is rarely used in scripture, we turn to Gen 2 where the concept first appears. In Gen 2:1.522 God takes a rib out of Adam, forms a female and brings her to him. Upon seeing her, Adam declares, “This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh therefore she shall be called woman.” Gen 2:23, 24 continues: “And for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife and the two shall be one flesh.” Jesus repeats this in Mark 10:7, 8 only adding in verse 9: “What God has joined together” (ie the one flesh)

“Let no man put asunder.”

Biblically then, a marriage is between man and wife where the two, male and female become one flesh. Now, if the two are one flesh as Jesus says, how can one rape the other? Is it possible for a man to rape himself? States that criminalise non-consensual sex within marriage risk appearing both foolish and in opposition to Jesus. Now someone may say, “None of this matters. The law prohibits bringing a lawsuit to recover for loss of conjugal rights so no compensation is possible.” It is true that the Matrimonial Causes Act prohibits lawsuits seeking damages where a spouse leaves for someone else. But it also authorises divorce from the departing spouse in those circumstances. Thus, a jilted husband must now divorce and remarry rather than bring a lawsuit to recover damages. In our view, a law converting the biblical marriage into a legal separation can be challenged constitutionally as no prohibition existed prior to the Constitution banning lawsuits which challenge Government’s ceasing of biblical marriages nationally.

On the Article 27 point, the Government may wish to argue that the public has no right to compensation as marriages today are conducted almost exclusively under the authority of a licence from the Registrar General. As such, individuals are married by licence and Parliament is able to legislate the terms of marriage without regard to the Constitution. We say this argument, although formidable on its face, does not reflect the true facts.

The Marriage Act continues to allow marriages in The Bahamas to be conducted under the marriage officer’s certificate. In that case, there has to be an announcement in Church for three consecutive weeks and a notice must

be published in a conspicuous place in the Church announcing the upcoming wedding. Once all the formalities have been met, the marriage officer issues a Certificate of Banns and the couple can be married. In this case, the couple are married clearly as of right. When a couple is married pursuant to a licence, there is no public advertisement and yet the terms of the marriage contract are exactly the same as that obtained under a Certificate of Banns. There is nothing in any of our laws that allows two types of marriage contracts to exist here. We conclude then, that marriage contracts are all by right in The Bahamas. The licence is issued to allow a marriage to proceed without the need for public advertisement, nothing more. Therefore, in our opinion, all married men will have to be compensated if this change is made. The law recognises that marriage is not to be a haven for violent, abusive men. It allows wives violated by their husbands to apply to Court for a legal separation or divorce without bringing an end to marriages in general. A balance has been struck between the public good and protection of the woman. That public good is seen in Genesis 6 where God condemns all flesh, terminating all life on earth save for Noah. But Noah marries a woman condemned to death and the two being one flesh, both live. Further, the children of the marriage are not condemned as their mother was, but graced with life as is their father and they live. When the sons get married, their condemned wives being one flesh with them also live. Now if God has shown in his word that in marriage he overlooks the faults of a spouse for the sake of their virtuous husband (or wife), is it not sensible for government to preserve that?

AL LOPEZ Attorney-at-Law May 31, 2023

Police performance

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force continues its remarkable standard of performance in the “War on Crime”. The Criminal Investigation Department and the Allied Units working with them have performed efficiently and effectively, resulting in the multiple numbers of arrests for serious violent crimes. Public and media appreciation and commendation for the creditable performance are rare, but complaints against the Police are usually front page news with critical comments. Those of us, who appreciate and recognise their standard of performance must show our support publicly. It encourages the officers to continue and enhances their performance. I was there for 30 years and I know the feeling of

appreciation documents from our Human Rights enthusiasts are absent x on the gun crimes.

A police killing results in an abundance of antipolice comments on the front pages of our print media. Investigations and the inquests are very necessary. It must be recognised by virtue of the evidence and circumstances that Police shoot to live. Not to kill. (The topic is discussed in my book “Policing In The Bahamas 1951 & Beyond”). The Commissioner’s repeated comments on the serious crimes committed by offenders on bail for serious violent crimes have its merits. I know how he feels and the Force feel. However, bail is also a human rights issue for persons held for years in custody without trial. The government and the judiciary must consider what measures could be implemented to promote

speedier trials. (The swift justice attempted by Mrs Alyson Maynard-Gibson, former Attorney General).

Previous suggestions, included the trials by Judges as opposed to jurors, and increasing the authority of Magistrates to hear cases, such as armed robberies, all cases involving stealing, fraud/forgery, regardless of those involved. Authorise Magistrates to award higher penalties. Supreme Court trials for murder and attempted murder, manslaughter, the sexual offences and crime against the State, e.g. sedition, etc. It must be immediately recognised that with the remarkable performance of our Police Service the number of arrests will add to the huge backing and our Judges and Magistrates will be committed to consider granting bail.

PAUL THOMPSON, Sr Nassau, May 24, 2023.

A BOY stands outside of Saint Pierre Church in Port-auPrince, Haiti, on Sunday.

PHOTO: Ariana Cubillos/AP

HAILING YOUNG AMBASSADORS

THE Youth Environmental Ambassadors (YEA) programme celebrated its 2023 programme with a pinning ceremony held on Saturday at the Tomlinson Academy.

Over the five-month session, students learned about local environmental issues; developed leadership skills; improved their public speaking abilities; received advocacy training; earned community service hours; and developed networking skills.

The event was marked by a heartfelt tribute to YEA chairman Joseph Darville, recognising his dedication to the young participants and the programme over the last decade.

“We are deeply grateful for Joseph Darville’s dedication and unwavering support,” said Rashema Ingraham, programme coordinator. “His leadership has been instrumental in nurturing the potential of our youth participants and empowering them to become catalysts for change in their communities. This tribute is a small token of our immense gratitude for his tireless efforts.”

“It has been an incredible journey, and I am so incredibly proud of all of

the young people who have completed this programme which is second to none,” said Joseph Darville. “The hard-working facilitators, participants, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners who have supported the programme’s growth and success are to be commended. Their unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders is pivotal in creating a sustainable future.”

The ceremony was attended by guests including Carla Brown-Roker, youth programmes coordinator and youth officer in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr Kenneth Miller. During his remarks, Dr Miller emphasised the importance of community engagement in environmental conservation and the programme’s transformative impact.

“Do not lose your passion. Do not lose the zeal. Continue to save the future not just for yourself but for your third and fourth generation.”

He added: “If we keep what we have well, then we can have a sustainable economy and ecosystem that thrives and develops for years to come.”

DONATION MADE TO JUVENILE FACILITY

A DONATION has been made by the Rotary Road to Peace Committee and the Urban Peace Programme to help young people in the newly renovated Juvenile Correctional Facility at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The centre has been created for young people awaiting court proceedings and with the goal of rehabilitating youth offenders. Previously, the dozen young men were at the prison alongside adult offenders.

The donation consists of 20 kits of T-shirts and undergarments bought from local retailer Sandy’s.

Chairman of Road to Peace Mike Russell and Rotarian Azaleta IshmaelNewry, co-founder of the PACT programe, worked

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER ACCUSED

A VIRGINIA man has been charged with abusive sexual contact after an incident with a nineyear-old girl on a Carnival cruise ship that visited The Bahamas.

Justin Dale Sigmon, 47, who resigned as a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office employee on Friday, was on board the cruise, which departed from the Port of Miami on May 25, and a witness claimed they saw him touch the girl inappropriately. The witness also made a video recording to be provided as evidence.

An FBI special agent found probable cause to charge Sigmon, and he was charged when the ship docked in Florida on Monday of last week.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

with Ministry of National Security consultant Dr Carlos Reid and assistant chaplain Glen Miller to make the presentation to Acting Commissioner Doan Cleare.

Ann Marie Davis, Spouse of the Prime Minister, who was on hand for the ribboncutting, said it was a good

initiative as most people do not think of something as essential as under clothing to give as a donation.

Also in attendance were Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe, Minister of Social Services and Urban Renewal Obie Wilchcombe, Glenys

Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical Vocational Training, and other senior officials. More information on the Rotary Road to Peace Program is available on Facebook – Road to Peace Bahamas, and for PACT, www.pactprogram.ca.

NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER RECEIVED BY KING CHARLES

Duties:

• Handling a high volume of customer orders.

• Serving customer who sit in the bar with food and drinks.

• Taking orders & serving them to the right customers.

• Collecting payments from customers.

• Cleaning of the work area and the bar counter.

THE NEW High Commissioner for The Bahamas to the United Kingdom, Andrew Gomez, pictured on Thursday as he is received by King Charles III upon his appointment.

YEA members present their mangrove display project and, above, Joseph Darville pictured with Nathan Jones as he accepts his completion certificate, and with Rashema Ingraham, as he receives a plaque honouring his commitment to the programme.

Patriotic, beautiful and proud to be Bahamian

ON July 10, 1973, moments after the midnight hour, the beautiful black, golden yellow and aquamarine Bahamian flag was hoisted for the first time in history. The air was completely still and filled with anticipation. Not the slightest tuft of wind disturbed the bated breath of the thousands of Bahamians gathered on Clifford Park. The historic moment was so still, you could slice it with a knife. It was the last time that the Union Jack of the United Kingdom would reign supreme over the 700 islands and cays of The Bahamas. The very second that the Bahamian flag made it to the top of the flagpole and was secured in place, out of nowhere, a gust picked up. The flag fluttered, then a breeze spread the flag wide and it graciously rippled in the wind. It was a divine moment that led to a rapturous and thunderous applause. It was the birth of a new nation.

This is the account given to me by two very special Bahamian women - one who was the current Miss Bahamas, and the other was one who would serve as the first Miss Bahamas of this new, independent nation.

Cyprianna McWeeney (Miss Bahamas 1972) and Agatha Watson (1973) were fine representations of what it is to be Bahamian. They were patriotic, intelligent, poised, friendly and beautiful. They both represented their country around the world, leaving a trail of excellence that left people talking about the warm, hospitable people of The Bahamas. Both Cyprianna and Agatha have never taken off their virtual crowns. To this day, they are still proud Bahamians with a regal aura, coupled with island girl charm. They are still “Miss Bahamas” to the public and wherever they go, they still find adoring fans who do not hesitate to tell them how special they are. Now, 50 years later, as they reflect on their lives and their paths to becoming beauty queens, they share deep sentiments about their beloved nation.

When Cyprianna stood on Clifford Park on the first Independence morning, she was making a big sacrifice. She was supposed to be in Athens, Greece participating in pre-competition events for the Miss Universe pageant. Many could not understand why she would give up such a big opportunity. But Cyprianna chose to stand amongst her people and be a part of living history. Her heart was full. At any other moment in time, nothing could top Miss Universe; but a nation would only be born once. This was the symbolic moment that the people of The Bahamas would have the freedom to govern their own affairs.

“I had an invitation to sit under the canopy,” Cyprianna said.

“The emotion was thick.

When the Bahamian flag was hoisted, it was unreal. The crowd went wild, and there were fireworks. Women were weeping; men were wiping their eyes.

People were like, ‘I can’t believe we made it!’ We didn’t know what to expect, but we knew that we were going to do great things. We knew that we were going to be all right and that we were going to make it.”

The ladies recall that the entire Nassau town was draped with the colours of the Bahamian flag and that the water tower was completely lit up “like a high crown of light” over the city. They said it was like a transformation in Nassau, and that “people were like ants” out on Clifford Park to witness the culmination of it all.

For Agatha, being there was just as important. She was a contestant in the Miss Bahamas pageant, and Veronica Cooper of the pageant committee implored all of the ladies to go out and be a part of as many Independence events as they could. She wanted them to have a deep understanding and appreciation for their country, knowing that whoever would bear the crown, would be the first queen of an Independent Bahamas.

Agatha never intended to enter any beauty pageant. But the sweet, charming

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

17-year-old girl from Gordon’s, Long Island won the hearts of many, and they encouraged her to join. First, she was a student at the technical school now known as the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI). She enrolled there after graduating from St John’s College, and she was studying architectural drafting. Administrators, family, friends and schoolmates encouraged her to join the school’s pageant, in which she placed first runner-up. For her, that was the end of that; she never considered herself a pageant girl. At the time, she was living with Mavis McCartney-Smith. One day, Mavis’ friends Barbara Yaralli and Patricia Lunn asked Agatha what she really wanted to do with her life.

“I want to travel the world and see all the places I have read about in books,” Agatha responded.

Both ladies told her there was no better way to do that, than to enter Miss Bahamas, because they were sure she would win. One day, Agatha got a call from Cyprianna Fleischer of the Miss Bahamas pageant. Still, it took Agatha a long time to decide. Mrs Fleischer said that she would ask Normon Solomon, a well known businessman, to sponsor her.

While in technical school, Agatha spent her internship working with Mr Dobell of Dobell Howard Humphries - an engineering firm responsible for several notable projects in The Bahamas. She applied herself so well that Mr Dobell invited her to join the company as his assistant. One day, she told Mr Dobell of all the encouragement she was getting to join Miss Bahamas. He immediately told her that no one else but him would sponsor her, and that all expenses would be paid. With that, the deal was sealed and Agatha joined to compete in the pageant, slated for August 27, 1973.

Naturally, the contestants looked up to Cyprianna, who considered them like little sisters. Some were the same age as her. She was 19 when she wore the crown. During the 1972 pageant, it was actually Debbie Taylor (Meade), Miss Bimini, who won the Miss Bahamas pageant. But in February of 1973, she gave up the crown, paving the way for Cyprianna to be the queen of a crowning moment in history.

At the time, Cyprianna was preparing to marry Sean McWeeney, a history maker in his own right, who was the subject of last week’s Face to Face with Felicity, along with Sir Franklyn Wilson. He was out there on Clifford Park with his beloved, witnessing a moment that he and other young activists fought for as members of the youth activist group Unicoll, which later became Unicomm.

It was Leonora Rodgers McCartney of Flamingo Air who convinced Cyprianna to join the Miss Bahamas pageant. The airline wanted an opportunity to boost its image and increase its marketing strategy. Cyprianna was more interested in preparing for her wedding. But Leonora convinced her, letting her know that the airline would take care of everything.

“It was a blast,” Cyprianna said of her reign.

“There was a lot of travelling and meeting people I never thought that I would meet. It was filled with action and something was happening every day.

I travelled throughout the Family Islands and to other countries, like Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It was an exciting time for me. At the time, I was just getting involved in politics. People were vexed that I chose not to compete in Miss Universe. Missing our nation’s Independence wasn’t going to be a consideration. How could I explain to my children and grandchildren why I was not there? Today, my

children and grandchildren are proud of me for making that decision.”

Cyprianna went to work with the Ministry of Tourism, as most queens did during their reign as Miss Bahamas. While Prince Charles, now King of England and Wales, visited New Providence for Independence, Cyprianna had the opportunity to dance with him at the Ambassador Hotel. She remembers him having the softest hands she had ever felt, next to her father, Frederick Alfred Munnings Sr, OBE, a noted musician. The Munnings family made significant contributions to national development.

Cyprianna passed the crown to Agatha, who joined her at the Ministry of Tourism. It was a whirlwind year for Agatha. The new Bahamas, under the leadership of Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, set about opening a series of Ministry of Tourism offices around the world in order to promote the country and attract tourist dollars - a strategy that has laid the foundation for the nation’s number one industry to this day. Agatha would have to travel throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Europe for the opening of these offices. She travelled so much, that there were times when she didn’t even have the opportunity to get her feet sandy on Bahamian shores before it was off to another destination. At all times, Cyprianna said, Agatha was a most gracious queen who was always poised and ready for the job. Cyprianna and Juanita Carey served as chaperones on this whirlwind tour, and found Agatha a joy to work with. She was always humble and friendly with a beautiful spirit, and no matter how last minute the call was, she was always appropriately dressed and ready to represent her country.

Cyprianna points out that being Miss Bahamas is really a lifetime duty: “People never let you forget it - that you are ‘Miss Bahamas’. You have to act accordingly. Just because you are no longer wearing the crown doesn’t mean that you don’t represent it. You’re always Miss Bahamas. People will always look at you, and they should like what they see. I am proud to do it. I can tell young ladies in pageants today that they should do all they can to represent their country well and to leave an impression on other young ladies.

Agatha continued to be Cyprianna’s little sister long after 1973. Cyprianna brought her on to work with the Miss Bahamas committee, as she did. Cyprianna served on the committee for 24 years, while Agatha served for just under 20 years. They were both responsible for molding countless young women, who are all wonderful examples of what it is to be a beautiful, kind, ambitious Bahamian woman. Cyprianna notes that pageants have evolved much since their day, and she is elated to see women competing who are doctors, teachers, authors … women who have professions and are leaving trails of positive impact wherever they go.

“It was all about having pride and being Bahamian,” Agatha said of her Miss Bahamas reign.

“It all became more real the day that I met with the committee after being crowned Miss Bahamas. They told me that I would have to be a goodwill ambassador for the country and really represent this new Bahamas. I went home and thought, what did I get myself into! I was green and I really didn’t think about it like that; but then it really hit home. I decided that I would do it, and I really have to be an agent of change for this new country - this new Bahamas.”

Agatha found that she had

order to be

prepared for this new role. While on the plane headed to the various countries, she would read all she could about Bahamian history. While she was competing for the crown, committee members encouraged the contestants to read everything that came out in the newspapers - a practice she continued as queen. She learned about the places where she travelled as well and in this way, she could have interesting conversations with those she met about her country and its relations with theirs. Her political knowledge was aided by her elder brother, Frank Watson, who later became the Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas with the Free National Movement (FNM). She also gained knowledge from Mavis’ then husband, George Smith (who passed away days ago), who served in Sir Lynden’s Cabinet as a Member of Parliament for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).

“I read a lot and it caused me to love my Bahamas more,” Agatha said.

I always tried to represent my country well wherever I went. I had a straw basket made by Ivy Simms. Sometimes people would say, ‘You can’t take that with you!’ I would say, ‘Why not? It’s Bahamian!’ And I would take it with me wherever I went.”

Agatha took a major stand for her country when she went to the Miss Universe pageant in Manila, the Philippines. During competition events, the cameras were following her like paparazzi. It seemed she was one of the favourites, and she was even chosen to be interviewed by news reporters. But when it came time for the float parade, her vehicle came decorated with the Union Jack. Agatha refused to sit on top of it. They had to take down the Union Jack, and Agatha proudly waved her Bahamian flag instead. In turn, the cameras turned to more well-known countries, because her country had yet to gain any popularity on the world stage.

Things have changed significantly today. The Bahamas continues to gain traction and has even proven itself a leader in certain world affairs, especially as an advocate for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and for climate change

awareness and protection.

“I am a proud Bahamian,” Cyprianna told me as she reflected on the country and its 50th Independence anniversary.

“We are not perfect, but from 1973 to now, I am happy. I have my Bahamian passport, and I am just applying for National Insurance. I will be 71 years old in July. We couldn’t even get National Insurance before 1973. The other day, I was watching the University of the Bahamas graduation ceremony. There were hundreds of children graduating with degrees! I am so proud of them as well as the ones graduating abroad.”

“I believe we have Bahamians that are able to run practically every area of governance. We need to solve the brain drain and bring the talent back home. We have to prepare for them when they come back home. I hate the violence part of it, but I am trusting in God that we can bring that under control. For the most part, I am happy and I stand proud of my country.”

Cyprianna and Sean have a love that has also stood the test of time. Having gotten married in April the year after Independence, they now celebrate 49 years of marriage. Their children are Gillian, owner and principal of Summit Academy School; Melissa, who is also an educator; and Sean McWeeney, Jr, attorney, who just recently augmented his repertoire by specializing in IT law. They also have four grandchildren, all from Gillian and her husband, Michael - Zara (17), Hayley (15), Michael, Jr, (11), and Ryan (9).

“Fifty years from then to now,” Agatha said, “I am proud of all the accomplishments we have made as a country.”

“I am proud that our leaders are able to stand and show we can do it - we can take care of ourselves and manage our country. Lots of our talent is used elsewhere around the world, but we are able to do much more if we have more talented Bahamians come home. We just need the young people to have that pride to make our country better.”

After her Miss Bahamas reign, Agatha attended Success Training College. There were talks of creating a college here at home. Agatha served on the committee

which led to the creation of the College of The Bahamas (COB), which is now University of The Bahamas (UB). She was able to talk to young people, gathering their responses and helping to host debates that eventually led to the establishment of COB.

“It is so wonderful that we now have our own university,” she said, “And children can get the same quality education here at home - and that’s important for parents who cannot afford to send their children abroad.”

“I am proud of our country. Every day I pray for our country - for us to be better people and stop the violence. I encourage Bahamian pride in my own small way. I always tell young people who go to school abroad that when they return, I don’t want to hear them with a Jamaican or American accent. I tell them - please be a Bahamian!”

Agatha is mother to Alisa Watson, fashion merchandiser and wedding consultant and Felicity Darville, media specialist and author of this column. She has seven grandchildren. The elder ones are: Ras Elijah, a former member of the national golf team, currently in the finance industry; Malia, current nursing student at the University of The Bahamas; Ras Jesse, current NCAA Volleyball Champion of the Year in Volleyball; and Kindy Emmanuel, a recent high school graduate pursuing a marine career. Her younger grandchildren include Alisa’s son Stameko, a student at St Augustine’s College; and Felicity’s younger children with her husband, Victor Darville - Victory (4) and Victorious Darville (1). Agatha is also a proud great grandmother to 2 year-old Kae’Lynn Kalila.

My mother has instilled that same level of pride in us and we stand with pride to be Bahamian because of her.

Cyrianna is elated that all of her children returned home to make meaningful contributions to this country and she says she is “bursting with pride” because of them. The Bahamas will celebrate its 50th Independence Anniversary on July 10, 2023. For information on the ongoing series of ‘Road to 50’ events to celebrate the Golden Jubilee, visit www. celebrate-bahamas.com

Photo 1: Contestants of the Miss Bahamas pageant 1972 (Cyrpianna is 4th from right)

Photo 2: Agatha Watson, Miss Bahamas 1973

Photo 3: Agatha Watson, Miss Bahamas 1973, showing off beautiful Bahamian sand to Miss Canada

Photo 4: Agatha Watson, Miss Bahamas 1973

Photo 5: Cyprianna McWeeney as Miss Bahamas in Munich, Germany at the ceremony for the inaugural flight of Lufthansa Airlines to The Bahamas

Photo 6: Cyprianna McWeeney (nee Munnings) Miss Bahamas 1972

Global summits, where countries meet to establish consensus and end with compromise

It became one of Winston Churchill’s better known maxims – “Jaw, jaw is better than war, war”. Britain’s famous Second World War leader was talking about the desirability of dialogue over destruction in the conduct of relations between states. This put the lie to accusations that he was a warmonger when the evidence showed that he opposed the use of force rather than negotiation with an aggressor in order to protect his country’s interests.

Mindful of the importance of keeping lines of communication open, heads of state historically conducted exchanges with their counterparts through emissaries and permanent envoys. But there were also major international conferences which might drag on interminably. One wellknown example was the Berlin Conference in 188485, which lasted for more than three months, and, notoriously, drew up arbitrary borders in Africa in what became known as the scramble for the continent or, more crudely, the carveup of Africa by European nations. There were the famous summit meetings during the Second World War between the “big three” –Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin - at Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam that shaped Europe and the world.

But only in more recent times - from the 1970shas the practice of regular summits developed with political leaders playing an

The Peter Young column

increasing role in foreign policy; and this has, in certain respects, been at the expense of diplomats on the ground. Such increased activity has become possible, of course, because of the relative ease of modern travel – except during the past two years or so of coronavirus restrictions which limited gatherings to virtual exchanges.

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the G7 meeting of the world’s wealthiest democracies, hosted last month by Japan, and the summit of the Council of Europe, the international organisation separate from the European Union which upholds the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. But I return to the subject today because those interested in international affairs might like some analysis of several

other recent top-level international meetings for they are key to the conduct of diplomacy in today’s globalised world.

Nowadays, summits and other high-level ministerial gatherings seem to happen so often that it has been said, jokingly, that leaders see more of one another than of their own cabinet colleagues or even their families.

President Biden stayed at home, of course, when he convened the first Summit for Democracy in 2021 which was held virtually as was the second one in March this year which was considered to be only partially successful because it was not sufficiently inclusive. However, last week there was a one-day summit of the European Political Community (EPC) hosted by Moldova -- a little known country with a population of 2.5 million situated between Ukraine and NATO member Romania -- which wants to join the European Union. The EPC is a new platform for political coordination in the whole of Europe (not just within the EU) established in 2022 at the suggestion of France.

In addition, Singapore hosted last week the so-called Shangri-la Dialogue. This high-level meeting was attended by defence ministers from the region, including China, as well as by the US “Secretary of Defense”. It is said to be the premier defence and security conference in the Asia-Pacific and,

reportedly, one outcome was to highlight the rift between China and the US.

At the same time, in South Africa there was a meeting of the foreign ministers of BRICS, which is a group comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, with the latter saying that its vision is “to provide global leadership in a world fractured by geopolitical tension”.

The argument in favour of regular such meetings is that they are an opportunity at a high level – head of state or government minister with the authority to make decisions - to conduct diplomatic negotiations and ease international tensions. Summits likewise provide the conditions for leaders to get to know one another better and to build personal trust, thus creating an atmosphere conducive to doing deals. Moreover, in modern times there is a significant distinction between these and conferences at which larger audiences exchange ideas and listen to presentations by experts in a particular field. The aim of conferences is often to identify whether collective action is needed for submission of issues to political leaders for approval whereas summits focus on decision-making and resolving specific issues.

Globalisation means that domestic decisions are increasingly constrained by what happens elsewhere in an interconnected world so that all too often one country cannot move forward

MOLDOVA NEWS AND BRICS ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF WORLD AFFAIRS

lAST week’s summit in Moldova was the second meeting of the EPC. It was attended by some fifty EU and other European countries’ heads of state or government. The aim of this group is to foster political dialogue and cooperation, to address issues of common interest and to strengthen the security, stability and prosperity of the European continent. So it constitutes an ideal forum for high-level political and strategic discussions affecting all the countries of Europe.

Hosting this summit was “a first” for Moldova, but it was judged to have done so successfully. Nestling between Ukraine and Romania, it sees itself as a bulwark against Russian aggression and therefore of benefit to the rest of Europe. In the face of threats from Russia, democratic Moldova also saw this high-level meeting as an opportunity to show its fitness for EU membership while seeking to accelerate the process of accession to the bloc.

Unsurprisingly, the issue of Ukraine was high on the agenda. President Zelensky, who was able to meet most of his allies during the course of a single afternoon, hailed the powerful support Ukraine was receiving from the West and stressed the importance of overturning Russia’s supremacy in the air as its missiles rained down indiscriminately on civilian targets in Kyiv and other parts of the country.

He also asked for Britain’s support of Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had expressed his pride in the UK’s long-term assistance to the country.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of the BRICS group, including Sergey lavrov of Russia, were meeting in South Africa which, according to reports, aspires to be a crusading champion of a new alternative non-aligned multi-polar world. BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) have a combined population of more than 3.2 billion or 40 per cent of the world’s roughly eight billion people, and they are seen by some as an alternative to the G7 group of developed countries. It is

said that the BRICS group believes that the world is slipping out of Western hands while Russia remains strong despite the effects of sanctions and the wide opposition to its invasion of Ukraine. Initially, South Africa called on Russia to withdraw. But it soon changed tack and adopted a policy of neutrality in refusing to condemn the invasion. The US has also accused South Africa of supplying weapons and military equipment to the Russians -- a claim that it has denied.

The key to South Africa’s policy seems to be the ruling African National Congress’s memories of Russian support during the apartheid years together with its assistance to liberation movements across Africa. But it seems that some South Africans believe that its current stance will lead the country away from its existing important trade partners and sources of investment in the US, UK and EU. They consider that this is a dangerous development, given the country’s failing economy as it grapples with an energy crisis, chronic unemployment, collapsing infrastructure and its currency falling sharply against the US dollar. Moreover, the opposition has criticized the government for being complicit in a war of aggression that undermines international peace and security.

At the BRICS meeting in Cape Town, foreign ministers are reported to have called for a rebalancing of the global order away from the West, with India’s foreign minister specifically telling the gathering that it should “send out a strong message that the world is multipolar, that it is rebalancing and old ways cannot address new situations”.

At the heart of the world’s problems, he said, “we face an economic concentration that leaves too many nations at the mercy of too few”, while China’s foreign minister suggested that the BRICS group could be expanded to provide assistance to developing countries and emerging market economies. To add to the debate, Brazil’s foreign minister described BRICS as an “indispensable mechanism for building

a multi-polar world order that reflects the needs of developing countries”.

Over all this, however, lurks the threat of serious diplomatic repercussions arising from inviting Russian president Vladimir Putin, who is subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, to the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in August. If Putin comes, South Africa as a member of the ICC would be obligated to arrest him. If they did not do so, there are fears of a heavy backlash from the West and of the country’s already weakened

currency collapsing. Critics say that South Africa is being manipulated by Russia and --in also engaging with both Russia and China through joint naval exercises -- it is needlessly antagonizing Western nations on whom it depends economically. So, clearly It needs to juggle this economic dependence with its growing ties to BRICS.

In whatever way this is viewed, an invitation to Putin to attend the forthcoming BRICS Summit presents a diplomatic headache for the South Africans – and it will be fascinating to see how they deal with it.

without involving others.

The aim of summits is to establish a consensus about the way forward, though one drawback is that when leaders meet collectively what often ensues at the end is a number of compromises in order to keep all participants happy so that they can return to their capitals and explain that they have successfully fought their corner. Nonetheless, some argue that such giveand-take is anyway the essence of diplomacy.

Another aspect of summits involving discourse

among political leaders relates to the existence of an increasingly multi-polar world. Unlike the dominance of just two powers – the US and USSR - during the Cold War, this now requires the co-existence of several powers or groupings so that the aspirations of other countries over the distribution of power and influence can be recognized and, if appropriate and need be, satisfied. It might, therefore, be worth looking in more detail today at the Moldova and BRICS meetings.

ENGLAND’S CUP FINAL TO REMEMBER

FOOTBAll, known as soccer in the US, is the most popular sport in the UK. Clubs throughout the land are a huge part of the nation’s culture and are often seen as symbols of local communities. Many people associate themselves with one or other of the leading professional teams and support them. What is more, thanks to TV rights there is a massive amount of money in the game.

The governing body in England is the Football Association. Its Cup Final, normally held in May following a knockout competition during the course of the year, represents the climax to a long and gruelling season and is invariably a very special occasion.

last Saturday’s event at the iconic Wembley Stadium in london in front of an estimated 83,000 crowd was no exception. It was a hard-fought contest in a wonderful setting and marvellous atmosphere of anticipation - with the stadium looking its best in the early summer sunshinebetween two of the country’s leading teams, Manchester City and Manchester United. The clash of the two Manchesters was a splendid encounter that in so many

ways seemed to reflect the very best of Britain. After Manchester City, in a jet-propelled start, sensationally scored the first goal within 13 seconds – the quickest goal in FA Cup Final history - they deservedly beat their rivals 2-1 to achieve the double, having already become Premier league champions. They now hope to achieve the treble by defeating the Italian team Inter Milan in this weekend’s European Champions league final. But Manchester United -- with its impressive history as a successful football club, both domestically and against the best teams in Europe over the course of so many years – acquitted themselves well in the match, even though on the day their opponents showed themselves to be technically and tactically marginally superior.

In the presence of Prince William, who, as president of the FA shook hands with the players and officials before the match and presented the trophy and medals afterwards, Saturday’s event was an enormous success – and it showed yet again just why the FA Cup Final has for long been a famous institution in the sporting life of Britain.

A government building, decorated with European Union and Moldovan flags in Chisinau, Moldova where the Meeting of the European Political Community was hosted on on June 1.

Photo: vadim ghirda

A mAn stands in fornt of the Castel Mimi in Bulboaca, Moldova, Wednesday. Moldova hosted the Meeting of the European Political Community on June 1. Moldova hosting the summit is a sign of the Eastern European country’s ambitions to draw closer to the West and break with its Russian-dominated past amid the war in neighboring Ukraine.

Photo: Andreea Alexandru

US video shows closecall in Taiwan Strait with Chinese destroyer

In

BANGKOK Associated Press

The United States military released video Monday of what it called an “unsafe” Chinese manoeuvre in the Taiwan Strait on the weekend, in which a Chinese navy ship cut sharply across the path of an American destroyer, forcing the US vessel to slow to avoid a collision.

The incident occurred Saturday as the American destroyer USS Chung-hoon and Canadian frigate hMCS Montreal were conducting a so-called “freedom of navigation” transit of the strait between Taiwan and mainland China.

China claims the democratic self-governing island of Taiwan as part of its own territory, and maintains the strait is part of its exclusive economic zone, while the US and its allies regularly sail through and fly over the passage to emphasize their contention that the waters are international.

During the Saturday transit, the Chinese guidedmissile destroyer overtook the Chung-hoon on its port side, then veered across its bow at a distance of some 150 yards (137 meters), according to the US Indo-Pacific Command. The American destroyer held its course, but reduced speed to 10 knots “to avoid a collision,” the military said.

The video released Monday shows the Chinese ship cutting across the course of the American one, then straightening out to start sailing in a parallel direction.

The Indo-Pacific Command said the actions violated maritime rules of safe passage in international water.

The Chinese ship did not attempt a similar manoeuvre on the Canadian frigate, which was sailing behind the American destroyer.

“Chung-hoon and Montreal’s transit through the

Taiwan Strait demonstrates the combined US-Canadian commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the IndoPacific Command said. “The US military flies, sails, and operates safely and responsibly anywhere international law allows.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin defended the manoeuvre, saying it was undertaken “in accordance with the law.”

“China’s military actions are completely justified, lawful, safe and professional,” he told reporters in Beijing. “It is the US that should deeply reflect upon itself and correct the wrongdoings.”

The US recently accused China of also performing an “unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre” in the air, saying a Chinese J-16 fighter jet late last month flew directly in front of the nose of a US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea.

The close-calls have raised concerns of a possible accident that could lead to an escalation between the two countries’ militaries at a time when tensions in the region are already high.

The incident in the Taiwan Strait came on a day when both US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Gen Li Shangfu were in Singapore for an annual defense conference.

Li on Sunday suggested that the US and its allies have created the danger with their patrols, and was intent on provoking China.

“The best way is for the countries, especially the naval vessels and fighter jets of countries, not to do closing actions around other countries’ territories,” he said through an interpreter. “What’s the point of going there? In China we always say, ‘Mind your own business.’” Austin had invited Li to talk on the sidelines of the conference; Li refused.

Wolverine spotted in California for only seCond time in last 100 years

California Associated Press

A WoLverIne was spotted three times last month in the eastern Sierra nevada, a rare occurrence for an animal that’s only been seen one other time in California over the last 100 years, state wildlife officials said.

While wolverines are native to California, they’ve been essentially extinct since the 1920s — likely the result of hunting and fur trapping in the decades following the gold rush, though records from the time.

one wolverine was spotted in the state from 2008 to 2018, beginning in the Tahoe national Forest, officials said.

Last month’s wolverine is likely a different one because the animal’s lifespan is usually 12 to 13 years. The latest wolverine appears to be a young male

seeking a mate. The animal has been spotted twice in the Inyo national Forest and once in Yosemite national Park.

“It’s just really exciting and surprising,” said Daniel Gammons, a senior environmental scientist in California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Male wolverines walk through huge territories — easily several hundred square kilometres — and this winter’s heavy snowfall in the West may have created “habitat bridges” for the wolverine, Gammons said. The animal could have travailed from the rocky and Cascade mountain ranges, or from as far away as Canada or Alaska.

The species — the largest terrestrial member of the weasel family — is listed as threatened under the California endangered Species Act.

this US Navy photo, the USS Chung-Hoon observes a Chinese navy ship conduct what it called an “unsafe” Chinese maneuver in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, in which the Chinese navy ship cut sharply across the path of the American destroyer, forcing the US ship to slow to avoid a collision. The incident occurred as the American destroyer and Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal were conducting a so-called “freedom of navigation” transit of the strait between Taiwan and mainland China.

Photo: Andre T. Richard/US Navy via AP

ThIs May 2023 image released by the National Park Service shows a rare wolverine sighting in the eastern Sierra Nevada, Calif. It is rare occurrence for an animal that’s only been seen one other time in California over the last 100 years.

Photo: national Park service via AP

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2023

Cycling, Page 12

Cara earns pro card

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

While Jason Johnnson got a chance to demonstrate that he could compete with his peers in the region on the professional stage, Cara Saunders became the latest Bahamian to earn her pro bodybuilding card.

The duo were a part of a seven-member team that represented the Bahamas at the Roger Boyce Classic Championships held in Bridgetown, Barbados, over the weekend.

In winning the women’s wellness under 153cm category, Saunders secured her pro card, joining a list of about 15 who have achieved that feat, including Johnson, a recipient of his card in 2021.

“I am pleased with what I was able to present

and accomplish in Barbados. It was an amazing experience,” Saunders said. “I was super impressed by the amount of athletes that showed up and definitely showed out.

“This was actually my first time competing at this level in the region! So it was a little difficult to anticipate what would take place. Both amateur and pro shows were dazzling. I was so excited and grateful for the opportunity to grace the stage as a pro at the end of the night.”

Saunders is a former track and field athlete, so she’s accustomed to being in the limelight. But winning her pro card is beyond her wildest dreams.

“As a national junior track athlete, I always wanted to be a pro,” she said. “Although I’m not an Olympic sprinter, it feels sensational to have

achieved such a feat as a bodybuilder.

“I am proud and honoured to be the newest Bahamian IFBB Elite Pro. 242 to the world.”

Saunders now joins a Bahamian list of pro bodybuilders that include Jameil Hamilton, Jimmy Norius, Enderich Rahming, Rashad

STEVEN GARDINER IN FINE FORM

president Joel Stubbs, one of four pro card earners who has since retired (James Darling, Jena Mackey and Natasha Brown), said he was indeed gratified with the results in Barbados.

“Team Bahamas has done it again. They will be returning to the capital tomorrow with top placement in numerous categories,” Stubbs said. “The federation at large salutes Cara Saunders on winning the women’s wellness category, and achieving her pro card for the Bahamas.”

body-fitness (figure) category.

Fania Joseph got fourth in the women’s bikini fitness under 153cm category and both Enderich Rahming and Rashad Edgecombe finished just outside the top five spots.

Edgecombe, Lorraine LaFleur, Lakeisha Miller, Clarice Bain, Tammy Higgs-Stubbs, Angelika Wallace-Whitefield, Tanya Moxey-Cleare, Terran Knowles, Darvin Johnson, Kief Young and Raynor Ferguson.

Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation

Saunders, according to Stubbs, will now compete in the various international contests around the world while carrying the flag with her.

Also at the championships, Johnson placed fourth in the men’s pro physique category and Dorcas Cox was second in women’s

“We as a federation will continue to elevate and receive top honours in our sport even though many don’t see our sport as a sport worth recognition, simply because it’s not aligned with the many sporting disciplines of the IOC. However, our athletes remain enthused and driven and will continue to represent the 242 in international sports. We say thank you to the athletes, coaches and fan support that was given during the preparation and participation for this event.”

SEE PAGE 14

WINNING WAYS - Abaco native Steven Gardiner, back in fine form from an injured season in 2022, won the men’s 400 metres in an impressive time of 44.70, well ahead of America’s Vernon Norwood’s second place finish in 45.11. A week earlier, Gardiner clocked his season’s best of 44.42 for his win in Bermuda. The reigning Olympic Games champion has a lifetime best and national record of 43.48 that won him the World Championship title in 2019 in Doha, Qatar. Above, Gardiner sits on the track after winning the 400 at a Diamond League athletics meet in Rabat, Morocco, on May 28.

WIN OR GO HOME: FLAG FOOTBALL QUARTERFINALS HEAT UP

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@ttibunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Flag Football League (BFFL) playoffs got underway this past weekend at the Winton Rugby Field.

The day featured games between the Spectrum Assassins versus the Fidelity/Money Maxx Phoenix Fire, the Lady Avengers battled on the field against the Bamboo Shack Lady Jaguars. And the lone men’s matchup saw the Dolphin Express Hornets take on the Caro Contractors Avengers.

Despite the gloomy weather, three teams ultimately advanced to the next round while the remaining three were sent home.

Game One

Although the skies were gray, the fifth-seeded

Spectrum Assassins were no match for the fourthseeded Phoenix Fire. The latter bested their opponents 14-0.

The Phoenix Fire opened up the bout with a 6-0 lead over the Assassins in the opening quarter of the playoffs. After that point of the game, both teams remained scoreless going into the second half.

Following some miscommunication on the defensive end by the Assassins, they tried to get a score on the board in the second half but their chances were once again thwarted by the Phoenix Fire.

Meanwhile, the winning team scored again within the 20-yard line.

Ultimately, the Assassins threw in the towel with under eight minutes

(AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

FLAG football enthusiasts compete in the Bahamas Flag Football League playoffs at Winton Rugby Field over the weekend.

Photo courtesy of OL Wilkinson

CARA SAUNDERS JASON JOHNSON

50TH INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Felix Neely Jr national cycling champion

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AFTER two days of inclement weather, Felix Neely Jr was crowned the national male cycling champion at the 50th Independence National Road Cycling Championships in Grand Bahama.

Kevin Daley won in the Elite Male category, taking first place in the time trials on Friday, and in the 80.6mile road race on Saturday.

Smobia Moreau won the national female champion title. She took first place in the time trials in 1hr 06.19 in the Elite Female category.

The time trials got underway after 3pm on Friday at the Grand Bahama Highway, with some 23 cyclists from Andros, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama and New Providence.

Neely, who competed in the under-23, finished in first with a time of 54.02, and second in the 44.6-mile road race. He also placed second overall in the Elite category.

The 80.6-mile race was competitive as elite male cyclists battled in a sprint to the finish line.

Daley was able to push through, despite some cramp challenges.

“Coming into it was tough because on Friday I was cramping,” he said. “But these guys were playing around, and they gave me enough time to recover so at the end I could do the damage.”

Patrick Paul settled for third place in the Elite Men’s category. “It was a hard race, said Paul. Coming to the end it was a sprint finish, unfortunately, I did not have the legs to win, but I came third.”

Paul said the rain impacted his visibility. He also said their training paid off and helped them to overcome some challenges.

“I could not see, so, the only thing I could do was follow whoever I saw in front of me. We did not see where the potholes were and so we ran into some potholes but we were still able to keep the bike up. We have been training hard,” he said.

Barron Musgrove, secretary general of the Bahamas Cycling Federation, said the next two races will be held in Eleuthera and Exuma.

He said the Bahamas Cycling Federation has been holding race events every year during July in commemoration of the Bahamas’ Independence.

Since the Bahamas Games will be held in July, he explained that the

federation opted to hold the championships in June.

“This event is in line with the country’s 50th Independence celebrations, Musgrove said.

“Fifty years ago, when the country celebrated its Independence, a cycling race was held to commemorate that. And that tradition continues today. We are proud to be a part of the 50th celebrations,” he added.

The Bahamas Cycling Federation holds national championships on five

major islands. The national championship is where its national teams are selected for national trips.

Mr Musgrove was pleased with the turnout at this year’s event. He said many of the cyclists are representing their various islands at the upcoming Bahamas Games.

Juniors as young as 10 years of age participated this year.

The categories were 12-14 years, 15-17 years, under 23, the Masters for adults over 40 years, and

the Elite, which consists of top cyclists.

Bahamas Cycling Federation was the main sponsor. Other sponsors were Cycles Unlimited and the Freeport Cycling Association.

The Kiwanis Club and Red Cross were on hand to assist, as well as other organisations that volunteered, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter.

• Results for Time Trials: Males 9-11 yrs. - 1st Kardrick Cargill, 42.32; 2nd Thaddeus Knowles, 57.04.

ABOVE: Cyclists in action during the 50th Independence National Road Cycling Championships in Grand Bahama despite the inclement weather.

BELOW: Winners show off their trophies and medals after the road race and time trials.

Males 12-14yrs – 1st

Taylor Knowles, 49.39; 1st

Lenin Hamilton, 35.07; 2nd

Brian Burrows, 39.31; 3rd

Tristan Johnson, 40.51; 4th

Thomas Knowles, 42.39; 5th

Nathaniel Adderley, 43.3;

6th Javon Oliver, 49.32.

Females 15-17yrs- 1st

Kami Roach, 33.5; 2nd

Anjaleah Knowles, 40.07.

Males 15-17yrs – 1st

Launy Duncombe, 31.3;

2nd Ayden Bain, 33.21;

Enea Gervasini, 37.24.

Males U-23- 1st Felix Neely; 54.02; 2nd Barron Musgrove, 01.04.4

01.06.5;

01.08.4;

Heat on a comeback run like few others in playoffs

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI (AP) — The easiest way to explain what the Miami Heat are doing in the comeback department during these playoffs is simply to put up their numbers against the rest of the league.

When facing a deficit of at least 12 points this postseason:

— The Heat are 7-6.

— The rest of the NBA is 6-59. Combined.

“Biggest thing for us, we had the will and we had the belief,” Heat centre Bam Adebayo said. “And we keep finding ways to win.”

Doesn’t matter the opponent, either. Milwaukee, New York, Boston and now Denver in the NBA Finals all have found themselves on the wrong end of a Heat rally.

Miami rallied from 15 points down to beat topseeded Milwaukee in Game 4 and then from 16 down to win the clinching Game 5; from 12 down to win Game 1 over New York and from 14 down in Game 6 to eliminate the Knicks; erased a 13-point deficit in Game 1 at Boston and then a 12-point deficit to win Game 2 over the Celtics — and now, a 15-point comeback to win Game 2 of the NBA Finals over Denver.

Sunday night’s rally matched the fifth-largest in a finals game in the last 25 years. The Heat trailed the Nuggets 50-35 with 5 minutes left in the second quarter and outscored Denver 76-58 the rest of the way to even the series.

The series now shifts to Miami, with both teams practicing there today before Game 3 tomorrow night. This improbable story — a team that trailed in the final minutes of an

elimination game of the play-in tournament somehow getting to the NBA Finals — now has an even wackier plot twist. The eighth-seeded Heat have home-court advantage in the title series over Denver, the No. 1 seed out of the Western Conference.

“We’ve won on the road before,” Nuggets veteran Jeff Green said after Game 2 in Denver. “I think we understand what’s at stake. They did what they were supposed to do. They came in here, got a split. Now they’re going home, and I think we have to go in there worried about Game 3. We can’t worry about Game 4. We have to worry about Game 3.”

What Miami is doing is simultaneously historic and completely on brand for the Heat. There have been four teams in the last 25 years to have seven postseason wins after trailing by double digits in a game; Golden State did it last year on the way to the NBA title.

The other three teams on that list? The 2011 Heat, the 2012 Heat and now the 2023 Heat — all coached by Erik Spoelstra.

“We faced a lot of adversity during the season,” Spoelstra said. “We handled it the right way. … It steeled us and we developed some grit, which is what we all want. We want to be able to have that privilege of having adversity and being able to overcome it. You gain strength from that.”

The effect of all that adversity — like 44 games decided by five points or fewer, the Heat going 28-16 so far in those — is this: They just never think they’re out of a game. Sure, there’s the axiom that in the NBA every team eventually makes a run, and that’s largely true, but the Heat didn’t even raise the surrender flag in Game 1

when trailing by 21 points in the fourth quarter. They got the lead down to nine with 2:34 left.

And in Game 2, the comeback wasn’t in vain.

Down eight going into the fourth, Duncan Robinson and Gabe Vincent — two undrafted guards who were forged from the Heat player development programme — scored Miami’s first 15 points of the final quarter. They gave Miami the lead, and the Heat didn’t give it away.

“We just needed to come out with a sense of urgency in that fourth,” Robinson said afterward.

“It was kind of like a now or never sort of thing. Started with the defence, obviously, and we were able to do some things from there.”

What made the Game 2 comeback even more improbable — even for a team that is making rallies seem like an everyday thing in the playoffs — is that the Nuggets were 45-3 this season in games where they led by at least 15 points. And in games at home where they led by more

than 10 points, they were 38-0.

The Comeback Heat weren’t deterred. Heat forward Jimmy Butler says it’s the “I don’t give a damn factor” that kicks in at those moments.

“I just think nobody cares on our team. We’re not worried about what anybody thinks,” Butler said.

“We’re so focused in on what we do well and who we are as a group that at

the end of the day, that’s what we fall back on. Make or miss shots, we’re going to be who we are because we’re not worried about anybody else. That’s how it’s been all year long, and that’s not going to change.”

Coco back in French Open quarters, earns a rematch against Iga Swiatek

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

PARIS (AP) — Coco

Gauff put aside a bloody knee and a poor stretch of play in the first set to reach the French Open quarterfinals for the third consecutive year with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova yesterday.

Next for Gauff will be a rematch against No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who beat the 19-year-old American in last year’s final at Roland Garros and is 6-0 overall in their head-to-head meetings.

Swiatek advanced yesterday when her opponent, Lesia Tsurenko, stopped playing because of trouble breathing while trailing 5-1 in the first set.

Gauff grabbed a 5-2 lead against Schmiedlova, but then things got more interesting. Gauff got broken while serving for the set at 5-2 and again at 5-4.

She helped the 100thranked Schmiedlova — who had never been past the third round at a major tournament — with a double-fault, then dumped a forehand into the net to end a 21-stroke exchange, making it 5-all. In the next game, Gauff stumbled on the slippery clay in sunsplashed but windy Court Philippe Chatrier, skinning her right knee, which she said afterward was fine.

“It’s something that reminds me ... I used to always scrape my knee as a kid,” Gauff said. I’ve never gone through clay season without scraping my knee.”

After she gathered herself to claim that set, Gauff was visited by a trainer, who placed a white bandage just below her knee. The edges of that patch began to curl up as Gauff played, and she removed it soon after.

The breeze affected play throughout.

“I wasn’t really that prepared for it going in,” said Gauff, who double-faulted seven times. “The one side was gusting, like, really crazy.”

The other quarterfinal on the top half of the draw Wednesday will be No. 7 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia vs. No. 14 Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil.

Today’s women’s quarterfinals are Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elina Svitolina, and 2021 French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkovs vs. Karolina Muchova.

The only seeded player in the bunch is No. 2 Sabalenka.

The men’s quarterfinals will feature a redo of a contentious matchup last year in that round: No. 4 Casper Ruud against No. 6 Holger Rune. Other men’s matches yesterday were No. 27 Yoshihito Nishioka vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and No. 22 Alexander

Zverev vs. No. 28 Grigor

Dimitrov at night.

Ruud, the 2022 runner-up to Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and to Carlos Alcaraz at the U.S. Open, returned to the round of eight in Paris by defeating Nicolas Jarry 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5. Jarry, who served an 11-month ban in 2020 for a positive doping test, went up 4-1 in the second set and 4-2 in the third, but Ruud turned things around.

Rune, a 20-year-old from Denmark, edged No. 23 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) across a minute shy of four hours.

In the fifth set, Rune appeared to be in trouble while trailing 4-3 and serving at love-40. But he then won 10 of the next 11 points to get back into things. In the tiebreaker, Cerundolo took a 7-6 lead, before Rune reeled off the last four points.

“Moments like this,” Rune said, “stay with you forever.”

Jabeur was the runner-up at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last season, but she exited the French Open in the first round and it was the only major at which she hadn’t been to the quarterfinals until now. She got there by beating Bernarda Pera, an American ranked 36th, 6-3, 6-1.

Jabeur managed to win all eight of Pera’s service games, helped by taking 15 of 16 second-serve points. Pera didn’t help herself, either, by making 33 unforced errors to just 13 winners.

“I was expecting her to play better,” Jabeur said.

Before this trip to Paris, Haddad Maia never had been past the second round at a major, but she is still around this time after outlasting 132nd-ranked Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-5 in a fourth-rounder that lasted 3 hours, 51 minutes.

“I think tennis is not a 100-metre race. It’s a marathon,” Haddad Maia said.

“Especially my matches.”

MIAMI Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots a 3-point basket over Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night in Denver. (AP Photo/Mark J Terrill)

MIAMI Heat centre Bam Adebayo, right, celebrates with forward Jimmy Butler after scoring against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of Game 2. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

COCO Gauff plays a shot against Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris yesterday. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

POLAND’s Iga Swiatek plays a shot against Claire Liu of the U.S. during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Lady Avengers rout Lady Jaguars 27-0 to advance

3-ON-3 WORLD CUP BASKETBALL: USA WINS WOMEN’S GOLD, MEN’S SILVER

VIENNA, Austria (AP)

— The US beat France

16-12 to win the gold medal at the 3-on-3 women’s World Cup on Sunday, while Serbia prevented an American sweep by rallying to beat the US 21-19 in the men’s title game.

It was the third World Cup title for the American women — and their first since 2014.

Cierra Burdick, who was on the World Cup team that won gold for the US in 2014, scored seven points for the Americans in the final.

LSU guard Hailey Van Lith also scored seven in the title game for the US, which placed only seventh at the World Cup last year.

“Unbelievable,”

Burdick said. “Unbelievable. Last year I was super disappointed with our performance in the World Cup. I don’t even want to talk about last year. I’m just so happy to be here, to bounce back like this, with this staff, with this team.”

FROM PAGE 11

remaining in the game, solidifying the win for the Phoenix Fire. The team will now look to face the undefeated and pennantwinning Paradise Games Wildcats.

Jayson Clarke, head coach of the Phoenix Fire, talked about Sunday’s win.

“My team even though we got the win, we still underperformed, with this being a holiday weekend, we did not have a good practice week, we just need to step up our game in preparation for next week which is when we play the number one seeded team,” Clarke said.

With the Wildcats hungry for a fourth straight BFFL title win, Clarke acknowledged that his team has an uphill battle ahead.

“We have a game plan and scheme that we are going to run that we think will be successful once we get the work in this week, which we plan to do, so we are going to add in some practices and get prepared to play,” he said.

Game Two

In game two of the day, the Bamboo Shack Lady Jaguars fell to the thirdseeded Lady Avengers 27-0. The Avengers meant business from the start of the game as the team capped off the first half of play with a 13-0 lead on the Lady Jaguars. The theme of defensive dominance by the Lady Avengers continued throughout the second half of play as the team

added another 14 points to their total while keeping the Jaguars scoreless. They booked their ticket to play the second-seeded Sands Passion Fruit Hawks next week Sunday.

Phylicia Romer, assistant coach of the Lady Avengers, talked about the dominant defensive win en route to next week’s flag football action. “We are always grateful for a good game. The Jaguars are an exceptional team, they played with incredible heart this entire season, so it was definitely a win that we are grateful for but we also want to show respect to them and congratulate them on making it this far as well,” she said.

Romer added that the team’s strategy was to stay honest, staying clean due to some previous issues with referee calls, and only

answering back with points on the scoreboard.

Game Three In the final game of the day, it was a competitive win-or-go home matchup between the Dolphin Express Hornets and the

defending champions Caro Contractors Avengers. The game could not be decided in regulation as both teams scored 20. However, in overtime, the Avengers reeled off a 22-21 victory over the Hornets, sending

Cara Saunders earns her professional bodybuilding card

FROM PAGE 11

“We as a federation will continue to elevate and receive top honours in our sport even though many don’t see our sport as a sport worth recognition, simply because it’s not aligned with the many sporting disciplines of the IOC.

“However, our athletes remain enthused and driven and will continue to represent the 242 in international sports.

“We say thank you to the athletes, coaches and fan support that was given during the preparation and participation for this event.”

Johnson, in congratulating Stubbs for the

“awesome” job he’s doing as their president, said he was very pleased with his performance, despite the fact that he placed fourth overall.

“I was pleased with my posing and my conditioning for the event,” Johnson said. “I felt I brought a better package to the competition than I did when I competed last year. “I had more size and my conditioning helped in my presentation with my physique.”

As a part of the team that represented the Bahamas, Johnson said the show was really great with a lot of competitors from around the Caribbean participating. “Everyone was on their

game and they brought their best package to the show,” Johnson said. “I think what I experienced at the show will only help to push me further in my journey to being an outstanding professional bodybuilder.

“My line-up was against 12 athletes from the Caribbean. I made the top five, which was a very good position for me. I spoke to the judges and the feedback that I got is there wasn’t anything wrong with me, but the judges selected who had the physique they wanted.”

Stubbs said the federation is now looking forward to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and

Culture’s staging of the sixth Bahamas Games when bodybuilding will take place at the University of the Bahamas.

Johnson, a personal trainer at Gains for Life, confirmed that he will be competing for Acklins as he represents the island of birth of his father.

As for Saunders, the Bahamas Games is also on her agenda.

“Bahamas Games for sure, but after that it’s back to the drawing board to commence the next phase of my bodybuilding career,” she stated. “‘The ‘Road to Pro’ ended in Barbados, so now it’s time to level up and chart a new course.”

them home while booking their trip to the next round.

The flag football playoffs continue 1:10pm this coming Sunday at the Winton Rugby Field as teams carve out their path to the Flag Football Finals.

The US women lost their first game of the tournament to Canada, then won seven straight to capture the gold. Their run started with pool-play wins over Hungary, Mongolia and Czech Republic, followed by a play-in game victory over Japan, a quarterfinal victory against Austria and finally a victory over China in the semifinals.

“This team has come such a long way,” Van Lith said.

Linnae Harper and Cameron Brink joined Burdick and Van Lith on the US roster; 3-on-3 teams have only four players.

“It’s just insane,” Brink said. “This is my first time doing this, so I’m just immensely thankful that 3-on-3, USA Basketball is giving me a chance to do this. First time, can’t do any better.”

In the men’s final, the US had a 19-15 lead before Serbia — which has won gold in six of the eight World Cups — scored the final six points.

Jimmer Fredette, Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis were on the US men’s roster. It was the third World Cup medal for the US, which won gold in 2019 and silver in 2016. Serbia finished the tournament with a 7-0 record; the US men went 6-1.

“The experience was amazing,” Fredette said. “We’ve had a great tournament. We were right where we wanted to be.”

The US men didn’t qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in 3-on-3, and Fredette said the silver-medal finish at the World Cup was another step forward toward Paris in 2024. “We’re only going to get better,” Fredette said.

VICTORY POSE: The Lady Avengers celebrate after defeating the Bamboo Shack Lady Jaguars 27-0 to advance to the next round.

Photos courtesy of OL Wilkinson

DORCAS COX placed 2nd in women’s body-fitness (figure).

LIVE ACTION: The Bahamas Flag Football League (BFFL) playoffs are now underway as teams battled in the win or game home quarterfinals this past Sunday.

STARS THAT SHINE AMONG GRADUATES

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Education Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE University of The Bahamas (UoB) held its spring commencement ceremony on May 25 propelling 583 graduates from nine academic units towards successful careers throughout the country.

Among these graduates was Keithra Toote who first enrolled in UoB in 2016 at 24 years old. Keithra, a single mother, struggled to find both the time and financing necessary to begin pursuing her degree.

Despite the odds against her, Keithra decided to enroll in the university and ended up making the President’s List every semester. Seven years later, Keithra graduated from UoB as the 2023 Class President with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish with distinction.

Despite her busy and demanding schedule, Keithra still carved out time to be fully engaged in UB’s campus life. She ended up enrolling in UB’s National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), and a year later became its student president. In that role, she mentored over 300 university students in leadership. She also served as a Spanish tutor and in 2022, she was

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

DAVAUGHN

Major was named the Outstanding Senior Scholar of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Central State University.

awarded the Mingoes in Leadership award.

She said “I never imagined that would be me, when I decided to pursue higher education, my thought process was to get in and get out. I never planned to be involved as much as I was. Being the first student president to win that award for the NSLS was historic, and I will never forget that.”

With her UB journey behind her, Keithra wants to become a Spanish interpreter and translator and hopefully add value to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those plans are going well, as she recently interned as a conference interpreter at the Caribbean Regional Heads of Government Meeting in preparation for COP27.

Keithra’s biggest dream is to one day obtain a doctoral degree so that she can return to her alma mater and become a Spanish lecturer just like the ones who taught her so diligently.

Graduate Shapreka Clarke chipped and clawed away at forging a path into the healthcare profession for over 20 years, honouring a dream she has had since she was ten years old. She pursued and ultimately obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Roanoke College with

medical school.

Shapreka was unable to attend medical school, and before she knew it, she was back home in The Bahamas and working in roles that were far cries from her original passion.

As fate would have it, Shapreka ended up developing close friendships with nurses in Eleuthera, and just like that, she had an epiphany. She said “That was my ‘light-bulb’ moment, I realised that nursing was for me — this was the field I was destined to be a part of.”

In 2019, Shapreka enrolled in UoB’s School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, and five years later she graduated from UB with her Nursing degree.

She said “I feel excited, this is the end of a long journey for me and I am so happy to be here. Although my journey had a lot of twists and turns, I finally got here. This degree, for me, is a testament that you should never give up on your dreams. With determination, resilience and commitment, you can accomplish anything.”

Secretary General of UoB’s Student Government Asso ciation (SGA); served as a Student Trustee on UoB’s Board of Trustees; and also served as Vice President of UoB’s Graduating Class Council. She said “Honestly, balancing everything was not easy,and there were some days when it was just difficult. But staying organised and being on top of my schedule definitely helped. In a way, being involved with extracurricular activities helped me to stay connected to UB. I enjoyed getting involved in different clubs and being in leadership positions. I have learned so much from these experiences and they have helped me to hone my leadership abilities.”

in UoB’s architecture programme.

Davaughn, who graduated this month with a degree in jazz studies, has been committed to his musical education since childhood. At 12, he taught himself to play the saxophone by emulating his favorite records. After years of self-tutelage, Adrian D’Aguilar, a Bass player, began to mentor Major, providing him with the tools to play jazz Playing a wide array of woodwind, keyboard, and percussion has allowed him to add his sound and sensibilities to a multitude of musical endeavors worldwide. He has performed with legendary artists like Giveton Gelin, Ralph Munnings, Sharmond Smith, Dion D Turnquest, Tino Richardson, Adrian D’Aguilar, Wynton Marsalis, and Duke Errol Strachan.

Davaughn has served as the assistant jazz band director for The Bahamas National Youth Orchestra, arranger for the Providence Jazz Band and The Bahamas Philharmonic Orchestra, and the 2022-23 Mister College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. He has performed with Central State University Jazz Ensemble at Norfolk, Virginia Jazz Festival with Wynton Marsalis, and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Ultimately, his artistic vision is to pay tribute to his ancestors and unify others by incorporating universal human experiences into sound. Davaughn has been accepted to a graduate program, which he will pursue in the fall.

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

During her four years as a UB student, Shapreka was extremely active with campus organisations and activities. She volunteered with UoB’s Rotaract Club; was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS); served as the Deputy Secretary General, and later

Upon graduating from UoB, she plans to work at one of the local hospitals and pursue a certification in Emergency Nursing.

Architecture graduate Selina Adams knew that if she wanted to take the next step in her personal life and professional career, she had to challenge herself even further. So, in 2018, she made the decision to enroll

Selina graduated from UB at the top of her class with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, having maintained a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) during her five years at the institution, and thus earning herself a golden Cord of Distinction. She said “It feels so good to finally reach the end of my five-year program,the greatest source of pride for me in my journey to attaining my degree is the culmination of all my achievements and experiences at UB. ”

Selina had balance motherhood, working at an

demic obligations while actively participating in various campus clubs and organizations, chief of which was UB’s Women’s Softball Team. She was nominated for Academic Student of the Year for two consecutive years, and in 2023, won the Soror Scholar of the Year Award for her membership and involvement in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. “UB definitely provided a challenging academic environment that pushed me to strive for excellence,” said Selina. “Balancing the demands of my architecture studies and career while participating in extracurricular activities has taught me the importance of time management, adaptability, and perseverance.

Selina has been accepted to four universities to pursue her graduate studies. The plan is to pursue her master’s degree while working at the architectural firm she’s been employed at for the past 20 years.

100 CELEBRATED IN BTVI DEAN’S LIST CEREMONY

THE Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) celebrated almost 100 high achievers during the institutes inaugural Dean’s List ceremony.

At the event, 77 students from New Providence and 20 Northern Bahamas campus students were recognised.

Students registered on either campus are based on islands across The Bahamas including Andros, Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, New Providence and Mayaguana.

Each student was enrolled in 12 or more credit hours and achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above at the end of the fall 2022 and/ or spring 2023 semesters.

BTVI’s interim president, Dr Linda A Davis, described the occasion as a “proud moment”.

She said: “In the past, we acknowledged students’ academic achievements through the

disbursement of certificates, but this is the first actual ceremony recognising our Dean’s List honourees.

“This milestone is even more remarka ble when we consider what hurdles students had to surmount during last fall or just this spring, in order to get to this juncture in their

lives. Making the dean’s list signifies not only the knowledge they have acquired but the discipline it took to acquire it.”

The students honoured both in New Providence and Grand Bahama represent various programmes of study related to Beauty, Business, Construction, Information Technology, Electronics and Media Technology.

CLOCKWISE from top left, Shapreka Clarke, Selina Adams and Keithra Toote.