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Volume: 119 No.145, June 22, 2022
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‘WHY DIDN’T GOVT ACT ON BPL’S OIL?
Pintard demands why securing cheap supply was not carried out By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net OPPOSITION Leader Michael Pintard is “deeply concerned” that Bahamas Power and Light is considering a cost increase for consumers, insisting yesterday that at the heart of the issue is the manner in which the government has “mismanaged” the power provider to date. Meanwhile, Free National Movement chairman Dr Duane Sands described the situation as an “ongoing nightmare” for Bahamians.
This came after The Tribune exclusively reported on Tuesday that BPL chief executive officer Shevonn Cambridge revealed that an internal review is underway to determine whether there will be an increase to billing by way of a fuel charge adjustment. Mr Cambridge said the review will evaluate if the necessary “triggers or threshold” have been reached to require the company to make the adjustment. He said as gas prices have gone up when
ACTING Prime Minister Chester Cooper says it is anticipated that gasoline prices will continue to escalate “for the foreseeable future”. He urged motorists to “conserve” as a means to ease the burden of higher cost. Yesterday, the price of
TEENAGE GIRL DIES IN ABACO ACCIDENT
A TEEN driver is dead following a traffic accident in Abaco earlier this week. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle reported that the accident occurred on Monday shortly before 9pm in Dundas Town. SEE PAGE FOUR
‘MANGROVE REPLANT DELAY IS MADNESS’
SEE PAGE THREE
gas was $7.39 per gallon at Esso stations, $6.98 at Rubis and $6.97 at Shell. While he told reporters that questions related to gas prices should be fielded to Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis, Mr Cooper noted the steps the Davis administration has taken to assist Bahamians in these inflationary times. SEE PAGE THREE
- SEE PAGE EIGHT
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
NO ENDING IN SIGHT FOR GAS PRICE RISES By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
ALICIA WALLACE: NATIONS UNITE TO WORK AS ONE IN AFRICA
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
TRAVELLING IN STYLE ANN MARIE DAVIS, wife of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, during her visit to Ghana where she attended the coronation of her son, Christopher.
TESTS REMAIN FOR UNVACCINATED By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper said that a change to the requirement for unvaccinated travellers to be tested for COVID-19 is not being considered at present. Mr Cooper commented after the removal of the testing requirement for people who are vaccinated, and
the scrapping of the travel health visa. He said he thinks the current requirements are consistent with international standards and
the government is going to continue to require testing for unvaccinated people. Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville announced last Wednesday the removal of the requirement for vaccinated people entering The Bahamas to be tested. Before that, Mr Cooper had revealed the end of the travel health visa. Both changes took place on Sunday.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE FOUR
AN outspoken environmentalist is furious over the protracted delay by a government agency to approve a licence to replant mangroves as part of a major restoration project on Grand Bahama. SEE PAGE TWO
TECHNOLOGY
FERRARI LIFTS LID ON ELECTRIC HYBRID RANGE SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Wednesday, June 22, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
‘Mangrove replant delay is madness’ from page one Joseph Darville, of Save the Bays (STB) and Waterkeepers Bahamas (WKB), said they are still awaiting approval for an application made last September to the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) by WKB requesting a permit to replant propagules at Dover’s Sound. “I am eternally aggravated by this to the extent that I will go out there and do it and have pictures taken and if they want to put me in jail, they can do it because this is absolutely absurd,” he said. “They should come running to us saying here is the permit.” WKB launched ‘Mangrove Mania’, which was officially opened by Mrs Ann Marie Davis, the wife
JOSEPH DARVILLE of Prime Minister Philip Davis, on May 14 at Coral Vita. About 3,000 potted mangrove propagules are growing in a nursery at the site. Mr Darville said the organisation has already paid for the permit. “We applied way back in September for a permit from the environmental department, and up to now they come up with
PM JOINS RWANDA MEETING
everything, and said we got to submit this and that even though we have paid for the permit,” he said. “Everybody is becoming totally frustrated. We are not foreigners, we are Bahamians (who) are passionate about regrowing the mangroves for the protection of the islands and regenerating those areas which are the nursery for fisheries. “Every now and then they give us some mysterious reason why we are not getting the permit.” The well-known environmental activist was also bothered by inferences of them harming existing mangroves. “I was told... that they were concerned we were taking the baby propagules from a challenged area which is absolutely absurd,” Mr Darville stated. He assured the public
that WKB has provided the agency with a proper detailed plan outlining how it intends to execute the project and brought in expert professionals from around the world who have experience with over 75 different mangrove species. According to Mr Darville, only four mangrove species are in The Bahamas. “They came and gave us information that we did not even know where to plant and how to deal with them. So, we are trained professionals to do this - we are not pirates in our own country,” he stressed. Mr Darville said teams have gone out and collected propagules in areas of Grand Bahama, posing no threat to existing mangroves. He noted that baby propagules drop from the mature trees. They are about six to eight inches
and shaped like a pencil. “They have a heavy end and can float around in the water and have intelligence enough to sink in the mud when they find an appropriate time to grow and become mangrove trees,” he explained. “We have collected almost 3,000, and we have them out at the nursery by Coral Vita, and we had the ‘Mangrove Mania’ opening by the wife of the Prime Minister, Ann Marie Davis. And even with that particular publicity, we still do not have a permit in hand. “Why in God’s name do Bahamian environmentalists like myself who care so adamantly about the environment need a permit to plant a tree that will produce and be beneficial to the environment?” he asked. “I am becoming frustrated,” Darville said,
adding that he would do “whatever is necessary to care for Mother Earth.” Grand Bahama lost 70 percent of its mangroves during Hurricane Dorian in September 2019. This accounts for over 22,000 acres of red mangroves, which formed a protective barrier from the ocean and served as a nursery for fish and other marine life. The island of Abaco and the cays also sustained significant destruction of its mangrove forest. Mr Darville said that WKB hopes to begin the replanting exercise in the Fall. With their help, it will take about 25 to 30 years to regrow mangroves, much faster than the natural way. “We are assisting ‘Mother Earth,’ we are giving her a hand,” Mr Darville said.
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis at the opening session of the Commonwealth Business Forum yesterday. Mr Davis is at the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda. The forum’s theme is ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.’ Prime Minister Davis is shown being greeted ahead of the opening ceremony by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, listening to proceedings with CHOGM delegates at the Kigali Conference Centre and Exhibition Village, and touring the Commonwealth Business Exhibition. Photos: Office of the Prime Minister
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 22, 2022, PAGE 3
‘Why didn’t govt act on BPL’s oil? from page one an adjustment comes it would be an increase. In a press statement yesterday, Mr Pintard expressed the opposition’s concerns about the issue and asked why BPL had not bought oil supplies for the summer when the price on international markets started to rise. “The Opposition is deeply concerned with the contents of the headline report in The Tribune of June 21, 2022, regarding likely hikes in electricity surcharges - and more so, with the manner in which the government has mismanaged BPL to date that will lead to a level of surcharge increases that could have been avoided,” Mr Pintard said in a statement yesterday.
“The FNM left in place the first ever fuel hedging arrangement for BPL that has led to an unprecedented level of price stability and lowered fuel surcharge rates to the benefit of Bahamian households and businesses recovering from the economic ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This Davis administration was made aware by BPL management and board from last year October regarding the need to extend the fuel hedge to lock in as low as possible a price for fuel in an environment where fuel prices had started to increase rapidly. The administration twiddled their thumbs and did nothing at the time.” The statement added: “From then to now, this PLP government has
continued to dither with the BPL situation - too busy in receptions and events that do not move the economic development agenda forward in an appreciable way. “While the matter has been raised several times now by the Opposition including in the current budget debate - the government has done nothing and this will now inevitably mean a significant increase in the electricity surcharge at a time when Bahamian households and businesses could least afford it.” The leader urged the government to moderate “their incessant travelling, photoops and public relations stunts and to take their responsibility for governance seriously.” They also demanded that the minister responsible for BPL update the public on
what happened with the fuel hedging programme and what the failure to extend the programme will mean for increased BPL surcharges going forward. “How much are they spending for the rental generators and what exact information are they relying on to put this so-called back up plan in place? This is extremely important given BPL’s financial challenges and the absence of a strategic plan to attract the level of capital to address the legacy debt, recurrent expenditure and capital works.” For his part, FNM
chairman Dr Duane Sands acknowledged that while certain factors were beyond control, he said it was the government’s job to mitigate some of the shock. He said: “It’s almost as if this is an ongoing nightmare for most Bahamians. There are certainly things that are beyond our control. There are circumstances that we cannot control, but there is the ability of our government to make decisions to mitigate some of the shock. A great part of this was the failure of this administration to adequately hedge, to lock-in predictable energy prices.
“The other thing, clearly is BPL seems to not want to be direct, open, and candid with the public about what people can expect and so I think they’re trying to ease this burden by drip feeding it a little bit at a time - there might be a price increase. “Now they’re saying it is going to be a price increase. It’s a horrible, horrible summer that Bahamians need to dread given the reduction in buying power because of inflation. The increased cost of food in the food stores, the increased price of gas at the pumps and now energy.”
Cooper told reporters before the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday. “The one thing I would add though is our government has put in place significant measures in the budget to reduce the cost of living and we hope that those changes that we’ve made in our policies will trickle to the pockets directly to the Bahamian people. We’re seeing it at the cash register already.
We’ve seen the announcements by a major grocery store chain that they are putting in place the changes in causing prices to go down as a result of our change in policy.” Simon Wilson, the Financial Secretary, told Tribune Business on Sunday that the government’s options were limited in providing the relief sought by petroleum retailers struggling with gross margins of 10
percent or less. He said it was “not an easy fix” to the industry’s plight after both sides met again late last week to discuss the dealers’ concerns. He added that both sides had agreed to keep talking although no resolution was achieved. “We agreed to continue to have these discussions,” he disclosed. “I think we gathered more information. We’re discussing it. It’s not
an easy, easy, easy. It’s not an easy fix. We’re going to keep on talking. It’s not easy. I think our options are limited.” Vasco Bastian, the Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association vice-president, declined to comment on the latest talks when contacted by Tribune Business on Sunday. The two petroleum industry factors within the Government’s direct control, with per gallon
gasoline prices having broken through the $7 barrier, are the price-controlled fixed margins imposed on the dealers as well as the sector’s taxation structure. However, Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, has already ruled out an increase in industry margins on the basis that this will further hurt consumers already struggling with soaring inflation and rising pump prices.
FNM leader Michael Pintard.
NO ENDING IN SIGHT FOR GAS PRICE RISES from page one
“The meetings were held with him along with the Prime Minister, the Minister for Finance. So, as it relates to consumers, I would simply say to conserve. We anticipate that prices are going to be escalated for the foreseeable future and we simply have to conserve the way we would otherwise,” Mr
CUSTOMERS HAVE MIXED FEELINGS OVER BPL SERVICE By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
AMID frequent electricity disruptions, customers have mixed reviews about Bahamas Power and Light Company considering an increase to the fuel surcharge that will possibly translate to higher light bills. On Monday, Shevonn Cambridge, BPL CEO, said an internal review is underway to determine whether there will be an increase to Billings by way of a fuel charge adjustment. Mr Cambridge said: “Based on the current fuel prices, right, when it does come it will be up - it won’t be down. Exactly when that will occur, we’re not certain as yet. So, the prices have gone up, so obviously when we adjust more than likely the adjustment will be an upward adjustment.”
The Tribune canvassed customers yesterday to understand how the average person views the matter. Elizabeth Nixon, of Miller’s Heights, told this newspaper she is dissatisfied with BPL’S consideration of a bill increase, pointing to the unreliability of the service provided. Ms Nixon said: “I really won’t be able to afford it because where I work right now we don’t work every day. We are on days and shifts, so you could imagine with electricity going off every day. For them to increase it, how are you going to survive? “You might as well go to solar panel, go solo and you wouldn’t have to hurt up your head with BPL; or even go back to gas and oil lamps.” Another consumer, Lynnette Nesbitt, of Boyd
Road, shared similar views as she said it has been stressful since the pandemic to keep the electricity on. “I don’t think it would be good for Bahamians,” she said, “especially those on minimum wage; that would be a total killer for them,” Ms Nesbitt said. There was also a view that generally a price hike would be unfortunate for everyone. “With me as a straw vendor I can manage it - I would tell you, no word of a lie. I mean it’s rough, but when I know I have to come to work I push harder to pay my bills for what I want in life,” a 40-year-old straw vendor who did not want to be named said. Given the present situation, a local office administrator, who also requested anonymity, told The Tribune she was not pleased with the service.
The 56-year-old said: “I am able to pay more; however, I wouldn’t be pleased with the increase as you are not getting the very best service. The cost is too high for electricity.” The announcement of a possible price hike came as many consumers this week had to suffer in the heat as power remained off for hours. Regarding disruptions on Sunday, BPL said in a press statement: “At 1.23pm several areas in Central New Providence went offline when a system disturbance occurred at our Clifton Pier Power Station. This problem was resolved in under an hour and the areas were fully restored. On the heels of this event, however, at about 5.30pm, severe lightning conditions were experienced on the island of New Providence, impacting generation, transmission and distribution systems.
“As a result, a number of areas throughout the island, including southwest and eastern New Providence were impacted. These areas had transformers, and lines impacted as a result of direct lightning strikes. The public is reminded that BPL does not turn off areas in advance of most weather events, but protective devices such as fuses and circuit breakers operate to disconnect affected areas to ensure the safety of the general public and to reduce the risk of equipment damage. In all, 31 areas were affected by the inclement weather yesterday.” The releases added: “BPL is committed to ensuring the safety of our customers, employees and equipment. Thus, once indication of safety was given after the weather conditions subsided, crews were dispatched to commence
repairs and restore supply. Due to the significant number of areas impacted by this event, it took our crews a number of hours to restore impacted areas and begin addressing individual customer concerns. The majority of customers impacted were restored by 9.00pm. Our crews continued to work into the morning to restore the remaining customers. As at 11am today (yesterday), our Control Centre reported having two areas and 41 individual complaints outstanding.” There were also disruptions on Monday. While Mr Cambridge has said BPL has sufficient generation for the Summer peak, Bahamas Electrical Workers Union president Kyle Wilson has said this will be a tough few months with many challenges ahead.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, June 22, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
Tests remain for unvaccinated from page one Yesterday, before the weekly Cabinet meeting, Mr Cooper said: “There’s no consideration for changing the requirement for unvaccinated travellers at the moment. Our government’s policy is that we recommend vaccination. We’re asking the Bahamian public to consider vaccination to speak with their doctors to determine whether it’s appropriate for them to be vaccinated. “We’re at around 50 percent vaccination in The Bahamas. We hope that this number will increase and certainly we want to encourage vaccinated travellers to come to our country. This is why we’ve eliminated the requirement and certainly if we are encouraging Bahamians to vaccinate we would want that to be also the case
for tourists coming to our shores.” The government has repeatedly encouraged people to get the jab citing the benefits of being vaccinated. When asked if the position for the unvaccinated travellers was discriminatory, Mr Cooper said: “I think our requirements are consistent, they’re consistent with international standards and we’re going to continue along this path of requiring testing for persons who are not vaccinated. This is in line with the science. It’s in line with international best practice and we don’t particularly want to be outliers on this issue. “We have to protect the health and safety of our guests and the health and safety of our residents and we want to ensure that if our guests become ill the chance of serious illness is
reduced. We are managing the capacity at our hospital, for example, and we want to ensure that, as the science suggests, that if one of them would get COVID that the likelihood of serious illness is diminished.” Mr Cooper said there had been a positive response to the removal of testing for vaccinated travellers so far. He said: “My information is the airlines welcome this decision. Certainly the travellers welcome this decision - a hassle-free process for residents and our tourists to come to our shores. It’s going exceptionally well. This, of course, is only day two since we’ve lifted these requirements and I expect over the next few couple of days there might be some teething issues where communication may not have been filtered to the front desk at an airport for example - but so far so good.”
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper.
‘PATIENCE WEARING THIN’ FOR NURSES By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Amancha Williams says patience is wearing thin among nurses who are incensed by a lack of urgency by the government to finalise an industrial agreement. While the union president praised the Public Hospital’s Authority for joining the union at the table to discuss their issues, which has led to the agreement being processed on their end, she said the Department of Public Health “is nowhere in the running”. “That speaks from (Minister of Health and Wellness) Dr Darville’s side,” Ms Williams said. “PHA is an authority that still has to go back to the government. PHA is starting to activate. “These nurses, in the next six months, if they don’t see their funding and they don’t see their industrial agreement signed they are going to get real agitated. “If you say you come to make it better, then show the people you mean better.” Her comments come as the BNU awaits approval
BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Amancha Williams. of a strike certificate after holding a poll earlier this month. The BNU president said 347 nurses voted
in favour of striking while only two voted against the move. She continued: “The
patience is very thin. If you see 300 plus people come to the poll and the majority voted is from PMH, your
capital where every plane that flies out with an emergency patient has to come to PMH what does that say?
“You see the red flags. The people are tired. Don’t wait until things happen. “I don’t know why the government likes to wait until the last leg when the people are on the street to do something about a matter. No, start attending to the matters now.” Ms Williams expressed some disappointment at the number of unresolved industrial agreements among, not just her union, but others in the country. “I am disappointed in the actual finalisation of these industrial agreements, not just for my union but the others as well and why do they take so long in investing,” she said. “My thing is I believe that no government wants to sign an industrial agreement because at the end of the day it is taking the monies and increasing the salaries of the workers, but you can’t ever lose. “If you get $3m you must give the worker $1m. It seems to be that they have a problem or they realise that if they sign it they have to stick to it. “When you don’t sign an industrial agreement that is what you think of your workers, nothing.”
TEENAGE GIRL DIES IN ABACO ACCIDENT from page one
According to reports, officers at the Marsh Harbour Police Station received a report of a traffic accident that occurred in the area of Shell Gas Station on George Albury Blvd. Uniformed officers were dispatched to investigate. Initial reports indicate that a silver coloured Honda Airwave vehicle, driven by a juvenile, was travelling west on George
Albury Blvd at high speed. While attempting to overtake another vehicle, the driver lost control of her vehicle, which overturned. ASP Rolle said the female driver was ejected from the vehicle. He said EMS personnel took the victim to the Marsh Harbour Clinic, where she was seen and examined by a doctor, but later died of her injuries. Investigations are continuing into the accident.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 22, 2022, PAGE 5
‘No impact’ on tourism from Exuma resort deaths By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net
EXUMA’S tourism numbers remain strong despite the tragic deaths of three American tourists in May at Sandals Emerald Bay Resort. Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper told reporters yesterday that there had been no significant changes on the island as a result of the deaths of guests Vincent Paul Chiarella and married couple Michael and Robbie Phillips more than a month ago at Sandals. The minister explained ahead of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting: “There has been no impact otherwise in the island of Exuma, our numbers are looking very strong. I had lunch yesterday at the Sandals resort. It’s buzzing with activity. I’ve spoken with management and they indicate that their occupancy levels are increasing.”
MICHAEL AND ROBBIE PHILLIPS Mr Cooper added that he observed employees being in high spirits along with tourists at the Sandals resort and other properties in Exuma.
Earlier, a source with intimate knowledge of the deaths, confirmed to The Tribune that the cause of death of three of the four guests was found
to be carbon monoxide poisoning. While the Exuma and Ragged Island MP did not specifically mention what may have caused
the deaths, he said: “The family is aware of the cause of death as a result of the investigation, as a result of the coroner’s assessment and the other toxicology report.” Mr Cooper said officials took care to handle the situation sensitively and to ensure that before the reports were made public the family had been properly informed. Last month, the sudden deaths of the three Americans struck waves in the media locally and internationally. The two couples had occupied separate villas. There was much speculation on how the victims’ vacation had ended in tragedy. The couple and the Chiarellas were found in two separate villas at Sandals on May 6. Donnis Chiarella, wife of Paul, was the lone survivor in their villa. However, both husband and wife died in the second villa.
Officials said the two men and one woman died sometime between 11pm on May 5 and 8.30am to 9am on May 6. Before their deaths, the victims reportedly visited the local clinic seeking medical attention for symptoms of nausea and vomiting. The minister has said he cannot confirm when the official reports will be released to the public. “It is my view though that it is an issue of public interest, it’s an interest in the international media and it ought to be released, that’s my position,” Mr Cooper said. When asked if there was an update on the autopsy report, Mr Cooper told reporters he cannot confirm if the coroner report was released to the families of the victims. He also said Sandals would be in a better position to answer questions related to whether the victims’ families intend to take legal action.
CONFERENCE LOOKS AT THE FUTURE CURIOUS minds gathered last week at the annual RF Economic Outlook Conference in Baha Mar convention centre under the theme Future Forces, World Changing Ideas. In the first ever hybrid conference, RF Bank & Trust brought a mix of live and virtual experts including Dex Hunter-Torricke, communications executive for Facebook & Google; John Sitilides, geopolitical & geo-economic strategist; Shawn Kanungo, global disruption strategist; and Tonya Evans, professor and global leader in tech, IP, crypto and innovation. Audiences and presenters in Cayman joined in with live presentations and Q&A, with opening remarks by the Cayman Premier, Wayne Patton. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet conference sponsors including test drives with Easy Car Sales electric vehicles. The conference was rounded out with a panel on the future of blockchain in the Caribbean with local experts Carlton Cartwright, PwC digital assurance leader; and Jillian Bethel, CEO of OKX Bahamas; and international counterparts Brendan Blumer, CEO of Block One; and Justine Plenkiewicz, former head of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. The event was sponsored by RF Group, Aliv, Consolidated Water, Doctors Hospital Healthcare System, Fidelity Bank, GSO Legal, JS Johnson Insurance Agents & Brokers, PwC, The Tribune, Kanoo, Easy Car Sales and BISX. For more information, visit www.rfbeo.com.
LATE NEWS: MAN SHOT DEAD POLICE were last night on the scene of the country’s latest murder. Officers reported that they had responded to a report of a homicide on
Carmichael Road, west of Bacardi Road in the vicinity of Mount Tabor Estate. A male victim had been shot.
No further details were available at the time of going to press. See our website, www. tribune242.com, for more information.
MAN ACCUSED OF INDECENT ASSAULT ON AMERICAN TEEN By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was granted bail in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday after he faced an allegation of indecently assaulting an American teenage girl.
Carlos Morris, 33, appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville on a charge of indecent assault. On March 12 at Rose Island, while conducting a tour there, Morris is accused of indecently assaulting the 16-year-old.
In court, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. As there was no objection to bail and as the complainant resides in the US, $5,000 bail was granted with one or two sureties. Morris’ trial will will start on September 27.
PAGE 6, Wednesday, June 22, 2022
The Tribune Limited
THE TRIBUNE
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Yellowstone flooding rebuild could cost billions CREATED in 1872 as the United States was recovering from the Civil War, Yellowstone was the first of the national parks that came to be referred to as America’s best idea. Now, the home to gushing geysers, thundering waterfalls and some of the country’s most plentiful and diverse wildlife is facing its biggest challenge in decades. Floodwaters this week wiped out numerous bridges, washed out miles of roads and closed the park as it approached peak tourist season during its 150th anniversary celebration. Nearby communities were swamped and hundreds of homes flooded as the Yellowstone River and its tributaries raged. The scope of the damage is still being tallied by Yellowstone officials, but based on other national park disasters, it could take years and cost upwards of $1 billion to rebuild in an environmentally sensitive landscape where construction season only runs from the spring thaw until the first snowfall. Based on what park officials have revealed and Associated Press images and video taken from a helicopter, the greatest damage seemed to be to roads, particularly on the highway connecting the park’s north entrance in Gardiner, Montana, to the park’s offices in Mammoth Hot Springs. Large sections of the road were undercut and washed away as the Gardner River jumped its banks. Perhaps hundreds of footbridges on trails may have been damaged or destroyed. “This is not going to be an easy rebuild,” Superintendent Cam Sholly said early in the week as he highlighted photos of massive gaps of roadway in the steep canyon. “I don’t think it’s going to be smart to invest potentially, you know, tens of millions of dollars, or however much it is, into repairing a road that may be subject to seeing a similar flooding event in the future.” Re-establishing a human imprint in a national park is always a delicate operation, especially as a changing climate makes natural disasters more likely. Increasingly intense wildfires are occurring, including one last year that destroyed bridges, cabins and other infrastructure in Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California. Flooding has already done extensive damage in other parks and is a threat to virtually all the more-than 400 national parks, a report by The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization found in 2009. Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state closed for six months after the worst flooding in its history in 2006. Damage to roads, trails, campgrounds and buildings was estimated at $36m. Yosemite Valley in California’s Yosemite National Park has flooded several times, but suffered its worst damage 25 years ago when heavy downpours on top of a large snowpack — a scenario similar to the Yellowstone flood — submerged campgrounds, flooded hotel rooms, washed out bridges and sections
of road, and knocked out power and sewer lines. The park was closed for more than two months. Congress allocated $178m in emergency funds – a massive sum for park infrastructure at the time – and additional funding eventually surpassed $250m, according to a 2013 report. But the rebuilding effort once estimated to last four to five years dragged out for 15, due in part to environmental lawsuits over a protected river corridor and a long bureaucratic planning and review process. It’s not clear if Yellowstone would face the same obstacles, though reconstructing the road that runs near Mammoth Hot Springs, where steaming water bubbles up over an otherworldly series of stone terraces, presents a challenge. It’s created by a unique natural formation of underground tubes and vents that push the hot water to the surface, and would be just one of many natural wonders crews would have to be careful not to disturb, said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Along with the formation itself, there are also microbes and insects that thrive in the environment found almost nowhere else. And the park will need to avoid damaging any archaeological or cultural artifacts in the area with a rich Native American history. “They’ll have to look at all the resources the park is designed to protect, and try to do this project as carefully as possible, but they’re also going to try to go fairly quickly,” Hartl said. Having to reroute the roadway that hugged the Gardner River could be an opportunity to better protect the waterway and the fish and other species that thrive there from oil and other microscopic pollution that comes from passing vehicles, Hartl said. “The river will be healthier for it,” he said. The Yosemite flood was seen by the park as an opportunity to rethink its planning and not necessarily rebuild in the same places, said Frank Dean, president and chief executive of the Yosemite Conservancy and a former park ranger. Some facilities were relocated outside the flood plain and some campgrounds that had been submerged in the flood were never restored. At Yosemite Lodge, cabins that had been slated for removal in the 1980s were swamped and had to be removed. “The flood took them all out like a precision strike,” Dean said. “I’m not going to say it’s a good thing, but providence came in and made the decision for them.” Yellowstone’s recovery comes as a rapidly growing number of people line up to visit the country’s national parks, even as a backlog of deferred maintenance budget grows into tens of billions of dollars. By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and BRIAN MELLEY, Associated Press
PEOPLE perform yoga to mark International Day of Yoga in Ahmedabad, India, yesterday. Yoga enthusiasts across the world took part in mass yoga events to mark Yoga Day. Photo: Ajit Solanki/AP
Bahamas must share its climate science EDITOR, The Tribune.
LETTERS
THE reason I am here as High Commissioner is because at the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, held in London in 2018, the then Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, was struck by how many member countries didn’t have a resident British office. This included The Bahamas. He was determined to correct this absence and ordered the reopening of the British High Commission Nassau. He believed passionately in “deepening relationships across the Commonwealth”. When I arrived in Nassau, people told me about the 1985 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. A meeting that resulted in the Nassau Accord that condemned apartheid and the Nassau Declaration on World Order that called for “understanding and bridge-building across the divides of race, religion and economic and political systems.” Now in 2022 the world is watching the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (also known as CHOGM) being held in Kigali, Rwanda. CHOGM provides a space for important decision
letters@tribunemedia.net making and agenda setting for countries like the United Kingdom and The Bahamas and the other 52 members of the Commonwealth. The CHOGM 2022 theme is “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming”. Some of the shared UK and Bahamas policy priorities include: climate change/climate action; COVID-19 recovery; trade and investment; Commonwealth reform and a focus on youth and women. The UK believes that the Commonwealth is an expanding alliance, united behind values of democracy, human rights and sovereignty. The Commonwealth is a vital network of prospering free nations. Through the Commonwealth, we are collectively deepening alliances with allies old and new and offering a clear alternative to autocratic regimes. Rwanda joined in 2009. Commonwealth countries are set to welcome Togo and Gabon into the fold this year. The Commonwealth makes up a third of the global population with a collective GDP of $14.5
Also, I add my voice to other voices calling upon the government not to withdraw the appeal before the Privy Council that will settle once for all the proper construction of Article 6. If indeed the proper construction of Article 6 is that any child born in the Bahamas is a Bahamian at birth so long as one of his parents is a Bahamian, without regard to marital status, we owe citizenship to all those to whom it has been denied since July 10, 1973, and they should be allowed to have the privilege of citizenship by constitutional right and not legislative favour. The Privy Council should be allowed to rule whether this is indeed the case. On the other hand, if
the proper construction of Article 6 is the one that currently prevails (that unmarried Bahamian men cannot pass citizenship on to their out of wedlock children at birth), the Privy Council should be allowed to affirm it and close the legal debate on the issue. Either way, I believe it is proper and fitting for the government to allow our final court to have the final say on this very important matter. To my mind, it does not seem right that a 3:2 decision of the Court of Appeal should be allowed to settle what is perhaps the most important constitutional question in our nation’s history to date, bearing in mind that it is about the
trillion and around 30% of the votes on the United Nations. The Commonwealth’s way of working is different. We are marked by consensus among equals. This means even smaller countries, like The Bahamas, have an influential voice in decision making and agenda setting on the issues that matter most like climate change. The Commonwealth setup means that, for example, the Pacific archipelago of Tuvalu (population 11,000) will be at the same table as India (population 1.3 billion). For all the differences between members, they are joined by an invisible thread of shared values, history, and institutions. I look forward to watching the footage from CHOGM22. I see the Bahamian delegation and many of my colleagues from the UK have already landed in Kigali and are enjoying Rwanda’s beautiful weather and a warm welcome. A very similar mood to the ‘understanding and bridge building’ that was made possible in Nassau almost 40 years ago. SARAH DICKSON, OBE British High Commissioner Nassau Nassau, June 21, 2022.
Citizenship change plan EDITOR, The Tribune ONCE again, the government through Attorney General Ryan Pinder has foreshadowed its plan to introduce legislation to bring about citizenship changes which the referendums of 2002 and 2016 did not. In my view, this is rather unfortunate. The Attorney General is quoted as saying that the citizenship changes the government is seeking to bring about have been impossible to attain through referenda. While it is true that they were not obtained through referenda, it is not true that they have been impossible to attain that way. The sad reality is that
the 2002 referendum was politicized; voters were told that the outcome of the referendum would determine the winner of the impending general election. And the sadder reality is that the 2016 referendum was sexualised; the government derailed what was otherwise a referendum on citizenship by trying to get voters to amend Article 26 of the constitution to add “sex” as a ground of non-discrimination. Accordingly, Bahamian voters voted resoundingly “no” in each referendum. Some have wrongly accused Bahamian voters of being incapable of thinking through the referendum questions, and others have
even gone as far as to say that Bahamian voters will never amend the constitution. Such assessments don’t give Bahamian voters the credit they deserve. It is rather unfortunate that Bahamian voters were not given the opportunity to consider amending certain citizenship provisions in the constitution in a proper referendum that was not freighted with other concerns like politics and sex and its meaning. And now the government is resorting to grant some citizenship rights that ideally should have been and would have been approved by Bahamian voters in a proper referendum. This is sad. It did not have to be this way.
sacred gift of Bahamian citizenship and who is constitutionally entitled to it at birth. The government is free to move ahead with its legislative plans regarding citizenship as it sees fit. But I still maintain that it is unfortunate that Bahamian voters were not given a proper opportunity to confer certain citizenship rights constitutionally through referenda. And I pray that the government allows the Privy Council to rule on the proper construction of Article 6. PASTOR MOSS Nassau, June 21, 2022
CEDRIC
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 22, 2022, PAGE 7
Three accused over $70k GB cocaine find By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THREE men were charged in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a $70,000 cocaine raid in Grand Bahama last week. Byron Cooper, 34, and Samuel Cooper, 23, both from Abaco as well as
John Saunders, 26, of Grand Bahama, were all represented by Charlton Shurland. All three accused stood before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney on charges of possession of dangerous drugs, and two counts each of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.
According to official police reports, at around 6pm on June 17, officers in the Drug Enforcement Unit saw the three suspects leave a small vessel in McLean’s Town, Grand Bahama, and get into a white van. When DEU officers pursued the vehicle, they saw the driver throw a red and black backpack out of his
window and into nearby bushes. After apprehending the suspects and recovering the bag it was discovered it contained five packages of suspected cocaine and two pistols. These items were later positively identified as 11.5 pounds of cocaine valued at $70,000 as well as .9mm Ruger Pistol with four
unfired rounds and a .45mm Zig M1911 pistol, with nine live rounds. All three accused pleaded not guilty. With no objections to bail by Prosecutor Inspector Timothy Bain it was granted to the accused at $9,500 with one or two sureties. Under the conditions of their bail, both Byron and
Samuel are to sign in at Cooper’s Town Police Station, while Saunders is to sign in at Freeport Central Police Station. All three accused must report to their respective stations every Wednesday and Friday by 6pm. The accused drug trial is expected to start on September 1.
CBC BACKING COURT HEARS THAT SUSPECT YOUNG SAILOR ‘TRIED TO KILL TWO POLICE
OFFICERS AND A WOMAN’ By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services yesterday accused of attempting to murder two police officers and a woman. Jeremy Dames, 30, faced Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain charged with three counts each of the 2020 attempted murder
CRAIG Ferguson sailing. A PARTNERSHIP between the Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC) and youth sailor Craig Ferguson signed in early 2020 as the global shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic began has been renewed as international competition resumes. CBC, through Bahamas Goombay Punch, inked the partnership, but international championships were put on pause amid the virus spreading. As travel restrictions eased, Craig was eventually able to participate in three international tournaments, and in January this year he was selected as Sailor of the Year by the Bahamas Optimist Association. Karla Wells-Ligaris, brand manager of CBC, said: “Early last month the Ferguson family reached back out to CBC to see if we would be able to sponsor Craig’s quest in mastering
sailing. We were informed of the upcoming World Championships being held later this month in Turkey. At CBC, where possible, we strive to support young Bahamians we are pursuing, and mastering, talents that can radically change the course of their lives. With sailing recently being acknowledged as the official sport of The Bahamas, we were happy once again to pair this effort with the unofficial soft drink of The Bahamas, Bahamas Goombay Punch. “I am very grateful for the support that Caribbean Bottling has extended to me” said Craig. “Your support allows me to represent my country at the highest level of sailing, in Turkey.” The 2002 Optimist World Championships take place from June 27 in Bodrum, Turkey. The Bahamas will be represented by five youth sailors.
by way of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI). Although the accused was denied bail in the lower court, he can apply for it in the Supreme Court where his case will eventually be heard. Until such time as Dames receives bail, he will be sent back to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. The accused is expected to receive his VBI on September 2.
MAN ACCUSED OF ARMED ROBBERY By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services by a Magistrate’s Court yesterday accused of an armed robbery at Montagu Beach last week. Barry Nordelus, 23, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain on charges of armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.
On June 16 at Montagu Beach, Nordelus is alleged - with an accomplice and a fire arm - to have robbed Devon King of his blue bag containing his passport and $24 in cash. On the same day, the accused and his co-accused, armed with the same firearm, attempted to steal Marcia Ingraham’s $2,500 grey 2004 Honda Fit. Due to the nature of the offence, Nordelus was not required to enter a plea and was informed that his case
would proceed by way of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI). Although he was denied bail in court, the accused was told of his right to apply to the Supreme Court where his case ultimately will be heard. Until bail is granted to him, Nordelus will be returned to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. The accused is expected to receive his VBI on September 2.
TWO CHARGED OVER FIREARMS By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
KARLA WellsLisgaris and Craig Ferguson.
and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. On January 19, 2020, on Quakoo Street, armed with a black and blue .40 caliber pistol, Dames was accused of trying to kill Corporal 3333 Precious Lewis, Superintendent Dwight Smith and Marie Sainvil. Due to the serious nature of the offence, Dames was not required to enter a plea in court. He was informed that his case would proceed
TWO men were charged in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with separate firearm and ammunition charges. Edward Johnson, 28, faced Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney charged with possession of a dangerous firearm and ammunition. On March 16 last year, Johnson was found with a black Glock 26 pistol with seven live rounds of ammunition in the chamber.
Johnson was found guilty and convicted of the offences. He was sentenced to one year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services on both charges to be served concurrently. Johnson was also ordered to pay a fine of $7,500 or risk an additional six months in custody. Before being remanded to BDCS, the accused was informed of his right to appeal the magistrate’s sentencing within seven days. The second accused, Carvel Johnson, 28, was reportedly found with a
black 40mm G2C Taurus pistol and ten rounds of 40mm ammunition without a licence. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. As there was no objection from Prosecutor Inspector Timothy Bain, bail was granted to Johnson at $7,500 with one or two sureties. However, the conditions of the accused’s bail stipulate that he must sign in at East Street South Police Station every Wednesday and Friday by 6pm. Johnson’s trial was adjourned to August 31.
PAGE 8, Wednesday, June 22, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
In the heart of Africa, a union of nations seek to work as one By Alicia Wallace
THE Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 is now underway in Kigali, Rwanda, after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the high-level meetings begin, there are a number of forums that take place during the week. These include the Commonwealth Youth Forum, Commonwealth Women’s Forum and Commonwealth People’s Forum. These events bring people together to chart the way forward. Those present in Kigali are full of excitement, ready to meet new people, equipped with talking points in support of their communities and curious about the process and its outcomes.
A GLANCE AT THE COMMONWEALTH PEOPLE’S FORUM
At the opening of the People’s Forum yesterday, Commonwealth Foundation Director-General Dr. Anne T Gallagher AO noted the Foundation exists to support civil society, and this is evidence of Members States’ recognition of civil society as critical actors and necessary participants in governance. Gallagher said: “The Foundation has made it our business to reach out and listen to Commonwealth civil society. The message coming back is that we need much better ideas and more voices to hold ourselves and our governments to account.” In her keynote address, Rwanda’s Speaker of
THE OPENING ceremony of the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Rwanda this week. Parliament Donatille Mukabalisa spoke of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. She encouraged active participation in the People’s Forum, referring
to it as an opportunity to re-engage on our common future. These two contributions in the first session of the day set the tone, and delegates were vocal throughout the day’s sessions, sharing their experiences and, in many cases, frustrations, asking questions and pressing panelists for clear solutions and decisive action. The People’s Forum is focused on climate, health and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. It seeks answers to broad questions about protecting the planet through equality and justice and working together to reform or build the institutions we need to ensure all people are included. In the sessions held yesterday, it was clear people are making connections between health and climate, recognising they cannot be treated as separate issues. They intersect with each other as well as many other thematic areas. Speakers expressed concern that climate change is still being treated by far too many people as a future issue when it is happening now. They also noted the countries most affected by climate disasters are those that contribute the least to climate change. Dr Jimmy Fletcher, former Minister of Public Service, Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology in St Lucia, added to this, calling it unconscionable that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are told they can access funding for mitigation efforts, but through loans, especially when the crisis we face is caused by the very people who want to collect interest on loans to help us. There were a few different perspectives on financing which include grants (funding by countries responsible for emissions driving climate change) and taxation (on wealth). The options presented all have one commonality — a focus on equity.
A GLANCE AT THE COMMONWEALTH WOMEN’S FORUM
Earlier in the week, the Women’s Forum was held, bringing 250 delegates together to focus on gender equality targets and how Member States are progressing as we approach 2030. The first session was about women’s leadership and, importantly, looking beyond the numbers. Founder and chair of Omnia Strategy, Cherie Blair - wife of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair - made the point that political quotas are not enough if only a certain group of women can afford to run for office. Women are often responsible for the vast majority, it not all, of domestic and care work. If women have to pick up the children from school, do the grocery shopping, help with homework,
prepare dinner and ensure bisexual and trans women, elders take their medication women experiencing povon time, there is very little erty and women in the time left for campaigning Family Islands. and late meetings. We have to remember If women are paid less that women are not all the than men for work of the same, our experiences and same value, there is less our needs differ, and we are money available to support experts in our own lives. their bids for leadership Our work toward gender which includes the ability to equality must include employ domestic workers. greater participation in This point was also raised political and public life and in the CEDAW Speaker gender responses to crises Series session on Article 4 such as climate disasters. of the Convention on the One area that most Elimination of All Forms people agree needs great of Discrimination against investment is violence Women which is about tem- against women and girls. porary special The Wommeasure (such ‘We have to en’s Forum as political launched quotas). It was remember that “Measuring also an area women are not the Economic of focus for all the same, Costs of VioCARICOM in lence Against its statement our experiences Women and ahead of the and our needs Girls” which Commission provides differ, and we on the Status guidelines for of Women are experts measuring the (CSW) in 2021 in our own financial cost where creat- lives. Our work that is often ing an enabling unseen. The toward gender environment costs include in public life equality must income loss, for women was include greater medical discussed. treatment, There were participation psycho-social several strong in political and support, law contributions enforcement public life and from delegates and reduced gender responses gross domesthroughout the day. One to crises such as tic product delegate spoke (GDP). about chal- climate disasters.’ The methlenges women odology used face in the world of work. is the EconVAWG (EcoShe highlighted the diffi- nomic Costs of Violence culty accessing loans which Against Women and Girls) limits ability to make finan- which is comprised of the cial decisions for oneself. five steps detailed above. She reminded everyone in The Commonwealth says: the room of the people who “[…]the impact of VAWG were not there, and asked goes beyond the individual how many of us bring those and affects communities, people with us when we businesses and overall econattend events, make com- omies[…] Measuring the ments, ask questions and cost of VAWG can help contribute to the develop- change the social discourse ment of solutions. towards an understanding “It’s not a platform of sit- that VAWG is not socially ting and talking, yet the real acceptable and is a public woman is down there,” she welfare issue. Therefore, said. “There is no meaning by understanding the costs to our words and no success of VAWG policy, makers in our meetings when we do can better provide solutions not consider the people on that help reduce violence.” the ground and find ways The 151-page document to bring them and their includes a list of guides and interests to spaces where templates for each of the power sits and decisions are steps in the methodology, made.” guidelines for both primary The UN Women rep- and secondary data collecresentative in Rwanda tion, focus group discussion reminded everyone that guidelines, and a manual feminist leadership is criti- for conducting household cal. She said: “One great surveys. thing we can do, as women Secretary General leaders, is to understand Patricia Scotland also the feminist leadership announced, at the Women’s principles. Know them, use Forum gala dinner, that a them, make our institu- Commonwealth toolkit on tions accountable on these SDG 5 would be launched principles.” shortly. There are likely She named five prin- other announcements, ciples — self-awareness, launches and commitments self care and caring for during this period, and you others, dismantle bias, can keep up with them at ensure inclusion, sharing thecommonwealth.org and of power and responsible commonwealthfoundation. and transparent leadership. com. This is absolutely critical, It is especially imporespecially as we talk about tant to pay attention to representation and equal- CHOGM, beyond coverage ity. It is not enough to add by Bahamian media, to be to the number or to take aware of perspectives, disup space. We need women cussions and commitments leaders who care about made by and to The Bahaother women and believe mas, the Caribbean region in equality, and we need to and Commonwealth States. make room for a diversity We need to know, we of women including women need to remind and we with disabilities, lesbian, need to demand.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 22, 2022, PAGE 9
FERRARI TO MAKE 80 PERCENT HYBRID AND FULL-ELECTRIC RANGE BY 2030 MILAN (AP) — Italian luxury sportscar maker Ferrari last week outlined an electrification strategy that calls for 40% fullelectric vehicles and 40% hybrid models by 2030. CEO Benedetto Vigna confirmed that the first electric car will be presented in 2025, with the first deliveries the following year. Now, just four Ferrari models, or 20% of the range, are hybrid cars. Its first hybrid model was the limited edition La Ferrari launched in 2013, capitalising on Formula 1 technology. Vigna, a former technology entrepreneur who joined Ferrari as CEO nine months ago, said the electrification strategy is “highly relevant.” “Not only it is required by emissions regulations, but most importantly, we believe we can use the electric engine to enhance the performance of our cars, as we did already with our hybrid Ferrari,’’ he said at an analyst presentation.
TECHTALK
SOUTH KOREA LAUNCHES FIRST SATELLITE WITH HOMEGROWN ROCKET By HYUNG-JIN KIM ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAFERRARI is presented during the first media day of the 83rd Geneva International Motor Show, Switzerland in 2013. The Italian luxury sports car maker has outlined its electrification strategy that calls for 40% full-electric and 40% hybrid models by 2030. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)
As Ferrari expands its model range, the car company based in the northern Italian city of Maranello said it would
unveil the long-awaited Purosangue utility vehicle in September. Bearing the Italian name for thoroughbred,
the Purosangue will represent no more than 20% of vehicles produced during its cycle. In all, Ferrari plans
to launch 15 new models from 2023 to 2026, including a new high-performance supercar.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: ADAPT OR DISRUPT? If your company disagrees with the 96% majority that view digital transformation as critical, then your chances for survival are declining. Sound a little too cataclysmic for you? How about this statistic: 86% of companies believe they have two years to make significant progress in their digital strategy before suffering financial or competitive consequences. There isn’t a debate that organisations must have a digital transformation strategy but these initiatives can be time consuming and complex, which is the most common reason for holding back. Should resources be focused on adapting to changes in the market or developing new disruptive business models? ADAPT Business agility and efficiency are typically on the checklist for an organisation with a digital transformation strategy designed for responding to market changes. The customer experience is a market shift where technology has forever changed expectations. We demand easy to use self-service options and efficient methods of communication such as chat or text. Businesses must adapt by digitising processes and thinking mobile first when delivering customer facing solutions. The technology we use in our personal lives naturally influences our expectations at work, but so has changes in the workforce. The dominance of millennials in the workforce has forced companies to adapt to attract and retain top talent. Another factor is the rise of the contingent workforce. Millennials and contingent workers have contributed to teleworking and telecommuting becoming the norm. Businesses must adapt by providing secure, efficient anywhere access to the information and tools employees need to do their job. DISRUPT An enterprise with a digital transformation strategy geared toward a new disruptive business model forces competitors to adapt or perish. The subscription model is an example of a disruptive business model that most are familiar with. The Netflix streaming and rental service not only eliminated
the brick and mortar video rental business, but forced every major media and entertainment business to adapt. The access-over-ownership model capitalised on the sharing economy and allowed Airbnb to leapfrog ahead of the major hospitality companies. Airbnb has only been around since 2008, yet its $30 billion valuation puts it $7 billion ahead of Hilton Worldwide. THERE IS NO RIGHT ANSWER So should resources be focused on adapting to changes in the market or developing new disruptive business models? The answer is “it depends” on your business and your market. If your company doesn’t have a digital strategy and has pen-and-paper based business processes, you’re wasting time and money. It also means you’re not an agile business and will struggle to adapt to customer and employee expectations. If you’re like Netflix, Uber or Airbnb, your digital transformation strategy is continuing to disrupt, forcing others to respond to your business model. Disrupt or adapt, digital transformation isn’t easy. Organisations need the right people, systems and culture to survive in today’s ever changing, digitally super-charged business world. Digital transformation is not an option; it is a must and has increased the importance of process automation, made mobile-first the mandate for personal and business applications and increased M&A activity. In many cases organisations are buying more digitally advanced companies as a strategy to begin digital transformation. Market forces and technology innovations will continue to spring new challenges onto companies. The organisations that understand the importance of digital transformation are acting quickly and will flourish. Those that don’t may need to consider an exit strategy while their business still has value. If you’re a business executive, influencer or decision maker schedule a call with a reputable ideally local software development company to design your business efficiency strategy. (Submitted by Duran Humes)
PHOTO: Bruce Marlin
RESEARCHERS HOPE FIREFLIES WILL AID ROBOT COMMUNICATION GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) — Researchers from the University of Colorado are studying the Great Smoky Mountains’ synchronous fireflies to determine whether understanding the way they communicate could help with developing robot communication. The fireflies “need to solve complex problems while communicating in large groups, which is something computers need to do,” Orit Peleg, a computer scientist from the University of Colorado at Boulder, told the Knoxville News Sentinel. “So maybe there’s something interesting we can learn about them and apply to man-made systems.” Semi-autonomous robots communicating with flashes of infrared light could be used to locate victims after a natural disaster, for example. The researchers who sojourned to the park on the TennesseeNorth Carolina border earlier this month to study the fireflies at their peak included graduate student Owen Martin and postdoctoral researcher Raphael Sarfati. Their research combines computer science, physics, engineering and biology. The coordination it takes for thousands of fireflies to flash together isn’t well understood.
A cluster of fireflies will link up. Other fireflies farther away will follow suit. The synchronisation radiates like ripples on a pond. Male fireflies hover and flash to signal females. The females rest on the ground and return flashes to the correct species of males. It is thought synchronisation helps this species of fireflies distinguish itself from other species with different patterns of flashes. As part of the study, the Martin said he would catch several male fireflies and attempt to get them to synchronise their flashes with a flashing LED. “We’re going to start flashing like a firefly next to a real firefly and see how they interact,” Martin said. “We’re trying to see if we can train a periodic signal in the fireflies.” Meanwhile Sarfati said he would record the flashing with 360-degree cameras to study how it spreads. “I’m interested in trying to be as not-interfering as possible with the natural world,” Sarfati said. “I like to see what happens in an unperturbed environment.” Peleg said the flashing is like Morse code, and the signal is probably as close to computer language as any communication among living things gets.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea conducted its first successful satellite launch using a domestically developed rocket on Tuesday, officials said, boosting its growing aerospace ambitions and demonstrating it has key technologies needed to launch spy satellites and build larger missiles amid tensions with rival North Korea. The three-stage Nuri rocket placed a functioning “performance verification” satellite at a target altitude of 700 kilometres (435 miles) after its 4 p.m. liftoff from South Korea’s space launch centre on a southern island, the Science Ministry said. The satellite transmitted signals about its status to an unmanned South Korean station in Antarctica. It is carrying four smaller satellites that will be released in coming days for Earth observation and other missions, ministry officials said. “The science and technology of the Republic of Korea have made a great advance,” Science Minister Lee JongHo said in a televised news conference at the launch centre. “The government will continue its audacious march toward becoming a space power together with the people.” In a video conference with scientists and others involved in the launch, President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated them for their achievement and vowed to keep his campaign promise to establish a state aerospace agency, according to his office. Live TV video showed the 47-metre (154-foot) rocket rising into the air amid bright flames and thick white smoke. The launch made South Korea the world’s 10th nation to place a satellite into space with its own technology. It was South Korea’s second launch of a Nuri rocket. In the first attempt last October, the rocket’s dummy payload reached the desired altitude but didn’t enter orbit because the engine of the rocket’s third stage burned out earlier than planned.
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PAGE 10, Wednesday, June 22, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
All eyes searching for missing Migaloo
MIGALOO the white whale. By VANESSA PIROTTA, Postdoctoral researcher and wildlife scientist, Macquarie University IT’S THAT time of year again, when the humpback highway is about to hit peak blubber to blubber as humpback whales migrate up Australia’s east and west coasts from Antarctic waters. They’re headed to the whale disco – warm breeding waters where males will sing their whale song to attract female company, and pregnant females will birth their calves. Already this season we’ve seen dolphins dancing with whales, dwarf minke whales with their calves, killer whales and a re-sighting of Curly, the humpback with an unusual curved tail. That’s only just the beginning. We expect more than 40,000 humpback whales to make this annual journey. But as excitement for the whale season builds, there’s just one whale on the minds of many: the famous white humpback whale named Migaloo.
WHO IS MIGALOO?
Migaloo is by far one of the world’s most recognisable whales, because he is completely white. Thanks to genetic sampling of Migaloo’s skin, scientists have identified that he’s male, and his albino appearance is a result of a variation in the gene responsible for the colour of his skin. Simply by looking different, Migaloo has become an icon within Australia’s east coast humpback whale population. Indeed, Migaloo has his own Twitter account with over 10,000 followers, and website where fans can lodge sightings and learn more about humpback whales. He was first discovered in 1991 off Byron Bay, Australia, and has since played hide and seek for many years, with many not knowing where or when he’ll show up next. He’s even surprised Kiwi fans by showing up in New Zealand waters. With the last official sighting two years ago, the time has once again come for us to ask: where is Migaloo? Already this year there have been false sightings, such as a near all white whale spotted off New South Wales. To make things more confusing, regular-looking humpbacks can trick whale watchers when they flip upside down, due to their white bellies.
MIGALOO AS A FLAGSHIP WHALE
The annual search for Migaloo connects people with the ocean during the colder months, and is an opportunity to learn more about the important ecological role whales play in the sea. Migaloo’s popularity has also help drive modern marine citizen science. For example, the Cape Solander Whale Migration study records sightings of Migaloo as part of their 20 year data set. His presence was always a highlight for citizen scientists in the team. Migaloo also represents the connection whales play between two extreme environments: the Antarctic and the tropics, both of which are vulnerable to climate change. Humpback whales are the connection between two extreme environments: Antarctica and the tropics. Dr Vanessa Pirotta, Author provided Earlier this year humpbacks were removed from Australia’s list of threatened species, as populations bounced back significantly after whaling ceased. But climate change poses a new threat, with a paper this year suggesting rising sea surface temperatures may make humpback whale breeding areas too warm. Other changes to the ocean – such as ocean currents and the distribution of prey – may change where whales are found are when they migrate. In Australia, for example, we’re already seeing many whales dine out on their migration south. Humpback whales are known to primarily feed once they’re back in Antarctic waters, so scientists are closely watching any new feeding areas off Australia. Feeding in Australian waters might even become an annual event, and may mean southern NSW waters become an area of importance for migrating humpback whales. This behaviour encourages us to ask more about what’s going on below the surface, and the potential changes in the broader marine ecosystem we just don’t yet know about.
SO WHERE IS HE NOW? COULD HE BE DEAD?
Migaloo’s presence – or lack thereof – highlights the variations in whale
migration. Some whales may choose to migrate early or late, or even elsewhere such as in New Zealand. Others might choose not to migrate at all and remain in the Southern Ocean. Migaloo’s presence may be driven by several factors. This includes social circumstances, such as interactions with other whales (including moving between different pods) or biological needs (the desire to head north the reproduce). Environmental conditions, such as currents and water temperature, may also impact when and where Migaloo chooses to swim. Unfortunately, Migaloo and other whales do face a number of human-caused threats in the ocean every day, such as entanglement in fishing gear or collisions with ships. They also face natural threats, such as predation by killer whales. Fortunately, Migaloo’s sighting history has shown us he can turn up when we least expect it, or not. So, there’s still hope we might see him yet. After all, being in his mid 30s, he’s likely in the prime of his whale life.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
The continuing search for Migaloo shows how marine citizen science has become a powerful way to learn about wildlife. Many eyes make science work, as a network of citizen scientists can cover vast areas scientists can’t alone. A team of 200 citizen science scuba divers, for example, surveyed 2,406 ocean sites in 44 countries over a decade to track how warming oceans impact marine life. They found fish may expand their habitat, pushing out other sea creatures. But participating in marine citizen science is often as easy as recording wildlife observations on your phone next time you’re at the beach. Opportunities include Happy Whale, RedMap, Wild Sydney Harbour and INaturalist. This year’s annual migration will last until October or November, so here’s hoping we’ll see Migaloo once again. The power of this unique whale to generate discussion, despite not being seen for years, is true testament to just how curious we are about the mysteries of the deep. • Originally published in theconversation.com
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 22, 2022, PAGE 11
BILL COSBY ‘ABUSED TEEN IN 1975’ SAYS CIVIL JURY
BIDEN CELEBRATES COVID SHOTS FOR KIDS UNDER FIVE PRESIDENT Joe Biden visited a vaccination clinic yesterday to celebrate that virtually all Americans can now get a COVID19 shot Tuesday after the authorisation of vaccines for kids under five over the weekend. Biden visited a vaccination clinic in Washington, where some of the first shots were given to young children in the last major age group ineligible for vaccines, hailing it as an important pandemic milestone that will support the country’s recovery. “The United States is now the first country in the world to offer safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as six months old,” Biden said at the White House. Addressing parents, Biden said, “I encourage you to talk to the doctor after you make a plan to get your child vaccinated.”
PRESIDENT Joe Biden holds a baby as he visits a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Church of the Holy Communion yesterday in Washington. Photo: Evan Vucci/AP
Jan 6 hearing told of ‘hateful’ threats WASHINGTON Associated Press
THE House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection is turning to former President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign on state and local officials to overturn his 2020 election loss. In its fourth hearing this month, the panel examined how Trump focused on a few swing states, directly urging officials to decertify President Joe Biden’s victory or find additional votes for himself. It was part of a larger scheme that also involved dozens of lawsuits, pressure on Department of Justice officials and, eventually, lobbying Vice President Mike Pence to reject Biden’s win at the congressional electoral count on January 6. “Pressuring public servants into betraying their oaths was a fundamental part of the playbook,” the committee’s chairman, Mississippi Rep Bennie Thompson, said of Trump and his allies. “And a handful of election officials in several key states stood between Donald Trump and the upending of American democracy.” ‘THEY DID THEIR JOBS’ The panel is keeping to a tight narrative as it makes its case to the American public that Trump’s efforts to overturn his defeat directly led to the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, when hundreds of his supporters broke into the Capitol and interrupted the certification of Biden’s victory. The witnesses at Tuesday’s hearing were all
public officials who were directly lobbied by Trump or who received threats for doing their jobs after Trump persuaded millions of his followers — with no evidence — that he had actually won, not lost, the election. Arizona’s Republican state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in person, spoke about phone calls from Trump and his allies asking him to decertify Arizona’s legitimate electors and replace them. Bowers said he repeatedly asked Trump’s attorneys to show evidence of widespread fraud, but they never provided any. “You are asking me to do something against my oath, and I will not break my oath,” Bowers said he told them. He recalled John Eastman, a chief architect of Trump’s plan to create slates of fake electors, telling him to “just do it and let the courts sort it out.” Bowers also responded to Trump’s comments, released in a statement before the hearing, claiming he had told the president that the Arizona election was rigged. “I did have a conversation with the president,” Bowers said. “That certainly isn’t it.” Other state officials told similar stories in videotaped testimony. Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler said he got repeated calls from Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other Trump aides, but he refused to answer them. The calls continued even after Cutler asked them to stop. FOCUS ON GEORGIA Trump’s pressure was most intense in Georgia, where Biden narrowly won after years of GOP
presidential victories in the state. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his deputy, Gabe Sterling, testified about becoming two of the president’s top targets as he floated conspiracy theories and as they refused to back down to his pressure. The committee played audio of the call where Trump asked the officials there to “find 11,780” votes that could flip the state to prevent Biden’s election victory. “There were not votes to find,” Raffensperger said. Raffensperger said he and his team went through “every single allegation” and down every “rabbit hole” that Trump and his allies presented to state election officials. But Trump wouldn’t accept it. He told Raffensperger that it could only be dishonesty or incompetence that they couldn’t find the necessary amount of votes. Competing against Trump’s false statements was like a “shovel trying to empty the ocean,” said Sterling, who spoke out publicly against Trump’s pressure in the weeks after the election. Sterling said he couldn’t convince even some of his own family members that the election outcome was valid. THREATS TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS The hearing also examined how Trump’s threats put state officials in danger. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson talked about how her “stomach sunk” when she heard the sounds of protesters outside her home one night after the election when she was putting her child to bed. She wondered if they
had guns or were going to attack her house. “That was the scariest moment,” not knowing what’s going to happen, Benson said. Another Michigan official, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, told the committee about receiving 4,000 text messages after Trump published his phone number online. Cutler, the Pennsylvania House speaker, said his information was also revealed online, prompting protesters to show up at his house when his 15-year-old son was home alone. Arizona’s Bowers told stories of people outside his house on loudspeakers and one man with a gun who verbally threatened his neighbor. He teared up as he spoke of his daughter, who he said was “gravely ill,” and his wife becoming upset as people swarmed outside. ‘HATEFUL’ MESSAGES AND LIVES UPENDED Some of the day’s most emotional testimony came from two former election workers in Georgia who have seen their lives turned upside down after Trump and Giuliani spread false conspiracy theories that they were engaging in ballot fraud. The Justice Department has debunked claims that Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, introduced suitcases of illegal ballots and committed other acts of election fraud to try to alter the outcome. Through tears, Moss said she no longer leaves her house after she was targeted by Trump, who mentioned them by name in the call with Raffensperger. Moss, who is Black, told of receiving “hateful,”
racist and violent threats. She recalled that one of them said, “Be glad it’s 2020 and not 1920.” At one point protesters showed up at her grandmother’s house. “It has affected my life in a major way, in every way, all because of lies,” Moss said. The committee played videotaped testimony with Freeman, who also sat in the hearing room behind her daughter. Freeman told the panel that she used to own shirts in every color with her name on it — Lady Ruby, as she’s known in her community — advertising her small business. But she no longer wears them. “I’ve lost my name, and I’ve lost my reputation. I’ve lost my sense of security,” Freeman said. INVOLVEMENT OF GOP LAWMAKERS While the committee has had a hard time getting GOP lawmakers to do interviews — five House Republicans have so far defied the panel’s subpoenas — the committee revealed some additional detail about what Trump’s allies in Congress were doing at the time of the insurrection. The committee revealed a text from an aide to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis, to an aide for then-Vice President Mike Pence the morning of Jan. 6 saying that the senator wanted to personally hand Pence an “alternate slate of electors for MI and WI”. “Do not give that to him,” Pence aide Chris Hodgson replied. The vice president released a statement around the same time making it clear that he would do his ceremonial duty and declare Biden the next president.
‘UVALDE POLICE COULD HAVE ENDED RAMPAGE EARLY’ AUSTIN, Texas Associated Press
POLICE had enough officers and firepower on the scene of the Uvalde school massacre to have stopped the gunman three minutes after he entered the building, and they would have found the door to the classroom where he was holed up unlocked if they had bothered to check it, the head of the Texas state police testified yesterday, pronouncing the law enforcement response an “abject failure”. Officers with rifles instead stood in a hallway for over an hour, waiting in part for more weapons and gear, before they finally stormed the classroom and killed the gunman, putting an end to the May 24 attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead. “I don’t care if you have on flipflops and Bermuda shorts, you go in,” Col Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in blistering testimony at a state Senate hearing.
TEXAS Department of Public Safety director Steve McCraw presents a timeline of the school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, during a hearing in Austin, Texas, yesterday. Photo: Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman via AP The classroom door, it turned out, could not be locked from the inside, according to McCraw, who said a teacher reported before the shooting that the lock was broken. Yet there is no indication officers tried to open it during the
standoff, McCraw said. He said police instead waited for keys. “I have great reasons to believe it was never secured,” McCraw said of the door. “How about trying the door and seeing if it’s locked?” Delays in the law
enforcement response at Robb Elementary School have become the focus of federal, state and local investigations. McCraw lit into Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde school district police chief who McCraw said was in charge, saying: “The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering Room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children.” Arredondo made “terrible decisions,” said McCraw, who lamented that the police response “set our profession back a decade”. Arredondo has said he didn’t consider himself the person in charge and assumed someone else had taken control of the law enforcement response. He has declined repeated requests for comment from The Associated Press. The police chief testified for about five hours Tuesday at a closed-door hearing of a Texas House committee.
JURORS at a civil trial found yesterday that Bill Cosby sexually abused a 16-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1975. The Los Angeles County jury delivered the verdict in favor of Judy Huth, who is now 64, and awarded her $500,000. Jurors found that Cosby intentionally caused harmful sexual contact with Huth, that he reasonably believed she was under 18, and that his conduct was driven by unnatural or abnormal sexual interest in a minor. The jurors’ decision is a major legal defeat for the 84-year-old entertainer once hailed as America’s dad. It comes nearly a year after his Pennsylvania criminal conviction for sexual assault was thrown out and he was freed from prison. Huth’s lawsuit was one of the last remaining legal claims against him after his insurer settled many others against his will. Cosby did not attend the trial or testify in person, but short clips from 2015 video deposition were played for jurors, in which he denied any sexual contact with Huth. He continues to deny the allegation through his attorney and publicist. Cosby’s attorneys agreed that Cosby met Huth and her high school friend on a Southern California film set in April of 1975, then took them to the Playboy Mansion a few days later. Huth testified that in a bedroom adjacent to a game room where the three had been hanging out, Cosby attempted to put his hand down her pants, then exposed himself and forced her to perform a sex act. Huth filed her lawsuit in 2014, saying that her son turning 15 — the age she initially remembered being when she went to the mansion — and a wave of other women accusing Cosby of similar acts brought fresh trauma over what she had been through as a teenager.
LAPID SET TO BE ISRAEL’S NEXT PREMIER IN A 10-year political career, Israel’s Yair Lapid has transformed himself from an upstart political novice to a feisty opposition leader to the savvy operator who toppled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Next week, he is expected to assume his biggest role yet — as the new prime minister. Following the government’s decision to dissolve parliament, Lapid, now foreign minister, is set to take office as caretaker prime minister until elections in the fall. It will be a critical test for Lapid, 58, who will try to convince Israelis he is worthy of the top office as he takes on a resurgent Netanyahu. “A year ago, we started the process of rebuilding, and now: we’re carrying it on, and carrying it on together,” Lapid declared late on Monday as he stood alongside his main coalition partner, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Officially, the two men were announcing the end of their year-old government — an alliance of eight diverse parties that was severely weakened by months of infighting and rebellion. But in many ways, Lapid sounded like he was beginning his next campaign. “Even if we are going to elections in a few months, the challenges we face will not wait,” he said, pointing to Israel’s high cost of living and security challenges in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. In a swipe at Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, he vowed to “stand against the forces threatening to turn Israel into a nondemocratic country.” Netanyahu, believing he is the victim of a political witch hunt, has made clear he intends to take on the country’s legal and lawenforcement establishment if he returns to power.
PAGE 12, Wednesday, June 22, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
SERENA WILLIAMS WINS 1ST MATCH OF COMEBACK AFTER YEAR AWAY EASTBOURNE, England (AP) — As “What A Feeling” boomed around Devonshire Park, Serena Williams strode onto center court at Eastbourne to a standing ovation for her first competitive tennis match in nearly a year. Around 90 minutes later, fans were on their feet again, celebrating a comeback win for the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion at the Wimbledon warmup event on England’s south coast. Williams partnered Ons Jabeur to victory over Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova in the first round of the women’s doubles. Williams and Jabeur recovered from losing the first set 6-2 to win the second 6-3 and then the match tiebreaker 13-11 on their third match point. “I caught some fire behind me,” the 40-year-old Williams said. “I needed that. It was good.”
The win means Williams will have at least one more competitive match before playing singles at Wimbledon as a wild-card entry. Main-draw play at the All England Club starts Monday. It was at the grasscourt Slam where Williams was last seen in competitive action in 2021. She was playing in the first round when she lost her footing and her right leg buckled, leading to Williams retiring from the match. With no competitive activity since then, she is ranked No. 1,204 in singles and wasn’t among the seeded players announced by Wimbledon yesterday. Few will want to face her when the draw is made Friday. Williams — sporting three black patches on her right cheek — made a slow start to the match alongside Jabeur that marked her third appearance at Eastbourne, having previously played in the singles
event in 1998 and 2011. She served first — her opening serve was timed at 90 mph (145 kph) and earned the first point after Sorribes Tormo’s reply sailed long — and held to 30. Williams struggled at times in the first set, and was exasperated after she was unable to get low enough to a shot by Sorribes Tormo. It took 25 minutes before Williams hit a winner as her smash flew into the North Stand, ensuring one spectator was able to leave with a souvenir. Williams’ agility improved noticeably in the second set, though there were audible gasps from the crowd when she slipped rushing into the net. She set up a set point with a backhand winner from the baseline and took the match to a tiebreaker with a 102 mph ace. Williams showed desire to dive to her right to make a volley which could not be returned that set up one
SERENA WILLIAMS, of the United States, returns the ball during their doubles tennis match with Ons Jabeur of Tunisia against Marie Bouzkova of Czech Republic and Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain at the Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, England, yesterday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
of the three match points. The win was clinched when Sorribes Tormo miscued a volley. “It was so fun to play with Ons,” Williams said in an interview on the court. “It was great. We had a lot of fun and our opponents played amazing. We were happy to stay in there.” In the singles, there was a big shock when topseeded Paula Badosa lost 6-4, 6-3 to Jodie Burrage, a British wild card. Thirdseeded Maria Sakkari was also eliminated, beaten by Anhelina Kalinina 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. Fourth-seeded Karolina Pliskova, last year’s Wimbledon finalist, was defeated by Katie Boulter of Britain, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. There were wins in the second round for defending champion Jelena Ostapenko and Beatriz Haddad Maia, who has won back-to-back grass-court events in Nottingham and Birmingham over the last two weeks.
Tokyo closes books on delayed Games, $13 billion price tag By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — The final price tag for last year’s COVID-delayed Tokyo Olympics was put at $13 billion (1.4 trillion Japanese yen), the organising committee said yesterday in its final act before it is dissolved at the end of the month. The cost was twice what was forecast in 2013 when Tokyo was awarded the Games. However, the final price tag presented by organisers is lower than the $15.4 billion they predicted when the Olympics ended just under 11 months ago. “We made an estimate, and the estimate has gone down lower than we expected,” Tokyo organising committee CEO Toshiro Muto said, speaking through an interpreter at a news conference. “As a total amount, whether this is huge or not — when it comes to that kind of talk it is not easy to evaluate.” Accurately tracking Olympic costs — who pays, who benefits, and what are and are not Games’ expenses — is an evermoving maze. The one-year
FINA
FROM PAGE 16 Thomas, the first transgender woman to win an NCAA national championship, world governing body FINA effectively barred athletes such as Thomas from competing in women’s swimming events. Anyone who has not begun the transition from male to female by the age of 12 or the onset of puberty, whichever comes later, will no longer be allowed to compete against cisgender women during their careers. Which pretty much brings an end to Thomas’ hopes of competing at the Olympics, not to mention transgender women in other sports who will likely face similar restrictions in the not-toodistant future. FINA’s ruling was draconian, though it also made a nod toward inclusion by calling for the establishment of so-called “open” categories for transgender athletes. But the organisation gave little indication how those races would work — or if there would even be enough competitors to make them feasible. “The ‘open’ category is incredibly othering and impractical,” said Schuyler Bailar, who became the first openly transgender swimmer in NCAA Division I as
delay added to the difficulty, as did recent fluctuations in the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Japanese yen. When the Olympics opened on July 23, 2021, $1 bought 110 yen. On Monday, $1 bought 135 yen, the dollar’s highest level against the yen in about 25 years. Organisers chose to use a rate of $1 to 109.89 yen to figure the dollar price, which organisers said was the average exchange rate for 2021. Victor Matheson, a sports economist at the College of the Holy Cross who has written extensively on the Olympics, suggested by email to AP that most of “the expenses and revenues are in yen, so the exchange rate changing the dollar amounts doesn’t affect how the event ‘feels’ to the organisers.” Matheson and fellow American Robert Baade researched Olympic costs and benefits in a study called “Going for Gold: The Economics of the Olympics.” They wrote that “the overwhelming conclusion is that in most cases the Olympics are a moneylosing proposition for host a member of the Harvard men’s team. “Consider if Lia were to make the Olympic team — right now, she is the only known trans woman competing in women’s elite swimming. Who would she compete against?” The new guidelines were hailed as a giant step forward by many women’s sports advocates, including 1984 Olympic swimming champion Nancy Hogshead-Makar. “I’m thrilled that the leadership in our sport stood up for fairness for females,” Hogshead-Makar said when reached by phone on Monday. “We’ve tried to protect the category for girls and women to just females, while at the same time looking to restructure sports in all different ways to include transgender people without blowing up the women’s category.” While most swimmers at the world championships in Budapest declined to comment on the issue, Australia’s Moesha Johnson seemed to express support for the ban on transgender women. “If you’re a woman out there and you’re racing someone else, like, how would you feel doing that?” she said. “It’s just about fairness in sport.” Hogshead-Makar is among those who believes that research clearly shows cisgender women are at significant disadvantage
cities; they result in positive net benefits only under very specific and unusual circumstances.” Muto said there were savings because of the absence of fans, which cut down on security costs and venue maintenance costs. He talked vaguely about “squeezing” costs and “simplifying” operations to reach the reductions. However, organisers lost at least $800 million in income from ticket sales because fans were banned due to COVID. Muto called “baseless” reports before and after the postponement that costs might hit $25 billion. There is one undeniable fact: Japanese government entities, primarily the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, covered about 55% of the total expenses. This amounted to about $7.1 billion in Japanese taxpayer money. The privately funded organising committee budget covered about $5.9 billion. The International Olympic Committee contributed $1.3 billion to this budget, with the largest contribution of $3.4 billion coming from local sponsors.
A PERSON walks near Tokyo 2020 logo in Haneda Airport on June 14, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Organisers also listed $500 directed marketing for Tokyo had billed itself million in income from Tokyo 2020, received com- as a “safe pair of hands” an unspecified “insurance missions for lining up in its bid in 2013 to get the payout.” sponsors, and has been Games. A University of Oxford linked to an IOC vote-buyTokyo will also be study in 2020 said Tokyo ing scandal that was tied to remembered as the first was the most expensive Tokyo getting the Games. Games that were postOlympics on record. The scandal forced the poned for a year, and then In the several years prior resignation of Tsunekazu held mostly without fans in to the Olympics, govern- Takeda in 2019, an IOC a so-called bubble. ment audits found official member who also headed The most important costs might have been much the Japanese Olympic legacy is surely the $1.4 more than stated. Committee. He denied any billion National Stadium It’s impossible to assess wrongdoing. designed by Japanese archithe long-term impact of The Games were hit with tect Kengo Kuma. Though the Tokyo Olympics, par- other scandals, including it’s a new venue, it blends ticularly in a sprawling city the resignation of Yoshiro seamlessly into its central like the Japanese capital Mori, the president of location. where change is constant. the organising committee “The goal should be The pandemic erased any who made sexist remarks that the costs of hosting short-term tourism bounce. about women. The former are matched by benefits Local sponsors, who paid Japanese prime minister that are shared in a way to $3.4 billion to be linked to stepped down five months include ordinary citizens the Olympics, didn’t seem before the Games opened. who fund the event through very happy according to “I was baffled, surprised their tax dollars,” Matheson local reports. — it was so unexpected,” and Baade wrote. “In the Dentsu Inc., the giant Muto said when asked current arrangement, it is Japanese advertising and about Mori’s departure. often far easier for the athpublic relations company, “I really had a tough time letes to achieve gold than it may have benefited. It dealing with the situation.” is for the hosts.”
PENNSYLVANIA transgender swimmer Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat in the women’s NCAA 500-yard freestyle swimming championship on March 17 at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) when competing against a meets? Would they have transgender swimmer who separate medals and their went through puberty as a own record book? And male — even more so than what about transgender racing someone who’s using men, who have been largely overlooked in this discusperformance-enhancing sion? Would the Olympics drugs. “Medically and scien- jump on board? Hogshead-Makar contifically, can it be fair? The answer is no,” Hogshead- ceded that any talk of divisions for Makar insisted. “So once separate you say it’s not fair, it’s sort transgender athletes is a work in progress. of game over.” “This is a two-step proOf course, this game is cess,” she said. “This is just far from over. If transgender women step number one, which are going to be barred from is how we lock down the female events, it’s impera- female category. With step tive that governing bodies two, we’ve got to figure come up with ways for them out do we have another to compete without being podium? Is there anything else we can do to make sure viewed as afterthoughts. FINA insists that it’s it’s fair?” Hogshead-Makar insisted committed to such a goal, but it’s difficult to envision that her fight is not against transgender athletes. But just how that would work. Would transgender she pointed out — and it’s swimmers be restricted hard to disagree — that to outside lanes that nor- Thomas seemed to have a mally aren’t used in major big competitive advantage
as a woman since she didn’t have nearly as much success swimming on the Penn men’s team for three years. “There is no such thing as a women’s sports advocate who is not also a sports advocate,” HogsheadMakar said. “We all want more people playing sports, people of all kinds. I think sports is a social good. There’s so much you get out of sporting experiences. So step two is very important to this discussion. But you can’t have that discussion while having the debate about step number one, which is fairness to (cisgender) females.” Fair enough, but it’s hard not to feel a great deal of compassion for Thomas and all transgender athletes, who have come under far more scrutiny than their minuscule numbers should warrant — much of it driven by a political culture war. A 2019 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 1.8% of the 15.3 million public high school students in the United States — about 275,000 — are transgender. Of course, the number of athletes within that group is even smaller, with a 2017 survey by Human Rights Campaign suggesting fewer than 15% of all transgender boys and girls play sports. And when you’re talking about transgender athletes reaching world-class status,
the number becomes microscopic. In female swimming, it’s one. Lia Thomas. Just three weeks ago, Thomas appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” to discuss her future after graduating from Penn. She talked of plans to attend law school, but also expressed a desire to keep competing. Her sights were on the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials, which will determine the team that competes in Paris. “It’s been a goal of mine to swim at Olympic trials for a very long time,” Thomas said, “and I would love to see that through.” Now, that’s gone. Bailer, who recently launched a company called Lane Changer that provides training on gender issues, said it was no coincidence that FINA essentially snuffed out Thomas’ hopes at a meeting Sunday in Budapest. “This new policy is undoubtedly, absolutely, inarguably directed at Lia Thomas,” he said in an email. “There is quite exactly no one else it could be directed at. She is the ONLY one to whom it applies.” While this is surely the end of Thomas’ Olympic dreams, let’s hope it’s just the beginning of another journey. One that makes everyone feel included.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 22, 2022, PAGE 13
Bahamas Karate Championships all set for Saturday
SENSEI Shawn Smith.
THE Society of Shotokan Stylist presents the Bahamas Karate Championships, hosted by sensei Shawn Smith - a 4th degree black belt in Shotokan karate and black belt in Shito ryu Karate. The big event is all set for on Saturday, June 25 at the Anatol Rodgers High School Gymnasium on Faith Avenue East.
This tournament will provide an opportunity for competitors young and old to enjoy the various disciplines of karate, to build goodwill and sportsmanship. There will be kata, kumite point fighting, kickboxing and continuous fighting. The black belt division is set to be one of the most exciting segments of this tournament.
GOVERNOR General Cornelius and Lady Clara Smith. Photo: Derek Carroll Photography
Spectactors are also asked to come and see some of their favourite senior martial artists in the Bahamas from various styles of martial arts, karate, kung fu, jujitsu, gojo ryu karate of whom will be awarded for their many years of service in the martial arts, so come and experience an exciting dynamic martial arts show on Saturday.
BAHAMAS KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, hosted by sensei Shawn Smith, is all set for June 25 at Anatol Rodgers High School Gymnasium on Faith Avenue East.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH CUP SET FOR THIS WEEKEND AT ATLANTIS UNDER the patronage of Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Cornelius and Lady Clara Smith, the Duke of Edinburgh Cup Tournament will be held this weekend at Atlantis on Paradise Island. The Golf Clinic for Students of the GGYC will take place at 10am on Saturday at the Ocean Golf Club, the Networking Cocktail Reception and Presentation of Awards to Legacy Sponsors will follow at 6pm at Atlantis and the Duke of Edinburgh Cup Semi-Finals Charity Golf Tournament will wrap things up at 8am on Sunday at the Ocean Club Golf Club. GGYA’s primary fundraising event is The Duke of Edinburgh Cup SemiFinals Golf Tournament. The full proceeds of the tournament impact approximately 2,000 GGYA students across The Bahamas, supporting meaningful programmes under four pillars: voluntary service; skill development; physical recreation; and adventurous journey. GGYA helps to develop universal life skills, complementing students’ formal education. Interested persons can get involved by helping the youth award programme through one of the following ways: • Entering a team in the Tournament (4 persons made up of 2 twosomes) as a Bronze Sponsor ($5,000) • Sponsoring a Hole, where your business or charity is featured ($1,500) • Or donating in any amount Participants and winners are eligible for many gifts and prizes including: • All-expense paid trip to England for the Duke of Edinburgh Cup Finals for First Place and Second Place twosomes • A multitude of weekend packages, Aquaventure passes and dining Prizes at Atlantis, Paradise Island • 2022 Mercedes C- Class Sedan Hole in One Prize, donated by Tyreflex Star Motors • Dazzling Men and Ladies Prizes donated by John Bull • Delights donated by Graycliff Cigars and Chocolatiers
DESHAUN WATSON SETTLES 20 CIVIL SUITS, FACES NFL SUSPENSION By JUAN A LOZANO and ROB MAADDI Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s decision to settle 20 of 24 civil lawsuits for sexual misconduct may not dissuade the NFL from giving him a lengthy suspension, a person familiar with the league’s investigation told the Associated Press yesterday. Watson has been accused by massage therapists of harassing, assaulting or touching them during appointments when he played for the Houston Texans. Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents all 24 women, said yesterday in a statement that once the paperwork is finished on the 20 settlements, “those particular cases will be dismissed.” He added that the terms of the settlements are “confidential” and that his legal team “won’t comment further on the settlements or those cases.” Watson still faces discipline from the league, which conducted its own investigation into the 26-year-old’s behaviour and is expected to make a decision before the Browns open training camp on July 27.
Following Buzbee’s announcement, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the agreements have “no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process.” Another league official told the AP “settling doesn’t give someone a pass” and indicated a lengthy suspension remains in order. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation hasn’t concluded. NFL investigators interviewed Watson in Houston over several days last month. They’ve spoken with 11 of Watson’s accusers, according to a person familiar with the investigation, who said Buzbee declined to make more women available for interviews. The league will present their findings to disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, a former federal judge who will decide Watson’s punishment. This is the first case for Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and NFL Players Association. The Browns, who signed the three-time Pro Bowler to a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract in March, had no immediate comment on the settlements. Watson has denied any
wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name. Rusty Hardin, Watson’s lead attorney, did not immediately return an email or a text seeking comment. In March, two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict him on criminal complaints stemming from the allegations. After that, the Browns and several other teams pursued Watson, with Cleveland convincing him to waive his no-trade clause and join a team with a solid roster. The first 22 lawsuits against Watson were filed in March and April 2021. The last two lawsuits were filed after HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” aired an interview last month with two of the women who detailed their encounters with Watson. The settlements also come after The New York Times reported earlier this month that Watson had booked massage appointments with at least 66 different women over 17 months while he played for the Texans. The report said that a Texans representative had provided Watson with a nondisclosure agreement that he gave to some of the women to sign. Last week, Watson reiterated his innocence and sidestepped any questions about whether he would
settle with any of the women. “I never assaulted anyone,” Watson said June 14 in his first public comments since being introduced by the Browns in March. “I never harassed anyone or I never disrespected anyone. I never forced anyone to do anything.” Buzbee said he plans on taking the four unsettled lawsuits to trial, including the first one that was filed by Ashley Solis, who has previously made her name public. In an interview with HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” Solis said she felt threatened by Watson after their massage session when he told her that she had a career to protect and “I know you don’t want anyone messing with it just like I don’t want anyone messing with mine.” Buzbee said that without Solis, “the conduct experienced by these women would likely have continued unfettered.” “The truth is, without her courage and willingness to come forward, the NFL wouldn’t currently be contemplating discipline; there would be no examination of how teams might knowingly or unknowingly enable certain behaviour,” Buzbee said. Cleveland, which has spent nearly
CLEVELAND Browns QB Deshaun Watson takes part in drills at the NFL football team’s practice facility on June 14 in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) two decades searching for a franchise quarterback, pursued and signed Watson despite his complex legal situation. Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam knew the Browns would face heavy criticism for the move, but they were comfortable with the decision after conducting their own investigation and meeting privately with Watson. Now, the team is eager to know how long they might be without Watson. The Browns signed veteran backup Jacoby Brissett, who will move into the starting job if Watson is suspended.
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ROMANCHUK WINS MEDAL IN POOL WHILE FATHER FIGHTS IN UKRAINE By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Elite swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk doesn’t know if his father was able to see him winning a medal for Ukraine at the swimming world championships. Romanchuk’s father is fighting in the east of Ukraine, where pockets of resistance are still denying Russia full military control of the region almost four months after it unleashed its invasion. “He’s in a hot spot and it’s a hard time,” Romanchuk said after taking bronze in the
men’s 800-metre freestyle race yesterday. Romanchuk doesn’t dare talk to his dad out of fear his father’s location could be tracked through the call. “It’s not possible for them to join the network because the Russians can search everything,” Romanchuk said. “But every morning he sends me (a message) that he is OK.” The 25-year-old Romanchuk – who still intends to race the men’s 1500, then the 10K and 5K races in open water at the worlds – almost never made it to Budapest. “My mind was to go to the war to defend my home,” said
MYKHAILO ROMANCHUK, of Ukraine, reacts after winning the bronze medal in the men’s 800m freestyle final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Romanchuk, who spent 10 days agonising with his wife and family over the best course of action after Russia invaded his country on February 24. “We decided that I cannot do anything with the gun. “For me, it’s better to continue training, to do everything that I do best,” said Romanchuk, who won bronze in the 800 and silver in the 1500 at the Tokyo Olympics last year. “With my swimming, I can tell all the world about the situation in Ukraine.” As training facilities were destroyed by the war, Romanchuk was invited by German swimmer
Florian Wellbrock – who finished second behind American Bobby Finke in the 800 – to come join him in Germany to train. Romanchuk and Wellbrock embraced after finishing 1-2 in qualifying for yesterday’s race. But Finke’s strong finish prevented a repeat in the final. Romanchuk finished 0.69 seconds behind Finke. The top three all set national records. Romanchuk said he was both “proud and disappointed” of his third place. He said his medal proves “that Ukrainians will fight to the end, it doesn’t matter what the situation.”
Milák sets world record in 200 metre butterfly American swimmers claim another three gold medals By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s Kristóf Milák thrilled home fans by lowering his own world record in the men’s 200 butterfly at the swimming world championships yesterday, when American swimmers claimed another three gold medals. The 22-year-old Milák produced a stunning swim to clock 1 minute, 50.34 seconds and earn Hungary its first gold medal of the competition. “Now it hurts a lot, I don’t feel my legs,” said Milák, who shaved 0.39 seconds off the previous record he set at the last worlds. “I think I pushed a bit harder over the first 100 metres, that’s why it was so painful at the end but I really wanted this world record, wanted it more than anything.” Milák was 3.03 quicker than Léon Marchand, who improved on the French record he set in the semifinals. Japan’s Tomoru Honda was third. The 20-year-old Marchand later set another national record of 1:55.75 as he was fastest in the semifinals of the men’s 200 individual medley. “Two great times today!” Marchand said. American swimmer Bobby Finke also set a national record of 7:39.36 as he produced a sizzling finish to win the first gold of the evening in the men’s 800 freestyle. Ukrainian swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk looked headed for victory but Finke, who was fourth going into the last 50 metres, swam it in only 25.93 seconds to overtake both Romanchuk and
KRISTOF MILAK, of Hungary, competes in the men’s 200m butterfly final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Germany’s Florian Wellbrock for the victory. “I was just thinking in my head it is just a 50 left. It is only like 26 seconds of pain and if I can pull off a win, it is worth it. I’ll settle through the pain,” Finke said. Third-place Romanchuk finished just 0.69 seconds behind. He nearly didn’t make it to Budapest and spoke afterward about his father fighting in Ukraine. China’s Yang Junxuan won the women’s 200 freestyle, clocking 1:54.92 to
finish just ahead of Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan, who claimed her first individual medal at a worlds. Another Chinese swimmer, Tang Muhan, was third. Nic Fink then took advantage of Adam Peaty’s injury-enforced absence to win the men’s 50 breaststroke in an American record of 26.45 seconds, edging Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi and American compatriot Michael Andrew. “I didn’t see anything over the last five meters,” Fink said.
Fink later claimed his second gold of the night by helping American teammates Hunter Armstrong, Torri Huske and Claire Curzan to victory in the mixed 4x100 medley relay ahead of the Australian and Dutch teams. It was the 10th gold for the United States at this worlds, where American swimmers have also claimed three silver and nine bronze. Up-and-coming Romanian star David Popovici set a junior world record
in the semifinals of the men’s 100 freestyle – 47.13 seconds – though he rued defending champion Caeleb Dressel’s surprise late absence. It’s unclear what’s ailing Dressel and if he’ll be able to take part in 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly races later in the worlds. Another rising star, 15-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh, was fastest with a junior world record of 2:05.79 in the semifinals of the women’s 200 butterfly.
TRACK AND FIELD TO LEAVE MULTI-SPORT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Track and field is leaving the multi-sport European Championships after the 2022 edition in Munich. The European Athletics governing body said it would return to a standalone event in 2026 rather than be part of the collective championships, which were first held in 2018 and expanded to nine sports for the next edition in August. Being independent would “help create a special athletics experience for the competitors, athletics fans, TV and other media and every other stakeholder,” European Athletics chief executive Christian Milz said. Track follows swimming and other aquatics events in pulling out of the joint championships. Aquatics was part of the 2018 multisport programme but then decided to hold its 2022 championships in Rome instead of Munich during the same dates, August 11-21. For those Munich championships, track and field will return to the Olympic Stadium that was the centrepiece of the 1972 Summer Games. Losing two of the most popular Olympic sports will likely hamper the search for a 2026 host for the multisport championships. The event is also competing for attention with the European Games, which is also held every four years but in odd-numbered years and organised by the European Olympic Committees group.The 2019 edition of the European Games was in Minsk, Belarus and the 2023 edition is in Kraków, Poland. European Athletics said two cities are competing to host the track Europeans in 2026: Birmingham, England and Budapest, Hungary. The host will be picked in November.
SRI LANKA CLINCHES SERIES IN LAST-BALL THRILLER VS AUSTRALIA COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A nation dealing with its worst economic crisis and high inflation for months had something to celebrate yesterday when Sri Lanka sealed a limited-overs cricket series victory with a game to spare against Australia with a last-ball thriller in Game 4. Having been sent in and restricted to 258 in 49 overs, Dasun Shanaka’s Sri Lanka lineup held its nerve to bowl out Australia for 254 to secure the five-match ODI series 3-1. The last game Friday will be more like preparation for the test series. Australia needed 19 off the last over bowled by skipper Shanaka, and No. 10 batter Matthew
FACEOFF FROM PAGE 16
reiterated that since. However, in a recent interview with British broadcaster talkSPORT, Fury did say he’d be willing to come out of retirement if he was paid 500 million pounds ($615 million). Usyk will start as the favourite against Joshua after outclassing the Briton to win by unanimous decision at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September.
Kuhnemann (15) hit three boundaries to get the visitors’ equation down to five runs required off the last ball to keep the series alive. But he was deceived by a slower delivery, hitting it straight up in the air for Charith Asalanka to catch in the covers. In the end, David Warner’s 99 wasn’t quite enough to get the Australians over the line after Asalanka hit a 106-ball 110 and Dhananjaya de Silva scored 60 from 61 deliveries for Sri Lanka. “Against such a quality attack it was a tough ask and we are glad we came through,” Asalanka said. “I walked in with us three down for not many inside 10 overs. Special credit to Dhananjaya de Silva,
He has been in camp for the rematch since March after leaving the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, where he had returned in February to help defend his country from the invading Russians. Suffice to say, Usyk will not be short of motivation. “As we all know, we are not in the best conditions at the moment back home,” he said via a translator, “but we are doing what we have to do, we are doing our job together with my team. We are working hard to achieve our goals.
who took the pressure off from me with the way he batted.” Sri Lanka had not beaten Australia in an ODI series since 2010, and hadn’t won a bilateral series at home against the Australians since 1992. Australia won the toss and made a bold call to bowl first, a gamble which almost paid off. “Every time we looked like getting a partnership we kept losing wickets,” said Australia skipper Aaron Finch, who was out for a four-ball duck. “They made use of the opportunities. It was a gettable total. The run rate was in control but we lost wickets and let it slip out of our hands. “ Australia was on course for the target as Warner and Travis Head
“I’ve never made very loud and bright speeches. All I did was just work hard in my training camp and gym, and that’s what I’m going to do until the date of the fight. Then I will enter the ring and make you happy with my boxing.” Asked what made him confident of beating Joshua again, Usyk said: “The reason for my happiness is not my championship belts but the fact I have a family — my wife, my children — and a wonderful team around me.”
(27) added 58 runs for the fifth wicket, but lost three wickets for the addition of three runs in the space of eight deliveries. Part-timer de Silva removed Head and Warner in his successive overs, starting when he bowled Head with the penultimate ball of the 36th.Maheesh Theekshana (1-40) trapped Glenn Maxwell (1) in the next over from the other end before de Silva returned and had Warner smartly stumped by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella on the first ball of the 38th. “If someone had hung around David Warner for about another five overs that could have been a match-winning partnership,” Finch said.
Joshua has ditched his long-time trainer, Robert McCracken, after acknowledging he was well-beaten by Usyk and wasn’t prepared well enough for the first fight. He will return to Saudi Arabia looking to reclaim his belts — like he did successfully in December 2019 in defeating Andy Ruiz Jr on points in a fight in Riyadh. “I had to take that defeat like a man but I hold myself accountable,” Joshua said of his loss to Usyk. “I am
Warner was unlucky to be dismissed one run short of his 19th ODI hundred. The opener has not scored an international hundred for more than two years across all formats. With the series at stake, the five-time world champions brought in the experienced Pat Cummins in place of Jhye Richardson. There was no Mitchell Starc for Australia, though. The left-arm paceman hasn’t played any game since hurting his finger earlier in the series. There was some resistance from the lower order with Pat Cummins (35) and then Kuhnemann keeping Australia’s chances alive until the last delivery.
someone who can admit when I’m wrong and hold my head high when I’m right. “I don’t like to overcomplicate the situation. There is genius in simplicity. Sometimes if you keep it simple, you can achieve great things.” Joshua, who wished Usyk “safe travels” before the fight, called himself “The Comeback King.” Not just from what he has achieved in the boxing ring but outside of it, too. “The great thing is, I’ve got
a second chance,” Joshua said. “What got me into boxing in the first place, when I was a youngster and I got into a little bit of trouble now and again, was that I was blessed with a second chance and I found boxing and took it with both hands. “If you know me and my story, you know I’m the ‘Comeback King’ — you can put me down, but it’s difficult to keep me down.” The next leg of their promotional tour for the fight is London today.
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Wednesday, June 22, 2022, PAGE 15
Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson reflects on son Klay’s NBA triumph By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net HAVING watched as his son surpassed his achievements before his injury two and-a-half years ago, Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson was grateful to witness Klay Thompson’s return to the Golden State Warriors as they reeled off their fourth National Basketball Association championship title. Thompson had sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals and missed the entirety of the 2019-20 season. Thompson then suffered a torn Achilles tendon while recovering from his knee injury and missed the entire 2020-21 season as well. He returned to play in January 2022, after missing nearly 31 months. After he helped the Warriors stun the Boston Celtics in a 103-90 rout to end the series 4-2 on Thursday night in Boston, Thompson draped himself in the Bahamian flag as he celebrated with his team-mates. They returned to San Francisco for their parade through the streets on Monday. “Shout out to my Bahamian family in Nassau watching...can’t wait to spend the summer with you,” Thompson said. Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis was one of the first Bahamians to congratulate the 32-year-old Thompson on his achievement. “We are proud of you! @KlayThompson. I can’t wait to celebrate with you when you get home,” Davis tweeted on social media. On hand in Boston to join in the celebrations was the elder Thompson, along with his two other sons, Michael Thompson, who is now a member of the Warriors’ coaching staff and Trayce Thompson, just recently added to the Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball team. The elder Thompson, who would have earned two NBA titles with
the Los Angeles Lakers during the “Showtime” era in 1987 and 1988, said he’s thankful to everybody who helped Klay Thompson in his recovery and the many persons who offered prayers on his behalf. “We have a lot of people to thank and to be grateful for,” the elder Thompson said. “Above all, we thank God for his grace and mercy to bring Klay back.” Like he’s been there for the three other titles with the Warriors in 2015, 2017 and 2018, the elder Thompson said it was “nervewrecking” because he wanted Golden State to win “so badly” and he could only sit and watch. It was a mixture of emotions, including pleasure, agony, and anxiety that the elder Thompson went through because he said he wanted it so bad for his son, and the Warriors. “I just congratulated him and told him how proud I was of him,” said the elder Thompson as the two embraced. “I told him about how hard he worked to get there and how much he respected the game by doing things, he was rewarded.” For the first time, Thompson had his two other sons on the same stage at the same time as they joined Klay Thompson in celebrating the victory that extended until about 5am the next morning in Boston. “It was a blessing. This was the most gratifying celebration because all of his brothers were there,” the elder Thompson said. “That made it so special to see all everyone there.” For the elder Thompson, who was the first foreign-born player to be selected as the number one player in the NBA in 1978 by the Portland Trail Blazers, it was even more thrilling to watch as Klay Thompson, an 11th-round pick in the first round of the NBA draft in 2011, draped himself with the Bahamian flag. “Klay always appreciated and respected and loves the Bahamian
KLAY Thompson displaying the Bahamian flag on the Warriors float parade on Monday. side of his blood,” said the elder Thompson, who is still mourning the passing of his older brother Colin Thompson. “The Bahamas is his other home. He has family back there and Nassau is his home too. He feels he has two homes, the United States and the Bahamas, so he’s proud to have that Bahamian blood in him.” As he’s done in previous championship victories, the elder Thompson said Klay Thompson will be returning to the Bahamas in July during the annual Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp in July to celebrate with the Bahamian people. “We are planning to have all of the boys down there with us to celebrate,” the elder Thompson said. Having won their fourth title, the elder Thompson said the Warriors created a dynasty of their own and with their big trio of most valuable player Steph Curry and Draymond Green, they have formed one of the best scoring tandems ever assembled in the NBA. “You always think about your time in the league and when you won. Those are memories that you will hold onto forever,” the elder Thompson said. “But you’re more happier when you see your son
achieve what Klay has been able to do with Golden State, it’s even more gratifying. “When I was playing, my boys were very young. At the time, I knew they were going to be athletic, but I didn’t know that any of them would have done what Klay did. I know Klay would have had a good college career and gone on to win, but it’s so good to see him win not just one, but four championship titles.” And with the Dodgers performing as well as they are right now, the elder Thompson said if Trayce can remain in Los Angeles and they go on to win the Major League title, it will be another phenomenal year for the Thompson family. As a television colour commetator with the Lakers since the 2003/04 season, the elder Thompson said the Warriors have a chance to get back to the NBA finals with the young core of players that surround the big three of Curry, Green and Thompson. But he warned that after missing the playoffs this year, the Lakers will be back bigger and better under Darvin Ham, who earlier this month was introduced as the 27th coach in Los Angeles history, replacing Frank Vogel. “They have to find guys who can play with LeBron (James) and AD (Anthony Davis) and be able to knock down some shots,” the elder Thompson said. “If they can do those two things, they will be much improved.” As for high-scoring point guard Russell Westbrook, the elder Thompson said if coach Ham can get him to accept a role off the bench and be a facilitator in a different role, he would be able to help out the Lakers tremendously. If they don’t make the necessary adjustments, the elder Thompson said the Warriors could end up once again being the team to watch and beat out of the Western Conference.
SUNS HIRE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOUR TO NBA ASSISTANT GM JOB PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have hired Morgan Cato as an assistant general manager and vice president of basketball operations, becoming the first woman of color to hold an assistant GM title for an NBA franchise. Cato comes to Phoenix after spending nearly a decade with the NBA league office, where she most recently worked as the associate vice president of business operations for NBA’s league operations department. “We’re excited to welcome Morgan to the Valley and to the Suns organization,” Suns general manager James Jones said in a statement. “With the league office, Morgan played a pivotal role on countless initiatives to grow the game and strategically develop for it to be played at its best. The addition of her background and knowledge will allow us to elevate our basketball operations in several areas.” The team says Cato, from Brooklyn, New York, will report to Jones and coach Monty Williams to help the team’s “strategy and business processes for basketball growth and performance with a focus on coaching development, player engagement and front office personnel operations.”
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FIBA Centrobasket: Team Bahamas in win column By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
A
fter improving in each of their first three games played, the Bahamas junior boys’ team finally got in the win column at the FIBA Under-15 Centrobasket Championships. In a matchup of two winless teams yesterday at the Colieseo Fernando ‘Rube’ Hernandez in Puerto Rico, Team Bahamas pulled off a 94-57 victory over Costa Rico to push their record to 1-3. Team Bahamas, coached by Quentin Hall, Denykco Bowles and Kevin Clarke, was blown out
USYK, JOSHUA SHARE INTENSE FACEOFF, READY FOR REMATCH By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer FIRST there were pleasantries. Then came the long and increasingly intense faceoff. Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua went head-to-head yesterday for the first time since their rematch for the world heavyweight championship was announced. The boxers attended a news conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — where the August 20 fight will take place — and it culminated with Usyk, the WBA, WBO and IBF champion, and Joshua, the challenger, refusing to budge in the faceoff, long after being directed out of the building. While Joshua, sitting next to new trainer Robert Garcia, had earlier spoken of putting right the many wrongs of his loss in the first fight in London in September, Usyk’s team was already looking ahead to what might come next. “For Oleksandr, it is very important to keep those titles,” said Egil Kilmas, Usyk’s manager, “and to go further, because there’s a very, very (big) possibility that the winner of this bout will go for the undisputed heavyweight champion.” That might be news to Tyson Fury, who retained his WBC and Ring Magazine belts with a knockout of fellow Briton Dillian Whyte at London’s Wembley Stadium in April. Fury said that would be his last fight and has
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in their first three games, losing 107-42 to Puerto Rico in Saturday’s opener, 99-49 to Mexico in game two on Sunday and 70-59 to the Dominican Republic in game three on Monday. Bahamas 94, Costa Rica 57 Team Bahamas opened a 5-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game and extended it to 10-2. But after going up 12-4, both teams went into a scoring drought. Costa Rica came back to cut the deficit to 14-11 before Aiden Miller scored on what was an attempted fastbreak slam dunk that he turned into a lay-up for a 16-11 lead before they held on for an 18-11 lead at the end of the first break.
Team Bahamas opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run for a 24-11 lead and extended it to 11, 26-15. After Costa Rica managed to trim the lead to 33-25 with just over three minutes to go, Team Bahamas went on another scoring spree to surge ahead 44-27 at the half. In holding Costa Rica scoreless, Team Bahamas surged ahead 54-27 to start the third quarter. After cutting the deficit to 56-35 over the next few minutes, Costa Rica watched as Team Bahamas exploded for a 68-45 advantage at the end of the third. Again holding Costa Rica scoreless to start the fourth quarter, Team Bahamas extended their
A FAMILY AFFAIR: Having watched as his son surpassed his achievements before his injury two and-a-half years ago, Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson was grateful to witness Klay Thompson’s return to the Golden State Warriors as they reeled off their fourth National Basketball Association (NBA) championship title. Thompson had sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals and missed the entirety of the 2019-20 season. Thompson then suffered a torn Achilles tendon while recovering from his knee injury and missed the entire 2020-21 season as well. He returned to play in January 2022, after missing nearly 31 months. And now he is an NBA champion once again. SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 15
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Columnist
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points, four assists, four steals and two rebounds. Condae Smith also had seven points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals and Bradleon McDonald chipped in with six points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Josafat Cedeno was the only player in double figures for Costa Rica with 16 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Team Bahamas will play Turks and Caicos Islands in their final regular season game at 3pm today before they determine where they will end up for the final playoffs that start on Thursday. The Turks and Caicos won their only game so far in the tournament against Costa Rica.
‘SWEET BELLS’ AND SONS SHOW BAHAMIAN PRIDE
Column: FINA ban casts storm clouds on transgender athletes SWIMMING has fired the first major salvo against transgender women athletes, which will surely clear the way for other sports to impose similar bans ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Hopefully, that won’t bring an end to thoughtful, intelligent debate — backed by science, nuance and empathy — about ways for sports to be open to everyone, especially those who have already faced enormous discrimination, marginalisation and political attacks. With a ruling aimed squarely at Lia
margin to 78-45 with a little over five minutes left. Another surge with over two minutes remaining enabled Team Bahamas to go up 88-53. While it boiled down to what the final score would be, there was an issue of whether or not Team Bahamas could have scored more than 100 points. Joshua Williams exploded for a game high 18 points and six rebounds, Desmond Hall had 14 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals and Trevon Clarke had 13 points and three rebounds. Noah Bain also had nine points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, Kenyon Johnson added eight points with five rebounds, Aiden Miller finished with seven
ANNA Elendt of Germany and Benedetta Pilato of Italy, right, compete in the women’s 100m Breaststroke final at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Monday. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Djokovic, Nadal top 2 seeds at Wimbledon, Williams unseeded WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — This time, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will be on opposite sides of the draw. The seedings for Wimbledon were announced yesterday, with Djokovic and Nadal being Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the men’s draw because of the absence of Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. The top-ranked Medvedev cannot take part as a result of the All England Club’s decision to not allow players from Russia or Belarus to enter the event in 2022 over the invasion of Ukraine. Medvedev is Russian. The No. 2-ranked Zverev is out because of an ankle injury. That means Djokovic and Nadal have been bumped up to being the top two seeded players and cannot now meet until the final. That wasn’t the case at
the French Open last month, when Nadal beat Djokovic in the quarterfinals en route to winning a men’s-record 22nd Grand Slam title. There will be a 23-time Grand Slam winner in the women’s draw in Serena Williams, but she will not be seeded. The draw is Friday and the tournament begins Monday. Since 2021, the seedings for both the men’s and women’s singles have been based on the world rankings. Williams hasn’t played competitively since retiring from her first-round match at last year’s Wimbledon. She has been awarded a wild-card entry for the singles tournament at the All England Club starting next week and could therefore be drawn to play anyone in the first round. Top-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland will be the top-seeded player at Wimbledon.