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Volume: 119 No.165, July 21, 2022

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1

NOW, CLEAN IT UP

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net THIRTY-five thousand gallons of diesel spilled into the once blue and pristine waters off an Exuma bay as a vessel contracted by Sun Oil was offloading fuel to Bahamas Power and Light at George Town.

Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper described the incident as a “significant spill”, while Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy, director of environmental planning and protection said: “This is an extreme situation.”

SEE PAGES FOUR & FIVE

AN AERIAL photograph shows the extent of the oil spill in Exuma yesterday.

Photo: Reno Curling

ZERO TOLERANCE PLAN TO NEW BILL BRINGS HELP TO TACKLE SCHOOL VIOLENCE MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin has warned there will be “zero tolerance” for school violence when campuses reopen in September The minister went on to note that school safety and attendance will be a key focus for her ministry in the

upcoming fall semester.

Speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday, Mrs Hanna Martin said her ministry is now reviewing proposals on the placement of CCTV equipment in public schools.

She also announced plans to have more officers trained to help promote safety on school campuses.

Mrs Hanna Martin said the importance of

partnerships between school administrators and related officers was one of many items discussed at a recent meeting she had with officials during the National Association of School Resource Officers conference.

She added: “Plans are underway following that meeting for the training and certification of additional SEE PAGE TWO

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville says there are “increasing levels of homelessness, mental suffering and people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders” in the country.

The minister told the House of Assembly yesterday that the devastating effects of natural disasters

brought on by climate change, coupled with the recent shocks from Dorian and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic are not a passing event.

Dr Darville tabled the new Mental Health Bill 2022, yesterday which, once enacted, will allow people suffering with mental illness to be better protected.

The proposed legislation aims to repeal the current

Mental Health Act, which – according to Dr Darville – is “based on an outdated understanding of mental illness” and is not compliant with international standards on the rights of people with mental illness.

“The aim of this new Mental Health Bill 2022 is to redress the inequality and promote and protect the rights of persons suffering SEE PAGE THREE

CARBON CREDITS REVENUE ‘YEARS AWAY’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A SENIOR Bahamas National Trust (BNT) executive has warned this nation “won’t get a dollar from carbon credits for many years” as he backed calls for more direct local ownership in the fledgling industry.

Eric Carey, the BNT’s executive director, said the process of identifying, verifying and certifying this

BNT executive director Eric Carey. nation’s various “carbon sinks” - chiefly seagrass and mangrove - to determine their monetary value could take an unknown number

of years to accomplish.

Estimates that this could require a $50m-$60m investment were not unrealistic, he added, revealing that the BNT is seeking to work with the government to determine the potential value of The Bahamas’ national parks and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) when it comes to sequestering carbon dioxide from the earth’s atmosphere.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

FRONT PORCH: HOW POWER BLINDS MIGHTY AND CONCEITED

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Thursday, July 21, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

ZERO TOLERANCE PLAN TO TACKLE SCHOOL VIOLENCE from page one

EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna Martin.

officers, about thirty of them, who will be certified specifically trained for school

campuses and for young populations and for the design of safety curriculums that SROs will deliver during the course of the summer.”

“So, they will not just have a physical presence, but they will be specifically trained for school campuses and interactions with young people but they will also deliver a curriculum dealing with bullying and other matters of that nature to ensure a holistic engagement by those officers on the campus.

“Additionally, the school safety plan which designates protocols to promote safety and effective responses is under review for update. The ministry is also reviewing proposals for CCTV in schools and that is underway.

“Madam Speaker, there will be a zero tolerance for school violence and appropriate interventions will be made to ensure our children are permitted to learn in safe environments and I call on parents and the wider community to work with us in ensuring this objective is achieved for the sake of our children.”

Concerns about school safety were reignited earlier this year following several stabbings and violent encounters between students at public schools.

In an effort to better protect students, police officers were stationed at nine different public schools throughout New Providence in March.

Mrs Hanna Martin said for the upcoming school year, officials also plan to focus heavily on school attendance given the high number of school dropouts due to the pandemic.

She also said officials will test students for learning loss in early October so they will have a better understanding of COVID’s true impact on education in

The Bahamas.

“Beginning September there will be a full focus on school attendance,” The Englerston MP added.

“This will be manifested by the recruitment of approximately two dozen attendance officers for New Providence and ten for Grand Bahama.

These officers will be mobile and specially trained to liaise with all relevant agencies to give the necessary support and that includes social services and to assure that children will be in school during school hours.

“Truancy will not be accepted for children whom our law has mandated should be in school.”

Pertaining to teacher shortages, Mrs HannaMartin said a teacher recruitment exercise remains underway to address the issue.

“A teacher recruitment exercise is underway as we seek to confront the challenge of global teacher shortages and recurring attrition and seek to ensure teachers are recruited for historically scarce subjects and specialised areas.”

“The ministry is in discussion with a particular university, and I will speak more to it later for a postgraduate programme in special education and guidance counselling to proactively address critical shortages, particularly in special education. We don’t talk about it, but this is really a crisis in this country and they have perhaps suffered more than any student in this country.

“So, this dialogue with the country is underway to ensure that we are able to build capacity with teachers to deliver an outreach in education for special needs children and to provide guidance counselling for the general population.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2022, PAGE 3

Negotiations restart after industrial action at airport

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE government has restarted negotiations with the Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU) following Monday’s industrial action

with the hopes of having most of their grievances resolved by the end of August.

“The operations at the airport are going smoothly,” the Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper told reporters yesterday.

“We’re grateful to the workers for returning to work. I have always been an advocate for ensuring that the workers get everything that they are legitimately entitled to.

“I continue to push to cause this to happen. I

am happy that we have restarted conversations with the president, and we anticipate over the course of the next few days, we have been making significant advancements.

“We hope to settle most of the issues by the end of

THE SCENE on Monday as travellers were caught up in industrial action at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

10% INCREASE FOR SOCIAL SAFETY NET

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Social Services and Urban Development Obediah Wilchcombe.

THE government will next month increase the rates of the Social Safety Net Benefits Assistance Programme by ten percent across the board, according to Social Services and Urban Development Minister Obie Wilchcombe.

He made the announcement in Parliament yesterday while telling the House of Assembly that a significant number of citizens are “experiencing hardship”.

“I am pleased to announce in this honourable House that my ministry will increase the rates of financial assistance rendered through the community support services division of the Department of Social Services effective August 2022,” the minister said.

“In response to the increasing financial challenges faced by Bahamians across the length and breadth of our country, the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development through the Department of Social Services has made adjustments to the ministry’s Social Safety Net Benefits Assistance Programme.”

He mentioned events such as Hurricane Dorian in 2019, the

COVID-19 pandemic since 2020, and the increasing difficulties faced from global inflation, which have all affected the country’s economic environment.

“A significant number of our citizens are experiencing hardship and need the intervention from the Bahamas government. As a result, the government (through) my ministry will increase the rates of the Social Safety Net Benefits Assistance Programme by ten percent across the board.”

He further gave statistics of the number of persons assisted.

“I’m pleased to report that during the last budget period the community support services division assisted a total of 97,364 persons in eight of its programmes alone. (With the) food assistance (programme) we were able to assist 95,000 citizens of our country. Our utilities programme, we assisted 376 persons,” Mr Wilchcombe said.

“In our rental assistance programme, 837 individuals. In our burial assistance, 103. Uniform assistance, 296 students received assistance. Gas assistance – three persons. Clothing assistance, limited to three as well. Medical assistance, 136 individuals received assistance from the Ministry of Social Services.”

NEW BILL BRINGS HELP TO MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS from page one from mental health illness,” the Tall Pines MP told parliamentarians of the bill which was tabled for its first reading yesterday.

According to the bill, this includes their rights to access mental health and medical services operated by the ministry, the right to access health records and the right to not be discriminated against in accessing mental healthcare among other things.

“The focus of this new mental health bill is to promote, when possible, community treatment along with voluntary admissions to a mental health facility,” Dr Darville said.

“The bill also includes a provision that supports the decisions for people with mental illness to able to nominate someone who could be responsible for their care and treatment.”

The bill also allows for the establishment of a Mental Health Services Board and Mental Health Review Tribunal.

It also addresses how people with mental illness should be treated while in

police custody or have been convicted.

It allows for the health minister to designate a health facility for admission of persons in custody with mental illness after consulting with the National Security Minister.

The bill also requires the prison officer in charge to make an application for people with mental illness, or who are exhibiting symptoms, to be transferred to a health facility for examination and assessment.

“Where a person is admitted to a mental health facility or health facility under subsection (2), the time spent by him at the facility shall be treated as time spent in prison or detention,” according to the proposed bill.

The bill also notes that “where a person serving a custodial sentence is discharged after treatment in a mental health facility or health facility, he shall be sent back to prison for continuation of his sentence or for discharge if his sentence has been served.

Yesterday, Dr Darville described the piece of legislation as not only being progressive, but said it “leads the way globally.”

“This bill seeks to protect real people who have been living in the shadows of society for years, many stripped of their human rights while family members, friends and co-workers struggle to help them cope with human indignity that appears to be imbedded in our society against those who suffer from mental illness,” the minister said.

“Madam Speaker, one has to only open their eyes as we transverse day-today on our streets of New Providence and Grand Bahama and many of our Family Islands to witness the level of the sphere many are experiencing in the country.”

“Just coming here from the ministry and you drive here down Bay Street, it is right there if you would pay attention. We’re seeing increasing levels of homelessness, mental suffering and people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders and it goes across the board for young and old.”

“The devastating effects of natural disasters brought on by climate change, coupled with the recent shocks from Dorian and the onset of COVID pandemic is not a passing event,” he added.

August and we hope to continue the conversations. It’s important for workers that we work in harmony together with the union and that is what we’re going to do.

“Now that we have normalised the airport, our priority is ensuring that

these workers’ rights are preserved, and we want them to know that we’re standing with them and we’re going to ensure that they are not adversely impacted because of ongoing discussions and negotiations between the union and the government.”

On Monday, more than 200 workers from the Bahamas Airport Authority, represented by the BPSU, called in sick to protest outstanding payments and a stalled industrial agreement, among other things.

In a ruling handed down hours after Monday’s industrial action, Justice Denise Lewis-Johnson declared the sickout illegal, and ordered workers back to work.

However, industrial action continued the next day, despite the order.

A BAA official estimated that 80 percent of airport workers in New Providence did not return to work Tuesday.

When contacted for an update yesterday, officials told The Tribune that most airport staff on both New Providence and the Family Islands had reported to duty, allowing for operations to return to normal.

PAGE 4, Thursday, July 21, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

IN this image posted to Twitter by the Ministry of Works and Public Utilities, the oil can be seen in the bay.

Now, clean it up from page one Reports were that the incident happened sometime before 5pm on Tuesday and 4am yesterday, when a vessel – The Arabia – was offloading.

The incident prompted a mass of officials, including Mr Cooper, Works Minister Alfred Sears, Transport Minister Jobeth ColebyDavis, Environment Minister Vaugh Miller, law enforcement and other officials to visit the site where remediation efforts got under way yesterday.

Mr Sears from the scene of the incident said there was a “political will to expedite this within 24 hours to have this matter, to have this diesel removed.”

He said additional resources were being mobilised, with officials dealing with flammable matters.

Further, he said additional booms were being provided to the site along with more pumps that were

secured by BPL. Mr Cooper initially made the startling announcement during the morning sitting of Parliament yesterday: “My information is that sometime last night between 5pm and 4am, a vessel by the name of The Arabian, a contractor for Sun Oil, was offloading fuel to BPL in the area of the Old Navy Base, George Town area of Exuma, and this morning.

“We are advised at the moment that the oil is contained in the bay area of the Exuma Sail Club,” he also said at the time. “I’ve spoken to the relevant ministers - Works (and) Transport and I am at the moment reliably advised that all of the agencies of government are deployed to mitigate the matter.”

Mr Cooper initially told the House that 30,000 gallons was spilled, but later he reported at the site that officials pegged the volume of waste at around 35,000 gallons. By that time, he

said the spill appeared to have been contained.

“We got reports of there being a spill of what is to be believed some 35,000 gallon of diesel that was intended to go to BPL,” he later said.

“We are happy that it is contained or appears to be contained.”

He added: “What we really wanted to do is come here to show our support and to demonstrate that all of the agencies and arms of government are committed to ensuring that this problem is mitigated as best as possible as quickly as possible.”

In a statement Sun Oil confirmed that the MT Arabian, owned by D&T Shipping, discovered a leak during the discharging process.

“At sunrise and upon further assessment of the situation, the crew deployed absorbent pads and containment buoys near the shoreline,” the statement read.

“Fuel recovery

MINISTER Of Works and Utilities Alfred Sears with Pedro Rolle, chairman of BPL, and Shevonn Cambridge, CEO of BPL, in Exuma to assess the oil spill.

procedures remain ongoing, led by owners of the MT Arabian. The company’s president, Greg Stuart, has pledged his full cooperation in this incident. Additionally, Sun Oil’s leadership team activated its crisis management protocol and traveled to Exuma to further assess and respond to the situation.”

Clinton Rolle, managing director and general manager of Sun Oil Limited said the protection of the environment remained critical to his organisation.

“We have initiated our crisis management team and operations to effectively manage this unfortunate situation. Additionally, we are working in partnership with Bahamas government officials and agencies to professionally manage this situation. We will provide the necessary resources and assistance to address and resolve this situation,” he said.

The company further stated: “Sun Oil cares about our environment and commits to providing additional relevant information regarding this incident.

Local media will be briefed further as we have access to more details.”

For her part, Housing and Transport JoBeth ColebyDavis said government officials said there would be a meeting with relevant stakeholders, adding the question of penalties would eventually be looked at.

She said: “My permanent secretary confirmed that there would be a meeting convened with the National Oil Spill Committee to where they discussed mitigation methods and the investigation report that they would have to receive, once it’s completed.

“And then they would move any penalties that would be coming. That matter would be dealt with in partnership with the Ministry of the Environment and also the Office of the Attorney General.

“Once that’s confirmed, the report, who is the immediate party that’s responsible for the spill,

then other penalties will come and that will be decided by the Ministry of the Environment, Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, and obviously guided by the office of the Attorney General.”

Ahead of officials visiting the scene, St Anne’s MP Adrian White called the spill “particularly alarming”.

“I do appreciate that the deputy leader, the member for Exumas and Ragged Island, is no longer in the house and I hope that’s as a result of his growing attention to this issue,” Mr White said. “I think it was great that he brought to the public immediately. That’s what we need to be doing even though there are reporters in the gallery. As members of Parliament, representers of our constituency, we need to be reporting to the people.”

He added: “I don’t know what provisions are in place for a tanker like that, whether there’s existing insurance that can be communicated to the public in the coming days so that there can be some satisfaction as to the remediation efforts, which will be extremely costly as well reoccurring in future damages that persons in those communities will have to face.

“I don’t know also whether there is going to be a volunteer opportunity conveyed to members of the public who may wish to run down to the Exumas now. Fly down to the Exumas now to assist with trying to clear some of this oil spillage or if there is any type of barrier that has been put up.”

Mr Sears at the time responded to some of Mr White’s concerns, noting efforts from some law enforcement agencies.

The works minister said: “The deputy prime minister, the minister of transport, including myself and works and our respective technical teams along with the deputy prime minister will

be leaving Nassau at 12 today for Exuma.

“A technical team from BPL and also from the ministry of environment has already gone to Exuma.

The operator of the ship has advised that their company in Grand Bahama is on its way with booms and other mitigation and remediation equipment.”

“I’ve spoken directly with the commodore of the defense force this morning and its assets is on the way to Exuma. The commissioner of police, I’ve spoken with the commissioner who’s out of the jurisdiction, and the deputy commissioner of police is coordinating with the team members in Exuma.

“Not depending on the contractor and Sun Oil but certainly from the government’s perspective, independent government agents are on the ground – others on their way to that site. And every reasonable effort will be made to contain and to remove and to remediate because it’s a matter of extreme importance to people of the Exumas and to the country…report will be made in early course.”

Mr White acknowledged the efforts made thus far but highlighted the desire for accountability.

In her assessment of the matter yesterday, Dr NeelyMurphy said: “…Officials have in custody the hose that was breached. At this point a second boom has been installed to continue to contain the fuel. This is an extreme situation, but it occurred in a location that makes it easier than most to contain. Officers were on site from late this morning and will return in the morning to continue the rapid assessment.

“The pumping exercise will continue throughout the evening at the site of the spill. Assessments of the impact to the immediate and nearshore environments and the possible effect on wildlife will continue, however, in the morning.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2022, PAGE 5

Darville ‘horrified’ at damage to pristine waters

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net ENVIRONMENTALIST Joseph Darville says he was “horrified” that the “pristine” island of Exuma was marred by 30,000 gallons of oil spilled into its waters.

Mr Darville acknowledged that while this kind of incident can happen, the government should focus on prevention by implementing the necessary precautions.

“The problem is I have never seen the use of oil booms or containment of oil equipment in The Bahamas,” Mr Darville said, “not even Clifton where we’ve had significant-massive oil spillages over the years. If we command whatever equipment is necessary to contain the oil, then I don’t anticipate any sort of damage to the reputation of Exuma as being one of the most beautiful spots on planet earth.

“The fact is we got to have more commonsense so that we have the necessary equipment. Yes, we are going to continue to bring oil into the country. I mean that’s a necessity. But these types of accidents can happen and, therefore, we should have all the contingencies for sucking up oil,” the activist continued.

Recounting the massive

oil spill in 2019 at the Equinor South Riding Point Facility in East Grand Bahama, Mr Darville stressed: “We have no contingency plans in this country. It took Equinor, a huge company like that, four days before they were able to command sufficient equipment and personnel from abroad to come into Grand Bahama.

“Equinor, which is still less than two thirds cleaned up, we know nothing about what penalty is going to be imposed on them. We have no access to information to find out whether or not Equinor has paid a fine for the damage,” he noted.

The activist said the incident speaks volumes that it will be absolutely “insane” and even “beyond stupid” to think the country should allow oil drilling.

“This is now the second event of an oil spillage.

Which signals to us that we have no business even thinking about dealing with oil.”

Ahead of Mr Darville’s comments, Exuma’s Island Administrator Cristian Palacious said officials on the island had managed to contain the area of the spill.

When asked about some of the local businesses complaining of the smell of the oil spilled, Ms Palacious responded: “There’s a team

AN AERIAL photo showing the site of the spill in Exuma.

AN AERIAL photo showing the contrast between the dirty oil and the clean water, taken

by Reno Curling, above. And, right, a picture down on the shoreline posted to Facebook

by Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper from his visit to the site. coming down, environmental health is a part of that team, the experts who deal in this area. So, once they come, I think they will be able to advise on how we can deal with that.”

A couple in Georgetown, Exuma, Michael and Monica Minns, mentioned to The Tribune that there was a strong smell of oil in the area, however where they were located they could not see any residue in the water.

• See Business Section for more on the oil spill.

Photo: Reno Curling

PAGE 6, Thursday, July 21, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

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Clean it up, and clean it up fast IT is the nightmare that no one wants to see. Bahamian waters spoiled by thousands and thousands of gallons of oil.

The news came through yesterday morning when Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper – standing in while Philip “Brave” Davis is away again – announced that between 5pm and 4am, a contractor for Sun Oil was offloading fuel to BPL in the area of the Old Navy Base when the spillage took place.

Initially, it was reported that 30,000 gallons of fuel had spilled, with that figure later upgraded to 35,000.

Let’s start with the good news, such as it is. The diesel appears to be largely confined in the bay by the Exuma Sailing Club, which will hopefully make the job of cleaning up easier than it would have been had the tides carried it out and along the whole coastline.

Sun Oil has also been very forthcoming in trying to help deal with the spill.

So they should, it was their contractor, but their willingness to be on the front foot is something that hasn’t been shown by other companies in such incidents.

The chairman of FOCOL Holdings, Sir Franklyn Wilson, yesterday pledged it was “deploying every resource we have” to clean up the spill, and added: “We’ll do whatever’s necessary to stop it happening again.”

There should of course be a full investigation. Worryingly, Sun Oil was yesterday investigating itself whether the company that it hired to carry out the delivery has the necessary insurance in place to cover costs associated with oil spill containment and remediation.

That brings back spectres of the blaze at the BAMSI site in Andros, where it was later revealed there was no insurance in place at the time of the fire.

However, we must wait and see – an investigation is just that, an investigation that must be allowed to reach a conclusion.

Instead now, we have a test of our

capacity to clean up a large spill. We are fortunate in the geography involved, and we are fortunate in the support of the company involved – so let’s get it done, quickly and thoroughly.

That this comes at a time when environmentalists are wanting to make sure that Equinor – whose site suffered a spillage during Hurricane Dorian – is made to cover the costs of that particular clean-up shows the need to ensure we have the resources and the will to protect our environment.

Long-time activist Joseph Darville pointed up some of the concerns yesterday. He said: “The fact is we got to have more commonsense so that we have the necessary equipment. Yes, we are going to continue to bring oil into the country. I mean, that’s a necessity. But these types of accidents can happen and, therefore, we should have all the contingencies for sucking up oil.”

If all is as it seems, disaster as it may still be, this particular spillage can serve as a test case to show how we measure up.

We ought to have a transparent investigation to show how it is possible for 35,000 gallons of diesel to be dumped into the sea overnight without the alarm being more swiftly raised.

We ought to be able to see how effective our cleaning crews are – let’s see how the water is afterwards and how well the teams have done.

And we ought to be able to see how our legal processes work in terms of liability, and whether any criminal prosecution, if required, is pursued properly.

But right now, we need to get that oil cleaned up. There seems to have been appropriate urgency in the government’s response so far.

Mr Cooper was quickly on the scene along with officials from all the necessary areas, and that should be applauded.

Now let’s see what Mr Cooper and his team are able to deliver.

The pandemic is still with us EDITOR, The Tribune.

I WAS going to visit an ill friend this past Saturday, but St Michael’s Hospitals’ 9th Floor was isolated with a COVID-19 outbreak.

This also has happened on the first floor of La Verendrye Hospital (Riverside) in Fort Francis and also the West Wing of Rainy Crest was added to a large list of COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the nation.

The usual precautions are taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but are not limited to: General visitors will be restricted to bottom floors of hospitals.

Palliative patients can have up to four visitors, two at a time, plus one essential caregiver.

Cohorting of staff (those exposed will be separated from non-exposed medical staff). N95 masks are essential on staff and visitors in all designated areas.

Emergency Units in many hospitals are closing down for periods of a few days to a week and beyond throughout the nation, especially in medical centres and hospitals in rural and small-town locations. Lacking needed staff and the overall staff personnel fatigue are reasons for this continual action.

Staff are often taking vacations or just not returning to their employers. Lack

of professional assistance, better pay and an overall lacking working conditions seems to persist through our medical facilities.

Bill 124 has brought about controversy within the Health Ministry, various public sector unions and hospital staff members.

Limiting pay increases to 1% annually, the medical and nursing staff of Ontario’s hospitals are calling for both legal and labour action. They have been staffing our hospitals all this while, and the pandemic continues to spread its viral tentacles with no end in sight.

All the weaknesses our health system had before the pandemic came upon us, have been and continue to show themselves. Various governments seem unwilling to spend the needed funds to not only fight this virus, but also to strengthen the health system we rely upon. Better wages, training more replacement workers in mass, extending COVID protocols within the system, investigating those senior homes that failed their patients in 2020-2021.

For many of our national and regional governments the health portfolio has been and continues to be seen as a money pit, sucking up funds that many administrations could use

elsewhere. Working in a hospital is a profession, and not charity. Paying our experienced staff will keep them here where they are needed, not just now but in the near future too.

Many hospitals are receiving newbie staff, without the necessary experience essential to carry on. Experienced medical staff are very much like essential managers who show their new associates how it gets done. Many of our governments are at fault, putting budgetary concerns before the welfare of our neighbours. This is a global issue.

Statistics place the need for new nurses within the region of the Caribbean at 7,500+, and in Latin-Central America at a further 18,330+. Imagine how many skilled medical professionals passed away due to the pandemic. Tens of thousands and growing daily.

All our hospitals are full, and medical professionals, namely family doctors are still unprepared to deal with this pandemic, sending many of their patients to emergency centres. A true sh*t show, while many administrations pretend the worst of the pandemic is behind us.

STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario.

July 18, 2022.

RESIDENTS of old San Juan wave the Puerto Rico flag as they greet people during a protest against the LUMA Energy company in San Juan, Puerto Rico, yesterday.

Photo: Alejandro Granadillo/AP

An act of selfishness?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM an unrepentant capitalist and most of my other traits, if I may say so, are great. As such, however, I believe that labour and human resources play a vital role in the economic development and advancement of any society regardless of its political identification or call systems. Capital investment is needed to start and operate any business, whether for profit or nonprofit. Investors expect to make a reasonable income from their investments and labour/workers also look forward to harmonious working conditions and market-based compensation in exchange for their work/services. This is a no brainer, in ordinary circumstances.

Many years ago, I studied Economics/Law at Walbrooke College over in the United Kingdom which for much of my stay over in that country was racked by intermittent illegal and wildcat strikes and withdrawal of labour. The then in/out Labour administrations were brought to their literal knees and the economy tanked for years.

It took a no-nonsense political leader like the late Dame Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister of the IK, a staunch ‘conservative’ and proponent of market forces and trickle down economics to arrest and hold back serious dislocations and knee-jerk labour withdrawals.

While I am able to empathise with the legitimate claims and issues which organise labour/unions may have at any given time, it is a gross act of selfishness, tantamount, in my view, to economic treason by members of the Airport Workers Union.

Their ‘leader’ is a long-time

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net trade unionist. He and Mrs Belinda Wilson of The Bahamas Union of Teachers recently announced the founding of a new umbrella union to compete with the traditional one.

That is all well and good.

I would hope that this apparent militancy on the part of the Airport Workers Union is not a taste of what Messrs Ferguson & Company may be espousing going forward.

The national economy was literally locked down for almost two long debilitating years. Tens of thousands of ordinary Bahamians were laid off or furloughed for want of better expressions. Hundreds of businesses were obliged to close their doors, many on a permanent basis. Commercial and residential properties were foreclosed on by banks and other lending institutions.

Thousands of Bahamians were compelled to sleep in abandoned buildings and derelict vehicles while others resorted to the public beaches.

It has only been since last year October that the economy has been showing vital signs of recovery.

Dr Minnis’ experimentation with COVID and the lingering effects of Dorian will long be remembered, adversely, by countless generations of Bahamians, the living and the unborn. History, I submit, will not be too kind to him.

Data shows that our tourism sector is back to pre-2019 levels. All of the major hotels are up and running again. Thousands of hospitality workers are back on the job and earning fairly good salaries and

wages. People are now able to service their financial obligations with less stress.

Our churches and places of communal recreation are opened for business.

Just when the nation, collectively, was beginning to see a glimmer of light at the end of the fabled tunnel, one of the smallest unions in the country and its ‘misguided’ leaders have struck at the LPIA out of the blue.

By this singular act of selfishness, the Airport Workers Union is threatening our national resurgence and placing our number one industry at grave risks. I note that an Injunction has been issues by the Supreme Court so I will not comment on the merits or otherwise of the same at this time.

If I were Prime Minister, I would not allow any union to detract from the reopening of the economy. If there are long outstanding issues, as is alleged, let’s sit down and talk.

If the workers at the airport continue to agitate in what appears to be contrary to the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act, I would give them due motive and if they continue to act and play the thing with the big ears and the short tail, I would summarily dismiss them and hire new and eager employees, after all, the job market is reopening but there are still thousands of unemployed individuals seeking good well-paying jobs. The PLP may have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with several unions before the September, 2021 general elections, but it is to be noted that Kingsley Ferguson’s associated unions did not sign off on the same. Is he a nationalist or merely acting in a selfish manner?

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, July 20, 2022.

Carbon trading EDITOR, The Tribune.

CARBON pricing and countries that are trading we, Bahamas, will be the last of the current list that includes Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, EU (27 countries), Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Swede, UK and Ukraine... the spin Drs of OPM best you Google before writing speeches of Ministers because you are making them look stupid… there are 220,000 cell phones and as quickly as a

minister says ‘X’ or ‘Y’ we people are checking.

I don’t see the reason why a corporate body had to be formed in which government will own equity - simply franchise agents whose jobs would be to seek buyers, when they find a buyer go to the Treasurer of The Bahamas, pay the value in a certified manner and receive an agent’s fee you know it has worked around here very well with Real Estate.

Editor, I don’t want to give government the ability to form a Gussie Mae Government Agency for their political hacks, waste the

majority that would be collected and virtually nothing would get ever sight of the Treasury.

Mr Davis & Co - reengineer your deal makes it simpler - remove Government totally -ownership of the Bahamas Carbon Credits would rest in the Treasurer - the Treasurer would appoint agents who would be bonded and insured-as they create a sale that money goes straight no sticky fingers - into the Treasury.

R T RICHMOND Nassau, July 20, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2022, PAGE 7

Artist celebrates success in online competition

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ARTWORK by Sheldon Saint.

TWO GRANTED BAIL IN GUN CASE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net TWO men were granted $6,000 bail yesterday after allegedly being found with a component part of a 9mm pistol.

Leroy Barr, 32, and Emerson Rolle, 47, faced Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on a

shared charge of possession of a component part of a firearm.

On July 18 in New Providence, the accused, being concerned together, were found by authorities with the component part of a black Ruger 9mm pistol.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charge.

As there were no objections, each was

granted $6,000 bail. Under the conditions of their bail they are expected to be fitted with a monitoring device. They are also expected to sign in at the nearest police station every Sunday by 7pm with Barr set to sign in at Wulff Road Station and Rolle at the Grove Police Station.

Their trial is expected to start on October 3.

MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING BATTERY

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN accused of stealing a car battery was granted $500 bail yesterday.

Cordero Rolle, 34, appeared before Magistrate

Shaka Serville on a single stealing charge.

On July 14 at Penny Savings Bank Lane, Rolle is accused of stealing Anton Green’s car battery valued at $195.83. Rolle pleaded not guilty to the charge.

While the accused had

antecedents with the most recent being in 2019, the prosecution had no objection to bail. Rolle’s bail was set at $500 with one or two sureties to be signed before his release. Rolle was then informed that his trial was adjourned to September 14.

“Employment Opportunity” Principal/Director of a Preschool

1calvarydeliverancechurch@gmail.com

GRAND Bahama artist Sheldon Saint received “special merit” for his painting in an international online art competition by Light, Space & Time Online Art Gallery.

He submitted two of his paintings, ‘East End, Grand Bahama’ and ‘Cutting Bait,’ which received special recognition.

Light, Space & Time hosts monthly themed online art competitions as well as art exhibitions for new and emerging artists on a worldwide basis.

Mr Saint - a self-taught artist who has won many awards for his artwork - decided to enter his paintings online.

“It is an international online art competition, and I decided one day to submit my paintings and received a certificate of Special Merit.

According to the website, the Special Merit Award Category, “these are artists and their artwork which we felt could easily have been placed higher, but due to the size constraints in each media category, this art was placed in this special category. Any of the Special Merit art, in many cases, is interchangeable with the best art that we select for the top tiers”.

Mr Saint said: “I’m always surprised because you have so many artists from around the world who submit their work. So, being recognised for one of my pieces, is always (a good feeling).”

His painting, Cutting Bait, is of a little boy in Hepburn Town, Eight Mile Rock, said Mr Saint.

“I took the photo a

decade ago and started the painting, but I did not like the direction it was going and stopped working on it.

Last year, he made a few adjustments and completed it.

Mr Saint identifies himself as a representational artist who observes and paints about the everyday island life of a Bahamian.

Mr Saint has been painting professionally for the past 20 years, and has also exhibited extensively in The Bahamas since 1995.

His work was accepted for the National Arts Gallery of The Bahamas’ Inaugural Exhibition in 2003 and the second National Exhibition in 2004.

Being an artist in The Bahamas, particularly in Freeport, has been challenging.

“At the end of the day, I can’t wait to get back to whatever painting I am working on or start something fresh, new, and different. But, it can be a challenge, especially in Freeport, and my colleagues here can also attest to that. It has been that way for many years.

So, you have to find other

avenues of getting your work out there and any sales from your paintings,” he explained.

He is hoping it gets better.

Mr Saint has exhibited extensively in The Bahamas since 1995. His work was accepted for the National Arts Gallery of The Bahamas’ Inaugural Exhibition in 2003, and the second National Exhibition in 2004.

His artwork has been featured in the hardcover book, Splash13, Alternative Approaches: The Best of Watercolour. He is the first Bahamian in The Splash books, which features artists from more than a dozen countries. His work has also been featured in the Watercolor Artist magazine.

In 2013, the Grand Bahama artist held his first international exhibition in Canada. His paintings hung in private collections in the Bahamas, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, The Republic of China, and Trinidad and Tobago. He is a member of the Grand Bahama Artist Association and The American Watercolor Society.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2022, PAGE 9

Broken down in a town which sums up the confusion at the heart of America

STATESIDE with Charlie Harper THE day was gloomy and overcast with heavy grey clouds that conjured a wish for a rain shower to wash away all the dispiritedness and reintroduce bright sunshine on a warm summer day. The road was in good shape and the car held the road well, considering the asphalt was laid out right over the heavily wooded hills and valleys of this part of Middle America. Then a meadow beckoned in the distance. For the four friends in their vehicle, relief was tangible from the tension of navigating this winding road with its narrow shoulders and no guardrails.

A brightly coloured red, white and blue structure caught the eye in the distance. It sat right beside the road. Up closer, the friends saw a well-kept barn with a new metal roof to guard against the build-up of wintertime wet, then freezing, roof-crushing snow.

The barn was completely covered on at least the two sides visible from the road with the painted stars and stripes of the American flag.

The barn’s owner had clearly gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to proclaim his patriotism.

And as the barn passed on the left side of the road, a backward glance revealed a shocking image for the passengers. There, facing in the other direction, stood a tenfoot-high cutout of former US President Donald Trump. A huge banner proclaimed “Trump 2024 – America Will Be Great Again!”

In a fleeting moment, from a car speeding past an isolated hamlet in these remote hills, a stark reminder of America’s continuing troubles stood out, jarring the travellers out of their bucolic complacency.

What did this stunning scene mean? Was it merely the zealous extravagance of a single devoted individual?

Or a portent of ominous things still to come? A vigorous discussion broke out among the passengers, two couples driving from one distant point on a construction-imposed detour through unfamiliar territory to a similarly distant destination.

“Wow, what an image,” said Louise, the elder of the two women in the vehicle, shuddering at memory of the giant Trump figure.

“Did we not see an actual yard sign in the last town that read ‘Biden/Harris?’

And what about back in Latrobe, near that steel mill?

Remember that awning that the homeowner had painted with ‘Trump 2020 – for Prison!’ I thought we were moving out of this personality cult that the country seemed mired in for so long.”

Louise’s husband Fred stirred. “Maybe. Maybe not. I wonder if people like the owner of that barn actually ever respond to the telephone calls, emails or flyers of the pollsters. I’m guessing they don’t. So we won’t really know until the election how public opinion is running on Trump and Biden and all the rest.”

His friend Herb, now taking a turn at the wheel, disagreed. “I think that barn tells us exactly where we still are. People who live out here don’t feel any connection beyond perhaps their local congressman to what is happening in Washington. The federal government, even many state and local governments, are just a vaguely misguided force for isolated people like these. And liberals like you guys don’t get out of the big city often enough to understand the frustration and helplessness people feel when they pay taxes whose benefits they cannot see or feel. Donald Trump spoke to that,

brilliantly.”

Juliet, his younger wife, reminded the others that she had grown up in Tennessee when that state was run by the Democratic Party. “The Democrats then were no different than the Republicans are now.

They’re all just politicians, and they’re trying to lead from behind like politicians always do, following what their polls and focus groups and advisers and groupies tell them people want to hear.

“There’s no real leadership in either party, and politics is such a grimy, dirty, corrupt business that it’s a wonder we ever get a senator, congressman, or president for that matter, who gives us any sense of pride or inspiration.”

Fred spoke again. “We’ve had a nice trip so far. Let’s not talk about politics any more. What did you all think of Latrobe?”

The friends had been marooned in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, for several hours due to car trouble earlier in the day. The repair shop had loaned them a car to use while they waited for spare parts to arrive from the Pittsburgh suburbs 40 miles to the west.

With a population today of less than 8,000, Latrobe was home to both golfing legend Arnold Palmer and beloved TV star Fred Rogers, host for 32 years of the popular children’s show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” These two American giants graduated from Latrobe High School one year apart just after World War II. Louise had wondered if they had been friends or even acquaintances in school, but the Chamber of Commerce office was closed on this day and the couples had encountered only half a dozen locals as they killed time looking around town while car repairs continued.

They parked the loaner car downtown, drawn to the painted, stone sculpture across the street. Juliet spotted it first. “Is that actually a statue of a banana split?” she asked incredulously. It was, and the three scoops of ice cream in the boat-shaped stone dish were painted white, brown and pink to replicate the flavors of this quintessential American dessert. A sign proclaimed that a local druggist had concocted the first-ever banana split in Latrobe in 1904.

Down the main street, near the old Pennsylvania Railroad passenger depot,

freight trains rumbled by regularly. Twin engines pulled around 40 flat cars behind them, each one laden with either a shipping container box or the loaded truck trailer. But passengers can still board an Amtrak train in Latrobe daily at 8:20 a.m. and travel directly, with many stops, to New York City.

Further along, past the rail station, they found the City Brewery. Herb, a self-proclaimed beer connoisseur, expected to see Rolling Rock signs adorning the massive facility, which occupies almost two square blocks along the banks of the local river. He was disappointed.

First opened at the end of the 19th Century in much more prosperous times, the brewery grew until 1939, when Rolling Rock beer became its signature product. Famous for Rolling Rock’s small green bottles and its dedicated following among beer lovers, City Brewery became one of the largest facilities of its kind in the United States.

But the brewery was purchased by Canada’s Labatt Brewing Company in 1987, and various conglomerates have come and gone since then. In 2006 the Rolling Rock brands were sold to the largest brewer in the United States, AnheuserBusch.

Production of Rolling Rock was moved to a facility in Newark, New Jersey. The brewery has stayed open since then, producing brands at times such as Sam Adams, Red Stripe, Guinness Blonde and Pittsburgh’s own Iron City. But its foothold has been tenuous since Rolling Rock moved east.

A specialty steel producer and steel melting fabricator both operate large plants in town, carefully watched from a small trailer occupied by Local 1537 of the United Steel Workers. The union office is open three days a week. Row after row of pinched, vinyl or woodsided houses line the streets near the mills, their small, well-maintained yards and proud American flag displays a testimonial to the stubborn conservative pride of the residents.

And on this muggy summer day, the return of the Steelers was only a week away. Starting in 1966, Pittsburgh’s legendary NFL team has returned to Latrobe in every nonCOVID year since then for its month-long summer training camp at St. Vincent’s College on a hill

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DONALD Trump speaks to supporters gathered for a rally at the Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday, July 9. The ex-president is showing every sign of running again in 2024 - but will he reach the voters?

Photo: Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News via AP outside Latrobe. The college is a venerable Catholic school whose campus offers a pastoral contrast to Pittsburgh’s big city distractions. Behind the back of the austere Romanesque brick basilica that was home to the founder of

the Benedictine Order in the US lie several modern Astroturf football fields and many snazzy tents for VIP guests at the Steelers’ practices. Training camp and its many visitors are big business for Latrobe and the school.

Football, beer, banana splits, the Catholic Church, the railroad and steel mills.

That’s been Latrobe for decades. If one of America’s political parties can figure out how to reach these voters, success at the ballot box will surely follow.

PAGE 10, Thursday, July 21, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

AREA OF MIAMI RENAMED AS LITTLE BAHAMAS

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings@tribunemedia.net THE City of Miami Commission has renamed a portion of Coconut Groove, Miami to “Little Bahamas of Coconut Grove”.

The momentous naming recognises the significant contribution Bahamians made in building Miami

and Coral Gables in the 19th century after hundreds of forefathers moved to build homes and work as labourers and artisans.

The naming of the neighbourhood comes at a time when the West Groove is under pressure from gentrification that threatens to displace longtime residents, which includes descendants of Bahamian settlers and

early pioneers, according to The Miami Herald.

In a press release, Iram Lewis, Central Grand Bahama MP, said he is excited to see the change come to fruition.

Mr Lewis said: “I am also excited to see The Bahamas join the little community of Caribbean countries in the state, such as Little Haiti and Little Havana, to be

recognised for their influence in the communities that now make up the great city.”

It is his hope that with this rename Bahamian culture is introduced to new generations of Bahamians and non-Bahamians.

The member of Parliament gave special thanks to Commissioner Ken Russell, Sonless Martin

and congresswoman Frederica Wilson- all of whom are of Bahamian descent and ensured the renaming came.

Mr Martin said the marking of the area’s historical and cultural importance brings him a sense of pride as he had a significant role in the renaming.

“Being born from Bahamian parents it brings me

a sense of pride, joy, and accomplishment to see the renaming take place,” Mr Martin said. “Bahamians have been very instrumental in the development of the City of Miami.”

“My role varies from lobbying officials, to soliciting letters of support, and speaking to community leaders in support of the name change,” he added.

Concern over drop in mammograms in GB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A REGISTERED mammographer is concerned over the decline in breast cancer screenings in Grand Bahama, where the screening rate is around 18 percent.

Nikeia Watson, of Mammogram Access Programme (MAP), attributes the low screening rate to a suspension of mammography service in the public health care system following Hurricane Dorian.

She also reported that only one of the three mammogram machines is working in Grand Bahama.

To boost mammogram screenings, she started MAP, a nonprofit

foundation, to assist women with accessing screening for breast cancer in the northern Bahamas.

“I started MAP shortly after Dorian to answer the call of suspended services here on the island, where we have been struggling with this for a while,” said Watson, a former employee in the public healthcare system.

“Over the past 16 years, I have seen a decline in the screening rate of women coming to get mammograms. Every time we get hit with a hurricane, there is a pause in the service, and there is a lag for that service to come back up, and so women fall off. And, you wonder why the rate of cancer is so high in the

country is because women are discouraged.”

The Rand Memorial Hospital has screened about 2,000 women annually since 2004.

According to the 2020 Census, half of the 50,000 people in Grand Bahama were women, and 11,000 of those women fall within the screening age.

Ms Watson stressed that when there is a pause of service, there is no education or announcement concerning the resumption of mammogram services.

“And so, it’s not only that the service pauses, but there is no recovery,” she stressed.

She reported that MAP provides screening services and was able to assist 100 women last week.

“We just celebrated our 100 women served, and we have that to be grateful for,” Ms Watson said.

MAP currently outsources screening to a private clinic on the island, which has the only working mammogram machine on the island. Ms Watson has indicated that MAP is in the process of raising funds to acquire one to play a more active role in screening.

“We have not heard any feedback from the Rand if their machine is up. She noted that about 70 percent of the population is uninsured and depends on the service. The Rand, she said, suspended mammogram service after Dorian.

Ms Watson said mammogram screening at the Rand is not free, but people

are not turned away if they cannot afford to pay.

“The machines at the private clinics are not free, and you have to pay. It leaves women in a very precarious position because if they cannot pay, they cannot get the service, not with Rand being offline,” she said.

Ms Watson said the pandemic and the lockdowns had also impacted mammogram services.

She noted that after the hurricanes, there has always been a suspension of screenings.

“For me, I truly believe that MAP is a mission from God. I do believe it is divine. I have been a professional for over 16 years since hurricane Frances and Jeanne, and I saw how the service reacted to a

major hurricane event. And every year there was a hurricane, the service paused, and the screening rate dropped. But, there is also no recovery because there is no education that goes after these women,” she explained.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, MAP expects to announce a partnership that will help them with their patient education and engagement programme.

Ms Watson thanked Jarol Investment for its donation of $25,000 that assisted them with screenings. She said $15,000 went towards screenings for women, and $10,000 toward their fundraising efforts to acquire a mammogram machine.

MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A SUSPECTED MURDERER

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was charged in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday with the shooting death of a man who had been charged with the murder of a 70-year-old woman.

Brandan Smith, 19, stood before Senior Magistrate Carolyn VogtEvans on a charge of murder.

On July 1 on Sherlia Street off Shirley Street, Smith is accused of killing Kevin “Hot Boy” Whyms.

The murder victim in this matter had previously been suspected in two other killings. He was accused of the shooting murder of Kelson

Kelly on October 23, 2021 and the death of 70-year-old Belpheme Lightbourne as the result of a home invasion in 2013.

Smith was not required to enter a plea in court.

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

Although the accused was denied bail, he is allowed to apply for it in the Supreme Court, where his trial will eventually be held.

Until such time that Smith is granted bail, he will be returned to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS).

Smith’s VBI is expected to be served in court on October 3.

DISCHARGE FOR MAN WHO RESISTED ARREST ROTARY CLUB HELPS RETREAT GARDENS

FROM left, Taran Mackey, RCEN president; Geoff Andrews, BNT president; Chantal Curtis, parks manager; Rotarians Stephanie Frith, Corinne Laville, Britney Seymour, Rotaract; Mayuri Deka, immediate past president; Joanne Smith and Mike Russell, community service director.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was placed on a conditional discharge yesterday after admitting to using obscene language against a police officer and resisting arrest.

Keiton Bowleg, 28, appeared before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on charges of disorderly behaviour, obscene language and resisting arrest.

According to a police report at around 2.20am on July 18 on Plantol Street, Bowleg is said to have behaved in a disorderly manner.

On the same day and place the accused is said to have used obscene language to the annoyance of Police Constable 3893 Miller and later resisted arrest.

While Bowleg pleaded not guilty to the disorderly behaviour charge, he pleaded guilty to the remaining two offences.

In view of this, the magistrate placed the accused on a conditional discharge and ordered him to write and deliver a letter of apology to PC Miller.

Bowleg is then expected to return to court for mention on July 27 with a signed copy of the letter to confirm its receipt.

THE Rotary Club of East Nassau recently donated $10,000 to the Bahamas National Trust to help the organisation purchase a much-needed chipper for the Retreat Gardens and other New Providence national parks. Ownership of a chipper is important part of park management for these preserves as it allows the staff to create the mulch for paths and control the vegetative debris.

The cheque presentation was made when before Rotarian volunteers spread the mulch they donated to BNT on the paths of the Retreat Gardens. This community service project marked the club’s recognition of Environmental Month which RCEN has celebrated since Rotary International made the environment the seventh area of focus for all clubs.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2022, PAGE 11

Ukrainian refugees are sent to Russia NARVA, Estonia Associated Press FOR WEEKS, Natalya Zadoyanova had lost contact with her younger brother Dmitriy, who was trapped in the besieged Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

Russian forces had bombed the orphanage where he worked, and he was huddling with dozens of others in the freezing basement of a building without doors and windows. When she next heard from him, he was in tears.

“I’m alive,” he told her.

“I’m in Russia.”

Dmitriy Zadoyanov was facing the next chapter of devastation for the people of Mariupol and other occupied cities: Forcible transfers to Russia, the very nation that killed their neighbors and shelled their hometowns almost into oblivion.

Nearly two million Ukrainians refugees have been sent to Russia, according to both Ukrainian and Russian officials. Ukraine portrays these journeys as forced transfers to enemy soil, which is considered a war crime. Russia calls them humanitarian evacuations of war victims who already speak Russian and are grateful for a new home.

An Associated Press investigation based on dozens of interviews has found that while the picture is more nuanced than the Ukrainian government suggests, many refugees are indeed forced to embark on a surreal trip into Russia, subjected along the way to human rights abuses, stripped of documents and left confused and lost about where they are.

The abuses start not with a gun to the head, but with a poisoned choice: Die in Ukraine or live in Russia. Those who leave go through a series of what are known as filtration points, where treatment ranges from interrogation and strip searches to being yanked aside and never seen again.

Refugees told the AP of an old woman who died in the cold, her body swollen, and an evacuee beaten so severely that her back was covered in bruises.

Those who “pass” the filtrations are invited to live in Russia, and often promised a payment of about 10,000 rubles ($170) that they may or may not get. Sometimes their Ukrainian passports are taken away, and the chance of Russian citizenship is offered instead. And

IVANA Trump, the 1980s style icon and businesswoman who helped Donald Trump build the empire that put him on a road toward the White House, lived a “beautiful life”, the former president recalled as loved ones paid final respects to her Wednesday.

The ex-president joined all his children, an array of other relatives and friends at a Manhattan church for Ivana Trump’s funeral Mass.

“A very sad day, but at the same time a celebration of a wonderful and

PEOPLE from Mariupol and eastern Ukraine disembark from a train at the railway station in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on Thursday, April 7, to be taken to temporary residences in the region. sometimes, they are pres- Russian legal documents Ukraine is part of a deliber- the Bashkortistan region, ate and systemic strategy, 150 kilometres (100 miles) sured to sign documents and Russian state media.

The story of Zadoyanov, laid out in Russian govern- from the nearest major denouncing the Ukrainian 32, is typical. Exhausted ment documents. government and military. town. One refugee, Bohdan An “emergency mass Honcharov, told the AP Those with no money or and hungry in the basecontacts in Russia — the ment in Mariupol, he finally order” describes the “dis- that about 50 Ukrainians of 100,000 he traveled with were sent majority, by most accounts accepted the idea of evacu- tribution” — can only go where they ation. The Russians told Ukrainians to some of the to Siberia, so far away that are sent, eastward, even to him he could board a bus most remote and impov- they effectively disappeared the sub-Arctic. More than to either Zaporizhzhia in erished regions of Russia. with little chance of escape.

1,000 are as far away as Ukraine or Rostov-on-Don None was to be sent to the A Ukrainian woman also capital, Moscow.

Khabarovsk and Vladiv- in Russia. said her elderly parents They lied. The buses The AP verified through from Mariupol were sent ostok, a ten-day train journey interviews with refugees, to Russia and told to move to the edge of the Pacific went only to Russia.

Along the way, Russian media reports and official to Vladivostok, at the other Ocean, according to people the AP spoke with who saw authorities searched his statements that Ukrainians end of the country. Russian multiple trains arrive over phone and interrogated have received temporary border authorities did not him on why he was baptized accommodation in more let her father out of Russia the weeks of the war.

However, the AP inves- and whether he had sexual than two dozen Russian because he still had Soviet tigation also found signs of feelings toward a boy in the cities and localities, and citizenship from the old clear dissent within Russia camp. A man from Russian were even taken to an times, along with Ukrainian to the government narrative state television wanted to unused chemical plant in residency documents. that Ukrainians are being bring him to Moscow and rescued from Nazis. Almost pay him to denigrate the all the refugees the AP Ukrainians, an offer he interviewed spoke grate- declined. People with video fully about Russians who cameras also asked arriving quietly helped them escape children to talk about how through a clandestine net- Ukraine was bombarding work, retrieving documents, its own citizens.

“It was 100 percent a finding shelter, buying train and bus fare, exchanging tactical pressure,” ZadoyUkrainian hryvnia for Rus- anov said. “Why children? sian rubles and even lugging Because it is much easier to the makeshift baggage that manipulate them.”

Then he, five children holds all that remains of and four women were taken their pre-war lives.

The investigation is the to the train station and told most extensive to date on their destination would be the transfers, based on Nizhny Novgorod, even interviews with 36 Ukrain- deeper into Russia, 1,300 ians mostly from Mariupol kilometers (800 miles) from who left for Russia, includ- the Ukrainian border. From ing 11 still there and others the train, Zadoyanov called in Estonia, Lithuania, his sister Natalya in Poland.

Poland, Georgia, Ireland, Her panic rose.

Get off the train, she told Germany and Norway. The AP also drew on interviews him. Now. The transfer of hundreds with Russian underground volunteers, video footage, of thousands of people from

beautiful life,” he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, before he, former first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron headed to St Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church, located just a few blocks from Ivana Trump’s home near Central Park.

Ivana and Donald Trump’s three children — Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric — stood with their father and their families as the gold-toned casket was carried from the church. Eric Trump briefly put an arm around his sister’s shoulders as she held the hand of one of her small children, who clutched a red flower.

Tiffany Trump, the daughter of the former president and his second wife, Marla Maples, also attended the service, as did family friends including Jeanine Pirro, co-host of Fox News’ “The Five”, and Charles Kushner, a real estate developer and the father of Ivanka Trump’s husband, Jared Kushner. Fashion designer Dennis Basso, a longtime friend of Ivana Trump’s, was also among the mourners.

The Mass was “an elegant, wonderful send-off for Ivana Trump,” another longtime friend, R Couri Hay, said as he emerged.

SUNAK OR TRUSS TO BE NEXT BRITISH PM LONDON Associated Press BRITAIN’S Conservative Party yesterday chose former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss — a fiscal moderate and a lowtax crusader — as the two finalists in a party election to replace departing Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The result came just after the divisive, unrepentant Johnson, who has plunged his party into turmoil,

TWO men were indicted yesterday in the case of a hot, airless tractor-trailer rig found last month with 53 dead or dying migrants in San Antonio, officials said.

A federal grand jury in San Antonio indicted Homero Zamorano Jr, 46, and Christian Martinez, 28, both of Pasadena, Texas, on counts of transporting and conspiring to transport migrants illegally resulting in death; and transporting and conspiring to transport migrants illegally resulting in serious injury.

Both remain in federal custody without bond pending trial. Martinez’s attorney, David Shearer of San Antonio, declined to comment on the indictments. A message to Zamorano’s attorney was not immediately returned.

INDIANA SEEKS TO BAN ABORTION

FUNERAL HELD FOR IVANA TRUMP NEW YORK Associated Press

TWO INDICTED IN MIGRANT TRAILER DEATHS

ended his final appearance in Parliament as prime minister with the words “Hasta la vista, baby.”

Sunak and Truss came first and second respectively in a secret vote by Conservative lawmakers. Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt came in third and was eliminated.

The race, which has already produced bitter Conservative infighting, pits Sunak, who steered Britain’s economy through the pandemic before quitting

Johnson’s government this month, against Truss, who has led the UK’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The two contenders will spend the next few weeks campaigning for the votes of about 180,000 Conservative Party members around the country, who will vote by postal or online ballot.

The winner of the party leadership vote will be announced on September.

5 and will automatically become Britain’s next prime minister.

LEADERS of Indiana’s Republican-dominated Senate yesterday proposed banning abortion with limited exceptions — a move that comes amid a political firestorm over a ten-yearold rape victim who came to the state from neighboring Ohio to end her pregnancy.

The proposal will be taken up during a special legislative session that is scheduled to begin Monday, making Indiana one of the first Republican-run states to debate tighter abortion laws following the US Supreme Court decision last month overturning Roe v Wade.

The Indiana proposal would allow exceptions to the ban, such as in cases of rape, incest or to protect a woman’s life.

Republican state Sen Sue Glick, who is sponsoring the bill, said the proposal would not limit access to emergency contraception known as the morning-after pill or limit doctors from treating miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2022, PAGE 13

NATIONAL League second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., left, and pitcher Sandy Alcantara, both of the Miami Marlins, are introduced prior to the MLB All-Star baseball game against the American League on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

(AP Photo/Mark J Terrill)

NEW York Met’s Jeff McNeil, Starling Marte and Miami Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm take batting practice a day before the 2022 MLB All-Star baseball game, Monday, July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles.

(AP Photo/Jae C Hong)

‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr appears as guest on Fox Sports AllStar Game coverage

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net JASRADO “Jazz” Chisholm Jr was unable to play in Major League Baseball’s midseason classic but still took advantage of the opportunity to highlight The Bahamas on the sports’ grandest stage.

Chisholm Jr appeared as a guest on Fox Sports’ coverage of the All-Star Game anchored by Kevin Burkhardt, alongside baseball icons David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, and Frank Thomas in Los Angeles, California.

The Marlins’ All-Star second baseman discussed how his game is impacted by the similarities in his respective fanbases in Miami and The Bahamas.

“I just go out there to have

my kind of fun. I’m from The Bahamas which is only a 30-minute flight from Miami. I feel like basically Miami and The Bahamas have the same kind of people, we just like to enjoy life, just have fun, be ourselves, and be who we want to be so I just brought that to baseball. I like to show the people the culture in Miami and baseball is not lost.”

Due to a back strain, Chisholm has been on the injured list since June 29 and was ruled out of Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Despite his best efforts to take the field at Dodger Stadium, he did not receive medical clearance to play.

“Honestly, I can still swing. I can’t run at full speed right now but I can swing,” he said. “So I was really asking them, just

let me get in there and jog to first base. I can catch a ground ball I can move on defence a little bit so let me just go and play a little defence, let me get an at-bat at least, let me show off a little something, I’m here for it.”

Chisholm was replaced on the National League roster by the San Diego Padres’ Jake Cronenworth and New York Mets’ second baseman Jeff McNeil was moved into the starting lineup.

He was one of several expected starters that missed the All-Star game due to injury.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Houston Astros’ second baseman Jose Altuve, San Francisco Giants pitcher Carlos Rodon, and St Louis Cardinals’ third baseman

MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm takes batting practice a day before the 2022 MLB All-Star baseball game on Monday, July 18, in Los Angeles.

(AP Photo/Jae C Hong) Nolan Arenado were all ruled out.

The American League came away with a 3-2 win over the National League.

Chisholm’s last appearance on the field in a Marlins uniform was June 28. He originally suffered the back injury early in the season on a slide and eventually re-aggravated the injury in late June, which forced him out of the lineup. He is the first-ever Bahamian-born All-Star of the nine countrymen to ever play in the MLB.

From the Marlins’ perspective, he joins Hanley Ramírez, Dee Strange-Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, Gary Sheffield, and Giancarlo Stanton as the only Marlins to be fan-elected starters.

“I enjoy the hype of everybody else watching me play. I’m looking at people’s faces every time I do something, but I love reactions,” he said of becoming a fan favourite. “Every great play in baseball gets me excited.”

Bahamian culture took centre stage as the Marlins

hosted its second “Bahamian Heritage Night” June 27 at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida and despite a 5-3 loss to the New York Mets, it was a night of celebration for Chisholm and the Bahamian contingent.

A crowd of 18,722 filled the stadium, the third largest crowd of any Marlins home game this season, as opposed to the 7,500 that attended the first Bahamian Heritage night in 2021.

Chisholm wore Bahamian flag themed cleats, batting gloves, and a bandanna to commemorate the occasion. Through 60 games he has a .254 average, 14 home runs, 54 hits, 45 RBI, 12 stolen bases and scored 39 runs.

SEMENYA FINISHES 13TH, DOESN’T ADVANCE IN 5,000M AT WORLDS similar to that of Semenya, but because their races do not fall under the restrictions, they are eligible. Coe said the distance restrictions, like all else in the regulations, “are not carved in stone.”

Mboma missed worlds with an injury, while Masilingi failed to make it through Tuesday night’s semifinals. Another runner, Francine Niyonsaba, successfully moved from the 800, where she won a silver medal at the Rio Games, to the 5,000 and 10,000. She finished fifth in Tokyo in the 10K, but is out of worlds due to injury. “Our whole approach has been about

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer EUGENE, Oregon (AP) — In one way, this race was like so many in the past for Caster Semenya. When she crossed the finish line, there wasn’t anyone near her.

This race, though, was the 5,000 metres — not her specialty, the 800 — and when Semenya crossed the line all alone, she was in 13th place.

She failed to advance through the opening heat at world championships yesterday, an expected result for the South African who is barred from her best event because of rules that demand she take hormonereducing drugs to enter races between 400 metres and one mile.

Semenya finished the 12 1/2-lap race — run in blistering 91-degree (32 Celsius) heat — in 15 minutes, 46.12 seconds, 54 seconds behind the winner, Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia.

Given the circumstances, Semenya said this did not feel like defeat, and she was nowhere near giving up.

“I think it is great to be able to run here,” she said.

“Just being able to finish the 5K, for me, it is a blessing. I am learning and I am willing to learn even more.

It was hot, I could not keep up with the pace, I tried to stick as much as I can. But it is a part of the game.”

Semenya lost an appeal of a World Athletics regulation that made women with certain intersex condition ineligible in races between 400 metres and a mile.

Since 2019, she hasn’t raced in a major 800-metre race, the event in which she has won two Olympic and three world titles.

But there’s nothing keeping her from the 5,000, and even though she had virtually no chance of winning, she came to Oregon anyway. Her personal best in the race is 15:31.50, which is outside the worldchampionships qualifying standard. But she moved

CASTER SEMENYA, of South Africa, competes during a heat in the women’s 5000-metre run at the World Athletics Championships yesterday in Eugene, Oregon.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis) into the race after some higher-ranked runners did not enter.

American Karissa Schweizer, who finished fifth in Semenya’s heat, said “it’s pretty inspiring that she’s making most of her effort and she’s still out here competing at a world level.”

“She’s in obviously a different situation,” Schweizer said. “She can’t control that.

She has to move up to a different event and the 5K is a tough event. We just have to look it as that regard — that she’s at a world-level in a 5K.” Semenya’s case is the most recognisable of a handful of instances involving intersex and transgender athletes in sports.

Semenya is not transgender, but her case carries strong implications for how transgender athletes are treated and classified.

Semenya has never publicly identified herself as intersex or having the intersex condition called 46,XY difference in sex development (DSD). But she essentially acknowledged

having the condition when she appealed the World Athletics rules.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who has hinted that the rules could be updated later this year, but probably not in a way that would restore Semenya’s eligibility in the 800, said science regarding the effects of testosterone on athletes has guided all World Athletics’ decisions.

“The issue for me is very simple,” Coe said in an interview the day before Semenya’s race. “Of course, I recognise that both with DSD and with transgender, these are societal issues. I don’t have the luxury, however, of being intimately involved in that debate. My responsibility is to protect the integrity of women’s sport.”

Semenya has been an outspoken critic of the rules, most recently saying through her lawyer that they are “an affront to the spirit of the sport.”

Two Namibian 200metre runners, Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, have a condition

finding a navigable solution through this,” Coe said. “I didn’t come into the sport to stop people competing, I came into the sport to find a reason to allow them to compete.”

Semenya did just that.

She hung in the middle of the lead pack of the 18-woman race for about three laps, then things started stringing out.

Halfway through the 5,000 metres, she had fallen to 13th — racing in a group of three runners some 80 metres behind the lead group.

With about three laps to go, Semenya was in a familiar place — running

all alone on the track — but she was in 13th. There were no runners within 50 metres of her on either side when she crossed the finish line to a notable burst of applause, same as she received when she was introduced at the starting line.

While most of the runners collapsed to the track at the end, Semenya paced around, breathing heavily, with her hands on her hips.

She high-fived a few of the runners, grabbed a wet towel to put on the back of her neck, then dug around in a cooler for something to drink before heading up a set of stairs that lead away from the track.

PAGE 14, Thursday, July 21, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

RESULTS - BAHAMAS AQUATICS’ 50TH NATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS THE Bahamas Aquatics Federation completed its 50th National Swimming Championships at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex on July 10.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2022, PAGE 15

HORNETS’ BRI GES PLEA S NOT GUILT TO OMESTIC VIOLENCE

DEANDRE Ayton has officially signed his new 4-year, $133 million contract at the Suns’ facility in Phoenix, Arizona, and discussed the way forward for both parties after his unrestricted free agent process concluded.

(AP Photo)

It’s official: Ayton inks new deal with Phoenix Suns

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net DEANDRE Ayton officially inked his new deal with the Phoenix Suns and said his focus has shifted from the business of basketball to the pursuit of the franchise’s first NBA title.

Ayton officially signed his new four-year $133 million contract at the Suns’ facility in Phoenix, Arizona, and discussed the way forward for both parties after his unrestricted free agent process concluded.

“I’m happy to put free agency behind me and ready to work and compete for a championship with my teammates,” said Ayton.

Ayton, a highly coveted restricted free agent target, signed a maximum offer sheet on July 14 with the Indiana Pacers and within moments, the Suns matched the offer to retain the no.1 overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft.

The contract represented the richest offer sheet in NBA history for a restricted free agent.

“This is a blessing. This contract not only has generational impact for my family, but also with the way we are able to work in the Phoenix community and home in the Bahamas.

That is the things that we go by,” Ayton told ESPN’s Andscape.

“I’ve come to understand that this is a business.

So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on and just get back to work. I

just treated everything like a business. Just keep being professional, approach everything with professionalism and not looking too deep into it.”

In his fourth season, the 24-year-old centre averaged 17.2 points on a career high 63 percent from the field and 10.2 rebounds per game in 58 appearances.

The Suns finished with an NBA best and new franchise record of 64-18.

Ayton’s offer sheet surpassed the previous record offered to a restricted free agent of four years, $107 million Otto Porter signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2016.

“The shift in free agency brought a lot of uncertainty through the whole process,” Ayton said.

“I got to give a lot of respect to the Pacers organisation. They were aggressive from the start and showing a lot of love.

And we agreed to a max offer sheet,” he said. “The Suns matched. Now, I’m back in Phoenix as a Sun.” He was eligible for a five-year, $172.5 million extension that could have reached as much as $207 million if he reached benchmarks and incentives.

Several players in his 2018 NBA draft class have received max contract extensions, including Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaren Jackson Jr of the Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Huerter of the Atlanta Hawks, Michael Porter Jr of the Denver Nuggets.

PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22), of the Bahamas, ooks away after being fouled during the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball Western Conference playoff semifinal against the Dallas Mavericks in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sunday, May 15, 2022. The Indiana Pacers have signed the restricted free agent to a four-year, $133 million offer sheet. Phoenix has two days to match the offer — or lose the center it took with the top overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft.

(AP Photo/Matt York) Contract negotiations between Ayton and the Suns reached an impasse last April after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension.

After making the AllRookie first team in 2019, Ayton has averaged 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in 236 games as a member of the Suns over the last four seasons.

He recorded both his 3,000th career point and his 2,000th career rebound this past season, becoming the second-fastest player to reach these milestones in a Suns uniform behind only Charles Barkley.

“We wanted Deandre here. He’s vital to what we do, at the core of everything that we do. And

throughout this whole process it was, it rang true. We wanted to keep him here, and the moment we can come to an agreement, we would.

“So, waiting 24 hours, 48 hours, that wasn’t something we needed to do because going into it, we knew this is where he wanted to be and where we wanted him to be,” said Suns general manager James Jones.

“I’m one to just be direct.

And if you’re convicted, if you know what you want to do, you do it. But if there’s any doubt from anyone that we wanted him, I think that the matching did that. It was urgent for us. It was important. It was critical for us. So, we just wanted to make sure that

we handled our business quickly.”

Ayton’s personal development coincided with the team’s rise in the standings.

In his rookie season, the Suns finished just 19-63 and had improved to 34-39 in the 2019-20 season and again to 51-21 in 2020-21 en route to the team’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1993.

“Deandre is a force on both ends of the floor, who has elevated his game every year and will continue to do so,” Jones said.

“DA is so important to what we do and without him, we could not have reached our recent levels of success. We are excited to keep Deandre at home in the Valley where he belongs.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges pleaded not guilty yesterday to felony domestic violence charges filed by Los Angeles County prosecutors after he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend in front of their two children.

District Attorney George Gascón announced Tuesday that his office filed one felony count of injuring a child’s parent and two felony counts of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death.

Bridges entered not guilty pleas during an arraignment, the DA’s office said.

Bridges was arrested on June 29 by Los Angeles police and was later released on $130,000 bond.

The Hornets and the NBA both said they were aware of the charges filed against Bridges.

“These are very serious charges that we will continue to monitor,” the Hornets said. “As this is a legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time.”

Mychelle Johnson, the mother of Bridges’ two young children, addressed the incident on Instagram on July 1, posting several pictures of injuries and a medical report that read “adult victim of physical abuse by male partner; Assault by strangulation, Brain concussion; Closed fracture of nasal bone; Contusion of rib; Multiple bruises; Strain of neck muscle.”

“I hate that it has come to this but I can’t be silent anymore. I’ve allowed someone to destroy my home, abuse me in every way possible and traumatise our kids for life,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “I have nothing to prove to the world, but I won’t allow anyone who could do something so horrible to have no remorse and paint a picture of something I’m not. I won’t allow the people around him to continue to silence me and continue to lie to protect this person.”

The 24-year-old Bridges is a restricted free agent who was expected to command big money in the free agent market this summer following a breakout season.

The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Bridges was the Hornets’ leading scorer last season, averaging 20.2 points and seven rebounds in his fourth NBA season.

The Hornets have extended Bridges a qualifying offer allowing them a chance to match any offer sheet made by another team. The team had indicated prior to knowledge of Bridges’ arrest that it wanted to re-sign him.

RAI ERS RAMPING UP OR SEASON WITH NEW LEA ERSHIP IN PLACE

By W G RAMIREZ Associated Press HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis, new President Sandra Douglass Morgan and star tight end Darren Waller all attended a WNBA game between the hometown Aces and the Atlanta Dream and they were all about the energy.

As electric as the arena was, though, the trio couldn’t help but talk about the energy flowing roughly 10 miles away at the Raiders’ facility. “We’re undefeated right now and hopefully we’ll keep it that way,” Davis said. “This offseason has been a real building moment for us.”

The Raiders, who open their preseason slate on August 4 in the Hall of Fame Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, have all new leadership, something Davis said he’s elated about.

From the enthusiasm he’s seen during Morgan’s first two weeks at the helm, to first-year general manager Dave Ziegler’s plans to build the team, to new coach Josh McDaniels’ game strategies. “We’re just really thrilled to have the three of them at the top of the food chain,” Davis said Tuesday night, a day before veterans reported for camp.

The addition of wide receiver Davante Adams gives Derek Carr the bigtime target he’s longed for while completing a receiving trifecta for the ninth-year quarterback, along with Waller and Hunter Renfrow.

Waller, who was Carr’s leading receiver in 2019 and 2020, said he is looking forward to being in a McDaniels-led system that could contain hints of the style he used in New England, where the Patriots generally relied on a tight end to complement the

SANDRA DOUGLASS MORGAN, left, smiles with Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis during a news conference announcing Morgan as the new president of the Raiders NFL football team on July 7 in Las Vegas.

(AP Photo/John Locher) passing game. “It’s gonna put pressure on people,” Waller said. “We have the talent to dictate what goes on out there and we feel excited about the scheme that’s in place.”

For Morgan, the first Black woman to assume the role of president of an NFL team, the wow factor has been watching every component of the Raiders organisation work in unison

leading up to camp. “It is just an amazing machine that is smooth and operating and we just can’t wait for the season to kick off,” Morgan said.

“People are excited and ready for the season. You see the tents kind of going up on the field and we’re all just excited and really ready to go and support the team however we can.”

During a media availability yesterday, edge rusher Maxx Crosby said he still has nerves on the eve of training camp. “(I’m) just trying to get my mind in a different place because once you start training camp, you’ve got to be in a different place mentally,” said Crosby, who was named to his first Pro Bowl after registering eight sacks last season. “It’s here now, so it’s super exciting. Every single year, it’s always a new challenge, new goals, new things going on. But it’s football, so there’s nothing

more I’d rather be doing on Earth.”

For Davis, it’s another season with another new staff and the same expectations he always has. But as confident as he may be, he knows better than to pat himself on the back over any moves he’s made. “I’ve been through this too many times at the beginning of the season,” Davis said.

“We have a lot of promise.

But you gotta go out and do it. And then when you go out and start earning those things, then you start saying ‘yeah we got it right.’”

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PAGE 16, Thursday, July 21, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

BAHAMAS CHESS FEDERATION LAUNCHES INAUGURAL CHESSX EVENT IF one walked along Arawak Cay on July 10, you would have seen a number of distinctive black & white chess boards and heard the sounds of banter and trash talking among enthusiastic chess players of all ages at Frankie Gone Bananas.

This was the scene of The Bahamas Chess Federation’s inaugural ChessX event. The scene was a far cry from the more traditional local chess tournaments where the silence is only intermittently interrupted by the pressing of the clock.

Outdoor chess spots where chess lovers can stop by and play a game of casual chess are popular around the world, think the popular Union Square in New York City.

The inaugural ChessX at Arawak Cay was made possible through a partnership between Frankie Gone Bananas and The Bahamas Chess Federation. During four-hour event, tourists and locals alike stopped under the Frankie Gone Bananas outdoor pavilion for chess lessons, to take up the challenge to play a member of the Olympiad team or to simply enjoy a game of casual chess.

Chess, as is true with all sports, offers persons a myriad of benefits and opportunities. Chess is also one of the most effective ways to improve problem

CHECKMATE: Chess lovers face off at the Bahamas Chess Federation’s inaugural ChessX event at Frankie Gone Bananas, Arawak Cay.

solving skills and concentration. Studies have shown that one of the key educational benefits of chess is increasing memory and verbal reasoning skills.

But, at its core, chess is a fun game that has the power to bring together people of different backgrounds.

CM Kendrick Knowles, president of The Bahamas Chess Federation, expressed how happy he was to see his ChessX vision come to fruition.

CM Knowles expressed his excitement for more ChessX events in the future.

“The BCF is excited to start the summer off with our social chess initiative, ChessX. ChessX are events held at numerous local social spots in the community. Frankie Gone Bananas graciously agreed to be our first official host of ChessX, and the reception was overwhelming. Local chess fans, chess enthusiasts and persons interested in learning chess attended the event.

“We look forward to increasing the level of play and education during upcoming ChessX events and we encourage the local Bahamian community to support and look out for the next ChessX event planned for August.”

Those establishments interested in hosting a BCF ChessX event are asked to email bahamaschessofficial@gmail.com

Love at 1st flight: Indian javelin thrower inspiring nation

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer EUGENE, Oregon (AP) — There was no grand plan that launched Neeraj Chopra on the path to becoming an Olympic champion javelin thrower, only a simple suggestion.

Pudgy and pampered — his description — as a kid growing up in the northern part of India, Chopra’s uncle suggested one day that he head out to a nearby stadium to get some exercise.

It was there that Chopra first saw the javelin. Some might say it was love at first flight — a twist of fate that has made him a gold medallist and a recognisable name in a country of a billion people. Chopra will try to add another title to his growing list of achievements starting today in the qualifying round at world championships in Eugene, Oregon.

“I keep hearing stories about kids wanting to take up athletics and parents also being more open to allowing their children to take up sport,” the 24-yearold Chopra said in an email interview with The Associated Press. “That is what I believe is the true legacy of my medal, and it is

something I am incredibly happy and proud about.”

Since he became India’s first Olympic gold medallist in track and field last year, Chopra has appeared on the cover of Vogue India and his name has become one of the most searched on the internet among athletes in a country where cricket rules. August 7 in India is National Javelin Day — the day he took the gold in Tokyo.

It wasn’t all by accident.

Growing up, he always loved to throw. He’d get the family’s cattle out of the water by throwing stones close to them, no matter how far away he was. He loved throwing sticks as far as he could while walking around his family’s wheat and rice farm.

It helped turn his right arm into a potent machine.

His very first javelin throw was a modest 30 or so metres (98 feet, 5 inches).

Two weeks, and a few tips later, he was already up to 45 metres (147-7).

“I remember it felt very good to be able to throw so far,” he said.

He was only getting started. His winning throw in Tokyo was 87.58 metres (287-4). These days, he’s recognised everywhere he goes in India — streets,

malls, airports and restaurants. Everyone wants to take a picture with Chopra or get his autograph.

“It’s different from earlier when I could be more carefree about roaming around in public, but I like to think of it as me being privileged to receive so much adulation,” Chopra said.

“I’m mostly grateful for the support.”

There’s pressure, too, as one of the most familiar faces in a country that reveres cricket, soccer, badminton, field hockey and, now, the javelin.

“I try to go into every competition with the same aim, which is to do my best and try to achieve my best throw,” Chopra said.

“As long as I’ve been training well and feeling good about my body, I am confident about my chances and that’s the mindset I usually use going into any competition, be it the Olympics or world championships. It’s worked for me in the past, so hopefully, it continues to work for me.”

In May, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) debuted a kids’ javelin to encourage an even safer way to take part in the sport.

The launch was announced by none other

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NEERAJ CHOPRA, of India, competes in the men’s javelin throw final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, on Saturday, August 7, 2021, in Tokyo. He won the gold medal. In India, there’s a wave of kids picking up the javelin. They all want to be the next Neeraj Chopra, who became the country’s first Olympic champion in track and field during the Tokyo Games.

(AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) than Chopra in a video everything comes together. career. For perspective, the He had a setback in May world record is 98.48 (323message.

“We cannot let go of the 2019 when he underwent 1) set by Jan Zelezny in spike in interest for ath- elbow surgery to remove 1996.

“Despite the many comletics among youngsters bone fragments that had petitions I’ve competed in in India,” AFI President dislodged.

That led him to miss the and throws I’ve thrown, Adille J. Sumariwalla said world championships in there’s always this feeling in a release.

Chopra also is in the Doha that season, which that something could have Indian Army, holding the makes him more eager for been better,” Chopra said.

“Having said that, I think rank of subedar, which this version of worlds in that feeling is also imporis one higher than junior Oregon.

His biggest challenger fig- tant to keep the hunger and commissioned officer, he explained. He’s been given ures to be Anderson Peters, drive to do better alive.”

It also helps knowing no specific military require- the reigning world chamthere are kids in India getments other than to keep pion from Grenada.

Chopra is returning to ting involved because of doing what he does best the shape he was in before him.

— throw.

“I am known as Neeraj In that regard, Chopra elbow surgery. In late June, is still searching for that he threw 89.94 (295-1) — Chopra,” he said, “because “perfect” throw, where the longest throw of his of javelin.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, July 21, 2022, PAGE 17

Laura Morley: ‘I wanted to find a way to give back to the sport’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net IT’S not every day that Olympic medallists get to share their expertise with local swimmers. They did over the weekend at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex as former collegiate swimmer Laura Morley brought three of them to share in a two-day clinic.

The event was staged on Saturday and Sunday and featured American Olympic medallists Lilly King, Cody Miller and Annie Lazor, all former teammates of Morley at Indiana University.

“I started at Indiana as a walk-on in my freshman year and I stayed on for two more years,” Morley said.

“When COVID-19 hit, we were left without a pool and me and my team-mates found a way to train, and we became very close.

“So, when I decided that I was done with swimming, I wanted to find a way to give back to the sport and what better way to do it than to allow the kids to work with Olympic swimmers from the US, who have medalled and have the experience as top-tier athletes.”

The three swimmers divided the group into smaller groups where they got to work on the four disciplines in swimming - butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke and freestyle - before they swum some races against the Olympians before they engaged in a question-and-answer period.

“I felt these swimmers changed my swimming career for the best. They helped me to become the athlete that I became, so I’m really excited that they all agreed to come down and share in this clinic,” Morley said.

“I’m happy that the kids came out. They were very excited and so it’s been great. A lot of the parents

A VIEW of the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE WITH LOCAL SWIMMERS AT BETTY KELLY KENNING SWIM COMPLEX

GIVING BACK TO THE SPORT: Former collegiate swimmer Laura Morley brought American Olympic medallists Lilly King, Cody Miller and Annie Lazor - her former team-mates of Morley at Indiana University - to share their expertise with local swimmers during a two-day clinic on Saturday and Sunday at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

Photos by Austin Fernander/Tribune staff were also excited. This is a once in a lifetime experience having an Olympic swimmer, so it’s been a great experience for everyone involved.”

King, a native of Indiana, is the current world record holder in the long course 100 and 200 metres breaststroke. She is coming off her gold-medal performance in the 200m breaststroke in Toyko in her second appearance at the Olympics.

“It’s been super fun working with Laura and the kids here,” King said. “This is the fun thing for us to do outside of racing, so I’m really excited to be here in this type of environment.

It’s been great.”

As the “best friend” of Morley, King said she couldn’t pass up the

opportunity to share in the experience here and she’s eager to return for an encore in the future.

Miller, considered the “life of the party,” was a silver medallist in the 200m breaststroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but is now known for his popular YouTube vlogger that has attracted more than 173,000 followers.

“I grew up swimming at a young age, just like some of the swimmers here, and I got to love the sport, but I also enjoy coming to places like this to help the swimmers,” said Miller, a former team-mate of Morley at Indiana.

“I think they all had a great time. We were able to teach them quite a few things and so it was a lot of fun. It was also great for

us because we got to spend some time with Laura in her hometown, which is just amazing.”

Lazor, a resident of Michigan, is a 2019 Short Course metre world champion in the 200m breaststroke and a bronze medallist in the 200m breaststroke at the Toyko Olympics.

She said she’s just thrilled to be reunited with Morley in participating in her first international clinic.

“It’s been so amazing.

Everyone has been so supportive, it makes you want to come back again,” Lazor said. “It’s nice that we could come here with Laura and be able to expand our knowledge of the sport to so many of the youngsters here.”

Without any hesitation, Lazor said she would

definitely return for another trip to the Bahamas.

The three Olympians left town yesterday, but Morley said they would have gotten a Bahamian culture that they will never forget.

While her former team-mates will continue swimming, Morley is now retired and having earned her licence as a realtor in February, she’s concentrating on life after competition.

She noted that when she attended the Bahamas Aquatic’s National Swimming Championships

the week before, she had flashes of her days as a competitor. “I haven’t figured out my place in Bahamas Aquatics just yet, now that I am done as a swimmer,” she stated. “But I think swimming will continue to be an important aspect of my life and I’m just happy to get it started with this clinic.”

Bahamas Aquatics’ president Algernon Cargill and some other members of the federation were on hand to view the clinic, along with parents of the local swimmers who participated in the two sessions.

POGACAR WINS STAGE 17, VINGEGAARD MOVES CLOSER TO TOUR DE FRANCE TITLE PEYRAGUDES, France (AP) — Tadej Pogacar claimed a third stage win as he sprinted away from Jonas Vingegaard in the punishing last climb of a gruelling trek in the Pyrenees yesterday but failed to take significant time out of the Tour de France leader.

As so often in this year’s race, the pair were in a class of their own and were left fighting each other in the brutal final kilometre up to Peyragudes airstrip.

Once Pogacar’s teammate Brandon McNulty — who paced his leader throughout the day through punishing ascents with an impressive effort of pure dedication — got dropped, it was time for a final showdown in high altitude.

In the steep ramp leading to the finish, Pogacar accelerated with about 300 metres left.

Vingegaard countered with ease but the two-time defending champion had the final say with a final kick that helped him surge ahead and cross first, with Vingegaard on his wheel.

With just one big mountain stage left and an individual time trial before the race reaches Paris on Sunday, Vingegaard looks set for his first Tour de France win.

But Pogacar still believes.

“I’m optimistic that I can still win the Tour,” the 23-year-old Slovenian said.

“Tomorrow is a harder stage, so we can try again,” he said.

Since his bad day in the Alps when he relinquished the yellow jersey to Vingegaard, Pogacar has been

time trial, a discipline in which he has the upper hand on paper.

Pogacar’s hat-trick of stage wins this year took his career tally to nine.

Vingegaard was runnerup last year behind Pogacar.

The Danish rider has been impressive since the start in Copenhagen and once again showed no sign of weakness during yesterday’s tough ride featuring four big climbs.

McNulty completed the 130-kilometre (80.8-mile)

STAGE winner Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar, wearing the best young rider’s white jersey, sprints with Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, during the 17th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 130 kilometres (80.8 miles) with start in Saint-Gaudens and finish in Peyragudes, France, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) on the attack but has not to four riders following and Soler, we couldn’t try managed to make up the the earlier withdrawals of more. We’ll see tomorrow if George Bennett, Vegard there is another chance.” time he lost to his rival.

Pogacar will have one The UAE-Emirates team Stake Laengen and Marc last chance to unsettle the has also been forced to Soler.

“The way the team rode Jumbo-Visma team leader cope with many withdrawtoday with only four riders, in the mountains during als in his team. gruelling final Yesterday, Rafal Majka just to take the stage win today’s already incredible,” Pyrenean stage between pulled out of the race is Lourdes and Hautacam. just before the stage start Pogacar said.

“We can all be proud of After that, his last occabecause of a thigh injury.

Pogacar had already seen what we have done. With- sion to turn the race upside his support unit reduced out Rafal, George, Vegard down will be Saturday’s

stage podium, 32 seconds behind the pair.

With the time bonus awarded to the stage winner, Pogacar moved four seconds closer to Vingegaard.

Vingegaard now has an overall lead of two minutes, 18 seconds in the general classification.

Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour champion, was dropped in the penultimate climb and lagged 4:56 behind in third place overall.

PAGE 18, Thursday, July 21, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Wightman wins 1,500m on night filled with surprises at Worlds

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer EUGENE, Oregon (AP) — The look of disbelief on British 1,500-metre champion Jake Wightman’s face as he crossed the finish line captured the evening best.

“Crazy,” he said.

Nothing quite went to script, yet everything seemed almost perfect on a wild Tuesday night at the world championships.

The in-stadium announcer for Wightman’s race was none other than his dad, Geoff. Handing Jake Wightman the gold medal after the race was none other than British middle-distance great Sebastian Coe, who also happens to be the World Athletics President and one of Wightman’s mentors.

“What else could I ask for?” Jake Wightman said.

Almost lost in all those good feelings was that Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway finished second in this one and his countryman, Karsten Warholm, seventh in the night’s last race, the 400meter hurdles.

Wightman’s win arrived because he decided to take a chance and go all-out with about 200 metres to go.

“I thought, ‘I’m going to give this a go. If I end up finishing fourth, whatever. I gave it a go to try to win,’” Wightman said.

Other surprises included 100-metre champion Fred Kerley suffering a cramp in the semifinals of the 200 and not advancing.

And Warholm’s loss — chalked up to a bad hamstring that’s been bugging him this season — was a

win for Alison Dos Santos of Brazil. Not that huge of a surprise, though it did open the door for American Trevor Bassitt to take surprise third, then withstand a tackle from the silver medalist, teammate Rai Benjamin.

“Just amazing,” Benjamin said. “So proud of him.”

Warholm, Benjamin and Dos Santos have formed the Big Three in the event.

So any time they don’t end up on the podium it’s a shocker.

The 24-year-old Bassitt used the underdog card to his advantage. After the race, he replicated NBA standout Steph Curry’s iconic “night, night” gesture.

No one will sleep on him again.

“I knew for me there really wasn’t that much pressure from the outside,” Bassitt said. “I knew if I got a medal people would be shocked. I knew if I didn’t get a medal it would be like, ‘OK, he really wasn’t supposed to.’ I feel like I belong in that pedigree in that group of three. I feel like today proved it.”

Dos Santos powered down the homestretch to take the title and finish in a championship-record time of 46.29 seconds. That broke Kevin Young’s worldchampionship record of 47.18 seconds set in 1993 in Germany.

No wonder Dos Santos gave two bows to the crowd.

“The energy of the crowd was amazing,” Dos Santos said. “I felt their love, people hugging me. When you win, you start being everyone’s favourite.”

GEOFF and Susan Wightman pose with their son gold medallist Jake Wightman after the men’s 1500-metre final run at the World Athletics Championships on Tuesday.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Warholm said the ham- able to keep it together on Spain’s Mohamed Katir string was fine, but his the call in the stadium, even flew down the homestretch training not as much. with his own son about to to take home bronze.

“I’ve only been focus- win.

“To take the win, I think ing on getting ready, and “I have to keep it neu- it will take a long time to today I went all or nothing, tral,” he explained. sink in,” Wightman said. “I and unfortunately it was “So there’s things you just wanted to show I was nothing,” said Warholm, can do just to stop yourself in good shape and to build the Olympic champion and from getting emotional.” on it.” world-record holder.

Wightman finished in a Other winners included “I’ve just got to live with time of 3 minutes, 29.23 Australia’s Eleanor Patthat.” seconds. terson in the women’s high Maybe the biggest His win broke a string jump and Kristjan Ceh shocker of the night was of five straight world 1,500 of Slovenia in the men’s that Wightman’s dad was titles by the Kenyans. discus.

Earlier in the night, Kerley slowed down midway through his 200metre semifinal due to a cramp and finished sixth.

His thoughts of two individual medals at the first worlds held on U.S. soil were dashed.

Kerley, once a 400-metre specialist who moved down in distance before last year’s Olympics, won the 100 in 9.86 seconds and was expected to lead the Americans in the 4x100 relay this weekend. He hasn’t been ruled out.

Kerley’s departure opens a less-challenging path for Noah Lyles, the defending world champion, 18-yearold Erriyon Knighton, and top-ranked Kenny Bednarek, all of whom advanced. The trio had the top three times, led by Lyles at 19.62 seconds.

The Jamaican women are poised for another sprint sweep after qualifying three for the final in the 200.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah — the finishing order of the 100 — all advanced. Jackson had the fastest time at 21.67. It was an easy night at the track for the medal favourites in the women’s 400 hurdles. Olympic champion and world-record holder Sydney McLaughlin, defending world champion Dalilah Muhammad and Olympic bronze medallist Femke Bol of the Netherlands easily won their first-round heats.

“This event has become one of the main focuses for the last couple of years,” Muhammad said. “It could be any one of our days. So we’ll just see how it goes.”

Las Vegas Aces have found winning ways again under Hammon CHICAGO Sky’s Rebekah Gardner, center, drives to the basket. (AP)

CHICAGO WINS 5TH STRAIGHT TO CLINCH WNBA PLAYOFF SPOT CHICAGO (AP) — Allie Quigley scored 18 points, Emma Meesseman had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and the Chicago Sky beat the Seattle Storm 78-74 yesterday for their fifth straight victory.

Chicago (20-6) clinched a playoff spot with its 20th win of the season.

Meesseman made a reverse layup to give Chicago a 76-72 lead and Kahleah Copper grabbed an offensive rebound on the Sky’s next possession before making 1 of 2 free throws for a five-point lead.

After a timeout, Breanna Stewart made a driving layup with 10.7 seconds left to pull Seattle within three points, but Copper went 1 for 2 from the free-throw line at the other end.

Copper finished with 11 points and eight rebounds for Chicago.

Candace Parker had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Chicago was missing guard Courtney Vandersloot for concussion protocol.

Stewart led Seattle (17-9) with 24 points. Jewell Loyd added 18 points, Tina Charles had 11 points and six rebounds, and Sue Bird scored nine points.

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer THE All-Star break came at a good time for the Las Vegas Aces and since play resumed they’ve been on a roll.

Las Vegas has won three straight — all on the road — averaging 102 points a game in those victories.

“We have so many weapons on offense,” said Aces guard Kelsey Plum, who is having the best season of her career, averaging 20.3 points. That’s second best in the league.

The Aces (18-7) have five starters scoring in double figures and are averaging a league-high 91.3 points a game. Chelsea Gray credits coach Becky Hammon for simplifying their offensive and defensive systems on both ends of the court as one reason for the team’s success.

Las Vegas won 13 of its first 15 games before stumbling prior to the All-Star break with five losses in seven games.

Now the Aces are winning again.

“No one said it was going to be easy. If being great was easy, everyone would be doing it,” Hammon said. “You have to hit some adversity. There should be some hiccups. We came out like a rocket and then hit some rough patches.

“The adversity will be beneficial to us more than the win-loss record down the road.”

They have three games at home before embarking on a six-game road trip that includes the Commissioner’s Cup title game in Chicago next Tuesday.

This week’s WNBA poll: 1. Chicago (19-6): The Sky keep winning, with

CONNECTICUT Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) gets the offensive rebound over teammate Brionna Jones (42) and Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (22) during a WNBA basketball game, on Sunday in Uncasville, Conn.

(Sean D Elliot/The Day via AP) four straight victories and nine of 10. Chicago was missing guard Courtney Vandersloot for concussion protocol in the last game, but hope to have her back soon.

2. Las Vegas (18-7): Riquna Williams has lately been providing solid minutes off the bench, averaging 7.2 points this season to give the Aces a spark.

3. Seattle (17-8): The Storm have won four straight and will be tested this week at Chicago and Phoenix.

4. Connecticut (16-9): The Sun were playing well following the All-Star break, then Jonquel Jones had to miss games because of COVID protocols. They hope to have the reigning MVP back soon.

5. Washington (16-11): Elena Delle Donne has been the pivotal to the

Mystics’ run lately. The 6-foot-5 former league MVP has been able to play more and rest her back less. Washington has just one game this week before playing four games in six days.

6. Atlanta (11-14): A big road win at Phoenix without All-Star rookie Rhyne Howard has the Dream feeling good. Howard has been bothered by a shoulder injury and they hope to have her back soon.

Atlanta already has its most wins since 2018.

7. Dallas (11-14): The Wings are looking to rebound after losing two of their last three. Center Teaira McCowan has provided a huge lift for the Wings in limited minutes.

8. Minnesota (10-17): The Lynx have consecutive home games against the Sun that will be critical to their chances of keeping

their 11-year run of making the postseason alive.

9 (tie). Los Angeles (1014): After a challenging road stretch to start the season, Los Angeles has been playing in the comforts of home for most of July.

The Sparks haven’t been able to take advantage of it so far, going 2-3 during their seven-game homestand. Getting center Liz Cambage back from COVID protocols will help.

9 (tie). New York (9-15): The Liberty gave up 215 points in two games to Las Vegas and if they want to have any chance of making the postseason New York will need to clean up its defense — which sits near the bottom of the league.

The Liberty are giving up 84.7 a game on average.

11. Phoenix (11-16): The Mercury haven’t been able

to establish any consistency on either end of the floor this season. Skylar DigginsSmith is having another great year satistically and Diana Taurasi lately has been playing well. The Mercury haven’t had much other production on the offensive end.

12. Indiana (5-22): Nine straight losses have the Fever looking towards the draft lottery and hopefully getting the No. 1 pick for the first time in franchise history.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK Elena Delle Donne of Washington was voted the AP Player of the Week.

She averaged 22 points, eight rebounds and 3.3 assists to help the Mystics win two of their three games. Kahleah Copper of Chicago, Breanna Stewart of Seattle, Kelsey Plum of Las Vegas and Jonquel Jones of Connecticut also received votes.

MEANINGFUL GESTURE The WNBA All-Stars all switched to uniforms with Brittney Griner’s name and number on them for the second half of the game.

Griner held up a photo showing the players honoring her when she was in court last week during her trial for drug possession.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Seattle at Phoenix, Friday. Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi will meet for the final time in the regular season after spending the last two decades linked together from their time at UConn and on the U.S. national team.

The game will also serve as a return to Phoenix for Tina Charles, who left the Mercury last month.

THE TRIBUNE

SHAUNAE FROM PAGE 20

through the round as easy as possible and get ready for the next round, but the ultimate goal is to win the gold.

A World Championships 400m gold medal has eluded Miller-Uibo in her star-studded career thus far.

At the 2015 meet in Beijing, China, she finished second behind Allyson Felix of the United States, and in 2019 in Doha, Qatar she was upset by Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser.

“This is my last year of really focusing on the 400m and I want to have some fun in my last few years into the sport,” she said.

“I definitely want to get into the [multi-event

Thursday, July 21, 2022, PAGE 19

TOP: Shaunae Miller-Uibo wins her semifinal of the 400 metres last night.

SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO, of The Bahamas, prepares for the semifinal of the women’s 400-metre run at the World Athletics Championships yesterday in Eugene, Oregon.

(AP Photos/Ashley Landis) competitions] and really as well so we’ll see how it properly train for the 200m goes.”

SPORTS PAGE 20

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

Shaunae advances to 400m final S

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

haunae MillerUibo raced a season’s best time to advance to the final as the fastest qualifier in the women’s 400m field at the World Athletics Championships.

The two-time Olympic champion in the event ran 49.55 seconds to win the first of three semi-finals last night at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Miller-Uibo finished ahead of Jamaica’s Candice McLeod who came through for second in her season’s best time of 50.05 and Anna Kielbasinska of Poland was

third in in 50.65 to advance as the eighth qualifier for the final.

Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic won semi-final three in 49.98 and was the only other athlete in the field to join Miller-Uibo with a sub-50 second time.

McLeod had the third fastest seed time followed by Sada Williams of Barbados (50.12- SB), Fiordaliza Cofil of the Dominican Republic (50.14 - PB), Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands (50.18 - NR), Stephanie Ann McPherson of Jamaica (50.56) and Kielbasinska.

Miller-Uibo will run in lane three of Friday night’s final, scheduled for 7:15pm local time.

WINNING WAYS: Shaunae Miller-Uibo, of The Bahamas, wins her semi-final of the women’s 400-metre run at the World Athletics Championships yesterday in Eugene, Oregon.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis) “It felt great out there, “I don’t care what it takes going out there and trying Couldn’t seem to catch a break from some injuries the track is really fast, to win, the main thing is just to bring home the gold.”

She opened the competi- but geared up and we’re and I’m looking forto win,” she told reporters following the heats. “Every tion on day three when she ready for the champs. I ward to some really great last girl coming out here ran 51.10 to win the first of don’t think we’re exactly performances.”

The 28-year-old veteran wants the same thing so it’s six heats and advance to the where we want to be but we’re in great shape to put said that the goal was to get going to be a dog fight to semi-finals.

“We’ve been through down some really good the finish. It’s just about setting everything up properly, alot of injuries this season. times,” she said.

SEE PAGE 19