10242022 NEWS AND SPORT

PRICE CONTROLS MOVE ‘DISASTER’

Pintard calls for govt rethink over impact to business

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Move

ment leader Michael Pintard called on the Davis administration to reverse its decision to enforce price controls on additional items, warning that to continue the measure is another ingredi ent to a “recipe for disaster” for hundreds of businesses in the country.

In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Pin tard was adamant that a series of decisions made by the government have

been “reckless”, saying he could see trouble coming from introducing additional items to the country’s price control list, higher electric ity bills to come next month and an impending mini mum wage increase.

His comments come days after Latrae Rahming, com munications director in the Office of the Prime Min ister, confirmed retailers were granted an extension to Friday for the adoption of new price controls, amid the government’s decision to expand its list of pricecontrolled items.

...AS RETAILERS SCRAMBLE TO MEET NEW DEADLINE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SMALL, inner-city and Family Island food stores were yesterday said to be “leading the way” as the industry works “feverishly” to supply the Govern ment with an alternative to the massive price control expansion by this Friday.

John Bostwick, the Retail

Grocers Association’s attor ney and legal adviser, told Tribune Business that larger operators such as Super Value and AML Foods had “magnanimously” taken a supporting role over the sector’s response knowing that smaller operators and their staff will be “hurt the most” if price controls are expanded to 38 product categories.

GLITCHES - BUT FOOD FEST WELCOMED BACK

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE International Culture Wine and Food Festival made its comeback over the weekend after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

The festival celebrated its 25th anniversary at Collins House gardens on Collins Avenue on Saturday and the event continued on Sunday.

This year, the festival was

completely digital with the usage of the Sand Dollar as the currency of choice for

purchasing items within the event.

Janet Johnson, presi dent of the ICWFF, acknowledged some issues festival-goers faced at the cashless event but said with change comes challenges. She said they were taking steps to mitigate the issue.

Asked if she was aware of some of the issues people faced with the Sand Dollar, she said: “Yes, we are. But there’s always challenges

LEGAL ACTION EXPECTED OVER ‘ROGUE ACTIONS’ AT OLD FORT BAY

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE deepening divide at one of western New Provi dence’s most upscale gated communities is set to trig ger legal action as early as today amid concerns over new construction and ear lier alleged “rogue actions”.

Old Fort Bay residents yesterday said an injunc tion will likely be sought to halt plans by its home owners association’s board of directors to construct “a multi-use pathway” that will provide bicycle and golf cart access to Lyford Cay - and other nearby com munities - starting from the West Gate on its northern boundary.

Homeowners, especially in the Islands of Old Fort Bay and Bay Creek sub divisions, are questioning whether the necessary gov ernment permits have been obtained for the construc tion and if Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and other studies are required.

MITCHELL: NOTHING UNUSUAL IN BERMUDA TRIP

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs Min ister Fred Mitchell has said there was nothing unusual about his and Prime Min ister Philip “Brave” Davis’ recent trip to Bermuda.

The minister, over the weekend, said the trip was a standard official visit to another country at the invitation of the Premier of Bermuda E David Burt, who is also leader of Ber muda’s Progressive Labour Party.

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PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis with Chinese ambassador Dai Qingli at the International Culture Wine and Food Festival.

Austin Fernander

AFTER ten months of training, two Bahamian women, Stacee Bain Crittenden and Dr Nneka Davis, joined by Dr Davis’ husband, Maynard McAlpin, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa with a group called the Wisdom Walkers. Dr Davis is pictured with her husband flying the Bahamian flag on reaching their goal. See PAGE THREE for the full story.

Flying the flag on Kilimanjaro

BAHAMIANS Stacee Bain Crittenden and Dr Nneka Davis recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro where Mrs Crittenden car ried The Bahamas’ national flag all the way to the mountain’s summit.

They climbed with the Wisdom Walkers, who “made history as the most seasoned group of black men and women to climb Africa’s highest peak”, a press release noted.

Joining Dr Davis was her husband, Maynard McAlpin, who together with the Wisdom Walkers, undertook a nearly tenmonth training regime to prepare for the expedition.

The members, who range in age between 47 and 74, worked diligently to get prepared for this physically challenging feat. Meeting Sundays for five-mile treks in local parks, climbing local mountains in Aspen and working out regu larly with personal trainers became the group’s norm.

“The mountain required great stamina, and physical

and psychological commit ment. We trekked through arid, rocky, and difficult terrain for more than seven hours a day for five solid days on Mount Kiliman jaro, often rock scrambling at 45-degree angles. We would be exhausted by the end of each day at the base camps. But the incredible Tusker Trails support team of porters, cooks, outfitters, and guides made the effort possible,” said Dr Davis.

“We carried the Baha mian flag as we ascended from 3,000 to 19,341 and began our ascent for the peak after 1am in the frigid cold, wearing headlamps, which pierced the dark ness. It was extremely challenging with decreasing oxygen levels the higher we climbed; but we enthusiasti cally waved the blue, yellow and black flag representing the vitality of the Bahamian people and our enterpris ing and determined nature, as we reached the summit,” said Mrs Crittenden.

Dr Davis said the accom plishment is a legacy for her

children and grandchildren.

“It was rewarding to climb the renowned Great Branco Wall, for my hus band and I to achieve our personal summit at Stella Point, (18,885 feet) and to know this accomplishment in our lives. We leave this legacy for our children and their children,” said Dr Davis.

The Wisdom Walkers

TWO IN HOSPITAL AFTER SHOOTING AND STABBING

A MAN is in hospital after he was shot while working on a vehicle yesterday.

Police said the incident took place around noon at Peter Street off Market Street.

The initial investigation revealed that a 28-yearold victim was working on a vehicle when he was approached and subse quently shot by suspects

who exited a dark coloured vehicle.

The victim was shot mul tiple times and taken to hospital via private vehi cle where he is detained in stable condition.

During the incident, a public service transporta tion vehicle was damaged.

Police are looking for three men they believe to be responsible for the shooting.

Police also said a 29-yearold woman is in hospital after she was stabbed on Friday. Shortly after 3pm, police were notified of the incident which occurred in the area of West Street.

The victim was trans ported to hospital where she is detained in critical condition. A 45-year-old woman is in custody assist ing the police with their investigation.

POLICE HUNT FOR ARMED ROBBERS

POLICE are actively searching for four men believed to be respon sible for three separate armed robberies over the weekend.

The first incident report edly occurred around 2.30pm in the Fox Hill area. Police said a man was driv ing his pickup truck on Gun Hill Road when he was rear-ended by another vehicle. The victim got out of his truck to view the damage and was report edly accosted by two men, one of whom was allegedly armed with a handgun.

The culprits reportedly ordered the victim back

into his pickup truck, drove him to a secluded location in western New Providence, where they robbed him of his wallet and cellphone.

The second incident occurred shortly before 5pm at a business located East Street South.

Police said a man entered the establishment allegedly armed with a high-powered weapon and demanded cash. The thief reportedly robbed the place of an undis closed amount of cash and fled the area on foot in an unknown direction.

Police are also actively searching for a man who

robbed another man of $15,000 in cash on Saturday.

The incident reportedly occurred shortly before 4am on Saturday outside a residence off Soldier Road.

The victim, on arrival at his residence, was approached and sub sequently robbed by a gunman, police said.

The suspect fled the area in a dark coloured vehicle.

Police are actively investigating these mat ters and are appealing to members of the public to be extremely vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times, especially as the holiday season approaches.

SKELETAL REMAINS FOUND ON TRACK ROAD

SKELETAL remains were found on a track road in Grand Bahama on Saturday.

Police said shortly before 5.50pm, officers from McClean’s Town Police Station, acting on information, went to

TWO DEAD IN ABACO HEAD-ON COLLISION

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TWO men are dead fol lowing a traffic accident in Abaco on Friday.

According to police, shortly after 5pm on Friday Abaco officers received a report of a traffic accident involving a blue Toyota Four Runner driven by a man travelling south on Ernest Dean Highway and a Buick driven by a man accompanied by a male pas senger travelling north.

Police said the Buick veered into the southern lane causing a head-on collision with the Toyota. Both drivers and the pas senger were taken to the Marsh Harbour clinic with serious injuries. The male passenger was examined and pronounced dead.

Police Assistant Superin tendent Stephen Rolle told The Tribune yesterday that police found out later that the driver of the Buick died of his injuries, after being flown to New Providence.

ASP Rolle said both male victims were in their late 20s or early 30s.

ASP Rolle, the press liai son officer for the Northern Bahamas and Grand Bahama, said the traffic deaths are a concern.

Thompson was killed in a traffic accident.

According to police, shortly after 8pm on Octo ber 9, officers at the Marsh Harbour Police Station received reports of a traf fic accident in the area of Black Wood, North Abaco.

Preliminary investiga tions revealed a 2008 silver Honda was travelling west on SC Bootle Highway driven by an adult male and accompanied by an adult female, and a 2010 yellow Chevrolet Camaro travel ling east driven by a man and accompanied by a man when both vehicles collided.

Mr Thompson, the driver of the Honda, was pro nounced dead at the scene. The other driver and pas sengers were taken to the local clinic for their injuries.

In June, a teenage girl died in Abaco from a traffic accident. The acci dent reportedly occurred in Dundas Town shortly before 9pm.

According to police, offic ers at the Marsh Harbour Police Station received a report of a traffic accident that occurred in the area of Shell Gas Station on George Albury Blvd.

a track road at the eastern end of Grand Bahama, where skeletal remains were recovered.

The remains were taken to the morgue while an investigation is ongoing.

are working to inspire Caribbean and Afri can-Americans to age responsibly and to choose health at every phase of life. The group consists of real estate developers, diversity and inclusion professionals, attorneys, business owners, a paediatric dentist, and former military officers.

Wisdom Walkers’ founder, Sharon Goods said, “Mount Kilimanjaro became a focal point in our mission to encourage blacks to choose adventure and heath in addressing the prevalence of impaired mobility, hypertension, and diabetes in our race.

We are navigating stress and it requires us to be deliberate with our health. We can choose either to gaze at the mountain or challenge ourselves physi cally and spiritually to trek it.

On October 2, 2022, the Wisdom Walkers made history as the senior-most group of black people to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, according to a press release.

“The police are con cerned about the number of accidents happening throughout The Bahamas, particularly Abaco where people are losing their lives. We wish to advise the public that while they trav erse the streets of Abaco particularly, to drive with due care and attention and to obey all the traffic laws,” he said.

ASP Rolle said as the Christmas season is approaching, drivers should be vigilant.

“We are coming close to the Christmas season now, you will find more vehicles on the road, pedestrians, and even motorbikes. So, I want to say to those indi viduals who may be driving recklessly or within breach of the speed limit to be mindful of the other road users. And try to avoid any mishaps as much as possible. Like I said, we are nearing the Christmas season and we want this to be a safe Christmas for all,” he said.

The traffic fatalities in Abaco this year have heightened the call for road safety.

Earlier this month, an Abaco pastor who rela tives identified as Leroy

Initial reports said the vehicle driven by the juve nile was travelling west on George Albury Blvd at high speed. While attempting to overtake another vehicle, the driver lost control of her vehicle, which overturned.

ASP Rolle said the female driver was ejected from the vehicle. He said EMS took the victim to the Marsh Harbour Clinic, where she was seen and examined by a doctor, but later died of her injuries.

In February, a man was found dead in mangroves following a car accident in Abaco.

According to police around 7am, officers from the Marsh Harbour Police Station received a report of a traffic accident on Ernest Dean Highway.

When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a black 2005 Honda Fit vehi cle and the body of a lifeless male in the mangroves south of a local resort.

Initial investigations revealed the driver of the vehicle was travelling north down the highway when he lost control of the vehicle and veered off the eastern side of the street.

This resulted in his vehi cle overturning several times off the road with him being ejected from the vehicle.

STACEE Bain Crittenden celebrates at the summit of Kilimanjaro.

STACEE Bain Crittenden and Dr Nneka Davis during their ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Price controls move ‘disaster’

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis revealed in a national address that 38 items will be subject to price controls.

Given what is to come, retailers have questioned how businesses were sup posed to survive the double blow.

However, despite a series of meetings with stakeholders, the govern ment seems firm on its decision saying in a state ment Friday that while they’ve agreed to allow merchants up to October 31 to complete their respec tive transition processes, beginning November 1, enforcement of the final amended regulations will come.

“The government’s actions with respect to a series of decisions they’ve made recently is reckless and we predict that it is going to result in tremen dous hardship on small and medium sized businesses, in particular but not exclu sively and that impact is going to trickle down to impact consumers who they claim that they have an interest in supporting,” Mr Pintard said Sunday when he was asked whether in his view, the government had handled the situation properly.

“This will also impact employees who are going

FNM Leader Michael Pintard.

to also bear the brunt of the government decisions.”

Mr Pintard said the Davis administration has not con ducted studies or proper consultation to ensure they were on the right track.

“The government neither conducted studies ahead of the decision that they have made nor did they consult.

In both cases it’s a recipe for disaster when a gov ernment fails to conduct studies to look at impact and then secondly to at least consult stakeholders to at least see what conse quences are likely to result from the decisions that they

are making. “Even after what they admitted were compelling reasons why they needed to pause, given the fact that a number of businesses signalled their inability to sustain this in some cases for weeks, others saying that it’s only a matter of months that they are going to begin to feel the result and their business is going to be devastated.

“So again the govern ment wishes to proceed because again it was seek ing to appease members of the public whom they have just unleashed 163 percent

increase on fuel charge and the government was trying to find a way to bail itself out of a tremendous backlash from a public that is justifiably angry with them.”

He continued: “So, they have gone from a very bad decision on BPL which came about because of their own failure to act in a timely manner, to a far worse situ ation by now inflicting harm on businesses and so we say to the government that they ought to reverse the horri ble decision that they have made.

“They should remove

VAT off the breadbasket items one, and then they should remove VAT off of that new mix of items that they are considering under price control.

“Remove the VAT. That would help achieve some relief for residents but listen to business persons, listen very carefully and assess whether or not you are going to devastate possibly hundreds of businesses.”

He maintained that recent actions of the gov ernment flew in the face of what was promised while the Progressive Liberal Party was in opposition.

“Without question (this is a recipe for disaster),” Mr Pintard said.

“The 163 percent is just the fuel charge. The next effect of that is some 35 per cent overall increase of the cost of electricity even for the most vulnerable of soci ety whom the government claims to have concern of and it also results in a near almost 100 percent increase for middle class Bahami ans. That is devastating for businesses that employ Bahamians.

“Devastating for the con sumers themselves and so again the government has made a horrible decision there. That could have been averted had they executed the trades that were recom mended to them when they came to government.

“Now on top of that they have gone ahead and put all

of these items under price control without the benefit of a study and without the benefit of consultation.

“Again we support unequivocally making sure that we have liveable wages but the government again proceeded down that road without again doing a proper assessment of the net impact.

“So, there has been a series of decisions that they made again flying in the face of what they said when they were in opposition, which is the need for studies so that you could make evi dence based decisions and secondly the need for con sultation with stakeholders who are the ones keeping this economy afloat,” Mr Pintard said.

On Friday, Mr Rahming explained the reason for the extension.

“We will extend the period of conversation to next week Friday. The government realises and recognises that we share the burden with all of our partners in this effort, in the fight against the global economic crisis. So, they will get an extension to next week Friday,” Mr Rahming said.

The government is plan ning to limit the wholesale and retail markup on items like diapers, and food including chicken, eggs, bread, bananas, apples, oranges, broccoli, onions, and potatoes.

OFFICIALS SEEKING INSURANCE AFTER MET DEPT AUDIT

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

AFTER an auditor gen eral’s report revealed that expensive weather equip ment has gone uninsured, officials are said to be nar rowing down vendors to ensure there is sufficient coverage to protect against loss and damage.

During a probe of opera tions at the Department of Meteorology, Auditor Gen eral Terrance Bastian found that the vulnerable equip ment included five Doppler radars and several airport weather observing systems (AWOS) among other things.

The radar equipment has cost taxpayers $19,946,235, according to the report,

which was tabled at Parlia ment last week.

Yesterday, director of communications in the Office of the Prime Min ister Latrae Rahming said officials were looking for insurers to provide suitable coverage.

“The Met Department is moving ahead to insure the radar equipment and is down to the selection of identifying one of three vendors it’s currently in the process of choosing between,” Mr Rahming said.

In his report, Mr Bas tian noted that of five radars, only three were operational.

To this, Mr Rahming said work was on going to get the remaining units at Ragged Island and

Mayaguana on stream.

“(There were) minor (issues) in Ragged Island which will be resolved in about two weeks. Teams still need to do trenching in Mayaguana for power lines. Estimated time of comple tion is the first quarter of 2023.”

Numerous other unin sured equipment and instruments are also being housed at the department’s Upper Air Station at Wind sor Field Road, the report also noted.

As of the auditors’ walk through of the prop erty in July, the building needed extensive repairs, leading to an engineering team from the Ministry of Public Works determin ing that the building be “condemned”.

Regarding this find ing, Mr Rahming did not respond to The Tribune’s inquiries.

“None of the depart ment’s equipment and instruments are insured against loss or damage,” the report said.

The Tribune sought clar ification from the Office of Auditor General on the report last week. It was confirmed that none of the department’s equipment, including the expen sive radars and AWOS, had current insurance protection.

On October 27, 2016, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, now the Ministry of Transport and Local Government, signed a contract with an interna tional company to acquire

several Doppler radars and airport weather observing systems, with a price tag of $19,136,110, which included value added tax.

The government moved to purchase the equipment in the aftermath of Hur ricane Joaquin in 2015.

The decision also came with the realisation that the existing Doppler radar was not sufficient to cover the southern islands of Long Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay and MICAL. These islands were out side of the sole Doppler radar’s effective range of 150 miles.

Initially, the contract’s deliverables were for the installation of four Doppler weather radars through out The Bahamas and nine airport weather observing

systems together with associated software and services.

On March 6, 2017, the contract was amended and signed on July 22, 2019. According to the audit report, amendments were made to the contract including additional supply containers, updated project plans and additional costs and late payment interest of a 12 percent charge if bal ances remained unpaid.

A further breakdown of government spending relating to the radars and AWOS is that money was paid to a foreign company in the amount of $6,687,639 in the 2016/2017 fiscal year, $7,654,444 in 2017/2018, $2,880,417 in 2018/2019 and $$2,723,736 in 2019 to the same year December.

MITCHELL: NOTHING UNUSUAL IN BERMUDA TRIP

Mr Mitchell said the organisation was the Pro gressive Liberal Party’s sister party, formed in part by Dame Lois Brown Evans, a classmate of Sir Lynden Pindling in law school. Sir Lynden helped to form the PLP in Ber muda, the Fox Hill MP said. He explained the rea soning for last week’s trip, while pointing to “FNM trolls” and their “fabrica tion” of “lies”.

Communications director Latrae Rahming also said

on Friday that the travel costs were covered by the Progressive Liberal Party, adding any further questions should be directed there.

“It was a standard foreign affairs goodwill trip, not a political trip,” Mr Mitchell said on Saturday.

“The Prime Minister spoke at the convention of the PLP in Bermuda. The Prime Minister met with the premier and members of his Cabinet in Hamil ton and exchanged views on housing, transport and our relationship within CARICOM.

“The Prime Minister

met with the Governor of Bermuda and pledged to appoint an honorary consul in Bermuda for The Bahamas.

“The visit was a success on all levels. He was able to solidify relations on a party to party basis with the next generation of leaders of The Bahamas and Bermuda. He was able to visit the grave of Dame Lois. He promised that there will be further governmental exchanges on public transport and hous ing and disaster relief.

“There was nothing unu sual about the trip whether in its financing or otherwise.

There was a one-hour delay on departure to fulfil a requirement of air traf fic control, but this was resolved by the airline. The flight departed without inci dent and landed safely in Nassau two hours and some later.

“The standard procedure is for most if not all flights of the Prime Minister to be arranged through the Office of the Prime Min ister. When settlement of expenses are done there is a reckoning as between per sonal expenses and public expenses. That procedure was followed in this case

and there is nothing unu sual about it.”

Mr Mitchell has also said the FNM must explain how more than $600,000 was spent on furniture at The Bahamas Embassy in Brus sels, Belgium.

Responding directly to the FNM regarding the trip, Mr Mitchell said: “The FNM has made up all these idle stories because they are embarrassed that their foreign policy was a failure. They sat at home for four and a half years and did nothing.

“The Prime Minister and the PLP as a matter of policy promised to reach out to the outside world to win friends and influence people. The FNM should stop making up lies and fantasies about a standard foreign policy visit.

“They need to explain how $600,000 was spent to put furniture for Hubert Minnis’ special friend in Brussels. Michael Pin tard sat in the Cabinet and agreed and now he is talk ing about travel. The devil is a liar,” he said.

Last week, The Tribune reported that an audit into The Bahamas’ Embassy in Brussels, Belgium found that over $600,000 of tax payers’ money was spent on furniture purchases for the official residence.

Labour and Immigra tion Minister Keith Bell first raised alarm about the extravagant pur chases in Parliament in June, accusing the Minnis administration of the “indiscriminate callous haemorrhage” of the public purse.

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Glitches - but food fest welcomed back

from

when you’re making a change. So we anticipated that and we’re trying to mitigate the situation to make it comfortable for everybody.

“And to also make sure that they have an excellent experience when they go to the booths and they want to purchase that it’s seamless. It’s a tap and pay.”

Some people complained on social media about having to use apps to make purchases at the festival, saying the wifi was spotty at times which hindered business. However, other people said their preloaded digital wallets worked seamlessly at the event.

Ms Johnson explained why the festival went digital.

“With digital, it’s more efficient, in that every trans action that’s taking place is being recorded auto matically. So the vendor knows exactly how much they’re making. And it’s all recorded.

“They don’t have to track it, it’s all automated. So it’s helping their businesses and taking them to another level in the business experience.” She added: “This is the first all-digital festival. So it’s something that Bahami ans should be proud of and I’m glad to see that so many have come in to try it.”

There were 130 booths ranging from different cui sines and countries that participated in the cultural

event. Among participants included Italy, Trinidad & Tobago, Mexico, China, Peru, Jamaica, India, and others.

On the first official day of the event, there were scores of people anxiously waiting to get inside.

Ms Johnson expressed her excitement for the fes tival to finally be back after two years.

“We’re so grateful we are back and looking at these lines, obviously the public has been yearning for something like this.”

She added: “We are here at the Collins House gar dens, it’s our first time here, we have been at the Botani cal Gardens for 24 years. This is our silver jubilee, and we were sad not to be there for that milestone. But we are happy to be here, and people liked the site very much.”

Ms Johnson said they found out weeks before the festival that Botanical Gar dens would not be ready in time due to construction at the site, however the festi val organisers were grateful to be at Collins House.

China’s Ambassador to The Bahamas Dai Qingli, who worked in the Chinese Embassy’s booth, said she was pleased to be a part of the festival. She added it was a fantastic opportunity to show the Chinese culture and to interact with others.

The Trinidad and Tabago booth was represented by the Lime at Home restau rant staff who said they were excited to participate

in their first year at the fes tival. The owner along with her workers made fresh roti and other dishes.

Chef Emmanuel Gibson of Mañuelo’s said the event was a great platform for businesses, noting it was a great place to display Baha mian cuisine.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis at the food festival.

Photos: Austin Fernander

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Macron: Ukraine to decide terms of peace

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday it’s up to Ukraine to decide the time and terms of peace with Russia, and he cautioned that the end of war “can’t be the consecration of the law of the strongest”.

Speaking at the opening of a threeday peace conference in Rome, Macron said the international community will be there when the Ukrainian government chooses that time.

“To stay neutral would mean accept ing the world order of the strongest, and I don’t agree with this,” Macron said at the conference organised by a Catholic charity with close ties to the Vatican.

There is concern that support from Ukraine’s allies in Europe might be eroded due to soaring energy costs with the approach of winter.

Pope Francis is scheduled to conclude the Cry for Peace conference, sponsored by the Sant’Egidio Community, with a speech Tuesday at the Colosseum.

Throughout the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine eight months ago, the pope has warned against an arms buildup. But he has said Ukraine has the right to defend itself.

While Italy’s new premier, far-right leader Giorgia Meloni, is a staunch backer of helping Ukraine defend its sovereignty, her coalition allies have pro-Russia sympathies.

In the evening, Meloni and Macron met privately in Rome for talks.

The premier’s office said the two agreed to work together “on the big, common challenges on the European level and in the respect of reciprocal national interests.” The two discussed the need to give “rapid and common responses” to the problems of high energy costs, support for Ukraine, the difficult economic moment and manag ing migrant flows, the statement said.

Macron, a pro-European centrist, tweeted a photo of the meeting in the evening, writing that “as Europeans, as neighbouring countries, as friendly

peoples, with Italy we must continue all the work started”.

“We owe to our youth and our peo ples to succeed together,” Macron added, saying that yesterday’s meeting “goes in that direction”.

The French presidency said both lead ers had a “constructive”, “frank” and “open” discussion for over one hour and that they agreed on the need to have regular contacts at all levels in order to move forward the European agenda.

The French president’s visit to Italy includes an audience with the pope at the Vatican on Monday.

Macron addressed concern that any talk of peace could be taken as a sign of lack of support for Ukraine. “To speak of peace now, call for peace, might seem unbearable for those who are fighting for freedom, it seems like a betrayal” of Ukraine, the French leader said.

But peace cannot be “captured by Russian power,’’ he said. “Peace can’t be the consecration of the law of the strongest, nor can it be a cease-fire (marking) the state of affairs.”

“We want the Ukrainian people to decide at a certain point, peace, the moment and the terms of peace,” Marcon said. “Peace will be built with the other (party), who today is the enemy, around a table, and the interna tional community will be there.”

Italy’s main populist opposition leader, former Premier Giuseppe Conte, last week said Italy shouldn’t send more arms to Ukraine.

Macron referred to his past meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the war’s architect. Moscow’s aggression is “the fruit of exaggerated nationalism” and feeling isolated, the French leader said, noting the aggression was unjusti fied. “They were convinced that there were threats, that the rest of the world, the Western world, at least, would have tried to destroy Russia,” he said.

By FRANCES D’EMILIO Associated Press

Why not Bishop Ellis?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

On October 7, 2021 -- 21 days after the September 16 general election -- The Nassau Guardian published a story regarding Bishop Neil C Ellis’ announcement that he would be retiring as head pastor of the prestig ious Mount Tabor Church. Ellis stated that he will be stepping down in Decem ber 2022 after 35 years. This has led to widespread speculation among polit ically-minded Bahamians that the Progressive Liberal Party is strongly consider ing appointing Ellis as the next governor general. The timing of Ellis’ announce ment was not a coincidence to these Bahamians.

With current Governor General Sir CA Smith’s strong ties to the official Opposition Free National Movement, I cannot envis age the PLP retaining Smith during the entire dura tion of its five-year tenure in government. Smith is the 11th person to hold the substantive post since 1973. He had succeeded Dame Marguerite Pindling. Dame Marguerite had suc ceeded Sir Arthur Foulkes, AD Hanna, Paul Adder ley, Dame Ivy Dumont, Sir Orville Turnquest, Sir Clifford Darling, Sir Henry Taylor, Sir Gerald Cash and Sir Milo B Butler -- all prominent Bahamians who have made an indelible mark on the fabric of this great Commonwealth. With the exception of Dame Marguerite, all of the gov ernors general had served

in frontline politics.

In all likelihood, Dame Marguerite was given the post due to her being the widow of Sir Lynden O Pin dling, the first prime minister of The Bahamas. Her being considered the matriarch of the PLP may have also been a factor in her appoint ment. I say all this not to bash Dame Marguerite, but to counter the viewpoint that Ellis -- owing to his nonpolitical resume -- can hardly be deemed qualified for the post of representative of the Head of State.

The PLP established a precedent in 2014 when it appointed Dame Mar guerite, who had never served in Parliament as either an MP or senator. Ellis’ accomplishments are seminal. He pastors arguably the largest congre gation in The Bahamas. He heads the massive Global United Fellowship (GUF), a quasi-denomination that spans 40 countries and has in its membership 1,400 churches and parachurch organizations. Before the formation of GUF, Ellis was a prominent member of Bishop Paul S Morton’s Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. Ellis has been a regular fixture on the African American Word Network and the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

He has also mingled with many prominent US based televangelists from the Pentecostal/Charismatic stream. In all things con sidered, Ellis’ influence is massive. With Mount Tabor Church having thousands

of members, it wouldn’t be farfetched to suggest that Ellis has influenced tens of thousands of Bahami ans, especially through his media outreach ministry.

The German Reformer Martin Luther stated in his Romans commentary that the civil authority minis ters to the outward man. That would include all of our governors general from Sir Milo to Sir C A Smith; again, with the exception of Dame Marguerite. Luther further stated that preach ers, such as Ellis, serves the inward man.

In a word, one cannot underestimate the con tributions Ellis has made to The Bahamas. I would even go out on a limb by stating that Ellis has accom plished far more than any of the governors general, at least ecclesiastically. If the PLP appoints Ellis, the Bahamian church can use that appointment to its advantage. Ellis would be in a position to offer sound spiritual advice to Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, as the Old Testament prophets did for the Kings of Israel and Judah. Maybe his appointment would lead to the PLP repealing the web shop gaming and samesex laws that are on the books. Be that as it may, I honestly see nothing wrong with Ellis being governor general. If Dame Margue rite can be appointed to the post, then why not Ellis?

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama. October 20, 2022.

EDITOR,The Tribune I have attached a docu ment for publication entitled, “Marriage is Sacred,” written by Rev Dr. Patrick Paul, Gen eral Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in the Bahamas, including the Turks and Caicos Islands regarding “Marital Rape.”

Executive Assistant

Marriage is sacred

There is only one Book that seeks men and wom en’s highest good and protection. That Book is the Bible. Rape is cruel, brutal, heartless, atrocious, appalling, and callous. Rape is unacceptable and should not be tolerated or allowed amongst the Bahamian society inside or outside the marriage relationship.

Marriage is a sacred insti tution ordained of God for all human beings. Male and female created He them. This act was for the self-same purpose for pro creation of humans. God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. Gen 1: 28 a & b.

More importantly, man’s freedom or power of choice was given to him to explore God, which is seen in the tree of life, and the universe as the created order. The power of choice was not for man to explore evil. “Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”

Notice that God placed both trees in the Garden, the tree of life and the tree of good and evil. And in chapter 2: v16 and v17 He told the man not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is obvi ous that the man was given the privilege to eat from the tree of life.

Equally important, we see the command in Gen 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” KJV

The mystery of the two becoming one flesh is hus band and wife combined to become one perfect human; the one is to complement the other. This is a mystery. God’s view is two becom ing one. Moreover, later in Genesis chapter 3 we find man’s fall, introducing a state of Subconscious Index being Non responsive (SIN), which was colossal. Further, in Genesis chapter 9 God instituted Civil Gov ernment to restrain evil.

“A just law is a manmade code that squares with the moral law, or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas, an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law”. Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Meddling or tampering with these sacred landmarks can indeed further reap unimaginable damage to our beloved country. Moral laws are set by God and should be observed and obeyed. Any legal change that doesn’t strengthen the bond of marriage will lead to undermine and further deteriorate exist ing marriages. This would ultimately destroy families, which is the bedrock of Soci ety. If we destroy the family, the Bahamian Society will experience utter chaos.

“And Whereas the People of this Family of Islands recognising that the preservation of their Free dom will be guaranteed by a national commitment to self-discipline, industry, loyalty, unity and an abid ing respect for Christian values and the Rule of Law” ~ Except from the Preamble to the Bahamas Constitution.

LETTERS

Emphasis is placed on Christian Values and the Rule of Law. The Assem blies of God Bahamas believes that Marital Rape can have far reaching con sequences. Like Dr. Myles Munroe said, “Marital Rape is very intricate, and a multi-dimensional sub ject that has the potential of leveling far-reaching and cross-generational effects on any Western Society built on Judaic-Christian principles. The impact and implications of such a law would be incalculable”.

The Assemblies of God Fellowship denounces all acts of rape. Rape is cruel, brutal, heartless, atrocious, appalling, and callous. Rape is unacceptable and should not be tolerated or allowed amongst members of the Bahamian or any other civil society inside or outside the marriage bonds or any other relationship.

We would like for the amendment to include sev eral concerns:

1. Establishment of an institution for marriage to be preserved.

2. The unintended conse quences of all rights of both parties being protected.

3. To address the means of spite or the excuse to end a marital relationship.

4. Proper checks and bal ances for when unfounded claims are made.

5. Investigators be given clear written protocols and be mature and confidential persons.

6. “Family life” curricu lum to be taught as a core subject in each school.

7. The government to exercise due care with mat ters and things that are sacred and intimate.

The Assemblies of God Fellowship fully agrees that we must protect the rights of all in our society. But we cannot be too careful to protect persons whose rights may have been vio lated by implementing laws that have the potential and provide opportunity for the malignant, the evil, the whoremongers, and the spiteful persons who are looking for ways to get back at someone, because of some unfortunate circumstance.

For example, modern cars come with inbuilt protection mechanisms called air bags. The engineers and the man ufacturers agreed on such apparatus for protection of the proposed passengers with the intent to reduce the number of fatalities. Therefore, they provided this feature for protection, called the air bag.

There is only one Book that seeks men and women’s highest good and protection. That Book is the Bible. It places emphasis on right eousness. Righteousness is an attribute of the Crea tor’s moral nature, and by the power of His nature He has erected and estab lished a moral Universe. The arrangement of the cosmo logical and the physiological composition provides for humanity, stability, and safety through integrity and that by consistent fixed laws.

We are further taught that man has no righteousness of his own. There is none righteous, no not one, Rom 3: 10. Jesus, who has become our righteousness, forgives all of humanity. Therefore, all human beings that come and denounce his or her sins are forgiven. Consequently, justice equals righteousness.

And righteousness equals justice. Justice is an expres sion for reconciliation.

Hence, if the wife or the husband is willing to forgive each other; there should be some time provided for this possibility. Subsequently this should be accompanied with a remorseful, regret ful, and an apologetic heart. In the attempt to address the existing problems this should be encouraged and

accepted. However, this should only be done if both parties approve such an act. As we near the end of the time or the close of human history as we know it, we are minded that the spir itual battle will intensify. Governments will be fight ing against Pagan spirits and principalities will seek more and more to control society. Matt 12: 43-45. In relation to the development of the modern Bahamas, like every growing democ racy, as its people develop, various philosophies increase that bring to bear many challenges to both husbands and wives. These include socio-economic and emotional pressures that for the most part show up in the family, the bedrock, and the strength of our society.

Therefore, laws being implemented should seek to encourage, strengthen, build, and create a better understanding within the family unit, thereby provid ing for a wholesome society.

God in His sovereignty and in His plan of redemp tion wishes to limit the spiritual, moral, and social erosion and fall out that comes from man’s fallen and impulsive desires. God humbled Himself and became a man, taking on the weakness and suffer ing for man and providing a perfect example of for giveness and reconciliation. This He intends, to be exercised within the mari tal bond. His intention is to preserve the family and nations of the world by limiting the destructive activities and offences.

Matt 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

1 Cor 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and like wise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak con cerning Christ and the church. Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whore mongers and adulterers God will judge.

In relation to the Scrip ture, the whole premise of marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church. We must therefore do all in our power to convey the ultimate picture of Uncon ditional Love.

The second is to uphold the liberty and beauty of marriage with the privileges of sexual and emotional satisfaction that comes within the marital relation ship. Thirdly, this is for the health and welfare of the family and society.

We are creatures of sea sons and both husband and wife as they face different seasons in life may see things differently, hence there are possibilities of misunder standings that can lead to frictions for a season.

Therefore, if a spouse is convicted of violence which led to nonconsensual sexual relations within the mari tal bonds, there should be mandatory rehabilitative steps prior to any form of incarceration. Should there be subsequent abuses lead ing to nonconsensual sexual relations then the full strength of the Law should be applied, that is imprison ment, etc.

Perhaps the government can consider partnering with the church and other social agencies, to pro vide counseling centres to ensure that we have pastors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other qualified, trained, and professional persons to facilitate such a growing concern within our country.

REV DR PATRICK PAUL General Superintendent Assemblies of God Bahamas Including The Turks and Islands Nassau, October 21, 2022.

19 migrants found in Abaco safe house

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

IMMIGRATION Min ister Keith Bell on Friday said officers found a safe house in Abaco har bouring 19 migrants of different nationalities, stemming from a recent operation that sent immi gration officers to the island.

The Immigration Department launched Operation Expedition from October 7 to 10, when immigration officials, as well as the Royal Baha mas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, went to Abaco to explore, detain and eventu ally repatriate any irregular

migrants found there.

Mr Bell spoke to report ers after a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister.

“Stemming from that particular operation (in Abaco), they would have uncovered a safe house. The following day there they would have revealed I think about 19 migrants of mixed nationalities who attempted to be smuggled.

“And again, I want to invite the Bahamian people, we too have to become caretakers for our borders, for our country, against unscrupulous per sons, including Bahamians because these persons are being facilitated by Bahamians.”

WOMAN AND TEENAGER DENY MURDER CHARGES

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN and a teen age boy pleaded not guilty to two separate murder charges in the Supreme Court on Friday, with the woman being accused of the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend last year.

Yacintha Miller, 36, represented by Roger Minnis, stood before Jus tice Bernard Turner for her arraignment on a charge of murder.

Miller is accused of stab bing Lesly Minnis in the chest on October 19, 2021, in Pinewood Gardens. Minnis died in hospital.

In court, Miller pleaded not guilty. The judge informed the accused that

her bail would be continued and that she was to appear before Justice WeechGomez on November 1 for fixture of a trial date.

An 18-year-old male, represented by Shannon Fernander, also appeared before Justice Turner on a separate murder charge. His mother was pre sent during his arraignment.

He is accused of being concerned with others in the death of Ashton McPhee on December 18, 2021. He was a minor at the time of the offence.

In court, the teenager pleaded not guilty to the offence. He was informed that he is to appear before Justice Deborah Fraser on November 3 at 10am for his trial’s fixture in her court. His bail will also continue.

WOMAN DENIES HIT-AND-RUN

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court on Friday to vehicular man slaughter in relation to a traffic fatality that occurred on JFK Drive in February.

Altanease Rolle, 24, represented by attorney Rhodreka Strachan, stood before Justice Bernard Turner for her arraignment on a charge of vehicular manslaughter.

It is alleged that Rolle drove in a dangerous manner while heading west around 1.40am on Febru ary 14 on John F Kennedy Drive. It was at this time that she is alleged to have struck and killed Sandy Rolle with her vehicle while

he was on his way to work.

The 53-year-old victim died of his injuries at the scene while the suspect involved in the alleged fatal hit-and-run is accused of failing to report the inci dent within 24 hours.

At the time of the inci dent, Rolle’s vehicle, a Toyota Passo, was unli cenced and uninsured.

Rolle is alleged not to have had a valid licence.

In court the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. Justice Turner informed her that her case would be transferred to Justice Gregory Hilton.

She will receive her trial date at 2pm on Novem ber 10. Rolle’s bail is to be upheld until her subsequent court appearance.

TEEN DENIES FIREARM POSSESSION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A TEENAGER was granted bail in Magistrate’s Court on Friday after being accused of having two unli cenced pistols with live ammunition.

Aries Martin, 19, faced Magistrate Samuel McKin ney on two counts of possession of an unlicenced firearm and a single count of possession of ammunition.

On October 6 in New Providence being con cerned with another, Martin is accused of having a

black Glock 9mm pistol and a black Austria 9mm pistol, both with their serial numbers erased. At the time of his arrest, Martin is also said to have been found with three live rounds of 9mm ammunition.

In court, the accused pleaded not guilty to all charges. The magis trate granted Martin bail at $7,500. Under the condi tions of his bail the accused is expected to sign in at Alice Town Police Station every Wednesday by 6pm.

The trial will begin on November 30.

PROBATION FOR BAIL VIOLATION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was placed on probation on Friday after admitting to failing to charge his monitoring device while on bail for a murder charge.

Antonio Thompson, 23, faced Magistrate Samuel McKinney on five charges of violation of bail.

He was granted bail in the Supreme Court in relation to pending murder and attempted murder charges.

Thompson is accused,

while being concerned with others, of the shoot ing death of Sean Augustin and the attempted killing of Jason Campbell on Baillou Hill Road on July 13, 2018.

It is said that between October 2–17 the accused failed to charge his monitoring device on five occasions.

In court Thompson pleaded guilty to the charges. He was fined a collective $2,500 for the offence or in default, a sixmonth prison sentence. He was also placed on 18 months probation.

He added: “So if you have any information, if you have any intelligence, then by all means, please call the police. Please call the Defence Force or please call the Immigration Department. And we will act on your information.”

When asked if there were any arrests made as a result of the uncovering of the safehouse, Mr Bell said there had been.

“Of course, and that was because of the opera tion, because we put more enforcement on the ground. And so, we want to con tinue with those efforts to ensure that we keep The Bahamas safe,” he said.

The immigration minis ter assured Abaco residents that they can expect to see an increased presence of officers and can anticipate increased operations.

The recent operation on Abaco had resulted in 52 arrests and exposed the scope of the worsening shanty town problem, with one unregulated commu nity mushrooming to 200 acres since 2019.

Earlier this month, Chief Immigration Officer Chad

Adams said during the Abaco expedition, some Bahamians were assist ing irregular migrants with hiding and not providing identification.

“In some vessels, we would have found some trap doors underneath, where persons were pulled from. We also had houses with some trap doors underneath, where we pulled persons from. We also saw individuals who are Bahamian citizens, we entered their home. They

would hide them (irregular migrants) in their closets, cupboards, cabinets. So, we saw this as a challenge,” Mr Adams said.

On Friday, Mr Bell was also asked about the recent demonstration held by Lin coln Bain, the leader of the Coalition of Independents, and his supporters. They handed members of Parlia ment entering the House of Assembly printed copies of a bill they want the govern ment to amend.

The group is seeking the

support of the government in banning children of ille gal immigrants born in The Bahamas from applying for citizenship.

Mr Bell said he reviewed the bill which was given to him by Mr Bain and he is in the process of referring it to the Office of the Attorney General.

“Any person in The Bahamas, Bahamians that is, of course, has the right to actually bring or ask their members of Parliament to consider a matter of public importance,” he said.

He added: “So once I get feedback from the Office of the Attorney General then we will review and consider it. As you’re aware, the law reform is something which is ongoing. And so, if it is something which adds value, then by all means we will consider and determine what we want to do.”

Although Mr Bell said he did not want to get into the intricate details of the bill proposed by Mr Bain, he said what Mr Bain is pro posing is “nothing new”.

Still, he said the matter is something that will require consultation.

IMMIGRATION Minister Keith Bell.

Photo: Moise Amisial

Don’t keep your partners in the dark

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

AMID a falling-out between government and retailers, Prime Minis ter Philip “Brave” Davis offered a rallying cry for grocers to “partner with me”.

He said: “I’m looking for them to partner with me to bring relief to our people.”

The row came of course after the Prime Minister announced in his national address that there would be a whole new raft of price controls introduced – on 38 new items.

Those items include such items as chicken, eggs, bananas, apples, bread, onions, potatoes and more.

Mr Davis went on: “The government has been carry ing a lot to ensure that not much burden is on them (grocers) and we’re looking for people to partner with us – wholesalers – and I trust I’ll be able to persuade them to understand what is hap pening and why we need to do what we’re going to do.”

As for Mr Davis’ wouldbe partners, the Retail Grocers Association of The Bahamas warned that the measures, if brought in as planned, could lead to layoffs and store clo sures – and argued that the price controls are not on 38 items, but on 38 categories of items.

They said that would result in 40 to 60 percent of their business coming under price control regulation.

The trouble with Mr

Davis’ call for retailers to work with him as partners, of course, is that you don’t introduce a swathe of new regulations without telling the people on your side.

There seems to have been precious little con sultation before the fact – leading to last week’s lengthy discussions.

To everyone’s credit,

those discussions seem to have been going on in good faith, leading to an extension until this coming Friday for the implementa tion of those price controls.

At a press conference on Friday, director of commu nications Latrae Rahming said: “The government real ises and recognises that we share the burden with all of our partners in this effort, in the fight against the global economic crisis. So, they will get an extension to next week Friday.”

This overshoots the origi nal deadline of October 21 that Economic Affairs Min ister Michael Halkitis had originally hoped every thing would be settled by.

Philip Beneby, of the Retail Grocers Association, has said of that deadline they were “trying like hell” to meet it.

Still, as much as the efforts after the fact seem to have been ear nest and genuine all round, surely consultation before hand would have made a good deal more sense.

Indeed, if retailers are supposed to partner with government, not just consul tation but the language used by the government seemed to be strange at times.

The government press secretary, Clint Watson, not content with alienating advocacy groups with his comments on marital rape, also managed to agitate retailers in August when he accused some merchants of not passing on Budget tariff cuts to consumers via reduced prices.

Without providing names or evidence, Calamity Clint said the sector has “a responsibility to pass that relief on”. In response, Mr Beneby said “there’s no question” those cuts had been passed on, while Super Value’s Rupert Roberts said his chain’s computer sys tems automatically passed those savings on in the final prices, adding: “They can’t point the finger at us.”

Mr Watson seemed to drop any further pursuit of such allegations – which makes one wonder why he made them in the first

place.

It’s a funny old way to treat your would-be part ners. Make accusations against them. Keep them in the dark and surprise them with changes that have a widespread impact. Nego tiate after the fact rather than consult beforehand.

The government even had to bend the rules to accommodate retailers, as there should have been a limited time to introduce the price controls. If the gov ernment isn’t taking some of the price con trol items off the table – and those items have been gazetted now – then what’s being negoti ated? Just the amount of time to have them introduced?

Still, focusing on the positive, it’s good to see some understanding of the situation retailers find themselves in, and flex ibility in trying to find the best solution – even if it’s to a problem of the govern ment’s own making.

One does wonder how much of this could have been avoided had the gov ernment left breadbasket items as VAT-free, but that, of course, was one of their big changes, and backtrack ing would have been seen as admitting defeat to pres sure from the FNM.

Instead, we have all these extra price controls – which presumably will mean an extra workload for the inspectors and extra recruitment of price con trollers to keep an eye on everything, bringing with it a higher salary bill for the government.

We will see on Friday if a resolution has been reached – but it’s hard to shake the feeling this could all have been handled better with improved communication and, that most elusive of words for every administra tion, transparency.

Will the government learn from this for the next time? We can only hope.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis appealied to retailers to “partner” with him “to bring relief to our people”

amid a dispute with grocers over new price controls.

‘The trouble with Mr Davis’ call for retailers to work with him as partners, of course, is that you don’t introduce a swathe of new regulations without telling the people on your side.’

A chocolate on Sundays

By DR KENNETH D KEMP

THERE are certain, remote, sections of The Bahamas that are so serene and untouched that the sheer beauty of this sunkissed landscape is utterly breathtaking.

Years ago, amidst one such backdrop, off a small cay in Abaco and on an ordinary afternoon, Noah jumped overboard with a spear in hand into the warm and turquoise sea of Abaco.

This time of year, his typi cal fishing spot was prime with schools of Hog Snap per and Grouper. Using a scuba compressor and face mask, Noah dove deeper into the abyss. Then, true to form, it wasn’t long before he speared his first snap per, and then a second and a third. The frequency and abundancy of his catch is what every fisherman looks forward to. He moved quickly because such a large cluster of prey was a siren call for other preda tors. And, on that day, his instincts were correct.

Without warning, Noah glimpsed a fearsome 12-foot-long tiger shark in the periphery of his eye. He froze, forcing himself to stay as still as a statue, hold ing his breath. It worked. Within seconds, the shark swam away.

Noah took a deep breath and resumed his activity, spearing more fish. Then as he captured another, the same shark, seemingly out of nowhere, flew forward and slammed into his left shoulder.

It was as if a thou sand-pound sandbag had catapulted toward him, landing a severe blow.

The force flipped Noah’s body into a semi-circle and there, directly in the front of his face was one of the most dangerous sea crea tures imaginable, a shark so threatening Noah, then in his 30s, thought it was all over.

Immediately aggressive, the shark rammed into him once more. Its razor-sharp teeth ripped the mask and breathing apparatus off Noah’s face, tearing deeply into his flesh. The force ful yank of the strap also sliced his ear in the pro cess. The lacerations were deep enough that he could see the blood pouring out around him.

Noah gasped and swal lowed a mouthful of the salty water in which he was wholly engulfed. He could no longer breathe and as he stumbled towards death, his heart raced, his throat tight ened and his eyes and ears began to burn. The equip ment that helped him to see and breathe was now sink ing toward the ocean floor.

Before the shark could swim back around, Noah tossed the speared fish and swam as fast as he could to his boat. With every kick, he was afraid that his leg would be bitten off but the shark took the fish and swam away.

Noah made it to his boat, bloodied and breathless, and laid flat for at least ten

minutes without moving, coughing uncontrollably and gasping for air but grateful to still be alive.

A patient and mutual friend introduced me to Noah and his incred ible story. When recounting what happened, he jokingly stated that the shark looked at him the way he looks at chocolate. He couldn’t be sure of how often this shark ate humans but, if it was less than once a week, Noah could relate to the raven ous intent of a desired meal in hand. That’s because he himself only ate chocolate once a week, on a Sunday. On that day, he rarely chewed and often swal lowed it in chunks, starved for the flavour it delivers.

It reminded me of my grandfather, Charles E Cartwright, who often said that eating something sweet on Sundays made the world a better place. It gives us something to look forward to when the end of one week meets the start of another. Noah (not his real name) shared this same sentiment.

He had no medical issues, was not on any medication and outside of his Sunday chocolate indulgence, Noah’s only other vices were admittedly drinking too much soda. When he reached back on land, Noah was treated at the local clinic. His lacerations were so deep that he had to have multiple stitches. He was placed on oral antibiotics prophylactically to prevent

an infection and within a month his wounds were healed.

Soon thereafter, he was back out onto the open water, diving at his favorite fishing spot but acutely aware of the danger that lurked nearby.

Experts suggest that while the risk of being attacked by a shark is rela tively low, there are a few fundamental rules of safety that can further minimise its probability. Among others, the most obvious is to swim with a partner since sharks rarely attack groups. Avoid wearing shiny jew elry because the light reflection resembles fish scales and avoid swimming at night if possible because that’s when sharks are most active.

Noah never experienced another encounter with a shark to that degree likely owing to the fact that he heeded those very same precautions each and every time he fished. In fact, he never had another medi cal issue except for mild occasional foot pain that resolved with rest and over-the-counter oral anti-inflammatories.

But, ten years later, in a cruel twist of fate, Noah discovered that he was in fact safer in the sea than on land. While riding his bicycle one evening, he was struck by a hit-and-run driver.

The driver never stopped. I often wonder what went through his mind as he lay there in pain and unable to move, likely aware that he was dying. He’d sur vived a vicious shark attack,

but it was a speeding car and uncaring driver that would ultimately instigate his untimely death. Noah’s body wasn’t discovered until the following day.

Noah and my grandfather were diametric opposites. My grandfather was a farmer and Noah was a fish erman. Noah was relatively introverted and had very few friends and even fewer family members whom he was close to. My grandfa ther, on the other hand, was one of 11 children. He adored his siblings and had a very close network of friends.

Noah died in the street alone while my grandfather, who was four decades older than Noah at the time of his death, died peacefully at home surrounded by family. Yet, despite their polar dif ferences, their sole interests converged on the thought that a single dessert on Sun days was a special event. And although they differed on the type of dessert, it is enough to remind us that

there are ties that bind us all, even if by just one single thread.

In each of my reports, I like to share with my read ers what the patient’s take home message from their personal journey is but in this case I’m unable to do so.

All I can share is that Noah was quiet but brave, he worked hard, was selfdisciplined and honorable. He ate a chocolate on Sun days and perhaps others do as well.

On occasion, I also eat dessert on Sundays the way my grandfather taught me. Because even as we age and the seasons change, tradi tions endure. By doing so, we help to keep the mem ories of those we’ve lost alive.

Today, I celebrate Noah and all the fishermen around the world, many of whom risk their lives on a daily basis and rarely get the praise that they so richly deserve. This is the KDK Report.

NOAH, who survived a tiger shark attack, talked of how the shark looked at him the way he looked at chocolate.

No trust in Truss - general elections should be called

THE present Conserva tive party in Britain has now established a remark able list of records; none of them good.

Liz Truss, who has now resigned as leader of the Party and Prime Minister, has the record for serving the shortest period as Prime Minister in the history of Britain. Kwasi Kwarteng, who she appointed as Finance Minister, has the notorious distinction of serving the shortest period in that position, except for one previous occu pant who died of a heart attack. Suella Braverman, Liz Truss’ Home Secretary, also holds the record for the briefest period in that office.

But the greatest record of all is that Liz Truss’ short-lived government has succeeded in wreck ing the British economy in almost blinding rapidity. In six short weeks from her

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

assumption of office, the British economy plunged into freefall with disas trous effects. The value of the British currency plum meted; pension funds lost billions of dollars, depriv ing thousands of persons of their pensions; and mortgage costs for mil lions of people skyrocketed overnight.

She should have resigned then. But claiming that she was “a fighter not a quitter”, she fired Kwarteng instead. He was to be the sacrificial lamb on the altar of her own ambition, when even casual observers of politics

knew that Kwarteng’s dis astrous budget, which cut taxes for the rich among its other disasters, could not have been presented with out her participation and approval.

Forced to appoint a new Finance Minister, Jeremy Hunt, who was opposed to her leadership, she bold-facedly swallowed any dignity she may have had by approving his new budget, which reversed all the measures of the pre vious Kwarteng budget including all the policies for which she claimed to represent.

Such was the depth of her lust for power. But it is not she alone. No leader clings to power against obvious odds without the encour agement and urging of a coterie of persons whose political and economic for tunes are tied to that leader. That coterie is now either scrambling to find some other person, who would serve their interests, or they are busy trying to influence persons in the opposition Labour Party.

The Conservative Party has only itself to blame for its present highly detested position in the British body politic. Liz Truss was elected by party officials over Rishi Sunak, a former Finance Minister. Sunak is of Indian origin and while the Conservative party has done more, in recent years, to recognise the quality of immigrants and their contribution to Brit ish economic development

than the Labour Party, the same underlying prejudice that gave BREXIT its suc cess, resulted in Truss’ triumph over Sunak. They will not admit it, but many in the Conservative party establishment could not stomach an immigrant as their leader and Prime Minister.

While that view was not dominant among the Conservative members of parliament who favoured Sunak over Truss, it was the natural instinct of the Con servative rank and file.

It should be noted that, in the debates between the candidates leading up to the election of Truss by officials of the Conservative Party, Sunak had time and again questioned the economic and financial policies that were espoused by Truss.

Sunak argued against tax cuts advocated by Truss, focussing instead on fight ing soaring inflation and using targeted measures to offer support to those most in need. As former Finance Minister, he knew that Britain was already in a precarious financial position and that making tax cuts, which benefitted corporations and the rich, would leave a gaping hole in revenues.

Even in these circum stances, Truss was not a popularly elected leader of the Conservative Party. She secured 57 % of the members’ votes, compared to Boris Johnson’s 66.4 % in 2019, David Cameron’s 67.6% in 2005 and Iain Duncan Smith’s 60.7% in 2001.

Now with no trust in Truss, and a vacancy exist ing again for the office of leader of the Party, Con servatives have to elect a new leader by October 31. The talent pool has narrowed considerably. Therefore, three names have quickly emerged - Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt who was a con tender in the last contest; and, lo and behold, Boris Johnson who had pre dicted his own return with the words “Hasta la vista, Baby”, not goodbye, when he was forced to resign.

Per force, in the bargain ing that will ensue in the battle, no person with

solid party backing will emerge.

The question is: for how long will the Conservative party last as the Govern ment? The party is now a gravely wounded organi zation, divided inside and disliked outside. Not only does it not have the capac ity to heal its self-inflicted wounds, but it is also clear that, apart from its diehard supporters, the British public wants the Party gone from office in the interest of attaining a higher level of political stability, and the chance to rebuild their tat tered economy.

The best option for Brit ain is to take the matter of the leadership of the coun try out of the self-interested hands of Conservative party officials and locate it where it now cries out to be placed; and that is in the votes of the British electorate.

Unfortunately, no person, elected as leader of the party in the next few days, would be willing to take the decision to call a general election to seek a fresh mandate from the people.

The next general election must be called by January 2025. This means that if the next Conservative party leader decides to hold out until then, Britain faces the real possibility of political turmoil for the next 2 years and 3 months, and with it can come further economic collapse.

The one guarantee in all this is that the Labour Party and its leader, Sir Keir Starmer, will be relentless in their efforts to remove the Conservative party from government. Without an early general election, the British people and their economy are set for a torrid time.

• Responses and previ ous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassa dor to the United States of America and the Organiza tion of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Common wealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto)

BRITAIN’s Prime Minister Liz Truss announcing her resignation as leader of the UK Conservative Party in Downing Street in London on Thursday.

Photo: Alberto Pezzali/AP

UN demands end to violence in Haiti - and sanctions gang leader

UNITED NATIONS Associated Press

THE UN Security Coun cil unanimously adopted a resolution Friday demand ing an immediate end to violence and criminal activ ity in Haiti and imposing sanctions on individuals and groups threatening peace and stability in the West ern Hemisphere’s poorest nation — starting with a powerful gang leader.

The sanctions were the first authorised by the UN’s most powerful body since 2017 and the resolution’s approval by all 15 council nations, whose divisions have been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, demonstrated a rare sign that council mem bers can work together - at least on some global crises.

“We are sending a clear message to the bad actors that are holding Haiti hos tage,” US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after the resolution’s approval. “The interna tional community will not stand idly by while you wreak havoc on the Haitian people.”

Mexico’s UN Ambas sador Juan Ramon De La Fuente Ramirez praised the council’s unity on a complex issue. “In this crisis, the Security Council has given a clear signal that violence has to stop and it cannot go unpunished.”

The United States and Mexico, which drafted the ten-page resolution, had delayed the vote from Wednesday so they could revise the text to gain more support.

The US ambassador said the resolution was an important first step by the Security Coun cil to help Haitians who want action against crimi nals, including gangs and their financiers. She said a second resolution, which the US and Mexico are working on, will help restore security and allow the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid by authorising “a non-UN International Security Assistance Mission.”

The form of that help might take has been contro versial among some council members and Haitians who are wary of foreign military involvement in the country, especially by the United States.

Friday’s text eliminated an earlier reference to an October 7 appeal by Hai ti’s Council of Ministers for the urgent dispatch of an international military force to tackle the coun try’s violence and alleviate its humanitarian crisis. It also dropped mention of an October 8 letter from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlining options to help Haiti’s National Police combat high levels of gang violence.

Thomas-Greenfield said on Friday the next resolu tion will be a response to those requests. She didn’t say when it would be cir culated or put to a vote though diplomats said it could happen next week.

The sanctions resolution named only a single Hai tian — Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, whose gang has blocked a key fuel terminal, aggravating severe short ages. Cherizier, a former police officer who leads an alliance of gangs known as the G9 Family and Allies, will now face a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo.

Political instability has simmered in Haiti since last year’s still-unsolved assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, who had faced protests calling for his resignation over cor ruption charges and claims that his five-year term had expired. Moïse dissolved Parliament in January 2020 after legislators failed to hold elections in 2019 amid political gridlock.

Daily life in Haiti began to spin out of control last month just hours after Prime Minister Ariel Henry said fuel subsidies would be eliminated, causing prices to double. Cherizier’s gang blocked the Varreux fuel

terminal to demand Henry’s resignation and to protest a spike in petroleum prices.

Haiti already was gripped by price inflation that put food and fuel out of reach for many and by protests have brought society to the breaking point. Violence is raging, making parents afraid to send children to school. Hospitals, banks and grocery stores struggle to stay open. Clean water is scarce and the country faces a cholera outbreak.

“Cherizier and his G9 gang confederation are actively blocking the free movement of fuel from the Varreux fuel terminal — the largest in Haiti,” the resolution said. “His actions have directly contributed to the economic paralysis and humanitarian crisis in Haiti.”

It also said he “has planned, directed, or com mitted acts that constitute serious human rights abuses”.

While serving in the police, it said, Cherizier planned and participated in a November 2018 attack by an armed gang on the capital’s La Saline neigh borhood that killed at least 71 people, destroyed over 400 houses and led to the rapes of at least seven women.

He also led armed groups “in coordinated, brutal attacks in Port-au-Prince neighborhoods throughout 2018 and 2019” and in a five-day attack in multiple neighbourhoods in the capi tal in 2020 in which civilians were killed and houses set on fire, the resolution said.

In a video posted on Facebook last week, Cherizier called on the gov ernment to grant him and G9 members amnesty. He said in Creole that Haiti’s economic and social situa tion was worsening by the day, so “there is no better time than today to disman tle the system”.

He outlined a plan for restoring order in Haiti. It would include creation of a “Council of Sages,” with one representative from each of Haiti’s ten depart ments, to govern with an interim president until a presidential election could be held in February 2024. It also calls for restructuring Haiti’s National Police and strengthening the army.

The Security Council resolution establishes a committee that can impose sanctions on other Haitians and groups who threaten peace, security or stability by crimes, violence, arms trafficking, human rights abuses and obstructing aid deliveries.

Haiti’s UN Ambassador

Antonio Rodrique wel comed the resolution’, saying, “There is no doubt whatsoever that these measures will contribute to bringing an end to the violent and deadly activities of these armed groups marauding in the country and causing numerous victims and mass population displacement.”

But Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia, said sanctions won’t solve anything and it makes no sense to impose them on Chérizier because he very likely has his cash in Haiti.

“Sanctions have been imposed before, but they don’t have the real threat

of military intervention,” he said. “I don’t think it will have any impact.”

Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Poly ansky said that despite Moscow’s support for the resolution, “We are not con vinced that international restrictive measures will be an appropriate response to the whole raft of complex problems in Haiti.”

He called for a long-term solution through “eradicat ing poverty and inequality to ensure a strengthening of state institutions in the country, without external dictates”.

Some council members were more hopeful.

China’s deputy UN ambassador, Geng Shuang, said “Haiti is at the brink of collapse” and Beijing hopes the resolution will send “a clear signal” to criminal gangs “to stop their evildo ing and harming of their people” and to political par ties to “immediately stop their collusion with criminal actors” and reach consen sus on solving the crisis.

The resolution expresses “grave concern about the extremely high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities, including kidnappings, trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, and homicides, and sexual

and gender-based violence including rape and sexual slavery, as well as ongoing impunity for perpetrators, corruption and recruit ment of children by gangs and the implications of Haiti’s situation for the region”.

It demands “an immedi ate cessation of violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses, which undermine the peace, sta bility and security of Haiti and the region.” And it urges “all political actors” to reach agreement on allowing legislative and presidential elections to be held “as soon as the local security situation permits”.

BARBECUE, whose real name is Jimmy Cherizier, sits at his house during an interview with AP, in Lower Delmas, a district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2019. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday demanding an immediate end to violence and criminal activity in Haiti and imposing sanctions on Barbecue, a powerful gang leader.

Photo: Dieu Nalio Chery/AP

BOARDING SCHOOLS TO HOLD FAIR

THE first Boarding Schools Fair Bahamas will take place in Nassau on Wednesday.

Admissions staff from 20 schools from Canada and Britain will be at the fair and look forward to meet ing Bahamian families who might be interested in a boarding school education.

Fair organisers say there are opportunities for all Bahamas students - many are traditional full board ing schools for students aged 13-18; prep schools, for children aged 10-13, are an option for parents who might like their children to be prepared for top senior schools. There are also UK State Boarding Schools, which enable a British passport holder to go to boarding school at a frac tion of the cost – around £15,000 per year.

Jonny Hammond-Cham bers, registrar of Oundle School, said: ‘I’m really looking forward to visiting The Bahamas. We’ve had the privilege of welcom ing Bahamian pupils to the school for several years and have always been impressed at how fantastically well they’ve settled into school life.”

The event is free and families interested in attending should register at www.bvs-education.co.uk/ boarding-schools-fairs/ bahamas.

$1.5M FOR ‘NATIONAL YOUTH GUARD’

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

YOUTH, Sports, and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg announced on Friday that the govern ment is investing $1.5m into a new initiative, The Bahamas National Youth Guard.

He underscored the impact of Hurricane Dorian on Grand Bahama and Abaco, noting the launch of the programme will help to improve the country’s pre paredness efforts amongst the youth.

Mr Bowleg said the pro gramme is designed to teach young people the skills needed to assist the country during a disaster or an emergency.

“The Bahamas National Youth Guard is a youth programme focused on equipping young persons from all of our islands with the necessary tools to assist the nation by sup porting private and public agencies during national emergencies such as national disaster.

“This programme targets young adults between the ages of 18 - 25 who believe in giving service to their nation.

“It will give the par ticipants the opportunity to gain technical skills such as search certifica tion, boat captain licence training, risk assessment, disaster management,

conversation training, soft skills, and physical training.”

Mr Bowleg said the ini tial cohort for the National Youth Guard will consist of 100 people.

He explained the pro gramme will have four phases with a 27-month cycle.

The first phase of the project will be three months for training, the second phase will be an internship, the third phase will be an on-call compo nent, and the final phase being quarterly training sessions.

Mr Bowleg said partici pants will receive stipends during the training sessions and internships.

He encouraged young people who are interested in giving service to their communities and learn ing disaster preparedness skills, to sign up for the programme.

The application dead line for the programme is November 15.

Bahamian applicants aged 18 to 25 years old are eligible to sign up; Family Islanders also will have access to the programme.

The initiative is expected to start in January.

Applicants can sign up @https://nyg.bahamas.gov. bs; to learn more about the programme go to the “The Division of Youth 242” Facebook page.

WATER CONFERENCE ‘CHANCE TO SHARE’ WITH REGION

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the 31st annual Caribbean Water and Wastewater (CWWA) conference and exhibition was hosted at Atlantis last week with over 200 delegates from 20-plus countries from the Carib bean, the Americas and Europe.

The event was hosted by the Water and Sew erage Corporation, Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association and other stakeholders from October 17 to Octo ber 21 under the theme “Recovery and Evolution – Regional Actions for Global Sustainability in the

Water and Waste Sectors”.

Works and Utilities Min ister Alfred Sears said the event served as an opportunity for regional counterparts to share dia logue about the common challenges the water sector is experiencing throughout the region.

“We’ve been sharing our experience and what is amazing is the common challenges that the water sector is experiencing throughout our region,” he told reporters outside of the House of Assembly last week.

“But also, there are some fantastic possibilities, one is the incorporation of renew able (energy), two is the fantastic opportunity of collaboration.”

The conference featured

various workshops, semi nars, and conferences for those attending. Martin Daniels, president of CWWA, said the event has had a resounding response from both dignitaries and members of the public.

He hopes that the event influences change for all countries involved in the conference within the years to come.

“I do not believe that the change will happen within a week, but certainly, it will. Before we meet again in a year’s time, we expect that there will be action and results to report on,” Mr Daniels told reporters.

“Change will happen. It’s not going to be short-term, but I’m certainly commit ted to saying that within the next year when we recon vene, we’re going to have actionable items to report on,” he added.

The CWWA conference also outlined regional strat egies encompassing disaster planning and emergency response, which will place the region in a position to overcome the various challenges.

The National Emergency Management Agency also partnered with the event stakeholders to propose a WASH plan to the gov ernment according to Lisa Bowleg, training coordina tor and operations manager of NEMA.

The WASH plan is an inclusive and comprehen sive plan for water supply, sanitation and hygiene.

“This training we brought together 30 stakeholders from New Providence as well as Grand Bahama, to have the conversation and to also formulate a plan to implement recommenda tions to the government for an actual WASH programme to happen throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” Ms Bowleg said.

Prime Minister Phil lip “Brave” Davis, Mr Sears and Minister for Environment and Natu ral Resources Vaughn Miller contributed to the debate during the conference.

MINISTER of Youth, Sports, and Culture Mario Bowleg attending the National Youth March on Sunday.

Photos: Austin Fernander

Cheney: Jan 6 panel won’t let Trump turn testimony into circus

WASHINGTON Associated Press

THE House commit tee investigating the Capitol riot won’t give Donald Trump the chance to turn a possible live TV appearance of his sub poenaed testimony into a “circus” and “food fight” as lawmakers try to ensure he complies with their demands, the panel’s vice chair said yesterday.

The committee is demanding Trump’s tes timony under oath next month as well as records relevant to its investigation.

To avoid a complicated and protracted legal battle, Trump reportedly had told associates he might consider complying with the subpoena if he could answer questions during live testimony.

When asked if the com mittee would consider taking his testimony live, Rep Liz Cheney yesterday did not directly respond. She said the committee would not allow Trump’s testimony to turn into a “food fight” on TV — much as was seen, she said, in Trump’s broadcast appear ances such as one of his 2020 presidential debates — and she warned that the committee will take action if he does not comply with the subpoena.

“We are going to pro ceed in terms of the questioning of the former president under oath,” Cheney, R-Wyo, said on “Meet the Press” on NBC.

“It may take multiple days,

and it will be done with a level of rigor and disci pline and seriousness that it deserves. We are not going to allow — he’s not going to turn this into a circus.”

“We have many, many alternatives that we will consider if the former presi dent decides he is not going to comply with his legal obligation, a legal obliga tion every American citizen has to comply with a sub poena,” she said.

Her office made clear later that she and the Jan 6 committee were not ruling out the possibility of live testimony. It did not

RUSSIA’S DEFENCE CHIEF WARNS OF ‘DIRTY BOMB’ PROVOCATION KYIV, Ukraine Associated Press

RUSSIA’S defence chief alleged yesterday that Ukraine was preparing a “provocation” involving a radioactive device, a claim strongly rejected by US, British and Ukrainian offi cials amid soaring tensions as Moscow struggles to stem Ukrainian advances in the south.

Russian Defence Minis ter Sergei Shoigu made the allegations in phone calls with his counterparts from the United States, Britain, France and Turkey.

Russia’s defence ministry said Shoigu voiced concern about “possible Ukrainian provocations involving a ‘dirty bomb’”, a device that uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste. It doesn’t have the devastating effect

of a nuclear explosion, but could expose broad areas to radioactive contamination.

Russian authorities repeatedly have made allegations Ukraine could detonate a dirty bomb in a false flag attack and blame it on Moscow.

Ukrainian authorities, in turn, have accused the Kremlin of hatching such a plan.

British Defence Secre tary Ben Wallace strongly rejected Shoigu’s claim and warned Moscow against using it as a pretext for escalation.

The British Ministry of Defence noted that Shoigu, in a call with Wal lace, “alleged that Ukraine was planning actions facilitated by Western coun tries, including the UK, to escalate the conflict in Ukraine”.

EIGHT KILLED IN SOMALIA AS MILITANTS ATTACK HOTEL

MOGADISHU, Somalia Associated Press

EIGHT people were killed after militants stormed a hotel in Soma lia’s port city of Kismayo, an attack that started with a suicide bombing Sunday before gunmen forcibly entered and exchanged fire with security forces.

The Islamic extremist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters had pen etrated the Tawakal Hotel.

Security forces from the southern Somali state of Jubaland later ended the siege, killing the gunmen and rescuing scores of people, state media reported.

There was no official word on casualties, but a doctor at Kismayo Hos pital told The Associated Press of eight dead people, four of whom were security personnel.

At least 41 people were wounded in the attack, the doctor said, speaking on the condition of anonym ity because he was not authorised to divulge such information.

Journalists were pre vented from getting close to the scene of the attack. Footage shared on social media showed ambulances collecting the wounded from outside the hotel in

central Kismayo.

The city is located about 310 miles from the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

The attack began when a car driven by a sui cide bomber rammed the entrance gate of the hotel and then exploded, police officer Abshir Omar said by phone. A number of small businesses along the street were destroyed.

Some government offi cials and traditional elders were eating lunch in the hotel at the time of the explosion, he said.

Mohamed Nasi Guled, a senior police official in Jubaland, said three attack ers entered the hotel’s premises.

The hotel is popular as a meeting place for govern ment officials. Al-Shabab is believed to have a strong presence in the areas sur rounding Kismayo, the largest city and commercial capital of Jubaland.

Al-Shabab, which has ties with al-Qaida, regu larly carries out attacks in the Horn of Africa nation.

Many of the group’s attacks target popular hotels.

Al-Shabab opposes the Mogadishu-based fed eral government, which it perceives as a puppet of foreign governments. The group also opposes the presence of foreign troops in Somalia.

indicate what form that might take to avoid the “food fight” or “circus” that Cheney said would not happen.

The subpoena, issued on Friday, calls on Trump to hand over documents by Nov 4 and provide testi mony “on or about” Nov 14.

It is unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond. He could comply or negotiate with the com mittee, announce he will defy the subpoena or ignore it altogether. He could go to court and try to stop it.

Last week, Steve

Bannon, a longtime Trump ally, was sentenced to serve four months behind bars after defying a subpoena from the same committee. He remains free pending appeal. Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro also awaits a trial next month on similar con tempt of Congress charges. The subpoena includes requests for any com munications referring to extremist groups who were coming to Washington, pressure on state legisla tors to overturn the 2020 election vote and messages about Vice President Mike

Pence, whom Trump was pushing to object to Presi dent Joe Biden’s victory.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, said Sunday that she doubted Trump would appear for his depo sition and that the public should know “that no one is above the law”.

“I don’t think he’s man enough to show up,” Pelosi said on MSNBC. “I don’t think his lawyers would want him to show up because he (would) had to testify under oath... We’ll see.”

There remains little legal advantage for Trump to cooperate with the commit tee at a time when he faces other legal battles in vari ous jurisdictions, including over his family business in New York and the handling of presidential records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

It’s possible that Trump’s lawyers could simply opt to run out the clock on the subpoena if they go to court to try to squash it as the committee of two Republi cans and seven Democrats is required to finish its work by the end of the year.

Cheney, in the television interview, made her posi tion clear that Trump had committed “multiple crimi nal offences” and should be prosecuted. She cited his repeated efforts as outlined by the Jan 6 committee to undermine democracy by denying his election loss to Biden and by spurring his supporters in the violent attack on the Capitol.

“We’ve been very clear

about a number of dif ferent criminal offences that are likely at issue here,” Cheney said. “If the Department of Justice determines that they have the evidence that we believe is there and they make a decision not to prosecute, I think that really calls into question whether or not we’re a nation of laws.”

Cheney, who lost in Wyo ming’s August primary after becoming Trump’s fiercest GOP critic and has signaled a possible 2024 presidential run, expressed dismay over the number of Republi can candidates in the Nov. 8 midterms who deny the legitimacy of the 2020 elec tion. She acknowledged that the Jan 6 committee’s investigation will be perma nently ended in January if Republicans retake control of the House.

While saying it may take “a couple of election cycles”, Cheney insisted the Republican Party can find its way back as a defender of democracy and the Constitution, as she put it. She pointed to the 2024 presidential campaign as a pivotal moment.

“I think that the party has either got to come back from where we are right now, which is a very dan gerous, toxic place, or the party will splinter and there will be a new conservative party that rises,” she said. “And if Donald Trump is the nominee of the Repub lican Party, the party will shatter and there will be a conservative party that rises in its place.”

VICE Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, speaks as the House select committee investigating the Jan 6 at tack on the US Capitol, holds a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct 13.

Photo: J Scott Applewhite/AP

Bahamas undefeated in beach soccer tourney

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

International beach soccer returned to the national stadium and the senior men’s national team made his tory before an enthusiastic home crowd eager to see the sport once again played at the highest level.

The Bahamas completed an undefeated run to claim the 2022 Bahamas Beach Soccer Cup last night with a thrilling 3-1 win over Colombia in the tourna ment finale.

They topped the table with nine points and a goal differential of seven - 16 scored and nine against.

Lesly St Fleur was named tournament MVP and finished second with four goals scored while Michael Butler was named best goalkeeper.

In a slow-paced first period, attacking predomi nantly with Butler, The Bahamas fell behind on Colombia’s lone goal of the night when Eduardo Edu scored at the 5:35 mark.

After a scoreless second, St Fleur moved from defender to forward, and for the second time this tournament, it sparked a Bahamas come-frombehind win.

Brandon Adderley deliv ered a strike to give the home team its first goal and tie the game 1-1 with 7:34 left to play in regulation.

The game appeared headed for extra time when Butler was awarded a pen alty kick with 30 seconds left in the match.

After his shot was blocked, Wood Julmis headed in the rebound to give The Bahamas the go ahead score, 2-1 with just over 27 seconds left to play.

“When the ball was bouncing around I think it was just a natural reaction to me, dive, put my head on it and get the goal. I’m always eager to try and fight for the goal, score for my country,” he said.

“I had to celebrate, I had to enjoy every single moment, it was a special moment for me.”

Julmis said the moment was amplified by the rau cous crowd in attendance that joined in on his goal celebration. “I’ve been on the national team for three

Lesly St Fleur named the MVP

NPSA: WILDCATS CLAIM 4TH STRAIGHT TITLE

ONE championship title has been decided but the other series moves to a fifth and deciding game in the New Providence Softball Association.

In the women’s division, the Sunshine Auto Wildcats claimed their fourth con secutive league title with a three-game sweep of the R and B Operators.

And it all comes down to one final game between the Cybertech Blue Mar lins and C and S Enterprise Hitmen with the series tied at 2-2. Game five is set for 8pm Tuesday at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

MOST VALUABLE PLAY

Lesly St Fleur was named the tournament MVP. He fin ished second with four goals scored.

years now, we’ve always played on the road, never played in a tournament at home, this is amazing. To play here in front of our fans is amazing and the support our fans gave us is extraordinary.”

Gary Joseph converted his penalty kick with 13 seconds left for the final score.

Head coach Gavin Christie said despite the methodical pace of the first two periods, his message to his side during the match was one of patience.

“I told the guys, you have to be patient with this game. In beach soccer, one or two goals doesn’t mean anything. I told the guys to stick with the gameplan and our time will comethankfully that came in the third period when we were able to score those goals and take this victory,” he said.

“For The Bahamas to win all three games against tough competition shows that we are ready for the next step in this sport in The Bahamas.”

St Fleur missed on sev eral shot opportunities in the finale but was pleased with the resilience his team showed over the course of the weekend.

“It was a great tour nament, every game we played we started off slow and we recovered in the end. This match showed who had it more and who wanted to win the game and in the end, it was us,” he said.

“It’s a great pleasure to play in front of our fans.

They gave us the vibes, we feed off of their energy so we hope for them to con tinue to support us and I want to thank them for coming out.”

Both player and coach see this tournament win as the beginning of a trek toward the goal of quali fying for the 2023 Beach Soccer World Cup.

“This is the start for the World Cup, for the Qualifiers next year,” St Fleur said. “We want to encourage everyone to come out, train with us, and try to make the team. We are trying to build a young team with veteran leadership.”

Christie added: “The Bahamas has really been wanting beach soccer back, now we have it and we’ve brought it back in grand style. The next thing on the list is World Cup qualifying and this tournament was really the kickoff for our programme to get started toward that goal in 2023.”

The men entered the final day as the highest goal scoring team of the tournament.

The Bahamas concluded night one with a furious four-goal rally in the third period to clinch a come from behind win.

St Fleur’s third period hat trick and a staunch defensive effort powered The Bahamas’ 7-4 win over Trinidad and Tobago.

The visitors took an early 2-0 lead in the first period

Kohli leads India to stunning T20 WCup win over Pakistan

By COURTNEY WALSH Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Aus tralia (AP) — Virat Kohli produced an astonishing performance to lead India to a stunning final-ball triumph over arch-rival Pakistan in a dramatic Twenty20 World Cup opener yesterday.

Arriving at the crease with India under pressure, Kohli delivered one of the finest innings played at the MCG to steer India to a four-wicket victory in the Group 2 Super 12 opener.

The thriller played in front of 90,293 fans was stark in contrast to a Group 1 match played ear lier yesterday in Hobart

where Sri Lanka coasted to a nine-wicket win over Ireland.

Kohli set the tempo of his innings perfectly,

batting conservatively early in partnership with Hardik Pandya before stepping up late as India reeled in Pakistan’s tally of 159-8.

Describing it as the finest T20 innings of his career, the India legend finished unbeaten on 82 from 53 balls but was stuck at the non-striker’s end in a sur real finish to the match.

When Mohammad Nawaz removed Pandya for 40 off 37 balls with the first ball of the final over, India still needed 16 runs for victory. But the Pakistan spinner then lost his nerve. Kohli struck a six from a no-ball on the

on goals from Coker and Riley.

The Bahamas answered with a goal from Adder ley before Riley answered with his second goal of the period for a 3-1 lead.

Julmis ended the high scoring period with a goal for The Bahamas to make the score 3-2 at the end of one. Jean Francois’ goal was the only score of the second period and the teams took a 3-3 score into the final period.

Game two was a 6-4 win over Costa Rica.

The visitors struck first on the first of two goals from Roger at the 7:54 mark in the first period but The Bahamas took con trol on goals from Joseph (3:45’) and Butler (2:42’) less than a minute apart.

The second period fea tured four goals as The Bahamas maintained their advantage.

Adderley scored at 9:13” to give The Bahamas a 3-1 lead. Greivin scored the first of his two goals in the period to bring Costa Rica within one (8:54’), only to have the home team regain their two-goal advantage just minutes later on a Kyle Williams strike at the 8:49’ mark. In the final period, Roger scored his second goal of the game at 8:33’ but The Bahamas closed out scoring with goals from St Fleur (7:25’) and Julmis (5:14’)

The women’s national team finished winless after

losses to Turks and Caicos and Trinidad and Tobago.

On night one, The Baha mas women fell to Turks and Caicos 3-2.

The Bahamas got goals from Janeka Edey and Angel Williams.

Turks and Caicos lost their opening match to Trinidad and Tobago, but took the lead against their hosts on Saturday night.

Last night, The Baha mas came up on the wrong end of the highest scoring match of the tournament, an 11-6 loss to Trinidad and Tobago.

Edey scored a hat trick for The Bahamas, Jada Thelamour added two goals and Haddassah Knowles added another.

Joan Cuscó, president of Beach Soccer World wide, stated that “it is great to return to the Baha mas after our last event in Nassau in 2018.

“We have so many good memories of all the tour naments we had in the Bahamas, and to play in a World Cup stadium is an assurance of a quality event.”

For Anton Sealey, president of the Bahamas Football Association, “this tournament is an oppor tunity to see some of the best talent competing in Nassau, in the best beach soccer facilities in the region, confirming the suc cessful bet placed on the 2017 World Cup”.

In game four on Saturday night, Thomas Davis was dominant on the mound and limited the high pow ered Hitmen offence to a single run in his team’s 3-1 win.

Both teams have alter nated wins thus far in the series. The Hitmen took game one 3-1 and the Mar lins evened the series with a dominant 18-0 win in game two. In game three the Hitmen won another high scoring affair, 10-3.

The Wildcats closed out the series with a 14-13 win.

The Operators tied the game at 13 in the top half of the seventh, only to have the defending champions score the go ahead run and claim another title for the club. They took game one 7-5 and won 12-7 in game two.

THE Bahamas Cham ber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) is set to close out the month of October with its much-anticipated Chamber Golf Classic Tournament, with part of the proceeds from the event to be donated to the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Sup port Group.

Registered participants of all skill levels will have the opportunity to engage in a friendly competition as well as networking on the greens in the two-person scramble tournament to be held on Sunday, October 30 at the Royal Blue Golf Club, located at the Baha

Saudi-owned Newcastle into CL positions amid speedy rise

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer

NEWCASTLE’S rise to becoming a team ready to compete in the Champions League seemed inevitable following the buyout of the northeast club by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund a year ago.

Few predicted it would happen this quickly.

With a 2-1 win at Totten ham yesterday, Newcastle climbed into fourth place in the Premier League — the final Champions League qualification position — in another statement of intent by the soccer team with the world’s richest ownership.

Newcastle’s only loss all season has come at Liver pool, and that was after a stoppage-time goal.

There have been draws against Manchester City and, just last weekend,

Manchester United. This, then, is no fluke by a team that doesn’t have any real superstars — yet — but is extremely well-drilled under manager Eddie Howe and has the best defensive record in the league. “When you associ ate us with money, it takes away the credit for the

players,” Howe said. “I will stand up for them and say a lot of these players were here anyway and the ones we have recruited, we have recruited wisely.

“But let’s give the credit for the performance, not look at how the team has

INDIA’s Virat Kohli reacts after winning the T20 World Cup cricket match against Pakistan yesterday.

(AP Photo/ Asanka B Ratnayake)

NEWCASTLE’S MIGUEL ALMIRON, centre, celebrates after scor ing his side’s second goal against Tottenham Hotspur at the Tot tenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

TEAM Bahamas completed an undefeated run to claim the 2022 Bahamas Beach Soccer Cup last night with a thrilling 3-1 win over Colombia in the tournament finale.

Panthers stun Brady, Bucs 21-3 as Tampa Bay drops below .500

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

(AP) — Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell below .500 with a stunning 21-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, who won their second game of the season yesterday despite playing with a third-string quar terback and interim head coach.

Brady was 32-of-49 pass ing for 290 yards for the Bucs (3-4). One of those incompletions came when a wide-open Mike Evans dropped what would have been a 64-yard touchdown on the third play of the game.

Brady hasn’t had a losing record this far into a season since the 2002 New Eng land Patriots dropped four straight games to reach 3-4.

P.J. Walker threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns for Carolina (2-5) in place of injured Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. The Pan thers won for the first time under interim coach Steve Wilks, who replaced Matt Rhule when he was fired Oct. 10.

Tampa Bay’s defense allowed the Panthers to rush for 173 yards. D’Onta Foreman ran for 118 yards, adn Chuba Hubbard added 63 yards and a touchdown.

Carolina came in as a 13 1/2-point underdog and having lost 12 of 13 games.

It’s now one game behind the Bucs and Atlanta Fal cons for first place in the NFC South.

COMMANDERS 23, PACKERS 21 LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense sput tered and Washington handed the Packers their third straight loss.

Nursing a sore thumb and out of sync with receivers, Rodgers was 23 of 35 for 194 yards and the Packers went 0 of 6 on third down.

Green Bay (3-4) had just 232 total yards of offense to Washington’s 364 and lost Allen Lazard to a shoul der injury, making him the team’s third wide receiver to go down during the first losing streak under coach Matt LaFleur.

Rodgers finished the game face down on the turf after a failed final play that ended with him throwing a lateral out of bounds.

Washington’s front four also played a role in fraz zling Rodgers and making him look more like a rookie than a 38-year-old four-time MVP.

Only a series of penalties on the Commanders (3-4) made the game close in the final minutes.

Taylor Heinicke, making his first start of the season in place of injured Carson Wentz, threw for two touchdowns — including a perfect 37-yard pass to Terry McLaurin — and was 20 of 33 for 200 yards.

Heinicke got off to a rough start, going 1 for 7 — including an interception that De’Vondre Campbell returned 63 yards for a touchdown.

CHIEFS 44, 49ERS 23

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 423 yards and three touchdowns as Kansas City rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat San Francisco.

Mahomes got off to a rough start in this Super Bowl rematch with his early interception putting Kansas City (5-2) in a 10-0

hole. But he led the Chiefs to touchdowns on six of the next seven drives.

Mecole Hardman scored on two TD runs and an 8-yard catch, Justin Watson caught a 4-yard TD, and JuJu Smith-Schuster fin ished it off with a 45 yard catch-and-run. Clyde Edwards-Helaire also scored on a 16-yard run.

Kansas City improved to 13-9 with Mahomes when falling behind by at least 10 points, including the Super Bowl win over the 49ers (3-4) following the 2019 season.

The Niners (3-4) dropped back-to-back games despite getting a boost from the addition this week of running back Christian McCaffrey, who had 62 yards on 10 scrimmage touches in his San Francisco debut.

But San Francisco set tled for three field goals and came up empty on another chance when Jimmy Garoppolo threw an interception at the goal line before Kansas City ran away with it in the second half.

GIANTS 23, JAGUARS 17

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.

(AP) — Two New York defenders tackled Christian Kirk inside the 1-yard line as time expired to preserve the win over Jacksonville.

The Giants matched their best start since 2008. Quar terback Daniel Jones ran for a career-high 107 yards and a touchdown, turning to his legs to carry the Giants (6-1) down the stretch. He ran for 35 yards on a goahead drive and capped it with a 1-yard plunge after consecutive penalties by Jacksonville moved the ball inches from the goal line.

Jacksonville had a final shot and reached the New York 1-yard on Trevor Lawrence’s pass to Kirk. But Julian Love and Xavier McKinney stopped Kirk short of the goal line, even as Jaguars players tried pushing the pile into the end zone.

Lawrence finished 22 of 43 for 310 yards for reeling Jacksonville (2-5), which lost its fourth straight.

Saquon Barkley finished with 107 yards on 24 carries, and Graham Gano kicked three field goals for New York. Gano’s last one gave the Giants some breathing room.

JETS 16, BRONCOS 9

DENVER (AP) — Rookie Breece Hall ran for a 62-yard touchdown before leaving with a knee injury and surprising New York won its fourth straight by beating backup quar terback Brett Rypien and punchless Denver.

The Jets (5-2) are off to their best start since 2010, have their first four-game winning streak since 2015 and have already surpassed their win total from last year when they went 4-13. New York improved to 4-0 on the road.

The Broncos (2-5) lost their fourth straight despite another outstanding defen sive performance as starting quarterback Russell Wilson sat out with a pulled hamstring.

Zach Wilson was held without a touchdown for the second straight week. He was 16 of 26 for 121 yards but did enough for the Jets to win. Rypien went 24 for 46 for 225 yards

and no touchdowns and threw a second-half inter ception. Rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner broke up Rypien’s fourth-down pass into the end zone to Court land Sutton with just under 2 minutes remaining.

The Jets lost Hall to a left knee injury in the second quarter when he was tack led by Patrick Surtain II and Jonas Griffith after a short run. He was helped off the field and carted to the locker room. Coach Robert Saleh said after the game the initial diagnosis for Hall is an ACL injury.

RAVENS 23, BROWNS 20

BALTIMORE (AP) — Gus Edwards ran for two touchdowns in his first game back from a major knee injury, and Baltimore avoided another fourthquarter collapse thanks to a couple huge Cleveland penalties.

The Ravens (4-3) led 23-13 after Justin Tucker’s 55-yard field goal with 11:24 remaining, but the Browns responded with a 2-yard touchdown run by Kareem Hunt to make it a threepoint game. Then a fumble by Baltimore’s Justice Hill gave Cleveland the ball at its own 16 with 3:12 to play.

With the Browns driv ing, Amari Cooper was called for offensive pass interference, and a falsestart penalty on a field-goal attempt forced Cade York to try it from 60 yards. His attempt was blocked by Malik Harrison with 1:59 remaining.

Cleveland (2-5) has lost four in a row.

Edwards missed all of last season and the first six games of this one, but he rushed for 66 yards scored on runs of 7 and 1. Balti more remained tied with Cincinnati atop the AFC North.

The Ravens’ Lamar Jack son was sacked three times and threw for only 120 yards. The Browns’ Jacoby Brissett was 22 of 27 for 258 yards, but he was sacked five times and fumbled on one of them.

SEAHAWKS 37,

CHARGERS 23

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Kenneth Walker III rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns, Marquise Goodwin caught a pair of scores, and Seat tle jumped out to a 17-point first-quarter lead and beat Los Angeles. Geno Smith completed 20 of 27 passes for 210 yards and two

touchdowns, his fifth multiTD game of the season. Jason Myers added three field goals for the Seahawks (4-3), who have won three of four and took a halfgame lead in the NFC West.

Seattle led 17-0 late in the first quarter, its largest lead after 15 minutes since a win over New Orleans in Week 13 of 2013. It was the Seahawks’ largest road lead at the end of the first since 2000.

It was the third straight week the Chargers (4-3) fell behind by double digits in the first quarter. They ral lied against Cleveland and Denver, but were unable to pull it off this time and had a three-game winning streak snapped. LA now trails Kansas City by one game in the AFC West.

Justin Herbert was 33 of 51 for 293 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, marking the second time in his career he has thrown at least 50 passes in consecutive games. Austin Ekeler had 127 scrimmage yards (96 receiving, 31 rushing) and a pair of touchdowns, giving him eight over the last three games.

TITANS 19, COLTS 10

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Andrew Adams returned an interception 76 yards for the first pick-6 of his career, and Tennessee never trailed while com pleting its second straight sweep of AFC South rival Indianapolis.

The reigning two-time division champion Titans (4-2) won their fourth straight overall, and they’ve now beaten the Colts five straight times.

Randy Bullock made four field goals, the last two providing Tennessee’s first points this season in the fourth quarter. Bullock’s 48-yarder provided the final margin with 4:47 remaining.

The Titans forced three turnovers, the last on Michael Pittman Jr.’s fumble with 3:22 left. Jef fery Simmons also had one of three sacks for Tennessee.

Derrick Henry helped seal the win with his third straight 100-yard rushing game, finishing with a sea son-high 128 yards on 30 carries.

Matt Ryan went 33 of 44 for 243 yards and a touch down but was intercepted twice. The Colts (3-3-1) saw their two-game win streak end.

TUA, DOLPHINS SURVIVE SCORELESS 2ND HALF TO BEAT STEELERS

By ALANIS THAMES AP Sports Writer

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida (AP) — Tua Tago vailoa got the Dolphins off to a fast start in his return from a concussion, and Miami held on throughout a scoreless second half to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-10 last night.

The Dolphins (4-3) snapped a three-game skid that began on September 29, when Tagovailoa was concussed in a loss at Cin cinnati. He also took a hard hit four days earlier in a

win over Buffalo that led to changes in the NFL’s con cussion protocol.

Miami coach Mike McDaniel opted not to have Jason Sanders kick his fourth field goal of the game midway through the third quarter for a twoscore lead. Chase Edmonds was stuffed for no gain on fourth-and-3 from the Pitts burgh 13.

The decision loomed large as Miami punted on its next five possessions.

But the Dolphins inter cepted rookie Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett

twice in the closing minutes to seal it. On third-and-16 from the Miami 30, Jevon Holland jumped in front of Pickett’s pass intended for Diontae Johnson and returned it 33 yards.

The Dolphins punted again and Pickett drove the Steelers to the Miami 25 with 25 seconds left. Cor nerback Noah Igbinoghene intercepted Pickett’s sec ond-down pass at the goal line and tapped his feet in bounds to end Pittsburgh’s hopes. The Steelers (2-4) fell short a week after they held off Tom Brady and the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home. Tagovailoa finished 21 of 35 for 261 yards and an 8-yard touchdown pass to Raheem Mostert on the Dolphins’ opening drive. Miami added field goals by Sanders to lead 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Pickett, who was cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol Friday, was 32 for 44 with one touchdown and three interceptions.

UP NEXT Steelers: At Philadelphia next Sunday.

Dolphins: At Detroit next Sunday.

BENGALS 35, FALCONS 17

CINCINNATI (AP)

— Joe Burrow passed for 345 yards and three touch downs in the first half as Cincinnati scored on its first four possessions to roll past Atlanta.

The Cincinnati quarter back played his best game of the season, finishing 34 of 42 for 481 yards and three touchdowns and run ning for a 1-yard score as the defending AFC cham pion Bengals (4-3) moved above .500 for the first time this season.

Receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd both eclipsed the 100-yard mark in the first half. Boyd fin ished with a career-high 155 yards on eight catches. Chase also caught eight passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

Marcus Mariota com pleted just eight passes for the Falcons (3-4), whose strong running game was also stymied by Cincinnati. Mariota threw for 124 yards and Atlanta generated only 214 yards of offense to the Bengals’ 537.

RAIDERS 38, TEXANS 20

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Josh Jacobs rushed for 143 yards and three second-half touchdowns as Las Vegas ran away from Houston. In a battle of one-win teams coming off byes, the Raiders (2-4) dominated the Texans (1-4-1) after halftime, outscoring them 28-10 behind 227 yards of offense, including 98 from Jacobs on the ground.

Las Vegas, which erased a three-point, fourth-quar ter deficit, scored on four straight possessions before safety Duron Harmon sealed the win by inter cepting Davis Mills and returning it 73 yards for a touchdown.

Jacobs has rushed for 441 yards in his last three games. He became the first Raider to rush for more than 100 yards in three straight games since Napo leon Kaufman in 1997. It was his second career game with three rushing TDs.

Derek Carr completed 21 of 27 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown. Davante Adams had eight receptions for 95 yards.

Mills completed 28 of 40 attempts for 302 yards and two touchdowns, along with his pick-6 to Harmon. Dameon Pierce led the Texans’ rushing attack with 92 yards on 20 carries.

COWBOYS LEAN ON DEFENCE IN PRESCOTT’S RETURN, TOP LIONS 24-6

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Dak Prescott made sure to remember what he watched during the five games the star quarterback missed with a fractured right thumb. The Dallas defense has things under control.

Ezekiel Elliott ran for two 1-yard touch downs, Prescott threw for a score in his return and the Cowboys forced five turnovers in a 24-6 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Dallas (5-2) recovered Jamaal Williams’ fumble inside its 1 with a fourpoint lead early in the fourth quarter.

Jared Goff was respon sible for four other Detroit turnovers with two interceptions and two fumbles, while Prescott didn’t give the ball away.

Kind of like the for mula Cooper Rush followed in winning the first four games without Prescott before three interceptions helped end the streak a week ago, when defending NFC East champs lost at unde feated division leader Philadelphia.

“It was important for me to see that and to recognize that and know coming back, don’t try to do too much,” Prescott said. “I’m just trying to play my role and make sure that I put this team in the best chance to win.”

The Lions (1-5) got a solid showing for three quarters from the NFL’s worst defense, but coach Dan Campbell fell to 0-11-1 on the road with the Lions in something of a homecoming for the Texas native.

Campbell’s frustration in a fourth consecutive loss showed when he threw his headset after Williams lost the ball in a pile and Anthony Barr recovered for Dallas with the Cowboys up 10-6. Campbell said he threw the headset because he was trying to get a challenge of the previ ous play, when tight end Brock Wright was ruled down at the 1 on a 17-yard catch.

“I’m frustrated because we’re losing, just like I was last year,” said Campbell, whose record as Detroit’s coach dropped to 4-18-1. “But I’m not down, I’m not losing confidence. I’m not going to go hide in a corner.”

Goff’s first three turnovers led to Dallas touchdowns, starting with Trevon Diggs’ third inter ception of the season on a diving play inside the Dallas 20 with the Lions leading 6-3. Elliott jump-started the ensuing 82-yard drive by hurdling DeShon Elliott on an 18-yard run. Tony Pollard ran for 28 yards two plays later, and the Cowboys took their first lead on Elliott’s 1-yard plunge.

BUCCANEERS quarterback Tom Brady (12) is sacked by Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) and teammate defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (97) during the second half yesterday. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

DOLPHINS quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) aims a pass during the first half against the Steelers last night.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

ASTROS SWEEP YANKEES IN ALCS, ADVANCE TO WORLD SERIES AGAIN

By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP)

— Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman delivered big hits and the Houston Astros advanced to the World Series again, fin ishing a four-game sweep of New York in the AL Championship Series with a 6-5 victory last night aided by another defensive gaffe from the Yankees.

Taking advantage of a costly error by second baseman Gleyber Torres to produce the go-ahead rally in the seventh inning, the Astros won their second consecutive pennant and fourth in six years.

Rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña hit a threerun homer off ailing Yankees starter Nestor Cortes to help the AL West champions over come an early 3-0 deficit.

Harper’s homer powers Phillies past Padres, into the World Series

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

— Bryce Harper broke up the Phillies postseason party on the mound and directed his team to where the true revelry was about to begin for the National League champs.

“C’mon, let’s go inside! Let’s go!” he ordered.

With that, Harper in his backward cap walked toward the dugout and raised his arms in jubilation to the soundtrack of Phil lies fans screaming “MV3! MV3! “ The Phillies scram bled inside for the Broad Street Bubbly that awaited in the clubhouse.

to the plate in the eighth inning with the Phillies and their fans beckoning Bryce to deliver in the clutch just one more time. “I hit the ball, and I just looked at my dugout and kind of it’s for all of them,” Harper said. “It’s for this whole team. It’s for this whole organisation.”

Rhys Hoskins also hit a two-run homer in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series to spark Philadel phia’s improbable run to the pennant and a shot at its first World Series champi onship since 2008.

Harper, Hoskins & Crew are coming for a most improbable World Series championship.

an on-field celebration, and they roared again. The lefty-swinging Harper con nected off a righty — the Padres had left-handed closer Josh Hader warming in the bullpen, but didn’t bring him in.

“It’s a thought at this point, but that wasn’t what we were thinking,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “We were trying to get to four-out position for Hader, and we had a lot of confi dence in Suarez.”

The Phillies felt the same way about Harper.

National League champi ons flag as the postseason banger “Dancing On My Own” blared throughout the stadium. Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos stripped off their shirts and danced in the clubhouse.

Cigars were let. Cheap beer was sprayed. The alco hol puddles on the carpet went deeper than the ones caused by the rain in a sloppy, gusty Game 5.

Now they’ll try to become the first team that finished in third place to win a World Series.

The Padres took a 3-2 lead in a sloppy seventh inning as rain pounded Citi zens Bank Park and turned portions of the infield, nota bly around third base, into a mud pit. But it was Phil lies reliever Seranthony Dominguez’s slippery grip that almost cost the Phillies.

Houston will open the World Series at home Friday night against Bryce Harper and the wild-card Philadelphia Phillies, who beat San Diego earlier in the day to close out the bestof-seven NLCS in five games. (See story right) It was the first time both pennants were decided on the same day since 1992.

After losing to Atlanta in last year’s World Series, Houston earned the fifth pennant in franchise his tory and another chance at its second World Series championship.

KOHLI

FROM

fourth ball of the over and Nawaz then bowled a wide. He then bowled Kohli, who had the benefit of a free hit courtesy of the wide. Alert to the ball rico cheting from the stumps, the Indian batters ran three

Harper made the scene possible because he rose to the moment Philly demanded of him from the time he signed the richest free-agent deal in baseball history. Harper has made the monumental feat of hit ting a baseball look so easy in the postseason and with the NL pennant at stake, he delivered with easily the defining moment of his four-year Philadelphia career.

Harper slugged his fifth homer of the postseason, a two-run blast in the eighth inning that turned Citizens Bank Park into a mad house, and the $330 million slugger powered the Phil lies past the San Diego Padres 4-3 yesterday and into the World Series for the first the time since 2009.

One swing. One oppo site-field shot. One game-winning home run that about seemed destined from the moment he came

byes to reduce the target to two runs off two balls. But that left Kohli off strike.

Nawaz had Dinesh Karthik stumped with the second last ball, but then bowled another wide, leav ing Ravichandran Ashwin needing only a single to secure victory for India.

“It’s a surreal atmos phere. I honestly have no

SUNS BEAT CLIPPERS, PAUL IS 3RD NBA PLAYER WITH 11,000 ASSISTS

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Devin Booker scored 35 points, Chris Paul became the third player in NBA history to reach 11,000 assists, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-95 last night.

The Suns didn’t waste any time getting started on the blowout. They raced to an 11-0 lead from the opening tip and led by 20 points at halftime and again in the third.

Marcus Morris scored 22 points, John Wall added 17 points and Paul George had 16 points in the Clip pers’ home opener after winning their first two games on the road. Kawhi Leonard had 11 points and six rebounds in 21 min utes off the bench in his

second game of the season. Paul assisted on the Suns’ first basket of the game, a 3-pointer by Booker. Paul followed with an alley-oop pass to Deandre Ayton, who dunked, to give him 11,000 assists.

Paul joined John Stock ton and Jason Kidd as the only players in NBA his tory with that many assists. Paul also became the first player in the league with 20,000 points and 11,000 assists.

Stockton had 15,806 assists and Kidd, now coach of the Dallas Maver icks, had 12,091. Fittingly, Paul reached the mark against the Clippers, with whom he played for six seasons and is the fran chise’s career assists leader.

Houston held a 3-0 lead over the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Game 4 was last night. (See sidebar)

The World Series will begin Friday night at the home of the AL champion.

Harper was named NLCS MVP and he as parked the trophy on a dais, he made it clear the personal awards meant nothing to him with out a ring. “I don’t really care about this but MLB is making me do it,” Harper said.

Philadelphia trailed 3-2 when J.T. Realmuto began the eighth with a single off reliever Robert Suarez.

Harper then lined a 2-2, 98 mph sinker the opposite way, into the left-field seats as another sellout crowd of 45,485 shook the stadium.

Harper hoped the homer set the stage for other high lights on deck in the next couple of weeks.

“We’ve got four more,” Harper told the fans during

words. I have no idea how that happened,” Kohli said.

After sending their rivals in, India placed Pakistan under significant pressure when removing star batter Mohammad Rizwan and captain Babar Azam in the first four overs.

Pakistan struggled to find rhythm in overcast condi tions until a surge from Iftikhar Ahmed midway through their innings helped them to a competi tive tally.

Ahmed made 51 from 34 balls, at one stage striking four sixes in six balls, with three of them coming from off-spinner Axar Patel. He was well supported by Shan Masood, who finished unbeaten on 52 from 42 balls.

India faltered early in their chase courtesy of a combination of brilliant bowling, poor shots and misjudged running.

After India fell to 31-4 when Axar Patel was judged run out in a conten tious decision, Kohli and Pandya set about resurrect ing their nation’s hopes.

The pair, who combined for a partnership of 113, worked the ball around the spacious MCG and brought up India’s 100 with five overs remaining. This left India requiring 60 from 30 balls.

“Pure chaos, right? I don’t think anybody was surprised,” Hoskins said. “This guy has a knack for coming up in the biggest moments. It’s just what he’s done his whole career, and we’ve seen it plenty of times.”

Remember, too: When Harper’s thumb was broken by a pitch from San Diego’s Blake Snell in late June, there were some concerns that he might not return this season.

Instead, the star who signed a 13-year contract to play in Philadelphia deliv ered — in this season, in this game. Even after Harp er’s homer put them ahead, it wasn’t an easy ending for the Phillies.

Reliever David Robert son was pulled after a pair of one-out walks in the ninth. Ranger Suárez made his first relief appearance of the season and retired Trent Grisham on a bunt and got Austin Nola — brother of Phils ace Aaron Nola — on a routine fly to finish it for a huge save. The Phillie Phanatic swayed a

India’s captain Rohit Sharma said that after losing early wickets, the key was trying to stay in the match for as long as possible. With Kohli at the crease, he still had belief.

“From the situation we were in, it has to be one of India’s best knocks, not just his best knock,” he said.

His Pakistan counterpart Azam was stunned after the loss but paid tribute to Kohli, the man of the match.

Earlier, Sri Lanka secured victory with five overs to spare against Ireland in both teams’ Twenty20 World Cup Super 12 opener.

After Ireland had won the toss and chose to bat first in overcast and wintry conditions at Bel lerive Oval, Sri Lanka’s bowlers made regular breakthroughs to restrict the Irish to 128-8 after its 20 overs.

Chasing 129 for victory never proved a difficult challenge for Sri Lanka, which chased down the below-par target with ease.

Kusal Mendis top scored with 68 off 43 balls, with five boundaries and three sixes, including hitting a six to win the match off the final ball of the 15th over.

Sri Lanka raced to 50 without loss at the end of

Philly, get ready. This sixth-seeded Phillies — yes, that is a thing this season — feel they’re just getting started.

Harper, who turned 30 last week, is batting 439 (18 for 41) with six doubles, five homers, 11 RBIs and 10 runs scored over 11 post season games. He has hit in 10 straight and has reached base in 11 straight.

And the feared desig nated hitter can keep those streaks alive when he plays in his first World Series.

“To a certain degree, it’s getting overlooked because of who he is and the star that he is,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “He’s a guy that’s a big star that’s delivered. Can’t say enough about that.”

Philadelphia finished third in the NL East at 87-75, a full 14 games behind the 101-win Braves this season, and were the last club in the majors to make the 12-team play off field. After a 2-0 sweep of NL Central champion St Louis in MLB’s newly created wild-card round, the Phillies needed only four games to knock out Atlanta, the defending World Series champs.

their 6-over power play with Mendis and Dhanan jaya de Silva removing any nervousness Sri Lanka may have had chasing a low target.

Spinner Gareth Delaney had Dhananjaya caught behind for 31 in the ninth over. But that was a brief respite as Charith Asalanka made a brisk 31 off 22 balls as part of a 70-run part nership with Mendis to close-out an impressive vic tory for Sri Lanka.

Paul Stirling (34 ) and Harry Tector (45) top scored for Ireland and were the only two batters to get some momentum in their innings as too many of their teammates played poor shots and gave their wick ets away cheaply to prevent a more competitive total being reached.

Captain Andrew Bal birnie (one) and Locran Tucker (10), two of Ire land’s heroes in a famous win against two-time cham pions the West Indies on Friday to qualify for the Super 12 stage, were both bowled around their legs shuffling across the crease.

Ireland’s innings never really recovered from that slow start as spin ners Maheesh Theekshana (2-19 from four overs) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2-25 from four overs) took two

Starter Zack Wheeler was fantastic again and struck out eight over six innings. He was lifted with a 2-1 lead after Jake Cronen worth’s leadoff single in the seventh.

Dominguez couldn’t find his feel with the ball as the rain picked up, puddles formed near third base and the infield dirt turned to mush. He threw one wild pitch and Josh Bell lined a tying RBI double to right that made it 2-1.

Dominguz then threw two more wild pitches that allowed pinch-runner Jose Azocar to scamper home for the 3-2 lead. The righty reliever threw only three wild pitches in 51 innings all season -- then uncorked three in the seventh.

Things got tense in Philly.

But they always had Harper in their back pocket like a lucky charm. “Harper had a huge moment there,” Padres slugger Manny Machado said. “You just have to tip your hat.”

Hoskins, Harper, Wheeler have left a trail of indelible moment at Citi zens Bank as they improved to 5-0 at home, where they will play World Series Games 3, 4 and 5.

wickets apiece to keep Sri Lanka in control.

Theekshana bowled Lorcan Tucker inside the powerplay overs before returning late to remove George Dockrell and break a 47-run partner ship between Dockrell and Harry Tector, who top scored with 45 from 42.

Both teams qualified for the Super 12 stage through a dramatic qualifying round that was played over six days.

Ireland crushed two-time defending champion the West Indies by nine wickets on Friday to clinch its spot in Group 1 of the second stage behind Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka, which won its maiden Twenty20 World Cup in 2014, had a poor start to its qualifying round losing to Namibia, but responded with victo ries over the United Arab Emirates and the Nether lands to stay alive in the tournament.

Sri Lanka and Ireland are joined by Australia, New Zealand, England and Afghanistan in Group 1 for the second round. New Zealand thrashed defend ing champion Australia by 89 runs, and England eased past Afghanistan by five wickets on Saturday to commence the Super 12 stage.

Phillies pose after winning

baseball NL Championship Series last night in Philadelphia.

Photo/Matt Slocum

ASTROS Jeremy Pena (3) reacts after scoring on a base hit. (AP)

AYTON CANS 26, LILLARD SCORES 41 AS TRAIL BLAZERS BEAT SUNS 113-111 IN OVERTIME

By ANNE M PETERSON AP Sports Writer

PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 41 points and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Phoenix Suns 113-111 in overtime Friday night for their second straight victory to open the season.

Anfernee Simons made a hook shot with 7.2 seconds left in overtime and fin ished with 16 points. Jusuf Nurkic had 20 points and 17 rebounds.

Devin Booker led Phoe nix with 33 points. His layup gave Phoenix a 109-106 lead early in the extra period. Ayton had 26 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.

Lillard’s free throws with 33.9 seconds left tied it at 111. Booker missed a short jumper before Simons’ hook put Portland in front. Nurkic fouled Deandre Ayton on the other end, but Ayton missed the first, then missed the second on purpose for a failed try at a

tying basket. “I told him: `I trust you, put your big-boy pants on. You got the big contract, you got the game, you put the work in,’” Lil lard said about trusting backcourt partner Simons in the end.

Booker said Ayton’s second miss was right where it needed to be for a second chance at tying the game. “It’s the NBA,” he said.

“Those guys are trying to win, too, and they’re pro fessionals so there’s going to be nights like that.”

The Suns led by 12 points in the first half, but Port land crept back to tie it at 79 early in the fourth quar ter off Nassir Little’s pullup jumper and it was close the rest of the way.

Chris Paul’s driving layup gave the Suns a 101-100 lead with 59.9 seconds to go in regulation.

After Nurkic made free throws for Portland, Mikal Bridges made the second of two free throws to tie it at 102 with 37.1 seconds left. Lillard missed an

off-balance jumper to send the game to overtime.

“The way we look now, we have the depth to come back from any deficit,” Nurkic said. “But ideally, we don’t want to come to that point.”

The Suns were coming off a 107-105 victory over Dallas on Wednesday in their season opener.

The Suns won 64 games last season but fell to the Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals.

Portland won its opener 115-108 on Wednesday night at Sacramento.

MEMORIES

Suns coach Monty Wil liams is always nostalgic when he comes to Portland, where he got his start as an assistant under former Blazers coach Nate McMil lan from 2005-10.

He recalled Friday how one season McMillan tore his Achilles and he was thrust into the head coach’s role for a time. “I’ll never forget, I was walking the sidelines because Nate

REACHING SEVERAL MILESTONES FOR BAHAMAS ROWING AT HEAD OF THE CHARLES REGATTA

THE Bahamian contin gent in competition at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta turned in several milestone per formances for Bahamas rowing against some of the top sailors around the world.

Dehron Smith competed in the Men’s Championship Sculls Division, Dr Kath ryn De Souza in the Grand Master Veterans Single Sculls Division and sisters Jessica and Poppy Prof fitt in the Youth Women’s Under 17 Doubles Sculls Division at the event last weekend in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Proffitt sisters, both students at the Lyford Cay International School, were the top finishers for Team

Bahamas and finished 37th overall in the 55-team field of race 51 in 21:00.467 sec onds. Their time finished 15th among the under-17 teams.

This was the second appearance at the Head of the Charles Regatta for the 16-year-old Jessica. She has also rowed at the Indian Creek Regatta (Miami, October 2019), Miami International Regatta (Miami, April 2022), Can AmMex International Regatta for Team Baha mas (Ontario, Canada, July 2022)

Poppy, 14, has rowed in both the Miami Regatta and CanAmMex.

Dr De Souza finished 61st overall in the 79-competitor field of the Women’s Grand

Her time of 25:22.116, no. 26 among the Grand Master Singles Fleet of 34 competitors.

Dr De Souza, 58, is a phy sician specialising in sports medicine/physical medicine and rehabilitation, and has been rowing competitively for just over four years.

She made her debut at the Head of the 2021 Schuylkill Regatta in Phila delphia, Pennsylvania.

Smith finished 24th in the 21:17.852 seconds in the Men’s Championship Singles.

A 22-year-old senior at Ithaca College, Smith has also competed at the 2022 Under-23 World Rowing Championships.

would want me to commu nicate with the players. I turned to ask him for a call and he just like barked at me, `You make the call!’” Williams said. “It was like, ‘I put you up there for a reason so stop being you and be me for a second and make the call.’”

TIP INS Suns: Williams said he’s taking it slow with Landry Shamet, who has started the season sidelined with a left hip strain.

“The last thing I want to do is put more pressure on a guy to get back on the floor. I just wait for our

team to let me know when a guy is ready.”

Trail Blazers: Lillard led all scorers with 28 points, including four 3-pointers, in the first half alone. Lil lard played just 29 games last season before he had surgery to correct a nagging abdominal injury.

been put together.”

Newcastle has an unlikely scoring sensation, too, with Miguel Almiron — one of the players at the club in the old regime under Mike Ashley — grabbing what proved to be the winner for his fifth goal in as many games.

That came in the 40th minute when the Paraguay forward shrugged off Ryan Sessegnon, skipped past another defender, Clement Lenglet, and slipped a finish under goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Lloris played a central role in Newcastle’s opening goal nine minutes earlier, after he was blocked off by Callum Wilson after coming out to intercept a ball played forward. With Lloris on the ground, Wilson col lected the loose ball and chipped a left-footed shot over Lloris and Eric Dier into an empty net.

Harry Kane pulled a goal back in the 54th for Totten ham, which also was beaten by Manchester United 2-0 in midweek. “We are keep ing our feet on the ground,” Wilson said, “but it’s slowly but surely falling into place.”

When Saudi Arabia’s PIF bought out Newcastle, the team was winless and in 19th place last season.

Now, Newcastle is fourth and seven points behind leader Arsenal, which drew 1-1 at Southampton to bring its eight-match winning run in all competitions to an end. It was only the second time Arsenal had dropped

points in the league in 11 games. Arsenal went ahead through Granit Xhaka in the 11th minute, only for Stuart Armstrong to equal ize after the break.

Arsenal’s lead now stands at two points from Manchester City, with Tot tenham a further three points back. It has been a good weekend for City, which beat Brighton 3-1 on Saturday.

MARSCH UNDER

PRESSURE

American coach Jesse Marsch is the latest Premier League manager feeling the heat from his own fans.

Leeds’ 3-2 loss at home to Fulham sparked jeers from its supporters at full time.

There were chants against Marsch and the club’s board in the final minutes of the game, with Leeds in the relegation zone and on a four-match losing run.

“We are unified here, from the board to the staff and the players,” said Marsch, who has been in charge since replacing Mar celo Bielsa in February.

Goals by Aleksandar Mitrovic, Bobby De Cor dova-Reid and Willian put Fulham 3-1 ahead after Rodrigo’s 20th-minute opener for Leeds. Crysen cio Summerville got a stoppage-time consolation for the hosts.

VILLA’S REACTION

Just imagine what Steven Gerrard was thinking as Aston Villa raced into a three-goal lead over Brent ford after just 14 minutes.

Gerrard was fired Thurs day after a year in charge, soon after a 3-0 loss at Fulham, with his team in

poor form and largely inef fective in attack.

Interim coach Aaron Danks quickly got some thing out of the forward line, with all three play ers — Leon Bailey, Danny Ings (2) and Ollie Watkins — scoring in a 4-0 win at Villa Park that marked the team’s biggest victory of the season. “We owed the fans that performance and result,” Ings said.

“Naturally you always see a reaction from a team when something happens like it has this week with the gaffer leaving. For what we have in the dressing room it was quite simply not good enough and hasn’t been for a long period of time.”

IMPROVING LEICESTER

Leicester is out of the relegation zone. Wolver hampton has dropped deeper into it.

With their second 4-0 win in their last five games, Leicester’s players are put ting behind them a dreadful start to the season that left Brendan Rodgers under big pressure. Now it’s Wolves — playing under an interim manager following the firing of Bruno Lage at the start of the month — which is the crisis club after its heaviest defeat of the season. No team has more losses than Wolves’ seven.

Youri Tielemans smashed in the goal of the day, a first-time effort from 25 metres that crashed in off the post, to set Leicester on its way in the eighth minute.

Harvey Barnes, James Maddison and Jamie Vardy — with his first goal of the season — added the others at Molineux.

Master Veterans Women’s Singles Race.

SUNS centre Deandre Ayton, right, in action against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY BISONS WIN WHITE SANDS BAHAMAS NCAA WOMEN’S GOLF INVITATIONAL

NCAA sports will have an active fall season at the Atlantis resort with golf as the first event on the sports tourism calendar.

The Lipscomb University Bisons captured the first title in the series with their win at White Sands Baha mas NCAA Women’s Golf Invitational, hosted by the Little Rock Trojans at the Ocean Club Golf Course.

The Bisons were the second winners of the event, following Texas Campbell at the previous editions in 2019 and 2021.

Lipscomb head coach Shannon O’Brien said her team’s performance with the backdrop of the Atlantis resort made for a milestone moment of the season thus far.

“I am so happy for these girls. To have the low four scorers and to be 13 under par as a team is amazing. On top of that, we couldn’t have been anywhere more beautiful,” she said.

“Words can’t express how wonderful this week was for a bunch of girls from a school in Nashville. We came here to win, but we are going home with so much more. We have mem ories for a lifetime from the Bahamas. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to making this event so terrific.”

The Bisons were led by sophomore Mary Kate Smith and senior Lauren Thompson, who both shot - 4 under par. Both fin ished at 212. Thompson, earned the individual medal

in a five-hole playoff, her second tournament win of the fall season.

“It couldn’t have been a better week for me or for our team,” said Thompson, “I played well this week, and I made a lot of birdies (14). My putting carried me. But I also have a low ball flight and that gives me a bit of an advantage in the wind here. I’ve had a ton of fun this week, and I know I will be back to the Bahamas.”

Smith entered as the topranked golfer in the field, at no. 147.

As a team, Lipscomb shot -13 (851) to finish ahead of Arkansas State at 886, Cen tral Arkansas was third at 895 and UNC Greensboro was next at 904 and host Little Rock rounded out the top five with a score of 908.

Rounding out the final team scoring in the eightteam field were host Little Rock at 908, Memphis at 918, South Dakota State at 928 and Florida Gulf Coast at 932.

The remainder of the field included Memphis at 918, South Dakota State at 926, and Florida Gulf Coast at 932.

The men’s event will follow from October 28-30, with VCU serving as the host school.

The men’s teams entered are Arkansas State, Delaware, Duke, LA Monroe, Nebraska, Sam Houston State, South ern Mississippi, Stetson, Texas State, Troy, UTEP and VCU. “The Bahamas

is a picture-perfect back drop for this prestigious tournament and an ideal destination for the athletes and spectators to relax and recharge in between the competition,” said Latia Duncombe, acting director general, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation.

“We know that all the attendees will find our warm hospitality, beautiful white sand beaches, end less cultural attractions and experiences reason to come back and visit another of our 16 island destinations.

“On behalf of the Ocean Club Golf Course and Atlantis Paradise Island, we welcome all the ath letes competing in the 2022 White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational, along with their coaches, alumni and fans. The Invitational is an excellent opportunity to offer our course as a true test for top amateur golf ers. We are looking forward to the competition and the chance to showcase our beautiful destination,” said Audrey Oswell, president and managing director at Atlantis Paradise Island.

Yannik Paul gets 1st European tour win at Mallorca Open

PALMA, Spain (AP) — Yannik Paul made a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win his first European tour title by one stroke at the Mallorca Open yesterday. Paul overcame a two-shot deficit with three holes to play at the Son Muntaner Golf Club. The German had three birdies and four bogeys for a 1-over 72, fin ishing the tournament on 15 under to win in his 26th appearance on the Euro pean tour.

Marcus Armitage (73) had a two-shot lead with three holes left but finished bogey, double-bogey, bogey. He ended in a tie for sixth.

Paul had consecutive bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15 to lose the lead but recovered

GOLF

FROM PAGE 14

Mar Resort, Cable Beach. Shotgun start time is 9am and registration for the event is $275 per player.

As breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women in The Bahamas, the Chamber has chosen to offer part proceeds to the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support group to aid in the effort to find a cure for the deadly dis ease, whose mission is to provide supportive care, encouragement, coping skills, resources, strength and hope for all who have or had cancer. This dynamic attachment by women to others will promote health, wholeness and healing.

The BCCEC has com menced its in-person events once again, having relaunched its popular Power Breakfast series back in August following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pan demic. The upcoming Golf Classic will serve not only as a fundraiser but also as a great networking opportu nity for Chamber members.

The Nassau Cruise Port is the event sponsor of the Chamber Golf Classic.

Said Mike Maura Jr, CEO and director of the Nassau Cruise port: “Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. (NCPL) is proud to be the

at the end. “I’m speechless, honestly, I’m just so happy,” the 28-year-old Paul said. “It was really hard today. My ball striking was unbe lievable all week. I hit it really close at the first couple of holes and couldn’t make any putts.

“So that was really hard to just stay in the moment. But luckily none of the other guys really made a lot of putts.”

England’s Paul Waring (66) and Germany’s Nico lai von Dellingshausen (69) tied for second on 14 under.

Ryan Fox (74) tied for fourth on 13 under to move past Matt Fitzpatrick for second place in the Race to Dubai rankings enter ing the final stretch of the season.

event sponsor for BCCEC’s Chamber Classic Golf Tournament. As a patron sponsor of The Cham ber and its ongoing work, NCPL lends its support to enhance the business com munity and to promote ease of doing business and national development. The $300m revitalisation and expansion of the Nassau Cruise Port on Prince George Wharf aims to be the catalyst for change downtown, and antici pates reimagining Nassau, promoting innovation in business development, new opportunities and enrich ment of our Bahamian tourism product.”

The BCCEC would like to thank all of the sponsors for their patronage of the event, including their grand prize sponsor, Royal Carib bean Cruise Lines.

Other sponsors of the inaugural event include Comfort Suites, Summit Insurance, Cable Baha mas Business Solutions, Think Simple, Leno Baha mas, Island Pay, Higgs and Johnson, The Paint Place, Commonwealth Bank, Plato Alpha, Maran Global, Rentokil and The Wine and Spirit Guys, and others.

For more information about the golf tournament please visit https://www. thebahamaschamber.com/ golftournament2022.

THE LIPSCOMB University Bisons with their trophy after winning White Sands Bahamas NCAA Women’s Golf Invitational, hosted by the Little Rock Trojans at the Ocean Club Golf Course.

THE BISONS were led by sophomore Mary Kate Smith and senior Lauren Thompson.

Meal Deal

‘BUDDY’ AND PACERS END 12-GAME LOSING STREAK

By PHILLIP B WILSON Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)

— Rookie Bennedict Mathurin scored 27 points, hitting three 3-pointers in a pivotal third quarter, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Detroit Pistons 124-115 on Saturday night to snap a 12-game losing streak dating to last season.

The Pacers dropped their first two games of the season at home this week. “My first NBA win, I’m looking forward to many more,” Mathurin said. “It was really fun tonight.”

Mathurin, a 20-year-old Canadian forward selected sixth overall, made the three 3-pointers in a 2:20 span as the Pacers surged to an 88-79 lead after three quarters. Indiana outscored Detroit 36-23 in the quarter to erase a four-point half time deficit.

“We have to start some where to get somewhere,” Mathurin said.

Mathurin’s fifth and final 3-pointer pushed Indiana ahead 108-97 with 3:57 remaining. The sixth man boosted the Pacers’ edge in bench scoring to 58-29.

“He plays like a veteran,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said about Mathurin. “He’s got a great feel and dispo sition for a scorer. He has a level of patience. Things didn’t happen for him right away tonight. He was in the game several minutes before he even got a good look. During one of the early timeouts, I reminded him to get himself into the game defensively and by running, then other good things will happen.”

Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton scored

24 points and provided clutch plays on three con secutive possessions in the final minutes. He made 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions then fed Aaron Nesmith for another basket from beyond the arc to give Indiana its largest lead at 117-105 with 1:21 remain ing. “They came at us and made some plays,” Carlisle said. “But our answers were strong and decisive. It was great to see.”

Jalen Smith added 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Pacers. Hield scored six with two rebounds in 15 minutes.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 22 points.

“We just have to learn from some of the things we have to learn,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said, “as far as shot selection, how to switch, containing the bas ketball, transition defense, all those things.” He specifi cally pointed to the Pacers’ 15 blocked shots. “Those blocked shots started their break,” Casey said. “And your offense is flat.”

Pistons led by 14 points in the opening quarter before the Pacers rallied in the second to cut it to 56-52 at the break. Indiana ben efited from 32 bench points, 14 more than Detroit, in the first half.

TIP-INS Pistons: Hit 18 of 41 3-pointers (.439), two more than the Pacers. ... F Bojan Bogdanovic, who played for the Pacers from 2017 to 2019, finished with 16 points on 5-of-16 shooting against his former team.

Pacers: Have trailed by double digits after the first quarter in all three games and allowed an average of 35.6 points.

LILLARD, GRANT LEAD BLAZERS’ LATE RALLY PAST LAKERS, 106-104

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Damian Lillard scored 41 points, Jerami Grant made a driving layup with three seconds left, and the unbeaten Portland Trail Blazers kept the Los Ange les Lakers winless under new coach Darvin Ham with a 106-104 victory yesterday.

Portland trailed 102-95 with 1:56 to play, but ended the game on an 11-2 run and won it when LeBron James missed a 17-footer at the buzzer.

Patrick Beverley, James and Russell Westbrook all missed shots for LA down the stretch, and Anfernee Simons hit a leaning layup over Anthony Davis with 36 seconds left to trim Port land’s deficit to 102-101.

Lillard then drilled his sixth 3-pointer, but James drove straight through the paint for an uncontested tying dunk with 7.7 seconds to play.

Grant, who finished with 16 points, then drove and scored the tiebreaking bucket. James had a decent look at the basket on the final play, but couldn’t connect.

James had 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, while Davis finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots for the Lakers (0-3).

Lillard continued his longtime domination of Los Angeles, improving his career average of 28 points per game.

Until the final minutes, it didn’t look like enough to beat the Lakers as they played their most complete game yet under Ham, the longtime NBA assistant in his first head coaching gig.

Lonnie Walker scored 15 points and Westbrook had 10 on 4-for-15 shooting for Los Angeles.

The Lakers missed 17 of their first 18 3-point attempts of the afternoon, continuing their anoma lously poor start to the season from distance.

Before Beverley hit an uncontested 3 early in the third quarter, the Lakers were 20 for 103 on 3-point ers in their first three games.

Lillard scored 21 points while leading Portland to a 55-48 halftime lead despite 12 turnovers.

Austin Reaves was responsible for the Lakers’ only made 3-pointer in a 1-for-16 first half.

ANOTHER 20 James scored at least 20 points for the 1,134th time in his 20-year career, tying Karl Malone for the most 20-point games in NBA history.

James has scored at least 10 points in 1,099 consecu tive games since January 2007, and he remains on track to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the top scorer in league history this winter.

UP NEXT Trail Blazers: Host Nug gets on Monday.

Lakers: At Nuggets on Wednesday.

IVEY HOMECOMING

Pistons rookie shooting guard Jaden Ivey had 17 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in returning to his Hoosier home state. He was doubled over in pain after taking a shot to the abdo men on an inside drive in the third quarter.

The 5th overall pick was born in South Bend, went to high school in Marian and was a star at Purdue. His mother, Niele, is Notre Dame’s women’s basketball coach.

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PACERS guard Buddy Hield (24) makes a move toward the baseline while being defended by Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic on Saturday. (AP Photo/ Doug McSchooler)