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PROSPECT RIDGE ‘ELECTION PLOY’

Housing Minister casts doubt on scheme for young professionals

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net TRANSPORT and Housing Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis has branded the Prospect Ridge subdivision for young professionals an “election ploy”, while revealing that a key government department questioned various aspects of the proposed development.

As she reiterated yesterday that critical steps were absent from the process, the minister said the “indisputable facts” were

that proper protocols and procedures were ignored to advance the project – the brainchild of former Prime Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

She made the comments in the House of Assembly yesterday before tabling the Department of Environmental Planning & Protection’s response to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the housing development, which was ultimately rejected due to major questions that arose.

SEE PAGE THREE

FORMER Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson yesterday hit back at the assertion of a “$1bn” fiscal omission by the Minnis administration, saying: “Not every liability must be disclosed.”

Mr Thompson told the House of Assembly the law only required the then-government to list

unpaid arrears for which bills and invoices had been received.

Disputing Philip Davis’s assertion of a “$1bn difference” between the report’s figures and the “truth”, Mr Thompson implied the new administration’s calculation includes future spending commitments and liabilities that have not been actioned, and for which bills and invoices have yet to be received.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

-

SEE PAGE EIGHT

$7,000 A MONTH FOR UNUSED COVID TRACKERS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe revealed that the government has been paying $7,000 per month for COVID-19 tracking devices that have never been used.

He said the Davis administration believes the devices, brought in by the Minnis administration, are useful and will be deployed to help track people who should be in quarantine.

SEE PAGE FIVE

COURT CHAOS OVER AFRICAN PROSECUTOR MAY HIT 160 CASES

THOMPSON DISPUTES PM’S CLAIM OF ‘$1BN DIFFERENCE’

By NEIL HARTNELL and YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporters

NAUGHTY: BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE (OF ASSEMBLY)

HONOUR FOR REMARKABLE ERIN BROWN ERIN Brown has fought cancer, and become a pioneer for rights for the disabled, all alongside a sporting career that includes cycling, swimming and triathlon. Now she is to be honoured in a ceremony naming her as godmother of a ship. Read about it in Diane Phillips’ column on PAGE NINE.

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court’s judge’s ruling that states that a rape accused’s voluntary bill of indictment was invalid as it was signed by a non-Bahamian prosecutor who was rejected for practice at the Bahamas Bar, could potentially impact “160 odd cases”.

This is according to Director of Public Prosecutions Garvin Gaskin.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

PRIVATE ISLAND OWNER IN $40M FRAUD CHARGE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE owner of a private island in the Abacos has been accused of masterminding a $40m fraud that has also ensnared a Bahamas-based financial services provider in the fall-out.

Joseph Cammarata, owner of Sandy Cay, which is located close to

JOSEPH CAMMARATA Man-O-War Cay, is facing both criminal and civil charges in the US over

allegations that he and two co-conspirators stole monies that were intended to compensate the victims of securities frauds.

And Cotswold Group, which is based at Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre, and two of its senior executives have also been caught up in events.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

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PAGE 2, Friday, November 5, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

INDIVIDUALS being sworn in to become citizens of The Bahamas.

Welcome to the new citizens of The Bahamas

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

JASMINE Saintil’s dreams are about to take flight.

She is one of 20 people who were sworn-in as Bahamian citizens yesterday.

This milestone will now enable the 22-year-old to fully pursue her passion — becoming a pilot.

“It was hard not having a job, not having an income,” Ms Saintil told reporters yesterday. “I had to find a trade, basically. I had to become a nail tech, a lash tech and that’s not truly what I wanted to be. I want to be a pilot. I’m in pilot school right now and now that I have my passport I’m able to finish it completely.”

This process has been four years in the making for her. To Ms Saintil, formerly a Haitian national, it has been “long overdue”.

“It was hard. It was long.

It was frustrating a bit, but you know everything takes time.”

She added: “I’m happy that I got it. So I can get a job and so everything

can go smoothly so I can travel.”

Immigration Minister Keith Bell took pictures with The Bahamas’ newest citizens at yesterday’s ceremony. The minister said he anticipates that such events will take place every Thursday, with about 10 to 20 people being sworn in.

He said there is a “significant backlog” of citizenship applications.

“You have a number of persons who have applied.

I met a young man who has applied as far back as 2009 and is still waiting, but what happens is they’re missing documents,” Mr Bell said on the sidelines of the ceremony at the Department of Immigration. “Sometimes, they have been born here, but they need documents out of their parents’ country which is sometimes extremely difficult to get.

There are a myriad of issues and challenges in terms of ensuring that they get the requisite documents for us to consider their application thoroughly.”

Asked about changes he hoped to make in his new role, Mr Bell noted

the most significant change would be digitisation of the department.

“We have to move from a paper system to one which is paperless which would improve our overall efficiency,” he said.

The lengthy process of obtaining citizenship was a challenge to even the most ambitious among the group of young people.

“It was rough. It took long. I applied for it since I was 18,” said new citizen Willem Jerome.

He finally got what he wanted at the age of 21.

“Finally now I got it. Now I can go to BTVI and finish my skills and go forward in life,” he said.

The process took about two years for Leonardo Hidalgo.

“It was quite easy, I mean other than the going back and forth. You know, grabbing my police record and other documents that were required,” the 19-year-old explained.

Although Mr Hidalgo previously held Peruvian nationality, he was born in The Bahamas. He is studying electrical engineering.

MINISTER of Labour and Immigration Keith Bell, with Jamal Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, alongside one of the new citizens of The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Prospect Ridge ‘election ploy’ from page one The first area identified for the plan was 83 acres of land in the vicinity of the Baha Mar property.

“Madam Speaker there is still a lot of chatter about the Prospect Ridge housing development lately,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said. “It seems some may have taken offence to my statements on the matter. I would like to set the record clear in relation to this development. Critical steps like the feasibility study, a topography study and development of a master plan were not done at all.”

She also said: “Madam Speaker, I came armed with the facts because I understand the barriers in society which presently restricts many Bahamians from becoming homeowners.

“Therefore, it was important for me to be clear in

my submissions that the Prospect Ridge development was in my assessment an election ploy which ignored proper protocol and procedures to advance a new subdivision.

“I’m not here today to debate anybody’s big dreams or intention to do something in the distant future. These are the indisputable facts. Anything else is just conjecture.

“The Committee for the Development of Young Professionals worked on preliminary plans and I take no issue with the work they did. However, it must be said that the Prospect Ridge development seemed a long way from being fully fleshed out as a housing solution for young Bahamian professionals.

“It was in the very, very preliminary stages. That’s it and that’s all. There is nothing here to debate.”

On September 24, 2021, Department of Environmental Planning & Protection Director Rochelle Newbold pin-pointed nearly 50 issues with the EIA for the project submitted by Island

By Design in collaboration with JSS Consulting.

According to her letter tabled in the House of Assembly, the submitted EIA provided no information on fauna or other birds in the area.

There was also no information on how the development planned to fall in line with climate change impacts and was “devoid” of any geological information, the letter notes.

Ms Newbold’s response added: “It is also noted that the proposed site sits in a valley along the north side of Prospect Ridge.

However, the document does not provide any information relative to flood

potential or flood control in relation to the present site, the potential disturbance and resulting impacts to the surrounding properties. Please advise.”

In another point, Ms Newbold said all photos submitted in the document were poor quality and would have to be improved and resubmitted.

She also questioned how the site was to be developed given that septic systems are not appropriate for the area and the build out was to be market driven.

In conclusion, Ms Newbold said the EIA could not be approved because there was a need for additional site inspections to address nocturnal avian survey data gaps, additional wildlife species surveys, a clear topography and resulting hydrology. There was also a need to properly

Friday, November 5, 2021, PAGE 3 JOBETH COLEBYDAVIS

identify impacts to surrounding environments, the present environmental contributions of the site to determine possible mitigation actions to ensure sustainability among other things.

Despite this, Mrs ColebyDavis said the Ministry of Housing was searching for several land options that were ready for immediate construction.

“Soon all Bahamians will be able to choose from a cross section of the island — east, west, north and south — as well as the Family Islands to become first time homeowners.”

The minister added that residents of Abaco and Grand Bahama, especially those directly hit by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, could also look forward to lowcost housing options.

$820,000 A YEAR SPENT ON TOWN CENTRE MALL RENT

FOREIGN Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell says he hopes there will be a new Parliament building in the next three years.

MITCHELL: WE WANT A NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell said the government wants to construct a new Parliament building reflective of modern-day Bahamian culture that he hopes will be completed in the next three years.

Mr Mitchell, who will be responsible for parliamentary affairs, told parliamentarians yesterday of the government’s latest ambition as he raised concerns about the state of the historical buildings.

Speaking in the House of Assembly, he said: “What we want to do is a couple of things. We want a new Parliament building. I’ve been tasked with putting a new foreign affairs building and to put in place new rules so that in cooperation with the other side so that this place can run more efficiently.

“I say to myself, these buildings have been occupied since 1815. They came here at a time when the wealth of the society had increased because of Loyalists after the revolution in the United States and these buildings were emblematic

of that period of our society.

“We’ve been independent now (for) almost 50 years and… we haven’t put our imprint on our country with anything which says this is us and this represents us and the building is clearly inadequate, it’s clearly inadequate.

“I mean you can’t have rats running around when you go into the Senate, rats running across your feet,” he continued. “There’s an awful smell… and then members of Parliament don’t even have control over their own budget. That seems to be ludicrous.

“So, Madam Speaker, we want to move in the direction of making sure that that is established properly (and) that there is three branches of government: the executive, the legislative and the judicial and so there needs to be a new building and I want to get it done in three years…so before you go, y’all should be in a new building.”

A call for new a Parliament building is nothing new.

In 2014, then-Prime Minister Perry Christie said his administration was forging ahead with plans to construct a new House of

Assembly complex, however the building did not materialise.

When the matter was raised a year earlier in 2013, there was some pushback over concerns about how much the project would cost taxpayers.

Former House Speaker Halson Moultrie turned in his office keys last November after expressing displeasure to the Minnis administration regarding the poor conditions of the office in the House of Assembly.

He said the facility had no running water, bathroom facility and was even declared a security risk by police.

In June, then-Works Minister Desmond Bannister indicated to reporters that the Minnis administration planned to address the issue in the next budgetary period. However, they were later voted out of office in September.

Yesterday, Mr Mitchell also revealed that the Davis administration wanted to address the issue of privilege among other things for members of Parliament.

“And the other thing is which is important, and it’ll soon become subject

to the Cabinet’s approval is to look at this question of the privileges, amenities and the support services that members of Parliament get,” Mr Mitchell also said.

“I’ll tell you the story of Sir Gerald Cash who was Governor General for ten years and after he had demitted (the) Office of the Governor General, one day I walked into (the Public) Treasury which was over at the Adderley Building which has now been taken down and so I walked into the Adderley Building and I see a man who looks like Gerald Cash standing on the line.

“So, I walked up to him and said ‘Sir Gerald, what are you doing here?’ and he said ‘Well, they told me that I have to verify that I’m alive or something and so that’s the only way they’ll continue to give me my pension as Governor General’. And I thought to myself that this is ludicrous and so what I’m saying is the House (of Assembly) should have a division of its support services that deals with all the things for members of Parliament and for those who are former members of Parliament and those who are public officials.”

BANK SERVICES AND FEES ‘ATROCIOUS’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell criticised bank services in the country, while calling for Parliament’s intervention.

“The services delivered by the banking system in this country are simply atrocious and the fees they’re charging now… and then they’ve not changed the interest rates which they’ve put on the loans that they’re lending out so again, something has to be wrong with this and I think it’s time now for Parliament to intervene in some way,” he said in the House of Assembly.

He noted that Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley had recently chided banks in her country over high fees.

Yesterday Mr Mitchell also said he plans to issue another appeal to American authorities to make travel to the United States visa free for Bahamians, noting that it’s time for Bahamians to be afforded the same rights as Americans when travelling to the country.

Mr Mitchell said trying to get the US policy waived has been a longtime goal of his and added that since being elected to office, he has received numerous complaints from Bahamians who have been denied American visas.

His comments came during yesterday’s debate in the House of Assembly on a resolution thanking the Governor General for reading the Speech from the Throne.

“As foreign minister, as soon as I got the job back, the

telephone calls were ringing about people wanting to get (visas) who had been turned down for visas trying to get to the United States and I tried to deal with this with many ambassadors,” he said.

“The difficulty is that ambassadors can’t instruct consular officers what to do. The consular officer has the absolute right to make the decision and as I’ve said, the decision is subjective. Notwithstanding that though, I am concerned about the continuing stories that people come and tell me which do not seem to be based on any objective criteria for why a particular Bahamian cannot get access to... in the United States.

“And so, it’s a thing which I want to raise publicly because it needs to be sensitised that we are two countries close together.

Americans have the right to come to this country without any visa or process and I think there should be an equivalency of the right of access for the same.

“So, I want to make that public that my view is there should be no visa to go to the States and I told them, and I told their authorities that if the entire population of The Bahamas moved to the States, it wouldn’t even be a blip on the screen.

It wouldn’t make any difference whatsoever,” Mr Mitchell added.

Currently, Bahamians are permitted some forms of visa-free travel to America with a police record.

However, this is only possible when travelling from The Bahamas through US Pre-Clearance locations at Bahamian airports in Freeport and Nassau.

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

MORE than two years after the Minnis administration entered into an agreement to rent the Town Centre Mall to house the General Post Office, the lease outlining the terms and conditions of the $820,000 a year rental was laid on the table of the House of Assembly yesterday.

Under the previous Minnis administration, there were repeated calls for the five-year lease agreement to be made public, but this was never done.

At Parliament yesterday, Transport and Housing Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis released the document and told members that due to concerns about duplicated costs and the money already expended, the government would not be able to move forward with relocating the post office at this time.

The lease stipulates that the government pays $632,952 per annum for the 52,746 square foot twostory building inclusive of the landlord’s fixtures and fittings. This breaks down to equal monthly payments of $52,746.

Value added tax is also charged on the rental fee in the amount of $75,954.24 or by equal monthly payments of $6,329.52 in advance without any deduction whatsoever on the first day of each month beginning March 1, 2019.

The lease states that the government has to pay additional rent for work on the premises in the amount of $500,000 plus interest to be calculated at prime over 60 months. It represents an annual rent of $111,177.36 to be paid in monthly instalments of $9,264.78.

When all of these costs are totaled, the government pays out an estimated $820,083.60 each year to use the Town Centre Mall.

The lease will come to end on February 28, 2024.

In presenting portions of the agreement, Mrs Coleby-Davis said she would allow Bahamians to come to their own conclusions as to whether there was value for money.

“The government is paying $500,000 to upgrade and improve the property, and the lease agreement stipulates that the government may also have to pay for the premises to be returned to its original state when the lease ends,”she said.

“The government would also have to pay any associated legal fees if litigation arises.

“Even if the government were to find a more suitable and cost-effective location, due to concerns about duplicated costs and the amounts already expended,

we would not be able to move forward at this time.

Those are the facts. I will allow those within earshot to form their own conclusions regarding whether they believe the government received value for money or not.”

The government also had to pay all expenses, including counsel and attorney costs and surveyor fees, incurred by the landlord incidental to the preparation and service of a notice under section 16 of the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act. The lease notes Craig Symonette as the president of the company that owns the mall. Former Free National Movement Cabinet minister Brent Symonette has a 50 percent stake in the property.

The Town Centre Mall lease was a major point of contention for the previous Minnis administration and led to calls for then-Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to step down.

In July 2019, the decision to lease the mall to house the post office came under renewed scrutiny after Mr Symonette revealed that Dr Minnis personally called him to negotiate the deal in 2018.

However, at the time, the Office of the Prime Minister declined to confirm the date of that call, and further suggested the admission made by the former minister of financial services, trade and immigration represented a breach of confidentiality.

“As a rule, the prime minister never breaches confidentiality when it comes to private discussions he has with Cabinet ministers, which he has on a daily basis,” read an OPM statement in response to questions put forward by The Tribune in July 2019.

“The assertion that the prime minister would personally and unilaterally negotiate a proposal that has gone on over two administrations is nonsensical,” it added.

Mr Symonette resigned from Cabinet in early July 2019 and said he discussed “the whole question of conflict of interest” during that call with Dr Minnis, and was informed of the decision to table a resolution in Parliament.

The contents of that call were disclosed on “The Conversation” with host Shenique Miller, which was at the time aired on ZNS. Before its decision to use the mall, the Minnis administration had planned to use the old Phil’s Food Services building on Gladstone Road. Their reasoning for stepping away from that building, according to then-Transport Minister Renward Wells, was due to major structural issues.

The resolution was passed to move the post office on October 25, 2018.

PAGE 4, Friday, November 5, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

14 MORE COVID DEATHS IN OCTOBER FOURTEEN new COVID-19 deaths have been added to the nation’s death toll, pushing the number to 657.

The deaths took place between October 9-17.

The deceased — nine women and five men — were between the ages of 35 and 86. Ten of them were New Providence residents, one was from Cat Island, another from Inagua and two of the deceased were from the

Berry Islands.

Officials said 67 other deaths are currently under investigation.

The Ministry of Health also reported 17 new confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the overall number to 22,485 since the start of the pandemic. Only 318 of these cases are active, however.

Officials said 69 people are in hospital with COVID-19, eight of whom are in intensive care.

44 migrants held by US Coast Guard

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net MICHAEL Pintard at his FNM leadership campaign launch.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

Pintard stands out in early FNM running

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net MICHAEL Pintard is the name that stands out for leadership of the Free National Movement after many FNMs spoke to The Tribune on and off the record declaring their support for that candidate.

As of Wednesday night, there are three declarants in the race for leadership of the FNM. Iram Lewis, Mr Pintard and Kwasi Thompson have all launched their campaigns for leadership.

They are slated to nominate on November 18 making them contenders in an election for leadership at the party’s one-day convention on November 27.

The Tribune spoke to 16 members of the FNM hierarchy yesterday and though many of them were not ready to declare their support openly for various reasons, the majority of them said they would back Mr Pintard.

Dr Duane Sands, former minister of health, was hesitant to say who he was throwing his support behind, but wished the three candidates luck.

“I applaud all of those who have declared,” he said. “May the best man, in this instance, but if a woman throws her hat in the ring, then may the best man or woman win.”

Asked if he was considering being a contender in the leadership race later this month or the party’s election of officers in February, Dr Sands was not forthcoming with a definite answer.

Former FNM Hotel Corporation chairman Michael Scott, weighing in on who the best candidate for FNM leadership was, named his horse in the race without hesitation.

“I think, from a personal perspective and having known all three of them, I think that the one of them that has the most leadership capability and potential is Michael Pintard,” he said.

“Kwasi is a technocrat and he doesn’t strike me as being someone who can

LEADERSHIP rivals Kwasi Thompson and Iram Lewis. motivate party members and motivate the troops and motivate the country.

“I see that kind of personality — the ability to connect with the average man on the street, whether he be FNM, PLP or independent — I think that of the three of them, the most passionate, articulate and focused and intelligent would be Pintard. He is the only one of the three who could really galvanise my support,” he said.

Mr Scott said Mr Pintard can appeal to voters.

“In other words, in terms of leadership capacity and potential of the three of them, he is the one with the ability to not only lead, but to listen to the voters,” he said.

“I think that’s important because in the last FNM government, many of the ministers forgot that they were servants of the electorate and they became tone deaf and some of them didn’t perform very well in office.”

However, Collin Ingraham, FNM executive member, said Mr Lewis, MP for Central Grand Bahama is getting his vote.

“I support Iram Lewis, but would fully support and work with whichever one is elected by our convention,” he said. “I would say that we have three outstanding young men who over the years have demonstrated their dedication to national development as members of the Free National Movement.

“I’ve had the good

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fortune of working with Pintard in public relations and he is very hard working and focused. Then we have Iram Lewis who is very engaging. He just loves people. That kind of engagement and love is what the party needs to move forward with its healing.

“I consider all of them very good colleagues and although Pintard has been like a good brother to me, on this one I will be supporting Iram Lewis. At a time when our party has significant challenges with a lot of people viewed as cocky and arrogant, we need a leader with his kind of humility — one who is approachable,” he said.

Brent Symonette, former FNM Cabinet minister, would not declare who has his support but said he is happy that the candidates are from the “front bench” of Parliament.

No, I do not have a horse in the race,” Mr Symonette said. “I will keep that quiet until later on. I think it’s very good that the FNM has been able to field three potential leadership persons and there is a process that they have agreed to go through … you know the one-day convention.

“I think it looks very encouraging and it shows the party has depth with people on the front bench who are willing to stand up and work towards running for leader. Whichever one wins, I wish them the best success in the world.

“Each of them has strong

attributes and it will be interesting to see how it pans out in the next couple of weeks.”

Former FNM MP for St Anne’s Hubert Chipman said Mr Pintard is who he sees as the new leader.

“I am watching this with interest,” Mr Chipman said. “I listened to Michael’s speech last night with interest, I think he is fully qualified for leader.

I haven’t heard what Iram Lewis had to say. I don’t really know him other than athletics. I cannot even speak to his politics. I know he is the representative for Central Grand Bahama and that’s about it.

“I think Kwasi Thompson has been around for a while. I think he has been in the Senate more than in the House of Assembly. When he was in the House the first time, there was nothing amazing. I didn’t see the leadership skills.”

Mr Chipman said being fearless is one of Mr Pintard’s attributes for party leader.

“He is fearless to go up against giants like Brave Davis and Perry Christie in elections. He has leadership skills as far as him being the chairman of the FNM. “He brings a lot to the table in terms of what he said on unification. I think the party needs to be unified. No question. Prior to around 2016, the party just went astray and we allowed it to get to the level it is today when it became a one-man band in leadership.”

FORTY-FOUR illegal migrants, including children, who were interdicted at sea in two separate attempted smuggling incidents were brought to Grand Bahama last week by the US Coast Guard.

The migrants, who are Romanian, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Cuban, Jamaican and Haitian, were discovered on a boat attempting to enter the United States. They were handed over to immigration authorities in Freeport.

The first group was arraigned in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Monday charged with illegal embarkation.

The migrants appeared before Magistrate Laquay Laing. They all pleaded guilty to the charge and were each fined $300.

The fines were paid, and the migrants were handed back over to Bahamas immigration officials for further processing and transport into New Providence, where they are detained at the Detention Centre to await deportation to their respective country of origin.

On Tuesday, the second group of migrants, including three children, was brought to Grand Bahama. The US Coast Guard turned them over to Bahamian immigration officials at the Lucayan Harbour.

The group was interdicted

in a vessel reportedly operated by Bahamians in an attempt to reach the US. This latest group of migrants consisted of mixed nationalities, including three Haitian males, two Haitian females with two minor Haitian children, a Brazilian male, a Cuban male, an Ecuadorian male, five Ecuadorian females, and one Jamaican male.

On Wednesday, with the exception of the two minor children, the 14 foreign nationals appeared before Magistrate Simone Brown where they were charged with illegal embarkation.

They all pleaded guilty and were convicted. The magistrate imposed a fine of $300 each. They all paid their fine and the migrants were turned over to immigration officials for deportation.

Additionally, the two Colombian females Viviana Patricia Trujillo Marin, 29, and Yuliet Munoz Pino, 31—who were reported as missing—were among the latest group of 16 persons handed over to immigration officials by the USCG on Tuesday.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force had issued missing persons flyers on Wednesday with photos of the two missing women.

The group was flown to New Providence yesterday morning and are being detained at the Detention Centre to await deportation to their various countries of origin.

DRUG COUNSEL ORDER FOR MAN

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 33-YEAR-OLD man caught with $40 worth of marijuana was granted a conditional discharge on the agreement that he would attend drug counselling classes.

If he fails to fulfill his end of the bargain, he could risk being convicted of simple possession and sentenced to two months in prison.

Derico Mackey was arrested after police found eight grams of Indian hemp in his home on October 31.

He owned up to the offence during his arraignment before Chief Magistrate Joyann Fergsuon-Pratt.

The prosecution said on the night in question, officers acting on information proceeded to Mackey’s residence armed with a search warrant. When they arrived, they informed the accused that he and his home would be searched for dangerous drugs and firearms.

During their investigation, officers found marijuana. After their discovery, Mackey told them the drugs were his and

claimed he bought them because he had a smoking problem. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit. In an interview with police there, he maintained his original explanation.

After accepting his guilty plea, Magistrate FergusonPratt ordered Mackey to attend counseling at a place that would be chosen by the Department of Rehabilitative and Welfare Services for four months.

She warned him that if he did not complete the classes, he would be sentenced to eight weeks at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

In a separate case, Michelet Derisma was charged after officers found 11 marijuana foil wraps in his car on October 30.

The court was told that officers on mobile patrol stopped Derisma in the St Vincent Road area after they noticed him acting suspiciously. When they searched his vehicle, they found the drugs in a bag on a car seat. When he was questioned, he told police the drugs were his and said he was acting suspiciously because when he noticed the police car he tried to turn around.

Derisma also claimed he bought the drugs from the Fish Fry in the Haitian Village.

During his hearing, he pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous drug possession with the intent to supply, but said he smoked because he “lost his job, was sleeping in a car and had a lot of issues.” He was subsequently fined $350 or eight weeks on remand.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, November 5, 2021, PAGE 5

$7,000 a month for unused COVID trackers from page one He said the contract for the product expires in March.

“So during this COVID emergency, the Bahamian people have so far paid about $70,000 to track persons who ought to be in quarantine without it being deployed at all,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday.

Initially, the Minnis

administration planned to monitor people in quarantine using digital technology provided by Hubbcat Solution. It was expected that the software would be installed on a person’s phone, enabling tracking services.

“Hubbcat,” Mr Munroe said, “was the beginning model with apps on your phone but all one needs to know is that I have three cell phones and I can let you put the app on any one of them and when you call me someone just needs to

answer my phone.

“That was abandoned in exchange for what is in effect a tagging system where there would be a little tag, almost like what you see the hotels put on the individual. There would be a base set and if the tag moved out of the base set it would be an alarm and the person would be geotagged to an area in which they were to quarantine. It seems to be a useful product. The Minister of Health Dr Darville is keen on using it and we expect shortly to

at least roll out and use the 100 units that we pay seven thousand some amount for.

The past administration was spending public funds for a product that was designed to track people and ensure that they stay in quarantine and they chose not to use it for whatever reason.”

Mr Munroe also said he is still investigating his predecessor’s acquisition of drone technology. The Minnis administration had signed a $17m contract with California-based Swift Systems.

“This drone programme,

we have paid out a lot, a lot of money. We haven’t gotten much product in exchange for that vast payment and we are currently investigating to get to the bottom of what has happened,” Mr Munroe said.

Mr Munroe also said more CCTV is needed on New Providence.

“Generally, my disposition is that CCTV coverage of New Providence is not wide enough, that we need to improve and expand the coverage of CCTV in New Providence,” he said. “I am

told by the member of Parliament for Centreville where (a recent) shooting took place that people are refusing to make available to the police their private CCTV material and that only brings home that public CCTV is necessary, particularly in spots where they would be useful in identifying perpetrators of crime. So true to the mandate, I will be approaching The Bahamas government to expand these resources of the Royal Bahama Police Force so that they may properly do their jobs.”

COMPLAINTS UNIT ‘LACKS STAFF’ ‘BOARD SHOULD REVIEW PRISON’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the Police Complaints Inspectorate, a civilian organisation that should provide oversight of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Complaints and Corruption Unit, has likely lacked the staff required to function properly.

He said the inspectorate is the only body under his portfolio from which he has yet to receive a briefing.

“The current life of the Police Inspectorate, and they’re appointed by the Governor General, expires June 2022,” he said at a press conference yesterday. “The current chairman is Tanya McCartney who has been in touch with me, but I’ve not met with them formally.

“They’ve sent a small report which I would wish to discuss with them but the inspectorate is supposed to have oversight of Complaints and Corruption.

The inspectorate is supposed to be able to review the handling by Complaints and Corruption of citizen’s complaints. The inspectorate has to have on it at least one person who is a lawyer of at least ten years standing or a retired policeman who retired at the rank of superintendent or above.

“I cannot say without having a briefing from

MINISTER of National Security Wayne Munroe. them whether they have been carrying out the statutory mandate. I can say that the commissioner of police has advised that during the tenure of Mrs McCartney, she did make requests of Complaints and Corruption for information. She did in fact do that and that’s a part of the function. “Once I would have met with them, I would know fully what their function has been over the past year.”

The Police Complaints Inspectorate was established by the Police Act in 2009 but little is known of its work. In its annual human rights report, the United States has repeatedly cited the lack of available information about the body.

Mr Munroe said members of the inspectorate

have indicated they want the body reformed.

“They did indicate that they want to move to a complaints system a lot like what they have in Jamaica in Intercom,” he said, “but having looked myself specifically at the police inspectorate I’m not sure that that isn’t a body itself that is independent of the police. In fact, it’s independent even of me as the minister.

“So the question will be, have they been sufficiently aggressive in the execution of their duties? Having looked at the makeup of it…I don’t see in my ministry the administrative support for it to perhaps be acting properly. You have part-time appointees to this board, this inspectorate. I see no dedicated administrative personnel of the sort who could grade, evaluate and put together case files with summaries on them for the inspectorate so that is a weakness in the ministry we will have to address.

If you have part-time people doing things you have to understand their limitations. So for every part-timer, like the Bar Council which I served on previously, we’re part-time but we have a full administrative staff to put together things for us. That is lacking for this inspectorate from what I can see. I do not understand why it hasn’t been addressed thus far, but we intend to address it.”

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said an important statutory board that should review matters related to the protection of inmates of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services failed to do its job because the department under Commissioner Charles Murphy refused to cooperate.

He also said the prison does not have a coherent COVID-19 mitigation strategy, having failed to budget for it.

Commissioner Murphy is still on administrative leave. He was sent on leave in September so officials could investigate the case of Prescott Smith, a man who was being kept at the prison in a possible breach of a Supreme Court order.

Through his lawyer, Commissioner Murphy has denied any wrongdoing.

Commissioner Murphy’s lawyer, Romona Farquharson Seymour, has accused Mr Munroe of bias in the matter because his firm represented acting Commissioner Doan Cleare and Deputy Commissioner Bernadette Murray in a lawsuit that seeks to quash Commissioner Murphy’s appointment.

“There seems to be some controversy over the commissioner being sent on administrative leave by the permanent secretary,”

Mr Munroe said at a press conference yesterday, “but clearly one reads the Correctional Services Act and one would find that a correctional institute must be ran in a particular way, particularly it must have a deputy director, it must have an assistant director.

“There is a Correctional Service Board that carries out statutory functions for review and protection of inmates. I met with that board who couldn’t report to me as statutorily required because they received no cooperation from the current substantive commissioner of corrections. That is an important body and its function will be even more important when one looks at the investigation into the inmate that was found unresponsive and pronounced dead.”

Mikhail Miller, 29, was found dead in his cell on Monday with apparent injuries. No details about his death have been released to the public. Mr Munroe has said an autopsy is needed to determine the inmate’s cause of death.

“The Correctional Services Board has contacted the acting commissioner and I expect they will be speaking shortly so that that board can do its job and function in reviewing the state of the prison and the state of inmate relations in the prison and any complaints from inmates,” Mr Munroe said yesterday.

He added: “We also met the correctional institution in a state where it was not being disinfected, sanitised daily although the doctor was of the view it should be and there was no coherent COVID mitigation strategy. Such was the strategy that you had quarantined in a six-foot by nine-foot cell four persons (who) were placed without any of them having been tested even with a rapid antigen test.

“Since the two deputy commissioners had been returned to the correctional institution, the doctor at my direction when I visited in concert with the acting commissioner, has produced a COVID mitigation plan that is at the rate of costing about $19,000 per month which, because it wasn’t engaged by the previous commissioner, is un-budgeted and the government will be asked to provide for that. It would be an unmitigated disaster if we were to have a COVID outbreak in a correctional institution where men are confined together and women in small, closed spaces.”

Mrs Farquharson Seymour has defended Commissioner Murphy’s handling of COVID-19 in the prison, saying last month that from March 2020 to August 2021 fewer than five inmates had been hospitalised for the virus.

“That is remarkable,” she said.

not wish to have the wall go up by six feet, they might not wish to have intrusive fencing, certainly on Shirley Street side, but that is a matter that after discussion with the Defence Force, the police force and the office at Government House we will make a determination.”

Mr Munroe also said the RBDF has a manpower problem. “I found an agency that had its mission multiplied, but its manpower and resources weren’t properly addressed,” he said. “The prime minister in writing to me has tasked me to increase their institutional capacity which to me will mean increasing their manpower and resources.

“I came to a ministry that has only an acting permanent secretary, Cheryl Darville, who is very committed to what she is doing, but currently she does not have the support of an undersecretary and I have

found and made the determination having seen a

review that the ministry’s structures are not correctly

populated to do the jobs that the ministry is tasked to do.”

GOVT HOUSE SECURITY REPORT WAS NEVER GIVEN TO RBDF

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the Minnis administration produced a report into the security of Government House that was never shared with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force for its review and input.

Three days after an RBDF marine was killed at Government House in 2019, a committee was established to investigate whether there were any security breaches or oversights and to give feedback on what improvements could be made to security at Government House.

The committee’s report was completed by February 2020, but was never released to the public.

“I have seen the report,” Mr Munroe said yesterday.

“When I came to office I

discovered that it had not been provided to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and in my first meeting with the commodore I discovered that and I directed that it be provided to him. I will be interested in hearing the comments from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Royal Bahamas Police Force on the content of that report and then we can speak about it generally and publicly.

“I can tell you that it speaks about upgrades in CCTV coverage at Government House and having been at Government House on National Heroes Day holiday, a lot of that is being built into the current renovation. It also spoke to increasing the barriers at Government House but that will be something that will have to be determined in discussions with the Governor General’s Office. It’s an historic house and they may

JOB POSTING

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Date Posting Ends: November 8, 2021

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Key Responsibilities: • Provides excellent customer service to internal and external customers • Responsible for responding to all customer emails and queries • Responsible for forwarding invoices to the Warehouse • Records Tracking details for customers for incoming shipments • Responsible for scheduling of US Package Pickups • Responsible for monitoring delivery app/scheduling deliveries • Responsible for receiving and processing of customer payments in QuickBooks.

• Assists with customer billings • Organizes and maintains a filing system, correspondence and confidential records.

• Provides support to the General Manager, to ensure all administrative tasks are achieved; Other sundry duties may be assigned by the General Manager Minimum Requirements: • 5 BGCSE’s (inclusive of Math & English) • High School Diploma • Strong administrative and organization skills.

• Working knowledge of Quick Books • Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of products • Excellent oral and written communication skills • Sound judgment required to handle high level office matters and treat information with confidentiality • High energy and ability to work collaboratively as part of a team All applications must be submitted by Monday, November 8, 2021 to hroperations2k21@gmail.com. Applicants must submit an updated cover letter, resume. Applicants must also possess a clean Police Record and Driver’s License.

PAGE 6, Friday, November 5, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

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Would-be homeowners caught in crosstalk IT must be very frustrating to be one of the young professionals who applied for the chance to own a home in Prospect Ridge.

Getting on the property ladder can be a challenge in The Bahamas. House prices are high, fees can be high – it’s not an easy task.

So when the chance to secure a home in the Prospect Ridge development was offered, there were many who were eager to snap up the chance.

Since the election, doubt after doubt has been cast on the development.

Transport and Housing Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis yesterday branded the whole thing an “election ploy”, reiterating that steps such as a feasibility study, a topography study and development of a master plan were not carried out.

She said: “It must be said that the Prospect Ridge development seemed a long way from being fully fleshed out as a housing solution for young Bahamian professionals. It was in the very, very preliminary stages. That’s it and that’s all. There is nothing here to debate.”

Previously, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis defended the project, saying much work had been done, and pointing to work by the Committee for the Development for Young Professionals, which worked on the scheme for four months.

He said the committee designed the rules of the programme, while the government built a digital application process and there were meetings with banks to explain the programme and the anticipated partnership. Commercial banks made preliminary assessments and architects completed a conceptual sketch. An Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan were also carried out – although Mrs Coleby-Davis said there were problems with that impact assessment yesterday.

Here’s the thing, however, if you look past what one side or the other is saying, this was a project that was in progress at the time of the election. It wasn’t complete, nor was it completely unstarted.

There would, of course, be an expectation that some of the things to carry it out would remain to be done.

The question isn’t what hasn’t been done – it’s whether this new government has the will to continue with the project and complete what is necessary.

The sounds in that regard are not encouraging – but it would be entirely

possible to complete the outstanding elements of the project and proceed if the government so desires.

In the political to and fro, the people who are affected are the people now left in limbo who hoped to move into houses on that development one day. For them, time is ticking. Should they wait and hope to get the house they dreamed of?

Or should they move on and try to find a way to afford a house elsewhere?

This is a political argument with real people caught up in the middle of it. So let’s hear less about what needs to be done, and more about what is going to be done. And if the government doesn’t want to proceed? Say so, and stop leaving people waiting around.

The people in the middle don’t deserve to be pawns in a political argument, so make a decision to stop or proceed, and let’s all move on.

Apples and oranges

Another argument that has been raised lately has been over complaints that there is effectively a $1bn hole when comparing the pre-election report on finances to the “truth” of the fiscal reality of our country.

Yesterday, Kwasi Thompson – Minister of State for Finance at the time of the report and aspiring to be the leader of the FNM – said that the new government is comparing apples with oranges.

He says the report showed what it was required to – bills that were due for payment right now. The “$1bn difference” touted by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is talking about future commitments – for which bills and invoices have yet to be received.

Now this has all the makings of a political food fight that does nothing to give meaningful answers to the people themselves – but there should be a simple answer.

Recreate the pre-election report based on the terms used to create it.

Then we’ll see if there’s a real hole – or if this is just so much rhetoric. You can’t complain that one bill doesn’t show the cost of things it’s not supposed to pay for. So let’s see if there is a real difference in the finances – it is, after all, our money. Then act if there is a problem, or drop the arguing if there isn’t. The new government has been in office long enough to be getting on with things rather than just pointing fingers.

Level of debt facing the nation EDITOR, The Tribune.

LETTERS

ON September 24th, just a few days after the elecletters@tribunemedia.net tion, we heard the news that the financial Agency - years you owed pay up with Moody/5 - had seriously half the appropriate prodowngraded The Baha- vided for penalties. mas. On September 24th, This thing... Sports in the National debt stood at Paradise... sporting events $10.35 billion, plus days of on an international level 0.13 million and ticking. should not be even thought Has the new Government about if they do not have put in place the “Revenue a considerable component Enhancement Unit”... a that will guarantee beds in basically easy exercise for hotels — AirBnBs... simply a group of clerks who will put if no visitors don’t fund go through the long lists of it’s a waste of time. Oh, yes, persons who have arrears in there is an emotion over taxes and call them on the the IAAF relays and the telephone... an easy one- Bahama Bowl, American two-three could have been Football, but in both cases done in the first week. the bleachers of Thomas Real Property the same Robinson were basically the high end personal or empty and the cameras commercial property those showed it. arrears must be paid and, Looking again at the Editor, please no conces- pre-election Manifesto sions-discounts because of the PLP another interyour friend you knew for esting item.

“Lower

imports through buy local initiatives”...

Editor, Black Friday — thanksgiving coming up let’s see how serious is the Government on limiting imports....shopping ‘till you drop by residents in Miami...let’s see. Minnis & Co allowed the returning resident $1000.00 a year Duty Free and on top have Duty Free and VAT free concessions through Over the Hill..... double-dipping with no compensation for the loss of Revenue ain’t too sensible.... Let’s hope pre-Black Friday serious adjustments will be put in place so the Treasury does not lose out again....

Let’s see if Government is serious...it’s easy to write Manifestos, but let’s see if you will implement.

H HUNT Nassau, October 28, 2021.

In tribute EDITOR, The Tribune.

Lost Mom this week. But there she is my sweet. The Holland Marsh Canal.

••••••••• When I walk along this canal, and witness the nature that surrounds me, I feel your presence close by.

The farm with its family meant so much to you, the two things seem the same.

The struggles you had here, the weather that drove you to work, the seasons so demanding, I was surprised you did not go insane.

To be a farmers wife, a mother too,

the demands upon you were surely great, but you stood tall with a smile, and also a grin for all that you did was for your family and friends.

The clear calm waters offered you silence and serenity too, a catfish or bass caught nearby, feeding the family was a joy for you.

The happiness of others brought forth your strengths, a smile, a hug, a hand shake too.

Family was everything and more, a spiritual journey through work and loving care of those given to you, small children and adult too, flowing through life’s cycles just like the canal,

calm one minute and then rough waves abound.

I see you sitting by the canal, walking to a green house too, your eyes observing all about you, seeing all.

Gentle eyes like the canal in summer, calm and clear, your welcoming smile and glance a pleasure for all.

We see you everywhere Mother, in the trees and the fields of green, you swayed with the wind just like they do, and your work bore forth true love.

Yes I see you little lady, the glue that binds, a Mother from another will always be mine.

STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario November 1, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Court chaos over African prosecutor may hit 160 cases from page one Mr Gaskin made the statement during an appeal hearing of Justice Deborah Fraser’s decision before Justices Sir Michael Barnett, Jon Isaacs and Maureen Crane-Scott in the Court of Appeal yesterday.

Earlier this year, Canes Villus, who is charged with four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, was presented a VBI bearing the signature of Ugandan native David Bakininga, a lawyer who currently serves as the assistant director of public prosecutions, but has not been called to the Bahamas Bar. His attorney, David Cash argued that Mr Bakininga erred in law when he signed the VBI of his client, as he has not been approved by the Bahamas Bar Association for practice.

Justice Fraser agreed with him when she ruled that section 258 of the Criminal Procedure Code is not in contravention of the Constitution. She said this meant that in order for the VBI to have been signed in accordance with the laws of this jurisdiction, the person who signed it should have been the DPP or a person acting on his behalf, who was a legal public officer or legal practitioner in accordance with the CPC. During the virtual hearing yesterday, Mr Gaskin said his department filed “several grounds” to overturn this decision.

When asked how many cases would be impacted if his appeal was unsuccessful, he stated: “We are at 160 odd cases. And why I say that is we know that there are also acquittals, court convictions (and) appeals and so it certainly has an impact.”

Mr Gaskin argued that Justice Fraser “erred in law” when she declared that section 258 (2) of the CPC is not inconsistent with the Constitution, to the extent that section 258(2) of the CPC mandates that only the DPP or a legal practitioner, as defined by the CPC, can sign a VBI. He noted the “foundational starting point” to address the issue could be found in Article 2 of the Constitution. He also said the powers of the director of public prosecutions under paragraph three of that article, could be exercised by the DPP or “through any other person acting under and in accordance with his general or specific instructions.”

“We submit that there is no constitutional requirement for any person through whom the DPP exercises his powers under article 78A paragraph four, that that person must only be a legal practitioner,” he said. “And so we ultimately submit where section 258(2) of the CPC constrains in effect Article 78A (4), it is inconsistent with the Constitution and it is as required by Article 2, void to the extent of the said inconsistency.”

In response, Justice Isaacs told Mr Gaskin based on his reasoning, he could get a janitor to sign a VBI. Mr Gaskin argued that if the Constitution says the delegation can be given to any other person and a janitor happened to be delegated the power to sign

a VBI, it could be argued that that action would be an “unreasonable delegation.” Still, he said it did not mean that because of an “irrational delegation” like that, the “plain words of the Article would fall away.”

Mr Gaskin also noted that this was the first occasion where this particular area was being “judicially tested.” He said this could suggest that any restriction of the attorney general’s power that was not constitutionally permissible could in fact be “ultra vires.”

“It is noteworthy that in 78(2) the powers of the attorney general...may be exercised by him in person or through other persons acting under and in accordance with his general or special instructions,” he said. “We endeavour to emphasise the words ‘through other persons’ and we submit that those words appear to be at minimum permissive.”

After he stated this, Justice Crane-Scott noted that the word “may” made the issue permissive because it indicated how the AG’s power is to be exercised.

“So 258 does not apply to a DPP. He can do what he likes, he can decide to institute a prosecution against someone and file for example a petition, sign it and that’s good enough?” she asked Mr Gaskin.

“Because essentially that’s what you are arguing...

There is a difference it seems to me between the decision to institute a prosecution and how that is to be done.”

Justice Crane-Scott said based on Mr Gaskin’s arguments, it appeared that he was seeking to justify his ability to issue a VBI signed by another person that he has authorised. She noted that the power of the DPP to issue VBIs is “still worded as the AG’s power” and not the DPP’s.

“The constitution exists,” she said. “It’s in supreme law, but there are other companion acts that Parliament has supplemented the prosecuting authority’s powers with and so it must mesh. If not, your power in Article 78A is at large and you can do what you like.”

Mr Gaskin’s second ground of appeal contends that Justice Fraser erred in law when she declared that Article 117(2) of the Constitution requires “such persons” appointed as legal public officers to be legal practitioners as defined by the CPC as opposed to declaring that Article 117 (2) applies to “such public offices” as may be prescribed by Parliament.

“The learned judge declared that a legal public officer must be a legal practitioner,” Mr Gaskin said.

“We submit that that conclusion is in error. We (also) submit that a legal public officer may be a legal practitioner, but does not have to be.”

He added: “There is no qualification for instance of a chief counsel prescribed in a particular law. You won’t find a parliamentary statute that says these are the qualifications that a chief counsel ought to have. So what is being prescribed by Parliament is the public office, not the legal qualifications. This aspect is important because there was no contest before the learned judge as to whether

STOLEN US VESSEL FOUND A STOLEN US vessel was recovered at an apartment complex on the canal in the Lucaya area this week, Grand Bahama police said.

The discovery was made shortly before 5pm on Wednesday.

A team of officers from the Police Marine Unit in Freeport, acting on information, went to an apartment complex on

Kings Road, off Midshipman Road where they discovered a 26ft tan Scott built hull with one 250hp outboard engine attached.

Police said the vessel had visible damage and no registration attached.

The vessel, which was reportedly stolen from Pompano, Florida, was transported and secured at the marine base.

Mr Bakininga was a legal public officer. (As a) matter of fact, it was accepted.”

Yesterday, the DPP also argued that the judge made a mistake when she declared that there was no distinction between a legal public officer and a legal practitioner.

However, Justice Isaacs noted that for a person to prosecute, they have to be a legal practitioner.

In his final ground, Mr Gaskin asserted that Justice Fraser erred in law when she asserted that Mr Bakibinga “could not sign a VBI ‘for’ the DPP, pursuant to Article 78A(4) of the Constitution.”

“With reliance on the express words of article 78A (4), we submit in that in this circumstance the issue of a legal practitioner that flooded the application of downstairs in the Supreme Court technically does not duly arise if the VBI was signed for the DPP,” he said.

“We submit in those circumstances the DPP has constructively signed the VBI and we submit that

the circumstances attract the law in relation to procuration and there’s also a relevant Latin maxim... which translates as: ‘He who does a thing through another does it himself.’”

After he made this point, Sir Michael told him if the thrust of his argument suggested that it did not matter if an agent signing on behalf of the AG or DPP was a legal officer or practitioner, the provisions restricting that from happening were “otiose”, or meant nothing.

Justice Crane-Scott also said she had problems with the theory Mr Gaskin was seeking to rely on “conceptually” as the statute did not refer to the DPP. For his part, Mr Cash maintained his initial position and said he believed the “issue to be determined was a very narrow one.”

After listening to submissions from both sides, Sir Michael said the panel would give the arguments and submissions of both parties their “full consideration” and deliver their decision at a later date.

Friday, November 5, 2021, PAGE 7

MAN ACCUSED IN ABACO ATTEMPTED MURDER CASE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A MAN has been arrested in Grand Bahama for the attempted murder of a man in Abaco earlier this week.

The shooting victim, who is in hospital with serious injuries in New Providence, was airlifted from Marsh Harbour on Wednesday.

Grand Bahama police reported that the male suspect who is believed to be the alleged gunman in that incident was taken into custody after he was taken to Rand Memorial Hospital suffering gunshot injuries early yesterday morning.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle reported that on Wednesday sometime after 10pm, officers from the Marsh Harbour Police Station while at a business in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, witnessed a shooting in progress.

According to initial police reports, officers saw a male with a firearm chasing another male.

The male who was being chased fell to the ground and the gunman was seen standing over the victim shooting him in his body.

ASP Rolle said the officers immediately responded and identified themselves, showing their warrant cards.

He said the gunman then pointed the firearm in the direction of the officers,

putting them in fear for their lives before fleeing on foot.

He reported that one of the officers pulled his service pistol and discharged it in the direction of the gunman, who escaped the scene.

He said the shooting victim was taken to the Marsh Harbour Clinic, where he was examined by a doctor who listed his injuries as serious and likely to be fatal.

ASP Rolle said the victim was airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention.

He further reported that sometime before 6am yesterday, the Police Control Room on Grand Bahama received a report that a man was brought to Rand Memorial Hospital suffering from gunshot wounds.

ASP Rolle said officers went and spoke with a man who was being treated by doctors for a gunshot injury.

He stated that when questioned, the man told officers that he was shot while in Eight Mile Rock.

Officers conducted further investigations and discovered that the male victim was the alleged suspect in connection with the shooting incident in Marsh Harbour, Abaco.

ASP said the man was released from the hospital and arrested.

An investigation is continuing.

PAGE 8, Friday, November 5, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Speaker Deveaux raises eyebrows in the House IMAGINE living in a time when you have to be careful about the air you breathe because a deadly virus is in the air. Now because this same virus has led to a pandemic that has also wrecked your country’s economy, imagine having to worry about your job, having enough money to feed your family, and the education of your children.

Now imagine yourself slogging to the polls just a few weeks ago (while dodging and ducking the same virus). Imagine electing a new government and thinking to yourself, “Okay, these new people are gonna get to work on the pressing national issues while I work to figure my pressing problems out.”

Then imagine, after a long day of work, flipping on the parliamentary channel and watching these same recently elected politicians engage in shameful verbal slugfests about petty political issues in the House, as you silently seethe in exasperation.

Sounds like a nightmare, right?

Well, imagine no longer because that nightmare is pretty true to our current reality.

BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE During the last Minnisled administration, it was the worst of times, and the “worsa still” of times watching debates in the House of Assembly with former Speaker Halson Moultrie

A Comic’s View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA

in the chair. Moultrie was often gruff, unbalanced, antagonistic, and appeared to have many axes to grind.

By the time he demitted office, Moultrie had faced a vote of no confidence (naively turned into a ‘vote of confidence’), had resigned from his party, and had attempted to grab the (figurative) scalps of myriad members of parliament; up to and including the former prime minister.

To put it succinctly, his reign was a mess.

There aren’t many debates around whether he was the worst-ever Speaker because it’s pretty much universally agreed.

Bahamians certainly had enough of the “bad Speaker”.

Both major political parties were done with Moultrie. Even his former constituents (aside from the eighty-three likely family members who supported him in 2021) had had enough of his antics.

Most Bahamians are rightfully weary of the nonsense that has generally surrounded our parliament for far too long.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m quite aware that in other parliaments “carrying on bad” is a part of the process. In some countries, MPs have gotten chairs to

the head and fists to the face. In the UK, where we’ve inherited our parliamentary traditions, things can get loud and rowdy.

But we’re exhausted.

Maybe those other places have substantive things to show for tolerating decorum-less political divas, but we “ain’t on that run”.

So it was dissatisfying to see things pick right back up where we left off in August despite a change in government.

New Speaker and Bamboo Town MP Patricia Deveaux was lauded early on as only the second woman to occupy such a high office. Sadly, her performance is already raising eyebrows.

In the court of public opinion, Speaker Deveaux has been accused of not playing fair.

Many were disappointed to watch her demeanor this week when dealing with the Official Opposition, because it came across as unnecessarily combative.

She has, on the other hand, allowed noticeable leeway to the governing party. Her party.

Since these are early days yet, I’m inclined (for the moment) to give the new Speaker the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps she’s

SPEAKER of the House of Assembly Patricia Deveaux. nervous? Is she a naturally “vexatious” person? Or maybe she had a bad case of gas from a gas-station hot patty for breakfast that morning. The possibilities are endless.

(And, in the off chance you’re reading this, Madame Speaker, remember; I’m light-skinned with softer hair than Dr Darville.

By your standards on the campaign trail, you and I should get on famously.)

I have no idea why the Speaker repeatedly excoriated and chastised opposition members while showing deference to persons like her party “chairman”.

But Bahamians took notice.

What is clear is that things can not continue on this track. Most Bahamians want our politics to mature because the way things have been going hasn’t been beneficial.

The tone of the House falls at the feet of the Speaker.

So have your debates, but try to also “catch sense”.

As members stand there in our “hallowed halls”, squabbling and dividing us up into FNM or PLP supporters and arguing about who should or shouldn’t have jobs (or

those oft mentioned “juicy” contracts), everyday Bahamians are suffering.

Moultrie currently wears the crown for presiding over the most “brokedown” parliamentary palace ever.

Still, it would be good to heed the words of professor Randy Pausch: “No matter how bad things are, you can always make them worse.”

242 TO THE WORLD While it was child’s play in the House, Prime Minister Davis was globetrotting in the name of saving this country from the devasting effects of climate change.

Brave went to Glasgow, Scotland, to attend the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, better known as “Cop26”.

While there, Davis rubbed shoulders with other world leaders, gave a well-received speech, visited a bar, and took tons of selfies.

He has had a whirlwind press tour, appearing on global network television shows, and got cited on bloomberg.com for having the “quote of the day”.

And it was a good quote.

At the summit, Davis said, “We cannot outrun your carbon emissions, we

cannot outrun the hurricanes which are becoming more powerful, and we cannot outrun our sea levels as our islands disappear.”

Based on general feedback, the tour has been a success, and that’s good for the country.

Outside of the style, however, there’s the substance with which to contend. Substantively, the PM says he wants to come back from Cop26 with something concrete.

So now he has to “secure the bag”.

We wait with bated breath to see the fruits of his labour (specifically, we want to know how much cash and what new technology Brave will bring back.)

Some questions also need to be answered, such as this administration’s stance on oil drilling.

It’s safe to say the words “environmentally friendly oil drilling” likely did not cross his lips at Cop26.

If Davis is going all-in to lead the charge in the climate crisis, which is a good thing, he must come to terms with his administration’s policies at home.

Because another thing you can’t outrun is being branded a hypocrite when your actions don’t match your words.

TERI M BETHEL, left, of BooksByBethel.com, and Glenda Johnson Ingraham (President, Rotary Club of Eleuthera).

PUBLISHER PARTNERS WITH ROTARY LITERACY advocate, author, and publisher Teri M Bethel of BooksByBethel.com has recently partnered with Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020, which features its winning stories in their annually published Butterfly StoryBook.

Now in its 10th year, the competition is organised by the E-Club but assisted by local chapters.

Paul Amoury, Rotary Past President and chairperson of the Butterfly Storybook Competition, says he is amazed at the young writers’ level of creativity in their storytelling.

This partnership between BooksByBethel.com and Rotary and facilitated

by the Rotary Club of Eleuthera will showcase the writings of some of the outstanding contestants of their Butterfly StoryBook Competition. President of the Eleuthera Club, Rotarian Glenda Johnson-Ingraham, welcomes the initiative and believes it is in keeping with their club’s Literacy Advocacy Program.

In partnering with the Rotary Club, Mrs Bethel hopes to celebrate young writers with the anticipation that they will continue to develop their reading, writing, and communication skills. She also hopes that this opportunity will encourage parents, students, and educators to

support this and other writing initiatives.

“We see the need for literacy with the breakdown in communications in the home, school, and work — there is no part of society that is left out,” Mrs. Bethel stated, adding that much of the confusion stems from an inability to effectively share thoughts.

BooksByBethel.com actively promotes writers and authors from the Bahamas and the West Indies to bring an awareness of the myriad of excellent writings from both the young and old.

To view the growing list of young contributors, visit: www.BooksByBethel.com/ butterfly-stories.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, November 5, 2021, PAGE 9

The remarkable Erin Brown O

N November 13, hundreds, or as many as a few thousand people, will watch as a Bahamian woman is named godmother of a ship at a dockside ceremony in Port Everglades, Florida. Among those with cameras flashing and pens poised will be 150 members of international media. Their eyes will be on a 41-year-old mother of two, a woman named Erin “Bionic “ Brown.

Brown might not have been chosen for one of the highest honours in the global maritime arena had it not been for cancer or, rather, what she did after she was diagnosed.

Her story starts with what set the stage for how she looked her condition square in the eye and said “You may have taken my leg, but you will never steal my life.”

The only daughter of the late Senator Edwin Brown, Erin was 13 when her mother, Tangy, was diagnosed with Lupus (SLE) linked to cancer.

She watched her mom’s valiant battle that lasted an agonizing five years before the disease won. Erin left her native Grand Bahama to finish high school in New Providence and went off to college where her life regained momentum. She was a star volleyball and track and field athlete.

Then one day, she had a fall.

Months later, even after rehabilitation, she had another.

Her leg was failing her. Something was going wrong, it made no sense.

That is, until the diagnosis came back – Erin had a rare form of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma that had

already reached Stage 4. The year was 2004. Erin was 23 and president of her student body as well as a strong athlete with a promising future.

Having watched her mother fight the disease with such courage, Erin was determined to do so herself.

A year of hell followed with rounds of chemo leaving her nauseous. Her hair fell out.

Her gums turned black.

By 2005, at age 24 and with a young son, she knew what the doctors said would change her life forever.

She also knew she had no choice.

She agreed to amputate above the knee leaving one remaining leg and one residual stump.

Erin could have been just another amputee crying, why me? And for a while she was lost. No one is perfect.

Then she got hold of herself and said for the sake of her son, decided she would go on and be better than she had ever been.

She would fight for her life and to show others that they, too, could do things they never realized they could until they tried.

She started cycling, then with a prosthesis, power walking and running.

She finished with her adaptive team members; the

first for Ride for Hope in Eleuthera, 100 miles on a bike up and down the island’s hilly terrain, in tears and to applause from onlookers.

She started swimming, completing her the first UWC Triathlon and with every finish line she crossed, she hoped there were others looking on who would say to themselves, ‘If she can do it, so can I.” Erin has gone on to fight for inclusion and rights for those with disabilities. She has a consulting company in Nassau and a full-time job at the University of The Bahamas where she is the sole overseer of rights for the disabled.

She has also found love and the new man in her life is the only father her 6-year-old daughter knows and loves, too.

Son Aaron, now grown, is a basketball star in his high school in Kentucky.

He will be there with the rest of Erin’s family among those thousands watching as the bionic, can-do woman from Grand Bahama is named godmother of Royal Caribbean’s new Quantum Ultra class ship

Odyssey of the Seas next Saturday in Port Everglades. It will be her task to bless the ship and send it on its way, wishing safe passage for guests and crew and good wishes for the communities it visits.

Erin’s story deserves to be shared. Now it will be carried silently across the many miles of ocean that Odyssey of the Seas will cross and the decades the ship will sail.

VEHICLE OR LIVING SPACE? F

or the past few weeks, this car has been parked on the lot across from Montagu Park with the front end of the vehicle south, just before the intersection of Shirley Street and Village Road. Assuming that someone from the Free Town constituency office or the Royal Bahamas Police Force has spotted the car with the dangling license plate and checked it out and there are no dead bodies, can someone please explain if it is just another abandoned vehicle or a makeshift home for an otherwise homeless person who sometimes dries laundry on the hood.

Funny how you can pass by something that shouldn’t be where it is and become blind to it after you see it enough times.

By the way, there is growing concern on the part of at least one loyal reader about

SHIPPING WOES CONTINUE

L

ast Saturday, my husband and I were sent on a shopping mission. Find two identical large clay-based pots that make a strong statement for the outside entry point of a high-end home décor store. We trod and traipsed at all the usual suspect places, saving our regular go-to for last, and sure enough after sifting through the short supply they had, we finally negotiated, settled for one with a chip that could be fixed with a little work and another that was like it was supposed to be when new. The vast yard was nearly empty.

It was another jolting example of a shortage in the supply chain. Worse yet, the place with more empty

spaces than filled and where we eventually were happy to settle for something, anything, was not going to order any more of the large pots because shipping costs had tripled since last year’s order.

We know the feeling. In both retail and manufacturing, costs have skyrocketed so dramatically that businesses are reviewing the business plan on which they were founded.

It is only a matter of time until the cost of supplies, the delays in shipping and the final cost of landed goods landed impacts the construction industry. And see what happens then when the much-desired shovels in the ground are even hard to find on the shelves.

the worsening conditions and abuse of the same land.

The gentleman with a keen eye is frustrated at trucks parking all over the grass, leaving trailers for the day.

I believe we need to provide truck and trailer parking for recreational boaters, though those fishing commercially should be able to pay a nominal annual fee for parking the vehicles they tow their boats with.

Some of us worked so hard to restore Montagu Park and make a better, cleaner, safer space for fish vendors as well as creating more parking and enjoying for swimmers, walkers and others enjoying Montagu, it seems a shame that the area has begun to deteriorate. First up – replacing the “snow” barriers that help keep sand in place when the wind picks up.

PAGE 10, Friday, November 5, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

ACTIVISTS dressed as the Pokemon character Pikachu protest against Japan’s support of the coal industry near the COP26 UN Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday. Photo: Alberto Pezzali/AP

Nations announce steps to move away from coal use GLASGOW, Scotland Associated Press

IN THE fight to curb climate change, several major coal-using nations announced steps yesterday to wean themselves — at times slowly — off of the heavily polluting fossil fuel.

The pledges to phase out coal come on top of other promises made at the UN climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, that the head of an international energy organization said trimmed several tenths of a degree from projections of future warming. But outside experts called that “optimistic”.

Optimism also abounded in relation to the promises on coal, which has the dirtiest carbon footprint of the major fuels and is a significant source of planetwarming emissions.

“Today, I think we can say that the end of coal is in sight,” said Alok Sharma, who is chairing the conference of nearly 200 nations, known as COP26.

Critics say that vision is still obscured by a lot of smoke because several major economies still have yet to set a date for ending their dependence on the fuel, including the United States, China, India and Japan — which was targeted outside the summit venue yesterday by protesters clad as animated

characters.

What nations have promised varies. Some have pledged to quit coal completely at a future date, while others say they’ll stop building new plants, and even more, including China, are talking about just stopping the financing of new coal plants abroad.

The British government said pledges of new or earlier deadlines for ending coal use came from more than 20 countries including Ukraine, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia and Chile.

Some came with notable caveats, such as Indonesia’s request for additional aid before committing to bring its deadline forward to the 2040s.

Meanwhile, Poland, the second-biggest user of coal in Europe after Germany, appeared to backtrack on any ambitious new commitments within hours of the announcement.

“Energy security and the assurances of jobs is a priority for us,” Anna Moskwa, Poland’s minister for climate and environment, said in a tweet, citing the government’s existing plan which “provides for a departure from hard coal by 2049.”

Earlier in the day, it had seemed that Poland might bring that deadline forward by at least a decade.

Campaigners reacted angrily to the apparent U-turn.

“Moskwa has underscored that her government cannot be trusted to sign a postcard, let alone a responsible climate pledge,” said Kathrin Gutmann, campaign director of the group Europe Beyond Coal.

Separately, more than two dozen countries, cities and companies joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, whose members commit to ending coal use by 2030, for developed countries, and no later than 2050 for developing ones.

Banks that are members pledge not to provide loans for the worst types of coalfired power plants.

Meanwhile, the United States, Canada, Denmark and several other nations signed a different pledge to “prioritise” funding clean energy over fossil fuel projects abroad.

While not completely ruling out financial support for coal-fired power plants, the countries said they would refrain from any “new direct public support” for coal except in limited circumstances.

That move was seen as a significant step by environmental campaigners, who said that it could push international lenders to stop providing loans for new fossil fuel projects.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss officials’ thinking, said that while the US

hadn’t opted to join the coal phase-out pledges, its commitment to a clean energy future was clear. The Biden administration wants to reach 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035.

Underlining the urgent need for action on coal, a new analysis by scientists at Global Carbon Project found emissions from the fuel increased dramatically in 2021, not just from pandemic-struck 2020 levels, but even when compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

The world spewed 14.7 billion metric tons (16.2 billion tons) of carbon dioxide from coal burning, 5.7 percent more than last year, said the group, which tracks annual carbon pollution.

That was mostly spurred by a dramatic increase in China, which hit a new peak of coal emissions this year of 7.6 billion metric tons (8.4 billion tons) of carbon dioxide, more than half the globe’s coal emissions, the report said.

Still, experts said the announcement and others made so far at the summit showed the growing momentum to ditch coal.

“Today’s commitments will help to shift whole continents on their journey to phase out coal,” said Dave Jones of the energy think tank Ember.

Ukraine, the thirdbiggest coal consumer in

Europe, is bringing forward its coal deadline, from 2050 to 2035.

Coal production in Ukraine has already dropped significantly over the past few years: From 40.9 million metric tons in 2016 to 28.8 million in 2020 (45 million tons to 32 million), according to the Energy Ministry.

The figures do not include production in the coal fields of separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine, which accounted for about half of Ukraine’s mines prior to the 2014 uprising.

“The progress on coal being shown at COP26 demonstrates that the conditions are ripe for a global coal exit,” said Leo Roberts, a senior researcher at the environmental think tank E3G. “We now need to see the incoming massive scaleup in clean energy finance made available quickly to ensure all countries can confidently move from coal to clean,” he added.

But some environmental activists said the commitments didn’t go far enough.

“Emissions from oil and gas already far outstrip coal and are booming, while coal is already entering a terminal decline,” said Murray Worthy of the campaign group Global Witness.

“This is a small step forwards when what was needed was a giant leap.”

The agreements on coal are not part of the formal negotiations at the UN talks in Glasgow. But British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose country is hosting the conference, had said he wanted to see deals on coal, cars, trees and cash.

Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, said Thursday that a new analysis by the Parisbased body shows that fully achieving all the emissionsreduction pledges made on previous days — including for the potent greenhouse gas methane — could allow the world to limit warning to 1.8 degrees Celsius (3.2 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

The goal that countries set at a previous conference in Paris is to limit temperature increases to 1.5C (2.7F). A United Nations analysis showed that before Glasgow the world was heading to a 2.7C (4.9F) increase while other analyses showed warming in the mid- to upper-2-degree range also.

Niklas Hohne, of the New Climate Institute and Climate Action Tracker, called Birol’s figure “optimistic” and noted it was based on countries achieving pledges to only emit what can be absorbed — so called netzero plans — when they haven’t yet implemented any actions that would get them there.

US MANDATES VACCINES OR TESTS BY JAN 4 TENS of millions of Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or get tested for the virus weekly under government rules issued yesterday.

The new requirements are the Biden administration’s boldest move yet to persuade reluctant Americans to finally get a vaccine that has been widely available for months -- or face financial consequences.

If successful, administration officials believe it will go a long way toward ending a pandemic that has killed more than 750,000 Americans.

First previewed by President Joe Biden in September, the requirements will apply to about 84 million workers at medium and large businesses, although it is not clear how many of those employees are unvaccinated.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations will force the companies to require that unvaccinated workers test negative for COVID19 at least once a week and wear a mask while in the workplace.

OSHA left open the possibility of expanding the requirement to smaller businesses. It asked for public comment on whether employers with fewer than 100 employees could handle vaccination or testing programs.

Tougher rules will apply to another 17 million people working in nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities that receive money from Medicare and Medicaid. Those workers will not have an option for testing — they will need to be vaccinated.

Workers will be able to ask for exemptions on medical or religious grounds.

The requirements will not apply to people who work at home or outdoors.

Biden framed the issue as a simple choice between getting more people vaccinated or prolonging the pandemic.

“While I would have much preferred that requirements not become necessary, too many people remain unvaccinated for us to get out of this pandemic for good,” he said in a statement.

Biden said his encouragement for businesses to impose mandates and

his own previous requirements for the military and federal contractors have helped reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans over 12 from 100 million in late July to about 60 million now.

Those measures, he said, have not led to mass firings or worker shortages, adding that vaccines have been required before to fight other diseases.

OSHA said companies that fail to comply with the regulations could face penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation.

The agency will face enforcement challenges.

Even counting help from states, OSHA has only 1,850 inspectors to oversee 130 million workers at 8 million workplaces. An administration official said the agency will respond to whistleblower complaints and make limited spot checks.

The release of the rules followed weeks of regulatory review and meetings with business groups, labor unions and others.

OSHA drafted the rules under emergency authority meant to protect workers from an imminent health hazard. The agency

estimated that the vaccine mandate will save more than 6,500 worker lives and prevent more than 250,000 hospitalisations over the next six months.

The rules set up potential legal battles along partisan lines between states and the federal government.

Several states and Republican governors threatened to sue, contending that the administration lacks the power to make such sweeping mandates under emergency authority.

OSHA’s parent agency, the Labor Department, says it is on sound legal footing.

The department’s top legal official, Seema Nanda, said OSHA rules preempt conflicting state laws or orders, including those that bar employers from requiring vaccinations, testing or face masks.

Senate Republicans immediately launched a petition to force a vote to overturn the vaccine mandate, but with Democrats controlling the chamber, the effort is nearly certain to fail.

The rules will require workers to receive either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson &

Johnson vaccine by January 4 or be tested weekly.

Employees testing positive must be removed from the workplace.

Companies won’t be required to provide or pay for tests for unvaccinated workers, but they must give paid time off for employees to get the shots and sick leave to recover from side effects that prevent them from working. Requirements for masks and paid time off for shots take effect December 5.

Employers covered by the requirements must verify their workers’ vaccination status by checking documents such as CDC vaccination cards or records from doctors or pharmacies.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a separate rule requiring vaccination for workers in 76,000 health facilities and home health care providers that get funding from the government health programs. A senior administration official said several large private health care organizations imposed their own mandates and achieved high vaccination rates — 96 percent or higher — without widespread resignations.

A previously announced requirement for federal contractors to make sure workers are vaccinated was scheduled to take effect Dec. 8, but the administration delayed that measure until Jan. 4 to match the requirements on other large employers and health care providers. Already, more than a dozen states have sued to block the mandate on contractors.

For weeks, Biden has encouraged businesses not to wait for OSHA to act.

He has touted businesses that announced their own vaccine requirements and urged others to follow their lead.

Administration officials say those efforts are paying off, with about 70 percent of adults fully vaccinated.

Workplace vaccine mandates have become more common recently, with hospitals, state and local governments and some major corporations requiring COVID-19 shots for employees. The mandates have led to overwhelming compliance — in some cases 99 percent of workers — although a small but vocal number have faced dismissal, filed lawsuits or sought exemptions.

SPORTS PAGE 11

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

Ayton cans 16 to help his Suns top Rockets

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 27 points, Deandre Ayton contributed 16, and Landry Shamet added 19 off the bench and the Phoenix Suns pulled away late to beat the Houston Rockets 123-111 last night.

Phoenix has won three straight games and pushed above .500 for the first time this season with a 4-3 record. Houston has dropped five straight overall and lost five in a row to the Suns. Shamet and JaVale McGee led a strong effort from the Suns’ bench, which combined for 52 points. Chris Paul had 13 assists two nights after he had 18 in a win against the Cavaliers, which moved him to No. 3 all-time on the NBA’s career list. Booker added nine rebounds and five assists.The Suns bumbled through a large chunk of the game before gaining

some momentum late in the third quarter.

Ayton was back in the lineup after missing one game with a right leg contusion. He finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, a steal and blocked shot in 26 minutes before fouling out.

McGee sparked the rally with emphatic blocks on back-to-back possessions and it helped Phoenix turn a narrow deficit into a 93-86 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. The Suns led by as many as 15 points in the fourth.

Houston’s Kevin Porter Jr scored a season-high 20 points, while Christian Wood added 18.

Houston used a big second quarter to jump out to a 61-56 halftime lead.

Wood led the Rockets with 12 points while Porter added 10. Mikal Bridges had 12 for the Suns before the break.

SARVER FALLOUT The game was somewhat of an afterthought for the

HOUSTON Rockets centre Alperen Sengun, left, defends against a shot by Phoenix Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) during the first half last night in Phoenix.

(AP Photo/Ross D Franklin) Suns, who spent most of has a history of racist, the day digesting the fall- misogynistic and hostile out from an ESPN report incidents during his 17-year that owner Robert Sarver tenure in charge of the

franchise. Coach Monty Williams — who is Black — said he hadn’t talked with Sarver since ESPN’s story was published. “My reaction is it’s a lot to process,” Williams said. “There’s so many things there and for me it’s still not clear, as far as the facts are concerned.

“As someone who is the caretaker of the programme, I find all of these things that are being said serious in nature. These allegations are sensitive — that’s an understatement.”

TIP-INS Rockets: F Daniel Theis (right big toe soreness) didn’t play.

Suns: G Cameron Payne (hamstring) missed his fifth straight game. ... F Jae Crowder got a technical foul in the third quarter for arguing with a referee.

UP NEXT Rockets: Travel to face the Nuggets on Saturday.

Suns: Host the Hawks on Saturday.

Boxing referee Sargent celebrates 71st birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: shown, from left to right, are Alvin Sargent, Gregory Storr and Jermaine ‘Choo Choo’ Mackey. After devoting more than 50 years in the sport, International Boxing Association (AIBA) referee Sargent is still making his contribution to amateur boxing. Sargent, who celebrated his 71st birthday on Tuesday, was one of three officials to officiate the return of amateur boxing at the National Boxing Gymnasium on Saturday night. A large crowd of spectators showed up to watch the showdown between the host Aftershock Boxing Club and Southside Marlins Boxing Club.

SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 13 Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

T20 WCup, page 12

TAYLOR, GROUND GAME HELP COLTS FIND EASY PATH PAST JETS

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Carson Wentz threw three touchdown passes, Jonathan Taylor rushed for 172 yards and two scores and the Indianapolis Colts beat the New York Jets 45-30 last night.

Indy (4-5) finished with 260 yards rushing, the highest-single game total in the NFL this season in their first prime-time home game since December 2017.

New York starting quarterback Mike White injured his right forearm in the first quarter, four days after throwing for 405 yards and three TDs in his first NFL start. The Jets (2-6) have lost seven straight night games. White watched the final three quarters from the sideline after throwing a 19-yard TD pass to Elijah Moore that tied the score at 7-7 late in the first quarter.

Then it was all Colts.

Taylor broke the tie with a nifty 21-yard TD run.

When Jets running back Ty Johnson lost a fumble near midfield, Wentz quickly converted by throwing a 1-yard shovel pass to Jack Doyle for a 21-7 lead.

The Jets answered with a short field goal late in the first half, but Wentz countered with an 11-yard TD pass to Michael Pittman to make it 28-10 at the half.

Wentz opened the second-half scoring with a 2-yard scoring pass to offensive lineman Danny Pinter, and Taylor sealed the win with a 78-yard sprint to make it 42-10.

Josh Johnson, White’s replacement, threw for a career-high 317 yards and had a career-best three touchdown passes in the final 18 minutes — his first TD throws since December 22, 2018.

Wentz was 22 of 30 with 272 yards. Nyheim Hines had six carries for 74 yards and one score while catching four passes for 34 yards.

Johnson finished 27 of 41 with an interception that sealed the win for the Colts.

Moore caught seven passes for 84 yards and two scores.

UP NEXT Jets: Begin a two-game homestand against Buffalo on November 14.

Colts: Play the last of three straight home games November 14 against Jacksonville.

Celtics complete Florida SGA gets 28, Thunder roar back sweep with airtight defence to beat Lakers again, 107-104 MIAMI (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 17 points and the Boston Celtics played airtight defense for a second consecutive night to beat the Miami Heat 95-78 on Thursday.

Dennis Schroder scored 14 points, Aaron Nesmith had 13 and Romeo Langford added 12 for Boston, which swept a back-to-back in Orlando and Miami by giving up an average of 78.5 points on 33 percent shooting. The Celtics topped the Magic 92-79 on Wednesday.

Jimmy Butler scored 20 points for Miami, which lost point guard Kyle Lowry to a sprained left ankle in the third quarter as part of an utterly forgettable night.

The Heat shot 35 percent, 9 for 41 from 3-point range and managed a total of 55 points in the final three quarters.

CELTICS centre Al Horford drives to the basket as Heat forward Markieff Morris defends yesterday in Miami.

(AP) 76ERS 109, PISTONS 98 DETROIT (AP) — Seth Curry scored 23 points, Tyrese Maxey added 20 and short-handed Philadelphia beat Detroit.

Joel Embiid had 19 points and nine rebounds for Philadelphia. Playing for

the second straight night, the 76ers used only eight players. Furkan Korkmaz (wrist) sat out, while former Pistons forward Tobias Harris remained sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols. Jeremi Grant scored 27 for Detroit.

JAZZ 116, HAWKS 98 ATLANTA (AP) — Jordan Clarkson bounced back from his worst game of the season, scoring 30 points to lead Utah past Atlanta with Jazz star guard Donovan Mitchell sidelined by a sprained right ankle.

Clarkson was coming off a miserable game Tuesday night, going 0 for 11 from 3-point range and 1 of 13 overall to finish with just two points in a victory over Sacramento. Trae Young scored 21 points for the Hawks.

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time this season, 107-104 early this morning.

Kenrich Williams scored nine of his 13 points in the final period for the Thunder, who haven’t beaten anybody in their eight games this season except the vaunted Lakers — both times while rallying from enormous deficits, and both times with LeBron James sidelined. James sat out the rematch with an abdominal strain.

LAKERS forward Carmelo Anthony (7) shoots over Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) during the first half last night in Los Angeles.

(AP) Anthony Davis had 29 points and 18 rebounds

despite spraining his right thumb near halftime for the Lakers, whose threegame winning streak ended with just their second loss in seven games. Carmelo Anthony had another big game off the bench, scoring 21 points with five 3-pointers — including two in the final minute while LA’s rally fell short.

Russell Westbrook scored 27 points for the Lakers, but the veteran guard made a comical turnover against his former team with 21 seconds left and a chance to tie the game.

After rallying from a 26-point deficit last week in Oklahoma City, the Thunder came all the way back again at Staples Center before surviving a tough fourth quarter.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, November 5, 2021, PAGE 12

Zampa takes 5-19 as Bangladesh out for 73 in Australia romp DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Legspinner Adam Zampa earned Australia’s best ever figures of 5-19 in a T20 World Cup as Bangladesh was routed for 73 in an eight-wicket win yesterday.

Zampa missed a rare tournament hat trick when wicketkeeper Matthew Wade dropped a tough catch of Taskin Ahmed.

Australia knew it could overtake South Africa on net run rate in the race to the semifinals by achieving the chase target in less than eight overs, and accomplished it in 6.2 as captain Aaron Finch smashed 40 off 20 balls to surge to 78-2.

In their last group games, South Africa will take on unbeaten England while

Australia meets the defending champion West Indies.

“Really clinical performance,” Finch said. “We thought we would take the opportunity to win big if we got the chance, but you can’t plan for that.”

Bangladesh’s below-par T20 World Cup ended without a point from five Super 12 games, its second worst tournament total ever, and the second biggest loss in a T20 World Cup. Bangladesh, bowled out for 84 by South African pace in its last game, again failed to negotiate the fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood (2-8) and Mitchell Starc (2-21) before Zampa ran through the lower order in a brilliant spell of four overs.

Bangladesh’s top order was brittle for a second straight match without star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury.

After Hazlewood and Starc struck in the powerplay, Shamim Hossain top scored for Bangladesh with 19 before top-edging Zampa to Wade. Mahedi Hasan was trapped leg before wicket off the next delivery on a misjudged pull shot, then Zampa missed the hat trick on his first ball of the last over.

But Zampa didn’t wait long to better countryman James Faulkner’s figures of 5-27 against Pakistan in the 2016 T20 World Cup when he had Mustafizur Rahman

caught at long off and followed with the last wicket of Shoriful Islam, who was sharply caught by Finch in the lone slip. Bangladesh was dismissed inside 15 overs.

Finch plundered four sixes and two boundaries against Taskin (1-36) and Mustafizur (0-32) before he was clean bowled by Taskin while searching for a big shot on the offside.

Warner made 18 before his middle stump was also knocked by Shoriful, and Mitchell Marsh lofted Taskin to midwicket for a massive six to raised the victory in quick time.

“When you have these sort of performances, it’s hard to say much,” Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah

AUSTRALIA’s Adam Zampa prepares to bowl during the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match between Australia and Bangladesh in Dubai, UAE, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) said. “There are a lot of They failed to defend 171 areas we have to look at. against Sri Lanka and lost In T20 cricket you have to to West Indies by three have a good powerplay, runs. especially when we don’t However, against Enghave so-called hard hitters.” land, South Africa and Bangladesh came close Australia, the batsmen to winning only two games. played poorly.

Sri Lanka ends West Indies’ hopes of the T20 World Cup semifinals ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Sri Lanka ended defending champion West Indies’ slim hopes of advancing to the semifinals with an emphatic 20-run victory in their last T20 World Cup game yesterday.

Young batters Charith Asalanka (68) and Pathum Nissanka (51) toyed with the seven-man West Indies attack in raising Sri Lanka’s highest total of 189-3 in their final Group 1 game by slamming powerful half centuries.

In reply, West Indies, which won the toss and elected to field, lost their power hitters cheaply before getting restricted at 169-8.

Shimron Hetmyer narrowed the defeat with a fighting unbeaten 81 off 54 balls, but Sri Lanka always looked favourite to sign off from the tournament on a winning note.

“These youngsters have been working hard, so I’m really happy,” said Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanka. “They worked really hard for this. They have a long career ahead and a lot of good cricket to come.”

The 42-year-old Chris Gayle could score only 1, Andre Russell made only 9 while the world’s new No. 1 T20 bowler, legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga (2-19), clean bowled Dwayne Bravo (1) and captain

SRI Lankan cricketers celebrate the dismissal of West Indies’ Dwayne Bravo during the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Abu Dhabi, UAE, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) Kieron Pollard for zero as be played, we have to pro- Bangladesh and West last group game on SaturWest Indies lost wickets tect him as well (but) as a Indies while losing to Eng- day. “We have spoken time with regular intervals in a captain, I back him in every land, South Africa and and time again, especially steep chase. situation.”

Australia. from a batting perspective, “(Hasaranga) is a gem.

Inexperienced Sri Lanka Two-time champion what we need to do as indiHe’s a superstar in the bowed out of the tour- West Indies, having a soli- viduals and we have not making,” Shanaka said. nament with four points tary win over Bangladesh, done well,” Pollard said.

“There’s a lot of cricket to in Super 12s, defeating takes on Australia in their “A couple of young guys

are putting up their hands but the experienced guys, myself included, have not done well.”

West Indies had a mathematical chance to go through to the last four, but Asalanka and Nissanka combined in a brilliant 91-run second-wicket stand.

The West Indies’ most experienced bowler Bravo was smashed for 42 off his four overs. Bravo finally broke the stand when Nissanka holed out in the deep in the 16th over.

Ravi Rmpaul and Jason Holder also couldn’t impress and finished with identical figure of 0-37.

The Sri Lanka fielders showed plenty of athleticism on the field with Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Chamika Karunaratne holding onto stunning catches to dismiss Roston Chase and Holder, respectively.

Hetmyer, who hit eight fours and four sixes, narrowed the margin of defeat in the last three overs through some big hitting against fast bowler Karunaratne (2-43) and Dushmantha Chameera (1-41).

“We are not going to hide from the fact that it’s been disappointing for us,” Pollard said. “I’m sure all the guys are hurting in that dressing room. It’s something we didn’t see coming, but we have to face the reality.”

MANCHESTER DERBY THE MARQUEE MATCHUP IN PREMIER LEAGUE MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ole Gunnar Solskjaer likened Cristiano Ronaldo to Michael Jordan after the Portugal star bailed out Manchester United yet again this week in the Champions League.

The United manager could use a bit of Phil Jackson — the “Zen master” former coach of the Chicago Bulls — when they host Manchester City on Saturday in the marquee matchup of weekend games in the English Premier League.

It’s been more chaotic than calm lately for Solskjaer, whose leadership of England’s biggest team was called into question after a crushing 5-0 loss to Liverpool on October 24.

United responded with a 3-0 victory over Tottenham before Ronaldo’s two goals — including a stoppagetime effort — salvaged a 2-2 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday.

City visits Old Trafford coming off a 4-1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Post-match, manager Pep Guardiola was already looking ahead to the derby — and Ronaldo.

“They have one of the best players in all history, a guy who is able for himself to do unique things — a scoring machine — we

MANCHESTER United’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer approaches Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of the Champions League group F soccer match between Atalanta and Manchester United, at the Stadio di Bergamo, in Bergamo, Italy, on Tuesday. The game ended in a 2-2 draw.

(AP Photo/Luca Bruno) know it,” Guardiola said.

Solskjaer was questioned “Of course we will have a post-match about finding plan we are going to impose more minutes for England to try to do our game, that’s winger Jadon Sancho, for for sure.” whom United paid $100 Raheem Sterling ended million in the offseason. his scoring drought — net“I commit a crime every ting his first City goal since time I pick a team because August in the midweek there’s always players that game in a potential boost get left out,” Solskjaer said. for a team that lacks a “Jadon will come good. striker.

Jadon has got a great work The news was worse for rate and attitude. He’ll have United, which lost centre- many, many years as a good back Raphael Varane, who player here.” left Tuesday’s game in the United is in fifth place, first half. eight points back of league The club confirmed leader Chelsea and three Wednesday that Varane behind third-place City. had a hamstring injury that CONTE’S “is expected to keep him RETURN out of action for around a Tottenham visits Evermonth.” ton on Sunday in what will

MANCHESTER City’s Cole Palmer, centre, replaces Phil Foden as Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola watches during the Champions League Group A soccer match between Manchester City and Club Brugge at the Etihad stadium, in Manchester, England, on Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Rui Vieira) mark the return of man- Chelsea before leaving in Chelsea, three points ager Antonio Conte to the 2018. “Now it’s a new era, ahead of second-place LivPremier League. He was a new chapter, it’s a massive erpool, hosts Burnley on hired Tuesday. Conte is Tot- opportunity for us,” goal- Saturday. Liverpool visits tenham’s third manager in keeper Hugo Lloris said of fourth-place West Ham a seven months.

Conte’s hiring. day later.

He was hired a day after the firing of Nuno Espirito Santo, who was dismissed for losing half of his 10 Premier League matches in charge.

Conte, who had been out of work since leaving Inter Milan after winning Serie A in May, won the Premier League title and the FA Cup in his two seasons at

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THE TRIBUNE

Friday, November 5, 2021, PAGE 13

50 years and counting: Referee Alvin Sargent still making his contribution to amateur boxing

HAMLIN THRIVING AMID CHAOS AS HE CHASES FIRST NASCAR CROWN

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer

AFTER devoting more than 50 years in the sport, International Boxing Association (AIBA) referee Alvin Sargent, right inset, is still making his contribution to amateur boxing.

Sargent, who celebrated his 71st birthday on Tuesday, was one of three officials to officiate the return of amateur boxing on Saturday night at the National Boxing Gymnasium. A large crowd of spectators showed up to watch the showdown between the host Aftershock Boxing Club and the Southside Marlins Boxing Club.

The event was organised by former amateur boxers turned coaches Valentino Knowles and Keishno Major. Among those in attendance were Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg and Director of Sports Timothy Munnings.

With the sport making a comeback after being shutdown since 2020 when the coronavirus struck, Sargent said he was delighted to be able to make his contribution as a referee with Gregory Storr and former successful amateur/professional boxer Jermaine ‘Choo Choo’ Mackey, who served as the lone judge.

“Considering the fact that I haven’t been in the ring for four years, I was pretty comfortable with myself,” Sargent said. “I am happy that the young guys (Knowles and Major) are trying to find a way to get some type of competition going again.

“In order for the sport to grow, the boxers need the competition and there were a lot of new guys on the card, so I think the sport is heading in the right direction coming out of some of the restrictions being lifted for sports in the country.”

And while he commended the organisers, Sargent said he would like to see more of corporate Bahamas stepping up to the plate and assisting in the revitalisation of the sport because there is a lot of potential for the young men in the country.

“There are so many other things these young men could be doing other than boxing. But we have to continue to encourage those ones who have decided to give the sport a try. I know when I was boxing, in our heyday, there were hundreds of boxers on the scene. There was no shortage of boxers to step in the ring to fight.”

In 1998, Sargent became the first Bahamian to earn a full AIBA referee

certification. He held the position up to 2011. However, after he became the vice president of the Amateur Boxing Federation of the Bahamas in 2014, he was restricted from serving as an AIBA referee.

Once he relinquished his position, Sargent regained his AIBA certification, but he only got to the second star.

Sargent, who also served as chairman of the Bahamas Boxing Commission from 2012-2017 before he was replaced by Fred Sturrup, said he was pleased to see the new direction that boxing is heading in and he’s eager to continue to lend his support.

“There are several youngsters who I saw had great poise and talent and if they stick to the game, they could go places,” Sargent said. “Pound for pound and man for man, in sports, the Bahamas is on equal par with any country in the world.

“It’s just a matter of dedication, determination and the desire of the individuals involved. They have to put in the time in order to reach the heights that they need to attain to get to the next level in the sport.”

Sargent, who got started in the sport as a sparring partner for Ray Minus Sr, began his service as a judge at the North American Golden Gloves Championships in 1978 after he fought and defeated Dr Kevin Alcina in just his my second amateur fight.

“I made some inquiries as to how I could assist in judging and I was immediately given the okay,” Sargent said.

“Since then, I’ve judged over 60 matches before I travelled to Santo Domingo in 1982 with Terry Goldsmith and Basil, both from Freeport, Grand Bahama and (Leonard) Boston Blackie (Miller) to take the AIBA’s North American Continental Referee and Judges exams and I passed.”

In 1998 while attending the Central American and Caribbean Games in Venezuela as the team manager, Sargent said he was also encouraged by Mexico’s Ricardo Contreras, then the vice president of AIBA and president of the North American Continental Area, who tried to convince him to sit the referee/ judge’s exam.

“I indicated to him no, I did not come to take any exam,” Sargent recalled.

“He insisted and promised that he will provide an interpreter for me. I was not ready but after he insisted so strongly I took the exam and successfully passed with a score of 92 points,” Sargent said.

SHOWN, from left to right, are James ‘Kid Freeport’ Tynes, David ‘Sugar’ Bowe, Marvelous Marvin Smith and Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt during the return of amateur boxing at National Boxing Gymnasium. A large crowd of spectators showed up to watch the showdown between the host Aftershock Boxing Club and the Southside Marlins Boxing Club on Saturday night.

Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff “I refereed and judged at those games and was adopted by some new friends, including Herbert Embuldeniya and his wife Neiva who made sure that I was present at the next big games at the Pan Am Games. At that time, he was an executive member of AIBA.” Sargent, who got the opportunity to both box and referee and judge at every level of competition except the Olympic Games, was a former lightweight and light welterweight amateur boxer from 1972-1980.

The only thing the former long-time now retired employee at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation didn’t do was venture into professional boxing.

“I was concerned about the financial backing,” he said. “At the time, my take home pay on my job was pretty reasonable. I just didn’t have any desire to go to Miami to train, even though Elisha Obed got the door opened for me to move there.

“I wanted to go to one of the big cities like New York, Philadelphia or Detroit. I knew had I gone to one of those states, there would not have been any limitations for me. They produced the majority of the top boxers and if I had the financial backing, I would have gone to one of them.”

Having shun the opportunity to turn pro, Sargent said he was still able to officiate as a judge and referee on some of the top professional cards ever produced in the country.

Now as the sport is slowly coming back after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sargent said he’s pleased to be able to work with officials like Storr and Mackey.

“Gregory Storr has been around for a while. He’s

following in my footsteps and he’s getting the experience that he needs, so I’m happy to be able to share my expertise with him,” Sargent said.

“I haven’t done the same with ‘Choo Choo’ because this is the first time that I’ve had the chance to work with him in the amateur ranks as an official.

But I’m prepared to work with both of them and any other persons who wish to get involved in officiating.”

Sargent, however, said there is a gap that continues to exist between the officials and the coaches of the boxers.

“More often than not, the boxers don’t know the rules, so the only way they can learn is if the coaches get to know the rules so they can pass it on to their boxers,” he said.

“We are not here to harm the boxers, just to pass on the information so that they can and should know what to do when they get into the ring.”

Without going into specific details, Sargent said there were some instances on Saturday when Storr and himself had to chastise some of the boxers and the coaches for some infractions before they got to fight. “We know that this was their first time in the ring, so there were some things they did that we had to point out to them,” Sargent said.

“We really didn’t want to hurt their spirits being their first time in the ring.

“But boxing is a game where, if you don’t have a good heart, the minute you get hit and you get discouraged because you couldn’t do certain things, they don’t come back. We want to discourage that type of mentality in these boxers. We want to keep them enthused and ready to go so that the sport can continue to grow in this pandemic.”

And even though the pandemic has forced persons to keep their distance and not enjoy too many things like they did in the past, Sargent said he was grateful to God for the opportunity to celebrate his 71st birthday on Tuesday.

“Things are just good and I’m just looking forward to the next 20-30 years, if God spares my life,” he said. “I know he’s able.”

Sargent’s birthday came a day before former boxing greats Quincy ‘Thrill-AMinute’ Pratt turned 52 and David ‘Sugar Kid’ Bowe became 88 on Wednesday.

Pratt, best remembered for his three epic Bahamas bantamweight title fights against Ray Minus Jr, said he was joined by “Marvelous’ Marvin Smith and James ‘Kid Freeport’ Tynes in spending some time with Bowe at his home.

“Me and Marvin talked with Sugar Bowe all night.

His family really enjoyed the time we spent with him,” Pratt said.

“Sugar Kid Bowe told Marvin how he remembered when he fought Kenny Minus for the second time, as a judge, he was pulling for Kenny because they were both from Exuma.

“But I have to say that Sugar Kid Bowe has done a lot for boxing, amateur and professional.

“He was also a very good boxer that we all looked up to. It was a pity that although we invited all of the boxers to show up, only the few of us did. We still had a good time.”

As for his own personal birthday celebrations, Pratt said his wife and children made sure that it was a day for him to remember.

Happy belated birthday to Sargent, Pratt and Bowe from The Tribune Sports Department.

PHOENIX (AP) — What a difference a decade has made for Denny Hamlin, the undisputed winner on NASCAR’s opening day of championship weekend.

Hamlin was a nervous wreck at the championship contenders news conference in 2010, his legs shaking as sat on stage alongside Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. The duo pounced on his vulnerability, which further rattled Hamlin and he ultimately unraveled and lost the championship to Johnson.

Back for a fifth attempt at his first Cup championship, Hamlin oozed confidence for an hour before a captive audience at the Phoenix Convention Center. No topic was off limits as Hamlin discussed last week’s dustup with Alex Bowman, being booed at his home track, his potential legacy in NASCAR and “thriving under chaos.”

“I’m comfortable in who I am. Back in 2010 I didn’t have the big race wins that I have now,” Hamlin said.

“I certainly know that I am a championship-calibre driver. There’s no question in my mind. Circumstances have not always worked out in my favour, performance hasn’t always been good enough.

“In 2010 I would have said, ‘Am I really good enough to do this?’ I mean, I had a ton of wins in 2010, I was battling Jimmie, and honestly things out of my control took us from locking it up to losing it. I got in my own head, then I messed up. I just wasn’t as comfortable then as what I am now.”

A three-time Daytona 500 winner and first-year Cup team owner, Hamlin fell short in four previous title tries. He’ll race on Sunday against Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr, and the Hendrick Motorsports duo of Kyle Larson and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott in the winner-take-all finale at Phoenix Raceway.

“I live in chaos. My life is chaos. I thrive under chaos. Honestly, you can ask Kyle. The more (crap) is stirred up around me, the more I come at it,” Hamlin said. “To me, it’s fuel. My tank is absolutely full with motivation.”

Hamlin is still mad about Bowman spinning him from the lead last week at Martinsville Raceway with six laps remaining, costing Hamlin his third win of the season.

“The World Series, postseason baseball is one of my favourite things to watch, so when your team is in it, it’s super exciting.”

NBA: FIRM WILL PROBE SUNS AFTER REPORT OF RACISM, MISOGYNY

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — The NBA has asked a law firm to investigate the Phoenix Suns after a published report yesterday detailed allegations that owner Robert Sarver has a history of racist, misogynistic and hostile incidents during his 17-year tenure in charge of the franchise.

ESPN said it talked to dozens of current and former team employees for the story, including some who detailed inappropriate behaviour by Sarver.

Most of the allegations are from anonymous sources but a few are on the record.

In ESPN’s report, Sarver denied or disputed most of the allegations through his legal team.

The Suns also strongly denied the report in a lengthy statement released yesterday.

“I would entirely welcome an impartial NBA investigation which may prove our only outlet for clearing my name and the reputation of an organisation of which I’m so very proud,” Sarver said.

Sarver will get his wish.

The NBA released its own statement from executive vice president of communications Mike Bass saying the allegations were “extremely serious” and that the league has asked the Wachtell Lipton law firm to “commence a comprehensive investigation.”

“The NBA and WNBA remain committed to providing a respectful and inclusive workplace for all employees,” Bass said.

“Once the investigation is completed, its findings will provide the basis for any league action.”

Among the allegations: Former Suns coach Earl Watson said Sarver was upset that Golden State

PHOENIX Suns owner Robert Sarver watches the team play against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix in 2019.

(AP Photo/Ross D Franklin) forward Draymond Green Sarver said in his stateused the N-word during a ment that Watson was game in 2016 and that the “clearly not a credible owner repeated the N-word source.” several times when voicing “While there is so much his displeasure. Watson said that is inaccurate and mishe told Sarver that he can’t leading in this story that use that word.

I hardly know where to Watson was the Suns’ begin, let me be clear: The coach for all or part of three n-word is not part of my seasons before being fired vocabulary,” Sarver said. “I three games into the 2017- have never called anyone 18 season. or any group of people

the n-word, or referred to anyone or any group of people by that word, either verbally or in writing. I don’t use that word.”

Watson released his own statement through the Toronto Raptors, where he is now an assistant coach.

“I am not interested in engaging in an ongoing battle of fact,” Watson said.

“Instead, I want to applaud the courage of the numerous players, executives, and staffers for fighting toxic environments of racial insensitivity, sexual harassment, and microaggressions with their truth.

“Basketball and 17 years in the NBA has allowed me the financial privilege to speak my truth, but we can’t forget about those who must remain silent for fear of losing their jobs.”

The report also details a story about how Sarver passed around a picture of his wife in a Suns bikini to employees. The report

says more than a dozen employees also said Sarver had a history of “making lewd comments in all-staff meetings.”

In ESPN’s story, Bass said the NBA had not “received a complaint of misconduct at the Suns organisation through any of our processes, including our confidential workplace misconduct hotline or other correspondence.”

Sarver has owned the Suns since 2004.

The 59-year-old Phoenix businessman also owns the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.

The Suns are coming off one of the most successful seasons in their history, making the NBA Finals with stars Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton before losing in six games to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Suns have made the Finals three times, in 1976, 1993 and 2021, but have never won a championship.

PAGE 14, Friday, November 5, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Raiders, Giants dealing with tragedy, COVID-19 issues

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants are preparing to play Sunday with one dealing with tragedy and the other COVID-19 issues.

Coming off their bye week, the AFC Westleading Raiders (5-2) were stunned when wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was involved in a fatal car crash early Tuesday morning that killed a woman and her dog.

The 22-year-old player was released by the team hours later. Prosecutors say Ruggs was driving at 156 mph and had a blood-alcohol content twice Nevada’s legal limit.

The crash came less than a month after Jon Gruden stepped down as coach because of disparaging emails he sent before being hired by the team in 2018.

“These are two totally different situations,” Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said. “Some similar emotions, some very different emotions. But the message has to stay the same. Honestly, I don’t want it to right now. If I’m selfish, I don’t want it to. I want to say a lot of different things. But we have a game this week and I’ve got a job to do, and so do the guys in that locker room.”

The Giants (2-6) have been dealing with COVID-19 issues since returning home Tuesday following a loss to the Chiefs on Monday night. Practices have been delayed and some coaches and players sent home and then told to come back because of numerous false positive test results.

Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams said while it’s unfortunate some players have been forced to miss practice, he said the team dealt with the same issues during the pandemic last season.

“Because we have experience, we know not to let that be a distraction,” said Williams, who’s tied for the team lead with 5 1/2 sacks.

While they have split their last two games, the

PRESCOTT PLANS TO START AS COWBOYS TAKE ON POST-MILLER BRONCOS

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer

HENRY Ruggs III (AP) Giants defence has played its best games the past two weeks. It will be in for another tough one against Carr and the Raiders’ No 2 ranked passing offence.

The Raiders are off to their best start since 2016 and interim coach Rich Bisaccia is looking for his third straight win since replacing Gruden.

But Las Vegas has an NFL-worst 3-15 mark coming off the bye over the past 18 seasons and has been outscored by 20.5 points per game in losing the last four.

BIG PLAY ZAY With Ruggs released, Zay Jones will get a much bigger opportunity as the starting receiver alongside Bryan Edwards.

Jones has played just 21 percent of the offensive snaps this season with six catches for 115 yards and a TD. But he has made the most of his chances with the winning TD in overtime of the season opener against Baltimore and a key 43-yard catch against the Eagles two weeks ago.

“We have a high expectation for what Zay can bring us, just like what he’s brought us up to this point,” Bisaccia said.

“So, we’re all going to get opportunities throughout the course of our careers and our time here, and again it’s how we respond to the opportunity given to us.”

FORMER FRIENDS With Saquon Barkley sidelined since spraining an ankle against Dallas on October 8, former Raider Devontae Booker has become the Giants’ No. 1 running back. He had a career-best 125 total yards against Kansas City on Monday, rushing for 60 yards and catching five passes for 65 yards.

FORMER Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs, accused of DUI resulting in death, is brought into the courtroom during his initial arraignment at the Regional Justice Center, on Wednesday in Las Vegas. Ruggs was involved in the fiery crash early Tuesday that left one person dead.

(Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

NEW York Giants tight end Evan Engram celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Booker, who signed with the Giants as a free agent in the offseason, has 216 yards rushing and 17 catches for 138 yards.

He has three touchdowns — two rushing and one receiving. He had three TDs with Las Vegas last season.

“He has hit the ground running and last week, Monday night, he made a number of big plays for us and got us down the field,” Giants tight end Evan Engram said of Booker.

POST BYE BLUES Getting a week off during the season hasn’t treated the Raiders well.

Bisaccia met with about 15 players on how to get better results this year.

“We have to stay on top of that and we have to hold each other to that standard because if we don’t then we’ll be one of those teams that goes the wrong way, and we don’t want to be that,” Carr said. “Nothing is promised if you just do things the right way, but

it sure does help if we can look at things in the past and say, ‘Well, I think this will help us be better.’”

BRADBERRY’S NEW ROLE Raiders tight end Darren Waller, who has 33 catches for 378 yards and two TDs, is expected back after missing one game with an ankle injury. The Giants might have a surprise for him.

New York had great success playing big cornerback James Bradberry against Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce, limiting him to four catches for 27 yards.

Giants defensive coordinator Pat Graham said two or three players will get a chance to cover Waller, including Bradberry.

“Any time you’ve got a big corner, their skillset working with receivers or going against receivers, and then you add that size element versus a tight end,” Graham said, “I think it potentially helps us.”

OFF THE EDGE The Raiders’ much improved defence has been led all season by edge rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Maxx Crosby.

Ngakoue has multiple sacks in two of the past three games. In Denver — the game in between the other two — Crosby got three sacks of his own.

Both players rank in the top 10 in quarterback pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Von Miller won’t be chasing whoever starts at quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.

There’s every reason to believe that quarterback will be Dak Prescott.

The Dallas star is expected to return after missing a game with a right calf strain, and Sunday he’ll face a Denver pass rush making its first appearance since the three-time AllPro Miller was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for draft picks.

“Be better. That’s my expectation going into everything,” Prescott said yesterday after being a full participant in practice. “I think I’ve had two good days of practice and continue to get better, put the final stamps on the game plan and go out there and be better than I was a couple of weeks ago against the Patriots.”

Prescott beat New England with a touchdown toss to CeeDee Lamb in overtime, the play on which the calf injury happened.

After an open week and plenty of chatter about whether Prescott would play, backup Cooper Rush helped secure Dallas’ sixth straight victory since a season-opening loss with a TD pass in the final minute of a 20-16 win at Minnesota.

“Obviously when you go in there with a backup quarterback in a hostile environment and he leads the team to a game-winning drive, I think that speaks volumes about not only him but our whole team in how we stuck together.”

The Broncos (4-4) say the Miller deal doesn’t mean they’ve given up after unloading one of the best players in franchise history.

If so, any playoff pursuit would get a big boost with a seventh consecutive victory in the series with the Cowboys. Denver ended a four-game skid last week by beating Washington, one of Dallas’ NFC East rivals.

WALES’ WINNING HOME RECORD VS SPRINGBOKS IN JEOPARDY CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — South Africa beat New Zealand in its last outing and New Zealand put 54 points on Wales last weekend, so it stands to reason Wales is in for another long Saturday when they host the Springboks.

Except maybe not for one reason: Wales doesn’t have a hang up about South Africa like it does about New Zealand.

The Welsh last beat New Zealand 68 years ago. They aren’t entirely convinced they can win. The Welsh last beat South Africa three

years ago. In fact, they have downed South Africa on its last four visits to Cardiff.

In this regard, the Welsh are fully convinced they can prevail, they have no mental blocks, they know the taste of victory at South Africa’s expense.

A fifth successive win over the visitors at Principality Stadium isn’t out of the question, though its not expected.

Even with the match falling in the official test rugby window and all overseas Wales internationals becoming accessible, only

four players were summoned for duty to a squad heavily depleted by injuries.

The welcome return of Dan Biggar, Nick Tompkins and Louis Rees-Zammit -an off-form Liam Williams is in the reserves -- should at least repair the inaccuracy of the kick-chase game that was ruthlessly exploited by the All Blacks.

But they are not forwards, whose set-piece inefficiency was also exposed by the All Blacks.

Only three of the Wales pack which mastered the Springboks in 2018 in Cardiff have survived, including flanker Ellis Jenkins, whose last test was that match.

His right knee was torn up in the last minute and he didn’t play again until February this year.

Jenkins’ leadership expertise will also be important for Wales following the loss of talismanic captain Alun Wyn Jones to a shoulder injury that is expected to rule him out of the Six Nations. Coach Wayne Pivac said this week he also expects 36-year-old Jones back before the end of the season and to even soldier on to a fifth World Cup. If the New Zealand match did anything positive apart from yielding 4 million pounds in much-needed funds, it enlightened Wales on the speed and power which South Africa will bring, and then Australia in two weeks.

The Springboks’ lastgasp win over New Zealand in Australia a month ago restored their faith in their criticised system which, much like Wales’ game plan

WALES JONATHAN DAVIES, front, waits for a review on a tackle during the rugby union international match between Wales and New Zealand at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on Saturday.

(AP Photo/Rui Vieira) in their recent Cardiff contests, has been based on kick-chase and defence.

They are rested, settled, comfortable in their tactics, and bent on a first win in Cardiff since 2013.

There are only three changes, all in the backline, to a lineup with a deep core of 2019 Rugby World Cup winners who beat Wales in the semifinals.

“Everyone does their analysis and we watch games, so you have always got an idea of what a team is going to bring and what their DNA is going into the game,” recalled wing Jesse Kriel says.

“But there is always that 20 percent of what you

don’t know they are going to bring.

“So it is just about focusing on our systems and doing things the way we want to -- dominating the physical part of things -and the rest will sort itself out.”

LINEUPS: Wales: Johnny McNicholl, Louis-ReesZammit, Jonathan Davies (captain), Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Aaron Wainwright, Taine Basham, Ellis Jenkins, Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Tomas Francis, Ryan Elias, Rhys Carre. Reserves: Bradley

Roberts, Wyn Jones, WillGriff John, Ben Carter, Seb Davies, Gareth Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Liam Williams.

South Africa: Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handré Pollard, Herschel Jantjies; Duane Vermeulen, Kwagga Smith, Siya Kolisi (captain), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nché.

Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Jasper Wiese, Cobus Reinach, Elton Jantjies, Frans Steyn.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, November 5, 2021, PAGE 15

Medvedev joins Djokovic and Zverev in Paris Masters quarters PARIS (AP) — Defending champion Daniil Medvedev rallied to beat unseeded American Sebastian Korda 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 yesterday and book a spot in the Paris Masters quarterfinals.

Korda broke the imposing Russian’s serve in the ninth game of the first set and then clinched it on his third set point. But the U.S. Open champion eased through the second set, forcing Korda into 14 unforced errors.

Medvedev broke for a 3-2 lead in the decider with a whipped forehand pass down the line despite being at full stretch retrieving a shot.

Korda looked stunned as his opponent milked the applause from the crowd in Paris.

Medvedev, who is vying with top-ranked Novak Djokovic to finish the year as No. 1, served for the match but Korda broke him to trail 5-3.

He broke Korda straight back, sealing the victory on his first match point after Korda’s 40th unforced error of the match.

Medvedev next faces either 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz or French qualifier Hugo Gaston.

They were playing in the night’s last match.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV, of Germany returns the ball to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria at the Accor Arena yesterday.

(AP Photo/Francois Mori) Earlier, Djokovic ninth game of the second advanced without playing a set and then had two match point because Gael Monfils points with Dimitrov servpulled out injured. ing at 6-5. Dimitrov saved Monfils, who is 0-17 both of them with volleys at against the top-ranked the net.

Djokovic, has an adductor In the tiebreaker, Diminjury. itrov raced into a 6-1 lead Fourth-seeded Alexan- and then clinched it with a der Zverev advanced to the service winner, after Zverev last eight after beating No. had saved two set points.

16 Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (4), Momentum finally 6-7 (3), 6-3 in an intense drifted away from Dimitrov contest lasting 2 hours, 45 when he failed to punish minutes and where Dim- Zverev in the sixth game of itrov saved two match the decider, when Zverev points in the second set. was 0-40 down on his serve.

Zverev broke for a 4-3 Zverev broke for a 4-3 lead lead in a tight first set but and saved another break was broken back to 5-5 point in the next game. when serving for the set. He The imposing German controlled the tiebreaker then converted his third and clinched it with a volley match point when Dimitrov at the net. sliced a return into the net.

Zverev saved a break Zverev next plays sixthpoint with an ace in the seeded Casper Ruud, who

DANIIL MEDVEDEV, of Russia, plays a return to Ilya Ivashka of Belarus, at the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena in Paris.

(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) routed American qualifier a tiebreaker and had four time, it would be now that I Marcos Giron 6-2, 6-1 to match points at 6-2. can really push him.” seal his place in the seasonNorrie saved one match Seventh-seeded Hubert ending ATP Finals. point on his his own serve, Hurkacz rallied to beat Djokovic, a five-time but Fritz followed up a lucky loser Dominik champion at the Paris Mas- strong first serve with a Koepfer 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to ters, faces Taylor Fritz. forehand winner on the strengthen his chances The unseeded American next point to advance. of clinching a spot at the beat 10th-seeded Cameron Fritz has lost all four of Finals, which starts on Norrie 6-3, 7-6 (3) to hurt his career matches against November 14. Hurkacz will the British player’s chances Djokovic, including losses reach the Finals if he wins of qualifying for the season- this year at the Austral- his quarter against James ending ATP Finals. ian Open and the Rome Duckworth, an unseeded Fritz saved two set points Masters.

Australian who advanced to while trailing 40-15 in the “Obviously (I am) play- his first Masters quarterfinal 10th game of the second set. ing my best tennis,” Fritz with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory He later held serve to force said. “I think if there was a over Alexei Popyrin.

SWITZERLAND BEATS CZECHS TO SET UP SEMIS AGAINST AUSTRALIA

By KAREL JANICEK Associated Press PRAGUE (AP) — Switzerland won the decisive doubles to clinch the last spot in the semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup with a 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic yesterday.

Olympic singles champion Belinda Bencic teamed up with Jil Teichmann to cruise past Lucie Hradecka and Tokyo doubles champion Karolina Siniakova 6-3, 6-3.

“The key was to go for a risk because they have an absolutely great team,” Bencic said.

The victory gave the Swiss the top spot in Group D after also beating Germany. They will play Australia, which advanced after eliminating Belarus earlier on the hard court in Prague’s O2 Arena.

The United States will face Russia in the other semifinal.

The elimination in front of the home crowd is a big disappointment for the Czechs, who have won the competition — previously known as Fed Cup — six times since 2011. The Swiss are seeking their first trophy.

Earlier, Marketa Vondrousova overcame a slow start on the way to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Viktorija Golubic to give the Czechs a 1-0 lead.

Bencic started the Swiss comeback by upsetting third-ranked Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 (2), 6-4 to level the series.

The 17th-ranked Bencic broke Krejcikova for a 4-3 lead in the second set before serving the match out.

The Aussies, who reached the final of the last edition of the competition, needed to win the best-ofthree series against Belarus to advance from Group B. Ajla Tomljanovic rallied to defeat

AUSTRALIA’s Ajla Tomljanovic returns a ball to Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus during their group B Billie Jean King Cup finals tennis match in Prague, Czech Republic, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Aliaksandra Sasnovich 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to give Australia

an unbeatable 2-0 lead.

Storm Sanders beat Yuliya

Hatouka 6-3, 6-3 in the opening singles match.

“I was happy I could come out today and the fact that I got the point makes me unbelievably happy,” Tomljanovic said.

For the 131st-ranked Sanders, it was her second win at the tournament.

She also beat Belgium’s top player, 18th-ranked Elise Mertens, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0 in her debut for Australia.

“Today, I definitely felt there was more pressure,” said Sanders, who didn’t face a break point.

“For me, even if I was a little bit nervous, it was great to have the teammates on the side and they definitely helped with their support.”

The 12 teams in the finals were divided into four groups of three in a new competition format.

Only the group winners advance to today’s semifinals.

Last year’s edition was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tennis star accuses China ex-vice premier of sexual assault

By KEN MORITSUGU Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities have squelched virtually all online discussion of sexual assault accusations apparently made by a Chinese professional tennis star against a former top government official, showing how sensitive the ruling Communist Party is to such charges.

In a lengthy social media post that disappeared quickly, Peng Shuai wrote that Zhang Gaoli, a former vice premier and member of the party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, had forced her to have sex despite repeated refusals following a round of tennis three years ago.

Her post also said they had sex once seven years ago and she had feelings for him after that.

Peng is a former topranked doubles player, taking 23 tour-level doubles titles, including Grand Slams at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014.

The Associated Press could not verify the authenticity of her post, which was made late Tuesday night by her verified account on Weibo, a leading Chinese social media platform.

The post was removed soon after, and a search on Weibo for Peng’s account now turns up no results.

Neither she nor Zhang could be reached for comment.

The accusation is the first against a prominent government official since the #MeToo movement took hold in China in 2018 before being largely tamped down by authorities the same year.

Earlier accusations were confined to the media, advocacy groups and academia.

The Communist Party’s response illustrates its determination to control public discourse and restrain social movements it can’t be sure of controlling.

While social media has become ubiquitous in China, it remains firmly under party control.

Screenshots of the post have circulated on Twitter, which is blocked in China, reinvigorating discussion on that platform about gender relations in China, where men dominate the top levels in politics and business.

In the post, Peng, 35, wrote that Zhang, now 75, and his wife arranged to play tennis in Beijing about three years ago and that he later brought her into a

room at his home where the assault occurred.

“I was so frightened that afternoon, never thinking that this thing could happen,” the post says.

Rumours and overseas reports about affairs between younger women and leading officials have long been staples of Chinese politics, starting with the founder of the People’s Republic, Mao Zedong.

Cases brought against present and former officials under party leader and President Xi Jinping’s decade-long anti-corruption campaign also frequently feature accusations of “lascivious lifestyles,” along with bribery and abusing their positions.

Zhang retired in 2018 and has largely disappeared from public life, as is usual with former Chinese officials.

Peng hasn’t played at the top tier since the Qatar Open in February 2020.

In singles, she reached the semifinals of the 2014 U.S. Open and the Round of 16 at the subsequent Australian Open, but hasn’t progressed beyond the third round at any major since Wimbledon in 2017.

The Communist Party has increasingly cracked down on civil society, including the #MeToo

movement that has struggled to gain traction in the country.

Zhou Xiaoxuan, a former intern at Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, was

shoved by bystanders in September as she went to court in a case against a well-known presenter.

Since then, the movement has been largely shut

down by authorities as activists found their online posts censored and faced pressure from authorities when trying to hold protests.