DEVELOPER SUES GOVT FOR $3BN
Austrian takes action over blocked project in Abaco’s Treasure Cay
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A CONTROVERSIAL
Austrian developer is demanding an astonishing $3bn-plus in damages and interest from the govern ment after it blocked his bid to acquire Abaco’s Treasure Cay project.
Dr Mirko Kovats, a Lyford Cay homeowner who has permanent resident status in The Baha mas, is alleging that this and his other local real estate
deals “have been subject to undue influence by the government” which he is accusing of “interference in a private commercial transaction”.
Legal filings in the US and The Bahamas, which have been obtained by Tribune Business, dis close the extent of Dr Kovats’ legal battles that have embroiled not only Treasure Cay but also the 384-acre South Ocean development in southwest ern New Providence.
ACTIVISTS DEMAND GREATER PROTECTION FOR WOMEN
By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.netACTIVISTS have called for greater protection of women against sexual violence following three incidents of sexual assault reported over the weekend.
According to police, one of the incidents took place on the island of Andros and the others on New Providence.
On Friday, a 27-year-old Andros woman reported she was awakened by a man
she knew, who forced entry into her home and sexually assaulted her.
That same day, a 37-yearold New Providence woman said a man she knew came to her home uninvited and while there, he attempted to sexually assault her, police said.
In a third incident, two 20-year-old New Provi dence women reported that a masked gunman forced entry into their home on Saturday and sexually
By LETRE SWEETING lsweeting@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday presented the keys to new homes in the Pinecrest sub division to 18 government, private sector and essential workers.
The Pinecrest project in South Beach is a public private partnership (PPP) between the government and Arawak Homes Limited. Since the start of the
who have applied to the Ministry of Transport and Housing. Mr Davis said that phase one of the project is over 85 percent completed.
“Today (Monday), we present 18 new keys to homes in the Pinecrest housing development scheme. That is 18 more individuals and families who tonight can rest their heads in the peace and comfort of their own home. This is dignity,” he said.
PM: CRITICS OF BAHAMAS OVER FTX ARE ‘UNFAIR’
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
AS he expressed concern about The Bahamas suffer ing reputational damage because of FTX’s implo sion, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis branded criticisms levelled at the country in the interna tional media as an “unfair” characterisation.
Yesterday, Mr Davis also told reporters that he had no knowledge of the Progressive Liberal Party, which he leads, receiv ing any money from FTX. He said he did not know whether any Cabinet min isters held any FTX digital wallets or portfolios.
DAVIS: FNM ‘CRYING WOLF’ ON BPL ISSUE
By LETRE SWEETING lsweeting@tribunemedia.netPRIME
“crying wolf” again.
He made these com ments yesterday in the Pinecrest subdivision where the keys to some 18 new homes in the subdi vision were presented to homeowners.
This comes three days after FNM leader Michael Pintard said in the park ing lot of the Office of the Prime Minister that Mr Sears should resign due to the “failure of the govern ment to act appropriately to reduce the cost of electricity”.
FACE
FACE:
PM: Critics of Bahamas over FTX are ‘unfair’
“I do not know that,” Mr Davis said yesterday when he was asked directly about himself and Cabinet ministers being involved with the company. “In fact, I’m agnostic to it. I don’t hold any wallet and I’m not aware of any of my Cabinet ministers.”
He also denied that the government had invested in any form with FTX.
Mr Davis addressed the issue on the sidelines of a key presentation at the Pinecrest subdivision.
The Bahamas has grabbed headlines in the international media over the FTX saga. Some com mentary has been critical of this country’s digital asset regulations, saying it is one thing to have such laws but another to enforce them.
Asked what he would say about the criticisms launched at the coun try in the wake of FTX’s collapse, Mr Davis said: “I think it’s unfair. It’s an unfair characterisa tion. I’m not concerned about our reputation in that regard because most
of what is being said is the posturing of persons who would wish to have the liquidation under their control so once that is settled you will see that everything will blow over.”
Later during the inter view and while responding to a question about gov ernment exposure from the situation, the prime minister said: “We have no exposure to it. (The) only issue I am concerned about is I have positioned The Bahamas to be the leading jurisdiction in the digital assets space.
“I am intending to keep that position and the only thing of concern is reputa tional consequences and I am dealing with that.”
Mr Davis went on to address assertions about how close govern ment representatives were to the company, stemming from a photo circulating on social media of his senior policy advi sor Jerome Fitzgerald attending an FTX office opening in Chicago along side former PLP Senator Allyson Maynard Gibson and Tanya McCartney, a financial services expert,
telling reporters he could not recall whether his advisor attended.
Mr Davis said The Baha mas-based crypto exchange had invited him to speak during the event and clari fied that Mr Fitzgerlad was initially to travel with the prime minister.
However, Mr Davis said he was unable to be there due to another engagement.
The photo was shared on social media by FTX’s vice president of commu nications and corporate social responsibility back in May.
“Whether he went, I don’t recall but I had another engagement and I could not make that trip,” Mr Davis said.
His comments come amid fears that FTX’s co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried may have violated a Bahamas Supreme Court order when he placed some 134 group entities under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware.
US attorneys represent ing the Bahamian joint provisional liquidators for FTX Digital Markets, the collapsed crypto exchange’s local subsidiary, have raised
concerns that Mr BankmanFried breached the asset freeze and order obtained by the Securities Commission on Thursday, November 10, through such actions.
That order, issued by Chief Justice Ian Winder, also stripped Mr Bankman-Fried and his fellow FTX Digital Mar kets directors of all their powers and transferred control of the company to Brian Simms KC, senior
partner at the Lennox Paton law firm. However, the FTX co-founder then signed the documents placing FTX Trading and the group’s non-Bahamian assets into Chapter 11 protection at 4.30am on Friday morning.
On Sunday, Free National Movement Chairman Dr Duane Sands insisted the Davis administration must be seen to want to urgently get to the bottom of the
situation, doubling down on his party’s continued calls for transparency.
FNM leader Michael Pintard has said the Davis administration was obli gated to clearly indicate if it had any intimate relation ship with companies that are in the country that can give the impression that entities were able to oper ate with impunity because of the nature of that relationship.
ACTIVISTS DEMAND GREATER PROTECTION FOR WOMEN
assaulted them. The suspect then fled the area on foot in an unknown direction.
When contacted for com ment on the sexual assault reports, Equality Bahamas director Alicia Wallace yesterday expressed her dismay on the treatment of women.
“Women live with the perpetual fear of rape,” she said. “We are constantly
assessing our environments and, at the encouragement of others, including law enforcement, making our worlds smaller in the effort to avoid being raped.
“The reality is that we are not at fault and we do not put ourselves at risk. We are living in a world, and a country, where rape culture has become the norm.”
Ms Wallace highlighted how most rape incidents are perpetrated by men known to the women
MAN ACCUSED OF SERIES OF MURDERS
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.netA MAN was charged in a Magistrate’s Court yes terday in connection with a series of murders in the nation’s capital.
One of these deaths include Lakeithra Stubbs, the 27-year-old woman caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting last month as she stood outside on her mother’s porch.
Machino McKenzie, 21, faced Magistrate Samuel McKinney on three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
According to police reports, the accused was involved in a drive-by shooting in a Japanese vehicle that resulted in the deaths of Andrew Bur rows and Lakeithra Stubbs around 7pm on October 30 on Lightbourne Avenue.
Two other people,
Rickara Collie and Johnny Severe, were also injured in this incident involving a high-powered weapon.
At the time of his death Burrows was on bail, after being accused of the 2018 murder of Craig Smith.
McKenzie is further alleged to have caused the death of Averyon Dun canson on November 12 in New Providence.
He was not required to enter a plea in court and was informed that his matter would be fast tracked to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
The accused was also told that as the magistrate did not have the jurisdiction to grant him bail he had the right to apply for it through the higher court.
Until bail is granted, McKenzie will be remanded to the Bahamas Depart ment of Correctional Services.
McKenzie’s VBI is set for service on February 2, 2023.
FIRE ON CAY
THERE were reports last night of a fire on Over Yonder Cay, in the Exuma chain.
Police reported that there had been a structural fire.
There were no further details at the time of going to press, and no confirma tion of any injuries.
Brief video footage and photographs circulated online reportedly showing the blaze.
being violated. She said that women are not fully protected in their own rela tionships, homes, and that the ongoing conversation of marital rape has proven that.
When asked what could be done to address the issue of sexual violence in the country, Ms Wal lace said: “Addressing the issue of sexual violence requires compliance with international mechanisms, including CEDAW, man datory comprehensive sexuality education in all schools, public campaigns on gender equality and wom en’s rights, ongoing training for law enforcement and all professions that come into contact with survivors.”
Ms Wallace said it is not
enough to be “saddened” or “horrified” by the reports of sexual violence, but rather there needs to be work done to make an active change.
“We all have the respon sibility to talk to the men and boys in our lives about sexual violence and to make it clear that not only does no mean ‘no’, but only yes means ‘yes’, and consent is absolutely mandatory.”
She added that the Global 16 Days campaign will begin on Friday, with the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women, and Equality Bahamas has a series of events lined up, focused on the theme “Let’s End Femicide.”
For her part, Prodesta
Moore, president and founder of Women United, told The Tribune yesterday that policymakers need to take sexual violence against women seriously.
“I don’t think that we’re taking it seriously enough and this is why those rapists and perpetrators are out there. I’m not surprised that they are people that these women are familiar with.”
She added: “Right now, I’m saying we as women need to be extra vigilant, extra careful, even with our interaction with men.
Because it is so unfortu nate that men get the wrong meaning behind saying good morning, or even extending a smile at them.”
Ms Moore pointed out the importance of having
a sexual offenders register so that convicted assailants would be known to the community.
She said that sexual offenders are infiltrat ing the communities while people in these areas have no knowledge of their crim inal past.
“We have rapists in the communities that are walk ing among us and come into our communities and befriending our women. And we have no idea that they are known sexual offenders. So, having the sexual offenders register is key for us to know exactly who these people are.”
Ms Moore said she holds lawmakers accountable to make stiffer penalties and laws that protect women.
‘PM HAS MISSED DEADLINE TO PUBLISH FISCAL STRATEGY REPORT’
By DENISE MAYCOCKKWASI Thompson, MP for East Grand Bahama, accused Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, of failing to fulfil his obligation as finance minister after his ministry repeatedly missed deadlines to publish the annual fiscal strategy report
for 2022 as well as quarterly budget reports for 2022/23. Both reports are now months late, complained the shadow minister for finance.
“This is unacceptable, and we demand that the Prime Minister makes the time to do the work the Bahamian people pay him to do and that he immedi ately causes to be published
the fiscal strategy report for 2022,” said Mr Thompson.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the FNM MP claimed that without any explanation or good reason, the Davis administration once again flouts the Fiscal Responsibility Act by fail ing to submit to Parliament the annual fiscal strategy report for 2022 by the third Wednesday of November as
HUNDREDS QUEUE IN SEARCH OF JOBS
HUNDREDS of residents in Grand Bahama gathered at St George’s Gym nasium on Saturday for ‘Labour on the Blocks 2.0’ in hopes of getting off the unemployment line.
It is the second such event hosted by the Department of Labour, which is col laborating with the Ministry for Grand Bahama to bring together private busi nesses and government agencies under the same roof for job seekers.
A wide cross-section of businesses and government agencies were present, including Ernst and Young, Deloitte and Touche, Sawyer’s Fresh Market, Quality Services, Baker’s Bay, Grand Lucayan, Universal Security, Grand Bahama Ship yard, Cyber Tech, Freeport Container
Port, the University of The Bahamas, Pelican Bay, Sandals, the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, and government agencies such as the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Bahamas Immigration, Bahamas Customs and the National Training Agency.
Sebastian Leguizamon, owner of Com padre, the first recyclable pocket lighter, said they have designed an automated assembly line, which will be operated in Freeport where the lighters will be made, offering 23 positions.
He said: “[I’m] very impressed with the government, how proactive every body is and again it makes investors very comfortable.”
required by law. He also recalled that the Davis administration was late last year. And even after the deadline was extended for submis sion, the MP said that they missed that deadline too.
“This administration is routinely late in the pub lication of monthly and quarterly budget reports,” said Mr Thompson. “The
government has failed to ensure that the Fiscal Responsibility Council publish its response to the Fiscal Strategy Report 2021 and the response to the annual budget for 2022/23.”
“Both of these reports are now months late. Again and again, in his role as Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister has shown that his busy travel and
photo-op schedules do not afford him the time to ensure that his ministry ful fils its obligations.”
As mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018, the government is obliged to present the Fiscal Strategy Report (FSR) to Parliament and the newly established Fiscal Respon sibility Council, by the third Wednesday of November.
Leslie Lopez, the human resources manager of Disney Cruiseline Bahamas, revealed the company is looking to fill positions including landscaping, main tenance, custodial and beach lifeguard and are also scouting out job seekers to fill 200 positions at Lighthouse Pointe in Eleuthera in 2024.
He said: “We’re just getting heads up and seeing what the talent is like in Free port. So far it’s been great, we’ve met some exciting persons who are ready to work for us and help us in carrying on that journey.”
Anna Albury, human resources man ager at Ocean Cay, a 95-acre private island owned by MSC Cruises, said they were recruiting 25 people to work as
room attendants, food and beverage runners, heavy equipment operators to lifeguards.
She said: “Currently we have a total of 142 staff on the island and we’re looking to increase our numbers tremendously and we are global international great company to work for.”
Tavaras Russell, senior clerk in the human resources division at Bahamas Immigration, said it was an impressive turnout, and with many stopping by their booth seeking employment, the depart ment is looking for qualified individuals who are ready to serve their country.
PRO ECT TO PLANT MANGROVES
THE Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT), along side flats fishing guides, school children, and local and international partners, undertook the next step last weekend in a major man grove restoration project in East Grand Bahama.
The community plant ing day was part of BTT’s multi-year effort focused on Grand Bahama and Abaco to help mangrove forests recover from the devastat ing effects of Hurricane Dorian. Mangroves are a vital natural resource which build island resilience in the face of future climatedriven storms, coastal flooding, and sea level rise.
Post-Dorian observa tions conducted by BTT and other local science partners, such as the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) and Bahamas National Trust (BNT), showed that huge areas of native mangrove forests in Grand Bahama and Abaco were decimated by the storm and are now in
dire need of restoration. In response, BTT launched the Northern Bahamas Man grove Restoration Project, a growing collaborative effort between non-profits, gov ernment agencies and the community with the objec tive of planting 100,000 – if not far more – new man groves by the end of 2024.
About Saturday’s plant ing event in the East End, Grand Bahama native and BTT Bahamas coordinator Nina Sanchez said: “This mangrove restoration pro ject has been an incredible opportunity to get local Bahamians, community groups, and students out onto the flats and into the mangroves to learn about the importance of this envi ronment. This project is in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, but a lot of posi tive moments for outreach and education have come out of it. One of the things that we try to drive home, that restoration is kind of a last resort. We really want to preserve, protect, and conserve the environments that we have by getting stu dents out onto these flats, getting their hands dirty and realizing that these are incredibly productive habi tats. In addition to the flats fishing industry, they sup port a lot of commercially important fish speciesconch, grouper, snapper. ”
BTT’s current Grand Bahama and Abaco res toration project includes partners such as BNT, Friends of the Environment in Abaco, international businesses, such as the apparel brand MANG, and fly fishing guides, and will involve many school children over the next two years. The project began by growing mangroves in nurseries in Grand Bahama and Abaco for the pur pose of planting seedlings in the most impacted areas around these two islands. Future mangrove plant ing days will be announced by BTT and other conser vation partners throughout 2023. To get involved, email BTT at info@bonefishtar pontrust.org.
Site chosen for sex offences court
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff ReporterTHE government is moving full steam ahead with its plans to establish a sexual offences court, with a site already identified to house the facility.
Other courts to be placed at appropriate locations include a family court and commercial court.
Chief Justice Ian Winder gave an update on the court projects on the sidelines of a ceremony to mark the opening of the Indus trial Tribunal legal year yesterday.
“There’s an effort to establish several specialty courts – a family court, sexual offences court
as well as a commercial court,” Justice Winder told reporters.
“In respect to the sexual offences court, my prede cessor and the executive have identified the use of the Hansard building where the chief justice cur rently sits to be the sexual offences court because of its isolation and ability and the space to allow for wit nesses and victims to be separated and have some more privacy in terms of giving their evidence.
“They had acquired space I think in 50 Shirley Street to relocate the chief jus tice and I think that move is afoot to try and advance that process.”
This comes after police reported they are actively
investigating three separate incidents of sexual assault that allegedly occurred over the weekend.
One incident happened on the island of Andros and the others on New Providence.
After assuming office last year, Attorney General Ryan Pinder lamented the need for a series of specialty courts, saying they were required “not only for the proper administration of justice, but also in order to ensure the efficiency we all desire.”
As it relates to estab lishment of a family court, the chief justice said work was also underway in this regard.
“They have identified a site and they’re moving to establish those courts
to bring the Magistrate’s Courts to deal with family matters as well as the Supreme Court to deal with family matters in one space to provide for a smooth and better transition of more privacy for matters in place for the family,” he continued.
Justice Winder also addressed concerns about the backlog of Coroner Court’s inquests, especially as it relates to policeinvolved shootings.
The hearings were ini tially delayed because of COVID-19 pandemic.
Later, former Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez was sworn in as a Supreme Court justice, causing fur ther delays as officials waited to replace her.
Magistrate Kara Turn quest-Deveaux was named acting coroner in Septem ber 2021. But, police related coroner’s inquests have still not resumed despite her appointment to the post.
In April, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe told this newspa per the hearings had not yet resumed because the direc tor of public prosecutions had yet to appoint a lawyer to marshal the cases.
And according to Jus tice Winder yesterday, officials were still working to address the matter.
“We’re still trying to work through the process,” he said. “A major hurdle is actually trying to get a mar shal. The prosecution, the attorney general and the
police would provide a mar shal to marshal the evidence. We only hear the evidence. It has been marshalled and I think there was a difficulty in identifying a prosecutor, perhaps the attorney gen eral... you can find out if he’s identified (one) but there is a police prosecutor and some coroner’s inquests are going on, but the policeinvolved shootings which I think is probably the greater concern, they are waiting for a marshal to get most of those underway but there are coroner’s inquest being conducted.”
Meanwhile, as it relates to manpower, the chief jus tice said his office is seeking to appoint between four to five judges in the early new year.
DRAFT BILL ON INDUSTRIAL COURT TO GO TO CABINET
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A DRAFT version of the Industrial Court Bill 2022 which seeks to facilitate “a stable industrial relations climate” has been sent to officials for review and will later be presented to Cabi net for approval, Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis announced yesterday.
Mr Davis, speaking during a ceremony to mark the opening of the Indus trial Tribunal Legal Year, said the proposed legisla tion was drafted by the National Tripartite Coun cil’s executive team after heavy consultation with industry stakeholders.
Once enacted, he added that the bill will, among other things, allow the Industrial Tribunal to enforce its judgements and decisions.
“In November 2021 the government of The Baha mas, in accordance with Section 10 of the National Tripartite Council Act 2015, formally communicated the national policy on mat ters relating to labour and industrial relations to the National Tripartite Coun cil,” he said.
“One of the fundamen tal matters contained in the policy was the enactment of legislation to cause the Tribunal to, among other issues, enforce its decisions and judgements. My gov ernment is of the opinion that this new legislation will forever transform the industrial relations environ ment and level the playing field for the working people of The Bahamas.
“I am pleased to advise the public that after exten sive consultation with national, regional and inter national stakeholders, the executive of the National Tripartite Council has drafted the Industrial Court Bill 2022 and presented it to the Minister of Labour and Immigration for review.
“I can also announce that the NTC has sub sequently initiated an additional period of public consultation with national
stakeholders.”
Mr Davis also revealed the body’s intentions to make a formal draft pres entation before Cabinet for consideration.
Following Cabinet’s approval, he noted that the proposed legislation will then be tabled in Parlia ment for debate and then enactment.
“This enactment ladies and gentlemen, along with the review of the terms and conditions of employment for the entire management and staff of the Tribunal, will in our view, facilitate a stable industrial relations climate in The Bahamas and lead to increased pro ductivity at a national level and cause our economy to grow from strength to strength,” he added.
Mr Davis also asserted
that as the nation’s econ omy expands and more Bahamians find work out side of the nation’s two cities, it is expected that “trade disputes will natu rally increase.”
He challenged the Indus trial Tribunal to utilise the same innovative ideas it introduced in New Provi dence and elsewhere to improve court efficiency on the outer islands.
“From the implemen tation of smart courts, case management pro tocols, the utilisation of mediation, and other alter native dispute techniques to reduce the backlog of cases, has enabled the president and vice presi dents to address many of the ills that are associated with the Tribunal,” Mr Davis continued.
Death Notice For
Reginald Llewelyn Knowles, 75 affectionately called “Slako”
of Nassau, The Bahamas and formerly Mangrove Bush, Long Island peacefully passed away with his family surrounding him on Thursday, 17 November, 2022 at Doctors Hospital.
Mr. Knowles was predeceased by his parents: Alonza Knowles and Iva née Fox; brothers: Randolph and Franklyn.
He is survived by his wife: Arlene; daughters: Dawn and Ghandi; grandchildren: Jade, Harrison and Heathcliffe; aunt: Alice Darville; sons-in-law: Daniel and John; brothers: Kirk and Brennan; sisters: Betty, Barbara, and Marsha.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to The Bahamas Humane Society in memory of Reginald Knowles.
Viewing for Mr. Reginald Knowles is scheduled for Friday, November 25, 2022 at Butlers’ Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Ernest and York Streets from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
He also committed his
administration to “improv ing the system of justice” as it relates to ensuring that differences between employers and employees are resolved.
In closing remarks, Indira DemeritteFrancis, the Industrial Tribunal’s president, said: “We have excelled but we also recognise
that there is much more that can be done espe cially if we work together harmoniously with our stakeholders. We will continue to strive to retain excellence in the service we provide to the public. We will continue to improve the services we offer and not rely on past accomplishments.”
“Your efforts, Madam President, are considered trailblazing, not only in the Bahamian judicial system. The achievements of the Tribunal have been rec ognised throughout the Caribbean region, and have been an inspiration and source of pride for The Bahamas.”THE OPENING of the Industrial Tribunal legal year. Pictured: Tribunal President Indira Demeitte-Francis, Helen Almorales-Jones, Sharada Humes-Ferguson, Simone Fitzcharles, Ingrid Cooper-Brooks, Rionda Godet, alongside Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, acting Governor General Jomo Campbell, and Chief Justice Ian Winder. Photo: Austin Fernander
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991
EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-
Published daily Monday to Friday Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES
(242) 322-1986 Advertising Manager (242) 502-2394
Circulation Department (242) 502-2386 Nassau fax (242) 328-2398 Freeport, Grand Bahama (242)-352-6608 Freeport fax (242) 352-9348
The two stories of the FTX collapse
THE story of the collapse of FTX, the crypto exchange that so spectacularly fell apart, is one that is divided into two parts.
There is the international story – which primarily affects the custom ers who put their money into FTX’s hands, and who now join the list of creditors seeking billions from the fallen company.
Then there is the local story.
At its most basic level, there are the employees of FTX who find themselves suddenly adrift after working for a com pany that talked big and spent big but it turns out didn’t take care of the busi ness. There will be people suddenly looking for work, who thought they had a secure career at FTX.
Then there are the organisations that had been given donations by FTX. In this column, we had talked of how FTX had seemed to be making a name for itself as a good corporate citizen, sup porting non-profit organisations and groups that needed a little extra money to get by.
Many of those groups are now count ing their blessings for what they did receive, and counting the costs of any holes in anticipated donations for the future.
Groups such as Lend A Hand Baha mas were given a pledge of $500,000 in March, with a promise to match donations up to a further $500,000. In yesterday’s Tribune, Lend A Hand said that its plans would remain unaffected despite the collapse of FTX – although its planned community centre, still to begin construction in the new year, was to bear the name of the company in the original plan. That may change, of course, given the albatross that name has become.
BAARK was another organisation to benefit from FTX’s generosity, and it confirmed that it had received $100,000 that had been pledged. There were many other organisations too – and we hope those promises had been made good before the collapse.
Who else received funds? Well, the FNM chairman said he was unaware of any donations from the company, and the PLP chairman responded with a brief “Nope” to the question of any donations there. It is not implausible there would have been political dona tions – certainly there were donations to political bodies in the US by FTX, nota bly to the Democrats.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he had no knowl edge of whether the PLP received any money, or whether any Cabinet min isters held any FTX digital wallets or portfolios. For himself, he said he did not hold any such wallet, and denied
that the government had invested in any form with FTX.
With such a huge collapse, there of course are other questions about what our country’s exposure is amid the loss. Were all funds deposited properly with NIB? What contracts remained out standing for the construction of the headquarters and who will be exposed to that loss? What will happen to assets in The Bahamas, such as the land that FTX owns?
There are also legal concerns. For example, The Bahamas moved to freeze FTX assets – and yet after that action, it appears FTX co-founder placed the company into bankruptcy the follow ing morning, when he should no longer have been in control of the business.
Does our legal system have the power to hold sway over actions already under way in the US legal system? Will there be a tug-of-war over jurisdiction?
On the international scale, it is all about the funds of the customers. On the local scale, it is all about our level of exposure amid the losses, and our authority to determine what will happen next.
As one source told The Tribune, “This is an American problem by American citizens, and we are just the venue, but we are going to get the hit for this and no politician has the temerity and forti tude to stand up and defend us. There’s a lot of blame to be floated around. Nobody is getting the real problem. The jurisdiction is going to get a black eye here when we were the victim.”
The decisions made by FTX rest on the shoulders of FTX. Not one Bahamian was responsible for, as Mr Bankman-Fried said himself, taking $8bn from customers through its Alam eda sister company and not delivering it to FTX. It was Mr Bankman-Fried who said it was his fault. It was him who – despite all that blame and all those failures – condemned regulators and claimed “they make everything worse”.
So we need to recognise that this particular Titanic sank on our shores, thanks to its errant captain – while we pick up the pieces of the damage it has caused us.
To that end, what we need to do is be clear in a full accounting of what was promised, what was paid and what was still owed. And we need to assert the authority of our courts where it is appro priate, to make sure those who were left out of pocket can gain at least some measure of restitution, rather than join ing a long line in a US court where they may get next to nothing at all.
FTX’s collapse was astonishing in many ways – but we must be fastidious in noting what it means to us, and mini mising any losses we may incur.
A tribute to Fred Ramsey
EDITOR, The Tribune.
FRED Ramsey, a Pio neer and True Fox Hill Patriot
I have known Fred Ramsey for most of my life. He and his family lived opposite our home on Ber nard Road, Fox Hill. Born on 24th March, 1937, he was raised by his Grand Aunt, Anna Bonamy, and a cousin, Julia Saunders, two strong women who demanded respect and dis cipline from him and his other family members.
Fred attended Sandilands All Age School and in his final year in school was chosen as Head Boy.
I first knew Fred as a plumber when he worked at Standard Plumbing. He would often be called upon to make repairs to kitchen zincs and bathroom fixtures to those homes which had running water. Fred also operated a small business called the Palms which was located in a small wooden building in the front of their property where he sold soft drinks and some others which were not so soft.
Fred Ramsey loved his community of Fox Hill and played a leading role in several civic and commu nity programmes. He was the founder and first Presi dent of the Fox Hill Youth Talent and Development Club. The club staged the Miss Fox Hill pageant in June, 1975 and Ms. Sandy Pearce, a sixteen-year-old student of Aquinas Col lege, became the first Miss Fox Hill in an independent Bahamas.
Fred was a member of the Good Samaritan Lodge, Fox Hill Chapter, and he was also a mason belonging to the Free and Accepted Modern Masons. He invested in young men of the Fox Hill community by sponsoring a basketball team, the Ramsey’s Blazers which played in the BABA and was coached by Harry McKinney.
Fred was always a leader in the Fox Hill Community and moving toward politics was a natural transition for him. Fred joined the FNM in its infancy in 1970 and served as Vice Chairman of the party in 1972.
He takes credit for introducing the FNM to Fox Hill and first ran for the FNM in the Fox Hill Constituency in 1972 against Lionel Davis. He ran for the FNM again in Fox Hill in 1982 and lost to Frank Edgecombe of the PLP by six votes.
He was again the FNM’s candidate in Fox Hill in 1987 but this time was defeated by George Mackey who moved from the St Michael’s Constitu ency apparently to make available a relatively safe seat for the Hon Paul L Adderley.
Fred Ramsey is probably best known for his work in the insurance industry. He joined Abbey International in 1968 as a sales agent. He was very successful and quickly rose to the top of the industry. He served as President of the Life Underwriters of the Baha mas for three terms.
He was elected as Presi dent of the Presidents Club of Bahamian underwrit ers and led delegations of Bahamian underwriters to conferences in Toronto, Canada, and in Bermuda where he addressed the international members of the Presidents Club at the Castle Harbour Hotel.
Fred started his own agency, the Fred S Ramsey General Insurance Agency Ltd, Bahamas, in 1971 which is located on Shirley Street. The Agency pro vided employment for most of his children and also provided insurance cover age for many people who were without necessary insurance coverage. Fred opened a branch of the agency in his building in Ramseys, Exuma.
Fred was a Justice of the Peace and was awarded the MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Her 2009 Birthday Honours list for his contributions to politics and to the life insur ance industry.
But Fred Ramsey is best defined by his work in the church. A lifelong member of Mt Carey Union Baptist
Church in Fox Hill, one of the oldest Baptist churches in the country, there are few positions in the church that Fred did not head. He is a Senior Deacon in the church and has at one time or the other headed the BTU (the Baptist Training Union), served as Super intendent of the Sunday School, and headed the Men’s Fellowship which paid monthly visits to the prison. Fred also served as Treasurer of Mt Carey Union Baptist Church for some 25 years.
Fred was a member of the Old Folks Commit tee which held a party for senior citizens every Christ mas Day. He built the first house in the Eastwood Subdivision, formed the Eastwood Association and served as its President for 30 years.
Freddie, as I call him, was a devoted husband, father and family man. He mar ried Florence Dames of Fox Hill in 1957 and the couple raised five children, Mari lynn, Fredericka, Juliann, Barry and Sonia. They also have numerous grand and great grandchildren.
Florence or “Flow” as I referred to her, was a loyal and loving compan ion to Freddie. Flow was a Librarian by profession and served as the first Librarian when the Fox Hill Public Library was opened in 1969. Fred paid for the fur nishings and the first set of books for the library.
Florence was kind, friendly, and generous and assisted many Fox Hill stu dents in their research and homework. She was a gem. Sadly, Florence died on 18th September, 2020.
Fred Ramsey is a true patriot and he loves the Bahamas and his treasured Fox Hill. The only thing he loves more is his God and his church. Fred Ramsey has been through much and has endured much. Yet he still holds his head high knowing that he has tried his best to fulfil Jesus’s commandment that “ye love one another as I loved you.”
MAURICE TYNES Nassau,November 21, 2022.
‘Be careful’ urge police after new road deaths
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings@tribunemedia.netPOLICE are warning people to be careful on the streets after two more traffic deaths occurred on Sunday — one in Eleuthera and another in New Provi dence that left a man and a woman dead.
These incidents come after two other traffic fatali ties in North Andros and Acklins occurred earlier in the weekend.
Around 7.30pm on Sunday, a 62-year-old male West Street pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on Carmichael Road. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Around 9.28pm on Sunday in Gregory Town, Eleuthera, a silver coloured Nissan Note, occupied by a man and a woman, crashed into a casuarina tree.
The male driver was air lifted to New Providence and is listed in serious con dition. However, the female passenger died from her injuries at the scene.
Following these traf fic fatalities over a 48-hour period, Chief
Superintendent David Lockhart of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Traf fic Division said the number of traffic fatalities in the country is of major concern.
He revealed that the investigations into these four incidents are ongo ing, noting that police are unable to say the exact cause of the fatalities.
CSP Lockhart made these remarks during a press briefing yesterday at the Traffic Police Station.
He noted that 46 people had died in traffic accidents thus far, which he revealed to be on par with the traffic fatality count of last year.
He said the contributing factor for traffic fatali ties this year is the result of “careless” pedestrians, speeding drivers or drivers not paying attention when on the road.
“We are asking members of the public to please drive with due care and atten tion, adhere to all the traffic rules and regulations and stay within the speed limit,” he said.
“Pedestrians we are asking you if you have to cross the road, please find an appropriate place that
you can cross or to please ensure that you look left, that you look right and look left again before crossing. Also, ensure that you are wearing reflective clothes that you can be visible to drivers.”
He continued: “You know one life lost is one life too many and I think at this juncture we would like to see that we continue the rest of the year without another fatality, whether that is going to happen we don’t know.”
He also noted that the highest speed limit within the country is 45mph.
Acknowledging the upcoming Christmas season, CSP Lockhart urged motorists to take the necessary precautions to avoid accidents on busy streets.
He said: “Drivers tend to be on the road more now that we are getting into the holidays. So, if you have to drive on the road, please drive with due care and attention. Leave in sufficient time so that you could get to work on time. If you have to go shopping, please ensure that you take all precautions if you have to use the road.”
FREEPORT MAN ACCUSED IN HOUSEBREAKING CASE
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.netA FREEPORT man was charged in the Free port Magistrate’s Court on Monday with housebreak ing and stealing.
Chad Rolle appeared before Magistrate LaQuay Laing in Court #3 where he was charged with house breaking, one count of stealing, and two counts of stealing from a dwelling house.
He pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced to four years in prison on the housebreaking charges, and three years for stealing from a dwelling house.
Rolle was also charged with additional offences before Magis trate Simone Brown in Court Four, including bur glary, conspiracy to commit burglary, stealing from a
dwelling house, and con spiracy to steal from a dwelling house.
He was not required to enter a plea on the charge of burglary and was remanded to March 9, 2023.
Rolle pleaded guilty to stealing from a dwelling house and was sentenced to three years at the Bahamas Department of Corrections.
All sentences are to run concurrently.
In other court news, Freeport resident Tarano Deveaux appeared before Magistrate LaQuay Laing. He was charged with five counts of housebreaking, four counts of stealing from a dwelling house, and two counts of stealing.
Deveaux pleaded not guilty. He was granted $20,000 bail, with six sure tors. He was ordered to sign in at the Central Police Sta tion on Mondays between
6am and 6pm and also ordered to be fitted with a monitoring device.
The case was adjourned to March 14, 2023.
Freeport resident Ray Hudson appeared before Senior Magistrate Charl ton Smith in Court Two on a charge of causing harm.
He pleaded guilty and was fined $400, or one month in prison at the Bahamas Department of Corrections.
A 17-year-old Freeport youth appeared before Magistrate Simone Brown. He was charged with three counts of violation of his condition of bail by fail ing to charge the electronic monitoring device, and one count of violation of bail curfew.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted $6,000 bail with one or two suretors. The case was adjourned to February 14, 2023.
MURDER SUSPECT’S BAIL DENIED
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.netA MAN accused of murder had his bail request denied yesterday.
Livingston Knowles, 26, represented by attorney Ian Cargill, appeared from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services before Senior Justice Ber nard Turner. There he received a decision on his bail application for a charge of murder.
Knowles is accused of causing the death of Lyn hurst Johnson on April 7. It is alleged that around 2pm on the day in ques tion Knowles approached Johnson on a porch at
Ragged Island Street and fired several shots in his direction.
Police said after the sus pect escaped, they pursued him in the area as he led them on a high-speed chase onto Wulff Road.
The chase ended on Andros Avenue where the suspect was arrested after running into a residence. Officers also collected a firearm, it was reported.
After reviewing his bail application, Justice Turner officially denied his request. Knowles will remain on remand until his next court appearance.
Another man, Prescott Knowles, stood before Justice Cheryl
Grant-Thompson for a bail decision on a charge of attempted murder.
The court approved Knowles’ bail application granting it to him at $9,900 with one or two sureties. Under the conditions of his bail the accused is to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device and is expected to sign in at Central Station in Grand Bahama every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 6pm.
Knowles was further instructed not to interfere with witnesses in the matter and to attend court before Magistrate Kendra Kelly on November 28 for ser vice of his voluntary bill of indictment.
MAN ACCUSED OF RAPE AND INDECENT ASSAULT
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.netA MAN was charged in a Magistrate’s Court yester day with rape and 15 counts of indecent assault against a woman.
Richardson Bien-Aime, 31, faced Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain
accused of having non-con sensual sex with a 26-year-old woman in New Providence on November 12.
It is further alleged that between April 1 – August 31 the accused indecently assaulted the same woman on 15 separate occasions.
Because of the gravity of the offence, Bien-Aime was not required to enter
a plea at this time. He was informed that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court through a Voluntary Bill of Indict ment (VBI).
Bien-Aime was also told that he had the right to apply for bail in the higher court. Service of BienAime’s VBI is scheduled for February 27, 2023.
ABACO MAN ACCUSED IN K COCAINE BUST
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.netAN Abaco man was granted bail in Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connec tion with a $250,000 cocaine drug bust in the Family Island last week.
Watson Emile, 44, of Murphy Town, Abaco, stood before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on a
charge of possession of dan gerous drugs with intent to supply.
According to police reports, around 12.20pm on November 17 officers acting with a search warrant found 29.6lb of cocaine in a man’s apartment. The drugs seized in this incident have an estimated street value of $250,000.
It is further alleged that at the time of his arrest,
$7,000 in assorted currency was found in his residence.
In court, Emile pleaded not guilty to the charge.
He was granted $15,000 bail with one or two sureties. Under the condi tions of his bail, Emile is expected to sign in at the Marsh Harbour Police Sta tion every Wednesday and Friday by 6pm.
His trial is set for January 19, 2023.
Davis: FNM ‘crying wolf’ on BPL issue
After Mr Sears had said in The House of Assem bly last Wednesday that the Ministry of Finance rejected several proposals for hedge trades to be exe cuted for Bahamas Power and Light last fall, to avoid a 163 percent increase in the BPL fuel surcharge, Mr Davis maintained yesterday that he had no knowledge of the proposals.
“I had no knowledge of it. He (Mr Sears) said the Ministry of Finance had knowledge of it. That’s a big ministry. That was not me,” Mr Davis said.
“I saw no documents about that. But this
weekend I was provided with information concern ing that, I am now assessing to determine all the mis statements about what
actually went on. What I do know is that the financial secretary had some views about it proceeding and I think those were the views
that were adopted,” he said. He added that the FNM’s calls for Mr Sears’ resig nation is, “the wolf crying again”.
On Friday, Mr Pintard said, “The Minister of Works and the Prime Min ister on their feet in the House of Assembly denied that they got any brief ing notes, they were not advised of any recommen dations that could have saved the Bahamian people what we now believe to be over $100 million that we are on the hook for.
“The Minister of Works was even more egregious, his transgression wasn’t just by judgement and not accepting solid recommen dations. His transgression
was seeking to cover up the bad judgement that he and his colleagues, and certainly the Minister of Finance, has the greatest responsibility,” he said.
“The bottom line is he made the point that the prime minister and he were fully aware. I don’t believe there’s any other recourse for that minister, but to resign, it is the appropriate thing to do,” Mr Pintard said.
On November 16, Mr Pintard accused Mr Sears of “misleading Parliament” after he admitted that the Davis administration rejected proposals and rec ommendations “that had the potential to save the Bahamian people $100m”.
Mr Pintard told Tribune
Business at the time that he and other Opposition MPs were left “stunned” after Mr Sears said that the Ministry of Finance had dis missed recommendations to continue the trades, calling BPL’s fuel hedging initiative “not in the interests of the country at that time”.
Mr Sears responded, “The Minister of Finance communicated that based on what was presented, it was not supported. That determination was commu nicated in October 2021. What is the relevance of this new revelation?”
Mr Sears declined to speak further on the matter when approached by reporters at the House of Assembly on November 16.
KEYS HANDED OVER TO PINECREST HOMES
“I am also happy to report that this distribution of keys marks the point where phase one of the Pinecrest development is more than 85 percent complete. This is truly a remarkable feat and represents a remarkable achievement for the gov ernment of The Bahamas,” Mr Davis said.
He added that over 47 percent of the key recipi ents to date are employed in the public service or in quasi-government agencies.
“They include teachers, nurses, public officers, and members of the uniformed branches. It is simply a joy to watch this project grow and revel each time in the shared happiness in these events,” he said.
Transport Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said that although she has granted numerous keys to Bahamians for their first homes, each time fills her with emotion.
“As Minister of Trans port and Housing, I am grateful for our partnership with local contractors and
other developers to make affordable housing a reality for Bahamians,” she said.
New homeowner Dean dra McKinney-Metholall said yesterday after setting a goal of owning her own home within five years, she was becoming weary when she got the news that she was approved for one of the homes in the Pinecrest subdivision.
At yesterday’s key pres entation for her family’s new home, Mrs McKin ney-Metholall asked every person present to take out some keys with her and
shake them in celebration of her new home.
“Take out your keys and you’re going to shake with me, because we know that keys represent liberation, freedom, keys represent access, keys represent own ership, keys represent security, keys represent opportunity, keys repre sent the ability to unlock, open and to secure. Today (Monday), we receive the keys,” Mrs McKinneyMetholall said.
Today marks the third key presentation to new homeowners of Pinecrest
since the start of the pro ject in January of this year.
In May, the govern ment officially opened the Pinecrest subdivision and handed keys to three Baha mians for their new homes.
In September, Mr Davis presented six keys to new homes in the area to gov ernment and essential workers.
Last month, Mrs ColebyDavis announced her ministry’s latest project – a rent-to-own housing initia tive called “A Place to Call Home.”
The housing programme officially opened this month and will provide some 50 homes across The Bahamas in its pilot phase.
“A Place to Call Home” is a multi-island, sustain able, financially viable housing solution adminis tered by the Department of Housing for working individuals,employedandselfemployed Bahamians,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said last month.
Those wishing to apply for housing should visit www.mothbahamas.com for more information.
PM HOPES CLIMATE FUND WILL BENEFIT BAHAMAS
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.netPRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says he hopes The Bahamas can benefit from the establish ment of a loss and damage fund to aid vulnerable nations most at risk of the impacts of climate change.
The fund was announced on Sunday as one of the greatest accomplishments to come from this year’s COP27, held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from November 6 to 18.
The Bahamas sent a del egation of about 70 people to attend this year’s United Nations COP27.
“(It’s) great news to me because as you know that was one of the reasons
why I went to ensure that we first of all got loss and damage on the agenda,” Mr Davis said yesterday. “We were able to succeed in get ting that on the agenda.
“They did it and excluded liability. Fortunately, we were able to add liability to the discussion and look where we are now.”
Asked whether The Bahamas would benefit from the fund, Mr Davis said: “I hope to. We hope to.”
While the fund is consid ered a marked success, a local environmental activist was yesterday of the view that The Bahamas has not done enough to shore up its future in the face of immi nent impacts from global warming.
also adamant that repre sentatives needed to avoid describing The Bahamas as a country with low carbon emissions.
“We keep talking about the fact that we are not a large carbon emitter,” Ms Dumcombe said in an inter view yesterday.
“Russia has a population of 145 plus million people. Their CO2 emissions per capita are 11.44 tons. The Bahamas, according to this same (web) site, has 378,000 people and we’ve produced 11.65 tons per capita. So, we are a huge emitter. Our population may be small which makes emis sions smaller in the overall scheme of things, but we’re a huge polluter.
“For us to continue to allow the kinds of
development, allow the most polluting tourism products on planet earth, we have embraced them wholeheartedly. They pol lute, you know, millions of tons of CO2 and other emissions every year and for us to keep going around saying that we’re not a big emitter is not true.
“We’re a huge emitter and we need to do a better job at home in terms of the kinds of developments we allow. We should be going after developers that are more conscious about developing sensitively, maybe developing proper ties that are defunct instead of going after virgin terri tory and demolishing that ecosystem. We should be funnelling them to defunct properties and letting them
fix them up as opposed to going to new places.
“The wetland destruc tion, the coral destruction, the constant dredging, the canals, the golf courses, we are our own biggest enemy and so in my mind it’s a totally inaccurate statement to say that we’re not a big polluter because we are a huge polluter.”
She also said: “So this while going around crying about how we need help for climate change, what is the government doing in terms of mitigating any kind of climate impact?”
Ms Duncombe said solar penetration in the coun try was “next to nothing”, adding: “When you think about that you have to think about who’s bringing in the oil and it’s cloudy on
both sides of the political fence, because no one has the will to do anything.”
She was also critical of the large Bahamas delega tion that attended COP27.
“As far as all them people flying all over the place I thought COVID taught us that we could do meetings by Zoom.
“The United Nations needs to be slapped and sterilised, for God’s sake. They’re the ones who are telling people reduce your consumption of fossil fuels, reduce your consumption of meat and yet you’re having an in person meeting half way around the world, you know the amount of carbon that is emitted by all of those people flying over there, to me it’s just ludi crous,” Ms Duncombe said.
BAR SHOOTING SUSPECT FACES CHARGES OF HATE CRIMES
THE man suspected of opening fire at a gay night club in Colorado Springs was being held on murder and hate crime charges yesterday, two days after the attack that killed five people and left 17 others with gunshot wounds.
Online court records showed that 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich faced five murder charges and five charges of com mitting a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury in Saturday night’s attack at Club Q. He remained hos pitalised with unspecified injuries, police said.
The charges were prelim inary, and prosecutors had not filed them in court. The hate crime charges would require proving the gunman was motivated by bias, such as against the victims’ actual or perceived sexual orienta tion or gender identity.
The attack was halted when a patron grabbed a handgun from Aldrich, hit him with it and pinned him down until police arrived.
A man who said he helped subdue the gunman told The Associated Press that he was at the club with his family when the attack happened.
Richard Fierro injured his hands, knees and ankle while stopping the shooter, according to a Facebook post Monday by the brew ery that Fierro operates with his wife. Fierro’s daughter hurt her knee as she ran for cover, and her boyfriend was killed, the post said.
“I’m OK. There are others who aren’t,” Fierro said.
Court documents laying out what led to Aldrich’s arrest have been sealed at the request of prosecutors, who said releasing details could jeopardise the inves tigation. Information on whether Aldrich had a lawyer was not immediately available.
FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON
NASA’s Orion capsule reached the moon yester day, whipping around the far side and buzzing the lunar surface on its way to a record-breaking orbit with test dummies sitting in for astronauts.
It’s the first time a capsule has visited the moon since NASA’s Apollo program 50 years ago, and represents a huge milestone in the $4.1 billion test flight that began last Wednesday.
The close approach of 81 miles occurred as the crew capsule and its three wiredup dummies were on the far side of the moon. Because of a half-hour commu nication blackout, flight controllers in Houston did not know if the critical engine firing went well until the capsule emerged from behind the moon.
Dominic Republic rejects Haitian deportation criticism
THE Dominican Repub lic said it “profusely rejects” criticism of its crackdown on Haitian migrants from a growing number of coun tries and human rights agencies.
Dominican authorities have ramped up border enforcement and deporta tions of Haitians, saying such actions are crucial to national security amid intensifying turmoil in the neighboring country due to a gang blockade of fuel sup plies and a cholera outbreak.
Authorities say they deported 43,900 migrants, largely Haitians, between July and October. In Sep tember and October alone, deportation figures shot up by about 50 percent.
The government’s actions have sparked heavy criticism
in recent weeks from Haiti, the UN human rights chief and the United States.
On Saturday, the US Embassy in the capital of Santo Domingo sent out a warning saying Dominican migration authorities “have carried out widespread operations” to detain largely Haitian migrants who they believe are in the country illegally.
“There are reports that detainees are held in over crowded detention centres, without the ability to chal lenge their detention and without access to food or toilets, sometimes for days, before being released or deported to Haiti,” the Embassy wrote.
The Embassy also warned the government’s actions could pose a problem for
darker-skinned Americans and African Americans traveling in the Dominican Republic.
Unlike the UN and Haiti, however, the US did not explicitly call for the country to halt depor tations. President Joe Biden’s administration has defended its own practice of deporting and expelling Haitian migrants arriving at its southern border, despite heavy criticism from human rights organisations.
The Dominican Ministry of Foreign Relations lashed back at the criticism on Sunday, saying the Ameri can government had “no evidence” of any sort of systematic human rights vio lations. It also decried what it said was a lack of interna tional support to handle the
migration from Haiti.
“The Dominican gov ernment never could have imagined there would be such a harsh insinuation made about our country,” the ministry wrote, “much less from an ally that has been subject to accusations of xenophobic and racist treatment of migrants, including in parts of its own population.”
Tensions fueled by migra tion have simmered for years between Haiti and the Dominican Repub lic, which share a 240-mile border on the island of His paniola. But they have only deepened since the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, which thrust an already crisis-stricken Haiti into chaos.
Since then, deporta tions from the Dominican Republic have ramped up and the country’s gov ernment has increasingly militarised its border, even beginning construction of a border wall.
Last week, President Luis Abinader called the UN human rights chief’s recent demand for the end of the deportations “unacceptable and irresponsible”. He said his country “has been more affected” by Haiti’s prob lems and steady migration and “more supportive than any other country in the world”.
“You can’t ask anything more from the Dominican Republic... We’re going to continue the deportations and next week we’re going to increase them,” he said.
‘Godfather of the Flats’ committed to protecting our natural resources
LONG before climate change, conservation and sustainability became the popular catch phrases that they are today, Prescott Smith was out in the world sounding a clarion call to protect natural resources. A native of Andros, The Baha mas, Prescott grew up in the place known for many natu ral wonders. As he roamed the flats and the pine forests, he fell in love with its beauty and learned the value of its existence. He continues to live there to this day, but his campaign for conservation extends from his homeland to the world. This month, Prescott’s decades of activ ism was recognised by the Caribbean and Gulf Fisher ies Institute. He became the first Bahamian to receive the Gladding Memorial Award, which is only given to “fish ers who have displayed an enduring vision for the sustainable and wise utiliza tion of the world’s marine resources over the years”. For Prescott, his passion for Andros unfolded into an entire career in fly fishing. But, he couldn’t just consider it a lucrative enterprise for himself. He wanted to make sure that the pristine natu ral beauty of Andros - and The Bahamas - would be kept intact for generations to come.
Andros is considered by many as the bonefishing capi tal of the world. Fly fishers from all over the globe flock to Andros for a hearty sport of catch and release; hunting bonefish, tarpon, permit and other species - all abundant in The Bahamas. These fish dwell in some of the most extensive mangrove forests and estuaries in the world. It is also home to the third larg est barrier reef in the world, which sits alongside the tongue of the Atlantic Ocean (a 6,000-foot drop), just off the eastern shore. Andros consists of North and Central Andros, Mangrove Cay and South Andros, and as such, it is an archipelago within the Bahamian archipelago. Andros also houses some 178 inland blue holes. It is the fifth largest island in the Caribbean. With sandy flats bordering the shore, Andros can be clearly seen from space and as such, astronauts have fallen in love with it, and consider it a symbol of the beauty of planet Earth.
With all that going for it, no wonder that Prescott continues to rave about his homeland to just about anyone willing to listen. He has met and guided bil lionaires and millionaires, celebrities and everyday people in his extensive career, which spans nearly 40 years.
His love for fly fishing led him into conservation and activism. Today, he has inherited the title “godfa ther of the flats” after his father, the original world renowned bonefish angler, Charlie Smith. He serves as the president of the Bahamas Flyfishing Industry Asso ciation, which has a vision to partner with government, the travel trade, local com munities and other relevant stakeholders to position the Islands of The Bahamas as the global leader in sustain able shallow water fly fishing. He recalls a moment that helped to shape his vision even wider than his coun try: “I remember one time I was fishing on the flats with a female astronaut. She said to me, ‘Prescott, the United States Government is aware
that you have the most extensive mangrove nursery system in the entire western world’. But what I recognized is that while we are the care takers of that, it belongs to us all.”
His sentiments were echoed by the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources (MENR), Vaughn P Miller, who travelled to Destin, Florida along with an entourage from MENR to witness Prescott receiving the award.
Minister Miller called him a “profound fisher, advocate, and influen tial conservationist”. He said Prescott has “always been passionate about the development of a grassroot conservation model” and he is an “advocate for policies and legislation that promote Bahamian ownership and participation”.
In addition to his lead ership of the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Asso ciation (BFFIA), he is also president of the Bahamas Sportfishing Conservation Association (BSCA), and one of the founding mem bers of the Bahamas Natural Resources Founda tion (BNRF).
Most recently, through the BNRF, Prescott has been agitating to protect Andros from mining operations. The BNRF says that mining in Andros will explore 80 feet into the ground, when the freshwater lens extends to about 40ft. The freshwater lens is an important source of potable water. This is just one of many environmental cam paigns he has brought to the fore over the years.
“You have to think about who is controlling the ports, who is controlling the food distribution, and who is controlling the mineral resources,” Prescott said in an interview with Georgia, USA Commissioner Bruce Holmes on his talk show “The Black Voice”.
“This kind of informa tion is not very much on the surface and it’s not easily available. As I kept digging deeper, I had to do global research on resources to see that the model is not just unique to The Bahamas. So even though you have a majority black government, you have to look at who is funding these elections. You have billions of dollars in limestone for example, and that is just one resource that is exported out of the country.”
He has taken his advo cacy campaign global, and has appeared on numerous media outlets, including Fly Fishers International maga zine, in which he was lauded for “fighting the good fight” for The Bahamas’ inshore fisheries and marine habi tats. He was also featured on “What’s Up, Africa?” on Tempo TV.
Prescott’s interview in Fields and Stream Maga zine highlighted the mining issue. The magazine reports that Michigan State geolo gist Sophia Huss believes mining in Andros could alter the water table and threaten local fisheries. She is work ing with a group of scientists to put together a policy brief for Bahamian lawmakers. She stated that blasting from mining is intense enough to register on the Richter scale, and would change the way that water moves through a very sensitive ecosystem.
The article also notes that the Environmental Defense
NOTICE
Fund values Andros’ eco system as one that “evolved over millions of years to pro duce fish in briny water” and that an altered salinity in the habitat could lead to “a crash in game fish populations”.
The Bahamas Material Com pany is currently analyzing 53 monitoring wells in North Andros and conducting elec tromagnetic surveys to map out the delicate limestone foundations of Andros. The project has been in develop ment for the past 16 years and during that time, the pro posed mining site has been moved twice, as president of the company Cameron Symonette says they remain “deeply committed” to care ful research.
Environment Minister Miller, addressing the Car ibbean and Gulf Fisheries Institute during its Novem ber 7 to 11, 2022 conference, said that fly fishing generates $140 million per annum for The Bahamas, according to an economic survey executed
a few years ago.
“There is a belief that the country’s fly fishing industry has the potential of being A multi-billion-dollar industry in the future, once sustain ably maintained,” Minister Miller said.
“Consequently, our coun try can reap tremendous benefits from exploring this sector, and it has been noted by many that the fly fishing industry in the Bahamas has the potential to become more lucrative, in comparison, than the traditional tour ism sectors such as cruise ships, hotels, sun, sand, and restaurants.”
He added that fly fishing has the potential to gener ate “even as much as $500 million annually, particularly in the Family Islands, where most of these small busi nesses exist as guides and lodges”.
Prescott is not just a veteran angler and conserva tionist. He is also the owner of the Stafford Creek Lodge
in North Andros. He is one of the sons of Charles “Crazy Charles” or “Bonefish Charles” Smith, a pioneer in flats fishing in the coun try, and founder of Charlie’s Haven in Behring Point, Andros. Prescott grew up in Staniard Creek Andros, then moved to New Providence for High School, where he graduated from RM Bailey Senior High.
After graduation, he worked for several years with his father at Charlie’s Haven. Later, he trained and was accepted into the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. He worked there as an engineer for six years, helping to main tain the boat engines for its fleet. Prescott had dreams of leaving Nassau to study to become an airline pilot, but he got side tracked by his brother Andy, who encour aged him to open the Stafford Creek Lodge and keep up the family tradition. This led to his lifetime calling. He now holds a Master’s A Captain’s
The Stafford Creek Lodge has a unique philosophy. Fly fishing guides are treated with the same level of respect and consideration as the guests. For example, guides sit and eat with their clients at the end of the day. If the guests have lobster, then so do the guides. The aspira tion of the lodge is for all involved - staff and guests, to be treated with a high level of respect. Guides are invited to socialize with clients, and all of the amenities at the lodge are available to staff and guides, as well as to their beloved guests. This is a car dinal value, because Prescott aims to destroy the “twotier hierarchy” that exists in many industries.
Stafford Creek Lodge has assisted and facilitated programmes that expose Bahamian youth to the fly fishing environment. The lodge once hosted students from Akhepran International Academy. It also hosted an Island Stewards Camp for kids from Bain and Grants Town in New Providence, led by the Indaba Project. Most recently, Prescott is steer ing the fly fishing course for young Bahamians ages 25 and under, launched by the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI). Since 1994, he has been a master instructor of the National Guides Certifi cation Programme, teaching courses in
casting, the flats environment, and bonefish biology.
McPhee-McCuin and Ole Miss Rebels top Flyers 63-50
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.netIt was a grand home coming for coach Yolett McPheeMcCuin as her University of Mississippi Rebels ran away with their opening game of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship at the Baha Mar resort last night.
Ole Miss didn’t disap point McPhee-McCuin either as the Rebels stayed undefeated in five games this season, sealing an impressive 63-50 win over
the Dayton Flyers, coached by Tamika Williams-Jeter, who remained winless at 0-5.
“We showed a level of toughness throughout adversity,” said McPheeMcCuin as they fought off a stiff challenge from the Flyers in the second half and particularly at the start of the fourth period.
And winning on home soil was just incredible for McPhee-McCuin, who expressed her gratitude for the tremendous support she got from her family and friends, who came in from her hometown of Grand
Bahama, led by her parents Daisy and former national coach Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee.
“For me this means a lot. I got emotional. We’re a proudful people in the Bahamas,” she said. “So for me, this means a lot. I got emotional. I was born and raised in the Bahamas, so for me to come here and be able to play and have my team step up.”
Forward Tyla Singleton came off the bench and poured in 14 points with 13 points in the paint, while Marquesha Davis was the only other player in double
UCLA beats Marquette for Battle 4 Atlantis title
By AARON BEARD AP Basketball WriterPARADISE ISLAND, Baha mas (AP) — UCLA took down an AP Top 25 team with a marquee name, earned a ranking of its own, then finished off a big 24-hour span by hoisting the Battle 4 Atlantis championship trophy.
Freshman Kiki Rice scored 18 points and Gina Conti added 16 to help the 20th-ranked Bruins hold off Marquette 66-58 in overtime in yesterday’s title game, capping a three-day performance that ended with them dancing around on the court and pointing to their fans in the stands at the Atlantis resort.
Much of the attention on the Bruins (6-0) had centred on their No. 1-ranked recruiting class, but it was the veterans who took over down the stretch — tournament most valuable player Charisma Osborne (fourth year), Camryn Brown (fourth year) and Conti (graduate transfer from Wake Forest). “If they don’t show the newbies the way, we’re not going to be consistent enough,” coach Cori Close said. “They’ve been in these moments, they know.”
Osborne had just nine points on 4-for-16 shooting after two big tournament games, but she scored the first basket of overtime on a tough runner to put the Bruins ahead to stay. She also assisted on Brown’s layup for a 62-55 lead late.
Afterward, several of Osborne’s teammates predicted her MVP win by putting their arm around her and pointing at her as the announcement was being made during the postgame trophy presentation.
In all, Osborne, Conti and Brown combined to score eight of UCLA’s last nine baskets starting from late in the third quarter.
“I want to give credit to my teammates and coaches just for continuing to encourage me throughout the whole game,” Osborne said.
Chloe Marotta scored 15 points to lead the Golden Eagles (5-1), and Jordan King had just 10 points before fouling out early in overtime.
“I thought we lost a little bit of momentum,” Marquette coach Megan Duffy said of King’s exit. “Didn’t totally lose it, but just pos sessions changed a little bit ... so we were just a little bit rattled in those first couple of minutes.”
The Bruins and Eagles threw the second-ever Atlantis wom en’s tournament off its projected
DeRozan helps Bulls halt Celtics’ 9-game winning streak
CHICAGO (AP) —
DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points, Zach LaVine added 22 and the Chicago Bulls stopped Boston’s nine-game win streak, beating the Celtics 121107 last night.
Patrick Williams scored a season-high 17, and the Bulls made it look rather easy against the team with the NBA’s best record. They led by 13 at halftime, got it up to 21 in the third quarter and withstood a push to come away with the victory after dropping four straight and five of six.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 28 points.
Jaylen Brown scored 25 and Malcolm Brog don finished with 23 points, shooting 5 of 6 on 3-pointers.
figures with 10 points, five rebounds and two steals.
But Ole Miss had six other players who scored to produce a balanced attack.
Angel Baker connected on nine, Madison Scott had eight, both Myah Taylor and Destiny Salary chipped in with seven and Snudda Collins helped out with six.
For Dayton, Destiny Bohanon was the only player in double figures with 11 points. Anyssa Jones was their next best scorer with nine and seven rebounds, both Nayo Lear
SC, STANFORD TOP WOMEN’S TOP 25, IU, UNC JUMP UP
By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball WriterSOUTH Carolina remained No. 1 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll yesterday after a chaotic week that saw half of the top 10 teams lose at least one game.
The Gamecocks again were the unanimous choice, receiving all 29 votes from a national media panel after edging No. 2 Stanford in an overtime thriller Sunday.
South Carolina has now won 16 consecutive games against ranked teams dating to a 2021 loss in the Final Four to Stanford, which remained second in this week’s poll.
UConn moved up two spots to third after beat ing then-No. 3 Texas and 10th-ranked N.C. State last week.
Ohio State is fourth and Iowa State is fifth.
There have already been eight losses by teams ranked in the first 10 this season, the most before Thanksgiving since 2000 according to ESPN.
Of the eight losses, three have come against unranked teams. Seven top 10 teams lost before Thanksgiving last year.
Huskies coach Geno Auriemma sees losses by the top teams as a good thing for the sport.
“It’s great sign for wom en’s basketball, I think that now you can’t just walk into the gym and you know, roll it out there and go, ‘Yeah,
Garoppolo throws for 4 TDs, 49ers top Cards in Mexico City
points on the night Zion Williamson returned from a three-game absence, and New Orleans routed depleted Golden State.
Playing one night after winning on the road for the first time this season at Houston, the Warriors scratched Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Dray mond Green and Andrew Wiggins from the lineup.
Williamson played 23 minutes in his first game back from a bruised right foot, scoring nine points.
By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports WriterMEXICO CITY (AP)
PELICANS 128, WARRIORS 83 NEW ORLEANS
(AP) — Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 34
Devonte Graham had 19 for the Pelicans, who took the lead for good less than two minutes into the game and led by as many as 45. Jonas Valanciu nas had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
It was the fifth regularseason NFL game played in Mexico City and first since 2019. Technically a Cardi nals home game, the festive, raucous announced crowd of 78,427 fans at Estadio Azteca heavily favoured the 49ers, roaring particu larly loud when Kittle and Deebo Samuel each scored on 39-yard touchdowns.
San Francisco (6-4) has won five of its last seven
and is tied with the Sea hawks at the top of the NFC West. Garoppolo had another efficient perfor mance, completing 20 of 29 passes for 228 yards.
It was a tight game through much of the first half, but the 49ers pulled away in the second half, jumping ahead 24-10 early in the third quarter on a nifty end-around play. Samuel took the pitch and sprinted 39 yards, weav ing through the Cardinals defence on his way to the end zone.
It capped a powerful eight-play San Francisco drive that included seven run plays. Aiyuk’s second touchdown catch of the night — this one from 14 yards out — put the 49ers up 31-10 later in the third.
The Cardinals (4-7) played their second straight game without Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray, who has been battling a sore hamstring. Backup
Saka, Rashford help England rout Iran 6-2 at World Cup
By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer WriterDOHA, Qatar (AP)
— When Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford last walked off the field at a major international soccer tournament, they were bombarded with racist abuse.
Three goals for Eng land in the team’s opening match at this year’s World Cup was their immediate riposte.
Saka scored two before giving way to Rashford, who added another in the second half of England’s 6-2 rout of Iran yesterday.
The jubilant scene at the Khalifa International Sta dium was in contrast to the tears shed following Eng land’s penalty shootout loss to Italy in last year’s Euro pean Championship final. Saka and Rashford both failed to convert from the spot and were targeted on social media.
“It is a moment that has been with me and will be with me forever,” said Saka, who was only 19 during Euro 2020. “But I am so blessed and so grate ful to have the coaching staff, not only here with the team at England, but also at Arsenal.
“My friends and my family put their arm around me along with my teammates and the nation supported me to help me get back to a good place. I feel that love from every one around me.”
The win also provides encouragement for coach Gareth Southgate, who has faced the most trou bled period of his England tenure over the last year. In a difficult buildup to the tournament in Qatar, he was booed after a 4-0 loss to Hungary in June and was humiliated by his own fans when they chanted, “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
Hundreds of fans missed the start of yesterday’s match because of an issue with digital tickets. When they eventually made their way to their seats, they wit nessed an utterly dominant display from England.
Jude Bellingham’s first international goal opened the scoring in the 35th minute.
Saka then got his first of the match in the 43rd and Raheem Sterling added another in first-half stop page time. Saka scored his second shortly after the hour, but Mehdi Taremi pulled one back for Iran in the 65th minute.
Rashford struck six minutes later to extend England’s lead to 5-1, and Jack Grealish also stepped off the bench to score a sixth in the 90th. Taremi added another for Iran from the penalty spot deep in stoppage time after John Stones was penalised for holding Morteza Pourali ganji’s shirt in the box.
The game was delayed for several minutes in the first half when Iran goal keeper Ali Beiranvand clashed heads with a team mate. He was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher with the score still 0-0.
His replacement, Hos sein Hosseini, was left with the unenviable task of facing England’s potent attack.
The match had a total of 29 minutes of stoppage time, 15 minutes in the first half and 14 in the second.
After the match, Iran coach Carlos Queiroz pleaded with fans to sup port the team following apparent boos during the national anthem amid protests in the nation for women’s rights.
“All the Iranians in the stadium are welcome, and feel free to criticise,” he said. “Those who come to disturb the team with
the time of the last World Cup in 2018.
Now the Borussia Dort mund midfielder is one of the most coveted players in the Europe and is expected to spark a major transfer battle at the end of the season.
Yesterday’s performance is likely to see his reputa tion grow even more.
KANE’S OK Southgate said Harry Kane was not injured despite concerns when he went down under a chal lenge in the second half and was later substituted.
BALE SALVAGES 1-1 DRAW FOR WALES AGAINST UNITED STATES
By RONALD BLUM AP Sports WriterAL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Gareth Bale con verted a penalty kick in the 82nd minute to offset Tim Weah’s first-half goal and give Wales a 1-1 draw yes terday in the return to the World Cup for both nations.
Weah, a son of former FIFA Player of the Year and current Liberian Presi dent George Weah, scored after a pass from Christian Pulisic in the 36th minute.
Back in the World Cup after missing the 2018 tournament, the United States appeared headed to victory. But Walker Zim merman plowed down Bale from behind with the Welsh star’s back to the goal, and referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim of host Qatar pointed to the penalty spot.
Bale put his kick to the left of goalkeeper Matt Turner’s outstretched arm for his 41st goal in 109 international appearances, salvaging a point for Wales in its first World Cup match since 1958.
Next up for the United States is a high-profile matchup against England on Friday, the same day Wales faces Iran. Eng land opened with a 6-2 rout of the Iranians earlier yesterday.
Tim Weah, just 22, was part of a new-look American team that is the second-youngest in the tournament.
issues
are not only about football opinions are not welcome. They are just simple football boys. They have one dream, to play football. It is not their fault that the World Cup hap pens at the moment.
BRILLIANT BELLINGHAM
Bellingham had not even made his senior debut by
“I think Harry is fine,” the coach said. “It looked a bad tackle, but he carried on and we took him off because we thought it was a moment when we could do that.”
UP NEXT England faces the United States on Friday and Iran takes on Wales.
NETHERLANDS STRIKES LATE TO BEAT SENEGAL 2-0
By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports WriterDOHA, Qatar (AP)
— Louis van Gaal’s gam bles at both ends of the field paid off for the Netherlands.
Up front, Memphis Depay returned from injury as a second-half sub stitute to help spark the attack into life as the Neth erlands scored two late goals to beat Senegal 2-0 Monday at the World Cup.
At the back, Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Nop pert pulled off three key saves to keep the African champions at bay after Van Gaal decided to give him his international debut in a key World Cup game and just two months after he was called into the national squad for the first time.
“His quality is he can stop balls and he did that three times today,” the Netherlands coach said, “and he did it perfectly.”
Cody Gakpo and sub stitute Davy Klaasen provided the late goals to ensure the Dutch team’s winning start at its first World Cup appearance since 2014, when Van Gaal was also coach.
Gakpo rose to glance a header in from a cross by Frenkie de Jong in the 84th minute with the team’s first effort on target.
Klaasen added a second right at the end of eight minutes of stoppage time by slotting in after Sen egal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy only weakly blocked a shot from Depay.
The orange-shirted Dutch fans had been sub dued until the late strikes as Senegal was the more energetic team.
The Senegalese drums and chants were the domi nant sound from the stands for much of the game.
But Senegal’s main problem was predictable: Without injured forward
Sadio Mane, it couldn’t convert any of its chances.
“I think we gave eve rything and I think we deserved at least a point from this game,” Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said. “But, of course, Sadio being missing is a problem for us.”
Depay, who has only just recovered from a ham string injury, was put on by Van Gaal with about 30 minutes to go after the veteran coach said the day before that he wasn’t sure if the Barcelona forward was ready for action.
He decided to see if he was and Depay responded by playing parts in both goals.
First, he linked up with De Jong near the edge of the area before the mid fielder crossed to Gakpo for the first goal.
Depay’s run and shot deep in injury time led to the second goal for Klaasen — one of four
substitutes in the match. It sealed a Dutch victory and a 16th game unbeaten for the Netherlands since the 71-year-old Van Gaal, the oldest coach at the World Cup, returned from retire ment last year to lead his country for a third time. The substitutions pro vided “the breakthrough,” Van Gaal said.
“Memphis was a big part of that.”
SENEGAL’S TURNAROUND
The long injury time — it stretched out to nearly nine minutes — was partly because of a seriouslooking injury to Senegal central midfielder Cheik hou Kouyate, who left on a stretcher clutching his right leg.
Cisse watched sol emnly as one of his most important midfielders was carried off in the first game since the team lost Mane for the entire World Cup to a right leg injury.
Senegal won the African Cup at the start of the year and was heralded as maybe the best African team to ever come to a World Cup. Without Mane and now with an opening game loss, it’s in a scrap to make it out of the group stage.
UNDER THE RADAR
Few people were talking about the Dutch coming into this World Cup, but their record is highly impressive under Van Gaal and they’re now through what he had identified as their toughest test of the group stage.
“A 2-0 victory against the champions of the Afri can Cup. I can be very very pleased,” Van Gaal said.
UP NEXT The Netherlands can secure a place in the round of 16 if the team beats Ecuador in its next game. Senegal faces a must-win against host Qatar.
“That,” Cisse said, “is like a final now.”
Pulisic, the top American player and one of the few holdovers from the 2017 qualifying failure, burst up the middle of the field in a move that led to the goal. Weah timed his run perfectly as Pulisic passed ahead, breaking in ahead of Neco Williams.
From near the penalty area, Weah used the side of his right foot to poke the ball over the left thigh of sliding goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey for his fourth goal in 26 international appearances.
Weah ran toward the American fans with arms extended and slid on both knees. He was mobbed by teammates, then raised both hands skyward and blew a kiss to the heavens.
George Weah, who never played in a World Cup, planned to be at the game.
Thousands of supporters in the Red Wall filled one end of the lower bowl and sang throughout.
In the 750th international match in United States his tory, the Americans started a record 10 players from European clubs, with only Zimmerman from Major League Soccer.
DeAndre Yedlin, who entered in the 74th minute, was the only American player with previous World Cup experience.
Josh Sargent nearly put the Americans ahead in the 10th minute when he hit the post with a header from Antonee Robinson’s cross.
Ben Davies’ header in the 64th minute was pushed over the crossbar by a leap ing Turner.
DeRozan helps Bulls halt Celtics’ 9-game winning streak
Jordan Poole scored 26 for Golden State, which fell to 1-9 on the road.
BUCKS 119, TRAIL BLAZERS 111
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points and Mil waukee pulled away in the second half to beat Portland.
Antetokounmpo shot 16 of 24 to go with seven rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes. Milwaukee improved to 12-4 overall and 9-1 at home.
Bucks guard Jrue Holi day scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quar ter, and Grayson Allen added 17 points and eight
rebounds. Holiday had the first nine Milwau kee points in the period.
Anfernee Simons paced the Trail Blazers (10-7) with 29 points. Jusuf Nurkic added 16 points and 10 rebounds, but Portland lost its third straight game.
CAVALIERS 114, HAWKS 102
CLEVELAND (AP)
— Donovan Mitchell had 29 points and nine assists, and Darius Garland scored 26 to send Cleveland past Atlanta in their first meeting since the play-in tournament last season.
Trae Young had 25 points and 10 assists, and Onyeka Okongwu had a seasonhigh 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks.
Key offseason acquisition Dejounte Murray scored 11 on 4-of-18 shooting.
Atlanta claimed the final playoff berth in the East with a 107-101 win at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 15, extending Cleveland’s post season drought to four years. The Cavaliers have not made the playoffs with out LeBron James since 1998.
Garland also had nine assists and tied his career high with eight turnovers. Cedi Osman scored a sea son-best 23 off the bench as Cleveland won its third in a row following a five-game losing streak.
The Cavaliers are 7-1 at home.
PACERS 123, MAGIC 102
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)
— Bennedict Mathurin scored 22 points and Indi ana blew out Orlando for its fifth consecutive victory. Tyrese Haliburton had 18 points and 14 assists for the Pacers.
T.J. McConnell added 19 points and 10 assists. Oshae Brissett scored 18 as Indi ana’s bench accounted for 71 points.
Franz Wagner led the Magic with 20 points and Gary Harris had 18.
TIMBERWOLVES 105, HEAT 101
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and Anthony Edwards scored 10 of his
22 in the third quarter as Minnesota outlasted short handed Miami.
Down to eight players due to injuries and rest on the second night of a backto-back, the Heat led by 15 in the first half before Edwards sparked a thirdquarter run.
Jaden McDaniels added 18 points for the Timber wolves, who won their fourth straight.
Kyle Lowry led the Heat with 21 points and Max Strus had 19.
Bam Adebayo, play ing in back-to-back games while dealing with a knee injury, had 17 points and 14 rebounds for Miami, which has lost four consecutive games.
KNICKS 129, THUNDER 119
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jalen Brunson had a season-high 34 points while RJ Barrett and Julius Randle scored 25 each to lead New York over Okla homa City.
Just eight days ago, the Thunder beat the Knicks in Madison Square Garden, scoring 145 points — including 79 in the opening half.
But this time, New York held Oklahoma City’s offense in check for the bulk of the game.
Randle also pulled down 11 rebounds. Shai GilgeousAlexander led the Thunder with 30 points and Lu Dort added 24.
that
The moral is: Let the kids play the game. They want to represent the coun try, represent the people.”ENGLAND’s Marcus Rashford celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s fifth goal during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and Iran. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) ENGLAND’s Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup group B soccer match against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, yesterday.
‘Jay Shred’ Johnson brings another title back home
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.netAFTER taking a year off to further develop his physique, Jason ‘Jay Shred” Johnson returned to the international stage where he participated in a National Physique Com mittee (NPC) over the weekend and returned home with another title.
Competing in the 2022 NCP Atlantic Coast Cham pionships at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Johnson won the Men’s Physique Open Class D divisional title over five other competitors. The event was a Tim Gardner Production.
“I love the event because the NPC side takes care of their athletes,” said Johnson, a professional bodybuilder. “I went there with a very nice physique and I felt the calibre of ath letes competing brought the best out of me.
“As soon as I walked out on stage and the judges saw me, they put me directly in the middle of the lineup of the placement. I think I was the clear winner once
I walked out on stage. So I’m very happy with my performance.”
While this was the 11th show that Johnson has competed in since he turned pro in 2018, this was his first one for the year. His last appearance was last year in Santo Domingo in an IFBB show where he was also the winner of his division.
“I feel really good. I worked on certain body parts and I got to bring a complete package for the show,” Johnson said. “I did about five shows last year, but since then I improved on my size, especially my back and my legs and it showed.
“I think this was the right time for me to come back. My comeback was really good. I got a lot bigger and so I’m really pleased with my physique after taking the year off. I looked very good and I felt very good.”
The 31-year-old Johnson, who co-manages the Gains 4 Life Club with Lorraine LaFleur, said he spent a great deal of time prepar ing for his return to the stage. He said he’s ready to assist anybody else who wants to get involved in the
sport or just to get rid of some excess weight.
He urged persons to con tact him at 432-5165 and ask for “Jay Shred” and he will be willing to assist in any way he can.
In the meantime, John son said he will continue to improve on his physique so that he can be the best professional bodybuilder possible.
FUN RUN/ W T S SATURDAY
THE Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture in part nership with the National Sports Authority invite Bahamians everywhere to participate in the second annual “Let’s Get Physical” Fun Run/Walk.
The event, which is part of the National Sports Month activities, allows ath letes and the general public to engage in a physically challenging but fun-filled experience.
“Let’s Get Physical” will commence at the Thomas A Robinson Sta dium entrance at 6:30am on November 26 and end at the National Stadium. Participants are encouraged to register using our online platform found on our Facebook page (National Sports Authority).
Participants may also visit the NSA office at the Thomas A Robinson Sta dium or the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture reception desk for registra tion forms.
Top finishers in each cat egory will receive prizes and The Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture and the NSA is especially excited about the biggest group, oldest competitor and cul turally creative special category awards.
Athletes, youth organi sations, civic groups, cultural organisations and the general public at large are encouraged to take full advantage of this opportunity.
For further information regarding the event, please visit the National Sports Authority Facebook page.
MORE THAN 60 BOATS EXPECTED IN 5TH BEST OF THE BEST REGATTA
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.netWITHOUT any major regatta to skipper to accu mulate points this year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs has opened the field to include more than 60 boats to par ticipate in the fifth Best of the Best Regatta.
Minister Clay Sweet ing and other stakeholders were on hand yesterday to reveal plans for the signa ture regatta, scheduled for December 1-4 at Montagu Beach. Sweeting noted that it’s the most anticipated event on the sailing calen dar and this will be the best one yet.
“The Best of the Best Regatta displays the best the Bahamas has to offer in the sport of sailing, a tra dition that has been a part of the Bahamian identity for over 80 years,” Sweet ing said. “This is significant because the government is endeavouring to make sail ing the country’s national sport.
“We are hoping to make this official by next year as we celebrate our coun try’s 50th Independence anniversary.
“We expect this event will bring more than 20,000 Bahamians to Montagu foreshore to witness and participate.”
Sweeting said the event will be televised live for all to see throughout the Com monwealth of the Bahamas as the boats in four differ ent classes, including the E class for the first time for sailors under the age of 18, will compete for bragging rights and some hefty cash prizes.
Having boarded a sloop on every regatta he attended this year as the minister, Sweeting said he understands what it takes to get the boats to the finish line, and he thanked all of the sailors and boat owners for partnering with the min istry in getting the sport back to the pre-COVID-19 environment.
He also thanked the regatta committee for pro ducing this year’s event, which will be unique in nature with a variety of activities for the entire family to enjoy each and every day of the regatta.
He further thanked Coca-Cola, BTC, ZNS, Bahamas Evc, BAMSA and the Department of Local Government for serving as the major sponsors.
Barry Wilmott, chairman of the Regatta Desk at the ministry, said the ministry will take the time out first to honour and recognise the sailors during a “sexy and attractive” event on Wednesday, November 30 with the Skippers Recep tion on the Pirate Revenge boat at sea.
Sailing competition will begin on Thursday, Decem ber 1 through Saturday, December 3 with the pre liminaries and Cup races, starting at 8:30am each day. Based on their perfor mances in the Cup races, boats will get the opportu nity to advance to the finals on Sunday.
Entered in the A Class are the Good News, Ed Sky, New Legend, New Courageous, Original Cou rageous, Running Tide and Southern Cross.
Eight B Class boats are entered. They are Ants Nest II, Cobra, Barbarian, Eudeva, Lady Sonia, Lone some Dove, Ole Bay and Susan Chase.
The C Class will comprise of 32 boats, including Sweet Island Gal, Dream Girl, Whitty K, Sassie Sue, Xena, Sacrifice, Miss Rowie, It Ain’t Right, Raging Bull, Slaughter, Lady Eunice, Whisper, Legal Weapon, Chasewr, Unca John, Patton Pride, H20, Cobra Too, Bul Reg, Irene Good night, Fugitive, Golden Girl, Confusion, King & Knights, San Sally, Queen Ex, Barbarian II, Melva B, Ashli B, Revelation 3:19 and Bearley Legal.
E Class will be made up of Empress, So Fine, Miss Agnes, Lady Kayla, Mako, One Bahamas, 2 Broth ers, Lady Zari, Bain Town
Woman, Mama, Papa, Brothers #2, Capt. Peg, Judgement D, COVID-19 and Miss Beila.
Wilmott said in addition to food provided by every settlement in the Bahamas and live entertainment all day on the regatta site, the ministry will be hosting a Family Day on Satur day where there will be a number of events, includ ing a treat with Santa Claus arriving in a sloop sailing boat bearing gifts and treats for the children on the park.
Caribbean Bottling Com pany’s marketing director Jonathan Thronebury revealed that through Coca-Cola, CBC will be launching the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup, an initiative that was originally scheduled for 2020, but had to be postponed because of COVID-19.
In conjunction with the Bahamas’ 50th Inde pendence celebrations, Thronebury said the Baha mas Goombay Punch, considered by Coca-Cola as the official soft drink of the Bahamas, has placed six sailing sloops Tida Wave, New Courageous, Running Tide, New Legend, South ern Cross and San Sally,
as the showpieces on the drinks from 2019.
As for the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup, Thronebury said it’s open to all A class boats with the winner determined by cumulative points totaled from three major regattas - the Best of the Best, the National Family Island and Long Island Regatta.
The winner will be announced upon the com pletion of the Long Island Regatta in June 2023 and will receive $5,000 in cash prize. An $8,000 stipend will be presented to assist the sport for their island’s junior sailing club, and exclusive congratulatory Goombay cans from Sep tember 2023 until January 2024.
Danny Strachan, the commodore of the National Family Island Regatta, said with all of the top sloops sailing, the competition should be very fierce.
“As you know, the boats have been laid up for about two and-a-half years, so everyone is anxious to get back on the water,” Stra chan said. “So, they have been very diligent trying to get their boats ready for the Best of the Best Regatta.
“So, in terms of the competition, you certainly will have the defending National Family Island Regatta champion, the New Legend out of Long Island and the Running Tide out of Long Island. Also, in the B Class, you will have the Lonesome Dove, the
national Family Island Regatta champion and you will have the Whitty K, the last national champion in the C Class. So, you will have all of the champions here to determine who is the Best of the Best.”
Anthiniqueko Gibson, the CEO and owner of the BahamasEvac Services, thanked Sweeting and his ministry for affording them the opportunity to provide the safety services on the water and on the ground during the regatta.
“We look to bring a number of dynamics in terms of aspects to the event that ranging in health care and pre-screening care for all ages,” Gibson pointed out.
“We understand that we will have a category of sailors from youngsters to adults and the general as well, so we are happy to be a part of this event.”
Gibson said they will provide dive rescue medics and a team on hand for the duration of the regatta so they can take care of any medical emergencies in a safe and secure envi ronment and will provide air services wherever it is necessary.
Roy Wallace wins men’s title
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.netROY Wallace out lasted Amol Pendharkar to win the men’s title of the Bahamas Table Tennis Federation’s National Championships at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Saturday.
The tournament was sponsored by The People’s Republic of China as a part of the Chinese Embassy’s 25th year in the Bahamas.
As a part of their cel ebrations, Ambassador Dai Qingli presented BTTF president Geof frey McPhee with a total of 10 complete tables to distribute into the various schools.
After he clinched the men’s title, Wallace said it was all about the “youth” and he just wanted to assist in bringing more awareness to the sport.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a table tennis event in the country, so I’m just glad that the young people have an event like this to participate in,” said Wallace, who won all of three of his matches in the round robin format of the tournament.
As for the competition, Wallace said he knew it would be a tough match against Pendharkar, but he was prepared to put his best foot forward and he prevailed in the end.
Pendharkar was unde feated up to that match and was a bit disappointed that he wasn’t declared the champion, having played more matches. Hasting Johnson finished third.
On the ladies’ side, Yilka Fox was crowned the champion with Liz Darville as the runner-up. Francesca Montorsi was the thirdplace finisher.
In the under-13 junior boys’ division, Ronal Fer nando won the title over Mirko Gervasini. Aidan Meister was third.
“I feel really good about my performance,” said Fer nando, a 12-year-old fifth grader at Queen’s College. “It started out easy, but it got harder during the rest of the day. The competition got harder with more com petitive players.”
The under-13 junior girls’ division was won by Eva Hilton Primary School’s Aiyanna Hernan dez, who has only been playing for a few months. Dariah Adderley came in second and Kelisha Saun ders was third.
“I felt good sbout my performance because I practiced a lot and I worked very hard,” said the 10-year-old sixth grader. “The tournament was good. Some of the competition was hard, but I won it.”
In the under-18 imme diate boys’ division, St Andrew’s graduate Samuel Chan just flew in from Nova Southeastern Uni versity to win the title. Brothers Dillen and Daylin Brown were second and third respectively.
“It was important for me to be here to compete and to win it,” said Chan, a freshman studying business management.
“It was a long day, but I won all of my matches. I’m
just happy I came home to participate in it.”
Chan said he was going to celebrate with a big dinner.
And in the under-18 intermediate girls’ divi sion, Symore Symonette clinched the title over Des tiny Moss.
Ambassador Qingli said it’s important for the Chi nese Embassy to bring more awareness to the sport and what better way to do so than to work with the federation in getting table tennis in the Baha mas and what better way to do it through the schools.
“I’m pleasantly surprised that so many people signed up to participate in it,” she said.
“It was just a tremen dous support for table tennis in the Bahamas. For us in China, table tennis is the national sport in China.
“We have a hundred mil lion people in China and so we feel sports is the best way to deepen our people in friendship. Since I came here today, I played with so many people and now I have developed some friendships that will last for a long time.”
As a gesture to their cel ebrations in the Bahamas, Ambassador Qingli said the Chinese Embassy pre sented 10 tables with all of the equipment, including the net, balls and score boards for the schools.
“We feel it is impor tant for us to place at least one table tennis in every school, including the Family Islands, so we will be working with the Baha mas Tennis Federation further.
“This year, the 10 tables is just the beginning. We want to do more next year to support the Bahamas and we hope that table tennis will be included in the Bahamas Games.”
McPhee said the event was a tremendous suc cess and they were quite pleased with the turnout.
“We had to adjust fairly quickly to accommodate the number of people who came out,” McPhee said.
“We had a lot of people who showed up and we didn’t want to turn anyone away because this event was to get more people involved in the sport.”
McPhee said the next event will take place next year, but with the donation from the Chinese Embassy,
school programme up and running. He said BTTF
TIAFOE, FRITZ
TRY TO GIVE US 1ST DAVIS CUP TITLE SINCE 2007
By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis WriterFRANCES Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz spent 2022 achieving milestones for themselves — and for U.S. men’s tennis — and now they’ll try to take another step this week by earning their country’s first Davis Cup title in 15 years.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had the team to get it done, and I think right now this is one of the better teams we’ve had. Hopefully this group of guys can put it together,” said Tiafoe, who reached the U.S. Open sem ifinals in September.
“I really believe we can go out here and do something special,” the 24-year-old from Maryland said in a tel ephone interview yesterday. “We’re missing Thanksgiv ing and all that — and we’re trying to make it worth it. We’re definitely one of the better teams out there.”
The closing rounds of the Davis Cup Finals are in Malaga, Spain; the quar terfinals begin today with Australia vs. Netherlands.
Croatia vs. Spain is Wednesday, and two of the biggest names in the sport are missing from that encounter: Spain is without 22-time Grand Slam cham pion Rafael Nadal and No. 1-ranked Carlos Alcaraz.
Croatia’s roster, mean while, features the only Grand Slam singles cham pion left in the competition, 2014 U.S. Open winner Marin Cilic. The quarter finals wrap up Thursday, when the U.S. meets Italy, and Canada plays Germany.
The semifinals are Friday and Saturday, and the title will be decided Sunday. Each matchup involves two best-of-three-set matches in singles and one in doubles.
While Italy won’t have either of its top two play ers because they’re hurt — 2021 Wimbledon runnerup Matteo Berrettini has a foot injury, and three-time 2022 Grand Slam quarter finalist Jannik Sinner has a finger injury — U.S. captain Mardy Fish’s roster includes No. 9-ranked Fritz, who is coming off a run to the semifinals at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, and No. 19 Tiafoe, along with doubles specialist Jack Sock and Tommy Paul.
All four were a part of the Team World squad that beat Team Europe for the first time at the Laver Cup in September, with Tiafoe clinching the victory by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“Everybody’s healthy. Everybody’s hungry. And the guys want to win for each other and play for each other and they’re really excited to kind of get going,” Fish said. “This is the best squad we’ve had in a long time.”
No nation has won more Davis Cups than the United States, with 32 (Italy’s lone title came in 1976). The Americans’ most recent triumph arrived in 2007, when Andy Roddick, James Blake and twins Bob and Mike Bryan defeated Russia in the final at Port land, Oregon, back in the days before the event’s format switch made it so teams no longer get to host matches in each round.
Garoppolo throws for 4 TDs, 49ers top Cards in Mexico City
Colt McCoy had a 3-1 record in spot starts over the past two seasons — including a win over the Rams last week — but couldn’t recreate the same magic in Mexico.
McCoy finished 24 of 34 passing for 218 yards and an interception. The 49ers hit him hard multiple times, connecting for three sacks.
The 49ers took a 17-10 lead into the halftime break after Robbie Gould connected on a 39-yard field goal with 43 seconds remaining the second quarter. It capped a backand-forth first half that saw the teams gain almost iden tical amounts of yardage: The 49ers had a 186-185 advantage.
The Cardinals pushed ahead 3-0 midway through the first quarter on Matt Prater’s 40-yard field goal
as both teams dealt with a steady rain that started around kickoff and con tinued through much of the first half. The 49ers responded early in the second when Garoppolo hit Aiyuk over the middle for a 7-yard touchdown, capping a nine-play, 82-yard drive. San Francisco intercepted McCoy on the ensuing drive after a pass bounced off James Conner’s hand and was snatched out of the air by Jimmie Ward.
San Francisco capital ised three plays later when Garoppolo evaded pressure and lofted a pass to Kittle, who juked two Arizona
defenders and then cruised into the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead.
The cavernous Estadio Azteca — which is home to two of Mexico’s top soccer teams — sits at an altitude of about 7,200 feet, which is much higher than both San Francisco and Phoenix. The 49ers opted to train at alti tude this week in Colorado, while the Cardinals decided to stay at their home prac tice facility in Tempe, Arizona. Arizona’s defence looked gassed in the second half, missing several tackles as the game slowly got out of hand.
BACK IN MEXICO
The teams met in Mexico City a little more than 17 years after they played in the first regular-season NFL game played in a country outside the U.S. The Cardi nals beat the 49ers 31-14 on October 3, 2005, in front of 103,467 fans. The stadium’s capacity has been reduced since that time for NFL games.
There have been three other regular-season games played in Mexico before Monday — all at Estadio Azteca. The Raiders beat the Texans 27-20 in 2016, the Patriots beat the Raid ers 33-8 in 2017 and the
Chiefs beat the Chargers 24-17 in 2019.
INJURIES
49ers: DE Arik Armstead (foot/ankle) was listed as inactive.
Cardinals: In addition to Murray, the Cardinals had three other starters listed as inactive, including CB Byron Murphy Jr. (back), OT D.J. Humphries (back) and TE Zach Ertz (knee). Ertz is out for the season. ... WR Rondale Moore (groin) left in the first quar ter and didn’t return.
UP NEXT 49ers Host Saints Sunday. Cardinals travel to face the Chargers Sunday.
course with upsets. First there was Marquette beat ing then-No. 3 Texas in Saturday’s first round, then UCLA followed with a romp against then-No. 11 Tennessee in Sunday’s semifinals.
A year after a 1-vs-2 matchup between South Carolina and Connecti cut for the title, this year’s championship paired two unranked teams at tipoff — though the Bruins entered the new AP Top 25 during the game and played the second half as a ranked team.
THE BIG PICTURE
Marquette: The Golden Eagles were picked to finish sixth in the Big East, but beating Texas and then Gonzaga in the semifi nals brought them close to cracking the AP Top 25.
This tough three-day per formance might push them over the hump next week.
“We came in, we played some really good com petition and we proved ourselves,” Marotta said.
UCLA: The Bruins entered Atlantis with the nation’s top-ranked recruit ing class starting to settle into the college game, along with strong play from Osborne.
But this was a reminder of the value of veterans to guide talented youngsters
GAMECOCKS
FROM PAGE 11
well, we’re a top 10 team in the country, and we can just roll over (you). Just because you’re unranked,’” he said. “I think those days are over.”
Auriemma sees the trend continuing as the season progresses.
“I think if this keeps up, that’s the kind of thing that’s made March Mad ness,” he said.
“The madness that is on the men’s side, right. And we need some of that mad ness on the women’s side. More of it.”
OLE MISS
FROM PAGE 11
and Taisitya Kozlova had eight each. Ole Miss, coming into the arena with the sound of junkanoo music as McPhee-McCuin acknowledged the crowd, opened the game with the first basket to get off on the right foot.
The Rebels, getting a challenge from the Flyers, held on for a slim 17-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter as both teams tightened up on their defence.
After falling behind 21-19 early in the second quar ter, Ole Miss applied the pressure and got a couple of stops to surge back out front 26-21. They went on to hold onto a 30-25 halftime margin.
Although the Flyers came out of the intermis sion with some momentum, it wasn’t enough to derail the Rebels, who maintained no less than a four-point lead, until they gave up the final two points on a fast break layup for a slim 42-40 margin. After watch ing Dayton rally to even the score at 44-44, Ole Miss went on a 14-0 tear to pull ahead 58-44.
Both teams were 5-5 down the stretch, but it didn’t matter as Ole Miss held on for the win.
In the earlier games played, the Missouri Tigers def. Wake Forest Deacons 69-47, University of Utah Utes def. the Alabama Crimson Tides 93-68 and the Virginia Tech Hokies def. Kentucky Wildcats 82-74.
Tigers 69, Deacons 47
The Tigers stayed unde feated in six games, but missed the opportunity to see four players reach double figures for the third time this season.
Forward Hayley Frank canned a game high 20 points with two assists and Katlyn Gilbert added 11 points with five assists and two rebounds. Centre Jayla Kelly had nine points and 10 rebounds and guard Haley Troup ended up with nine points as well.
Wake Forest, who made their first trip outside of the US since 2014,, saw forward
like Rice, the nation’s No. 2-ranked recruit.
BROWN’S BOOST Brown finished with four points but had six rebounds and five steals, including
Indiana jumped six spots to No. 6 while Notre Dame, North Carolina, Iowa and Louisville round out the top 10.
The Longhorns have dropped three consecutive games and fell 16 spots to 19th in one of the biggest falls since the AP Top 25 became a writers’ poll in 1994-95. Tennessee, which is 2-3 for the first time since the 1981-82 season, dropped 12 spots to No. 23.
The Lady Vols lost two games last week, includ ing falling to UCLA in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Bruins vaulted into the poll at No. 19.
one for a runout basket for a 57-53 lead in OT.
“I couldn’t think about if I was tired (going into OT), I was just thinking about my hands being active,” she said.
Like many teams across the country, Texas and Ten nessee welcomed in a few new players from the trans fer portal and it takes for them to adapt.
“You’ve got a lot of teams now that because of the transfer portal, they’re getting really good players. But they’re trying to learn how that new school plays, what the standards are,” said Louisville coach Jeff Walz, who has two transfers of his own. “And it makes it different, in my opinion.”
Kansas State entered the poll at No. 25 after beating then-No. 4 Iowa last week. Oklahoma and Nebraska fell out of the poll.
Utes 93, Crimson Tides 68
Utah had a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures as they went on to score 80 or more points for the fifth time this season.
Guard Gianna Kneep kens led their attack with 21 points, four rebounds and two assists, forward Alissa Pili had 18 points, five rebounds and two assists, forward Jenna Johnson had 17 points, five rebounds and three assists and guard Isabel Palmer added 12 points with a pair of rebounds and assists.
Utah came from a 31-23 deficit at the end of the first quarter and trailed 52-48 at the half. But they used a 27-16 run in the third to post a 75-68 advantage after
three and held on for the win.
Alabama, with their guards leading the way, got a game high 23 points from Brittany Davis with five assists and three rebounds, Aaliyah Nye had 17 points, three assists and both Loyal McQueen and Megan Abrams had 15 points.
Hokies 82, Wildcats 74
No.14 Virginia Tech opened an impressive 29-8 lead at the end of the first quarter and 44-23 at the half. They came out of the locker room and went into a scoring spree with Ken tucky in the second half, but managed to hold on for the win.
Centre Elizabeth Kitley led four players in double figures with a game high 25 points, 13 rebounds, three block shots and two steals.
Guard Ashley Owusu had 16 points, six rebounds and two steals, forward
With today off,
final