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VITAL VACCINES MAY BE UNUSED End of month deadline looms for 20,000 J&J doses public don’t want

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net TWENTY thousand doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will expire by the end of the year, forcing the government “to do all in its power” to encourage uptake of the jab including offering incentives, according to Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville.

While he did not reveal yesterday what these incentives would be, the minister admitted appetite for the

J&J brand waned because more people preferred the Pfizer vaccine.

Dr Darville further revealed there was a possibility of new protocols over the approaching holidays, adding his ministry was also preparing to increase its public education campaign to encourage acceptance of the vaccine.

“We’re doing a lot to increase vaccine intake,” the minister said ahead of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

SEE PAGE FOUR

STATE Minister for Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming has strongly denied allegations that she verbally abused and carried out acts of political victimisation against employees at the social agency, insisting “that’s not who I am”.

Ms Rahming was responding to assertions made by Marco City MP

Michael Pintard over the issue last week.

In a statement, the former Cabinet minister said he was concerned about several disturbing reports he had received from social workers who alleged they were being disrespected and victimised by Ms Rahming.

“Our team is currently in the process of fully investigating the reports raised by the staff at Urban Renewal, SEE PAGE THREE

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

THIEVES RAID AID GROUP’S FOOD STORE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

WITH more people looking to the Feeding Bain and Grants Town Project for assistance as the Christmas holidays approach, the Rev C B Moss said his outreach efforts have suffered a blow as thieves have stolen food and equipment from a storage facility.

Rev Moss said he now faces a $10,000 bill to cover the cost of the damage, stolen items and food that the culprits made off with.

SEE PAGE FOUR

BELLA’S MUM RELEASED BY BAIL ORDER

RAHMING HITS BACK ON ‘VICTIMISATION’ CHARGE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

ALICIA WALLACE: FOR WOMEN, AND NOT AGAINST MEN

NATHALIE Palacios Morffis and Maikel Rodriguez Jiménez, who are seeking asylum.

CUBAN COUPLE SEEKING ASYLUM HELD IN CUSTODY THE government has been ordered to prove it acted lawfully when immigration officials detained

a Cuban couple who sought to seek political asylum in The Bahamas after fleeing their home

country for fear persecution.

of

SEE PAGE SEVEN

FAMILIES’ GRIEF AT DOUBLE MURDER

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE families of the victims of a fatal double shooting in Grand Bahama are devastated and also concerned over the recent proliferation of gun violence in the Eight Mile Rock community.

Police have identified the victims as Akeem Grant, 19, and Ezrin Green Jr, 38, both of Hanna Hill.

THE HEARSE at the scene on Thursday.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn The Tribune understands that two men are now in custody assisting police

with their investigation into the murders.

The incident happened on Thursday, November 25, shortly after 8pm when police received a report of a shooting in Hanna Hill, where a group of men was gambling at the rear of a residence.

According to police reports, a man brandishing a gun approached and discharged the weapon in

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MOTHER who was charged with child cruelty in connection with the death of her four-year-old daughter D’onya Bella Walker was yesterday granted bail by the Supreme Court.

Police said that on November 5, they received information from medical practitioners at Princess Margaret Hospital stating that the child was brought into the facility unresponsive.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

TECHNOLOGY NISSAN INVESTS IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES

- SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, December 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, PAGE 3

‘15 percent VAT was not considered’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday said his administration never considered increasing value added tax to 15 percent and in fact never saw the International Monetary Fund report which said such an increase might be necessary.

The Minnis administration commissioned the report, but, according to Dr Minnis, the IMF presented it in September as officials were preparing for the election.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said when his party assumed office, it saw the analysis from the IMF which noted if the government failed to adjust its VAT structure, VAT would have to be raised to 15 percent.

Mr Davis said based on the report, it was his belief the Minnis administration was intent on raising VAT. Mr Davis was justifying his decision to put VAT back on breadbasket items during debate in the House of Assembly on Monday.

He said: “Now, I know you all remember that the member for Killarney (Dr Minnis) told the Bahamian people that he went to election eight months early because the country faced headwinds and tough decisions. We said at the time that he wanted Bahamians to vote before he raised their taxes, and this major tax increase appears to be what he had in mind.”

Many Free National Movement insiders and former administration officials insist the basis for Dr Minnis’ early election call was polling data that showed him with higher favourability ratings than Mr Davis. Nonetheless, the Killarney MP recently said he called an early election because difficult times were ahead for the country.

“When I spoke about

headwinds,” Dr Minnis told The Tribune yesterday, “taxes were never a part of it. Just to give you some idea of what was a part of it, we know there is gonna be some serious increases in cost of living and we know there are other headwinds coming but taxes were never one. I am not an advocate for increasing taxes and that’s on record repeatedly.”

He added: “The FNM at no time agreed or contemplated increasing any VAT. Infact, during the last budget speech I committed to the Bahamian people that the government would pursue further tax reforms. These reforms were in order both to expand our tax base and to ensure that we create a tax system that is fairer and more equitable. We committed to that. During that time I committed to undertaking a tax study and then publishing the findings in a white paper for public consultation among key stakeholders and all citizens before the government made a decision on the way forward.

“We simply approached the IMF to assist us with the tax study and it’s now my understanding that they produced their preliminary report in early September around the time of the election. I, nor the Cabinet, never saw this report and I challenge this government to produce a white paper for consultation and to be honest, if the PLP had plans on increasing taxes, don’t try to hide behind the FNM. If you want to increase the taxes, tell the Bahamian people. You’ve already increased the taxes on bread basket items and you’ve already decreased taxes on champagne and caviar, so don’t hide behind us.”

The Davis administration plans to decrease VAT to 10 percent from 12 percent however VAT will also be reimposed on bread basket items, which were previously zero-rated under the Minnis administration.

GLENYS Hanna Martin in the House of Assembly.

‘I’LL DO MY BEST AS ACTING PM’

DR Hubert Minnis in Parliament.

Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

SMITH: ‘MARVELLOUS’ IF DAVIS CAN SOLVE LAND ROW

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BUSINESSMAN Toby Smith said it “would be marvellous for Bahamians” if the Davis administration can resolve the Paradise Island land disagreement he has with Royal Caribbean before the matter goes to court in March 2022.

Clint Watson, the press secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, has said Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis believes he has the solution to the matter and will sit with Mr Smith and RCL representatives to discuss it.

“Once an alternative is proposed to me I will give it due consideration,”

Mr Smith said yesterday.

“It’s for me to wait for the Prime Minister to say ‘I’ve done my fact finding, I’ve gotten the chance to review the files, this is my solution that I can see, come in let’s sit down and have a chat.’ Maybe this administration wants to extend my lease to be comparable to RCL by increasing it to 100 years.

Maybe they’ll reduce what they’re charging me because I’m paying more than RCL is. I will wait and see what they have come up with.”

Mr Smith received a letter on January 7, 2020 indicating that land will be leased to his company, Paradise Island Lighthouse and Beach Club Company Limited. The Minnis

administration, however, later agreed to let RCL lease three acres of the land approved for Mr Smith.

The former administration has emphasised the benefits RCL’s project would have for Bahamians.

“I have not sat down with the Prime Minister as yet,” Mr Smith said yesterday. “I empathise with him and the fact that he has a lot on his plate right now and I trust his word and I’ll be happy to sit to the table at the appropriate time.

“The government wants to gather the facts surrounding the position that I am in and once they complete their reconnaissance of gathering the facts then I would imagine that would be the appropriate time for us to sit down and discuss

RAHMING HITS BACK ON ‘VICTIMISATION’ CHARGE from page one

which include expulsion from offices, changed locks and discontinuation of services to the public,” Mr Pintard said.

Responding to the accusations, Ms Rahming insisted the claims were not true and added it was not in her character to use bullying tactics against anyone.

She also explained that she didn’t have the power to relieve any worker of their duties.

“As it relates to when Mr Pintard indicated that I intimated the employees or to some effect that the employees were afraid of me or whatever, that is untrue. That’s not who I am. That never happened,” Ms Rahming said.

“You know most persons will do what they can to get to the next level in their political career and so the intimidation, the lies and the slander, I’m somewhat not surprised at all and so I would like to say as it relates to me terminating employees, I have no power

to terminate anyone. I never did. I never told anybody that they were fired and they have to go. I never did that, but what I can say as it relates to political victimisation and the accusation, it’s untrue.”

The state minister also said since being elected to office, officials decided it would be in the ministry’s best interests to restructure the agency, but suggested some workers may have not been happy with this decision.

“We sat at the table with administration and management,” Ms Rahming said. “We sat collectively.

We spoke and we said what’s going to happen, what processes must be taken in place in order to facilitate the total restructuring of Urban Renewal and so none of this should be a surprise and I would have reiterated even in my speech and in Parliament and on the media, in numerous occasions that we were going to restructure both human capital and financially and so I was shocked when I heard all of

the slander.

“And so, what I would like to say that has nothing to do with political victimisation because in the processes, you would find persons on all political divides are a part of the restructuring whether its favourable or unfavourable, but I can say it’s all in the best interest of the organisation in moving its mandate forward,” Ms Rahming added.

According to Mr Pintard, Social Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe has given assurances that the ministry will reverse the decision to remove people from their work stations and/or place them on vacation leave.

The FNM MP also said Mr Wilchcombe has committed to guarding against arbitrary acts against government employees “that are motivated by naked political consideration.”

Noting that she is committed to treating everyone equally, Ms Rahming said her main focus is serving the Bahamian people, especially the most vulnerable in the community.

the matter. I’m not pressuring the Prime Minister to hurry up and come up with a solution. I think it would be marvellous for Bahamians to witness that this matter can be sorted out with my lease being

honoured prior to appearing in court.”

Mr Smith claimed the Minnis administration never presented an alternative option to him.

“They just stuck it down my throat,” he said.

ACTING Prime Minister Glenys Hanna Martin says she plans to do her best serving as the country’s leader during the next few days. “(It’s) very weighty and very serious even though it’s just for a fleeting moment in time,” Mrs Hanna Martin told reporters when asked how she felt about the role.

“It’s a hefty obligation and I take it very seriously.

“I’ve been sitting in Cabinet now for several terms.

This is my third term. This is an awesome experience. I haven’t had it yet. I’m going to go do it now, but I’m very respectful of where faith has brought me and I’ll do my best.”

Mrs Hanna Martin follows in the footsteps of Dame Janet Bostwick, who was the first woman to serve as acting Prime Minister followed by former Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt.

On Monday, Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis left the country to travel to Barbados to observe the nation’s transition to a republic. Foreign Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell and Seabreeze MP Leslia Miller-Brice accompanied Mr Davis who is expected to return to the country on Friday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper departed Nassau for Zurich, Switzerland on Sunday to attend the GAD World Event Airport Development and Finance Forum. His wife Cecillia accompanied him.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, December 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Vital vaccines may be unused from page one “We are now moving very swiftly to increase the public educational programme and we are definitely going to see in the Christmas season the possibility of new protocols.

“Vaccines we believe are definitely essential for us to be able to fight any particular strain that would come in the country.

“As far as I know, Pfizer is not expiring at the end of the year,” Dr Darville also said.

“We have about 20,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson that the expiration date appears to be at the end of this year simply because when the Pfizer vaccine was introduced the appetite for the Johnson & Johnson declined and we are doing all in our power now to ensure that we do our best to get those jabs in people’s

arms and we’re going to try our best over the next month to do the best we can.”

This comes as the country is on heightened alert for the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Realising the potential severity of the new strain, Dr Darville said officials continue to look into sourcing doses for children aged five to 11.

“The child approved Pfizer vaccines we’re looking into it. Our vaccination committee is on the move.

We’re looking to see whether or not we can get them in the country as soon as possible.

“I cannot give a specific date. As you are aware this vaccine just recently came out but The Bahamas is definitely doing all in our power to acquire the vaccine.”

Despite the challenges, the Ministry of Health

continues to have its sights set on a goal of 200,000 fully vaccinated citizens by year’s end, Dr Darville said.

“We’re pushing very hard right now. My last report that came to me yesterday (Monday was) that there are some 42 percent of the Bahamian population that is fully vaccinated.”

On Sunday, health officials said 146,441 people had been fully vaccinated as of November 27.

“We are going to improve our public relations effort to try to convince Bahamians who have vaccination hesitancy that your best bet to protect yourself, your family and to prevent death and possibly hospitalisation is to be vaccinated and that is our message going out and I encourage the media to join me to push that message.

“With that being said we all know that vaccination in The Bahamas is completely

voluntary but we are encouraging Bahamians everywhere, and I do, to get vaccinated because that is the safety tool at this particular time.”

Regarding booster shots, Dr Darville said immunocompromised people will soon be able to get a third jab.

However, he said there was some push back to the concept.

“We have made it clear that our first step for the third dose would be for the immunocompromised. That is about to be rolled out and we have been following the Centres for Disease Control. We have been following what has been happening in the UK and the United States and other parts of the world where the booster shots are available.

“We are discussing it.

We have some resistance because not everyone is of the same view.

MORE TRAVEL LIMITS CONSIDERED

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville says the government is considering tightening travel restrictions even further as more countries detect the new Omicron variant.

This comes after the Davis administration imposed a travel ban on non-residents who recently visited Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe and South Africa — where the strain was first detected.

Bahamians and legal residents who are returning from having visited these countries will not be denied entry into the country but will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at their own expense.

Yesterday, Dr Darville said there could be further restrictions added in the days ahead since the COVID variant has been recently identified in several other countries, including the US and UK. “We’re following the new variant very closely and you could rest assured that our technical team and our advisors are definitely guiding us in the right direction,” the minister said before going to a Cabinet meeting.

“We’re watching it. Our travel advisory was clear with the restrictions and as we follow the day-to-day issues as it relates to the new variant, we must be mindful that there may be some additional changes as it relates to our borders and some of our protocols.

“This thing is very fluid. We know our tourism sector is now rebounding and we must be mindful of how we implement new regulatory regimes but it is being discussed as we speak.”

While he did not elaborate on what sort of restrictive measures are currently being discussed, Dr Darville admitted there is some concern about the rapid antigen tests potentially not being “adequate enough” to detect the new strain.

Former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands on Monday recommended the government move away from rapid antigen testing and instead require all travellers, including fully vaccinated people, to produce a negative RT-PCR test no later than three days prior to arrival.

Current travel protocols require unvaccinated travellers entering the country to take a RT-PCR COVID test no older than five days and produce a travel health visa.

The requirement is the same for fully vaccinated people, however they have the option to undergo a rapid antigen test instead of the PCR. Dr Darville said officials had already been considering amending the travel requirements in view of the new strain and said a final decision on the matter is expected to be made soon.

“We have been considering it from the first day we learned about the virus and the new mutation. Our borders are one of the most vulnerable areas for the importation of this new strain and so that is being discussed and within a few days, we will make a final decision,” he said.

“Our borders are open. As you look downtown, our tourists are back. There’s a testing modality on all cruise ships.

There is testing that’s presently at our border and we are concerned that the rapid antigen test may not be adequate enough because this variant is very deadly and if it comes into our country, it could mean difficulties for us to be able to function effectively and allow our tourism to keep moving

forward.

“The rapid antigen test is not a diagnostic test. It’s a screening test. The PCR test is the test that is diagnostic and for us, we need to make the decision particularly at our ports of entry at our airports and whether or not we would like the antigen test or the PCR test which is diagnostic in order for us to do a better job as it relates to the new variants that possibly could come to our shores.”

Asked yesterday if the National Reference Lab was planning to send positive samples abroad to determine if the new strain is in the country, Dr Darville said at the moment, there is no evidence to suggest the variant is here.

However, he said officials will remain on high alert to ensure the Bahamian people are protected.

“As it stands right now, we are not convinced that the variant is in the country but with that being said, the National Reference Lab will be put on alert. We will do all in our power to ensure that Bahamians are protected, and we do send samples abroad to be tested to see whether or not the variant is actually in the country, but we do not think so at this particular time.”

The Bahamas joins a growing list of countries that have implemented similar travel bans against South Africa because of the newly discovered Omicron strain.

The move has since been criticised by officials of the World Health Organisation, who called on countries to follow the science to avoid using travel restrictions.

Responding yesterday, Dr Darville said: “For us, as a small country and with us having difficulties in our healthcare system, we must be very vigilant and we must do what’s best for The Bahamas and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

“Some people believe that the vaccine is very precious and the first option should be to the individual who has never been vaccinated, but with that being said and we begin to look at what’s happening around the world we realize that the booster shot is a very important element and The Bahamas is looking at it as we speak.”

Under the previous Minnis administration, a National Vaccine Consultative Committee was appointed to steer the acquisition of vaccines as well as organising a programme to ensure the population was inoculated.

With the new Davis administration rolling out its own plans, Dr Darville confirmed that the committee chaired by Dr Merceline Dahl Regis and Ed Fields is in its final days.

He said: “When I became minister, I had the

opportunity to speak with everyone on the vaccination committee and some people have expressed interest, but they decided to stay on for the transition.

“We really respect that.

We are still in discussion and some people feel that they have made their contribution and we need to look to find other people who’ll step up to the plate to be a part of the vaccination committee.

“With that being said we have a good working relationship. Everyone is prepared to hold on until the transition is complete and we respect that and we thank them for their contributions.”

The Ministry of Health recorded 18 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the confirmed virus toll to 22,791 since the start of the pandemic. Ten new cases were recorded on Sunday.

THIEVES RAID AID GROUP’S FOOD STORE from page one Thieves damaged the door of the August Street surplus storage facility and stole a large horizontal freezer filled with meat, two microwaves, a new ceiling fan and a large quantity of liquid eggs, among other items.

Rev Moss said the thieves also attempted to carry a standing freezer, but because they were unable to fit it through the door, it was left open causing all of the contents inside to spoil.

The Mt Olive Baptist Church pastor, a long-time inner-city community leader, said the break-in has been “traumatic”.

“We are not sure exactly the day (the incident happened) but over the last few days it took place,” Rev Moss, chairman of the Bain and Grants Town Advancement Association, told The Tribune.

“We went there yesterday (Monday). It’s a building that houses some of our surplus food stuff not far from the church and we found the back door smashed in and the Feeding Bain and Grants Town food storage was there.

“They stole a very large horizontal freezer which was filled with meat — chicken, ham and that sort of stuff — and they also stole a commercial microwave and they stole a smaller microwave, more of the domestic nature. A brand-new ceiling fan still in the box and a significant quantity of liquid eggs that we used for our breakfast feeding was also stolen.

“The police are tracking it down, but you know once you don’t catch them red-handed it’s almost impossible. So, we want to alert the public in the event that they see any of these items. We also want to make an appeal for replacement because the freezer and the microwave were donated to us by the Deltec Banking Corporation in October 2020 and we don’t have the money to replace it.

“It’s been a traumatic experience, but we’re going to move on,” he said. Rev Moss said he was unsure of the motive behind the act.

“I don’t know what motive to put

THE REV CB Moss at the storage building broken into by thieves.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff behind that to tell the truth. I know it’s not people who are in need for themselves because if they were they would come and we would give them. I think they see this as an opportunity to sell and make money or something or persons who are substance abusers. You know you can’t predict what they will do.”

Despite the incident, he said it would not be a deterrent to the work the programme intends to do this holiday season.

“We’re not devastated because we realise that it’s a part of the game. People just steal for various reasons. It has put us back, but thank God people have been generous and we are hoping that the public will demonstrate generosity in this case to help us replace the things that were stolen.

“We are increasing the frequency of our food distribution because the holidays are coming up so it does set us back, but we believe that it’s going to be alright because from March of last year when we first launched the Feeding Bain Town Project, we have been able to supply the demands that were placed on us, not only by residents of Bain and Grants Town, but from throughout New Providence.

“So, God will provide. We believe that,” he said.

He said the outreach centre plans to serve lunch today despite the setback.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the South Street Police Station at 356-5723.

DEAL WITH GERMANY SEEKS TO INCREASE TOURIST NUMBERS

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas entered into an agreement with Germany to facilitate direct air travel and the shipment of goods that is expected to increase tourist numbers and foster even better relations with that country.

Acting as the Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Alfred Sears, Minister of Public Works and Utilities, yesterday signed the agreement on behalf of the government while Dr Stefan Keil, Ambassador of The Federal Republic of Germany to The Bahamas, signed on behalf of his country.

The signing set the

ACTING Minister of Tourism and Aviation Alfred Sears and Dr Stefan Keil, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to The Bahamas.

Photo: Tanya Smith-Cartwright/Tribune Staff legal framework for the agreement that has no set timeframe or expiration.

Both Mr Sears and Dr Keil said the agreement will be very beneficial to both countries.

Mr Sears noted the

agreement shows strong commitment to increase tourism from Germany as natives of that country tend to stay longer periods when visiting The Bahamas, and participating in various touristic activities

that include the Family Islands.

Although the occasion was focused on the agreement at hand, Mr Sears did not fail to thank Germany for its role in the fight to curtail climate change.

“Excellency it is my pleasure to present you with the fully executed services agreement reflecting the bilateral cooperation between our countries,” Mr Sears said.

“The Bahamas is one of the most vulnerable in terms of global warming and I want to say that we are grateful for the role that Germany has played in COP 26 and from the Paris Convention and the extraordinary commitment that Germany made leading the Group of 20.

“I think it was about 100 million euros that Germany committed to build resilience and risk reduction in terms of the effects of climate change. For us in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas September, first, second and third (are) etched in the mind of our people.”

He was referring to the devastation Hurricane Dorian left in parts of the country in 2019.

Continuing he said, “The commitment of Germany really resonated with us and we want to say that was an act of solidarity with us. We look forward to continuing to strengthen and build the relationship between our respective countries as we try to achieve more sustainability, as we build and rebuild the infrastructure of our country.”

He said starting in 1974 there has been a rich discourse between The Bahamas and Germany commercial, touristic as well as family because there are many Bahamians living in Germany and as well as Germans living here.

Reflecting on the agreement signed, Mr Sears pointed out how it benefited both countries.

“This relationship has been growing and today represents the culmination in the ease of travel, business and the social interaction between our respective countries,” Mr Sears said. “Of course Bahamian products could more easily be transported to Germany and we consume so many different German products here in The Bahamas from the vehicles, the

pharmaceuticals and other cultural products.

“So we celebrate this day and we celebrate the friendship and the deep fraternal bonds between our respective countries. We look forward to a concrete collaboration in our movement towards renewable energy.

“I am at this ministry that manages the public infrastructure. We are about to acquire a fleet of vehicles, bushwhackers and trucks etcetera to superintend the public infrastructure and it is certainly my wish, Excellency, that those vehicles come from Germany.”

Responding to Mr Sears, Ambassador Keil expressed hope that the agreement brings both countries even closer.

“It is a great moment for our two countries to have signed this agreement and it’s not only a technical agreement, but it’s an agreement that will bring together our people and our two governments closer,” he said.

“It is really a very important step and I would say an important chapter in our relationship. It is a pleasure to sign this air traffic agreement.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, PAGE 5

Gibson claims WSC ‘mass victimisation’

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

THE former executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation has accused the Davis administration of “mass victimisation” of the utility’s staff following the September general election.

Giving his contribution to the debate on the Supplementary Budget, Long Island MP Adrian Gibson asked Minister of Works Alfred Sears, who is directly responsible for WSC, to intervene.

“Today I am asking the member for Fort Charlotte

to intervene at the Water and Sewerage Corporation,” Mr Gibson said.

“Staffers are indicating that they are suffering anxiety attacks, there are petty, blatant and egregious acts of victimisation and gross injustice at WSC. “Mass victimisation. Sixty persons were promoted by a legitimate government before the elections and that list is on hold after the election. Today I am hearing that the chairman is cherry-picking persons on that list for promotions.

“I am told that three staffers joining the chair’s office, with one of them receiving a five-step promotion from non-management

to management.”

Rising to his feet on a point of order, Mr Sears defended decisions regarding the suspended promotions of staff, saying there was no proper process followed in recommending them for a promotion in the first place.

“This point of order is rooted in the rules of the House because there’s been an imputation of improper motive to the chairman,” said Mr Sears who is also the MP for Fort Charlotte.

“I just wish to assure the honourable member and this House that the board of the Water and Sewerage Corporation will be constituted this week. And, that

the reason why the list of persons that you had proposed to be promoted was suspended, was because the representation from the corporation made to me that there had not been any process for the selection of those persons.”

Indicating he did not want to get into a back-andforth over the matter, Mr Sears said he would investigate Mr Gibson’s claims.

“But it is not my intention to throw charges and counter charges,” Mr Sears continued. “I will investigate the representations that are made, but certainly I will just caution the honourable member of Long Island because, like they

SETTING up under way for the Christmas Carnival.

say, there are always two sides to every story.”

Mr Gibson continued to call out the Davis administration for alleged victimisation and new hires.

“I respect the member for Fort Charlotte, but I want to say to the member for Fort Charlotte that we didn’t ask persons their politics when they were promoted,” he said.

“All of those persons were deservingly promoted.

I just want to say that I’ve also been advised that the immediate former board secretary for the past administration has been suspended without due process.

“I’ve heard of persons

being uprooted from their office and transferred because they are suspected of being FNM or believed to be someone who worked closely with the past administration.”

Mr Gibson asked who is currently running the corporation and made sure to state who he felt was doing so.

“I’m hearing of 14 persons from Eleuthera being hired Friday past. I am told of instructions …. Who is running the day-to-day at the corporation?” Mr Gibson asked. “I’m hearing of a former MP being a consultant at the corporation.

So I invite you, sir, to consider all these matters as we move forward.”

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

DECISION EXPECTED TODAY OVER CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS are expected to meet today to decide whether the Christmas Carnival will be granted approval to operate this holiday season.

However, when asked about the situation, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville told

reporters yesterday, “I believe they would be successful. We wait patiently for that report.”

Operators of the holiday fair, Midways by McCafferty Enterprises, submitted all of the necessary applications to a Ministry of Health committee and met the preliminary requirements, he said before heading into Cabinet.

Midways by McCafferty Enterprises announced in a statement on Facebook early last month their plans to return to The Bahamas this Christmas.

“Hello, Nassau. We are coming back to The Bahamas this year for our annual Christmas carnival.

We will update you as soon as we have our definite opening date,” the statement said.

FAMILIES’ GRIEF AT DOUBLE MURDER from page one

the direction of the men, shooting two of the men.

One man died at the scene and the other was taken to hospital by EMS personnel.

Both males were examined by a doctor and pronounced dead.

Pastor Lloyd Grant, of Mount of Blessings Church of God Prophecy, said his nephew Akeem Grant was an innocent bystander. He said that the increase of crime and violence in Eight Mile Rock is a concern.

“I want to voice my concern about crime,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “We have to do what we can to try to lower or eradicate the proliferation of guns, youth violence, and violence in general, particularly among young men, especially in Eight Mile Rock.”

Pastor Grant said that more must be done to help teach young men about resolving conflicts.

“There seems to be no conflict resolution and we need Social Services and the government to put something in place to teach young men how to better resolve conflict. My nephew was an innocent bystander.

This kind of violent crime significantly affects the families of the victims,” he said.

Candy Warner, Grant’s mother, described her son

as a quiet person who did not bother anyone. “It was a surprise to the whole community,” she said of his death. “I feel much better now because the police have arrested two guys.”

Ezrin Green Sr is saddened over his son’s death.

“I was not prepared for it. It shocked me,” he said.

His son was the father of three boys, ages 18, 17, and six years. I was in my house when I heard a gunshot and I called out to my son because I wanted to make sure he was in the yard,” he said.

Mr Green also tried to contact him on his cellphone, but he did not answer.

“I came out and ran to the road and I saw a lady was lying on the road screaming and run back to the house,” he recalled.

A short time later, Mr Green said a man came to the house and informed him that his son had been shot.

“When I went over there, he was lying on his back and I asked the police to let me lift his head up. They said I can’t do that because I may damage evidence. After a while, I took a shirt and put it under his head.”

Mr Green said his son was still breathing, but just barely.

“I said to him, ‘breathe for Daddy, please breathe for Daddy.’ He started

taking deep breaths and blowing.”

Mr Green said the ambulance took a long time to arrive at the scene.

“They took pretty long to come, and when (they came), they put him on the gurney and they took him way back over cross to Suzy Corner, and that is a long distance for a person who got shot in his side, and could barely breathe,” he said.

“I feel they were a little bit slow. I don’t know if we have an ambulance in EMR, but the time they take from when they got shot, they were too slow. If they did get down here in time they could have saved their lives.”

Mr Green said that his son had a condition and needed medication.

“He was a nice person in one sense and then he was troubled. When I brought him from the States he was on medication. And I had to take him to the doctor a few times,” he said.

“I feel bad within myself because when he called me, I could not help him,” Mr Green said.

Police are continuing investigations into the matter and are asking anyone with information that can assist them with their investigation to contact the nearest police station.

VENDOR ON THE ROOF DISCHARGED

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAGISTRATE yesterday discharged a coconut vendor who fled to the roof of his grandmother’s Fish Fry stall while handcuffed because he was afraid the officers who arrested him would beat him.

Claude Miller was charged with unlawfully carrying arms after police found him walking around Arawak Cay with a cutlass on November 26.

He was further charged with escaping lawful custody after he ran away from the Arawak Cay

Police Station when he was arrested that night.

He admitted both offences during his arraignment before Magistrate Kendra Kelly yesterday.

The court was told that around 11.40pm officers came into the station with Miller, who they had arrested for carrying a dangerous instrument.

The prosecution said later that night, he was found sleeping on the roof of his grandmother’s Fish Fry stall, with handcuffs on.

After the woman brought it to the attention of the officers, they collected Miller and took him back

to the station. When he was questioned in custody, he admitted having a cutlass and said he ran to his grandmother’s stall because he was scared.

Miller told the magistrate he had the cutlass to “chap” coconuts because he sold coconut water and jelly at the Fish Fry. He also said he only ran away because he was scared the officers were going to beat him.

After listening to his explanation, Magistrate Kelly confirmed that Miller did in fact sell coconuts on Arawak Cay, before dismissing his case.

Miller was subsequently discharged.

At the time, Dr Darville confirmed carnival officials had requested permission from the government to operate.

However, he said in November that his ministry was still reviewing that request to see whether it was “feasible” or not given the potential health risks associated with large public gatherings.

Last year, the Minnis

administration decided to not allow the holiday carnival to take place due to the pandemic and potential risk of further spread.

This year’s request to host the annual event comes as daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations continue to record low numbers.

However, there is heightened concern about the

virus due to the discovery of a new variant, Omicron, which is thought to be much more contagious.

The Bahamas this weekimposed travel restrictions on a number of African countries due to this new development.

Yesterday, there were reports the variant had penetrated the Canadian border with five cases recorded.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, December 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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Don’t let vaccine go to waste THERE are 20,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that could end up being thrown away by the end of the year – what an absolute waste that would be.

Around the world, there are whole countries crying out for access to vaccines – and here we are with doses on the shelf that could wind up being thrown away because people won’t go and get their shots.

Earlier this year, researchers predicted that some of the poorest countries won’t get access to vaccines until 2023. How can we turn up our noses at doses of a vaccine that other nations are still waiting for?

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is even effective after only one dose, so for those who don’t want to get the double shot, it can be one and done.

There’s another possibility too – the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention updated their advice just this week, and say that when it comes to getting a booster shot, you can use any of the COVID vaccines that are authorised, so you could get a Johnson & Johnson booster even if your original jabs were from Moderna or Pfizer. The AstraZeneca vaccine has not yet been approved for use in the United States, so the CDC advice may not apply there.

But that does give the possibility of opening up the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as a booster shot.

Already, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville had suggested that might be something that could be done for people who were immunocompromised or older in age – well, if it’s a case of use it or lose it, open up that booster availability to all with the Johnson & Johnson shots.

Make it easy for people too – make the vaccines available where people live.

Set up pop-up clinics to offer jabs in the areas most underserved.

We are in a fortunate position to have vaccines available when so many other countries do not – so let’s make the most of that.

If you still have to get your vaccination at all, then a single shot of Johnson & Johnson can get you fully vaccinated.

If you’re fully vaccinated and enough time has passed that you would be eligible for a booster, let’s make them available and boost our nation’s immunity.

There doesn’t have to be any fault with anyone for this deadline looming – no blame to be pointed on either side, let’s have both political sides speak with one voice on this and say let’s get this done.

Christmas criminals

Today is the first day of December, and across the country, thoughts are turning to Christmas. It’s supposed to be a time of love, and a time of giving – which makes it all the worse that a charity seeking to help those in need has been hit by thieves.

Criminals broke down the door of the Feeding Bain and Grants Town Project, taking a freezer full of meat, two microwaves, a ceiling fan, eggs and more.

The Rev CB Moss now faces a bill of $10,000 to cover the damage.

Who is so heartless as to steal from those who are most in need? Who takes the food out of the mouths of those who are hungry?

There should be no shelter for these criminals, no hiding place. If someone is in your community trying to sell meat or other items taken in the raid, report them to the police. They are no friends of yours. They are no friends of the poor. They are predators, taking what they can with no conscience and no heart. Shame on them. Shame on their actions. Shame them for who they are, because that is what they deserve.

Don’t let these criminals get away with their actions. If you know them, turn them in. Call the police, and make sure those in need get a little comfort for Christmas.

What will it take for FNM win?

EDITOR, The Tribunee.

WHAT will it take for the FNM to regain Government is obviously the crucial question facing the leadership of that party ... what will it take?

Ironically looking back to the political demise of Sir Lynden… the political demise of the FNM’s first Prime Minister - Ingraham… looking back at Perry Christie and the most recent casualty all to the same identifiable cause all quite interesting go back not to the Opposition party at the time, but to the persona - positioning of the leadership - from Sir Lynden to Hubert Minnis,

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

September 2021 all fell to the cancer of ‘political arrogance’…their chosen persona.

Political Arrogance is not created by the Opposition, but singularly by the person in office so election 2026 the result will be totally determined by the practice and persona of one Hon Philip Davis if he goes like the others – arrogant dead on arrival on election day if he doesn’t he will win.

Michael Pintard may be able to put the crushed Humpty Dumpty back to pieces again, but the photo on his election showed he already had made a fundamental mistake… remember the Hubert Ingraham supporters were rejected and on September 16th the supporters of Hubert Minnis were also… are there any other factions in the FNM, except the remnants of the UBP - Brent Symonette? Is Pintard’s sole supporters the UBP faction?

Mr Pintard as Minister for

Agriculture was not all that he tried to put out…a lot of loud wind huff and puff, but did Agriculture production increase? Recent inspection of Andros BAMSI indicates that $25m investment was in a shambles.

Did you see on the News video the brush between Hubert Ingraham and Hubert Minnis? Not all is well and can there be healing?

The enormous cost to the FNM was the Minnis snap election to the cost of his Ministers over $45,000... to all the FNM minions who had government contracts eight months of income gone. All those of the proverbial gravy train of the Government in office the $’s gone.

Gorilla glue or crazy glue will be needed, but the reality is if Davis stays away from arrogance he will guaranteed be elected again.

JEROME HIGGINS Nassau, November 29, 2021.

Looking back on Convention EDITOR, The Tribune.

PLEASE allow me space in your column to express my views on the recent one day FNM Convention for the singular position of party leader.

Now that the convention is over I think in hindsight one could easily say that it was unwise to proceed with the race as the new leader must now proceed with all of the present executives.

This is definitely not a good look for the new leader and for his sake and the party’s sake I can only hope this was not a glimpse into the future with Pintard.

Having said that I believe congratulations are in order for Michael Pintard who emerged the victor in the early round of tussling for a grip on the mantle in the Free National Movement.

Well, like I said, I believe congratulations are in order, my hope is that this jubilant moment does not quickly turn into sorrow for the young leader.

I looked on Pintard’s victory platform and instead of seeing him flanked by wellwishers and his supporters, I only saw persons around him, who either wants his job or wants someone other than him for the job. How sad. On the platform was Hubert Ingraham former leader of the FNM, who is on record, stating that he hopes that Dr Duane Sands would be like him and one day hold the office of Prime Minister. Then there was Dr Duane Sands himself

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net who has publicly stated that he will run for party chairman for now. Whatever for “now” means, surely one would need clarification on this, “fa now” statement because in the Bahamian vernacular whenever you hear someone say “I ga hold on to this fa na” it means that this is just a temporary fix for the moment, but they are truly seeking something greater. Then there was Tommy Turnquest, a former leader of the FNM who never really got his fair chance to lead as former Prime Minister Ingraham doubled back and took Turnquest out. Is Tommy Turnquest considering another run? Who knows?

Then there was Brent Symonette, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Deputy Leader of the FNM who backed Loretta ButlerTurner for Leader while Pintard was in the fold, so what is Brent’s true story in this,“Act of the tussle”?

Heaven only knows. Then there was Dion Foulkes, former FNM Deputy Leader and one half of the 2002 Dream Team ticket that crashed and burned; where does Dion line up in all of this, now this is the $64,000 question? The remaining persons were either Pintard’s wife and daughter or the other contenders and, yes, before I forget, the remaining

defunct Carl Culmer’s slate of party executives, well what a picture!

A true picture of treachery and deceit! No doubt, but as I said the tussling has only just begun, there are many more acts to this movie so stay tuned for the leader to take the FNM into the next general election is yet to have emerged.

And before I sign off, yes, The Most Hon Dr Hubert A Minnis remains a person of interest in all of this. What are his plans?

He is no doubt likely to be the only man standing; after this colossal battle of aligned rivals. All he has to do is take his just due rest.

He deserves a little rest after for four and half years battling the worst natural disaster the Bahamas has seen in modern times and fighting a pandemic that rocked the entire world and changed our lives forever.

His worst critics give him high him marks for his handling of the country’s most difficult period. This, I too support, but my wish for him is for him to one day be given a term free of these challenges, a term in which I know he will make significant strides for everyday people. I urge Dr Minnis to remain vigilant, and remember the people he has been called to serve, God is not done with him just yet!

A word to the wise is indeed sufficient!

THE COUNCILMAN Nassau, November 30, 2021.

Press Secretary oversteps EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE new PM’s Press Secretary seems to think he is an elected MP…of course we copy the US with their Presidential-White House Press Officer… flags decor background of White House, etc, etc, only thing missing is the playing of the Star Spangled Banner!

A press officer should never take the liberty to

politically comment or be judgmental… soon after appointment the new Press Secretary seems to think he is still on his much liked TV programme where he had total liberal discipline to his editorial comment, etc.

His comments this week on the PI Crown Land issue… now the Fixed Election Date raises the obvious – isn’t he a Civil Service contract employee and must comply

with General Orders…note General Orders requires all Civil Servants not to comment “politically”!

Let’s hope he learns and reverts to being factual and stop editorialising? Sorry guy you are no longer on TV and have the total freedom of comment.

MARCUS SMITH Nassau, November 27, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

BELLA’S MUM RELEASED BY BAIL ORDER

from page one

Officers said initial investigations revealed the child sustained several injuries to her body caused by blunt force trauma, from which she later died.

Ostonya Walker, 29, the girl’s mother, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt a week later, charged with one count each of exposing a child to grievous harm and cruelty to children.

Prosecutors have accused Walker of exposing Bella in a manner that caused her

BELLA WALKER serious injury on November 5. They further alleged Walker unlawfully permitted Bella to be abused in a manner that caused her

unnecessary suffering and injury to her health.

Although Walker was denied bail at her arraignment, she was granted $20,000 bail by a Supreme Court judge yesterday after her attorney filed an emergency bail application on her behalf.

As part of the conditions of her release, Walker must sign into the Wulff Road Police Station three times a week on or before 7pm.

Her reported boyfriend, Darion Smith, who is accused of murdering the toddler, remains on remand.

$7,000 FINE FOR CITIZENSHIP FRAUD

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A HAITIAN woman who initially denied attempting to fraudulently obtain Bahamian citizenship yesterday admitted to the offence and was fined $7,000.

Last year, Widline Francoeur was charged with attempted fraud by false pretences, three counts of fraud by false pretences and two counts each of possession of a false document and uttering the same.

She was also charged with four counts of possession of a forged document.

At the time, she denied the allegations and the matter was adjourned for trial. However, at the start of the trial before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday, the beautician changed her plea to guilty.

Police said Francoeur obtained a passport from the Bahamas Passport Office in

December 2018 under false pretences. They also said she fraudulently obtained a driver’s licence from the Road Traffic Department in August 2019 and a smart card from the National Insurance Board in May 2019.

Prosecutors said Francoeur was also found with a fake Bahamian passport and fraudulent Bahamian birth certificate in March and May of last year.

The court was told that in November 2019, a representative from the Department of Immigration reported a fraud matter in respect to Francoeur, who had applied for naturalisation. The prosecution said a subsequent police search led to the woman’s arrest a short time later.

When officers executed a search warrant on Francoeur’s home, they found the fake documents. After visiting the various agencies and offices from which the government IDs appeared

to be issued, they learned that all of the documents in Francoeur’s possession had been “acquired fraudulently”. The prosecution said police also discovered Francoeur had presented them for “additional benefits”.

When she was questioned in police custody, she admitted the offences and told officers she was born in Haiti, but moved to The Bahamas at the age of seven. According to the prosecutor, Francoeur also said she “did not have the patience to go through the red tape to acquire status the legitimate way”.

After she pleaded guilty yesterday, Francoeur was fined $7,000 or one year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Magistrate McKinney said $5,000 of the fine had to be paid before she was released and gave her until January 2022 to pay off the balance.

WOMAN DENIES STEALING GROCERIES

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN who denied stealing more than $300 worth of groceries from her place of employment

was yesterday granted bail before her trial.

Vashinique Rolle is accused of stealing an assortment of items valued at $342.50 from Solomon’s Fresh Market on November 17.

She pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing by reason of employment when she appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney and was granted $1,000 bail.

Rolle returns to court February 1, 2022, for trial.

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, PAGE 7

Cuban couple seeking asylum held in custody from page one Court documents state that Maikel Rodriguez Jiménez and his girlfriend Nathalie Palacios Morffis escaped from Cuba because of political persecution and victimisation, prompted by their “civic and political activities” which oppose the current Cuban government regime.

In an effort to avoid political persecution and incarceration, the activists fled Cuba in a vessel, with the purpose of reaching Miami, Florida or any other jurisdiction that would grant them political asylum and a “life of democratic freedom’.

Both Mr Jiménez and Ms Morffis have applied to the Bahamas government for refugee and political asylum status. However, after their vessel was apprehended in Bahamian waters, they were arrested and detained at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre where they have been since September 7.

A Supreme Court judge recently granted the attorneys representing the couple leave to issue a writ of habeas corpus against Attorney General Ryan Pinder, Immigration

Minister Keith Bell, Immigration Director Clarence Russell, Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Raymond King and Fausteen Major-Smith, the officer in charge of the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

Senior Justice Bernard Turner’s order said the respondents have until December 2 to file a return explaining the reasons Mr Jiménez has been detained for more than two months and proving why he should not be released immediately. He also said none of the respondents, or a person or agency acting on their behalf, would be allowed to deport, expel, remove or repatriate Mr Jiménez from the country until the matter was completed or a further order was issued.

In another court action, Justice Turner also ordered the respondents to allow Mr Jiménez, who is currently suffering with a broken foot, to speak with his attorneys who have had trouble meeting with him at the detention centre.

Callenders & Co contend the government continues to “falsely imprison” the Cuban national in breach of his constitutional rights, since Mr Jiménez has not been taken before any

court in the country, has not been served with a deportation order nor charged with an offence.

“Both (Mr Jiménez and Ms Morffis) took part in the widespread and unprecedented protests against the Cuban government in July 2021,” they explained in court documents. “As a result of his involvement in the demonstrations in or around the city of Camaguey, Mr Jiménez was harassed by the Cuban police and forced to go into hiding along with Ms Morffis until August 24, 2021, to avoid being detained and incarcerated for their political opinions and activities. His family was harassed and threatened with imprisonment for not giving up her whereabouts. “... Both were known to police in Cuba and were convinced that remaining in the country would have resulted in arbitrary incarceration. Both have applied to The Bahamas government for refugee and political asylum status...

Both are now asylum seekers requesting refuge and protection in The Bahamas, as they fear for their lives, freedom, well-being and safety if they are removed back to Cuba.”

PAGE 8, Wednesday, December 1, 2021

For women, not against men

THE Global 16 Days campaign is always an interesting time for us at Equality Bahamas. Since 2017 when we started participating in the campaign, we have observed the responses from members of the public. Most people are content to ignore it or casually observe the activities while others are either excited by it and looking for ways to participate, or enraged by its existence — not that it is necessary, but that the campaign dares to centre women, people who disproportionately experience gender-based violence.

By Alicia Wallace Gender-based violence against women is an issue most of us consider to be undeniable. It has become obvious to us over the years, unfortunately due to the public incidents and acts of violence which are reported on whether by official or unofficial channels.

It took years of consistent work by feminists and women’s rights activities to make the term “violence against women” one that is widely used and understood. When that work began, it was as though no one was paying attention.

People did not know why

ANN-Marie Davis of the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, centre, joins the United Nations in the fight against domestic violence against women and children with 16 days of activism in partnership with Zonta International at Englerston Park on Saturday.

Photo: Yontalay Bowe

these women, from all over understanding of gender the world, were pressing and what a department this issue, demanding it be focused on it is meant to treated as a specific type do. When this is happening of violence perpetrated with a government ministry, against women. Through we cannot be shocked when the sharing of stories, col- men attempt to interrupt lection of quantitative data and disrupt every conand consistent activism, the versation about women’s world came to understand experiences and specific the need to call it violence needs. against women.

I have come to expect, This year, being the 30th whenever I am on a radio anniversary of the cam- show that takes calls and paign, is special for all text messages, for a man participants, and especially to insert himself into the for those who were there at conversation, refuse to the beginning. One person participate in it as it is set, who was a part of the move- and attempt to turn it into ment shared on Twitter: something else. They try “When 24 of us met in that to minimise and detract cold week at the @CWGL_ from the point being made Rutgers long ago, we had a about women’s experiences bold vision - to bring femi- of gender-based violence nists and by centring their move- ‘When a group themselves. ments “What about of people is together men getting around [vio- disproportionately abused?” lence against impacted by they ask. women], They seem anything, it needs globally. to expect Little did to be addressed in a one of two we imagine way that responds to responses we would - the sugbe where we their circumstances gestion that are today!” and experiences. men do not In a series of Those circumstances experience linked posts violence, or on Twitter and experiences are the dissolushe recalled unlike those of the tion of the their efforts. conversaother people who She noted tion because that, from are impacted based it shifts then to now, on different factors.’ to accomwe have modate seen prothem and gress, noting gender-based their insecurity related to violence against women the issue actually being was one of the first issues discussed. of major concern that many Yesterday, in a discussion governments noted during about the Global 16 Days the COVID-19 pandemic. campaign and very brief Still, we have a long way to comments about femicide go. the gender-based killing of People are resistant to a woman - someone sent a conversations about gender, text message asking if there rights, and, in particular, is a word for the killing of a women’s rights. There is man. The short answer, of general confusion about course, is no. The answer equality. There is fear may be uncomfortable to that improving conditions hear, but will lead people for women will somehow open to it to understanddestabilise men. These ing, however, that women ideas are not only held by are being killed because of members of the public, their sex or gender at such but are implied by govern- disproportionate, alarming ment actors and systems. rates that it is necessary to For example, there was a name the act, collect data Women’s Bureau. It needed on it, and develop specific to become a Department, responses to prevent, interfully staffed with its own vene and see justice. Men mandate and a budget to are not being killed because carry it out. It became the of the sex or gender the way Department of Gender and women are, so there is no Family Affairs. Gender, term for it. for some reason, could not When a group of people stand alone. Not only that, is disproportionately but someone decided there impacted by anything, it needed to be a men’s desk. needs to be addressed in a Why does there need to be way that responds to their a men’s desk in the Depart- circumstances and experiment of Gender and Family ences. Those circumstances Affairs? and experiences are unlike If you understand the those of the other people term “gender,” you know who are impacted based on this is unnecessary. Gender different factors. Take, for is about the relations example, breast cancer in between women and men, Bahamian women. Accordand the Department ought ing to research conducted to be focused on trans- within the last decade, forming the environment Bahamian women have — physical, political, and one of the highest rates of economic included — to BRCA gene mutations that ensure there is equality in can cause breast and ovaraccess to opportunities and ian cancer. Women in The resources between women Bahamas have been getting and men. Aspects like diagnosed younger and at men’s desks and the addi- later stages than the global tion of “family affairs” only average. The response to serve to placate people this is not to simply carry who lack the fundamental on with monthly self exams,

THE TRIBUNE

mammograms at the usual age and treatment upon diagnosis. Free BRCA gene testing was provided for a period of time to the general public and family members of people with a BRCA gene mutation were encouraged to get tested.

By getting tested, Bahamian women would better understand their risk and have options available to them instead of having to “wait and see”.

Since we know we have a high rate of BRCA gene mutations, we encourage women to get the genetic test if they can. It is an expensive test, so The Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative Foundation raised money to cover the cost of thousands of tests. The test allows researchers to look for the seven known BRCA gene mutations.

Women who tested positive and women with family history of breast and ovarian cancer are given different guidelines from those who do not. They are advised to start getting mammograms earlier, for example.

First, we are not treating Bahamian women like all women because we know there is a higher rate of breast cancer in this group.

By studying this group, we learned there is a high rate of BRCA gene mutations in Bahamian women.

This allows us to further segment, and focus on Bahamian women who test positive for a BRCA gene mutation. We were then able to design interventions for Bahamian women with a BRCA gene mutation as they are at the highest risk.

We still look at Bahamian women, recognising that all women have not been testing, and some women with strong family histories of breast and ovarian cancer test negative. Neither of these groups is at a disadvantage. Women outside of these groups are disadvantaged. The interventions are meant to address these women’s specific circumstances in a way that a general approach — self test and do annual mammograms — does not and cannot.

Apply this to violence.

Anyone can experience violence. One in three women, however, experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. Women are disproportionately the victims and/or survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, rape and other forms of sexual violence. We can have an anti-violence campaign, we can offer courses on healthy relationships for all, and we can train people in conflict resolution. These are all great. We still, however, have to respond to the specific needs of women who are experiencing genderbased violence, develop strategies for prevention and effectively intervene.

We will not be able to address the broader issue of violence that is affecting everyone without looking at the largest group of people being impacted by a specific form of violence.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, PAGE 9

NISSAN INVESTING IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, BATTERY DEVELOPMENT

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer

TOKYO (AP) — Nissan said Monday it is investing 2 trillion yen ($17.6 billion) over the next five years and developing a cheaper, more powerful battery to boost its electric vehicle lineup.

The Japanese automaker’s chief executive, Makoto Uchida, said 15 new electric vehicles will be available by fiscal 2030.

Nissan Motor Co. is aiming for a 50% “electrification” of the company’s model lineup, under what Uchida called the “Nissan Ambition 2030” long-term plan.

Electrified vehicles include hybrids and other kinds of environmentally friendly models other than just electric vehicles.

The effort is focused mainly on electric vehicles to cut emissions and meet various customers’ needs, said Uchida. Nissan also will reduce carbon emissions at its factories, he added.

The company has been struggling to put the scandal of its former Chairman Carlos Ghosn behind it.

Ghosn, who led Nissan for two decades, after he was sent to Japan by French alliance partner Renault, was arrested in Tokyo in 2018 on various financial misconduct charges.

Uchida made no mention of the scandal but referred to “past mistakes”

IN this photo provided by Nissan Motor Co., Chief Executive Makoto Uchida, right, and COO Ashwani Gupta, left, pose with a Nissan Chill-Out concept car.

Nissan said Monday it is investing two trillion yen ($17.6 billion) over the next five years and developing a cheaper, more powerful battery to boost its electric vehicle lineup. (Nissan Motor Co. via AP)

he promised won’t be repeated at Nissan.

Nissan’s “electrification” rests on developing a new ASSB, or all solid state battery, that it categorised as “a breakthrough” for being cheaper and generating more power than batteries now in use.

That means electric powertrains can be more easily used in trucks, vans and other heavier vehicles because the batteries can

be smaller. The ASSB will be in mass production by 2028, according to Nissan.

The costs of electric vehicles will also fall thanks to the battery innovation to levels comparable with regular gasoline cars, Uchida said.

“Nissan has emerged from a crisis and is ready to make a new start,” he said.

All top automakers, including Nissan’s Japanese rival Toyota Motor

Corp., are working on electric vehicles, amid growing concern over climate change and sustainability.

Global consumers are also demanding more safety features.

Uchida said Nissan was hiring 3,000 engineers to strengthen its research, including digital technology for vehicles.

Nissan, based in Yokohama, Japan, has suffered recently from the computer

chips shortage that’s slammed all automakers because of lockdowns and other measures at chip factories to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The maker of the Infiniti luxury models, Leaf electric vehicle and Z sportscar is projecting a return to profitability for the fiscal year through March 2022 after racking up two straight years of losses.

THE STELLANTIS logo on a building of the historic Mirafiori headquarters in Turin, Italy. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP, file)

CARMAKER STELLANTIS SECURES SUPPLY OF BATTERY-GRADE LITHIUM

MILAN (AP) — The carmaker Stellantis said Monday that it has secured a five-year supply of battery-grade lithium hydroxide in Europe to support its plans to convert to 98% electrified vehicles by 2025.

Stellantis, the company that combined PSA Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler, signed a binding agreement with Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. in Germany, which uses geothermal energy to produce the battery-quality lithium hydroxide from brine without using fossil fuels. Vulcan will supply between 81,000 metric tons and 99,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide over the five-year term of the agreement.

All top automakers are working on electric vehicles as fears grow about climate change. Also Monday, Nissan said it is investing 2 trillion yen ($17.6 billion) over the next five years and developing a cheaper, more powerful battery to boost its electric vehicle lineup (see story at top of page).

Stellantis said its deal supports the decarbonised supply of key raw materials for electric vehicle battery packs.

The carmaker announced plans last July to convert nearly all of its production to electric or hybrid by 2025. Under the plans, more than 70% of vehicles sold in Europe and 40% of those sold in the United States will be low-emission vehicles by 2030.

“Stellantis is moving forward on its electrification strategy with speed and power.

“This agreement is further proof that we have the competitive spirit to deliver on our commitments,” said Michelle Wen, Stellantis’ chief purchasing and supply chain officer.

“Safe, clean and affordable freedom of mobility represents a strong expectation of our societies and we are committed to deliver on that matter.”

THE INTERNATIONAL space station, seen from the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in April.

(NASA via AP, File)

SPACE JUNK FORCES SPACEWALK DELAY, TOO RISKY FOR ASTRONAUTS

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA called off a spacewalk Tuesday because of menacing space junk that could puncture an astronaut’s suit or damage the International Space Station.

Two U.S. astronauts were set to replace a bad antenna outside of the space station.

But late Monday night, Mission Control learned that a piece of orbiting debris might come dangerously close. There wasn’t enough time to assess the threat so station managers delayed the spacewalk until Thursday.

It’s the first time a spacewalk has been cancelled because of threat from space junk.

The space station and its crew of seven have been at increased risk from space

junk since Russia destroyed a satellite in a missile test two weeks ago.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the object of concern was part of the Russian satellite wreckage.

During a news conference Monday, NASA officials said the Nov. 15 missile test resulted in at least 1,700 satellite pieces big enough to track, and thousands more too small to be observed from the ground but still able to pierce a spacewalker’s suit.

NASA officials said astronauts Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron faced a 7 percent greater risk of a spacewalk puncture because of the Russian-generated debris. But they said it was still within acceptable limits based on previous experience.

Marshburn and Barron arrived at the space station earlier this month.

TECHTALK ROBOTICS GRANTS BEING OFFERED

BY NH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Department of Education is offering competitive grants to public schools and public charter schools to set up robotics teams and participate in contests.

“Robotics is a great way to reinforce academic concepts while also fostering curiosity among children, promoting teamwork and improving critical technology skills,” said Frank Edelblut, commissioner of education.

“These grants will provide more New Hampshire students with the opportunity to embrace STEM concepts and learn through imaginative play and engineering.”

The estimated budget for each proposal is $2,000 to $15,000.

Applications will be scored by independent peer reviewers.

To be eligible, schools must have an established partnership with at least one sponsor.

Proposals must include participation in at least one competitive event.

The deadline for applications is Dec. 10.

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PAGE 10, Wednesday, December 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

BARBADOS’ new President Sandra Mason, centre right, awards Prince Charles with the Order of Freedom of Barbados during the presidential inauguration ceremony in Bridgetown, Barbados, yesterday as Barbados stops pledging allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II as it becomes a republic.

Photo: David McD Crichlow/AP

Barbados bids farewell to British monarchy SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Associated Press BARBADOS stopped pledging allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday as it shed another vestige of its colonial past and became a republic for the first time in history.

Several leaders, dignitaries and artists, including Prince Charles and Rihanna, attended the ceremony that began late on Monday in a popular square where the statue of Britain’s Lord Nelson was removed last year amid a worldwide push to erase symbols of oppression.

Fireworks peppered the sky at midnight as Barbados officially became a republic, with screens set up across the island so people could watch the event that featured an orchestra with more than 100 steel pan players and numerous singers, poets and dancers. It was also broadcast online, prompting a flurry of excited messages from Bajans living in the US, Canada and beyond.

“Happy Independence Day and freedom to all,” wrote one viewer.

The drive to become a republic began more than two decades ago and culminated with the island’s Parliament electing its first ever president last month

in a two-thirds majority vote. Barbados Governor General Sandra Mason was sworn in before dawn on Tuesday as the island marked its 55th anniversary of independence from Britain.

“As cautioned by our first prime minister ... we ought no longer to be found loitering on colonial premises,” she said. “We must seek to redefine our definition of self, of state, and the Barbados brand, in a more complex, fractured and turbulent world... Our country and people must dream big dreams and fight to realise them.”

Mason, 72, is an attorney and judge who also has served as ambassador to Venezuela, Colombia, Chile and Brazil. She will help Prime Minister Mia Mottley lead the wealthy Caribbean island of more than 300,000 people that is dependent on tourism, manufacturing and finance.

Barbados didn’t need permission from the UK to become a republic, although the island will remain a member of the Commonwealth Realm. It’s an event that the Caribbean hasn’t experienced since the 1970s, when Guyana, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago became republics.

Barbados became independent from the United

Kingdom in November 1966, more than three centuries after English settlers arrived and turned the island into a wealthy sugar colony based on the work of hundreds of thousands of African slaves.

In recent decades, the island has begun distancing itself from its colonial past.

In 2005, Barbados dropped the London-based Privy Council and chose the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice as its final court of appeal. Then in 2008, it proposed a referendum on the issue of becoming a republic, but it was pushed back indefinitely. Last year, Barbados announced plans to stop being a constitutional monarchy and removed a statue of British ViceAdmiral Horatio Nelson from National Heroes Square, the location of the event to celebrate becoming a republic.

“From the darkest days of our past and the appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history, the people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude,” said Prince Charles, who thanked Barbadian officials for inviting him and said he has greatly admired what they’ve achieved.

“Freedom, justice, and self determination have been your guides.”

During the ceremony, the prime minister awarded pop star Rihanna the honor of national hero of Barbados that comes with the title, “the right excellent.”

“May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honor to your nation by your words, by your actions, and to do credit wherever you shall go. God bless you, my dear,” Mottley told the singer, who placed her palm over her heart and said thank you.

As the ceremony ended, officials lowered the Queen’s royal standard for the last time in Barbados. In a statement, Queen Elizabeth II congratulated the island for its “momentous day”, and said she looked forward to an ongoing friendship between the two nations.

Barbados’ flag, coat of arms and national anthem will remain the same, but certain references will change, according to Suleiman Bulbulia, a columnist for the Barbados Today newspaper. He wrote that the terms “royal” and “crown” will no longer be used, so the Royal Barbados Police Force will become the Barbados Police Service and “crown lands” will become “state lands.”

“It is the beginning of a new era,” he wrote. “Any Barbadian can aspire now to be our Head of State.”

RIHANNA is honoured as a National Hero during the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in Bridgetown, Barbados, yesterday.

Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/AP

STUDENT SHOOTS THREE DEAD, WOUNDS SIX AT MICHIGAN SCHOOL OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Michigan Associated Press A 15-YEAR-OLD sophomore opened fire at his Michigan high school yesterday, killing three students and wounding six other people, including a teacher, authorities said.

Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said at a news conference that he didn’t know what the assailant’s motives were for the attack at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, a community of about 22,000 people roughly 30 miles north of Detroit.

Officers responded at around 12.55pm to a flood of 911 calls about an active shooter at the school, McCabe said. Authorities arrested the suspect at the school and recovered a semi-automatic handgun and several clips.

“Deputies confronted him, he had the weapon on him, they took him into custody,” McCabe said, adding that suspect wasn’t hurt when he was taken into custody and he refused to say how he got the gun into the school.

Authorities didn’t immediately release the names of the suspect or victims.

PARENTS walk away with their kids from the Meijer’s parking lot, where many students gathered following an active shooter situation at Oxford High School, yesterday.

Photo: Eric Seals/Detroit Free Press via AP) told grocery store to be picked the school, said Flores, a Tim Throne, the super- superintendent up by their parents. intendent of Oxford reporters.

15-year-old ninth grader.

The school was placed on Isabel Flores told WJBKCommunity Schools, said McCabe said investihe didn’t know yet know lockdown after the attack, TV that she and other gators would be looking the victims’ names or with some children shelter- students heard gunshots through social media posts whether their families had ing in locked classrooms and saw another student for any evidence of a possiwhile officers searched the bleeding from the face. been contacted. ble motive.

They then ran from the “I’m shocked. It’s dev- premises. They were later Robin Redding said her astating,” the shaken taken to a nearby Meijer area through the rear of son, Treshan Bryant, is a

12th grader at the school but stayed home on Tuesday. She said he had heard threats of a shooting at the school.

“This couldn’t be just random,” she said.

Redding didn’t provide specifics about what her son had heard, but she expressed concern with school safety in general.

“Kids just, like they’re just mad at each other at this school,” she said.

Bryant said he texted several younger cousins in the morning and they said they didn’t want to go to school, and he got a bad feeling. He asked his mom if he could do his assignments online.

Bryant said he had heard vague threats “for a long time now” about plans for a shooting at the school.

“You’re not supposed to play about that,” he said of the threats. “This is real life.”

Michigan’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer, was one of several elected officials who expressed condolences to the victims.

“Gun violence is a public health crisis that claims lives every day. We have the tools to reduce gun violence in Michigan. This is a time for us to come together and help our children feel safe at school,” Whitmer said in a statement.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, PAGE 11

Nevada boxing regulators to investigate UNLV student death

By KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — The head of Nevada’s boxing regulatory agency said yesterday that a fraternity charity boxing match that left a University of Nevada, Las Vegas student dead of head injuries was not licenced by the Nevada Athletic Commission, but will be investigated.

Commission Chairman Stephen Cloobeck noted the death of Nathan Tyler Valencia four days after the bout was ruled a homicide, and said he believed police should be involved.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department acknowledged separately that the Clark County coroner ruled Valencia’s death a homicide, but said no criminal charges are expected.

“Although Mr Valencia’s death is tragic, the circumstances surrounding his death are not criminal and no charges will be filed,” the department said in a statement.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, the elected official with jurisdiction to bring charges, did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press.

Attorneys Ryan Zimmer and Nick Lasso, representing Valencia’s parents, Cynthia and Michael Valencia of Las Vegas, pledged to “fully cooperate and share any information necessary” for the Athletic Commission inquiry.

“We will hold those responsible for Nathan’s death accountable and ensure that this never happens to another son, daughter, or member of this community,” they said.

Nathan Valencia, 20, died November 23 from blunt force head trauma, the coroner’s office said.

He participated in a charity boxing match on November 19 sponsored by schoolsanctioned fraternity Kappa Sigma to raise money for Center Ring Boxing, a Las Vegas-area gym that trains troubled youth.

A message left with Center Ring Boxing yesterday was not immediately returned.

Zimmer and Lasso said witnesses told them there were no paramedics or medical personnel at the event and that participants in past years were knocked unconscious and “required hospital attention.”

The attorneys said it was not clear if the unidentified man who served as referee of Valencia’s fight had professional training, and alleged that he was recorded on video drinking before the fights.

“It is unacceptable that the individual in charge of enforcing the rules of combat with the authority to stop a fight would be impaired,” the attorneys said.

Cloobeck said the event, which is recognised by UNLV and has raised charity funds for years, was not licenced by the state.

The Athletic Commission, as regulator of what state law calls “contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat,” would have overseen promoting, permitting, weigh-ins, referee requirements and insurance.

Medical care would have been required on-site.

Las Vegas police said Monday that investigators found “no information that there is any criminality on the part of the venue” and referred questions to the Athletic Commission.

“To be clear,” Cloobeck said yesterday, “the Nevada State Athletic Commission had no jurisdiction for this event or any past events that relate to this.

That doesn’t mean, after our investigation, that we may have jurisdiction going forward.”

“This is a tragedy. This is a homicide, as the coroner expressed. This is an event that Metro needs to fully investigate as a homicide,” he said.

Cloobeck said he believes UNLV, the university president, the state Board of Regents, “all have some explaining to do” and that investigators should look at why paramedics or medical personnel were not ringside.

UNLV President Keith Whitfield said in a statement Friday that the campus mourned Valencia’s death and administrators planned a review to “determine how off-campus events like these can be as safe as possible.”

Ayton and Suns beat Warriors 104-96 to win 17th straight

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Deandre Ayton scored 24 points, Chris Paul added 15 points and 11 assists, and the Phoenix Suns tied a franchise record of 17 straight wins by beating the Golden State Warriors 104-96 last night in an early showdown between the NBA’s top teams.

The Suns won despite losing star guard Devin Booker to a left hamstring injury in the second quarter. He had 10 points and two rebounds in 15 minutes.

The 25-year-old appeared to get hurt when driving to the basket for a layup, grabbing at the back of his left leg before walking to the locker room a few minutes before halftime.

Even without Booker, the Suns led 56-54 at halftime and 80-78 going into the fourth quarter.

The game stayed tight, and neither team led by double digits until Landry Shamet knocked down a 3-pointer — on an assist by Paul — with 54.4 seconds left.

It was a highly anticipated showdown, as Suns and Warriors have NBA’s best records.

It was also the first time in league history that two teams from the same division played each other with winning percentages of .850 or higher after at

PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) backs down Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the second half last night in Phoenix.

(AP Photo/Matt York) least 20 regular-season record 18th win against the games, according to Elias Pistons on Thursday.

Sports Bureau.

The Suns hadn’t lost The game mostly lived since October 27 when up to the hype — at least Harrison Barnes hit a until the Warriors, who game-winning 3 at the had their seven-game win- buzzer for the Sacramento ning streak snapped, went Kings. cold in the fourth quarter.

Frank Kaminsky (right Jordan Poole led Golden knee), F Abdel Nader State with 28 points. (right knee) and F Dario Stephen Curry — who Saric (right knee) didn’t came into the game aver- play. Booker hasn’t missed aging 28.6 points per game a game this season. He was — had 12 points on 4 of 21 averaging nearly 24 points shooting, including 3 of 14 per game before Tuesday. from 3-point range.

Cam Johnson started The Suns limited the the second half for Booker Warriors to just 42 points and finished with 14 points. in the second half. The Ayton finished 11 of 19 Suns and Warriors are now from the field and also had both 18-3.

11 rebounds.

The only other time UP NEXT Phoenix has won 17 Warriors: Host the Suns straight games was during on Saturday. the 2006-07 season. They’ll Suns: Host the Pistons go for their franchise on Thursday night.

RETIRED BOXERS ASSOCIATION HIGHLIGHTS

1979 Bahamian Golden Gloves team honoured THE 1979 Bahamian Golden Gloves team that represented the Bahamas at the Florida/Caribbean Golden Gloves Tournament, Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida was honoured recently by the Retired Boxers Association.

The team consisted of boxers Vincent Strachan, Arthur Buchanan, Stevie Larrimore, Lionel Glinton, Willie Roberts, Sammy Whyms, Ray Mackey and the late Ben Miller. Head coach was the late Boston Blackie Miller, assistant coach was Sonny Boy Rahming and the manager was Alvin Sargent.

The Retired Boxers Association, founded and chaired by Pat Strachan and vice chairman Wellington Miller, hosted the team to a luncheon at Bruno’s on Arawak Cay, on November 21, to celebrate their 40th anniversary reunion.

The master of ceremonies was Charles Major Jr.

Past chairman of the Bahamas Boxing Commission, Alvin Sargent, and Vincent Strachan, president of the Bahamas Boxing Federation, gave remarks. Wellington Miller

welcomed the guests and Pat Strachan spoke on behalf of the RBA. All team members and siblings of deceased members were presented with a framed photograph of

the team picture taken in 1979 and a t-shirt with the Retired Boxing Association name and logo.

Presentations were done by Tesha Knowles, daughter of former Olympic boxer

Nat Knowles - the first Bahamian to win a fight in the 1972 Olympics. The event was well-attended and brought together some members after decades of not seeing each other.

COURT DATE RESET FOR UFC STAR JON JONES IN VEGAS CASE LAS VEGAS (AP) — A court date was reset to January for former UFC champion Jon Jones to learn whether he’ll face criminal charges following his September arrest on allegations that he scuffled with his fiancé and damaged a Las Vegas police vehicle at Caesars Palace.

Neither Jones nor attorneys were in court yesterday when a judge pushed back the date for prosecutors to file a criminal complaint.

Jones’ attorney’s name was not reflected in the court record.

Jones remains free on $8,000 bail.

He was arrested before dawn September 24 on misdemeanor domestic battery and felony damaging a vehicle charges after allegedly grabbing his fiancé by her hair and smashing his own head on the hood of a police patrol vehicle, leaving a dent and chipped paint, according to a police report.

Jones lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He attended a UFC Hall of Fame induction at the Park MGM hotel the night before his arrest.

Jones (26-1, 1 no-contest) had three stints as UFC light heavyweight champion from 2011 to 2020.

He’s widely considered one of the greatest fighters in MMA history.

However, because of arrests, suspensions and disputes with the UFC, he has fought only eight times in recent years. He beat Dominick Reyes in February 2020 but relinquished the light heavyweight title last year.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, December 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Harden, Durant, Johnson lead Nets past Knicks 112-110

BROOKLYN Nets guard DeAndre’ Bembry (95) dunks past New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) during the second half yesterday in New York.

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK (AP) — James Harden and Kevin Durant carried Brooklyn all the way until James Johnson made two free throws with 2.2 seconds left to give the Nets a 112-110 victory over the New York Knicks last night.

Harden had 34 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Durant heated up after a slow start to finish with 27 points and nine assists.

He had 11 points in the final 5:45, but the Knicks sent a second defender to force him to give the ball up on the last possession. The ball went to Johnson, who

was fouled in the lane and made the free throws for the final points.

Alec Burks scored a season-high 25 points in his new role as the Knicks’ starting point guard.

Julius Randle added 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

GRIZZLIES 98, RAPTORS 91 TORONTO (AP) — Jaren Jackson Jr scored 25 points, Desmond Bane had 23 and Dillon Brooks 17 as Memphis won back-to-back games, beating struggling Toronto. Memphis won again without leading scorer

Ja Morant, who sat for the second game because of a sprained left knee. Morant is expected to miss at least two weeks.

Memphis was coming off a win over Sacramento on Sunday.

Bane made five 3-pointers and Jackson had four for the Grizzlies, who never trailed and led by as many as 17 points.

Pascal Siakam scored 20 points, Scottie Barnes had 19 and Fred VanVleet 15 as the Raptors lost their third straight.

Toronto has lost five straight home games.

USA BASKETBALL FALLS IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER TO MEXICO, 97-88 CHIHUAHUA, Mexico (AP) — USA Basketball’s road to the 2023 Basketball World Cup got a little tougher on Monday, after the Americans were handed a surprising loss at Mexico in a qualifying game.

Orlando Mendez scored 27 points, Gabriel Giron added 19 and Mexico — playing before its home fans — stunned the Americans 97-88 to conclude the first window of the opening qualifying round.

“It’s very disappointing,” US coach Jim Boylen said. “We had a great group of guys. We practiced hard. We had all high-character guys and it hurts. It hurts to lose. It hurts to lose anytime, but this situation — playing for your

BOWL

FROM PAGE 16 Bowl championship, Maples quipped: “Middle Tennessee all day.”

However, Toledo’s deputy athletic director David Nottke said the Rockets will have something different to say about that.

“I know our kids are thrilled to be coming down here. It’s a great bowl, it’s well organised and it’s in a great location, considering the fact that we will be coming out of the snow in Toledo. It will be a welcome change for us,” Nottke said.

“You will see a good game, a great offence, a very good defence. We’re really looking forward to it.”

The Rockets, with Jason Candle coming in for the sixth year as the head coach, will be participating in its 18th bowl game.

country, on the road, playing the home team — of course we wanted to win and we wanted to play better.”

Daniel Amigo and Paul Stoll each scored 18 points for Mexico (2-0), which moved into the top spot in Group D of the Americas Region qualifying and essentially is already assured of a spot in the second round.

Isaiah Thomas had 21 points and 10 assists for the US (1-1), which was outscored 31-12 in the third quarter and played from behind the rest of the way.

BJ Johnson scored 15 points for the Americans, while Luke Kornet and Shaquille Harrison each finished with 12. Kornet said Mexico was a deserving winner.

Toledo was 7-5 overall and 5-3 MAC. For many of the Toledo players, it’s going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the Bahamas and they intend to make the most of it.

“That’s what college life is all about, giving them an experience on and off the field that they will never forget,” Nottke said. “So I think it will be a very positive thing for the kids.”

Once they are done with all of the school formalities, including final exams, Nottke said they will board the plane on December 13 for the Bahamas and, at the end of the game, the Rockets “will give it a good shot.”

On hand to welcome the teams to the Bahamas was Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, who revealed that the game will help to relaunch sports tourism in the Bahamas.

“At the end of the day, this is just a springboard to

“They really played good basketball,” Kornet said. “They played well and they played together. ... Congratulations to them.”

The loss for the Americans — who were together for about 10 days to get ready for these two games — wasn’t unprecedented.

The US is using a roster primarily of G League players for the World Cup qualifiers, just as it did while qualifying for the 2019 World Cup. The Americans went 10-2 in the qualifying games for that tournament, easily good enough to get the US into the 32-team field.

This loss, obviously, won’t help the quest to make the field for the 2023 tournament — but the

what the Ministry intends to do as it relates to ensuring that we have an active 52 weeks of activities here on the National Sports Authority’s property,” Bowleg said.

“The mere fact that Toledo and Middle Tennessee were two of the top 30 teams in the country, we should expect a very good game,” said Bowleg, whose ministry, along with the Ministry of Tourism, are partnering to make the event a success.

With the game being free of charge to Bahamians and staged the week before Christmas, Bowleg said he anticipates that there will be a large turnout of spectators to watch the two teams clash. “Once the opportunity arises after this game is played, we are hoping within the next five years to introduce American football into our schools,” Bowleg said. “We will have the conversations with the professionals and to see

Americans aren’t exactly on the brink of trouble yet, either.

All they need to do in Round 1 of qualifying is not finish last in their four-team group, and having even one win already gives them strong odds of getting through to Round 2.

There are four teams in four groups of qualifying out of the FIBA Americas region.

The top three teams in each group move onto the second round of qualifying, which starts in August and runs through February 2023.

The US is in Group D with Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The Americans play again in February against Puerto Rico and Mexico, then close the first round

of qualifying against Puerto Rico on July 1 and Cuba on July 4.

For the February games, the US roster will almost certainly change based on player availability.

“It’s a huge thing in my life to represent USA Basketball,” Boylen said.

“Just to put the colors on, kind of the first day, was an emotional moment for me. It was a big deal for my family. This is one of the best group of guys I’ve ever been around.

“We’ve only been together since last Saturday, but we’ve got high-character guys that care.

“We’ve worked really hard and it’s fun to teach and coach a group of guys that you like being around.”

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, centre, was on hand to welcome the Bahamas Bowl teams to the Bahamas and he revealed that the game will help to relaunch sports tourism in the Bahamas.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff how best we can implement it. “The blueprint has already been drawn out by the American Football League. I’ve spoken with

Obie Roberts and Tony Maycock and they have a plan. The ministry has seen the plan and I support the plan. We just want to get the resources and the equipment to get it started in a few of the schools and hopefully we can build on it from there.”

Richard Giannini, executive director of the Bahamas Bowl, said although some bowls were played last year, they were unable to bring the event here because of COVID-19, but they are eager to have it up and running again.

“We still have COVID19 protocols and everything to deal with, but we are going to operate the game.

We’re just so excited to be

back,” he said. “The main thing is we can showcase the Bahamas and showcase American football.

“We have so many tourists come down here, so this is an opportunity to let the world know through ESPN that the Bahamas is open for business and we want to encourage them to come on back and a good way to do it for this game.”

Giannini said both teams finished their season on a winning note and so they have a lot of momentum coming into the game. He noted they are both well coached and feature a faculty staff that is so easy to work with so they are thrilled to be able to host them again.

TEACHERS

benefitting from the programme here.”

Although the grant was initiated six years ago, Giannini said they are excited that it’s finally trickling down to the Bahamas.

Hopefully, it will continue throughout the duration of the remainder of the 12 year programme.

“They are half way through the programme.

Nothing will change with the programme,” Giannini said.

“But I suspect that because its made such an impact throughout the United States with the teachers that will continue after the 12-year period is up.”

Once that continues, Giannini said they will remain committed to assisting the teachers in the Bahamas as long as the Bahamas Bowl game is played here.

FROM PAGE 16

assessments of the essays written and make a determination of the final 20 entries, who will be honoured during the half-time of the game that pits Conference USA against the Mid-American Conference.

“It’s a unique deal. It’s all about the teachers and how we can help them to get off to a great start for the new year,” Giannini said.

“That’s why the College Playoff System decided to do this for education. That way you include everybody and you’re putting the money where it is needed.

“When the game is played, that part of the programme will also be carried live on ESPN so that persons can see and recognise those teachers who will be

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, PAGE 13

EU WANTS ‘VERIFIABLE PROOF’ PENG SHUAI IS SAFE TEAM Germany celebrate after beating Great Britain in a Davis Cup quarter final match in Innsbruck, Austria, yesterday.

(AP Photos/Michael Probst)

Germany beats Britain in Davis Cup for 1st semi since 2007 INNSBRUCK, Austria (AP) — Germany came from behind to upset Britain in the Davis Cup quarterfinals yesterday after Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz won the decisive doubles match.

The German pair defeated British teammates Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 7-6 (10), 7-6 (5) after the best-of-three tie was level following the two singles.

Krawietz and Pütz saved four set points in the tiebreaker before taking the opening set and won the second tiebreaker after winning seven straight points from 5-0 down.

“This is an incredible team achievement,” Krawietz said. “We have a great atmosphere in the team from day one.”

Daniel Evans had given Britain the lead by beating Peter Gojowczyk 6-2, 6-1, but JanLennard Struff pulled Germany even with the 10-time champion by beating Cameron Norrie 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-2.

Germany has won the Davis Cup three times but not since 1993. In its first semifinal since 2007, Germany will meet either Sweden or the team from Russia on Saturday. Croatia will face either Serbia or Kazakhstan in the other semifinal.

“We have done everything to win,” Struff said. “We hope our journey goes on and the next goal is to win the semifinal.”

Britain was seeking its fourth semifinal berth in the last six editions of the tournament. It last won the event in 2015, and it had

GERMANY’s Jan-Lennard Struff celebrates with coach Michael Kohlmann after winning against Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie during their Davis Cup quarter final match match yesterday. beaten Germany 2-0 when the teams also met in the quarterfinal two years ago.

“Everyone is gutted, this is a tough day to swallow,” Britain team captain Leon Smith said. “It could have gone either way, but it wasn’t to be today. They gave their best effort but sometimes that is not enough, and Germany deserves to go through.”

Struff said his win over Norrie was “one of the most important victories of my career.

Cam Norrie is a real fighter. I started very well, went 4-1 up, but when you take so many risks, you can expect that more mistakes will come.”

The 12th-ranked Norrie failed to serve out the opening set against Struff when leading 6-5, and the Briton missed two set points in the tiebreaker.

One break halfway through the set was enough for Norrie to take the second, but the 51st-ranked Struff won the third by taking four games in a row.

“At the end of the match I managed to play as aggressive again as at the beginning,” Struff said.

In the first singles match, Evans built a quick 4-0 lead and didn’t face a break point all day. Gojowczyk earned only two points on Evans’ serve in the second set and doublefaulted for the fourth time on match point.

“I tried to get some rhythm early on,” Evans said. “I played well from start to finish.”

Gojowczyk was a surprise pick by Germany captain Michael Kohlmann. The 86th-ranked player replaced Dominik Koepfer, who is ranked 32 places higher and played in the two group matchups Germany won against Austria and Serbia.

Gojowczyk had never played Evans in an ATP level match but beat the Briton twice in lower-ranked tournaments, in 2013 and 2016.

No spectators were allowed in the OlympiaWorld arena amid a nationwide lockdown in Austria to fight the spreading of the coronavirus. Madrid will host the rest of the Davis Cup Finals.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union said yesterday that it wants China to release “verifiable proof” that tennis player Peng Shuai is safe and to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into her sexual assault allegations.

Peng, a three-time Olympian and former top-ranked doubles player, dropped out of public view after accusing a former Communist Party official of sexual assault.

Peng only has had a few direct contacts with officials outside China since she disappeared from public view earlier this month.

She told Olympic officials in a November 21 video call from Beijing that she was safe and well.

“Her recent public reappearance does not ease concerns about her safety and freedom,” an EU spokesperson said.

Peng made the sexual assault allegation online against a former member of the Communist Party’s ruling Standing Committee, Zhang Gaoli.

The tennis player’s post was removed within minutes, and she stopped appearing in public.

“The EU joins growing international demands, including by sport professionals, for assurances that she is free and not under threat,” the EU said in a statement.

“In this spirit, the EU requests the Chinese government to provide verifiable proof of Peng Shuai’s safety, well-being and whereabouts. The EU urges the Chinese authorities to conduct a full, fair and transparent investigation into her allegations of sexual assault.”

Peng adds to a growing number of Chinese businesspeople, activists and ordinary people who have disappeared from public view in recent years after criticising party figures or in crackdowns on corruption or pro-democracy and labour rights campaigns.

“The EU strongly opposes the use of the practice of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention...and calls upon China to comply with its human rights obligations under national and international law,” the EU said.

LUNDY ROBINSON

Cardinals, Packers, Buccaneers remain top 3 in AP Pro32

FROM PAGE 16

By SIMMI BUTTAR AP Pro Football Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The status quo reigns at the top of the AP Pro32 poll.

The Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers retained the top three spots in the latest poll.

The Cardinals, who were on a bye last week, received eight of the 12 first-place votes for 378 points in balloting ysterday by media members who regularly cover the NFL. The Cardinals return to action on Sunday, when they take on the Bears in Chicago.

“The Cardinals are survivalists. They played their last three games without their two best players, QB Kyler Murray and WR DeAndre Hopkins, and managed to win two of them to maintain the best record in the NFL at 9-2,” said Rick Gosselin of Talk of Fame Network.

Arizona expects both Murray and Hopkins to play Sunday.

The Packers, who earned the remaining four firstplace votes for 368 points, are coming off an impressive 36-28 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Green Bay has a bye this week.

“Aaron Rodgers walked off to chants of ‘MVP! MVP!’ at Lambeau Field after vanquishing the Rams, and the venerable quarterback welcomed the sentiment,” Newsday’s Bob Glauber said.

“There’s no debate he’s in the mix to become the first repeat winner since Peyton Manning in 2009.”

CARDINALS’ James Conner smiles as he heads off the field after his team defeated the Seattle Seahawks on November 21 in Seattle.

(AP Photo/John Froschauer)

GREEN Bay Packers’ Davante Adams reacts as he walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won 36-28.

(AP Photo/Aaron Gash) The defending champion Buccaneers rallied for a 38-31 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

The New England Patriots, who have won six in a row and lead the AFC East, continued their surge in the poll as they moved up two spots to No. 4. The Patriots will conclude Week 13 with a Monday night game at the division rival Buffalo Bills.

The Bills also moved up in the poll, gaining three spots to No. 7 after they routed the New Orleans Saints on Thanksgiving night.

Another team coming off a bye, the Kansas City Chiefs, slipped a spot to No. 5.

The Baltimore Ravens, after holding off the Cleveland Browns on Sunday night, moved up one place to No. 6.

The reeling Tennessee Titans, who have lost two in a row, will enter their bye week at No. 8 after dropping three places following their loss at New England.

The Cincinnati Bengals moved up four spots to No. 9 after topping the Pittsburgh Steelers.

And the No. 10 Dallas Cowboys, coming off an overtime loss to Las Vegas on Thanksgiving, will open Week 13 as they head to New Orleans to take on the Saints.

“The entire sloop sailing community is deeply saddened and heart broken by Lundy’s passing. He had a deep and abiding love for the sport of sloop sailing and he contributed so much to the growth and development of the National Family Island Regatta. His legacy will live on and he will forever be an important part of the sloop sailing family.

“I know that I speak on behalf of sailors, sloop builders, boat owners and sailing fans throughout The Bahamas, when I say that we have all lost a true and great friend.

“Lundy Robinson has gone on to his eternal reward for his life as his faith has promised. We will miss him, but we will never forget him. May he Rest in Peace.”

PAGE 14, Wednesday, December 1, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Tiger Woods says his legacy and allegiance are with PGA Tour

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Tiger Woods left little room for interpretation when it comes to Greg Norman’s latest attempt at a competing tour or other proposed leagues offering guaranteed riches to players to compete in team formats.

He made his history on the PGA Tour and that was enough for him.

“I’ve decided for myself that I’m supporting the PGA Tour. That’s where my legacy is,” Woods said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have won 82 events on this tour and 15 major championships, and been a part of the World Golf Championships, the start of them and the end of them.”

Woods has 18 titles in World Golf Championships, which now have only one event on this season’s schedule.

“So I have allegiance to the PGA Tour,” Woods said.

Woods said he disagrees with any comparisons to when Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus helped lead a breakaway from the PGA of America in the late 1960s by creating a division for tournament players to better serve their needs.

That became what now is the PGA Tour.

He also praised PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan for getting the tour through the pandemic.

“I think the tour is in great hands,” Woods said.

“They’re doing fantastic,

and prize money is going up. It’s just not guaranteed money like most sports are. It’s just like tennis, you have to go out there and earn it.”

Meanwhile, the PGA Tour still hasn’t granted releases for its members to play in the Saudi International on February 3-6.

It’s part of the Asian Tour, though not one of the 10 new events Norman plans as part of his LIV Golf Investments, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

The tournament said it had commitments from 24 players who are PGA Tour members, including defending champion Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Xander Schauffele. The PGA Tour said its regulations allow for a decision on releases to be made up until 30 days before the first round.

Schauffele confirmed he is playing but did not know the status of his release.

He is leaving that up to his management team to sort out.

“Me trying to be my own agent or handle problems off the course ... I realised I try to be good at one thing, and that’s golf,” he said. “I let someone else handle it.”

MASTERS ON THE MIND Golf is close to wrapping up for the year, meaning the field for the Masters next April will get some additions from the top 50 in the final world ranking.

Two tournaments that could have a bearing on

TIGER Woods watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the PNC Championship golf tournament on December 20, 2020, in Orlando, Florida.

(AP Photo/Phelan M Ebenhack) that are in Japan and South Africa.

Takumi Kanaya closed with a 67 for a tie for fourth in the Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour last week, moving him to No. 54 in the world.

Kanaya is playing the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup this week, giving him a chance to move into the top 50. He made the cut in the 2019 Masters as the Asia-Pacific Amateur champion.

The South African Open will be the final event of the year on the Sunshine Tour (and DP World Tour) because of the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant in the country.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout is No. 48 and entered to play at Gary Player Country Club, so he can nail down a spot.

The Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas offers world ranking points, though it will not affect who secures a spot

at Augusta National. Everyone in the field is already exempt except for Henrik Stenson, and he couldn’t get into the top 50 even if he were to win.

That leaves the Australian PGA Championship next week at Royal Queensland. Min Woo Lee is No. 49 in the world and is not among the early entries, though projections indicate he would stay among the top 50 by the end of the year. The Scottish Open champion has never played the Masters.

At least nine players are likely to be added to the field, three of whom primarily play the PGA Tour — Matthew Wolff, Mackenzie Hughes and Ryan Palmer. Hughes locked up his spot with a tie for fourth in the Zozo Championship and a runner-up finish at Sea Island. That likely means no more than 84 players in the field, making it virtually certain

the Masters will keep its field under 100 players.

TOUR BABIES The week before Thanksgiving gave Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler plenty of gratitude as both became first-time fathers.

Annie Spieth gave birth to a boy, Sammy, on Nov. 14. Spieth waited until Nov. 18 to post on social media a photo of the baby with their Black lab looking on.

That was the day Alison Fowler gave birth to a girl, Maya. The Fowlers posted a photo of them with their daughter outside the back of their house.

Spieth is playing this week in the Hero World Challenge, his first event in six weeks.

DIVOTS Fresh off becoming the first American to win Europe’s top tour award, Collin Morikawa is playing twice on the DP World Tour early next year at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. ...

STAT OF THE WEEK Tom Hoge, Sepp Straka, Peter Malnati and Sung Kang played eight of the nine tournaments on the PGA Tour fall schedule.

Hoge (No. 27) is the only one in the top 60 in the FedEx Cup. FINAL WORD “To see some of my shots fall out of the sky a lot shorter than they used to is a little eye-opening, but at least I’m able to do it again.

That’s something that for a while there it didn’t look like I was going to.”

— Tiger Woods

WOODS FROM PAGE 16

champion of the $3,500,000 purse will be crowned.

Stenson is the defending champion.

“A lot of the players who were first‑timers that have come from this event have started to know charities or new foundations from what they’ve learned here at this event, so we’re very proud of that,” Woods said.

“Some have expanded on that, on what they’ve been doing from their own charities and their own foundations from what they learned at this event, so hopefully that trend continues. We have a great week weather wise, the course is immaculate, so it’s a lot of fun this week.”

Dr Pawan Munjal, chairman and CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said it was a delight to be back in the Bahamas with Woods to put on what many consider to be one of the biggest tournaments in the world.

“It’s always ‑‑ it’s always bliss for me and for all of us from Hero to come back here at Albany for the Hero World Challenge,” Munjal said.

“It’s always a treat to be amongst friends, with Tiger and the 20 other fortunate pros who get to play the Hero World Challenge, a very unique event, a very different golf event, a fun event, yet part of the PGA Tour.”

Trying not to concentrate on the effects of COVID19, Munjal said God has been kind to allow them to continue to play the game with all of the pros back on the courses.

“Now this week let’s all have fun, let’s have a treat here at Albany,” he said.

“Let’s enjoy the Bahamas and let’s watch the best of golf on this beautiful golf course here.”

Woods has little to offer on past accident or future in golf

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Tiger Woods had nothing to say about the February car crash that shattered his right leg and he had even less of an idea what his future in golf holds except that he’s a long way from deciding whether he can compete against the best.

“I can show up here and I can host an event, I can play a par-3 course, I can hit a few shots, I can chip and putt,” he said yesterday. “But we’re talking about going out there and playing against the world’s best on the most difficult golf courses under the most difficult conditions.

“I’m so far from that.”

Woods addressed the media for the first time since his February 23 crash on a winding road in the Los Angeles coastal suburbs. Police said he was driving at least 84 mph when he crossed a median and his SUV tumbled down a hill.

Doctors said he shattered tibia and fibula bones in his right leg in multiple locations. Those were stabilised by a rod in the tibia.

A combination of screws

and pins were used to stabilise additional injuries in the ankle and foot.

Asked his recollection of the accident, Woods said curtly, “All those answers have been answered in the investigation, so you can read about all that there in the police report.” When asked if he had any flashbacks to the trauma, he replied: “I don’t, no. Very lucky in that way.”

Woods said he felt fortunate to be alive and to still have his right leg — he said the possibility of amputation was “on the table” — and to be able to walk into the press centre at Albany Golf Club without a noticeable limp. From the waist up, with biceps bulging through a blackand-gray shirt, he looked like he did a year ago.

Woods is the host of the Hero World Challenge, which starts Thursday for 20 elite players.

He said he spent three months immobilised — a makeshift hospital bed was set up in his Florida home — before he could start moving around on crutches and eventually walk on his own. Two weeks ago, he posted a video of his smooth swing with a short iron.

That raised hopes that he was on his way back.

On Tuesday, he hit the brakes on any notion that a comeback was near. Still to be determined is whether he even wants to go through the work required to compete at a high level.

“I have a long way to go to get to that point,” he said. “Now, I haven’t decided whether or not I want to get to that point.

I’ve got to get my leg to a point where that decision can be made, and we’ll see what happens when I get to that point.”

What was clear was that any golf in his future would be limited, and it already was headed in that direction before the car crash.

He played only nine times during the pandemic-shortened 2020, ending the year with a fifth surgery on his lower back.

Even so, he could see a scenario of picking and choosing where to play, presumably around the majors, much like Ben Hogan did after his nearfatal car accident in 1949.

Woods won the Masters in 2019 after back fusion surgery, and just two years after he could barely walk and feared his career was over.

“I got that last major, and I ticked off two more events along the way,” he said.

The other two were the Tour Championship in 2018, when he outplayed Rory McIlroy in the final round at East Lake, and the Zozo Championship in Japan in fall 2019 for his 82nd career PGA Tour victory to tie Sam Snead’s record.

Can he win again?

“I’ve got to be good enough to do it, OK? So I’ve got to prove to myself in practice that I’m good enough,” he said.

His right leg will never be what it once was. Ditto for his left knee, which has gone through five surgeries, one of them a week after he won the 2008 US Open despite having shredded ligaments and a double stress fracture. He said his

back won’t be the same either, and it still ached even as he sat at a table for his news conference.

Woods turns 46 on December 30.

“All that combined means that a full schedule and a full practice schedule and the recovery that it would take to do that, no, I don’t have any desire to do that,” he said. “But to ramp up for a few events a year ... there’s no reason that I can’t do that and feel ready.

“I’ve come off long layoffs and I’ve won or come close to winning before,” he said. “So I know the recipe for it. I’ve just got to get to a point where I feel comfortable enough where I can do that again.”

Since the accident, Woods gave an interview to Golf Digest (with which he has a financial deal) in May and a video interview with the Discovery-owned outlet that was published Monday. He also was in touch with US players at the Ryder Cup and says the players with whom he’s close have kept in touch. But he hasn’t lost his intense desire for privacy, including what exactly happened when he was speeding along that suburban LA road.

He said friends kept him from what was being said and written about him, and he refused to watch anything on TV except for sports.

“I didn’t want to go down that road. I wasn’t mentally ready for that road yet,” he said. “A lot of things in my body hurt at that time, and whether I was on medication or not, it still hurt. ...

I didn’t want to have my mind go there yet. It wasn’t ready.”

Meanwhile, the Masters is four months away, and to hear Woods speak about the long road ahead, anything but the Masters Club dinner for champions seemed unlikely.

Woods said everything was a short-term goal.

“This year’s been a year I would like to turn the page on,” he said.

WEST Indies bowler Veerasammy Permaul, centre, is congratulated by Joshua Da Silva and skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for taking five Sri Lankan wickets during day two of their second test cricket match in Galle, Sri Lanka, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

West Indies 69-1 after dismissing Sri Lanka for 204 on Day 2 GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — West Indies made a steady start in reaching 69-1 after bowling out Sri Lanka for 204 before rain forced an early end to day two of the second cricket test on Tuesday.

Left-arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Jomel Warrican combined for nine Sri Lanka wickets with career-best performances.

When play was called, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was on 22 and Nkhrumah Bonner on 1.

The tourists trailed Sri Lanka by 135 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Permaul, in his first test in more than five years, snared 5-35 to register his first five-wicket haul.

Warrican took 4-50, also a career best.

The pair ensured they reversed a good Sri Lanka start which featured a 106run opening partnership.

The last nine wickets went for 98 runs.

Sri Lanka resumed on 113-1, and Pathum Nissanka and Oshada Fernando added 26 more runs to the total before Permaul struck in the seventh over of the day. Fernando tried to play a cut shot close to his body and was caught behind by Joshua da Silva for 18.

Permaul took two wickets in one over, trapping Nissanka lbw for 73 to end an innings that lasted 148 deliveries and contained a six and five boundaries.

Two deliveries later, he had Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind on 2.

Charith Asalanka, playing his first test, scored 10 before becoming Permaul’s next wicket, caught by Bonner.

Angelo Mathews walked off the field with an injury when he was on 12, but returned at the fall of the eighth wicket, even though he was still unable to run.

He hit two sixes and a boundary before being bowled for 29 by Warrican and ending the Sri Lanka first innings.

The only West Indies wicket was taken by Sri Lanka’s own left-armer, Praveen Jayawickrama, who trapped Jermaine Blackwood for 44. He faced 99 balls and hit five boundaries and reviewed the decision unsuccessfully.

Rain is playing a big part in the match, with two sessions lost on the first day and a session’s worth of overs on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka won the first test by 187 runs at the same venue, and the West Indies must win the second to draw the series.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, PAGE 15

Column: Even a little Tiger is better than no Tiger at all

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — The only certainty about Tiger Woods is that he won’t be playing very much golf, and that’s if he decides it’s worth trying to scale a mountain taller than all the previous ones.

“Making progress,” he wrote to accompany a video of his swing he posted on Twitter two weeks ago.

“I’m so far from that,” he said yesterday when talking about taking on Jon Rahm and Collin Morikawa and Rory McIlroy in the biggest events on the toughest golf courses.

Woods walked into the room at Albany Golf Club without a noticeable limp as he climbed onto the stage and took his seat behind a microphone. He left the stage a little more gingerly, and conceded his leg and

back were aching just sitting there.

“We all want to see him back. We all want to see him healthy and playing like the Tiger Woods we’ve seen for 20 years,” Harris English said.

Those days were fading with age, and they probably are gone due to a badly damaged right leg stemming from a car crash in the Los Angeles suburbs some 10 months ago. Woods mentioned the possibility of amputation in the early stages of being hospitalised.

This is a slow road back before he can even think about the climb.

So much chatter is on the Masters in April, without consideration that Augusta National might be the toughest course to walk of any tournament he plays. Woods said he would love to return to the British Open at St Andrews, where

the steepest climb is crossing the Swilcan Bridge.

Woods has ruled out being a full-time player, and the argument can be made he already was headed in that direction. He played only 13 events on the PGA Tour in 2019, the last time he was healthy and the world wasn’t in the throes of a pandemic.

The best-case scenario is a schedule geared around the majors, similar to Ben Hogan’s in the 1950s after his near-fatal car accident.

Hogan was 37 when he won the 1950 US Open. Woods turns 46 at the end of next month.

Would it be enough to satisfy his legion of fans for him to play only a few tournaments a year?

The short is yes. Because even a little Tiger is better than no Tiger at all.

“The PGA Tour is in such a good spot with these

Former Olympian Hachlaf banned six years for 2nd doping case MONACO (AP) — Moroccan runner Halima Hachlaf was banned for six years yesterday for a second doping offence.

Hachlaf, who ran in the 800 metres at the 2012 London Olympics, tested positive for a synthetic steroid hormone at a race in Rabat in January.

She did not have an exemption to use it as a medicine, the Athletics Integrity Unit said in its verdict.

The 33-year-old runner previously served a four-year ban for suspected blood doping and returned to compete at the 2019 world championships in Doha, Qatar.

She was eliminated in the 800 semifinals.

The AIU said Hachlaf did not respond to requests to cooperate with the case and has been suspended from the sport through 2027. She can challenge the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Hachlaf twice won races on the Diamond League circuit before competing for Morocco at the 2012 Olympics. She was eliminated in the semifinals in London.

MOROCCO’s Halima Hachlaf reacts after winning the women’s 800m at the IAAF Diamond League Golden Gala athletics meeting at Rome’s Olympic stadium, June 10, 2010.

(AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

PAKISTAN BEATS BANGLADESH BY EIGHT WICKETS IN 1ST CRICKET TEST CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh (AP) — Opener Abid Ali missed out on back-to-back centuries by nine runs but Pakistan comfortably chased down a 202-run target to beat Bangladesh by eight wickets on Tuesday in the first cricket test.

Abid and Abdullah Shafique put on a 151-run partnership for the first wicket, their second consecutive 100-plus stand in the match to give Pakistan’s chase a powerful start. Abid, who hit 133 in the first innings, struck 12 boundaries and scored 91 off 148 deliveries in the second innings.

“I’m really pleased with the way Abdullah Shafique built his innings and Abid Ali was outstanding, scoring tough runs to pull the team out from difficult position,” Pakistan captain Babar Azam said, also crediting his bowlers for turning the match after his team conceded

a first-innings lead. “The way Bangladesh played in the first innings was really good but Shaheen (Afridi) and Hasan (Ali) were outstanding.

“That’s the beauty of test cricket that it allows you to make a comeback. We didn’t have much time to prepare for the test but we gave our best.”

Resuming Day 5 at 109 without loss, and just 93 runs away from the victory, Pakistan’s openers appeared to be in full control until offspinner Mehidy Hasan struck.

Shafique followed his first-innings half-century to reach 73 before Mehidy (1-59) trapped him lbw.

Seven overs later, leftarm spinner Taijul Islam (1-89) had Abid out lbw, baffling him with a sharp turn to make Pakistan 171-2.

Azhar Ali then combined with Azam to complete the inevitable, hitting consecutive boundaries off Mehidy

to finish off the game.

Azhar was unbeaten on 24 and Azam was not out on 13.

Liton Das’ maiden test century helped Bangladesh post 330 in its first innings, then Taijul Islam claimed 7-116 to bowl out Pakistan for 286 — giving the hosts a 44-run first innings lead.

Paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi was instrumental in Pakistan’s rally, returning figures of 5-32 to wrap up Bangladesh’s second innings for 157.

“The key difference was the performance of the top order of the both teams in this test,” Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque said.

“We were four down for 40-odd runs in both innings when their openers have two 100-plus partnerships.

“Mushfiqur (Rahim), Liton (Das) stepped up, Taijul got seven wickets but as a team we couldn’t play well.”

The second test starts Saturday in Dhaka.

young guys. Tiger is only going to help draw more fans to the game when he’s playing,” English said. “We haven’t had him for the last year and it’s been doing great. He got us to where we’re at. Any time he can play just adds interest and adds intrigue and puts golf in the national media.”

Abraham Ancer might become a footnote in history as the last player to face Woods in match play. It was Sunday singles at Royal Melbourne in the 2019 Presidents Cup, and Woods hit the ball as crisply as he did all year and won on the 16th hole.

In a loss, it was a special memory for Ancer.

“I was happy I got to experience him at a high level in a high-pressure match. It was cool for me and I learned a lot,” Ancer said.

Equally memorable was the first time Ancer played in the same tournament as Woods, at Torrey Pines in 2018, and he wound up in the group behind him starting the final round on the back nine. Ancer recalled seeing “mayhem.”

“Any time Tiger shows up at an event, it’s completely different, no matter how he’s playing,” Ancer said.

“He transforms events.”

Think of what now is the John Deere Classic, a sleepy Midwestern tournament until Woods played in his third event as a pro in 1996 and had a chance to win.

The Quad City golf community has been buzzing ever since, even though Woods never returned.

Woods made one appearance at the Valspar Championship, and the gallery was standing 12 rows deep around some of the tees. He finished one shot behind. The Innisbrook crowd remains robust.

Some who went for the first time must have liked what they saw.

“Anyone who’s moved the needle or changed the game so much, to still be a part of the game, will bring people to it,” Xander Schauffele said. “Whether it’s once, twice or three times a year, there’s just a level of excitement. I was lucky to play with him a few times. I can see what

he does to people, and to venues.”

It’s the concept of a rising tide lifting all ships, and there’s no tide like Tiger Woods.

The first step is getting him back in the water, and that’s no small task.

He has been down a similar path before, most notably the progress he made from four back surgeries in a span of three years. He contended at tournaments (Valspar), then at majors (British Open at Carnoustie, PGA Championship at Bellerive) and then he won the Masters.

“I don’t see that type of trend going forward for me,” Woods said, another sobering comment from his news conference. “I won’t have the opportunity to practice given the condition of my leg and build up.

I just don’t. I’ll just have a different way of doing it and that’s OK and I’m at peace with that. I’ve made the climb enough times.”

At this point, no one should be looking for another Mount Everest.

They just want to see Tiger, even if for just a little while.

SPORTS PAGE 16

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

Tiger: ‘It’s exciting to have Hero World Challenge this week’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A

fter taking a year off last year due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, legendary golfer Tiger Woods said he’s all excited about the return to the Hero World Challenge Golf Tournament at the Albany Golf Course this weekend.

“It’s been a long 22 months for all of us, not being able to play last year, we completely understand the reasons why with the pandemic, trying to keep everyone safe and it was the right call, but it’s exciting to have it this week,” said Woods in a pre-tournament interview yesterday.

“This is our sixth time here, seventh time with Hero MotoCorp, so we’re excited about that and our future with them. Look at the field this year, the

20 elite golfers to tee off at Albany Golf Course tomorrow strongest we’ve ever had.

It’s been ‑‑ it’s incredible.”

Looking at the field, which includes Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns, Webb Simpson, Daniel Berger, Harris English, Tony Finch, Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer, Henrik Stenson, Viktor Hovland, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy,

TIGER Woods holds his first press conference since his February 23 car crash in Los Angeles at the Hero World Challenge golf tournament in Nassau, Bahamas, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Doug Ferguson) Justin Thomas, Brooks players being introduced to will resume play on Friday Koepka, Bryson DeCham- this format and this event. and Saturday and conbeau and Jordan Spieth, The players will tee off clude on Sunday when the Woods said it’s a very 11:05am Thursday at the strong one with eight new Albany Golf Club. They SEE PAGE 14

Ayton, Page 11

FORMER SLOOP SAILOR LUNDY ROBINSON DIES DANNY Strachan, chairman and commodore of the National Family Island Regatta Committee, offered his condolences on the passing of former sloop sailor Lundy Robinson, who passed away on Tuesday morning.

Said Strachan in a press statement yesterday: “Today is a sad day for the sailing community throughout the Bahamas with the passing of one of our great sons, Lundy Robinson.

“The National Family Island Regatta has lost, with his passing, a great friend and a skipper of the first order.

“My condolences to his dear wife Sharon, the children and his brother Clyde Rolle, the vice commodore of the National Family Island Regatta.

“Our prayers are with all of you during this very difficult time in your lives.

“My Family and I join in mourning the death of a great man who taught me so much by how he lived his life and by his sharing of his love of the sea and sloop sailing. His is a life worthy of celebrating.

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CHRISTMAS WILL COME EARLY FOR 20 BAHAMIAN TEACHERS ON DECEMBER 17

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

as the rest of the team, coached by Rick Stockstill, about playing in the Bahamas again.

“I heard about all the wonderful things the team had and so I’m looking forward to experiencing it myself,” Maples said. “I know some of our senior class have been here before, but everybody else will be here for the first time.

“You can think about exposure in general, but it’s good to get our players to travel to taste food and see things they have never seen before. The game of football has taken these guys outside of their comfort zone, so to do this is icing on the cake.”

And as for a prediction of the game, which marks their 13th appearance in

CHRISTMAS will come early for 20 Bahamian teachers on Friday, December 17, when they are expected to be honoured and recognised through a $10,000 grant provided by the foundation created by the College Football Playoff System of the United States of America.

Similar to what they do during their college bowl games held around the country, Richard Giannini, executive director of the Bahamas Bowl, said during half-time of the 2021 Bahamas Bowl between the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and the Toledo Rockets at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, the 20 teachers selected by the Ministry of Education will be presented with cheques of $500 each.

“It started with just the playoff games in the United States, but now they are doing it with all of the bowl games,” Giannini said.

“They have provided a local grant in each community to help the local teachers.

“So when we decided to tap into the programme for our bowl game, we got with the Ministry of Education here. They are doing a programme where teachers from throughout the Bahamas have to write an essay about what they would do with the $500 grant for their classroom. How would they spend that money?”

On Friday, Giannini said the Ministry of Education is expected to complete its

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SHOWN, from left, are director of sports Tim Munnings, Larry Maples of Middle Tennessee, Lea Miller-Tooley, executive director of Complete Sports Management, Bahamas Bowl executive director Richard Giannini, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, Greg Burrows of the Ministry of Sports, “Golden Girl” Eldece Clarke of the Ministry of Tourism, David Nottke of Toledo and Quinton Brennen of the National Sports Authority.

Photos by Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff

‘They’re ready to come down here and experience everything that The Bahamas has to offer’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHEN they got the news on Sunday that they will be returning to the Bahamas to represent Conference USA against the Toledo Rockets, associate athletic director Larry Maples said their Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders football team was all “juiced” about the trip.

“We’re a frisky bunch.

We started off the season at 1-3, but we fought through our adversities,” said Maples of the Blue Raiders, who finished the season at 6-6 overall and 4-4 in Conference USA. “We have some guys who are willing to fight.

We have some guys who are willing to put it all on the line. The team is juiced.

They’re ready to roll and

rock. They’re ready to come down here and experience everything that the Bahamas has to offer.”

Maples’ comments came yesterday during the official press conference in the foyer of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium ahead of the 2021 Bahamas Bowl, set for Friday, December 17 at noon and televised on ESPN and broadcast on Bowl Season Radio.

Returning after an absence last year due to the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bahamas Bowl will kick off the 2021 Bowl Season. It’s still listed as the longest-running international bowl game in college football history, having made its debut in 2014.

Middle Tennessee and Toledo will play for The Prime Minister’s Trophy,

LARRY Maples

MINISTER Bowleg

awarded to the champion of the Bahamas Bowl. It will be a return to The Bahamas for both schools, as Middle Tennessee participated in the 2015 game, and Toledo played in the 2018 edition.

While the Blue Raiders and the Rockets will

clash for the first time, the all-time Bahamas Bowl matchup between Conference USA and the MAC is tied at 3-3.

Although this is the second trip here for Middle-Tennessee, Maples will be viewing his first matchup, but he’s just as excited