12022022 NEWS AND SPORT

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis said yester day he was informed that embattled former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has been interviewed by local authorities as inves tigations continue into the collapse of the crypto giant.

“I heard that he was,” Mr Davis said to reporters when asked about the issue yesterday.

He also told reporters he was not concerned that FTX’s collapse would nega tively impact the country’s

real estate market.

This comes after Mr Bankman-Fried gave a nearly hour long interview with journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin on Wednesday at the DealBook Summit in New York City.

He spoke at the summit via video call from The Bahamas where he opened up about the crypto giant’s downfall and his transgres sions that led to it.

He also recently sat down with ABC News for his first network interview since the swift collapse of his company, where he denied having knowledge of any

FISHERMEN ‘MAY NOT SURVIVE’ AS LOBSTER PRICES PLUNGE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

FEARS were yesterday voiced that some Bahamian fishermen “may not survive the season” as the indus try seeks to “weather the storm” created by lobster tail prices plunging by up to 50 percent.

Paul Maillis, the National Fisheries Association’s (NFA) secretary, said fish ermen who invested heavily in their vessels and opera tions in expectation that last

year’s prices “of upwards of $20 per pound” will be maintained are especially vulnerable to the drop-off.

Disclosing that seafood processors are paying fish ermen as little as $10 per pound for lobster in some parts of The Bahamas, he attributed the “suppressed prices” to increased supply as rival sources such as South Africa ramp up production back to pre-pan demic levels with the lifting of COVID restrictions.

By LETRE SWEETING

CRUISE PORT GRAND OPENING IN MAY, SAYS CHIEF EXECUTIVE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

‘HOW MANY TAXI PLATES HAVE BEEN ISSUED?’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Min ister Dr Hubert Minnis has urged Transport and Housing Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis to disclose the number of taxi plates that have been issued, amid accusations that the law has not been followed regard ing the issuing process.

Dr Minnis spoke on the issue the day after Bahamas Taxi Cab Union

and Housing on the issue of regulating taxi plates.

After several months of seeking to meet with Mrs Coleby-Davis on the issue of increased taxi drivers in an oversaturated market, Mr Ferguson said all he has now is a lot of complaints, but no response from the ministry.

In an interview yesterday, the former Prime Minis ter asserted that from his understanding there has

A GRAND opening for the new Nassau Cruise Port will be held in the last week in May following the

multi-million-dollar pro ject’s completion, its chief executive officer revealed yesterday.

Michael Maura, CEO of Nassau Cruise Port Lim ited, spoke to reporters

president

Wesley Ferguson said union members were still await ing correspondence from the Ministry of Transport

TRANSPORT and Housing Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis.

Photo: Austin Fernander

Photo: Moise Amisial

PM: Authorities quiz FTX founder

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“improper use” of customer funds.

The interview also took place from The Bahamas and was aired on the station yes terday morning.

When asked if he was worried about going to jail, Mr Bankman-Fried said: “There are a lot of things that are worry ing me right now and as best as possible, I am trying to focus on what I can do going forward to be helpful and let whatever regulatory and legal processes that’s hap pening play out as they will.”

FTX’s swift demise came after CoinDesk, a publication which reports on cryptocur rency, broke the news in early November about a leaked document that appeared to show that Alameda Research, Mr BankmanFried’s cryptocurrency trading firm, held an unusually large amount of FTT tokens.

FTT tokens were created by FTX.

Days later, Binance, a crypto exchange considered a major rival to FTX, announced that it was selling all remain ing FTT tokens, which then led to a large number of clients’ simultaneous withdraw ing its assets from FTX. After facing a liquidity crisis, FTX, Alameda Research, and “dozens other affiliated companies” filed a bankruptcy petition in Delaware.

literal distraction. I really should have spent some time each day taking a step back and saying what are the most important things here and how do I have oversight of those and make sure that I’m not losing track of those.

“And frankly, I did a pretty incomplete job of that. I spent a lot less time looking at assets and looking at balances and positions because that’s not where revenue came from.”

Mr Bankman-Fried also admitted to not spending any effort on risk management, noting that was “obviously a mistake”.

“If I had been spending an hour a day think ing about risk management on FTX, I don’t think that would have happened,” he said. “I think I stopped working as hard for a bit. Hon estly, if I look back on myself, I think I got a little cocky. I mean even more than a little bit and I think part of me felt like we made it.”

FTX Digital Markets, which is headquar tered in The Bahamas, is the Bahamian subsidiary of FTX Trading Ltd, which is owner and operator of FTX.

It was incorporated in The Bahamas in July 2021 and has since injected millions of dollars into the Bahamian economy, mainly through real estate.

CHILD LABOUR POLICY CONVENTIONS SIGNED

By LETRE SWEETING lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE government yester day signed two conventions concerning progress for per sons with disabilities and gender-based violence and also launched one phase of the National Child Labour Policy.

The Department of Labour in conjunction with the National Tripar tite Council (NTC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) held a symposium for these events yesterday morning at the National Training Agency on Gladstone Road.

Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell who was at the symposium yesterday said, “We join with the ILO’s director general during the International Day of Elimi nation of Violence Against Women and the 16 Days of Activism against genderbased violence to ratify and implement the ILO Conven tion 190 and put an end to violence and harassment in the world of work.

“As the third Carib bean country to ratify this historic convention, the government of The Baha mas publicly commits to, one, recognise the right of everyone in the world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender based violence and harassment,” Mr Bell said.

“Secondly, (the govern ment commits to) recognising that violence and harassment in the world of work can constitute a human rights violation or abuse. And that violence and harassment are threats to equal opportunities

and are unacceptable and incompatible with decent work. Third, recognise the importance of a work culture based on mutual respect and dignity of the human being to prevent violence and harass ment,” he said.

Mr Bell added, “We are also celebrating the fact that The Bahamas is also ratifying ILO Convention 159, which is the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employ ment Disabled Persons Convention. The NTC’s rec ommendation to ratify ILO 159 is a public acknowledge ment of the importance that this Davis administration places on the disabled com munity in our nation.

“Our legislative seat of authority still remains inac cessible to disabled persons and I hope that we are able to correct that in this admin istration,” Mr Bell said.

“In The Bahamas, we are of the opinion that the rati fication of ILO 159 along with the other international instruments available to our social partners will promote opportunities for persons with disabilities to gain a living through decent work in the Bahamian labour market,” Mr Bell said.

Meanwhile, Yolantha Yallop, assistant labour direc tor and a member of the NTC who launched the implemen tation phase of the National Child Labour Policy at yes terday’s symposium, said it has been a long time coming.

“I would like to highlight three goals that are within the national policy, the first goal, to prevent and prohibit chil dren from entering the labour market before the minimum age of employment with ways

to report on instances and penalties for violators,” Mrs Yallop said.

“Goal two, to protect children, by withdrawing them from situations of child labour and unfortunately the worst forms of child labour. Goal three to increase public awareness emphasising the difference between child labour and acceptable work for children,” she said.

Mrs Yallop offered two examples of child labour in The Bahamas. “The pack ing boys in the food store (and) the children on the side of the road (selling mer chandise). “What we have accepted to be honest as cul tural norms is something we have to address,” she said.

On May 25, 1976, The Bahamas became a member of the ILO, which has 187 member states from every region of the world. The Bahamas joined the nations of the world in uphold ing the mission of the ILO, which involves bringing together governments, employers and worker rep resentatives to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes to promote decent work for all.

In conjunction with the ILO Caribbean office, the NTC has accomplished several things over the past few years, includ ing the establishment of the National Child Labour Policy, the development of a plan to establish a national productivity council and productivity legislation, the Second Generation Bahamas Decent Work Country pro gramme and several other educational and training opportunities for Bahamians.

‘TA E BAC THE NIGHT’ EVENT TONIGHT

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

SURVIVORS of sexual violence will unite today to raise awareness about the “epidemic” of sexual vio lence in The Bahamas.

Rape crisis advocate Cindy Godet, who is also a certified child sexual abuse prevention advocate, said the event “Take Back The Night” will allow survivors to come together and share their truth.

The partners of the event include The American Corner, Silent No More, The Empowerment Group and RISE Bahamas.

According to Ms Godet, this event is an interna tional initiative, which gets its name from the fear

women in society feel about going out, but particularly at night.

“They fear being sexu ally assaulted or harassed by men,” she said yesterday. “And, of course, we know that sexual assault happens daily in this country.”

The event is geared towards survivors of all forms of sexual violence and will serve as a “sense of community” and “safe space” for all.

“I am a survivor of sexual violence as a child and as an adult. My two partner advocates for this event are survivors as well. We want to give other survivors a place to be seen, feel heard and believed, and to know they’re not alone,” said Ms Godet.

“We want to continu ally sound the alarm and raise awareness about the epidemic of sexual vio lence in our country. We can no longer bury our heads in the sand and pre tend as if lives aren’t being destroyed every day in our communities because of sexual predators and sexual offenders.”

She also encouraged supporters of survivors to attend the event in solidar ity, adding that this event will develop a pattern for similar events as survi vors are deserving of this opportunity.

Take Back the Night starts at 6.30 tonight at the American Corner of the Harry C Moore Library at University of The Bahamas.

US AND BAHAMAS POLICE LINK UP FOR DEPORTATION

A JOINT effort between United States Homeland Security and the Royal Bahamas Police Force has resulted in 34-yearold wanted suspect Derval Anson Cornell Hanna, of

Bimini, being arrested and deported.

Hanna, a resident of Bailey Town, was arrested in South Florida by Border Patrol and Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Yesterday morning, he arrived in New Providence accompanied by ICE offic ers. Police said he will be flown into Grand Bahama where officers want his help in an ongoing investigation.

The firm’s collapse is currently being investigated by local and international law agencies, who are particularly looking at the handling of FTX customers’ funds.

Addressing the downfall, the former CEO told ABC News: “Some part of it was just

Last month, the Bahamas Securities Commission took action to freeze the assets of FTX Digital Markets and related parties and placed it into provisional liquidation. The commission also suspended its regis tration and applied for the appointment of provisional liquidator of FTX Digital Mar kets Ltd. Mr Bankman-Fried has already said he expects to be left with nothing after the dust settles, noting that he currently only has $100,000 in his bank account.

‘HOW MANY TAXI PLATES HAVE BEEN ISSUED?’

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been no gazetting of the candidates and the process is not being respected.

“I see the taxi union complaining that they can’t get a meeting with the minister and the minister has issued so many plates that it’s having a negative impact on the taxi business,” Dr Minnis told The Tribune

“But this minister has been a problem from day one and she’s been allowed to get away with that. No minister should be allowed to get away with that.

“The Prime Minister needs to take con trol and reign in this minister and take leadership of his party. He must demon strate complete leadership. She has issued, from what I understand now, over 700 taxi plates, violating the law.

“The law is straight. The Transportation Act is straight. It must be gazetted and then there must be a waiting time. You wait for individuals to respond and whatever else. It’s in the law. She has not followed that policy.”

He insisted that the taxi union has a right to level criticisms, adding, “What they are saying is correct, she has flooded the market with plates.”

Earlier this week, Mr Ferguson claimed that the minister had gone silent in response to numerous attempts to reach her.

“So far, the taxi union has not heard from the minister in spite of our numerous attempts to meet with her. Emails, tele phone calls went to the office and there’s no meeting. So the minister basically has just gone quiet,” Mr Ferguson said at the time.

“We are basically in the same position we were in when we began, nowhere. The min ister is now MIA, missing in action, can’t see her anywhere other than on TV, giving out keys for new houses,” he said.

“We are waiting for an opportune time and I will bring every taxi driver downtown who got those taxi plates to present them back to Parliament, because they have no use for them,” Mr Ferguson said.

“She (Mrs Coleby-Davis), like I guess the

rest of the MPs, believe that if you ignore a situation it will go away. Because everyone is getting their payments right now so we don’t want to come in the midst of that,” he said.

Mr Ferguson added, “All we have now is a bunch of complaints from taxi drivers now that they are now making no money because the parade that they would have indicated that we would have had for Thanksgiving, it never happened.

“Thanksgiving was a fizzle event. Noth ing happened and Christmas promises to be the same, because there are too many taxi plates out there and the taxi drivers are not making a fair share to take home to their families, because of the massive or reckless increase in taxi plates that were given out by this government,” Mr Ferguson said.

When approached for comment yes terday, Mrs Coleby-Davis said: “The Government of The Bahamas under the leadership of Prime Minister Philip Davis took efforts to end the illegal practice of the leasing or renting of taxi and livery plates. We believe that Bahamians must own the economy - hence, our decision to empower Bahamians and promote entrepeneurship.

“As previously outined in press releases by the Ministry, the majority of taxi plates were issued to existing operators in the industry. Many of the operators positively impacted have worked in the industry for over 15 years.

“I understand that the former Prime Minister is seeking to be relevant, however, I wish to note that the former Prime Minister continues to remain evasive on concerns relating to spend ing on the food assistance programme during the height of the covid-19 pandemic. Further, the former Prime Minister has yet to explain his three ‘varied signatures’ on contracts adminis tered by the Public Beaches and Public Parks Authority during his tenure in office.

“The Davis administration believes in empowering Bahamians. The Ministry of Transport and Housing remains committed to this vision and playing its part - we’ve built homes for Bahamians, empowered taxi oper ators, and took steps to return surrey drivers and watersports operators back to work.”

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis at the official opening of the FTX Digital Markets Headquarters alongside Sam Bankman-Fried.

Countdown to Junkanoo begins as new season is launched

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

YOUTH, Sports, and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg officially launched the start of the 2022/23 Junkanoo season after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the ministry has expended over $2m in resources this year to ensure the effective deliv ery of Junkanoo parades around the country.

“The National Junkanoo Committee has assisted

us in ensuring the Family Islands’ groups are back on stream and the Junkanoo Corporation of New Provi dence has worked faithfully to ensure that the groups here in New Providence are present for this inaugural Junkanoo parade season on the heels of the COVID pandemic,” Mr Bowleg said at a press conference at his ministry.

The highly anticipated return of the festivities kicks off on Eleuthera on Christmas Day and is expected to be a “very

exciting” return to the streets of Georgetown.

The minister said: “The next and most famous com petitive parades will be held in New Providence on the morning of December 26 and January 2. There will be six category A groups, 17 category B groups, and 18 fun groups who will be participating.

“This year we are delighted to announce that the New Providence parade will be broadcast by both the Broadcasting Corpora tion of the Bahamas and

Cable 12. The next sched uled parade is in Grand Bahama on the evening of January 2 - five A groups, five B groups, one fun group and two individuals will participate.”

He added: “In the New Year 2023, Junkanoo parades will be held in

MONTH OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES TO BE HELD

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture in collaboration with the cultural community, has organised a series of activities this month to celebrate the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Cul ture Mario Bowleg announced the launch of the celebrations under the theme “Celebrating Ourselves, Cul turally United”.

“I acknowledge and applaud the outstanding contributions of Baha mian artisans, creatives, and cultural expressionists who for many years

have been in the business of devel oping, enhancing, and promoting Bahamian culture nationally and internationally,” he said.

“This month, we have a number of events and programmes that will be held both in person and by social media in New Providence, Grand Bahama, and the Family Islands. I am extremely pleased that with the decline of COVID-19 we are able to once again enjoy our favourite cul tural expression Junkanoo and all its splendour during this national culture heritage month.”

He said the calendar is “jam packed” with all sorts of activities. A Christmas cultural village will take place at the ministry this Saturday

from 1pm to 7pm.

There will be a national Christ mas tree lighting ceremony in Rawson Square on December 7 at 6.30pm and the launch of a national anthology of short stories on December 19 at 10am, which fea tures 50 stories from 38 Bahamian writers.

There also will be culture in the park events on Long Island on December 9 as well as in Eleuthera and Fresh Creek, Andros, on Decem ber 17. There will be a cultural film fest at the National Art Gallery on December 28.

Mr Bowleg encouraged people to celebrate Bahamian culture and take part in the events.

Abaco, Acklins, Andros, Cat Island and Exuma. In addition, the Junior Jun kanoo parade will be held throughout the New Year.

Junior Junkanoo in New Providence is scheduled for Thursday, January 26, and later in the year we look forward to Junior Jun kanoo in Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Abaco, Andros, and Exuma.”

Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP)

Chairman Dion Miller revealed that the groups are in their final prepara tion stages and 85 people were certified to judge the upcoming parades.

“The parade manage ment teams are making their final preparations. As of Saturday, December 3, which we call nervous Sat urday, all of the groups will officially be on the clock,” Mr Miller said

He highlighted the part technology will play this year in partnership with Aliv as well as timeliness of results being announced.

He said tablets will be used during the judging process and the system will be run on Aliv’s network.

“And so there will be real time (tabulations), real time judging and tabulations of the scores,” he said.

“Last (time), the parades and the results were fin ished around 11am but we made, I think, a mistake and arranging for the press to hear those results at 2 o’clock and so this year, we’re still finalising the exact time, but we antici pate that it will be an early morning again.

“We would like to get back to being able to announce the parade live after the parade immedi ately happens and so stay tuned. We’re in the process of finalising that, but we are all about technology and transparency and improv ing the process for not just the junkanooers, but Baha mians alike.”

Tickets are expected to go on sale soon.

BELL HOPING FOR AMICABLE RESOLUTION OVER SALARIES

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conference at the National Training Agency on Gladstone Road. His com ments came in response to union leaders of the Bahamas National Alli ance Trade Union Congress (BNATUC) on Wednesday calling for the government to consult with the Baha mas Public Service Union (BPSU) about any changes to increases in salaries for public servants in advance of implementation.

Mr Bell said yesterday that his ministry is satisfied with where negotiations are currently between the

government and the BPSU, as the government is ready to come to an agreement.

“I am satisfied that we as a government will continue to negotiate and the unions will continue to negotiate in good faith and bring this to an amicable resolution. That is my anticipation, that’s what I hope, but I am not necessarily concerned about all of the rhetoric that you hear out there, because I’m satisfied that both par ties are at the table,” Mr Bell said.

“They’re going to work these differences out and they can come to an under standing to ensure that the main objective is that the

workers of this country are the beneficiaries of what it is that the government is prepared to give us what we can do,” he said.

“Obviously, you’re going to have the tango back and forth, in respect to ensuring that what the union wants and what the government is able to give, that they both more or less come together and there is some, not so much compromise, but rather that there is some under standing and arrangement agreement,” Mr Bell said.

“The government, as I’m advised, we are in a position of readiness. It is just now to ensure that the union fully agrees, understands,

and that we incorporate their views on what their position is, as far as we pos sibly can,” he said.

Mr Bell added that he planned to reach out to BPSU president Kimsley Ferguson yesterday after noon in an effort to ensure that in moving forward negotiations are “cordial”.

“I reached out to him (Mr Ferguson) this morning. He tried to reach me yesterday (Wednesday). I, unfortu nately, didn’t get it, because I was in a meeting. I apolo gise to him for that, but he did try to reach me. But again, I know that the other government negotiators, they are in communication

back and forth,” Mr Bell said.

“When I leave from here, I’m going to reach out to the negotiator and I’m going to reach out to Mr Ferguson as well to ensure that they continue with the cordial negotiations because at the end of the day, it isn’t about any of us. It’s really (about the) workers and ensuring that we protect their inter ests,” he said.

On Wednesday, the repre sentatives of the BNATUC, including president Belinda Wilson and BPSU presi dent Kimsley Ferguson, held a press conference to respond to the govern ment’s announcement in a

memorandum and proposal document last Friday with proposed salary increases for public servants.

The proposal included changes to initial increases made by the BPSU, with out the voice of the BPSU, said Mr Ferguson on Wednesday.

“We are confirming to date that we have not met with the government to sign off on any particular item in the industrial agree ment. And these increases regarding the responsibility allowance is not something that the Bahamas Public Service Union will be sign ing off on,” Mr Ferguson said at the time.

YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday.

Photo: Moise Amisial

$4m AML store opening to bring Freeport ‘rebirth’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AML opened the doors to its new $4m Solomon’s food store in the Winn Building yesterday, sig nalling the long-awaited rebirth of downtown Freeport for many Grand Bahamians.

Following a brief cer emony and official ribbon cutting, residents flocked inside the newly designed and modern building to shop. Some 60 persons are employed at the location.

Grand Bahama Min ister Ginger Moxey, Gavin Watchorn, CEO of AML Foods Ltd, and Damien Butler, of Milo Butler Investments, which owns the Winn Building, attended the opening.

Mr Watchorn was pleased that their investment has revived the downtown area.

“We are excited that we are finally open, and we are pleased for the people of Grand Bahama,” he told The Tribune. “This is a great day for us, but it is a great day for them.

“This building has always been iconic to the Grand Bahama community and downtown, and we are really pleased that our investment has sparked life back into this area.”

Mr Watchorn said the 60 employees hired at the location are all Grand Bahamians. He also noted that their management team was internally groomed and

are all promoted up as part of a succession training programme.

The new downtown location, he said, is a new concept, but with the same great savings and value that is at all their Solomon’s stores.

“It is a little bit smaller with a lot more efficiency, but all the great things you would see at Solomon’s are

here.”

He noted that the Solo mon’s rewards programme is also at the new location.

Shopper Edward Wil liams said: “It is great for downtown, I remember Winn Dixie, City Market was here and now Solo mons, it is a great day for Grand Bahama.”

Mr Williams also oper ated a small business shop

downtown for many years and believes Solomon’s will bring more people back to the area.

“I have been here since 1973 and I have been look ing forward to this,” he said.

Judy Dawkins and her husband Chef Dawkins, of Jujus Garden, were also among the crowd of shop pers inside.

“I am very happy with the opening of this store downtown. I feel like down town has come alive again. It is a beautiful store and I love it,” Mr Dawkins said.

Mr Dawkins said it saves him the trip from going

all the way to Solomon’s Lucaya on Seahorse Road.

Ms Moxey said the open ing of the new Solomon’s location will be the engine for commerce in the down town area.

“It has been such a great pleasure that I stand to wit ness the official opening of Solomon’s downtown,” she said. “This moment brings downtown alive.”

She believes the food store will serve as a lifeline for downtown, attracting people from West and East End to shop and provide robust business for public transportation providers,

such as public buses and taxicab drivers.

Franklyn Butler, chair man of AML Foods Ltd, said that the vision and real ity of the new downtown location comes three years after the owners lost the Queen’s Highway location during Hurricane Dorian.

He recalled contacting Gavin Watchorn about moving Solomon’s to down town instead of the East West Highway.

Mr Butler said that the GB Port Authority pro vided some meaningful incentives, and that the government was able to relocate some of the gov ernment agencies to the new Winn Building, with the help of the Minister for Grand Bahama.

Mr Butler said AML Foods is committed to the City of Freeport, the com munity, and its economy.

He noted that the crea tion of 60 new jobs, brings the total number of employees to 250 on Grand Bahama.

“We are building lives and people in the process. AML’s investment has been in excess of $4m, and of that spent, in excess of 90 per cent of the project teams were local Grand Bahami ans and businesses,” Mr Butler explained.

Additionally, he noted that in 2021, AML spent more than $1m to renovate the Solomon’s Lucaya loca tion and has earmarked an additional $500,000 for Cost Right in Freeport for 2023.

CRUISE PORT GRAND OPENING IN MAY, SAYS CHIEF EXECUTIVE

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after leading Prime Minis ter Philip “Brave” Davis, Works and Utilities Minis ter Alfred Sears and other government officials on a tour of the development yesterday.

The tour began with Mr Maura showing officials architectural drawings and plans outlining the layout of the development.

Mr Davis and others were also able to take a closer look at the key features of the port that are still undergoing construction, including the arrivals termi nal, the Junkanoo museum and the amphitheatre among others.

“We’re talking with two Bahamian operators who are very immersed with Junkanoo and both are submitting business plans and how they will operate that,” Mr Maura said when asked about plans for the museum.

Retail spaces also will be available at the

Prince George Wharf site, which will be operated by “authentic Bahamian operators.”

To this, Mr Davis spoke to the historical impor tance of the Nassau Straw Market, telling port execu tives that the “competition has to be fair.”

“We need to drive some of those people to the Straw Market and they will not be driven there if you are selling straw here too,” the prime minister told officials.

Mr Maura responded: “Tourism and Minister Sears have already started that conversation -but we are not the ones select ing the applicants or the occupants of this space. It’s coming from the gov ernment. The only thing I would say in the interest of all of us is that everybody that is proposed needs to go through the committee to make sure in fact that (what) they’re selling is Bahamian and not foreign.”

Some 300 workers, half of whom are Bahamians, are currently working on the

cruise port’s development to have work completed ahead of its grand opening scheduled for next May.

“We had a meeting with the Prime Minister yester day and it was agreed that the grand opening would be the last weekend of May,” Mr Maura said. “The reason for that, honestly, as we looked at having it a little earlier in early May, but King Charles decided to be coronated in the around the fifth or sixth of May and that meant that our Prime Minister would be obviously offshore and we need to make sure that our Prime Minister is here in Nassau for that grand opening and so that’s why it’s the last weekend of May.”

The price tag for the port’s development is just around $300m.

“We actually now are at just under $300m,” Mr Maura added. “It’s higher than we anticipated but, you know, obviously, that was impacted by material cost rises due to the pandemic,

and so forth; the difficulty in getting construction work ers, you know, even here in the Bahamas, when people would catch COVID, and so forth, and contact tracing and the rest has slowed the project.

“We had expected to be finished, you know, long before the last weekend of May of 2023 but the pan demic has had its fun with us, but the good news is, you know, you guys will be talking about what a fan tastic party happened to the downtown waterfront come the last weekend of May.”

Mr Maura also explained that, once construction is completed, Nassau Cruise Port will be able to simul taneously accommodate six cruise ships inclusive of three Oasis ships, which are the world’s largest cruise ships, along with three other vessels.

“More importantly, it’s about passenger counts so we’ve gone from 20,000 maximum capacity to over around 33,000 passengers on a given day based on the assortment of vessels that would be in port,” he also said.

“That said, if we had a

day where we had five ships, we could actually have four Oasis vessels in port so it’s given the width of the slips and so forth that we have out there but it’s designed for three Oasis or three icon class ships, which is the next generation of vessels.”

Yesterday, Mr Sears hailed the port as a “sig nature project” that will make The Bahamas more competitive.

“It also will provide a stimulus to Bay Street and also open up new myri ads of opportunity for the orange economy and The Bahamas,” he added.

Myrtle Foulkes, 93

of Farrington Road and formerly of Mastic Point will be held on Saturday, 3rd December, 2022 at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Blue Hill and Wulff Roads at 10:30am. Officiating will be Father Roderick Bain. Interment will be held at St Barnabas Cemetery.

Left to cherish her fond memories are her step daughter: Patsy Wilson; sisters: Marina and Althea Oliver; brother: Joe Oliver; nephews and nieces: Franky Deal, Johnathan Williams, and Ishmael Williams, Rebecca Smith, Linda Martin, Darron Smith, Tommy Martin, Nika Martin, Derek Martin, Jeron Hinzey, George Harris, Janice Harris, Patricia Rolle, Jason Rolle Sr., Delores Capron, Nicolette Dorsett, Jerome Dorsett, La’Chea Wallace, Donielle Pinder, Justin Harris, Marcello Harris, Maurice Ferguson, Angela Ferguson; grandnephews & nieces : Tohorshequia Hinzey, Herman Capron, Dexter Harris, Jackie Deal, (Jonequa Deal) Frantazha Deal; great grand nephews and nieces: Cruz Woodside, Shade Williams, Delano Harris, Danielle Woodside, Tanisha Smith, Donavon Harris, Devon Harris, Tevin Clarke, Damon Hall, Larhon Pinder, Jason Rolle Jr., Jazario Rolle,Dante Rolle, Shania Harris, Glenique Newton, Glenroy Newton, Delroy Newton, Fredrisha Dawkins, Kevin Brice Jr., Dexter Harris Jr., Patricko Rolle, Javonte Rolle, Katara Brice, Hervin Capron, Zion Capron, Ja’ceon Ramsay; 22 great great grand nieces and nephews; bestfriends: Carnetta Williams and Regina Outten; and a host of family and friends including: Andrew, John, James, Samuel Gaitor, (Dencil Jr. and Nevlin Gaitor deceased) Shernique Martinborough, Dencina Barracks, Ethlyn Seymour, Shernell, Lashanta, Olivia and Darlene Gaitor, Carnetta Williams and family, Regina Outten and Family, Brice Family, Oliver Family, Gaitor Family, Reginald Ferguson and Family, Ivy Ferguson and family, Farrington Road Family, Dion Roberts and Family, Mastic Point Family, Karina Rolle Butler and family, Veronica Rolle Williams and family, Laurette Derisier and family Lavita Thurston and family and other relatives and friends.

May she Rest in Peace!

The body will repose at CURTIS MEMORIAL MORTUARY, Robinson Road and Fifth Street on Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday at the church from 9:30am until service time.

MINISTER for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey leading the way into the new $4m Solomon’s store. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn

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Biden,

Macron vow unity against Russia

PRESIDENTS Joe Biden and Emma nuel Macron vowed to maintain a united front against Russia on Thursday amid growing worries about waning support for Ukraine’s war effort in the U.S. and Europe. Biden also signaled he might be willing to tweak aspects of his signature climate legislation that have raised con cerns with France and other European allies.

Biden honored Macron with a grand state dinner Thursday evening — the first of the US president’s COVID-19 shadowed presidency for a foreign leader. But following up on Biden’s upbeat comments might not go as smoothly as that fancy affair. Republi cans who are about to take control of the House have shown less willingness than Biden to spend billions on Ukraine, and Democratic lawmakers said Thursday they were not about to jump back into the climate legislation.

In fact, for all the positive state ments, Macron’s visit to Washington has been tempered by his criticism of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and the challenges both leaders face amid the mounting costs of keeping mili tary and economic aid flowing to Kyiv with no end in sight for the Russian invasion.

Despite the differences, Biden and Macron sought to underscore that the US-France alliance remains solid and that the West must hold steadfast against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

“Today, we reaffirm that, as I said, we’re going to stand together against this brutality,” Biden said. “Putin thinks that he can crush the will of all those who oppose his imperial ambitions by attack ing civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, choking off energy to Europe to drive up prices, exacerbating the food crisis. That’s hurting very vulnerable people not just in Ukraine but around the world and he’s not going to succeed.”

Both leaders at an outdoor welcoming ceremony paid tribute to their countries’ long alliance. But they acknowledged difficult moments lay ahead as Western unity shows some wear nine months into the war in Ukraine.

In Washington, Republicans are set to take control of the House, where GOP leader Kevin McCarthy has said his par ty’s lawmakers will not write a “blank check” for Ukraine. Across the Atlantic, Macron’s efforts to keep Europe united will be tested by the mounting costs of supporting Ukraine in the war and as Europe battles rising energy prices that threaten to derail the post-pandemic economic recovery.

Macron stressed that the issue has ramifications far beyond Ukraine’s borders.

“What is at stake in Ukraine is not just very far from here, in a small coun try somewhere in Europe,” he declared. “But it’s about our values. And about our principles.”

“Our two nations are sisters in the fight for freedom,” he said.

Biden indicated he would be willing to talk with Putin if the Russian leader demonstrated that he seriously wanted to end the invasion. But the U.S. presi dent, as always, conditioned such talks on support by NATO allies.

“I’m prepared to speak with Mr. Putin if in fact there is an interest in him decid ing that he’s looking for a way to end the war,” Biden said. “He hasn’t done that yet.”

In addition to their talk of Ukraine — what White House officials said was at the top of the agenda — the two leaders discussed Macron’s and other leaders’ concerns about the recently enacted clean energy law.

Macron has made clear that he and other European leaders are opposed to incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act that favor American-made climate technology, including electric vehicles.

Biden acknowledged “glitches” in the legislation but said “there’s tweaks we can make” to satisfy allies.

“The United States makes no apology. And I make no apologies since I wrote it for the legislation we’re talking about,” Biden added.

However, Macron said that while the Biden administration’s efforts to curb

climate change should be applauded, the subsidies would be an enormous set back for European companies.

“We want to succeed together, not one against the other,” Macron added. He said the US and France would “resyn chronise” their clean energy efforts to ensure there’s no “domino effect” that undermines clean energy projects in Europe.

On Capitol Hill, despite Biden’s talk of possible changes in the law, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, one of the bill’s main architects, said, “Congress passed a law to rev up the American electric automobile indus try, create good-paying American jobs and tackle climate change at the same time. I have no intention of reopening it.”

The European Union has also expressed concern that tax credits in the law would discriminate against Euro pean producers and break World Trade Organization rules.

The leaders, with aides, met for about three hours after taking part in a formal ceremony with hundreds of people gath ered on the South Lawn on a sunny, chilly morning. There was a 21-gun salute and review of troops, and ushers distributed small French and American flags to the guests.

Both Biden and Macron in their public comments sought to keep the focus on the situation in Ukraine.

The state visit should provide a boost to Macron diplomatically that he can leverage back in Europe. His outspo ken comments help him demonstrate that he’s defending French workers, even as he maintains a close relation ship with Biden. The moment also helps Macron burnish his image as the European Union’s most visible and vocal leader, at a time when Europe is increasingly concerned that its econ omy will be indelibly weakened by the Ukraine war and resulting energy and inflation crises.

To that end, Biden praised Macron as “not just the leader of France” and for being “very outspoken and very, very commanding in Europe”. In his public comments, Macron repeatedly referred to the US president as “dear Joe”.

Still, at moments, Macron’s rhetoric has rankled US and Ukrainian officials, with calls for Ukraine and Russia to meet at the negotiating table. White House officials have publicly maintained that it is solely up to Ukraine’s leader ship to decide when it’s appropriate to engage the Russians and have stressed the war could end immediately if Putin ended his invasion.

Macron also raised eyebrows earlier this month in a speech at a summit in Bangkok when he referred to the US and China as “two big elephants” that are on the cusp of creating “a big prob lem for the rest of the jungle.” His visit to Washington came as both the US and France are keeping their eyes on China after protests have broken out in several mainland cities and Hong Kong over Beijing’s “zero COVID” strategy.

The state visit marked a return of a White House tradition of honoring close foreign allies that dates back to Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency.

Macron and his wife, Brigitte, came to the US bearing gifts care fully tailored to their American hosts, including a vinyl record and CD of the original soundtrack from the 1966 film “Un Homme et une Femme”, which the Bidens went to see on their first date, according to the palace.

Among the gifts Biden and first lady Jill Biden presented the Macrons was a mirror framed by fallen wood from the White House grounds and made by an American furniture maker.

Vice President Kamala Harris hosted Macron for a lunch at the State Depart ment before the evening state dinner in an enormous tented pavilion constructed on the White House South Lawn. The dinner for hundreds attracted big names from fashion, entertainment, business and politics.

By COLLEEN LONG, SYVLIE CORBET and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

FTX impact

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE FULL financial, social and political impact of FTX’s collapse is far from being known – in my view. One thing is certain, and that is a multitude of ordinary hardworking folks throughout the world have lost their whole life savings – or a significant portion of it as a result of FTX’s burst bubble.

It’s the worst case of betrayal of public trust that I have seen in my lifetime. Many of the clients con cerned – are expressing their frank and honest emo tions in social media circuits as the FTX saga plays out in bankruptcy court; and their sentiments are far from nice and pleasant. All of this is happening while the former loose cannon CEO of FTX continues to add fuel to the fire in the media and on social media platforms. He simply cannot keep his his friggin trap shut!

There are already reported cases of suicides

and assassinations relating to the demise of FTX in countries around the world, and the situation is look ing grimmer by the minute. The complete fallout from FTX’s failure is unknown, but one thing is for sure, and that is many politicians – especially in the USA, have a lot of questions to answer for the general voting public in regards to FTX’s failed crypto exchange. It will have a great influence on the next Presidential election in the United States and the next round of midterm congres sional elections – in my opinion. Trump is going to have the time of his life – I can imagine. Wow wow we waa!

Politicians in The Baha mas will also have a lot of voters questions to answer, and FTX could be the main subject of concern

moving into the next gen eral election season in The Bahamas. This is totally bad and unwanted news for the ‘New day’ administra tion – no doubt.

Actually, FTX is already becoming the daily topic of discussion of national focus in The Bahamas – and we have at least three solid years to go before the next general election. It looks like a rough ride ahead on the FTX wave with ‘Brave’ – in my humble estimation. Like the song goes: Oh Sam – oh Sam, by damn – by damn.

FTX will adversely affect a good number of gov ernments in our universe – as more and more horrific details of its internal opera tions are publicly revealed. It’s a budding international scandal of monumental proportions. Let’s face it, as it’s not going anywhere soon.

DENNIS DAMES Nassau, December 1, 2022.

Sensible plan?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IS government devel opment of housing in a country, especially on New Providence with very little useable real estate left, the policy of this Government and of the past sensible?

Yes, customer of course, wants their home sitting on a small garden and space, but demand now and moreso in the future simply says. Bulla we don’t have the land this practice is

irrational. Do we create land? Good idea, the water off South Beach could be drained and filled and a designer housing development new City of the future be devel oped... possible? Yes, you develop property source to fund the low-end hous ing, but we have to start thinking three-four storey — townhouse and condos as even with creating land space is at a serious premium.

For sure the constant small home on small lot approach is going to cause and will have eventual critical impact on land availability. Remember the majority of undeveloped land on New Providence is lake and swamp and much of that reserved for water catch ment so you better change your housing development policies.

D

ROLLE Nassau, November 24, 2022.

Cat Island

EDITOR, The Tribune

THIS letter is addressed to the attention of our Prime Minister of the Baha mas, also the representative of Cat Island.

It’s a crying shame that some islands are still not properly represented as a part of the Bahamas. I am from Salina Point, Acklins,

and it is a crying shame what is presented to us. The Police Station is in shambles, no clinic, a rundown school house and one resident teacher.

A police officer was recently killed because of the neglect about behav iour of all of the previous government representatives of this island.

Please, please help us we

are Bahamians and deserve some respect. Salina Point is the largest populated settlement in Acklins yet the government buildings, lighting and just simply acknowledgment is not pre sented here.

Acklins, November 23, 2022.

EMMANUEL

CANDLES being lit to mark World AIDS Day. See PAGE TEN for the full story. Photo: Kristaan Ingraham/BIS

TWO ACCUSED OF DRUGS CHARGES

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO MEN were charged in a Magistrates Court yesterday on sepa rate drug charges, with one facing a $1,000 fine after admitting to owning a pound of marijuana.

Te’ron Archer, 28, of Rose Close, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney. There he faced charges of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply and simple pos session of dangerous drugs. He was represented by Calvin Seymour.

On November 29, acting on a search warrant, offic ers arrested Archer after a search of the defendant’s bedroom uncovered two clear plastic wraps contain ing marijuana. These two

packages contained one pound and two ounces of Indian hemp respectively.

In a subsequent police interview, the defendant admitted to the offence and claimed sole ownership of the drugs seized at his home while others were present.

Archer pleaded guilty to both charges in court.

His attorney indicated that his young client had taken full responsibil ity for his actions and was remorseful for what he had done. In addition to citing the fact that Archer had no prior offences, Mr Seymour asked that the court not impose a custodial sentence on him and be lenient in its sentencing.

In view of this, Magis trate McKinney ordered the accused to pay a $1,000 fine for the larger drug

charge or risk six months in prison. Archer is fur ther expected to pay an additional $250 fine for the remaining charge or face another month in custody.

The other man, Jakeem Williams, 20, also faced Magistrate McKinney on charges of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply and possession of dangerous drugs.

On November 29 in New Providence, Williams was arrested after being found by authorities with 17 grams and three and oz of Indian hemp in two sepa rate packages.

In court, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was granted $1,500 bail with one surety.

Williams is expected to return to court for his trial on January 18, 2023.

BAIL GRANTED IN FIREARM POSSESSION CASE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted $3,000 bail yesterday after allegedly being found by police with a loaded pistol over the summer.

Kerzner Hanna, 24, stood before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on charges of

possession of an unlicenced firearm and possession of ammunition.

Hanna was found on July 4 by authorities with a black Smith & Wesson M&P .45 pistol with the serial number erased. At the time of his arrest, the accused also had three live rounds of .45 ammunition, police allege.

In court, Hanna pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was granted $3,000 bail with one or two sure ties. The conditions of his bail are that he is expected to sign in at East Street South Police Sta tion every Wednesday by 7pm.

Hanna’s trial will begin on January 19, 2023.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF STEALING $8K FROM STORE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN was granted $5,000 bail yesterday after being accused of stealing almost $8,000 from the gro cery store where she was formerly employed.

Alvinique Morley, 23,

faced Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on a charge of stealing by reason of employment.

It is alleged that on November 26, while working at Phoenix Super market on East Street South, Morley stole $7,789.65 cash from the establishment.

Morley pleaded not guilty to the offence in court. She was granted $5,000 bail with one or two sureties.

The conditions of her bail are that she is to sign in at the Quakoo Street Police Station on the last Sunday of every month.

Her trial is set for Janu ary 23, 2023.

Why does supporting local farmers matter?

HAVE you ever looked at the food on your plate and wondered who grew it and where it came from?

Do you trust the methods used by the producer before it reached your plate? Has this food been treated with your best interest in mind from the field all the way to your plate?

When we consider that the food we eat is one of the largest factors in deter mining our health, I think it would make good sense to ask these questions.

The act of eating food is a very intimate act. Every day we are consuming substances that ultimately serve as the building blocks for our bodies. We are what we eat - literally! Each of us has a responsibility to ensure that the food and substances we put into our mouths are both safe and nutritious. The good news is that no matter where you are on the journey of life, it is never too late to change how you relate to food and take action to have more control over the food you consume.

One major factor that has contributed to losing touch with our food is the globalization of our food system. We now ship food from all over the world and it is quite normal to be eating food that was grown in countries on completely different continents at any given meal. The days of small local farms are gone and it is almost impossible to know the person who has grown your food, and

By Tim Hauber

of One Eleuthera Foundation

if you can trust the process and product. The Local Food Movement is one step in the right direction to remedy this problem.

There are many reasons why it makes sense to grow your own food and support our local Bahamian farmers and here are just a few.

Growing your own food gives you the ultimate control.

The best way to control the quality of your food is to grow it yourself. Grow ing all of your food is overwhelming and unlikely.

By starting with growing one or two items that you eat regularly you will soon experience the many ben efits and gifts of growing your own food. Starting a small home garden, or join ing a community garden, will give valuable exercise and time in nature which is a reward in and of itself.

As you grow your crops you can ensure that you are only using inputs, such as fertilisers that are organic, non-toxic and safe for your body and the environment.

Once you harvest and enjoy the final product you will not only relish a deli cious and healthful meal,

but you will experience the rewarding feeling of accomplishment and inde pendence that comes from growing your own food. It feels good to take back some control and to exer cise your creativity in this one small domain of your life.

You can meet your local Bahamian farmer

If you are buying food grown by Bahamian farm ers you can visit the farm, meet the farmer, and find out how your food is being produced. Most farmers are willing to share information about the techniques they are using to produce their crops. Being grown locally does not necessarily mean that it is organic or that sus tainable practices are being used, so it is a good idea to ask the farmer about their philosophy and farming practices.

Farmers Markets are great opportunities to meet many local farmers in one location. Whenever pos sible, shop at your local Farmers Market!

Buying local is better for the environment

Think of the many

miles that lettuce has to travel to get from Califor nia to a shop in Nassau or Eleuthera. This journey involves thousands of miles of travel in trucks and boats that are all burning fuel to keep the lettuce cool as it travels. If we are growing lettuce locally, we will save many gallons of fuel used to transport these items from their source.

Local produce tastes better In order for fruits and vegetables to be harvested and shipped around the world they are typically picked well before they are ripe so they can handle the long travel time. By pick ing fruit before it is ripe we lose much of the potential flavour. Think of the expe rience of eating a local mango in July, compared to a store-bought, imported mango in November. After eating locally grown bananas, I find it painful to buy imported bananas that have a fraction of the fla vour. The same holds true for pineapples, tomatoes and other locally grown produce.

Local produce is often more nutritious

As soon as fruits and veg etables are picked, many of the vitamins and nutri ents begin to break down. University of California studies show that fruits and vegetables will lose 10-80% of some vitamins within days of harvesting. The vegetables we purchase in local shops that were grown in distant places like

California might look nice but they have inevitably lost a significant amount of vitamins during their long trip to The Bahamas. If we can consume our produce within days of harvest ing, assuming that they are refrigerated properly by the producer, we will have a more nutritious product to consume.

There is much more diversity possible from local produce

Small local farms typi cally offer a much wider diversity of produce than can be purchased from the shops. When you visit the Farmers Market you will see numerous types of greens and fruit that may never be found on the gro cery store shelves. Think of the wide variety of tropi cal fruit that we enjoy here in the summertime and imagine if some of these amazing fruits could be pur chased on a regular basis from the shops! On the CTI farm here in Rock Sound we are not only growing the typical orange carrots, but also white, yellow, purple and red varieties! These very old varieties are simply not marketed in the grocery stores because mainstream industrial agriculture focuses only on orange carrots.

Supporting

local farmers is better for our economy

Every dollar that we spend at home buying pro duce from a local producer keeps money moving within our own economy. Imagine

if even a fraction of the almost billion dollars we spend on importing food was spent locally and was kept circulating within our own economy!

The next time you sit down to enjoy a meal, consider the source of each dish. Can you make a few small adjustments to regain some control of what will become the very body you need to sustain your life, health and phys ical strength in the years ahead? Try growing some of your own food. Visit a Farmer’s Market, get to know the producers and choose one whose prac tices support your eating philosophy and vision of health. The benefits are clear, join the local food revolution!

• Tim Hauber is the farm and cooling house opera tions officer at CTI & OEF. Established in 2012, the One Eleuthera Founda tion (OEF) is a non-profit organisation located in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. For more information, visit www.oneeleuthera.org or email info@oneeleuthera. org. The Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) is the first and only postsecond ary, non-profit education and training institution and social enterprise on Eleuthera. CTI operates a student training campus in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, with a 16-room training hotel, restaurant and farm. For more information about CTI’s programmes email: info@oneeleuthera.org.

FARMERS Markets are great opportunities to meet many local farmers in one location.

TIM Hauber holding locally grown lettuce.

Influencer wariness

THE UNINTENTIONAL IMPACT OF THE COLLAPSE OF FTX

RONALDO, the dropdead handsome, talented Portuguese footballer, gets $1.6 million per Instagram post, another $800,000+ per Tweet. When he vouches for dandruff-beating Clear shampoo and hair products, enough of his 443 million followers scamper to scoop up bottles off the shelves that he’s worth every penny of the funds he earns as an influencer.

Cristiano Ronaldo may be top of the pile but others aren’t far behind. Kylie Jenner is hauling in $660,000 per post as number two on Instagram with 339 million viewers who somehow find the cos metics she’s using and her sitting for photo shoots fas cinating enough to follow.

Soccer great Leo Messi is pulling a close third on Ins tagram while Justin Bieber rules YouTube.

Ronaldo and Messi are so insanely popular that a few weeks ago when they appeared together in a photo, they literally “broke the internet”.

The rise of influenc ers has been so great, so sudden there is nothing in our history to compare it to. Stars with familiar names – Dwayne Johnson, the Rock, the Kardashians, the Jenners, Ariana Grande –are among the highest paid in the world, not because of their day jobs but because of the number of people who follow them on one online platform or another, hoping to absorb some meaning of life they reveal, habit they have or product they use that may unlock a secret to happiness in their own lives, though few would probably admit that’s why they do it.

Being an influencer with millions of followers is a heck of a second job for stars like Ronaldo, Jenner, The Rock or Messi. Let’s not forget Beyonce who pulls in a cool $134m a year for her Instagram profile.

The industry has so exploded that it is served by a host of marketing platforms vying for the business just as movie stu dios once did for actors. Elon Musk bought his own. Why not? He has more than a hundred million fol lowers on Twitter, though cares little for Instagram which is image rather than word-driven.

While online platforms with influencers and fol lowers may be the latest, hottest form of impacting behaviour, persuasion by personal trust is nothing new. Star power sells and when that star is a winner in stage, sports or business, what they suggest takes on even greater meaning. If you want to be a winner, do what a winner does.

Under most circumstances, that is perfectly fine, but

By Diane Phillips

what happens if the trusted person you are following makes a mistake and carries you down the rabbit hole with him? If Shark Tank’s Mr Wonderful, Kevin O’Leary, says he invested in FTX and you know that O’Leary parlayed a bor rowed $25,000 into a net worth of $400m through educational software, why wouldn’t you trust what he has to say? He’s got every credential on earth – self-made, smart, savvy, understands currency. What more could you ask for?

Or if you watched the $20m ad with Tom Brady and his now ex-wife Gisele Bundchen as Brady is calling everyone from a hard-working mechanic under a vehicle to an obnox ious CEO of something, asking “Are you in?” and telling them he is, wouldn’t you think you, too, want to be doing what Brady and all these fine folks are doing, getting a piece of the FTX action?

The reality is winners sometimes lose. We wit nessed it in The Bahamas where people we respected, whether we followed them or not, became the spokes persons for a tangled web that unraveled before our eyes. The FTX saga will continue to unfold. The drama is only beginning, hopefully there will be a post script on the sentence rendered, a reflection of the value that the early earn ings served in helping the poor and needy.

The larger question remains, what is the conse quence of the FTX collapse on trust and on the skyrock eting influencer industry when innocent investors trusted the trustworthy, high profile, high-earning, highly popular Kevin O’Leary and Tom Brady? Men who used their power of persuasion to lead investors to FTX, the crypto trading platform that went from multibillions to bankrupt in less time than it would take to get a driver’s licence renewed in The Bahamas.

Will the blemish impact influencers or will we con tinue to trust that when Ronaldo promises Clear will put dandruff in its place, those who suffer will give it a try? Or maybe the influencer market is one that requires standards just as the crypto market does, with legislation equivalent to the Stable Coin Act that will separate the Ronaldos who help develop and test

the products they endorse from those who look pretty and smile into a camera.

NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU SEE PART OF IT …

In recent weeks, an ille gal structure intended to be a restaurant was erected at Montagu Foreshore Park.

In the last few days, the platform to the east was removed.

I say illegal because no building permit was issued,

according to the highest authority in the matter. I’ve had no fewer than a dozen calls from folks who are beg ging action be taken rightly feeling no permit should ever be issued for a restaurant within the eastern section of Montagu Foreshore Park, though there is an area near the Nassau Yacht Club to the west that could serve as a potential small site.

Montagu Foreshore is a park and must be protected

as a safe space where locals feel comfortable walking, exercising or swimming, where families can connect and are not displaced by heavily trafficked commer cial enterprises.

Copying the former mayor of Charleston who refused to allow the most valuable piece of harbour and waterfront real estate in the city to be sold or developed, preserving it as a park and fountain

playscape because, he said, “the people need a place to dream.” Please, Minister of Works Alfred Sears, one of the nation’s finest, thank you for having the plat form removed and please remember that all of this must be disassembled. If one restaurant is allowed, the precedent will be set and Montagu as we rede veloped it, treasure and love it, will be lost. We, too, need a place to dream.

THE RESTAURANT that appeared - and is disappearing - at Montagu Foreshore Park.

Voucher system to help children’s development

A CONTRACT for the universal pre-primary education, public private pre-school partnership programme was signed yesterday at the Ministry of Education.

The initiative strives to ensure that Bahamian children aged three to four have a strong early educational development.

Within this programme, a voucher system was launched by the Ministry of Education.

The programme aids in accommo dating students who were unable to be enrolled in a government school, because there was either a lack of space or because of the child’s age.

Acting Education Director Dominique McCartney-Russell said yesterday there are 118 private preschool operators in The Bahamas that are engaged in the programme.

Mrs McCartney-Russell added there are 6,200 vouchers that have been distributed to date. The vouchers

are $2,000 a year to cover the student’s tuition fee.

“This year, ten new partners will sign on to the programme. Of course, this partnership means more children will transition to grade one with a stronger foundation for learning,” she said.

Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said that 1,500 children were added to the programme to aid in their access to pre-primary education.

“This is a gap that we have in access to education pre-primary. And we’re trying very hard. This paradigm is an effort to close the gap as much as we can. But there’s still much ground to be recovered. But I am so happy today that we have at least another 1,500 children who will be able to access pre-primary in the most challenging times in education post-pandemic,” Mrs Hanna Martin said.

Leja Burrows, assistant director of education, explained the process of the vouchers.

Ms Burrows said: “These vouchers are given to children who are between the ages of three and four years old. They apply to the Ministry of Educa tion seeking enrolment for their child in a government school. And where the government school is unable to accommodate them because of space or age, some government schools only accommodate four-year-olds, so a three-year-old in that area, we would then give them a voucher to attend one of our approved partners.

“Now, in order to be an approved partner, the Pre-school and Daycare Centre Council must review the appli cation. And ensure that the centre meets the minimum standards that they have.”

She added: “And so, parents have the opportunity to select a private partnering pre-school in their area. We have 110 partners on the islands of New Providence, Grand Bahama, Andros, and Inagua.”

THE Ministry of Health and Wellness, in obser vance of World AIDS Day 2022 on Thursday held a candlelight vigil under the global theme: ‘Equalise’.

The vigil was held in the courtyard of the Ministry of Health and Wellness headquarters on Meeting Street on Wednesday.

In attendance were Dr Nikkiah Forbes, direc tor of the National HIV/ AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme at the Bahamas Ministry of Health and Wellness; and Dr Gabriel Vivas, PAHO/ WHO advisor in health systems and services.

A poem “The HIV

Monster” was recited by Alexus D’Marco, and Denise Major of the National AIDS Pro gramme led the lighting of candles. Also present was Lady Barnett, of the Baha mas AIDS Foundation.

WHO is calling on lead ers to “boldly recognise and address the inequalities which are holding back pro gress in ending AIDS; and equalise access to essential HIV services particularly for children and key populations and their partners - men who have sex with men, transgen der people, people who use drugs, sex workers, and people in prisons”.

Photo: Kristaan Ingraham/BIS

Team Bahamas named for 4th Caribbean Baseball Cup

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Team Bahamas is ready to take on the region at the 4th Caribbean Baseball Cup.

The roster and coaching staff for next week’s event was officially revealed at yesterday’s Media Day, hosted at the new Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium.

Managed by Geron Sands, the staff will also include assistant head coach Albert Cart wright alongside coaches Dominique Collie, Donovan Cox and Trae Sweeting.

Sands called it an honour to introduce a new era of Bahamian baseball in the Andre Rodgers Stadium.

“It’s a pleasure and honour to be leading this team and to be the first to play in the new stadium and represent the country,” Sands said.

“I’ve been around these guys so long I feel kind of used to it and it feels like we’re just preparing for another game but I’m sure once Sunday comes we’ll be ready. It’s an honour, it’s fulfilling and I’m excited.

Practices have been great, training camp has been great, these guys are ready to go.”

Team Bahamas’ roster includes a cross section of talent across various levels of play including the minor leagues, independent base ball, collegiate baseball and locally.

The infielders include St Louis Cardinals prospect Adari Grant, New York Mets prospect Warren Saunders, Texas Rangers prospect Keithron Moss,

Miami Marlins prospect Cherif Neymour along with Northwestern State’s Daunte Stuart and Kenne saw State’s Jay Knowles.

The outfielders will be led by Los Angeles Angels prospect D’Shawn Knowles, who recently helped Great Britain qual ify for the World Baseball Classic.

The remainder of the infield includes Ellison Hanna of the Lake Eerie Crushers, Toby Simmons of the Miami Marlins,

Kristin Munroe of the Los Angeles Angels, Kashon Conliffe of the San Diego Padres and highly touted international prospect for the class of 2023 - Janero Miller.

The pitching staff is headlined by Evan Sweet ing who last pitched in the San Diego Padres organisation and D’Vaugn Knowles who was last with the New York Yankees organisation.

Also, Brandon Russell, Robin Haven College,

Carvin Dames, Derrinyj Russell, McKell Bethel, Giovante Tomlins, Trav vis Ferguson, Kennedy Cooper, and Mateo Ferguson.

The catchers are Ural Forbes, Yeshua Saint and Diontwon James.

“We have a mixture. The selection process included countless nights going over stats, checking on health. There are guys that were unavailable because of

SEE PAGE 13

Three more athletes added to Walk of Fame

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WORLD and Olympic champions Shaunae MillerUibo and Steven Gardiner and their World Relays’ mixed relay gold medal teammate Anthonique Strachan were the latest athletes added to the Min istry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Legends Walk of Fame.

The three athletes joined a list of 66 who were pre viously on the pathway on the Mychal Thompson Boulevard that leads from John F Kennedy Drive into the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium during a ceremony yesterday to relaunch the Wall of Fame.

The ceremony was a part of the launch of the 50th CARIFTA Games that will take place at the stadium from April 7-10, making it the ninth time that the

top regional track and field competition has been staged here.

Among the dignitar ies in attendance were Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, Minister of Social Service and Urban Renewal Obie Wilchcome, former Minister of Sports Danny Johnson, Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Drumeco Archer, Lynden Maycock, the chief execu tive officer of the Local Organising Committee for CARIFTA and Don Deveaux, the proprietor of the Oaktree Medical Center, the title sponsors for the games.

The ceremonies also brought together all six women who have won the prestigious Austin Sealy award for the most

SEE PAGE 14

Pistons

By DAVE HOGG Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Kil lian Hayes scored eight of 22 points in overtime as the Detroit Pistons recovered from blowing a late lead to beat the Dallas Mavericks 131-125 last night.

Christian Wood’s dunk tied the game at 125 with 1:35 left in overtime, but Hayes answered with backto-back 3-pointers to put the Pistons ahead by six with 41.6 left and seal the win.

Bojan Bogdanovic led the Pistons with 30 points while Marvin Bagley III added 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Luka Doncic had 35 points and 10 assists for Dallas. Tim Hardaway Jr scored 26 points.

Hayes’ jumper gave the Pistons a 111-104 lead

with 4:14 to play in regula tion and Doncic missed a 3-pointer at the other end.

Another Hayes jumper moved Detroit’s run to 10-0 and the lead to 113-104.

After a Christian Wood dunk, Hayes hit his third straight jumper to keep Detroit up by nine.

The lead was still eight with two minutes left and five when Doncic missed a pair of free throws with 1:00 left.

It gave the Mavericks 15 misses on the game but the Pistons didn’t take the chance to ice the game.

Hardaway Jr got the rebound and fed Doncic for a 3-pointer to make it 117-115.

Alec Burks missed at the other end and ex-Piston Reggie Bullock’s layup tied the game with 22.6 seconds left.

50TH CARIFTA GAMES SET FOR APRIL 7-10

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AMIDST the backdrop of the Thomas A Robin son National Stadium, the Local Organising Com mittee (LOC) officially launched the hosting of the 50th CARIFTA Games to commemorate the Baha mas’ 50th anniversary of Independence.

Scheduled for the Easter holiday weekend of April 7-10, the region’s most prestigious track and field competition for junior ath letes will be hosted here for the ninth time and all indications are that the Bahamas Government and the LOC are planning to make this one of the best ever.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said through the title partner of the Oaktree Medical Center and Sco tiabank, Aliv and Bahamas Waste, who are their cor porate sponsors, plans are underway for the Sports in Paradise mandate that has been the hallmark of their government.

“CARIFTA Games, the Bahamas welcome you back home,” Bowleg stated.

The games will have the Oaktree Medical Center as its title sponsor. Having pegged $300,000 into the

BEST OF THE BEST REGATTA SETS SAIL IN MONTAGU

Sailing competition will continue at 10am today and Saturday with the prelimi nary rounds in all classes.

The final day of com petition will take place on Sunday when all of the win ners of each class will be decided.

Josh Allen throws for 2 TDs, Bills beat Patriots 24-10

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)

first AFC

Devin Singletary had a 1-yard touchdown run to help the Bills (9-3) win their third straight.

They took a half-game lead in the division over Miami.

Buffalo had been 0-2 against division foes.

Allen became the first player in NFL history with three seasons of

25 passing TDs and five

rushing scores.

Including the playoffs last season, the Bills have won their last three meet ings with New England (6-6).

Allen went 22 of 33 for 223 yards, consistently buying time in the pocket and finding soft spots in the Patriots’ zone.

The Bills have strug gled at times in the red zone, but went 3 for 3 yesterday.

Despite playing with out top pass rusher Von Miller, who suffered a knee injury in a Thanks giving win over Detroit,

THE Ministry of Agricul ture’s return of the Best of the Best Regatta kicked off yesterday in Montagu Bay. After the first day of com petition, the Baby Wave took the cannon at the finish line of the first race in the E class. The Bulls Reg won the C class first race, while Ant’s Nest carted off first place in the first B class race.

— Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and the Buffalo Bills beat the New Eng land Patriots 24-10 last night for their

East victory of the season.

PISTONS forward Marvin Bagley III (35) dunks as Mavericks cen

tre Christian Wood defends in the first half last night in Detroit.

(AP Photo/ Carlos Osorio)

READY TO FACE THE REGION: Team Bahamas members, shown above, were named ahead of the 4th Caribbean Baseball Cup. The roster and coaching staff for next week’s event was officially revealed at yesterday’s Media Day, hosted at the new Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium.

SHOWN, from left to right, are World and Olympic champions Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner and their World Relays’ mixed relay gold medal teammate Anthonique Strachan last night as they became the latest athletes added to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Legends Walk of Fame.

Japan beats Spain 2-1 as both teams advance at World Cup

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Same stadium. Same result. Similar shocking victory for Japan at the World Cup.

After beating Germany in the team’s opener, Japan worked its way into the round of 16 of the World Cup yesterday by defeating Spain 2-1 — the same score as last week.

Spain also advanced despite the loss, knock ing Germany out of the tournament.

Japan scored twice early in the second half to come from behind and defeat another European pow erhouse and make it to the knockout stage for the second straight World Cup. It’s the first time Japan has advanced past the group stage in back-to-back tournaments.

“For Asia and for Japan, our victories over Spain and Germany, two of the top teams in the world, is something that give us great confidence and we are very pleased,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said.

“Of course, there are many things we still have to learn, but Asia can win in the world stage, Japan can win in the world stage.”

Ao Tanaka scored the winning goal from close range early in the second half. It took about two minutes for video review officials to confirm the ball hadn’t gone out of bounds before the goal at Khalifa International Stadium,

where Japan had shocked Germany in its opener.

Players from both teams looked surprised when it was announced that the goal counted, and the Japanese started running toward their bench again to celebrate with their teammates.

“From my angle I think the ball was clearly half out, but more than that I could not see because of the speed,” Tanaka said. “I was concentrating in scor ing. There was always a possibility that it was out ... But in the end it was a goal, so that was great.”

Japan finished at the top of Group E and will next face Croatia. Spain will take on Group F winner Morocco.

Spain and Germany — which beat Costa Rica 4-2 in a simultaneous match — both had four points in the group. But Spain had a superior goal difference.

The group standings bounced back and forth during both matches. Costa Rica was beating Germany at one point. If that result had stood, Costa Rica would have eliminated Spain.

Spain coach Luis Enrique said he didn’t know that at one point Costa Rica was winning.

“If I had known about it, I could have had a heart attack,” he said.

Álvaro Morata scored for Spain in the 11th minute and the 2010 champions were in control until Japan rallied after halftime. Ritsu Doan equalised in the 48th with a left-footed shot

from outside the box and Tanaka added the second three minutes later.

Luis Enrique said Spain “got into collapse mode.”

“We totally lost con trol during those five minutes. We panicked,” Luis Enrique said.

“If they had to score more goals, they would have been able to do it. They got past us like an airplane.”

Morata became the first Spain player to score in the team’s first three matches

at the World Cup since Telmo Zarra in 1950.

Spain had opened with a 7-0 rout of Costa Rica before conceding late in a 1-1 draw against Germany.

Japan, which lost to Costa Rica in its second match, was eliminated by Belgium in the last 16 four years ago in Russia. The Japanese have never gotten past the round of 16 at the World Cup.

By finishing second in the group, Spain may avoid facing Brazil in the

quarterfinals and Argen tina in the semifinals.

“There is nothing to cel ebrate,” Luis Enrique said. “I’m not happy. We wanted to finish in first place with a victory.”

The coach said he was surprised that the second goal by Japan was con firmed by VAR. He said he was shown a photo of the ball out of bounds. “That photo they showed me must have been altered,” Luis Enrique said. “That’s the only explanation.”

Morocco beats Canada 2-1, reaches last 16

By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer

DOHA, Qatar (AP)

— Walid Regragui stood in the middle of a team huddle as his players reached out and patted him vigorously on the head. Then they threw their coach in the air, almost as if they had already won the World Cup.

Regragui has been an international coach for only three months but still guided Morocco to the last 16 of the World Cup for only the second time in its history with a 2-1 win over Canada yester day. It clinched first place in Group F for Morocco, ahead of 2018 finalist Croatia and semifinalist Belgium.

Regragui’s squad has now collected more victo ries at a single World Cup than any other Morocco team.

No one thought that was likely when the Moroc can soccer federation took a gamble on the 47-yearold Regragui in August by giving him his first job in charge of a national team. The payoff has been historic.

“About 50 or 60 years of Moroccan history. We’ve

done it in a few weeks,” Regragui said.

Morocco’s two wins in Qatar, a huge surprise over Kevin de Bruyne and No. 2-ranked Belgium and then the victory over Canada at Al Thumama Stadium, is as many as the country had won in all its previous World Cup appearances put together. Morocco also drew its opener against Croatia to advance unbeaten.

“We trust in him,” Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi said of Regragui. “He’s done an amazing job with not much time.”

The Moroccans’ only previous trip past the group stage at a World Cup had come in 1986, when they also won their group, but won only one match.

Goals by Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri delivered the victory over Canada and ensured this team also went through.

Nayef Aguerd’s owngoal just before halftime made it 2-1 and lifted Canada enough for them to put pressure on Morocco in search of an equalizing goal for most of the second half.

The Canadians came agonisingly close when a header from captain Atiba

Hutchinson, who came on as a second-half sub stitute, bounced down off the crossbar and onto the goal-line.

Replays showed part of the ball had crossed the line but not all of it.

“Two inches. Two inches form getting our first result,” Canada coach John Herdman said. “This isn’t Canada walking away with our heads down. We can keep our heads up.”

But even when his team’s total control suddenly

disappeared, Regragui was happy with the fighting spirit.

“I loved the second half because that’s the spirit we were looking for,” he said.

“First half, extraordinary. Second half, we fought.”

Canada, which will cohost the next World Cup in 2026 with the United States and Mexico, had already been eliminated before facing Morocco and lost all three of its games in Qatar, matching its three defeats at its only other World Cup

appearance in 1986. Herd man was certain his team had made progress over the course of their three games, and also praised their fight after a bad early error put them behind.

Steven Vitoria’s back pass put goalkeeper Milan Borjan under pressure. But instead of clearing down field, Borjan inexplicably side-footed the ball gently in the direction of Ziyech, who chipped it over Borjan and into the unguarded goal in the fourth minute.

BELGIUM ELIMINATED AS CROATIA ADVANCES WITH 0-0 DRAW

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — The ball reached Romelu Lukaku right in front of goal with seconds remaining. Score, and he’d send Belgium into the round of 16 of the World Cup.

Somehow, he missed.

Belgium and its aging generation of players were eliminated from the tourna ment yesterday after a 0-0 draw with Croatia, which advanced as the secondplace team in Group F behind Morocco.

Minutes after the game, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez announced he’d be leaving his role after more than six years — a decision he said he had reached before the World Cup started.

His departure could easily have been delayed.

Lukaku, Belgium’s record scorer but only recently back from injury, came on as a halftime substitute and squandered several great chances, the best coming in stoppage time when Thor gan Hazard’s cross fell to him at the back post, barely two metres (yards) out. The ball struck Lukaku’s midriff and instead of rolling into the net, it bounced back across the front of the goal and was gathered by Croa tia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

Earlier, Lukaku hit the inside of the post with the goal virtually unguarded. Another chance, from a header in front of goal, sailed over the bar follow ing a cross from Kevin De Bruyne..

Lukaku punched the side of the dugout as he walked off after the final whistle, knocking the plexi glass screen out of place. Moments earlier, he was sobbing in the arms of Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry.

“We could have won this game by three goals and we’d be walking away feeling very different,” Mar tinez said.

“I thought (Lukaku) moved very well, got in great situations, and what was missing was the finish. It was the difference between hitting the post and going in, and hitting the post and going out.”

Croatia, the 2018 runnerup led by Luka Modric, will attempt to make another deep run at the World Cup after also reaching the semi finals in 1998.

The Croats will next play Japan on Monday.

“This is a team mix of experience and youth,” said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic, who added of Belgium: “We were lucky that they didn’t take their chances.”

Belgium is facing the break-up of its talented but underachieving squad after failing to live up to its status as the second-ranked team and one of the tournament favourites.

Germany out despite 4-2 win over Costa Rica

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer

AL KHOR,

Qatar (AP)

— Back-to-back early exits at the World Cup have Germany coach Hansi Flick wanting to go back to basics.

The four-time champions were again eliminated from

the group stage, four years after their embarrassing display as defending cham pions in Russia.

Something has to change, Flick said after a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica yesterday that still wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the round of 16.

“I believe for the future of German football we need to do things differently in training,” said Flick, who took over as coach after last year’s European Champi onship. “For years we are talking about new goal keepers and wingbacks, but Germany was always able to defend well. We need the basics. “For the future, for the next 10 years, it is very

important to focus on the new generation of players.”

It was only eight years ago that Germany won its fourth World Cup title, beating an Argentina team led by Lionel Messi in his prime in the final at the Maracana Stadium. With that victory, Germany became the only European team to win a World Cup in either North or South America.

In Qatar, it was an open ing loss to Japan that set the stage for the disap pointing finish this time. Germany was beaten 2-1 in that match last week, and followed it with a 1-1 draw against Spain. That gave the Germans a chance

in its last match at Al Bayt Stadium, and for a few minutes during the simulta neous final group matches on Thursday, it was enough. At halftime, for exam ple, Germany was beating Costa Rica and Japan was losing to Spain — results that would have put the Germans into the round of 16.

It was Japan’s 2-1 vic tory over the Spaniards that essentially cost the Germans a chance to play at least one more match in Qatar.

Flick cited Spain as an example for his country to follow.

“Spain is very good in defence,” he said, even

though the 2010 World Cup champions ultimately lost to Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. “It focuses on train ing young players. They know the tactics well.”

It all started so well for Germany yesterday with Serge Gnabry scoring a 10th-minute header and Spain taking an early lead against Japan.

Both matches were turned upside down in the second half.

Yeltsin Tejeda evened the score in the 58th minute and Juan Vargas scrambled another in the 70th, putting Costa Rica ahead 2-1 and all of a sudden on target to advance.

“There were a lot of indi vidual mistakes and these are things that make me very angry,” Flick said. But Germany substitute Kai Havertz made it 2-2 in the 73rd minute and then restored Germany’s lead in the 85th. Another substi tute, Niclas Füllkrug, added the fourth.

Costa Rica had lost its opening game against Spain 7-0. The team then put on a much better display and beat Japan 1-0.

“We are not what we saw in our first game,” Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez said.

“We had to go back to what made us qualify for the World Cup.”

MOROCCO players celebrate by tossing head coach Walid Regragui into the air at the end of their World Cup soccer match against Canada at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

JAPAN’s Ritsu Doan celebrates scoring his side’s first goal against Spain during a World Cup group E soccer match at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Undefeated Cavaliers secure 40-31 win over Freedom Baptist Warriors

Buffalo’s defence held the Patriots to three points over the final three quar ters. New England has lost two straight since posting a season-best, three-game win streak.

A week after putting together his most complete effort of the season, New England’s Mac Jones was flustered and unsure for most of the night. He fin ished 22 of 36 for 195 yards and a touchdown. The Patriots were 3 of 12 on third down and 0 for 1 in the red zone.

The Bills started slowly on offence, settling for a field goal on their first possession.

Trailing 7-3, Allen went to work during Buffalo’s next two opportunities.

IT was another day in the office for coach Wilton Johnson and his Mt Carmel Cavaliers senior boys bas ketball team last night.

In the final game of the slate on a chilly Thursday evening, the Cavaliers were able to stay undefeated with a 2-0 record, earning the emphatic 40-31 victory over the Freedom Baptist Warriors.

Dorien LaRoda and Romin St Rose led the way for Mt Carmel with 18 and 11 points respectively.

A number of games were played yesterday as the Bahamas Scholastic Ath letic Association resumed basketball action inside the Hope Centre at University Commons.

Thursday Results are as follows:

Mini Division Kingsway Academy 8 def Genesis Academy 4 Ralph Saintil no. 21 led Kingsway with 4 pts in the win.

Noel Sands no. 1 led Genesis with 4pts in the loss.

Junior Boys Greenville Preparatory Academy 28 def Freedom Baptist Academy B 17 Michael Dames no. 4 led Greenville with 10pts in the win.

Devaughn Deveaux no. 22 led Freedom B with 8pts in the loss.

Freedom Baptist Acad emy A 24 def Genesis Academy 21

Senior Girls St. John’s College 26 def Teleos Christian School 4

teams that they are ready to go to the next level and hopefully it forces everyone to step their game up.”

Reyannah

Friday, December 2 MD – Temple Chris tian School vs Genesis Academy PG – Freedom Baptist Academy vs Temple Chris tian School

The tournament will qualify two teams for the Central Ameri can and Caribbean Games 2023, scheduled for June 23 to July 8 in El Salvador.

career commitments, they have winter ball to play, they’re on 40 man rosters, some have to go to big league camps, so we had to take all that into consideration.

“We picked the best guys that were available, healthy and ready to play in this tournament,” Sands said. “It’s going to help boost these guys in their organisations. Anytime you play in international competition teams are going to be interested to see how guys com pete so it will help their respective

CARIFTA

FROM PAGE 11

LOC, proprietor Dr Don Deveaux said 2023 will be the Golden Jubilee of the Bahamas and it’s only fit ting that they are a part of the major international sporting event to commem orate the occasion.

“What was once an idea, a dream, a seed in the mind of Sir Austin Sealy and company 50 years ago has built and strength ened relations between the island nations of the Carib bean,” he said. “Through Caricom, the track and field movement has grown exponentially, unearthing talented athletic gems and has created a powerhouse in track and field.

“As the title partner for this historic 50th edition of CARIFTA, Oaktree Medi cal Center is proud to assist our Bahamian and Carib bean athletes to ensure that they have the oppor tunities to grow, compete and win both locally and internationally.”

Deveaux said with his wife, the chief executive

The Bahamas opens competi tion against the US Virgin Islands on December 4 at 7:30pm, fol lowed by matchups against Curaçao on December 5 at 7pm, Cuba on December 7 at 7pm, and completes round robin play against Cuba on December 8 at 7pm.

The five participants in the tournament are world No. 9 Cuba, No. 16 Puerto Rico, No. 60 Curaçao, and No. 66 US Virgin Islands. The Bahamas is ranked No.80.

officer, the Oaktree Medi cal Center is more than just a medical center, but is a community center and their team stands with the LOC, the BAAA, NACAC, the government of the Baha mas and all partners for the future, not just for sports, but for the development of youth and their develop ment. “Come go with us and let’s cross the finish line together,” said Deveaux as he pledged the Oaktree Medical Center’s commit ment to making the 50th CARITA Games the best ever held.

Mike Sands, the president of the North American, Central American and Car ibbean - the CARIFTA Games falls under their jurisdiction - speaking in a video presentation from where he was attending the World Athletics’ meeting, said since the games were formed in 1972, there’s been a stage created that allows the country’s most promising athletes to dis play their gifts and talent to the region before stepping out on the world stage.

“In these trying times, the CARIFTA Games is a

For many of the players, they see it as an opportunity to recon nect with teammates from their childhood.

Angels prospect D’Shawn Knowles said: “Some of these guys I haven’t played with since I was 11-12 so it feels great to have an opportunity to perform on the biggest stage in our city, in front of the home crowd.”

Marlins prospect Neymour added: “It’s a great feeling, espe cially playing with my brothers.

PB – Teleos Chris tian School vs Kingsway Academy JG – Teleos Christian School vs Freedom Baptist Academy SB – Freedom Baptist Academy vs New Horizon Christian Academy SB – Genesis Academy vs Teleos Christian School

It’s great to just have the oppor tunity to share the field with them and to have home field advantage and I feel great going into this event.”

Rangers prospect Moss said while the team is set on winning the event, serving as an inspi ration for future generations is equally as important.

“It’s definitely something spe cial and we’re looking forward to it. We’re doing this for the younger guys coming up behind us so being a part of it is a very special thing,” he said.

“Baseball is baseball, but it’s better with my guys that I know. That’s the most important thing. I

He led his team 82 yards in nine plays, ending the drive with an 8-yard touch down pass to Stefon Diggs on the first play of the second quarter.

Following a Patriots punt, Allen capped a 14-play, 56-drive by eluding the Patriots’ pass rush and tip toeing along the sideline before throwing across his body for an 8-yard TD pass to Gabe Davis.

The Patriots came in banged up on their offen sive line and got creative to get their first points of the night.

After going three-andout on their opening drive, New England inserted speedy cornerback and return man Marcus Jones for his first offensive snap of the season.

He made the most of it, catching a quick screen from Jones, finding a seam and sprinting through Buffalo’s secondary for a 48-yard touchdown.

That was about the only highlight for the Patriots. They punted on three straight possessions, then failed to get anything out of Allen’s fumble after Nick Folk hit the crossbar on a 48-yard field goal attempt with 10 seconds left in the half.

SHORT-HANDED

Both teams played with key contributors unavailable.

Miller was placed on injured reserve yesterday and will miss at least four games. Starting left tackle Dion Dawkins (ankle) also sat and was replaced by David Quessenberry, who gave up a sack on Buffalo’s opening drive and appeared to aggravate his trouble some knee.

don’t feel the nerves, we just have to play ball, pick each other up, play together and honestly I feel like we can win this thing.”

One team in the field will be eliminated following round-robin play.

The number one seed after the first round will play the fourthplace team in the first semifinal.

The second and third-place fin ishers will compete in the other semifinal.

Curaçao is the defending cham pion. They defeated Cuba in the final of the third edition.

Cuba has already qualified for the Central American and Carib bean Games.

Mother of the Games and “Golden Girl” Pauline Davis Dame of the games.

BAAA president Drumeco Archer, still cele brating the announcements by World Athletics that the World Relays will be coming back to the Baha mas for the fourth time in 2024, said the Bahamas will be welcoming the best that the world has to offer.

“From the BAAA side, we are ready,” Archer said. “If you come to the track every day, our athletes are ready to put on a show for you the Bahamian people.”

beacon of hope where the world is coming out of the residual and the dramatic effects of the pandemic amongst other world-shat tering events,” Sands said.

“This is a gleam of hope and joy as we come together to celebrate, cheer and encourage our young athletes to push them selves to help develop and improve the world in which they live.”

LOC chairman Lynden Maycock said his hard working staff that includes

logistics, operations, social functions, finance, technol ogy, competition, venue, marketing, media and vendor teams, have all done an excellent job so far.

The Blue Marlins Sports Network, according to Maycock, was officially launched as the radio net work for the games as did their first live broadcast of the event. He noted that they will be the official radio station for the games, while Aliv will be the televi sion station with the rights

to cover the games. “We also want to make men tion here that for the first time in the history of the games, we are partnering with a financial platform, Arawak X, that will provide the funding needed for the games.

Maycock also intro duced the LOC’s mascots, the Blue Sharks, while Maryann Higgs, the first Bahamian recipient of the Austin Sealy Award as the Most Outstanding Ath lete, was presented as the

Archer, who will be seeking another four-year term in office when the BAAA goes to the polls for their election of officers on Saturday, commended the Bahamas Olympic movement, the Bahamas government, the LOC and the Bahamian public. “A lot of work has been taking place in a short period of time,” he pointed out. “I will leave it right here and I would say let’s get ready to rumble. Let’s put on your running shoes and let’s get ready for the 50th edition of the CARIFTA Games.”

Green no. 7 led the Giants with 11pts in the win.

FAMILY: Coach Wilton Johnson and his Mt Carmel Cavaliers senior boys basketball team join in prayer after their victory last night against the Freedom Baptist Warriors.

COACH WILTON JOHNSON, far right, gets his point across on the sidelines yesterday.

THE Local Organising Committee (LOC) has officially launched the hosting of the 50th CARIFTA Games to commemorate the Bahamas’ 50th anniversary of Independence. Scheduled for the Easter holiday weekend of April 7-10, the region’s most prestigious track and field competition for junior athletes will be hosted here for the ninth time and all indications are that the Bahamas Government and the LOC are planning to make this one of the best ever.

WALK OF FAME

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outstanding athlete of the games. They are now all among the list of hon orees, whose portraits were beautifully drawn by Bahamian celebrity artist Jamaal Rolle, who got three CARIFTA ambassadors Johnathon Fowlers, Kenn edi Knowles and Skinner to Miller-Uibo, Gardiner and Strachan respectively.

The six Austin Sealy win ners in order are Maryann Higgs-Clarke, crowned the “Mother” of the games, who won the title in 1978, Lavern Eve, the first twotime winner in 1982-83, Pauline Davis, now the “Dame” of the games, who won in 1984, Debbie Fergu son-McKenzie, who did it in 1995, Strachan, another double champion in 2011 and 2012 and Miller-Uibo, the last to achieve the feat in 2013. For Gardiner, Miller-Uibo and Strachan,

they were all delighted to be added to the Walk of Fame.

Having missed the major ity of last season because of an injury, Gardiner, the men’s 200 and 400m national record holder, said finally after watching the others make the Walk of Fame, he’s now included.

“Now that I’m a pro fessional athlete and I hold all of these titles, I’m just happy to see myself amongst all of the leg ends in our country,” said Gardiner, a native from Moore’s Island who is now training in Florida.

With the games coming here for the 50th anni versary, Gardiner said it’s exciting for the country and hopefully he will be able to come back and celebrate with the Bahamian people next year.

As for next year, the trimmed and fit looking Gardiner said his training has been going tough, but he’s looking forward to his return and facing some of the new athletes in the sport

as well as his arch-rivals. “I went to see the doctor in July after the World Cham pionships and I’ve been training since October and I haven’t felt a thing,” he said.

“I think I have a new leg, so come January, you should see me in some indoor meets.”

Every year, the 27-yearold Gardiner said his goal remains the same and that is to stay healthy, go to the major championship or games and get on the podium, if not as the cham pion as one of the three medallists.

As a youngster growing up, Miller-Uibo said she was inspired by Tonique Williams, who had won the Olympics and World Cham pionship titles.

Having achieved that same goal, Miller-Uibo said she hopes that she can be an inspiration to the next great Bahamian female quarter-miler.

On the portrait, MillerUibo said Rolle always “does a great job and he

picked a wonderful photo. I’m happy for it.”

She was even more thrilled to be able to come home for the launch of CARIFTA and to hear the news of the Bahamas regaining the World Relays for 2024, having competed on the last one here in 2017 when she teamed up with Gardiner, Strachan and Michael Mathieu to win the first mixed 4 x 400m relay held at any major interna tional competition.

“I’m looking forward to it. I think CARIFTA is going to be a smash and so I’m looking forward to it,” said Miller-Uibo, who trains in Florida.

“I’m also looking forward to the return of the World Relays. I’m just excited that we are having it here in the Bahamas again.”

After winning just about every title from the CAR IFTA to World Indoors to outdoors in the 400m and holding multiple Baha mas national indoor and outdoor records in the 200400m, Miller-Uibo said the

goal for her next year is to get better, but this time as she drops back down to the 200m. “I just want to have some fun with it,” she stated. “These are my last few years and I just want to go out with a bang. We’re trying some new things. We’re going to drop down to the sprints as well as test out the multis, so we will see how it goes.”

When asked if she’s going to pursue the heptathlon, the women’s version of the decathlon that her husband Maicel Uibo from Estonia competes in, the 28-yearold Miller-Uibo would only chuckle and say: “We’ll see.”

Strachan, who had a great comeback year that ended with her running on the women’s 4 x 100m silver medal team at the NACAC Championships in Grand Bahama, said it motivates her to do more because she can now see that she can be able to achieve more things in the country. “I’m very grateful for this and so much more,” said Strachan,

who noted that Rolle did an exceptional job capturing her best angle.

Strachan, who currently trains in Jamaica, said she enjoys being a part of any event being hosted at home and she’s looking forward to coming back to cheer on the future stars as they compete at CARIFTA next year. “To the young athletes trying out for CARIFTA, I just want to say to them, keep going,” she charged.

“Once they have their minds fixed on this, keep it there. It doesn’t matter what anybody else tells you.

“Make it your motiva tion. When the world gives you lemon, you make lemonade.”

The 29-year-old Strachan, who became the seventh Bahamian to dip under the 11-second barrier in the 100m this year with a time of 10.98, said her goal next year is to get better and hopefully go after the Bahamian national century record of 10.84 that was set by Chandra Sturrup in 2005.

Jamaal Rolle: Legends Walk of Fame ‘serves as landmark for the country’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN celebrity artist Jamaal Rolle may have outdone himself in producing the 69 portraits of past and present Baha mian sporting superstars for the relaunch of the Leg ends Walk of Fame outside of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

Rolle, who has drawn portraits of so many world famous persons from Baha mians to foreigners, said he started the first batch of portraits in 2014, again in 2015 and then in 2019 before they were taken down because of Hurricane Dorian.

“I’m happy that the Local Organising Commit tee approached me about redoing the Legends Walk of Fame because it gave me a chance to redo those that were damaged and then I got to add the three new ones,” Rolle said.

“This serves as a land mark for the country. As often as I passed by, I would see tour guides bringing the tourists here and when I checked on trip advisor, the Legends Walk of Fame was one of the things they listed as something to see.

“The impetus behind this was to inspire the young sters, who would one day aspire to be among this list of sporting heroes,” Rolle said. “I know for me, I never really got to go to the airport to travel until I was an adult.

“But I always came as a child for sports day at school. So to see this here, I think it’s good to have something that can inspire the youngsters. For me, to be an inner-city boy becom ing an accomplished artist to do something as grand as this.”

What fascinated Rolle the most about the project was the amount of Major League baseball players the country produced – six to be exact – who were all included in the variety of sporting personalities dis played for all to see.

“The late Sir Durward Knowles and I had a father-son relationship, He and I were very close. We were Rotarians,” he said.

“I always heard of Elisha Obed and Yama Bahama, so to use my craft and express that in a drawing was a challenge I took.

“It was good to do a portrait of Anthony Car roll, the bodybuilder, my ambassador collegiate Rick Fox from basketball, the Golden Girls, who are all my friends and I remember when the country erupted that night when they won, along with the Golden Knights. Mark Knowles was a mixed doubles champion at Wimbledon in tennis and Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, the first Baha mian drafted in the NBA.”

Rolle said it’s so good to see the diversity of athletes young and old in so many disciplines being placed on this Legends Wall of Fame is just a sight to behold.

“It’s really a good reflec tion of all of them and they brought back a lot of mem ories,” said Ford, who is an accomplished baseball/ softball player. “It was won derfully done, can’t ask for anything more nor anything less.”

Patricia McKenzie said she was so impressed that she wanted to congratulate Rolle and to check to see if he could do some personal portraits for her family. “I think the work is beautiful.

They are awesome,” she said. “To see how much talent we have in this coun try is just phenomenal. He’s one of our uprising art ists in the whole world. He did the Prince and he did the Queen. I just thought I would come up and con gratulate him for the great work he has done with all of our legends.”

Two of the living leg ends, strongwoman Lavern Eve and sprinter Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie were equally impressed with what they saw. “I think this is a fantastic idea. I’m glad they brought it back,” said Eve, a multiple national star, but the first athlete to repeat as the Austin Sealy Award winner as the

most outstanding athlete at CARIFTA in 1992 and 1993.

“People just think of track and field, but I’m glad to see all of the legends who came from the different sports. This gives the coun try a chance to see a variety of people who excelled. I don’t consider myself as a legend. I just believe that I was blessed by God with my talent and I made good of it.”

Having gotten her first glimpse of all of the por traits, Eve said Rolle should be commended for a “great job” because “they look just like the people in real life.”

She noted that he cer tainly did a great job.

Ferguson-McKenzie, who also won the Austin Sealy Award in 1995, couldn’t agree more.

“I am so honoured to be here. When we were included, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I forgot about it,” said Fergu son-McKenzie, referring to the Golden Girls – Eldece Clarke, Savatheda Fynes, Chandra Sturrup and Paul ine Davis-Thompson, who were all included at the same time.

“It’s so nice to be back and to watch Shaunae (Miller-Uibo), Stevie (Gar diner) and Anthonique (Strachan) joining the list on legends, is just amazing.”

Ferguson-McKenzie was taken aback when she saw a portrait of her long-time coach Frank ‘Pancho’ Rah ming. She was speechless just to know that he was included in the Legends Walk of Fame.

The relaunch of the Leg ends Walk of Fame came on the same day as the Min istry of Youth, Sports and Culture officially launched the return of the CARIFTA Games for the 50th celebra tions here at the stadium from April 7-10, 2023.

At the same time, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations was celebrating as they received the good news that World Athletics, the governing body for track and field, had re-awarded the Baha mas the World Relays in 2024, marking the fourth time that the event will take place here.

Andy ‘Smudge’ Ford, who has three of his sib lings, including Major leaguer the late Wenty Ford, multiple star Eddie Ford and softball pitcher Linda Ford, said the por traits were all well done.

SHOWN, from left to right, are Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, World and Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Prime Minister Philip Davis, sprinter Anthonique Strachan, celebrity artist Jamaal Rolle and World and Olympic champion Steven Gardiner as they became the latest athletes added to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Legends Walk of Fame yesterday. Photos by Eric Rose/BIS

SHOWN, from left to right, are celebrity artist Jamaal Rolle, World and Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Prime Minister Philip Davis and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg.

Tiger Woods’ replacement Sepp Straka shares lead in the Bahamas

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

NASSAU, Bahamas

(AP) — Sepp Straka was home in Alabama pre paring for a big week of golf matches at his club, a friend’s wedding and the SEC Championship game. And then Tiger Woods couldn’t play in the Baha mas because of a foot injury, and Straka had a change in plans.

It worked out OK for him.

The replacement for Woods managed six bird ies at rain-soaked Albany for a 3-under 69 that gave him a share of the lead at the Hero World Challenge with defending champion Viktor Hovland, Tom Kim and Collin Morikawa.

Straka was first off in the pro-am, the time usually occupied by Woods. He was paired with Justin Thomas, who typically plays the first round with Woods.

Did he get anything else from the tournament host?

“The iron game wasn’t as good as his, but maybe rubbed off a little bit on me,” Straka. “So yeah, that was nice.”

Hovland was the only player to reach 4 under at any point before a bogey on the 16th. He is trying to join Woods as the only players to win this holiday event back-to-back.

Hovland is staying with Morikawa again. A year ago, Morikawa had a fiveshot lead and needed a win to reach No. 1 in the world when he shot 76 in the final round and Hovland rallied with a 66 to win.

And then there’s Kim, the 20-year-old rising star from South Korea who already has won twice on the PGA Tour and delivered on a big stage in the Presidents Cup. His week began by meeting Woods for the first time — “It was really cool. I have to pinch myself a little bit,” he said — and then he somehow went bogey-free at Albany.

The course typically yields low scores, except for rain that left foot-deep pud dles in some of the sandy areas and made chipping difficult from tight lies on soggy turf.

Kim was superb with his short game. He was in the front bunker on the par-3 17th and clipped the shot of muddied sand with such speed that it checked 3 feet from the hole.

Cameron Young, who came within inches of an ace on the hole, smiled at his father and said, “He’s allergic to bogeys.”

Young, the PGA Tour rookie of the year and one of seven newcomers to the elite, 20-man field, had a 71 and was among only eight players who broke par.

Straka is the only player to have never played in a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup at Albany. He is No. 29 in the world, a winner for the first time at the Honda Classic, earlier in the year, and had no intention of being in the Bahamas.

He is a member at Shoal Creek, and this was the week of the club matches against Greystone. J.T. Poston, a two-time winner on tour, is getting married on Friday.

The big day is Saturday, when Georgia plays LSU in Atlanta.

He was about to tee off Monday afternoon to get ready for the matches when the call came in to say Woods had plantar fasciitis in his right foot and would not be playing.

It was an easy decision for Straka, who was born and raised in Austria and moved to Valdosta, Geor gia, when he was 14, played at Georgia and bounces seamlessly between German and Southern in speech.

“It was a huge opportu nity and just awesome to be here,” he said.

Masters champion Scot tie Scheffler, a runner-up at the World Challenge last year, had a 72. He needs to win to get back to No. 1 in the world.

As for Woods, he kept up his presence at the tourna ment spending time in the television booth. He has not played since the British Open in July.

SEPP STRAKA, of Austria, tosses a ball to his caddie dur ing the first round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club in New Providence yesterday.

COLLIN MORIKAWA, of the United States, studies his putt on the 17th green yesterday.

VIKTOR HOVLAND, of Norway, lines up a putt on the 17th green during the first round yesterday. (AP Photos/Fernando Llano)

TOM KIM, of South Korea, chips onto the third green during the first round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour yesterday.