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TERRIBLE POLICY? NOT BY MY GOVT

ALICIA WALLACE: WITHOUT CHANGE WE’LL NEVER ADDRESS RAPE

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

Ingraham fires back over accusation on Cotton Bay delays

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has taken exception to remarks made by a local philanthropist and businessman who said an investor was prevented from doing business in The Bahamas because of “terrible public policy” during Mr Ingraham’s tenure.

Sir Franklyn Wilson went on record with his remarks just after the Davis

administration signed a revised Heads of Agreement with Colombian billionaire, Dr Luis Carlos Sarmiento and his Cotton Bay Holdings.

In this new HoA, Cotton Bay Holdings will partner with the Ritz Carlton Reserve brand in a $200m project in South Eleuthera.

This agreement will lead to the employment of some 300 people during construction and 200 people during operation.

SEE PAGE THREE

IMF ADVISED NEW CORPORATION AND TOP EARNERS INCOME TAX

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas has been urged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to “pre-empt” global tax pressures by imposing a corporate income tax designed to suit its own purposes.

The fund, in a report that has generated much political controversy, asserted that “the balance firmly tilts” in favour of The Bahamas getting out ahead of the G-20 and Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development push for a

15 percent minimum global corporate tax rate.

Suggesting that The Bahamas “impose that same level of taxation” for itself, the IMF said that while this would impact the domestic economy it would also ensure all corporate income tax revenues went to the government here rather than their counterparts abroad.

And it warned that delaying, or “abstaining”, from a corporate income tax could “pose reputational risks that can jeopardise the economy”.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

‘SEEM PRETTY SURE THEY’RE APPROVED’ THE CARNIVAL rides going up - but Health Minister Dr Michael Darville says operators have not met all of the ministry’s requirements to host the event, even as its manager says approval has been given. See PAGE TWO for the full story.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

INCENTIVES PLANNED TO USE UP VACCINES

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville says officials are concerned that the country’s four percent

COVID-19 positivity rate has given people a false sense of security that vaccines are not needed and health protocols do not need to be followed.

SEE PAGE FOUR

‘SHOCK PROGRAMME DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

JUVENILE advocates want the government to reconsider bringing back its Shock Treatment

programme, saying it could prove counterproductive.

The Ministry of National Security announced the relaunch of the programme last week.

SEE PAGE THREE

NASSAU BUSIEST CRUISE PORT IN AMERICAS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

NASSAU Cruise Port is handling “more cruise ships than any port in the Americas”, its chief executive said yesterday, adding that “we’re well on our way to climbing out” of COVID’s devastation.

Michael Maura, speaking to Tribune Business ahead of today’s $25m initial public offering launch to Bahamian investors, said

NASSAU CRUISE PORT the country’s main cruise gateway was dealing with “well over” 20 vessel calls per week in comparison to the Port of Miami’s 15-16 visits.

But, disclosing Nassau Cruise Port has taken “a very conservative approach” to its near-term forecasts, he added it anticipates recovering 86 percent of pre-COVID passenger volumes in 2022 with some 3.3m persons passing across its docks.

This is projected to rise to 3.7m passengers in 2023, with both figures based on 80 percent cruise ship “occupancy” levels.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

TECHNOLOGY ISLAND TURNS INTO LAB FOR VOLCANOLOGISTS

- SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, December 8, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

THE CHRISTMAS Carnival pictured yesterday.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

Holiday carnival ‘has not met’ requirements - but manager says approval has been given

By KHRISNA RUSSELL and EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporters

HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said operators of the Christmas Carnival have not met all of the ministry’s requirements to host the event, despite a representative of the event claiming to have received the greenlight.

Yesterday, the manager of the carnival said health officials have given several guidelines for a possible opening, including requiring proof of COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test from attendees.

Joe Alberts, of Midways

by McCafferty, claimed approval was given by the government and the popular attraction is expected to be open to the public from December 10 to January 23.

He made similar comments to another media outlets earlier this week.

Company officials began setting up equipment and rides at the site on Clifford Park last week.

However, yesterday Dr Darville said as far as he knows, a team of health officials have not formally approved Midways by McCafferty to operate the event.

“As far as I understand, it’s still ongoing and there are things that are still outstanding. Until those that are brought to the committee, a decision cannot be made,” Dr Darville said.

He did not want to go into specifics of what those requirements are, but they involve “health and safety requirements, sanitation (and) the issue as it relates to testing and the list goes on and on.”

He added: “The Ministry of Health is the one that makes the determination of whether an event is safe and the protocols and requirements of the ministry are met.

“As I speak that has not happened yet and there is a meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday).

“I am under the impression that some of the additional requirements as it relates to how the event will be conducted will be discussed and the outcomes will be directly related to what those discussions will be for the committee.

“There are multiple requirements. I don’t want to go into them individually.

“There is a separate group of requirements for an event of this calibre and our committee has requested those requirements and once they arrive a discussion will take place to determine whether it’s safe or unsafe to have the event.”

When asked if the carnival would open on Friday as the operator has claimed,

MINISTER of Health and Wellness Michael Darville.

Dr Darville said, “The rules are the rules. We’ve made it very clear that events associated with the possible spread of COVID-19 come through the Ministry of Health.

“The Ministry of Health is reviewing the necessary requirements and if the event meets the requirements, it will be approved.

If they do not meet the requirements, additional requirements will be requested until such (time) that we can meet what is needed to be met.”

Yesterday Mr Albert reacted to the mixed messaging from government officials.

“I guess he’s confused, but he had to give approval too I’m sure and I know on Thursday they’re all coming out here, the health department, to check everything out and see how we’re set up for the COVID situation,” Mr Alberts told this newspaper.

The manager went on to note the guidelines set out by the department.

He stated: “For the health department, their guidelines are to come to the event, anyone that comes to the carnival will have to show proof of their COVID vaccination or have a COVID test done – good three days. They have to get their COVID test done or be fully vaccinated and show proof upon entry.”

Asked how carnival officials will authenticate that the COVID tests are genuine, Mr Alberts answered: “We are meeting with the police department about everything so if they have some man that knows counterfeit ones.”

The vaccination guideline raises questions as the carnival is mostly popular with children, however those under the age of 12 are not given vaccinations in this country.

“I’m going to go see if I could even have a COVID stand out here so anyone that might want to come to the carnival and don’t

have their COVID test they could get it right at the gate before they walk in,” Mr Albert said.

Yesterday, former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands weighed in, saying the issue of the carnival’s approval has become a “tempest in a teacup”.

“It suggests there has been no real coordination of the approval process and quite frankly it’s unlikely there was ever any consultation with the Ministry of Health prior to allowing the carnival proprietors to come into town,” Dr Sands said.

“You now have this gratuitous commentary to the Bahamian public about how we’re going to make it so safe for the public and if it’s deemed unsafe then it won’t be approved when, in reality, the god darn thing has been approved already.

I doubt that there will be any rescinding of any of the approvals made.”

Regarding children attending, he said: “Obviously kids under 12 are not going to be vaccinated, right? How far are we going with this thing? I think what we ought to be paying attention to is social distancing.

The public health types of measures and those that are eligible to wear masks have them wear masks,” he told The Tribune.

He said the event can be fun and safe for young ones.

“When you get to the brass tacks of it all, there is probably very little public health concern with an open-air event such as this given the typical human density. The grounds are fairly spacious. It’s outdoor. With the appropriate protocol of sanitisation stations and handwashing if possible, but more likely sanitisation, this can be a fun safe event primarily for the children. This whole back and forth I think was an unfortunate creation that didn’t have to be.”

The Office of the Prime Minister did not provide comment when contacted yesterday.

THE TRIBUNE

Terrible policy?

Not by my govt Even though there was a HoA signed with Cotton Bay Holdings in 1997 when Mr Ingraham was Prime Minister, the project never came to full fruition.

Sir Franklyn said the Sarmientos were treated horribly at the time and that they are not to blame for the deal not going through as it was “bad public policy and governance” which eventually triggered a recession in Eleuthera.

Mr Ingraham, in a statement yesterday, expressed displeasure at Sir Franklyn’s remarks, calling them “misguided accusations”.

“I was surprised therefore to read, and I take exception to, reports that Sir Franklyn Wilson spewed misguided accusations that my government’s ‘bad public policy’ in the late 1990s were largely to blame for lack of action on this project,” said the former Prime Minister.

“I have long expressed frustration with slow progress in invigorating the South Eleuthera economy which was a goal of every government led by me.

“Contrary to Mr Wilson’s allegations, FNM governments have consistently acted to marry their interests in providing increased economic and employment opportunities and hence better living conditions for ordinary Bahamians with those of attracting desirable investors to our country.”

Even though displeased about Sir Franklyn’s remarks, Mr Ingraham said he was happy to see a third Heads of Agreement between the government

and Cotton Bay Holdings signed.

Mr Ingraham refuted Mr Wilson’s claim of bad policy under his watch saying what he practised at the time was the “complete opposite”.

“At all times Dr Sarmiento, with whom I met at his invitation, at his office and at his home in Bogota, Colombia was fully aware and accepted that the government that I led would not approve further purchases of large acreage of land in South Eleuthera by him until and unless he progressed the agreed development,” Mr Ingraham’s statement continued.

“From the point of view of Sir Franklyn, this may be called bad public policy.

From my point of view, it is the exact opposite.

Those who celebrate the signature of yesterday’s agreement may wish to consider that Dr Sarmiento has always come to the table to negotiate his agreements for development in The Bahamas with FNM administrations.

“It suggests that Dr Sarmiento is satisfied that FNM administrations would deal with him fairly and transparently.”

Dr Sarmiento, said to be an established businessman with investments in construction, banking and telecommunications, was approved by the Ingraham administration to purchase the former Cotton Bay property from the Franklyn Wilson Group.

He subsequently converted the old Keizer residence into his private family retreat in Eleuthera

THE HEADS of agreement signing with Cotton Bay executives.

and commenced plans to redevelop the old Cotton Bay Resort and Golf Club.

“Those plans to renovate, upgrade and expand the Cotton Bay Resort have disappointedly not moved forward during the past 25 years not due to any action on the part of FNM governments,” Mr Ingraham continued.

“And, it is instructive that the proposed development did not proceed under either of the last two PLP administrations (2002-2007 and 2012-2017).

The outcomes of general elections in 2012 and 2021 resulted in two of the Sarmiento Groups’ agreements, approved by FNM governments, being signed

by PLP administrations.”

Specifically addressing South Eleuthera, Mr Ingraham said his administration, in an effort to facilitate Dr Sarmiento’s redevelopment plan for the Cotton Bay property, acquired and redeveloped the Rock Sound Airport much to the chagrin of its owners from the Franklyn Wilson Group.

“Thereafter a new airport terminal was constructed,” he said. “And we put in place plans to expand and increase electricity and water supplies to accommodate the development and to provide services to residents of South Eleuthera.

“In office the FNM always sought to protect the interests of all – public and private. Where conflict between the two arose we always came down on the side of public interests as

opposed to personal private interest.

“So, we did not approve Cotton Bay Holdings Ltd’s application to buy substantial additional land from the Franklyn Wilson group

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, PAGE 3

prior to the commencement of development on the large acreage already owned by the company for the expressed purpose of touristic and upscale residential development.”

He said his administration was satisfied that additional land was not required for the size of development proposed and further, did not agree that foreign entities or persons should be approved by the government to purchase large tracts of vacant land without specific approved development plans.

Mr Ingraham said: “I was pleased 25 years ago in 1996, as head of the government, to have caused to be approved and signed the first Heads of Agreement between the government and Dr Carlos Sarmiento, a frequent visitor and subsequently second homeowner in Eleuthera.

“Notably, that meant to bring the Four Seasons hotel chain to South Eleuthera in 2015

was agreed during my third term in office as I announced ahead of the 2012 general elections.

“At the time of the general election details concerning road deviations, zoning and land use changes were being discussed with the developers as well as processes for dealing with construction permits, work permits, supply of power, water and communications and custom duties exemptions under the Hotels Encouragement Act.” He said that the project, while signed by the Christie administration, did not move forward as anticipated.

“Similarly, it appears that the negotiation of the agreement now signed by the Davis administration was negotiated by the last FNM administration.

“I wish the development great success and look forward to its beneficial impact on the people and economy of South Eleuthera,” Mr Ingraham said.

‘SHOCK PROGRAMME DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD’ from page one

That decision prompted debate on social media between those who believe the programme is likely to be harmful to youngsters and those who believe it could be effective.

Project Youth Justice, a non-governmental organisation headed by attorney Tavarrie Smith that has represented over 100 children and teens in legal and post-legal proceedings, said it is important to protect and guard the wellbeing of children, something Shock Treatment does not accomplish.

The organisation said in a statement: “Shock Treatment films the lives of young men who are put in a variety of disciplinary situations intended to ‘shock’ them into avoiding a life of crime. Participants are frequently shouted at,

put through a variety of physical tasks, exposed to prisoners and the morgue.

Although the techniques, in and of themselves, are shown to work in certain professions, Shock Treatment has yet to show data of the actual effectiveness of the programme in reducing crime.”

Local research, according to PYJ, has shown: “Children who are frequently exposed to violence in their homes (being sworn at, insulted, threatened, and hit) display signs of failing grades and aggressive/ disruptive behaviour as a result.”

PYJ said the study “also demonstrated that young persons who have had violence demonstrated in their homes prior to incarceration were higher than the general population, ie those exposed to violence were more likely to be engaged in adverse behaviours that

would lead to incarceration, including general crimes, low educational achievement, and furthering abusive cycles.

“In a study performed

by Minnis, Symonette, Stevenson, Pintard-Newry, and Gibson (2010) 54 percent of inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison dropped out of school after being expelled for mostly fighting and bad behaviour. Thirtyone percent of inmates reported being abused (mainly physical) prior to incarceration, with 49 percent of inmates reporting witnessing violence in their homes. Given the research, furthering abusive cycles and violence towards children and teens is not an effective way towards rehabilitation.”

PYJ said Shock Treatment likely contradicts the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which require that children be

IMMIGRATION DEPT ROLE IN OPERATION THE Department of Immigration in Grand Bahama recently played a “pivotal role” in the launch of Operation Turquesa, a global Interpol-led operation targeting suspected facilitators and participants in human smuggling.

The operation took

place between November 23-December 3, according to a press release from the department.

The operation resulted in the arrest of three Dominican, two Ecuadorian and seven Haitian nationals for various infractions of the Immigration Act.

All subjects were prosecuted for their various infractions and fines were subsequently paid as ordered by a local magistrate.

The foreigners were taken to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre to await deportation to their respective home countries.

protected from violence.

“Instead of furthering the cycle of abuse and mistreatment of youth through entertainment,” the advocates said, “there are long-term and more effective ways to help deal with the cycle of crime and

violence. We call on the government of The Bahamas to consider alternative solutions to addressing challenges with young offenders, including: (1) early diversion and disposition of juvenile cases (2) juvenile court reform

(3) the need for a Juvenile Justice Bill; (5) restorative justice practices; (6) full and immediate compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, and other international commitments on youth justice reforms.”

PAGE 4, Wednesday, December 8, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Incentives planned to use up vaccines from page one Speaking to reporters yesterday, the minister announced that a “social mobilisation” campaign to give incentives to those who take the soon-to-be-expired Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be launched “very shortly”.

He was also non-committal when asked whether restrictions would be tightened over the holiday season, despite expressing concern that people have become relaxed concerning social distancing and other protocols.

“We are working very closely with the private sector groups to activate something called social mobilisation where there would be incentives for individuals who come forth to be vaccinated,” the minister said when asked about a potential lottery for people taking the J&J jab.

He has previously said this brand of vaccine has an expiration date of the end of the year.

“Those incentives could be gift certificates. It could be a lotto. It could be many things,” Dr Darville continued. “Those things are being discussed as we speak because we realise that there is a group of individuals in our country who are on the fence and still uncertain of whether they want to be vaccinated or not.

“So, we are activating our social mobilisation campaign and it will be released very shortly and in that particular campaign we will be targeting this group very aggressively.”

His comments come as the Omicron variant is being detected in more and more US states and in Canada.

Asked if this along with expected holiday gatherings would spark more restrictions, the minister said: “We are concerned about our tourists and our local citizens following the

SEVEN MORE CONFIRMED CASES SEVEN new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Monday.

Three cases were confirmed the previous day.

The country now has 22,846 confirmed cases of

the virus, however, only 314 of those cases are active.

Fifteen people are in hospital with the disease.

There have been 705 confirmed virus deaths.

health protocols.

“It’s important for our citizens to realise that we have this variant that’s out there and the possibility of it coming into our country is a real threat. I’m advising everyone during the Christmas holidays to make sure you wear your mask, practise social distancing and sanitise. These are proven mechanisms to prevent the spread.

“For us we have a country and an economy to grow.

Tourism is our number one industry. We have to be very mindful of the fact that we are in challenges economically throughout the country. We have to pay bills and we need to ensure that we have a robust tourism sector, but we need to do it in a safe and protective way.

“So, again I am pleading to the entire nation to practice the proper protocols. As you come together

be mindful that we do have this virus that is out there.

We’re not out of the woods.

“We believe that this virus would be around for many years to come and how well we manage it on the ground will determine how we fend and reduce the possibility of the community spread.”

Asked if there was a discussion underway about tightening restrictions, he said: “We are watching everything. We have not made any recommendations as to whether or not it’s necessary to tighten anything. As it stands right now the numbers are low.

“The viral load is low.

When the viral load is low it gives us an opportunity to look at new protocols.

When the viral load goes up we will make a determination if there has to be some additional changes to our protocols, but as it stands right now the statistics are

proving that the viral load is low.”

Speaking further of the positivity rate, he said this was also a concern.

“We spoke about social mobilisation. We know that when the load is low people who may want to be vaccinated don’t see it as a degree of urgency and so with social mobilisation we’re going to go out there and let the Bahamian people know that this is the time to get vaccinated.

“The vaccines are here.

There is no shortage of vaccines.

“The sites will be opened up. Come on and get your vaccines because we know that vaccinations prevent hospitalisations and save lives. That is one of the greatest assets that we have in our tool kit and we must be able to utilise.”

He also noted the government’s vaccine committee has been searching

for countries to which to donate the J&J vaccines.

However, this has been a challenge.

“The vaccination committee has been in discussions with many countries around the world as it relates to who wants the vaccines. We have made many attempts.

“As a matter of fact, I saw someone who wanted to donate 250,000 doses that are in expiration so many countries are challenged with trading vaccines.

“It is not as simple as saying I want the vaccine and you send it.

“There (are) a lot of steps that need to take place, but for us with our Johnson & Johnson vaccines we have a plan and we are going to be very aggressive in the next couple of days to activate our plan and hopefully with the support of the Bahamian people we will get those vaccines in arms.”

BAHAMAS FIRST SIGNS UP TO $40K UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS First has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with University of The Bahamas for the issuance of a $40,000 four-year scholarship.

Patrick Ward, president and CEO of Bahamas First, said the signing is a commitment to the deepened partnership between his company and the university.

“I’m pleased to sign here today on behalf of the board of directors and the executive leadership team of the Bahamas First Group to affix my signature to this Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Bahamas First Emerging Leader

Scholarship Award,” Mr Ward said.

“In our industry, a signature is more than just a jot of ink on a sheet of paper.

It endorses a promise and guarantees a pledge and seals an agreement.

“I firmly believe that this signing is an important event in the history of our company that will continue and deepen the partnership and close cooperation that has existed between Bahamas First and the university over the years.”

Mr Ward boasted that there is no mistake that The Bahamas’ first university and The Bahamas’ first locally established general insurance company have entered into an agreement to support the youth of the country in their pursuit of education.

He continued, “It is

said that education is for improving the lives of others and leaving your community and world better than you found it.

“The Bahamas First Insurance Emerging Leaders Scholarship is a comprehensive four-year award that will unlock the door to education for high school seniors who possess the potential to succeed, but struggle with doubts about their next steps because of their family’s financial insecurity.

“Our pledge today, which is backed by our annual contribution of $10,000, is to help the door to education to swing open wider than it has before and to usher qualified students into the leading-edge disciplines of business, information technology, echo

tourism, sustainability and engineering.”

He said, equipped with the scholarship, the recipients can be independent thinkers and creative problem solvers who will transform their communities and this country.

Dr Rodney Smith, UB president, said the scholarship can assist with the university’s mission to drive national development.

“This gift will be used to create the Bahamas First Insurance Emerging Leaders Scholarship Award,” Dr Smith said. “This award is given in honour of longstanding board of directors, who served Bahamas First with integrity and dedication.

“The donation of scholarship funds supports the university’s mission to drive national development

through teaching, research, innovation and service to the community.

“Providing greater access to tertiary education is a part of the mission of the University of The Bahamas and donations like this one significantly helps to increase access for students across the archipelago.”

He said students who choose to study business administration, business management, information technology, mathematics, eco-tourism, sustainability or engineering will have the opportunity to benefit from this merit based four-year scholarship.

Also on hand for the signing was Dino Hernandez, vice president of institutional advancement and alumni affairs, who said Bahamas First’s financial commitment demonstrates

the potential of students to make a profound impact on the country.

“This $40,000 financial commitment demonstrates, not only Bahamas First Insurance Group’s support of the university, but also the potential of our students to make a profound and enduring impact on our nation.

“As emerging leaders, students will receive leadership development training, out of the classroom scholarly experiences and co-curricular exposure which will contribute to their growth and success,” he said.

Bahamas First will also provide internship opportunities to allow UB students to engage in the professional realm, while they are accomplishing their academic pursuits.

WORKSHOP ADVICE ON SAFE BUILDING DESIGN

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A WORKSHOP was held yesterday to inform construction and housing industry professionals about designing buildings to survive high winds.

Dwight King, training and disaster manager officer at the Ministry/Department of Public Works, said the seminar was designed to teach engineers, architects and other professionals about constructing buildings to withstand high winds, specifically during hurricanes.

“Like any profession, it’s very important that you continue what is called continued education. Over the years, techniques change, technologies change,

approaches change, materials change. It’s very important that you keep up to date with the latest so you can make it better.

The idea is, as good as our building code is, we want to make it even better,” he explained.

Cyndi Chandler, director of Latin America for manufacturing company Simpson Strong-Tie, said it is the leader in manufacturing wood connectors and structural products that aid in building “stronger, safer, more economical structures” for incidents like hurricanes.

“We want to get out and spread the word that you can build stronger, safer structures economically,” she said.

“I think that’s probably

the most important part and we do these types of training throughout the Caribbean, throughout The Bahamas. We’re going to the Abacos on Thursday to just check out some more of the damage. Doug was on a team that went after Dorian and to assess the damage and that’s just what we do.

We want to help people, and especially the Bahamians build these stronger, safer structures.”

Doug Allen, an engineer and presenter, noted that Hurricane Dorian will be discussed as well as its effects and some of the trends seen during their damage assessment back in 2019. Major updates from the older building codes to newer codes is another topic for discussion.

DWIGHT KING, of the Training and Disaster Management Office.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, PAGE 5

FOUR PROMOTED TO EXECUTIVE ROLES AT PORT AUTHORITY

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FOUR Bahamians who hold executive positions at the Grand Bahama Port Authority were promoted, the company announced yesterday.

Karla McIntosh has been appointed vice president of legal affairs, Port Group Limited; Philcher Grant is the new chief operating officer of the Grand Bahama Utility Company; Derek Newbold is chief investment officer at the Grand Bahama Port Authority; and Nakira Wilchcombe is vice president of building & development services at the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

The announcement was made in a press statement issued yesterday.

Ian Rolle, president of the Grand Bahama Port Authority and Port Group

Limited, said the newly promoted executive team is charged with creating and executing a renewed vision for the revitalisation of Freeport, and by extension the island of Grand Bahama.

“We are pleased to recognise our newly promoted executives who are all skilled and talented Bahamian leaders in our organisation,” he said. “We are confident in their ability to lead and share the future of our home here in Freeport.”

Sarah St George, acting chairman of the GBPA, said: “We are extremely proud of all their hard work, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian and during the most uncertain times of COVID19. Their commitment has not wavered nor has it gone unnoticed and we look forward to their role in shaping the future of the GBPA.”

KARLA MCINTOSH

NAKIRA WILCHCOMBE

PHILCHER GRANT

DEREK NEWBOLD

Laroda: 4,000 people receiving unemployment while working

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net MYLES Laroda, the State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for the National Insurance Board, says almost 4,000 people were receiving unemployment benefits while working.

He said officials haven’t decided yet if they will require people to pay the government back.

Mr Laroda previously

said it would be outrageous to collect benefits while employed.

The Minnis administration provided unemployment assistance to help people who were out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As I discuss (the matter) with the various factions out there, we have a narrative,” Mr Laroda told reporters before a Cabinet meeting yesterday. “I’ll give an example here. There were some issues with Atlantis

employees who have been terminated. The Act will require that for you to benefit or collect unemployment benefits, you would have had to have made contributions for the 52 weeks previous.

“Well, we have individuals who were off for a year and even when those redundancies were paid, you’d have line staff that would only be in the amount of 26 weeks, so those individuals were not working. When they did get their severance, only

Governor General tours hospital GOVERNOR General Sir Cornelius A Smith conducted his annual Christmas visit and tour of Princess Margaret Hospital on Monday.

Led by Charlene Davis, Principal Nursing Officer at Princess Margaret Hospital, the tour included the Children’s Ward, and the newly renovated and recommissioned Male Surgical Ward I, and Medical/Surgical Ward East.

Also present were Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Wellness Colin Higgs; Jack Thompson, Secretary to the Governor General, Andrew Edwards, Chairman of the Board of the Public Hospitals Authority; Catherine Weech, Managing Director, Public Hospitals Authority; Dr Caroline BurnettGarraway, Medical Chief of Staff, other

health officials, and Rev Canon Sebastian Campbell, the Officiant who blessed the areas visited.

After a red carpet greeting by health officials, the Governor General commenced his tour of the Children’s Ward, where he interacted with patients and presented gifts.

He next participated in the cutting of ribbons and unveiling of plaques of the newly renovated wards, followed by anointing with holy water, and intercessions led by Canon Campbell.

The Governor General was excited to be able to commence the tour of the public health facilities especially after the scaled down version in 2020 due to the height of COVID-19 pandemic. He will also tour Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, and the Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Photos: Patrick Hanna/BIS

24 weeks’ worth of contributions were made so they were left at a deficit. So, that’s going to be a policy decision that the government will have to make with regards to are we are going to bring unemployment relief to individuals who really were not physically on the job and even though they were bought out, their contributions do not rise to the amount that would enable them to collect benefits.

“My advice that I would have received is there

were over 3,000, almost 4,000 people who NIB would have found out from contributions that were made on their behalf by their employers. That’s why we said they were collecting benefits while they were not legally able to do so.”

Mr Laroda said the matter is an ongoing issue.

“It’s an ongoing issue because yet again we’re talking about individuals who would have received their redundancy packages and would have been

on that list that, yes, contributions would have been made on their behalf so it’s not fair to them to say they were double dipping because they were at home, not working, they got their severance packages, some of those were garnished by the creditors and so if you got a payment, your contributions were paid, you got nothing from it and you were not eligible to receive benefits from NIB then it’s hard to say that’s double dipping.”

PAGE 6, Wednesday, December 8, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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Decisions to be made on taxation THE past week has seen a political back-and-forth over a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis used the report’s existence to claim that the FNM were planning to increase Value Added Tax (VAT) to 15 percent, based on its recommendations.

Now former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said not so, and he’d never even seen the report.

But there’s more to the report than just that – with the IMF also suggesting that The Bahamas gets ahead of the international move to introduce a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 percent.

There was also the prospect of a personal income tax on high earners.

Now there’s the political knockabout getting in the way – these were after all recommendations and are as binding on the new government as they were on the old, which is to say not at all. At the same time, though, Dr Minnis may not have laid eyes on it personally, but his former Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson certainly seems to have done.

It was already well known that there is a push by the US in particular to ensure the global corporation tax is introduced, IMF report or not. Perhaps these are some of the “headwinds” that Dr Minnis referred to as reasons why he called an early election – though it’s hard to know given how he hasn’t given any specifics.

Either way, there is a bigger picture here than the finger-pointing between one party and another – and that is the issue of tax reform for our country.

The issue of corporate tax isn’t going away anytime soon – so we would be unwise to bury our heads in the sand about it. It’s not an issue being put forward by one party or the other, but an external pressure that we have to decide what we are going to do anything about.

Mr Davis’ policy of cutting VAT by two percent, meanwhile, has been highlighted in a University of The Bahamas report as potentially worsening the fiscal deficit and the debt-to-GDP ratio.

After Hurricane Dorian and the pandemic, we don’t have a lot of wiggle room in our economy, and precious little leeway at all when it comes to the level of our deficit and our debt.

The proposals in the IMF report will come up again – so don’t focus on the fingers of blame, focus on what is being done to raise our economy again, and how we will face the international pressure on taxation.

Whoever won the election was going to face these issues. So let’s hear what we’re doing about them, not who is to blame.

Cotton Bay

When Sir Franklyn Wilson criticised the “terrible public policy” of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham after the signing of a revised Heads of Agreement for the Cotton Bay project, there was always going to be more to the story.

Mr Ingraham himself weighed in yesterday on the matter, and bringing more details to the table.

According to Mr Ingraham, his stance was that he would not approve further purchases of land in South Eleuthera until the man behind the project, Dr Luis Carlos Sarmiento, made progress with the agreed development.

In other words, if you want more, get on with what you’ve already agreed.

That doesn’t sound like bad public policy at all – in fact, it sounds the opposite. Why give away more to someone who hadn’t started what they’d already promised?

Other steps were taken – including acquiring and redeveloping the airport.

The project has taken a long time – with Mr Ingraham lamenting that it had not moved forward in the past 25 years – and hopefully the way forward will be smoother, and faster.

But credit to Mr Ingraham for not giving away everything while seeing nothing when it came to progress.

Expecting investors to live up to their promises is something we ought to see more of, not less.

We are in trouble EDITOR, The Tribune.

SUPPLEMENTARY Budget - in the bluntest language Hon Philip Davis as Minister of Finance did not really say it, but folks believe me we are in financial trouble…useless not admitting it we are.

Denial is precisely that.

Tourism, yes, hurrah we are doing exceptionally well but what if this new variant takes a hold of the US, then what?

Our debt payments don’t miraculously disappear.

Remember folks the competent authority put us in $4 billion worth of debt and incredibly refuses to apologise, in fact right up to yesterday in the House he was self praising again and again. I cry shame!

If we borrow to pull through the Debt payment due in the next 12 months relying on B$ borrowing because very simply any US$ borrowing will come with a minimum of 10 plus percent interest, we will be lucky.

Press Officer and Communications Director stop

the spin, we are in proverbial ‘do-do’.

Listen to the MPs yesterday… don’t they read what the Minister of Finance said?

PLP and FNM MPs no difference talking total gibberish totally out of sync to reality, but that’s where we are nationally.

Take the Long Island MP…you would have thought he and his party were in the wilderness for 20 years the way he talked... roads unpaved - no water - no this and no that and we desperately need a $20 plus million airport which receives anyway so few passengers, really except for politics the project should be cancelled but… oh, great talk, sir - but.

Absolutely no nonessential Capital expense should be allowed Mr Minister - zero don’t care what your Ministers say .... frugal governance for the next three-years is the sole approach that might, note might, pull us through.

Nassau Port and cruise traffic – the past Minister never mentions that

the true profile of visitors is negative as the majority some 95% of seven-ten day cruise port in Nassau on their last or last, but one port of call before Florida – if there are 25-30,000 cruise passengers in port on any day and 50% come ashore that’s 15,000 plus on the streets the equivalent of a Junkanoo parade crowd – sorry, my eyes don’t deceive me…we ain’t seen that ever.

Only essential, and I mean essential, Ministerial travel…use zoom where necessary – safer for health reasons to start with.

Wake up country, people wake up…first all tax payers please pay your tax arrears…do your best to pay BPL - Water & Sewerage - real property our country cannot run on fumes, we need cash in the bank.

Are we a lost nation in total fiscal and financial denial? There is a strong suggestion we are – certainly many MPs are both sides.

D KNOWLES Nassau, November 30, 2021.

What is a Realm?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS BARBADOS changes its Head of State and becomes a Republic with a President, I thought I would reflect on questions people ask me about the UK’s relationship with The Bahamas. I often get asked what my opinion is about whether The Bahamas should change its Head of State. I usually respectfully reverse this question.

This is a decision entirely for The Bahamas, its government and its people. But I thought it might be useful to look at some of the facts that frame our connections.

The UK, The Bahamas, and thirteen other countries, for example Canada, Australia, Antigua and Barbuda and Jamaica, have Her Majesty The Queen as Head of State.

The fact of sharing a Head of State does not mean the UK has any role in Bahamian, or other countries, governance. The fourteen countries are independent sovereign nations with their own governments.

The Head of State is a broadly ceremonial role which supports the government in presenting and organising the work of the country. The Bahamian government chooses the Governor General who is The Queen’s representative in The Bahamas. The Governor General carries out the functions in The Bahamas, such as the opening of parliament and awarding of honours that The Queen and the Royal family lead in the UK. Here in Nassau I am a High Commissioner rather than an Ambassador because The Bahamas is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The majority of the 54 members of the Commonwealth do not have The Queen as their Head of

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net State, for example India, Malaysia, Singapore and Rwanda. Barbados plans to stay as a member of the Commonwealth.

Either Realm or Republic – the constitutional status is no reflection on the strength and quality of the bilateral relationship.

As HRH The Prince of Wales eloquently said while attending the Barbadian ceremony: “As your constitutional status changes, it was important to me that I should join you to reaffirm those things which do not change.

For example: • the close and trusted partnership between Barbados and the United Kingdom as vital members of the Commonwealth; • our common determination to defend the values we both cherish and to pursue the goals we share; • and the myriad connections between the people of our countries – through which flow admiration and affection, co-operation and opportunity – strengthening and enriching us all.”

This is equally true in the relationship between the UK and The Bahamas. We have strong links on diverse issues such as tackling global warming and climate change; shared security and crime prevention; promoting sustainable tourism and transatlantic trade. In recent weeks The Honourable Prime Minister and senior cabinet colleagues have travelled to the UK for a variety of meetings and events.

This travel is straightforward, thanks in part to the fact that the UK does not require visas for most short

trips by Bahamians, as well as the recent increase in UK airlines operating from Nassau, with both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offering non-stop flights to Heathrow.

I know the Honourable Prime Minister knows the UK well as he has fought appeals in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council during his time as a senior lawyer. Several Commonwealth countries with similar legal traditions and practices continue to use the Privy Council as their appeal court, when leave to appeal has been granted by a Bahamian or other sovereign Court.

The relationship with the Privy Council comes from our deep historical legal connections and is not contingent on having the Queen as Head of State. I know that The Bahamas is also able to change use of this court should they wish to.

So far I have written about the facts of how the UK and The Bahamas relate to each other, but what does this mean for the future? I will repeat that this is entirely for The Bahamas, its government and its people to decide. In conversation many Bahamians tell me that they appreciate the role and service of The Queen as Head of State. Some say they would like that to stay the same and some say they would prefer to change. In either circumstance the UK and the Royal Family will continue to be great friends of The Bahamas, wishing them tremendous success in all their endeavours and working closely on a multitude of issues.

SARAH DICKSON British High Commissioner to The Bahamas Nassau, December 7, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, PAGE 7

Officer tells of arrest in trial over alleged libel of Gibson

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A POLICE Sergeant gave testimony yesterday at the opening of the libel trial of the man accused of defaming former Water and Sewerage Corporation Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson.

Sgt Travis Strachan, attached to the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Financial Crime Investigations Unit, took the stand before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, testifying of his involvement in the January arrest of Gregory Miller.

ADRIAN GIBSON MP Miller is charged with attempted intentional libel and intentional libel after prosecutors alleged he transferred $200 to Mr Gibson’s Royal Bank of Canada account in an attempt to defame him in

December 2018.

He is further accused of causing the publication of defamatory matter concerning Mr Gibson on a Jones Communication Network television programme in June 2019.

However, Miller has denied the allegations.

During yesterday’s trial, Sgt Strachan recalled how he had received information concerning a complaint made against Miller on January 12.

He told the court that at around 10am that day he approached Miller and informed him of the libel complaint made against him by Mr Gibson.

The police sergeant said he subsequently cautioned Miller and helped transport him to the Nassau Street Police Station for further processing.

He also said he believed Miller’s attorney was present during his arrest.

The next witness called to take the stand was Tennille Burrows, manager at the Royal Bank of Canada’s Carmichael Branch.

While giving testimony, Burrows recalled how she was engaged by a colleague in January 2019 to assist with an investigation launched by Mr Gibson concerning an unknown deposit that was entered

into his account the year before.

Burrows went on to disclose her findings, but was unable to complete her testimony after Miller’s attorney, Ian Cargill interjected, insisting that some of her evidence given was based on documents that were not before the courts.

Mr Cargill conceded that because the documents were not entered in as exhibits for evidence, he did not have a chance to review them.

“As far as I know, the law states that you can’t refer to the contents of documents unless it’s exhibited. I see

JIMMY’S WINS HELPS CANCER SOCIETY WITH nearly 45 years of activism and advocacy under its belt, the Cancer Society of The Bahamas has been the go-to resource for cancer sufferers and survivors across the country.

In 2020 alone, hundreds of Bahamians were diagnosed with some form of cancer, with instances of prostate and breast cancer among the most prevalent forms of the deadly disease, according to a press release.

Since 1976, the Cancer Society has worked to raise awareness about the various types of cancer impacting Bahamian society. Highlighted are the benefits of early detection and treatment options while providing much-needed mental and emotional support to its patrons, a mandate which has become increasingly difficult due to both global economic and health conditions.

Despite the challenges, the Cancer Society’s longstanding dedication has inspired countless organisations to join the fight against cancer including Jimmy’s Wines & Spirits. Over the past several years Jimmy’s has stepped up as a major supporter of the Cancer Society’s efforts providing funding for educational programmes and other initiatives.

“The relationship between Jimmy’s Wines

& Spirits and The Cancer Society of The Bahamas dates back many years,” noted Mallory Sands of Jimmy’s. “Just as we have supported in the past, we wish to continue our service to this organisation and do our part in any way that improves the lives of our good Bahamian people and families.”

During the month of October, the company launched a special breast cancer awareness initiative which encouraged customers to donate to the worthy cause.

“As a truly Bahamian company, we are proud to support causes that serve and impact the greater community,” said Ms Sands. “It is a tragic reality that cancer is all too prevalent in Bahamian society. Cancer has affected each and every one of us in some way.

We were so pleased with the response we received from the general public as well. We want to continue to be a part of the solution as much as we hope to be there for the celebration when a battle has been fought and won.”

For the team at the Cancer Society, the assistance could not have come at a better time.

“The past two years have been particularly challenging for us,” said Cancer Society Administrator Errin Storr.

“The devastation of

nothing before the court,” he argued.

However, prosecutor Clifford Daxon countered that Mr Cargill had in his possession all of the witness statements and should have made known any issues he may have had in advance.

Magistrate FergusonPratt agreed with Mr Cargill, saying his lack of access to the documents which she said formed the “basis” of the case placed him and his client at a disadvantage.

As a result, the Chief Magistrate adjourned the case to Thursday, December 16.

A CHEQUE presentation is made to the Cancer Society of The Bahamas by Jimmy’s Wines and Spirits.

Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced us to cancel many of our major fundraising events, which has impacted how much support we’ve been able to provide those most in need of our services.”

This latest donation, officials say, will be used to fund ongoing educational campaigns aimed at

raising awareness about the early detection and prevention of cancer.

“We plan to up our media engagement through the use of more social media broadcasts as well as through our website,” said Ms Storr.

Those efforts she notes will target a younger audience through the Cancer Society’s HaLT Healthy Lifestyle Teams

- initiative. “That programme,” she notes “is designed to promote healthier lifestyles choices. Targeting the youths will teach them better eating habits as they grow into adulthood; the mission is committed to the awareness, education, prevention, research, advocacy, care and cure of cancer.

“More importantly,”

Ms Storr said, “the funds will have a significant impact on the number of individuals who can be accommodated at the Society’s Cancer Caring Centre. Many of our clients come from the Family Islands. So part of what we do is try to create a home-away-from-home experience to help persons through their recovery periods.”

MAN ACCUSED OVER PINDER POINT KILLING

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A MAN is expected to be charged with murder in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The matter is in connection with the shooting death of a juvenile in Pinder’s Point last Friday.

The deceased teen was

a former student of the Beacon School in Grand Bahama. He resided in Pinder’s Point with his mother.

Police were called to a shooting incident shortly after 8pm in Pinder’s Point.

According to a crime report, a 17-year-old boy was conducting mechanical work in the area. Police said the victim walked across the street when a man with

a firearm approached him and discharged several rounds of ammunition in his direction, shooting him multiple times about the body.

EMS personnel were summoned to the scene and found no signs of life. The victim was taken to Rand Memorial Hospital, where a doctor pronounced him dead.

HAITIAN ADMITS PASSPORT FRAUD BID

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A HAITIAN man who tried to fraudulently obtain valid Bahamian passports for his children pleaded guilty to the offence in Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Aland Bitar, 48, of Abaco stood before Magistrate Kendra Kelly charged with one count of conspiracy

to commit fraud and two counts of attempted fraud by false pretences.

Police said the defendant, being concerned with another, tried to obtain two Bahamian passports from the Passport Office in the name of Alcie Bitar and Halthcy Bitar by means of false pretences sometime between March 1 and March 2.

He was also accused of

conspiring to commit fraud between those same dates.

The 48-year-old pleaded guilty to all charges.

However, Magistrate Kelly deferred sentencing until December 14 to ascertain his status in the country as well as that of his children.

Bitar is represented by attorney Nathan Smith.

Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom prosecuted the case.

FIVE MONTHS IN JAIL FOR STEALING $100

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 42-YEAR-OLD man who admitted to stealing $100 from a tourist last week was sentenced to five months in prison yesterday.

Mario Roker stood before Magistrate Kendra Kelly facing one count of

stealing for actions he committed on December 4.

Police alleged that on the day in question, the accused stole $100 from Saralin Darasvath while on Paradise Island.

During yesterday’s hearing, Roker pleaded guilty to the offence and was subsequently sentenced to two months in prison.

However, Magistrate Kelly imposed an additional three-month sentence after it was revealed that Roker had breached a 2017 order that barred him from entering Paradise Island for five years.

Roker was told the sentences will run concurrently. He was subsequently remanded to prison.

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PAGE 8, Wednesday, December 8, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

WITHOUT FUNDAMENTAL CULTURAL CHANGE WE’LL NEVER REALLY ADDRESS THE HORROR OF RAPE ON Monday, it was reported that 30 percent of sexual offence cases were dropped, largely due to the long wait time for trials.

Director of Public Prosecutions Garvin Gaskin said: “We’ve had experiences where persons have said just that, ‘I’ve moved on.

I’m not going to relive that.

I’m now married and my husband doesn’t even know about it’.”

There are experiences survivors of sexual violence have that few people ever come to know, much less think about. We know the rate of sexual violence in The Bahamas is high, and we know the court system is flawed and slow. It is not difficult to understand that access to justice through the law enforcement and the judicial system is not a given. It is unjust for a survivor, who reports sexual violence — a terrible, traumatic process — to have to wait for years for a court date and wonder if it will ever come up and, if it does, what the outcome would be.

Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson, Director of Bahamas Crisis Centre, shared that only one in four victims reports to the police. This is due to various factors including stigma, fear and shame. Many people do not want to go through the process.

Anyone who has ever reported anything to the police knows how difficult and frustrating it tends to be. There is often telling and retelling, answering the same questions multiple times, seeing errors in the handwritten reports and waiting for them to be rewritten, being asked what you did to cause the incident, being ridiculed for not doing something differently and being too exhausted to complete the process are not uncommon experiences.

Just as damaging is rape culture which attempts to normalise and excuse rape.

Rape is not normal and it is inexcusable. Still, rape culture is perpetuated through pop culture, institutions and people in positions of power. The objectification of women, misogynistic language, patriarchal systems and toxic masculinity (not to be confused with masculinity) contribute to it.

Earlier this week, I was on a radio talk show, talking about gender-based violence and the issue of victim blaming was raised. A listener called in to say we can say women can wear whatever they want, but people don’t go around flashing their money or valuables around. That may, at first, seem like a good analogy, but it has a critical flaw. It suggests women are objects.

It equates the theft of an item to sexual violation. We know this is not true, right?

Women are human beings with human rights.

Over and over again, we explain that no one causes their own rape. Clothing does not make a difference.

The suggestion that women attract rapists makes clear

GARVIN GASKIN, above, said 30 percent of sexual offence cases are dropped - while Dr Sandra DeanPatterson, below, says only one in four victims reports to the police.

By Alicia Wallace the lack of knowledge about sexual violence. First, we need to understand rape is not sex. Rape is a violation. Sex is consensual.

Rape is about power and control, not sex. This alone obliterates arguments about women’s “responsibility” to protect themselves.

The rape prevention tips, for years, have included dressing modestly, not going out at night and not travelling alone. They make the women’s world small.

They demand women make themselves invisible and put a man — usually a father, brother, or partner — in charge of their protection.

A woman’s safety becomes dependent on a man who can claim her, alerting other men that she is not an available target due to her proximity to him. We talk, at length, about the effects of patriarchy and the (de) valuation of women. For now, let us be clear that women should not need protection and women should not need to moderate their very presence, at all times, to avoid rape. The threat of rape should not be consistent, but it is, and not because of anything women are doing.

These days, “prevention” is big business. Companies come up with all kinds of products to sell to women, and the well-meaning people who love and want to protect them, to reduce the chance they will be raped. One of them, very widely promoted in recent years, is the nail polish that detects date rape drugs in drinks. Women, then, are expected to paint their nails with this particular nail polish, and stick their fingers into their drinks to

test for drugs that may have been put in without them noticing.

More and more, people and companies are finding ways to make women responsible for prevention.

They want women to pay for this protection. Take a self-defence class. Buy this nail polish. Get this belt that can only be removed by engaging this secret mechanism. Pay for a taxi. Maybe some of these are helpful to individuals at times, but they do nothing to address the problem. The problem is rapists. The problem is rape culture. The problem is the well-meaning people who still do not understand that there is nothing anyone can do to cause their own rape. Consent is a requirement for sex and there are no exceptions.

By now, we should all know rape is most often perpetrated by people known to the victims. Date rape is not often discussed, but it is prevalent. Because it is not usually a part of the conversation, people are not aware that it takes place. Many people only realize decades later that they were sexually assaulted or raped because the perpetrator was known to them.

They did not know that their “no” was enough, or that never saying “yes” and expressing their discomfort should have stopped the person. They did not know the person with significant power over them manipulated them at a time when they could not legally consent to sexual activity. They did not know. Many may never know, but some find out many years later and have to figure out how to deal with that information.

Victim blaming has to end and we need a separate court for sexual offences in order to get more people to report. We need to educate people on the full spectrum of sexual violence, from sexual harassment to rape, and ensure everyone knows the difference, not only between rape and sex, but also between a violation and a welcome, agreed upon interaction.

To increase reporting, we need survivor-centred systems. The trauma of sexual assault has to be acknowledged and that needs to inform the development of appropriate mechanisms.

How can reporting be made easier? How can survivors be provided with resources and services quickly and without multiple engagements? What must justice look like?

What do survivors need and

what would support their healing?

We need to start with the people law enforcement, the judicial system and support services are meant to serve. They know what they need and they deserve to be consulted and regarded as experts in their own lives.

This, alongside critical

legislation and policies such as the Strategic Plan to Address Genderbased Violence can help us to improve reporting which will result in more accurate statistics. This, combined with qualitative data, can help guide prevention efforts which must include comprehensive sexuality education.

RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Harlem. The television show follows a friend group of four women in their 30s who met at New York University. They try to balance their work lives and career ambitions with love lives and everything else. It is funny and relatable. Camille, played by Meagan Good, is the anchor of the show and most viewers likely cannot help but feel her anxiety as she yearns to move up from her position as an adjunct professor at Columbia University. Her friend Quinn is a designer who depends on her parents’ cheques to keep her store open, Angie wants to do nothing but sing and has not yet recovered from losing a record deal, and Tye runs a successful tech company. They each have a distinct style, a persisting challenge and a place they want to be in life.

Again, it is easy to relate.

2. Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet. This is a podcast that just might make you truly laugh out loud. Siblings Xandy and Christine read terrible reviews in a dramatic fashion with very appropriate music playing in the background.

Yes, there is at least one review of a beach that was simply too sandy for the reviewer. While most of the reviews are ridiculous, they always find “redemptions” which are

five-star reviews that are interesting in their own way, whether heartwarming or funny. The themes include tanning salons, antique stores, ice cream parlours, islands, wineries and arcades. Episodes can be listened to in any order.

3. It’s Okay to Laugh: (Crying is Cool Too)

by Nora McInerny Purmort. This book, like Nora’s podcast — Terrible, Thanks for Asking — is about grief. Nora is not one for pity parties, so this book is not about wallowing, but isn’t about making light of everything either. In it, Nora tells stories from her own life, all connected to grief and loss, especially of her father and husband who died within weeks.

Even given the subject matter, it is an easy read and one that can be taken in small doses if needed.

She definitely has a sense of humour, and her late husband wouldn’t mind her laughing her way through grief. She and Aaron wrote his obituary together while Aaron was in hospice, and it said he “died peacefully at home on November 25 after complications from a radioactive spider bite that led to years of crime-fighting and a years long battle with a nefarious criminal,” and revealed him to be Spiderman.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, PAGE 9

ISLAND TURNS INTO OPEN-AIR LAB FOR TECH-SAVVY VOLCANOLOGISTS

By ARITZ PARRA AND EMILIO MORENATTI Associated Press

LAS MANCHAS, Canary Islands (AP) — They come with eagle-eyed drones and high-precision instruments.

Aided by satellites, they analyze gas emissions and the flows of molten rock.

On the ground, they collect everything from the tiniest particles to “lava bombs” the size of watermelons that one of nature’s most powerful forces hurl as incandescent projectiles.

Scientists from around the world are flocking to La Palma, one of Spain’s Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, to take advantage of a volcanic eruption happening just an hour’s drive from an international airport and the safety of being able to work under the escort of military brigades. They are applying cutting-edge technologies to scrutinize a rare volcanic eruption from the land, the sea, the air — and even space.

As in the two dozen other major live eruptions across the planet, from Hawaii to Indonesia, the ultimate goal on La Palma is to use a unique window of opportunity to better understand volcanic eruptions: how they form, develop and, even more crucially for the islanders, how and when they end.

But despite recent technological and scientific leaps, the researchers can only do a lot of estimating of what happens in the underworld where magma is formed and melts any human-made equipment. The deepest that humans have been able to drill into the planet’s crust has been just over 12 kilometers (7.6 miles), a feat that Soviet scientists achieved in 1989.

“There has been a lot of progress in the last 30 or 40 years in the understanding of geological and evolutionary processes, but it’s still difficult to know for sure what happens at 40 to 80 kilometers (25 to 50 miles) of depth,” said Pedro Hernández, an expert with the Canary Islands’ volcanology institute, Involcan.

“We are probably beginning to know the stars better than what happens under our feet,” he said.

Volcanic eruptions are a one or, at most, twice-ina-generation event in the

A SCIENTIST from IGME-CSIC (Geological and Mining Institute of Spain from Spanish National Research Council) measures the temperature of lava near a volcano on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, in November.

(AP Photo/Taner Orribo) Canary Islands archipelago, which lies 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Africa.

Some of the Canary Islands are still growing due to magma accumulating underneath and, as is happening in La Palma, by forming lava peninsulas beyond the coastline.

The last eruption, a decade ago on the southern island of El Hierro, happened just off the coast, which made it more difficult for volcanologists trying to collect samples. The previous land volcano erupted in La Palma in 1971, the year when Valentin Troll, an expert in rocks with Sweden’s Uppsala University and co-author of a geology study of the archipelago, was born.

“It’s been mind-blowing, literally, to see this dynamism in action,” the geologist said. “We are learning so much about how volcanoes work.”

Still, trying to compare notes with previous eruptions involves delving into centuries-old records, some from a time when photography did not exist.

When magma started accumulating deep under La Palma’s Cumbre Vieja range, scientists were measuring the surge on the land’s surface, concentrations of quakes known as seismic swarms and other signs of

an impending eruption.

They weren’t able to predict the exact time of the eruption, but their assessments prompted authorities to begin the first evacuations just hours before it took place on Sept. 19.

Although one man died in November when he fell from a roof while cleaning off volcanic ash, there have been no deaths directly linked to the eruption.

Much of that is due to new technologies in volcanology: everything from drones that allow scientists to peek into a volcanic cauldron to supercomputers that run prediction algorithms.

The European Union’s Copernicus satellite program has produced high-resolution imagery and mapping of the island to track quakeinduced deformations, leading to near real-time tracking of lava flows and ash accumulation. Its experts have also been able to observe how large plumes of sulfur dioxide, a toxic gas, have traveled long distances across North Africa, the European mainland and even as far as the Caribbean.

At sea, Spanish research vessels are studying the impact the eruption is having on the marine ecosystem as fingers of lava extend out beyond the coast.

The next big leap for volcanology is expected when

robotically operated rovers like the ones sent to the moon or Mars can be used in volcanoes, said Troll, who thinks knowledge from those rovers could guide how to rebuild the tourismdependent island.

“We need to learn how we can protect the population as well as the growing industry to build a sustainable society,” he said.

Despite its limited resources, Involcan has been producing daily reports that help civil protection authorities on La Palma decide whether to evacuate or issue lockdowns when gas concentrations become too toxic. That means analyzing terabytes of data, both from automatic detectors in strategic locations and from samples recovered in field trips.

Most of the scientists’ work has been focused on predicting how far the volcano’s damage will impact a community that has already lost thousands of houses, farms, roads, irrigation canals and banana crops.

But the question of when the eruption will end has been haunting them.

Hernández said it would take at least two weeks of consistent lessening in soil deformation, sulfur dioxide emissions and seismic activity to establish whether the volcano’s activity is waning.

Esteban Gazel, a geochemist with Cornell University in New York, said the Canary Islands are closely connected to activity going all the way to the core of the earth, making it even more difficult to make predictions.

“It’s like treating a patient,” he said. “You can monitor how (the eruption) evolves, but saying exactly when it will die is extremely difficult.”

In La Palma, Gazel collected the smallest particles that winds transport for long distances as part of NASAfunded research that could be key in minimizing the risks if a catastrophic eruption degraded air quality and influenced climate patterns. He also runs a parallel research program that looks at the volumes of gases that make an eruption more or less explosive.

Originally from Costa Rica, where he studied traces of past eruptions, Gazel has also conducted research in Hawaii’s active Kilauea volcano. But the La Palma eruption has brought a new dimension to his work, he said, because of the different compositions of the rock and the easy access to the volcanic exclusion area.

“The more eruptions that we study, the more we are going to understand how they behave,” he said.

TECHTALK COMPUTER CHIP FIRM MICRON PLANS DESIGN CENTRE IN ATLANTA ATLANTA (AP) — A microchip maker will open a design center in Atlanta next month that it says will create 500 jobs.

Idaho-based Micron Technology made the announcement Monday, saying it wanted its design centre for memory chips to be near Georgia Tech and other Atlanta-area colleges.

It will be the first operation in Georgia for Micron, which is the fourth-largest semiconductor company in the world.

The location will help Micron partner with universities and expand its talent pool, said Micron Executive Vice President of Technology and Products Scott DeBoer.

“Atlanta is an emerging hub for high-tech innovation, and our Atlanta Design Center will serve as one of Micron’s key memory design and engineering locations,” DeBoer said in a statement.

Micron’s plan follows other recent expansion announcements in Georgia by Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Airbnb and Korean microchip firm SK. Much of the activity is centred in Atlanta’s midtown neighbourhood near Georgia Tech.

“As one of the nation’s leading research universities, with unique strengths that are at the core of the semiconductor industry, we look forward to collaborating and growing our talent and research partnership with Micron,” Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera said in a statement.

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STELLANTIS WANTS TO OUTFIT CARS WITH AI TO DRIVE UP REVENUE MILAN (AP) — Carmaker Stellantis announced a strategy Tuesday to embed AI-enabled software in 34 million vehicles across its 14 brands, hoping the tech upgrade will help it bring in 20 billion euros ($22.6 billion) in annual revenue by 2030.

CEO Carlos Tavares heralded the move as part of a strategy that would transform the car company into a “sustainable mobility tech company,” with business growth coming from features and services tied to the internet. That includes using voice commands to activate navigation, make payments and order products online.

The company is expanding existing partnerships with BMW on partially automated driving, iPhone manufacturer Foxconn on customized cockpits and Waymo to push their autonomous driving work into light commercial vehicle

delivery fleets.

Stellantis’ embrace of artificial intelligence and expansion of software-enabled vehicles is part of a broad transformation in the auto industry, with a race toward more fully electric and hybrid propulsion systems, more autonomous driving features and increased connectivity in automobiles.

Ford and General Motors also are banking on dramatically increased revenue from similar online subscription services.

But the automakers face immense competition for monthly consumer spending from movie and music streaming services, news outlets, Amazon Prime and others.

Stellantis, which was formed from the combination of PSA Peugeot and FCA Fiat Chrysler, said the software would seamlessly integrate into customers’ lives, with the capability of live updates

providing upgraded services over time.

New products will include the possibility to subscribe to automated driving features, purchase usage-based car insurance or even increase the power of the vehicle with a tune-up to add horsepower.

As a baseline, Stellantis generates 400 million euros in revenue on softwaregenerated services installed in 12 million vehicles.

To meet the targets, Stellantis will expand its software engineering team of 1,000 to 4,500 in North America, Asia and Europe. More than 1,000 of the expanded team will be retrained in house.

Stellantis also announced a new partnership with Foxconn to develop semiconductors to cover 80% of the company’s needs and simplify the supply chain. The first microchips from the partnership are targeted to be installed in vehicles in 2024.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, December 8, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Biden and Putin square off as Ukraine tension grows WASHINGTON Associated Press PRESIDENT Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin squared off Tuesday over the massive buildup of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border, the US president eager to use his video call with Putin to serve notice that Moscow will face economy-jarring sanctions if it invades neighboring Ukraine.

Just hours before the call got underway, Ukrainian officials charged Russia was continuing to escalate the crisis by sending tanks and snipers to war-torn eastern Ukraine to “provoke return fire”. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry alleged that Russia is holding “training camps under the leadership of regular servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces”.

The Kremlin hasn’t commented on the allegations.

Biden aimed to make clear that his administration stands ready to take actions against the Kremlin that would exact “a very real cost” on the Russian economy, according to White House officials. Putin, for his part, was expected to demand guarantees from Biden that the NATO military alliance will never expand to include Ukraine, which has long sought membership. That’s a nonstarter for the Americans and their NATO allies.

“We’ve consulted significantly with our allies and believe we have a path forward that would impose significant and severe harm on the Russian economy,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday in previewing the meeting.

“You can call that a threat.

You can call that a fact. You can call that preparation.

You can call it whatever you want to call it.”

The leader-to-leader conversation — Biden speaking from the Situation Room, Putin from his residence in Sochi — is expected to be one of the toughest of Biden’s presidency and comes at a perilous time. US intelligence officials have determined that Russia has massed 70,000 troops near the Ukraine

PRESIDENT Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive to meet at the ‘Villa la Grange’, in Geneva, Switzerland, in June. border and has made preparations for a possible invasion early next year.

The US has not determined whether Putin has made a final decision to invade. Still, Biden intends to make clear to the Russian leader that there will be a “very real cost” should Russia proceed with military action, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.

Biden was vice president in 2014 when Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and annexed the territory from Ukraine.

Aides say the Crimea episode — one of the darker moments for former President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks at the current smoldering crisis.

The eastward expansion of NATO has from the start been a bone of contention not just with Moscow but also in Washington. In 1996, when President Bill Clinton’s national security team debated the timing of membership invitations to former Soviet allies Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, Defense

Secretary William Perry urged delay to keep Russian relations on track.

Perry wrote in his memoir that when he lost the internal debate he considered resigning.

Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic were formally invited in 1997 and joined in 1999. They were followed in 2004 by Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the former Soviet states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Since then, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia have joined, bringing NATO’s total to 30 nations.

A key principle of the NATO alliance is that membership is open to any qualifying country. And no outsider has membership veto power. While there’s little prospect that Ukraine would be invited into the alliance anytime soon, the US and its allies won’t rule it out.

In Washington, Republicans are framing this moment as a key test of Biden’s leadership on the global stage.

Biden vowed as a candidate to reassert American leadership after President Donald Trump’s emphasis

on an “America first” foreign policy. But Biden has faced fierce criticism from Republicans who say that he’s been ineffective in slowing Iran’s march toward becoming a nuclear power and that the Biden administration has done too little to counter autocratic leaders like China’s Xi Jinping, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Putin.

“Fellow authoritarians in Beijing and Tehran will be watching how the free world responds,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. “And President Biden has an opportunity to set the tone when he speaks with Putin.”

Trump, who showed unusual deference to Putin during his presidency, said in a Newsmax interview on Monday that the BidenPutin conversation would not be a “fair match”, describing it as tantamount to the six-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots facing a high school football team.

Ahead of the Putin call, Biden on Monday spoke with leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy to coordinate messaging and potential sanctions.

The White House said in a statement that the leaders called on Russia to “de-escalate tensions” and agreed that diplomacy “is the only way forward to resolve the conflict”.

Ahead of the BidenPutin faceoff, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter that he and Blinken “agreed to continue joint & concerted action” and expressed his gratitude for the U.S. and allies providing “continued support of our sovereignty & territorial integrity.” Biden is expected to speak with Zelenskyy later this week.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression”.

The Kremlin has made clear that Putin planned to seek binding guarantees from Biden precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine. Biden and aides have indicated no such guarantee is likely, with the president saying he “won’t

accept anyone’s red line”.

Psaki stressed “NATO member countries decide who is a member of NATO, not Russia. And that is how the process has always been and how it will proceed.”

Still, Putin sees this as a moment to readjust the power dynamic of the USRussia relationship.

“It is about fundamental principles established 30 years ago for the relations between Russia and the West,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, a leading Moscow-based foreign policy expert. “Russia demands to revise these principles, the West says there’s no grounds for that. So, it’s impossible to come to an agreement just like that.”

Beyond Ukraine, there are plenty of other thorny issues on the table, including cyberattacks and human rights. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said USRussian relations are overall in “a rather dire state”.

Both the White House and the Kremlin sought in advance to lower expectations for the call. Both sides said they didn’t expect any breakthroughs on Ukraine or the other issues up for discussion, but that just the conversation itself will be progress.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday that “obviously, if the two presidents decided to have a conversation, they intend to discuss issues and don’t mean to bring matters to a dead end.”

“Putin has repeatedly said that we look for good, predictable relations with the US,” Peskov said.

“Russia has never planned to attack anyone. But we have our own concerns, our own red lines — the president spoke clearly about that. To that, Mr. Biden responded that he doesn’t intend to accept any red lines. This issue will be discussed (during the call) as well.”

Peskov characterized the Biden-Putin call as a “working conversation during a very difficult period,” when “escalation of tensions in Europe is off the scale, extraordinary”.

EU APPROVES MIXING VACCINES FOR USE AS BOOSTERS THE HAGUE, Netherlands Associated Press

THE European Union drug regulator gave its backing yesterday to mixing different types of vaccines in initial vaccination and booster campaigns to battle the coronavirus.

The European Medicines

Agency said in a statement that using different types of vaccines together, known as heterologous vaccination, can provide protection against COVID-19.

The announcement comes as much of Europe is facing rising infection and hospital rates and concerns about the new omicron variant.

The EMA, together with the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said that a mixand-match strategy could give nations more options in vaccination campaigns as much of the continent seeks to contain the latest surge in the pandemic.

“The evidence available so far with different types

of authorised vaccines indicates that a heterologous booster appears as good as or better in terms of immune responses than a homologous booster,” the agencies said in a statement.

“While research is ongoing to provide more evidence on longterm safety, duration of

immunity and effectiveness, the use of heterologous schedules may offer flexibility in terms of vaccination options, particularly to reduce the impact on the vaccine rollout should a vaccine not be available for any reason,” they added.

The agencies looked at data for mRNA vaccines like the Pfizer shot and

so-called viral vector vaccines such as the one made

by Johnson & Johnson. The two types of vaccines use different technologies to spur the body to fight the coronavirus.

US and UK authorities have already given the green light to mixing and matching vaccines in booster campaigns.

SPORTS PAGE 11

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021

Gibson, Flowers to run in BGF elections

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sport s Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

C

oncerned by the “direction” they see the Bahamas Golf Federation heading in, former executives David Shane Gibson and Craig Flowers are running as president and vice president in the election of officers on January 22.

However, while addressing a group of golfers at the BGF’s Driving Range yesterday, the duo expressed their concerns about the manner in which the election process is shaping up and the need for more transparency from the current executive officers, who are seeking to be re-elected.

They indicated that the incumbent executive team of Lynford ‘Neil’ Miller as president and Anthony Hinsey as vice president,

were invited to participate as well, but they declined the offer.

In their campaign mode, Smith and Flowers outlined their agenda, but felt the practice of allowing foreigners to pay a reduced rate for a round of golf, that includes membership in the BGF, should give them the rights to vote in the elections.

Having the good fortune of playing golf at the age of six and being afforded the opportunity to play on every golf course on the island as a junior, Gibson said he got the chance to play on the Bahamas national tram, and go off to college on a golf scholarship.

“But the way I see it now, I just don’t like the direction that golf is heading under the direction of the current executive officers,” Gibson said. “There’s very little access to golf

GIBSON

FLOWERS

properties on the island.

I’m a member of the Ocean Club, so what I’m doing is not for me.

“What I’m doing is to ensure that I provide opportunities for the young golfers, who I see out here on a daily basis. They have limited access to these golf properties because they are juniors. But once they reach 18, they will not be able to afford it.”

On average, a round of golf costs each golfer about $140, which limits the amount of times for the average golfer to get a chance to improve his

game. And that’s aboutonce a week, if they can afford it.

“When I look at the glory days of the Bahamas Golf Federation, as a past chairman of the Southern Division and chairman of the junior programme, we organised tournaments every month to ensure that golfers stayed competitive, so whenever there is an opportunity to make the national team, their game is sharp,” Gibson pointed out.

“Every now and again, you might hear about an event.

The executives board just don’t have the sponsors they need to make sure they have these events, so for me, it’s basically to make sure that the golfers have the opportunity to participate in some affordable golf,” he said.

Just appointed as a board member at Baha Mar, Gibson said he and

Flowers are putting a team together with some more former executives to enable the golfing properties to open the door for the BGF to function as they did in the past.

For Flowers, who has exerted as lot of time, energy and resources in the creation of the Driving Range, said their aim is to get the BGF back to the level of respect that it once was known for around the country.

“Right now, properties have zero respect for the Bahamas Golf Federation, as well as the officers of the federation,” stated Flowers. “That is not really because of the federation or because of the properties, I think it’s because of a lack of communication.”

Together, Flowers said he and Gibson want to recreate that opportunity that

SEE PAGE 12

‘I think this is a very strong NACAC team’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sport s Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net HAVING served as a coach on the last national team to win the North American, Central America and Caribbean Age Group Championships six years ago, Keno Demeritte is confident that this team can duplicate that feat.

Demeritte, who will be back on the team as the manager/head coach, said based on what he saw at the two-day trials over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, this team going to Nicaragua next week is similar to the team that represented the Bahamas in El Salvador.

“I think this is a very strong team from the under-13 to the under-15 division,” said Demeritte, who will be assisted by Kenny Moxey Sr, Kenrid Munroe, Clarita Hall from Grand Bahama and Holly Riley-Woodside from Andros.

“This team reminded us of the year when we won with the team that had Doneisha Anderson and Bronson Rolle onit. We have some very strong girls and the under-15 boys are extremely strong as well.”

Based on their performances, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has selected the following athletes to represent the Bahamas at this year’s championships December 17-18.

Under-13 girls - Keyezia Thomas, a 12-year-old 10th grader at Bishop Michael Eldon School in Grand Bahama and Keely Deveaux, a 12-yearold eighth grader at CH Reeves Junior High.

Under-13 boys - Kamron Henfield, an 11-year-old sixth grader at Temple Christian Academy and Johnathan Higgs, a 12-year-old eighth grader at HO Nash Junior High School.

Under-15 girls - Jamiah Nabbie, a 13-year-old ninth grader at Queen’s College

SHOWN, from left ro right, are coach Foster Dorsett, Keely Deveaux, coach Varel Davis and George Nottage. and Phebe Thompson, a 10th grader at Bishop Michael Eldon High School in Grand Bahama.

Under-15 boys - Kenny Moxey Jr, a 14-year-old, a 10th grader at Queen’s College and George Nottage, a 13-year-old eighth grader at CH Reeves Secondary High School.

“I’m expecting us to go over there and come back with the overall championship title,” Demeritte said.

“Looking at the results from the trials from the other countries, I expect that this group will come back with the championship title.”

And if the athletes perform up to their expectations, Demeritte said he doesn’t see why some of the athletes like Nabbie and Moxey Jr should not be successful winning the individual title in the under-15 girls and boys divisions respectively.

“They are pretty strong in those divisions. They remind me so much of Doneisha Anderson and Bronson Rolle, who both performed exceptionally well when they represented us at the championships.”

Moxey Sr, one of the country’s premier decathletes and pole vaulters,

said he’s proud of his son’s achievement and he’s looking forward to watching him and the other team members perform at the championships.

“I’m just expecting better things. There’s still a lot more room for improvement,” Moxey Sr said.

“He’s a lot more blessed than I am talent wise and I’ve been in the game for a long time.

“I’m hoping and praying that at the end of the day, he will continue to do what he needs to do to be successful. But I’m very proud of his accomplishments so far. He’s nearly twice my height, so he should be much better than I was.”

The team is scheduled to leave the Bahamas on December 15 and return on December 19.

Before they depart, Demeritte said they will be assembling the team together so they can work on their weaknesses and hopefully they will be able to improve on their performances at the trials.

Curry, Page 12

WEEKEND PRACTICE SESSIONS FOR TIGER FUEL TALK ABOUT RETURN

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Tiger Woods kept everyone guessing at the Hero World Challenge with weekend range sessions that got as much attention as the two eagles Viktor Hovland made in his comeback victory.

What’s next? Only he knows.

It started two weeks ago with a three-second video of one swing from a short iron and the message, “Making progress.” In his first news conference since the February car crash in Los Angeles that damaged his right leg, Woods painted a less optimistic picture.

His answer to one query last Tuesday was that his leg and lower back hurt just sitting there. He spoke of his comeback from fusion surgery that culminated with his 2019 Masters victory, and later the Zozo Championship for his record-tying 82nd win on the PGA Tour.

“I don’t see that type of trend going forward for me.

I won’t have the opportunity to practice given the condition of my leg and build up. I just don’t,” he said. “I’ll just have a different way of doing it and that’s OK and I’m at peace with that. I’ve made the climb enough times.”

Later that day, the PGA Tour captured video of Woods hitting a 3-wood on the range at Albany.

On Friday, he was hitting wedges. On Saturday, word arrived that he had a “big bucket.” Woods was on the back end of the range hitting drivers. And then on Sunday — in a red shirt, for the trophy presentation later in the day — he was hitting drivers again.

SEE PAGE 12

US dignitaries shun Olympics. What about sponsors?

By JIM LITKE AP Sports Columnist REFUSING to send an official US delegation while US athletes compete at the Beijing Olympics is like dropping off dessert at a party you plan to protest by staying away.

Your absence might cause a stir at the start, but it will be pretty much ignored by the time people tuck into their pie.

To be sure, refusing to rub elbows with tyrants and assorted swells from the International Olympic Committee is the right thing to do. It’s been done before, and for less.

The regime in Beijing is enslaving Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province, crushing dissent in Hong Kong, threatening neighbouring Taiwan, and been accused most recently of “disappearing” tennis star Peng Shuai after she made a sexual assault allegation against a close ally of President Xi Jinping.

So while the Biden administration’s “diplomatic boycott” is a half-step at best, it’s also a lot farther than any organisation save the Women’s Tennis Association has gone to hold China accountable for its grave and varied human rights abuses. What remains to be seen is whether any other stakeholders follow their lead.

Please.

Just witness the political whitewash IOC President Thomas Bach and his lieutenant Dick Pound attempted two weeks ago, when the question about Peng’s wellbeing roiled the sports world. They claimed the IOC’s experts (who were not named) concluded unanimously on the basis of a video call with Peng (that has not been made public) “that she was fine.”

“She just asked that her privacy be respected for the time being,” Pound said in an interview with CNN. A VISITOR to the Shougang Park walks past the a sculpture for the Beijing Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) White House press secretary Jen Psaki made clear Monday that US athletes won’t be involved, perhaps remembering the unpopular decision by thenPresident Jimmy Carter to support a full-blown boycott of the Moscow Games in 1980. “The athletes on Team USA have our full support,” she said. “We will be behind them 100 percent as we cheer them on from home. We will not be contributing to the fanfare of the Games. …

“It cannot,” Psaki added a moment later, “be business as usual.”

Yet that’s exactly what the hosts and their IOC lapdogs are counting on.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian accused US politicians of “purely wishful thinking and grandstanding. If the US side is bent on going its own way, China will take firm countermeasures,” he said, but provided no details on how the Chinese might retaliate.

Most likely, they won’t have to do much. So long as the Games’ mega-sponsors – A-listers such as Coca-Cola, Intel, P&G, Toyota and Visa – are willing to continue looking the other way, they won’t have to. That’s where the IOC comes in.

The same IOC that struck a mighty blow

against apartheid by withdrawing its invitation to South Africa ahead of the 1964 Olympics, and excluding the rogue nation from any Games until 1992, lost its moral compass a long time ago.

The people in charge now care only about the Benjamins, or in this case, the Renmibi.

In a statement, the IOC expressed relief “that the participation of the (US) athletes are beyond politics and we welcome this.”

It also labelled the move to keep US dignitaries away “a purely political decision for each government, which the IOC in its political neutrality fully respects.”

Thankfully, he wasn’t asked for updates on the Uyghurs in prison or the Hong Kong protestors in hiding.

The NBA notably backed down in a 2019 confrontation with Chinese officials after then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of protestors in Hong Kong. Sponsors, television stations and streaming services there dropped NBA games for months; the league estimated the fallout

SEE PAGE 14

PAGE 12, Wednesday, December 8, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

GOLF

FROM PAGE 11

INJURED Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, left, and guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrate during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in San Francisco on Friday.

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Analysis: Steph still must-see TV, anytime cameras are near

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer THE shot has been replayed millions of times already on video and social platforms. And considering it was from the stands before a game, it obviously didn’t even count.

Such is the lure of Stephen Curry.

When he does something, everyone tunes in.

For those who haven’t seen what he did Saturday night, here it is. It’s a tradition he continued from the Golden State Warriors’ former home, Oracle Arena, and brought to the Chase Center.

At Oracle, it was a shot from the tunnel at the end of his pregame shooting session.

At Chase, it’s been from a variety of places, most recently a corner of the stands. A security guard fires him a ball and Curry lets fly.

Swish.

“He’s got range,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said.

Curry’s got it all. Range, game, rings, charm, skills, a sparkling résumé, a great organisation, great arena, great fan base and, once again, a great team.

He’s funny. He’s one of

TIGER FROM PAGE 11 That fuelled speculation that Woods could be playing next weekend in the PNC Championship with 12-year-old son Charlie.

They played last year and toward the end, Woods wasn’t even hitting tee shots. His son was at a forward tee, and while no one knew it at the time, Woods was preparing for a fifth back surgery.

The December 18-19 tournament in Orlando, Florida, is holding a spot for him. Carts are allowed with the majority of the field comprised of players from the PGA Tour Champions, which sanctions the event. As one person close to Woods jokingly said, “Charlie might be the pro in the group.”

No matter. Woods playing would be a remarkable return from injuries that he said nearly led to amputation. A decision could come by the end of the week.

USGA LEADERSHIP The U.S. Golf Association nominating committee has proposed Fred Perpall to be president-elect, which would make him the first Black president in the 128year history of the USGA. Stuart Francis was nominated to serve the third and final year of his term as president. The formal election is February 19 in Carlsbad, California.

Perpall is a native of the Bahamas and lives in Dallas, where the registered architect is CEO of The Beck Group. He played

the best interviews in the NBA. He’s made birdies at Augusta National. He went to the Ryder Cup as a fan and actually thought nobody would notice.

He’ll be 34 by the time the season ends, is averaging just under 28 points and is playing like he has a very real chance of winning the NBA’s MVP award this season.

The Golden State Warriors, along with Phoenix, are an NBA-best 20-4 after beating the Orlando Magic on Monday night. They’ve been playing as well as any team in the league. They’re a legitimate title contender.

And in a few days, Curry will overtake Ray Allen as the career leader in 3-pointers made.

Curry has 2,958 after making seven more in Monday’s win over the Magic. Allen retired with 2,973. Fans in Philadelphia on Saturday or Indiana on Monday are probably going to see a treat — some history, when Curry becomes the 3-point king.

There are some arguments that will never be settled. Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell, LeBron James or Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson or Pat Riley, Celtics dynasty or Bulls dynasty. basketball and ran track at the University of Texas at Arlington and played for the 1994 Bahamian national basketball team.

He is completing his third year on the USGA executive committee, where he chairs the championship committee and serves on the amateur status committee.

TIGER MEMENTOS The World Golf Hall of Fame has confirmed its induction ceremony will be March 9 during The Players Championship at the PGA Tour’s new headquarters.

The four to be inducted are Tiger Woods, Susie Maxwell Berning, Tim Finchem and the late Marion Hollins.

To get in the mood, the Hall of Fame opened an exhibit over the weekend of artifacts and personal items from the new inductees.

For Woods, that included his red mock turtleneck and his player credential from the 2019 Masters, his fifth win at Augusta and 15th major. Also on display is a plaque from Woods’ first hole-in-one when he was 6. It was on the 12th hole at Heartwell Golf Park in Long Beach, California.

The plaque includes the golf ball he used: Top-Flite 7.

THAT HOLIDAY SPIRIT The Hero World Challenge is a 20-man field of elite players with no cut and chill atmosphere in the tropical weather of the Bahamas. That doesn’t mean it’s always smooth sailing.

Jordan Spieth and Henrik Stenson were involved in the latest rules issue. The

The best shooter argument, though, there really is no debate.

It’s Curry. Case closed.

The dunk used to be the coolest thing in basketball.

It’s the 3 now and Curry is why.

“There’s never been anyone like him,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

If the NBA had a likeability metric, Curry would be the leader there, too.

He’s 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds, not 6-foot-10 and 275.

And although he’s put on some noticeable muscle in recent years, he still kind of has the everyman vibe to him. He plays the way that most people on playgrounds think they play: great ballhandling, great shooting, except he’s actually a great ballhandler and great shooter and the guy on the playground makes the occasional deep 3 and gets to pretend.

“I think he was still, for some reason, under the radar in the beginning,” Popovich said. “He’s kind of slight statute. At the time, he wasn’t that strong.

He always looked like he was 17 or 18 years old. You didn’t look at him and say ‘Hey, he’s going to do this.’

But as the years went by and you realised he’s one

of the greatest shooters you’ve ever seen, it became apparent that everything record-wise would be available to him.”

Popovich is right. Just about every 3-point record in existence is owned by Curry, or soon will be.

Nobody has made more 3-pointers for one team, or in one season, or in one postseason. He made 30 3’s against Minnesota in the 2018-19 season, the most anyone has made against one opponent in a season. He’s made 163 alltime against the Clippers, another record for most alltime against an opponent.

He’s already passed Allen for most 3’s all-time, when including playoffs.

The only record he hasn’t gotten is most 3’s in a game; his best is 13, the record is 14, set by Klay Thompson.

“He’s one of the greatest players in the history of the game,” Kerr said. “And he’s the greatest 3-point shooter of all time.”

This is what should scare NBA teams to their core about this Warriors team.

Curry is as good as ever, the team is rolling and Thompson is a few weeks away from finally getting back on the court. A good team is going to get that much better.

TIGER Woods watches his shot during a training session at the Albany Golf Club on Sunday.

TIGER WOODS, right, speaks with his trainer Kolby Wayne during a practice session at the Albany Golf Club, on the sidelines of day 3 of the Hero World Challenge PGA Golf tour, on Saturday.

(AP Photos/Fernando Llano) tee from the par-3 17th was moved to the teeing ground used on No. 9 all week, and as the first group off and going through the motions, they started the ninth hole from the 17th tee. They had to do play it over and add two shots to the score.

“I didn’t think we were going to get penalised because it’s a charity event,” Spieth said with a grin.

There was no charity the last time at Albany in 2019. Patrick Reed was in a

waste area short and left of the green on the par-5 11th when he scooped sand away from the front of his ball before taking the shot.

That became a penalty after his round for improving his lie. What it didn’t improve was his reputation.

It followed him to Australia for the Presidents Cup and probably would have lingered if not for the shutdown from the pandemic.

The year before that?

Tiger Woods playing a remarkable shot from the

And Curry will be even better when it happens, because defences know that they can’t leave Thompson alone. “I just like where we are right now,” Curry said. “We’ve got good vibes around what we’re doing. There’s good energy. We’ve bounced back from tough losses really well. We’re handling our business right now.”

It’s an old cliché that regular fans don’t start watching the NBA until Christmas, and there is a certain amount of truth to that. That said, there have been compelling stories involving big names already this season. Kevin Durant, coming off another Olympic gold medal, is making scoring look easy in Brooklyn.

Phoenix, coming off last season’s run to the NBA Finals, just won 18 consecutive games before falling to the Warriors. The reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks, when their whole roster is together, look title-capable again.

But Curry is must-see TV anytime, even when he’s just taking shots from the stands before games.

And the Warriors are probably going to be worth watching all the way to the end. base of a bush, his right knee on the ground and his left knee extended. He didn’t take much of a backswing, raising questions whether he scooped it. In high-def replays, officials determined he did not, but he did hit the ball twice.

Of course, the oddities aren’t relegated to Albany.

Think back to Sherwood some 20 years ago, when two men slipped into the locker room during the pro-am dinner and walked off with equipment, including three wedges belonging to Woods.

Rich Beem nearly interrupted the heist when the men heard someone coming and starting playing pool. Beem joined them, even picking up a wedge and thinking it looked like a great pro-am gift. Too bad he didn’t inspect it closer to see “TW” stamped on the bottom.

The men were caught, but never charged, and the equipment returned.

Holiday season, indeed.

WINTER SEASON Brooks Koepka is feeling healthy enough to work in a trip to Montana during the short offseason to go skiing, which he describes as one of his passions.

Also planning a trip to Montana with his family is Henrik Stenson, which comes naturally to the Swede.

Who’s more likely to get hurt?

Stenson laughed at the question when he heard who else was going before offering a confession.

He was skiing with the family, going slowly when he checked on his son, Karl.

was mandated by the late Fred Higgs when the constitution was amended to change the Bahamas Golf Association to the Bahamas Golf Federation.

The sole purpose of the federation is to regulate golf in the country through the various divisions in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Exuma, Abaco and wherever else they exist or could be formed.

“It’s time for us to raise the level of the BGF to where it used to be,” Flowers said. “The present administration, doesn’t have the experience that is necessary to take us back there. They are doing a great job running the local affairs, but that’s not what the federation is about.

“The federation should be able to go into these properties and sit at the table and in the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and have a conversation as it relates to the role of foreign entities coming into the country to deal with golf.”

As a team, Flowers said they believe that they can get the job done in the shortest space of time.

They used their time on Tuesday to try and convince the membership to either go to the polls on election day and vote for them or to cast their proxy votes on their behalf. However, they are concerned that the executive board has secured at least 70 percent of votes by proxy from foreigners, who got a chance to play for a reduced rate at certain golf courses by becoming members of the BGF. During the question and answer period, one person asked the membership if they felt so strongly about what they claim is an unfair voting process, to call a special meeting to have the elections postponed until they can get the matter sorted out.

According to Flowers, they had a meeting with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, where it was agreed by all parties concerned to come up with an amicable resolution that everybody is content with going into the election.

However, Flowers said after the meeting, the executives called the Ministry and indicated that they are not agreeing to any amendments and the election will go on in its original form.

Flowers said another meeting is being called by the Ministry to further discuss the matter.

When contacted, the executive team indicated that they will make their statement by the weekend.

He fell forward and landed on his ribs, which wasn’t the best feeling. In fact, he said they were still sore during his run through The Players Championship and Masters.

DIVOTS Matthias Schmid, who played college golf at Louisville, has won the Sir Henry Cotton Award as rookie of the year on the European tour. He is the first German to win the award since Martin Kaymer in 2007. ...

Justin Thomas is returning to defend his title in the PNC Championship with his father, Mike, a longtime club professional. ... Adam Scott is the latest player to join with the American Junior Golf Association to host a junior event.

It will be 78 players selected by the AJGA, Japan Golf Association and Golf Australia at Ridge Golf Club in Los Angeles February 18-21, the same week as the Genesis Invitational at Riviera. ... Four players outside the top 100 at the start of the year will finish inside the top 50 — Sam Burns, Max Homa, Min Woo Lee and Takumi Kanaya.

STAT OF THE WEEK Scottie Scheffler earned 260.625 world ranking points this year, the most of any player without winning a tournament.

FINAL WORD “You’re only as good as your last hole.” — Jordan Spieth, after a 76 in his final round of 2021 at Hero World Challenge that featured a double bogey and two triple bogeys. He finished with a birdie.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, PAGE 13

NEWTON PRESENTS PLAY TENNIS AT JTI GLOBAL WORKSHOP THE International Tennis Federation (ITF) extended an invitation to president Perry Newton to speak at the 2021 National Junior Tennis Initiative(JTI) Global Workshop.

There were over 140 countries in attendance, divided into various sessions. Newton presented on The Play Tennis Bahamas introductory programme and the keys to its success, the development of Island Association and the synchronised growth in The Bahamas junior tennis.

The Bahamas has a focus on three of the ITF’s strategic development areas - participation,

education and facilities.

“The Play Tennis Bahamas programme has been an example of a tennis model that is exemplary.

The programme has been a strategic tool the BLTA has used to introduce new players to the sport of tennis,” according to a press release. “The BLTA and the entire tennis community congratulates Newton on the opportunity he received to present The Play Tennis Bahamas programme to the world.

The programme has been instrumental in laying the developmental foundation to get new children into the sport with a view to having them “play and stay”.

The fall installment of the programme saw over 75 participants raising the attendance in 2021 to almost 200 children.

“We encourage persons (coaches and players) in the tennis community to continue to provide their talent and services to this exceptional initiative that continues to attract hundreds of children yearly to the sport.”

The last visit for island associations from the BLTA team was to Freeport, Grand Bahama. This weekend Newton and vicepresident Chilean Burrows met a warm reception from the Grand Bahama Tennis Association president

Natishkah Barett and team. The group toured tennis courts, attended a junior tournament and discussed developmental goals. The team also met with the Minister of Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxey.

This trip rounded out the BLTA’s tri-island visits to Abaco, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama.

The goal of the BLTA administration is to engage all of its sanctioned associations, to be aware of the uniqueness of each island, and to seek ways in which the BLTA can support islandassociations in their efforts for development as tennis develops and grows in The Bahamas.

THE NEXT Generation of tennis players.

Nets beat Mavericks 102-99, hand Dallas 5th consecutive home loss

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer DALLAS (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 24 points, James Harden had 23 points and 12 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets beat Dallas 102-99 last night, handing the Mavericks their fifth consecutive home loss.

The Eastern Conference-leading Nets erased a 17-point third-quarter deficit to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this season. Brooklyn squandered a double-digit lead after halftime in a loss to Chicago.

Luka Doncic scored 28 points but had another rough night from 3-point range except for the 30-footer he banked in just before the first-half buzzer.

Kristaps Porzingis had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Harden, who also had nine rebounds, easily beat Doncic one-on-one for a layup and Brooklyn’s biggest lead at 100-97 with

1:23 remaining. The Nets didn’t take their first lead until the middle of the fourth quarter.

Dallas didn’t make a basket after Doncic’s short jumper with 3:51 to go and finished 9 of 46 (19.6 percent) from long range. Tim Hardaway Jr missed all seven from deep, including an open look that bounced off the back of the rim at the buzzer.

The Nets trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter and slowly cut the deficit, led by Durant, who made 5 of 6 shots and scored 11 points in the final quarter.

Nic Claxton missed two free throws with Brooklyn leading by three with 20 seconds remaining, but Doncic missed from beyond the arc before Hardaway’s miss. Doncic was 3 of 11 from deep.

The Mavericks (11-12) dropped below .500 for the first time since getting blown out by Atlanta in their opener despite the return of both Doncic

MAVERICKS’ DWIGHT POWELL, left, and Reggie Bullock, right, defend as Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) takes a shot in the second half last night.

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) and Porzingis. They both missed the previous loss to Memphis, the first time that’s happened this season.

TIP-INS Nets: James Johnson had 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting against his former team. Johnson started the

2020-21 season in Dallas before a trade to New Orleans. He signed with Brooklyn as a free agent. ...

LaMarcus Aldridge, playing in his hometown, had 15 points.

Mavericks: Doncic was called for a technical foul after he shoved Claxton

in front of an official in the third quarter. Doncic appeared to think Claxton was crowding him after the whistle.

Doncic tried to show his displeasure by sitting in an open courtside seat as Durant went to the other end to shoot the free throw, which he made.

Dorian Finney-Smith scored 15 points and was the only Dallas player consistently hitting 3s, going 4 of 9.

UP NEXT Nets: The second game of a four-game trip is a back-to-back in Houston tonight.

Harden visited his former team in March last season, less than two months after forcing the trade to the Nets. He scored 29 points in a 132114 Brooklyn win.

Mavericks: Their second back-to-back in a span of five days is tonight, Memphis is the opponent, just as it was in that 97-90 loss Saturday.

Barrett makes 7 3s, Knicks beat Spurs to snap 3-game skid

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ Associated Press SAN ANTONIO (AP) — R.J. Barrett made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 32 points, and the New York Knicks snapped a three-game skid, beating the San Antonio Spurs 121-109 last night.

New York ended a seven-game losing streak at San Antonio.

Alec Burks scored 18 points, Immanuel Quickley added 16 points and Julius Randle had 15 for the Knicks.

Derrick White had 26 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Spurs, who have dropped two straight after a seasonlong three-game streak of victories.

Dejounte Murray added 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

The Knicks were 18 for 38 on 3-pointers with Barrett going 7 for 8.

New York took advantage of the Spurs’ smaller lineups, out-rebounding the Spurs 56-49 and enjoying a 21-8 advantage in second-chance points.

San Antonio got even smaller when starting forward Keldon Johnson exited early in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle.

Johnson was injured with 1:21 left in the first half after stepping on Poeltl’s foot.

He started the second half but appeared to be in some pain before heading to the locker room.

The teams got off to a sluggish start, combining to score 28 points in the opening 8 minutes on 10-for-29 shooting along with six turnovers.

Barrett made two 3s during a 10-2 run that gave New York a 13-point lead midway through the third quarter. The Spurs briefly got within nine points in

NEW York Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley celebrates a basket during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs last night in San Antonio. The Knicks won 121-109.

(AP Photo/Darren Abate) the fourth but couldn’t trim the lead any further.

TIP-INS Knicks: New York’s previous victory at San Antonio was January 2, 2014. Carmelo Anthony and Iman Shumpert each had 27 points to lead the Knicks to a 105-101 win.

... C Mitchell Robinson injured his back with 56.4 seconds left in the third quarter after an awkward landing but remained in the game. Robinson went flying after his legs were clipped when Spurs C Drew Eubanks dived for a loose ball. ... After saying

before the game he was still “mulling” his starters, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau added Nerlens Noel to what has become a recent regular starting lineup of Randle, Burks, Barrett and Evan Fournier.

Noel has started four games this season. ... New York is 7-4 on the road but entered having lost three of four away from home.

Spurs: G Devin Vassell missed his third straight game with a bruised right quadriceps. ... The Spurs entered Monday having played the fewest games of any NBA team. That will change quickly as the Spurs play five games in seven days. ... San Antonio is 4-7 at home and has not had a winning record at AT&T Center since winning its season opener.

UP NEXT Knicks: At Indiana tonight.

Spurs: Host Denver on Thursday.

GEORGE SCORES 21 AS CLIPPERS DOWN TRAIL BLAZERS 102-90

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — Paul George had 21 points, eight rebounds and four steals, and the Los Angeles Clippers handed the shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers their third straight loss with a 102-90 victory Monday night.

Marcus Morris Jr. added 17 points and Luke Kennard, making his first start for the Clippers this season, finished with 15.

Jusuf Nurkic had a seasonhigh 31 points for Portland, and Norman Powell scored a seasonbest 29.

It was a tight game throughout.

Brandon Boston Jr. hit a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to give the Clippers an 82-76 lead, but CJ

Elleby answered with a 3 for the Blazers to keep it close.

Portland pulled to 88-86 on a pair of free throws from Powell with just under five minutes to go.

After Reggie Jackson’s driving layup, Nurkic sank a jumper.

George’s dunk put the Clippers up 92-88 with 2:30 left. He added a pull-up jumper and, after Nurkic was assessed a flagrant foul on Isaiah Hartenstein, the Blazers couldn’t get any closer. Jackson finished with 16 points.

“It was one of those nights where we had to do it with different people, we had to do it by committee, and we got the job done,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.

The Clippers had lost four of their previous five games, including

a 104-99 defeat at Sacramento on Saturday.

Portland, playing under firstyear coach Chauncey Billups, has lost two straight games by discouraging margins. The Blazers fell at home to San Antonio 114-83 last Thursday before losing to Boston 145-117 on Saturday.

Billups praised his team for playing hard against the Clippers.

“That’s what it’s all about. You play hard, see what happens,” Billups said. “I say this all the time: I think every team that plays hard no matter what gives themselves a chance. And we did that tonight.

As shorthanded as we were, we had opportunities to win that game.”

The Blazers were without AllStar guard Damian Lillard for the

fourth game because of an abdomen injury.

Backup point guard Anfernee Simons was out because of a sprained right ankle. Star guard CJ McCollum was a game-time decision but did not play because of a rib contusion.

The Clippers led for most of the opening half, but Nurkic hit a 3-pointer that tied the game at 36 and Portland pulled ahead on Powell’s pull-up jumper.

Dennis Smith Jr.’s 3-pointer gave the Blazers a 49-48 edge going into halftime. It was just Smith’s second start of the season.

George’s layup gave the Clippers a 77-72 lead late in the third quarter. Los Angeles was unable to stretch it to double digits until the final moments of the game.

LAKERS TOP CELTICS 117-102, SPLIT RIVALRY FOR SEASON

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James scored 30 points, Russell Westbrook added 24 points and 11 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 117-102 last night in the latest chapter of the NBA’s most storied rivalry.

Anthony Davis had 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who produced one of their best recent performances in their fourth victory in six games overall.

With James and Westbrook playing dominant floor games, Los Angeles made 56.5 percent of its shots in the first three quarters and throttled Jayson Tatum’s supporting cast defensively.

Tatum scored 14 of his 34 points in an incredible firstquarter blitz for the Celtics, who dropped to 1-2 on their four-game West Coast road trip. Jaylen Brown sat out his third straight game with a strained right hamstring, and nobody else managed more than Robert Williams III’s 13 points for Boston.

UP NEXT Celtics: At the Los Angeles Clippers tonight.

Lakers: At Memphis on Thursday night.

CURRY LEADS WARRIORS TO 126-95 VICTORY OVER MAGIC

By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry keeps letting it fly from any spot on the floor, and he’s suddenly within striking distance of overtaking Ray Allen as the NBA’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers.

Curry had seven more 3s on the way to 31 points and eight assists, Andrew Wiggins hit a career-high eight 3s and finished with 28 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Orlando Magic 126-95 on Monday night.

Curry swished a halfcourt shot to beat the first-quarter buzzer and wound up shooting 8 of 16.

He now has 2,958 career regular-season 3s, 15 from tying Allen’s 2,973.

He’s got the count in his head, of course he does — with admiration for the similar way Allen worked on his craft that Curry got to see up close attending Bucks shootarounds with his NBA-playing father, Dell, a teammate of Allen’s in Milwaukee.

Might he pull it off tonight against Portland before the Warriors hit the road again? Coach Steve Kerr isn’t putting that past the NBA’s reigning scoring champ and two-time MVP, saying it “absolutely” could happen. “He’s Steph Curry, so anything’s possible,” Kerr said. “He made halfcourt shots in back-to-back games.”

PAGE 14, Wednesday, December 8, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Henry and Mathieu among 32 NFL Man of the Year nominees

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer

DERRICK Henry and Tyrann Mathieu, 2020 AllPro players, are among the 32 men chosen as finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

Each of the teams nominated one player for the prestigious honour named for the late Payton, a Hall of Fame running back for the Bears. The award recognises a player for community service and excellence on the field. It has been given annually since 1970 and will be presented at NFL Honours, the TV show during which The Associated Press reveals its individual seasonal award winners.

Titans running back Henry, last season’s Offensive Player of the Year, currently is sidelined by a broken right foot. He was chosen by Tennessee for such work as making a $10,000 donation from his Two All Foundation to Jeremy Taylor, a Nashville firefighter who lost his family home and all their belongings in a fire.

For the fourth consecutive year, Henry hosted a back-to-school event in his hometown of Yulee, Florida. Through his Two All Foundation, Derrick donated school supplies, backpacks, and bicycles to 200 kids.

In September, he worked with the Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee to host a back-to-school event that through foundation sponsors and personal donations from Henry met B&GC’s goal of providing 5,000 backpacks full of school supplies to children in need, including $50 gift cards for 25 children the club identified as the most in need. He hosted those 25 youngsters for an in-person, back-toschool shopping day with additional $100 gift cards,

KANSAS City Chiefs free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) is shown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals.

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

THE NOMINEES: Kelvin Beachum, Arizona Mike Davis, Atlanta Bradley Bozeman, Baltimore Harrison Phillips, Buffalo DJ Moore, Carolina Jimmy Graham, Chicago Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati Denzel Ward, Cleveland Dak Prescott, Dallas Justin Simmons, Denver Jason Cabinda, Detroit Aaron Jones, Green Bay Justin Reid, Houston Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Myles Jack, Jacksonville Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City Darren Waller, Las Vegas Corey Linsley, Los Angeles Chargers Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams Jerome Baker, Miami Anthony Barr, Minnesota Lawrence Guy, New England Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Logan Ryan, New York Giants Quinnen Williams, New York Jets Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Arik Armstead, San Francisco Tyler Lockett, Seattle Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Derrick Henry, Tennessee Jonathan Allen, Washington

reflecting on his youth involvement in a Boys & Girls Club.

Mathieu, the Chiefs’ standout safety, was nominated for restarting initiatives during the pandemic. This spring, he activated a “Tyrann’s

Teachers” surprise and delight along with board members of his Tyrann Mathieu Foundation. Gift baskets were delivered to 32 teachers in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The teachers were selected through a nomination

Analysis: Patriots’ downfall after Brady lasted one season

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer IT didn’t take long for the New England Patriots to become the New England Patriots again.

After stumbling through a 7-9 season last year while watching Tom Brady win a seventh ring in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bill Belichick’s squad is once again the class of the AFC. Josh McDaniel’s brilliant plan to have rookie quarterback Mac Jones throw just three passes Monday night paved the way for New England’s 14-10 win at Buffalo in the snow globe and wind tunnel that was Highmark Stadium.

Behind those 46 runs in 49 snaps, the retooled Patriots won their sixth road game in six tries and pushed their winning streak to seven games, improving to 9-4.

That’s a half-game better than the Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens in the logjammed conference race.

And the Patriots are still finding ways to shut down Peyton Manning, who lost his head-to-head series with Brady 11-6.

The quarterback who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame four months ago explained on ESPN’s “ManningCast” during the Patriots-Bills slog-fest that the Patriots public relations politely

declined his request to interview Jones.

“Well, I tried to talk to Mac Jones, and he was very respectful,” Manning relayed. “He said, ‘Peyton, I want to do it, but can you call our PR director, Stacey (James)? Because he kind of has to oversee all things.

I said, ‘No problem.’ I called Stacey, very professional, I said, ‘Stacey, I’m talking to Coach Belichick, can I talk to Mac Jones?’”

The answer was no, although Manning took the rare rejection in stride.

“And I gotta tell you, I appreciate how they’re handling Mac Jones.

They are trying to protect him, give him as few offthe-field distractions as possible, let him concentrate on playing football,” Manning said. “So, yes, I did get denied. It was the first quarterback I haven’t talked to. But, I appreciate it,” Manning said.

Although Manning isn’t accustomed to getting turned down, he said he understood what the Patriots were doing because he encountered the same treatment during his rookie season in Indianapolis in 1998. “Bill Polian, as a rookie with me with the Colts, did the same thing.

He didn’t let the marketing department talk to me, the community relations department talk to me.

He said, ‘Hey, it’s all football this first season. Don’t bother him,’” recounted Manning. “And I think

TENNESSEE Titans running back Derrick Henry leaves the field after the Titans beat the Buffalo Bills 34-31 on October 18 in Nashville, Tenn.

(AP Photo/Wade Payne)

process on the foundation’s website as students, colleagues, friends, and family submitted their favourite teacher by writing an essay detailing the positive impact teachers have left on the Kansas City community.

As the NFL season began, Mathieu and his foundation held their annual “Back 2 School” shopping spree. For the second year, Mathieu and some teammates surprised 32 underprivileged youngsters ages 6-17 from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City for a night of shopping and dinner. In addition, each child received a special Nike backpack filled with essentials. He also held his annual “Tyrann’s Turkeys” food distribution around Thanksgiving.

Previous winners among active players are Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson in 2020; Baltimore defensive linemen Calais Campbell (2019 with Jacksonville) and Arizona’s J.J. Watt (2017 with Houston).

COLUMN: US DIGNITARIES SHUN OLYMPICS. WHAT ABOUT SPONSORS? FROM PAGE 11

PATRIOTS quarterback Mac Jones (10) calls signals during the second half against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Monday night.

(AP Photo/Joshua Bessex) the Patriots are taking that New England has a two- parlayed into Super Bowl same approach with Mac win edge over the Bills appearances.

Jones and it’s paying off, (7-5) in the AFC East Belichick is the only it’s working.” standings a year after they person on the planet who Everything’s working were swept by the Bills in owns more than Brady’s in New England a year losing their division for the seven Super Bowl rings. after the Patriots stumbled first time since 2008.

They won six together in behind aging QB Cam Now, the Patriots get a Foxborough and Belichick Newton.

Week 14 bye a week before won two as Bill Parcell’s Jones, the 15th overall closing out with a visit to right-hand man with the draft pick out of Alabama Indianapolis followed by New York Giants before last June, finished 2 of 3 a rematch with the Bills that, giving him eight titles for 19 yards in becoming at Gillette Stadium on to go with four runner-up the NFL’s third quarter- December 26, another finishes. back to win nine games in home game against the Although the NFC his rookie season, joining upstart Jacksonville Jag- features Brady’s Bucs, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlis- uars and a road game at Prescott’s Cowboys, Aaron berger in 2004, and Dallas’ resurgent Miami.

Rodgers’ Packers, Kyler Dak Prescott in 2016. He They have the smooth- Murray’s Cardinals and also joined Roethlisberger est path to the lone bye Matthew Stafford’s Rams, and Prescott in becom- that goes to the AFC’s top would anyone be surprised ing the NFL’s third rookie playoff seed and home field if Belichick won his ninth QB to win his first six road throughout the playoffs, overall ring a year after starts. something they’ve usually Brady won his seventh?

from Morey’s tweet cost it $400 million.

The NBA is hardly the only big American brand that has been cowed into silence as the price of doing business in China escalates. And it’s not just the Olympic sponsors, either.

Starbucks, Apple, Google, Nike and a host of others may find it harder to chart a course forward as already turbulent relations with China head toward even choppier air.

One thing you can be certain of is that none of them will take the path that chief executive Steve Simon chose for the WTA. He ordered tournaments suspended in China — a move that could cost his organisation a cool $1 billion — until he saw proof that Peng “is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation.”

In a separate CNN interview not long after, Simon explained his rationale.

All the heads of state and kings of industry contemplating what to do next would choke trying to be half as sincere. “There are too many times in our world today when we get into issues like this and we let business, politics, money dictate what’s right and what’s wrong,” Simon said. “We have to start, as a world, making decisions that are based on right and wrong, period.”

If only.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, PAGE 15

WITH ANDERSON OUT, ENGLAND LEAVES CALL ON 11 TO TOSS

By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Jimmy Anderson is sidelined but his fellow pace veteran Stuart Broad is in contention to play in the Ashes series opener after being included in a 12-man England squad on the eve of the first test against Australia.

Broad, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson were all included as specialist pace bowlers, along with star allrounder Ben Stokes and left-arm spinner Jack Leach.

Broad hasn’t played a test since injuring his calf muscle in August during England’s series against India.

England said in a statement yesterday the starting lineup would be confirmed at the coin toss today, a half hour before the test is set to start at the Gabba.

Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns are set to open the batting, with Dawad Malan, skipper Joe Root, Stokes and Ollie Pope in the top six. Jos Buttler has been confirmed as wicketkeeper, leaving most of the questions over the balance of the bowling attack.

The return of Stokes from time out for a mental health break and a finger injury gives England an extra

seam option, which could also help Leach’s chances of selection. Leach played the last of his 16 tests in India in March.

“Whichever XI we take the field with, we’ll be very confident,” Buttler told a news conference yesterday.

Buttler said the 39-yearold Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket taker in test cricket, appeared to be fit and the decision to rest him for the Gabba test was precautionary ahead of a long, five-test series.

Anderson is on his fifth Ashes tour and has played 18 tests in Australia, including England’s drought-breaking 2010-11 series victory. Broad, 35, was also part of the 2010-11 winning squad and is on his fourth Ashes tour.

Buttler also said he’d faced Broad in the nets in practice, and Broad was “good to go.”

England hasn’t won a test match at the Gabba since 1986. It has lost nine and drawn one of its 10 tests in Australia since that series triumph a decade ago.

Australia announced its starting XI on Sunday, with fast bowler Pat Cummins replacing Tim Paine as test captain and Alex Carey replacing Paine as wicketkeeper.