12092022 NEWS AND SPORT

SEARS MISLED HOUSE

By YOURI KEMP and NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Reporters

Alfred

KC, minister of works and utilities, confirmed that on October 9, 2021, he received a briefing on the rationale for executing transactions, known as “call option” trades, that would enable BPL to acquire additional cheaper fuel at

below-market prices and thus keep its fuel charge - and overall electricity bills - relatively low with stable rates.

The minister, who had previously told the House of Assembly on several occasions that he never received any such advice or recommendations, added that he forwarded the e-mail briefing and attachments to the Ministry of Finance and its financial secretary, Simon Wilson, for their assessment.

Mr Sears said Mr Wilson recommended the tradeswhich would have supported the initial BPL fuel hedgenot be executed.

‘MORE THAN 1,00O POTHOLES PATCHED’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Works and Utilities has patched up more than 1,000 potholes in New Providence over the last five months as a part of its efforts to improve roads in the capital amid continued complaints over the issue.

Bahiyyah Hepburn, engineer in the Ministry of Works, said during a press conference yesterday that

officials have heard people’s cries and agree that the problem needs to be fixed.

As a result, she said workers have been working seven days a week to repair potholes which, she said, has not been an easy task.

She also blamed increased rain from earlier this year as the cause for many of the potholes locals now see today.

“We’ve literally patched over the past five months, almost 2,000 locations, like actual holes so that’s about 340 holes per month and even then, I still haven’t gotten all the information of where else that we’ve patched and that will be done with an audit,” Ms Hepburn said.

ANN MARIE DAVIS JOINS CALL FOR MARITAL RAPE LAWS

By LETRE SWEETING lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

ANN Marie Davis yesterday said “no means no” and joined countless other Bahamian officials and activists calling for marital rape to be outlawed.

Mrs Davis’s comment came at the final monthly forum for the year for the Department of Gender and Family Affairs and the Ministry of Social Services at the Edmund Moxey Centre. Mrs Davis said: “We must agitate and hold our policy makers accountable. We want them to upgrade our laws and we really need that.

“Imagine, we are still living in a society where no does not mean no. How could that be? I tell you no and you think I mean yes. No, sir. Of course I’m talking about marital rape right. No means no.”

KNIFE KILLER ‘KNEW WIFE OF VICTIM’

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE sister of a man who was fatally stabbed at a home in Pinewood Gardens on Wednesday night believes he was killed by someone his wife knew.

Eric Pyfrom, 28, was identified by relatives as the country’s latest homicide victim. According to police the incident occurred before 8pm.

“Preliminary reports revealed that the victim was

DIANE PHILLIPS:

THE LITTLE TEAM THAT COULD - AND DID

A CABINET minister yesterday admitted misleading Parliament by initially denying he was briefed on the Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) fuel hedging controversy that will allegedly cost households and businesses over $100m.

Sears

Minister says he ‘did not recall’ BPL fuel briefing email

NO CHANGE IN ELECTRIC DISCONNECTIONS ET AFTER ILLS INCREASE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter

THE recent hike in electricity bills has not affected the rate of electricity disconnections, according to Bahamas Power and Light CEO Shevonn Cambridge who revealed yesterday that monthly disconnections continue to hover around 1,400.

In October, BPL announced an increase to its monthly fuel charge which was reflected in consumers’ electricity bills last month.

Customers that consume less than 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per month will see their fuel charge rise via a series of rolling two cent quarterly increases, while for those using more than that

threshold it will be a 4.3 cents per kWh quarterly leap.

Asked yesterday what the feedback has been so far since rates were increased, Mr Cambridge said: “Actually, I haven’t received any negative feedback, to be honest, maybe people just don’t want to tell me.”

He added: “But basically, our assumptions were that the release of the increases was it was deliberately released to coincide with the reduction in consumption, the natural reduction in consumption that comes at the end of the summer peak period.

“So, the bills basically, as I tell people, is a combination of a base rate that hasn’t changed since 2010, and the fuel charge which was changing monthly up until 2020 and so it was

held constant from then until the recent reversion back to now the glide patch strategy.”

Mr Cambridge continued: “So it’s just a matter of multiplying your consumption times the base rate and the fuel, so the only thing hasn’t changed if your bill is going down, and that means the consumption went down and that was what we anticipated, and that’s what most consumers are experiencing.

“But the added bonus in there, though, is that the VAT threshold has been raised to $400 and so basically, like in my personal light bill, the VAT concession has actually absorbed the increase from the field until my overall bill was actually lower.”

There has been speculation as to whether disconnections would

Golden win for Dorian in Britain

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A FORMER student of the Beacon School in Grand Bahama competed in the first British Down Syndrome swimming championships recently, taking the gold and silver medals in two events.

Dorian Williams, 21, was among the 130 athlete swimmers at the championships held at K2 Crawley from November 19 to 20. The inaugural event was open to all British swimmers with Down Syndrome.

Katrina Hodge, a retired Grand Bahama educator, relocated to the UK with her son. She said Dorian has set his focus on qualifying to compete in the Special Olympics in 2023, and hopefully the Paralympic Games.

Ms Hodge said Dorian competed in eight events, winning a gold medal in 25m freestyle and a silver medal in 25m breaststroke.

Additionally, he placed among the top swimmers, she said, in his other races

of the 50 metres and 100 metres backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

“He has ambitions to improve his times and hopefully participate in the Special Olympics Games and Paralympic Games,” Ms Hodge said.

While residing in Grand Bahama, Ms Hodge taught at the Jack Hayward High School. Dorian attended the Beacon School and had participated in the swim programme at the YMCA for many years.

“Dorian had trained for many years with the YMCA wave runners in Grand Bahama, and so he had a great swimming background. They were inclusive and always encouraging,” she recalled.

Upon her retirement from teaching, she decided to relocate to the UK so that her son could have an opportunity to further his education.

“It was not possible on Grand Bahama at present,” she explained. “We are still waiting for a placement and hope it will be possible in the future.”

Ms Hodge said that they are not letting Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) deter them from setting their goals high.

“Things just take longer and require more effort and patience,” she added.

Wende Hanna, president of the Grand Bahama Down Syndrome Society, said Dorian, and indeed, Dorian’s mother, are truly an inspiration.

“As a parent of a child with special needs, I can appreciate, admire and emulate the commitment, tenacity and encouragement that propelled Dorian to this level of performance,” she said.

“Dorian trained with typically developing kids and I am sure his coaches and fellow swimmers are super proud to see him excel in this way.”

Mrs Hanna believes that Dorian’s story illustrates why it is so important for differently abled children to be included in all manner of activities.

“Dorian benefitted, but I know his fellow swimmers benefitted as well as they

increase over the next few months since the hikes were phased in.

However, Mr Cambridge said BPL’s disconnection rate has remained the same, while also revealing that there are no current plans to increase disconnections.

He also said: “I was asked this question by a reporter a few weeks ago, and the answer was somewhere on average, we have about 1,400 to 1,500 disconnections per month. But, like I said, it’s a rolling cycle. We disconnect you today and you come in tomorrow you pay. So at any given point in time, there’s maybe 1,000 people who are disconnected.”

Yesterday, Works and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears reminded the public that bill increases will only be temporary and are

expected to come down over the next 12 to 18 months.

In the meantime, he added, the government will continue to move forward with its plans to harness renewable energy to help cut down on electricity costs.

Mr Sears added: “Consistent with the government’s policy to incorporate renewable energy sources in the power generation, the government has approved the construction of a 60-megawatt solar plant to be constructed in New Providence and this project approved by the NEC is well in the design stage and in consultation with the Ministry of Works, the developer and also in consultation with BPL as well as with URCA.”

“Further, the government

has borrowed from the IDB $80m for the reconstruction of critical energy infrastructure and restoration of electricity services in islands heavily affected by Hurricane Dorian while facilitating the integration of renewable energy on various Family Islands.

“And in addition to the $80m from the IDB, the European Union has also granted $7m as a grant to support this initiative of the government and this initiative will involve the installation of solar grids in Acklins, Crooked Island, Inagua, Mayaguana and Long Cay as well as Abaco, East Grand Bahama.”

With respect to Grand Bahama, the minister said the island’s power company has also committed to incorporating renewable energy in the power generation there.

were able to support Dorian to overcome his challenges to become a champion. I encourage all coaches to welcome our special needs children if they have an interest in a particular sporting discipline.

“Yes, they require special accommodations, more attention and more time, but there is a champion in all of us, if we only take the time to find it,” she said.

The two-day BDSS championships held in Crawley, Surry, in the UK, featured athletes from novice to elite, aged between 10 to 50 across 44 events.

According to Swim England North East website, the aim of launching the BDSS Championships is to bring awareness to Down Syndrome swimming as a sport, recruit new talent by finding the best swimmers for the Great Britain team, and call for the Paralympics to change their rules and open a DS category to ensure a level playing field.

At present, there is no specific category for swimmers with Down Syndrome, meaning they have to compete as intellectually disadvantaged athletes in the S14 category.

The organisation indicated that a new category for these swimmers would also recognise their physical impairments, giving them a fairer opportunity to compete on the World and Paralympic stage.

Down Syndrome is a genetic condition which typically affects someone’s learning abilities and physical features. Usually, cells contain 46 chromosomes. But Down Syndrome happens when all or some of the cells in a person’s body have 47 chromosomes due an extra copy of chromosome 21.

CONGRESSWOMAN SA S FT SU POENA ‘ON THE TA LE’

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

US HOUSE Financial Services chair Maxine Waters dispelled reports that she is not willing to subpoena former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, stating that it is “definitely on the table”.

America media outlet CNBC had published a report that the US Congresswoman told “the panel’s Democrats she doesn’t plan to subpoena” Mr Bankman-Fried to testify at a hearing on December 13.

“Waters informed committee members of her decision at a private meeting Tuesday with Securities and Exchange Commission chair Gary Gensler on Capitol Hill, these people said, declining to be named in order to speak freely about the private discussion,” CNBC reported.

In a US House Committee on Financial Services statement released last month, the US congresswoman announced the schedule for December which included the full committee convening for a hybrid hearing entitled “Investigating the Collapse of FTX, Part 1” on December 13.

On Wednesday, however, Mrs Waters responded to the reports on Twitter.

She tweeted: “Lies are circulating @CNBC that I am not willing to

subpoena @SBF_FTX. He has been requested to testify at the December 13th hearing. A subpoena is definitely on the table. Stay tuned.”

Mr Bankman-Fried is in The Bahamas and has been in the country for the last year.

Mrs Waters and the former CEO have cordially tweeted each other over the past few days about Mr Bankman-Fried testifying. The disgraced crypto giant founder has said he is still “learning” and “reviewing” what led to his company’s collapse.

She tweeted about his willingness to speak on the matter.

“We appreciate that you’ve been candid in your discussions about what happened at FTX. Your willingness to talk to the public will help the company’s customers, investors, and others. To that end, we would welcome your participation in our hearing on the 13th,” she wrote last Friday.

Mr Bankman-Fried responded via Twitter on Sunday: “Rep Waters, and the House Committee on Financial Services: Once I have finished learning and reviewing what happened, I would feel like it was my duty to appear before the committee and explain. I’m not sure that will happen by the 13th but when it does, I will testify.”

Mrs Waters said it was

“imperative” he attend the hearing.

“Based on your role as CEO and your media interviews over the past few weeks, it’s clear to us that

the information you have thus far is sufficient for testimony,” her tweet read.

“As you know, the collapse of FTX has harmed over one million people.

Your testimony would not only be meaningful to Members of Congress, but is also critical to the American people.

“It is imperative that

you attend our hearing on the 13th, and we are willing to schedule continued hearings if there is more information to be shared later.”

DORIAN Williams at the British Down Syndrome swimming championships.

ANN MARIE DAVIS JOINS CALL FOR MARITAL RAPE LAWS

“That could really hurt, not only physically, but psychologically and that is what is wrong with it. Women endure so much. We endure too much for too long. So I want to see our marital rape laws improved on the books too,” she said.

“I am happy that this conversation is taking place and when it is done, I hope that our marital laws are upgraded as to where they are supposed to be,” Mrs Davis said.

In addition to Mrs Davis, those at the forum yesterday included Equality Bahamas Director Alicia Wallace, who spoke on the topic of “femicide” and framing the narrative around violence against women accurately, as well as Marisa Mason-Smith of Zonta Club of New Providence, and Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings.

A 2017 United Nations (UN) report pointed out that The Bahamas’ failure to criminalise marital rape means it has also failed to uphold obligations under the UN’s Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Meanwhile, Social Services and Urban Development Minister Obie Wilchcombe told The Tribune last month that he plans to discuss the issue of marital rape among other things next March at a three-day women’s conference.

In October, the government circulated for consultation a bill to criminalise marital rape. The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2022, would repeal section three of the current law by removing the words “who is not a spouse” from the definition of rape.

However, some advocates fear the government will not act and make the bill law.

KNIFE KILLER ‘KNEW WIFE OF VICTIM’

siblings about what happened to her brother.

at a residence on Thatch Palm Avenue, Pinewood Gardens when he was attacked and subsequently stabbed. He was transported to hospital via EMS personnel, where he later succumbed to his injuries,” police said.

Police are questioning a 20-year-old male of Cambridge Lane and a 40-year-old female of Thatch Palm Avenue in connection with the homicide.

The victim’s sister, Sheriel Johnson, said she was at home when she got the news from her

She said the victim was at his wife’s home when the argument took place. She suspects that a man known to her brother’s wife attacked him.

“They were saying that Eric got stabbed in Pinewood and so knowing where he stayed with his wife, I made my way that way and that’s when I saw the crime scene. From there, they took him to the hospital and pronounced him dead,” she recalled.

She said relatives are trying to piece together what happened on Wednesday night, but they believe a man came

to the home in Pinewood, an argument followed between him and her brother. It ended with her brother being fatally stabbed.

She said the victim mainly worked on construction sites, but he had dreams of playing basketball.

“He really wanted to play basketball, because he was just signed off to go off to school to play basketball, but I guess it never picked up off the ground. So he was just working on these construction sites until things got cleared for him.”

She described the deceased as a “quiet”, “humble” person who did not bother anybody.

The siblings shared a sweet moment before his death when she spoke to him about a photo of the two together.

“I just spoke to him two o’clock that day. That was my last conversation I had with him because he had a car and I was parked in the back of him.

I said ‘Hey, Eric you know I just pieced together a photo of me and you.’”

Police are actively investigating this incident and appealing to members of the public, who may have some information of this incident or any other incident, to contact them at 911, 919 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS (8477).

CHRISTMAS PART AT LW OUNG

‘GOVT NEEDS TO ATTEND TO FAMIL ISLAND HEALTHCARE’

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

SENATOR Darren Henfield said yesterday that the healthcare facilities on the Family Islands need the attention of the government. He said many islanders are still forced to fly to the capital for emergency medical assistance. He said if it were his

decision, he would build a world-class hospital, not a sports centre — an apparent jibe at the Davis administration.

Mr Henfield’s comments came during his contribution to the Mental Health Bill debate in the Senate. While he acknowledged the efforts of the government to improve the public health system, Mr Henfield said much work is still needed.

“We have these beautiful, what we call community clinics in Abaco and I think one is in Exuma, beautifully built and appointed. But still Abaconians and Exuma residents and people all across the country have to jump on an emergency flight if, God forbid, they suffered a traffic accident, or something goes wrong.

“And that’s because we don’t have the expertise to

manage these facilities,” he said.

Mr Henfield pointed out the challenges islanders are faced with to receive health care, noting that these longstanding issues should be addressed.

Although he said he was not “knocking” the government’s efforts, he stressed that many residents have no choice but to access the public health care facilities.

“We have to find a way, we have to find the commitment, and resolve to make our healthcare system, a place where you and I, leaders in this country would have no issue taking our children or taking ourselves.

“The Bahamian people deserve no less and I’m very passionate about this. I know we’ve made tremendous strides over the years, we made tremendous

improvements over the years, but we got to go much further. I know the government’s responsibility is to set its policies. But I would build a world-class hospital before I build a sports centre. But that’s just me.”

He stressed: “Some people have no other choice; they have nowhere else to go except to come to our public health care facilities.”

LABOUR Minister Keith Bell joined students at the LW Young Boys and Girls Club Christmas Party yesterday. Photos: Austin Fernander

Gladstone Road project will last for two years

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

MAJOR work on the Gladstone Road Improvement Project is now expected to begin mid2023 and will last for two years, officials from the Ministry of Works revealed yesterday.

The project was originally supposed to start at the end of the year.

However, Dion Munroe, assistant engineer of civil design at the Ministry of Works, explained the delay was because the project designs had not yet been completed, among other issues.

“I mean we’re still completing the design and a part of that design is land acquisition and the encroachment issues that we’re dealing with and also repositioning of infrastructure that has to be moved over the amount of road reservation,” he said.

The road improvement project will span the entire length of Gladstone Road, which will widen from a single lane road to a dual carriageway meant to allow for increased vehicle

capacity.

The plan will further add new roundabouts to be constructed at major sections to improve traffic flow and safety. There also will be changes to the roundabout at JFK Drive and Gladstone Road.

The project’s cost is estimated at some $29m.

Asked yesterday whether the funds had already been allocated, Works and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears explained that funding will be addressed after project designs are completed.

Notwithstanding this, he said, several financial institutions have expressed interest in financing the project.

“In terms of funds,” he said, “once the design is completed, the question then is money. We all live in The Bahamas. We know what the revenue challenges are of the government.

Fortunately for the Bahamas, there are a number of additional sources to the consolidated fund.

“Multilateral sources the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank), the Caribbean Development Bank and both institutions have expressed an interest

in funding up Gladstone road and also, a number of other infrastructural projects.”

He also said: “The other mechanism is the PPP (public private partnership), that is to have a developer who wants to put up the funds to fund it and then get the funds on over a period of time amortised with interest – and certainly with Gladstone Road, we have already gotten very keen interest.

“I met right in this conference room with the president of the Caribbean Development Bank, and also with representatives of the IDB. So, there is keen interest, but we have to complete the design and, as Mr Munroe stated, to widen the road, land has to be acquired, and it requires negotiation with the land owners.”

This comes as many motorists continue to complain about the poor state of Gladstone Road.

Yesterday, officials noted that they are seeking to apply thin overlays on the road as a temporary solution until the street’s transformation has been completed.

‘DISAPPOINTED’ IN ELEUTHERA WATER FIRM

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings @ tribunemedia.net

WATER and Sewerage chairman Sylvanus Petty expressed his disappointment with Aqua Design, the company contracted by the government to provide water to Central Eleuthera due to the repeated disruptions in supply.

At a press conference in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, yesterday, he said officials are reviewing the contract, adding that four days prior to the 2021 election, a ten-year agreement was renewed by the Minnis administration.

Works Minister Alfred Sears, at a separate press conference at the Ministry of Works yesterday, said the company has failed to efficiently operate the island’s water plants. He said the government isn’t taking any options off the table regarding Aqua Design.

Yesterday, officials said water has been restored to most customers of Central Eleuthera as of December 5, with officials noting that there is a “small pocket” of residents who may be receiving low water pressure or no water in “extreme” cases.

This disruption in supply to Eleuthera residents occurred after the island’s Naval Base desalination water production plant experienced operational issues on November 26.

Mr Petty, also the North Eleuthera MP, predicted the dilemma Central Eleuthera is faced with will later be an issue in North Eleuthera as they are now at 50 percent capacity. However, he is

hopeful the matter will be resolved long-term.

While acknowledging the “terrible” quality of water on the island, Mr Petty noted the corporation is considering altering the bills of consumers in time for the holidays.

WSC acting general manager Robert Deal said stakeholders are engaging in discussions to seek a resolution and produce an action plan for the supply of water for all Eleuthera residents.

“So overall, the two things we are focusing on to improve the reliability of supply here in Central Eleuthera, one, increasing the production capacity and secondly, increasing the storage capacity,” Mr Deal told reporters yesterday.

“We need to have the production capacity exceed the demand of the residents so that we can have that extra production capacity to put water into storage. Presently we do not have that presently what happens is almost every drop of water we produce goes into supply.”

Mr Deal said WSC recently purchased a $300,000 containerised reverse osmosis plant, which is expected to increase the water production capacity from approximately 500,000 imperial gallons per day to approximately 700,000 imperial gallons per day.

He added the containerised reverse osmosis plant is expected to be operational by late January 2023.

WSC also ordered a new 1,000,000 imperial gallon storage tank for both locations, and it is scheduled to be running by June 2023,

according to Mr Deal.

At the conference, Central and South Eleuthera MP Clay Sweeting thanked Mr Sears and Mr Petty for taking the necessary “corrective action”. Yesterday he expressed full confidence in both ministers and the WSC board in rectifying the matter.

“This has been a longstanding issue when we were an opposition. As a senator, I spoke heavily against this issue. At one point, they (Free National Movement) turned off the water in Central and South Eleuthera during the pandemic,” he said yesterday.

“So, it’s been a standing issue, and for me, I think the thing what I want to see out of this issue is just corrective necessary action.”

At a press conference in Nassau, Mr Sears addressed allegations against Aqua Design, saying the company has failed to efficiently operate the water plants.

He said: “It therefore means that the people in North Eleuthera as well as South and Central are faced with a water desalination facility that has not been maintained, has not been developed as it ought to have been, and that’s admitted by the company.”

Once again, he apologised to residents, as he said: “I want to also apologise and thank the people of Eleuthera, because this has been a most challenging time over the past several weeks, and with the measures being undertaken, and as I told the representatives of Aqua Design and Viola that we are not taking any options off the table.”

Death Notice for Alphonso Robert “Boogaloo” Elliott, 80

of Lakeshore and Atlantic Drive, died at his residence on Wednesday, 7th December 2022.

He is survived by his, wife: Lorraine Elliott; children: Micah, Tanya, Michael, Covance, Kira, India, Anwar, Rhyan, Rhandi, Alia, Thea, Erin, and Fallon; sisters: Theresa Walkes, Naomi Dean, Judy Woodside, Verona Missick and Nicola Elliott; brothers: Bruce, George, Norbert and Jerome Elliott, Kenneth and Barry Pratt, Steve and Elvis Woodside; and a host of other relatives and friends

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date

“So, a lot of persons have been working towards getting this done correctly and it is a monumental task, especially since there’s an existing backlog starting from the pandemic and heading onwards.

“Supply chain issues with getting materials both for asphalt and for even equipment, because just like how we had issues, people have issues bringing in cars and mechanical equipment, all of that impacts our timeline.”

She added: “Then you also have, again, when we could not do close quarters, we had to reduce the amount of patching and pothole patching is actually a very sensitive, sensitive process in the fact that if one thing impacts it impacts the entire process, you will end up getting more and more of a backlog.”

She also apologised on behalf of the ministry for any inconvenience caused as result of potholes.

“I do apologise to each and every one of y’all for the inconvenience that y’all have suffered but, seven days a week, our staff (and) our contractors are out,” she continued.

“If there are any hiccups, they actually come with a theory to me trying to find out, oh, like, you know, I need mix as soon as possible.” The epidemic of

POTHOLES

potholes in New Providence and the Family Islands has been the subject of public outcry for years, but complaints on the issue have been reignited in recent weeks.

Areas that have attracted complaints here in the capital include Wulff Road, Joe Farrington Road and Gladstone Road, among others.

Yesterday, Works and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears admitted that most roads in New Providence are decades old and need to be modernised.

However, he said the country cannot afford to upgrade them all at once.

“While we are waiting, we are systematically and incrementally engaged in a road redevelopment programme as you would know from Village Road,” Mr Sears said. “The ministry has embarked on a systematic paving and repair programme to stabilise the roads.”

He also pointed to several initiatives his ministry has launched to improve the poor-quality roads in the capital in the interim.

“One, the ministry commenced a pothole repair blitz on the second of November 2022 which is meant to aggressively correct the problem in New Providence over a threemonth period,” Mr Sears continued.

“Two, the pothole remediation programme has mobilised contractors who will cover 12

zones in the island of New Providence.”

“Three, the Ministry of Works ‘SeeClickFix’ is being set up and tested, which will automate road maintenance complaints. At the moment, we are using a WhatsApp hotline so that the public may call in and inform us of potholes to be fixed.

“Four, the ministry is increasing the road maintenance crew from one to three and the number of personnel in the maintenance area of road patching as well as engaging additional inspectors to enhance the efficiency of the ministries response to and repair of hotline complaints,” he also said.

Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis recently announced that the government plans to start major road works early next year.

Officials said yesterday they are hoping to conduct upgrades to more than 50 roads, including Joe Farrington Road and East Street South, when it embarks on an aggressive road paving exercise between next year and 2023.

A budget for these works has not been finalised, according to officials.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the Family Islands, Mr Sears said the government is in the process of finalising contracts to pave roads in Abaco and has already hired contractors to start roadworks in Andros.

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Will Alfred Sears follow tradition and resign?

ALFRED Sears misled Parliament.

It has taken some time to reach the moment when the Minister of Works and Utilities has admitted that fact.

The matter is simple.

On October 26, Mr Sears was asked whether he had received any briefings on carrying out hedging transactions at BPL.

The question was important because not carrying out those transactions appears to have cost the public purse a significant sum of money by not buying fuel at a lower rate before prices soared. That extra cost is being felt in our fuel bills already.

Mr Sears said: “Not only was I not provided, but what this honourable member for Marco City [Michael Pintard] has failed to disclose - is that what was on the table was a rate reduction bond to borrow $500m.”

He added: “I can say for the record that no draft Cabinet paper prepared by the honourable member or any of his colleagues has been presented to me.”

However, FNM leader Mr Pintard then tabled a letter written by then CEO of BPL Whitney Heastie discussing the hedge programme.

Mr Sears said that he did not recall receiving the document, and that it was only a description, not a recommendation.

And so begins the slow turn of his tale from a denial to the admission on the front page of today’s Tribune

He said last month that actually there was indeed a Cabinet paper on the need to execute fuel hedging trades, which was addressed to the Minister of Finance, and that the ministry decided to reject the recommendation.

He said: “The Ministry of Finance in October (2021) made a determination that the proposal that the honourable member [Pintard] is referring to was not supported.”

It was deemed that the move “was not in the interest of the country at that time”.

The Prime Minister, Philip “Brave” Davis, was also caught up in the concerns about whether the House had been misled.

On the same day as Mr Sears made his statement, Mr Davis said: “No recommendation came to me, and the Minister for Works said there was no such information coming to [him] - There was no such recommendation that I was aware of.”

He added: “I received no advice or recommendations, saw no papers in that respect. I never saw any. None reached my desk, and as far as I am aware, it did not reach, the minister will speak for himself, that never happened.”

Then, when Mr Sears said a Cabinet paper had been addressed to the Ministry of Finance, Mr Davis said: “I saw no documents about that – I had no knowledge of it. He (Alfred Sears) said the Ministry of Finance had knowledge of this. That’s a big ministry. It was not me.”

And now, months on from his original statement to the House, Mr Sears says that actually he did mislead Parliament.

He said he did indeed receive a briefing on the fuel hedging scheme, in an email on October 9, 2021 – though he did not recall having done so when first asked about it.

He said: “I did not recall having received that e-mail. And I stated that I wrote BPL, and I also wrote the PS (permanent secretary), and I asked: ‘Could you refresh me and did I receive it?’ I didn’t get a response, a confirmation.

“For several weeks, I was in New York, and I took a day and I brought my old iPad. I went back personally and did a search, and I found that I did receive - I think it was on October 9 - I did receive an e-mail with the attachments. It would have gone on to be sent on to the financial secretary, which is normal because they are the technical review in terms of financial clearance. It really was to access a loan which is managed by the Ministry of Finance.”

Mr Sears said that, having realised his mistake, he had a duty to correct the record in the House of Assembly. “The Leader of the Opposition made the allegation again,” he said. “I could not sit there, knowing that the first representation I had made was not correct and, as is my duty, I got up and I stated on the record of the House of Assembly that I had done a search of my e-mail and I had found the e-mail of October 9, 2021, and the response of the financial secretary.

“I stated it on the record because it was incumbent upon me to correct the previous statement that I had made.”

Mr Pintard has previously called for Mr Sears to resign over his misstatements – and now Mr Sears agrees that he did indeed mislead Parliament.

Regardless of the decisions that were made – that is another matter – Parliament needs to rely upon the information that is being provided to it in order to properly do the business of governance.

Mr Sears says he forgot about an email relating to a matter that involved a decision involving sums worth tens of millions of dollars.

Upon the accusation being made that he misled Parliament, it was some considerable time before he admitted having done so. He did not go right away to check his information, he did not provide a response with the urgency that such an accusation merits. And he was wrong.

The correct course of action for misleading Parliament is to resign. Whether one misled Parliament intentionally or not – in this case Mr Sears says it simply slipped his mind – the act of having done so in the Westminster system would normally lead to a resignation. That is the convention. It is the right thing, and the decent thing, and we now wait to see whether Mr Sears will follow the tradition.

Implications of Warnock’s Georgia win

EDITOR, The Tribune

THE MUCH anticipated run-off in the Georgia Senate race has been completed, and the Democratic Party incumbent Raphael Warnock has won, giving his party a 51-vote majority in the Senate.

The Republican Party standard bearer Herschel Walker, a former NFL running back, received over 1.7 million or 48.6 percent of the votes, despite being backed by Donald Trump. Warnock got over 1.8 million or 51.4 percent of the votes.

Warnock fared well in Fulton, Dekalb, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Chatham and Cobb Counties, to list a few. Warnock is the first African American senator from Georgia, a supposedly redneck state.

Ironically, Georgia was one of 11 states that declared its secession from the Union in 1861 -- two years before the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.

Warnock’s win gives President Joe Biden the unfettered freedom to continue pushing his far-left policies through Capitol Hill without much legislative resistance from Republican lawmakers.

This is bad news for the Progressive Liberal Party. If the GOP cannot win in Georgia -- a state in the Deep South - then what are the prospects for the GOP in the scheduled 2024 Presidential Election?

The Bahamas will head to the polls in 2026. Based on the results of the 2022 Midterm Elections, particularly in Georgia, it is now looking like the American people will either re-elect President Joe Biden, assuming he runs again; or they will vote for whomever the Democratic Party fields.

I spoke about the GOP’s lack of appeal to African Americans and other ethnic groups in a previous submission.

According to Rolling Stone, only 18 percent of black male voters and six percent of black female

voters supported Donald Trump in 2020.

In the recent gubernatorial election in Georgia, Democratic standard bearer Stacey Abrams got 94 percent of Black female voters and 86 percent of black male voters.

To underscore the deep rift between the African American demographic and the GOP, former NAACP leader Ben Jealous publicly accused Trump of not being truthful about his concerns for the African American community.

The rift seems to have widened, especially since the death of George Floyd and the recent surge of Wokism.

In a Reformed Facebook forum, I encountered much opposition from White evangelical Christians when I highlighted the accomplishments of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ironically, individuals who opposed King saw no issue with championing the late Presbyterian theologian Robert L Dabney, whose “Systematic Theology” is widely read within Reformed circles in North America.

His “A Defence of Virginia” was written to support the system of slavery in the Deep South by misusing the Bible to justify it. Dabney conveniently ignored the fact that the slavery practised in the US and the British Empire was mainly based on racism.

None of this is to suggest that this writer condones the aberrant theology of King. I don’t. I had written in the past in this space about King’s rejection of several cardinal tenets of historic Christianity, which has led this writer to the conclusion that King was not a true born-again Christian, notwithstanding his affiliation with famed evangelist Billy Graham.

Having said that, I suspect that the opposition to King’s theology in that Facebook forum was a

subtle repudiation of the Civil Rights Movement.

This racist attitude is a poor reflection on the GOP and is the reason why African Americans do not trust the party. Biden has two years remaining in his current term, which will overlap with the PLP’s current term into late 2024.

If the inflation crisis drags into the presidential election period, that has the potential to turn off many disgruntled Bahamians from the PLP.

The issue I have with the Democratic Party is that it is pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ and pro-Marxist. Indeed, Biden’s Marxist policies have compounded the oil and inflation crises. In one particular food store in Freeport, a cauliflower is going for over $14. Consumers are now having to decide which utility bill to defer in order to buy adequate groceries. One of the devastating results of the current inflation crisis is that it has diminished the purchasing power of tens of thousands of low-income Bahamian families.

Whatever Marxist Utopian world the Democratic Party is attempting to create, the overwhelming majority of Bahamians cannot afford to survive in it.

The current standoff between the Davis administration and grocery retailers underscores the financial quandary Democratic leftists have placed the vulnerable in.

No matter how robust the economy is, if Bahamians cannot afford to buy food and gasoline and to pay their utilities, mortgage and rent, they will blame the Bahamian government.

The Biden administration will not suffer the consequences of its ill-advised policies at the Bahamian polls in 2026. It will be, unfairly, of course, the PLP government. Warnock’s win in Georgia has massive implications for the PLP in 2026.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama, December 8, 2022.

BALLET dancers go over their routines at a Nutcracker rehearsal inside Teresa Carreno Theatre in Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday.

Photo: Matias Delacroix/AP

TWO CHARGED OVER FIREARMS AND DRUGS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with recent firearm and drug possession charges after being captured by police following a car chase.

One of the men faced an additional charge for an alleged murder attempt in Nassau in the Spring.

Arizona Rolle, 26, and Malik Strachan, 26, represented by attorney Alphonso Lewis, faced Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

They were charged with possession of firearms with intent to supply, possession of ammunition and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. Rolle also faced a charge of attempted murder.

It is alleged that in New Providence on April 19, Rolle attempted to cause the death of Javone Saunders.

Then at around 10am on December 2, it is reported that officers on mobile patrol on JFK Drive chased a heavily tinted grey Cadillac when it was spotted being driven recklessly. Upon stopping the vehicle

on Atlantic Drive a search of the car uncovered five unlicensed guns and 11 unfired rounds of .327 ammunition.

The guns seized in this incident included a black .327 revolver, a black 9mm Austria Glock, a black and brown Austria Glock 9mm pistol and two black Ruger 9mm pistols.

On the same day, it is further alleged that the accused were found with 2.4lb of Indian hemp.

In court, both accused pleaded not guilty to all of their shared charges. However, Rolle was not required to enter a plea for the attempted murder charge as that matter will be transferred to the Supreme Court.

The chief magistrate then informed the accused that they had been denied bail at this time, with Strachan’s bail hearing being set for December 20. Rolle has to apply for bail in the Supreme Court for the indictable offence. Both accused were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The two are to return to court on April 26 and 27, 2023, for trial and potential service of Rolle’s voluntary bill of indictment.

MAN ACCUSED OF INDECENTLY TOUCHING TEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday after being accused of inappropriate behaviour with a child.

Hugh Ferguson, 53, faced Magistrate Samuel McKinney charged with indecently assaulting a

ten-year-old girl in New Providence on December 5. The accused pleaded not guilty.

With no objection to bail by the prosecution it was granted to the defendant at $500 with one surety was granted to the accused.

Ferguson is to return to court for trial on February 2, 2023.

MAN ACCUSED OF BAIL VIOLATION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of armed robbery and murder faced court on five counts of violating his Supreme Court bail yesterday.

Charlton Williamson, 30, represented by attorney Alphonso Lewis appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on five counts of violation of bail conditions.

The bail was granted to the accused in connection with his murder and armed robbery charges. On April 6, 2016, it is alleged that Williamson shot and killed Pail Butler in his convenience store on Melvern Road during a robbery.

In reference to his most recent charge it said that the defendant failed to charge his court imposed electronic monitoring device on five occasions between October 31 and December 3.

Williamson pleaded not guilty to these charges. The accused then told Magistrate McKinney that the monitoring company for his EMD has yet to respond to his requests for assistance for what he says is a malfunctioning device.

With no objections to bail from the prosecution, it was granted to Williamson at $6,500 with one or two sureties.

Williamson’s trial for this matter is set for January 30, 2023.

TEEN CHARGED OVER ROBBERY

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN 18-year-old man was granted bail in Magistrate’s Court in connection with a recent robbery and assault of a man over a gold chain.

Kevin Simon faced Magistrate Samuel McKinney on charges of robbery, assault and threats of harm.

PET CAMPAIGN

It is alleged that around 8.20am on December 5 at Cumberbatch Alley, Simon threatened and then physically assaulted Renick Jean-Louis, Jr, to steal his gold chain. The item is worth $300.

In court, the accused pleaded not guilty. He was granted $8,500 bail with one or two sureties.

Simon’s trial is set to begin on February 1, 2023.

REACHES

THE Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness (Baark!) saw its mobile clinic hosted throughout November at Forbes Organic Farm off Cow Pen Road - and today and tomorrow, the clinic will return there.

The 26ft clinic helps to advance the group’s programme to spay and neuter dogs and cats.

It is anticipated that the combined efforts of the mobile clinic and surgeries by local veterinarians will see just over 4,500 spay/ neuter surgeries conducted in The Bahamas this year. Next year, between 5000 and 6000 surgeries are projected.

To promote the mobile clinic in the neighbourhood, Samantha Moree, one of Baark!’s education volunteers, visited 7th graders at Anatol Rogers High School off Faith Avenue with her rescue “Gracie’’.

She said: “Each presentation is 30-40 minutes long and our primary school

OUT TO SCHOOLS

programme works best with not more than two classes at a time to be most effective.

“But the grand finale, regardless of the age of the child and the part kids love best is being able to demonstrate how they can pet a dog safely. ”

From January, there will be heightened attention to educational outreach and responsible pet ownership.

Laura Kimble, Baark!

Chairman stated: “Education is as important as our mobile clinic. Education on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership is of the utmost importance for our programs to work. We teach about the importance of spay/neuter and how to properly care for pets.”

If your school or group would like Baark! to visit and present a talk, contact laura@Baarkbahamas.org or visit Baark!.org

Anyone wishing to have their animal spayed or neutered are invited to text or Whatsapp the hotline for an appointment on 427-7729.

Rotary Club sponsorship first

THE Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas (RCOB) selected Trevor Johnson, as the recipient of the RCOB Scholarship - a first for its kind for The Bahamas.

Johnson, who is a PhD candidate pursuing a degree in crisis, disaster and emergency management, attended IE University and Business School in Madrid, Spain, and participated in an executive programme, Sustainability, Your Competitive Advantage last month.

Geoffrey Gerard, director general of IE Foundation, said: “Rotary International has shown over the years an outstanding commitment towards talent empowerment and action and

advocacy on crucial issues such as the ones linked to the sustainable development goals.

“We were really proud to welcome Trevor Johnson to the Sustainability: Your Competitive Advantage programme at IE University Executive Education and we are confident he will utilise this opportunity to build a strong network and to deliver on the mission of Rotary District 7020.”

Deidree Bain-Toote, assistant governor of RCOB, said: “Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas have increased their investment in future leaders by ensuring access to educational opportunities. We are excited to provide the recipient of this scholarship with

access to a programme that is both relevant and impactful.”

Odette Carey-Russell, past president of the Rotary Club of Old Fort and current scholarship area coordinator said: “This is the start of several scholarships that will be available to Bahamians and regional citizens within the 7020 District. This scholarship amounting to $7K is a full scholarship including tuition, airfare, accommodations and per diem. Our goal was to increase local participation in scholarships available through Rotary International and we decided to make this possible by customising a scholarship for Bahamians and other Caribbean candidates within the 7020 district.”

TREVOR JOHNSON, left, with Geoffrey Gerard, director general of IE Foundation.

Myths of non-profit groups

ON Monday, I was rewatching a Ted Talk video called, “The way we think about charity is dead wrong” by Dan Pallotta. While the third sector is different in various global contexts, the video reminded me of some of the challenges we face in the non-profit sector in The Bahamas. It also demonstrated that these issues are not unique to us as a nation.

In the past few years working for One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) and Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI), I have come to understand that there are common shared misconceptions. In this article, I hope to address a few of these misunderstandings surrounding the third sector.

1. Myth #1: The “Overhead Fiction”

Some people believe that non-profits should have little to no administrative costs because they consider it to be “voluntary” and “charity” work. Darren Walker, CEO of Ford Foundation calls it the “overhead fiction”. According to Walker, “because of this fiction, foundations, governments, and donors force non-profits to submit proposals that do not include the actual costs of the projects they are funding”.

For non-profits to thrive, we must make the necessary investments in the best talent, technology, facilities, and other important resources to effectively execute our missions. The “overhead fiction” may cause unintended consequences in achieving project goals because it

By Keyron Smith

third sector organisations are also social enterprises. These organisations aim to earn revenues while achieving social impact.

However, these revenues must be invested into the mission and organisation and not given to shareholders like for-profit businesses.

For example, One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) and Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) have social enterprises that facilitate training, including a farm, hotel, and restaurant.

undermines the true cost of projects that can help address social problems in our communities. Like any other organisation, non-profits have the same utility bills and staffing expenses required to operate. Globally, grant making Foundations in the US are now rethinking how they review administrative costs for grants they award to non-profits.

2. Myth #2: Non-profits shouldn’t make profits

This is a major misconception, especially when we talk about what we mean by the term “non-profit.”

Some may consider it taboo for a non-profit to generate profits. The third sector is diverse, and there are many different models. Some

These entities generate some revenue to help offset expenses, reinvest in the operation, and sustain ongoing student training. We also need to re-evaluate how we define profits. Social outcomes are a kind of profit not measured or logged in a spreadsheet.

Instead, a community gains new resources or new opportunities. For example, the people we train in Eleuthera through OEF and CTI can use their newly learnt skills to gain employment opportunities or start businesses to support their financial independence and families. This is an entirely different, but valuable kind of “profit.”

3. Myth #3: Working for

JOB OPPORTUNITY

• Monitor operations to ensure compliance with safety or security policies or regulations. Observe individuals’ activities to gather information or compile evidence.

• Operate surveillance equipment to detect suspicious or illegal activities.

Discuss performance, complaints, or violations with supervisors.

Monitor establishment activities to ensure adherence to all gaming regulations and company policies and procedures.

• Observe gaming operations for irregular activities such as cheating or theft by employees or patrons, using audio and video equipment.

• Report all violations and suspicious behaviors to supervisors, verbally or in writing.

• Act as oversight or security agents for management or customers.

• Be prepared to work within a shift system

• Retain and fle audio and video records of gaming activities in the event that the records need to be used for investigations. Perform other related duties as assigned by Management.

Interested persons must require surveillance experience, certifcation, training, communication skills, attention to detail, ability to work independently and should apply at Jarol Investments Limited Head Offce, Prince Charles Drive (Across from Restview) between the hours of 9am to 5pm. Or send your CV to careers@

Subject: Surveillance Offcer – Your Name

non-profits isn’t as hard as working in the for-profit sector.

Many people believe that working for a non-profit is easier than working for a profit business. In my experience working in the sector, you must work just as hard and sometimes with decreased resources.

In many cases, non-profits are under-resourced and require employees to be innovative and adaptable. You can find yourself stretched in ways that challenge conventional thinking and approaches, but instead require innovation and collaborative solutions, all of which can enhance your skillset and inspire “out of the box” thinking. Sometimes it is passion, heart, and inner drive that fuels your progress because solving difficult social challenges is demanding work.

I recall hearing the stories of our staff who worked late nights and 24-hour shifts to support Hurricane Dorian survivors evacuated to Eleuthera immediately following the storm.

It was challenging for our staff to not only support the material needs of hundreds of survivors, but to provide empathy and emotional support to those who had endured such a great loss.

Working at OEF/CTI has also stretched and developed me in new ways as a

professional and in many different areas. On a daily basis, I have to use my communication and management skills as I engage with a variety of stakeholders, including community members, government officials, grantors, and Board members.

It is a job that requires you to juggle the community’s needs along with the organisational mission and resources. Therefore, it is surely a misconception that the road is easier in the non-profit sector.

4. Myth #4: You can only support a non-profit through financial donations.

While donating to nonprofits is an essential way to contribute, there are other valuable ways to lend your support. In some ways, people lend their expertise and time which is a valuable way to donate to a local non-profit.

Volunteers and amplifiers give their time and talent to non-profits. This kind of giving is critical and helps to fill in resource gaps as well as publicise all the powerful work happening within the third sector.

Some people also lend resources to support non-profit organisations. Non-profits often need “in kind” gifts, such as technical knowledge or donation of material items like office furniture or vehicles

that can help to support the groundwork needed to fulfill an organisation’s mission.

There are many more misconceptions out there, but these are some that I consider the most pervasive. The sector is an exciting space to work and it plays such a valuable role in our society. However, it is important to change our mindsets so that we can find ways to engage with this dynamic space.

Ultimately, with a clearer perspective we can focus on what Dan Pallota prompts us to do, “Change the way we think about changing the world”.

• Keyron Smith is the chief operating officer at CTI & OEF. Established in 2012, the One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) is a nonprofit organisation located in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. For more information, visit www.oneeleuthera.org or email info@oneeleuthera. org. The Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) is the first and only postsecondary, non-profit education and training institution and social enterprise on Eleuthera. CTI operates a student training campus in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, with a 16-room training hotel, restaurant and farm. For more information about CTI’s programmes email: info@oneeleuthera.org.

for Howard Benjamin Thomas, 91

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date

of One Eleuthera Foundation

KEYRON SMITH

ONE Eleuthera Foundation staff members.

Jarol Investments Limited is seeking to fll the following position: Surveillance Offcers (Nassau)

Death Notice

of New Jerusalem Court, off Carmichael Road, died at his residence on Tuesday, 29th November 2022.

He is survived by his, daughter, Sarah Davis; sister, Patricia Thomas; and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and other relatives and friends

Plays and films board is created in Grand Bahama

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Bahama Plays and Films Control Board has been created as a regulatory body to approve and rate local productions for public viewing for audiences on the island.

Dr Ian Strachan, executive vice president of University of the Bahamas and campus president of UB North, serves as chairman of the board. He said the 14-member board is made up of actual artists and practitioners.

Since the appointment of the board last November, some six productions have been reviewed. The board hopes to see more work from artists in the performing arts, and even a new

cinema in Grand Bahama hopefully in the future.

“We want to let the wider community know we are here and working and we want to work with artists here on the island,” Dr Strachan said.

There is a Bahamas Plays

and Films Control Board in New Providence. Mr Strachan commended the government for also creating one for Grand Bahama.

“Grand Bahama has a rich and deep community of very serious artists in the performing arts, and it

is only right and fitting that this board be constituted to do the regulatory work that the Plays and Films Control Board does, which is largely to ensure that the right audience is identified for any given piece of performance,” he said.

Dr Strachan stated that this protects the artist and the audience.

“We want to note that the decision was made to constitute the board largely of actual artists and practitioners – people who know the field very well. They are not guessing and wondering. They are in fact people who stage plays who are involved in films, and they know the field,” he said.

Dr Strachan said persons who are interested in staging a play such as a

school, church, or someone who just wants to get into that field must reach out to the Plays and Films Control Board to ensure that it is properly rated for the public, and also to ensure that the space they are using is appropriate and safe to host a crowd of people, which is also under the auspices of the power of the board.

He noted that persons who are preparing for a production should submit their script about 30 days before the date of production.

“Our goal is to get back to them within 14 days or 21 days at the latest because we realise they start promoting their shows seven to 14 days out, and so they would want to know what the rating is so they can properly let

parents and adults know,” he explained.

Additionally, Dr Strachan said the board plans to hold workshops for writers, artists, and dramatists.

“We only want to see the industry and the orange economy grow. We do not want to see ourselves as a regulator, but also as (an entity) which encourages theatre arts,” he said.

The other board members are: Liselle Harris-Russell, vice chairman; Kerel Pinder, Remardo Russell, Dave Mackey, Cranston McDonald, Brion Roxbury, Geo Pierre, Alfred Anderson, Lisa Davis, Mark Gardiner, Tim Aylen, Monique Leary, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture cultural division representative, and Eustacia Smith.

Family flees amid Nigeria flooding

TABAWA, Nigeria Associated Press

WHEN the floodwaters reached Aisha Ali’s hut made of woven straw mats and raffia palms, she packed up what belongings she could and set off on foot with her eight youngest children.

Ali, 40, knew she and her family might never see their home again. In this remote village — in the Gashua part of Yobe state, a largely agricultural area in northeast Nigeria — poor infrastructure means annual flooding of excess water from the local river. Most villagers pay little attention to warning signs as the water rises. Dealing with floods is a way of life.

But this year, heavy rains inundated Nigeria and neighbouring countries in flooding the region hadn’t seen in at least a decade, due in large part to climate change. Ali and her husband knew this time was different. The water reached their home and started rising in the hut.

Ali and the children walked down a narrow, water-logged road. Her brother’s cart, pulled by cows, came up behind them. He agreed to take some of the children. Not all would fit.

Ali made a quick calculation. She figured the cart could get some of them to safety faster. She told five of her kids to get onboard. She and the others would follow by foot.

Nine-year-old twins Hassana and Husseina climbed in, with their headscarf and traditional green dresses flowing to their toes. Younger sisters Hauwa, eight, and Amina, five, followed. So did sevenyear-old brother Gambo. They chattered with excitement — a cart ride was a rare outing. Hassana smiled, glad Husseina was

beside her.

Ali assured her family they’d all be reunited soon. They said their farewells, and Ali continued down the road with three of her kids, ages 15, 6 and 3. The cart passed them and eventually disappeared from sight.

The flooding that began in June has become the deadliest in more than a decade, according to authorities of this West African nation. More than 600 have been killed. Thousands of homes are destroyed, along with farmland. More than 1.3 million people have been displaced.

The environmental crisis has unfolded alongside a humanitarian one: a decade-long conflict with roots in an extremist-pushed insurgency against the government. Violent attacks are common, especially in the north where the Islamic State-backed extremists now collaborate with armed groups of former herdsmen fighting communities over access to water and land. Flooding has made delivery of aid and supplies increasingly difficult.

Officials blame the floods on the release of excess water from Lagdo dam in Cameroon and higher-thannormal rainfall. No matter the cause, the effect in villages such as Tabawa has been widespread.

Families here already struggled. Ali, her husband and children received scant food aid from the local government. Power, potable water and passable roads were luxuries.

Authorities report that they’ve distributed relief items to affected families and have tried to evacuate some to displacement camps. But no such camps or efforts exist in Tabawa, population 1,000, or its surrounding towns.

For Ali, it meant taking her family from the only

home they’ve ever known.

“While the flood was trying to destroy things, we were trying to save ourselves,” she said.

Buba Mobe, 25, navigated his cart gingerly. The water had been waisthigh when the children left Tabawa and was getting higher. Stretches of low-lying road deepened the water in some pockets. More than two miles after passing Mobe picked them up, the cows came upon the deepest stretch yet. The cart tumbled and toppled over, spilling the children onto road and into the floodwaters.

They struggled to keep their heads above water. Mobe tried to save those closest to him, first plucking up Husseina and dropping her into a shallower area. He rushed back to get the others, but they’d disappeared underwater. He searched frantically but couldn’t see any movement in the water to trace them.

Mobe feared the worst — that four of the five kids his sister had entrusted him with were gone. Still, he rushed to find other villagers to aid in his search. By the time he returned with help, it was too late.

“When we found their bodies, they were already swollen,” Buba said.

Eventually Ali and her other children reached the scene. Husseina ran and clung to her mother. Ali found herself in shock, and all broke down in tears.

“I went to the dead bodies and touched their heads,” Ali remembers. “I rubbed their heads and thanked God for his mercies.”

She never imagined that the children in the cart would be in more danger than those walking on the road. But she took it as God’s will. “There was nothing I could do,” she said.

IRAN EXECUTES FIRST KNOWN PRISONER ARRESTED IN PROTESTS

IRAN Associated Press

IRAN said yesterday it executed a prisoner convicted for a crime allegedly committed during the country’s ongoing nationwide protests, the first such death penalty carried out by Tehran.

The execution of Mohsen Shekari comes as other detainees also face the possibility of the death penalty for their involvement in the protests, which began in mid-September, first as an outcry against Iran’s morality police. The protests have expanded into one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s theocracy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Activists warn that others could also be put to

death in the near future, saying that at least a dozen people so far have received death sentences over their involvement in the demonstrations.

The execution “must be met with strong reactions otherwise we will be facing daily executions of protesters,” wrote Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights.

“This execution must have rapid practical consequences internationally.”

The Mizan news agency, run by Iran’s judiciary, said Shekari had been convicted in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, which typically holds closed-door cases.

The tribunals have been internationally criticised for not allowing those on trial

to pick their own lawyers or even see the evidence against them.

Shekari was accused of blocking a street in Tehran and attacking with a machete a member of the security forces, who required stitches for his wounds, the agency said.

The Mizan report also alleged that Shekari said he had been offered money by an acquaintance to attack the security forces.

Iran’s government for months has been trying to allege — without offering evidence — that foreign countries have fomented the unrest. Protesters say they are angry over the collapse of the economy, heavy-handed policing and the entrenched power of the country’s Islamic clergy.

MEMBERS of the new Grand Bahama Plays and Films Control Board.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

The little team that could –and did

IT was a nail-biting, holdyour-breath moment that lasted for weeks on end. Would Team Bahamas – kids who had worked so hard to qualify and had their hopes pinned on faith -get the funding to go to Marseilles to participate in the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games?

For racing enthusiasts, the Motorsport Games were the event of the year, the Olympic of motor sport. At stake was the opportunity for a group of teens who had worked on patched up karts and trained in the broiling summer sun on an old drag racing strip to participate in the equivalent of the Olympics for racing enthusiasts? While teams from more than 70 other countries had far more advantages, Team Bahamas had heart. Their headquarters had been a makeshift tent, the closest thing to luxury in their practice run-ups were restrooms in an otherwise abandoned concrete structure. If a parent came to watch, they brought a folding chair.

Small donations trickled in. The Rotary Club of East Nassau, a long-standing partner of the edukarting programme, supported a participant, covering airfare for her and her mother, one of the group’s dedicated parents. The Bahamas Motor Sports Association and David McLaughlin, founder of the edu-karting programme, and Susan Schauff, who started as a parent supporter and stuck with it even after her own son went off to college and she became its face in The Bahamas, maxed out their credit cards.

And the team was on its way,

flying to London, then on to France, and when the opening ceremony began in what is dubbed the Olympics of Motor Sport, Team Bahamas waved the largest flag in the stadium. The only thing brighter and bigger was the smiles on team faces and the pride flag-bearer Ramando Hudson wore.

Team Bahamas did not win the karting competition, but the kids and their enthusiasm won the hearts of just about every single individual present. They formed a bond with Team Ukraine, both teams having fought so hard to

get to Marseilles experiencing moments, memories and friendships they will always cherish.

It does not much matter that Team Bahamas did not come first in the karting races. They won something that, in time, will be more important.

With 72 countries competing for a series of prizes, Team Bahamas made it to the top three in the category for the President’s Award for Diversity and Inclusion.

At a ceremony tonight, December 9, in Bologna, Italy, winners will be announced and awards will be given out and though members will not be present, Team Bahamas whether moving into the winning spot or just knowing they made it to the finals will be remembered as the little team that could – and did.

In front of 462 drivers, all their supporters, the crowds that gathered to watch Team Bahamas showed the world you don’t have to be rich so long as there is wealth in spirit and hope in your heart.

And a post script – how it all began

CONGRATULATIONS to McLaughlin, Schauff, to the Bahamas Motor Sports Association, to government for coming through and most especially to the kids who wore the Bahamian colours so proudly at the FIA Motorsports Games in Marseilles, showed compassion for their counterparts and competitors from Ukraine. Lest we forget, McLaughlin came to The Bahamas a decade ago to recreate some of the magic of the old Nassau Speed Week. He was the founder of Bahamas Speed Week Revival, an event that lasted three seasons. Now it’s rumoured there’s a move afoot to add the excitement and glamour of classic car racing to the Road to 50. It will shine a spotlight on The Bahamas.

On behalf of journalists everywhere

The death of Tribune Managing Editor Eugene Duffy earlier this week cast a shadow of sadness over the media. Duffy had been ill for about six months, but expected to return to his job following treatment at home in the UK. He did not make it back but he left a legacy, indoctrinating in his reporting staff the need to dig and dig deep and never stop until they got to the bottom. The surface, he said, was for the novice who wanted a job, not the journalist who wanted a career.

Not everyone in the news room took his hard driving way easily, but everyone learned from him.

Several left for easier jobs, especially with various government ministries where the hours may be longer and the need to produce on a regular basis an ongoing taskmaster, but the urgency to get to the bottom of the story is not part of the job. Duffy would have scoffed at such demands because they are demands on time, not on talent.

He hated to see good talent go untapped or underused. He would have said demand on presence is a world apart from demand on pursuit of the truth.

Duffy was hard, but he also had a wry sense of humour and he saw irony in just about everything that happened and in major events, a back story that needed to be told.

The world needs more journalists like Eugene Duffy. Says a colleague, “He was at his core an idealist who never lost faith in

his conviction that newspapers in particular could still make a real difference in the lives of their readers, even in -- and maybe especially in -- the age of the internet and smart phones. He could have become a hardened cynic. But he didn’t. Though he could look fierce and speak bluntly, he retained an enduring sentimentality.

A loyal man with a tender side, he deployed his tough exterior when it served a higher purpose. But that isn’t who he was at his core.”

We did not always agree on the issues, but we only bumped heads seriously twice, including once when he refused to run a

“Duffy was hard, but he also had a wry sense of humour and he saw irony in just about everything that happened and in major events, a back story that needed to be told.”

column I wrote. Out of more than 250, it was the only one he ever rejected.

Oddly enough, it was a remembrance of the passing of another tough media guy, Ivan Johnson, on the one-year anniversary of his passing.

The PLP came to power on September 17, 2021 and the Punch closed its doors a few weeks later after Johnson’s sudden death October 4.

I noted that while the

PM’s approval ratings were high and I fully understood why – Philip Davis is as likable and warm a leader as you could ever ask for – he also enjoyed a year without the Punch breathing down his neck, a freedom his predecessors had not enjoyed.

Duffy had no use for the Punch and he killed the column. There, the gist of the column got printed, Duffy, though I take no pleasure in it but want to remind all who read papers or get their news one way or another that journalists deserve to be recognized, thanked and appreciated far more than they are.

At every event my firm handles, and there are many, the media gets the loudest and longest thanks.

No one works harder than a journalist striving to reach the truth and tell the story.

Telling the story. That is what we do – or what I did that helped prepare me for what I do now in public relations.

As a reporter and as de facto bureau chief, I was on duty whenever news

broke. If I got a call in the middle of the night that there was a drug bust and I was the reporter the police department trusted to get it right, I would grab up my sleeping little daughter, lay her down on a blanket on the floor of the old El Camino truck I drove and head for the story.

Time was irrelevant – 2 am was no different from 2 pm if there was a story. At the end of a long and heated City Commission meeting, I dropped my

change into a payphone and dictated the story from the top of my head and the green lined steno notepad in my hand where I had jotted down important quotes word for word.

I had to get it right, the legislation that had been passed, the controversy explained, the count accurate and there was no time to write it, I spoke it into the phone and when the quarter ran out, I dropped in a dime.

Punctuation was full stop for period. New graf

for next paragraph. No one read the story back to me to check grammar. It was headed for cursory editing, a headline and slapped on to the pages for print.

There are still those out there dedicated to one of the most valuable professions in the world. God bless them and let us all have a little more respect for those who truly care about finding the truth and telling a story. Like the late Eugene Duffy.

EUGENE DUFFY

Puerto Rico defeats The Bahamas, 14-2

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Team Bahamas concluded the opening round of the Caribbean Baseball Cup with a 1-3 record and the no. 4 seed in the playoffs.

Last night the team suffered a 14-2 loss to Puerto Rico at the Andre Rodgers National Stadium.

Adari Grant led the way offensively 2-4 with RBI, run scored and a stolen base, Kristin Munroe was 1-4, with a run and Cherif Neymour finished 1-3 with an RBI.

Robin Haven pitched seven innings and surrendered two hits and seven walks with five strikeouts.

It was a back and forth game throughout until Cuba broke the game open in the later innings.

Haven got into early trouble walking two of his first three batters and giving up a sacrifice fly for the first run of the game.

He fought back to retire the side and struck out the final batter of the inning with two left in scoring position.

GRINER FREED: WNBA STAR SWAPPED FOR RUSSIAN, HEADS HOME

By ERIC TUCKER, MATTHEW LEE and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — American basketball star Brittney Griner headed home last night, freed from Russian prison in exchange for the United States releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in the culmination of an eight-month saga of high diplomacy and dashed hopes.

But the US failed to win freedom for another American, Paul Whelan, jailed in Russia for nearly four years. The deal, the second in eight months amid tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, secured the release of the most prominent American detained abroad and achieved a top goal for President Joe Biden. Yet it carried what US officials conceded was a heavy price.

“She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home,” Biden said from the White House, where he was accompanied by Griner’s wife, Cherelle, and administration officials.

Biden’s authorisation to release Bout, the Russian felon once nicknamed “the Merchant of Death,” underscored the heightened

Coaches discuss HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The 2022 HomeTown

Lenders’ Bahamas Bowl will have two very different headcoaching situations when the teams face off next weekend at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks head coach Chuck Martin is in his eighth year at the helm while newly appointed UAB Blazers head coach Trent Dilfer will be in the midst of the transition process to begin his tenure with the programme.

Martin said the December 16 matchup will be his second

trip to The Bahamas and his team eagerly anticipates the opportunity.

Kickoff is set for 11:30am in the first ever meeting between the two programmes and the game will be broadcast live by ESPN.

“We’re super excited to go to The Bahamas, we’re super excited to go to any bowl game, they are a blast. It’s a great reward for having a good season,” Martin said.

“I like going to bowl games where it’s warm, I don’t live where it’s warm. For a lot of these kids and a lot of these families, this will be a once in a lifetime experience. I’m sure some of our kids have been to The Bahamas but I’m sure the vast majority haven’t and

a lot of kids will never go back there so this is quite the reward for all of their hard work the last 11 months.”

Both teams enter the game with a 6-6 regular season record.

“The first bowl game we went to, it was like Mardi Gras around here,” Martin said. “Now, we’re

Which new stars can replace Messi, Ronaldo after World Cup?

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer

DOHA, Qatar (AP) —

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not ready to say goodbye to the World Cup just yet.

But the clock is ticking on their careers and Qatar could be the last time we see them on soccer’s biggest stage.

With that in mind, thoughts naturally turn to a new generation and life beyond two men who have dominated the sport for the past 15 years, sharing 12 Ballon d’Or awards for best player in the world and nine Champions League trophies between them.

Theirs are big shoes to fill and, to their legions of fans, each one stands alone as the greatest of all time.

So if separating Messi and Ronaldo has been difficult enough, imagine replacing

KYLIAN MBAPPE

them. But life — and sport — moves on and the World Cup is the perfect stage for a new breed of would-be superstars to showcase their talent.

One name stands out above all as the natural heir to the big two: Kylian Mbappe. “I think we still have not seen the best of Kylian,” said France

teammate Olivier Giroud. “He is amazing and he is still young, which is scary because he still can improve his game.”

Not that Mbappe could be described as “new.” He may only be 23 and still waiting for his first Ballon d’Or or Champions League trophy, but Mbappe is already a World Cup winner and the leading scorer at this tournament with five goals.

He has the trophy Messi and Ronaldo crave — and in a week or so, could have two of them.

Mbappe could also have two or three more World Cups left in him, and, with nine goals over two tournaments so far, he is closing in on Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 at the finals.

Qatar feels like a passing of the torch to the Paris

6-6 and going to the Bahamas Bowl, and it’s not good enough, but the coaches and players stuck together and stuck together and stuck together and stuck together, and now we get what will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That’s quite a reward.”

Dilfer was announced as the Blazers head coach on November 30. He plans to act in a supporting role while the programme is in transition away from former head coach Bryant Vincent.

“I’m going to serve this coaching staff, until they’re gone, and I mean that. I told coach Vincent today, ‘You have a project, put me on it. You got something you need me to do to help you guys win this bowl game, I’m in.’ I’m here

to support them.” Dilfer said. “I am going to be in The Bahamas for the bowl game. I plan on serving coach Vincent and this staff any way I can. I mean that. He is the head coach. I’m here to support him in the transition, to serve these young men, to serve this staff. I’m not joking, if they send me on coffee runs, I’ll go on coffee runs…I want to help them finish strong. I also hope to earn their trust as we go through this together, because great things are coming.”

The RedHawks have seven All-MAC selections, including linebacker Matthew Salopek, who will make his second trip to

Enrique replaced as Spain coach after World Cup exit

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Luis Enrique was replaced by Luis de la Fuente as Spain’s coach yesterday, two days after the national team was eliminated in the round of 16 at the World Cup.

Spain lost to Morocco 3-0 in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw in regular and extra time.

The Spanish soccer federation thanked Luis Enrique, but said it was time to “start a new project” to keep the growth achieved by the coach in recent years. It said the change was made after a recommendation by its sporting officials.

Luis Enrique said he was thankful to his players while he was in charge,

LUIS DE LA FUENTE

as well as to federation president Luis Rubiales.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help more,” the outgoing coach said in a statement posted on Twitter and Instagram. “It was very special to be part of this.”

He also thanked fans and called for their support to the new coach.

“What the national team needs is support, in all its meaning, so Luis de la Fuente can achieve the goals.”

The 61-year-old De la Fuente, a former left back with Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao, helped Spain’s under-19 squad win the European Championship in 2015, and the under21 team win Euro 2019. He also coached Spain’s squad, which won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

De la Fuente had coached the senior national team once, when youth players were used in a friendly against Lithuania because the main squad had to go into isolation because of the coronavirus.

In the second, Munroe doubled down the left field line and was plated by a Grant RBI single.

Neymour followed with an RBI single of his own to score Grant and tie the game 2-2.

The Bahamas had an opportunity to go ahead in the third but squandered a runner in scoring position

with no outs. Daunte Stuart led off the inning

VICTORY SWEET - Puerto Rico’s national baseball team players celebrate after beating Team Bahamas 14-2 last night in the 2022 Caribbean Baseball Cup at the new Andre Rodgers National Stadium. Photo: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

Messi resumes World Cup quest as Argentina plays Netherlands

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer

DOHA, Qatar (AP) —

Lionel Messi up against Virgil van Dijk. The youngest coach at the World Cup taking on the oldest. South America versus Europe. A back catalog of famous meetings.

The quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands 2pm this afternoon has all the ingredients of a classic.

And the possibility of it being Messi’s final game on soccer’s biggest stage just adds to the anticipation.

The seven-time world player of the year is three wins away from achieving his ultimate dream but he has two people, in particular, blocking his path.

First, the not inconsiderable frame of Van Dijk, who has been one of the world’s best defenders over the past five years.

If there’s anyone able to stop Messi on one of his trademark dribbles, it is the graceful Liverpool centre back who combines pace with a great reading of the game.

And then there’s Louis van Gaal, the wily tactician who is 71, has recently undergone successful treatment for prostate cancer, and is now plotting to win the World Cup in perhaps the final job of his 26-year coaching career.

Van Gaal, who has long been one of the most charismatic characters in soccer, is approaching this task with a lot of fun — even on the eve of one of the biggest matches of his career.

On Thursday, he was told that Angel Di Maria, who plays for Argentina, thinks he is the worst coach he has ever played under following their time together

at Manchester United in 2014-15.

Van Gaal said it was a pity Di Maria felt this way — “he is one of the few players to have said that,” he remarked, “as usually it is the other way round” — and added he once had a falling-out with Netherlands captain Memphis Depay, who was sitting next to him.

“Now we kiss each other,” Van Gaal said, leaning toward Depay with his arms out.

Van Gaal was also asked how he was planning to stop Messi — a question for which many coaches down the years have failed to come up with an answer.

“It’d be pretty stupid to reveal your own tactics,” he said, smiling.

“But it’s not that difficult to come up with any answer. You could have come up with an answer yourself. You may want to block and close the passing lines. Am I right, Memphis?”

As for his Argentina counterpart, the 44-yearold Lionel Scaloni is a comparative novice after taking charge of his country in 2018 for his first senior coaching role.

Still, he has already led Argentina to the Copa America title last year — the country’s first major trophy since 1993 — and has managed to steady his team after a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in its opening group game.

While Van Gaal was predicting a tight match that will be settled by a “decisive moment,” Scaloni said it will be a “beautiful game because we are talking about two national teams willing to attack but who can also defend.”

It’s set to be a clash of styles between two of

soccer’s historic powerhouses, with Argentina — a two-time champion — preferring to play a possession game and the Dutch — three times a beaten finalist — now typically playing on the counterattack under Van Gaal.

They have met in some high-profile World Cup games, none bigger than the 1978 final won by Argentina on home soil.

There was also a last16 match in 1998, won by the Netherlands thanks

to a wonderful 90thminute goal by Dennis Bergkamp, and then a penalty-shootout win by Argentina in the semifinals in 2014.

Messi played in that game and was kept relatively quiet by a team also coached by Van Gaal.

Eight years later, Messi is still Argentina’s star player and put in his best performance in this World Cup in the 2-1 win over Australia in the round of 16. “The tournament is starting

tomorrow for us, for real,” Van Gaal said. “Although I don’t want to downplay the importance of the other countries we have beaten, Argentina and then potentially Brazil in the next round are different countries than those we played up to now.”

Scaloni was pressed on the fitness of midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who might be a doubt according to some reports in the Argentine media, but gave little away.

Brazil wants to keep dancing against Croatia

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Brazil wants to keep the dancing going at the World Cup when it faces Croatia on Friday with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

The Brazilians have made it clear they will not back from their goal celebrations in Qatar despite criticism by some.

“It’s part of the Brazilian culture,” Brazil coach Tite said Thursday. “It’s not about disrespecting our opponents. It’s just who we are.”

Tite himself was dancing with his players after Brazil scored in the 4-1 win against South Korea in the round of 16 on Monday. Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane was among those criticizing the Brazilians for their dancing.

Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior also promised more dancing if Brazil keeps succeeding.

“The goal is the most important moment in soccer, not only for those who score them but for the entire country,” said Vinícius Júnior, who had already been criticized for his dances while with Real Madrid. “We still have

many celebrations left, and hopefully we can keep scoring and dancing like this until the final.”

Brazilian players had said before the tournament started that they had several goal celebrations prepared ahead of time.

To keep dancing, though, Brazil will have to get past a tough Croatia side that is led by Luka Modric and trying to return to the World Cup final four years after falling short of the title against France.

“We want to do more,” Modric said.

“We must not be satisfied only with reaching the quarterfinals. We know that we have a strong opponent ahead of us. We have our own strengths and we have faith in ourselves.”

Modric knows some of the Brazilians well, as he plays with Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Éder Militão at Madrid, which also had Casemiro in the squad until recently.

Vinícius Júnior said Modric was a reference for him, and that he learned a lot from the 37-year-old veteran midfielder.

“It’s very nice to hear Vini compliment me. He is a great guy and we have a very strong relationship,” Modric said.

“He’s made progress since joining Real Madrid and has been showing that at the World Cup. We have a difficult task to try to stop him.

If I can give my teammates a tip or two on how to neutralize him and on how to make his job more difficult, of course I’ll do it.”

Like Brazil, Croatia conceded only twice so far at the World Cup. The team defeated Canada 4-1 before 0-0 draws against Morocco and Belgium in the group stage.

Croatia drew 1-1 with Japan in extra time in

the round of 16, eventually winning in a penalty shootout.

Four of the last five matches by Croatia at World Cups have gone to extra time. The national team has been successful in seven of its last nine knockout matches at the tournament.

“They have great quality and a lot of resiliency,” Tite said. “Brazil will try to keep doing what has worked so far, and then we’ll see which team can advance.”

Brazil is looking for the team’s first victory over a European team in the

knockout stage of the World Cup since the South Americans’ win against Germany in the 2002 final.

Brazil opened this tournament with wins over Serbia and Switzerland before losing to Cameroon with the team’s reserve squad in its final group game.

The Seleção dominated from the start in its win against South Korea in the last 16.

Neymar, another Brazilian who celebrated by dancing, is set to start again after returning to the lineup against South Korea following a right ankle injury sustained in the opening win against Serbia.

Danilo, who also had been nursing an ankle injury, was expected to start as well, but left back Alex Sandro, who was returning from a hip injury, isn’t likely to be in the mix against Croatia.

Brazil will be playing in its eighth straight World Cup quarterfinal, and 14th overall — joint-most with Germany.

The national team has lost three of its last four quarterfinal appearances, and was embarrassed as the host nation in the 2014 semifinal in a 7-1 defeat to Germany.

WHICH NEW STARS CAN REPLACE MESSI AND RONALDO?

Saint-Germain forward, who combines mesmerizing footwork with devastating speed and clinical finishing, which are the qualities that set Messi and Ronaldo apart for so long.

But to match their powers of longevity, perhaps what Mbappe requires most, is a rival to push him to greater heights.

Would Messi or Ronaldo have reached such feats of excellence without the other one driving them on?

The most obvious challenge to Mbappe right now comes from Erling Haaland, the Manchester City goal machine whose country, Norway, didn’t qualify for the World Cup.

He is a different prospect: raw power and goals, without the finesse or individual skills of Mbappe. But if it is about numbers, Haaland has the potential to go toeto-toe with him in terms of European trophies and scoring.

The World Cup has provided less obvious competition for Mbappe.

England’s Jude Bellingham represents a different profile of player, but his dominant midfield performances have driven his country to the quarterfinals where it will meet defending champion France.

“I love playing with him, he’s young, he’s energetic, he gets around the pitch really well,” said teammate Declan Rice. “For every game that I’ve played with him so far, I’ve just said to him: This is your stage, go out and perform.”

Elsewhere, Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo has three goals and has enhanced his reputation after being linked with a transfer to Manchester United in the summer. But he is playing his club football in the Dutch league with PSV Eindhoven, so still has work to do to be considered among the elite players.

“Things can change, but Cody has everything it takes to become a star,” said Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal. “He has a wonderful personality to become a star player because he is openminded to anything and everything.”

Portugal’s Joao Felix is yet to fulfil his potential at Atletico Madrid, but has shown flashes of the talent that saw him identified as a star of the future when emerging at Benfica. He has the type of individual, game-changing qualities to see him stand out from the pack, while the chance step out of Ronaldo’s shadow for his country could help his development.

Meanwhile, Felix’ Portugal teammate Goncalo Ramos has suddenly thrust himself into focus after his hat trick against Switzerland in the round of 16 when replacing Ronaldo in the line up.

Vinicius Junior, 22, is emerging as a force for Brazil and a potential successor to Neymar as his country’s next icon.

“He’s made progress since joining Real Madrid and has been showing that at the World Cup,” said Real Madrid clubmate Luka Modric.

Argentina’s Julian Alvarez looks like a natural goal scorer.

to Japan before being held by Morocco.

Other candidates who had been considered besides De la Fuente, who was Spain’s under-21 coach, included former Belgium manager Roberto Martínez and former Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelino García Toral.

Spain got off to a good start in Qatar, routing Costa Rica 7-0, but La Roja couldn’t win again in its last three matches. It drew 1-1 with Germany and lost 2-1

Luis Enrique took over the national team in 2018 to start revamping the squad after its elimination in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Russia. He temporarily left because of the illness and eventual death of his young daughter, but returned in 2019. He helped Spain reach the last four of the Nations League twice, including this season and last year, when it lost the final to France.

He also led Spain to the semifinals of the European Championship last year, losing to Italy in a penalty shootout.

Luis Enrique’s contract ended after the World Cup. The former Barcelona player and coach had said moments after the loss to Morocco that he would take some time to rest before starting talks with the federation about his future. He said he would have liked to stay with the national team “forever,”

but knew that it might not be possible.

The 52-year-old Luis Enrique, not long ago seen as one of the most uptight coaches in soccer, had opened up at the World Cup, doing streaming sessions, going on bicycle rides and talking frankly about controversial issues.

The team’s elimination in Qatar raised more questions about whether Spain should start overhauling its soccer philosophy and get rid of the “tiki-taka”

ball-possession style that has not produced results recently. Luis Enrique had said he wasn’t planning to relinquish the “tiki-taka” if he remained as coach, and De la Fuente also is likely to keep it alive.

De la Fuente is expected to make his debut with the senior team when Spain resumes playing in qualifying for Euro 2024 in March next year.

The federation was also changing its sporting director.

Germany’s Jamal Musiala is seen as his country’s big hope, while Spain midfield pair Gavi and Pedri are bringing back memories of the country’s all-conquering partnership of Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

But in terms of impact, influence and star appeal, none can compare to Mbappe.

Of course, Messi and Ronaldo are not done yet.

And who would put it past either one of them to add one more winning chapter to their story at this World Cup?

ARGENTINA’s Lionel Messi dribbles the ball during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Australia at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, December 3. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

CROATIA’s Luka Modric smiles during a news conference on the eve of the quarterfinal World Cup soccer match between Croatia and Brazil, in Doha, Qatar, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Adebayo, Butler lift Heat past

Kawhi-less Clippers 115-110

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo had 31 points and 10 rebounds, Jimmy Butler added 26 points and the Miami Heat held off the Los Angeles Clippers 115110 last night.

Tyler Herro scored 19 and Caleb Martin finished with 17 for the Heat. Butler scored Miami’s final eight points.

Paul George finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Clippers, who went 0-2 on their Florida swing after falling in overtime at Orlando on Wednesday.

Reggie Jackson scored 20 for the Clippers, while Nic Batum and Marcus Morris Sr each added 11.

The Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard — he’s now missed 20 of 27 games this season — on the second night of a back-to-back, part of the ongoing plan for managing his right knee issues. For Miami, starting point guard Kyle Lowry was out for the first time this season, given a game off for rest,

and backup point guard Gabe Vincent (left knee) remained sidelined.

“You’ve just got to try to do what you can do to stay afloat, and the mindset you’ve got to have and the culture you set is no matter who’s on the floor, you’ve got to think you can win the game,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “That’s been our mindset since I’ve been here.”

The win was the 672nd for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, tying him with Mike D’Antoni for 21st on the NBA’s career list.

There were 25 lead changes and 11 ties in a game that was close all the way to the end, until Butler took over in the final moments.

Butler passed up a layup and found Max Strus in the left corner for a 3-pointer that put Miami up by six. And about a minute later, Herro made a 3-pointer for a 107-100 lead, the biggest for Miami on the evening to that point.

“We gave Jimmy the ball, and let him do his thing down the stretch,” Adebayo said.

final seconds of overtime in the Clippers’ 116-111 loss at Orlando on Wednesday. ... The Clippers are 5-2 with Leonard and 9-11 without him.

Heat: Miami outscored the Clippers 22-6 off turnovers. ... Martin’s 16-point second quarter was the third-most points in a quarter by a Heat player this season. Strus had 19 against Boston in the third quarter on Nov. 30, and Adebayo had an 18-point first quarter against Washington on Nov. 25. ... With Lowry and Vincent sidelined, two-way player Dru Smith made his first career start. He’s now the 201st player to start a game for Miami.

BACK AND FORTH

From the 9:36 mark of the second quarter to the 4:21 mark of the fourth, a stretch of 29:15 in all, neither team had more than a six-point lead.

SOCCER VISITOR

U.S.

the

SHAMAR BURROWS EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOURS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SHAMAR Burrows concluded the first semester of the Atlantic University Sport basketball season with a conference-wide honour.

Burrows was named the AUS Subway Player of the Week for the week ending December 4.

The fourth year Dalhousie Tigers guard stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in the Tigers’ 83-53 win over the Acadia Axemen.

Burrows is currently the conference leader in steals with 23 on the season. He scored three field goals

GRINER

FROM PAGE 11

urgency that his administration faced to get Griner home, particularly after the recent resolution of her criminal case on drug charges and her subsequent transfer to a penal colony. Griner, who also played pro basketball in Russia, was arrested at an airport there after Russian authorities said she was carrying vape canisters with cannabis oil. Griner is a twotime Olympic gold

in an opening 10-1 run and led 26-10 at the end of the first. They continued to lead 43-32 at the half and 79-43 headed into the fourth quarter.

Dalhousie will be off for the next few weeks until they return on December 29 at the Rod and Joan Shoveller Memorial tournament. Their next regular season game will be January 7 against Memorial.

The Tigers continue to be ranked No. 10 in Canada’s U Sports men’s basketball poll at 6-3.

Burrows is averaging 14.9 points and a team-leading 7.7 rebounds per game thus far this season.

The Dalhousie Gazette profiled Burrows’ emergence in a

medallist, Baylor University All-American and Phoenix Mercury pro basketball star, whose arrest made her the most highprofile American jailed abroad.

Her status as an openly gay black woman, locked up in a country where authorities have been hostile to the LBGTQ community, injected racial, gender and social dynamics into her legal saga and brought unprecedented attention to the population of wrongful detainees.

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the

swap, saying in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that the exchange took place in Abu Dhabi and that Bout had been flown home.

Russian media showed Griner walking off a Russian plane in Abu Dhabi where she was greeted by a US official. Two Russians greeted Bout with a hug.

Later, Russian TV showed Bout walking off the plane on a snow-covered tarmac in Moscow, his mother and wife hugging him, giving him flowers.

Biden spoke by phone with Griner, and she was

leadership role with the programme following the departure of its two leading scorers from last season. He credited head coach Rick Plato’s free flowing offence for a breakout junior season.

“Coach Plato [gave] me more leeway to play the game that I like to play,” Burrows said.

“Being a veteran and coming to understanding the plays more, understanding how systems work, the defensive scheme, it gave me the opportunity to actually blossom.”

The Tigers concluded their 2021-22 season with an AUS championship and fifth place finish overall at the U Sports Men’s Basketball Final 8.

expected back in the US within 24 hours, Biden said.

US officials said she would be offered specialised medical services and counselling.

Both Russian and US officials had conveyed cautious optimism in recent weeks after months of strained negotiations, with Biden saying in November that he was hopeful that Russia would engage in a deal now that the midterm elections were completed.

A top Russian official said last week that a deal was possible before year’s

end. Even so, the fact that the deal was a one-forone swap was a surprise given that US officials had for months expressed their determination to bring home both Griner and Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive jailed in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that his family and the US government have said are baseless.

“We’ve not forgotten about Paul Whelan,” Biden said.

“We will keep negotiating in good faith for Paul’s release.”

Undefeated: Mt Carmel Cavaliers earn 40-21 victory over New Horizon

COACH Wilton Johnson and his Mt Carmel Preparatory Academy Cavaliers senior boys’ basketball team once again earned their place in the win column yesterday. In the early game of the slate Thursday, the Cavaliers were able to stay undefeated with a 3-0 record as they cruised to a 40-21 victory over New Horizon Christian Academy.

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

HOLDEN BEATS BUZZER WITH 3, NO. 25 OHIO STATE EDGES RUTGERS

By JACOB BENGE Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Tanner Holden made a 3-pointer as time expired to give No. 25 Ohio State a 67-66 victory over Rutgers 67-66 last night.

Rutgers’ Clifford Omoruyi blocked Brice Sensbaugh’s shot with nine seconds left, and the Scarlet Knights led by three with seven seconds to go.

Bruce Thornton made a pair of free throws to pull the Buckeyes within one with five seconds left, and Caleb McConnell then made of one of two for Rutgers.

Thornton assisted on Holden’s winner — his lone basket of the game.

Zed Key had 22 points and 14 rebounds for Ohio State (7-2, 1-0 Big Ten).

Omoruyi scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half for Rutgers (6-3, 1-1). Aundre Hyatt added 13 points and Cam Spencer had 11.

STATUS REPORT

Guards Eugene Brown III and Isaac Likekele were unavailable for the Buckeyes. Brown remains in concussion protocol and Likekele is tending to a personal matter.

BIG PICTURE

Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights gave up field goals at a 46% clip, just a game after holding then-No. 10 Indiana to 30.4% in a 63-48 victory Saturday. Ohio State:

with

and strikeout to end the inning.

Puerto Rico went ahead for good in the fourth inning and scored 12 unanswered runs, including seven in the top of the ninth inning.

The Bahamas is slated to face no.1 overall seed Puerto Rico in a

rematch at 7pm on Saturday night.

The winner will qualify two teams for the Central American and Caribbean Games 2023.

The event is scheduled for June 23 to July 8 in El Salvador. Curaçao is the defending champion. They

defeated Cuba in the final of the third edition. Cuba has already qualified for the Central American and Caribbean Games.

Cuba and Curaçao will square off in the first semifinal on Saturday at 2pm.

TIP-INS Clippers: Lue is one win away from tying fellow former NBA player Kevin McHale (232) for 93rd on

coaching list. ... G-F Terance Mann has entered the NBA’s concussion protocols and missed the game. Mann got hurt in the

men’s soccer star Christian Pulisic, who figured in all three American goals in their four games at the World Cup — one goal and two assists — was in attendance.

HEAT forward Jimmy Butler, right, takes a shot against Clippers centre Ivica Zubac during the first half last night in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Without assists leader Likekele, Thornton spread the ball around and had five assists. The Buckeyes managed 14 assists.

SHAMAR BURROWS

ON THE REPLAY - Team Bahamas (national baseball team) suffered a 14-2 loss to Puerto Rico at the new Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium last night.

Photo: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

a double down the line, and advanced to third on a Knowles sacrifice bunt. However, he was left stranded on third after a groundout

COACH Wilton Johnson

Coaches discuss HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl

FROM PAGE 11

The Bahamas. “I went when I was young, about 10-11 years old and we went there off a cruise ship,” Salopek said.

“It’s a very beautiful place, very beautiful vacation destination for a lot of people. It was awesome from what I remember.”

In the 2017 Bahamas Bowl, the Blazers suffered a 41-6 loss to the Ohio Bobcats.

The Miami offence is led by dual threat quarterback Aveon Smith who threw for 1,137 yards with nine touchdowns and also ran for 503 yards and six touchdowns.

Miami’s defence will be keen on stopping the Blazers’ DeWayne McBride,

the nation’s leading rusher, who has been named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year.

McBride had the greatest single season in school history for a running back, setting multiple programme records for rushing yards (1,713), yards per game (155.7), rushing touchdowns (19), yards per carry (7.35), 100-yard games (10), 200-yard games (3), total points (114) and multi-rushing touchdowns games (5).

UAB had 10 All-Conference USA selections.

The 2022 HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl is one of 17 college bowl games owned and operated by ESPN. For more information on bowl week, visit: BahamasBowl.com

MAYFIELD RALLIES RAMS PAST RAIDERS IN FINAL MINUTE, 17-16

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

INGLEWOOD, Calif.

(AP) — Baker Mayfield threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson with 10 seconds to play to cap a 98-yard drive, and the Los Angeles Rams’ brand-new quarterback led two TD drives late in the fourth quarter of a shocking 17-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders last night.

Just two days after the Rams (4-9) claimed Mayfield off waivers from Carolina, the former No. 1 pick went 22 of 35 for 230 yards and snapped the defending Super Bowl champions’ six-game losing streak in dramatic fashion.

Los Angeles trailed 16-3 after Daniel Carlson’s third field goal with 12:20 to play, but Mayfield engineered a 75-yard drive capped by Cam Akers’ TD run with 3:19 to play.

The Los Angeles defence stopped Derek Carr and the Raiders at the 2-minute warning, but AJ Cole dropped a 64-yard punt at the Rams 2. Undaunted and with no timeouts, Mayfield led the Rams downfield — with ample help from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Raiders’ Jerry Tillery for knocking the ball out of the quarterback’s hands after a play.

The Rams reached the Vegas 23 with 15 seconds left, and Mayfield promptly found Jefferson in the back corner of the end zone. The drive included a contested 32-yard reception by Ben Skowronek, who finished with seven catches for 89 yards. Josh Jacobs rushed for 99 yards and the only

touchdown for the Raiders (5-8), whose three-game winning streak ended in humiliating fashion. Less than four weeks after Las Vegas lost in former ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday’s NFL coaching debut with Indianapolis, the Raiders lost to a quarterback who joined his new team less than 48 hours before the game.

Carr passed for 137 yards with no TDs and two interceptions, including a game-icing pick at midfield.

Coach Sean McVay swiftly turned over his offence to Mayfield instead of backups John Wolford and Bryce Perkins, who have both been ineffective in place of injured Matthew Stafford in recent weeks.

Mayfield was having a terrible season for the Panthers, but he improbably injected a spark into the Rams with a handful of big plays and decent drives despite minimal knowledge of McVay’s offence.

With McVay apparently giving detailed instructions into his helmet before each play, Mayfield immediately got the Rams moving with three completions of at least 20 yards in his first two series. Los Angeles had only 26 such completions in its first 12 games — thirdfewest in the NFL.

And once he was warmed up, Mayfield completed 15 of his 20 passes in the fourth quarter, flawlessly directing his new teammates downfield for two scores.

Jacobs punched it in to cap the Raiders’ opening drive, and the running back got a whopping 18 carries in the first half while Vegas attempted to grind down the Rams.

UAB Blazers’ Trent Dilfer.

REDHAWKS’ Chuck Martin.

RAIDERS wide receiver Davante Adams (17) makes a one-handed catch as Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey defends during the first half last night.

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)