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BEHIND BARS Nygard in jail after US cops strike

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE US Department of Justice charged Peter Nygard yesterday with sex trafficking and racketeering offences, unsealing a ninepage indictment that accuses the wealthy fashion mogul of sweeping criminal conduct involving minors and others.

The US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York said in a statement that Mr Nygard was taken into custody on Monday in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada by Canadian authorities at the request of US officials.

SEE PAGE THREE

‘CHINA USED BTC NETWORK TO SPY’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A “SERIOUS investigation” was demanded yesterday into allegations that China has exploited the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) mobile phone network to spy on US citizens.

BTC, which is 49 percent owned by the Government, told Tribune Business in a statement it was “carefully reviewing” claims - first

published in the Guardian newspaper in the UK - that state-owned Chinese communications providers had used its systems to conduct surveillance on Americans roaming on their mobile phones in The Bahamas.

“Across all the markets where Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) operates, including The Bahamas, we continuously monitor our networks and have robust security policies and protocols in place to protect the data of our customers. We take our commitment to data protection seriously, and are carefully reviewing the information in the Guardian article,” BTC said.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

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THE RIGHT VOICES NEED TO BE IN THE ROOM

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Wednesday, December 16, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

BRINGING A LITTLE EXTRA SUNSHINE FOR CHRISTMAS

SUNSHINE Finance has adopted the front area space of the Princess Margaret Hospital for the second year in a row. This year, they continue to “Spread the Christmas Sunshine” by having a tree lighting ceremony yesterday. Hospital administrator Mary Walker is pictured left thanking the Sunshine team.

Photos: Donovan McIntosh

Charities seeing a drop in donations as economy hurts

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A NUMBER OF local charities are seeing a drop in donations compared with last year as people are unable to give due to the country’s economic state.

While COVID-19 has dealt a blow to people’s pockets the Salvation Army said it also had a challenge rolling out their annual Christmas Kettles, according to the Divisional Commander Major Clarence Ingram.

“What we’re having a challenge with is we started (our) Christmas Kettles later because of COVID19. So normally we would start around the 20th of November. This year we started the 1st of December and the last numberts we had were about $10,000 less than we had last year but you know we’ll see how things go this week.”

BISHOP WALTER HANCHELL He added: “We recognise that the economy being what it is not as many people can support as they would’ve or as strongly as they would’ve in previous years. So, we recognise that this is a difficult time and people are sharing as best they can with their neighbour...we do the best we can with what we receive.”

Bishop Walter Hanchell, chairman of Great Commission Ministries, noted donations are down about 15-20 percent compared

to the previous year and appealed to the public to give.

He said: “There are a lot of persons now that are losing their homes ….Extra funds are needed just to accommodate them either into one of our shelters or into a hotel but there are a lot of people on the streets and we have to take steps to make sure that they find a bed to sleep in and have a warm bed and a hot meal.

“The Lord is faithful and trying to do the best that we could but we do need more help and I want to recommend that all of those who could, speaking about businesses and some churches and some individuals who are in a position to assist, that they would stop by Great Commission and make a donation and not just for the Christmas holiday but we like for some folks to make a monthly donation of whatever amount.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 16, 2020, PAGE 3

Nygard in jail after US cops strike from page one Mr Nygard’s alleged conduct, the Southern District of New York said, arises “out of a decades-long pattern of criminal conduct involving at least dozens of victims in the United States, The Bahamas and Canada, among other locations.”

The indictment represents the gravest legal threat the long-time Lyford Cay resident has ever faced and it comes months after a class action lawsuit was filed in New York accusing him of raping numerous women, many of them Bahamians.

The assertions in yesterday’s indictment largely mirror the allegations in the lawsuit.

Mr Nygard has been charged with one count of racketeering, one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, three counts of sex trafficking of a minor and by force, fraud or coercion, one count of transportation of a minor for purpose of prostitution, two counts of transportation for purpose of prostitution and one count of transportation for purpose of prostitution and illegal sexual activity.

The indictment said Mr Nygard “and others known and unknown, including employees of the Nygard Group, used company funds, employees, resources, and influence to recruit, entice, transport, harbour and maintain adult and minor-aged female victims for Nygard’s sexual gratification and, on occasion, the gratification of Nygard’s personal friends and business associates by, among other things, sex trafficking, interstate and international transport for purposes of engaging in prostitution and other illegal sexual activities, and related offences.

“Nygard, and others known and unknown, including employees of the Nygard Group, used force, fraud, and coercion to cause women to engage in commercial sex with Nygard and others, and to remain with Nygard against their will. Nygard, and others known and unknown, including employees of the Nygard Group, have engaged in obstructive conduct aimed at preventing witnesses from reporting Nygard’s sexual crimes.”

Prosecutors allege that Mr Nygard and his associates “targeted women and minor-aged girls who came from disadvantaged economic backgrounds and/ or or who had a history of abuse”.

They further allege that the purpose of Mr Nygard and his co-conspirators was to use his business, reputation and resources to conceal their racketeering activities. They allege that the activities took place “at least in or about 1995, up to and including in or about 2020”.

Prosecutors claim that Mr Nygard and his coconspirators forcibly sexually assaulted, drugged and coerced people into sexual contact with him,

including minors.

They allege that Mr Nygard would “use the ruse of modelling and other fashion industry jobs or other career advancement in order to lure victims” into his orbit and keep them there.

Nygard Group employees would allegedly organise “pamper parties” and other “victim-recruitment events” in places like The Bahamas, prosecutors say.

These parties would offer spa-like services and free food and alcohol to guests.

“Corporate travel employees of the Nygard Group and other Nygard Group resources, including a private plane,” would be used to “arrange interstate and international travel for ‘girlfriends’ and other victims. Nygard Group employees kept records of these travel itineraries and of travel documents for ‘girlfriends’ and other victims, including copies of adult victims’ passports and, in at least one case, a copy of a minor victim’s passport,” they claim.

Nygard Group employees were allegedly used to control access to Mr Nygard’s properties, including by refusing to let women and girls leave without Mr Nygard’s approval.

Employees and funds were also allegedly used to “garner good publicity and to quash negative publicity related to allegations that Nygard raped or assaulted women and girls”.

Prosecutors allege that employees and funds were used to “intimidate, threaten and corruptly persuade individuals who alleged that Nygard was engaged in sexual assault and sex trafficking in the United States, Bahamas, Canada and elsewhere, including by paying witnesses for false statements and affidavits; threatening witnesses with arrest, jail, prosecution, civil litigation, and reputational harm; and attempting to cause reputational harm and discredit potential witnesses by disseminating false or embarrassing information”.

The indictment alleges that Mr Nygard engaged in sexual swaps “with male friends and businesses associates.” Such people would allegedly bring Mr Nygard a “date” for sex in exchange for access to one of Nygard’s “girlfriends” for sex. “‘Girlfriends’ were not consulted in advance that they would be traded for sex and Nygard often pressured them to comply with such swaps at his direction through manipulation, intimidation, degradation and threats,” prosecutors claim.

They also claim that Mr Nygard “maintained control over his victims through threats, promises to grant or withhold modelling opportunities and other career advancement, granting and withholding of financial support, and by other coercive means, including constant surveillance, restrictions of movement, and physical isolation”.

PETER Nygard outside court previously in Nassau and, right, how The Tribune reported six claims of sex attacks by Mr Nygard.

Mr Nygard stepped down from Nygard International in February after authorities raided his Los Angeles home and headquarters in New York. The New York Times reported that month that federal officials had been investigating allegations of sexual assault involving him for at least five months.

The Tribune exclusively reported last year that six women had made formal complaints to Bahamian police concerning Mr Nygard. These were the first documented allegations of sexual misconduct

made against him.

In February, Assistant Commissioner of Police Solomon Cash, then the head of the Central Detective Unit, said the allegations were still under investigation.

That month, National Security Minister Marvin Dames said local police will investigate the claims that Mr Nygard concealed his alleged sexual crimes by bribing local law

enforcement officials. The status of the local investigations is unknown.

Ken Frydman, a spokesman for Mr Nygard, said “no comment” when contacted yesterday.

BROADCASTING CORPORATION STAFF WALK OUT OVER MONEY

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

STAFF at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas briefly walked off the job yesterday in what was said to be a protest over money owed to them.

The action was also meant to show solidarity to a colleague who was suspended after being “provoked” by his supervisor, The Tribune was told.

The employees’ action affected ZNS’ Morning Edition telecast with

viewers who tuned in not seeing the programme as expected.

Two managers, who would not normally be in at the time of the walkout, could be seen on the BCB’s premises looking on as the staff were outside the building.

“We are simply tired of being disrespected,” said a BCB source. “We are owed money and they just simply are not paying us and not talking about it. So now it’s time for action and union members have left their posts.”

The BCB staff are

claiming to be owed a $900 lump sum (which is meant to be an annual payment); an increment; back pay for a previous increment and sick incentive pay.

“The other reason we walked out is because an editor had an argument with a production manager and the manager, who is older, (allegedly) told him he is not a man and referenced his mother’s personal parts,” the source alleged.

“The young editor got angry and (allegedly) responded with offensive words and was subsequently

suspended with pay.”

According to the source, the manager remains on the job and to date, there has been no disciplinary action taken against him.

The incident took place in November and the editor, according to the source, is due back to work in January.

The BCB and Bahamas Communications Public Officers Union (BCPOU) are in their last year of the current industrial agreement before going back to the bargaining table. The lump sum was due in April, but the insider said due to

the COVID-19 pandemic it was postponed.

“The new chairman, Fred Gotlieb, promised that they would pay us the lump sum in instalments during September, October, November and December,” the BCB source continued. “We just cannot take it anymore. Management here is just disrespectful so we were instructed by our union to walk out of the building.

“There were always excuses from the chairman why he could not speak to the union or any of us to

clear up this matter. Now we realise they gave us all $150 on all this money they owe us. This is not fair and it’s so disrespectful.”

Several attempts were made yesterday to contact Parliamentary Secretary Pakeisha ParkerEdgecombe, who has responsibility for the BCB, and Chairman Fred Gotlieb, for comment, but they both had their phones turned off.

The Tribune also reached out to BCPOU president Dino Rolle, however he could not be reached up to press time.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, December 16, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

SPEAKING UP FOR WOMEN

In observance of the 58th Anniversary of the Enactment of the Right of Women to Vote, and the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development’s Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Zonta Clubs of The Bahamas, and Caribbean Women in Leadership, hosted a special sitting of the House of Assembly for Women in Parliament and presented a resolution to the Speaker.

The theme of the resolution, presented on Friday, was “Accelerating the Empowerment and Advancement of Women in Parliamentary Representation, Economic Development and Protection Against Gender-Based Violence.”

Pictured clockwise from top right are Patricia Minnis, the wife of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis; Senator Dr Jasmin TurnerDareus and Robyn Lynes, attorney and former senator, seated; Ann Marie Davis, wife of Philip Davis, Leader of the Opposition; Ismella Davis-Delancy, Deputy Commissioner of Police; Aneesah Abdullah, Sustainable Development Goals Unit, Office of the Prime Minister; and Allyson Maynard Gibson, former Attorney General.

Photos: Patrick Hanna/BIS

Wells: The vaccine we choose will be safe

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Renward Wells has stressed that whichever COVID-19 vaccine the government chooses to implement will be a safe and effective one.

He was responding to questions from the media yesterday concerning former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands’ recommendations that The Bahamas should conduct its own independent investigations into new COVID vaccines before widely distributing them to the public.

Dr Sands also said there should be a comprehensive look at the vaccines now coming into use.

Asked to respond to Dr Sands’ recommendations yesterday, Mr Wells said the Ministry of Health’s record

of vaccination distribution speaks for itself, adding the agency has been successful in vaccinating the public against other infectious diseases in the past.

Noting The Bahamas has “one of the highest” vaccination rates in the world, Mr Wells also said the public can be assured the government will do its due diligence to secure the most suitable and effective vaccine for the country.

“Obviously, any vaccine The Bahamas chooses is going to be one we feel offers the most effective, safe deployment and benefit for the Bahamian people,” he told reporters ahead of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

“We, in this country, in the Ministry of Health have been in the business of securing the health of the Bahamian people long

before independence and I think the record of the Ministry of Health in regards to vaccine be they the polio, measles, chicken pox, measle mumps, rubella, the flu vaccine, you would’ve seen the Ministry of Health would’ve done a fantastic job when it comes to the vaccination of the Bahamian people.

“As a matter of fact, we have one of the highest most effective vaccine rates not just in the Caribbean but in the world. We were above, I believe, 95 percent at one point in time and so the Bahamian people can be reassured that any vaccine decided on by the government of The Bahamas, we’re going to do our due diligence for the Bahamian people to bring them a safe, effective vaccine and again, it’s still going to be up to the Bahamian people

if they’re going to take it.”

On Monday, the US began vaccinating its citizens against the COVID-19 threat, joining the likes of the United Kingdom which started its vaccinations last week.

It is not clear when The Bahamas will receive its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which the government has already made a $250,000 down payment towards. However, PAHO officials have already said the country can have access to the COVID-19 vaccinations between March and April of 2021.

This comes as the country continues to see a downward trend of new infections, with just eight cases recorded on Monday, despite recording double digit numbers last week.

Yesterday, Mr Wells addressed the uptick of cases recorded last week, noting a number of the infections were linked to a cargo vessel sailing in waters near Grand Bahama.

“We would’ve seen an increase of cases on the ninth and the tenth,” Mr Wells noted. “On the tenth, we had 38 cases. On the tenth, we had 23 cases. Of the 38 cases on the ninth, seven of those were from a freighter/ tanker that came into Grand Bahama with individuals who were not feeling well.

“They were swabbed and incidentally seven of them tested positive. It was a crew of 25 so surveillance went ahead and tested the entire crew on the tenth.

Eight of those individuals ended up being positive.

“So, on the ninth, seven of the 38 was from a tanker.

On the tenth, eight of the 23 were from a tanker and you would’ve seen over the weekend.”

He said health officials are keeping a close eye on the COVID-19 situation, especially as the country nears the holiday season with more relaxed restrictions.

HEALTH Minister Renward Wells.

He continued: “We’re monitoring it. We’re looking at it. We did expect a slight uptick in the numbers from folks who would’ve gone away from Thanksgiving because Bahamians loved to shop and in Florida especially on Black Friday, there would’ve been maybe perhaps a small uptick.

“We did see a little bit of that (last week) but the numbers are trending in the direction we expect it to go now. We are monitoring and looking after the Christmas holidays when all of us get together with our families and we’re supping together and we’re connecting that there may be an uptick in the numbers but the Ministry of Health

as I said, we have our surveillance team that was at Melia.

“They’ve now moved from Melia to a more secure building where we are doing the business of the Bahamian people and seeking to ensure that we have the requisite surveillance team, contact tracing and all of the equipment in place for any eventual surge. But we’re hoping and praying that we do not see that.”

As of Monday, The Bahamas recorded a total of 7,698 COVID-19 cases, with 1,394 of those still active. There have also been 164 confirmed deaths while 24 remain under investigation.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 16, 2020, PAGE 5

Straw vendors: ‘Where is the plan for us to open?

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ gmail.com

STRAW vendors are up in arms about the protracted closure of the Straw Market while accusing the government of having “no plan” for them while pandering to the needs of the country’s major resorts.

Rev Esther Thompson, head of the Straw Vendors Society, said since the COVID-19 pandemic called for the total lockdown of the Straw Market in March, no one from the Ministry of Tourism has been in contact with her or the vendors.

She told The Tribune they have been left on their own to survive on $100 a week in government assistance.

“We are concerned about our financial welfare,” she said. “The government is definitely not in contact with us. Not at all. Nobody is concerned about the financial welfare of the vendors. It is definitely not a good time for straw vendors.

“We were included in the unemployment plan. They started with $200 then they went down to $150 and now they are at $100. Who can live off $100? Straw vendors are taxpayers and I feel like straw vendors did a lot of the country because straw vendors help with the foreign reserves and we bring the new money into the economy.”

She feels like straw vendors have not been treated fairly during this pandemic.

“We should have had some better provisions,

because what bill could we pay with $100 and have to eat and do everything out of it? Vendors have their light bills, their water bills, their mortgages; bills like everybody else. Vendors were struggling before the pandemic. I feel like the government should have given the vendors at least $300 a week.”

Rev Thompson feels there was never a plan for straw vendors and taxi

drivers when the government decided to reopen the tourist market.

“They really have no plan for us,” she said. “The tourism sector is open for the hotels. It’s not open for straw vendors and taxi drivers to benefit. The sector is open, in my opinion, for the government and the hotels to benefit, but not the local entrepreneurs in the industry. Everything pertaining to the hotels are

pre-arranged.

“The straw vendors need a seat around the decisionmaking table. If they had us around the table, we could at least talk to the hotels. They could have seen how they could have assisted us; tie us into what they are doing. It is really bad. If the government had consulted us, we could have created an international website where we could have sold our native

products online. At least about 90 percent of our business comes from the cruise ship industry. We could have been doing something.”

She is also suspicious about the vacation in place/ bubble programme some of the major resorts will utilise for guests once they reopen.

This allows guests to move freely around the property and utilise on-site amenities but prevents them from

leaving the resort until their stay is over.

“How could you open a country and leave the taxi drivers and straw vendors and all the small people out of it,” she said.

“Once those big boys (hotels) get started in this way, (vacation in place/ bubble) they will always come up with something to continue in this way. They will come up with something to keep it that way.”

‘WE’RE ENSURING EVERY AIRCRAFT IS COMPLIANT’

HAPPY 103RD BIRTHDAY TO EVELYN

JACK THOMPSON, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Governor General, presented a floral arrangement on behalf of Governor General Sir Cornelius A Smith to Evelyn Priscilla Jean Stuart, nee Johnson, who celebrated her 103rd birthday on Sunday.

Photos: Letisha Henderson/BIS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.met

THE Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority said the agency is focused on ensuring every aircraft is compliant with regulations.

Director General Michael Allen released a statement after being contacted about a video on social media which claimed Bahamian pilots were being grounded.

While not specifically responding to the video, Mr Allen said: “The Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas is dedicated to guaranteeing the safety and security of the Bahamian public. To this end, the Authority is committed to taking all steps necessary to ensure that every aircraft, including foreign

YOUR

registered aircraft, operating within The Bahamas are completely compliant with aviation safety and security regulations.”

Meanwhile, the video which made the rounds yesterday featured a man who complained that pilots were being grounded.

“Authorities have just grounded all Bahamian registered aircraft pilots,” the man claimed. “I think this is discrimination against the Bahamian pilots in this country. This is happening live here at General Aviation in Nassau, Bahamas.

“All Bahamian pilots have been grounded. Put on a no-fly zone for what reason? We don’t know.

They just distributed a list.. .a list down from the control tower grounding all Bahamian pilots here at General Aviation and (registered) aircrafts.”

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

PAGE 6, Wednesday, December 16, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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What about justice in The Bahamas?

PETER Nygard has been arrested and charged with sex trafficking and racketeering.

Readers will note from our report in today’s Tribune that he was arrested in Winnipeg, Canada, and is facing charges in the Southern District of New York, in the United States – not here in The Bahamas.

Allegations of serious sexual miscondut by Nygard were first revealed by The Tribune in 2019 when six Bahamian women made official complaints of rape and abuse against him.

In the months that follow police said they had launched a criminal investigation which is silently proceeding.

The six women who came forward here resulted in an avalanche of allegations against Nygard from dozens of other alledged victims both here, in the US in Canada. Many of these allegations are now wrapped up in civil actions lodged in US courts.

The offences for which Nygard has now been indicted involve racketeering, sex trafficking of a minor and allegations of transportation for the purpose of prostitution or illegal sexual activity.

Underlying the case against him is that he did not act alone but was supported by his company in financing and facilitating what was allegedly taking place.

Court documents have also explicitly stated that in The Bahamas he was able to carry out his alleged crimes protected by a screen of senior politicians and police.

The victims’ stories all point to the fact Mr Nygard’s operations involved a web of individuals – those he employed and those in the community beyond.

So far local individuals have been

named in court and The Bahamas has quietly got on with business, seemingly dismissing the whole affair as just another chapter in Nygard’s interminable feud with his Lyford Cay neighbour Louis Bacon.

We would hope the fact of Nygard’s arrest will change the attitude in those serious media outlets which hold themselves to account and they now join The Tribune in reporting and investigating this story.

In February, we called for a Commission of Inquiry to publicly sift through the allegations.

We should be clear – an allegation is not necessarily true and must be proven to be so. Some of those who have had their names published in allegations may be entirely innocent. Some may not. Clear the names of those who are innocent, but hold to account those who are complicit or took money to look the other way if that was what happened.

As it stands, it looks as though people only have a hope of finding justice if they seek it in another country. Do we really want The Bahamas to be known as a place where sex traffickers and abusers can find safe harbour because that is what it look like if Nygard is found guilty?

The Nygard saga has gone on for a long time, through many court cases and through many claims and counterclaims. Will our justice system at last have an answer for those who say they were abused – or will those accused of allowing it to happen never have to face up to their accusers?

The truth is important not just to those who say they were attacked, raped or threatened – the truth here is important to the very running of our nation itself.

The current system is not working EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM writing in support of the many people writing letters to The Tribune about the difficult entry requirements for The Bahamas.

I am not only a timeshare owner in Nassau but have operated a travel agency here in Hartford for many years.

For travel agents customer confidence and satisfaction is the most important part of our business. When we book clients on trips they want to have certainty of travel and as few problems as possible in booking.

That is the way it was for booking trips to The Bahamas until your Government introduced entry rules which have immediately created such uncertainties that, as of today, we have no bookings for The Bahamas.

For most of the years we have operated it has been one of our best selling destinations.

However when we have had to explain all the requirements to complete this year no one is interested in booking even the most ardent repeat visitors.

Simply put they do not want to book and place

money down on airfares and accommodation, mostly with package deals, if they cannot travel. There is too much risk.

Your new rule of five day entry from the COVID-19 PCR test combined with the nuisance of the Health Visa are causing the problems.

So we are being forced to send clients to the other Caribbean and Mexican resorts which are far easier to enter.

A recent travel online conference discussing your region amongst travel agencies in the US northeast reviewed all the problems.

Some of our State health facilities are offering COVID-19 PCR tests but many are not offering them to healthy people wanting leisure travel. This has forced many people to go to expensive private clinics often far away from their homes.

Very few people are willing to take the time for such hassles. They usually have to wait a couple of days for the written test results and send them to Nassau not knowing when authorisation to travel will be given.

Naturally they are not going to book under these conditions which are made more difficult because the number of flights have been

so reduced to Nassau. Now they must pay for your Health Insurance to obtain the Visa whereas we always sell travel insurance here at our office if clients do not have their own private insurance.

How anyone in your Ministry of Tourism could ever have designed such unworkable policies is beyond my imagination. I feel badly for all the tourism sector.

The Bahamians rely on a robust travel business for their jobs.

Blaming lack of visitors on the health pandemic seems like a convenient excuse for their failure to properly understand how prospective visitors would react to such foolish policies.

We have had no satisfactory explanation what is wrong with people bringing test results with them and/ or testing people on arrival rather than the current methods.

Based on what I see today I dread the future for The Bahamas if tourism completely collapses.

JONATHAN G POWELL Hartford Connecticut, USA December 12, 2020.

Mockery of Crown Land EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN recent months and weeks there have been several “staged” demonstrations and protests by so-called activists and their allies over any number of issues. First we had blockages and demonstrations at the foot of the Sir Sydney Poitier Bridge relative to access to the beaches at Paradise Island. Several persons were locked up for promoting an unlawful assembly, inter alia. I believe that the charges were dismissed, but I stand to be corrected.

Next we had a large crowd protesting the draconian restrictions imposed by the Competent Authority. Some say, bogusly, that the Prime Minister is the Competent Authority as a corporation sole (as a single individual) I beg to differ on this liberal interpretation. Yes, the manner in which the PM conducts public business, based, he says, on health protocols, is troubling. Numerous persons were arrested on East Street near the Super Value Branch. I understand that no charges were laid.

Editor, please allow me to digress here for a minute.

The entire cabinet, even though it is not specifically stated, comprises the constitutional creature known as the Competent Authority. This is bolstered by the fact that we have a system of cabinet responsibility.

It follows, therefore, that all members of cabinet are collectively and jointly responsible for the responses of the Competent Authority……the good…. the bad and, of course, the ugly.

Then we saw a demonstration and protest on Bay Street a week or so ago relative to the much toted Aragonite. One would think that the marketing of that product for and on behalf of Bahamians would be the panacea (not pandemic) which would make us all instantly wealthy without lifting a finger.

They say that the long debated and awaited Sovereign Wealth Fund would be flushed with millions if not billions of dollars. This

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net is, of course, pie-in-the sky loose talk in my considered view.

I hold a dual honours degree in law and economics from Walbrooke College (an affiliate of the University of London). While I do not profess to be an accomplished economist, I believe that I have enough expertise to venture comments on where the real Sovereign Wealth Fund is possible in short order.

Aragonite, standing alone, is not a viable prospect at this time. It has to be mined and we all know that the Bahamian economy is challenged big time.

It is a given that land or real estate is the basis of all tangible wealth. With the rapid growth of the economy during the 1970’s through the 1990’s, the cost of land here in New Providence has gone through the roof so to speak. The average resident here in the capital who does not already own a home or a piece of real estate will, in all probability, never be able to acquire ownership of the smallest piece of property anywhere on this island.

This fact is a tragedy of the highest order when one considers that there are hundreds of thousands of so-called Crown Land which is supposed to be held in trust for all qualified Bahamians. This is the source of the real Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Those who have a desire to demonstrate, march and protest should be doing so relative to the long absence of a coherent and logical policy or plan for the average Bahamian, who meets the minimum requirements, to be able to apply and to be successfully granted some Crown Land for residential or commercial purposes.

Are you able to imagine just how many thousands of average Bahamians would dig up their rock holes or shoe boxes to access hidden cash in order to secure a piece of Crown Land,

especially for the construction of a modest residence.

Tens of millions of dollars which few of us knew that the average Bahamian has would be immediately injected into the domestic economy.

Land clearing; the hiring of an architect; the actual construction and eventual purchase of furniture would pull the economy straight out of the dire hole in which we are now. Even before all of this happens, scores of private land surveyors would be employed to plot out the specific Crown Grant.

The Public Treasury would pull in plenty money for stamp duty and registration fees. Many lawyers would go straight laughing all the way as a result of the legal fees that they would pull in for the preparation of assorted documents. If the PM and the Competent Authority are really believers in it being the people’s time, they would immediately liberalise the granting and smooth the process of one acquiring a piece of our real patrimony……Crown Land.

The manner and way in which the process is designed and operated is a massive frustration and debilitating for the average and politically unconnected Bahamians. This leads to abuses and possible malfeasance by civil servants; their friends; relatives and assumed, in some cases, lovers. This makes a gross mockery of the system and the majority remains on the outside of home and land ownership looking in.

The Lord God Himself warded the entire land within this nation to Bahamians. I pay little attention to the label: Crown Land because the land is Bahamian land. When He said eons ago: ‘Go and possess the land which I will show thee..’ He was speaking directly to all nationalities, but especially Bahamians.

To God then, the Great Land Giver, in all things, be the glory.

Jr

ORTLAND H BODIE Nassau, December 13, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 16, 2020, PAGE 7

Dames: Too many guns - but we need more community support

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AFTER House Speaker Halson Moultrie called for a dragnet operation to remove illegal firearms from the streets, National Security Minister Marvin Dames said while he supports the message, there also needs to be more community support to help reduce crime.

“We have far too many illegal weapons on our streets but gun control is yeah, we definitely need it.

But you know the people brandishing those weapons are our kids for the most part.

“And so, we can say that we need gun control and we do and I support what the Speaker is saying but we also need to live up to our responsibility as parents as community members.”

He continued: “It’s not different from drugs. You have a location or a community that’s inundated with drugs, it means that there is a demand for it and so how do you diminish that demand? The same thing, the guns would not be coming here if there wasn’t a demand for it and people weren’t making money.

“And so we’re very cognizant of that. We continue to build and improve our relationships with our regional counterparts especially those in the United

States. We have an excellent relationship with our neighbours to the north and they have been helping us tremendously with targeting, with tracing, with intelligence.”

Last week, Mr Moultrie told reporters more needed to be done to address the gang culture and gun violence that seems to be plaguing the country. His comments came after Vincent Knowles Jr, 26, was fatally wounded during a drive-by shooting as he was walking on Forbes Street in Nassau Village around 8.30pm last week Tuesday.

Yesterday, Mr Dames said the Royal Bahamas Police Force continues to look for new initiatives to improve its outreach, but noted there also needs to be more community support.

He said: “You can have dragnet here and dragnet there but at the end of the day what it calls is for improved relations, improved partnerships and prevention and the intelligent side has been working, the police continue to take weapons off the streets but once you have that demand as I said, you look at that drug trade, as long as there’s demand, people will find a way to get it out there on the streets and the key is we have to address the demand and part of addressing the demand is taking ownership of our children, getting them to understand

MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames. that there’s another way. is trending downward, Building our communities, noting the public can expect investing in our communi- to continue seeing a signifities. It’s all about education, cant drop in serious crimes it’s all about empowerment when the latest statistics are and it’s all about finding revealed. jobs.”

Asked for updates Still, Mr Dames said on the Marco Alert for overall crime in the country missing children and sex

offenders registry, he replied: “Marco’s Alert as you know, all of the main boards are up and we’re excited about that. We’re waiting for another piece of software for the service providers that will allow for mass

notifications to any cell phone holder.

“As far as the registry, with the regulations all in place we should be running a test early in the new year in respect to the registry.

We have everything up and set to go with that.”

MARIJUANA TEENAGER TOLD TO TAKE DRUG COUNSELLING

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A TEENAGER who was found with marijuana was conditionally discharged yesterday on the agreement he would attend drug counselling classes.

Police arrested Cabreo Cash, 19, after they found 12 grams of Indian hemp in his jacket pocket on December 7.

He pleaded guilty to a single count of simple possession during a hearing before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

The court was told that day, officers on inquiries observed Cash, who was wearing a red jacket.

The prosecution said the defendant appeared to look in the direction of the officers before acting in a suspicious manner.

They then approached Cash and told him he

would be searched in reference to dangerous drugs and firearms.

During their investigation, officers discovered one clear plastic bag with ten silver foil wraps in his jacket pocket.

He was subsequently arrested and transported to the Drug Enforcement Unit where he admitted to the offence in an interview with police.

During the hearing, Cash was represented by attorney Ian Cargill. He told the magistrate his client worked as a carpenter and was the father of a oneyear-old child. He also noted his client cooperated with the police’s investigation from the onset and insisted he was remorseful for his actions.

As a result, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt granted him a conditional discharge on the agreement he would attend drug counseling

for three months. She also ordered Cash to complete 100 hours of community service. She warned him if he didn’t, he would be sentenced to three months on remand.

In a separate incident, Dannieka Ferguson appeared before Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt after she was found with eight grams of marijuana on December 5.

During her hearing, she also pleaded guilty to simple possession and was conditionally discharged and ordered to attend drug counseling.

The court heard that morning, officers on mobile patrol observed the defendant walking on East Street during curfew hours. When they stopped and questioned her, she began acting suspicious. As a result they told Ferguson she would be searched in reference to

MAN ‘ATTACKED WOMAN WITH CUTLASS’

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

AN ELEUTHERA man who was accused of assaulting a woman with a cutlass was yesterday granted bail ahead of his trial.

Keith Coakley appeared before Magistrate

Ambrose Armbrister after he was accused of threatening to kill and assaulting a woman with a cutlass in Harbour Island on December 13.

The prosecution also alleged the accused threatened to harm a man sometime in October and breached the curfew on

August 8.

During the hearing, Coakley denied all of the allegations and the matter was adjourned to January 20 to be heard before a circuit Magistrate in Harbour Island.

In the meantime, Coakley was granted $3,500 bail.

HOUSEBREAKING SUSPECT IS DENIED BAIL

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 30-YEAR-OLD man was yesterday remanded to prison over allegations he broke into a woman’s house last week.

Danrico Carey was accused of breaking into a woman’s home and stealing two flat screen televisions,

one Mac Pro laptop, three Bluetooth speakers, two Amazon fire sticks and a 60-pound gas tank on December 10.

The prosecution alleged the defendant also dishonestly received the items he was accused of stealing that day.

During his hearing before Senior Magistrate Derence

Rolle Davis, Carey denied all of the allegations.

His case was subsequently adjourned to March 8, 2021 for trial.

In the meantime, Carey was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

MAN ACCUSED OF SEX WITH 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 37-YEAR-OLD man who was accused of having sex with a teenage girl over the course of three months was yesterday denied bail ahead of his trial.

Godfrey Gray was accused of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl sometime between

December 1 and 5.

The prosecution argued the accused also had sex with the girl sometime in October and November when she was just 13-years-old.

During his hearing before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, Grey was not required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to April 21 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Due to the nature of the charges, he was denied bail and remanded to prison until that time.

Before Gray was taken into custody, his attorney Ian Cargill told the magistrate his client had been beaten while in police custody and had sustained an injury to one of his eyes.

Magistrate FergusonPratt said she would make a note of the claims.

dangerous drugs and firearms. While searching the defendant, officers found five silver foil wraps and a homemade cigarette in her backpack. The defendant was subsequently arrested

and taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit.

When she was interviewed there, she told officers she had the drugs to smoke over the weekend.

After granting Ferguson a conditional discharge, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt told her she would be sentenced to three months in jail if she failed to meet the conditions of her release.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, December 16, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

The right voices need to be in the room and must be speaking for everybody

By Alicia Wallace

LAST week, I moderated the second session in the Commonwealth Foundation’s Critical Conversation series. The event, entitled “Young Leaders Speak,” was a collaboration with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and Commonwealth Youth Council and brought young people together to talk about their leadership experience, activism and demands of Commonwealth institutions.

The main speakers were artist Darrion Narine from Trinidad & Tobago, green business expert Kakembo Galabuzi Brian from Uganda, design thinker Kavindya Thennakoon from Sri Lanka and policy expert Emmanuelle Andrews from the UK. They were joined by Nondumiso Hlophe from Eswatini and Lance Copegog from Canada.

The conversation started with the past. Thennakoon talked about her decision to write an open letter to Commonwealth institutions, calling their attention to the deliberate failure to acknowledge “histories of colonial conquest and the pain, suffering and subjugation” on their websites.

In her letter, she issued three challenges. First, she called on them to

acknowledge the impact of colonialism and framing of countries “joining” the Commonwealth as achievements of independence. Second, she called for similar acknowledgement at Commonwealth events. Third, Thennakoon called for people in Commonwealth countries to be involved in decision-making processes.

Given the public nature of this engagement and the interests of young leaders, the open letter was the perfect starting point.

Throughout the virtual event, viewers posed questions that demonstrated a wide range of concerns, from tackling climate change to promoting gender equality. The questions and comments poured in at a rate much faster than we could read and address them, so many went unanswered. Every time events of this kind are held, it is clear people need more opportunities to exchange ideas.

In organising Young Leaders Speak, the Commonwealth Foundation was interested in hearing what young people want Commonwealth institutions to do to support their work and increase its impact.

Beyond that, there were

many lessons for people in positions of leadership.

The speakers put emphasis on the glaring gaps in diversity and inclusion and the way forward in ensuring people are not tokenised and the voices of marginalised people are heard.

They consistently pointed to the need to focus on the value of expertise in young people rather than their youth, often seen as synonymous with — and automatically resulting in — change.

One of the main themes in Young Leader Speakers, including speakers’ contributions and the commentary of views, was inclusion. Young people want to see marginalised communities represented and realise that simply being a young person is not enough.

People in positions to make decisions need to be connected to the communi-

have

ties they represent division we should and diverse communities know well by now. need to be represented.

From 2014 to 2016, More specifically, vulner- during the period between able communities need to the announcement of the be including in decision- gender equality referenmaking processes. One dum and the day of the young person cannot rep- vote, we saw the divisions resent young people with between particular groups disabilities, young people of people. Women expeexperiencing poverty, or riencing poverty saw no young LGBTQ+ people. reason to be concerned Narine made an inter- about the issue of citizenesting point about ship conferral because they acknowledging privilege. could not see it affecting The young people who them. are given opportunities to CIS women (assigned represent their countries, female at birth) who attend internaidentify as hetertional meetings osexual were not and participate ‘Not a single concerned about in discussion woman who the governpanels have priv- took part in ment’s decision ilege. In many to define sex cases, they are that exercise in particularly selected based openly narrow, limiting on opportunities identified as or and incorrect they have had terms were not before.

Some- advocated for times, they know LBTQ+ women concerned about its impact on they are not the or migrant trans or intersex best people to be people. women.’ in the rooms they There were enter, but they very few people either pretend that young people are a monolithic who cared about the ways group or act as though they people with different idenare connected to vulnera- tities and realities would ble communities when they be affected by the constitutional amendment bills are not.

Not only do institutions passing or not passing. It and selection committees was a clear illustration of need to do their due dili- the need for multiple and gence, but people need to varied voices. Since then, be mindful of their desired however, most people outcomes and be willing to seem to have learned very share space, recommend little.

Again, look at the group other people and decline offers in order to make of women who participated room for those who need in the Women in Parliament to be heard. This is message event. Convinced they many people in organizing were doing the right thing, and activist spaces need to speaking up for women hear, understand and act they deemed deserving of rights and access to serupon.

Last week, there was vices, they did not pay a Women in Parliament attention to who was not event in Nassau that, to in the room. Not a single those involved in women’s woman who took part in rights work with a feminist that exercise openly idenapproach, made the value- tified as or advocated for based divisions between LBTQ+ women or migrant organizations clear. This is a women. Organisations that

worked in the women’s rights space for years were not invited or even made aware of the event.

Why might that be?

It is easy and gratifying to celebrate the people who are in the room and the communities they represent. The challenge is in asking who is not there and then figuring out why they are absent.

Why didn’t anyone think to include them? What information and perspective is missing because they have been ignored and excluded?

No woman is every woman. No woman can speak to the challenges and specific needs of women experiencing poverty, women who are unemployed or underemployed, women who are domestic workers, women who are migrants, women who are experiencing intimate partner violence, women who have disabilities, women who have chronic illnesses, and women who have been trafficked.

No young person can speak to the challenges and specific needs of young people experiencing domestic violence, young people in rural areas, young people who are LGBTQ+ and young people who are at risk of homelessness.

People with these experiences need to be in the room. They ought to be central in decision-making processes.

People and organisations working toward equality and justice have to consistently challenge themselves to find the gaps and figure out how to fill them or support others who are working in those spaces. It is not enough to move most women forward, or to represent most young people. To close the gaps, we have to centre those who are routinely left behind. This needs to be the rule rather than the exception. There must be no one left behind.

AS THE holidays draw near, many are trying to figure out how to shop with limited funds and give meaningful gifts. While online shopping is easy and often less expensive, it is important to support the local economy.

A number of organisations are making it easier to buy Bahamian, setting up pop-up markets with artisans, makers, and entrepreneurs. Be sure to check out the pop-up market

every day (including this Sunday) so you can check out the wide selection of products made by Bahamian artists.

On Saturday, get a change of scenery by checking out the pop-up market at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. While there, be sure to check out the Mixed Media store and the sculpture garden. The garden is a great place to relax after checking off everyone on your list.

POP-UP MARKET HOPPING at Doongalik on Village Road. Seasonal Sunshine Bahamas is selling a variety of salts infused with goat pepper, rosemary, thyme, and other favourites.

Mu’Dough is offering a variety of delicious bread.

Poinciana Paper Press has a clever holiday card collection and Androsia notebooks. Bubbles & Lathers has a wide range of homemade soap. Craft Cottage, on the Doongalik property, is open

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 16, 2020, PAGE 9

TECHTALK ‘LOST CONNECTION’ HAMPERS VIRGIN GALACTIC’S TEST FLIGHT

AMAZON’S ZOOX UNVEILS AUTONOMOUS ELECTRIC VEHICLE AN AUTONOMOUS vehicle company acquired this year

by Amazon has unveiled a fourperson “robo-taxi,” a compact, multidirectional vehicle designed for dense, urban environments.

The carriage-style interior of the vehicle produced by Zoox Inc. has two benches that face each other. There is no steering wheel. It measures just under 12 feet long, about a foot shorter than a standard Mini Cooper.

It is among the first vehicles with bidirectional capabilities

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN and PAUL DAVENPORT Associated Press

and four-wheel steering, allowing for better maneuverability. It has a top speed of 75 miles per hour.

The vehicle is being tested in the company’s base of Foster City, California, as well as Las Vegas and San Francisco, Zoox said Monday.

Zoox, based Foster City in Silicon Valley, was founded in 2014 and acquired by Amazon in June. It operates as an independent subsidiary at Amazon. (AP)

JAPAN’S SPACE AGENCY FINDS AMPLE SOIL, GAS FROM ASTEROID

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Officials from Japan’s space agency said Tuesday they have found more than the anticipated amount of soil and gases inside a small capsule the country’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft brought back from a distant asteroid this month, a mission they praised as a milestone in planetary research.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said its staff initially spotted some black particles sitting on the bottom of the capsule’s sample catcher when they pulled out the container on Monday. By Tuesday, scientists found more of the soil and gas samples in a compartment that stored those from the first of Hayabusa’s two touchdowns on the asteroid last year.

“We have confirmed a good amount of sand apparently collected from the asteroid Ryugu, along with gases,” JAXA Hayabusa2 project manager Yuichi Tsuda said in a video message during an online news conference.

“The samples from outside of our planet, which we have long dreamed of, are now in our hands.”

Tsuda called the successful return of the asteroid soil and gas samples “a major scientific milestone.”

The pan-shaped capsule, 40 centimetres (15 inches) in diameter, was dropped

SOIL samples, seen inside a container of the re-entry capsule brought back by Hayabusa2, in Sagamihara, near Tokyo, Tuesday. Officials from Japan’s space agency said Tuesday they have found more than the anticipated amount of soil and gases inside a small capsule the country’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft brought back from a distant asteroid this month, a sample-return mission they praised as a milestone for planetary research.(JAXA via AP)

by Hayabusa2 from space to a predetermined spot in a sparsely populated Australian desert on Dec. 6 at the end of its six-year round trip to Ryugu, more than 300 million kilometres (190 million miles) from Earth.

The capsule arrived in Japan last Tuesday for research that scientists hope will provide insight into the origins of the solar system and life on Earth.

Hirotaka Sawada, a JAXA scientist, was the first to look inside the

capsule’s sample-catcher.

Sawada said he was “almost speechless” with joy when he found that the samples inside included some that were, as expected, dust size, but also some the size of pebbles.

Soil samples in photos shown in Tuesday’s presentation looked like heaps of dark coffee grounds mixed with granules.

Sawada said the tightly sealed capsule successfully brought back asteroid gases that are clearly different from the air on Earth

— a first sample-return of gases from outer space.

Kyushu University scientist Ryuji Okazaki said that gases could be related to minerals in asteroid soil and that he hopes to identify the gaseous samples and determine their age.

Scientists are hoping samples from the asteroid’s subsurface can provide information from billions of years ago that are unaffected by space radiation and other environmental factors.

JAXA scientists say they

are particularly interested in organic materials in the samples to learn about how they were distributed in the solar system and if they are related to life on Earth.

Sei-ichiro Watanabe, a Nagoya University earth and environment scientist working with JAXA, said having more sample material to work with than expected is great news as it will expand the scope of studies.

The samples were gathered from two touchdowns that Hayabusa2 made last year on Ryugu.

The landings were more difficult than expected because of the asteroid’s extremely rocky surface.

The first landing collected samples from Ryugu’s surface and the second from underground.

Each was stored separately.

JAXA said it will look into another compartment, used for a second touchdown, next week, and will continue an initial examination ahead of the later studies of the material.

Following studies in Japan, some of the samples will be shared with NASA and other international space agencies for additional research beginning in 2022.

Hayabusa2, meanwhile, is now on an 11-year expedition to another asteroid to try to study possible defences against meteorites that could fly toward Earth.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Virgin Galactic test flight Saturday ended prematurely as the spacecraft’s rocket motor failed to ignite and it then glided down safely to its landing site in southern New Mexico.

The spacecraft’s engine is supposed to ignite moments after the craft is released from a special carrier jet, sending it in a near-vertical climb toward the edge of space.

“After being released from its mothership, the spaceship’s onboard computer that monitors the rocket motor lost connection,” CEO Michael Colglazier said in a statement.

“As designed, this triggered a fail-safe scenario that intentionally halted ignition of the rocket motor.”

The pilots flew back to Spaceport America and landed gracefully as usual.

“As we do with every test flight, we are evaluating all the data, including the root cause assessment of the computer communication loss,” Colglazier said. “We look forward to sharing information on our next flight window in the near future.”

The hourlong flight was to be the first rocket-powered trip to space from Virgin Galactic’s headquarters at Spaceport America, a futuristic desert outpost where the aircraft carrying the spacecraft took off at about 8:25 a.m.

Before first announcing the spacecraft’s safe return to land and then the problem with the rocket, Virgin Galactic’s updates on Twitter about the flight’s progress were cryptic and sparse during a 15-minute period that began with an announcement that the spacecraft was “go for release” from the carrier aircraft after reaching high altitude.

The release of the spacecraft from the aircraft usually occurs at about 50,000 feet (15.2 kilometres). At that point, the spaceship would enter a gentle glide and within seconds the rocket motor would be fired and the spaceship’s nose pitched to a near-vertical climb.

The suborbital flights are designed to reach an altitude of at least 50 miles (80.5 kilometres) before the rocket motor is turned off and the crew prepares to reenter the atmosphere and glide to a landing.

After delays because of the coronavirus pandemic and dicey weather earlier this week, the crew had been cleared for a morning launch amid clear conditions.

The spaceship was crewed by two pilots.

There was payload belonging to NASA onboard but no passengers.

It’s unclear how soon another window will open for Virgin Galactic’s next attempt at a powered flight to space.

Once the company checks that box, the next phase of final testing for the Virgin Galactic team will involve company mission specialists and engineers being loaded into the spaceship’s passenger cabin for powered flights. They will evaluate all the hardware, camera settings and which angles will provide the best views.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, December 16, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

#BringBackOurBoys LAGOS, Nigeria Associated Press REBELS from the Boko Haram extremist group claimed responsibility yesterday for abducting hundreds of boys from a school in Nigeria’s northern Katsina State last week in one of the largest such attacks in years, raising fears of a growing wave of violence in the region.

More than 330 students remain missing from the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara after gunmen with assault rifles attacked their school on Friday night, although scores of others managed to escape.

The government and the attackers are negotiating the fate of the boys, according to Garba Shehu, a spokesman for Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The kidnappers had made contact and discussions were already on, pertaining to the safety and return” of the children to their homes, said Shehu on Twitter during talks with Katsina Gov Aminu Masari. Neither official said whether the negotiations are with Boko Haram or another group.

Masari said security agencies “deployed for rescue operations have also informed us that they have located their position”.

The Daily Nigerian said it received an audio message from Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claiming the abduction, although there has been no independent verification of its authenticity.

The Islamic extremist group has carried out mass abduction of students before. The most serious took place in April 2014,

when more than 270 schoolgirls were taken from their dormitory at the Government Secondary School in Chibok in northeastern Borno State. About 100 of the girls are still missing.

In February 2014, 59 boys were killed during a Boko Haram attack on the Federal Government College Buni Yadi in Yobe State.

In the audio message about Friday’s attack, Shekau said his group abducted the schoolboys because Western education is against the tenets of Islam.

More than 600 students attend the school. Many were able to escape during a gunfight between the attackers and the police, according to state police spokesman Gambo Isah.

Students corroborated this account with various news agencies, saying many of them were also rounded up and forced to walk to a nearby forest, where some were also able to flee.

Several armed groups operate in northern Nigeria, where Katsina State is located. It was originally believed that the attackers were bandits, who sometimes work with Boko Haram.

Bandits have operated in the northwest region for some time, and kidnappings have increased in recent years. Amnesty International says that more than 1,100 people were killed in the first six months of 2020 in violence related to attacks by bandits.

A joint rescue operation was launched on Saturday

by Nigeria’s police, air force and army after the military engaged in gunfights with bandits after locating their hideout in the Zango/Paula forest.

If Boko Haram is proven

PARENTS of the missing Government Science secondary school students wait for news on their children in Kankara , Nigeria, yesterday.

Photo: Sunday Alamba/AP to be behind the abduc- would have serious secu- The trajectories are very but little has been done tion, it could mean a new rity implications because disturbing”. to address the situation,” Because the northwest is said Mallam Saidu Funtua, wave of religious extrem- it could partner with other ism is on the rise in Nigeria. armed criminal groups more homogeneously Islam a member of a local civil For more than ten years, known to carry out attacks than the northeast, there society organisation in the group has engaged and collect payments from are more potential recruits Katsina State. He added for radicalism. in a bloody campaign for households and markets. that “the abduction of stu“They are Iike miniFriday’s abduction has dents was the height of it introducing strict Islamic rule, but it has been mainly armies that are able to carry become a rallying cry for all. It is unacceptable and active in northeast Nigeria, out operations in defiance Nigerians fed up with the government has to do not in the northwest, where of the security forces, and growing violence, with more” to protect students Katsina State is located. it is worrisome,” Obasi told #BringBackOurBoys trend- and residents.

The Associated Press. ing on Twitter as people Thousands have been killed The attack was a major The local armed groups express their frustrations. and more than a million have no religious ideology, A similar #BringBack- setback for education in people displaced by the however, and Obasi said OurGirls became an Katsina, which was beginviolence.

Boko Haram’s movement international rallying cry ning to make progress in Nnamdi Obasi of the into the northwest would for the Chibok girls. enrollment, he said, adding: International Crisis Group create “a risk of conver“Before now, it has “Our people will be dissaid a shift of Boko Haram’s gence between criminal been bandits and kidnap- couraged in sending their activities to the northwest groups and jihadist groups. pers terrorizing our state, kids to school.”

McCONNELL SIGNALS NO FURTHER ASSAULT ON ELECTORAL RESULTS WASHINGTON Associated Press

Funeral Service For Mr. Lawrence Flowers, 67 of #3 Edelweiss Chalets, Freeport, Grand Bahama and formerly of Sandy Point, Abaco will be held on Thursday, December 17th, 2020, 10:00 a.m. at the Grand Bahama Memorial Park #2, Frobisher Drive, Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Officiating will be Archdeacon Earl Hepburn.

Precious memories will linger in the hearts of his children: Tiffany Flowers and Laurika FlowersSands; special friend: Almeda Lightbourne; son-in-law: Dr. Duane E. Sands; granddaughter: Laurin Sands; grandsons: Amadeus and Elijah Sands; brothers: Percy and Floyd Burrows, Dashwell and Hamilton Flowers; sisters: Elvere Clarke, Elverner St. Luce, Roselda (Bonnie) O’Brien; adopted sister: Mavis McKinney; brother-in-law: Whitney Clarke; sistersin-law: Lena, Muriel and Pearl Burrows, Ruth Flowers; aunt: Daisy Johnson; nieces: Lawanda (Sintenie) Greene, Coteisha (Jermaine) Black, Miranda and Margo Burrows, Chriselda Flowers, Raquel (Al) Russell, Anissa & Veleka Sweeting, Schemell Weech, Sonya Bryant, Oeisha (Jason) Roberts, Ernestine (David) Lightbourne, Petra Gaitor, Olivia Moss, Paula (Patrick) Guerrier, Starlene Burrows, Raffiletta (Ishmael) Albury, Kimberly (Tony) Miller, Pamela (Ricardo) McKenzie, Olivia Burrows, Gardenia Fox; nephews: Lavada Clarke, Cassanova (Marilyn) O’Brien, Shavano E. J. (Antonae) Miller, Chretian Rolle, Ferdinand (Velva) Burrows, Kendal (Alvah) White, Bradley and Daniel Weech, Ken (Marissa) Weech, Cletus (Faye) Burrows, Randolph (Annie) Burrows, Wesley (Carolyn) Burrows, Lovell (Annette) Burrows, Emery Burrows; grand nieces: Hannah Russell, Hailey Meeres, Aubrey Miller, Destinee and Majesty Roberts, Tiana Bryant, Davisha, Jonette and Entinique Lightbourne, KaiVanya Sweeting, Tyler Symonette, Bianca Leary, Meredith Williams, Amelia and Ariana Burrows, Brittany Symonette, Skylar White, Snow Rose Carter, Sheena, Meleca and Philicia Miller, Chloe Lewis, Trenicka Dukes, Flo and Lynette Burrows, Ranajah and Ranaje Burrows, Taishna Albury; grand nephews: Donte Johnson, Ansario Flowers, Neko Minnis, Jax and Harley Black, Zane O’Brien, Alano Russell, PC4027 Percy Leary, Frederick Moxey, Keon Burrows, Brian & Brent Symonette, Quinton Burrows, Quentin Burrows, Melbourne Miller, Jr., Lameko Simmons and Harold Simmons, Jr., Leon, Scottie, Kaseyano and Desmond Albury; other relatives & friends: Hugh and Valeria Solomon, the management and staff of Kross Town Convenience Store, the Exemplary Staff of Sunshine Senior Care & Services – Billy Jane Ferguson, Yvette Patton & Kimberley Ferguson, Christopher “Ponytail” Cartwright, Elsiemae Burrows, Terry Frazier, Inez Poitier, Alice Williams & Family, Leeland Russell & Family, Lillian Brown (Predeceased), The Doctors & Nurses of The Rand Memorial Hospital, The Management & Staff of City Markets (Winn Dixie), the management & staff of Our Lucaya, the entire Communities of Sandy Point, Moore’s Island, Crossing Rocks and Marsh Harbour, Abaco.

Viewing will be held in the “Celestial Suite” at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Limited, #11-A Coral Road, Freeport, Grand Bahama on Wednesday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

FENDING off a messy fight that could damage Republicans ahead of Georgia Senate runoffs, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned fellow GOP senators yesterday not to join President Donald Trump’s extended assault on the Electoral College results.

In public remarks and private warnings, McConnell worked to push ahead to the Biden era and unite a fractured Republican Party ahead of the runoff elections that will determine Senate control.

First, the Republican leader heaped praise on Trump’s “endless” accomplishments as he congratulated Presidentelect Joe Biden during a morning Senate speech.

Then he pivoted, privately warning Republican senators away from disputing the Electoral College tally when Congress convenes in a joint session on January 6 to confirm the results.

That fight would yield a “terrible vote” for Republicans, McConnell told the senators, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss the call, which was first reported by Politico. They would have to choose whether to back Trump or publicly buck him.

Republicans are worried about bad effects on the January 5 Georgia runoff election, where two incumbent Republican senators, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, face Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in a state that flipped in November for Biden.

McConnell has been a strong supporter of most Trump efforts. But the turn of events six weeks after Election Day showed the Kentucky senator, backed by his leadership team, seeking to normalise relations with the coming Biden presidency while avoiding the spectacle of pitched floor fight that would divide

the party as Trump reluctantly leaves office.

“I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden,” McConnell said as he opened the Senate.

“Many of us had hoped the presidential election would yield a different result,” he said. “But our system of government has the processes to determine who will be sworn in on January 20. The Electoral College has spoken.”

Biden told reporters that as he departed to campaign in Georgia that he called to thank McConnell for the remarks and the two had a “good conversation”. He said he told McConnell there are “things we can work together on”.

The Senate leader’s sprint into action after weeks of silence followed other leading Republicans who spoke up the after the Electoral College voted late Monday.

They finally said aloud what many Republicans had been signaling privately — that Biden is the winner of the presidential election, and they are essentially abandoning Trump’s election attacks.

From there, the floodgates opened. Several GOP senators confirmed they had spoken with Biden, including Trump ally Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Mitt Romney of Utah, the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee. Some have had meetings with Biden’s nominees for administration posts.

In his phone call, Romney expressed admiration for Biden’s willingness to endure the rigors of a presidential campaign and serve in the nation’s highest office, the senator’s office said. The two also discussed the challenging political environment ahead.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said now that McConnell has spoken, “enough is enough”.

Trump should “end his term with a modicum of grace and dignity,” Schumer said.

For his part, Trump continued to push his baseless claims of “voter fraud” in a new tweet yesterday.

Some GOP lawmakers have vowed to carry the fight to January 6 when Congress votes to accept or reject the Electoral College results. Others have said Trump’s legal battles should continue toward resolution

by Inauguration Day, January 20.

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy declined to comment yesterday when asked if he was ready to acknowledge Biden as the president-elect.

One House Republican, Rep Mo Brooks of Alabama, is planning to challenge the Electoral College results when Congress convenes for the joint session.

At that time, any challenge in Congress would need to be raised by at least one member of the House and Senate. It’s unclear if any GOP senator will join in making the case.

McConnell and his lieutenants, including Sens.

John Thune of South Dakota and Roy Blunt of Missouri, warned the senators off any Electoral College challenge, calling it dead end since any action would need sign-off

by Democrats who have the House majority under Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to one of the people familiar with Tuesday’s call.

The GOP leaders further warned senators that forcing their colleagues into a vote on Electoral College challenges would prove difficult, especially for those facing their own reelections in 2022.

No Republican senator spoke up in contradiction.

Republican Sen Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee is convening a hearing Wednesday on election fraud, has “no plans” to join with House Republicans and challenge the results, according to spokesman Austin Altenburg.

SPORTS PAGE 11

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2020

Rebels undefeated

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A

fter a clash of Bahamian women in a NCAA Division One basketball regular season game on Saturday, Ole Miss Rebels remained undefeated yesterday while the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes finally got into the win column.

The Rebels, coached for the third year by Grand Bahamian Yolett McPhee-McCuin and including senior guard Valerie Nesbitt, won Saturday’s matchup 86-46 over Annya Moss and Mississippi Valley.

Last night, the Running Rebels extended their record to 5-0 with an 89-65 rout over Jackson State as Nesbitt came off the bench and despite getting into foul trouble, had 10 points, five assists and one rebound in just 11 minutes on the court.

Meanwhile, Mississippi Valley bounced back and held on for a slim 53-51 victory over University of Louisiana at Munroe Warhawks for their first win in three games played so far.

Moss, in 15 minutes off the bench, contributed just two points, a pair of three throws, while grabbing a pair of rebounds with an assist and a blocked shot. She also had a personal foul and turned the ball over twice.

In Saturday’s game, the 5-foot, 8-inch Nesbitt came off the bench and in 17 minutes, had five points, three assists and two rebounds. She was 2-for-6 from the field and 1-for-1 from the foul line.

Moss, a 5-8 guard in her junior year, played 28 minutes for Mississippi off the bench as well, scoring nine points. She was 3-for-12 from the field, 1-for-7 from the three-point line and 2-for-2 from the foul line.

She also had two rebounds, one assist and a block, while turning the ball over three times and committing two personal fouls.

McPhee-McCuin, Nesbitt and Ole Miss are scheduled to be back in action on Saturday when they take on George Mason, while Moss and Mississippi Valley will play on Sunday against Northwestern State.

‘BUDDY’ AND KINGS HOPE FASTER PACE HELPS END PLAYOFF DROUGHT

By JOSH DUBOW AP Sports Writer

THE REBELS, coached for the third year by Grand Bahamian Yolett McPhee-McCuin (top) and including senior guard Valerie Nesbitt (above left), won Saturday’s game 86-46 over Annya Moss (above right), and Mississippi Valley.

NIGEL FORBES IMPROVES ON A PAIR OF BAHAMAS NATIONAL, OPEN RECORDS NIGEL Forbes improved on a pair of Bahamas National and Bahamas Open records as he took the spotlight at the Bahamas Swimming Federation’s Year-Ending Swim Meet over the weekend.

The meet was held at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex as swimmers finally got back into the pool to compete for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic broke in March.

Forbes dropped his boys’ 13-14 100 metre butterfly time from 57.28 that he posted at the UANA Swimming Cup on February 21 to 56.92 on Saturday.

In the process, the Grand Bahamian representing the YMCA WaveRunners Swim Club erased the Bahamas Open record of 57.81 that Ian Pinder established on June 22, 2017 as well.

Forbes also lowered his boys 13-14 200m fly national and Bahamas Open records of 2:12.61 that he posted on June 20, 2019 with a new mark of 2:09.38.

Forbes, along with a number of swimmers, also qualified for the postponed CARIFTA Swimming Championships that was

PAGE 13

NIGEL FORBES rescheduled for Wildey, Barbados, over the Easter holiday weekend.

Among the list of qualifiers were fellow Grand Bahamian Zoe Williamson in the girls’ 11-12 50m fly and 50, 100 and 200m freestyles; Mako Aquatics’ Alia Clarke in the girls 11-12 100m free; Mako Aquatics’ Caden Wells in the boys 11-12 division, along with team-mate Ayton Moncur and Alpha Aquatics’ Aidan Kemp.

THE quest to make it back to the postseason has been a long, slow trip for the Sacramento Kings.

The hope this season is that speeding up their play on the court will help quicken the turnaround for a franchise that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2006.

After leading the league in fast-break points in 201819 under former coach Dave Joerger, the Kings slipped to 19th last season in Luke Walton’s first season at the helm.

Changing that philosophy was a priority for Walton, who brought on former New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry to his staff to help speed up the offence.

Gentry was an assistant on Mike D’Antoni’s staff in Phoenix when the Suns aimed to get shots off in the first seven seconds of the shot clock and also in Golden State in 2014-15 when the Warriors used a fast-paced offence to win a title.

“The teams I’ve coached, whether head coach or assistant coach, we’ve always played fast,” Walton said. “I grew up believing that to be a big part of how the game should be played. It’s fun for players, it’s fun for fans, you get up and down. Part of that is getting back into the values I believe in as a coach and putting much more of an emphasis on it this year.”

The Kings have the pieces to do it led by ultraquick point guard De’Aaron Fox, athletic big man Marvin Bagley III, Chavano “Buddy” Hield and rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton.

“With the types of players we have on this team, we know we can get the ball up and down the floor and we can get early shots if we want,” Fox said. “Offensively, it’s definitely a fun

SEE PAGE 13

PAGE 12, Wednesday, December 16, 2020

SPORTS

THE TRIBUNE

US WATER POLO PLAYERS FLOCK TO EUROPE TO PREPARE FOR TOKYO

By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — One day, after another gruelling practice with his water polo team in Italy, Ben Hallock hopped on a scooter and drove to the top of a nearby mountain.

Unfurled below the promising American centre was the picturesque Liguria coast. “The scenery, I mean, it’s unbelievable,” Hallock said.

The landscape for his teammates back home is pretty impressive, too.

Hallock, 23, is among 18 US men’s water polo players who joined professional teams in Europe after COVID-19 hampered their training in California.

The size of the group is an unprecedented showing for a country that usually places just a handful of players in the top leagues each year.

Their teams include some of the top programmes in the world. Hallock plays

for powerful Pro Recco in Northern Italy near Genoa.

Hannes Daube and Max Irving swim for Olympiacos in Greece, and Alex Obert plays for VK-Jug in Croatia.

The pay depends on the team and experience level, likely around 20,000 euros (over $24,000) for first-year Americans in Europe — except for NCAA athletes who forgo a salary in order to retain their amateur status. Players also receive housing, transportation and other assistance depending on the situation, in addition to their usual support from USA Water Polo.

Not bad at all, but it’s still a professional sport in a country with an unfamiliar language and culture in many cases. The isolation is only enhanced by the coronavirus pandemic, which will keep many of the players away from their family and friends over the holidays.

It’s a brand new world even for the well-travelled

US players, especially in the pool.

“Every day is pretty much the highest level water polo game I’ve been playing in my life,” Hallock said in a Zoom interview with the AP. “Maybe not the same intensity as an Olympic Games, but the quality of players is astronomically higher than anything you see in college or something.”

US men’s coach Dejan Udovicic had long wanted to see more of his players compete in Europe. But the idea took on added importance when the coronavirus pandemic pushed back the Tokyo Olympics to next year and shut down pools all over America for much of this summer.

While the US men have embraced more foreign opportunities this year, the women’s team has worked around pandemic restrictions while training together in the US. For the women, the twotime defending Olympic

BEN HALLOCK, right, of the U.S. and Dmitrii Kholod of Russia fight for the ball during the men’s water polo Group D third round match of the 17th FINA Swimming World Championships in Hajos Alfred National Swimming Pool in Budapest, Hungary, July 21, 2017. (AP)

UNITED States men’s national water polo player Johnny Hooper prepares to shoot during a training session in Torrance, California. Hooper is among 18 US men’s water polo players who joined professional teams in Europe after COVID-19 hampered their training in California.

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson) champions, there is likely no better competition in the world than playing against each other.

Udovicic, who coached Serbia to a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics before taking over the US programme, had a hand in most of the European placements for his players. He had much of the national team together in Greece in October, but a couple of training sessions and competition opportunities were canceled because of COVID-19.

The US team could get back together again in January, and the professional season finishes in plenty of time for his players to get on the same page ahead of Tokyo.

Asked how players are helped by professional experience, Udovicic mentioned self-confidence and mental health.

“What I like to see (is) that our guys figure that they’re good,” he said.

“Playing with them, they’re seeing they’re good. They got qualities, which we knew.”

While Europe has provided more consistent training opportunities for the American players, the pandemic remains a constant presence in their lives.

Testing isn’t as frequent as the major professional sports leagues in the US,

but teams are divided into groups for some training sessions to facilitate social distancing. Training areas are cleaned on a regular basis, and they wear masks when they are out of the pool.

Even with the protocols, the top league in Greece was shut down because of coronavirus concerns, and it’s unclear when exactly it will resume play.

Johnny Hooper returned to the US after the league was suspended, but plans to go back when it starts up again.

“I went out there with a lot of fire and it was exciting just to get back in the water and compete at the highest level we can,” Hooper said.

“So for me, it was a relief, and I was super excited to get back into it. And there wasn’t really any drawback or hesitation going into the league. So I had a great time.”

Hooper’s experience was helped by rooming with US teammate Chancellor Ramirez in an apartment provided by their Greek team, Palaio Faliro.

Marko Vavic lives with his brother, Nikola, who also plays for Roma Nuoto in the Serie A1 League in Italy. Obert is sharing a place with American goaltender Jack Turner, a practice squad player with VK-Jug.

“It’s definitely nice for both of us,” Obert said.

Obert had contemplated retiring from water polo, but he talked to his wife, Michele, a former national team player for Canada, and set his sights on Tokyo.

When he got into business school at the University of Arizona, he decided to take online classes while he was playing in Croatia.

So when Obert is out of the pool, he spends his time on homework and as many group meetings as he can attend given the time difference.

“It’s been crazy,” he said.

“It’s been like being back in undergrad, but also on steroids.”

The main driver for Obert is the Olympics after he played on the US team that finished a disappointing 10th in Rio. It’s a familiar refrain when it comes to the American contingent in Europe, looking to make a big splash next year in Japan.

“That was the whole reason I came, was preparing for Tokyo,” Marko Vavic said, “because being in (Los Angeles), you just didn’t know what the situation was going to be. I wasn’t allowed in a pool for like four to five months.

“Just coming out here, getting high-level training and high-level games, that’s the entire reason I came.”

SPORTS

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 16, 2020, PAGE 13

JAMES HARDEN RETURNS TO ROCKETS, SCORES 12 IN PRESEASON DEBUT (AP) — JAMES Harden was back in a Houston uniform.

It’s still unclear how many more times that’ll happen.

The three-time defending NBA scoring champion made his preseason debut with the Rockets last night, after starting to practice with his team just one day earlier following a late arrival to training camp amid incessant trade speculation. Harden scored 12 points in 21 minutes and the Rockets beat the San Antonio Spurs 112-98.

Harden also had four assists, three rebounds and two steals. He checked out for the final time with 5:02 left in the third quarter, having missed his final four shots.

John Wall and Ben McLemore each had 15 points for the Rockets, who got 11 points apiece from Eric Gordon and Jae’Sean Tate and 11 rebounds from DeMarcus Cousins. As expected, Wall and Harden were the starters in the Houston backcourt.

“It can be really good,” first-year Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “To have two dynamic ballhandlers on the floor who can do a bunch of different things, play off each other,

create for each other, it can be really, really good.”

Harden was not planning to address reporters after the game.

“Just happy to see him back out there on the floor,” McLemore said.

Lonnie Walker IV scored 17 for the Spurs, who got 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds from Dejounte Murray. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 12, while Rudy Gay and Devin Vassell each added 11 for San Antonio.

Harden seemed anything but disinterested to start his first live game action of the season. He stood immediately to the right of Silas in the pregame huddle, his eyes staring intently at whatever the coach was sketching on a dry-erase clipboard before taking the floor.

Harden’s first shot was a made straightaway 3-pointer and his second attempt led to him getting fouled from beyond the arc and making three free throws.

So, his shooting touch was there, at least at the outset — as was his touch on passes.

He connected with Danuel House on a threequarter-court chest pass to

HOUSTON Rockets guard James Harden, right, puts up a shot over San Antonio Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV, left, during the first half last night in Houston.

(AP Photo/Michael Wyke) set up a dunk late in the opening quarter, timing clearly not much of an issue after a couple months off.

Harden went 3 for 10 from the field, including 2 for 6 from 3-point range.

He also went 4 for 5 at the free-throw line.

“I thought our young guys played him pretty wisely,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I think we

fouled him one time on a 3-point shot, but that’s going to happen with him.

He’s pretty clever. We were better on him than we were John Wall. I thought John Wall got by us much too often.”

Wall said he isn’t recruiting Harden to stay in Houston, focusing instead on how they can work best together as teammates now.

“He’s going to do what’s best for him. ... I don’t try to ask him about that because that’s his personal business,” Wall said.

The Rockets lost guard Chris Clemons with 9:58 left, after he was taken off the court in a wheelchair.

Clemons made a 3-pointer for an 87-74 Houston lead, and after retreating to the defensive end for the ensuing possession, appeared to take a bad step and immediately began reaching for his right Achilles area.

There was no immediate diagnosis of Clemons’ injury, but given his reaction when it happened and as he was being wheeled off the floor it was reasonable to think that the Rockets were bracing for bad news.

“Right when it happened, I knew exactly what it was,” said Wall, who has dealt with Achilles surgery himself.

There are four games today, followed by seven on Thursday, eight on Friday and then three in the preseason finales Saturday.

The regular season begins on December 22.

76ERS 108, CELTICS 99 At Philadelphia, Shake Milton scored 19 points, Joel Embiid added 18 and

Tobias Harris finished with 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the 76ers in the preseason opener for both clubs. Ben Simmons had 10 points and six assists for Philadelphia.

KINGS 114, WARRIORS 113 At Sacramento, Golden State’s Stephen Curry had 29 points in 28 minutes, but Kyle Guy’s 3-pointer at the buzzer won it for the Kings.

Curry was 11 for 21 from the field, 5 for 13 from 3-point range.

Guy scored 20 points for the Kings, including six 3-pointers. Buddy Hield scored 18 points and De’Aaron Fox had 17 for the Kings. Hassan Whiteside added 11 points and nine rebounds in 15 minutes.

Marquese Chriss scored 17 for the Warriors, Kelly Oubre Jr and Andrew Wiggins each scored 12, and Brad Wanamaker finished with 10. Golden State trailed 66-47 early in the third quarter, then rallied to lead by four in the final minute.

But Guy found Robert Woodyard II for a dunk to cut the Golden State edge to two, then made the game-winner from near the top of the key as time expired.

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO AGREES TO EXTENSION WITH BUCKS

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo has agreed to a supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks that takes the two-time reigning MVP off next summer’s free-agent market.

“I’m blessed to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 5 years,” Antetokounmpo posted Tuesday on his social media platforms. The Bucks announced later in the day that Antetokounmpo had signed an extension without announcing the terms or length.

The 26-year-old Antetokounmpo had until Monday to sign the Bucks’ supermax extension offer. If he turned it down, Antetokounmpo could have become a free agent after the upcoming season.

The Athletic and Stadium reported that he agreed to a fiveyear extension worth $228 million that includes an opt-out clause in 2025.

“This is my home, this is my city,” Antetokounmpo said in his post on social media. “I’m

blessed to be able to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 5 years. Let’s make these years count. The show goes on, let’s get it.”

Bucks co-owners Marc Lasry, Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan said in a statement that “Giannis is a once in a generation player and we are beyond excited for him to remain with the Bucks.”

“This is a big moment for me and my family and I want to thank the Bucks organization for believing in us,” Antetokounmo said in a statement released by the team. “You took a chance on us eight years ago and now putting my signature on a contract like this is unreal – but it’s all because of hard work. This is my home and I’m going to continue working hard and do my best to make the Bucks, our fans and the city proud.”

His decision means the Bucks will hang on to their biggest star since Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who led Milwaukee to its lone NBA title in 1971, but demanded a trade and was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975.

The Bucks paid a hefty price to revamp their roster this offseason in an attempt to persuade Antetokounmpo to stay. They dealt away guards Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, first-round draft pick R.J. Hampton and two more first-round selections as part of a package to acquire Jrue Holiday.

They also overhauled their bench by adding Bobby Portis, D.J. Augustin, Torrey Craig and Bryn Forbes. Antetokounmpo called those offseason moves “amazing” without indicating whether he planned to sign the extension.

“At the end of the day, the team is going to take care of what they’re going to do,” Antetokounmpo said last week. “Off the court, they tried to improve this team as much as possible. We’ve had the best regular-season team the last two years and that shows you that the team and the front office cares about improving the team every single year. Me, on the court, I’m going to try to improve individually and help my teammates improve, also.”

Despite that regular-season success, the Antetokounmpo-led

HEAT’S GORAN DRAGIC, bottom left, Jae Crowder, top left, and Jimmy Butler (22) defend as Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots. (AP) Bucks have yet to reach the NBA Finals. Milwaukee lost a secondround series in five games to Miami last season, with Antetokounmpo missing most of Game 4 and all of Game 5 with a sprained right ankle. In 2019, the Bucks reached the Eastern Conference finals and took a 2-0 lead over eventual NBA champion Toronto before dropping four straight.

The Bucks understood the importance of Antetokounmpo’s decision to the future of the franchise. When Antetokounmpo celebrated his birthday on Dec. 6, each of his teammates jokingly

gave him a pen as a present in hopes he’d use one to sign his extension.

After Antetokounmpo announced his decision, All-Star forward Khris Middleton tweeted to Bucks teammate Pat Connaughton: “I hope he uses the pens we all gave him!!”

Milwaukee selected Antetokounmpo out of Greece with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft.

The 6-foot-11 “Greek Freak” has career averages of 20.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

Last season, he averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists while winning his second straight MVP award. He also was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

“His work ethic and desire to be the best epitomize what the Bucks stand for and what our future holds,” the Bucks co-owners said in their statement. “We thank Giannis and his family for their long-term commitment to Milwaukee and we look forward to many years of success.

This is a momentous day for the Bucks, our fans and the state of Wisconsin.”

BUDDY, FROM PAGE 11 style.” The Kings hope it also will end their 14-season playoff drought, which is one shy of the longest in NBA history set by the Clippers franchise, which missed the playoffs from 1977 through 1991 while playing in Buffalo, San Diego and Los Angeles.

BAGLEY BOOST Little went right for Bagley last season following a promising rookie campaign. The player the Kings selected second, one spot ahead of Luka Doncic, showed flashes as a rookie but never got going last season because of injuries.

He broke his thumb in the season opener and then suffered foot sprains, limiting him to 13 games all season.

Bagley then tested positive for the coronavirus before training camp. But the Kings are counting on him to build on his rookie campaign when he averaged 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds 1.0 assist and 1.0 block per game in 2018-19.

BUDDY BALL The Kings gave guard Buddy Hield a four-year extension worth up to $106 million last offseason only to bench him during the season. The lucrative contract kicks in this season and Hield has expressed some frustration with his role. Sacramento went 13-7 after replacing Hield in the lineup with Bogdan

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KINGS head coach Luke Walton, left, talks with Buddy Hield during the fourth quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (AP) Bogdanovic last January.

With Bogdanovic gone, Hield gets to regain his starting role but Walton hasn’t committed to that yet. Hield’s numbers fell a bit last season with his 3-point shooting dropping from 43 percent to 39 percent and his scoring average falling from 20.7 points per game to 19.2.

HEY ROOK The Kings were ecstatic when Haliburton slipped to 12th in the draft, allowing them to find an athletic complement to Fox in the backcourt.

Haliburton was projected by many to go in the top five after averaging 15.2 points and 6.5 assists during his sophomore season at Iowa State. He also shot better than 42 percent from 3-point range during his college career. While many players have been hesitant about joining the Kings,

Haliburton called it the “perfect spot” for him.

“There’s a young core that’s ready to compete, ready to be healthy and be able to truly compete to make the playoffs,” Haliburton said.

NEW REGIME The Kings once again made a change in leadership, cutting ties with Vlade Divac after five season as general manager and bringing in Monte McNair from Houston. McNair is the fourth general manager during this playoff drought and Walton is the team’s 10th coach. McNair’s three biggest decisions this offseason were drafting Haliburton in the first round, giving Fox a $163 million, five-year extension and declining to match a $72 million, 4-year restricted free agent offer sheet to Bogdan Bogdanovic, who left for Atlanta.

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SPORTS

PAGE 14, Wednesday, December 16, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

DIAMOND BASKETBALL SATURDAY FINALE ‘GOING TO BE VERY EXCITING’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net DESPITE the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, Terrance ‘Red Eye’ McSweeney was pleased by the turnout for his Diamond Basketball Development Programme.

The programme, designed for female basketball players in the country, got started on Saturday, November 14 and will wrap up from 9am to noon Saturday at the Hope Centre Ministries Basketball Court on Big Pond Highway and Bahamas Games Boulevard. This year, McSweeney will pay tribute to the late Jonique ‘Mini’ Webb, a former Diamond Basketball Development camper, who died on January 19 at the age of 30 after she lost her battle with lupus.

“It’s going to be very, very exciting,” said McSweeney of the finale of the programme this Saturday.

“We are looking forward to the Alpha Kappa Sorority Inc., an organisation that Jonique Webb was involved in, to be a part of the event.”

McSweeney said Ida Poitier, the president of the local chapter of the sorority, now celebrating its 112th anniversary, will be in attendance along with other sisters as they honour the life and memory of Webb on the basketball court.

After hosting the programme for the past six weeks, McSweeney said they too are honouring Webb, who was a part of the organisation from 1998 to 2006 after graduating from Jordan Prince Williams High School where she was a multiple sporting star.

“We just thought it was fitting once again with these six Saturdays practices,” McSweeney said. “Prior to Saturday, November 14, we tried during the summer to do a five-week basketball tournament for girls honouring Jonique.

“But the pandemic played a part in that not coming to fruition. But we give God thanks for the one week we were able to host eight girls during that week, who came in and got a chip off the iceberg in terms of what the programme is all about.”

With an average of 12-16 girls participating in this latest programme, McSweeney said Webb’s mother Linda Forbes has been an inspiration assisting with transporting at least five of the players to and from their homes from schools such as CV Bethel, Nassau Christian Academy and LW Young.

Other players came from Anatol Rodgers, St John’s, Temple Christian Academy and Harbour Island AllAge School, which is now home schooling here.

Special awards will be presented to the most outstanding players who depicted Webb’s attributes, as well as a few other presentations to the players and to the Diamond Basketball Development Programme.

Members of the AKA, the oldest black sorority, will also have members come out and share their experiences and to encourage the young campers.

As a part of the activities planned, the sorority members will also be invited to participate in the specially designed Jonique Buckets where they will have to either make as many lay

Private Service For Eleanor Louraine Morley, 79 of Sandilands Village and formerly of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas will be held on Saturday, December 19th, 2020, 2:00p.m. at Tarpum Bay Public Cemetery, Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas. Officiating will be Elder Francis M. Carey, J.P.

PARTICIPANTS take advantage of the Diamond Basketball Development Programme. ups or shoot free throws or jump shots with pink and green basketballs to help play their part in honouring Webb’s achievement as a

player. “Jonique was full of life and was always having fun around whoever she was with,” McSweeney said.

“She was a fun person to be

around, so with her organisation coming through, we decided that we will make it a fun-filled day in her honour.”

Private Service For Robynn Charise Robert, 58 of #90 Lake Cunningham Estates will be held on Thursday, December 17th, 2020, 1:00 p.m. at Lakeview Memorial Gardens, John F. Kennedy Drive and Gladstone Road. Officiating will be Father Roderick Bain.

Left to cherish many fond memories and to carry on her legacy are her sons: David Morley & Retired Petty Officer Kenneth Kevon Morley; daughters: Cathy Morley & Ferne Morley Scott; grandchildren: David Jr., Davette & Marine Mechanic Kevon Morley; daughters-inlaw: Sterline & Sherryl Morley; son-in-law: Eddie Scott; brother: George Edwards; sisters-in-law: Pearline Edwards, Cleta, Anna & Florence Morley, Rochelle, Ruby & Caphy Morley & Phenice Major; aunts: Annie Mingo, Marie Ingraham & Vangie Cummings; uncles: Thomas Mingo & James Smith Nieces: Karen Smith, Melanie Goddard, Jewel Edwards, Michelle Fernander, Veronica Micklewhyte, Ardell Johnson, Debra Moxey, Cynthia & Edith Nottage, Beulah, Coramae, Sharon Carleen, Lilymae, Deanna, Sharmaine Morley and Queenie Brown; nephews: Glen & Jason Edwards, Hervis Jr., Samuel, Keno & Kendrick Cartwright, Sherwin Fernander, Orlanda, Jave, Roy, Samuel, Labon, Richardson and Michael Morley and Deon Nottage; adopted children: Eloi Carey, Ann Clark Rolle; and a host of grandnieces & nephews & cousins; other relatives and friends including: Jennifer Morley, Sterling Nottage, Family of the late Oswald & Marie Ingraham, Family of Thomas & Annie Mingo, Family of the late Gus and Thelma Rolle, Mrs. Paula Sands and family, Family of the late Reuben & Mavis Johnson, Family of the late Peter & Hilda Carey, Family of the late Oissie & Susan Edwards, The McCartney & Goodman families, Catherine Roberts, Sandra, Peter & John Meadows and their families, Mrs. Agnes Allen and family, Pastor Thomas (Lisa) Roberts & Family, Mr. Sammy Carey & Family, Don & Delphine Carey, Ethelyn Hunt & Family, David “German” Carey & Family, Virginia Delancey and family, Macquella Fellow and Family, Blanche Mingo and family, Pastor Alice Sands, Pastor Samuel Johnson, Sis. Vanderline Hunt and family, Mrs. Priscilla Clarke & Family, Mrs. Eurene Nottage, Mrs. Mizpah Major & Family, Ms. Grace Mingo, Calsey Rolle & Family, Mr. Bertram Rolle and Family, Mrs. Ellen Gibson, Sabrina and family, William and family and Ms. Ann Clarke-Rolle and family, Bert’s for the Best, Rev. Hilda Allen, Mr. & Mrs. Branville Nottage and Family, Mr. John Carey and Family, Mr. Eugene Carey and Family, Mr. Kenneth Carey & Family, Mr. Dewitt Carey & Family, Leigh Burrows & Family, Believers Gospel Chapel, Ebenezer Gospel Chapel, Palmetto Point & Governors Harbour Gospel Chapels, Assemblies of Brethren in the Bahamas , The entire community of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera; and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention; special thanks to: Dr. Sidney Smith, Nurses of the Tarpum Bay and Rock Sound Clinics, Dr. Patrick Cargill, the doctors and nurses of PMH A & E and Female Medical # 2 especially Nurses Cash & Reid and the staff of McCartney’s Pharmacy.

Left to cherish her memories are her husband: Claude Charles Robert; son: Ryan Claude Robert; stepson: McKenzie Claude Robert; stepdaughter: Marilo Hernandez Robert; grandchildren: Mauro, Mateo, Miguel; adopted mother: Constance Marina Mackey; sisters: Jade Solomon, Judith Theophilus, Donna Mackey, Deborah Nubirth, Stephanie Ferguson, Germaine Rahming; Brothers: Dana Knowles, Fred Curry, Keith Mackey, Perrie Mackey, Stephen Mackey, Floyd Mackey, Spencer Mackey, Kellie Mackey; aunts: Stella Knowles, Angela Achara, Coralee Thomas, Jewel Curry, Dr. Sandra Bowe-Brown, Lula Johnson; uncles: Danny Knowles, Dr. Earl Brown, Ben Johnson; numerous nephews including: David Knowles, Daniel Knowles, Dillon Knowles, Juan Theophilus-Thompson, Jamal Theophilus-Thompson, Krishna Murray, Micah Beneby, Kharis Beneby, Dana Mackey, Gareth Ferguson, Jahni Ferguson, Leslie Rahming, Kaelin Mackey, Spencer Mackey and Shavar Mackey; numerous nieces including: LaVette Johnson, Yael Walcott, Nakeischea Smith-Kelley, Keithra Mackey, Gaichelle Russell, Latrice Mackey Coverley Leia Rahming and Kallie Mackey; sisterin-law: Jody Knowles; and a host of other relatives and friends including: The Extended Theophilus Family, Audrey Russell and Family, Desi Morman and Family, Joy and Glen Colebrooke, Vernell Butler & Family, Madge Bowleg, The Extended Mackey Family, Gabrielle Pratt and Family, Tellis, Brian, and Bobby Bethel, Betty Simms & family, Anastasia Thompson & Family, Tomasinea Simms and Family, Alexis Bradshaw & Family, Edwina Usher & Family, Patricia Smith & Family, Dereck Cleare and Family, Peterson Family, Prescola and Lynn Musgrove, Denison Balfour and Family, Sharon Gibson and Family, Valderine Adderley and Family, The Simms and Curry Families, The Sherman Family, Stephanie Missick-Jones and Family, Denise ButlerBrown and Family, Kayla Tucker Cartwright & Family, Brian Butler & Family, the Bowe family, Joyce Bain and Family, Rosie Dean and Family, Wendy and Dave Foulkes and Family, Sophie Swann and Family, The Cumberbatch Family, The Butler Family, The Neilly’s, Anthony Juan Crimes, Shacantila Williams and Family, Beryl Bain, Yvette Stuart and Family, Alex Celestin and Family, Samantha Bain, Nekishna Sutherland, Naydon Sutherland, Family and Friends of Eneas Avenue, The Stapledon Gardens Family, Andrea Johnson and Family, Dr. Trent Wang and staff at The University of Miami’s Cancer Center – Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant, staff members of Bahamas Air, Staff at The Hotel Training College including Donna Williams, Chef Ellie Saunders, and Chef Farrington, Staff at ZNS, Staff at Ministry of Tourism, Staff at Bahamas Food Services including Ben Frisch, Brian Coakley, St. John’s College Class of 1978, University of Miami MBA Class of 2004, Schiller University, London, Class of 1986, and McHari International College, Principal, Staff, and Students of Blairwood Academy, Family and Friends of Lake Cunningham Estates and many others too numerous to mention.

Viewing will be held in the “Serenity Suite” at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Roads on Wednesday (TODAY) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and again at Ebenezer Gospel Chapel, Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera on Friday at 10:00 until service time on Saturday.

Viewing will be held in the “Serenity Suite” at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Roads on (TODAY WEDNESDAY from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

SPORTS

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 16, 2020, PAGE 15

Tokyo Games relay opens in 100 days with 10,000 torchbearers

By TERESA M WALKER AP Pro Football Writer

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — The torch relay for the postponed Tokyo Games will start in just over three months, and it faces the same questions as the Olympics about being held safely during the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers said yesterday the relay is set to begin on March 25 from the northeastern prefecture of Fukushima. This was also to have been the starting point for the relay before the Olympics were postponed nine months ago.

This coastal area of Japan was devastated almost 10 years ago by an earthquake and tsunami and the subsequent meltdown of three nuclear reactors.

The relay will travel across Japan and involve 10,000 runners and tens of thousands of officials. This does not include local residents who will want to see the torch go by.

“The COVID-19 countermeasures will be worked on continuously for the torch relay; the audience, the torchbearers as well as the officials who are related to the programme,” Yukihiko Nunomura, vice director general of the Tokyo Olympic organising committee, said during an online news conference.

The relay is sponsored by Toyota and Coca-Cola — two heavyweight Olympic sponsors.

There was some discussion early about the possibility of eliminating the event for cost and safety reasons, but that idea seemed to be quickly discarded.

THREE-time Olympic gold medallists Tadahiro Nomura, right, and Saori Yoshida light the torch during Olympic Flame Arrival Ceremony at Japan Air Self-Defense Force Matsushima Base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, March 20. (AP) The relay will last for 121 days and pass through 859 municipalities — pretty much as was planned before the postponement.

“We wanted to simplify the programme as much as possible, trying to minimise the number of vehicles and audience as well,” Nunomura said.

“As you know the torch relay will go all over Japan and we will have a lot of participants.”

The Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in Japan, was lighted in gold yesterday to commemorate 100 days until the relay begins.

The postponed Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23, 2021, and are set to include the full complement of 11,000 athletes.

The Paralympics will add 4,400 more.

Organisers of the Olympics and torch relay are waiting until early next year to provide specific details about countermeasures for the coronavirus.

They have been encouraged about the recent roll out of vaccines.

“A few vaccines are now being distributed and are actually being used,” Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Monday in an interview with The Associated Press. “It’s a ray of hope.”

Japan has seen new infections spike across the country in the last several weeks. On Saturday, new cases totaled 3,041 — the first time above 3,000.

Japan, with a population of 125 million, has handled the pandemic relatively well with just over 2,500 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER, LAILA ALI, ELECTED TO BOXING HALL OF FAME CANASTOTA, N.Y. (AP) — Floyd Mayweather, who captured 11 world titles in five weight divisions and retired unbeaten, former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, and Laila Ali have been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Class of 2021 announced yesterday also includes former Olympic champion Andre Ward, Ann Wolfe, Marian Trimiar, and Dr. Margaret Goodman. Elected posthumously were: lightweight champion Davey Moore, Jackie Tonawanda, cut man Freddie Brown, manager-trainer Jackie McCoy, journalist George Kimball, and television executive Jay Larkin.

Honourees were selected by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians. Induction day is scheduled for June 13 and also will include last year’s class, which was postponed by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Class of 2020 includes: Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Christy Martin, Lucia

NFL NOT ALLOWING MANDATED LOCAL BUBBLES DURING POSTSEASON

Rijker, Barbara Buttrick, Frank Erne, Paddy Ryan, Lou DiBella, Kathy Duva, Dan Goossen, Bernard Fernandez and Thomas Hauser.

Born in 1977 in Grand Rapids, Michigan into a fighting family, Mayweather compiled an 84-6 amateur record that included three National Golden Gloves titles and a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.

He turned pro in 1996 and captured his titles in five weight divisions, getting it started with an eighthround knockout of Genaro Hernandez for the WBC junior lightweight title in just his 18th pro bout.

Trained by his father, Floyd Sr., and uncle Roger, the fighter nicknamed “Money” retired in 2017 with a record of 50-0 (27 KOs) following a crossover bout and knockout of mixed martial arts star Conor MacGregor.

“It is a great honor for me to be inducted ... as a first-ballot nominee,” Mayweather said. “Throughout my career, I gave everything I could to the sport of boxing, and now, to be recognized by one of the

most prestigious honors in the sport for that hard work and dedication is very humbling.”

The 6-foot-6 Klitschko capped a 134-6 (65 KOs) amateur career by winning super heavyweight gold at the 1996 Olympic Games.

He turned pro the same year in Germany and won 24 straight bouts before losing to Ross Purrity. He rebounded to defeat Chris Byrd for the WBO heavyweight title and in 2006 stopped Byrd again for the IBF/IBO titles to begin a dominant nine-year title reign that included 18 successful defenses.

Nicknamed “Dr. Steelhammer,” the native of Kazakhstan was heavyweight champion longer than anyone in history (12 years, 2 days) and finished with a pro record of 64-5 (53 KOs).

Ali also retired unbeaten with a 24-0 record (21 KOs) that included a 2003 win over Christy Martin. The 5-10 Ali used a precise jab and powerful right hand to register an 87.5 knockout percentage, living up to her nickname, “She Bee Stingin’.”

THE TOKYO SKYTREE, the tallest tower in Japan, is illuminated with the colour of the Olympic Torch yesterday, to commemorate 100 days until the torch relay begins in Tokyo.

(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

NFL teams won’t be allowed to create local bubbles during the postseason by mandating that players stay in a hotel, except for the night before a game.

“Clubs may not require players and staff to stay at a hotel in their local area,” reads a league memo obtained yesterday by The Associated Press.

“This decision is based upon an analysis of the frequency of positive cases in the league compared to the risk of significant spread among players and staff gathered for an extensive period of time at one hotel.”

Teams will be allowed to continue paying for players who want to move into a hotel to avoid the risk of catching COVID-19 from family or roommates throughout the postseason, according to the memo.

When teams stay in hotels before games, players and staff now will be required to wear a tracing device until they return to their rooms for the night whether staying at home or on the road.

The NFL also reminded teams that gathering socially at team hotels remains prohibited, while requirements to wear masks and physical distance from each other are still in effect.

In the postseason, teams will be reimbursed for using two planes to travel to road games. The limits on how many people can travel remain unchanged, and the NFL reminded teams to assign seats strategically to reduce risks of spreading the virus.

The NFL and NFL Players Association also agreed to update COVID-19 protocols adding a new test, clearing people to work game days, extending the time for people testing positive but asymptomatic to return, and extending testing to players’ family and their service providers, according to the memo.

PAGE 16, Wednesday, December 16, 2020 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15th, 2020

THE TRIBUNE THE TRIBUNE

$427M “ First-of-Its-Kind ”

Multi-Function Phased Array, Air Traffic Control, Climate,

Marine, Navigation, Severe Weather & Hurricane Ntwk Gets Cabinet Light !

The New ICAO designated ‘Meteorological Weather Authority’ for Intl. Air Navigation Services on behalf of a Contracting State to the Chicago Convention (1944)................

BAHAMAS AvIATIoN, ClIMATE & SEvERE Wx NETWoRk shall stand up a Meteorological Watch Office (MWO) with the resources, systems and expertise to provide 24/7/365 continuous watch over Bahamas’ sovereign archipelagic baselines, territorial & contiguous seas; as well as, our nations’ exclusive economic zone.(EEZ)

Bahamas

BAHAMAS AVIATION, CLIMATE & SEVERE WEATHER NETWORK & RAYTHEON MEET WITH PM

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DEPT OF METEOROLOGY

Director Basden & the Department of Meteorology team say that Bahamas Aviation, Climate & Severe Weather Network’s System is “ ....the Answer to Their Prayers!!”

In partnershIp and/or potentIaL coLLaboratIon wIth

department of Meteorology Commonweath of The Bahamas

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper