Gaither finishes 21st overall in women’s 100m

TOKYO, Japan ‑ Tynia Gaither knew she had to really get out, focus on her lane, and run her race in order to advance to the Olympic final on Saturday, but it wasn’t to be as she faded to sixth in her semifinal heat and was 21st overall.

Gaither was timed in 11.31 seconds, slightly improving on the 11.34 she ran in the heats of the women’s 100 meters (m) at the Japan National Stadium during the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

All is not lost for Gaither as she still has the heats of the women’s 200m on Monday, looking to advance to her third straight global final in that event. It’s also the second straight Olympics in which she is running both the women’s 100 and 200m for The Bahamas.

Gaither was eighth at the world championships in 2017 in London, England, and eighth again at the world championships in Doha, Qatar, in 2019.

Here in Tokyo, she said she knew she was up against the absolute fastest female sprinters in the word and had to run the race of her life in order to advance to the Olympic final.

After finishing third in her opening round heat on Friday, she said: “I feel good mentally and I feel good physically. My start was a lil rough, and the transition, but once I straightened up, I was able to run well. Running the 100 and the 200 is something I’ve always done, and I like to do it. At this point of the season, it comes down to heart.”

Gaither, who ran a personal best time of 11.02 seconds this season, is now looking forward to the women’s 200m here in Tokyo.

As for the 100m, it was a 1-2-3 Jamaican seep in the final.

Defending Champion Elaine Thompson-Herah won her second straight Olympic title, becoming the second-fastest woman of all-time with a blazing 10.61 seconds in the final. She trails just world record holder, the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, of the United States, on the all-time list.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a 12-time global champion, was second in 10.74 seconds on Saturday night. Shericka Jackson completed the Jamaican 1-2-3 sweep, crossing the finish line in a personal best time of 10.76 seconds.

As for Gaither, she didn’t seem to power out of the blocks like she normally does, and by the time she got into her drive phase, it was too late as the field of runners was too far ahead.

Gaither was in the same semifinal heat as Thompson-Herah. The Jamaican separated herself from the field early and won that heat comfortably in 10.76 seconds. Still, she wasn’t the fastest qualifier for the final. Fraser-Pryce won her semifinal heat in 10.73 seconds.

For The Bahamas, Gaither will be joined by Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Anthonique Strachan in the heats of the women’s 200m on Monday. Jamaica will be represented by Thompson-Herah, Fraser-Pryce and Jackson again.

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Colebrooke bows out of men’s 100m

TOKYO, Japan ‑ Running in his first-ever Olympic race, and lining up just two lanes down from the world leader and event favorite, Trayvon Bromell of the United States, Bahamian Samson Colebrooke didn’t get the start he wanted and labored to the finish line in the men’s 100 meters (m) at the Japan National Stadium on Saturday evening.

Colebrooke stopped the clock in 10.33 seconds, crossing the finish line in seventh place to bring his first Olympic Games experience to an end. He was the first male competitor in action on the track for The Bahamas at the Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

“It was good… stumbled out of the blocks again, but not worried about it. It was good to get my feet wet. I know what to work on for next time and what to build toward. I’m excited…. not upset at all. You live and you learn,” said Colebrooke.

Colebrooke had qualified for the Olympics from 2019, running a personal best time of 10.01 seconds at the North American, Central Americana and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-18 (U18) and Under-23 (U23) Championships in Querétaro, Mexico. However, this season, he could only muster a season’s best time of 10.18 seconds.

He knows he will have to get much faster if he wants to keep up with the top male sprinters in the world.

Colebrooke, listed as the second-fastest Bahamian ever with that 10.01 clocking in 2019, is now looking forward to the 2022 World Athletics (WA) World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

The Tokyo Olympics was his first global competition on the senior side, and he said that now that he has his feet wet at the Olympic level, he’s certainly looking forward to returning to that stage in three years time.

“Here, it’s no different from running against competitors in high school and college. It’s just that training is intensified,” he said. “Just being here is good. I just have to go and recover, get some good training in and go from there. I’m looking forward to 2022.”

Canadian Andre de Grasse was the fastest qualifier for the semifinals, running a season’s best time of 9.91 seconds. Lamont Marcell Jacobs, of Italy, had the second-fastest qualifying time, running a national record of 9.94 seconds in the opening round heats. American Fred Kerley qualified third in 9.97 seconds. Bromell, who has run 9.77 seconds this year for the world lead, was timed in just 10.05 seconds and was a non-automatic qualifier for the semis.

As for 24-year-old Colebrooke, his first Olympic Games experience is now over. He said he could only learn from it and is motivated to get stronger and faster for 2022.

Colebrooke said he loves representing The Bahamas in international competition and is looking forward to returning to the Olympic stage in three years time.

The 2024 Olympics is set for July 26 to August 11, in Paris, France.

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Charlton, Seymour make it through to the semis

TOKYO, Japan ‑ Both Devynne Charlton and Pedrya Seymour advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 100 meters (m) hurdles at the Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, making history for The Bahamas.

It’s the first time in history that two Bahamian hurdlers have advanced to the semifinals of the Olympics in a single hurdles event.

Charlton was timed in 12.84 seconds in her heat, crossing the line in fourth place and grabbing one of the automatic qualifying spots for the semis.  She qualified for the semis 12th overall.

Devynne “Sonic” Charlton.

Seymour, looking to build off her first Olympic experience five years ago when she finished sixth in the final, was also fourth in her opening round heat yesterday. She clocked 13.04 seconds.

Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn was the fastest qualifier for the final, running 12.41 seconds.

The semifinals are set for 7:45 p.m. Sunday night here at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, 6:45 a.m. Sunday morning in The Bahamas.

Just the first two in each semifinal heat and the next two fastest times move on to Monday’s final. The final will be held at 11:50 p.m. Monday here in Tokyo, 10:50 p.m. Sunday night in The Bahamas.

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Courtney Celeste Spears keeping company with legends

Courtney Celeste Spears is keeping company with legends. She was selected by her company Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and among a number of dance legends photographed for Harper’s Bazaar’s August issue.

Spears was part of an elite group of dancers that included Savion Glover, American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer; Misty Copeland, who in 2015 became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre; Xin Ying, principal, Martha Graham Dance Company; Stella Abrera, a former American Ballet Theatre principal; Lloyd Knight, principal dancer Martha Graham Dance Company,Tatian Desardouin, Passion Fruit Dance Company; Melissa Verdecia, Ballet Hispanico; Tiler Peck, New York City Ballet; Calvin Royal III; American Ballet Theatre; and Vinson Fraley, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company among other dancers who showcased fashion while highlighting their individual expressions of movement for the story “Dance Is Finally Back” by Siobhan Burke, which speaks to dancers being back on stage performing in front of live audiences after a year of solo practices and virtual performances. And for some of the field’s biggest stars, choreographing the future of an art steeped in tradition means leaving some things in the past.

“I received an email from our [public relations] director at Alvin Ailey, Christopher Zunner, who let me know that Harpar’s Bazaar was putting together a portfolio of dancers for their August issue and had invited me to be photographed. I just about screamed!” Spears recalled.

“When I got there, Savion Glover was filming his video component. Savion Glover is a legend in his own right, trailblazing through the dance industry with his tapping feet. I was a little star struck. I walked in and saw a rack of top designer clothes, a full makeup and hair station, the entire crew, and a call board of some to the most iconic dancers currently in our industry like Misty Copeland, Xin Ying, Stella Abrera, Sascha Radetsky, Lloyd Knight and Vinson Fraley … and then I looked and saw a photo of me.”

Spears was awed.

“I couldn’t believe the company I was in. I still don’t know how I got in that room, but God is amazing.”

For the shoot, Spears who is resplendent in a red FY21 Dior Heart dress was styled by Samira Nasr, Harper’s Bazaar’s first woman of color to be appointed editor-in-chief and photographed by Amy Troost.

The idea was for Spears’ photo to jump of the page, so she says she just started moving and jumping and trying things with the skirt of the dress.

“It’s easy to get in your head about getting the perfect photo, so I just tried to let go and trust myself. Once I started doing that, we got the shot. It was a surreal moment.”

When she got her copy of the magazine, Spears says seeing herself on a full page made her think of her family who let her pursue her dream of dance.

“I thought of my grandfather, the late Franklin Sweeting, and my grandmother Andrea Sweeting [Sister Sister (Breast) Cancer Support Group president], and my mother D’Andrea Sweeting Cary. I thought of how proud my grandfather must be looking down on his ‘Miss Courts’ still trying to soar in the Big Apple. He’d be the first one who wanted a copy [of the magazine]. My Grammy continues to be my inspiration, and I couldn’t wait to tell her. And my mom, is my biggest advocate. She grew up in The Bahamas and let me pursue my dreams, even if she wasn’t sure of here it would take me – and now look. This moment was for them.”

Spears is now in rehearsals for lot of pieces to be performed throughout the year, and preparing for her Company’s return to the stage and a December 1-19 season in the heart of New York City with a live audience.

“I think I’m going to be an emotional wreck when that curtain goes up, but I’m thrilled to be back on stage,” she says.

They will also take to the road again with stops in Miami, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, California. Still in the midst of COVID-19, Spears says even as they prepare to return to the stage, he says they are cognizant that everything is still subject to change with the pandemic.

The stage she says is where she says she feels most alive.

“I like to say the stage is where God and I have the best conversations, and I’ve missed it so much.”

Spears was on tour with Ailey in Texas when they were sent home. She had someone living in her apartment at the time, and made the decision to go to her parents’ house in Florida for “two weeks” in her head. She ended up being there for four months before returning to New York.

“I’ve never had that much time off since I was a kid. I’ve trained consistently for as long as I can remember.”

With no choice about taking the time off, Spears says she went through a rough phase of not being motivated to dance.

“I started out pretty strong, but then ended up stopping altogether. I think I was in shock or grieving. My entire world has shut down and I needed time to process. And then I remember getting up and just starting day by day. I ended up streaming some of my classes on Instagram and had so many students join me for class. It actually comforted me a lot realizing I wasn’t in this whole thing by myself.”

While in Florida, Spears says she took advantage of the open air and landscape to ride her bike every morning which helped her to start to build up her cardio.

As she trains and prepares to return to the stage Spears says she is feeling like a revamped version of herself.

“I am not the same woman or dancer I was before the pandemic. I’ve grown so much – I’ve re-evaluated so much of my life looking at what I want long term and what my priorities are. I’ve cultivated some new dreams I didn’t even know I had. This pandemic showed me there is no time to waste. Every day God gives us on this earth is a blessing, and it’s not to be wasted. I’m just getting started and I’m blowing all the ceilings I set for myself in the past. All I have to do is keep doing the work, put everything in God’s hands, walk in faith, and I know he will do the rest.”

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The other side of the pentaprism

TERN gallery will present “The Other Side Of The Pentaprism: Six Photographers In Conversation” – a photographic exhibition presenting the work of female contemporary artists from the Caribbean.

The work of Tamika Galanis, Melissa Alcena, Jodi Minnis, Leanne Russell, Lynn Parotti and Tiffany Smith will be shown during the August 26 to October 30 exhibition.

A key tool in photography, the pentaprism is a five-faced reflective surface that refracts light at a 90-degree angle. This type of prism is used in a traditional single-lens reflex camera, reinverting the image in the viewfinder that is sent to the eye by the camera’s lens. Hence, the image that is received by the brain has been transformed in order to deliver the viewer a version of “reality”. A pentaprism corrects the inverted image caused by the cameras’ lens – without the pentaprism, the viewfinder would display an upside-down world.

While mirrors purport to display veracity, they are also capable of manipulation, through angles or flaws, yet still are credited with mediating the “unvarnished truth”. In photographs, subjects can be arranged “naturally” while specific lighting, makeup, or constructed and considered poses may mimic authenticity, creating a narrative sold as truth when it actually distorts.

In Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass”, Alice traverses the reflective plane to discover a topsy-turvy world where everything is reversed, including logic itself. But what if the “other side” were, in fact, the natural order? What if our side – the constructed world around us – is the “alternate reality” that has been fabricated to appear “normal”? What if the odd, inverted or strange is in fact the world we seek?

“The Other Side Of The Pentaprism” (re-)mirrors a vision of the Caribbean as it is, but seldom is seen. The artists in this show are the pentaprism, filtering their gaze through their creative vision. Revealing a different universe while questioning the “real” one people inhabit. The exhibit upsets the narratives and histories many people have been taught, showing that the norms and status quo are truly mad.

Leanne Russell’s “The Paper Crown.”

They ask the question: Is it not our accepted world that is illogical? A world where the homes of the enslavers are venerated while those of the enslaved are forgotten, where women are valued only for their ability to serve or bear children and where histories are unwritten.

The artists present rather a world where people exist as more than props within a fabricated backdrop.

As artists of the Caribbean and its diaspora, the women project their own value system, tackling common threads in their work, but in entirely unique ways.

Galanis and Alcena desire to reveal the humanity and personhood of each subject, escaping from the tendency of traditional historical, archival or anthropological images that dehumanize and make anonymous and unknowable; Galanis literally returns the names of her agents and actors while Alcena reframes Black manhood and womanhood in an entirely new light.

Minnis and Smith take on the tropes around Black – and specifically Caribbean – womanhood and confront them head on, exaggerating the inherent tendency to exoticize to reveal its superficiality.

Russell and Parotti use architecture to speak to the impracticable and unreasonable cycle of destruction and regeneration of worth and disregard, whereby we rebuild on ruins and expect tenable and robust results. And not only do we mean the literal, structural wreckage, but also the metaphorical wreckage of a people who must consistently display strength and resilience before they have been able to recover from historical and contemporary traumas.

Taking us through the glass and to the other side of the pentaprism, the artists are pulling back the curtain to a strange stage, where perhaps a healthier and more equitable conversation around the agency and value of Caribbean people might be found and held.

JodI Minnis’ “Salt, Lime, and Pepper.”

Galanis is a documentarian and multimedia visual artist. Her work examines the complexities of living in a place shrouded in tourism’s ideal during the age of climate concerns. Emphasizing the importance of Bahamian cultural identity for cultural preservation, she documents aspects of Bahamian life not curated for tourist consumption to intervene in the historical archive. Her work counters the widely held paradisiacal view of the Caribbean, the origins of which arose post-emancipation through a controlled, systematic visual framing and commodification of the tropics. Galanis’ photography-based practice includes traditional documentary work and new media abstractions of written, oral and archival histories.

Alcena is a portrait and documentary-based photographer. Her work often focuses on shifting the narrative around the Caribbean, and specifically The Bahamas, which is regularly portrayed as a country of shallow luxury, corruption or climate destruction. Known as a vacation site with landscapes populated by foreigners, Alcena flips the script by directly engaging with the people, putting them front and center, showing them and her country as complex, sophisticated and diverse. Her strong sense of color, of bright light and deep shadows, are purely homegrown, yet unexpected and nuanced. Reaching deeply into each of her subjects, she delves far beyond the surface to reveal the true nature of her sitter and the nation.

Minnis is a multidisciplinary artist who investigates the intersection of gender, race and culture. Through photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, video and performance, she scrutinizes the traditional representations and tropes around Black, specifically Bahamian, women. By investigating how imagery defines and relegates social status and investigating the personal and political aspects of those themes. Minnis uses her practice as a reclamation and/or call to ownership of the totality of Black Caribbean womanhood.

Smith is an interdisciplinary artist from the Caribbean diaspora (Jamaica/Guyana/Bahamas) working in photography, video, installation, and design. Using plant matter, design elements, patterning and costuming as cultural signifiers, Smith creates photographic portraits, site-responsive installations, user-engaged experiences and assemblages focused on identity, representation, cultural ambiguity, and displacement. Smith’s practice centers on what forms and defines communities of people of color, in particular, how they are identified and represented, and how they persist.

Russell is a multimedia artist who works in painting, sculpture and photography with digital manipulation. She colorizes and overlaps archival images of her home island, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, with present-day images of the island to unpack and bring to light the untold histories of that space. The Bahamian experience, both historically and in the everyday is usually synonymous with Nassau, New Providence and Russell’s work de-centers Nassauvian history and expands ideas of what the Bahamain existence is.

Parotti is a multimedia artist who is preoccupied with the environment in all its multifaceted connotations. She has a consuming passion for the natural landscape of The Bahamas, but is equally concerned with the social geography of place; the human experience and relationship to these locations, the historical traces, the economic and environmental impact and consequences. Her sensuous revelling in the beauty of nature is increasingly counter-balanced by a politicized awareness of its imperilled state due to climate change and the attendant crises of rising sea levels, the depletion of natural resources, the consequences of coral bleaching, the availability of clean water. She also references the human toll through allusions to migration, coastal communities, substance fishing and poverty.

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‘Old’ is laborious, awkward, uncomfortable and weird

“Old” (Rated T)

Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, Aaron Pierre

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Where to watch: In theaters

Dwight’s Rating:

This is like a car wreck on the highway.

One tire is shredded to pieces over here, and one wheel is off and rolling over there. The back seat is on the median. And the rest of the vehicle is sideways on the shoulder. It’s just a complete mess.

But you can’t help but stare!

And so, you do that long, almost painful drive-by – holding up all the traffic behind you, no less – craning your neck to take in all the sights.

“Oh no! That looks really bad!”

“Ewww!” I wish I hadn’t seen that!”

And, “My Gosh! How in God’s name did this catastrophe happen?”

That last question is one you may find yourself asking frequently during at least the first hour or so of the mostly ridiculous new film “Old”, as you’ll likely wonder who greenlit this yet another M. Night Shyamalan production (in my best “Hit Spot” voice – for my older Bahamian readers).

Shyamalan is a “master” of the ridiculous. But while many of his movies start off reasonably intriguing, and manage to captivate you for quite a bit before nosediving into an abyss of absurdity, “Old” almost immediately throws itself off a wobbly cliff, getting more incomprehensible with every single minute.

And yet, you won’t be able to look away, as your mind desperately seeks answers to this wacky mystery.

A family on a tropical holiday discovers that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly, reducing their entire lives into a single day.

That premise sounds, at once, both fascinating and foolish. But it is mainly the former.

However, in the hands of writer and director Shyamalan, who loosely based the story on “Sandcastle”, a graphic novel by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters, “Old” plays out like a clumsy, mystery version of “Crash” (the 2004 upset Best Picture Oscar winner – itself more-than-often clumsy), and is laborious, awkward, uncomfortable and weird.

To be fair, what we hear and see on the screen is perhaps exactly how we would all behave in such a bizarre scenario. But for quite a while one ponders whether one made a mistake walking into this theater, especially as things begin to make less and less sense.

And just as the mystery appears to be on track to never being resolved, there is indeed a resolution. Is it a satisfying pay off? That’s debatable. However, it is quite something, and in keeping with the usual and notorious “Shyamalan twist”.

A word of caution: if you are a conspiracy theorist, and if at this moment in time, you’ve graduated to what others might consider a “professional”, with conspiracies working in overdrive, perhaps you should stay away from “Old”. Just keep watching YouTube or getting your news from social media posts. There’s no need to allow this film to further send you over the edge.

We’ve got enough car wrecks to deal with.

• Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of “Morning Blend” on Guardian Radio and station manager. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter @morningblend969.

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Thomas, Wilson fail to make high jump final

TOKYO, Japan ‑ It was a tough outing for Bahamians Donald Thomas and Jamal Wilson on Friday, as they struggled to get into a rhythm, and consequently, failed to move into the final of the men’s high jump at the Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Thomas and Wilson got the competition started in the athletics portion of the Games of the 32nd Olympiad for The Bahamas.

Both jumpers knocked down the bar twice at the opening height of 2.17 meters (m) – 7′ 1-1/4″ – before going over on a third attempt each.

Wilson failed on all three of his attempts at 2.21m (7′ 3″) while Thomas once again needed three attempts to clear the bar.

Competing out of Group ‘A’, Thomas struggled again at 2.25m (7′ 4-1/2″), knocking the bar down on all three attempts at that height.

Thomas, 37, and Wilson, 32, wrapped up the qualifying round 25th and 32nd respectively, not good enough to move on to the final as only the 12 best jumpers qualified.

The heights for Thomas and Wilson, 2.21m and 2.17m, were significantly off their season best performances of 2.28m (7′ 5-3/4″) and 2.24m (7′ 4″) respectively, but just to reach the Olympics, competing against the best 32 high jumpers in the world, is an accomplishment.

Competing out of Group ‘B’, Wilson was able to get over the bar at his opening height but failed on all three attempts at 2.21m. He said it was a tough year and he’s just grateful to be competing on the world biggest stage for athletics. Thomas, now 14 years removed from his world title, declined comment afterwards.

Jamal Wilson.

“It was a tough day, but it was a tough year all around. I just give God the glory for being in this position,” said Wilson. “When we athletes have a tough season, it’s always hard, but it puts things into perspective. We learn our lessons through failure. I’m hoping to get back and continue to work hard. I’m going to continue to enjoy the summer, give God the glory, and whatever next year brings, that’s what it brings.”

Speaking about the difficulties of training and maintaining fitness in a COVID environment, Wilson said it’s been a tough journey to the Olympics over the past two years. He qualified for the Olympics in February 2020, leaping the qualifying height of 2.33m (7′ 7-3/4″) at the Banskobystrická latka Gold Level Meet in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. Thomas qualified on world ranking points.

Wilson said the entre preparation for the Olympics, form an athletics standpoint, leaves much to be desired.

“For the whole year, the preparation going into the Olympics was an issue,” he said. “We need to put aside the politics in The Bahamas and focus more on the development of the athletes. The guys who made the final today, they are capable, but we’re all capable. We’re here for a reason. We need doctors, physiotherapists, and we need things in place to help us be better prepared for moments like these. This is a big moment and being more prepared is the key to experiencing success.”

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a threat to the occurrence of the Olympics over the past two years and disrupted training cycles and cancelled qualifying meets. It certainly didn’t help with the preparation tactics for many of the world’s top athletes leading into the Olympics. Wilson said it was a challenge and he applauds all of the athletes who were able to qualify in trying times.

As to adjusting to the COVID-19 environment in the Olympic Village, and Tokyo on the whole, Wilson said it’s been pretty much a smooth process with all of the safety measures and protocols that are in place.

“There are formalities every step of the way and that makes it tough but the people are very hospitable and they are doing a great job of keeping us safe and contained,” he said.

A dozen jumpers cleared 2.28m on Friday, qualifying for the men’s high jump final that took place on Sunday. Three more jumpers cleared 2.25m and Thomas was one of nine who got over the bar at 2.21m. Wilson followed as one of seven jumpers who cleared the opening height of 2.17m.

For Thomas, the 2.28m qualifying height for the final is a mark he’s cleared multiple times, including earlier this season at the ATLETICAGENEVE Meet  in Genève, Switzerland.

Wilson had his share of challenges in 2021, but said he’s optimistic for what’s to come in 2022.

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Andrew Coakley delivers inspiration and suspense

Writing a book could be a daunting task, even for experienced writers. But writing and releasing two books at the same time – well, that’s on another level and no doubt shows serious commitment to the art of writing. Bahamian author Andrew Coakley took up the task. His two latest books “Noise” and “The Higher The Monkey Climbs” are on the market.

Perhaps, since his last release (the Sweetheart Syndrome) was released in 2017, Coakley who is Grand Bahama-based, may have felt he needed to make up for lost time. So, instead of one book, he released two books.

“It was not easy writing two books at the same time, but it was not something I had set out to do,” said the author, who released his fourth and fifth books recently. “I started out writing the inspirational book [Noise], but because I wanted to unwind after every writing session, I began writing a story, which was an idea I had in my head for a while and knew that I would write eventually.

“I got so caught up in writing both books, that by the time I had realized that I was actually writing both books, I was half way through the novel that was only designed to help me unwind.”

And just like that, the author who gave us “My Son Listen to my Words and Live”; “Women with Jobs, Men with PMS” and the “Sweetheart Syndrome,” had accomplished penning two books. He has now officially written and released five books.

The story that Coakley started out just writing to unwind turned out to be his first full-fledged novel entitled “The Higher The Monkey Climbs” – a whodunnit offering about politics, crime, corruption, kidnapping and even murder.

“The story takes place on a fictional island that I created named Pink Pearl Island, which is located somewhere within the Caribbean Sea. It’s your typical Caribbean island, where everyday residents struggle with trying to make ends meet; where chicken is the most consumed bird and residents struggle with trying to keep their politics and their religion separated as much as possible.”

The novel surrounds the struggle by the long-time Governor, Marcel Petty, to hold on to political power and eventually hand it over to his son in order to keep it in the family. However, with a high crime rate which is making the wealthy people of Pink Pearl Island nervous and ready to carry out a mass exodus, Governor Petty has to lean on his police commissioner, Gerald Hansel to solve the crime problem and help ease the fears of the island’s wealthy and potential foreign investors.

Things become more complicated when a dogged female newspaper reporter, who is following the escalating crime wave on the island, discovers that teen boys on the island are being kidnapped. Now, instead of just a high crime wave on the island, the idea of kidnapping, with links to a possible human trafficking ring, takes Governor Petty’s fears to a whole new level.

The author said he got caught up in the novel because he had fun writing it.

“It’s interesting how the characters tend to drive the story – and even as the writer, I am surprised by some of the things that happens because of the decisions and choices of the characters in the story,” said Coakley.

“People think that as the writer, I manipulate the characters and try to get them to fit into my story, but true writing is where the characters drive the story and your writing. But I had so much fun writing ‘The Higher The Monkey Climbs’ even though it was my first full-fledged novel. Because of that I’m convinced that those who pick up the book will have just as much fun reading the book.”

“Noise” which Coakley started out writing first is a revealing look at how the devil uses distractions to bring about a great falling away of believers. The book covers a number of subjects and situations in which Christians can become distracted from kingdom business.

The author says that the book is really an admonition to all Christians to remain vigilant, especially in a time when the last days seem to be ending.

“It is so easy to become distracted, particularly when we are busy living from day to day,” said Coakley. “Even simple, everyday tasks, which on the surface seem harmless and necessary, can sometimes distract us from staying focused on God.

“Then there are the blatant attempts by the enemy to distract us with troubles, hard times, lack, and even with modern technology. Christians can’t expect to binge watch seven or 10 hours of Netflix television and then wonder why God isn’t moving in their lives. We can’t get caught up in internet surfing for hours on end, from one entertainer’s story to the next and turn around and expect God to speak to and through us.

“Noise is really about admonishing Christians to stay focused on spiritual activity that keeps our spirits in tuned to the Holy Spirit.”

With chapters entitled “Distracted From Fulfilling Purpose”, “The Noise Inside My Head”, “Noise in the Church”, “Empty Vessels Make the Most Noise”, “False Prophets are Meant for Distraction” and others, the book gives an in-depth look at some of the trickery of the enemy.

The book is already gaining traction on the international scene, particularly after popular Bible teacher, Minister Kevin Ewing promoted the book on his show on Saturday afternoon. Ewing called it a “must read” and admonished his viewers – which encompasses thousands of people around the world – to get a copy of the book “Noise”.

After releasing two books at once, it would be more than fair to conclude that the writer would take a break. However, Coakley says that he’s already working on two more books. A follow-up to “The Higher The Monkey Climbs” and another inspirational book, both set to be released in 2022.

“The Higher The Monkey Climbs” and “Noise” are available on line at Amazon (amazon.com/Noise/dp/B093RP1WXS and amazon.com/higher/dp/B093MSH82P) and at Bethel’s Book Store in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

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Financial secretary: ‘Above projections’ revenue details in coming weeks

Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson said yesterday that the details of the government’s “above projections” revenue performance for the second half of the fiscal year 2020/2021 would be revealed in the coming weeks as the Ministry of Finance finishes its full year fiscal snapshot report.

His comments come after Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis boasted of improved revenue performance ahead of projections during his national address on Wednesday.

The government had projected it would collect $1.76 billion in total revenue for the 2020/2021 fiscal year.

Given that up to March 31, the end of the third quarter, revenue receipts totaled $1.22 billion, that means revenue is ahead of the approximate $54 million expected to be collected in the final quarter of the year.

Johnson said the fiscal snapshot of the full year will be issued by the end of August.

“Clearly from what we are seeing in the numbers it’s a lot stronger than what we projected,” he said.

“When the fourth quarter report is out, the government will likely provide some indication of what the first month of the new fiscal year looked like and that is in the context of what the prime minister already put in the public.”

During his national address, Minnis said those numbers performed over budget, signaling a strengthening economy.

“Over the last six-month period, from January to June 2021, we have seen our revenue numbers beat their budget targets by tens of millions of dollars. This is after the revenue numbers had fallen substantially behind their budgeted numbers in the prior six months,” the prime minister said.

“I am pleased to advise that with still a few days left, the preliminary revenue numbers for the month of July are millions ahead of our budget projections. In fact, they are not far off the similar point in July 2019, before Hurricane Dorian and the pandemic. The recent revenue performance points to an economy that is gradually but certainly regaining its footing. While we are still not back to full economic capacity, The Bahamas has set a course for and is headed toward economic recovery.”

Johnson stayed away from pinning the revenue performance on any particular area of economic activity. However, in recent months tourism has seen an upswing, with visitors through Lynden Pindling International Airport making up nearly fifty percent of the numbers registered before the pandemic and with major hotel properties reporting pre-pandemic occupancy and forward bookings for the summer.

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Worries wood infested with beetles may have arrived in GB

Concerns have arisen about whether wood infested with a tree-destroying beetle was offloaded on Grand Bahama after the United States’ Customs and Border Protection discovered the wood on a ship anchored in the Mississippi River.

The boat was headed to Freeport, Grand Bahama, after it left New Orleans, according to an article in The New Orleans Advocate.

“The beetle, a member of the Cerambycidae family of longhorned beetles, bores into wood and can feed on a wide variety of trees in the US, eventually killing them,” the article states.

Also discovered was a type of ant, a member of the Myrmicinae family, that forms permanent colonies that can compete with native species and damage crops.

“The ship was ordered to leave US waters. It departed July 21 for Freeport, Grand Bahama, for wood disposal services. Federal agents inspecting a cargo ship near New Orleans ordered it out of the country after finding it was infested with a type of Asian beetle that has been destroying trees in the US for about 25 years.”

Noted Grand Bahama environmentalist Joseph Darville sent out a voice note that went viral yesterday, claiming the wood was offloaded on Grand Bahama, though that could not be independently verified by Guardian Business.

Darville said in the voice note that the wood ended up at a Grand Bahama landfill and was sprayed with a substance in an effort to kill the beetles after it was found that the wood might be contaminated with them.

“How in God’s name can something like that happen in a modern city like Freeport? Who allowed them to offload that stuff? This is unbelievable,” said Darville in the voice note.

“I hope whatever authority in this country will get onto that immediately. Are we becoming a dumping ground for poisonous materials that Mississippi would not even allow to dock there? Who cleared the ship? Who allowed it to be cleared in our waters for this stuff to be offloaded, to be landed in Freeport? This is absolutely unbelievable.”

Calls to Grand Bahama members of Parliament were not successful up to press time yesterday.

The article explained that if left uncontrolled, Cerambycids and other invasive wood-boring beetles could cause more than $100 billion in damage to the US economy.

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No widespread use of Sand Dollar yet, says Central Bank governor

There is no widespread usage of The Central Bank of The Bahamas’ (CBOB) Sand Dollar digital currency yet, as all stakeholders have chiefly focused on ensuring the technology behind the currency is stable and robust, CBOB Governor John Rolle said yesterday, adding that campaigns to encourage the use of the world’s first central bank digital currency (CBDC) is currently underway.

Rolle, who made the remarks during an appearance on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) interview series “The Exchange” alongside IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, explained that the development of the technology platforms have been completed and the push to get Bahamians trading the currency is now the focus.

“We are not seeing high use yet because there has been a lot more focus at this point on product development. And because we are in the background allowing the financial institutions to be the ones to make use of the instruments, their big work has been on developing their technology platforms, making sure that their platforms tie in and are interoperable with the Sand Dollar platform,” Rolle said.

“That work is completed now. What you will see is that the Central Bank will be making a deliberate push around encouraging adoption in use and that is a campaign that we are literally starting as I speak.”

CNN’s Julia Chatterley, host of The Exchange, revealed poll numbers that show a little more than a quarter of respondents believe digital currencies would hurt and not help the unbanked and underbanked. Georgieva said the hesitancy and skepticism could be due to that fact that there is not yet widespread use of digital currencies across the world. She said that she and the IMF support the advancements in digital currency use.

“I’m a very strong believer in advancing digital payments and access to digital services as a way of inclusion. It is one of the big motivations of the fund to support countries to move towards exploration of central bank digital currencies and stablecoins, because we believe innovation and inclusion go hand in hand,” said Georgieva. 

“But we are aware of the risks and we recognize that if we move without the right regulatory framework, trust can very quickly be eroded and there could be the pyramid falling impact with long-term consequences.”

Rolle added that the CBOB is trying to discourage the opinion that digital currencies like the Sand Dollar are cryptocurrencies. He said the purpose of the Sand Dollar is to ensure that The Bahamas’ payment systems are fast and efficient.

“The effort is trying to dissuade people from looking at CBDC as something that they should hoard like a cryptocurrency,” Rolle said.

“We want to maintain the role and the link of the banking system. It’s very important the we don’t view central bank fiat currency as something that is going to function and behave like the crypto assets. We’re trying to make our payment systems operate more efficiently and accelerate the kinds of changes we want to see in our systems, to address costs in intermediate inflows across countries and the like.”

He added that The Bahamas is fortunate to have a high rate of digital inclusion through the use of mobile phones.

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Bahamas in the top five of Royal Caribbean’s UK travelers wish list

Royal Caribbean International revealed in a press release yesterday that The Bahamas is in the top five of its “ultimate holiday bucket list for 2021” for UK travelers.

“A survey shows nearly half of UK holidaymakers’ bucket lists are longer than ever before since the pandemic, making it clear the UK’s zeal for holidays and experiences is greater than ever before,” the release states.

The Bahamas fell behind only Australia, Canada, Alaska and Barbados.

The survey was commissioned by Royal Caribbean and coincided with the cruise line’s recent return to sailing.

Royal Caribbean Vice President Ben Bouldin said potential passengers’ time without cruising has made them seek adventure and “great holiday options”.

“The bucket list survey results have been released on the heels of the return of the action-packed Anthem of the Seas. Earlier this month, the chart-topping cruise ship departed from Southampton for the first time in six years and marked a celebratory moment for the cruise line’s return to sailing in the UK after 20 months,” noted Royal Caribbean.

The company will continue to sail from The Bahamas as a home port with only fully vaccinated adults until next month, when it will be required that children 12 and older are vaccinated.

The other countries on the UK’s top list include New Zealand, Italy, Iceland, Japan, Brazil, Greece and the Greek Isles, North America (not including Alaska), Thailand, Antigua, Norway, Bermuda, Portugal, Singapore, China and Cyprus.

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Forward bookings from UK up beyond pre-pandemic levels

New travel insights from the United Kingdom (UK)-based World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) show a 161 percent increase in the number of airline tickets purchased for travel out of the UK to The Bahamas.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors from the United Kingdom accounted for just about two percent of annual stopover arrivals, the WTTC – a forum of global travel and tourism industry businesses – highlighted.

“The data shows airline tickets booked for international trips out of the UK increased an average of 24 percent in the week to July 13th, compared to the previous week. Weekly flight tickets for future travel from the UK to traditional destinations have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with Greece the most popular destination, up 211 percent compared to 2019. The Bahamas follows closely, with tickets up 161 percent on pre-pandemic levels. Croatia has also reached pre-pandemic weekly ticketing levels in the last week (107 percent) while tickets for travel to Spain, which reached 88 percent of 2019 levels, are fast increasing,” the forum states.

The Bahamas was recently added to the UK government’s amber list of countries and territories for travel and soon after, British Airways resumed regular flights to the capital earlier this month.

There were more than 36,000 visits to The Bahamas from the UK in 2018.

In a recently released report on travel and tourism trends, WTTC stated, “While North America and Latin America performed better than most other sub-regions, declining by 42.2 percent and 41.1 percent in 2020 respectively, the Caribbean region suffered disproportionately more, with travel and tourism GDP dropping by 58 percent due to its strong reliance on international tourism, which decreased significantly. Within the Caribbean, some of the worst affected countries were St. Kitts and Nevis, which saw a steep decline of 72.3 percent; and St. Lucia, which experienced a decline of 71.7 percent.

The report continued, “The Bahamas, UK Virgin Islands and St. Vincent and the Grenadines all faced harsh losses, with declines of 68 percent, 67.6 percent and 67 percent, respectively, demonstrating the importance of international inbound travel to these economies. With travel and tourism accounting for a large share of the overall economy in many Caribbean countries, the sector will play a key role in driving the socioeconomic recovery of the region post-COVID-19.”

Since reopening tourism at the end of 2020, The Bahamas has seen month-over-month growth in visitor arrivals, with Lynden Pindling International Airport reporting 201,628 total passenger movements through the country’s main gateway in June, 135,976 in May, 122,076 in April and 90,498 in March.

Ministry of Tourism officials have estimated more than 400,000 visitors have entered The Bahamas so far this year.

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Eloise Percentie

Name: Eloise Percentie

DOB: (April 17th 1957)

Residence: Of #324 Hudson Estate 
Freeport, Grand Bahama

Died surrounded by loved ones in Miami, Florida 3:15pm July 17th 2021.

Home-going celebration scheduled for Saturday July 31th 2021

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Nathaniel Porter

Public Viewing for Nathaniel Porter, age 81 years, a resident of Andros Avenue,  and formerly of Staniard Creek Andros, will be held on Friday July 30^th, 2021., from 12:00 noon to 5 p.m.,  at Cedar Crest Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd,  Robinson and Baillou Hill Roads.   

Left to mourn and cherish his memories are his devoted Wife: Velma Elsaida Porter; Children: Anthony (Christina) Porter, Calvin (Margaret) Porter, Nathaniel Jr. (Joan) Porter, Dencil “Denny” Porter, Lynden Porter, Ian (pre-deceased) Tabatha Porter, Hervis Porter, Scott and  Stuart Porter, Marsha Meouchi Porter, Claire Porter, Tamara Porter, Veronica Patrick and Lorraine Knowles, Wayne (Jane) Dorsette; Adopted Sons: Renardo Brennen and Melford Riley; Sister: Cametta Woodside; In laws: Mavis Butler and Sheila (Patrick) Seymour;  numerous Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews and a Host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Cedar Crest Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd.

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Winton Alfred Bain

Graveside Funeral Service for  Winton Alfred Bain, age 66 years, of Fox Hill Subdivision and formerly Spring Point, Acklins, will be held at 11:00 a.m., at  Eastern Cemetery, Dowdeswell Street, on Tuesday August 3^rd, 2021. Officiating will be Archdeacon Kingsley Knowles, assisted by other members of the Clergy.

Left to cherish his precious memories: His Wife: Renee Bain; Son: Winton Bain Jr. (Farlene Bain); Granddaughter: Kassidy Bain Step; Mother: Gwendolyn Bain; Mother-In-Law: Joan Sands; Sisters: Mizaph Hanna, Vivian Bain and Diane (Omar) Bernard; Brothers: Edward Bain and Cleaton Bain; In Laws: Ron (Noelle) Sands, Rhonda Sands and Ronell (Jason) Carpenter; Nieces: Dayyne Bernard, Ronisha (Stephon) Burrows, Ronesha Sands and Janae Carpenter; Nephews: Darryll Cox, Priestlly Bernard, Javano, Justin, Joshua Sands and Jonathan Carpenter; Aunts: Elizabeth Gibson, Eleanor Rolle, Patricia Sands-Cole, Rita Sands-Springs, Peggy Holmes and Nichole Brown; Uncle: Dwayne (Ladonna) Rolle; Cousins: Patrick, Greg, Pandora, Freeman, Steven, Irvin, Tom, Wilton, Stafford, Leslie, Meryl, Daisy, George and Lorenzo Hanna, Julian Francis, Elizabeth Diahann-Cole of New York, Sonia and Andre Gibson, Nixon, Anthony, Denise, Charles and Hugie Rolle, Charlamae Eleanor Williams, Debbie Jones, Greg (Sharon), Keith (Deirdra), Clint (Heather), Chandler, Charlton (Maggie), Vivian and Channon Sands, Gina Sands Scavella, Theresa and Joy Evans, Denise Miller, Juanita Dean, Jason Babbs, Quincy Price and Gernas Brown. Friends: Rev. Franklyn (Katie) Clarke, Rev. William (Williamae) Hepburn, Marjoire Major, Pat Butler, The Sands Family, The Babbs Family, Ingrid Bennos, Goodman Family, Dwight Rolle & Family, Janet Higgs & Family, Thomas & Karen Minnis Family, Margo Wilson Family , Donna Darville & Family, Josh Major & Family, Edwards Family, Nairn Family, Munroe Family, Yvonne Jones & Family, Pauline Carey & Family, Jones Family, Shelia Curry, Desiree Turner & Family, Inga Moree & Family, Family of the Late Edithmae Smith, Veronica Symonette & Family, Timna Gibson & Family, Vashni Carey & Family, Granville Adderley, Rev. Ricardo Lee, Katrina Cartwright, Family of the late Helena Babbs, The Dialysis Unit at PMH, The Male Surgical 1 team, Christ the King Anglican Church, St. Margaret’s Anglican Church Family, The Entire Mosquito Drive, Fox Dale Family, The Spring Point Acklins Family, Management and Staff of John Bull, Bay Street, Management and Staff of Lightbourne Marine, The Honorable Fred Mitchell, A.C.W and A.C.M of St. Margaret’s Anglican Church and the ACM of Christ The King Anglican Church.

Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Cedar Crest Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd, Robinson and Baillou Hill Roads, on Saturday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

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Gladstone Bradford Francis

Graveside Funeral Service for  Gladstone Bradford Francis, age 51 years, of First Street, Coconut Grove, will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday July 31^st, 2021,  at  Old Trail Cemetery, Old Trail Road. Officiating will be Minister Bethmae Gardiner, assisted by other ministers of the Gospel.

Junior is Predeceased by his father: Gladstone Francis Sr.; siblings: Alton and Karen Francis.

Left to celebrate the life of our devoted father, grandfather, uncle and friend is his mother: Agnes Francis; sons: Gladstone III, Willis, Ashtin and Khyeel Francis; daughters: Savannah, Omeia and La’shada Francis and Julecia Jones; grandchildren: Gabrielle Dean, Tevin Minus Jr., Te’Shiloh Minus and Jamiah Rose; brothers: Michael Francis, Carl Delancy, Kenneth Pratt Sr., and Vaughn Saunders; sisters: Teresa  and Barbara Francis, Lowlander Francis- LaFleur, Elizabeth Walker, Latanya Jean-Jaques, Shakira Mackey; twenty-four nieces and nephews: Nyoka Johnson-Dorsette, Kananga Francis, Synteshna Munroe, Terrance Francis, Roynel Munroe, Cresville Walkes, Avery Francis, Jannice Dean-Scavella, Yolanda Walker, Crystal Johnson, Racquel Johnson, Tracey Johnson, Andrea Dean, Dino LaFleur Jr., Aldenya LaFleur, Thorn Curry, Onassis Ferguson, Dexdira Sands, Dashanna Sands,  Chad Adderley, Takasheii Williams, Elteshe Williams, Aijalon Coley and WPC 3524 Yvonne Adderley,  tanaka an tyrika Saunders, Deandra and Branique Hanna; twenty-two grand-nieces and nephews: Davante Mitchell, Janay Edgecombe, Cianna Farquharson, D’Kajah Walkes, Damarion Walkes, Kaylique Miller, Lavardo Miller, Mikayla Gardiner, Terranique Francis, Terrance Francis Jr., Zion Francis, Caleb Rolle, D’Angelo LaFleur, Christiana Saunders, Shawn Adderley, Shanin Adderley, Shavonya Adderley (deceased), Shawnte Adderley, Shavonte Adderley, Angel Allonce, Jaylah Taylor and Gabriel Stubbs, three aunts: Liliamae Rolle, Joyce Rolle and Ethel Albury; numerous cousins including: Albertha Roberts, Thelma Sturrup, Marina Knowles, Albertha Sturrup, Selena Lockhart, Marilyn, Angela, Sheila, Delores, Iodele Williams, Vangie Miller, Jamal Gomez, Sidney Walker, Edward, Zelvin, Father Mark Fox, Leroy and Gerald Williams, Orthneil Lindsay, Florence Gibson, Mildred Deal, Monique, Samantha, Dellareese, Denise, Sheena, Lisa and Darnell, Mathanice, Sharade, Ruth, Sapphire, Elcara, Phenice, Tamara, Shanelle, Shantavia and Genea Roberts, Tamara and Sharelle Walker, Deidre Sturrup, Charmaine, Dorshen, Melinda, Antonya Fowler, Kailie, Michelle Fowler, Jasmine Rolle, Clinique Forbes, Akaria McFallen, Dorrie, Audrick Roberts Jr. ,Jennifer Deleveaux  and Family, Carolyn Winder and Family, Patrice Rolle and Family, Emile Hepburn, Owen Hanna, Deallo Porter, Johnnie Walker, Cyril Bethel, Kirklyn and Welocke Knowles, Doran and Jakim Roberts, Kevin Ramsey, Kevin, Marco, Perry Valentino, Anthony, Derky, Spy, Ralph, Demetria, Charmaine, Cheryl, Judy, Marie, Henry, Lillian and Michelle Rolle, Lillian Roberts, Alan and Dave Lightbourne, Beverly Adderly and Family, Ian and Craig Lightbourne, Valence, Wayde and Wavel Francis, Lloyann and Deanne Adderley, Kim, Stephanie and Kevin Bethel, Shavonne Greenslade, Florence and Joe Darville, Alvin Rolle and Velma Thompson-Curling; other relatives and friends including: The entire Grove Community, Howard Sturrup & Family, Vanessa and Curtis Pinder & Family, Jennie Mae Williams & Family, The Honorable Shanendon Cartwright, Connie Smith & Family, Kenneth Rolle, Michelle Musgrove & Family, Lashante Higgins & Family, Martine Laing & Family, The Rolle Family, Dino and Pedson LaFleur, The LaFleur Family, Father Kingsley Knowles & The Christ the King Anglican Church Family, The Pinder Family, The Knowles Family, The Outten Family, The Thompson Family, The McKenzie Family, Dr. Mortimer & Family, Georgette Williams and Family The entire Bullocks Harbor & Berry Islands Community, Mr. Andrews & Family, The Winder Family, Clement and Ednal Rose & Family, The Brennen and Roberts Family, Pastor Roker & Family, Pastor Dianna Francis & Family and many  others too numerous to mention.

Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Cedar Crest Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd, Robinson and Baillou Hill Roads, on Friday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

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Kirklyn George Hanna

Graveside Funeral Service for Kirklyn George Hanna, age 60 years, of Sunshine Park, will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday July 30^th, 2021, at  Lakeview Memorial Gardens, John F. Kennedy Drive and Gladstone Road. Officiating will be Bishop Tony Hanna, assisted by other ministers of the Gospel.

Precious memories of Kirklyn will forever remain in the hearts of Wife: Patricia Hanna; Mother: Elizabeth Hanna; Son: Brandon Treco; Siblings: Rudolph, Carlin, Christopher, Walter and Sylvia Hanna, Patrice Hanna-Johnson and Carolyn Hanna-Barr; Brothers-in-law: Marco Barr Sr. and Anthony Ferguson; Sisters-in-law: Belinda and Kimberley Hanna; Nephews: Keshorn Johnson, Marco Barr Jr., Tonico Ferguson, Kyneil, Carlin, Walter Jr and Christopher Hanna; Nieces: Krizia, Kristin, Runique, Walternika and Tache Hanna, Antoinette, Eldeka, Kashara and Asia Johnson, Yoland, Keshanti and Khaliah Barr, Tomoe Ferguson and Donielle Lafleur; grandnieces: Alasja, Khajah, Lize’e, T’ Nala, Kyailee and Sarayah; Grandnephews: Alfred jr., Keshorn jr., Caleb, Zyon and Zakari; Godchild: Taye Taylor; Uncles: Milton, Albert and Alton Robinson, Kingsley Johnson, Randolph and Amos Hanna; Aunts: Flexi Outten, Colmeletia Handfield, Veronica Bain, Marjorie Taylor, Sylvia Smith, Deaconess Cinderella Hinsey (Thomas), Rev’d Dr. Betty B. Hanna, Evangelist Mary Hanna-Rolle, Elizabeth Evans, Pleasant and Mabel Hanna and Norma McKinney; Family and Friends: Chuckie Brice, Anna Santos, Sandra Treco and Family, Pamela Kerr and Family, Constance Rolle, Dezi “ the barber”, The McKenzie family, The Robinson family of Freeport, The Outten Family, Kenny Hanchell and family, Jerome Hanna and family, Dexter Hanna and family. Patrick Hanna and family, Hosea and Nikki Hinsey, Wensel Hanna and family, Rev. Roy Hanna and family, Bishop Tony Hanna and family, Nikki Wallace, Brenda Heinfield, Brenda Forbes, Debbie Robinson, Kevin Heinfield, Kiesha Bain, Elizabeth Rolle, Jermaine Rolle, Rev. DeAngelo Rolle and family, Prescado and Shavano Hanna, The Hinsey family of Love Hill, Andros, The Taylor family, Peaches, Mispah, Sophie and Indiana Hanna. Rev. Monique Hanna, Rita, Donnell, Brad and Gary Hanna, The Sunshine Park Family, The St. Matthew’s Parish Family, The Golden Gates Family, The Radisson Cable Beach family and The Atlantis Paridise Island family, and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Cedar Crest Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd, Robinson and Baillou Hill Roads, on Thursday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

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Karen Patricia Wilson-Dawkins

Graveside Funeral Service for  Karen Patricia Wilson-Dawkins, age 58 years, of  Lake Grove Road , will be held at 10:45 a.m., on Friday July 30^th, 2021  at  Lakeview Memorial Gardens, John F. Kennedy Drive and Gladstone Road. Officiating will be Monsignor Alfred Culmer, assisted by other members of the Clergy.

Left to cherish the memories of Karen Patricia Wilson-Dawkins are her husband: David Dawkins; father: Samuel Wilson; Children: Demetria and Clarence Rolle, Davine Dawkins-Rolle, Kimbley Frazer and Kevin Dawkins;  Adopted daughter: Michelle Davis; stepson: Tito Dawkins; Siblings: Margo and Steven Morris, Charlene Miller, Debra Wilson, Elvita Wilson, Nicole Sunshine, Terrance Richardson and William Wilson; Grandchildren:   Alexandria and Andre Rolle, Kiarra Dawkins, Tito Dawkins Jr., Tico Dawkins, Donovan Hepburn and Lavelle Frazer; Numerous Nieces and Nephews including:  Jermaine and Aitza Dawkins, Jermalis and Jacobi Dawkins, Quientin Morris Jr., Corporal Archibald Miller, Ashford and Ashton Miller; A host of other relatives and friends including: Jasmine Romer, The Ferguson Family, The Dawkins Family, The Taylor Family, Irene Rolle and Family, The Maycock Family, the Curry Family, Ida Wright and Family, Hillary Don King and Family, Samuel Wright and Family, Angela McPhee and Family, Carrie, Rose Sands and Family, Serena Steed and Family, The Lees Family, the Small Family, the Clarke Family, The Fox Family, Franky Camille and Family, Denise Moxey and Family, Edward Kemp and Family, Darzell Seymour and Family, Charmaine Eve and Family, Rashad Burell and the McDonald Family, Rory Horton, The Management and Staff of Security Services Bahamas Ltd, St. Joseph Parish Family,  Eden’s Women’s Small Group at Bahamas Harvest Church, and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Cedar Crest Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd, Robinson and Baillou Hill Roads, on Thursday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

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Laura Isabella Burrows

Funeral Service for Sister Laura Isabella Burrows, age 85 years, a resident of Kensington Gardens, and formerly of Old Bight, Cat Island will be held at 1:00 p.m, on Saturday July 31^st, 2021,   At Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road. Officiating will be Apostle Delton D. Fernander, assisted by other ministers of the Gospel.

Laura Isabella Rolle Burrows is predeceased by her: Mother and Father, Christina Rolle and Emmanuelle Rolle, her husband Cephas Burrows, and by two of her children,  Faith Michelle Bowleg and Raymond Burrows;

She is survived by her Children: Cephas Burrows Jr, Lauramae Ennis, Gary Burrows, Dereck Burrows, Christine Burrows, Isabella M Burrows and Malvese Saneka Hart- Forbes; Sons-in-law: Donovan Ennis, Desmond Bowleg and Marcus Forbes; Daughters-in-law: Deborah Burrows and Eloinise Burrows; Grandchildren: Garvin Burrows, Arissa Burrows, Leon Burrows, Vanessa Burrows, Lawrence Ennis, Danya Ennis Lockhart, Deandra Ennis, Ariel Burrows, Justin Burrows, Brendon Burrows, Dereck Burrows Jr, Derricka Burrows, Deron Burrows, Ronisha Smith, Denicia Albury, Lakazand Albury, Aliyah Albury, jahval Teven Rahming, Anekiqua murra, Neko Greene, Destiney Greene, Marcus Forbes Jr and Deshanon Forbes; Grandson-in-law: Gregory Lockhart. Granddaughter-in-law: Latoya Burrows; Nieces and Nephews: Kathlene Johnson, Dianne Hayley, Lucille Strachan, Marian Knowles, Agatha Burrows, Adaline Matt, Maryann Hart, Fredricka, Cornelius Burrows, Whitney Burrows, William Burrows, Elijah Burrows and Samuel Knowles. Great-grandchildren: Lawressa Ennis, Laurena Ennis, Philip Burrows Jr, Raymond Burrows, Ieisha Newry, Andre Allen, Alisha Allen, Lashawna White, Leal Burrows, Arianna Burrows, Serenity Albury, Amiyah Forbes, Melvin Burrows, Chelson Swain Jr, kasey Burrows, Faith Burrows, Cordell Clarke, Julius Turner, Latario Smith, London Smith, Latrel Smith, Sage Burrows, Jaden and Cortia; Family and Friends including: Verna Gilbert and family, Japeth and family, Daisy and Family, Miami Florida Burrows, Rolle Family, Smith Family, Willamae Moss and family, Hart Family, Davis Family, Brown Family, Forbes family, Bishop Christopher Minnis, Williams family, Butler family, Rev Archie Burrows and family, Rev Archelous Hart, pastor Ivan Forbes Jr and family, Silvia Wallace and family, Bernie Thompson and family, Elizabeth Hannah and family, Dawkins family, Armbristers family, Haynes family, New York Seymours family and the Wells family, the entire Kensington Garden community as well as old bight, Cat Island,  and  many more relatives and friends too numerous to mention. We give our sincerest apologies if we mistakenly omitted anyone.

Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Cedar Crest Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd, Robinson and Baillou Hill Roads, on Friday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

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John Alexander Carter

John Alexander Carter, 71 yrs., a resident of Apple Way off Bellot Road & formerly of Freeport, Grand Bahama, died at his residence on Wednesday, July 21, 2021.

He is survived by his 2 sons: Leno Carter & John Carter Jr.; 3 daughters: Portia Carter, Kayelicier Storr & Kemia Carter; numerous grandchildren; 1 sister: Mary Fisher of the U.S.A.; 1 brother: Llewellyn Carter of Freeport, Grand Bahama & a host of other relatives & friends.

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Rosabella Williams

Rosabella Williams, 91 yrs., a resident of Rupert Dean Lane & formerly of Port Howe, Cat Island, died at her residence on Friday, July 23, 2021.

She is survived by her 1 son: Laban Rutherford; stepson: Vernal Brown; 2 grandsons: Edward & Stephen Rutherford; 1 granddaughter: Idona Rutherford , Elaine Smith, Helen, Shelly & Keisha; numerous nieces & nephews & a host of other relatives & friends.

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Vera Valarie Strachan

Vera Valarie Strachan, 65 yr., a resident of #55 St. Vincent Road & formerly of Gaitor’s, Cat Island, died at her residence on Wednesday, July 28, 2021.

She is survived by her 2 daughters: Geretta Collie & Terez Strachan;1 son: Frank Cooper; numerous grandchildren: Kyle Strachan, Shekiah Richardson, Shamiah Collie & Lavonya Trinity Cooper;  1 sister: Elva Scavella; 1 brother: Arnold Strachan; 1 daughter-in-law: Adonya Cooper; 1 son-in-law: Sidney Collie; 2 aunts: Lydia Brown & Thelma Moore of the United States; 2 uncles: Timothy Brown & Donald Moore of the U.S.A. & a host of other relatives & friends.

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Minnis says plans underway to increase hospital bed capacity

Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced plans to increase bed capacity at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and insisted that the government is trying to move “heaven and earth” to secure additional vaccines amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitals and deaths.

“Our public healthcare system is being stretched to its limits,” Minnis said during a national address tonight.

Minnis said an advanced team from Samaritan’s Purse is in town to expand the current 28-bed COVID-19 tent facility at PMH.

 “I am happy to announce that this coming Friday, Samaritan’s Purse will begin erecting the additional 18 beds,” Minnis said.

“Samaritan’s Purse also sought an understanding of our other clinical needs, with respect to personnel supplies and essential equipment.”

Minnis said the Public Hospitals Authority is also working with a donor who has offered to provide an additional medical tent.

“Medical tents previously donated by the United States government for other purposes are being assessed to determine if they can be turned into negative air pressure tents and used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients,” he added.

The prime minister also announced that the government will hire an additional 49 medical staff, along with 111 nurses and nursing support staff.

He said this will complement the staff currently dedicated to the COVID-19 response.

“The total cost of these new hires amounts to $7.1 million,” he said.

“Our plan is to engage as many trained professionals as possible to provide healthcare to Bahamians and residents and to get shots in arms, as quickly as possible, as our vaccine supply increases.

“We are also calling on all retired nurses, doctors and pharmacists, to come forward and assist in this, our time of need.”

While acknowledging that the vaccine supply is “dangerously low,” Minnis called on Bahamians to be cautious.

“I want to be very clear to all Bahamians and residents: We are in a struggle between life and death. Taking the vaccines will protect you from serious disease and death,” he said.

He said the 33,600 doses of AstraZeneca are expected to arrive in The Bahamas next week

And he encouraged residents to get the jab as soon as supplies are restored.

Additionally, he said as soon as The Bahamas receives supplies of the Pfizer vaccine, it will be offered to 12 to 17-year-olds, with the consent of their parents.

“Our hospitals are filled with real Bahamians who are very sick. In this wave, we have lost people who were our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends and our family,” Minnis said.

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Dorothy Albury Sands

FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Private service for the late Dorothy Albury Sands age 97 years of Nassau Village and formerly of Rock Sound, Eleuthera will be held on Wednesday July 28th, 2021 at 10:00 am at Ebenezer Cemetery, Shirley Street. Officiating will be Father Colin Humes

Left to cherish her memories are her Adopted Daughter: Ilene Smith; Grandchildren: Monique Minnis, Jennie Smith, and Shericka Edilall Great Grandchildren Alonzo & Branae Minnis, Desmond Smith, Danisha Fowler, Deshoawn Smith, Thalia Ferguson, Kemraj & Kristina Edilall. Grandsons In Law Bruno Minnis, Kristen Edilall and Colin Ferguson. Other relatives and friends include: The Fernander Family, The Smith Family, Joycelyn Finlayson and Family, Darnell Thompson and Family, The Albury Family, The Sands Family, The Johnson Family, Maggierite Adderley, The Honorable Minister Halson Moultrie and The Nassau Village Community. A host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Viewing will be held in the “Celestial Suite” at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Road on Tuesday(TODAY) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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Cruise passenger count to hit 250,000 by year-end

Nassau Cruise Port Limited’s (NCP) berths will be fully booked when its pier extension is completed by December, with cruise port executives expecting passenger counts to be in the area of 250,000, the company’s Chief Executive Officer Mike Maura told Guardian Business yesterday.

The redevelopment of Nassau’s cruise port has now reached a stage where land is being created at the wharf’s edge to bring to life the world-class port, that will feature an amphitheater, extensive green space, shops, restaurants, a marina and a Junkanoo museum.

Thousands of cubic yards of sand are currently being piped into the area of Prince George Wharf where ferries and excursion operators once picked up passengers. The sand is being repurposed from the dredging operations that are being undertaken to allow the port to accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships.

The port is making quick progress on the pier extension to the east, that will allow the port to house three Oasis-class ships at one time. According to Maura, that pier extension is 50 percent complete.

With the onset of home porting by two cruise lines and the restart of cruising from Florida cruise ports, NCP is picking up the pace of cruise ship handling month over month, after the COVID-19 pandemic stopped cruise ship operations for more than 14 months.

“Our communication with our team is that in August they are going to see approximately 120,000 passengers and then they’re going to see that climb to 160,000 passengers in September. Then they’re going to see it climb to 180,000 or 190,000 in October and it’s climbing right up to about 250,000 by the time we get to December,” Maura said.

“It’s all moving in the right direction.”

He explained that the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection approved NCP’s dredging plan, which will also increase the water depth in the area near the new pier in order to allow mega yachts to make their way safely to Bay Street Marina, as well as allow mega yachts to berth at the cruise port itself.

When the cruise port’s three Oasis-class berths are in operation, they will each be able to accommodate almost 9,000 passengers and crew.

“What this all does is it takes our passenger capacity in a given day up to over 33,000 passengers from the historical 20,000. So what this dredging is going to do from a berth and marine perspective is it will add 50 percent more passengers to the daily limit,” Maura stated.

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Bastian finishes 36th in 200m breast

TOKYO, Japan – Bahamian Izaak Bastian might not have accomplished what he set out to accomplish at these Olympics, but as it was his first experience at this level of competition, he’s grateful for the opportunity to compete and is looking forward to what’s to come in the future.

The Bahamian national record holder in all three breaststroke events, ended his time at the Games of the 32nd Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, finishing fifth in his heat and 36th overall in the men’s 200 meters (m) breast.

Bastian touched the wall in 2:17.40 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo, about two seconds off his national record time and about seven and a half seconds behind the final qualifying time for the semifinals.

He was second after the first 50 meters, second after the second 50 and touched the wall in third after the third 50, before fading on the final stretch. He said he was a bit disappointed but summed it up as a learning experience.

“It wasn’t my best race and it kind of hurt a bit. The best part of the experience for me was reconnecting with some of my friends who I hadn’t seen in a while. I think that everyone didn’t swim as fast as they wanted to, but everyone had a pretty good attitude about it afterwards,” said Bastian.

“My first 100 was alright, but I struggled a bit in my second 100. I needed to get after it a bit more, but this is something to learn from and build on for next time. Other than falling off in the second 100, I think that it was well executed. I stuck to the race plan and I think it was well executed, except for in the last 100m and it wasn’t the time I wanted.”

Bastian was the early leader in the race but Bernhard Christianson, of Panama, passed him by the 50m mark and never relinquished the lead after that. Christianson went on to win the race in 2:13.41, but also missed out on a spot in the semis.

Izaac Stubblety-Cook, of Australia, was the fastest qualifier for the semifinals, swimming 2:07.37, and Ross Murdoch, of Great Britain, grabbed the final spot for the semis, swimming 2:09.95. At 20, there is no doubt that Bastian will have another opportunity for Olympic glory in three year’s time when the Games of the 33rd Olympiad are held in Paris, France.

“I didn’t go any best times at these Olympics, but I still think that I had a good time overall,” said Bastian. “I tried my best and made the most of the experience. Unfortunately it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to, but that’s how life goes sometimes so you just have to take it and move on. Overall, it was a real good learning experience for me.”

Bastian said he will now spend some time with his family and then begin preparing for his final year in university. He’ll be a senior for the Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles this upcoming season.

“I’m going to take a little break. I haven’t had some time to myself in a long time,” he said. “I’m just going to enjoy some downtime with my family and then focus on back to school and getting back to training. I’m going to give it my all this upcoming season and then see what happens after that in the summer. I have a couple of big meets that I would like to go to, so I’m going to work hard toward that and see where next year takes me.”

In his first Olympic swim on Saturday, Bastian touched the wall in 1:01.87 in the men’s 100m breast. He finished eighth in his heat and was 40th overall. In the 200m breast on Tuesday, he was fifth in his heat and 36th overall.

The young Bahamian swimming sensation said he is thrilled to have taken part in the Olympics this year and is looking forward to more opportunities in the future.

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Miller-Uibo set to run both the 200m and 400m

TOKYO, Japan – Sources close within Shaunae Miller-Uibo’s circle have confirmed that she will run both the women’s 200 and 400 meters (m) at the Games of the 32nd Olympiad currently ongoing in Tokyo, Japan.

The Bahamian track and field superstar, who was denied the opportunity five years ago, has apparently determined, in consultation with her team, that this is the best course of action to take.

It was something that Miller-Uibo always wanted to do, but a conflicting schedule prompted her to lean toward one event over the other and that event was the women’s 200m, seeing that she already has the Olympic title in the longer race.

After running both events at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ (BAAA) Junior and Senior National Track and Field Championships at the end of June, Miller-Uibo was asked again if she would consider doing both events in Tokyo and she simply said, “We’ll see.”

She has been one of the world’s best sprinters over both disciplines in this Olympic cycle, posting world leading times in the women’s 400m in 2017 and 2018, and in the women’s 200m in 2019 and 2020.

Miller-Uibo is one of the world’s most versatile female athletes – one of just four athletes in history to ever run under 49 seconds in the women’s 400m, under 22 seconds in the women’s 200m and under 11 seconds in the women’s 100m. She is known for her superior top end speed and ability to reel in the quickest of athletes in the world once she straightens up and reaches maximum acceleration.

However, Miller-Uibo has been battling a groin injury over the past few weeks, one that contributed in her 16-race unbeaten streak in the women’s 200m being snapped at the 2021 Gyulai István Memorial in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, at the beginning of July. She had a 26-race unbeaten streak snapped at the Doha World Championships in 2019.

With World Champion Salwa Eid Naser, of Bahrain, serving a two-year ban for a “whereabouts failures” violation and world leader Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, both 18-year-olds of Namibia, out of the Olympics due to high testosterone levels, Miller-Uibo would be an overwhelming favorite for the gold medal in the women’s 400m in Tokyo, lining her up to repeat as Olympic champion.

The 200m is a far more daunting task, but the 27-year-old Bahamian is up to the challenge.

A total of six women have run under 22 seconds in the women’s 200m this year and Miller-Uibo is not one of them. She has gone as fast as 21.74 seconds in her career, at the Diamond League title in Zürich, Switzerland, in 2019, but has a modest season’s best time of 22.03 seconds.

American Gabrielle Thomas became the second-fastest athlete of all time over that distance behind the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, running a stunning 21.61 seconds at the US Olympic Team Trials in June. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the 12-time global champion from Jamaica, has run a personal best time of 21.79 seconds this season and her compatriot Shericka Jackson has found her form in that event this season, running a personal best of 21.82 seconds and ending Miller-Uibo’s four-year unbeaten streak in the women’s 200m.

Additionally, there are athletes such as Dina Asher-Smith, of Great Britain, Marie Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast, Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica and Americans Jenna Prandina and Anavia Battle who have all ran well this season.

Be that as it may, Miller-Uibo will certainly be the favorite for the gold medal in the women’s 400m and a strong contender for a medal, potentially gold, in the women’s 200m.

The opening round heats of the women’s 200m are set for the morning session of Monday, August 2 at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo and the heats of the women’s 400m are the following day.

The final of the women’s 200m and the first round of the women’s 400m are on the same day, separated by about 12 hours on the schedule.

Miller-Uibo could run as many as five races in three days and six races in five days should she advance to the final of both events. She could also become just the third athlete in history to win both the 200 and 400m at a single Olympics with Michael Johnson, of the United States, and Marie-José Pérec, of France, being the other two.

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A healthy Charlton looks for Olympic glory

TOKYO, Japan – Devynne “Sonic” Charlton has had a resurgent year in athletics and given what transpired five years ago when she was unable to compete, she is focused and determined to have a strong showing at these Olympic Games here in Tokyo, Japan.

Charlton qualified for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics five years ago, but was forced to withdraw from competition due to a back injury she suffered in 2016, leading up to the Olympics.

Now, she is back at full strength and is ready to make an impact in Tokyo. Charlton and fellow Bahamian Pedrya Seymour will line up in the heats of the women’s 100 meters (m) hurdles on Saturday morning, Friday evening back in The Bahamas.

As for Charlton, sitting in the stands, she observed as Seymour broke her former national record of 12.70 seconds at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and then went on to finish sixth in the final. At those Olympics, Seymour set the national record at 12.64 seconds, and Charlton lowered it to 12.61 seconds this year. Now able to experience the Olympics as a competitor herself, Charlton is looking for a similar, if not more substantial, performance here in Tokyo.

“Right now I’m feeling a bit anxious and excited and I’m ready to get going,” she said. “Everything that is in place, I’m willing to do because for me, I’ve been waiting to be here for five years. I’m pretty confident as it stands now. A few years ago, I was at a low point, but now I’m focused and ready to go. I’m at a place where I know I could compete with these ladies. I feel like I’m in pretty good shape and able to go out there and run a fast time.”

At her two experiences at the world outdoor championships, Charlton’s best finish was a semifinal appearance in 2017 in London, England, at which time she finished 13th overall. This time, the 25-year-old Bahamian national record holder is prepared to go a step further.

“I was a lot younger back then so I was just happy to be there. I just wanted to get an opportunity to compete,” said Charlton. “Now, being a contender makes a lot of difference. My strategy is just to treat it like any other big meet. I just have to keep my emotions in check and get ready to run.”

Charlton and Seymour will be some of the first athletes in competition for The Bahamas in the athletics portion of the games as the heats of the women’s 100m hurdles are set for Saturday morning at 10:45 a.m. at the Japan National Stadium, 9:45 p.m. Friday night in The Bahamas. The semifinals will be held Sunday at 7:45 p.m., 6:45 a.m. in The Bahamas and the final will be held Monday at 11:50 a.m., 10:50 p.m. Sunday night in The Bahamas.

“I’m just ready to get out there and run. It’s usually where I have to wait for almost the entire program to be completed before I get a chance to run, but with the hurdles being held early, that would give me a chance to get it out of the way. I know that I could go out there and do what I need to do and get it over with. I’m really happy that it’s one of the first events on the schedule.”

As for the COVID-19 protocols here in Tokyo and what they have had to experience in the Olympic Village, Charlton said been it’s been a challenge and something she is not accustomed to, but added that the excitement is so high to compete, that she is more than willing to comply with what is required.

“Well we have to get tested every day,” said Charlton. “The saliva has to be tested and also we have to have this app on our phones that tracks our movement and health status. We have to take temperatures, sanitize and wear gloves at certain points. It’s just the little things that remind us that COVID is still out there and we have to be secured and protected and we certainly understand that.”

This might be her first Olympics in competition but Charlton said she is focused on the task at hand and is ready to go out there and make The Bahamas proud.

She’s not putting any limitations on herself, just prepared to give it her best effort and then accept the result. Charlton has a season’s and personal best run of 12.61 seconds, that broke Seymour’s national record of 12.64 seconds, at the USATF (USA Track & Field) Golden Games, in Walnut, California, in May.

That time would have been good enough for a medal at the last Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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