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VAT TO BE AXED ON ALL GROCERIES Davis announces tax break on food to ease cost of living pressures By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip Davis last night announced the complete removal of VAT on food sold in grocery stores, a major tax policy shift the government says is aimed at easing persistent cost-of-living pressures. Speaking during a national address, Mr Davis said VAT on food will be reduced to zero as of April 1, applying to all grocery
items sold in food stores, including fresh produce, baby food, frozen items and packaged goods. The exemption will not apply to hot or ready-to-eat meals. The move represents the latest in a series of VAT adjustments under the Davis administration. After coming to office in 2021, the government reduced the standard VAT rate from 12 percent to ten percent, reversing an increase introduced in 2018. Last FOOD - SEE PAGE SEVEN
PRIME MINISTER Philip ‘Brave’ Davis speaks during a national address last night.
Families of murdered taxi driver and mechanic BAHAMIAN GROUP IN believe both men were lured to their deaths By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
ROCKLING ‘ROCKY’ BOODLE
RICARDO JEAN
A TAXI driver and a mechanic, both fathers of four, became the country’s first two murder victims of the year over the holiday weekend, leaving grieving families convinced the men were deliberately lured to their deaths.
Rockling Boodle, 51, a longtime taxi driver originally from Abaco, and Ricardo Jean, 35, were killed in separate incidents just days apart, shattering families who say both men had been looking ahead to important milestones. Boodle was found stabbed at a motel off East MURDERS - SEE PAGE THREE
POLICE PROBE OFFICER OVER ALLEGED BRIBE SOLICITATION By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net THE Royal Bahamas Police Force has launched an investigation into a viral video that appears to show a police officer attempting to solicit a bribe from a tourist during a roadside traffic stop to avoid issuing a ticket.
$400M BID FOR GBPA
The more than three-minute clip, which surfaced on TikTok on Sunday, has triggered widespread outrage, with many Bahamians condemning what they described as brazen misconduct caught on camera. Although the exact date of the incident is unclear, the footage shows several BRIBE - SEE PAGE FIVE
FROM LEFT: John Bostwick, Nicholas Rees, and Super Value founder Rupert Roberts and grand-daughter Paige Waugh. By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN investor group featuring an ex-Olympic swimmer, former FNM senator and grand-daughter of Super Value’s owner are aiming to raise more than $400m in initial capital to finance the acquisition of the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and its key economic assets. Nicholas Rees, chairman and co-founder of Kanoo, the
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
digital payments provider, has teamed with attorney John Bostwick and Paige Waugh, grand-daughter of Rupert Roberts, to form Born Free Capital as a “100 percent Bahamian-owned acquisition vehicle” that is seeking to purchase both the GBPA, and its quasi-governmental and regulatory powers, and the 50 percent Freeport Harbour Company and DevCO interests held by Port Group Ltd. SEE BUSINESS FOR STORY
PAGE 2, Tuesday, January 13, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Best of the Best Majority Rule Day Youth Rally in South Andros
Governor General Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt was the special guest during Best of the Best Majority Rule Day Youth Rally at South Andros Multi-Purpose Gymnasium on Friday. Photos: Patrick Hanna/BIS
Two fathers killed in year’s first murders
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, PAGE 3
MURDERS from page one
Street South on Friday, hours after relatives reported him missing when he failed to return home the night before. He had told his family he was going out and would be back, but never returned. Jean was shot and killed at his Adelaide home on Sunday after being called outside by someone believed and ambushed by a gunman. Both are thought to be known to him. Both of the murdered men had been making plans for the months ahead. Jean was preparing for a spring wedding after welcoming a son last month. Boodle was looking forward to a trip to Cuba with his son and to celebrating his and his wife’s 30th wedding anniversary later this month. Jean’s sister, Tashana, said the family believes jealousy motivated the killing, claiming one of the men allegedly
“We need justice for him, because he ain’t that type person to be bothering people. He liked to make people smile. I never saw him angry in my life.” THE SCENE at Smith’s Motel where Rocklin ‘Rocky’ Boodle was found stabbed to death on Firday. Rocky is pictured top right and centre with his wife and children and other family members . Photos: Chappell Whymys Jr involved is distantly related. She said video footage retrieved by the family shows three men outside
RICARDO JEAN
the Adelaide home, with two standing near an ice cream truck. One rang the doorbell and called Jean outside, while another — the shooter — appeared to be hiding in nearby bushes. A third stood close by. “The one who called him out, he used to ride with my brother when he was going out and stuff,” she said. Jean said the footage shows the men pacing and talking before calling her brother outside and shooting him at close range. His fiancée was reportedly inside the house at the time. “When he came out, him and the boy started to talk, and he looked like he was reaching in his pocket to give the boy something and all of a sudden, I hear the first shot went off, the second, the third and that’s when he ran back inside,” Ms Jean said. She said her brother’s life was “snatched away for nothing,” plunging the family into grief they know all too well. Their mother, who lost a daughter to domestic violence more than a decade ago, told relatives she now has to relive that trauma. Ms Jean said her brother’s fiancée and children are struggling, while the wider family is still reeling from the loss of several cousins to gun violence in recent years. “I never imagined him to be like a statistic, a victim of murder,” she said. “Like I say, I know he had a troubling past, but he put it behind him, and just from there, he started to elevate and do positive things.” She described her brother as loving, multi-talented, full of life and quick to make others laugh. She said they were close and spoke often, with him calling when he was down or simply needed someone to talk to. “Only two of us left now,” she said. Boodle’s family, who relocated to New Providence
Five-year-old boy found dead in Abaco in suspected drowning incident A FRANTIC search for a five-year-old boy in Abaco ended in tragedy yesterday after he was found dead in what police are investigating as an alleged drowning. Police said they received the missing person report
- Rocklyn Jr son of victim
shortly after 1pm and were soon alerted that a child had been found in seawater along the back road in Murphy Town. Officers, with the help of a concerned citizen, retrieved the boy from
the water. EMS transported him to the island’s clinic, where he was pronounced dead. Police said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
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after Hurricane Dorian, are also demanding justice, believing he was similarly set up. His son, Rocklyn Jr, the only one of his children still living in Abaco, said the family sensed something was wrong when his father did not return home Thursday night. When they went to police, they were told it was too early to act because he had not been missing for 48 hours. The family began searching on their own. Boodle’s younger daughter left work and, while canvassing the area, passed the nearby motel where she saw police and her father’s jeep. She
later learned he had been killed. “Everybody just trying to process everything,” Rocklyn Jr told The Tribune. “We need justice for him, because he ain’t that type person to be bothering people. He liked to make people smile. I never saw him angry in my life.” He said his father was easygoing and forgiving.
Rocklyn Jr said he had spoken to his father just two days before his death and remembered his final words clearly — that he was proud of his children. He said he felt uneasy even before learning what happened, only to have his worst fears confirmed the following day. He described the loss as devastating, saying his mother is struggling to accept it. “I don’t know how could leave me like that,” he said. “I still don’t believe it. Ain’t no one holding up good right now.” Police have not said whether anyone has been taken into custody in connection with either killing.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, January 13, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Young officer and recent graduate killed in separate weekend crashes By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net TWO men were killed in separate traffic incidents over the weekend, with one crash claiming the life of a recent high school graduate and the other ending the career of a young police officer. One of the victims was George Ferguson, 18, a recent high school graduate from Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama. Police reported that Ferguson died after colliding with a Ford Transit at the junction of Queen’s Highway and Stubbs Avenue shortly before 9am yesterday. The Ford driver was travelling east on Queen’s Highway when Ferguson was exiting Stubbs Avenue, causing the collision. The driver was taken to hospital with minor complaints, while Ferguson died at the scene. In a separate incident, 27-year-old police officer Jonathan Johnson was killed in a single-vehicle collision on Sunday night. Authorities said shortly before 7pm, police received reports of a serious crash along East Bay Street. Officers arrived to find a heavily damaged vehicle that had struck a wall along the northern side of the roadway. The lone male driver was found unresponsive inside the vehicle, a blue Ford Taurus. Fire Services extricated him from the wreckage, and Emergency Medical Services later confirmed he showed no signs of life.
A motorcycle and a van collided on Queens Highway in the area of Seagrape Eight Mile Rock yesterday leaving 18-year-old George Ferguson dead. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn Initial investigations suggest he was travelling east along East Bay Street when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle and collided with the wall. Officer Johnson was a former student of St Augustine’s College and played basketball as a guard. His death prompted
tributes from those who coached and competed against him. Denykco Bowles, a coach at Doris Johnson Senior High School and a former head of the International Basketball Academy, said he coached Johnson from ages 15 to 18.
“You watch kids grow up and you watch them fulfill their passions and their roles in life,” he said. “You watch them obviously elevate and move through life. So with him being a young kid, like I say, you never anticipate those things, even though we know as a part of life, you always think the older folks are going to go first.” “When you hear somebody who has had an impact on the school
GEORGE FERGUSON sporting community for the year 2018, especially the basketball world, it's definitely heartwrenching to know such a young, vibrant soul would have loss their life in such a tragic way.” Mr Bowles described Johnson as energetic and passionate. “He was a natural leader,” he said. “A very, good kid, mannerly,
JONATHAN JOHNSON
Police at the scene of a car crash that killed 27-year-old police officer Jonathan Johnson. Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
coachable. He was just a perfect, almost-perfect student-athlete. So he was definitely a bonus and a plus for anybody that would have them on their team. He was a resilient kid. He was a hardworking kid. He was very, very disciplined. He was dedicated to his craft and also passionate about it.” He said it was not surprising that Johnson went on to become a police officer, noting that many student-athletes gravitate toward uniformed services.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, PAGE 5
‘Brazen misconduct’ seen in viral video condemned by RBPF
Screen captures from a viral video claiming to show a police officer asking for a bribe. BRIBE from page one officers conducting a roadblock near St Matthew’s Anglican Church off Shirley Street, with multiple vehicles being stopped. The video was posted with the caption: “Come see how Bahamas police tried to give me some fake tickets & bribe me to get out of the tickets while riding a rental scooter. Be careful going out by yourself if your a tourist. The footage showed a number of officers at the road check and another vehicle being pulled over.” The tourist, who recorded the encounter, was riding a rented scooter when he was stopped at the roadblock and questioned by an officer identified by badge number 4438. The tourist said he had rented the scooter from someone near the cruise port and was provided with a contract. During a series of questions, he told officers he was visiting The Bahamas from Miami on a cruise. The officer indicated that the scooter was damaged. After the officer briefly walked away, the tourist said: “This n*a den give a me (expletive) up scooter.” “These boys then pull me over on the road block. He talking about he got to me give some ticket.” The officer later returned and told the tourist he needed to speak with his superior to determine whether he could be given a “break”.
As the tourist attempted to speak with another officer, identified by badge number 4718, officer 4438 redirected that officer to attend to someone else. “These boys green up here,” the tourist said to himself. Officer 4718 then asked where the scooter had been rented from, but the footage cut back to officer 4438, who said: “I don’t know. Let me know what you want to do.” The tourist replied: “So what was the option again?” The officer then suggested that instead of issuing a ticket that could cause future complications, he was willing to give the tourist a break. “Work something out or whatever the case,” he said. “Let me know. It can’t be obvious. Too much people around. See the boss in khaki. Go out of the view. What I’ll do, I’ll pass you this, and then you put it in this, and then I’ll go from there.” The tourist responded: “To be 100 percent, I ain’t got no cash on me like that cause somebody called and said it be crazy out here.” In a statement, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said any alleged remarks or conduct captured in the video do not reflect its standards or professionalism. It is not known whether any officers have been suspended. The tourist later posted on his TikTok story: “Officer didn’t get one penney outta me. I’ll play stupid and run circles around you.”
“Work something out or whatever the case. Let me know. It can’t be obvious. Too much people around. See the boss in khaki. Go out of the view. What I’ll do, I’ll pass you this, and then you put it in this, and then I’ll go from there.”
PAGE 6, Monday, Tuesday, January 13, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
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Be ready to make your vote count IF you listened closely to the Prime Minister’s national address last night, you might well have heard the test ring of the election bell. One thing is for sure, it will not be long now. Prime Minister Philip Davis chose a national address on Majority Rule Day to make his double announcement on a cut in VAT and property tax relief for obviously symbolic reasons. The party has made Majority Rule Day its own – even if that has stirred some comments from pastors as can be read in today’s Tribune. Making economic announcements on the day only strengthens that link. Previously, the government had introduced widespread reductions in VAT on food across a range of categories, cutting from 10 percent to five percent. Last night, Mr Davis announced that would become zero percent. That includes everything except “prepared meals sold hot or ready to eat”, as he stated last night. Meanwhile, owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes will also now be eligible for residential exemption on property tax relief, and Mr Davis says first-time homeowner concessions have been expanded. More details will surely come on those. Notably, the VAT cut comes in from April 1. So, we know the election will certainly be after that now. Scratch off any talk of an election call next month. The PM is not going to make people feel better about their pockets and not wait for it to take effect before asking those same people to vote. However, the PM also felt the need to announce this now rather than waiting for the Budget in May – so factor that into your calculations when considering when the election might be. We are sure that a response to that might be why wait when Bahamians can be helped now – but we would be
surprised if electoral arithmetic is not playing some part here. Which means it is time for those of us who intend to cast a vote to do our part. Now is the time to ensure you are registered, that you are in the correct constituency if you have moved since the last time you voted, and to start your own decision-making process. Now is the time to pay closer attention to what each party is promising, what those asking for your vote have delivered previously, and what they have failed to deliver. Now is the time to consider what is most important to you – and to put those topics to the would-be members of parliament when they come knocking on your door. Do not get suckered by the tricks of election season. We constantly hear the stories of money inside shirts being given away in return for votes, but do not sell your vote to anyone. That is how nations are sold short. Hold your representatives to account, whether those who are in office already or those who want to be. Examine those promises made on the doorstep. Remember the promises from the Coalition of Independents last election cycle, including a leaflet promising Crown land for every Bahamian along with a $100,000 cheque? Utterly implausible, completely unaffordable and enough to make a laughing stock of the party last time around. We will see if the party has learned and wishes to make achievable promises this time – although they are not the only party to have made promises that would never be delivered. There will, we are sure, be much talk of how it is “the PLP’s time” or “the FNM’s time” or indeed “the COI’s time” in the months to come. It is none of theirs. This is your time. The voter’s time. Make it count.
Stop the drugs and save lives EDITOR, The Tribune. THE recent news about the US action in Venezuela has sparked debate, raising concerns about international law and sovereignty. As Bahamians, we’re familiar with the devastating impact of drug trafficking. If you lived through the 80s, you likely know someone affected – personally, family, or friends. You will also know where I’m coming from. Venezuela, once among South America’s wealthiest countries, is now a country in crisis under Maduro’s leadership – marked by authoritarian rule, human rights abuses, and economic collapse. The UN and Human Rights Watch allege that thousands died in extrajudicial killings, and seven million fled due to the collapse. Some say the US action highlights the balance between security and sovereignty, showing the challenges of addressing global threats. But let’s focus on what’s essential – stopping the flow
of drugs, hurting our communities. Venezuela’s been a hotspot for drug trafficking, affecting us here in the Bahamas. Our location has made us a transit point between Venezuela, Colombia, and the USA, and we’ve paid the price. In 2012, the US government stated that Venezuela’s permissive security forces and corrupt environment made it a preferred route for cocaine trafficking, involving groups like Mexican cartels and Venezuelan officials. Nicolas Maduro’s alleged involvement with narcotics is a stark reminder of the issue’s complexity. Reports suggest he’s accused of overseeing a cocaine-trafficking network with international cartels, contributing to the flow of drugs through our region. This isn’t just geopolitics – it’s about the impact on our streets, families, and future. We’ve seen the consequences – seashores littered with discarded cocaine, kids getting hooked on cheap crack, young men killing each other, and
communities living in fear of gangs. We need to support our law enforcement agencies, police, immigration, and defense force, who work tirelessly to keep our islands safe. Let’s give them resources and backing. But enforcement isn’t enough. We need to tackle poverty, lack of opportunities, and corruption. Let’s create jobs, support local businesses, and empower our youth. We also need to work with our Caribbean partners and the international community to disrupt global networks fueling the drug trade. The fight’s not easy, but we can make a difference if we work together. Let’s stand united against corruption, drug dealers, and cartels hurting our communities. Let’s build a safer, brighter future for our children, families, and the Bahamas we love. God save our children God bless the Bahamas ANTHONY PRATT Nassau, January 9, 2026.
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Have a cool, fun, interesting, amazing photo? Have it featured here in The Tribune’s picture of the day! Email your high quality image to pictureoftheday@tribunemedia.net A DIVER interacts with a tiger shark
Photo: Frantisek Hojdysz
Pulpits are not to be platforms EDITOR, The Tribune. THE Bahamas is not struggling due to a shortage of speeches. Instead, it is undermined by an overwhelming number of words that lack authority, repentance, and Scriptural backing. If we are honest, many public religious statements today resemble political press releases, civic lectures, or motivational speeches, meticulously crafted to avoid offending anyone, challenging nothing, and taking no risks. This is not prophetic witness; it is merely religious branding. Bahamian Religious leaders should stop sounding like politicians. Politicians often speak to maintain coalitions. They hedge their statements, flatter others, and avoid assigning clear blame, setting clear standards, or outlining clear consequences. Unfortunately, many pulpits across the Bahamas have adopted this style, focusing more on tone than on truth. When pastors and leaders address the nation with language meant to be “acceptable,” their message becomes harmless. A religion that lacks conviction cannot effectively restrain crime, corruption, or cultural decay. Instead, it merely offers commentary while decay spreads. The church is not an extension of the state, and the pulpit should not serve as an arm of the political platform. The church exists to proclaim Christ, confront sin, shape conscience, and call everyone, leaders included, to repentance and obedience. This requires moral clarity, not diplomatic language. Religious leaders must stop appealing to politicians as if they are the nation’s saviors. There is a significant difference between praying for leaders and pleading with them as though they hold the keys to national renewal. Scripture does not teach that revival comes from Parliament; it teaches that judgment begins in the house of God and that restoration starts with repentance among God’s people. When religious leaders rush to microphones to “urge the government” while ignoring the compromises within the church, they reverse the order of responsibility. Yes, the government must govern, and yes, laws
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net matter. However, the Bahamas cannot be repaired by policy alone. A nation collapses when its conscience collapses; when truth becomes flexible, accountability becomes optional, and personal discipline is replaced by excuses. These are spiritual problems before they become administrative issues. The church must address them as spiritual problems, using the spiritual authority grounded in Scripture. Religious leaders must stop sounding like motivational speakers. A steady diet of messages like “be positive,” “keep going,” “you can do it,” and “we will rise” is not the Gospel. Instead, it serves as emotional management that produces only a temporary uplift without true transformation. Christianity is not just therapy dressed in religious vocabulary; it is about redemption through the Cross, regeneration by the Spirit, and living a life of obedience under the lordship of Jesus Christ. When our public religious messages avoid biblical concepts, such as sin, holiness, repentance, judgment, mercy, justice, and discipleship, it trains people to expect comfort without correction. It leads leaders to seek prayer without accountability and teaches the nation to view God as a cultural ornament rather than a holy King. When religious leaders speak publicly, they must do so with explicit scriptural foundations. They should avoid vague references to “values” or generic discussions about “love” that are disconnected from obedience. Scripture must be explicitly named, read, applied, and defended. A pastor who cannot anchor their public statements in biblical text should refrain from making public pronouncements until they can. This is not merely an academic preference; it is a matter of credibility. The Bahamas does not need more spiritual commentary; it requires clear biblical truth applied to real national sins. There are indeed national sins; these are not mere
“mistakes,” “challenges,” or “issues,” but sins. We see dishonesty in profit-making, corruption masquerading as normal politics, and sexual disorder sold as freedom. Violence has become normalised in music and behavior. There is a neglect of children and exploitation of women, along with an abandonment of family responsibilities. We face substance abuse, dishonesty in business, cruelty online, and envy and greed disguised as ambition. These are not just social trends; they represent moral rebellions with serious consequences. If the church does not call them out, then who will? Scripture warns against moving the ancient landmarks. These landmarks are not about nostalgia; they define the boundary between life and chaos. They represent the moral framework that once made community possible: principles like truth-telling, fidelity, modesty, respect for elders, reverence for God, duty to neighbors, and a sense of shame toward wrongdoing. When the church becomes lenient on these boundaries, society becomes harsh on individuals. Let’s focus on the necessary changes: - Stop issuing statements designed only to grab headlines. - Stop preaching to impress donors, officials, or social media. - Stop replacing biblical authority with cultural optimism. - Stop hiding behind a façade of “peace” while refusing to confront evil. Instead, return to the foundational principles: preach Christ crucified, accurately identify sin, call for repentance, teach holiness, and model integrity. Reject political influences. Reject performative spirituality. Reject fear. If the church mirrors the culture, the Bahamas will continue to decline. However, if the church reclaims its true identity, rooted in Scripture, fearless in the truth, and committed to holiness, the Bahamas can recover what has been lost. C Allen Johnson (Pastor) Purpose and Potential Church. C ALLEN JOHNSON Freeport, Grand Bahama January 12, 2026.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, PAGE 7
PM eliminates VAT on all grocery food FOOD from page one year, VAT on food was cut again, from ten percent to five percent. Last night’s announcement eliminates the tax entirely on grocery food. Mr Davis linked the policy to broader efforts to address affordability, pointing to high food prices, electricity costs and housing expenses as ongoing burdens for households. He said the VAT change would work alongside other initiatives, including energy reform, expanded domestic food production and new trade arrangements intended to reduce import costs. Mr Davis also announced expanded property tax concessions, saying owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes will now qualify for residential exemptions. He added that concessions for first-time homeowners have been widened, part of what he described as a broader effort to reduce housing-related costs and support asset ownership.
Before announcing the VAT cut, Mr Davis criticised the 2018 increase in the tax rate, arguing it weakened domestic spending ahead of a series of economic shocks, including Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic. He said his administration’s approach since 2021 has been to provide targeted relief while stabilising public finances. The address revisited earlier cost-of-living measures, including reduced customs duties on selected food items. Mr Davis also cited the School Breakfast Programme, which he said has delivered more than 1.4 million meals, as a form of direct household support. Mr Davis said the VAT change comes as the country emerges from a period of economic recovery, pointing to improved credit ratings, the removal of The Bahamas from international blacklists and more than $10bn in new private-sector investment since his administration took office.
PRIME MINISTER Philip ‘Brave’ Davis speaks during a national address last night.
MITCHELL PLAYS DOWN RIVALRY OVER PLP CONSTITUENCY NOMINATIONS AS ‘NORMAL PASSIONS’ By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell moved on Friday to cool internal tensions and reassert control of the party’s nomination process, dismissing recent flare-ups and criticism of constituency boundaries as routine political noise rather than signs of instability. His comments came as the PLP faces interest and rivalry over new and existing nominations, and a public challenge from the Free National Movement over the long-awaited Constituencies Commission report tabled in Parliament last week. Addressing tensions that followed a Southern Shores branch meeting earlier this week, Mr Mitchell played down the significance of the incident, in which rival supporters of Obie Roberts and Clint Watson had to be restrained as tempers rose outside party headquarters.
“I don't think these passions mean anything essential,” he said. “That's just the name of the process. Again, whatever happens in Southern Shores, the nominee will be the best individual that the party believes can represent our banner in that constituency.” He said such moments were inevitable in competitive politics and should not be overstated. “You don't get excited about these things. These are the normal passions, which come with political questions, and in their essence, they don't go to the fundamentals of whether people support the party or they don't.” Mr Mitchell said Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is expected to convene the party’s candidates committee later this month to address nominations across the country. Those decisions are now unfolding against the backdrop of the Constituencies Commission report, which
proposes the creation of two new seats — St James in western New Providence and a combined Bimini and Berry Islands constituency. Mr Mitchell said there has been strong interest within the party in the newly created Bimini and Berry Islands seat but stressed that the nomination process remains ongoing. “Suffice to say there's a high degree of interest in it, and the party has a process that it deals with in determining who should be its nominee,” he said. “It's probably premature for me to try and prescribe that in any way right now, except to say that the process will be free and fair.” The Tribune has previously reported that PLP Senator Randy Rolle, whose family roots trace back to Bimini, and former North Andros and Berry Islands MP Carlton Bowleg are among the names being discussed. Bimini resident Natasha Bullard Hamilton has also been mentioned as a possible contender.
Rick Fox to run for St James seat as independent or party candidate By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net FORMER NBA star Rick Fox announced yesterday that he will run in the newly created St James constituency, raising the stakes in the contest as he weighs whether to run with a political party or as an independent. The seat is one of two constituencies recommended by the Constituency Boundaries Commission in a report recently tabled in the House of Assembly. It spans communities currently in Golden Isles, Killarney and Southern Shores and would have 5,149 registered voters. In a message posted on Facebook on Majority Rule, Mr Fox, who’s also an Ambassador-At-Large, cited his close ties to the area, calling St James a place where his family lives, where he lives, and where he works. He gave no indication that he plans to resign as ambassador, despite pledging to run against the governing party that appointed him. He said he didn’t choose St James because it was easy, but because it sits at the crossroads of capital, infrastructure, and national decision-making. He noted that a section
of the area is also home to Clifton Pier Power Station, calling it one of the country’s most critical and unresolved energy challenges. He added that high electricity costs are not just a household issue, but a national competitiveness crisis. “What happens in St James sends signals everywhere. When governance works here, opportunity expands across The Bahamas. When systems fail, the cost is felt in every community,” he said. “This moment is bigger than any one party. Country over Party.” Progressive Liberal Party political aspirant Owen Wells and Free National Movement deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright are also both said to be eyeing the constituency. Mr Fox said he has considered every serious path forward, not to bargain, but to determine where meaningful reform is possible while staying true to his principles. These principles, he added, include transparency, lowering the cost of living, creating more opportunities, ensuring energy security, and an immigration policy rooted in sovereignty. “If that path is independent, I am prepared to run
alone,” he said. He added: “Bahamian women led courageously in the fight for Majority Rule. Fifty-nine years later, they are still not recognised as fully equal in our Constitution. That unfinished business dishonors our history and weakens our future.” “To the young men and women of The Bahamas ready to shape what comes next: involvement is not optional. Speaking up, contributing ideas, and working toward shared outcomes is a responsibility we all carry across generations, across differences, and beyond personal ambition.” The latest remarks revive long-running questions about Mr Fox’s role as a government-appointed diplomat while openly criticising the political system and preparing for electoral politics. Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has repeatedly called on diplomats who cannot support the government’s mandate to step aside. However, Mr Fox previously told The Tribune that he had no plans to resign and urged Mr Mitchell to focus on voter disengagement rather than ambassadorial conduct.
At the branch level, however, preferences are already emerging. Kitty Saunders, PLP branch chairperson for Bimini, said the party is backing Senator Rolle, whom she described as the strongest choice to represent the island. She said Bimini has long pushed for its own constituency and requires representation that understands the island’s people, culture and future direction. “Senator Randy Rolle Jr is a true son of the soil, and he has stepped forward with courage and humility and genuine commitment to serve,” she told The Tribune. Mr Bowleg, who has already been ratified for North Andros and the Berry Islands, has said he continues to work in the constituency and will be guided by God in deciding his next step.
Beyond internal jockeying, Mr Mitchell also pushed back firmly against criticism of the Constituencies Commission report from FNM leader Michael Pintard, arguing the opposition lacks credibility after formally endorsing the document. “The opposition didn't file a Minority Report,” he said. “They signed the report, so they agreed with the report, so they can come afterwards and say whatever they wish. The fact is, on the record, they agreed with the report. If they didn't agree with the report, they didn't have to sign the report, but they've signed the report.” Mr Pintard has argued the report fails to adequately address voter parity, particularly in Grand Bahama, and leaves wide disparities between constituencies
nationally. Mr Mitchell said such criticism overlooks the legal framework guiding the commission’s work. “You know, the law states what the position is with regard to the constituencies, so it says that you try, in the first instance, for constituencies to be more or less equal. So it doesn't have to be an exact science,” he said. He noted that the law also allows the commission to consider geographic dispersion, pointing out that large and complex constituencies exist across the country, including in Andros. Acknowledging the limits of boundary-drawing, Mr Mitchell said the exercise could never be purely mathematical. “It's not an exact science. The commission has done the best it can,” he said.
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PAGE A8, Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Junkanoo has outgrown Bay Street (and it’s about time we admit it) Ivoine Ingraham
facing Reality
THERE is a dangerous illusion in this country that if something has always been done a certain way, then it must forever remain that way, as if change itself is an act of betrayal. That illusion has quietly become one of the greatest threats to Bahamian progress. Pessimists are always waiting in the wings, ready to pounce on progress, because too many of us become comfortable with habit and are terrified to try something new. And nowhere is that fear of change more visible, more stubborn, and more costly than in how we stage our greatest cultural treasure: Junkanoo. Let’s finally say what too many people, including the Junkanoo intellectuals, are afraid to say:Junkanoo has outgrown Bay Street. Not because Bay Street is bad, not because our history there is unimportant, but because the scale, ambition, and artistic sophistication of modern Junkanoo no longer fit inside the narrow, cluttered, congested corridor that Bay Street has become. What once was a perfect cradle has now become a cage.And cages do not honour art, they suffocate it. Freeport gave us a glimpse of the future When Junkanoo rolled
through Freeport, Grand Bahama, on 9 January, 2026, something extraordinary happened.The parade didn’t feel chaotic. It didn’t feel cramped. It didn’t feel stressful, it felt free. No seas of unnecessary officials clogging the route. No 80-plus judges walking through formations. No photographers darting between dancers. No vest-wearing spectators masquerading as parade officials. No random bodies interrupting choreography and rhythm. What we saw instead was flow, breathing room, movement, discipline, and beauty. For the first time in a long time, Junkanoo looked like what it actually is:a worldclass cultural production. The costumes were able to stretch. The dancers could move without fear of collision. The music travelled cleanly. The formations could open, close, and expand the way designers intended. The street was strangling nothing, and that alone told us everything.
sightlines, safer crowd control, parking capacity, and easy emergency access. In short, it was made for this. Bay Street was not.
Bay Street is no longer a parade route. It’s an obstacle course Let’s be brutally honest. Bay Street is no longer a parade route. It’s an obstacle
Photos: Tribune staff course. It’s power lines, light poles, traffic signs, telephone wires, trees, storefronts, narrow sidewalks, crowds spilling into the road, and vendors squeezed against barricades. And we ask designers to build 50-foot lead pieces in that maze? We ask choreographers to design moving formations in that trap? We ask drummers to create thunder in a corridor that compresses sound. That’s not tradition. It’s cre-
ative cruelty. You cannot tell artists to dream big and then force them into a shoebox. The “old school” mindset is holding us hostage Every time this conversation arises, the same voices appear: “This is how we’ve always done it.” “Bay Street is a tradition.” “People won’t accept change.” “The world will end if we move it.” No. What will end is Junkanoo’s growth if we do not. Tradition is not a location. Tradition is the spirit, the rhythm, the people, the craftsmanship, the storytelling. We didn’t betray Junkanoo by adding LED lighting, or when we upgraded costumes. We didn’t betray it when we introduced formal judging. So why is moving to a better venue suddenly sacrilege? Because fear disguises itself as loyalty. The acoustics excuse has been exposed One of the laziest argu-
ments against moving Junkanoo is “acoustics.” But Freeport just demolished that myth. Open space, no tall buildings, no echo chambers, and the music was crisp, clear, powerful, alive. The truth is simple: Sound problems in Nassau are not about location. They are about planning, staging, and modern sound engineering. Global carnivals take place in open parks, wide boulevards, and stadium corridors — not in squeezed shopping streets.If Brazil, Trinidad, Notting Hill, and New Orleans can manage sound in massive open spaces, so can The Bahamas. We have to want to. There’s a better, smarter, purpose-built alternative Behind the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. Behind Government High School. Toward the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. That corridor offers everything Bay Street doesn’t: wide roads, no overhead wires, storefront blockages, easy truck access, passive space for costumes, room for bleachers on both sides, clear
Downtown merchants are being sacrificed Let’s talk economics. We keep saying Junkanoo is for tourism. Yet every year, we choke the very streets tourists come to walk.Bleachers block storefronts, barricades restrict foot traffic, security walls isolate shops, and vendors get pushed aside. We are literally shutting down our retail heartbeat to host a parade that would thrive better elsewhere. That’s not patriotism. It’s a self-inflicted loss. Moving Junkanoo would: Free Bay Street for business, improve visitor experience, allow vendors more space, increase spending, and reduce congestion.Everyone wins! Junkanoo is not a museum exhibit It was not frozen in 1950, not supposed to stay small, not meant to be polite. It’s intended to be: Loud. Bold. Explosive. Expansive. Fearless. You don’t put a lion in a cage and call it respect. You give it a savannah. The greatest show on earth deserves a stage to match If we genuinely believe Junkanoo is the most incredible show on earth, then we must stage it like one, not like a street festival. Not like a traffic detour. Not like a colonial-era procession. But like the global cultural powerhouse it has become. Freeport showed us the future. Now Nassau must have the courage to accept it, because this is not about abandoning Bay Street. It’s about honouring Junkanoo’s success. And success always demands room to grow. Junkanoo has grown into an eagle, don't cage it, let it flap its powerful wings and soar into the stratosphere.
Clergy hit out at ‘politicisation’ of Majority Rule as unfinished project PAGE 10, Tuesday, January 13, 2026
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net TWO senior religious leaders used yesterday’s Majority Rule service to deliver pointed warnings to political leaders, criticising the politicisation of the national holiday and questioning why young Bahamians remain largely absent from positions of political power. Anglican Bishop Laish Boyd and Pastor Mario Moxey addressed parliamentarians and congregants at the annual ecumenical service marking the country’s 59th Majority Rule anniversary, held at Bahamas Harvest Church. Both framed Majority Rule as
an unfinished project rather than a settled achievement. Bishop Boyd, delivering brief remarks, stressed that the observance should not belong to any political party or individual. “In my humble opinion,” he said, “it's unfortunate that both major political parties have managed to politicise this event, either by certain behaviours when they are in power or by catching feelings and keeping away when they're not in power and that's wrong.” He said both the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement were guilty of the practice and urged political leaders to stop treating the holiday as partisan territory, calling instead for more moments
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of national unity. Bishop Boyd said all Bahamians had benefited from Majority Rule, regardless of race, but warned that freedom also carried responsibility. He said, in many respects, Bahamians had failed to fully honour the opportunity created by Majority Rule. “Majority Rule Day is not a full stop. It's not a pinnacle at which we have arrived. Majority rule day is a comma. It is a semicolon. It is a plateau on which we pause before we go to higher heights, so we cannot rest on our laurels,” he said. He said the country must continue striving for inclusion and guard against replacing one form of exclusion with another.
ANGLICAN Bishop Laish Boyd.
PLP leaders and members march in a parade in observance of Majority Rule Day.
PASTOR Mario Moxey speaks during the ecumencial service in observance of Majority Rule Day at Bahamas Harvest Church on Monday. The observance continued with a parade commemorating the significance of Majority Rule in The Bahamas. Photos: Shawn Hanna “While the white oligarchy that was exclusionary, and that limited opportunity for so many, is no longer doing so, we need to ensure that a similar black oligarchy doesn't take its place,” he said. Pastor Moxey, who delivered the sermon, echoed the call for reflection but focused his message on generational leadership and political vision. He recalled that many of the leaders who ushered in Majority Rule were under 40, contrasting that with today’s political landscape, where the average age of a Member of Parliament is 50. “Here’s my point: a nation that delays its youth leaders eventually delays its destiny,” he said. He questioned why young Bahamians who were entrusted with the country’s future in 1967 now appear relegated to the margins of political life. “If,” he said, “young Bahamians were trusted with the future of our nation in 1967, one of the most pivotal times in the history of our nation, why are they now often trusted only with campaign logistics and photo opportunities?” Pastor Moxey challenged political parties to nominate at least 30 candidates under 30 in the next election cycle and urged stronger mentorship across generations. “I want to say to our seasoned leaders, your greatest contribution may not be how long you remain in
office, it may be who you prepare to lead when you're gone,” he said. He said too many political campaigns rely on personal attacks rather than ideas. He cited low voter turnout in recent elections as evidence not of apathy, but of disappointment. He said Majority Rule succeeded because it offered Bahamians a future worth believing in, arguing that power mattered only because of what it promised to deliver. “And as we approach another season of election campaign, I want to caution all political parties and all politicians alike, the Bahamian electorate has matured over the years,” he said. “We are thinking voters. We are discerning voters.
Bahamians will attend your rallies, accept your gifts, smile politely and still vote based on vision, not favours.” He urged politicians to abandon insults and destructive behaviour and return to the spirit that made Majority Rule transformative. PLP chairman Fred Mitchell appeared to respond to the clergy’s remarks later in the day at the party’s headquarters. “As for those who are concerned about whether young people will take over, just do the math,” he said. “Time runs out on everybody. And as for whether this is a PLP holiday or it’s a joint holiday, which it is, until others catch up, you always got to keep it going.”
ENTRANCE EXAMINATION 2026-2027
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, Temple Christian School will hold its Entrance Examination for students entering grades 7,8,9 and 10. TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon LOCATION: High School Campus, Shirley Street Application forms are available at the High School Office and should be completed and returned to the school by Friday, January 23, 2026. The application fee is twenty-five dollars ($25). For further information, please call telephone number: 394-4481/394-4484.
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026, PAGE 11
PM attends women’s rights activist Iva Nixon’s funeral By Tribune Staff Reporter IVA Rebecca Burrows Nixon, a revered community leader in Inagua whose life was marked by activism, service and quiet authority, was laid to rest on Saturday at Saint Philip’s Anglican Church in Matthew Town. She was 87. Her funeral coincided with Majority Rule Day weekend, a fitting moment for a woman who was deeply involved in advancing women’s rights in Inagua during the early 1960s and who remained committed to civic participation throughout her life. Prime Minister Philip
“Brave” Davis and several parliamentarians attended the service, joining family members and residents. Mrs Nixon’s cousin, Father Keith Cartwright, who delivered the sermon, described her as a national figure whose influence extended beyond Inagua. “I'm happy to take the time out to share, and I am grateful if you can highlight the love and care of Miss Iva as mother of inagua and mother in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. For me, she was an unsung hero of our nation, and it was sitting that her send off would have been at a national time when we are
thinking of majority rule and celebrating that significant milestone,” he told The Tribune. Mrs Nixon raised four children and opened her home to many others in need of care and discipline, a role that earned her enduring respect across the island. During the prime minister’s travels on the island, supporters of MICAL aspirant Robert Dupuch-Carron were seen holding placards in support of his bid. Mr Dupuch-Carron attended the funeral along with fellow PLP aspirant Ronnell Armbrister and many others.
Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis stand outside St Philip’s Anglican Church in Inagua on Saturday.
SENIOR CITIZEN CHARGED WITH SQUATTING IN GOVERNMENT HOME By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 63-YEAR-OLD man accused of breaking into and living in a government-owned home was granted bail on Friday. Prosecutors allege Anthony Cunningham unlawfully entered and occupied a residence at #96 Devonshire Street — owned by the Ministry of Tourism — between December 1, 2025, and January 5. Cunningham pleaded
not guilty to housebreaking before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly-Burrows. Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom, appearing for the prosecution, raised no objection to bail. Cunningham was granted bail in the amount of $3,000 with one or two sureties. As part of his bail conditions, he must report to Cable Beach Police Station on the first Monday of each month. His trial is scheduled to begin on April 9. Mario McCartney represented the accused.
MAN REMANDED OVER HAVING LOADED AK-47-STYLE RIFLE By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 24-YEAR-OLD man accused of possessing a loaded AK-47-style rifle was remanded to prison on Friday as prosecutors sought additional background checks. Verron Ferguson pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Lennox Coleby to charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition. Prosecutors allege Ferguson was found on January 8 in New Providence with
a black Draco AK-47 rifle, nine 7.62 rounds and one 12-gauge shotgun round. Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie requested time to determine whether the accused has a criminal record or any gang affiliations, citing concerns for both public safety and the defendant’s own welfare. Ferguson was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services pending a bail hearing scheduled for January 16. Levan Johnson represented the accused.
TEEN GETS PROBATION AFTER ADMITTING TO CUTLASS ATTACK By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 17-YEAR-OLD boy was placed on probation on Friday after admitting to assaulting a man with a cutlass during an altercation last month. The teenager, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous instrument before Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs. Prosecutors said the defendant attacked Nelson Burrows at about 1.40pm on December 21, 2025. The boy’s guardian was present in court. During proceedings, the defendant apologised and said he had let his temper
get the better of him. Magistrate Isaacs granted a conditional discharge and placed the defendant on probation for two years. A breach of that order would result in a sixmonth prison sentence at Simpson Penn. The court further ordered the teenager to complete three months of anger management counselling and to perform 50 hours of community service at the Nassau Street Police Station, failing which he faces four months in custody. He was remanded to Simpson Penn until January 15, by which time he is expected to pay $500 in compensation to the complainant or face a further three-month custodial sentence.
INAGUA residents holding ‘We need Robert’ placards - referring to MICAL aspirant Robert Dupuch-Carron (pictured right) - were at the airport when Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis arrived on Saturday.
Ex-wife barred from burial plans after falsely claiming to be deceased’s widow By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A WOMAN who used National Insurance death benefits to arrange her former husband’s funeral without the consent of his children was not entitled to reclaim funeral costs after falsely presenting herself as his widow, the Supreme Court ruled. Justice Denise Lewis-Johnson found that Nashecka Kearra Brice (nee Rolle) had been divorced from Dwight Edison Brice of Flamingo
Bay, Exuma, for months before his death and therefore had no legal authority over his remains or funeral arrangements. The court determined that the couple’s Decree Nisi, a provisional court order that allows divorce proceedings to proceed, was made absolute on March 27, 2025, eight months before Brice died on November 15, 2025, and ordered the registrar to sign the document reflecting the finalisation of the divorce. The pair first applied for divorce in 2022. The ruling followed an
emergency application brought last month by Brice’s children, Demarro, Deron, Sheanda, Lashantia, Travon and Devina Brice, after Curtis Memorial Mortuary was instructed to proceed with funeral and cremation services on December 13, 2025, when the deceased’s ex-wife took custody of his body. Justice Lewis-Johnson ruled that the claimants, as Brice’s heirs, were entitled to possession of his remains and to make all final funeral and burial arrangements. She authorised Curtis Memorial
Mortuary to commence services only upon instructions from the children and ordered that the defendant was not entitled to any refund from the funeral home. The defendant was also restrained from making any further funeral arrangements. Both parties are scheduled to return to court on May 6 for a hearing on costs. Regina Bonaby appeared for the claimants, while Owen Wells and Linique Murphy-Grant represented the defendant.
PAGE 12, Tuesday, January 13, 2026
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Govt knocks down 27 shanty town homes on Russell Island, Eleuthera DEMOLITION of illegal structures on Russell Island in Spanish Wells began yesterday, nearly a year after government notices warned occupants to vacate unregulated settlements in the area. The Ministry of Works & Family Island Affairs said the exercise targeted 27 structures identified as unlawfully built in North Eleuthera and Russell Island, including 14 in Apay Village, ten in Bouchie Village and three in an unnamed location. Pull-Down Notices were issued on March 18, 2024, with authorities saying occupants were formally notified and given months to leave before enforcement began. The operation is being carried out by the government’s Unregulated Communities Action Taskforce, supported by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Department of Immigration and officials from several ministries, including Social Services and Health & Wellness. According to the ministry, land ownership checks were conducted before demolition commenced, and due-process requirements were followed. Officials said the structures were located in areas deemed unregulated and therefore subject to removal under existing laws. The government has repeatedly argued that unregulated settlements pose environmental, health and safety concerns, citing poor construction, lack of sanitation, exposure to flooding and fire risks, and the absence of basic services. The ministry also said the enforcement exercise is not limited to foreign migrants, stressing that Bahamians
SHANTY town homes were demolished yesterday as govt continues taking down unregulated structures on Russell Island in North Eleuthera yesterday.
living in unregulated communities are equally subject to the law. The government’s campaign against unregulated communities has gathered pace over the past year.
Nearly 500 structures have been demolished across New Providence, Eleuthera, and Abaco as the task force issues 28-day notices, conducts population surveys, and
determines who is Bahamian, legally resident, or undocumented. Recent operations included notices in the Montgomery area off Cowpen Road, where
more than 200 residents were ordered to vacate their homes. Officials have attributed delays in some areas to contractor availability and logistical challenges.
Photos: MOW
Authorities have insisted the clearances are driven by safety, sanitation, and building-code concerns, citing fires and other risks in several communities.
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026, PAGE 13
PM Davis delivers 200 land conveyances to families on Moore’s Island, Abaco By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net AFTER generations of living, building and passing down land without formal ownership, scores of Moore’s Island residents received deeds of conveyance on Friday in what the government said marked a turning point for economic security on the Abaco island. Prime Minister Philip Davis led the official presentation, describing the long-delayed regularisation of land ownership as a step towards stability for families who had occupied and developed land for decades without legal title. Speaking at a ceremony on the island, Mr Davis said the government delivered more than 200 conveyances, ending years of uncertainty that restricted residents’ ability to borrow, invest or transfer property to their children. “This moment matters because it is about people, real families, real names and real lives,” Mr Davis said. “Today, the law finally meets the reality.” He said the issue stemmed from historic gaps in documentation across Family Island communities, where land ownership — often inherited informally — never translated into a legally recognised title, undermining long-term wealth creation. Mr Davis said work on Moore’s Island began during his earlier tenure as deputy prime minister, when land occupied by residents was acquired in the
public interest and vested in the state to allow proper conveyance. He said the process stalled after the Progressive Liberal Party left office but resumed when the party returned to government, with agencies instructed to complete surveys, documentation and approvals. Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper said the distribution corrected a longstanding injustice that prevented families from fully benefiting from assets they already controlled in practice. “When you cannot prove title, you cannot easily borrow, invest, improve or pass assets on,” Mr Cooper said. “Land means empowerment.” He encouraged residents to use the deeds to pursue opportunities in tourism, fishing and small business, adding that a secure title formed the basis for generational wealth. Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal Keith Bell said his ministry prepared more than 300 conveyances for Moore’s Island as part of the exercise, with no cost to recipients. Mr Bell said residents would receive their original conveyances immediately, while government agencies assist with Inland Revenue tax certificates and the recording of deeds at the Registrar General’s Department. “This is not mere paperwork,” Mr Bell said. “This is dignity, certainty and justice long overdue.” He said the conveyances provide marketable and bankable title, allowing
residents to build, expand and invest with confidence. District Administrator Florence Pratt-Myers said the outcome followed a March 2025 commitment by Mr Davis to resolve the matter “in short order,” with survey work and administrative processing completed over subsequent months. She said the delivery showed that promises made to Family Island communities were being honoured through action. Member of Parliament for Central and South Abaco, John Pinder, said the conveyances would allow Moore’s Island families to secure financing and protect their property for future generations. He said economic empowerment begins with owning — and proving ownership of — the land on which families live and build. During the ceremony, several residents were singled out during the presentation, including a 90-year-old who had never held a deed prior to Friday’s event, before wider distribution continued. Mr Davis said the government would continue assisting residents through the final recording stage to ensure all deeds are properly registered. He said similar land regularisation efforts are under way in other communities, including Fox Hill and Marsh Harbour, adding that Moore’s Island represents another step in a broader national push to settle longstanding land claims.
PRIME Minster Phili ‘Brave’ Davis, along with other govt ministers and officials present Moores Island residents with deeds for those who have family land but may not have legal documents of support at a ceremony on Friday. Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
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PAGE A14, Tuesday, January 13, 2026
THE Bushwackers
THE Bushwackers
Snapshots from Grand Bahama's Pineyard Rush Junkanoo STING
THE Classic Dancers
KINGDOM Culture
THE Platinum Knights
THE Platinum Knights
THE Platinum Knights
SHOWTIME
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026, PAGE A15
70 awarded scholarships By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Education Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
SEVENTY public school graduates have been recognised for their outstanding achievements with scholarships worth up to $60,000 through the Public Schools Scholars Programme (PSSP). The 2025 cohort reflects the country’s talent and determination, with 44 students from Family Island schools — including the largest group
from St. George’s High School in Grand Bahama — earning awards that recognize both academic excellence and potential for leadership. Many recipients have already begun studies at universities across North America and Canada, including Middle Tennessee State University, Saint Leo University, and the University of the Ozarks, carrying the promise of these scholarships into their college journeys. The awards aim to support
students in reaching higher education opportunities while encouraging them to give back to The Bahamas through leadership and service, ensuring that these young scholars continue to make an impact both at home and abroad. The ceremony also paid tribute to Chilean Burrows, the outgoing Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Scholarship and Educational Loan Division, honouring her years of dedication.
Public Records Council call for essay submissions By FAY SIMMONS
Tribune Education Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
HIGH school students with strong opinions, creative ideas, or a love for history now have a chance to put their voices on the national stage — and win major prizes while doing it. The National Essay Competition, hosted by the Advisory Council on Public Records in collaboration with the Department of Archives, invites students across the country to explore a powerful question: “Why do we preserve records?” The essay competition challenges students to think about how historical documents, photographs, and public records help tell the story of who we are, where we came from, and how decisions made today shape the future. The copetition is open exclusively to high school students, with word limits tailored by grade level. Students in Grades 7–9 are required to submit es-
says of up to 500 words, while students in Grades 10–12 may submit essays of up to 750 words. Whether students are interested in history, law, social studies, journalism, or simply enjoy expressing their ideas through writing, the competition offers an opportunity to connect personal ideas with national heritage and civic responsibility. In addition to the chance to sharpen their writing and critical-thinking skills, students will be competing for exciting rewards. The first-place winner will receive a MacBook Air laptop along with a $250 gift certificate to the Mall at Marathon. Second place will earn a $500 gift certificate, while third place will take home a $300 gift certificate. All essays must be submitted by February 26, 2026. Students seeking additional information or submission guidance are encouraged to contact the organizers at AdvisoryCouncil@yahoo.com
Marine science students participate in hands-on coral study at Ocean Cay By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Education Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
Hands-on learning proved transformative for four Bahamian students who traded lecture halls for living reef systems, gaining skills and confidence that could help shape the next generation of marine conservation professionals. Kristinique Fernander, Jenna Johnson, Randan Cox and Dante Smith, Marine Science students at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), participated in an immersive coral study visit to Ocean Cay that allowed them to move beyond theory and engage directly with coral reef ecosystems. Through reef observation, coral identification, water quality testing and restoration activities, the students applied classroom concepts in real-world conditions — an experience many described as essential to their academic growth. Several moments stood out as milestones in their learning journey. For some, it was their first encounter with reef sharks in the wild. For others, it was recognizing visible signs of coral stress and gaining a clearer understanding of how human activity can influence reef health. Together, these experiences helped the students connect scientific knowledge with environmental responsibility. Second-year student Dante Smith said the visit reshaped how he understands coral ecosystems and sustainability. Learning more about corals, he explained,
changed his perspective on the role conservation plays in marine science careers and reinforced the importance of long-term environmental stewardship. “Before Ocean Cay, I didn’t know much about corals,” Ms Smith said. “Learning about different coral species, how they function, and how they reproduce completely changed my understanding. It also showed me that marine science careers require a strong conservation mindset and a real commitment to sustainability.” First-year student Jenna Johnson found that combining in-water research with public engagement made the experience especially meaningful. Interacting with international visitors while sharing what she was learning showed her how education and awareness can inspire people to care about reef protection —
an approach she hopes to incorporate into her future career. “Being in the water and talking to international guests at Ocean Cay was the highlight for me,” Ms Johnson said. “This trip showed me that diving can be more than just seeing marine life. When you mix diving with learning and sharing knowledge about coral reefs, people start to care. That’s why I want to combine scuba diving, education and coral restoration in my future career.” Kristinique Fernander and Randan Cox also gained valuable exposure by working closely with marine scientists during reef monitoring and restoration exercises. The experience helped them develop practical research skills while building confidence in their ability to work in professional marine conservation settings. BAMSI President Dr
Raveenia Hanna-Roberts highlighted the importance of field-based learning in strengthening scientific training. She said partnerships with organizations such as the MSC Foundation provide
students with a deeper, more practical understanding of the serious challenges facing coral reefs and the solutions required to address them. “This opportunity for our Marine Science students to work with the global MSC
Foundation is deepening their understanding of the threats facing coral reefs, the solutions required to address them, as well as the essential need to mobilise public awareness and action,” she said.
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PAGE A16, Tuesday, January 13, 2026
SUPERSTAR Rockers rocked the Pineyard Rush in 2026 with the theme "Splendors of Ancient Egypt."
Superstar Rockets finally take top prize in GB's Pineyard Rush Junkanoo parade By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Superstar Rockets are the unofficial winners of Grand Bahama’s Pineyard Rush Junkanoo Parade, finally breaking a six-year second-place streak to emerge the 2026 champions. Under the banner “Splendors of Ancient Egypt,” the Rockets showcased a dazzling display of pharaohs, kings, and ancient Egyptian imagery along Explorer ’s Way, thrilling spectators and impressing the judges. It marked a long-awaited Division A triumph after months of hard work in the shack paid off on the road. According to unofficial results, last year’s champions, the Swingers, placed second with “Magnificent Expressions of Diverse Cultures.” The Classic Dancers took third with “Breakfast Time, Let’s Eat Cereal,” featuring colourful depictions of popular cereal brands. Platinum Knights finished fourth with “Jewels of the Bahamas,” while New Generation rounded out the top five
with “Latin America Kingdom Culture.” In the Division B category, Showtime captured first place with “Wizard of Oz.” The Bushwhackers placed second, Sting came in third, and Bahamian Gladiators finished fourth. A total of 10 groups participated in this year’s Pineyard Rush parade. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg was in attendance, along with Percy “Vola” Francis and representatives from the National Junkanoo Corporation, who travelled to Freeport to witness the cultural showcase. Mr Francis was very impressed with the level of performances and costumes design and construction. According to Superstar Rockets leader Chauncey Gray, the group had consistently placed second over the past six years but remained determined to finally rise above “the hump.” “It was months and months of preparation, almost nonstop. We took a week or two off and then went back to the drawing board—planning and drawing,” he said. “It’s hard getting to the
LAST year's champions, the Swingers, placed second under their theme "Magnificent Expressions of Diverse Cultures." finish line, especially financially. It could be easier with better financing, but we made it happen because we are Bahamians and we’re going to put on our cultural show.”
He said the Rockets are more than 200 strong, with additional support from fans who also play a vital role in bringing the production to life.
Photos: Vandyke Hepburn “What you see on the road, that’s not all of our members. We have people who come in to assist, and we even consider our fans as members. If we need something done, they step in and help,” he said. Mr Gray said it also feels good when people like Minister for Grand Bahama and FNM Leader Michael Pintard come to visit them in the shack. “It's a good feeling that people took time out to come and see us in shack,” he said. It shows that they are interested in Bahamian culture.” Mr Pintard said he has long kept the tradition of visiting Junkanoo shacks from since he was former minister responsible or junkanoo. He praised the commitment of the artists, saying he was “proud
of the artistry of our artists” and the sacrifices they make for the culture. He also noted that many groups spend far more on costumes than they receive in prize money, which he said shows their deep love for Junkanoo. He said it remains a goal to ensure those involved can “in fact make a living from it year round.” “That’s why it is important to have a structure, whether you call it an authority or commission,” he said, to allow Junkanoo to raise private-sector funds and invest in facilities such as a multi-purpose Junkanoo shack. “I think the potential is absolutely huge what Junkanoo can do in order to monetize the culture.”