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Volume: 123 No. 75, Wednesday, March 11, 2026
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SONS WATCH STABBED DAD BLEED TO DEATH Relatives recount horror of watching collapsed man die on his mother’s front porch By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net RELATIVES of Okino Kareem Burrows watched in horror as he bled to death on the front porch of his mother’s home in Hepburn Town, Eight Mile Rock, after fleeing a violent confrontation at a nearby bus stop.
Burrows, 38, was stabbed in the throat during a physical altercation with another man around 11pm on Saturday. He ran to his mother’s house seeking help, but collapsed at the front door. His two sons, ages 15 and 12, opened the door and found their father bleeding on the porch. His mother, Ena, and other relatives looked on helplessly as he
lay on the ground with a severe wound to his throat. According to relatives, his sister rushed to help him and tried to stop the bleeding. “It was hurtful to watch him bleed out there on her front porch,” Kim Musgrove, a close family member, told The Tribune. MURDER - SEE PAGE THREE OKINO KAREEM BURROWS
Former PM calls for probe into politicians’ sharp rise in wealth St John’s principal back at work after viral neck-grab video By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday questioned unexplained jumps in politicians’ declared assets, saying those whose wealth rises sharply in office should be required to explain how it happened. Speaking in the House of Assembly a week after the annual financial disclosure
deadline passed, Dr Minnis said he found it strange that some people enter politics with $50,000 and within four years have more than $2 million. He said he was not “picking on anybody”. “What I'm saying is, if nothing is going on, they are very, very intelligent, and those individuals should be hired within the Ministry of Finance,” he said. “They MINNIS - SEE PAGE FOUR
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
FORMER PM Dr Hubert Minnis.
ST JOHN’S College principal Quinn McCartney has returned to work after a viral video showed him grabbing a girl by the neck during a school event, an incident that prompted an investigation by the Anglican Central Education
Authority. Mr McCartney, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police who joined St John’s College in 2024 after moving from St Anne’s College, said he has been back at work since last week but declined further comment. ACEA officials did not respond to The Tribune’s CHOKE - SEE PAGE FIVE
FORMER DCP Quinn McCartney.
Davis: Fake voter cards pose no systemic threat By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said fraud cases involving Bahamian passports and voter cards do not pose a systemic threat, despite a string of recent arraignments tied to forged official documents.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
His comments come as biometric voter cards continue to roll out. Meanwhile, several criminal cases have moved through the courts, including one in which an 18-year-old Haitian man was remanded to prison after being accused of FRAUD - SEE PAGE FOUR
PAGE 2, Wednesday, March 11, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
‘No victory lap,’ says PM - Despite decline in major crime ‘still more work to be done’ By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net ARMED robberies once climbed to 555 in a single year, families were afraid and communities felt abandoned, Prime Minister Philip Davis said yesterday as he defended the government’s Clear Hold Build strategy and pointed to what he described as sharp declines in major crime. “Homicides are down 26 percent,” Mr Davis said, citing official statistics from the Royal Bahamas Police Force. “Robberies are down 39 percent and down 71 percent from that peak. Housebreakings have been cut nearly in half. Overall, major crime across the country is down 15 percent.” He spoke at the Carmichael Urban Renewal Centre in Flamingo Gardens before a walkabout in Southern Shores, where the initiative is now focused. He was accompanied by Carmichael MP Keith Bell and police officers. The prime minister said the Clear Hold Build programme has been moving through different constituencies across New Providence. Mr Davis said the strategy was introduced after traditional approaches failed. “The old way of putting police in the community and then taking them away wasn’t working,” he said. “Something had to change so we changed it.” He described Clear Hold Build as a five-pillar approach centred on policing, investing in communities, youth intervention, border security and legislative changes. “We brought everyone to the table, the church, civil society, community organizations, every arm of government, because no government fights crime alone. It takes a whole country, and we invested in the next generation,” he said. He also outlined increased spending on law enforcement and security infrastructure. “We have more officers on our streets. We have cameras watching. We have shot spotters listening. We have intelligence working around the clock,” he said. He said 787 police officers are patrolling the streets, more than 1,000 CCTV cameras have been deployed and 366 illegal firearms were seized within the last year. The government has also recruited 260 defence force marines and invested in new vessels and technology to strengthen border security. Despite the reported improvements, he acknowledged that many Bahamians still feel unsafe. “I am not here to take a victory lap,” Mr Davis said. “There are families that have lost loved ones. There are Bahamians that still do not feel safe. There is still much work to be done.”
Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis stops to speak to a student during a walkabout in the Southern Shores constituency yesterday. Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, PAGE 3
Family mourns tragic loss of loving father MURDER from page one Family members gathered outside the home on Monday afternoon, trying to come to terms with what happened. Among them were Burrows’ mother, an aunt and other grieving relatives. Ms Musgrove said the trauma has left the family distraught, especially his mother, his sons and his sister, who responded after hearing his desperate call for help. “When his throat got sliced, he held his neck and ran home and knocked on the door, and the sad thing about it was his sons opened the door and saw their daddy on the porch bleeding,” she said. “His sister tried to hold her hand on his throat to stop the bleeding. It was devastating to watch that and see all the blood. For the boys especially, they’re taking it hard, it ain’t easy to watch your daddy bleed out.” His aunt, Anthia Bartlett, said the loss has left a void in their close-knit family. “Kareem, as we call him, he was our loved one, and we love him dearly,” she said. “Despite whatever challenges he may have had or whatever would have gone on, he was a loving family member. He has kids who he loved and he supported. And so to lose a family member so tragically, it is really heartbreaking. I don’t feel like I have any words that can fill that void at this time.” The circumstances leading to the stabbing remain unclear, and a 46-yearold man is in custody, assisting police with their investigation. Burrows had faced hardship earlier this year after
“His sister tried to hold her hand on his throat to stop the bleeding. It was devastating to watch that and see all the blood. For the boys especially, they’re taking it hard, it ain’t easy to watch your daddy bleed out.” losing his home in a fire in January. He told The Tribune at the time that he believed arson was to blame. Ms Bartlett said the family is relying on authorities as the investigation continues. “We don’t know what happened,” she said. “We feel confident that the police force, they’re going to do their jobs,” she said. “We are confident that justice will prevail. However, no matter the outcome, it will not ease the pain of the loss. No matter what happens, it won’t bring him back.” Monica Mackey, the mother of his two children, said the ordeal has been especially painful for their sons. “I’m very destroyed at this time, especially for both of my kids, because experiencing this whole situation and just being there and watching them go through the whole process is very hard,” she said. “So I’m just trying to be strong for them at this time and show up as the best that I can for them.”
AN OLD photo shows Okino Kareem Burrows with his child’s mother, Monica, and his son. She described Burrows as fun and loving. “He was always full of
Police suspect natural causes in deaths of elderly couple By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net THE deaths of an elderly couple whose decomposing bodies were discovered in their home last month are believed to have been due to natural causes, police said yesterday. Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles told reporters initial indications suggest this, adding there was no evidence the home had been breached before relatives arrived. She said police are still awaiting the pathologist’s report to determine the exact causes of death. Relatives told The Tribune yesterday they have not yet received confirmation of the exact cause of death. The bodies of Theresa Edwards, 68, and her husband William Pearce, 78, were discovered at their Carmichael Road home after relatives became concerned when they had not heard from the couple for four days. The discovery triggered screams and tears from relatives who had gone to check on them. Granddaughter Yasmen Darling said she briefly fainted after she and two relatives she had
called for help made the grim discovery. “It was like a movie scene – but this was real life,” said Ms Darling. Officers from the Southwestern Division, along with Emergency Medical Services, responded to the scene. Fire Services conducted preliminary checks and found no evidence of a gas or air-conditioning leak. Detectives from the Criminal Investigation
Department said foul play is not suspected. Ms Darling said the family’s concern began earlier in the week after repeated attempts to contact the couple went unanswered. The last confirmed contact was Monday. By Tuesday, calls to both the house phone and cellular phones were not returned, something she initially did not find alarming.
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energy, and full of life,” she said. “He was also big on family and was always
excited to be around people who loved him. Despite all of his challenges, he always
tried to make sure everybody was happy and they were having a good time.”
PAGE 4, Wednesday, March 11, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Ex-PM points to his own growing wealth as proof disclosure laws lack teeth MINNIS from page one would be a great asset to the Ministry of Finance. Now, I brought that up for a reason. Last year, my declaration was about $14 million. I’m not ashamed of that. It was about $14 million. This year my declaration has gone up. “Now, if we were a country of laws and enforcement, they should have called me in. They should have called me in and questioned me as to how, explain how my assets had increased by millions of dollars, just like they should have called the individuals who moved from $50,000 to $3 -$4 million. Until we deal with those matters, our country will continue to deteriorate.”
KILLARNEY MP DR HUBERT MINNIS “I
use
myself
as
an
example so that nobody
can say that I picked on them. All I’m saying is that when these things happen, the laws should dictate that individuals, regardless of who they are (address it), and there can be easy explanations.” Critics have repeatedly faulted the country’s slack system around public disclosure of assets and liabilities. While public officials are required to make disclosures every year, no one verifies the accuracy of their claims. National Security Minister Wayne Munroe and Environment Minister Zane Lightbourne recently told The Tribune they requested 30-day extensions to make their disclosures while Sea Breeze MP Leslia Miller-Brice said she sought a
two-week extension. Golden Isles MP Darren Pickstock said he was finalising his filing and awaiting bank statements, adding he expected to file by March 9 once he received them. Several Cabinet ministers said they met the deadline, including Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper; Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville; Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin; Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis; Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg; Social Services Minister Myles Laroda; Transport and Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis; Labour and Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle; and Works
Minister Clay Sweeting. Other parliamentarians who said they filed include Central Grand Bahama MP Iran Lewis, Mount Moriah MP Mckell Bonaby, Central and South Abaco MP John Linder, MICAL MP Basil McIntosh, Southern Shores MP Leroy Major, West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Kingsley Smith, Nassau Village MP Jamahl Strachan, and South Beach MP Bacchus Rolle. A Free National Movement official claimed all FNM members filed on time. Nearly four days after The Tribune sent them questions, other elected officials had not responded to requests about the status of their disclosures.
Cartwright cites election integrity fears as fake voter card cases move through courts FRAUD from page one fraudulently obtaining a Bahamian passport and voter’s card. Last week, a woman of Haitian descent was granted bail after she was accused of having a fake Bahamian passport last year. Another
Haitian man was sentenced last month to two years in prison after admitting he obtained a Bahamian passport, voter’s card and NIB smart card through fraud. Mr Davis acknowledged the cases are troubling, but said the numbers before the courts are not “great” enough to raise concerns
about the international integrity of the country’s documents. “I don’t think it’s a threat per se,” he said. “However, any fraudulent document that purports to be an official document of the government has the potential of undermining the integrity of that system.
“We are troubled by the fact that our documents and other official instruments are being frauded in a way to mislead others and I know that the police has taken note of this, and they are looking at how best to defend against this.” Free National Movement Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright said the cases raise concerns about election technology and voter identification systems as Bahamians prepare to vote. “I think that in this political season and as Bahamians get ready to vote, there are legitimate concerns that the government must be aware that the Bahamian people are concerned about because, at the end of the day, the integrity of the vote and the integrity of our elections are vitally important to who we are and the development of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” he said on the Guardian’s Morning Blend radio show yesterday. The Parliamentary Registration Department has
FNM DEPUTY LEADER SHANENDON CARTWRIGHT repeatedly defended the integrity of the process, insisting safeguards are in place. Mr Cartwright said he notes those reassurances but remains concerned that continued instances of fraud could undermine public confidence. He said he has not applied for a biometric card and is “fine” using the regular paper version, stressing that his choice does not mean he
opposes others obtaining a biometric card. Government officials have long argued that laminated voter cards are outdated and easily forged, citing international observers who have flagged weaknesses in registration and identity checks. They maintain that recent reforms will modernise registration while leaving voting and counting entirely manual.
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THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, PAGE 5
ACEA silent on principal’s return as Mardi Gras incident investigation continues CHOKE from page one requests for comments up to press time yesterday. The ACEA confirmed earlier that it launched an investigation into the matter. Footage, widely circulated on social media, showed a man identified as Mr McCartney holding a girl’s arms as she leaves a room before placing both hands around her neck and pushing her through a doorway. In a statement ilast month, the ACEA said the incidents occurred on February 14 during a dance held as part of the school’s annual Mardi Gras celebrations. “The ACEA wishes to note that, based on the information presently in
its possession, no harm or injury was occasioned during the events purportedly being circulated on social media,” the statement said. The authority said it was gathering and reviewing all available information with relevant stakeholders in line with established procedures and that the matter would be handled with seriousness and due diligence. The video also drew criticism from human rights advocate Alicia Wallace, who condemned what she described as violence used as discipline. “School administration and faculty must be held at a higher standard, expected to build relationships with students that assure them of support, fairness, and
safety,” she said. “They are to face challenges and intervene in conflict in nonviolent ways, seeking to resolve issues and facilitate repair. Use of violence escalates situations, destroys trust, and often perpetuates further acts and the normalisation of violence.” “In The Bahamas, we can see that many have violence as a first response, and it is for us to interrupt that pattern by calling it by its name, implementing different practices, and ensuring that people in positions of power are trained to regulate their emotions and respond in effective and nonviolent ways. No matter what we call it, violence is wrong, it is dangerous, and it is an indication of ineptitude.”
SCREEN capture from the viral video shows what appears to be principal Quinn McCartney with his hands around the neck area of a girl.
‘I have not resigned’ - Gibson Man admits to rape of 72-year-old denies quitting FNM party By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 26-YEAR-OLD man admitted to the murder and rape of 72-year-old grandmother Vernencha Butler in her Ross Corner apartment. The court heard that Jayvon Forbes broke into Butler’s residence at Apartment #1 on Ross Corner, where he raped then murdered her after she returned home from celebrating her sister’s 75th birthday party on the night of November 23, 2024,
FNM LONG ISLAND MP ADRIAN GIBSON By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
“If the time comes or should circumstances LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson last night dismissed arise where decisions claims that he is resigning from the Free National must be made about Movement as “false”, but signalled that future deci- the way forward, those sions about his political path would be made “trans- decisions will be made parently” if circumstances transparently and require it. Mr Gibson addressed speculation about his status thoughtfully in regards in the House of Assembly. “Reports have been cir- for you, the people of culating that I have resigned from the Free National Long Island, the people Movement. Those reports I represent.” are false,” he said. “I have not resigned. That said, much more than a label, my commitment as a fellow sheep runner is to you, the people whom I serve. “Like any representative, I continue to listen carefully to the views and concerns of my constituents, many of whom have reached out to me to share their concerns and their perspectives. My commitment to the resilient people of Long Island remains firm and unwavering, and to carrying out my duties and responsibilities without fear and with seriousness and integrity.”
“My duty has always been for the people of Long Island and I would always choose the path that best allows me to represent fully and without compromise. I have heard calls. I've heard your calls Long Islanders, and I've read your messages. I've heard your sentiments, and I have been listening. I hear you.” “I stand with you. If the time comes or should circumstances arise where decisions must be made about the way forward, those decisions will be made
transparently and thoughtfully in regards for you, the people of Long Island, the people I represent.” The FNM has ratified former Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins as its candidate for Long Island in the next general election. Maurice Minnis, a council representative for the Long Island Constituency Association, has said supporters are urging Mr Gibson to contest the next election outside the party, arguing that passing him over was unfair.
Man accused of stealing $6,500 by reason of service By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN accused of taking $6,500 for an air-conditioning installation job that was never completed was granted bail yesterday. Prosecutors allege that Erick Wilberto Darling, 49, stole $6,500 from Albert
Gibson by reason of service on August 1, 2014. After waiting eight years for the job to be completed, Gibson reported the matter to the police in 2022. Darling was recently apprehended. He pleaded not guilty to stealing by reason of service before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly Burrows.
He was granted $4,500 bail with one or two sureties. Darling must sign in at the Cable Beach Police Station once a week. He returns to court for trial on May 28. Alphonso Lewis represented the accused. Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom prosecuted.
The victim was reportedly strangled. Investigators believe Forbes entered through a front room window while under the influence of drugs. He admitted the offences to the police and said he was high on molly at the time. Butler’s body was later discovered in a state of undress by her son and grandson. They reportedly found the defendant sitting naked in her bedroom. Relatives of the deceased allegedly beat the suspect. Police reports indicate the defendant was allegedly
seen on security footage roaming the streets shirtless and barefoot before the incident. He was reportedly released from prison in March 2024 after serving time for vagrancy and housebreaking. Forbes pleaded guilty to murder, rape and burglary before Justice Renae McKay. He was remanded to prison until sentencing proceedings begin on May 1. Dr K Melvin Munroe represented the accused. Desiree Ferguson prosecuted.
PAGE 6, Monday, Wednesday, March 11, 2026
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GB town hall a pause in pledge of no campaings during lent? WHEN the PLP launched its election campaign last month, it announced it would suspend public political events just two days later – because of the start of Lent. Prime Minister Philip Davis said: “We will not have any political public activities during Lent.” He added that campaigning would be limited to non-public outreach, including private meetings with voters. There can be some unease over how appropriate it is to conduct political campaigning at a time of religious observance. At the time, Father Roderick Bain, of St Barnabas Anglican Church, said: “If we’re a Christian nation, we should not really be focusing on political things just yet, especially during Lent.” He added: “I don’t even think the politicians care too much about what the church or spirituality is all about, anyhow. It’s all about winning power, money, and whatever else.” In this column, we noted that perhaps people should keep a watchful eye on whether any campaign events took place – to gently remind the PLP of its pledge of political abstinence. If anyone was watching on Monday evening, however, as a town hall meeting took place in Grand Bahama over the role of the Port Authority, they would be hard pushed to tell the difference between that and a public political event. Party members were out in force at the event, cheering Mr Davis, and booing FNM leader Michael Pintard when he tried to speak. No modest attire here either, with attendees bedecked in PLP colours and shirts. This was in Mr Pintard’s own backyard – held at the Bahamas Union of Teachers Hall in his Marco City constituency, and yet while Mr Davis addressed the crowd, Mr Pintard was not invited to deliver formal remarks. The meeting was said to be non-partisan. It did not feel that way. Instead, it was another opportunity for the PLP to bang the drum for what is clearly a party talking point – the outcome of the government’s arbitration with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), in which the government’s claim for a payment of $357m from the authority was rejected. The government continues to spin the outcome as a major victory. If nothing else perhaps, it gives the incumbent party an opportunity to point the finger at the GBPA for being responsible for Grand Bahama’s woes. Mr Pintard said that he knew “we were walking into a PLP rally”, but that “we were prepared to come and share
our views relative to what the government is doing. But we didn’t have an opportunity to fully do that”. It is perhaps surprising that the FNM did not bring party members out in full force to match the PLP gathering. It is, after all, Mr Pintard’s own constituency, so his local supporters would not have to go far. The FNM campaign is due to launch on March 21 with an event at Baha Mar. Perhaps on Monday they were still waiting for their shirts. One thing is for certain, the phony war that might be taking place right now will not last long. Soon, the gloves will be off, and we will be back to the game of measuring how many likes a party’s social media post gets, and measuring the size of crowds turning out for each rally. Every pole on major streets will be adorned with posters – some of which will linger on for years after the outcome of the election when it comes. We really would love a rule that required candidates to be responsible for taking down the posters they put up when all the voting is done. Right now, Mr Pintard can absolutely get away with saying he was just there to present his case even though he knew the other party was going to be waiting with a rally crowd. He will not get the opportunity when the campaign is in full effect. Any suggestion of a small turnout for any party’s rally will be seized upon as evidence that the people is with ‘dem or against ‘dem. Even now, any forswearing of campaigning for Lent seems to be largely in name only, where any opportunity is taken – be it showing up to an event in your colours or the sudden rush of candidates suddenly eager to fix those potholes or cut those overgrown trees that have been that way for years awaiting their urgent civic duty. We suggest that voters do what they ought to in any election cycle. Ask the tough questions. Look past the razzmatazz and seek answers on policy. What will the next government do for you? How will they make your life better? What laws will they implement? If they fail to do so, what will they do in response? How will we be a more equal, more transparent, more just society in the hands of whoever leads the next administration? In the end, that is what matters. Our nation is built on legislation and progress, not colourful shirts and heckling. Easter arrives at the start of April. If so far we are restrained in activities due to Lent, get ready for the show.
Stop misleading public on prison sentences EDITOR, The Tribune. I am a long-time resident inWHEN Bahamians hear that the Supreme Court issued a sentence of 20-year imprisonment to a convicted murderer, they think the convict is doomed to a literal 12-month times 20 prison term, which would be 240 months of being incarcerated. But that’s not what I am hearing. I understand that, and I stand to be corrected; a prison year is reckoned to be just nine months or about 270 days. The judicial system does not base prison sentences on the Gregorian Calendar of 365 days. Unfortunately, this would then mean that the foregoing murder convict will spend just 180 months
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net or 15 literal years behind bars -- which is 20 years in prison terms. And if he’s convicted of another crime during the first sentencing timeframe, whatever prison sentence he’s given, will run concurrently with the first sentence. So, if he’s given an additional five years for armed robbery during the time he committed murder, he would still only spend 15 years behind bars, barring time off for good behavior (no pun intended). If my thesis is correct, this additional sentence is very misleading to the uninformed public. In fact, the
entire sentencing verb age and structure is misleading. This is why so many families of violent crimes are completely caught completely off guard when they see a convicted felon out of jail in just ten or so years after sentencing. The time has come for the executive branch of the government to fully revamp the sentencing guidelines to reflect the Gregorian Calendar. A prison year should be 365 days, not nine months or 270 days. The judicial system needs to stop misleading the public that pays its salary. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama March 3, 2026
Freeport After Arbitration: The Real Valuation Questions What is the Value of the Grand Bahama Port Authority Today? What Will Determine its Value in the Future? By DR JOHN S BAIN, PHD THE recent arbitration ruling involving the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) has understandably generated considerable public discussion. Much of the attention has focused on the Government’s unsuccessful claim for approximately $357 million and the tribunal’s dismissal of that claim. That outcome certainly matters. From a purely financial standpoint, removing a potential $357 million liability eliminates a substantial contingent risk that would have weighed heavily on any professional valuation of the GBPA. Any analyst valuing the enterprise would have had to apply a significant discount while such a claim remained unresolved. My purpose here is not to extend the political debate, but rather to add value by examining the ruling from an economic perspective—particularly as it relates to business valuation, a topic raised by Sir Franklyn Wilson in a recent Tribune article. But the more important question is not whether the claim succeeded or failed. The more important question is this: what is the GBPA actually worth today? That question is not simply legal or political. It is fundamentally economic. Sir Franklyn Wilson, one of the country’s most respected entrepreneurs and capital market advocates, recently touched on this issue while commenting on the implications of the arbitration decision. For many years, Sir Franklyn has consistently emphasised that real national wealth is created through ownership of productive enterprises and participation in equity markets, rather than reliance solely on debt or consumption-driven growth. Viewed through that lens, the GBPA should be examined not merely as the subject of litigation but as a development platform whose value must ultimately be assessed in economic terms. Admittedly, we do not have access to the full range of information typically available in a formal business valuation engagement—such as financial statements, operating budgets, or development projections. However, certain insights can still be drawn from the ruling itself. The observations that follow should therefore be understood as an economic perspective rather than a formal valuation conclusion. For decades, the perceived value of the Freeport model has rested on three pillars: substantial landholdings, regulatory authority under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, and the historic concessions that underpin the Port Area’s development framework. The arbitration ruling invites us to take a more analytical look at those pillars. In my own professional work in business valuation
and restructuring—work that has taken me into courtrooms, arbitration panels, and corporate reorganizations, I have learned that the true value of an enterprise rarely lies in its history alone. It lies in the sustainability of the economic model that supports it. Freeport’s situation is not unique in the global context. Around the world, governments frequently grant long-term development concessions to private entities to stimulate economic growth and infrastructure investment. Major ports such as Panama, Dubai’s Jebel Ali, and Singapore operate under sophisticated concession frameworks in which governments provide development rights in exchange for private capital, infrastructure creation, and economic expansion. When investors evaluate those concessions, they do not simply count acreage. They analyse the durability of the legal framework, the stability of regulatory arrangements, the expected future cash flows generated by economic activity, and the broader investment environment. In short, they ask a simple question: Is this a platform capable of generating sustainable economic value over time? The same question must now be asked about Freeport. The arbitration award removes a major litigation overhang. That is unquestionably positive. But it also reminds us that Freeport's economic value cannot be determined solely by historical concessions. It must ultimately be anchored in the island’s ability to attract investment, generate business activity, and support a thriving economic ecosystem. In valuation terms, the GBPA today represents something more complex than a traditional real estate company. It is a hybrid entity—a combination of a land platform, a regulatory framework, and a development mandate. Its value, therefore, depends not only on the acreage it controls but also on the credibility and stability of the system within which that land can be developed. From a valuation standpoint, this means the potential worth of the GBPA is best understood as existing within a broad economic range rather than a fixed figure. Under conditions of strong investor confidence, regulatory clarity, and sustained economic activity, the platform could command a significantly higher strategic value. Conversely, if uncertainty persists regarding policy direction, development momentum, or the durability of the governing framework, that valuation band narrows considerably.
In other words, the difference between the upper and lower bounds of potential value may depend less on historical privileges and more on the policy and investment environment that shapes Freeport’s future. As someone who has spent much of his professional career analysing distressed enterprises, restructuring financial arrangements, and determining enterprise value in complex situations, I have had the privilege of viewing such issues from a valuation and restructuring perspective. I am also one of the small number of professionals in this country to hold the designation of INSOL Fellow, a global qualification in international insolvency and restructuring held by only a limited group of practitioners worldwide. That perspective reinforces a simple truth: investors place value on clarity, stability, and economic realism. If there is one lesson from the arbitration, it is that economic frameworks matter as much as legal outcomes. Investors do not commit capital based on history alone; they commit capital where the rules are clear, durable, and economically coherent. The future value of Freeport will therefore depend less on the arbitration rule itself and more on the policy clarity that follows it. Sir Franklyn’s broader message about ownership and wealth creation is therefore particularly timely. If Freeport is to achieve its next phase of growth, the conversation must move beyond legal disputes toward a framework that encourages investment, productivity, and long-term development. The arbitration decision has resolved one dispute. But it has also prompted a more important conversation—one about the true economic value of Freeport and how to realise that value in the decades ahead. In the end, valuation is not merely about numbers on a balance sheet. It is about confidence in the future. Freeport’s next chapter will depend on whether that confidence can be strengthened. John S. Bain, Ph.D., FCCA, FCA, CISA, FINSOL, CMA, CFM, CFE, MAFF, CRFA, CertBA. March 10, 2026 Dr. John S. Bain, Ph.D., is a leading forensic accountant, insolvency practitioner and financial investigator. He frequently serves as an expert and court-appointed practitioner in matters before the Supreme Court of The Bahamas. He holds three prestigious Fellowships -- in the UK, The Bahamas and in INSOL International, the global organisation of insolvency and restructuring. As the Managing Partner of JSB Global Solutions, he specializes in forensic accounting, auditing, insolvency and business valuation and is often referred to as the scholar who practices accounting at its most demanding level. He can be contacted at john@johnsbain.com.
Govt getting used to losing EDITOR, The Tribune. WITH the late breaking news today that the Government had lost its reimbursement claim
against the GBPA, one can clearly see that the Governing Party is getting quite used to losing. It should hold them in good stead for the
upcoming election.! MONKEEDOO Nassau, March 3, 2026.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, PAGE 7
Appeal court cuts robber’s sentence over judge’s error By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net THE Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of a man for armed robbery but reduced his prison sentence after finding that the trial judge made an error in law during sentencing. In a judgment, the court dismissed Rollins Rolle’s appeal against conviction but allowed his appeal against sentence, setting aside the original sentence of 18 years’ imprisonment and substituting a sentence of 15 years, less the three months he spent on remand. The court found that the trial judge erred by treating Rolle’s “lack of remorse” as an aggravating factor when determining his sentence. The court noted that a defendant who maintains his innocence cannot reasonably be expected to express remorse at the same time. As a result, the court ruled
that considering a lack of remorse as an aggravating factor amounted to a material error in principle. Because it was unclear how much weight the judge placed on that factor, the appellate court reconsidered the sentence. In reviewing the matter, the judges acknowledged the seriousness of armed robbery and the need for deterrent sentences. However, they also placed significant weight on several mitigating factors, including Rolle’s clean criminal record, his young age of 22 at the time of the offence, the fact that he was employed and that he had enrolled at the University of The Bahamas after the offence. The court concluded that these factors indicated strong prospects for rehabilitation and reduced the sentence to 15 years’ imprisonment. The conviction arose from an armed robbery that occurred on May 22, 2021, at about 8pm
PATHOLOGIST: VICTIM KILLED BY HANDGUN AND SHOTGUN By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A PATHOLOGIST testified that a man was killed by both a handgun and a shotgun as the murder trial of Stephon Mackey continued yesterday. Mackey, 35, appeared before Justice Renae McKay as Dr Caryn Sands gave evidence. He is accused of murdering Glenton Pablito Smith, 28, on February 27, 2018. According to initial reports, shortly before 11pm that night, a man and woman arrived at a residence on Seymour Street in Yellow Elder Gardens. As the man attempted to secure the premises, two armed men approached and shot him before fleeing. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Dr Sands said Smith’s body was identified by his wife at the Princess Margaret Hospital morgue on February 28, 2018. She conducted the autopsy on March 8, 2018. She confirmed the cause of death was gunshot and shotgun wounds to the head, torso and extremities. Dr Sands testified that the deceased had a gunshot wound to the back of the head, and bullet fragments
were recovered from his brain. Fragments were also recovered from a gunshot wound to his left arm. She said shotgun wounds to the torso caused spillage of intestinal contents. There was also a shotgun wound to the left buttocks that travelled from back to front. The deceased suffered a shotgun wound to the left leg that fractured his tibia and another to the right leg that fractured his femur. Dr Sands said she also found a pellet injury to the palm of his right hand, a laceration to his fingers and a scrape to his left foot. She said the recovered bullet fragments were collected by police on April 25, 2018. Dr Sands told prosecutors that two distinct types of firearms were used, based on the presence of bullet fragments and shotgun pellets. Under cross-examination by defence attorney Damian White, Dr Sands said both the gunshot wound to the head and the shotgun wound to the torso — which struck the aorta — would have been rapidly fatal. Erica Ingraham, Brent McNeil and Valentino Bowe prosecuted.
FAKE MARRIAGE SUSPECT ADMITS ASSAULTING POLICE AT STATION By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A HAITIAN man accused of entering a fraudulent marriage to obtain a spousal permit was remanded to prison yesterday. Prosecutors allege that Marckenson St Luc, 40, conspired with an accomplice to obtain a spousal permit from the Department of Immigration by entering into a fraudulent marriage on January 7, 2019. He is further accused of fraudulently obtaining a marriage certificate in his name from the Registrar General on January 11, 2019, and uttering the document on March 15, 2019. St Luc is also accused of assaulting Aaron Bethel at the Southern Police Station at 7.30pm on March 6. While allegedly acting disorderly at the station, he is accused of assaulting Police Constable 457 Higgins and Police Constable 667 Pratt and damaging
their depot shirts valued at $55 and $52, respectively. With the assistance of a Creole translator, St Luc pleaded not guilty before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville to conspiracy to commit a fraudulent marriage, committing a fraudulent marriage, conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences, possession of a forged document, uttering a forged document and fraud by false pretences. He pleaded guilty to assault, two counts of assaulting a peace officer, two counts of damage and disorderly behaviour in a police station. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his bail hearing on Wednesday. Before being taken into custody, he was allowed to speak with his uncle, who was present in court. Inspector Cordero Farrington prosecuted. Alex Dorsett represented the accused.
in the parking area of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Oakes Field. According to the evidence, the victim, Mr Stephon Laguerre, was approached by a man armed with a firearm who demanded the keys to his green Honda Accord. The robber also took Mr Laguerre’s iPhone before fleeing the scene in the vehicle. Mr Laguerre reported the incident to police and described the assailant as a tall, dark male with a high afro hairstyle. He said the man was wearing a grey short-sleeved shirt, grey short pants and black slippers, and had a surgical mask covering his mouth. Two days after the robbery, police officers in the Wilson Tract area observed a green Honda Accord on premises occupied by Rolle. Officers contacted Mr Laguerre, who attended the scene and positively identified the vehicle as the one stolen from him. He also identified Rolle as the person who robbed him. Mr Laguerre further noted that Rolle was wearing the same black
slippers he had worn during the robbery. Police arrested Rolle and transported the vehicle to the police station, where it was examined for forensic evidence. Latent fingerprints recovered from the vehicle matched Rolle’s palm print and right ring fingerprint. Rolle declined to participate in a formal identification parade, however police subsequently conducted a 12-person photo gallery identification procedure, during which surgical masks were digitally placed over the lower portion of each photograph to replicate the appearance of the robber during the incident. Mr Laguerre positively identified Rolle during that procedure. During a police interview, Rolle denied committing the robbery and claimed he was with his girlfriend, Nicole, at the time of the incident. However, the investigating officer testified that efforts to locate anyone matching that description in the area identified by
Rolle were unsuccessful. The officer further testified that while transporting Rolle to the Grove Police Station after the interview, Rolle made an oral confession. During cross-examination at trial, the officer denied suggestions from the defence that the confession had been fabricated. Rolle was convicted on March 6, 2024 before Madam Justice Joyann Ferguson for armed robbery under section 339(2) of the Penal Code and later sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment. On appeal, his attorney argued that the identification evidence was unreliable, noting that the robbery occurred at night and that the robber wore a mask. The defence also challenged the photo gallery procedure, arguing that the use of digitally superimposed masks made the identification improper. The Court of Appeal rejected those submissions as the judges noted that the victim observed the robber for approximately five minutes and was standing about two feet
away from him in a well-lit parking area. Although the robber wore a mask, the court noted that the victim testified he was able to remember the robber’s facial structure. The description given to police shortly after the robbery also matched Rolle’s height, complexion and hairstyle. The court found that the identification evidence was reliable and properly left for the jury to consider. The Court of Appeal concluded that the identification evidence, combined with the fingerprint evidence, the discovery of the stolen vehicle at Rolle’s residence two days after the robbery and the oral confession, provided overwhelming evidence of guilt. As a result, the court affirmed Rolle’s conviction for armed robbery but reduced his sentence from 18 years to 15 years’ imprisonment, less the three months he spent on remand. The sentence will take effect from the date of conviction.