‘DON’T STRETCH
POLICE TOO THIN’
Former minister warns against plan for officers to drive ambulances
By
AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Digital Editor aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FORMER National
Security Minister Marvin Dames has slammed the government’s decision to train police officers to drive ambulances in the Family Islands, warning that the move could stretch already thin law enforcement resources and raise serious
safety concerns during emergencies. Mr Dames, speaking to The Tribune yesterday, called the plan “short-sighted” and questioned its long-term viability, saying officials have not been transparent about how long the arrangement will last or how it will affect policing on the ground.
FISH FRY VENDORS’ ALARM AFTER DEADLY EASTER SUNDAY SHOOTING
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
ARAWAK Cay vendors are reeling after a man was gunned down at the heart of the popular Fish Fry strip on Sunday night, the country’s 25th murder for the year. The shooting happened during peak hours, just before 11pm, when crowds of locals and tourists packed the area for food and entertainment. Police said an argument
between two men escalated when one drew a gun and opened fire, fatally wounding his target. A second man was hit in the upper body and taken to hospital by private vehicle. His condition was last listed as serious but stable. The gunman fled the scene through the western entrance of Arawak Cay. He is described as darkskinned, with dreadlocks, and was last seen wearing a red shirt.
MORE RELIABLE ENERGY
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
THE government has inked a power purchase agreement with CVB Utility Company Limited to construct a 20-megawatt solar plant and five MWh
By NEIL HARTNELL
battery storage system in New Providence — a move officials say will reduce fuel costs, strengthen energy reliability, and push The Bahamas closer to its clean energy targets. Signed yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister, the agreement marks a milestone in the Davis administration’s “30 by 30” strategy, which aims to generate 30 percent of the nation’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Officials did not disclose the cost of the project or how it will be financed.
THE Privy Council quashed the life sentence of a man convicted of murder more than three decades ago, ordering that he be resentenced after finding that a serious procedural error denied him a fair hearing on his punishment. The ruling, handed down this week, found that the man, whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1996, never had an opportunity
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
CARIFTA TEAM RETURNS
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
Davis says signing is part of plan for cheaper, more reliable energy
from page one
Nonetheless, Prime Minister Philip Davis hailed the signing as a transformative step in the country’s energy evolution, calling it a technological shift and an investment in affordability, competitiveness, and longterm sustainability.
He said the initiative forms part of a broader nationwide effort to overhaul outdated energy systems, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, and build a climate-resilient grid across the archipelago.
The solar-plus-storage facility will be built near CV Bethel Senior High School and will feed directly into the national grid, reducing the burden on diesel-powered generators and improving service delivery to consumers.
Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said the project would directly benefit the workforce and the public. She said Bahamas Power and Light employees would be actively involved in the project’s implementation, allowing them to gain hands-on experience and new technical expertise.
She also pointed to the inclusion of enforceable safeguards in the agreement, noting that performance benchmarks are built in to ensure consumer protection — complete with fixed rates and penalties for non-compliance.
Battery storage, she added, would play a vital role in modernising the country’s energy platform and ensuring consistent power in the face of increasing climate and fuel volatility.
BPL chief operating officer Anthony Christie described the project as a “crucial step” in the shift to a smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy system. He said it would alleviate pressure on the grid, increase stability, and offer BPL staff exposure to emerging
technologies and modern infrastructure planning. CVB Utility Company
Limited director Justin Cunningham said the company’s approach would prioritise execution, transparency, and national development. He said the facility is designed to deliver 20 megawatts of power using state-of-the-art solar and battery systems that will help stabilise the country’s electricity grid. He also stressed the project’s potential to generate local jobs and spark interest among young Bahamians in engineering and renewable energy careers. The agreement follows a formal government
request for proposals to develop microgrids in New Providence. It is the second PPA finalised in the capital over the past year, with similar developments being planned for the Family Islands.
Mrs Coleby-Davis said the government would soon introduce a revised National Energy Policy in Parliament and begin public consultations, starting with a community meeting at St John’s College auditorium.
She said the current initiative is not just about meeting today’s needs, but building a more resilient and responsive energy system for the future.
MINISTER ‘TO REVISIT CHARCOAL SITES’ TO STAMP OUT PRODUCTION
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
ENVIRONMENT and Natural Resources Minister Vaughn Miller says he plans to revisit previously cleared illegal charcoal-burning sites and inspect new locations in a renewed effort to stamp out unregulated coal production in southern New Providence.
The move follows a months-long silence on the
issue, which captured public attention in January when authorities destroyed two illicit operations linked to environmental degradation and health concerns.
“We are looking at a couple of areas because really we want to continue to send a strong message –a zero-tolerance one – and so my constituency obviously is a hotbed for those activities,” he told reporters yesterday.
He said he intends to personally revisit the sites that
were previously dismantled to ensure no activity has resumed.
“I am hearing of potentially some other areas, and we will be visiting them, and we will be eradicating them and destroying them to make certain that they are not able to utilise them for that purpose,” he said.
In January, a long-running site near Fire Trail Road and another off Carmichael Road were demolished by authorities,
including members of the Forestry Unit and the Ministry of Works. One site had reportedly been smouldering for over a week, drawing complaints from residents and raising the alarm about air pollution and illegal activity in protected areas.
Mr Miller said at the time that the operation fulfilled his ministry’s promise to address the matter. He announced plans to deploy drones, expand surveillance, and personally
inspect known sites to prevent illegal production from resurfacing. He also acknowledged the underlying demand for charcoal but maintained that any future production must be properly regulated and kept away from residential zones. Several Bahamians, he said, have since approached the ministry with proposals for legal, sustainable charcoal operations. In addition to the illegal sites, officials also
investigated breaches in nearby wetlands. A ceaseand-desist order was issued for unauthorised activity in those areas, and Mr Miller warned that penalties would be enforced for environmental violations. Despite these strong declarations, the government has provided little follow-up on the status of enforcement actions or whether any individuals were held accountable. No charges have been publicly confirmed.
BPL director Ethrin Zonicle, BPL director Samuel Brown, CVB Utilities Company director Justin Cunningham and CVB Utilities Company director Cameron Symonette during the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between the Ministry of Energy and Transport, Bahamas Power and Light and CVB Utilities Company at the Office of The Prime Minister yesterday.
Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
FROM left, BPL director Ethrin Zonicle, BPL director Samuel Brown, Minister of Energy and Transport JoBeth Coleby-Davis, Prime Minister Philip Davis, CVB Utilities Company director Justin Cunningham, CVB Utilities Company director Cameron Symonette and BPL COO Anthony Christie.
Ambassador’s appointment for dinner at Fox Hill home
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
CHINESE Ambassa-
dor to The Bahamas Yan Jiarong visited a private residence in Fox Hill over the weekend to honour a Bahamian woman who recently returned from a Chinese government-sponsored seminar.
The visit to Georgette Gardiner’s Romer Street home marked the first time a Chinese ambassador has conducted an official visit to a Bahamian household — part of what Ambassador Yan described as her deepening connection to the community.
“This is obviously a very peaceful community and with a very cozy house,” she said. “To my great
surprise, you know, she invited Junkanoo here, and we had a nice time dancing together. It really, I should say, enhance my affection to this community. I do feel very much attached to this community, Fox Hill.”
Ms Gardiner, who lives with her parents Madeline and Leo Gardiner, was recently selected to attend a bilateral training seminar in China focused on e-commerce and trade. Her participation stemmed from a promise made by Ambassador Yan during a Christmas tree lighting event in Fox Hill last December.
“I made a promise at that time to Ms Gardiner that I will try to find an opportunity for her to visit China,” the ambassador
said. “And I’m really glad that I honored my commitment. She discovered a real China, not the China in the Western media, and also she broadened her perspective and broadened the horizon.”
Ms Gardiner described the experience as transformational, saying it reshaped how she thinks about business and innovation.
“The experience of China was, I would say, a game changer,” she said. “I went to China with an open mind, being able to grasp new information, make new friends, come up with new ideas that I can take back to my country and share with my people.”
She now plans to incorporate lessons from the seminar into her tourism transport business by
introducing digital payment options and eventually targeting the Asian tourism market.
Ambassador Yan was joined by Mr Ying, Commercial Attaché at the Chinese Embassy, who highlighted China’s expanding capacity-building efforts in The Bahamas.
“Up to now, our Chinese Embassy has sent almost nearly 1,000 Bahamian friends to China,” Mr Ying said. “Of course, this year, we are glad to say we will fully sponsor three bilateral seminar for Bahamian friends, including agriculture, tourism and business community sector.”
He added: “Capacity building is not only a training course, but also it’s a platform increasing our two people’s cooperation,
friendship.”
The visit quickly turned into a celebration, with neighbours gathering as a Junkanoo group brought colour and music to the street. The Gardiner family hosted the delegation with traditional Bahamian dishes, while Ambassador Yan’s personal chef prepared Chinese cuisine for the occasion.
Children received toys and visitors were given souvenirs in a cultural exchange that community members described as heartening and unexpected.
“I don’t remember any ambassador from any country coming into the home of anyone in Fox Hill,” Ms Gardiner said. “I can’t speak about any other community. I only can speak for where I’m from.”
Ambassador Yan echoed that significance: “Indeed, China is obviously a true friend of Bahamas. And I will say this is the very first local family, Bahamian family, that Chinese ambassador have ever visited, and also Ms Gardiner is every first grassroots community member that have been taken part in China’s governmental seminars.”
As the day concluded, the ambassador reaffirmed her country’s commitment to people-centred diplomacy, saying: “We will continue to host such kind of exchanges, either in the form of workshop or training courses or other forms. It’s a friendship between Bahamian and Chinese people that is a cornerstone and foundation of our bilateral relations.”
UN EXPERT ON FIRST MISSION TO BAHAMAS
THE United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has appointed Dr Ana Touza as its new representative for Jamaica, The Bahamas, and Belize — bringing more than 20 years of development experience to a region confronting growing food security and climate challenges.
Dr Touza, a rural sociologist and gender specialist from Argentina, made her first official mission to The Bahamas between March 30 and April 4. Her visit focused on strengthening ties between the FAO and national agencies as the country advances efforts in sustainable agriculture, food self-sufficiency, and climate resilience.
“The Bahamas is advancing tangible, targeted actions that respond to both national priorities and the everyday realities of farmers, fishers, and families,” Dr Touza said at the end of her visit. “FAO is proud to be a trusted partner in this journey, and I am inspired by the leadership and vision evident across all sectors.”
Her schedule included
meetings with Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Jomo Campbell and officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment and Natural Resources. Discussions ranged from support for local agri-business to forest management strategies aimed at reducing wildfire risk.
One of the key outcomes was progress toward developing a Strategic Framework to Reduce Deforestation and Forest Degradation, supported by the Green Climate Fund. The effort is intended to strengthen The Bahamas’ climate resilience, particularly as the country faces mounting threats from drought and extreme weather events.
Dr Touza also met with the Forestry Unit to explore how the FAO could deepen its technical assistance in environmental protection and natural resource management.
In a separate meeting with representatives from the Chinese Embassy, she explored ways to scale up the China South-South
Cooperation Project, which supports local poultry and egg production. The initiative is seen as vital to The Bahamas’ long-term goal of reducing food import dependence and bolstering domestic food systems.
Dr Touza’s trip included a visit to agri-food production sites on Eleuthera, where she witnessed local innovation and the everyday challenges faced by farmers. Her mission concluded with participation in the Bahamas Agri-Business Expo, where she engaged directly with producers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders across the sector.
The FAO says it intends to continue its support through policy, training, and partnerships aimed at improving food security and increasing opportunities for sustainable rural livelihoods.
Dr Touza previously served as FAO Representative in Cabo Verde and has held senior roles in the United Nations Development Programme and World Food Programme. She replaces Dr Crispim Moreira in her new post.
FAO representative in The Bahamas Dr Ana Touza with Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Jomo Campbell.
FROM left, FAO representative Dr Ana Touza, president and CEO One Eleuthera Foundation Keyron Smith; FAO national project manager Precious Thompson; FAO national correspondent to The Bahamas Keith Philippe and Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources Julianna Braynen during a tour of an agri-production site at One Eleuthera Foundation.
FAO representative Dr Ana Touza (centre) with, from left, FAO national correspondent to The Bahamas Keith Philippe; FAO national project manager Precious Thompson; Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas Zhang Hongliang and commercial attache of Chinese Embassy Peng Jing.
‘Don’t stretch police too thin’
from page one
“There has to be something more to this than just cross-training police officers to drive ambulances,” he said, arguing the programme lacked clarity on whether it is a short, medium, or long-term fix.
His comments come amid a new initiative launched by the Public Hospitals Authority, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Royal Bahamas Police Force, to address a chronic shortage of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) on the Family Islands. Seventeen officers have been selected to undergo emergency vehicle operations training, with plans to deploy them where EMTs are unavailable.
But Mr Dames warned the approach could compromise critical police operations. He noted that Family Island police stations are already understaffed, and pulling officers
away from core duties to serve as ambulance drivers could make matters worse. “On many of these islands, police manpower is already stretched. When an emergency happens — especially one involving a
crime — officers are needed on scene. If that same officer is driving the ambulance, who’s responding to the incident?” he asked.
He said the policy risks undermining public safety, especially in incidents
where police are required to secure a scene before EMTs can intervene. He cited examples like shootings or traffic accidents where both police and ambulance services are needed simultaneously.
“How do you manage that? How do you mitigate that?” he said.
Mr Dames also questioned why more isn’t being done to recruit and train young Bahamians for roles in emergency response, arguing that there are many capable people who could be trained quickly in defensive driving and medical basics.
“The real issue is: why aren’t there enough EMTs? Why are we calling on police now to do this work with no clear timeframe or exit strategy?” he said.
“These officers are already doing more than what their jobs require. This just adds another burden.”
His comments stand in stark contrast to officials who have defended the move as a necessary stopgap
measure. PHA managing director Aubynette Rolle has said officers are well suited for the role given their defensive and offensive driving training. She noted the 16-hour training programme includes classroom sessions and driving simulations designed to prioritise patient and road safety.
Health Minister Dr Michael Darville has described the EMT shortage as one of the country’s most pressing medical challenges. He has said training officers on the Family Islands is vital to closing dangerous care gaps. Under the new plan, trained officers will drive ambulances so that medical personnel can focus on stabilising patients during transport. Dr Rolle said the second phase of the programme, set to begin April 22, will focus on certifying new EMTs through the PHA Academy. Still, Mr Dames maintained that the long-term
answer lies in building a dedicated emergency response workforce — not stretching police beyond their limits.
“You’re putting a BandAid on a systemic issue,” he said.
The initial cohort includes officers from Eleuthera, Andros, Cat Island and Abaco. Officials hope to expand the training to other islands, including New Providence, as more ambulances become available.
Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles has backed the initiative, noting that many reserve officers already live on the islands they will serve and are ready to act when lives are at risk.
But for Mr Dames, the question remains: at what cost?
“You can’t just keep piling new responsibilities on officers and hope it works out,” he said. “We need a better, more sustainable plan.”
NEW SENTENCE ORDERED FOR MAN FIRST GIVEN DEATH PENALTY
from page one
to be heard on what sentence he should serve.
That failure, the court said, amounted to a breach of justice that must now be corrected.
The decision means the Supreme Court must reassess the man’s punishment, considering aggravating and mitigating factors in a sentencing hearing that never occurred when the life sentence was imposed nearly 30 years ago.
“The appellant ought to have been, but was not, afforded an opportunity to be heard on the appropriate substitute sentence,” the judgment said.
“The board cannot be confident that no injury had
been done to the appellant by virtue of the serious procedural error.”
Although the appellant’s original death sentence was declared unlawful under evolving constitutional standards, the Privy Council said the life sentence that replaced it could not stand either because of the flawed process used to impose it.
The judgment stems from a case that has spanned decades and seen the legal landscape for capital punishment shift significantly.
In 1992, the man was sentenced to death for murder. That sentence was automatically imposed under Bahamian law at the time, which prescribed the death penalty for murder without consideration of individual circumstances.
However, in 1996, the Privy Council ruled that such mandatory death sentences were unconstitutional, resulting in many sentences being reviewed and commuted. In the appellant’s case, his death sentence was replaced by a life sentence.
What was missing, the Privy Council now says, was a sentencing hearing to determine whether life imprisonment was the appropriate punishment in his case.
“A just sentence, where the sentence is not fixed by law, should be proportionate to the gravity of the crime considering aggravating and mitigating circumstances,” the ruling said. Because that process
FISH FRY VENDORS’ ALARM AFTER DEADLY EASTER SUNDAY SHOOTING
from page one
The killing stunned vendors and sparked concerns about the potential fallout for business at the Fish Fry, which has long been promoted as a must-visit destination for visitors.
“We haven’t had a killing on Arawak Cay for at least ten years,” said Lilian Larrimore-Smith, Vice President of the Arawak Conch Fish and Food Vendors Association.
“This incident is very near and dear to us, and I believe that with much consideration and help from the general public, we can rebuild again.”
She acknowledged that the incident could temporarily tarnish the area’s reputation but expressed confidence it would bounce back quickly.
She pointed to recent security improvements, including surveillance cameras installed in partnership
with the Ministry of Agriculture, and praised the rapid emergency response.
“The police appeared within three minutes, and the ambulance appeared within seven minutes following the incident,” she said. Still, others were less optimistic.
Shanae McCardy-Davis, manager at Twin Brothers, said the shooting reinforced existing fears about crime in the area.
“I think that the Fish Fry already has a bad reputation for crime, especially when it comes to this being a local spot,” she said. “So instead of them coming here and dining with locals, they’re thinking about whether it’s safe, whether it’s safe to bring their kids.”
She stressed that tourists may not immediately stop visiting but warned that perceptions could shift. “I just think that the police presence should be more on
Fish Fry itself rather than just being at the police station,” she added.
A manager at Curly’s Restaurant, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the shooting could discourage tourists from venturing out at night, particularly after learning about the incident. They acknowledged the possibility of a long-term impact on business but remained hopeful the effect would be temporary, noting that such violence had not occurred in the area for some time.
At Joey’s Restaurant, which was open when the shooting occurred, the manager remained cautiously upbeat.
“I just think that it was a one-off incident that happened, it’s not a regular thing that happens here,” she said. “I don’t think it will affect tourists or locals; they feel safe; so far, I am getting calls for orders.”
VIOLENT INCIDENTS OVER EASTER HOLIDAY
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
A SERIES of violent incidents during the Easter holiday weekend left one man dead and several others injured, as police launched investigations into a fatal shooting, armed robberies, a home invasion, and multiple firearm-related offenses across New Providence and the Family Islands.
The earliest incident occurred late Thursday night, April 17, when ShotSpotter technology alerted officers to gunfire near a business on Dorsette Street, Fox Hill, around 10pm. Police arrived to find a man unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. Another man, injured during the shooting, was taken to hospital. According to reports, the violence followed a verbal
argument that escalated when one of the men pulled a firearm.
In the early hours of Sunday, April 20, officers in Bimini arrested a 26-year-old man following a stop-andsearch in Alice Town. Police said the man was found with a loaded firearm near an establishment on Kings Highway around 1am. A man was taken into custody and investigations are ongoing. Not long after, a man in New Providence was assaulted and robbed near Bacardi Road, off Carmichael Road. Around 2.30am, three male suspects reportedly dragged the victim to a nearby area, brandished a sharp object, and stole his cash and personal items before fleeing. No arrests were reported up to press time. Shortly after 4am, police responded to a burglary on Windward Road in the Imperial Park area.
Residents told officers that two armed intruders broke into their home, stole personal items, and escaped through a northern window. No injuries were reported.
On Andros, a 26-yearold man sitting in a parked vehicle in Mastic Point came under fire from occupants of a silver Japanese-model car. While the man was not struck by gunfire, he sustained cuts from shattered glass and was treated at a local clinic.
The final incident took place in Eleuthera early Monday, April 21, when a 42-year-old man was confronted by two suspects in the Genes Bay and Preachers Cave area.
One of the men was reportedly armed and opened fire as the victim attempted to flee. He was shot in the left leg and later treated and discharged from a nearby clinic.
never occurred, the board ruled that the appellant was denied a fair hearing on punishment, breaching the principles of natural justice.
The board made clear that its decision does not call into question the appellant’s conviction. Rather, it focused solely on whether the correct procedure was followed in determining his sentence.
The ruling emphasises that even those convicted of serious crimes are entitled to basic procedural safeguards.
“The appellant, the victim’s family, and the public are entitled to know the appropriate sentence in his case for the serious crime which he committed,” the judgment said.
The board noted that
even if the appellant has already been released or is soon released under the prerogative of mercy, a proper sentencing decision must still be made.
The judgment also dismissed two broader arguments raised by the appellant’s legal team. First, it rejected a claim that the life sentence was invalid because the Privy Council lacked authority in 1996 to impose it as a substitute for the unlawful death sentence. Citing past rulings, the court said appellate courts have clear jurisdiction to strike down unlawful sentences and replace them with lawful ones.
Second, the court dismissed an effort to reopen the case through new constitutional proceedings.
The Board ruled that such an approach would undermine the finality of legal decisions and said it would abuse the court process. Instead, the board relied on its rare and exceptional power — known as the “Pinochet jurisdiction” — to revisit earlier decisions in cases where serious procedural unfairness had occurred. The name comes from a landmark UK case involving former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.
FORMER Minister of National Security Marvin Dames.
The Tribune Limited
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
Publisher/Editor 1972-
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Increasing threat of AI scams
A DOUBLE dose of denials was issued by the government last night –both to do with material circulating on social media.
One was relating to claims about Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers deployed in Haiti, the other was a disturbing glimpse into the future.
Let’s deal with the Haiti matter first, or rather the way in which that one arose. Social media posts claimed that officers there have been abandoned, unpaid and placed in unsafe conditions.
The government issued a denial, insisting that all deployed officers and marines are receiving their full salaries plus hazard pay and that the welfare of personnel is a top priority.
That is straightforward – a claim made, a denial issued.
The other matter was a more troubling one, if more definitively untrue.
A video has been circulating, creating using artificial intelligence technology. That fake video seemed to show our Prime Minister, Philip Davis, promoting an investment scheme.
It is a hoax. A sham. Bunkum.
A close eye would make out the telltale details that this was fake. A close ear would hear unusual pronunciation that would not come from our Prime Minister.
But con artists rely on the fact that people do not always pay close attention.
The previous generation of such scams were emails trying to lure the unwary into clicking links and signing away their money to others.
Now we have AI scams trying the same – only with familiar faces and voices to make it all seem more convincing.
The Office of the Prime Minister issued a statement to assure that this was not an official video, was not produced by any government agency and urging people not to share such manipulated videos. In addition, the police have been contacted.
But we should have our eyes wide open – such things will become more common, and more convincing, in our future.
We certainly should be planning ahead, and perhaps considering stronger legislation to deal with those within our jurisdiction who might create such schemes. There is no good in those who would create these scams in order to snare those unable to spot the difference from reality. This is deliberate, calculated and designed solely to fool people out of their money. For the people who perpetrate such scams, the more vulnerable the victim the better. Such crooks need to be locked up for a long time.
In this instance, the Prime Minister was the fake face, but it could just as easily be anyone. And as we say, the technology is improving all the time.
So if you see this video circulating, don’t share it. Delete and move on. Warn your friends and family and other contacts.
But though this may be a minor incident, all told, with hopefully no one falling for it before they hear the warning not to, it is a warning bell, and it ought to give a thought to what happens when the next one comes along, and the next one. Heaven forbid, what happens if election season sees fake videos circulating to unbalance the outcome?
This is the time to consider how to deal with it, before things get worse.
Faith-based mysteries
EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE Founding Fathers of The American Nation showed just how well they understood the influences of faith-based religions upon society’s government. Some were atheistic, but most members of a Christian Church Organisation. Their understanding of how a faith-based organisations can influence, manipulate and attempt to socially, morally and ethically control a government, leading them to establishing a pivotal element within their administration, The Separation of State and The Church. Imagine a faith dominant within your nation, and part of its practicing ideology/ theology is racial, ethnic or economic supremacy? It would naturally attempt to gain control of its government as a means to spread its faith and protect its self-interests.
Christianity - IslamJudaism all experienced historically elements of their leadership trying to impose their doctrine upon their nation’s public organ, the government. The monarchy, nation states and indeed entire empires were forced to practice and officially establish these faith doctrines into their public domain. Official government policies had indigenous in Africa, India and the America’s forced to convert to Christianity and in the Middle East Islam. The very war like nature
of Islam forced conquered peoples to convert or suffer the consequences.
Today’s Secular Governments are facing similar pressures legally and politically to subvert secular administrations, injecting religious principals and edicts into public policy.
Attacks upon secular attitudes such as racial, sexual, ethnic, economic and social equality continue daily. Grassroots organisations rooted in a religious doctrine take control of local, regional and even national political and social organisations within the educational, local governing bodies to up root common accepted practices and replace them with religiously acceptable dictates.
For example, Abortion has been a legally regulated practice for many decades, yet is now severely controlled or outlawed in many American states. Public or school libraries face censorship and discarding of works of literature due to religious editing controls. Religious movements are on the march attempting to change nations’ practices and their constitutions.
While many great thinkers such as Albert Einstein believe that “those who believe that religion and politics don’t mix understand neither”, there is a strong element within society demanding a separation of these two powerful institutions. “Men never do evil so completely and
cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction” ISIS Commander. The very invulnerability a religious individual may experience makes many of their political and social efforts questionable.
David Schuller once said “there is no difference between religion and politics. Both involve lies and fanatical beliefs that generally defy logic”. The very nature of religious beliefs and political Institutions is that they are polar opposites, one of logic while the other is rooted in accepted myth and religious belief often not based upon provable reality. Religion has found its voice, and it is loud, mysterious, charitable, merciful at times, and yet manipulative and often hurtful. The attempt to achieve power and influence weighs heavily upon these folks certain of their goals and Godly Requirements. The very nature of personal responsibility acting as the very root of religion, and the responsibility of a person for their actions seems to be set aside, and a formula of communal dictates and assumptions of what God Requires replacing personal responsibility within a democracy. Religion has no place for democracy you see. Religion is a moral, ethical and Godly dictatorship.
STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario April 20, 2025.
EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE entire international community is currently mourning the news of Pope Francis’ death on Easter Monday morning. I saw an official statement by the governing Progressive Liberal Party hours following the news of his passing.
Thousands of Bahamian Catholics considered Pope Francis to be their spiritual head before his death. Worldwide, there are 1.4 billion Catholics. The Pontiff was 88. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina on December 17, 1936, he was the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to become Pope in 2013, succeeding the retired Pope Benedict XVI. Francis was the 266th Pope. I am quite sure that the Bahamian Catholic community held him in prayers when news of his hospitalisation broke on February 14 after coming down with bronchitis and bilateral pneumonia.
As the most recognised religious leader in the world, he was undoubtedly afforded the best healthcare humanly possible at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Italy.
A humble, down-toearth man, the Pope had requested that his final rite be simple, and that those eulogising him would “focus on expressing faith of the church in the Risen Body of Christ,” according to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, who serves as Master of Apostolic Ceremonies.
Let me state my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the Catholic community in The Bahamas. Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Having said that, I am one who is hoping that Pope Francis repented on his deathbed before his transition to eternity. You see, it can be argued that Francis was one of the most heretical Pontiffs in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church should have listened to Protestant Reformer
Martin Luther in the 16th century in conforming its theology to the Bible alone, and not to the traditions of the various church councils which have contradicted the plain teachings of Scripture.
And by Scripture, I am referring to the sixty-six Books of the Old and New Testaments, not the Apocrypha or even the writings of the Patristics. The first Council of Trent, convened in response to the German Reformation, comes to mind. I believe that it was during this important meeting that the Apocrypha was canonised and that the doctrine of justification of faith alone (Sola fide) in Christ Jesus alone was resoundingly condemned. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
Good works cannot save us nor do they supplement our faith. Mercy is God withholding from us what we rightly deserve; grace is Him giving to us that we don’t deserve.
We can either stand before God’s tribunal as children of Adam, the first federal head; or under Jesus, called the last Adam in 1 Corinthians 15:45. Pope Francis was a universalist like the heretical second century Alexandrian Church Father Origen. At an inter religious meeting in Singapore in September 2024 -- a mere eight months ago -- Pope Francis said that “every religion is a way to God” and that “we are all sons and daughters of God.” He would utter similar heretical statements in 2022 in Kazakhstan at an interfaith conclave. Pope Francis’ ecumenical pronouncements bring to mind the inclusive statements of current White House religious advisor Paula White-Cain. The heretical prosperity gospel
EDITOR, The Tribune. AN old colloquial expression often used when things had unexpectedly gone awry was “tings changed since Hanna died”.
peddler White-Cain made similar claims of inclusion to a massive gathering at the Unification Church’s International Conference of the Universal Peace Federation in 2022.
The readership would recall that Hak Ja Jan Moon, widow of Sun Myung Moon, leads the cult as its spiritual mother, claiming that she’s the only begotten daughter of God. Such blasphemy! In any case, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Rastas, Satanists and Christians, if one were to carry out Pope Francis’ theology to its logical conclusion, are all worshiping the same God.
This would mean that the exclusive claims of the gospel of Jesus Christ are wrong and that the New Testament erred when it made it patently clear that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus Christ (John 14:7 and Acts 4:12). Furthermore, how can anyone take Pope’s universalist proclamation seriously, when one takes into account that Hinduism has a total of 330 million -plus deities? Christianity is stringently monotheistic (Deuteronomy 6:4). Any religion outside of Christianity is false. Pope Francis was theologically reckless. He taught and preached a false gospel and a false Jesus like White-Cain. He led millions astray with his universalist heresy. It is an egregious sin to lead a soul astray. It is also dangerous to go against one’s conscience, as Luther would state at the Diet of Worms. I am left to wonder which Bible Pope Francis read. He was not biblically qualified to lead a church, let alone 1.4 billion adherents who claim to be Christians. Again, I am hoping that the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church repented on his deathbed.
KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama April 21, 2025.
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NORBERTO Rodriguez places a photo of the late Pope Francis on a column at the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Tuesday.
Photo: Natacha Pisarenko/AP
Tears as man jailed for ID card fraud
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
A 29-YEAR-OLD man burst into tears after he was sentenced to one year in prison yesterday after admitting to using forged criminal records to fraudulently obtain a verified tourism vendor identification card. Alando Williams was arraigned before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans on five fraudrelated charges, including attempted fraud by false pretences, two counts of possession of a forged document, and two counts of uttering a forged document. His co-accused, 23-year-old Aljahrez Brennen, was charged with abetment to fraud by false pretences. Williams allegedly presented two forged police certificates dated April 11 and May 11 to Quinta Dean, project manager at the Downtown Revitalisation Unit, to secure the tourism vendor ID card on
MAN SENT TO SANDILANDS FOR GROPING BREASTS OF CASHIER
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 23-YEAR-OLD man was remanded to Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre yesterday after admitting to sexually assaulting a convenience store cashier over the Easter weekend.
Tyrone Williams appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans charged with indecent assault.
Prosecutors said Williams approached a 34-year-old employee at J&A Convenience Store on Yamacraw Hill Road around 9am on April 19, initially asking for a hot patty. He then walked behind the counter despite being told not to, commented on water on the victim’s shirt, and proceeded to grope her breasts. When the woman objected and warned him about security
cameras, Williams allegedly responded: “I don’t care about no cameras, you want me to cover the cameras aye.” He pleaded guilty and accepted the facts presented against him. Williams will undergo a psychological evaluation and return to court on May 6 for a report.
Joel Seymour represented the accused, while Assistant Superintendent of Police S Coakley served as the prosecutor.
MAN ACCUSED OF MURDER AT TYRE SHOP
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 41-YEAR-OLD man was arraigned yesterday in connection with the February murder of Kenneth Neilly on East Street South.
Damil Campbell appeared before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Campbell is the second person arraigned in the
case. His co-accused, Cedler Ariste, 23, was charged earlier this year. Prosecutors allege Campbell and accomplices conspired to commit murder on February 2. On that day, Neilly, 34, was gunned down shortly after parking his vehicle outside a tyre shop on East Street South.
The masked assailants reportedly exited a white Japanese vehicle and ambushed Neilly and his
girlfriend, who were seated in a grey Nissan Cube. Neilly was pronounced dead at the scene. His vehicle sustained multiple bullet holes.
Campbell was told he was not required to enter a plea. His matter will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment to be served on July 24.
Inspector Deon Barr, who served as the prosecutor, said the defendant has prior convictions.
ATTEMPTED MURDER SUSPECT REMANDED
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 25-YEAR-OLD man was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of attempting to murder a man near Burial Ground Corner earlier this month.
Ishmael Emmanuel Newry was charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with
intent to endanger life.
Prosecutors allege that on April 10, Newry attempted to shoot 21-year-old Mandingo Cartwright, also known as Mandingo Marshall, while he sat on a vehicle. Cartwright reportedly had to flee on foot to escape the gunfire.
Newry has previous convictions, and the court informed him he was not required to enter a plea
at this stage. His case will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was advised to apply for bail through the higher court and will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on July 24.
Levan Johnson represented the accused. Inspector Deon Barr served as the prosecutor.
RUBIO UNVEILS OVERHAUL OF US STATE DEPARTMENT
By FARNOUSH AMIRI and MATTHEW LEE Associated Press
SECRETARY of State Marco Rubio unveiled a massive overhaul of the State Department on Tuesday, with plans to reduce staff in the US by 15% while closing and consolidating more than 100 bureaus worldwide as part of the Trump administration’s “America First” mandate.
The reorganisation plan, announced by Rubio on social media and detailed in documents obtained by The Associated Press, is the latest effort by the White House to reimagine US foreign policy and scale back the size of the federal government. The restructuring was driven in part by the need to find a new home for the remaining functions of the US Agency for International Development, an agency that Trump administration officials and billionaire ally Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have dismantled.
April 15. Police reportedly found him in possession of the same forged certificates on April 16 after the matter was reported. Between April 10 and 15, Brennen allegedly helped Williams execute the fraud scheme. Williams pleaded guilty to all charges and broke down in tears as he was sentenced to one year in prison. Brennen pleaded not guilty. Assistant Superintendent of Police S Coakley, the prosecutor, said Williams had prior convictions and was a suspect in an ongoing kidnapping case. Prosecutors allege that on April 14 2023, Williams, along with others, kidnapped and injured Charles Bethel and threatened to kill him. ASP Coakley argued Williams’s latest offence warranted a custodial sentence and objected to bail for Brennen. Brennen’s bail was set at $7,000 with one or two sureties. He must sign in weekly at Nassau
The plan includes consolidating 734 bureaus and offices down to 602, as well as transitioning 137 offices to another location within the department to “increase efficiency,” according to a fact sheet obtained by AP. There will be a “reimagined” office focused on foreign and humanitarian affairs to coordinate the aid programs overseas remaining at the department. Although the plan will implement major changes in the department’s bureaucracy and personnel, it is far less drastic than an alleged reorganisation plan that was circulated by some officials over the weekend. Numerous senior State Department officials, including Rubio himself, denied that the plan was real. Work that had been believed targeted in that alleged leaked document survived — at least as bureau names on a chart — in the plan that Rubio released Tuesday. That includes offices for Africa affairs, migration and refugee issues, and democracy efforts. It was not immediately clear whether US embassies were included in the installations slated for closing. Earlier reports of wholesale closings of embassies, especially in Africa, triggered warnings about shrinking the US diplomatic capacity and influence abroad. Some of the bureaus
“We cannot win the battle for the 21st century with bloated bureaucracy that stifles innovation and misallocates scarce resources,” Rubio said in a department-wide email obtained by AP. He said the reorganisation aimed to “meet the immense challenges of the 21st Century and put America First”. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce echoed that sentiment, saying the “sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats” but adding that it would not result in the immediate dismissal of personnel. “It’s not something where people are being fired today,” Bruce told reporters Tuesday. “They’re not going to be walking out of the building. It’s not that kind of a dynamic. It is a roadmap. It’s a plan.”
that are indeed expected to be cut in the new plan include the Office of Global Women’s Issues and the State Department’s diversity and inclusion efforts, which have been eliminated government-wide under Trump. An office charged with surging expertise to war zones and other erupting crises will be eliminated, while other bureaus focused on human rights and justice will be scaled back or folded into other sections of the department.
Daryl Grisgraber, a policy lead with humanitarian organisation Oxfam America, said this development only creates more “uncertainty” about the US’s ability to contribute to the ongoing humanitarian conflicts and will “only make the world a more unstable, unequal place for us all”. It is unclear if the reorganisation would be implemented through an executive order or other means. The official plans came a week after the AP learned that the White House’s Office of Management and Budget proposed gutting the State Department’s budget by almost 50% and eliminating funding for the United Nations and NATO headquarters. While the budget proposal is still in a highly preliminary phase and not expected to pass muster with Congress, the reorganisation plan got an initial nod of approval from Republicans on Capitol Hill. Democrats blasted the effort as Rubio and the Trump administration’s latest attempt to gut “vital components of American influence” on the world stage.
A Pope who spoke to the issues
POPE Francis died on Sunday, April 21, leading many to reflect on his time in the pontificate and the statements he made while holding the position. He was considered quite controversial as he took a stand on climate change and spoke about LGBTQI+ people as human beings with rights, regardless of anyone’s definitions of sin, on more than one occasion.
He made it a point to write and speak about the interconnectedness of humanity and the need for people to care about one another, and to do so without prejudice.
By Alicia Wallace
with obligation to take action for change.
Pope Francis asked: “How do we help our young people not to see a university degree as synonymous with higher status, with more money or social prestige?”
Importantly, Pope Francis highlighted the plight of people in situations of vulnerability, acknowledging that inequality affects the way we experience various crises.
He said: “Too often we participate in the
In doing so, he encouraged solidarity, reminding people of the ways we all must rely on one another for survival.
globalisation of indifference. May we strive instead to live global solidarity.” He also called solidarity a “moral virtue” that stems from the individual’s learning and ability to apply it to life and relationships. He made education central to many of his statements on global issues, and he connected education
He suggested that a university degree does not automatically lead to elevated socioeconomic positioning. Instead, he provoked thought with another question. “How can we help make their education a mark of greater responsibility in the face of today’s problems, the needs of the poor, concern for the environment?”
The theme of solidarity is present in these questions that prompt people to truly consider how they will turn their knowledge into something meaningful that extends beyond benefits to their households.
“Education,” Pope Francis said, “is not about knowing things or taking lessons but about being able to use three lingos: those of the head, the heart, and the hands... learning so that you can think about what you feel and do, can feel what you think and do, and can do what you feel and think. Unity within a person.”
Education is often framed as a selfish endeavour. We encourage one another to get degree, complete certification, and take courses to become more marketable, to use as leverage to make more money, and to equip ourselves with more knowledge and tools. It is rare that education is presented as a means through which we can become better, more active citizens. It is hardly ever said that our learning should inspire feelings, much less that we should embrace and interrogate those feelings, then determine what they call on us to do for the greater good of humanity, centering those with the least.
Pope Francis went in depth on the issue of climate change. His were not cursory comments, but delved into the human side of the science and what it means for the planet, humanity, and our shared and intertwined future.
In paragraph 13 of, the encyclical letter titled “Laudato Si,” Pope Francis said, “The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change. The Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home. Here I want to recognise, encourage and thank all those striving in countless ways to guarantee the protection of the home which we share. Particular appreciation is owed
to those who tirelessly seek to resolve the tragic effects of environmental degradation on the lives of the world’s poorest. Young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental crisis and the sufferings of the excluded.”
Pope Francis wrote about “rapidification” in which the forced increase in productivity is at odds with the pace of nature, causing distress and destruction to the planet while prioritising profitmaking. He also drew attention to the pollution that is generated by our daily practices, from household waste to technological waste. He criticized the existing “throwaway culture” and lamented that “we have not yet managed to adopt a circular model of production capable of preserving resources for present and future generations, while limiting as much as possible the use of non-renewable resources, moderating their consumption, maximising their efficient use, reusing and recycling them.” He came close to bringing critique of capitalism and the kind of “development” that prioritises the maintenance and growth of the wealth of the few while willingly, intentionally sacrificing the wellbeing of many people and the planet we all inhabit.
Nothing that climate is a common good, Pope Francis called on people to “recognise the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat this warming or at least the human causes which produce or aggravate it.”
He called out the wealthy for their part in accelerating climate change, saying, “Many of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms[…]” This is recognition of the imbalance of power between classes as well as a difference in concern, and not necessarily awareness, of the consequences of climate change and its disproportionate affects on people in situations of vulnerability, including those experiencing poverty and those living in “developing” countries.
Laudato Si included commentary on water and the scarcity affecting billions of people, loss of biodiversity and the exploitation of resources, and the everdecreasing quality of life for human beings (which is often glossed over when the impact of climate change and the need for action is communicated).
Inequality seemed to be a reality that Pope Francis did not want to ignore. Instead, he pointed to it, calling on people to pay
attention to it and be moved to do something about it. He said, “There is little in the way of clear awareness of problems which especially affect the excluded. Yet they are the majority of the planet’s population, billions of people. These days, they are mentioned in international political and economic discussions, but one often has the impression that their problems are brought up as an afterthought, a question which gets added almost out of duty or in a tangential way, if not treated merely as collateral damage.” He noted that decision makers are generally not in this group of oppressed and disadvantaged people. Not only do they live different lives, but they do not bother to engage with affected people to gain different perspectives to strengthen analysis and planning.
People in positions of power, as we know, live in fear of losing their power. Sometimes that power is in the form of money, sometimes that power is in the form of position, and in most cases it is both as one leads to another, usually through corruption. We see it happen over and over again on the global stage and at the national level.
Politicians are driven by the singular desire to be re-elected or re-appointed and the fear that they may lose. The current administration refuses criminalise marital rape. It did not even have the fortitude, nor the resolve, to pass the Gender-Based Violence bill. It cowers in the face of antirights groups dressed up as religious leaders. It deliberately misleads and outright lies when reporting to international human rights bodies. It, even knowing the right action to take, chooses to do nothing or to act in the worst interest of the people and our future, afraid that the right move is unpopular and would cost it its power. This, inevitably, leads to significant harm to women, girls, LGBTQI+ people, people with disabilities, migrant people, people experiencing poverty, people who are/have been institutionalised, and people who are/have been othered.
This message from Pope Francis is fitting for those who would have us believe that they are brave, that they are Christian, and that they care about the country and/or the world: “Having doubts and fears is not a sin... The sin is to allow these fears to determine our responses, to limit our choices, to compromise respect and generosity, to feed hostility and rejection... The sin is to refuse to encounter the other, the different, the neighbour, when this is in fact a privileged opportunity to encounter the Lord ... to overcome our fears so as to encounter the other, to welcome, to know and to acknowledge him or her.”
POPE Francis waves to the crowd during a procession in 2015 in Philadelphia.
Photo: Matt Rourke/AP
ROBOTS RACE HALF-MARATHON ALONGSIDE FLESH-AND-BLOOD COMPETITORS NO SWEAT
BEIJING Associated Press
IN ONE small step for robotkind — thousands of them, really — humanoid robots ran alongside actual humans in a half-marathon in the Chinese capital on Saturday. The bipedal robots of various makes and sizes navigated the 21.1km (13.1-mile) course supported by teams of human navigators, operators, and
engineers, in what event organisers say was a first. As a precaution, a divider separated the parallel courses used by the robots and people. While flesh-and-blood participants followed conventional rules,
the 20 teams fielding machines in the Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon competed under tailored guidelines, which included battery swap pit stops.
The Sky Project Ultra robot, also known as Tien Kung Ultra,
from the Tien Kung Team, claimed victory among the nonhumans, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds. Awards were also given out for best endurance, best gait design and most innovative form.
Webbys honour content creators
LOS ANGELES
Associated Press
KENDRICK Lamar, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Travis Kelce and Simone Biles all won honors at the Webby Awards, which recognise the best internet content and creators.
The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences announced winners on Tuesday in a variety of categories. The 29th annual ceremony will take place at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 12.
The Webby Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Snoop Dogg for breaking through as a versatile businessman with Death Row Records along with two alcohol brands, an ice cream and cannabis brands. Walton Goggins won best actor award for his performances across streaming projects including “The White Lotus,” “The Righteous Gemstones” and “Fallout.”
The ceremony will be
hosted by comedian-actor Ilana Glazer and will honor major brands and platforms including Nike, Netflix, Letterboxd and Apple. Dr Fei-Fei Li will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to artificial intelligence and leadership in advancing human-centred AI.
“This year’s winners represent a masterclass of creativity and innovation,” said Jesse Feister, executive director for the Webby Media Group. “They’ve harnessed the power of the Internet to drive change,
spark conversations and connect us in new ways. With the introduction of new categories, these creators are being recognized for shaping the future of the digital world.” The awards started in 1996 by recognising websites. They have grown to embrace new technologies, from apps and software to social media and games.
Google won their firstever Brand of the Year achievement. NBCUniversal was honored for being best Media Company.
Special achievement recipients include Amelia Dimoldenberg, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Jools Lebron, Marcello Hernández, the MeidasTouch Podcast and Norman Teague.
Other winners include Lady Gaga for her website, Mariah Carey’s “It’s Time” partnership with KAY Jewelers, RuPaul’s “Drag Race: The Pit Stop,” Lamar’s “Not Like Us” music video and Brian Cox’s “Brian Cox Goes to College.”
SNOOP Dogg attends the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, February 14, 2025, in New York.
Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
WALTON Goggins in The White Lotus.
MAY 6: A CHANCE TO STEER US-CARIBBEAN
RELATIONS THROUGH TRADE WINDS
US SECRETARY
of State Marco Rubio has signalled a genuine willingness to hear the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) speak for itself. At a moment when his diplomatic files stretch across numerous crisis zones, that attention is neither trivial nor routine.
Barely three months into his tenure, Secretary Rubio has already conferred with six CARICOM Heads of Government and will host seven more in Washington on May 6. Such early, sustained engagement signals that the region’s
By SIR RONALD SANDERS World View
counsel carries weight. In diplomacy, there is no substitute for dialogue, especially when new policies are being cast. These meetings, therefore, are vital.
Secretary Rubio began his Caribbean circuit in Jamaica on March 26, consulting with the
Prime Ministers of Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The next day, he met Presidents Irfaan Ali in Guyana and Chandrikapersad Santokhi in Suriname. The itinerary now moves to welcoming the leaders of the
‘The tariffs—and their direct and indirect impact on Caribbean economies— will undoubtedly be addressed when the leaders meet Secretary Rubio in Washington on May 6.’
six independent Eastern Caribbean states and The Bahamas. When Secretary Rubio met Caribbean leaders on March 26–27, the White House had not yet unveiled the sweeping tariff order issued on April 3 by President
Donald Trump. As a result, neither the immediate blow to regional exports nor the wider shockwaves of Washington’s global tariffs could be weighed. The tariffs—and their direct and indirect impact on Caribbean economies— will undoubtedly be addressed when the leaders meet Secretary Rubio in Washington on May 6. Central to that conversation is the fate of the Caribbean Basin Initiative — President Reagan’s legacy programme — formalised in the 1983 Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), which has long granted duty-free entry to a swath of CARICOM exports. The new tariffs announced on April 3 cast a shadow over those preferences; no one yet knows whether CBERA’s hard-won relief survives intact or has been diminished in the flood of duties.
Tariffs are only the first set of concerns that should be discussed on May 6. The agenda could also confront: US allegations that Cuban medical personnel in CARICOM are “trafficked,” a claim CARICOM governments vigorously dispute; Washington’s unease over China’s growing role in the development plans of nine CARICOM members — balanced by the fact that three of the seven leaders arriving in Washington recognise Taiwan; the treatment and due process rights of CARICOM nationals in the US who may face deportation for violating visa conditions or committing criminal offences; and the future of Citizenship-by-Investment programmes, which have been lifelines for five Eastern Caribbean economies.
On the matter of Cuban workers in CARICOM countries, Secretary Rubio can expect a firm and united repudiation of any suggestion that trafficking is taking place under the watch of Caribbean governments. Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica has already stated that Cuban workers in CARICOM are well treated, fairly compensated, and enjoy full freedom.
Leaders of the Eastern Caribbean will affirm that they pay these workers directly and are open to increasing transparency around those arrangements.
CARICOM’s reliance on Cuban medical personnel is born not of ideology but of necessity. Our own doctors and nurses, trained at public expense, are routinely drawn away by richer countries — including the US. What remains is a healthcare vacuum that Cuban professionals have helped to fill.
On the matter of China and Taiwan’s role in the region’s development, Secretary Rubio will find that there is no quarrel among CARICOM states about which partner a government engages — Beijing or Taipei.
Each nation acts in pursuit of its national interest, driven by the imperative of economic survival and the search for meaningful international support. What unites CARICOM is a collective stake in global peace, shared prosperity, and the benefits of cooperation. On the issue of
Caribbean nationals residing unlawfully in the US or designated for deportation due to criminal convictions, CARICOM governments are ready to receive their own citizens. Repatriation, in and of itself, is not in dispute. What matters is that those persons are afforded due process, fair hearing, and humane treatment. The dignity of Caribbean nationals— even when in violation of US immigration law— must not be collateral damage in the enforcement of policy. With respect to the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes operated by five Eastern Caribbean states, leaders will remind Secretary Rubio that these initiatives are essential to their economic viability. Moreover, Caribbean CBI programmes are already closed to nationals from countries that raise red flags for US authorities. And critically, citizenship in these states does not confer automatic access to the US. Every individual - regardless of how or where they obtained their Caribbean passport - remains fully subject to US visa and homeland security vetting. The CBI framework, then, is not a backdoor to US soil, but a legitimate instrument of economic survival with strong safeguards in place.
What Secretary Rubio will hear from every CARICOM leader is a shared resolve to preserve and deepen their partnership with the US. This is not a relationship of convenience, but of choice - anchored in the urgent, hemispheric challenges we face together. Diseases and pandemics do not stop at customs gates; organised crime, including the drug trade, corrodes our societies with equal menace; climate - induced disasters batter our countries with increasing ferocity. And yet, amid these trials, there is a real opportunity to build resilient, prosperous societies that are magnets for investment, hubs of tourism, and engines of shared growth.
The US has consistently maintained a trade surplus in goods and services with CARICOM as a whole. In 2024 alone, that surplus stood at US$5.8 billion—a clear reflection of CARICOM’s openness and enduring loyalty to the US.
On matters of national security, the Caribbean has been no less dependable. CARICOM countries have proven themselves steadfast and cooperative, whether through intelligencesharing, maritime security, or counter- narcotics efforts. In every respect, the region has functioned as a committed ally.
Hopefully, May 6 will stand as a further milestone in the renewal and strengthening of US–CARICOM relations — a moment when mutual interests are acknowledged, mutual respect reaffirmed, and a shared commitment to partnership charted with clarity and conviction.
• The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. He is also the Dean of the Ambassadors of the Western Hemisphere Group accredited to the U.S. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries:www. sirronaldsanders.com
E CLEMENT BETHEL ADJUDICATIONS COME
PINEFIELD, ACKLINS
EASTER FUN IN CENTREVILLE
Photos: Eric Rose/BIS
THE EASTER Bunny came to visit in Centreville to deliver baskets, cotton candy, and sweet treats across the community at the weekend. The event was organised by constituency MP Jomo Campbell and his team.
COCONUT FESTIVAL
SCENES from the traditional Easter Coconut Festival, held at Pelican Point. This was the 25th annual event, marking its silver jubilee. It included entertainment from St George’s High School Pop Band, Top Teir, Fanshawn, KB and a rushout by the Swingers Junkanoo Group.
Photos: Vandyke Hepburn