MURDER VICTIM HAD PLANNED TO PROPOSE
Flamingo Air worker killed weeks before planned engagement
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff
Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
KENNETH Bain Jr was just starting his car for work on Wednesday, a quiet, routine moment that was shattered by violence when he was shot dead just weeks before he planned to ask his long-time girlfriend to marry him.
The 32-year-old, a newly promoted ramp supervisor at Flamingo Air Nassau, was ambushed outside his
home around 6am and later died in hospital, becoming the country’s 26th murder victim for the year.
“He was going to surprise her with a nice engagement but it wasn’t to be,” said Evalna Nesbitt, his future mother-in-law. “But he’ll always be my son. He’ll always be here, always being in all our heart.” Police say a white Japanese-model vehicle pulled up to Bain’s residence on Yamacraw Hill Road.
COMMODORE’S CONTRACT WILL NOT BE RENEWED
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Davis administration will not renew the contract of Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Raymond King, ending his five-year tenure at the helm of the military agency. Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Latrae Rahming, told The Tribune yesterday that a successor
will be announced within two to three weeks.
Commodore King began acting in the role in October 2019 and was confirmed the following year. Known for his forthright and confident leadership, he was well-regarded by the public and the press. Government officials have not explained why his contract is not being extended.
Atlantic right whales in
on April 15.
TWO endangered North Atlantic right whales were spotted off the coast of Bimini last week — the first time the species has been documented in Bahamian waters. The sighting, described as extraordinary by marine scientists, took place on April 15 during a dolphin-watching tour led by Captain Isaac Ellis of Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center.
“That moment for me was breathtaking, and I couldn’t fully gather myself. I thought it was fake at first. Once in a lifetime moment for sure,” Captain Ellis said. Video footage captured by divers was quickly shared with Dr Diane Claridge, executive director of the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO). She sent
it to researchers at the New England Aquarium, who confirmed the whales were two adult females named Koala and Curlew.
“In the past 30 years, BMMRO has documented 26 different marine mammal species in The Bahamas, and I’d always hoped we’d see a right
NORTH
Bimini
Photo: Jero Prieto/Pelagic Life
ENDANGERED WHALES SEEN IN BAHAMAS
from page one
whale here one day, given that we’re only 50 miles from Florida,” Dr Claridge said. “As their numbers declined, I had given up hope, but these two surprised us all!”
Researchers have tracked Koala and Curlew since their births in 2009 and 2011. They’ve been travelling together for several months — an unusual behaviour for right whales, which rarely remain in pairs unless one is a mother with a calf. The whales were first spotted together off South Carolina last November, then followed down Florida’s east coast in January. By February, they had entered the Gulf of Mexico,
with sightings off Alabama and along Florida’s panhandle. Their appearance in The Bahamas is unprecedented.
“These two are really on quite the swim about!” said Philip Hamilton, senior scientist at the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. “It is fairly unusual for right whales to be seen in the Gulf of Mexico, and there are no recorded sightings of right whales in The Bahamas. What inspired them to make this journey will likely remain a mystery.”
With only around 370 North Atlantic right whales left, researchers say every sighting is critical to understanding the species’ movements and survival. The whales typically return north to feeding grounds
by late March, but Koala and Curlew have defied expectations.
“These two whales are usually seen in Cape Cod Bay in April,” Mr Hamilton said. “Where they will be spotted next is anyone’s guess.”
Dr Claridge added: “As much as we enjoyed their visit to The Bahamas, I hope Koala and Curlew make their way back north safely.”
The sighting has been added to the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog, a database of images and information about the species compiled from sightings since 1935.
The public can track right whale movements through WhaleMap, an online platform managed by the Aquarium.
RIGHT whales seen near Bimini in these images from video. Video: Janelle Van Ruiten/Neal Watsons Bimini Scuba Centre
Murder victim had planned to propose
from page one
A man exited, exchanged brief words with Bain, then shot him before fleeing.
Blood stained the pavement near Bain’s parked car, which bore a bullet hole on the driver’s side.
Paramedics took the victim to hospital, but he died from his injuries.
When The Tribune visited the scene yesterday, Bain’s car sat parked outside with a bullet hole visible and blood stains on the driver’s side. Relatives, sombre and
silent, gathered nearby.
His father, Kenneth Bain Sr, said the pain of losing his only son with his wife is unbearable.
“I ain’t get much sleep,” he said. “You know, going to bed 11 o’clock, waking up three in the morning. Like Luther Vandross say, I never get to dance with my father again. He’ll never get to dance with me again because he’s gone.”
“My birthday was on the 31st of March and he got the first piece of cake.” Bain Jr lived with Ms Nesbitt for eight years.
MUNROE HITS OUT AT ‘PETTY AND BITTER’ DAMES AFTER COMMENTS ON AMBULANCES
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe has hit back at his predecessor Marvin Dames over criticisms of the government’s decision to deploy police officers as temporary ambulance drivers on the Family Islands, branding his remarks “petty, bitter, and dripping with resentment”.
In a strongly worded statement, Mr Munroe defended the measure, arguing that police officers are already trained first responders capable of acting under pressure and that the move was both logical and necessary.
He said the deployment is a short-term solution while a new group of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) completes training through the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Academy.
Backing the policy, Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles said last week that many of the reserve officers already reside on the islands they will serve and are ready to respond when lives are at stake.
Mr Dames, who served as Minister of National Security under the Minnis administration, had criticised the plan as “shortsighted”, raising concerns about its sustainability and suggesting it could further strain police resources in under-staffed areas.
But Mr Munroe dismissed the criticism, accusing Mr Dames of harbouring personal resentment over not
being appointed Commissioner of Police.
“Marvin Dames should stop speaking like a man who was wrongfully denied a throne,” he said. “He was never Commissioner of Police, and the more he talks, the more obvious it becomes why.”
“His latest attack on the current commissioner’s decision to use police officers in the Family Islands to operate ambulances isn’t just uninformed — it’s petty, bitter, and dripping with resentment.”
Mr Munroe said if Mr Dames “had an ounce of respect” for the Office of the Commissioner, he would have called Commissioner Knowles to learn that the opposition had already been briefed on the policy.
He further accused the former minister of putting personal grievances ahead of national safety and labelled his approach “vindictive” and “selfabsorbed” — qualities he said explain why Mr Dames was never promoted to the role he allegedly coveted. Mr Munroe also criticised Mr Dames and the Minnis administration for neglecting Family Islands’ healthcare needs during their tenure, including the shortage of ambulances, EMTs, and police recruits. He claimed that under Mr Dames, Royal Bahamas Police Force recruitment suffered, leaving critical gaps in manpower.
By contrast, he praised the Davis administration’s response, saying it prioritised public safety from the
COMMODORE’S CONTRACT WILL NOT BE RENEWED
from page one
Commodore tenures have varied widely over the years.
Commodore King’s immediate predecessor, Tellis Bethel, served as
acting commodore for two years and in the substantive post for another two.
Roderick Bowe served five years, Clifford Scavella four, Davy Rolle nine, and Leon Smith, the first Bahamain appointed to the role, 14.
She said he had just been promoted at Flamingo Air Nassau, where he worked as a supervisor ramp agent. The company has released a statement expressing condolences.
“He don’t even hang out. He don’t even drink,” she said. “I’m talking decent, respectable young man. It’s a sin to see something like that happening to him because he really didn’t deserve it. I hope and I pray they get justice for him, because I will not stop.”
“I would if I have to picket by myself, to the
courts, to the wherever. I will never let this die because you know why? He’ll never die for the type of person he was.”
Ms Nesbitt said Bain and a co-worker were starting the car and preparing to leave for work when he was attacked.
“They wasn’t sitting outside conversating,” she said. “They was getting ready, starting the car, warming up to leave for work.”
Asked if Bain recently expressed concern about any issues, she said: “I can’t say that because it’s now
outset by increasing police recruitment, acquiring ambulances, and investing in EMT training.
“So when Mr Dames attacks a policy that puts ambulances on the road and officers in a position to save lives, what exactly is he criticising?” Mr Munroe asked. “That the commissioner is doing the job? That police officers are stepping up where the FNM stepped away? It’s almost laughable.”
“That Mr Dames cannot grasp this speaks volumes,” he added. “His failure to understand the basic duty of police to protect life isn’t just disappointing — it is disqualifying. It confirms, beyond question, that the decision not to elevate him to Commissioner wasn’t political. It was practical. It was necessary. He should stop looking backward. The rest of us are too busy trying to save lives.”
Mr Dames maintained that the initiative could compromise essential law enforcement duties on already strained islands, especially during emergencies like shootings or traffic accidents where police are often required to secure scenes.
PHA managing director Aubynette Rolle also supported the move, noting last week that officers are well suited for ambulance driving due to their defensive and offensive driving training.
Under the plan, trained officers will handle ambulance transport, allowing
medical personnel to focus on patient care. Dr Rolle said the next phase, starting April 22, will involve certifying a new batch of EMTs.
The first group of officers includes Eleuthera, Andros, Cat Island, and Abaco personnel. Officials hope to expand the training to other islands, including New Providence, as more ambulances are deployed.
KENNETH BAIN JR
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe.
FLOATING DOCK FOR GB SHIPYARD BY NOVEMBER
GRAND Bahama Shipyard
is on track to receive the first of two state-of-the-art floating dry docks by early November, a development executives say will restore the yard’s position as a premier cruise ship repair facility and significantly boost the island’s economy.
Dubbed “East End,” the new dock measures 357 metres in length, 76 metres in width, and has a lifting capacity of up to 93,500 tons. It will be outfitted with four modern cranes and advanced control systems. The facility is designed to accommodate all existing and planned cruise ships worldwide, along with a broad range of other vessels.
A second, even larger dock, called “Lucayan”, is under construction and expected to arrive in 2026.
Shipyard officials said pier extension works are well advanced and the site will be ready to receive the first dock in November. Operations are
expected to begin in January 2026.
“We are close to reassuming our position as a leading, worldclass cruise ship repair facility,” said Dave Skentelbery, CEO of Grand Bahama Shipyard. “The investment by our shareholders will be a significant boost to the economy of Grand Bahama, providing both direct and indirect employment opportunities.”
The $600m transformation project involves the construction, delivery, and commissioning of two of the largest floating docks in the Western Hemisphere. Once operational, the shipyard will have the largest lifting capacity in the world, enabling it to service the full spectrum of cruise vessels and a substantial portion of the global commercial fleet.
Mr Skentelbery said the company has taken on 20 new apprentices this year and has begun recruiting crane operators in preparation for the new infrastructure.
Captains ‘underpaid and sidelined’ by cruise line
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN captains at Great Stirrup Cay say they’ve been underpaid and sidelined by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) for years, raising new allegations of mistreatment as the Department of Labour continues its probe into the cruise line’s operations.
The captains claim they’ve routinely worked gruelling hours — sometimes up to 84 hours a week — without overtime, holiday pay, or the benefits afforded to their foreign colleagues. Some say they’ve remained silent for fear of retaliation but have now decided enough is enough.
“We work at 100 percent – they pay us 80 percent!” said Wellington Mackey, a veteran captain with over a decade at NCL. “So where’s that 20 percent?”
The captains’ allegations mirror those made earlier this month by expatriate staff, who also reported working 70-hour weeks without proper compensation — far beyond the 40-hour limit set by Bahamian labour laws. In a letter sent to The Tribune, the Bahamian captains said they’ve never received overtime or holiday pay despite holding full-time managerial roles. They claim this pattern of underpayment has persisted since at least 2018. “It is disheartening to see that under the management
of Jovo, our requests for overtime and holiday pay — common practice for the past six years — have been disregarded,” the letter read. “We are not seeking anything special; we simply want to be treated fairly and compensated equitably.”
While expatriate workers reportedly received partial back pay, local captains say they have received nothing and are still working without proper contracts. A new set of contracts introduced in February was quickly withdrawn, they say, after allegedly failing to comply with local labour laws.
The captains say some of them still do not have valid contracts, raising further concerns about the company’s compliance and legal standing.
TWO MEN ACCUSED OF ANDROS MURDER BID
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
TWO men were remanded to prison yesterday after they were accused of attempting to murder a man in Andros over the Easter holiday weekend.
Erwin Wallace, 26, and Daniecio Burrows, 24, were charged with attempted murder and possession of
a firearm with intent to endanger life. Prosecutors allege that on April 20, the men, while armed and inside a vehicle, pulled alongside King Newton’s car and opened fire near Tipsy Sips Bar in Mastic Point. Newton was shot in the arm but escaped and sought medical attention at a local clinic. The accused were not
$100,000 RAISED
THE Bahamas National Trust (BNT) recently raised
$100,000 for Bonefish Pond National Park (BPNP) during their 2025 Cuban Pig Roast event.
Held on April 5 at The Maillis Farm, the annual fundraiser drew hundreds in support of this year’s cause: constructing a welcome centre at BPNP, which will be pivotal in enhancing the national park’s accessibility; its capacity to offer educational and recreational programmes; and its ability to generate sustainable revenue.
required to enter pleas. Their case is expected to proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment.
They were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until their VBI is served on August 25.
Alphonso Lewis represented the defendants. Inspector Cordero Farrington prosecuted the case.
WOMAN CHARGED OVER DEATH OF MARINE STRUCK BY CAR
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 44-YEAR-OLD woman was granted bail yesterday after she was charged with causing the death of a 21-year-old Royal Bahamas Defence Force marine in a 2023 traffic incident.
Teoneka Minnis Cartwright was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Kara Turnquest Deveaux
on a charge of vehicular manslaughter. Prosecutors allege that around 3.10pm on September 21, 2023, Cartwright was driving south on Faith Avenue when she struck marine mechanic David Duncombe with her vehicle.
Duncombe, who had celebrated his 21st birthday the day before, died in hospital on September 24 after complaining of chest pain.
Cartwright was not
required to enter a plea. Her case will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment. With no objection from the prosecution, she was granted $8,000 bail with one or two sureties. As part of her bail conditions, she must sign in at the Grove Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday by 6pm. Her VBI is scheduled to be served on June 18.
BY BNT AT CUBAN PIG ROAST EVENT
Bonefish Pond National Park protects the last intact tidal mangrove ecosystem in New Providence. These mangroves act as nurseries for economically and culturally important marine species, like grouper and
crawfish; support the fight against climate change by reducing carbon emissions; and protect nearby communities from storm
surge. The park also supports many small, local businesses which utilise its resources for ecotourism opportunities - the likes of which will also be enhanced by the construction of a welcome centre.
BNT executive director Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle said: “The planned welcome centre is poised to transform Bonefish Pond National Park into a more accessible and educational space. It will not only serve as the heart of the park but also as a foundation for deeper community ties and enhanced conservation initiatives. This facility will enable us to better connect
people to the natural environment through unique park experiences, fostering a stronger bond between the community and this important space.”
At the event, she thanked longtime supporters of Bonefish Pond National Park, including Atlantis and Baha Mar - both of whom have a history of donating towards the park and assisting with park cleanings, mangrove plantings, and other initiatives.
Atlantis has donated more than 3,000 mangroves between 2011 and 2025 to contribute to ongoing restoration efforts in the park. Additionally, they have
partnered with the BNT to conduct ongoing water quality testing for the park. Baha Mar has committed to providing ongoing support for conservation work undertaken by the BNT - including but not limited to efforts at Bonefish Pond National Park and Harrold and Wilson Ponds National Park. They also provided a $30,000 donation on the night of the Pig Roast event - majorly jumpstarting the BNT’s live auction in support of Bonefish Pond National Park. To learn more about the BNT, visit www.bnt. bs or follow BNT on social media.
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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A pope who stood up for the poor
THEY kept the doors open all night. The mourners turned up in their thousands. All to come and see Pope Francis lying in state ahead of tomorrow’s funeral service.
The Vatican estimated that more than 90,000 people had paid their respects by Thursday evening, a day and a half after the lying in state commenced.
Here in The Bahamas, flags will fly at half mast from sunrise to sunset on Saturday to pay tribute to a pope who touched lives around the world.
In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, Pope Francis heard of the damage to a church in Treasure Cay in Abaco - and contributed towards its repair.
Many Bahamians will have stories of their visits to Rome, and some of their chance to see Pope Francis in person.
Others have signed the book of condolence open at St Francis Cathedral, where today a press conference will be held ahead of Saturday’s funeral to bring the Bahamian perspective to a global event.
In the Vatican itself, mourners came from around the world to make personal tributes.
A Mexican Catholic named Emiliano Fernandez had been waiting for two hours without even reaching the basilica when she told reporters that she did not care how much time she waited - it was “just the opportunity to (show) how I admired Francisco in his life”. Her admiration grew during the pope’s visit to Mexico - one of his many trips to reach out to those of faith, and those of curiosity.
Elsewhere a nun accompanied an
elderly woman with a cane walking away sobbing, “My pope is gone.”
Pope Francis devoted much of his time to concern for the poor and a message of inclusion. That caused some conflict within the church from those who felt he was too progressive.
Pope Francis was not afraid to speak out in the face of the powerful on behalf of the vulnerable.
And now we say farewell.
The funeral will take place at 10am tomorrow. There will be nine days of mourning.
Pope Francis’ body will be taken into St Peter’s Basilica and then to the Basilica of St Mary Major for entombment. Then comes the conclave. Cardinals will gather and the world will watch for the smoke to rise when a decision has been made, and the declaration is made: “Habemus papam” - We have a pope. That decision is a long way away, but whoever takes up the mantle will follow in the legacy of a man who championed the poor. That determination went as far as the name the pope chose for his papacy - Francis.
He was inspired by the story of St Francis of Assisi, who sought to minister to the poor himself, as well as being known for his love of animals.
Who will be the next pope? And in this world of turmoil when a strong voice is needed, who will be the one to speak up? And what will the new pope stand up for?
We await. But before then, we pay tribute. Tomorrow.
War on cancer
EDITOR, The Tribune.
GOOGLE defines cancer as “a disease characterised by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells”. Cancer is a terrible disease that causes drastic changes to one’s body and it often leads to a very painful life and death. In 2024, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) in a report, stated that the Bahamas’ Cancer mortality rate was 109.2 per 100,000 people. With a population of just over 400,000 people we can surmise that there is about 437 cancer causing deaths per year in the Bahamas. This is astounding. There were 119 murders in the Bahamas in 2024. This amounts to 30 per 100,00 people. We can see from these numbers that just as we are concerned about murder, we should be equally as concerned about cancer prevention and treatment. We need a War on Cancer.
The Bahamas government has changed the police commissioner, there is constant debate about murder, its causes, effects and there are a lot of persons making valuable contributions in the lives of our young men and women who are at risk. We still need to do more to curtail our murder rate and some of us are still outraged by the amount of murder that occurs in the Bahamas every year. But what about the persons with cancer? Where is the outrage? Where is the
national agenda to curtail this insurmountable loss of life?
Chemotherapy is used to treat various forms of cancer. From my experience, I have seen tens of family members and friends use this treatment and it has been notoriously ineffective. I have seen family members walk into the Oncology Center, taking their treatment every month and after a few years, they literally have to be carried into the center to take an injection. Something is definitely wrong with this picture. We live in the age of information and there are many forms of cancer treatments that are not harmful to the body, are effective and actually rid the body of this terrible disease or slow its growth. Yet we continue to use chemotherapy treatments, which ultimately leads to radiation poisoning. By the time some patients are finished taking chemotherapy, they experience multiple organ failure. Cancer has affected every Bahamian family. Every Bahamian family has seen their loved ones body literally dry up, wincing in pain and their eyes show a look despair as they take their last breath.
How long will we stand by and just allow our loved ones to deteriorate physically and mentally, all in the name of so called ‘modern medicine.’
Some of us are aware of the money-making business that cancer serves. In fact,
Economic rebound welcome
EDITOR, The Tribune. THANK God that The Bahamas is rebounding nicely, economically, following back-to-back natural disasters and political bumbling. The economy had gone South long before the advent of those disasters due to possible fiscal mismanagement and a clear financially based national development plan by the then political Titans. Who was not play acting at being Prime Minister or merely posturing for selected audiences, were totally out of touch with reality, in my opinion.
the worldwide oncology market was estimated at $320.3 billion in 2024.
We now know that cancer is a tumor that forms a ball to protect itself from the rest of the body. Once this tumor is cut, all hell breaks loose inside of our bodies. I am not a fan of biopsies and I believe that there has to be a better way to detect the presence of cancer.
My wife has stage four(4) cancer and without medical insurance, she had to get bank loans to pay for chemotherapy treatments. She can’t get another bank loan because she can’t qualify for the more than $3,000.00 a month it costs to get her injection. Her visits to the business office are now futile and her salary deductions continue, but the cancer is still in her body. I have a cousin in hospital right now who has been taking radiation shots for several years. She now has multiple organ damage. Aren’t 437 cancer deaths annually in the Bahamas enough? We don’t need any more marathons or walks for the cure. We need to adopt better treatment methods for our loved ones who literally face a death sentence with the current accepted medical protocol. We need a War on Cancer in the Bahamas and it has to start now.
DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau, April 24, 2025.
Former Prime Minister Hubert A Ingraham, the only other Prime Minister besides the late great and deeply lamented, Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, to have held that high office at least three times, came into office and immediately set about a course of rebuilding crumbling infrastructure; sold off the then Albatross, Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation; opened up and liberalise the media and broadcasting and, inter alia, expanded the critical educational plant. He did a wonderful job and then, appropriately exited center stage.
Former Prime Minister Perry Gladstone Christie, God bless and keep him, did the best that he was capable of but, I submit, he fell far short of the great expectations which the unwashed masses expected of him…I have no doubt that he meant well and tried his best to ‘wipe away the tears from every eye but, good intentions have never been deemed good enough. In fact, with all due charity and utmost respect, he could have been one of our ‘greatest’ Prime Ministers
but that, alas, was never meant to be.
Dr Hubert Alexander Minnis (FNM-Killarney) was chapleted into the running as a potential Prime Minister by the abrupt , voluntary, departure of Mr Ingraham…Of course, Minnis was subjected to all sorts of political travails and backstabbing before he and the FNM were able to unseat the Christie led PLP administration. Dr Minnis, like others before him, came in with a bang and left whimpering and shedding Crocodile tears.
The era of Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC, MP (PLPCat Island) is now in play. Within Three short years, The Bahamas is rebounding nicely under his benign and sage leadership. He has demonstrated that while he is a good talker, like most politicians, he is deadly serious about producing tangible results, especially as they relate to the economy. Those who really want to find employment have multiple opportunities. Better yet, those who wish to become viable entrepreneurs are being presented with credible options for capitalisation and access to funding.
The massive clearing down of derelict buildings and unsightly bushing , which are known to facilitate criminals and rodents of all sorts. This is to be credited to the Davis administration and the visionary Minister of the Environment, the Hon Vaughn Miller (PLPGolden Isles) and his stellar team. Another feather in PM Davis’s hat
is the establishment of The National Youth Guard. This is one of the best disciplined and socially based programmes, for our youths, ever, bar none. All is NOT lost with our youth and younger people, like some like to suggest.
The participants, while being trained and educated, are also paid a financial stipend. Once they graduate, more than likely some of them will enter the public and private sectors or pursue higher education. This is a win/win situation and bodes well for the future.
I would encourage the PM to expend this initiative into a full bloom National Youth Service, as envisioned long ago by the greatest capable; able; willing and visionary late PM, Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling. The youth of our nation are the trustees of our future. Affordable housing and liberalisation of Crown Land are critical as we continue to resurrect the economy and usher in The Bahamian Golden Age under a second consecutive term by the Davis led administration. PM Davis, after all, is a trained economist; former banker and, of course, one of the ‘best’ legal minds, save and except for myself, with all modesty, produced, so far, in our wonderful nation. And so, the Bahamian economy is in good hands and we can ONLY go from strength to strength, The Lord willing. We have, I submit, been resurrected economically and, in short order address the societal decay. To God then, in all things, be the glory.
ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, April 24, 2025.
Next pope
EASTER Saturday traffic at the Hope Town lighthouse.
Photo: Stephen Hunt
Man accused of tampering with bail monitor
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN awaiting trial for murder was remanded to prison yesterday after he was accused of breaching his bail and tampering with his electronic monitoring device earlier this month.
Andrew Ferguson, 25, was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Kara Turnquest Deveaux on two counts of
violating bail conditions. Ferguson had been granted bail while awaiting trial for his alleged role in the fatal shooting of Omar Dorsette at his home in Coconut Grove on December 27, 2017. While on release, Ferguson reportedly breached his court-ordered residential curfew at 2.35am on April 18. He is also accused of tampering with the strap of his electronic monitoring
device on the same date. He pleaded guilty to the curfew breach but denied tampering with the device. Sentencing for the curfew breach will take place after the conclusion of his trial on the tampering charge. Ferguson was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his next court appearance on June 18. Alphonso Lewis represented the defendant.
FOUR YEARS IN JAIL FOR FRAUD
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 28-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to four years in prison yesterday for 17 counts of fraud by false pretences and money laundering.
Emmanuel Bonaby appeared before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly Burrows for sentencing. Earlier this month, he received a separate twoyear sentence from Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville for unrelated fraud offences.
Prosecutors said Bonaby defrauded three people of $7,500 in a shipping container scam between
January 5 and April 25, 2022. He will serve his latest sentence at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, with one year deducted for time already spent on remand. Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom prosecuted the matter, while Levan Johnson represented the accused.
GOOD DEEDS ON GOOD FRIDAY TO HELP FOX HILL RESIDENTS
THE Good Deeds Movement in partnership with New Birth Church hosted its annual Good Deeds on Good Friday at Freedom Park in Fox Hill.
More than 400 people were assisted with free goods and services throughout the event, which began at 1pm and closed around 5pm.
Several residents of the Fox Hill community expressed gratitude for the assistance with goods and services received.
Sherice Edwards, a resident of the Fox Hill community, who was able to get her hair styled expressed her gratitude as she hadn’t seen anything like this in the community on this scale.
“It is a blessing, I thank God for this, I thank God for y’all. This is a great thing,” she said. Another resident of the community, Alexis McPhee, said: “I visited the clothing tent, the hair tent and the facial tent. It’s very exciting. The people are very nice and cordial, they have just an awesome loving spirit. I really appreciate the services here. It makes me really understand the importance of showing love to others.”
Henry Rolle, who has been a resident of the Fox Hill community for several years, said: “It is good what you all are doing, because people sometimes feel lesser than, but this is good, because you all are showing us that we are not out of the picture. You just have to have God in your heart.”
Good Deeds Movement founder Bruce C Davis called the mega giveback
event a blessing both to those in the community and as the movement’s introduction to the community.
“It is a feeling of victory. For us it is a win, so we thank God for it. This is the first of many that will be in the Fox Hill community.
“We have been doing this for about a decade, but this is our first time doing this in the east, in the Fox Hill community and honestly, it has just been phenomenal to meet new people, to have new experiences and new testimonies of how the church came out of the four walls and persons feel impacted by it.
“Our big win was to bring Matthew 25 (‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’) and make it activated in this community and I think we did that with flying colours.”
Giveaways at event included free goods and services including groceries, clothing, hair styling, dental check-ups and more.
The Good Deeds Movement initiatives have fed, clothed and supported more than 5,000 Bahamians in various communities throughout Nassau, for more than ten years, with an investment made of more than $300,000 in goods and services to those on the margins.
The Good Deeds Movement welcomes assistance from sponsors financially or with goods and services. Contact326-7336, 544-4638, or email gooddeedsmovement242@hotmail.com or newbirthchurch316@gmail. com.
FOUR SOLDIERS AND FOUR CIVILIANS KILLED IN HAITI GANG ATTACK
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti
Associated Press
GANGS trying to seize full control of Haiti ‘s capital have killed at least four soldiers and four armed civilians who worked with law enforcement to protect their communities, an official said Thursday. Lionel Lazarre, spokesman for Haiti’s National Police, told Radio Caraïbes that two soldiers and four civilians were killed in Kenscoff, a once peaceful community on the outskirts of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Two other soldiers and an undetermined number of civilians were killed in the community of Pacot inside the capital, he said.
On Wednesday night, the government said that at least four police officers and armed civilians from the community of Canapé-Vert, one of the few
neighbourhoods not controlled by gangs, were killed in the attacks.
In videos posted on social media, gunmen are seen mutilating several bodies and picking up severed heads as trophies, saying, “We got the dogs.” Ergens St Pierre, a police officer and the leader of armed civilians in CanapéVerte, told online news site Tripotay Lakay late Wednesday that he was in mourning.
“The people of CanapéVert are crying a lot,” he said. “It was a personal initiative that they died for, so that the criminals wouldn’t come and take over their area.”
Haiti’s transitional presidential council and the prime minister’s office condemned the attacks in separate statements and said that multiple people were injured.
GENERAL Manager of the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation (MOTIA), Nuvolari
toosingh, along with Hutchison Port officials, welcomed the crew and passengers of the
Vista as it docked at the Freeport Harbour on Monday, April 22, making its inaugural call to
island. The occasion was marked with a plaque exchange. Pictured are General
try of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, Nuvolari Chotoosingh (centre
Besjedica (centre left), and MOTIA and Hutchison officials.
of
Cho-
Oceania
the
Manager
Minis-
right); Staff Captain Vinko
Photo: BIS
The Greek tragedy of General Colocotronis
By Eric Wiberg
ON THE night of March 7, 1968, the Greek tanker General Colocotronis was on a laden voyage from Aruba to Palm Beach with oil when she suffered an engine failure in heavy weather and was stranded on the eastern shore of Eleuthera.
The ship, built in 1955 by Smith’s Dock Co, UK, was refloated, had the balance of her cargo discharged, and was sunk, or scuttled, in deeper water nearly two months later, on April 30.
Owned by Astro Constante Navigation of Piraeus, Greece, the tanker ran onto the reef about 1.5 miles east of Governor’s Harbour due to engine failure in bad weather, with a cargo of Venezuelan crude oil.
According to the US environmental agency NOAA, “chemical dispersants were first used successfully in the cleanup of the oil spill after the tanker ship General Colocotronis struck a reef outside Eleuthera and spilled 37,500 barrels.
Equipped with a diesel motor, the tanker was 11,916 gross tons, 555’ long by 71.5’ wide and made of steel.
The failed engine was a 7-cylinder 2SCSA diesel made my John Kincaid of Greenock, Scotland with a single shaft and propeller which pushed her at 14 knots. The incident was caused by “a dead engine caused by a broken fuel line compounded by a flooded engine room”.
A casaulty report stats that “at the time of the impact, she was carrying nearly six million gallons in heavy seas. Twenty eight crew members made it to shore. One rescue boat
from Hatchet Bay was overturned by a wave, dumping its four [occupants] into the sea. A US Coast Guard helicopter dropped a life raft, into which three of the men were able to climb, although the fourth man (crew member Stratos Mastroitainis) was washed away. …General Colocotronis began to split at the seam, and oil leaking from the tanker quickly washed onto a three-mile stretch of beach near the wreck”.
A tug boat stood by, waiting for 20-foot ocean waves to subside. Detergents were flown in from Florida to emulsify the spill. Over six weeks, Esso Margarita and Rescue pumped 3.5 million gallons of sticky and gummed-up oil, using heating coils to make it easier to pump.
The violence of the grounding so seriously damaged the hull that about 37,000 barrels escaped the ship.
Most of the roughly 2.5 million gallons lost washed out to sea or was caught in the reefs, reducing the quanity of oil that reached Eleuthera’s beaches.
A photo taken on the first day from a helicopter shows waves running over the top deck and crashing over the hull.
The captain described how he “and a radio operator remained on board the ship, which is spilling oil on remote beaches of this Bahamian ‘out island’.” In a stressful salvage effort, “approximately 72,500 barrels of oil were pumped from the vessel. Steam lines were rigged to heat the cargo to facilitate pumping. Moving the salvage vessels into position and offloading …was performed during extremely severe weather.
‘A casaulty report stats that at the time of the impact, she was carrying nearly six million gallons in heavy seas. Twenty eight crew members made it to shore.’
Dive surveys reported that the keel was crushed and buckled, and that there was extensive damage to the hull …the only feasible action was to sink” her.
To carry out this decision, “the cargo tanks were flushed with dispersants to remove the residual oil. The vessel was then towed out to deep water and sunk”.
According to ITOPF, the International Tanker Owners Pollution Fund, the “total amount at risk of spill was 1,550,000 gallons, and
oil washed onto the pink beaches of Eleuthera Island today ….on a reef near Point James,” in US Coast Guard District 7. Without its cargo, the tanker was refloated, towed out to sea, and scuttled more than 50 nautical miles east of Eleuthera.
Also known as the Egg Island Wreck, the Arimoroa was a 260-foot freighter that was purposely run aground ablaze in May of 1970. The wreck still sticks above the surface, its hull in shallow water with marine life aggregating around it.
The Lebanese steelhulled freighter was en route from South America to Europe when a fire started in her galley, and “spread with such speed and fury that her captain decided to save the crew by heading at full steam toward the nearest visible land, Egg Island”, west of Royal Island and Spanish Wells. Arimoroa was carrying guano-based fertiliser as cargo, and her entire crew were able to land uninjured.
Most of these cargos originate on desolate guano mines on the west coast of Chile, at the windsept dry base of the Andes Mountains. Fires originating in greasy galley vents used around the clock are a common cause of ship fires.
To show the extent of danger posed by the fire, it continued on this vessel for nearly three months after the crew abandoned ship.
Because ocean water flushed in and out of the high-phosphate cargo, the reefs around the wreck were poisoined and toxic for years.
Scientists from Florida Institute of Technology, Rosenstiel School and University of Miami are fascinated by the burgeoning of fish species in unusually high concentrations, including gray angel fish, large parrot fish, yellow stingrays, groupers, and snappers –overall 60 species.
According to diving experts and author Daniel Berg, “some specialists say
that it’s due to the organic qualities of her fertilizer cargo”.
The remains of the ship are still visible today, as it sits upright on the sea floor in about 25’ of water.
According to Berg’s guide to diving, the ship almost looks serene, with machinery, hull plates and winches on the limestone sea floor around it.
From the nearby settlement of Current, 7 miles away, Arimoroa looked like a ship permanently at anchor, and was a familiar waypoint and sight for two decades.
Then in August 1992 Hurricane Andrew devastated the area, and broke the ship’s hull in half, so that today, only the bow can still be seen above water.
In the intervening years salvors and scrap dealers removed her propeller and other parts. Another name for this dive site is the Freighter Wreck, and some elements lie just three feet underwater, invisible from the surface.
CLOCKWISE from left, a 2008 still from Project Eleuthera showing Arimoroa underwater, Arimoroa off Egg Island, Eleuthera for half a century, and a drawing of Arimoroa by Steve Bielenda.
THE GENERAL Colocotronis.
Maybe you should have kept those old records and magazines...
By Diane Phillips
THERE is apparently a collector for everything. Someone in the world collects used band-aids. Why I have no idea as the idea seems almost as revolting as a collection of belly button lint but according to a website devoted to weird things people collect, there are people out there who collect belly button lint, including a self-taught clothing designer named Skippy who uses it as part of his appeal for a date or least a woman who will kiss him, any woman. He’s 34 and still working on it. Has no one had the courage to tell him it’s not working?
Given the offer of roses and chocolate or belly button lint, the choice would be pretty obvious to women, but guess he has to find out the truth for himself though he seems to have a lot of followers who are advising him.
I don’t know whether to question how anyone gathers enough of a bizarre exterior body shedding to start a collection or just move on to collections of something that makes more sense, like collecting vintage Pez dispensers or miniature chairs built for dolls. There’s a woman in Belgium who has amassed a collection of 57,000 lithograph stamped tin containers, the kind that cookies came in before we turned into a rabid paper and plastic wrap devouring throwaway society. That woman at least created a museum for the oval, rectangular and circular works meant to attract the buyer who could use them postgorging to hold Crayons, spools of thread or old love letters. You could see where deciding whether to part with a cleverly crafted tin container designed with raised and dimpled art deserved a moment of contemplation which is more than I can say for the need to waste decision-making neurons on belly lint.
What’s in your cabinet? Maybe never has the phrase “to each his own” been truer than in the subject of what people collect. Think about things stored in a closet, drawer, cupboard or cabinet in your house that you have pulled out over the years and wondered whether to keep or toss. It could be important some day, you say to yourself. It’s a bit of history. Nostalgia increases your heart rate or saddens your mood. Every time you think it’s time to let go of whatever it is, your hand stops in mid-air. You lower your hand slowly and put whatever it is back where it was. You can’t explain exactly what makes you keep it but you can’t quite make yourself part with it.
I have magazines like that, one with a photo of Bobby Kennedy on the cover, another with JFK. I still have schoolwork my daughter created. She’s 59. And yet the minute the shampoo bottle is empty, I rush it to the trash so as not to be a collector of things I don’t need. I can’t stand clutter, cannot think or work amidst it. By now, you may be asking yourself, where is this conversation going? With all the important issues in the world, national economies dangling on the tenterhooks of tariffs, deportation by force without due process, threats of action for anyone who doesn’t carry a “real ID” in a matter of weeks, Bahamians in limbo abroad and
those of us at home won dering how we are going to make it if one more price hike is thrust upon us. Anyhow, with all the seri ous issues staring down at us, why would I stop for even a moment and dwell on the subject of what we collect?
Just breathe Here’s why. Sometimes, in the swirling mass hap pening around and to us that we have no power over, we need to stop, inhale, and just breathe. And as we do, if we breathe deeply enough and exhale slowly, we look around and our eyes rest on things we can change. We may not be able to solve the world’s problems, but we can make peace with our own surroundings, our immediate environment. So a few weeks back when I started re-doing one room (Tribune column, April 4, 2025, The Things You Keep) I inadvertently started on this journey of separating the needto or want-to-keep-stuff from the head-scratching, what-in-the-world-wasI-thinking-stuff and I hit a wall when it came to debatables like records and magazines so I decided to look up the value of old records which led to sites about things people collect. (There is actually a website called Invaluable.com, packed with information though the following story did not come from there. I pieced it together from various sources.)
$2 million for a single record
If you Google the highest price ever paid for a single record, the result is a stunner - $2 million. Turing Pharmaceuticals founder Martin Shkreli raised his paddle at a live auction and doled out the seven-figure sum for the album “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” by Wu-Tang Clan, a hip hop group that despite its name was from Staten Island, NY. Only one copy of the record was ever produced and Wu-Tang Clan, the group that soared to popularity in the early 1990s, only performed the music live on stage once. Shkreli might have been living large when he raised that paddle, but the glamour faded fast. Two years later, he was convicted of securities fraud and had to sell his possessions to pay legal fees and debt. On a more realistic scale, rarity and condition determine pricing for records that collectors buy and trade, records in covers that you may have buried in a closet, unable to part with since you don’t get lyrics and pages of photo inserts and inside stories when you stream. It’s just not the same. But back to value. The Beatles White Album and others by the Fabulous Four continue to draw big bucks but so does a vintage Doris Day vinyl in mint condition. An original Frank Sinatra from 1955 or the first Elvis album simply called Elvis Presley released by RCA Victor in 1956 with that unforgettable sultry, sexy bolting out a song, mouth wide open, eyes shut tight photo on the cover, in mint condition could bring enough to pay for a college education for twins.
Albums by Billie Holiday, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Johnny Cash are more sought after today than when they came out
or 70 years ago. Others of a particular music genre, blues, jazz, early country and western, gospel, selling in genre groups by different artists or three albums by a single artist might make the cut. It’s all about condition.
Prices vary from $20 to
thousands with the highest bids for those albums never unsealed though it is hard to understand why someone would have purchased one and decided against listening to it. And by the way, if you doubt the resurgence, some 27.5 million
in 2020. Despite that, the last Sam Goody record store was slated to close this winter. At its height, the retailer was a staple in the retail entertainment industry with 800 locations in the US and UK.
I remember standing in one in New York City, fascinated by aisles and aisles of records of every musical artist, every genre, every generation, stacked in their bins. You could pull one out and take it to a small listening room before deciding to buy.
There was Carter’s Record Shop on East Bay Street, one of the first Black-owned businesses in what was then a predominantly white-owned district. Going to Carter’s was a family affair. Then along came cassette tapes and home videos, stores like Blockbuster’s and like everything else that changed the music and movie industry, the more we were able to do, watch, listen to and
home or wherever we were, the less we felt the need to dress up, drive, park and enter a brick and mortar establishment, regardless of who owned it.
Now as cycles do what cycles do, and we are witnessing a soft return of music on vinyl, collectors are finding increasing ways to buy and trade online and new sites are opening to rev up the spin on the revived market.
So maybe it does pay to hold on to some of those old records but the man who has amassed a collection of 675 back scratchers is still an enigma. And the folks with the belly button lint, or the man with the largest Nicorette gum ball, well, I don’t even know what to say about them except to end where this column started. Apparently, there is a collector for everything. I’m just going to make what I save count. Anyone have an old Underwood or Royal typewriter they don’t need?
PUBLIC NOTICE
MINISTRY OF WORKS & FAMILY ISLAND AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL PLANNING
The public is hereby notifed that an application for Preliminary Support of Approval (PSA/178/2024) is presently being reviewed by the Department of Physical Planning for presentation to the Town Planning Committee.
The applicant is seeking permission to subdivide a 3.111-acre parcel of land. The property is located on the Western Road approximately 341 ft. north of the round-a- bout at the junction of Windsor Field Road and West Bay Street. The applicant proposes to develop the subject property for multi-family development.
A public meeting will be held on Monday 12th May, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., in the Public Hearing Room of the Department of Physical Planning, for all interested parties to discuss and address planning issues related to the proposed subdivision.
Preliminary plans will be available for viewing at the ofce of the Department of Physical Planning, located in the Aventura Plaza on John F. Kennedy Drive, during working hours of 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Interested persons and organizations are invited to review the information on fle and provide written comments prior to the meeting. Comments should be directed to the Director of Physical Planning within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this notice. Submissions can be made via P.O Box N-1611, Nassau Bahamas. Further inquiries can be made to the Director via Tel. (242) 322-7550/1/1 OR (242) 328- 3202 or deptphysicalplanning@bahamas.gov.bs
Signed Charles B. Zonicle Director of Physical Planning
KIWANIS K-KIDS
This past weekend, the Children’s Emergency Hostel received an outpouring of support and supplies, thanks to a heartfelt initiative led by 6th grader Kyle Lynch — a proud K-Kids member and Head Boy at St Anne’s School.
Kyle, son of Kiwanian Oliver Lynch from the Kiwanis Club of Cable Beach, organised a meaningful donation drive, delivering groceries, toiletries, cleaning products, and school supplies that were warmly received by the administration.
Kyle’s journey into comunity service began when he accompanied his father to a Kiwanis event at the Children’s Home. That single visit left a deep impression on him. “I saw kids who needed love, care, and help,” Kyle shared during his presentation on Saturday, April 19, 2025. “I wanted to do something — anything — to make their lives a little brighter.”
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” his father Oliver quoted, reflecting on the biblical principle that guides their family. “It’s not just about giving back, it’s about teaching values early on.”
Kyle’s ambition is as impressive as his heart: he dreams of becoming a professional soccer player or a
Inspired by the Kiwanis mission to serve the children of the world, Kyle took action as a member of the K-Kids program, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Fort Montagu. His passion for leadership and giving embodies the essence of Kiwanis International— a global organisation that fosters service leadership in youth, starting from elementary school all the way to adulthood.
lawyer — two paths rooted in discipline, strategy, and service to others. His recent donation drive was a community effort. Kyle expressed deep gratitude to everyone who contributed, including the Kiwanis Clubs of Cable Beach and Fort Montagu, who played an instrumental role. “Thank you for helping me help others,” he said with a smile.
As Kiwanis continues to mold young leaders like Kyle, this initiative stands as a powerful example of what can happen when youth are empowered — and when parents stand alongside them.
ROTARACT CLUB OF NASSAU SUNSET
THE Rotaract Club of Nassau Sunset and The Rotaract Club of South East Nassau Centennial will be hosting an exciting day full of energy and wellness on May 3 for a second annual Health Fair and Blood Drive. This event is free and all ages are welcome. You can expect to see a variety of vendors offering valuable resources, services, and giveaways!
• The Rotaract Club of Nassau Sunset and the Rotaract Club of the University of The Bahamas are bringing the heat with our “Laughin’ at Sunset Comedy Show” happening May 3, 2025 at the Student Union Building, University of The Bahamas. It features the hilarious Wellington Funny the comedian, BeeJaye as host, and the Spontaneous Seantia Thompson, plus surprise guests! $25 for non-UB students, $10 with UB ID. Doors open 6.30pm. Show starts 7pm. Contact Ms. Thompson for ticket prices on 810-6856.
ROTARY CLUB OF OLD FORT
In recognition of Earth Day, The Rotary Club of Old Fort in partnership with CG Atlantic, EY Bahamas, the Beta Beta Lambda Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, completed a community service on
JOIN THE CLUB
OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers. To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line. For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 826-2242.
April 19 at the Bahamas National Trust’s Primeval Forest National Park, South Ocean Boulevard. Under the theme: “Our Power, Our Planet”, over 30 volunteers gathered to complete mulching of trails. These trails help to keep a safe pathways for visitors to enjoy and to preserve the park. A donation was also made for the restablisation of a cave area and to further support the Primeval Forest’s National Park’s access to visitors and residents alike.
THE CHILDREN’s Emergency Hostel receiving a donation from an initiative led by Kyle Lynch, of the K-Kids club.
MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of Old Fort took part in community service to mark Earth Day.
Making a difference on Moore’s Island
A SHED abandoned for over two decades on Moore’s Island is undergoing a remarkable transformation, highlighting the power of community collaboration and hands-on learning.
A Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) dual enrolment carpentry class — comprising 13 Moore’s Island All Age School students and one adult — is working diligently to repurpose and retrofit the long-abandoned structure.
There were initial calls to demolish the shed.
‘It was a way to give back to the community. I don’t know how long I’ll be here on this Earth, so it’s a privilege to work with these young people.’
However, carpentry instructor Nathaniel Hield proposed converting it into a fully functional carpentry workshop — an essential upgrade for the BTVI Moore’s Island Instructional Centre.
The centre, located at the island’s school, is preparing for BTVI’s institutional-wide Council on
Occupational Education (COE) accreditation. The renovation is expected to provide not only a learning space, but also real-world opportunities for the students.
An unexpected boost to the project came from contractor Claude Vilburn, who went beyond offering his expertise by donating
and other mate rials to strengthen the structure.
BTVI part-time programme coordinator Carlotta Simms said Mr Vilburn’s support has been invaluable.
“This project wouldn’t have come this far without the support of our local community members. It’s a true testament to what we can accomplish when we work together,” said Ms Simms.
Initially, carpentry classes were conducted in a traditional classroom.
However, noise and dust pollution eventually rendered the environment unsuitable, raising concerns about compliance with COE standards.
“Students will now be able to work in a more appropriate environment,” said Mr Hield.
The dual enrolment students, aged 14 to 17, include Maxwell Burrows, Dayshon Jones, Scottie McBride, Melrose Davis, El’Leenya Stuart, Martinique Armbrister, Trenair Gray, Kevin McKenzie, Natario Sturrup, Eric Gibson, Azariah Stuart, and Da’Ria Stuart.
The shed, formerly a library and tuck shop, is located on land once owned by the late Sheva Jones. Her daughter, Joanne Jones — a Moore’s Island native — donated the
space for the project. She is also enrolled in the BTVI carpentry class and serves as the only adult student.
Ms Jones, who has completed Trade Estimating and Computer Aided Design and Drafting, is preparing to begin her internship to earn her certificate in carpentry. She views the initiative as more than just a construction project.
“It was a way to give back to the community. I don’t know how long I’ll be here on this Earth, so it’s a privilege to work with these young people. They are being educated in the process,” said the 57-year-old.
The shed, originally 12 by 20 feet, will measure 12 by 30 feet by the end of the project. Carpentry student Dayshon Jones shared what he has learned so far.
“It is interesting. I didn’t know how to shingle a roof. I learned how to measure and cut wood and how to use power tools including circular saws,” said Dayshon.
The eleventh-grader, who hopes to become an engineer, said he is proud to contribute to his school and community.
“It makes me feel good
tually I will ished shed and know I helped to build this for future students,” he said. Mr Hield said the students are learning to use hand and power tools effectively.
“They are learning DIY on a professional level — from framing a building to installing and pasting drywall. They also learn how to repair damaged concrete flooring, remove and replace shingles, and install ice and water shields,” said Mr Hield.
He said he hopes the shed project encourages more people in the Moore’s Island community to include the students in construction projects.
“The work they’re doing here is real-world experience. This is teaching them not just to be good carpenters but also the value of working together to accomplish a common goal. It’s a skill set they can carry with them for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Ms Simms said watching the students bring the shed to life has been deeply rewarding.
“I know that the students are feeling proud about themselves as they look at their efforts. It’s exciting to see an old shed that was once considered an eyesore being transformed by the students,” she said.
A GROUP of students from Moore’s Island All Age School are also dual enrollment students, study ing carpentry at BTVI. From left, Maxwell Burrows, Dayshon Jones, Joanne Jones, Scottie Mc Bride, Melrose Davis, El’Leenya Stuart, Martinique Armbrister, Trenair Gray and Kevin McKenzie. Missing are Natario Sturrup, Kevin McKenzie, Eric Gibson, Azariah Stuart and Da’Ria Stuart.
CARPENTRY students Melrose Davis, left, and Scotte McBride.
Photos: BTVI