The Tribune PUZZLER
PM: WoMen M ust earn s P ot as MPs
...but Davis wants more women in frontline
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
prime minister philip
“Brave” Davis said while he welcomes more women in frontline politics, nominations must ultimately be earned through merit and a commitment to public service — not gender.
politics
i would like to see as many as i could have,” mr Davis said when asked how many women he wants the progressive Liberal party to nominate ahead of the next general election. “But you know, it is for them to come forward and for them to be able to win the hearts and minds of the electorate and the constituency they
‘Discipline officer over violently taking phone’
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
HUman rights Baha-
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
at Fort montagu park, but warned: “We have to see it through to its total restoration.”
Loretta
Campaigners hailed yesterday’s clean-up and removal of multiple business billboard advertisements
Butler-Turner said she had personally witnessed staff from the Beaches and parks
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
a Former Fnm chairman and senator is the supreme Court-appointed receiver charged with
authority on-site yesterday taking down many of the billboards that had provoked alarm about the commercial takeover of a dedicated public space.
mas said it is “extremely disturbed” by a video showing a police officer violently confiscating a cell phone from a civilian and is calling for disciplinary action against the officer involved. The organisation also urged senior law enforcement officials to remind officers that they work for and are accountable to the public. The video, which has circulated on social media, shows four uniformed officers entering a yard where at least five minors and another adult were Montagu billboards removal hailed a victory by campaigners
phillips
PM: Women must earn spot as MPs
from page one
wish to run. For me, it’s not just about running women candidates. It’s about somebody who’s willing to step forward. And the gender doesn’t matter to me, but yes, I would like to see that more females would become a part.”
Mr Davis said the PLP has already placed women in key leadership and parliamentary roles and intends to build on that progress. His comments followed House Speaker Patricia Deveaux’s push for political parties to nominate at least 15 women in the next general election. She said equal rights must include women having an equitable seat at decision-making tables.
“We talk about women having equal rights. Well, let’s base that decision around us having equal rights to sit around the table and make decisions — not just in small
minorities, but in base numbers,” she said.
She said the oftenhostile nature of politics discourages many women from running, citing the intense scrutiny and emotional toll on their families.
“You are attacked from all fronts — whether you do something good or bad, they find a flaw,” she said.
“When you have children, a spouse, siblings, your family also bears the cost.” Mr Davis echoed that view, saying the toxic political climate pushes away capable people of both genders.
“That’s part of the problem,” he said. “You know, the challenge in politics is that it’s become so feral.
It’s so feral that it drives not just good women, but good men as well. So the good amongst us shy away from the dirt and the mudslinging that they hear, and it’s always been my wish to see how we could clean this up.”
For me, it’s not just about running women candidates. It’s about somebody who’s willing to step forward. And the gender doesn’t matter to me, but yes, I would like to see that more females would become a part.
Deveaux undecided on seeking re-election - wants to see more women in politics
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
HOUSE Speaker Patricia Deveaux says she has not yet decided whether she will seek re-election, saying she is still praying about the decision and weighing her options.
Her uncertainty, she claimed, is due to a broader desire to see more women step forward and take the lead in national decision-making.
“I’d like to see more
women coming forward, more women offering themselves, and more women being a part of the decision making process,” she said. She said she would ideally like to see at least 15 women contest the next general election, representing all major political parties.
Although The Bahamas currently has women in several high-profile leadership positions — including governor general, president of the Senate, and commissioner of police — Ms
Deveaux said many still shy away from politics due to the relentless scrutiny that comes with public life.
She said her own experience in frontline politics has often been shaped by criticism of her gender and style.
“I’m often attacked because of my style and stance. But if we’re talking about equal rights, then let’s be equal across the board,” she said. “We are in a man’s world, and men do not like women to say take the seat.”
Prime minister PhiliP ‘Brave’ Davis
senate president Lashell Adderley, Minister of Transport JoBeth Coleby-Davis, and Speaker of the
House Patricia Deveaux attend a workshop focused on government leaders being part of the driving force to develop economic empowerment for women, held at Breezes Resort on yesterday. Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
Pintard accuses Davis of sending confusing and damaging message
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard yesterday criticised Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis for suggesting several weeks ago that Bahamian law enforcement officers may have been “entrapped” in a US drug trafficking probe, accusing him of sending a confusing and damaging message.
Mr Pintard, a former Cabinet minister and FNM leader, said it was extraordinary for a senior attorney like Mr Davis to raise the issue of entrapment while also claiming limited knowledge about the case.
Mr Pintard questioned whether the person referenced in the indictment was “somebody that he knows” or “part of their caucus”, criticising Mr Davis for acting like a “defence attorney” rather than a national leader.
“Why he has switched from Prime Minister to defence attorney, attorney in advance of the public, and him receiving information, two things cannot be true,” he said. “He cannot claim it’s entrapment and, at the same time, claim he has no more information.”
He argued that Mr Davis’ remarks were
inconsistent, pointing to similar comments made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell as evidence of what he believes is a coordinated government response.
“What is causing both of them to talk about entrapment? I believe they know a lot more than they’re saying,” Mr Pintard said. He warned that invoking “entrapment” — a serious legal defence usually employed by the accused — without proof could erode public trust in law enforcement institutions.
Mr Pintard called on Mr Davis to explain his remarks, saying: “The Prime Minister has to help us understand what motivated him on that day to repeat what has been suggested by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
In November 2024, US prosecutors unsealed an indictment alleging that several Bahamian law enforcement officials participated in a cocaine trafficking ring, accepting bribes and even discussing the use of military aircraft to move cash.
Two officers — Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis and former Defence Force Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker — were arrested in the United States.
“What is causing both of them to talk about entrapment? I believe they know a lot more than they’re saying,”
- Michael Pintard Opposition Leader
FNM leader calls on govt to quickly address status
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard has urged the Davis administration to act swiftly to resolve the status of dozens of Bahamian nurses still awaiting regularisation, warning that continued delays could worsen the country’s healthcare crisis. His comments came after a group of nurses protested outside an orientation session for newly hired healthcare workers from Ghana. The demonstrators criticised the Ministry of Health and Wellness for prioritising foreign recruits while many local nurses — some reportedly working without pay or on stipends since 2023 — remain in limbo.
Mr Pintard said the issue must be treated as a top priority, especially as qualified Bahamian nurses are
increasingly being recruited by other countries.
“We have nurses who are presently in the system who no doubt have options overseas. We ought to go out of our way to make sure that they are happy that we have paid them any funds that are outstanding. We give them the required letters so that they are duly mobilised to do the work that our citizens need and so the government must move with a sense of urgency to deal with that.”
While acknowledging the need for foreign healthcare support, he stressed that local professionals must not be neglected.
Mr Pintard also criticised Central and South Andros
MP Leon Lundy for what he described as “reactionary” remarks about reduced banking hours on Andros.
He said Mr Lundy was now facing the same frustrations many Bahamians have endured for years under
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that ANNEMARIE B SAUVE of P.O. Box 76 Ocean Club Estate, Paradise Island, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of April, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that LEA DEZIEL CHARRON of P.O. Box 76 Ocean Club Estate, Paradise Island, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of April, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
successive governments.
In response, Mr Lundy said his advocacy was not politically motivated but driven by the needs of his constituents.
“Consistency matters,”
Mr Lundy said, noting that banking services were also scaled back under Mr Pintard’s administration in Grand Bahama without similar protest. “Constituents are not political pawns, but citizens who deserve real solutions.”
Mr Pintard said the FNM had put forward a slate of banking reform proposals, including establishing a permanent banking facility on Andros, reviewing service fees, and tax concessions to encourage commercial banks to expand services.
Mr Lundy pushed back against calls for government interference in banking operations, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent and veer into illegality.
of Bahamian nurses
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that ANDREY VOTINOV of Ocean Club Estate, Paradise Island, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of April, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that BENOIT ALEXANDRE CHARRON of P.O. Box 76 Ocean Club Estate, Paradise Island, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of April, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that GERANIE PIERRE #83 Wild Palm Close, Freeport, Grand Bahama applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of April 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of April, 2025 to the Minister responsible for
Nurses protested outside an orientation session held with recentlyhired nurses from Ghana on Monday.
Photo: Nikia Charlton
Govt launches history textbook
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
FOR the first time in four decades, Bahamian high school students will study their country’s past through a textbook written entirely by local scholars.
The government officially launched the book during a ceremony at the Southern Recreation Grounds yesterday, touting it as a landmark step in presenting history from a Bahamian perspective rather than a colonial one.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, whose son Christopher Davis is among the 12 Bahamian authors of the book, called the moment one of “liberation” and “decolonising”.
“This is more than a book. It is the voice of The Bahamas — past, present, and future — speaking for itself,” he said.
Officials said the book replaces history curricula that had gone largely unchanged since the 1980s, with past materials often prioritising European explorers and colonial narratives over African civilisations, local heroes, and the country’s post-independence
development.
During his keynote remarks, Mr Davis said:
“Whole generations had come and gone, taught more about European explorers than Bahamian trailblazers, more about colonial administrators than our own heroes, more about foreign exploits than Bahamian triumphs.”
He credited Education Minister Glenys HannaMartin for spearheading the effort, referencing her call for a more reflective national curriculum.
“How,” he said, “can we expect to raise a generation proud of themselves, if they are only taught the history of others?”
The textbook’s structure is divided into seven thematic units that cover topics ranging from ancient Africa to the global climate crisis. The book incorporates primary and secondary sources, graphics, maps, critical thinking questions, glossaries, and exam-aligned assessments developed by classroom teachers.
Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard welcomed the initiative, calling it an important step in shaping national identity and
celebrating the country’s roots.
“There’s nothing more powerful than studying your own history,” he said.
He praised the project as a “powerful addition to the work of national development”, crediting both the Ministry of Education and the authors for promoting cultural pride.
Among the contributors is Christopher Davis, the youngest of the authors, who also holds the title of Chief John Canoe II. He wrote the chapter covering the 15th century through to the arrival of the Loyalists in the 1780s, highlighting resistance by Bahamian women and communities.
“It speaks about contextualising colonisation and a new view on piracy, particularly black pirates, women pirates, and of course the identification of our great King John Canoe,” he said.
“This is something now that any Bahamian from all walks of life, but more importantly the students, could look at and be proud of and that certainly places The Bahamas within the context of the global African struggle.”
An All-BAhAmiAn authored textbook - Towards a Common Loftier Goal: A History Text for Secondary Schools - was launched yesterday at a special ceremony. Photos: OPm
‘China using hotel to monitor Americans’
He said China’s diplomatic, economic, and military influence in the Caribbean, South, and Central America has expanded over the past two decades, particularly following Hurricane Dorian. He pointed to Chinese-backed developments in The Bahamas, such as the Baha Mar resort, the port in Abaco, and the British Colonial Hotel, claiming these projects, while presented as commercial ventures, could have dualuse capabilities.
“It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to think that additional electronics were put in there with the purpose and the task of keeping an eye not only on the US Embassy itself, but also the US Embassy visitors who often stay at that hotel, whose proximity to the embassy,” he said, referring to the hotel.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas dismissed his claim yesterday, saying it was not worth refuting and adding: “I noticed he admitted it was his imagination. The
smear is just a rehash of the same old tune.”
Mr Brown warned that other points of US-Bahamas cooperation could also be vulnerable to Chinese exploitation through direct or indirect means. He stressed the strategic importance of the US maintaining close ties with The Bahamas.
“If we’re not The Bahamas’ best friend, somebody else will be, and we don’t want that somebody to be China,” he said. He highlighted The Bahamas’ geographical significance, noting its vast maritime territory — roughly the size of California — and its role as a visafree destination for citizens of about 160 countries, which, combined with limited patrol resources, poses immigration and security challenges.
“While they’re professional and cooperative, particularly with the United States Coast Guard, they just don’t have the resources,” he said.
“They have the equivalent of 12 police cars, boats to patrol an area the size of California.”
Three men missing at sea rescued near New Providence
THREE men who went missing at sea earlier this week are safe after being rescued near New Providence. Police said the men set out from Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, in
a 21ft blue and white Abaco Skiff bound for New Providence on Monday but ran into engine trouble along the way. They managed to contact relatives on Eleuthera
NOTICE is hereby given that MOREL VALONVIL of Fox Hill, New Providence, Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of April 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
for help.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, aided by a volunteer, tracked them down and found them in good health. They were safely brought back to Potter’s Cay Dock.
NOTICE
is hereby given that ACHIL FEDNER of General Delivery off Fish Street, Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of April, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that VILIUS SAMSON of Bacardi Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of April, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that JEAN-GARY LOUIS of Golden Isles Road, Nassau, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of April, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that KEISHA MARIE DEAN of East West Highway, New Providence, Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of April 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
RetiRed US CoaSt GUaRd ReaR admiRal PeteR BRown
The Tribune Limited
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LEON E. H. DUPUCH
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RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
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Cheers to persistent campaigners
THREE cheers for the campaigners who have asked, and asked… and asked again for Montagu to cleaned up. Yesterday, a number of billboard advertisements were removed from Fort Montagu Park – but it’s not all done yet.
Around 17 billboard signs were up –you didn’t want to have a view of the sea, did you? You were not interested in admiring one of the beautiful vistas on our island? You had no interest in seeing the sea lapping at the shore or the yachts bobbing on the water?
Well, thankfully now you can – to an extent. There’s still a half dozen signs present, but driving past the site last night, it is a vast improvement.
The situation was very much out of hand – to the extent that advertising there might have been harming some of the businesses.
One protest sign popped up in recent weeks urging people not to make use of the businesses whose signs were a blot on the landscape. That might be a bit much. What is really needed is proper regulation of such matters.
We would pay tribute to Tribune columnist Diane Phillips for raising the matter again to the public’s attention in her articles for the newspaper, but there is plenty of credit to go around.
Credit too goes to Loretta ButlerTurner, who played a part in restoring the area when she was an MP and who revealed to The Tribune that areas such as Saunders Beach will also see signs being pulled down.
Bruce Raine launched a petition that gained hundreds of signatures from people who were fed up of the gaudy signs blocking the view to the sea. He told The Tribune yesterday that
the clean-up should not stop there – and that there should be moves to deal with a host of vendors to see if they truly should be there, and to clamp down on boat operators using the public dock to pick up and drop off for commercial trips without paying for the privilege.
A Cabinet minister is apparently in full agreement with the concerns raised – do not be shy, minister, raise your voice and join the chorus.
Now, this is the first step, cleaning up the mess that is there in the first place.
The second step is making sure the mess does not come back.
Let’s make sure there are proper regulations in place – and adhered to – with regard to putting up such advertisements. If you don’t abide by the rules, your sign gets pulled down – and perhaps you should be paying a fine too. Those rulebreakers ought to be easy to track down – they will likely have their phone number on the sign itself.
We should also get in the habit of tidying up after ourselves. Time and again you see signs for events that have passed months ago – but the organisations so quick to put them up are so slow to bring them down.
Some politicians should not sit too easily either – there are posters still up in places from the last election. We would not be surprised if there are some up from the election before somewhere…
But for now, well done to all who refused to put up with rampant commercialisation at the expense of the beauty of our country.
Too often, we feel that change will not come no matter what we do. Here is proof positive that is not the case.
Upcoming election prediction
Picture
Reform and end the old systems
EDITOR, The Tribune. EVERY day, we hear debates on the effectiveness of Bahamian leadership through newspapers, social media, and radio. Yet, we have to acknowledge that we stand at a crossroads. The tides of history are rising, and with them, a generation unwilling to succumb to the complacency of a stagnant status quo. For too long, our nation has gasped for air under leadership bound to colonial-era systems, while systemic oppression, climate collapse, and mental colonisation threaten to erase the future our ancestors fought to build. Enough is enough.
We should replace the Crown with an elected Bahamian head of state, accountable to the people. True power must be returned to the people. We should create a Senate of Regions to decentralise power, ensuring that the Family Islands have an equal voice.
A system of public referendums is essential, allowing Bahamians to vote directly on critical issues, from climate policy to wealth redistribution. No more governance by proxy. The new republic must be more than just a symbol; it must be a system of reclaimed power.
harbors. We need to establish a tax system that places a burden on foreign resorts and offshore banks that have been exploiting our country. We should cease begging larger nations for handouts and develop “Climate Republicanism.” We will sue fossil fuel giants, both domestically and internationally, as well as anyone using our sea lanes or airspace, for reparations, using the funds to invest in communityowned solar micro-grids, for instance.
We must create a cultural renaissance that funds initiatives like Junkanoo collectives and Bahamian storytellers, rather than just tourism caricatures.
EDITOR, The Tribune. ALLOW me space in your valuable column to articulate an opinion on the predicament the Free National Movement party finds itself in its present position under the leadership of Michael Pintard. I have followed local politics since the late 70s and I continue too. I like to think I am on the ground dealing with the common man(woman) on the street on a daily basis as they are the ones who set-up and remove governments. And while the economy is not in great, great shape, it is not in bad, bad shape. I have not gotten a sense of rumbling on the ground to get rid of the Philip Brave Davis led government. Generally speaking, people are fairly contented. While the leader of the FNM appears to be having challenges gaining traction on the ground. Based on what I am hearing, the leader of the FNM has some work to do. He has at least twelve months to convince the masses to get in his corner.
believe, it will be large enough to lose the government. I recall some months, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham asked by the press, who he believes will win the next general election. I do not think he answered. That’s food for thought. As Mr Ingraham is the most astute politician in this country next to the late Lynden O Pindling.
However, Madam Editor I believe if the general elections were held today, my prediction would be as follows: PLP - 25; FNM - 14. Obviously, I believe the governing party will suffer some casualties. But I do not
Madam Editor, in closing, I urge my critics, and there will be a few, to note that my opinions are based on instinct and observation.
PAT STRACHAN Nassau, April 27, 2025.
We must start by decolonising education to empower and cultivate revolutionary minds. Our children deserve more than colonial textbooks that glorify conquerors and erase the resistance of Afro-Bahamians, Indigenous Lucayans, and generations of freedom fighters. We must demand a curriculum overhaul, replacing imperialist propaganda with a curriculum rooted in the truth—emphasising AfroBahamian resilience, Lucayan heritage, and an unflinching examination of systemic oppression.
We need to create civic education geared towards a republic, teaching students how to govern rather than simply obey. Lessons on republic-building, constitutional reform, and participatory democracy should be embedded in our education system.
We must establish leadership academies to train our youth in policy design, climate justice, and ethical governance. We should prepare them to lead a “new Bahamas,” rather than inherit a broken one.
We must abolish colonial governance and assert our identity as a Sovereign Republic. The parliamentary system, a relic of colonial rule, perpetuates stagnation. We must demand a Constitutional Revolution that establishes The Bahamas as a self-determining republic and sever ties with a colonial monarchy.
We need a transformation in youth leadership. The old guard must either innovate or step aside. To the current leaders who cling to titles like heirlooms, your time is up. We reject governance reduced to nepotism and nostalgia. There should be term limits to eliminate career politicians, capping parliamentary terms at 10 years. I am not afraid, despite being over 60, to voice the need for a youth leadership mandate. We should reserve 40 percent of all elected and appointed roles in the new Republic for leaders under 45.
Additionally, there must be an Inquiry and Corruption Tribunal. This tribunal should ensure the prosecution of those who have looted public funds and facilitate the seizure of stolen assets to fund youth innovation hubs.
I won’t leave the privileged class out of the equation. Invest in future leaders rather than vanity projects. Mentor. Fund. Then step back. A new definition of freedom is necessary, where justice and equity reflect the Republic. Freedom should not be a colonial hand-me-down. We must reclaim it as part of our economic sovereignty. There must be a re-nationalisation of critical industries, such as energy, water, telecommunications, airports, and
We should demonstrate what global leadership looks like by setting a revolutionary example. The new Bahamian republic must be a beacon, not a beggar. We will take the lead in demanding climate justice and spearhead CARICOM’s legal battle for trillions in reparations from polluters. Furthermore, we must become leaders in developing Pan-African tech alliances by partnering with nations like Ghana, Kenya, Barbados, and Jamaica to create networks in AI, agroecology, and e-governance. We should implement diaspora reinvestment by offering dual citizenship and tax incentives to facilitate the flow of expertise and capital from the diaspora back to The Bahamas. I could continue, but space is limited, so I will make a final ultimatum: To the old guard, join us in dismantling colonial governance, or be swept aside by history. Resign. Reform. Relinquish. To the citizens and residents: This must not just be a protest; it must be a revolution. Mentor a child. Run for office. Draft policy. Plant a community garden. The Bahamas we build today will be the republic our grandchildren defend tomorrow.
RABBI COMMON ZENSE
Freeport, Grand Bahama April 27, 2025.
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A little blue heron resting.
‘Discipline officer over violently taking phone’
gathered. One officer approached the man filming and said: “I letting you know right now don’t record me without my consent.” The officer seized the device despite the man telling the officer he was inside his yard. The man could be heard saying, “Give me my phone”.
In a statement, Human Rights Bahamas condemned the officer’s actions.
“This is totally unacceptable behaviour by law enforcement in a country that purports to operate with transparency, accountability and according to the rule of law,” the organisation said. “The police have no right to confiscate private property without due cause, nor prevent members of the public from recording officers while they are in public areas executing official duties. The use of anonymous official force is the trademark of autocratic and unfree societies; not rights-based constitutional democracies like The Bahamas.”
The Tribune contacted Royal Bahamas Police Force press liaison Chief Superintendent Sheria King for comment but received no response up to press time.
National Security officials have repeatedly emphasised the public’s right to record law enforcement officers as they conduct
In this image from video a police officer is seen during an incident where it appears a phone is slapped from a person’s hand.
officers accountable. She said she would prompt mandatory ethics training and ensure all frontline officers wear body cameras. from page one
their duties. During her swearingin ceremony earlier this year, Commissioner Shanta Knowles pledged to hold
Influential GB entrepreneur Mario Donato dead at 82
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
MARIO Donato, one of Grand Bahama’s most influential entrepreneurs and largest private employers during his peak, died on April 27 at age 82 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
An Italian immigrant who arrived in The Bahamas in the 1960s as a waiter, Mr Donato built a business empire over several decades, including landmark establishments such as the Xanadu Beach Hotel, Royal Palm Resort, Casa Bahama, Pier One Restaurant, Holiday Car Rental, and Mario’s Pizza. His passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from national leaders and Grand Bahama business figures, many highlighting his generosity, work ethic, and long-lasting impact on the island’s economy.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis described him as a “giant of Grand Bahama” whose love for the country was unwavering.
“We say farewell to a giant of Grand Bahama, a true friend, a patriot in spirit and deed, and a man whose love for The Bahamas knew no bounds,” he said.
“Mario was one of those rare souls whose presence lit up every room and whose heart seemed large enough to embrace an entire nation.”
Mr Donato’s ventures not only shaped Freeport’s tourism and business landscape, but also provided critical jobs and supported countless charitable causes.
“From the beginning, Mario embraced our people, our cause, and our spirit,” Mr Davis said.
“He built businesses that became institutions in Grand Bahama… but his true legacy is written in the countless lives he touched through his generosity, his loyalty, and his boundless good humour.”
He also praised Mr Donato’s children and thanked them “for sharing their father with all of us.”
Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president Dillon Knowles called him
MarIo Donato (right), a renowned Grand Bahama businessman, and his son Mario Donato Jr. (left) during a courtesy call on Forrester Carroll, Bahamas Consul General to New York, at the Bahamas Consulate General, 231 East 46th Street, New York.
an icon.
“He touched almost every aspect of business in Grand Bahama,” he said, noting that Mr Donato inspired the same entrepreneurial spirit in his children.
“His legacy continues long beyond his passing.”
David Wallace, former MP and businessman, called Donato’s journey inspirational.
“To hear his story of entrepreneurship and how he came to Grand Bahama in the ‘60s during the boom era working as a busboy and becoming an entrepreneur is very inspirational,” he said.
He noted that Mr Donato remained committed to the island through economic highs and lows.
“While many of those businesses thrived in the 70s and even during Freeport’s bust years, Mario stuck it out. He was one of the major employers in Grand Bahama.”
Mr Donato bought the 18-acre Xanadu Beach Hotel in 1987. It underwent renovations in 2005 after hurricane damage but closed after Hurricane Wilma later that year. It has remained on the market since 2011. His other ventures, including Pier One — famous for its shark-feeding attraction — became local landmarks.
Mr Wallace also said Mr Donato quietly helped many Bahamians, including some politicians.
“Everybody was his friend, and regardless of who the government of the day was, he was very supportive,” he said.
Winston Pinnock, a businessman and Bahamian ambassador, recalled decades of friendship and collaboration with Mr
Donato.
“I admired his story more than anything else — coming to The Bahamas with humble beginnings and becoming a very successful businessman,” he said. “He lived a full and purposeful life.”
“In our conversations, he was very much at peace with himself… and passed on to his next generation what he came to do,” Pinnock said.
“Notwithstanding he was not born here, he became a Bahamian citizen and has contributed greatly — so he has earned his citizenship.”
Pinnock, who shared dinners and business with Donato over the years, said he hoped to emulate Donato’s impact both financially and philanthropically.
Businessman Darren Cooper said Donato was a quiet benefactor whose generosity touched many lives.
“Mario was not just a businessman in Grand Bahama, but also a great help to so many families,” he said.
Cooper remembered receiving help from Mr Donato as a teenager going to prom. “Not having a father, he was one of those who assisted me in being able to fulfill that long desire.”
He later turned to Donato for business guidance and said his influence spanned generations.
“Despite challenges in the local economy, Mario remained a significant staple to the island and helped attract investors and opportunities.”
Mr Donato’s funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Take time to notice and care
‘Many suffer in silence, and many are crying out for help. Not all of them are receiving the support they need.’
Tomorrow, the first day of may, is the start of mental Health Awareness month. Since Hurricane Dorian in 2019, there has been an increase in mental health awareness in The Bahamas. This has not necessarily led to sustained conversation, planning, and action to benefit the people in The Bahamas, but it is more widely understood as a component of health that needs attention.
mental health services can be difficult to access in The Bahamas. The first barrier, of course, is the persisting stigma. People make derogatory remarks about people who are struggling with their mental health and those who seek care at particular institutions, failing to understand the mental health challenges are not indicative of the value of a person, their intelligence, or any other aspect of their lives.
People also continue to use inappropriate language which indicates to anyone who can hear them that it is not safe to confide in them, ask them for help, or let them know that there is a mental health issue. The way we speak to one another matters more than we often think in any moment. off-hand remarks that we forget can stay with others for a long time and be used to guide their decisions. It is important to be careful in the words we choose and all that we communicate to others in what we say and do as well as what we do not say or do. mental health issues can affect anyone. Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health issues and they affect people of all ages. Anxiety and depression can present
By Alicia Wallace
in many different ways and it can be difficult to understand what is happening to a person without professional help. many of us find our own coping mechanisms to mask or distract from what is really happening. Some turn to alcohol and/ or other drugs. Some throw themselves into demanding activities. Some fill their calendars, trying to stay busy during all waking hours. Some turn everything into a joke and try to be entertaining at all times. There are also people who put on an act for everyone around them, collapsing into their secret realities
Recommendations
1. National Poetry Writing Month meets The Black Box Open Mic. National Poetry writing month (NaPowrimo) comes to a close on wednesday, April 30. To mark the end of this 30-day period of writing poetry every day, Poinciana Paper Press has partnered with The Black Box open mic to host out of the Box—an opportunity to present and enjoy poetry and music at Four walls Squash Club on Village road. The cover charge for spectators is $15 and proceeds go directly to The Dundas. Performers can enjoy the reduced cover charge of $10. The featured performer is Sherwood ramming and there will be a special performance by Yah Doctrine. Share your work and/or enjoy the performances on wednesday, April 30, at Four walls. Doors open at 7pm and performances begin at 8pm.
2. Transforming Spaces. The annual island-wide art bus tour is taking place on may 17 and may 18, “showcasing the best in contemporary Bahamian visual art.” The Transforming Spaces art tour takes people to several galleries to experience Bahamian art in various media. Tour guides are informed artists who make it their duty to keep everyone fully, happily engaged. Started in 2011, Transforming Spaces continues to educate, entertain, and excite people of all ages. Tickets are now available at $50 each. Visit tsbahamas.com/tickets for the link to purchase online.
when they are alone. Some completely retreat, hiding themselves and their suffering away until they have to face the world and wear a mask again. For some, it is clear that something is wrong. For others, it is all just a part of their routine and they do not think about when or why it all started. There are ways that we teach one another to mishandle discomfort, illness, and what we perceive to be failures. Some parents and guardians send their children away when they cry or become distressed. “If you’re going to cry, go in the room.” many are taught, from an early age, that expression of their emotions is not welcome, and even that it is shameful. How can they then feel safe enough to show their sadness, disappointment, or unidentifiable negative feelings?
It is not unusual for people, when they express their sadness, to be encouraged to drink alcohol or use another drug to distract them from what they are feeling. Various vices are presented as solutions. This can be understood as discouragement from talking about what they are feeling and the experiences that may have led to those feelings, instead covering it up in socially acceptable ways and creating an environment that others can enjoy. This de-centering of self in times of pain and crisis is not helpful. There are times when people simply need someone to listen to them, affirm them, and offer support. There are also times when people need to be directed to resources and services provided by professionals. There is often no way to know this without
having a real conversation. As friends and family members, we want to make our loved ones happy. maybe their struggles stir feelings of sadness in us, not only for them, but for ourselves. maybe we do not feel equipped to support them. maybe we think the supposed reason—which is not always the true cause— for their emotional turmoil is silly or should be inconsequential. maybe we do not have the time to listen in the moment. Instead of making the time and being vulnerable enough to experience someone else’s vulnerability, many of us choose to minimise, deflect, and distract. It is, of course, not the job of the family members and friends to offer professional mental health care, but it is within the role of family members and friends to love and care with action, to listen, to make a reasonable assessment, and to make the best possible recommendation to loved ones who are struggling.
Intervention is critical and can save lives. we have seen the increased reports of suicide and attempted suicide. This should not be happening and this is not normal. It is a terrifying, devastating result of a failure to prioritise mental health care, integrate it into medical health care services, sensitise and educate the public on mental health issues, and promote available resources and services.
many suffer in silence, and many are crying out for help. Not all of them are receiving the support they need. From the students whose grades have suddenly and drastically dropped and the children whose behaviors have deteriorated to
the people who seem to be completely functional and abuse substances and those who are on the street with stories known and unknown, everyone has the right to care.
This month, mental Health Awareness month, we can all take steps to ensure that loved ones and people we may never know have access to comprehensive care. Employers, organise educational sessions with mental health professionals for all workers. Schools, integrate mental health information and practices into health classes, assemblies, and extra-curricular activities. religious institutions, identify members who are mental health professionals and can offer services beyond “counselling”.
Parents and guardians, pay attention to your children’s behaviours and moods and both tell them and demonstrate to them that it is safe for them to tell you when they are not feeling well, even if they are not able or willing to give any reasons.
Friends, check on your friends and both notice and respond when they are more quiet, more talkative, less available, and changing habits. Advocates, call on the government to take action to publicise available services and to create clear pathways and referral practices to ensure that every patient receives the highest level of care, and that the care is comprehensive. we cannot all be mental health service providers, but we can all take steps to eliminate stigma, demonstrate care, and support one another in navigating changes in mental health.
Starbucks’ new drive-thru in Texas is coffee giant’s first 3D printed store
TEXAS
Associated Press
There’s a new pour from starbucks: Its first 3D printed store in the Us
The seattle-based coffee giant with more than 17,000 locations nationwide has never had a store quite like the one opening this week in the Texas city of Brownsville, along the Us-Mexico border, where a computer-controlled robotic arm did much of the work by pouring one layer of concrete atop another.
The location — which is drive-thru only — is set to open Friday and makes starbucks one of the nation’s few big retailers that have tinkered with 3D printing for commercial construction. Builders have mostly used the technology in residential construction as they look to innovate to tackle an affordable housing crisis.
starbucks isn’t saying whether more stores like it are on the horizon or why the company chose Brownsville, which has about 190,000 residents and at least four other locations in the area. At first glance, the compact rectangular building with the starbucks logo looks like any other, but a close look reveals ridged walls that resemble stacked tubes.
Construction experts say the store is an example of an industry figuring out ways to use the technology.
“It’s early days yet,” said James rose, director of the Institute for smart structures at the University of Tennessee. “I’m happy to see people doing all of these different things with it, and I think at some point we’ll figure out what its best use is. But right now I think you’re going to see lots of experimentation, and I think that’s a good thing.”
The shop is on a busy
thoroughfare where Faviola Maldonado was among those who watched the construction gradually take shape.
“It was just different,” said Maldonado, who operated a jewellery store next door before recently moving. “It was super high technology.”
starbucks confirmed this is its first 3D printed store in the Us but declined an interview request.
Andrew McCoy, associate director of research and innovation at the Myers-Lawson school of
Construction at Virginia Tech, called the new store “leading edge.”
In general, construction using 3D technology still costs more than traditional wood framing, McCoy said. But, he said, it helps address a labour shortage and can be a way to get something built faster. he expects it will eventually become more cost competitive.
“You are starting to see the technology is getting faster, smaller,” McCoy said. “It’s getting easier to use.”
Power outages across Spain and Portugal affected millions - how you can prepare for a major blackout
BUDAPEST Associated Press
An unprecedented blackout across spain and Portugal upended the lives of millions across the Iberian Peninsula, a stark reminder of modern society’s reliance on electricity, and how quickly life can descend into chaos when the grid goes down.
Power was nearly completely restored across the region on Tuesday, but the cause of the previous day’s blackout remains unclear. For those affected, the experience will likely leave a lasting impression and raise questions on how to respond if another crisis emerges.
While such widespread failures of power grids are rare, having a plan for how to react to such an event — and how to prepare ahead of time — can make a major difference in staying safe and managing the disruption if the lights go out.
A general power outage affects everyone whether they are at home, at work or on the move. As in spain and Portugal, electric trains, trolleys and subway systems can stop in their tracks and strand passengers, while traffic lights can go down turning roads into a snarl of gridlock.
no matter where you are when the power goes down, your first priority should be to
remain calm and tend to your most immediate needs like food, water and shelter, and develop a plan for how you can get to a safe place and connect with your loved ones. According to the American red Cross, unnecessary travel, especially by car, should be avoided during a power outage. Without traffic lights, roads may become congested or hazardous, increasing the risk of becoming stranded. If you are at home, exercise caution when using candles or gas lanterns for light because of the risk of fire and noxious gases like carbon monoxide. Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights if available, but conserve batteries to extend their working life.
Turn off any unnecessary electronics, and unplug appliances such as ovens or stoves that were in use when the power went out. If the power comes back on, surges can damage equipment and appliances can be hazardous if allowed to run unattended.
If the outage lasts for more than a few hours, you’ll want to ensure the food you have on hand doesn’t spoil. According to emergency guidelines published by the estonian government, refrigerators and freezers should be opened only briefly to preserve the cold. Use perishable food from the fridge first, followed
by items in the freezer, then nonperishables. Preparedness, “be it psychological or real preparedness in case of crisis,” is a key factor in successfully managing disruptive events, Argo Kerb from the estonian rescue Board, a government agency, told The Associated Press.
As concerns grow around the world over instability stemming from armed conflict, political discord and climate change, many governments are prioritising crisis preparedness among their populations.
In March, the european Union urged all 450 million residents of the 27-nation bloc to stockpile food, water and other essentials to last at least 72 hours as war, cyberattacks, climate change and disease increase the chances of a crisis.
According to Kerb: “Preparedness is a shared responsibility. It’s a shared responsibility in a family, in a country, but it’s also a shared responsibility in europe and the world.”
While long-lasting power outages such as the one in spain and Portugal are relatively uncommon, having a few basic supplies on hand can make a substantial difference in how safely and comfortably they can be endured.
The eU recommends food, water, flashlights, ID papers, medicine and shortwave
radios as things to have at home. Matches or lighters, chargers and a power bank for your devices are also recommended.
In a sign of how critical access to information can be in an emergency, batterypowered radios flew off the shelves in spain and Portugal as internet and cellphone services went down. Keeping a supply of batteries, and a battery powered or hand-crank radio, will help keep you connected to vital information when internet and television services are down.
If you’re caught without these items during a crisis, you’ll need to buy them, but outages can leave electronic payments unavailable. You’ll want to make sure you keep a reasonable quantity of cash on hand.
As european commissioner for crisis management hadja Lahbib said in a recent video urging preparedness: “In the middle of a crisis, cash is king, and your credit card might just be a piece of plastic.”
In a brochure provided to every household in sweden, “In Case of Crisis or War,” the swedish government says each person will need at least three litres (nearly a gallon) of water per day for drinking and cooking, which should be stored at home in bottles or other containers.
Amazon launches its first internet satellites to compete against SpaceX’s Starlinks
CAPE CANAVERAL
Associated Press
AMAzon’s first batch of internet satellites rocketed into orbit Monday, the latest entry in the mega constellation market currently dominated by spaceX’s thousands of starlinks.
The United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket carried up 27 of Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites, named after the frigid fringes of our solar system beyond neptune. once released in orbit, the satellites will eventually reach an altitude of nearly 400 miles (630 kilometres).
Two test satellites were launched in 2023, also by an Atlas V. Project officials said major upgrades were made to the newest version. The latest satellites also are coated with a mirror film designed to scatter reflected sunlight in an attempt to accommodate astronomers.
stargazers oppose the fast-growing constellations of low-orbiting satellites, arguing they spoil observations. others fear more satellite collisions.
Founded by Jeff Bezos, who now runs his own rocket company, Blue origin, Amazon aims to put more than 3,200 of these satellites into orbit to provide fast, affordable broadband service around the globe.
elon Musk’s spaceX already has launched more than 8,000 starlinks since 2019. The company marked its 250th starlink launch sunday night. More than 7,000 starlinks are still in orbit some 300-plus miles (550 kilometres) above earth.
The european-based oneWeb satellite constellation numbers in the hundreds in an even higher orbit.
Amazon already has purchased dozens of rocket launches from United Launch Alliance and Blue origin for Project Kuiper, as well as others.
“There are some things you can only learn in flight” despite extensive testing on the ground, said rajeev Badyal, the project’s vice president. no matter how the mission unfolds, this is just the start of our journey,” he said in a statement ahead of the evening liftoff.
The first liftoff attempt earlier this month was nixed by bad weather. It took until now to secure another spot in the launch lineup at Cape Canaveral space Force station.
A generAl view shows a 3D printed Starbucks building on Monday in Brownsville, Texas.
Photo: Michael gonzalez/AP
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with a payload of Amazon’s Project Kuiper internet satellites lifts off from Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Photo: John raoux/AP
Canada’s Liberals fall shy of majority in Parliament
TORONTO Associated Press
CANADIAN Prime
Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals celebrated election victory in a stunning turn of fortune but fell short Tuesday of winning an outright majority in Parliament, and the party will have to seek help from another, smaller party.
The vote-counting agency elections Canada finished processing nearly all ballots in an election that could leave the Liberals just three seats shy of a majority. Recounts are expected in some districts.
The Liberal party seemed likely to find the extra votes necessary to pass legislation, but it was not clear whether they would come from the progressive party, which backed the Liberals under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, or from a separatist party from French-speaking Quebec.
Carney’s rival, populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, was in the lead until US President Donald Trump took aim at Canada with a trade war and threats to annex the country as the 51st state. Poilievre not only lost his bid for prime minister Monday but was voted out of the Parliament seat that he held for 20 years.
That capped a swift decline in fortunes for the firebrand Poilievre, who a few months ago appeared to be a shoo-in to become Canada’s next prime minister and shepherd the Conservatives back into power for the first time in a decade.
Poilievre, a career politician, campaigned with Trump-like bravado, taking a page from the “America First” president by adopting the slogan “Canada First.” But his similarities to Trump may have ultimately
cost him and his party. The Liberals were projected to win 169 seats of Parliament’s 343 seats while the Conservatives were projected to win 144. The separatist Bloc Québécois party was expected to finish with 22 seats, the progressive New Democrats with seven and the Greens with one. elections Canada said 68.5% of eligible voters cast ballots in the federal election — the highest turnout since 1993.
In a victory speech, Carney stressed unity in the face of Washington’s threats. he said the mutually beneficial relationship Canada and the US had shared since World War II was gone.
“We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons,” he said.
“As I’ve been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country,” Carney
added. “These are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so America can own us. That will never ... ever happen. But we also must recognize the reality that our world has fundamentally changed.”
In a statement issued Tuesday, White house spokesperson Anna Kelly said the Canadian election “does not affect President Trump’s plan to make Canada America’s cherished 51st state.” Carney spoke with Trump, and the two leaders “agreed on the importance of Canada and the United States working together — as independent, sovereign nations — for their mutual betterment,” Carney’s office said in a statement. The men “agreed to meet in person in the near future.”
A defeat for the Conservatives Poilievre hoped to make the election a referendum on Trudeau, whose popularity declined toward the
end of his decade in power as food and housing prices rose.
But Trump attacked, Trudeau resigned and Carney, a two-time central banker, became the Liberal Party’s leader and prime minister.
In a concession speech before the race call on his own seat, Poilievre vowed to keep fighting for Canadians.
“We are cognizant of the fact that we didn’t get over the finish line yet,” Poilievre said. “We know that change is needed, but change is hard to come by. It takes time. It takes work. And that’s why we have to learn the lessons of tonight.”
McGill University political science professor Daniel Béland said nothing prevents Poilievre from remaining the Conservative leader without a seat but, if he decides to stay, he would need to run in another district — perhaps by asking
Trump adminis T raT ion T ells Congress i T plans To label Hai T ian gangs as foreign T error organisaT ions
WASHINGTON Associated Press
The Trump administration has told Congress that it intends to designate haitian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, people familiar with the notification told The Associated Press.
The State Department similarly labelled eight Latin American crime organizations in February as it ratcheted up pressure on cartels operating in the US and anyone assisting them. The new move indicates that the administration plans to put similar pressure on gangs from haiti. The designation carries with it sanctions and penalties for anyone providing “material support” for the group.
It comes after a series of steps against the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which was designated a foreign terror organization and then dubbed an invading force under an 18th-century wartime law to justify the deportation of Venezuelan migrants to a notorious el Salvador prison under President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown. That invocation of the Alien enemies Act is significant because it gives the president wide powers to imprison and deport noncitizens who otherwise would have the right to ask for asylum in the US or have their cases heard in immigration courts.
Trump, at a rally in Michigan on Tuesday, touted his designation of the six Latin American crime groups as foreign terrorist organizations, including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.
“They’ve been designated the highest level of terrorist, and that lets us do a lot of
things that you wouldn’t be able to do,” Trump said.
Notifying Congress about plan for haitian gangs According to the notification sent to congressional committees on April 23, the Trump administration said it intends to designate the haitian gangs Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as foreign terrorist organizations, according to two people familiar with the message, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not yet been made public.
A third person confirmed that the foreign relations committees in the house and Senate received the notification. The State Department and the White house did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The designation follows a Trump administration move in February to nix protections that shielded half a million haitians from deportation.
Tens of thousands of haitians came to the United States under a Biden-era program permitting people from four countries including haiti to stay for two years provided they had a financial sponsor and bought their own plane ticket. The Trump administration terminated that program and is seeking to revoke the status of those admitted under the Biden administration.
The foreign terrorist organization label has typically been reserved for groups like al-Qaida or the Islamic State group, but applying it to haitian gangs means that the Trump White house is expanding the longstanding US definition of foreign terrorism.
The gangs are behind attacks in haiti Viv Ansanm, which means “Living Together,”
is a powerful gang coalition that formed in September 2023 and is best known for launching a series of attacks starting in February 2024 across Port-au-Prince and beyond that shuttered haiti’s main international airport for nearly three months, freed hundreds of inmates from the country’s two biggest prisons and eventually forced former Prime Minister Ariel henry to resign.
The coalition united more than a dozen gangs, including two of haiti’s biggest ones: G-9 and G-Pèp, which were fierce rivals.
Gangs control at least 85% of haiti’s capital, with Viv Ansanm attacking once peaceful communities in
recent weeks in a bid to control even more territory.
Gran Grif, also known as the Savien gang, forms part of the Viv Ansanm coalition and is led by Luckson elan, best known as “General Luckson.” It is the biggest gang operating in haiti’s central Artibonite region with some 100 members.
It was blamed for an attack in the town of Pont-Sondé in October 2024 in which more than 70 people were killed in one of the biggest massacres in haiti’s recent history.
Gran Grif also was blamed for a recent attack in the Petite Riviere community in which several people were killed, including an 11-yearold child.
a Conservative member of Parliament from a safe Conservative district to resign.
“Still, losing your seat when some people within your own party think you’re the main reason why it failed to win is a clear issue for Poilievre,” Béland said.
“Moreover, not having the leader of the official opposition in the house of Commons when Parliament sits again would obviously be a problem for the Conservatives.”
even as Canadians mourned a deadly weekend attack at a Vancouver street festival, Trump was trolling them on election day, asserting that he was on their ballot and erroneously claiming that the US subsidizes Canada. “It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!” he wrote.
Trump’s truculence has infuriated Canadians, leading many to cancel US vacations, refuse to buy American goods and possibly even to vote early. A record 7.3 million Canadians cast ballots before election day.
Reid Warren, a Toronto resident, said he voted Liberal because Poilievre “sounds like mini-Trump to me.” he said Trump’s tariffs are a worry.
“Canadians coming together from, you know, all the shade being thrown from the States is great, but it’s definitely created some turmoil, that’s for sure,” he said.
Foreign policy hasn’t dominated a Canadian election this much since 1988, when free trade with the United States was the prevailing issue.
The Liberal way forward Carney and the Liberals have daunting challenges ahead.
By failing to win a majority in Parliament,
Gran Grif was formed after Prophane Victor, an ex-member of haiti’s Parliament who represented the Petite Riviere community in Artibonite, began arming young men in the region, according to a UN report. Victor was arrested in January. Canada sanctioned him in June 2023, as did the US in September 2024, accusing him of supporting gangs “that have committed serious human rights abuse.”
Gangs’ impact on haiti
More than 5,600 people were killed across haiti last year, with gang violence leaving more than 1 million homeless in the country of nearly 12 million people, according to the UN
While much of the violence has occurred in Port-au-Prince, gangs recently struck the city of Mirebalais in haiti’s central
the Liberals will need to rely on a smaller party. Trudeau’s Liberals relied on the progressive New Democrats to remain in power for years, but the party fared poorly on Monday, and its leader, Jagmeet Singh, said he was stepping down after eight years in charge.
“It appears the Liberals will not attain a majority, but the (New Democrats) will prop them up as before. I do not expect any formal deal between the parties,” said Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto.
The Bloc Québécois, which looked set to finish third, is a separatist party from French-speaking Quebec that seeks independence. Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet said he would be open to working with the government for a year if it’s a minority.
“The last thing that the Quebec people and Canada people want is instability in the federal Parliament,” he said.
In addition to the trade war with the US and frosty relationship with Trump, Canada is dealing with a cost-of-living crisis. And more than 75% of its exports go to the US, so Trump’s tariffs threat and his desire to get North American automakers to move Canada’s production south could severely damage the economy.
Carney has vowed that every dollar the government collects from counter-tariffs on US goods will go toward Canadian workers who are adversely affected. he also said he plans to offer a middle-class tax cut, return immigration to sustainable levels and increase funding to Canada’s public broadcaster.
region and freed more than 500 inmates from a local prison. They also attacked the nearby town of Saut d’eau, considered sacred by the thousands of haitians who travel there yearly for a Vodou-Catholic pilgrimage.
Gangs also have seized more control in Port-au-Prince, killing more than 260 people in Kenscoff and Carrefour earlier this year. The UN political mission in haiti noted that it took the country’s military, police and a UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police roughly five hours to respond to those attacks. hunger also has surged to record levels as a result of the persistent gang violence, with more than half of haiti’s population expected to experience severe hunger through June, and 8,400 people living in makeshift shelters projected to starve.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to supporters on stage at his campaign headquarters after the Liberal Party won the Canadian election in Ottawa, Ontario, yesterday.
Photo: Justin Tang/The Canadian Press/AP
PresidenT Donald Trump speaks on his first 100 days at Macomb County Community College Sports Expo Center, on Tuesday in Warren, Michigan.
Photo: alex Brandon/AP
Attorneys criticised le A d investigAtor’s h A ndling in c A se of police-involved shooting of three men
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THE lead investigator in a deadly 2020 policeinvolved shooting near Cowpen Road came under heavy criticism yesterday, with attorneys for both the victims’ families and the accused officers attacking his handling of the case.
Detective Sergeant 2672
Desmond Rolle testified before Coroner Kara Turnquest-Deveaux as the inquest into the deaths of Deshoan “Spider” Smith, 25, Rashad Clarke, 28, and Jared Ford, 27, got underway. The three were shot and killed near Spikenard and Cowpen Roads on June 13, 2020.
The matter was delayed until 2pm after attorney K Melvin Munroe, representing the three officers involved, requested more time to review the case file.
Inspector Alcott Forbes, Corporal Kevin Greenslade Jr, and Police Constable Courtney Hall were all present in court.
A five-member jury is tasked with determining what occurred during the fatal encounter. Police previously said the incident began when officers on mobile patrol saw a white Honda Accord parked at the eastern section of Spikenard Cemetery. When approached, the vehicle allegedly fled, leading to a confrontation on Cowpen Road where officers claimed the men opened fire, prompting them to return fire.
DS Rolle testified that, based on information from dispatch, he located a damaged white Honda Accord believed to have been involved in the shooting.
He noted bullet holes in the windshield and left side of the car, and said the windows were mostly rolled up when he arrived. Blood was visible on the bodies of all three men, particularly around the upper torso.
He said he instructed officers to collect spent .223 and 9mm casings around the vehicle. A black pistol was recovered between the legs of one of the deceased, seated in the rear left passenger seat. That man was described as wearing a long blue hoodie and jeans. The car was later towed to the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), and morticians removed the bodies.
DS Rolle said he spoke briefly with Inspector Forbes at the scene, who told him the officers had approached the vehicle because it raised suspicion. Later at CID, DS Rolle collected the weapons of the three officers for testing: Forbes’ 9mm Sig Sauer with 11 rounds, Greenslade’s rifle with two magazines containing 32 .223 rounds, and Hall’s rifle with two magazines containing 33 rounds. DS Rolle also confirmed that the pistol found in the Honda was unregistered in The Bahamas.
He admitted the initial call from the control centre lacked critical details, including how many officers were involved or how many suspects had been shot. He
could not recall the number of officers on the scene when he arrived and said EMS had already left. He did not speak with EMS personnel, nor did he interview the victims’ families, claiming a meeting would have taken place later.
Under questioning, DS Rolle said the vehicle’s licence plate and driver’s licence did not match, but could not recall whether the Stolen Vehicle Unit returned a report on it.
Evidence marshal Angelo Whitfield asked about a report indicating that Hall also had a 9mm service weapon on the day of the incident. DS Rolle said he did not collect that weapon because there was no indication it had been fired and all rounds were accounted for.
When questioned by Maria Daxon, attorney for the victims’ estates, DS Rolle said he could not confirm how many times the vehicle was shot or whether bullets came from inside or outside. Ms Daxon accused him of being untruthful, prompting an objection from Mr Munroe and a reminder from the coroner that attorneys were being given the courtesy to question witnesses in place of the evidence marshal.
Ms Daxon also questioned why no fingerprints were taken from the deceased. DS Rolle said he was told by an officer, L Smith, that blood on their hands prevented fingerprinting. Ms Daxon suggested someone else could have placed the gun
in the vehicle. DS Rolle admitted multiple officers were on the scene but said he could not speak to what occurred before he arrived.
He also said one of the deceased had been under police monitoring in connection with a prior shooting, but could not elaborate.
Ms Daxon told him his investigation was “sloppy,” citing his failure to interview all three officers at the scene. DS Rolle responded: “Nothing about me is sloppy,” and said he was offended by the suggestion. He insisted that he later interviewed the officers at CID.
Mr Munroe criticised DS Rolle’s vague and repetitive responses, arguing they were a disservice to the victims, the officers, and the court. He said DS Rolle should have conducted a more balanced and thorough investigation. DS Rolle responded that he compiled a report but did not ask officers whether they had opened the doors of the victims’ car.
Coroner Deveaux questioned whether DS Rolle had been in a rush, asking why he only interviewed one officer on site. DS Rolle replied that he intended to speak with them all later. He could not confirm if there was another investigator assigned to the case and again said he was satisfied that Hall’s second weapon had not been fired, despite no forensic testing.
Family members of the deceased were in court for yesterday’s proceedings.
Court of Appeal pauses trial of man accused of kidnapping, rape and two murders after bias claim
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN facing kidnapping, rape, and two murder charges had his murder trial temporarily halted by the Court of Appeal after accusing the presiding judge of bias and failing to recuse himself from the case.
Trevon Stevens filed a recusal motion last month — without legal counsel — which was dismissed by Justice Franklyn Williams, the judge scheduled to oversee his trial. Stevens claimed that Justice Williams had formed an opinion about his guilt before the trial began. He is accused of the
September 28, 2020, murders of his girlfriend Alicia Sawyer and her eight-yearold daughter Edinique Wallace in Nassau Village. He is also charged with raping Sawyer two days before her death. A judge of the Court of Appeal has since paused the trial, which was due to begin on May 5, pending the outcome of Stevens’ appeal. That hearing is scheduled for July 22. In his original application, Stevens said the trial judge made a prejudicial statement to a court clerk by referring to him as having killed his girlfriend and her daughter without using the word “alleged.” He also objected to the
judge referencing a prior conviction for causing grievous harm to a former girlfriend, which Stevens said further demonstrated bias.
Stevens argued that his right to a fair trial under Article 20 of the Bahamian Constitution was being compromised by what he called “ostensible bias”.
He cited remarks made during an earlier bail hearing in which Justice Williams referred to him as “a threat to society, and in particular, to females,” and used his past conviction as a reason to deny bail — drawing comparisons to the current charges.
Justice Williams rejected the recusal motion, saying
Stevens had not met the legal standard for proving judicial bias. The judge noted that comments made during proceedings, especially during bail hearings, were within his remit to assess public safety concerns.
He further stated that judges are presumed impartial and that claims of bias must be supported by clear evidence of prejudgment.
In his ruling, Justice Williams reminded Stevens that he is presumed innocent under Article 20 and stressed that statements made in the context of bail decisions do not automatically indicate bias regarding the outcome of the trial.
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
LAWRENCE Leo Rodgers, a well-known public service driver and former musician, died Monday at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer.
Rodgers, who began his career in music before becoming a cherished figure in public transportation, was remembered by his family as a man whose warmth and positivity touched many lives.
“He was everyone’s dad,” said his son, Burton Rodgers. “He was always positive about everybody.”
Rodgers earned a reputation in his early years as a talented and charismatic band member. In 1999, his son encouraged him to shift careers and join the public service transportation sector.
“When I brought him
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN with a prior manslaughter conviction was remanded to prison yesterday after pleading guilty to assaulting his neighbour with a cutlass on Exuma Street last week.
Shannon Walkin, 29, was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville on a charge of assault with a dangerous instrument. He was accused of attacking John Thomas with a cutlass on April 26.
Although Walkin pleaded guilty, he denied having a cutlass during the altercation. He claimed he confronted Mr Thomas because someone had broken into his room and stolen items. Walkin said he dislikes thieves but maintains a friendly relationship with his neighbour, even occasionally cooking for him in the yard. He added that he
into the industry, I didn’t think he would like it because he’s so used to entertaining but I also knew from his being in the entertainment industry that he likes people,” his son told The Tribune. “He had a joy out of providing service to tourists.”
Rodgers quickly became a favourite among locals and visitors alike. Known for his kind demeanour and generous spirit, he often offered encouragement to younger drivers and newcomers in the industry. He continued working up until he fell ill shortly before the start of the new year.
“Everyone will miss him,” his son said. “He’s extremely close with his brothers and sisters. He’s close with his children and he was very close with his colleagues.” Rodgers is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family.
Man with manslaughter conviction admits to Exuma Street cutlass attack Musician
pleaded guilty only because he had no one to sign his bail — his family lives in Abaco and his girlfriend is currently abroad for surgery. Walkin said he works as an electrician. Prosecutor Inspector Cordero Farrington told the court that Walkin was previously convicted of manslaughter in 2018 for the fatal stabbing of 38-year-old Alfred Watkins on December 21, 2015, in Spring City. He was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison, though two years and four months spent on remand were deducted from that term. Walkin told the magistrate that Watkins had been his “favourite” uncle and that the stabbing occurred during a domestic dispute. He said his uncle provoked the incident. Walkin was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. His case resumes on May 2.
LAWRENCE LEo RodgERs
A TAsTE And Tell event was held at Arawak Cay on Saturday, with a range of food and drinks available. Photos: stephen Hunt
