05052025 NEWS by tribune242

Abaco

Four dead in violent weekend

from page one

gunmen and shot at close range before ﬂeeing the scene on foot.

The victim, later identiﬁed by family members as Elroy Rolle, was found with multiple gunshot wounds. Family members described him as a quiet, employed man with no history of trouble and were left in shock and grief.

Anne Brown, a nearby resident, recalled hearing gunshots shortly after 12am, adding that police arrived within ten minutes. She said police had been patrolling the area regularly since then.

The second murder followed just under an hour later. Police responded to an argument that turned violent at an establishment on Fox Hill Road around 1am. The dispute escalated, resulting in a 34-year-old man being fatally stabbed. The victim was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

Later that evening, a third homicide was reported in the Coconut Grove area. At approximately 7pm, ofﬁcers were called to the scene after

gunshots rang out on Second Street off Palm Tree Avenue. Police found a man, believed to be in his 40s, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. According to reports, the victim was chased by a gunman in a white vehicle before being shot at point-blank range. An anonymous witness, speaking to The Tribune, identiﬁed the victim as “Snoopy” and conﬁrmed he was not from the area. Despite the three separate incidents, police have emphasised there is no indication that the deaths are connected.

Chief Superintendent Sheria King, speaking at the scene of the third murder, addressed concerns over the rising violence. “While one homicide is one too many, we continue to execute our strategies, which have led to fewer homicides than last year,” she said. There was a fourth murder reported after 10pm on Sunday.

Police said they are investigating a stabbing in the area of Plantol Street, off East Street. A male victim succumbed to his injuries on the scene.

THE BODY of a man that was fatally stabbed being taken from the scene of the second murder in the Fox Hill area on Staurday.

Photos: Nikia Charlton

A PLANE dumps water on a Cable Bahamas building that caught ﬁre yesterday as ﬁres raged through Central Abaco.

Apartment residents face crisis after ﬁre

described the ordeal as a crisis.

Dr Capuli, who has lived at the complex for 24 years, was out on her usual morning walk when she received a call from her housekeeper warning her about the ﬁre.

By the time she arrived, ﬂames were already raging and soon tore through the roof of the 29-unit building.

She tried to act quickly, but in the end, her family lost their home.

Her nearby restaurant, Manila Grill, was spared, with hopes to reopen soon as power crews complete necessary repairs.

“Right now, we are really full of stress and a lot of things in our mind we have to go through,” she said.

“We have a restaurant to maintain and then we have our inventory that we have to make sure it’s still, you know, able to really be used and we have people that we also have to have some money in their pocket.”

Dr Capuli said she has no intention of relocating the restaurant due to its established location and proximity to the cruise port.

The ﬁre destroyed several buildings and displaced dozens of residents.

When The Tribune

visited the ﬁre-damaged site on Friday, several nearby downtown businesses were closed.

In a statement yesterday, Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) said power has been restored to most customers in the area — including Bay Street, Elizabeth Avenue, and the Malcolm Building — but those whose properties were directly affected, such as Manila Grill, will remain without electricity until repairs are completed.

Meanwhile, residents say they have yet to hear ofﬁcially from government ofﬁcials about what assistance may be offered but expressed hope that support will come.

“We know the people in the government, some of them are friends of ours. I reached out to them that night, and they were trying to help us,” Dr Capuli said.

She credited the owner of the building where her restaurant is located for offering shelter to her and her husband in the aftermath of the ﬁre.

However, for others, the future remains uncertain.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said he and his wife — who moved into the building just six months ago — have temporarily relocated to their from page one

business on Bay Street. He declined to name his business.

Asked what comes next, he said: “I can’t answer that because we have to ﬁgure out what we’re going to do. I mean it just happened.”

Dr Capuli said the Victoria Court community functioned like a family, with residents often checking in on each other and even caring for one another’s pets when travelling.

But the ﬁre has left many feeling disconnected and overwhelmed.

“They don’t know what’s going on,” she added. “They have to just rely on our group chat. And that group chat is not enough for you to say that you know this is what’s happening. You really need to see each other in person, hug each other, comfort each other, because we need to gather our strength.”

Sonia Cox-Hamilton, vice president of the building’s board, told The Tribune yesterday that the ﬁre affected at least 20 Bahamians, along with several non-Bahamians who also own units at the complex. She conﬁrmed the building is insured but urged the public to avoid making assumptions about

residents’ ﬁnancial standing or the property’s condition, which is ofﬁcially registered as a historic property with the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation.

“I spoke to one of the persons displaced this morning and they said they don’t even have a hairbrush. And I felt that, because you know, when you have to run for your life and you’re not expecting this happen, it’s really very, very hard,” she said.

She said some residents have checked into hotels, while others are staying with friends temporarily and were given a week or two.

“And then we have like people who work here, they will be displaced,” she added. “How do you say to a guy who’s been working with you for ten years or so, ‘I’m sorry, but since no one is living in the place, we can’t pay you what we used to’.”

Mrs Cox-Hamilton said the board plans to convene a meeting with all owners and tenants to assess their needs and discuss the way forward.

Meanwhile, Anthony Bostwick of the Downtown Revitalisation Unit called the incident

a “catastrophic” wakeup call for the area. Mr Bostwick, who toured the scene after the fire, said some of the buildings destroyed in Thursday’s fire had been flagged by officials before for urgent maintenance or removal and that the fire underscored the urgency of addressing deteriorating buildings in the area.

“We are in a very dry season and it only takes a spark to get a fire going, as we experienced last night,” he said.

He said property owners had been mostly cooperative during negotiations and understood the need to address the decaying state of downtown.

Tourism Director General Latia Duncombe said cruise visitors continued to explore the city on Friday and that Bay Street remained “bustling” despite the smoke.

A RESIDENT of the Victoria Courts apartments looks on as fire destroys her home.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

DRONE footage (left) shows the aftermath of the devastating fire at Victoria Courts aparmtents on Thursday (above).

Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr

Lawyer and political figure

John Bostwick dead at 86

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

JOHN Henry Bostwick, a prominent figure in Bahamian politics and law whose decades of public service left an imprint on the country’s democratic institutions, died on Saturday at Doctors Hospital after a long illness. He was 86. His wife, Dame Janet Bostwick, announced his death in a statement expressing gratitude for their years together and pride in his contributions to national life. “We are fortified by the prayers and support of so many dear friends and family,” she said. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

Mr Bostwick, a King’s Counsel and former President of the Senate, was widely praised for his intellect, integrity, and principled leadership.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis described his death as a national

loss. “For over half a century, Mr Bostwick served with quiet distinction, not seeking recognition but earning it through the consistency of his character and the depth of his public service,” Mr Davis said. “His political journey was never about rigid loyalty to party. It was about loyalty to country.”

Educated at the University of Exeter, Mr Bostwick returned to The Bahamas and built a respected legal career as a partner at Bostwick & Bostwick. He led the Bahamas Bar Association from 1991 to 1995 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1994. In 2020, he was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bahamas, granting him the title Right Honourable.

He was elected to the House of Assembly in 1968 and later served as Leader of the Opposition. He represented multiple political parties over the course of his career — including the Progressive Liberal Party, the

Bahamas Democratic Party, and eventually the Free National Movement (FNM), which he helped found. He served as President of the Senate from 1992 to 2002, the longest tenure in Bahamian history.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who appointed him to the Senate and named him President in 1992, recalled Mr Bostwick as “a brilliant legal mind” and a man of “huge personality, always with a smile and a laugh.”

“He had a keen appreciation for the dangers inherent in the concentration of power,” Mr Ingraham said. “He welcomed me not only as a fellow traveller in opposition to the then government but as his political leader.”

Mr Bostwick is survived by his wife Dame Janet, a pioneering politician in her own right, their children Margo, Kelley, Lisa, and John, and their grandchildren.

Tributes paid to Rodney Moncur

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

FORMER senator and controversial talk show host Rodney Moncur’s death on Thursday at age 68 prompted an outpouring of tributes from political leaders, supporters and critics alike.

Mr Moncur, known for his theatrical presence and blunt commentary, was praised for his connection with everyday Bahamians and his decades-long role in public discourse.

“Rodney and I worked alongside each other as activists,” said Opposition Leader Michael Pintard. “Since then, he has emerged as a powerful Bahamian voice who has made a lasting impact on our national discourse.”

He rose from humble beginnings in Black Village and leadership roles in labour movements to form the Workers Party and was appointed to the Senate in 2016.

Mr Moncur gained widespread recognition as host of Freedom March, where his distinctive style made him one of the country’s most recognisable media ﬁgures.

He was also a polarising presence, attracting backlash for controversial views on women, including his opposition to criminalising marital rape, and his insistence that all convicted murderers be hanged. He once

labelled birth control pills “evil” and “cancerous” and publicly berated members of the press. He remained active in advocacy, serving as a consultant to the Ministry of National Security up until earlier this year and remained vocal in his longtime base of St Barnabas.

“He became a folk hero to many and a go-to advocate to resolve issues of injustice,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell. “He made his mark with his incisive wit and the famed comment of ‘two meats’ in the Senate committee room.”

“Rodney’s journey from Black Village to becoming the most celebrated talk show host is a testament to his ability to connect with people,” said Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis. “We will miss his brash humour, which brought us all together.”

Prime Minister Philip Davis said the country had lost “a ﬁghter, a friend, and one of a kind”.

“He captured the love and attention of the Bahamian people with a style all his own — a rare blend of fearless advocacy and sharp humour,” Mr Davis said. Mr Moncur was reportedly receiving care at Princess Margaret Hospital before his death.

“Whether you agreed with Rodney’s views or not,” said Mr Pintard, “you could not deny that he struck a chord.”

Exuma Community Supports Yntegra

Dear Sir,

I hope that you allow me space in your paper to say my piece. My family is from Black Point and I was born and raised in Black Point. I am proud to be a boat captain and show our beautiful waters to everyone. Over the past few years I came in and out of Black Point and I saw a lot of changes. Some have been good, and some have left us wondering when it will be our turn

to beneﬁt from all the development happening around us. I was Felipe MacLean’s boat captain when he ﬁrst came to Exuma and I know that being out on the boat was what got him interested in Exuma. He said he would invest here and he did that. I see for myself that Yntegra is not just making promises. They are already helping us to make things happen in Black Point and this project will create jobs.

People like me who earn a living from working on the water need the water to stay beautiful. I know what it is to rely on tourists to feed my family and I know what it is to need to leave to ﬁnd work. Yntegra will give us the chance to make Black Point beter with jobs and more things in our community. I ask the people of The Bahamas to listen to us when we say we need this project. We need to let people

know that we stand behind this. I encourage my people in Black Point, Farmer’s Cay, Litle Pipe, Litle Sampson and Compass Cay to let people know we want to see progress in Exuma. It’s about working together so we all can beneﬁt.

Regards, ~Dwight Rolle

JOHN HENRY BOSTWICK

RODNEY MONCUR

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 5, 2025

What is the status of our ﬁre services?

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

AFTER the fire that hit Downtown Nassau last week, and the multiple blazes that continue to affect Abaco, one thing seems very clear right now: Our nation does not have the capacity it needs to fight fire.

It has not gone unnoticed that our leaders have gone very quiet in the aftermath of the Bay Street fire – while Abaco residents are watching volunteer firefighters tackle blazes deep into the night while wondering where their MPs are.

The lack of resources for fighting fires cannot be denied – indeed, it can be clearly demonstrated by one indisputable fact.

The airport fire truck was summoned to help deal with the Bay Street fire, meaning the whole airport had to be shut down.

Rules dictate that you have to have a fire truck at an airport if you have major passenger flights coming in. So short were we in resources to deal with what started out as a single property fire that we decided to close the whole airport down to send the fire truck off to join the response.

Of course, anyone who was at the scene of Thursday’s fire does not need to be told the response was lacking.

There was a shortage of fire engines dealing with the fire. Craig Flowers, the webshop owner, told The Tribune at the scene that a police inspector had said no more than one truck was available –this was an hour after the fire began. He talked of how

firemen on three different streets were each demanding that the one truck being sent as a back-up be sent their way, which speaks to the lack of central organisation in the response.

Others pointed to responders trying to put out the fire in a derelict building even as the flames were spreading to an occupied property, and questioned the tactics being used.

Tactics are one thing, and I am not a firefighter so I leave that judgement to others, but those firemen still need the basic resources to be able to do the job.

The following day, roads were closed as efforts continued to deal with the aftermath, and the still-smoking remains.

However, there was no sign of government officials coming out to face the music, except for the Tourism Director General who trotted out to say that the blaze that destroyed people’s homes and ruined people’s lives had “no impact to the visitor experience”.

Sure, that’s nice. What about Bahamians? But no, Latia Duncombe trilled about how “together, we walked Bay Street, and it’s still bustling. We see the cruise ship passengers. It’s vibrant. The tours are ongoing, as was expected”.

The response from Bahamians online was blunt, to say the least. Absent was a government response on what was being done by social services to assist those displaced, or from senior figures to update on exactly how many fire engines are in service

right now and what is being done to expand and upgrade our resources. No sign of that. But hey, the tourists are ok, so everything must be alright.

The Tribune noted in one of its updates that the police had decided against a press conference, where questions could have been asked, until the investigation is complete. That sounds very much like no one wants to give answers until they have figured out what the best answer they can give will be. What about actual answers? What was the delay in getting fire engines to the scene? How many trucks are currently in service on the island? Those kind of questions do not need a delay while you complete an investigation. If the officers in charge of those resources do not know the answers right away, then they should not be in charge of a hot dog stand let alone a fire truck.

Meanwhile, any other news about fires in New Providence were greeted with heightened alarm as people wondered what next. There was at least one case of residents saying they put out a fire themselves due to the lack of response from fire services.

But let me backtrack a little, I asked how many trucks are currently in service on the island –that is, New Providence. I should have said islands – because Abaco is going through its own journey through hell right now too. Not that you would know if you just listened to the government. I could not see a single update over the weekend from official sources

despite multiple fires on Abaco.

Where are the MPs in this? Have you heard them screaming in Parliament, demanding that resources be allocated to protect their constituents? No, nor me. Have you heard them pledge to take it up with the Prime Minister to ensure Abaconians have the support they need? Still no. You might want to remember that come election time. However, Central and South Abaco MP John Pinder spoke up yesterday - and had action to back it up, announcing that a water aircraft had been secured and was en route to Abaco to help fight the fires It was due to arrive yesterday. Pinder was one criticised for a lack of communicationbut while he may be late to raise his voice, he is welcome in joining the fight. Meanwhile, Roscoe Thompson III was posting updates on Facebook to let people know what was going on, and urging readers to “pray for rain”.

As I write this, The

Tribune has reported that firefighters in Abaco were out working until four in the morning to protect homes in Sweeting’s Village. Residents were watching and fearing as the flames drew closer.

Some of this should not be hard. It should be relatively simple for an update to be given as to how many working fire engines there are on each island. It’s not difficult, it’s the work of a spreadsheet. There is no reason why residents should not know how many engines are functioning at any given time.

Then the question becomes whether that amount, whatever it is, is enough for the task at hand. It either is, or it isn’t. If that is because of engines out of service for repairs, ﬁx them. If they are irrepairable, replace them.

If the answer is no to any of these questions, then we have issues that need to be resolved.

Now our leaders may well be working through some of those questions in private – I would imagine after a series of serious fires lately, they ought to be. But as far as the public can see? Well, they are left waiting on Bay Street for fire engines that do not come in time. They are watching as the airport shuts down to divert resources to deal with what began as a fire in a single property. They are left in a residential area as the Abaco fires creep closer.

All of those people deserve answers in public rather than hoping for deliberations in private. Watch and see if those answers come.

Do those engines have the necessary equipment, including access to water? Yes or no. Again, if yes, great. If no, what is the plan to deal with that, and the timescale? And then there are the people on board those engines, the ﬁreﬁghters themselves. Are there enough of them? Do they have the appropriate training?

BAY and Elizabeth Street fire on Thursday.

A silent emergency: Mental health issues

demand our voice, our will, our action

ACROSS the nations of the Americas, a silent emergency is suffocating hope, stealing futures, and exacting an unbearable toll in lives lost and potential squandered. That “silent emergency” is a mental health crisis which is growing, unrelenting, and still, tragically, hidden in plain sight.

More than 160 million people in the Americas – from Canada to Argentina with the Caribbean in between – live with a mental disorder. In 2021 alone, over 652,000 souls were lost to mental illness, substance abuse, Alzheimer’s disease, and suicide. Two of our nations rank among the ten with the highest suicide rates in the world. Each year, over 100,000 people die by suicide. Yet only one in ﬁve receives treatment.

But this is not just a health crisis. It is a crisis of conscience and commitment. It affects children, teenagers, and adults— crippling productivity, corroding public trust, and fracturing families. The stigma surrounding mental health acts like a shroud, keeping this problem out of sight and out of political reach. Silence is no longer an option.

Even the wealthiest nations in our hemisphere are under siege. In the United States, suicide remains the 11th leading cause of death. In 2023 alone, more than 49,300 Americans died by suicide—nearly 135 every day. Among high school students, nearly 40% experienced persistent sadness and hopelessness, while one in ﬁve seriously considered suicide. The wealth of the nation offers no immunity from the afﬂiction of the mind.

In Canada, the picture is no less grim. In 2022, over 4,850 Canadians died by suicide—an increase of nearly 9% from the year before. In 2023, 34% of youth in Canada met the criteria for a mental health or substance use disorder. Among 2SLGBTQ+ youth, one in four experienced suicidal ideation within a single year.

If the most resource-rich countries are reeling from such devastation, how much more vulnerable are the smaller and less wealthy states of Latin America and the Caribbean? This crisis does not discriminate, but its consequences are heaviest where capacity is weakest.

The situation in the Caribbean is equally alarming. Guyana and Suriname report the highest and second-highest suicide rates in the Americas—40.8 and 25.9 per 100,000 population, respectively. Trinidad and Tobago ranks ninth

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

in the Americas. Youth are particularly affected.

Between 20% and 25% of adolescents in the English-speaking Caribbean experience symptoms of mental health problems.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a sharp rise in mental health conditions across the Americas. The isolation of lockdowns, the sudden loss of human connection—even among family members—and the cruel denial of ﬁnal farewells to loved ones who died alone from the virus, inﬂicted emotional wounds that have not healed. These experiences unleashed waves of depression, anxiety, and trauma that continue to ripple through societies.

Worryingly, the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health and Sustainable Development found that mental health disorders were already on the rise globally even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The Commission issued a stark warning: if left unaddressed, mental health conditions could drain an estimated US$16 trillion from the global economy by 2030. Since that report, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has tracked an alarming acceleration of mental health challenges in multiple regions, underscoring the scale and urgency of the crisis.

It is against this sobering backdrop that Antigua and Barbuda has taken the lead in crafting a resolution at the Organization of American States (OAS) to confront the escalating mental health crisis across the Americas. Work is already underway in the OAS General Committee in preparation for the Organization’s General Assembly, which Antigua will host this June. This initiative aims to put real political weight behind an issue that, for far too long, has languished on the margins of regional political policy. We hope this resolution will serve as a call to arms, placing mental health where it belongs: at the centre of public policy and sustainable development. It builds on the foundation laid by the Pan American Health Organization’s 2022 Policy for Improving Mental Health and the 2023 Strategy for Improving Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, seeking

to transform intention into action and frameworks into results.

But political will is the necessary catalyst. This resolution sets out to do four critical things: establish a Regional Mental Health Partnership to coordinate efforts; create a multiagency Working Group to guide implementation; build a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure accountability; and launch a Regional Mental Health Fund to mobilize resources. All our countries, including governments and the private sector, know what must be done. Communitybased care must replace outdated, often inhumane institutional models. Mental health spending, currently just 3% of national health budgets, must increase. And mental health must be woven into the fabric of education, labour, ﬁnance, and justice systems. According to the World Health Organization, every $1 invested in scaled-up treatment for common mental disorders yields a $4 return in improved health and productivity. The economics are clear. The ethics, even clearer.

At the OAS, I have been proud to lead Antigua and Barbuda’s effort to forge consensus among the nations of the Americas in support of this resolution. If we succeed, it will not be the ﬁrst time that the smallest of voices has spoken the loudest to rally nations to do the right thing for all humanity. We are determined to make the OAS General Assembly in June a turning point - a moment when the countries of the Americas declare that the wellbeing of every mind is the bedrock of a just and prosperous future. We want this Assembly to be remembered as one that did not turn away from uncomfortable truths, but chose to confront them with courage, compassion, and resolve. In the context of mental health, let it be said: the OAS did not ﬂinch; it acted.

The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. He is also the Dean of the Ambassadors of the Western Hemisphere Group accredited to the US. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com.

Crime scene investigators grilled in police-involved shooting of three men

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE crime scene expert testified Friday that two fingerprint impressions were recovered from a car where three men were killed by police in 2020, while another officer said over 40 bullet casings were found near the vehicle. Inspector Leonardo Dean, a crime scene technician, processed the car at the police lot after the shooting. He said two latent prints were lifted from the front right passenger door and submitted to the AFIS system. During questioning from

Bahamian faces up to 20 years in

A BAHAMIAN man could face up to 20 years in a US prison after pleading guilty to alien smuggling charges.

Insp Bowles conﬁrmed some casings were within feet of the car while others were ten feet away. He said he didn’t swab the deceased for prints or observe gunshot residue. He admitted he’s not a ballistic expert and didn’t dust the casings for ﬁngerprints.

During cross-examination, Insp Bowles said he couldn’t identify the exact weapons used but knew the bullet calibres from markings.

Family members of the deceased were present for the hearing.

Maria Daxon, a lawyer for the deceased men’s families, Insp Dean said he couldn’t speak to the number of bullet holes or their trajectory and denied avoiding her questions. He said he photographed and processed the entire vehicle, though acknowledged he didn’t photograph the trunk or back seats because the vehicle was parked against a wall. Coroner Jeanine WeechGomez noted the job was incomplete. Insp Dean said he informed his supervisor of access limitations but couldn’t recall his response. Inspector Austin Bowles, another crime scene investigator, said he collected 40 .223 casings and six 9mm casings at the scene. He also recovered a Glock 9mm pistol and a ﬁred bullet from the dashboard.

TWO JAMAICAN WOMEN FINED AF T ER ADMI TT ING T O CHARGE OF PROS T I T U T ION

DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TWO Jamaican women were fined $500 each after pleading guilty to prostitution charges in Freeport Magistrate’s Court.

Mikaela Selena Jacas, 28, and Toshema Tana Lee Steer, 31, were arrested on April 30 at separate locations in Freeport by immigration officers. The pair appeared before Magistrate LaQuay Laing on Thursday, apologising to the court for bringing shame to themselves, their country, and The Bahamas, and pleading for leniency.

Magistrate Laing reminded them their actions were dangerous and unacceptable before handing down the fines. If unpaid, they face six months in prison.

Once the fines are paid or sentences served, both women will be turned over to immigration officials for deportation.

R APE T RIAL DISCON T INUED AF T ER FAILURE OF ALLEGED 20-YEAR-OLD A MERICAN VIC T IM TO APPEAR IN COUR T

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A TRIAL for the attempted rape of a 20-yearold tourist was discontinued last week after the victim failed to appear in court. Osteen George, 43, was informed that his trial for the alleged crime would not continue due to the absence of his accuser. The case, which was scheduled before Justice Neil Braithwaite, had been relying on the complainant’s testimony. George, accused of attempting to rape an American tourist on Junkanoo Beach on August 2, 2023, was told by prosecutor Bradford McKenzie that a nolle prosequi motion would be ﬁled, meaning the matter may resume if the prosecution locates the victim. George’s attorney, Mario Gray, will continue representing him if the case is revived.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ofﬁcers arrested 31-year-old Shakerio Jones in December after spotting him travelling by boat from The Bahamas to the United States. Authorities said they tracked the vessel as it crossed into US waters off the coast of Miami-Dade, then intercepted it and ordered it to stop.

All 13 people on board were detained. Ofﬁcials conﬁrmed that none had

legal permission to enter the country. The group included nationals from Haiti, the United Kingdom, Honduras, Ireland, India, and The Bahamas. Jones had previously been deported from the United States.

“The CBP ofﬁcers brought Jones to shore to face charges. The rest of aliens were returned to The Bahamas,” a US press release said.

He pleaded guilty to alien smuggling on April 24 before Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres. On April 30, US District Judge Jacqueline Becerra accepted the

plea and formally found him guilty.

Jones now faces up to 20 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and a ﬁne of up to $250,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 18 July in Miami.

According to The Tribune’s records, Jones was previously charged in 2021 with three counts of attempted murder in Grand Bahama.

The charges were linked to a Christmas Day shooting in West End. He was remanded in 2022 for trial, though the status of that case remains unclear.

TWO YEARS JAIL FOR MOLES T ING T EEN S

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 57-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to two years in prison on Friday after being convicted of molesting his 15-year-old stepdaughter on two separate occasions in 2021.

The man, whose name is not being reported to protect the identity of his

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

LEVI Johnson, 29, was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to possessing a riﬂe and

victim, was found guilty of indecent assault by Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt Evans after a lengthy trial. The assaults took place between February and March 2021, with the man groping his stepdaughter’s private areas on two occasions. Although the victim’s mother had passed away before the trial’s conclusion, her statement corroborating the accusations was read into evidence. The man, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial, was sentenced to serve two years at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Linda Virgil represented the accused, while Assistant Superintendent of Police Sonteino Coakley acted as prosecutor.

TWO YEARS PRISON FOR ILLEGAL FIREARM AND AMMO

ammunition during a police search on Cameron Street last week.

Police said they found a black Bear Creek Arsenal riﬂe, 12 5.56 rounds and seven .223 rounds during a search on April 30.

Johnson pleaded guilty. His co-accused, Barry Johnson, 24, pleaded not guilty and was granted $5,000 bail. Barry must sign in monthly at the Nassau Street Police Station and is due back in court on May 15.

M AN FINED $5K FOR ADMI TT ING TO PASSPOR T FRAUD

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 37-YEAR-OLD MAN was fined $5,000 on Friday after pleading guilty to passport fraud.

Louis Jude Nelson Sanon admitted to obtaining a Bahamian passport under false pretences on October 23, 2024, and using it at the National Insurance Board and Department of

Immigration in separate incidents in November and April. He accepted the prosecution’s account of events and was told to pay the fine or face one year in prison.

M AN ACCUSED OF LIBEL AGAINS T A POLICE OFFICER

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of libel against a police ofﬁcer on WhatsApp was granted $3,000 bail on Friday.

Ezekiel Pratt Sr, 41, is accused of calling Inspector Renaldo Roxbury “a thief in uniform” and demanding $8,600 from him via WhatsApp on March 15. He also faces charges of causing $1,250 in damage to a printer head at Royalty Printz and attempted extortion. Pratt pleaded not guilty. As part of his bail, he must report to his local police station every Monday. His trial is set for July 23.