‘pay up $100k’ for unlawful detention
Court:
Comply or govt must provide full $2m settlement
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Supreme Court has denied the government’s attempt to reopen a longsettled liability case in the high-profile unlawful detention lawsuit brought by Jamaican national Matthew Sewell, while imposing a financial condition for delaying payment of a $2m damages award.
In a decision issued this week, Chief Justice Sir Ian Winder refused to grant the government an extension of time and leave to appeal two interlocutory rulings made in 2020, citing a four-year delay that he called “inordinate and unexplained.” Sir Ian simultaneously granted a stay of execution on the August 2024
Court of Appe A l quA shes Williams’ murder conviction
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
THE Court of Appeal has quashed the murder conviction of Marcellus Williams and substituted two lesser convictions for robbery following a successful application to reopen his appeal. Mr Williams, along with Anton Bastian and Craig Johnson, was convicted in 2015 of the murder of American sailor Kyle Bruner and two counts of armed robbery. He was sentenced to 40 years for murder and 12 years for each robbery count. His initial appeal was dismissed in 2018. In 2024, Mr Bastian
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
CAPTAIN Floyd Moxey assumed command as the ninth Commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defence
Force (RBDF) yesterday, stepping in at a time when The Bahamas is reinforcing its southern maritime presence in response to the worsening crisis in Haiti.
Commodore Moxey laid out a reform agenda at his
Change of Command Ceremony at HMBS Coral Harbour, including a new court-martial system and an anonymous feedback platform to improve discipline,
Archbishop Pinder: Election of new Pope beginning of new era
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
ARCHBISHOP Pat-
rick Pinder said Thursday’s election of Pope Leo XIV marked a moment of joy for the Roman Catholic community in The Bahamas, calling it the beginning of a new chapter while affirming continuity with the Church’s global mission.
He spoke to reporters following the revelation that the new pontiff is former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a native of Chicago who previously served as prefect for the Congregation of Bishops in Rome and held pastoral appointments in Peru. He noted the significance of Pope Leo’s diverse
robert francis prevost, now Pope Leo XIV.
Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe KC, outgoing Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) commodore Raymond King and incoming commodore Floyd Moxey greet Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis during a RBDF command change ceremony at HMBS Coral Harbor yesterday.
Photo: Dante carrer/Tribune Staff
Moxey installed as new commodore of RBDF
accountability, and morale across the force.
He replaces Dr Raymond King. Under Commodore Moxey’s leadership, the force faces immediate operational strain. The RBDF’s maritime fleet is running at just 65 percent capacity — far below the 85 percent target. Fixing that shortfall, Commodore Moxey said, is his top priority.
“Our operations must be intelligence-driven and forward-looking,” he said. He pledged to boost patrol rotations, set up small boat stations in key locations, and ensure personnel are well-supported and mission-ready.
He also announced plans to introduce a family support event and expand welfare programmes. An anonymous feedback system, he said, will give marines and staff a safe channel to raise concerns, reinforcing internal transparency and trust.
To strengthen capabilities, the RBDF will pursue long-term maintenance contracts, adopt a predictive supply model, and invest in training for pilots, mechanics, and unmanned aerial vehicle operators. Commodore Moxey also confirmed that four new safe boats will be commissioned soon, stationed alongside coastal radar systems to expand
surveillance coverage.
The growing instability in Haiti, where gang violence and political turmoil have displaced tens of thousands, has pushed regional governments — including The Bahamas — to bolster border controls and intelligence operations. Commodore Moxey said the RBDF will deepen partnerships with regional allies like the Turks and Caicos Islands, focusing on intelligence sharing and formal agreements to better manage migrant activity.
A new entry of 150 personnel in May will help address manpower needs, he added.
Asked whether he would implement outgoing Commander Dr King’s proposal to require financial disclosures from senior officers involved in logistics and procurement, Commodore Moxey said he would consider the suggestion carefully.
He emphasised his broader vision: an RBDF that is “honest, resilient, and forward-looking”.
“A force that honours tradition but is not bound by it. That invests in people as our greatest assets and stands as a model of professionalism, innovation, and integrity for our region and the world,” he said.
“We will build a culture where excellence is not the exception but the expectation. We will foster unity, discipline, and courage, ensuring that every officer, warrant officer, marine, and civilian staff is empowered to grow, to lead, and to serve with pride.”
Dr King, in his farewell address, thanked military and civilian supporters and reflected on his time as commodore. “As I exit the highest office in this distinguished military, I do so with a sense of pride in the work that we have accomplished together,” he said, describing his leadership style as defined by professionalism, fairness, and service to the public.
In a personal tribute, his wife, retired Force Chief Petty Officer Fredricka King, serenaded him with “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, who attended the ceremony, praised both men. He commended Dr King for leading through crisis and crafting a clear and effective maritime security strategy. He also expressed strong confidence in Commodore Moxey.
“Captain Moxey is, in many ways, what public service ought to look like
— not glamorous, not boastful, but honest, professional, thoughtful,” said Mr Davis. “He started out as a marine mechanic in Mangrove Cay, Andros, worked his way up across 40 years of service, mastering technical operations, legal frameworks, and the complex workings of a national security policy.” Commodore Moxey joined the RBDF in 1982 and steadily rose through the ranks. He earned his law degree in 2008 and later served as Crown Counsel at the Office of the Attorney General before returning to the RBDF to advise on legal and policy matters. He was appointed Legal Counsel to the Ministry of National Security in 2021, advising agencies including the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Department of Correctional Services. He has received numerous honours, including the Distinguished Service Award, the Meritorious Award, the Long Service and Good Conduct Award, the National Security Commendation, the Commander Defence Force Commendation, and the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Award.
• See PAGE 12 for more photos.
Officer tells inquest 41 bullet entry points seen on victims’ vehicle
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE officer testified yesterday that there were 41 bullet entry holes in the vehicle of three men who were shot and killed by police on Cowpen Road in 2020. The officer further claimed that two bullet holes were fired from inside the vehicle, while another officer said the police only returned fire on the deceased.
Inspector Tereah Thomas of the Firearm Identification Unit, provided this evidence during the inquest into the deaths of Deshoan “Spider” Smith, 25, Rashad Clarke, 28, and Jared
Ford, 27, who were fatally shot near Spikenard and Cowpen Roads on 13 June 2020. Inspector Alcott Forbes, Corporal Kevin Greenslade Jr, and Police Constable Courtney Hall — the officers involved in the incident — were present in court. A five-member jury is tasked with determining the events surrounding the shooting. Police previously said the men were in a white Honda Accord parked near Spikenard Cemetery. When officers approached, the vehicle allegedly fled, and the men reportedly opened fire, prompting the police to return fire.
Inspector Thomas testified that on June 15, 2020, she examined and sketched
the deceased’s vehicle, recording the number and positioning of the bullet holes while the car was parked at CID. According to her investigation, 41 of the 43 gunshot holes were fired from outside the vehicle, while two were fired from inside.
Inspector Thomas explained that the two shots fired from inside the vehicle created holes near the lower left side of the front windshield, near the steering wheel.
While viewing a photo of the vehicle’s front side, she confirmed that the holes were caused by gunshots, based on the physical properties of the glass. However, she could not identify the calibre of the bullets fired
Patrick Arlington Ellis, 59
from either inside or outside the vehicle.
She told Angelo Whitfield, the evidence marshal, that she was unaware of the date of the actual incident.
She also said she saw no bullet holes at the rear of the vehicle, including the back windshield.
When questioned by the jury, the officer was unable to specify where the bullet reportedly lodged in the dashboard of the vehicle had been fired from.
Inspector Jake Petty, who had previously testified that AK-47 casings were found at the scene, recanted his earlier statement during cross-examination by the officer’s attorney, K Melvin Munroe.
Inspector Petty, while referencing a report on casings recovered from the scene, admitted that his earlier statement had been a “guesstimate.” He clarified that the casing in question, which he had described as a .762 round (which can be fired from an AK-47), was actually a .223 round.
officers at the scene to collect evidence, including spent .223 and 9mm casings surrounding the vehicle. Sgt Rolle also stated that he collected the officers’ weapons. These included Inspector Forbes’s black Sig Sauer 9mm pistol with 11 rounds; Corporal Greenslade’s black rifle with two magazines containing 32 rounds of .223 ammunition; and Constable Hall’s black rifle with two magazines holding 33 rounds.
Inspector Christoph Greenslade, a former police firearms trainer, said that officers are trained to identify themselves and assess threat levels on a case-by-case basis when dealing with suspects. He also said it is up to the individual officer to determine if deadly force is necessary.
an individual officer cannot determine how many rounds their colleagues will fire when faced with an armed threat. He explained that it is up to each officer to decide when the threat has been neutralised.
Inspector Greenslade also said that officers are at a disadvantage if they are fired upon first by a suspect and must “urgently” return fire until the threat is neutralised.
One officer testified that the deceased allegedly fired first at officers before they returned fire in this incident.
Inspector Greenslade told Coroner Kara Turnquest Deveaux that the firearms training and issuing officer would determine whether individual officers are fit to carry a weapon.
Parick is survived by his brothers & their spouses: Raymond and Deborah Wright and Burkhart and Mellissa Ellis (North Carolina, US) and Garnette Leroy and Patricia Ellis; sisters and spouses: Dedrie and Bursel Woods and R/Supt. Deloria Moncur, Sharon and Kevin Sands, Derick and Val Gilbert; nieces and nephews: Raymond Wright Jr. and Vanessa, Prince Wright, Burkheart Ellis Jr., Jamal, Gia, Gail, Rayshorna, Shanell Gibson, Andea and Simone Ellis Dr. Dellareece and Donald Isaacs, Supt. Buchanan and Marsha Moncur, Dianna and Jermaine Murray, Rudolph and Corey Ellis, Denise and Garvin Taylor, Sean Sands, Jennine and Ron Hepburn, Shakeira and Michael Plakaris, Keisha Sands, Phiona and Jason Carey, Phylicia and Shari Clarke, Giovanni Moncur and many grand nieces and nephews including: Shae Bonaby, Rhianna and Seth Wright, Gabriella Marshall, Bridell Sweeting, Ravell Thompson, Prince Shiloh, Prekiha and Preniyha Wright; numerous other relatives and friends including: the Garden Hills and Rum Cay community, the Ellis, Bain and Dorsette family and the management and staff of the A & A Comfort Care, Pinewood Gardens. Memorial Service of Thanksgiving for
The officer confirmed that .223 rifle casings had been recovered from the scene and that such ammunition was issued to police officers. He also said that he was not trained to identify spent casings.
Detective Sergeant Desmond Rolle had previously testified that he instructed
of Garden Hills, New Providence, The Bahamas, will be on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 10:00 am at Miracle Life Centre International Wellington Street, West, New Providence, The Bahamas Officiating will be Associate Pastor Rudy Hall. Cremation was held
Inspector Greenslade explained that officers are taught to move toward the threat and neutralise it. In addition to saying that officers are trained to aim for the centre mass, he emphasised that their duty is to protect the public and their fellow officers. He added that the dispatch call describing the situation helps officers assess the threat level they are heading into.
In response to a question from Mr Munroe, Inspector Greenslade said that
After photos of the deceased were shown in the morgue, Maria Daxon, the attorney for the estates of the deceased, was strongly cautioned by the Coroner to end her intense line of questioning regarding the extent of injuries suffered by the three men. Coroner Deveaux said that the officer had only photographed the bodies.
Coroner Deveaux advised Ms Daxon to reserve such questions for the pathologist, who would provide testimony on the matter.
Death Notice For
Trevor Ricardo Sands Sr., 50
of Margaret Avenue, New Providence, Bahamas died at his residence on Sunday, May 4, 2025. He is survived by his mother: Sherry Walkine; son: Trevor Sands Jr.; daughters: Shante, Trenea, Ashanti, Trevornique and Tianna; sisters: Lakasha Miller and Kaywana Sands; brothers: Vivian Wallace Sands, Decosta & Deon Deveaux, Frederick Dycie and Luchiano Sands; 6 grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral arrangements are being finalized and will be announced at a later date.
IncomIng Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) commodore Floyd Moxey offers his inaugural salute during a command change ceremony at HMBS Coral Harbor yesterday.
Photo: Dante carrer/Tribune Staff
The Tribune Limited
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
Publisher/Editor 1972-
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A changing of the guards
YESTERDAY was a day of change. Internationally, the world came to a pause as white smoke rose from the Vatican, signalling that a new Pope had been chosen.
Here on our shores, there was a transition of our own, with the new Defence Force Commodore taking up his role. Worlds apart, linked by a common date.
The new Pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a history maker already – the first American to rise to the papacy.
He chose the name Leo, becoming Pope Leo XIV. It is a name rich in history – with the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University saying that the name is “a deep sign of commitment to social issues”.
Quite which Leo is being paid tribute to by the choice of name is not clear. Perhaps it is Pope Leo I, who was Pope from 440 to 461. If the current Pope has a world in turmoil to face up to, with war in Ukraine, and the brink of war between India and Pakistan, as well as the horror in Gaza, then he might consider that first Pope Leo met Attila the Hun and persuaded him not to attack Rome.
Or perhaps there is the last Pope Leo, from 1878 to 1903, who tackled workers’ rights and is considered to have laid the foundation of modern Catholic social thought.
Perhaps too he is following in the footsteps of Pope Francis in the manner that Brother Leo followed in the footsteps of his best friend, St Francis of Assisi.
Brother Leo was St Francis’ constant companion, and continued to carry his message after his friend’s death.
Archbishop Patrick Pinder, here in The Bahamas, said the election marked a moment of joy.
While he said it is too early to know what the election will mean for The Bahamas, he hoped that the church would carry on in the direction set by his predecessor.
A deep concern for those in poverty, for those on the fringes of society, marked the beliefs of Pope Francis. Those most in need are still very much in need – and we must keep reaching out to help them.
In the day’s other transition, the new commodore took on his role, the ceremonial sword handed over for him to take the Royal Bahamas Defence Force onward.
Ensuring the fleet is fit for service is seemingly top of his agenda, while keeping an eye on issues such as the chaos in Haiti.
He also spoke of wanting to see a force that is “honest, resilient and forward-looking”.
Commodore Floyd Moxey talked of honouring tradition, of professionalism and integrity.
Accusations such as the US indictment alleging police and defence officers being involved in an international smuggling ring means the new commodore has stormy seas to navigate before he even considers the boats at his disposal. We hope those watchwords of honest, integrity and honour serve as guiding lights to steer the force through those waters – and to ensure its reputation is not just preserved, but that when it emerges from those investigations, it will be a shining light.
Cruise ship’s impact to locals
EDITOR, The Tribune.
NEVER a dull moment as every day poses new challenges, but this one in the caption speaks to the extent to which the cruise ships have involved themselves in local tourists business, competing without fail with the ministry of tourism, and locals engaged in the trade: from acquiring small Bahamian islands, converting them to resorts, making them a part of their itineraries, stopping there before arriving at Nassau cruise port, at which time the visitors have complained that they were too tired, or had spent most of their money at the cruise ship islands (the first portof-call). These people were so cunning, clever, that they construe them with all of the amenities to be found in Nassau City & Paradise island, (a direct conflict of interest, and a denial of funds, taxes to our local public treasury, so Bahamas government, what ought the penal be, do you care)?
Sometime around 11.30am, on making my trek through town I ran into the same friend as a taxi
cab driver and here is what he said, this is the latest information the ships have turned up the heat against the amount of damage they want to inflict on our tourist product! What do you mean, I ask? The crew members have organised themselves into groups of walking tours and we know them, because they carry the ships’ insignias, and what happens you’ll see them with long lines of passengers on the walking city tours. What do you think they charge? Yes, they are all about money. Another point sir, when you write the newspapers, tell them also that Bahamians were not being allowed to sell their wares on Bay Street, somehow the police are always called in, to have them removed. That is horrible, when I was a policeman, we had an offense called ‘Hawking’, don’t know if that still stands, when the government has been repealing less important stuff? The Bahamian people need to eat, to provide for their families. To be fair to the system, I have been told
THIS year marks the 10th anniversary of the official operation of the ChinaCELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum. The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum will be held in Beijing on May 13. We warmly welcome the Hon Alfred Sears, Minister of Immigration and National Insurance and the Hon Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness, to represent The Bahamas to attend the meeting. The theme of the meeting is “Deepening Development Cooperation for Common Progress and Building a China-LAC Community with a Shared Future.” At a time when uncertainties, instabilities, and unpredictable factors are on the rise globally, China stands ready to work with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries including The Bahamas to chart the course for future cooperation, send a strong message of unity and coordination, and inject stability and positive energy to a turbulent world.
Regrettably, though not surprisingly, whenever China and LAC countries are embracing fresh opportunities for development, voices smearing China and undermining China-LAC cooperation re-emerge. Over the past decade, as China-LAC relations have flourished, the US has repeatedly played the same old tune of hyping up “China threat” narratives and falsely claiming that China harbors strategic motives behind its cooperation with LAC countries. Facts speak louder than words. China’s cooperation with LAC countries has delivered tangible benefits and is welcomed by the people. China is not a colonialist, but a true friend and brother of LAC countries in the Global South. We always respect LAC countries and offer valuable opportunities for their independent development, prosperity, and strength.
mutual respect, equality, and win-win cooperation. We do not seek spheres of influence or target any third party. The US should abandon its outdated Cold War mentality and zero-sum mindset, and stop coercing LAC countries into taking sides.
2. Economic and Trade Cooperation has yielded fruitful results
Over the past decade, China-LAC cooperation has expanded from traditional sectors to new areas such as clean energy, digital technology, and cross-border e-commerce, with continuous upgrading in quality and efficiency. China has remained LAC’s second-largest trading partner for many years. In 2024, China-LAC trade reached a historic high of US $518.4 billion—double the figure of ten years ago. More than 20 LAC countries have joined the Belt and Road Initiative. Ten have signed cooperation plans with China. More and more countries are actively supporting the GDI. China has carried out over 200 infrastructure projects in the region. The Phoenix Park Industrial Estate in Trinidad and Tobago is now the most advanced light industrial zone in the Caribbean in terms of automation and environmental standards. Jamaica’s first modern expressway has cut travel time between its northern and southern coasts by more than half. These projects have created nearly one million jobs and laid a solid foundation for sustainable development in LAC region.
exemption list. ChinaBahamas visa exemption agreement came into effect in 2014, which has promoted exchanges between the peoples of the two countries.
The exchange of culture is the bond that connects the Chinese and LAC peoples. The Bahamian cultural treasure, the Jankanoo Parade, is loved by the Chinese. China’s traditional culture, such as the Spring Festival, dragon boats, calligraphy, and kites, is increasingly popular among Bahamians. The exchange and mutual learning of different cultures have enhanced the mutual respect and in-depth understanding of each other’s culture and laid a solid peopleto-peole foundation for consolidating the ChinaLAC community with a shared future. Whether China-LAC relations and China-LAC cooperation benefit the people or is “malicious influence,” the people know the best. It is doomed to fail in sowing discord between China and LAC.
4. The China-CELAC Forum has achieved fruitful results
that those people wanting to sell their souvenirs were invited to apply for a permit, some have it, and others, either don’t know, or just lawless, one way or another, order must come to Bay Street, otherwise?
In conclusion, during the normal course of logics, if a person believes that you need them much more than they do you, they will take you on a wild ride, if you failed to put your foot down and let them know, that arrangement we have, does not involve my life, and is cancelable at anytime, I will not allow you to abused e in the name of business, because if not you, there will always be others wanting to come, remember The Bahamas is one of the last peaceful tourist destination on the earth, hallelujah, amen!
Editor, I just keep trying to get out of writing these articles, but Father God keeps telling me ‘the same format, breakfast and library to write as He directs!
FRANK gILBERT Nassau, May 5, 2025.
1. Political mutual trust has been strengthened. Political mutual trust is the foundation of ChinaLAC relations. Over the past decade, under the guidance of building a China-LAC community with a shared future, our relations have entered a new stage featuring equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness, and benefits for the people. An increasing number of LAC countries have responded positively to and participated in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. In March 2024, The Bahamas formally endorsed GDI. This fully demonstrates LAC countries’ recognition and support for China’s vision and highlights the growing political mutual trust between the two sides.
China and LAC countries firmly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity, and core interests. We oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs and reject hegemony and power politics. China supports LAC’s regional integration and seeks to develop relations with the region on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and noninterference. China-LAC cooperation is South-South cooperation—based on mutual support and free from geopolitical calculation. In developing relations with LAC countries, China follows the principles of
Today, products such as beef, coffee, lobster, bananas, and cherries from LAC countries are readily available across Chinese cities and e-commerce platforms. Chinese electric vehicles are a common sight in LAC countries, including on the streets of Nassau. High-end smart phones made entirely in China are increasingly popular among LAC consumers—vivid proof of the vitality of our economic partnership.
China believes that LAC countries have the right and wisdom to choose their own trading partners. No country should dictate whom LAC countries should do business with. Many Bahamians have told me that The Bahamas has a long list of projects and looks forward to investment, concessional loans and development assistance grant from all parties to improve people’s livelihoods. Some countries have long been paying lip service, talking much but delivering little. Worse still, they seek to obstruct China’s cooperation efforts. Such behavior—“not doing it themselves, yet forbidding others to do it”—is nothing but hegemonic bullying, and it will win no hearts.
3. People-to-people exchanges deepen Over the past decade, China-LAC cultural exchanges have become increasingly close, and people’s mutual understanding and goodwill have improved. China has provided 17,000 government scholarships and 13,000 training opportunities in China to LAC; signed 26 education cooperation agreements or memorandums of understanding with 19 countries; and established 68 Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in 26 countries. China has included many LAC countries in the 240-hour transit visa
Over the past ten years, the China-CELAC Forum has successfully held three ministerial meetings and more than 100 activities covering 31 sub-forums. Many sub-forums of the China-CELAC Forum have become the “golden signboard” of China-LAC cooperation: the ChinaCELAC Political Parties Forum has been held for four sessions, inviting nearly 2,000 LAC political party personnel to China to build a platform for exchanges on governance between the two sides; the China-CELAC Entrepreneurs Summit has been held for 17 sessions, constantly creating new growth points for cooperation such as new energy, photovoltaics, electric vehicles, digital technology, and cross-border e-commerce; the China-CELAC Infrastructure Forum has been held for 10 sessions, effectively enhancing the level of cooperation between China and LAC in traditional and new infrastructure fields. The then Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas Mr.Davis, and the then Minister of Works Mr. Sears, attended the forum. Many sub-forums actively explore new models and paths to achieve sustainable development between China and LAC. Every bit of progress made in the 10 years since the China-CELAC Forum was officially launched has followed the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit. They are all choices made independently by the people of China and LAC, and they all express the aspirations of the countries and peoples of LAC. China’s cooperation with LAC is in line with both sides’ fundamental and long-term interests and can stand the test of facts and history. The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum will be a handshake across mountains and seas, a grand event for both sides. We have every reason to believe that the meeting will succeed.
YAN JIARONg, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas May 8, 2025
Police find $165k worth of marijuana in abandoned vehicle in Grand Bahama
By Denise Maycock Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
NEARLY 100 taped packages of suspected marijuana worth $165,000 were discovered in an abandoned vehicle in the Freeport area late Wednesday evening, police reported.
Chief Superintendent
Will Hart, the officer in charge of crime in Grand Bahama, said that at about 8.20pm, a team from the Rapid Response Unit, acting on intelligence, went to North Bahamia, where a white Chevy Malibu was parked with no license plates attached.
Upon inspecting the vehicle, officers discovered
two suitcases, which contained multiple brownwrapped packages of suspected marijuana.
During a press conference at Police Headquarters on Thursday, Mr Hart revealed that 83 brown packages were recovered from the suitcases, weighing approximately 165 pounds.
“The vehicle and the suitcases were taken into police custody for further evaluation and forensic examination,” he said.
Although no arrests have been made at this time, Mr Hart emphasised that investigations are actively underway.
“We are hopeful that this matter will be resolved in short order. I want to
sound the alarm to those responsible — if you have any information about how these drugs got into that vehicle, or if you are responsible, we urge you to turn yourself in at the nearest police station,” he said.
He added that the Royal Bahamas Police Force remains committed to the fight against illegal drugs, regardless of the quantity.
“Whether it is a small amount or a large amount, it is the same, we remain steadfast in ridding the Bahamas of all drugs,”
Chief Supt Hart stressed.
“This seizure is a clear indication that we will ensure the Bahamian people will not be disrupted by this form of drugs.”
Woman accused of trying to kill boyfriend has case discontinued
By PaVeL BaiLey Tribune s taff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THE case against a 24-year-old woman accused of attempting to murder her boyfriend in 2022 was discontinued last week.
By PaVeL BaiLey
Tribune s taff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 22-YEAR-oLD man was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of raping a 21-year-old woman in the Marshal Road area last month.
Ines David Previl appeared before Chief Magistrate Roberto
Brittney Nelson was informed by a Supreme Court Justice that her case would not proceed. The prosecution entered a nolle prosequi, a formal notice indicating that the charges would not be pursued.
Charged for robbing a man at gunpoint Seven month S
By PaVeL BaiLey Tribune s taff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN awaiting trial for armed robbery has been sentenced to seven months in prison after admitting he failed to sign in at his local police station for 58 days while out on bail.
Reckley, charged with one count of rape.
Prosecutors allege that Previl had non-consensual sexual intercourse with the woman inside a vehicle during the night of April 6–7. He was not required to enter a plea and was informed that the case would be transferred to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of
Nelson had been accused of stabbing Lickerson Donfred multiple times during a fight on August 16, 2022.
Donfred was reportedly in critical condition following the incident but later recovered after receiving treatment in hospital.
indictment (VBI).
Previl was also advised of his right to apply for bail in the higher court. He will remain in custody at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until at least August 28, when the VBI may be served.
Inspector Deon Barr appeared for the prosecution.
By PaVeL BaiLey Tribune s taff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 27-YEAR-oLD man has been remanded to custody after being accused of committing an armed robbery on Ferguson Road in March.
Dameko Nottage appeared before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley yesterday, charged with the armed robbery of Lewis Sweeting. Prosecutors allege that on March 17, Nottage approached Mr Sweeting in a vehicle and, at gunpoint, stole his Samsung A30 cellphone during a drive-by mugging. The phone is valued at $300. Nottage was not required to enter a plea. He was informed that the case would proceed to the
Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was also advised of his right to apply for bail through the higher court. Nottage will remain at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until the VBI is expected to be presented on August 21. Inspector Deon Barr served as the prosecutor.
Verico Brown, 20, appeared before Senior Magistrate Raquel Whyms on a charge of violating his bail conditions.
January 1 and May 2 in New Providence, missing 58 check-ins.
Brown had been granted bail by Justice Joyann Ferguson-Pratt on charges of armed robbery and receiving. While out on bail, Brown failed to report to the police station as required between
He pleaded guilty to the charge.
As a result, Brown was sentenced to seven months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
Sergeant 2257 Wilkinson served as the prosecutor.
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•Meet and exceed monthly sales targets and customer satisfaction goals.
•Maintain accurate records of customer information and sales activity in the system.
•Follow up with prospective and existing customers to encourage loyalty and referrals.
•Collaborate with the finance and service departments to ensure a seamless customer experience.
Qualifications:
•High school diploma or equivalent.
•Previous experience in automotive sales or a customer-facing sales role is preferred.
•Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
•Goal-oriented with a positive attitude and a passion for delivering excellent customer service.
•Basic understanding of financing options and vehicle features.
•Proficient in using computers and sales software.
•Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
Position Summary
Responsible for overseeing all security department staff and ensuring that sufficient security measures are in place and followed. Ensure that security requirements are adhered to throughout the organization. Develop and execute innovative ideas to improve current safety standards so that all work environments are always secure and safe
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
• Conducts risk assessments covering lighting, access control, surveillance, and overall facility vulnerabilities.
• Analyzes current and future security and safety needs and implements effective solutions.
• Researches and briefs on potential threats and non-technical risks.
• Hires, trains, and supervises security staff; improves performance through guidance and procedures.
• Leads incident investigations, compiles detailed reports, and ensures appropriate follow-up actions.
• Assists Human Resources with internal investigations and staff-related issues. Collaborates on team training related to security policies, customer service, grooming, and safety.
• Develops and facilitates security training with law enforcement and internal trainers.
• Develops and maintains facility-wide security plans and SOPs.
• Oversees armored truck operations, shift scheduling, and branch staffing.
• Coordinates kiosk machine clearance and supports store openings/closings as needed.
• Conducts spot checks to monitor alertness and standard adherence. Ensures fire safety systems are functional through inspections and documentation.
• Performs patrols and evaluates the performance of security officers..
• Prepares incident reports for executive leadership and liaises with the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
• Conducts staff performance evaluations and recommends improvements to security operations.
Skills /Experience Required
• Must have a solid understanding of information technology and application security practices, including the areas of platform architecture, application security modeling, and systems integrity
• Willingness to meet deadlines consistently
• Ability to analyze information in an objective and nonbiased manner
• Excellent organizational skills
and
Police speak to press about discovery of $165k worth of marijuana found in abandoned vehicle in Grand Bahama.
Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
Mailboats which sank in Bahamas over 200 years
More than 300 mailboats have served The Bahamas over 200 years, and many dozens sank; whether from groundings, fires, system failures, waves, neglect, Cuban bombs in Miami canals, or otherwise. These are stories of those casualties, some of which claimed the lives of passangers and crew. While not comprehensive, it is illustrative of the dangers faced in shallow but perilous waters.
The accounts are drawn from newspaper archives, interviews, and callers who provided details during a ZNZ radio programme hosted by Spence Finlayson called “Immediate response” in 2022.
An undated story is entitled “Andros residents rap sunken mailboat,” and describes how Mangrove Cay residents “are complaning that the continued presense of a sunken mailboat at the dock of Little Harbour, Andros, is causing hardship for residents wishing to import cars and othe oversized consumer items,” including fridges, and juke boxes.
The 80-foot mailboat named Captain Johnson express sank at the town dock at easter in 1973. A leading merchant told The Tribune that “the Captain Moxey has to anchor offside and supplies put into a dinghy and brought ashore. Locals brought the matter to the attention of a transport minister who was also district representative, but months later were still waiting action. An unrelated
By Eric Wiberg
vessel named Betty Ann was beached in the mangroves nearby some years later, and when Queen elizabeth II visited, it was set alight to remove the eyesore.
Not all emergencies lead to sinkings; in January, 1973 the Tribune reported that both Church Bay and Staniel Cay express “were disabled with engine trouble on their way to Nassau and had to be towed into safe harbour”.
Staniel Cay express had to be towed into Cistern Cay, exuma by a Good Samaritan, arriving after 10pm due to an engine failure. The Church Bay had been a minesweeper built by Sir roland Symonette in World War II, as was the Stede Bonnet, and had recently been in drydock in Abaco for engine repairs. It was towed by the tanker Texaco Bahamas into Ship Channel Cay, exuma. The mailboat crew fixed one engine and limped into Nassau, completing a voyage from Cat Island to the capital, and the tanker carried on to San Salvador. An unusual mailboat had been built as a mine layer in Jamaica for the royal Navy in 1940. ML 371 was 112 feet long,
wooden, 129 tons, motor and registered in Nassau in 1951. It served Mayaguana, Crooked Island and Acklins, Inagua, and ragged Island between 1946 and 1951, under the ownerships of the Taylor and Williamson families, Henry L roberts up to 1956, and one of her captains was Daniel Gibson. Unconfirmed oral history has ML 371 sinking east of Nassau, within sight of the capital. In March of 2000 Alma B, owned by Spence Brown, sank off Cat Cay, Bimini, with two persons perishing. Almeta Queen sank on its first delivery voyage to Abaco from Nassau in 1972, due to portholes being left open and water flooding in. In 1975 diplomatic cables with US the South Andros express had a galley fire, in response to which the US Navy deployed from AUTeC. The mailboat Nellie Leonora was destroyed at rum Cay in a hurricane of August 1916. Arawak, built in Hatchet Bay for Austin Levy, sank on a voyage from Jacksonville to eleuthera, Bimini Gal sank at her namesake island in 1972. Brontes was tragically lost in the July 1926 hurricane
Position Summary
JOB OPPORTUNITY
The Handover Specialist plays a key role in the post-sale customer experience by ensuring a seamless and professional delivery process for all vehicle purchases. This role is responsible for coordinating pre-delivery inspections (PDI), preparing documentation, and delivering a comprehensive and customer-friendly vehicle handover. The Handover Specialist acts as the final point of contact before the customer takes ownership of their new vehicle, ensuring satisfaction and understanding of key vehicle features.
Key Responsibilities:
• Initiate and coordinate the Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) process immediately after a vehicle sale.
• Liaise with service and detailing teams to ensure the vehicle is fully prepared for delivery (cleaned, fueled, inspected, and accessories installed as needed).
• Verify that all PDI checklists and quality control steps have been completed to brand standards.
• Schedule and organize customer handover appointments in coordination with the sales and service departments. Conduct professional and courteous handover meetings with customers:Review and explain vehicle documentation and ownership details.
• Provide a detailed overview of vehicle features, controls, and technology
• Assist customers in setting up key features such as Bluetooth, navigation, driver preferences, and more.
• Answer any customer questions and provide hands-on demonstrations to ensure customer comfort with their new vehicle.
• Ensure all customer records and handover documents are complete, signed, and accurately filed.
Maintain an organized delivery area and uphold brand presentation standards.
Qualifications
• High school diploma or equivalent; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree is a plus.
• Prior experience in automotive, customer service, or delivery coordination is preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational abilities.
• Knowledge of vehicle features and technology (training will be provided). Ability to deliver a high-quality, customer-focused experience.
• Proficiency with basic computer systems and dealership software is an asset.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
Key Competencies
• Customer service excellence
• Professionalism and confidence
• Product knowledge and enthusiasm
• Time management and multitasking
ML-371, 1944
BEtty Ann, 1947
with 30 souls near Highbourne Cay. Captain Dean II caught fire and sank between Berry Islands and Abaco in 1968. The first Captain Moxey sank west of Great exuma around 1998. Captain Dean IV was run aground intentionally near Sandy Point and the crew rescued by the US Coast Guard in 1977. Captain Dean V sank at the Frederick Street dock in Nassau during a fire which killed Captain Stanford Curry in September, 1986. Caribbean Queen sank off Cay Sal en route from the Florida Keys to the Dominican republic in January of 1961. Cat Island Princess (or express) sank off the Berry Islands on a voyage from Grand Bahama with cement on 13 March, 2018. Clermont sank off Holein-the-Wall Light, in 1962. The schooner Defense wrecked by being smashed inside the harbor at Bimini in the 1926 hurricane per Wayne Neely. Bahamas Drake sank off Farmers Cay, exuma on December 29, 1968. eleuthera express sank on a voyage from Haiti to Cuba in the late 1980s. emmett & Cephas sank in 2001, and Gleaner express ran aground at Harvey’s Cay exuma, in the early 1970s; though it was towed to Nassau and repaired, the mailboat was taken out of service during the 1980s. Perhaps the most unusual fate of a Bahamian mailboat was that of Goldfinger, which served Andros, Berry Islands, Bimini, and North eleuthera from 1972 until 1977.
In August of 1975,
during a time of heightened tension between Bahamas and Cuba over fishing rights at places like Cay Sal Bank and ragged Island, Goldfinger was lying in Miami river when it was sunk by a terrorist bomb in August 1975 presumably by CubanAmerican divers. The boat, which had served Imperial Lighthouse Service, was raised, repaired and salvaged, ultimately sinking in a storm northeast of Andros on 5 April, 1977.
Hazel Dell was a twomasted schooner built in 1906 for W. J. Pinder which caught fire and sank in 1960. Central Andros express sank at Potter’s Cay, Nassau in July, 2014 and was removed in the fall of 2016. Lady edina was sold to owners in roatan Honduras about 2005, where it sank at or near Utila or Guanaja, outside The Bahamas. Lady eula ran aground and sank at San Salvador in 1981, due, it is said, to navigational error. The first Lady rosalind struck a rock and was damaged in 1997, then was towed to north-central Potters Cay, between the bridges, donated to DB Bahamas, and despite several attempts to refloat or scrap it to make space for commercial activities, its remains, fate uncertain.
Lady Tasha languished in a semi-sunken state on the northwest end of Potter’s Cay in the 2000s, then was towed to the southwest corner of Arawak Cay after 2016, only to sink again.
Mangrove Cay express first sank in 1988, then, sometime around 2009 Joseph Moxey went to US to buy it and convert it to a mail boat. Though he delivered it to the Bahamas, it sank very soon after. Maxine sank in around 1999, and may be an artificial reef in Florida. Miss Beverley sank in Nassau on January 9, 1977, in a fierce storm which also claimed Air Swift, and was later salvaged.
Johnette Walker sank in Ship Channel Cay, exuma during May, 1974 and was salvaged, only to sink again in 1977 off Andros, with AUTeC’s rescue vessel IX and others rescuing those on board. South Andros Queen is said to have caught fire and sunk.
Spanish rose sank during daytime in 1997, and all were saved. Staniel Cay express sank off Hope Town on 11 June, 1975 when the wooden seams of this former fishing boat once commanded by Captain rolly Gray opened up. Stede Bonnet sank during Hurricane Betsy in September, 1965, in Marsh Harbour. Willaurie sank three times, the final one she was being towed from Nassau out west to be scuttled when the tow parted and she went aground off Clifton Pier. She then became a dive site near Goulding Cay after being towed off the rocks at Christmas of 1988 by an enthusiastic young dive operator and friends. Wrecked mailboats have much to tell.
Saga and miracle of Victoria Court
‘The building did her job, she worked her
GREAT buildings are a lot like great people.
It’s hard to keep a good one down. They may be fired at, burned, slammed and lambasted. But they rise again and with each assault, they summon the strength to come back bigger, better, stronger.
Count Victoria Court a great building.
Fire ripped through her roof a week ago. We watched the videos in shock and disbelief, saw the pages of photos, flames lighting up the night sky. Headlines screaming “Inferno” captured the late-night drama and the chaos and even in 60-pt font, they did not exaggerate.
A lesser building would have collapsed but bless her concrete soul and the strength with which she was built more than 70 years ago, Victoria Court, a national treasure that was underappreciated until she nearly lost her life to fire, survived.
IGNORED WARNING
This is not a story about what went wrong with the firefighting debacle nor even when why, when an authority was warned of the danger of the adjacent abandoned building two years ago, nothing was done about it. There will be investigations into why firefighters took so long to respond, why there was only one working fire engine in New Providence, why, when that engine finally arrived, it took so long for firemen to act or, most importantly, why men fighting the fire did not listen to those on the ground showing them where the fire was coming from in
the building next door, possibly saving the top portion of Victoria Court to the south. All the why’s and why not’s are the stuff of regret and fury and, hopefully, to improved training.
magic’
exemption for a period of 20 years. When Victoria Court was granted a 20-year exemption before, owners invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in restoring the beauty that was sorely tested last week when fire struck.
No, this is not about what went wrong. This is about what we can do right, about salvaging and saving and giving a lady of grandeur her due.
SHE DID HER JOB
Twenty-one of the 29
(We understand that new training initiatives were undertaken within days of the blaze, so good for that response.)
condominiums survived the fire. According to attorney Cheryl Cartwright, who has lived at Victoria Court and loved it for 31 years, “the building did her job. You could walk into any of the apartments on the first three floors and never know anything was wrong. You could pick up where you left off.”
It is a remarkable testament to a building that deserves to be saved, a structure that is as much a part of Nassau’s skyline as the British Colonial, Mt Fitzwilliam, or Parliament and Rawson Squares. We cannot overstate the devastating impact on residents who lost everything they had. Francesco de Cardenas, who lived there for 30 years, escaped with the clothes on his back, a passport and his two dogs, leaving a lifetime of memories, possessions and personal documents behind. He has every right to be angry. “I could have gone back in or spent another ten minutes gathering papers and belongings but I could feel the heat and I got out. Then it was two hours before they even started to fight the fire.”
BUILDING WITH A SOUL
DeCardenas and others on the top two floors lost
everything tangible that they owned. Historic Nassau could have lost a landmark that can never be replaced. This is not to diminish what residents suffered. I’ve seen their faces, heard their voices, tried to imagine what it would feel like to be in their place. I know one individual who was grateful that someone gave them new underwear and deodorant. Their losses were heart-wrenching, yet even they would say the loss of that building they loved would be the greatest loss of all. The kind of affection they had for that architectural marvel was one-of-a-kind. Owners spoke about Victoria Court as if the building had a soul.
Now they await the results of surveyors’ inspections to see if they can rebuild the top floors and replace the cedar shake shingle roof. They are determined to maintain the integrity of style, possibly using new materials that match the look of the original.
GRANT EXEMPTIONS
As they await the hoped-for go-ahead, here is where government can assist. Grant Customs duties and VAT exemption for building materials and Real Property Tax
As long ago as 2002, Alfred Sears, then attorney general and minister of education, delivered the keynote address at the Historic Preservation Workshop.
“In recent time,” he said, “my government has publicly recognized the value of and the need for historic preservation…to address the critical delinquency existing in this area.” He noted the inventory of historic properties on the National Register of Historic Resources and when he got to the category of Distinctive Design or Physical Characteristics, the building he cited was the very same, Victoria Court, touting its “distinctive architectural design”.
Even as draw attention to an historic landmark of distinctive and unmatched style and grace, and cross our fingers that the grand dame of downtown Nassau can be salvaged and rebuilt, we have to ask, what are the plans should fire erupt at the British Colonial or along Bay Street proper or elsewhere downtown? Were I a downtown property owner, I’d be asking right now to show me your plan in case of fire. In fact, I’d be asking for a demonstration which, come to think of it, is not a bad idea and could be pretty good pr as well as practice.
New Pope Leo XIV, known as
‘saint of the north’ in Peru for his closeness to poor
VATICAN CITY Associated Press
RobeRt Prevost may have made history thursday by becoming the first pope from the United States. but in Peru, he is known as the saintly missionary who waded through mud after torrential rains flooded the region, bringing help to needy people, and as the
bishop who spearheaded the life-saving purchase of oxygen production plants during the CoVID-19 pandemic.
“He worked so hard to find help, that there was not only enough for one plant, but for two oxygen plants,” said Janinna Sesa, who met Prevost while she worked for the church’s Caritas nonprofit in Peru.
“He has no problem
fixing a broken-down truck until it runs,” she added.
Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pope, clearly saw something in Prevost early on. He first sent him to Chiclayo in 2014, then brought him to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church.
Vacancy Notice Manager- ODN Build Delivery
on thursday, Prevost ascended to become Pope Leo XIV — the first pontiff from the United States. Prevost, 69, had to overcome the taboo against an American pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the US in the secular sphere. the Chicago native is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as
There is an opening for Manager- ODN Build Delivery. Interested persons may apply by forwarding a resume stating their interest, relevant skills, and experience to Human Resources on or before Friday, May 9th 2025.
JOB SUMMARY:
Reporting to the Director – Technical Operations (or designate) - The ODN Build Manager, is responsible for coordinating and managing all required underground cable placing and splicing of all aerial and underground facilities. The Cable/Splicing Manager shall follow through with responsibilities to supervise, inspect, and monitor all work in conformance with company, local, and industry standards and specifications.
Duties & Responsibilities:
• Management of external vendors necessary for timely completion and within budget
• Support and coach the build partner, ensuring any ‘blockers’ to the plan are highlighted and escalated
• Conduct site audits
• Plan, direct, coordinate, or budget, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems
• Monitor and prioritize multiple projects to assure completion is within appointed deadline
• Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project working with subcontractor teams in the field on correct scheduling, and implementation.
• Plan, direct, coordinate, or budget, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems.
• Scheduling and tracking of timelines for all awarded Services compared to forecasts, for the awarded Services
• Risk identification and mitigation of any issues impacting any awarded Services
• Coordinating communication and escalations as necessary, both internally and externally
• Ensuring that identified systems, tools, databases, and the data repository are updated accurately and timely, in accordance with the Contract Documents and Quality Standards
• Ensuring installation standards are followed
• Responsible for close-out documentation and asset management close-out from vendors and securing close-out acceptances from internal stakeholders
• Responsible for ensuring applicable safety standards are followed by all parties at all times
• Identifies and obtain pole attachment agreements and structure access agreements and submit for and obtain permits to facilitate cable placement.
• Reads and interprets construction documents, i.e. prints and plans as well as splicing diagrams that are used in the splicing of fiber optics.
• Manage the decisions on the scope and delivery of the project including serving as a technical expert in
interpreting the specification of the project.
• Ensure contract, permit and authorization compliance, as applicable.
• Serve as a vendor neutral SME on fiber construction solutions and best practices.
• Complete necessary permit applications and request checks as needed to fulfill permit requirements. Visit permitting authorities to turn in applications, pick up permits, obtain status, etc.
• Work hand in hand with Engineering to sign off on effective Designs and Bill of materials
• Work hand in hand with QC Team to inspect, rectifying any defects and release for sales the submitted/ completed work to ensure it meets scope of work standards
• Confirm all post installation/as-built documents are completed and checked in accordance with the conditions of the project requirements
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
• Supervision of construction and/or splicing crews, familiarity with instruments used to splice, test and/or run trouble on outside plant fiber cabling, and knowledge of management reporting fundamentals mandatory
• Familiarity with OSP design, fiber configuration and assignments and ability to read and interpret splicing documents and OSP construction drawings a must.
• 5+ years of experience in the fiber / telecommunications / telecom construction industry
• Bachelor of Science degree in construction management, civil or electrical engineering is beneficial
• BICSI Certification preferred
• Good time management and project coordination skills
• Demonstrated proficiency with computer applications-specifically MS Office applications including Excel and Word
• An aptitude for working with electronic test equipment such as OTDRs, Optical Power Meters etc. as well as operating hand tools, drills and safety equipment as required
• Good interpersonal skills and a professional manner in dealing with subscribers and fellow employees are required.
Note to Applicants: Ensure to include the position Title in the subject box of the email.
Forward resumes to: hrcareers@cablebahamas.com
Only Shortlisted Candidates will be contacted
bishop. He evoked his broad missionary experience in his first public remarks as pope, speaking in Italian, then switching to Spanish — and saying not a word in english as he addressed the crowd in St. Peter’s Square.
“together, we must try to find out how to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, dialogues, that’s always open to receive — like on this piazza with open arms — to be able to receive everybody that needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love,” he said.
the new pope had prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals have.
Prevost was twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinians, the 13th century religious order founded by St. Augustine. After Francis sent him to Chiclayo, he acquired Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the bishops’ office and presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In that job he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts the most Catholics and presumably was crucial to his election thursday.
the Rev. Alexander Lam, an Augustinian friar from Peru who knows the new pope, said he was beloved in Peru for his closeness to his people, especially poor people. He said he was a champion of social justice issues and environmental stewardship.
“even the bishops of Peru called him the saint, the Saint of the North, and he had time for everyone,” Lam said in an interview with the Associated Press in Rome. “He was the person who would find you along the way. He was this kind of bishop.”
He said that when Francis travelled to Peru in 2018, Prevost camped out with his flock on the ground during the vigil before Francis’ Mass.
“Roberto has that style, that closeness. Maybe they are not great institutional gestures, but are in human gestures.”
ever since arriving in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile, but he is well known to the men who count.
Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added
three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. In early 2025, Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals. the selection of a USborn pope could have profound impact on the future of the US Catholic Church, which has been sharply divided between conservatives and progressives. Francis, with Prevost’s help at the help of the bishop vetting office, had embarked on a 12-year project to rein in the traditionalist tendencies in the United States. Prevost’s election “is a deep sign of commitment to social issues. I think it is going to be exciting to see a different kind of American Catholicism in Rome,’’ said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a professor of religious studies at Manhattan University in New York City. the bells of the cathedral in Peru’s capital of Lima tolled after Prevost’s election was announced.
People outside the church expressed their desire for a papal visit at one point.
“For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country,” said elementary school teacher Isabel Panez, who happened to be near the cathedral when the news was announced.
“We would like him to visit us here in Peru.” the Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Prevost’s old diocese in Chiclayo, remembers the cardinal rising each day and having breakfast with his fellow priests after saying his prayers.
“No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humour and joy,” Purisaca said in an email. born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost joined the order of St. Augustine in 1977. He attended Villanova University near Philadelphia, where he received a bachelor of Science in 1977, and he got a Master of Divinity degree from Catholic theological Union in Chicago in 1982.
In Rome, at the Augustinian headquarters just off St. Peter’s Square, the mood was festive.
the Rev. Franz Klein, treasurer general of the Augustinian order, said he was shocked by the news.
“For us, the Augustinian order, this is one of the biggest moments in history,” he said. “I’m surprised and very happy.”
PoPe Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St Peter’s Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, yesterday.
Photo: Alessandra Tarantino/AP
CArdinAl Robert Francis Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, poses for a photo at the end of the consistory where Pope Francis elevated 21 new cardinals in St Peter’s Square at The Vatican, September 30, 2023.
Photo: riccardo de luca/AP
GBPA hosts workshop for 55 licensees on compliance and financial management
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
ABOUT 55 licensees attended a training session hosted by the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) to improve regulatory compliance and financial management among small businesses in Freeport.
The workshop, held at the Susan J Wallace Centre, followed recent wellness checks by GBPA officials, which revealed that many businesses lacked clarity on processes related to Bahamas Customs and the Department of Inland Revenue.
Claudine Pinder, GBPA’s Business Retention Officer, said the initiative was launched to address these gaps. She explained that many entrepreneurs needed a better understanding of compliance procedures and financial practices, prompting the GBPA to
BAHAMAS GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION
On Wednesday, May 7, four senior students at Loftus Roker High School on Acklins made their promise as Rangers. This investiture ceremony was made possible by the use of technology provided by the Ministry of Education, the willingness of the students to participate in the Guiding Programmme, the distance leadership. of Louise Barry, trainer and chair of the Membership and Programme Committee, and support of former guide Shakita Adderley- Smith.
Individually and collectively, the recruits completed the Pre Promise challenges related to Wellness and Safety; Personal Development and leadership; Creativity and Innovation; Community and Global Awareness; and, The Environment and Outdoor Living.
The ceremony was chaired by Miss Barry via Zoom and the Rangers made their promise in the presence of teachers and students. They were pinned by Mrs Adderley-Smith, a former guide from 24th Nassau Company sponsored by CI Gibson High
collaborate with government agencies to deliver targeted guidance and support.
The session featured presentations from Bahamas Customs, the Inland Revenue Department, and GBPA’s Chief Financial
Officer, Deann Seymour, who covered foundational accounting and financial planning techniques suited to small enterprises.
Michelle Walker, a senior officer in the Bonds Section of Bahamas Customs, noted that
licensees often struggle with bond applications due to misunderstandings around surety requirements and import permissions. She said that in many cases, businesses either apply for bonds they don’t qualify for or
attempt to import goods outside the scope of their licence.
She emphasised the need for licensees to fully understand the terms of their GBPA-issued licenses and the implications for importing
School who is the social worker on Acklins. Miss Barry commended the Rangers for their perseverance and encouraged
them to be of service to their community. She added: “Guiding is a way of life and your participation will assist you to achieve your personal goals and
become contributing citizens of your communities and the world.”
Karlene Gounga, teacher will assume leadership of the 1st Acklins Ranger
bonded
that a
She
relationship between the GBPA and Customs is essential to making compliance processes more efficient and to promoting business growth in Grand Bahama.
JOIN THE CLUB
OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers. To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line. For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 826-2242.
Last month, Women’s Corona held a Spring luncheon at Choices, the University of the Bahamas restaurant.
Young Bahamians preparing to join the hospitality industry helped with serving and preparing the meal. The ladies were pleasantly surprised to find the tables beautifully decorated in Spring colours by committee member Yolanda Fernander. This well-attended lunch was a chance for Corona members and friends to meet, mingle, eat and drink while supporting the raffle which helps raise funds for local charities. If you would like to learn more about Women’s Corona please contact Linda at Linda. hayton@gmail.com or Ella at bellabreeze51@gmail. com.
goods.
added
closer working
GRAND Bahama Port Authority chief financial officer Deann Seymour provided financial management and accounting practice information to some 55 small business owners at workshop sessions hosted by the GBPA, in partnership with the Bahamas Customs Department and the Department of Inland Revenue, at the Susan J Wallace Community Center.
FROM left, Ashanti Dean , Stefrenique Rose, Melissa Bulard and Domrihanna Anderson.
SCENES from the Women’s Corona spring luncheon last month.