THURSDAY
The Tribune
Student S left Sick by fire S ite S tink
Schools near Solomon’s and Cost Right blaze considering relocation
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Reporter
Tribune Chief
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
EDUCATION authorities are weighing an emergency relocation of CH Reeves and RM Bailey students as a noxious odour from the fire-gutted Solomon’s Old Trail and Cost Right site sickens staff. Acting Director of Education Dominique McCartney-Russell confirmed to The Tribune that several employees reported feeling ill from the stench, with some even sent home.
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
“The contingency plan is still in train but the idea is if they need to move to another location, that’s what we’re actually
FREE National Movement (FNM) chairman Dr Duane Sands reaffirmed his commitment to the Elizabeth constituency yesterday, pushing back against speculation that he is seeking a safer seat –– such as St Anne’s –– ahead of the next general election. Dr Sands and St Anne’s MP Adrian White dismissed the speculation as politically motivated attempts to stir internal discord within the party. Both defeats and successes have marked Dr Sands’ political journey in Elizabeth. He narrowly
Petty says, ‘I’m coming back to be Prime Minister of The Bahamas’
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
NORTH Eleuthera MP
Sylvanus Petty declared his ambition to become the next prime minister of The Bahamas yesterday, surprising reporters just weeks after the junior
parliamentarian announced plans to step away from frontline politics.
“I coming back to be the prime minister of The Bahamas, mark my words,” he told reporters outside the House of Assembly.
Mr Petty, a first-time MP elected under the Progressive Liberal Party banner in 2021, has kept a relatively low profile in national affairs. He was removed from his highest-profile post — executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation — in 2023 following revelations during the corruption trial of Long
FORMER Prime Min-
ister Dr Hubert Minnis, echoing others in the Free National Movement, has called for the urgent creation of an independent fire service, warning that the government’s current model is dangerously inadequate and rooted in a system that no longer serves the country’s needs.
“It is obvious from the recent fires that have taken place that our national fire service response is not where it needs to be,” Dr Minnis said in the House of Assembly yesterday. “It is disturbing that it
vital need for independent fire service, says Minnis friends of drowned teen receive grief counselling
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
GRIEF counselling has been ramped up at Eight Mile Rock High School following the death of 17-year-old student Elvinson Saintilmar, whose drowning last Saturday has left classmates and teachers reeling.
Friends who witnessed the incident are receiving individual counselling, according to school guidance counsellor Tennille Martin, who described Saintilmar as a joyful and
Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Sylvanus Petty during a session of Parliament last year.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune/Staff
Students left sick by fire site stink
from page one
exploring as we speak,” she said yesterday. With national exams underway, officials are racing to ensure a safe learning environment, including possible shortened school hours.
Lewis: Grand Lucayan heads of aGreement a positive step forward for Grand Bahama
By DENISE MAYCOCK
Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
CENTRAL Grand
Bahama MP Iram Lewis, now representing the Coalition of Independents (COI) after departing the Free National Movement last month, has cautiously welcomed the government’s progress toward a new hotel agreement for the Grand Lucayan hotel.
However, he emphasised that any Heads of Agreement must prioritise Bahamian interests to avoid repeating past missteps.
“This is a positive step forward for Grand Bahama,” he acknowledged outside the House of Assembly yesterday. Yet, he stressed the importance of fair negotiations that do not disproportionately benefit investors at the expense of Bahamians.
Reflecting on previous deals where investors profited while locals suffered, Mr Lewis expressed hope that the new agreement would close such loopholes. He remains optimistic about the potential benefits for Grand Bahama but insists on thorough scrutiny of the deal’s details. He also highlighted concerns about the separation of the hotel and airport projects, suggesting that a combined approach would better serve the island’s interests. He questioned the rationale behind treating them as separate entities and emphasised the necessity of a functional airport to support the hotel’s success.
Warning of the consequences if the deal fails, Mr Lewis said another setback would be devastating for Grand Bahama. He expressed a desire for
the government’s success in this endeavor, emphasising the need for positive outcomes over political opposition.
While recognising the deal as a starting point for economic recovery, Mr Lewis cautioned against complacency. He called for continued efforts to revitalise the airport, industrial sector, and small businesses, asserting that the hotel deal alone is insufficient to restore comfort to the island.
Looking ahead to the upcoming budget presentation, Mr Lewis expressed hope for initiatives to empower everyday Bahamians, including access to capital through the Sovereign Wealth Fund. He underscored the importance of ensuring that the “small man” is adequately supported in the nation’s economic plans.
Officer shot and injured pitbull he reported charged at him
“A project of this magnitude, we can’t just go in there and dispose of the items,” she said. “We just need to get a permit and those are in process and as soon as we get those, then the work will begin.”
“We’re moving into the heart of exams and we want to make sure as best as we could that the environment is conducive for the students and staff members who have been complaining,” McCartney-Russell added. The blaze that obliterated AML Foods’ Solomon’s and Cost Right stores also scorched nearby properties, including the Hyacinth Stuart Building. The company suffered a total loss. AML Foods vice-president of marketing and communications Renea Bastian said clean-up has been stalled while police and insurers completed investigations. Access to the site was only recently approved.
The Ministry of Works must first greenlight the demolition and waste removal. It’s still unknown whether the lingering odour poses serious health risks.
Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson has told educators to clock out at noon due to growing safety fears, citing provisions in their industrial agreement. She also alerted the Ministry of Education in writing last week. Mrs McCartney-Russell said a formal plan of action is expected to be presented to her today, with a decision on next steps likely imminent.
Smoke seen coming from the roof of Cost Right on April 14 when fire destroyed their business along with Solomon’s and the Hyacinth Stuart Building. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Photo: Dante Carrer/tribune Staff
Rahming claims govt built 146 homes and repaired 661 this term, but short on details
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
STATE Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal Lisa Rahming claimed the Davis administration has built 146 homes and repaired 661 this term but provided little breakdown of where the homes were built, how much was spent, or the scale of the damage addressed.
The figures were presented during an evening House of Assembly session yesterday as Ms Rahming responded to sharp criticism from Opposition Leader Michael Pintard over the administration’s hurricane recovery record.
She suggested it cost more than $7m overall to repair the homes, some of which were in Abaco and needed repairs related to roof, mould and other issues.
Mr Pintard pointed to the Minnis administration’s efforts following the storm, noting that between $2,500 and $10,000 was allocated per home, often
in partnership with private sector groups. He contrasted that with what he called an unclear and underwhelming record by the current government.
East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson added that over 2,000 homes were assisted between Grand Bahama and Abaco under the previous administration. He said the effort addressed multiple needs, including labour and materials.
Ms Rahming pushed back, alleging that hardware vouchers issued under the former government were not honoured, and blamed the opposition for the backlog of unrepaired homes. Mr Pintard and Mr Thompson both acknowledged that the Minnis administration did not complete all needed repairs but emphasised the urgency of current failures. Mr Pintard alleged that in Grand Bahama, many contractors mobilised in 2022 have yet to be paid, bringing repairs to a halt.
Husband and wife jailed for contempt after defying court orders
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor
A BAHAMIAN couple who vowed they would never obey a court order were jailed for contempt in December, with newly released reasons from the
Supreme Court revealing the full extent of their defiance.
Philip Arlington Mitchell received a two-year sentence and his wife Brenda Mae Mitchell one year after Justice Carla D Card-Stubbs found they had wilfully violated court
injunctions prohibiting harassment of judges and legal counsel. Though the ruling was delivered orally in December, the court has outlined why the sentencing was necessary in a written ruling this month.
“It is a contempt to
disobey a court order,” Justice Card-Stubbs wrote. “The law of civil contempt serves to deal with persons intent on breaking the law by disobedience to court orders and who, by such course of action, impede and obstruct the course of justice. Such acts carry with them the risk of undermining confidence in the justice system.”
The court found that despite multiple binding orders, the Mitchells escalated their conduct, sending inflammatory emails to judges and attorneys in August 2024 that included scandalous allegations and threats to publish further accusations. The messages included an eight-page letter and a 33-page intended complaint to the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, accusing judicial officers and legal professionals of “theft, corruption, misconduct, and ethical violations”.
One statement read: “We no longer intend to honour any unlawfully obtained gag or restraining orders designed to suppress our constitutional rights and cover-up acts committed by your client RBC Finco, Charles JA et al. It is in the public
interest to publish these matters, supported by primary evidence we will release on the publication date.”
The written ruling notes that the Mitchells had been under a permanent injunction since July 2021, which barred them from harassing or threatening anyone involved in their original mortgage dispute. Nonetheless, evidence showed they had continued to breach those terms, with emails sent as recently as August 2024.
The court had warned them explicitly of the consequences. An interim order from August 16, 2024, reiterated the prohibitions and included a penal notice outlining the risk of imprisonment for violations. Despite being served notice by email after traditional service methods failed, the Mitchells did not attend the October contempt hearing or the December sentencing.
Justice Card-Stubbs noted that the court afforded them every opportunity to respond.
“The Defendants were at liberty to appear and to show cause why they ought not to be committed,” she wrote. “They made no appearance.” With no engagement, no
remorse, and no mitigating circumstances, the court determined that immediate imprisonment was warranted. The couple’s legal conflict dates back to 2009 when the Finance Corporation of the Bahamas Limited sued them over a mortgage default. After losing at every level of the court system, including the Court of Appeal and the Privy Council, the Mitchells began targeting judges and lawyers with increasingly hostile communications, the court heard.
An interim injunction was first granted in 2021 by Justice G Diane Stewart and later made permanent. It forbade the Mitchells from making defamatory or threatening remarks via any medium, including social media. Justice Card-Stubbs accepted evidence that the couple not only ignored those orders but intended to continue doing so.
Given the sealed nature of the case file and the private hearings under Rule 51.4 of the Civil Procedure Rules, the written judgment avoids repeating the most inflammatory allegations. It refers instead to the content of the Mitchells’ messages as “scurrilous and unfounded.”
Repairs ongoing on North Eleuthera International Aiport’s existing terminal
IMMEDIATE repair
work is being carried out at the existing terminal of the North Eleuthera International Airport as part of efforts to improve the passenger experience ahead of the construction of a new
multi-million-dollar terminal, according to officials.
The current upgrades, expected to wrap up by May 31, 2025, will include roof repairs, expanded check-in and arrivals areas, new restroom facilities, full
air conditioning, painting, and mold remediation.
Officials say these repairs are only temporary and are meant to provide shortterm relief while the major redevelopment project continues to move forward.
Vital need for independent fire services, says Minnis
took the major fire on Bay Street to finally move this government to make an announcement but I caution that announcements are not the same as action.”
His comments followed the tabling of the Bahamas National Fire and Rescue Service Bill by Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis, a member of the Coalition of Independents.
The bill proposes removing fire services from the Royal Bahamas Police Force and establishing a standalone agency with its own command, budget, infrastructure, and legal authority.
While the bill was not up for debate, it was seconded by Southern Shores MP Leroy Major — a PLP member — even though National Security Minister Wayne Munroe has publicly opposed creating a standalone agency.
Dr Minnis offered detailed critique of the existing system, pointing to recent fires in New Providence, Grand Bahama, and the Family Islands as evidence of an overstretched, under-resourced fire service. He noted that while the government has announced plans to acquire 15 to 20 new firefighting vehicles, this comes against a backdrop of severe existing shortages.
The Tribune understands that New Providence currently has only three functional fire trucks. In contrast, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, served by a volunteer fire department and with a significantly smaller population, has at least five operational vehicles.
“How many new fire trucks do we need in total for the whole country?” Dr Minnis asked. “Do we have enough trained firefighters? Are fire services on Family Islands populated with the necessary number of trained people and volunteers, especially given the many wildfires and hot summer months ahead?”
He also questioned whether the country’s water infrastructure is reliable enough to support firefighting efforts and whether firefighters are sufficiently trained to operate increasingly complex equipment.
Dr Minnis argued that the existing integrated model, where fire services fall under police command, was designed for an era that no longer exists.
He recalled that as early as 1977, when Grand Bahama established its own fire department, there were discussions about separating the fire service. However, the decision to keep it under police control was driven by limited resources. That legacy, he said, has undermined fire
response ever since.
“Rather than increasing the fire department as well as the police department, we concentrated on the police department and removed the firemen to the police department, thus depleting it,” he said. “That is why it’s essential that we separate the two at this time.”
The Bahamas National Fire and Rescue Service Bill outlines the creation of a national agency led by a fire commissioner, supported by regional commands and a dedicated training division. It proposes funding streams independent of the police budget and gives the agency investigative and enforcement powers in fire-related matters. Personnel from the RBPF Fire Division and airport fire services would be transferred to the new body.
While Dr Minnis did not explicitly endorse the bill, which is unlikely to pass the House of Assembly, his remarks made clear his support for its objectives.
“We need to ensure that our fire services can handle the worst-case scenarios on each of our main inhabited islands,” he said. “Here in New Providence there are multiple hotels, and God forbid if any were affected by fire, do we have the facilities to reach that level?”
Sands ‘committed’ to Elizabeth amid St Anne’s seat speculation
from page one
lost a 2010 by-election to the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) Ryan Pinder and was again defeated by Mr Pinder in the 2012 general election. In 2017, he won the seat and served as Minister of Health until his resignation in 2020. He lost the seat in 2021 to PLP candidate JoBeth Coleby-Davis.
The speculation surrounding his candidacy in St Anne’s has gained some traction partly because of
the constituency’s reputation as a safe seat for the FNM. Positioning the party chairman in a more secure district has been a topic of informal political discussion.
Mr White, however, said he remains confident in securing the party’s nomination for a second term. He succeeded former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette in 2021 and has described himself as deeply committed to the FNM’s vision for the constituency. He believes his track record
will earn the continued support of voters.
The recent controversy surrounding his remarks about voter behaviour — specifically describing FNM supporters as “sensible” and noting that Englerston had never voted for the FNM — has drawn criticism. However, he said yesterday that the attention has also sparked public engagement, and he emphasised that his comments were made respectfully and in the spirit of political dialogue.
The Tribune Media Group has announced a major broadcast upgrade that boosts the reach and quality of all four of its popular radio stations: 100 Jamz, Cool 96 FM, Joy FM, and Y98 FM. With newly installed transmitters and a modernised antennae system, each station is now delivering enhanced high-definition (HD) sound to listeners across New Providence and throughout the Family Islands.
The strategic upgrade
marks a milestone in Tribune Media Group’s mission
to deliver bold, reliable, and high-quality radio content to every corner of the country.
“This upgrade is about more than just sound—it’s about access,” said Ollie Ferguson, chief operating officer of Tribune Media Group. “We’re proud to strengthen our connection with listeners across the island by ensuring clearer, more consistent broadcasts. It’s an investment in both technology and the communities we serve.” While Tribune Media Group has long been a leader in local
broadcasting, this enhanced transmission capability reflects a renewed commitment to innovation and reach. The upgrade allows the group’s diverse radio portfolio to be heard in more places with significantly improved clarity—whether it’s the vibrant beats of 100 Jamz, the classic vibes of Cool 96 FM, the inspiration of Joy FM, or the energy of Y98 FM.
Listeners are encouraged to retune and rediscover their favorite stations, now broadcasting stronger than ever.
Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.
FNm chairmaN Dr DuaNe SaNDS
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-
Published daily Monday to Friday
Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207
TELEPHONES
News & General Information
(242) 502-2350
Advertising Manager (242) 502-2394
Circulation Department (242) 502-2386
Nassau fax (242) 328-2398
Freeport, Grand Bahama (242)-352-6608
Freeport fax (242) 352-9348
WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK
www.tribune242.com
EDITOR, The Tribune.
tHE recent disbursement of grants to 37 Bahamians with disabilities is an encouraging step forward, representing a belief in their potential and investment in their entrepreneurial dreams.
@tribune242 tribune news network
Redefining one word could strip Endangered Species Act’s abiltity to protect vital habitat
It woulDN’t make much sense to prohibit people from shooting a threatened woodpecker while allowing its forest to be cut down, or to bar killing endangered salmon while allowing a dam to dry out their habitat.
But that’s exactly what the trump administration is proposing to do by changing how one word in the Endangered Species Act is interpreted: harm.
For 50 years, the uS government has interpreted the Endangered Species Act as protecting threatened and endangered species from actions that either directly kill them or eliminate their habitat. Most species on the brink of extinction are on the list because there is almost no place left for them to live. their habitats have been paved over, burned or transformed. Habitat protection is essential for their survival.
As an ecologist and a law professor, we have spent our entire careers working to understand the law and science of helping imperilled species thrive. we recognize that the rule change the trump administration quietly proposed could green-light the destruction of protected species’ habitats, making it nearly impossible to protect those endangered species.
the public, which has long supported the Endangered Species Act, has until May 19, 2025, to comment on the proposal.
THE LEgAL gAMBIT
the Endangered Species Act, passed in 1973, bans the “take” of “any endangered species of fish or wildlife,” which includes harming protected species. Since 1975, regulations have defined “harm” to include habitat destruction that kills or injures wildlife. Developers and logging interests challenged that definition in 1995 in a Supreme Court case, Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Great oregon. However, the court ruled that the definition was reasonable and allowed federal agencies to continue using it.
In short, the law says “take” includes harm, and under the existing regulatory definition, harm includes indirect harm through habitat destruction. the trump administration is seeking to change that definition of “harm” in a way that leaves out habitat modification. this narrowed definition would undo the most significant protections granted by the Endangered Species Act.
WHy HABITAT PROTECTION
MATTERS
Habitat protection is the single most important factor in the recovery of endangered species in the united States – far more consequential than curbing direct killing alone.
A 2019 study examining the reasons species were listed as endangered between 1975 and 2017 found that only 17% were primarily threatened by direct killing, such as hunting or poaching. that 17% includes iconic species such as the red wolf, American crocodile, Florida panther and grizzly bear.
In contrast, a staggering 81% were listed because of habitat loss and degradation. the Chinook salmon, island fox, southwestern willow flycatcher, desert tortoise and likely extinct ivory-billed
woodpecker are just a few examples.
Globally, a 2022 study found that habitat loss threatened more species than all other causes combined.
As natural landscapes are converted to agriculture or taken over by urban sprawl, logging operations and oil and gas exploration, ecosystems become fragmented and the space that species need to survive and reproduce disappears. Currently, more than 107 million acres of land in the uS are designated as critical habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed species. Industries and developers have called for changes to the rules for years, arguing it has been weaponised to stop development. However, research shows species worldwide are facing an unprecedented threat from human activities that destroy natural habitat. under the proposed change, development could be accelerated in endangered species’ habitats.
guTTINg THE ENDANgERED SPECIES ACT
the definition change is a quiet way to gut the Endangered Species Act. It is also fundamentally incompatible with the purpose Congress wrote into the act: “to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved [and] to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species.” It contradicts the Supreme Court precedent, and it would destroy the act’s habitat protections.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has argued that the recent “deextinction” of dire wolves by changing 14 genes in the gray wolf genome means that America need not worry about species protection because technology “can help forge a future where populations are never at risk.”
But altering an existing species to look like an extinct one is both wildly expensive and a paltry substitute for protecting existing species. the administration has also refused to conduct the required analysis of the environmental impact that changing the definition could have. that means the American people won’t even know the significance of this change to threatened and endangered species until it’s too late, though if approved it will certainly end up in court.
THE ESA IS SAvINg SPECIES
Surveys have found the Endangered Species Act is popular with the public, including Republicans. the Center for Biological Diversity estimates that the Endangered Species Act has saved 99% of protected species from extinction since it was created, not just from bullets but also from bulldozers. this regulatory rollback seeks to undermine the law’s greatest strength: protecting the habitats species need to survive.
Congress knew the importance of habitat when it passed the law, and it wrote a definition of “take” that allows the agencies to protect it.
By Mariah Meek, Michigan State University and Karrigan Börk, University of California, Davis
I commend the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC), which was launched in 2018 under the last Free National Movement administration to expand opportunities for Bahamians in business. In a political culture where continuity is not always guaranteed, it is good to see a national initiative being supported across administrations. Still, this moment invites deeper reflection. How do we ensure that this is not a onetime gesture, but part of lasting and meaningful inclusion for persons with disabilities? Many still face significant barriers to education, jobs, transportation, and full participation in society. legislation alone will not solve these issues, especially when it is not actively and aggressively enforced. therefore, our response must be more intentional, more consistent, and more inclusive in design and delivery. we must move from isolated efforts to a national roadmap for accessibility, guided by those who are most impacted. Bahamians
with disabilities continue to advocate for accessible infrastructure, inclusive opportunities, and full implementation of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal opportunities) Act. their voices must not only be heard but acted upon. It is time for all buildings across the Commonwealth, beginning with government facilities, to be retrofitted to ensure full accessibility for persons with disabilities. we must also strengthen the enforcement of disability parking regulations and other key protections to affirm that we respect the dignity and rights of every individual. Additionally, we should begin to explore ways to improve access to essential health services, including mobility aids, prosthetics, and ongoing care for those who cannot afford them. true inclusion must consider the care and support our sisters and brothers need to live independently. Beyond government action, there is a role for each of us to be more than bystanders but allies. Inclusion is about what we choose to do each day. we can make a difference by supporting businesses owned by
persons with disabilities. we can challenge outdated assumptions, listen more, and advocate for schools, workplaces, churches, retail and other spaces that welcome and are accessible by everyone. we can teach our children about empathy. Extend dignity, not pity. A hand up, not a hand out. Simple everyday decisions that help build a better Bahamas.
Every Bahamian deserves the tools and opportunity to thrive in their beloved country. Every Bahamian deserves the chance to belong, to be seen. Every Bahamian deserves to live in a Bahamas for all Bahamians. when we lift others, we strengthen our nation. Bahamians with disabilities are capable professionals who can be equal contributors to the Bahamian economy. let this recent gesture be more than a headline but the beginning of a renewed commitment from all of us because at any moment, due to an accident, illness, injury or other unplanned circumstance, we can find ourselves living with a disability. It is not so farfetched so we must do to others what we would want done to us.
SENATOR MAxINE SEyMOuR
Shadow Minister for Social Services, Information and Broadcasting May 13, 2025.
Good step forward for disabled Davis failed fire services and country
EDITOR, The Tribune
tHE primary constitutional responsibility of a Prime Minister is to coordinate and oversee government business.
For four years, Philip Davis has failed to hold accountable a mostly dysfunctional, do-nothing cabinet. the result? A collapse of countless government services.
Just as he has been mostly a failure as Minister of Finance, many of his ministers—including those of National Security, and Health—have failed to keep the country safer and more secure.
the Davis Administration finds money to spend and waste on PlP consultants, no-bid contracts, secret deals, luxury travel and partying, new luxury cars, a $192,000.00 state-of-the-art BMw for Davis, ribbon-cuttings, and public relations events.
Meanwhile, basic and life-saving public services are underfunded. the multiple failures in dealing with the major fire on Bay Street last week, which destroyed several buildings, are yet another tragic example of the government’s poor priorities. the residents of Victoria Court and others believe that the spread of the fire and the destruction of many of their homes and possessions in the historic building could have been prevented. they are rightfully
angry. Some reported watching the fire spread because there were insufficient fire assets or water in some of the trucks.
For more than a year now, residents of several islands, the media, and the official opposition have been begging the government to find fire engines to combat wildfires and other fires, but to no avail. the government is now urgently and desperately saying they are going to order between 15 to 20 fire trucks. this is a stunning acknowledgement that the fleet has collapsed in numbers and that we are in dire straits. why did it take them so long? they should have ordered fire trucks years ago. why did it take this tragedy to get them to act? As Bahamians say, they only acting now “that pressure burst pipe!” what happens if there is another major fire before help arrives? will we need to continually close down lPIA to fight future outbreaks? our fire services aren’t the only sector at risk.
Much of Princess Margaret Hospital and the Rand Memorial Hospital is in terrible condition. Medical facilities across the Family Islands are also in desperate shape. the Government is failing to cover the costs of various medicines and dialysis services. the Ministry of Health is failing to regularise the status
of Bahamian nurses. the much-touted ambulances the PlP purchased are too small and stick-shift. over in Eleuthera and Harbour Island, water shortages and blackouts have become the norm.
Much of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) fleet is currently out of commission. the Department of Road traffic became a nightmare, unable to issue car licenses on time.
Inland Revenue remains a disaster zone, issuing scores of business licences late.
Many vendors are complaining that they haven’t received payment from the Ministry of Finance.
Many public parks are rundown, and as reported by one of the dailies, “are in urgent need of repair due to broken swings, exposed nails on slides, warped benches and other issues.” Is there anything working right under the PlP? well, their high command seems to think everything is fine. the PlP continues to live its best life, only briefly paying attention to governing when they believe they are in political hot water. this is what the PlP thinks we deserve. we deserve and demand so much better. DR DuANE
Petty says, ‘I’m coming back to be Prime Minister of The Bahamas’
Island MP Adrian Gibson that his daughter had received a contract from the corporation. He currently serves as Deputy Speaker of the House.
He recently said he would not seek renomination in the next general election, citing a need to “refocus, reposition and recalibrate” to support his family. His announcement made him the second sitting PLP MP, after MICAL’s Basil McIntosh, to opt out of the next race.
Yesterday, he said:
“There is some things that I have to strategise, it’s a strategy that I am trying to deal with right now to get me in place to be the next prime minister.”
“We have to move and
progress. I think it’s a lot of things we have to do, and I mean I will reveal everything in the next five years, trust me, but it’s going to be something that the whole Bahamas can be proud of – I guarantee you that.”
Mr Petty said he intends to stay with the PLP and is confident the party will hold onto power after the 2026 election.
Last month, in a statement to The Tribune, he said: “I truly believe that my season for frontline politics is coming to an end. Nevertheless, I remain steadfast, resolute, and committed to completing the tasks before me successfully — with God’s and my government’s assistance — and dedicated to the mission of nation-building in whatever capacity.”
the House of Assembly on April 17, 2024.
Photo:
Friends of drowned teen receive grief counselling
deeply loyal student.
“He was such a joyous young man; he greeted me every morning and also in the afternoon, and it was such a pleasure,” Ms Martin said.
“He brought a lot of life to the school, and it is still shocking to many of them because he was the life of the class. He was just always that person.”
Some students, especially those who were with Saintilmar at the time of the drowning, remain visibly affected.
“The ones who still have a little issue are coming in
for individual counselling,” said Martin, noting the otherwise subdued atmosphere on campus. Support for the school community has come from the Grand Bahama Christian Council, Ministry of Education officials, School Psychology Services, and Eight Mile Rock and Freeport counsellors. The Ministry of Education confirmed that Saintilmar was preparing to graduate in a matter of weeks. In a formal statement, the ministry extended its condolences to his family and highlighted the impact of his loss.
Details from police indicate the drowning occurred around 3.50pm on May 10 off Bayshore Road near the Fish Fry.
Sources say Saintilmar had exited the water but returned for a final swim when he was caught in strong currents. A friend tried to pull him out but lost his grip. A second student was rescued; Saintilmar’s body was later recovered by Leven McIntosh, a bystander who braved the water to help.
Ms Martin noted most students at the school are competent swimmers but expressed hope that swim safety is taken seriously.
Yntegra’s Project Means More Business for Companies Beyond Exuma
I am proud to count myself among the ranks of Bahamian aviators.
I am the President of Exclusive Aviation, one of The Bahamas’ leading private charter operators, and I’ve spent over a decade in the industry serving clients throughout The Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the United States. Aviation and tourism are deeply intertwined industries, and in The Bahamas especially, one cannot exist without the other. The aviation industry is not an easy one but I believe I speak for many of us in the industry when I say that contributing to our country’s most important sector gives
us a great sense of pride.
We are in a difficult economy and for charter operators, taking tourists to our islands is our bread and butter. We feel it when there is a drop in the number of stopover visitors going to the Family Islands. We need more air travelers. We need more stopover visitors. We need to make our islands accessible to the rest of the world.
One year ago, my company began a partnership with Yntegra Group, the developers of the Rosewood Exuma resort in Sampson Cay. They’ve become an important
client for Exclusive Aviation and has had an incredibly positive impact on our business. They frequently visit Exuma and usually reserve group bookings several times a month. The impact is visible on our bottom line.
This matters because as a business owner, I am responsible for paying my employees and ensuring that the business can keep its doors open. Having Yntegra as a client is already giving us steady business and if we continue to meet their needs and provide excellent customer service, I can envision Exclusive Aviation as a preferred vendor for Rosewood Exuma.
I can see the resort recommending EA (Exclusive Aviation) to its guests and giving us more business. More revenue and growth for the business provides opportunity to hire more people, include more training and enhance our services. Their development would only improve how we operate and lead to more growth.
Our relationship with Yntegra makes us excited about the opportunities their project will bring once it is open.
By Capt. Aaron Hinsey President, Exclusive Aviation
from page one
Deputy House Speaker Sylvanus Petty during a sitting of
Dante Carrer/ Tribune Staff
from page one
elvinson saintilmar
lW young High school celebrated teacher’s appreciation week with a Disney themed event which included tea with British High Commissioner Tom Hartley on Monday.
Photo: tom Hartley
Political leaders and storytelling
A politicAl leader, especially the leader of a political party, wears many hats. Among his or her critical roles is that of a magician in the best sense, one who has a certain charisma, who is able to conjure magic to garner a following, earn support, and win elections.
compelling storytelling is a form of magic. Words, images, and emotions are magic beads. When mixed into an elixir or potion they can help reap enormous rewards for someone seeking to become a prime minister or president.
Many people rightly dislike Donald trump for myriad reasons, ranging from his prolific lying to his Gulf of Mexicosized ignorance and incompetence.
Yet, he has a feral genius for understanding much of American culture and the conceits, self-interests, desires, and aspirations of many of its people. He grasps “base” instincts in both senses of the word.
Donald trump has been described as a huckster and salesman. He is also a magician, a conjurer, who has, to use the proverbial term of war, “weaponised” master racist tropes, self-aggrandising narratives, ancient prejudices, and simple stories and explanations – true and more often false – to earn enormous wealth and power, including the
American presidency – twice. though someone else was the ghostwriter of Art of the Deal, trump has often proved “brilliant” in the art of storytelling. He has honed simple and clear narratives, which he repeats with humour, outrage, colour, and expletives, ad nauseum. the most successful political leaders tend to be those who deploy three levels of storytelling that combined partly resemble a Venn Diagram of overlapping stories. the first story is that of the leader. it includes his or her origin story and biography, and how these have helped to shape a leader’s values and vision for one’s party and nation. Voters want to know some of the granular details of a
leader’s life. in Bahamianese: “Who your people is?”
the second story is that of the political party one leads including the party’s origin, history, notable figures, values and principles, and contemporary vision. the third story is that of the nation one leads or wishes to lead. it also includes a country’s origin story and mythologies, key chapters in history, failures and triumphs, national heroes, and a vision for where a country should be headed based on the aforementioned. the national story is retold and recast within the context of world history and global currents. the great leaders cum storytellers weave these three stories into a powerful, clear and exhilarating narrative that is contagious, appealing to citizens and voters, who see themselves in the stories being told with vigour and imagination. in becoming the first female prime minister of Great Britain, Margaret thatcher repeatedly told of her origin as a grocer’s daughter, including the British and human values she learned from her parents. the Standard recalled in a profile of thatcher: “She followed her elder sister Muriel to Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School. Although not brilliant academically,
she worked hard and was always near the top of the class.
“in 1943, she won a place at Somerville college, oxford, to read chemistry. She joined the university conservative Association, eventually rising to president.
“Graduating with a second-class degree, she found a job at British Xylonite plastics near colchester. At the age of 23, she was selected as tory candidate for Dartford.
“At her adoption meeting she met a tall, quite wealthy man who drove a Jaguar and lived in a flat in chelsea. He ran a family paint and wallpaper company, and was rather taken with Margaret Roberts: his name was Denis thatcher.”
this is the quality of storytelling voters want to know in order to identify their life stories with that of their leaders.
thatcher went on to press her conservative party to recapture its fighting spirit and values to help resurrect a faltering country in malaise, in the economic doldrums, and in need of a new direction and new economic policies.
She imbued the party with enormous energy and momentum in the 1979 election, which was not a foregone conclusion for the tories to win.
As the Standard also reported: “labour prime Minister Jim callaghan was more popular than Mrs thatcher…but the tories’ policies were preferred by the electorate.”
Most people have heard Donald trump’s stories of how brilliant and successful a businessman he has been, despite numerous facts revealing his massive failures in business. So successful has he been as a salesman that many have sought to lease his name and brand for their business ventures. throughout much of American history, successful Republican and Democratic presidents,
including Franklin D Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, coopted populist leaders, energies, and policies into their parties. Donald trump and his collaborators have done something even more powerful. they have not been coopted by the Republican party. instead, as populist outsiders, they have taken over for now the party of Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, and Bush, diminishing the old Republican party which became intimidated and subservient to the barbarians at the gate. others such as Newt Gingrich and the tea party had been storming the gates for years. though they helped lay the foundation for trump, it was trump who told a more compelling story about the party’s failures in his successful takeover bid and creation of a cult of personality. He labelled the party as out of touch. in a feat of brilliant conjuring and political jujitsu, he described the conservative party leaders as “Republicans in name only” or RiNos, coopting and weaponising “a pejorative used to describe politicians of the Republican party deemed insufficiently loyal to the party.”
trump branded longstanding Republicans as disloyal to the party to whom he was never himself truly loyal. A conservative philosophy of balanced budgets (often ignored), standing up to Russia, support for alliances such as NAto free trade (also sometimes ignored), and other core Republican values and policies, were upended for a radical reset by trump.
trump also deployed a narrative for those struggling economically, including those who feel rightly feel left behind by globalisation and America’s economic elites and the super wealthy, who trump adores and craves their approval. He resurrected populist
themes of “us versus them”, migrants taking over America, racist tropes, and other supposed reasons for the plight of many Americans. For much of his life, trump has been a member of America’s wealthy elite and literally a country club Republican and owner. He has been a prime beneficiary of globalisation, free trade, capital from foreign interests, and promiscuous tax policies for the superrich.
Yet, continues to boost a narrative for his ardent supporters of how America has been taken advantage of by other countries and Democratic party elites. that he is able to make the imperial American superpower seem like a victim is another example of his ability to spin a narrative of magical thinking which belies facts and observable data.
Herein lies a certain genius and understanding of how voters are moved and energized. Human brains are wired for storytelling and simple explanations with little nuance or complexity. We are mostly converted by stories, images, metaphors, symbols, and simple analogies. Jesus preached in parables not factoids!
Most Bahamian voters by example do not understand technocratic terms like GDp, procurement, energy reform, national debt, etc. leaders need to break down these terms into simpler language. the aphorism, “You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose,” captures the imperative for politicians to speak and rhyme in poetry and short stories when courting voters, most of whom do not understand highfalutin talk.
A leader who fails as a storyteller cum magician, often fails to capture a country and to provide fire, energy and momentum on the ground that may catapult a party into office.
Former British Prime minister margaret thatcher
Is Pope Leo XIV best hope against the worst of Trump?
In recent decades, there has been a lot of public concern in the US about declining church attendance, lower percentages of poll respondents who identify as faithful members of any particular church, and what many see as a resultant drop in overall morality.
A common comment is that organised churchbased religion has gotten too political, or that it has lost its way along a path toward the ideals of the Christian or other faiths. Is the church still relevant? Many ask this question.
That might be changing.
With the recent passing of Argentine Pope Francis and the surprise ascension of American-Peruvian Pope Leo XIV, the native Chicagoan (and White Sox fan), who was a close ally of Francis, the relevance of the church might be less in question.
A friend who is politically independent may have summarized the current situation best: “Maybe the universe is actually speaking to us all here. Early in this second Trump administration, with all of its glorified cruelty, corruption and smug immorality, an American figure rises up in Vatican City to serve as an emphatic counterpoint to Trump.”
Despite the fact that both President Trump and Vice President J—D Vance made recent, largely protocolary, calls on Pope Francis, there was some discomfort shown by the Pontiff on both occasions.
Many Trump critics in the US are supporting the notion that Pope Leo will finally stand up to the bully in the White House while Congressional members of the Republican Party continue to cringe in
STATESIDE
with Charlie Harper
fear of his retribution.
As one commentator noted, “Trump may have no rival at this point on earth. But the Pope has a hotline to a much greater authority.”
The first-ever American-born Pope gave a hint this week about what may lie ahead. As Pope Leo XIV walked through a crowd at the Vatican on Monday, a reporter asked the new pontiff if he had “any message for the United States.”
“Many,” Leo replied with a smile. Then, after a short pause, he added: “God bless you all.”
It seems very likely that the new pope is aware of Trump’s recent antics.
The BBC reported that Trump has attracted criticism from many Catholics after posting an Artificial Intelligence-generated image of himself dressed in clerical garb. The post comes days after he joked to the media: “I’d like to be Pope.”
That image, which was reportedly shared on official White House social media accounts, features him wearing a white cassock and pointed mitre, traditionally worn by a bishop. He wears a large cross around his neck, and has his finger held up, with a solemn facial expression.
According to the Palm Beach Post, on May 5 Trump addressed the controversy about the incident, dismissing it
NBA playoff excitement
GoLden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield (7) celebrates after making a three-point shot during the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. Photo: Abbie Parr/AP
THIS year’s nBA playoffs started off as an exercise in faithfulness to conventional wisdom. Almost every pundit exclaimed that the teams with the top records in the Association’s two conferences (Cleveland and Boston in the East; Oklahoma City in the West) were preordained to meet in an exciting Finals. And after a somewhat predictable first round of the playoffs, it looked like all the experts might be right. The top seeds in the East all won fairly easily. Our own Miami Heat, touted by some as a potential surprise success in these playoffs, were swept out ignominiously by the Cavaliers. Cleveland won by margins of 37 and 55 points in the two playoff games played in Miami. It does look like in the post Jimmy Butler era on South Beach, the Heat’s talented and experienced front office and coaching staff have work to do. Out West, the Thunder and Denver nuggets won as expected. But the playofftested, veteran Warriors knocked out no 2-seeded Houston and the Minnesota Timberwolves advanced over the disappointing Lakers. Golden State got some big games from our own Buddy Hield, but Stef Curry’s health issues hobbled them. Then things really started to happen. The tough Indiana Pacers and new York Knicks both moved smartly to 3-1 advantages over Cleveland and Boston, both of whom were hurt by injuries to star players. On Tuesday in Cleveland, the Pacers ushered the Cavs right out of the playoffs. In the West, the best series so far matches recent champion Denver and the favored Thunder. The tough, experienced nuggets won’t go quietly, but Oklahoma City did win at home Tuesday to lead 3-2. Still, nikola Jokic is a multiple MVP winner, and a late season coaching and front office purge have helped.
amid questions of Catholic offense at the image.
“I had nothing to do with it,” Trump told reporters. “Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the Pope and they put it out on the internet. That’s not me that did it. I have no idea where it came from, maybe it was AI, but I know nothing about it. I just saw it last evening.”
“They can’t take a joke,” Trump said of the media. “Catholics loved it.”
But while Americans celebrate the installation of Robert Francis Prevost of South Side Chicago as the pontiff, many overseas doubt the wisdom of the selection.
Reporters interviewed several of the faithful in Rome after Leo’s election was announced. “Un Americano?” several muttered in Italian.
“I am surprised and disappointed,” said Adam Mocarski, 31, from Poland. These critical remarks were not apparently directed at the new pope himself, but appeared to reflect how much Trump has changed views outside America.
“Trump wants to divide,” said Francesca Elicio, 29, a theater producer from Rome. “Trump has a negative effect not just on America, but on other countries. Perhaps the idea (for Leo’s selection) was to have an intermediary who can save
not just the church, but the whole world.”
Democrats in the US predictably loved the appointment. nancy Pelosi, a devout Catholic, said “the new Pope’s values-based vision for the church is quite different from what we’re seeing from some leaders, if you call them that, in our country, but I don’t expect him to be engaged in a political debate with the president of the United States,” she said in an interview.
Joe Biden’s ambassador to the Vatican said “I think Pope Leo will be a wonderful reflection of America, of Chicago and all of our hardworking people. He is a prototype of the American success story, working hard, studying hard and being kind to others.”
Analysts are poring over the new pontiff’s public statements and internet activity for past clues that may now be quite newsworthy. And indeed there are indications that the first American pontiff disapproves of some of the Trump administration’s hardline stances.
One reporter found that a social media account under Leo’s name has reposted messages critical of the president’s positions on issues including immigration, gun control and climate change. In February, this same account shared a link to an article in The national Catholic Reporter titled “JD Vance
Is Wrong: Jesus Doesn’t Ask Us to Rank Our Love for Others.”
The Pope’s brother, now a celebrity, said “I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.”
The new York Times had more reaction. “We have this powerful moral voice that is going to be able to potentially confront the other most powerful American voice,” said Charlie Sykes, an anti-Trump conservative who is Catholic.
“Donald Trump bestrides the world as the ugly American, and now we have another prominent American who is able to confront him.”
All this praise is eliciting
a reaction from some MAGA influencers. “The new Pope is anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis,” wrote Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who has inexplicably seemed to exert significant influence on Trump. “Catholics don’t have anything good to look forward to. Just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican.”
Another right-wing conspiracy theorist is promoting the notion that the new Pope “is a continuation of the globalist takeover of the Catholic Church & will be used to wage war against President Trump.”
Is Leo XIV really the world’s best hope against some of the worst policies, attitudes and actions of Trump & Company? We’ll see.
PoPe Leo XIV
officer tells inquest two bullets recovered were froM 9MM pistol allegedly fired by one of the victi Ms
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A PolICe firearm examiner testified yesterday that a bullet recovered from the dashboard of the vehicle in which three men were shot and killed by police on Cowpen road in 2020 was one of two rounds fired from a gun found near the deceased.
Constable Antoinette Fox gave evidence during the inquest into the deaths of deshoan “Spider” Smith, 25, rashad Clarke, 28, and Jared Ford, 27. The men were fatally shot near the intersection of 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 has been empanelled.
Police previously reported the men were in a white Honda Accord parked near Spikenard Cemetery. As officers approached, the vehicle allegedly fled, and the men reportedly opened fire, prompting officers to return fire.
Constable Fox testified that she received a Glock 9mm pistol, serial number BeGr551, for testing after it was reportedly recovered from the vehicle occupied
Man convicted of indecent assault of 5-year-old son
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 42-yeAr-old man has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a five-year-old boy in 2020, an abuse uncovered when the child’s parents grew suspicious after he kissed his father on the lips.
Jose “Pepe” Thompson was convicted of indecent assault Tuesday before Justice Joyann Ferguson Pratt after a jury delivered a 7-2 guilty verdict.
Jurors heard that Thompson had picked up the child, a relative of a family friend, from school and taken him to his home for three consecutive days in November 2020. Thompson reportedly undressed the child, kissed him, and touched his private parts. during the trial, the child recounted how Thompson instructed him not to tell his parents about the abuse. The boy’s parents only became aware
charged
of the situation when he kissed his father on the lips, prompting his mother to question his behaviour and ultimately uncover the molestation.
Upon learning the truth, the boy’s mother described her shock and promptly reached out to the police and medical professionals for assistance. The child, now nine years old, testified that on one occasion, Thompson placed his penis between the boy’s buttocks and later provided him with a towel to clean himself afterwards. Throughout the proceedings, Thompson maintained his innocence. His wife was present during the trial. Thompson will be remanded at the Bahamas department of Correctional Services until sentencing, which is scheduled for July 8.
Prosecutors Terry Archer, Janet Munnings, and Calnan Curry presented the case, while devard Francis defended the accused.
with ar Med robbery stealing $13,000 froM a M an
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN accused of an armed daylight robbery that netted $13,000 was remanded to prison yesterday following his arraignment in Magistrate’s Court.
Jackson Thompson stood before Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs charged with armed robbery in connection with a brazen heist that occurred on Haven road at around 4pm on May 5. According to prosecutors, Thompson drove up to a residence in a black Toyota, brandished
a firearm, and robbed Harold louis of $13,000. He allegedly fled the scene heading south. Thompson was not required to enter a plea and was informed the matter will be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was also advised of his right to apply for bail at the Supreme Court level. Until then, Thompson will be held at the Bahamas department of Correctional Services. The VBI is expected to be served on September 2. Inspector Wilkinson is the prosecutor in the case.
gun and a MMo p ossession gets M an two and a half years jail
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was sentenced to two and a half years in prison yesterday after admitting to possessing a gun and 37 rounds of ammunition on Soldier road last week.
dinero Munroe, 31, appeared before Chief Magistrate roberto reckley on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition with intent to supply, and possession of ammunition. on May 10, Munroe was reportedly found with a silver and black 9mm Taurus G2C pistol and 29 rounds of ammunition. He was later found with an additional eight rounds of 9mm ammunition on May 11. Munroe pleaded guilty to all charges and accepted the facts presented in his case. He was sentenced to two and a half years at the Bahamas department of Correctional Services and was advised of his right to appeal within seven days. Inspector deon Barr served as the prosecutor.
by the deceased. displaying the weapon in court, she noted it appeared to have bodily fluids on it. A magazine containing 11 unfired rounds was also submitted. Photographs previously shown in court depicted the same weapon next to the body of one of the deceased inside the vehicle. In response to K Melvin Munroe, counsel for the officers, Constable Fox explained that two 9mm bullet casings recovered from the scene were tested and confirmed to have been discharged from the same weapon. She added that the bullet found embedded in the vehicle’s dashboard was also fired
from this Glock pistol.
Under cross-examination by Maria daxon, attorney for the estates of the deceased, Constable Fox confirmed that the weapon was retrieved from the scene but said she could not determine its owner.
She further stated that she could not specify when the firearms in question were discharged, as that determination does not fall within her department’s remit.
Constable Fox also said she received bullets and bullet fragments extracted from the bodies of the deceased for ballistic testing.
She confirmed testing
two Colt .223 remington rifles and a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol assigned to the officers involved in the shooting, all of which were found to be functional.
She stated that casings recovered from the scene matched these weapons — with 22 .223 cartridge casings linked to one rifle and 17 to the other. However, she was unable to confirm the exact number of rounds fired during the incident.
Ms daxon questioned why Constable Fox had only received the officers’ firearms for testing on 30 April and 5 May — during the inquest — raising concerns about a five-year delay between the incident and the tests. Constable Fox responded that there is currently no policy mandating a specific timeframe for testing weapons. She explained that the single forensic laboratory in the country handles a wide array of cases, which affects processing times. She told Mr Munroe that the weapons had been submitted to the police laboratory on 14 June 2020, the day after the shooting. She assured the court that the evidence had been securely stored and that the delay in testing would not impact the results.
Angelo Whitfield marshalled the evidence.
Ingraham presented with copy of Sir Geoffrey Johnstone’s new book
AS a longtime friend and political ally of Sir Geoffrey, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham was one of the first people to be presented with a copy of Set in the Deep Blue Sea by Sir Geoffrey Johnstone. The book was recently published by his nephew, Bruce raine and will be officially launched on May 17 at logos Bookstore in Harbour Bay.
According to Mr raine the manuscript was written a few years ago and was only recently discovered amongst Sir Geoffrey’s papers after his death. The story tells of the Bahamas’ distant geological past, then fast forwards to the coming of the human inhabitants from South America.
Pictured from left: Bruce raine presenting the newly published Set in the Deep Blue Sea by Sir Geoffrey Johnstone to former Prime Minister Hubert A Ingraham. All proceeds from the sale of books will go to the Bahamas Historical Society, where Sir Geoffrey was a long time member.
Guardians of the rare: Raising awareness on Endangered Species Day
By Elijah SandS BnT senior communications officer
The Bahamas is home to some of the world’s most unique and irreplaceable species. On this endangered Species Day, The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) is calling on the public to recognise the urgent need to protect our country’s most threatened plants and animals and to celebrate the rich biodiversity that makes our islands so special. An endangered species is a plant, animal, or other organism that is at
serious risk of extinction. When a species becomes endangered, it signals that something is off-balance in the environment. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, nearly 100 species found in The Bahamas are currently listed as either “endangered” or “critically endangered”. This includes birds, reptiles, mammals, plants, corals, and marine life. endangered species are not just scientific curiosities; they are indicators of environmental health
and irreplaceable parts of our natural and cultural identity. Take the Nassau Grouper, for example - a fish once commonly served on Bahamian dinner tables. Today, it is listed as critically endangered due to decades of overfishing, especially during its vulnerable spawning periods. Four of the six bird species found only in The Bahamas are also on the Red List. One of them, the Bahama Warbler, once lived on Abaco and Grand Bahama, but has not been seen on Grand Bahama since hurricane Dorian. hurricanes, forest
fires, and other climaterelated events are major threats to these fragile bird populations.
Our iconic Bahamian Rock Iguanas, found on a handful of islands, face mounting pressure from unregulated tourism, poaching, and habitat loss. Meanwhile, our reef-building corals - like elkhorn and Staghorn Coral, which are the very foundation of our marine ecosystemsare also listed as critically endangered.
The BNT is at the forefront of species protection in The Bahamas. Through protected area
management, scientific research and monitoring, community outreach, and policy advocacy, we are working to ensure these species and the ecosystems they call home are protected for generations to come. Conservation is not just a scientific issue. It’s a national responsibility. These species are part of our heritage, and their protection is a reflection of how much we value our country’s natural legacy.
As we reflect on endangered Species Day, let us remember: every action we take matters. By supporting
conservation, respecting wildlife, and protecting our habitats, we can help ensure that future generations experience the beauty and biodiversity that make The Bahamas a true ecological treasure. The BNT remains committed to being a guardian of this natural world, and we invite all Bahamians to stand with us in that mission. To learn more about our role in managing national parks, protecting wildlife, and informing environmental policy, please visit our website at www. bnt.bs and follow our various social media channels.
Bahamian Rock iguanas, found on a handful of islands, face mounting pressure from unregulated tourism, poaching, and habitat loss.
Photos: Elijah sands
nassau Grouper.
Bahama swallow.
Picture of the day
EndangErEd Bahama Warbler in the Abaco National Park.
Photo: Elijah Sands