UNION REJECTS GOVT PENSION REFORMS
Growth in liabilities to $4.1bn ‘unsustainable’, says official White Paper
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Public Services Union is opposing a cornerstone of the government's proposed pension overhaul, arguing that public servants who accepted jobs on the understanding that they would receive government-funded pensions should not be forced into a new contributory scheme years into their careers.
Kimsley Ferguson said the union supports pension reform in principle but rejects a proposal that would require public servants with less than eight years of service to join the new pension plan.
Speaking on Guardian Radio's Morning Blend yesterday, Mr Ferguson said the measure would unfairly affect workers who entered the public service as permanent and pensionable employees.
"When they initially BPSU president Kimsley Ferguson speaks to media at a union protest in 2025.
MISSING CASH PROBE CLOSED DUE TO LACK OF EVIDENCE
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
POLICE have closed their investigation into a Marathon Estates couple’s complaint that $9,000 allegedly disappeared after officers searched their home, saying there was “insufficient evidence” to bring charges, a conclusion
that comes after Marvin Deveaux died without learning what became of the money his widow says was meant to help fund medical treatment overseas.
Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles told The Tribune yesterday that the matter was fully investigated, but police could not proceed with charges.
"They’ve investigated
that matter fully and there was insufficient evidence for them to proceed with a charge because of the lack of evidence that they had," Commissioner Knowles said.
Marvin and Aynalel Deveaux alleged that the money disappeared after officers searched their
FOIA COMMISSIONERS TERM ENDS AMID BUDGET WORRIES
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
RETIRED Supreme Court Justice Keith Thompson's appointment as the country’s first Freedom of Information commissioner officially ended last month, raising questions about the status of the body's work amid renewed government
pledges to strengthen transparency and accountability.
The Tribune can also confirm that Shane Miller’s contract for deputy commissioner also expired in May.
Both men were appointed to the positions under Minnis administration in May 2021. However,
BPSU president
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
BAHARI’S use of AI-generated models to promote its newest collection has triggered a backlash from some customers, forcing the Bahamian-owned apparel
Marvin Deveaux’s wife, Aynalel
Atlantis’ Annual Quartz Awards
ATLANTIS hosted its annual Quartz Awards under the theme “Rising From Ordinary To Extraordinary” where 154 team members were nominated and 51 winners were crowned in various categories. The event signified Atlantis’ committment in ensuring a positive recognition culture all year round. A treat for the team members was a special guest performance by Bahamian hitmaker, DMAC.
Photos: Atlantis
Questions raised after FOIA chief’s contract comes to end
their work has been hampered by underfunding and a lack of resources, leading to missed deadlines.
Budget allocations for the office have been routinely set at $140,000, an amount officials have previously said falls far short of the estimated $1 million needed to fully implement the transparency law.
In 2024, Mr Thompson told The Tribune that the budget was insufficient to achieve meaningful progress for his office.
Yesterday, Attorney General Wayne Munroe said an assistant FOIA commissioner remains in office and will provide a briefing on efforts to fully operationalise the office. It is unclear when the two new posts will be filled.
Matt Aubry, executive director of the Organisation for Responsible Governance, described the appointments of both a commissioner and deputy commissioner as central to advancing the office’s work and questioned who would now be their replacements. He said the lack of clarity around leadership raises
No charges filed in missing medical funds investigation
Marathon Estates home in 2024 while looking for drugs and firearms. Mrs Deveaux said the cash had been set aside for a trip to Turkey, where her husband hoped to undergo medical treatment, including surgery for his back and later for his kidney.
Mrs Deveaux has said officers entered a locked bedroom belonging to her late mother-in-law, where the money was stored. She said she accompanied them during the search because her husband had difficulty walking. She claimed officers acknowledged the money, placed the bag back, then later remained in the room after she was told the search had not been completed and instructed to return to her bedroom.
She alleged that when she checked the room after police left, the cash was gone. The couple said they reported the missing money to police the same day. Mr Deveaux died last Thursday after years of health challenges, including kidney disease that
required dialysis for about 20 years. Mrs Deveaux said he would have turned 61 on July 2. She has repeatedly told The Tribune that she and her husband never received a definitive explanation about the complaint despite repeated inquiries.
She said the uncertainty deepened their financial and emotional strain as his health deteriorated.
When asked why the matter remained unresolved for so long, Commissioner Knowles rejected that characterisation, saying the Deveauxs could have sought updates at any time from 2024.
Mrs Deveaux, however, said the fight drained her and her husband, who died before police publicly disclosed the outcome.
“My husband told me, ‘Anna, I can’t fight these people no more. My heart already broke. I don’t have energy,” Mrs Deveaux said, recalling her husband’s mindset during his final days.
Mrs Deveaux said her husband had breathing difficulties before his death.
She said emergency assistance arrived about an
hour after she sought help around 5.20am and that he was already dead by the time responders arrived.
She said the missing money destroyed the couple’s plan to seek treatment in Turkey and left her husband emotionally broken.
“He was happy because he thought he was going to Turkey,” Mrs Deveaux said. “He told everybody ‘I’m going to fix my kidney and come back normal,” she said. “After the money was gone, everything changed.”
While there is no way to know whether the treatment would have changed the outcome, Mrs Deveaux believes her husband would have had a better chance.
After being told police had concluded the matter because of insufficient evidence, Mrs Deveaux said:
“These people didn’t take my money. These people take my husband’s life. I want the Bahamian people to hear the pain. Today me, tomorrow another person. Life, you can’t bring back with the money.”
Mrs Deveaux said her focus is now on arranging her husband’s funeral and settling her affairs.
MAN FOUND DEAD IN ABANDONED BUILDING
A 45-YEAR-OLD man became the country's latest homicide victim yesterday after he was shot dead outside his home.
Police responded to reports of gunfire in the Tropical Gardens area shortly after midnight on Tuesday.
Officers arrived to find an unresponsive man dressed in dark clothing lying next to a Nissan Note. Family members identified the victim as Chino Gregory Bethel, a husband and father, but declined to comment.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Bethel was returning home when he was confronted outside the property by an unknown assailant who opened fire.
His death brings the country's murder count to 28 for the year, according to The Tribune's records.
Chief Superintendent Sheria King said police were still investigating the motive behind the killing, adding that one murder was too many. She said the matter was being treated seriously. “I would say to the
residents of Tropical Gardens that the police is going to investigate this matter throughout and will find those individuals who are responsible for this matter,” she told reporters on the scene.
Meanwhile, police are investigating the discovery of a man's body in an abandoned building on a track road off University Drive.
A preliminary examination found no signs of trauma. Police said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
TRAFFIC DISPUTE LEAVES TWO MEN INJURED
A MAN lay trapped beneath a blue car on Blue Hill Road last week, his head and hands still moving, after a traffic dispute in front of Super Value ended with two men injured by gunfire and one of them run over.
A video of the aftermath showed the car on top of a man and a motorcycle on what appeared to be a sidewalk. One of the man’s legs appeared to be over his head as another man tried to help him from beneath the vehicle.
Several people stood nearby watching. One bystander could be heard saying, “(expletive) roll right over him.” According to information
obtained by The Tribune police received reports of a shooting in front of Super Value on Blue Hill Road around 3.58pm on May 29. When officers arrived, they found two injured men. The first victim was 32-year-old Deangelo Major, who had been riding a black Yamaha XT125 motorcycle. Police found him lying on the sidewalk with his head facing west. He had abrasions about his body from being run over by a blue Honda Stream, licence plate AW5185.
Police later discovered that Mr Major had also suffered a gunshot wound to his left thigh. The second victim was
Jimmy Mott, of Farrington Road, who was driving the Honda Stream.
Mr Mott told police he was travelling north on Blue Hill Road when two motorcyclists were driving recklessly and trying to enter his lane. He said this resulted in one of the cyclists being struck off his motorcycle. According to the police report, the second motorcyclist left the area and returned a short time later, brandished a firearm and fired in Mr Mott’s direction.
Mr Mott was shot in his right and left legs and his left side, police said. Both men were taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment.
with an independent information commissioner that has the specific criteria and is not to be removed unless either they remove themselves, or there’s some reason to be so it raises a lot of questions,” he said.
“What is being designated as a priority? What will happen in the designation? Is that $140,000 to cover the hiring and salary of an information commissioner? Is that to cover the unit?”
“That’s not a lot of money to achieve what what seems to be significant objective so I think I think it would be important to understand and have better clarity across the board.”
concerns about the body’s future direction.
“The act is very specific that this is to be driven
Successive administrations have promised to implement Freedom of Information legislation but failed to do so, despite advocates warning that prolonged delays in anti-corruption reform
amount to avoiding oversight.
Before the 2021 election, the PLP’s Blueprint for Change promised to fully enact the reform, but the party failed to do so in its first term.
The party has again promised to fully implement the FOIA in its second administration.
Mr Aubry urged the government to live up to its promises.
“If you’re going to make a promise, it’s really important that we want to establish public trust and understanding how that will come to fruition, what the timeline is, what the clear budget is,” he said. “But if you see in our budget book that the next two years are allocated as $140,000, unless the money is somewhere else that’s not specified, it doesn’t look as feasible for what needs to happen to bring the act into full force.”
Apparel brand defends AI models after public outcry
May 31 for its Coral World collection, using AI-generated models rather than real people.
The move drew criticism from social media users who said a Bahamian company known for showcasing local culture should have used Bahamian models, especially given the exposure such campaigns can provide.
“Embarrassing for a well-respected brand to use AI. So many Bahamian models could’ve been used and would’ve been grateful for the opportunity,” one user wrote.
Another user said the concern was not about telling Bahari how to run its business, but about protecting the brand’s value.
“True, it is their business, but luxury brands thrive entirely on prestige and consumer trust,” the user said. “Pointing out poor quality isn’t about dictating their choices, it’s about giving vital market feedback.”
Some social media users defended Bahari, arguing that marketing and advertising are changing and that Bahamian consumers do not show the same level of dissatisfaction when larger brands use AI.
Bahari general manager Carole Barnett rejected suggestions that the company had turned its back on Bahamian models, saying the brand has relied on local faces for most of its campaigns since it was launched in 2014 with its inaugural Independence Collection.
“For the past 11 years, we have been using Bahamian models. Nothing has changed,” she said. “We believe in Bahamians, and this is the reason why we use Bahamian models for every shoot.”
Ms Barnett said the decision to use AI for the Coral World campaign was tied to the collection’s theme. Coral World, which opened in 1987 on Silver Cay, was developed by Coral World International as a major marine park and resort complex and was once one of the country’s most popular attractions.
Visitors could descend below sea level in an underwater observatory and view marine life through large windows without diving.
The site also featured marine exhibits, nature attractions and resort
facilities.
Coral World was eventually abandoned, with its observation tower remaining its most recognisable remnant.
Ms Barnett said because Coral World is no longer operational, the company decided artificial intelligence was best suited for the themed photoshoot.
The Coral World collection is available on Bahari’s website and includes shirts, dresses and pants featuring vibrant imagery inspired by the former attraction.
Still, the criticism has placed Bahari at the centre of a wider argument about whether the use of AI in fashion marketing undermines the visibility of real models and weakens the authenticity customers expect from brands rooted in culture and identity.
Bahari has traditionally been known for striking campaigns featuring Bahamians who have contributed to the country’s development. Its campaigns have also served as a platform for aspiring models.
Ms Barnett said Bahari has consistently hired local talent for its brand, advertising and collections. She questioned why Bahari was being criticised when other international fashion brands and Bahamian companies also use AI.
She said the company has always been rooted in Bahamian culture.
“We are a Bahamian company trying to evolve. We’re trying to get The Bahamas on a global level by giving an island lifestyle,” she said.
“You’re not going to be able to please everybody,” she said.
A BAHARI ad using AI models in their latest ad campaign.
Union opposes forcing public servants into new pension
were employed, they were part of persons who were permanent and pensionable, and whose pension was provided for by the government,” he said.
The objection comes as the government presses ahead with long-awaited pension reform aimed at tackling liabilities estimated at $3bn and projected to climb to $4.1bn by 2032.
The White Paper, tabled alongside the 20262027 Budget, proposes replacing the existing taxpayer-funded pension system with a Contributory Public Sector Pension Plan requiring employees to contribute at least three percent of their pensionable salary and the government five percent.
Under the proposal, public officers who have not yet vested in the current pension system would
automatically become members of the new fund, alongside future hires and employees who voluntarily opt in.
Mr Ferguson argued that workers who joined the public service under one set of retirement expectations should not have those terms altered years later.
“If you want to do this moving forward, that’s fine, but you don’t wait until somebody has seven years and divest them of their entitlement,” he said.
“That’s contrarian. The union is not in support of that particular aspect of it.”
While opposing that provision, Mr Ferguson said the union supports the broader shift to a contributory pension system, arguing that it could ease pressure on public finances while giving workers greater control over their retirement savings.
“I think a contributory pension plan is really
something that we want to embrace,” he said. “It sort of brings relief to the public purse, to some extent, and what it does, it allows the worker to determine what sizeable pension that they would have moving forward, or when they retire.”
Mr Ferguson also questioned whether adequate consultation took place before the White Paper reached Parliament.
The government has defended the reform as necessary, warning that pension liabilities and annual payouts are placing growing pressure on the country’s finances. According to the White Paper, pension payments to public officers are projected to increase from $154.4m this fiscal year to $166.75m by 2028-2029.
“The continued growth in pension liabilities and cash outflows is fiscally unsustainable,” the White Paper says.
Court of Appeal upholds $150,000 award in Abaco contractor row
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
A COURT of Appeal ruling has underscored a hard lesson for homeowners locked in disputes with contractors: dissatisfaction with repairs is not enough to justify terminating a contract and withholding payment unless the evidence proves a legal breach.
That lesson cost Cliona Bacon, the owner of a Hurricane Dorian-damaged home in Hope Town, Abaco, after the appellate court dismissed her challenge to a $150,000 award in favour of contractor James Baillou, trading as Baillou Construction II.
Ms Bacon fired Baillou by email in September 2021, alleging that he was not building to code or in accordance with the plans provided to him. She had already paid $250,000 of the agreed $400,000 repair cost and refused to pay the outstanding $150,000.
The Court of Appeal, however, upheld Supreme Court Justice Constance Delancy’s finding that Bacon breached the contract, that Baillou was entitled to damages, and that the unpaid balance was properly awarded.
The dispute centred on Ms Bacon’s home, By the Steps, in Hope Town, which was damaged by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Baillou, a local contractor, was recommended to Ms Bacon and was engaged around April 2021 to carry out renovation works.
According to the contract, dated April 7, 2021 and titled Estimated Costs to Make Repairs to Cliona Bacon’s House, the projected cost of the repairs was $400,000, inclusive of labour and materials.
The money was to be paid in four instalments: $150,000, $100,000, $100,000 and $50,000. The parties also orally agreed that about $300,000 would be applied to labour and $100,000 to building materials and supplies.
Mr Baillou filed a claim in the Supreme Court in November 2021 seeking the outstanding money. ms Bacon counterclaimed, raising concerns about delays and alleged defects in the work.
Justice Delancy found there was insufficient evidence that the parties had agreed on a firm completion date. Mr Baillou’s writ said the project would take about six months, while Ms Bacon denied that timeline and claimed the discussed completion date was July 2021.
Because no completion date was specifically stated in the contract, the trial
judge found that the work had to be completed within a reasonable time.
In assessing what was reasonable, Justice Delancy considered the scope of the works, the lack of infrastructure following Hurricane Dorian, COVID-19 protocols, and changes among workmen on the site.
She also noted that The Bahamas remained under COVID-19 Emergency Orders during the contract period, requiring Baillou and his workers to isolate whenever they were exposed to the virus.
The trial judge found that quarantine periods could be extended by further exposure among workmen and concluded that the delays did not justify Ms Bacon rescinding the contract.
“These delays were not unreasonable for the time and do not constitute a breach of contract for which the Defendant is allowed to rescind,” Justice Delancy said.
She preferred Mr Baillou’s evidence and that of his witnesses, awarded him the $150,000 balance, and dismissed Ms Bacon’s counterclaim.
Ms Bacon appealed the ruling, but abandoned several grounds during oral arguments before Justices Turner, Fraser and Hilton. Ms Bacon’s remaining grounds challenged the $150,000 damages award, the trial judge’s treatment of implied and express contract terms, her handling of the allegations of defective work, and her decision to prefer Baillou’s evidence. Her lawyers argued that Justice Delancy erred by awarding the balance of the contract when the works were not substantially complete. They said Ms Baillou claimed $150,000 in labour costs but produced no evidence to support that figure. They also argued that Justice Delancy failed to properly consider Ms Bacon’s counterclaim and did not give sufficient consideration to evidence of alleged defects, including photographic evidence.
The Court of Appeal rejected those arguments. Justice Fraser said it was no longer an issue before the court whether Ms Bacon breached the contract because that ground of appeal had been abandoned. The remaining question was whether the amount of damages awarded to Mr Baillou was appropriate.
The appellate court found that it was.
The judgment noted that both sides accepted that about $300,000 of the contract price was for labour and about $100,000 was for materials. Since Ms Bacon had already paid $250,000,
the court found it was reasonable to infer that the $100,000 for materials had been covered, leaving $150,000 attributable to labour.
The court rejected the argument that Justice Delancy wrongly awarded the contract balance rather than a properly proven damages figure, finding that, in the circumstances, the labour costs and the balance of the contract were one and the same.
The Court of Appeal also found that the works had been substantially completed. It noted that Ms Bacon’s own counsel said during oral proceedings that the contractor who ultimately completed the work estimated about $40,000 worth of work remained outstanding on the $400,000 contract.
Although Ms Bacon’s counsel maintained that substantial completion had not been achieved, the appellate court disagreed, finding that the estimate supported the view that the works were substantially complete when measured against the size of the overall contract.
The court also refused to interfere with Justice Delancy’s dismissal of Ms Bacon’s counterclaim.
Justice Fraser said the trial judge expressly said that she considered all material properly before her, which would have included the counterclaim. The appellate court said it saw no basis to disturb that finding.
Ms Bacon’s lawyers also argued that Justice Delancy failed to identify the implied and express terms of the contract. The Court of Appeal found that this complaint could not stand, noting that Ms Bacon’s counsel conceded during oral arguments that the trial judge did address the implied term requiring the works to be completed within a reasonable time.
The appellate court said Justice Delancy was not required to list every term of the contract, only those essential to her decision.
The court also rejected Ms Bacon’s attack on Justice Delancy’s assessment of witness credibility. Ms Bacon’s lawyers argued that Mr Baillou and his witnesses lacked candour and that the judge’s decision to prefer their evidence was unsupported.
But Justice Fraser said appellate courts are slow to disturb factual findings by trial judges, who have the advantage of seeing and hearing witnesses firsthand.
“As the trier of fact, the learned trial Judge was entitled to prefer the evidence of one party over the other,” Justice Fraser said.
BPSU PRESIDENT KIMSLEY FERGUSON
Rand Memorial faces backlash over long urgent care waits
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
LONG waits and allegations of poor urgent care at Rand Memorial Hospital drew attention on Tuesday, as callers to a Grand Bahama radio talk show described hours-long delays, children left waiting overnight, and patients with serious symptoms allegedly left without timely treatment.
The complaints surfaced on Darren Cooper’s talk show, “It Is What It Is” on Da Riddim 102.7 FM, after he raised concerns about reports that a patient with a heart condition remained at the Rand for hours while awaiting an
airlift to New Providence for further care.
Several callers recounted what they described as distressing experiences at the public hospital in Grand Bahama, with one woman saying her daughter waited more than 12 hours before seeing a doctor despite suffering from a severe bladder infection and bleeding.
"The only thing that was done, she had registered to the window, and they just took the pressure, and that was it, and told her to sit down," the caller said, adding that her daughter remained in pain for hours. She criticised the hospital’s service and called on Health Minister Dr Michael Darville to resign.
"The service is deplorable,” the woman said.
Another caller described what she called a “horrible” experience after taking her six-year-old daughter to the Rand for urgent care after the child suffered a seizure.
She said they arrived around 10pm but did not get to the Paediatric Ward until 10.30 the next morning.
Mr Cooper said the complaints reflect longstanding concerns about the public healthcare system in Grand Bahama, where some residents are reluctant to seek treatment at the Rand because of fears about delays and the quality of care.
Aubenette
Rolle,
managing director of
Public Hospitals Authority,
Appeal court revokes bail for attempted murder convicts
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Court of Appeal has overturned a Supreme Court judge’s decision to allow two women convicted of attempted murder to remain on bail pending sentencing, finding that the judge failed to explain why bail was justified after their convictions for serious offences.
Glenresha Williams and Michelle Williams were remanded into custody after the appellate court allowed an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions, ruling that the continuation of bail could not stand without a clear and lawful basis.
The written reasons for the decisionm said Justice Renae McKay did not show that she had formed the view that the women would receive a non-custodial sentence, a key requirement under section 3(1)(d) of the Bail Act when bail is granted after conviction and before sentencing.
The ruling marks a sharp rebuke of the handling of the bail decision in the Supreme Court, where the women were allowed to remain on bail even after a jury found them guilty of two counts of attempted murder.
The women were charged on October 28, 2021 with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a firearm. The charges stemmed from allegations that, while concerned together and with another person, they tried to kill Adrian Cooper and Savannah Bain and possessed a firearm with intent to endanger their lives.
Their trial began on October 27, 2025 before Justice McKay. On November 21, 2025, a nine-member jury convicted both women of two counts of attempted murder by an eight-to-one majority verdict.
After the verdict, Justice McKay continued their pretrial bail pending sentencing, which was then set for January 27, 2026. She varied their conditions to require electronic monitoring devices, a 9pm to 6am daily curfew, reporting to Fox Hill Police Station before 6pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, no direct or indirect contact with prosecution witnesses, and the surrender of travel documents.
The DPP’s office immediately objected. Prosecutor T’Shura Ambrose told the court the Crown strongly opposed bail continuing because the women had been convicted and, given the seriousness of the offences, might abscond.
Defence counsel opposed
the Crown’s position, arguing that the court had discretion to continue bail and that the women’s history did not support fears they would abscond.
Justice McKay referred in court to the Court of Appeal’s decision in the Don Brennen case, noting that in that matter she had continued pretrial bail after Brennen was convicted of manslaughter and the Court of Appeal upheld her decision.
However, the appellate court found that reliance on Don Brennen was misplaced because the circumstances were materially different. The Crown argued that Brennen involved exceptional health-related circumstances, noting that he was a 64-year-old man with health challenges, including a hearing deficiency. By contrast, the Court of Appeal said there was no evidence before Justice McKay of any medical condition or other personal circumstance warranting bail for the Williams women after their attempted murder convictions.
The DPP filed a notice of appeal on November 24 2025, arguing that Justice McKay “exercised her discretion wrongly in granting bail pending sentencing.”
The Court of Appeal agreed.
Justice Turner said the court’s role was not to decide whether it would have granted bail itself, but to determine whether the trial judge properly exercised her discretion. He noted that appellate courts generally interfere only where there is an error of law, an unreasonable exercise of discretion, or a failure to consider relevant factors.
The court found that this threshold was met.
Although Justice McKay considered the evidence, the law and Don Brennen, the Court of Appeal said she “failed to explain how those considerations justified her decision in the continuation of bail.” As a result, the appellate court said it could not determine the basis on which her discretion was exercised.
The judgment also stressed that once a person is convicted, the presumption of innocence no longer operates in that person’s favour. The Court of Appeal relied on the Earl Randolph Fraser case, which distinguished the principles governing pretrial bail from those that apply after conviction.
In that case, the court said a person not yet tried and convicted may rely on the presumption of innocence when seeking bail, but “where he is already convicted, the presumption
of innocence falls away and the applicant can no longer rely on that as a factor weighing in his favour.”
The DPP’s office also argued that attempted murder is an offence that ordinarily warrants a custodial sentence, and that allowing bail in these circumstances would “open the floodgates” by creating an expectation that people convicted of offences
could automatically remain on bail while awaiting sentencing Counsel for the respondents argued that post-conviction bail was not prohibited and that Justice McKay properly balanced the women’s liberty against public interest concerns. The defence also said the women had complied with their bail conditions and attended court throughout the proceedings.
But the Court of Appeal found that compliance with bail conditions and tighter restrictions were not enough.
“The variation of bail conditions and the Respondents’ compliance with those conditions, were insufficient to justify the continuation of bail following convictions of attempted murder,” the judgment said.
The court also rejected the argument that it was
premature to determine whether a custodial sentence would be imposed because sentencing reports had not yet been received.
Section 3(1)(d) of the Bail Act allows bail after conviction where a case is adjourned for inquiries or reports only if the court does not intend to impose a custodial sentence. The Court of Appeal found there was nothing in the record showing Justice McKay had reached that view.
the
said she was not aware of concerns raised at the Rand about patient experiences.
THE RAND Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama.
Union wants say in new private island hotel deal
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Hotel,
Catering and Allied Workers Union president
Darrin Woods says the union should be involved in negotiations over a proposed private island hotel development that has cleared the first stage of Afreximbank’s credit approval process, warning that workers’ rights are often left exposed when major tourism deals are negotiated without labour input.
Mr Woods said the union has no objection to the proposed development, but believes it should have a seat at the table when the Heads of Agreement is being negotiated.
“A lot of times we don't know what's in the heads of agreement, and then we see the operators come and seemingly doing as if whatever they seem to want to do and not paying attention to the laws that governs the country,” he
told The Tribune. “We have laws that govern how employers and unions are, and
particularly laws that govern the whole aspect of employee relationship, but when it comes here, it
seems as if these developers find loopholes or ways around dealing with the benefits that employees
are used to and legally entitled to.”
Mr Woods said although employees at the proposed development may not yet be union members, they could become potential members once the project begins hiring. His comments came after Afreximbank’s Caribbean Office chief operating officer Okechukwu Ihejirika said the proposed hotel development is expected to be located on a private island and is intended to boost tourism.
Mr Ihejirika declined to identify the developers or provide other details, saying discussions with the project’s promoters are still ongoing. He said the proposal has passed the first stage of the bank’s credit approval process but must still undergo further due diligence and additional credit approvals before final approval.
Mr Woods said more information is needed about the project, particularly because hotel workers in
remote locations often face problems over pay, hours, holiday compensation and working conditions.
He said the union frequently receives complaints from workers in remote properties where employees are less visible and oversight is weaker.
“The work hours are not compensated for,” he said.
“When it comes to holidays and the like, they're not properly compensated as it relates to that. So we find a lot of complaints coming from those remote places where, because they're away from and there's no one seemingly to check daily or regularly on how the employees are supposed to be treated, how they are handled.”
“The employer seemed to get away with it, particularly when they are providing housing for these people, because of course, if you take me from from where I’m domicide and then you put you on someplace else, you're putting me up against a higher expectation for me.”
Over ten vehicles seized in Gibson corruption probe
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
MORE than ten vehicles were seized in New Providence and Long Island as investigators traced the flow of money linked to Water and Sewerage Corporation contracts awarded during Adrian Gibson’s tenure as executive chairman, a police financial intelligence officer testified yesterday. Assistant Superintendent of Police Kelson Colebrooke, of the police financial intelligence unit, gave evidence in the Supreme Court during the ongoing trial over WSC contracts awarded while Gibson led the corporation. Under cross-examination by Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, ASP Colebrooke confirmed that the vehicles were secured for evidential purposes.
He said some of the vehicles were seized by Assistant Superintendent
of Police Anton Mackey. There were no reports that any of the vehicles had been stolen.
The court heard that investigators executed a search warrant at Aaron’s Car Rentals in Long Island, where some of the vehicles were recovered.
The evidence came as prosecutors continued to examine allegations concerning the movement of funds connected to companies that received WSC contracts.
Earlier in the trial, Alexandria Mackey, Gibson’s former fiancée, testified that no shares in Elite Maintenance were issued to Gibson and that he never appeared on the company’s register of directors or held a corporate office. However, she said this arrangement was intentional and maintained that Gibson was the beneficial owner of the company.
Ms Mackey also testified that profits from companies linked to the contracts were
used to purchase vehicles for Gibson.
During a police interview, she said she made payments on behalf of those companies at Gibson’s direction. The court also heard that she purchased vehicles using company accounts.
Gibson has been on trial since November 2023 alongside former WSC general manager Elwood Donaldson Jr, Ms Knowles, Peaches Farquharson and Mr Missick in connection with contracts awarded during his tenure at the corporation.
Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson is presiding.
BAHAMAS HOTEL, CATERING AND ALLIED WORKERS UNION PRESIDENT DARRIN WOODS
ADRIAN GIBSON
Alicia Wallace
A decade past the vote, and Bahamian women still unequal
JUNE 7, 2026 will mark 10 years since the referendum on issues of gender inequality in citizenship and sex-based discrimination in the constitution. There were four questions on the ballot related to four proposed constitutional amendment bills. The people (who showed up to vote) said no to the changes, or to the government administration, or to the process, or to women, or to a combination of the four.
We are left, then, with constitutional inequality.
We are left with government administration after government administration that do not know and/or do not care to chart a new path toward making the necessary changes to move us toward equality.
BILL 1 Article 8 of the constitution states, “A persons born outside The Bahamas after 9th July 1973 shall become a citizen of The Bahamas at the date of his birth if at that date his father is a citizen of The Bahamas otherwise than by virtue of this Article or Article 3(2) of this Constitution.”
Bill 2, had it received sufficient votes in the referendum and resulted in the related constitutional amendment, would have allowed the spouses of Bahamian women to apply for Bahamian citizenship.
While it is not explicit in the above, Article 8 allows for Bahamian men married to the women who give birth
to their children to confer citizenship on their children regardless of the citizenship of the mother and regardless of the child’s place of birth. As there is no mention of Bahamian women married to the fathers of their children in this or any other article specific to people born outside of The Bahamas, this means that they are not, under constitutional law, allowed to confer citizenship on their children born outside of The Bahamas.
BILL 2
Bill 1, had it received sufficient votes in the referendum and resulted in the related constitutional amendment, would have allowed Bahamian women to confer citizenship on their children, regardless of marital status and the place they give birth. It would be automatic, eliminating the need for application and the arduous, frustrating process attached to it.
Article 10 of the constitution states, “Any woman who, after 9th July 1973, marries a person who is or becomes a citizen of The Bahamas shall be entitled, provided she is still so married, upon making application in such manner as may be prescribed and upon taking the oath of allegiance of such declaration as may be prescribed, to be registered as a citizen of The Bahamas: Provided that the right to be registered as a citizen of The Bahamas under this Article shall be subject to such exceptions or qualifi-
Bill 3, had it received sufficient votes in the referendum and resulted in the related constitutional amendment, would have allowed Bahamian men to confer Bahamian citizenship on their children, regardless of their relationship to their mothers.
or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.”
cat-
ions as may be prescribed in the interests of national security of public policy.”
While it is not explicit in the above, men who marry Bahamian women do not have the same entitlement to apply for Bahamian citizenship as is afforded to the women who marry Bahamian men.
BILL 3
Article 14(1) of the constitution states, “Any reference in this Chapter to the father of a person shall, in relation to any person born out of wedlock other than a person legitimated before 10th July 1973, be construed as a reference to the mother of that person.”
While it is not explicit in the above, Article 14 prevents Bahamian men who are not married to the mothers of their children from conferring Bahamian citizenship on their children.
BILL 4
Article 26(3) of the constitution states, “In this Article, the expression "discriminatory" means affording different treatment to different person attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin political opinions colour or creed whereby person of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which person of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges
Article 26 prevents discriminatory law and 26(3) defines discrimination, listing the ground under which it is prohibited. It does not include sex. It is important to note that this must have been an intentional and misogynistic exclusion since the same list appears in Article 15, except Article 15 does include sex. Article 15 begins, “Whereas every person in The Bahamas is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, has
Bill 4, had it received sufficient votes in the referendum and resulted in the related constitutional amendment, would have added “sex” to the prohibited grounds of discrimination.
Voters have the right to their opinions and to cast their ballots as they see fit, and we can make our own assessments regarding the “right” thing to do. The failure, however, was in the process from the first announcement that the referendum would be held, devoid of any national education on the constitution, the Constitutional Commission, the report from the Commission, the prioritisation of issues, or the impact of the issues identified. The failure was in the politicisation of the issue, the tit-for-tat between the two major political parties, particularly regarding the 2002 referendum, and the lack of a clear, explicit, and united stance by the political parties on the issues presented in the four bills.
The referendum was first expected to take place in June 2013. It was postponed to November 2013, then pushed to June 2014. It was finally held on June 7, 2016. In November 2015, Former Governor General Sir Arthur Folks lamented that the referendum had not yet been held and said the public should demand the referendum be held sooner than later.
“I think it’s a great pity that we haven’t done it, and I hope that all those concerned – the government, the commission and the Bahamian public – should demand that we do this.” He added, “This is essential, this is necessary, if we’re really going to be a democratic country with the same equality for everybody. So, its absolutely essential, and I hope the sooner the better.”
Foulkes said that voting against gender equality would place Bahamians among “backward peoples of the world who still believe that accidents of birth like colour and sex should forever assign some people to inferiority status.”
This is where we currently sit.
the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest[…]”
What happened?
On Tuesday, June 7, less than 50% of the electorate participated in the referendum. On every bill, more than 60% of voters were against the proposed constitutional amendments. It was deemed a failure by many, though not for the correct reasons.
said, “The government is committed to removing the constitutional anomaly which exists with regard to women and the ability to pass on their citizenship to their children.” He said the constitutional amendment would make it “clear that gender cannot be a reason to discriminate against an individual.”
Following the vote against the proposed amendments, the Progressive Liberal Party has failed to demonstrate its commitment to removing the anomaly and addressing the issue of gender-based discrimination in the constitution.
In the last term, the Attorney General claimed the government would address the citizenship issues through the Bahamas Nationality Act following the ruling of the Privy Council. That has not happened, and there is no indication that it will happen in this term.
The issue of sex-based discrimination, unfortunately, has never even been mentioned.
What now?
This cannot be the end.
The government has a responsibility to make gender equality a reality. It has a responsibility to end statelessness. It has a responsibility to make living in The Bahamas a real option for Bahamian, regardless of who they marry or where their children are born. It has a responsibility to protect, promote, uphold, and expand human rights. It has recognized, on numerous occasions, that it has these responsibilities through the ratification of various regional and international human rights mechanisms, including CEDAW.
The government needs to:
*Acknowledge, to the public, its responsibility to ensure all people have full access to all human rights.
*Develop a comprehensive, updated civic education curriculum and make it mandatory in all schools.
Following the results of the 2016 referendum, then Prime Minister Perry Christie said, “This whole thing may have been hopelessly flawed because of a compelling urgency on the part of some to pay us back (for) what they perceived to be a payback to the PLP and therefore the supremacy of the issues of equality were lost in a payback.” Recall that the Leader of the Opposition Hubert Minnis gave a “vote your conscience” message to the public, failing to fully commit to the purpose of the referendum.
That’s one part of the story.
THERE WAS also the late launch of the Yes Campaign and the sloppiness in execution.
THERE WAS the overly technical presentations that both confused people and increased suspicion.
THERE WAS the refusal to give real answers to people who had questions about the potential outcomes of the proposed amendments, however elementary or conspiracy theory-like they sounded. THERE WAS the ill-advised combination of questions on the ballot. THERE WAS the yielding to religious misleaders and anti-rights actors by the government. THERE WAS the lack of engagement with young people.
There are many reasons for the 2016 referendum results, and misogyny, xenophobia, low civic education, and lack of trust in the government underpin them all. When it’s over… Then Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party Bradley Roberts said, “The PLP remains committed to the principle of equality for all Bahamians under the law. We do so because it is consistent with our core values and the foundational principles upon which the PLP was built and thrived.” In July 2012, then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell
*Allocate sufficient resources to the appropriate government entities and nongovernmental organizations to design and execute long-term public education campaigns on human rights, gender equality, and citizenship.
*Develop a timeline and action plan for referenda to address the citizenship issues and to add “sex” to the prohibited grounds of discrimination.
Recommendations
The Snag: A Mother, A Forest, and Wild Grief by Tessa McWatts. This book is the nonfiction winner and the overall winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. The publisher said, “As her mother’s dementia advances and she can no longer live independently, Tessa McWatt confronts personal and political losses, and finds herself wandering in a forest asking, how do we grieve? And what can we learn from nature and those whose communities are rooted in nature about not only how to grieve but also how to live?” Feminist Book Club, hosted by Equality Bahamas and Poinciana Paper Press, is reading The Snag this month. Join the discussion at Poinciana Paper Press, 12 Parkgate Road, on Wednesday, June 17 at 6pm. Register to join Feminist Book Club at tiny.cc/fbc2026. Radical Acts of Publishing. An exhibition of alternative books made during a sixweek publishing incubator led by Sonia Farmer at Poinciana Paper Press, supported by the Caribbean Culture Fund, is an event in the Transforming Spaces 2026 lineup. The twenty participants hailed from a wide range of backgrounds including education, art, media, civil service, and activism. See the show at Poinciana Paper Press at 12 Parkgate Road on Saturday, June 6 from 11am to 6pm, free of charge.
UK cyberspying chief calls
AI 'an unstoppable force'
By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press
BLETCHLEY, England
(AP) — Artificial intelli-
gence is “an unstoppable force” that is being weaponized in ways that fall just short of traditional warfare, the U.K. cyberspying chief warned Wednesday.
Anne Keast-Butler, director of the communications intelligence agency GCHQ, said that Britain and its allies are in “a space between peace and war” as Russia increases its “daily hybrid activity” against the West — even as Russian combat deaths in Ukraine approach 500,000.
She said that the West risks losing the conflict in cyberspace against Russia and other adversaries, unless citizens, companies and governments treat cybersecurity with much greater urgency.
“I’ve spent three decades working in national security, and the risk of miscalculation is as high as I’ve ever seen it,” Keast-Butler said in a speech at a World War II code-breaking center near London.
She said that “tech companies are releasing AI-driven innovations at a remarkable pace, with untold consequences, as algorithms are weaponized often just below the threshold of traditional warfare.
“AI is an unstoppable force with great opportunity,” she added. “But it is also a force with risks.”
Keast-Butler singled out Russia as a threat, accusing Moscow of “relentlessly targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust,” as well as stealing technology and plotting sabotage and assassination attempts.
“Russia is scaling up its daily hybrid activity against the U.K. and Europe, stretching from the seabed to cyberspace,” she told an audience of computing experts, diplomats, journalists and senior officials.
She said that one focus for British spies is “exposing Russia’s intent, motive and underwater capabilities” to target undersea telecoms cables and energy pipelines. At the same time, she said that Russian troops are “going backwards on the battlefield,” with new intelligence suggesting “almost half a million Russian soldiers” have been killed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The speech is the latest in a string of warnings from Western spies and intelligence experts that Russia is stepping up hostile activity in a “gray zone” that falls just below the threshold of war.
In recent months, authorities in countries including Sweden, Poland, Denmark and Norway have alleged
Blue Origin says rocket explosion spared fuel tanks and key launch pad parts
By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin said Tuesday that last week’s rocket explosion spared fuel tanks and some other critical parts of the launch pad.
Critical to NASA's Artemis moon program, the company's massive New Glenn rocket blew up during an engine-firing test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A lightning tower and the transporter-erector used to move and hoist the rocket were destroyed in the blast that sent shock waves across the state.
CEO Dave Limp said the methane, hydrogen and oxygen tanks look to be in good shape. The water tank is also fine and the support tower that's still standing can be repaired in place. A booster and other rocket parts housed nearby were not damaged.
Overall, this was “a bit of good news,” Limp said in an X update,
adding: “We will fly again before the end of this year.” The cause is still under investigation.
that hackers linked to Russia targeted their critical infrastructure, including power plants and dams.
The head of the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre, Richard Horne, warned last month that hostile states including Russia, China and Iran are behind the most serious cyberattacks the country faces. He said such attacks could increase dramatically if Britain becomes involved in an international conflict.
Keast-Butler said that rapid advances in artificial intelligence mean that “the ground beneath our feet is shifting” and there is a “narrowing window for the U.K. and allies to stay ahead” of countries such as China, a science and technology “superpower.”
She said that the threat extends to space, where thousands of satellites have been launched in the last few years, and “both China and Russia are investing heavily ... to support both peace and war ambitions.”
The spy chief said that GCHQ is developing a plan to use cutting-edge agentic AI for a national cybershield that could protect U.K. infrastructure and businesses from cyberattacks — though it's thought to be several years from completion.
Harnessed responsibly, she said, AI can help spies “enhance algorithms, translate foreign languages, and find needles in haystacks quicker than ever before.”
Keast-Butler also said that the U.K.-U.S. intelligence partnership is “fundamental for the security of both our nations.” She spoke as U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” foreign policy platform and disregard for longtime allies strain the relationship between London and Washington.
GCHQ, short for Government Communications Headquarters, is the U.K.’s electronic and cyberintelligence agency. It works alongside the domestic security service MI5 and the foreign intelligence agency MI6.
Keast-Butler, the first woman to head the agency, delivered the GCHQ director’s annual lecture speech at the agency’s World War II headquarters of Bletch
ley Park, a manor house 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of London where hundreds of mathematicians, cryptographers, crossword puzzlers, chess masters and other experts worked to crack Nazi Germany’s supposedly unbreakable secret codes. Their work both shortened the war and hastened the birth of modern computing.
Just two days before the accident, NASA awarded a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Blue Origin, choosing New Glenn rockets to launch a pair of rovers to the moon ahead of the arrival of the first Artemis moonwalkers who will drive them. New Glenn also is needed to launch the company's Blue Moon lander that will be used to get astronauts to the lunar surface in the coming years.
NASA is aiming for as early as 2028 for the first moon landing by astronauts since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The space agency will “do all we can” to get the pad back in action as soon as possible “while staying extremely focused on progressing the lander,” Administrator Jared Isaacman said via X.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn line of reusable rockets — named after John Glenn, the first American in orbit — has launched only three times.
Nvidia bets on AI personal computers with new 'superchip' powering Windows laptops
By CHAN HO-HIM and TAIJING WU Associated Press
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Nvidia on Monday unveiled new powerful chips that would bring dvanced artificial intelligence functions into laptops and desktop computers, with the new personal computer models from brands including Microsoft and Dell set to roll out later this year.
While Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia has already been massively successful in supplying highend chips for data centers riding the worldwide AI demand boom, it is plotting different plans to expand its presence across AI systems and products.
Jensen Huang, the Taiwanese American founder and CEO of Nvidia, made the announcement in Taipei at the annual Nvidia GTC event. Microsoft and Nvidia “are going to reinvent the PC (personal computer),” he said in his keynote speech.
“This is going to be the new PC,” Huang said as he unveiled Nvidia’s RTX Spark superchip — which combines CPU, or central processing unit, and GPU, or graphics processing unit, capabilities — that would power new Windows laptop and desktop computer models in what the company called “AI personal computers,” expected to debut in the fall of this year. Nvidia is already the world’s most valuable company, ahead of Apple, Alphabet and Microsoft.
Israel's weapons exports reach a record high with sales doubling in the past 5 years
By SAM MEDNICK Associated Press
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli weapons exports reached a record high of more than $19 billion last year, a 30% increase from 2024, Israel's Defense Ministry said Tuesday. More than half of 2025’s sales were “mega-deals” valued at $100 million or more, the ministry said, adding that sales have more than doubled in the last five years, despite widespread criticism of Israel’s conduct in its wars in Gaza, with Hezbollah and with Iran. It did not identify any of the buyers.
Countries that have vowed to shun Israeli weapons makers are nonetheless quietly placing orders, according to industry officials. Experts say governments look to Israel because its weapons are battle-tested and they're able to see in real time that the munitions and systems work.
Google employee charged with making $1.2 million using confidential data
By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. prosecutors slapped insider trading charges against a Google employee this week, alleging the software engineer used confidential company information to pocket more than $1.2 million from prediction market platform Polymarket with bets on search trends. In a complaint unsealed in New York, authorities identified the employee as 36-year-old Michele Spagnuolo — an Italian citizen residing in Switzerland who has worked for Google since 2014. Under the online name “AlphaRaccoon,” they alleged, Spagnuolo used the company's 2025 "Year in Search" data before it was published to enter Polymarket wagers about the most trending Googled people of last year.
Spagnuolo allegedly made new Polymarket trades as Google’s internal search data evolved, from October into December of last year. For example, per the complaint, Spagnuolo initially wagered that Kendrick Lamar — who headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show — would top search trends for people last year. But after internal Google data showed that alt-pop singer D4vd was later leading the influx of searches, he placed new bets. D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, was charged last month with murdering 14-yearold Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
DIRECTOR of GCHQ Anne Keast-Butler delivers her inaugural annual lecture Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, Britain.
Jacob King/PA via AP
Bahamian audiences answer the call for
Following a successful March 6 premiere, writer and producer Heath Fowler and his team returned with a special one-night-only screening of the film, transforming the evening into a celebration centred on laughter, family, and Bahamian storytelling.
For Mr Fowler, the decision to revisit the project so soon after its debut came directly from the public response surrounding the original premiere.
“Initially, I had intended to have two showings: the Red-Carpet Premiere on Friday and then the matinee on Saturday afternoon. However, my team and I decided to pool our resources and promotional efforts into the premiere to ensure its success.
We were anticipating great support, but we were not prepared for the overwhelming positive response and demand to have the film shown again,” said Mr Fowler.
He explained that many moviegoers expressed interest in returning to see the film a second time while also encouraging relatives and friends to experience it
HERE COMES TROUBLE
request,” he said.
Blending comedy, emotional moments, and fam- ily-centred themes, Here Comes Trouble found a receptive audience among Bahamians eager to support local filmmaking. According to Mr Fowler, seeing the project resonate with viewers has been both rewarding and motivating as he continues developing work within the creative industry.
“There’s something incredibly fulfilling about com- pleting a project and seeing it go from an idea on paper to full manifestation. But it has also been humbling to witness such positive reactions from the audience,” said Mr Fowler.
The filmmaker reflected on the dedication required to bring the production to life, noting that the support from audiences validated the countless hours invested behind the scenes.
“It gives me a strong sense of accomplishment, knowing that all the hard work, late nights, and crea- tive challenges have led to something tangible, some thing Bahamians can truly be proud of. It is absolutely encouraging as I continue to expand my vision within
The timing of the encore screening also played an important role in shaping the experience. The event was intended to offer families an opportunity to celebrate together through entertainment rooted in
“Timing is everything. Around this season, people are actively looking for something meaningful to do or searching for the perfect gift for mom. What better way to celebrate than with an all-Bahamian comedy-drama film that has received rave reviews and was especially crafted for Moms and families who enjoy the arts?”
He believes productions like Here Comes Trouble continue to strengthen the visibility and credibility of Bahamian creatives both locally and internationally.
“For starters, I am convinced that our local talent, when compared to international standards, is second to
He said each local production contributes to building confidence within the industry while creating oppor tunities for emerging filmmakers to envision larger possibilities for Bahamian cinema.
“Each time a Bahamian film is produced with excel lence and carries both local and international appeal,
the future of film production in the country.
“I truly believe that The Bahamas will soon be recognized as a hub for top-tier films that are supported and celebrated around the world,” he said.
As audiences gathered once again inside the Atlantis Theatre, many arrived already familiar with the buzz surrounding the film, while others experienced the story for the first time.
For those still curious about the excitement surrounding Here Comes Trouble, Mr Fowler offered a glimpse into what viewers have embraced most about the production.
“Don’t just take my word for it; take it from those who’ve already experienced it: ‘A whole lot of laughs, unexpected plot twists, and a strong message about forgiveness and letting go. It’s the kind of film you can watch over and over again," he said.
He added: “Audiences can expect an unforgettable evening filled with laughter, excitement, heartfelt moamazing cinematic atmosphere
encore showing at the Atlantis Theatre.
New Bahamian film explores the emotional aftermath of hurricanes
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
AS another hurricane season begins, a new Bahamian short film is inviting audiences to think beyond storm shutters, generators and emergency supplies and consider something less visible but equally important: the emotional impact storms leave behind.
Created by Freeport filmmaker and media producer Zanifa Darville-Cox and screenwriter Tabitha Ritchie, “Pieces of Life” explores grief, memory and emotional attachment through the lens of a hurricane threatening a family already carrying the weight of personal loss.
While fictional, the story draws inspiration from the emotional realities many Bahamians experienced following Hurricane Dorian, particularly the feelings of loss, uncertainty and displacement that lingered long after the storm had passed.
Rather than focusing on the spectacle of a hurricane, the filmmakers chose to center the story on the people living through it.
Ritchie said hurricanes are such a defining part of life in The Bahamas that she became more interested in exploring the emotional aftermath than the physical destruction itself. She explained that after Dorian, she became more aware of the ways storms can disrupt memory, grief and a person’s sense of safety long after recovery efforts have ended.
The emotional foundation of the film, she noted, was influenced by what many Bahamians experienced during and after Hurricane Dorian, especially in Grand Bahama.
For Darville-Cox, telling the story from a Bahamian perspective was essential.
“As someone from Freeport, this story is deeply personal,” she said. “Even though I did not experience Hurricane Dorian firsthand, witnessing the devastation it brought to my family and the northern Bahamas shaped me. Returning home, you realize the emotional aftershocks are still very much alive, even if they go un-seen by the outside world. Many people outside of The Bahamas view us as simply a tropical destination, but there are real human stories here filled with grief, resilience, love and survival.”
She said preserving the authenticity of Bahamian culture was a priority throughout the project.
From the environment and dialogue to the strong connections people have to family, home and memory, she wanted the country to be more than simply a backdrop.
“The Bahamas is not just the backdrop of this film, but a vital part of its emotional identity,” she said.
At the heart of the story is a man struggling to let go of his late wife’s belongings. While the plot focuses on a specific situation, both filmmakers believe the themes are universal.
Ritchie said the story ultimately asks viewers to think about what people choose to hold onto and why. She noted that letting go can sometimes feel like erasing someone, particularly when grief is involved.
Darville-Cox hopes audiences leave with a deeper understanding of how loss can shape the way people relate to memories, possessions and places.
“I hope viewers walk away reflecting on the importance of letting go and understanding how grief can shape the way we hold onto people, places and possessions. At its core, the film is about love and loss, but it’s also about the emotional weight attached to memory and familiarity. If viewers leave thinking more deeply about what truly matters in life, then I feel the story has done its job.”
The filmmakers also wanted to explore a side of hurricanes that is not often discussed publicly.
While preparedness campaigns typically focus on emergency supplies, evacuation plans and physical safety, the film shines a light on the emotional burdens many people carry before, during and after a storm.
Ritchie said people can continue living with fear, anxiety, survivor’s guilt and emotional exhaustion long after a hurricane has passed. She wanted to examine how storms intersect with personal grief because disasters do not happen separately from people’s lives.
Darville-Cox agreed, saying conversations about emotional attachment are often overlooked.
“For many Bahamians, leaving during a storm is not a simple decision. Home represents identity, history, comfort and connection.
Through the main character Richard’s eyes, I wanted to show that grief and emotional attachment can heavily influence a person’s choices. The storm becomes more than a natural disaster. It mirrors
the emotional turmoil he is experiencing internally.”
Working on the project also left a lasting impression on both creators.
Ritchie said writing the screenplay made her think more deeply about the connection between memory and physical objects. She also reflected on what she described as a quiet form of storm anxiety that many Bahamians carry and often normalize over time.
For Darville-Cox, the project reinforced her passion for telling Caribbe
an stories.
“Working on this project deepened my understanding of grief, memory and emotional vulnerability. Producing and directing a thesis film across two countries came with a lot of responsibility, and I grew tremendously throughout the process. More impor
tantly, it reaffirmed how passionate I am about telling Caribbean stories and creating films that feel honest, intimate and culturally grounded.”
Like many independent productions, the film faced challenges during development. Darville-Cox said balancing the emotional ambition of the story with the realities of a self funded project required creativity and careful planning.
Rather than attempting to recreate the scale of a major hurricane, the production focused on atmosphere, sound, tension and performance to convey the storm’s presence.
As hurricane season gets underway, both filmmakers hope the project encourages conversations that extend beyond physical preparedness.
Darville-Cox said she hopes viewers reflect on grief, resilience and the emotional recovery that follows tragedy.
“Many of us have lived through storms that changed our lives forev er, yet those emotional experiences are not always openly discussed,” she said. “Most importantly, I hope the film reminds people to value human connection over material things and to approach others with empa thy because you never fully know what someone may be carrying.”
SPORTS
Bahamas Cricket Association receives international award
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@ tribunemedia.net
WHILE preparing for two major international competitions in the next few months, the Bahamas Cricket Association has been selected as the winner of the International Cricket Council's Development Awards 2025 regional award.
As the winner of the regional award, The Bahamas is now eligible to compete for the Global Awards in July with a further six shortlisted for the ICC criiio Cricket Festivals with Rexona.
Established in 2002, the ICC Development Awards both recognise and celebrate the hard work undertaken by ICC Members in emerging nations to grow the global game.
BCA president Greg Taylor said The Bahamas won the award for the best team performance in the Americas Region of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The team was coached by Andy Moles.
"The information that I got from the Americas management was that they were impressed with the photos I sent of our training at 4:45am in the morning in the dark with our cricket bats, running
and training," Taylor said.
"Also, they were impressed with the way we played in December 2024 to get to the 2025 qualifiers. Even though we lost in the regional finals, the preparation to get to that level was taken into consideration."
Having passed through the region with flying colours, Taylor said they are even more excited that The Bahamas has now been placed in the pool for the global award for the ICC.
"That's a hard one because you have teams coming in from the other regional winners," he said. "The ICC has an independent panel and they will make a decision on all of the nominees and make a decision on who is the winner."
This is the first time that The Bahamas has achieved such a recognition and Taylor said it will be something that is placed in the almanac of the ICC for The Bahamas to cherish forever.
"I feel excited. It shows that with hard work, we can achieve anything," Taylor said. "I just want the players to believe in themselves and to see what can happen if they really play.
"You don't have to be a big country to play well. You can be a small country as evident in the other sports we play and win
awards. This just shows that with determination and training, you can achieve the highest goals. It might take you years, but you will get there."
From June 19-28, the ICC will send off its national team to Bermuda for the next qualifying round of the ICC T20 World Cup 2028 that will be held in Australia.
The team will be managed by Taylor with Moles as the head coach, assisted by Brian Tappin. The following players will make up Team Bahamas: Captain - Turan Brown; Vice captain - Gregory Taylor II; Marc Taylor, Julio Jemison, Festus Benn, Everett Haven, Ricardo Patten, Renford Davison, Jonathan Barry, Shawn Fowler, Keith Burrows, Akash Gulati, Orville Howell and AHIL Amburose. "We are going now to try and make it into the final round of the Americas region," he said.
"We will be one step away from going to the World Cup, the same as last year.
"Then in September, we have the North American Championships in the Caymans Islands from September 19-28 with teams from the United States of America, Canada, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Panama participating.
As for the award, this year, a total of 20 ICC Members have been honoured as regional winners, with the Member Boards of the UAE and Indonesia claiming four regional wins across different categories in Asia and the East Asia-Pacific, respectively. Brazil and Japan were also repeat winners and will each contest three Global Awards.
The categories cover both programmes and performance, from development initiatives in countries such as Uganda and Cyprus to social impact programmes in Bhutan and Romania, and female cricket campaigns in Suriname and Türkiye.
There is also recognition of exceptional on-field performances in international competitionfrom the likes of The Bahamas, Nigeria, Scotland, Tanzania and Italy.
There was also recognition for digital fan engagement in Canada, Namibia and Oman, while the six-nation global shortlist for the ICC criiio Cricket Festivals with Rexona contains entries from Bahrain and Qatar, among others.
The regional winners will now be put forward as contenders to claim the Global Awards, determined by a specialist and independent panel
of voters consisting of twotime ICC Men’s T20 World Cup-winner Samuel Badree, ex-Ireland international Kevin O’Brien and former Zimbabwe international Mary-Anne Musonda. The remainder of the 12-strong panel includes representatives from ICC partners, ICC full members, and the media, with the global winners set to be revealed on ICC channels in July.
“The ICC Development Awards continue to highlight the outstanding work being delivered by our members to grow cricket in emerging nations and create more opportunities for people to engage with the game around the world," said Jay Shah, ICC chairman.
“Across every region, we are seeing innovation, inclusivity and ambition drive the sport forward through grassroots participation programmes, women’s cricket initiatives, digital fan engagement and strong on-field performances. The diversity of this year’s winners reflects the global momentum behind the game and the dedication of members.
“I would like to congratulate all of the regional winners and shortlisted members on their achievements and wish them the very best ahead of the global awards.”
PONY BASEBALL SOFTBALL BAHAMAS
IN preparation for the 2026 Caribbean and Latin American 14U Baseball Championships, Pony Baseball Softball Bahamas has released the names of the two teams that will represent The Bahamas.
The championships are scheduled for June 4-9 at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium and will feature visiting teams from Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Aruba, Colombia and Curacao in a round robin format.
The Bahamas teams will comprise of the following: Bahamas Host team, managed by Mario Ford and coached by Garvin Williams and Aneko Knowles: Players - Maison McKinney, Ethan Burnside, Coleman Darville, Theo Bethell, Geralle Gabriel, Alexander McPhee, Zachary Dean, Zakai Curry, Rivante Armaly, Waiden Bain, Elliott Clarke, Devario Burrows, Michael Wilson Jr, Lynden Knowles and Andrew Gibson II. [Bahamas Championship Team, managed by Donovan Cox Jr and coached by Lionel Ferguson Jr and Marcian Curry: Players - Kamdyn Miller, Colin Bain, Eldon Bullard, Isaac Richardson, Travonte Saunders, Gianno Newball, Jamez Bethel, Logan Rolle, Bosfield Butler III, Johsiah Filterman, Liam Smith, Jaden liberal, Kymani Rolle, Xavier Petit and Jamal McSweeny.
SEE NOTES, Page 8
THE Bahamas Olympic Committee offered its condolences to the family of the late David 'Stretch' Morley, who previously served as an executive of the BOC.
Morley, a resident of Grand Bahama, passed away over the weekend at the age of 72.
The BOC, through its president Romell Knowles, released the following press statement.
"It is with profound sadness that the Bahamas Olympic Committee extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and the basketball community on the passing of our former vice president, David ‘Stretch’ Morley," Knowles said.
"David brought tremendous enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to the Olympic Movement in The Bahamas. As a representative of a team sport, he provided an invaluable perspective on the challenges and nuances of qualification systems for regional and international competitions. He was a strong advocate for reform, consistently
MORLEY
championing opportunities that would provide small island developing states with a fairer pathway to qualification and participation on the world stage."
Knowles noted that Morley's service extended beyond the Olympic Committee through his appointment as a board member of the Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission, where he represented the Bahamas Olympic Committee with distinction.
His contributions and insights played an important role in advancing clean sport initiatives and promoting integrity among our athletes.
"As president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, David was unwavering in
A FITTING HONOUR: Members of Team Bahamas, of the Bahamas Cricket Association, that won the prestigious award.
Former BAAA track & field coach releases
new book ‘Obscurity’
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
MILDRED Adderley, a former Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations track and field coach, re-emerged as an author over the weekend as she launched her first book to the general public. "Obscurity" is the name of the book, which addresses the physical, mental and emotional challenges women experience, that Adderley launched on Saturday at Our Space in Palmdale.
Adderley, who previously coached in the Roadrunners Track Club under coach Dexter Bodie, said she was waiting on the perfect timing from God, not only what to name it, but also when to release it.
"This book took me about two years to write
because of the topics, which outlines what women go through, so I wanted to be sure that I would use the words he would want me to write," Adderley said. "It's a very intimate book because it helps the hurting woman and those who love her. So it's for the woman as she goes through life and for her support team to help her navigate the challenges she experiences."
Adderley, surrounded by her family and close friends, said she was pleased with the response she got from the public and there were persons who couldn't make it, but asked to reserve their copies.
"A lot of people described it as timely because of the topics covered," Adderley stressed. "It actually deals with real life topics and gives practice examples that we can all relate to."
Judith Knowles, Adderley's long-time friend, said because of their relationship as single young women hanging out in church, she couldn't turn down the offer to produce the "forward" in the book.
"I was able to read a good deal of it, so I want to encourage all women to see if they can get a copy of it," Knowles said. "I think it's always a blessing when God gives you a blessing that you can share with others."
She congratulated Adderley for her obedience in following her mandate from God.
Adderley's husband
Patrick Sr said he had the opportunity to watch as his wife worked with the Roadrunners to groom their three sons, Patrick Jr, Avery and Michael during their competitive days in track and field.
"She has preserved through life. She has come through obstacles, including losing her mother, her brother and just recently her father," he said as he commended her for being a loving and caring wife.
"But she raised up three wonderful boys and she filled the gap in their education and training where I fell short. Her love and support was a great measure of gratitude, not just for her family, but to those she extended it to because she had a passion working with kids."
In allowing the Lord to guide her, Adderley said he only got through the first
chapter of the book, but he's been inspired by what he's read and he can't wait to complete reading it in its entirety.
"Just get the book and read it," said Adderley without spilling too much of the beans. "It's a good book to encourage one to support their parents and to deal with life circumstances."
THE WEATHER REPORT
"It's full of life, it's very spiritual and it could give you another way of life or dealing with things when it comes to your lifestyle and how to adapt to the real world."
Adderley said she expects to write another book in the near future to cover topics that she didn't outline in this initial book. For those who missed Saturday's signing, they can still get a copy of the book, and can contact Adderley at 437-2020 0r 436-9906.
Bodie, who has worked with Adderley as one of his assistants in the Roadrunners Track and Field Club, said it was only fitting that he came out and supported her. "This is a part of her long time dream and it finally came through," he said. "It's a very interesting book and so I would encourage all women to try and get in touch with Mrs Adderley to get a copy of the book.
NEW BOOK: Mildred Adderley with close friends Penny Butler, Myrtis Adderley, Judith Knowles and Jennifer Johnson.
Bahamas Football Association 2026 Samuel P Haven Jr High School Soccer National Championships
THE Bahamas Football Association completed its 2026 Samuel P. Haven Jr High School Soccer National Championships last week at the
Roscoe Davies Developmental Centre. Here’s a recap in photos of the matches played.
BOC, from Page 10