TRANSFORMING SPACES TOUR
123 No. 136, Wednesday, June 10, 2026
‘CLEARE MUST RESIGN’
OVER SEXIST REMARKS
Women United president slams prison chief’s words as ‘demeaning’ and ‘wholly unbefitting’
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Myles LaRoda publicly rebuked Correctional Services Commissioner Doan Cleare yesterday and promised further scrutiny of his department after the commissioner said female recruits could be fired more quickly than men, triggering calls for his resignation and an investigation into whether the prison system applies different standards based on gender.
Mr LaRoda, in a rare public rebuke of a senior public official, told the House of Assembly he summoned Commissioner Cleare to his office after learning of remarks concerning the “discriminatory treatment” of male and female recruits. He said Commissioner Cleare had written apologising to the permanent secretary and the minister. The comments provoked widespread anger and condemnation, with Women United president and former senator Lisa Bostwick-Dean calling on Commissioner Clear to resign.
RESIGN - SEE PAGE THREE
House Speaker calls US drug claims ‘frivolous’ and ‘malicious’
Speaker of the House Patricia Deveaux.
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
HOUSE Speaker Patricia Deveaux yesterday blocked efforts to table documents tied to explosive US court allegations about an unnamed Bahamian
gossip
politician, dismissing the claims as “frivolous” and “malicious” gossip as the opposition accused the government of staying silent on a matter that could damage Parliament’s reputation. The interaction erupted
GOSSIP - SEE PAGE THREE
Florida court sentences Abaco man to five years for drug smuggling
TRIBUNE STAFF REPORTER
AN Abaco man who admitted to helping smuggle cocaine and undocumented migrants from The Bahamas toward Florida was sentenced to five years and four months in a US prison yesterday after accepting a
Officers in Azario Major killing will be tried in judge-alone trial
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THREE police officers accused of killing Azario Major will be tried by a judge alone in September, more than three years after a Coroner’s Court jury found that the 31-year-old was unlawfully killed. Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns
told Sergeant 2825 Antonio Sweeting, Sergeant 3039 Jamal Johnson and Sergeant 3726 Deangelo Rolle yesterday that their manslaughter trial will begin on September 14. The trial had been scheduled to begin last week. Major was shot and killed in his car outside a bar on Fire Trail Road on December 26, 2021.
AZARIO - SEE PAGE FIVE
plea deal in a case involving 168 kilograms of cocaine and 31 Chinese nationals. Ivan Curry, 52, was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term. Among those who
DRUGS - SEE PAGE FOUR
BDOC Commissioner Doan Cleare (left) and Women United president Lisa Bostwick-Dean (right)
AZARIO MAJOR
IVAN CURRY
Five Americans arrested after brawl injures four officers
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
FIVE American cruise passengers remained in police custody last night after a brawl at Nassau Cruise Port spilled into the Tourism Police Station, where police said the suspects violently struggled with officers, injuring four, and smashed a glass door.
Police said three women and two men were arrested after officers responded to a fight involving several cruise passengers in the port area shortly after 4.45pm on Monday.
The five US nationals could face charges including assaulting a police officer, fighting in a public place, resisting arrest, malicious damage and disorderly behaviour in a police station.
According to police, officers intervened in the altercation and took the five suspects into custody with the help of additional personnel.
A video of the incident showed chaos at the cruise port, with women fighting, people shoving and staff struggling to separate those involved.
Police said the confrontation escalated at the Tourism Police Station as officers prepared to search the five arrested passengers.
During the process, police said the five suspects "violently struggled" with officers.
Police said one female suspect threw a chair through a glass door, shattering it, while a male suspect kicked out the remaining glass in an attempt to escape.
He was immediately subdued by officers, according to police. Additional police units were called to restore order.
In one video, a young man in a white T-shirt, blue shorts and bright blue socks is seen kicking through the glass panel of a door at the Tourism Police Station.
A man in a red shirt and beige pants then intervenes, grabbing the young man as a police officer comes out of the building. Broken glass can be seen scattered outside the entrance.
The video shows several officers and the man in the red shirt restraining the young man against a flagpole outside the station before officers take him back inside.
A crowd later gathered outside the station.
Police said the five suspects suffered minor injuries during the initial fight at the cruise port. They were examined and treated by Emergency Medical Services personnel.
Four officers were injured during the confrontation with the US nationals.
Police said two officers were struck about the body, one suffered a cut to the mouth and another suffered a serious injury to his left shoulder.
The officer with the shoulder injury was taken to hospital by ambulance. His condition was unknown.
Police said the complainants were unable to give official statements because of time constraints linked to their cruise ship’s schedule.
Rahming to donate Senate salary to fund scholarships and grants
SENATOR Latrae Rahming said he will donate his entire Senate salary to fund scholarships, business grants and a “new beginning” grant, saying the assistance he received from others helped him complete university and build his career.
Mr Rahming, the director of communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, said the initiative will include two $5,000 scholarship grants for people 18 or older who are eligible for university, one grant for someone starting over, and five $1,000 business grants.
“I wouldn’t be half of the person that I am today
had it not been for the sacrifice of others,” he said in a video announcing the grants. “I believe as others have done for you, you should return the favour and pour into others.”
Mr Rahming said his mother’s decision to return to school later in life inspired the “new beginning” grant. He said the business grants would be aimed at women.
“All of these grants are from the Leader of the Women Dem to my women,” he said. “I want to make this investment.” The phrase “Leader of the Women Dem” was popularised by the late
Rodney Moncur, who used it as part of his public persona, usually jokingly. Mr Rahming credited several people with helping him finish university, including Sir Franklyn Wilson, Adrian Fox, Randy Penn, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Gowon Bowe and former Prime Minister Perry Christie. “If it had not been for the sacrifice for my mom who went into Scotiabank to accept that loan, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said, adding that a small network of support helped shape his life.
Cruise passengers brawl at the Nassau Cruise port leading to five arrests and a night in police custody.
A TOURIST kicks through a glasss door at RBPF Tourism Station.
Security guards at Nassau Cruise Port try to separate brawling cruise passengers.
A TOURIST that tried to escape the station is quickly escorted back inside.
SENATOR LATRAE RAHMING
LaRoda rebukes prison boss over discriminatory remarks
men.
Killarney MP Michela Barnett-Ellis called the commissioner’s comments “deeply concerning” and asked Mr LaRoda in Parliament to investigate whether his comments reflected how prison officers have been disciplined or terminated. Former Opposition leader Loretta Butler-Turner said she was “appalled” by the comments and called on him to retract them.
The controversy erupted after the commissioner warned recent female recruits that one misstep could cost them their jobs, while saying he would try to “massage” struggling male recruits into line because qualified men are in short supply.
Commissioner Cleare made the remarks on Monday during the signing-on ceremony for the 81-person Squad A cohort, saying the department had fallen short of its recruitment target despite nationwide searches for qualified applicants.
During the House of Assembly’s evening session, Mr LaRoda said he “strongly” disapproved of Mr Cleare’s words.
“We strongly disagree with those words that was used and that there’s no place in our
country where a leader could feel comfortable in saying that females, in particular, would be treated differently from males, especially when it comes to institutions that have been dominated by males,” he said.
He said the permanent secretary will meet the commissioner this week to discuss the matter further.
Mr LaRoda said Commissioner Cleare told him the comments were made ‘jokingly,’ but he said he reminded the commissioner that his position carries weight.
“He told me that his conversation was made in a jovial conversation with his recruits,” he said. “I told them, notwithstanding that, that his position carries a lot of weight, that there are females in his institution and there are other females in any institution in The Bahamas, in the country, that should not be subjected to those type of words, even if it was said in jest or just jokingly. I told him that there is no place for that.”
Mr LaRoda pointed to women holding senior public offices, noting that every woman MP on the government side is a substantive Cabinet minister and that the Speaker of the House is a woman. He also noted that the Royal Bahamas Police Force is led by a woman
commissioner, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has a woman deputy commodore, and three assistant commissioners recommended by Commissioner Cleare are women.
Mr LaRoda said he would meet Commissioner Cleare and the permanent secretary to ensure the concerns she raised are examined.
In her statement, Mrs Barnett-Ellis said women should not face a higher standard because there are more female applicants, and men should not receive more lenient treatment because there are fewer male recruits.
She pointed to Section 6 of the Employment Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, saying employment decisions should be based on conduct, competence and performance.
Mrs Bostwick-Dean said the organisation shared Commissioner Cleare’s concern about the declining number of qualified men entering fields such as law enforcement, education, nursing and the trades, but said the way he expressed that concern was inappropriate.
She called his comments “discriminatory”, “demeaning”, and “wholly unbefitting” of a senior public official.
“Given that he has
publicly declared that he will apply a different — more forgiving — standard to male recruits while reserving a zero-tolerance approach for women, he has demonstrated that he can no longer lead a mixed-gender squad with impartiality,” she said.
“He has openly admitted to an intent to discriminate, which not only erodes the trust and morale of the women under his command but also exposes the Department of Corrections to substantial legal liability for wrongful dismissal.”
Women United also pointed to Commissioner Cleare’s remarks that the department originally planned a recruit class of 70 men and 30 women, but later adjusted the ratio to 60 men and 40 women after his hands were “twisted and chopped”.
“Under these circumstances, Commissioner Cleare can no longer command the confidence of the women he is meant to lead, and we therefore call for his resignation,” she said. “We also call for an investigation into the department’s recruitment process and policies.”
Mrs Bostwick-Dean said Commissioner Cleare’s comments reinforced a double standard that would hold women to a harsher standard than
“His statement institutionalises a double standard that devalues the achievements of women and sends a dangerous message that competence matters less than gender,” she said.
“This double standard is unacceptable. It is deeply insulting to the hard-working women who have earned their places, and it patronises men by suggesting they cannot meet the same high standards of discipline and capability required to serve our nation. We, the mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts and nieces of those men know and expect better.” Ms Butler-Turner said she was “appalled” by Commissioner Cleare’s comments and called on him to retract them.
“In 2026, Bahamian women should not be told they are held to a harsher standard than their male counterparts,” she told The Tribune. “Our suffragettes fought generations for equality, and the laws of our Bahamas guarantee equality for all citizens in the workplace. There must be one standard of discipline, one standard of accountability, and one standard of opportunity.”
“This is not a minor management misstep. It is a direct affront to the legacy of Bahamian
women who secured our right to vote and to equal treatment. Commissioner Cleare’s comments are out of step with Bahamian values and our employment laws.
“The commissioner must immediately retract these statements and publicly affirm that every officer, male or female, will be held to the same standard without exception. If he fails to do so, then appropriate action must be taken. Our daughters, our officers, and our country deserve leadership that reflects fairness and equality. The rules cannot change based on gender.”
Activist Alicia Wallace warned that Mr Cleare’s comments could undermine efforts to expand opportunities for women in traditionally male-dominated fields. She said it would be helpful for Commissioner Cleare to explain his concerns about the department’s ratio of women to men.
“It is important that recruiters and the general public understand the root causes and aim to address them rather than acting out of frustration and without an evidence base,” Ms Wallace said.
The Same Rules Should Apply to Everyone
Op-ed by Michela Barnett-Ellis, MP – See Page 6
Speaker blocks debate on ‘politician one’ claims
during the budget debate after Opposition Leader Michael Pintard questioned why no statement had been made in the House of Assembly about allegations contained in a US court filing involving a figure referred to as ‘politician one.’
The filing alleges that an unnamed Bahamian politician met an undercover DEA source and a pilot inside a Parliament building in October 2024 to discuss a cocaine shipment reportedly worth $30m.
The politician is the same unnamed figure referenced in a November 2024 indictment issued by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Mr Pintard said the matter was too serious for Parliament to ignore.
“We found it absolutely strange,” he said, “that something of that magnitude that could affect the reputation, not just
of the Parliament, but by extension the country, it warranted a discussion, it warranted at least a statement, and the fact that it hasn’t been done has moved us now to raise that question, at what point will a matter of that magnitude be addressed?”
Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell opposed any attempt to raise the matter in Parliament, arguing that the House was not the proper forum. He referred to last week’s decision by FNM members to wear name tags reading “I’m not politician one”, suggesting the move may have been based on an “untested document” from a foreign source.
He accused opposition members of trying to introduce the matter into a formal parliamentary setting.
“We would oppose any such reference,” he said. “It is untested. It is prejudicial, and it holds no place in this Parliament. And if you want to engage in public gossip, that’s your business.”
Speaker Deveaux, the MP for Bamboo Town, sided against tabling the documents, drawing a line between Parliament’s legislative role and the work of law enforcement.
She said Parliament is where lawmakers debate and pass laws, while criminal allegations should be taken to police.
“Here is where we debate, and we pass legislations and laws for the betterment of people,” she said. “I have Bamboo Town to care for, okay, and while I care about what goes on in the country, I am not allowing frivolous gossip or malicious gossip that they said happened in the Parliament.
“Of course, I care if it happened in the Parliament, but where are the facts? Where’s the truth behind it?”
She said opposition members should take evidence to the police and return to Parliament after the process is complete. Notably, the allegations did not appear in an obscure legal filing. They
were made in a case in the Southern District of New York, one of the United States’ most prominent federal jurisdictions, whose prosecutors have long pursued major financial crime, organised crime, public corruption and international narcotics cases.
Although an indictment is not proof, federal criminal cases rarely end in acquittal. Pew Research Center, citing federal judiciary data, found that fewer than one percent of defendants in federal criminal cases were acquitted at trial in fiscal year 2022, with most convictions secured through guilty pleas.
Speaker Deveaux said she would address the matter if evidence is presented, but said she would not entertain “gossip.”
She said her focus is on safeguarding Bahamians and making an impact.
so I’m not
“That’s what I’m concerned about and so my thing about who’s MP-one, well, if y’all didn’t know, I carry the name MP-one on my
to rest this gossip, take it to Central Police Station, or we will have you escorted, and you could sit with the Commissioner of Police.”
RESIGN from page one
GOSSIP from page one
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER FRED MITCHELL
NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER MYLES LARODA BDOCS COMMISSIONER DOAN CLEARE
WOMEN UNITED PRESIDENT LISA BOSTWICK-DEAN
Abaco man sentenced in US for drug and human smuggling
nationals and 168 kilograms of cocaine from The Bahamas toward Florida.
sought leniency for Curry was Abaco journalist and Bishop Silbert Mills.
Curry was among several men sentenced on Monday for their roles in a drug and human smuggling scheme uncovered by US authorities last year.
His co-accused Malik Delancy was sentenced to four years and three months in prison. Both men pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance. The remaining counts against them were dismissed as part of plea agreements.
The charges stem from their arrests last September after US authorities intercepted three go-fast boats carrying 31 Chinese
Curry and Delancy were found on different vessels with their co-accused Fiero Cooper, Jeremiah Russell and Darren Sears, all of whom have since been charged and pleaded guilty.
Another conspirator, Teshawn Curry, who was convicted of serving as a lookout for law enforcement during the smuggling operation, was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison.
During an interview with investigators, Teshawn reportedly said he had served in the same role during four previous successful drug-smuggling ventures over the preceding six months. He said he expected to be paid for his
involvement but never was.
According to court documents, the men had been under covert surveillance by US authorities for months and were arrested after an intelligence-gathering operation tracked the vessels over several days.
Ivan Curry, who reportedly captained the third vessel, admitted he knew he was transporting cocaine and undocumented migrants. He told investigators that coolers were typically used to conceal and transport the drugs.
Delancy and Cooper made similar admissions, while Russell and Sears admitted only that they knew they were transporting migrants.
US authorities said a search of Russell’s phone uncovered a text message
exchange with a female dispatcher in Broward County.
“He states he’s doing a run to The Bahamas,” court documents states. “He’ll be back around 8pm and all my money troubles will be over, were about to take them boys to the South Pole, that’s a lot of gas right there, I don’t have them things right now but give me a couple days and I’ll have them flipped down south.”
Authorities also searched Sears’ phone and said they found messages referencing “bricks” in a backpack.
Investigators said the messages showed Sears saying he did not trust Ivan Curry and was concerned about whether he would be paid.
Before sentencing, Ivan Curry was told he faced a
Two men face assault charges over viral Moore’s Island slapping video
TWO Abaco men have been charged after a viral video showed a man being held by his shirt and slapped at least 19 times as bystanders watched, laughed and, in one case, tried unsuccessfully to stop the attack.
Police said the men, ages 64 and 40, were arrested, charged with assault and granted police bail after the complainant reported that he was repeatedly attacked on Moore’s Island on Friday.
They are expected to appear before the Magistrate’s Court in Marsh Harbour at 10am on Wednesday.
The police update came after the video spread across social media, drawing outrage from viewers who condemned the attackers and the person who recorded the assault while laughing.
Police said the incident happened shortly after 2pm on Front Street, Hard Bargain, Moore’s Island.
According to police, the complainant approached a man known to him to apologise for allegedly spreading false information about an affair.
Police said the man and another male became aggravated and repeatedly assaulted him.
The video showed one man gripping the victim by his shirt while slapping him across the head again and again.
Another man joined in, slapping the victim and punching him once in the stomach.
The victim, who appeared to be in his 50s, did not appear to fight back or resist.
At least ten men appeared to be gathered in the area. One man tried
to stop the assault, but the attackers continued.
The person recording the video laughed hysterically throughout the clip, while other bystanders could also be heard laughing.
The complainant later went to police, reporting that both men struck him multiple times about the body.
The video sparked fierce criticism on social media.
One commenter wrote: “Public embarrassment is not a laughing matter!!!!!!!!! You slapping up big man”
Another called the attackers “big cowards ganging up on that man.”
Another criticised the person filming the incident, saying: “Nothing about this video is funny, they are cowards and none of them looks tough”.
minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
However, according to court documents, US prosecutors agreed to recommend a three-level reduction in his sentence for not wasting the court’s time.
In a letter submitted to the court, Bishop Mills said Curry’s case reminded him of his own past, saying that 44 years ago he found himself in a similar position and credited a US congressman with taking a chance on him by speaking on his behalf.
Bishop Mills said the case caused him to reflect on his own rehabilitation and transformation, citing his later achievements as a chief councillor, bishop, local lay magistrate and
doctorate holder.
“It’s amazing that I now sit on the other side of the bench deciding cases,” he said. Having known Curry for more than three decades, Bishop Mills described him as a family man, businessman and community leader.
He said that before his arrest, Curry assisted with post-Dorian clean-up efforts and was a gifted musician who regularly used his talents during Sunday worship.
“I believe that if given the opportunity, Ivan can rise from this unfortunate place to where he finds himself,” he wrote. “I pray for mercy on his behalf.” The remaining defendants are expected to be sentenced today.
A SCREEN capture from a viral video shows two men slapping another on Moore’s Island in Abaco on Friday.
Manslaughter trial set for cops in Azario killing
AZARIO from page one
The case has drawn sustained scrutiny from Major’s relatives, who have repeatedly complained about delays and said they are still seeking justice years after his death.
The officers’ attorney, Keevon Maynard, said a judge-alone trial would be fairer to his clients because it would focus on the law and facts without external influence.
His position follows earlier efforts to challenge the Coroner’s Court process, when the officers argued that intense publicity surrounding the inquest prejudiced them and may have affected the jury’s homicide by manslaughter finding.
In a March 2024 ruling,
Justice Franklyn Williams declined to quash the Coroner’s Court verdict, though he noted that publicity surrounding Major’s death included social media posts, commentary, interviews, a website and a podcast, with several people repeatedly calling for the officers to be indicted.
The judge said the finding may have been influenced by that publicity, but ruled that the issue was not properly before him in that application.
The officers had also complained that the Coroner’s Court failed to properly deal with a constitutional application they filed during the inquest. Justice Williams rejected their bid to set aside the verdict, finding that the officers had not exhausted other remedies.
US COAST GUARD ENDS SEARCH FOR MISSING AMERICAN WOMAN
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE United States Coast Guard has ended its search mission in The Bahamas for missing American woman Lynette Hooker, but the investigation remains open after US authorities took custody of the Hookers’ dinghy for forensic testing.
The Coast Guard said its mission concluded on Friday after search teams examined newly identified areas of interest in Abaco using divers, remotely operated underwater vehicles, unmanned aerial systems and a cadaver dog. Hooker disappeared in April during a boat trip with her husband.
“During the mission, the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) also conducted a custody transfer of the Hookers’ dinghy from Bahamian authorities to the United States for further forensic examination,” the statement read.
“The Coast Guard's efforts were supported by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and K-9 Maggie from the Broward County Sheriff's Office.”
“Coast Guard units included the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell (WPC-1105), home ported in Miami, Florida, and Coast
Guard divers.”
A US Coast Guard dive team arrived in Abaco on June 3 to search for Hooker.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Coast Guard’s federal law enforcement and criminal investigative agency, is leading the US investigation, which remains open.
The agency investigates offences including fraud, corruption, cybercrime, murder, drug trafficking, serious crimes involving Coast Guard personnel and other violations of federal law connected to the Coast Guard’s work.
CGIS agents work with domestic and international law enforcement partners to collect evidence, conduct interviews, execute search warrants, make arrests and support prosecutions.
The agency said anyone with information about Hooker’s disappearance, or any other crime within its jurisdiction, should submit a report through the CGIS Tips app.
The search ended amid heightened scrutiny of the case.
ABC News reported that a US official said GPS data recovered from Mr Hooker’s devices does not match the account he gave investigators.
CBS News reported that the case is being investigated as a "possible foreign murder of a US national", citing a US official.
Where goes time?
AZARIO MAJOR
LYNETTE HOOKER
The Tribune Limited
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
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The same rules should apply to everyone
By Michela Barnett-Ellis, FNM Killarney MP
SOMETIMES a single comment reveals a much larger issue. Recent remarks attributed to the Commissioner of Corrections have done exactly that, prompting reflection on what fairness, merit, and equality should mean in practice.
The rationale offered was straightforward: one group is easier to recruit than another, and therefore greater effort may be made to retain members of the group that is in shorter supply.
At first glance, that may sound practical.
police officers, prison officers, defence force officers, judges, lawyers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers, and parliamentarians. They have demonstrated time and again that they are capable of meeting the highest professional standards. That achievement was built on a simple idea: equal opportunity and equal treatment. It was not built on the idea that women should face stricter standards because there are more of them available.
Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and other protected characteristics. The law recognizes something that should be obvious: employment decisions should be based on relevant factors such as performance, qualifications, and conduct, not gender.
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Prison chief’s apology should be public
THERE has rightly – and thankfully – been a wave of outrage in response to the sexist comments of Correctional Services Commissioner Doan Cleare.
The prison chief had foolishly talked about the discriminatory way in which he would treat male and female recruits – saying women would be kicked out for one mistake while he would “massage” the male recruits, the rationale being that the service could find more women recruits up to the standard than men. That reason, of course, makes no sense. In doing so, he opened the service up to potential lawsuits from any women who might have been fired, or who had been denied being hired.
Former Opposition leader Loretta Butler-Turner said she was “appalled” by the comments. Killarney MP Michela Barnett-Ellis said it was a breach of the Employment Act. Other groups called for the commissioner’s resignation.
Among the wave of responses telling the commissioner how wrong his comments were was one particularly important reply.
National Security Minister Myles LaRoda said he had summoned the commissioner to his office after the remarks and publicly rebuked him in the House yesterday for his words.
He said the commissioner had written apologising to the permanent secretary and the minister. That is not enough. The commissioner made the comments publicly, he needs to apologise publicly. Also, it should be noted that Mr LaRoda said the commissioner told him he had made the comments in a “jovial conversation with his recruits”.
We would hope all concerned are aware that these comments have been recorded and broadcast on video.
The commissioner made the comments during a speech, behind a lectern, with microphones in front of him.
This was not some laughing conversation at a bar that was taken out of context. This was a statement made in front of a newly arrived batch of recruits, in front of the media, demonstrating that the recruits’ new leader ought to know better.
It cannot be brushed off as some joking aside – it was a leader showing you who they are.
So in exactly the same fashion, the commissioner needs to stand in front of the cameras, in front of the microphones, and retract his comments.
He is lucky that it is the National Security Minister calling him to account, and that the call has not yet come for him to go to the Prime Minister’s office. In one instant, the commissioner caused people to doubt his judgement,
and to speculate on whether his decisions have been made while guided by such a sexist philosophy.
At least this time there has been a response to such public sexism. When former MP Leslie Miller talked in the House of beating a girlfriend, he later claimed he was joking, despite telling the House Speaker at the time that he was “serious with that” and “I tell her I get tired, man. My hands hurting a little bit, give me a break”.
There was no sign of a reprimand for Mr Miller at the time. Perhaps the rejection of Commissioner Cleare’s words is a small sign of progress.
What should be obvious from this is that there should be no room for such Neanderthal philosophies in today’s society.
We all know such attitudes remain –but we should take every opportunity to reject them.
If you cannot cope with that, Commissioner Cleare, you should step aside – and perhaps we will find a better woman for the job.
Don’t wait for US to provide answers
The allegations that have surfaced in the US that suggest an unnamed Bahamian politician has been connected to an international drugs smuggling ring – and even discussed a drug deal in Parliament itself – have rightfully raised concerns here in our nation.
Yesterday, however, the allegations were not once, but twice, described in the House as “gossip”.
This is despite the Office of the Prime Minister saying they were taking the matter seriously.
However, in describing the claims as “frivolous gossip”, the Speaker of the House went on to talk about anyone with evidence needing to go to the police.
There is a nugget of truth in that. After all, a probe into the claims has already been promised here in The Bahamas –even if there is little sign of it so far.
That is truly what needs to happen. There are multiple allegations of officials being involved in cocaine smuggling operations here in The Bahamas. We should not be waiting for the US investigation to deliver answers – we should be outraged enough that we ought to be demanding a full investigation here at home.
Never mind the speeches. Let’s find the truth.
Time for FNM to unify
EDITOR, The Tribune.
ON the heels of the recent general elections, the results beg the question; can the FNM seriously compete and hope to have a real chance of defeating the PLP without unifying its party, base and other opposition forces?
The results of the elections in 2017 reveal that the FNM received about 90,000 votes, while just several weeks ago, the FNM only received a bit more than 50% (45,000) of that
number, at about 48,000. Importantly, this time, it only received about 2,000 more votes than 2021, which the FNM called, as it turned out, in the midst of a 3rd or 4th, COVID-19 surge, with an unpopular Leader and Prime Minister at the time. It can hardly be argued that the FNM can reasonably expect to win the next general elections without a very serious, concerted, honest, determined and meaningful effort to unify the party, its base at a minimum, and seriously
consider all opposition forces.
The FNM will truly need, as they say, “all hands-on deck” and in that vein, it might consider an arrangement with the COI.
So, what the party really needs, now more than ever, is a Leader, who can best and truly unify itself, its base voters (what remains of it) and the opposition forces in the country.
DISTRESSED FNM Nassau, June 8, 2026.
Many organizations face recruitment challenges. Some professions struggle to attract qualified applicants. Others receive more applications than they can accommodate. Every employer must navigate these realities.
But there is a line that should never be crossed.
The standards that govern hiring, training, discipline, and retention should not depend on whether an employee is male or female.
The same rules should apply to everyone.
That principle is simple, but it is also fundamental.
A female recruit who breaks a rule should face the consequences established by policy. A male recruit who commits the same violation should face those same consequences. Likewise, a recruit who performs well should be rewarded based on merit, not gender.
Anything less undermines confidence in the fairness of the system.
This issue extends far beyond any one department or any one set of comments. It speaks to a broader question about the kind of society we want to build.
Do we believe that people should be judged based on their conduct and performance? Or do we believe that different standards can be justified when circumstances become difficult?
For generations, Bahamian women have worked to ensure that opportunities are not determined by gender. Women fought for access to professions that were once dominated by men. They worked to prove that ability, leadership, and excellence are not defined by whether someone is male or female.
Today, women serve at every level of Bahamian society. They are
Nor was it built on the idea that men should receive additional chances because they are harder to recruit.
Neither approach is consistent with equality.
In fact, both undermine it.
The concern is not simply about fairness to women. It is also about fairness to men. When standards appear to change based on gender, everyone loses.
Women may feel they are being judged more harshly than their male counterparts.
Men may find their accomplishments unfairly questioned because others assume they received special consideration.
The result is resentment, uncertainty, and diminished trust.
Strong institutions cannot thrive under those conditions.
This is especially important within public institutions. Uniformed services occupy a position of public trust. Citizens expect those entrusted with authority to be selected, trained, and disciplined according to clear and consistent standards.
The public should never be left with the impression that the consequences for misconduct depend on whether the individual involved is male or female. If recruitment challenges exist, they should be addressed directly.
The solution is not to apply different standards.
The solution is to strengthen recruitment efforts, invest in training, develop mentorship programs, and create pathways that encourage more young Bahamians to pursue careers in public service.
Those are legitimate responses to labour shortages.
Different treatment based on gender is not.
The principle is already reflected in our laws. Section 6 of the Employment
The Minister of National Security has since advised Parliament that he spoke with and chastised the Commissioner regarding the reported remarks. That intervention was appropriate. It recognized an important principle: recruitment challenges cannot justify different standards of treatment. The review must go further to examine past terminations and ensure that those separated from the department were treated fairly and were not discriminated against on the basis of sex.
The broader lesson, however, extends beyond this particular incident.
Every institution will face pressures. Every employer will confront practical realities. Every leader will occasionally be tempted to make exceptions in the name of convenience.
But fairness is tested precisely in those moments.
The measure of a just system is not how it treats people when circumstances are easy. The measure of a just system is whether it applies the same standards when circumstances are difficult.
Equality means little if it is conditional.
Merit means little if standards can be adjusted based on who is standing before us.
And fairness means little if the rules change depending on whether someone is easy or difficult to replace.
The same rules should apply to everyone.
That principle protects women.
It protects men.
And it strengthens public confidence in the institutions that serve us all.
Laws alone are not enough.
The values reflected in those laws must also be reflected in the culture of our institutions. Equality cannot exist only on paper. It must be demonstrated in practice.
That means applying standards consistently. It means holding everyone accountable to the same expectations.
And it means resisting the temptation to bend those expectations when doing so seems convenient.
EDITOR, The Tribune. FOR the first time Canadians witnessed the power of mass protests in Canada. Throughout the world ordinary folk marched in an attempt to help shape their nations leadership opinions towards Iran. The Iranian Government is seen as an oppressive regime treating its ordinary citizens with undue oppressive laws ruling their personal freedoms and rights in accordance to The Ayatollahs Wishes and Koranic interpretations. Those who march know what freedom is, living in various democracies. What they have and experience they want for their national population. Iran has never been a “democracy”, as to most of the Middle East. Middle Eastern Traditions call upon citizens to defer their rights, hopes and wishes to their “Lords” and Masters demands. That has changed, yet the West has not the courage to take up arms against this Theocratic Regime that oppresses its females, transgender folk and supports “terrorism” internationally. The wars that are spreading within Lebanon, Gaza, Syria and the Middle East have been initiated by Iranian financial, political and military chicanery. Israel has responded, as to America
in a limited fashion. The rest of the Western Powers Intelligence Forces are within these conflicts observing or participating in a limited fashion also. I have no proof but Logic is what logic can see.
American and Iranian Governments are negotiating what exactly?
Passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Nuclear Capitulation, reconstruction funding? What? Are these two nations showing any concern for the average Iranian? I don’t see it within the leaked negotiation terms. No mention of the baker whose lost a family member, the LGBTQ member arrested by the Religious Police, the parents of children killed in mass bombings, women abused at home or in the streets by government henchmen or the average citizen of this fragile nation? Does anyone give a damn about these people?
Religious Institutions worldwide stand with these protesters if not in reality, then in spirit. The average working-class person needs to raise their voice, their clenched fists in righteous indignation
or “not”. Western Society can be jump started into action just like these million marchers. Is Western Society just too lazy, selfish, greedy and self-absorbed to realise today this is happening to Iranians, but tomorrow could it happen to You! There are many issues that can pit government against its citizens right here in North America. Consider this as you go to fill your vehicle with highly priced fuel justified by the conflict and go to the Grocer and buy pricy foods. Consider the other guy and gal a world over. When I see a 50ish Canadian born in Tehran spend his family weekends marching, as he watches his former homeland being bombed. When I see this lovely man cry it makes me very angry. How about you? What the hell will make you angry enough to help others here or abroad? Over a million Afghanis will die of starvation and disease in 2026. Remember folks, your inaction only emboldens those ready to take our freedoms and rights from us. Take a stand once in your life for another person!
STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario June 8, 2026.
Gov’t targets roadside garages for relocation to Carmichael
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
THE government is targetting four major roadside garages and scrap metal operations for removal from residential communities, including Strachan’s Auto and a nearby Farrington Road scrap metal facility, Environment Minister Zane Lightbourne said yesterday.
Mr Lightbourne said officials have already met the owner of Strachan’s Auto and are looking at several other businesses as part of a renewed push to move vehicle storage and repair operations out of neighbourhoods and onto Crown land in Carmichael.
He said the
initiative involves several government agencies and is intended to address environmental and public safety concerns linked to vehicle storage and repair businesses operating in communities.
He said officials were expected to meet this week as work on the relocation plan continues.
Mr Lightbourne said the government wants the new location properly equipped before businesses are moved there.
"We do not want the liquids from the cars going into any of the wetland areas in the nearby vicinity where we have identified and we want to make sure that the necessary infrastructure in terms of roads and electricity and running water are
there so that we can have a proper facility for these types of businesses," he said.
The relocation effort began before Mr Lightbourne became minister. Former Environment and Natural Resources Minister Vaughn Miller previously said several major roadside garages along Joe Farrington Road, Soldier Road and Augusta Street had agreed in principle to relocate.
At the time, officials said Crown land had been identified and an inter-ministerial committee was working with business owners on a transition plan.
Mr Lightbourne said the government also plans to strengthen environmental enforcement through spot fines in the upcoming
budget.
"The spot fines are going to be heavy enough to cause persons to deter from their behaviour," he said. "We were mindful not to make them where people just do not care and they do not feel it."
Mr Lightbourne said the fines would support a national clean-up campaign involving schools, churches, civic organisations and non-governmental organisations.
"It is going to be about putting trash in bins, about not dumping bulky waste in nearby bushes and neighbourhoods and using the transfer station," Mr Lightbourne said. "So this national campaign will include all stakeholders in the country and we are excited to roll that out very
MPs appointed to nine House of Assembly committees
MEMBERS of Parliament were yesterday appointed to nine House of Assembly committees, while the Budget and Management Committee and the Parliamentary Service Commission remain outstanding.
The appointments were announced during yesterday's proceedings in the House of Assembly, with Leader of Opposition Business Adrian White later noting that the Budget and Management Committee had not yet been appointed.
Mr White also said the Parliamentary Service
Commission was not constituted because the government had not yet submitted its nominees to House Speaker Patricia Deveaux.
The Public Accounts Committee will comprise Marco City MP Michael Pintard, East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson, Killarney MP Michela Barnett-Ellis, Nassau Village MP Jamal Strachan and West Grand Bahama MP Kingsley Smith.
The Committee on Privilege will consist of Centreville MP Jomo Campbell, Marathon
MP Lisa Rahming, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin, St Anne’s MP Adrian White and Mrs Barnett-Ellis.
Members appointed to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Committee are Golden Gates MP Pia Glover-Rolle, Carmichael MP Keith Bell, Elizabeth MP JoBeth Coleby-Davis, Mr Pintard and Mr White.
The House Rules Committee will comprise Pinewood MP Myles Laroda, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell, South and Central Eleuthera MP Clay Sweeting, Mr White and
Long Island MP Andre Rollins.
The Library Committee will consist of North Abaco MP Kirk Cornish, South and Central Abaco MP Bradley Fox Jr, Mangrove Cay, Central and South Andros MP Leon Lundy, Mr White and Central Grand Bahama MP Frazette Gibson.
Members appointed to the Broadcasting Committee are Mount Moriah MP McKell Bonaby, North Eleuthera MP Sylvanus Petty, Mr Laroda, Freetown MP Lincoln Deal and MICAL MP J Leo Ferguson.
The Statutory Instruments Committee will comprise Seabreeze MP Leslia Miller-Brice, Garden Hills MP Mario Bowleg, Pineridge MP Ginger Moxey, Mr Rollins and Mr Ferguson. The Human Rights Committee will consist of Mrs Hanna-Martin, Mrs Miller-Brice, Golden Isles MP Darron Pickstock, Mr Thompson and Mrs Barnett-Ellis. Meanwhile, the Public Treasury Committee will comprise Mr Smith, Mr Strachan, Mr Petty, Mr Pintard and Mr Thompson.
Several MPs were appointed to multiple committees. Mr White was named to the Privilege, Inter-Parliamentary Union, House Rules and Library committees, while Mr Pintard will serve on the Public Accounts, Public Treasury and Inter-Parliamentary Union committees. Mr Thompson will sit on the Public Accounts, Public Treasury and Human Rights committees, and Mrs Barnett-Ellis was appointed to the Public Accounts, Privilege and Human Rights committees.
Court awards $21,500 to unlawfully detained police officer
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE corporal was awarded $21,500 after a court found he was unlawfully arrested, handcuffed in front of neighbours, detained by fellow officers and stripped of his phone for 13 days after a senior officer accused him of being corrupt.
Assistant Registrar Akeira Martin awarded damages to Corporal Pedro Heild, who claimed his constitutional right to personal liberty was breached during the March 2022 ordeal.
Mr Heild was represented by Dr K Melvin Munroe.
According to the ruling, Mr Heild attended a meeting at the Drug Enforcement Unit at 3.30pm on March 3, 2022, where he spoke with
Assistant Superintendent of Police Dames.
During the meeting, ASP Dames told Mr Heild she had information that he was a “no good corrupt officer", demanded his phone and took it from him.
ASP Dames then told Mr Heild he was under arrest and ordered him to go into a room and not move. While he was there, ASP Dames and another unidentified officer spoke negatively towards him.
Mr Heild was later ordered outside and placed in the back of a police jeep, where he sat between two officers as they transported him to his home after ordering him to give them directions.
When they arrived at his residence, Inspector Cleare placed Mr Heild in handcuffs while officers searched his home with the assistance of police dogs.
Assistant Registrar Martin noted that the handcuffing took place in view of Mr Heild’s neighbours and that there was no evidence he was hostile to fellow officers.
Nothing was found during the search, and Mr Heild was not told the reason for his arrest and detention.
He was later taken to police headquarters, where the handcuffs were removed and he was seen by the Commissioner of Police.
After leaving police headquarters around 6.30pm, the police jeep stopped near the Drug Enforcement Unit, where ASP Dames told Mr Heild "get out of the vehicle" and left him in the street despite his request to be taken to his vehicle.
Mr Heild claimed the ordeal lasted five hours. He also claimed he was handcuffed in front of his
mother, but the court did not accept that part of his account.
Mr Heild was never charged after his release from custody.
Assistant Registrar Martin found that his cellphone was unlawfully taken from him for 13 days.
Mr Heild claimed he was disrespected, humiliated and embarrassed by his colleagues. He also claimed the officers’ actions were unlawful, humiliating, degrading, oppressive and arbitrary, and that the Attorney General and Commissioner of Police were vicariously liable for the actions of officers acting as servants of the Crown.
Assistant Registrar Martin found there was no sensible reason for officers to act maliciously towards Mr Heild.
Mr Heild had sought between $15,000 and $20,000 in damages, while the defendants submitted that damages should not exceed $15,000.
(Merlene) Casimir Major
4th March, 1942 – 24th May, 2026
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our mother and matriarch Merle (Merlene) Casimir Major. Our mother was nurturing! She was strong! She gave diligently and from the heart! She was hard-working! She was a warrior!
The funeral service will be held on Thursday 11th June, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the Highbury Park Church of Christ, Petersfield and Guilford Roads (across from Holy Cross Anglican Church). Officiating will be Elder Frederick Dean. Interment will be held at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.
Merle was loved! Her parents John and Doris Constance pre-deceased her.
She will be remembered by her, children: David Thomas, Rachel Baker (Terrance), Hosea Lewis (Davina), Margaret Major, Annette Cash (Darron), Anthony Major (Latoysa), Jarrette Major. Siblings: Pearl, Marina, Clyde, Ophelia, Annette, Harrison, and Shawn. Grand children: Jonathan and Jordan Cash, Carter and Cohen Major, Nathan and Sasha Major, Jaliyah Major, Joshua, Deandra, and Danielle Lewis. Yolanda Potterfield, Jameel, Jason and Keida Garcia, and Alanna Moreno. Nieces: Numerous nieces including Barbara Constance, Alexandria Barry, & Ophelia Constance. Nephews: Numerous nephews including Nelson Constance. Sisters-in-law: Doreen Turnquest, Eva Lightbourne, Rowena Miller, & Myrtlyn Watson. Brothers-in-law: Envangelist Andrew Major, Sandal, Vandal, Vencil, and Herman Major. Friends, friends of her children & other relatives: Doris Rolle, Eric Ernest, Ethlyn Pratt, Coolie, Karen Dunn (Care-giver), Rev. Antonio Beckford, Mr. Riley, Gregory Williams, Henry Cartwright, Delon Symonette, Jennifer Duncombe, Daphne Major, Tameka Forbes & Family, Jayson Lewis, Anya Penn McIntosh & Family, Deserie Rutherford, & Renae Bastian & Family. Institutions: Colleagues of the Customs Department, Carlino & Co., Bahamas Department of Corrections, Bahamas Bus & Truck, Baha Mar, and Civil Aviation.
Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral home on Wednesday 10th June, 2026 at 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and again at the church from 9:30 a.m. to service time on Thursday 11th June, 2026
soon, right after the budget."
features
Champion Spirit Country Club showcases compelling photographs of Richard
Aujard
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net
AT the Champion Spirit Country Club, visitors to ROUND 11 have been greeted by a compelling collection of images that invite quiet reflection, con-
versation, and emotional connection.
The exhibition, showcasing the work of acclaimed French photographer and filmmaker Richard Aujard,
has drawn attention for the honesty and intensity captured within each portrait. Since opening in Nassau, the exhibition has drawn attention for its striking images of internationally recognised figures including Éric Cantona, Evander Holyfield, Jake LaMotta, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Monica Bellucci. Yet according to Shanon Aujard, son and legal heir of the late artist, the true focus of his father’s work was never celebrity itself.
“Even when photographing well-known figures, he was always trying to reveal something genuine and deeply human. I think that is what resonated with people here,” said Shanon. He noted that many visitors connected not only with the photographs themselves, but also with the atmosphere surrounding the exhibition at Champion Spirit Country Club.
“There was also a beautiful connection with the atmosphere of Champion Spirit Country Club and the values the place represents,” he said. Presented as a continuation of the larger Exhibition 11 previously staged in Paris, ROUND 11 offers a more intimate look into Richard Aujard’s artistic universe. For Shanon, bringing the exhibition to Nassau carried personal significance, particularly through the collaboration with Abdoulaye Fadiga, who was a longtime friend and collector of his father’s work.
“What touched me most were the simple and genuine exchanges with visitors. Many people took the time to share a memory connected to one of the personalities photographed, or to speak about an emotion they felt while looking at an image,” said Shanon.
He said it all felt very natural and sincere. And organising the exhibition with Abdoulaye Fadiga also made the experience especially meaningful.
Shanon said those universal emotions appear to be what audiences in The Bahamas connected with most strongly.
“Whether photographing athletes, actors, bikers, or people he encountered during his travels, he always tried to reveal the person behind the image. Many visitors told me they could feel that sincerity in the photographs, and that was very moving for me,” he said.
The number 11, which inspired both the Paris exhibition and its Nassau continuation, also holds special meaning within Richard Aujard’s life and artistic legacy.
While the exhibition features internationally recognised faces, Shanon believes the emotional core of the work allows audiences to connect with it on a deeply personal level.
“To those who are still hesitating to come and see ROUND 11, I would simply say: take the time to experience the exhibition. My father had a very instinctive way of photographing people, and I believe that still comes through strongly in his work today,” Shanon added.
The exhibition continues at Champion Spirit Country Club through June 15.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to discover this universe in an intimate setting at Champion Spirit Country Club,” said Shannon.
“He was a friend of my father and has collected his work for many years. He truly understood his artistic world, so presenting ROUND 11 at Champion Spirit felt deeply personal and authentic,” he added. Throughout the exhibition, themes of strength, resilience, vulnerability, and identity emerge repeatedly across the portraits, regardless of whether the subject is a world-famous athlete, actor, biker, or traveller encountered along the artist’s journey.
Photographer and filmmaker Richard Aujard
Explore the country’s finest art galleries on the one-day Transforming Spaces tour
By CARA HUNT Tribune Features writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN art is as eclectic and vibrant as the islands that make up this archipelago.
From classic landscapes and portraiture from the likes of the Minnis Family, to the abstract imaginings of artists such as John Cox, Kendall Hanna and John Beadle, to the whimsical folk art of Amos Ferguson and the myriad of works in between, Bahamian artists have provided a body of work that can appeal to any artistic palette.
And what better way to see this firsthand than by exploring six of the country’s finest art galleries in a single day
This is the exact vision behind the Transforming Spaces art tour now in its 26th year. The non-profit organisation plays a vital role in preserving Bahamian culture, supporting local artists, enriching communities, and promoting art education while fostering economic growth and international recognition through the development of the visual arts in The Bahamas.
to create, question, and illuminate in a time that demands deeper seeing. Light here becomes both metaphor and method – revealing truth, exposing tension, and guiding transformation.
This year patrons got to explore six different galleries with their own art guide on board their bus
The first stop on the journey was the gorgeous V and M art gallery off West Bay Street. The V&M Gallery houses the private collection of the late Vincent and Marina D’Aguilar who were passionate collectors and supporters of Bahamian art. Their legacy is carried for-
Over the years, it has evolved into more than just the popular art bus tour but an Art Week with immersive cultural experiences designed to move audiences through exhibitions, activations, and dialogue that reveal Nassau itself as an active creative landscape. This year’s theme, “Chasing Light”, honoured the legacy of the late Patricia Glinton-Meicholas – cultural critic, historian, educator, and cherished “Ms Patti.”
Inspired by her poetic voice and intellectual clarity, the theme called on artists and audiences alike to engage in work that is sharp, reflective, and uncompromisingly honest.
Chasing Light is not a passive gesture but a provocation, asking what it means
ward through the D’Aguilar Art Foundation, directed by Saskia D’Aguilar.
If you are a lover of Amos Ferguson’s work, this gallery will leave you speechless. There is an entire room devoted to the artist.
Next up was The Current art gallery at the Bah Mar resort to explore “The Things we Carry - a duo exhibition by Kendra Frorup and Averia Wright. The pair explore cultural memory as something inherited, preserved, and carried through generations. The future of Bahamian art is in very talented hands, if the pieces displayed at The Visual Art Department at the University of The Bahamas-Pro Gallery are any indication, the third stop on the black bus was a visit to the intimate space
located at The University of the Bahamas- curated by art students. Next up was a visit to the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas to view works inspired by this year’s honouree PPatricia Glinton-Meicholas. The exhibition is titled The Gaulin Woman: Uncovering Our Bahamian Selves and includes the works of many of her students and mentees. The Gaulin is a female mythological creature in Bahamian folklore. After a lunch break it was time to visit the CAB gallery, for the solo exhibition by Dylan Rapillard. “All inclusive” explores “paradise” as both a lived experience and a constructed image within island life. The final stop was the Tern
adventurers and discoverers entrusted with a fearless mission: to investigate the undercurrents of community, culture, and identity.
Gallery. “We are our own discoverers, staking claim to territory,” wrote the late Patricia Glinton-Meicholas in her poem “Staking Claim to Our Souls”, from her collection “Chasing Light”. This excerpt from the poem is both an invocation and a challenge in “We Are Our Own Discoverers,” curated by Christina Wong - Turnquest, a group exhibition presenting four explorers, Amaani Hepburn, Cydne Jasmin Coleby, Heino Schmid, and Matthew David Rahming, positioned as
The beauty of Transforming Spaces is that it exposes the Bahamian art scene to persons who may not have already been art enthusiasts introducing them to new art spaces and artists with the added benefit of having artists and curators on hand to explain the exhibits. It also is an opportunity to inspire a new generation of Bahamian artists such as Charlotte Hunt and Sachi Johnson, who were the two littlest participants on the tour. The budding artists were amazed by everything
that they saw.
“It was amazing, we got to see so much art and we got to see all the galleries, I did even know there were so many galleries in Nassau. We spent the entire day looking at the art it was beautiful my favourite piece was the floral lady we saw at the first gallery.” said Charlotte.
Her cousin Sachi added, “I want to be an artist and this was very exciting, because I was able to actually talk to the artists who go to the University of the Bahamas. I showed them some of my drawings and they gave me good advice and they encouraged me that I can be an artist if I want to. I got a chance to see is many different styles of art on the tour. It gave me a lot of ideas.”
Young artists Charlotte Hunt and Sachi Johnson are taking in the art during the Transforming Space art tour
THIS was my favourite piece says Charlotte Hunt of the artwork she saw at the tour. This was at the V&M art gallery.
Photo: Charlotte Hunt
Powerboat Poker Run expands into international event
THE Bahamas Powerboat
Club’s Full Throttle Poker Run expanded into a threeday international event this year, drawing boaters from The Bahamas, the United States and as far away as Norway.
The event, held from May 1 to 3, marked a major expansion for the annual Poker Run, which organisers said has grown from a local boating initiative into an international marine tourism experience. The
Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation sponsored the event for the fourth consecutive year and hosted a Captain Meet & Greet in Fort Lauderdale before participants departed for The Bahamas, according to a press release.
Boaters left Florida on May 1, travelling by a helicopter-guided route to Bimini, where they cleared customs at Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina, a partner of the event. The fleet then moved
through the islands on May 2, ending with a run to Eleuthera and a stop at the sandbar off Spanish Wells.
Organisers said the sandbar stop was one of the highlights of the weekend, with Sands Beer and Corona hosting a barge activation that featured a live DJ and dozens of high-performance vessels.
The Poker Run also attracted Bahamian boaters from New Providence, Exuma, Abaco, Eleuthera and Freeport, along with
international participants from Florida, St Louis and the Lake of the Ozarks.
One crew shipped its boat from Norway to Florida to participate in the three-day event, according to the press release.
Atlantis Paradise Island supported the event with special room rates for visiting guests and discounted dockage at Atlantis Marina. Bay Street Marina hosted the Friday Captain’s Happy Hour and offered preferred dockage rates, while Blue Water Cay Resort & Marina
joined as a new sponsor with dockage offers and benefits for Bahamas Powerboat Club members.
The event was covered by marine and lifestyle media outlets, including Tommy Gunn Images, Speedboat Magazine and Boats Daily.
Michelle Woodside, owner of the Bahamas Powerboat Club, said the event’s expansion represented a significant step for the club.
“The Club was created out of a simple idea, bringing people together to enjoy their boats while
experiencing the incredible beauty of our islands,” she said. “Today, we’re not only attracting international visitors, but also creating opportunities for local boaters to explore and experience the beauty of The Bahamas in a unique and exciting way.”
Organisers said the Full Throttle Poker Run is intended to promote The Bahamas as a boating and marine tourism destination while bringing boating enthusiasts together through curated events.
RF Bank awards inaugural arts scholarship to Noah Pickering
ST ANNE’S School 12th grade prefect Noah Pickering received a combined $31,000 undergraduate scholarship to study fine arts this fall.
RF Bank and Trust, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training presented the award last month at RF House on East Hill Street. The press release noted that if you follow the local creative scene, you might remember the Past Forward exhibition held last November at One Marina Paradise Island.
That philanthropic event entirely funded the inaugural $8,000 RF Arts Scholarship, which makes up a portion of Pickering’s total award.
Pickering, who maintains a 3.82 GPA, called the opportunity a dream come true and said he hopes more Bahamian students will benefit from similar initiatives.
Savannah College of Art and Design alumni Jason Taylor and Kishan Munroe curated the November exhibition that made the RF scholarship possible. Munroe, who chairs the School of Communication
and Creative Arts at the University of The Bahamas, commended the bank for supporting youth development. Taylor added that he felt honoured to help local creatives build their careers.
Rachael Allahar, RF Vice President and Chief of Marketing, said the firm is delighted to recognize Pickering for his hard work and support his creative journey.
Minister Chester Cooper also praised the partnership, noting that art enriches the Bahamian way of life and aids community development.
FROM left: Jason Taylor, Rachael Allahar, Noah Pickering, Chilean Burrows, and Kishan Munroe celebrate the scholarship outcome.
Photo: Cay Focus Photography