AROUND DA ISLANDS
‘WAIT AND SEE’ SAYS WALKER
TOURISM Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin says Nassau has been discussing downtown redevelopment “since King Hammer was a hatchet,” acknowledging decades of stalled progress while
promising that work to revitalise Bay Street will begin soon.
Speaking to reporters, Mrs Hanna-Martin said successive efforts to transform downtown Nassau have failed to deliver the level of change many Bahamians hoped to see.
SEE BUSINESS FOR STORY
LPIA SEES SECOND BUSIEST MAY IN COUNTRY’S HISTORY
By Fay Simmons Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
pany (NAD), said May was likely the second-busiest May in the airport’s history and offered encouraging signs heading into the peak summer travel season.
US Ambassador responds to ‘frivolous and malicious gossip’ claims of House Speaker
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
US Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker responded yesterday to House Speaker Patricia Deveaux’s dismissal of explosive allegations in a US criminal complaint against Bahamian Eric Gardiner as “frivolous and malicious gossip,” saying: “Wait and see.”
Asked about Ms Deveaux’s comments during a press conference
in Grand Bahama, Mr Walker stressed that the matter remains under investigation.
"You know, it is funny because people say things like that, but you know it's an open investigation, and I think people know when it is an open investigation, you just wait and see what's going to happen," he said. "You really don't want to say anything about it because you don't want to hurt either side.”
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
LONG Island MP Dr Andre Rollins yesterday demanded that the government disclose whether convicted drug trafficker Eric Gardiner made campaign donations to the Progressive Liberal Party over the past decade, as he intensified scrutiny of government contracts awarded to a company linked to him. During his contribution to the budget debate, Dr Rollins questioned how a company tied to a man
US Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker speaks at a press conference in Grand Bahama yesterday.
Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
LONG Island MP Andre Rollins
Ambassador tells Speaker investigation remains open
WALKER from page one
The allegations did not emerge from an obscure legal filing. They were made in a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, one of the United States’ most prominent federal jurisdictions, whose prosecutors have handled major financial crime, organised crime, public corruption and international narcotics cases.
Gardiner, who is suspected of drug trafficking in the United States, was arrested by US authorities after the May 12 Election Day plane crash off the Florida coast. Gardiner was among 11 survivors on a flight from Abaco to Grand Bahama. According to court documents, investigators found $30,000 in cash in a cross-body bag bearing the name of a senior Bahamian politician identified in the complaint only as “Politician 1.”
Earlier this week, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard was blocked by Ms Deveaux from tabling documents in the House of Assembly relating to the US criminal complaint filed against Gardiner. Ms Deveaux described the allegations as “frivolous and malicious gossip” and ruled that the matter should not be debated in Parliament.
When asked about the Speaker’s comments, Mr Walker said he does not comment on open investigations.
“That’s why I don’t really comment on things like that because being an open investigation, who knows? And we don’t want to just put things out there that is just not true,” he said.
Federal prosecutors allege Gardiner, known by the alias “Player,” was a major participant in a Bahamas-based cocaine trafficking network that supplied drugs from Colombia and elsewhere for shipment into the United States.
According to the criminal complaint, Gardiner is accused of conspiring to import at least five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Prosecutors allege he served as a foreign supplier for a Georgia-based drug trafficking organisation and helped facilitate the movement of multi-kilogram cocaine shipments from The Bahamas to South Florida.
The complaint also alleges that undercover DEA agents posing as members of a drug cartel met with a high-ranking Bahamian politician inside the House of Assembly building to discuss a proposed cocaine transhipment operation through The Bahamas. Investigators claim the politician expressed a willingness to assist the operation in exchange for financial benefits.
Death Notice For
of Lake Cunningham Drive, New Providence, Bahamas, died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
He is survived by his wife, Minister Jacqueline Johnson; sons, Gerard, Donathan (Santoya) and Nelson Perez (Tiffany) Johnson and Karro (Carene) Strachan; daughters, Michelle Johnson, Nyoka Johnson-Dorsette and Tenneil (Valentino) Martin; brothers, Charles Johnson, Dudley (Jennifer) & Renado (Pamela) Taylor, Michael (Denise) Hanna; sisters, Juliamae Johnson, Doretha (Pete) Smith, Robertha, Leona & Maureen Taylor, Azely (Prince) Smith, Jenese (Andrew) Watkins; grandchildren, Phylicia (Rendol) Rolle, Cianna Farquharson, Lineise, Valentia & Valentina Martin, Jahwyn & Jawhdyn Coakley, Donathan Jr., Kai, Judah & McKenzie Johnson, Kavi, Kayden & Kellan Strachan; great grandchildren, Renahja, Lamarion & Legend Rolle; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral Service will be announced at a later date.
US AMBASSADOR to The Bahamas Herschel Walker speaks to the Press yesterday in Grand Bahama. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
Bishop Nelson Junior Johnson, 70
Davis denies double standard
in US indictment document row
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday refused to comment on allegations in US court filings about an unnamed Bahamian politician unless he had evidence to do so, as he defended his past handling of allegations against former Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest and accused the opposition of making unsupported claims against Finance Minister Michael Halkitis.
The Prime Minister’s interventions came during another fiery House of Assembly debate.
Long Island MP Dr Andre Rollins accused Mr Davis of double standards, questioning why he relied
on court material involving Mr Turnquest while the government has resisted the opposition’s attempt to table a separate US criminal complaint it has described as “untested”.
Mr Davis said he would not make statements in the House about anyone unless he had a factual basis grounded in evidence. “I think I’m an honourable person,” he added. “I’m not going to say anything in this House about anyone unless I have a basis upon which to do so and a basis on that is grounded in facts. “On the basis that there’s a contextual connection between the conduct and the consequences to which I believe that conduct should be dealt with, I do not want to get into this.”
Mr Davis said he was disappointed that the
opposition had returned to Mr Turnquest’s case during the debate.
While in opposition, Mr Davis laid a writ of summons alleging a more than $20m fraud involving Mr Turnquest. The FNM has accused the government of double standards for relying on that document while blocking its attempt to table a criminal complaint linked to the US case.
In defending his past action, Mr Davis said his request involving Mr Turnquest was based on a judgment issued by a court in Washington, DC, which he said addressed the conduct in question.
He brought the document to the House yesterday, though he did not formally table it, and offered to share it with opposition members.
“That’s the difference,”
MP questions major contracts awarded to drug trafficker
from page one
previously convicted of narcotics trafficking in the United States could receive major government contracts, including a $35m public-private partnership deal to construct the Government’s Eight Mile Rock administrative complex.
The contract was awarded to Top Notch Builders one day before the May 2017 general election. Documents from The Bahamas’ registry of records have linked Top Notch to Gardiner, who is listed as president and director.
Corporate records also show Top Notch owns Complete Construction, the company developing the Government’s flagship Carmichael Village affordable housing project, which got underway last term.
Finance Minister Michael Halkitis has confirmed that he once served as a director of Top Notch Builders, but said he resigned in 2021 because of the pandemic.
Dr Rollins devoted much of his budget contribution to the government’s dealings with Top Notch, pressing for answers about who approved the Eight Mile Rock deal, whether it went through a competitive bidding process and whether Gardiner ever donated to the PLP.
“Who in the government knew what, and when did they know it?” he asked.
“Was the project open to a competitive bidding process, and if not, why not? Which minister of government was responsible for signing off on the terms of the agreement?”
US authorities said Gardiner was allegedly carrying $30,000 when US rescue teams reached him and ten other survivors after a plane crashed on Election Day. Several survivors were seen wearing PLP paraphernalia.
Dr Rollins said Bahamians should know whether Gardiner had made campaign donations to the PLP since 2017, when the Grand Bahama contract was issued.
“This is important because it would help to explain why a company he is alleged to be a beneficial owner of would receive unusually favourable contractual terms by public contract,” he said.
“It would also help us to investigate which government ministers had direct involvement in the issuance of that eight mile rock government complex contract to top-notch construction.”
Dr Rollins claimed that a “poison pill provision” was inserted into the PPP agreement, making the deal unbreakable.
He said the incoming Minnis administration in 2017 would have been forced to pay the full value of the contract, including principal and interest, if it had sought to cancel the agreement.
“It’s unbelievable that any government would not have done its due diligence on the principal of top-notch builders,” he said, “and with a principal who has been already convicted of narcotics trafficking by the United States of America to get $50.6m in government money means if one notice I said if one was so minded or had that amount of money to wash or clean, it would be a very convenient way to do so.”
On the broader issue of PPPs, Dr Rollins warned that without proper disclosure, such arrangements could become attractive vehicles for money laundering. He said full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act would help strengthen transparency and accountability by creating a clear paper trail. His contribution began with sharp comments about the influence of money in
politics and alleged exploitation in the House, but Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell repeatedly raised points of order on relevance. House
Speaker Patricia Deveaux backed Mr Mitchell’s position.
The exchange escalated into a heated back-and-forth, with Dr Rollins and Speaker Deveaux accusing each other of doing a disservice to the country’s democracy.
At one point, Dr Rollins cautioned the Speaker to be careful, saying he did not want her to suffer a health incident.
“You could never,”
Speaker Deveaux shouted. “Ten of you. Ten just like you could not bring my health event. Be careful. Boy look here. Don’t do that.”
he said, responding to opposition criticism of his position then and now.
Dr Rollins challenged how the document could be accepted at face value without being formally tabled.
“I can give you any document to tell you something on it, that doesn’t mean that’s what’s on it,” he said.
“It really is irresponsible for the member for Cat Island, Rum Cay and Salvador to do what he did, because the information that we have on this side is that Mr Turnquest was not a party to the action involving that matter In Washington DC.”
He said Mr Turnquest was a witness and questioned how a witness in the case could be portrayed as if he were a defendant, calling the suggestion “dishonest.”
Earlier, Dr Rollins
pointed to Mr Davis’ past calls, as opposition leader, for Mr Turnquest to resign after he was accused of being a conspirator in an alleged fraud scheme.
Mr Turnquest was not named as a defendant and was later vindicated in the court case.
“According to the member for Cat Island, it was a very bad look for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to have a civil matter, not even a criminal matter, you know, a civil matter between two litigants, not a criminal matter as we are dealing with here now,” he said. “This is a matter that is before the criminal courts of our most important trading partner, the United States of America. ” Dr Rollins accused the government of treating its
partner “as though they are insignificant and they mean nothing to us” and warned that a deterioration in US relations could have serious consequences for The Bahamas.
“Let something happen tomorrow where we have a poor relationship with them, and let’s see how we survive as a country,” he said.
House Speaker Patricia Deveaux stood by her decision not to allow the opposition to table the US criminal complaint, saying she would not besmirch the country’s character because of an allegation. She said she would issue a statement when the time is right, after her legal team gives guidance on the matter.
PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis speaks in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Photo: Shawn Hanna
ROLLINS
LONG ISLAND MP Andre Rollins speaks in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Photo: Shawn Hanna
Ambassador shocked by lack of US investment in Freeport
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
US Ambassador Herschel Walker said concerns about restoring US pre-clearance at Grand Bahama International Airport are on his radar, as he expressed surprise that an island so close to the United States has not attracted more American investment.
During his first official visit to Grand Bahama, Mr Walker said residents repeatedly raised the loss of pre-clearance, an issue he plans to discuss with embassy officials in Nassau.
"We don't want to put the cart before the horse. We want to get the airport done," he said. "But that is an important thing that I heard from a lot of people. They're concerned about it. And those concerns are things that I'm concerned about because if they're concerned, I'm concerned."
Mr Walker said Grand Bahama’s proximity to the United States, infrastructure and workforce should make the island more attractive to investors.
"I've heard about Freeport. I've heard
about Grand Bahama.
But I didn't know because I'd never seen it for myself," he said. "The things they have here, I'm just shocked that we haven't got the investors that we should have here."
The ambassador said stronger communication between Grand Bahama, New Providence and the US Embassy is needed to advance economic opportunities. "I want to work with the people here and try to see how we can get things to work," he said.
Mr Walker toured Carnival’s Celebration Key, Buckeye Bahamas Hub and Western Atlantic University School of Medicine. He also met representatives of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, Freeport industrial stakeholders, business leaders and young athletes at the Falcons Boys Club.
He described Celebration Key as an example of a successful partnership between American and Bahamian interests, noting that the project employs hundreds of Bahamians and drives economic activity across the island.
He also praised Western Atlantic University School of Medicine, saying he was impressed by its role in training doctors for The Bahamas and the United States.
Mr Walker repeatedly described Grand Bahamians as resilient, pointing to the island’s recovery from Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This island had a tough time, but they're resilient people," he said.
"They love this island and it's got a lot of potential."
Mr Walker said he would take the concerns and ideas raised during the visit back to New Providence.
"I heard what they had to say," he said. "I want to become their voice and their mouthpiece. That's what I'm going to do when I get back home."
Drawing on his experience as a former professional athlete, Mr Walker also highlighted the potential of Bahamian youth and said sports can help strengthen ties between The Bahamas and the United States.
He praised the accomplishments of Bahamian athletes, noting that a
player from The Bahamas was selected third overall in the NBA Draft despite the country’s population of fewer than 500,000 people. He also cited Bahamian hurdler Devynne Charlton, the world record holder in the 60-metre hurdles, as another example of Bahamian talent on the international stage. During his visit to the Falcons Boys Club, Mr Walker urged young people to stay in school, work hard and seize opportunities. He told the athletes that growing up in The Bahamas should not limit their ambitions because talent from small places can still be recognised internationally.
Reflecting on his own upbringing, Mr Walker said he came from one of the poorest and smallest counties in Georgia and overcame a speech impediment through reading. He said a teacher encouraged him to read for 30 minutes every day, a habit he credits with helping him improve. He urged Bahamian students to read daily and reminded them that success requires discipline and hard work.
MP questions need for new Grand Bahama high school
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Staff Reporter
CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Frazette Gibson has challenged the government’s plan to build a
new public high school on Grand Bahama, arguing that the island’s falling population and current enrolment levels do not justify another campus while existing schools need major repairs and special-needs students
need greater support. Her criticism came days after Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper said the project was already in the design phase and defended it as an investment in Grand
Bahama’s future growth.
Making her contribution to the 2026/2027 Budget Debate in the House of Assembly, Ms Gibson said the budget includes $1.5m in borrowing from the Caribbean Development Bank for a Grand Bahama school and that the budget communication foreshadows a new high school for the island.
"I question the rationale for the planned construction of a new public high school for Grand Bahama, because the island's population, as well as the head count at our existing public schools, does not justify it,” she said.
Ms Gibson cited census data showing Grand Bahama’s population has fallen by nine percent since 2010 to 46,740 residents.
She also pointed to enrolment figures for public junior and senior high schools on the island: Eight Mile Rock High School has 236 students, St George’s High School has 544, Jack Hayward Senior High School has 446, Jack Hayward Junior High School has 441, Sister Mary Patricia Russell School has 455, and Holmes Rock Junior High School has 202 students.
"My view, based on these numbers, is that the construction of a new government high school on Grand Bahama is not a sensible use of public funds, and it does not best serve the educational needs of the island's students," she said.
"Instead, public funds for Grand Bahama should be used to bring much-needed upgrades to the existing public schools, well beyond the scope of work that occurs during the annual summer school repair programme."
Ms Gibson said more funding should be directed to Beacon School, Grand Bahama’s campus for students with special needs.
"Additionally, public funds ought to be directed to the development of necessary state-of-the-art resources and the hiring of additional trained and qualified specialists for the Beacon School, the island's campus dedicated to educating our children with special needs," she said.
"There is much-needed help for that school in terms of expansion and the personnel."
She said students with special needs deserve greater access to technology and specialised instruction, while educators should receive the resources needed to produce
better outcomes.
"Grand Bahama does not need another high school building," Ms Gibson said.
"What we need is an administration keenly focused on building the promised house in each and every student through the provisions of the resources they actually need to become well-rounded critical thinkers who can become our nation's innovators and creatives."
Ms Gibson also criticised the government over the unfinished Jack Hayward High School gymnasium, which was damaged during Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
"Our young people are the heartbeats of our future," she said.
"One example stands before us. For example, the Jack Haywood High School gymnasium, damaged by Hurricane Dorian, still remains incomplete. Generations of young people have been deprived of a facility that could foster athletic excellence, personal growth, and community engagement."
"Our youth deserve action and not excuses. They deserve facilities that allow them to develop their skills, their talents, pursue their dreams, and reach their potential."
She also sought details about a proposed Young Innovators Club announced by Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey, asking how many young people were enrolled,
whether the programme had started, where it would be based, how it would be funded, who would manage it, and what content would be delivered.
Ms Gibson further called for tighter accountability in school repair projects, saying contractors should be held responsible for the quality of their work and school administrators should have a meaningful role in certifying completed projects.
In a recent interview with ZNS Northern Service, Mr Cooper defended the need for a new high school, saying the island’s future growth depends on strong educational infrastructure.
"One of the first questions always asked when someone is contemplating relocating or investing in the island is the quality of education, so we are not building a school for today, we are building a school for tomorrow," Mr Cooper said.
"So if we look at all the investment in the pipelines, that would be more people returning to Grand Bahama to live and work, and education is fundamental to the growth and development of our economy.”
Mr Cooper said a site had already been selected and the project was advancing, though he did not disclose the cost.
"These was a visitation and a selection of a location. We have started the process already, it's in the design phases etcetera," he said.
US Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker speaks during a press conference in Grand Bahama, yesterday. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
CENTRAL GRAND BAHAMA MP FRAZETTE GIBSON
John Bethell, businessman and civic leader, dies at 81
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
JOHN Frederick
“Johnny” Bethell, the longtime president of Bethell Estates Ltd who helped establish the Governor General’s Youth Award and served in business and civic life for decades, died peacefully at his Eastern Road home on June 3. He was 81.
His son, John Harold Bethell, remembered him as a devoted father, businessman and community servant whose life was anchored in family, service and a deep love for The Bahamas.
Bethell led the family business for decades and remained involved with it for more than 60 years after joining at 18, following his return home from his studies.
In his final years, his son helped care for him, preparing breakfast, accompanying him to medical appointments and helping with daily needs as illness gradually weakened him.
"It was good in many ways to learn about this business, about trying to learn as much about him, and to continue with what he was doing," Mr Bethell said. "And then learning about the cancer, you know, that was the depressing part."
Despite repeated blood transfusions, Mr Bethell said the family recognised that the elder Bethell’s condition was worsening in the final weeks of his life.
"He tried and he fought, and then his body just gave up on him," Mr Bethell said. "His mind was still there, and then it got to the point where the body gives up on you, and the mind just can't do it anymore."
Mr Bethell said caring for his father gave him a deeper appreciation of the responsibilities he carried as head of the family business and patriarch of the Bethell family. Sitting in on meetings and observing discussions with managers and directors helped him understand his father not only as a businessman, but as a person.
In the days after his father’s death, Mr Bethell said he received calls and messages from people across The Bahamas, many sharing stories he had never heard.
"People have been showing up out of the blue with just incredible stories and things I didn't know that they did with my dad at that time," he said.
He said the messages came from people from many walks of life and reflected the impact his father had over the years.
Mr Bethell said his father remained deeply attached to New Providence and never seriously considered leaving permanently. He recalled a man whose life was built around long-standing friendships, daily tennis, family, community and business.
"He'd get up every day, go for a walk, play tennis with John Morley, Frankie
Wilson, he had about six to eight of them, and play tennis every single morning," Mr Bethell said.
Those matches became one of the fixtures of his father’s life.
Bethell’s civic and business involvement also included service on the board of directors of Tribune Radio Limited from 2015 to 2023.
Tribune Media Group chief operating officer Ollie Ferguson said Bethell brought a steady and measured presence to the organisation.
"During his tenure, he was a calm and sensible presence whose contributions were always thoughtful and constructive," Mr Ferguson said.
"He consistently served as a voice of reason in discussions, drawing on a wealth of life experience and sound judgment to help guide decision-making."
Mr Ferguson described Bethell as "a true gentleman and scholar" whose wisdom, professionalism and steady demeanour left a lasting impression on those who worked with him.
"His presence will be deeply missed," he said.
Mr Bethell was regarded as the patriarch of the extended Bethell family, a role his son said he carried with quiet authority and respect.
"We've always said that the patriarch of the family was him," Mr Bethell said, noting that relatives affectionately called him "Uncle Johnny".
His son said Bethell remained deeply committed to civic and community service throughout his life. He helped establish the Governor General’s Youth Award and remained involved with the organisation until his death.
He also served for many years with the Bahamas National Trust, where his son said he helped expand the country’s national parks system in the 1980s.
"For long years he was on the BNT and instrumental in helping get the parks in the 80s," Mr Bethell said.
Beyond business and civic duty, Mr Bethell’s son recalled a man of wide-ranging interests, including computing, genealogy, stamp collecting, fishing, horticulture, piloting and tennis. He described his father as an early computer enthusiast who maintained company computer systems during the era of large mainframe machines, an avid fisherman and pilot who travelled extensively throughout the islands, and a dedicated horticulturalist known among family and
friends for his orchids and mango trees.
Bethell also cultivated a passion for genealogy and Bahamian history, spending years tracing the Bethell family tree.
According to his son, the research took him to archives in Bermuda and England and helped trace the family’s presence in The Bahamas to the country’s earliest settlers.
"He actually went to the old naval libraries and tracked the family all the way back," Mr Bethell said.
Wells announces plan to regulate funeral sector
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
STATE Minister for Health and Wellness Owen Wells said the government plans to regulate the funeral services industry, promising legislation to impose licensing requirements, professional standards, consumer protections and accountability measures on a sector families rely on in moments of grief.
Contributing to the 2026/2027 Budget Debate in the House of Assembly on Thursday, Mr Wells said the Ministry of Health and Wellness intends to advance a Funeral Services Industry Bill as part of a broader legislative programme to modernise healthcare regulation.
Mr Wells said families place “tremendous trust” in funeral professionals during periods of grief and loss, making regulation necessary to ensure clear standards govern the industry.
He said the proposed framework will address licensing requirements, professional standards, operational requirements, consumer protections and accountability measures.
“The objective is to ensure that families receive services that meet clear standards of professionalism while preserving the dignity and respect that should accompany end-of-life care and funeral services,” he said.
Mr Wells did not detail when the bill will be tabled, what penalties it may contain, or which agency would be responsible for enforcing the proposed standards.
The funeral services proposal was one of several legislative initiatives Mr Wells outlined as the Ministry of Health and Wellness seeks to expand regulation across the health sector.
He said the ministry also intends to advance a Patients’ Rights Bill to establish a clearer framework governing the relationship between patients and healthcare providers. That bill, he said, would support principles relating to informed consent, confidentiality, access to information, professional conduct and the respectful treatment of people receiving care.
Mr Wells also said the ministry intends to continue work on an Elderly Abandonment Bill to strengthen protections for older Bahamians, establish clearer standards and promote respect for their dignity and wellbeing.
The minister of state said the government’s legislative programme will aim to strengthen patient protections, update professional regulation, enhance public health preparedness and support innovation in care delivery.
“As we move into this new term, the Ministry intends to further bring components of these Acts into force and continue advancing legislation that addresses matters of growing importance to the Bahamian public,” he said.
Mr Wells said the Ministry of Health and Wellness also plans to establish a dedicated Legal Unit during this fiscal period to handle legal and regulatory matters internally.
He said legal support for the ministry has long been provided largely through the Public Hospitals Authority, the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Legal Affairs, but argued that the ministry’s growth and modernisation now require dedicated internal legal capacity.
He said the unit would help the ministry respond faster to legal and regulatory issues, reduce delays in contract negotiations, strengthen procurement processes and ensure policies and programmes are legally sound from the outset.
Mr Wells said the unit would also ease pressure on the Office of the Attorney General by allowing routine and specialised health-sector legal matters, including licensing issues, administrative actions,
contract drafting, regulatory implementation and clinical governance matters, to be handled within the ministry.
He said the ministry also plans to establish a Public Health Operations Task Force to examine how different parts of the public healthcare system function together.
The task force, he said, will review operational
relationships among the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Department of Public Health, Princess Margaret Hospital, Rand Memorial Hospital, the Supplies Management Agency and other relevant entities.
He said it will assess workflows, identify bottlenecks and duplication, and recommend practical solutions to improve coordination
across public healthcare.
Mr Wells also said the ministry will continue implementing Electronic Medical Records across Department of Public Health facilities during this budget cycle while advancing integration with key public healthcare institutions.
He said the government also intends to strengthen the Health Information
Exchange so authorised healthcare providers can securely access patient information when required.
“These topics may appear administrative in nature, but their purpose is people-centred and intended to protect patients, support families, assist healthcare workers and strengthen public confidence in our healthcare system,” he said.
JOHN FREDERICK ‘JOHNNY’ BETHELL
STATE Minister for Health and Wellness Owen Wells. Photo: Shawn Hanna
The Tribune Limited
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
Publisher/Editor 1972-
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Promise of opportunities shouldn’t be a pipe dream
EDITOR, The Tribune.
NOTE: Remember, lasting and beneficial progress is always achieved when we pause and stop pretending that we are the smartest or the most intelligent bear in the forest…For God’s sake and for all of our sakes Read this to the very end and before you begin to read take off your Political glasses…they do have a way causing blindness.
I invite All to sensibly read what is written here, and for Christ Sake do so without critiquing to show how superior your intellect is…This is one other reasons why some Bahamians cannot see the forest for the trees because that tend to feel that they are the smartest.…most intelligent bear in the forest…
growing exodus of Bahamian students and skilled professionals seeking futures beyond our shores, primarily in the United States. This “brain drain” serves as a stark and undeniable indicator of the widening chasm between our citizenry and its leadership. When citizens, especially our vibrant younger generation, feel alienated and disempowered by a political class perceived as proprietors rather than servants of the nation, the impulse to seek opportunity elsewhere becomes an imperative.
(2) Economic Constraint and Exorbitant Living Costs:** A stagnant economic landscape, marked by prohibitively high living expenses coupled with limited wage growth and an insufficiently diversified economy, compels our skilled workforce to pursue markets where their education and expertise are more equitably valued and rewarded.
www.tribune242.com @tribune242
Action needed after decades of words
IF you had a dollar for every time you heard talk of plans to revitalise Bay Street, you might well be able to afford to pay for it by now.
The latest person to talk the talk is new Tourism Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin – and she knows how long the talk has been going on for.
“We’ve been hearing about downtown redevelopment since King Hammer was a hatchet,” she said yesterday, adding, “and, truthfully, we have not made the kind fo progress we would wish to see.”
Such plain speaking is welcome. We’ve had enough people trying to sell dreams over the years only for things to end up in almost exactly the same place as they started.
In the last term of this government, there were some encouraging steps in the demolition of rundown buildings –but after the demolition there needs to come the revitalisation, and the clock is still ticking on that one.
Across the political spectrum, there has been an acknowledgement that things need to be done to improve the downtown area. Little has happened.
The cruise port’s opening brought plenty of discussion about whether it would help or hinder downtown. Taxi drivers continue to grumble, tourism businesses are certainly not seeing a spike as a result, so the journey goes on.
Mrs Hanna-Martin recalled when Bay Street was “an eclectic, dynamic space” and said “we have a lot of work to do”. She is right, even if that says little for the success of her immediate predecessor.
She said: “It’s not just about the physical state of downtown, it’s about the offerings. It’s about the experience. It’s about everything.”
It is also about the audience. With few people living near downtown, the area becomes a ghost town at night.
The long-gone clubs of Bay Street that once drew not just tourists but the envy
of the region, packed with great musicians and entertainers, are nothing more than faded memories now.
Compare downtown now with our international rivals and it is too dirty, too tattered, too battered. There is too little respect for downtown too – just this week the general manager of Hoffer Sport said that staff are repeatedly having to clean up human waste outside the property and saying that the police need to patrol more in an area she said feels forgotten. We hope such actions are on Mrs Hanna-Martin’s agenda. Certainly, she has already spoken about how “we have to remove the layers of mediocrity and get back to the source of the richness of our people, and Bay Street is key to that”.
Mrs Hanna-Martin has a good reputation among our nation’s politicians, and we hope she will be able to get things done that need to be done.
Downtown buildings need to be renovated – but for some owners, upgrading their buildings can land them with a higher property tax bill.
Come out of the cruise port and turn left at Parliament rather than right and you soon find yourself in a near desert of commerce, with only the occasional business holding up the banner for our country.
Parking is an issue. Locals will head to other locations where they can more easily park while they shop or dine at a restaurant rather than try to work out where they can park downtown without adding a chunk to their bill.
Reviving downtown is no small task. It is good that Mrs Hanna-Martin is aware of the long talk about revitalising the area, and the short talk about what has been accomplished.
One thing is for sure, whoever finally solves that conundrum will be doing us all a service.
Stay tuned, says Mrs Hanna-Martin. We certainly will.
The Rollins factor
EDITOR, The Tribune.
IF there is one thing that any Bahamian student of politics readily should be able to admit about the Honorable Doctor Andre Rollins (FNM-Long Island) is that he is, obviously, a very intelligent; determined and crafty political operative. Like him or hate him, give him his dues. Doctor Rollins and former MP, the Hon Renward Wells, burst on the political scene way back in the 1990’s. They started a ‘political’ party and established ‘headquarters’ on Minnie Street. Few sensible Bahamians, including me, paid them any attention. They were good at garnering publicity and media attention. They had Big
Barks and cowered the political mainstream. I always saw he and Renward Wells for the political chameleons that they are. In my view, they are both politically toxic. They were able to successfully Bluff their way into the PLP under Christie’s tenure. I begged him Not to embrace either of those political Scorpions. He did not listen. After getting PLP nominations and carte blanche entry into the HOA, Rollins and Wells gave Christie just what I had warned he and the PLP against. Scorpie stung them both, fatally, almost. Now Rollins is creased right up with the FNM in Long Island, which would have been an ideal seat for the Hon Shanendon Cartwright, the de jure
Deputy Leader of the FNM. Pintard will rue the day that he, et al, embraces a politically toxic Rollins, The next few weeks will reveal much about the way forward for the crumbling FNM. The Hon Speaker, the Hon Patricia Deveaux (PLP-Bamboo Town) should prepare herself for frequent challenges to her authority and there will be times when she may have to order his ejection from the chamber. That would be classical Rollins…attempt to lead by disruption. To God then, in all things, be the glory.
ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, June 10, 2026.
The foundational aspiration for a truly inclusive and prosperous Bahamas, often envisioned as the “ Bahamian Dream”, is increasingly perceived by many as an illusion, a distant echo of an unfulfilled promise by the political and merchant class.
A profound sense of disenfranchisement pervades our society, with countless Bahamians feeling systematically sidelined, their destinies seemingly secondary to the interests of a politically and business-entrenched elite, and influential external actors.
For generations, the distribution of national wealth has been acutely imbalanced, persistently skewed by political allegiances and power dynamics. From historical administrations like the UBP to more contemporary ones under the PLP and FNM, a disquieting pattern endures: significant national assets and opportunities appear consistently redirected towards a select few, predominantly those aligned with the prevailing political establishment.
This concentration has historically stifled the economic mobility and aspirations of the broader Bahamian populace, cultivating a deep-seated belief that political leadership across the spectrum has often prioritised self-enrichment or partisan advantage over the collective well-being of its citizens.
The pervasive “all for me, baby” mentality within the political sphere remains a potent catalyst for widespread public disillusionment and cynicism.
This pervasive and enduring frustration transcends mere inconvenience; it has blossomed into a full-blown crisis of national identity and purpose.
The current climate suggests an impending moment of societal re-evaluation, hinting at a fundamental recalibration of the existing political and wealth order, one that could diverge dramatically from previous, more incremental shifts.
It is particularly disheartening to witness a
This global phenomenon underscores a universal truth: when leaders operate as owners of a country rather than stewards of its people, the very bedrock of the social contract begins to fracture.
The pervasive and deep-seated anxieties permeating our nation are not just merely fleeting concerns; they are undeniable harbingers of a necessary and profound societal reckoning. As Bahamians, we stand at an unprecedented historical juncture, one demanding nothing less than a complete paradigm shift. This moment calls not for incremental reforms, but for a courageous, comprehensive, and systemic reimagining –a transformative overhaul of our foundational political governance and economic frameworks. It compels a fundamental redefinition of how power is justly wielded, how wealth is equitably generated and distributed, and how Bahamian society is structurally organised to ensure genuine collective prosperity for all its citizens. Political chatter, lies, and pipe dreams and empty promises and “selling” citizenship, permanent resident, and work permits just will not do….economic and legitimate creativity is what is needed to begin to create an economic revolution in which All Bahamians feel, know, and actively have a state and e role in the process…
The Bahamian brain drain is far from arbitrary; it is meticulously driven by a complex interplay of deepseated systemic issues: (1) Entrenched Patronage and Systemic Barriers: Numerous qualified Bahamians report that merit often bows to personal connections, familial ties, or political patronage when it comes to career advancement, business ventures, and access to vital resources. This stifles organic growth, fosters deep injustice, and effectively closes pathways for genuine talent and innovation.
(3) Critical Public Sector Exodus:** We are witnessing a well-documented and alarming outflow of essential workers, particularly from the healthcare and education sectors. Inadequate remuneration, high-stress working conditions, and insufficient professional resources at home act as powerful push factors towards foreign markets offering superior prospects and better quality of life.
(4) The “Proprietor” Mentality of Governance:** The persistent perception that successive political administrations behave as “owners” of the nation rather than elected public servants cultivates a profound sense of helplessness and disengagement among the electorate. This widespread cynicism leads many to abandon hope for meaningful local reform, accelerating their decision to emigrate.
In conclusion, to stem this critical loss of invaluable human capital and actively encourage the return of the Bahamian diaspora, a fundamental and urgent paradigm shift is required and put into practice. This demands the immediate development and implementation of concrete national strategies that extend far beyond mere rhetoric and dumb empty political chatter…Any halfway trained Monkey can do that and perhaps do and make more sense than some chattering lying politicians can do.
Past recommendations from respected organisations like the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, Civil Society, Trade Unions, and Employers Confederation, advocating for collaborative public and private sector policies aimed at creating tangible incentives for returning professionals, illuminate a crucial path forward.
Without a concerted, visionary, and decisive effort to address these profound systemic deficiencies, our country and by extension communities will continue to suffer a debilitating drain on the very intellect, ingenuity, and leadership essential for cultivating a resilient, equitable, and truly prosperous Bahamian future.
DR DONALD M MCCARTNEY
Freeport, Grand Bahama June 6, 2026.
FNM thanks PM for cutting electricity costs in GB
EDITOR, The Tribune.
AS one who supports the Free National Movement, I believe in giving credit where credit is due.
The previous Progressive Liberal Party government under Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis promised a 37 percent reduction in the cost of electricity for Grand Bahamian consumers once the government would have purchased the Grand Bahama Power Company from Emera. While I was initially apprehensive due to the decades-old challenges of Bahamas Power and Light (formerly BEC) in Nassau and other Family Islands, I was prepared to take that risk owing to the massive financial burden Emera placed on the shoulders of thousands of struggling Grand Bahamians.
The GBPC charges its customers a steep price but its service, for the most part, is very reliable. I am hoping that this reliability in service will continue under the management of the central government and
the newly appointed board of directors. With Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis’ announcement in the House of Assembly during the 2026/2027 Budget Debate that more than 17,000 households on Grand Bahama will get some much-needed relief this month, Davis has delivered on a key promise to Grand Bahama. This week a security officer who lives in Freeport told me that he was shocked to see that his light bill was only $77, when it was traditionally in the $170 range. He lives by himself in a one-bedroom apartment. His story confirms to this writer that the Davis administration is being truthful to the Grand Bahamian people on this matter in delivering cost savings on their electric bill. It goes without saying that Grand Bahamians from all political persuasions are excited to see the back of Emera which was engaging in price gouging at an unprecedented scale with no end in sight on an island that continues to lag behind
New Providence, Abaco, Exuma and other Family Islands from an economic standpoint. My light bill was in the $350 to $380 range over the past several months despite using a gas stove and despite nobody being home between 7:00am and 4:00pm each weekday. Moreover, I had stopped using my split unit for fear GBPC would have taken me to the cleaners like they have been doing to others who couldn’t bear the heat. With the cost being reduced from 22 cents for the 351 to 800 kilowatt -hour to a mere 11 cents in addition to many falling within the VAT-free category and the elimination of the Storm Recovery Charge, I am greatly relieved that I need not fear reading my GBPC text notifications moving forward. Thank you, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, for bringing much needed relief to Grand Bahamians. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama June 11, 2026.
Hanna-Martin ‘disappointed’ by brawl at Nassau Cruise Port
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said she will engage the cruise industry after a violent clash involving American cruise passengers at Nassau Cruise Port, saying she was “extremely disappointed” by the incident and concerned by a “couple incidents recently” involving visitors.
Her comments came days after six American cruise passengers were fined more than $47,000 after pleading guilty to offences stemming from a violent altercation at the port that spilled into the Tourism Police Station.
According to police, the incident began when officers responded to a fight involving cruise passengers in the port area. The confrontation escalated after several suspects were taken into custody, leaving police officers injured, damaging a police station door and triggering attempts to resist arrest and escape custody.
Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly Burrows imposed thousands of dollars in fines after the defendants admitted to charges that included assaulting police officers, disorderly behaviour, resisting arrest and causing
Speaking to reporters yesterday during an event marking the launch of a new Tampa-to-Nassau air service,
20-year-old man accused of threatening two with handgun
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN accused of threatening the lives of two people with a gun on Faith Avenue earlier this month was remanded to prison yesterday. Prosecutors allege Akeem Thompson, 20, endangered the lives of Lau’Kai Roberts and Robenson Philogene with a handgun in Cyclops Estate on June 3.
Later that same day and at the same place, Thompson was allegedly found with a black Glock 17 9mm pistol and seven rounds of ammunition. Thompson was not required to enter a plea to two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr. The accused was informed that his matter
would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment. Thompson was also informed of his right to apply for bail through the higher court. The defendant was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until service of his VBI on September 20.
Sergeant 3004 Forbes prosecuted the case. Dr K Melvin Munroe represented the accused.
Acklins man placed on probation for attacking two of his cousins
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN who attacked two of his cousins in Acklins after what he claimed was an election day of drinking which turned physical was placed on probation yesterday.
Dominic Anderson, 30, struck and injured Stevonia Rose in their yard in Salina Point, Acklins, on May 12. He also assaulted Steven Rose and
threatened to kill him the same day. Anderson pleaded guilty to assault, threats of death and causing harm before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr. After sincerely apologising for his actions, Anderson said he and his relatives had been engaged in a heated conversation about politics that escalated into violence. He claimed they had all been drinking that day.
Magistrate Allen admonished Anderson for his actions and urged him to use nonviolent methods to resolve conflicts.
Anderson was placed on probation for three months. Breaching his probation would carry a 30-day prison term.
Anderson returns for a probation report on September 11.
Wallace Rolle represented the accused, while Sergeant 3004 Forbes prosecuted the case.
Mrs Hanna-Martin said The Bahamas must continue to present itself as a destination defined by “beauty and peace and order” while ensuring positive interactions between visitors and Bahamians.
“You know, I was really extremely disappointed what I saw,” Mrs Hanna-Martin said. “And so I will be in dialogue with the cruise industry, because we've had a couple incidents recently that are major concern, and we want to send a message that all who come here come to a place of beauty and peace and order, and that what we offer as a people is just
A CRUISE Passenger is escorted back into the Tourism Police Station after trying to escape.
incredible, and we would like all who come to participate and to enjoy.”
Mrs Hanna-Martin said maintaining positive interactions between visitors and residents is critical because tourism remains the country’s leading economic driver.
“On the other side, we have an expectation that our own people will understand this important interface, because it endures not just to that one-on-one experience, but to the bigger, wider picture of the prosperity of the Bahamian people,” she said.
Despite her concern over the recent incidents, Mrs Hanna-Martin said tourism indicators remain positive heading into the peak summer season.
She said July is expected to be a “hefty month” for the industry, with continued growth in cruise arrivals and airlift supporting broader economic activity.
“We're looking forward to July, which is expected to be a hefty month, and we're hoping that it's one that brings great economy to The Bahamas, and one that is a happy exchange between cultures and people,” Mrs Hanna-Martin said.
Mrs Hanna-Martin said cruise arrivals have surpassed 10 million passengers and noted the continued importance of stopover visitors arriving by air, who typically remain in the country for several days and contribute more directly to hotels and other sectors of the economy.
“We have to ensure that we maximise and really embellish the experience of people who come here because it has critical meaning for all of us,” she said.
18-year-old remanded over Eneas Street track road murder
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
AN 18-year-old male accused of a fatal shooting on Eneas Street last week was remanded to prison yesterday. Prosecutors allege Christopher Newbold ambushed and shot Revincent Malcolm, 23, while he was on a track road near Eneas
Street on the night of June 5. Although Malcolm attempted to flee, he collapsed on Eneas Street and was pronounced dead by authorities around 11pm. Newbold was not required to enter a plea to murder before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr. The defendant was informed that his matter would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment. Newbold was also informed of his right to apply for bail through the higher court. The accused was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until service of his VBI on October 23. Sergeant 3004 Forbes prosecuted the case.
Court fines man
$1,500
over having forged driver’s licence
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was fined $1,500 after admitting he had a forged driver’s licence earlier this week. Leonardo Wright, 42, was found with the forged
__ June 2026
ID in New Providence on June 8.
Wright pleaded guilty to possession of a forged document before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly Burrows.
The defendant told the magistrate he bought the ID from someone at Road
SECOND NOTICE:
Traffic a few years ago and thought the person was authorised to sell it. He asked the court for mercy.
Wright was fined $1,500 or faces five months in prison.
Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom prosecuted the case.
ROSE ISLAND BEACH AND HARBOUR CLUB, ROSE ISLAND, THE BAHAMAS
NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS, PURCHASERS, VENDORS, REALTORS, ATTORNEYS, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
LRLA ROSE ISLAND LTD. (the “Company”), as Declarant under the Amended and Restated Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (the “Declaration”), refers to and incorporates its Notice dated 31 July 2025 concerning the Declarant’s Right of First Refusal (“ROFR”) under Section 17 of the Declaration.
The Company has reason to believe that certain sales, transfers, leases, conveyances, or other transactions involving properties within the Rose Island Beach and Harbour Club Subdivision may have occurred, or may be proceeding, without full compliance with the ROFR provisions of the Declaration.
Accordingly, the Company hereby GIVES NOTICE to any person or entity whose property, interest, or transaction may be subject to the ROFR, or who has knowledge of such transaction, is required to contact the Company in writing at contact@lrlaroseisland.com within Fourteen (14) Business Days of the date of this Notice.
The Company reserves all rights and remedies available under the Declaration and at law and may take such action as it considers necessary to enforce its rights in relation to any transaction completed, proposed, or attempted without compliance with the ROFR requirements. Nothing in this Second Notice shall be construed as a waiver, limitation, or abandonment of any such rights.
LRLA Rose Island Ltd
TOURISM MINISTER GLENYS HANNA-MARTIN
Eric Wiberg • Lighthouses
Lighthouses & shipwrecks of Bird Rock Light, Fortune Island
THE Pall Mall Gazette in 1878 focused on recent lighthouse expenditures, which rose “on account of the construction of Bird Rock Lighthouse in the Bahamas.” Why spend so much money on a remote pile or rock built atop a remote rock, taxpayers asked their government in London. The expenses considerably exceeded the estimate granted.
One reason was that without lights to guide them, ships were being delayed.
The schooner General Gazneau under Captain Stevens found itself becalmed for nearly a week in the Crooked Island Passage on account of light winds, on its way from Colombia to New York with coffee in the fall of 1869.
In 1872, the schooner B.F. Waite from France under Captain Aylward loaded logwood and coffee in Haiti and then was forced to spend 10 long days with light winds trying to transit the Crooked Island Passage.
Four years later, H. Whatley, inspector of Lighthouses in Nassau, posted a highly detailed description in numerous papers on the “recently erected revolving light on Bird Rock.” It included advice that the light “will be a revolving white light attaining its greatest brilliancy every 90 seconds, elevated 120 feet above water [visible] 17 miles.” The “illuminating apparatus is catoptric or by reflectors of the second order. The tower is 112 feet high, built of stone, faced with blue bricks and slightly conical.”
He warns readers are “cautioned to pay careful attention, as the point of reef extends for about 1.5 miles NNW of the tower, and the current to the North of Crooked Island is variable.”
In 1926, a Notice to Mariners in US papers published observations by the commander of the USS Pittsburg regarding the flash, period, and averages of the Bird Rock Light.
An article entitled Lighthouse Beauty in a 1901 Baltimore paper, speaks of Bird Rock as “an isolated place where the marooned keepers give direction to the navigator in day by the tall tower and at night by the revolving lantern.”
This sets up a story. “A former keeper had a daughter whose face and form won her fame in a beauty show during one of the Paris Expositions. The Bahamian maiden was awarded the prize and in the pride that made her father’s heart swell he is said to have offered 10,000 British Pounds to any respectably connected white man who would be accepted by her as a husband.”
This odd twist was never realized, as in those times her mixed heritage caused all the suitors to balk. (Many a sea captain, including Captain List, retold the tale and wondered as well where the keeper obtained the promised fortune.)
A British steam ship named Ethelwold under Captain Smith, carrying fruit from Cuba for Boston, hit Bird Rock, as a consequence of which the crew jettisoned bananas to lighten ship. A steamer named Flandria tried to help, but could not do so without being endangered herself.
The Alice Maud was on its way from Haiti to New York with logwood when it was wrecked at Bird Rock in May of 1865.
A steamer named Dordogne from the UK was en route from Philadelphia to Texas when it struck the rocks at Bird Rock. And in 1922, the New York Herald reported that a Norwegian steamer named Tune said that a wreck visible at Bird Rock was “no longer visible.” Either salvors or the sea must have claimed. Tragedy strikes remote places as well. In 1933, a seafarer from the United Fruit ship Matapan was lost overboard just 14 miles from Bird Rock Light approaching midnight, and was never found.
In October of 1941, a Tampa newspaper ran a piece on the bright light of Bird Rock Light being “world renown among mariners as Bishop’s Rock, Cape Horn, and Sandy Hook… less than half a storm would send the sea sweeping over all this little ledge. It was covered with coconut trees until the storm of 1932 . . . Two keepers live there, we are told, with their large families. The author noted how a child was recently swept off the ledge there. “You can’t keep the kids imprisoned in the house.” Soon the sailors under Captain Curry picked up Crooked Island, from which in days of yore locals sold crawfish and other fresh food. They landed a priest named Father Richardson by boat in Albert Town at Fortune Island, taking with them a goat, which found a cozy nook on the Padre’s lap. This caused the jolly fellow to remark that he is a good shepherd after all. In 1907 the British Consul General in New York placed mariners on notice that the Bird Rock Light would be inoperative for a while, and that mariners would exercise special caution. Hurricane Donna in 1961 hit Landrail Point particularly hard. In 1900, a steamer arriving
in Jamaica reported that the British schooner named Dove went ashore at Bird Rock en route from Nova Scotia to Cuba, though it was believed the ship could be salvaged. In 1856, the French ship Elie of Bordeaux was on a voyage from Haiti to Le Havre, France when the ship ran up on Bird Rock and was totally lost. Fortunately, the crew and some of the cargo was saved.
On top of having to call for help off Bird Rock in 1905, the Danish captain of the bark Embla on its way from Venezuela to Germany was visited by the crew of Admiral Schley who found him in the throes of an attack of dysentery and they furnished medical assistance and medicine.
In April of 1890,
passengers of the steamer Italia were found “in the last stages of exhaustion” between Fortune Island and Bird Rock by the crew of SS Ceresi, which took them to New York on their voyage there from Haiti.
SS Italia was wrecked on Watling’s Island, now San Salvador, and this group opted to set sail in a boat rather than suffer ashore. In June of 1897, the Baltimore Sun reported on a Norwegian barquentine named Lidskjalf, which reported to the Bird Rock keeper that all was well on its passage from Jamaica to the UK, proving that not all commercial shipping through the archipelago encountered trouble.
In October of 1914 Hubert Higgs, Mrs. Higgs, and their three children arrived to
Barbie-pink soup festival brings thousands to party in historic Lithuanian town
By LIUDAS DAPKUS Associated Press
Vilnius, LITHUANIA (AP) — A festival honoring Lithuania’s iconic cold beet soup brought tens of thousands of visitors Saturday to its capital city, which was fully decked out in pink. The colorful three-day Vilnius Pink Soup Fest featured a synchronized “Pink Break” lunch of revelers from across the globe all sharing in the beet soup, known as šaltibarščiai, sitting at long tables. Organizers estimated that more than three metric tons (6,614 lbs) of the fermented milk drink kefir, a key ingredient, would be consumed over the three days and more than 100,000 people would attend the event. Lithuanians devour the refreshing soup during the Baltic country's short summer. Beside beets and kefir, the ingredients include boiled potatoes, eggs, cucumbers and dill.
The festival attracted an international crowd, including tourist Connor Holmes, who came from the United Kingdom after he found the event online and thought "it was completely ridiculous in the best possible way."
“Before I knew it, I was building a suit of pink knight armor, carrying a spoon instead of a sword, and decorating my shield with eggs, dill and potatoes,” he said. “At that point, coming to Vilnius and seeing all this craziness myself felt like the next logical step.”
The city transformed into a giant pink playground as tourists and locals alike dressed up in pink. Others celebrated in cucumber, egg and beet costumes as the city hosted a parade on land as well as along the Neris River.
Jolanta Žukienė, a teacher from Vilnius, said this year was her fourth time attending the festival. She brought her three children and her husband along on Saturday.
resume his role as Principal Lightkeeper at Bird Rock, aboard the schooner Mary Ann from Nassau.
In May of 1908 the American-Hawaiian Liner Mexican ran aground on the reef at Bird Rock – it extends a mile or two out to sea – and the port side and double bottom were damaged. Fortunately the ship was refloated and went to Cristobal in Panama. Bird Rock must have had its own radio, as this casualty was reported in the interational papers.
In 1912, a Norwegian steamship named Madeirnse, on its way from New York to Texas when it grounded at Bird Rock. Captain Smith, his wife, and a first mate named Hanson were rescued. However, after his crew were taken
off Crooked Island, the captain was unable to defend his ship and cargo. Distraught, he put his family in and open sailboat and fled back to sea. Three days later, having been trailed by sharks, a steamer named Joseph J. Cuneo pulled them aboard and took them to Philadelphia. Jeffrey Cardenas of StellaMarisSailing recently posted – with justifiable skepticism – a story written by Timothy Harrison in the Lighthouse Digest. In it a writer named Anna Randall Diehl claimed to have met Annie Brock in the UK following a series of three deaths on Bird Rock Light in the 1800s, none of it verified. The story goes, British cousins John and Stephen Brock bring their wives Annie and Mabel on a long stint as light keepers of Bird Rock Light. Mabel falls ill and dies, with nowhere to bury her, her remains are tossed into the ocean, her widower goes mad, attacks his cousin, and they both fall off the tower and die, leaving pregnant Annie to run the light alone until rescue and repatriation to the UK. Lighthouse lore is replete with such stories. Fortunately for Bird Rock Light, there were plenty enough verifiable events to make for rich reading. In a UK paper in 1956, solo woman sailor Ann Davison had a challenging passage in her 23-foot sailboat Felicity Ann. A “monster battleship” challenged her for the right of way, a massive line squall shut off her retreat along the length of Acklins Island, and she was finally able to take pause under the reassuring beam of Bird Rock Light. The Palm Beach Post of 1994 commented that the Pittstown Point Landing resort is in a building that in the 1800s was home to men from the Royal Navy’s West Indies Squadron. In the 1930s, the crew of the stranded Royal Navy yacht Tai Mo Shan found a headstone to a surgeon of the Royal Navy in the dunes along the lovely beach.
Angela McKinney Hole also documented Bird Rock Light in more recently in January of 2020, noting unfortunately that the historical landmark “is falling apart and sadly deteriorating rapidly.”
Image: Wikipedia
Photo: Marinas.com
Outrage over chief’s words a wake-up call
time to end one world for men, another for us
THIS is not the column I intended to write, which was going to be lighthearted and fun about the days when the music we listened to had words we could understand and when songs had lyrics you memorized.
When you knew every word and could relate to the love or anguish it belted.
That was the plan, reviving the Beach Boys and Bee Gees vibe as the Sloop John B documentary gets underway.
Not this one, though. Cleare’s message was clear: in the world of Bahamas Corrections, gender
But then I picked up the Tuesday Tribune and nearly exploded.
“DID YOU SEE THIS?!” I burst out loud, shouting to everyone in the office, meaning the only two who were in before 8 am. A quiet voice would have been fine under normal circumstances, but this was not normal. This was the kind of thing that had to be shouted. Staring straight at me and the thousands who were going to see it later was a headline so bizarre, so infuriating, so 1800’s that I could not help myself.
“DID YOU SEE THIS?!” MEN GET TWO CHANCES BUT WOMEN ONLY ONE.
The story was based on comments the day before by Corrections Commissioner Doan Cleare at what was supposed to be an intake ceremony for recruits who qualified to serve in one of the most underappreciated arms of law enforcement –the corrections division. Such ceremonies are normally intended to serve as part-congratulatory and part-motivational for new recruits, inspiring them to do their best, to serve with pride, and to strive to be the best they can be. All of which means that to anyone other than a recruit soaking in the words, such ceremonies are pure pablum, bland, routine, and worthy of not much more than a passing glance by the general public.
bias is real. One world for men, the other for women. MEN GET TWO CHANCES BUT WOMEN ONLY ONE blasted the Tribune top of the page one headline in bold at
least size
switch, cursing and beating?
“Our waiting list now is over 400 females trying to get in here, but it is the males I will try to massage, wash your toes, and wash your feet to try to get you in line. But if you do fool, we still gon’ let you go, the Commissioner said.”
to pay attention to their sons’ and daughters’ progress in school and schoolwork.
more attention to the rules. So now you want to punish the females -- one strike and they are out, but “massage” the males, “wash their toes”?
If ever there was the slightest doubt about bias against females in The Bahamas, Corrections Commissioner Cleare’s remarks at the intake ceremony laid bare the bitter truth. There are two worlds, the world of the male and the world of the female, and it’s time for a sweeping change, a change that can be made with a signature. It does not need a referendum. And here is the reason why:
child, they were over the moon. Neither has ever had another boyfriend or girlfriend. They wanted to marry--they had always planned to marry--but they could not or their child would not be Bahamian. As a Bahamian, she had to
72-point font. If ever there was a clear message that there are two worlds in The Bahamas--one for men, one for women--this was it. In your face. Undeniable. In his voice. In print. Apparently, more women want this job than men. And that did not make Commissioner Cleare happy, so he explained how he plans to deal with it.
“Now, females in the squad, the first one of you mess up or do wrong, I gonna let you go. And you know why? Because we have an abundance of you, too much.”
Too many women applying for a job many would run as far away from as they could? Too many women applying for a job in a prison dealing with incarcerated females who may have had childhoods that send chills up your spine? Incest? A parent who overdosed or thought the best lessons were taught with a tamarind
Cleare was clearly coming from a place of disappointment, and he didn’t try to hide it.
Originally, he told the audience, they were hoping for 70 men and 30 women, but not enough men who applied qualified, while the women, he confessed, were meeting the requirements. The result? The new cohort consists of 38 women and what he called “about 41 men.”
He did acknowledge the fact that the shortage of qualifying males was in part a reflection of the education system and noted the importance of parental involvement. He credited parents who cared enough
Italian commuters find a moment of peace on a cable-guided ferry sketched by Leonardo da Vinci
By NICCOLÒ LUPONE Associated Press
IMBERSAGO, Italy
(AP) — The ferry glides from one bank of northern Italy's Adda River to the other, guided by a cable and pulled by currents, offering harried commuters five minutes of serenity and an alternate route now that a bridge closure has backed up traffic.
“It’s difficult to say, but I’ll tell you, me growing up in school on the Family Island, a lot of males, they were eager to learn and we were focused. But it’s New Providence and Grand Bahamas that has the challenges,” the Commissioner said. “They used to want to gravitate toward gangs. They tend to want to be bullies in class, they tend to want to be the clowns… Then some of them tend to want to take the easy road out, smoke marijuana or drink alcohol, you see. So that’s one of the reason why, you know, the pool is so short.”
We get it – males struggle more, females pay
Called “Leonardo’s Ferry,’’ the mechanism of the so-called reaction ferry was designed five centuries ago and immortalized by the Renaissance genius himself in a drawing preserved in Windsor Castle's Royal Collection outside of London.
It is the last remaining of its kind along the Adda River, which extends from the Alps to the Po River in the Lombardy region.
“This is a mean of transport that has been here for 500 years and has always connected the two banks of the Adda,” said Massimo Zoia, one of the volunteer ferrymen who operates the vessel.
“And now it has returned to its original purpose: connecting two
populations living on different banks of a river."
Despite its name, it remains unclear whether Leonardo himself actually designed the ferry. What is certain, however, is that he sketched it in 1513, as part of his famed studies of waterways, including Milan's canal system. Leonardo was one of history’s greatest polymaths, filling notebooks with designs across a range of disciplines, including flying machines that wouldn't be realized for centuries.
The ferry’s operating principle is as simple as it is ingenious, and entirely environmentally friendly.
“The river pushes us downstream. We have a cable that binds us, and by breaking down the forces, according to the parallelogram rule, which we study in high school, the force is broken down and one part becomes resistance and the other we use for lateral movement,” Zoia said.
This is a true story. A Bahamian woman could not marry the father of her child, even though the couple has been together for more than 15 years, from the time they were in school together in Nassau, through college, now she as a graduate student, he as a highly responsible pro-
give birth out of wedlock rather than walk down the aisle with the man she wanted to marry, the man who wanted to marry her, so their child could be a Bahamian. She had to give birth to the horrible sound of the word--a “bastard” child born out of wedlock--because she is female. Had the father been Bahamian and the mother hold citizenship of another Commonwealth nation, it would have been a different story. How can that be right? Don’t ask the Commissioner of Corrections. Ask yourself. Ask this country.
fessional. Though he holds citizenship of another large Commonwealth nation outside this region, he and his family have lived in The Bahamas nearly his entire life.
When the couple learned they were expecting a
Ask those who govern.
Gender equality is not an amorphous ideal. It’s what makes a child a Bahamian or the other word, a “bastard.” You decide. And act. It’s on your conscience.
“The rudder is used to adjust the inclination of the ferry so that it better absorbs the stream that hits us and makes us move,” he said. The ferry is run by the town of Imbersago, and runs to the town of Villa d’Adda on the other side. It came close to disappearing in 2023, when its operator gave up the concession. Determined to save it, Imbersago Mayor Fabio Vergani obtained a ferryman’s license himself and, together with the local tourism association, assembled a team of volunteers. Since 2024, they have primarily transported weekend visitors from one bank of the Adda to the other. But they added commuter service this spring after a nearby bridge was closed for maintenance to help ease traffic congestion. It now runs from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., with a two hour lunch break at noon. Passengers pay 1.50 euros (about $1.75) if they are on foot, 2 euros ($2.30) with a bicycle, 2.50 euros
and
Photo: Alex Green/pexels
Photo: ValeriaKatchenko/pexels
Photo: Liza Summer/pexels
Photo: TimaMiroshnichenko/pexels
($2.88) with
motorbike
3.50 (around $4) for a
Gianpaolo Graffagnino lives in Villa d’Adda and works on the other side of the river. He has started biking to work, using the ferry as a shortcut. “Right now this is the fastest system, but above all the nicest because you get three minutes of peace,” he said. Mauro Carnati drove his Maserati onto the ferry to bring his daughter to school on the other side, avoiding a long detour caused by the bridge closure.
COMMUTERS board the “Da Vinci Ferry,” a hand-operated ferry of a type sketched by Leonardo da Vinci around 1513, on the Adda River between the provinces of Lecco and Bergamo, in Imbersago, Italy, Thursday, June 4, 2026.
AP Photo/Luca Bruno
AN EFFIGY of Leonardo da Vinci hangs on the dock of the “Da Vinci Ferry,” a hand-operated of a type sketched by Leonardo da Vinci in 1513. AP Photo/Luca Bruno
El Nino is here and scientists fear it’ll be big, bad and costly with heat, floods, droughts, fires
By SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press
EL NINO, Nature’s chaotic climate agent, has formed in a warmed-up Pacific Ocean and is expected to grow to historic strength, meteorologists announced Thursday.
Experts said the El Nino, a natural warming cycle, should further heat a globe already warming from fossil fuel pollution and will likely turbocharge extreme weather across the planet. Meteorologists forecast it will rival — or exceed — a record El Nino that began in 1997 and helped trigger billions of dollars in damage from heat waves, floods, droughts, tornadoes and wildfires.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially
confirmed the existence of the El Nino, which is a warming of the Pacific near the equator that affects weather patterns across the globe.
NOAA’s announcement said there’s a 63% chance that the El Nino will get so intense this late fall and early winter that it “would rank among the largest El Nino events in the historical record going back to 1950.”
The warm, deep waters of an El Nino affect weather patterns by bringing “a lot of extra heat to the surface, fuelling a lot of extreme events for a lot of places around the world,” said Clark University climate scientist Abby Frazier. She said, especially in the Pacific, “it can get dire very quickly.”
United Nations Secretary-General António
Guterres described El Nino as an “urgent climate warning.”
“El Nino conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world,” Guterres said in a video message El Nino’s impacts spawn winners and losers
The weather pattern’s effects vary by region. El Nino often dampens — but doesn’t eliminate — Atlantic hurricane season activity, but increases it in the Pacific. So while the US East and Gulf coasts may get a break, Hawaii and other islands are more in danger, Frazier said.
The drought-stricken Middle East could benefit, climate scientists said. Other places are looking at more danger. Parts of western South America — where the first El Ninos were noticed decades ago — often get
heavy rain and floods, along with an extra warm summer. India faces more intense heat waves, while drought, wildfires and heat threaten Australia.
Northeastern Africa is likely going to get weather whiplash from intense drought to dangerously heavy rains, said Columbia University climate scientist and El Nino expert Muhammad Azhar Ehsan.
In the US, El Ninos can cause more intense storms with heavier rainfall in the South, but they also tend to generally benefit the US agriculture industry, said Jon Gottschalck, operational branch chief at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.
Michael Ferrari, meteorologist and head of research at the investment research firm Moby, said conditions for grains and seed, especially soybeans, look favourable in 18 major growing states, but are more mixed when it comes to dairy and cattle.
The northern Rockies and Southwest — where there’s an “off the charts” snow drought — could get
some strong summer rains, Gottschalck said. The biggest effect in the US is often in the winter, when the south can get wetter and the Pacific Northwest warmer and drier.
But overall, temperatures raised by the weather pattern can dampen American economic growth, said Stanford climate economist Marshall Burke. Several climate scientists forecast that 2027 will be the hottest year on record because of lagging effects of this El Nino, which is expected to peak in the fall or winter.
“We have pretty clear evidence that the US economy grows more slowly when temps are above normal,” Burke said.
Strong early signs
The weather extremes caused by an El Nino also depend on when it develops.
Usually El Ninos form in the summer, peak in the late fall or early winter, and peter out the next spring, scientists said.
However, Ehsan’s team
forecasts that this El Nino will peak a month or two earlier based on strong early signs from recent weeks. Princeton University climate scientist Gabriel Vecchi said large El Ninos like these also tend to last longer.
The early indications — including warmer water pushing toward the surface of the Pacific — have been so strong and noticeable that forecasters have all been predicting the same ultra strong El Nino, Vecchi said, adding that El Nino forecasts often are all over the place at this time of year.
Scientists predict stronger El Ninos as the world warms from the burning of coal, oil and gas, Frazier and others said. But she said it is too early to say if this El Nino is part of that. Even before it officially formed, this El Nino has gotten nicknames ranging from “super” to “Godzilla.”
“Instead of scared, we can ask people to be prepared,” Columbia’s Ehsan said.
A FIREFIGHTER monitors flames caused by the Hughes Fire along Castaic Lake in Castaic, Calif., January 22, 2025.
Photo: Jae C Hong/AP
Yellow Elder Primary School Sixth Grade Graduation
Prize money of $85k at largest Elbow Reef Classic
HG Christie once again proudly supported the annual Elbow Reef Classic as a Silver Sponsor of the 4th edition of the growing tournament, which continues to unite the Bahamian and international fishing communities in support of one of the country’s most treasured landmarks, the historic Elbow Reef Lighthouse.
Held in Hope Town, Abaco, the tournament brought together anglers, families, and supporters for several days of competition, camaraderie, and fundraising, all centred around preserving the iconic 1863 lighthouse, the last manually operated lighthouse of its kind in the world.
This year’s event marked the largest tournament since its inception, with 20 boats registered and 70 anglers participating. Anglers recorded an impressive 49 billfish releases, a significant increase from the 16 releases recorded during the 2025 event. The tournament also generated a total prize purse of $85,725, with top overall billfish team
“Mo Betta” taking home the top prize payout of $25,050.
For HG Christie, the event is far more than sport fishing. With strong ties to the Abaco community through its Marsh Harbour and Hope Town offices, as well as agents living onGreen Turtle Cay, Winding Bay and Guana Cay, the company continues to support initiatives that preserve Bahamian culture, heritage, and the unique character of the islands.
President and Managing Broker of HG Christie, John Christie, said the company is proud to continue its involvement with the event and the important mission behind it. "The Elbow Reef Lighthouse is one of the most recognisable and meaningful landmarks in The Bahamas, and we are proud to continue supporting the Elbow Reef Classic and the incredible work being done to preserve it,” Christie said.
“Events like this bring people together around something truly special. They celebrate community, heritage, and the enduring traditions that make the Out Islands so unique. HG Christie is honoured to play
a role in helping ensure this important piece of Bahamian history continues to stand for generations to come.”
Laura Gallagher, President of the Elbow Reef Foundation, reflected on the continued growth and impact of the tournament.
“I’m so proud to be a part of the 4th annual Elbow Reef Classic, bringing the Bahamian community and our US friends together to support our iconic and historic lighthouse,” Gallagher said. “It’s a beautiful blend of sport, camaraderie, and heritage preservation.”
Funds raised through the event directly support restoration and maintenance efforts for the lighthouse, including long-term repairs still needed following Hurricane Dorian.
Mari Chambers of the Elbow Reef Foundation explained that preserving the historic structure requires constant attention due to its exposed marine environment.
“We have some repairs and items from Hurricane Dorian that still need to be addressed, as well as general maintenance which is a constant requirement due to the environmental conditions and salt spray,” Chambers said. “This summer we plan to use the funds to begin the repair work to the kerosene tanks, which is the fuel system for the light.”
The tournament featured multiple divisions and awards recognizing both seasoned competitors and younger anglers participating in the tradition. Among the highlights were local team “Joint Venture II” earning recognition for the Heaviest Wahoo, while team “Blurred Lines” landed an impressive 97.6-pound Yellowfin Tuna during Day 3 competition. Additional honours included Top Billfish Angler Overall awarded to Ron Ladner aboard “Cheeseburger,” Top Billfish Lady Angler Ellie King aboard “Still Foolish,” and Top Billfish Junior Angler Justin Gilchrist aboard “Psalm 23.” Junior angler Breck Lamberton also earned recognition for Top Meatfish Junior Angler.
The Elbow Reef Classic continues to grow not only as a competitive tournament but as a meaningful community initiative rooted in preservation and shared appreciation for Bahamian maritime heritage.
“For generations, the Elbow Reef Lighthouse has stood as a steadfast guardian over our waters,” said Heather Ford-Prosa, ERF Founder and HG Christie Estate Agent. “It asks little in return—only that we show up for it, just as it has always stood for us. That spirit is what the Elbow Reef Classic embodies.”
Photos: Nikia Charlton
Bahama
Guess who I ran into last weekend at Bahamas Goombay in Coconut Grove, Miami?
I’m not telling you right off the bat, but it was great that he made the trek.
First, let me tell you about the history of Bahamas Goombay.
It stems from a little-known fact that Bahamians began immigrating to South Florida as early as the 1870s and played a major role in helping make Miami and South Florida the successful and diverse region it is today. Bahamians have always migrated to South Florida, from Key West all the way up past Fort Lauderdale. They were integral to the development of Miami, with some Bahamians even signing the city’s incorporation papers in 1896.
Do yourself a favour and research the contributions Bahamians made to the creation of the City of Miami. One of the largest Bahamian communities was established in Coconut Grove. Even my great-grandfather migrated there in 1916 from Grand Bahama, bringing his family, including my grandmother. They are all buried blocks away in the Charlotte Jane cemetery, filled with tombstones etched with generations of familiar Bahamians names.
Fast forward to the 1970s, when the Coconut Grove Goombay Festival was founded. It has survived numerous moves, challenges, ups and downs, leadership changes, and even years when it
was not held. Yet it has endured as one of the largest Bahamian festivals in the United States.
Under new leadership, chaired by vonCarol Kinchens-Williams for the past few years, the festival is working to regain the popularity it enjoyed in the 1980s and 1990s, when it was estimated to attract as many as half a million festivalgoers.
“Hats off to the previous organisers. Now I understand what they had to do to make sure something like this runs smoothly, but in the end, it’s worth it,” Kinchens-Williams says breathlessly as I ask her to smile.
“I will when it’s Sunday,” she replies.
I’ve had mixed feelings about the festival over the past few years because there seems to be an ongoing struggle between showcasing authentic Bahamian food and entertainment and catering to broader tastes. There is a push and pull between popular hip-hop
culture and our own Bahamian music and traditions, which, to be honest, often receive limited support even in our own country outside of elections and national holidays.
Here in Coconut Grove, the dynamic is also shaped by a community that has slowly lost some of its Baha more dominant African American influences. They are proud of their
Bahamian heritage, passed down through stories, food, and music, but for many, it has become a strand of DNA that emerges primarily when they are around Bahamians or attending Bahamian-themed events.
Many do get the opportunity to ‘go back’ and visit The Bahamas, depending on how many generations removed they are from their Bahamian roots, but many have never visited at all—even though we are only about 30 minutes away. I was excited to see authentic Bahamian entertainers such as Wendi, Shaad Collie and the VIPs, Qpid, and Stileet performing, but they were overshadowed by the hip-hop and R&B acts scheduled later in the day.
The majority of the crowd initially gathered at the eastern end of the festival, where most of the food vendors were located. However, once they started hearing the Bahamian music, the crowd
performers finished, they had drawn the audience right to the stage - perfectly setting the scene for the hip-hop and R&B artists who followed. In my humble opinion, the Bahamian performers should have been considered the headliners. I can tell you that when the crowd heard some of those familiar Bahamian classics we all grew up with, they came alivedancing, singing along, and fully embracing the moment.
On Sunday, Sweet Emily performed, and despite the heat, she told me, “It was very hot, but it was a great show, and I can always depend on my South Florida fans to come out and support me.”
As usual, Junkanoo was the star of the show. The groups rushed several times each day, and whenever the crowd heard the first beat of the drums, they followed - dancing behind the Junkanoo group like the Pied Piper.
I will say they organisers did try hard to bring that Bahamian presence to Coconut Grove with all the authentic Bahamian performers, and even though I saw a lot of the Aqua, Black and Gold and people proudly waving their Bahamian flags, I wonder if we’re losing our Bahamian identity in South Florida. I hope not, because Bahamians played such a big part in the making of Miami and South Florida that I hope does not get forgotten by the Cuban influence, a group that seems to ‘stick together’ much more than Bahamians.
Oh, and the person I ran into? It was the Editor of this very same Tribune!
Catch The Charlie Bahama Show on Cable Bahamas, or follow all Charlie Bahama social media channels and subscribe to the Charlie Bahama YouTube
Shaad Collie and the VIPs Band
Charlie Bahama with Wendi
Attendees proudly carrying the flag
Wendi performing
Stileet performing
About & Out with Charlie
vonCarol Kinchens-Williams with Charlie Bahama
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