woman & health
The Tribune
Family grieves as man gunned down
“I was shouting, and screaming his name,” says victim’s girlfriend
By lE aNDra rollE
aND JaDE rUSSEll Tribune Staff reporters
HAROLD “KJ” Bur-
rows Jr seemed poised to turn a corner in his life. At 21, he had just landed a job at KFC and was set to start his first shift Monday, a step he believed would help him better support his young family.
Instead, he was brutally gunned down outside his home the day before he was due to begin work. He never got to wear the black-and-white pants his mother had planned to buy him for the job. In a heart-wrenching interview with The Tribune, his mother, Cheena Riley,
Barnett- ellis: Govt passinG laws without implementinG
By lyNaIrE MUNNIN gS Tribune Staff reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis accused the Davis administration yesterday of enacting critical laws without implementing them, starving oversight bodies of funds, and misleading Bahamians about the true state of the economy. In her Senate contribution, Mrs Barnett-Ellis charged that the government had broken major promises linked to legislation such as the Protection Against Violence Act, the Anti-Gang Act, and longawaited reforms including
By EaryEl BowlEg Tribune Staff reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has brushed aside concerns raised by Southern Shores MP
Leroy Major, who recently claimed that Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) backbenchers are sidelined and face difficulty accessing government resources for their constituencies.
Responding to questions
for the first time since
Major’s public criticism, Mr Davis told reporters: “I make nothing of that. I mean, I don’t know why he says that. Maybe you have
By PaVEl Ba
By lE aNDra rollE Tribune Chief reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement (FNM) Leader Michael Pintard has pledged that, if elected, his administration will strictly enforce the Public Procurement Act — requiring all state-owned enterprises to publicly disclose their procurement procedures and any contracts awarded over $25,000.
Mr Pintard made the promise during his budget contribution in the House of Assembly last week, accusing the Davis administration of routinely ignoring
A WOMAN was granted $10,000 bail yesterday after being accused of assisting the suspects in the murder of Reserve Inspector Lernex Williams earlier this month.
Antoinette Henfield, 44, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley on a charge of accessory after the fact to murder. Prosecutors allege that Henfield knowingly helped the suspects evade the
page five
leader Michael Pintard.
ann Marie Davis and her husband Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis walk through the crowd at the PLP’s Eastern Link Up yesterday at Sir Charles Carter Park, CW Saunders Highway.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
PLP Motorcade leads to Eastern Link Up
Photos: Dante Carrer/tribune Staff
Davis: Ask Leroy Major why he says PLP backbenchers feel sidelined
to ask him what he makes of it.”
Mr Major suggested that Cabinet ministers have preferential access to government support, leaving backbenchers at a disadvantage. Mr Davis pushed back, saying that such claims reflect a misunderstanding of how governance works. He emphasised that under his leadership, the distribution of national resources is being handled fairly.
Pressed further about perceptions of unequal access, he said these narratives are being shaped by those who don’t fully grasp the mechanics of governance.
He made these comments on the sidelines of the PLP’s “Eastern Link Up,” a rally-style gathering for supporters in Elizabeth, Yamacraw, Fox Hill, and Sea Breeze.
Mr Davis described the event as a chance to energise party members, share
progress updates, and reinforce the administration’s agenda. In his address, he urged the party to intensify its efforts in the remaining term. “This is no time to ease up,” he said, calling on members to “lock in” and focus on “pushing harder, delivering faster and reaching further”. He also launched into a scathing critique of Opposition Leader Michael Pintard, challenging his leadership record and accusing him of dodging accountability. “The man nearly had a meltdown just because someone asked for his résumé,” he said. He accused Mr Pintard of misrepresenting his administration’s support for the creative economy and Bahamian artists. “I am using the word ‘lie’ intentionally because anyone who don’t tell the truth is a liar,” he declared.
Turning to the Free National Movement (FNM), he blamed the opposition’s governance
on persistent internal conflict and leadership instability. “They came together to win the election, but after that, their dysfunctional internal conflicts got in the way of them governing,” he said. “If you cannot manage your caucus, how can you manage a country?”
He went on to highlight what he called achievements under his administration: reduced electricity bills for over 66,000 Bahamians, the promotion of more than 3,500 public servants, and 56 labor agreements covering sectors such as education, healthcare, and national security.
“That’s over $44m in the hands of working people,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, he issued a directive to public service agencies, calling for an end to bureaucratic delays. “Stop giving the people the runaround. The small issues shouldn’t have to come to Brave to solve,” he said.
Barnett-Ellis: Govt passing laws without implementing
from page one
the Ombudsman Act, Campaign Finance Reform, and the Freedom of Information Act — all of which, she said, remain dormant and unfunded.
She described a pattern of avoiding accountability, citing the underfunding of watchdog institutions and the failure to operationalise laws passed with significant public attention.
“Anti-gang legislation was passed, but how many individuals have actually been charged under it?” she asked. “The Protection Against Violence Act was passed in 2023, but the Commission at the heart of that Act has yet to be
Man killed in shooting incident on newbold s treet
A MAN has been killed in a shooting on Newbold Street, off Market Street.
The shooting took place last night. Police initially said the victim was alive, but later reported that he had died from his injuries at the scene.
The murder followed an earlier double shooting in the Big Pond area. Two men were injured in the incident.
Both men were reported to be alive, but their condition was not known at the time of going to press.
appointed. On the issue of transparency, perhaps the area where this administration has failed most spectacularly: We are told the Ombudsman law is a priority, but it has yet to be brought into force. I did not even see any budgetary allocation for it.
“There has been little to no progress on the Freedom of Information Act despite promising to do so. Not a peep about Campaign Finance Reform or electoral reform or a new Public Disclosure Act that they promised to implement in that now
notorious brochure known as the ‘Blueprint.’ Oversight institutions remain underfunded and underpowered. The Independent Commission of Investigations Act and the Protected Disclosures Act were passed with great fanfare but neither has been brought into force.”
She claimed the disconnect extends to the national budget, accusing the administration of painting an inflated picture of economic success.
Although officials tout a surplus and rising revenue, Mrs Barnett-Ellis argued
ordinary Bahamians see none of the gains.
“We are told that the economy is booming, but the Bahamian people are not feeling it,” she said, citing $122m in unpaid invoices at mid-year, dilapidated clinics, and under-resourced schools as signs of a government out of step with the people’s needs.
Mrs Barnett-Ellis concluded her address by urging the government to move beyond rhetoric and deliver tangible results that enhance the lives of everyday citizens.
Senator Michela Barnett-elliS
PriMe Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and his wife Ann Marie Davis arrive at the Eastern Link Up and Sir Charles Carter Park, CW Saunders Highway yesterday.
Photos: Dante carrer/Tribune Staff
Pintard: FNM govt will strictly enforce Public Procurement Act
from page one
procurement laws.
“They violate the old and they violate the new,” he said.
He claimed the government’s recent publishing of contracts was due to pressure from the opposition and international voices.
He singled out several major entities — including the University of The Bahamas, the Water and Sewerage Corporation, the National Insurance Board, the Public Hospitals Authority, and Bahamasair
— for failing to publish their procurement guidelines or report contracts exceeding $25,000, as required by law. Mr Pintard also criticised the Ministry of Tourism for its failure to meet the same standards, However, he said such lapses would not happen under an FNM administration.
“We will take immediate action proactively publishing key reports, granting easier access to information and ensuring that the public and press are empowered to scrutinize government action,” Mr Pintard said.
“Every state owned enterprise and public agency, of course, Ministry of Tourism, will be held to a new standard. We will require the public publications of quarterly financial disclosures, and we will enforce mandatory deadlines for the release of audited financials. No more hiding behind bureaucracy.”
“We will require all state owned enterprises to publish unaudited annual financials, and if and when the audits are delayed, we want you to move even faster to publish them.”
Halkitis: Surplus is to pay down debt, not for new spending
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Staff Reporter
ECONOMIC Affairs
Minister Michael Halki-
tis yesterday sought to clarify the government’s projected $75m surplus for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, emphasising that the surplus is a direct result of fiscal discipline and will be used solely to reduce the national debt, not for additional spending.
During his 2025/2026 Budget Contribution in the Senate, Mr Halkitis said the surplus means the government expects to collect enough revenue to fund its programmes fully and still
have $75m left over. He said the entire surplus is earmarked for debt reduction, with the national debt expected to fall from
$11.461bn to $11.386bn in the next fiscal year. According to Mr Halkitis, this will help lower interest payments, which have more than doubled in under a decade, from $273m in 2017 to a projected $668m this year. That figure is expected to decline to $602m in 2026 and $565m by 2027. “I didn’t choose 2017 for any particular reason,” he said. “It’s just that I wanted to give us a few years and to demonstrate that this goes across administrations. So from $273m — more than double in less than ten years — it’s unsustainable, because that means that is money that could be more properly
invested in our people.”
“And so the surplus is a big deal because we can see the debt of the country begin to come down, and we know that the level of the debt has been something that has been occupying and causing concern to Bahamians for a long time.”
Mr Halkitis said the surplus does not indicate room for financial laxity. “It does not mean that there’s free money or the government can just throw money around,” he said. “All it means is that within its capacity to execute, the government has enough money to fully and adequately fund the works of the government for this year.” The government projects total revenue of $3.89bn, representing 23.6 percent of GDP. Mr Halkitis noted that the deficit has steadily declined from 11.9 percent of GDP in 2020 to a projected surplus of 0.5 percent in the upcoming fiscal year. The primary balance is expected to post a surplus of 4.5 percent of GDP, and the debt-to-GDP ratio is forecast to fall to 68.9 percent by the end of the fiscal year and to 61.3 percent by 2027–2028. He described the shift from the country’s largestever deficit in 2020/2021 to a projected surplus as a sign of “responsible leadership.” He
said the economy recorded real GDP growth of 3.4 percent in 2024, with nominal growth at 3.7 percent, alongside a record 11.2 million international visitors last year. The Free National Movement (FNM)has dismissed the government’s fiscal forecast as inaccurate and politically motivated, accusing the Davis administration of exaggerating economic progress ahead of the next general election. The party has questioned how a government facing a $395m mid-year deficit in December, along with over $122m in unpaid bills, could credibly project a surplus.
Newly built eveN t veNue destroyed by fire after ow Ner dropped ‘skyrocketiNg’
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter
A NEWly built, uninsured event venue in
lucaya was reduced to rubble over the weekend after a bush fire spiralled out of control — despite repeated pleas for help and a fire truck on scene.
The blaze that engulfed Blaire House’s $880,000 multi-purpose building off Midshipman Road could have been prevented, say owners Jennifer Williams
and her brother, Preston Bethel, who invested their retirement savings to build the 400-capacity facility from scratch.
“There is no insurance on that property. We built that from scratch,” said Ms Williams, who explained they dropped coverage due to skyrocketing premiums.
The fire, which began in nearby bushland Saturday morning, was reported by staff at Garden of the Groves. Firefighters responded but left without putting out the surrounding flames, according to Mr Bethel.
“When they let the fire crew in, they drove around the building and said they would come back,” he recalled. Taking no chances, Mr Bethel began hosing down the roof himself. Firefighters returned 90 minutes later.
“I asked them to please put out the fire around the building. He said there is no reason to do that because the fire had already burned passed the building,” he said.
They assured him the structure was not at risk and pledged to check on it hourly. Two hours later, it was gone.
“I told Jennifer that couldn’t be true. That was highly impossible,” Mr Bethel said. “By the time I reach up there, the building had already burned down. And it was only two of them there putting water on the fire around the other first building.” The fire team claimed they had briefly left to get more water and returned to find the building ablaze. But
Mr Bethel is unconvinced.
“If they had just put water around the building, it would still be here,” he said, adding that the fire truck never attempted to draw water from the on-site pool. “At no time did the truck attempt to take water out of the pool. Every time the truck got empty, they would go and come back. It is just hard to believe.”
He pointed out that the venue stood alone on the property, isolated and easily defensible. “That was the only building around. All they had to do was put water around that building, and it would have still been here now.”
Ms Williams, who was off-island at the time, said the devastation could have been avoided.
“Everything that we owned in that new building went up in smoke,” she said. “We lost an income out of this world. That building was fully booked until next year.”
She estimated the damage at $880,000 and said the government must step in.
“I need that building back in three months. We built it in six months. They have to,” she said. “There’s no way in hell they can say anything else when you had a fire truck sitting in the gate with no water.”
Ms Williams did not hold back in her criticism of the fire crew.
She described the loss as deeply personal. “The four of us take our retirement money. I am 61 years old. you know what it is to take your money and put it in there, and the labour. We built that from scratch. The other building we renovated.”
Ms Williams said if the building had been engulfed before firefighters arrived, she would have accepted the loss. But that was not the case.
“If they came in and the building was already on fire, I would have understood, and I would say the loss is on us. But the building was never on fire when they first came in. The fire was not even close, and they allowed that to happen. And the firemen apologised.”
She also took issue with a firefighter’s assumption about the structure.
“The pool was there and all they had to do was draught that water from the pool with their pump. He did not even try. He said he thought it was a warehouse. Even if you thought it was a warehouse that was insured, it is not for you to let it burn.” Despite the financial and emotional blow, the siblings are determined to rebuild. The remaining structure on the property survived, and they plan to continue operating from there.
Ms Williams said they will launch a GoFundMe campaign to support the rebuilding effort.
“We will need help,” she said.
“They don’t know how to use equipment. They are not firefighters, they are firemen. They don’t know how to fight no fire,” she said. “Thank God there was no event that day, and no one needed to be evacuated.”
OppOsitiOn leader Michael pintard
ecOnOMic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis.
Family grieves as man gunned down
recounted their final conversations — full of hope and pride — now reduced to devastating memories.
She had taken him Friday to get a health certificate and attend a job interview. While she waited outside, he messaged her: “Mummy, I pass the test and other people ain’t passed. I passed the test.”
Burrows Jr was elated, already talking about his first shift. On Sunday, they had planned to shop for his uniform pants.
“I was calling him all (Sunday) morning and he wouldn’t answer because I does get up and call him every morning and I say he mussy still sleeping. So when he got up, he said ‘mummy what you saying, I was sleeping’ because Mari had him all day,” she said.
“I asked him his pant size and I was going to carry him this morning to get his black and white pants.”
Burrows Jr had spent Sunday playing dominoes with friends outside his Taylor Drive home. The
mood was light; the family had just celebrated his older brother’s wedding the day before. But around 7pm, the night turned deadly.
Two men on a motorbike pulled up and opened fire. Burrows tried to flee but was chased and shot dead behind the house.
His girlfriend and the mother of his two-year-old son, Leniejah Farrington, recalled the moment bullets shattered their peace.
“Harold ran on the side of the house, the right side of the house. This individual run after him and just was shooting him,” she said.
“He’s lying on the floor, he only got shot in the head. You could see the pieces of his brain.”
“I was shouting, screaming his name. I hold his hand to check his pulse to see if he was breathing but he was done dead.” Only minutes earlier, she had ushered their toddler inside, a move that may have saved the boy’s life.
Now, Ms Farrington is left grappling with how to explain to her son that “Daddy” isn’t coming
back. Since the shooting, the child has been calling out for his father, unaware he is gone forever.
“I just want closure. They know what they do. I don’t know what they do it for, but there’s a next fatherless child who have to grow up without a father,” she said.
The family says they do not know why Burrows Jr was targeted. Ms Riley suspects the attack may have been a mistaken identity or simply that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Burrows Jr had faced previous legal trouble, once charged in an armed robbery case that his family insists was a case of mistaken identity. Ms Riley said her son had since been on the right path.
“He has been doing good since then,” she said.
His girlfriend echoed that sentiment, describing him as a kind, hardworking young man who always put his family first.
His murder brought the country’s homicide count to 41 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.
woman ‘aided killers’ in reservist’s murder
law following the June 15 murder of Inspector Williams.
Inspector Williams was fatally shot that day during an attempted armed robbery outside RBC Palmdale, where assailants tried to steal a deposit bag from him.
Williams, who previously lost his eldest son in 2020, is survived by two sons and a daughter. His nephew, Leshardo Stovell, described him as a generous and joyful man,
deeply loved by his family and the wider police force.
The officer’s murder triggered an island-wide manhunt for the suspects. To date, no one has been formally charged with his murder.
Henfield was not required to enter a plea at this stage. She was informed that her case would proceed to the Supreme Court via a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI).
Inspector Deon Barr, serving as the prosecutor,
raised no objection to bail, noting that Henfield had no prior convictions and did not pose a threat to public safety. Her bail was set at $10,000 with one or two sureties. As part of the bail conditions, she will be fitted with an electronic monitoring device and must sign in at the Quakoo Street Police Station every Friday by 6 p.m. Henfield’s VBI is scheduled for service on September 4. Karen Munroe represented the accused.
Woman wins murder appeal - but guilty of lesser charge
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A WOMAN previously convicted in the 2016 murder and armed robbery of ZNS broadcaster Scott Richards has successfully overturned her conviction and now awaits resentencing on a lesser charge.
Raquel Johnson, 38, appeared before Justices Milton Evans, Indra Charles and Gregory Smith in the Court of Appeal last week. Johnson had originally been found guilty alongside coaccused Richard Bevans, 36, for the fatal armed robbery of Richards. In 2023, she was sentenced to 28 years for murder and ten years for armed robbery. Bevans received a 48-year sentence. The convictions stemmed from a 2016 incident in which Richards, 48, was shot multiple times at Bonefish Pond National Park. His body was later discovered by police, who also found his vehicle, condoms and a woman’s skirt near the crime scene.
A jury of nine convicted both Johnson and Bevans in July 2022.
During her appeal, Johnson argued that the trial judge erred by ruling she had a case to answer and by allowing hearsay evidence. She also identified herself as the deceased’s girlfriend. Although Justice Smith dissented, the majority upheld Johnson’s appeal on the grounds that the
trial judge should have allowed the jury to consider alternative verdicts of manslaughter or robbery. The court found that prosecutors had failed to prove Johnson intended to kill Richards or assist the gunman in doing so.
As a result, the Court of Appeal quashed her murder and armed robbery convictions and ordered a new sentence for robbery to be determined on October 7. In her ruling summary, Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson had noted that Johnson maintained her innocence throughout the trial, claiming she was in a sexual relationship with Richards and that they had been intimate at the park when a man dressed in white and armed with a handgun robbed the victim. Johnson said she fled in a state of undress after hearing a gunshot and seeing Richards collapse in a pool of blood. She took a bus home and did not report the incident, later claiming fear for her safety. She was arrested days later. The co-accused gave conflicting accounts of the incident and denied knowing each other prior to their arrests.
During trial testimony, a senior police officer said Johnson had told investigators she received a call from a man named Ramond Gibson while she was with Richards and revealed their location. According to the officer, she admitted
Gibson said he intended to rob Richards. Johnson later claimed the statement was made under duress and that Gibson had threatened her and her children.
Justice Grant-Thompson had characterised the crime as “heinous” and a “coldblooded” act, saying: “Mr Scott Richards was robbed, shot and left to die on the ground, like an animal.” She also criticised the impact on the crime scene, calling it a desecration of a once-picturesque setting.
She acknowledged Johnson’s expression of sympathy to the victim’s family but noted that neither accused showed genuine remorse. While she concluded that Johnson was capable of rehabilitation, she described the crime as “abhorrent”.
Justice Grant-Thompson said Bevans was not of good character, citing his prior armed robbery convictions and an unrelated prison sentence he is currently serving. A probation report also alleged Bevans confessed to murdering a pastor at an ATM, though the judge said this unverified claim had no bearing on the ruling.
Justice Grant-Thompson had said she intended for sentencing to send a clear message that such conduct is “unacceptable” in society. Johnson was represented by Nathan Smith. Terry Archer appeared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Tribune Limited
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
Publisher/Editor 1972-
Published daily Monday to Friday
Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207
TELEPHONES
News & General Information
(242) 502-2350
Advertising Manager (242) 502-2394
Circulation Department (242) 502-2386
Nassau fax (242) 328-2398
Freeport, Grand Bahama (242)-352-6608
Freeport fax (242) 352-9348
WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK
www.tribune242.com
Who’s footing bill for political paraphernalia?
IT IS going to be a long year if the election is not called early if the motorcades and park rallies are already beginning.
There certainly is a jostling for position by would-be candidates –and every notable figure that shows up at an event is stirring commentary as to whether they are there hoping for a position.
Sebas Bastian showed up at the PLP rally last night – with there having already been speculation that he might have been eyeing a run for MP at the next vote.
If we do go to the full term length, then the money spent now on election paraphernalia – shirts, foam hands, signs, caps, and so on – will be long gone by the time to seal the deal with the electorate.
But as we noticed recently, there remain a number of hurdles for both parties to clear before we get to the real countdown.
Most noteworthy of these is the ongoing work of the boundary commission, which could see some reorganisation of constituencies.
Once that is settled, the current constituencies will need to have their candidates in place, as well as a selection process gone through for any new ones.
Still, the feeling is in the air that we are moving in the direction of seeing some candidates being named.
That will let those hopefuls get on the ground in their battlegrounds, and is most especially useful for those who are not a returning MP – be it the challengers to those who are in Parliament, or those who are looking to replace one of the departing MPs, such as Alfred Sears, Basil McIntosh or Sylvanus Petty.
One thing that seems certain is that we will not see any sign of campaign finance laws in place.
In September last year, Prime Minister Philip Davis said that campaign finance was not a priority for his administration – despite the fact that it was a promise in his party’s preelection Blueprint for Change.
At the time, he said: ““I don’t know where this issue of campaign finance came up. But for me, I will not disclose the donors to our campaign unless the donors will be willing to allow me to.”
Reporters reminded him that it was in the Blueprint, to which he claimed his administration was considering it – but that it was not a priority. As he has done on several occasions when asked about things that might bring transparency, he said he was more concerned about alleviating the struggles of Bahamians, as if a government cannot do both things at once.
All the way back in 2020, Mr Davis, then Opposition leader, said his predecessor’s failure to fulfil a campaign finance promises proved his election victory was built on “empty promises and political expediency”.
So who is paying for those shirts and caps? We do not know, there are no rules to require the people to be given such information. What is to stop a foreign billionaire funding a party and buying influence with it?
Nothing in the law books. How do we know who will finally deliver such a change? It is hard to say when a campaign promise is clearly ignored.
So if we spend, spend, spend our way to election day, we will have no idea of who is paying the bill. And on that count, it will always be the Bahamian people that pays the price.
Economic equality still needed
EDITOR, The Tribune.
IN a few short weeks we will be celebrating our 52nd year as an ‘independent’ nation within The British Commonwealth of Nations. Those years have seemed to have swiftly come and gone with no notable changes or reforms within the dominant economic and mercantile classes. This is a major regret, nationally, and we really must resolve to do a better job in the decades ahead.
I am not a racist and I doubt that there is a single racist bone in my entire body. The facts on the ground, historically. however, are what they are. Long before independence and the advent of popular black orientated political factions and parties, The Bahama Islands, as we were then known, was governed by a most ‘white’ oligarchy , known as the United Bahamian Party (UBP). The members and supporters of that entity were mostly merchants (the mercantile industry) or were of one of the more well-known professions such as the law; medicine or accountancy. They were the ones, principally, who developed and owned all of the major subdivisions here in New Providence. It was men like the late great Sir Roland T Symonette (Ridgeland Park East & West); Joseph Baker, who developed Claridge Gardens; Collage Gardens; Sea Breeze and Imperial Park. There were, of course, a handful of “black” Bahamian entrepreneurs who delved in real estate and land development such as my own late father, the Reverend Doctor Ortland H Bodie Sr (Montell Heights and Wilson Tract) and the late Percy Venal Munnings (Sunshine Park; Sunset Park, et al) Others like the late Freddie Munnings (The Cat & The Fiddle); the late Berkley “Peanuts” Taylor (The Drumbeat); Paul Meres (The Paul Meres Theatre), et al, went into the entertainment and hospitality businesses and were largely successful. Gradually, in the 1940s and 1950s there was the emergence of a ‘black’ professional class and a smattering of “black” merchants in the overthe-hill areas such as the late Sir Milo B Butler; the late Charlie Rhodriquez; Charles Dorsette, et al…
It is a great regret, from my view, that few of those ‘black’ owned mercantile business have survived to this day, unlike the vast majority of ‘white’ founded
mercantile businesses ( The Mall-at-Marathon; The Carmichael Road Mall; Kelly’s Lumber Yard; JBR Building & Lumber Supplies; Super Value Food Stores, et al ). Today, the majority of shipping; cargo and commercial docks and ports are owned and operated, in the main, by “white Bahamians”.
Yes, as it relates to the two major ports here in New Providence, “black Bahamians” have been able to buy shares but in the minority. The ‘white’ Bahamians, after decades of independence, still dominate those sectors of the economy. 52 years after independence, I submit that the “black” Bahamians is still where he/she has always been...at the bottom of the economic barrel. What can and will be done by any administration to radically address this disproportionate wealth disparity?
To be honest with you, my fellow Bahamians, I hate to say it But nothing will change in the short run and with this leadership cadre, across the board. It may well take the Second Coming of The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, to experience and see Any meaningful and measurable progress amongst our “black” Bahamians. Land and real estate, from creation, have always been and remain the bedrock of economic advancement and viability. Traditionally the “white” Bahamians and a selected cadre of their “black” generals and supporters have either inherited valuable land; had access to elusive Crown Land and, of course, bootlegging, way back then. Land ownership for the average Bahamian, throughout The Bahamas, save and except for long neglected and virtually abandoned Family Islands like; Andros and MICAL. For the average “black” Bahamian to access Crown Land it is akin to pulling your wisdom tooth/teeth without pain killers. In the 1950s and 1960s, especially during the sway of the oligarchy of the UBP, it is known and suspected that thousands upon thousands of acres of valuable Crown Land, in many cases beachfront, were given away, almost like candy to they and their supporters.
Even to this very day, it is next to impossible for
a “black” Bahamians to obtain the smallest piece of Crown Land. No land, no economic empowerment. What are the options for economic advancement by the average “black” Bahamians, especially in New Providence or over in Grand Bahama? Not many. One of them tends to seek and obtain “jobs” within the rapidly disappearing banking industry or join up with a hotel/resort property as a mid-level manager/ supervisor. They do not own any economic interests in such entities.
They work to retirement; receive a gratuity and maybe a pen set after giving 30-40 years of service. They then retire depending on a relatively mundane NIB pension and whatever minuscule savings they were able to amass. They then proceed to live until they die after a miserable life. There is, often, No Inheritance for their children and survivors, unlike in most cases involving “white” Bahamians. So, what is the average ‘black Bahamian in the two or three major islands obliged to do?
Open a church; a liquor store; a web shop or engage in the sale of illegal substances. That, sadly, is the extent of his/her entrepreneurial opportunities. The funds derived therefrom, in most cases, will Never be sufficient for the purchase of a modest home or even to expand into other business ventures. What is so glaring, however, is that you will Never see a church; a liquor store or a web shop on the Easter Road or other enclaves. They abound, however, in the inner city without , seemingly, restrictions. The vast majority of gaming patrons are “black” Bahamians. Likewise, the vast majority of alcoholics on the streets and up at Sandilands are “black” Bahamians. Check out the so-called Prison Bus in the mornings and afternoons. The bulk of the passengers are black looking, even if some of them might be Bahamian. Seldom, if ever, would one normally see a “white” Bahamian on the Prison Bus… The Bahamian economy is fueled and driven, in my view, by the “white” Bahamian. Economic development and race, unfortunately, go hand and hand in our wonderful nation.
ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, June 23, 2025.
Thankful for Cuban eye doctors
EDITOR, The Tribune.
I AM very pleased to know that some public patients on the long PMH waitlist have had their eye surgery completed, for which they are truly grateful.
Thank you to the Minister of Health who has made a definitive statement concerning the correction of payment protocols for Cuban eye doctors and other medical personnel. Hopefully, this situation will be mutually resolved in short order, and the other waitlisted patients can be scheduled for their eye surgeries.
PAM BuRNSIDE New Providence June 23, 2025
Picture of the day
Photo: David Watson
Senior WSC official refutes claims
she showed bias during internal audit
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A SENIOR Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) official testified yesterday that she remained neutral while conducting an internal audit tied to alleged corruption at the WSC, refuting claims from the defence that she had shown bias.
Dian Saunders-Adderley, WSC’s assistant general manager, made the assertion during
cross-examination by defence attorney Damian Gomez KC.
Mr Gomez alleged that Mrs Adderley lacked neutrality when she composed her audit notes, a claim she firmly denied. She also rejected suggestions that she violated the ICC charter.
Mrs Adderley said she did not conduct the audit independently, emphasising that she had received departmental authorisation.
Mr Gomez further claimed that Anthony
Bostwick had been investigated by the ICC and that the investigation was later dropped. In response, Mrs Adderley said she was unaware of any such hearing but confirmed that Bostwick had been identified by a whistleblower. She noted that the ICC may interview people not employed by the WSC and added that the commission does not have the authority to compel contractors to cooperate with investigations.
When questioned by Mr
17-year-old accused of murder granted $15,000 bail
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A SUPREME Court judge has granted $15,000 bail to a juvenile accused of murder, requiring him to wear an electronic monitoring device.
Justice Andrew Forbes stipulated that the 17-yearold must observe a curfew from 10pm to 5am and report to the Central Police Station in Freeport, where he resides, every Monday and Friday by 7pm. The minor is not allowed to leave Grand Bahama without prior court approval. Non-compliance may result in bail revocation.
He was previously arraigned and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services on May 27 before Magistrate Uel Johnson.
The teen claims innocence and has no history of breaching bail conditions.
He assured the court that he did not intend to abscond or interfere with witnesses and was willing to comply with all court-imposed conditions.
The Crown opposed bail, citing an affidavit from Corporal Harris Cash, who outlined what he described as strong evidence. This included the teen’s alleged admission to stabbing the deceased and a corroborating statement from his cousin. The prosecution argued that the strength of this evidence rendered the minor unfit for bail.
Ernie Wallace, the teen’s attorney, argued that under the Bahamian constitution, every accused person
is presumed innocent until proven guilty or until a plea is entered. He said the key consideration in granting bail is whether the accused will appear for trial and whether their release would pose a risk to the public interest.
Acknowledging the gravity of the charge, Mr Wallace maintained that this alone is insufficient grounds to deny bail. He emphasised that his client had no previous bail infractions, no evidence suggested he would interfere with witnesses, and that the teen intends to claim selfdefence at trial.
Sean Norvell-Smith, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, countered that while ensuring the accused’s appearance at trial is paramount, the risk of witness interference must also be weighed.
He noted that the accused was already on bail for another serious offence at the time of the alleged murder, indicating a risk of reoffending.
Justice Forbes concluded that the DPP presented no evidence suggesting the minor would fail to appear for trial. The affidavit contained no indication that the applicant might abscond.
The judge pointed out that the prosecution’s argument focused instead on public safety due to the seriousness of the offence.
He referenced precedents where the right to bail applied, affirming that an accused remains presumed innocent and entitled to bail unless the public interest, such as a flight risk, witness interference, or the likelihood of further offences,
justifies detention.
Justice Forbes stressed that the seriousness of the offence, while relevant, is not a sufficient standalone reason to deny bail. He also highlighted that self-defence is an issue to be determined by a jury at trial.
Justice Forbes criticised the handling of the juvenile’s detention, saying:
“The court notes that the police and the magistrate failed to act in the best interest of the applicant and failed to consider the provisions of the Child Protection Act. Chapter 132 of the Statute Laws of the Bahamas.”
He referenced another case in which a 15-year-old was remanded to the adult facility at Fox Hill Prison via a Voluntary Bill of Indictment, potentially violating rights under the Child Protection Act and the Child Rights Convention.
While acknowledging that the prior case involved armed robbery and the current one involved murder, Justice Forbes noted that under Section 112(1)(c) (i) of the Child Protection Act, police and magistrates cannot release juveniles on bail in homicide cases. Therefore, they were not at fault for initially detaining the applicant.
However, authorities failed to assess appropriate placement for the juvenile despite clear legal provisions on where and how minors should be detained.
Bail was granted with one or two sureties. The judge reiterated that the juvenile must not interfere, directly or indirectly, with prosecution witnesses during the ongoing case.
Man accused of Molesting 13-year-old girl
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 45-yEAR-OLD man was granted bail yesterday after being accused of molesting a 13-year-old girl earlier this month.
Gomez, Mrs SaundersAdderley reiterated that she investigated Oak Bay Limited, Elite Maintenance, and Adam’s Landscaping, three companies that were awarded landscaping contracts by WSC. However, she clarified that she did not interrogate the vendors or make any formal accusations.
tenure.
The trial is set to begin on July 24.
Inspector S Coakley is prosecuting.
Fanel St Louis was arraigned on a charge of indecent assault before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans. He allegedly inappropriately touched the teenager on June 15 in New Providence. St Louis pleaded not guilty and was granted $7,000 bail with one or two sureties. He must sign in at the Nassau Street Police Station every Sunday by 7pm. He will be fitted with a monitoring device and is ordered to stay at least 300 feet away from the complainant or risk revocation of his bail.
Man charged with possession of over 5o
iM
ages of child pornography on his phone
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of possessing over 50 images of child pornography on his cellphone.
Travis Russell, 28, was arraigned on three counts of possession of child pornography before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans. Prosecutors allege that Russell had 50 nude images and four videos of minors engaged in sexual acts stored in the Telegram and photo gallery apps on his iPhone 16 Pro Max between January 1, 2023, and June 22, 2025. The defendant was not required to enter a plea. The matter will proceed to the Supreme Court via a
Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI). Russell was granted $9,000 bail with one or two sureties. He must sign in at the Grove Police Station on the last Sunday of every month.
His VBI is scheduled for potential service on September 15.
Inspector S Coakley is prosecuting, and David Cash represents the accused.
Adrian Gibson, former executive chairman of the WSC, has been on trial since November 2023 alongside Donaldson Jr, former General Manager, as well as Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson, and Jerome Missick. The charges pertain to contracts awarded during Gibson’s
The defence team includes Mr Gomez, Murrio Ducille KC, Geoffrey Farquharson, Raphael Moxey, Ian Cargill, Ryan Eve, and Bryan Bastian. Representing the Crown are Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean, and Rashied Edgecombe.
Bite the bullet - get rid of the Privy Council?
‘What is the “worst of the worst?” It is an illusion; it strips away any authority a sitting judge should have, as they are second-guessed.’
In the past, a murder was a rare and solemn event, putting the country in shock and sparking conversations that reverberated through the town for months, if not years.
The country mourned, and a sense of stillness prevailed. Similarly, when an execution took place, the nation experienced a mix of sadness and relief, a collective understanding that justice was served. But it took a long while for the shock to wear off.
FACING REALITY
There have been many arguments from those who oppose, one of which is that we execute the wrong person due to flawed thinking. Is this the reason why there is an apparent reluctance for capital punishment? Is the legal fraternity lobbying against it for selfish reasons? What happens when there is raw footage, eyewitness accounts, camera
By Ivo I ne Ingraham
footage, and corroborating evidence? What more is needed to be sure?
But let us delve a little further; we have had multiple murders and many done by the same people who have been given the most incredible opportunity to clear themselves; they get bail over and over, and no attention is paid to the victim’s family.
The system fails because the witnesses have gone underground for fear of their lives. The only thing that we do is serve the families of the victims with our ‘thoughts and prayers’, and then they are forgotten.
Many would argue that the laws are on books, but this is a clear sign that our legal system is in desperate need of reform.
Does anyone feel for the family? Does anyone care? These questions are expected because there’s been no indication that the killers will receive their just reward for taking an innocent life or, in many cases, lives.
People are killed with the excuse that it was a mistaken identity. Some died for no reason, and most were killed just because. Drive-by killings, like in a movie, but the more they happen, the less the outcry; after a few days, we go back to our everyday lives. “Oh Lord, how long, Oh Lord”.
We have seen mothers killed holding babies, children watching their fathers killed and people killed for just sitting outside their homes catching some cool breeze; where else should they be? Safety is not just an illusion; the fear is profound. We are becoming numb, and that is scary.
The poor judges go through the motion, knowing that there will be no verdict that suits the crime. The rigour of the trial hoodwinks these people, but the killer knows that he will either get off with some technicality or serve a few years with his buddies, a vacation to some.
But what’s the real question: is there anywhere safe for us to go or be anymore? Do the people who have private security or live in gated communities feel that way, too? Why are we at this point? Is it the point of no return just because we have no say in our independent country?
I have served all of these scenarios because I am extremely confused about whether any of these reasons are essential; people’s lives must be worth something.
The Bahamas’ claim to independence is one of the country’s biggest jokes. In a few weeks, we will be celebrating our 52nd anniversary, and it should be a joyous occasion for us. The raw truth, however, is that we certainly do not have the luxury of determining our fate. Independence is a word, not the action of
our supposedly self-determining state. Can we do anything without London’s permission?
If we are going to take credit for “calling our shots”, then we could and should have the testicular fortitude to do away with the Privy Council. Is it because lawyers benefit most from representing clients with hefty fees?
What’s even more alarming is our collective reluctance to initiate a nationwide dialogue on this issue. It’s astonishing to think that three men from a distant land care enough about The Bahamas to discuss relinquishing their service. They don’t live here and can’t feel the fear a wife experiences when her lawabiding husband is gunned down in broad daylight. It’s like scenes from a Hollywood movie unfolding in our town. What is the “worst of the worst?” It is an illusion; it strips away any authority a sitting judge should have, as they are second-guessed. It is control of our affairs from a distance. It suggests that we lack the intelligence or temperament to reach a sensible conclusion after the facts are presented. It is an insult, and we, like puppets, cannot gather enough courage to challenge that asinine idea. After all of these years, we’re still singing “God save our gracious queen” in our minds, clamouring to be loyal subjects. no wonder our people have an identity problem. The fear of murder happening to any of us at any time is real. So, the thought of a referendum not going in favour of people being against capital punishment is a moot point. We look for every possible reason why it should not happen. More than 75 percent of the Bahamian population would say yes to end the interference by the Privy Council and for us to determine our fate.
Since there is a serious appetite among the majority of Bahamians for those suffering the consequences of their actions,
let us stop pussyfooting around with this. The fact that laws are on the books is only a sham. The worst of the worst is a handcuff; it ensures that nothing will happen.
So there we have it; send it to the people, no delays, and goodbye to the Privy Council. We have shown long enough that we cannot handle our affairs, and we abdicate our responsibilities to the men sipping tea. What is it going to take for us to get serious? Who has to die before we wake up from this deathly sleep? Why do we even need to have this conversation if we’re looking out for everyone’s best interests?
When will we face reality? The killers are brazen. They do so in broad daylight, without a mask and pounce on anyone. They are cold and callous, knowing that the law is paralysed to do anything. They commit their crime, spend a holiday, and then repeat the act. Where is the discouragement?
Where is the deterrent?
Our ladies, daughters, and sons, of course, are depending on us to provide a safe place for them to thrive and raise their families in the future. Are we helping them, or have they given up, given the current climate?
There’s no time for political correctness. Our country is in a vulnerable state, and the need for remedies is long overdue. It’s time to act, not pontificate, not wring our hands, but to take decisive steps forward.
It is time for an immediate national dialogue about the remedies that would help all of us feel safer. We all love this country, and we want the best for it. There is no need to talk behind the scenes and wait for someone to do it; that is the cowardly approach, and we have had enough of that already. That is how we have reached this point because if it did not affect all families, I would sit by and watch.
God forbid, but your son or innocent daughter could be the following statistic.
Could Trump’s intervention in Iran stop its nuclear weapons?
With the US launching airstrikes against iran over the weekend, the Middle East is at a delicate and dangerous point as tensions reach a new peak. Earlier, President trump had stated publicly that he would take a decision about bombing iran’s nuclear sites in two weeks’ time. in reality, he acted in two days.
those returning home late from Saturday evening social events may have tuned in to tV coverage of trump announcing the US precision bombing attacks on iran’s nuclear facilities that had just taken place. he said that the strikes on three different sites, which had been demolished or severely damaged, had been a “spectacular success”. they included an attack, using a powerful socalled bunker-buster bomb on the deep underground Fordo uranium enrichment plant which, reportedly, is seen as the crown jewel of iran’s nuclear programme.
Others counsel caution in waiting to see to what extent iran’s nuclear threat has been successfully neutralised so that this American bombing can remain a oneoff. trump indicated, that his initial assessment was that the successful action could mark the end of the current conflict and open the door to further diplomatic talks and a lasting negotiated peace. that said, he warned that any retaliatory action on, for example, US bases in the region would be met with an overwhelming American military response and start a more deadly phase of continuing war.
As people will be aware from extensive media coverage, recently israel has been mounting its own targeted airstrikes on iran – within
The Peter Young column
its more limited bombing capacity than the US - on these nuclear sites and the iranian military, and these have inflicted widespread damage including killing some of its commanders and nuclear scientists. For its part, iran has been responding with its own airstrikes on targets within israel. Clearly, people in the region and in the wider world now await a reaction from iran to the US airstrikes but its foreign minister has already condemned the US action, commenting that, by attacking the country’s peaceful nuclear installations, the US has violated the United Nations Charter, international law and the nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty. Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General has warned of a ‘spiral of chaos’, particularly if there is retaliatory action by iran or its proxies. As well as trump’s warning of overwhelming US force if iran attacks American bases locally, there is the danger of the houthi rebels in Yemen
increasing their attacks against US and other foreign shipping in the Red Sea.
What is now needed is rapid de-escalation before the situation becomes further out of control and a wider war is precipitated. the key to the issue is, of course, whether iran’s nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes. Despite denials by the iranians who insist that that is the case, israel and the West maintain that iran is enriching uranium to the extent needed to produce a nuclear weapon; and they and others have made it clear that iran must never be allowed to do this.
Unsurprisingly, the israeli leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, has praised the American airstrikes in triumphant tones. he has spent much of his political
Assisted dying to become legal in UK
iN Britain, both assisted suicide and euthanasia are illegal. t he former is a criminal offence while euthanasia, when a healthcare professional administers a lethal injection, is considered murder or manslaughter. i n the UK, under current legislation, anyone who helps a terminally ill person to end their life can face a police investigation and prosecution.
t here are a number of reasons for the nation’s attitude and position, under the law, to euthanasia. i t is based on the sanctity of human life and the generally accepted principle that it is wrong to end the lives of innocent human beings. t here is also the danger of devaluing people’s lives that can lead to physicians ignoring other methods of relieving pain and suffering as well as the argument that, if euthanasia were allowed, vulnerable people might be put under pressure to end their lives when they did not really want to do so. t his includes the persuasion or coercion of people to take such action because others want their money and are looking at ways of securing immediate access to it, not least family members who expect to inherit substantial sums under a person’s Will.
t hese issues are in the news in the UK at the moment because last week the British Parliament narrowly voted - after many hours of emotional debate including a number of stories of personal experiences - in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill people. i t was first debated, and approved in principle, in the h ouse of Commons in November last year. Before becoming law, the bill will now undergo months of scrutiny in the h ouse Lords, which may put forward amendments, though generally this unelected upper legislative chamber is reluctant
to change substantially or block legislation of this sort that has been passed by elected members of the h ouse of Commons. t his is a private member’s bill rather than an official piece of legislation proposed by the government itself. t he h ouse of Commons last voted on the issue in 2015 when the idea of legalised assisted dying was rejected, before agreeing to it in principle last November.
Since the bill is now subject to further scrutiny in the upper chamber, minor changes of detail might be made that will doubtless be worth discussing at a later point. h owever, it should be recorded now that it is called officially the terminally i ll Adults (End of Life) Bill. Formally, it gives mentally competent individuals over 18 years old, who are terminally ill with six months or less to live, the right to choose to end their lives with medical assistance.
t hus, such people, subject to safeguards and protections, can request and be provided with assistance to end their lives. But they must show mental capacity to make an informed decision free from coercion. t he bill does not apply to Scotland of Northern i reland which are holding their own votes on the issue. i t is important to note that patients will have to be capable of taking fatal drugs themselves after receiving a green light from doctors and a panel including a social worker, a senior legal figure and a psychiatrist. t his is a landmark development of social reform in Britain’s history – a huge moment for the nation that many say is long overdue. i t is also a huge moment for English politics, with some people arguing that there ought to have been a proper official sampling of public opinion or even a referendum on such an important matter. t hat said, according to reports, opinion
polls show that a majority of UK citizens support assisted dying and about three-quarters of the population favour changing the law.
i have drawn attention to all this today in case it might of assistance to others in formulating views about such an important issue.
career condemning the threat of iran as the world’s most dangerous sponsor of international terrorism - including financing hezbollah in Lebanon and hamas in Gaza – and which has consistently called for the destruction of israel and its people.
Earlier reports of israel’s recent bombing attacks on iran included talk of regime change. But it is noteworthy
that this seems to have been dropped more recently. US Defense Secretary Pete hegseth said explicitly at Sunday morning’s Pentagon press briefing that the operation against iran on Saturday was not about overthrowing the government and installing a new one. its objective was to ensure that iran could not develop a nuclear weapon. the US government has
made it clear that it has no interest right now in bringing down the government in tehran; and it does not want prolonged direct involvement in the country. the whole notion of one country seeking to bring about political and institutional change in another one -- often by force -- is a highly charged issue not for debate today. it is well known that the US has a chequered history in interfering in the affairs of other countries around the world. there are many who would like to see the back of the theocratic regime in iran. But it is clear that the priority for policymakers in Washington, most importantly the president himself, is to see an end to the nuclear weapons threat from iran.
trump has taken a huge gamble in putting the US at the heart of the israel-iran conflict. the airstrikes at the weekend were an aggressive move for a president who has boasted of not starting any new wars during his first term and who was elected this time on a promise on the campaign trail to keep out of foreign conflicts and be a peacemaker. So it is likely that some of his MAGA supporters will not like this new potentially dangerous involvement in the Middle East.
BRITAIN’S ANNUAL TROOPING THE COLOUR
AMiDSt the customary pomp, pageantry and display of military precision, the annual trooping the Colour ceremony on horse Guards Parade earlier this month to mark King Charles iii’s official birthday was as impressive as ever. As Colonel in Chief of the Coldstream Guards, the King not only inspected the regiment on parade but also presented new “colours” to it. horse Guards Parade in central London is a majestic ceremonial parade ground surrounded by grand architecture. it is a fine setting for trooping the Colour and other important events.
After the parade the Royal Family returns to Buckingham Palace to join the huge crowds and watch the traditional RAF
fly-past of the spectacular Red Arrows together with an array of vintage military aircraft. Against the backdrop of the ill health of the King and Princess of Wales, the press has been saying that this year’s ceremony was particularly important for the Royal Family as King Charles needed to show yet again his devotion to duty and strength and resilience. But such a consideration applies all the time as the public constantly seeks and receives reassurance about his health while his commitment is taken for granted. to my eye, the whole event this year seemed more relaxed than has sometimes been the case in the past, but perhaps that was because of the wall-to-wall
sunshine throughout the day as the rain stayed away.
As i have written before, people wonder why the King’s birthday is celebrated in June when he was born in November. the simple answer is that, going back to the middle of the 18th century, it was considered better to have this sort of parade to observe the monarch’s birthday officially in June when the weather was likely to be good rather than on the individual’s actual birthday if that happened to be during the winter when conditions would hardly be suitable.
So, another splendid ceremonial event in Britain which always shows the country at its best. May this wonderful tradition long continue.
This satellite picture by Planet Labs PBC shows Iran’s underground nuclear enrichment site at Fordo following US airstrikes targeting the facility, on Sunday.
Photo: Planet Labs PBC/AP
IRAN LAUNCHES ATTACK ON US MILITARY BASE IN QATAR - COULD THIS BE WAR?
By Associated Press
IRAN launched a limited missile attack Monday on a US military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites but indicating it was prepared to step back from escalating tensions in the volatile region.
There were no US casualties, President Donald Trump said, as he dismissed the attack as a “very weak response” and said the US was warned by Iran in advance.
“Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Qatar condemned the attack on Al Udeid Air Base attack, but said it successfully intercepted the short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.
Iran said the volley matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated areas.
Those comments, made immediately after the attack, suggested Iran wanted to de-escalate with the United States, something Trump himself said after the strikes early Sunday on Iran.
Trump said that Iran might be able to “now proceed to peace and harmony” and said he would encourage Israel to do the same.
However, Israel’s war on Iran continued, with the Israeli military expanding its campaign Monday to target sites symbolic for the country’s theocracy.
Iran announced the attack on state television as martial music played. A caption on screen called it “a mighty and successful response” to “America’s aggression.”
Iraqis said they were informed by US officials that missiles were launched toward the Ain al-Assad base housing US troops in western Iraq, but the missiles never arrived, an Iraqi security official who was not authorized to comment publicly told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
A US military official said there was no confirmed attack on the base in Iraq. He also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment.
Iran fired 19 missiles at the base in Qatar, and one impacted the facility but caused no casualties, a Qatari military officer said late Monday.
Maj. Gen. Shayeq Al Hajri told reporters that seven missiles were fired from Iran and all were intercepted over the water between the two countries by Qatari air defences. Iran then fired 12 more missiles and 11 were intercepted over Qatari territory, but one hit the US base, Al Hajri said. It was not immediately clear how much damage was caused by the missile.
The number of missiles differed from a figure given by Trump, who said 14 missiles were fired, 13 were knocked down and one was “set free” because it posed no threat.
The Al Udeid base is also home to the Combined Air Operations Center, which provides command and control of air power across the region, as well as the 379th
Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest such wing in the world.
Just before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”
The retaliation came a day after the US launched
a surprise attack Sunday morning on three of Iran’s nuclear sites.
Earlier in the day, Israel struck the gate of a Tehran prison notorious for holding political activists and hitting the headquarters of the military force that suppressed recent protests. As plumes of thick smoke rose over Tehran, Israel was attacked with yet another barrage of Iranian missiles and drones. The persistent fire has become a reality for civilians in both countries since Israel started the war to target Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.
On the 11th day of the conflict, Israel said it attacked “regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran,” but Israeli officials insisted they did not seek the overthrow of Iran’s government, their archenemy since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The Israeli military warned Iranians that it would continue to attack military sites around Tehran over “the coming days” as its focus has shifted to symbolic targets as well. The military issued the warning on the social platform X, though Iranians are struggling to access the outside world as an internet shutdown has crippled the country.
The latest strikes unfolded only hours after Trump openly raised the possibility himself after just a day earlier inserting America into the war with its unprecedented stealth-bomber strike on three Iranian nuclear sites.
“If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” he asked on his Truth Social website.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later described Trump as “simply raising a question.” However, suggestions of overthrowing the Iranian government drew new anger from Tehran, which insists it will not negotiate at this time.
In the Tehran strikes, Israel blew open a gate at Evin prison. Iranian state television shared black-andwhite surveillance footage of the strike at the facility known for holding dual nationals and Westerners often used by Iran as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.
Evin also has specialized units for political prisoners run by the paramilitary, all-volunteer Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The facility is the target of both US and European Union sanctions.
There were no immediate reports of casualties in Iran or significant damage, though the semiofficial Tasnim news agency said there had been a power cut reported outside of Tehran following the Israeli strikes.
Iranian state television also aired footage it described as being shot inside Evin, with prisoners under control inside the facility. However, the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran expressed worry about the condition of prisoners there.
“Many families of current detainees have expressed deep concern about the safety and condition of their loved ones held inside the prison,” it said.
Earlier Monday, Iranian Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief of joint staff of armed forces, warned Washington that its strikes had given Iranian forces a “free hand “ to “act against US interests and its army.”
Tens of thousands of American troops are based in the Middle East.
The Israeli military also confirmed it struck roads around Iran’s Fordo enrichment facility to obstruct access to the site. The underground site was one of those hit in Sunday’s attack by the United States on three nuclear facilities. The Israeli military did not elaborate.
“The Iranian dictator will be punished with full force for attacking the Israeli home front,” Israel’s Defense Ministry said.
According to an Israeli official familiar with the government’s strategy, Israel is targeting these sites to put pressure on the Iranian administration but is not actively seeking to topple it. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal government deliberations.
In Vienna, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said he expected there to be heavy damage at the Fordo facility following Sunday’s US airstrike there with sophisticated bunkerbuster bombs.
With the strikes Sunday on Iranian nuclear sites, the United States inserted itself into Israel’s war, prompting fears of a wider regional conflict. Iran said the US had crossed “a very big red line” with its risky gambit to strike the three sites with missiles and 30,000-pound bunkerbuster bombs.
Several Iranian officials, including Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, have claimed Iran removed nuclear material from targeted sites ahead of time.
Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the agency’s board of governors Monday that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed him on June 13 that Iran would “adopt special measures to protect nuclear equipment and materials.”
“I indicated that any transfer of nuclear material from a safeguarded facility to another location in Iran must be declared,” Grossi said, without saying whether Iran had responded.
In thIs photo released on Monday, by Iranian army press service, Iran’s army commander-in-chief Gen. Amir Hatami, center, accompanied by high ranked army commanders, speaks in a video call with top commanders of the army, in Zolfaghar central headquarters, Iran, as portraits of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, left, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hang on the wall.
Photo: Iranian Army press service/AP
MOYSC rOll S Out exCiting gB SuMMer Ca Mp S
for Grand Bahama youth.
GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas – With schools officially out for summer, parents across Grand Bahama are asking the big question: “Where will our children spend their time during the break?”
The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC) in Grand Bahama has the answer -- and it’s one filled with energy, opportunity, and enrichment. On Friday, June 20, Deputy Director of Sports and Officer in Charge of MOYSC Grand Bahama, Mr. Norris Bain, announced the launch of the highly anticipated 2025 National Summer Camp Programme, set to begin shortly across the island.
This year’s programme is packed with fresh offerings and first-time initiatives. According to Bain, one of the standout changes is that all instructors, particularly in the sports disciplines, will be locally certified by the end
launCH OF ne W Ba H a M a S aC a DeMY OF SCienCeS
A NeW chapter in Bahamian science has begun with the launch of the Bahamas Academy of Sciences (BAS), a non-profit, merit-based organisation founded by six leading Bahamian scientists. Focused on advancing research, innovation, and evidence-based policy, the academy aims to elevate the role of science in national development.
The founding members bring expertise in fields such as marine and terrestrial science, climate change, mathematics, and food security. Together, they have created a platform that will support local research, guide policy decisions, nurture young scientists, strengthen global competitiveness, and celebrate Bahamian scientific excellence.
Dr Krista Sherman, president of BAS and director of Fisheries Research at the Perry Institute for Marine Science, called science “a global endeavour” that offers vital solutions to societal challenges. She said the academy will play a key role in addressing urgent issues and building a resilient, knowledge-based future for The Bahamas.
Vice president Dr Adelle Thomas, a human geographer and vice chair of the IPCC Working Group II, brings global climate expertise to the leadership team. Other executives include Dr Nicholas Higgs, Dr Charlotte Dunn,
Dr Diane Claridge, and Dr Nicola Smith — all internationally recognised for their contributions to environmental science and research.
The academy comprises 12 members and five contributors actively working in areas like biodiversity, pollution, climate resilience, and sustainable development. Support for the BAS came from across sectors. Dr Ancilleno Davis of UB North described the academy as a platform to empower the next generation of scientists. Veteran conservationist eleanor Phillips called its creation a pivotal moment, saying it brings credibility and structure to science-driven decision-making in The Bahamas. Falon Cartwright of the Bahamas National Trust also praised the academy’s formation, noting it builds on years of important scientific work already in progress.
Organisations present at the launch included the Bahamas National Trust, Perry Institute for Marine Science, The Nature Conservancy, Cape eleuthera Institute, and the University of The Bahamas.
With a strong foundation and bold vision, the Bahamas Academy of Sciences is set to shape the future of science, education, and policy in The Bahamas. For more information, visit www.bahamasacademysciences.org.
of the four-to-six-week camps -- raising the bar for both camp standards and future employment prospects. “We are excited not just about the fun and engagement, but about real certification and personal development,” Bain said during the press briefing.
The camps -- completely free of charge -- are open to children ages 5 to 17 and will span a variety of locations. Activities include flag football, softball, track and field, basketball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and even Junkanoo.
A major highlight is the new ‘I Matter’ Summer Camp at Walter Parker Primary School. Tailored for students in grades 1 through 6, this innovative programme will focus on self-worth and expression through karate, sports, fine arts, music, and more. It’s a creative and purposeful space where young minds can grow in
confidence and character.
Additionally, the Department of Sports has partnered with the YMCA to offer lifeguard certification to approximately 15 youth participants -- another first that adds long-term value to summer fun.
In total, 10 summer camps will be held across the island, with all sessions starting daily at 9:00 a.m.
Corporate partnerships and placement opportunities also form part of the ministry’s wider youth empowerment strategy. Registration is now open. Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture at (242) 351-1026 for more information and to secure a space. With a strong focus on discipline, development and enjoyment, this summer promises to be one of the most enriching yet for the young people of Grand Bahama.
services they deserve,” said Ms Kooskalis.
MORe than 200 guests gathered at Liberty Overlook, the US Ambassador’s residence, for Behind the Mask, Blairwood Academy’s gala event focused on autism awareness and inclusion.
Blairwood Academy, one of The Bahamas’ longestserving schools for children on the autism spectrum, cohosted the event to highlight the importance of creating opportunities for special
needs students beyond the classroom. The evening showcased students’ talents through music, dance, and service roles, demonstrating their strengths and potential.
Principal Kim Kooskalis emphasised the growing need for support of children on the spectrum as the number of those diagnosed worldwide continues to increase.
“When Blairwood
Academy opened its doors more than 35 years ago, autism was rare and just one of many conditions from mild dyslexia to Down’s Syndrome that the campus served. Today, one in 31 students in the US is diagnosed on the spectrum and in The Bahamas, with similar numbers, the need to serve those students so great that it takes greater understanding and huge initiatives to help provide
For US Charge’ d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish, the event had a special meaning. Her son, Calvin, is on the spectrum and her love for him and pride shone when she spoke: everyone needs a Calvin in their lives.”
The audience grew quiet as she described a young man whose extraordinary memory and analytical mind far outweighed any awkward social skills but mostly of a child who taught everyone around him what it meant to truly love.
Deputy Director of Sports Norris Bain and team, along with Ministry partners, announces the launch of the 2025 National Summer Camp Programme during a press conference on Friday, June 20, highlighting new certification opportunities, and expanded camp offerings