COP CHARGED 9 YEARS AFTER TRAFFIC DEATH
‘All I want is justice for Phillip’,
says mother of victim
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
MORE than nine years after a 21-year-old was struck and killed on Tonique Williams Darling Highway, a police corporal has been charged in the case his parents refused to give up on.
Corporal 3847 Samuel Rolle, 41, was granted $8,500 bail yesterday after being charged with killing Phillip Daniel Clare Jr in
the course of dangerous driving, a development that came nearly two years after a Coroner’s Court inquest returned a verdict of gross negligence manslaughter in the case.
“All I want is justice for Phillip,” Ms Reckley has always said.
Prosecutors allege Rolle, while of duty and driving a 2008 Suzuki Swift at a dangerously fast speed, struck Clare as he tried to cross
CHARGED - SEE PAGE THREE
Govt plans visa exemption for foreign business visitors doing short-term work
By Rashad Rolle
and Lynaire Munnings Tribune
Reporters
THE Davis administration is moving to ease immigration rules for select foreign business visitors, with legislation creating a Trusted Traveller Programme that would
allow some people to enter The Bahamas for up to three days without a work visa or short-term work visa.
Attorney General Wayne Munroe outlined the proposal yesterday in remarks distributed with his Senate
Father killed in Andros crash during annual family reunion
BPL BLAMES PEAK DEMAND FOR NEW PROVIDENCE CUTS
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
WIDESPREAD power outages swept across New Providence on Tuesday night after Bahamas Power and Light blamed overloaded circuits caused by “peak system demand.”
BPL said customers
in Bamboo Boulevard, Pinewood, Churchill Subdivision, Windsor Field, Harbourside West and the Girl Guides area, including the newly added Goldwynn Condominiums complex, lost power between 9pm Tuesday and the early morning hours of yesterday.
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
A FAMILY’S annual trip to Andros ended in tragedy on Tuesday when Burdette Cartwright, the relative who helped organise the reunion for decades, was killed in a traffic collision as his 16-year-old son tried to save him with CPR. Cartwright, 64, died after the vehicle he was driving collided with a truck at the intersection of Staniard Creek and Queen’s Highway shortly after 1pm.
BURDETTE CARTWRIGHT
PHILLIP CLARE JR
Bahamian teen named Beyoncé to sing at US Embassy event
BEYONCÉ Knowles will sing the Bahamian national anthem at American Independence Day celebrations in Nassau on Friday – but not the multifaceted American singer, songwriter and actress.
New Providence’s own Beyoncé Knowles, who is just 15, will perform at the US Embassy to mark the beginning of Independence Day celebrations, which will include a military fyover, freworks over Shirley Street and a public exhibit
at Nassau Cruise Port.
The embassy said its Independence Day reception will launch Freedom 250 Week, commemorating 250 years of American independence and the relationship between the United States and The Bahamas.
The reception, themed “American Icons,” will be held Friday evening on the grounds of the embassy. The event will feature Junkanoo recreations of American landmarks, including the
Hollywood Sign and Washington Monument. US Ambassador Herschel Walker, Prime Minister Philip Davis and Governor General Dame Cynthia Pratt are expected to give remarks. Pastor Mario Moxey, president of the Bahamas Christian Council, will deliver the invocation. The US national anthem will be performed by Danielle Dorsett of the band Shaad Collie & The VIP’s. The formal programme will be livestreamed on the
embassy’s Facebook page.
The Bahamas Beyoncé is an emerging singer whose passion for music began at the age of four when she performed in a school talent show, launching her singing journey.
Since then, she has continued to develop her gift and has showcased her talent in both Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta, gaining international exposure.
Driven by a dream of becoming, like her nameske, a world-renowned singer, she remains committed to excellence in her craft.
The embassy said the evening will also highlight historical links between The Bahamas and the United States through a teaser for the upcoming documentary Bringing Her Home: The Story of Sloop John B, which examines the Bahamian origins of the Beach Boys hit.
Producers David House and Edgar Seligman are expected to make a presentation, and guests will later hear a preview of a new Bahamian recording of the song.
Two parts of the celebration will be visible to the public.
At about 7pm, four US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft from VMFA-542, based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, are expected to conduct a formation fyover of New Providence.
The planes are expected to circle the island twice, before and after fying over the embassy, and should be visible from beaches and open spaces.
The embassy said the fyover will honour 250 years of American independence, decades of military cooperation between the United States and The Bahamas and the countries’ shared security commitments.
At about 9.55pm, freworks will be launched over the embassy and should be visible from the
surrounding Shirley Street area. Freedom 250 Week will run through July 5. Activities will include the Global Illumination Initiative, which will light
Nassau’s skyline and harbour in red, white and blue, and the Founders Museum exhibit at Nassau Cruise Port, which will be open to the public from June 29 to July 5.
BAHAMIAN SINGER BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
BAHAMIAN SINGER BEYONCÉ KNOWLES
Officer charged in 2017 death of 21-year-old
CHARGED from page one
Tonique Williams Darling Highway on January 10, 2017.
Clare had reportedly been trying to cross the highway to get food from Pressure Point Bar when he was hit by Rolle’s civilian vehicle.
He sufered serious injuries and later died.
During the 2024 inquest, the court heard that ofcers found Rolle’s car was unlicensed and uninsured, but no trafc charges were brought against him at the time.
Rolle appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans in a civilian suit and was not required
to enter a plea. He was told the matter would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment. Inspector Deon Barr, the prosecutor, did not object to bail.
Magistrate Evans granted Rolle bail with one or two sureties and ordered him to sign in at the East Street South Police Station every Thursday by 7pm.
She also asked the prosecution to set an early date for service of the voluntary bill of indictment, noting the length of time Clare’s family had waited for the matter to be brought before the court. Rolle is expected to return to court on September 3 for service of the VBI.
The charge follows years of pressure from Clare’s family, who had long criticised the pace of the case and called for justice after the crash.
After the inquest concluded, a fle was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine whether charges would be brought.
When asked by The Tribune why the matter had taken so long to return to court, police press liaison Superintendent Sheria King said yesterday that it was a question for the investigator.
The case frst drew public attention in 2018, when Clare’s parents said they were prepared to pursue a private prosecution if
prosecutors did not act.
At the time, The Tribune reported that a wreath marking Clare’s death sat atop a stunted tree on Tonique Williams Darling Highway, a reminder of the crash and of his parents’ grief.
His mother, Ms Reckley, said then that she still listened to old WhatsApp voice notes from her son to soothe her sadness. His father, Phillip Clare Sr, said he still visited his son’s room.
“The room is him,” he said. “I just go in the room and look.”
Ms Reckley said at the time that justice had eluded the family.
“All I want is justice for Phillip,” Ms Reckley said.
“No one is getting what I am feeling. My child was knocked down, and they’re like, it’s fnished, we’ll just
Family trip ends in fatal Andros traffic crash
from page one
His family had travelled to Central Andros for its annual reunion, a tradition relatives said has continued for at least 25 years and is held around the time of Crab Fest.
Kevin Solomon, Cartwright’s brother-in-law, said relatives from throughout The Bahamas and overseas gather in Andros every year, with Cartwright playing a central role in planning the trip.
Police said the collision involved a white Ford F-150 and a black Nissan Wingroad.
The Ford F-150 allegedly entered the highway from Staniard Creek and collided with the southbound Nissan Wingroad, which was being driven by Cartwright.
Four passengers were in the Nissan: three women, ages 49, 51 and 52, and a juvenile male.
Cartwright was pronounced dead at the scene by a local physician.
The three women were treated at a local clinic before being airlifted to New Providence for further medical care.
Cartwright’s 16-year-old son was also airlifted to New Providence but was reportedly not injured.
Cartwright’s son immediately performed CPR in a desperate attempt to save his father.
“He is his father’s only son. He’s doing the best that he can at this time, because he got to be strong for his mom,” he said.
Cartwright’s wife, who was also in the vehicle, remains in stable condition. Mr Solomon said the injured included one of Cartwright’s nieces and one of his wife’s nieces.
He said one female relative is being treated at Doctors Hospital, while another injured
family member was released from Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday.
Mr Solomon said his sister was not told that her husband had died until yesterday because relatives wanted to wait until she was in better condition.
Recalling her reaction, he said: “She said, ‘I knew,’ because she actually took his head off the steering wheel, and his mouth was open. She tried to close his mouth and his eyes, and his mouth went open.”
He said she was not certain of her husband’s
death at the time because attempts were being made to resuscitate him when she left the scene.
Mr Solomon remembered Cartwright as a devoted husband, father and provider whose death will leave a deep void in the family.
“They were always together. They did everything together,” he said.
Cartwright and his wife also have two daughters, one of whom is expecting a child and another who recently had a baby.
The driver of the Ford F-150 was treated for injuries at the local clinic. His passenger was unhurt.
Mr Solomon said
Jogger killed in fatal crash in poorly lit area of Freeport
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was killed in an apparent hit-and-run in Grand Bahama on Tuesday night, the country’s 29th trafc fatality for the year and the second pedestrian death in the same poorly lit area in just over a month.
Police said the victim, believed to be an Indian national in his 30s, was jogging east along Royal Palm Way shortly before 9pm when he was struck by a black SUV travelling west in the eastbound lane near Coral Road. Superintendent Christopher Farquharson, ofcer in charge of the Trafc Division in Grand Bahama, said the man was found unresponsive in the road with serious head injuries.
EMS personnel took him to Rand Memorial Hospital, where he died shortly after midnight on Wednesday.
Police were still working to confrm his identity and age up to press time.
A 46-year-old man suspected of feeing the scene was later arrested and is
assisting police with their investigation.
Supt Farquharson said investigators, acting on information, found the suspected vehicle at a nearby residence with extensive front-end and windshield damage.
The killing has renewed concern about pedestrian safety in the Royal Palm Way and Coral Road area, where residents have complained about darkness caused by inadequate street lighting.
On May 17, Joshua Rolle, a 67-year-old security ofcer at La Roc Bar and Grill, was walking home from work around 10.45pm along Coral Road, of Royal Palm Way, when he was hit by a fatbed tow truck. He died at the scene.
Supt Farquharson said police have recorded an increase in accidents, including serious crashes involving pedestrians, in recent months.
He said pedestrians walking in the road, poor lighting and speeding remain major factors in trafc accidents on Grand Bahama.
"One of the main reasons we are seeing an increase
in accidents, from what I'm seeing from my chair, is that in a lot of cases pedestrians are walking in the road,” he said. “That plays a very important part in many of these accidents.
"Additionally, in many areas we have noticed a lack of proper lighting, so motorists cannot see pedestrians in time to make manoeuvres to avoid an accident. Also, of course, in most circumstances, we know that speed plays a part."
He urged pedestrians and joggers to wear lightcoloured or fuorescent clothing at night and to walk on the side of the road.
He also urged pedestrians to look both ways before crossing and warned drivers to remain alert, obey speed limits and drive with due care.
Supt Farquharson said drivers involved in crashes must stay at the scene and contact police.
“If you fnd you hit (someone) or are involved in an accident and leave the scene, you will be dealt with accordingly,” he said. “We advise you to remain on the scene and call the police.”
get over it. How can we get over it?”
Kevin Armbrister represented Rolle.
PARENTS TANYA RECKLEY AND PHILLIP CLARE SR
CORPORAL SAMUEL ROLLE
BURDETTE CARTWRIGHT
Trusted Traveller plan drops work visa for quick trips
DPP office disposed of 206 criminal matters last year
By Rashad Rolle and Lynaire Munnings Tribune Reporters
THE Ofce of the Direc-
tor of Public Prosecutions disposed of 206 criminal matters last year as part of a wider push to cut the court backlog, according to prepared remarks distributed by Attorney General Wayne Munroe, though he did not read that section during his Senate contribution.
The fgures, included in remarks circulated in Mr Munroe’s name, showed the ofce resolved matters through convictions, plea agreements, nolles, acquittals and discontinuances in cases where defendants had died.
Between January and December 2025, the Ofce of the Director of Public Prosecutions recorded 27 convictions, 63 plea
agreements, 74 nolles, 37 acquittals and fve matters discontinued because of the death of the defendant.
The prepared remarks framed the fgures as evidence of a deliberate efort to confront the longstanding backlog through prosecutions, plea negotiations, strategic case reviews and the removal of cases no longer viable for prosecution.
The remarks also pointed to a major expansion of the ofce’s prosecutorial ranks. In 2022, the ofce operated with fewer than 20 prosecutors. It now has 46 attorneys, including prosecutors assigned to the Northern Ofce in Grand Bahama, with recruitment continuing toward a goal of 60 prosecutors before the end of the year.
The Ofce of the Director of Public Prosecutions
has also partnered with the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Electronic Monitoring Unit to strengthen compliance with bail conditions and support applications to revoke bail where breaches occur.
The ofce is also reviewing historic cases. According to Mr Munroe’s prepared remarks, prosecutors took part earlier this year in a major backlog assessment involving 375 matters identifed by the court. The exercise helped identify and address inactive matters, deceased defendants, outstanding warrants and cases that had already been completed.
The ofce also plans to expand training for prosecutors in fnancial crimes, cybercrime, human trafcking, extradition matters and other emerging areas of criminal law.
BPL outages spark anger over high power bills
The company said the outages were caused by circuit overloads linked to “peak system demand”.
By press time, BPL said the afected circuits had been restored and customers had electricity again. The company said it was closely monitoring system demand and urged consumers to use electricity efciently, particularly
during peak hours, to help maintain system stability. The outages deepened public frustration about enduring long hours without electricity in the summer heat.
Michael Cartwright, a Pinewood resident, said outages in his area had been limited earlier this summer before Tuesday night’s disruption.
Mr Cartwright said he was playing a video game around 9.45pm when the
electricity suddenly went of. He said the outage lasted about an hour before power returned for only about fve minutes, then failed again. He said electricity was not fully restored to his home until around midnight.
“This is something that is happening, and it’s unfortunate,” he said. “I encourage people to have generators and buy power banks.”
Another resident in Sir Lynden Pindling Estates
speech, although he did not read that section during his contribution.
The programme is contained in the Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which amends the Immigration Act and is expected to come into force on July 1.
Mr Munroe’s circulated remarks framed the programme as part of an efort to modernise the immigration system, support conference tourism, promote investment and strengthen The Bahamas’ position as a regional business destination.
He warned that the global economy is becoming increasingly competitive and said countries that fail to modernise risk being left behind.
Under the bill, a person would not be required to obtain a work visa or a short-term work visa if they enter The Bahamas for an approved activity lasting no more than three days and that is the only activity they perform while in the country. The exemption would apply to people attending conferences or seminars as participants, but not organisers.
It would also apply to people attending trade shows or summits, again excluding organisers.
The bill would cover non-executive directors of businesses operating in The Bahamas, provided they are not involved in day-to-day operations and are visiting only in their capacity as non-executive directors.
It would also exempt
people attending business meetings with local companies in certain senior or professional capacities, including chairmen, directors, chief executive ofcers, chief operating ofcers, chief fnancial ofcers, legal counsel, compliance ofcers, accountants, auditors, actuaries, controllers, analysts and managers.
Mr Munroe’s circulated remarks anticipated criticism of the reform, saying some people would portray every immigration change as controversial.
He said modern economies must facilitate legitimate business activity while maintaining strong immigration controls.
He said the legislation promotes economic opportunity while preserving national security and regulatory oversight.
Munroe dismisses concerns over falling voter turnout
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY General
Wayne Munroe dismissed concern over falling voter turnout yesterday, arguing that Bahamians have a right not to vote and that the country’s participation rate remains high compared with other Caribbean nations.
His comment came even though Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has himself expressed concern about declining participation, saying it is not healthy for democracy and that more must be done to ensure voters feel their voices matter.
Mr Munroe, who lost the Freetown seat to Lincoln Deal in last month’s general election, made the comments at the start of his Budget contribution in the Senate, pushing back against scrutiny of voter apathy.
“I will not be examining what percentage of the registered voters of Freetown voted for Freetown downstairs. He won, that’s it, and that’s that,” Mr Munroe said.
“I would trust that it is simply that, and the reason
said the repeated interruptions created discomfort and concern about damage to appliances.
“What is particularly disturbing is that it came on and went of about three times within the span of an hour,” he said. “There are concerns not only about the discomfort in the night heat, but also about safeguarding household appliances.”
I say that, Madam President, is we hear a lot about voter apathy. I take the view, Madam President, that a voter can choose what he wishes to do. He can choose to show up to vote, or he can choose not to show up to vote. As many of us have experienced, people go to the polling place, get a ballot and don’t vote for anyone, put an unmarked ballot in the box.
“Some go in the polling place, apparently ten of them, and wrote I love Mr Munroe on their ballot, and it’s not a vote. The right to vote, like every other right, is the right of the citizen to exercise or to not exercise. As a matter of fact, the citizen of The Bahamas is still at an alarming high rate compared to their counterparts in the region.”
Mr Munroe cited turnout fgures from several Caribbean countries, saying Barbados recorded 42.4 percent, Jamaica 39.17 percent, Saint Lucia 48 percent and Trinidad and Tobago 53.92 percent.
Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard also seized on turnout during his contribution to the 2026/2027 Budget Debate last week, saying about 66 percent of
BPL later announced that several western New Providence communities would be placed on a rotational power supply schedule while crews repaired a cable fault. The company said the rotational schedule was expected to change every three hours. The latest disruptions came less than two weeks after Mrs Coleby-Davis told Parliament that BPL had enough generation capacity to meet summer demand, even as Long Island MP Andre Rollins accused her of misleading Parliament after earlier outages left Bahamians “sweating” over the weekend.
Mrs Coleby-Davis said she had been advised that sufcient generation coverage was in place to meet demand.
Free National Movement Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright yesterday
registered voters cast ballots and more than 70,000 eligible voters stayed home.
Mr Pintard argued that, for a second consecutive election, the government was elected by a minority of eligible voters, saying the trend suggested many Bahamians were dissatisfed with all political parties.
Mr Munroe rejected that analysis and said political parties should accept the results voters delivered.
"I just hope that we can all get past this navel gazing about how many more people could have voted against, and we may have lost even bigger if more people would have come out," he said.
Mr Munroe also said he would remain active in Freetown despite losing the seat.
"I have fve years for the people of Freetown to miss what I did for them," he said. He said he continues to worship at St Margaret’s Anglican Church and that his legal practice remains on the constituency’s border.
He said his ofce would remain open as a Progressive Liberal Party ofce, though it would no longer be funded as a constituency ofce.
tied the outages to broader cost-of-living pressure, saying Bahamians are being squeezed by high electricity bills, expensive groceries and unreliable power.
He called on Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis to bring relief to people struggling with the cost of living.
“For years we’ve heard speeches from the Davis administration about ‘shared sacrifce’ and ‘tough decisions’. But the only people sacrifcing are Bahamian families,” he said in a statement. “The only thing getting tough is the cost of living.”
“Where is the Prime Minister’s fght for lower power bills? Where is his fght to limit taxes and increases on government services? Where is his fght to cut government waste before cutting into our paycheques?”
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SENATOR WAYNE MUNROE
Rick Fox defends his appointment during maiden Senate speech
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FNM Senator Rick Fox pushed back at criticisms over his appointment to the Senate as a frst time voter during his frst speech in the Senate yesterday while also taking a subtle swipe at the appointment of National Development and Innovation Minister Sebas Bastian.
Mr Fox, in a wide-ranging speech that addressed government debt, voter apathy and economic independence, criticised the government's priorities while outlining what he said were key challenges facing the country.
Mr Fox called voter turnout in the May election a troubling sign and said it demonstrates why people who have never voted should be encouraged and not insulted.
Speaking on his own voting experience, the former NBA champion said he expected long lines, excitement and energy, but found the opposite.
“I stood there wondering
whether I'd arrived on the wrong day, and then a troubling thought crossed my mind,” he said. “Perhaps the real story of our last election was not who won, nor who lost, perhaps the real winner was a three time champion, apathy.”
He said no political party benefts when citizens become disengaged and stressed that democracy itself weakens when less voices are heard.
“Which is why I never understand why being called a frst time voter was supposed to be an insult,” he said. “If anything, we should be celebrating frst time voters, encouraging them, recruiting them, welcoming them.”
“Because if a nation begins mocking frst time voters, it should not be surprised when fewer people show up, unless that's your game plan for three peat, and if fewer people show up, democracy weakens.”
His comments come amid criticism and public questioning of FNM leader Michael Pintard’s decision to appoint
him to the Senate instead of the party’s deputy leader, Shannendon Cartwright.
Former Cabinet minister Leslie Miller called Mr Pintard “mean-spirited” and “spiteful” over the move, while Prime Minister Philip Davis mocked him for appointing a “frst time voter” over his deputy.
Yesterday, Mr Fox cautioned leaders against viewing members of the Bahamian diaspora as outsiders, calling them valuable asset whose knowledge and experience can beneft the country.
He said Bahamians worldwide represent their homeland in boardrooms, classrooms, laboratories, businesses and universities.
“Their success is our success,” he said. “Their experience is our resource. Their returns should be celebrated, not questioned, encouraged, not discouraged, because every Bahamian who comes home with knowledge, skills, investment, and a desire to contribute strengthens this country.”
He thanked Mr Pintard “for having the courage to take the road less traveled” and giving him the opportunity to serve in the Senate. He also used his maiden speech to criticise the government's spending priorities, describing the budget as a “commitment budget” rather than an “accountability” one.
On the Davis-led Cabinet, Mr Fox said the Prime Minister built a ministry of nearly “everything.” While stressing that he has no issue with ambition, he suggested that the Davis
administration’s priorities appeared to be misplaced.
“He found room to create a brand new Ministry of National Development, and to seat a newcomer at the cabinet table to run it, and in my opinion it gambles with the future of our country,” Mr Fox said.
“But there is one ministry the numbers are screaming for and it has no door, no sign, and no minister. I call that the ministry of debt.”
“Surely the Prime Minister would have an idea of who that one politician could be. Madam President,”
he said. “Are we going to keep paying for the past or are we going to fnance the future because every dollar sent to the Ministry of Debt is a dollar that cannot build the next Bahamas.” Mr Fox said a good budget “tells you what it spends”, while an excellent budget “tells you what it intends to change.”
He argued that government spending should be tied to measurable outcomes, warning that any budget line that cannot state what it changes should be placed under review.
Watson details national drug strategy in maiden speech
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Chief Reporter
FIRST-time senators Clint Watson and Latrae Rahming used their maiden speeches yesterday to defend the Davis administration’s record, with Mr Watson announcing plans for a coordinated national drug strategy and Mr Rahming arguing the government is prepared to steer the country through economic and social change.
Mr Watson said the government is moving to replace a fragmented response to drug abuse with a framework driven by data, early warnings and cross-agency action.
He said former Commodore Raymond King is laying the groundwork for an agency that will bring together health professionals, educators, social workers, law enforcement and other stakeholders.
“For far too long, drug policy has been fragmented. For far too long, coordination has depended upon personalities rather than institutions. Today we are changing that,” he said.
He said the government is developing a framework to collect data and respond to emerging threats as part of a broader shift toward evidence-based policymaking.
Mr Watson said plans are underway to establish a national drug observatory, a national drug information network and an early warning system to detect dangerous substances. He said the government also plans to develop a comprehensive national drug strategy.
“This is a declaration that the fght against drugs
is a national issue requiring a whole of government and a whole of society response, because drug abuse does not only destroy individuals. Say it again, drug abuse does not only destroy individuals, it damages families, it weakens communities, it steals futures.”
Mr Rahming, also making his frst Senate contribution, said the Davis administration remains committed to continued progress and pointed to its economic record since taking ofce.
“The world is changing, technology is changing, energy is changing, work is changing, capital is moving, young people are thinking
diferently, citizens are demanding more, governments everywhere are being tested,” he said.
“The question before us is whether The Bahamas will meet this moment with the old habits or the new courage. I believe this Davis administration is up for the task.”
Senator Robyn Lynes, speaking on the high cost of living, highlighted recent measures she said were aimed at easing pressure on Bahamians, including VAT reductions, food assistance programmes and expanded concessions for homeowners. However, she also called for further reforms to the
real property tax system and changes to the subsidised housing programme.
Ms Lynes said rental income is often only enough to cover a mortgage or utilities and warned that rising property values, sometimes driven by surrounding development, do not always refect an increase in household income.
“I propose, Madam
President, we take a keen look at an equitable tax structure in these types of instances that looks beyond just the value of property but focuses on the income and the payment ability of the Bahamian, which would provide structured options for them to make application for the reduction in real property taxes or complete exemption in certain circumstance,” she said. On housing assistance, she said recipients should face clear timelines and receive structured support aimed at helping them move forward. She also backed exploring greater opportunities for women in business, expanded access to afordable daycare and consideration of evening childcare services.
FNM SENATOR RICK FOX
PLP SENATOR CLINT WATSON
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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e Privy Council, WDI Bahamas Article 8, and the evolution of state policy in e Bahamas
By Rochelle R Dean, Women's Declaration International (WDI)
THE recent landmark decision handed down by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the matter of The Estate of Claudia Edwards Bethel v. The Attorney General of The Bahamas represents a critical juncture in our nation's jurisprudence.
While public discourse often focuses heavily on the specifc criminal actions of individual actors, the true signifcance of this ruling lies in its profound implications for systemic governance, institutional accountability, and the structural protection of women on the basis of sex.
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A little less talk and a lot more action
THE phone beeped as the deadline approached for this column.
“Is the power out at Cable Beach again?” read the message. It is the latest in a series of messages in recent days as people wonder whether it is just them out of power, the whole area or perhaps the whole island.
In today’s Tribune , you will read of widespread power outages on Tuesday night, for which Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) pinned the blame on overloaded circuits caused by “peak system demand”.
There is a shorter answer to that –it means that BPL cannot cope right now. Peak demand – which is exactly what you would expect in the scorching heart of a hot summer – cannot be met without overloading the circuits, and pop pop pop, off go the lights, off goes the power, and people are left to sit and swelter in the hot dark.
On Tuesday, BPL reported power outages at Bamboo Boulevard, Pinewood, Churchill Subdivision, Windsor Field, Harbourside West and more, including Goldwynn. In recent nights, the power has been off for this writer too – and we are sure plenty of you have been left cursing as the lights go out and the buzzing sound of generators fills the summer air.
One resident in Pinewood advised people to make sure they have generators and to buy power banks – people having to fall back on providing for themselves, and no solution for those who cannot afford them.
This comes amid a sweltering heat that has had warnings being issued for people to try to stay indoors. Power cuts at this time are not just inconvenient – for the elderly and vulnerable, it could be deadly.
It also comes less than two weeks after Parliament was assured that there was enough generation capacity to meet summer demand. BPL has talked of a cable fault amid the latest issues, with several communities placed on a rotational power supply schedule.
Whatever the reasons, people in The Bahamas have suffered for far too long with power shortages and outages and frustration. Over and over again, there have been reassurances that things would get better, and promises of a brighter tomorrow while we wait in a gloomy today.
If we think things are bad in New Providence, we do not know half the hardship of people in the Family Islands. One island even reported that BPL offices were closed for people wanting to pay their bills because the power was out. The irony has a bitter taste.
Casting blame upon the Progressive Liberal Party, FNM Deputy Leader
Shanendon Cartwright talked about how “for years we’ve heard speeches from the Davis administration” In a press statement dated June 24, 2026, Cartwright said Bahamians are “choosing between light bills and groceries,” before adding that electricity issues and recent road traffic fee increases are worsening the situation.
Yet the honourable gentleman seemingly forgets that it was the former FNM Administration (of which he was a part) who spent $100M on BPL’s transition to Wärtsilä-supplied engines for the Clifton power station, boasting it would improve efficiency, lower costs and meet new emissions standards. Clearly, that hasn’t happened.
Either way, both the FNM & PLP have talked an awful lot about the need to improve the electric grid to bring an end to these problems. The question that needs answering is when will we reach that promised land?
Sitting in the hot heat of summer with no power or a generator is no way to encourage patience.
At this rate, it’s going to be a long, hot summer, suffering from BPHell.
Family should not have to wait for justice
Nine years ago, Phillip Daniel Clare Jr was killed in a collision as he tried to cross Tonique Williams Darling Highway.
Yesterday, a police corporal was finally charged in the case.
We cannot discuss the case itself in detail as it is now before the courts – but the wider pattern of how long it takes for cases to find their way to being heard remains concerning.
Nine years is far too long for any case to reach the courts. At that stage, how many eyewitnesses will still be sure of their testimony in any case –that’s if they can be found at all.
Elsewhere in today’s Tribune, it is reported that prosecutors disposed of 206 criminal matters last year in a push to cut the backlog in the courts.
The bottleneck that cases face in order for justice to be served continues to be an ongoing challenge for The Bahamas.
There have been moves to expand the number of prosecutors, but it will still take a considerable time to have an impact on long-awaited cases.
As ever, the maxim justice delayed is justice denied is appropriate. Families should not be left wondering if they will ever have an answer for how their loved ones have died – and who was responsible.
Answer the questions
EDITOR, The Tribune.
IN the June 23 edition of a daily newspaper, there was a story in which Minister Fred Mitchell accused the Free National Movement (FNM) of damaging the country’s reputation. He described the Opposition as deceitful, wicked, and recalcitrant for raising questions about the Abaco plane crash. Yet many Bahamians are still seeking answers. If this was merely a routine trip for individuals to vote, why was a passenger reportedly
carrying $30,000 in cash? Why has the government not provided a full and transparent explanation to address the concerns that have been raised? In any democracy, asking questions is not wickedness; it is accountability. The public has a right to seek answers, particularly when matters of national importance are involved. Seeking accountability does not damage a country’s reputation; it enhances it. The government’s silence on key issues only fuels speculation and
mistrust. Rather than condemning those who are asking legitimate questions, perhaps Mr Mitchell should encourage the Prime Minister and his administration to provide the transparency that Bahamians deserve. Clear and comprehensive answers would do far more to put this matter to rest than attacking critics or questioning the motives of those seeking accountability.
ERVIN MISSICK Nassau, June 24, 2026
For Women’s Declaration International (WDI) Bahamas, this case serves as a vital judicial catalyst to transform abstract human rights protections into concrete, enforceable national policy.
At the core of WDI’s advocacy is the Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights. Article 8 of this global framework explicitly reafrms the total elimination of violence against women, placing a distinct obligation on state institutions to maintain rigorous safeguards, absolute dutyof-care protocols, and single-sex protections.
The Privy Council's ruling directly mirrors the philosophy of Article 8 by clarifying the doctrine of “vicarious liability.” The apex court established that when the state unlawfully initiates a process that strips an individual of her liberty, the state remains continuously liable for the entire chain of consequences that fow from that initial overreach.
By dismantling the standard defense that the state bears no responsibility for the independent misconduct of its agents, the ruling removes the administrative shield that has historically insulated public institutions from accountability.
However, translating this judicial victory into lasting societal protection requires a fundamental departure
from the current transactional view of justice. When the state relies on fnancial compensation as a substitute for institutional remorse, it diminishes the deeper ethical obligations of a civil society. A purely reactive framework—where state-sanctioned overreach is treated merely as a fscal liability to be settled from the public purse—completely fails to cultivate a national culture rooted in respect, societal unity, and the overarching rule of law. True accountability cannot be measured by a retroactive payout; it requires the proactive, structural foresight to ensure that such systemic failures are impossible to repeat. This case exposes a critical need for rigorous case management within the state's legal apparatus. Rather than functioning as a disciplined gatekeeper of the public treasury, the state frequently engages in prolonged, low-probability litigation driven by bureaucratic inertia and a resistance to early self-correction.
This approach leads to a massive sunk cost of pride, where unlimited public resources are exhausted to defend unsustainable positions across multiple tiers of the judiciary.
Public institutions must be held to a rigorous standard of veracity—a standard demanding total transparent alignment with truth, efciency, and statutory compliance. When an administrative framework chooses decades of defensive litigation over structural humility, it undermines the very principles of justice it is constitutionally sworn to uphold.
To bridge the gap between this landmark precedent and actual national policy, WDI Bahamas advocates for three immediate structural changes:
1. Mandatory Civil Case Assessments: Implementing independent, objective legal metrics to review claims brought against the Crown. The state must
be legally constrained from utilising public funds to fnance indefensible or procedurally fawed positions, compelling early and equitable resolution.
2. Codifed Institutional Duty of Care: Establishing rigid statutory protocols governing the treatment and security of women within all state custody and administrative matrices. In direct alignment with Article 8, these policies must enforce strict sex-segregated protections and independent, non-negotiable oversight mechanisms.
3. Full Fiscal Transparency: Requiring the state to provide comprehensive disclosure regarding the total public expenditure wasted in defending instances of administrative overreach and structural failure afecting women on the basis of sex.
The Claudia Edwards Bethel decision has provided the Commonwealth Caribbean with a defnitive, binding legal hammer. The task ahead for WDI Bahamas is to ensure this precedent is not left as an isolated ruling on a page, but is actively used to re-architect state policy.
True justice for women will not be achieved through fnancial settlement, but through the realisation of an institutional culture that honors the rule of law, practices administrative veracity, and recognizes that the protection of women's sex-based rights is foundational to a just society.
The foundational philosophy guiding this commentary is explored further in What is the Declaration on Women's Sex based Rights?, which provides a complete structural overview of how Article 8 fts into the broader framework for protecting women on the basis of sex.
You can contact the Bahamas chapter via: bahamas@womwnsdeclaration. org or www.wo.ensdeclaration.com
e life of e Bahamas’ modern day pirates
EDITOR, The Tribune. THE enduring narrative of historical Bahamian buccaneers, far from being confined to folklore, appears to have undergone a contemporary metamorphosis, manifesting as a pervasive public perception of political opportunism and elite self-enrichment. This prevalent sentiment suggests that the predatory practices of yesteryear’s pirates, who plundered wealth and resources, have merely evolved in form, now cloaked in the mantle of modern governance.
Today’s perceived ‘buccaneers,’ masquerading as esteemed public servants – Senators, Prime Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Ministers – are widely accused of engaging in systemic exploitation. Instead of seizing treasure chests, they are seen as orchestrating land grabs, diverting public resources, and distributing patronage to a select circle of cronies, all while ostensibly and supposing to be “serving “ the populace.
The stark dichotomy between the perceived opulent lifestyles of these figures, navigating the streets in luxury vehicles and dining on the finest fare, while the struggles of ordinary citizens who contend with economic hardship, fuels a profound sense of disenfranchisement among Bahamians. They feel relegated to “scraps” from
a national banquet of prosperity, reinforcing a deeply held conviction that national assets are being privatised by politicians for political gain.
This powerful allegory of modern-day piracy underscores a widespread belief in systemic corruption and stark wealth inequality within The Bahamas. It highlights a critical breach of public trust, where the perception of political leaders prioritizing personal gain over national welfare and service have become a dominant theme in public discourse and a significant driver of societal frustration.
While international institutions like Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) have historically positioned The Bahamas favorably among its regional peers, however recent analyses reveal a concerning erosion of these scores.
This divergence between international indices and internal public sentiment points to a complex reality where official reforms may not fully resonate with the lived experiences and deeply held convictions of the populace.
Further illuminating this chasm, data from the World Justice Project indicates that a
significant majority of Bahamians harbor profound skepticism towards political parties, citing unchecked campaign financing, rampant nepotism, and a glaring lack of transparency in vital public procurement processes as primary drivers of this pervasive distrust. In response to these burgeoning concerns, the Bahamian government has initiated various legislative measures, including the Independent Commission of Investigation Act, aimed at enhancing accountability and combating corruption.
However, governance advocates and critics argue that these legislative frameworks represent merely a foundational step. The true challenge lies in their rigorous and impartial enforcement, coupled with a fundamental transformation of the political culture itself. Without such decisive action and a genuine shift towards public service over self-interest, the deeply ingrained perception of a political system riddled with corruption will likely continue to persist, therefore hindering national development, eroding democratic institutions, and deepening societal divisions for generations to come.
DR DONALD M McCARTNEY Freeport, Grand Bahama June, 2026.
Mitchell defends Cuba’s right to global economic access
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
FOREIGN Affairs
Minister Fred Mitchell defended Cuba’s right to participate in the world economy yesterday despite the pressure the United States has put on the island.
Speaking at the Organisation of American States General Assembly in Panama City, Mr Mitchell said The Bahamas supports Cuba’s independence, territorial integrity and access to food, healthcare and hemispheric affairs.
His comments placed The Bahamas firmly against Washington’s decades-long pressure campaign on Cuba, with the US framing its sanctions as a response to repression, human rights abuses and threats to American national security and foreign policy.
Cuba is enduring one of its worst economic crises in decades, with food, fuel and medicine shortages, prolonged blackouts and a strained healthcare system. The crisis has been
aggravated by longstanding US sanctions and, according to UN human rights experts, recent US fuel restrictions that have squeezed the island’s energy supply and threatened Cubans’ access to basic services.
The Cuban government has also faced sustained criticism over its own human rights record, including the imprisonment of people linked to the July 2021 protests. In a voice note distributed yesterday, Mr Mitchell said what was “supposed to be a normal and quiet session of resolutions” had developed into “its own drama against the backdrop of a conservative swing throughout the hemisphere”.
He said “events in the United States” were driving some of the latest developments in the OAS region, saying the body was designed to help countries discuss and solve problems while preserving “values of democratic governance, human rights, and dignity, peace and security” and the rule of law.
“The history of success
on those issues is not so stellar,” Mr Mitchell said. “There is a sharp divide on ideological grounds between left and right, and the issue of economic dominance and political dominance by the United States of America.”
Mr Mitchell also linked The Bahamas’ position on Cuba to Haiti, saying the country applies the same values to the
crisis-stricken Caribbean nation.
“We apply the same values to Haiti that struck the first blow for African people in the world for freedom. We agree that there is still a need in this world for affirmative action and reparations for past discrimination against people of African descent,” he said.
Haiti remains engulfed
by gang violence, mass displacement and hunger, forcing regional governments to confront a crisis that has repeatedly tested CARICOM, the OAS and wider international efforts to restore security.
Mr Mitchell said CARICOM countries were “keeping their heads down out of the line of fire” as ideological divisions widen across the hemisphere.
“Even as small island developing states, low-lying coastal states, our votes predominate by the numbers in the OAS forum,” Mr Mitchell explained.
Mr Mitchell also said The Bahamas is examining what role it can play in Bolivia, where the government has declared a state of emergency amid civil unrest.
“The government of Bolivia is right leaning, and right now there is significant civil strife in that country,” he said. “And The Bahamas has been asked to join a delegation of OAS to go to Bolivia to see what the OAS can do to usefully resolve the problem and
avoid the violence of war.”
Mr Mitchell said the region’s political divide extends across South America, pointing to Brazil and Mexico as left-leaning countries and Argentina and Chile as right-leaning countries.
He also used his remarks to press countries on climate change, calling the issue “existential” and urging nations to accept the science, adapt, mitigate and move away from fossil fuels.
He closed with what he called a “moral tale” about the judicious use of power, referring to the Star Wars trilogy.
“These three movies show you in this trilogy that the powerful can be brought down by the small and meek, that is why we in The Bahamas argue for the judicious use of power, and there is this aphorism,” he said.
“People who say that a small voice doesn't matter have obviously never spent the night in a dark room with a mosquito.”
Mitchell accuses Pintard of trying to weaponise PAC
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell accused Opposition Leader Michael Pintard of trying to weaponise the Public Accounts Committee, rejecting his call for the committee’s proceedings to be opened to the public and broadcast live.
Mr Mitchell’s criticism came a day after Mr Pintard wrote to House Speaker Patricia Deveaux asking that PAC meetings and hearings be opened to the public, televised on the parliamentary channel and archived for future viewing.
Mr Pintard argued that broadcasting the committee’s proceedings would strengthen transparency and parliamentary oversight of government spending.
Mr Mitchell dismissed the proposal, saying Mr Pintard controls the committee and wants to use it to put damaging and untested claims into the public domain.
"This is the committee of the House of Assembly that he controls, and he wants public hearings and no doubt he wants to use this to allow biased, half-baked information, untested truths get into the public domain," Mr Mitchell said, urging the PLP to resist the
proposal. The Public Accounts Committee is chaired by the opposition and is responsible for scrutinising public expenditure.
Mr Pintard said opening the committee’s proceedings would bring The Bahamas in line with practices in other jurisdictions. He also pledged a more aggressive approach to the committee’s work, saying the PAC would be “relentless” in seeking answers about the use of public funds and scrutinising government spending.
Under Mr Pintard’s leadership, the PAC intends to continue pursuing investigations into several matters, including
the 2023 CARIFTA Games, the Bahamas Jubilee Games, the Consumer Protection Commission’s office lease, the Public Hospitals Authority and government procurement practices.
Mr Mitchell accused
the FNM of using rumour and political attacks to damage the governing party.
"The FNM is the greatest progenitor of rumour and mischief in our country,” he said. “They lack a moral compass and are a destructive force. Now more than ever, we in the PLP must be on our guard to ensure that the success of the party are not eroded by the foul minds of FNM nasty politics."
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER FRED MITCHELL
Simon • Front Porch Party politics and leadership lessons
compliments of the UK and Sir Starmer
UK PRIME Minister Sir Keir Starmer has bowed to political reality, agreeing a timetable to step down as Labour leader and head of government. The proximate reason was the by-election win of Andy Burnham. Burnham won a thumping majority in the Makerfeld contest, which set up a leadership bid against Starmer. The latter recognized he could not win, as the overwhelming majority of his cabinet and the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) decided they could likely lose the next election due by 2029.
In announcing his decision, Starmer noted: “The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question. And I accept that answer with good grace.”
It was a gut-wrenching decision by Starmer, who had revived the prospects of Labour after the disastrous years of Jeremy Corbyn. In 2024, Starmer achieved a landslide not seen since Tony Blair's 1997 and 2001 victories. He unseated the wildly unpopular Conservatives, who had visited a rapid succession of leaders and turmoil on Britain during a 14-year run that included the country leaving the European Union in a close Brexit vote.
Labour won 411 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, an increase of 214 seats from the previous election. Still, the party only won 33.7 percent of the vote.
“Despite its huge majority, [the Labour government] was never that popular,” reported the Conversation. “It won because of the huge unpopularity of the Conservatives in offce, especially after the debacles of the Boris Johnson and Liz Truss premierships. Starmer’s victory came off the back of a remarkably slim vote share in an election with a near-historically low turnout.”
Sir Keir arrived at 10 Downing Street with swirling and ferce structural economic headwinds, including the fallout from Brexit, huge defcits, low growth, high living costs, and various residual effects of the 2008 Great Recession. This was exacerbated by energy costs following the wars in Ukraine and Iran.
“A decade on from the
Brexit vote, the U.K. [has] a demographic trap, and taken a 6% hit to its economy,” For tune magazine reported. By some accounts, the coun try is under going
a degree of political fragmentation and realignment not experienced since the 1920s, with a then-sizeable expansion of the electorate and shifting economic circumstances and identities. Following World War I, the two-party system was inverted. Labour replaced the Liberal Party as the main progressive alternative to the Tories, breaking the Liberal-Tory duopoly. Today, Britain is undergoing political realignment, with multiple parties on the right and left vying for support In this combustible mix is an intense and continued backlash over legal and
illegal migration—includ-
ing an exceptional increase under the Tories—fuelling legitimate but also poisonous populist responses across Europe.
Starmer had policy successes. He was, however, unable to surmount the febrile politics of the day. Moreover, he made a string of policy and personnel mistakes--harped on by the media, including the right-wing media--which bludgeoned him.
Britain has become use to throwing out prime ministers after their parliamentary caucuses deem them incapable of winning an upcoming election. Even Margaret Thatcher was felled. Later, there was a succession of Tory prime ministers, from David Cameron through to Rishi Sunak, ruthlessly removed by their parliamentary colleagues. The UK has now had seven prime ministers in 10 years. Starmer is the latest to succumb.
For all his accomplishments and strengths, Sir Keir could not face the populist rage and surge from the right, particularly Nigel
If a rip current sucks you out to sea, try not to panic
By JAVIER ARCIGA Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) —
To someone who is getting sucked out to sea by a rip current, "Don't panic!" may be difcult to heed, even if that's exactly what you should do. But lifeguards say to not only relax but fip over and foat out of the danger. Rip currents are one of the coast's greatest dangers and account for the most beach rescues every year. About 100 people drown from rip currents along U.S. beaches each year, according to the United States Lifesaving Association. And more than 80% of beach rescues annually involve rip currents. Already this year, there have been at least 21 people killed from rip currents in U.S. waters, according to the National Weather Service.
Here are some things to know about rip currents: Rip currents can be hard to spot Rip currents are narrow
Farage and Reform. This remains a test for his suc cessor. By several accounts, Starmer failed to create emotional connections with the public as well as his cabinet and parlia mentary colleagues. Such emotional bonds are critical to political success.
An approachable personality and popularity is an essential requirement in politics generally, and indispensable in The Bahamas. Likeability is critical. Without such likeability, politicians fail. Likeability cannot be taught. It must be natural.
columns of water fowing rapidly away from the beach. They don't pull swimmers under water, but can carry them out a fair distance from shore.
"A rip current is like a river that pulls out to sea," said San Diego Lifeguard Marine Safety Lt. Charlie Knight. "So when the waves come into the beach, it needs somewhere to go. And so it takes these little channels out that we call rip currents to put all that water back into the ocean." Low spots along the beach, or areas near jetties or piers, are often where rip currents form. They can be connected to stormy
weather but also sometimes occur during sunny days. They can be hard to detect because the surface water often appears calm.
The current can fow as fast as 8 feet (3.2 meters) per second, faster than even a strong swimmer can overcome, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It's nearly impossible to fght rip currents
The most frequent advice from beach rescue teams and weather forecasters is to "'fip, foat and follow." Flipping over to foat makes it easier to stay calm, conserves energy and keeps the airways open while the swimmer is in the rip current's grip.
It's nearly impossible to fght the current directly. Many swimmers who get in trouble tire themselves out trying to get back to the beach, lifeguards say. "People tend to panic when they can't get into the beach, and that's when we have problems," Knight said. "So if you are caught in a rip current, the biggest thing is don't panic, stay calm, fip over onto your back, foat and allow the rip current to take you out."
headed into further choppy and proverbial uncharted waters.
Burnham has a mastery of social media, where he appears relaxed and uncomplicated, speaking in simple sentences, with easily memorable lines and stories. “[Burnham]...is acknowledged as one of the party’s best communicators,” Fortune observed. “The rather stiff public speaker of his earlier leadership bids has been replaced by a relaxed fgure in jeans and opennecked shirts.” The contrast with Starmer is striking.
In the end, Sir Keir did not demonstrate the “vibes”, the policy reach, the communications skills, or the unifying skills needed to remain as prime minister. He became exceedingly unpopular among the electorate, near petrifying backbenchers and cabinet ministers who feared losing their seats at the next election.
The complaint against Burnham is that he may just be a politician with “vibes,” which is “an informal term for the atmosphere, mood, or energetic feeling given off by a person.”
Whether he has more than vibes will be seen in the months ahead. Still, if he can demonstrate the vibes and gravitas for the job, he may succeed in boosting Labour’s fortunes, which remains a
Though not as charismatic ham appears to understand soft power and how to naturally
people. He is not remote or distant. He often eschews suits for informal wear, appearing as a political everyman in his signature t-shirts.
“[Burnham] seems to have the kind of X factor that encourages people to think of him as not an ordinary politician,” the Sydney Morning Herald reported, “somebody who can communicate with normal people, someone who can speak human.”
He will need these skills to navigate the treacherous and rollicking waters of the fragmented British politics and an electorate hungry for demonstrable and relatively quick change. If he does not pull it off, UK politics is
He also appeared increasingly tone deaf, failing to realize that he had lost the country and the Labour base. He did not have a compelling narrative of where he wanted to take the party or the country. Starmer had a factional base in Labour, which did not signifcantly broaden as prime minister. His party base was not as strong as he perceived, which is one of the reasons he began to lose support early from his cabinet and parliamentary colleagues.
He was, at the end, unable to unify Labour.
Reports emerged early and persisted that he often was often indecisive. He often also proved ineffectual and took too long in making personnel, policy, and communications decisions.
This week--after diffcult, but honest, conversations with colleagues--he realized he could not carry on. To his tremendous credit he showed a certain grace, putting the party and the needs of the country ahead of his personal feelings and ambitions.
Sir Keir’s decision affords Labour three more years in offce and an opportunity, and last chance, to win back voters and be re-elected. The party now has a better fghting chance, but no guarantee of electoral success.
Once the rip current dissipates, it might leave the swimmer out in deeper water. Lifeguards recommend raising an arm to signal for help. Look for fags warning of rip current conditions Flags with diferent colors are used to warn beachgoers of various hazards. Red means a high hazard, yellow means a moderate threat and green means low danger. There's also purple for dangerous sea life, such
as jellyfsh, and double red when a beach is closed for any reason. The National Weather Service posts rip current risks on its websites around the coasts and has developed a computer model that can predict when conditions exist that may lead to their formation up to six days in advance for the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Guam. If possible, it's best to
swim near a lifeguard station. What to do when swimmer is spotted in a rip current It can be dangerous to try to rescue someone caught in a rip current, ofcials say. Often the people trying to perform the rescue can get into trouble themselves.
It's best to fnd a lifeguard, if there is one, or call 911 if a struggling swimmer is spotted.
BRITAIN’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces his resignation to the media outside 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, June 22, 2026. AP Photo/Kin Cheung
ANDY Burnham photos: AP Jon Super
THIS image provided by NOAA shows a harmless dye used to show a rip current.
Photo: NOAA via AP, File
Charlie Harper • Stateside
The potential impact of Hegseth’s “ xation”
AS THE American presidency of Donald Trump falters under an avalanche of depressingly bad news, sagging poll numbers, high-profle defections and a personal unraveling that’s transforming his presiden-
While in college, Hegseth also earned a commission as a US Army National Guard infantry ofcer and was deployed overseas. He served honorably in both Afghanistan and Iraq in various roles as an ofcer, and did see some combat action, earning two Bronze Stars.
Hegseth left the military with the rank of major after he was removed from a National Guard assignment for Joe Biden's 2021 inauguration. He was fagged by a fellow service member as a potential "insider threat" due to a tattoo on his bicep associated with extremist religious and nationalistic groups.
minority ofcers. In his 2024 book, The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, Hegseth spoke out against the military's drive to increase diversity among higher-ranked ofcers.
"Take it to the racist bank: black troops at all levels will be promoted simply based on their race," he wrote in a section cited by The Washington Post. "Some will be qualifed; some will not be."
high profle for a political newcomer. Last August, Hegseth fred her after 35 years in the Navy. She has said she was given no cause for the fring, which came at a time when Hegseth was removing military ofcials who had delivered intelligence assessments that
overwhelmingly white slate.
He has been in charge of the largest overall organization in the American government, with annual budget of around $900 billion. It has the largest workforce (over 3 million
have been championed by liberals and vilifed by Republicans as ‘woke’ and outdated.
tial image from merely maliciously cantankerous to startlingly unhinged, arm chair historians are beginning to dissect his tenure in ofce and flter out some of the more signifcant aspects of this unique man’s impact on the US and on the world. You may have your own opinions about President Donald Trump – most everyone does. And that’s kind of the point here. It’s very difcult to make the case that he has not been truly consequential. And one place to look for his impact is the American Department of Defense, which Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have tried without much success to rename the Department of War.
Hegseth, too, has become a fgure of consequence, mostly in a negative way. He’s now 46 and married to his third wife. Like a whole lot of current prominent Republicans in Washington, including many senators, he has a glittering Ivy League pedigree. A high school valedictorian and star basketball player in Minnesota, he attended Princeton University in New Jersey, where he published a prominent conservative magazine and authored articles attacking critical race theory and other elements of what came to be scornfully described as “woke” mantras. He later earned a Master’s Degree at Harvard University’s prestigious Kennedy School of Government.
He worked in a few Republican election campaigns and was a weekend anchor for Fox News, where he caught Trump’s eye. Hegseth had trouble getting confrmed as defense secretary in early 2025, and the president reportedly considered dumping him before the Senate eventually assented. He has remained steadfastly loyal to Trump while at the Pentagon, and has never been far from the center of the target placed on the back of the current administration by many politicians and pundits.
Like the president, Hegseth has aggressively shattered long-standing traditions associated with his ofce. His most consistent newsworthy activity has been his unprecedented engagement in the US military’s promotion process, especially across the senior threshold into the four general ofcer ranks (admiral rank in the Navy).
Hegseth has intervened to halt or cancel promotions for dozens of military ofcers. He has also worked diligently to ferret out admirals and generals who may have played a role in implementing policies in the Biden administration with which Hegseth disagrees. He has especially targeted senior ofcers involved in Joe Biden’s chaotic and impulsive withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021 after 20 futile years of attempted regime change under presidents of both political parties. The US military sufered 2,500 dead and 20,070 wounded during this period.
But Hegseth has also remained fxated on his purge of senior women and
lowed traditions of the US military is that it remains and should always be above and distinct from domestic American politics. Trump and Hegseth have worked openly and diligently to turn that tradition on its head. But as the defense secretary has persisted in also judging senior pro motions on loyalty presi some political consequences have emerged.
appeared on Tuesday, as the result of pri mary elections in South Carolina.
a Democrat and former Navy admiral who was fred by Hegseth, won the Democratic nomination for the First Congressional District of South Carolina. This coastal district had been vacated by a GOP stalwart who irked Trump and unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for governor this year.
The district is traditionally red, but Lacore has attracted a lot of outside funding. One Democratic spokesman said “we look forward to supporting the Democratic candidate in South Carolina’s frst congressional district.”
She also has the backing of several outside groups. VoteVets, a liberal political action committee known for supporting veterans running for ofce, spent about $100,000 on ads supporting Lacore during the primary election. There are indications that several well-funded groups may continue to back her in the general election.
Lacore has an unusually
who reported on the DIA assessment.
“The fring of yet another senior national security ofcial underscores the Trump administration’s dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country,” Virginia Democratic senator Mark Warner said in August 2025. Lacore was among dozens of ofcers fred during Hegseth’s ongoing elimination from senior military roles of those considered to have crossed the Trump administration, or who do not ft the secretary’s peculiar vision for the makeup of the armed services.
Earlier this month, Hegseth removed without explanation all women and several black nominees from a navy promotion list, resulting in an all-male,
Why a heat dome might be causing Europe's high temperatures
By ALEXA ST. JOHN Associated Press
EUROPE is sizzling under an early heat wave this week, with millions of people experiencing extremely high temperatures, and experts say a phenomenon known as a heat dome is to blame.
Here's what to know.
What is a heat dome?
Heat domes are essentially high-pressure systems that remain stationary for a few days, trapping dangerous heat and humidity, said Mireia Ginesta, a research associ ate at the Climate Litigation Lab at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.
Heat domes result from a north ward bulge in the jet stream — a river of fast-moving wind at high elevations — that creates the weather we experience.
"High-pressure system means that the air is sinking, and as the air goes down to lower altitudes, it becomes compressed," Ginesta said. "So the pressure increases and the temperature also increases."
How does a heat dome play a role in heat waves?
Those "bulges" are what set up the conditions that lead to a heat wave, said Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center.
tary and civilian personnel) and consumes the largest portion of the federal budget. His imposition of political loyalty tests and targeting of women and minority ofcers thus has an outsized impact on policy across the US government.
For generations, federal personnel policies have essentially served as templates for not only local governments, but also mid-sized and major US corporations. The efect of such discordant federal policies is hard to exaggerate.
However, there are serious commentators who believe Hegseth is correct in attempting to weed out of the senior military command ranks women and minority ofcers who may have been promoted out of allegiance to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that
Equal Opportunity (EEO) and DEI were frst systematically introduced to US federal personnel policy about a federal workforce demographics more closely resemble broader American racial and gender balances.
The result was the infusion of women and minorities. Those policies remained largely in efect for half a century. Now, a conservative Supreme Court is taking steps that bespeak a belief that EEO/ DEI has run its course and should basically be disbanded.
New York Times columnist Bret Stephens wrote last year that “I support equal opportunity, but I oppose rigid, ideology-driven insistence on equal outcomes within government hiring and contracting.”
Hegseth may, indeed, herald major sociological change.
"The heat dome is really
sears France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. "In Europe, they're just not used to this," Francis said. "It's really just in the last decade or two where these sorts of really brutal heat waves have been happening and killing a lot of people because they don't have the means to stay cool." France, which has been the most afected so far, doesn't have widespread air conditioning, and about half the country has been placed
under a red heat wave alert by the national weather service.
The nation has also reported around 40 fatalities because of drowning, as people sought cooling relief.
Those conditions are expected to last for several days, with temperatures as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
"We are going to see the June temperature records not just broken, but completely annihilated," said Liz Bentley, chief executive at the Royal Meteorological Society and a professor of meteorology at the University of Reading.
How is climate change infuencing these phenomena? Climate change is making the conditions for heat domes happen
more often, experts say. And more and more nations around the globe are being impacted.
"We're warming the globe and that means we're shifting the range of temperatures that any given place experiences," Francis said. "And as you shift that range of temperature, you're making the extreme temperatures much more likely."
Efectively, the world has turned up the thermostat temperature, Bentley said. "Climate change is defnitely having an impact on the fact that they're more frequent, they're more intense, and they're more persistent as well," Bentley said of heat waves. "They hang around a lot longer than they used to do."
How can people stay safe? It is important that people experiencing these extreme
temperatures hydrate, avoid exercise in the heat of the day, fnd shade and safely cool of in nearby streams, lakes or even the ocean if they have access. In France, for instance, trains, concerts and sporting events have been canceled, and authorities are restricting public alcohol drinking. "One of the biggest problems is the nighttime heat," Francis said. "If you don't give your body a chance to cool of at night, it just starts to accumulate in your body and that can really start to afect your health. And so fguring out a way to stay cooler at night is very, very important."
DEFENSE Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in the Oval Office of the White House during an executive order signing about quantum computing with President Donald Trump, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Washington.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Chief of Navy Reserve Vice Adm.
Nancy Lacore listens to opening remarks during a House Appropriations Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., May 20, 2025.
U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich
A woman with a portable fan visits the historical Spanish steps in Rome, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
People cool off at a fountain in Rome, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
Description
Our Pest Control Technician is a professional who uses a variety of techniques to eliminate pests from residential, commercial, and industrial facilities. ey identify pest problems and choose an e ective approach to remove pests from the property.
Responsibilities
• Carry out efective pre-treatments and post-treatment against pests included but not limited to termites.
• Verbally communicate with the customer, if possible, with the view of obtaining feedback as to their level of satisfaction and concerns.
• Ofering treatment for pests, termites, ants, and other insects
• Providing estimates for one-time treatments and continual maintenance Requirements
• BGCSE - Should have C and above in Mathematics and English, preferably
• Fumigation School training - an advantage but not mandatory
• Be in possession of a valid driver’s license
• Being able to drive a standard shif vehicle is a plus.
• Ability to work at heights and in cramped spaces.
• Must be 25 years of age or over
• Must be able to travel to Family Islands
Remuneration/ Bene ts
• Competitive salary, pension, and medical plan
• Career opportunities
• Training
• Working for an international company
Please apply via website https://apply.workable.com/rentokil-initial/j/455AB37C89
Officer testifies suspect identified in photo lineup
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE ofcer testifed yesterday that a man accused of pulling a gun on two ofcers on Mutton Fish Drive in 2020 was identifed in a photo lineup.
Inspector Francis testifed before Justice Loren Klein in the trial of Laseheno Cox, who faces two counts of possession of a frearm with intent to endanger life. Cox is accused of exiting a vehicle and pointing a gun at Inspector Jermaine Flowers and Police Constable 4856 Travis Davis on November 5, 2020.
Inspector Francis said that on November 12, 2020, while at the Criminal Investigation Department, he received information about the defendant. He said he then retrieved a photo of Cox from the police system and created a 12-man photo
lineup.
Inspector Francis said PC Davis identifed Cox’s photo in the lineup and circled it. Cox was photo number ten. Both ofcers signed the document.
Detective Constable Farrington said that on November 11, 2020, at 2.55pm, he received information about the suspect. He said he removed the defendant from his cell, fngerprinted him and returned him to his cell for his safety.
However, when questioned by defence attorney Ian Jupp, the ofcer could not say whether the defendant’s fngerprints were found on any item connected to the case.
Retired police frearm examiner Charles Bain said he examined two weapons in relation to the matter. He confrmed that one was a police weapon and the other was a Smith &
Wesson 9mm pistol with 15 rounds in the magazine.
Mr Bain said both weapons functioned satisfactorily and that a fired bullet and two 9mm cartridge casings came from the police weapon.
He said only the police firearm was fired.
Mr Jupp claimed that three weapons were used during the incident.
Mr Bain confirmed that the second weapon had a full magazine.
Mr Bain said he could not determine what the recovered bullet struck, but said whatever it hit caused the bullet to deform. He also said the police magazine was not submitted for examination.
Mr Bain could not say whether the second weapon he examined belonged to the defendant. Basil Cumberbatch is prosecuting the case.
Bus driver and second man deny assaulting two teenage girls
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE ofcer testifed yesterday that a bus driver and another man denied sexually assaulting 13 and 14-year-old girls in 2024 after they were arrested.
Detective Constable Benjamin Johnson testifed before Justice Jeannine Weech-Gomez in the trial of Tremiko Dean, 27, and Shaveney Taylor, 20. Dean faces two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, while Taylor faces one count of unlawful sexual intercourse.
Description
The ofcer told the defence that he was not the person who photographed the bus allegedly involved in the matter.
The prosecution alleges that the men were physically involved with the underage girls the night before the matter was reported to police.
Shaneka Carey and Betty Wilson are prosecuting the case.
Moses Bain and Keith Seymour represent the accused.
Dean, a bus driver, is accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl twice between January 2, 2024, and March 10, 2024, in New Providence. Taylor is accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-yearold girl on March 10, 2024. One of the alleged assaults took place at one of the defendants’ residences, while another allegedly occurred in a bus parked at a gas station. DC Johnson said the defendants came to the police station on March 11, 2024. He said they were later informed of the allegations against them and arrested.
Vacant Position: Finance and Administration Manager
e Finance and Administration Manager is a professional who provides oversight and guidance to Rentokil initial Finance and Human Resource sta ng while liaising with the General Manager and Regional Managers for the oversight of the Branch.
Responsibilities
• To manage the accurate and timely preparation, review and submission of the Monthly Management Accounts (MMA) pack- including reliable Next Month and YTG forecasting for set KPIs of Portfolio, Revenue, PBT, Capital Expenditure, State of Service (SOS) and Operating Cash Flow.
• To manage the efective functioning and performance of the Finance, Credit Control, IT and HR functions for the business.
• To manage the successful delivery of set Collections, Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and Cash targets of the business.
• To ensure that adequate internal controls are in place and functioning within the business.
• Adherence to Rentokil Initial’s chosen fnancial reporting requirements; currently International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Rentokil Initial’s internal audit standards and key controls.
• Responsible for the fling of fnancial statements, tax and VAT in accordance with local legislation
• To be the key liaison with the Internal and External Auditors of the Business
• To review, maintain and improve where applicable the set Business Process Flows and Finance related policies in the Business.
• To efectively communicate with the General Manager and Regional Finance Manager on all fnancial matters as is required under the Company Policies.
• Manage the entire employee lifecycle by implementing and maintaining systems related to recruitment, on boarding, case management, staf communication, staf exit management etc.
Requirements
• First Degree in Finance, ACCA or equivalent accounting qualifcations
• A minimum of eight (8) years’ experience at management level or similar role
• Computer literacy – Excel, Word and PowerPoint; Google Shets
• People leadership experience with multi-team responsibilities
• Ability to read and interpret accounting and fnancial reports
• Good presentation & communication skills across all levels (written/verbal/non-verbal)
Remuneration/ Bene ts
• Competitive salary, pension, and medical plan
• Career opportunities
• Training
• Working for an international company
Please apply via website https://apply.workable.com/rentokil-initial/j/B79C95690F
Vacant Position: Pest Control Technician ( Termite Team)
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
A 12-YEAR-OLD
American boy was injured in a shark attack while swimming with his brother in Staniel Cay, Exuma, on Tuesday.
Police said they were notifed of the attack shortly before 3.30pm after the boy’s mother called authorities while on a tour in the Exuma Cays.
The boy received medical treatment for his injuries and had to be transferred to New Providence by boat. He was listed in stable condition up to press time. The attack came three months after an Australian woman was reportedly attacked by a suspected bull shark near Fresh Creek, Andros, in March. She suffered severe injuries to her right arm and had to be airlifted to New Providence for treatment.
AMERICAN TOURIST WARNED AFTER ADMITTING INDECENT EXPOSURE
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
AN American tourist was warned and discharged yesterday after admitting he exposed himself to a woman at the Royal Beach Club and later resisted arrest at the Nassau Cruise Port. Malik Boyd, 39, of Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to indecent exposure, disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest before acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans. Prosecutors said Boyd
exposed himself to a woman at the Royal Beach Club on June 20.
Later that day, he reportedly continued acting disorderly at the Nassau Cruise Port and resisted arrest by Police Constable 4637 Cartwright. Boyd apologised repeatedly in court and said he was heavily intoxicated at the time.
Magistrate Evans warned and discharged him, urging him to exercise greater self-control in the future.
Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted the case.
POLICE PROBE ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
AN alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old female happened on Tuesday June 23 in the Pinewood Gardens area, police said.
The alleged victim she was taken to an area in
Pinewood Gardens by a man known to her/ He allegedly had sexual intercourse with her against her will.
Around 9pm, the victim told her mother about the sexual assault, prompting the two to go to the Criminal Investigations Department where an official report was filed.
STANIEL CAY Exuma with a picture of a tiger shark inset.
Progressive candidate concedes Colombian presidential election to Trump-endorsed outsider
By REGINA GARCIA CANO and ASTRID SUÁREZ Associated Press
PROGRESSIVE can-
didate Iván Cepeda on Wednesday conceded Colombia’s presidential election to Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative outsider who was endorsed by US President Donald Trump.
Election results showed de la Espriella, a businessman and lawyer who had never run for ofce, defeated Cepeda, a lawmaker, by 1 percentage point, or nearly 251,000 votes.
“We assume with serenity, responsibility, and absolute resolve — and let there be no doubt about it — the role that circumstances demand of us,” Cepeda said in an address to the nation. “We will exercise a democratic, vigilant and
constructive opposition.” The result efectively was an indictment of outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s government, whose policies Cepeda had promised to continue, including a largely failed efort to establish dialogue with multiple armed groups under a plan known as “total peace.” Electoral authorities published all but a fraction of the vote count hours after polls closed Sunday. Petro and Cepeda did not accept those results, with the latter saying he would wait for a recount to do so.
De la Espriella, 47, will begin a 4-year term Aug. 7. His campaign did not immediately comment on Cepeda’s concession. He proclaimed himself the winner Sunday and asked Cepeda and Petro to accept the results.
His victory adds Colombia to a growing list of
countries that have turned to political outsiders in search for solutions to complex social, security and economic challenges.
The self-proclaimed representative of “the never-before-seen” promised voters fearful of renewed internal confict to take a heavy-handed approach to combating violent crime with strategies borrowed from Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s playbook, including building mega-prisons. Those tactics have lowered homicide rates in the Central American country but have fuelled accusations of human rights abuses.
De la Espriella, nicknamed “The Tiger,” holds dual Colombian and US citizenship, is a Trump supporter and a member of the Republican Party.
On Tuesday, he announced he is putting
together his Cabinet. He also said he plans to add Colombia to the Trumpdubbed “Shield of the Americas,” a coalition of countries purportedly aimed at cracking down on criminal groups in Latin America.
More than 26 million people voted in the polarizing runof, setting a historic record. Of those, over 426,000 people chose a third, no-name option on the ballot that allows voters to express dislike of both
candidates. About 29,000 people cast blank ballots.
Cepeda, during his address to the nation, repeatedly expressed his intention to play an active role in the opposition once de la Espriella is sworn in, but he did not say whether he would accept a Senate seat reserved for the runner-up in the presidential election.
Cepeda, 63, is a philosopher and the son of a senator who was assassinated by military ofcers in
1994 during a stark moment of political violence in Colombia. The assassination led Cepeda to become a lifelong advocate for peace negotiations in the South American country, where an internal confict has lasted decades.
“Today, we represent half of Colombia at the polls,” he said. “We are a fundamental part of the nation. We are a political, social, and cultural force present in every corner of the country.”
IVAN Cepeda concedes defeat in the presidential election at a news conference in Bogota, Colombia, Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
Photo: Ivan Valencia/AP