FOUR DEAD IN CAR CARRYING EIGHT
Early Sunday crash kills group of young college hopefuls
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter Jrussell@tribunemedia.net
FOUR young women from Cat Island were killed in a devastating Shirley Street crash on Sunday morning, shattering families, a school community and university dreams just weeks before some of the victims were expected to leave The Bahamas for college.
Most of the eight occupants in the vehicle had
known each other since childhood. Among those killed were Diamond Stubbs, 17, Betrica Brown, 19, and Stania Webb, 19. The Tribune could not confrm the identity of the fourth victim up to press time. Residents of Cat Island described the tragedy as a nightmare, saying the close-knit community was struggling to absorb the loss of so many young lives. Family members few to
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Friday for the sexual assault of a child in the family islands in 2022, resulting in pregnancy. Jakyle Barry, 23, was sentenced for 11 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse before Justice Renae McKay. Barry pleaded guilty to the charges last November. Barry, then 19, began an illegal sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl on a family island in
- SEE PAGE FOUR
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Myles Laroda said he has seen numerous reports of women being sexually assaulted since taking ofce one month ago, calling the cases a troubling
theme in the daily crime reports he receives from the Commissioner of Police. Mr Laroda made the comment after he was asked whether police are seeing an increase in sexual crimes against women following reports that a 91-year-old
- SEE PAGE FOUR
BAHAMAS RECORDS 142 NEW HIV CASES DURING 2025
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
ONE hundred and forty two newly reported HIV cases were recorded in The Bahamas in 2025, with men accounting for more than 60 percent of cases and people aged 30 to 39 representing the largest afected group,
according to National HIV/ AIDS and Infectious Diseases Programme Director Dr Nikia Forbes. Dr Forbes said health ofcials are studying why men and people in that age group represented the largest share of newly reported cases, noting that the trend
FOUR young women died in a traffic accident yesterday. From left: Betrica Brown, Diamond Stubbs and Stania Webb, who died along with another unnamed young woman in an early Sunday morning crash on Shirley Street.
THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force Marching Band performs during the Beat Retreat on Bay Street yesterday. See PAGE TWO
Photo: Shawn Hanna
Hundreds attend annual Beat Retreat Downtown
Annual Beat Retreat on Bay Street.
Photos: Shawn Hanna
Tragedy as car crash claims lives of four young women
New Providence yesterday to identify the bodies of their loved ones.
The crash happened in the early hours of Sunday, when a Mazda sedan carrying the group reportedly lost control and hit a tree near the intersection of Shirley Street and Church Street. It is believed they had earlier been at a pool party.
Police said three female passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, while the remaining fve occupants were taken to hospital. A fourth woman later died from her injuries.
The survivors include a 19-year-old man, who sustained a broken wrist; a 21-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, who were listed in stable condition; and a 25-year-old man, who remains in critical condition.
Stubbs had graduated as valedictorian and head girl of Old Bight High School just two weeks ago, celebrating what relatives and school ofcials said was a future full of promise.
Phillippa Anderson,
Stubbs’ godmother, said the family is shattered. She said Stubbs had travelled from Cat Island to New Providence to prepare for college and was organising a cookout to help raise money for her studies.
Stubbs was staying with her grandfather during her visit. Her godmother described her as reserved, quiet and kind, saying the night before the crash was one of the few times she had gone out with friends. “This was her frst time going out because her friend wanted her to live a little,” she said, adding that Stubbs had so much to experience and live for. Stubbs was involved in the school band and represented her school in the Bahamas National High School Pageants.
Dr Bennique BrownPratt, principal of Old Bight High School, said Stubbs was expected to receive about fve scholarships and planned to attend Langston University.
Dr Brown-Pratt recalled that Stubbs cried tears of joy throughout her graduation ceremony about two weeks ago.
Webb, 19, graduated from
Old Bight High School in 2024. She attended Langston University on a band scholarship and was known for her love of music, kind spirit and strong work ethic. Webb and Stubbs had been friends since primary school.
Dr Brown-Pratt said Webb was also remembered as a bright young woman with a promising future. She said the deaths were heartbreaking and that the school would do its best to honour their legacy. Brown, 19, had also been preparing to begin the next chapter of her life.
Anthony Thompson said he raised his sister from the age of nine after their mother died in 2015. He said Brown also lost her father when she was two years old, explaining that they did not share the same father.
Mr Thompson described the special bond they shared, calling Brown his “baby”. She lived in Abaco with him, his wife and their two children.
When The Tribune spoke to Mr Thompson yesterday, he had just arrived in New Providence to view Brown’s body and was still struggling
to accept her death.
“I just hoped that, hey, maybe the one survivor was her. I guess that’s selfsh,” he sighed.
Asked if he was angry at the driver, Mr Thompson said no, explaining there was already too much heartache.
He added: “Imagine you crashing a car and knowing that persons died on your watch. You done have to go through that the rest of your life.”
Mr Thompson said that during their last conversation, he was helping Brown apply to another college abroad. She had received multiple scholarship ofers after excelling in volleyball and track and feld.
Brown graduated from Agape Christian School in Abaco. She loved sports, a passion she shared with her brother, who also coached her. She competed in volleyball, track and feld and basketball, earning numerous MVP awards.
The Abaco Strong Volleyball team also paid tribute to Brown, describing her as vibrant, kind and a leader.
Mr Thompson had been preparing for his sister to attend a top college and
become a physical therapist.
A phone call at 4am yesterday shattered that hope. His sister-in-law told him Brown and his niece, Stubbs, had died in a car accident in New Providence.
He said denial was his frst reaction, and he questioned whether his sister-in-law had been misinformed. He said the two young women grew up together and were more like sisters than cousins. Brown had travelled to Cat Island to visit family and Stubbs. On Tuesday, the pair caught the ferry to New Providence to obtain their student visas before leaving for college in July. Instead, they died before setting foot on their dream campuses. Some unconfrmed reports suggested the group was returning from a pool party when the crash occurred. Mr Thompson said he did not know where they had been, but understood they were on their way home.
Mr Thompson said his family is still grieving the loss of Brown’s 18-year-old brother, who died three years ago.
“it’s almost like this, you
want to be strong, but ain’t nobody care about being strong right now,” he said.
The crash has triggered an outpouring of grief across the country, with parliamentarians, community leaders and members of the public paying tribute to the young women on social media.
Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, the member of Parliament for Cat Island, said he was heartbroken by the tragedy and extended condolences to the families.
Transport Minister Leon Lundy also expressed condolences and urged motorists to practise road safety, encouraging people not to drink and drive or text while driving. Meanwhile, some Bahamians argued that the condition of some roads continues to contribute to serious trafc accidents.
St Anne’s MP Adrian White posted a video of the crash scene, saying the area had recently cut utility trenches in the northbound lane that created a hazard for motorists. He called on the Ministry of Works and Water & Sewerage to ensure such risks are not left on the nation’s roads.
Young mother dies in car crash on East Sunrise Hwy in GB
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A 26-YEAR-OLD
mother died early Sunday after her car overturned and slammed into a concrete utility pole on East Sunrise Highway in Grand Bahama.
Police had not officially released the victim’s identity up to press time, but she is believed to be Nica Julien.
Police said the crash happened shortly after 11pm on Saturday and involved a burgundy Ford Focus.
Officers found the woman outside the vehicle when they arrived. Emergency Medical Services personnel took her to Rand Memorial Hospital, where doctors treated her. She died from her injuries at about 12.35am on Sunday.
Preliminary investigations indicate the woman was travelling west on East Sunrise Highway and trying to overtake another vehicle when she lost control. Police said the car struck the centre median, overturned and collided with a concrete utility pole.
The vehicle was extensively damaged.
Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey issued condolences on Sunday, mourning Julien’s death.
"Today, we join our community in mourning the passing of Nica Julien," Ms Moxey said. "To family, friends, and all who knew and loved Nica,
please accept our sincere and heartfelt condolences during this time of profound loss."
Julien, the mother of a young son, was described as vibrant and caring. She was recently employed at Celebration Key.
Ms Moxey said she was praying for Julien’s family and friends.
"We pray that God grants you comfort,
strength, and peace in the days ahead, and that the love and support of those around you will help carry you through. May Nica's memory forever live on in the hearts of those whose lives she touched," she said.
Julien’s death prompted an outpouring of grief on social media, where friends expressed shock and sadness.
One close friend described Julien as "the light to brighten a room when you enter" and thanked her for "the laughs we shared, the shoulder to cry on, and being the overall gem that you were."
The friend also recalled Julien’s "infectious smile" and said she would be deeply missed by those whose lives she touched.
NICA JULIEN
TRAGEDY from page one
DIAMOND STUBBS STANIA WEBB BETRICA BROWN
THE SCENE on Shirley Street just before Church St where a car with eight passengers crashed into a tree.
Laroda troubled by sexual assaults against women
Man jailed 11 years for impregnating a 12-year-old girl
PRISON from page one
reports has concerned him.
“I wouldn’t say on a regular basis, but I’ve been here about a month, and I’ve seen numerous cases of women being sexually assaulted,” he said.
The minister made the remarks on Friday on the sidelines of the Private Sector Security Services’ Third Annual Seminar at Pelican Bay Resort in Grand Bahama.
During his address, Mr Laroda highlighted recent crime statistics, saying murders fell by 31 percent at the end of 2025, while overall crime declined by 11 percent.
Asked about conditions at law enforcement facilities in the Northern Bahamas, Mr Laroda said he is continuing a nationwide assessment of national security infrastructure.
He said the condition of police stations has emerged as a recurring concern during his visits.
“As I go around, even in New Providence, things like the improvement in the facilities themselves and equipment have come up,” he said. “The former minister did a good job in terms of
providing new vehicles, providing equipment and body cameras, but there is a need throughout The Bahamas for improved facilities at police stations in particular.”
Mr Laroda said he has received numerous requests for upgrades and repairs and wants to inspect facilities before recommendations are made.
“I’ve been getting a lot of requests for that, so I want to see first-hand,” he said. “I know the government is committed to not only repairing police stations and fire stations but also building new ones.”
Addressing concerns about resources for the Fire Services Department after a recent increase in brush fires, Mr Laroda said 20 additional fire trucks are expected to be acquired.
Asked about manpower needs in the police force, Mr Laroda said recruitment efforts launched under the previous administration would continue as needed.
“The former minister and the former administration brought in some 780 new police officers. There have also been Defence Force officers and prison officers recruited,” he said. “That will continue as the need arises.”
Three teenage boys granted $7,500 bail in alleged gang rape of 15-year-old girl
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THREE teenage boys were granted bail on Friday after they were accused of the gang rape of a 15-yearold girl near East West Highway earlier this month.
Prosecutors allege that Tyrese Oliver, 19, and two 16-year-old males, whose names are being withheld
because they are minors, had unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl while they were attending an event around 11pm on June 21. The suspects were reportedly known to the complainant.
After the alleged assault, the suspects were reportedly seen feeing on foot towards Montell Heights. The accused were not
required to enter pleas to the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr.
The defendants were told their matter would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment.
The two juveniles were arraigned in the presence of their guardians.
Bail was set at $7,500 with
one or two sureties each.
The defendants were not warned not to interfere with the complainant or any witnesses, or risk having their bail revoked.
The accused return for service of their VBI on October 29.
Bjorn Ferguson and Mark Penn represented the accused.
Sergeant 3004 Forbes prosecuted the case.
after they were reportedly introduced by the complainant’s cousin. The ofence took place at the complainant’s grandmother’s house, which the convict often visited.
The complainant’s grandmother said the convict was like a son to her.
The relationship continued until April 2022, when the girl became pregnant at 13. Although the minor willingly had sex with Barry, she could not legally consent because she was under 16.
The child he fathered with the minor is now three years old.
The complainant, now 17, expressed a desire for the convict to be present in their child’s upbringing.
In his probation report, the convict expressed remorse for his actions. His probation ofcer deemed Barry capable of
rehabilitation.
The defence said the convict wished to play an active role in his child’s life and recommended a sentence of two to fve years. Conversely, the prosecution argued that the seriousness of the ofence and the prevalence of sex crimes were aggravating factors. Prosecutors called for a prison sentence of 12 to 15 years.
Justice McKay called the convict’s actions predatory and said he abused his access and familiarity with the complainant to take advantage of her at a tender age.
While Justice McKay acknowledged the convict’s remorse, she said she wanted the sentence to deter and noted that the complainant should have been protected from the convict.
Glendon Rolle represented the accused, while Basil Cumberbatch prosecuted the case.
Man accused of pulling gun on two police o cers
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE ofcer testifed on Friday that he collected evidence from the scene where a man allegedly pulled a gun on two ofcers on Mutton Fish Drive in 2020.
Detective Constable Lameiko Bell 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.
DC Bell said that on the same day, he went to the crime scene and was instructed by the investigator, Assistant Superintendent of Police Keno Demeritte, to collect evidence.
The ofcer said he gave a frearm and phone recovered at the scene to ASP Demeritte.
Before that, the ofcer said he swabbed the weapon for DNA evidence.
While at the scene, DC Bell spoke with the two ofcers involved in the incident.
DC Bell told the jury that ofcers do not allow everyone onto a crime scene to avoid contaminating the evidence. He also told them that a full crime scene sweep is standard.
The ofcer said Corporal
Sweeting photographed the scene.
DC Bell was shown a signed request-for-analysis form that showed Corporal Brown received the items.
Defence attorney Ian Jupp pointed out that DC Bell’s report was dated four days after the incident.
DC Bell said he could not recall why it took so long for him to fle the report.
Mr Jupp said the gun was not on the list of items submitted to police.
The ofcer said the gun was marked after he swabbed it.
The ofcer said he did not recall seeing any blood at the scene.
He said police ofcers involved in shootings have their weapons collected.
When asked by the jury if the bullet recovered from a wall was swabbed for blood to prove the suspect was shot, DC Bell said the bullet only needed to be tested to determine what gun it was fred from.
Mr Jupp questioned whether ASP Demeritte was at the scene to direct the ofcer.
DC Bell maintained that he was instructed by the investigator on what to collect and said he could not recall exactly which ofcers were at the scene.
The ofcer said he was not aware whether the photos taken by his crime scene investigator colleague were entered into evidence.
Basil Cumberbatch is prosecuting the case.
Man remanded to prison for breach of bail conditions
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded to prison last week after he was accused of breaching his bail while awaiting trial for allegedly having a loaded assault rife in New Providence last year. Prosecutors allege Marcello Harris, 30, failed to charge his monitoring device at 8.38pm on June 17. Harris is awaiting trial on charges of possession of an unlicensed frearm and possession of ammunition with intent to supply.
The defendant was allegedly found with a Del-Ton Inc rife and 27 rounds of .223 ammunition on July 20, 2025.
Harris initially pleaded guilty to violating his bail conditions before Magistrate Abigail Farrington. However, after he did not accept the facts of the case, a not guilty plea was entered.
After prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Kendrick Bauld objected to bail, it was denied. Harris returns to court for trial on August 29.
NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER MYLES LARODA
Father Palacious honoured for 50 years in the priesthood
Archdeacon of Southern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos and Director of St Agnes Anglican Church Keith Cartwright speaks during a service in honour of Father Palacious.
Father James Edwin Palacious speaks during a service at St Philip’s Church in Inagua in honour of his 50 years as an ordained priest. Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis was in attendance, and gave remarks on Fr Palacious’ years of service.
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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A nation in mourning, a need for change...
Our hearts are broken. Five young, precious lives were lost on Bahamas roads in the space of a few hours. Five families were devastated by two appalling tragedies.
The pain is beyond comprehension. We cannot even try to imagine the levels of grief and despair, but along with all Bahamians, we send our love, thoughts, and prayers to everyone touched by these agonizing events. As a nation, we must unite. We must ask ourselves what can be done to prevent this from happening again. It is too early to understand all the factors that contributed to these accidents, but there are undeniable realities. Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition issued powerful and poignant statements yesterday. That is a good frst step. We suggest that the PLP and FNM set aside their political diferences and come together to prevent another tragedy.
Enforcement and education are the answer.
Eight young people should never believe it is acceptable to squeeze into a single car. We urge those in elected ofce to rapidly agree on the framework for a public awareness initiative. It must be powerful, and it must speak to all Bahamians, especially our youth.
Most people drive safely and without incident, but anyone who spends time on our roads witnesses some drivers traveling at dangerously high speeds, especially at night. We have speed limits, yet some clearly believe they are optional.
We have laws about wearing helmets when riding motorbikes or scooters. As far as we can ascertain, they are not enforced on Sundays, let alone any other day. Perhaps our new Minister of National Security can enlighten us further on the subject.
We have laws about wearing seatbelts. Are they being enforced?
We need enforcement, and if that requires more resources, we must acquire them. Why not redirect revenue from fnes to the Ministry of National Security, rather than the Consolidated Fund?
Additionally, we urge the government to roll out a road improvement program. Potholes need fxing, sunken road drains need addressing, and road markings, if they even exist, must be signifcantly improved.
Isn’t it time we look for alternative solutions? Globally, there is overwhelming evidence regarding the efectiveness of speed cameras. According to a range of long-term studies, reducing speeds in built-up areas has reduced serious injuries and deaths by between 48% and 68%. Average speed systems have a 98% to 99% success rate at ensuring speed compliance.
Speed is the biggest single factor. Global trafc data shows that every 1% increase in average speed produces a 4% increase in fatal crash risk. We cannot aford to ignore this stark reality.
The events of the weekend have made that tragically clear
Innovation and clear thinking
EDITOR, The Tribune.
I HAVE long been and remain a proponent of digitalisation; innovation and the application of technology in the public and private sectors. Too many Bahamians, especially the mature ones like myself, like to moan and groan about the good old days and the ease of conducting transactions back then. Well, beloved, times have and are rapidly changing for the better in most cases. Case in point. Over the years applications for the grant or outright purchase of Crown Land are submitted manually to The Lands & Surveys Department along with supporting documents. A week or so later a form letter is sent to the applicant acknowledging receipt of the same. Then the ‘horror’ begins!! The process for such applications is tedious and completely manual. Data and information are physically entered and stored in boxes or fling cabinets. Yes, you are able to imagine the ultimate results. Files and applications get ‘lost’ or misplaced. Because of the lengthy process many Bahamians actually die while awaiting processing. This is dead wrong and a gross insult
to a nation which is celebrating 54 years of Independence. The Hon Minister of Innovation & National Development has proposed that All governmental and public service departments be integrated into a single (with back up of course) server and digitalised. Instead of a particular ministry acting rogue and in complete ignorance as to what another relevant ministry may be doing is outdated and very unsafe. Mr Bastian has a higher degree in Business & Technology from several USA based institutions. He, et al, was an early pioneer in the mobile cell phone industry. In addition, he and his partners were able to develop the web industry to heights and levels previously unknown. As an independently wealthy young man, Minister Bastian can only be good for his constituency and the nation. His election and appointment are just what the doctor ordered. The Rt Hon Prime Minister made an excellent selection.
I take full credit for being one of the frst Bahamians to encourage MP Bastian to seek elective ofce way back in 2016 just prior to the general elections which
e importance of Parliamentary etiquette
EDITOR, The Tribune.
IT is impossible to practice parliamentary politics without having patience, decency, politeness and courtesy.” ~ Anonymous consensus on legislative standards
The foundation of efective democracy rests on a commitment to parliamentary etiquette.
These established norms are more than mere traditions; they are essential mechanisms that enable diverse voices to engage in constructive deliberation and make sound decisions.
By fostering mutual respect and disciplined conduct, they ensure that legislative bodies operate with integrity, allowing for substantive dialogue even when profound ideological diferences exist.
Civility, clear communication, and the impartial application of rules are paramount. These principles safeguard minority viewpoints, prevent emotional discourse from derailing critical work, and prioritise policy over personal animosity.
Upholding such standards across all legislative institutions worldwide is vital. It preserves the dignity of our democratic systems, facilitates efcient governance, and ensures robust, fair processes for all.
Recent proceedings within the Bahamas Parliament have brought into sharp focus the foundational principles of parliamentary decorum, etiquette, and their crucial role in maintaining the integrity of legislative
debate and speeches generally.
A particular exchange between the Member of Parliament for Long Island, Dr Andre Rollins, and the Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Philip Edward “Brave” Davis, who represents Cat Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador, during a contentious budget discussion and debate, vividly illustrated a deviation from established protocols.
The essence of parliamentary etiquette dictates that members address one another with respect and dignity, typically by their constituency title or ofcial ofce, to foster an environment of professional discourse, respect, and decorum rather than personal animosity. In the particular instance, while the Member for Long Island adhered to the time-honored convention, the Prime Minister unfortunately departed from them. His decision to address Dr Rollins as “the young man” was not merely a casual oversight; it represented a clear breach of parliamentary standards.
The colloquial and dismissive address failed to acknowledge the Member’s elected status and the ofce he holds, thereby diminishing the legislative process itself
and setting a potentially undesirable precedent.
After all, the people in the Bahamas and overseas by means of technology have access to what is taking place in The Bahamas.
Such a lapse in decorum, particularly from a senior statesman and the head of government, carries signifcant weight. As the Prime Minister, Mr Davis is expected to embody the highest standards of conduct and uphold the dignity of Parliament.
His decorum (actions), or lack thereof, in not retracting the comment or ofering an apology, inadvertently contribute to the erosion of the mutual respect essential for efective governance.
The incident, in question, has understandably ignited a broader conversation about the sustained importance of parliamentary respect, the adherence to procedural norms, and the responsibility of all members, especially those in leadership positions, to model impeccable conduct within the House of Assembly and in public.
Upholding these conventions is paramount to ensuring that legislative deliberations remain focused on substantive issues, free from unnecessary personal animosity, and ultimately, to bolstering public confdence in the democratic institution
DR DONALD M McCARTNEY
Freeport, Grand Bahama June 23, 2026.
Black struggle for a piece of the American dream
EDITOR, The Tribune.
US Senator Martin Heinrich wrote that June 19th should be a hollow and celebrated day, a day North America should never forget for it was on this day in 1865 that Union Soldiers entering Galveston, Texas and declared All Slaves are to be Free from Slavery. Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was declared “that all People are to be free”. That freedom came at a huge cost to the United States and those enslaved. 23 million Slaves of African, Latino and Caribbean Heritage let loose and often driven away from their lodgings. Many knew little of the world outside and stayed on the plantations. Slavery was all they knew. Others entered the world of unforgiving competition, trying to find employment, actually be paid for their hard
were held in 2017. He coyly ‘denied’ that he had such ambitions and that if he had, that there would only be one ultimate goal. Words often speak for themselves...res ipso. For the record, allow me to state right here and now that Minister Bastian, whether or not he realises it at this juncture, is destined to ascend the political greasy pole, at the appropriate time. Yes, he is MY horse in the inevitable PLP leadership race once the beloved and enlightened Rt Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, KC, MP voluntarily and at a time of his exclusive choice (barring an Act of God), hangs up his political hat. The race is not to who is frst in line but goes to the one who endures to the very end. Some, already, have asked me why I am not publicly supporting some of the other possible contenders. My answer across the board is and has always been: ‘Some are born great; others have greatness thrust upon them. Sebas has a date with Destiny. To God then, in all things, be the glory.
ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, June 21, 2026.
work. Those fortunate enough to have an education strived to better themselves by joining the US Army, Law Enforcement and or attempting to find their fortune in Western USA. June 19th 1865 is a date we all should not forget, but we do. The stage was being set for the Black Race by empathetic Whites and Black Leadership. None of them could know that Blacks would earn the franchise to vote, seek true representation in the various State and Federal Government Assembly’s. Along the way certain Black Communities prospered while others did not facing, an everlasting prejudice from their fellow human beings.
Many Blacks suffering from the scares of slavery suffered addictions and mental health issues that continued to form and mold them. The
Black Church became even more essential in the lives of these people, as their faith helped them endure the oppression of freedom. They now had to fend for themselves carving out of the New America a piece of the American Dream, once never to be considered by nonwhites. Education and Fair equitable employment were the answer to future generations as things such as equality, employment opportunities, better treatment once never heard became battle cries to a future movement. Martin Luther Jr, Malcom X and so many others dedicated their lives to create a fair and equal playing field for their generation and those to come.
STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario June 20, 2026.
It is not fair to tourists, we need to do better
EDITOR, The Tribune.
ON yesterday, I was stopped whilst enroute to the public office and asked to write this query to the newspaper about the caption, reluctantly I accepted, because it was something that he is well able to write, but here it is. Reflecting on my first travel to the Miami area, but before disembarking the aircraft, I wanted to use the restroom while walking in the tunnel of all places, but wasn’t sure where to find it, and as I got into the general area there was no shortage of restrooms up and down the concourse. Writer, what are you talking about? As I figured, the airport creators wanted to welcome travelers to Miami, and what they did, they made it convenient
absolutely so. Now, what I am attempting to do is to show the disparity between what they have and the enormous lack of these vital human conveniences?
What is interesting is that from my time at the local office which is located in the area of Bank Lane, and garden remembrance, I have grown acquainted with these visitors to our country having a need to use the library’s restroom but always they would be turned away. It aches my heart that the distance they would be asked to travel just to seek out a facility, is it fair?
The person whose article this is, has suggested that the abandoned building (the former magistrates court one and five), just to the east of the Nassau Public Library,
Bank Lane, Be converted restrooms, just saying! In conclusion, just take a leisurely walk with me along Bay Street, apart from the Nassau Straw Market, and or Pompey Square, the only remaining other restrooms belonged to restaurants, who might have a problem with non-paying tourists’ access to their facilities, so powers that be, just factoring into the fray the hundreds of walking travelers to the downtown shopping mecca, is unacceptable, after all we have asked them to come, but this is no way to welcome visitors who like the old people would say, were used to good things, and knows when something is filthy?
FRANK GILBERT
Nassau, June 23, 2026.
Cop allegedly stabbed, suspect shot in Café Matisse arson attempt
A POLICE officer allegedly shot a masked man after being stabbed during a suspected arson attempt behind Café Matisse earlier this month,
The Tribune understands.
Police have not confirmed or denied whether the incident occurred.
However, The Tribune understands that an officer reported last week that shortly before 2am on Thursday, an officer leaving Central Police Station noticed two men acting suspiciously near the rear of Café Matisse and the BTC building on East Street North.
The men, who were reportedly dressed in dark clothing and wearing ski masks, were seen walking through an alley behind the buildings.
As the officer followed the men, one allegedly ran off while the other allegedly threw a flammable substance onto the roof of Café Matisse and set it alight.
The officer reportedly approached the man, leading to a struggle. During the altercation, the man allegedly stabbed the officer in his right hand.
The Tribune
understands that the officer discharged four rounds from his service weapon, striking the suspect. The suspect was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for surgery. The officer was also injured in the incident.
By the time firefighters arrived, rain had reportedly extinguished the fire. The roof of the building sustained minor damage.
The owner and manager of Café Matisse declined to comment when contacted.
Man ordered to repay $3,000 stolen from bank account
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was placed on probation on Friday after he admitted stealing $3,000 from another man’s bank account.
Eric Higgs Jr, 31, stole $3,000 from Gregory
Chisholm’s Commonwealth Bank account on October 2, 2025. Higgs pleaded guilty to stealing before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr. The money laundering charge against him was withdrawn. Higgs was granted a conditional discharge. He was placed on six months’ probation and ordered to reimburse the complainant. Failure to comply with these conditions would result in a six-month prison term. Sergeant 3004 Forbes prosecuted the case.
Police probe suspicious death after body found in Yellow Elder
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
AN adult man with visible injuries to his upper body was found dead in a service road off Melvern Road, Yellow Elder, on Friday morning, prompting police to launch a suspicious death investigation.
Police said they were alerted to the body shortly after 8am and
responded to the scene. Officers found the man dressed in blue shorts. A pair of tennis shoes was found nearby. Emergency Medical Services personnel examined the victim and confirmed he had no vital signs.
Police said the initial investigation suggests the man had been involved in an altercation the previous night with a male who was accompanied by
a female in the Melvern Road area.
After the incident, the victim reportedly went to a nearby service road, where his body was discovered the next morning.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Sheria King, the police press liaison officer, said at the scene that foul play is suspected. She said a pathology report will determine the cause of death.
CAFE MATISSE Downtown, Nassau.
Men account for majority of new HIV cases in 2025
could refect diferences in health-seeking behaviour, delayed testing or risk behaviour.
The Bahamas recorded 156 newly diagnosed HIV cases in 2024, up from 130 in 2023.
Dr Forbes spoke on Friday during the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ annual Regional Testing Day event at RM Bailey Park, where ofcials ofered free HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing, counselling and prevention information.
“We have 144 cases, 142 cases that were reported in 2025 and so we’ve been looking at trends of the newly reported cases from since the beginning of the epidemic, basically,” she said.
She noted that new HIV infections have fallen sharply since the height of the epidemic, when The Bahamas recorded hundreds of newly reported cases in some years.
MINISTRY
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
UNLICENSED private security frms will be shut down as the Ministry of National Security tightens enforcement in an industry ofcials say includes operators working without licences, particularly in the Family Islands.
National Security Minister Myles Laroda told more than 100 private security personnel and frms at the Private Sector Security Service Third Annual Seminar in Grand Bahama on Friday that authorities will no longer tolerate
“The UN, they are looking at the 2010 year as the benchmark for the metric to reduce new HIV infections by 75 percent by the year 2030,” she said. “So in those years, in the 1990s, sometimes we had as high as almost 800 newly reported infections. In 1993 that was a whole lot. So, 142 is defnitely down from that but one case is too many.”
Dr Forbes said HIV experts and other partners are examining the reasons behind the demographics of newly reported cases.
“We’re needing to look a little closer at that, but it could be health-seeking behaviour,” she said “Women tend to maybe access healthcare more for checkups with no symptoms.”
“We’re wondering now if this is a catch-up trend where men maybe previously they were not getting their checkups regularly, but they could be presenting with symptoms now.”
“Like maybe they had the infection for a while, but now they’re presenting
with symptoms for testing, and then we have to look at risk behaviour. We are not certain as to why that is, but we are taking a closer look at it.”
Local ofcials completed The Bahamas’ UNAIDS report in the spring and are awaiting its release.
Dr Forbes said 96 percent of people living with HIV in The Bahamas know their status. She said 81 percent of diagnosed people are receiving treatment, while 98 percent of those on medication have achieved an undetectable viral load, which she described as the gold standard of HIV care.
This year’s Regional Testing Day event expanded to include screenings for chronic non-communicable diseases through a partnership with other Ministry of Health units.
Ofcials also demonstrated HIV self-testing, an oral swab test that can be done at home.
Last year, 347 people were tested in activities leading up to Regional Testing Day.
Prime Minister speaks at US Embassy’s event marking 250 years of American Independence
PRIME Minister Philip 'Brave' Davis speaks at a celebration to make the 250th anniversary of American Independence at the US Embassy, Nassau.
The event celebrated the theme 'American Icons' and guests were invited on a road trip through iconic American cities and landmarks, interacting with stunning Junkanoo recreations of American monuments - from the Hollywood Sign to the Washington Monument -celebrating the creativity, artistry, and shared spirit of both nations. As well as Mr Davis, speeches were
CRACKS DOWN ON UNLICENSED SECURITY OPERATORS
non-compliance.
"The days of treating non-compliance as a manageable inconvenience are over," Mr Laroda said.
He said the Private Sector Security Services Unit has stepped up compliance and enforcement, collecting more than $156,000 in licence fees and removing 150 inactive frms and 200 unauthorised guards from the system.
The ministry is also preparing amendments to the Security Guards Act to impose tougher penalties for unlicensed operations, strengthen training and conduct standards, and improve oversight of
security companies.
"We are protecting the public and protecting compliant companies from unfair competition," Mr Laroda said.
He said the government is also introducing a new security guard licence with enhanced safety features, including a magstripe module and single laminator, to replace a system vulnerable to fraud.
An online portal through MyGateway now allows electronic payments and licence issuance.
Samuel Smith, manager of the Private Sector Security Services Unit, said ofcials have found
Cartwright backs restricted access to sex offender register
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
SOCIAL Services Minister Barbara Cartwright has backed restricted access to the Sexual Ofenders Register, saying key government agencies and institutions should be able to identify convicted sex ofenders while keeping the register closed to the general public.
Mrs Cartwright’s comments came after Crisis Centre Director Sandra Dean-Patterson warned against making the register public, arguing that broad access in a small country like The Bahamas could encourage vigilantism, undermine ofender monitoring and fail to make children safer.
Mrs Cartwright said she agreed the register should not be open to the public, but said certain ministries and institutions should have access to the information to help protect vulnerable people.
"I believe that certain ministries or persons should have access to the register, even though we're in a small society,” she said. “I think we should know, because there are people out there who just want to harm persons, that's their thing, they think about it every day, it's a constant thing for them, that's how they live.
"So we need to know who they are, some other persons need to know, so sort of we could rely on, relate to, or call another institution and say, is this person on the sex register?
"Sometimes you have the conviction in the newspaper, and so you know there's persons who we have, whenever they get out of jail, we need to know where they are for our own safety, because sometimes persons never stop. They continue, they may have gone in jail, they didn't have the proper training or that they need, and so they come out and they do, they commit the same crime."
Mrs Cartwright added: "I don't think it should be a public record, but I think that certain institutions should be made aware of who those persons are."
Last week, Ms Dean-Patterson said the Crisis Centre had long advocated for the register because of the growing number of children being sexually abused and exploited. However, she said access should remain limited to agencies responsible for protecting children and supervising ofenders after their release, including the police, the Department of Social Services and the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
She warned that making the register public could encourage vigilantism and create unintended consequences, including
housing restrictions that make it harder to monitor ofenders efectively.
Ms Dean-Patterson said responsibility for monitoring ofenders and protecting children should remain with the agencies tasked with that work after ofenders leave prison. She also acknowledged that such a system depends on public confdence in the authorities responsible for enforcing it.
The Sexual Ofenders Register was established under the Sexual Ofenders (Amendment) Act, passed in 2014 and brought into force in July 2019.
In 2022, the government began digitising the register with the installation of a kiosk at Wulf Road Police Station. Then National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said ofenders sentenced after July 24, 2019, must register within 72 hours of their release from prison, report any change of address and notify authorities before travelling for more than seven days.
Mr Munroe also cautioned against using information on registered ofenders for retaliation, warning that vigilantism in other jurisdictions had, in some cases, resulted in ofenders being removed from registries by the courts, making them harder for authorities to monitor.
unlicensed security companies operating in the Family Islands and will move against operators who fail to comply.
”We will give you a chance to fx yourself, get your licence together. If you don’t do it, we going to close you down,” he said.
Mr Smith said the seminar was held in Grand Bahama this year to better inform security guards and companies about the law and to get feedback on proposed amendments.
He said the Private Security Act, which dates back to 1970, is under review and is expected to be modernised by the end of the
year. He said consultations are being carried out across the Family Islands as ofcials seek input from operators before fnal amendments are made. He said there are about 12,000 security frms in The Bahamas, along with many inactive companies that have been deleted from the system. He said the private security industry remains a multi-million-dollar sector that spans every island, with frms increasingly using surveillance technology such as drones and camera systems instead of traditional patrol methods.
Mr Laroda told security ofcers they play a key role in national safety and crime prevention.
"You are the eyes and ears in spaces where the Police Force cannot maintain a permanent presence. You protect our hotels, banks, schools, gated communities, and public events. For the year ending 2025, this nation recorded a 31 percent reduction in murders and an 11 percent reduction in overall major crimes. You are part of that record," he said. Family Island inspection visits are planned for the frst quarter of the upcoming fscal year.
GOVT AND UWI SIGN AGREEMENT FOR FOUR-YEAR MEDICAL SCHOOL
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas and the University of the West Indies have signed a renewed agreement that could pave the way for a full four-year UWI medical programme in The Bahamas, a move Health Minister Dr Michael Darville said would strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce.
Dr Darville said officials have spent at least a year and a half discussing the proposal with UWI Mona Campus and the university’s senior executive team. He said the agreement includes plans for a feasibility study on establishing the programme locally as the government moves ahead with plans to construct two healthcare facilities.
“We approached UWI Mona Campus to look into the possibility of a four-year programme here in The Bahamas, and that is embedded in the agreement we signed today,” Dr Darville said. “So we will start the feasibility study surrounding that as we move to construct the two facilities.”
He added: “Yes, we want a full campus of the University of the West
Indies School of Medicine in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”
The partnership between The Bahamas and UWI began in 1997 and was renewed in 2006.
Dr Darville said the latest agreement modernises the arrangement and reflects the government’s commitment to expanding medical education and healthcare capacity.
“Today’s renewal reflects our administration’s continued commitment to investing in education, training and healthcare capacity,” he said. “It supports our goal of ensuring that Bahamians have access to well-trained, qualified healthcare professionals and that our healthcare system remains equipped to meet the needs of a growing, diverse population in an archipelagic nation.”
UWI Mona Campus Principal and Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Densil Williams described the agreement as a major step toward expanding access to higher education and medical training in the region.
“We are pleased to enter into a partnership with the Government of The Bahamas to look
at how we upgrade our existing engagement from a mere two-year programme to a fullfledged medical school over the coming years,” Professor Williams said.
“That indeed minister will be a game changer in terms of access for medical education in The Bahamas and for that we at the UW are really proud and very happy to join in that feasibility study to see what is possible to bring us to that level.”
Dr Darville said the UWI School of Clinical Medicine has helped train doctors for the country’s healthcare system.
“The University of the West Indies School of Clinical Medicine is responsible for assisting the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to ensure that we have the trained medical personnel for a healthcare system that is not only in Nassau and Grand Bahama but throughout the archipelago,” he said. He said 17 MBBS students and 17 Doctor of Medicine students were expected to graduate later that day, adding to the country’s healthcare workforce.
made by US Ambassador Herschel Walker, and Governor General Dame Cynthia Pratt. Pastor Mario Moxey, President of the Bahamas Christian Council, delivered the invocation.
The Bahamian national anthem was performed by Beyoncé Knowles, 15, of New Providence, and the US anthem sung by Danielle Dorsett of the band Shaad Collie & The VIP’s.
PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis speaks at an event marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence on Friday.
Photo: Nikia Charlton
SOCIAL SERVICES MINISTER BARBARA CARTWRIGHT
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
Monday, June 29, 2026
A reason to smile . . .
The KDK Report more than one arm
By DR KENNETH D KEMP
ON THE fats of Exuma, where the turquoise waters blur seamlessly into the blue sky, you may be fortunate enough to meet a man whose smile is as warm as the Bahamian sun. With his permission, I’m sharing his remarkable story, but to protect his privacy I’ll call him “Malcolm.” He is my patient, and on a quiet morning like today, he casts a fy line with a single, fuid motion of his left arm into a perfect loop that cuts through the salt air and lands effortlessly on the water. To the tourists who hire him, he’s simply one of the best bone-fshing guides on the island. But to the locals, he’s a living miracle. Malcolm was born of dirt and salt, and was shaped by the rugged landscape that island life provided in the early 60s. There was no indoor plumbing, no running water, and no electricity in a house packed with four brothers and two sisters.
Malcolm’s mother cooked over the crackle of open frewood. If the family wanted to eat, they farmed the rocky soil and fshed the deep blue sea. It taught him the rewards of hard work. When the time came, Malcolm packed his bags for Nassau. He landed a coveted spot as an apprentice chef at a hotel, and spent nearly eight years sweating over hot lines, mastering the culinary arts.
At the same time, he was enrolled in culinary school and was months away from graduating when he looked up at the sky and saw a different future. Somewhere between classes and shifts at the hotel, he became fascinated by airplanes. Perhaps it was the freedom they represented. Perhaps it was curiosity. Perhaps, like so many 16-year-old boys, he simply wanted to do something extraordinary. Whatever the reason, fying quickly evolved from an interest to his dream.
Flight training was different then. There were no sophisticated simulators. You learned to fy by climbing into a small airplane beside an instructor and trusting that each lesson would prepare you for the next. And fight after fight, Malcolm’s confdence grew. He few 15 times, learning the language of altitude and airspeed. Then during a routine fight from Nassau to Andros in June 1983, Malcolm’s life was changed forever.
That morning, Malcolm climbed into a small aircraft
with his instructor for what was supposed to be another routine training fight to Andros. They landed safely, spent time on the island and, later that day, started their short journey back to Nassau.
fsh. The moment his bare feet touched the cool, shallow waters of the Exuma fats, something clicked. Casting in the silence of the mangroves, he found what the plane crash had tried to steal from him: absolute peace and complete independence.
During his interview, I asked Malcolm one fnal question. “What do you want people reading this article to remember?” He didn’t hesitate.
on the orthopedic ward.
The pain was intense. It felt as though someone had poured gasoline into his veins and set his nervous system on fre, 24 hours a day. Three times a week, he
The engine accelerated and the airplane gathered speed lifting gracefully into the clear Bahamian sky. When they rose to approximately two hundred feet, the engine stopped without warning. In that instant, every dream that had carried Malcolm into the cockpit collided with a reality no amount of training could overcome. At that height, gravity becomes a violent, oncoming wall. There was no altitude to glide, no time to restart the engine, and no space to maneuver. There was only the terrifying, instantaneous realisation that they were falling to their deaths. Then came the impact. It didn't sound like metal hitting branches. It sounded like a bomb
exploding from the inside out. The pilot died on impact. Alongside Malcolm and his instructor was a female passenger, a friend of the pilot looking for a quick ride back to Nassau. She was instantly decapitated.
When the metal fnally stopped twisting, Malcolm was the only person left breathing. Third-degree burns seared his skin. His left leg and left arm were fractured into pieces. His right arm had been literally and violently torn from his torso during the crash. Because of the dense, swampy terrain, it took emergency responders four agonizing hours to extricate him from the wreckage.
Malcolm was just barely alive. He was airlifted to Nassau, where another battle was only beginning. He spent the next six weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) hovering in the gray space between life and death. Another two months followed
had to endure the excruciating torture of wound care and debridement to keep lethal bacterial infections from claiming what the crash had left behind.
But the boy from Exuma knew how to endure.
For two months, he fought through physical therapy. He didn't just re-learn how to take a step, he had to re-learn the physics of balance. But he looked at his future and made a solemn vow to himself: never beg on the side of the street or be a ghost of the tragedy he endured in June of 1983.
Once he was fnally able to walk independently again, he didn’t retreat from life. He returned to it. At work, over the next 15 years, he steadily climbed through the organization: from expediter to cost control clerk, receiving manager, accounts payable supervisor, and eventually systems analyst for food and beverage.
Then, just as he had adapted once before, life demanded another adjustment. When the heavy economic recession hit The Bahamas in the 1990s, the corporate world contracted.
And once again, he pivoted.
He packed his bags and moved back home to Exuma. He bought a car and became a taxi driver. But when some close friends realised that a car cabin was too small for a spirit that had survived the sky, they took him out into the fats and, with his one arm, taught him how to fy
Malcom admitted that while his body eventually healed, the memories remain painfully dormant. The plane crash--and the nightmares that followed--stole the confdence of his youth and forced him to face life’s fragility far too soon. But instead of allowing that day to become a lifelong prison, fear quietly gave way to gratitude and a reminder that every day is a gift and every sunrise is another opportunity to keep moving forward.
“Never give up,” he replied. Just three words that had already been tested by more hardship than most of us will ever experience.
“As long as there is life, there is hope,” he told me.
“But hope isn’t enough by itself. You have to choose your mindset. You have to decide that your circumstances, no matter how painful or unfair, will not be allowed to write the fnal chapter of your story.”
And he’s not done climbing. Malcolm doesn't want to just be a great guide, he wants to expand his business into a feet of fve to six custom fshing boats, hiring and training young Bahamian guides, passing down the art of the fats to the next generation. He wants to show the youth of the island that your limitations are only as large as your lack of imagination. Somewhere between the burning wreckage in Andros and the quiet turquoise waters of Exuma, a frightened 16-year-old boy became one of the strongest men I have ever met. And it’s a reminder to us all that sometimes the strongest person in the room isn’t the one carrying the most. It’s the one who’s already lost almost everything and still has a reason to smile.
This is The KDK Report.
Scratching that bug bite might feel good at frst but science explains why it's a bad idea
BY LAURAN NEERGAARD AP MEDICAL WRITER
WASHINGTON (AP) —
You’ve likely heard it since childhood: Don’t scratch that bug bite or rash, you’ll make it worse. But why would something that feels so good be bad? A lot of things can cause itchiness, sometimes serious diseases. Whatever the cause, doctors have long warned that scratching too much can damage the skin. Now researchers better understand why even a mildly annoying itch could put you on an itch-and-scratch cycle if you give in. How did they fnd out? In part by putting tiny “cones of shame” onto mice to uncover what happens on a cellular level when an itch gets scratched — or left alone. They also gained insight into why a good scratch at least at frst brings a sigh
of relief. After all, not just people and other mammals scratch, even fsh do. The commonality suggests there must be some evolutionary reason and the mouse experiment hints at a little germ protection — but still not a reason to scratch. Expect a more swollen, itchier spot if you can't ignore that bug bite
Dr. Daniel Kaplan, a University of Pittsburgh dermatologist whose lab studies immune reactions in skin, was exploring a run-ofthe-mill type of itch called allergic contact dermatitis, caused by irritants such as poison ivy or nickel in jewelry. Kaplan's research team put a rash-inducing irritant on the ears of mice. Normal mice scratched and infammatory immune cells rushed to the site, increasing swelling. The rash was much milder in mice bred with
defective itch-sensing nerve cells. But was the difference really the scratching?
Normal mice put into collars like those veterinary “cones of shame” so they itched but couldn't scratch gave the answer: They, too, had much less swelling and fewer infammatory cells.
Kaplan said that evidence matches people’s everyday experiences that scratching really can make things worse.
Ignore a mosquito bite and the itch is “gone in fve or 10 minutes for most people,” he said. “But if you start scratching it, it’s your friend for a week,” getting itchier and more infamed.
The immune system’s frst responders can help — and hurt
To understand what was happening in the skin, Kaplan’s team took a deeper look at mast cells, among the immune system’s frst
responders. When called into action, they release compounds that can help fght germs or toxins — or, through a compound called histamine, trigger itchy allergic reactions.
Scientists have long known that allergens can activate mast cells. But other signals can summon mast cells, too, including pain. And when we scratch, “we tend to scratch until it starts to hurt,” Kaplan noted.
Pain-sensing nerve cells release a chemical messenger called substance P. In fndings published last year, Kaplan’s team reported that substance P can activate mast cells through a different molecular pathway than allergens do — a double whammy that explains why scratching further infames itchy rashes or bites.
Then why does a little scratching feel good?
If we experience pain
like touching a hot stove, we’ll learn not to do that again. Yet relief from a good scratch, in evolutionary terms, is positive feedback. Why?
One long-held theory is that it may help creatures slough off parasites like feas or mites. But Kaplan also was intrigued by other labs’ fndings that mast cells could fend off a common type of skin bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. So his team infected mice and then repeated the cone-ofshame itch experiment. Sure enough, those that scratched had lower levels of that germ on their ears, maybe because of the extra infammation or some other mast cell-related compound.
But that's not enough of an upside to change the health advice.
“Ultimately, scratching is deleterious,” Kaplan stressed. “You should
avoid scratching,” he said, although acknowledging that it’s “easier said than done.”
Here’s how to handle a minor itch
What fghts an itch depends on its cause and there's a need for better treatments. For now, antihistamines and certain other drugs for hives can tamp down some itchiness triggered by mast cells. Drug companies are experimenting with other approaches called MRGPRX2 blockers that target the pathway Kaplan’s team linked to scratching. Kaplan hopes better understanding of that pathway eventually could help skin diseases such as chronic eczema. For the summer itchiness of bug bites, poison ivy and other types of contact dermatitis, dermatologists recommend anti-itch balms such as hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion or oatmeal baths.
Photo: Ono Kosuki/pexels
• Beyond The Borders
Public charge, proof, and the preparedness requirement
STATUTORY Defnition
of the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility
Under Section 212(a) (4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), a foreign national is inadmissible to the United States if they are determined to be "likely at any time to become a public charge." As of June 2026, the regulatory framework defned in 8 CFR 212.21 remains the primary standard for this adjudication. A public charge is defned as an individual who is primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutionalization at government expense.
The determination of whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge is a prospective assessment. Adjudicating offcers must conduct a "totality of the circumstances" analysis, evaluating an applicant’s likelihood of future dependency based on a range of mandatory factors. For Bahamian nationals and those from the broader Caribbean region, navigating this assessment requires a technical understanding of the evidentiary standards necessary to overcome the presumption of liability.
I. Age and Economic Viability
The age of an applicant is evaluated in direct relation to their earning capacity and potential for self-support. Applicants between the ages of 18 and 62 are generally viewed through the lens of their current or future participation in the labor market. For those outside this range, the burden shifts toward documenting the fnancial strength of the household or the suffciency of secondary support mechanisms.
II. Health Status and Long-Term Institutionalization
The health factor is primarily assessed via the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) or the equivalent panel physician report for consular processing. Adjudicators evaluate whether an applicant has a medical condition that is likely to require extensive medical treatment or institutionalization. Technical
compliance in this category involves providing evidence of comprehensive private health insurance or suffcient fnancial resources to cover potential medical expenses, thereby ensuring the individual will not require government-funded long-term care.
III. Family Status and Household Size
Family status is quantifed by the size of the applicant's household. Under the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), a larger household requires a commensurately higher level of income and assets to meet the threshold for self-suffciency. In the Caribbean context, where multi-generational or extended family structures are common, precise documentation of the household unit is required to avoid infated liability projections by the adjudicating offcer.
IV. Assets, Resources, and Financial Status This factor serves as the quantitative foundation of the public charge analysis. It encompasses the applicant’s annual income, total assets (liquid and non-liquid), and
outstanding liabilities.
Technical requirements for this factor include:
Income Documentation: Federal tax returns, W-2 forms, and consistent pay stubs for the three most recent tax years.
Asset Verifcation: Offcial bank letters indicating account longevity, average balances, and current holdings. For real estate assets, certifed property valuations and title deeds are required to demonstrate the net value available for liquidation if necessary.
Affdavit of Support
(Form I-864): While the Form I-864 is a mandatory requirement for most family-based and some employment-based cases, it is not an absolute guarantee of admissibility. The underlying fnancial strength of the sponsor must be beyond reproach to satisfy the "totality" test.
V. Education and Skills
The education and skills factor evaluates an applicant's employability. Adjudicators consider
From the rubble in Venezuela, unexpected story of survival cuts through days of tragedy
By JUAN PABLO ARRAEZ, MATIAS DELACROIX and MEGAN JANETSKY Associated Press
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — A mix of rescue teams and civilians on Sunday peered at a mountain of rubble almost indistinguishable from the other ruins lining swathes of the northern Venezuelan coast following two devastating earthquakes.
In the days since Wednesday's 7.2 and 7.5 quakes, search teams and locals had believed that there were no signs of life under the concrete mass in La Guaira state, one of the hardest-hit areas.
Then on Sunday came a burst of movement. A pair of dust-coated legs was pulled out of a hole by rescue teams from Virginia, France and Venezuela.
Teams gently carried the man from the structure where he had been trapped for four days, his body slack but still gripping his phone, onto a black tarp and administered an IV.
Then came his young son, pulled shirtless and almost unresponsive over a pack of hard-hat clad rescue workers with the words “Fairfax County Urban Search & Rescue” emblazoned on the backs.
“Slow, slow, gentle, gentle,” chanted rescue teams in a mix of Spanish and English, as they passed the father and son through a crowd of onlookers into a nearby ambulance.
The teams burst out into applause days into search and rescue efforts, at a time that hope of fnding survivors was dimming.
Associated Press journalists Juan Pablo
Arraez and Matías Delacroix were among the throng of people who witnessed the rescue.
On Sunday, Arraez said they were scouring the La Guaira region “trying to see if we can see any miracles” when they found the U.S. rescue teams and local civilians calmly working to pull the father and son out of the building.
“At this stage many begin to lose hope. You see that in their faces,” Arraez said, as helicopters few overhead. “When somebody makes it out alive, this father and son. It’s more than a glimpse, it’s real hope for people.”
The one-two punch of the earthquakes has been the greatest natural disaster the South American nation has faced in decades.
Authorities reported 1,450 people were dead on Sunday, with thousands more injured and many more missing.
The frst 48 to 72 hours after a natural disaster are crucial to rescue efforts, though survival can be extended if people have access to food and water.
But small moments of optimism, solidarity and humanity like this have cut through almost overwhelming grief.
Venezuelan frefghters poured water into the mouth of a dust-covered dog peeking its head through cracks in the concrete.
After being trapped for 70 hours, one woman sat up on a stretcher, grinning and waving at cheering crowds as she was loaded on a gurney into an ambulance.
professional degrees, technical certifcations, and historical work experience. In a competitive regulatory environment, individuals often require a Caribbean US visa lawyer to properly frame these qualifcations as high-value assets that mitigate the risk of public charge.
Technical Compliance for the Professional Class
The "Luxury vs. Liability" paradox, established in Part 1 of this series, is particularly acute for Bahamian professionals in high-stakes industries. Despite the nation's signifcant economic contributions and its status as a premier global brand, individual professionals are frequently subjected to the same skepticism as applicants from lower-GDP jurisdictions.
Financial Services and Compliance Professionals within the Bahamian fnancial sector, including accountants, compliance offcers, and investment bankers, possess skills that are highly transferable to the U.S. market. Evidentiary
packages for these individuals should emphasize specialized licenses (e.g., CPA, CAMS) and a record of high-level administrative responsibility.
Maritime and Aviation Sectors
The Bahamas’ maritime industry is a global leader, yet practitioners in this feld often face technical hurdles during visa adjudication. Documentation of specialized maritime certifcations and long-term contracts with international shipping lines provides the necessary proof of sustained economic viability.
Hospitality Management
In a nation that welcomed 12.5 million visitors in 2025, the hospitality sector produces world-class management talent. Evidence of overseeing multi-million dollar operations serves as a signifcant "positive factor" in the education and skills assessment, signaling that the applicant is a contributor to, rather than a consumer of, public resources.
The Preparedness Dividend
The "Preparedness Dividend" refers to the strategic advantage gained when an applicant presents a comprehensive, pre-emptively organized evidentiary package. By addressing the fve statutory factors before they are formally questioned by a consular offcer, the applicant shifts the narrative from one of potential liability to one of established asset value.
Administrative literacy is a critical component of this strategy. High-caliber applicants do not merely meet the minimum requirements; they exceed them by providing:
Standardized Equivalency Reports: Translating Bahamian certifcations into U.S. academic equivalents. Longitudinal Financial Statements: Demonstrating a multi-year history of fscal stability.
Strategic Employment Verifcation: Detailing not just salary, but the specialized nature of the role and its indispensability to the employer.
Strategic Resolution of Visa Denials In instances where the public charge ground has already resulted in a refusal, immediate intervention is required. Obtaining legal help for US visa denials in the Bahamas involves a technical deconstruction of the refusal notice to identify which of the fve factors was deemed insuffcient. Often, denials are the result of an evidentiary gap, such as an improperly documented asset or an overlooked professional certifcation, rather than a substantive lack of resources.
Conclusion The Public Charge rule, codifed under INA § 212(a) (4), remains a formidable barrier to entry for many Bahamian and Caribbean nationals. However, the application of technical rigor and the accumulation of a "Preparedness Dividend" allow professionals to dismantle the presumption of liability. As the 75-country police evolve, Cape continues to evolve; the burden of proof remains with the applicant to demonstrate that their human capital is a defnitive asset to the United States.
Photo: Jakub Zerdzicki/Pexels
A PERSON removed from the rubble by members of the French Civil Security Training and Intervention Regiment (UIISC 7), US rescuers and others is carried on a stretcher to an ambulance along the coast in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, Venezuela, Sunday, June 28, 2026, after earthquakes.
Photo: Miguel Medina/AP
RELIEF workers carry a man rescued from a building that collapsed in the earthquakes that struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Photo: Matias Delacroix/AP
Government warns delinquent garbage collection contractors
By PAVEL BAILEY
Staff Reporter
ENVIRONMENT Min-
ister Zane Lightbourne has warned garbage collection contractors that the government will suspend or remove delinquent operators from routes, saying companies that lack the equipment or reliability to do the job properly could lose their contracts.
Mr Lightbourne said on Friday that suspensions are already underway, though he declined to publicly identify the companies involved. His comments came after questions about
whether delinquent garbage collectors were being penalised. He confrmed they were, but said he would not yet name the companies at fault. However, he said he was prepared to make the information public if doing so would help fx the problem. He warned that the government would cancel contracts for companies found to have insufcient resources or to have been derelict in their duties.
“We're asking persons, if you want to get in the garbage collection business, go and see frst of all, what the business is about, and get your necessary training
and equipment, and make sure that you have reliable equipment to undertake and make the investment, and seek those avenues to do this properly,” Mr Lightbourne said.
“Because we are going to continue suspending operators and eventually expelling operators from routes and contracts are coming to an end shortly. And the evaluation will be taking place cumulatively of what you would have done in your performance over the last few years. So we're looking forward to that to that end in some of these areas that we have to constantly send in substitutes to address
delinquencies.”
Mr Lightbourne also announced a crackdown on illegal coal mining sites, saying his ministry would target illicit operations while seeking to safely take over and regulate the coal industry as an alternative to illegal coal production.
He announced BARWAN, an environmental enforcement unit under the police that will detect environmental crime and bring perpetrators to justice.
He called for public help in reporting illegal coal mining and said law enforcement should increase surveillance of
Hanchell: Ministry waiting 35 years for Crown land grant for homeless shelter
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
GREAT Commission
Ministries President Bishop Walter Hanchell said his organisation has spent 35 years trying unsuccessfully to secure land for housing for homeless and vulnerable families, as the new social services minister warns that rising homelessness has become one of the most urgent issues facing
her ministry. Bishop Hanchell said successive governments have failed to work with Great Commission Ministries despite the organisation’s decades of work assisting homeless people, including
mothers evicted from apartments who are living in cars or abandoned vehicles with their children. His comments came after newly appointed Social Services Minister Barbara Cartwright identifed rising
suspected illicit activity. He warned that people caught breaking the law would face strict penalties.
“We’re going to ofer to the public an alternative of seeking out these illegal coal, the illegal coal industry, because of maybe favourable pricing, in order to deter persons from going the route of cutting down our trees illegally and burning them,”
Mr Lightbourne said.
“We have stif penalties on the books, and we also implementing under this budget spot fnes for persons, not only in infractions that include littering, but illegal dumping, and so when we fnd people who
homelessness as one of the most pressing issues facing her ministry. She said demand for shelter is increasing and that access to afordable, safe and secure shelter is one way to lift people out of poverty.
Bishop Hanchell commended the minister for highlighting the issue, but said homelessness has been rising for years and has become a plague afecting ordinary Bahamians who have fallen on hard times.
“We made recommendations to successive administrations to purchase a few large vacant buildings that are suitable for caring for our growing homeless population, but they seem to have fallen on deaf ears,” Bishop Hanchell told The Tribune.
He said the high cost of living has driven homelessness, while job losses, health challenges and fnancial hardship have pushed many people into desperate circumstances.
He said homeless people struggle to fnd safe places to sleep and somewhere to store their belongings, adding that homelessness takes a mental, physical and emotional toll on those afected.
“There was a time when there were no homeless persons in The Bahamas. We appear to be moving backwards in this regard. The high cost of living and other factors have placed a strain on average workers,” he said.
“A new trend we have observed in homelesness is the high number of Bahamians that actually live on the streets roaming like animals. They are disheveled and in need of somewhere to lay their heads and a place to bathe, rest and eat,” he said, adding these people have been neglected by the government and church.
Bishop Hanchell announced plans in 2023 to build Hope City, a $3.5m homeless shelter. The project was intended to be a two-storey, 100-bed complex with dormitories and an empowerment centre for skills training, job-readiness initiatives and broader life-skills development.
However, the project has stalled.
Plans for Hope City on Carmichael Road were derailed by a dispute over a half-acre parcel of Crown land granted to
may be out there burning coal, we can charge them with any number of things, including harming the environment, but the litter is causing the destruction of property, the degradation of possible degradation of the water table. We're going to push the full extent of the law to these persons who we catch when we catch them.”
Last February, two illegal charcoal manufacturing sites were shut down by the government in the Golden Isles constituency after residents complained about their impact on environmental and community health.
Great Commission Ministries. The Tribune Business previously reported that, according to Bishop Hanchell, another party later claimed ownership of the same property, triggering a legal dispute that forced Great Commission Ministries of the site. Despite discussions with the Ofce of the Prime Minister and assurances that the issue would be addressed, the matter remains unresolved.
Earlier this month, Bishop Hanchell said the organisation had lost confdence in successive administrations’ willingness to provide land for the initiative. Great Commission Ministries is now seeking to buy land or secure a private donor to move the project forward.
On Friday, Bishop Hanchell said the organisation has put construction of Hope City on hold because it never received the ten acres it applied for 35 years ago to provide housing for families.
Great Commission Ministries frst applied for ten acres of Crown land in 1990 during the administration of former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling and has continued pursuing similar requests under successive administrations.
“We have assisted thousands of homeless persons for almost forty years and have been unsuccessful in obtaining a crown grant from any government after requesting land thirty-fve years ago to care for the needy,” he said. He said Great Commission Ministries has received no fnancial aid for its homeless shelters, though it remains grateful for the small annual government grant that assists its feeding programmes.
"We have been requesting an increase in aid for sometime now," he added. Bishop Hanchell urged the government to help fund the operation of its shelters.
“We serve the general public and clients are regularly referred to Great Commission Ministries for housing and food assistance. We also urge churches, businesses, foundations and diferent organizations and individuals to help us in caring for the poor, homeless and hurting in The Bahamas.”
GUNMEN ON SCOOTER SHOOT THREE MEN IN CHIPPINGHAM
THREE men were injured on Friday after two gunmen on a scooter opened fre on a group socialising beneath a cabana at a park on Strachan Street, Chippingham, police said.
Police said they were alerted to the shooting shortly after 5.30pm and responded to the scene.
According to preliminary investigations, a group of men were gathered beneath the cabana when two males on a dark-coloured scooter approached from the west, stopped nearby and opened fre in their
direction. A 26-year-old man, a 33-year-old man and a 47-year-old man were injured. Park property was also damaged. The suspects fed east on the scooter. Police said the victims were taken to hospital by private vehicle. The 33-year-old sufered a graze wound but declined medical attention. The 26-year-old was shot in the upper right thigh, while the 47-year-old sufered injuries to both forearms. Their current medical conditions are unknown.
TEAMS SCRAMBLE TO LOCATE SURVIVORS 4 DAYS AFTER VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKES
VENEZUELA Associated Press
LOCAL and international rescue teams raced against the clock to pull survivors from the rubble in Venezuela on Sunday, four days after two powerful earthquakes shook the northern state of La Guaira.
The government reported 1,450 dead from the quakes Sunday afternoon as it faced growing criticism from Venezuelans that its response was inadequate and overshadowed by civilian-led eforts to rescue people buried under collapsed buildings.
Thousands have been reported missing, according to multiple databases used by families searching for loved ones. Even as the likelihood of fnding people alive diminished with each passing hour, rescuers continued to free some survivors from mountains of debris, ofering anguished families a sliver of hope. The frst 48 to 72 hours after a natural disaster are crucial to rescue eforts, though survival can be extended if people have access to food and water.
More than 2,200 rescue workers from across the world had arrived by Saturday, the UN said, and more were still arriving. As the stench of decomposing bodies spread, more people began to wear masks.
“It’s been incredibly hard work, but we’re going strong,” said Jason Mercano, a civilian who was able to communicate with family buried under the rubble via social media.
“We’ve never given up hope,” he added.
Masses of people gathered to watch as rescue crews from the US and France pulled a man and his son from the ruins Sunday morning and carried them carefully on a black tarp into an ambulance. Venezuelans cope with tragedy
Still, many Venezuelans are struggling to hold onto hope in an increasingly
desperate situation. The one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that hit last Wednesday have left a trail of devastation.
Authorities said Sunday that more than 770 buildings had totally or partially collapsed from the earthquakes, twice as many as were reported destroyed or damaged on Friday. The risk of further damage remains as aftershocks continued to shake Venezuela; quakes measuring 4.2 and 4.5 hit Sunday morning.
Many living in disaster zones said they had seen little sign of their government since the quakes. But rescue eforts in La Guaira — the hardest-hit area — appeared signifcantly more organized on Sunday as international rescue missions arrived en masse. In previous days, residents there had expressed frustration and anger about the level of response.
The government reported on state television that more than 14,000 members of the military and police are now patrolling La Guaira state, where access is blocked and special permits are required to enter.
Because of the chaos and shoddy cell phone service since the earthquakes, many Venezuelans have turned to non-governmental digital databases to report their loved ones as missing. More than 50,000 people were reported missing on one such database, though it is unclear how many have been found.
Solidarity and signs of life
In the seaside city of Catia La Mar, Venezuelan rescue teams called down to survivors after discovering signs of life. They shouted instructions to a man whose family watched anxiously as crews discussed how to bring him to safety.
Despite the overwhelming demand for medical services and the shortage of supplies in Venezuela’s public health system, Domingo Luciani Hospital in the capital of
Caracas coped with an infux of patients thanks to a food of donations.
“We have tons of patients, but thank god, people have responded by bringing us a great deal of supplies,” said Leomery Pérez, an anesthesiologist at the hospital.
Authorities said they had treated more than 3,100 wounded people, including many with crush injuries.
Long-term challenges
The disaster poses a signifcant challenge for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, the former vice president who took ofce in January after the US capture and removal of then-President Nicolás Maduro.
Since then, the US government has played in increasingly powerful role in dictating the future of the South American nation. Venezuela has faced economic disarray for more than a decade, and many people reject the legitimacy of the political movement Rodríguez represents.
The country now faces an even more difcult circumstances, said Ronal Rodríguez, researcher for the Bogotá-based Venezuelan Observatory at the University of Rosario.
“There is political interference by the United States, the operational incompetence of a government that has driven the country into a complex humanitarian crisis and, all of the sudden, an earthquake in a place that lacks human capital and short-term resources to address the situation,” he said.
The UN migration agency said up to 6.8 million people may be afected by the earthquakes. The International Organization for Migration said it was working with the Venezuelan government, the United Nations and humanitarian groups on a coordinated response.
“It is already clear that displacement will increase, as people seek safety,” said Amy Pope, director general.
Death Notice For
Lady Holly Hughena Knowles, 101 née Shaw
Lady Knowles was born in Shropshire, England on 19th September, 1924.
She died peacefully at her residence on Winton Highway, New Providence, The Bahamas, on 25th June, 2026.
Lady Knowles was predeceased by her husband, Sir Durward R. Knowles, O,B.E., B.O.M., J.P.
She is survived by her children, Jill Thompson, Randy (Marina) Knowles and Charlotte (John) Albury. Her grandchildren, Roscoe (Lori), Jason (Sofia) and Jeffrey (Sheena) Thompson. Kristy (Mike) Robinson, Rebecca (Greg) Peters and Tiffany (Jimmy) Diamantis. Her great grandchildren, Kimberly Wallace, Rocky Thompson, Alex, Britni and Dylan Thompson, Alyse and Leah Thompson, Lee, Luke, Layla and Liliana Peters and Elena Diamantis. Brothers-inlaw, Percy Knowles and Emerson (Shirley) Knowles. Nieces and nephews, Elaine (Murray) Forde, Dickie Kemp, Dianne (Anthony) Kemp, Dave Weech, Rochelle (Terry) McCabe, Andy (Nancy) Knowles, Bruce (Lisa) Knowles, Sherry Knowles and Cindy Knowles, Vicky Knowles, Patrick and Troy Knowles. Caretakers, Louie, Jean, Joseph, Margaret and Pearly. Other relatives and friends, Betty Sands, Carol and Linda Sands, Dianne Dunn, The Neely Family, Pat Francis, Dr. Agreta Eneas-Carey, Pauline Wong and a host of other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Ebenezer Methodist Church, East Shirley Street, Nassau, The Bahamas on Saturday, 4th July, 2026 at 11.00 a.m.
Instead of flowers donations can be made to the Bahamas Humane Society, P.O. Box N 242, Nassau in memory of Lady Holly Hughena Knowles née Shaw.
It is requested that you wear bright colours in honouring her spirit.
Death Notice For
Percival R Pinder
1945 – 2026
A devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Percival Ralph Pinder was born on September 16th, 1945 in Nassau, Bahamas.
Percy was predeceased by his parents John & Ruby Pinder; sister, Vadie Sands; brothers, Alva & George Pinder; mother-in-law, Angela Clarkson Stovich.
Left to cherish the unforgettable memories of him are his wife, Sherry Pinder of 61 years of marriage; brothers, Johnnie with his wife Clio Pinder, Edison with his wife Eunice Pinder; sister, Margaret Pinder; sisters-in-law, Frances Clarkson Aberle and Diana Pinder; precious children, Monica and her husband Laurence Higgs, Andrew and his wife Pamela Pinder; Christopher Pinder and his fiance Jacqueline Nicholson; granddaughters, Jessica and her husband Bradley Albury, Jewel Pinder; grandsons, Daniel Higgs and his fiance Christine Albury, Roman Pinder, Maddox Pinder, Cody Lowe and Wesley Lowe; great grandchildren, Maggie Albury, Monty Albury, Bentley Lowe and Camden Lowe; numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives and close friends too numerous to mention.
He Rests In Peace In The Arms Of Jesus