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FNMS ‘CHOSE MOSS - BUT GOT HENFIELD’
South Beach branch criticises leaders for ignoring its choice
BY LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
Reporter
EXECUTIVES of the Free National Movement’s South Beach Constituency Association have criticised the party’s leadership for ignoring their candidate recommendations for the upcoming general election, saying they were completely
“caught off guard” by the party’s decision to ratify Darren Henfield for the seat instead.
Several executives, speaking to The Tribune anonymously yesterday, claimed the association sent two letters to party officials endorsing former Senator Jamal Moss as their
BTVI S T UDEN T S UPSE T OV ER S T RIC T GRADUATION RULES
BY LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
Among their chief complaints are the two-guest limit per student at this year’s ceremony and a ban on celebratory items such as whistles, horns, and cowbells.
Philip Knowles, a soonto-be business graduate,
AS the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) prepares to hold its graduation ceremony this week, some students are voicing frustration over the institution’s “strict” graduation rules and criticising what they describe as a dismissive response to their concerns.
BY PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
AMID ongoing speculation about his political future, former Prime
Minister Dr Hubert Minnis told his Killarney constituents on Friday that he won’t be “pushed aside” when there’s still work to be done—declaring himself the leader “this moment
requires”. Dr Minnis made the remarks while addressing longtime supporters at Twisted Lime, where he officially launched what he called the “Killarney Strong
Movement”. While he did not confirm whether he intends to run as an independent or under the Free
WOMAN K ILLED AND CHILD INJURED IN T R IPLE SHOO TING
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party (PLP) chairman Fred Mitchell has criticised the Free National Movement’s (FNM) unveiling of its first slate of ratified candidates for the next general elec-
FNM leader Michael Pintard greets former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on the sidelines of yesterday’s Beat Retreat on Bay Street. For more photographs, see PAGE THREE.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Annual pre-Independence Day Beat Retreat
BY PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
CROWDS in Baha-
mian colours swarmed
Rawson and Parliament
Squares on Sunday as the RBPF and RBDF held the annual Beat Retreat in the lead-up to this year’s Independence Day.
Among those in attendance were Governor General Dame Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, Defence Force Commodore Floyd Moxey, and Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe.
Parents and well-wishers were captivated by a musical performance titled crime doesn’t pay
Bahamians young and old proudly waved flags and watched the parade yesterday evening.
performed by the enthusiastic choir of Yellow Elder Primary.
Tributes were also paid to the late Bahamian legend Elon Moxey, who passed at age 76 in March, with renditions of “Oh Andros”, “Catch the Crab” and “Family Reunion”.
The night was capped off with a flag lowering ceremony at sunset.
ABOVE, the Bahamas National Youth Choir performs during the Pre-Independence Day Beat Retreat in Rawson Square yesterday, as well as the Yellow Elder Primary School choir (below). Also performing were the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force Band and the Bahamas Department of Corrections Band.
Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
FNMs ‘chose Moss
- but got Henfield’
from page one
preferred candidate.
They said the endorsement came after interviewing five aspiring candidates, including Mr Henfield, the former MP for North Abaco, who was the last to be interviewed.
The Tribune understands that executives evaluated each aspirant, weighing their strengths and weaknesses, but ultimately chose Mr Moss, the party’s national vice chairman, believing he had the strongest vision for the South Beach constituency.
“We chose Mr Moss and they send this man at the last minute for us to hear him when we had already submitted the name and I didn’t think it was right. He came at the last minute but we kind of figured it out...” said one association member.
“They totally disregarded our wishes.”
According to members, they only learned that Mr Henfield would be ratified hours before the announcement.
Many said they had little personal knowledge of Mr Henfield, and while they held no ill will toward him, they felt blindsided by the party’s
lack of communication.
“It was not tasteful at all,” another FNM association member added. “We totally was taken off guard - a lot of us because we couldn’t believe that they would have disregarded our decision without consulting us.”
They said the constituency has been disrespected before, but at least in the past, they were informed of the party’s plans days in advance.
“Like I say, I am an FNM. I support leadership but it’s the way how they did it but the point is to meet with us, hear us and then try to convince us as to the reason why y’all didn’t choose Mr Moss.”
FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands recently suggested Mr Henfield was selected to run in South Beach because the party wanted to give others a chance and believed he could serve effectively there.
He acknowledged Mr Henfield’s grassroots ties to Abaco but said the former MP agreed to contest South Beach as a team player, describing him as a “true soldier” willing to serve wherever he is needed.
However, some members told The Tribune yesterday that they are now unsure
whether they will support the FNM in the next general election or campaign for Mr Henfield.
One first-time executive member even said she is reconsidering her role on the constituency’s executive team.
The Tribune understands a meeting with the association’s 15-member executive team is expected to be held this week.
This is not the first occasion when there has been tension between the FNM’s leadership and some of its
constituency associations over candidate selections.
The ratification of Chief Councillor Jeremy Sweeting for Central and South Abaco recently prompted the resignation of local FNM branch chairman Roscoe Thompson.
Meanwhile, the FNM’s Killarney
Association has publicly criticised the party’s decision to deny former Prime Minister Dr
re-nomination, warning the move could cost the party the seat.
Minnis: I am the leader this moment requires
from page one
Movement’s banner, Dr Minnis continued his public campaign to shore up support.
He said at the event: “Killarney isn’t looking for a new name. We’re building on a trusted legacy. While some talk of renewal, we’re talking results. I’ve never been afraid to lead. And I won’t be pushed aside when there’s still work to be done.”
Dr Minnis, who spearheaded the completion of the New Providence Local Government report during his administration in 2019, emphasised the need for systemic change.
He said that despite mounting speculation about party decisions and future nominations, he remains unfazed, with his focus firmly set on improving Killarney.
“I may not fit the mould others prefer, but I’m exactly the leader this moment requires,” he added. “I’m not here to play politics. I’m here to protect progress and deliver results. Killarney stays with
Minnis—because they know what leadership looks like.”
The Killarney constituency, long considered an FNM stronghold, is now positioned to be one of the most hotly contested battlegrounds in the country. Dr Minnis remains a popular figure in the area, and his candidacy, outside the party’s endorsement, will prompt speculation about whether he could fracture the FNM’s base and split the vote.
Asked whether he intends to run as an independent, Dr Minnis has repeatedly dodged the question, only telling The Tribune that it was “safe to say” he would run. Also at Friday’s event, he announced two techdriven initiatives - one a social governance platform that will allow residents to report and track infrastructure and service issues in real time, and the other a plan to implement CCTV and Ring doorbell surveillance across Killarney to enhance safety.
“This is more than politics. This is progress,” Dr Minnis said.
Mitchell: FNM rollout event ‘unimpressively flat’
from page one
surrounded himself with a “divisive small clique of favourites”.
“Michael Pintard and the FNM cannot be taken seriously,” the statement read.
Mr Mitchell continued:
“If the noted comedian thinks leading one of the greatest little countries in the world is a child’s play, the people of The Bahamas are set to show him better at the polls. The nation waited on an overdue and overhyped FNM Rollout that fell unimpressively flat.”
The FNM ratified 17 candidates on Thursday night during a rally-style event at the party’s Mackey Street headquarters, drawing a medium-sized crowd.
The slate featured a mix of new faces and returning political figures, including two incumbents and six former Members of Parliament from the Minnis administration.
Among those ratified was former Democratic National Alliance leader Arinthia Komolafe, who will run on the FNM’s ticket in the Carmichael constituency.
The PLP chairman added Bahamian people will remember the failures of the previous FNM administration, adding the rollout spoke “loud and clear” the FNM has gotten worse under Mr Pintard.
Mr Mitchell emphasised the PLP will remain focused on the job they were elected to do and believed most Bahamians are in a better position now than four years ago.
Mr Mitchell said: “The choice is clear - Prime Minister Davis and the PLP are working to create even more meaningful opportunities for Bahamians while Michael Pintard and his failed band of FNMs are shamelessly disorganised and desperate for power. We call on Bahamians to keep them out.”
Constituency
Hubert Minnis’
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis addresses longtime supporters at Twisted Lime on Friday where he officially launched what he called the “Killarney Strong Movement”, telling them he won’t be “pushed aside” when there’s still work to be done and declaring himself the leader “this moment requires”.
DARREN HENFIELD - FNM candidate for South Beach constituency.
JAMAL MOSS - former FNM senator.
BTVI students upset over strict graduation rules
said the rules have been in place for years but insisted it’s time for them to be revamped.
He said the institution has long outgrown its current venue at Bahamas Faith Ministries (BFM) and called for a location change that can better accommodate students and their families.
“You said you can’t afford to put your students into a proper venue to accommodate loved ones and friends and all those shenanigans, it doesn’t ring
a bell to us. So like, what are you doing with the funding?” he said.
Mr Knowles also pointed to a disparity between campuses, noting that students in Nassau are limited to two tickets, while those in Freeport receive four— despite both reportedly paying the same $200 graduation fee. He called the arrangement unfair. He added that many graduates are now threatening to boycott this year’s ceremony—set for Wednesday—because of the strict requirements. “We can’t decorate our
stoles, our hats and stuff like that. We’ve been told that we can’t do none of that and if we do such, it’ll be a problem,” he added.
Varanique Adderley, another upcoming graduate, also expressed disappointment over the graduation rules, but particularly voiced frustration with what she described as poor planning and communication from the institution.
She said students were forced to organize their own celebrations due to the school’s last-minute planning.
“We’re supposed to have our graduation pictures to give out to the family, or if you want to go to the studio and get extra copies or get it the framed, we should’ve done had that but we don’t have that as yet,” she told The Tribune Reflecting on her journey, Ms Adderley spoke of the sacrifices she made to complete her studies, including balancing multiple jobs while attending school.
She credited her loved ones for supporting her from start to finish but said not having them all present
to witness her big day is deeply discouraging.
“I have my mom, I have my dad, I have my fiancé. I have his family. I have friends from primary school coming to see me,” she said. “And to know that I can’t bring my family to celebrate.”
Making matters worse, according to the students, is the dismissive attitude from the institution’s leadership.
They said a recent Zoom meeting was held with the president and her team to address their concerns, but nothing was resolved.
“The president, she ain’t have no compassion towards us,” Mr Knowles added. “She’s nonchalant. She has no heart towards what we’re dealing with, and then on the flip side too she wasn’t answering none of our questions.” Meanwhile, Ms Adderley added: “She wants to tell us how to celebrate, how to make noise, how to cheer. People put their blood, sweat and tears in this.”
BTVI officials could not be reached for comment when contacted by The Tribune.
Woman killed and child injured in triple shooting
when two males came from a southern direction on foot and opened fire. The condition of the injured victims was not known at the time of going to press. Chief Supt King said at the scene that it was early in the investigation. Chief Supt King urged
people to find other ways to resolve conflicts – and called on anyone with information to contact police at 911, 919 or CID “to bring justice to the family of this victim”.
from page one
POLICE at the scene of a triple shooting that killed one woman and sent another woman and a young boy to the hospital last night near Columbus Primary School in the Wulff Road area.
Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
COI ratify five additional candidates including Lewis
BY LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Coalition of Independents (COI) ratified five new candidates for the next general election on Saturday, including former Free National Movement (FNM) member Iram Lewis, bringing the party closer to completing its full slate of candidates.
The new candidates are mostly political newcomers: Natasha Mitchell for North Eleuthera, Christan Heastie for South Eleuthera, Karon Farrington for South Beach and Carlton Cleare for South Andros and Mangrove Cay.
Mr Lewis, meanwhile, will once again contest the Central Grand Bahama seat. He told supporters his decision to join the COI was not made lightly, but came from a conviction that the country deserves better.
“We are not a collection of fragmented voices. We
are an organised caucus and determined organisation,” Mr Lewis said.
This latest group brings the COI’s total number of ratified candidates to 33. Their ratification came after the COI officially launched its national headquarters on Chippingham Road, off West Bay Street.
The event drew more than a hundred supporters, many of whom had to be seated under tents outside due to limited space in the building. In his speech, COI leader Lincoln Bain credited the team for renovating the headquarters building in under three weeks. He said the project demonstrated the COI’s ability to deliver results quickly and efficiently.
“If we can take some dollar drive money and do this, give us one term. Only one and you will never want the PLP and FNM again,” Mr Bain told a crowd of COI supporters.
His speech was filled with election pledges, including a promise to grant one acre of Crown land to every Bahamian, the development of a Sovereign Wealth Fund for citizens, and tackling the country’s immigration crisis.
“We’ve had enough. We’re taking our country back,” he repeated.
Turning to the FNM, Mr Bain blasted the party’s first slate of ratified candidates, claiming they were the same “old” faces from the Minnis administration and unfit to lead the country.
As for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), he warned that re-electing them would only lead to “more crime, corruption, and everything else.”
The COI failed to secure a seat in the last general election but secured nearly 8,000 votes. COI contested 32 of the 39 seats and secured 7,852 votes, 6.2 percent of the total voter turnout.
COALITION of Independents (COI) party leader Lincoln Bain (right) with Central Grand Bahama
candidate Iram Lewis to his left, during the opening of COI Headquarters on Saturday. Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
NATASHA MITCHELL - North Eleuthera
CARLTON CLEARE - South Andros and Mangrove Cay
CHRISTIAN HEASTIE - South Eleuthera
KARON FARRINGTON - South Beach
The Tribune Limited
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LEON E. H. DUPUCH
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Minnis and guessing games
AS ELECTION season continues to brew, one of the more intriguing sideshows is the guessing game of what former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis will do next.
Dr Minnis has been roundly defeated at the ballot box and twice in FNM leadership elections – but he is showing no sign of going quietly, or even at all.
Whatever you may think of Dr Minnis – and there are plenty who showed their views in the election that marked the end of his time in office – he is excellent at playing the publicity game.
Take almost any other candidate, and if they were told by the party that they are not getting a nomination, they have been rejected in leadership elections and there is no room for them on the slate of candidates – and that candidate would quietly pack their bags and off they go.
Not Dr Minnis. For a long time, he coquettishly suggested he would be running again – then finally confirmed that yes indeed, he would again run, and he would do so in Killarney.
He stopped short of explaining how he intended to do that. Declaring he would run as an independent would see him turfed out of the FNM by party rules.
Dr Minnis also did not say whether he would run with another party – if one would have him – again, the FNM would point to the door.
He also did not explain if he hoped somehow to land the FNM nomination after all – which would require a significant U-turn by the party and seems highly unlikely.
At an event on Friday, he launched the Killarney Strong Movement. Among those at the event were former DNA leader Branville McCartney, and former Cabinet minister Desmond Bannister.
The event itself announced digital programmes to tackle infrastructure
and crime problems in the community, but it was Dr Minnis’ words about the future that stood out.
Again, he fell short of saying quite exactly what he intended to do, while very clearly spelling out his intentions to run.
He talked of how “Killarney isn’t looking for a new name” and how he would not “be pushed aside when there’s work still to be done”.
He said that he had “never been afraid to lead” and added: “I may not fit the mould others prefer, but I’m exactly the leader this moment requires.”
He continued: “Killarney stays with Minnis – because they now what leadership looks like.” If he does run, then there are limited scenarios. Dr Minnis can run as an FNM if he finds a way to convince the party to let him do so, he can run as an independent if not, or he can run on another party ticket, either one that exists or one that is newly formed.
If he was to run – and perhaps were to win – as an independent, he would be a lone voice in the House of Assembly, and likely without the political power to make things happen.
The presence of Branville McCartney certainly raises the eyebrows – especially given that he stood alongside Loretta Butler-Turner after she ousted Dr Minnis as Opposition leader in her ill-fated political coup with the Rebel Seven in 2016. Mrs Butler-Turner announced Mr McCartney as leader of Opposition business in the Senate. Dr Minnis survived that to become Prime Minister. So what is his plan now?
One thing is for sure – he is keeping the ball in the air for now.
There will come a time when he needs to commit, and spell out his plan – not least of all for his supporters. It seems likely that will not be for a while yet.
Adults responsible to keep children free from abuse
EDITOR, The Tribune.
IN light of the alarming increase in cases of child sexual abuse, I write with deep concern and a call to action for all parents and guardians. Too often, abuse occurs not at the hands of strangers, but by those to whom we entrust our children—nannies, coaches, caretakers, family friends, and even new romantic partners. While the majority of adults may be well-meaning and trustworthy, we cannot ignore the painful reality that predators deliberately seek environments where they can access children with minimal scrutiny. Parents must recognise that trust must never be blindly given. The safety of a child is far too precious to be left to chance or assumption. We have a solemn duty to perform thorough due diligence before placing our children in the care of any adult or organisation. Abuse does not always come with warning signs, but prevention always
begins with vigilance and education.
Firstly, always conduct a formal background check when hiring a nanny or caregiver, and take the time to speak with previous employers and verify references. During interviews, ask specific and safetyfocused questions about child protection protocols, including whether the individual or organisation has mandatory reporting procedures and child abuse prevention training in place.
Secondly, It is equally important to avoid leaving children with unvetted individuals, including casual acquaintances, new romantic partners, or even family members who have not demonstrated consistent and trustworthy behavior.
Thirdly, Parents should also maintain open, age-appropriate communication with their children about boundaries, safe and unsafe touch, and encourage them to speak up about anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
PICTURE OF THE DAY
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Does DEPP have will to do its job?
EDITOR, The Tribune.
ONE can only wonder if the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) and or Town Planning or both need a Civil Service personnel shuffle, or whether one or both departments need some teeth put into the legislation under which they operate.
The most recent debacle is the DEPP meeting held on Thursday of last week and extensively reported on in The Tribune, concerning an already “in progress” project on East Bay Street, in the former Malcolm/ Sands homesteads, where a four/six storey Condotel, Club House, Restaurant and twenty plus slip Marina is planned. The club house, I understand, is to be situated almost in the master bedroom of the adjoining home of one of the Family Guardian Insurance Company founders and his wife, both now deceased. It is still owned by his surviving family, however, and maintained as a residential family home with a great many fond memories.
This issue coincides with the Athol Island debacle
where the relative of a senior government politician was granted some Crown Land acreage and without proper DEPP permission began scarifying the honeycomb rock shoreline to make a faux beach. And worse, cutting a roadway through the thick mangrove forest and then cutting down the little barrier hill that might have protected the Eastern New Providence shoreline from the “Salt Cay Cut” ocean surge in a hurricane. DEPP has now called time out on the project but there is no sign of restitution of the little hill, or the ocean surge mitigating Mangrove Forest, much less the scarified honeycombe rock shoreline. It would appear that DEPP can only call a halt to unlawful activity but does not have the authority to punish those involved, nor mandate reparations.
This also coincides with the petitions circulating about potential dredging
of the seabed at Sampson Cay Exuma by Yntegra and Rosewood Hotels which would destroy forever the natural habitat that lives in that water.
And finally, from the Eastern Suburbs of St Anne’s, a very high fence was recently erected around a waterfront lot at Eastern Rd and Winton Highway to obfuscate the project’s reclamation of the seabed and the creation of a massive breakwater. Presumably in advance of building a residence behind it. No consideration was given, obviously, to the private beach reserved for Winton Highway residents which is now in the lee of the heavy breakwater and never again to benefit from any beach sand accretion. This project too seems to have been paused by DEPP but does DEPP have the teeth and/or willpower to compel the developer to remove the breakwater and the reinforced concrete blocks placed strategically to reclaim the seabed. Whoa is me!
MONKEEDOO June 28, 2025
Finally, utilise unannounced drop-ins or legally approved monitoring tools when your child is in someone else’s care, whether in the home or at a camp or daycare, to ensure adult behavior remains accountable and appropriate.
Let us not be silent or passive in the face of such a serious threat. It is not enough to hope that nothing happens—we must act to ensure that nothing does.
Our children deserve to feel safe, respected, and protected at all times. Ignorance is no longer an excuse; it is a risk we cannot afford.
As the child protection organisation Darkness to Light powerfully states: “It is an adult’s responsibility to protect children. Children cannot protect themselves.”
Let us rise to that responsibility—with eyes open, hearts vigilant, and voices unwavering.
SHERVONNE CASH HOLLIS Nassau, June 26, 2025.
EDITOR, The Tribune. I AM a supposed to be graduating from BTVI next week Wednesday on July 2. For the past three years, I have worked hard to get my degree and when I finished my last class spring semester I was over the moon with joy. But yesterday evening, after the graduation meeting, I was left with feelings of anger and disappointment. Graduation is only one week away and many students still don’t have their robes and have not taken graduation pictures. When we met with the president, Ms Davis last night, we asked her how come if we finished all our classes since May, how come the school can’t tell us if we are graduating so we could get our robes and make preparations. She kept repeating this thing, that it’s about the process and that our HODs have to approve. Well, is she not the president? Shouldn’t she have made sure that this was done? It
gets worst. From the time she came on the zoom call she came on with a rough, negative tone of voice. She told us that we were only allowed two guests. We were furious. Every year BTVI knows that the amount of people graduating had increased and every year BTVI insists on having the graduation in that small jam up space at BFM. How are we supposed to choose between our mothers, spouses and children. These are our support, who sacrificed with us too while we attended school. How is this fair? If BTVI knew that we were having over 400 graduates, why didn’t they rent a room at the hotel like UB or some other larger space? What are they doing with all the graduation money? To rent BFM is only five thousand or less. We don’t have any graduation events to celebrate. We haven’t even gotten our robes yet. So, what is BTVI doing with our hard-earned graduation money?
Ms Davis ended the meeting with a warning to our family members, that if they used horns or any instruments during the ceremony to celebrate us, they would be escorted out the room by security. Imagine you only could have two guests and they aren’t allowed to cheer for you. I am so angry now, hurt frustrated and deflated. I don’t feel like a graduate. I don’t feel like attending anymore and when we expressed how disappointed we were, Ms Davis told us, it was our choice if we chose to attend or not. She should not be the president of BTVI. And just because we don’t pay school fees, does that mean that we should be treated like beggars. I just wanted to share my story so that future graduates would not have to experience this in the future. Deflated, in LIMBO BTVI Graduate.
BTVI GRADUATE Nassau, June 26, 2025.
FORMER DNA leader Branville McCartney and former FNM Cabinet minister Desmond Bannister talking during an event held by former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis at Twisted Lime in Sandyport on Friday. At the event, Dr Minnis - who has been rejected by the FNM for a nomination for the next election in the Killarney constituency but has said he is running there - said: “Killarney isn’t looking for a new name” and that he “won’t be pushed aside”.
MAN CHARGED WITH M URDER OF RESERVIST DURING AR M ED
ROBBERY OUTSIDE RBC
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 42-YEAR-OLD man was charged on Friday with the murder of Reserve Inspector Lernex Williams during an armed robbery outside of RBC Palmdale earlier this month.
Ronald Telfort was arraigned on charges of murder and armed robbery before Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville.
Earlier this week, 44-year-old Antoinette Henfield was arraigned in connection with the same incident on a charge of accessory after the fact murder before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley. Prosecutors allege that Telfort shot and killed
Inspector Williams with a handgun as he attempted to deliver deposit bags to RBC on Palmdale on June 15.
Telfort allegedly stole an RBC deposit bag containing $25,686.75 in assorted currency belonging to Esso Montrose Avenue and another deposit bag containing $12,877.35 in assorted currency belonging to Rubis Joe Farrington Road.
Williams, who previously lost his eldest son in 2020, is survived by two sons and a daughter. His nephew, Leshardo Stovell, described him as a generous and joyful man who was deeply loved by both his family and the wider police force. The fallen officer’s murder prompted an island
PAL M DALE
wide manhunt for his killers.
Telfort was not required to enter a plea at that time. He was informed that his matter will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was also told of his right to apply for bail through the higher court.
During his arraignment, Telfort claimed that he received injuries from police while being detained.
The defendant will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is potentially served on September 4.
Telfort is represented by Ryszard Humes. Inspector Cordero Farrington served as the prosecutor.
MAN WAITING MURDER TRIAL HAS TWO-YEAR BAIL BREACH SENTENCE QUASHED BY JUDGE
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THE Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction and set aside the sentence of Dillon Ethan Jordan, the 28-year-old Abaco man who was previously found guilty of violating bail conditions while awaiting trial for the murder of Bahamian Olympian Shavez Hart.
In a judgment, the court found that Jordan’s guilty plea in the bail violation matter was equivocal and that the presiding magistrate improperly relied on his own investigation rather than on evidence presented during the trial.
The justices ruled that Jordan was not afforded a fair hearing and that his two-year sentence for breaching bail conditions was excessive. They ordered that no retrial take place, noting that Jordan had already served nearly a a year in custody on the charge.
It is quite clear that it was an equivocal plea. Thus, what should have transpired is that the
magistrate should have ensured that a trial took place in the matter, as opposed to accepting the guilty plea,” the judgment said.
The court was also troubled by the magistrate’s conduct in the case.
“The court relied on its own investigation of speaking to the police officers in Cooper’s Town, Abaco, clearly indicated that he relied on information that he personally obtained that was not given as part of the evidence before the court,” the justices noted.
“It is clearly improper for the magistrate to rely on evidence that was not before the court to form a part of his basis for a conviction.”
On the sentence, the court said: “However, in looking at the sentence, the magistrate for this offence sentenced the appellant to two years which, in our view, is excessive.”
The justices therefore quashed the conviction, set aside the sentence, and declined to order a retrial, noting that Jordan had already served about a year
DOUBLE MURDER CONVICTED HAS A PPEAL DISMISSED BY COURT
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN sentenced to 60 years in prison for the double murder of a Grand Bahama couple during a home invasion in 2015, had his latest appeal dismissed earlier this month.
His latest appeal was called an “abuse” by court.
Devaughn “Short Man” Hall had his latest appeal for convictions of murder and armed robbery dismissed by Justices of Appeal Maureen CraneScott, Indira Charles and Bernard Turner.
The Justices found that this latest appeal was an “obvious abuse” of the court as Hall had already been directed to appeal before the Privy Council when his last appeal before Court of Appeals was struck down in 2023.
Hall, along with Allen Alcime, Virgil Hall and Paul Bellizar, hid in bushes with guns and facemasks outside the residence of Barry and Sheena Johnson, waiting for them to return home on September 12, 2015, in Grand Bahama.
When Mr Johnson arrived, the men accosted him before taking his truck keys and searching his vehicle. Before they fled in Mr Johnson’s truck, Hall shot him in the head at point blank range before turning and shooting his wife. The incident was captured on the couple’s home surveillance camera system.
Sometime later, the men were charged with two counts of murder and one count of armed robbery. During the trial, Alcime and Virgil Hall gave evidence for the prosecution. Devaughn Hall was later convicted of all charges and sentenced to 60 years imprisonment for each count of murder and 25 years for armed robbery.
In 2021, Hall previously appealed his conviction on the grounds the “sentence passed was unduly severe”. He further argued the judge “erred in law” when she failed to give a warning in her summing up addressing the fact that Alcime and Virgil Hall, who both took plea deals to the arm robbery charge and testified against him so the murder charges could be dropped against them, were still his co-defendants, which meant anything they said about the armed robbery could not be used against him. This appeal was dismissed on June 2, 2021.
20 months later in 2023, the defendant once again appealed his conviction before the appeals court, which upon that appeal’s failure was informed of his right to appeal to the Privy Council instead. The prior appeal stated that there must be a “finality in litigation” and that the court was functus.
Geoffrey Farquharson represented the accused, while Eurika Coccia appeared on behalf of the office of the director of public prosecutions.
FAU partners with The Island School for queen conch conservation initiative
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
FLORIDA Atlantic University’s (FAU) Harbor Branch Institute has received a grant from the Longer Tables Fund to develop a communitybased aquaculture facility for conservation and restoration queen conch on Eleuthera.
In partnership with The Island School’s Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI), the initiative—Queen Conch Conservancy: A Community-Based Aquaculture Restoration Project—aims to support the long-term survival of the species.
Harbor Branch’s Queen Conch Lab (QCL) is working to establish a community-based queen conch farm in every Caribbean country and is expanding its communitybased farming programme into The Bahamas.
in custody. Jordan was accused of intentionally causing Hart’s death by unlawful harm on September 3, 2022, at Mount Hope, Abaco.
During his murder arraignment before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson in Grand Bahama, Jordan appeared without legal counsel.
In partnership with CEI the project will create a Queen Conch Mobile Lab to raise 2,000 juveniles annually, while providing staff training, education for more than 1,000 students, and outreach to 10,000 Eleuthera residents on sustainable fishing and job skills.
“We are so pleased
to be partnering with Harbor Branch’s Queen Conch Lab and Chef José Andrés’ Longer Tables Fund to address a critical concern in our local environment and the community – the conservation and restoration of the queen conch population,” said Chris Maxey, founder and head of school of The Island School.
“The project fits squarely into our mission of conducting innovative, cutting-edge environmental research, and sharing and applying what we learn to sustainable solutions within our community.”
The Longer Tables Fund, launched by Chef José Andrés with support from the Bezos Courage and Civility Award, supports innovative food-based solutions that strengthen communities and promote a more inclusive, resilient future.
I believe food has the incredible power to nourish communities, sustain livelihoods, and create a healthier planet,” said Mr Andrés.
“That’s why I am so excited for how this new partnership will restore healthy conch populations and improve sustainable fishing methods.”
The Longer Tables Fund is the latest to join QCL’s network of supporters.
Over the past six years, QCL has received nearly $6m in support from partners such as Builders Vision, the Moore Bahamas Foundation, Saltonstall-Kennedy NOAA Fisheries, the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and the Bahamas National Trust.
“We are thrilled to partner with José Andrés, the Longer Tables Fund, The Island School, and the community of Eleuthera to help grow and restore the queen conch, which is significant to the local ecosystem and a vital resource and cultural touchstone for the island,” said Megan Davis, PhD, director of the QCL, and a research professor of aquaculture and stock enhancement at FAU Harbor Branch.
“This collaboration supports working together as a community to ensure the queen conch is there for generations to come, and there is much more work to be done.”
“The Queen Conch Lab is showing us what it looks like when science, community and food come together to build a better future – this is what it means to build longer tables.”
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2025
Political season begins in earnest
By MALCOLM STRACHAN
THE unveiling of candidates for the upcoming election has inevitably got tongues wagging – but the list of MP hopefuls for the FNM can tell us as much about how the party intends to govern as the chances of them doing so.
When a party sets out its field of candidates, it has to do two things – it has to plan first of all to try to win the election, but then it also has to plan for which voices it wants in government.
That is why, for all the talk at the FNM rally on Thursday, of youth and change, there were plenty of old heads in the mix too.
Arriving in government with a host of neophytes who have no idea how government functions in operation is a guarantee of getting off to a slow start.
Worse, it can lead to embarrassing (or outright illegal) stumbles such as the current raft of incumbents who according to the Public Disclosures Chairman, Bishop Victor Cooper, were unaware of the legal requirement to publicly disclose.
That excuse was shot down back in 2022 by then press secretary Clint Watson, who said all MPs were made aware of the requirement during training at the start of the new administration’s term –but it does highlight the kind of stumble those new to the job might face.
So for every Omar Isaacs in the FNM unveiling, there was a Michael Foulkes. There were other old heads in the mix too – the likes of Darren Henfield and Marvin Dames, along with incumbents such as Adrian White and Kwasi Thompson.
There are of course ways in which seasoned politicians can be added to an administration without jumping through the hoop of an election – or after failing to jump through the hoop if voters say no. One way is through the Senate – but there are limited numbers there, and parties may not wish their hands tied for
those spots if they want to use such positions to bring through the next generation of politicians.
The Senate is a curious function of our government. Elsewhere, such as in the UK, the upper chamber, the House of Lords, is full of veterans.
The point of the Lords, in many ways, is to ensure such wisdom and experience is not lost, but rather brought to bear in a way that can improve legislation. Too often, our Senate is not much more than a rubber stamp operation – though the presence of senior government figures can help to clarify the rollout of some aspects of legislation.
The Coalition of Independents also rolled out several candidates over the weekend, the only one with experience being Iram Lewis, who jumped ship from the FNM before he was invited to walk the plank. He will be hoping the Central Grand Bahama voters will stay with him, even if he didn’t stay with the party.
Some hay has been made over the changing of political allegiances already. Notably, the former DNA leader Arinthia Komolafe was named as the FNM candidate in Carmichael, seeking to unseat Keith Bell presuming he retains his nomination. That was an eye-catching political fight from the early list of likely clashes.
And then there was Jeremy Sweeting, chosen for Central and South Abaco. In classic political mischief, Attorney General Ryan Pinder quickly posted an image of Mr Sweeting in previous years at a PLP event.
Mr Sweeting did indeed, it would seem, once lean towards the PLP, perhaps as a possible candidate – but times change, and it does not take much to brush such things off, and say you left for a reason, and so might the voters.
You could say the same for the political journey of Vaughn Miller, from FNM to PLP, or previously Renward Wells in rerverse. There have been plenty of others – you know the
names down the years. Because after all, it is the voters who switch the most. We have seen the pendulum swing one way then the other time and again, unseating each government after a single term.
Just because someone showed support once for one party does not mean necessarily they have been political turncoats – though there have been those. Sometimes it just means the first party did not live up to their hopes, so they moved on, just like voters do.
Still, this first slate of FNM candidates has tantalised the appetite for the real event. It is like looking at the card at a boxing event. That battle between Komolafe and Bell looks intriguing – but over in Fox Hill, if Fred Mitchell stays in the game and runs again, then he looks an easy winner against Dr Nicholas Fox. How about that West
End and Bimini battle between newcomer Omar Isaacs and the PLP’s Kingsley Smith, whose arrival since the by-election after Obie Wilchcombe’s early passing has hardly set the world alight.
Chester Cooper will not likely be trembling in his boots at the challenge of Debra Moxey-Rolle in the Exumas and Ragged Island, but Marvin Dames looks an early favourite if McKell Bonaby keeps the nomination in Mount Moriah. The same can be said of Darren Henfield in South Beach against Bacchus Rolle – even if there is grumbling in that constituency about whether he was the favoured candidate.
John Pinder is making noises that suggest he might not run again in Central and South Abaco, so who will go up against Jeremy Sweeting, who has been a noted community leader in the area for a long time?
And has Zane
Lightbourne done enough in his Yamacraw constituency to keep the votes ahead of Elsworth Johnson?
Some of the races have real voltage – some have a lack of electricity all round.
And then there remains the wild card of Dr Hubert Minnis – who at the weekend had his own event, with faces such as Branville McCartney
and Desmond Bannister in attendance. He posted to social media with the heading: “Proven Leadership. Trusted Vision. Killarney stays with Minnis.”
Dr Minnis is still making all the noises to suggest he is very much staying in the fight. But on his own or is anyone joining him?
One thing about our country’s politics – it is never dull.
MICHAEL
COALITION of Independents Central Grand Bahama candidate, former FNM MP Iram Lewis.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Thinking beyond the immediate aftermath
By Brian J Yanites, Indiana University
HURRICANE Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern US in profound ways that will affect the hazards local residents face far into the future.
Mudslides buried roads and reshaped river channels. Uprooted trees left soil on hillslopes exposed to the elements. Sediment that washed into rivers changed how water flows through the landscape, leaving some areas more prone to flooding and erosion.
Helene was a powerful reminder that natural hazards don’t disappear when the skies clear – they evolve. These transformations are part of what scientists call cascading hazards. They occur when one natural event alters the landscape in ways that lead to future hazards. A landslide triggered by a storm might clog a river, leading to downstream flooding months or years later. A wildfire can alter the soil and vegetation, setting the stage for debris flows with the next rainstorm.
I study these disasters as a geomorphologist.
In a new paper in the journal Science, I and a team of scientists from 18 universities and the US Geological Survey explain why hazard models – used to help communities prepare for disasters – can’t just rely on the past. Instead, they need to be nimble enough to forecast how hazards evolve in real time.
The science behind cascading hazards
Cascading hazards aren’t random. They emerge from physical processes that operate continuously across the landscape – sediment movement, weathering, erosion. Together, the atmosphere, biosphere and the earth are constantly reshaping the conditions that cause natural disasters.
For instance, earthquakes fracture rock and shake loose soil. Even if landslides don’t occur during the quake itself, the ground may
be weakened, leaving it primed for failure during later rainstorms.
That’s exactly what happened after the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, which led to a surge in debris flows long after the initial seismic event.
Earth’s surface retains a “memory” of these events. Sediment disturbed in an earthquake, wildfire or severe storm will move downslope over years or even decades, reshaping the landscape as it goes.
The 1950 Assam earthquake in India is a striking example: It triggered thousands of landslides. The sediment from these landslides gradually moved through the river system, eventually causing flooding and changing river channels in Bangladesh some 20 years later.
An intensifying threat in a changing world
These risks present challenges for everything from emergency planning to home insurance. After repeated wildfiremudslide combinations in California, some insurers pulled out of the state entirely, citing mounting risks and rising costs among the reasons.
Cascading hazards are not new, but their impact is intensifying.
Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, storms and extreme rainfall. At the same time, urban development continues to expand into steep, hazard-prone terrain, exposing more people and infrastructure to evolving risks.
The rising risk of interconnected climate disasters like these is overwhelming systems built for isolated events.
Yet climate change is only part of the equation. Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.
Mount St Helens is a powerful example: More than four decades after its eruption in 1980, the US Army Corps of Engineers continues to manage ash and sediment from the eruption to keep it from filling river channels in ways that could increase the flood risk in
downstream communities.
Rethinking risk and building resilience
Traditionally, insurance companies and disaster managers have estimated hazard risk by looking at past events.
But when the landscape has changed, the past may no longer be a reliable guide to the future. To address this, computer models based on the physics of how these events work are needed to help forecast hazard evolution in real time, much like weather models update with new atmospheric data.
Thanks to advances in Earth observation technology, such as satellite imagery, drone and lidar, which is similar to radar but uses light, scientists can now track how hillslopes, rivers and vegetation change after disasters. These observations can feed into geomorphic models that simulate how loosened sediment moves and where hazards are likely to emerge next.
Researchers are already coupling weather forecasts with post-wildfire debris flow models. Other models simulate how sediment pulses travel through river networks.
Cascading hazards reveal that Earth’s surface is not a passive backdrop, but an active, evolving system. Each event reshapes the stage for the next.
Understanding these connections is critical for building resilience so communities can withstand future storms, earthquakes and the problems created by debris flows. Better forecasts can inform building codes, guide infrastructure design and improve how risk is priced and managed. They can help communities anticipate long-term threats and adapt before the next disaster strikes.
Most importantly, they challenge everyone to think beyond the immediate aftermath of a disaster – and to recognise the slow, quiet transformations that build toward the next.
Hurricane Helene set up future disasters, from landslides to fooding – cascading hazards like these are now upending risk models.
THE CARTER Lodge hangs precariously over the flood-scoured bank of the Broad River in Chimney Rock Village, North Carolina, on May 13, 2025, eight months after Hurricane Helene. Photo: Allen G Breed/AP
HURRICANE Helene makes landfall on Spetmeber 26, 2024 near the Florida panhandle.
ABOVE, an aerial view of a river with evidence of a landslide. Broken trees look like toothpicks scattered about, and the river flow is partially blocked. Below, a drone image of the same March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range shows where it temporarily dammed the river below. Photos: Brian Yanites
Montayanna Major: Moving with purpose
FOR Montayanna Major, movement is more than a function of the human body, it’s a window into healing, empowerment, and change. As a recipient of the TK Foundation Technical Scholarship from Lyford Cay Foundations, Montayanna pursued a Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at Acadia University with a vision that extends far beyond her graduation in 2025.
“I’ve always been fascinated by how each movement, function, and response of the body works in harmony,” she shared. “But beyond that, there’s a deeper purpose. My driving force comes from wanting to empower others through knowledge, care, and compassion.”
This passion was sparked in high school and has only grown stronger with her academic journey. Her goal: to become an occupational therapist and specialise in early intervention for children with neurodivergence, particularly autism.
Montayanna is
GAIN AN EDGE
A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
determined to be part of the solution. Through research, advocacy, and education, she hopes to dismantle stigma and build systems that better serve children and families. Her ultimate vision is to help shape an inclusive society, one that celebrates, rather than marginalises, neurological differences.
“When I return home, I want to see a transformation in how we approach education for children with special needs,” she said. “By equipping families, educators, and
communities with knowledge and resources, I hope to create pathways for a more compassionate and empowered future for Bahamian children.”
Her journey hasn’t been without challenges.
Reflecting on her second year at Acadia, Montayanna described it as “an academic roller coaster”
filled with demanding courses like Biomechanics and Human Physiology. Even amidst the rigour, she leaned into growth, becoming First Aid Certified, exploring psychology
Can $1,000 at birth Change a Child’s future? a republiC an proposal aims to find out
By MORIAH BALINGIT
Associated Press
WHEN children of wealthy families reach adulthood, they often benefit from the largesse of parents in the form of a trust fund. It’s another way they get a leg up on less affluent peers, who may receive nothing at all — or even be expected to support their families.
But what if all children — regardless of their family’s circumstances — could get a financial boost when they turn 18?
That’s the idea behind a House GOP proposal backed by President Donald Trump. It would create tax-deferred investment accounts — coined
“Trump Accounts” — for babies born in the U.S. over the next four years, starting them each with $1,000. At age 18, they could withdraw the money to put toward a down payment for a home, education or to start a small business. If the money is used for other purposes, it’ll be taxed at a higher rate.
“This is a pro-family initiative that will help millions of Americans harness the strength of our economy to lift up the next generation,” Trump said at a White House event Monday for the proposal.
“They’ll really be getting a big jump on life, especially if we get a little bit lucky with some of the numbers and the economy.”
While the investment would be symbolically meaningful, it’s a relatively small financial commitment to addressing child poverty in the wider $7 trillion federal budget. Assuming a 7% return, the $1,000 would grow to roughly $3,570 over 18 years.
It builds on the concept of “ baby bonds,” which two states — California and Connecticut — and the District of Columbia have introduced as a way to reduce gaps between wealthy people and poor people.
At at time when wealth inequality has soured some young people on capitalism, giving them a stake in Wall Street could be the antidote, said Utah Republican Rep. Blake Moore, who led the effort to get the initiative into a massive House spending bill. “We know that America’s economic engine is working, but not everyone feels connected to its value and the ways it can benefit them,” Moore wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Examiner. “If we can demonstrate to our next generation the benefits of investing and financial health, we can put them on a path toward prosperity.”
Families of all income levels could receive ‘Trump Accounts’
The bill would require at least one parent to produce a Social Security number with work authorizations, meaning the U.S. citizen children born to some categories of immigrants would be excluded from the benefit. But unlike other baby bond programs, which generally target disadvantaged groups, this one would be available to families of all incomes.
Economist Darrick
Hamilton of The New School, who first pitched the idea of baby bonds a quarter-century ago, said the GOP proposal would exacerbate rather than reduce wealth gaps. When he dreamed up baby bonds, he envisioned a program that would be universal but would give children from poor families a larger endowment than their wealthier peers, in an attempt to level the playing field. The money would be handled by the government, not by private firms on Wall Street. “It is upside down,” Hamilton said. “It’s going to enhance inequality.” Hamilton added that $1,000 — even with interest — would not be enough to make a significant difference for a child living in poverty.
courses to deepen her knowledge, and even embracing new experiences like Nordic walking. She said: “I went out of my comfort zone and embraced every curve ball thrown at me. I’m grateful for everything I’ve experienced, it’s helped me become a stronger individual.” Montayanna also aims to pursue a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy.
“My personal mantra is: There is purpose behind all pressures,” she shared. “Whenever life feels overwhelming, I remind myself that I’m not walking this path idly. I’m working toward something bigger than myself.”
With a vision grounded in service and empathy, Montayanna Major is well on her way to helping The Bahamas move forward, one purposeful step at a time.
Gain An Edge is a collaboration of Lyford Cay Foundations, the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and the University of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on issues surrounding education. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia.net.
grows, when you have people who lose faith in the system,” Gerstner said. “We’re not agentless. We can do something.”
A Silicon Valley investor who created the blueprint for the proposal, Brad Gerstner, said in an interview with CNBC last year that the accounts could help address the wealth gap and the loss of faith in capitalism that represent an existential crisis for the U.S. “The rise and fall of nations occurs when you have a wealth gap that
Critics say poor families have more immediate needs
The proposal comes as Congressional Republicans and Trump face backlash for proposed cuts to programs that poor families with children rely on, including food assistance and Medicaid.
Even some who back the idea of baby bonds are skeptical, noting Trump
wants to cut higher education grants and programs that aid young people on the cusp of adulthood — the same age group Trump Accounts are supposed to help. Pending federal legislation would slash Medicaid and food and housing assistance that many families with children rely on.
Young adults who grew up in poverty often struggle with covering basics like rent and transportation — expenses that Trump Accounts could not be tapped to cover, said Eve Valdez, an advocate
for youth in foster care in southern California. Valdez, a former foster youth, said she was homeless when she turned 18. Accounts for newborn children that cannot be accessed for 18 years mean little to families struggling to meet basic needs today, said Shimica Gaskins of End Child Poverty California.
“Having children have health care, having their families have access to SNAP and food are what we really need ... the country focused on,” Gaskins said.
MONTYANNA Major is a Lyford Cay Foundations Scholar, graduating in 2025 with a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology from Acadia University.
Man accused of molesting his step-granddaughter
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 52-YEAR-OLD man was granted bail on Friday after he was accused of molesting his step-granddaughter twice in the last six months.
The accused, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the minor, was arraigned on two counts of indecent assault before Assistant
Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt Evans. Prosecutors allege that between April 1 and 30, the defendant touched the girl’s breast and privates at a residence in New Providence.
The defendant is accused of groping the young girl again on May 31.
The man pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was granted $9,000 bail with one or two sureties. As part of his bail
conditions, the defendant was ordered not to contact the complainant or any witnesses in the case.
He must sign in at the Elizabeth Estates Police Station on the last Sunday of each month and will be fitted with an electronic monitoring device.
The defendant’s trial will begin on July 14. Inspector S Coakley served as the prosecutor, while Alphonso Lewis represented the accused.
TEEN CHARGED WI T H MURDER IN 2022 BABY SHOWER SHOOT ING HAS CHARGES DROPPED
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
AN 1 8-YE A R-OLD man had murder and attempted murder charges dropped on Thursday after a witness gave testimony into the fatal 2022 baby shower shooting. Kobe Taylor appeared before Justice Jeanine Weech Gomez as his trial
for murder and three counts of attempted murder continued in the Supreme Court.
Prosecutors alleged that a gray car pulled up at a home on Stack Avenue in Nassau Village, New Providence where a baby shower was underway on August 21, 2022.
Two gunmen emerged from the car and opened fire.
The shooting left
Jaordly Avril, 21,
and injured
and D arron R
Following the testimony of a police inspector, the prosecution dropped its charges. Justice Weech-Gomez dismissed the nine person jury who was hearing evidence in the case. Taylor was represented by Bjorn Ferguson and Ciji Smith-Curry.
M AN ACCUSED OF HAVING LOADED GUN IN T RUNK
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was granted bail on Friday after he was accused of having a loaded gun in his car near Lady Slipper Drive last week. Oswald Kerr, 46, was arraigned on charges of possession of an unlicencsed firearm and possession of ammunition before Magistrate Lennox
Coleby. Prosecutors allege that the defendant was found with a black Taurus G2C 9mm pistol along with 12 rounds of ammunition recovered from the trunk of his 2013 Hyundai Sonata at Rainbow Plaza on June 24. Kerr pleaded not guilty on the charges. The defendant was granted bail at $7,500 with one or two sureties. Under
the terms of his bail he must sign in at the Elizabeth Estates Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 6pm. He will also be fitted with a monitoring device and must obey a 9pm to 7am curfew.
Kerr’s trial begins on August 25.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie served as the prosecutor.
M AN CHARGED WI T H ARMED ROBBERY DENIED BAIL
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was denied bail after he was accused of holding up a Starbucks coffee shop at gunpoint last year. Chino Milord, 30, was denied bail for armed robbery before Justice Neil Braithwaite. Milord is accused of robbing a New Providence Starbucks with accomplices while armed with a handgun and taking an undisclosed amount of cash on August 18, 2024. During his bail
application, the defendant said he has three children he supports, and that he is asthmatic, suffers from liver disease, has hemorrhoids and had a biopsy while in custody for armed robbery. Milord said he was innocent and claimed he was being framed due to being known by police. Timothy Bailey, for the prosecution, said the accused was identified as the culprit by an anonymous witness. Mr Bailey said the defendant admitted to the offence in a police interview and identified himself in security footage.
Mr Bailey said Milord was not a fit candidate for bail and posed a risk of reoffending, and that the defendant was convicted for unlawfully carrying arms and stealing.
Domek Rolle, the defendant’s attorney, said his client did not pose a flight risk, had paid his debt to society and that the presumption of innocence should be given.
Justice Braithwaite denied the defendant bail as he found there were no satisfactory conditions to prevent the defendant from reoffending.
dead
Perry Johnson, Tyrone Smith
olle.
Funeral service for Joshua Sears
Fun-filled day for Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home
PREP The Next Step Mentorship Programme and Saint Peter’s and Saint Anne’s Parish North Abaco held a fun-day event at Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home on Saturday.
Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt received Zhivargo Laing, founder of Bahamas Youth Leadership Development Program, and students, in a courtesy call at Government House, Mount Fitzwilliam on June 13, 2025.
Photo: Letisha Henderson/BIS