The Tribune HURRICANE GUIDE
HEARTBREAK AS FAMILY
ID CAR CRASH VICTIMS
Anguished relatives gathered at morgue to identify victims of Sunday’s crash
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff
Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
FAMILIES of four teenage girls killed in Sunday’s Shirley Street crash gathered at Princess Margaret Hospital’s morgue yesterday, where anguished relatives identifed loved ones who had been celebrating graduations, college plans and promising futures just hours before they died. By 10am, nearly 20 people had gathered outside the morgue, waiting to
identify the victims: Betrica Brown, 18, Diamond Stubbs, 17, and Stania Webb, 19. The Tribune was unable to identify the fourth victim up to press time. Some relatives embraced in silence. Others ofered words of comfort as families struggled to absorb the tragedy. The heartbreak erupted when one woman let out an anguished cry after viewing one of the bodies. Wailing uncontrollably, she had to be restrained and appeared to pass out
Viral gas pump attendant says he is humbled over public support
FRANSON YOUTH
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
DAYS after his story resonated across the country, Franson Youth says he has been humbled by the outpouring of support and remains focused on building a better life.
Mr Youth, 29, who was born without one arm, captured the hearts of many Bahamians after The Tribune highlighted his determination and work ethic as a pump attendant at Roker's Gas Station on Faith Avenue.
GB tourism operator plans $100k expansion, adding 20 new jobs
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
A GRAND Bahama tourism operator is investing around $100,000 to launch two new guest experiences by September in an expansion expected to create 20 new jobs.
David Wallace, Pirate’s Cove Zipline and Water Park’s principal, said the move will position the attraction to capitalise on increased cruise passenger arrivals as Freeport prepares for greater vessel call volume. The expansion will fund the introduction of ‘The
Conch: A Taste of Grand Bahama’ and an underwater sea scooter tour, the frst phase of a broader expansion strategy aimed at diversifying Grand Bahama’s tourism oferings ahead of increased calls from major cruise
Davis pledges to attack cost of living targeting price xing and electricity rates
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis pledged to attack the cost of living in his second term with competition legislation targeting price-fxing and a plan to standardise electricity rates across The Bahamas, saying households are struggling to aford groceries and keep their lights on.
Contributing to a resolution thanking the Governor General for the Speech from the Throne, Mr Davis said in the House of Assembly yesterday that his administration will move aggressively to ease the pressure on Bahamian families.
“We will bring competition legislation to stop the price-fxing and abuses that strain household budgets,” he said. Mr Davis also promised to end the disparity in electricity costs between New Providence and the Family Islands, where residents often pay more for power.
“We will end the injustice
FAMILY members in breakdown as they visit morgue to ID bodies of four young women killed in Sunday’s tragic car crash on Shirley Street.
PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis.
One-armed pump attendant humbled by widespread public kindness
HUMBLED from page one
The story sparked widespread praise on social media. At press time, The Tribune’s Facebook post had attracted more than 500,00 views, 8,600 reactions, 400 comments and 600 shares.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr Youth said he has been overwhelmed by the kindness shown by strangers, many of whom have stopped by the gas station to congratulate him and encourage him to keep striving for his goals.
“It made me happy to see that I was doing my job, and other persons were motivated by what I did in my circumstances,” he said.
“I’m really happy that I inspired someone to keep pushing forward as well.”
Among those moved by his story was a customer who recently surprised him with a television and a camera.
Asked what are his future goals, Mr Youth said he wants to further his education.
He hopes to enrol at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute to study information technology as he works towards a career in media and audio.
Mr Youth said he had never seriously thought about getting a prosthetic arm because he has learned to adapt to life with one arm.
“I feel like the stage I’m at in my life now, I wouldn’t need it,” he said. “I’m not saying my mind wouldn’t change later on, but for right now I’m at peace with the situation.”
Peter Roker, owner of Roker’s Gas Station, said he has always believed
a disability should never prevent someone from being given an opportunity. He recalled previously employing a man with one leg and approached Mr Youth’s application with the same mindset.
“I am not going to be the one to say no, you can’t do that job, because I believe that whatever a person sets out to do, they’re able to do,” he said.
Mr Roker said he has never viewed Mr Youth’s missing arm as a disadvantage and was pleased to see the public recognise his dedication and work ethic.
Ministry of Youth and Sport launches summer job programme and Junkanoo camp in GB
and
THE Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, hosted its Annual Summer Job Programme Orientation at the Foster B. Pestaina Centre on Thursday. Young adults between the ages of 15 and 25 will be placed in organizations aligned with career felds they are passionate about from July 6 to July 31, 2026. Throughout the programme, participants will gain valuable hands-on experience, develop new skills and explore career opportunities. As part of this year’s summer initiatives, MOYS, in collaboration with the
Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage will host its Second Annual Junkanoo Summer Camp beginning July 6, 2026. The programme will conclude with a showcase where participants will present and perform what they have learned and accomplished during their time in the programme.
FRANSON Youth shares his gratitude over the outpouring of support he has received.
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
THE MINISTRY of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, hosted its Annual Summer Job Programme
Second Annual Junkanoo Summer Camp Orientation at the Foster B Pestaina Centre on June 25, 2026.
Photos: Danielle Rollon/BIS
‘She made my entire family proud’
before being carried away on someone’s shoulder.
For Damian Stubbs, the death of his daughter Diamond destroyed dreams that had only recently begun to take shape.
Mr Stubbs said he had recently sent Diamond to New Providence to prepare for college. Diamond had distinguished herself academically, serving as head girl and valedictorian of Old Bight High School — accomplishments that filled her family with pride.
“I was prepared to make sure that she go to college,” Mr Stubbs said. “She made my entire family proud. Everybody that was around her was proud — teachers, friends, strangers.”
For Densandria Wright, Betrica’s aunt, the first instinct was disbelief.
“What’s going through my mind is maybe it’s a lie, maybe it isn’t true, maybe she would have been one that survived,” Ms Wright said.
She said Betrica, a student of Agape Christian School in Abaco, had recently texted her asking for help finding summer employment before heading to college on a volleyball scholarship. Ms Wright had agreed to help.
“Waiting on that, I saw the pictures going around, but my friend from the States called and showed me, and I said, ‘No, can’t be it, can’t be true.’ I follow up on it and just found out that they had went out as a group of friends.”
Ms Wright said the young women had gathered with friends to celebrate their graduation and upcoming college journeys. Betrica had hoped to become a professional athlete.
“To my understanding, she was one who didn’t want to go. She did but
“What’s going through my mind is maybe it’s a lie, maybe it isn’t true, maybe she would have been one that survived.”
- Densandria Wright Betrica’s aunt
she said Diamond encouraged her, because she would have been the only one home, and she went. Then we got the call.”
Ms Wright described Betrica as athletic, funny and charming. She said the teenager was not known for going out, making the news that she had joined her friends that night especially surprising.
The crash has sparked widespread public reaction, including questions about road conditions in the area where the accident occurred.
Freetown MP Lincoln Deal, the area’s representative, said he could not comment on the cause of the crash while police investigations continue. However, he noted that he has previously raised concerns about infrastructure in the Freetown area, pointing to East Bay Street, Shirley Street and Mackey Street and saying the area is “very holey”.
“It speaks more to not just ensuring that the roads are paved, but also ensuring that when work is taking place there are specific measures, safety measures that give motorists an opportunity to see that road work is
ahead,” he said. He suggested improved signage, fluorescent barriers and barricades around construction zones to better alert drivers.
Beauty pageant queens Zaniyaa Bowe, Miss Teen
Man killed in car crash on Earnest Dean Hwy in Abaco
A 30-YEAR-OLD man died in Abaco after he was ejected from a Nissan Note during a two-vehicle crash on Earnest Dean Highway in Spring City on Monday morning.
Police said they received reports of the collision shortly after 7am and responded to the scene, where they found both vehicles overturned and extensively damaged.
The driver of the silver
Nissan Note was found unresponsive at the scene. Emergency Medical Services personnel examined him and confrmed he had no vital signs. The driver of the second vehicle, a green Nissan March, complained of chest pain and was taken to the Marsh Harbour Medical Centre for treatment. He was examined by a doctor and discharged.
Police said preliminary
investigations suggest the green Nissan March was travelling north along Earnest Dean Highway when the driver of the Nissan Note attempted to overtake.
During the manoeuvre, an oncoming vehicle approached from the opposite direction, forcing the Nissan Note back into the northbound lane, where it collided with the Nissan March.
22-year-old shot dead outside a Constitution Drive residence
A 22-YEAR-OLD man was shot dead in the driver’s seat of a silver Suzuki Swift early Monday morning after gunmen opened fre on him and a 20-yearold woman outside a residence on Constitution Drive, of Foster Street.
Police said ShotSpotter technology detected multiple gunshots in the area shortly before 1am on June 29. Ofcers also received reports that a man and woman had been shot. When police arrived,
they found the man unresponsive in the driver’s seat of the vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Services personnel examined him and confrmed he had no signs of life. A 20-year-old woman was also found at the scene with gunshot wounds to her upper right thigh and abdomen. She was taken to hospital, where medical personnel later confrmed she was in stable condition. Police said preliminary
investigations suggest the victims had just arrived at a residence on Constitution Drive when the woman got out of the vehicle and entered the home.
As she returned to the vehicle, the occupants of a white Japanese-model vehicle approached and opened fre in their direction.
The man was fatally wounded, while the woman was injured. The suspects fed south along Foster Street.
International, and Kristaney Duroseau, Miss Teen Universe, also offered condolences to the families.
Ms Bowe described the three young women from Cat Island as “young,
outstanding” girls who were set for success before they were killed in the crash. An Abaco resident, she singled out Betrica, who had moved from Cat Island to Abaco, as someone she will never forget.
“She would always support our pageant events in Abaco and would also say one day she will wear a crown,” Ms Bowe said. “As Family Island young women, our hearts are broken.”
THE FAMILIES of four young girls who were tragically killed in an early morning car crash on Shirley Street on Sunday are overcome with grief as they gathered at the morgue to identify their children’s bodies.
THE SCENE on Shirley Street near Church Street where a car carrying 8 young people crashed into a tree killing four of them on Sunday morning.
Halkitis says VAT theft claims took personal toll on his family
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
FINANCE Minister
Michael Halkitis told Parliament his daughter once came home from school saying classmates told her he was “going to jail” for stealing VAT money, recalling the personal toll of political allegations as he continues to draw scrutiny for his previous role in Top Notch Builders, a company tied to convicted drug traffcker Eric Gardiner.
Mr Halkitis made the remarks during the evening
MINNISTER OF FINANCE MICHAEL
HALKITIS
session of Parliament, after earlier exchanges between government and opposition members over Opposition Leader Michael Pintard’s
request for Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles to widen the scope of an investigation into Mr Gardiner, Top Notch Builders and alleged government contracts under the PLP. Gardiner is detained in the United States on drug trafcking charges. US authorities allege that Top Notch Builders was used to launder money. Mr Halkitis previously served as president of the company, a fact that has prompted opposition criticism since he was appointed Minister of Finance after winning the St Barnabas constituency.
Mr Halkitis recalled the
period between 2015 and 2017, when the then-opposition Free National Movement challenged the Christie administration over its use of VAT collections.
"Listening to some of the exchange here this morning, Madame Speaker, it cast my mind back to 2015 to 2017 around there and where the VAT money gone, and that debate evolved into the government, namely myself as the Minister of State for Finance, stealing $1 billon worth of VAT money," Mr Halkitis recalled.
He said the claims reached his family.
"I had to listen to my daughter come home from school and say to me that the children were telling her, 'Your daddy is going to jail because he stole the VAT money,” he said. Mr Halkitis claimed that after the 2017 general election, the then-FNM chairman acknowledged that "no money was stolen", but said no apology followed.
"No apology, no we're sorry for dragging your name through the mud, none of that," Mr Halkitis said. He said politics requires resilience and that anyone
seeking election to Parliament should understand that "this is big man and big woman things".
"I watch, Madame Speaker, some of the commentary and some of the things that are being put out there, and it cast me back to that time, and I'm not hopeful. I don't expect anything better," Mr Halkitis said. "But it would be good in the fullness of time, when everything is revealed, that those who so gleefully seek to scandalise your name with the same alacrity and enthusiasm apologise."
Rollins and Mitchell clash over Bahamas reputation
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
LONG Island MP Andre Rollins accused Foreign Afairs Minister Fred Mitch-
ell of hypocrisy in Parliament on Monday, pointing to a past protest in which Mr Mitchell destroyed a copy of the Constitution, as a bitter clash over the country’s reputation unfolded.
The exchange erupted after Mr Mitchell, during his contribution to a resolution relating to Speech from the Throne, criticised what he described as eforts to portray The Bahamas as corrupt, crime-ridden and tainted by drug allegations.
“I was thinking that if somebody looked at the newspapers as they are online in The Bahamas, they would really get a skewed picture of what is happening in this country," Mr Mitchell said.
"They think that all of us are suddenly drug barons or infested by crime, that we're corrupt, that we're crooked, and so on. Every day there's drum beat, drum beat, drum beat with this rubbish. And we're not. We're a great country," he said.
Mr Mitchell said he would continue defending the country’s image abroad.
"I am not going to let anyone, friend or foe, domestic or foreign, destroy the reputation of this country. And particularly in this House," he said. Standing on a point of order, Dr Rollins accused the Fox Hill MP of hypocrisy, recalling a past protest in which Mr Mitchell publicly destroyed a copy of the Constitution.
"The member for Fox Hill tore up and burned a copy of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas because in his estimation, the country's democracy was
under threat," he said.
"That is no diferent in what this side in 2026 is concerned about, that this country's democracy is under threat."
Dr Rollins insisted that opposition members were not trying to harm the country.
"We wish this country no harm,” he said. “We are patriotic Bahamians who care deeply about this country. There's absolutely no way that we will allow him to mischaracterize the reputation of the members of the opposition. It is wrong, and I ask him to cease and desist."
The exchange intensifed when Mr Mitchell accused the Free National Movement of opposing independence.
"The FNM opposed independence. That's what they did. You are defaming the country," he said.
Dr Rollins responded by reminding House members that Mr Mitchell frst entered
Parliament with FNM support.
"He came to this Parliament in 1989 for the frst time because of the FNM. He accepted an appointment to be a member of the upper house by the Right Honorable Hubert Ingraham," Dr Rollins shouted.
Mr Mitchell fred back: "You got the chance to be here because of me.”
The dispute then shifted to allegations surrounding “Politician One,” the unidentifed political fgure referenced in US court proceedings linked to an alleged drug trafcking conspiracy.
Dr Rollins objected to suggestions that the opposition was damaging the country’s reputation.
"The reality is the reason we are mired in this controversy is that someone who is labeled as politician one is said to have been involved in a drug deal for $30 million in the precincts of this House. And that person is not on this side," he said.
He then challenged government members to identify
the person.
"If you don't want us defaming the reputation of the House, honorable member, tell us who politician one is on that side."
Mr Mitchell responded by referencing past allegations involving the FNM.
"We know who counted the money. The money ended up with your side, with people in the courts. Remember that?" he said. "Crookedness resides in the FNM."
The debate escalated again when Dr Rollins accused the Speaker of zealously protecting government members while not afording the same treatment to opposition MPs.
A visibly upset Speaker rebuked him.
"I rebuke you,” she said, shouting: “And I'm telling you, you better take a seat. You better take a seat. I am tired of you challenging me, and you don't know anything about me nor my character. Do you hear me? I am not covering up for anybody. Anybody. You hear me? I am not covering for anybody in this honorable assembly."
Opposition Leader Michael Pintard later entered the debate, arguing that opposition members were right to object to comments suggesting they were harming the country’s reputation.
"We are upset, Madam Speaker, because the subject that we are debating on, a crooked deal being done in the House, originated on that side," Mr Pintard said. "It should not be allowed for him to put that on us."
Mr Pintard said exposing wrongdoing does not damage the country’s reputation.
"When the truth of the matter is, if somebody is carrying out a criminal act and you defend that person who's carrying out a criminal act, that is destroying the reputation of The Bahamas,” he added. “And so, it's wrong for him to try to put that on us.
Speaker Deveaux said she had already ordered the ofending remarks removed from the parliamentary record and urged Mr Pintard to rein in Dr Rollins.
Pintard urges wider police probe into Top Notch Builders
FNM leader Michael Pintard has urged Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles to widen the investigation surrounding drug trafcker Jonathan Eric Gardiner, saying new information raises serious questions about money laundering, benefcial ownership disclosures and whether corporate structures were used to conceal control of funds.
In a follow-up letter to the commissioner, Mr Pintard said evidence now suggests a possible gap between Top Notch Builders’ corporate flings and the apparent control of its bank accounts.
He said there are credible indications that Gardiner, who is not refected in the company’s corporate flings, may have had direct access to and control over the company’s bank accounts, including the withdrawal of signifcant sums.
Mr Pintard said that disconnect is signifcant because a mismatch between recorded ownership and actual control of funds could point to the use of corporate entities to hide the identity of the true controlling party.
The letter comes after Gardiner, also known as “Player”, fled documents in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York saying $20,000 of the $30,000 in cash he had when his plane crashed on May 12 had been withdrawn from a Top Notch Builders bank account the day before.
In those flings, Gardiner and his attorneys described the account as his “business bank account”. A bank slip fled in court claimed to show the withdrawal came from Top Notch Builders’ account at Bank of The Bahamas’ JFK Drive branch.
Mr Pintard told the commissioner that the police investigation should include a forensic review of Top Notch Builders’ banking relationships and all accounts held by its subsidiaries, afliates or related entities.
He said investigators should identify all authorised signatories on those accounts over time, determine when such authority was granted or revoked and examine how the accounts were actually used.
He also urged police, working with commercial banks, fnancial intelligence authorities and regulators, to obtain and analyse Know Your Customer records, due diligence fles and benefcial ownership declarations submitted when the accounts were opened and during later reviews.
Mr Pintard said those records would help determine whether anyone not listed in corporate flings was recorded by fnancial institutions as a benefcial owner, signatory or person exercising efective control over the accounts.
He said any diference between bank KYC records and flings held by the Registrar General would be a serious concern requiring careful investigation.
The FNM leader also called for investigators to examine the volume, frequency and nature of transactions in the accounts, including large cash withdrawals or deposits, transfers between Top Notch Builders and related entities, and any transaction patterns inconsistent with the company’s stated commercial activity.
Mr Pintard said investigators should determine whether those companies operated as independent businesses or functioned as conduits for moving funds within a broader fnancial structure.
He said particular attention should be paid to the relationship between Top Notch Builders and entities tied to public projects, including Carmichael Village Project Development Ltd, a special purpose vehicle established by the government.
Mr Pintard said the SPV was established by the same law frm that served as the registered agent for Top Notch Builders.
He urged investigators to examine fnancial fows between those entities and public sector counterparts, including payments under government contracts, to determine whether funds moved through layers of corporate entities in a way that concealed or obscured their origin.
The letter also calls for scrutiny of whether public funds were commingled with private fnancial fows through special purpose vehicles, subsidiaries or related corporate arrangements.
“The matters now before the authorities are no longer confned to allegations of narcotics trafcking,” Mr Pintard wrote. “They raise the prospect of a broader misuse of corporate and fnancial systems to conceal ownership, control fnancial fows, and obscure the origin of funds. These are issues that directly afect the integrity of the country’s fnancial system and its compliance with international standards.”
He said police should trace the fow of funds between Top Notch Builders and related companies, including entities involved in construction or development projects linked to the government.
PM promises competition laws and standard power rates
that makes a family in Mayaguana pay more to keep the lights on than a family in Nassau, by introducing standard rates for light bills across the country,” he said.
He noted the government has already moved to acquire the Grand Bahama
Power Company to ensure residents there beneft from lower electricity bills. “Grand Bahama Power Company is under new ownership – a purchase made by the government to ensure that Grand Bahamians are no longer excluded from lower bills under our new energy era,” he said.
Mr Davis also said Bahamians will be ofered the
opportunity to buy up to 25 percent of the government’s ownership stake in Bank of The Bahamas as part of a push to expand economic participation.
Mr Davis also announced a framework to address elder abandonment by giving Social Services greater authority to intervene before vulnerable seniors fall into crisis.
FNM demands review of Top Notch Builders bank accounts
FNM from page four
The FNM has been pressing for a local investigation since a sworn afdavit fled in the US case alleged that Gardiner used Bahamian government-issued construction contracts to launder drug trafcking proceeds. Top Notch Builders has been linked to major public projects, including the government’s $34m Eight Mile Rock administrative complex and the Carmichael Village afordable housing project.
Tribune Business previously reported that corporate records show 4,999 of the 5,000 shares in Complete Construction, the contractor for the Renaissance at Carmichael Village subdivision, are owned by Top Notch Builders. Complete Construction’s ofcers and directors are also virtually the same as Top Notch’s. Samson
Hield, Complete Construction’s president, was vice-president of Top Notch when the company signed the public-private partnership agreement with the government for the Eight Mile Rock administrative complex. Tribune Business also previously reported Gardiner’s ties to Top Notch and PPP Construction and Investments, a vehicle wholly owned by the contractor and used to construct the Eight Mile Rock complex. Gardiner’s latest court flings appear to confict with earlier corporate flings in which he denied owning shares or having any benefcial interest in Top Notch Builders. In a benefcial ownership afdavit fled with the Registry of Records on February 13, 2017, Gardiner denied such ties to the company.
The New York flings have also raised questions about Finance Minister
Michael Halkitis, who corporate records show was named as Top Notch’s president and a director for 2019, 2020 and 2021 before resigning ahead of the 2021 general election.
Mr Halkitis has said that as a private citizen, he provided fnancial consulting and corporate services consulting. He said he was approached to provide consulting and directorship services to Top Notch Builders, particularly to help establish proper corporate governance procedures and structures.
He said he was not hired by Gardiner and was approached by an attorney. He said his involvement began in mid2019, but the company suspended operations by April 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has said he resigned from that company and all other directorships he held in 2021 and later said his involvement with Top Notch ended in April 2020.
“Somewhere tonight, there is a senior citizen, a patriarch or matriarch, who raised children, kept a home, and held a community together, who can no longer care for themself, and who has been left to survive without sufcient support. This is not a norm I can accept,” he said.
He said health insurance will be extended to all
public servants, including contract workers who were previously excluded.
Mr Davis also reiterated his pledge for tougher penalties for employers who hire undocumented migrants and announced plans to create a Fraud Intelligence Unit to detect and investigate fraudulent activity.
Turning to Grand Bahama, Mr Davis said the island is rebounding, citing a more than 91 percent increase in visitor arrivals. He pointed to several projects and investments, including the Afro-Caribbean marketplace, the MSC cruise port, the Xanadu project, a new deal with the Port Authority, a new hospital and a modern airport.
PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS
The Tribune Limited
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LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
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What to know about Eastern US heat dome
By ALEXA ST JOHN Associated Press
THESE unbearably hot and humid summer months that put millions of people across the globe at risk are typically made possible by phenomena known as heat domes.
Heat domes can make already-high temperatures even more extreme and prolonged, and they are worsening in severity and becoming more frequent as the planet warms.
Here’s what to know.
What makes up a heat dome, and what does it do?
Heat domes are essentially high-pressure systems hovering above a region that trap heat and humidity, experts say. They result from the northward fow of warm air. That system sends air sinking, pressure increasing and temperatures rising.
“The concept of a heat dome really means that the air in this region is so warm, and we know that warm air expands,” said Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center. “It basically means that the layers of the atmosphere are bulging upward as well.”
Simply put, heat domes cause heat waves. They’re associated with very dry, sunny conditions that last for multiple days at a time, trap heat at the surface and help to amplify it, said Zachary Labe, climate scientist at Climate Central, an independent collective of scientists.
How has heat affected the world this year?
Heat impacted various regions of the world early in 2026.
The continental United States registered its most abnormally hot month in 132 years of records in March, with record-shattering extremes frst in the Southwest and then across the rest of the nation. Heat scorched the French Open and scorched parts of India in May. Extreme heat has since been top of mind for the World Cup across the US, Canada and Mexico.
Starting mid-June, Europe has baked under unseasonable highs of around 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in many places due to a heat dome.
Now, much of the Eastern US is expected to be slammed by a long heat wave in the coming days, and already, much of the Southwest is experiencing temperatures around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) this week and those temperatures could reach elsewhere by the Fourth of July holiday.
What role does climate change play?
Science shows that as the planet warms — the result of humans burning coal, oil and gas — heat waves get worse, last longer and become more frequent.
“Heat waves like this are so directly connected to the climate crisis and climate change,” Francis said, “and it’s because of how we’ve been burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests for so long and increasing the concentration of heat-trapping gasses in the atmosphere.
“These kinds of heat waves and droughts and associated fres are all increasing just as we would expect them to in a warming world,” she said. How can I stay safe?
Experts say people need to stay hydrated when sweltering heat and humidity hit.
Be sure to avoid outdoor exercise in the heat of the day — and fnd shade, or if you can, access to air conditioning. Some cities ofer resources and cooling centres to provide relief.
Cooling of in nearby pools or bodies of water can also help.
Heat domes can make it difcult to fully recover from high temperatures at night, so fnding ways to stay cool during the day and evening hours are important.
“It’s those night times — especially, locations and people, who don’t have access to adequate cooling, really need to be aware of the impacts that added heat stress will have and their body’s ability not to be able to cool down,” Labe said, “because humidity is going to be a really key factor in boosting those heat impacts.”
e Bahamas needs a clear destination identity
EDITOR, The Tribune.
I WAS intrigued to read and listen to the news about the increase in tourist arrivals. While growth is always positive, I would like to share my perspective on our current situation and what we should strive to achieve.
The Bahamas does not simply need more tourists; it needs a clearer destination identity.
For too long, we have measured tourism success primarily by numbers: arrivals, cruise passengers, hotel occupancy, airlift, visitor spending, and room nights. While these figures are important in showing whether the tourism sector is growing, they do not tell the whole story.
Growth numbers indicate how many people came, but they do not explain why they came, what they experienced, what they remembered, whether they will return, or whether Bahamians truly benefited from the value created.
That is why The Bahamas must place greater importance on defining its Destination Identity.
Destination Identity is not just a slogan, logo, advertisement, or marketing campaign. It is a clear definition of what The Bahamas represents in the minds of people worldwide. It answers a fundamental yet powerful question: when people think of The Bahamas, what should come to mind?
Currently, The Bahamas is too often reduced to sun, sand, and sea. While these are valuable assets we should never dismiss, our water, beaches, climate, marine beauty, and island geography alone are no longer enough.
Many countries have beaches, and many destinations offer sunshine. Numerous places can sell warm weather, resorts, excursions, cocktails, and ocean views. If The Bahamas defines itself solely by physical beauty, it risks becoming just another attractive location in a crowded global marketplace.
The Bahamas must be more than just a place people visit; it must be a place people understand, feel connected to, remember, and emotionally engage with. This requires a strong identity.
A clearly defined destination identity would guide the type of tourism economy we are building. Are we a luxury destination? A family destination?
A cultural destination?
A maritime destination?
A wellness destination?
A heritage destination?
An island-hopping destination? A boutique hospitality destination? A short-term vacation rental destination? A cruise destination? An eco-tourism
e framework for a just society
EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE Christian view of a fair society anchors itself in the doctrine of Imago Dei—the foundational truth that every human being possesses unassailable, equal dignity as an image-bearer of God. Consequently, Christianity does not endorse a singular political architecture; instead, it measures a society’s moral legitimacy by its commitment to impartial justice, its protection of individual worth, and its active defense of the vulnerable. Similarly rooted in the divine, the Islamic blueprint for a fair society is anchored in Adl (absolute justice) and the foundational truth that all human beings share equal status as servants of Allah. Consequently, Islam gauges a society’s fairness by how completely it implements divine law (Sharia) to safeguard human rights, eradicate oppression (Zulm), and
foster collective well-being. Rejecting secular divisions between religion and state, traditional Islamic thought provides a unifed spiritual, legal, and economic framework engineered to build a universally just community (Ummah). In contrast to these theological foundations, the capitalist blueprint for a fair society is anchored in individual liberty, unassailable private property rights, and voluntary market exchange. Consequently, capitalism rejects mandated equal outcomes, defning fairness instead as strict equality of opportunity under an impartial rule of law. A society achieves moral legitimacy when individuals possess total autonomy to deploy their labor, capital, and talents to elevate their lives, leaving the competitive market to serve as the ultimate, unbiased arbiter of value. Diverging completely from market mechanics, the communist
blueprint for a fair society is anchored in the collective ownership of the means of production and the complete eradication of social classes. Consequently, communism rejects capitalist frameworks of private property and wage labor, defning fairness as a state of absolute, systemic equality where economic exploitation is impossible. A society achieves ultimate moral legitimacy only when class divisions dissolve; the state’s apparatus withers away, and resources are distributed strictly according to human need rather than wealth or market value. The presence of criminal behavior remains a universal reality in every human civilisation, serving as a profound litmus test for the moral health of a nation. Ultimately, the fairness of any society is not measured by its lofty ideals alone, but by the dignity, justice, and humanity it extends to those who violate its laws.
destination?
The answer cannot simply be “all of the above.” That approach leads to confusion rather than strategy.
A comprehensive tourism strategy must articulate how these components fit together under one coherent national identity. Without that clarity, development becomes fragmented. Cruise tourism may go in one direction, hotel development in another, short-term rentals evolve independently, and cultural tourism becomes an afterthought. Local communities are left reacting instead of participating.
This is why tourism growth figures can be misleading. More visitors do not automatically equate to a stronger destination.
More cruise passengers do not necessarily mean increased wealth for Bahamians. More hotel rooms do not ensure deeper local ownership, nor do more arrivals guarantee better service, a stronger culture, cleaner communities, protected beaches, or broader economic participation.
Growth without identity is simply traffic.
The real question is not whether tourism is growing, but whether it is growing in a way that strengthens The Bahamas, protects our natural beauty, elevates Bahamian culture, improves service standards, and creates ownership opportunities for Bahamians.
A clearly defined Destination Identity would shape national decision-making. It would influence airport development, cruise policy, hotel approvals, workforce training, cultural programming, environmental protection, maritime planning, digital tourism platforms, and local entrepreneurship.
This clarity would also help Bahamians understand their rightful role in the tourism economy.
Too often, tourism is treated as something that occurs around Bahamians rather than something built with them. Visitors arrive, hotels operate, ships dock, rooms are booked, and excursions are sold, yet many Bahamians remain disconnected from the deeper value chain.
A stronger destination identity must encompass Bahamians: people, culture, food, music, history, storytelling, settlements, creativity, and enterprise.
Visitors should leave The Bahamas with memories that extend beyond the beach; they should remember how the country made them feel.
This is where our true competitive advantage lies.
The Bahamas should not compete merely on price and should avoid becoming a cheaper version of another destination’s model. People may compare prices before they travel, but what they remember are the experiences they have after they leave.
They recall the warm welcome, the delicious food, the vibrant music, and their conversations with taxi drivers, straw vendors, tour guides, chefs, boat captains, housekeepers, bartenders, concierges, and small business owners. They remember whether the experience felt authentic and organic. The difference between tourism as an industry and tourism as a national experience is significant.
The Bahamas already possesses the essential elements: sun, sand, sea, exceptional service, rich culture, natural beauty, maritime geography, history, creativity, and diverse islands. However, these raw materials need to be crafted into a compelling value proposition.
New Providence is different from Exuma, Grand Bahama is distinct from Eleuthera, Andros is not the same as Abaco, and Bimini differs from Long Island. Each island has its own rhythm, unique assets, stories, and potential. A thoughtful Destination Identification strategy would not eliminate these differences; instead, it would organise them into a stronger national brand.
The Bahamas should not be marketed as a single, generic destination. Rather, it should be recognised as a network of distinct island experiences united under one national identity.
Tourism promotion focuses on the question: how can we attract more visitors? In contrast, destination development considers: what do visitors experience when they arrive? Who benefits from their visit? What do they remember? What lasting value remains after they leave?
The second question is the more important one.
The Bahamas does not lack beauty; it lacks a clear definition. While tourism growth is important, that growth must enhance the nation’s identity rather than diminish it.
The Bahamas needs more than just increased tourism numbers; it requires a strong destination identity that can transform visitors into advocates, communities into active participants, and tourism into a platform for national development
ARCHEIA AURORA Freeport, Grand Bahama June 16, 2026.
Criminal behavior is rarely the product of a single, isolated catalyst; rather, it is driven by a complex, highly interconnected web of economic, social, psychological, and environmental forces. Any rigorous understanding of criminology must therefore reject reductionist explanations, evaluating criminal activity instead as the systemic intersection of structural deprivations, localized social pressures, and individual psychological vulnerabilities. Because each ideological framework diagnoses the root of societal unfairness diferently, each proposes a radically distinct remedy for crime: The Christian Perspective asserts that crime stems from moral brokenness and a departure from divine law. Resolution requires a synthesis of personal spiritual conversion, communal accountability, and a framework of restorative justice that actively reconciles the ofender with the victim.
The Islamic Perspective views crime as a dual violation of divine law and human rights, often precipitated by moral decay or systemic imbalances. It is corrected through strict, impartial legal deterrents (Hudud) paired with mandatory, state-enforced welfare systems (Zakat) engineered to eliminate economic desperation.
The Capitalist Perspective posits that crime is a rational, calculated choice made by an individual evaluating risk against reward. It is remedied by enforcing a powerful rule of law, optimizing the efciency of state deterrents, and maintaining a robust free-market economy that maximizes legitimate avenues for wealth creation.
The Communist Perspective dictates that crime is a direct symptom of class struggle, poverty, and capitalist exploitation. It can only be eradicated by abolishing private property
and class divisions, thereby dismantling the structural greed and economic deprivation that fuel anti-social behavior.
Ultimately, a perfectly just society remains an idealised utopia rather than a uniform, one-size-fts-all blueprint. Divergent cultural, material, and social realities dictate what is practically achievable, meaning that real-world justice must always be contextual rather than abstractly ideal. Consequently, constructing a fair society is never a fnite destination, but a perpetual, evolving work in progress. Yet, while a fawless utopia may remain structurally impossible, it is the unrelenting pursuit of this ideal that prevents civilisation from collapsing.
BRIAN ELLIS PLUMMER Nassau, June 20, 2026.
Man accused of pointing gun at police stands trial
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THE investigator in the case of a man accused of pulling a gun on two police ofcers on Mutton Fish Drive in 2020 testifed yesterday that the defendant gave “no comment” during his police interview.
Superintendent Keno Demeritte 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.
Superintendent Demeritte read the record of interview he conducted with the defendant at CID around noon on November 12. The record said Cox was allegedly driving a white two-door Honda Civic on the day of the incident when he nearly collided with Inspector Flowers and PC Davis’s police car
on Reef Street.
Superintendent Demeritte said that after the ofcers turned on their police lights and signalled to the accused, he allegedly sped of.
A chase followed, ending after the suspect allegedly crashed his vehicle on Mutton Fish Drive. The investigator said the accused exited his vehicle while holding a handgun, which he then allegedly pointed at the ofcers.
Superintendent Demeritte read that after the accused refused to
Man remanded to prison for alleged sexual assault of teen
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN accused of sexu-
ally assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Pinewood Gardens last week was remanded to prison yesterday.
Prosecutors allege Lorvensky Jean, 23, had unlawful sexual intercourse with the underage girl on the night of June 23.
The complainant reportedly knew the accused and was taken by him to the Pinewood area, where he allegedly forced himself on her.
Jean was not required to enter a plea to the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse before acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans. The defendant was told his matter would proceed to the Supreme Court
through a voluntary bill of indictment.
Jean was informed of his right to apply for bail in the higher court.
He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until service of his VBI on October 8.
Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted the case, while Moses Bain represented the accused.
comply with orders to drop the weapon, the two ofcers fred at him.
The suspect then allegedly threw the weapon over a fence and ran from authorities.
During the interview, Superintendent Demeritte noted that the accused had an injury to his lower lip, which the ofcer suggested he got while jumping over a barbed wire fence trying to evade police.
The ofcer further claimed that the suspect got a ride to Princess Margaret Hospital, where
he was treated for a gunshot injury he allegedly received when police fred at him.
Superintendent Demeritte said the accused allegedly lifted his shirt during the interview to show a wound, which the ofcer suggested came from police gunfre. The ofcer questioned the defendant during the interview about why he had a gun and what his intentions were that day.
He also questioned him about whether he used the name Laseheno Stuart.
Superintendent Demeritte said the licence plate and registration disc did not match on the suspect’s vehicle. He added that a passport in the defendant’s name was recovered from the vehicle.
The accused reportedly answered “no comment” to all questions put to him during the interview. The defendant signed the record of interview. Basil Cumberbatch is prosecuting the case, while Ian Jupp represents the accused.
Four years for firearm parts
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN who admitted having five firearm components and ammunition at his Pastel Gardens home last week was sentenced to four years in prison yesterday. Orey Paul was found with a black firearm frame, black magazine, black barrel, black firearm slide, recoil spring and two 9mm rounds after he and his residence were searched at 1am on June 25.
Paul pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of a component part of a firearm and one count of possession of ammunition before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr. He was sentenced to 48 months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. The firearm components were ordered destroyed. Sergeant 3004 Forbes prosecuted the case.
Man on bail for illegal build
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN accused of damaging Crown land and building on it without a permit was granted bail yesterday.
Prosecutors allege Keith
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ingraham, 64, caused $25 worth of damage to the well felds of Opulent Heights, Carmichael Road, and began building operations without a permit between May 16 and July 22, 2025.
Ingraham pleaded not guilty to damage and
GO! Outside and Play Brought Joy, Connection and Play to Children from Local Children’s Homes
operating without a valid building permit before Acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans.
He was granted $500 bail with one or two sureties. The accused returns to court for trial on October 7. Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted the case.
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Rooted in GO! Insect Repellent’s mission to encourage families and children to enjoy the outdoors safely and con!dently, the GO! Outside and Play initiative brought together corporate partners, service organizations and volunteers to create a memorable experience for children from local children’s homes. More than just a day of games, the event reinforced the importance of active play, meaningful connection and exploring nature with the protection from mosquitoes and other biting insects that GO! products provide.
Hosted by Nassau Agencies Limited, the authorized distributor of GO! Insect Repellent in e Bahamas, the event welcomed 50 children from the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel and Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home to the University of !e Bahamas for an a ernoon !lled with outdoor activities, team challenges, creative experiences and healthy competition. e initiative encouraged participants to disconnect from screens, embrace the outdoors and build lasting memories through active play and community engagement.
roughout the a ernoon, children participated in relay races, group games and interactive activities designed to foster con!dence, teamwork, resilience and fun. e event also created opportunities for volunteers to build genuine relationships with the children, providing moments of encouragement and mentorship that will extend far beyond the day’s activities.
e success of GO! Outside and Play was made possible through the generosity of organizations and individuals who donated their time, expertise and resources. Nassau Agencies Limited led the planning and execution of the initiative alongside dedicated volunteers from the Kiwanis Club, under the leadership of current President Whitney Storr, Phi Beta Sigma, Rashard Evans, President, as well as the Bahamas National Trust, whose team delivered an engaging, hands-on educational experience centered on Bahamian wildlife and conservation.
e Bahamas National Trust’s interactive exhibit, which included a live snake encounter and educational discussions about native species, aligned naturally with GO! Insect Repellent’s commitment to helping families enjoy nature safely and responsibly. Attendees also visited a dedicated GO! product demonstration station, where volunteers showcased the brand’s range of insect repellent products in family-friendly formats designed for outdoor adventures, sporting activities, camping trips and everyday play.
“Creating opportunities like this is about much more than a single a ernoon of fun,” said Tonesha Smith, Brand Manager of GO! Insect Repellent at Nassau Agencies Limited. “It’s about investing in young people, encouraging meaningful human connection and reminding every child that they are supported by a community that cares. We want children to experience the joy of being outdoors, knowing they can do so safely with the protection that GO! provides against biting insects.”
e initiative also highlighted the importance of corporate social responsibility andcommunity collaboration, demonstrating what can be accomplished when businesses, nonpro!t organizations and civic groups unite around a common purpose.
Nassau Agencies Limited extends its sincere appreciation to the children’s homes, volunteers, partners and supporters whose commitment helped make GO! Outside and Play a tremendous success. eir collective generosity transformed an ordinary day into one !lled with laughter, friendship and lasting memories.
As the event concluded, children departed with smiles, new friendships and unforgettable experiences—an enduring reminder that every child deserves opportunities to play, grow and simply enjoy being a child.
About Nassau Agencies Limited
Nassau Agencies Limited is one of e Bahamas’ leading distributors of consumer products, representing a diverse portfolio of trusted international brands. As the authorized distributor of GO! Insect Repellent, the company remains committed to investing in initiatives that promote healthier families, stronger communities and positive social impact throughout e Bahamas with the support of the manufacturer of these products, McBride (Caribbean) Limited, in Barbados.
Ivoine Ingraham • Facing Reality
Can’t condemn discrimination abroad
.
. . while we practise it at home
BY ANY measure, Baha-
mians are a proud people.
We’re quick to speak about injustice when it afects us. We rightly condemn racism, discrimination, and the unfair treatment many of our citizens experience when travelling abroad. We complain when our people are subjected to extra scrutiny at foreign airports, when we’re pulled aside for invasive searches, and when we’re treated with suspicion simply because of the colour of our skin or because we come from a small developing nation.
We resent being stereotyped.
We resent being judged.
We resent being made to feel inferior.
Yet, there is a painful irony that we rarely confront. The very same things we condemn when they are done to us are often the same things we infict upon others—particularly our Caribbean brothers and sisters who come to The Bahamas seeking opportunities and a better life. That contradiction should trouble us.
For decades, we have maintained an uncomfortable double standard. We place our neighbours from Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean nations under a microscope. We question their motives, scrutinize their documents, and often treat them as though they are somehow less deserving of dignity and respect. At the same time, we roll out the red carpet for Europeans and North Americans who arrive on our shores and never leave.
We grant special privileges.
We celebrate their investments.
We welcome them into our communities.
We often excuse the same behaviours from them that we condemn in our Caribbean neighbours.
What makes this even more peculiar is that many Bahamians themselves have family roots in neighbouring countries. Our history is intertwined with the rest of the Caribbean. Migration is woven into the very fabric of our national story. Many of our ancestors came from elsewhere, seeking opportunities and building lives here. Yet somehow, we have convinced ourselves that some foreigners are more acceptable than others.
The uncomfortable truth is that race and economics often determine how we respond to immigration. If the newcomer is white and wealthy, we tend to embrace them. If the newcomer is poor and black, particularly from a neighbouring Caribbean nation, we often treat them with suspicion. That’s
not merely an immigration issue. It’s a moral issue. Even more troubling is the exploitation that occurs behind closed doors. The same people we criticize publicly are often the very people we depend upon privately. They clean our homes, work on our construction sites, tend our gardens, and perform the heavy lifting that many of us are unwilling to do ourselves. Too often, they are paid meagre wages. Too often, they work under diffcult conditions. Too often, they are threatened with deportation if they dare ask for fair treatment or proper compensation.
How do we recognize the economic contributions that migrants make while maintaining the rule of law?
These are difcult questions, but they cannot be answered through fear or hypocrisy. We must also remember that Bahamians travel throughout the Caribbean every day. We visit Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and other islands, expecting to be treated with courtesy and respect. We work and study abroad and hope to be welcomed.
Why then should we deny others the same human-
This is nothing short of modern-day exploitation. It’s "inhumanity to man."
We use these workers when it’s convenient and discard them when it’s not. We beneft from their labour while denying them dignity. We expect them to contribute to our economy, but refuse to recognize their humanity. We cannot claim to be a Christian nation while treating people this way. We cannot preach love, kindness and compassion on Sunday and then dehumanize our neighbours on Monday. The Bible asks a simple question: "Am I my brother's keeper?"
The answer should be obvious, but in practice we often behave like we are not. Immigration has become a political football in The Bahamas. Politicians use the issue to stir emotions and win support. Fear and division become convenient campaign tools. The people who are most vulnerable become easy targets. Meanwhile, the deeper issues remain unresolved.
How do we create a fair and humane immigration system?
How do we protect our borders while also protecting human dignity?
How do we ensure that workers are treated fairly, regardless of where they were born?
After an earthquake, how long can trapped victims survive?
By ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN AP Science Writer
NEW YORK (AP) —
For those trapped in rubble after an earthquake, survival depends on many factors, including weather and access to water and air. If their injuries aren't too severe, victims can survive for a week or more, assuming the weather isn't too hot or cold, experts say.
In Venezuela, rescue teams have been racing against the clock to pull survivors from the rubble after two powerful earthquakes shook the northern state of La Guaira last Wednesday. More than 770 buildings were totally or partially collapsed from the earthquakes, and aftershocks continued to shake the region.
Most rescues happen in the 24 hours after a disaster. The chances of survival drop with each day after that, experts say. Most victims are badly injured or buried by falling stones or other debris. What factors afect earthquake survival?
Trapped victims are more likely to survive if they are in a debris-free pocket that prevents major injury while they await rescue, like under a sturdy desk, said geophysicist Victor Tsai from Brown University. Experts call this a survivable void space. If fre, smoke or hazardous chemicals were released as a result of the building collapse, they may decrease a person's survival odds, said emergency response expert Dr. Joseph Barbera, an associate professor
humanity. There is a diference between maintaining order and treating people like animals. There is a difference between protecting
ity that we expect for ourselves?
The measure of a nation is not how it treats the rich and powerful. It’s how it treats the vulnerable, the poor and the stranger among us.
History teaches us a painful lesson. Our ancestors themselves endured exploitation, discrimination and exclusion. They understood what it meant to be viewed as less than human. It is, therefore, especially tragic when we repeat those same injustices against others. Have we forgotten our own struggles? Have we forgotten how painful prejudice can be?
The irony is that many of the countries whose citizens now enjoy special treatment in our society are the same powers that historically exploited people of African descent throughout the Caribbean. They benefted from colonialism and systems that denied our ancestors their humanity. Yet we often give those same people carte blanche, while placing our Caribbean brothers and sisters under intense suspicion. Something is deeply wrong with that picture.
This is not an argument for open borders or lawlessness. Every sovereign nation has the right to enforce its immigration laws and protect its national interests. But there is a difference between enforcing laws and abandoning our
opening our hearts to those in need. Why can't we apply those same values to the immigration conversation? Why can't we devise a planances law -
positive and humane way forward?
The truth is that we need one another.
The Caribbean is a family of nations bound by geography, history and shared experiences. Our economies are interconnected. Our cultures overlap. Our challenges are remarkably similar.
can't we fnd a more
No country can thrive in isolation. No one can prosper by dehumanizing others. We are all only human.
Every person, regardless of nationality, deserves to be treated with dignity.
Every worker deserves fair compensation.
Every child deserves hope.
Every human being deserves respect.
Perhaps it is time for us to examine ourselves honestly. Perhaps it is time to acknowledge our contradictions. Perhaps it is time to stop being hypocrites. Our actions should speak louder than our words.
If we truly believe in justice, then we must practise it. If we truly believe in equality, then we must demonstrate it. If we truly believe that we are our brothers' keepers, then we must start acting like it.
The measure of our nation will not be found in how loudly we complain about discrimination abroad. It will be found in how we treat those who stand among us today. The choice before us is simple. We can continue down the path of fear, division and exploitation. Or we can choose compassion, fairness and humanity.
For a nation that prides itself on its Christian values and sense of community, the answer should be clear. It’s time for our actions to fnally refect the values we so often proclaim.
Because in the end, our Caribbean brothers and sisters are not strangers.
at George Washington University.
Beyond that, having air to breathe and water to drink are crucial as the days go on.
“You could survive a while without food,” Barbera said. “You could survive less without water.”
Temperatures where someone is trapped may afect survival, and temperatures outside the rubble can afect rescue missions.
More than 2,600 rescue workers from around the world arrived in Venezuela with trained search dogs and machinery, the government said. And rescue eforts in La Guaira, the hardest-hit area, appeared signifcantly more organized on Sunday, after residents expressed frustration and anger about the level of response in the days before.
It can be important for survivors to receive vital medical care before they are removed from the rubble, Barbera said. If not, the buildup of toxins from crushed muscles could make them go into shock after they are rescued.
After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a teenager and his 80-year-old grandmother
were found alive after nine days trapped in their fattened home. And the year before, a 16-year-old Haitian girl was rescued from earthquake rubble in Portau-Prince after 15 days. What to do during an earthquake
The best practices for survival during an earthquake depend on where you are in the world. Building codes in regions with active fault lines are often designed to withstand earthquakes, but that doesn't hold true everywhere.
In many countries, including the United States, the best practices are to drop, seek cover and hang on unless you are close to a building exit. Seek shelter under a heavy table or near sturdy furniture that may yield a survivable pocket if the roof collapses. Cover your face with cloth or a mask to protect from dust and debris.
If you are trapped in the rubble after and earthquake, save your energy and don't overexert. Ration food and water, listen for rescue calls and search for something near you to make noise. If you have a phone with you, conserve its battery and try for help in short spurts each day.
Photo: Kampus/pexels
Photo: Jedidiah Jordan/pexels
Photo: pnw-prod/pexels
Photo:
/pexels
Buildings are collapsed and damaged along the coast in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, Venezuela, Sunday, June 28, 2026, following earthquakes. Miguel Medina, Pool photo via AP
US firefighters from the Fairfax County pull a survivor from the rubble of a building that collapsed in the earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela, Sunday, June 28, 2026. AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
US Embassy opens free exhibit at cruise port
A FREE public exhibit
marking 250 years of American independence has opened at Nassau Cruise Port, pairing portraits and paintings from the United States’ founding era with displays tracing the long relationship between The Bahamas and America.
US Embassy Nassau and Nassau Cruise Port opened the Freedom 250 Founders Museum at the Gallery and Wine Bar, where the exhibit will run through Sunday, July 5.
The exhibit, “The Road to Liberty,” features portraits of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence and paintings depicting key moments in America’s struggle for independence, the US Embassy said in a press statement. It also highlights connections between The Bahamas and the United States, from the Continental Marines’ assault on Fort Montagu in 1776 to Bahamian workers who helped build South Florida’s infrastructure and agriculture.
Junkanoo recreations of American monuments, including the Washington Monument, the Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty, are also featured. Visitors can also take part in an interactive art piece by sharing what freedom means to them.
The exhibit includes a photograph on loan from the Sir Lynden O Pindling Room of the University of The Bahamas’ Harry C Moore Library and Information Centre.
“The story of America's 250 years and the story of The Bahamas are inseparable,” said US Ambassador Herschel Walker. “This exhibit brings that story to life — from our earliest shared history to the deep partnership we are building together today. I am grateful to Nassau Cruise Port for helping us bring this celebration to the Bahamian people, and I invite everyone to come and experience it for themselves.”
Mike Maura Jr, CEO and director of Nassau Cruise
Port, said the Gallery and Wine Bar was created to showcase Bahamian art, culture, performances and storytelling.
“With more than 137,000 cruise passengers expected during this celebration period – and approximately 80 percent of them being American - the Freedom 250 Founders Museum gives our guests and the wider community an opportunity to better understand the unique relationship between The Bahamas and the United States — a relationship shaped by shared history, cultural exchange, and generations of partnership,” he said.
Nassau Cruise Port will also mark the occasion on Saturday, July 4, with a public Independence Day concert celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The Freedom 250 Founders Museum is free and open to the public at the Gallery and Wine Bar, Nassau Cruise Port, through Sunday, July 5.
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VISITORS view displays at a free public exhibit on the 250th anniversary of American Independence at the Nassau Cruise Port.
Americans are inundated with suspected scams.
New polling shows why few victims report them
By AMELIA THOMSONDEVEAUX Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Most
Americans are inundated with scam attempts on a daily basis — and about 3 in 10 have personally lost money or personal information to scams, according to a new AP-NORC survey.
The poll, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in February, highlights the obstacle course that U.S. adults navigate daily as they screen calls, ignore messages or try to puzzle out if that urgent request from their cellphone provider is legitimate.
A separate survey conducted by Gallup and the Stop Scams Alliance that was provided exclusively to the AP found that last year alone, about 1 in 10 U.S. adults said they or someone else from their household was deceived by a scammer into losing money or providing access to a fnancial account, with nearly half saying they lost more than $500.
That leaves many Americans feeling like they’re constantly at risk of falling for a scam, often without a sense of recourse. In both surveys, few victims said they reported the scam to the federal government or local law enforcement. Many victims didn't report the scam, Gallup found, because they didn't think it would make a difference in getting money back.
“You've got to be pretty sophisticated these days,” said Adam Pratter, 42. He has run into problems on dating apps — and once ended up sending money to a person who claimed they were
overseas because of a military deployment and needed money to buy food. He realized it was a scam when the requests didn't stop.
Pratter thinks banks and social media companies have a responsibility to help people who have been scammed, but also believes the government needs to do more.
“If federal regulation wanted to step in and make deals with these companies to get these people their money back, they could,” he said.
For many Americans, scam attempts are constant Americans are fooded with scam attempts, according to both surveys. More than half, 58%, of U.S. adults in the AP-NORC poll said they receive daily text messages, phone calls, emails, online messages or online advertisements that they suspect are scams, while the Gallup survey found last year that about 4 in 10 experienced attempted scams on a daily basis.
Porschel Smith, 22, gets multiple scam calls every day, and receives even more scam emails.
Some of the scams are easy for her to identify. “They mention different types of programs that I know are nonexistent,” she said.
But sometimes she ends up engaging with the scammer before realizing that something is wrong.
“Some of them hack your account and pretend as if they're someone that you know,” she said. “But then I get to asking questions and realize they're scams.”
Older people are more likely to say they receive scam attempts daily, according to the AP-NORC poll. About 7 in 10 U.S. adults ages 60 and older say they are contacted by a suspected scammer at least
once a day, compared to about 4 in 10 Americans under 30.
Among those who have received suspected scam attempts, the AP-NORC poll found that outreach involving package shipments or banking were among the most common methods. About 4 in 10 people who were contacted by scammers say at least one of the
they or a member of their household was scammed out of money in 2025, with 6% saying they had been personally scammed.
About half of people whose household experienced scams last year reported losing between $125 and $2,000, according to Gallup.
About 1 in 10 U.S. adults have been scammed multiple times, Gallup found.
“It's not easy. They know what they're doing," said Towonna Harris, 50. Her son was once contacted by scammers who promised to give him money for tuition if he authorized a nominal credit card charge, which quickly spiraled into a much bigger set of charges.
About 7 in 10 U.S. adults ages 60 and older say they are contacted by a suspected scammer at least once a day, compared to about 4 in 10 Americans under 30.
attempts they received over the past few years were through Facebook or Facebook Messenger, while about 2 in 10 said they were on WhatsApp, and a similar share said they were on Instagram.
Around 30% of US adults say they've been scammed personally
The impact of scams is far-reaching. About half, 51%, of U.S. adults know someone personally — such as a friend or family member — who has ever lost money as the result of a scam, the AP-NORC poll found, while about 3 in 10 U.S. adults say they have personally been scammed into giving away money or personal information.
The Gallup survey found that about 1 in 10 U.S. adults said
She's experienced other kinds of scams on a smaller scale, too. “I ordered some stuff. I never got it,” she said. “I thought it was a legitimate company. And then I saw all these reviews saying it was a scam.”
Few scam victims report to law enforcement
Virtually all U.S. adults believe that scams pose a “major” or “minor” threat to individuals in the U.S., but few think the government is doing enough to solve the problem. About 8 in 10 Americans say the government is “defnitely” or “probably” doing too little to prevent scams, according to the Gallup survey, including large majorities of Republicans and Democrats.
When people are scammed, both surveys found that victims are much likelier to reach out to fnancial institutions than the federal government or local law enforcement. About half, 55%, of people who were scammed last year reported to a bank, credit union or other fnancial institution, the Gallup poll found, but only 18% contacted state or local law enforcement, while 13% reported to either federal law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
Many victims don't make a report because they don't think it will help, or don't know where to go, Gallup found. Among people who were scammed in 2025, 75% said they didn't report because they thought it wouldn't make a difference in getting their money back, while 58% were uncertain where to report.
More broadly, Americans express very low confdence that they'd know how to report a scam to the government if they needed to. According to the AP-NORC poll, most Americans, 55%, say they are “extremely” or “very” confdent that if they were scammed, they’d know how to report it to banks or credit card companies, but only about one-quarter are similarly confdent that they’d know how to report to federal or state law enforcement.
Only about one-third of U.S. adults said they would know where to make a report if they lost $5,000 in a scam today, Gallup found.
Max Anderson, 23, said that his parents are small business owners who were the victims of a costly and complex scam. “A scammer successfully imitated one of their employees and changed their direct deposit information. This went on for about 3 months. It went to $15,000,” he said.
Eventually, Anderson's father got help from the FBI, he said.
“I do like that the government stepped in with my parents, and I feel like that's the way it should be,” he said. “It's a big enough problem at this point that it falls to the government and companies to do something about it.”
Bill Maher accepts annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humour
By STEVEN SLOAN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Comedian Bill Maher was the guest of honor at the Kennedy Center on Sunday night. But President Donald Trump's presence wasn't far away.
Just moments after Maher began to accept the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Matt Friend, a leading impersonator of the president, took to the stage and, in Trump's voice, joked that he would accept the award himself. Trump was a punchline for other comedians and entertainers, including Whitney Cummings, Jay Leno and Woody Harrelson.
For the most part, the barbs weren't particularly biting. Cummings, for instance, said that under Trump's infuence, the Kennedy Center would host "white 'Hamilton.'" And once Friend left the stage, Maher largely steered clear of hitting the president. The commentary was nonetheless notable for unfolding in an iconic performing arts venue that Trump has gone to extraordinary lengths to bend to his favor, leaving its future in the coming years uncertain.
Accepting the award, Maher derided extremes in both political parties, rejecting what he called "groupthink."
"If you hang around long enough and create something important enough, everyone hates you at some point," Maher said.
The ceremony in the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall wasn't purely political. There were plenty of jokes about Maher's fondness for marijuana, his rejection of organized religion and his penchant for controversy, including comments he made shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that led to the cancellation of his television show, "Politically Incorrect."
The Kennedy Center's uncertain future hangs over event But the future of the Kennedy Center hung most prominently over the event.
Shortly after Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, the Republican president fred much of the center's leadership and installed a board largely composed of allies. It named Trump as chairman and his name was added to the building's iconic facade, prompting a legal battle that became a proxy fght over the extent of the president's power.
Trump later said the Kennedy Center would close in July for a two-year renovation. But U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper upended those plans in May by ruling that Trump's name was illegally added to the building, ordering it removed. The judge also has blocked the
tarp. The full closure is on hold. Lawyers for the Kennedy Center have said they are not planning for now to build out programming.
Cooper has asked for an update next month on how long the tarp will remain on the building. For now, the fnal event scheduled for the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall is "The Freedom Gathering: A Musical Celebration" on July 3.
The legal fght has turned into a saga that at points became fodder for jokes at the Twain gala. At one point, Harrelson joked "we fxed that" in a nod to the court order calling for Trump's name to be removed from the building.
closure. Trump's name has come down from the building, in compliance with the judge's order. But the part of the building once covered with letters spelling the president's name is now shrouded in a
Ahead of the ceremony, Lutnick said Trump "wants to make this building sensational."
But others were more skeptical. As he walked the red carpet ahead of the ceremony, Leno said Trump's moves at
the Kennedy Center were both "hilarious" and about "vanity."
"It's not a war," he said. "It's not people getting killed. It's not antisemitism. It's a silly thing covering a name. I mean what's funnier than
that? I mean it's just like, you know it's high school with money."
Friend said he felt there was a "hunger games vibe" as he entered the building. "It's crazy," he said of the changes Trump has pushed for.
Maher has a fraught relationship with Trump Given Trump's sway over the Kennedy Center, Maher's selection for the award was notable because the two men have long had a fraught relationship.
Before he entered politics, Trump fled a $5 million lawsuit against Maher in 2013 for breach of contract. Appearing on Leno's "The Tonight Show," Maher said he would give $5 million to the charity of Trump's choice if Trump could prove he was not "the spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan." Trump claimed that when he provided his birth certificate, Maher did not pay up, prompting the lawsuit. Trump ended up dropping it.
The Trump-Maher relationship exploded again earlier this year, when the president claimed on social media that he wasted time sitting down
for a meal with the comedian last year. Lutnick noted that Trump had written out all the critical comments he'd made about Maher over the years and autographed the document.
"You've got to be able to laugh at it," Lutnick said. "The president can laugh at it. Bill Maher can laugh at it. And that's what makes tonight great."
Maher hosted Vice President JD Vance on his show heading into the weekend. Vance, who is promoting a book, said he watches the show and laughed at Maher's monologue "even though you were making fun of me." During the interview, Maher pressed Vance on the Iran war, immigration enforcement and election conspiracy theories.
"You guys have two outcomes that an election can be," Maher told Vance. "Either we win or they cheated. That s—- has to stop."
The Twain prize ceremony will air on Netfix on July 21.
From left, Michael Kives, Comedian and political satirist Bill Maher, and Ted Sarandos pose on the red carpet for the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Celebrating Bill Maher, Sunday, June 29, 2026, in Washington.
AP Photo/Kevin Wolf
Comedian and political satirist Bill Maher motions to the audience at the start of the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Celebrating Bill Maher, Sunday, June 29, 2026, in Washington.
AP Photo/Kevin Wolf
Friends of Exuma awards
$20,000 in
scholarships to invest in Exuma’s future
GEORGE TOWN, EXUMA, BAHAMAS
– Friends of Exuma is investing in the next generation of leaders with two grants supporting scholarship awards at Exuma Christian Academy and the Nelson A. Ranger Scholarship Fund.
The donations, totaling $20,000, will help ensure that deserving students have access to educational opportunities that nurture their talents, reward their hard work, and empower them to pursue their dreams.
For Friends of Exuma, the impact of these scholarships goes beyond tuition. They create pathways for young people to thrive and give Exuma's brightest minds the support they need to become the island's future leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. On a small island where college costs fall squarely on families, that support is often what turns a dream into a plan.
“Exuma is flled with remarkable young people whose talent, determination, and character inspire all of us,” said Bob Coughlin, President of Friends of Exuma. “These scholarships are an investment in possibility. When we invest in our young people, we invest in the future of Exuma itself.”
At Exuma Christian Academy’s 2026 commencement, four graduating seniors received Friends of Exuma scholarships: Jaylen McKenzie, who heads to law school in London at just 16 years of age with plans to return home as a corporate attorney, and one day start a scholarship fund of her own; Stanley Pitt, bound for the University of The Bahamas to pursue engineering and medicine; Winston Barr, the school’s head boy, on his way to study management and aeronautics to become a pilot; and Jeremy Clarke, also chasing his wings as a
Donations to Exuma Christian Academy and the Nelson A. Ranger Scholarship Fund celebrate student achievement, opportunity, and Exuma pride
professional pilot to fy the world. Each one shares a single ambition: to bring their talents back home to The Bahamas.
Founded by educator Keniqua Burrows, Exuma Christian Academy has grown from a vision of faith and excellence into a thriving K–12 institution serving more than 100 students. The Academy has earned recognition for its commitment to academic achievement, leadership development, and creating an environment where students are encouraged to become “Conquerors” in every aspect of their lives.
“I don't see Friends of Exuma as just donors or sponsors. I see them as true partners.” said Keniqua Burrows, Founder and Director of Exuma Christian Academy. “Today, four of our students benefted from their scholarship fund. These scholarships help our graduates with their accommodations, their fights, and the startup costs of getting to university. Times are difcult for many of our families, so every bit of help goes a long way. Friends of Exuma has always supported our school, and we look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come.”
For the graduates, the impact is deeply personal. Barr, now an Exuma Christian Academy graduate, plans to study management before training as a pilot,
a future his scholarship helps put within reach while easing the cost his parents would otherwise have to carry. “Words simply cannot describe how I’m feeling. You made a dream become a reality,” he said. “This lifts a huge burden of my parents’ shoulders, and I’ll be sure to put it back into the community of this country.”
The Nelson A. Ranger Scholarship Fund was founded by Nelson Ranger, who benefted from scholarship opportunities as a young person and has dedicated himself to paying that gift forward. Through scholarships, educational initiatives, and youth programs, the fund has supported students pursuing college and technical education and has recognized excellence among students across Exuma.
“I know frsthand how one opportunity can change the trajectory of a young person’s life,” said Nelson Ranger. “Every scholarship is an investment in a dream and a reminder to our students that their community is standing beside them. I’m incredibly grateful to Friends of Exuma for helping us continue this important work.”
“Friends of Exuma believes that when communities invest in education, everyone benefts,” Coughlin added. “By supporting scholarship opportunities through trusted community partners, we continue our mission of strengthening the people, programs, and places that make Exuma extraordinary.”
To learn more about Friends of Exuma's work supporting youth development, conservation, and cultural preservation across Great Exuma, please visit its website: exumafriends. org and follow its social media channels: Facebook and Instagram.
Many students listen to music to focus while they study – but it doesn’t always help
Instructor in educational psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
WALK into any college library and you will likely see students wearing headphones and listening to music.
The idea that music can improve learning has been around for decades. The “Mozart Efect,” is the pop psychology myth, frst hypothesized in a 1993 paper, that listening to classical music can help people retain and process new information.
As an educational psychologist who studies cognition and motivation, my
research explores how students regulate their learning and attention amid digital distractions.
Listening to music is a common strategy students use to try to stay focused.
However, there is no single answer to whether music helps learners study or not. How music can help or interfere with studying Researchers generally agree that the relationship between music and learning is complex. The efects of music on studying and other cognitively demanding tasks appear to depend on the type of task performed, the kind
of music and the students themselves.
Some researchers argue that music helps students focus, improve their mood and generally learn. Others have found that listening to music interferes with thinking, especially when the music is fast and loud, or when it has lyrics.
I wanted to better understand what lies behind conficting research on why students listen to music and whether it makes it easier or harder for them to focus. In a study conducted over the past two years, I asked 163 college students about their music listening habits while
EDUCATION MINISTER IN BUDGET
STUDENTS could see expanded breakfast programmes, additional special education services, new digital learning initiatives and more pathways to graduation under reforms outlined by Education Minister Chester Cooper during his contribution to the 2026-27 budget debate.
Mr Cooper said the ministry's focus would be on improving educational outcomes while ensuring that students across The Bahamas have greater access to opportunities and support services.
"We have gotten back to a focus on the basics of literacy and numeracy," he said, while noting that efforts would continue to improve mathematics performance throughout the school system.
Among the immediate initiatives highlighted was the continued expansion of the National School Breakfast Programme. Mr Cooper said the programme recently served its two millionth breakfast and will begin a pilot programme in junior high schools in September.
"We're expanding the National School Breakfast Program to make sure that we can serve breakfasts, improve dignity and attendance daily throughout the nation," he said.
reading textbooks, writing papers, solving math problems and studying for exams – and when they hit the pause button.
Not a one-kind-fts-all approach
One of my most important fndings is that music helps students feel more engaged, motivated or comfortable when studying. But this response varies, depending on the music they choose, the type of task they are working on and confdence in their own attention spans.
Approximately 67% of the students I interviewed said they used music to improve their focus, while 75% said they used music to support their motivation.
“I use music as one of the biggest motivations to study, especially when it’s something I’m not interested in. I am good at recognizing that and using that to my
He also signalled a stronger emphasis on technology in education, announcing plans to begin a pilot programme aimed at eventually providing a laptop or tablet to every student and teacher in the public school system.
"We are embarking upon an aggressive initiative of providing a laptop or tablet to every child and every teacher in every school," he said. The initiative is expected to begin with a pilot programme this September and will be accompanied by teacher training and digital learning tools.
Mr Cooper also pledged greater support for students with special needs, noting that more than 2,200 students are currently enrolled in special education programmes across the country.
"If we are serious when we say every child matters, then we must prove it in how we support children with special needs," he said. The ministry plans to establish additional special education units at Bartlett Hill and Holmes Rock schools by September, while also working with the University of The Bahamas to train 75 additional special education teachers beginning in 2027.
advantage,” explained one 21-year-old student in her senior year studying psychology.
All the students I spoke with agreed that the kinds of tasks they were doing –and how difcult the project at hand was – infuenced whether they decided to listen to music and the kind of music they picked.
Students also reported various reasons for avoiding music, including distracting lyrics.
“I found that if I listen to anything that I can sing to, I have a much harder time studying,” explained a 22-year-old female student majoring in music education.
In some cases, students said that even instrumental music didn’t help them focus better.
“Even if it’s instrumental, I feel the need to focus on the music rather than what I’m
reading,” shared a 19-yearold male student majoring in secondary education.
Many said they listened to music to avoid boredom, improve their mood and generally make studying more enjoyable.
Music “helps me feel like I can just keep going and writing and writing,” said a 20-year-old female student majoring in psychology.
More confdent students might listen to music
To fnd out how music listening infuences students’ learning, I then surveyed 103 undergraduate students.
Around half of them reported listening to music while reading, and 68% said they listened to music while writing. Approximately 70% said they listened to music when solving math problems, and about 30% said they would always listen to music, regardless of the task.
Jaylen McKenzie, a 2026 graduate of Exuma Christian Academy, is presented with a scholarship from Friends of Exuma during the school’s commencement ceremony. McKenzie heads to law school in London this fall with plans to return home as a corporate attorney.
Bridget K. Daleiden
