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Volume: 123 No. 154, Monday, July 6, 2026
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1
MOM: ‘NO ANGER TOWARDS DRIVER’ of fifth victim Lightning strike triggers BPL explosion and massive outages Mother says ‘mistakes happen’
as 19-year-old set to be charged over five deaths By EARYEL BOWLEG and JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporters THE Shirley Street crash claimed a fifth life on Saturday, leaving one mother clinging to forgiveness after her 19-year-old son died in hospital while another demanded accountability after spending three agonising days in Canada trying to
confirm whether her daughter was alive or dead. Keno Gordon Jr, 19, died in the Intensive Care Unit after relatives and friends prayed for his recovery and circulated flyers appealing for blood donations. His death raised the toll from the crash at the intersection of Shirley Street FORGIVE - SEE PAGE THREE
CRASH SURVIVOR HITS $8K GOAL FOR LEG SURGERY SMOKE billows out of a building after a lightning strike at the Blue Hills Power Station led to an explosion at the location, creating a disruption on the network and interrupting power supply to multiple areas across New Providence yesterday. By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A LIGHTNING strike that triggered an explosion at Bahamas Power and Light’s Blue Hills Power Station yesterday deepened public anger over
a summer of repeated outages, leaving residents, businesses, hotels, the airport and parts of Princess Margaret Hospital grappling with disruptions as critics accused the Davis administration of failing to fix the country’s electricity crisis. Shadow Minister for Energy,
Utilities and Aviation Dr Andre Rollins accused the Davis administration of failing to provide reliable electricity, noting that Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis had recently said BPL had enough generation OUTAGE - SEE PAGE FIVE
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net THE last surviving female victim of the deadly Shirley Street crash has reached an $8,000 fundraising goal for surgery as she continues to recover from serious injuries that have kept her in hospital. Bianca Mathurin, 18, was
one of eight people in the Mazda sedan that crashed into a tree at the intersection of Shirley Street and Church Street after the 19-year-old driver reportedly lost control. The crash killed five people: Keno Gordon Jr, 19; Diamond Stubbs, 17; Betrica Brown, 18; Evalena HELP - SEE PAGE TWO
‘GOVT HEALTH INSURANCE RESUMPTION WILL BE TESTED TODAY’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN surgeon yesterday said the Government’s pledge that health insurance coverage for hundreds of public sector workers has “resumed” will be “tested” today amid assertions that premium payment arrears could be as high as $100m.
Dr Duane Sands, also the Opposition’s chairman, told Tribune Business that an open heart surgery he is due to perform today on a patient from one of the impacted government agencies has been “put back on schedule” after initially being cancelled/[postponed on Friday after it emerged that the medical coverage provided by Colina Insurance Company had been
suspended for hundreds. Public sector union leaders accused the Government of playing with the lives and health of their members, including hundreds in the uniformed security services who place themselves in potential harm’s way daily, prompting Senator Latrae Rahming, communications director SEE BUSINESS FOR STORY
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
FNM Chairman Dr Duane Sands.
PAGE 2, Monday, July 6, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Family defends care of hospitalised teen crash survivor HELP from page one Johnson, 19; and Stania Webb, 19. Ms Mathurin and Shawn Thurston, 21, are the only survivors and remain in hospital recovering from their injuries. An online appeal for blood donations said Ms Mathurin suffered serious leg and pelvic injuries and needed blood donations before undergoing preliminary surgery. It said that after graduating from school, she had moved from the Ranfurly Home for Children into one of its transitional homes to begin her independent adult life. The fundraiser to support Ms Mathurin’s surgery reached its $8,000 target, drawing support as the country continues to follow the aftermath of the crash. However, one relative said the family was hurt
BIANCA Mutherin pictured with aunt-in-law Shavonne Stubbs. by social media posts claiming Ms Mathurin had “absolutely no family to support or help her”, saying the posts did not reflect the relatives who cared for and supported her for much of her life. Shavonne Stubbs, who said she was previously married to Ms Mathurin’s uncle, said she and her former husband began caring for Ms Mathurin when she was three months old because her birth mother needed help raising her children. Ms Stubbs said Ms Mathurin’s father, who was of Haitian descent, was eventually deported to Haiti. She said she and her then-husband raised Ms Mathurin in Abaco for several years before Ms Stubbs later moved with her to Grand Bahama after the couple separated. She said Ms Mathurin continued spending summers in Abaco. Ms Stubbs said she cared for Ms Mathurin until she was 15, when an incident in Abaco led to the involvement of Social Services and Ms Mathurin was later placed at the Ranfurly Home. “She did not grow up in the home. This year was going to make three years that she been there, she’s 18-year-old now,” she said. Ms Stubbs said Ms Mathurin’s birth mother
lives in Abaco. She said she never legally adopted Ms Mathurin because the process became too difficult. She said she could not obtain the necessary documents because Ms Mathurin’s father was in Haiti and her mother was unable to provide the required paperwork. “Her mommy was not capable, because her first child get take from her,” she said. Ms Stubbs said Ms Mathurin’s mother has had several children removed from her care because of financial difficulties or other issues. She said she was shocked and hurt by posts suggesting Ms Mathurin had no family, saying Ms Mathurin called her “Mummy” while growing up and only recently began calling her “aunty”. Ms Stubbs shared photographs with The Tribune showing her and Ms Mathurin together throughout her childhood. She also shared photos from Ms Mathurin’s graduation last month and screenshots of video calls between them while Ms Mathurin has been recovering in hospital. Ms Stubbs said Ms Mathurin also has an uncle in New Providence who regularly visited her at the Ranfurly Home and helped her as much as he could.
THE MOTHER of Keno Gordon (who became the fifth victim of the Sunday car crash), Shantika McQueen shared a flyer giving thanks to all who supported her son during his time in hospital.
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Shirley St crash claims fifth life as driver faces charges
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, July 6, 2026, PAGE 3
FORGIVE from page one
“Things happen, and Church Street to five. accident happen, The 19-year-old driver of the Mazda sedan was taken mistakes happen. into custody over the weekend and is expected to be I don’t believe charged in court today, The that he had any ill Tribune understands. The other victims of the crash were Diamond intentions towards Stubbs, 17, Betrica Brown, 18, Evalena “Lilly” Johnson, any of them.” 19, and Stania Webb, 19. The four young women grew up together in Cat Island. Keno’s mother, Shantika Williams-McQueen, who said she had held onto hope as her son fought for his life, said: “Things happen, accident happen, mistakes happen. I don’t believe that he had any ill intentions towards any of them.” Despite her grief, Mrs Williams-McQueen said she feels no anger towards the driver, who has faced public scrutiny after videos circulated on social media, including one showing him being visited by loved ones after the crash in a manner some relatives of the victims viewed as lacking remorse. “I had very very high hopes,” she said, explaining that she believed her son could survive. “But I also trust God and serve God.” Mrs Williams-McQueen said she visited the hospital every day, praying over her son, speaking life into him and encouraging him to keep fighting. She said she tried to remain calm during his final days, but broke down after receiving the call on Saturday morning that he had died. “They were friends, they his family. I’m sure they were just out having a good time that night,” she said. “I’m sure they probably — none of them never expected that this was going to happen. Life has it way and they was young, and you know starting life.” Mrs Williams-McQueen said she knew the driver’s parents through Cat Island connections and that the driver and Keno grew up like family. She said she did not know her son was going out that night. The night before the crash, she saw a post on his Facebook page encouraging her to message him. She said she wrote: “My king I cover you in the blood of Jesus,” and told him she loved him. He replied that he loved her too. Keno graduated from Old Bight High School in Cat Island and was raised on the island by his grandmother and her husband after his mother decided it would be best for him to grow up there while she lived in New Providence. Mrs Williams-McQueen later moved to Exuma to be with her family. She said she shared a close bond with her son, particularly after his father died. Keno later moved to New Providence after graduating to live with relatives while seeking employment. His mother said he hoped to save enough money to attend college abroad and pursue his dream of becoming a professional basketball player. At the time of the crash, she said, he was working for Royal Caribbean and had been due to start a new position at CocoCay the day after the accident. Mrs Williams-McQueen described her son as kind, shy and determined. He loved Junkanoo, especially the Roots. She recalled taking him on a recent trip abroad, where they spent quality time together. She said she brought him to a business seminar to show him that his opportunities were limitless. She had planned to take him on another trip, but he died before they had the chance. For Dianna Wright, the
- Shantika Williams-McQueen Keno Gordon’s mom mother of Evalena Johnson, the tragedy has been compounded by the trauma of being in Canada and spending days trying to determine whether her daughter was alive or dead. Ms Wright, 42, said all of Evalena’s family live in the United States or Canada. She said she made repeated calls and sent relatives and friends to seek information after learning her daughter had been in the crash. Police said Evalena was identified by family members on Tuesday. “I don’t know how to put it into words,” Ms Wright said. “Even though I had sent someone, my father and another friend of mine, to identify the body, and they have told me that it confirmed that it is her, it still feels surreal.” Evalena had travelled to The Bahamas from the United States, where she had recently relocated and was staying with relatives. Her mother said she attended a family funeral before later going out with cousins. Ms Wright was later told her daughter had been in the crash. “Immediately we began calling around trying to get some information from the hospital, but according to them she had no ID on her, so she couldn’t be positively identified as one of the individuals in the accident,” she said. Ms Wright said she was told that because Evalena had not been identified as one of the crash victims, relatives had to file a missing person report with traffic police. The mother said she struggled to understand why it took days to confirm her daughter’s identity. According to information relayed to her by relatives who later reviewed official documents, Evalena died shortly after arriving at the hospital early Sunday morning. “I get that they have rules and procedures that the hospital has to follow, but somebody was at the hospital from Sunday,” she said. “I called. I spoke to nurses. I spoke to people at the hospital on Sunday. “Just tell me. I get that there’s privacy for other persons, but sitting here and not being able to get there to do anything, come on. There’s somebody else’s daughter. It was traumatising.” Ms Wright said relatives and friends repeatedly tried to obtain information, including by visiting the hospital and morgue, but were met with procedural obstacles. She said her father and a friend went to the hospital on Monday but were not allowed to view anything. Her frustration deepened, she said, after learning that Evalena had been among the victims who died earlier in the aftermath of the crash. Evalena’s death came as she was beginning a new chapter. Ms Wright said her daughter had been living in the United States for about four months after spending roughly a year and a half in Canada, where she completed high school and graduated last year. “She literally had just
KENO GORDON found a job days before,” Ms Wright said. “She had just applied to colleges days before travelling.” Her daughter had been completing university applications with the help of an aunt who encouraged her to consider the medical field. But Ms Wright said Evalena had her own dream: becoming a beautician. She said her daughter was talented at doing hair and often styled boys’ cornrows, cousins’ hair and her mother’s hair. She described a young woman who was quiet at first but unforgettable once people got to know her. “Anybody who knew Lilly knew Lilly was bubbly,” she said. “She was more of a shy girl who had to kind of get to know you first. She wasn’t the type to walk into a crowd and immediately the life of the party. “But once you got to know her, you could not help but love her. She was very, very lovable and very humble.” Evalena’s death came less than two years after her father died in December 2024, a loss Ms Wright said her daughter struggled to overcome. She said the nickname “Lilly” came from her father. As the crash drew intense public attention, Ms Wright said she repeatedly watched videos circulating online, including footage of the collision itself and recordings involving the alleged driver. “I dissected that 100 times,” she said.
“I’ve never seen an impact like that. It looked
like an earthquake. The amount of dust and debris from the impact — it was shocking.” Ms Wright said she was also disappointed by videos she believed showed a lack of remorse from the driver. “I was disheartened when I saw it because it seemed that it was like a joke, you know.” she said. She said the videos were painful because several families were grieving. “It does not feel or look good,” she said. Now, as relatives prepare to bring Evalena home, Ms Wright said the family will travel to retrieve her remains. She said she was also hurt by how her daughter’s story was sometimes portrayed online in the days after the crash, saying she feared
Evalena was being treated as an afterthought. “Yesterday morning, waking up, I told myself I have to delete Facebook,” she said. “I started to feel like I didn’t want her to become a forgotten like ‘three and, four and, five and’. No, it’s not ‘and’. She’s not an ‘and’. “She wasn’t out there being promiscuous. She wasn’t running away from home.” Ms Wright also sought to address misconceptions surrounding the missing person report filed before Evalena was formally identified. “We wouldn’t have put in a missing person’s report if the police had more information to go off of,” she said. “We put in that missing person report as a directive.”
PAGE 4, Monday, July 6, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Mitchell accuses FNM of sabotaging MP pay review By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell accused the Free National Movement and The Nassau Guardian of trying to sabotage the Davis administration’s push to improve allowances for parliamentarians. Mr Mitchell said the discussions were aimed at giving parliamentarians the resources needed to serve constituents, arguing that existing allowances have not kept pace with the demands placed on elected officials. “The Nassau Guardian and the FNM are now at it again, seeking to sabotage a genuine effort on the part of the government of Prime Minister Philip Davis to enable the work of parliamentarians,” Mr Mitchell said in a statement. “This requires a relationship between the
prime minister and the leader of the opposition of trust. It appears now that any trust with the leader of the opposition is misplaced and he is willing to cut off his nose to spite his face.” Last week, The Nassau Guardian reported on a draft amendment to the Parliamentarians Salaries and Allowances Act that would give MPs $32,000 annually and senators $16,000 annually in duty allowances, in addition to their salaries. Mr Mitchell argued that MPs face growing demands from constituents, particularly those who represent sprawling constituencies across multiple islands. He cited the FNM MP for MICAL, saying that constituency spans five islands and presents major logistical challenges. He also pointed to the FNM MP for East Grand Bahama, saying that constituency also includes multiple islands. Mr Mitchell also
PLP CHAIRMAN FRED MITCHELL repeated Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ allegation to The Nassau Guardian that Opposition Leader Michael Pintard first raised the issue of allowances by asking the
government to provide the MP for St Anne’s with an allowance for his work as leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly. Mr Pintard denied
Mr Davis’ claim that he initially proposed an increase in compensation for politicians. Mr Mitchell said Mr Davis responded to the request by suggesting
that all allowances be reviewed, including whether the leader of the opposition should receive the same salary and allowances as a Cabinet minister. “Michael Pintard now suddenly seems to have developed amnesia on the point,” he said. “The matter was leaked to the press, and now he's like Pontius Pilate, washing his hands. I say again, with regard to the leader of the opposition and the Prime Minister, it should be a matter of trust.” Mr Mitchell said the broader issue is whether parliamentarians are properly equipped to do their jobs, insisting that allowances and resources have not been updated in decades and are inadequate. The debate over parliamentary compensation comes as the House of Assembly has gone on its summer break. Mr Davis has said he will make a decision on the issue after the break.
MAN GETS $75K INTERIM PAYOUT 20 YEARS AFTER POLICE ASSAULT By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net A SUPREME Court registrar has ordered the government to pay $75,000 to Jamal Cleare, nearly 20 years after he suffered catastrophic injuries while in police custody and more than four years after liability for assault and battery was determined in his favour.
Assistant Registrar Rosanne Sweeting ordered that the interim payment be made by August 3, 2026, and directed that the assessment of damages hearing be set down before a registrar as soon as practicable. Mr Cleare had sought $400,000 as an interim payment, arguing that a conservative assessment of his claim before interest exceeds $928,000. His attorneys said that figure
included $867,866.14 for general damages, $27,200 for loss of earnings, $16,358 for medical expenses and $17,010 for home help. The case stems from January 17, 2007, when Mr Cleare was wrongfully arrested, detained and assaulted while in police custody. Court documents said he suffered serious injuries, including a hypoxic brain injury, hearing loss in his left ear,
neck injury, brain injury, memory and speech deficits, and fractures involving the skull and upper neck. The matter has travelled through the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council. In 2011, then Justice Hartman Longley awarded Mr Cleare $750 for wrongful detention, while dismissing his assault and battery claim. The Court of Appeal later increased
the unlawful imprisonment award to $25,000 but dismissed his appeal on assault and constitutional issues. In 2017, the Privy Council allowed Mr Cleare’s appeal and ordered the assault claims to be reheard by another Supreme Court judge. In March 2021, the parties agreed by consent that liability for assault and battery by two police officers would be determined in Mr Cleare’s favour, with damages to be assessed. Assistant Registrar Sweeting noted that the consent order has not been set aside or appealed. The defendants opposed the interim payment application, arguing that Mr Cleare relied on medical reports that were more than 19 years old and that the matter should proceed to assessment of damages instead. The court rejected that argument, saying the Civil Procedure Rules do not
restrict the age of medical reports relied on for an interim payment application. The court also said the defendants’ reliance on another case was “misguided at best”. Assistant Registrar Sweeting said the defendants had admitted liability, Mr Cleare had obtained judgment for damages to be assessed, and the legal conditions for an interim payment had been met. She said medical evidence showed Mr Cleare was likely to suffer lasting consequences and substantial deficits, and faced a substantial risk of neurological and cognitive impairment. The court considered the Judicial College Guidelines for personal injury damages, including categories for brain injury, hearing loss and neck injury, before deciding that $75,000 was an appropriate interim payment. Costs of the application were ordered to be costs in the cause.
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD BOY REMANDED IN TRAGIC ABACO BOATING DEATH By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net A 12-YEAR-OLD boy from Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, was remanded to the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys on Friday after appearing in court charged in connection with the negligent death of 15-year-old Kyron Curry, who died after falling into the water during a fishing trip near Nunjack Cay. The Bahamian-American juvenile appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville charged with negligently causing the death of Curry by means of unlawful harm. The boy was not required to enter a plea. Prosecutors alleged that on June 12 at Nunjack Cay, Abaco, the juvenile negligently caused Curry's death by means of unlawful harm. The court remanded the boy to the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys
and informed him that any application for bail must be made before the Supreme Court. The matter stems from an incident previously reported by the Tribune where according to police reports, a group of juveniles left Green Turtle Cay aboard a 17-foot vessel at about 4pm on June 12. Police alleged the vessel was being operated by the 12-year-old when Curry, who was standing on the bow holding a rope, fell into the water. Police said the occupants heard a loud sound and observed blood in the water but were unable to locate the teenager. A search was later launched by the Green Turtle Cay Volunteer Fire Department, and Curry's body was recovered from the water as CPR was administered, but he was pronounced dead by a local physician with a fractured skull. The case was adjourned to December 17.
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THE TRIBUNE
Monday, July 6, 2026, PAGE 5
Massive power outage sparks widespread customer anger OUTAGE from page one capacity to meet summer demand. “Less than a month later, the country and New Providence are plagued with catastrophic and daily electricity outages, sometimes lasting hours upon hours,” Dr Rollins said. The Sunday morning blast knocked out electricity across numerous New Providence communities and forced BPL crews into a day-long restoration effort that saw power restored, lost again, and gradually brought back online as technicians worked to stabilise the system. BPL Energy Supply Director Jeffery Davis said the disruption began at 10.06am amid reports of severe lightning in the area. “At 10:06 am this morning, amidst reports of severe lightning activity in the area, there was a system disturbance that impacted all generation at Blue Hill Power Station and some other generation at the Clifton Pier Power Station, with accompanying reports of explosion at 33 kv substation B at Blue Hill Power station after the area was declared safe,” Mr Davis said. He said a team inspected the site and found a severe fault on the Earnest Street South Circuit at Substation B and Blue Hills Power Station before immediately beginning restoration work. Mr Davis said ongoing upgrades to BPL’s main interconnector prevented the company from immediately supplying auxiliaries at Blue Hills Power Station to begin the restoration process. He said crews later managed to backfeed through an alternative circuit and began restoring assets at the station. Videos later circulated on social media purporting to show smoke billowing from inside the power station after the lightning strike. By Sunday afternoon, BPL said power had been restored to about 60 percent of customers on New Providence. The utility said crews initially restored electricity to roughly 50 percent of consumers
JEFFERY DAVIS - Bahamas Power and Light Company, Limited Director of Energy Supply served by Blue Hills Power Station, but additional system disturbances caused the station to trip offline again as technicians worked to isolate the fault on the Earnest Street South Circuit at Substation B. Later, technicians were advised that Windsor Field 1 had tripped offline, cutting supply to Venetian West, Albany, Western Medical Center, Orange Hill to Old Fort Bay, and North and South Westridge. Shortly before 6pm, BPL said Substation B at Blue Hills Power Station had been successfully re-energised at about 5.30pm. Full restoration efforts were still underway, with crews gradually bringing areas back online to preserve system stability. No restoration window was available. The outage spilled into major commercial and tourism operations. A guest at Atlantis Paradise Island’s Royal Towers claimed online that they and their toddler were trapped in an elevator for about 45 minutes during
the outage. “The buttons not working, even the emergency one,” the guest said. “We called multiple contact numbers on the website and understandably some are call centers and don’t have direct contact to the resort. Thirty minutes after being stuck, other guests passing by heard us and called help right away.” “Grateful for the service people who helped us got out. They were able to break through the elevator and got us out through a foot gap they made. It was very scary for our toddler. Not pleased at all!” Another guest alleged power remained down at the resort at 6pm and said restaurants were not allowing some guests with reservations to enter. “Every meal should be free for current guests. It’s getting worse,” the guest said. An Atlantis spokesperson confirmed the BPL outage caused one of the Royal generators to fail. Elevator service was disrupted, but restaurants were not affected, the spokesperson claimed. All
operations returned to normal within two hours of the outage. A Nassau Airport Development Company representative said Lynden Pindling International Airport’s air-conditioning systems were affected by power anomalies on Saturday and again Sunday morning. “Works were performed yesterday and again this morning to bring the TC system back online,” the representative said. “The airport is cool and experiencing normal operations at this time.” The outage unleashed a flood of frustration online from residents already weary of summer power cuts and the punishing heat. “I misewell unplug my fridge, cause by the time BPL finish I gonna need a new one,” one social media user wrote. Another said: “Man for BPL to do this to me after I paid my bill in full yesterday is crazy”. A third posted: “BPL sent everyone doubled bills then turn the island off?! I love it here (not).” The latest disruption followed outages in some
areas on Friday, when the Public Hospitals Authority issued a notice saying Princess Margaret Hospital’s Medical Block, including the Dialysis Unit, was experiencing a power outage. Dr Rollins added: “What is the minister’s excuse for these blackouts this time? Power losses at Princess Margaret Hospital have resulted in the inability to provide dialysis to patients, businesses without generators cannot transact credit card payments.” “And Bahamians who cannot afford the expense of purchasing generators are suffering in the sweltering heat in their homes or going for a drive in their cars on pothole-filled roads. Because of constant power outages, facilities and businesses with generators are also experiencing problems with consistent electricity supply.” Dr Rollins also renewed criticism of the government’s energy reform efforts, saying the creation of Bahamas Grid Company had not delivered the reliability consumers were promised. “We were told that the sale of BPL electricity grid
assets to Bahamas Grid Company would produce a reliable, consistent energy supply and that load shedding would become a thing of the past,” he said. He also questioned rising electricity costs, citing complaints from customers who reported receiving bills far higher than usual. Dr Rollins urged the Davis administration to fully explain the generation, transmission and distribution problems behind the outages. “Has the government’s PR on BPL moved into the territory of fabrication, making it up as they go along? Minister Coleby-Davis needs to come clean on the facts and stop trying to fool the Bahamian people who are suffering because of this government’s neglect and massive incompetence,” he said. While saying BPL had enough generation capacity to meet summer demand, Mrs Coleby-Davis warned last month that power interruptions could occur as BPL undergoes significant infrastructure upgrades across New Providence.
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Fine line of holding parents accountable SHOULD parents be held accountable when their children commit a crime? That is a question addressed by Algernon Allen – who says that parents should indeed be held more accountable, and that the law allows that very thing to happen. The former Cabinet minister is not the first to have voiced such a thought, and recent incidents have brought it to the fore. Mr Allen was particularly responding to a question about a boating incident in which a 12-year-old is facing charges relating to negligence. When such cases come up, the question might arise as to where was the parental supervision. Mr Allen says: “I do think that parents should bear more responsibility for the aberrations, for the negligence, for the criminality of their children.” It can be a fine line to walk, especially in cases where parents, or perhaps a single parent, is struggling to cope with raising their children without the support they need to do so. There is a world of difference between punishing a negligent parent who does not care where their child is or who even contributes to the criminality by allowing them to use a vehicle when they are not legally able to do so or allows a gun or drugs to be in their house – and imposing an extra burden on a parent who is trying hard to cope but is facing a losing fight. We know there is a difference between those who do not care and those who cannot cope – and a punishment might well cause one to rethink, while simply making it even harder to deal with life for the other. Certainly where the behaviour of a parent has contributed to the criminality, there needs to be a way of bringing that into check. Criminal behaviour by a child, however, can be as much a sign of trouble in the home. If a child sneaks out of the home at night, for example, without the parent being aware, is that parent liable for
whatever takes place when the child is out of sight? Does the same hold true for any such behaviour while the child is at school, or on the way between? At what point does parental responsibility become criminal liability? For many of those of us who are parents, the thought of not knowing where our child is or what they are doing at any point might be inconceivable, but not every family is in that situation. You only need to take note of the too-frequent cases where young girls have gone missing only to be found with boyfriends to recognise that not all family situations are as stable as we might hope. But for the parent who not only ignores their children’s behaviour but even actively contributes actions that allow that to become criminality, then absolutely they should be held to account. The challenge is recognising one from the other – and ensuring the broad brush of the law does not also cover those who need help instead of punishment. Mr Allen is quite right to raise the issue – we hope it starts a conversation that can help make our nation’s children safer, and a discussion that recognises that not all families are in the same position.
Some things don’t change Eleven years ago, The Tribune ran a blacked-out front page, with a cartoon by the Celebrity Artist, Jamaal Rolle, in the wake of yet another widespread power outage. That cartoon depicted the then minister with responsibility for power in the country, Leslie Miller, along with a speech bubble saying “Hope yinna had a chilled weekend, courtesy of BEC!” BEC may have become BPL, but yesterday the aftermath of a lightning strike left people with the same feeling. Sometimes, the more things change, the more they remain the same.
Prioritise healthcare over new buildings EDITOR, The Tribune. KINDLY allow me a little space in your newspaper to ask a few questions regarding information I recently read in one of your articles. I noted that $20 million has been allocated for the construction of a new Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Nassau, while an additional $14 million has been allocated for renovations to the Bahamas High Commission in London. Before these expenditures were approved by the Government, were the plans ever presented to the Bahamian taxpayers for public scrutiny? Why was the $20 million not directed toward improving the Princess Margaret Hospital? These funds could have been used to enhance essential services and facilities, including additional beds, medical equipment, medications, kidney dialysis machines, bed linens, kitchen improvements, and other critical resources that
would directly benefit patients and healthcare professionals. Likewise, could the $14 million earmarked for the London renovations not have been better spent addressing the concerns of our healthcare providers? Many medical professionals who provide care to National Health Insurance (NHI) patients have waited an unreasonable length of time to be paid and are now being told that there is no immediate prospect of improvement in receiving their salaries. It is important to remember that the patients these NHI doctors care for are the very citizens whose votes give Members of Parliament their authority and privilege. Yet many of these same citizens feel neglected. Countless Bahamian men and women are forced to seek medical treatment abroad, often at great personal expense that they can scarcely afford, while the Government appears silent on the ongoing
challenges facing Princess Margaret Hospital. Why is this situation being allowed to continue? It is also noteworthy that these expenditures are discussed only in terms of millions—$20 million here and $14 million there. Whatever happened to accountability for every thousand dollars spent? Does the average Bahamian truly appreciate how much money one million dollars represents? Perhaps if financial literacy were emphasized more, particularly in our schools, there would be a greater public understanding of the scale of these expenditures and, perhaps, a stronger public demand for accountability. I raise these questions not to criticise for the sake of criticism, but because the health and well-being of the Bahamian people should remain a national priority. A BAHAMIAN TAXPAYER Nassau, June 26, 2026.
Public officers deserve certainty on their health insurance EDITOR, The Tribune. THE recent announcement that group health insurance coverage for government public officers through Colina Insurance may have been suspended should concern every Bahamian. Although the Government has characterized the matter as an administrative issue that will soon be resolved, the public deserves greater clarity about what this means for thousands of hardworking public servants and their families. Health insurance exists because illness is unpredictable. Nurses, teachers, police officers, immigration officers, customs officers, and other public servants rely on continuous coverage to protect themselves against unforeseen medical expenses. Any uncertainty surrounding that protection naturally raises questions about continuity of care and financial security. The Government should therefore clearly explain whether public officers were fully protected during that period. If someone was diagnosed with a serious illness or required emergency treatment while the administrative matter was being resolved:
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net
Dr Veronica McIver •
Will every legitimate claim be honored? • Will there be uninterrupted continuity of coverage • Will affected employees face any future underwriting concerns or exclusions? • These are reasonable questions that deserve prompt and transparent answers. This issue also raises broader concerns about public finances. During the recent budget debate, the Government spoke of a projected surplus. Yet numerous vendors have publicly expressed concerns about delayed
payments, including suppliers connected to our healthcare system. These two narratives appear difficult to reconcile and warrant greater public explanation. This is not about scoring political points. It is about protecting the welfare of the men and women who serve our nation every day. Public officers should never have to worry whether an unexpected illness or accident will expose them to financial hardship because of uncertainty surrounding their health insurance coverage. The Government has an opportunity to restore confidence by providing immediate assurance that no public officer will lose benefits, no legitimate claim will be denied because of this administrative issue, and no employee will suffer long-term consequences arising from any interruption in coverage. Our public servants deserve certainty, transparency, and the peace of mind that comes knowing their health and their families are fully protected. Sincerely, DR VERONICA MCIVER Advocate for health and Wellness Nassau, Bahamas July 6, 2026
Good
Future cannot be built with yesterday’s economic map EDITOR, The Tribune. I FELT a bit disillusioned after watching the complete Budget Debate for the Bahamas for 2026/2027. The debate clearly demonstrated the Bahamas’ need for more effective leadership with a vision for the future. I want to express not only my own frustration, but also what I expect is that of so many young Bahamians. We are more often than not told to prepare for the future while being presented with economic ideas that are rooted in the past. We are constantly urged to work hard, pursue education, be patient, and wait our turn. However, many of us are asking a serious question: wait for what? Wait for housing prices to become affordable again? Wait for wages to catch up with the cost of living? Wait for banks to suddenly become more accessible to young entrepreneurs? Wait for land, capital, ownership, and opportunity to trickle down after decades of the same promises? We are not lazy. We are not entitled. We are not unwilling to sacrifice. What we are tired of is receiving outdated advice in a world that has fundamentally changed. The economy we aspire to inherit is not the same as the one our parents inherited. Artificial intelligence, automation, fintech & digital finance, climate tech & climate risk, remote work, prop tech, tokenisation, blockchain, travel tech, agritech, global competition, edtech, govtech, and platform-based business models are reshaping how wealth is created. Yet too many national conversations still suggest that a good job, a bank loan, and patience will suffice. These are no longer enough. As young Bahamians today, we can do everything “right” and still find ourselves struggling to afford a home, access capital, build
a business, or achieve financial stability. This is not just a failure of personal responsibility; it is a failure of economic design. We cannot continue to call this development if we, as young people, are only being prepared to work, rent, borrow, and survive. True development must create pathways for us to own, build, invest, innovate, and actively participate in the economy as stakeholders, not merely spectators. We need ‘legislation, regulations, policies, and rules’ that align with the world we live in now. We need affordable and attainable homes. We need rent-to-own pathways. We need access to land and financing models that do not shut out young people before they even begin. We need entrepreneurship support that goes beyond speeches, small grants for a select few, and endless photo opportunities. We need digital skills, modern infrastructure, and genuine exposure to emerging industries. Most importantly, we need leadership that stops treating the future as mere campaign slogans. It is insufficient to tell young Bahamians that we are the future while refusing to redesign the systems that determine our ability to thrive in that future. If we are to shape the future, then we need access to capital, ownership, housing, and technology. The future also requires ‘programs, processes, procedures, and protocols’ that are attuned to the realities of the 21st century. We respect experience, tradition, and the sacrifices made by those who came before us. However, respect for the past should not lead to being imprisoned by it. Some ideas have expired; some systems no longer work; some policies were created for a world that no longer exists.
The question is not whether young Bahamians are ready. The question is whether Bahamian leadership is ready to stop handing young Bahamians an outdated map for a changed world. Economic development must evolve into generational development. It must connect education to opportunity, work to ownership, technology to productivity, and national growth to personal advancement. Otherwise, the Bahamas will continue to produce young people who are trained, qualified, and ambitious but still locked out of meaningful ownership. That is not progress; it is frustration disguised as development. We do not want empty encouragement. We do not want recycled promises. We do not want leaders telling our generation to wait while the cost-of-living rises, the housing ladder moves further away, and the world changes faster than our institutions can adapt. We want a country that is brave enough to modernize rather than enthusiastically engaging in endless debates about issues that our leaders should have addressed long ago. We want leadership that can acknowledge our achievements and major failures while focusing on the urgent need to build the infrastructure and frameworks essential to creating a brighter, more transformative future. We want an economy where young Bahamians are not merely invited to serve the future, but are empowered to shape it, own it, and benefit from it. The future will not be built by repeating yesterday’s ideas more loudly. It will be built by leaders willing to design new systems for a new generation. EM SOPHIACHOKHMAH Freeport, Grand Bahama June 28, 2026.
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THE TRIBUNE
Monday, July 6, 2026, PAGE 7
Allen says parents must bear responsibility for child crimes By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Cabinet minister and attorney Algernon Allen said parents should be held more accountable when their children are accused of negligence or criminal conduct, arguing that the law allows parents to be charged in certain cases involving juvenile offenders. Mr Allen made the comment when asked about a recent Abaco boating tragedy in which a 12-year-old faced negligence-related charges after the death of a 15-year-old boy. “As a parent and as someone who has observed what has been happening in relation to charges of juveniles, I do think that parents should bear more responsibility for the aberrations, for the negligence, for the criminality of their children,” Mr Allen said. “I know what the law
says, and we all must act within the law, but the law doesn’t say you can’t charge your parents. In fact, the law says that the parent can be charged, and so I leave it at that.” Mr Allen also called for greater sensitivity in the handling of juvenile defendants, weighing in after footage of a young boy being escorted from a police vehicle in Grand Bahama triggered public criticism. The footage emerged after a 12-yearold boy appeared in court in connection with the fatal shooting of his eightyear-old brother in Bimini in May. A magistrate ordered the boy to undergo six weeks of psychological therapy in Grand Bahama before a decision is made on how the matter proceeds. His father, Dexter Durell Saunders, has been charged with child cruelty and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger the child’s life.
ONE DEAD, SIX RESCUED AFTER WEEKEND BOAT EXPLOSION A MAN died after an explosion tore through a vessel near Spanish Cay on Saturday morning, forcing seven men into the water as they tried to stay afloat. Police said the men, including the captain, were travelling to Spanish Cay on a teal-and-white 23-foot Angler vessel to work on a construction project when the boat developed mechanical problems shortly after 6am. Initial investigations found that one of the occupants checked the bilge pump and discovered water leaking from it. While trying to address the problem, he allegedly placed a wire on the engine’s battery, causing an explosion. All seven men entered the water after the blast and worked together to remain afloat. After some
time, the man who had been trying to repair the vessel reportedly told the others he could no longer hold on. He released his grip and was last seen going under the water before disappearing from view, police said. Six of the men were rescued by nearby private citizens. The unresponsive man was later recovered by family members and taken to the Government Dock in Mount Hope. A local physician pronounced him dead at the Marsh Harbour Health Centre around 12.46pm. Police said officers from the Coopers Town Police Station received information about the explosion shortly before 8am and were dispatched to investigate.
MAN DIES FROM SEVERE BURNS IN PALMETTO AVE HOUSE FIRE A MAN has died after suffering severe burns in a house fire on Palmetto Avenue off Blue Hill Road, police said yesterday. The victim succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical treatment in hospital, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
The blaze occurred on Friday, July 3. Police have not released the man's identity or provided further details on the circumstances surrounding the fire. Police said investigations into the incident are ongoing.
FORMER CABINET MINISTER ALGERNON ALLEN
Mr Allen did not comment directly on the case, but said society must show greater empathy when tragedy collides with the justice system. “From time to time, there’ll be that and many other instances,” he said. He also referred to the aftermath of a recent major traffic accident, saying he saw conduct he considered inappropriate, but declined to elaborate because he did not want to prejudice anyone who may come before the courts. “I noted what I consider very inappropriate gestures and gesticulations by persons who I thought would have had a more somber face, who would have been more grieving and appreciative of the enormity of the disaster,” he said. “So from time to time you're going to have that.”
PAGE 8, Monday, July 6, 2026
Davis tells contractors public work must be transparent By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net MORE than 400 Bahamian contractors gathered on Friday for the Ministry of Urban Renewal and Community Relations' inaugural Small Home Repairs Contractors Workshop, where Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis pledged continued investment in local contractors while insisting public work must be carried out transparently, professionally and on time. Addressing the contractors, Mr Davis said the Davis administration remains committed to ensuring Bahamians benefit from development opportunities across The Bahamas by investing in local talent and small businesses. “This administration believes that Bahamians should have every opportunity to participate in the development of The Bahamas,” he said. “We believe in investing in local talent and supporting small businesses, because when Bahamian contractors succeed, communities benefit.” Mr Davis said government investment in Bahamian contractors helps sustain family-owned businesses while creating economic opportunities that strengthen communities. He also underscored the need for transparency and accountability, saying public confidence depends on fair and honest processes.
PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis gives remarks at the Urban Renewal Small Home Repairs Contractors Workshop held at the Andre Rodgers Stadium on Friday. Photos: Nikia Charlton “Partnership cannot exist without trust. You must have confidence that these opportunities are administered fairly and transparently,” he said. “You deserve to know that your government is committed to processes that are open and honest.” Mr Davis said the commitment reflects the Blueprint for Progress, which promises national development rooted in good governance, transparency and accountability. He also reminded contractors that public contracts carry responsibilities as well as opportunities. “At the same time, though, partnership brings
responsibility,” he said. “The Bahamian people should be able to have confidence in you.” “When you are entrusted with public work, they should know that the job will be done properly, completed on time, and carried out with professionalism and pride.” Minister of Urban Renewal and Community Relations Lisa Rahming described the event as a milestone for the ministry's small home repairs programme, calling it the ministry's first workshop for contractors involved in the initiative. She said the gathering was about more than
explaining contracts, describing it as an effort to establish a new standard for the programme. Ms Rahming urged contractors to see beyond the physical work and recognise the impact their projects can have on people's lives. “Don’t just see a bathroom installation. See the child who will no longer have to use an outside toilet. Don’t just see the plumbing repair. See the mother who will finally have running water at home,” she said. “Don’t just see a wheelchair ramp being built. See the senior citizen or the disabled person whose independence has been restored.”
THE TRIBUNE
Steel worker spared conviction over marijuana possession By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net A 56-YEAR-OLD steel worker was spared a criminal conviction after admitting ownership of 23 grams of marijuana found during a police search of a Carmichael residence, while his co-accused was convicted and fined after pleading guilty to possessing larger quantities of the drug. Jean Robert Simbert of Palm Breeze Lane, appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville alongside Jacky Auguste, 26, Gregory Saint Merant, 25, and Michaela Forbes, 31. None of the four defendants was represented by an attorney. Prosecutors alleged that shortly after 1am on Thursday July 2, officers acting on information executed a search warrant at a grey-and-white apartment on an unnamed road off Palm Breeze Lane. According to the facts read in court, officers were met by Simbert with police conducting asearch of the residence and allegedly found 2.5 ounces of hydroponic marijuana inside a black backpack in a bedroom area, 1.5 ounces of hydroponic marijuana in a bathroom and 23 grams of marijuana in a bedroom. All four defendants were taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit for questioning. The court heard that Simbert told police the 23 grams belonged to him and that he bought the marijuana to smoke with his girlfriend, while Auguste admitted ownership of the marijuana found in the black backpack and the bathroom. Simbert pleaded guilty to the charge relating to the 23 grams, while Auguste pleaded guilty to the charges relating to the 2.5 ounces and 1.5 ounces. The remaining defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. During mitigation, Simbert asked the court for mercy, saying he had ten children, had worked as a steel worker and truck worker for the past eight years and that the incident would not happen again.
Magistrate Serville deemed that based on Simbert's plea, there was no evidence of an intention to supply the drugs. The prosecution subsequently moved to amend the charge to simple possession and sought a fine. The magistrate noted that Simbert had no previous convictions, was gainfully employed and had not lived a life of crime. He also said that imposing a conviction could jeopardise Simbert's employment. Simbert was conditionally discharged and ordered to be of good behaviour for one year, otherwise pay a $1500 fine. If he fails to pay the fine, he will serve six months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. No conviction was recorded. Auguste initially disputed the court's record of a 2018 conviction for possession of ammunition, for which he had been fined $500, before later acknowledging it. The court also heard he has another matter pending before the courts. Auguste told the court he had been holding the marijuana for someone else, smoked marijuana himself and had no intention of selling it. He said he worked in welding and steel work and helped care for his 14-year-old stepdaughter. Magistrate Serville said Auguste's circumstances differed because, even on his own account, he was facilitating another person. After considering his guilty pleas, age and previous conviction, the magistrate convicted Auguste and fined him $500 or six months at BDOCS for possessing the 2.5 ounces of hydroponic marijuana. He was also fined $350 or three months for possessing the 1.5 ounces, with the custodial terms to run concurrently. The matters against Mr Saint Merant and Ms Forbes were withdrawn by prosecutors following the guilty pleas. Auguste and Simbert are to return to court September 25for report on payment and good behavior compliance.
TOURISTS COMPENSATE OFFICERS AFTER ASSAULT By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net TWO American tourists were given conditional discharges after admitting assaulting a security and a police officer during an incident while on vacation in The Bahamas. Daniel Morino and Sahida Morino, both American citizens, appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville charged with multiple offences arising from the incident. Mr Morino pleaded guilty to assault and resisting arrest, while Sahida Morino pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and assaulting a police officer. Addressing the court, Mr Morino said he had been intoxicated and did not realise he was being arrested. He said he did not know the person who intervened between him and his sister was a police officer because the officer was in plain clothes. Despite that explanation, Mr Morino maintained his guilty pleas. Ms Marino told the court she intervened because she believed someone was attacking her brother. She also said she had been intoxicated. The court heard the pair had been on a family vacation and had consumed alcohol after receiving an unlimited drinks package. The magistrate observed, asked on the
two's accounts, that the siblings had initially been involved in a scuffle with each other before turning their attention to a person who attempted to intervene. The court was told neither defendant had previous convictions in the jurisdiction. Responding to the explanation about the unlimited drinks package, Magistrate Serville remarked that if the court had "a dollar every time" it heard that explanation, "there would be no need to come into work". He added that the pair were not the first tourists to appear before the court after receiving such a package. Taking into account their early guilty pleas, explanations and lack of previous convictions in the jurisdiction, Magistrate Serville granted both defendants conditional discharges. Mr Morino was ordered to pay $250 in compensation to the security officer as a condition of his discharge. Ms Morino was ordered to pay $500 to the police officer as what the magistrate described as a tangible gesture of remorse, along with $250 in compensation to the security officer. The court heard the US Embassy would assist in ensuring the conditions of the discharges are met, with the prosecutor indicating arrangements would be made with embassy officials.
PAGE 10, Monday, July 6, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
MONDAY, JULY 6, 2026
World View • Sir Ronald Sanders
A beacon of freedom seen across oceans: reflections on 250 years of American independence TWO hundred and fifty years ago, in the sweltering heat of a Philadelphia summer, a small group of men did something without precedent in modern history. They gathered, argued, deliberated, and then signed their names to a declaration that was a declaration of war against the mightiest empire on earth. They did so, knowing that if they failed, they would almost certainly hang. We mark that moment today as citizens of nations that were themselves shaped, directly or indirectly, by the audacity of what was proclaimed in Philadelphia on 4 July 1776. Words That Shook the World The document they produced was remarkable in its language as much as in its courage. Its opening announced a philosophy of government that was revolutionary, challenging the authority of King George III and the British political establishment. They declared: "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." That single sentence challenged centuries of accepted thinking about the relationship between rulers and the ruled. Sovereignty, the patriots were saying, did not reside in the Crown. It resided in the people. A people who had endured what they described as "a long train of abuses and usurpations" had not merely the right, but the duty, to throw off such government and establish new institutions for their future security. Yet there was another remarkable feature of that opening sentence, which resonates just as strongly today. The Declaration was not addressed solely to fellow colonists or even to the British Crown. It was consciously addressed to world opinion. The founders understood that their cause required legitimacy beyond their own shores. They sought, in their own words, "a decent respect to the opinions of mankind." In many respects, this was the beginning of modern public diplomacy. The founders understood that military victory alone would not secure legitimacy. They also had to persuade the wider world that their cause was just, and they appreciated that, even in the eighteenth century, ideas could travel farther than armies. The Declaration went on to specify the grievances that justified separation. Among them was the charge that the King had "endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose, obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to
The Men Who Made It It is right that, on this anniversary, free peoples should honour the remarkable men who gathered in Philadelphia and, despite their rivalries and competing ambitions, found common cause in declaring the rights and freedoms of human beings. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and many others helped produce a document whose influence would far outlive them. They disagreed, often profoundly, on the powers of government, the balance between state and national authority, and the future character of the Republic. Some owned enslaved people while proclaiming that all men were created equal, a contradiction so fundamental that it nearly destroyed the nation within a century, and whose consequences remain evident today. They were flawed men, with all the imperfections and contradictions of their age. Yet they produced ideas whose influence extended far beyond their own generation and the shores on which they lived. Whatever their personal limitations, the ideals they proclaimed acquired a unique force that exceeded both their intentions and, at times, their own conduct.
pass others to encourage their migrations hither." It also accused him of combining with others to subject the colonies "to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws." These were grievances that many colonists genuinely believed they had suffered. They felt that fundamental rights to govern themselves, to make their own laws, and not to be taxed without representation had been systematically denied. Then came the second paragraph. Perhaps no passage has had a greater influence on the development of modern constitutional government. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Self-evident truths. Unalienable rights. The consent of the governed. Today, many nations regard these principles as fundamental to legitimate government, though they remain elusive under repressive regimes. In 1776, however, they were revolutionary. As Thomas Jefferson himself reflected 50 years later, the Declaration was "pregnant with our
This image is a version of the 1823 William Stone facsimile — Stone may well have used a wet pressing process (that removed ink from the original document onto a contact sheet for the purpose of making the engraving). Photo: public domain Wikipedia
The Declaration of Independence is a painting by John Trumbull.
own and the fate of the world." History has vindicated that judgement. A Beacon Beyond Borders The Declaration was addressed not merely to the thirteen colonies, nor solely to the King of Great Britain, but, with "a decent respect", to the opinions of mankind. Within months, translations had circulated across Europe, reaching France, the Netherlands, the German states, Scandinavia and beyond. Its greatest influence, however, was felt among peoples living under
colonial rule or foreign domination. Scores of the nations now represented at the United Nations possess founding documents that are declarations of independence. The American Declaration provided the model, much of the language and many of the principles for many of them. Nowhere was this more dramatically demonstrated than in the Caribbean. Haiti, in January 1804, became the first Black republic and the first independent nation in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery. Its revolution drew inspiration from
Photo: fineartamerica.com
principles proclaimed in 1776, even though many leaders of the young United States recoiled from their full implications. For the Caribbean as a whole, the ideals proclaimed in Philadelphia became a lasting source of inspiration. When our nations eventually raised their own flags and assumed sovereign statehood, they entered a tradition of self-determination whose roots reached, in part, to Philadelphia. The Declaration ultimately belonged not to America alone, but to all peoples seeking freedom.
The America Free Peoples Honour It is that America - the America of the Declaration and of universal principle - that peoples who won their freedom have long admired and sought to emulate in their own journeys towards democracy. We should also remember the America that helped rebuild Europe through the Marshall Plan, championed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and helped establish many of the institutions and alliances that underpinned the post-war international order. It is that America whose 250th anniversary we celebrated on July 4: an America born from the simple and powerful proposition that the rights of human beings are not granted by kings or governments, but are inherent, self-evident, and secured only by governments that enjoy the consent of the governed. That idea was audacious in 1776. It remains so today. The world of states, large and small, is immeasurably better because those men dared to proclaim it. Their greatest legacy is not simply the nation they founded, but the universal principle they affirmed: that liberty belongs to all humanity, and that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of those they govern. Wherever tyranny yields to freedom, wherever peoples peacefully claim the right to determine their own future, the enduring light - first kindled in Philadelphia - continues to shine across oceans and generations. (The writer is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States of America and the Organisation of American States, and Chancellor of the University of Guyana. The view expressed are his own)
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, July 6, 2026, PAGE 11
INSIGHT
By Ed Fields “Independence mornin’ is like a baby bornin’”. On reflection, those words penned by Priscilla Rollins have significant meaning with respect to both the birth of a nation and the future that lies ahead. As the saying goes, it is easy to “born” a child, it’s another to raise a child. The words to follow will evoke a range of reactions, but I have arrived at the stage in life where the reactions to what I believe no longer dictate what I say. As we approach yet another anniversary of our independence, it is appropriate, indeed necessary, to question, analyse and even judge how we have raised our nation. If we continue with the metaphor, we would wish for our child to be respectful, law abiding, polite, educated and a good citizen. That takes work. It takes parenting. How have we parented our Bahamas? Sadly, there are many signs that we have not done such a great job. Given our age as a nation, we are in our teenage years and frankly it appears that we are delinquent in many respects. While we have many of the trappings of a fairly wellto-do teen, our behaviors resemble more of spoiled brats than disciplined young
people. We seem to have gone down a road littered with serious obstacles to our nationhood’s maturation. Could it be that we have taken more of the timeout approach to how we manage ourselves, our institutions and outlook? Institutionally, we have clearly failed. In 2018, the InterAmerican Development Bank, graded our public service with a whopping seven percent (7%) for management capability and functional capacity. What that says in plain English is that we don’t know what we are doing and nothing is working. We don’t need to guess when it comes to our lack of behavioral prowess. That is on grand display for all to witness even from the bewigged and highest seats in our legislature. What is disturbing is that this behavioral dissonance is being touted as culturally acceptable. On a daily basis, we encounter interactions that are shocking and over time we have been numbed as to their impact. Paraphrasing Central Bank Governor Julian Francis during an appearance on a local public affairs programme, it seems to be a cultural matter. He concluded that if we were really serious about change, we would be doing more to demonstrate our commitment to change. However, perhaps all is not lost. I would like to suggest that there is a way out of this national malaise and I will be so presumptuous as to further suggest that it falls to the Prime Minister to champion that process. Second chances do not come often. The current government perhaps represents
that second chance. It is the first government returned to power in over 20 years, a second chance as it were. Odds are the Prime Minister is probably going to end his political career after this term and as such his focus can be on policy not politics. On nation building, not party dynasties. The Rt. Hon. Philip Brave Davis has the opportunity to become the father of a reborn nation. One that is focused on law and order, public service efficiency, transparency and economic expansion through enlightenment and innovative thought. In doing do, all citizens can be called upon to contribute to this new birth, “not for what their country can do for them, but what they can do for their country”. Opportunities such as this and in these times are not to be squandered, as it is almost certain that it would not present itself again. There will be hardship, as is the pain of delivery. And in the raising of a new nation, a new discipline will be required. A stick must be applied along with the carrot. Pleas and prayers alone will not do. The good book that guides this supposedly Christian nation espouses free will, but too has harsh sanctions for breach of the rules. Like Alexander the Great and Richard the Lionhearted, we will require Philip the Brave (pun intended) to oversee the rebirth of a nation. That will demand immense courage. Our leadership, like good parents, must forgive the sins of the past and pledge to do what is necessary to put us on the right path. A very real example of
Photo: Krystalbasas/pexels
OPINION: The ‘re-bornin’ of a nation
this is highlighted by the recent tragic accidents. From last reports, there are tens of thousands of outstanding traffic offence cases sitting on the court’s logs. Let’s
accept that the traffic offences don’t seem to be enforced. Could enforcement of offences like
speeding, not wearing seatbelts or driving under the influ-
ence have saved lives over the past several years?
So, while it is too late for some, let’s get serious about going forward. Dump all of the backlog. Apply amnesty for every misdemeanor traffic offence up to a specified date. Clear the courts. Clear the police summons logbook. Then apply the hammer starting from ticket number one. Ensure that everyone knows that when it comes to traffic violations it’s a new regime. No need to reinvent the wheel, the models are out there for us to adopt. It is left to our leadership to step off the hamster wheel that gets us nowhere and to lead us on the conveyor belt that leads us to collectively benefit from an independence that takes Bahamians forward, upward, and onward, together.
This pass high in the Swiss Alps is home to a Bond car chase scene and a vintage steam railway By NICCOLÒ LUPONE Associated Press
REALP, Switzerland (AP) — Train enthusiasts will celebrate the 100th anniversary of a historic Swiss railway this weekend as vintage steam locomotives ferry tourists through the stunning Alpine scenery as part of the celebration. The Furka Pass, at an altitude of 2,431 meters (7,976 feet), is among Switzerland's highest Alpine passes and famous for its hairpin curves featured in the 1964 James Bond "Goldfinger" movie. But long before 007 actor Sean Connery filmed a harrowing car chase scene there, a steam train first traversed the steep and winding route in a continuous journey on July 3, 1926, kicking off a vital rail link between the regions of Uri and Valais in central Switzerland for decades. In the early 1980s, a tunnel at
the base of the Alps diverted rail traffic and prompted the closure of the historic mountain route until volunteers stepped in. Hundreds of them, nicknamed the railway's "pioneers," have spent hours to restore, maintain and operate the historic tracks and trains so they run the same as a century ago. The first section of the line reopened as a heritage railway in 1992, and the 18-kilometer (11mile) track was ready for travel in 2010. The steam trains now operate exclusively as a tourist attraction in the summers between the stations of Realp and Oberwald, where visitors can hop aboard vintage carriages and marvel at the scenery of rivers, Alpine meadows and lush green pastures where patches of snow still linger. Tourists last month enjoyed their trips through the German-speaking region aboard
the "dampflokomotive." Passenger Stephan Willareth called his journey "wonderful," while Kurt Guldemann, a former employee of the Swiss railways, heralded the history of the machines. Bernhard Lang, one ONE of DFB’s historic steam trains travels from Realp to Oberwald during a stop at the Furka station, of the many Switzerland, Friday, June 26, 2026. enthusiasts who volunPhoto: Niccolo Lupone/AP teer to drive the vintage feel how it behaves, how it moves, listen to the locomotives. steam trains, said it can take how it smells, how it sounds." "You hear every sound, you years to master the skill. Jacob Kallert, a 21-year-old hear if everything is right," he "It's something like a living German transport engineering said. "You can pretty much feel machine, so you have to get kind student and the youngest train how it was then and how it is of the feeling for it," he said. "To manager, said it's important to now."
Puppy love as dog walker turns his pack of 13 into Argentina jersey-clad World Cup followers By ALMUDENA CALATRAVA Associated Press BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Thirteen Argentina followers are roaming the streets of Buenos Aires proudly sporting their team's jersey — but they're not on two legs, they're on all fours, letting out the occasional bark. As Argenwtina rides World Cup fever and dreams of beating Cape Verde in the round of 32 on Friday, a dog walker has added his pack to the local fanbase. Nahuel Meneghini, 33, walks the streets of the capital's city center with the dogs wearing the team's jerseys, leashes and collars in support of Lionel Messi 's squad. "I did it out of love for them and for Argentina. And for the World Cup," said Meneghini— known as "Nano" — while speaking to The Associated Press on Thursday during a walk with the canine group. The dog walker, also dressed head-to-toe like a fan, skilfully managed all the leashes, guiding
the dogs along the narrow sidewalks of the capital's San Cristóbal neighborhood. As they passed, smiles lit up the faces of onlookers who pulled out their phones to snap pictures. "Let's go, Argentina!" a woman shouted. "These are the only joys we have because nothing ever goes our way, not for workers or retirees. Everything is against us," said 80-year-old Edgardo Pérez, who was taking photos of the group known on social media as "La Perroneta." The name alludes to "La Scaloneta," the nickname of the national team aiming to retain its title at the World Cup under coach Lionel Scaloni. Scaloni is admired in Argentina following the team's triumphs at the World Cup and the Finalissima in 2022, as well as the 2021 Copa América. Meneghini developed the idea of dressing the dogs in Argentina colors last week as it advanced from the group stage. Two of the dogs he regularly walks, Sirio and Roberta, were
wearing jerseys featuring Messi's No. 10. Their owners bought them after catching World Cup fever. Meneghini loved the idea and decided to dress the rest of the dogs the same way. He stopped by a pet store and picked up jerseys in various sizes. The owners readily accepted the outfits. The same went for the collars and leashes he crafted in light blue and white. He added three rivets to the leashes — one for each of Argentina's World Cup titles in 1978, 1986 and 2022 — while hanging tags reading "Los perros de Nano" (Nano's Dogs) from the collars. Meneghini offers the pet owners a good price for all the items. Other people in the neighborhood have started placing orders for their own pets. The dogs and their walker cover around 60 blocks almost every day and have become local celebrities and social media stars. "Now that is patriotism," the 73-year-old Dora Maisano said as she watched the group pass by. "Not just peeing and pooping.
DOG walker Nahuel Meneghini walks dogs dressed in jerseys of the Argentine national soccer team in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, July 2, 2026. AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd Everyone wearing the No. 10. Well done, congratulations — they look so cute!" The pack will continue to wear the national colors "forever,"
even if Argentina is eliminated from the competition, Meneghini said. "But I have faith that we'll win a fourth cup. After the fourth one, I'll add another rivet to the leashes."
PAGE 14, Monday, July 6, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
World News
Khamenei’s other sons appear at his funeral in Iran as new supreme leader remains in hiding By NASSER KARIMI and JON GAMBRELL Associated Press IRAN’S top officials and brothers of the new supreme leader emerged into public view Sunday to attend funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Their appearance projected unity, defiance and confidence in their safety as Iran pushes back on US demands in negotiations to permanently end the war. Crowds of hundreds of thousands chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” as they called for revenge over the Feb. 28 attack that killed the 86-year-old supreme leader and other top officials, triggering the war. Some hard-liners called for the assassination of US President Donald Trump. Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make an appearance in the funeral ceremonies, which are unfolding over several days. He is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being wounded in the airstrike that killed his father. At the height of the war, before an April ceasefire, Israel had targeted top leaders, in at least one case likely using their public appearance to fix their position. It has also threatened to kill the younger Khamenei. The US is meanwhile pressing ahead with negotiations with Iran aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, rolling back its disputed nuclear program and reaching a permanent end to the war. Talks appear to be on hold until after the burial. Ziba Naderi, a nurse attending the funeral Sunday, said Iran needed to heed Mojtaba Khamenei’s commands. “I heard the call
Funeral postpones talks with US
A BOY holds a picture of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, holding a machine gun at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque during funeral ceremonies for the slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family in Tehran, Iran, yesterday. Photo: Altaf Qadri for revenge, but our leader should say what we need to do,” she said. “And we must listen to him.” Top officials appear as the crowd size swells Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, a 97-year-old Shiite cleric, led the prayers at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla for the late Khamenei and his family members killed in the strike. On hand were Khamenei’s other sons, Masoud, Meysam and Mostafa, who had not been seen since the war. Revolutionary Guard head Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, who was photographed for the first time since the war on Thursday, could be seen in the crowd by Associated Press journalists, flanked by
plainclothes security forces and wearing a black baseball cap. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf — who has led the negotiations with the US — and Esmail Qaani, who leads the elite Quds Force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also attended. The crowd had grown from the day before. Mourners dressed in black carried banners and flags honouring Khamenei. Some mention Trump by name as mourners call for revenge Posters and graffiti at the Grand Mosalla called for the killing of Trump and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Why is the biggest bastard in the world still alive?” Mohammad Rasouli, a poet who emceed the event before the prayers, said to the crowd over loudspeakers, referring to Trump. “The world is no longer a good place” for Trump, he added as the crowd cheered. “I came here to shout and seek revenge,” said Gholamreza Sabooni, a 29-year-old man who works in a grocery. “They killed our imam. We should kill their leader, Trump.” The US president was giving a speech at the same time across the world in Washington, D.C., for the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
“We’ve had tremendous success,” Trump said about the US military. “You look at Venezuela, you look at Iran. We wiped it out, wiped out their military.” US federal authorities have been tracking Iranian threats against Trump and other administration officials for years. The threats stem from Trump ordering the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who had led the Quds Force. Iran repeatedly has denied plotting to kill Trump, though hard-line propaganda footage long has suggested Trump was in Tehran’s crosshairs. Trump meanwhile promised to destroy Iran’s civilization during the war, among other threats.
Khamenei’s body will be transported to cities in Iran and neighbouring Iraq, with authorities planning to drive his casket and others through the streets of Tehran on Monday. Authorities have shut down streets, airspace and daily life for the mourning, which will end Thursday as he is buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Khamenei’s place of birth. Authorities offered no attendance count for the event Saturday and Sunday. Other cities across Iran also held mourning ceremonies. The funeral was in part a show of unity as Iran demands a measure of control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy that it shut down during the war. The US has rejected those demands, and the sides are divided on other key issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. The US assisted 70 transits of the Strait of Hormuz over the past 72 hours, including 18 on Saturday, a multinational maritime body overseen by the US Navy said Sunday. It called traffic steady along routes near Oman and Iran but still below prewar levels. The threat level remained “substantial” and mine clearance and surveying work continued. “Our foreign policy should not be shaped in a way that allows our martyred leader’s blood to be dishonoured,” mourner Mohammad Reza Sharifi said. He said he expected a “serious response” from Iran’s government.
WILDFIRE SOUTHWEST OF DENVER FORCES THOUSANDS TO EVACUATE AND DESTROYS MORE THAN 160 STRUCTURES PUEBLO Associated Press A WILDFIRE burning southwest of Denver forced the evacuation of thousands
of residents and destroyed more than 160 structures by Friday as erratic winds pushed the blaze across two Colorado counties. The Aspen Acres fire
is one of about 40 uncontained large blazes burning mostly in the West, fuelled by months of dry weather and a record lack of snow this past winter in some
places. Fire personnel were scooping water from the Pueblo Reservoir to fight the Aspen Acres fire, which had expanded to about 115 square miles (297 square kilometres) by Friday afternoon with zero containment. All of Colorado City, an unincorporated community of about 2,200, was ordered evacuated as well as the towns of Beulah, Rye and San Isabel, according to
the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office. About 50 National Guard soldiers were being sent in Friday to help with staffing checkpoints on roads in Custer and Pueblo counties. Guard members would also help State Park Rangers as they bring on additional boats to keep boaters clear of water-scooping operations. Fire crews on the western side of the Rocky Mountains had contained about
65% of the Snyder Fire on the Colorado/Utah border, where three members of a helitack team were killed and two others injured last weekend when they were overcome by flames. The Cottonwood fire in southwestern Utah had grown to about 147 square miles (380 square kilometres) by Friday while the Babylon fire in the southeast corner of the state was up to 133 square miles (344 square kilometres).
A PLANE drops a load of water on the Aspen Acres Fire near Colorado City, Colo., on July 2, 2026. Photo: Michael Seamans/The Gazette/AP
PAGE 12, Monday, July 6, 2026
GROCERY POP-UP IN FORT CHARLOTTE
THE TRIBUNE
HUNDREDS of residents attended the first-ever Fort Charlotte Family Market on Saturday to take advantage of essential groceries at discounted prices. Supported by local volunteers and partners, the community event provided direct savings on everyday items to help lower the cost of living for families in the Fort Charlotte area. Fort Charlotte MP Sebas Bastian and Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis were on hand for the inaugural event.
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Monday, July 6, 2026, PAGE 13
World News
Trump mixes patriotism with partisanship as he celebrates America’s ‘joyous’ 250th anniversary By STEVEN SLOAN and MICHELLE L PRICE Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump mixed partisan politics with patriotic appeals on Saturday as he commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence, a moment he declared “one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time.” Speaking in Washington after storms prompted a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall, Trump honoured veterans, including several from World War II and one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat in Vietnam. They appeared before flags that symbolized some of the most significant and challenging moments in American history, from the one that was draped over Abraham Lincoln’s casket to the one that flew on the plane piloted by the Wright Brothers. Yet Trump also leaned into partisan territory unusual for an Independence Day address, which presidents typically use as a moment to unify the country. Instead, he stumped again for the SAVE America Act, an elections bill that’s encountering challenges even from Trump’s fellow Republicans in Congress. He highlighted his support for the Second Amendment and revived denunciations of com-
months in the making had to adjust or cancel activities entirely as much of the East Coast sweltered under heat that approached and in many cases surpassed triple digits. Heat is defining the big weekend in many places Severe weather prompted the cancellation of celebrations in Hartford, Connecticut, along with Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Spectators at Boston’s fireworks and concert were told to briefly seek shelter before events later resumed. An evacuation was also ordered in Philadelphia. New York and Pittsburgh moved forward with fireworks but shifted the time to accommodate the shifting weather. The disruption was particularly acute in Washington, where signs at the Great American State Fair posted an alert shortly after 7 p.m. ET encouraging participants to leave the area. Crowds gathered in museums, subway stations and federal buildings near the Mall. At the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center they waited in chairs and sat on the floor to cool off in the air conditioning. Crowds were building in the area several hours before the evacuation. Tina Hale, 58, of Cohoes, New York, watched three of her grandchildren children dip their hands into a pool of water near a
ABOVE: FIREWORKS explode during Salute to America, an Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, on the National Mall in Washington. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/AP RIGHT: PEOPLE watch fireworks explode over the New York City skyline as seen from the Brooklyn Borough of New York during the 4th of July celebration on Saturday. Photo: Anna Connors/AP travelled to Philadelphia from Chicago to watch the
A BOLT of lighting strikes as fireworks are set off of the Brooklyn Bridge, as seen from Bayonne, NJ, Saturday. Photo: Seth Wenig/AP munism, which are becoming an increasingly central part of Trump’s message ahead of the November midterms. The speech capped a holiday that Trump has gone to great lengths to shape to his own tastes. He was introduced by two musical performers who often appear at his trademark rallies, including Lee Greenwood, who performed “God Bless the USA.” The event organizers were largely aligned with the White House, supplanting a bipartisan organization that was launched by Congress a decade ago. “We will always be on top,” Trump said. “We will never let our country fall. We will always be the best.” Trump didn’t talk about himself as much as he does during his normal rally speeches. Still, he still found time to include a joke about seeking a third presidential term and about World War II’s “greatest generation.” “They are the greatest generation,” Trump said. “I hate to admit that, but they are.” Anticipation for the milestone holiday has been building for much of the year, serving as an opportunity for Americans to reflect on their complicated history as onetime colonists of an empire who became a superpower of their own. Organizers of celebrations
museum. Hale pointed toward the sky and urged them to look up as three military jets roared above the crowd. “If that doesn’t make you proud to be an American,” she said. David Koshko, 42, and his wife, Jennifer Koshko, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, came to Washington for a baseball game but planned to stay for the city’s fireworks show. After baking in the heat for hours during the Pittsburgh Pirates’ win over the Washington Nationals, they took a break in the shade of an overpass near the National Mall to plot their next stop. “Just to be a part of the 250 years (anniversary) is an amazing thing,” said David Koshko, a commercial driver and veteran of the Marine Corps reserves. In Philadelphia, fireworks began to crack as early as midday in the birthplace of the nation near the site where the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Hundreds of visitors were gathering at Independence Hall in the sweltering heat to await the celebrations coinciding with the France-Paraguay World Cup knockout game at Philadelphia Stadium, which began with commemorations of the holiday. “It’s one big party in here,” Carlos Alban, who
match, said as he arrived at the stadium, adding that he spotted a fan in the parking lot dressed as one of the Founding Fathers. In New York, tall ships, with their masts, rigging and white sails outlined against a blue sky, made a procession around the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River, recalling the fanfare around America’s 200th anniversary in 1976. The 43 ships were followed by a display of aerial might with a stealth bomber and the Navy’s Blue Angels. Patrouille de France, the French Air Force’s acrobatic
teams, flew over New York Harbor with their red, white and blue trails, evoking images of the American flag. “We got up early and just rode our bikes about a mile down here to come see the scene,” said Oona Moore, a Jersey City, New Jersey, resident who took in the New York festivities. “We saw the tall ships and we saw the planes, you know, all different manner of military aircraft. I’ve never seen it so close and in the sky at the same time.” At George Washington’s Mount Vernon, people took the Oath of
Allegiance to become US citizens. They stood with eyes closed and hands over hearts for the national anthem. In Phoenix, Steven Dortch, 25, and his brother JayLn Dortch, 23, gathered at Granada Park to try to forge a new July 4 cookout tradition. JayLn Dortch said young people in the US give him hope by thinking for themselves and not taking the words from older people at face value. He said the country needs to keep in mind the everyday, hardworking people who “keep America going.”
PAGE 14, Monday, July 6, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
World News
Khamenei’s other sons appear at his funeral in Iran as new supreme leader remains in hiding By NASSER KARIMI and JON GAMBRELL Associated Press IRAN’S top officials and brothers of the new supreme leader emerged into public view Sunday to attend funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Their appearance projected unity, defiance and confidence in their safety as Iran pushes back on US demands in negotiations to permanently end the war. Crowds of hundreds of thousands chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” as they called for revenge over the Feb. 28 attack that killed the 86-year-old supreme leader and other top officials, triggering the war. Some hard-liners called for the assassination of US President Donald Trump. Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make an appearance in the funeral ceremonies, which are unfolding over several days. He is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being wounded in the airstrike that killed his father. At the height of the war, before an April ceasefire, Israel had targeted top leaders, in at least one case likely using their public appearance to fix their position. It has also threatened to kill the younger Khamenei. The US is meanwhile pressing ahead with negotiations with Iran aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, rolling back its disputed nuclear program and reaching a permanent end to the war. Talks appear to be on hold until after the burial. Ziba Naderi, a nurse attending the funeral Sunday, said Iran needed to heed Mojtaba Khamenei’s commands. “I heard the call
Funeral postpones talks with US
A BOY holds a picture of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, holding a machine gun at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque during funeral ceremonies for the slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family in Tehran, Iran, yesterday. Photo: Altaf Qadri for revenge, but our leader should say what we need to do,” she said. “And we must listen to him.” Top officials appear as the crowd size swells Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, a 97-year-old Shiite cleric, led the prayers at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla for the late Khamenei and his family members killed in the strike. On hand were Khamenei’s other sons, Masoud, Meysam and Mostafa, who had not been seen since the war. Revolutionary Guard head Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, who was photographed for the first time since the war on Thursday, could be seen in the crowd by Associated Press journalists, flanked by
plainclothes security forces and wearing a black baseball cap. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf — who has led the negotiations with the US — and Esmail Qaani, who leads the elite Quds Force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also attended. The crowd had grown from the day before. Mourners dressed in black carried banners and flags honouring Khamenei. Some mention Trump by name as mourners call for revenge Posters and graffiti at the Grand Mosalla called for the killing of Trump and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Why is the biggest bastard in the world still alive?” Mohammad Rasouli, a poet who emceed the event before the prayers, said to the crowd over loudspeakers, referring to Trump. “The world is no longer a good place” for Trump, he added as the crowd cheered. “I came here to shout and seek revenge,” said Gholamreza Sabooni, a 29-year-old man who works in a grocery. “They killed our imam. We should kill their leader, Trump.” The US president was giving a speech at the same time across the world in Washington, D.C., for the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
“We’ve had tremendous success,” Trump said about the US military. “You look at Venezuela, you look at Iran. We wiped it out, wiped out their military.” US federal authorities have been tracking Iranian threats against Trump and other administration officials for years. The threats stem from Trump ordering the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who had led the Quds Force. Iran repeatedly has denied plotting to kill Trump, though hard-line propaganda footage long has suggested Trump was in Tehran’s crosshairs. Trump meanwhile promised to destroy Iran’s civilization during the war, among other threats.
Khamenei’s body will be transported to cities in Iran and neighbouring Iraq, with authorities planning to drive his casket and others through the streets of Tehran on Monday. Authorities have shut down streets, airspace and daily life for the mourning, which will end Thursday as he is buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Khamenei’s place of birth. Authorities offered no attendance count for the event Saturday and Sunday. Other cities across Iran also held mourning ceremonies. The funeral was in part a show of unity as Iran demands a measure of control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy that it shut down during the war. The US has rejected those demands, and the sides are divided on other key issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. The US assisted 70 transits of the Strait of Hormuz over the past 72 hours, including 18 on Saturday, a multinational maritime body overseen by the US Navy said Sunday. It called traffic steady along routes near Oman and Iran but still below prewar levels. The threat level remained “substantial” and mine clearance and surveying work continued. “Our foreign policy should not be shaped in a way that allows our martyred leader’s blood to be dishonoured,” mourner Mohammad Reza Sharifi said. He said he expected a “serious response” from Iran’s government.
WILDFIRE SOUTHWEST OF DENVER FORCES THOUSANDS TO EVACUATE AND DESTROYS MORE THAN 160 STRUCTURES PUEBLO Associated Press A WILDFIRE burning southwest of Denver forced the evacuation of thousands
of residents and destroyed more than 160 structures by Friday as erratic winds pushed the blaze across two Colorado counties. The Aspen Acres fire
is one of about 40 uncontained large blazes burning mostly in the West, fuelled by months of dry weather and a record lack of snow this past winter in some
places. Fire personnel were scooping water from the Pueblo Reservoir to fight the Aspen Acres fire, which had expanded to about 115 square miles (297 square kilometres) by Friday afternoon with zero containment. All of Colorado City, an unincorporated community of about 2,200, was ordered evacuated as well as the towns of Beulah, Rye and San Isabel, according to
the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office. About 50 National Guard soldiers were being sent in Friday to help with staffing checkpoints on roads in Custer and Pueblo counties. Guard members would also help State Park Rangers as they bring on additional boats to keep boaters clear of water-scooping operations. Fire crews on the western side of the Rocky Mountains had contained about
65% of the Snyder Fire on the Colorado/Utah border, where three members of a helitack team were killed and two others injured last weekend when they were overcome by flames. The Cottonwood fire in southwestern Utah had grown to about 147 square miles (380 square kilometres) by Friday while the Babylon fire in the southeast corner of the state was up to 133 square miles (344 square kilometres).
A PLANE drops a load of water on the Aspen Acres Fire near Colorado City, Colo., on July 2, 2026. Photo: Michael Seamans/The Gazette/AP