GIRL, 12, ALLEGES MOM’S
BOYFRIEND RAPED
Memorial held for crash victims
By JADE RUSSELL
12-year-old testifies man had sex with her while home alone in 2024
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 12-YEAR-OLD girl alleged yesterday that her mother’s boyfriend removed her clothes and had sexual intercourse with her while they were home alone in 2024, as the defendant’s trial began. The complainant, whose name is being withheld to protect her identity, testified in the unlawful sexual intercourse trial of Anthony Bain, 50, before Justice Jeannine Weech-Gomez. Prosecutors allege that Bain had sexual intercourse with the complainant when she was 11 while they were alone at a home on Williams
LGBTQ+ Activist calls for hate crime laws
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
GAY rights activist Alexis DeMarco has called for hate crime legislation after linking a string of recent and historic killings involving people believed to have been members of the LGBTQ+ community to concerns about bias-motivated violence and unequal treatment within the justice system.
However, Attorney General Wayne Munroe
Teacher dies weeks after she was stabbed in throat
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A 61-YEAR-OLD primary school teacher died in hospital on Monday, more than a month after she was reportedly stabbed in the throat by her attackers.
Jillian Pinder, a 61-year-old mother and wife, had been in critical condition since June 4, the day she was attacked. Police said at the time the victim told investigators she had been attacked by two men she identified as individuals to whom someone close to her owed money. They reportedly stabbed her in the throat before fleeing the scene. The Tribune understands
yesterday rejected her call, saying he had received no briefings suggesting that murders in The Bahamas were motivated by hatred of a victim’s sexual orientation.
Ms DeMarco pointed in particular to two killings this year — the stabbing death of a 63-year-old man whose body was found inside a burning Nassau Village duplex recently and the January killing of a 38-yearold man inside his Daffodil
JILLIAN PINDER
Final roll call brings tears at vigil for crash victims
the yard throughout the evening. Many attendees wore T-shirts bearing photographs of their loved ones, while others held candles, embraced grieving relatives and quietly wiped away tears.
Five members of the well-known Da Pond Band died in the crash: band leader Giovanni McKenzie, Rashad Storr, Mateo Winder, Toniquea Gilot and Tra’vis Johnson.Melvin Henfield known as DJ Fresh International , Andros natives Quintin Myers and Macaro Rolle, pilot Franklyn Cambridge, and the youngest victim, 16-year-old Nicholas Oliver Jr, also lost their lives.
During the ceremony, a loved one stood on stage to represent each of the ten victims.
In one of the night’s most emotional moments,
prominent Bahamian DJ
Rev conducted a symbolic final roll call, paging each victim as though they were on a flight at San Andros Airport.
As each name was called, a candle was lit for the family member representing that victim. Cries echoed throughout the venue as relatives struggled to contain their grief. Some became inconsolable, while others stood silently, clutching their candles through tears.
At one point, DJ Rev became too overcome with emotion to continue reading the names of the remaining victims.
Family members fought for the strength to remain standing as they held their candles. One woman repeatedly cried out for her loved one, while another man fell to his knees and had to be supported by a relative.
Earlier in the evening, the
ceremony featured musical performances, tributes, and praise and worship.
Bahamian artist Nishie L.S performed an emotional medley of gospel songs. At the end of her performance, she became so overwhelmed with emotion that she had to be assisted off the stage. Tears streamed down her face as those around her tried to comfort her.
Rev Annamae Hinsey paid tribute to her grandson, Mateo Winder. She said he developed a love for music from an early age and recalled teaching him to pray and the many days they spent together in church.
Rev Hinsey said she previously had a vision from God that foreshadowed tragedy. She recalled going on a fast and pleading with God to reveal what the vision meant.
Holding back tears, she said God told her, “accident,
sudden death.”
She recalled crying out to God to protect her grandchildren, particularly Winder. However, she said her heart is at peace knowing he gave his life to Christ in his final moments.
Singer Meredith Williams also paid tribute to Mr McKenzie, recalling that he gave her her first opportunity to perform when many others would not. She spoke about the band’s extraordinary talent and the lasting impact its members had on Bahamian music.
Members of Parliament Owen Wells, Darren Pickstock, Leonardo Lightbourne, Randy Rolle, Bacchus Rolle and others attended the vigil.
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper delivered remarks on behalf of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis. Mr Cooper encouraged those gathered to
draw on their faith during this heartbreaking time and extended condolences to everyone affected by the tragedy.
Earlier, DJ Rev told reporters that the owner of The Pond is from Andros, making the tragedy even more heartbreaking for those connected to the
venue. He said he personally knew the members of Da Pond Band and believes their legacy will continue to grow despite their deaths.
“These people died happy going to Andros to represent Bahamian culture as it pertains to rake and scrape,” he said. “So the legacy will be even bigger.”
FAMILY and friends gather at The Pond for a candlelight vigil yesterday to honour the memory of ten victims who lost their lives in the Flamingo Air plane crash on Independence Day.
Photos: Shawn Hanna
Munroe dismisses need for separate hate crime laws
Avenue home.
Police have not publicly identified a motive in either case, and Ms DeMarco acknowledged that authorities have not classified the deaths as hate crimes. However, she said the absence of legislation specifically recognising bias-motivated offences makes it difficult to determine whether prejudice played a role.
Ms DeMarco argued that the country cannot properly identify or prosecute biasdriven violence without a legal framework that recognises such crimes.
She said LGBTQ+ Bahamians have long feared that violence against members of their community is not pursued with the same urgency or seriousness as other crimes.
“When perpetrators of violence against LGBTQ+ people receive convictions for lesser offences instead of murder, many in our community are left questioning whether prejudice and harmful stereotypes continue to influence the pursuit of justice,” she said.
She cited the case of Latherio Jones, who was originally charged with
murder after fatally shooting Trevor Wilson but was convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of apparent provocation. The court heard that Wilson had made repeated homosexual advances towards Jones.
The Crown appealed the sentence as unduly lenient, arguing that Jones armed himself, went to Wilson’s room and shot him in the head after what prosecutors described as a second homosexual advance.
The Court of Appeal
dismissed the appeal and upheld the sentence.
Delivering the court’s oral ruling in 2010, then Court of Appeal president Dame Joan Sawyer said: “One is entitled to use whatever force is necessary to prevent oneself being the victim of a homosexual act.” Ms DeMarco said that ruling, together with the defence commonly known internationally as “gay panic”, has deepened fears that violence against LGBTQ+ people can be diminished or excused
through prejudice and stereotypes.
Mr Munroe rejected the suggestion that a separate hate crime framework was needed to protect LGBTQ+ people from murder, arguing that existing homicide laws apply equally regardless of a victim’s identity.
“From all of the briefings I got, I didn’t get anything that appeared hate crime related,” Mr Munroe said.
He said murder charges are generally reduced to manslaughter only where recognised legal principles affect an accused person’s criminal responsibility.
“Murders that get reduced to manslaughter are generally if you have anything that has a mental element,” he said.
“So let’s say I represented a woman who set her husband on fire over a lot of mental abuse. It was clearly an intention to kill him, but it was reduced because of diminished responsibility. So some intimate violence case, especially when it’s the female killing the male, is reduced to manslaughter based on intimate partner violence.”
Mr Munroe said that during his time at the Bar, he had not encountered a murder that he considered motivated by hatred of a
person because they were gay or black.
“I have not heard in all of my time at the bar of any hate crime-related murder where somebody is murdered because they are gay or because they are black,” he said.
“I’ve not. I’ve seen a lot of personal, intimate partner violence. But the intimate partner violence has nothing to do with your sexual orientation or your sexual preference. It has everything to do with the nature of the interpersonal relationship.”
Ms DeMarco said advocates have questioned whether killings involving people believed to have been members of the LGBTQ+ community received the same attention as other homicide investigations.
She cited the death of the 63-year-old man found inside a burning duplex on Lee Street in Nassau Village on July 15.
Firefighters responding to the blaze shortly after 2am forced their way into the residence and found the man lying unresponsive near the front door.
Police later determined that he had apparent stab wounds and opened a homicide investigation. An
autopsy was ordered to establish the precise cause of death.
Ms DeMarco also pointed to the January 14 killing of a 38-year-old man found stabbed to death inside his Daffodil Avenue home.
A colleague requested a welfare check after being unable to reach him. Police said the victim suffered stab wounds to his upper body.
The killing came nearly three years after he survived a separate shooting for which another man was charged with attempted murder and firearm offences.
Police have not said whether the earlier attack was connected to his death.
Ms DeMarco also highlighted a succession of older, unsolved killings involving people believed to have been members of the LGBTQ+ community. They included police officer Kevin Williams in 2001; lecturer Thaddeus McDonald and fashion designer Harl Taylor in 2007; HIV/AIDS activist Wellington Solomon Adderley, Jamaican waiter Marvin Wilson and dancer Paul Whylly in 2008; photographer Sharvado Simmons in 2011; waiter Elkin Moss in 2013.
SUPREME COURT DENIES BAIL TO PILOT ACCUSED OF LPIA MURDER
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
SUPREME Court judge has again refused bail to pilot Donald Ferguson, ruling that the murder and drug trafficking accused presents a sweeping array of dangers, from fleeing the country and committing further offences to threatening witnesses and endangering both the public and himself.
Justice Dale Fitzpatrick said no combination of electronic monitoring, house arrest, passport restrictions, police reporting requirements or sureties could contain the risks posed by Ferguson, who is accused of executing airport employee Giovanni Rolle outside Lynden Pindling International Airport and is separately charged in connection with $15m worth of drugs recovered from a crashed aircraft.
Ferguson is also among 13 people indicted in the United States over an alleged international cocaine trafficking network that prosecutors say exploited Bahamian airports and included senior members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
“The risks remain too many and too serious,” Justice Fitzpatrick said as he dismissed Ferguson’s latest bail application yesterday.
The judge concluded that Ferguson’s experience as a professional pilot gave him an extraordinary ability to escape the jurisdiction, even if he surrendered his passport, pilot’s licence and other travel documents.
“The seriousness of these several and now international charges with related risk of significant jail time upon conviction, Mr Ferguson’s limited ties to The Bahamas and his being an experienced pilot presenting a unique facility for literal flight leaves this court satisfied that Mr Ferguson is a risk of flight and not attending Court as required if released,” he said.
The ruling delivered another setback to Ferguson, whose lawyers presented new alibi evidence placing him inside the airport terminal about ten minutes after Rolle was shot in the parking lot shortly before 6am on June 16, 2024.
Justice Fitzpatrick accepted that the affidavit represented
a material change since Ferguson’s previous bail hearing and said it could provide him with an alibi if presented and believed at trial.
However, the judge said prosecutors had still produced cogent identification, opportunity and motive evidence sufficient to establish a prima facie murder case at the bail stage.
He stressed that the case was “far from a certain case”, particularly because of the possible alibi.
Neither the alleged murder weapon nor the white Nissan Note that prosecutors associate with the killing has been found. No surveillance footage has been presented showing Ferguson in connection with the shooting, despite the incident allegedly unfolding in the parking lot and terminal of the country’s principal airport, where extensive camera coverage would be expected.
A forensic report on swabs taken from Ferguson’s hands, including testing for gunshot residue, also remains outstanding. Nonetheless, the Crown’s case includes alleged dying declarations in which Rolle identified his attacker as “DJ”, a nickname Ferguson acknowledged using during a police interview.
One witness claimed Rolle identified the shooter as “DJ, Nesha husband who shoot me”.
Ferguson’s estranged wife, Tanesha Smith, was known as Nesha and was in a relationship with Rolle at the time, according to the ruling.
Justice Fitzpatrick said Ferguson acknowledged during his police interview that he wanted to reunite with his estranged wife and knew she was involved with Rolle.
Ms Smith also gave police a statement alleging that
Ferguson stalked, threatened and intimidated her over the relationship.
Ferguson was at LPIA on the morning of the murder and checked in at about 5.30am for a one-way flight to Freeport. Rolle was shot approximately 20 minutes later.
Ferguson also told police he was familiar with an internal airport entrance known as “Door M”, which pilots and other authorised personnel used to move through the airport. A police report said the door was broken and could be opened manually by anyone.
The judge accepted that the broken door widened the pool of people who could have accessed the passageway, but said it did not eliminate Ferguson’s alleged opportunity because he was at the airport when Rolle was shot.
However, Ferguson’s latest application introduced an affidavit from Roberto Thompson, who claimed he encountered and spoke with Ferguson at the top of an escalator beyond the airport’s public security screening area at about 6am.
Justice Fitzpatrick said that evidence, if presented and accepted at trial, appeared capable of providing Ferguson with an alibi.
Prosecutors argued that its strength was weakened because Ferguson did not raise the alibi during his police interview, his two previous bail hearings or in the months immediately following his January 2025 arrest. Mr Thompson’s affidavit emerged in late 2025.
The judge said the truth of the alleged alibi must ultimately be tested at trial.
Ferguson’s murder trial has now been brought forward to September 28 because
his newly retained lawyer is available for an earlier date.
Backup and substantive trial dates in February and July 2027 remain in place.
Justice Fitzpatrick rejected any suggestion that Ferguson had suffered an unreasonable delay, pointing out that the September trial would begin less than two years after his January 18, 2025 arrest.
The judge also found cogent evidence supporting separate Bahamian drug trafficking charges arising from an aircraft that crash-landed before two men reportedly fled into bushes.
Authorities allegedly recovered 762lb of cocaine and 25lb of marijuana from the abandoned aircraft. The drugs were valued at an estimated $15m.
An iPad linked to Ferguson was allegedly found inside the cockpit.
Ferguson faces charges of conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply, conspiracy to import dangerous drugs, abetment of importation and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.
The Voluntary Bill of Indictment in that case is expected to be served on August 20.
Ferguson’s lawyers argued that the delay in presenting the indictment reflected weaknesses in the case and threatened his right to a trial within a reasonable time.
However, prosecutors said authorities were awaiting forensic confirmation that the seized substances were cocaine and marijuana.
Justice Fitzpatrick called the country’s lack of adequate drug-testing facilities an “unfortunate state of affairs”, saying evidence regularly had to be sent overseas for analysis. However, he accepted the explanation for
the delay and said there was no basis to conclude that the prosecution had abandoned or weakened its case.
The judge also weighed Ferguson’s indictment in the Southern District of New York, where he faces allegations involving cocaine trafficking and firearms.
US prosecutors announced in November 2024 that 13 people had been indicted in an alleged cocaine importation conspiracy that relied on corrupt Bahamian officials to protect shipments and provide information about US Coast Guard movements. The defendants included then-police Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis and then-Royal Bahamas Defence Force Chief Petty Officer Darrin Roker. No extradition proceedings have yet been brought against Ferguson.
His lawyers argued that the delay suggested the US allegations lacked merit or force, but Justice Fitzpatrick rejected that argument as speculative.
The judge said the indictment remained active and that any delay could arise from the complexity of an international prosecution involving multiple defendants.
Justice Fitzpatrick also found that Ferguson presented a substantial risk of committing further offences.
Ferguson was convicted of drug-related offences in 2020 and fined $2,000, although the conviction was subsequently marked as expunged.
In February, he was found guilty of possession of dangerous drugs after police allegedly discovered seven grams of marijuana in the glove compartment of a vehicle associated with him. He received a conditional discharge and one year of probation.
The judge said the convictions and unresolved allegations created what he described as an uninterrupted account of alleged criminal activity from 2020 until Ferguson was taken into custody in January 2025.
“On that basis, the Court is satisfied that Mr Ferguson presents a substantial risk to reoffend if released on bail,” he said.
Justice Fitzpatrick also found a risk that Ferguson could interfere with Crown witnesses, citing the
allegations of threats, intimidation and stalking made by Ms Smith, a potential prosecution witness.
He described the alleged airport killing as a brazen, execution-style shooting arising from the breakdown of Ferguson’s marriage and his estranged wife’s relationship with Rolle.
“The murder narrative depicts violent and emotionally driven conduct, involving the discharge of a firearm in a public setting, thereby posing a serious risk to any member of the public who might be present at the wrong place and time,” the judge said.
The court further concluded that Ferguson’s alleged participation in the dangerous drugs supply chain, coupled with the firearms allegation in the United States, presented a serious threat to public safety.
Justice Fitzpatrick also considered whether Ferguson would face danger himself if released.
Ferguson previously told the court he had arranged to live on another Bahamian island to protect himself. The judge cited the high public profile of the murder case, Ferguson’s own concerns and the prevalence of retaliatory violence in The Bahamas in finding that his safety could be threatened outside custody.
Ferguson’s lawyers also complained that conditions at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services were grave, unhealthy, inadequate and inhumane.
However, the judge said the court had received no evidence showing that the conditions had changed since Ferguson’s previous bail application ten months earlier and therefore did not treat the complaint as a new circumstance.
Justice Fitzpatrick stressed that Ferguson remains presumed innocent and that witness statements and prosecution claims are untested allegations.
However, after reviewing the murder case, local drug charges, US indictment, criminal history, flight risk and public safety concerns, the judge concluded that Ferguson was not a suitable candidate for release.
Ferguson has been held in custody since January 2025.
Giovanni Rolle (left) and Donald Ferguson
feel robbed’: Singer grieves partner killed in North Andros crash
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
KHREASEL Glinton is
grieving not only the loss of her soulmate, Rashad Storr, but the deaths of four fellow Da Pond members she had come to regard as family after last week’s North Andros plane crash.
For days, the 35-year-old musician has struggled to separate the waves of grief crashing over her.
“It is heavy on the mind, because sometimes I don’t even know who I might be crying for or who I might be screaming for,” she said.
“When it comes on me, all I could do is cry.”
Storr and his bandmates
boarded a Flamingo Air flight to North Andros on Friday to perform at a regatta. The journey was expected to last less than 20 minutes.
Instead, the aircraft crashed near San Andros Airport, killing all ten people on board.
Ms Glinton had shared a five-year relationship with Storr. Both were musicians, and their lives intertwined on and off the stage.
A Bahamian artist, Ms Glinton occasionally performed as a fill-in singer for Da Pond and gradually forged close relationships with the group’s members. Now she is confronting the loss of the man she hoped to marry and the musicians she considered dear friends. “I feel robbed. I feel like it just isn’t fair. I just feel like it wasn’t his time; it wasn’t their time,” she cried. “It just feels so unreal; Like I’m just waiting on one of them to just jump out and say psych.”
Ms Glinton said her relationship with Storr endured its share of difficulties, but their love repeatedly carried them through. The couple had hoped to marry and start a family.
“He was my best friend. I didn’t want to be anywhere else. He didn’t want to be anywhere else. It was just us two in our own little world,” she said.
She remembered Storr, 35, as a kind, patient and loving partner who devoted himself to making her happy.
On the morning of the crash, the couple were
preparing to travel to separate performances.
Ms Glinton was flying to the Turks and Caicos Islands with Da Rhythm Band, while Storr was heading to North Andros with Da Pond.
Storr dropped her off at the airport before leaving to catch his own flight.
The couple continued messaging after Ms Glinton reached Turks and Caicos, joking about her journey aboard an InterCaribbean Airways flight.
“He was texting me while I was in Turks, and I was texting him, telling him how we were on InterCaribbean and the pilot was driving the plane like a Passo,” she said. “So, we was laughing about it, and he was like, ‘you know, baby, he have to duck the air pockets or whatever.’”
Storr later messaged her as Da Pond prepared to board its flight.
Ms Glinton asked him to text her when the band landed. She never imagined it would be their final exchange.
A mutual friend later told her that the aircraft had crashed.
Ms Glinton initially refused to believe the report. She contacted one of Da Pond’s female singers, who had travelled to Andros on another flight, hoping to learn that the information was false.
Calls then poured into her telephone from people trying to determine whether she had been aboard the aircraft.
“People just kept calling me, calling me because they wanted to know if I was on the plane,” she said.
Her band director eventually confirmed the news she had desperately hoped was untrue.
“It still felt so unreal, and then they started sending like videos of the crash, and I’m just like, this can’t be happening,” she said, holding back tears. “I just looked at him this morning. I just kissed him this morning.”
Ms Glinton said she still has not fully accepted that Storr and his bandmates are dead.
She returned to New Providence from Turks and Caicos on Sunday, battling anxiety throughout the flight as her fellow band
members rallied around her. Since returning, she has been unable to enter the apartment she shared with Storr. The disaster has also ripped through the country’s close-knit music community.
Ms Glinton has cancelled several performances because she cannot bear to return to the stage. Music and performing now summon memories of Da Pond and the five members killed in the crash.
Along with Storr, the crash claimed the lives of Da Pond members Giovanni McKenzie, Mateo Winder, Toniquea Gilot and Tra’vis Johnson.
Glinton said McKenzie became one of her strongest supporters when she began her music career.
She remembered Winder as a big brother whose advice she could always seek, and Johnson for his captivating voice and personality.
Her memories of Gilot brought another surge of tears.
Ms Glinton described her as a woman with a beautiful voice and personality. Gilot contacted her moments before the flight departed to request a song and an audio recording.
“The last thing she said to me was that she appreciate me,” Ms Glinton said, her voice cracking.
Church mourns musician killed in fatal Andros plane crash
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
GIOVANNI McKenzie,
one of ten people killed in the fatal Independence Day plane crash, was looking forward to returning home to worship with his church family and serve on the praise team before his untimely death.
Pastor Shaquille Hanna, associate pastor at Revolution Church - where Giovanni worshipped and played the keyboarddescribed him as a pleasant man who was dedicated to his faith.
“He was always to church, always to rehearsal. Any time, as a matter of fact, he was coming back. It was his plan to to be back for service on Sunday, despite his obligations that he would have had with his band,” he said.
He said his noticeable absence at Sunday’s serve was a hard one to endure for the entire church community.
“Coming there Sunday in a time once again where we're supposed to be celebrating, and we see the keyboard is there, the chairs there, is draped. It was a hard service. It was a hard service to start, to get through and to end because of what he meant, because of what he contributed, because of who he was to the community of Revolution Church.”
Giovanni and other members of Da Pond Band were travelling to perform at a regatta when their plane - a Flamingo Air aircraftcrashed near San Andros Airport.
Pastor Hanna said it is unfortunate that family and friends are still without answers days after the crash.
He said they need to know exactly what happened and who is responsible so they can begin to find closure.
“Whether you know the victims or not, it it behooves me to understand
terms of when will we get that closure? What will be explained?”
why days later we still feel like we going through all of this uncertainty, while persons are still in mourning. There's no level of closure, and there seems to be nothing in in sight in
Mr Hanna was among several church members who accompanied Mr McKenzie's family to the morgue to identify his remains.
The family of Melvin "DJ Fresh" Henfield was also
present. In a statement, the family described the father of two as a young, vibrant and energetic man who lit up every room he entered.
“But to us, he was is much more,” the family said.
“Beyond his talents as a DJ, Melvin was an entrepreneur with a bright, determined to leave a legacy that his daughters would forever be proud tragedy that touches the hearts of all who knew him. We will forever hold his memory close, and he will be dearly missed.”
Earlier yesterday, air accident investigators released preliminary findings on the crash, revealing that the plane struck trees near North Andros before crashing and being destroyed by fire.
Investigators said the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's records and other key information are still under review.
Fatal Andros plane hit trees while preparing to land
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Independence Day plane crash that killed ten people near San Andros Airport ranks among the country’s worst aviation disasters in recent history, investigators said yesterday as they revealed that the aircraft struck trees while apparently configured to land before plunging into a wooded area and erupting in flames.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority chief investigator Kendall Dorsett said preliminary tracking data showed the Flamingo Air Cessna 402C descending from about 1,000ft before radar contact vanished roughly two minutes later. Investigators found the aircraft’s landing gear and flaps extended in the wreckage about one nautical mile west of Runway 12.
“Based on those observations, it appears the aircraft was configured for landing prior to impact,” Mr Dorsett said. The aircraft first struck trees before travelling a short distance and coming to rest in the wooded area, where fire destroyed it.
One person survived the initial impact and escaped the aircraft but later died from their injuries, bringing the death toll to ten.
Asked whether the July 10 disaster ranked among the worst in Bahamian aviation history, Mr Dorsett said: “It definitely would be one of the worst based on recent history.”
The AAIA has launched an extensive investigation involving aviation authorities and manufacturers in the United States, but Mr Dorsett cautioned that investigators remain far from determining what caused the crash.
“We’re looking at just four days after the accident,” he said. “The only thing that we have done is what we call the on-scene gathering of information phase, so basically we are just gathering data at this time.”
Mr Dorsett extended condolences to the victims’ relatives and said the scale of the tragedy had reinforced the authority’s commitment to aviation safety.
Despite the catastrophic loss of life, he insisted the country’s aviation industry remains safe, pointing out that The Bahamas recorded no fatal aviation accidents last year.
“Fortunately, we had no fatal accidents last year, and so yes, it’s still a safe industry,” he said. Mr Dorsett said aviation remains essential to The Bahamas as an archipelagic nation, making the
authority’s safety work particularly critical.
He also stressed that the AAIA operates independently and would investigate without interference.
“We are completely independent,” he said. “We are free of interference to do what we have to do, and that’s why we are standing here today presenting this information as an independent authority.”
Preliminary information indicates that the aircraft, registration C6-FLX, departed Lynden Pindling International Airport at about 12.30pm on a visual flight plan bound for San Andros Airport.
The pilot closed the flight plan with Nassau air traffic control at 12.41pm while the aircraft was about ten miles east of San Andros.
Flight-tracking data indicates that the aircraft was travelling south when it began descending from approximately 1,000ft at about 12.46pm. It continued descending until radar contact was lost at about 12.48pm.
An investigative team travelled to Andros on the day of the crash and completed its initial assessment between July 10 and July 11.
Investigators documented the wreckage and began gathering air traffic control data and preliminary information from an air data
service provider.
The review remains underway as the authority collects and analyses evidence.
The aircraft itself will form the centrepiece of the investigation.
“Once we recover the aircraft, that’s when we transport it to the United States,” Mr Dorsett said. “The main piece of evidence is the aircraft itself.”
He said the engines would be among the most critical components sent overseas for examination.
The AAIA has opened discussions with the United States National Transportation Safety Board because the aircraft was designed and manufactured in that country. It also expects assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Investigators are coordinating with the aircraft and engine manufacturers in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards, which require collaboration with relevant states during accident investigations.
The investigation will examine the aircraft’s maintenance and airworthiness records, the pilot’s records, air traffic control information, weather conditions, witness accounts, medical information, fuel records and human factors.
The AAIA has also requested documents from
the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas. Mr Dorsett warned against drawing conclusions before investigators have received and examined the records.
The investigation is intended to expose safety failures and produce recommendations aimed at preventing another disaster, not to assign criminal or civil responsibility.
“It is not intended to apportion blame or determine liability,” he said.
Asked whether the crash would trigger heightened scrutiny of Flamingo Air, Mr Dorsett declined to delve into the airline’s previous accident record.
“I know persons have been mentioning that and so certainly there are certain records of occurrences,” he said. “But at the outset this is primarily for this particular accident, and to get into that at this time would not be appropriate because we’re trying to set a precedent on the information that we have at the time.”
He said regulatory oversight of the airline falls outside the AAIA’s jurisdiction. The crash aircraft was not required to carry a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder because of its size, Mr Dorsett said. He described the absence of the devices as normal for that class of aircraft
and insisted it would not prevent investigators from establishing a probable cause.
“It would definitely be an advantage to have that information, but that does not mean that we cannot come up with the probable cause,” he said. Investigators will instead reconstruct the final flight through other evidence, including communications with air traffic controllers.
“Air traffic, whatever recordings they have, we have,” Mr Dorsett said.
“We’ve already started to receive a tranche of recordings and related files.”
The AAIA intends to publish a preliminary report within 30 days of the crash.
It is targeting the release of a final report within 12 months, in line with international standards, although Mr Dorsett acknowledged that complex aviation investigations can stretch to 18 months or two years.
“That’s our time frame based on ICAO standards,” he said. “That’s a global thing.”
Mr Dorsett said the AAIA has consistently completed investigations within the 12-month target and intends to do so again because of the gravity of the disaster.
However, he said the extensive international cooperation required could affect the timetable.
Ms
KHREASEL GLINTON AND RASHAD STORR
GIOVANNI MCKENZIE
SHAQUILLE HANNA, pastor of Revolution Church
The Tribune Limited
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LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
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To honour crash victims we must get clear answers
THE Independence Day plane crash has had a far-reaching effect on The Bahamas.
Over and again, people have told The Tribune of their connection to people in the crash. These were churchgoers and band members, family members and friends to many across the country.
A tidal wave of shock swept across the nation as people discovered who had been on board the plane and it seemed almost everyone knew someone with a direct link to the tragedy. Since the crash, The Tribune has reported on some of those stories – such as Giovanni McKenzie, remembered in today’s edition by Pastor Shaquille Hanna at the Revolution Church, where Giovanni played the keyboard, as a man who “was always to church, always to rehearsal”.
Giovanni’s absence from that keyboard on Sunday was a hard moment for the church, “because of what he contributed, because of who he was”, said the pastor. Then there was Melvin Henfield, known as DJ Fresh, familiar to The Tribune community through 100JAMZ, and whose family described him as a man who lit up every room, but also “much more”, saying he was “an entrepreneur... determined to leave a legacy that his daughters would forever be proud”.
The girlfriend of Rashad Storr mourned his loss on the plane alongside his bandmates in Da Pond Band. She talked of how “sometimes I don’t even know who I might be crying for or who I might be screaming for”.
Each of the people on board that plane had their own community. Each is mourned, each leaves an absence that cannot be filled.
The outpouring of grief and love since the crash has shown how much of a presence those who were lost had for those around them.
Ten people lost. Giovanni McKenzie. Rashad Storr. Mateo Winder. Toniquea Gilot. Tra’vis Johnson. Melvin Henfield.
There is, for obvious and very necessary reasons, a need to determine how this crash happened.
We should also make sure we take the time to mourn, and to honour the lives of those who died in this crash.
Over the years, there have been too many incidents which have been described as miracle escapes. You cannot always depend on miracles.
A thorough and determined investigation is necessary – and given how widely this tragedy has been felt, the information that is uncovered should be revealed publicly.
Just as people across the country have mourned, so too should people across the country be able to learn why and how this happened – and where any responsibility lies.
This is not just to bring some measure of catharsis for those going through grief – but also to ensure that any mistakes are learned, any fault can be avoided in future, and to show that people can have faith in boarding a plane again.
The inspection history for the plane should be laid clear, along with any problems that were highlighted. How often was the plane inspected, and indeed how often are all planes in the country inspected?
We exist in an archipelago with many islands – we cannot do without plane travel, and therefore we should make sure that our safety regime is exemplary.
That is both with one eye to the future – and to ensure those who are mourning right now have a full explanation of how this came to be, and to understand why they are now facing such raw, unending grief.
For their sakes, the investigation should be clear and open. For our country’s sake, we need to ensure the findings are something we can learn from.
Our condolences to all in this moment of grief. You are in our prayers.
The myth of Independence
EDITOR, The Tribune.
MERRIAM Webster Dictionary defines independence as not being subject to control by others. This is also the definition of self-governing. The Bahamas meets this threshold. When it attained “Independence” from Great Britain on July 10, 1973, the Bahamian people were freed from the legislative restraints of Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. Matters pertaining to national security and foreign affairs were squarely in the hands of an elected Bahamian government. They call this self-determination. Insofar as self-governing is defined, The Bahamas is Independent. However, there’s a caveat to this. I believe that the case can be made that this country is far from being truly Independent. I read that a staggering 90 percent of the food we consume is imported, with 80 percent of it coming from the United States. We have discussed the matter of food security since time immemorial. Yet 53 years after the attainment of Independence, The Bahamas is still unable to sustain itself. If US President Donald Trump decides to set up a blockade to The Bahamas as he had done to Miguel Diaz-Canal’s Cuba, we would starve to death within a matter of a few months.
Countries such as Canada, Russia, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, India and France can survive a US blockade, as they are all able to nourish themselves domestically. The Bahamas is unable to do likewise. Moreover, The Bahamas imports 100 percent of its fuel, building materials, medicine and other essentials from abroad. If Trump issues an order prohibiting oil trade to The Bahamas, this country would immediately wither up. We wouldn’t be able to survive. We currently produce no oil. If Washington does the same thing with medicine, the entire healthcare system would immediately collapse. If Trump targets our tourism product by banning Americans from traveling here, our number one industry would dry up overnight. Tens of thousands would be jobless in a matter of days. A blockade on building supplies would lead to the erosion of our infrastructure and would cripple the construction industry, leading to thousands more joining the unemployment line. This would be a logistical nightmare for the government. Nothing about the foregoing would suggest that we are Independent in the true sense of the word. Concerning the matter of external security, The
As I pause to commemorate the profound life and indelible legacy of the Honorable Arthur D Hanna, I find myself compelled to cast my mind back, reflecting upon a man whose influence spans the very fabric of our nation’s past, animates its present, and fundamentally shapes its future trajectory. While I seldom share such personal reflections in this medium, the significance of this occasion, marking the celebration of his extraordinary life, necessitates a departure from my usual reserve.
My hope in sharing this is to gently stir the memories of those who lived through those pivotal times, to enlighten those who are too young to have witnessed them, and to impress upon the nation at large the singular character of this Bahamian icon. I vividly recall the year 1962, a watershed moment in our political evolution.
As a mere boy of sixteen in 1962, I was caught up in the fervent campaign efforts, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with luminaries like Sir Lynden Pindling, the Honorable Arthur D Hanna himself, “Smiley” Butler, Spurgeon Bethell, the esteemed Doris Johnson, and a host of other dedicated patriots who were involved in what was considered at that time to a battle for freedom of All Bahamians. The year 1962 was not merely an election; it was a crucible for change, save in The Bahamas.
The Progressive Liberal Party, was brimming with confidence, the fierce conviction, and confidence of its supporters, fully anticipated a definitive triumph that would decisively wrest the reins of power from the United Bahamian Party (UBP). Yet, as history now records, it was not destined to be our victory that year.
the intense effort I had poured into the campaign. This gesture, this profound act of humility and recognition of a young boy’s dedication, stands as the singularly most genuine and heartfelt acknowledgment I have ever received from any representative of the Progressive Liberal Party throughout my many years of involvement.
While Sir Lynden Pindling, on the very night following my historic maiden appearance on the PLP political platform as the first student to ever speak at such an event, publicly declared his intention to shape me into a politician within a decade – a powerful promise in its own right – it was the Honorable Arthur D Hanna’s apology that resonated with a different, deeper kind of integrity. Sir Lynden’s promise spoke to future potential and public aspiration; Mr Hanna’s apology spoke to present character, profound humility, and the intrinsic value he placed on every individual’s contribution, regardless of age or stature.
This profound act of grace and genuine recognition, delivered by the Honorable Arthur D Hanna so many decades ago, has profoundly influenced my perspective and remains a guiding beacon in my seventy-ninth year of life. It was a testament to his unparalleled honor, his unwavering strength of character, and his innate humanity – qualities that undeniably mark him as a National Hero of the highest order.
His memory, steeped in an unyielding dedication to justice, goodwill, and the profound welfare of the Bahamian people, will forever reside in the very core of my mind, heart, and soul.
enduring hope, articulated by the Honorable Senator, Dr Doris Johnson, encapsulated a nascent country’s aspiration to become an unshakeable sanctuary of peace and a beacon of complete liberty within the Commonwealth. Her profound insight not only contributed to the historical chronicle of this captivating island nation but also underscored the very spirit of its emergence. Central to this transformative era was the Bahamian Women’s Suffrage Movement, a defining chapter in the pursuit of equitable representation and democratic principles. It was a period marked by audacious courage and unwavering resolve, fueled by the collective efforts of pioneering women who dared to challenge the established order. Among these formidable figures, Dr Doris Johnson emerged as an unparalleled leader, her journey a tapestry of groundbreaking achievements that irrevocably reshaped the political landscape of the Bahamas.
Bahamas’ Independence was put to the test in 1980 under Sir Lynden Pindling when Cuban military forces attacked the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s Flamingo HMBS. It was unprovoked. The Cubans had invaded Bahamian territory. Was it the RBDF that forced the hostile Cuban militia out of The Bahamas? No, it was the US Army. Without the presence of the US, Fidel Castro could have easily assumed control of The Bahamas with very little resistance. If The Bahamas is unable to defend itself against an attack by a weak Marxist regime in Cuba, what would happen if we are attacked by China, Iran, Iraq, Russia or North Korea? My point is this: a truly Independent country is able to defend itself, as it has the well-trained personnel and military resources to do so. The Bahamas does not have any of these. Its very survival is contingent on the good graces of the US. Bahamian Independence is a myth. If anything, The Bahamas is very much a Dependent nation. Therefore, it is more accurate to say we are going to celebrate 53 years of Bahamian Dependence.
KEVIN EVANS
Freeport, Grand Bahama July 7, 2026
The immediate aftermath of that election brought forth an unexpected, yet profoundly impactful, encounter that remains etched in my mind. I distinctly remember the Honorable Arthur D Hanna making his way to the humble junction of Williams Lane and Kemp Road, specifically to visit Mrs Mae Mortimer. Mrs Mortimer was a truly formidable figure, one of the earliest and most unwavering stalwarts of the Progressive Liberal Party – a loyalist long before such titles were formally bestowed upon deserving members. It was at her specific request that the Honorable Arthur D Hanna dispatched for me. A young boy, I was understandably overwhelmed, almost in disbelief, that such a towering figure of our burgeoning political landscape would summon me.
Upon my arrival at Mrs Mortimer’s humble abode, a moment unfolded that would forever shape my understanding of true leadership and integrity. He took my hand and, with a sincerity that resonated deeply, offered an apology. He apologised to *me*, a sixteen-year-old, for the party’s loss, acknowledging
It is most unfortunate that there are very few men and women who deserve the nomenclature of National Hero of the first order as did the Honorable Arthur D Hanna.
My one contact with you in 1962, has lasted for six decades and three years because I have walked in your shadow…which gave me the strength to carry on even when the road of life was narrow and there were many “mountains” and “hills” to climb.
With the onset of the 53rd anniversary of Bahamian Independence without prejudice I remember a Woman Of Principle:
A brief look at the Life of Dr Doris Johnson
With the onset of the 53rd anniversary of Bahamian Independence without prejudice I remember a Woman who was Resolute for the Rights of Women to attain the status of Equality.
A brief look at the life of Dr Doris Johnson: A Woman for the ages. Doris Johnson, I believe, was the first Bahamian (to have attained a doctorate on education). The unfolding narrative of an independent Bahamas, envisioned not through strife but by the profound power of human intellect and peaceful resolution, stands as a testament to the nation’s foundational ideals. This
Dr Johnson’s career was a succession of historic “firsts,” each a monumental stride in dismantling the gendered barriers of her time. Her audacious spirit first shone brightly when she courageously stepped forward to become the first Bahamian woman to actively contest an election, directly confronting and disrupting a political arena long dominated by men. Her influence and stature burgeoned rapidly, culminating in her pivotal appointment as the inaugural female member of the Senate. Not merely content with her presence, she swiftly demonstrated extraordinary political acumen and visionary leadership, becoming the first woman to secure a significant leadership role within that esteemed legislative body. Her pioneering path continued as she was appointed the first woman to serve as a government minister, directly imprinting her vision onto national policy. Ultimately, through the recognition and trust of her peers, she ascended to the distinguished position of the first female President of the Senate, cementing her legacy at the apex of Bahamian governance.
However, to truly appreciate Dr Johnson’s profound individual accomplishments, it is imperative to acknowledge the bedrock of collective strength and relentless advocacy upon which her success was built. Her triumphs were not solitary; they were the culmination of the tireless work and profound dedication of countless other brave Bahamian women. These unsung heroes formed the very backbone of the suffrage movement, orchestrating widespread campaigns, organising impactful protests, and tirelessly championing universal voting rights. Their unified voice and concerted actions ignited the essential societal paradigm shift that not only cleared the path for Dr Johnson’s legislative victories but, more importantly, indelibly transformed the very fabric of Bahamian democracy for generations to come.
DR DONALD M McCARTNEY Freeport, Grand Bahama July 6, 2026.
Quintin Myers. Macaro Rolle. Pilot Franklyn Cambridge. Nicholas Oliver Jr.
EU chief weighs age restrictions for children using social media
BRUSSELS Associated Press
A TOP European Union official on Monday called for limits to be placed on children using social media as a special EU panel looking into the challenge recommended forbidding access for those under 13 until tech companies can prove their platforms are safe.
Growing awareness of the dangers social media poses for young, developing brains has shown up in a wave of new restrictions globally. Australia, the UK, Turkey, Indonesia and others have passed bans on kids under 16 or 15 from using platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.
Laying out a list of her concerns about the use of social media by kids, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — a doctor by training — said that children under 3 should have no exposure to screens at all.
“I believe we need to consider phased and gradual access for different age ranges because childhood won’t wait and once it’s gone, we can never give it back,” von der Leyen told reporters.
“Just as we don’t give our children keys to the car before they have their
during a report on children’s safety online at EU headquarters in Brussels, on Monday. Photo: Marius Burgelman/AP
license, or we do not let them buy alcohol until they are legally allowed. We need to set the age at which they can, the children can, legally access social media,” she said.
Von der Leyen noted infinite scrolling as one of the “addictive” traits that tech companies must address.
The commission has also been targeting tech companies through other means, and last week used its sweeping Digital Safety Act to warn Meta that it needs to disable addictive design features such as infinite scrolling or risk a hefty fine.
Von der Leyen said there should “phased and gradual access for different age
ranges” to social media. Children under 13 should only have “time-limited” access under the supervision of parents, teachers or other caregivers, she told reporters. Teenagers should be given gradual access to platforms that can prove they are “age appropriate” and safe for them, she said.
While she didn’t go into further detail, she and the European Commission — the EU’s powerful executive branch — are likely to come up with a proposal for the 27 member countries to weigh in the near future. Von der Leyen’s policy proposals carry great influence with EU member countries.
A special panel set up
to study child safety online delivered its report to the EU chief on Monday. The report said that when it comes to safety, “the burden of proof needs to be on providers, not regulators, parents and children.”
“Until they demonstrate that their services are safe by design, social media and other digital services providers should have restricted access to children under the age of 13 in the EU,” said the report, which is likely to influence von der Leyen’s thinking.
It recommended that “further precautionary age restrictions” should be considered by EU countries for children over 13.
Many social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok already prohibit anyone under the age of 13 from signing up for an account. But those restrictions have been criticized for being too easy to get around and the EU’s digital regulators accused Instagram’s parent Meta Platforms earlier this year of failing to keep underage users of the site.
The European Commission is working on its own age verification app that will let users prove their age while keeping their identity anonymous.
US-Russian crew arrives for 8-month mission at the International Space Station
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Associated Press
A US-Russian space crew arrived Tuesday at the International Space Station after launching from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Russian crewmates Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina lifted off as scheduled at 7:47 p.m. (10:47 a.m. EDT, 1447 GMT) aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 for an eight-month stint on the orbiting outpost. Their spacecraft docked smoothly at the station in automatic mode about three hours after the launch.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended the launch, the first visit to Baikonur by a NASA chief in eight years that highlighted the ongoing cooperation in orbit between Moscow and Washington, despite tensions over Russia’s military action in Ukraine.
Before the launch, Isaacman met with the head of Russia’s state corporation Roscosmos, Dmitry Bakanov. Speaking during Monday’s meeting with the crew, Isaacman thanked Roscosmos for its efforts to prepare for the mission, saying that “the integrated work performed over the past several months reflects the professionalism and dedication of everyone involved.”
Isaacman also had a meeting with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. Manturov’s office said they discussed prospective cooperation on the International Space Station and other projects.
The mission is Menon’s first space flight and the second for Dubrov and Kikina.
The trio will join NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev and Andrei Fedyaev.
Once bitter rivals in the space race during the Cold War, Russia and the US cooperate on the space station and other projects. That relationship was marred by tensions after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, but
Washington and Moscow have continued to work together, with US and Russian crews flying to the orbiting outpost on each country’s spacecraft. Plans for broader cooperation, including possible Russian involvement in NASA’s Artemis program of lunar research, have fallen apart. As Russia has become increasingly reliant on China for its energy exports and imports of key technology amid Western sanctions, Roscosmos has started cooperation with China on its prospective lunar mission.
TECHTALK What to Stream: ‘Heartstopper Forever,’
‘Lucky’ and Steve Lacy
A NEW album from Steve Lacy and the conclusion of the “Heartstopper” series are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: “Lucky,” which stars Anya Taylor-Joy, the game “D-topia” and “The Hawk,” which stars Will Ferrell as a golfing great well past his prime. New movies to stream from July 13-19
— Netflix’s popular series “Heartstopper” comes to a conclusion with a feature film finale, “Heartstopper Forever,” streaming July 17 on Netflix. The film, written by “Heartstopper” creator and graphic novelist Alice Oseman, follows the Season 3 ending in which Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) take their relationship to a new level. New challenges await, though, as Nick considers what university he’ll attend.
— Sofia Coppola profiles fashion designer Marc Jacobs in “Marc by Sofia” (July 16 on HBO Max). The film, largely shot as Jacobs prepares to unveil a readyto-wear collection, marks a documentary first for Coppola, the filmmaker of “Lost in Translation” and “The Bling Ring.”
— Christian Petzold’s “Miroirs No. 3” (Mubi on July 17), one of the standouts of the first half of 2026, is about a piano student (Paula Beer) who, following a car accident, rehabilitates in the rural home of an older woman (Barbara Auer) who lives near where the crash happened. In my review, I called the film “beguiling and restorative.”
— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
New music to stream from July 13-19
— In 2022, he was inescapable. Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” was a hit, anchored by its surprising — and addictive — self-effacing hook: “I wish I knew you wanted me.” On Friday, the alt-R&B talent, formerly of the group the Internet, will release a new album titled “Oh yeah?” It’s a pop progression, from the dreamy collaboration with SZA, “Is It Cool?” to the ambitious “The Feeling.”
— The Colombian Canadian artist Lido Pimienta is no stranger to pushing boundaries; it is why she is frequently compared to Björk and Natalia Lafourcade in equal measure. On Friday she will release “Caribenya,” a portmanteau of “Caribe” and the elusive Irish singer “Enya.” The title should provide a framework in which to experience this work: It’s at the intersection of her cumbia and DIY roots as well as her ever-expanding, anti-colonial sonic experimentations.
— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman New series to stream from July 13-19
— Robert Irwin won Season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars,” and now he’s the host of “The Next Pro,” where 12 dancers compete to be a pro in its next season. Mark Ballas, a three-time Mirrorball champ, is a judge alongside his mother Shirley Ballas, winner of many Latin dance competitions and renowned instructor and British TV personality. A third spot at the judge’s table will feature rotating guests including Derek Hough, Witney Carson and Jenna Johnson. The show hits Hulu on Tuesday.
— What would you do if you had a winning lottery ticket that you couldn’t cash in? Anya Taylor-Joy plays Lucky, a con artist with that conundrum in a new Apple TV series of the same name. The winnings would give Lucky a chance at a new life, but both the feds and her crime boss are on her trail. Reese Witherspoon, who chose the novel for her book club in 2021, is an executive producer. The first two episodes drop Wednesday. — Will Ferrell plays Lonnie Hawkins, No. 1 golfer — of 2004. Present Day though, the wear and tear of years on the course are showing. His ex-wife and son, golf’s latest hotshot, think the game is over and he should retire. Lonnie refuses to go out as anything but great — he’s just got to win one more major to complete a career Grand Slam. Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Luke Wilson and Chris Parnell round out the cast. “The Hawk” premieres July 16 on Netflix.
EUROPEAN Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks
EXPEDITION 75 Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, top, NASA astronaut Anil Menon, middle, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov, bottom, wave farewell prior to boarding the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft for launch, yesterday at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Photo: Bill Ingalls/NASA
World News
Gibraltar ushers in a new era as British territory’s border fence with Spain is removed
By SUMAN NAISHADHAM Associated Press
THOUSANDS of people who travel every day between the southern tip of Spain and the British territory of Gibraltar will no longer have to cross a physical border, beginning on Wednesday.
The official opening at midnight on Tuesday — after a border fence was fully removed — allows a new freedom of movement under a historic treaty between the European Union and the United Kingdom. It came after years of post-Brexit wrangling.
The contested British Overseas Territory of 38,000 people is perched at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, in a strategic location mere miles from Morocco where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea.
Soon after midnight, crowds crossed freely between Spain’s La Línea de Concepción and Gibraltar in both directions. Many wore Spanish soccer jerseys after Spain’s victory against France in the World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, adding to the celebratory mood.
“What you feel here is the brotherhood between the two people,” Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo told Spanish broadcaster RTVE.
A deal that took years to realize When Britain left the EU in 2020, the relationship between Gibraltar and the bloc had been left
unresolved. Previous talks on a deal to ensure people and goods could keep flowing across the border had made halting progress. In 2025, the EU and UK announced an agreement on those issues, with the two sides and Gibraltar’s government signing a treaty Tuesday that eases border crossings. The UK’s Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty said Tuesday that the agreement secured Gibraltar’s long-term economic future and interests.
Maroš Šefčovič, the EU’s trade representative, praised the agreement, too.
“It has taken four years of patient, complex negotiation, but the outcome speaks for itself,” Šefčovič said. “It is a very special feeling to see a fence come down.” Without a deal, Gibraltar could have a faced a hard land border with full passport checks, posing economic risks for the territory deeply dependent on some 15,000 Spaniards — almost half of Gibraltar’s workforce — who cross the frontier every day for work.
Leisure visits by people crossing both sides of the border would have been affected, too.
“People who are visiting family in Spain, or whose Spanish family is visiting them in Gibraltar. Children who are going to football matches and extracurricular activities, either in Spain or in Gibraltar. They will be able to do that without having to worry about frontier queues,” Picardo told
The Associated Press in an interview.
The deal in effect brings the territory into the EU’s Schengen free travel area. At Gibraltar’s airport and port, entry and exit checks will be conducted by both UK and Spanish border officials. The arrangement is similar to what’s in place at Eurostar train stations in London and Paris, where both British and French officials check passports.
Gibraltar was ceded to Britain in 1713, but Spain has maintained its sovereignty claim ever since. Relations between the two countries on the issue of Gibraltar have had their ups and downs over the centuries. The treaty that removed the border fence does not resolve the territory’s contested status.
In Britain’s 2016 Brexit referendum, 96% of voters in the Rock, as the territory is popularly known in
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ORDERS ICE TO SUSPEND MOST VEHICLE STOPS AFTER 2 DEADLY SHOOTINGS
MAIN Associated Press
TRUMP administration officials told Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to suspend most vehicle stops after two deadly shootings within a week, people familiar with the decision said Tuesday.
The policy change came after an ICE officer shot and killed a Colombian driver Monday in Maine and a week after one shot and killed a motorist in Houston, renewing criticism of the agency’s enforcement tactics that were widely condemned last winter after the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota.
In Florida on Tuesday, a third man in roughly a week died during an encounter with immigration officers. This time, a 28-year-old man was killed after he was hit by a tractor trailer while running from immigration and other federal officers, authorities said.
The suspension of vehicle stops allows room for exceptions when executing a criminal warrant or working with partner agencies, according to a person who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity
to discuss sensitive law enforcement operations. Matthew Felling, a spokesperson for Maine Sen. Angus King, said the senator’s office was also told by the Department of Homeland Security that ICE was suspending stops.
Hundreds of people in Maine protested Tuesday over the fatal shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian national.
DHS said Monday that an officer, “fearing for public safety,” shot and killed Durán Guerrero while officers were watching the home of someone they believed was in the US illegally and facing a final order of removal from the country. It said in a post on X that when ICE tried to stop a car driven by someone who came from the home, the vehicle attempted to flee and the
officer fired.
That was a shift from how King earlier described the encounter, when he said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told him the officer opened fire after the man tried to use his vehicle as a weapon. King said Mullin told him the officers were trying to serve an arrest warrant, but not for the man who was shot.
DHS, which oversees ICE, didn’t respond to an email seeking clarity on what led to the shooting.
In a scathing post on X, outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro called the shooting a targeted killing “at the hands of the US government.”
Petro, who has openly quarrelled with US President Donald Trump, urged Trump to provide an explanation and accused ICE officers of treating Durán Guerrero as “an inferior being without rights.”
The shooting also sparked outrage in Maine, where hundreds of protesters gathered Tuesday
English, supported remaining in the EU.
Travelers to Gibraltar from countries outside the Schengen area — including the UK — will have to contend with the EU Entry-Exit System, or EES, which was rolled out in Europe in April and replaced passport stamps with biometric data collected through photographs and digital fingerprints. Facial recognition cameras at the Rock
outside an ICE detention centre in Scarborough, just up the coast between Biddeford and Portland.
“These people are killers and they must leave our state now,” organizer Todd Chretien told the crowd, including some who held signs reading “Stop the murder” and “End this terror.”
Maine’s congressional delegation on Tuesday demanded a “comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation.”
Questions surround the shooting Durán Guerrero’s shooting marked at least the ninth time ICE has used deadly force since Trump began his immigration crackdown.
Photos showed bullet holes in Durán Guerrero’s car’s windshield, but the officers involved in the shooting didn’t have body cameras, leaving many questions. Among them are how close the officer was to the vehicle when they fired, whether officers told Durán Guerrero to stop, and why ICE believes he had put the public in danger.
“We are always evaluating our procedures to keep our officers safe and criminals off our streets. We will not disclose or discuss law enforcement tactics,” an ICE spokesperson said in a statement.
Maine’s attorney general’s office, which noted that it’s working with federal agencies to investigate, said initial statements suggest the driver was trying to flee in the direction of the officer, whose name hasn’t been released and who was placed on leave.
The state’s other senator, Republican Susan Collins, said Mullin told her that DHS’ Office of Inspector General is investigating in cooperation with the FBI.
Democrats seeking to unseat Collins in November sought Tuesday to connect her with the public’s unease over ICE’s methods. Collins later said in a statement that although ICE needs to improve, eliminating the agency would make the nation less safe.
With the border fence gone, Gibraltar officials have set up live facial recognition cameras at entry points and throughout the territory.
Chief Minister Picardo said the territory will have many more CCTV cameras, and that it has increased its police presence as well as resources for customs and Coast Guard agencies.
“The fortress has become a digital fortress now,” Picardo said.
Video shows the shooting’s aftermath According to neighbours and public records, Guerrero lived in an apartment about 150 feet (46 meters) from where his car came to a rest outside an apartment building across the street from a pawnshop and laundromat.
Video from a nearby business’ security camera obtained by the AP shows a white car slowly approaching an intersection before making several circles. A law enforcement SUV blocks its path and two officers open the driver’s door and drag out a limp body. It isn’t clear from the video when the shots were fired.
Daniel Boucher said he heard a “pop, pop, pop” and ran to the intersection.
“His face was bloody. His head was bloody,” Boucher said. “I clearly heard the victim say, ‘I tried to stop.’” Boucher said the officer who shot Durán Guerrero walked close to him.
“He looked at me and said, ‘He tried to run me over,’ or something to that effect,” Boucher said. “I don’t remember his exact words.” Durán Guerrero is survived by his wife and young daughter
Two advocacy groups — the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and Presente! — said Durán Guerrero was authorized to work in the US Neighbours say Durán Guerrero was a friendly and familiar face even though they rarely chatted because he didn’t appear to speak English.
Sadie Dilboy and Cory Poulin, who owns the laundromat near the intersection, said they saw Durán Guerrero all the time.
“Everyone knows him,” said Dilboy, who remembered that he often came to their store with his daughter and gave her quarters to buy candy.
Claudia Morton, who often waved to Durán Guerrero, was distraught. “The whole world should be crying,” she said.
AGAINST the backdrop of the Rock of Gibraltar, workers dismantle a Spanish border checkpoint that separated the disputed British overseas territory from Spain in La Línea de la Concepción, Spain, Monday.
Photo: Marcos Moreno/AP
PROTESTERS gather near a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Scarborough, Maine, one day after the shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
Photo: Robert F Bukaty/AP
The Bahamas Embassy Hosts Inaugural Independence Reception in the UAE
ABU DHABI - The Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in the United Arab Emirates proudly hosted its inaugural Independence Day Reception on Friday, 10 July 2026, marking a significant milestone since the opening of the Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Hosted by His Excellency Tony Joudi, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the State of Qatar, the reception was held at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers and welcomed members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, business leaders, and members of Bahamian diaspora. Also in attendance were His Excellency Michael Strachan, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Mr. Robert Dupuch - Carron, Founder of Bahamas Aviation and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) The evening celebrated the 53rd Anniversary of the Independence of The Bahamas with an elegant showcase of Bahamian culture and hospitality. Guests enjoyed authentic Bahamian cuisine, music, and a presentation highlighting the country’s natural beauty and vibrant tourism industry. The reception reflected the Embassy’s ongoing efforts to strengthen The Bahamas’ diplomatic footprint in the Gulf region while promoting the country’s culture, tourism, and
investment potential. The successful celebration reinforced the growing partnership between The Bahamas and the United Arab Emirates and highlighted the Embassy’s commitment to fostering stronger cultural, economic, and diplomatic ties in the years ahead.
LEFT to right: Prettia Dean, First Secretary, Bahamas Embassy; H.E. Mr Michael Strachan, Bahamas Ambassador to International Civil Avaition Organization (ICAO); Robert Dupuch-Carron, founder of Bahamas Avaition Climate & Severe Weather Network and Mr Eugene Poitier, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of The Bahamas to United Arab Emirates
LEFT to right: Robert Dupuch-Carron, H.E. Michael Strachan, and Ambassador of The Bahams to the UAE Tony S Joudi.
Duke Strachan smiles again as prison officials deliver puppy
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
VETERAN Bahamian
musician Duke Errol Strachan is smiling again four months after the fatal shooting of his beloved dog ignited national outrage.
The Bahamas Department of Correctional Services has presented Mr Strachan with a four-monthold Dutch Shepherd puppy named Lassie, fulfilling a promise to compensate him for the loss.
“They compensate me. I’m satisfied,” he said. “She get along very fine.”
Mr Strachan has already begun training the lively puppy, although he has not yet introduced her to the other dogs on his Soldier Road property.
“They didn’t get the mix yet because I got her in a little kennel,” he said.
For Mr Strachan, the puppy represents more than a new companion. Her arrival marks the fulfilment of a commitment the department made after one of its officers shot and killed his three-year-old dog in March.
“They live up to their part of the bargain. They live up to their word,” he said.
The shooting occurred as correctional officers marched along Soldier Road at the end of a funeral procession for retired officer Andrew Sears.
The dog was on Mr Strachan’s property when the officer opened fire, triggering widespread condemnation and demands for accountability.
Several days later, then National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said investigators found no breach of policy. The finding meant
the officer would not face disciplinary action despite the public backlash. Along with Lassie, the department presented Mr Strachan with a cage, vaccination records and a cheque to help care for the puppy.
However, the musician said the memories of his former dog remain close to him.
“It’s a different situation, totally different,” he said. “It was mixed with hot cake. This one is purebred, but it was a good dog.”
Although Lassie cannot replace the dog he lost, she has begun carving out her own place in his life.
Correction Sergeant Vanrea Armaly-Smith, second-in-command of the department’s K-9 Unit, said officers were relieved to see Mr Strachan happy again after the controversy surrounding the shooting.
“I was really excited because we finally can get behind this negative situation,” she said. “The incident that happened prior in March brought us a little closer. He was happy, and we were happy that we could be able to make him smile again in reference to the loss of his dog.”
Mr Strachan had requested a German Shepherd, but the department instead gave him one of its Dutch Shepherd puppies, which Sergeant Armaly-Smith described as energetic.
“We presented him with a cage and a vaccination card for the dog,” she said. “Basically, the dog will not need any medical attention unless she’s sick. She’s fully vaccinated.”
Sergeant Armaly-Smith said Lassie has already mastered basic obedience commands.
ERROL Strachan is pictured with Lassie, a four-month-old Dutch Shepherd puppy gifted to him by the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Photos: Shawn Hanna