07252025 NEWS

DRAGGED THROUGH THE STREET

Wheelchair user pulled along road after being freed from detention

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AN attorney has condemned the treatment of a disabled man seen in a viral video being dragged across Shirley Street by plainclothes officers, calling the act a violation of basic human rights.

The incident occurred shortly after 43-yearold Jarvin Green, who uses a wheelchair, was ordered released from custody by Supreme Court Justice Dale Fitzpatrick. The judge ruled the Jamaican man’s continued detention was unlawful after a February 10 deportation order had expired. The ruling followed a habeas corpus application filed by Green’s legal team.

Martin A Lundy II, who represents Green, told The Tribune: “Mr Green’s detention is not in issue here. Fundamental rights and freedoms are owed to everyone in this country, even Lucifer himself.”

“Some things speak for themselves. Unfortunately, the fact that Mr Green walked into custody at the Department of Corrections in 2006 and was wheeled out of custody in 2012 is one of those things. The images and videos of Mr Green, a very slight, wheelchair-bound man, being dragged across Shirley Street by two men, are also among those things that speak for themselves.”

Mr Green had reportedly been held at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre since

Privy Council declines

to hear Bain’s appeal over failed $64k investment

By RASHAD ROLLE Triune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE UK-based Privy Council has declined to hear an appeal from Coalition of Independents

leader Lincoln Bain and his company, Bani Shoe Warehouse, bringing a close to a long-running civil dispute

over a failed investment arrangement dating back to 2010.

The Court of Appeal had upheld a 2021 Supreme Court ruling that found Bain and his company liable to repay $64,000 to Zinnia Rolle.

Mr Bain, responding to

Man accused of sex with girl, 13, ‘told police he loved’ victim

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

35-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE 13 YEARS ON FROM MURDER

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to 35 years in prison yesterday for the 2012 fatal shooting of 25-year-old Dennis

“Bush” Tynes on Lincoln Boulevard. Daniel Delroy Rolle, 33, received the sentence from Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns following his conviction for murder.

Jeffrey Grant, 35, is on trial in the Freeport Supreme Court for unlawful sexual intercourse and possession of child pornography. The alleged offences occurred between April 22 and July 22, 2022.

AN Abaco man accused of unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl allegedly told police he knew it was wrong to have feelings for a child but said he loved her, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

Lead investigator Constable Tabitha Forbes testified that during a police interview, Grant admitted to being physically and sexually attracted to the girl and said they exchanged nude photos via WhatsApp.

Rolle, reportedly wearing a dark hoodie, shot Tynes in the head, back, and shoulder while the victim was working on a car behind Needles Inn Restaurant & Bar around 2pm on January 15, 2012.

SCREEN capture from video showing man being dragged across Shirley Street by plain clothes officers.

leader Lincoln Bain.

‘High hopes’ expressed by this year’s graduates of LJM Maritime Academy

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 40 graduates from the LJM Maritime Academy marked the completion of their training during a formal ceremony held at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium on Thursday morning.

The event celebrated the Academy’s Class of 2025 under the theme “Charting New Horizons: Navigating the Future With Confidence” as cadets and their families gathered alongside education officials, industry leaders and members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) to witness the formal passing out of the graduates, who completed a rigorous programme of academic instruction, physical training and onboard experience.

Dr Richard Wiefelspuett, president of the LJM Maritime Academy, addressed the graduates during his first official commencement as head of the institution. He said the maritime industry offered not only viable employment but also presented a rapidly changing and increasingly technology-driven career landscape that required continuous learning.

“Technology is constantly evolving,” Dr Wiefelspuett said. “We have new fuel types, like LNG replacing diesel, and automation is a big development. That means more knowledge in IT and electronics is now required than it used to be.”

He said graduates must

stay adaptable and committed to learning as changes in fuel systems, environmental regulations and digital systems continue to alter ship operations globally.

Dr Wiefelspuett also pointed to opportunities beyond sailing, noting that maritime engineers and captains often transition into shore-based leadership roles in power plants and port management.

Jacqueline Simmons, chairman of the Bahamas Maritime Authority, echoed those sentiments in her keynote address, saying the future of the maritime industry in The Bahamas was “vast and full of opportunity” but would demand more from the next generation of mariners.

“Today’s vessels are more sophisticated and technologically advanced than ever before,” Mrs Simmons said. “They require a new generation of minds equipped not only with traditional seamanship but also with cutting-edge technical knowledge.”

She said that while the sea remains central to many careers, graduates are increasingly being called to land-based roles in logistics, ship inspection, marine insurance and regulatory affairs.

Mrs Simmons advised cadets to guard their reputations, be punctual, stay teachable and develop resilience.

“Your certificate gets you on board,” she said, “but your character keeps you invited.”

The ceremony concluded with a musical performance

by the academy’s chorale and the formal presentation of diplomas by academic dean Bridget Hogg.

Among some graduates was Engine Cadet Andrew Rahming, who served as the class valedictorian, told The Tribune how the training held high standards for physical requirements, which he said was the most challenging aspect of his training. However, he said the most rewarding part was getting out into the field and described the moment of stepping onto a working vessel as “magical”.

Mr Rahming said he intended to work with Carnival Cruise Line as an engine cadet before advancing to the rank of third engineer.

Joshua Poitier, another graduate, told The Tribune he had already applied to Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, Campbell Shipping and Norwegian Cruise Line.

“I have very high hopes,” Mr Poitier said. “Really, in truth, it does not matter to me where I go—I just want to be out there gaining experience.”

The academy, established in 2014, provides training certified under international STCW standards set by the International Maritime Organization. Dr Wiefelspuett said these credentials ensure Bahamian cadets are prepared for global careers, but added that local success will depend on staying in tune with industry developments.

“An open mind to learning is very important,” he said.

BIG smiles as one of LJM Maritime Academy’s graduates is greeted during the formal commencemtn ceremony at Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium yesterdy.

Photos: Nikia Charlton

Pintard once supported Junkanoo Authority plan

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Michael Pintard once described a Junkanoo Authority as essential to realising the festival’s full potential.

As Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture in 2018, he said: “The view today… is that a Junkanoo Commission or Junkanoo Authority that has the overall responsibility… would give this community an opportunity to realise its potential more effectively.”

The vision of an authority is now at the heart of a national controversy.

This week, the Davis administration released a draft bill to establish a National Junkanoo Authority of The Bahamas, prompting fierce backlash from the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP), which suspended all parading activity in protest. The JCNP said the proposed legislation amounts to a reversal of its two decades of self-governance and warned of government overreach. Its letter to Culture Minister Mario Bowleg cited concerns about centralisation and alleged political interference tied to the long-standing Valley Boys leadership dispute.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has rejected the JCNP’s claims, calling the bill a continuation of long-standing efforts that date back nearly

Davis: Deaths of three Bahamian men in Haiti ‘unfortunate’ - warns against illegal activities

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip

“Brave” Davis has called the recent deaths of three Bahamian men in Haiti “unfortunate”, warning against involvement in dangerous, illegal activities as investigations continue into a suspected drug operation gone wrong. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Davis said his administration is still awaiting full details about the incident, but extended condolences to the affected families.

The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid

mounting frustration among relatives trying to retrieve the bodies from Haiti.

“They asking for money for everything,” said Lloyann Stuart, the widow of Shadrack Stuart, one of the victims. “We had to pay ourselves to some Haitian people just for them to get my husband body out of the sea and treat his body.”

The Stuart family says the total cost to retrieve his body exceeds $17,000 — including airfare, documentation, and transportation to Port-au-Prince for embalming.

Stuart and two other Bahamian men died off the coast of Haiti earlier

this month in what Haitian and Bahamian officials suspect was a maritime drug operation. Another man, 43-year-old Joey Russell of Sandy Point, Abaco, reportedly survived the initial encounter but died later in hospital under suspicious circumstances. Footage circulating online showed injured men and bodies adrift in open water.

Relatives identified Stuart through the videos.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged challenges in securing information from Haitian authorities, and the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation.

17 HAITIANS DETAINED IN EARLY MORNING IMMIGRATION RAID IN NEW PROVIDENCE

three decades. The ministry specifically invoked Mr Pintard’s record in defending the move. “This also builds on work started by now-Leader of the Opposition, Michael Pintard, who both advocated for a national Junkanoo commission as far back as his time as Minister of Culture,” it said in a statement this week.

In 2018, Mr Pintard outlined a comprehensive plan for elevating Junkanoo from a seasonal celebration to a permanent cultural institution. He envisioned weeklong festivals, music competitions, expanded manufacturing, and greater youth and female leadership. He said Junkanoo had the potential to become a significant source of revenue, employment, and national pride, but only with a dedicated, professional structure behind it. He acknowledged the contributions of the JCNP, the National Junkanoo Committee, and his ministry, but said: “More is needed.”

He told The Tribune then that a commission or authority would provide the community with the leadership and capacity to grow.

“A decision [has been made] to create… a committee that would have the ability to put together draft legislation, a draft structure, and terms of reference, for such a commission or such an authority,” he said at the time.

The bill now under public consultation

proposes a 15-member governing body appointed by the minister, representing stakeholders from New Providence, Grand Bahama, the Family Islands, and cultural institutions. It would regulate national parades, administer funding, issue licenses, manage a National Junkanoo Fund, and create for-profit subsidiaries. The bill would also dissolve the defunct National Junkanoo Committee and install local committees across the archipelago.

The JCNP, which has managed the New Providence parades since 2004, strongly objects to the bill’s scope and timing, and questions the motives behind it. Still, the government said it will move forward.

The ministry described the JCNP’s response as politically charged and premature, noting that the bill includes representation for groups across the country and has not yet reached the parliamentary stage.

“Junkanoo belongs to the Bahamian people, not to any single group or island,” the ministry said. Mr Pintard has not commented on the details of the bill and could not be reached for comment yesterday regarding the Davis administration’s approach to introducing a Junkanoo Authority. But in response on Tuesday to the ministry’s decision to name him in the debate, he issued a brief public statement: “Don’t mix me up. Keep politics out of Junkanoo.”

IMMIGRATION officers detained 17 Haitian nationals during a pre-dawn raid in Nassau on Wednesday, as part of a targeted enforcement effort dubbed “Operation Morning Glow.” The operation, conducted by the Department of Immigration’s Enforcement Unit, took place between 3am and 6am across several areas of Central New Providence, including Podoleo Street, Eneas Court, Margaret Avenue, and Lincoln Boulevard.

transported to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre for processing.

The group taken into custody included six women and 11 men, all reportedly held for immigration-related offences, including overstaying their legal time in The Bahamas. Following their arrest, all individuals were

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any of the detainees will face prosecution or deportation. The department has pledged to continue routine enforcement exercises amid ongoing concerns about illegal migration and compliance with immigration laws.

PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS

FNM LEADER MICHAEL PINTARD

Davis calls criticism of $2m April

deficit ‘political mischievousness’

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has dismissed criticism of his administration’s financial reporting as “political mischievousness,” after a $137m swing between a projected April surplus and the actual deficit triggered sharp Opposition attacks and media scrutiny.

The Ministry of Finance recently reported a $2.1m deficit for April, contrasting with a $135.4m surplus that Mr Davis cited during his May budget communication.

Yesterday, the Office of The Prime Minister said the earlier figure was based on preliminary estimates and later revised through standard Treasury reconciliation, including delayed postings for interest payments on government securities.

OPM insisted the adjustment does not impact the government’s fiscal outlook, which remains on track to cut the deficit to between 0.3 and 0.7 percent of GDP by the end of the 2024/2025 fiscal year.

“The surplus is predicted for 25/26. April 2025 will impact what we call the 2024/25 fiscal year and that’s why, when people don’t understand and just be misled by political mischievousness, and that’s what it is, because it’s a complete misrepresentation,” Mr Davis said during an earlier press conference.

“In May 2025 I gave a preliminary estimate of what the income was for April of 2025 after it was adjusted, there was a $2m deficit, two point whatever it is deficit but that doesn’t impact the

fiscal year, because we still had May and June. And then you look at what was the prediction of our deficit to GDP. We predicted that our deficit, the GDP for this fiscal year, would be anywhere between point 3 percent to point 7 percent that’s what we predicted. Has that changed? Has that prediction changed? So I’m now talking about the 24/25 fiscal year.”

Mr Davis criticized the Nassau Guardian and he accused managing editor Candia Dames of editorial bias even though the paper accurately reflected the discrepancy in figures. He argued the public was owed an apology and urged journalists to verify government figures before publishing opinionated claims.

He also questioned whether critics were casting doubt on the credibility of international watchdogs like the IMF and credit rating agencies that routinely review the country’s accounts.

“What,” he said, “you’re also suggesting is that the IMF who comes in and almost audit our accounts, the other rating agencies, when they come and audit our accounts, you are saying that they too, They are, they are liars, or they don’t know what they’re doing. Because why are we going to be as was suggested cooking books or saying things that are not true? Yes, we could make a mistake, and yes we do sometimes make mistakes, but we we are not in any way misleading these people on our fiscal handling.”

See BUSINESS for more.

PM insists electricity costs are less when compared to last year’s bills

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THOUGH Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) customers are reeling from a spike in electricity bills, with some reporting increases of 25 to 30 percent, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis insisted

yesterday the costs haven’t risen year-over-year.

Responding to public outcry and complaints to Tribune Business, Mr. Davis said the government has delivered lower electricity costs compared to the same period last year.

“If they compare their bill this summer with their bill from last summer, they will see that they’re paying less this summer than they were paying last summer,”

Mr Davis said at a press briefing. “That is where the comparison ought to be.”

The prime minister argued that comparing current bills to those of earlier this year is misleading, reiterating that bills rise in the summer due to increased air conditioning and appliance use.

“Bills have not gone up,” he said. “Consumption has gone up, and I invite persons to compare their bill this summer as it were for last summer.”

Customers have expressed frustration online and directly to the

BAIN SAYS

THE

media, saying their usage has not changed, yet bills remain “ridiculously high”.

Many are questioning when the promised relief will be felt.

In response to public backlash, the government launched a taxpayer-funded Summer Energy Rebate several weeks ago, reducing the fuel charge by 1.1 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for usage both below and above 800 kWh. But for many consumers, the relief was swallowed by higher energy use during the heatwave.

Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis has confirmed that infrastructure upgrades are underway. The Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) began installing new transmission poles in June as part of a broader overhaul of New Providence’s grid.

Improvements also include new IntelliRupters and reconducted wiring. The energy transition also involves power purchase agreements for 177

megawatts of LNG, 60 megawatts of solar, and 10 megawatt-hours of battery storage. Mr Davis said these initiatives, combined with upgraded engines and a restored grid, should lead to real cost reductions by the end of 2025.

However, Opposition Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis criticised the government’s assurances, calling the mounting costs “a never-ending nightmare”. She said she was “shocked” by her latest BPL bill and dismissed previous government claims that prices would stabilise by early 2024. She pointed to the 70 percent increase in the fuel charge since the administration inherited a hedged rate of ten cents per kWh in 2021. “It’s now mid-2025,” she said, “and households and businesses are still facing rising electricity prices with no explanation and no relief.”

See BUSINESS for more.

THE COURTS HAVE SPOKEN AND

PERSON IN QUESTION WILL BE PAID

the decision yesterday, told The Tribune: “The courts have spoken. The person in question will be paid.”

He said paying the money will not affect him financially, adding: “We’ll just pay it and that’s it.”

At the heart of the case was a claim that Mr Bain had entered into two agreements with Ms Rolle in 2010. One required him to hold $40,000 in trust for three years with annual interest payments and an option to invest the funds. The other was a supply and profit-sharing agreement with Bani Shoe Warehouse, under which Ms Rolle provided merchandise in exchange for a share of sales.

Ms Rolle alleged that she never received the money owed to her under either agreement. Mr Bain denied the claims, arguing that he never received funds to invest and that his signature on the contracts had been forged. His co-defendant, Keno Symonette, testified that he had forged Mr Bain’s signature at Ms Rolle’s request. However, the trial judge rejected their account and accepted ms Rolle’s evidence.

Although the Supreme Court handed down its

judgment in December 2021, more than four years after the 2017 trial, the Court of Appeal found the delay to be “a blight on the administration of justice”, but not grounds to overturn the verdict.

Court of Appeal president Sir Michael Barnett wrote: “In my judgment, however egregious and culpable the delay in this case was, that delay did not prevent the judge from properly evaluating the evidence and making the finding that was determinative of this case.”

However, Mr Bain did score a partial victory in 2022 when the Court of

Appeal struck down an “addendum” to the judgment that had imposed a 90-day prison sentence if he failed to repay the debt by a specified deadline. The court found the penal order to be “plainly wrong to have been made” without hearing from the affected parties.

The Privy Council was asked to decide whether the delay in delivering the Supreme Court’s judgment had violated Bain’s right to a fair trial within a reasonable time or compromised the judge’s ability to assess the case. It ruled this week that it would not hear the appeal.

APPEAL from page one

PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS

COI LEADER LINCOLN BAIN

Lawyer says man was beaten while detained

DRAGGED from page one

completing an eight-year sentence for causing dangerous harm. In 2018, prosecutors alleged he struck a man with a van after an argument involving the victim’s niece.

Mr Green maintained the seven-year sentence was unjust and criticised the justice system as “wicked”.

Though released in February and scheduled for deportation, Mr Green remained in detention past the 90-day legal limit. The viral video and an accompanying audio clip, reportedly from a female eyewitness, surfaced just hours after the court ordered his release on July 23.

Mr Lundy acknowledged that immigration officials have legal authority to redetain individuals under certain conditions, but

said nothing justified the physical treatment his client received.

He also raised longstanding concerns about Mr Green’s prior incarceration. Mr Green, he said, entered prison in 2006 walking and left permanently disabled.

“What happened to Mr Green while he was in custody of the Department of Corrections?” he asked.

“Mr Green says he was beaten by prison officers during his imprisonment. The Department of Corrections, however, does not appear to have a record of it,” he said. “If there is one, it certainly has not been released to either Mr Green or his counsel. Mr Green is presently wheelchair bound.”

When contacted by The Tribune , acting Immigration Director William Pratt declined to comment on the matter.

capture from a video show the man being dragged across Shirley Street by two plain clothes officers just after he was released by court.

50-year-old man accused of unlawful sex with a minor says he and 17-year-old boy were ‘lovers’

By PAVEL BAILE Y Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE officer played footage yesterday of a 50-year-old man saying that he and a 17-year-old boy were “lovers” as the defendant’s unlawful sexual intercourse trial got underway.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Arnold Strachan Jr testified during Marlin Newton’s trial for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor of the same sex.

Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns presided over the trial.

Newton allegedly had sexual intercourse with a teenage boy on August 19, 2019.

ASP Strachan said that on August 21, 2019, he was present at a confrontation between the defendant and the complainant in the central detective unit in the presence of his mother.

The officer said he informed the defendant of his right to have an attorney present, but that he declined.

During the confrontation, ASP Strachan said the complainant maintained his story on what happened on the night of the incident, which he had previously told officers.

The officer recalled Newton said he knew the complainant before the incident and that the pair had been in contact for a few months.

ASP Strachan recalled the defendant said the complainant had lived with him for a time.

The defendant reportedly said that the complainant stopped living with him after he allegedly told him he found a “new lover” to live with. Sometime later, the defendant said the complainant asked to live with him again. Newton claimed that he picked the boy up and went to his house.

The defendant told the officer that after the defendant showered, the pair had sex and that it was consensual. Newton further said the two had sex before in past.

The defendant reportedly said he loved the complainant and he knew the teen had a troubled past. The defendant claimed he thought the complainant was 18 years old.

When footage of the confrontation was shown, the complainant was heard

telling police he had been picked up by the defendant from his aunt on the day of the incident.

He said the pair went to the defendant’s house, where they talked briefly before he asked to bathe.

The complainant alleged that while he was in the bathroom, the defendant came in and took what looked like lube from the shower caddy.

He claimed he saw the defendant put it on his penis.

Later, the complainant claimed the defendant told him that he didn’t like to see him wearing clothes in the bedroom and he complied with the defendant’s request.

He claimed that while the pair cuddled, the accused attempted to put Vaseline on his rectum despite his trying to block it with his hand.

Despite his objections, he claimed the defendant told him he wanted to cum.

The complainant alleged the defendant inserted himself inside him with aid of lube and had sex with him. He claimed that after some time, the defendant ejaculated.

After the alleged incident, the defendant said he squirted out semen and blood in the bathroom and that he stayed the night with the defendant.

He said he did not attempt to scream that night.

The defendant was heard saying in the footage that after a friend got him in contact with the complainant, who said the teen needed help, the pair met and went to the beach.

There, Newton claimed the complainant spoke of his troubled and abusive past.

At some point, he invited the complainant back to his house, and eventually, the pair ended up living together. The defendant was heard saying he took care of the complainant, cooked for him, and looked after his well-being.

Newton said the complainant lived with him for a week and a half alongside his eight-year-old son. He told officers the pair had done things before in past, including kissing, and that the sex they had was consensual.

Newton claimed that after the complainant left to live with his new lover, he called him asking for help on the day of the alleged incident. He

claimed the complainant said he wanted some during the call.

After he picked him up, the defendant claimed the complainant told him his new lover was abusing him.

The defendant said he questioned the teen about his situation, but also told him that the way he left him wasn’t right. He went on to say that he wanted what was best for the complainant and that he would assist him in moving to Canada.

He claimed that on the night of the incident, he

cooked for the complainant. Newton said that while the defendant asked to shower, he did not go into the bathroom with him.

He also denied telling the complainant to take off his clothes to sleep over.

However, he admitted to using Vaseline to have sex with the complainant in the past. Newton said he never questioned the complainant about his age before the allegations were made.

Newton, in the footage, maintained he loved and

cared for the complainant and that he never abused him. He also said the teen never had problems with him before.

Newton said he was surprised to receive a call to come to CDU for questioning and that it troubled him. He further said he doesn’t know why the teen made the complaint.

Dr Sheila Ferguson, who worked at the accident and emergency at PMH, during the time of the incident, testified she used a rape kit on the complainant the day after the alleged incident.

During her examination, she said she found an abrasion near the anal area.

She said the complainant appeared calm but nervous during

examination. Dr Ferguson said the complainant appeared well-kept.

Blood and urine samples were also taken. No foreign materials were recovered during examination.

Dr Ferguson said the complainant told her he was sexually assaulted and that he experienced bleeding in the anal region.

In addition to stating that she saw no other visible injuries on the complainant, Dr Forbes said she administered prophylactics to prevent the spread of STDs, which is standard procedure in rape cases.

Dr Forbes told the defence’s counsel that the abrasion could have been caused by sexual assault or possibly by trauma, constipation or diarrhea.

SCREEN

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Do we take human rights seriously?

BARELY a moment has passed, it seems, since The Tribune last reported on a human rights issue – that of a woman denied access to bathroom facilities in a police station – and today we report on a man being dragged on the street even after he won his case against immigration authorities. How seriously do we take such issues in our country? Barely at all, it would seem.

On Wednesday, we reported on a call by Human Rights Bahamas for an update on the case of the woman who defecated on the floor of a police station after being refused access to a toilet.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe had already confirmed that the viral video of the incident violated police policies.

Human Rights Bahamas was right to call for such an update. Too often, it seems there are promised investigations which either never materialise or for which updates are never provided. Take for example the case of the promise of an investigation into the signing of a lease in the Bahamas Moorings case earlier this year – which was witnessed by an Office of the Prime Minister employee who was also married to one of the principals standing to gain from the deal. Conflict of interest?

A probe was promised, but no outcome has ever been provided. That must not be the case with the police officers who violated a woman’s rights. And now we have another shocking case.

A disabled Jamaican man was seemingly dragged across Shirley Street by officers in plain clothes – after the man was released from custody by order of a Supreme Court justice.

As with the case of the woman in police custody, there is reason to be critical of actions of the victim – although in this case, the man’s actions are in the past. He had been in prison prior to being given a deportation order. He had been sentenced to eight years for causing dangerous harm. The court had been told he had struck a man with a van after an argument involving the victim’s niece.

But he had served his time, and when he came out he was scheduled for deportation. No matter who he might be, there are laws. Just as the law held him to account for his actions, so too does the law specify that there is a 90-day legal limit on the deportation order. That limit expired – so he went to the court and the Supreme Court ruled his continued detention was lawful. He was released – and then we see the video clip circulating on social media of him being dragged across the street. What crime did he commit? What reason was there for this action? We do not know. The acting immigration director declined to comment.

In the case of the woman in the police station, a police communications officer this week, when asked if any officers had been suspended or placed on leave, said: “I can’t speak to that, it is not to my knowledge right now.”

No comment, no answers, and very much no satisfaction to concerns over how people are being treated.

In the case of the police station, Human Rights Bahamas rightly said: “The state cannot remain silent in the face of such an incident.”

And yet it does. Watch carefully the next time the Police Commissioner, Shanta Knowles, speaks publicly and whether she gives an update on this violation of rights. Listen carefully to see if the acting immigration director speaks up over this new case.

Perhaps the Prime Minister too might like to weigh in on the rights and wrongs of how people are treated by officers of the state.

But we cannot accept promises of investigations that we then never hear more about, and we cannot simply shrug and accept continued violations of people’s rights, no matter who they are.

As the lawyer for the man in this latest incident says: “Fundamental rights and freedoms are owed to everyone in this country, even Lucifer himself.”

He is right. And if we continue to undermine rights in this nation, there will be hell to pay.

Time to save next generation

EDITOR, The Tribune.

NO one can reasonably deny that there is a whole lot of good being done in our country; but sadly, the greater amount of good is overshadowed by a lesser amount of evil. And so, as the sun rose in full splendor this morning, life appears normal; yet, it is anything but normal. Our country is running a high fever. For you see, it’s like clockwork; another day, another murder. The earth is soaked with the blood of our young men in particular, and we seemed paralysed as we wring our collective hands in despair, not knowing what to do or where to turn. In a deeper sense, we seemed to have lost our way. It is like searching for something in the middle of nowhere. Our country is gripped in a vicious cycle of crime and violence and it seems like there is no way out.

We have lost that sense of brotherly love and respect for humanity, which were once baked into the framework of society. Those were the glue that bound us as a country. They have been swept away by time and prosperity. Basic respect and compassion for each other have been pushed aside, while anger, revenge, malice, and selfishness have taken centre stage. Many

of us do not even know the name of our neighbor two or three doors down, and the days when neighbors chatted on the front porch, or at the clothes line on a Saturday morning, or borrow a cup of sugar, have long gone. And we dare not attempt to correct or discipline a wayward child for fear of being physically or verbally attack or being accused of child abuse and being dragged before the courts in a lawsuit. So in spite of all of our knowledge, sophistication, and material success, we have regressed as a society, if you know what I mean.

In January of 2023, I wrote a letter entitled “Fix the family and raise better Children” The letter was printed in the Guardian and the Tribune. I will not repeat the letter in its entirety for obvious reasons, but I only wish to summarise the main points. The following scenarios have had a direct bearing on the breakdown of the family and the nightmarish circumstances we are experiencing. These include teenage pregnancy; a lack of a father figure of role model in the

home; parents not spending enough quality time with their children; failure to teach our children manners and respect for others -especially elderly people; lack of proper grounding in Christian doctrines and principles, and the list goes on. I deliberately chose not to mention the government; and I do not pretend to be any authority figure on morality; but truth be told, as a country, we have lost our moral bearings and I know all too well that government cannot legislate morality. I am not unmindful that some of us might be allergic to the truth. But that’s ok!

And so, the trumpet summons us all to take stock of ourselves. We have to recapture that community spirit we have lost We; all of us, have to become that guiding force, that beacon of hope, that model of excellence for the younger generation. We cannot be afraid to correct these children. This is no time for finger pointing, empty political rhetoric or political acrobatics. The moment is bigger than politics. We have to deliver this country and save the next generation. Let’s do it!

ZEPHANIAH BURROWS Nassau, July 19, 2025.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THERE are some medications that are reasonably priced compared to the USA or Canada but others are not. For example, the blood thinner Eliquis has recently been in the news where Pfizer are going to lower the cost of this drug by 40 percent in the USA and we assume The Bahamas will follow, however, at this moment the medication costs around $1,800 for 180 x 5 mgs (twice a day for 90 days) where the same medication in Canada is sold as a generic Apixaban and the retail cost is around C$275 or U$200. Yes, this is a generic that has been approved by the USA FDA and Canada Health but the major pharmaceutical companies have managed to get

a patent extension to ensure that the generic is not available in the USA. There are other examples of this huge difference in the price between what is paid in The Bahamas and what is available in Canada and USA where the cost of generic medications is considerably lower than The Bahamas.

A good way to check USA prices is to go to the GoodRX website but here are a couple of examples. 30 days’ supply of generic Lipitor (Atorvastatin) 20 mgs in the USA is around $10, same $10 for 30 days Generic Cialis 5 mgs(Tadalafil) and same $10 for 30 days Generic Protonix 40 mgs (Pantoprazole). For a self-pay customer with no insurance it would be a massive

savings if we could get these sort of prices for what are medically necessary medications and I urge the government and Insurance companies to start to bulk negotiate with the likes of TEVA and JAMP Pharma who are two of the largest generic manufacturers to bring these products into The Bahamas directly. Whilst there is no dispensing fee charged by the USA pharmacies and a minimal charge of around $7 in Canada, it would be reasonable to pay the Bahamas pharmacies a fee of say $10. Hopefully, insurance companies would pass on the massive savings to their customers.

RETIRED EXPAT Nassau, July 23, 2025.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I WAS distressed and upset when driving through town the other day, to see the surrey horses being driven in the blistering heat of the day, even though we are in the middle of a heat wave, and we humans are being warned to take precautions. I was under the impression that there was a ruling that the horses were not to be worked during the heat of the midday sun. Is this another of those laws that are not enforced and completely ignored? Haven’t we witnessed enough horses dropping

dead in the street? Obviously not enough! The photos of that poor animal that dropped dead on Dowdeswell Street a few years ago was heartbreaking, and that was not the first! It is a great pity that we allowed the return of the surrey horses after the pandemic. That would have been a perfect opportunity to end this cruelty. These animals have no proper stabling; their harnesses are ill-fitting and look as though they have never been cleaned. They are forced out in the middle of the day to breathe exhaust

fumes from cars and drag overloaded carriages full of overweight tourists. I have spoken to individuals at the Humane Society who tell me they have tried in vain to get something done, but as usual, their complaints fall on deaf ears. In New York’s Central Park, the carriage horses cannot operate once the temperature reaches 68 degrees! This is strictly enforced!

JOANNA ROBERTSON Nassau, July 23, 2025.

Bahamas.

Photo :Marek Kucharz

$17.9m airport expansion deal signed for Black Point, Exuma

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrolle@tribunemedia.net

BLACK Point, a small settlement in Exuma with about 400 residents as of 2010, is poised for an infrastructure upgrade with a $17.9m airport expansion set to begin in September. The government yesterday signed a contract with Abaco Aggregates and Cement under the Family Island Airport Renaissance Initiative. Once complete, the airport will feature a new 5,000ft long, 500ft wide hot mix asphalt runway built to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. The existing 2,800 ft runway will be nearly doubled in length. In addition to the new runway, the redevelopment will include a 100-foot-wide landing strip, a new apron, solar lighting, runway striping, and a secure perimeter

fence. The upgrades will allow the airport to accommodate Bahamasair’s ATR 72-600 aircraft and similarly sized regional jets, significantly enhancing airlift to and from the island.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, MP for Exuma, called the project the largest single investment ever made in Black Point. The development is expected to improve flight reliability, strengthen emergency response, and streamline the transport of goods and services to the community.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the airport will also feature a new terminal capable of handling more than 70 passengers, equipped with modern navigational aids to enable night operations. He emphasised that the project will help connect residents more easily with loved ones and support

increased commercial travel and emergency air access.

“I am not exaggerating when I state that we are pursuing the most aggressive development of airport infrastructure in our nation’s history,” Mr Davis said. “It’s overdue, so we’re making it happen now. We’re doing it in Eleuthera, Bimini, Cat Island, Long Island, Exuma, and the Abacos.”

Minister of Works Clay Sweeting said the Exuma community would benefit directly from improved air travel reliability and economic growth.

Abaco Aggregates and Cement president Kino Simmons confirmed that the project’s timeline is approximately 12 months. Sixty Bahamians are currently involved in the works, which will also involve local subcontractors.

MAN CONVICTED OF 2012 MURDER OF DENNIS “BUSH” T YNES STILL M AINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE

Although he denied having sex with her and refused to sign the record of interview, he allegedly told officers he touched the girl’s breasts and vagina “but was only playing”.

The girl, accompanied by relatives and a social worker, went to the Marsh Harbour Police Station on July 25, 2022, and reported that Grant had sex with her multiple times. She turned over her Samsung cellphone to police.

Constable Forbes said the device contained nude photos and a video of the girl that had been sent to Grant.

The complainant was later examined at the Marsh Harbour Clinic. A doctor, who testified virtually, said her hymen was not intact but found no signs of bruising, lacerations, or other trauma. Blood tests for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections were negative. The girl was given an anti-HIV medication and a birth control pill.

During cross-examination, the doctor acknowledged that a ruptured hymen is not definitive proof of sexual activity and that other factors, including physical activity or tampon use, could cause such a condition.

Grant was arrested on July 27. The following day, police showed him a black Samsung Galaxy phone, which he identified as his. However, Constable Forbes said the device appeared to have been wiped and reset.

On July 29, Forbes transported the device to Freeport and handed it over to Detective Constable 2955 Rahming. She later received a CD from Detective Rahming, which contained an extraction from the phone, including a number of nude and explicit photos and videos between the virtual complainant and the defendant. As a result, Grant was charged. The device was presented in court and admitted as evidence.

During cross-examination, defence counsel Brian Hanna questioned Constable Tabitha Forbes whether she had shown the extracted photos and videos stored on a CD to either the virtual complainant or the defendant. Constable Forbes responded that she had not, explaining that she had already compared the materials to content found on both the complainant’s and the defendant’s phones and found them to be the same.

When asked why the virtual complainant’s phone was not brought to court, the officer said she did not believe it was necessary, asserting that the images and videos retrieved from the girl’s phone matched those that were sent to the defendant.

Mr Hanna also questioned why Grant had been charged with unlawful sexual intercourse despite no medical evidence being presented. Constable Forbes replied that the charge was based solely on the complainant’s statement, in which she alleged

that Grant had sexual intercourse with her on multiple occasions.

When pressed about the extent of her investigation, Constable Forbes admitted that she had not interviewed any witnesses other than the virtual complainant. She also said she did not personally visit any of the locations where the alleged acts occurred, though a crime scene officer was dispatched to those sites.

Asked why Grant was charged with child pornography, the officer said the charge stemmed from photos and video recovered from his phone.

The court viewed several pieces of the digital evidence. One video reportedly showed a woman’s hand touching her genitals, though the person’s face was not visible. Another image depicted a woman lying down with her arm across her bare chest, while Grant appeared in the background. Again, the woman’s face was not shown. Mr Hanna pointed out that the people could not be positively identified.

While photos of the complainant’s face were also extracted from the device, none of those were nude or sexually explicit, the court heard.

The prosecution has closed its case. The trial is scheduled to continue on Monday when the defence is expected to present its case.

A jury of five women and four men has been empanelled. Justice Petra Hanna-Adderley is presiding.

MAN CHARGED WITH NEAR-FATAL STABBING AT BAR

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of a near-fatal stabbing at a bar on Cordeaux Avenue last weekend.

YaKuba Adderley, 51, was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Kara

Turnquest-Deveaux on a charge of attempted murder. He is accused of stabbing Leon Thompson in the neck during an altercation at KJ’s Bar on July 19. The victim was treated in the hospital and survived the attack. Adderley was not required to enter a plea. He was informed that the case will be transferred to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was also advised of his right to apply for bail in the higher court. Adderley will be held at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is expected to be served on October 23.

MAN ACCUSED OF BREAK-IN AND STEALING CAR

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

Although Rolle maintained his innocence throughout the trial, a jury unanimously found him guilty in December after deliberating for only two hours.

His attorney, Calvin Seymour, argued that Rolle’s police confession was obtained under duress. Rolle claimed he was beaten and choked during the interrogation. The prosecution countered that the confession was made voluntarily. No video footage of the confession was presented in court.

Seymour also noted a discrepancy in witness testimony, highlighting that a female witness described the shooter as “lightskinned,” while Rolle is dark-skinned. Rolle’s 35-year sentence is to be counted retroactively from the date of his conviction, December 10, 2024.

Prosecutors in the case were Destiny Morley, Vashti Bridgewater, and Kristin Butler-Beneby.

URBAN R ENEWAL AND C HURCH OF G OD OF PROP HECY partner to launch ‘l ove Your neighbour p roject’

IN a move to strengthen community outreach and national development, the Urban Renewal Authority is partnering with the Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) to support its national faith-based initiative, the “Love Your Neighbour Project.”

On Monday, national bishop of the Church of God of Prophecy, Bahamas, Dr Woodley Thompson, accompanied by Bishop Nathaniel Beneby, executive director of finance, and Bridgette Cooper communications secretary, paid a courtesy call on the Keith Bell, Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal and Lisa Rahming, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal. Bishop Thompson formally presented the initiative and extended an invitation for the Authority to serve as a key partner in this national effort.

The partnership aims

to advance national unity through service and spiritual renewal, strengthen collaboration between churches and Urban Renewal centres, deepen community engagement through consistent, targeted outreach and support “Love Your Neighbor Day” on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, and the official national launch on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 Bell said, “The ‘Love Your Neighbor Project’ is a natural extension of our mission to uplift Bahamian communities. We are proud to join with the Church of God of Prophecy in fostering compassion, service, and unity throughout our nation.” Bishop Thompson said, “This initiative is rooted in faith and fueled by action. We are honored to work alongside Urban Renewal in bringing this message of love, hope, and healing to every corner of The Bahamas.”

Also in attendance were Reginald Saunders, permanent secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal, Siobhan Deane, under secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal, Algernon Allen, KC and Reverend Dr Diana Francis, co-chairs of the Urban Renewal Authority, Stephen Dean, Managing Director of Urban Renewal Authority, Lilliemae Longley, deputy director of Urban Renewal Authority, New Providence, Sharon Martin, advisor to the Urban Renewal Authority, Howard Newbold, project manager, Melvin Lundy, intelligence officer and staff from the Ministry and Urban Renewal Authority. The “Love Your Neighbor Project” represents a significant opportunity to unite faith-based service with government outreach, bringing lasting impact to communities across The Bahamas.

A MAN has been remanded to prison after admitting to breaking into a Carmichael Road home and stealing a vehicle earlier this week. Julian Stuart, 34, appeared before Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville on charges of stealing and entering by night.

Stuart pleaded guilty to both charges and accepted the facts of the case as read by the court.

Prosecutors said Stuart unlawfully entered the residence of Arthur Hamilton at 2am on July 21 and stole a dark-coloured 2013 Buick Lacrosse, valued at $7,000.

He has been remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 11.

The case was prosecuted by Sergeant 3506 Nesbitt.

ABACO Aggregates and Cement president Kino Simmons (second from right) yesterday signed an $18m contract for airport expansion at Black Point Exuma.

Photo: Nikia Charlton

The important business of bees

SUMMERTIME is one of the prime periods when bees take centre stage. It could be the heat or the abundance of sweet, seasonal fruits and vibrant flowers blooming in glorious displays that seem to draw them out in buzzing swarms. It’s during these warmer months that outdoor spaces and gardens tend to be teeming with the energising hum of nature’s powerhouse pollinators.

Globally, it is estimated that bees pollinate onethird of the food humans consume. They forage tirelessly every day and for miles in search of nectar and pollen. Their seemingly simple act of transferring pollen from one plant to another sets off innumerable cycles of plant fertilisation and bolsters plant reproduction. Here in The Bahamas, and worldwide, this process is vital for the proliferation of wild flora and plant biodiversity, as well as food production. On “out islands” like Eleuthera, where traditional subsistence farming is still practiced, bees are unsung heroes.

For Eleuthera-native, Philica Sands, it was a love affair with bees that inspired her to leave her hospitality job in Nassau and relocate home to Tarpum Bay, to build a bee business. In 2021, she undertook a twelve-week course in Beekeeping and Apiology, offered through The Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI), which officially launched her into the fascinating world of bees and her own bee business. Four years later, she is producing delightful, hive-sourced products and taking a stance in safeguarding local bee populations by providing island-wide bee extractions and relocation

By Yolanda Pawar

services. Her goal is to eliminate the use of toxic pesticides and deadly extermination tactics.

“120 percent of my life’s work right now is to prove and show people how misunderstood bees are and the importance of what they bring to the table. There’s a real disconnect, and I’m here just trying to fill that gap and show people the need for our bees. After just one conversation, people are amazed at what I share from my experiences and observations working hands-on with bees. Most importantly they need to know that bees pollinate our food sources and we need them, explains Philica.” Unfortunately, bees are under siege worldwide. Factors such as habitat loss, warming temperatures,

urban expansion, invasive plants and bee species, low genetic diversity, pesticide use, diseases, and pathogens pose a significant threat. It was in 2020, recognising the importance of bees to food security and biodiversity, that One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) partnered with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Small Grants Programme (SGP), to launch a transformative project aimed at safeguarding Eleuthera’s bee populations, titled “Bringing Awareness to Saving Bees”. It was through this initiative that Philica and 21 other beekeepers were trained by CTI on Eleuthera and provided with the basic equipment to venture out. Another game-changer emerging from this

partnership was “The Honey Shack”, a solarpowered honey processing and extraction facility built on the CTI campus as a free resource for programme graduates and beekeepers on the island. The Honey Shack offers a space for beekeepers to safely process and professionally label their honey, allowing them to access the marketplace with greater ease and efficiency. Complete with processing equipment, a real-time weather station, and a beeinspired mural, The Honey Shack also serves as a hub for conservation education through regular community tours and school visits.

As a beekeeper, business owner, and successful graduate of CTI’s Apiology and Apiculture course, Philica is demonstrating how education and training can open doors, turning passion into purpose and eventually profits. She is an advocate for educating others about bees and the joys of beekeeping, while building a community to support her love and work. She also plays a leading role in maintaining the health and growth of the CTI’s beehives.

Philica is also using her growing influence to raise awareness and change the perception of bees from “pests” to “prosperity partners”. She has personally diversified her income by producing native honey,

handcrafted salves, wax melts, and candles through her business, “An-Nahl’s Golden Haven”, and proudly sells her handmade products at local farmers’ markets and in her community, demonstrating firsthand the economic benefits of beekeeping. Understanding the social intelligence of bees adds another layer of wonder and appreciation for Philica, as well as another reason to champion and protect them. Beyond their vital ecological role, bees are among the most socially complex and organised creatures in the animal kingdom. Each hive operates like a well-oiled machine and sophisticated society, with assigned roles for worker bees, drones, and a singular queen. This hierarchy is understood and fiercely defended.

The queen’s sole duty is to build the colony by laying eggs, sometimes up to 2,000 a day, while the worker bees construct honeycombs, collect nectar, care for the young, and even regulate hive temperature with the beating of their wings. Drones, the male bees, exist solely to mate with a queen, in a onetime event that provides the genetic and reproductive material required for a lifetime. This cooperative structure ensures the survival and productivity of the colony, making bees one of Nature’s standout

examples of teamwork, purpose, and skillful execution. Communication within a hive is equally intriguing. Bees use an intricate system of movement known as the “waggle dance” to share detailed information about the location of food sources. These behaviours reflect not only high intelligence but also the ability to work collectively and for the good of the colony.

For Philica, there is no end to what bees can teach us and what the industry has to offer in ecological and economic benefits. She has a golden vision to expand her business into a multi-faceted venture that responsibly and creatively utilises every part of the hive and its byproducts, including but not limited to honey, beeswax, bee pollen, and propolis.

For Philica, it’s about protecting biodiversity, creating economic opportunities, and building a thriving local beekeeping industry that benefits both people and the planet through sustainable practices. “I want to start Apiaries across Eleuthera, from North to South, to help care for our local bees. I also want to give people the opportunity to come in, explore the world of bees, sit in their aura, and simultaneously experience nature itself and the bigger ecosystem they fit into.”

of One Eleuthera Foundation

YOLANDA PAWAR, chief communications officer of One Eleuthera Foundation.

IT’S a sweet deal. In addition to delicious honey, bees provide incredible ecological and economic benefits for beekeepers and their communities.

PHILICA SANDS proudly holds “Lutra Honey” which is proudly produced on the CTI campus. It is harvested from the apiary, then processed and bottled at The Honey Shack.

Do they have the right or have we just given up?

Why are we letting them take our fish, our conch, our crawfish?

spends a lot of time in the water and is as comfortable diving Dean’s Blue Hole as I am driving to work, has been ranting about the issue of foreigners raping our waters, taking our fish, conch and crawfish for commercial gain for years.

I heard Mario going on about it and I even wrote about it a time or two, but it never really hit home till I saw it one day recently when I happened upon a fishing in The Bahamas series on YouTube.

There it was in plain view and brilliant colour – the blue-green waters of The Bahamas, the undeniable, irrefutable evidence of foreigners dressed not in rubber boots and coveralls like fishermen wear but in sun shirts, shorts, rash guards and Ray-Bans. They were raping the waters, taking everything that moved undersea that their spear or rod or gloves could grab and they were bragging about it. Like schoolkids who stumbled upon chocolate bars that fell off the back of a truck.

Two men and a woman on one boat, others in a similar documentary in another YouTube piece. All with shiny, gunning boats and smug, grinning smiles as they pull up grouper, hog fish, crabs, conch. In some of the shots, they are over a reef. In others, they are in deeper waters. They are boasting about the catch.

“Look at this, that’s a big one.” “Look at this crab. Bet that’s a 50 dollar right there.”

Buckets of fsh

One of the shots accidentally showed buckets of fish. Another showed someone spearing with something that was clearly not a Hawaiian sling. To the best of my knowledge, spearing is still illegal. These were not casual recreational boaters who came over for a day and were planning to eat what they caught. No, they were in Bahamian waters, taking what they could to sell it when they got back to

By Diane Phillips

Miami or Ft Lauderdale.

They were unlicenced, uncontrolled, unbridled thieves of our legacy, of what we need to feed ourselves and to leave to breed and reproduce for future generations.

Every single act that I watched, glued to the TV and furious, was an offence that made me wish I were either a gun-slinging vigilante or really good at wringing someone’s neck. What I saw brought about a streak of violence that I did not even know I had. I was mad, fighting mad and now I need your help. Yours and Fisheries and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and every Bahamian on any boat or at any dock at any marina where fishing boats gather and brag about their catch.

What gives any boat and the people on it the right to come into Bahamian waters and catch an unlimited number of fish that feed in our Lucayan Sea or Atlantic Ocean or any of our bays? We cannot go to Florida and fish whatever is left of their waters. There are limits but not enough eyes watching. There are size and age restrictions but not enough monitors. We warned of the dangers of boaters earlier this month when a visitor was run over in Exuma, a man who is still suffering. That accident was followed by another in Abaco that left three injured. But the Wild, Wild West of the Waters is not just about safety. It is about the theft, the robbery of our fish, conch and crawfish by foreigners to sell to a foreign market because their own waters are largely fished out.

How are we not all as angry as I am? Maybe it is ourselves we need to be angry at because it is

happening right before our eyes while we are looking the other way. It is our fault if we do not make it a priority to preserve the riches of the sea, whether sea grass or what breeds in it. It is our fault if we let others get away with raping our waters and pillaging our villages beneath the surface because we think there will always be more.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force is doing a much better job of slowing the catch from Dominicans and other larger threats with huge nets and powerful diesels. Now the enemy drives boats that look more like ours. They wear shirts and shorts and smiles that look like tourists out for a day’s excursion. They may be harder to spot but the damage they do is equally frightening for what they can take in a weekend multiplied by dozens in a month can impact the future of what lives beneath the sea and winds up on your table on Sunday after church.

Please, please, take this seriously. And do not misinterpret it to mean an anti-foreign boating bent. Not at all. I fully appreciate the value and economic benefits of the boating and yachting business to The Bahamas, though I believe there is much more we can gain economically from it. This is not about boating. This is about respect for another country’s resources and the right to enjoy the experience while leaving the bounty of the sea for the Bahamian people and future generations to come.

Another look at land registration

Last week’s column on the questions surrounding land registration as a major amendment to old legislation is being

“They were unlicenced, uncontrolled, unbridled thieves of our legacy, of what we need to feed ourselves and to leave to breed and reproduce for future generations.”

debated drew a number of comments, but the most serious and thoughtful came from attorney Andrew O’Brien, a founding partner of GSO (Glinton, Sweeting, O’Brien) law firm.

O’Brien serves as cochairman of the real estate arm of the Bahamas Bar Association which has paid very close attention to every line of the proposed amendment. In a presentation by a representative from Jamaica who explained how a similar attempt worked in a non-registration environment, he said the result was convincingly positive.

Prior to the requirement to register, folks in Jamaica were even more

lax about it than in The Bahamas, but as they cleared up one block after another and the grid began to build, it boosted the economy by making it easier to obtain a mortgage with clean title.

The most valuable information O’Brien shared was the idea that an ombudsman would be appointed for each area, someone chosen who knows that particular neighbourhood, street, community or small settlement and could provide the history that may not have been recorded.

Given the estimate that the process will take 30 years to complete before all ownership of all land in The Bahamas, including

commonage and generation property, is established, and any adjustments could be made if an issue arises, it begins to make more sense. Where it could be most valuable is in sorting out generation property if it means the rightful ownership is established and those owners are able to sell or conduct transactions which their lack of proof of ownership now prohibits.

On the other hand, if you have ever sat down with a family and tried to sort out who owns what in the generation house where you are now sitting in the living room, you will understand the challenge. Aunt Berta –she don’ move to Canada, Unca Will, well, he gone ‘way years ago and ain’t no one know where he gone after dat but he say it’s his last I seen a him, and Sheniqua, well, she just say dis is all hers and no one betta go and do nothin’ wid it.

But, as O’Brien said, “the devil is in the detail”.

Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dies at age 71

CLEARWATER Associated Press

HULK Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarfwearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act, died Thursday in Florida at age 71.

Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital less than 90 minutes after medics in Clearwater arrived at his home to answer a morning call about a cardiac arrest, police said.

“There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity,” Maj. Nate Burnside told reporters.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon.

But outside the ring, Hogan also found trouble. WWE in 2015 cut ties with him for three years, even removing him from its Hall of Fame, after it was reported that he was recorded using racial slurs about Blacks. He apologized and said his words were “unacceptable.”

Hogan won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 and reinstated there in 2018. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and millions of fans have watched the company’s weekly live television program, “Raw,” which debuted in January on Netflix.

He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a global phenomenon,” McMahon said of Hogan. Hogan’s own brand of passion “Hulkamania,” as the energy he created was

called, started running wild in the mid-1980s and pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream. He was a flag-waving American hero with the horseshoe mustache, red and yellow gear and massive arms he called his “24-inch pythons.” Crowds were hysterical when he ripped off his T-shirt in the ring — a trademark move — revealing a tan, sculpted body. Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.”

In recent years, Hogan added his celebrity to politics. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he merged classic WWE manoeuvres with

then-candidate Donald Trump’s rhetoric to passionately endorse him for president.

“Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!” Hogan shouted into the raucous crowd.

He ripped off a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of himself on a motorcycle to reveal a bright red Trump-Vance campaign shirt underneath. Trump stood to applaud the move.

“We lost a great friend today, the “Hulkster,”” Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. “Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.”

Hogan lately began to invest in alternatives to theatrical, professional

WASHINGTON Associated Press

THE Justice Department’s No. 2 official met Thursday with Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The meeting in Florida, which Deputy Attorney

General Todd Blanche said he worked to arrange, is part of an ongoing Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following fierce backlash from parts of President Donald Trump’s base over an earlier refusal to release additional records in the Epstein investigation.

“Ms. Maxwell answered every single question. She never stopped, she never invoked a privilege, she never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability,” attorney David Oscar Markus told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, where Maxwell met with Blanche.

wrestling, announcing plans in April to serve as the first commissioner for the Real American Freestyle organization, which describes itself as the “first unscripted pro wrestling” league in the world. The first event is Aug. 30 at Cleveland State University.

“The idea was so exciting that I get a chance to be involved with all these young people and help guide them in any way, especially to make them huge stars and create a future for them,” Hogan said. “People might be surprised, but wrestling is wrestling, brother.”

The league released a statement, saying it is now part of Hogan’s legacy “and we intend to honor it.”

Broken leg and a new attitude

Hogan was born in

In a social media post Tuesday, Blanche said that Trump “has told us to release all credible evidence” and that if Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the Justice Department “will hear what she has to say.” Markus said his team was “thankful” the deputy attorney general came to question Maxwell, calling it a “good day.” Asked if his client could potentially receive a pardon or see her prison term reduced, Markus said:

Georgia but lived much of his life in the Tampa, Florida, area. He recalled skipping school to watch wrestlers at the Sportatorium, a professional wrestling studio in Tampa.

“I had been running my mouth, telling everybody I’m going to be a wrestler, and in a small town, the word gets out,” Hogan told the Tampa Bay Times in 2021. “And so when I went down there, they were laying low for me. They exercised me till I was ready to faint.”

The result: a broken leg and a subsequent warning from his dad.

“Don’t you ever let anybody hurt you again,” Hogan recalled his father saying. “So I went back four or five months later with a whole new attitude. The rest is history.”

Hogan first became champion in what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, and pro wrestling took off from there. His popularity helped lead to the creation of the annual WrestleMania event in 1985, when he teamed up with Mr. T to beat “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff in the main event.

He slammed and beat Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987, and the WWF gained momentum. His feud with the late “Macho Man” Randy Savage – perhaps his greatest rival — carried pro wrestling even further.

Hogan was a central figure in what is known as the Monday Night Wars. The WWE and World Championship Wrestling were battling for ratings supremacy in 1996. Hogan tilted things in WCW’s favour with the birth of the Hollywood Hogan character and the formation of the New World Order, a villainous stable that put WCW ahead in the ratings. He returned to the WWE in 2002 and became a champion again. His match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8, a loss during which fans cheered for his “bad guy” character, was seen as a passing of the torch.

“There’s no promises yet. So she’s just answering questions for now.”

Blanche said Thursday in a social media post that he met with Maxwell and the interview will continue on Friday.

“The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time,” he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The House Committee on Oversight issued a subpoena Wednesday for Maxwell to testify before committee officials in August.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence and is housed at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida. She was sentenced three years ago after being convicted of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls.

Officials have said Epstein killed himself in his New York jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell’s links to famous people, including royals, presidents and billionaires.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department said it would not release more files related to the Epstein investigation, despite promises that claimed otherwise from Attorney General Pam Bondi. The department also said an Epstein client list does not exist.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Bondi told Trump in May that his name was among high-profile people mentioned in government files of Epstein, though the mention does not imply wrongdoing.

Hogan was perhaps as well known for his largerthan-life personality as he was his in-ring exploits. He was beloved for his “promos” — hype sessions he used to draw fans into matches. He often would play off his interviewer, “Mean” Gene Okerlund, starting his interviews off with, “Well, lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene!” Outside the ring He crossed over into movies and television as well. He was Thunderlips in the movie “Rocky III” in 1982.

In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in a lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million in punitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 obtained and posted video of him having sex with his former best friend’s wife. He said the post violated his privacy.

Hogan ended up settling the case for millions less after Gawker filed for bankruptcy.

There was other fallout. The litigation led to the discovery that Hogan had used racial slurs on the tape.

“It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it,” Hogan said.

After Hogan was booed at the premiere of Netflix’s new WWE show in January, former WWE wrestler Mark Henry, who is Black, said that the scandal was a “dark cloud” over Hogan’s career.

Henry said he believes in second chances but that Hogan “never wanted to go forward and fix it.” Outside Hogan’s Hangout, his restaurant in Clearwater Beach, people talked about their admiration for Hogan as news of his death spread. Rich Null of St. Louis said the two men worked out together.

“Thirty minutes into our workout in the gym, he said, ‘cut the Hulk Hogan crap, call me Terry,’” Null said. “He was a really super nice guy, and we’re gonna miss him.”

Trump, a Republican, has said that he once thought Epstein was a “terrific guy” but that they later had a falling out.

A subcommittee on Wednesday also voted to subpoena the Justice Department for documents related to Epstein. And senators in both major political parties have expressed openness to holding hearings on the matter after Congress’ August recess. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, has introduced legislation with bipartisan support that would require the Justice Department to “make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” related to Epstein and his associates.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and the Republican majority leader, Rep. Steve Scalise, both of Louisiana, have said they will address whatever outstanding Epstein-related issues are in Congress when they return from recess. Epstein, under a 2008 non-prosecution agreement, pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work release program. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender.

In 2019, Epstein was charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan for nearly identical allegations.

HULK Hogan fires up the crowd between matches at WrestleMania 21 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, April 3, 2005.

Photo: Chris Carlson/AP

DAVID OSCAR MARKUS, attorney for Ghislaine Maxwell, centre, speaks during a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, yesterday. Behind him is Leah Saffian, co-attorney, left, and Mellissa Madrigal, right.

Photo: John Raoux/AP

CIVIL SOCIETY SEC TOR AWARDS

TWENTY organizations were recognized recently during the Civil Society Sector Awards, held at Government House under the theme “Giving Back While Taking Responsibility.” The event, hosted by Civil Society Bahamas in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, marked the 20th anniversary of the Civil Society - the national apex body for nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Held in the ballroom at historic Government House, and attended by dignitaries, community leaders, and public officials, the evening paid tribute to the individuals and groups quietly driving change across the country.

Remarks throughout the evening came from key figures in the public and civic sectors, including Civil Society Bahamas President Dr Anthony Hamilton, and Sharmie Farrington, Director of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, who skillfully moderated the programme. As part of the tribute to the unwavering work of the awardees, a message was delivered on behalf of Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, Myles LaRoda, commending them and their various organizations for making a consistent and lasting impact in the community.

Honorees included representatives from the Bahamas Breastfeeding Association, which advocates for maternal and child health; Bahamas Disability Adventures, which supports inclusive recreation and communitybuilding; and STRAW Inc Center for Young Women, which provides mentorship and leadership development. From the Affluent Feeding Foundation to Women United in Prayer, the honorees represented sectors ranging from food security to family restoration, education, advocacy, recovery services, and youth empowerment.

The awards presentation, led by Her Excellency the Most Honourable Dame Cynthia A. Pratt, Governor-General of The Bahamas, highlighted the diverse yet interconnected work of organizations across the country. Each recipient came forward with visible grace and humility, as Her Excellency presented the awards in recognition of their service. For many, it was the first time their work had been acknowledged on such a national stage.

Founded in 2005, Civil Society Bahamas exists to strengthen and unify the voices of nonprofits across The Bahamas. As the national coordinating body for the sector, CSB plays a vital role in fostering collaboration, advocating for policy that supports civic engagement, and building the capacity of member organizations. Entities like CSB are a

cornerstone of healthy democratic societies around the world—bridging the gap between government institutions and everyday communities, and championing the kind of work that often goes unseen but is deeply felt by those segments of society who are most in need of advocacy.

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks from CSB Vice President Ms. Marilyn Zonicle, followed by a photo session and reception. Guests lingered in conversation, some connecting for the first time despite years of working toward similar goals.

In honouring the hands and hearts behind some of the nation’s most compassionate efforts, the evening served as a reminder that while government may build policy and private sector may drive commerce, but it is civil society that often holds the fabric of the country together.

ROTARACT CLUB OF NASSAU SUNSET

THE Rotaract Club of Nassau Sunset officially launched its 2025–2026 service year with an inspiring first meeting under the theme “Reignite: Being Young, Caribbean, and Global.” The gathering set the tone for a year of purposeful service, leadership, and personal growth for young professionals.

Keynote speaker, JoBeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Energy and Transport, delivered a powerful address encouraging members not to be afraid of using their voices and ideas — even in the face of outdated traditions. She challenged attendees to rise above fear, embrace the unknown, and confidently step into leadership roles within their communities and beyond.

President Brittany shared that the meeting was more than just a kickoff — it was a call to action for young people to make meaningful contributions at both local and global levels. “We are reigniting our passion for service and leadership,” she said, “and we’re inviting others to join us on this journey.”

The Rotaract Club of Nassau Sunset welcomes young adults ages 18–35 who are passionate about service, networking, and personal growth. Those interested in joining are encouraged to follow the club on social media or attend an upcoming meeting.

ROTARY CLUB OF NASSAU SUNRISE

THE Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise is proud to announce its 6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament, set for Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the prestigious Ocean Club Golf Course, Paradise Island. With a tee time of 1.00 PM, this highly anticipated event blends camaraderie, competition, and community service all for a good cause.

Hosted under the theme “Swing for a Cause”, the tournament continues to be a key fundraiser for the Club, supporting impactful initiatives to combat the scourge of Human Trafficking throughout The Bahamas.

“This event represents the heart of what Rotary stands for, “Service Above Self,” said President Patrick Newman. “It’s more than a game. It’s about bringing people together to create meaningful change in the lives of those we serve.”

The Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise is celebrating 25 years of service. And this tournament will be under the distinguished patronage of its illustrious 25 Presidents serving from 2001-2026. This event serves as a platform to raise awareness about the gravity and, often, brutality of human trafficking and generate funds to support the survivors through educational programs, preventive efforts, and advocacy campaigns.

The tournament will feature a two-person scramble format, player gift bags, sumptuous box lunches, exciting prizes, including a 2026 GLA 250 MercedesBenz hole-in-one prize, and a trophy presentation following play. Corporate teams, individual players, and sponsors are invited to register now, with several partnership opportunities available for businesses seeking to align with a high-profile philanthropic event.

Past President Dr. Sophia Rolle, Tournament Director, emphasized the value of the event: “This is a tournament with purpose. Every swing, every sponsorship, every show of support helps to transform lives. We are especially excited to welcome both returning and new golfers and sponsors for what promises to be a dynamic and unforgettable day on the Ocean Club Golf Course.”

To register your team or become a sponsor, email rotaryclubofnassausunrise@gmail.com or contact Tournament Director Dr. Sophia Rolle directly at 242-424-3774 or drsophiarole@gmail.com.

GROUP photo of 17 honorees for Civil Society Bahamas celebrating the 20th anniversary.

JOBETH COLE BY-DAVIS with members of Rotaract Club of Nasau Sunset.

FROM left: Phedra Turnquest, Glenys Hanna-Martin, LaSasha Williams-Harry, Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt; Dr Anthony Hamilton.

FROM left: Wence Martin; Dr Anthony Hamilton, Dame Cynthia A Pratt; Dr Valderine Hamilton.

FROM left: Freddie Munnings; Dr Anthony Hamilton, and Terry Miller - stalwarts of Civil Society Bahamas.

AMPUSAM SYMONETTE, shares a light moment with Dame Cynthia A Pratt, before receiving her award