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DUPUCH-CARRON TO CONSID ER P L P BID

AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Digital Editor aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ROBERT DupuchCarron, founder of the Bahamas Aviation Climate and Severe Weather Networks Ltd (BACSWN), yesterday said he would be “honoured” to be considered as a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate for MICAL but stressed no formal request has been made by the party. His comments come amid speculation of an unofﬁcial campaign launch after photos and videos

circulated on social media over the weekend showing Mr Dupuch-Carron alongside supporters wearing black shirts printed with “Dupuch for MICAL”.

Mr Dupuch-Carron ﬁrmly dismissed any suggestion his visit to Acklins represented a campaign launch. He told The Tribune the scenes, which featured cheering crowds and posters calling for improved services in the southern islands, represented a growing level of support for a

Catching the spirit of Goombay

Detained man denied medical treatment, says rights group

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

JARVIN Green, the disabled Jamaican man seen in a viral video being dragged by plainclothes ofﬁcers on Shirley Street, is in immigration custody with a head injury and has reportedly been denied proper medical

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunmedia.net

treatment, according to Human Rights Bahamas.

The rights group said Mr Green’s current condition is the result of his “deplorable and unnecessary” apprehension following a Supreme Court order for his release. It warned that his case reﬂects a longstanding “pattern of abuse” by immigration and law enforcement ofﬁcials against vulnerable individuals.

“We are further informed that Mr Green is being held in Immigration custody with a head injury caused by his extremely rough treatment, and on Friday, he was said to have been denied access

VIDEOS circulating on TikTok show the ﬁnal moments of a 35-year-old South African man who went overboard on Friday after stabbing a female crew member multiple times aboard the Icon of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship.

Police said the man, who was also a crew member, allegedly stabbed a 28-yearold South African woman around 7pm before jumping into the sea. He was later pulled from

MAN DROWNS AFTER STABBING SOUTH A FRICAN WOM AN ON SHIP AG: AUTHORITY WILL TAKE JUNKANOO BEYOND BAY

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General

Ryan Pinder has defended the Davis administration’s proposed Junkanoo Authority Bill, calling it a necessary step toward formalising the national cultural festival and expanding economic opportunities for Bahamian creatives.

Speaking at a recent press brieﬁng, Mr Pinder said the bill would be debated in the House of Assembly on August 6 and will establish an independent National

A YOUNG boy enjoys the rhythms and music as Goombay Summer Festival returned to Bay Street on Friday. See PAGE TWO for more.

Photo: Nikia Charlton

ROBERT Dupuch-Carron (second from left) visiting Acklins over the weekend.

Night of rhythm and culture as Goombay on Bay returns

LOCALS and tourists alike gathered on Bay Street to enjoy the sounds and culture as Goombay on Bay returned on Friday night. The audience was treated to local musicians, and entertainers, fire dancing along with goods and treats.

Clarke wins 100 JAMZ Secret Sound’s grand prize

LATOYA Clarke is the grand prize winner of the 100 JAMZ Secret Sound 2025 contest! This year’s contest culminated with LaToya successfully identifying the ﬁnal answer: “Someone cracking their knuckles underwater,” earning her $6,000!

“We are overjoyed to celebrate LaToya as our ﬁnal winner,” said Dj Reality, (Radio House promotions director) at 100 JAMZ. “Her clever deduction exempliﬁes the spirit

of the Secret Sound contest, and we’re thrilled to reward her dedication and enthusiasm!”

The promotion was made possible thanks to the support of sponsors: The Beauty Shack, Miss Arri, and Audio Plus.

100 JAMZ said: “Their commitment to our community and support for local initiatives plays an integral role in keeping such contests alive and engaging. A big thank you is also extended to our

listeners, whose enthusiasm and participation have made the Secret Sound contest a resounding success, year after year. The interaction, anticipation, and joy experienced throughout the contest have reinforced our mission to connect and entertain our audience. Listeners are encouraged to stay tuned to 100 JAMZ, The People’s Radio Station, for upcoming contests, giveaways, and more chances to win fabulous prizes.”

Photos: Nikia Charlton

TUC head pledged uniﬁed front for BGWU’s industrial action threat

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

TRADE Union Congress (TUC) president Obie Ferguson has pledged the uniﬁed support of all TUCafﬁliated unions behind the Bahamas General Workers Union (BGWU) as it threatens industrial action over long-standing grievances at the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC).

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mr Ferguson afﬁrmed that unions across sectors, including healthcare, air trafﬁc control, and transportation, would act in solidarity if the BGWU moves forward with strike action.

“You think I going on strike and she ain’t going, and we in this together,” Mr Ferguson said, referencing BGWU president Linda Sands while announcing the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union’s (BTCU) return to the TUC.

“Whenever you all decide to make a move in your interest, we in the TUC will be with you. You’re not going to go a day alone. We make a commitment to all of our afﬁliates. When

there’s an issue, it’s for all of us. There’s no one-man arrangement here.” He added that essential workers, including doctors, nurses, and taxi drivers, would not stand by as one union bears the burden alone. “Let them don’t pay that money,” he warned the government. “They gotta pay the money they owe the people. If they don’t, watch and see what will happen. We will sit down, put a plan together, and we will carry out the plan.” Mr Ferguson insisted the unions’ demands are not politically motivated, but grounded in protecting the rights and welfare of workers.

Last week, Ms Sands said BAIC employees are ready to strike if the government fails to deliver on promised salary increments and restore health and life insurance coverage.

According to Ms Sands, staff have received only partial payment on increments promised since 2022, and have been without insurance since October 2024, leaving many to cover medical expenses out of pocket.

“There will be industrial action,” she said. “These people want their monies.

Everybody else is getting money. Why can’t these people at the lower level be okay too?”

Despite two meetings with the Department of Labour, the matter remains unresolved. The BGWU is demanding full payment of all outstanding increments, reinstatement of insurance coverage, and urgent relief for stafﬁng shortages at BAIC.

“If it is not done today, then I do not have to tell you what is going to happen,” Ms Sands warned.

In a passionate close to the press conference, Mr Ferguson dismissed critics of the union movement.

“Oh, well, you know I was not, I was not the smartest boy in mathematics, but I learned some other things - A hint to the wise is sufﬁcient,” he said. “God is a good God, no matter what they try to do, because I am at the end of the road now, just about right, and I’m telling you I don’t even check. You can cuss me as much as you want to. Two things you don’t do to me, you don’t control my health, nor do you control my wealth. So you tell me, why should I listen to you talking foolishness?”

Teen boy in critical condition and four men in hospital after violent weekend

A TEENAGE boy is in critical condition, and four other men are recovering from gunshot and stabbing injuries following a string of violent incidents across New Providence over the weekend.

The first incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, July 25, when a teenage male was shot during a confrontation in the Flamingo Gardens area. Police said the shooting happened shortly before 1am off Montgomery Avenue, where the teen reportedly got into a verbal altercation over money. During the dispute, the other male allegedly produced a firearm and opened fire. The victim was struck multiple times and taken to the hospital in a private vehicle. He remains in critical condition.

On Saturday, July 26, two men were injured in what police believe may be connected shootings

in the Montell Heights area. Shortly after 6pm, ShotSpotter Technology detected gunfire on Bowe Avenue. Officers later found a 46-year-old man injured on Lincoln Boulevard. He told police he had visited a residence on Bowe Avenue where he was confronted by a gunman who opened fire. While fleeing the scene, he injured his leg and was taken to the hospital in stable condition, where he is expected to undergo surgery.

In what police say is a separate but possibly related incident, a 39-year-old man arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds. He had reportedly been involved in a dispute on Bowe Avenue before a gunman opened fire. The victim fled in a vehicle with another man but was pursued by the shooter on a motorcycle, who continued to fire at the car as they travelled on Lincoln

Boulevard. The vehicle later crashed into a utility pole on Eastern Road, but the driver was not present when officers arrived.

The 39-year-old victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to the upper back, is listed in critical condition and is scheduled for surgery.

The weekend violence continued with two unrelated stabbing incidents.

Around 1.45am on Saturday, police responded to a stabbing on Sealink Drive, off East Street South, where a man was allegedly stabbed during a dispute. He remains in critical condition at the hospital.

Just over 24 hours later, around 3am on Sunday, police were called to a parking lot off University Drive, where another man had been stabbed during an altercation. He was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. His condition was not immediately available.

POLICE SHOOT ONE MAN AND A PP REHEND ANOTHER SUS P ECTED IN WEEKEND SHOOTING

IN the aftermath of a shooting that left one man injured, police shot one suspect and arrested a second man. The incident occurred shortly after 1.30pm on Sunday, when police were alerted by ShotSpotter technology to gunﬁre on Deveaux Street off East Street.

At the scene, ofﬁcers found a vehicle with bullet

holes. A man who was shot was taken to hospital, where he was reported in critical condition.

Reports say a man was near a business when the occupants of a silver Japanese vehicle opened ﬁre before leaving the scene. Shortly afterwards, police say ofﬁcers on mobile patrol tried to intercept a vehicle matching the description on Market

Police said two men exited, both armed with ﬁrearms. One suspect, aged 26, was shot by police, and the other, a 26-year-old, was taken into custody.

The injured suspect was taken to hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Police said two ﬁrearms with ammunition were recovered from the scene.

New Immigration director says excessive force will not be tolerated under his watch

languish in custody with a head injury and no access to medical care, suggests a level of inhumanity that is unacceptable in any society governed by the rule of law.”

Mr Green, 43, had just been ordered released from custody by Supreme Court Justice Dale Fitzpatrick on July 23. The judge ruled that his continued detention was unlawful because a deportation order issued in February had expired. Mr Green had completed an eight-year sentence for causing dangerous harm and had been held at the

Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

Shortly after the release order, video footage began circulating showing two men dragging Mr Green, who uses a wheelchair, across Shirley Street. A bystander’s audio recording accompanied the video, which has since sparked widespread public outrage.

Newly appointed Immigration Director Stephen LaRoda conﬁrmed that police are investigating the incident. While he declined to comment in detail, Mr LaRoda said: “The use of excessive force will not be tolerated under my leadership.”

Mr Green’s attorney, Martin A Lundy II, called

the ofﬁcers’ actions a violation of basic rights.

“Mr Green’s detention is not in issue here. Fundamental rights and freedoms are owed to everyone in this country, even Lucifer himself,” Mr Lundy said. “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, wheelchairbound man, being dragged across Shirley Street by two men, are also among those things that speak for themselves.”

LaRoda annouced as new Director of Immigration succeeding Pratt

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

STEPHEN LaRoda has been appointed Director of Immigration, succeeding William Pratt, whose return to the post in 2023 sparked controversy.

Mr Pratt, who previously served as director in 2013 under the Christie administration, was reappointed last October on a temporary contract after the early retirement of thendirector Keturah Ferguson. His reinstatement drew criticism from the Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU), which objected to appointing someone on a contract.

On Friday, a ceremony at the British Colonial Hotel marked the official transition and recognised 16 executive promotions and five standard officer promotions within the department.

In farewell remarks, Mr Pratt said he believed he was leaving the department in capable hands. He acknowledged making difﬁcult decisions during his tenure and said the promotional exercises he oversaw were part of his effort to secure the department’s long-term future.

He urged the new leadership to prioritise customer service, noting that applicants should not wait months for permit renewals or email responses. He also called for the appointment

of a Minister of State for Immigration, arguing that the workload is too heavy for one minister alone.

Although his contract runs until November 14, Mr Pratt said he chose to step down early after ﬁnalising the promotions.

“Since the promotions are out, I told the government I don’t need to complete the contract when I present them with the promotions, I could step down,” he told reporters.

The BCIAWU previously ﬁled a trade dispute over his appointment, citing a 2021 Supreme Court ruling that deemed senior-level contract appointments unlawful. Asked about the issue, Mr Pratt dismissed suggestions that his return violated any rules, adding that he would continue to support the department out of love for his country.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis congratulated Mr LaRoda and thanked Mr Pratt for his service. He described The Bahamas as a compassionate but not careless nation in enforcing immigration laws and called his administration “the most aggressive and focused immigration enforcement administration in modern Bahamian history.”

He said more than 13,000 migrants have been repatriated under his administration, the detention centre population is at a historic low, seven illegal shantytowns have been

demolished, and operations are underway on multiple islands.

“Bahamians want to know that their communities are safe, that their jobs are secure, and that the rules apply to everyone — no matter their background, nationality, or connections,” Mr Davis said. “We are not anti-immigrant. We are anti-lawlessness. We are not against workers who follow the law. But we will not tolerate systems that disadvantage Bahamians in their own country.”

He said enforcing immigration laws is essential for economic security and national preservation and urged the newly promoted ofﬁcers to lead with purpose.

Speaking to reporters, Mr LaRoda said his top priority is restoring public trust in the department. He suggested that more public education campaigns may be necessary to demonstrate progress and promote transparency.

He described immigration as a global “hotbed” issue but said improved enforcement can be achieved with a “firm but fair” approach. Mr LaRoda has served in the department since 1986. He began his career as a frontier officer at Lynden Pindling International Airport and has held posts on several Family Islands. He has overseen asylum applications, human trafficking cases, and permit processing.

NEWLY appointed director of Immigration Stephen LaRoda said, “The use of excessive force will not be tolerated under my leadership.”

Photo: Nikia Charlton

Dupuch-Carron:

If they put my name forward I would take that very seriously

potential candidacy as he traverses the area to extoll the beneﬁts of the Heads of Agreement that BACSWN signed with the government for an aviation and emergency services initiative. There was an outpouring of support, not just for the project, but for me personally,” Mr DupuchCarron said.

“People were saying I should be the next candidate for MICAL. But that’s not for me to decide.” He said “if after careful consideration they deem

me worthy, I would give it serious thought. It would be the honour of a lifetime to stand in the footsteps of my family”. According to BJ Moss, a coordinator of the effort supporting Mr DupuchCarron, the shirts were part of a broader visibility push by supporters. There are ﬁve aspirants out there for MICAL and their supporters do what they feel to give their aspirant the most visibility,” Mr Moss told The Tribune. If chosen, Mr DupuchCarron said he would represent the third generation of his family to serve the MICAL constituency

or its predecessor seats. His grandfather, Sir Etienne Dupuch, greatuncle Eugene (“Gene”) Dupuch, and uncle Bernard Dupuch, all previously represented parts of the southern Bahamas.

According to the Bahamas Handbook, seven Dupuch men have been MPs over four generations. The ﬁrst was Joe Dupuch, who was born in Bordeaux, France, and arrived in Nassau in 1840.

The late Tribune Editor and Publisher, Sir Etienne Dupuch served in the House of Assembly from 1925 to 1942 and from 1949 to 1956, when he

Abaco radar back online with the aid of BACSWN

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

REAL-TIME weather tracking and forecasting capabilities during the ongoing hurricane season will be greatly enhanced by the repair and recalibration of the Marsh Harbour weather radar, says the private firm contracted to manage and maintain the country’s weather radar network.

Badly damaged by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, the radar has not been fully functional since May of last year. The restored radar will provide critical real-time atmospheric data, enabling meteorologists to track rainfall, storm systems and potential hurricanes with greater accuracy and range. Its absence is said to have left a significant gap in the country’s meteorological monitoring, particularly for the northern Bahamas. The repair operation, which took place earlier this month, was overseen by the Bahamas Aviation Climate and Severe Weather Networks Ltd (BACSWN), the private firm contracted to manage and maintain the country’s weather radar network.

Senior project manager Antti Dorkkeli said the work included the replacement of a failed radar transmitter and a

magnetron, followed by a full technical calibration. This radar was one of the first we prioritised once we assessed the state of the national system,” Mr Dorkkeli said. “We replaced the necessary components and calibrated the system to ensure sensitivity and accuracy. It is now operating as expected. The radar can detect rain events within 260 kilometres. In the case of hurricanes or severe weather, it can track phenomena up to 400 kilometres. That sensitivity is crucial for forecasting and early warnings.”

Mr Dorkkeli previously served as project manager for the installation of the radars under a government contract between 2017 and 2021.

He rejoined the project earlier this year under BACSWN, which now holds responsibility for the maintenance of all five national radar installations.

Speaking with The Tribune, BACSWN vice president of development Adam Darville confirmed that only one of the five weather radars –– New Providence –– was operational when the company assumed responsibility.

Mr Darville said that three sites are expected to be fully functional by the end of July.

“We are aiming for full

coverage of the country,” Mr Darville said. The meteorological department will have the tools needed to track and assess threats more comprehensively.”

The Tribune understands the radar system had suffered from limited maintenance capacity and inconsistent funding prior to the company’s engagement.

Mr Dorkkeli said efforts are now underway to introduce a periodic maintenance schedule to prevent future outages.

There will be a structured plan, similar to how one maintains a vehicle,” he said. “The key is consistent oversight. Without that, these systems can deteriorate quickly.”

Meteorologists are expected to use the reactivated radars to provide earlier and more precise warnings during hurricane season.

Mr Dorkkeli noted that advanced calibration allows systems to filter out non-weather interference such as birds or aircraft, improving the quality of the data.

These radars are essential tools,” he said. “They help meteorologists determine whether a storm is forming, what direction it is moving, and how severe it might be. That information can guide decisions that affect public safety, including evacuations.”

moved a resolution to end discrimination making it possible for black Bahamians to have free access to all public places.

Both Eugene and Bernard Dupuch began their political careers as independent candidates, and later joined the United Bahamian Party (UBP).

Mr Dupuch-Carron recalled memories visiting MICAL since the age of 11 with his mother and Tribune publisher Eileen Carron and uncle Bernard, who both encouraged him to learn about the area that holds deep ties to his family.

“It’s a very comfortable

environment for me,” he said.

“The people remember me as a child down there. The name Dupuch is deeply rooted in that community — much like Pindling in Andros.”

Mr Dupuch-Carron added: “If they, after careful consideration, decide to put my name forward, I would take that very seriously. But until then, my focus remains on the aviation project and helping the southern islands get the services they deserve.”

The $427m BACSWN project includes aviation-grade ambulances, enhanced

search-and-rescue capabilities, and upgrades to radar and meteorological services that remain critical in the southern islands where basic infrastructure remains limited.

Mr Dupuch-Carron said the southern Bahamas is being left behind and commended Prime Minister Philip Davis for supporting private sector-led investment in the area.

PLP chairman Fred Mitchell declined to comment. Representatives of the FNM also declined to comment.

RADAR tower at Leonard Thompson International Airport in Marsha Harbour, Abaco.

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

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 .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Tracking shows most ﬁshing bans respected

MARINE protected areas cover more than eight percent of the world’s oceans today, but they can get a bad rap as being protected on paper only. While the name invokes safe havens for fish, whales and other sea life, these areas can be hard to monitor. High-profile violations, such as recent fishing fleet incursions near the Galapagos Islands and ships that “go dark” by turning off their tracking devices, have fuelled concerns about just how much poaching is going undetected.

But some protected areas are successfully keeping illegal ﬁshing out.

In a new global study using satellite technology that can track large ships even if they turn off their tracking systems, my colleagues and I found that marine protected areas where industrial ﬁshing is fully banned are largely succeeding at preventing poaching. What marine protected areas aim to save

Picture a sea turtle gliding by as striped butterfly fish weave through coral branches. Or the deep blue of the open ocean, where tuna flash like silver and seabirds wheel overhead. These habitats, where fish and other marine life breed and feed, are the treasures that marine protected areas aim to protect.

A major threat to these ecosystems is industrial ﬁshing.

These vessels can operate worldwide and stay at sea for years at a time with visits from refrigerated cargo ships that ferry their catch to port. China has an extensive global ﬂeet of ships that operate as far away as the coast of South America and other regions.

The global industrial fishing fleet –nearly half a million vessels – hauls in about 100 million metric tons of seafood each year. That’s about a fivefold increase since 1950, though it has been close to flat for the past 30 years. Today, more than one-third of commercial fish species are overfished, exceeding what population growth can replenish.

When well designed and enforced, marine protected areas can help to restore fish populations and marine habitats. My previous work shows they can even benefit nearby fisheries because the fish spill over into surrounding areas.

That’s why expanding marine protected areas is a cornerstone of international conservation policy. Nearly every country has pledged to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030.

Big promises – and big doubts

But what “protection” means can vary.

Some marine protected areas ban industrial fishing. These are the gold standard for conservation, and research shows they can be effective ways to increase the amount of sea life and diversity of species.

However, most marine protected areas don’t meet that standard. While governments report that more than eight percent of the global ocean is protected, only about three percent is actually covered by industrial fishing bans. Many “protected” areas even allow bottom trawling, one of the most destructive fishing practices, although regulations are slowly changing.

The plentiful fish in better-protected areas can also attract poachers. In one high-profile case, a Chinese vessel was caught inside the Galápagos Marine Reserve with 300 tons of marine life, including 6,000 dead sharks, in 2017. This crew faced heavy fines and prison time. But how many others go unseen?

Shining a light on the ‘dark feet’

Much of what the world knows about global industrial ﬁshing comes from the automatic identiﬁcation system, or AIS, which many ships are required to use. This system broadcasts their location every few seconds, primarily to reduce the risk of collisions at sea.

Using artiﬁcial intelligence, researchers can analyse movement patterns in these messages to estimate when and

where ﬁshing is happening.

But AIS has blind spots. Captains can turn it off, tamper with data or avoid using it entirely. Coverage is also spotty in busy areas, such as Southeast Asia.

New satellite technologies are helping to see into those blind spots.

Synthetic aperture radar can detect vessels even when they’re not transmitting AIS. It works by sending radar pulses to the ocean surface and measuring what bounces back. Paired with artiﬁcial intelligence, it reveals previously invisible activity.

Synthetic aperture radar still has limits – primarily difﬁculty detecting small boats and less frequent coverage than AIS – but it’s still a leap forward. In one study of coastal areas using both technologies, we found in about 75 percent of instances ﬁshing vessels detected by synthetic aperture radar were not being tracked by AIS.

New global analysis shows what really happens

Two studies published in the journal Science on July 24, 2025, use these satellite datasets to track industrial ﬁshing activity in marine protected areas.

Our study looked just at those marine protected areas where all industrial ﬁshing is explicitly banned by law.

We combined AIS vessel tracking, synthetic aperture radar satellite imagery, ofﬁcial marine protected area rules, and implementation dates showing exactly when those bans took effect. The analysis covers nearly 1,400 marine protected areas spanning about three million square miles where industrial ﬁshing is explicitly prohibited.

The results were striking: showed little to no signs of industrial ﬁshing.

sels per 100,000 square kilometres on average in these areas, compared to 42 on average in unprotected coastal areas.

year of alleged illegal ﬁshing effort.

The second study uses the same AIS and synthetic aperture radar data to examine a broader set of marine protected areas – including many that explicitly allow fishing. They document substantial fishing activity in these areas, with about eight times more detections than in the protected areas that ban industrial fishing.

Combined, these two studies lead to a clear conclusion: Marine protected areas with weak regulations see substantial industrial ﬁshing, but where bans are in place, they’re largely respected.

We can’t tell whether these ﬁshing bans are effective because they’re well enforced or simply because they were placed where little ﬁshing happened anyway. Still, when violations do occur, this system offers a way for enforcement agencies to detect them.

A reason for optimism

These technological advances in vessel tracking have the potential to reshape marine law enforcement by signiﬁcantly reducing the costs of monitoring. Agencies such as national navies and coast guards no longer need to rely solely on costly physical patrols over huge areas. With tools such as the Global Fishing Watch map, which makes vessel tracking data freely available to the public, they can monitor activity remotely and focus patrol efforts where they’re needed most. That can also have a deterrent effect.

In Costa Rica’s Cocos Island National Park, evidence of illegal ﬁshing activity decreased substantially after the rollout of satellite and radar-based vessel tracking. Similar efforts are strengthening enforcement in the Galapagos Islands and Mexico’s Revillagigedo National Park. Beyond marine protected areas, these technologies also have the potential to support tracking a broad range of human activities, such as oil slicks and deep-sea mining, making companies more accountable in how they use the ocean.

Soul of democracy being tested

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE public conversation continues as many weigh in on whether Sebas Bastian should be allowed to contest the seat as a Member of Parliament. I wish to add my voice and thoughts on the matter on behalf of the Bahamas Constitution Party, as the law is clear, and many Bahamians do not understand the concept of ethics and conﬂict of interest in public life.

The soul of our democracy is being tested. Today, I speak not only as the Servant Leader of the Bahamas Constitution Party, but as a guardian of the truth and a voice for every Bahamian who believes that no one— absolutely no one—is above the law.

We are deeply disturbed and utterly outraged by the audacity of any individual who seeks to serve in our Cabinet while simultaneously holding or justifying ownership of broadcasting or gaming licenses. Such behaviour is not just morally indefensible—it is legally prohibited, constitutionally compromised, and a direct assault on the ethical foundation of our nation.

The law is clear. Article 78(1) of the Constitution demands that Ministers avoid any conﬂict between personal interest

and public duty.

Section 11(1)(b) of the Broadcasting Act states without ambiguity: “No licence shall be granted to any person who is a member of the Cabinet.”

And while the Lotteries and Gaming Act does not explicitly list Ministers, public service ethics, and common sense dictate that those in power must not be allowed to proﬁt from industries they oversee.

Let me be crystal clear:

There is no legal, constitutional, or moral loophole that excuses a Minister who holds or beneﬁts from a broadcasting or gaming license. None.

The consequences are grave. When Cabinet Ministers become players in the very industries they regulate: Regulatory fairness collapses. The free press is threatened.

Public trust disintegrates.

And the rule of law becomes optional.

That, my fellow citizens, is how democracies decay— from within.

A line must now be drawn.

If we are to preserve

the dignity of our institutions and the sanctity of our Constitution, we must act decisively:

We demand immediate public declarations from all Cabinet Ministers, afﬁrming that they hold no direct or indirect broadcasting or gaming interests.

We demand the resignation or removal of any Minister in breach of these provisions.

And if the government refuses to act, we are prepared to pursue constitutional litigation to enforce the law and defend the people’s trust.

Let those in power be warned: If you will not uphold the law, then you must vacate the ofﬁce. The Bahamian people will not accept silence, excuses, or political spin. We will not be governed by self-interest cloaked in parliamentary privilege.

This is not a political issue. It is a matter of national honour, a test of constitutional faith, and a deﬁning moment in the future of Bahamian governance. May God guide our conscience, strengthen our resolve, and embolden the righteous.

S ALI McINTOSH Bahamas Constitution Party July 27, 2025.

GB in dark over Grand Lucayan

EDITOR, The Tribune. SOMETHING’S not sitting right with a lot of us in Grand Bahama. According to yesterday’s Guardian, the Grand Lucayan has suddenly stopped taking reservations after this month, and yet no one from the government has had the decency to say a word to the people. No update. No statement. No explanation. After months of celebration and a big signing ceremony over this $827m deal, all we have now is silence. We’ve been calling for transparency on this deal

from the start. It’s been over two months, 68 days to be exact, since the government announced the agreement with Concord Wilshire. And what do we know? Not a thing. No timeline. No breakdown. No details about jobs for Bahamians. Do we even know if the money is in the bank yet? We shouldn’t be hearing about major developments like this from the front desk. This is a nearly billion-dollar project that affects the entire island, and yet we’re left guessing what’s next like we’re on the outside looking in. It’s

insulting. When they needed a photo-op, the Cabinet showed up in full force. But now that real questions are being asked, questions about jobs, construction, and when things will actually move, they’re nowhere to be found.

This isn’t just about a hotel. It’s about livelihoods. It’s about hope. And it’s about respect. Grand Bahamians deserve to be treated as stakeholders, not spectators.

MIMI CLARKE Nassau, July 23, 2025.

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THE BAHAMAS crawfishing season is just a few days away, and many are looking forward to how they are going to cook their favourite dish.

Photo: Leonardo Lamas

Passengers unaware of violent attack on crew member praise cruise ships swift response

pronounced dead by the ship’s medical team. The female victim sustained injuries to her upper body and was treated onboard.

She is reportedly in stable condition.

One video shows a black man in a short-sleeved blue shirt, moments before he is retrieved from the water.

In subsequent footage, a rescue boat carries him as personnel perform CPR and support his body.

In another video, a passenger questions why the man jumped overboard. At the time, many other guests were heard expressing hope that he would

survive. Some passengers later said they were unaware of the stabbing when he jumped. Some videos also show guests clapping after the man was retrieved from the sea.

One woman, a passenger whose footage went viral, said she had just returned from dinner with her family and was sitting on her room’s balcony when she heard shouting. She said the yelling grew aggressive, and then she heard a bang followed by a splash. When she rushed to look, she saw the man overboard.

She praised the cruise line’s swift response, saying it appeared staff had anticipated his jump. She noted

that crew members immediately began throwing lifebuoys into the water. In the comment sections of several videos, some users claimed the man was related to them.

This incident comes weeks after another tragedy involving a South African crew member.

On July 3, 20-year-old Paige Bell, a stewardess aboard the 43-metre charter yacht Far From It, was found dead in the vessel’s engine room in Harbour Island.

Police said she had injuries to her neck and arms. A male crew member found nearby with serious wounds to his arms was taken into custody.

Davis: We are not in an immigration crisis

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunmedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip

“Brave” Davis has pushed back against criticism of his handling of immigration issues, insisting The Bahamas is not facing a crisis while touting his administration’s record of over 15,000 repatriations.

“We’re not in an immigration crisis,” Mr Davis told reporters at an immigration event Friday. “The fact of the matter [is], our record speaks for itself.

The fact that everybody doesn’t know what’s going on doesn’t mean that we’re not doing anything.”

He said migrant landings have declined in recent years and credited the government’s efforts to protect borders and enforce immigration law.

“We are doing our job in respect to ensuring that our borders are being protected and persons who [are] amongst us are here llegally,” he said. His comments came in response to Free National Movement Leader Michael

Pintard, who accused the government of overseeing a “broken, politicised and corrupt” system. Mr Pintard said illegal immigration threatens national security and public services, claiming, without evidence, that undocumented people are being issued ofﬁcial documents and that thousands of permit applications are unresolved.

He alleged some deported people later received legal status, even while in detention.

Outgoing Immigration Director William Pratt

rejected claims that citizenship is being granted inappropriately. He said all applications go through the Citizenship Commission, which the FNM established.

“This present government allows the commission and all the members to remain in place, and so every application goes to the citizenship commission,” he said.

Mr Pratt added: “I will never sell my country.”

He said he ensures all applicants meet the criteria of the Bahamas Nationality

National Junkanoo Authority aims to make festival a year-round industry

Junkanoo Authority with representatives from New Providence, Grand Bahama, and the Family Islands.

He said the structure is based on models like Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival Commission and aims to make Junkanoo a yearround industry.

“We’re looking at the same thing,” he said. “This Junkanoo Commission, or Junkanoo Authority, is to provide an independent framework to take Junkanoo further than Bay Street.”

Mr Pinder said the bill complements recent

changes to intellectual property law that give stronger legal protections to artists and performers, enabling them to beneﬁt ﬁnancially from their work.

“That’s really what this is about,” he said. “To have the expertise and authority to do that.”

He denied that the government was trying to disempower existing groups like the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP).

“This isn’t any attempt to pull any authority or to destroy any Junkanoo Corporation,” he said.

“What we have done is we have added the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Corporation on the authority,

and we’re looking to create a Family Island Junkanoo Corporation.” He said consultations would continue during Parliament’s summer break and expects the bill to be among the ﬁrst passed when sittings resume.

The JCNP, which has managed New Providence’s major Junkanoo parades since 2004, voted unanimously last Monday to suspend all Junkanoorelated activities, including Emancipation Day events, practices, rush-outs, and side parades, until further notice. The JCNP said the decision followed a special meeting of leaders from registered A, B, and D Division groups, held

in response to the introduction of the National Junkanoo Authority of The Bahamas Bill, 2025. Under the proposed bill, the new National Junkanoo Authority would consist of 15 members appointed by the minister. These include representatives from the JCNP, the National Junkanoo Committee, the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Corporation, the Family Island Junkanoo Corporation, various government agencies, cultural institutions, and one person deemed most representative of persons involved in Junkanoo music. Ten additional members would serve in an ex ofﬁcio capacity.

Act.

“I love my country, and no, no, citizenship is going to the board if they don’t meet the criteria of the Bahamas Nationality Act,” he said.

Mr Pratt ofﬁcially stepped down on Friday and was succeeded by Stephen LaRoda.

Mr Davis said the department had received increased resources but added that improving

immigration enforcement also requires a shift in public mindset.

“We have done all that we can by giving them resources, increasing manpower,” he said, adding:

“We have to be prepared to protect our borders and ensure that those who are amongst us are here legally, and also making a contribution that does not compromise the opportunities of Bahamians.”

THE BODY of the man who reportedly stabbed a South African woman on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is retrieved from the water.

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025

Balancing act between constituency and party

By MALCOLM STRACHAN

ELECTION nomination season is proving a rough ride for the Free National Movement.

The party has been moving ahead with its nomination process – and in the game of musical chairs, not all who are left without a seat when the music stops are going to be happy about it. The latest backlash to come the party’s way has followed the denial of a nomination to Renward Wells – who is being snubbed for the Bamboo Town seat, it seems. Instead, Heather Hunt looks like getting the nod.

There have been strong words in the wake of the move – people calling party leader Michael Pintard “vindictive” and “hateful”.

On the face of it, is it any real surprise that Mr Wells might not be the choice of the leadership?

He used to be a PLP MP, before ﬂipping parties and joining the FNM and becoming a minister under Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. Then in the wake of the party crashing and burning at the polls, he continued to support Dr Minnis as a leadership candidate rather than throwing his support to current leader Mr Pintard.

For his time in the FNM, he has been Minnis’ man – and Minnis is decidedly out of favour right now. So why would the leadership give him a seat rather than someone who has given them backing all along?

The tension exists of course because it is a matter for the constituency too.

The association chairwoman, Monique Seymour, was quoted in The Tribune as saying that “we remain

“Constituency associations absolutely have a part to play –but might not always know the full picture.”

supporting Renward Wells as our candidate”.

She added: “They say the association bullying them by telling them who we want but they are bullying me and my association by telling us who they want. We will not be walking for Heather Hunt. We will not because what they did was a slap in the face.”

This is not the only constituency where there has been a difference of opinion over a nomination.

Over in South Beach, former senator Jamal Moss was “hurt” by the decision to choose Darren Henﬁeld ahead of him – though he said he respected the decision and it was time to “move on”.

Executives in the constituency association there said they were caught “off guard” by the decision to choose Henﬁeld over Moss.

One executive said the party leadership “totally disregarded our wishes”.

Across in Central and South Abaco, the decision to choose Jeremy Sweeting as the candidate prompted Roscoe Thompson to quit as association chairman for the branch in the constituency.

There are suggestions

that Mr Thompson might run as an independent –which could split the vote in the constituency.

Over in Long Island, Adrian Gibson is reportedly being denied a nomination – and that is before we even get to Dr Minnis and whatever is going on with his plans for an election campaign. He has been told he will not get a nomination for the FNM, but he keeps telling people he is going to run, and that he will “W-I-N, win”.

Of course, it is the duty of the leadership of any party to make sure that the slate of candidates that will run has the best chance of winning the election – and more than that, to have the right people to run the government in the event of victory.

Constituency associations absolutely have a part to play – but might not always know the full picture.

That said, whoever is chosen has to represent that constituency. The nominee has to speak up on the campaign trail, they have to know what is important to people locally, and they have

to carry that through if elected to ofﬁce.

A carpetbagger dropped into an area about which they know little does not have the knowledge or incentive to do their best for people they barely know, or to tackle issues about which they have little understanding.

It is, then, a balance that needs to be struck – meeting the needs of both the constituents and the party at large.

Of course, no one likes to lose. No one likes to be told that someone else is being chosen ahead of them. So there will always be gripes and complaining, there will always be ripples to disturb what the party hopes looks like a smooth surface from the outside.

That’s not unique to the FNM.

Back in 2023, when the parties were choosing candidates to run in West Grand Bahama and Bimini, Shane Gibson wanted the seat.

What emerged from that contest was an apparent feud between Mr Gibson and party chairman Fred Mitchell.

Mr Gibson ﬁred off comments about being a hard worker, not just someone who hopped on planes and enjoyed tea and coffee and cigars, an apparent jibe at Mr Mitchell.

When Mr Gibson lost the candidacy, there were chants of “Fred gatta go”.

Mr Gibson has of course historically run into various controversies. But it is fair to say that he had always been prominent in government, whereas the

man who won the candidacy for West Grand Bahama and Bimini ahead of him, Kingsley Smith, has been almost invisible since winning the vote and becoming an MP.

Mr Gibson also challenged Mr Mitchell as chairman – but bowed out of that race and threw his support to another rival, who lost. But here is the thing where the FNM can learn from the PLP.

What happened on the election trail in West Grand Bahama and Bimini after Mr Gibson lost that nomination?

Mr Gibson went out and supported Mr Smith for the election. He appeared next to the man he lost out to, and cheered on the party despite his personal slight.

Mr Smith said at the time: “I need all hands on

decks. I want to thank my brother Shane Gibson for joining the campaign trail. In the PLP, we are one big family.” That is where the PLP excels as a party – no matter the differences, the party has a tendency to pull together and do what needs to be done for victory.

The FNM at the moment looks as if it is still full of cracks and divisions – but the election is not tomorrow, it is not next week. If the party can smooth those cracks over, and keep those who have missed out on a nomination on board, then it can still look united by the time people come to vote.

With the possible exception of Dr Minnis – now that is a division as wide as the Grand Canyon, and no amount of smoothing over will cover that crack.

SHANE GIBSON

RENWARD WELLS

Don’t celebrate the ICJ opinion on environmental harm just yet

ON July 23, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered an advisory opinion at the request of the UN General Assembly - driven by small island states such as Antigua and Barbuda, Vanuatu, and the Maldives - declaring unequivocally that all nations “have a duty to prevent environmental harm” by limiting greenhouse-gas emissions.

The court declared that existing treaties - from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to the Paris Agreement - require science-based mitigation targets, robust environmental impact assessments, adaptation measures, and ﬁnancial and technological cooperation with vulnerable countries.

It recognised a stable climate as foundational to human rights. It held that failure to comply constitutes an “internationally wrongful act,” triggering obligations to cease, guarantee non-repetition, and provide reparations for harm.

Although advisory, this opinion is already being hailed as a turning point for climate accountability and is expected to shape future environmental litigation worldwide. Experts further emphasise that a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is now enshrined as a human right, meaning that inaction may breach international law.

The ruling also clariﬁes that states can now bring claims against one another for climate-related loss and damage, paving the way, in principle, for litigation over

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

historic emissions. Yet, as the ICJ warned, untangling which country caused what percentage of warming will be legally complex.

The ICJ opinion went further, afﬁrming that affected states – such as the Marshall Islands, which

estimates a $9 bn adaptation shortfall - have a right to seek compensation for destroyed infrastructure and forced relocation. However, each claim will demand case-by-case proof of causation. The court opined even

INDUSTR IAL machinery near farmland.

“...island states cannot afford to wait for international action. They must strengthen domestic resilience through drought-resistant agriculture and advance early-warning systems...”

further, holding that states remain responsible for the climate impacts of companies operating under their jurisdiction and that subsidising fossil-fuel industries or approving new oil and gas licences may itself breach environmental obligations.

Yet on the very same day of the issuance of the ICJ opinion, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled a draft rule to rescind its 2009 “endangerment ﬁnding”, the legal linchpin for nearly all federal limits on vehicle and power-plant emissions under the Clean Air Act.

This rollback threatens to reverse years of progress by stripping away the EPA’s authority. Since 1850, the United States has produced 20.3 percent of cumulative global CO2 emissions - a share eclipsing any other country - and although US emissions peaked in 2007 and fell by just over three percent by 2022, those modest gains are now at risk.

Meanwhile, the consequences of unchecked emissions are already painfully visible on American soil. In September 2022, Hurricane Ian devastated Florida and the Carolinas, killing over 100 people and inflicting nearly $60 bn in insured damages. Just this July, record-breaking flash floods in Central Texas

claimed 136 lives - well above the 30-year average - and initially left hundreds missing amid the deluge.

Meanwhile, an unprecedented summer of heat and drought has fuelled “hundreds of wildﬁres” across California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Canada, blanketing entire regions in smoke. These events illustrate that rescinding the “endangerment ﬁnding” will harm American communities as surely as it imperils small states. Because the ICJ’s advisory opinion has no binding enforcement, small island States must now press for an immediate debate in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) under Resolution 77/276. A public plenary discussion will reveal which governments stand for “saving nations from extinction” and which prioritise short-term economic gains over planetary survival. Such revelations will help to galvanise citizen action to protest climate change within countries and globally.

It is worth remembering how the ICJ case began: In 2019, a group of Paciﬁc law students conceived the idea at their university. They secured the UNGA referral to the ICJ with backing from Vanuatu, Antigua and Barbuda, the Maldives, and a team of leading international lawyers. Their

initiative, born in small states at the front line of battle with the effects of climate change, reminds us that legal innovation often springs from those bearing the brunt of climate harm.

At the same time, island states cannot afford to wait for international action. They must strengthen domestic resilience through drought-resistant agriculture and advance early-warning systems, especially since the Adaptation Gap Report 2023 finds that developing countries face a $194–366 bn annual shortfall in adaptation finance. They should also join the tide of strategic climate litigation: with nearly 3,000 cases filed in over 60 countries, a unified suit by affected states against the major “Carbon Majors” could compel fossil-fuel companies to fund adaptation and cut emissions.

This calls for a public-private partnership between governments and the private sector in victim states to bring such cases to courts whose judgements are binding – the Caribbean Court of Justice may be one such court. As the Center for International Environmental Law warns in its publication, “A Deﬁning Moment for Climate Justice,” states should immediately seize domestic implementation opportunities and strengthen enforcement mechanisms to hold governments and corporations accountable.

Finally, small island nations must forge alliances with climate-concerned members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and G20 to resist the members of these groups who are intent on denying the existence and effects of climate change. They must use their combined voices in international fora to translate moral imperatives into enforceable commitments. The ICJ has provided moral and legal clarity. However, only the collective resolve of victim states - through public ventilation in regional and international institutions, robust adaptation plans, strategic litigation, and strong alliances- will determine whether the ICJ guidance translates into tangible protection. Together, these strategies can help victim states strengthen their resilience, protect communities, and preserve lands in the face of accelerating climate threats. This work is immediate; the champagne must wait. The author is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the OAS, and Dean of the OAS Ambassadors accredited to the OAS. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com.

‘It’s not how you start, it’s how you fnish’

GAIN AN EDGE

A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

IN a speech that was thoughtful, moving and deliberate, one student’s powerful story turned the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute’s (BTVI) New Providence Main Campus commencement into a deﬁning moment in his upward trajectory. Titled “Turning Pressure into Purpose”, the address was more than a student’s reﬂections, but a call to rise and lead. It was about resilience.

Charles Rahming, who is the overall most outstanding graduate for the New Providence Main Campus Class of 2025, delivered a deeply personal message grounded in triumph. The graduate of the Associate of Applied Science in electronics engineering programme, recounted his journey as an ambitious engineering student with dreams of a straightforward path. But in 2020, everything changed. Wrongfully arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, his career collapsed with contracts vanishing, clients withdrawing and his name being tarnished in the telecommunications sector.

“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life,” he told the crowd.

Charles was acquitted three years later, but even before that, he made the decision to return to school, determined not just to begin again, but to ﬁnish.

“I returned to education with a quiet but ﬁrm vow: I would not start again unless I was prepared to ﬁnish. This time, with excellence. That commitment led me here, where I stand before you recently completing my 72-credit Associate of Applied Science in electronics engineering - and

I did it with a perfect 4.0

GPA. It’s not how you start. It’s how you ﬁnish. This time, with excellence,” said Charles to the approval of his audience.

During the captivating address, Charles acknowledged the collective resilience of his peers, pointing to the devastation of Hurricane Dorian, the Covid19 pandemic, personal loss and economic hardship. He afﬁrmed that they earned beyond a diploma, but a badge of honour.

“You didn’t just survive. You conquered,” said Charles, resulting in a roaring applause.

“Let’s leave here not just as graduates, but as torchbearers: engineers, builders, thinkers and leaders. Let us light the way forward for ourselves and for those who come next,” he stated.

The top graduate concluded by thanking faculty, support staff and family, including a heartfelt tribute to his mother, whom he credited with instilling the discipline and resilience that carried him through.

“Gain An Edge” is a collaboration of Lyford Cay Foundations, the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and the University of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on issues surrounding education.

“Let us light the way forward for ourselves and for those who come next.”

BTVI New Providence main campus’ overall most outstanding graduate, Charles Rahming.

BTVI’s New Providence Main Campus Overall Most Outstanding Graduate, Charles Rahming with president, Dr Linda A Davis.

US Secretary of State shares United States Government’s

US Secretary of State shares

United States Government’s endorsement of BACSWN’s “First-of-Its-Kind” Aviaton, Climate & Weather Network

Aviaton, Climate & Weather Network

By Fay Simmons Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

During the signing of BACSWN’s Heads of Agreement with the Government of The Bahamas last week, Prime Minister Davis noted that during discussions with US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, he was informed the project had been “endorsed” by the US; hinting that ﬁnancial assistance may be forthcoming. “It appears they (NOAA) have adopted and has endorsed this project”, added the Prime Minister with a smile.

Bringing BACSWN’s proper tiary workﬂows together with products from National Oce anic & Atmospheric Adminis tration (NOAA) and U.S. Na tional Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) will result in unique creations that have never been envisioned and, in many cases, far surpass those of other industrialized nations

Bringing BACSWN’s propertiary workﬂows together with products from National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) will result in unique creations that have never been envisioned and, in many cases, far surpass those of other industrialized nations

Professor Roelof Bruintjes US Centre for Atmospheric Research

“They’re trying get BACSWN too…”

Prime Minister Davis went to say he was delighted to learn that a cadre of young Bahamians from various public high schools have been developing advanced products to assist in the safe, efficient and expeditous passage of flights using the 173,000 squares miles of The Bahamas strategically located sovereign archipelago; as well as, a revolutionary US Certified Aviation Carbon Credits Platform, which was unveiled at the S&P Global Carbon Credits Conference in Barcelona last year. Such developments, he added, “have not only attracted my attention but the U.S. Government.”

Michael Strachan, Group Financial Advisor of Bahamas Aviation, Climate & Severe Weather Network (BACSWN), said the company’s $400m investment in what U.S. defence contractor, Raytheon Tehnologies has publically stated will be the “First-of-Its-Kind” aviation, climate and severe weather stystem will “exceed those of other industrialized nations.... propelling The Bahamas into a world leader in live ﬂight tracking, crash, search & rescue co-ordination, environmental infrastructure and unparalled real-time meteorological situational awareness”

“Our team has been working tirelessly developing state-of-the-art proprietary products the likes of which the US Government (NOAA) has expressed an interest in licensing to assist with advanced weather predictions” said Mr Strachan.

Mr Strachan emphasised that the ability to provide accurate and timely data is critical when making decisions about adverse weather conditions. In addition, the US National Hurricane Centre will also beneﬁt from receiving this information through the upgraded weather stations.

“I suspect the US government sees the beneﬁt of having a close collaborative relationship with BACSWN in view of our nation straddling the key air and sea routes to the Gulf of America and South Florida from Europe, Caribbean and South America,”continued Mr. Strachan.

“Very rarely does the US government back private sector projects so it shows the level of importance and urgency. Being in the middle of active hurricane zones, we often times lack the ability to provide robust data to our counterparts at National Hurricane Centre and NOAA. Hopefully that will now change.

BACSWN will be moving “full steam ahead” with its aviation carbon credits project said Mr. Strachan - which will assist the Government with its climate agenda by generating new source of revenue.

Subsequent to a courtesy call on the ofﬁces of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Mexico City, Mexico, the company plans to commence its consultations with the users of The Bahamas’

Members of BACSWN’s team visitng the Natonal Oceanic & Atmospheric Administraton

at U.S. Department Commerce headquarters in Boulder, Colorado in April 2024. Our photo shows: Front Row: (Lef to

Rolle, President of TribuneDigitaLabs, Mr. James Powell (Advanced Radar Company) Mr. Lyrone Burrows, President & CEO of Baha mas Aviaton Climate & Severe Weather Network Ltd.; Mr. Dan Neteld (NOAA); Mr. Leslie Pindling, Consultant (Governmental Afairs); Second Row: (Lef to Right) Mr. Stephen Strachan (BACSWN) Arnaud Dumont (NCAR); Mr. Darrel Kingfeld (NOAA), Mr. Adam Darville, VP Infrastructure & Development, Mr. Trevor Basden, BASCWN’s Sr. VP & Director of Meteorology; Third Row: Professor Roelof Bruintjes (NCAR); Mr. Patrick Rollins, COO BACSWN; Mr. Michael Strachan, Group Financial Advisor;

Members of BACSWN’s team visitng the Natonal Oceanic & Atmospheric Administraton (NOAA) at U.S. Department of Commerce headquarters in Boulder, Colorado in April 2024. Our photo shows: Front Row: (Lef to Right) Mr. Quincy Rolle, President of TribuneDigitaLabs, Mr. James Powell (Advanced Radar Company) Mr. Lyrone Burrows, President & CEO of Bahamas Aviaton Climate & Severe Weather Network Ltd.; Mr. Dan Neteld (NOAA); Mr. Leslie Pindling, Consultant (Governmental Afairs); Second Row: (Lef to Right) Mr. Stephen Strachan (BACSWN) Arnaud Dumont (NCAR); Mr. Darrel Kingfeld (NOAA), Mr. Adam Darville, VP Infrastructure & Development, Mr. Trevor Basden, BASCWN’s Sr. VP & Director of Meteorology; Third Row: Professor Roelof Bruintjes (NCAR); Mr. Patrick Rollins, COO BACSWN; Mr. Michael Strachan, Group Financial Advisor;

sovereign territory by submitting a comprehesive infrastrucutre plan showcasing the unparalled safety and operational beneﬁts the 600,000 ﬂights which traverse our airspace each year will receive”.

“In addition to providing real-time meteorological services and live ﬂight tracking, BACSWN will also help to enhance health and safety services and crash search and rescue operations throughout the archipelago,” explained Mr. Strachan

“In keeping with The Bahamas’ binding obligations under the Chicago Convention for International Civil Aviation, BACSWN will not only been installing an interconnected array of phased array and other tracking radars; but, has been asked to assist various government agencies put together a plan so the nation can levy fees on users, like 186 other nations, for the roll out of crash, search and rescue infrastructure (ambulances, ﬁre engines helicopters, paramedics. medical evacuations) and secure the funding needed for upgrades to any medical faciliy designed to provide services for aviation events.”

###

(NOAA)

Right) Mr. Quincy

Parliamentary Commissioner conﬁrms

2026 launch of biometric voter ID cards

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

BIOMETRIC voter

ID cards are expected to launch by early 2026, part of sweeping reforms to modernise elections in The Bahamas, Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson conﬁrmed yesterday.

The new cards will resemble a driver’s licence and include the voter’s photo, ﬁngerprint,

signature, and registration number. Advanced security features will be added to prevent tampering or duplication.

“These cards will be printed on tamper-resistant material and encrypted to protect voter data,” Mr Thompson said. “It will not be possible to peel off the picture like you can on some of the old cards.”

He stressed the cards are optional and not required to vote. The cards will be valid

for ten years. Voters must verify their details at least once per decade. About 80 percent of registered voters have already submitted biometric data through the Passport Ofﬁce, and the proposed system would allow that data to be securely transferred with consent.

People updating their cards or registering for the ﬁrst time will need to provide digital ﬁngerprints, a high-resolution photo, and a digital signature.

Medical exemptions will be allowed.

The reforms also include secure e-poll books to verify voters in real time at polling stations. Traditional registers and manual checks will be used if there are technical issues.

“We have thought about contingencies,” Mr Thompson said. “If the light goes off or the internet goes down, the paper will be there.”

New penalties — up to $10,000 or one year

in prison — will apply to anyone who accesses or tampers with voter data without authorisation.

The changes are part of the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced this week by National Security Minister Wayne Munroe.

The bill also sets tighter election timelines and mandates voter veriﬁcation every ten years.

“This technology includes full encryption and contingency print backups,

ensuring systems work reliably even in challenging circumstances,” Mr Munroe said. Opposition MPs have called for more public consultation to prevent disenfranchisement. Mr Thompson said a public education campaign will accompany the rollout, and digital tools are being developed to ease registration and verification. Debate on the legislation is expected next week.

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, along with Immigration Minister Alfred Sears, Minister of Labour and Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle and High Commissioner Ellison Greenslade were on hand for the Department of Immigration’s promotion exercise on Friday. During the ceremony Stephen LaRoda was announced as the new director of the Department of Immigration.

Photos: Nikia Charlton

Israel daily pause in ﬁghting in Gaza to allow ‘minimal’ aid as hunger grows

By WAFAA SHURAFA, TIA GOLDENBERG AND SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

THE Israeli military on Sunday began limited pauses in ﬁghting in three populated areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day, part of measures including airdrops as concerns grow over surging hunger and as Israel faces criticism over its conduct in the 21-month war.

The military said the “tactical pause” in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, all with large populations, would increase humanitarian aid entering the territory. The 10:00 am to 8:00 pm pause is daily until further notice.

“Whichever path we choose, we will have to continue to allow the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

As the military had warned, combat operations continued otherwise. Health ofﬁcials in Gaza said Israeli strikes killed at least 41 Palestinians from late Saturday into Sunday, including 26 seeking aid.

Images of emaciated children have fanned criticism of Israel, including by allies, who call for the war’s end. Israel has restricted aid to Gaza’s population of over 2 million because it says Hamas siphons it off to bolster its rule, without providing evidence. Much of the population, squeezed into ever-smaller patches of land, now relies on aid.

“I came to get flour for my children because they have not tasted flour for more than a week, and thank God, God provided me with a kilo of rice with difficulty,” said Sabreen Hassona, as other Palestinians trudged along a dusty road carrying sacks of food.

‘Every delay is measured by another funeral’

Israel’s military said 28 aid packages containing food were airdropped Sunday, and said it would put in place secure routes for aid delivery. It said the steps were made in coordination with the United Nations and other humanitarian groups.

The UN World Food Program said it had enough food in, or on its way, to feed all of Gaza for nearly three months. It has said a third of Gaza’s population were not eating for days and nearly half a million people were enduring famine-like conditions.

Antoine Renard, WFP’s country director for the occupied Palestinian territories, said around 80 WFP trucks entered Gaza, while more than another 130 trucks arrived via Jordan, Ashdod and Egypt and other aid was moving through the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings.

He stressed it was not enough to counter the “current starvation.”

Gaza saw 63 malnutrition-related deaths in July, including 24 children under 5, the World Health Organization said.

Dr. Muneer al-Boursh, Gaza’s Health Ministry director-general, called for a ﬂood of medical supplies to help treat child malnutrition.

“This (humanitarian) truce will mean nothing if it doesn’t turn into a real opportunity to save lives,” he said. “Every delay is measured by another funeral.”

Questions over ceasefre talks

Ceaseﬁre efforts appeared to be in doubt. Israel and the US recalled negotiating teams from Qatar on Thursday, blaming Hamas, and Israel said it was considering “alternative options” to talks.

Israel says it is prepared to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile, something the group has refused.

Senior Hamas ofﬁcial Mahmoud Merdawi said Israel’s change of approach on the humanitarian crisis amounted to an acknowledgement of Palestinians starving in Gaza, and asserted that it was meant to improve Israel’s international standing and not save lives.

Troubles with aid delivery

After ending the latest ceaseﬁre in March, Israel cut off the entry of food, medicine, fuel and other supplies to Gaza for 2 ½ months, saying it aimed to pressure Hamas to release hostages. Fifty of them remain in Gaza, over half of them believed to be dead.

Under international pressure, Israel slightly eased the blockade in May. Since then, it has allowed in around 4,500 trucks for the UN and others to distribute. The average of 69 trucks a day is far below the 500 to 600 trucks the UN says are needed. The

UN says it has been unable to distribute much aid because hungry crowds and gangs take most of it from trucks.

As a way to divert aid delivery from UN control, Israel has backed the US-registered Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which in May opened four centres distributing boxes of food. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while trying to get food, mostly near those sites, the UN human rights ofﬁce says.

Israel has railed against the UN throughout, saying its system allows Hamas to steal aid. The UN denies it and says its system is the best way to bring aid to Palestinians.

“Gaza is not a remote island. The infrastructure and resources exist to prevent starvation; we just need safe, sustained access,” Mercy Corps’ vice president of global policy and advocacy, Kate Phillips-Barrasso, said in a statement.

Killed while seeking aid Awda Hospital in Nuseirat said Israeli forces killed at least 13 people, including four children and a woman, and wounded 101 as they headed toward a GHF aid distribution site in central Gaza.

Israel’s military said it ﬁred warning shots to prevent a “gathering of suspects” from approaching, hundreds of meters from the site before opening hours. GHF said there were no incidents at or near its sites.

Thirteen others were killed seeking aid in other areas of Gaza, including northwestern Gaza City, where over 50 people were wounded, and near the Zikim crossing where over 90 were wounded, hospital ofﬁcials and medics said.

Israel’s military said two soldiers were killed in Gaza, bringing the total to 898 since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the war. Hamas killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in that attack, and took 251 hostages.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 59,700 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Its count doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says over half of the dead are women and children. The ministry operates under the Hamas government. The UN and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.

SCOTLAND PROTE S TER S decry Trump’s visi T

By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald Trump played golf Saturday at his course on Scotland’s coast while protesters around the country took to the streets to decry his visit and accuse United Kingdom leaders of pandering to the American.

Trump and his son Eric played with the US ambassador to Britain, Warren Stephens, near Turnberry, a historic course that the Trump family’s company took over in 2014. Security was tight, and protesters kept at a distance went unseen by the group during Trump’s round. He was dressed in black, with a white “USA” cap, and was spotted driving a golf cart. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the cobblestone and tree-lined street in front of the US Consulate about 100 miles (160 kilometres) away in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. Speakers told the crowd that Trump was not welcome and criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for striking a recent trade deal to avoid stiff US tariffs on goods imported from the UK. Protests were planned in other cities as environmental activists, opponents of Israel’s

war with Hamas in Gaza and pro-Ukraine groups loosely formed a “Stop Trump Coalition.” Anita Bhadani, an organizer, said the protests were “kind of like a carnival of resistance.”

“I don’t think I could just stand by and not do anything,” said Amy White, 15, of Edinburgh, who attended with her parents. She held a cardboard sign that said “We don’t negotiate with fascists.” She said “so many people here loathe him. We’re not divided. We’re not divided by religion, or race or political allegiance, we’re just here together because we hate him.”

Other demonstrators held signs of pictures with Trump and Jeffrey Epstein as the fervour over ﬁles in the case has increasingly frustrated the president.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who is also set to meet with Trump during the visit, announced that public money will go to staging the 2025 Nexo Championship, previously known as the Scottish Championship, at Trump’s ﬁrst course near Aberdeen next month.

“The Scottish Government recognizes the importance and beneﬁts of golf and golf events, including boosting tourism and our economy,” Swinney said.

Some students concerned by new Visa fee, others happy they beat it

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

SOME Bahamian students studying in the United States say they are grateful to have secured their visas before a new $250 “visa integrity fee” comes into effect in October, pushing the total cost of a US student visa close to $800.

The fee is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law by US President Donald Trump on July 4. Beginning October 1 2025, all non-immigrant visa applicants must pay the $250 integrity fee after their visa is approved but before it is issued.

For Bahamian students applying for the F-1 visa, the new charge joins the existing US$185 visa application fee and the US$350 SEVIS I-901 fee, bringing

the total to US$785.

Kristian Miller, 18, a recent Kingsway Academy graduate heading to Howard University this autumn, said he feels fortunate to have completed the process before the fee takes effect.

“Some of these students, they may have gotten scholarships, but that’s still something that they still have to pay for,” he said.

“Some people who are [from] low-income houses, they probably can’t do that.”

He credited scholarships and family support for making his dream affordable, but acknowledged others may struggle.

“There are so many other people who are of bright minds and have so much potential, and just because this little fee is stopping them from reaching that

Groups compete for bragging rights at 2nd Annual Family Fun and Sports Day

MEMBERS of the armed forces including their latest recruits suited up alongside community organizations for a day of sports and camaraderie at the 2nd Annual Family Fun and Sports Day hosted by the Department of Gender and Family Affairs under the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting. The RBPF, RBDF, BDOCS, and the Department of Immigration, along with athletic groups like the T Bird Flyers and Swift Athletics, went head-to-head in a day of races to prove who had the best athletes.

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

potential, it’s very sad,” he said.

Tyronique Wilson, 18, a sophomore at Austin Peay University, said while the fee may not appear large to some, it could make a real difference depending on a student’s ﬁnancial circumstances. “I don’t think that it will discourage them. If anything, I feel like it would push everyone much harder to apply for more scholarships, even to save. I feel like it will make us more determined,” she said.

The US government has said the integrity fee will be refundable for most nonimmigrant visa holders, including students, provided they comply with visa terms, such as leaving the country on time or adjusting status legally. However, details of how refunds will work have not yet been released.

Family fun at BTC’s Health and Community Awareness Day at Stapledon School

DAVIS ORDAINED TO A NGLICAN HOLY O R D ER OF DEACONS

Davis.

ON Friday, The Feast of St. James the Apostle, Joshua Errison Vohn Davis was ordained to the Holy Order of Deacons in Holy Spirit Anglican Church, Chippingham.

Mr Davis is a 2017 graduate of Doris Johnson Senior High, having attended Thelma Gibson Primary and LW Young Junior High Schools. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of The Bahamas (UB). Thereafter he worked as a research assistant at UB, a teacher at Blake Academy and Kingsway Academy, and as an academic tutor at UB. He has a research publication in aquatic ecology and microbiology.

He grew up in Holy Spirit Anglican Church, participating in the Sunday School, the Christian Youth Movement and serving around the altar. He attributes his vocational inspiration to clergy like Canon Harry Ward, Archdeacon Kingsley Knowles, and Canon Peter Scott.

In May 2025, he graduated from the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill Campus) with First Class Honours in Theology, successfully completing formation and studies at Codrington Theological College, the provincial seminary of the Church in the Province of the West Indies (CPWI).

Mr Davis felt a call to the priesthood since he was six years old. He believes, even more strongly now that he has tested his vocation, that he is releasing God’s call on his life.

His passion and interest in ministry include, but are not limited to, Christian Education, Youth Ministry, Social Outreach, Evangelism and Ministry to the sick and shut-ins.

JOSHUA Errison Vohn

MIRACLE Smith gets a lesson in CPR from Red Cross instructor Jerelle Bethell during BTC’s Health & Community Awareness Day at Stapledon School on Saturday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/ Tribune Staff