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MoM-of-4 dies in eleuthera crash

Kids ‘cried and cried’ after mother died as car collided into tree

By lyNaIrE MUNNIN gS

Tribune Staff reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

A YOUNG mother-offour was killed in a traffic accident on Eleuthera over the holiday weekend, leaving her family and friends devastated.

Police said 28-year-old Codie Stuart Lightfoot was travelling on Queen’s Highway shortly after 7am on Sunday when her vehicle struck a tree. Responding officers found

an unresponsive woman lying outside the car. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident was one of two traffic fatalities reported over the weekend. Her mother, Joycaster Neymour Lightfoot, said she was in Orlando, Florida, with three of Codie’s four daughters when she received the heartbreaking news.

“I got a call from her

Tripar T i T e council considers 18 weeks for maT

By lE aNDra rollE Tribune Chief reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE National Tripartite Council (NTC) is leaning towards extending maternity leave to 18 weeks — not the 20 weeks proposed by some advocacy groups — with its

erni T y leave

chairwoman stressing the need to strike a balance between employer obligations with the country’s economic capacity. NTC chairwoman Sharon Martin said she anticipates that a final decision will be made before year’s end, but

By EaryEl BowlEg Tribune Staff reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

ATTENDANCE at this year’s Emancipation Day Rush-out in Fox Hill dropped by an estimated

75 percent, according to organisers, who blamed tensions within the Junkanoo community for the sharp decline — despite some group members participating individually.

Warren Davis, chairman

‘I knew my husband didn’t commit suicide’

By PaVEl BaIlE y Tribune Staff reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE death of a man suspected of committing suicide a year ago was in fact murder, a Coroner’s Court jury ruled on Friday. The news was welcomed by the family of Evan Fox, who was found with shotgun wounds in western New Providence last year.

of the Fox Hill Festival Committee, told The Tribune yesterday the reduced turnout also impacted vendors, many of whom struggled to make sales.

“They didn’t make any money,” he said. “Being a

Widow Jasmine called for the police to launch an inquiry. “I feel lost and confused and hurt,” Ms Fox said. “I’m glad I know the truth, ‘cause I was trying to process the fact that it was a suicide. I know my husband. If he did do that to himself, he would have said something. He would’ve left a note or said

FORMER Tribune journalist Nicki Kelly – hailed as a “giant in the field” and respected by both readers and Prime Ministers - has died at the age of 93. She worked for The Tribune for many years before later becoming a columnist with The Punch until its closure.

NICkI kELLY

INDIvIDUAL members of Junkanoo groups participating in the Emancipation Day Rush-out in Fox Hill early Monday morning.

photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

‘Genesis always intended to rush at Fox Hill Day but withdrew after receiving alleged threats’

DECLINE from page one

follows calls for public support amid an ongoing standoff between the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP) and the government over the proposed National Junkanoo Authority Bill, which the organisation says is an attempt to centralise control and roll back self-governance.

The JCNP recently announced a suspension of all Junkanoo-related activities, including Emancipation Day events, in protest of the bill. The dispute escalated when the Genesis Junkanoo group alleged it was threatened with suspension and loss of privileges for showing interest in participating in the Fox Hill rush.

The situation prompted Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell to urge groups to set aside their differences and show

unity on the day.

Despite the controversy,

Mr Davis said members from groups such as Way Forward, Genesis, Original Congos, and a few Saxons turned out voluntarily and came together for a combined rush-out.

He noted that the rush lasted only about an hour — far shorter than the usual six-hour celebration — and began earlier than expected due to the presence of a special guest.

“If you really do a Junkanoo for an hour and a half, you know people tends to come to to watch Junkanoo and after Junkanoo was over, people sort of dissipated and go home,” he said.

Mr Davis said he had been in discussions with various groups ahead of the event and had hoped that, following the Junkanoo community’s meeting with the government, a

resolution would have been reached allowing the groups to participate in the rush.

He said Genesis Junkanoo had always intended to come to Fox Hill “no matter what”, but later withdrew after receiving alleged threats.

The committee chairman also noted that he was in consultation with Way Forward, but they had indicated they would send a few members to represent them because their main band was off the island.

When asked if he believed there would be any repercussions for those who participated in the rush, Mr Davis said: “No, I don’t think so.”

“Because, like I said, they didn’t have any banner. We sent out a notice that is a unity rush. All are invited to come and rush. I don’t think the attack is on Junkanoo. I think the attacks are on different groups.”

MeMbers of Junkanoo groups participating in a Junkanoo rush-out at Fox Hill Day early Monday morning.

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Shark bite victim ‘very, very lucky’ to avoid serious injury

By EaryEl BowlEg Tribune Staff reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

Shark attack survivor Mike raich has revealed how he narrowly escaped serious injury when a bite to his arm missed major nerves and arteries by inches.

One of the shark’s teeth was even left embedded in his wound - a souvenir of a scary encounter for the US Marine veteran who was spear fishing off Spanish Cay when the shark bit the back of his left arm while he was bringing a fish to the surface.

Mr raich, 66, who has a home in Green Turtle Cay, told The Tribune: “When I was bringing the fish up to the surface from behind, the shark must have been behind me because he grazed my body before he bit me a couple times and then he got me.

“he came around on my left side, and to protect my body, I put my arm down and that’s when he grabbed the back of my arm.”

The attack, he said, lasted only a few seconds but left a deep wound that required surgery to reattach his tricep. Based on the size of the wound, doctors believe he was bitten by a four to five foot reef Shark.

Mr raich, from West Palm Beach, Florida, purchased a home in The Bahamas three years ago as part of his retirement plans. he has been visiting the islands since he was 13 and learned to spear fish in the same waters where he was attacked. although he has encountered sharks before, this was the first time he had ever been attacked.

“You’re kind of in a daze,” he said of the experience. “It wasn’t the pain I was so much worried about as the bleeding. There’s just a lot of blood loss. It

was painful, but it wasn’t, it wasn’t unbearable pain.”

Mr raich, whose two sons were with him in the water, while his wife was in their boat, explained that it’s not blood, but movement in the water — particularly shaking — that attracts sharks during spearfishing.

“We see sharks all the time and we’re careful,” he added. “Usually we stop our spear fishing and get out of the water and we move because we know the risks of spear fishing around sharks. It’s a no no, we don’t do it. This one just caught me by surprise because I just didn’t see it.” after the encounter, Mr raich made it back to the boat with help from his sons, where he received first aid. his wife radioed for help as they rushed to shore.

Boaters at the dock assisted him, applying a new tourniquet and transporting him by high-speed boat to Coopers Town.

From there, police took him to the local clinic, where he received pain medication and antibiotics. Once stabilised, he was airlifted from Treasure Cay airport to Princess Margaret hospital (PMh) later that same day. There, doctors surgically cleaned and closed the wound and removed a shark tooth embedded in his arm. after receiving a positive prognosis, Mr raich was discharged and flew back to the US on a private plane the next day, July 16. he was admitted to St Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach. Dr robert Borrego, a trauma and critical care surgeon at St Mary’s, said Mr raich lost a moderate amount of blood — about three-quarters of a litre. he underwent two surgeries: the first, a more meticulous procedure

lasted about two and a half hours, while the second took roughly one hour. In total, he spent three to four hours in surgery.

“It wasn’t a severe bite that would have amputated the arm because it did not go through the bone, but it was severe enough to cause damage to the muscles,” said Dr Borrego. “he was very, very lucky that he didn’t have a major vascular or nerve injury and that was just a matter of luck that the shark didn’t sever the vessels.”

Dr Borrego noted that while he did not remove the shark tooth himself, it had been embedded in the muscle near a dangerous spot.

Mr raich was discharged from hospital on July 23 and returned to The Bahamas soon after. he hopes to get back in the water in the coming weeks.

Dr Borrego said he should soon be able to resume normal activity.

“It would have been nothing, per se, but in another location, it was close by the elbow, it’s with a major blood vessel divided into another three blood vessels, and the tooth was close to those blood vessels, so if it would have been a couple of inches to the right or to the left it could have hit the blood vessel.”

Matilda ‘Millie’ Robinson-Rolle dies at 110 years old

a WOM a N who left a message for the future in a time capsule during the country’s 51st Independence celebrations last year has died at the age of 110.

Matilda “Millie” robinson-rolle left the message in the capsule when she was aged 109, with Dr Christopher Curry, director of the antiquities, Monuments and Museum Corporation, saying that the interview with her that was packed into the capsule was important “if you want to capture what life was like at this moment in the country”. She died on Thursday last week.

POlICe are investigating a fatal shooting off august Street on Sunday that left a man dead. Officers were alerted to the incident shortly before 10pm through ShotSpotter Technology. according to initial reports, a group of individuals were gathered outside a home when gunman pulled up and opened fire before leaving the scene. an adult male was seriously injured and taken to hospital, where he later died. his death brings the country’s murder count to 53 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Millie was born in Black Point, exuma, on august 19, 1914, and last year told The Tribune how she had the nicknames “lil ting”, “God’s angel” and “Doonga” and had always been cared for since her childhood days. She said at the time: “Ohhh, they treat me good. everywhere I go, they treat me good. all

my life, I didn’t do nothing (work) from I born and I’m a hundred and how much now?”

She said her golden rule was to do unto others as they would do unto you, adding: “Manners and respect will take you through the world!”

Millie had six children, three boys and three girls – roy robinson; Bertie

robinson-Pierce; rudolph robinson, Curley robinson-Williams; Patrick robinson and one child who died as a baby. She could often be found at Curley’s porch in Yellow elder Gardens, where Millie was described as a neighbourhood star.

For her 100th birthday, she received a medal from the late Queen elizabeth, and for her 110th birthday, she received a medal from king Charles. her advice to the nation’s leaders was: “as long as you govern, govern good. Do better. Show the children cleanliness and how to act to one another. Don’t show them the wrong way. Talk to the man up there, and mean it!”

Photos show shark attack victim Mike Raich (above) recovering after he was bitten while spearfishing near Spanish Cay, Abaco. The bite narrowly missed major veins, however, he was left with a shark tooth (top right) as a souvenir from his attack. Images below show his surgically repaired elbow.

Matilda ‘Millie’ Robinson-Rolle

‘Getting mothers four months off with their newborn would be a blessing’

noted that consultations are ongoing before any new legislative changes are made.

“We have been working,” Ms Martin said, “and Minister (Pia) Glover-Rolle, she has come alongside with the work, and she has actually promoted the work to a further degree that she’s had a team working primarily on the Employment Act, changes to the Employment Act.”

Currently, maternity leave in The Bahamas provides 12 weeks, with at least one-third of this time paid by employers. However, advocates argue that the current policy falls short of what is needed to support new mothers.

Trineka McCardy, president of the Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association (BNBA), has previously advocated for 20 weeks of maternity leave but said the association is open to a compromise of 16 weeks.

She acknowledged that the association may not get its initial wish but said the NTC has indicated it is open to supporting the 16-week option — a move she sees as progress.

“That will mean so much for them to be off at least four months with your baby, at least that’s the mark,” she added, “That will be a blessing and not only they are working on that. They are working on getting things changed in the workplace where they have a station to pump.”

Ms Martin said while

Cartwright blasts Broadcasting CorporationCensorship will not

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Move-

ment (FNM) deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright has blasted the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB) for what he called an “undemocratic and offensive” decision to cut short a live interview with the party’s candidate for West Grand Bahama and Bimini Omar Isaacs.

In a statement, Mr Cartwright said the decision “was an affront to democratic principles and free speech”, adding: “Censorship will not be accepted by the Bahamian people and has no place in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

He said the Broadcasting Corporation has a duty to promote diverse opinions and protect free speech, not restrict it. He said the BCB owes the Bahamian people and Mr Isaacs an apology.

Mr Cartwright’s statement follows Mr Isaacs’

be accepted in The Bahamas

accusation that state broadcaster ZNS engaged in political interference when his live interview on Power 104.5FM’s Man to Man talk show was abruptly cut short on Wednesday. Mr Isaacs said the appearance was approved by station officials a week earlier following his official ratification as the FNM candidate. According to him, the programme was interrupted less than ten minutes in when one of the hosts was called out of the studio and the show went to commercial.

When the programme resumed, Mr Isaacs said the hosts told him they had been instructed to avoid political discussions, even though no political topics had been raised. He agreed to speak instead on community issues, including poor road conditions, delays in opening a middle school, and a shortage of pharmaceuticals at the West Grand Bahama clinic.

Moments later, the interview was cut off again. “The door opened again,

and a man did the neck and hand signal and said cut it,” Mr Isaacs recalled, adding that he believed the person was an engineer. “I think it was politically motivated. The host and co-host mentioned to me that they got a call from Nassau.”

The programme, which normally runs for 90 minutes, was pulled after about 35 to 40 minutes. Mr Isaacs said the hosts were “visibly upset” and apologised, describing the incident as “a disgrace.”

“They felt bad and embarrassed because they followed all the proper protocols, and they pulled the plug on them just because of me,” he said.

Mr Isaacs also criticised ZNS for insisting that he could only appear after ratification. “I don’t think a publicly owned radio station and platform should operate in such a manner,” he said.

Attempts to reach Allison Smith, assistant director at ZNS 3 in Freeport, have been unsuccessful.

longer maternity leave can be justified by medical experts, there’s a need to ensure balance between the interests of employers and the health of the economy.

“I would say that we wish to take two baby steps, and when we get

“That will be a blessing and not only they are working on that. They are working on getting things changed in the workplace where they have a station to pump.”

-

Trineka

McCardy Bahams National Breastfeeding Association president

to that point, to at least making sure we are at the International Labour Standard side,” she said.

“18 weeks is at least standard.” She added that discussions on paternity leave are also ongoing.

For his part, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville expressed support for longer maternity leave, but said the extension must also be accompanied by policies that ensure child truly benefits from

the additional time.

Their comments came at Friday’s launch of “The Big Latch”, a joint initiative hosted by the Ministry of Health and the BNBA to promote breastfeeding, kicking off Breastfeeding Week. Among the speakers was Ann Marie Davis, wife of Prime Minister Philip Davis, who highlighted the importance of breastfeeding and the need for workplace policies to better support mothers.

Two charge with attempted murder and gun possession

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO MEN accused of shooting another sitting in his car in Devaux Street, leaving him in critical condition, were remanded to prison on Friday.

Bonnie “Bonny” Bastian, 26, and Ambrose Jones, 25, were arraigned on charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life before Magistrate Lennox Coleby.

The defendants faced additional charges of possession of an unlicenced firearm, possession of ammunition and three counts of possession of a firearm with intent to put another in fear.

The defendants allegedly shot and injured Jermaine Taylor with a handgun before fleeing the scene in their own Japanese vehicle at 1.30pm on July 27. A short time later, the same vehicle was spotted and intercepted by police.

The defendants allegedly exited the vehicle and threatened Sergeant 2852 Symonette, Marine Seaman T Bain and

Leading Seaman G Minns with weapons.

During this, Bastian was reportedly shot by authorities and both suspects were captured.

Bastian was treated for his gunshot injury in hospital.

Police allegedly recovered a black Glock 22 Austria .40 pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition.

While the defendants pleaded not guilty to the firearm charges, they were not required to enter a plea for the attempted murder and endangering life charges. Those matters will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

They were told of their right to apply for bail through the higher court.

The accused will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until their VBIs are potentially served on November 3. Their gun trial will commence on same date.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie served as the prosecutor, while K Melvin Munroe represented the accused.

NatioNal tripartite CouNCil ChairwomaN SharoN martiN

FNm deputy leder ShaNeNdoN Cartwright

Kelly remembered as writer ‘feared by society’s corrupt’

Former Tribune editor

John Marquis called her “one of the best journalists I ever worked with”, calling her “a giant in the field, a woman of great intelligence, insight and courage”.

He said: “She was a brilliantly incisive writer who held authority to account with columns that tore through deceit and hypocrisy like a scalpel. Like all fine journalists of her kind, she was feared by society’s shysters. She savaged errant politicians and tore apart corrupt lawyers and unscrupulous money men.”

He said it was one of his great professional regrets that the two had a falling out in 2002, and that she left The Tribune “after many years as its star journalist”.

He added: “We first worked together on The Tribune in the 1960s, when her appearance in the House of Assembly press seats drew gasps of apprehension from members. Politicians with something to hide learned to fear her. That baleful stare of hers made crooks’ blood run cold.

“Having worked on many of Britain’s finest regional titles, spent nine years in Fleet Street, and worked with scores of top writers, I have no hesitation in naming Nicki one of the true titans of our gilded trade.”

Mr Marquis said: “Nicki’s death denies The Bahamas one of its most strident and intelligent media voices, a wordsmith who was brave, bold and immovably strong.”

After leaving The Tribune, she wrote her “Between the Lines” column for the Punch, and was also the Bahamas correspondent for the Financial Times.

One of those politicians she sometimes clashed with also paid tribute to her yesterday. Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said he met her after his

Nicki Kelly “was non-partisan in the true sense of the word, refusing to allow partisan politics to influence her points of view or her writing. When the PLP returned to office, so did her critique of some of their policies”.

- Hubert

Ingraham

Former Prime Minister

firing from the Cabinet of Sir Lynden Pindling in 1984.

He said she was a sympathetic listener and he was “impressed with her sharp writing skills, her commitment to journalistic integrity and independence and her determination to expose and oppose discrimination, bias and corruption in the then governing PLP”.

Mr Ingraham appointed her to the board of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, but admitted she “did not always see eye to eye with some of her colleagues”. He said tensions caused the board to change, but she was appointed to form and develop the National Gallery of The Bahamas at Villa Doyle. When being photographed for the Bahamian Project by Duke Wells, she reminisced about her involvement with the refurbishment of the Villa Doyle.

She told of how from the beginning she had been helping to personally scrub away the filth at the villa, which she said was “just awful”, but that they had a great time bringing the old building to life.

The Bahamian Project organisers noted she was adamant she would not smile for her portrait, saying: “Her look was her look and it worked.”

In a letter to veteran journalist Oswald Brown in

2021, she wrote: “I often tell people that the politicians of yesteryear, whatever their personal failings, were far more knowledgeable and prepared to challenge the status quo than today’s lot.”

The Bahamas Press Club 2014 described Mrs Kelly as a “teacher, mentor and friend to many media professionals”.

The club said: “As a long-time Tribune reporter, she was thorough in her research of the facts of a story.

“As a columnist with The Tribune and later The Punch, she was fearless in going after the truth, which kept the politicians of the day on their toes.”

Mrs Kelly encouraged journalists to be more aggressive in their reporting. At a symposium in 2002, she reprimanded others in her field, saying: “They do not keep themselves informed. They do not read and they do not know what is happening in the wider world and I think this is a serious problem.”

Mr Ingraham noted that during his second term in office, Mrs Kelly “became a harsh critic of my government and sometimes I thought, of me personally”. He said he sometimes commented on her columns in the House of Assembly – but he noted that she “was non-partisan in the true

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

sense of the word, refusing to allow partisan politics to influence her points of view or her writing. When the PLP returned to office, so did her critique of some of their policies”.

In a statement last night, the FNM said her legacy as one of the country’s “most respected journalists” is relevant at a time when

“the press faces coordinated attacks both here and around the globe”.

The party said: “Her stories consistently appeared above the fold in The Tribune , and her fearless reporting set the gold standard for generations of journalists to follow.”

Her daughter, Catherine, paying tribute to her mother, shared one of her favourite quotes. She said whenever she had doubts, her mother would say to her: “Catherine, if they are not willing to take your place to die, they don’t get to tell you how to live.”

Mrs Kelly died at her New Providence home on Saturday.

Former journalist Nicki Kelly.

Photo: Duke Wells/The Bahamian Project

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

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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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Be careful not to kill the passion

IF you are keeping score in the battle between the government and Junkanoo organisers – then the fact no groups turned out to join in the Emancipation Day rushout in Fox Hill might be seen as one in favour of the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP). Make no mistake, however, there were no winners here.

Amid an argument over a proposed National Junkanoo Authority Bill which sees a stand-off between government officials and JCNP leaders, the Emancipation rushout was a casualty.

The bill, says the JCNP, is a bid to erode the self-governance of the Junkanoo community. It is a power grab, you might say.

In response, the JCNP announced – with unanimous support, it said – a suspension of all Junkanoo-related activity. That included Emancipation events. That included Fox Hill.

What did that mean? Well, the Genesis Junkanoo group showed interest in taking part at Fox Hill – only to allegedly be told it might face suspension and a loss of priviliges.

Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell issued a rallying cry for groups to show up and show unity for the day. They did not.

Fox Hill Festival chairman Warren Davis said that Genesis had intended to come to the event “no matter what”. That determination did not last long, it seems.

Attendance was down by about threequarters, organisers said. Mr Mitchell’s call went ignored.

Instead of a six-hour party, the rush was done in an hour or so.

Some individuals from the groups came out – a Valley Boys drum here, a Congos insignia there.

The ones who hurt the most were the vendors. Vendors cannot make sales if people are not there. Empty streets mean empty pockets.

Mr Davis, interestingly enough, while saying that he thought there would be no repercussions for those who did take part in the rush, used the word “attack”. He said: “I don’t think the attack is on Junkanoo. I think the attacks are on different groups.”

The rhetoric is the language of confrontation, not the language of two sides trying to find common ground.

The government has talked of how Junkanoo does not just belong to New

Providence – and that is right. But neither does it belong to the hands of government. It belongs to the people.

The government provides seed money for parades, certainly – but given how Junkanoo is such a significant part of how The Bahamas markets itself to the world, it is fair to say that Junkanoo deserves to be given support in return.

As for how much faith we can have in the government making the most of Junkanoo, how well is that working for the various state-owned enterprises in our country?

Historically, how has BPL and its predecessor BEC fared between soaring bills and power outages? How about Bahamasair with its constant need for public money? Does the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas deliver value for money? Government involvement is in no way, shape or form a guarantee of efficient operation.

That Junkanoo leaders took such a step is telling. Participants in Junkanoo groups are passionate. They want to be involved, they want to be rushing, they want to show their colours. Choosing not to do so shows how important this situation is to them.

Without doubt, there is a range of views. Some want to keep rushing regardless – and that desire should be respected too.

But what needs to be done most of all is for those two combative sides to sit down and discuss the matter.

This bill looks rushed. The consultation clearly has not been done thoroughly enough yet. Perhaps there is a way to help Junkanoo flourish throughout our islands, but it must not be by running roughshod over the organisations that are there at present.

Shelving the bill until there has been a proper consultation would be a sensible move. Pressing on regardless is a surefire way to alienate those for whom Junkanoo is an abiding part of their lives.

We have already seen significant disruption in the Junkanoo landscape last year in the battle over who gets to use the Valley Boys name and the divide that has seen two sides vying for that banner. We do not need to see another year of disruption from a tug-of-war over who gets control.

Doing that is a sure way to kill the passion for Junkanoo, far from encouraging it to grow.

Ingraham’s tribute to Nicki Kelly

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I WAS saddened to learn of the passing of Mrs Nicki Kelly, teacher, veteran journalist, columnist and social, environmental and political opinion writer who touched the lives of countless Bahamians.

I knew Mrs Kelly by reputation before our first personal encounter in the early 1980s in the months following my firing from the Pindling Cabinet in 1984. She was a sympathetic listener and attended at least two meetings of the political movement known as the Third Force which considered the formation of a third political party in The Bahamas. I was impressed with her sharp writing skills, her commitment to journalistic integrity and independence and her determination to expose and oppose discrimination, bias and corruption in the then governing PLP.

In the fullness of time I joined the Opposition FNM and as its Leader, led its first government elected to office in 1992. Among my earliest appointments as prime minister was that of Nicki Kelly as a member of the Board of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB) –ZNS, where we hoped to turn what had become the

biased mouthpiece of PLP government into a public education broadcasting entity. Mrs Kelly’s years of experience in both education and journalism made her a most appropriate and helpful member of the Board.

Mrs Kelly did not always see eye to eye with some of her colleagues on the BCB board regarding proposals and recommendations on the reorganisation and staffing of the BCB/ZNS.

Tensions caused the membership of the board to be changed after only one term. However, conscious of her valuable quality contributions to public discourse and her support of the promotion and preservation of things cultural and historical, Mrs Kelly was subsequently appointed to the first committee named by me to form and develop the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas at Villa Doyle.

I recall that during my second term in office Mrs Kelly became a harsh critic of my government and sometimes, I thought, of me personally. I read nearly all

of her columns and sometimes commented on them from the floor of the House of Assembly. I recall especially her strong opposition to the introduction of biometric information on driver’s licences, the creation of the Goodman’s Bay Sea-side Park and also of large-scale tourism developments, whether in Bimini, Exuma or New Providence. She was non-partisan in the true sense of the word, refusing to allow partisan politics to influence her points of view or her writing. When the PLP returned to office, so did her critique of some of their policies.

I am pleased that we always maintained a cordial social relationship and I never failed to respect her as a professional, important media personality and dedicated Bahamian patriot.

I join her colleagues in the media and her many admirers and readers around the country in extending sincere condolences on her passing to her daughter and fellow columnist, Catherine, and to all her extended family and friends. May she rest in eternal peace.

HuBERT A INgRAHAM Former Prime Minister August 3, 2025.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

PRIME Minister Philip Davis owes an apology to the Nassau Guardian’s executive editor Candia Dames, the Nassau Guardian, and the entire Bahamian media for willfully attacking the freedom of the press.

Mr Davis was upset with the paper’s July 24 headline, which stated that his April 2025 preliminary budget surplus of $135.4m was “way off”, considering that the final April 2025 data showed a deficit of $2.1m.

The press cannot be bullied or cowed into doing the bidding of the government, or any special interest.

ANTHONy CAPRON President, The Bahamas Press Club 2014. August 4, 2025.

Prime Minister Davis called Ms Dames irresponsible, having drunk the “Kool- Aid” of the FNM, for which her brother is an election candidate.

A giant of a journalist

EDITOR, The Tribune

THE Bahamas has lost a giant with the passing of veteran journalist Nicki Kelly. Nicki was a journalist of the highest order, a fearless warrior dedicated to the craft. She was an incredibly skilled writer – a master of marshalling her facts together to make her case. She drew on her vast knowledge of international and local affairs to produce well thought out, easy to digest pieces.

Well-known for her investigative reporting and analysis, she was tenacious in holding elected public officials accountable, regardless of party affiliation. She had the courage of her convictions and refused to buckle under threats and intimidation. Nicki was highly regarded both at home and abroad where she freelanced for various international publications, including Reuters, Time Magazine and the Financial Times of London. She cared deeply about

the Bahamas and her craft. She was a teacher at heart.

Although no longer at The Tribune when I joined, she mentored me and guided me through the rough patches, always just a phone call away. No question was too small.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to Nicki’s daughter, Catherine, and her loved ones. May her soul dance forever.

ATHENA DAMIANOS August 4, 2025.

Have a cool, fun, interesting, amazing photo? Have it featured here in The Tribune’s picture of the day! Email your high quality image to pictureoftheday@tribunemedia.net

A young boy beats his drum during the Fox Hill Day Junkanoo rush-out early Monday morning.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Crash victim ‘loved her girls more than anything’

sister’s phone, but when I answered, it was her father,” Ms Lightfoot recalled. “He said, ‘Joey, are you sitting down?’ I said, ‘What happened?’ He told me, ‘Codie dead.’ I screamed so loud until my father asked me what happened. I said, ‘Codie.’”

She said the moment was especially difficult because three of Codie’s daughters were with her at the time. Her daughters are aged nine, seven, five, and two.

“The oldest screamed, ‘Grammy, what happened to my mommy?’ I couldn’t tell her,” she said. “I didn’t want to ruin their vacation, but I had to tell them eventually. They cried and cried.”

Codie had initially planned to travel with her family but chose instead to remain in Eleuthera to continue working and prepare for the upcoming school year.

“She loved her girls more than anything,” Ms Lightfoot said. “She would make sacrifices just so they could experience the best things in life.”

The grieving mother

described her daughter as vibrant, industrious, and deeply committed to maintaining close family relationships.

“She was our only daughter and the oldest of four children,” Ms Lightfoot said. “She nurtured her younger brothers, cheered for them, and showed up for every important milestone in their lives.”

She said the 28-yearold grew up under her grandparents, but graduated from R M Bailey Senior High School in 2014 before relocating to Eleuthera, where her father and sisters live. According to her family, Codie made the move in search of better job opportunities and to reconnect with her paternal roots.

“What I will miss most are our conversations about hairstyles, makeup tips, outfit checks, and our heart-to-hearts about life and love,” her mother said, adding that her memory will live on through her children.

Sunday’s crash is the latest in a series of fatal accidents on Queen’s Highway, prompting renewed calls from

American woman recovering after losing both legs in life-altering boat accident

BY EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AN American woman who lost her legs in a boating accident in The Bahamas in May has recounted her harrowing experience, saying she nearly lost her life.

Hannah Smith, a 22-yearold recent college graduate, said: “I want my legs back,

but in that situation, I would have lost my life.”

She recalled the tragedy in a recent interview with 7 News Miami, speaking about her recovery journey since the accident.

Ms Smith had been on a cruise to celebrate her graduation and stopped at a port in The Bahamas when the incident occurred.

Police said the accident happened shortly after

3.45pm on May 12, when Ms Smith entered the water from a vessel she was a passenger on while it was attempting to dock near Bay Street.

She said she was on an excursion when the boat’s propellers “kind of dismembered” her legs, which later had to be amputated.

“I could have just lost

so much more,” she said,

“My family could be grieving right now instead of like helping me rehabilitate.”

Ms Smith said getting into a wheelchair was her “first big win”, but returning to the gym gave her renewed energy.

“A lot of my wounds are almost closed, so it’s kind of like slowly getting back to a

new normal life.”

Ms Smith, who earned a degree in graphic design and communications and has a passion for tattooing, said she even asked others to bring her tattoo machines so she could tattoo herself while in hospital.

After the accident, a GoFundMe page was launched to support Ms Smith’s recovery, with a fundraising goal of $250,000. The campaign, titled Support Hannah’s Endless Adventures and New Beginnings, describes the incident as a life-altering tragedy and appeals for public support to help cover surgeries, medical bills, and her long road to recovery.

residents for improved signage, better road maintenance, and stricter speed limit enforcement. Codie’s death also

came just two days after another fatal traffic incident in New Providence. Police said a 36-year-old male motorcyclist died

on Friday after a collision involving two vehicles on Carmichael Road near Edmonton Lane. Officers arrived shortly after

6pm and found the victim lying unresponsive on the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Codie Stuart Lightfoot

hanna Smith

The face of humility and selfless service

The country’s progress is a collective effort, and we must recognise and thank those who have made genuine contributions. Their efforts are not in vain, and they deserve a heartfelt thank you from the government. This recognition is more than just a formality; it validates their valiant efforts and sacrifices and encourages them to continue going the extra mile, reinforcing the importance of their role in our nation’s development. When people are appreciated, others are encouraged to lend a helping hand. Your role is significant, and your contributions are invaluable. Too often, we have seen countless Bahamians honoured and given heaping accolades. Still, before we criticise, we scratch our heads vigorously to determine what the honorees did to deserve the special attention. The more we ponder, the less we find out. The most embarrassing thing is that some did nothing to be considered, much less mentioned. This issue must be addressed, as a few have been given several awards but can only point to relationships that caused them to have an honourable mention. Unashamedly, politics has caused some not to have the courage to refuse the awards because the invisible achievements, often inflated or even non-existent, help

FACING REALITY

By i voi N e iN graham

to raise their stock in the eyes of people who look at the recipients as having achieved because of their superiority. Sadly, the most deserving people cannot and would not be allowed to receive the thanks that should have been almost automatic if hard work were one of the criteria needed This discourages genuine people from going the extra mile because there would be no appreciation, especially seeing those who, in most cases, are undeserving, getting all the praise. Therefore, ingratitude must be a sin. everyone deserves a second chance. Agatha Marcelle is a shining example of someone who has made invaluable contributions to nation-building. her humility and dedication to doing extraordinary things inspire us all. She is a role model for what we can achieve when we dare to be ordinary and continue to strive for greatness. her profound selflessness and passion for helping others cannot be measured. Ms Marcelle, grounded on Christian principles, is a lady I call the Doctor in human Resources who bucked the status quo and insisted on doing something that would profoundly impact our society.

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Her work has not only provided an avenue and inspired hope in many, but it has also significantly reduced the number of young adults left behind.

Instead of joining those criticising our youth who fell through the cracks and that everyone would want to discard, Ms Marcella created an avenue, a comprehensive training and support program, that would provide the tools that, by their very nature, were designed to give the rejected a second chance. her work has not only provided an avenue and

inspired hope in many, but it has also significantly reduced the number of young adults left behind. She combined her enthusiasm and relationships with buy-in and private partnerships, which is a win-win. her work has transformed many lives and set a new standard for community service.

The National Training Agency, a beacon of hope for our nation, is a testament that if given a chance, our children and young adults can recalibrate and change course toward productivity. It’s

a source of pride for our nation.

Under the leadership of Ms Marcella, the agency has provided the necessary training, tools, and support for hundreds of our sons and daughters, guiding them towards success and self-sufficiency and shaping a brighter future. The agency’s role in this initiative cannot be overstated, and it is a key player in the success of Ms Marcelle’s work. The agency’s commitment to the cause and its impact on the lives of the youth should be acknowledged and celebrated.

Ms Marcelle birthed the magnificent idea, and Perry Gladstone Christie, with his unwavering support and the government’s full backing, helped turn this idea into a reality. his support was instrumental in the success of this initiative. The agency is not selective about who would be eligible; once they meet the criteria, all and sundry are welcome.

The rest is history. What is most evident is that Ms Marcelle insisted that young adults receive the requisite training and tools to be employable. This programme was designed to help those interested in picking themselves up and returning to the race, even though they did not follow the path that society is still measuring to pick winners.

To further my point, even though she is not driven by grandstanding and pontification, Ms Marcelle fits the mould of a true patriot. She is qualified to be recognised for the highest awards simply because she has done the most for the least among us. Isn’t that what the Lord impressed upon us? Therefore, I unequivocally state that The Bahamas needs a few more Agatha Marcelle, who work tirelessly to save our otherwise discarded young adults. The school system measuring

stick did not find these diamonds in the rough, but the National Training Agency searched and searched until they found many. Let’s be inspired by Agatha Marcelle’s example and strive to be more like her, making a difference in the lives of our youth. her example is not just a model to follow, but a call to action for all of us to contribute to our nation’s development.

A school curriculum does not always measure productive people because life is not a onesize-fits-all, and academic certificates cannot be the determining factor. Many highly successful people came from backgrounds where society struck them down.

I salute Agatha Marcelle. Watching her pour out her heart to give back to a society that gave her so much gives me great pleasure. her selflessness is profound. her hard work propelled her to be one of our finest daughters, who did her thing without the bells and whistles. her humility is her calling card. her unwavering dedication from the heart has driven her toward helping each young adult individually. We can’t help but admire her dedication and selflessness, which have profoundly impacted our society. her example is a testament to the power of humility and selfless service, and it should inspire us all to follow in her footsteps.

Let us face reality:

While Agatha Marcelle may not be clamouring for recognition, she is a deserving national hero of the highest order. her recognition is a formality and testament to her hard work and dedication. We, as a nation, should be proud of her, and it should inspire others to follow in her footsteps.

Congratulations, my sister; your reward is already stored in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

NatioNal Training Agency executive chair Agatha Marcelle speaks during the graduation ceremony for the National Apprenticeship Programme at The National Training Agency on Friday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

New UK initiative in Middle East

After writing extensively in last week’s column about the tragic humanitarian situation in Gaza, I am reluctant to return to the subject of the Middle east again today. However, Britain has just announced its intention to recognise the state of Palestine, and this constitutes a major change of foreign policy that it might be interesting to examine now. In a hugely significant development, Prime Minister Keri Starmer stated formally last week that Britain would recognise the state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel met several conditions; namely, reach a ceasefire in Gaza, make it clear there will be no annexation of territory in the West Bank and commit to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution. there is also a call for the remaining hostages to be released. But, for the heartbroken relatives of British hostages still being held captive, this is not an explicit condition for recognition. this UK action follows a recent similar decision by france and, later, by Canada. Before this, Britain has regularly and consistently said that such recognition should be part of a peace deal between the Jewish and Arab people. Britain had supported the idea of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine in accordance with the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and recognised Israel in 1950. But it had

The Peter Young column

also been mindful of the second half of the declaration which stated that “nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish countries in Palestine”. As far as one can see, Prime Minister Starmer has placed no conditions on Hamas. this, at the very least, seems odd since, presumably, both sides would have to agree to a cessation of hostilities. Moreover, a little research shows that under international law, the Montevideo Convention of 1933, there are several named criteria for statehood - that a state should have a defined territory, a permanent population and a capacity to enter into diplomatic relations with other states. It is noticeable that, compared to Britain, Canada has imposed its own conditions on recognition like demilitarising the Palestinians and a stipulation that Hamas, as a

proscribed terrorist organisation, should not be part of any future Palestinian government. At present, Palestine basically consists of Gaza and the West Bank, much of which is disputed – or, in the eyes of the Palestinians, occupied – territory, together with a large diaspora while many Arabs anyway have Israeli citizenship. for a Palestinian state to be viable, the mixed make-up of the population of the West Bank would have to be newly determined. Large numbers want a return to the pre-1967 borders which were the de facto recognised borders in the 1949 Armistice Agreement until the 1967 Arab/Israel Six-Day war. reportedly, there has even been mention of building a tunnel between the West Bank and Gaza.

Delving further into the recent history, it is clear that after Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2004 and handed control to the Palestinians, the latter lost their own control to Hamas.

In 2008, Israel was said to have offered land swaps in the West Bank and Gaza. But militant Palestinians insisted on pursuing their aim of destroying the Jewish state. As the Israelis have been stating categorically, they did not start this latest war and did not want conflict. they have been reacting to the horrors of the killing and mayhem committed by Hamas inside Israel in October, 2023. Nonetheless, as I stressed last week,

mention of this should in no way be seen as some sort of explanation or mitigating factor for Israel’s current excesses on the ground in Gaza, particularly against civilians and children, which, if true, remain despicable and wholly unacceptable. It is simply incomprehensible to ordinary so-called right-minded people that snipers are being accused of shooting down people

individually at aid assembly points - and that an immediate way of stopping them cannot be found.

In response to Starmer’s announcement about recognition, there has been comprehensive coverage of the issue in the UK press this past weekend. Some correspondents, are calling this a reward for terrorism and the darkest day in British foreign policy since the invasion

of Iraq in 2003. they point to the US secretary of state’s reaction which has branded the UK’s position as “clumsy” since Hamas will not agree to a ceasefire if it already knows that to do so might help to stop British recognition of Palestine. But Hamas does not want an end to the fighting. Indeed, it stated only a few days ago that it would not lay down its arms until Palestinians take control of “their own land” and “an independent, full sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital” is established. to many in the press, the UK policy about this appears to be muddled even though the numbers of countries jumping on the bandwagon to recognise the territory is growing. It is generally accepted from experience that the standard of diplomacy in Britain is usually high so I should like to cover the issue in a bit more depth in a separate piece on this page today. for now, based on the evidence, there must be an increasing suspicion that the government’s foreign affairs professionals have been overruled by the Labour politicians in power who are intent on recognising Palestine but do not seem to be aware of all the implications. the government appears to be pushing for recognition for its own Party purposes rather than strictly on the merits of the case – and to appease its domestic Muslim community; and this makes its action, in the minds of many, all the more reprehensible.

Timing of recognition of new state

tHe evidence in the media in the UK is that many people already consider that prime minister Starmer’s announcement last week to recognize Gaza at the United Nation’s Assembly in September is for the wrong reasons. Not only is he caving in to his own party and appeasing Muslims in the UK, but - mistakenly, in the view of many - he has made this conditional on Israel’s future actions during the war in Gaza and in relation to the whole Middle east peace process. Some are saying that it is against the interests of the Israeli people and an abysmal betrayal of them.

Apart from Hamas itself, which has made clear publicly in the last few days that it will cease its violence only when a Palestinian state is established, many people in the region and around the world want a ceasefire in Gaza and a lasting resolution of the long running Arab-Israeli dispute. But many are also now saying that this should not be directly linked to recognition of the territory that is at issue.

It is argued that recognition of a state by the UK should not be made conditional on action or inaction

by third states. to insist on this can even be said to be implicitly failing to respect Palestine’s right to self-determination. If the territory deserves statehood, it is on its own merits and terms, not as conditions of Israel’s policies and actions as a separate state.

It is beginning to appear that Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel almost two years ago and the resulting war in Gaza, together with

the new controversy about recognition of a Palestinian state, may have encouraged some people to embark on a fundamental re-think of the Arab-Israeli dispute.

With the separate attacks on Iran by the US and Israel earlier this year, and President trump hoping to expand the Abraham Accords created by his administration during his first term in the White House, it appears that

Myanmar in the news again

tHere has been relatively limited information coming out of the country of Myanmar recently. But the latest news shows that the situation there remains volatile as the civil war continues amidst ongoing conflict, with rebel forces and ethnic armies holding significant territory. Despite this conflict, news has emerged of an announcement by the ruling military junta of an end of the state of emergency in some parts of the country which was imposed after the military coup in 2021.

Plans for elections to be held before the end of the year were also announced, though no dates have been given. Since independence from Britain in 1948, Myanmar (the former Burma) has experienced periods of both democratic governance and military rule. But the military has been a powerful and influential force throughout its history. there is insufficient space today to analyse the latest developments in this predominantly Buddhist country, with its estimated

population of 55 million, situated in Southeast Asia bordering India and China. But many people have a particular interest in this because of the Nobel Prizewinning democratic leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains a revered figure in Myanmar as a symbol of the pro-democracy struggle. She is now in prison serving what amounts to a life sentence, given that she has now reached her 80th birthday.

I hope to return to the subject in more detail in the coming weeks.

– without oversimplifying a complex situation - some may have come round to accepting that it is essentially terrorist organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah that are responsible for causing the trouble in the region.

According to reports, in the UK it seems that people are starting to

question whether it makes any sense for Arabs to continue to challenge the long-standing existence of Israel on the land it already occupies and has done for about 80 years. the history of the dispute remains supremely controversial but it is generally accepted that both Jews and Arabs have some sort of claim to the land called Palestine.

More broadly, historians remind us that in the 19th century, famous German statesman, Otto von Bismarck, skillfully united various German states into a German empire by adopting an approach of realpolitik. this was roughly defined as a system of politics or principles based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations. Could this ever apply to the Middle east?

Israel may be small geographically – slightly smaller than the state of Massachusetts – but official statistics show a population of just under ten million with more than two million Arabs living there as citizens. Sharing borders with Lebanon,

Syria, Jordan and egypt – with the Mediterranean Sea to its west – it enjoys, of course, huge military and financial support from the US. So, as long as the Israelis wish to maintain the status quo, there is no way that the country “can be wiped off the face of the earth”, as threatened by Iran. Moreover, Israel has been victorious in at least half a dozen wars with its Arab neighbours since it was created in 1948.

Interestingly, Germany’s foreign minister, traditionally a staunch ally of Israel, has been increasingly critical of its actions in Gaza. But he has now said that Germany will not recognise Palestine as a state in the short term despite global pressure. the images of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza have surely sickened most people. Many now wonder how Israel could have allowed this to happen while at the same time failing to destroy Hamas – even though wholesale elimination may not be possible - in such a small territory over an extended period of nearly two years.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside Number 10 Downing Street on the day the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London on July 29, 2025.

Photo: toby Melville/AP

PeoPle walk along a street lined with destroyed buildings following Israeli bombardments during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, on July 29, 2025. Photo: Jehad alshrafi/AP

Father said allegation of suicide was ‘completely out of character’ for his son

HOMICIDE from page one

something he’s not that type of person. But the fact that I had no communication with him whatsoever. So with this I know it wasn’t him, like someone took him away.”

Speaking to The Tribune hours after a five member jury returned a homicide finding following less than 30 minutes of deliberation, Mr Fox’s mother Michelle Green said she “always knew” her son had not killed himself.

Mr Fox’s decomposing body was found inside his blue Dodge Ram truck in a bushy area off Frank Watson Boulevard on April 29, 2024 — two days after he was reported missing. A shotgun was found near the vehicle.

The jury reached its conclusion after hearing evidence that it was “unlikely”

Mr Fox shot himself, despite the case initially being classified as a suicide.

Inspector Henrington Curry, a firearms expert, said it was ‘unlikely’ the victim shot himself with the shotgun. The shooter was at least 10ft away from the victim, according to the evidence he observed.

Mr Fox’s mother said she was grateful for the outcome. She admitted that while she always believed her son had not taken his

own life, the ruling reopened emotional wounds.

Mr Fox’s widow said she had long been sceptical about the circumstances of his death, noting that the bushes where her husband’s truck was found have since been burned down. She previously testified that the last time she saw her husband was on the morning of April 26 at their home. Concerned after not hearing from him for 24 hours, she reported him missing on April 27.

The following day, relatives searched areas in western New Providence. Police also deployed drones and K-9 units to assist in the search.

On April 29, the family was notified that his body had been found.

Adrian Farrington, Mr Fox’s father, said during testimony his son showed no signs of depression or

suicidal thoughts in the days leading up to his death, calling the incident “completely out of character.”

He insisted Evan had never shown signs of emotional distress, nor did he believe his son was capable of harming himself.

“My son was always a happy person,” he said. “He was well-liked by his peers and family alike.”

Fox’s death stunned relatives and friends, many of whom have continued to question the circumstances surrounding his final days.

Sgt 2835 Deveaux of the K-9 Unit testified that a police dog named Spartacus showed signs suggesting more than one person may have been in the vicinity where Mr Fox’s body was discovered. However, no other person was found at the scene.

Police Constable Michael

Dorsett read Corporal Pratt’s drone report into evidence, saying that at 10am on April 29, authorities were notified of the missing person and began an aerial search in the Clifton Pier and Coral Harbour Road areas.

The drone later located Mr Fox’s vehicle off a dirt road near Frank Watson Boulevard. Aerial drone footage was played in court.

Dr Caryn Sands, a pathologist, said the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest. Dr Sands said the shotgun pellets entered from the front of his chest and exited through his back. She added that the pellets tore through the victim’s heart.

Dr Sands said she retrieved three shotgun pellets from the deceased’s body and that the shotgun made no contact with the victim’s skin. She told the jury that due to the rate of

decomposition, the deceased had been dead for at least a day and a half before his body was found. This meant the victim died early on Sunday morning, the day before his body was found. Inspector Curry said the shotgun found was functional, he said a casing was initially lodged in it that would make it incapable of firing.

Maxwell Glinton, a friend of the deceased, said he spoke with him the day before he went missing and the two made plans to see each other the following day. Mr Glinton said the deceased did not normally drive with his shotgun in the car. The deceased’s wallet was found in the truck.

Angelo Whitfield served as the evidence marshall, while Kara Turnquest Deveaux presided as coroner.

Historian criticises lack of women in politics in The Bahamas

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A HISTORIAN has criticised the lack of women in politics in The Bahamas and is calling for greater efforts to encourage more into leadership roles.

Dr Crystal deGregory said while some progress has been made, it falls far short especially since women make up half of the country’s population.

“Today, only seven women serve of the 39 seats in the House of Assembly. There is no national quota to help correct this,” she said.

While speaking at the FNM Grand Bahama Women’s Association monthly meeting on Thursday, Dr deGregory urged Bahamian women to be bold,

intentional, and unapologetic in exercising their political power, not just as voters, but as leaders, decision-makers, and advocates for one another. She said international observers from the United Nations and other international equal rights organisations have taken notice of the disparity when it comes to women in politics. “They say our progress is too slow, that social expectations and campaign financing leave women behind and that we must do far more to mentor, finance and support women in leadership,” she said.

Dr deGregory reminded attendees that women fall woefully short in the nation’s power structure. “Advocates for women’s

equality and equity have sounded the alarm and pointed out that while women are 50 percent of this nation, we are nowhere near 50 percent of the people who make decisions about it,” she said.

She also challenged the FNM to reflect on its own commitment to gender equity. “We have to build bridges across party lines. We have to train, support and elevate each other because while the FNM can claim to be progressive generally, when it comes to women even it has a ways to go.”

Reflecting on trailblazing women such as Carolyn Miller, Anita Doherty, Janet Bostwick, and Italia Johnson, Dr deGregory emphasized the importance of legacy and mentorship.

“Are we doing enough? Are we seeing the Carolyn Millers? Are we mentoring the next Anita Dohertys? Are we listening to the girls who are hungry for opportunity, for a way in?”

She also touched on deeper cultural attitudes toward women, including how even some women uphold patriarchal norms that restrict progress of women.

“There are still women who are deeply invested in patriarchy, in man-order society. They want some things but don’t want all of the things for themselves and for others. And that is where the problem comes in. You doing all the work but you don’t want the credit. You don’t want the fruits of labour and you are working yourself to death only

to get the middle, which is not a good use of time and energy.”

She questioned the nation’s reluctance to celebrate female icons with the same reverence shown to men, including being represented on bank notes.

“When are we going to put a woman on a bill?” she asked.

She mentioned Dame Doris Johnson and Dame Janet Bostwick as two deserving women who could be honoured in such a way. Dr deGregory said: “We need to have conversations. We are stronger and better together. We must continue to interrogate people who are our leaders. We cannot let them off no matter what colour shirt they wear or what box they tick; you have to hold people accountable.

“These answers will shape

not only our party, but also our leadership because while women answer with the vote, we also answer with how we treat other girls and women, and what we say and what we do and how we make each other feel.”

She took exception to the fact that Bahamians living in the US or abroad are unable to vote, calling it a limiting and outdated mindset. “We have this idea that if you don’t live here, you can’t contribute; that is such a small and oppressive belief,” she said.

Dr deGregory is an associate professor of history and the founding director of the Mary McLeod Bethune Institute for the Study of Women and Girls at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Evan Fox

30 complete five-week pilot programme to prepare them for the construction industry

By EaryEl BowlEg Tribune Staff reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY 30 young Bahamians have completed a five-week pilot programme designed at preparing them for careers in the construction industry.

The National Training Agency (NTA), in partnership with the National Apprenticeship Programme, hosted a Certificate of Completion Ceremony for 27 participants, ranging in age from 18 to 30, in the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programme, NTA executive chairman Agatha Marcelle said the group will now move on to skills preparation with the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) and transition to work placements with employers.

“The apprenticeship programme is an attempt to give them the knowledge base soft skills, and then to send them out to get the actual practical skills, and then to partner with employers so that they’re

learning on the job.” Men made up 84 percent of the group. However, 20-year-old Andrea PettyFrere, one of the few women, said she took the chance to learn something new.

She was not initially interested in construction and had applied for maritime, which was full, but she said: “I definitely became more comfortable with it because I saw it as, like I said, as an opportunity, because, one you honestly don’t see a lot of females in construction, so I felt like it would be something new and different.”

She did not find it intimidating being in a male dominated field, noting that regardless of gender, it’s just two people working together to get the job done.

Terrell Deveaux, 20, finished with an overall average grade in the 90s, saying he almost got a perfect score. He said: “The competition really pushed me to do better with people with the grades being so close, it really gave me the

drive to be the best.” He added: “Now that I have the construction certificate, I would like to pursue a career in electrical. Hopefully be able to start my own business and electrical but technology has always been my passion. I hope to combine the two and hopefully do a business that can benefit The Bahamas, because that’s been a thing of mine, to help give back to the country that helped me. It’s really been my passion.”

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis recently acknowledged an uptick in legal migration to address a growing labour shortage in the Bahamian construction sector, citing a lack of skilled local workers to meet rising demand. However, Bahamian Contractors Association president Leonard Sands pushed back against the prime minister’s claim, arguing that most work permits go to unskilled positions while proposing a freeze on renewals for roles that recent school leavers could fill.

By PaVEl BaIlE y Tribune Staff reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison on Thursday, accused of stealing a car at gunpoint in Mount Royal Avenue and physically attacking him in April. Christoph Knowles, 45, was arraigned on charges of armed robbery and grievous harm before Chief Magistrate

By PaVEl BaIlE y Tribune Staff reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

Roberto Reckley.

The defendant is accused of allegedly robbing Dwight Williams of his 2016 Nissan Note on April 23, along with accomplices and while armed with a handgun. He also allegedly beat up Mr Williams and left him seriously injured. The stolen vehicle, valued at $6,000, was later recovered on Market Street. The defendant was not required to enter a plea.

A MAN was sentenced to seven months in prison on Friday for possessing and cultivating marijuana at his residence on Lady Slipper Drive. Kendron Schroeter, 31, was charged alongside Clive Schroeter, 54, D’Angelo Schroeter, 32, and Adrian Gibson, 29, with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply and cultivation of dangerous drugs. Kendron was found cultivating marijuana and in possession of 5.6oz of marijuana at his residence on July 30. He was the sole defendant to plead guilty. His co-accused all pleaded not guilty.

He was informed his matter will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was told of his right to apply for bail through the higher court. The accused will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is potentially served on October 30.

Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom served as the prosecutor.

The remaining defendants’ bail was set at $4,000 with one or two sureties. Under the terms of their bail, the defendants must sign in at their local police station once a week. The trial is due to begin on October 16. Sergeant Wilkinson served as the prosecutor. Senior magistrate Raquel Whyms presided.

NatioNal Training Agency Executive Chair Agatha Marcelle speaks during the graduation ceremony for the National Apprenticeship Programme at The National Training Agency on Friday. Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Aisha Bowe: Camp aims to inspire Bahamian kids to not just dream but go for their goals

BY EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AishA Bowe, the first Bahamian to travel to space, returned to The Bahamas to host her annual hack sTEM Camp.

The camp, open to students in grades nine to 12, welcomed 62 campers this year, two as young as 11.

Ms Bowe, who has been hosting the camp for more than a decade, said it is her way of giving back.

“There is nothing like being able to give back to your own and this camp is my way of inspiring other Bahamian students to not just dream but to go after that goal in spite of where they start,” she said. “As a child, i never imagined that one day, i could go from looking at the sky and wondering what was out there, to making history as the first Bahamian to go into space.”

This year’s sTEM (science, technology,

engineering and maths) camp featured new lessons inspired by Ms Bowe’s recent journey to space.

Ms Bowe flew aboard Blue Origin’s New shepard rocket as part of an allfemale six-member crew, becoming the first Bahamian to travel to space

The flight, launched from Texas in April, also included CBs journalist Gayle King, singer Katy Perry, Lauren sanchez, Kerianne Flynn, and activist Amanda Nguyen. The trip lasted about ten minutes and faced criticism for being more a spectacle than a scientific mission, but Ms Bowe defended the significance of the experience. “i think that a lot of times people, when they watch something that is so revolutionary that they can have a difficult time understanding a perspective,” she said, “so you look at a runner like Usain Bolt, he might have trained for two years just to make sure that he could run for five, six, seven seconds.

so for anybody that has the opportunity to go to space, i highly encourage they go because it changes your view of life in the world.”

The flight was also bittersweet, as her father passed away in January. she said: “i signed to fly in 2022 which is part of the reason why they would ask me the question about, ‘Do i have any regrets?’ i worked hard, i trained for two years. i earned my seat and before my father passed, he knew that i was going to fly.” in fact, he sent me a text message that said all of the people who came before me and all the people who have who will come after me will always be proud of you and i just remember looking at it and saying to myself like this is why i have to persevere. “

she believes her visibility and growing interest among girls in sTEM contributed to an estimated 60 percent increase in female participation at this year’s camp.

AishA Bowe at HackiT Bahamas 2025 at St Andrew’s School on Friday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

The world has gone silent on the horrors in Gaza - that is the tragedy

I was sitting in my dentist’s chair, one of the few events in which, while my mouth was open, I could not speak. Even as she worked methodically, my dentist spoke close enough to my ear that her words were unmistakable. “The tragedy of Gaza,” she said, is that the world is in a state of “collapse of compassion”. Indeed, psychology and behavioural economics researchers have documented this. simply put, suffering in others, witnessed frequently, produces a kind of immunity in the mind.

This can be the only explanation for why people around the world are not expressing outrage vociferously at the brutal and inhumane suffering and indiscriminate deaths of people, including children, from hunger and malnutrition in the prison that the Israeli government and its military forces have created in Gaza.

since March 17–18, Israeli air, land, and sea strikes—followed by expanded ground operations—have killed and wounded tens of thousands of civilians, flattened hospitals, schools and homes, and forced more than 1.9 million people (about 90 percent of Gaza’s population) from their neighbourhoods, often several times over.

Displacement orders now blanket roughly 282 sq km—over four-fifths of the territory—leaving families to shelter in half-destroyed buildings or open fields with little protection.

Humanitarian aid has all but vanished. after nearly 80 days of a siege that barred food, medicine and

World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

fuel, only a small trickle of UN and NGO trucks has been allowed in by the Israeli government and its military forces—and the

United Nations Relief and works agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRwa) has not delivered a single shipment since March 2.

Of 323 planned aid convoys in June, 154 were denied, 30 impeded, and only 97 fully facilitated. as people converged on militarised distribution points in Rafah and Deir al-Balah, they faced deadly risks: by 25 June, at least 549 civilians had been killed and more than 4,000 injured simply trying to reach food. The desperation that led to this risk, even in the face of missiles and bullets, and the resulting wanton deaths, challenge humane understanding.

In clinics overwhelmed by trauma, malnutrition has reached record highs. Between January and May 2025, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recorded an average of 112 children admitted each day for severe malnutrition. Meanwhile, a four-month fuel ban threatens to shut down 40 per cent of Gaza’s drinking-water facilities that are still operating; without generators, these taps will run dry within weeks. Nearly half of essential medicines—heart drugs to antibiotics—are already out of stock, and another fifth will vanish within two months.

On the ground, every day is a struggle to survive. women and girls bear an added burden. Observers from the UN Human Rights Office describe “scenes of chaos” at the few remaining food sites, where long queues leave the elderly, the disabled and children exposed to harassment and abuse. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPa) reports that lack

of food and cooking fuel has become a tool of coercion in some households. at the same time, the daily chore of fetching water or firewood exposes women to violence and exploitation. at the international political level, inertia and inaction rule the day, as governments jockey over their national and their allies’ national interests. The UN security Council sees more concern and more calls for action by its non-permanent members than from the five veto powers, each of which can block united action.

Finally, on July 30, foreign ministers gathered at UN Headquarters “with Gaza smouldering”, and secretary-General antónio Guterres warned the situation was “at a breaking point” as they pledged to revive the two-state solution; that is, a recognised state of Palestine and a recognised state of Israel, both within secure borders.

However, beyond conditional recognition pledges—from Canada, the UK, France, and other EU states that tie Palestinian statehood to a ceasefire, hostage releases and elections—there has been no sustained global pressure to open corridors, rebuild infrastructure or protect civilians. Media coverage has dwindled, diplomatic visits have waned, and headlines have shifted elsewhere.

If the two-state vision is to be meaningful, it must be backed by deeds, not just declarations. The international community

must insist on immediate, unhindered humanitarian corridors, establish a transparent reconstruction trust to fund homes, schools, and hospitals, deploy a stabilisation force to protect civilians and aid workers, and empower a reformed Palestinian authority to restore basic services and security. Neither Israel nor Hamas, which continues to hold hostages, can have matters their way, and the rest of the world should collectively tell them so, fearlessly and forcefully. CaRICOM Governments, collectively and to their credit, have done so. silence in the face of suffering is a form of violence. The facts on the ground— documented by UNRwa, OCHa, UNICEF and OHCHR—are too stark to ignore. People are now scouring the dirt for food. It is a tragedy that the people in Gaza are being killed and are also dying from starvation, malnutrition and lack of medicines. But the greater and real human tragedy is that the world is in a state of “collapse of compassion”, quietly looking away. It is time for the world to speak up, or Gaza will weigh heavily and permanently on the conscience of mankind.

• 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

Palestinians rush to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Zawaida in the central Gaza Strip yesterday.

Photo: abdel Kareem Hana/AP

State Department may require visa applicants to post bond of up to $15,000 to enter the US

WASHINGTON Associated Press

The State Department is proposing requiring applicants for business and tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000 to enter the United States, a move that may make the process unaffordable for many.

In a notice to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, the department said it would start a 12-month pilot program under which people from countries deemed to have high overstay rates and deficient internal document security controls could be required to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 when they apply for a visa.

US Embassy Bahamas insight on visa bond

The pilot programme to require a bond for visas for visitors to the US from some countries will be confirmed in an order being published today by the Department of State – but there is no word as yet which countries will be affected.

A spokesperson from the US embassy in The Bahamas, providing background to the move, yesterday said that there are no updates to share at this time regarding which countries may be affected, but that more information would be provided as it becomes available.

The bond will be required for those

The proposal comes as the Trump administration is tightening requirements for visa applicants. Last week, the State Department announced that many visa renewal applicants would have to submit to an additional in-person interview, something that was not required in the past. In addition, the department is proposing that applicants for the Visa Diversity Lottery program have valid passports from their country of citizenship.

eligible for a B1/B2 business/tourist visa in the identified countries.

The spokesperson said that the countries will be identified based on “high overstay rates, screening and vetting deficiencies, concerns regarding acquisition of citizenship by investment without a residency requirement, and foreign policy considerations” and that the list of countries may be updated occasionally. It is said to ensure the US and its citizens are protected “by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process”.

A preview of the bond notice, which was posted on the Federal Register website on Monday, said the pilot program would take effect within 15 days of its formal publication and is necessary to ensure that the US government is not financially liable if a visitor does not comply with the terms of his or her visa.

“Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure and who are nationals of countries

identified by the department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering citizenship by investment,

if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot program,” the notice said. The countries affected will be listed once the program takes effect, it said. The bond could be waived depending on an applicant’s individual circumstances.

The bond would not apply to citizens of countries enrolled in the Visa Waiver Program, which enables travel for business or tourism for up to 90 days. The majority of the 42 countries enrolled in the program are in europe, with others in

Asia, the Middle east and elsewhere. Visa bonds have been proposed in the past but have not been implemented. The State Department has traditionally discouraged the requirement because of the cumbersome process of posting and discharging a bond and because of a possible misperceptions by the public. however, the department said that previous view “is not supported by any recent examples or evidence, as visa bonds have not generally been required in any recent period.”

Eight missing including an irish missionary aft Er gunm En storm a h aiti orphanag E

PORT-AU-PRINCE

Associated Press

eI gh T people including an Irish missionary and a 3-year-old child remained missing Monday after gunmen stormed an orphanage in h aiti, the latest attack in an area controlled by a powerful collection of armed gangs.

Authorities scrambled to relocate dozens of children and staff from the Saint- h élène orphanage run by Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs, an international charity with offices in Mexico and France. The orphanage cares for more than 240 children, according to its website.

Among those kidnapped early Sunday was g ena h eraty, an Irish missionary who has worked in h aiti since 1993 and oversaw the orphanage’s special needs program for children and adults. She was assaulted in 2013 when suspects broke into the orphanage and killed her colleague, according to Irish media. h er family issued a statement saying they were “absolutely devastated” by Sunday’s kidnappings: “The situation is evolving and deeply worrying.”

Sunday marked the latest high-profile kidnapping involving a foreign missionary. In 2021, the 400 Mawozo gang kidnapped 17 missionaries, including five children, from a USbased organization in g anthier, east of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The majority were held captive for 61 days.

Sunday’s kidnapping took place in Kenscoff, a once peaceful community in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. The

doors to the orphanage remained closed on Monday as h aiti’s Institute of Social Welfare and Research worked with UNIC e F to identify sites where children and employees could be relocated.

No one has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings in an area controlled by a gang federation known as “ Viv Ansanm.” The US this year designated it as a foreign terrorist organization.

Simon h arris, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, said in a statement that the kidnappings of h eraty and the others were “deeply worrying,” and called for their immediate release. In a past interview with the Irish Independent newspaper, h eraty recalled being threatened with death when suspects broke into the orphanage in 2013.

“They were quite aggressive. One had a hammer, one had a gun,” she said. h eraty said her colleague was killed with a hammer after he rushed to help her and others.

“The last place you would expect a violent death to happen in h aiti would be in a house with special-needs people,” she said. “Life is just not fair. We know that. We just have to accept it.”

At least 175 people in h aiti were reported kidnapped from April to the end of June of this year, with 37% of those cases occurring in Port-au-Prince.

The United Nations said a majority of those kidnappings were blamed on the g rand Ravine and Village de Dieu gangs, which form part of the Viv Ansanm federation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio gives a media briefing during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur on July 11, 2025.

Photo: Mandel Ngan/AP

Young explorers set sail at LJM Maritime Academy summer camp

Budding sailors and future marine professionals got a hands-on taste of life at sea this summer during the LJM Maritime Academy Summer Camp, now in its fourth year with support from disney Cruise Line.

The two-week programme, open to children aged ten to 13, introduces campers to maritime careers through immersive activities and workshops. Participants learn essential nautical skills, survival techniques, and environmental stewardship,

alongside navigation and marine engineering basics.

One of the highlights of the camp was a behindthe-scenes tour of the disney Wish while docked in nassau. Campers met crew members, explored ship operations, and even stepped aboard the disney Magic, gaining first-hand insight into life at sea.

in addition to the summer camp, disney Cruise Line continues to invest in local maritime education through the LJM Maritime Academy

Scholarship. Since 2019, dCL has fully sponsored cadet scholarships for Bahamian students training to become ship captains and maritime leaders.

The scholarship covers the cost of the academy’s three-year programme— two years of study and one year of shipboard experience on a disney vessel. Scholars also receive a living stipend, enabling them to focus on their training and future careers at sea.

Camp Climate Action equips youth with tools for a greener future

SevenTy students took part in Camp Climate Action; a two-week summer programme focused on climate change awareness and environmental responsibility. Hosted by the Community Affairs division of the department of Social Services, the camp engaged children in hands-on learning to help them better

understand and respond to the impacts of climate change on their lives and communities. Campers were introduced to topics such as hurricane preparedness, food security, backyard farming, and the preservation of the natural environment, including plant, marine, and animal life. They participated in

practical activities like assembling disaster supply kits and recycling to reduce their carbon footprint and protect local ecosystems.

As part of the experience, the children visited key government and environmental agencies, including the Bahamas department of Meteorology, Bonefish Pond national Park

Youth Apprentice cA mp t r A de Show

of participants in the

provided a platform for apprentices to demonstrate what they learned during the camp, which focuses on hands-on training and vocational development for students across The Bahamas.

and the Cardinal newman Produce Farm, where they explored climate science, conservation practices, and sustainable agriculture.

Through a combination of educational sessions and field visits, the camp encouraged campers to take action in their homes, schools, and communities. Minister of Social Services, information and

Broadcasting, Myles LaRoda, praised the camp’s impact, calling it beneficial to the children, their families, and the wider community. He emphasised that although children are the least responsible for climate change, they will bear the greatest burden, making early education essential.

“This is the kind of knowledge that will stay with them for life,” said Mr LaRoda.

Lisa Bowleg, officer-inCharge of the Community Affairs division, noted that the camp aimed to shift the focus from climate change to climate action, helping young people understand how they can be part of the solution, regardless of age or ability.

LJM Maritime Academy Summer Camp participants enjoying themselves.

CaMp Climate Action students and administrators gather for a picture.

yOung apprentices displayed their talents at the 2025 youth Apprentice Camp Trade Show, hosted by the division of youth in the Ministry of youth, Sports and Culture. The event showcased the

work

youth Apprentice Camp, who spent the summer developing skills in photography, cooking, baking, agriculture, sewing, carpentry, and beauty trades. The Trade Show

Youth Apprentice Camp Trade Show students.