WOMAN & HEALTH
13-YEAR-OLD DIES IN HOUSE INFERNO
Heartbreaking screams for help as neighbours tackle blaze in vain
BY DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A 13-year-old boy died when a fire broke out at the friend’s house he was staying in overnight, turning the building into a blazing inferno.
The heartbreaking cries of the youngster screaming for help filled the air as neighbours tried desperately to rescue him
by breaking windows and throwing buckets of water at the single-storey wooden house in Crown Haven, Abaco, at 3am on Monday morning.
But their valiant efforts were in vain and the boy, identified as Montana Ferguson, died at the scene.
Homeowner, Ocianna Scott and her three children escaped but lost everything in the fire. It took firefighters nearly an hour to arrive from Cooper’s Town, about
40 to 50 minutes away. By then, the house had been completely destroyed.
The tragedy has renewed urgent calls for a fire truck and hydrants in the Little Abaco communities.
Police confirmed a juvenile was killed, adding: “The exact cause of the fire is not known at this time. Investigations into this matter continue.”
Volunteer fire-
fighter Gary Smith, who responded, said the loss was
especially painful for him as a father.
“It was a somber moment for me because I’m a fatherof-three,” he said. “I was out there from 3am, and only got home after 9am. It wasn’t easy, because at the end of it all, we lost a life.”
Mr Smith said by the time he reached Crown Haven, residents were already battling the fire with buckets.
HOUSE - SEE PAGE FOUR
A MURDERED man was found lying face down near a burning vehicle on Munnings Road off Gladstone Road last night.
Police told reporters at the scene that investigators are still “putting the pieces together” to determine what transpired. Officers said they were on routine patrol around 8.15pm when they discovered the victim, described as a man in his early 40s, near another vehicle while the nearby car was engulfed in flames. The killing came hours after three separate shootings in New Providence left four men in hospital and renewed concerns about public safety. See page 3 for more.
CHILDREN FOUND RUMMAGING THROUGH DUMPSTER NOW IN PROTECTIVE CARE
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
TWO young children who were allegedly starved by their father and found scavenging from a dumpster have been placed in protective custody and enrolled in school, according to Social Services Minister Myles LaRoda. Mr LaRoda said the children, aged nine and
six, are in good health and adjusting to their new environments but declined to share further details to protect their privacy.
The 39-year-old father was arraigned in July on two counts of child cruelty after authorities allegedly found the children wandering the streets and eating from garbage bins. The alleged neglect occurred on October 17, 2024.
Police said the children were found in a vulnerable state, prompting an investigation and the man’s arrest. He pleaded not guilty before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans.
Prosecutor Inspector Shadrach Coakley objected to bail, citing the defendant’s lack of legal status.
CHILDREN - SEE PAGE FOUR
SCENE of the devastating house fire in Abaco.
Back to school for Gambier
FUN scenes during the Rotary Club of East Nassau’s Back To School Fair at Gambier Park on August 23, 2025.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Four men injured in separate shootings
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
FOUR men were taken to hospital on Monday after three separate shootings in New Providence within eight hours. The first shooting happened shortly after 1am. Officers on mobile patrol heard gunshots and saw a green jeep speeding north on Baillou Hill Road after leaving a business.
When they arrived, they found a 28-year-old man who had been shot while sitting in a white Honda in the parking lot. Police said three men got out of a green vehicle, walked up to him, and opened fire before fleeing.
The victim was rushed to hospital by a private vehicle, with an officer accompanying him. He remains in serious condition.
åçThe second shooting was reported shortly before 5am at a business on Mount Royal Avenue. Police found a 43-yearold man with a gunshot injury. He was taken to hospital by ambulance. A separate police unit later
came across a 48-year-old man on Sixth Terrace who had also been shot. Officers believe he was inside the same establishment when a fight broke out and another man pulled a gun and opened fire. The victim ran
off and was later found by police before being taken to hospital.
The third incident happened shortly before 9.30am at 3C’s Bar on Baillou Hill Road South. Police said a 24-year-old man was
MORE PROGRAMMES, NOT POLICE IN ANTIGANG FIGHT, SAYS REID
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
LONG-TERM investment in schools and youth programmes - not more policing - is the key to preventing gang activity in Bahamian schools, according to crime consultant Carlos Reid.
Mr Reid told The Tribune that the presence of gangs in schools mirrors what exists in communities, with unresolved conflicts between students often escalating into more serious violence later in life.
“Our schools have become a breeding ground for these anti-social cultures,” he said. “One of the challenges in our schools is that we have not really taught young people how to resolve conflict.”
He argued that conflicts rarely get properly addressed, leaving tensions to fester. Too often, he said, students are told to shake hands without genuine resolution, allowing disputes to spill into the wider community.
While education officials and unions have promoted new measures such as student ID cards and more school resource officers, Mr Reid dismissed metal detectors and scanners as superficial fixes.
“I think they only treat the symptoms,” he said.
“We have to get down to the source. The source is that our young people do not know how to get along. We allow this to spiral out of control and then we look for quick fixes. If we really want to fix this we need
to go down to the source. What are we building inside our schools?”
He called for conflict resolution and anger management to be introduced into the curriculum, arguing that academics alone were not enough. He also pointed to cultural pressures, saying consumerism and materialism drive many young people toward gangs in search of status.
“We are teaching our people that they need exterior devices in order to be important,” he said. “Now that is becoming a normal culture for our young people. I have to feel like I am a part of the in-crowd.”
Structured programmes, he said, can break that cycle. He cited a former student whose GPA jumped from 1.7 to 3.8 after joining an after-school initiative, eventually graduating with success because “somebody exposed him to what he could be rather than where he was living.”
Mr Reid stressed that policing cannot substitute for youth development.
Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles has said the Royal Bahamas Police Force needs 2,000 more officers, but Mr Reid countered: “We will never have enough police to police people. What we need to do is to start to paint some pictures for these young people, and only programmes could do this, not more police officers.”
He also pointed to systemic delays in the courts, saying backlogs undermine justice despite the police making arrests.
inside when another man came in and tried to rob him at gunpoint. The suspect fired, hitting the victim, then ran off north along Baillou Hill Road. He was wearing a grey hoodie and blue jeans.
The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance.
The latest in a spree of shootings have raised fresh concerns about safety, especially in business areas.
Chamber of Commerce president Dr Leo Rolle
said crime continues to hurt both public safety and business confidence.
“The scourge of crime in any area, whether it be a business saturated area or a residential area, puts the public safety, but also the public confidence to jeopardy. And so when you think about businesses, one of the things we always ask businesses to do is to be prudent, because you want to make sure that you protect the lives of the staff as well as the lives of the entrepreneur,” Dr Rolle said yesterday.
He added that businesses are being urged to digitise services, keep less cash on hand, and invest in security like cameras, secure parking, and controlled access.
“When you look at it, though, all of these things are added costs to the business. And so if you are now adding more cost to a business to be redemptive and to kind of prevent things of this nature, then of course, that may trigger inflation, because now the business owner has an added cost on their bottom line, which could very well be passed on to the consumer,” Dr Rolle said.
CRIME scene investigators at the scene of a shooting on Munnings Road off Gladstone Road, where a man succumbed to his injuries last night.
Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
A POLICE officer stands in the doorway of 3CCC’s convenience store on Baillou Hill Road South after a man was shot yesterday.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Kids found rummaging through dumpster now in protective care
An immigration officer confirmed he had no lawful status in The Bahamas. Bail was denied, and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his trial on September 10.
Child advocate Alexandra Maillis-Lynch, founder of the National Society for the Protection of the Children of The Bahamas, believes abuse has long been normalised in the country. She noted that while the problem is not new, more children are beginning to report cases.
“Children know now that they don’t have to just suffer in silence for their whole life. So, they’re speaking up,” she said yesterday. Mrs Maillis-Lynch, former president of Ranfurly Homes for Children, recalled seeing posters of runaways and questioning what abuse may have
driven them to flee. She said abuse often goes unnoticed unless a teacher, neighbour, or concerned stranger intervenes. She also highlighted the chronic shortage of social workers, saying the lack of manpower makes consistent follow-ups and case documentation nearly
impossible. While commending the dedication of current workers, she argued that outdated systems further weaken the Department of Social Services. She described its technology as “dinosaur procedures and techniques.”
Rise Bahamas President Terneille Burrows urged communities not to ignore warning signs of abuse, stressing that prevention must take priority over reaction.
She also called for counselling services for children from abusive households and broader public awareness campaigns to strengthen protection.
Teenage boy dies in house fire
“I’m stationed in Cooper’s Town. It probably took me about 50 minutes to get there. By the time I arrived, the house was already destroyed. All we could do was stop the fire from spreading to the bushes and
extinguish the remaining flames,” he said.
He praised residents for their quick response.
“The first thing I saw was one of my cousins carrying buckets of water from another property. The people down there don’t mess around. They weren’t
waiting on a fire truck — they were toting buckets and buckets of water, trying to put it out themselves.”
Bishop Tyrone Mills of End Time Harvest Ministries described the scene as heartbreaking.
“It was sad; words can’t describe it,” he said. “When
I got there, the house was already burned to the ground. And what they (bystanders) said to me especially about the young man — he was trapped inside.
“It was a horror for him, you know. He could not get out.”
The home, he added, had bars or shutters that trapped the boy. “By the time they get it off, the fire just gushed outside, he said, according to eyewitnesses. So, they could not get inside. He was just screaming… it’s hard to talk about.”
I am supposed
them later today.”
DOMESTIC ABUSE MOM SEEKS FUNDING
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
A 32-year-old motherof-two alleges she suffered permanent, life-changing injuries from years of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, a police officer, and is now seeking public support to continue treatment abroad.
The woman, currently receiving care in the United States, said doctors there diagnosed her with seizures, cognitive impairment, and mobility issues linked to repeated head trauma. She often relies on a wheelchair.
“I have a brain injury and the doctors are basically saying, because of the constant domestic abuse that I had been under, I end up with a permanent brain injury,” she said. “My husband had elbowed me in the head. I already had a concussion, and he elbowed me in my head, and that completely
basically right off my brain.
So now I am a fighter.”
The woman alleged she was repeatedly misdiagnosed and mistreated in The Bahamas, claiming doctors discharged her despite serious symptoms, including an inflamed spine and elevated white blood cell count. She said that contrasted sharply with her experience in the US, where doctors confirmed her seizures and brain injury through thorough testing.
She further alleged that attempts to secure legal protection in The Bahamas were blocked by her husband’s connections in the police force.
“Every time I try to get a lawyer or help, the lawyers are compromised, and because he is dealing with high people in the police force, they call in favour,” she claimed.
“He has tried to kill me and my kids and I have been fighting for protection for us, but if I can’t get someone to represent
us, then they fall into the scene. They could be on the line.”
She once suffered as many as 50 seizures in a single month, leaving her physically weak and unable to function.
Although the frequency of seizures has lessened since May, she said she remains fearful of her condition.
“The biggest fear is always dying. Having seizures is scary and having a brain injury is scary because there isn’t much studies on it, unless it’s epilepsy, like they don’t really know what’s going on. They just have to monitor you, and that’s scary,” she said.
Despite her condition, the woman said she continues to raise her sons, who she said are excelling academically.
She has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover specialist consultations, diagnostic testing, ongoing treatment abroad, travel costs, and legal fees in her custody battle.
Bishop Mills, who also drove the school bus in the area, said he recognised the teen. “I know him, and from what I gather, he was just there for a sleepover. The parents are distraught, and
to visit with
Three boaters survive lightning strike trauma
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
A PEACEFUL boating trip in Abaco turned into a terrifying ordeal when lightning struck three men at sea, flooding their vessel and forcing an airlift for one of them to New Providence.
Justin Edgecombe, 38, said he and two of his cousins had gone out to catch conch. The weather was calm when they left Cooper’s Town around 12pm on Friday, but conditions gradually worsened with heavy rain and thunder.
Mr Edgecombe recalled the last moments he remembered before being struck by lightning. He was sitting on the boat as they tried to move through the rough sea, when a lightning strike left him unconscious.
“I blacked out,” he told The Tribune yesterday.
“I don’t know how long I was out. And then I came back.”
When he regained consciousness, Mr Edgecombe felt a pounding pain in his head and realised the two other men on the boat had also been struck.
The 17-foot Abaco-built boat was being driven by Theodore Bootle, 37. Initially, Mr Edgecombe thought Mr Bootle was dead, as his body appeared lifeless. He kept trying to wake him, but the situation worsened.
The boat engine had been disabled by the lightning, and water began flooding the vessel. The men panicked as they tried to bail the boat and secure an anchor for over an hour.
“Somebody was passing,” Mr Edgecombe said, referring to how they were rescued. “We started to stand up on top of the boat and wave our hands. A boat came towards us and pulled us into Fire Road Creek.”
During the rescue, Mr Bootle remained unconscious and in severe pain.
He was first taken to a clinic and later airlifted to New Providence for further treatment.
Since the incident, Mr Edgecombe said he has been calling daily to check on Mr Bootle. He considers himself lucky to have only been “licked” by the lightning, while Mr Bootle required further medical attention. The other relative was also distressed by Mr Bootle’s condition.
Asked if he would go back on a boat, Mr Edgecombe said it would take some time.
Edith Bootle, Mr Bootle’s mother, told The Tribune that she had been visiting her son in the hospital. She said he initially experienced immense pain, struggled to move, could not recognise family members, and had difficulty staying awake.
“He’s doing much better, he can move now,” she said with relief, adding that he is still struggling with his hearing.
PLP MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH OF FORMER PM SIR LYNDEN PINDLING
THE Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is marking the 25th anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Sir Lynden O Pindling, remembered as the “Father of the Nation.”
Sir Lynden, who led the PLP from 1965 until his retirement from frontline politics in 1997, died on August 26, 2000. He is credited with steering The Bahamas from colonial rule to independence and shaping the foundation of modern nationhood.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the country lost a visionary leader whose belief in Bahamians’ ability to govern themselves never wavered.
Mr Davis also paid tribute to Sir Lynden’s widow, Dame Marguerite Pindling, for her dedication in preserving his legacy, extending on behalf of the government and Bahamians “deep gratitude to the
“This anniversary calls us not only to remember but to recommit ourselves to the ideals for which Sir Lynden lived and laboured. His life’s work was the pursuit of a Bahamas in which freedom was secure, democracy was strong, and opportunity was shared.”
Pindling family for their sacrifice and devotion.”
“This anniversary calls us not only to remember but to recommit ourselves to the ideals for which Sir Lynden lived and laboured. His life’s work was the pursuit of a Bahamas in which freedom was secure, democracy was strong, and opportunity was shared. That charge remains before us. It is now for us to take up the mantle, to protect the progress we have made, and to advance even further the dream of a
— Prime Minister Philip Davis
just, prosperous and united Bahamas,” Mr Davis said.
“On this solemn day we ask Bahamians everywhere to join us in pausing, whether in prayer, in reflection, or in simple gratitude, for a life that changed our destiny. There is not doubt that his example continue to inspire new generations. His memory remain a guide to us as we work to strengthen our democracy and to deepen our sense of national pride. It is my hope that the nation he led
continue to be worthy of his sacrifice.”
On the eve of the anniversary, PLP chairman Fred Mitchell said the party paused to honour Sir Lynden’s “unmatched contribution to a free and democratic” Bahamas.
“Sir Lynden gave 25 years of continuous service as Premier and then Prime Minister, and 41 unbroken years as a Member of Parliament. Our party and our nation remain eternally grateful.”
THEODORE Bootle survived lightning strike in Abaco.
SIR LYNDEN O PINDLING
The Tribune Limited
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LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
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Even if Trump succeeds in bringing Putin and Zelenskyy together, don’t expect wonders
Donald Trump has raised the prospect of directs talks between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, in what would be the first such encounter in more than three years of war between the two countries.
In a social media post on Aug. 18, 2025, the U.S. president announced that he had begun “the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined.”
Whether the proposed meeting does go ahead given the animosity between the two men remains to be seen. Previous speculation earlier in 2025 that Putin and Zelenskyy might engage in face-to-face talks led nowhere.
But should Trump succeed in bringing Putin and Zelenkyy together, it would not be the first time they have met.
In Paris in 2019, the two men sat down together as part of what was known as the Normandy Format talks. Those talks continued periodically until 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
One of Putin’s main concerns going into the talks was the lifting of Western sanctions imposed in response to the annexation of Crimea.
But the Russian president also wanted to keep Russia’s smaller neighbor under its influence. Ukraine gained independence after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. But in the early years of the new century, Russia began to exert increasing influence over the politics of its neighbor. This ended in 2014, when a popular revolution ousted pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and ushered in a pro-Western government.
More than anything, Russia wanted to arrest this shift and keep Ukraine out of the European Union and NATO.
Those desires – Ukraine’s to end the war in Donbas, and Russia’s to curb the West’s involvement in Ukraine – formed the parameters for the Normandy talks.
And for some time, there appeared to be momentum to find compromise. French President Emmanuel Macron said that the 2019 Paris talks had broken years of stalemate and relaunched the peace process. Putin’s assessment was that the peace process was “developing in the right direction.” Zelenskyy’s view was a little less enthusisastic: “Let’s say for now it’s a draw.”
Yet the Putin-Zelenskyy meeting in 2019 ultimately ended in failure. In retrospect, both sides were talking past each other and could not reach agreement on the sequencing of key parts of the peace plan.
Zelenskyy wanted the security provisions of the Minsk accords, including a lasting ceasefire and the securing of Ukraine’s border with Russia, in place before proceeding with regional elections on devolving autonomy to the regions. Putin was adamant that the elections come first.
The success of the Normandy talks were also hindered by Putin’s refusal to acknowledge that Russia was a party to the conflict. Rather, he framed the
Donbas conflict as a civil war between the Ukrainian government and the rebels. Russia’s role was simply to push the rebels to the negotiating table in this take – a view that was greeted with skepticism by Ukraine and the West.
As a result, the Normandy talks stalled. And then in February 2022, Russian launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
So what are the chances of success should Trump secure a second face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy?
Many of the same challenges remain. The talks still revolve around the issues of security, the status of Donetsk and Luhansk.
But there are major differences – not least, 3½ years of actual direct war. Russia can no longer deny that it is a party of the conflict, even if Moscow frames the war as a special military operation to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine.
In the Normandy talks, there was no talk of recognizing Russian control over any Ukrainian territory. But recent U.S. efforts to negotiate peace have included a “de-jure” U.S. recognition of Russian control in Crimea, plus “de-facto recognition” of Russia’s occupation of nearly all of Luhansk oblast and the occupied portions of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Another major difference between the negotiation process then and now is who is mediating.
The Normandy negotiations were led by European leaders – German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Macron of France. Throughout the whole Normandy talks process, only Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia were involved as active participants.
Today, it is the United States taking the lead.
And this suits Putin. A constant issue for Putin of the Normandy talks was that Germany and France were never neutral mediators.
In President Donald Trump, Putin has found a U.S. leader who, at least at first, appeared eager to take on the mantle from Europe.
But like the Europeans involved in the Normandy talks, Trump may also encounter similar barriers to any meaningful progress. Despite his recent high-profile summit with Putin and follow-up meeting with Zelenksyy, Trump has made little progress toward ending the conflict in Ukraine. And neither Zelenskyy nor Putin has shown any inclination to compromise on their goals: Zelenskyy has ruled out land swaps, while Putin insists that any peace deal address “root causes.”
Getting the leaders of Ukraine and Russia into the same room is already a massive challenge; getting them to agree to a lasting agreement may be as elusive now as it was when Putin and Zelenskyy met in 2019.
ANNA BATTA
Associate Professor of International Security Studies, Air University
Requirements for Graduation
EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE requirements for graduation in the public schools are unrealistic for students who are not academically inclined . Lower stream students face many challenges. Their parents are usually poor; they usually lack books and other material and many of them have jobs after school. Many of them are faced with no light or water or food at home. They have to worry about their clothes
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Email your
to pictureoftheday@tribunemedia.net
Bahamians are being priced
getting washed and having breakfast and lunch to eat. In my opinion, students in lower streams should be required to pass a minimum of two BJCs and two BGCSE’s in order to graduate. If the lower stream student can pass more than two, that is great but they should not be burdened with four subjects when they are already academically and socially challenged. Give them goals that they may be able to attain with the help of others. Unfortunately,
many of them can’t pass two subjects because they cannot read. I interact with these kinds of students often so I am aware of what they are facing. Let’s make decisions that will help and not hinder students. Let’s be realistic and not make decisions to impress the public while destroying young people. A Voice for the Challenged Nassau, August 24, 2025.
EDITOR, The Tribune.
A few years ago, I had a discussion with a young Dutchman who informed me that soaring rental costs and unaffordable home prices have led to a devastating crisis in the Netherlands. The majority of young Dutch people cannot afford to rent or buy their own homes. In fact, studies have shown that as late as 2023, a staggering 46 percent of those between the ages of 18 to 30 live home with their parents in the Netherlands. The Bahamas is currently on the same trajectory as it relates to a looming housing crisis that will lead to the disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of young Bahamians. While many well-to-do foreigners are buying up land like it’s going out of style, more and more indigenous Bahamians cannot even afford to rent a decent apartment in a safe neighborhood. Bahamians are being systematically priced out of the housing market. And no one seems to care enough to sound the alarm.
A regular 1,300 square foot “low-cost” house can go for as much as $200,000 in a rundown community. A 1,100 square foot house in a middle-class area like Winton Heights is in the ballpark of $900,000. These escalating housing prices are due partly to external factors, such as the soaring costs of building supplies due to the erratic and vacillating nature of oil prices.
The fluctuating job market in the US due to COVID was also a factor. In New Providence, the issue of supply and demand is a major factor contributing to exorbitant prices. Truth is, Nassau is overpopulated -with more and more Family Islanders migrating to the capital annually in search of employment opportunities. Greed is also another factor. No, this writer is not a socialist advocating for direct government intervention like what we see in a Marxist/Leninist regime in Cuba. Over a decade ago I read a book titled The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by a German sociologist named Max Weber. Weber wrote about the ideals of hard work, industrialism and resourcefulness in John Calvin’s Geneva that led to the rise of modern capitalism in Europe and the western Hemisphere. For the typical Bahamian who cannot afford a home, he is as stateless as the Palestinians in Jordan and the West Bank. Yes, he is a citizen of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. But he does not own a square foot of land in his own country.
Considering that the average “low-cost” home is in the vicinity of $200,000, the very term is a misnomer. The Progressive Liberal Party government
must brainstorm a way of driving down the costs of low-cost housing. They can start by plagiarising some elements of the Coalition of Independents’ plan on land reform. With so much crown land in its possession, the government can sell acres of land at rock bottom prices to working Bahamian families. The government can also eliminate customs duty, VAT and other taxes from building materials for first time home owners. The government can also subsidise the legal costs associated with title deeds and land registration. Regarding rental prices, a moratorium or price control should be implemented and strictly enforced. We cannot have hardworking Bahamians living in their cars while wealthy foreigners are buying up properties. We are selling out our country. Foreigners are buying us out. All of the above suggestions should be seriously considered and implemented before the next general election for the sake of future generations of Bahamians. Promising more hotel jobs and handing out drinks and chicken in the bag at the upcoming rallies will no longer cut the mustard when so many Bahamians are a missed paycheck away from being homeless. We cannot afford to become another Netherlands.
KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama August 24, 2025.
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CARIBBEAN Festival of the Arts (Carifesta) XV parade on August 22, 2025. Photo: (BIS Photo/Eric Rose)
Principals halt work as union dispute with ministry escalates
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRINCIPALS and senior administrators walked off the job this week, leaving schools unprepared for next Monday’s reopening, after the Bahamas Education Managerial Union (BEMU) voted not to return to work until the Ministry of Education resolves longstanding disputes over allowances, promotions, and other issues.
BEMU president Stephen McPhee said the ministry promised on August 7 to address concerns, which initially persuaded members to remain on the job. However, he said the government failed to deliver before orientation week, when administrators
normally assign classes and prepare schools for students’ return. “They’ve made promises to us,” Mr McPhee said.
“They acknowledge for some time that what is happening is not in order, and they’re going to seek to address it. All we’re saying is there has to be more than talk, but demonstration that you’re seeking to resolve it.”
Union members met again yesterday after being told officials were still “working on” the commitments. They voted to stop reporting to work until the issues are resolved.
BEMU, which represents about 490 members and holds a strike certificate from May, said one of the key disputes involves allowances owed under its industrial agreement. Mr McPhee said a $300
clothing allowance due in July was not paid, nor were members informed.
The ministry, in a statement, said clothing and transportation allowances will be paid directly to officers by early September, with arrears settled. It added that geographical allowances have already been issued, with any outstanding balances to be cleared.
Mr McPhee disputed that claim, saying at least one executive officer has not received payment.
The ministry also said nine pending reassignments were completed on August 25, while confirmation for 37 officers is still under review. Promotions, it said, will be finalised “without delay.”
But Mr McPhee questioned how schools could open without principals
WEST GRAND BAHAMA MP BLASTS MISLEADING COI VIDEO
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
WEST Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Kingsley Smith yesterday rejected accusations that he is “selling out the country,” blasting a video circulated by a Coalition of Independents (COI) supporter as misleading and false. In a press release, Mr Smith said the clips were edited to “intentionally misquote” him, adding that he and his team reviewed both videos and “neither is an accurate reflection of what was said.”
“Truth is often a distant friend of the COI when they seek to speak on national issues. In this instance, their xenophobia was on high display, as we have known it to always be,” the statement read.
The controversy stemmed from an encounter over the weekend in which a COI supporter claimed to have confronted Mr Smith about why the government “is bringing in so much illegal immigrants.” That exchange was circulated online, prompting the MP’s response. Mr Smith stressed: “At no time did I say or suggest that the government is
selling out the country, or anything remotely similar to such nonsense,” insisting such claims cannot be made “without facts in good conscience.”
He also criticised the supporter’s grasp of governance, saying: “What is also bewildering about that encounter, is that this COI representative seems to lack a full understanding of the laws and processes with respect to governance.”
Mr Smith closed his statement urging Bahamians “will not be fooled or misled” and declaring that his constituents in West Grand Bahama and Bimini “will reject the COI.”
and vice principals in place. “Without delay, how the school open without these principles, vice principals and senior master mistress?” he asked.
“They’re taking teachers out of classrooms and telling the teachers against the directives of the public service. So we’re saying to them, you don’t have the authority to promote people, nor demote them. They’re telling some of our members -- we have a member who’s a principal -- they deemed him a challenge. They want to send him and make him a vice principal. We’re saying you can’t do that. There’s a process.”
The ministry said health and safety concerns highlighted by the union had been addressed, but Mr McPhee insisted conditions remain unsafe. “You
go in that building, mould all over the place. Sometimes in the morning, you open the building, there’s a sewer scent. They are well aware of it. There’s documented letters from at least the past three permanent secretaries saying that the place is a concern and it poses a health risk.”
He also said despite assurances, no security officers were stationed at schools yesterday, forcing principals to open gates themselves.
In its statement, the ministry said: “Progress is being made, and more work remains. The ministry has not stepped away from these responsibilities and will not do so.
“We continue to act in accordance with our duty to safeguard the welfare of staff, to strengthen confidence in public
administration, and above all, to protect the learning environment for our students.” It added: “The Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training reaffirms its commitment to partnership with BEMU and all stakeholders in education.
“The well-being of our educators and administrators is directly linked to the success of our children.
“That truth guides our actions, and it is the foundation on which we will continue to resolve these matters fairly, transparently, and with respect for all involved.”
The union said it hopes meaningful progress will be made before students return next Monday, stressing that none of its demands are unreasonable.
FACING REALITY....
EXPLICITLY: Are we all too pretentious?
IT is commonplace that most of us are quick to judge, accuse, and speak ill of each other. We are never honest enough to confess our ills, mistakes, and shortcomings. We celebrate people’s downfalls, failures, misfortunes, and losses.
But the truth be told, we pretend to be everything we are not and point fingers. Many of us are jealous of people who don’t fit into our narrative and ostracise others who don’t reflect our low self-esteem.
The Bahamian culture is under immense strain to keep up, leading us to live far above our means and fray our nerves. The pressure to maintain a particular lifestyle, to live in places we can ill afford, to purchase cars that stress us to keep, and to rain terror on our friends and family if they don’t support our self-inflicted wounds, is palpable and burdensome.
We pressure ourselves to attend events we cannot afford, but will die a thousand deaths if we cannot contribute to the conversation the morning after. Our pretentiousness is so serious that we take our children to schools we know we would not be able to pay for the second semester. Still, we strain because our low self-esteem needs people to think we are doing well, and from brainwashing, we believe that public education is inadequate. These preconceived thoughts imprison us and add enormous pressure, causing many to use unconventional methods of monetary gain to keep up. These methods can range from taking on multiple jobs to engaging in illegal activities. But the fallout is that when there is no way out, the mental breakdown is in range. The toll on mental health is significant, and the family, neighbourhood, and country eventually suffer. We are left holding the bag to care for this person who continues to be a person they are not, a crisis we must not ignore. Low self-esteem is the insidious culprit that forces people to swallow the bitter pill of wishing to be like someone else. It is usually destructive, creating a sense of urgency to address this issue. We celebrate occasions like Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and birthdays, spending money we don’t have, then attack whoever to replace the loss. We fake,
FACING REALITY
BY IVOINE
we know it, but it is an addiction. We send flowers to people we know don’t love us, but we must follow fashion. We are so addicted that we spend eleven months working and spend every dime we save in one month; we even borrow, thus starting the following year in deep debt. Breaking free from these societal norms is difficult but necessary for our well-being. We must recognize the need to break free from the pressure to conform.
The vicious journey of pretending has created monsters everywhere: in the workplace, at home, in church, and in social groups, especially in politics. Every family have someone in it who borrows from everyone with the intention of never repaying the debt. But these presumptuous people are unconscionable enough to come back to borrow more, with no shame and the attitude of calling people hogs if they did not acquiesce.
This topic is essential because it has become part of our culture, and it must be clear that this behaviour has reached all facets of society. Our impressionable children notice and follow fashion. Our children see their mother with extra spending money and know how she got it. Commonly, several contributors who are selected routinely bring their share. What do we expect our daughters to do when they have needs and wants and observe the many tricky ways of satisfying their financial appetite? Our children have abandonedtheprimitive tactics and
The vicious journey of pretending has created monsters everywhere: in the workplace, at home, in church, and in social groups, especially in politics.
upgraded them with modern methods.
For those whose heads are in the sand, our sons, too, notice the famous quid pro quo in real time. They also want their hunger and thirst quenched for special tennis shoes or fresh clothes. We could let our imaginations run wild on how and where they would seek fulfilment. We could play the ostrich as much as we wish, but the reality is that vultures are waiting and watching to see
which prey they will pounce on next. It doesn’t matter what verse in the bible you wish to quote; the reality is that these things are happening right before our eyes and in every family and neighbourhood. Faced with reality, we have an insatiable greed for acquiring things. Gluttony is the order of the
day; our hunger and thirst for things we don’t need are unquenchable. We hold and store things we don’t need or want, believing that the acquisition gives us the false feeling of accomplishment.
For the past few years, someone must have sprayed a heavy mist of ‘lack of self-respect’ throughout the Bahamas. Many of us who have jobs, means, and have even achieved, want more and get in the race to see who can have the most. We don’t care what happens; we want another income stream. While there is nothing wrong with providing for yourself and your family, your self-respect should not have to take a hit for it. We must remember the value of self-respect and authenticity in our pursuit of success.
People currently employed would outmanoeuvre a person without a job from getting
one. We have become so cold. Since successive governments have provided contractual workers for specific programs, everyone is running around to see who can get the most. They torture and torment every minister and can never be satisfied. This insatiable greed has contaminated the grand gesture of helping those who need it. But sadly, people who have a lot are in the front with their hands out and couldn’t care less if those who have nothing get nothing. We have become so insensitive that we threaten those in authority with all manner of evil if they do not supply all of our needs, which has caused thousands to feel left out, expecting the same inhumane experience.
People who love this country must want to create an environment for the Bahamas to prosper, not a few, and progressiveminded people are satisfied with policies that will benefit all.
The greed that has consumed us has created an environment that suggests the possibility of some magic happening, where someone would negotiate conditions under which they can earn thousands of dollars per month. Living in a fantasy world will only cause restlessness.
Instead of pretending to wave a magic wand and make all your financial worries disappear, it’s more logical to budget according to what we have and work within that budget. Spending money that is not in your bank account will only bring a very high level of anxiety and lead to self-inflicted frustration and even depression. Let’s start by being honest with ourselves about our financial situation and making responsible decisions about our spending. Keep it real. If you rely on your God-given talent and stop relying on other humans’ priorities that do not include you, you will be in a better place because even if you have a job, it is not guaranteed to last forever.
INGRAHAM
Mentally ill man charged with series of stabbings
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN described as mentally disturbed was remanded to prison yesterday for psychological evaluation after being accused of a stabbing spree that left three men seriously injured in New Providence last week.
According to police, Warren Major, 40, allegedly stabbed 62-year-old Shedrick McPhee in the
neck near Scotiabank on University Boulevard around 9.30am on August 18. Hours later, around 2am on August 19, he allegedly attacked 42-yearold Vernon McPhee near CC Sweeting Junior High School, stabbing him in the head and chest. That same morning, police said Major allegedly stabbed bus driver Eugene Neely in the neck and body while he was operating a 21A bus on Farrington Road around 9am. He is also accused of
punching Lacola Brown in the face on Farrington Road later that day.
He was charged before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley with three counts of attempted murder and one count of assault. In each case, the suspect allegedly fled the scene on foot. Major was not required to enter a plea, and the case will proceed to the Supreme Court by voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
During arraignment, the defendant displayed what
MAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO GROPE COUSIN
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
PROSECUTORS on Monday charged a 33-yearold man with indecently assaulting his 13-year-old cousin while she slept in her bed.
THE local volleyball community is mourning the loss of one of its longtime members, Shedrick McPhee, who died yesterday at the age of 62. McPhee, a former Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) employee, reportedly succumbed after a brief illness stemming from an attack by an unknown assailant. Well known in both sporting and union circles, McPhee most recently served as a trustee and special adviser to the Bahamas
Police alleged that the man, whose name is being withheld to protect the victim’s identity, held the girl down and groped her breasts and buttocks around 1am on August 18. The teenager managed to escape and screamed for help from relatives.
The defendant was charged with indecent assault before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt Evans and pleaded not guilty.
He was granted $7,500 bail with one or two sureties. As part of his bail conditions, he must wear a
prosecutors described as erratic and jittery behaviour. Inspector Deon Barr, who appeared for the prosecution, requested a psychological evaluation. Major was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, where he will undergo assessment while awaiting service of his VBI on November 20. He is also expected to be formally arraigned on the assault charge that day.
monitoring device, report to the Wulff Road Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday by 6pm, and refrain from contacting the complainant or witnesses. Any breach could lead to his bail being revoked.
The trial is scheduled to begin on October 6.
Inspector Shadrach Coakley prosecuted the case.
Volleyball community mourns passing of Shedrick McPhee
Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) following his retirement. He was also a past president of the Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) Sports and Social Club and a personal mentor to the current BEWU president. Outside of his professional career, McPhee was said to be active in church and community life. He played on numerous volleyball teams for Pilgrim Baptist Temple Church in the Baptist Sports Council and later acted as an adviser to the council’s executive team. McPhee was remembered as a hard worker, an organiser, a team player, a peacemaker, and a man of faith.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TRUMP DEPORTATION POLICIES THAT COULD SEND KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA TO UGANDA
By JUAN A. LOZANO Associated Press
EFFORTS by U.S. immigration officials to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda, a country to which the Salvadoran national has no ties, has again focused attention on efforts by the Trump administration to send people to countries other than their own.
The administration's agreements with so-called third countries have been contested in court by advocacy groups, who have argued that due process rights are being violated and that immigrants are being sent to countries with long histories of human rights violations.
But in June, a divided Supreme Court allowed the administration to allow the swift removal of immigrants to countries other than their homelands and with minimal notice.
The agreements are part of a sweeping immigration crackdown by the administration, which has pledged to deport millions of people who are living in the United States illegally. Federal law allows immigrants to be sent to countries where they are not from, with immigration authorities having occasionally done this in the past, according to immigrant and civil rights groups. But these kinds of deportations have greatly increased under the Republican administration.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a March memo that as part of such third-country deportations, it will deport immigrants only after getting diplomatic assurances
Man charged for sex attack on uncle’s GF
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of trying to rape his uncle’s girlfriend in Yellow Elder last week.
Police alleged that Marlin Smith, 29, attacked a 51-year-old woman at her home on August 17. Smith allegedly choked the woman, covered her mouth, and forced her to the ground before trying to rape her. He reportedly fled when he
heard his uncle’s car pulling into the driveway. He was charged with attempted rape before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt Evans. Smith was not required to enter a plea. The case will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He must apply for bail in the higher court. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on October 6. Inspector Shadrach Coakley served as prosecutor.
Man accused of breakin and attempted rape
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of breaking into a woman’s home and attempting to rape her.
Police said Cyran Knowles, 35, forced his way into a 27-year-old woman’s Montgomery Avenue residence around 3am on August 21. According to police, Knowles allegedly sat naked on top of the woman and demanded sex at knifepoint. The complainant escaped and ran outside for help, reportedly
seeing him flee naked while carrying his clothes.
Knowles was charged with burglary and attempted rape before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt Evans. He was not required to enter a plea. The case will be sent to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He must apply for bail in the higher court. Knowles was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on October 6. Inspector Shadrach Coakley prosecuted the matter.
that they will not be persecuted or tortured, as guaranteed under international law.
If the U.S. hasn't received those assurances, immigration officials can still send the person there but first has tell them where they're going in a language they understand. Time between notice and deportation is generally 24 hours, but can be as little as six hours.
Trump officials have said these immigrants often come from countries that often do not take back all their deported citizens. They have called these immigrants "true national security threats," claiming they have been convicted of such violent crimes as rape, murder and armed robbery.
The Trump administration has reached agreements with multiple countries, many in Latin America and Africa, to take in immigrants.
The U.S. has sent hundreds of Venezuelans to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Abrego Garcia's case became a flash point in Trump's immigration crackdown after he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March. Venezuelans and immigrants from Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, China and other countries have also been sent to Costa Rica and Panama. Earlier this month, Paraguay signed a third-country agreement with the Trump administration. Mexico has not signed such an agreement, but has accepted deportees from Central America and other Western hemisphere countries, including Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela.
SHEDRICK MCPHEE
ISRAEL STRIKES A GAZA HOSPITAL TWICE, KILLING AT LEAST 20, INCLUDING JOURNALISTS AND RESCUERS
By WAFAA SHURAFA, SAMY MAGDY and SAM METZ Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel struck one of the main hospitals in the Gaza Strip yesterday and then hit the facility again as journalists and rescue workers rushed to the scene, killing at least 20 people and wounding scores more, local health workers said.
It was among the deadliest of multiple Israeli strikes that have hit both hospitals and journalists over the course of the 22-month war.
The assault came as Israel plans to widen its offensive to heavily populated areas, vowing to destroy Hamas after its October 7, 2023, attack.
Among the dead were five journalists, including 33-year-old Mariam Dagga, a visual journalist who worked for The Associated Press.
The Reuters news agency said one of its reporters was killed in the initial strike as he operated a live television shot on an upper floor of Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital.
Other journalists, including Dagga, and rescue workers wearing orange emergency vests then raced up an external stairwell to reach the site, only to be hit by the second strike.
Video shot from below by pan-Arab channel Al Ghad showed their last moments as they climbed the stairs past damaged walls, followed by a boom and a huge plume of smoke from the strike.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called the strike a “tragic mishap” and said the military was investigating. He did not elaborate on the nature of the mistake.
Israeli media reported that troops fired two artillery shells, targeting what they suspected was a Hamas surveillance camera on the roof. Reporters from different outlets had regularly set up live TV shots at that location.
AP freelancer among five journalists killed The five journalists killed included journalists working for Al Jazeera, Reuters and Middle East Eye, a U.K.-based media outlet, most on a contractor or freelance basis. Dagga regularly reported for multiple outlets from the hospital, including a recent story for the AP on doctors struggling to save children from starvation.
The AP and Reuters demanded an explanation in a joint letter to Israeli authorities.
“We are outraged that independent journalists were among the victims of this strike on the hospital, a location that is protected under international law,” it said. “These journalists were present in their professional capacity, doing critical work bearing witness.”
They also noted that Israel has barred international journalists from entering Gaza since the start of the war, outside of visits organised by the military.
Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the records department
at the Gaza Health Ministry, said the initial strike hit an upper floor housing operating rooms and doctors’ residences, killing at least two people. The second strike, hitting the stairwell, killed another 18. Around 80 people were wounded, including many in the hospital’s courtyard, al-Waheidi said.
Israel says it is investigating Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army does not target civilians and had launched an internal investigation into the strikes. He accused Hamas of hiding among civilians but did not say whether Israel believed any militants were present during the strikes on the hospital.
Netanyahu’s statement said: “Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza. Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians.”
Israel has killed 189 Palestinian journalists during its campaign in Gaza, including some who were directly targeted and others who were killed among other strike casualties, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. More than 1,500 health workers have been killed, according to the U.N.
Israel’s “killing of journalists in Gaza continues while the world watches and fails to act firmly on the most horrific attacks the press has ever faced
in recent history,” said Sara Qudah, CPJ regional director.
The Foreign Press Association, which represents international media in Israel and the Palestinian territories, called on Israel “to halt its abhorrent practice of targeting journalists.”
The U.N. secretary-general, along with Britain, France and others, condemned the attack. When asked about the strike, U.S. President Donald Trump initially said he was not aware of it before offering:
“I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it.”
Trump later said he thought there might be a “conclusive ending” in Gaza in the coming weeks, without elaborating. It was not clear if he was referring to Israel’s coming offensive or to long-running ceasefire talks.
A doctor describes ‘chaos, disbelief and fear’ Israel has attacked hospitals multiple times throughout the war, asserting that Hamas embeds itself in and around the facilities, though Israeli officials rarely provide evidence. Hamas security personnel have been seen inside such facilities during the war, and parts of those sites have been off limits to the public. The hospitals that remain open have been overwhelmed by the dead, wounded and now by increasing numbers of malnourished as parts of Gaza are experiencing famine.
A British doctor working on the floor that was hit said the second strike came before people could start evacuating from the first.
“Just absolute scenes of chaos, disbelief and fear,” the doctor said, describing people leaving trails of blood as they entered the ward. The hospital was already overwhelmed, with
patients with IV drips lying on the floor in the corridors in stifling heat.
The doctor spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations from their organisation to avoid reprisals from Israeli authorities.
“It leaves me in another state of shock that hospitals can be a target,” the doctor said.
Nasser Hospital has withstood raids and bombardment during the war, with officials repeatedly noting critical shortages of supplies and staff.
A June strike on the hospital killed three people, according to the Health Ministry. The military said at the time that it targeted a Hamas command and control center. A March strike on its surgical unit days after Israel ended a ceasefire killed a Hamas official and a 16-year-old boy.
More Palestinians killed while seeking aid
Al-Awda Hospital said Israeli gunfire killed six aidseekers trying to reach a distribution point in central Gaza and wounded another 15.
The shootings were the latest in the Netzarim Corridor, a military zone where U.N. convoys have been overrun by looters and desperate crowds, and where people have been shot and killed while heading to sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli-backed American contractor.
The GHF denied that any shootings had occurred near its site. The Israeli military said it was not aware of any casualties from Israeli fire in that area.
Al-Awda said two Israeli strikes in central Gaza killed six Palestinians, including a child. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City said three Palestinians, including a child, were killed in a strike there.
The Health Ministry said Sunday that at least 62,686 Palestinians have been killed in the war. It does not distinguish between fighters and civilians but says around half have been women and children.
The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own. The war began when Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the 2023 attack. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals, but 50 remain in Gaza, with around 20 believed to be alive.
IN this family handout photo, Riyad Dagga, center, and other relatives and friends pray over the body of his daughter, freelance journalist Mariam Dagga, 33, during her funeral after she was killed in a double Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP)
PALESTINIANS transport a woman who was injured while trying to reach a humanitarian aid convoy in the outskirts of Beit Lahiya, as they move on a road in Gaza City, in the Gaza Strip, Sunday, August 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
UB North welcomes nearly 200 new students
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Education Reporter
A WAVE of excitement swept through UB North as nearly 200 new students began their academic journey at the University of The Bahamas’ newly repurposed campus in downtown Freeport. Housed in the former Kipling Building Complex, the site welcomed students with a spirited pep rally and a warm welcome from the Student Government Association.
The energy on campus marked more than just the start of a new semester — it signaled renewed momentum for tertiary education in Grand Bahama. For the first time since Hurricane Dorian, enrollment numbers at UB North have reached a high point, reflecting a growing confidence in the institution and its offerings.
Dean of Faculty, Dr. Veronica Ferguson, shared that UB North is experiencing rapid growth, noting that increased student numbers allow the university to offer more programmes locally.
“UB North is growing rapidly, and with more students, we are able to offer more programmes—keeping students in Grand Bahama for the full duration of their studies,” she said.
As students settled into their new surroundings, UB North administrators emphasized the resources and opportunities available to help them succeed. Vice President of UB North and Human Resources, Ms. Denise Barnes, reaffirmed that government subventions are readily accessible for qualified students.
“The process is simple and student-focused. Once documentation is submitted correctly, approvals are automatic. The government continues to make education accessible,” said Barnes.
She added that the development of UB North is directly tied to the broader future of the island and country.
“The progressive and sustainable economic development of The Bahamas rests on the proper education and training of our people. UB North’s location downtown signals a critical step forward,” she said.
In addition to academics, UB North is also home to UB Ignite, a business incubator designed to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students. The initiative, supported in part through the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC), positions UB North as not just a place of learning but a driver of national development.
YOUTH ACHIEVERS CLUB LAUNCH UNITES STUDENTS ACROSS GRAND BAHAMA
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Education Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE spirit of empowerment and unity echoed through the streets of Grand Bahama as students from across the island marched in celebration of a bold new initiative: the Youth Achievers Club (YAC).
The club, officially launched by the Urban Renewal Authority, brings together a wide range of youth-focused programs under one cohesive platform aimed at developing well-rounded, community-minded leaders of tomorrow.
From marching bands to mentorship, speech competitions to sports, Urban Renewal has long served as a support system for young Bahamians. Now, with the formation of YAC, these initiatives are united into a single, streamlined effort that promises to deliver leadership training, academic support, cultural enrichment, and access to innovative opportunities.
Students from every settlement on the island took part in the launch, which culminated in a pinning ceremony where young boys and girls officially became founding members of the new club. Dressed in uniform and filled with pride, students were cheered on by centre managers, police officers, civic
leaders, and local residents who packed the venue in a show of overwhelming support.
Urban Renewal officials emphasized that YAC is not just a name change but a rebranding of vision — one that places youth at the heart of national development.
Government officials in attendance praised the initiative as a turning point for Grand Bahama’s youth.
Minister for Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxey, called the launch “transformative,” noting that it aligns with the island’s broader recovery and development plans.
“I commend the Urban Renewal Authority for adopting a holistic approach to youth development,” said Mrs Moxey. “Grand Bahama is finally on the road to recovery, and this initiative has the potential to become a critical part of our island’s transformation — promoting leadership training and reigniting community pride in our youth while encouraging academic excellence and sparking innovation.”
Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal, Keith Bell said the Youth Achievers Club embodies the government’s national focus on empowering young people.
Back-to-School reset
It’s nearly that time of year again; back-toschool. After weeks of double duty for parents, recharging for teachers, and shifting schedules for students, the school year is about to begin. With it comes the inevitable: backed-up traffic, long car lines, and the morning rush we all love to complain about. Yet, behind the hustle and bustle of the school routine lies something bigger. When the school bell rings, it doesn’t just signal the start of classes; it sets in motion a reset. A season that calls us back to rhythm, structure, and shared responsibility across the community.
For students, it’s the start of a new chapter: a new grade, a new teacher, and in some cases, new friends. Many walk into classrooms filled with excitement, while others wrestle with anxiety over what to expect. But backto-school is more than a backpack filled with supplies; it’s about stepping in with the right mindset. It’s a season of discovery, not
just of subjects and skills, but of self. And the best supply our students can carry is the determination to become the best version of themselves.
For parents and families, back-to-school often means a major reset. After summer vacations and the expenses of uniforms, school fees, and supplies, the budget feels the strain. At the same time, families are adjusting to new homework routines, extracurricular activities, and the constant balancing act of work and home life. The pressure is real, and the demands can feel endless. But thriving in this season isn’t about doing everything perfectly. What children need most is knowing you are with them on the journey. The goal isn’t to be superhuman, but to be present.
For teachers, the reset is both professional and personal. After a summer of planning, reflecting, or simply recharging, teachers return with fresh goals and renewed purpose. Despite the challenges of
“Our Prime Minister gave us one word – ‘empowerment’,” said Mr Bell.
“It does not matter how you start – whether you come from a broken home, a single-parent household or a nuclear family. It’s how you finish. The Youth Achievers Club is about giving every young person the tools to finish strong.” Drawing from his own experience growing up in a large family, Mr Bell reminded the students that their starting point does not define their potential.
“I came from a family of nine. Whether you’re from a single-parent home, a blended family, or any walk of life — what matters is how you finish. The Youth Achievers Club is here to help you finish strong.”
He spoke passionately about restoring the spirit of community, noting that while times have changed, the values of discipline, mentorship, and unity remain essential.
“We may live in a digital age where AI and social media dominate, but nothing can replace the power of real community support,” he said. “Urban Renewal is bringing back the village — the same village that raised us. That’s what this club represents: connection, opportunity, and belief in the next generation.”
the previous year, many walk back into classrooms determined to try new strategies, embrace new tools, and inspire their students in innovative ways. But this reset also serves as a reminder to protect balance. Teachers cannot pour from an empty cup. Caring for wellness and leaning on their support systems are just as important as lesson plans and curriculum. In the end, the most effective strategy is a teacher who shows up whole. Back-to-school also affects the broader ecosystem of education. It’s not just students, parents, and teachers. But also principals, administrators, custodians, lunch vendors, and bus drivers. It’s after-school mentors, churches offering prayers, businesses running supply drives, and NGOs continuing their initiatives to support education. Each of these roles resumes with the new school year, reminding us that education doesn’t happen in isolation. It is the sum of many moving parts working together. And when every role is valued, the whole system strengthens.
So, as the car lines grow longer and the traffic picks up, let’s look beyond the inconvenience. Let it serve as a reminder that this is, in fact, a season of renewal. Back-to-school is not just a reset for the classroom; it’s a reset for families, for educators, and for the entire community. Each September reminds us that a reset brings rhythm, structure, and shared responsibility back into our lives. Ultimately, when we embrace this season with the right perspective, this reset doesn’t just prepare us for another school year; it prepares us, as a nation, for a stronger future together.
YOUNG participants of the newly launched Urban Renewal Youth Achievers Club celebrate the milestone event alongside government officials, community leaders, and residents. Photo:Andrew Miller/BIS
Carifesta celebrates the vibrancy, creativity, and innovation of Caribbean culture
MEMBERS of the first contingent of The Bahamas’ Delegation to the Caribbean Festival of the Arts (Carifesta) XV, joined in with several other regional countries in the Parade of Nations, from Golden Square Freedom Park, through Bridgetown, Barbados to Queen’s Park, on August 22, 2025. Members of the delegation include representatives of various areas of cultural expression, notably the visual and performing arts, dance, literature, film, theater, culinary arts, and Junkanoo. Director of Culture Dereka Deleveaux-Grant led the delegation alongside Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Gayle Outten-Moncur. The theme of this year’s festival, which ran from August 22-31, is “Caribbean Roots, Global Excellence”; and it will host more than 2,500 delegates from 25 participating countries.
(BIS Photos/Eric Rose)