woman & health
Tribune
BAHAMASAIR PILOT IN FLIGHT ROW FIRED
Airline says captain’s behaviour not in line with their standards
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMASAIR has fired a captain after a cockpit dispute in Abaco left more than 100 passengers stranded, with officials stressing the incident was isolated and not representative of the airline’s standards.
The disruption unfolded on Sunday, August 31, when a female First Officer refused to continue flying with the captain on a scheduled Abaco–New Providence flight after he was reported to be vaping in the cockpit. She alerted the Operations Control Centre, citing cockpit dynamics and safety concerns, and refused to operate the flight with him. Bahamasair immediately
ImmIgrat Ion CommIssIon’s REPORT EXPECTED BY YEAR-END
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
AFTER repeated delays, Immigration Commission
chair Alexandra Hall said yesterday the long-awaited draft report should finally reach Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis by the end of the year.
Ms Hall acknowledged growing public frustration, noting that since the commission was established in 2023, little has been revealed about its progress. She said members have conducted site visits to Immigration Department offices nationwide to review procedures but declined to disclose specific concerns.
Former PM Minnis’ son has abortion charges against him dismissed
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
ABORTION charges against Dr Jamil Minnis, son of former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis,
were dismissed yesterday, along with charges against the mother and sister of a 15-year-old Harbour Island girl accused of helping her end a pregnancy.
The dismissal came on the first day of Dr Minnis’s
trial before a jury. Prosecutors will now focus on rape charges against 24-yearold Alonzo Pinder, who is accused of impregnating the teenager.
Pintard: Large Cabinets undermine Parliament’s independence and voice
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
OPPOSITION Leader Michael Pintard yesterday warned that oversized Cabinets undermine Parliament’s independence by limiting the number of truly independent voices in the legislature and its committees.
Speaking at the 47th Conference of the Caribbean, the Americas, and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Mr Pintard said democracy is only as strong as the independence of its institutions. At the heart of that independence, he added, is
Nikia Charlton
Cooper: Constituencies Commission still ‘grappling with complex issues’
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper said yesterday the Constituencies Commission will not complete its report before Parliament reopens in October, adding that the body is still grappling with “complex issues”.
He declined to give a timeline for when the report will be ready for Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, though he had earlier suggested it could be submitted by August.
Free National Movement
MP Shanendon Cartwright, a member of the commission, has said the delay is due to outstanding voter maps and registration figures from the Parliamentary Registration Department.
Mr Cooper told reporters the commission is still working through its mandate.
“There has been no report,” he said. “There will not be a report before the House reopens. We are continuing to look at
the complex issues. We are continuing the registration process. The prime minister is rightly concerned that we capture the most up to date information before he proceeds with calling an election, and therefore the Parliamentary Registration Department have started their work already.”
He said the commission wants an accurate picture of voter distribution before completing its recommendations.
“We want to ensure that we get the accurate distribution of voters,” he said. “We know we’ve had very serious issues like COVID and Hurricane Dorian, etc, that displaced many people. Naturally, the prime minister wants to ensure the most timely and most accurate information on which the boundaries commission will make its report to him.”
Mr Cooper said the Parliamentary Registration Department has been “very supportive and cooperative.”
DPM Chester Cooper gives brief remarks at official opening ceremony of Regional CPA Conference held at Margaritaville Beach Resort, yesterday. Photos: Nikia Charlton
‘We must ensure Cabinets not larger than backbench’
the legislature, where laws are debated, policies scrutinised, and the people’s voice protected from executive overreach.
“This principle is written into our own constitution, which requires that the Cabinet remains collectively responsible to the Parliament, which is why one of the main mandates that we still ought to pursue and achieve is to ensure that cabinets discontinue being larger than the backbench,” he said. “That responsibility demands honesty in reporting, transparency in spending and strict adherence to rules designed to guard the public purse. It is not optional. It is a duty owed to the people.”
He added that an independent Parliament also relies on presiding officers — the Senate President and the House Speaker — who should not function as extensions of the executive.
“Our Parliament faced structural challenges that undermine their independence, among them, oversized cabinets which limit the members of truly independent voices in the legislature and
committees that often lack the authority and resources to provide real oversight,” he said.
The Davis administration faced criticism in 2021 after swearing in a 22-member Cabinet, including state ministers, following its general election victory. Thirty-two Progressive Liberal Party candidates were elected, compared to 19 ministers in the previous Minnis administration.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis defended the decision at the time, saying he wanted more “hands on deck” given the country’s enormous challenges.
“I know everyone is trying to distract from our job at hand,” he said then.
“The enormity of the task at hand is what caused me to select the number of persons that I have.”
“It is to reflect the enormity of challenges I have and all hands are need on deck.”
“Our country is in crisis. These challenges are unprecedented in scale and scope, in breadth and depth. First of all you need to make sure you have a team in place that is heavily focused on the things you wish to get done.”
US says Haitian visas in Bahamas nothing new
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement (FNM) leader
Michael Pintard said yesterday that US officials told the opposition they do not expect a major change in Haitian nationals travelling to The Bahamas to apply for visas, noting this has long been the practice.
Mr Pintard said the opposition met with US Charge d’Affaires yesterday morning to discuss Washington’s recent announcement that Haitian immigrant visa applications will be processed at the US Embassy in Nassau starting November 1.
“Again, we’re satisfied that they certainly understand the concerns that Bahamians have expressed,” he said. “They have indicated that, again,
AIDS FOUNDAT ION AIMING TO R AISE $10K W I TH NEW YORK-THEMED BA LL
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas AIDS Foundation is set to host its 29th annual Red Ribbon Ball, bringing a powerful New York-inspired vision to the fight against HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean.
Themed “New York, New York,” the event pays homage to the city’s pioneering role in the global HIV/AIDS response, while simultaneously addressing the critical healthcare challenges facing the Bahamas.
TBAF President Aramae Ford explained that the event aims to raise over $100,000, a crucial lifeline for their annual budget that supports comprehensive prevention, treatment, and support programs.
Major corporate partners have rallied behind the cause, with the John Bull Group leading the charge by contributing $15,000 and securing luxury prizes from international brands including Jimmy Choo, Tiffany & Co., and Michael Kors. Commonwealth Brewery will sponsor a coveted Napa Valley wine tour grand prize, while Zamar Group will provide sophisticated sound and lighting technologies to create an unforgettable evening.
The foundation is simultaneously launching innovative prevention strategies that extend far beyond the ballroom. A new digital platform will provide comprehensive HIV education, complemented by free at-home testing kits
designed to reduce barriers to testing. The organisation is particularly focused on youth outreach, developing targeted social media campaigns and specialised programmes addressing high-risk populations, including vulnerable women and commercial sex workers.
“We’re committed to getting to zero HIV infections,” Ms Ford emphasised, highlighting the organization’s strategic approach to reducing transmission and eliminating societal stigma. Individual tickets are priced at $375, with corporate tables available for $3,750, offering businesses an opportunity to support a critical community health initiative. The event promises an immersive New York-themed experience, complete with luxury prize drawings and networking opportunities with community leaders. The ball represents more than a fundraising event—it is a powerful statement of solidarity, hope, and commitment to community health. As The Bahamas continues to battle HIV and AIDS, the Red Ribbon Ball stands as a beacon of progress, education, and compassionate care according to Ms Ford. Tickets are available by emailing RRB@BahamasAIDSFoundation.org or calling 809-5432. The foundation invites corporations, community leaders, and individuals to join them in their mission to create an HIV-free Bahamas.
traditionally, persons from Haiti have come to The Bahamas in the past to apply to go into the US, and they do not expect that there would be a substantial difference. That is their view. But we expect the prime minister, who is responsible to Bahamians, for him to speak to the issues and what exactly they are doing.”
“According to the Charge d’affaires, they have announced nothing new. In
other words, persons were already coming to The Bahamas in order to apply for visas, so the first thing is to confirm whether or not that is the case.”
“Do we expect, given the fact that there is an American embassy in Cuba, there is one in the Dominican Republic, do we expect an upsurge, or this will be business as usual? And all that has happened is that there has been a major
announcement that has created heightened fears because the government has failed to address the issue earlier.”
Mr Pintard also said the government should consider biometric screening to track arrivals and departures and be more transparent about whether people are leaving when they should. He again raised the question of flights to Haiti.
Visa issuance to Haitians
from the United States has been suspended, with limited exceptions for diplomatic and official visas, immediate relatives of US citizens, adoptions, humanitarian cases and applicants deemed to serve US national interests.
The Davis administration has insisted that Haitian nationals will not be permitted to enter The Bahamas simply to apply for US visas.
OPPOSITION LEADER MICHAEL PINTARD
Union says reluctance to transition to Bahamas Grid Company due to uncertainty over benefits
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
AFTER Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) officials said workers are unwilling to transition to the Bahamas Grid Company (BGC), a union leader claimed yesterday the reluctance stems from uncertainty over benefits.
Christopher Hanna, president of the Bahamas Electrical Utility Managerial Union (BEUTMU), which represents BPL’s middle managers, told The Tribune yesterday employees are hesitant because they are unsure what compensation packages the new company will provide.
“I think most workers ain’t going to sign over because of the benefits that they enjoy now,” Mr Hanna said. “We don’t know what kind of benefits Pike is offering or Bahama Grid.”
“Also, because we have a lot of old staff so people with a lot of years of service so they’re not just going to terminate for nothing and
they’re close to pension.”
Mr Hanna added that Pike has not met with managerial staff, who remain in the dark about BPL’s future.
“There is a degree of uncertainty,” he said. “Even if people wanted to transfer over, we ain’t get nothing in writing.”
The government has
entered into a 25-year agreement with Pike Corporation, through its Bahamian management company Island Grid Solutions, to upgrade and manage BPL’s transmission and distribution network.
Under the deal, the government will own 40 percent of the shares in a special purpose vehicle, Bahamas Grid Company, while Island Grid Solutions will own 60 percent.
BPL chairperson Christina Alston confirmed the Pike and Bahamas Grid Company arrangement is complete. She noted that their trucks and crews are already working on the ground in New Providence.
Truck damages two poles leaving three GB schools without electricity
School, and Sunland Baptist Academy.
The outage was triggered when a vehicle struck a utility pole on Anita Doherty Drive/Beachway Drive near Walter Parker Primary during the early morning hours. Police said the car, travelling north on Beachway Drive, hit the school’s fence before overturning.
Superintendent Stephen Rolle said the driver fled before officers arrived.
“There were no injured persons taken to hospital and the matter remains under investigation,” he said.
The crash damaged Walter Parker’s western gate and brought down two utility poles, cutting electricity and water to the area. The Grand Bahama Power Company confirmed the outage impacted Bishop Michael Eldon School, Sunland Baptist Academy, and nearby residential communities, including Winchester Close. Crews were deployed once weather conditions improved.
“Our crews were on the ground once the weather
cleared,” said Jayna Campbell, a GB Power spokesperson. “The power outage affected three schools and a small residential area.” Three heavy-duty bucket trucks and several workers were sent to remove the broken poles and install replacements. A section of Anita Doherty Drive/ Beachway Drive at Gambier Drive was closed off while repairs were carried out.
Deputy Director of Education Michelle Bowleg said Walter Parker Primary was among the schools dismissed early. She noted power officials estimated service would be restored by 2pm, allowing classes to resume as usual today.
Walter Parker principal Remelda Bain said the loss of electricity and water made it impossible to continue lessons. “Teachers cannot work in the heat and no one can see, even with the windows open — the sliders are pretty bad — so we decided to close school down at 12 noon,” she said, adding that the damaged western gate had also compromised campus security.
PARENTS seen picking up children from three schools in Grand Bahama after an accident took out two utlility poles yesterday. Crews from Grand Bahama Power Compny were seen working to replace the two poles
Govt says just 20 teaching vacancies left as ministry interviewing candidates
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
EDUCATION Director Dominique McCartneyRussell says the ministry is in the process of interviewing candidates to address remaining teacher shortages, with only 20 vacancies left nationwide.
Her comments came amid renewed concerns about school readiness, particularly on the Family Islands, where parents have reported staff shortages and inadequate facilities at the start of the new school year. Their concerns were echoed last week by
Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) president Belinda Wilson who warned widespread delays and inefficiencies have left both teachers and students unprepared for the new school year. Mrs McCartney-Russell said most teaching posts have already been filled, with only 20 educators needed in subject areas such as language arts and visual arts. However, she said the ministry is actively working to close the gaps. In addition to teacher shortages, the country is also facing critical vacancies in principal positions across
the islands. In a statement released on Sunday, the ministry said efforts are underway to finalise the promotion of administrators to fill those posts “at the earliest opportunity.” Officials attributed the shortage to a combination of resignations, transfer requests, and other requirements.
The ministry also maintained that classroom learning has continued without disruption, despite reports to the contrary.
“We are hopeful that these matters will be processed through the Public Service Commission,” the ministry added.
EDUCATION DIRECTOR DOMINIQ UE MCCARTNEY-RUSSELL
Son’s case ‘one of
the greatest hurdles’ of former PM’s life
Pinder was charged on September 12, 2023, with having unlawful sexual relations with the girl between July 1 and 31 that year. In October 2023, Dr Minnis, the girl’s 45-year-old mother and 25-year-old sister, were accused of “intentionally and unlawfully” causing her to abort a fetus on September 4. Other relatives were also charged with conspiracy to commit abortion, though their identities were withheld to protect the child.
Abortion is illegal in nearly all circumstances in The Bahamas, and prosecutions are rare. The charges against Dr Minnis, a practising doctor, marked a highly unusual case against a medical professional.
Yesterday, Dr. Hubert Minnis described the past year as “one of the greatest hurdles” of his life and said the ordeal had taken a heavy toll on his son, who was barred from practicing at Princess Margaret Hospital and placed on half pay, although he continued to run his private practice.
“I’ve been going to court in and out for over a year with him,” he said.
“The rest of the family, and myself, wife, all of us supporting him, and we were happy this morning to hear that. I as a doctor
and a gynaecologist, I looked at the case, and I mean, from my medical perspective, I didn’t think there was a case, but, you know, that’s just my opinion, and I’m very happy. I want to thank God that that is over.”
He thanked the hundreds of people and religious leaders who stood by his family, saying their support and prayers helped him endure the ordeal and refocus on the country’s future.
Reflecting more broadly, Dr Minnis said the case highlighted the high cost of justice for ordinary Bahamians.
“What this case has made me aware of, court representation is costly, and what it really opened my eyes to is that there are a lot of Bahamians that cannot afford legal representation,” he said.
“Therefore, I believe that a lot of individuals may have gone to jail or found guilty because of improper representation, and that is a great disadvantage for the poor and the middleclass individuals because legal representation can be very costly. I think moving forward, that is something I will fight to try and improve on to ensure that every citizen of this country as not only access to proper health care, but at least have access to legal representation.”
The report is expected to guide efforts to modernise the immigration system, streamline protocols, and
make the public more comfortable engaging with the department rather than, as Ms Hall put it, “suffering in silence”. She confirmed the commission has only met with
Immigration Minister Alfred Sears once, saying this was deliberate to maintain independence.
“I think the general public would have more confidence in what we present
with us, having as little interaction with the political directorate at this stage as possible,” she said. The commission has been reviewing current processes,
confidentiality safeguards, and discretionary practices. It has also consulted stakeholders and drafted recommendations for modernisation, stronger checks and balances, and legislative reform.
Ms Hall apologised for the delays, saying officials want the report to be comprehensive. While an initial draft was completed, she said further revisions were required in light of escalating concerns. She added that she hopes the report will have lasting value.
Aware that previous immigration reports have often gathered dust, she said she wants this one to be useful for generations.
The Davis administration has pledged the commission would play a central role in reforming immigration policy, reviewing department operations, and restoring public trust. But since
its launch, officials have offered little detail about its work. In June, press secretary Keishla Adderley said the commission had completed a “comprehensive review” of immigration operations in New Providence and the Family Islands and would soon deliver its findings to the prime minister before public consultations. In July, however, Mr Davis confirmed he had yet to receive the report. Meanwhile, Free National Movement chairman Dr Duane Sands said Bahamians should not expect the Davis administration to release the report at all.
The commission is chaired by Ms Hall and includes former Education Director Marcellus Taylor and former Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Clifford Scavella.
FORMER PRIME MINISTER DR HUBERT MINNIS
Photo: Chappell Whyms
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“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH
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Time running out on transparency pledge
IT is nearly two full years since an immigration commission was set up in the wake of a controversy involving former Minister of Immigration Keith Bell – and still there is no sign of the final report.
We are told that the draft of the report will be in the hands of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis by the end of the year – though if you did not want to hold your breath, we would not blame you.
The origins of the report came in October 2023 – when Mr Davis announced the commission’s formation.
Some months earlier, FNM leader Michael Pintard had leaked documents revealing concerns from senior immigration officials about alleged interference in their work by Mr Bell.
Mr Pintard highlighted one incident in particular involving Mr Bell allowing the release of Chinese nationals at the British Colonial Hotel in January 2023 despite alleged irregularities with their work permits.
So serious were the concerns that former Immigration director Keturah Ferguson had written to the ministry’s permanent secretary expressing her disapproval.
Alfred Sears is now the Immigration Minister, but has not been forthcoming with updates.
Indeed, as we report in today’s Tribune, the minister only met with the commission once – with commission chair Alexandra Hall saying that was deliberate to maintain independence.
Rather than dealing with the specific concerns over Mr Bell’s involvement, the report is expected to take a broader view, looking at modernising the system and stopping the public from “suffering in silence” as Ms Hall put it.
She says officials want the report to be comprehensive, hence the delays.
It actually made it as far as a first draft, but that raised more questions so off it went for more revisions.
Ms Hall says she does not want this report to gather dust but to be useful for generations. We hope the first generation it will be useful to will be the current one, and its findings might be of use to voters in the next election whenever that is called.
FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands is either cynical enough or realistic enough, depending on whether the report ever sees the light of day, to believe the government will never release the report at all.
Certainly there has been a pattern of a lack of transparency with this administration with which this report’s slow progress fits right in.
Remember after the Bahamas Moorings controversy, there was a report promised by the Office of the Prime Minister over the involvement of one of its members of staff in signing documents in that matter? No word has emerged of that report – and the member of staff concerned continues to post documents to members of the media, so what action has been taken remains a mystery.
And then there is the continued failure to make any progress toward the implementation of Freedom of Information – which if it was in place would be useful for trying to secure the answers on all kinds of questions.
Then there is the continued failure to respect the law when it comes to public declarations by Parliamentarians. Goodness knows who filed this year’s disclosures on time – and goodness knows when the commission for that will ever get round to reporting on that matter.
We are sure we do not need to remind readers that Mr Davis’ very first speech as prime minister pledged to bring transparency and accountability. If such things matter to voters, he is running out of time to live up to those words on the issues above.
Vets should help street animals
EDITOR, The Tribune.
EVERY day, I see stray dogs and cats wandering the streets of Nassau, hungry, sick, and in desperate need of care. While veterinarians in private practice provide excellent service to paying clients, I cannot help but notice the absence of their presence in the wider community. Our street animals, who have no owners to advocate for them, are too often left behind.
Veterinarians are uniquely trained and positioned to make a real difference beyond their clinics. They could organise free or low-cost spay and neuter drives, set up monthly outreach days in neighborhoods, or offer basic services such as deworming, vaccinations, and wellness checks to animals at no cost. They could also partner with schools to teach children about responsible pet care, helping to change the culture around animal welfare from the ground up.
We have seen what is
possible. BAARK (Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness) already offers free spay and neuter services to the public, and their work has made a tremendous difference in reducing the stray population. If a nonprofit group can do this, surely the veterinary community, with its resources, skills, and professional training, can step up as well. Too often, the response to stray animals is euthanasia. But killing is not a solution. It is only a temporary fix that clears the streets for a moment while the cycle of breeding continues. Euthanising healthy animals does nothing to address the root problem. Spaying and neutering, combined with education and community care, is the humane and lasting answer. In addition, veterinarians could volunteer a few hours a month at local shelters, provide training to animal control officers, or collaborate with nonprofits to create mobile clinics that bring care directly to
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Open the door wide for women
EDITOR, The Tribune. THE conversation around women in politics is as old as The Bahamas itself, predating even our independence. Yet today, that conversation is no longer a quiet murmur but a clarion call, louder, sharper, and more urgent than ever.
From the pioneering courage of Dame Doris Johnson, who once stood as candidate for Eleuthera and marched on the frontlines of Majority Rule, to Ruby Ann Darling, the first woman to win a family island seat in the House of Assembly, Bahamian women have proven they can crack open doors that once seemed bolted shut.
the streets. Even small acts, such as donating unused medications, food, or time, would go a long way toward improving the lives of animals that would otherwise continue to suffer in silence.
I do not believe that veterinarians are uncaring, far from it. But in a country where stray animals are such a visible problem, the veterinary community has a moral responsibility to extend its reach. True animal welfare is not only about treating pets in comfortable clinics, it is also about lifting up the voiceless and vulnerable who have no owners to pay for their care.
I urge our veterinarians to step outside the walls of their practices and give back to society in a meaningful way. By sharing their skills and compassion with the community, they can help create a healthier, safer, and more humane Bahamas for both people and animals.
LATESHA CLARKE September 9, 2025.
Today, however, those doors should no longer be cracked. Instead they must stand wide open.
September 16, 2021, marked a turning point in our history. Seven women were sworn into Parliament. A second female Speaker presided in the House. A third female President guided the Senate. That same year, our nation welcomed its third female Governor General and a female Deputy Prime Minister. And now, as The Bahamas prepares for the 2026 general election, with about 25 women candidates from the official opposition and third party already named, momentum is undoubtedly on our side. But let us be clear, momentum alone is not enough.
Just last week, Jamaica made history. In a nailbiting election, 19 women from both major parties secured seats in the Lower House with 6 of them first-time MPs. This moment did not arise from a quota system. Instead, it reflected what
happens when political parties open the field fairly: qualified women rise.
The lesson is undeniable. Quotas are not the answer. Genuine parity rooted in competence, preparation, and succession planning is. As another Bahamian election approaches, the question is not whether women should be “allowed” space in leadership. That door is already open. The question is whether political parties will move beyond tokenism and embrace women as equals, not exceptions.
True gender equality demands that when qualified women step forward, we are duty-bound to support them. Anything less is not progress, but pretense.
Former Jamaican Prime Minister Portia SimpsonMiller, speaking at the WIP Annual Summit in 2013, reminded us that women do not just participate in politics they reshape it. Her words echo the wisdom of the former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet: “When one woman is a leader, it changes her. When more women are leaders, it changes politics.”
The perspectives women bring as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters or single women are not abstract ideals. They are lived realities that strengthen the national dialogue. Women do not only highlight traditionally perceived “women’s issues”; they bring balance, creativity, and insight to all issues from the economy and
energy reform to education, industrial relations, and cultural advancement.
As a nation we have been great benefactors presently when women have been positioned to lead, islands have been revitalized, ministries transformed, and communities empowered. This is not theory but rather proven reality.
Nearly 50 years ago, Dame Doris Johnson, in her 1975 work Women as Responsible Citizens, issued a challenge that still rings relevance:
“The times demand that Caribbean women must learn that they must either, as we say in The Bahamas, ‘fish or cut bait.’ … I plead with our men not to remain asleep through this women’s revolutionary period. All must participate if the ship of state which we have taken into the treacherous sea of independence is to survive.” Her words remain prophetic. Survival and progress requires the conscientious effort of both men and women at the fore.
The road to gender parity is not paved with quotas, but with opportunities that are real, sustained opportunities that respect women’s competence and qualifications.
As we look ahead, the call is simple but urgent: When women step forward to lead, let us not hesitate. Let us open the door wide. Anything less will not move us forward. It will only leave us where we began.
TAMAR V MOSS
Former Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Youth Council September 9, 2025.
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MOONRISE in the east, as seen from Culbert’s Point, New Providence.
Photo: S Timothy Roberts
‘Bahamasair has zero-tolerence policy for intimidation or unprofessional conduct’
pulled both pilots from duty and dispatched a replacement crew. The ATR turboprop aircraft, registration C6-BFR, eventually departed Marsh Harbour for West Palm Beach, Florida, after 4pm—hours behind schedule.
The disruption rippled across the route: about 30 passengers were booked on the Marsh Harbour–Florida leg, more than 50 were waiting in West Palm Beach to return to Abaco, and dozens more were scheduled on the final trip back to New Providence. Some travellers missed connections, while others were delayed for appointments.
Managing director Tracey Cooper said Bahamasair applied its compensation policies to rebook connections and assist inconvenienced passengers. He stressed the captain’s conduct was not typical of Bahamasair’s flight crews.
“He was not the norm at Bahamasair,” Mr Cooper told The Tribune. “Every now and then, you would have somebody who’s an outlier, and because that person is not conforming, it doesn’t mean that everybody is not conforming.”
The Abaco incident was not the first time the
captain had drawn scrutiny.
On August 25, less than a week earlier, he was called in over concerns about how he was managing the aircraft and was told what needed to change.
“Rather than take our advisement to him, he responded in the way that he did,” Mr Cooper said.
Bahamasair later received two voice notes believed to be from the captain threatening other pilots who had reported his alleged misconduct.
Officials described the messages as inappropriate and inconsistent with professional standards.
Mr Cooper said the voice notes reinforced the airline’s concerns. “The voice messages kind of actually showed where Bahamasair was doing its part in that we were reinforcing what our standards were to that captain in question,” he said.
“Again, I would just like to say that we were a little disappointed that he did not take it in the way that we intended it to be.”
Although the vaping was not directly witnessed by managers, Mr Cooper confirmed such conduct violates aviation rules. “As per industry standards, smoking, vaping is not allowed in the aeroplane,” he said. “You have sensitive equipment, and you also have the health of the
A BAHAMASAIR ATR72 on the tarmac.
passengers and the rest of the crew as well.”
In a statement, Bahamasair said passenger safety was never compromised but emphasised its zero-tolerance policy. “Bahamasair maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of intimidation or unprofessional conduct. While no
safety issues were reported during the flight, the airline views this matter with the utmost seriousness,” the company said.
Mr Cooper admitted the disruption put pressure on the airline’s already limited pool of flight crew. “We don’t have an abundance, an overstock of flight crew, to put it nicely, so we try to keep as many flight crews as needed. Obviously, we will have to make adjustments moving forward,” he said.
Airport staff described the Abaco incident as unprecedented, while some passengers voiced frustration on social media, calling for compensation and questioning how the dispute was allowed to escalate.
Despite the fallout, Mr Cooper said Bahamasair’s safety record remains intact and that the airline’s decisive action demonstrated its commitment to professionalism and public confidence.
Defendant’s girlfriend testified she witnessed him kill a man in 2021
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was denied bail yesterday after being charged with the 2021 murder of a man in Pinewood Gardens in what prosecutors said was retaliation for the alleged assault of his mother.
Adari Wright, 28, was denied bail for his alleged role in the January 3, 2021, shooting death of D’Andre Thompson, who was killed
in his car.
During Wright’s bail hearing before Justice Franklyn Williams, it was revealed that the defendant’s girlfriend identified him as the shooter, saying she witnessed both the killing and the preceding assault involving the defendant, his mother and the deceased.
Prosecutors further allege that Wright, while armed with a handgun, attempted to rob a woman of her 2010 Nissan Murano
in the parking lot of Sapodilla Restaurant on May 22, 2023. The complainant reportedly escaped and alerted police. Wright is accused of firing at two officers as they pursued him in their patrol car before he was detained. He is awaiting trial on charges of murder, attempted armed robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
MAN ACCUSED OF SEX WITH 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 64-YEAR-OLD man was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of having sex with a 12-year-old girl twice in July.
Police allege that Livingstone Miller and an accomplice had sexual intercourse with the underage girl in New Providence on July 31.
Justice Williams noted that Wright committed the attempted robbery while already on bail for murder. He denied bail, ruling that Wright posed both a flight
risk and a danger to public safety and that no conditions could sufficiently mitigate those risks. Wright’s murder trial is scheduled to begin on
prosecuted the case.
By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of assaulting someone with a handgun over the summer.
Miller was charged with two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse before Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs. He was not required to enter a plea. His co-accused, Anthony Rolle, 35, was arraigned on the same charges last week. The case will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). Miller must apply for bail in the higher court. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on January 16, 2026.
Inspector Shadrach Coakley prosecuted the matter.
MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON
Prosecutors allege that Jerald Bain, 31, assaulted Lathrell Moss with a handgun on July 24 in New Providence.
Bain was charged with assault with a deadly weapon before Assistant Magistrate Carolyn
Vogt-Evans. He pleaded not guilty and was granted $5,000 bail with one or two sureties.
His trial is set to begin on October 7. Inspector Shadrach Coakley was the prosecutor.
ONE YEAR JAIL FOR M AN FOUND WITH A SINGLE BULLET
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was sentenced to one year in prison yesterday after admitting to possessing a single round of .40 ammunition last week.
Kareem Johnson, 21, was stopped by police in New Providence on September 5 and found with a .40 round. He was charged with possession of ammunition before Magistrate Lennox Coleby. After pleading guilty, Johnson was
sentenced to one year at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
He will have the opportunity to enrol in trade classes while incarcerated.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie prosecuted the matter.
October 6 before Justice Jeanine Weech-Gomez. Alex Dorsett represented the accused, while Janet Munnings
Entitlement, exploitation, and the erosion of society
EVERY society in every country faces challenges not only from external threats but also from internal decay.
Among the most corrosive forces within a community are those individuals who live not by honest effort but by attaching themselves to the labour of others. These people, much like leeches, drain sustenance while offering nothing in return. Their defining traits are insatiable appetite, warped entitlement, and a relentless drive to manipulate individuals and institutions for their own gain. They borrow without intent to repay, consume beyond their means, and treat the government not as an institution for the common good but as a bottomless purse meant to satisfy their desires.
Our social services programme, which provides much-needed assistance for those who have fallen on hard times, has gone far beyond the call of duty, but many exploit the system and couldn’t care less about who they deprive of getting the assistance needed.
Over time, this mentality does more than burden economies; it reshapes the culture. When entitlement is rewarded and systemgaming becomes a viable strategy for survival, the next generation grows up watching and imitating until parasitism is not the exception but the norm.
A distorted view of rights and responsibilities lies at the heart of the leech mentality. These individuals sincerely believe that because they are citizens, voters, or minimal contributors to society, they are entitled to unlimited benefits. To them, resistance from the government in meeting their demands is not fiscal prudence, but oppression. Any attempt to set boundaries, whether through budget cuts, eligibility requirements, or personal accountability, is met with outrage.
Many leeches are people who have already been given special favours and, like pigs to the trough, just can’t get enough. They will terrify whomever tries to get more and never want anyone to have more than them. It’s astonishing how heartlessness is commonplace.
This entitlement transforms into a weapon. Leeches lobby, protest, and pressure policymakers to increase their allowances, subsidies, or entitlements, not because of genuine need but because they have learned that relentless noise often achieves results. Their tactics rely on guilt, intimidation, and appeals
FACING REALITY
BY IVOI NE INGRAHAM
to “fairness,” ignoring the fairness owed to those who actually foot the bill. The country suffers. For these societal leeches, survival is not about cultivating responsibility, discipline, or skill but learning to exploit the rules. They spend their lives gaming the system—finding loopholes, exaggerating hardships, and presenting themselves as perpetual victims. Government programs designed as safety nets for the vulnerable become hammocks for those without interest in standing on their own feet. This mindset is not harmless. It poisons the social order. Hardworking citizens, seeing manipulation rewarded as richly as labour, lose faith in fairness. The incentive to
‘For these societal leeches, survival is not about cultivating responsibility, discipline, or skill but learning to exploit the rules.’
produce weakens when producers realise that their efforts are not merely taxed, but drained into a system that subsidises laziness and duplicity. Over time, honest work becomes devalued, while “cunning exploitation” becomes admired in some circles as cleverness. It must be remembered that governments possess no wealth of their own. Every benefit or entitlement granted originates from the taxpayers’ pockets—the men and women who rise early, labour diligently, and shoulder the actual weight of society. As more people adopt the leech mentality, expecting the government to supply every need, the burden on these producers grows
unbearable.
What results is a vicious cycle: the more resources are consumed by those unwilling to contribute, the less remains to support those in genuine need. The public purse becomes not a tool of compassion but a target of exploitation, weakened by unending demands and unsustainable expectations. Eventually, economies falter, and nations find themselves crippled not by a lack of resources but by their misuse.
The most insidious effect of this mentality is the lesson it teaches the next generation. Children do not merely hear what is said; they watch what is done. When they witness
their parents or community members manipulate the system, pressure officials, or demand benefits without responsibility, they learn that such behaviour is normal, even admirable. Instead of being taught the virtues of hard work, self-reliance, and sacrifice, these children see entitlement as a strategy. They observe that manipulation can secure food, housing, or luxuries without the sweat of labour. They refine these tactics in time, often surpassing their elders in creativity. The result is a self-reinforcing culture of dependency, a society of parasites that thrives not on production but consumption. This generational cycle ensures that the problem is not temporary but enduring. Where once leeches were few, now they multiply. What begins as a failure of responsibility in one generation becomes a cultural inheritance in the next.
When this pattern takes root, a culture of parasites emerges. In such a culture, honest producers are scorned as fools, while manipulators are quietly admired for their cunning.
Government becomes less a steward of justice and more a dispenser of spoils, constantly pressured to do more, give more, and tax more. Society fractures into two camps: those who carry the weight and those who demand to be taken.
The danger of this division cannot be overstated.
A nation in which parasites outnumber producers is a nation in peril. Productivity declines, resentment grows, and eventually, the system collapses under its own weight. History offers repeated warnings from the decline of Rome to the stagnation of modern welfare states that indulgence in systemic exploitation leads to national weakness. The leech is a person who lives by draining others. Like the parasite that swells with blood yet never ceases its hunger, these individuals are never satisfied. They pressure, manipulate, and exploit, all while insisting that their behaviour is justified. Worse still, they pass on this mentality to their children, ensuring that parasitism becomes a way of life rather than an aberration.
A healthy society cannot survive on such terms. Compassion must always be extended to the vulnerable, but compassion must not be confused with indulgence. A balance must be struck that protects people in need without rewarding exploitation and encourages self-reliance rather than dependency.
If society fails to draw this line, the leeches will multiply, and the public purse will eventually dry up. When that day comes, not only will the parasites be left without a host, but the entire nation will be left impoverished morally, socially, and economically.
US destruction of Caribbean boat
a clear violation of international ‘right to life’ laws – no matter who was on board
THE US government is justifying its lethal destruction of a boat suspected of transporting illegal drugs in the Caribbean as an attack on “narco-terrorists.”
But as an expert on international law, I know that line of argument goes nowhere. Even if, as the US claims, the 11 people killed in the Sept. 2, 2025, US Naval strike were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, it would make no difference under the laws that govern the use of force by state actors.
Nor does the fact that protests from other nations in the region are unlikely, due in large part to Washington’s diplomatic and economic power – and President Donald Trump’s willingness to wield it. Protest is not what proves the law. Unlawful killing is unlawful regardless of who does it, why, or the reaction to it. And in regard to the US strike on the alleged Venezuelan drug boat, the deaths were unlawful.
Domestic US legal issues aside – and concerns have been raised on those grounds, too – the killings in the Caribbean violated the human right to life, an ancient principle codified
today in leading human rights treaties.
Killing in war and peacetime
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is one such treaty to which the United States is a party. Article 6 of the covenant holds: “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”
Through rulings of human rights and other courts, it has been well established that determining when a killing has been arbitrary depends on whether the killing occurred in the context of peace or armed conflict. Peace is the norm. And in times of peace, government agents are only permitted to use lethal force to save a life immediately. The United Nations’ Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials reinforce this peacetime right-to-life standard, noting “intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to
protect life.”
The principle is also supported by the fact the US has bilateral treaties regarding cooperation in drug interdiction. The Coast Guard has a series of successful Maritime Law Enforcement Agreements – known as Shiprider Agreements – with nations in the Caribbean and elsewhere. They commit US authorities to respecting fundamental due process rights of criminal suspects. Such rights obviously do not include summary execution at sea. Bypassing these bilateral and international treaties to dramatically blow up a ship not only violates law, but it will, I believe, further undermine trust and confidence in these or any other agreements the US makes.
Flouting international law
In armed conflict, intentionally targeting an enemy vessel with lethal force is permitted, so long as the attack complies with international humanitarian law.
But it would be very difficult, in my opinion, for the US to argue that it
Hegseth and Caine visit Puerto Rico as US steps up military operations in the Caribbean
SAN JUAN
Associated Press
US DEFENSE Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday as the US steps up its military operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean. Their arrival in the US territory comes more than a week after ships carrying hundreds of US marines deployed to Puerto Rico for a training exercise, a move that some on the island have criticized.
Puerto Rico’s Gov. Jenniffer González said Hegseth and Caine visited on behalf of President Donald Trump’s administration to support those participating in the training.
“We thank President Trump and his administration for recognizing the strategic importance of Puerto Rico to US national security and for their fight against drug cartels and the narcodictator Nicolás Maduro,” González said.
Hegseth and Caine met with officials at the 156th Wing Muñiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, a city just east of the capital of San Juan.
González said Hegseth spoke to nearly 300 soldiers at the base and thanked those he described as “American warriors” for their work.
The visit comes as the US prepares to deploy 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico for operations targeting
drug cartels, a person familiar with the planning said Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because information about the deployments has not been made public.
On Sept. 2, Trump announced that the US carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a vessel that had left Venezuela and was suspected of carrying drugs. Eleven people were killed in the rare US military operation in the Caribbean, with the president saying the vessel was operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
While the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago praised the strike and said the US should kill all drug traffickers “violently,” reaction from other Caribbean leaders has been more subdued.
Barbadian Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds recently told The Associated Press that members of Caricom, a regional trade bloc, sent a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking for an open line of communication on developments. He said they want to avoid being surprised by any US moves against Venezuela.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s government on Monday insisted that the US is falsely accusing it of playing a crucial role in the global drug trade. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez told reporters the US government should redirect its recently deployed maritime force to the Pacific, where fast boats and container ships have long
carried Colombian cocaine.
“Those ships that are trying to intimidate Venezuela today should be there in the Pacific if they truly wanted to fight and prevent cocaine from reaching the United States of America,” she said. “They have a GPS location problem. They’re where they shouldn’t be. They need to calibrate their GPS.”
Rodríguez, citing reports from the United Nations and the US Drug Enforcement Administration, added that Venezuela “has absolutely nothing to do with the deaths of (US) citizens from drug overdoses” as the country “is not relevant” in global drug production.
She suggested the US should focus on fighting consumption within its borders.
“There’s a lot of hypocrisy, a lot of double standards, a lot of political manipulation of this issue to attack, to intervene, to aim for regime change in countries that aren’t sympathetic,” she said, referring to drug trafficking.
The ongoing training of the Marines in Puerto Rico and the upcoming deployment of fighter jets have rankled some in the US territory, where the memories of the US Navy using nearby islands as training ranges for decades remains fresh, with the cleanup still ongoing.
The April 1999 death of civilian security guard David Sanes Rodríguez sparked large protests at the time, eventually leading to the US military leaving the island. Rodríguez was killed after two 500-pound
took action in the context of an armed conflict. In international law, armed conflict exists when two or more organized armed groups engage in intense fighting lasting at least a day. The US started ignoring the definition of armed conflict when it began targeted killings of terrorism suspects with drones and other military means in 2002. War was raging in Afghanistan, but I would argue that killings in Yemen and elsewhere were not sufficiently tied to the fighting there to be lawful. The killings in Caribbean on Sept. 2 are a worse violation – they had links to no hostilities.
Organized crime groups of the kind the Trump administration alleges the boat members belonged to may be highly violent, but they are not engaged in armed conflict.
And while some armed groups waging war against governments do deal in drugs to pay for their participation in conflict, there is no evidence the gang that President Donald Trump purportedly targeted is such a group.
The term the Trump administration has used for the group is
(226-kilogram) bombs were dropped near him as part of a training mission in Vieques.
On Sunday, dozens of people gathered at the National Guard base in Carolina to decry the heightened US military presence on the island.
They held signs that said, “No to War” and “No to military bases in P.R.” Organizers also warned against the use of Puerto Rico as a staging ground for potential US military actions in the region.
“We denounce the existence of military bases in Puerto Rico,” said Sonia Santiago Hernández, founder of Mothers Against War.
González has dismissed those concerns, saying that Puerto Rico is playing an important role in Trump’s ongoing fight against drug trafficking since it represents a US border in the Caribbean.
She also has noted that the ongoing training of Marines involves logistics exercises and no ammunition.
Siul López, a spokesman for Puerto Rico’s National Guard, told The AP that a group of Marines currently training on the island are not tied to the US maritime force recently deployed to Caribbean waters.
“One thing has nothing to do with another,” he said, adding that the training in Puerto Rico was pre-planned.
López said he did not know when exactly the training exercise in Puerto Rico was first planned but noted that such exercises are usually planned about a year in advance.
He said the training began on Aug. 31 but that he does not know when
“narco-terrorist.” But that is not a recognized term under international law. As such, using it creates no exception to established principles on the right to life. N or does the right to life change depending on whether killings took place in territorial waters or on the high seas.
Given that the US likely flouted international law, one could be forgiven for expecting the Trump administration to be held to account by the mechanisms that support the complex and comprehensive international
it will end, nor how many Marines are involved.
He said they are practicing amphibious manoeuvres with a variety of vehicles.
Meanwhile, González said last week that she estimates more than 1,000 Marines were on the island.
The US Marine Corps issued a statement on Aug. 31 noting that marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit would be conducting amphibious training and flight operations in southern Puerto Rico.
legal system, such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. But prosecuting alleged violations of international law is notoriously hard. And given the power of the US government and the nature of the victims – members of an alleged drugs gang – the political will to hold Washington to account may be weak. Yet, the attack still presents an important opportunity to demand respect for international law and what it stipulates in regard to the right to life.
“The challenging terrain and tropical climate of Puerto Rico provides an ideal environment for the 22nd MEU to conduct realistic amphibious training and hone specialized skills such as patrolling, reconnaissance and survival techniques, ensuring a high level of readiness while forward deployed,” the Marine Corps said in a statement. It wasn’t immediately clear how long Hegseth and Caine planned to stay in Puerto Rico, or if they planned to visit other sites while on the island.
López, the National Guard’s spokesman, declined to comment on specifics of the visit.in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed.
A VIDEO still released by the White House of a boat US officials say was carrying a drug shipment from Venezuela bound for the US The video included an airstrike that appeared to destroy the vessel and kill those on it.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks at a hearing of the Religious Liberty Commission at the Museum of the Bible, yesterday in Washington.
Photo: Alex Brandon/AP
Palestinian gunmen kill 6 people in attack on Jerusalem bus stop
By MELANIE LIDMAN and JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press
PALESTINIAN attackers opened fire at a bus stop during the morning rush hour in Jerusalem on Monday, killing six people and wounding another 12, according to Israeli officials.
An Israeli soldier and civilians who were at the scene shot and killed the two attackers, said police, who later arrested a third person in connection with the shooting.
Footage of the attack showed dozens of people fleeing from the bus stop at a busy intersection. The windshield of a bus was riddled with bullet holes and belongings were scattered across the street.
The war in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and sparked a surge of violence in Israel and the occupied
West Bank, with a rise in attacks by Palestinian militants as well as Israeli settler violence against Palestinians.
Monday’s shooting — at a major intersection, with a road leading to Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem — was the deadliest in Israel since October 2024.
Later on Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said two 14-year-old Palestinians had been shot and killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Jenin, where Israel has carried out several major military operations in recent years.
The military said troops fired at individuals who had entered an area under a closure order. It said they posed a threat to its forces, without specifying the nature of the threat or providing evidence, and that they had ignored instructions to leave.
HAMAS WELCOMES ATTACK BUT DOES NOT CLAIM IT
Paramedics who responded to the scene said broken glass covered the area, and people wounded lay unconscious on the road and a sidewalk near the bus stop. Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency said the two attackers were 20- and 21-year-old Palestinians from the West Bank with no prior arrests. Hamas hailed the attack without claiming responsibility, calling it a “natural response to the occupation’s crimes against our people.”
President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, condemned “any targeting of Palestinian and
Israeli civilians,” and “denounced all forms of violence and terrorism, regardless of their source,” according to a statement from his office.
The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank and cooperates with Israel on security matters, has been largely sidelined since the start of the war.
NE TANYAHU THREATEN S MORE MAJOR WEST BANK RAIDS
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene after his ongoing corruption trial was delayed due to the attack. He praised the soldier who fired on the gunmen, who was from a newly-formed unit for ultra-Orthodox Jewish soldiers.
Later, he warned that Israel would respond to such attacks with wide military raids, referring to operations that inflicted heavy destruction on
built-up refugee camps in Jenin and other parts of the West Bank, and displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians earlier this year.
“The fact that we eliminated these two terrorists is not enough. The fact that we go after the supporters and aides, that is not enough either,” Netanyahu said.
“We have already eliminated nests of terror in refugee camps, in three. We simply evacuated the population from there and flattened all the terror infrastructure — and my instruction is to do the same in other nests of terror.”
Hundreds of security forces searched for additional attackers or explosives that could have been planted around the area. On Monday afternoon, police said they arrested a resident of east Jerusalem who was connected to the attack.
The Israeli military said it is encircling Palestinian villages on the outskirts of
the nearby West Bank city of Ramallah as it steps up defense in response.
In October 2024, two Palestinians from the West Bank opened fire inside a light rail train in Tel Aviv, killing seven people and leaving many others wounded. Hamas’ military wing claimed responsibility for that attack, the deadliest in Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023 raid that started the war in Gaza.
Data from the UN’s humanitarian office says at least 49 Israelis, including some soldiers and police, have been killed by Palestinians in Israel or the West Bank between the start of the war and July this year.
During the same period, Israeli forces and civilians killed at least 968 Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank, according to the data. The Israeli military has said many were militants, though the dead have also included stone throwers and uninvolved civilians.
AS WORLD GETS HOTTER, AMERIC A NS
TURNING TO MORE SUGA R, STUDY
By SE TH BOREN STEIN AP S cience Writer
GL OB AL warming
in the United S tates is amping up the country’s sweet tooth, a new study found.
When the temperature rises, A mericans — especially those with less money and education — drink lots more sugary beverages and a bit more frozen desserts.
I t amounts to more than 100 million pounds of added sugar (358 million kilograms) consumed in a year, compared to 15 years earlier, according to a team of researchers in the U S and United Kingdom writing in Monday’s N ature Climate Change.
“Climate change is shaping what you eat and how you eat and that might have a bad effect on your health,” said study co-author Duo Chan, a climate scientist at the University of S outhampton.
“People tend to take in more sweetened beverages as the temperature is getting higher and higher,” Chan said.
“Obviously under a warming climate that would cause you to drink more or take in more sugar. A nd that is going
to be a severe problem when it comes to health.”
By tracking weather conditions and consumer purchases, the researchers found that sugar consumption rose as temperatures moved between 54 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (about 12 and 30 Celsius). A nd the warmer it got, the more sugar was consumed, until appetites began to lessen when it grew warmer than 86 degrees.
T he daily difference from higher temperatures doesn’t amount to even a single candy bar for the average person. But it adds up over time and has a big effect, said University of California S an Francisco endocrinology professor Dr. Robert L ustig, a specialist in pediatrics and obesity who wasn’t part of the study.
L ustig wrote in an email that among poorer A mericans, just one added can of sugary soft drink per day increases diabetes risk by 29% — and temperature-related thirst plays a big part in A merica’s obesity epidemic.
T he United S tates’ average annual temperature has gone up about 2.2 degrees (1.2 degrees Celsius) since 1895,
A RE
FINDS
according to the N ational Oceanic and A tmospheric A dministration. To chart the impact on sugar consumption, researchers compared it to the A merican Heart A ssociation recommendations: limiting daily intake to 36 grams for men and 25 grams for women.
T he team then compared wind, precipitation and humidity records to the detailed purchase records of 40,000 to 60,000 A merican households from 2004 to 2019, not using any data after the pandemic hit.
T hen they looked at the nutritional information of the items bought. T hat allowed them to eliminate other factors to make a causal link and come up with a calculation for how much extra sugar is consumed per person per degree, said lead author Pan He, an environmental scientist at Cardiff University.
Researcher He said she started thinking about the study when she noticed that people in the U S tend to grab sugary soda when they are thirsty: “From a perspective of nutrition science or environmental science, that could be a problem,” she said.
ISRAELI police and rescue teams inspect the scene of a shooting attack carried out by two Palestinian gunmen, in which several people were killed and others injured at a bus stop in Jerusalem, yesterday.
Photo: Mahmoud Illean/AP
A powerful act of kindness
TEANNA Butler has turned her personal challenges into a powerful act of kindness. After spending a week in the hospital this summer, the Grade 6 student at Nassau Christian Academy was inspired to give back to her community by organizing a Back-to-School giveaway.
Recognizing the struggles many children face in preparing for the new school year, Teanna rallied support to provide essential supplies to children in need, ensuring they could start the year with confidence and dignity.
Teanna chose Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home, located close to her community, as the beneficiary. Along with her team from her school’s Girls to Ladies group, of which she is a dedicated member, she
collected and donated school supplies, snacks, and toiletries.
The administration at the home expressed deep appreciation for the generosity and thoughtfulness of the young volunteers, noting how impressive it was that they not only prepared themselves for school but also reached out to assist those less fortunate.
Beyond her community work, Teanna is a passionate animal lover who volunteers regularly at the Humane Society, walking dogs on weekends.
Academically, she maintains a stellar 4.0 GPA and dreams of becoming a surgeon—demonstrating compassion and commitment both in and out of the classroom.
a n eduC ator’s journey of serviCe and impaC
ON September 10, 1991, a young teacher walked into her first classroom at L W Young Secondary School with plans to spend ten years in education. Now, 34 years later, Ms Anita Wilmott is still standing, still serving, and still inspiring generations of students— proof that purpose can lead us far beyond our own expectations.
Her journey as an educator has taken her through both challenge and triumph—from teaching grades 7 through 12 at L W Young, to returning to her alma mater, R.M. Bailey, and later launching a ground-breaking Entrepreneurial Program upon her return to L W Young in 2015.
“When I came back, I didn’t just teach—I created. I was led to write a full curriculum, course outlines, and three textbooks to support effective learning in this new program,” she recalls. “It was one of the most fulfilling parts of my career.”
Her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. In March, she was awarded for Excellent Service by the Ministry of Education, and in July, she was recognised for Dedicated Service to the Fox Hill community.
But perhaps one of her most impactful contributions outside of the classroom has been the
Bahamian Artist Accepted into RADA
From a young dreamer to a rising creative force, Meghan Rolle has earned a coveted spot at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in the UK, where she will study playwriting and continue to elevate Bahamian storytelling on the global stage.
Wallis Megan Rolle, affectionately known as Meghan, began her creative journey at just 12 years old when she joined the Bahamas Artist Movement (BAM) and declared her ambitions
to become an actress, writer, director, and producer. Through years of dedication, she has transformed those dreams into reality. At BAM, Meghan trained in acting, writing, directing, and producing. She worked alongside industry talents such as Danny Glover and Jeff Perry of ABC’s Scandal, and participated in an exchange program at The Studio School in Los Angeles, where she directed and produced her first short film.
She also enhanced her craft through programs at Yale and Juilliard.
Meghan’s artistry was showcased at The Island House Film Festival, where she walked the red carpet, led BAM workshops, and represented Bahamian arts in media engagements.
After graduating high school, Meghan earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The New School in New York City, gaining professional experience as an actor, producer, and director. Her belief that “the sky is the only limit” has driven her forward.
Rowena Sutherland, founder of BAM and acting coach, has played a pivotal role in nurturing Meghan’s talent from the beginning. With decades of experience guiding Bahamian artists, Sutherland’s vision for BAM is to provide mentorship, training, and international opportunities that elevate local creatives to global stages.
She expressed immense pride in Meghan’s achievements: “From the moment Meghan walked into BAM at age 12, her vision was clear. She has worked tirelessly, with discipline, heart, and artistry. Her acceptance into RADA is not only a personal triumph but also a milestone for Bahamian arts and storytelling.”
Boys and Girls Empowerment Club, which she founded.
Today, the combined club has grown to 116 students—60 boys and 56 girls—with a vibrant program of activities that includes motivational seminars, social events, and mentorship. This year alone, Ms Wilmott and her 12 dedicated advisors hosted a Christmas party, visited Government House, held a church service, welcomed the Deputy Governor as a guest speaker, and wrapped up the term with a celebratory gathering.
“Going forward, I hope that everything they have been taught will continue to be manifested throughout their lives at school and in the wider community,” she said. “I want them to grow to become real men and women of virtue that will make good choices and have a positive influence on others.”
She added, “Social skills are necessary for today’s society. Academics will be built throughout life, but basic social skills such as manners, respect and consideration for others must also be learned as well.”
Despite her many accomplishments, Ms Wilmott has consistently chosen the classroom over administration.
“Many people ask why I never moved into an
administrative role,” she says. “While I know I have the capability, I love being in the classroom—with my handsome boys and beautiful girls.”
To her students, she is much more than a teacher.
“I’m their mother away from home, their counsellor, confidante, provider, nurse, and friend. In my class, there is mutual respect, and I have full control because they know I care.”
She remains deeply committed to the profession and to her personal motto: “Service above self.”
“Teaching requires self-discipline, planning, compassion, and the ability to meet students where they are,” she says. “It’s not a job for anyone just chasing a pay check. Passion is what has kept me here.”
As she celebrates her 34th year in the profession this September, Ms Wilmott shows no signs of slowing down. Whether through business education or personal empowerment, she is determined to continue equipping her students with the tools they need to succeed—not just in school, but in life.
MORE than 60 students from the Bain and Grant’s Town community received backpacks, school supplies, free haircuts, and Happy Meals during a back-toschool event hosted at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk.
The annual giveback helps prepare students aged three to 17 for the new school year by offering essential supplies and support in a community-based setting.
“The McDonald’s chicken nuggets were so yummy, and I liked eating and getting toys, and getting a McDonald’s backpack,” said six-year-old Shavargo Mackey, grinning between bites of fries.Older students took away more than school supplies.
“It teaches me to always give back to the community and to be grateful for what is given to me,” said Denicia Rigby, a Grade 12 student at C R Walker school. “To me, it means coming together as a community and spreading love and awareness.”
St Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk partnered with McDonald’s Bahamas to host the event, which included meals, school bags filled with supplies, and free haircuts for all attending students.
Organizers emphasized that the event was about more than just supplies
— it was about building confidence, community, and character in the lives of young people.
Pastor Jude Vilma reminded attendees of the church’s commitment to raising the next generation with principles like honour, integrity, and service.
McDonald’s Bahamas, a longtime partner in the effort, reinforced its commitment to youth and community support. HR Manager Gabrielle Pyfrom
said the company believes strongly in giving back and creating meaningful connections with children who may not always receive that kind of attention.
Church leaders, including Deacon Othniel Duncombe and Director of Discipleship Rekeno Carroll, pointed to education as a key tool for transformation and said the event is part of the Kirk’s wider mission to serve its community in both word and deed.
BAIN and Grant’s Town students pose with their donated backpacks.
WALLIS Megan Rolle smiles for the camera.
TEANNA Butler with members of the Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home and donations.
ANITA WILMOTT
Munroe rejects US sheriff’s claim Bahamas has gone soft on immigration enforcement
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe has rejected claims from a US official that The Bahamas has gone soft on immigration enforcement, insisting that if such criticisms were valid, the United States Coast Guard would share the blame.
Mr Munroe was responding to St Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro, who told US media that The Bahamas had become a launch point for undocumented migrants and narcotics.
His comments followed reports of a US operation in which three vessels allegedly returning from Bahamian waters were intercepted with 30 undocumented Chinese nationals and more than 160 kilos of cocaine. Five Bahamians were arrested, with three others later detained in Florida, according to US authorities.
“If what he says is correct, then the Coast Guard is also guilty of the same thing he accused the Defence Force of being guilty of,” Mr Munroe told The Tribune.
“I am not of the view that either the RBDF or the Coast Guard is lacking. I know both organisations work hard.”
He stressed that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force works closely with US counterparts on
intelligence-led maritime patrols and that the mere presence of foreign nationals in Bahamian waters does not indicate lax enforcement.
Mr Munroe said legal presence should not be confused with wrongdoing. “If a vessel is leaving The Bahamas, it only commits an offence when it tries to illegally enter the US,” he said, adding that people from some nationalities travelling with Bahamians in Bahamian waters are not in violation of local immigration laws.
The minister pointed to the sheer volume of pleasure craft moving between Florida and Bimini or Grand Bahama, noting that many appear routine, making it difficult to distinguish those engaged in smuggling.
“We cooperate with the US and have committed vessels to help prevent human smuggling,” he said. “They patrol the approaches to the US, and they assist us in patrolling approaches to The Bahamas.”
He acknowledged that despite close cooperation, no country can stop every illegal attempt. “We cannot stop everything, and neither can they,” Mr Munroe said. He added that both nations continue to share intelligence and resources in joint efforts to address ongoing migration and security challenges in the region.
Junkanoo legend remembered in special ceremony at Rawson Square
NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER WAYNE MUNROE
DR Sir Winston Churchill Rolle, a celebrated Junkanoo legend, was honoured with a special ceremony and rush-out in Rawson Square on Thursday. Tributes were paid by the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence, the Rolle family, and the Bahamas State Association of Elks.