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Increases expected by year’s end retroactive to September 1,
THoUSAnDS of public officers will see bigger pay cheques starting in December after the Davis administration completed a long-promised salary review exercise, with increases retroactive to September 1, 2025. The government said the adjustment applies to all non-contractual public servants who were not
2025
covered in earlier rounds of pay raises. Each employee will receive at least two salary increments, with the size of increases varying by category. The statement did not specify how many workers this would apply to - or the total amount of the cost. officials said the exercise
Junkanoo divided over support for govt bill
By
LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
SEVERAl major Junkanoo groups have broken ranks with the Junkanoo Corporation of new Providence (JCnP), throwing their support behind the government’s proposed Junkanoo Authority Bill, despite the JCnP’s opposition. The legislation, which Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg said will be tabled in october when Parliament resumes, would create a statutory authority to oversee the management, funding and operations of Junkanoo parades across
SpaceX targeting 19 further landings as EIA notes impacts are
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is bidding to resume booster recovery operations in Bahamian waters with up to
19 further landings projected should the necessary government approvals be obtained.
The just-released EIA, which the Davis administration demanded before any further landings in the Exuma Sound are
minimal
permitted, asserted that “the environmental impacts of the Falcon 9 booster recovery are minimal” due to its design and operational features.
Child dies after Freeport playground swing set collapses on top of him
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A CHIlD who died when a swing set collapsed at a Freeport playground had to be taken to hospital in his mother’s car because of the delay in an ambulance arriving. Doctors at Rand
Memorial Hospital tried to resuscitate six-year-old Vernal “Zion” Williams but were unsuccessful.
“The doctor said his heart had stopped, and they were trying to get it back, but they couldn’t. So, yeah, he just gone,” said his mother, Cardia Williams.
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
DIAlYSIS patients at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) are facing heightened risks of infection, with healthcare workers blaming temporary catheters, staff shortages and inconsistent supplies for the crisis. Their comments came after disabled dialysis patient Marvin Johnson, 62, voiced concern over rising deaths — many he linked to infections — saying the situation has left patients fearful.
Public Hospital Authority officials, including Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville,
Govt waiting on US to sign off on proposed Cuban workers agreements
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
CUBAN healthcare workers could soon sign direct contracts with the government if a proposed labour agreement submitted to US officials last week is approved, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said Friday.
Dr Darville said the contract was requested by US officials as part of ongoing discussions over the government’s proposal to directly hire Cuban workers.
“If that comes back favourable, many of the Cuban professionals are here will go into a direct contractual agreement with the Ministry of Health and not the Cuban government itself,” he said Friday, describing the high-level talks as very “fluid.”
He noted that US officials are constantly requesting additional information, which he said the government is happy to provide.
“It is our responsibility to work very closely with our partners, the United
States, to ensure that we clarify any misconception that exists about the use of labour improperly,” Dr Darville said. “I could say this much, and I’m sure the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would say the same thing, we don’t consider ourselves to be in violation with any labour laws.”
The shake-up in The Bahamas’ Cuban healthcare contracts began after US officials warned they would revoke visas for Bahamian government officials and their relatives if the country continued to participate in Cuba’s labour export programme to hire medical workers, an arrangement Washington argued amounted to forced labour.
A leaked 2022 contract, published by Cuba Archive, showed The Bahamas paid up to $12,000 per month per Cuban doctor, while the doctors themselves received just $990 to $1,200. The remainder went to Cuba’s state-run agency, Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos (CSMC).
In June, Dr Darville said Cuban healthcare workers
would be hired directly by his ministry rather than via intermediaries, and that existing deals could be cancelled, with those unwilling to accept new terms expected to return to Cuba.
US Chargé d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish recently praised The Bahamas’ efforts to overhaul the system, noting the US sees it as a positive step.
The country currently employs three Cuban nurses and three doctors — two ophthalmologists and one optometrist — along with X-ray technicians, physiotherapists, and biomedical specialists.
Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Managing Director Aubynette Rolle said the reduced Cuban workforce has strained staff and increased PHA’s financial burden as local workers are required to work overtime.
She said Cuban professionals have provided strategic support in pharmacy services, both outpatient and inpatient, and have also assisted with maintaining biomedical equipment, areas where
their impact has been noticeable.
She added that the PHA has expanded training in specific allied health
areas to help address the shortfall. Mrs Rolle also noted that efforts remain underway to recruit from countries
with no labour export concerns, noting that medical professionals from Canada and the UK have shown interest.
Darville hopes near $200m hospital loan with China e ximbank to be finaliseD soon
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
HEALTH and Well-
ness Minister Dr Michael Darville said he hopes to finalise loan and labour agreements for New Providence’s new specialty hospital with China ExportImport Bank (Eximbank) before the end of October.
Dr Darville told reporters on Friday that
negotiations with the Chinese state-owned bank are in the final stages, adding he is pushing for “the best possible outcome” for Bahamians before the project proceeds. In July, the Davis administration signed a financial framework agreement with the Chinese government, outlining the project’s funding terms. The deal includes a 20-year loan from the
Chinese Export-Import Bank, covering 73 percent of the project’s cost — approximately $195m — at a two percent interest rate, with a five-year grace period.
The remaining $72m is expected to be raised through local or international financing, or a mix of both.
However, labour terms are still being negotiated. The government is
currently discussing a 50/50 split between Chinese and Bahamian workers, but officials hope to increase the local share.
“I assure you that we will continue negotiation to get the best possible outcome, labour component for the construction worker in the country, taking into consideration that all concessional loans with the Chinese Eximbank are at 2 percent interest rate,” Dr
Darville added Friday. The $267m hospital, to be built on 50 acres in the Perpall Tract, is expected to take 31 to 36 months to complete. The 200-bed facility will primarily serve women and children, featuring paediatric wards, emergency and intensive care units, surgical theatres, diagnostic labs, and mass casualty infrastructure.
Once operational, maternal and adolescent services
currently housed at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) will move to the new site.
The evacated space at PMH will then be repurposed for expanded adult care, including dialysis and other specialty services.
Dr Darville said land clearing contracts will be awarded shortly and that Bahamians will “very soon” see activity at the site.
PLP hosts breakfast event celebrating four years of Davis administration
Minister Dr Michael Darville giving the keynote address at the launch of National Rehabilitation and Assitive Technology Plan at Baha Mar on Friday.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
PLP celebrates four years of governance with a breakfast event at their headquarters on Saturday attended by ministers of parliament, and supporters. Photos: Anthon thompson/BIS
Several Junkanoo groups say govt control necessary due to funding
The Bahamas. The JCNP has resisted the bill, warning it would hand too much control to the government and diminish the groups’ traditional role in decision-making.
However, several A and B division leaders say government control is necessary because public funds already underpin the festival.
Percy “Vola” Francis, leader of the Shell Saxons Superstars, said his group “definitely” supports the bill, calling it a long-overdue measure. “Finally, the can is not being kicked down the road anymore,” he said. “I mean, for 40 years we’ve been kicking this can down the road, you know, let’s do this and get this done and let’s look at the future of Junkanoo for the betterment and for the growth, development and for the business of Junkanoo in this country.”
Trevor Davis, head of the Valley Boys’ Way Forward faction, said: “Everybody already signed off with the government, so if we sign off with the government that means we support the people who have the money. If you get two fellas who like you, one dead break and the next one get money, who you going with?”
Music Makers leader Keith Maison echoed this, saying: “Absolutely, we do 100 percent. This authority bill is not new; it’s something that’s been tossed around for many years. I’m happy to see the minister stood up
and we’ll finally put a foot down.”
B division groups have also lined up behind the legislation. Fancy Dancers leader Wayde Robinson said Junkanoo’s survival depends on collaboration with the government, while Foundation leader Tyrone Curry said the bill could finally deliver fairness for B groups that have long felt sidelined in judging and parade lineups. “This new body has an opportunity to bring about parity,” he said, praising the execution of Junior Junkanoo as “flawless.”
The groups’ support may come as a surprise to some after the JCNP said earlier this year that groups unanimously voted to halt various Junkanoo activities in opposition to the bill.
Family Island leaders have also voiced support, arguing the authority could expand and modernise Junkanoo beyond New Providence, giving Family Island parades stronger management and resources.
On Friday, Mr Bowleg said the JCNP has gone silent since their first meeting nearly three weeks ago, noting that although they were expected to respond within two days, no feedback has been received to date.
Still, he insisted the legislation will not be derailed. “Whether they in agreement with the bill or not, the bill is going to pass,” he said. “Let me make that clear, the bill is coming, and we believe that’s in the best interest of the Bahamian people and our culture at large.”
Bowleg: World Famous Valley Boys missed out on seed funding over failure to register
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
MARIO Bowleg says the World Famous Valley Boys missed out on government seed funding because they failed to register with his ministry, rejecting the group’s claim that they were unfairly excluded.
The Youth, Sports and Culture Minister told The Tribune yesterday the faction had not submitted the compliance documents required of all Junkanoo groups in New Providence, including Trade Compliance Certificate (TCC) and TIN numbers, and therefore could not be included in the recent funding distribution.
“I met with the World Famous prior to us giving out those seed fundings and told them that they are on the list to receive funding, but they have not yet signed up with the ministry,” he said. “Their response was that they signed up with the JCNP. Signing up with the JCNP doesn’t mean anything to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture because you need to ensure that you have the necessary documents in place to comply. Now on the day of distribution of the seed funding, the World Famous did not sign up, and so they were not mentioned.”
Mr Bowleg said the government will not be distracted by internal disputes within the Valley
Boys, saying: “We are going to remain focused on the preparation for these parades to ensure that we have a very good parade coming up for Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. We don’t have the time to be back and forth with the personal issues that they have in those fractions.”
Mr Bowleg stressed that the recent Supreme Court ruling, which determined only one faction can officially use the Valley Boys name, had no bearing on the World Famous faction’s eligibility for government support.
However, he accused the group of misleading the public. “For them to come out with that disingenuous, misleading the public with that statement, tells me that they obviously must have had another agenda, which I am not interested at this time,” he said. He added that if the World Famous want to participate in the parade on Bay Street, “they would do the right thing and do the honourable thing like everybody else, and come and sign up with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, provide their documents so they can receive their seed funding.”
The World Famous Valley Boys released a statement on Friday saying they were “shocked and disappointed” at their exclusion from the funding announcement. They said the minister assured
them during a meeting on September 17 that they remained eligible for funding, and questioned why their group appeared to be “victimised.”
The group also pushed back against suggestions that the court ruling disqualified them, noting the matter is still before the Court of Appeal. They confirmed preparations for their Boxing Day and New Year’s Day performances are already underway.
The dispute arises from a long-running split that produced two factions claiming the Valley Boys name. The Supreme Court has ruled that only one may officially use the title, creating confusion among sponsors and organisers.
Meanwhile, government seed funding for the 2025 Boxing Day and 2026 New Year’s Day parades has been increased, with A groups now receiving $40,000, up from $30,000, and B groups $20,000, up from $15,000. Prize money for individual awards has also risen from $1,500 to $2,250.
Mr Bowleg said funding remains limited and late entries will be accommodated only where possible. So far, seven A groups, 11 B groups and 14 individual entrants have registered for the 2025/2026 parades, with more expected closer to the events. A press conference with ALIV to announce ticket sales is expected soon.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg presents seed funding cheques to Junkanoo groups on Friday.
Photo: nikia Charlton
Healthcare workers say infections due to temporary catheters used too long
INFECTIONS from page one
could not confirm or deny the claims yesterday but pledged to investigate.
Healthcare workers, speaking anonymously to The Tribune, said infection rates among dialysis patients at PMH are higher because many use temporary catheters, which carry a far greater risk of bloodstream infections than permanent access. They said the catheters, which should be replaced within days, are instead left in for weeks and months because surgeons lack
operating time to replace them.
The situation, they added, is worsened by chronic staff shortages and an inconsistent supply of antibiotics and other materials needed to clean and dress the catheters.
“We’re just underresourced everyplace,” one worker said. “The only thing we have a lot of is people, but we don’t have any tools to work with.”
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson, without providing evidence, claimed that in the past month, several dialysis patients have died from infections.
He said he even nearly died from an infection several years ago and still suffers headaches after treatment.
“We go in there on a wing and a prayer. It’s so bad,” he said. “The majority of the patients are afraid out of their wits because of what has been happening over the year.”
He blamed the deaths on poor ward conditions, pointing to leaks, old machines and limited staff.
However, healthcare workers insisted the machines are sterile, stressing the real problem is the lack of resources.
Resource shortages at PMH have long been a persistent issue.
Dr Duane Sands, former health minister and dialysis access surgeon for Grand Bahama, said PHA has long been underfunded and cannot sustainably provide the level of care patients require.
He acknowledged patients’ concerns, saying that if the complaints are confirmed through investigation, officials must address the root causes.
“Sadly, we have not, as an administration, as a public hospital authority, or as a country, solved this
problem, and until they do so, patients will continue to suffer and some will die,” he warned.
Healthcare workers said dialysis is an expensive treatment, requiring specialised equipment, facilities and staff.
With the public system overstretched, some patients are being sent to private clinics, which workers say have a far better safety record than the public sector.
A press statement from the PHA last night stated that “dialysis patients often experience many serious health conditions and
darville unveils plan to expand reH abilitation and assistive
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
THE Ministry of Health and Wellness has unveiled a five-year strategy to cut long waits, expand rehabilitation and assistive technology (AT) services across the country, and secure resources for longterm improvements.
The plan comes after a World Health Organisation assessment in 2022/2023 exposed major weaknesses in The Bahamas’ rehabilitation system, including the absence of a national policy, inadequate
inpatient and outpatient space, poor access to assistive products, and a lack of standardised infant screening to detect children in need of care.
Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville admitted the findings revealed “exactly how bad” the situation is, but said the government is committed to reform.
“Through this plan, we envision to reduce waiting times, to ensure services are readily available across the country, to activate training programmes to make sure healthcare professionals are available to
assist and to put resources behind this essential strategic plan,” Dr Darville said.
The strategy proposes creating leadership structures for rehabilitation and AT, establishing a national policy framework, regulating the profession, and strengthening the multidisciplinary workforce nationwide.
Dr Darville urged stakeholders not to push rehabilitative services to the “back burner,” warning: “We cannot do the same old, same old and to expect better results.”
He said complaints
continue to pour in from patients dissatisfied with tertiary care, citing concerns about professionalism and compassion. He also acknowledged the loss of skilled workers to developed countries has “gutted” the local system, a challenge he noted every administration has faced.
“With the continued support of our partners, let us work hand in hand to fully implement the national rehabilitative assistive technology strategic plan and ensure that rehabilitation remains a key priority in our healthcare system,” he said.
sometimes develop infections from their treatment access. However, we cannot confirm at this time that any recent deaths were caused by these infections or by delays in getting permanent access”.
The statement added:
“While all patients receiving dialysis are provided with temporary access for treatment, there is an increasing population awaiting permanent access placement. Cases are scheduled weekly, and we are actively working to improve scheduling capacity and reduce wait times to meet the growing demand.”
Former minister oF Healt H and Yout H, sports and Culture dr norman GaY dies
FORMER Cabinet minister, physician, and sports leader Dr Norman Gay died on Saturday, drawing tributes from across the political divide for his decades of service to The Bahamas in medicine, politics, and athletics.
Dr Gay, who hailed from United Estates, San Salvador, represented Bain Town in Parliament after succeeding Sir Milo Butler, the country’s first Governor General. He served as both Minister of Health and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, and was remembered for his advocacy of healthier lifestyles and his leadership in sport.
Free National Movement chairman Dr Duane Sands expressed condolences on behalf of the party and paid personal tribute to Dr Gay as a fellow physician. “He helped many Bahamians through his medical profession and advocacy for healthier living,” Dr Sands said, describing him as a pioneer in drawing attention to the risks of poor diets, unhealthy lifestyles, and non-communicable diseases long before they were widely recognised.
Dr Sands highlighted his achievements as a medical professional, noting that he trained at the Canadian Union Medical School and Loma Linda University in California and later earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami. He served at Princess Margaret
Hospital and ran a longstanding private practice, and was known for promoting natural medicine, healthy living, and research into metabolics. Beyond medicine, Dr Gay left a mark on Bahamian sports. He was president of the Bahamas Volleyball Federation, the Bahamas Bodybuilding Federation, the Caribbean Bodybuilding Federation, the Bahamas Olympic Committee, and the Bahamas Confederation of Amateur Sports. He also chaired the Bahamas Boxing Commission and launched the Bahamas Anti-Aging Institute.
Progressive Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell also expressed condolences on behalf of the governing party. “He is remembered
with fondness by the Bain Town community and for his devotion to duty as a minister,” he said. “The sporting community will remember his advocacy of boxing in particular.”
Mr Mitchell noted the historical significance of Dr Gay’s election in 1973, stepping into the Bain Town seat after Sir Milo Butler’s appointment as Governor General in the wake of independence. “Norman Gay stepped up to the plate, first serving as head of the back bench caucus and then as a minister,” he said.
Both parties described him as a man whose contributions spanned politics, medicine, and athletics, leaving a lasting imprint on the country.
Dr NormaN Gay
HealtH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville speaks during the launch of a plan to expand rehabilitation and assistive technology services across the country on Friday.
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
Mom had to drive son to hospital as EMT not nearby
Mrs Williams discovered the tragedy when she arrived at the Caring Hands Academy with her son’s lunch.
“The secretary came running, saying the ambulance was all the way in Eight Mile Rock,” said Mrs Williams.
“We had to take him in my car. I was too shocked. The teacher was driving, and the administrator held him on his side in her arms in the back seat.”
She criticised the lack of emergency response.
“We’re supposed to be the second city, and we couldn’t get an ambulance out there,” she said. “Something ain’t right about that. Especially with a situation like that, first responders may have known how to better handle him.”
Mrs Williams also said the swing set should have been inspected regularly and secured properly, adding that the tragedy might have been avoided with proper safety checks.
Police said the accident happened shortly after 11am. Zion, a fraternal twin, had been enrolled at the school for about six months.
“He was always into his own thing, always happy, very playful,” his mother said. “Sometimes he liked to stay to himself, but overall, he was a very happy kid.”
The Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training said it was “deeply saddened upon learning of the tragic death of the six-year-old student” and has launched a preliminary investigation through
its Pre-school Unit and the Preschool and Daycare Council. Police inquiries are ongoing.
Mrs Williams said the family is struggling to cope while trying to stay strong for Zion’s twin brother. “We are trying our best, but we ain’t doing too good, to be honest,” she said. “My husband is trying to be strong, but he has broken down many times. We have to be okay for his brother.”
The family has been buoyed by support. “We’ve had a lot of calls from people we don’t even know and acquaintances. People have been reaching out to assist us with funeral arrangements,” Mrs Williams said.
When The Tribune visited Caring Hands Academy, the principal described the incident as “very sad”.
The ambulance shortage has been a recurring concern this year. In April, The Tribune reported that only three ambulances were functioning in New Providence, with emergency workers warning some high-priority calls were taking up to 45 minutes. By June, just two were operational, a situation former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands called “unacceptable”, especially for life-threatening emergencies. In September, a Long Island woman fighting for her life had to be carried to an air ambulance on the back of a flatbed truck in the rain, sparking outrage that ambulances on the island remained parked and unused. EMTs have also raised alarms about the inadequacy of some newly acquired vehicles. TRAGEDY from page one
Vernal Zion Williams (inset), 6, died tragically when playground equipment collapsed and struck him. Toppled playground equipment at the Caring Hands Academy campus in Freeport.
Photo: Denise Maycock/Tribune Freeport Reporter
Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey warmly welcomed the MV Logos Hope back to Grand Bahama, praising its mission of knowledge, hope, and community support, and encouraging residents and students to explore the world’s largest floating book fair. She brought remarks on behalf of the government at the official opening ceremony held on board the vessel on Friday, cutting the ribbon and officially declaring it open to the public. Before arriving in Grand Bahama, the ship departed from Montego Bay, Jamaica. The crew members represent some 60 countries around the world. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
The Tribune Limited
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LEON E. H. DUPUCH
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Transparency on SpaceX landing would be out of this world
IN April this year, we wrote that it was right to take a breath when it came to SpaceX landing more rocket boosters in The Bahamas. That pause for breath is now coming to an end, it would seem. When the first SpaceX booster landing took place in February, it was a remarkable technical feat. However, there were concerns whether the appropriate environmental investigations had taken place beforehand.
An Environmental Baseline Statement (EBS) was carried out – but plenty of seasoned environmental experts argued that was not enough, and a more comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment was needed.
The country pumped the brakes on more landings for that assessment to take place, which was duly carried out –and now the landings are to resume.
There will be up to 19 more landings in Exuma Sound, pending further government approvals.
There still remains a sense of unease for many about the landings. Indeed, Bahamian consultants BRON Ltd have warned of “critical areas of improvement” identified since the February landing.
We have seen what can go wrong. The booster landings are the Falcon 9 rockets, but the Falcon’s big sister, the Starship, exploded and spread debris across our land and waters. Different vehicles, certainly, but still a sense of danger.
And more than that, there is a lingering sense that all of this could have been more transparent.
Elsewhere in today’s Tribune there is another story involving Exuma where transparency about issues affecting the environment has been a concern.
There has been a long-running row over the Rosewood Exuma project – with a grassroots activist group, the Save
Exuma Alliance, springing up amid concerns over the environmental impact of the project.
One neighbouring developer, Turtlegrass Resort and Island Club, is already launching a legal challenge to the approvals, and now another is challenging the planning approvals. Over Yonder Cay’s developer says the new project threatens its own $148m investment and warns it is not a question of if but when an accident will occur to damage the environment there.
One of the concerns raised throughout opposition to the Sampson Cay project is a lack of transparency. Just as with the Falcon landings, people wanted clarity and to know more about the expected impact of these plans. They also felt that transparency was not there.
Both of these plans fall within the boundaries of Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper’s constituency, and while he was seen eagerly present at the first landing and at the Rosewood ground-breaking, some activists say he is not so easily available to hear concerns.
So as the SpaceX landings resume, we hope that transparency is at the forefront – to alleviate concerns and to encourage belief in the value of the project.
There remain plenty of questions –such as how much the country will gain from these landings, for example. There, too, transparency will be welcome.
We are told that there will be “economic and social benefits associated with rocket landings” without knowing exactly what we will get.
If all is as we are told, above board and with no major risk of damage, why not be clear about all the pros and cons – show us what the benefit will be.
What a difference transparency could make – indeed, like the Falcon rockets, the difference could be out of this world.
Blame FNM and PLP on Lucayan
EDITOR, The Tribune.
I WOuLD like to admonish both the PLP (mustards) and the FNM (ketchups) to stop their ridiculous back and forth blaming of each other with regard to the Grand Lucayan that has been going on for over seven continuous years!
Both of them messed up big time and both of them need to apologise to we, the people, for wasting our money and our time listening to an unending litany of empty promises and false hope!
Both mustards and ketchups have shown over the long course of the Grand Lucayan debacle, that they do not have an iota of respect nor care for the struggling citizens of Grand Bahama.
Rather than being accountable and transparent, they prefer to
continue to squabble with each other like spoilt, recalcitrant little children, and for what?
They have nothing to show for it, and they do not even have the testicular fortitude to apologise for their abject failures in using the same ol’ formula of searching for and pandering to a “suitable saviour” - which further demonstrates that neither of them have any shame, any compassion, nor any innovative concrete plans. We can but only imagine the degree of frustration the citizens of Grand Bahama have had to endure after the double whammy of COVID and Dorian to have to listen to the same story flung back and forth between mustards and ketchups for over seven continuous years with no resolution! It is unconscionable and
Investigate school staff shortages
EDITOR, The Tribune.
ABOuT the shortages of principals, officiants at some of the Bahamas government schools and could it be that the organisers were being overwhelmed, overrun by the workload of administration and skeleton crews to do the work. But why haven’t they been able to figure it out before the start of a new school term?
pathetic, and frankly we, the people, are sick of it. We cry shame on them both!
I would like to suggest that both parties stop bickering, stop spewing flowery speeches signifying nothing, until they actually have something of substance to say. Then when they say it, give citizens the full story in an open and transparent way. We, the people, have the right to know the relevant details of how our lives, livelihoods, birthrights, and futures are being blatantly signed away. This is why the Freedom of Information Act needs to be fully enacted and adhered to! It is time for leaders to lead! Grand Bahamians deserve better - we all deserve better!
PAM BURNSIDE September 19, 2025.
How eerily similar have the complaints been in recent weeks, from key law enforcement division not having their contracts monies entitled ratified, to overspending in allotted sums, in millions of dollars, other unions taking government to task, the minister for the public service disputing them, one side claiming little to no dialogue, yet the minister claiming dialogues have taken place, electricity bills promised to be considerably lowered, yet many consumers have pegged their light bills being doubled, one man claimed that he got a $2,000 bill, the Grand Bahama International Airport’s project, minus the proof of the particulars, the Oasis hotel with workers not receiving their salaries, and on and on, but why, almost as if the government body responsible for the progress reports have gone on holidays?
And the tendency to not give details when asked by representatives of The Bahamas, their members of parliament, not even a promised answer, why? Could all of this be a sign of a surrendering of the people’s business, or merely just overworked, overwhelmed, outwitted by the complexities of running a government? But on the campaign trails, both political parties said that they
have the solutions to all of what ails the Bahamian populace, had, have they? In trying to give context to these complaints, I wonder to what extent could the shortages, the non-compliance’s of not delivering on the people’s right to have contracts that were respected, the clauses adhered to, is it indicative of an increase in the numbers of people, workers needed to transact, or conversely perhaps a declining in employees to do the work, just saying?
Either way, whatever might the problem(s) be, needed to be done, ought to have been done to keep the government functioning sufficiently, right now that reality seems to be in limbo, why though?
I do believe that there must now be a dividing of the government’s departments, offices, ministries into four constituent parts, and with their budgets, encompassing all of whatever is domiciled in those areas’ responsibility for? Because no excuses as to why workers were not being paid were inexcusable, definitely unacceptable, why so much money was being paid into the Valued Added Taxes, and boasting of the tourist arrivals’ numbers, why the apparent shortages? When people work, they ought to be paid, period.
It is interesting that when trips needed to be taken, money was provided, available to go, no matter how many were in the company traveling, and booked at the all expensive venues, and I have no problem with living it up in style whilst
doing Bahamian people’s business, and provided that the results were just as fitting for the coffers of the Bahamian people. But what is especially troubling is the frequency of complaints of neglect, of salaries and monies owed by the government, is legally problematic? If you owe, say that it is so, if you had meetings, not only say so, but show the minutes of the meetings and the people in attendance, what was discussed, why progress if any were made, that way it dispels all doubts that you did talk, discuss.
I closed as I begin on the question of staffing and I was made to understanding that what was stifling causing to quit as workers of the government, were some on the job negatives like: 1 exploitation of workers’ labour, 2 denial of benefits, pension, 3 unfair treatment inequality, 4 demoralisation lack of appreciation, among others, and by the same people who all of us works for, the Bahamian people taxpayers, why though?
Now, given all of the polarisation opposing forces month job adverse antics, no wonder its principals were in short supply, these kinds were akin to battle ground was quite hostile and unnecessary, an affront to the administration of good school governance, inter alia?
I write not believing that I have the answers, but I do so, so that the powers that be may cause for there to be an internal investigation into why schools were being run like competing criminally controlled districts?
FRANK GILBERT Nassau, September 19, 2025.
Have a cool, fun, interesting, amazing photo? Have it featured here in The Tribune’s picture of the day! Email your high quality image to pictureoftheday@tribunemedia.net
The frigaTe bird, also known as the man-o-war bird, is a welcome sight to fisherment after wahoo, mahi-mahi and tuna.
Photo: Jon finley
‘Increase is intended to narrow the gap between public and private sector salaries’
INCREASE from page one
is intended to narrow the gap between public service salaries and those in the wider public sector, particularly between workers who benefit from union-negotiated increases and those who do not. By addressing this
imbalance, the administration says it is ensuring fairness for Bahamians who serve directly in government roles. The statement noted that base compensation for public officers has risen between eight and 31 percent over the past four years, with the largest gains going to
entry-level workers. College graduates, including graduate nurses and teachers, will see their salaries rise by 19 percent over the same period. Officials described the targeted focus on young professionals as critical to strengthening recruitment and retaining talent in the public service.
Man accused of exposing himself and robbing woman of $10 cash
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded to prison on Friday after he allegedly exposed himself and robbed a woman in New Providence.
The Davis administration linked the exercise to its broader economic and social agenda, pointing to unemployment levels dropping to their lowest levels since 2008 and pledging to spread the benefits of growth more widely.
“This salary review ensures fairness for those who serve in government, strengthens confidence in the public service, and provides families with more security and affordability,” the statement said. The review was first pledged by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis in his 2024/25 Budget Communication and is being framed as part of his SOAR framework — Security, Opportunity, Affordability, and Reform. Officials said the initiative not only improves compensation but also reflects reforms designed to modernise how government works and expand career opportunities for younger Bahamians.
GB police investigate suspected suicide attempt, shooting and discovery of drugs worth $16k
Police allege that Dentry Miller, 37, flashed Angela Glinton and stole $10 in cash from her on September 16.
Miller pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing and grossly indecent act before Magistrate Abigail Farrington.
Assistant Superintendent of Police K Bould, who was the prosecutor, objected to Miller’s bail citing that he had priors of a similar nature.
Miller was previously charged with indecent assault after he allegedly caressed a ten-year-old girl’s legs on December 14, 2024.
Miller will be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Serviced until he returns to court on September 23.
Two bro T hers charged wi T h having gun and ammuni T ion in T heir home
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
TWO brothers were granted bail on Friday after they were accused of having an unlicensed gun in their home on Dorsett Street last week.
Police allege that Terran Rolle, 29, and Terevis Rolle, 32, were found with a black Glock 9mm pistol and 15 rounds of ammo in an unfinished structure on their property at 10am on September 17. The defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition before Magistrate Lennox Coleby.
The accused bail was set at $7,500 with one or two sureties each.
The defendants will return to court on September 25.
Tonique Lewis and Bjorn Ferguson represented the accused, while Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie was the prosecutor.
POLICE in Freeport are investigating three separate incidents involving a suspected suicide attempt at a school, a shooting in Bamboo Town, and the discovery of more than $16,000 worth of drugs.
Shortly before 1pm on Friday, a girl at a school on Baillou Hill Road reportedly ingested a quantity of over-thecounter medication and became unresponsive. She was taken to the hospital for medical
treatment and evaluation.
Later that night, shortly after 9pm, a dark-coloured Japanese vehicle pulled up on a group of men gathered on Mekel Close in Bamboo Town and opened fire. A 23-year-old man was struck in the left wrist and grazed on the shoulder before being taken to hospital for treatment.
In a separate matter, officers in Grand Bahama seized suspected drugs worth $16,050 during a raid early Thursday
morning. Shortly after 5am, a team assisted by the canine support unit executed a search warrant at a residence on Aberdeen Court. Inside, officers uncovered 10 pounds, one ounce of suspected hydroponic marijuana and cocaine.
A 77-year-old woman and a teenage girl were taken into custody at the scene. Investigations into all three incidents are continuing.
m an accused of grievous harm To receive men Tal evaluaT ion over erraT ic behaviour
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded to prison for psychological evaluation on Friday after he was accused of severely injuring someone. Police allege that Jameko Collie, 30, seriously injured Calvin Young during a physical confrontation on September 17 in New Providence.
Collie was charged with grievous harm before Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs. The defendant did not enter a plea at that time due to him exhibiting erratic and incoherent behaviour before the court.
Collie, who will return to court on October 3, was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. There he will receive mental evaluation to see if he is fit to enter a plea. Inspector Shadrach Coakley served as the prosecutor.
Supporting the Sampson Cay Project for Progress, Jobs, and Our Economic Future
We, the Bahamian business owners listed below, strongly support the Sampson Cay Project. We truly believe this project is a big step forward for our country and our local economy.
This project is an investment in the future of The Bahamas, which means stable work and sustainable entrepreneurial opportunities for many Bahamians. The Exuma Chamber of Commerce has shared its support for the developments coming to Exuma, including the Yntegra project. A local company, Bahamas Industries & Construction Company, is ready to hire almost 150 workers to begin construction on the project. In addition, Yntegra just announced its first round of entrepreneurial opportunities. This is a good thing! This will help small and medium-sized businesses that supply goods and services to grow and be able to hire people from the community. And it can mean that more businesses could be started. This is a chance for us to move forward, help our people find good work, and bring money into our community.
We need to balance progress and the environment
We want to be clear that the environment is important to us. In all developments in Exuma, protecting the sea should come first. It is part of our culture and will continue to be how we earn a living. Tourists come to Exuma because of the water.
It is the crown jewel of The Bahamas. It is hard to believe that a hotel will destroy the very thing that will bring tourists and help the people in the Cays survive. No one with any sense believes that.
Foreign interests cannot dictate to our government
While everyone has the right to speak their mind, it is concerning to us that groups like the Save Exuma Alliance, a group of seven companies - at least five owned by wealthy non-Bahamians - and Turtlegrass, owned by a foreign billionaire with no development experience, are claiming to speak for all Exumians in an effort to stop this critical project. This is after the project has approval from the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection. Suppose the Save Exuma Alliance and Turtlegrass are allowed to stop this progress after the government approved it? It would set a dangerous precedent: If you are a wealthy foreigner spending a lot of money on paid talking heads and flashy advertising, you can overturn a decision from the Bahamian government because you disagree with it. As business owners, we follow the laws of The Bahamas even when we don’t agree with them. It is not right that a few foreigners with a lot of money could stop small business owners like us from prospering through a project like Rosewood. They should follow the law just like everyone else.
The Save Exuma Alliance and Turtlegrass do not speak for us. Most of those people could be gone tomorrow if they decide to pack up and go back home to the US or Canada, or wherever they are from. The fact that they want to tell our government what to do speaks volumes about the lack of respect they have for the people of The Bahamas. We should not stand for it.
Don’t take away our ability to provide for our families
We are Bahamians, and this is our home. We don’t have anywhere else to go. If the Save Exuma Alliance and Turtlegrass Resorts succeed in stopping this government approved project that the Bahamian residents and business owners clearly want, it will not change anything for them. For us, it would have a huge negative impact on our ability to earn a living and take away our ability to provide for our families. It would stop our islands from growing. No one wants that. We ask everyone involved to put Bahamians first and think clearly about the benefits this project will bring to the people of The Bahamas.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025
We must protect freedom of speech
By MALCOLM STRACHAN
We are living in strange times. Not my words, but those of Jimmy Kimmel –talking to a friend after his show was pulled by ABC in a row that leaves many wondering where freedom of speech can be found these days.
Here in The Bahamas, we are on the outside looking in on this particular fight, but we should not think for a moment that this kind of political row might not find its way to our shores someday. So where did this all start? Well, you can go back years for what seems like the weaponisation of social media – you’ll have seen it plenty of times, someone says something deemed to be stupid or unreasonable, and there is a pile-on with people calling for that person to apologise, perhaps be fired, maybe even never work again. And not to sound like I’m sitting on a fence, but this really is one of those situations where “both sides” have done this.
This particular sequence of events began with the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who particularly made his name with a podcast and who often held a debate called Prove Me Wrong where he would sit with people of opposing viewpoints. Supposedly, it was to give them a chance to, as the title said, prove him wrong, though in practice
it gave him a platform to assert his own views on those issues.
Over the years, he said a bunch of things that were offensive, such as speculating about whether black pilots were qualified or suggesting the newly-engaged Taylor Swift needs to submit to her husband and reject feminism. None of the things he said gave any justification to a killer picking up a rifle and shooting Kirk from a rooftop during an appearance at Utah Valley University. None
of the things he said could ever justify that. even a quote that went around after his death - in which he said that “I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights” –did not mean there was any reason for someone to kill him. After the assassination came the reaction. Social media being what it is, a bunch of people
said some dumb things, some hurtful things – and the backlash was not long in coming. The US VicePresident, JD Vance, was the guest host for an episode of Kirk’s show, and called for people celebrating the death to be held to account. He said: “Call them out, and hell, call their employer. We don’t believe in political violence, but we do believe in civility.”
A number of people were suspended or sacked for social media posts,
including pilots, medics, teachers, a journalist, a Secret Service employee, and more.
A Florida congressman said he would “demand their firing, defunding and licence revocation” for people celebrating the death, while a South Carolina congresswoman called out “cut off every dime to any school or university” that refuses to retaliate against employees making insensitive posts about Kirk.
Amid all this there has been speculation about the motivation of the shooter. A suspect is in custody.
Into the aftermath of that stepped Jimmy Kimmel. Kimmel’s show – like a bunch of other late-night shows – has always taken a look at what’s going on in the country, packaged with a punchline on top. The words that he said were these: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
He then went on to show a segment of President Donald Trump being asked how he was feeling after the assassination in which Trump responded by talking about the ballroom being built at the White House. Kimmel said
Trump was in the fourth stage of grieving – construction – and added:
“This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
Are those words really strong enough to demand his show be removed? Are they really the kind of thing that should lead to a network suspending a host?
We don’t have the first amendment in The Bahamas, we have our own protections – but it prevents the government from “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press” among its measures.
So when the Federal Communications Chair, Brendan Carr, weighed in and suggested Kimmel should be suspended, there were obvious concerns about the constitutionality of such a move. He even went on to say “we can do this the easy way or the hard way” which sounds like a line from a gangster movie. Nice network you have here, shame if something happened to it.
So why do we care?
All of this is happening over there, right? It is the playbook we should care about. Look at JD Vance, for example. earlier this year, he spoke in Munich, saying: “Under Donald Trump’s leadership, we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square, agree or disagree.”
That’s a long way from saying call up people’s employers.
Such efforts to control what people are saying places a chill on public debate – and Vance is far from the only person to have gone from shouting about the need for free speech to calling for consequences for those who actually used it. On the other hand, look elsewhere and you will see the dangers of restricting speech – such as the arrests in the UK of people carrying signs saying “Palestine Action” because someone has deemed that a terrorist act. Words on a placard. There are things we should be wary of here at home. There are restrictions here, certainly. If I call someone a liar and can’t prove it, they can sue me. But we should not allow ourselves to be drawn into this world where people shout for free speech one minute then try to get people fired the next, especially from jobs in the private sector. It feels too much like demanding free speech for what one side wants you to hear – and no speech for those who disagree.
And one person who would have agreed for the need for open discussion was Charlie Kirk. He said: “When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence. That’s when civil war happens, because you start to think the other side is so evil, and they lose their humanity.”
Maybe, just maybe, we should listen to him this time.
Charlie Kirk speaks during a town hall meeting on March 17, 2025, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, left, and Jimmy Kimmel appears at the Disney/ABC/Freeform Upfront Party in New York on May 15, 2018. Photo: aP
UK recognises Palestinian State
By Smita RoSSetti
British high Commissioner to the Bahamas in a historic, diplomatic step, the UK, alongside two other Commonwealth nations, Australia and Canada, yesterday recognised a Palestinian state. the UK now joins the Bahamas, and near 150 other countries, in recognising Palestine as a sovereign and independent state, based on the principle of self-determination. Announcing the UK’s decision, Prime Minister Keir starmer said: “We are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution.” in his letter to the President of the Palestinian Authority, President Abbas, PM starmer wrote: “i am conscious of the historical role that the United Kingdom has played in the Middle East. in 1917, Britain supported the principle of a national home for the Jewish people, noting that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities. in making this decision today, i reaffirm the United Kingdom’s commitment to a Palestinian state for the Palestinian people, and our enduring support for a two-state solution in which Palestinians and israelis live side by side in peace and security.” the UK recognised the state of israel as a homeland for Jewish people in 1950, seventy-five years ago. the UK’s support and ties with israel remain deep and steadfast, though PM starmer has made clear that the israeli government must change its current course of action in Gaza and the
West Bank. their bombardment and military offensives in Gaza have destroyed homes, schools and hospitals. No semblance of daily life as we know it remains. the refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused widespread starvation, and a man-made famine has been declared by the UN. in the West Bank, expansion of illegal settlements continues. the viability of a twostate solution is at a tipping point. Yet, it is the only path to justice for Palestinians and enduring security for israel – the only way out of the cycle of violence and suffering. there are no other options on the table. recognition of Palestine is not recognition or reward for the brutal terrorist organisation that is hamas. the UK proscribes hamas as a terrorist group and has sanctioned hamas members. hamas can have no future role in a Palestinian state and they do
not represent the Palestinian people. Elections last took place in Gaza in 2006, over 19 years ago. President Abbas has committed to extensive reform and to organising new elections within a year of a ceasefire. in the immediate, the UK continues to increase humanitarian support and has evacuated the first group of sick and injured children from Gaza to the UK to be treated by the National health service (Nhs). the UK urges hamas to release immediately and unconditionally all the hostages it is still holding. PM starmer has directed action to sanction further hamas leaders in the coming weeks. the UK also calls on israel to let in desperately needed humanitarian aid and stop illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank. An immediate ceasefire is imperative. recognition alone is insufficient to change the situation on the ground, but as leaders from
The UK now joins The Bahamas, and near 150 other countries, in Palestinerecognising as a sovereign independentand state, based on the principle of self-determination.
around the world gather in New York for UN General Assembly Week, it is a powerful affirmation
of the UK’s commitment to two states – israel and Palestine – living side by side in lasting peace
and security, and marks a major step in driving forward a durable peace in the region.
British high Commissioner smita rossetti
Haiti needs a single strategy, real money, and political discipline
I return to a focus on Haiti because it is too easy for the world to discard the situation in that beleaguered country. In part, it is precisely because insufficient attention has been paid to Haiti in a holistic way that its circumstances worsen and its people continue to suffer. this assessment draws on recent reporting by the réseau national de Défense des Droits Humains (rnDDH)—“Laboderie Massacre – Internal Situation report” and “Calls to return Issued to Citizens by Armed Gangs” as well as an analysis by the Global Initiative Against transnational Organised Crime (GI-tOC), “Addressing Haiti’s escalating Crisis: From Criminal Governance to Community Fragmentation” (September 2025).
On security, the strategy in Haiti - if one exists - is fragmented and ineffective. Several separate activities, such as a Prime Minister’s task force, scattered drone projects by private contractors, and a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, do not add up to strategy. the bottom line is that there is no real security. the Haitian national Police - even with help from the MSS mission - is thin and overstretched, and results are inconsistent. Meanwhile, gangs control roads, neighbourhoods, and revenue streams. Plainly, this is criminal-style governance (a pattern documented by GI-tOC and rnDDH).
Politics is equally stuck. the transitional Presidential Council (tPC) has stalled; elections in november 2025 are not going to happen; and there is still no credible plan for the period after 7 February 2026, when the tPC mandate ends. Power plays among politicians and elites are consuming time the country does not have. every week of drift strengthens armed groups and weakens the state. Yet a workable path is available, but it must be executed as a single package, not as isolated efforts. Haitian authorities have to secure critical transport infrastructure, such as airports, ports, fuel depots, bridges, and the national road corridors. Without safe movement of goods, people, and services, every other effort fails. to achieve this, there must be an organised and funded apparatus that includes mobile response teams, clear rules of engagement, and humanitarian corridors that aid agencies can actually use. At the same time, the Haitian authorities and their international partners must cut off the arms (except to the Haitian Police) and illicit finance that keep gang structures alive. Interdiction at entry points, surveillance of organiser-financier networks, and
World View
By SIR RONALD SANDERS
real-time financial intelligence must be routine. uS sanctions on gang leaders and enablers should be matched with seizures, arrests, and prosecutions so the cost of doing business rises for organisers and financiers, not just street enforcers. Justice institutions must prioritise prosecution of those persons behind the networks that procure, launder, and shield criminal enterprise. If the logistics and money persons remain untouched, gangs regenerate. We know these things to be true, but too little is done.
Finally, the un, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CArICOM) should act from one plan that incorporates security, humanitarian relief, governance transition, and economic measures. that plan must include a clear transition architecture for the period after February 2026 that avoids a governance vacuum (already within Haiti, influential groups are crying out for action on this). the OAS Secretary General’s Haitian-Led roadmap provides the framework; what’s missing is one budgeted operational plan, a unified Security Council mandate, and a funded un instrument to run it. While a un trust fund for the MSS mission already exists, it is voluntary and insufficiently capitalised; the united nations should therefore operationalise
one Haiti Fund that is transparent, audited, and tied to results across the whole plan. this approach will cost money and requires sustained attention. However, we should remind ourselves that un-coordinated appeals for Haiti drew roughly two-thirds of a billion dollars from 2023 to 2025; it is far less than what Sudan’s war, the Gaza crisis, or ukraine’s war receive in a single year. the fund should be financed in particular by the united States and France, joined by other states that have benefited from their involvement with Haiti, its labour and its markets. this is not charity; it is responsibility. Disbursements for projects in Haiti should be linked to concrete milestones: keeping open essential corridors for the movement of people, goods, and humanitarian aid; stopping extortion on national routes; seizing arms and cash connected to criminal networks; reopening schools and health-care centres in secured zones; and completing agreed steps toward the post-February 2026 transition on schedule.
the un Security Council’s veto-holding members must back a single, coherent strategy. no mixed signals, no competing mandates, and no symbolic resolutions that excuse meaningful action. Mandates, money, and operational support need to line up behind the unified plan. If the Council will not support a plan that
can actually be executed, it should say so plainly and accept the consequences. Also, external support without internal discipline will fail. Haitian political and economic actors need
to stop manoeuvring for advantage while the state erodes. the country needs one focused government with a limited, public programme: restore security along lifelines; stabilise
essential services; support justice operations against organiser-financier networks; and set a realistic timeline for elections when minimum security conditions exist. Anything else invites more violence and deeper collapse. the Haitian people have been promised a lot, but their situation has worsened. the next phase must be different: one integrated security design; one transition path; one financing vehicle; and one set of performance measures. Haitian authorities must own the plan by showing that they have the capacity to act in their nation’s interest; international partners must support it; and the Security Council must stop treating Haiti as an inconvenient intrusion. If action is not taken now, the Haitian state will contract further and armed groups will expand, with spillovers across the Caribbean and the Americas in migration, security and human suffering.
• The author is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the OAS, and Dean of the OAS Ambassadors accredited to the OAS. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com.
PeoPle displaced by gang violence live at the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications office converted into a shelter in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Photo: odelyn Joseph/AP
Power of our vote: Our call to action
By TERRY MILLER
WE live in a strange political paradox — a nation that sings the hymns of democracy while often marching to the drumbeat of autocracy. We speak of power belonging to the people, yet in practice, that power feels rationed, doled out to us in five-year intervals.
Picture this: I hire a gardener to tend my nursery. Day after day, plants wither, weeds take over, and growth stalls. After a few serious conversations, if nothing changes, I let him go. Not because I enjoy firing people — but because the health of my garden demands it. More importantly, I can. The power to decide who tends my garden is mine.
But in the garden of national life, we have entrusted men and women with the care of our collective wealth — human, natural, and financial — and then locked ourselves out of the gate. We must watch from the sidelines as the weeds grow, the soil erodes, and the harvest dwindles, powerless to intervene until the next election cycle.
This is not democracy in its truest form. True democracy is living, breathing,
responsive — a system of government that remains of the people, by the people, and for the people, not merely once every five
years, but every single day.
The flaws in our ‘democracy’ Our version of democracy has critical gaps.
True democracy is living, breathing, responsive — a system of government that remains of the people, by the people, and for the people, not merely once every five years, but every single day.
must confront these issues honestly and transparently.
When democracy fails, violence fills the gap
When democracy is weakened — when corruption is tolerated, when transparency is optional, when citizens feel voiceless — the cracks in society widen. And through those cracks, crime and violence creep in.
Political parties are still not legally required to register, disclose their sources of funding, or account for how that money is spent. This leaves fertile ground for corruption.
At the funeral of Edward St George in 2004, Sir Jack Hayward admitted that the Grand Bahama Port Authority “hedges its bets” by donating to both political parties. When corporations feel comfortable hedging their bets – in essence paying both sides – they know that whoever wins will support their initiatives and grant their requested concessions.
This is the danger: when there are no laws regulating campaign finance, no Freedom of Information Act(with teeth), and no transparency in government spending, corporate funders often pull the strings and ordinary Bahamians are left standing on the sidelines wondering what happened.
Bahamians see this and feel powerless, disrespected, and even develop a kind of quiet self-loathing. This disempowerment breeds corruption at every level — from the citizen who feels justified in cutting corners, to the rise in theft, fraud, and violence. If we are serious about bringing peace to this country, we
Think about it: when people lose faith that the system works for them, they stop playing by its rules. When government contracts are awarded behind closed doors, when foreign corporations leapfrog Bahamian entrepreneurs, when political financiers call the shots — ordinary citizens feel cheated, humiliated, and angry.
That anger does not stay contained. It festers. It turns into a quiet rebellion — one that shows itself in small acts of dishonesty, in tax evasion, in cutting corners. Over time, it erupts in bigger ways: theft, fraud, gang activity, even murder.
Corruption is not just a “political issue”. It is a public safety issue. Every time a bribe goes unpunished, every time justice is delayed for the wealthy but swift for the poor, every time a citizen sees that money or connections matter more than merit — respect for the rule of law erodes. And when respect for the law is gone, so too is the restraint that keeps violence at bay.
Democracies under siege Worldwide, there are now 91 autocracies and 88 democracies — and of those democracies, only 29 are considered “full” democracies. Worse, 72 percent of the world’s population lives under some form of autocratic rule.
The Bahamas, though a relatively strong
democracy, does not qualify as a “full democracy”. Corruption, limited judicial independence, lack of campaign-finance regulation, and no robust Freedom of Information Act hold us back.
The sobering truth is this: many democracies have failed to create an environment where the majority of citizens feel genuinely served. Our powers as the electorate
This article is directed to the electorate of The Bahamas. We, the people, must be vigilant in guarding our borders, our cultural heritage, and our fragile democracy.
As election season approaches, let us recognise our power:
1. To choose the governing party.
2. To demand clear, specific policies in party manifestos.
3. To insist — through civic pressure — on:
• Accountability and transparency
• The removal of corrupt or ineffective officials
• Electoral reform and fair processes
• Freedom of Information laws and real access to public records
• Empowerment of independent watchdog organisations.
Let us not just passively accept party manifestos. Let us shape them. Let us hold our leaders accountable to the promises they make.
And let us ask ourselves the hard question: if you hired someone to do a job, and three years later all they gave you were excuses and reports — but the job was still undone — what would you do?
Democracy gives us the power to choose, to act, and to correct course. This election season, let us use that power.
Valden Fernander Donnie Albury
Main Bamboo St. (Golden Gates) before Mars Road
Tanzania Boulevard near Gerald Cash Primary School
Pothole fixed on East Street in front of ‘Melissa Sears Fashions’ Store
Cox Way & William Terrance off East St.
Pothole located on St. Bart’s Road near Golden Gates
Misty Garden Close by Marshall Rd.
Crisis Centre reveals ‘very upsetting’ surge in child sexual abuse cases
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
A SURGE in child sex abuse has seen 180 referrals, some as young as just two years old, over the past 11 months, the Bahamas Crisis Centre has revealed.
The alarming increase is straining the justice system and overwhelming social services, warned director Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson.
Disclosing the figures during the Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Exhibition at the Mall at Marathon on Friday, she said child sexual abuse is now being reported almost weekly.
She blasted the longstanding court delays, saying it is “unacceptable” for child victims to wait three to five years for their cases to reach trial.
She said the surge was “very upsetting”, adding: “You see the reports in the news, you see the reports [in the courts]. You can imagine the backlog is going to happen now, with these children coming.”
Social Services Minister Myles Laroda said his ministry has “its hands full” dealing with a “constant influx of complaints”.
Although experts highlight a surge in children being referred over the last year, he said there was an alarmingly low level of reporting and many cases collapse because families refuse to come forward.
“There seems to be, in some cases reluctance of family members to come out and give evidence against the accused,” Mr Laroda said. “So it could be a variety of reasons why these cases are not
prosecuted, because you’re going to need a victim and you’re going to need witnesses to come out and give information.”
He noted that many cases involve family members as perpetrators and, in some instances, repeat offenders.
Dr Dean-Patterson urged reforms to make the justice system more “childfriendly”, including clear timelines for when children must testify and measures to reduce how often they repeat their stories. She said videotaped testimony, already used in other countries, could ease the trauma but must be discussed with the judiciary.
As part of the ongoing campaign, she said efforts over the next six months will focus on finding ways to make the system more supportive and less damaging for children.
A displAy highlights the increase of child abuse cases in the country at the Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Exhibition at the Mall at Marathon on Friday. Photos: Earyel Bowleg/Tribune Staff Reporter
40th Annual International Coastal Cleanup
Dolphin Encounters organised the 40th anniversary of the International Coastal Cleanup, drawing volunteers from across the community to take part in protecting the nation’s beaches and marine life on Saturday. Participants removed litter and debris from coastal areas, while also raising awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship and ocean conservation. The event highlighted four decades of global efforts to keep waterways clean and demonstrated the impact that collective action can have on preserving marine ecosystems for future generations. Photos: Dante Carrer/tribune Staff
