CARS! CARS!
PUZZLER
WEDNESDAY
HIGH 80ºF LOW 70ºF
The Tribune L AT E S T
N E W S
CLASSIFIEDS TRADER
O N
T R I B U N E 2 4 2 . C O M
Biggest And Best!
Volume: 123 No. 208, Wednesday, September 23, 2026
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1
SLAIN PRIMARY TEACHER ‘MURDERED BY HUSBAND’ Family: ‘We just hope for swift, swift justice’ as charges brought By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was accused yesterday of plotting the kidnapping and murder of his wife, primary school teacher Jillian Pinder, as her grieving relatives packed a courtroom and said they felt some relief that charges had finally been brought more than three months after her abduction. “It was a bit of relief just seeing that he was charged,” Pinder’s brother, Jason Rahming, said outside
SKYLA LIGHTBOURNE
court. “And we just hope for swift, swift justice.” George Pinder, 62, and Lenardo Farrington, 44, are accused of conspiring to cause Pinder’s death on June 4. Farrington is accused of kidnapping Pinder from her Lake Cunningham home that day. Both men face murder charges, while Pinder was additionally charged with abetment to murder. Pinder, a 56-year-old mother of two and teacher HUSBAND - SEE PAGE TWO
George Pinder (left), husband of slain teacher Jillian Pinder (right), was charged with plotting her kidnapping and murder in court yesterday.
COURT ORDERS EVALUATION FOR WOMAN IN DOG ATTACK CASE
Gardiner opts for March trial with co-defendants
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A 73-YEAR-OLD woman accused of allowing a dog to maul a three-yearold girl was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation after she was unable to give her name when asked in court.
Rachel Morley, 73, and her son Clifton “Cliffy” Morley, 51, are accused of allowing their dangerous Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd to escape from their Ida Street property and attack the child on September 9. The girl suffered head ATTACK - SEE PAGE FIVE
ERIC GARDINER
JONATHAN Eric Gardiner, the convicted Bahamian drug trafficker, has opted to stand trial alongside his co-defendants on March 1, 2027, while seeking another 60 days to file pretrial motions.
The decision means Gardiner will not pursue an earlier trial date, resolving the issue that prompted a status conference scheduled for September 23. In a September 21 filing, his attorney, Susy Ribero-Ayala, asked the court to adjourn that conference TRIAL - SEE PAGE THREE
Lightning strike sparks fire, leads to widespread BPL outages By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A LIGHTNING strike sparked a fire at a transformer serving Bahamas Power and Light’s rental generation plant at Blue Hills early Tuesday, knocking generating units offline and triggering power outages across New Providence. The blaze, which caused extensive damage to the 25 MVA
transformer, broke out shortly after 5.30am during a storm and was confined to the southwestern section of the Blue Hills Power Station. BPL Station Manager Kennard Whyms said the lightning strike hit equipment associated with the Aggreko rental plant and created a fault that caused other generating units then carrying load to trip offline. FIRE - SEE PAGE TWO
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SCREEN capture of fire at the BPL Blue Hills substation yesterday.
PAGE 2, Wednesday, September 23, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Two charged with murder of teacher Jillian Pinder HUSBAND from page one at TG Glover Primary School, died on July 13, more than a month after she was allegedly abducted and stabbed in the throat. Two men allegedly held her at knifepoint at her home, told her that someone close to her owed them $4,000 and took her to an unknown location. She was later left in her vehicle in the Wulff Road area. Despite her injuries, Pinder managed to drive into another vehicle, whose occupants helped her. She was admitted to the intensive care unit, later discharged and then readmitted before her death. Her funeral was held in early August. Her relatives had expressed frustration with police in the months after the kidnapping over the length of time it took for charges to be brought. Mr Rahming described
his sister as the most beautiful person he had ever met and said she did not deserve what happened to her. He said the tragedy had left him feeling empty and that his grief was difficult to put into words. Mrs Pinder’s cousin, Kaliah Sutherland, said the family was standing together and seeking justice for her. “As I sat by my cousin’s bedside, I told her, ‘you have to get up, you have to tell us who did this to you’,” Ms Sutherland said, “and we thank God that justice is being served. It’s been so swift. We can’t bring her back, but we know that whoever is responsible will be held before the courts.” Pinder was unconscious in hospital and unable to tell her cousin who attacked her, but Ms Sutherland said she was trusting that authorities had identified the right suspects. Pinder and Farrington appeared calm and well-kept during their
GEORGE PINDER arraignment before Assistant Chief Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux. Both wore white shirts. The courtroom was packed with Pinder’s colleagues, friends and
JILLIAN Pinder’s cousin, Kaliah Sutherland, speaks with reporters outside court yesterday.
relatives. Some female relatives appeared teary-eyed during the proceedings. The accused were not required to enter pleas. They were informed that the matter would proceed
JILLIAN PINDER to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment and were told of their right to apply for bail in the higher court. Both men were remanded to the Bahamas
Department of Correctional Services until service of the voluntary bill of indictment on January 25, 2027. Bjorn Ferguson represented Pinder.
JILLIAN Pinder’s brother, Jason Rahming, speaks with reporters outside court yesterday.
Widespread New Providence outages Triggered by BPL transformer fire FIRE from page one “One of the isolators is burnt,” Mr Whyms said. “That’s exactly where we think the lightning strike occurred.” He said the strike damaged the transformer and pointed to a nearby pole that was still smouldering after firefighters extinguished the blaze. “When the lightning strike occurred,” he said, “it actually created a fault on the system at the plant, causing the other units that were on load to come off load.” Mr Whyms said BPL was working to return the units to service and stabilise the system. The company said it had restored all affected areas by 9am Tuesday. BPL had initially advised customers that restoration was expected by noon or earlier. Fire Services said it was alerted to an electrical fire shortly before 6am and dispatched two fire engines to the power station. Firefighters found the blaze confined to the transformer and brought it under control, but the equipment sustained extensive damage. Preliminary information given to Fire Services indicated that a private electrical company manages the transformer. The company’s site manager told investigators he suspected a lightning strike caused the fire. BPL footage from the scene showed the aftermath of the blaze, including blackened and melted material, debris and severely charred wiring. It was explained that the lightning strike caused oil inside the transformer to heat and boil, forcing oil through a leaking valve. The outage disrupted electricity supplies across numerous parts of New Providence and also affected some schools.
SCREEN capture of fire at the BPL Blue Hills substation yesterday. Education Minister Chester Cooper said schools opened Tuesday morning despite several being without electricity and others dealing with flooding concerns. He said school officials would make decisions based on conditions at individual campuses, with safety taking priority. “We teach resilience,” he said, “and we don’t allow a a spry of rain or electricity being off in one area to stop the show.” The fire and outages also prompted renewed criticism from the Free National Movement over the resilience of New Providence’s electricity system. FNM Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright acknowledged that the government could not control the weather but questioned whether sufficient protections and backup systems were in place to prevent a lightning strike from causing such widespread disruption. “Thunderstorms and lightning strikes are foreseeable realities in The Bahamas — not rare or unimaginable events,” Mr Cartwright said. He called for answers about the condition of lightning-protection and surge-suppression systems at Blue Hills, the level of
redundancy in the transmission network and what infrastructure upgrades would follow the incident. “The government must now present a comprehensive power-resilience strategy that includes modern lightning-protection systems, stronger transmission safeguards, adequate redundancy, rapid-response protocols and transparent reporting following every major outage,” he said. Mr Cartwright said outages carry consequences beyond inconvenience, pointing to risks to food and medication, lost revenue for businesses, disrupted essential services and dangers for people who rely on electrically powered medical equipment. “A lightning strike may be an act of nature,” he said. “A fragile grid without sufficient protection, redundancy and resilience is a failure of planning.” The outage also sparked frustration on social media, where residents complained about BPL’s reliability and repeated disruptions during bad weather. One wrote on X: “Lightning strikes all over the damn world, but BPL seems to be the only power company who friggen blows up every time there’s an inkling of a thunderstorm.”
Gardiner seeks another 60 days to file pretrial motions
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, PAGE 3
TRIAL from page one and extend the deadline for pretrial motions from October 2 to December 1. It is Gardiner’s second request for more time to file pretrial motions. The original deadline was September 11 before the court granted an extension to October 2. Mrs Ribero-Ayala said the September 23 conference was intended to determine whether Gardiner would stand trial with his co-defendants or seek an earlier date. After consulting with counsel, Gardiner elected to proceed with the March 1 trial, she said. Mrs Ribero-Ayala argued that the issue requiring the conference had therefore been resolved and asked the court to adjourn it if Gardiner’s decision could be accepted through the filing.
ERIC GARDINER “Defendant recognises, however, that the court
may wish to conduct the September 23 conference
as scheduled, including to address Mr Gardiner directly concerning his election. Counsel and Mr Gardiner will therefore appear on September 23 unless otherwise directed by the court,” the filing said. The defence is also seeking additional time to review discovery and the procedural history of the case, investigate the allegations against Gardiner, determine which pretrial motions are warranted and prepare its responses. Mrs Ribero-Ayala said prosecutors agreed to another 30-day extension but opposed any further delay, arguing there was no valid basis for the additional time and that a later deadline could fall too close to the March trial. She argued that the requested extension would serve the interests of justice by allowing the defence to continue reviewing
discovery, investigating the allegations and preparing any necessary pretrial motions, outweighing the public’s interest in a speedy trial. The filing comes more than a month after Gardiner was hit with a separate federal indictment in Georgia accusing him of supplying massive quantities of cocaine from The Bahamas to drug trafficking organisations in the United States. That case is separate from the New York prosecution, where Gardiner pleaded not guilty in June to cocaine importation conspiracy and firearms-related charges. His arrest followed an extraordinary chain of events on May 12, when a private aircraft carrying him and ten other people crashed in the Atlantic during a flight from Abaco to Grand Bahama. All 11 people survived and were
rescued by the US Coast Guard. US authorities said Gardiner was carrying $30,000 in Bahamian currency when he was rescued. His attorneys later produced a bank slip which they said showed that $20,000 had been withdrawn from an account belonging to Top Notch Builders, the company Gardiner described in court filings as his business. The company has been linked to major government construction projects in The Bahamas, including the Eight Mile Rock administrative complex and the Carmichael Village affordable housing development. Gardiner previously served a lengthy federal prison sentence in the United States after being convicted of cocaine importation offences nearly two decades ago.
Dialysis patients now face surgery LIGHTBOURNE SAYS DAVEY’S CREEK BRIDGE delays after GB surgeon’s departure COULD BE FINISHED WITHIN NEXT FEW WEEKS By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
FNM CHAIRMAN DR DUANE SANDS By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AT least eight dialysis patients in Grand Bahama are waiting for surgery needed to maintain access for treatment, with some forced to travel to New Providence because there is no longer a surgeon at Rand Memorial Hospital performing the procedure. Dr Duane Sands, who provided dialysis access surgery in Grand Bahama for more than 15 years before resigning from the public healthcare system prior to the May general election, said the backlog may be larger and warned that patients are in urgent need of the procedure. “It has not been this bad in more than a decade,” Dr Sands said. Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville acknowledged that sending patients to New Providence after Dr Sands’ departure resulted in delays, but said the Public Hospitals Authority is finalising arrangements for a vascular surgeon to travel to Grand Bahama and perform the procedures at Rand. He said the chief of surgery at Princess Margaret Hospital is in discussions with a vascular surgeon to spend one day in Grand Bahama addressing the backlog rather than requiring patients to travel to New Providence. “We feel to save the patient from traveling into
Nassau,” Dr Darville said, “plans are being made for a vascular surgeon to operate and provide the services in Grand Bahama at the Rand Memorial Hospital.” He said the arrangements are close to being finalised and expected the service to resume soon. “I don't want to give an exact date yet,” Dr Darville said, “but to my understanding that service should be in place before the end of the month.” Dr Sands said at least eight patients, and possibly more, currently need dialysis access surgery. He said Grand Bahama patients had previously been able to receive the procedure locally rather than travelling to New Providence. “We created a legitimate expectation that persons on dialysis in Grand Bahama do not have to travel to New Providence anymore,” Dr Sands said. “They can get their access surgery done in Grand Bahama. That unfortunately is no more. Dr Sands said patients now either have to go without the procedure or travel to an overcrowded Princess Margaret Hospital, where they may wait weeks or months. Dr Darville said the service had not been neglected after Dr Sands resigned. He said patients continued to be referred between nephrology services and a vascular surgeon in New Providence. “Sands used to cover the
service,” Dr Darville said. “When he subsequently resigned, the cases were referred to Nassau between nephrology and the vascular surgeon in Nassau.” He said patients received treatment in New Providence once referred in a timely fashion. Dr Sands said dialysis access is essential for patients to receive adequate treatment. “In order for people to be adequately dialyzed,” he said, “they have to have a functioning either catheter or a functioning connection between their arteries and their veins.” He described maintaining that access as a surgical specialty and said The Bahamas’ high rate of renal failure had made timely treatment challenging. “It has been a challenge for The Bahamas given the incredibly high rate of renal failure to service these patients in a timely fashion, so they avoid infections or other complications,” Dr Sands said. He warned that the consequences of losing dialysis access can be fatal. “A lack of dialysis access can mean death,” Dr Sands said, “and has meant death for some patients.” He said the situation requires urgent attention from the PHA and Ministry of Health and Wellness. “This situation is critical and requires urgent attention,” Dr Sands said.
THE Davey’s Creek Bridge project in Lowe Sound, North Andros, is expected to be completed within the next few weeks, according to North Andros MP Leonardo Lightbourne, as residents continue to await a resolution to a long-standing transportation issue. Mr Lightbourne said he recently spoke with contractor Stephon Knowles, who assured him that the project should be completed within three weeks. “I had the opportunity to speak to the contractor, Mr Stephon Knowles, a few weeks ago, who assured me that within three weeks, and less than a month, the project should be completed under Davey’s Creek Bridge. However, this bridge has been a long-standing issue in the settlement of Lowe Sound North Andros, and we're happy to see now that it's ongoing and it's on the way to completion,” he said yesterday outside of
the Office of the Prime Minister. The MP said the bridge is important to residents who rely on the crossing to travel to work and for other daily transportation needs. “As far as the residents goes, we all have the same goal to see that it's completed. However, some of the locals have been engaging in the local work aspect of the bridge. Some other Bahamians have also been on the island from New Providence and various Family Islands, so it's an ongoing project, and I'm happy that the government sees that it's essential for those passages and those residents in those areas to get back and forth to work and for other means of transportation.” The expected completion of the Davey’s Creek project comes as Andros faces renewed concerns over the condition and reliability of its bridges. In Central Andros, the Fresh Creek Bridge was closed in August after engineers found serious structural problems, including a sunken intermediate
pier that shifted weight onto other supports. Officials said three bridge slabs had also sunk by roughly nine inches, forcing the government to close the crossing and arrange temporary transportation for residents. The Fresh Creek Bridge has been a long-standing concern for residents. In 2023, the Ministry of Works said the single-lane bridge was more than 50 years old, was in poor condition and had a 10-ton weight limit. Residents also raised concerns about its narrow width, lack of sidewalks and clearance for vessels. The Stafford Creek Bridge has also previously been identified as an infrastructure concern. Government officials had said its condition was similar to that of the Fresh Creek Bridge, while the road approaching the Stafford Creek crossing had curves on either side that created safety concerns for motorists. Plans presented in 2023 included replacing the Stafford Creek Bridge with a new two-lane structure.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, September 23, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Davis: 8.2m could face climate displacement PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis warned that as many as 8.2 million people across the Greater Caribbean could be displaced by climate change by 2050, calling for greater adaptation financing to help vulnerable communities remain in their homelands. Speaking at the Rising Nations Gala Dinner on Monday, Mr Davis said climate mobility represented the human consequences of a crisis confronting small island states and argued that countries should not be forced to depend on good fortune to escape increasingly severe climate threats. “Our people do not want to leave,” Mr Davis said. “So, protect their right to stay, with adaptation finance that is larger, faster, and placed in the hands of communities themselves.” He said those unable to relocate, including poor and rural communities and women, should not be left exposed, while people forced to move should be
PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis speaks during the Rising Nations Gala Dinner on Monday. Photos: OPM able to do so with their rights, dignity and culture protected. Mr Davis framed the appeal against the backdrop of an unusually
quiet Atlantic hurricane season so far, contrasting conditions in the region with destructive storms elsewhere. “The hurricane season
is not over and to date we have been spared,” Mr Davis said. “Others have not.” He invoked Hurricane Dorian, which devastated
Abaco and Grand Bahama in 2019, as an example of the vulnerability confronting small island states. “That is life in a small island state,” Mr Davis said. “We do not decide whether our year is kind or cruel. We wait to learn whose turn it is.” He argued that countries should not regard disasters elsewhere as somebody else’s problem, saying climate threats transcend national borders. “No nation’s survival should depend on luck,” Mr Davis said. “And no nation should take comfort in a mercy that is paid for by someone else’s suffering.” Mr Davis said geopolitical fragmentation and countries turning inward risk undermining the collective response required to confront climate change. He called for international commitments on climate mobility to translate into practical support, particularly financing that reaches communities
directly and helps people remain where they live. Mr Davis also expressed support for the Rising Nations Institute and the Communities Climate Adaptation Facility, which focus on the challenges facing states threatened by climate change and displacement. He pointed to Tuvalu as an example of a country confronting existential threats from rising seas, arguing that nationhood extends beyond physical territory. “Tuvalu has taught the world that a nation is more than its coastline,” Mr Davis said. “It is its people, its memory, and its right to endure.” Mr Davis closed by stressing solidarity between vulnerable island states in different regions. “One day the Atlantic will wake again,” he said. “When it does, let it find a world that did not look away.”
Bastian: Small states must help shape global AI INNOVATION and National Development Minister Sebastian Bastian has called for small island states to be included from the outset in global artificial intelligence and disaster-resilience initiatives, warning that access to rapidly advancing technology will mean little without the capacity to use and sustain it. Mr Bastian made the case in New York on Monday during two highlevel discussions held alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he represented The Bahamas in talks on artificial intelligence, disaster resilience and development financing. He was the sole Member State representative on the United Nations Digital Cooperation Day panel, Technology at the Frontlines of Disaster Resilience, joining representatives from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Google DeepMind and GSMA, among others. Drawing on The Bahamas’ vulnerability to hurricanes, Mr Bastian argued that emerging technologies should be judged by whether they help countries protect people, make better decisions and
recover more quickly after disasters. “The question for us is not whether the technology exists,” Mr Bastian said. “It is whether small states can access it, build the local capacity to apply it to our own realities, and rely on it when our people need it most.” He said small island developing states should be involved in the design of global AI and resilience initiatives rather than being included only after solutions have already been developed. Mr Bastian called for advances in forecasting, satellite imagery, risk mapping and early-warning systems to become more accessible to small states, with countries also given the capacity to deploy and maintain them over time. He also advocated stronger regional cooperation that would allow Caribbean countries to pool technical expertise and resources while retaining national control over critical decisions and accountability. Mr Bastian separately represented The Bahamas at the IDB Group Presidential Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence, a closed-door discussion
involving leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean and the technology sector. There, he pressed for development financing to focus not only on adopting technology but also on building the skills needed for people in developing countries to adapt and create it. “We have spent significant resources helping countries adopt technology,” Mr Bastian said. “We now have to be equally ambitious about building the people who can shape what comes next.” He said greater development funding should be directed towards skills and capacity building so citizens of small and developing states can participate in the digital economy as creators and innovators rather than primarily as consumers of technology developed elsewhere. “For countries like The Bahamas, success cannot simply mean using the technology,” Mr Bastian said. “It has to mean developing Bahamians with the skills to adapt it, build with it and create solutions of their own.” The minister said the engagements were intended to help move The Bahamas’ participation at
INNOVATION and National Development Minister Sebastian Bastian speaks at a high-level discussion at bthe 81st United Nations General Assembly. UNGA beyond discussion towards partnerships, technical expertise, investment and knowledge transfer. He said the country was building on relationships developed during the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance earlier this year and wanted to accelerate work already underway in digital government, artificial
intelligence, cybersecurity and future skills. Mr Bastian also said he would use the week to press for the interests of small island developing states to be considered as global approaches to AI and digital governance take shape. He is part of the Bahamian delegation led by Prime Minister Philip
Davis, whose UNGA programme includes bilateral diplomacy, climate action, small-state advocacy, technology, artificial intelligence, national security, investment and development. Prime Minister Davis is scheduled to deliver The Bahamas’ national statement to the General Assembly on Friday.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, PAGE 5
73-year-old unable to give name during court appearance ATTACK from page one injuries that required surgery. Clifton Morley pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Abigail Farrington to being a person who keeps a dangerous dog which injured a person while dangerously out of control in a public place and failing to keep a dangerous dog under control. However, Ms Morley was not required to enter a plea after she failed to give her name when the magistrate asked her to identify herself. Her son offered to give her name on her behalf, but Magistrate Farrington refused. The magistrate ordered Ms Morley to undergo a psychological evaluation at a public hospital while on release and directed
her family to ensure she attends. She could be remanded if she does not complete the evaluation. Ms Morley’s nephew, Charlton Morley, previously said the family had told police that she has early-stage dementia and Alzheimer’s and blamed her alleged condition for her leaving the property’s gate open, allowing the dog to escape. He also questioned why police took his aunt to the Wulff Road Police Station for questioning without a relative or attorney present, claiming officers knew she was not mentally coherent. Mr Morley said his aunt does not understand the significance of what happened. The family does not dispute that the dog escaped from the Ida Street property and
attacked the child. Mr Morley said the property has an enclosed gate, a six-foot fence topped with barbed wire and a lock on the gate. He argued that relatives could not realistically supervise his aunt at all times. Charlton Morley was granted $5,000 bail with one or two sureties and ordered to sign in at the Nassau Street Police Station by 7pm on the last Sunday of every month. Mr Morley is expected to return to court today to be arraigned on further charges after leaving court early because of medical issues. The defendants are due to stand trial on January 26, 2027. Reserve Inspector Deveaux prosecuted the case.
SKYLA LIGHTBOURNE
Woman awarded $4,750 after being mauled by two pit bulls By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net A WOMAN mauled by two pit bulls after entering a Finlayson Street property to buy breakfast was awarded $4,750 after a magistrate found the dogs’ owner failed to take reasonable precautions to protect people entering the premises. Acting Stipendiary and Circuit Magistrate Jonathan Deal found Shareid Lawson liable in negligence and under section 53 of the Animal Protection and Control Act, 2010, following a July 15 trial. The judgment was delivered on September 22. Deborah Bastian was attacked on December 28, 2023, after she and then co-worker Tiffany Nesbitt went to a breakfast business operated by Lawson’s mother at the Finlayson Street property. Mrs Bastian, who worked as a housekeeper at the Fleming Street clinic, said a doctor there had asked her to buy breakfast for him. It was the first time Mrs Bastian and Ms Nesbitt had gone to the business, and they needed directions from people in the area. The breakfast operation was closed for the Christmas holidays when they arrived. Its closure had been publicised on WhatsApp, the usual customer entrance was padlocked, and a vehicle was parked in front. However, Magistrate Deal found that the women entered through a smaller residential gate secured by a sliding bolt that could be opened from outside. He was not satisfied that closed signs were present or sufficiently visible from the entrance and rejected evidence that “beware of dogs” signs were posted near the gate. Mrs Bastian and Ms Nesbitt entered the yard,
FILE Photo of a pit bull. knocked on the front door and called out before moving towards the side of the property, where two unrestrained pit bulls owned and kept by Lawson were located. There was no physical barrier separating visitors from the dogs. According to the judgment, the dogs chased both women as they tried to leave. Ms Nesbitt escaped, but the gate closed behind her, leaving Mrs Bastian trapped inside. Lawson’s sister, Sharvine Williams, arrived and attempted to restrain both dogs by their collars. Mrs Bastian tried to run from the yard, but the dogs broke free from Ms Williams and attacked her after she tripped and fell while attempting to escape. The court found that one dog bit Mrs Bastian’s leg, causing a puncture wound to her thigh, while she suffered another puncture wound to her scalp when one of the animals tugged at her braids. A neighbour eventually helped remove the dogs. Mrs Bastian was taken to the Fleming Street clinic, then transferred to hospital for further treatment. Ms Williams maintained that warning signs
were posted and said Mrs Bastian had been told to remain still while she restrained the dogs. A neighbour also testified that he tried to warn the women that the breakfast operation was closed before they entered the property. Magistrate Deal found, however, that the women probably did not hear him. The defence argued that Mrs Bastian was trespassing because she entered through the residential gate while the business was closed. Magistrate Deal rejected that argument, finding that she entered for the purpose of buying breakfast and had an implied licence to approach the residence to communicate with its occupants. He also found that the unlocked entrance and absence of signs indicating that members of the public were prohibited from entering undermined the trespassing argument. The magistrate acknowledged that Mrs Bastian should have remained still but found that she did not deliberately provoke the dogs and had to be afforded “significant leeway in the agony of the moment”. The court found that Lawson should have
anticipated that people unfamiliar with the business’ holiday schedule might enter the property to buy breakfast. Magistrate Deal found that the dogs should have been restrained and kept away from areas accessible to visitors and that the sliding bolt alone was insufficient to prevent members of the public from entering while the animals were roaming in the yard. Mrs Bastian sought $7,830 in general damages for puncture wounds, scarring, scalp sensitivity and fear of dogs. However, the court found that no medical reports or related documents were submitted to corroborate some of those injuries. It therefore limited its findings to the puncture wounds and Mrs Bastian’s resulting fear of dogs, awarding her $4,750 for pain, suffering and loss of amenities. Mrs Bastian’s attorney, Nioshi Ferguson-Wilson, said the case underscored the need to properly secure dogs where a residence is also used as a business and members of
the public are expected to enter. “Mrs Bastian endured a horrific and terrifying attack,” the Bostwick and Bostwick attorney said. “She was chased and dashed to the ground, and while she was down two pit bulls were upon her, biting her in the thigh and head.” Mrs Bastian was also awarded $1,500 in costs, inclusive of attorney’s fees. She was represented by Bostwick and Bostwick, while Mark Penn represented Lawson. Either party may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court within seven days of its delivery. The ruling comes amid heightened scrutiny of dog ownership and enforcement following several serious attacks across The Bahamas this year. Nine-year-old American Beau Brattain suffered life-threatening injuries when several dogs attacked him in Bimini on July 28. Harrington Rolle, 34, was later sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting charges of
negligently causing grievous harm and offences involving a dangerous dog being at large. Earlier this month, three-year-old Skyla Lightbourne suffered head injuries requiring surgery after a Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix escaped from an Ida Street property and attacked her. Animal Control took custody of the dog. In Grand Bahama, 70-year-old Stephen Ferguson pleaded not guilty to negligently causing harm and permitting an animal to be at large after an 11-year-old boy was allegedly injured by a dog on September 5. His case was adjourned to February 3, 2027. The government also launched its Mission Pawssible initiative and declared a September 1 to 30 amnesty intended to bring dog owners into compliance with licensing, identification and animal-control requirements. Authorities said enforcement would intensify after the amnesty, with ticket penalties ranging from $50 to $1,000.
PAGE 6, Wednesday, September 23, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,
Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt . Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,
C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-
Published daily Monday to Friday
Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax
(242) 502-2350 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348
WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com
@tribune242
tribune news network
Building permit reform that’s worthy of applause MINISTER of Works Clay Sweeting’s plan to reduce the processing time for building permits to 60 days could be a genuine game changer for The Bahamas. For years, homeowners, contractors and major investors have complained about applications becoming trapped in a slow and uncertain approval process. Mr Sweeting acknowledged that applicants can presently wait between nine months and a year for approval. During that time, homeowners face rising construction costs, developers continue paying interest and contractors are unable to put crews to work. The proposed reforms offer a credible path out of that frustration. The Ministry of Works intends to digitise the application process so plans can be submitted online, tracked at every stage and determined within a clearly published period. Mr Sweeting has expressed the hope that a reimagined and streamlined ministry can be in place by the next Budget cycle, with the new system taking approximately a year to develop. This is precisely the kind of practical reform the country needs. A 60-day target would provide greater certainty to a Bahamian family trying to build its first home. It would help contractors plan their workforce, equipment and materials. It would also give domestic and international investors a clearer understanding of when approved projects can begin. Certainty has economic value. Every month spent waiting for a permit increases interest charges and exposes a project to changes in labour and material costs. Prolonged delays can make viable developments more expensive, discourage investment and prevent jobs from reaching the people who need them most. The proposed online system should also improve transparency. Applicants would be able to see whether architectural, structural, electrical or mechanical information remains outstanding instead of repeatedly calling government offices and receiving no clear answer. On our Family Islands is where this new reform will have its most beneficial impact. At present, plans for larger projects may have to be sent to New Providence for approval, creating additional delays for homeowners, contractors and businesses outside the capital. A properly designed digital system would allow applicants throughout the archipelago to submit and monitor their plans without depending on physical paperwork moving between islands.
Mr Sweeting also proposes allowing approved private-sector architects and engineers to sign off on plans and conduct inspections on behalf of the Ministry. This could significantly reduce the Ministry’s workload and bring valuable professional capacity into the approvals process. Importantly, the Minister has said that this will not mean lowering standards. The Ministry would retain its auditing authority and intervene where requirements are not met. That balance is essential. Speed must never come at the expense of structural safety, environmental requirements or the integrity of the Building Code. Private professionals authorised to conduct inspections must be properly licensed, adequately insured and held accountable for their decisions. The Ministry should conduct regular audits, publish disciplinary procedures and remove any professional who approves unsafe or non-compliant work. The near completion of revisions to the Bahamas Building Code should support these reforms. A modern permit system must operate alongside modern standards, particularly in a country exposed to hurricanes, flooding and other climate-related risks. Minister Sweeting deserves credit for confronting a problem that has frustrated Bahamians and impeded development for far too long. The next step should be a detailed implementation plan setting out the required legislation, technology, staffing and training. The public should also be told when the 60-day clock begins, what happens if an application is incomplete and how delays can be appealed. Performance information should eventually be published showing the number of applications received, the average processing time and how many decisions meet the 60-day target. This would allow the public to measure the reform by results rather than announcements. The proposal is ambitious, but it is also practical and achievable. If delivered properly, it will make home building easier, strengthen the construction industry, encourage investment and create jobs throughout The Bahamas. Minister Sweeting should be commended for this proactive push. He has identified an obstacle to national development and offered a sensible solution. The challenge now is to turn that welcome vision into a dependable service that works within 60 days— not only occasionally, but as the new national standard.
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
The King’s visit and a conversation worth having EDITOR, The Tribune. THE forthcoming visit of His Majesty the King will inevitably revive discussion about slavery, colonialism and reparations. Much of that discussion will be ideological, but a serious legal and historical question deserves more close consideration. Slavery was fundamentally a legal construct. One human being could exercise the incidents of ownership over another only because a legal system recognised and enforced that relationship. That makes the British position particularly interesting. England never established slavery as a legal institution by positive law. In Somerset v Stewart 1772, Lord Mansfield stated the essential principle. Slavery was so odious that only positive law could support it. England had no such law. Somerset could not lawfully be detained and removed from England for sale as a slave. Parliament thereafter enacted no such law. This was also a period in which legal and moral opposition to slavery was growing within Britain. Yet Britain permitted precisely the opposite legal regime in its colonies. Throughout the British West Indies, including The Bahamas, colonial law recognised a racial system of chattel slavery. Africans and their descendants could be bought, sold, inherited and mortgaged. British and colonial interests derived extensive economic benefit from that system. Our own history provides a remarkable illustration. A persistent Bahamian story claims that Lord Rolle voluntarily freed the people enslaved on his Exuma estates and generously gave them his lands. The first part is simply not correct. The Rolle people were freed because Britain abolished slavery throughout its colonies. Lord Rolle did not emancipate them. Indeed, the records of University College London’s Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery show that Lord
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Rolle was himself a major beneficiary of the compensation scheme. Under Bahamas Claim No. 960, he received £4,333 6s 9d for 377 enslaved persons, the largest compensation award made in The Bahamas. The legacy is still visible. Lord Rolle’s formerly enslaved people took the Rolle surname after emancipation, and Rolle remains the most common surname in The Bahamas today. What is often remembered locally as a story of benevolent emancipation is therefore something quite different. The people were freed by law. Their former owner was compensated for losing his legal interest in them. This was not peculiar to Lord Rolle. It was the express policy of the British Parliament. The long title of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 described it as “An Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies, for promoting the Industry of the manumitted Slaves, and for compensating the Persons hitherto entitled to the Services of such Slaves.” Parliament authorised £20 million to compensate slave owners. This was no token payment. It represented about 40 per cent of the British Government’s annual expenditure at the time, and the Bank of England has described the financing of the scheme as an unprecedented addition to the national debt outside wartime. University College London has estimated its modern equivalent at approximately £16.5 billion. In economic terms, there is an obvious analogy with compulsory acquisition. The state extinguished legally recognised interests and compensated those whom it regarded as suffering the resulting loss. The profound difficulty, of course, is that those interests concerned other human beings. The scale matters. Britain was prepared to commit an extraordinary
amount of public money to compensate those whose legal interests in enslaved people were being extinguished. No comparable compensation was paid to the people who had actually been enslaved. The former slave owners were compensated. The formerly enslaved were not. There is no easy answer to what ought to follow from that history nearly two centuries later. The practical difficulties surrounding reparations are challenging, perhaps close to impossible in some respects. Questions arise as to legal responsibility, causation, valuation, who should pay, who should benefit and what form any remedy could sensibly take. Reasonable people can disagree on every one of those questions. But surely there is a more basic point upon which there should be considerably less disagreement. Something seriously wrong happened. A legal system permitted human beings to be treated as property because of their race, derived enormous economic benefit from that system and, when it finally ended, compensated those who had owned them rather than those who had been enslaved. Recognising that historical wrong does not, by itself, tell us what reparations should look like. It does, however, provide an honest starting point for the conversation. As we prepare to welcome the King, who is also our Head of State, his visit provides an appropriate moment to reflect on this shared history. That reflection need not diminish the warmth or respect with which we receive him. Nor should it prevent us from speaking candidly about the past. There may be no simple remedy, and reasonable people will differ on what should follow today. At the very least, however, there should be an honest acknowledgement of what occurred. TAVARES LaRODA COUNSEL & ATTORNEY Nassau, September 20, 2026.
Protocol for politicians in taking questions from media? EDITOR, The Tribune. I DO suppose that many Bahamians viewing the news clip and queries of our PM, has left much to ponder and gumption that reporters can spring an interview on the leaders of the country about matters, a recurring theme ‘government’s expenditures based on allegation, suggestive of how the money ($700 million dollars), were transacted, whether they had the lawful authority to move it around in the absence of **(a legally constituted board of directors empaneled, but you know, where was the official opposition when this began)? Well, if my mind serves me well enough, money can be taken from here, placed there based on the immediate need or urgency? I do believe that this whole question of media interaction does habits merits, demerits and I do, like many Bahamians have a major problem with the tenor in which questions were put, in particular if the ipso facto nature require certain aspects of the particulars of occurrences to be investigated by the judicial branch of the government, then bring it on. As for the official opposition, surely under its administration they have moved funds intended for a particular purpose not urgent, to a much more dire realism.
My prayer is that we move above the fray and use decency to make our views known, does leave much to be desired. I call on the Honorable PM to use the old adage; not all queries advanced were for immediate responses? A matter involving millions of dollars (public money), and where possibly litigation is being sought Sir, I am of the opinion that you just had too much to say. How about this if it were me: **I heard the complaint of opposition, I also takes under advisement the reasoning of the finance minister, outside that & with litigation pending, I yield to the Honorable High Court’s investigation the fact before, I do apologise is all that I am electing to say, thank you.**and then try to build your defence! In conclusion, it left me and I am certain many Bahamians with a sour taste in our mouths (exposed to global mockery, the Honorable PM out in the cold with no place to run), is not how we ought to manage our affairs in the global public? And if after it has all been investigated and found that the suggestion by opposition involving the government’s actions were untoward, but found to be unfounded, rather in line with generally accepted economic principles, then what? Let the
case make it through the law courts before judging our suspicions based on facts possibly in-error? There is a misnomer that the opposition party seems to have, believing that the government is the political party sworn into lead but the official opposition party is just as vital to that mix? So, when one side points the finger, what it is actually doing is pointing at itself in the face? And I hear Father God saying to me to write**He without sin first cast the stone, for they cannot it is all over their hands for they too said God Most High has done similar acts, the mouth of Jehovah has spoken.’ Lord for behold your words are forever settled in the Heavens Hallelujah to the Lamb of God. NB: media, it is never our job to judge for none of us according to Father God is able to judge and be justified and therefore, as you craft your queries I beg of you to be non-judgmental, decent and unassuming, paying the utmost respect to the legalese**a person cannot be declared guilty of anything outside of a court of law (trial), issuing its verdict, haven’t tried the evidences & decided the guilt or innocence of thrones stand accused! FRANK GILBERT Nassau, September 18, 2026.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, PAGE 7
PANETTIERE DIED FROM AN OVERDOSE Officer tells court she feared HAYDEN INVOLVING FENTANYL AFTER JUST STARTING REHAB for her life during shooting By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A POLICE officer testified that she feared for her life after a gunman opened fire near her family’s Quakoo Street home in 2022. Corporal 3333 Precious Lewis gave evidence in the attempted murder trial of Jeremy Dames, 34, before Justice Jeannine Weech Gomez. Dames faces two counts each of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Prosecutors allege Dames
attempted to kill Corporal Lewis and Superintendent Dwight Smith with a black and blue .40 calibre pistol near Quakoo Street on January 19, 2022. Corporal Lewis said she was sitting on a couch speaking with relatives when she heard someone she identified as CJ say: “Who dat?” She said she then saw the flash of gunfire through a sheer orange curtain covering a window. The shots struck the glass of a mirror inside the home. Corporal Lewis said she was scared but alerted the others that shots had been
fired. She said she climbed through a window and went outside, ending up near her father’s business, Tom’s Bar. Corporal Lewis said she saw masked suspects exchanging gunfire with another officer. She said God was with them that night because no one was killed. When defence attorney Ciji Smith-Curry asked whether she could identify the shooter, Corporal Lewis said the suspect had been wearing a mask. Davina Pinder and Gary Rolle III are prosecuting the case.
Tourist ordered to pay two officers injured while resisting arrest By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A TOURIST was ordered to pay $500 to each of two police officers she injured while resisting arrest outside the RIU Hotel on Paradise Island last week. Bria Osbourne, 33, injured Police Constable 111 Newbold and Police Constable 517 Wright while resisting arrest on September 19. She also assaulted
PC Wright and used obscene language to the annoyance of both officers. Earlier that day at the same location, Osbourne assaulted security guard David Sejour and behaved disorderly. Osbourne was charged with obscene language, disorderly behaviour, resisting arrest, two counts of causing harm and two counts of assault. She pleaded guilty to all charges before Deputy
Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville. Osbourne expressed remorse and said she was not herself at the time. She admitted that she had been heavily intoxicated that day. The magistrate ordered her to make a $500 charitable donation to each officer she injured. She was warned and discharged on the remaining charges. Inspector Cordero Farrington prosecuted the case.
Man, 45, accused of trying to undress sleeping 12-year-old girl A 45-YEAR-OLD man was arrested after allegedly breaking into an Abaco trailer home and trying to unzip a 12-yearold girl’s clothing while she was sleeping early Monday morning. Police are investigating the burglary and attempted sexual assault, which occurred shortly after 3am on Monday, September 21,
2026, on George Albury Boulevard. According to the initial police report, the girl was asleep inside the trailer home with a female relative when they were awakened by the man, who was allegedly attempting to unzip her clothing. The females recognised the man as someone known to the girl’s mother who had visited the home
earlier. They asked him to leave, and he did. The complainant later confronted the suspect about the incident, police said, and he allegedly pushed her to the ground, causing injuries. The complainant subsequently reported the matter to police, who later arrested and cautioned the 45-year-old man in connection with the incident.
Caregiver alleges sexual assault and death threat at residence A 41-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at a Soldier Road home after her employer’s boyfriend locked her inside, threatened her life and tried to stop her from escaping. The incident reportedly occurred around 9.30am on Monday at a residence on Yametto Drive, where the Haitian woman works as a caregiver for two children. According to a preliminary police report, the woman was at the residence when her employer’s boyfriend approached her. Police said the man entered the home, locked the door behind him and allegedly pushed the woman against a refrigerator before
sexually assaulting her. The woman reported that the suspect threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident. During the alleged assault, the employer’s mother arrived at the residence, prompting the suspect to force the woman into a bathroom, according to police. The woman managed to escape the residence and ran outside, but police said the suspect attempted to forcibly bring her back inside. She resisted, and during the struggle, the suspect allegedly struck her about the body before leaving the area in his vehicle.
A neighbour, who is a police officer, assisted the woman and contacted a relative to help overcome a language barrier. The woman has since received medical attention.
HAYDEN Panettiere arrives at the Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party in Los Angeles on September 20, 2007. Photo: Matt Sayles/AP By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press ACTOR Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental overdose of several drugs, including fentanyl, and had been in rehab just weeks before, according to a coroner’s report obtained by The Associated Press. Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16. Her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were at the home. A combination of fentanyl and its chemical byproduct, as well as the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam, a muscle relaxer and a drug used to treat major depression and other serious mental health disorders, was found in Panettiere’s system, according to a statement from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. Authorities found pills and powder in her apartment A more detailed report released to the AP said a senior deputy coroner who came to the Airbnb apartment to investigate Panettiere’s death found blue pressed pills and a straw on a table that would later test positive for fentanyl. A white powdery substance was found in her suitcase in a sunglasses case, according to the report. When the investigator called Panettiere’s father, he said she planned to spend her birthday five days later in Greenville, then head to Ukraine to visit her daughter. The investigator talked to two men in the apartment with Panettiere. Both names were blocked out, but police have said her boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were
with her. Panettiere was found face down, sitting with her legs crossed One of the men said he saw Panettiere putting on makeup at 10:30 a.m. the day she died. He went back to sleep and woke up to a knock at the door. Both men found Panettiere face down in a sitting position on a sofa bed with her legs crossed. He said that wasn’t unusual, but he couldn’t wake her and noticed she was deep purple. He administered two doses of Narcan and then called 911 when she didn’t respond, according to the report. The investigator wrote in her report that the man told her he didn’t know if Panettiere used any illegal drugs in the past two days, but “she was very good at hiding them.” Asked for comment on the coroner’s initial report, Kasey Kitchen, a publicist for the family, told The Associated Press that “the investigation is still ongoing and the case is complex.” Greenville Police confirmed Tuesday that their investigation into Panettiere’s death is continuing. Paramedics responded to Panettiere’s apartment last month after a 911 call and performed CPR and other advanced resuscitation efforts for more than 40 minutes before she was declared dead. The autopsy found no signs of trauma that could have contributed to her death, Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis said in a statement. Panettiere’s early fame brought success and struggle Panettiere soared to fame in the TV shows “Heroes” and “Nashville.” In her memoir “This Is Me,” released in May, Panettiere described lifelong scars from her early
fame and acknowledged being addicted to alcohol and enduring postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, Kaya, with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko in 2014. She also endured family struggles and tragedy. Her parents’ marriage was strained and eventually ended. Her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who was also an actor, died of a heart condition in 2023, at age 28. Panettiere also talked about her long relationship with Hickerson and allegations that the aspiring actor physically abused her. He was charged in 2020 with multiple counts of felony abuse, and he pleaded no contest to two counts of injuring a spouse or partner and served a short time in jail due to the case. He was sentenced to four years of probation and anger management and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Hickerson completed the terms and recently asked a judge to reduce his conviction to misdemeanors; that request was denied. In 2015, Panettiere said she was in a horrible cycle of using alcohol and drugs to battle depression and anxiety and had to find a way out of the darkness. She had also entered rehab while filming the show “Nashville.” “I was the one who put myself in the first treatment center. I was drowning,” she said in a 2023 interview with Women’s Health magazine. As a child, Panettiere acted in commercials and soap operas, including as the ever-troubled Lizzie Spaulding on “Guiding Light.” In “This Is Me,” she wrote that the traumas her character endured, from being kidnapped to killing her mother’s boyfriend, led her to associate “catastrophe with adoration.”
PAGE 8, Wednesday, September 23, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Alicia Wallace
Six hours in the dark: A guide to surviving BPL outages SUMMER is over, schools are open, and the electricity outages continue. There always seems to be an issue. From wind and rain to the heat resulting in greater demand for electricity that the grid cannot meet, the weather conditions are often not in our favor. Add to that the lightning strikes and fires, and we get this experience— complete energy insecurity. There is no telling when an outage will occur, how long it will be, or when we will be out of this hell, thanks to old infrastructure and the failure to develop and implement a plan for sustainable energy in a country with full-time sunshine. When the electricity goes off, it is not even much of a surprise. In fact, that it is not surprising, though it comes without warning, just may be the main factor that makes it upsetting. Infrequent interruptions would be more of a surprise and less of an infuriating experience because it would feel so much less like we, as consumers, do not matter. As the hours tick by, during an electricity outage, many of us ask ourselves and the people around us, often with expletives, “What are we supposed to do?” Well, here is handy guide to passing the hours of an unexpected electricity outage. Hour 1. Check all battery levels. Check your electronic devices and carefully ration the time you have to use them. Use one device to check the BPL WhatsApp channel for any updates. The estimated restoration time provided may or may not help you with the battery usage calculations. Without using your devices, make a plan
for the expected hours of no electricity. Maybe you need to check on your elderly family members. If it is during the hottest hours of the day, it may be a good idea to do a slow grocery shop, in air conditioning. What about that
one friend, with a generator, who you have not seen in a long time? It just might be a good day for a catchup. Hour 2. Commiserate. The fact is that complaining—and being met in the complaining by at least one other person—feels good,
though only for a short time. Jumping into complaint mode in the first hour is not advisable as it can go on for quite a while, distracting us from the tasks that really need our attention. It is fine to have a brief, “Well, what is this today,” in the first hour, but let some time pass before allowing yourself to get worked up. It will be all the more gratifying to verbalize the frustration after sitting in it for an hour. Hour 2. Be social by actually talking to people. When the electricity is on, we focus on what we need to get done for work. Some, of course, spend time scrolling social media. Without electricity, our activities change. You may want to lean more heavily into your digital activities, but remember that battery life does not last forever, and there is a real world with real people around you. Talk to someone. This could be an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with your partner, child, parent, coworker, or neighbor. Ask someone how they are really doing. Be specific in your question and demonstrate genuine interest in their life. Did they get that car issue sorted out? How is the first month back from maternity leave going? Did they try that recipe you sent the other day? Where did they go for vacation? Is there anything they need extra help with at school? Give someone space to share and be a good listener by letting them speak without interruption, asking follow-up questions, and expressing gratitude for their sharing. Hour 3. Stave off hunger. It is probably too hot to cook. Opening the fridge is not a good idea since you want to minimize spoilage. Distract yourself from your human needs. Consider going to sleep. If you cannot get comfortable enough to sleep, check the cupboards. There must be a ready-to-eat snack in there somewhere. If not, it is time to make a grocery list. You
must always have food items ready for electricity outages since they are happening very frequently and for hours at a time. Hour 4. Use writing tools. You may want to post a rant on Facebook, but can you give up that much battery life from your device? Who knows how long the electricity will be off this time? The rant can wait. You will be just as frustrated on hour four, five, six, or 10, and the rant you post then will probably be even better. Instead of reaching for a device, put pen to paper. English Language classes forced you to write in drafts, and now you get to put that practice to good use. When was the last time you wrote more than a few words on a piece of paper anyway? Get reacquainted with your own handwriting. Hour 5. Touch grass. By now, you are probably getting quite agitated. If it is daylight, go outside. Get some fresh air. Even if it is hot, just two minutes of the sun on your skin can lift your mood and give you a bit of an energy boost. Observe your surroundings. Look at the flowers, focusing on shape and color. Take note of the shape of the petals and the size of the leaves. Are there any two that look almost exactly the same? Look at the trees. How many of them bear fruit? Are there clouds in the sky today? What images do you see in the clouds? If you created the world, what would you have done differently? Hour 6. Go old school. It is probably time to eat a proper meal. Before opening the fridge, think about what is in there. Do you have leftovers just waiting to be popped into the microwave? No such convenience will be afforded to you right now, but this is an opportunity. Have you ever seen someone heat a plate of food on the stove? As long as you have a gas stove, you can make this work. Quickly open the fridge, remove the leftovers,
and ensure that you close the fridge door properly. Transfer the food from the food storage container to a proper plate that can withstand the heat. Put water into a pot, place it on a burner, and turn the burner to a low to medium flame. Sit the plate atop the pot and wait for the food in it to heat. You could also transfer to the food directly to a pot or pan and heat it in a more conventional way, but that may be faster and make you more aware of the hours as they go by. Six hours without electricity is beyond ridiculous. Beyond this point, it may be time to write (or type) a letter to the editor of a newspaper, your member of parliament, and/or the Minister of Energy and Transport. It may be time to call people in your circle and plan collective action. It may be time to make your own financial plan to transition to solar energy in your home. It may be time leave complaining behind and use your power, the power of your network, and the power in numbers in demand action to change this absurd situation. There is no excuse for the complete failure of the government to address the energy crisis, particularly as the Prime Minister has consistently attempted to position himself as some kind of climate champion. The solutions are not mysteries to us. They are simply not being implemented. We, the people, must compel the government, through our actions, to solve the problem.
RECOMMENDATIONS 1.Kin by Tayari Jones. Join Feminist Book Club, hosted by Equality Bahamas and Poinciana Paper Press, is reading Kin, the latest book by the author of the bestselling novel An American Marriage. People said, “Jones’s dazzling novel traces the complex range of the Black experience—rich and poor, queer and straight, blessed and cursed—in the Jim Crow South.” Kin was a 2026 Kirukus Prize for Fiction finalist. The publisher says, “A novel about mothers and daughters, friendship and sisterhood, and the complexities of being a woman in the American South, Kin is an exuberant, emotionally rich, unforgettable work from one of the brightest and most irresistible voices in contemporary fiction.” Get your copy of the book and join the meeting on Wednesday, October 28 at 6pm to discuss it. Register to receive Feminist Book Club updates and meeting information at tiny. cc/fbc2026. 1.Conference on Trauma, Healing, and Social Transformation. Hosted by the University of The Bahamas schools of Fine Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences and the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, the conference will be held from October 1 to 4 with most sessions taking place in the Harry C. Moore Library Auditorium. The keynote address, entitled “I Want My People to Be Free: Reparations As Wellness, A Case for Bahamian Emancipation” will be delivered by Chair of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee Niambi Hall Campbell Dean, PhD on Thursday, October 1 at 7pm.
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, PAGE 9
Climate Week talks balance TECHTALK hope for clean energy Anthropic says its Claude is against uncertainty over AI model helping to build the
next version of itself
By KAITLYN HUAMANI AP Technology Writer
META data centres operate September 5, 2026, near Social Circle, Georgia. BY SETH BORENSTEIN and JENNIFER McDERMOTT Associated Press AS scientists calculated that Earth is getting sicker, global leaders on Monday kicked off a week of talks about how to fix it and fast, pointing to hope from a renewable energy boom. A different boom, in artificial intelligence and the power-and-water-hungry data centers behind it, could both worsen and solve some of these issues, a paradox world and business leaders will struggle with this week. Every year as top government officials attend the United Nations General Assembly and business executives flock to New York Climate Week sessions, global warming generates lots of talk but little action. This time two new forces — the rise of AI and data centers, as well as higher fossil fuel prices from wars in Iran and Ukraine — should change the discussion, experts and activists said. That’s on top of climate-driven disasters recently reaching new levels of destruction in Asia. “Patient Earth is not well,” said Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. “We are not only putting the stability, the resilience, and the life support systems on Earth at risk, we are very close to pushing ourselves across thresholds that can lead to irreversible, unmanageable outcomes.” A new report released Monday by the institute’s Planetary Boundaries Science Lab found that the world has breached seven of nine science-determined planetary boundaries for a healthy globe. United Kingdom Secretary of State Edward Miliband said that transitioning to cleaner
and renewable energy is now a “national security imperative.” The climate breakdown “must be an issue for foreign ministers and prime ministers. As well as energy and climate ministers. The security community, not just the activist community. The generals, not just the green campaigners,” he said. Rising prices drive concerns Climate change is “driving up food prices and wider inflation” and fossil fuel dependence is hitting billions of people around the world at the fuel pump, said U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell on Monday. Rising prices have sparked protests in Asia and Africa, which were hit first and hardest by energy shortages due to the Iran war. In the U.S., consumer confidence is plunging and gas prices have reached record highs. The Iran war energy shock has cost U.S. consumers more than $100 billion in higher fuel prices, Stiell said. There are two parallel climate stories playing out at the moment, explained Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa. The first story is extremely hopeful, with renewable energy booming, technology improving and the economics of clean energy making more and more sense. The second story is terrifying, with climate impacts accelerating faster than political and financial systems can respond, Adow said. “New York needs to bring those two stories together,” he said. AI and data centers take the limelight The environmental footprint of AI and data centers is “very much a hot topic,” said Helen Clarkson, CEO of the nonprofit Climate Group, which
organizes New York Climate Week. Attendees have so far expressed both hopes and fears for the future of AI and its role in combating climate change, she said. “ Energy-guzzling artificial intelligence is driving up planet-heating pollution from coal, oil and gas while ratcheting up energy costs for households and businesses,” said Stiell with the U.N. “AI leaders are now on thin ice when it comes to license to operate, and sinking deep underwater when it comes to public support.” On the other hand, Eva Riesenhuber, the head of sustainability at the German automation company Siemens, and Evelyn Wang, vice president for energy and climate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said AI is too important to humanity and will help tackle climate change. Data centers adding to climate and water problems “is not forever,” according to Wang, who told The Associated Press that data centers are five years away from being water neutral and about a decade away from no longer adding to planet-warming emissions. Acknowledging these concerns, Riesenhuber said “we are racing to mitigate this as fast as possible because we are hooked on the intelligence, and we do need the intelligence to design the future that this planet needs.” There will be several AI-related protests throughout New York Climate Week. Turkey, which is running UN climate negotiations this November, recently announced a new pledge for nations to join to manage the powering and deployment of AI, though no further details were offered. The AI issue may mean construction in people’s backyards,
Photo: Mike Stewart/AP which reaches those who are less worried about climate change, according to Jennifer Morgan, an analyst at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, who said that AI is becoming more vilified in climate talks than the fossil fuel industry. World leaders to discuss renewable rollout The world can still meet its 2023 goal of tripling renewable power capacity by the end of the decade, but it must move much faster, according to a new report released Monday. Despite record growth in renewables last year, the world must build more renewable power capacity from 2026 to 2030 than in all previous years combined, stated the report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Global Renewables Alliance and Turkey. The amount of renewable power added globally peaked at 693 gigawatts in 2025, about half the installed power in the U.S., IRENA found. At the same time, there was a sharp rebound of fossil fuels when compared to 2024 driven by China adding coal power. “The journey so far on renewables is remarkable,” Rockström said. Unfortunately, Rockström said, renewables are meeting a growing demand for electricity but not “bending the curve” to reduce oil, coal or gas use — which is necessary to cut carbon pollution and meet climate targets. Paradoxically, military action waged by U.S. President Donald Trump in Venezuela and Iran and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Ukraine — both big fossil fuel advocates — have caused oil and gas shortages that have driven up prices, spurring countries to switch to renewables faster, he explained.
ANTHROPIC’S Claude is helping the company develop the next, more intelligent version of the model, the artificial intelligence lab said in an announcement Thursday. Claude is leading 26% of Anthropic’s model research and development, which the company said means it can complete most of a given task “end-to-end from a highlevel prompt” while still being under human supervision. The model is not yet working completely autonomously. Still, about 90% of the company’s research and development is done in “collaboration” with Claude, which Anthropic said means the model can do “large chunks of work under close human direction.” The announcement came as some leading figures in AI, led in large part by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, are calling for a slowdown in the technology’s development over safety concerns. As leaders consider pacing AI’s development, “we should do everything possible to minimize the gap between what frontier labs know and what the public knows,” the company said in a blog post. “This means better measuring the development of AI, reporting on it publicly, and giving society an opportunity to decide how to use this information.” The company said that models accelerating their own development could make it “more challenging for humans to understand or control these systems.” It argued that sharing these metrics could lead to better understanding of how close leading AI labs are to reaching recursive self-improvement, or a model’s ability to autonomously build its successor. Anthropic also urged other AI developers to share similar metrics on a regular basis, encouraging the use of a public methodology so the numbers could be compared over time, and potentially across labs. It was unclear from Anthropic’s disclosure how close the company believes it is to achieving recursive self-improvement, but the pace at which Claude has increasingly contributed to research and development is notable. The portion of work Claude “leads,” or does in large part while remaining under human supervision, was none in February. Six months later, it was leading a quarter of research and development work, reaching that benchmark in August. The company also shared details of agent oversight measures it has in place, noting that there were approximately 30,000 agents doing research and engineering work as of August. Oversight measures are crucial for seeing how often agent misbehavior is detected by monitoring systems, the company said. Anthropic recently committed to setting up external third-party evaluators who will be embedded within the company to monitor safety efforts. An Anthropic researcher kicked off much of the recent dialogue around AI safety when he resigned last week with a dire warning about the threats the technology poses to humanity. Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Elon Musk and other tech leaders have since supported the idea of slowing down development, but other tech leaders and President Donald Trump have pushed back.
PAGE 10, Wednesday, September 23, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
MSC Ocean Cay Job Vacancies Title: Cay Doctor
•
Location: Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve – The Bahamas Employment Type: Full-Time | Site-Based Requirements • • • • • • • • • • • •
Board certification and documentation in force at the time of your contract, according to the local and international regulations. Visas and entry documentation for country and region in which the Island operates Fluent in oral and written English, official working language Ability to communicate in any major other languages which may be required based on island operations is considered a significant advantage Validated current documentation certifying the health and fitness as stated by Bahamas regulations Academic Medical Degree in compliance with Bahamian Authority’s requirement Seagoing experience preferred in a similar position Hold current full registration and a license to practice At least three years of post-graduate / post-registration experience in general and emergency medicine or board certified in Emergency Medicine or Family Medicine or Internal Medicine Competent skill level in Emergency Cardiovascular Care and MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation) Minor surgical, orthopedic, and procedural skills including suturing, fracture/dislocation management Procedural sedation skills
Title: Chief Engineer
Location: Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve – The Bahamas Employment Type: Full-Time | Site-Based Requirements • • • • • • • • •
Fluent English, verbal and written. Knowledge of any other core language is an advantage. At least 18 years of age and in good health with no physical limitations, including vision. The certification is to be in compliance with the minimum standards required by the STCW95 Bachelor’s degree in the relevant Engineering field (master’s degree preferable). At least 4 years of experience leading or supervising a team. Experience in a similar position from a cargo / cruise vessel or a land-based hospitality structure operating off grid. A sound understanding of engineering principles. The ability to maintain a positive attitude and maintain high team morale.
Title: General Manager
Location: Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve – The Bahamas Employment Type: Full-Time | Site-Based Requirements • • • • • • • • • • • •
Oversees and guides all daily operations of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Functional Leader and the ultimate person responsible for the Hotel Operations part of island operations Responsible for all guest experience, product and service execution and service recovery Responsible for the development, coaching and creation of a positive working environment for all island employees and create a work environment of staff empowerment Responsible for island revenue maximization and Personnel & Hotel operations budget cost control. Responsible for the health, safety and wellbeing of all staff residing on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve The General Manager is the official “ship agent” for Ocean Cay. He/she needs to collaborate with the local authorities, ship immigration / crew purser and authorities in Bimini. An ambassador for the MSC Brand Values, Ethics and Product, continuously championing guest centric engagement with all departments and island staff members. Works closely with indirect reports and their corporate leaders in Technical, IT, Medical, Environmental, Security, Safety, Port Development and Landscaping aspects Works closely in a collaborative and positive manner with the visiting MSC Cruises vessels management teams and shipboard staff to ensure a successful overall execution of guest experience on Ocean Cay Works closely with all local Bahamian governmental authorities and entities and local operators in a productive and conducive manner for MSC Cruises and ensures all Bahamian Rules & Regulations are followed. Ensures rules and regulations related to Marine Reserve designation of Ocean Cay are followed by all island staff
Title: Electrician
Location: Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve – The Bahamas Employment Type: Full-Time | Site-Based Requirements • • • • • • • • • •
Fluent in oral and written English. Knowledge of other foreign language is a major advantage Average ability into operations regarding Electrical Systems and all electrical material and systems on Site. Ensure Electrical Systems are working properly, School Graduation with appropriate licenses obtained from certified Technical Institute. 1 year experience as Ass.t Electrician or related position Good supervisory skills, crisis, and problem handling Physical integrity and ability to: stand, walk, use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear, taste or smell, lift and/or move up to 25 Kg., full ability of close vision close vision, distance vision Colour vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus A recognised medical certification is required
Title: Marine Program Manager
Location: Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve – The Bahamas Employment Type: Full-Time | Site-Based Requirements • •
Ensure the proper and timely implementation and monitoring of Marine Conservation Centre (MCC) operations. Monitor and report on the completion of the Marine Conservation Centre in coordination with MSC Cruises USA Port Development Vice President and her team.
• • • • • • • •
Manage and supervise the coral reef restoration activities around Ocean Cay, and within the Marine Conservation Centre (MCC). This includes, but it is not limited to ensuring that all activities, including applied restoration and underpinning research, are fully aligned with the programmes priorities set by the Advisory Board, The role will also involve the facilitation of the delivery of high quality outputs including (where possible), the publication of research outputs. Manage and maintain the Marine Conservation Centres aquarium facilities and all technical equipment used by visiting researchers. Train and supervise the programme’s team. Prepare the annual programme budget and ensure its timely monitoring. Ensure that MSCF in Ocean Cay programmes outputs are delivered on budget and on time. Provide weekly updates on operational strategic direction and advancement, ensuring they are also shared with the Advisory Board. Manage and process all needed documentation and permissions vis-à vis of relevant authorities required to enable researchers and sub-contractors to perform coral restoration and research work. Ensure the safe operation of all equipment and facilities a role that will involve the production of continually updated risk assessments. Perform any other administrative duties as required by MSCF management.
Title: Food & Beverage Trainer & Quality Accessor
Location: Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve – The Bahamas Employment Type: Full-Time | Site-Based Requirements •
• • • •
•
• • •
Certification in sensory analysis, barista training, or beverage quality (e.g.WSET,) is preferred. Certified knowledge of all required food safety, preparation, presentation procedures and techniques to meet current international standards Certificate in Food Safety (Equivalent to Food Safety Professional Certificate or Diploma). Fluent English, verbal and written any other language is an added advantage Have a passion for beverages with a strong documented background in quality assurance, and excellent training skills and having held similar position on a cruise ship or in a major hotel/resort operating under International Food Safety standards Valid current documentation certifying the health and fitness of the applicant meets all requirements for Ocean Cay personnel based on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Verification that all precautions have been taken against diseases (vaccinations) that may be endemic to the cruising area. Passionate about hospitality and customer service driven Beverage preparation and presentation Quality control and compliance
Title: Marine Mechanic
Location: Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve – The Bahamas Employment Type: Full-Time | Site-Based Requirements • • • • • • • • •
High School Diploma or equivalent Degree in Mechanical Engineering Knowledge of marine Engine & electrical auxiliary systems Knowledge of marine Hydraulic systems and related parts Ability to lift heavy equipment & work in confined spaces Ability to work at sea Knowledge of boat steering systems 5 years of experience minimum
Title: Certified Lifeguard
Location: Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve – The Bahamas Employment Type: Full-Time | Site-Based Requirements • • • • • •
High School Diploma or equivalent Must be a certified lifeguard CPR & First Aid Certified Fluent in English oral & Written Fluent in multiple core languages 3 years minimum experience
Title: Port Facility Security Officer
Location: Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve – The Bahamas Employment Type: Full-Time | Site-Based Requirements • • • • • • • • •
• •
• • •
Fluent English, oral and written. To be at least 18 years of age and in good health with no physical limitations, including vision. High School certificate. Good interpersonal skills, positive attitude, and willingness to learn. Advanced security training. Attend and participate as required in all emergency drills, understand emergency duties. You are responsible to keep your workplace, accommodation clean and in order at all time. Maintain the security of the island and those on the island against acts of terrorism, privacy, hijacking, sabotage, wilful damage to life and property. Operate an effective rotation of personnel to ensure surveillance and integrity of all island areas and ports or transferring personnel and /or material (including baggage) between the island and the shore by other means (tender, helicopter, float planes, etc.) If required by the PFSO, to take lead in searches of the island (including but not limited to Crew and/or Staff rooms, storage spaces, etc.) for whatever reason. specified by the PFSO and/or the Company Security Officer. Avoiding, as much possible, inconvenience to guests, to supervise access to the island, company personnel, and bona-fide contractors or providers. This process may involve individual checking of tickets, passports, passes or other identifying documents, personal belongings, and random luggage checks. Displaying the maximum courtesy and professional approach to transiting and disembarking passengers, company personnel and island personnel without discrimination of any kind. Refuse access to the island by unauthorized or unidentifiable personnel unless specific access has been granted by the PFSO. Advise the PFSO quickly if any member of the Security team has a suspicion about disembarking personnel or passenger or the baggage or effects of any such personnel, or about any object being disembarked.
All Applicants please apply through mscocean - mscoceancaymarinereserve.bamboohr.com/careers
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, PAGE 11
Merry Wives of Windsor takes the stage at Shakespeare in Paradise
SCENES from Merry Wives of Windsor one of the plays in the cycle of Shakespeare in Paradise taking place at the Dundas Theatre. Different plays will be preformed during the month showcasing the theatrical talent that the Bahamas has to offer at the Dundas Theatre on September 22, 2026. Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
PAGE 12, Wednesday, September 23, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
RBDF and CAAB give t s o o b l o o h c -s o -t k c a b s id k
CHILDREN at the Nazareth Centre received haircuts, hair-braiding services and care packages as the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas joined forces to help them prepare for the new school year. The boys received professional barbering services, while the girls had their hair braided. Organisers said the services were intended to boost the children’s confidence and self-esteem. The outreach was held in August and organised by the RBDF’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Unit and Family Readiness and Support Office in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas. The initiative was coordinated by RBDF Chief Petty Officer Antoine Adams and included the distribution of care packages to the children. Commander Defence Force Commodore Floyd Moxey commended the effort, noting that these community-centred initiatives demonstrate the RBDF’s dual role of safeguarding national security while also building trust, resilience, and unity within the society it serves. The Nazareth Centre for Children is a residential care facility in Millennium Gardens that provides protection, stability and care for vulnerable children from infancy to age 11. The centre was established in 2001 through a partnership between the Government of The Bahamas and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese. The Catholic Church managed the day-today operations of the centre for more than 20 years before full management transitioned to the Department of Social Services in December 2023.