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Volume: 123 No. 214, Thursday, October 1, 2026
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JET SKI ATTACKER ‘RAPED TOURIST’ 20-year-old jailed for punching woman in face was on bail for alleged rape of another US visitor By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net THE man who claimed to be a jet ski operator and punched an Ohio tourist in the face after she rejected his advances has been jailed for three months as he awaits trial over the alleged
rape of another American tourist on a beach in November 2024. Javez "Dunky" McDonald, 20, yesterday pleaded guilty to two counts of assault before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville. The court heard that on September 11, McDonald punched Briana Bazel, 25, at
a club on Palm Tree Avenue after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances. The attack on Miss Bazel, who was left with a bloodied face, was the second time in less than a month that he had punched an American woman. RAPE - SEE PAGE THREE
Family mourns sudden death of 22-year-old at university in Ohio By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN university student with no known health problems collapsed and died during an activity on his Ohio campus, shattering his family's plans to watch him graduate next year. Joshua Knowles, 22, a senior at Central State University, was taken unresponsive to the emergency room at Miami Valley
Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. His family received a call from the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday. His brother, Xavier Knowles, said Joshua had no known history of medical emergencies or health problems. The family does not know the cause of death. "As far as we were told, it was SUDDEN SEE PAGE THREE
Briana Bazel, 25, from Ohio pictured after the alleged attack by a man who claimed to be a jetski operator.
WESTERN AIR SUSPENDS NORTH ELEAUTHERA FLIGHTS By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
JOSHUA KNOWLES
WESTERN Air is suspending flights to and from North Eleuthera because of worsening runway
conditions — just days before thousands of people are expected to travel to Eleuthera for the Harbour Island Homecoming, one of the island's biggest cultural events. The airline's last
scheduled service is on Friday, October 2. The Homecoming runs from October 8 to 12, and guests and business owners are preparing for the annual FLIGHT - SEE PAGE FOUR
HRB proposes NIB benefit change for long-serving workers retiring early By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net WORKERS who have paid into National Insurance for 40 years or more should be able to retire before 65 with little or no cut to their retirement benefit, Human Rights Bahamas has said. Under the current system,
the full retirement benefit is paid from age 65. Qualifying workers can claim from age 60, but at a reduced rate, and once they do, the reduction remains in place for life. HRB’s Labour Division is urging the government and the National Insurance Board to consider a contribution-based retirement option that would
give greater weight to people who started work young and have paid in for decades. Minister of Labour and Public Service Pia Glover Rolle did not respond to requests for comment yesterday. Nedra Adderley, chairwoman of labour for Human Rights Bahamas,
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
NIB - SEE PAGE FOUR
MAN ENJOYING RETIREMENT
PAGE 2, Thursday, October 1, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Governor General presented with first Girl Guide cookies for the 2026 campaign MEMBERS of the Bahamas Girl Guides Association presented Governor General Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt with the first cookies to officially launch Girl Guides ‘Cookie Month,’ beginning October 1, during a courtesy call at Government House on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Cookie Month is a major fundraiser for the Bahamas Girl Guides, and the traditional first presentation of cookies to the Governor General launches their special season. Pictured are Sunflower, Brownie, Girl Guide, and Ranger with the Governor General Dame Cynthia Pratt, centre, and Girl Guide leaders. Photos: Letisha Henderson/BIS
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 3
Tourist attacker jailed 3 months RAPE from page one On August 19, McDonald, who has previous convictions for drug offences and violating bail, punched a 19-year-old US tourist near a downtown hotel after she refused to give him her phone number. It was revealed he was on bail after being accused of raping another American tourist nearly two years ago. Ms Bazel described the attack in a TikTok video and in an interview with The Tribune last week. Her account drew wide attention and led the government to confirm that her attacker was not a licensed jet ski operator. She said she and her best friend arrived in New Providence on September 10 for their first visit to The Bahamas. The trip was meant as a celebration and was her friend’s first journey outside the United States. A jet ski excursion the women had booked online was cancelled. The next day, while they were waiting at Goodman’s Bay, a man approached them, presented himself as a jet ski operator and tour guide, and offered them a sightseeing and jet ski package. He also introduced his cousin to them as a taxi driver. Ms Bazel said both men showed badges that
appeared to identify them as legitimate operators. For most of the day, she said, nothing went wrong. The women went sightseeing, ate at restaurants and rode jet skis. That night, they met the men again at Green Parrot, and the men offered to take them to a lounge on Palm Tree Avenue. Ms Bazel said the man’s mood changed after she told her friend she had started her period, and he became angry that she had mentioned it. He later asked to speak with her outside, away from the music. She said he told her he believed she was using her period as an excuse not to have sex with him. When she told him she had never intended to, she said, he grabbed her arm and punched her in the face as she pulled away. She said she began bleeding immediately, and that there were people outside who saw it. “Nobody did anything, nobody helped,” Ms Bazel said. Someone from the lounge took the woman to a police station, where she filed a complaint. A police officer later took her to hospital. She said the punch drove her lip against a sharp tooth and cut it open, and that eating and drinking were difficult at first. Her TikTok video opens with her bloodied and holding tissue
against her swollen lip. It had drawn about 54,000 views when The Tribune reported her story. Police later issued a wanted poster for the man. Ms Bazel said other female tourists contacted her after seeing the video. They alleged that the same man and the taxi driver had also harassed or scammed them. The day after her account was published, Transport Minister Leon Lundy said the man was not an authorised jet ski operator and did not have an authentic Port Department identification badge. He said the man had been operating outside the regulated system. Mr Lundy said the government would soon roll out technology to help visitors identify legitimate operators. He said the Port Department was also working with the police sex crimes unit to add new material to operator training. Astra Charlton, director of business development at My Own Water Sports, said the focus should be on the victim and on whether regulation works, rather than on the industry’s image. “Protecting the reputation of The Bahamas begins with protecting people,” Ms Charlton said. Ms Bazel said she had travelled extensively and had never been physically assaulted on a trip before. She said she did not
BRIANA BAZEL know if she would return to The Bahamas. Meeting several good Bahamians towards the end of her trip had left her torn, she said, but she would not come back or recommend the country until something was done. The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of the jet ski trade.
In June, the US Embassy issued a security alert warning Americans about dangers linked to jet ski rentals in The Bahamas. The alert cited injuries, deaths and reports of sexual assault. Sergeant Sherquell Forbes prosecuted the case. Ian Jupp represented McDonald.
Family stunned by Bahamian student’s sudden death SUDDEN from page one
wave of emotions. Mr Knowles described his younger brother as a
sudden,” Mr Knowles said. “He was doing some activity and he just collapsed. That’s it. Then he was unconscious.” Mr Knowles said his brother was then taken to the emergency room. “They also said his heart stopped, and they tried to resuscitate him; There was no luck,” he said. The death comes after the family had already lost both of Knowles’s grandmothers. His maternal grandmother died in April and his paternal grandmother in June. Knowles came home for both funerals. Mr Knowles spoke to The Tribune yesterday from the airport as he left for Ohio. There, the family must identify his brother, arrange for his body to be transported to The Bahamas and pack up his dorm room. Although the family has received an outpouring of support from Knowles’s fraternity and friends in Ohio, they are experiencing a
driven student who stayed close to his family while studying abroad.
“We had a very close relationship with Joshua,” he said. “We would be on
JOSHUA KNOWLES
Man denies assault on pregnant wife By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN accused of assaulting and injuring his pregnant wife, a popular radio personality, was granted bail yesterday.
Prosecutors allege Andre Kelly, 35, injured Sherrelle Duncombe, known as "Roxie Star", and threatened to kill her on September 5 in New Providence. He is also accused of assaulting Ms Duncombe with an iron cord during the
same incident. Kelly pleaded not guilty to assault with a dangerous instrument, threats of death and causing harm before Assistant Chief Magistrate Kara Turnquest Deveaux. He was granted bail at $5,000 with one or two
sureties. He was warned not to contact or interfere with Ms Duncombe or any witnesses, and was told his bail would be revoked if he did. His trial is set for January 25, 2027. Bjorn Ferguson represented Kelly.
Baby dies after twice being treated at hospital A ONE-MONTH-OLD baby girl who had twice been treated in hospital and sent home over the weekend died after being brought unresponsive to the Carmichael Road Police Station early yesterday.
According to the initial police report, a woman brought the infant to the station some time after midnight. She told officers the child had developed a high fever and then became unresponsive. Emergency Medical
Services personnel examined the baby at the station and found no signs of life. Investigators later spoke with the child's mother. She told police her daughter had experienced medical issues before her
death, and had been taken to hospital twice over the weekend. On both occasions, she said, the baby received treatment and was discharged. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
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video calls with him almost every single day during the day.” He said he, his mother and his brother would talk about school and life on those calls. The family had been preparing to attend Knowles’s graduation next year. “That’s not going to happen,” Mr Knowles said. “But he was a very striving young man. He was very focused on his studies, focused on music.” Knowles was studying management information systems. He played bass drum in the university’s Marching Marauders band and was a member of the UNU chapter of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. His bandmates have paid tribute to him, including with a video featuring the bass drum he played and a Bahamian flag. Central State University said it was “deeply saddened” by his death. It extended condolences to his family, friends, fellow students, band members and fraternity brothers, and
made counselling and support services available to students, faculty and staff. Eric Walker, a consultant with the Invincible Marching Marauders, described Knowles as a “valued member” of the band family. “Our band is a family,” Mr Walker said, “and we will lean on one another and honour his memory as we navigate this loss together.” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Science and Technology Chester Cooper said he had spoken with the family. He extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the ministry and himself to Knowles’s family, friends, former classmates, teachers and all who knew and loved him. Mr Cooper said Knowles was a graduate of Government High School and a student of the Public School Scholars Programme (PSSP). He received the Public School Scholars award in fall 2022 and was expected to graduate in spring 2027.
PAGE 4, Thursday, October 1, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Western Air suspends Eleuthera flights over runway conditions FLIGHT from page one Former North Eleuthera MP Rickey Mackey said Southern Air is now the only carrier providing daily flights to North Eleuthera, after Pineapple Air discontinued its service to the island. Southern Air carries a maximum of 15 passengers per flight, he said. Bahamasair flies to the island at least once a week. “With Western Air now leaving until further notice,” Mr Mackey said, “that is going to create major havoc here in North Eleuthera.” He questioned how the limited air service could meet demand from people travelling for the Homecoming. He said the suspension was another
blow for an island already struggling with daily water and electricity problems. Western Air’s CEO and president Sherrexcia “Rexy” Rolle confirmed the temporary suspension. She said it was because of current runway conditions at North Eleuthera International Airport. The runway has reportedly deteriorated over time. However, Ms Rolle said the situation has “escalated”, and that passenger and crew safety remains a priority. “The runway has a lot of uneven surfaces,” she told The Tribune yesterday. “As a result, they experience very rough take-offs and landings because the runway is sunken in different places.”
Ms Rolle said the decision was not made lightly. She said air traffic to North Eleuthera is projected to increase in October, and she stressed the need for reliable air transport. She could not say how long the suspension would last, saying it depends on the runway problems being fixed. She said Western Air is working with the authorities to resume flights as soon as possible. Affected passengers can request refunds by emailing Western Air. Their tickets remain valid for one year. The Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation said it is aware of Western Air’s notice of the temporary suspension. In a statement, the ministry said project teams at
STOCK photo of passengers boarding a Western Air flight. the Ministry of Works, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and other key stakeholders are addressing the ongoing concerns. These teams oversee the mobilisation and completion of critical airside works. The ministry said the Ministry of Works is exploring urgent remediation measures to prevent further disruption to air services into North Eleuthera. It said the work will prioritise airport users’ safety while continuing the comprehensive aerodrome development.
The suspension has also raised concerns about the economic impact on North Eleuthera. Tourists and Bahamians regularly travel to the area for events such as the Homecoming. Javaughn Rolle, chairman of the North for the Harbour Island Commonage Committee and former chairman of the North Eleuthera Regatta Association, said the community was taken aback by the decision. However, he said residents understand the importance of repairing the runway, as they have also wanted improvements to
the airport. The festival is expected to feature 15 to 20 vendors. Mr Rolle said most vendors knew ahead of time that this year’s celebrations could face challenges. He said those who did not know were now looking at ways to recover some of the money they had invested. He said North Eleuthera’s regattas should return to their cultural roots while modernising their business structure. He said the island needs infrastructure development to meet the demands of its growing economy.
HRB urges earlier retirement for long-time NIB contributors NIB from page one questioned whether someone who had already contributed to NIB for 40 years should face a permanent reduction simply because they had not yet turned 65. “This proposal is not asking the government to provide benefits to people who have not contributed,” the organisation said in a statement. “It is asking the country to recognise decades of work, contributions and sacrifice.” The organisation proposed allowing workers who reach 60 with at least 35 years of contributions to qualify for an enhanced retirement benefit. It also proposed that people with 40 years or more of contributions receive an unreduced or substantially less-reduced benefit. Another option, it said, would be a formula that weighs a worker’s age, years
of contributions and contribution history together. It gave the example of a person who starts work at 16 and stays continuously employed. By age 60, that person could have spent about 44 years in the workforce. Someone who starts at 18 could have worked for about 42 years. The organisation pointed to physically demanding jobs in hospitality, construction, sanitation, healthcare and transport. It said people who entered those industries young may be dealing with injuries, physical wear and a reduced ability to do their jobs by the time they reach 60. However, they may be unable to afford to retire if it means accepting a permanently reduced benefit. NIB already considers the number of contributions paid or credited, along with a person’s average insured income, when calculating retirement benefits. Human Rights Bahamas’
proposal would go further, using long contribution histories as grounds to reduce or even remove the penalty for claiming before 65. The organisation acknowledged that any changes would need actuarial study to determine their effect on NIB’s long-term finances. “Any reform must, of course, be actuarially studied to protect the long-term sustainability of NIB,” the organisation said. “However, financial sustainability and fairness to contributors should not be treated as competing principles. Both must form part of responsible social-security reform.” It called on the government, the minister responsible for NIB and the board to formally examine such a system as part of future reforms. It also called for trade unions, employers, workers, retirees, actuaries and civil society organisations to take part in discussions on the proposal.
MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING GIRL, 17 By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 30-YEAR-OLD man has been accused of raping
a 17-year-old girl at a business on East Street South last week. Prosecutors allege Oswald Poitier Jr raped the girl in the early hours of September 25. Poitier appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans. He was not required to enter a plea to a charge of rape. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until December 10. On that date, he is due to be served with a voluntary bill of indictment, which will send his case to the Supreme Court. He
was told he has the right to apply for bail in the higher court. The girl had left home on September 24 to spend the night at a family friend's home. The following morning, her grandmother was called to the police station. There she learned that her granddaughter had allegedly been sexually assaulted by a man she knew at a business in the East Street South area. The girl has since received medical attention. Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted the case. Levan Johnson represented Poitier.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 5
Seymour: $942k may not last paralysed man for life By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net FORMER Free National Movement Senator Maxine Seymour has questioned whether the $941,893.91 awarded to Thorne Clarke, who was left permanently paralysed after being shot by police, will be enough to support him for the rest of his life. Ms Seymour, a disability and elderly persons advocate, pointed to his lost earning potential and the continuing costs of living with his injuries. Mr Clarke was 22 when he was shot. If he lives to 70, she said, the award would amount to about $377 a week over those 48 years. "Beyond 70, it would have to stretch even further," she said. She said Mr Clarke was earning $550 a week parttime when he was shot and had a four-year scholarship to the University of The Bahamas.
He was left permanently paralysed from the T7-T8 level down. He has no sensation or movement in his lower body and no normal bladder or bowel control. He depends on a wheelchair and cannot drive. Assistant Registrar Jonathan Deal assessed his damages in a judgment dated September 21, more than ten years after the shooting. The award includes $425,000 for pain, suffering and loss of amenities and $135,000 for loss of earning capacity. It also includes $126,546 for future medical expenses, $96,264.50 for past loss of earnings and $60,000 for nursing care provided by his mother. He was also awarded $15,000 in aggravated damages and $50,000 in exemplary damages. The state has already paid Mr Clarke $80,000, leaving $861,893.91 outstanding before interest and costs. Mr Clarke had sought $2,064,219.41, while
A PRESSURE sore developed from the back brace Thorne Clarke wears.
"Imagine what he might be earning now, ten years later, with experience, pay raises and opportunities to advance," she said. She said he is working now, but his injury limits the kinds of work he can do and how much he can earn. Ms Seymour said that on top of costly medical treatment, Mr Clarke needs equipment, assistance and modifications to make his home accessible. She said those costs fall to him, on top of groceries, electricity, transport and other expenses. She said she respected the court's decision but did not believe the compensation was enough. Responding to her concern, Attorney General Wayne Munroe said future losses are currently calculated using a multiplier based on factors including life expectancy. The claimant receives the money upfront, discounted because it is paid before the losses occur. He said he had discussed with the Director of Legal Affairs whether future medical expenses and future loss of earnings could instead be paid as they arise. Police near Wilson Tract shot Mr Clarke on February 13, 2016. A bullet entered through the rear of his mother's van, struck him in the upper back and severed his spinal cord.
the defendants proposed about $539,350. The court heard that Mr Clarke could not return to his former job and was unemployed for about seven and a half years after the shooting. He found temporary work with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in 2023. In June 2024, he began working full-time on a non-permanent basis for $1,500 a month. However, recurring bedsores have affected his work, and he sometimes has to leave early because of them. The court found that his disability placed him at a significant disadvantage in the labour market, and that there was a real possibility he could lose his current job. His mother gave up her daycare business to care for him full-time from March 2016 to March 2021. The court also heard that Mr Clarke has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and secondary major depressive disorder. His future medical expenses include $108,000 for diapers, underpads and related supplies over a projected 30 years, and $18,546 for psychotherapy and trauma counselling. Police said officers were searching for a suspicious-looking man when they saw Mr Clarke get into
THORNE Clarke speaks to students. his mother's van. They said he refused orders to get out and tried to drive away, and that an officer who feared
he was about to be struck opened fire. Mr Clarke said he stopped when ordered and asked
why he was being stopped. He said he received no explanation and began driving away before he was shot.
The competing accounts were never tested at a civil trial. Mr Clarke filed his claim in 2018, and judgment in default of defence was entered against the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General in September 2019. Mr Clarke has since spoken about complications that developed after his case was heard. In a recent Facebook post, he said he developed a pressure sore from his back brace after all the evidence had been submitted, so it was not considered in the assessment. He also said he has developed scoliosis. Despite his difficulties, Mr Clarke said he still gets up every day and tries to do his best at work and to support people with disabilities. "I hope that my story could inspire us," Mr Clarke said, "to create change within the legal system and Bahamian society in general."
PAGE 6, Thursday, October 1, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
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A child should be safe in his community park A FAMILY is waiting beside a hospital bed, hoping a 14-year-old boy survives a shooting that took place in a public park in broad daylight. That should stop us in our tracks. Police say a gunman approached the boy and another student at Englerston Park on Monday morning and shot him several times. His relatives have since told The Tribune that he underwent hours of surgery and was placed in a coma while doctors worked to stabilise him. They are also seeking answers about what led to the attack. The investigation must establish those facts. Until then, the public should resist rumours and speculation, especially about a child who cannot speak for himself. Whatever took him to the park during school hours, he did not deserve to be shot. No parent should have to wonder whether a disagreement, an encounter with a stranger or simply being in the wrong place could leave a child fighting for his life. A park ought to be a place where children play, neighbours meet and families feel at ease. When gunfire erupts there late in the morning, fear spreads far beyond the people who witnessed it. Other parents begin asking whether their children can safely walk through the neighbourhood at all. The police deserve the time and cooperation needed to find the person responsible. Anyone with reliable information should provide it. The teenage witness also deserves privacy, protection and support as investigators establish what happened. But an arrest alone will not answer the wider question: how did a person carrying a gun come to regard a community park as a place to confront children?
The response should begin with the people closest to Englerston Park. Police and community leaders should meet residents, listen to where they feel unsafe and identify the times and routes that need attention. Visible patrols can provide reassurance, but they should be guided by local knowledge and sustained beyond the days immediately following this shooting. Schools have a role as well. When a student is unexpectedly absent, parents should receive timely notice. That is a practical safeguard, although it would be wrong to suggest that an attendance alert could necessarily have prevented this attack. The Ministry of Education should ensure that students and staff affected by the shooting can access counselling. Children who heard what happened may carry fear into their classrooms even if they were nowhere near the park. The injured boy and his family will need support long after public attention has moved elsewhere. Gun violence also demands patient investigative work: tracing firearms, identifying those who supply them and intervening where disputes may turn deadly. Prevention depends on trust. People are more likely to share information when they believe it will be handled carefully and lead to action. There is no single programme that can promise every child safety. Yet that cannot become an excuse for accepting danger as ordinary. Today, one Bahamian family is waiting for its son to recover. The country should give them compassion and space while police pursue the truth. Then it should do the steady work required to make Englerston Park, and every park like it, a place where children can feel safe again.
Access to beaches on NP EDITOR, The Tribune. I WRITE in connection to a particular recent incident at Cabbage Beach yet that have been concerns shared by many Bahamians for years, regarding the above subject matter. Hence, I would like to see the government, especially the executive branch, take serious steps towards addressing this issue. Currently, it still seems as though what was stated in April and May of this year, is not being executed. Instead of the practice of Progress, we are doing the opposite. Why is this? Why cannot the administration not Practice What It Is Preaching? After many
decades, we appear to be having corresponding conversations about the aforesaid matter. There is Blockage from the entry of Land by the Native (Bahamian) element and the opposite with grants being given to the foreign element on our soil. Again, why is this happening? How Many Years do we have to have the same Conversations? As a tax-paying citizen, I implore the members of cabinet again, “Do Your Jobs Or Resign If You Can’t!” In the month of May this year, you swore an oath to the people of this nation. Also, during this occasion then, from what I observed at the
televised inauguration ceremony, no one was forced or coerced into taking office. As the family of our nation’s head of state (Charles III R) once said, “Let’s Get On With It!” At the risk of sounding historic and dramatic, we can’t sell our birthright for a pottage of lentils (Genesis 25:29-34 KJV). In view of the above, I would appreciate any aid rendered, with this matter or feedback as to how the public can effectively get more involved. I look forward to hearing from you soon. JASON MOXEY Nassau, September 26, 2026.
Truth and what is right will set many free EDITOR, The Tribune. LIFE has taught me to be comforted because someone who is not for sale can never be bought. Growing up, my mother, despite her illiteracy, instilled in me many profound life principles: While I recall quite a number them. then, one that I vividly remembered was; “The truth will set you free.” While this wisdom did not promise immunity from consequences, it revealed a deeper liberty – the freedom from the compounding burden of deceit. To speak the truth often meant facing immediate repercussions: this in itself was a form of punishment. Yet, once that moment passed, I was liberated from the need to spin further falsehoods to cover previous ones. This profound lesson offers an invaluable blueprint for integrity, a standard that ought to define all those who aspire to public service. This fundamental adherence to truth and accountability is critically absent in our political landscape., at this time. Now for those who are famous for jumping on the “horse “or ride in that “Cadillac” referred to as it has happened to it has happened in….Let me particularly clear, this instance, In this instance. Let there be no doubt that I am referring to what is happing and has happened within the Bahamas….the land that I Love… For far too long, our electorate has inadvertently or deliberately fostered a culture of complacency, by allowing political figures to
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net sidestep transparency regarding critical issues and expenditure of public resources. A concerning pattern has emerged, and has become evident in recent reports of vast amounts of public funds whose utilisation remains unexplained and uncommented upon by government leaders, has been met with an unsettling lack of public outcry. Similarly, credible threats and news items implicating certain leaders in activities that could gravely tarnish the nation’s reputation are met with a pervasive silence, so profound it seems to actively stifle discourse and inquiry. The unwavering, even fanatical, loyalty exhibited by certain segments of the public towards their chosen political leaders further exacerbates this crisis of integrity. Many appear willing to compromise their own judgment, their family’s well-being, and even deeply held moral principles, all in a fervent effort to defend the indefensible actions and pronouncements of their political idols. This unwavering allegiance, often bordering on an unquestioning faith, tragically prioritises partisan loyalty over the collective good and the very integrity of the nation. It fosters an environment where inconvenient truths are suppressed, and the pursuit of justice is obstructed.
The essence of true freedom, both individual and collective, lies in confronting reality; however uncomfortable it may be. While honesty may bring immediate penalties, it prevents the insidious cycle of deception from taking root and metastasizing. Accepting the truth, and any attendant’s consequences, purges the slate clean, fostering genuine peace and enabling constructive progress. For the Bahamas to truly thrive, its citizenry must demand a paradigm shift. We must collectively embrace the principle that truth and accountability are non-negotiable pillars of governance. This means actively holding All political leaders and public servants to the highest standards of transparency. We must cease enabling a culture of opaqueness regarding public funds, suspicious activities, or strategic silence. Rejecting blind loyalty and instead prioritising objective truth is not merely a civic duty; it is an imperative for safeguarding our nation’s reputation and securing a future founded on trust and genuine progress. The truth, in its unvarnished form, is indeed the only path to collective liberation and sustained national well-being. What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson DR DONALD M MCCARTNEY Freeport, Grand Bahama September 27, 2026.
Gardiner more important to PLP than Bahamians EDITOR, The Tribune. PROMINENT journalist Wendall Jones is the Bahamian ambassador to the United States. He is a devout PLP. He represents The Bahamas to Washington. But he also represents the PLP, apparently. When he complained to US Justice officials about Drug Enforcement Administration officers carrying out a clandestine operation in Bahamian territory in their investigation of Johnathan Eric Gardiner, aka “The Player,” and “Progress,” he was speaking on behalf of the PLP government. He was not speaking on my behalf. Don’t bring the rest of us law-abiding Bahamians down to the level of an alleged drug trafficker because of his alleged largess to the PLP. The DEA webpage has a statement on Gardiner, alleging that he “coordinated the delivery of massive quantities of cocaine into the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere.” The statement further alleges that “Gardiner peddled cocaine into Atlanta and across the region for years.” The Player is one of two wellknown alleged narcotics peddlers mentioned in the press in recent months, the other being Warren “Spy” Ellis. There’s a saying that you are known by the company you keep. Gardiner and Ellis were two devoted PLPs. No PLP official has gone on record to send the rumors of their political leanings.
When Gardiner’s airplane crashed in the Atlantic Ocean on May 14, the day of the election, it was generally assumed that he and his PLP comrades were on the campaign trail enroute from Abaco to Grand Bahama. There are unsubstantiated allegations that Gardiner and Ellis both benefited from government contracts. This PLP government does not believe in being transparent with the Bahamian people who continue to put them in charge of their business affairs. The Bahamian people must start holding this corrupt government accountable. It is unfair that a small percentage of this nation is holding the majority hostage to corruption. I hope this is a wakeup call to disinterested Bahamians to go out and vote for better. What is deeply troubling about the Ambassador Jones’s complaint to the US Justice Department is that he and his PLP associates appear to be more concerned about DEA operatives arresting Gardiner than the rest of us Bahamians who could suffer the potential fallout from this reckless stunt. It’s a really bad look on the entire country that its government would subtly lobby on behalf of The Player, knowing the geopolitical risks involved. I do not recall ever hearing the Mexican government lobbying on behalf of Joaquin Guzmán, known also as El
Chapo in Washington. Nor do I recall hearing the Colombian government protesting the US government for Pablo Escobar. What the PLP did is shocking and unprecedented. I thought better of Jones as a purported savvy and experienced media personality and statesman. Jones should have rejected the calls by these PLP bosses to lobby on behalf of The Player. That bold and commendable move would have entailed resigning his position as ambassador. But we all know that that is a lucrative position that affords him a life of luxury at the expense of Bahamian taxpayers he and his slack government have very little regard for. To Jones and the PLP government, Gardiner is so important that both are willing to ruffle the feathers of Washington. If this is a hill, the PLP is willing to die on, then go ahead. But leave the Bahamian people out of it. Make it emphatically clear to Washington that Jones is speaking on behalf of the Progressive Liberal Party, not The Bahamas. Why should we suffer for one individual who allegedly chose a career of peddling poison into the US that has the potential of harming American families? Shame on Jones. And shame on this morally bankrupt PLP government and its goons. THE WHISTLEBLOWER 2.0 Nassau, September 27, 2026.
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Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 7
British diver murder trial delayed again after 11 years THE murder trial of a British diver has been delayed yet again, more than 11 years after he was shot dead, as prosecutors move to have the accused find new defence counsel. Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier told The Tribune yesterday that the delay is related to defence counsel Murrio Ducille, KC, who has been involved in the Adrian Gibson trial for about two years and nine months. “We have asked for an urgent case management to ask that the defendant finds new counsel and a new date preferably this year or latest January be set,” Ms Fraizer said. “Matter adjourned to 1 October for that request.” The Sun, a British tabloid newspaper, published an article on Tuesday in which it interviewed Gary Vanhoeck’s wife, Kat,, about the latest delay. According to the report, the Vanhoecks moved from the UK to the Bahamas in 2011 in search of a new life. The couple lived aboard their 36ft yacht, Lucky
BRIAN MILLER, 23 being taken to court in 2015. Break, and worked in the diving industry, spending several years enjoying life in the country. That life was shattered on May 1, 2015, when masked gunmen boarded the couple’s boat and robbed them. Mr Vanhoeck, 51, was taken
from the vessel and shot in the head, while his wife was bound with duct tape before managing to escape and raise the alarm, The Sun reported. Brian Miller Jr, then 23, was later charged with Mr Vanhoeck’s murder, armed
Man remanded over alleged attempted murders of two By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 30-YEAR-OLD man has been accused of trying to shoot and kill two men in New Providence last week. Prosecutors allege Alando Williams attempted to shoot and kill Bernard Munroe and Kenrio Captain with a
handgun on September 23. Williams appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans. He was charged with two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and was not required to enter a plea. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of
Correctional Services until December 10. On that date, he is due to be served with a voluntary bill of indictment, which will send his case to the Supreme Court. He was told he has the right to apply for bail in the higher court. Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted the case. Mark Penn represented Williams.
GARY VANHOECK robbery, burglary and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He has denied the charges and has remained on bail as the case has faced repeated delays. Mrs Vanhoeck continues to seek justice for her late
husband. Speaking to The Sun after the recent court delay , she said: “What do I need to do to get justice? “It’s like a kick in the teeth. I feel absolutely deflated, annoyed and angry.
“There’s no excuse for it. It’s as if they want me to give up but I won’t. “I will see this through to the very end. I need answers to get any form of closure. “Until that happens my life is on hold.”
PAGE 8, Thursday, October 1, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Pintard leaves convention timing up to FNM council By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard has declined to say whether he backs his chairman's call for an earlier-than-planned convention, insisting the party's council will decide. Last month, FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands said the party's next convention should be held within a few months, arguing that the current October 2027 timeline is unreasonable and too far away. Yesterday, Mr Pintard
was pressed repeatedly on where he stands, but would not give a preferred timeframe. "My personal opinion is whatever it is, that's not what the issue is," he said. "The issue is the council of the Free National Movement decides on the date of the convention, and they have my support, whether they call it the first quarter or any other quarter. I'm in support." Asked about Dr Sands' position, Mr Pintard said the two men generally agreed on the party's work. "Dr Sands and I talk all
FNM LEADER MICHAEL PINTARD the time," he said, "so we are generally in agreement
on the matters that he raised with the public,
particularly around the work of the party. So no disagreement with him." When asked directly whether that meant he agreed with holding an early convention, Mr Pintard deferred to the council. "The conventions are decided by the council," he said. He said he had no difficulty with a convention as early as the first quarter, and that Dr Sands also supports whatever the council decides. Mr Pintard was also asked about speculation that deputy leader
Shanendon Cartwright could seek the FNM leadership. "No, he hasn't indicated so, but he has every right to do so if he decides," he responded. He described Mr Cartwright as a talented Bahamian with a future in politics and said he had no concerns. His decision not to appoint Mr Cartwright to the Senate after the May general election had raised eyebrows in political circles. He said he expected the party's post-election conclave to be a "good family discussion".
Rollins presses government over Court orders Bahamas Nurses healthcare and mailboat problems Union election by November 13 By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net LONG Island MP Dr Andre Rollins yesterday demanded the government fix longstanding problems affecting healthcare and mailboat services in his constituency, calling it unacceptable for the government to tout progress while ignoring the basic needs of family island communities. Dr Rollins told Parliament that he’s constantly bombarded with calls from concerned residents about the deteriorating state of essential services on the island. He described the M/V Mia Dean Ltd, which services southern Long Island, as the island’s economic lifeline, but said unreliable service has left residents facing prolonged waits for medication and other essential supplies. The Tribune reported earlier this month on residents’ concerns about freight services, with some saying people needing car parts for repairs are forced to endure long waits while residents are unable to purchase groceries in large quantities because of the limited mail boat service. Erica Darville said her daughter, who suffers from seizures, went without her prescribed medication for five days after her supply ran out because the mail boat did not arrive on time. Dr Rollins said the company contracted to provide the service doesn’t have a functional boat and is now using someone else's vessel. However, he noted that rising fuel costs have squeezed the company’s profit margin, while delayed government payments have further strained its operations. “So they cannot operate for two reasons. Number
BAHAMAS NURSES UNION PRESIDENT MURIEL LIGHTBOURN LONG ISLAND MP ANDRE ROLLINS one, they are making very little on the contract that they have to share with somebody who doesn't have the boat and secondly, the government is not paying them in a timely fashion so in some cases, they're not being paid for 10 or 11 months, and this is unacceptable.” Dr Rollins said he had raised the matter with Transport Minister Leon Lundy who indicated the matter would be addressed, but no action had yet been taken. On the healthcare front, Dr Rollins highlighted government’s promise to construct a morgue or facility to house coolers in southern Long Island, He said the facility would spare residents the distress of transporting their deceased loved ones on the back of trucks or inside vehicles to the morgue in the norther part
of the island. “It is unacceptable that we have a government that claims to be about progress that is ignoring the very fundamental requirements of these family island communities,” he added. Dr Rollins also called on the government to address outstanding payments owed to property owners in Deadman’s Cay whose land is needed for construction of the new airport. He said the owners had been advised by their lawyers not to relocate until they receive their payments. “The works of the airport being constructed, which we are grateful for, is adversely affecting the neighbouring homeowners,” he added. “They are still having to traverse the runway where heavy equipment is operating on a daily basis. Many of these persons are senior citizens.”
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A SUPREME Court judge has ordered the Bahamas Nurses Union to hold its election no later than November 13. Her ruling refused to remove President Muriel Lightbourn from office but found that Mrs Lightbourn's suspension of two board members was unlawful. In her written ruling, Justice Camille Darville-Gomez said the election deadline was set to minimise potential conflict and ensure the vote goes ahead without further delay. She also urged members to put their differences aside and work together. The decision ends a months-long internal dispute between Mrs Lightbourn and some of her executives over the union's leadership, finances and governance. In her judgment, Justice Darville-Gomez described the case as a "serious breakdown" in the union's governance. She cited suspensions ordered without following the constitution, poor financial record-keeping, inadequate minute-keeping and allegations that funds had been misappropriated. "The financial members of the union deserve better," she wrote. "It is apparent to the court that the personalities of certain members of the executives are not conducive to the proper functioning of the union," she wrote, "and the financial members are the ones who suffer as a result." The dispute erupted last year when Mrs Lightbourn suspended two board members over alleged breaches of the union's constitution. Several executives then
declared that Mrs Lightbourn was no longer a member of the union, alleging that she had failed to pay her union dues. The locks at BNU headquarters were changed, and the matter went to court. The suspended executives argued that the process used against them was unconstitutional and sought special damages. The executives also challenged the union's financial management, alleging a lack of transparency and accountability. Justice Darville-Gomez refused the executives' request to remove Mrs Lightbourn from office and declare her a non-member. She also rejected their challenge to meetings Mrs Lightbourn had held. However, the ruling did not go entirely Mrs Lightbourn's way. The judge declared her suspensions of Secretary General Shavonne Brennen and executive member Shenique Cox unlawful and void. She ordered that Ms Brennen be paid any salary withheld because of the unlawful suspension. She denied Ms Brennen's claim for consequential losses of more than $15,000. The judge also found that the union's treasurer had not breached certain provisions of the Industrial Relations Act. She ordered the executive to put the union's financial records in order within 45 days. This includes locating, securing and preserving all books, vouchers, cheque books, receipts and audited financial statements. The treasurer must give the executive copies of audited financial statements and available returns for 2021 to 2024. The treasurer must also provide a schedule listing any
documents that are unavailable and the reasons why. The executive board must also make sure that any outstanding annual returns or financial filings required under the Industrial Relations Act are completed and signed by the appropriate officers. If they have not already been filed, they must be submitted to the registrar of trade unions within 60 days of the order. Justice Darville-Gomez ordered that nomination day be held no later than October 14 and the election no later than November 13. The union last held elections in January 2023. Its constitution provides for three-year terms, meaning another election was due this year. The judge urged the two factions to work together to ensure a smooth handover after the election. She said the handover must include updating, securing and preserving the union's records, which she said did not happen after the 2023 election. She made several recommendations to the incoming executive committee to strengthen internal controls. These include virtual meetings with transparent records, adopting Robert's Rules of Order and updating the union's constitution. "The court reminds the executive board that they serve at the pleasure of the financial members of the union," she wrote, "whose interests must remain paramount until new elections restore stability and legitimacy." Mrs Lightbourn said she intends to seek re-election. The judge ordered the union to pay each party's costs. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the costs will be summarily assessed on the papers.
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Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 11
Charlie Harper • Stateside
Dems gloat over expected Republican midterm losses THIS morning, it’s 33 days until the date when many Americans feel that their great, ignominious embarrassment will finally begin to end. That’s Tuesday, November 3, election day in the US. Democrats are expected – and expecting – to win big on that day, stymying Republican plans to gerrymander Congressional districts to retain their current advantage. The Dems only need to gain a few seats to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, so that seems probable, if not certain. So what? What if the Dems do regain control of the US House of Representatives? First of all, there will
follow after Election Day a period of 60 days before the new-majority Democrats take over in the lower chamber and resume control of its many powerful committees. Six years ago, during this same two-month hiatus, an angry mob attacked the US capitol building in Washington and besmirched, likely for generations to come, Americans’ vision of their own democracy. Many rioters and some law enforcement officers were injured (and a few killed) on January 6, 2021 as Trump’s mob tried to bully Congress into pretending that the president hadn’t just been unseated. Now, Trump has pretty much finished up pardoning all of those rioters whose guilt had been
painstakingly established during Joe Biden’s one-term presidency. How will Trump react this time if/when he faces losses? It appears to be extraordinarily unlikely that he will calmly accept defeat in just five weeks’ time. He’ll likely find many others to blame when the GOP concedes the loss of at least the House. But he has already inserted himself in this campaign to such a degree that it will be difficult even for him to dodge the uncomfortable reality that American voters have had enough of him and the legions of MAGAns who surround, support and cosset him every day. Trump has become a tragic-comic figure, whose foibles and idiosyncrasies
dominate the headlines in the US and in many parts of the world. He has crazily promised $5,000 bounties to those loyalists who attended his inconsequential midterm GOP convention in Dallas three weeks ago. While national party conventions in presidential election years are a long-standing tradition in American politics, it is rare for such an event to be held by either of the two major parties outside of presidential election years. Previously, only three large, major-party conferences were held outside of a presidential election year, all by the Democratic Party, from 1974 through 1982. The Dems abandoned them after that, with their party leader at the time declaring them “a waste of money, time and energy.” The Republican Party had never staged a midterm convention before last month, and the party’s bylaws had to be hastily revised to accommodate this year’s gathering. Was it worth it? It’s not likely that many party leaders feel that way. To begin with, the scheduling was appallingly poor: The first two games of the 202627 NFL season, featuring the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, the team they beat in February, and perhaps their two leading challengers, were played on same two nights as Trump’s convention. One of these games was the first ever played in Australia. There were other issues. Trump made his absurd $5,000 offer – to be paid if the GOP retained Congressional majorities. The president rambled and blathered on to a limited TV audience and a fair number of empty seats in the arena. Even his protégé, the notorious Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, who is now running for the US Senate and not doing very well,
SPEAKER of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks with reporters outside of his office on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Washington. Photo: Mariam Zuhaib/AP admitted that the convention had failed. According to the New York Post this week, Paxton recently told a group of conservative donors and lobbyists that GOP polling numbers suffered as a result of the party’s mid-term convention. “To be honest with you, the numbers — when we did that convention, it dropped our numbers.
Everybody’s numbers dropped,” Paxton told a private gathering last week, according to audio obtained by several news outlets. “Right now, yeah, not good.” Trump himself, of course, had a different view. He told reporters afterward that “I think the fact that we had such a successful convention really helped Ken Paxton. He was a big part of it. And look, I mean, he was a great attorney general. Ken Paxton was a great attorney general, and continues to be, and I think that counts for a lot … I hear that the convention helped Ken Paxton a lot.” The president has an unshakeable faith in himself, and, as he has acknowledged in some of the books he has written, he has a firm belief that he will run in good luck. In a way, then, he seems to believe that he is right and that events will always support that belief. Being right is important to most of us, but Trump takes it a few degrees further. He even forecast his own defeat six years ago. Trump has shown us for a decade that he is one of the canniest, most prescient political observers in the country. He loudly presaged his own 2020 defeat by announcing more than once that only Joe Biden, among the many candidates vying to oppose him that year, could triumph. Trump, as he often is with his political predictions, was correct. For the record, the president has now told reporters that the Democrat most likely to reclaim the White House in 2028 is California governor Gavin Newsom. That, too, looks like a good prediction now, two years ahead of the next American presidential election. Trump, who looks, talks and acts more like an 80-year-old almost every day, may have lost a step or two under the constant pressure he attracts with his relentless narcissism. But he seems to retain the same steely determination to never take responsibility, never concede defeat and never reflect on
his own failures. Add up all of this and it’s pretty hard to look forward to November 3 with undiluted optimism. Assuming the Democrats at least retake control of the House of Representatives, we can reasonably look forward to two months of chaos, denial, real and threatened lawsuits, Trump tantrums and a depressing period of adjustment, both for the president and his legislative allies. There is increasing talk these days that the Democrats can regain control in the US Senate where they will need a net gain of four seats to succeed. But there’s still a sense that such speculation is fantasy, particularly as news breaks that Maine Republican stalwart Susan Collins may have regained control in her own re-election campaign, despite recently reported scandals among her senior staffers. Maine is generally regarded as one of the seats the Dems absolutely need to recapture if they are to succeed in the Senate. The polls – so discredited for much of this century for their repeated failures to detect grass-roots Republican support for Trump and others – continue to show a steady trend away from the president and his party. A frequently-cited indicator is ‘party preference,’ which measures which party the voters feel better about it terms of managing the country and its economy. The Democrats, who seriously lagged behind in this measurement at the start of the current Trump administration, now seem to be riding comfortably in the lead heading into the final stages of this election campaign. More pundits each week seem to be buying into forecasts of Democratic victories. Maybe the Dems will actually defy expectations and retake the Senate. Even if they do so, however, their margin of control will not approach the 67-seat level they would need to convict Trump and remove him from office after a possible House impeachment. And, assuming they win a majority in the Senate, furthermore, they would need to stay united just to frustrate his nominations and legislative initiatives. With unpredictable wild cards like Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman in their ranks, would that be very likely? So, is November 3 going to be a day when the sun finally breaks through the accumulated clouds of the Trump administration and signals the beginning of the end for this president? Maybe so. But it says here that however jubilant Trump’s opponents may feel on Election Day, their high-spirited optimism is quite unlikely to be followed by events that will inspire them going forward.
PAGE 14, Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Murder accused deny involvement in double killing By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net TWO men on trial for the May 2020 murders of Denny Rolle and Kim Smith took the witness stand in the Supreme Court on Wednesday and denied any involvement in the killings. One of them claimed that police beat him and put a bag over his head while he was in custody as a 15-year-old. Trevor Reckley told the court that he did not orchestrate the killings or give a gun to his co-accused, Shamaz Brown, who was a juvenile at the time and whom the prosecution alleges was the shooter. Brown testified that after his arrest on May 12, he was placed in a dark room at the Criminal Detective Unit (CDU), where he was slapped repeatedly, punched in the stomach and had a bag placed over his head. Rolle and Ms Smith were shot in the head on Limewood Lane around 3pm on May 11. Ms Smith died at the scene. Rolle was taken to hospital, where he later died. The prosecution alleges that Reckley, driving a dark-coloured Honda Accord, picked up Brown and another man, Dillon Williams, that day and told them "let's go bust a ride." Williams, who became a prosecution witness, previously testified that Reckley picked him up first, then
Brown, and drove them to Limewood Lane, where they saw Rolle in the road talking with Ms Smith, who was driving a blue Ford Focus. Questioned by his lawyer, Ryszard Humes, Reckley said he left home around 8am on May 11 and went to the home of his cousin, Delvante Butler, at 141 Inagua Place, Hawksbill. He said that around 10am he went shopping with Butler and Butler's girlfriend, Anastacia Cooper, in Ms Cooper's green Range Rover because his own car was running hot. Reckley said they returned to Butler's home around 1pm, and he stayed there until his mother picked him up at 5pm. He said he did not know Williams personally but knew of him from Forbisher Circle, where Reckley lived for three years before moving to Hunters. He denied approaching Williams and asking him "to bust a ride." "I was not at Forbisher Circle; I never saw him," Reckley said. He said he knew Felicia Longley but that she never gave him the keys to her Honda Accord. Shown a photo of the car, he said he had never seen it before. Reckley said he did not know Ms Smith or Rolle and did not shoot them or order their killings, as Williams had testified. "I don't know him, I don't know why he would say those things," he said.
Under cross-examination, Crown prosecutor Sean Smith asked Reckley whether he belonged to a street gang known as the Nike gang, an alleged rival of the Puma gang. Reckley said he had never been involved in any gang and knew nothing about it. Reckley said he knew Ms Longley because they lived in the same Hunters neighbourhood, and that he also knew her live-in boyfriend, Jeffrey Musgrove, because both men worked as masons. Mr Smith suggested that Reckley knew Ms Longley's Honda Accord was for sale and that he went to her home on May 11, where she gave him the keys. "I put it to you that you picked up Shamaz Brown and Dillon Williams, drove around drinking and smoking, and you drove to Limewood Lane. You asked Shamaz if he was ready, put a gun in his hand, and you saw Denny Rolle in the road standing next to a blue Ford Focus: you pinned him in, and Shamaz opened fire on Denny and shot him in the head, and continued firing," Mr Smith said. "No sir," Reckley replied. Mr Smith further suggested that after the shooting, Reckley told Brown "good job" and gave him a high five. Reckley denied it. "You orchestrated the gruesome, horrific deaths of Kim Smith and Denny Rolle. You put the gun in the hands of a juvenile
and told him to shoot," Mr Smith said. "No sir," Reckley replied. Butler, called as a defence witness, testified that Reckley was with him and his girlfriend from 10am on May 11. He said they went shopping, returned to his home around 3pm, and Reckley's mother picked him up at 5pm. Brown, represented by Krystal Newman, testified that officers arrested him on May 12 at his home in Imperial Park, after his uncle answered the door. He said he was taken to the police station and then upstairs to the CDU, where Darrell Weir asked him about the shooting. He said he told Weir he had no part in it. Brown claimed that an Officer Smith then took him to a dark room, sat him handcuffed on a chair, and left, closing the door. He said a bag was placed over his head and kept getting tighter until he felt he was suffocating, and that he was slapped from different directions and punched in the stomach. Brown said he was then taken out and questioned by officers, and continued to deny involvement. He said he was later left on a bench for hours until a shift change, when an Officer Russell began questioning him. Brown said he again insisted he knew nothing about the murders. Asked by Ms Newman whether a parent or guardian was present during the
questioning, Brown said no. He claimed Russell slapped him and said: "Tell me, I don't have time to be wasting." Brown said officers then contacted his father, and he told his father he had been beaten in custody. He said police began an interview with his father present, but his father stopped it and asked for a lawyer. He said his father returned the next day with attorney Parko Deal, and that during the record of interview he answered "no comment" to all questions on his lawyer's advice. Brown said he and his father also told the lawyer he had been beaten. Asked whether he knew Williams, Brown replied: "I do not know Dillon from a can of paint." He gave the same answer when asked about Rolle and Ms Smith. Under cross-examination, Mr Smith asked Brown whether he told doctors at Rand Memorial Hospital the following day that he had been beaten. Brown said he did not, because officers who had beaten him were in the examination room. Mr Smith told Brown that the doctor's report from his physical examination was normal and recorded no bruising or injury. Brown claimed the doctors checked his breathing, heart and blood pressure but did not look under his shirt. Mr Smith accused Brown of lying about the beating and noted there was no
record of his lawyer complaining about it at his arraignments in the Magistrate's Court and the Supreme Court. Brown admitted he had not told the magistrate or judge. Brown conceded that he had seen Williams around at various places but said he did not know him. He said he knew Reckley from the neighbourhood and had grown up seeing him in Forbisher Circle. Shown a photo of the dark-coloured Honda Accord, Brown said he had never been in the car and had never been to Limewood Lane. He said that on May 11 he was at home all day, playing, and that because of COVID-19 he was attending school virtually. He was 15 at the time. Brown's father, Shervis Brown, testified that an officer contacted him after 8pm on May 12 to say his son was at the police station. When he arrived, he said, his son was handcuffed and surrounded by several officers. He said his son told him he had been beaten, but he did not raise it with the officers. He said he noticed his son's eyes were red and one appeared bruised. He said he sat in on a record of interview with his son but told officers to stop because he wanted to contact a lawyer, and returned with one on May 13. Closing arguments are expected on Thursday. Justice Andrew Forbes is presiding.
‘Second Chance’ teen jailed for string of robberies By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A TEENAGER who told The Tribune in 2024 that he was grateful for a police programme's
chance to turn his life around was sentenced to ten years in prison yesterday for a string of armed robberies, most of them carjackings. Luther Hart, 19, pleaded guilty before
Justice Jeannine Weech Gomez to five counts of armed robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery as part of a plea agreement. A charge of receiving, to which he had pleaded not
guilty, was withdrawn. Hart appeared resigned in the prisoner's dock as the details of the charges were read in court. He was sentenced to ten years at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, with the sentences to run concurrently. The roughly one year, three months and three days he has spent on remand will be taken into account. In September 2024, Hart, a former CI Gibson student, told The Tribune he was grateful for the opportunity to turn his life around as he completed the Royal Bahamas Police Force's Second Chance programme. The programme aimed to support at-risk students in grades 9 to 12 who struggle with behavioural issues. Hart said then that he had fallen in with the wrong crowd in his early high school years. He admitted that in his 11th year he made a "terrible decision" that changed his life in an instant. "I was attacked on my way home," Hart said at the time. "At that time, I was so angry and upset that instead of calling the police, I took matters into my own hands. I ran
home, grabbed a Draco AK-47 rifle, came back, and shot off one without guilty conscience." "That decision was not only wrong," he said, "but it was also something I deeply regret. I regret letting my mother down, letting Ms White down, and letting myself down." Less than a year after that interview, the robberies began. At 2am on June 29, 2025, Hart and accomplices robbed Cedric Forbes at gunpoint near the Esso service station on Farrington Road after his motorcycle broke down. They took $50 in cash, his wallet containing his bank card and IDs, and his red iPhone 11 in a black case. The withdrawal receipt related to Mr Forbes' stolen items. An hour later, Hart and accomplices robbed Laguerre Michellette of his grey Nissan Note at gunpoint at the Village Road Shopping Centre. At 2.20am on July 7, 2025, they robbed Erica Wilchcombe at gunpoint outside her home on Buttonwood Street. They took her black 2014 Honda Fit and her tan bag, which contained her Commonwealth Bank card, passport, driver's
licence and $20 in cash. At 3am that same night, Hart and others robbed Aswan Poitier of his silver 2016 Kia Sportage at gunpoint as he parked outside his girlfriend's house on Rosewood Street. The conspiracy charge stemmed from this robbery. Mr Poitier had to lift his sleeping girlfriend out of the back of the car. Police recovered the vehicle the next day. On July 20, 2025, Hart and accomplices robbed Deangelo Ferguson of his silver Nissan Note at gunpoint after he returned home. Later that day, police found Hart driving a stolen vehicle on Meeting Street. A car chase followed, ending when Hart crashed into a wall on Munnings Road. In a subsequent police interview, Hart admitted to committing an armed robbery. In court, Hart had claimed he spent two years on remand. After the court confirmed he was first remanded on July 25, 2025, Hart said he was counting "in jail time". Timothy Bailey and Karine MacVean prosecuted the case. Walton Bain represented Hart.