GO TO THE NATION
Former PLP AG says a snap election would disrupt the government’s agenda
By RASHAD ROLLE and LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporters
FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard says Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis should call a general election rather than a by-election after Vaughn Miller’s death made the Golden Isles seat vacant - a view a former PLP attorney general cautioned against yesterday. Under the Parliamentary Elections Act, a writ for a by-election must be issued within 21 to 30 days of a vacancy. Political observers believe such a vote could
COOPER SAYS MIC A L SEAT M AY SEE A CHANGE OF BOUNDARY
By RASHAD ROLLE
News Editor
Tribune
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper yesterday revealed the MICAL constituency could be reconfigured as the Constituencies Commission reviews electoral boundaries.
“MICAL,” he noted, “is five islands. We’ve been called upon to look at scenarios like that one, to see whether there is the need to make some adjustments.” Pressed directly on whether MICAL could become more than one constituency, he replied: “All
serve as an early test of the Davis administration’s support near the end of its term. Some in the PLP have been weighing the pros and cons of having a byelection versus a general election, but sources told
Bowleg: Upcoming Boxing Day and New Year’s parades will be
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg announced yesterday that the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC) will manage the upcoming Boxing Day and New Year’s
Day parades, with a new 15-member Parade Management Committee led by veteran Junkanooer Douglas Hanna responsible for planning and execution.
Although the most iconic Junkanoo groups have expressed support for the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP),
Mr Bowleg said the decision reflects the will of the majority and insisted the government has an obligation to follow that outcome.
“In a democratic society, the majority rules,” he said at the Office of the Prime Minister’s weekly press briefing. “The groups went in and in a democratic process and made a decision on their own. Because of that, the government has an obligation to move which is for the greater good and the majority of the people who is involved in Junkanoo at this time.” He stressed the
T WO M EN I NJURED AS CAFE CO C O DESTROYED I
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
A ROUTINE Thursday afternoon turned disastrous when Café Coco, once known as Cocoplum Restaurant, was gutted by fire yesterday. The blaze erupted after two gas workers tried to fill cylinders, sparking an explosion that left both men with upper-body injuries. They were taken
to hospital by EMS. Chief Fire Officer Demris Ambrister said the police control room alerted firefighters to the Oakwood Bay blaze around 2.21pm. Two units arrived within 20 minutes and found flames confined to the restaurant’s roof. He confirmed a local liquefied petroleum gas company had been
FNM LEADER MICHAEL PINTARD
Memorial service held in honour of Vaughn Miller
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribubemedia.net
FAMILY, friends, and political colleagues gathered at the Progressive Liberal Party’s headquarters last night to honour Environment and Natural Resources Minister Vaughn Miller, who died on Sunday at 64. The memorial drew a large crowd as tributes poured in for the late minister, remembered for his strong principles, compassion, and commitment to public service.
His wife accepted a posthumous honour on his behalf — the title of steward councillor — presented by PLP chairman Fred Mitchell and Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.
Mr Davis described Mr Miller as “very loyal,” recalling how he often reminded him of what it meant to lead with integrity.
“He spoke truth with conviction. He gave encouragement to the discouraged. Demanded accountability from leaders. He taught us that words matter when they are grounded in belief,” Mr Davis said.
“In the House of Assembly, he quickly showed himself to be a man of principle. He took stands that were not always popular. Sometimes he stood alone, but he never betrayed his conscience. That is why people respected him. They
may not agree with him, but they believed in him. Vaughn’s example reminds us that politics without principle is hollow.”
Mr Davis reflected on Mr Miller’s early political aspirations, saying he once sought the PLP’s nomination for South Eleuthera in 2017 before ultimately running with the Free National Movement.
He recalled Mr Miller appearing “uncomfortable” from the day he was sworn in as a Golden Isles MP under the FNM, and remembered advising him not to switch sides too quickly.
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper said Mr Miller’s death was still surreal. “Although he entered under the banner of the FNM, his loyalty was not blind to party but was to people,” he said.
Mr Miller was fired as a parliamentary secretary in 2018 after voting against the Minnis administration’s VAT increase. He resigned from the FNM the following year and later joined the PLP, citing his principles and disillusionment with decisions such as the controversial Town Centre Mall lease.
Mr Mitchell lamented the string of recent losses in the party, recalling the sudden death of Social Services and Information Minister Obie Wilchcombe in September 2023. He said his last conversation with Mr Miller came after Mr Miller
announced he would not seek re-election, when he thanked him for his service and wished him well.
Golden Isles branch chairman Henrico Ellis praised Mr Miller’s devotion to youth in the constituency, saying he “quietly touched the lives of countless” residents through personal acts of generosity.
Former Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller remembered helping with his re-election campaign and said he never forgot Mr Miller’s courage in voting against the VAT increase.
“He had a conversation. He said ‘Sir if you know the trials and tribulations that I went through after I made the decision that we should not impose a higher VAT on the poor people of our country. And if you know how bad they treated me, I have to apologize to you sincerely for not seeing you as much as I should have seen you sir but I’m gonna do better’. And you know what? He did better.”
He also recalled Mr Miller complaining of chest pains for years and experiencing swelling in his hand.
Broadcaster Pricewell Forbes, who worked alongside Mr Miller during his time in media, said they remained close over the years. He remembered Mr Miller describing pain that struck him three to four times a day and was “pretty harsh and intense.”
PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis speaking during a memoiral service in honour of Vughn Miller, yesterday.
Photos: Nikia Charlton
Davis: We are mourning and haven’t considered the by-election just yet
ELECTION from page one
The Tribune there is no indication Mr Davis will call an early general election.
Mr Pintard argued that with Bahamians facing financial hardship, it would be wasteful for the government to spend millions on a single by-election when national issues remain unresolved.
“We’re discussing general election,” he said when asked yesterday whether the FNM had begun planning for a by-election.
“Given the financial challenges that the Bahamian people are facing, it would be interesting to see whether or not this government is prepared, to again, as they did in West Grand Bahama, spent over, we believe, $10 million on one seat.”
“Bahamians have real life bread and butter issues that the government needs to dedicate resources to. A general election will give one party or another a new mandate, and so he ought to go to a general election.”
Pressed on whether the FNM would not contest a by-election, Mr Pintard replied: “I did not say that. I said exactly what I meant. We ought to go to a general election.”
Meanwhile, former
Attorney General Sean McWeeney, KC, told The Tribune last night that a snap election would disrupt the government’s agenda, adding that he would be very surprised if the prime minister goes that route. He said shifting course because of Mr Miller’s death could create setbacks and political risk.
“Things are being rolled out by the government with the expectation that there won’t be general election let’s say July or August of next year,” he said. “To suddenly change that because of the death of Vaughn Miller and to say no we’re going to accelerate things means the things you were preparing to roll out can’t happen anymore that way and it’s clearly a political deficit attached to that.”
Mr McWeeney agreed that having a by-election can set the tone for the next general election and gauge public mood. But he cautioned the results can be misleading since it does not reflect the attitudes of the wider country.
“It gives politicians a good idea as to what they can expect if a general election is called but mind you it can also be deceptive because you have to remember that all of the resources of
the government are concentrated in one single constituency so that can have a distorting effect too,” he said. Last night, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis
told The Tribune it is too early to be making political decisions.
“We are mourning at this time and I haven’t given consideration to that,” he said regarding
a by-election. “The law requires me to call it within 60 days. I’m giving consideration to that.” Golden Isles is regarded as a swing constituency. Mr Miller, who represented
the seat for the Progressive Liberal Party and served as Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, died on September 28 at age 64 after two terms as the MP.
Minnis declines answering question of possible DNA link
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday declined to say whether he will contest the next election under the Democratic National Alliance, insisting only that he will run in Killarney and pivoting to flood-relief priorities.
Asked about chatter that he will lead a revived DNA, Dr Minnis said he returned to the country to widespread speculation but was more concerned about residents still displaced by last week’s flooding. He called for a long-term plan to map flood zones, protect wetlands and require elevated construction in vulnerable communities, warning of health risks from mould in water-logged homes.
Pressed on whether he would wear the DNA’s green next year, he sidestepped again, cheekily noting that October is
Breast Cancer Awareness Month and saying he would be “wearing pink” while organising a Killarney pink walk. Asked what colour he’ll wear beyond October, he replied that he will represent his constituents’ wishes and will run in Killarney.
When questioned directly if that meant an independent bid, he repeated: “I’m running in Killarney.” He added that voters would “see Minnis name on the ballot”.
The speculation follows the DNA’s announcement that it will regroup and elect new officers, and comes months after FNM leader Michael Pintard confirmed Dr Minnis would not be nominated in Killarney, with Senator Maxine BarnettEllis ratified as the party’s candidate. DNA founder Branville McCartney this week dismissed talk of him and Dr Minnis joining the DNA as “pure political mischief.” Mr McCartney said he has no plans to return to frontline politics.
Cooper says the commission has made significant progress analysing boundaries
CHANGES from page one
things are possible. We’re looking at geographic makeup, but most importantly, we’re looking at the demographic makeup and the population sizes. It’s too soon for me to make specific comments on what the changes might be. The chair of the boundaries commission is the Speaker of the House. We have a committee represented by the opposition, Mr Cartwright, as well as a justice. It would be premature for me to talk about specifics of this report. Suffice to say, it’s coming soon.”
According to the 2022 census, the MICAL constituency — covering Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, and Long Cay — had a population of just over 2,000 residents, significantly fewer than many other constituencies in the country. However, it is one of the country’s most geographically sprawling seats; its islands are not directly connected by regular transport
links.
Mr Cooper said the Commission has made “significant progress” analysing boundaries with a focus on ensuring a fairer distribution of voters across constituencies.
Officials have repeatedly highlighted imbalances between larger constituencies in the west, Killarney and Golden Isles.
“We knew that Killarney and the Golden Isles and some of the constituencies in the west were a lot larger than some of the constituencies in the inner city,” Mr Cooper said.
He added that the timing of the report is intended to coincide with the voter registration exercise now underway. “As the registration process advances, we’re going to look to see whether there needs to be some adjustment,” he said. “So Prime Minister Davis, in his wisdom, thought that the later we present the report, the more accurate information we will have. Suffice to say, the report is coming soon.”
KILLARNEY MP DR HUBERT MINNIS
FNM LEADER MICHAEL PINTARD
DPM: Cruise arrivals drive S&P credit rating upgrade
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
DEPUTY Prime Min-
ister Chester Cooper said Standard & Poor’s recognition of cruise tourism as one driver of The Bahamas’ recent credit rating upgrade proves the industry’s surging arrivals are boosting the economy, even as stopover numbers lag.
Mr Cooper, who has responsibility for tourism, said overall visitor
arrivals are about ten percent ahead of last year, with strong cruise traffic offsetting a slowdown in overnight stays.
“Quarter one of 2026 is looking strong,” he said. “Fourth quarter is looking good relative to last year. We’ve seen some dips in stopover business, driven mainly by the fall off in consumer confidence in our major source market, USA, as well as other geopolitical issues. We’re tracking slightly behind last year, which
was a record-setting year in terms of stopovers, but suffice to say, we are ten percent ahead roughly in overall arrivals. We anticipate that this is going to hold towards the year-end.”
“We expect that cruise arrivals will continue to be extremely strong, notwithstanding the armchair pundits talking about cruise arrivals. I want to point out that S&P, in its decision to upgrade The Bahamas, cited cruise, cruise
Cooper defends govt’s delivery of transparency and good governance
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor
DEPUTY Prime Min-
ister Chester Cooper yesterday insisted — without evidence — that the government is delivering on transparency and good governance after a US report criticised The Bahamas for failing to fully enact the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and stalling other key reforms.
The US State Department’s 2025 Investment Climate Statement warned that while laws exist to combat corruption, enforcement against public officials has been inconsistent and major reforms — including full implementation of the FOIA, campaign finance legislation, and an Integrity Commission — remain pending.
Pressed on the findings, Mr Cooper said The Bahamas has already made
important strides.
“We’ve implemented certain elements of the Freedom of Information Act. It is an onerous process, and we are indeed making progress,” he said. “Parts of the legislation have been brought into force, and no doubt over time you will see even more. We’re committed to good governance. We are committed to anti-corruption.” In reality, only one FOIA provision — the appointment of an Information Commissioner — has been brought into force, and that happened in 2021. The office has since been left underfunded, and Prime Minister Philip Davis has said the law is not a priority for his administration.
The US report also highlighted the passage of the Ombudsman Bill in 2024 but noted that the office has yet to be made operational, underscoring continued gaps in the country’s accountability
framework.
Mr Cooper argued that investor-facing processes have been tightened — citing automation, weekly National Economic Council meetings, and inter-agency coordination — and pointed to more than $13bn in new projects as evidence of confidence.
“I am satisfied that we have made significant progress. There is more to be done,” he said.
While the report also flagged the absence of progress in creating Bahamas Invest, the promised upgrade of the Bahamas Investment Authority, Mr Cooper said the government chose instead to strengthen existing systems. He said reforms now underway are already being felt by investors.
“We want to ensure that we are protecting our environment for future generations and we are uncompromising whilst we work to speed the process even further,” he said.
tourism and the economic benefit as one of the primary reasons for the upgrade, as well as the overall fiscal management of the economy. So let’s not sneeze at the significant growth that we’re seeing in cruise tourism.”
In its recent upgrade, S&P cited record arrivals of 11.2 million in 2024, up from 9.6 million in 2023, noting that the growth was “largely driven by cruise passengers.” The agency forecast gross domestic product
growth of about 2.1 percent in 2025, with cruise inflows and Family Island investment supporting “sustained momentum.”
At the same time, S&P cautioned that fiscal surpluses are unlikely without further reform, projecting deficits of around 1.2 to 1.3 percent of GDP in the years ahead.
Mr Cooper said the government is focused on strengthening stopover arrivals through new flights and diversifying
tourism markets. He said the government will launch new initiatives next week, including a three-city tour in Canada, where arrivals have already jumped 75 percent compared to last year. He said officials are negotiating agreements with Brazil, expanding airlift, and preparing to roll out additional flights, including a newly announced service from Montreal and 27 other new Canadian flights.
Halkitis denies govt struggling to pay bills despite vendor complaints
its bills, insisting there is no shortage of funds despite complaints from vendors and service providers. At the Office of the Prime Minister’s weekly press briefing, Mr Halkitis responded to concerns over delayed payments, such as the Abaco case where the Ministry of Works was locked out of its office for more than $150,000 in unpaid rent; the suspension of services at the Sweeting’s Cay clinic after its contractor allegedly went six months without pay; and
repeated warnings from National Health Insurance providers about long delays in reimbursements. He said some of the problems stemmed from administrative lapses rather than a lack of money. He stressed that
contractors must be properly engaged, their work certified as complete, and banking details submitted before funds are released. “If you do work for the government, you’re properly engaged, you do quality work, you will be paid,” he said. “The suggestion is that we don’t have money to pay people. That, of course, is not the case.”
The Sweeting’s Cay closure earlier this week highlighted the strain. Medical services were cancelled when overgrown bushes and a swarm of bees blocked the clinic’s entrance. Yard maintenance contractor Mizpah Duncombe said she could no longer continue the work after half a year without payment, claiming she had been forced to buy fuel and cover transportation from Freeport
out of her own pocket.
In Abaco, a landlord locked Works officials out of their office in September over unpaid rent and renovation bills. Minister Clay Sweeting admitted the arrears, blaming staff for not carrying out a Ministry of Finance directive. NHI providers have also said months-long delays in reimbursements are hurting their ability to pay staff and keep clinics open. Smaller practices warn they may have to scale back participation in the scheme if the government does not resolve the issue.
Opposition figures and patient advocates have seized on the complaints, calling the delays a sign of poor administration that leaves both service providers and the public exposed.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER CHESTER COOPER
Flood victims still struggle after storm
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
NORMALCY has yet to return for residents of East Street South, who spent yesterday morning discarding clothes, books, and furniture ruined by Tropical Storm Imelda.
When The Tribune visited, Shanny Rolle’s 82-year-old’s mother’s house was surrounded by piles of soaked belongings. Furniture, bins of books, and family photos were spread across the porch to dry, with large sheets draped over the fence.
Ms Rolle said her mother, who suffers from dementia, had stayed with her during the storm since her own area did not flood. Even so, she returned to find water had risen almost ankledeep inside her mother’s home, seeping through every room.
Carrying large garbage bags, she prepared to throw away most of what was left. She said all of the furniture was damaged and now needs to be replaced, adding that the home’s water tank was also ruined.
Ms Rolle recalled that her mother’s housekeeper was trapped inside during the flood. “She couldn’t get out, and we couldn’t get in. We have a little higher ground inside the house, but she was able to go there,” she said.
She described the flooding as the worst she has ever
seen in the area, noting that although the community is low-lying, it had never been hit this severely.
A pump truck was later deployed to clear water from the streets, but residents complained about poor drainage and called for urgent assessments and new infrastructure.
Nearby, Ms Rolle’s relative, Kendrell Hepburn, was also throwing away damaged clothes and furniture. She hired someone to wash what could be salvaged, saying she was too overwhelmed to manage while her apartment remained in chaos.
At the height of the storm, Ms Hepburn strapped her five-year-old son to her back and drove to a family member’s home for safety. After returning, she used two submersible pumps to clear her house.
“My body is painful, having to get all the water out here,” she said. “Bending down, baling out, wringing out a mop, wringing out clothes, and lifting stuff.”
She showed mildew spreading across her sofa, with her bedroom set and fridge also destroyed. Shoes and other belongings were laid outside to dry, though she feared more rain could undo her efforts.
Ms Hepburn said she hopes life will return to normal by the weekend. She has been working remotely but plans to return to the office on Monday.
SWEETING ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF 2025 LOCAL GOVT JUNIOR COUNCIL ELECTIONS
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
WORKS and Family Island Affairs Minister
Clay Sweeting yesterday announced the launch of the 2025 Local Government Junior Council elections, which will be held across 47 schools nationwide.
Speaking in Grand Bahama, Mr Sweeting said nomination day is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, with voting set for Thursday, October 16. He said the programme is part of the government’s effort to prepare future leaders by giving students an early introduction to governance. Students in grades 7 through 12 will elect
junior councillors to represent their interests and ideas.
The minister described the Junior Council initiative as a training ground for leadership, offering students direct experience in responsibility and service. He urged candidates to run with honesty and integrity rather than making unrealistic promises, noting that some students in previous elections had pledged large projects like gyms and swimming pools that never materialised.
Mr Sweeting praised the strong participation of Grand Bahama students and highlighted the competitive standard they continue to set in both junior and national elections.
He also announced the winners of the 2024/2025 Junior Council competition: Mary Star of the Sea Junior Council placed first and received $5,000; Inagua All Age and Mayaguana All Age tied for second, each awarded $3,000; and Jack Hayward Junior High placed third, receiving $2,000. Honourable mentions went to Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High, St George’s High, and Sunland Baptist Academy, each awarded $500.
The minister thanked teachers and local government practitioners for mentoring students, stressing that their guidance is key to ensuring the country’s next generation of leaders is well prepared.
A PUMP truck works to clear water from an East Street South neighbourhood after Tropical Storm brought what some residents say is ‘the worst flooding’ that ever seen in the area.
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
The Tribune Limited
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“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-
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Should a by-election or a general election be the right call?
AS members of the PLP gathered last night to pay tribute to Vaughn Miller, there was a question in the air for the party’s leader.
The passing of the Minister for the Environment inevitably leads to the prospect of a by-election – but with the country already on the run-in towards a general election, should Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis avoid a by-election by ringing the bell for the race to begin across the whole nation?
FNM leader Michael Pintard has called for that very measure – but of course the FNM has everything to gain from an early election call, you might say, in that it gives them the opportunity to get into power sooner than otherwise might be possible.
There are lots of aspects to this that we, the public, do not know, of course. Quite when the prime minister was planning to ring the bell in the first place has never been revealed – so how much difference an early election call might make is something only he and his war room would know.
If a by-election does take place, however, as it must do constitutionally without an early election called, it will be keenly watched as an indicator of the general election to come.
If the FNM wins, it will be seen as a warning sign for the PLP – and might well see the party take its term to the absolute limit to avoid being ousted by the electorate, or to give the party time to convince voters to continue backing the party in power.
If the PLP wins, it will be a second by-election defeat for Mr Pintard –and that might well put pressure on his leadership.
High stakes for both sides – although there will be other closely watched factors too. Will the Coalition of Independents run in a by-election for a short-term seat or save their money for the general? Will the newly resurfaced DNA use the by-election as a comingout party?
Then there will be the matter of turnout – how many voters will be fired up enough to cast their ballot for a candidate who will represent them for perhaps only a brief time before they are asked to vote again? And as everyone will obsess over the outcome of such a ballot, how accurate will such interpretations be if they are based on only a fraction of the electorate in comparison to a national vote?
The vote might be a protest vote against the current government, a blackening of the eye in the knowledge that a vote at the general can go back the other way, a reminder that the people might not be happy on some issues without risking being snubbed longer-term by an administration.
As much as the calls to simply go ahead with a full general election might make some sense, the need for a by-election should not rush anyone into anything. If the government is ready to go with a general election in a similar timeframe, all well and good. But we are talking about the strength of the nation here – the time is right when the time is right, not when it is convenient.
The likeliest outcome of all of this is that a by-election will indeed go ahead. Indeed, it might prove a quandry for both major parties. The PLP reportedly has deep pockets for its election war chest, with the suggestion being that the FNM does not quite have so much funds on hand for the upcoming vote. If that is true, a by-election can be used to drain the Opposition’s funds further, so they do not go so far in the general election. If, of course, that is true.
Two things are certain – any decision will be based on strategic considerations, and the outcome of any by-election will be watched closely for any sign of what it means. As for that decision Mr Davis has to make, we shall doubtless find out very soon.
DNA gives condolences for Miller
EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE passing of Vaughn Miller is a great loss to our nation. The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) extends heartfelt condolences to his wife Cassandra, his daughter, family, friends, and followers.
Pastor Miller lived a life of service—first through the airwaves, then in the church, and later in the halls of Parliament. As a beloved radio voice for many years, he educated, uplifted, and inspired thousands. His words carried wisdom, faith, and encouragement, and his program became a trusted source of both information and inspiration. When he later answered the call of God
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Respect our police ofcers
EDITOR, The Tribune.
IN recent times, the police force in The Bahamas has faced its share of criticism, rumours, conspiracies, and allegations that have cast shadows over the men and women who serve. These narratives often drown out the truth, giving the force a reputation it does not deserve. I want the Bahamian nation, especially our young people, to understand who a policeman truly is and why the police remain vital to the very fabric of our society. That is why I put this account together: so that Bahamians, young and old, can appreciate what real policemen do and the price they pay for that service.
men and women see the darkest side of humanity and yet still hold onto the belief in goodness.
In a nation as close-knit as The Bahamas, where everyone knows everyone, this responsibility carries an even deeper weight.
to establish a church, he continued to minister with the same dedication and compassion. Beyond his ministry, Pastor Miller was a tireless advocate for the people. He championed the protection and fair use of The Bahamas’ natural resources and environment. This is a cause that remains close to the heart of the DNA. His work on the Natural Resources Committee of Parliament and later as Minister of Environment and Natural Resources reflected his deep belief that Bahamians deserve to benefit from the wealth of their land and seas. Earlier this year, the passage of the Mining Act set a foundation for ensuring that future
generations share in this wealth. Pastor Miller’s vision was one where natural resources would fuel national growth and provide opportunities for all. In his honor, the DNA reaffirms its commitment to this fight. We will continue to push for policies that ensure the wealth of our nation is managed responsibly and shared equitably, so that all Bahamians—present and future—may prosper.
Pastor Vaughn Miller’s voice, his faith, and his passion for justice will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the work we do in the DNA and the lives he touched.
THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL ALLIANCE October 2, 2025.
Most of us join the force as young men and women, giving the best years of our lives to this calling. We serve from youth until retirement, dedicating decades to keeping this nation safe. Too often, when our time in uniform ends, we return to society unnoticed, sometimes unappreciated. But make no mistake, being a policeman is not an easy task. It is a sacrifice that demands recognition.
A policeman is far more than a badge and a gun. We are guardians of our communities, the first line of defence against disorder, and the quiet heroes who walk the razor’s edge between peace and chaos. We are the ones called when danger strikes, the ones who stand between ordinary citizens and the violence of the world. And when I say “policeman,” I speak also of our brothers and sisters across law enforcement: defence force marines, firemen, customs and immigration officers, prison officers, and security officers.
For many young Bahamians, the policeman is not just an authority figure. He is an icon, a beacon of hope, a symbol that even in the hardest times there are people willing to stand tall for what is right. But respect does not come without cost. The life of a policeman is one of constant danger, testing the very limits of endurance. I remember 1993, when I was stationed in Eleuthera during a powerful storm at Glass Window Bridge, that place where the Atlantic and Caribbean collide with terrifying force. Amid crashing waves, we were called to rescue a man stranded on the bridge. We pulled him free, but on the return a monstrous wave swept us both into the raging sea. I broke my tailbone, an injury that scars me to this day, and I nearly drowned. That man, whose life I had just helped save, died in my arms. Moments like these are not just stories; they are the real cost of wearing the uniform. And sometimes the danger comes not from the sea but from the very people we protect. Witnesses who aid justice often become targets, and officers stand with them in that risk. We face the constant knowledge that in pursuing justice, we
place our lives and the lives of our families in jeopardy. Behind the uniform are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives, human beings whose loved ones worry every time they walk out the door. When we put on that uniform, we are not just protecting strangers. We are protecting our own, our neighbours, our families, our nation. It takes a special kind of human being to be a policeman: one with courage, compassion, integrity, and unshakable resolve. Despite the critics, the politics, and the sacrifices, we endure. We keep showing up, day after day, because we believe in honor, honesty, and service. The so-called bad apples do not represent us. The true policemen, the real policemen, are the ones who quietly carry this nation on their backs. I share this not to boast, but to open the eyes of those who may have forgotten. When you see a police officer, do not only see the uniform. See the human being, the sacrifice, the silent strength. Show them the honour and respect they deserve, for they are more than enforcers of law. They are icons of hope, protectors of order, and living proof that even in adversity, there are still men and women willing to stand for what is right. so when your path cross with a police officer, in or out of uniform, smile, be courteous, give salutations in your own way, and no that he or she is not only your protector but the keeper of this great Bahama land.
CAMALO MCCOY
Retired policeman October 2, 2025.
These
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TWO dragon flies taking a moment to rest.
Photo: Engin Akyurt
‘No private entity has entitlement to the management
PARADES from page one
government is not bound by any agreement with the JCNP. “There is no existing contract or obligation of the government to the JCNP with the management of these periods. No private entity has entitlement to the management of Junkanoo,” he said.
The Parade Management Committee, he added, will include only experienced Junkanooers who have previously overseen parades.
“Every name that will be named in the upcoming days, you will find out that these are experienced people who have been managing long enough, who understand this, who managed parades before, know what to do and know how to make sure it’s staying smoothly,” he said.
Mr Bowleg said he was disappointed by the growing political tone of the dispute, stressing that the focus should remain on the cultural tradition itself.
“I want the Bahamian people to understand that whatever we do is not for political gain or any promotion of myself or any individuals. I have a job to do. I was elected to put policies in place and to ensure that I give the Bahamian the best thing that is possible for them.”
He encouraged all Junkanoo groups to take part in the national parades, noting that the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day events are funded by the government and open to everyone.
The decision follows reports in The Tribune last week that JCNP chairman Dion Miller accused the government of using “political appointees” on the NJC to destabilise Junkanoo.
He said ten major groups, including the Saxons, Roots, One Family, and the World Famous Valley Boys, would compete under a new “League of Champions” banner in defiance of the government’s move. The clash also comes as the Davis administration advances its draft National Junkanoo Authority Bill, which proposes a statutory body to regulate funding and parade management.
The JCNP has condemned the bill as an attempt to strip it of authority, while the government says its intervention is about fair play and majority rule.
Mr Bowleg said the upcoming parades will proceed under experienced management, stressing that unity is essential. “It doesn’t matter who manages the parade. What happens is when you get on Bay Street and you perform, that’s what this is all about.”
Two charged in separate matters for indecent assault of a minor and cruelty to children
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
TWO people were arraigned in Magistrates Court yesterday on separate charges involving minors, one accused of indecent assault and the other of child cruelty. Both were granted bail. In the first case, 29-yearold Latario Sands, of Isles Way, off Soldier Road, was charged with two counts of indecent assault. Prosecutors allege that on September 28 in New Providence he assaulted a
15-year-old girl and, in a separate incident the same day, a 12-year-old girl. Sands pleaded not guilty. He was granted $7,500 bail with one or two sureties and ordered to report to the Grove Police Station every Sunday before 7pm. He is also prohibited from contacting the alleged victims or witnesses. His matter was adjourned to January 28, 2026. In the second case, Monique Util, a mother of three, was charged with cruelty to children. Court dockets allege that on September 30 she neglected a
four-year-old child “in a manner causing unnecessary suffering or injury to health.”
Ms Util pleaded not guilty after conferring with her attorney, Gary Russell, who argued she is a responsible mother and active in her community. Despite the prosecutor’s objections, the court granted her $5,000 bail with two sureties and ordered her to report to the Grove Police Station every Sunday before 7pm.
Her trial is set for December 3, 2025.
TWO MEN CHARGED WI T H S T EALING AND MONEY LAUNDERING IN SEPARAT E INCIDEN T S
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
TWO men were arraigned in the Magistrates’ Court yesterday on separate stealing and money laundering charges involving thousands of dollars allegedly moved through local bank accounts.
Blake Miller, 21, of Seabreeze Lane, was charged in connection with incidents on September 26. Prosecutors allege he, while acting with another, stole $1,200 from Livingston Clark and laundered the same sum. He is also
accused of stealing $500 from Colleen Butler and laundering $1,000 from her into his personal account. Miller, represented by attorney Alex Dorsett, pleaded not guilty. He was granted $2,000 bail with one or two sureties and ordered to sign in at the Elizabeth Estates Police Station on the first Monday of each month. His case was adjourned to December 8. In a separate matter, Kendrick Ramsey, 19, of Concha Road off Seabreeze Lane, faced one count of stealing and six counts of money laundering linked to a $14,000 transfer
from Bridget Ferguson on September 24. Prosecutors claim Ramsey distributed the stolen funds through a series of transfers, including $3,000 to Giovanni Cartwright, $2,500 each to Helen Johnson and Iandre Adderley, $1,000 to Brianna Sweeting, and $250 to Miller.
Ramsey, represented by attorney Sherita Butler, also pleaded not guilty. He was granted $6,500 bail with one or two sureties and ordered to report to the Fox Hill Police Station on the first Monday of each month before 6pm. His matter was adjourned to December 9.
M AN ACCUSED OF ASSAULT ING AND MAKING T HREAT S AGAINS T HIS BROT HER IN DECADE-LONG FAMILY FEUD
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
A MAN accused of assaulting his brother was remanded to prison yesterday for his own safety after prosecutors described a violent family feud stretching back nearly a decade.
Austin Swain Jr, 38, of Thatch Palm Avenue, was arraigned on charges of assault and threatening harm against his younger brother, Chelson Swain, over an alleged incident on
August 4 involving a cordless phone. He pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors told the court the brothers’ disputes date to 2016 and have included multiple violent episodes. The same police officer has reportedly handled their cases repeatedly.
The prosecutor noted that the feud escalated to a shooting, with Austin interjecting in court to say he was the victim and that Chelson was the shooter. He said he forgave his
brother and tried to move on. Citing safety concerns, the prosecutor urged that Austin be separated from his family, and the magistrate ordered him remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. “Every family has their issues, their issue is with me,” Austin said defiantly after learning he would be sent to prison “for his safety.”
The case was adjourned to October 27.
MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORTS AND CULTURE MARIO BOWLEG
RBDF honours officers for overseas service in Haiti
THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) concluded a two-day awards and commission ceremony this week, celebrating officers who served on dangerous overseas missions and formally welcoming 22 new officers into its ranks.
The ceremonies, held at Government House on September 25 and 26, were presided over by Governor General, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Cynthia A. Pratt.
On the second day of the events (September 26), 117 officers received the prestigious Overseas Campaign Decoration for serving in campaigns outside The Bahamas for at least 30 days. Additionally, nine officers were awarded the Multinational Security Support Medal for their work with international partners in Haiti.
Defence Force Commander, Commodore Floyd Moxey, specifically recognised the crews of HMBS Nassau and HMBS
Bahamas for their exemplary service during the multinational security mission in Haiti in 2024 and 2025.
Commodore Moxey also addressed the 22 newly commissioned junior officers, urging them to embrace the “sacred role of leadership”. He encouraged them to “lead with integrity, courage, and compassion,” and to uphold the RBDF’s core value: “to do the right thing, at all times, even when no one is looking.”
During the first day of the ceremonies (September 25), Dame Cynthia presented Gallantry Medals, Distinguished Medals, Meritorious Medals, King’s Coronation Medals, and Long Service Medals to deserving officers and marines, recognising service of 18, 25, and 30 years. Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe, was in attendance for both days of the ceremonies.
Photos: Letisha Henderson/BIS
Why is everything such a secret around here?
WHEN I was a teenager, my friends would sometimes whisper in a hushed tone in our ear and we would all promise to keep everything they said a secret. Our eyes would grow wide at whatever the revelation was and we’d get a little thrill at being let in on the secret, like we were part of the few who knew whatever it was.
Like a bunch of conspirators, we were in it together, solemnly promising never to tell anyone what we just heard. It might have been a deep, dark secret, best kept hidden, or as trivial as who was seen flirting with someone else when his girlfriend was just steps away with her back turned. We were just kids and for the most part, the secrets we kept and vowed never to tell were pretty harmless. We giggled or shushed or rolled our eyes. But as we grew up and older and supposedly wiser, we clung to that world of secrecy making it something greater and more culturally ingrained. We remained coy instead of forthright, hiding information instead of sharing it. We behaved as if our lives, our business practices, our financial records and our government’s activities were all lumped into one big bag of secrets. We condoned closed door meetings even though it was the public business that was being conducted. It was a practice that was acknowledged, accepted and reinforced in what we did. We did not have to share business success stories or profit and loss statements because we didn’t pay corporate income tax so how much we earned was nobody’s business but ours.
By Diane Phillips
We protected bank secrecy in the name of confidentiality. Accounts in family trusts and safety deposit boxes became as enshrined in secrecy as our whispers about a would-be wayward boyfriend’s behaviour had been decades earlier.
Nobody’s business but ours
We became a society of do not tell. And now we are paying the price. When those like ORG executive director Matt Aubry call for Freedom of Information, for the full funding and implementation not just the promise, his cries fall on deaf ears, ignored by too many of us still revolving on the merry-go-round of what I do is my business and none of yours. But guess what? What the people in public office do is our business and kudos to those like ORG which, by the way is engaged in a full week of activities about Freedom of Information, transparency and accountability and how to make your voice heard in an election season, kudos to them for continuing the talk.
Here are things I would like to know that I cannot find out because we live in a world shrouded in the same cloak of secrecy that we had as kids, as if keeping secrets made us special.
Naked and unafraid
I’d like to know the
name of the man or family that bought the bank repossessed house across the street from me, purchased but never moved in and just let it go, with weeds as tall as a NBA player and branches of trees all over and a plywood fence that brings down the value of the neighbourhood.
The other night I heard noises in the yard, rustling and what sounded like trouble. I alerted a neighbour. They went to inspect since the abandoned house, probably home to rodents and vermin, was supposed to be empty. They found a man in the pool.
Naked and unafraid.
I cannot even imagine what was in the pool since there has been no power or pool pump working for more than a year, maybe two. When they asked him to get out, he protested, in his best drugged voice telling them he was just taking a bath.
But I can’t get the name of the man who owns the house and beg him to clean up the yard. There is no freedom of information. I am not alone. There is a house like that in nearly every neighbourhood but without information, we are the ones left out. Why is property ownership a secret? Who are we protecting? What secrets are we hiding? What would a map of Eleuthera or Cat Island or Abaco look like if we saw who owned what land and if we could just
see what Crown Land was available that we might be able to apply for?
We wallow in questions to which we know we should have a right to an answer and sadly resign ourselves to the fact that what is around us, even across the street or next door, is one of our business because we live in a land of secrets dressed up as confidentiality.
I’d like to know why certain documents that should be public at the Department of Physical Planning are not available to the public. They were available a few weeks ago, but now they either can’t be found or they are no longer available for inspection. Which records, exactly, are secret and which are public?
I’d like to know – many of us would like to know – the financial worth of a Cabinet minister when he or she comes into office and their worth when they leave. But apparently that is none of my business either even though they are public figures and there is a law that requires financial status reporting for certain elected officials. I believe
it has been more than a decade since that requirement was fulfilled.
I’d like to know small stuff, too, like how the right to post billboards got assigned to Public Parks and Beaches Authority when the last place in the world you want glaring signs advertising cockroach, rodent and rat control is a park or beach. Aren’t parks and beaches supposed to be for leisure, recreation, sport, family time, exercise, all things natural and good, not crass commercialism. There is a place for everything.
I’d like to know what is in many of the Heads of Agreement documents that we will never see. Each of us has something we want to know but have been told you can know only on a need -to-know basis.
For those whose family members or loved ones have been beaten by law enforcement, they would like to know why records disappeared before bruises healed and scar tissue formed. Hiding the bad apple doesn’t make it go away, it merely spreads the sour scent of rot.
The Bahamas has passed the half century mark. We can no longer hide behind being young and inexperienced at governing. It is time to come out in the open. People are amazingly willing to forgive even the worst transgressions, but they don’t like being kept in the dark and treated like they have no need to know.
We are no longer kids. Secrecy might have been a joking matter when we were young, but it is no laughing matter in a country where being open and honest with ourselves is the only way to know where we stand so we can decide where we want to go, together, not in hiding but in the open air of trust and confidence.
A mighty slow rhythm
This scene was a first – a few booths occupied but all empty tables at 11.15am Wednesday at Rhythm Cafe, LPIA. Getting through the airport without long lines was a rare treat. What it said about the state of the industry on that particular day was another story.
RHYTHM Cafe at LPIA on Wednesday.
Photo captured on the north side of Shirley Street across from Nassau
Two killed in car ramming and stabbing attack at English synagogue on Jewish holy day
MANCHESTER
Associated Press
AN assailant drove a car into people outside a synagogue Thursday in northern England and then began stabbing them, killing two and seriously hurting at least three in what police called a terrorist attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year.
Officers shot and killed the suspect at the synagogue in Manchester, police said, though authorities took some time to confirm he was dead because he was wearing a vest that made it appear as if he had explosives. Police later said he did not have a bomb.
The Metropolitan Police force in London, which leads the nation’s counter-terrorism policing operations, declared the rampage a terrorist attack.
Authorities said the man believed responsible was a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent named Jihad Al-Shamie, who entered the U.K. as a young child and became a citizen in 2006. An initial check of records showed he was not part of a U.K. counterterror program that tries to identify people at risk for being radicalized.
Police also said three people were arrested on suspicion of acts of terrorism. They are two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s. Authorities were working to formally identify the dead and determine the motive for the attack.
At least three people were hospitalized in serious condition, officials said. One person sustained a stab wound while a second was struck by the car involved in the attack. A third person arrived at a hospital with an injury that may have been sustained as officers stopped the attacker. Earlier, police said a fourth individual had also been hurt.
The assault took place
as people gathered at an Orthodox synagogue in an outer neighborhood of Manchester on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement and the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. Police said the two people killed were Jewish.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the “vile” assailant who “attacked Jews because they are Jews.” He promised the Jewish community that he would do “everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve, starting with a more visible police presence.”
“I promise you that over the coming days, you will see the other Britain, the Britain of compassion, of decency, of love,” Starmer said. “I promise you that this Britain will come together to wrap our arms
around your community and show you that Britain is a place where you and your family are safe, secure and belong.”
Israeli Prime Minister said Israel grieved with the Jewish community in the UK
“Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded,” he said. “As I warned at the UN: Weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”
Antisemitic incidents in the U.K. have hit record levels following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and Israel’s ensuing military campaign in Gaza, according to Community Security Trust, an advocacy group for British Jews that works to eliminate antisemitism.
More than 1,500 incidents were reported in the first half of the year, the secondhighest six-month total reported since the record set over the same period a year earlier.
“This is every rabbi’s or every Jewish person’s worst nightmare,” said Rabbi Jonathan Romain, of Maidenhead Synagogue and head of the Rabbinic Court of Great Britain. “Not only is this a sacred day, the most sacred in the Jewish calendar, but it’s also a time of mass gathering.”
Witnesses describe a car driving toward the synagogue and then a stabbing attack
Greater Manchester Police said they were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue around 9:30 a.m., shortly after services had begun.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson said the man drove directly at pedestrians outside the synagogue and then attacked them with a knife.
Chava Lewin, who lives next to the synagogue, said she heard a bang and thought it might be a firework until her husband ran inside their house and said there had been a “terrorist attack.”
A witness told her that she saw a car driving erratically crash into the gates of the house of worship.
“She thought maybe he had a heart attack,” Lewin said. “The second he got out of the car, he started stabbing anyone near him. He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue.”
Minutes later, police fired shots at the assailant.
Video on social media
showed police with guns pointed at a person lying on the ground beneath a blue Star of David on the brick wall of the synagogue.
A bystander could be heard on the video saying the man had a bomb and was trying to detonate it.
When the man tried to stand up, a gunshot rang out and he fell to the ground.
On the sidewalk outside the synagogue gate nearby, the body of another person lay in a pool of blood.
Watson credited security guards and congregants for their bravery in preventing the assailant from getting inside the prayer service.
Police later detonated an explosion to get into the man’s car.
Manchester was the site of Britain’s deadliest attack in recent years, the 2017 suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert that killed 22 people.
Authorities declare an emergency
Immediately after the attack, police declared “Plato,” the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack.” Starmer, who flew back to London early from a summit of European leaders in Copenhagen, Denmark, to chair a meeting of the government’s emergency committee, said additional police officers would be deployed at synagogues across the U.K. King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were “deeply shocked and saddened” to learn of the attack “on such a significant day for the Jewish community.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this appalling incident, and we greatly appreciate the swift actions of the emergency services,’’ he said on his social media feed.
Trump says US is in ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean
WASHINGTON Associated Press
P RESIDE N T Donald Trump has declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and says the United States is now in an “armed conflict” with them, according to a Trump administration memo obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, following recent U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean.
The memo appears to represent an extraordinary assertion of presidential war powers, with Trump effectively declaring that trafficking of drugs into the United States amounts to armed conflict requiring the use of military force — a new rationale for past and future actions.
“The President determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations,” the memo says. Trump directed the Pentagon to “conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict.”
“The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations,” the memo says.
It signals a potential new moment not just in the administration’s willingness to reach beyond the norms of presidential authority to wage war, but in Trump’s stated “America First” agenda that favors nonintervention overseas. It also raises stark questions about how far the White House intends to use its war powers and if Congress will exert its authority to approve
— or ban — such military actions.
Declaration follows strikes on boats in the Caribbean
The U.S. military last month carried out three deadly strikes against boats in the Caribbean that the administration accused of ferrying drugs. At least two of those operations were carried out on vessels that originated from Venezuela. Those strikes followed up a buildup of U.S. maritime forces in the Caribbean unlike any seen in recent times.
The memo did not include a timestamp, but it references a Sept. 15 U.S. strike that “resulted in the destruction of the
vessel, the illicit narcotics, and the death of approximately 3 unlawful combatants.”
“As we have said many times, the President acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores, and he is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans,” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said. The Pentagon referred questions to the White House.
Pentagon officials briefed senators on the strikes Wednesday, according to a person
familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
What the Trump administration laid out at the classified briefing at the Capitol was perceived by several senators as pursuing a new legal framework that raised questions particularly regarding the role of Congress in authorizing any such action, that person said.
The memo lays out a rationale seen both as the administration’s justification for the military strikes it has already taken on the boats in the Caribbean — which have raised concerns from lawmakers as potentially unlawful — as well as any
forward action to come.
Details weren’t given on the cartels targeted
Trump has designated several Latin American drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and the administration had previously justified the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.
Pentagon officials could not provide a list of the designated terrorist organizations at the center of the conflict, a matter that was a major source of frustration for some of the lawmakers who were briefed, according to the person familiar with the matter. While “friendly foreign
nations have made significant efforts to combat these organizations,” the memo said, the groups “are now transnational and conduct ongoing attacks throughout the Western Hemisphere as organized cartels.” The memo refers to cartel members as “unlawful combatants.”
As the Republican administration takes aim at vessels in the Caribbean, lawmakers of both major political parties have raised objections and pressed Trump to go to Congress and seek war powers authority for such operations.
The first military strike, carried out Sept. 2 on what the Trump administration said was a drug-carrying speedboat, killed 11 people. Trump claimed it was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, which was listed by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization this year.
Several senators as well as human rights groups questioned the legality of Trump’s actions. They called it potential overreach of executive authority in part because the military was used for law enforcement purposes.
The Trump administration has yet to explain how the military assessed the boats’ cargo and determined the passengers’ alleged gang affiliation before the strikes.
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committees, said the drug cartels are “despicable and must be dealt with by law enforcement.”
“The Trump Administration has offered no credible legal justification, evidence, or intelligence for these strikes,” said Reed, a former Army officer who served in the 82nd Airborne Division.
MEMBERS of the Jewish community comfort each other near to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, in Crumpsall, Manchester, England yesterday after Police reported that two people were killed and three others were seriously injured in a synagogue attack in northern England.
Photo: Peter Byrne/PA/AP
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House before signing an executive order regarding childhood cancer and the use of AI, Tuesday in Washington.
Photo: Alex Brandon/AP
Bahamas Girl Guides Association hosts successful “Vintage Vibes” fundraiser
THE Bahamas Girl Guides Association (BGGA) successfully hosted its “Vintage Vibes: An Old School Dance” on Friday, September 19, at the Anglican Church of the Epiphany Church Hall.
The fundraising event, which was described as a night of nostalgia and community spirit, saw supporters gather for an evening of dancing to the lively beats of DJ Gary “Super”
Kappa
Johnson. Guests enjoyed mouth-watering conch fritters, light bites, and a cash bar, all while sporting elegant casual attire. All proceeds from the successful dance will directly benefit the BGGA, funding essential programmes and initiatives designed to foster leadership, community service, and personal development among young Bahamian girls. The BGGA extended
its heartfelt thanks to all attendees, sponsors, and volunteers. The Fundraising Committee, chaired by Colleen Nottage, included members Sharlyn Smith, Julia Burnside, Diann Pinder, Remelda Moxey, Michelle Sears, Karen Lightbourne, Zelma Albury, Ursula Pratt, Constance Miller, Maria Symonette, Merlita Knowles, Diane Dean, and Karen Lockhart.
League relaunch aims to empower young men at CI Gibson
THE Bahamas Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has relaunched its flagship youth mentorship programme, the Kappa Leadership Development League (“Kappa League”), at CI Gibson Senior High School.
The initiative, led by Polemarch Sanjay D. Kelly and co-chairmen Garth Jackson Jr. and Jerome Franks, introduced 30 male students and their parents to the programme during a session on Thursday, September 25.
Kappa League is the national centerpiece of the fraternity’s Guide Right initiative, dedicated to equipping young men with the skills and values needed to succeed in life and academics.
Over eight weeks, the students will participate in workshops covering vital topics such as financial literacy, goal setting, leadership, academic excellence, and mental health. Participants will also engage in a hands-on School Beautification Project to foster community responsibility.
Polemarch Kelly stated that the fraternity has “always believed in placing the training, experiences, and wisdom
of successful men at the disposal of youth.” CoChairman Jackson Jr. called the programme an “investment in the future of our young men,” aiming to equip them with “confidence, discipline, and a vision for their lives.”
The students stand to gain leadership training,
exposure to industry professionals, and college/ career preparation as the Chapter reaffirms its commitment to uplifting Bahamian youth.
Interested supporters can email bahamasalumni1973@ gmail.com for more information.
Blaze erupts after gas tanks explode during a routine refill
from page one
carrying out work when the incident occurred. The fire also caused roof damage to two other businesses in the Harbour Green Shopping Plaza on West Bay Street before
A FIREFIGHTER inspects inside Cafe Coco after fire gutted the restaurant yesterdayy, injuring two men.
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
ABOUT 70 people attended a lecture by communication innovator Professor Steve Jardings at the Eugene Dupuch Law School yesterday. Sponsored by The Tribune, the presentation, “Connecting Communication Messaging to Legal Audiences Through the Use of Values and Emotion,” struck at the core of how lawyers, policymakers, and leaders can break through complexity and connect with people on a human level.
school
Jarding’s lecture
Jardin was introduced by The Tribune’s president Robert Dupuch-Carron.
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr