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Volume: 123 No. 219, Thursday, October 8, 2026
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WILFUL NEGLECT OF OLD IS ‘POISON IN SOCIETY’ Darville seeks to ease fears over new elderly care laws saying they’ll target abandonment By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville yesterday sought to ease fears over incoming elderly-care laws, insisting relatives who genuinely cannot afford to care for an older person, or who are estranged from them, will not be criminalised. "What it seeks to address is something very different: wilful neglect," Dr Darville
said in Parliament yesterday as debate began on the bill. "That's what we are seeing as the poison in our society, wilful neglect and abandonment." The Older Persons Rights, Protection, Care and Support Bill would place a general duty on next of kin to help an older person achieve an appropriate standard of living. That includes ensuring an older person in their care ELDERLY - SEE PAGE THREE
MITCHELL PRESSES CRUISE LINES TO BOOST PORT LUCAYA VISITS By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell has pressed Carnival and other cruise lines to ensure Port Lucaya Marketplace gets its share of Grand Bahama's growing cruise traffic, after the closure
of Agave Restaurant put about 40 people out of work. Few of those cruise visitors are reaching the marketplace. Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president Ralph Hepburn has said that on average 7,000 passengers MITCHELL - SEE PAGE FIVE
A ROCKET-PROPELLED grenade launcher similar to this was found by officers from Operation Black Scorpion, with help from the Anti-Terrorism Unit
Rocket-propelled grenade launcher found off highway By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net A ROCKET-propelled grenade launcher was found hidden under an abandoned stove in bushes off Tonique Williams-Darling Highway
on Tuesday. Police said officers from Operation Black Scorpion, with help from the Anti-Terrorism Unit and the Canine Support Unit, were acting on information when they searched an area on the southern side of Pride Estates shortly after 7pm. Under the stove,
they found a green camouflage bag containing the launcher. Police did not say whether the launcher still contained a rocket. No arrests were reported. Police said the launcher was seized and will be GRENADE - SEE PAGE THREE
Thompson: Power outages led to two elderly deaths By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net TWO elderly people in East Grand Bahama died at home after power outages left them unable to use their oxygen equipment, Free National Movement MP Kwasi Thompson claimed in the House of Assembly
yesterday. Mr Thompson raised the deaths during debate on the Older Persons Rights, Protection, Care and Support Bill, highlighting the importance of reliable utilities for older people. "This actually occurred on two separate occasions KWASI - SEE PAGE THREE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
EAST GB MP KWASI THOMPSON
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79 Haitian nationals repatriated to Haiti
THE BAHAMAS Immigration Department repatriated 79 Haitian nationals aboard a Bahamasair flight on October 6 at 9am. Eight immigration officers accompanied the flight. Photo by: Chappell Whyms Jr
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Thursday, October 8, 2026, PAGE 3
Darville: Elderly care law won’t punish the poor ELDERLY from page one has a safe living environment, adequate food and water, clothing and other essentials. Dr Darville said he had heard public concerns about how the duty would apply. Those concerns included cases where an elderly parent’s child lives abroad, where a relative lives on a Family Island while the parent receives care in New Providence, and where relationships have been broken for years. They also included relatives who are themselves elderly or disabled, or who lack the means to provide the care required. “This bill does not criminalise poverty,” he said. “It does not criminalise geography. It does not criminalise estrangement or individuals who have lost contact with their loved ones. It does not criminalise genuine inability to provide care.” Dr Darville said Princess
Margaret Hospital has several elderly patients who have become boarders because family members refused to collect them. “It has become so bad at our public healthcare institutions that people are bringing elderly people and admitting them into the hospital with fictitious names,” he said. He said the problem places a financial burden on public healthcare. For years, PMH and Rand Memorial Hospital have been strained by relatives abandoning elderly patients brought in for treatment. The bill defines next of kin as the nearest living relative by blood who is expected to assume responsibility for an older person’s care, support or decision-making when that person cannot do so. One key provision covers elderly patients discharged from public hospitals. Where a next of kin previously provided care and took the older person
to hospital, that relative would have to arrange to collect them from the ward once notified of their discharge. If the hospital transports the person home, the relative would have to receive them. Those obligations form part of a broader regime for caregivers. Under the bill, every caregiver would have a moral and legal responsibility to provide reasonable care, act in the older person’s best interests, avoid abuse and neglect, administer prescribed medication or treatment properly and operate only within the authority legally given to them. Minister of State for Social Services Bacchus Rolle, who led the debate, cited cases in which older adults were neglected by their families, financially exploited for their pensions or taken advantage of by strangers. He said the bill would tackle financial abuse through a specific elder-exploitation offence, carrying
a fine of up to $50,000, up to five years in prison, or both. Mr Rolle said the bill is necessary but is not the sole answer. Laws can punish abusers and ensure accountability, he said, but only a cultural transformation can truly protect the country’s elderly. He called on the public to return to Christian values of honouring their elders. Officials said the bill underwent public consultation, attracting more than 800 visits to the Bahamas Law Online website. Stakeholders included law firms, other professionals, faith-based communities, advocates and families. However, Free National Movement MP Michela Barnett-Ellis said the bill contained no amendments despite the consultation. Mrs Barnett-Ellis described the bill as ambitious but said a proper framework is needed to enforce it. Strong legislation too often stays on the books without being
HEALTH MINISTER DR MICHAEL DARVILLE fully implemented, she said, because the mechanisms to give effect to its rights and protections are not in place. She cited the Ombudsman Act, the Independent Commission of
Investigations Act and the Protected Disclosures Act as examples. She also said the high cost of living has made elderly people increasingly vulnerable.
Thompson links two elderly deaths to power outages KWASI from page one in East Grand Bahama,” Mr Thompson said. “And unfortunately, both patients died at home because the power went off and they were unable to access their equipment.” When contacted by The Tribune, Mr Thompson declined to give further details about the two deaths, saying he wanted to respect the families’ privacy. It is not clear when the deaths happened. He said power cuts can be more than an inconvenience for some elderly Bahamians, particularly those who rely on electricity-powered medical equipment. He said electricity should be treated as part of the healthcare system, because people depend on it to run medical devices at home and to refrigerate medication. Mr Thompson’s claim comes five months after the government took control of Grand Bahama’s electricity supplier. In May, Prime Minister Philip Davis announced that the government, through a special purpose vehicle called the Grand Bahama Electricity Company, was acquiring all outstanding shares of the Grand Bahama Power Company from Emera. Mr Davis said the
Bahamas Grid Company, which have faced criticism over the disruptions, have partly blamed unprecedented heat and increased
demand for electricity. The outages have persisted since the end of summer. Businesses have reported thousands of dollars in
losses from spoiled goods and shorter opening hours, and some residents have been without electricity for days at a time.
Sandilands students sent home amid ongoing BPL outages By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
EAST GRAND BAHAMA MP KWASI THOMPSON company would adopt Bahamas Power and Light’s tariff schedule, cutting bills for Grand Bahama customers by an average of 37 percent. The deal was financed by a loan from Standard Chartered and Scotiabank, guaranteed by the government. The opposition criticised it as asking taxpayers to stand behind $280 million in new borrowing to buy and run the company.
In June, Mr Thompson accused BPL of offering excuses rather than solutions for persistent outages. He said the government had failed to deliver on promises to lower electricity costs and improve reliability, and that Grand Bahama residents were still waiting to see the benefits they had been promised. Outages have continued across the country for months. BPL and
POWER outages that officials partly blamed on summer heat have continued into October, with Sandilands Primary School sending students home early yesterday because of a prolonged outage. Bahamas Power and Light reported outages this week across New Providence, affecting parts of downtown, Harbour Bay and Shirley Street, and eastern and western New Providence. For some of the outages, BPL said, technicians confirmed a surge on the system and suspected a fault. Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis acknowledged the hardship the interruptions have caused, and said improving reliability remains a priority
ROCKET LAUNCHER FOUND WEEKS BEFORE KING’S VISIT GRENADE from page one processed as evidence. The discovery comes just weeks before King Charles III’s official visit and will be sure to increase security precautions. The Tribune understands its markings and telescoping tube suggest the weapon is a light anti-tank weapon, sometimes called a light anti-armour weapon. It is beleived to be a United States-designed, single-use launcher which fires a 66mm unguided rocket with a high-explosive anti-tank warhead, built to disable armoured vehicles and fortified positions at short range. Such weapons entered service with the US military in the early 1960s and were used in the Vietnam War. They have since been carried by armed forces around the world, including in Canada, Australia, Israel and Taiwan. A soldier extends the telescoping tube to ready the weapon, which cocks the launcher and raises its sight. The rocket is then fired from the shoulder. The Canadian Army lists the effective range of similar weapons as 220 metres and its maximum range as up to 350 metres, and says its warhead can penetrate up to 350mm of armour. The launcher is designed to be thrown away after a single shot. Newer
A Rocket-propelled grenade launcher simalr to one found by police off Tonique Darling Highway. versions use different warheads, but the basic design is the same. Discoveries of military explosive weapons in The Bahamas are rare. In November 2013, police found what was believed to be a live hand grenade inside the New Providence
headquarters of The Punch tabloid after responding to an alarm and finding the building’s front doors smashed in. The newspaper’s marketing manager said at the time that the grenade’s pin had been pulled and it could have exploded.
of the government. BPL has a responsibility to provide stable and reliable electricity, she said in the House of Assembly yesterday, and the Water and Sewerage Corporation a responsibility to provide dependable access to water. Mrs Coleby-Davis said the reform and modernisation of the utilities must strengthen the services customers depend on. She also cautioned that technological advances should not come at the expense of personal customer service. As the utilities rely more on digital platforms, automated systems and smart technology, she said, those changes must never replace personal interaction, particularly for the elderly. Throughout the summer, officials pointed to the heat as a factor in the
outages. Mrs Coleby-Davis attributed the increase in outages to high summer demand driven by higher temperatures. In July, she said the system faced pressure from high demand, extreme heat, severe weather and ageing infrastructure, but that those challenges did not excuse the hardship the public experienced. In June, BPL blamed equipment failures, underground cable faults and an early summer heat wave for outages. That heat has since eased. The Bahamas Department of Meteorology kept heat advisories in effect for much of July and August, at one point forecasting heat indices as high as 118F. By September 9, its public forecast listed no warnings in effect. Summer officially ended on September 22. Despite this, the outages have not stopped.
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CC Sweeting still closed following electrical blast By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net TEACHERS at CC Sweeting Senior High say Monday's explosion, which left three students with burns, was the fourth fire-related incident at the school since classes resumed over the summer. They say it came after repeated warnings that the campus's power problems were becoming dangerous. The school remains closed. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Science and Technology Chester Cooper said yesterday it will not reopen until all parties have completed their inspections and the Ministry of Works has signed off on the campus. Mr Cooper said an issue with Bahamas Power and Light's wires resulted in the students' injuries. He said the matter involves Bahamas Grid Company, BPL, private contractors and the Ministry of Works, and that officials were assessing whether the necessary
corrective work had been completed. Officials hoped the school could reopen today, he said, but an official announcement will be made once the work is done. Teachers questioned why the school's electrical infrastructure was not upgraded before 28 air-conditioning units were installed over the summer. They said officials had been warned that the campus could not safely handle the extra load. One teacher said the school had had insufficient power since 2023, but until this school year the problem had mostly meant outages. Since classes resumed, teachers say, it has escalated to exploding transformers, fires, sparks and damaged electrical fixtures. The teacher said staff were assured the problems would be addressed after the first incidents, but another transformer blew before any visible work was done. Engineers who later visited the campus said the required electrical upgrade would take six to eight weeks, according to the teacher. "The Ministry of Education,
in my opinion, is dragging its feet regarding this situation at C.C," said the teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorised to speak to the media. She said classes had been disrupted every week in September, and that the problem went beyond the air-conditioning units and the campus remained unsafe. The three students were hurt when an electrical fault caused an explosion near a classroom shortly after 11am on Monday. The school's nurse assessed them and their injuries were not considered severe. The incident forced the early closure of the school and the neighbouring Centre for the Deaf. A second teacher was nearby when it happened. The teacher said sparks were flying in different directions, so they could not move towards the students. "The campus feels unsafe, and everyone is constantly on edge because it feels as though an electrical explosion could happen at any moment," the teacher said. The teacher said power would go out in the middle of lessons and
stay off for hours, leaving classrooms hot and students unable to concentrate. Some students fear an electrical failure could start a fire. The teacher said the school should stay closed long enough for officials to carry out a full assessment and complete repairs. "While we understand the importance of instructional time," the teacher said, "missed schoolwork can be made up. A life, however, cannot be replaced. The safety of our students and staff must come first." A third teacher said the campus has not completed a full week of classes without an interruption since the school year began. The power usually goes out before 10am and stays off for hours, the teacher said, and the problem became more noticeable after the air-conditioning units were installed. "Before the ACs were put in, the power was fine," the teacher said. The third teacher said Monday's injuries were particularly hard to accept after so many warnings. "I'm frustrated and sad that it
took three students being injured before the officials actually took the power challenges seriously," the teacher said, adding: "I'm sorry it was students, but we all know it could have been anyone on that campus." Bahamas Educators Managerial Union president Stephen McPhee said electrical problems at CC Sweeting are not new, based on his experience as both a teacher and a student there. He said the situation had grown more serious as the school added air-conditioning units, new technology and other systems that increased the load on its electrical infrastructure. The problem appears to involve both the school's distribution system and the amount of electricity supplied to it, Mr McPhee said, which would require an upgrade. He said the union understood an upgrade was already in the works, and that teachers were calling for it to be expedited. The union has also previously raised concerns that overhead electrical wires at schools put students, teachers and the public at risk, he said.
BEMU: Govt seeks legal costs despite end to strike By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net THE government is pressing ahead with its court case against the union representing school administrators and wants the union to pay its legal costs, even though members ended their industrial action after one day, Bahamas Educators Managerial Union president Stephen McPhee said. Mr McPhee said continuing to pursue the injunction after BEMU members returned to work is an attempt to restrict the union's right to strike. Seeking legal fees from the union goes beyond what was necessary, he said, and as far as he knows is unprecedented. BEMU took industrial action on September 1 over what Mr McPhee described
as years of unresolved matters, including promotions dating back to 2016. Justice Darron Ellis granted the government an interim injunction that day ordering members back to work. The union ended its action after Prime Minister Philip Davis intervened and asked for an opportunity to help resolve its concerns. Mr McPhee said the union had been confident it would not need to take the legal matter further once members returned. Instead, he said, he was served two days later, and the union must now appear before the Supreme Court to discharge the injunction. He said Director of Education Dominique McCartney-Russell had filed two affidavits in support of the injunction application. Mr McPhee criticised her involvement, saying she had previously benefited from BEMU's
efforts to resolve outstanding promotions. The union is disappointed that she is now part of proceedings challenging its industrial action and seeking legal costs from it, he said. Mr McPhee also said the union had received indications that the government was trying to identify members who took part in the industrial action, with a view to docking their pay. "We have a membership, who I can tell you, at this point," Mr McPhee said, "it took a lot to get them to go back to work." He said the actions of the minister, the director, the permanent secretary and the parliamentary secretary in pursuing the union through the Supreme Court were "not looking good" for relations. Mr McPhee said the union has made progress since the industrial action. Several promotion matters
dating back to 2016 were resolved within days, he said, after Mr Davis and the Ministry of Labour and Public Service intervened. He thanked the Public Service Commission for its role, but said members are growing uneasy with the pace of progress on the remaining issues. He accused the Ministry of Education of presenting the resolved promotions publicly as its own achievement, and said some members felt insulted. What is being played out in public is not what is happening, he said, because the ministry makes daily announcements while the union's struggle continues. Mr McPhee rejected the government's claim that seven schools are without principals. He pointed to the government's own injunction filing, which he said listed 29 schools without any administrator.
"No principal, no vice principal, no senior master mistresses," Mr McPhee said, "and so, the spin doctors will put it how they wish, but our fight is not basically just a fight for us - it's a fight for our system, our profession." He said the union's push for adequate administrative and teaching staff stems from its belief that
every child in The Bahamas is entitled to quality and equitable access to education. Mr McPhee said the industrial action was legal under the Industrial Relations Act and under International Labour Organisation Convention 87. BEMU is awaiting the court's judgment and will appeal if necessary, he said.
LIGHTBOURN CALLS UNLAWFUL SUSPENSIONS A ‘TECHNICALITY’ By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Muriel Lightbourn has described as a technicality the Supreme Court ruling that her suspension of two top union executives was unlawful, though the judgment found the pair were suspended without investigation or trial and denied the right to be heard. The union will hold its court-ordered election on November 6, with nominations on October 9, after the Registrar of Trade Unions set the dates, Mrs Lightbourn said. Justice Camille Darville-Gomez had ordered nominations by October 14 and the vote by November 13. Mrs Lightbourn said the suspensions of first vice-president Sheniqua Cox and secretary general Shavone Brennen arose from complaints within the union. She said the court took issue with the timing of the appeals committee, not the grounds for the suspensions, and that an executive had been given the opportunity to appeal. "It was a technicality based on the fact of the timing of the appeal committee," she said. The appeals committee was among the defects the judge identified. Mrs Lightbourn appointed it on April 22, 2025, the day before the suspension letters went out. The union's constitution requires that committee to be elected at the first regular membership meeting after elections. However, the September 30 judgment found the breaches went further. No investigation committee was appointed, no trial was convened, and no specially elected committee was formed to hear charges against the two officers, as the constitution requires before suspension. Justice Darville-Gomez found the pair were denied the right to be heard and suspended in breach of natural justice,
and declared the suspensions unconstitutional, unlawful and void. She also rejected the argument that the right to appeal made up for those failures. "Similarly, in the present case," Justice Darville-Gomez wrote, "the absence of the constitutionally required disciplinary machinery cannot be cured merely by pointing to a general right of appeal." The judge did note inconsistencies in the union's constitution over whether the appeals committee is appointed or elected, and recommended that the incoming executive update it. Mrs Lightbourn said Ms Cox's suspension stemmed from a separate judgment, which she said triggered a constitutional provision requiring the suspension of any executive against whom a judgment had been entered. According to the ruling, a default judgment was entered against Ms Cox and two others in a civil claim the union brought over the alleged misappropriation of union funds. Ms Cox testified that the executive committee had resolved to discontinue that action before the union's attorney entered the judgment in March 2025. The suspension provision set out in the judgment applies to officers on whom charges are served for alleged breaches of the constitution or by-laws. It does not mention court judgments. The ruling directed the president and executive board to follow the election timetable. Mrs Lightbourn said the Registrar now appears to be directing the process, and that the union is awaiting further instructions ahead of nominations. The judgment also refused the executives' bid to have Mrs Lightbourn declared a non-member over alleged unpaid dues. She has previously said she will seek another term as president.
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Thursday, October 8, 2026, PAGE 5
Port Lucaya needs more cruise visitors: Mitchell MITCHELL from page one pass through Celebration Key, but fewer than 1,000 typically leave the facility. That limits how many cruise visitors reach businesses elsewhere on the island. Mr Hepburn said this lack of cruise traffic has left the marketplace on life support. The marketplace’s struggle to draw cruise visitors is not new. In September 2023, when Carnival Dream and Carnival Sunshine brought more than 7,000 passengers to Freeport in a single day, marketplace managers said only one busload of guests, carrying at most 60 people, came to the marketplace. Vendors at the time claimed passengers were being discouraged from visiting, which Carnival denied. Vendors have also blamed the marketplace’s
owners. In January 2025, Mr Mitchell said the owners had failed to deliver the upgrades and investment promised when they bought the property. Merchants and straw vendors at the marketplace have seen visitor numbers fall since the Grand Lucayan Resort closed, and the opening of Carnival’s Celebration Key has yet to bring the foot traffic many had hoped for Mr Mitchell responded on Tuesday to the recent closures at the marketplace and the fall in tourist traffic. He said the marketplace’s current owners had committed to a strong marketing and promotional campaign to bring more business to vendors, but that this has yet to happen. The PLP is looking to the owners to deliver an ongoing campaign that creates
DUNCOMBE DIED BEFORE HE COULD WEAR NEW RANK By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net POLICE motorcyclist Steven Duncombe had been promoted to sergeant months before the crash that killed him, but never got to wear his new rank, Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles revealed at his funeral yesterday. Ms Knowles said the promotion took effect on July 1, 2026, although it was not announced until October 2, after his death. "He earned it while he lived," Ms Knowles said. "He did not have that opportunity to celebrate with his family." Members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, government officials, family, friends and members of the public filled the Diplomat Center to remember Sgt Duncombe as a dedicated officer whose professionalism, warmth and commitment to service left a lasting impression. Long lines formed as mourners waited to view him as he lay in repose. In one of the most emotional moments of the service, his mother, overcome with grief, embraced her son in his coffin and wept. Duncombe, 37, died from injuries sustained in a traffic collision on Prince Charles Drive on September 12. Police said officers were alerted to the crash shortly before 2pm and found a police motorcycle extensively damaged and Duncombe seriously injured. A member of the Traffic Division, he joined the force in 2011, at the age of 21, and went on to earn commendations and take on greater responsibility. At the time of his death he was serving in the police escort service, guiding officials, including the Prime Minister, safely through the streets. Ms Knowles described his death as one of the most difficult moments of her career, saying some losses are beyond what any title, training or experience can prepare a person for. She said she stood before the congregation not only as
CORPORAL STEVEN DUNCOMBE commissioner, but as the leader of a force that had lost a colleague, partner, friend and brother. "We loved him," Ms Knowles said. "We respected him. We depended on him." She described Duncombe as a skilled officer with a gift for connecting with people and turning ordinary moments into memorable ones, and recalled the long hours and conversations they shared when he escorted her. "He was doing what he loved," she said, "and he did it every day with pride — serving someone else, protecting someone else, helping someone else reach their destination." Ms Knowles urged officers to let Duncombe's death remind them of the human beings beneath their uniforms, and promised his family that he would be remembered. "Steven, you have completed your final ride," she said. "You have finished your assignment. Your brothers and sisters will carry on. Your family will carry on. And this country will remember you."
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sustainable traffic and business, he said. He said the government has taken several steps over the years to support vendors at the privately owned marketplace, including relief grants and vouchers, and providing entertainment to draw visitors. He said Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey and the government are working to boost the island’s economy. Mr Mitchell said Agave’s former staff have been directed to the Department of Labour, the National Insurance Board and other government agencies to make sure they receive the compensation, benefits and support they are entitled to. FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER FRED MITCHELL
PAGE 6, Thursday, October 8, 2026
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Police success must be matched by public courage The discovery and confiscation of a rocket-propelled grenade launcher by police should leave every Bahamian deeply concerned. This is not an ordinary firearm. It is a weapon associated with warfare and capable of causing devastation on a scale that is difficult to contemplate. Police deserve credit for removing it from circulation. Whatever its condition or intended use, the public is safer because it is now in the hands of law enforcement. The seizure also reminds us that the fight against illegal weapons cannot be left to the police alone. Officers cannot be on every street, inside every home or present for every conversation. They frequently depend upon information from people who know where weapons are being stored, carried or used. Somebody often knows. A relative may notice a gun hidden in a bedroom. A neighbour may see unfamiliar people moving weapons into a property. A friend may hear threats being made. A resident may know that a vehicle or abandoned building is being used to conceal firearms. That information can save a life. Speaking up is not always easy. People may fear retaliation, distrust the authorities or worry about being labelled an informer. In close communities, they may also feel conflicted about reporting someone they know. Those concerns are real and must be treated seriously. The police must continue strengthening the protection offered to confidential sources. Crime Stoppers and other anonymous reporting channels should be promoted consistently so that residents know how to provide information without exposing themselves or their families. Every tip should also be handled professionally. Nothing will destroy public confidence faster than carelessness with someone’s identity or a failure to act upon credible information. Police should therefore ensure that officers receiving intelligence are properly trained, that access to confidential information is restricted and that tipsters are never unnecessarily exposed. The public also needs reassurance that its assistance produces results. Without revealing operational details, police should continue reporting when intelligence from
residents leads to the recovery of weapons, arrests or the prevention of serious crimes. This allows communities to see that one telephone call can make a difference. Parents and relatives also have a responsibility to intervene early. Loyalty to a loved one should never mean ignoring an illegal weapon that may later be used to take someone else’s child from them. Turning in a weapon may prevent a young person from committing an act that destroys several families, including his own. Community leaders, pastors, teachers, coaches and youth workers can help create safe pathways for concerned relatives to approach the authorities. Some people may be more willing to share information through someone they trust than by contacting the police directly. The Government should also review whether rewards for information leading to the seizure of high-powered weapons are sufficient and widely understood. A properly managed reward programme could encourage cooperation, particularly in cases involving organised trafficking or weapons intended for serious violence. There may also be value in periodic gun-surrender initiatives, provided they are carefully designed and do not interfere with investigations into weapons connected to crimes. None of these measures replaces traditional policing. Officers must continue their intelligence operations, searches, patrols and investigations. Those efforts have already removed dangerous weapons from our communities and deserve public support. But the police cannot confiscate a weapon they do not know exists. Too many Bahamian families have already experienced the unbearable pain caused by gun violence. Mothers have buried sons. Children have grown up without fathers. Communities have watched promising lives end within seconds. Remaining silent about an illegal weapon can carry consequences far greater than many people imagine. The seizure of an RPG launcher is a disturbing warning, but it is also evidence that dangerous weapons can be found and removed. Police must continue doing their part. The public must have the courage to help them.
What Happens to the Dogs Being Abandoned? EDITOR, The Tribune. I AM writing with growing concern about reports of dogs being abandoned and dumped following the end of the Government’s dog amnesty period. While I support responsible dog ownership and believe owners should be held accountable for properly licensing, containing, identifying and caring for their animals, I am concerned about the unintended consequences of the current enforcement campaign. The Government provided a September 1–30 amnesty period for owners to bring their dogs into compliance before stronger enforcement measures began. However, reports of people abandoning their pets raise an important question: Was the Government prepared for what would happen when some owners chose to abandon their dogs rather than comply with the law? Some owners may be concerned about being held responsible if their unlicensed or roaming dogs become involved in an incident, while others may simply be using the current enforcement campaign as an excuse to get rid of animals they no longer want. Regardless of the reason, abandoning a dog does not solve the problem. It simply transfers the responsibility from the owner to the community, animal welfare organisations and the Government. A dog that was once someone’s pet can quickly become a stray, searching for food and water, breeding, being exposed to abuse or traffic accidents, and potentially becoming involved in the very public safety concerns that the Government is trying to address. Dogs should not have to suffer because of human irresponsibility, fear or
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net a lack of planning. We should be asking ourselves what kind of society we want to be. We need a more humane society than the one we have today, one in which compassion and responsible treatment of vulnerable living beings are not viewed as optional. How we treat animal’s matters. Research has found an association between animal abuse and violence against people, including interpersonal and domestic violence. This does not mean that every person who mistreats an animal will become violent, but the connection is serious enough that animal cruelty should be viewed not only as an animal-welfare issue, but also as a community and public-safety concern. The Government has spoken publicly about the need to tackle irresponsible dog ownership, stray dogs, uncontrolled breeding and unlicensed animals. I support these objectives. However, enforcement must be accompanied by a clear and practical plan for animals that owners no longer want or are genuinely unable to care for. The public needs to know where responsible owners can surrender their animals, what happens to dogs picked up by Animal Control, how abandoned animals will be handled, and what action will be taken against people who deliberately dump their pets. The Government should clearly communicate this information to the public rather than leaving people to rely on rumors or social media.
We must remember that the stray-dog problem did not develop overnight, and it will not be solved simply by removing dogs from the streets. Prevention must be a major part of the solution. This includes affordable spay and neuter programmes, licensing, microchipping, responsible breeding, proper containment, public education and meaningful enforcement against irresponsible owners. Animal welfare organizations should not be expected to absorb an increasing number of abandoned animals without adequate support and resources. I support accountability, and I support the enforcement of our animal-control laws. However, we must ensure that enforcement does not unintentionally create another wave of abandoned animals. The dogs did not create this crisis; irresponsible human behavior did. Therefore, responsible human action must be at the center of the solution. I am calling on the Government to address the public, acknowledge the concerns surrounding animal abandonment, explain what measures are being taken, and provide clear guidance for people who can no longer keep their pets. A truly humane society should be measured not only by how it protects its people, but also by how it treats those who cannot speak for themselves. We cannot say that we are solving the straydog crisis while allowing unwanted dogs to simply be dumped on our streets. Dogs deserve better, and so does our society. LATESHA CLARKE Nassau, October 6, 2026.
FNMs party facing a make-or-break decision EDITOR, The Tribune. ONE does not need a genius or artificial intelligence (ChatgPt or Gemini) to cough up an answer as to why the Free National Movement FNM lost the last general elections. Just to be clear and fair, the FNM did not lose the last general elections because of what Michael Pintard did or did not do. There are three main reasons why the FNM lost. Firstly, the FNM could not match the big spending of the Progressive Liberal Party PLP. Secondly, many persons believed that their voter would not have made any difference; they were not motivated. We have all heard it; “ain’t nothing ga change” they would say. Thirdly, and perhaps the biggest reason was because of the continuous infighting instigated by the Minnis faction within the FNM. Lifelong high profile FNM’s were turned off. Some persons stayed home, many jumped ships, and others still were paraded in front of PLP microphones and on the various talk shows. In short, the party self-destruct. It was an ugly affair. The warning signs were clear even to those who are not politically astute. But still, some persons cling to hope, a diminishing hope. Under the West minster system of governance, the leader has to fall on his sword. He bears responsibility for any loss. The FNM has come full circle. It is at a
political crossroad once again. Some within the party have become despondent or disillusioned with Pintard after the party’s disappointing loss and are calling for his political head on a platter. They have advanced the idea of an early conclave or leadership contest, and the idea appears to be picking up steam. Let’s be clear; some persons want Pintard out; period! But the big question is “with whom would they replace him?” Those present MP’s who make up the parliamentary team are articulate, intelligent and well-meaning party faithfuls. They are all top heavy with future potentials, but they are mostly new comers and political lightweights who would be crushed by the PLP machinery in the next election, unless something drastically changes on the political landscape before the next general elections. The results of the last elections would not have been any different if any one of them was leader-ask me how I know. Replacing Pintard with any one of these sitting MP’s would be futile and self-defeating. And so, it behooves that party to do its due diligence if it decides to replace Pintard. There are a few Moses’ or Joshua’s out there who can command the admiration and respect of rank-and-file FNM’s and indeed some non-alined voters, if the party decides to go in a different direction. The party needs a unifier, a political magnet,
someone with the gravitas to unite all factions within the party. Is Michael Pintard that person? That’s a question the party has to decide. Needless to say, there is always the danger of throwing out the baby with the bath water. In any event, the party must be careful not to have a repeat situation similar to the one which previously involved Dr Hubert Minnis. We all know how that turned out. The FNM spent 25 years in the political wilderness before coming to power in 1992. Whether it spends another 25 years before regaining power would depend to a great extent on the make-or-break decision the party makes within the next year, in terms of who becomes leader. If that party, in its wisdom, decides that it does not want Pintard -and I emphasise (if)- it might want to revisit its history, when Sir Cecil recruited and anointed the then Hubert Ingraham as leader; and as the saying goes “the rest is history.” History sometimes repeats. If I remember correctly, there was no leadership race. Longstanding FNM’s stood down. Having said that, there is a fairly young, intelligent, well respected former FNM member of parliament and cabinet minister who comes to my mind - for what it’s worth. Go figure! ZEPHANIAH BURROWS Nassau, October 4, 2026.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 8, 2026, PAGE 7
Gibson stepped aside from contract votes, court told By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A FORMER Water and Sewerage Corporation board member called by Adrian Gibson's defence told the court yesterday that the former chairman stepped out of contract votes involving people close to him. Under cross-examination, however, he said he knew nothing of a company prosecutors say Gibson owned, or of the $710,000 they allege Gibson received from two companies awarded tank contracts. Bennett Minnis, who chaired the WSC's contract committee under the Minnis administration, gave evidence before Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson. Questioned by defence attorney Ryan Eve, Mr Minnis said he never saw Gibson cast a vote on the board. He said it took three to four board members to do business, and no one person ever made a
decision. He said Gibson told him during contractor selection that a friend of his had applied as a contractor, and then excused himself from the meeting. Gibson did not vote on the tank refurbishments or the painting of the WSC's headquarters, he said; the deputy chairperson was present, and Gibson was told to come back after the vote. Gibson also told the board that his then-girlfriend, Alexandria Mackey, was a legal adviser to Elite Maintenance, and excused himself from that contract meeting, Mr Minnis said. Ms Mackey, Gibson's former fiancée, has already testified against him under an immunity agreement. Under cross-examination, Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier showed Mr Minnis an Inland Revenue document that she said listed Gibson as the owner of Silver Lining Enterprises. Mr Minnis said Gibson never told him he owned
the company, and agreed that Gibson did not declare that he was receiving money from a contract awarded to it. Ms Frazier also put it to him that Gibson received about $710,000 from two companies awarded tank contracts. She said Ms Mackey was a signatory for Elite Maintenance and that Gibson had access to the company's bank account. Mr Minnis said he was unaware of this. When Ms Frazier suggested that Elite Maintenance ceased to exist after it was awarded contracts, he said no one had told him that. Mr Minnis disagreed that these matters amounted to a conflict of interest. Asked whether money not disclosed to the board would be a conflict, he said it might be. He said several board members were present when Gibson declared Ms Mackey's role, and that the declaration should be in writing. However, he said he destroyed all the documents he had after
his tenure at the WSC ended. The prosecution disputed that any such document ever existed. Ms Frazier then showed him documents on a sixth water tank, in Winton, which she said was not painted. She told him that work on a sixth tank would have been outside the board's directives. Mr Minnis said he was unaware of a sixth tank. Mr Minnis said the board had to approve contracts worth more than $250,000, after which they passed to management. Ms Frazier said such contracts had to go to the minister for approval. Mr Minnis said he was unaware of that. He said he was arrested and interviewed during the investigation, and answered questions on his attorney's advice. He said he was never asked how the board conducted itself or how it passed votes. He agreed that he and Gibson are close and have known each other for years. He said he met Ms Mackey only once, at a
Red Cross event. Mr Minnis said the five tanks, three on Baillou Hill Road and two near the airport, were in a deplorable condition when board members viewed them. He said they needed work whether or not there was a pandemic, though he also said the work was urgent to stabilise the economy. He said the board relied on advice from the engineering department, headed by Dietrich Taylor. He reported to then Minister of Works Desmond Bannister and visited the tanks in May 2017. To his knowledge, he said, the WSC did not lose money on the projects. Asked whether the corporation was in the red during the pandemic, he first said it had been instructed to limit bill collections to help people, then said he did not know. He disagreed that the WSC had historically been in the red, saying he did not have that information. In re-examination, Mr Minnis said he did not know of anyone's
involvement in Silver Lining. He said he was aware of an investigation led by Diane Saunders, who brought information to the board, but did not know its details. He said he could not remember everything from that time. The defence opened its case this week. Prosecutors recently withdrew 18 charges against Gibson, all counts of receiving, and dropped the case against one co-accused entirely. Gibson still faces 41 charges, including bribery and money laundering. The case centres on allegations that contracts awarded during Gibson's tenure at the WSC benefited companies linked to him and his associates. He is on trial alongside former WSC general manager Elwood Donaldson Jr, Joan Knowles and Jerome Missick. All have denied wrongdoing. Gibson pleaded not guilty in 2022, jurors were selected in May 2023, and the trial has been under way since November 2023.
Lewis accused of shooting man Man acquitted of attempted who answered door at his home murder of paralysed girlfriend By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 27-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with the murder of a father of two who was shot after answering the door of his Cowpen Road West home last month. Prosecutors allege Javonne Lewis and others opened fire on Edner Demlvard, 31, when he opened his front door around 1.30pm
on September 23. Lewis appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans, charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He was not required to enter a plea. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until January 28, 2027, when he is due to be served with a voluntary bill of indictment sending his case to
the Supreme Court. He was told he has the right to apply for bail in the higher court. Lewis's co-accused, Julio Deveaux, 28, was charged with the same murder last week. Demlvard, known as Bush, was found wearing a white singlet and tan shorts, with apparent gunshot wounds to the upper body. Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted.
BURROWS DENIES ATTEMPTED SHOPBREAKING AND CAUSING $500 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN accused of trying to break into an Andros business last week was granted $1,000 bail. Prosecutors allege Daniel Rashad Burrows, 40, attempted to break
into E&E Enterprises in Pleasant Bay, Andros, on September 30, and caused $500 worth of damage to property belonging to Rowena Sands. Burrows pleaded not guilty to attempted shopbreaking and damage (major) before acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans.
His bail was set with one or two sureties. Under its terms, he must sign in at his local police station once a month by 4pm. His case returns to court in Andros on October 26 for fixture. Alphonso Lewis represented Burrows. Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted.
Two apparent suicide attempts reported less than an hour apart POLICE are investigating two apparent suicide attempts involving a 63-year-old homeless man and a 14-year-old boy in separate incidents in New Providence on Wednesday. The older man told police he had been suffering from depression because he was unemployed and had nowhere to live. According to police, the man took a large quantity of over-the-counter medication while near a church in Flamingo Gardens. The incident came to police attention around 12.30pm when medical personnel at Flamingo Gardens Clinic contacted Carmichael Road Police Station requesting assistance. Officers who visited the clinic spoke with the man,
who said he had taken the medication in an attempt to end his life. He was subsequently transported to hospital for further medical attention and evaluation. Less than an hour later, police received another report of an apparent suicide attempt, this time involving a 14-year-old resident of a juvenile residential facility in eastern New Providence. Shortly after 1pm, personnel at the facility contacted police after a senior security officer intervened to prevent the boy from harming himself. According to a social worker who spoke with investigating officers, the security officer was on duty when he spotted the boy
beneath a gazebo with a belt around his neck. The officer intervened before the boy could carry out the apparent attempt. Police were also informed that the teenager had been involved in a heated verbal altercation with another male shortly before the lunch break. Emergency Medical Services personnel attended the facility and transported the boy to hospital for medical attention and further evaluation. Officers from Elizabeth Estates Police Station investigated the incident and collected the belt allegedly used by the teenager. Police have not disclosed the medical condition of either patient following their hospital evaluations.
Passenger dies after car crashes into seawall on West Bay Street A MAN died after being thrown from a car that crashed into a seawall on West Bay Street early yesterday. The passenger, who has not been identified, was found unresponsive on the northern side of the street near Western Esplanade, just east of the Arawak Cay Police Station. Emergency
medical services found no signs of life. He was wearing a white singlet and red-andwhite shorts. The driver, a 22-year-old man, was taken to hospital with injuries to various parts of his body. His condition is not known. Police said a member of the public reported the crash to the Arawak
Cay station shortly before 2am. Officers found a black Nissan Cube with extensive front-end damage. Initial investigations suggest the car was travelling west along Western Esplanade when the driver lost control and hit the seawall. Investigations are continuing.
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 29-YEAR-OLD man has been acquitted of attempting to murder his 47-year-old girlfriend, who was left paralysed after a domestic incident in 2024. A nine-person jury unanimously acquitted Kevin Taylor of attempted murder and the alternative charge of causing dangerous harm before Justice Neil Braithwaite.
Mr Taylor was accused of injuring Syretta Dames' neck in New Providence on January 12, 2024, breaking her spine and leaving her paralysed. The pair had been arguing before the incident. Ms Dames said that while she was on the ground, Mr Taylor came out of nowhere and sat on her neck. Prosecutors said he waited nine hours before taking her to hospital. Mr Taylor said Ms
Dames sat in the middle of the street during the argument. In his police statement, he said he picked her up to carry her to safety, then tripped and fell, causing the injury. He took Ms Dames to Doctors Hospital on Blake Road later that day, where an officer cautioned him and arrested him for grievous harm. Miranda Adderley represented Taylor. Akire Nicolls and Xandrell Bain prosecuted.
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Monday, May 19, 2025, PAGE 8
PAGE 10, Thursday, October 8, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 8, 2026, PAGE 11
Simon • Front Porch
Can we keep the lights on
. . . for the King?
WEEKS before King Charles, the head of state, visits The Bahamas, a part of his realm, the lights keep going off for extended periods throughout New Providence. This includes areas the King will visit, including Government House, Bay Street and Parliament Square, and Clifford Park. To avoid international embarrassment, will the government need to place or ensure generators at every location His Majesty visits? Still, even if we can keep the lights on for his party, there’s no doubt that many of his loyal subjects and humble servants will be plunged into darkness during the royal visit. Government House released a tentative, though vague, schedule of the visit. The goal of highlighting young people, sport, culture, communities, the environment, and the security forces is welcome. The schedule, however, highlights that we have embarrassingly little to show in terms of public infrastructure, cultural institutions, green spaces, and pristine environments in which Bahamians are to be celebrated. King Charles will find outside of major resorts and private enclaves, a mostly decaying, dilapidated Nassau, poorly maintained by a sovereign nation, 53 years after he joined us in lowering the Union Jack at Clifford Park. The Government is busy paving roads, painting, and doing other quick makeovers to hide how rundown is Nassau. What cannot be hidden, however, is what we have failed to do since independence to beautify and enhance certain public amenities and venues. According to Government House: “His Majesty’s programme in The Bahamas will begin with attendance at a Youth Rally at Clifford Park, where he will witness performances and presentations by young Bahamians. “The event will highlight the energy, creativity and potential of the next generation and the important role of young people in shaping the future of The Bahamas and the Commonwealth.” Even as we talk of shaping the future, embarrassingly little has changed at the park, though there has been an explosion of advertising signs adding to the area that look junky and unappealing. Behind Clifford Park is Fort Charlotte, constructed in the 18th century by the colonial government at the end of the American Revolutionary war. The Fort was named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, third great-grandfather of King Charles III. Like Charles III, she was a patron of the arts and an enthusiastic botanist. Though built centuries ago, the Fort seems to have held up appreciably better than a number of government buildings built just last century. Across from the park is Western Esplanade, a historic waterfront, adjacent Arawak Cay. A battery of canons was trained on the entrance to Nassau Harbour in past centuries
Tribune file photo
to protect the western approach. For some time now, despite this history, the government has failed to repair and remount the cannons. Another example of the dysfunction, and disregard for heritage sites by political
leaders despite the prodding of public officers. Ed Fields, this columnist, and others have pushed for years for the redevelopment of Fort Charlotte and its environs, which could have been transformed into a central park with walking trails, facilities for cultural events, and other features similar to such parks in other international cities. The central park’s recreational features could have been extended to the waterfront encompassing an upgraded Arawak Cay and Western Esplanade, with a boardwalk. Com-
we have had mostly vapid, uninspiring leadership, disinterested in and woefully ignorant of Bahamian heritage, cultural preservation, and the arts. Because King Charles has a well-known interest in the arts, we should showcase the extraordinary work of the visual arts community. This may include a visit to the National Art Gallery and to Baha Mar, which houses art works in two galleries and at the convention centre. There might be a dedicated social and dialogue with Bahamian artists, during which a work of art may be presented to him. Government House noted that the King “will also attend an event highlighting the role of sport in empowering young people and fostering discipline, leadership and opportunity.” Where? If he goes to the Sports Centre (named after his mother) he’ll find another poorly-kept public facility with many problems. Government House also noted: “His Majesty will visit a significant nature site in New Providence to learn about conservation initiatives that are protecting wildlife and restoring an important natural habitat.” The royal visit will have to avoid Harrold and Wilson Ponds National Park, “currently closed for habitat restoration and infrastructure repairs due to severe overgrowth, structural damage, and illegal encroachment.” We might consider a presentation to him about Bahamian botany, including bush medicines. “In Parliament Square, His Majesty will meet representatives of Bahamian communities from across the Family Islands and have an opportunity to experience the rich cultural traditions that form an integral part of national life,” Government House has advised. Like millions of tourists and Bahamians, he will experience a mostly
It’s okay to spruce up for the King. But don’t those we are about to celebrate and purport to believe in, also deserve royal treatment and amenities? plementing these areas could be a restored Botanical Gardens. There could also be a well-designed City of Nassau heritage trail from Fort Charlotte in the west to Potter’s Cay in the east and from Prince George’s Wharf in the north to Bain Town and Grants Town in the south. This redevelopment could have provided economic platforms for Bahamian entrepreneurs. Another idea was a Native Food Market. There has been improvement to various public spaces, notably during the terms in office of Hubert Ingraham. Outside of those years, however,
the House has been refurbished. Years ago, a group extended an offer to beautify the grounds at the House, which included an extensive replenishing and refurbishment of its gardens. Yet, as is our culture, once again, it never materialized. A now senior Bahamian emphasises that, while Junkanoo is part of our culture, the failure to start on time and to limit the
grubby downtown. In addition to the Junkanoo parade might we also showcase at Fort Charlotte rake ‘n’ scrape, the national youth choir, and other quality Bahamian musicality? The King is to end his visit with a garden reception at Government House. Thankfully, after years of disrepair, much of
gaps between groups is also Bahamian culture. The royal visit will experience both of these aspects of our “culture” after half a century of sovereignty. Bahamians have excelled in many areas of national life since independence. Our young people should be celebrated and encouraged. But let this visit serve a broader and more honest purpose about how we have declined across a range of standards and how we are failing our youth and many others. We have achieved significant progress. Still, we are far-removed from what is possible in terms of a beautiful, well-maintained, New Providence, with attractive public buildings, better kept heritage sites, and better facilities for sports, youth development, and culture. It’s okay to spruce up for the King. But don’t those we are about to celebrate and purport to believe in also deserve royal treatment and amenities, and greater opportunities to express their talents?
PAGE 12, Thursday, October 8, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Charlie Harper • Stateside
Renovating the face of DC, one structure at a time WASHINGTON DC is a beautiful city, a capital that Americans can be truly proud of. Its monumental downtown area is highlighted by and centered on the national mall, a two-mile long stretch of open parkland dotted with museums and memorials. The city is generally more of a tourist destination for Americans than for foreign visitors, though. For international tourists, DC’s appeal cannot rival that of New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, or Florida’s visitor-magnet cities Orlando and Miami. Though foreign tourism to the US has declined during this second Trump administration, New York City still draws almost nine million annual visitors, which represents 26 percent of all foreign tourists. Miami is next with five million visits – a figure to which we in The Bahamas of course mightily contribute. DC is down the list with 1.6 million tourist visits, which adds up to just over 4.5% of the national total. Still, in busy springtime, summer, and fall tourist seasons when school children are on vacation,
second term as American president has been his consuming interest in remaking the capital’s downtown area. From what he and close asso-
property developer and entrepreneur. If Trump is an
As the bridge feeds into majestic Constitution Avenue in Washington, a modernistic structure appears rather suddenly on the north
artist in this realm, Washington DC has become his palette. Like most major cities in Europe and the Western Hemisphere, Washington is at its most quiescent early on Sunday morning. A recent visit offered a chance to take a close look at what Trump is actually doing with the area on and around the national mall.
side of the highway. It’s the US Institute of Peace, a mostly anonymous--if architecturally stunning--structure until quite recently. World War II veteran US Senators Mark Hatfield and Spark Matsunaga led a bipartisan effort in the US Congress to create USIP in 1984 as an independent nonprofit corporation dedicated to promoting peace by preventing, mitigating, and resolving violent conflict abroad. For more than 40 years, USIP has worked as an intermediary to convene and facilitate global peacebuilding and de-escalation efforts in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. Until Trump’s second term began last year, the peace institute was resolutely bipartisan. Foreign relations-minded congressmen and senators from both political parties were appointed to seek solutions to prickly international problems. It doesn’t take much to acknowledge that under this second Trump administration, those precepts moved quickly to the endangered species list. The notion of bipartisan anything has just about vanished from the political discourse in DC. And
US Institute of Peace
ciates have said over the years, Trump was interested in DC’s infrastructure pretty much from the time he arrived to take up residence in the White House. But he was actually much more circumspect during his first term as president, apparently both due to a natural unfamiliarity with the city and only a partial command of his
THE KENNEDY Center for Performing Arts
Washington’s downtown area is full of visitors, many from abroad. During the winter especially, most tourists are Americans eager to see the buildings and sites they hear so much about on television and in the news generally. These days, a different kind of tourist attraction has emerged. It’s sometimes called “What is Trump up to now?” tourism. A major hallmark of Donald Trump’s
own presidential power and perquisites. During this second term Trump’s inhibitions, particularly in the realm of real estate modernization and redevelopment, have vanished. A businessman whose spectacular success as the centerpiece of the long-running The Apprentice television show made him comfortably wealthy, Trump nevertheless sees himself primarily as a
During the work week, the six-lane Teddy Roosevelt bridge crossing the Potomac River from Virginia is backed up, often for miles, due to a four-year, $130 million repair and renovation of the 60-year-old span. No worries, though, early on Sunday. Driving through the gloom of early-morning fog, some visitors crossed the river with no delay at all.
de-escalating long-simmering crises overseas is not how Trump is conducting foreign policy. The USIP was a very early target for the Trump administration. In February 2025, according to the Associated Press, the president signed an executive order announcing his intention to dismantle the USIP. In March of last year, he ordered that most of USIP's board of directors be fired. The president may legally remove board members with the approval of the board or several congressional committees. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) entered the USIP building to replace its leadership, fire its staff, and assume building ownership.
80th birthday and a couple of weeks prior to the nation’s 250th. Last month, Trump threatened to demolish the building unless his name was returned to the facade, which is now covered by tarps, apparently to conceal the shame of legal defeat experienced by the president whose name no longer adorns the Kennedy Center. Trump is thus one-fortwo in getting his name on buildings. But his fingerprints are visible in several other parts of central Washington. The president infamously declared his intention to renovate the iconic Reflecting Pool, more than one-third of a mile long, that attracts 24 million visitors annually. Depending
THE REFLECTING Pool
Some of USIP's former leadership contested the legality of these moves in court, citing the agency's independent structure, and in May 2025, a district judge ruled in USIP's favor. However, a higher appellate court granted a stay, pending appeal in June, that temporarily paused enforcement of the decision while the government’s appeal proceeded. In December 2025, the State Department
on your vantage point, it reflects the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Mall's trees, and the sky. Months later, the pool sits empty, its forlorn appearance seemingly mocking the president and his team for their impulsive decisions in awarding allegedly no-bid contracts for the pool’s repairs. Beyond the mall and along the banks of the broad Potomac River, still
announced that the institute had been renamed the "Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace," and the president's name was attached to the facade of the building. Nearby and on a sightline directly behind the USIP is the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in some minds the central hub of American art forms such as the opera, symphony, and ballet. The center opened in 1971 and led an illustrious existence as “a living tribute” to JFK for over 50 years. However, like USIP, the Kennedy Center was an early target of the second Trump administration. In 2025, Trump dismissed the center's trustees and replaced them with loyalists who elected him chairman and voted to add his name to the center, a move later determined to be illegal. Consequently, ticket sales declined, dozens of performances were canceled, and the Washington National Opera ended its half-century of residence. In February of this year, Trump said that the center would close in July for two years of renovations. In May, however, a district judge blocked the Kennedy Center from closing during its renovations and ordered that Trump's name be removed from the building, which occurred on June 13, 2026, just a day before Trump’s
affected in DC by some Atlantic Ocean tidal influence, sits East Potomac Park, previously discussed in this space for Trump’s grand plans to renovate its humble but picturesque public golf course. The golf course sits essentially at sea level, and its southern edge is separated from the Potomac’s strong currents by a dilapidated sea wall whose replacement might well cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars. In the spring, especially after winter thaws, but often after rainstorms anytime in the year, the course gets soggy or worse as the river overflows its banks. Trump reportedly has plans to turn it into a world-class course, but may be hesitating due to the potential expense. And there is the White House ballroom in the mansion’s East Wing. Its grand reconstruction remains in progress as the weeks and months pass. These and other projects all add up to an amazingly transparent attempt by Trump to leave behind him a physical legacy in a city he has so thoroughly conquered. It’s rumored that such plans obscure for him the need to manage the nation’s foreign affairs and warlike behavior. It’s hard to know for sure. But while appearances can be deceiving, they can also reveal a lot.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 8, 2026, PAGE 13
80 years of faithfulness at Mt Calvary Baptist
Cara Hunt Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
FOR more than 80 years, Mt Calvary Baptist Cathedral has stood as a shining example of God's faithfulness, grace, and mercy in the heart of New Providence. The history of Mt Calvary Baptist Cathedral began on October 8, 1946. The late Rev Dr Wilfred Gentry McPhee, affectionately called "WG," gathered with three dedicated women to organise the new fellowship. Sir Harry Oakes heard Rev McPhee preach at Metropolitan Baptist Church on Hay Street, saw the massive crowds gathered outside, and provided the first financial gift toward the church's construction. The congregation started in a modest wooden building at Blue Hill Road and Laird Street. Rev McPhee pursued a permanent sanctuary, completing the current cathedral without bank loans or liens through sacrificial member giving and key community backing, including the late Sir Roland Symonette. Beyond the pulpit, the founding pastor was a master theologian and a pioneer of native Bahamian sloop sailing. His sailing leadership earned international recognition, including a feature interview in the February 1967 issue of National Geographic. He served as the first International President-at-Large of the Progressive Baptist Convention International and as Second Vice-President of the Bahamas Baptist Convention. Over the decades, the sanctuary welcomed prime ministers, governors-general, foreign ambassadors, and Queen Elizabeth II, who hosted Rev Dr McPhee aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1966. Alongside his wife and co-founder, the late Rev Ethel Mae McPhee, the founding pastor built a family dedicated to Christian service. And now the historic church will take some time to celebrate its
ministry, leadership, and community impact with an anniversary week which started on Tuesday and runs until Sunday, October 11, centered on the theme "The Rock and Faith on which we stand.”
Wor-
REV Dr Philip BJ McPhee & Rev Charlene McPhee
Senior Pastor Rev’d Dr Philip BJ McPhee, with his wife Rev Charlene McPhee, leads the celebration, continuing a storied generational work established by his father. My father stepped out on faith in 1946 with three women and an immovable trust in God," said Rev’d Dr Philip BJ McPhee. "He built with prayer and grit.He proved that when God gives a vision, resources follow. Carrying this mantle today means honouring the prayers of my parents while expanding our reach to souls across this nation and across the world. Eighty years is proof of God's unbroken mercy. We stand firm on that rock, and our eyes are fixed straight ahead on the work still to come." Reverend Dr Ivan Butler Jr added “Rev’d Dr WG McPhee laid down a standard of biblical scholarship and community devotion. Rev’d Dr Philip McPhee
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carries that standard with distinction. Rev’d Dr Glendon E Rolle said that Dr Philip McPhee shows the three qualities required for leadership:strength, endurance, and deep love for people. “Dr Philip McPhee shows all three every single day. Friday evening gives the wider body of Christ a chance to honour his life, his ministry, and his birthday. He shepherds with the exact same fearless courage his father displayed for decades,” he said. And Rev’d Dr Errol A Redwell said that the church’s spiritual footprint extends beyond the Bahamas.
“Believers in Chicago and across the United States know of this church and the McPhee legacy. God preserves institutions that honour His
REV Dr W G McPhee & Rev Ethel Mae McPhee
REV Dr Glendon E Rolle
name. Sunday morning will be a high time of worship as we seal this eight-decade milestone with the living Word." The remaining anniversary celebrations
DE Errol Redwell Sr, of Chicago, IL
REV Dr Ivan Butler Jr
include a birthday celebration on Friday at 7 pm with guest speaker: Rev’d Dr Glendon E Rolle, Pastor of Zion Yamacraw Baptist Cathedral and the 80th anniversary Divine
ship Service on Sunday, October 11 at 11am where the guest speaker will be Rev’d Dr Errol A Redwell, Sr, of Chicago, Illinois.
PAGE 14, Thursday, October 8, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Pride Bahamas celebrates renewed focus on faith, spirituality
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
PRIDE Bahamas is placing a greater focus on faith and spirituality this year as the organisation seeks to deepen its dialogue with the religious community during its seventh annual Pride Week. Founder of the Rebirth of Pride Bahamas and human rights defender Alexus D’Marco said this year’s celebrations, running through October 12, will centre on creating spaces for LGBTQ community members to discuss issues affecting them, including the challenge of reconciling their faith with their sexual orientation and gender identity. Ms D’Marco said a talk show scheduled for today will explore “faith, spirituality, and being LGBTQI”, with members of the community discussing how they reconcile their beliefs with their identities. “This is a conversation and a national conversation that we're having with our community members who are now identifying as LGBTQI persons and also identifying and believing in their Christianity and believing in their faith that they believe in, so that's a very significant milestone for us to have this open dialogue
and conversation with community members,” she said. She said the focus on faith is particularly significant during Pride’s seventh year, which she described as a “year of completion” in biblical terms. “So we're focusing more on the spirituality aspect of the individuals who are a part of the community because they too suffer from internal stigma and discrimination, and balancing their faith and being LGBTQI, so that's a milestone completion for us this year that we'll be focusing on in our deliberations this week at Pride Bahamas,” Ms D’Marco said. She said members and allies from independent and non-denominational churches will participate in the conversation, with some expected to join Saturday’s Human Rights March. Ms D’Marco said Pride Bahamas has also seen increased support and visibility over the years, despite backlash from some members of the religious community, particularly surrounding the march. She said some people who initially opposed Pride have changed their views after seeing that the event is culturally designed to reflect the Bahamian LGBTQ community and its needs.
“They see that it's now not what they thought it would have been, like what they see on TV or anything, but it's culturally designed to fit our community, and our community needs, and its cultural component allows us the opportunity to have real conversations about real issues that we face as Bahamian people navigating in the country as LGBTI people,” Ms D’Marco said. Ms D’Marco said while successive governments have expressed support for Pride, more action and collaboration are needed. “I do think the expression is expressive of governments, and the support for it has been growing over the years. But it does take more than that. It takes political will. It takes leaving no one behind,” she said. “The work is intersectional,” Ms D’Marco added, noting that LGBTQ Bahamians can also be affected by issues including climate change, disability and ageing. “Regardless, they are citizens first. Before any title that they give themselves, or somebody gives them, or any label that's given to them, they should be included in the national conversation, and their visibility should not stop them or hinder them from being a part of the national conversation or society,” she said.
Ms D’Marco said there have also been improvements in how reports of vioAlexus D’Marco lence against LGBTQ people are handled by the Royal Bahamas Police Force. She said there was a time when reports of violence, including intimate partner violence, were not taken seriously, but sensitivity training and increased awareness have contributed to improvements. However, she said social services remain an area of concern, particularly for LGBTQ people living in poverty. She said some displaced LGBTQ young people are then forced to find housing or engage in “sex work” and “survival work”. Pride Bahamas began its week of activities yesterday with an opening and open mic night. Other events include a talk show, game night and healing session today, a community celebration tomorrow, the Pride Bahamas Show on Friday, the Human Rights March and community event on Saturday, Transcendence Royale
on Sunday and a pool party on October 12. Ms D’Marco also highlighted the regional support for this year’s celebrations, saying representatives and advocates from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, the United States, Europe and South Africa are in the country for Pride. She also urged people who may have reservations about Pride to learn more about the activities beyond the march. “Every community in their every community in the Bahamas has a human right to exist. They have a human right and a constitutional right to express. They have a human and a constitutional right to gather,” she said. Ms D’Marco acknowledged that protesters also have rights, but said Pride should be allowed to provide a space where LGBTQ people can come together.
NOTICE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT, 2000 Octa Global Payments Ltd. (IN VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in accordance with section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000, as amended, Octabank Global Payments Ltd. is in dissolution. The dissolution of the said Company commenced on 5 October 2026 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered with the Registrar General in Nassau, The Bahamas. The Sole Liquidator of the said Company is L. Michael Dean of Equity Trust House, Caves Village, West Bay Street, P.O. Box N-10697, Nassau, Bahamas. L. Michael Dean Sole Liquidator
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 8, 2026, PAGE 15
PAGE 16, Thursday, October 8, 2026
THE TRIBUNE