I!"#NDS
6, 2026 FEBRUARY FRIDAY,
AROUND DA ISLANDS FRIDAY
HIGH 91ºF LOW 78ºF
around da
GRAN
INCORPOARATING
A D BAH
M
CARS! CARS!
The Tribune ZenATO
a Christin
nt ama reside Grand&Bah 9
see pages
L AT E S T
N E W S
O N
wins “Diver
Inside’S: FARMER CAY REGATTA see page
CLASSIFIEDS TRADER
11
r" Award of the Yea
8
T R I B U N E 2 4 2 . C O M
Biggest And Best!
Volume: 123 No. 224, Friday, October 16, 2026
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE LIKELY ‘IN NEAR FUTURE’
‘Not on my watch:’ Minister’s NIB rate increase rejection FULL STORY: SEE BUSINESS
HOPE OF RETIREMENT AGE RISE ‘SOONER RATHER THAN LATER’
3456789:;<=<988;>6$,.,2*'+6?@6(#&?-+>6*A'6%-&(,"62'+B,"'6#./6.#*,?.#(6,.2-+#."'0
FULL STORY: SEE BUSINESS
PINTARD SLAMS GOVT OVER HOSPITAL Taxi union demands $5 fare hike amid rising fuel costs SHORTAGES AMID $39M SURPLUS !"#:);%#7<33%'' ,-./012#3456#7289-421+-22'(()*+,&-.'$'/,#0.'* FNM Leader Michael Pintard has accused the government of celebrating a nearly $40m fiscal surplus while patients allegedly die from shortages of essential supplies at public hospitals. Mr Pintard made the allegations in Parliament on Wednesday as the
Davis administrawere dying in tion highlighted public hospitals a $39.3m surplus because of a lack of for the 2025/2026 supplies. fiscal year, describHealth and Welling it as the first ness Minister Dr recorded since the Michael Darville country gained challenged Mr independence. Pintard’s claims, He said it would describing them PINTARD be tragic for the as misleading and government to inaccurate. He boast about its financial SURPLUS - SEE PAGE FOUR achievements while people
!"#$%&'%#()*+!%'' ,-./012#3456#7289-42!"#$%&'(() *+,&-.'$'/,#0.'* THE Bahamas Taxi Cab Union is seeking another meeting with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis before deciding its next course of action over unresolved grievances, including demands for an increase of at least $5 on most taxi
fares amid rising fuel and operating costs. Union president Tyrone Butler said yesterday that taxi drivers had been seeking a fare adjustment for six months but had yet to receive a response from Minister of Transport Leon Lundy despite repeated requests. Mr Butler said the union’s grievances remained unresolved despite previous
discussions with government officials, including a September 18 meeting with the prime minister. He accused Mr Lundy of failing to adequately address concerns affecting taxi drivers. He said the meeting with Mr Davis was cut short because the prime minister had to attend the funeral of former Cabinet TAXI - SEE PAGE THREE
Countdown to Gardiner trial starts tomorrow THE countdown to one of the most consequential trials involving The Bahamas in recent years begins in earnest tomorrow, with pretrial deadlines approaching in a US drug-trafficking case involving a former senior Bahamian police officer and a convicted drug smuggler with alleged political connections. Lawyers in the case against former Royal
Bahamas Police Gardiner's preForce (RBPF) trial motions, which Chief Superinask the court to tendent Elvis resolve legal disNathaniel Curtis putes before trial, and Jonathan Eric are due tomorGardiner, who was row, October arrested following 16. Prosecutors an Election Day must respond by plane crash, face October 30, with a series of pretrial GARDINER Gardiner given deadlines that will until November 6 help determine what evi- to reply. A hearing is scheddence a New York jury uled for November 20 at ultimately hears. 10am, if necessary.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
The deadline for other defendants to file pretrial motions has already passed, with none submitted. Prosecutors must disclose their expert evidence by December 11, followed by the defence on December 28. In the new year, January 4 is the deadline for motions in limine, through which either side can ask GARDINER - SEE PAGE FIVE
PAGE 2, Friday, October 16, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
%GHG;!#3;$E4&)6$I477$0'1$J&'/4*$%,K4+L$:4')*4L$0))4'141$)64$%<"$8.97&:$:,'(.7)0)&B4$544)&'/$&'$J*0'1$I06050F
Government moving ahead with plans to redevelop deteriorating residential buildings in GB’s Garden Village !"#$%&'(%#)*+,-,. /012345#60557809# :5780950 dmaycock@ tribunemedia.net THE government is moving ahead with plans to redevelop deteriorating residential buildings in the Garden Village area of Grand Bahama through a proposed $50m loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Minister of Housing and Land Reform Keith Bell said the government has begun acquiring properties in the Bain Brothers tract, which is expected to form the first phase of the project. The proposed multi-phase development is expected to deliver approximately 270 rent-toown housing units to help meet growing demand for affordable housing on the island. “We already have the plans done. We have already gotten some demolition orders, and we have already gotten the permits,” Mr Bell said. “We’re ready to start clearing, and we’re ready to build.” “We are moving ahead, we are ploughing ahead, and so hopefully, we’re able to get this loan, and it’ll put us that much further,” he added. The Ministry of Housing and Land Reform held a public consultation on the Sustainable Housing Opportunities for Urban Transformation (SHOUT) Programme on Wednesday evening at the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King as part of the process
!"#$%&'&()*+$,-$",.(&'/$0'1$20'1$34-,*5$6471$0$8.97&:$:,'(.7)0)&,'$,'$)64$;.()0&'0974$",.(&'/$<88,*).'&)&4($-,*$=*90'$!*0'(-,*50)&,'$>;"<=!?$ @*,/*0554$,'$A41'4(10+$4B4'&'/$0)$)64$@*,CD0)641*07$,-$D6*&()$)64$E&'/F associated with the proposed IDB financing. Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey and IDB country representative for The Bahamas Shirley Gayle Sinclair, who is overseeing the SHOUT project, also attended. Mr Bell said the government was working to meet the IDB’s requirements
while advancing other housing developments in the Urban Renewal area, along Drake Avenue and at the Heritage Subdivision. Although preliminary work has been completed, he said the Garden Village project must satisfy the IDB’s procurement, environmental and safety requirements before
construction can begin. These include contractor tendering procedures, occupational health and safety measures, risk assessments, the proper handling of hazardous materials and safeguards to protect workers and surrounding communities. Mr Bell warned that failure to comply with the requirements could jeopardise the loan. He did not provide a firm construction start date. He said the size of the properties would allow the government to take a phased approach, demolishing and reconstructing buildings while arranging for residents to move into completed accommodation. He stressed that residents would not be displaced without alternative arrangements. “We are able to build out. We will demolish, reconstruct and relocate,” he said. Ms Moxey said the Garden Village transformation was a collaboration between the Ministry for Grand Bahama and the Ministry of Housing and Land Reform, building on the Cities Forward initiative’s focus on inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability. She said the redevelopment encompasses the Bain Buildings, Garden Villas, Drake Avenue properties and Urban Renewal land, where additional multi-unit housing is planned. Ms Moxey said the buildings had deteriorated over the years, partly because of
hurricanes, making redevelopment necessary. She welcomed the partnership with the IDB, saying the proposed financing could help advance longstanding plans to improve housing conditions. The first phase is expected to involve the demolition of five blue buildings, which will be replaced with affordable housing. Ms Moxey said the government intended to proceed one building at a time, allowing residents to move into completed accommodation before work continues on other buildings. The phased approach is intended to minimise disruption while replacing deteriorating structures. Separately, Ms Moxey said the Ministry of Housing was preparing to begin development at the Heritage Subdivision, where the initial phase will comprise 18 lots. The land has already been cleared, and development is expected to begin soon, she said. Mr Bell also identified Wellington Pinder, where the government has approximately 100 acres, as well as East Coral, West Heights and other locations across Grand Bahama as areas targeted for future housing development. He said construction had begun in several parts of the country, including Abaco, with projects also under way or being advanced in New Providence, Eleuthera, San Salvador and Andros.
Mr Bell said the government was seeking to expand housing opportunities for low-income households and people who might otherwise struggle to purchase a home. He pointed to the rent-to-own programme, tax concessions and plans to introduce government rental units in Grand Bahama as measures intended to improve access to affordable accommodation. He also said the ministry was prepared to assist people who reported paying individuals who allegedly promised them housing but failed to deliver. Mr Bell declined to discuss the cases in detail because they were before the courts, but said the ministry was willing to consider the circumstances of affected individuals and work with them towards securing homes. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that vulnerable groups, including single mothers and small-business owners, were not left behind. Ms Moxey described Wednesday’s consultation as an opportunity for residents to share their views on the proposed redevelopment and its potential impact on their communities. She said the initiative could help improve living conditions in areas where residential buildings had remained in poor condition for years.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 16, 2026, PAGE 3
New impetigo cases on decline !"#$%&'$(#!)*($+ ,-./012#3456#&278-42!"#$%!&' ()*"+,!-!.*/0,!( THE number of newly reported impetigo cases has declined significantly, with health officials recording just seven new infections this week in New Providence and Grand Bahama, according to Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville. Dr Darville said yesterday that, as of Wednesday, October 14, four new cases had been reported in New Providence and three in Grand Bahama. No new cases were reported in the Family Islands. Although impetigo is not classified as a reportable disease under World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) guidelines, local health officials have been
monitoring infections daily because of their impact on schoolchildren. However, the ministry does not have a definitive overall case count, as some infections treated at private healthcare facilities may not be reported. “While these figures are encouraging, a reduction in reported cases does not necessarily mean that transmission has completely stopped. Continued monitoring and vigilance is important for us in the Department of Public Health, as well as our clinics and schools across our archipelago,” Dr Darville said. Impetigo is a common, highly contagious bacterial skin infection that spreads particularly among young and school-age children. It typically begins as small sores or blisters that rupture and develop yellow, honey-coloured crusts,
often around the mouth and nose. The infection spreads through direct contact with infected skin or contaminated personal items, including towels, clothing and bedding. Acting Director of Public Health Dr Philip Swann said fewer than 70 cases had been recorded during the earlier surveillance period, compared with fewer than ten so far this week. He said most infections appeared to be isolated cases, although health officials had identified instances of multiple students being infected at the same school, sometimes within the same grade. Dr Swann said cases had also been identified among students in different grades with no known contact. “There's also children other grades who normally interact with other students in those lower grades. For example, pre-K in some
Taxi union demands $5 fare hike amid rising fuel costs TAXI - FROM PAGE ONE minister Neville Wisdom, leaving several issues undiscussed.The union subsequently submitted a package of grievances to Mr Davis and received communication last week indicating that the concerns had been forwarded to Mr Lundy for action. However, Mr Butler said the union had yet to receive a response from the minister. “Nothing has changed, unfortunately,” Mr Butler said. “We did have a brief meeting with the Prime Minister to express our displeasure and discuss the lack of cooperation coming from the minister, and even that hasn’t really yielded much success.” Mr Butler said the union was seeking an increase of at least $5 on most taxi fares but was willing to negotiate adjustments to individual rates, including smaller increases if the government could not accommodate its full proposal. Unlike bus fares, which are fixed, taxi fares vary according to destination. “I think the timing right now would warrant a permanent increase because of the cost of living and the rate of inflation,” Mr Butler said. “So even a temporary increase would probably need to be permanent right now, based on the time frame that we got the last increase.” The union’s latest call for higher fares comes
amid further petrol price increases, with an Esso dealer reporting earlier this month that prices were expected to climb from $7.06 to $7.50 per gallon. The last taxi fare increase came in 2024, when then Minister of Energy and Transport JoBeth Coleby-Davis announced a 10 per cent adjustment for New Providence operators, their first increase since 2017. The revised fares were gazetted in March and formally announced on April 5 following negotiations involving the government, Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association and the union. Beyond the proposed fare adjustment, Mr Butler raised concerns about the Road Traffic Department, accusing officers of harassing taxi drivers and imposing penalties without following proper disciplinary procedures. He claimed officers were penalising drivers for alleged infractions, including dress-code violations, rather than issuing citations and referring matters to the controller for review. He also accused the department of introducing changes to vehicle-age requirements and requiring drivers to obtain new certificates before their existing documents expired. Mr Butler recalled an incident in which a taxi driver allegedly lost more than $300 after a Road
Traffic officer confronted him over his footwear upon returning to the cruise port from a tour. He claimed the driver asked to finish collecting payment from his passengers before addressing the officer, but the officer allegedly instructed the visitors not to pay him, prompting them to leave without settling the fare. “That’s not the way things are done,” Mr Butler said. “There’s nothing in that. That’s something he made up of his own,” he added when asked whether regulations permitted such an action. Mr Butler also expressed frustration with Mr Lundy’s handling of the union’s concerns, accusing him of failing to honour commitments made during previous discussions. “Right now, as it is, I have a letter in front of me that I’m going to send over to his office again, but looks like sending letters and making requests and making phone calls really doesn’t matter,” he said. Mr Butler said the union hoped to complete its discussions with the prime minister before determining its next move, maintaining that negotiations remained its preferred approach to resolving the disputes. However, he did not rule out industrial action. “The union is not going to be silent forever,” he said.
Four arrested in separate drug raids in New Providence FOUR people were arrested and suspected hydroponic marijuana valued at $8,400 was seized during two separate police operations in New Providence on Wednesday. Officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit and Canine Support Services conducted the searches at residences off Faith Avenue and on Rupert Dean Lane. In the first incident, shortly after 8am, officers executed a search warrant at a home on an unnamed road off Faith Avenue, where they encountered a 29-year-old Bahamian man. During the search, a police dog alerted officers to a dryer in the kitchen, where they discovered a large clear plastic package
containing suspected hydroponic marijuana. Officers also confiscated a small amount of mixed currency believed to be proceeds of crime. The man was arrested in connection with the discovery. Police said the suspected marijuana weighed approximately 1.2 pounds and had an estimated street value of $2,400. About two hours later, officers executed another search warrant at a residence on Rupert Dean Lane. Police said the occupants refused to open the door despite officers announcing their presence, prompting officers to force their way inside. Two Jamaican men, aged 22 and 45,
and a 25-year-old Bahamian woman were found inside. A police dog alerted officers to a bedroom closet, where several colourful packages and clear plastic bags containing suspected marijuana were discovered. Additional packages of suspected hydroponic marijuana were found inside the kitchen oven and in the front room. Police seized 130 packages of suspected hydroponic marijuana weighing approximately three pounds, with an estimated street value of $6,000. All three occupants were arrested in connection with the discovery. Investigations into both incidents are continuing.
To Publish your Financials and
Legal Notices
Email: garthur@tribunemedia.net
cases, and then grade six or grade nine in other schools with no known contact,” he said. Asked which age group had been most affected, Dr Swann said cases appeared to be concentrated among students in grades four to ten. Dr Darville said the Ministry of Health and Wellness had been working closely with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to address the infections in schools. A virtual meeting was held on October 9 with the Director of Education, senior school administrators and other education officials, attracting more than 130 participants. Dr Darville welcomed the Ministry of Education’s deep cleaning of schools to help curb the spread of impetigo and urged continued handwashing, proper care of infected areas and avoiding the sharing of personal items. He stressed that children affected by impetigo should not be stigmatised. The minister also encouraged teachers and school administrators to reinforce
123245678#98:!/%(;8/,.8<!%%,!==8>)81*?;/!%8>/)@*%%! hygiene practices, maintain cleaning measures and communicate with parents when children show symptoms. The minister said
teachers were not expected to diagnose the infection but played an important role in identifying possible cases.
Police investigate theft of $375,000 boat from Abaco marina POLICE in Abaco are investigating the theft of a boat valued at $375,000 from a marina on Guana Cay earlier this week. According to police, a security official reported the theft shortly after 2pm on Wednesday. The vessel, a blue-andwhite, 33-foot Boston Whaler named Seabags,
was reportedly stolen sometime between 10pm on Sunday and 7.40am on Monday. Police said the boat was equipped with twin outboard engines. The boat had been docked on a boat lift at a slip within the marina. The vessel bears registration number 1307692 and
hull identification number BWCE0142F021. Police have not identified any suspects, and investigations are continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Criminal Investigation Department at 502-9991, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS (8477).
PAGE 4, Friday, October 16, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Darville orders investigations into medical care complaints !"#$%&'$(#!)*($+ ,-./012#3456#&278-42ebowleg@tribunemedia.net HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said yesterday that investigations are underway into the medical care provided to two men who died in separate incidents after raising concerns about their treatment. The minister said his ministry is examining whether Thomas Jean-Baptiste, an inmate with several serious medical conditions who died on October 4, received adequate treatment and whether his transfer to hospital could have been expedited. He has also directed the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) to investigate complaints made by the late community activist Gene “Sparky” Fountain in a video reportedly recorded before his death. Mr Jean Baptiste, who suffered from diabetes, morbid obesity and a history of potentially life-threatening blood clots, died after spending about two weeks in hospital. His sister, Alicia Jean-Baptiste, previously told The Tribune that her brother repeatedly complained about inadequate medical care and food after the Court of
Appeal revoked his medical bail. Dr Darville said preliminary findings indicated that Mr Jean-Baptiste had received medication and treatment while incarcerated. However, he and Acting Director of Public Health Dr Philip Swann were examining the circumstances surrounding his medical care in greater detail. “We in the Department of Public Health will do our investigation, as it relates to whether the service was adequate, because from my understanding that the individual suffered from many forms of chronic noncommunicable diseases, and he was receiving treatment.” “But with that being said, complications can arise, and the question is: Were they detected in time, and was the referral to the Princess Margaret Hospital delayed or could have been expedited? All of these things need to be investigated.” Dr Darville said he was satisfied with the adequacy of primary healthcare facilities, noting that patients requiring specialised treatment were referred to PMH. He declined to comment further on Mr Jean-Baptiste’s case until receiving a full report and
GENE ‘SPARKY’ FOUNTAIN pledged to disclose any violations uncovered. National Security Minister Myles Laroda previously defended the medical care provided to Mr Jean-Baptiste, saying prison officials were confident he received adequate treatment before his death. Mr Laroda said he was advised by the commissioner of corrections that Mr Jean-Baptiste had been unwell when he entered prison and was referred to hospital for treatment. He said the inmate was housed in a dormitory near the prison infirmary rather than a cell and had access to medication. Meanwhile, Dr Darville said he had instructed
THOMAS JEAN-BAPTISTE
the PHA to investigate complaints made by Mr Fountain, who described an 11-hour wait at PMH in a video that circulated following his death. The minister described the video as “distressing” and acknowledged that accident and emergency services at PMH were sometimes stretched beyond capacity. “I’ve seen many videos where individuals have complained about slow service at the Princess Margaret Hospital, to some extent through the Rand Memorial Hospital,” he said. “That video was forwarded to the PHA by myself. I’m sure they saw it. I indicated that it needs
to be investigated, and we should have a report as relates to that.” In the video, whose recording date could not be confirmed, Mr Fountain criticised financial barriers to healthcare and described how neighbours helped him into the back of a van while he waited for an ambulance. He was seen lying in bed in a dark room as he recounted his experience. Dr Darville said complaints about hospital services must be thoroughly examined, noting that he had seen another video to which the PHA had responded. “Claims of this nature need to be fully investigated,” he said. “We are
supposed to provide a service that is adequate at the accident and emergency.” However, he acknowledged that emergency services were sometimes stretched beyond capacity. Dr Darville said the government had long recognised the need to expand hospital services, noting that PMH had outgrown much of its existing capacity as far back as 1999. He pointed to the purchase of the Harbourside facility and plans for a new urgent care centre on Blue Hill Road, expected to become operational by the middle of next summer, as measures intended to ease pressure on the Princess Margaret Hospital.
PINTARD SLAMS GOVT OVER HOSPITAL SHORTAGES AMID $39M SURPLUS SURPLUS - FROM PAGE ONE urged the opposition leader to exercise caution when making allegations without providing evidence. Mr Darville said: “It is detrimental to our healthcare system. It not only affects your constituents, it affects the entire island of Grand Bahama. It’s okay to stand to your feet and say there are some shortages, but to say people are dying as a result of shortages is going a bit too far,” Dr Darville said. Dr Darville said he had a responsibility to defend the public healthcare system. However, Mr Pintard argued that the deteriorating state of healthcare was not a political issue. He recalled constituents approaching him in tears over difficulties they faced when seeking medical care. “Some of the tragedies you are dealing with on a daily basis are a result of scarcity. In some cases, operations have been put off over and over again because the facilities are not in the state for operations to take place,” Mr Pintard said.
He said shortages ranged from non-functioning air conditioning systems to inadequate resources for diagnostic procedures. He also alleged that patients were sometimes discharged before fully recovering because of a lack of bed space. “I live in this community. I’m seeing it and experiencing it. I have lost relatives. All of us have had these tragedies,” Mr Pintard continued. “This isn’t a dig just on your government — your healthcare system cannot get to where it is unless this has spanned multiple administrations. “But I’m just saying this is a part of it, and so I’m sensitive when someone talks about how we earn all this money. “If you earn all this money, why aren’t we helping the people? That’s what the issue is.” Members of the public have long complained about conditions at PMH and Rand Memorial Hospital, with some patients reporting waiting hours or even days to see a doctor. Others have been treated in
hospital corridors as wards reached capacity. In February, Consultant Physicians Staff Association president Dr Charelle Lockhart said PMH was in the worst condition she had seen in her 22 years in public practice. She said the healthcare system was struggling with chronic shortages of staff, equipment and supplies, making it increasingly important for people to take responsibility for their health. Dr Lockhart, a paediatrician, said conditions had steadily deteriorated despite capital investments at PMH, including the construction of a paediatric unit and the Accident and Emergency Department. She said those facilities remained inadequately equipped and understaffed, limiting their effectiveness. “It is worse than I’ve ever seen,” she said. “I’ve been in the public hospital for the last 22 years.” In March, Bahamas Nurses Union president Muriel Lightbourn also said PMH was in the worst condition she had seen in more than 40 years as a nurse.
Death Notice For
Mary Enid Clarke, 86 a resident of Fire Road, Andros, Bahamas, died at her residence on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. She is survived by her adopted children: Bishop Dixon Ferguson, Billy Evans, Henry Colebrooke, David Siegrist, Henrietta and Falisha Colebrooke; sisters: Elizabeth and Vangie Colebrooke, and a host of other relatives and friends. CARE - We listen to your needs COMMITMENT- We are committed to helping your business grow CONSISTENCY- We offer consistent service to all clients Call our Advertising Department on 502-2350, and speak to a Sales Executive today. Get started on the road to success!
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 16, 2026, PAGE 5
Countdown to Gardiner trial starts tomorrow GARDINER - FROM PAGE ONE to plead guilty. He was sentenced to four years in prison. the judge to rule in According to a Drug advance on what evi- Enforcement Adminisdence and arguments may tration (DEA) affidavit, be presented to the jury. undercover agents posing Responses are due January as members of an inter11, with replies due January national drug-trafficking 15. The trial is scheduled to organisation met with begin on March 1, 2027. defendants on several In a status letter filed occasions, with many of the on Wednesday, federal encounters recorded. prosecutors said they had Curtis and Symonette consulted defence coun- allegedly offered armed sel and that none of the protection and firearms parties believed another for drug shipments passing conference with US Dis- through The Bahamas. The trict Judge Lewis J Liman indictment also alleges that was necessary at this stage. Curtis claimed a high-rankCurtis, who formerly ing Bahamian politician headed the RBPF’s Air- would facilitate the moveport Division, was among ment of drugs in exchange 13 people charged in a for $2m. November 2024 indictGardiner, a convicted ment. The defendants drug smuggler, was among included RBPF Sergeant 11 people rescued by the Prince Albert Symone- US military after their tte and Royal Bahamas aircraft crashed in the Defence Force (RBDF) Atlantic during a flight officer Darrin Alexander from Abaco to Grand Roker. The cocaine impor- Bahama on Election Day, tation conspiracy charge May 12. carries a mandatory miniA federal complaint mum sentence of ten years alleges that Gardiner was and a maximum of life carrying $30,000 in Bahaimprisonment. mian currency, allegedly Roker, a former RBDF linked to a politician, and chief petty officer, was the three mobile phones when first of the 13 defendants he was rescued.
!"#$%#& #'()*& +),)-).& /'*012& !'312& 4,025& 6789:& %*;0.&<)9,)=02*&47390.: A New York indictment alleges that Gardiner, 58, participated in a drug-trafficking conspiracy between May 2021 and May 2026. He faces cocaine conspiracy and firearms charges and has pleaded not guilty. A DEA affidavit alleges that he owns a business that bids on Bahamian
government construction contracts and is used to launder drug proceeds. Gardiner was previously convicted in Florida of conspiracy to import cocaine and sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison. He also faces separate charges in Georgia. A June 9 indictment, unsealed in August, alleges that he supplied large quantities of cocaine to drug-trafficking organisations in that state between December 2022 and May 2026, with individual shipments potentially exceeding 2,000 kilograms. US authorities described him as a “priority target”. Separate US court filings allege that an unidentified senior Bahamian politician met an undercover DEA source inside a Parliament building in October 2024 to discuss a proposed $30m cocaine shipment. Gardiner has also sought dismissal of charges, arguing that delays in bringing the case have prejudiced his defence. Gardiner and the other defendants who have not pleaded guilty are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Mitchell calls for less ceremony, more dialogue in US-Caribbean relations FOREIGN Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell yesterday called for less ceremony and more continuous dialogue between the United States and Caribbean nations, stressing the importance of shared values, free trade and predictable public policy. Speaking at the US-Caribbean Forum at the US State Department in Washington, DC, Mr Mitchell highlighted the longstanding relationship between the United States, The Bahamas and other CARICOM member states. He suggested that diplomatic engagement between the two sides involved “much, too much ceremony” and called instead for a “continuing conversation”. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Immigration, Mr Mitchell outlined several priorities for The Bahamas in its engagement with the United States and CARICOM partners. He stressed the importance of countries operating on the same moral and ethical principles, respecting the rule of law and maintaining stable and predictable public policies. “We believe in the rule of law. We believe in free trade, and public policy should be predictable and stable,” Mr Mitchell said. His remarks were delivered before US officials and representatives of CARICOM member states attending the forum. The ministry said the address reaffirmed The Bahamas’ priorities in its diplomatic relations with the United States and its regional partners.
Govt moves to strengthen Vision 2040 implementation THE government is moving to strengthen implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP), with plans to establish a permanent national planning institute and increase public engagement in the country's long-term development priorities. Minister of Innovation and National Development Sebastian Bastian outlined the next phase of the Vision 2040 initiative during a meeting of the NDP Steering Committee on October 9. The meeting, held under the newly established Ministry of Innovation and National Development,
brought together committee members and the NDP Secretariat to discuss institutional reforms, implementation and public participation. “A plan is how a country decides, on purpose, what it intends to become. Without one, a country does not stand still. It drifts,” Mr Bastian said. Vision 2040, developed in 2016, outlines national development priorities across four pillars: governance, human capital, environment and the economy. A central component of the government's plans is the proposed Bahamas
National Development and Planning Institute, which would provide a permanent institutional framework for coordinating, monitoring and reviewing national development priorities. The institute remains subject to the legislative process. “Vision 2040 is the foundation of national planning as we progress. It is being given the machinery it always deserved. We are moving from ideation to implementation, and we want to do that with this Committee, not alongside it,” Mr Bastian said. Steering Committee chairman Felix Stubbs welcomed the establishment of
a dedicated ministry, saying it presented an opportunity to give greater attention to long-term national planning. Mr Stubbs acknowledged that preparatory work by the NDP Secretariat had taken time but said the process helped identify weaknesses, strengthen the proposed legislative framework and better prepare the technical team for implementation. Committee members also received updates on the proposed Planning Institute legislation, lessons from Jamaica's planning institute, assessments of planning units across government
and consultations with government ministries. The meeting also addressed efforts to track national development activities and improve public engagement through Bahamas Forward, a new communications initiative associated with the NDP. The initiative will focus on three objectives — Explain, Engage and Report — through public education, stakeholder participation and regular updates on documented progress. It is intended to help Bahamians better understand national development priorities and participate
in discussions about issues affecting their communities, including economic opportunities, education, infrastructure, environmental resilience and public services. The ministry, NDP Secretariat and Steering Committee are expected to continue work on strengthening the institutional framework for national planning and improving coordination and transparency. Members of the public can find more information at www.vision2040bahamas. org or through Bahamas Forward's social media platforms.
PAGE 6, Friday, October 16, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,
Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt . Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,
C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-
Published daily Monday to Friday
Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax
(242) 502-2350 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348
WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com
@tribune242
tribune news network
A good catch should still mean a decent living Before a fisherman earns a dollar, he has already spent money getting out to sea. There is fuel to buy, equipment to maintain and a crew depending on the trip being worthwhile. Then comes the uncertainty of the weather, the catch and the price a buyer will offer when the boat returns. It is demanding work. A successful trip should leave enough to support a family, pay the crew and prepare for the next one. The concerns raised by National Fisheries Association president Keith Carroll suggest that calculation is becoming harder. He told The Tribune that rising fuel costs and difficulties recovering VAT on operating expenses are squeezing fishermen’s earnings, while they have limited influence over what buyers will pay. The Government should take those concerns seriously. Fishing represents precisely the kind of Bahamian enterprise we should want to sustain: people using their skills, investing in their own businesses and earning a living from the country’s natural resources. There is understandable public sympathy for consumers who struggle with food prices. Fishermen are consumers too. Their households face the same grocery bills, school expenses and financial pressures as everyone else. We should resist turning this into a choice between affordable food and viable local producers. A sensible policy must consider both. The Government’s effort to reduce the tax burden on basic food addresses a real need. But Mr Carroll’s complaint raises a practical question about how that relief affects the people supplying it. Officials should meet fisheries representatives promptly and examine actual invoices, tax returns and operating costs. They should establish which expenses remain recoverable, where difficulties arise and whether the arrangements are producing unintended consequences. That review should distinguish between different types of businesses and sales. A small operator supplying the domestic market may have different circumstances from a business involved in exports. Clear guidance would help fishermen understand their position and allow the Government to identify where adjustments are justified.
This need not become an argument about abandoning consumer relief. It should be an effort to make that relief work without unnecessarily weakening local production. Fuel presents a harder problem. The Bahamas cannot dictate international oil prices, and the Treasury cannot absorb every increase faced by every industry. Any proposal for assistance therefore needs careful costing, clear eligibility rules and a defined purpose. An open-ended subsidy would carry risks. Targeted, temporary support may deserve consideration if the evidence shows otherwise viable operators are being pushed into serious difficulty. There are also practical improvements worth exploring beyond tax relief. Fishermen’s associations could help organise joint purchasing of supplies, equipment and maintenance services. Better access to cold storage could give smaller operators more flexibility over when and where they sell. Stronger commercial relationships with hotels, restaurants and food distributors could provide more dependable outlets for local catch. Government can help bring those conversations together. The private sector should participate with a willingness to build reliable purchasing relationships with Bahamian suppliers. Support must also respect the sea itself. Any assistance should reinforce responsible fishing and compliance with conservation requirements. Sustaining livelihoods today requires protecting the resources on which tomorrow’s fishermen will depend. There is pride in earning a living on the water. There is also considerable risk, physical effort and time away from family. We should listen when the people doing that work say the returns are becoming too thin. They deserve a serious examination of the pressures they face and practical answers where government policy can make a difference. A boat returning with a good catch ought to bring some reassurance to the families waiting ashore. Keeping that possibility alive is worth the Government’s attention.
Royal visit or empty pageantry? EDITOR, The Tribune. WHAT will The Bahamas achieve from the highly anticipated visit of King Charles III on October 27 besides photo ops, a once in a lifetime opportunity for some of our Bahamian politicians, civic leaders and a select group of prominent citizens to rub shoulders with the English monarch? Absolutely nothing meaningful that I can think of. In the absence of a fully detailed accounting of such a massive undertaking by the tax funded state, I am willing to guesstimate that King Charles' second visit to The Bahamas will cost even more than what the Progressive Liberal Party government paid for the Royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2023. Prince William and his wife Catherine spent three days in The Bahamas at a cost of $636,194. That works out to $212,000 per day or $8,836 per hour for the approximately 72 hours they were here. I would imagine that the visit of the King of England will easily exceed this sum by hundreds of thousands. I am not necessarily opposed to King Charles visiting The Bahamas. But we must make one thing patently clear: The king of England cannot fix The Bahamas which is broken. He cannot even fix England, which is also falling apart at the seams. According to a BBC report, 20 percent or 13.4 million citizens of the UK live in relative poverty, including four million children. Over 51 percent of the babies born in England are born to unmarried mothers. It is a known fact that single parents led by women are most vulnerable to the specter of poverty. Regarding homelessness in England, one in 153 or over 382,000 people are homeless. Most of the homeless families in England are predominantly Black-led and Asian -led households. Illegal immigrants accounts for an estimated 700,000 to 1.2 million in the UK, which is putting significant pressure on the social welfare system. England has a massive debt of over £3 trillion, which is 95 percent of the GDP.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net
The National Health Service in England is understaffed and underfunded, which is eerily similar to the broken-down healthcare system in The Bahamas. Regarding overcrowding in the prisons across England, a staggering 87,500 people are incarcerated. It is estimated that the occupancy rate in the prison system is over 98 percent. Recently, the British government made the controversial decision to release 2,000 inmates to ease overcrowding, with another 3,000 slated to be released in 2027. And seeing that King Charles is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, what about the spiritual condition of his subjects? Only five percent of British adults attends a weekly Christian church service, while there are nearly four million Muslims in the UK who faithfully attend the nearly 1,900 mosques throughout the kingdom. The King of England is coming. But he won't be able to erase our $14 billion debt. He won't be able to usher the Family Islands in the Southern and Central Bahamas into the modern era, as they remain stuck in the Neanderthalic age 59 years after Majority Rule. He won't be able to fix the Princess Margaret or the Rand Memorial Hospitals. He won't be able to fix BPL's failing electric grid in Nassau or Eleuthera. He won't solve the overcrowding at His Majesty's Prison in Fox Hill. He won't be able to put an end to the ongoing gang warfare in the Over-theHill communities of Nassau. He won't be able to eliminate our rape culture where women and children are being preyed upon by sexual predators. He won't solve our crime crisis. He won't be able to put an end to our illegal immigration problem. He won't be able to fix the education system. He won't end systemic poverty among the grassroots, many of whom don't even have $1,000 on their bank accounts. He
won't solve the housing crisis gripping New Providence and Grand Bahama, where greedy landlords are inflating their rental fees in an effort to become rich. He won't be able to drive down the cost of living as gasoline, diesel, food, medicine, housing and utility costs continue to soar with no relief in sight. Areas in Nassau where King Charles is expected to pass will get a much-needed facelift, like Shirley Street which has been paved. Stray dogs will continue to be rounded up and, I believe, euthanised. Homeless vagrants will be rounded up like cattle and housed at the Central Police Station or Fox Hill Prison. You see, The Bahamas must put its best foot forward for King Charles and Queen Camilla. Bahamians must pretend to the Royal couple that it is all peaches and cream in this country. We are all happy, prosperous and healthy. When he leaves on October 29 or whenever he's scheduled to leave, The Bahamas will be no better off. It will be the same. But there's good news. You see, there's another King Who is coming. His name is Jesus Christ. He will return. And He will fix The Bahamas. But we must prepare our hearts by accepting His message of redemption in order to become members of His eternal kingdom. He will be a righteous administration. In His kingdom, there will be no death, sickness, poverty, natural disasters, moral corruption, crime or any of the social ills we experience each day in a broken and fallen world. As the legendary hymnist Isaac Watts wrote centuries ago: "Joy to the world; the Lord is coming. Let earth receive her King. Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room. And heav'n and nature sing... No more let sins and sorrows grow. Nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow. Far as the curse is found..." KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama October 14, 2026.
A national nosedive: The widespread erosion of service standards in The Bahamas EDITOR, The Tribune. THERE is a question we must have the courage to ask: Have we become too comfortable with poor customer service? When a customer approaches a counter and receives no greeting, when a telephone rings unanswered, or when a simple request is met with irritation, something valuable is lost. It is confidence that the person serving us cares about doing the job well. In The Bahamas, we should regard every such encounter as a call to raise our standards. We cannot proudly speak of Bahamian hospitality while accepting indifference in our everyday dealings. Hospitality must be evident in how we serve our own people as well as our visitors. The pensioner seeking assistance, the parent paying a bill, and the young entrepreneur applying for a service all deserve courtesy, clear information, and respect. Too often, the customer must chase an answer, repeat a request, or plead for an update. “Come back tomorrow” becomes especially frustrating when nobody explains what the difference tomorrow will be. A delay may be unavoidable; leaving someone uninformed is often preventable. Yet blaming frontline employees alone will never solve the problem. Service standards begin with leadership. What expectations have managers
established? What training have employees received? Do staff members have the information and authority to resolve ordinary problems? When poor conduct occurs, does anyone address it? An organisation cannot consistently deliver excellence if its leaders tolerate neglect. Equally, employees cannot be expected to perform at their best when they face inadequate staffing, confusing procedures, or disrespect from their supervisors. Accountability must travel in both directions. Training also needs to move beyond an encouraging talk and a certificate. Employees need opportunities to practice listening, handling complaints, explaining delays, and responding calmly to difficult situations. Managers must reinforce those skills through coaching and their own example. Good service does not mean that every customer gets everything requested. Sometimes the answer must be no. Sometimes a policy must be enforced. But a firm answer can still be delivered with patience, dignity, and a helpful explanation. Nor should employees have to endure abuse. Respectful service works best when customers and workers recognise one another’s humanity. As a corporate trainer, I believe we must restore pride in the act of serving. Answering a telephone professionally matters. Keeping a
promise matters. Following up matters. Taking responsibility for an error matters. These ordinary actions determine whether people trust an organisation enough to return. Technology can make transactions faster, but a digital system still needs thoughtful people behind it. An automated response is of little comfort when a customer’s problem remains unresolved, and nobody takes ownership. The way forward requires deliberate action: clear standards, practical training, reliable supervision, recognition for excellent work, and consequences for repeated neglect. Customers also need accessible ways to give feedback—and evidence that someone listens. The Bahamas has people capable of delivering outstanding service. Let us support them, learn from them, and make their example the expectation across our institutions. We must stop excusing poor service as “just how things go.” Every leader, employee, and business owner has an opportunity to interrupt that pattern. Our national service standards will rise when we decide that every person who seeks our help deserves our best effort. Let us make that decision— and demonstrate it in the very next customer interaction. SPENCE FINLAYSON Nassau, October 12, 2026.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 16, 2026, PAGE 7
Father admits Man convicted of 2021 injuring two- Gibbs Corner murder month-old after accomplice names daughter and him as gunman threatening child’s mother !"#$%&'(#!%)('* +,-./01#2345#6178,31, !"#$%&'()*$"+,&-&.$#/,&)
!"#$%&'(#!%)('* +,-./01#2345#6178,31, !"#$%&'()*$"+,&-&.$#/,&) A MAN who admitted injuring his two-month-old daughter and the child's mother during a domestic dispute in Fox Hill was remanded to prison pending sentencing. The 27-year-old man, whose name is being withheld to protect the child's identity, reportedly injured the infant and her mother during an altercation on Brice Street on October 12. He also reportedly threatened to kill the woman during the incident.
The accused pleaded guilty to causing harm, cruelty to children and threats of death before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville. Magistrate Serville reprimanded the man for his violent behaviour, which endangered the infant's life, but said he needed time to consider an appropriate sentence. The accused was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his sentencing on Friday. Inspector Cordero Farrington prosecuted the case.
A MAN was convicted of murder yesterday for a fatal shooting in Gibbs Corner in 2021 after his accomplice testified against him and identified him as the gunman. Monteze “G-Money” Rolle, 24, was found guilty by a unanimous nine-member jury before Justice Renae McKay.
Rolle was convicted of shooting and killing Charles Williams at his residence in Gibbs Corner on March 27, 2021. Zencil Rolle, who admitted to being the getaway driver, identified Monteze Rolle as the gunman but acknowledged that he initially lied to police, naming Shaquille Bodie as the shooter because he believed investigators would let him go. However, data from Mr Bodie's
ankle monitor confirmed that he was nowhere near the murder scene. When questioned again, Zencil Rolle changed his account and identified Monteze Rolle as the gunman. Surveillance footage showed a burgundy Honda Accord circling the area before eventually parking on Thompson Lane. A masked man was seen emerging from the vehicle. A few minutes later,
the masked man ran back towards the vehicle, which Zencil Rolle then drove away. Zencil Rolle was granted full immunity from prosecution in connection with the murder following negotiations with prosecutors. Cassie Bethell and Tamika Roberts represented the defendant. Cashena Thompson and Kristin Butler-Beneby prosecuted the case.
Man accused of screwdriver assault !"#$%&'(#!%)('* +,-./01#2345#6178,31, !"#$%&'()*$"+,&-&.$#/,&) A 22-YEAR-OLD man was accused of assaulting another man with a screwdriver earlier this month.
Prosecutors allege Darnell Farrington assaulted Kanye Mackey with a screwdriver between 3pm and 4pm on October 6. Farrington pleaded not guilty to assault with a dangerous instrument before Deputy Chief
Magistrate Shaka Serville. His police bail was extended, and he is expected to return to court on Friday for his court bail conditions to be determined. Inspector Cordero Farrington prosecuted the case.
Alex Murdaugh’s defence and prosecutors expect to clash over evidence during pretrial hearing !"#9'::6'*#;<(()=2# %>>8?-431@#$,1>> PROSECUTORS and lawyers for Alex Murdaugh are scheduled to return to court in South Carolina on Friday amid escalating disputes over evidence for his retrial next year on murder charges. Murdaugh, 58, is scheduled to stand trial again in April on two murder charges in the June 2021 shooting deaths of his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, at their home in Colleton County. He is expected in court Friday as he serves a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty to stealing from clients. The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned the former lawyer's convictions earlier this year, ruling that a court clerk influenced jurors during his 2023 trial. The clerk told jurors to watch Murdaugh’s body language and not be fooled when he testified in his own defence. Both sides are expected to dispute whether defence DNA experts can test the rest of a sample of genetic material found under the
fingernails of Murdaugh’s wife. They’re also expected to argue over whether authorities must turn over ballistics and other evidence from shootings in eight surrounding counties involving the same type of gun as one of the weapons used in the killings. Very little may be said about the most intriguing dispute of all. Defence lawyers want to know whether prosecutors have called a grand jury to investigate a police officer who was friends with Murdaugh. Defence attorneys said that prosecutors suggested the officer arrived at Murdaugh’s home before other law enforcement officers and could have helped him hide bloody clothes or the weapons used in the killings. Neither the clothes nor the weapons have been found. Murdaugh’s lawyers said the evidence is critical because prosecutors argued during his first trial that he acted alone. Prosecutors said no one else was at the home between the killings and Murdaugh’s return from visiting his mother,
when he called 911 to report the shootings. The defence says another person’s involvement would cast doubt on testimony from witnesses who said at Murdaugh’s 2023 murder trial that he acted alone. Murdaugh’s lawyers also demanded any evidence prosecutors have of possible accomplices or a grand jury investigation into them. In response, prosecutors declined to say whether any evidence exists, citing legal restrictions on disclosing whether a grand jury is meeting. Prosecutors and the defence have been getting crankier in their court filings. After Murdaugh's lawyers accused the state of not sharing cellphone data, prosecutors wrote, “It’s hard to understand the inexplicably brazen and highly prejudicial falsehoods the defence puts in its public filings (or, as previously seen, on the record in open court). It is stunning, really. Facts matter.” And when prosecutors offered all the data from a computerised scan of
012345+*.#+674&,)&*84)7&49:+*)*::-4;:*4#47&#*$,6<40+6=>?4@A<4BCBD<4#)4)7&45#*94E/4 F&8)"*::G4H+.$9$#%4I&,)&*4$,41&J$,6):,<4>/I/4 444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444K+,4?"#AB403CLM::%4M7:):4N$#40MO the crime scene before the hearing, Murdaugh's lawyers wrote in their response, “The defence is glad to hear it. It wishes only that the State had said so a month ago.” While pretrial hearings are being held in Lexington County, the retrial has been moved to Sumter County, east of Columbia and about 80 miles (129 kilometres)
from Colleton County. Judge Debra McCaslin determined that extensive publicity surrounding the case in Murdaugh’s home county could prevent a fair retrial. The killings of Murdaugh’s wife and son and his subsequent six-week trial captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption,
money, power and Southern accents. Regardless of what happens in his next murder trial, Murdaugh will remain in prison. He pleaded guilty to stealing around $12 million from his clients and is currently serving a 40-year federal sentence concurrently with a 27-year state sentence for his financial crimes.
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I JUDAH GREENFIELD STUBBS of Evergreen Close, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 9th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that I REYNOLD FLEURIDOR of Durham Street, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 9th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that I JOSE ALBERTO POLONIA HERNANDEZ of South Beach, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 9th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I MICHELINE CHARLES-PASCADE of Apple Street, Wulff Road, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that I CLAUDE PROPHETE of Firetrail Road, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 9th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that I VIERGELA DESILME of Coco Plum Close, Off Carmichel Road, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 9th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
PAGE 8, Friday, October 16, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
World News
Police seize robot that groped 16-year-old girl, investigate whether young men were at the controls By DANIEL NIEMANN Associated Press COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — German authorities opened an investigation into possible sexual harassment after a robot controlled by two young men touched the buttocks of a 16-year-old girl and made thrusting movements toward her, police said. Police in the western city of Cologne responded after the incident overnight Saturday to Sunday in which the robot’s suspected 16-year-old owner and a 19-year-old companion were said to have filmed the alleged assault.
They were said to have streamed the incident and commentated on it online. Cologne police spokesman Christoph Bermel said the two male teenagers have not been charged but are considered suspects, and investigators were examining whether the robot’s movements were preprogrammed or controlled in real time. Police were unfamiliar with this type of incident, he said. “We have not been aware of this phenomenon so far,” Bermel told The Associated Press, saying it was “new territory for us.”
POLICE shows a robot that was seized as evidence in Cologne. (Cologne Police via AP)
Trump, after bipartisan backlash, says Pentagon won’t livestream execution of Fort Hood shooter
By SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that the Pentagon will no longer livestream the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, after the announcement faced bipartisan criticism and Vice President JD Vance said he wouldn’t watch it. Trump said on social media that publicly airing the execution “might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan.” But, he continued, “many very good and well meaning people would rather
not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device.” The Pentagon has said Hasan’s execution is scheduled for Dec. 3. Trump said the execution can be viewed in person by immediate families of the victims, “if they so choose.” The announcement earlier this month from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Hasan’s execution would be public — and subsequent confirmation from the Pentagon that it would be livestreamed — prompted significant blowback from both Republicans and Democrats, with many pointing out that the images
could be used to fuel radicalization. Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said Trump and Hegseth discussed the decision to drop the livestream plans before the president’s announcement on social media. “The Secretary supports the President’s decision, and they are completely aligned,” Parnell said. Catholic bishop called the plan ‘barbaric’
When asked how the public execution comported with his Christian faith earlier this month, Vance said, “I don’t know that that’s actually going to happen.” “So whatever the controversy is about the method of the execution, I hope that people don’t forget that this is a guy who brutally murdered a lot of innocent people,” Vance said, adding, “Now, that said, I mean, look, if it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not going to be watching it.” Vance is Catholic, and the church has long opposed capital punishment. The head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had condemned the Trump administration’s decision to livestream Hasan’s execution, with Archbishop Paul S. Coakley saying the move was a “barbaric promo-
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Majestic Valley Arena, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Kalispell, Mont. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP
Emergency teams that were dispatched to the scene near a fast-food restaurant found the robot in the trunk of a vehicle, Cologne police said in a statement on Monday. The robot and the two young men’s mobile phones were confiscated. North Rhine Westphalia Police Cologne, on Facebook, posted an image of the red-and-gold robot lying on the ground. The robot, said to be 120 centimeters (about 3 ft 11 inches) tall, was dressed in a white tank top, black sweatpants and wearing a gold chain and sunglasses. It also
had what appears to be a fake mustache. Videos circulated on the internet show two young men escorting the robot toward a group of women, bumping into one and hugging others, on a lively nighttime street. One of the men repeatedly shouts at the robot and pulls it backward after it makes sexual gestures, prompting laughter among people in the area. On the police’s Facebook account on Tuesday, officers criticized inappropriate comments and warned that sharing or joking about such incidents can worsen the impact on any victim.
tion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.” Other top Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., voiced similar sentiments. For his part, the president has defended his decision to approve the use of a firing squad, but had for days distanced himself from Hegseth’s announcement that it would be public. “Well, they’re making a determination about that,” Trump said Friday when asked about the livestream. As for Hasan and the method of execution, Trump said then: “He will be killed. He will be, through firing squad. I really don’t care how he goes, as long as he goes. And I think the death penalty is a very worthy way of going for him.” Hasan, an Army psychiatrist who held the rank of major, walked into a medical building on Nov. 5, 2009, where soldiers were waiting in long lines to receive immunizations and medical clearance for deployment.
He shouted “Allahu akbar” — Arabic for “God is great!” — and opened fire with a laser-sighted handgun. He also shot at the backs of soldiers fleeing toward the parking lot. Hasan said it was an effort to stop them from going to Afghanistan and killing his fellow Muslims. A military judge barred him from presenting that as a defense during his 2013 trial. Hasan was left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot in the back by law enforcement and now uses a wheelchair. Hasan could seek a lengthy delay of his execution, though given his behavior at trial, he may not want to. The U.S. military hasn’t executed a service member by firing squad since World War II. The last military execution took place on April 13, 1961, when Army Pvt. John Bennett was executed by hanging.
FILE - This undated photo provided by the Bell County Sheriff’s Department shows former Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan. Bell County Sheriff’s Department: AP, File
Luna, a small dog missing for over a month in Yellowstone, is reunited with her owners By MIKELLA SCHUETTLER Associated Press For over a month, Luna, a Jack Russell terrier that bolted from her family’s cabin during a vacation at Yellowstone National Park, eluded capture as fears for her survival mounted and winter weather approached. On Wednesday, her ordeal came to a happy ending when she was caught and reunited with her owners. The 10-year-old white dog with pointy ears and a gray collar had been spotted crossing intersections,
strolling through employee housing and entering lodges through automatic doors at the sprawling park, home to grizzly bears, wolves and other predators. Katie Boucher, the volunteer leading the rescue effort and a spokesperson for Luna’s California owners, said she and one of the owners found the dog in the trap baited with scraps from a T-shirt and pillowcase belonging to the family. They took her to a veterinarian, where the owner held the dog as it was examined Wednesday afternoon.
IN this photo made with a smartphone, Luna, a dog who was lost in Yellowstone National Park, is held by her owner after her recovery on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. Katie Boucher/Norris Ark Training and Recovery Center /AP
“She’s underweight, but that’s to be expected. She’s alert and in good spirits,” Boucher said. “I was crying all the way up here from the park.” Luna escaped Sept. 10. Boucher said the dog spent its first year on the streets before being adopted and showed strong survival instincts while on the loose. Based on sightings, Boucher said, Luna retraced her family’s steps from the day before she was lost – sneaking into eateries or lodges they had visited and seeking shelter in employee residences and businesses.
An escape into the wilderness The day of the escape, the family left her in their cabin with a “Do Not Disturb” sign while they ventured out to explore the park. They believe a housekeeping staffer accidentally opened a door, freeing the dog. “The staff then proceeded to chase her around that area of the park for over two hours before the owners came back and discovered all the chaos and their dog missing,” Boucher said. Yellowstone was the first U.S. national park and covers about 3,500 square miles (some 9,000 square kilometers), including portions of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Luna’s family searched for the dog, which is part chihuahua, but were told it likely died, possibly killed by a coyote, Boucher recounted. Days after leaving Yellowstone, the owners learned Luna had been spotted, and contacted Boucher, president of the Norris Ark Training and Recovery Center in Norris, Montana, north of the park. “I cannot fathom how I would feel if I had been taking the vacation of a lifetime, and looking for
all these memorable experiences in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and lost one of my family members there,” Boucher said. Locals and tourists called out Luna’s name or chased her, triggering her fight-orflight response and driving her further into the park, Boucher said. The volunteers set a live trap using the family’s scent to lure Luna in, avoiding food that could attract bears or other wildlife. Time was running out as winter closes in Boucher said this was the last week she would have been able to search for Luna. She was sleeping at an RV park for seasonal employees that closes next Monday. The search had rallied locals and tourists alike. Marie Jaskula, an area resident who runs one of the park’s general stores, posted signs at every park entrance urging visitors to be on the lookout for the dog. “It’s really hard to stress the importance of do not chase,” said Jaskula. “Everybody sees this little dog buzz across the intersection or maybe around their employee housing, and the first instinct is to call her name and chase her.”
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I BIENCA YOLANDA MICHEL of Central Pines, Abaco , Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that I SAUVEUR JACQUES of Jerry Bay Dundas Town, Abaco , Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I of Isabella ANGELET ALFRED boulevard, Marathon Estates, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that I CHARLENE CHARLES-FILS of Joan’s Drive, Bamboo Town, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that I VERNET ALFRED of Isabella boulevard, Marathon Estates, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 16, 2026, PAGE 9
Diane Phillips
If the King’s visit makes potholes disappear, can it inspire magic to keep the lights on?
IT’S been said that Royal families think all new countries smell of fresh paint and asphalt. I can’t vouch for the Royal sense of smell, of course, but I can vouch for a whole lot of asphalt going around. And it smells pretty good to me. The question is, what about everything that needed to be fixed before and the critical things that aren’t for show that need to be fixed now and will still need to be fixed after the king is safely tucked back into bed in the palace where the lights probably don’t go out every day and the nearest hospital doesn’t run out of blood and the local schools don’t have to close because there is no water for the toilets. I don’t mean to be unkind. I fully understand this is a very hard country to manage. We’ve got islands so remote that if you measured the space in between you could probably fit in a few small countries or at least the state of Rhode Island. Twice. The universal service obligation (yes, that’s the real name for it) drains resources. We are always short of the funds necessary to fix everything that needs to be fixed. But when Royalty announces they will be gracing us with their presence, we perk up, pick up, corral every piece of heavy equipment, grab every tool and ton of sand, tar and asphalt we can find. Miracles happen. We find the funds to fix the roads, not all the roads, mind you, but the ones the king and company will travel on. We smooth them out like steam-pressed velvet because, of course, we would not want King Charles to go home and whisper in Queen Camilla’s ear late at night when no one is listening and say things like “When I was in Nassau, the roads were so bumpy I bounced so hard I nearly burped. Smart, you’re skipping that wee part of the trip.” I don’t mean to be disrespectful. I doubt the king ever burps. But really, paving the road where his entourage will travel while the rest of us go on traveling roughshod on streets pitted with potholes so deep you could lose an axle and never find it again, roads rife with indigestible, burp-inducing bounces? This is not the first time we dressed up for Royalty. I still see the cut-off point, the unmarked demarcation point from sweet as silk to normal macadam on Eastern Road where Queen Elizabeth II’s entourage turned south
on Fox Hill Road near St. Anne’s Cemetery. I think that was the 1985 visit. Nice paving job. It held. The thing is I believe the Palace would be much happier if we showed them the real thing and did not splurge just for show. Maybe it sounds crazy, but why don’t we take the King, who seems to be a very person who cares about how people live, to PMH and show him the real conditions and drop a hint that we could use a hand. Maybe he will be quite chuffed, as the British say, to see that we are not 100 percent where we should be without a hand from the British. I’m not suggesting that we give up our sovereignty or independence. Lord no, just that if we can find the money and the resources, the equipment and the manpower, the desire and the wherewithal to do this for a gentleman we are never likely to see in person again, why can’t we do it for all the people we see all the time who need us to fix the roads and power and schools and hospitals? Why for them and not for us? I get it. We all spruce up when company’s coming or a holiday approaches. Christmas coming and the room that needed paint for the last year suddenly gets painted, the guest bedroom gets spiffed up, the living room takes on new charm with a touch of this or that or we decide the broken oven is never going to fix itself even if we wait another year or so and it’s time to stop pretending cooking in the microwave is actually cooking. But how far do we go to prepare for a threeday visit when we struggle just to keep the power on, especially in Eleuthera, on a regular day? If we can find the moneyfor the, can we not find it for us? When the Royals visited America for three days in April, you didn’t see America drop everything it was doing to smooth out every square inch the King’s vehicle would drive on, possibly because the roads were already smooth enough. But here we go – 15 hours a day of paving works on Celery Drive, Mackey Street, JFK, Cowpen Road, the airside ramp at LPIA, East Bay Street, Cumberland Street and Church Street, closing down who knows what and slowing traffic just about anywhere you go unless you go back and forth on Prince Charles Drive, Robinson Road and hang out by Clifton Pier which could
be a nice getaway. What happens if it rains and there are delays so 15 hours of repairing and paving on all those roads every day isn’t enough? Will they close the road entirely for the next two days to make up for lost time? Then we might as well pitch a tent near Commonwealth Brewery.
There’s a lot of empty land around there. Not that the US got the Royal visit exactly right, and I am not suggesting that we imitate what they did for sure. It was the first State visit to America by the monarch in nearly 20 years since Queen Elizabeth II visited
in 2007. Americans, being American, seemed caught somewhere between yawning and wondering whether the King and his youngest son, Prince Harry, would reconnect. While the King was dining, Americans were pondering the big question – would he or would he not see Harry perhaps for the last time while he was so close by in California, only 3,000 miles away from Washington, D.C.? Would there be a hug, tears, a reconciliation the tabloids would live on for the next millennium? There was also the matter of a bit of a rift between the US and the UK that pundits debated whether or not there would be time and place and sentiment to mend, but after all the visit was marked by great jubilation when Trump announced that he was so warmed by the King’s visit that he would remove the tariff he had imposed on Scotch whisky and bourbon, much to the relief of a lot of people in the state of Kentucky.
I will say one thing for how The Bahamas will handle the Royal visit. Our protocol officers are top notch. They understand positioning, seriously, unlike whoever arranged the photo of Trump and the Royals in front of a large, framed picture of the president with his fist raised and blood on his ear following the assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania. The Bahamas will welcome the King, as we should. We will roll out the red carpet. As well we should. We will handle the pomp and circumstance flawlessly. As we do. Planned highlights including youth and an environmental landmark are ideal and should leave a lasting impression of what matters so much to Bahamians we want to show it off to the most prominent visitor we will entertain this year and maybe for a few years to come. But we just can’t help but marvel at how resources and energy suddenly erupt from the bowels of the earth to fill the holes and find the lights and shine up The Bahamas the way we wish it were every day, even if it is just for those of us who call it home. Still, a few smoother roads will be a treat. Now, if we knew the exact route, we could plan around travelling surfaces smooth as King Charles III (Stefan Rousseau/ pressed velvet and avoid Pool via AP) that pothole that could have passed for a shortcut to Australia.
PAGE 10, Friday, October 16, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, October 16, 2026, PAGE 11
Community feast to bring hundreds together at the Western Esplanade !"#$%&'%#()*+!%'' ,-./012#3456#7289-42!"#$%&'(() *+,&-.'$'/,#0.'* JOHN Watling’s Distillery, in collaboration with Diane Phillips & Associates, is preparing to host up to 1,000 people for a free community gathering at Western Esplanade on November 14, with nearly 400 people already registered for the inaugural event. The Longest Table is an international community-building initiative that brings people together over a shared meal without formal speeches, fundraising or admission fees. The event will feature a series of tables along the Western Esplanade waterfront, with designated table captains responsible for coordinating groups of six to eight people. Organisers said the initiative originated in the Chelsea neighbourhood of New York City following the COVID-19 pandemic, when residents began gathering around outdoor tables to share meals and strengthen community ties. The concept subsequently spread to other countries, inspiring John Watling’s Distillery managing partner Pepin Argamasilla to introduce the event to Nassau after learning about a similar gathering organised in Miami by a former colleague. "The main thing is it's all about partnership, and we here at John Watling's believe that we all have one brand," Mr Argamasilla said. "Everybody that lives in this country has one brand and it's called The Bahamas and it's up to all of us to put the best foot forward for The Bahamas."
1234567839141:;534,<4%+'%#+,.=4*>4?><*4-%4*>4@ABBB4%'>%('4C>+4#4C+''4">$$-.,*D4=#*?'+,.=4#*4E'<*'+.43<%(#.#/'4>.47>F'$&'+4@G0 John Watling’s Distillery expects to provide two complimentary cocktails to each eligible adult who wishes to receive them, while participants may bring additional beverages. Diane Phillips, founder and president of Diane Phillips & Associates, said the public response had been encouraging, with 80 people registering within the first hour of the announcement and nearly 400 signed up so far. Ms Phillips said she would be pleased with a turnout of 500, although preparations were being made to accommodate up to 1,000 participants. She explained that table
captains would be responsible for arranging food and beverages for their groups, with the option of inviting friends, family members or individuals who registered separately. "You decide whatever food you would like, the guests at your table to be and then you can invite friends to your table or you can have people who have signed up as individuals, or you can leave space at your table for visitors," she said. Table captains may also coordinate food contributions from other participants. Ms Phillips said Baha Mar had registered for 20 spaces and planned to invite
hotel guests to participate, allowing visitors to interact with Bahamians. "It's a great way to make new friends, to reinforce and reaffirm old friendships, to relax around a meal," she said. Mr Argamasilla said organisers wanted to give the international initiative a distinctly Bahamian character, with students from Blairwood Academy creating a table runner decorated with handprints in the national colours. "You know, obviously, we want to give the longest table here in the Bahamas its own Bahamian twist. So one of the things that we've done is we've gone
to Blairwood Academy for the kids to to create a table runner that they're going to be painting their hands and putting it on the table runner in the Bahamian colors to again you know create something that's uniquely Bahamian," he said. Mr Argamasilla expressed hope that the gathering would become an annual event in Nassau. It is expected to bring together Bahamians, residents and tourists. "And again, you know, we look forward to to Bahamians, residents, and tourists all taking part in this, and and again, hopefully, creating a signature event that
could be around for years to come," he said. Interested individuals can register through the John Watling’s Distillery website as either guests or table captains. Registered participants will receive QR codes. Ms Phillips said organisers had been in contact with the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Port Authority, among other agencies, concerning security arrangements. The event is scheduled to begin at 5.30pm. "I'm especially pleased that that this is a way for visitors to interact with locals, to mingle, to enjoy a meal," Ms Phillips said.
PAGE 12, Friday, October 16, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
JBI marks 32 years with donations to Grand Bahama charities !"#&'89*'#:%;<=<> ,-./012#?-2267-3# (267-32!"#$%&%'( )*+,-./"/!+#0./) JAMAICA Bahamas Imports (JBI) is celebrating 32 years in business by giving back to the Grand Bahama community through donations to two local non-profit organisations. Norrisher Newman of JBI presented cash contributions this week to the Grand Bahama Resilience Center and Reach Out Ministries in recognition of their work supporting residents on the island. Ms Newman said giving back to the community has long been part of JBI’s commitment to Grand Bahama, noting that the company has supported local organisations over the years without publicising its contributions. “Today, seeing that we’re celebrating, we want to recognise some civic organisations that are giving back in our community, doing positive works,” she said.
Ms Newman said JBI has maintained a longstanding relationship with the Grand Bahama Resilience Center and continues to support its work. “We have always been donating in the past, and today we just would like to highlight the GB Resilience Center and the good work that they do,” she said. She also recognised Reach Out Ministries, founded by Dudley and Katie Seide, for its contributions to the community. “We want to just show appreciation to them and continue to show our support for what they do in the communities of Grand Bahama,” Ms Newman said. She said the anniversary donations reflected the company’s gratitude for the support it has received from Grand Bahama residents over the past 32 years. “The community of Grand Bahama has been good to us,” she said. “We’re a faith-based organisation, and we think it’s important for us to give back. It’s our mission, it’s our goal to always be giving
G8H8<E845#6#"#4<"=&*)7I4+.4%/9/,*#)+.J4+)74KL.!4#..+C/*7#*$4+.4,-7+./77I4=*/7/.)/!4%#764%&.)*+,-)+&.74)&4)>&49&%#94 .&.M=*&:+)4&*J#.+7#)+&.704N&**+76/*4N/>"#.4O7/%&.!4:*&"49/:)P4&:4G5<4=*/7/.)74#4%6/A-/4!&.#)+&.4&.416-*7!#$4)&4F-!M 9/$4#.!4Q#)+/4@/+!/I4&:4?/#%64R-)4H+.+7)*+/70 to the community, giving back to the island of Grand Bahama.” Dr Felishia McBride, executive director of the Grand Bahama Resilience Center, expressed gratitude for JBI’s continued support. “We are elated that
Jamaica Bahamas Imports decided to give back to the Grand Bahama Resilience Center,” Dr McBride said. “They have been supporters from day one, and they have constantly been giving.” The GB Resilience Center conducts
community outreach and promotes mental health awareness, offering individual and group counselling to people seeking support. Dr McBride said JBI’s contribution would help cover operational expenses and sustain programmes
serving children, adults and senior citizens. These initiatives include reading support, etiquette lessons, arts and crafts, and sewing activities, providing members with opportunities to learn, develop skills and access support.
Advocates call for safer streets for blind and visually impaired people !"#$%&'#()**'++ ,-./012#*345#(267-32jrussell@tribunemedia.net ADVOCATES yesterday insisted The Bahamas continues to lag behind other countries in providing infrastructure that allows blind and visually impaired people to navigate public spaces independently. Stefan Pitt of the Bahamas Alliance for the Blind and Visually Impaired spoke with The Tribune after his organization led a walk from Rawson Square to Government House to mark White Cane Day. The demonstration aimed to show that blind and visually impaired people can live independently with proper mobility training rather than having to rely on others to get around. The organisation has about 70 members, some of whom did not participate in yesterday’s walk because they were afraid of navigating public spaces. “Some of our members are afraid of falling. They
don't want to miss their step, fall down or buck into something and hurt themselves,” Mr Pitt said. He said sidewalks in The Bahamas are not fully accessible to people with disabilities. He also pointed to traffic lights in other countries that have audible signals to help blind and visually impaired pedestrians determine when it is safe to cross the road. “In my opinion because I travel a lot,” he added, “We're far behind other countries.” Mr Pitt said the organisation was working to promote education and independence among people with visual impairments. He recalled that one member living in Long Island had never attended school or received adequate access to education. “She basically sits home all day and tries to learn the best way she can. She comes over every now and then, but it's not effective,” he said. Mr Pitt said he hoped to use knowledge gained from
12345#6#"#74899+#.%/4:&*4)6/459+.!4#.!4;+7-#99$4<"=#+*/!49/!4#4>#9'4:*&"4?#>7&.4@A-#*/4)&4B&C/*."/.)42&-7/4)&4 "#*'4D6+)/4E#./4F#$0 travelling abroad to help others facing similar challenges in The Bahamas.
Meanwhile, Services ter Senator
Social MinisBarbara
Cartwright reaffirmed the government's commitment this week to strengthening protections and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities, saying inclusion must extend to workplaces, schools, transportation, housing and full participation in community life. Ms Cartwright made the remarks during the “Let’s Talk Disability Affairs” town hall meeting, organised by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities at DW Davis High School. The meeting brought together people with disabilities, advocates, government representatives and members of the public to discuss issues affecting the disability community. Topics included social assistance, disability awareness, registration with the commission, the AccessAbility Bahamas app, Urban Renewal services, National Insurance benefits, accessibility, advocacy and equal opportunities. Ms Cartwright also highlighted provisions in the
recently tabled Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Amendment Bill, 2026, which proposes stronger measures addressing employment, workplace accommodations, abuse, accessibility and enforcement. The proposed amendments include expanded employment requirements for companies with 50 or more workers, moving towards a two per cent staff quota for people with disabilities. They would also require employers, where possible, to reassign workers who develop disabilities on the job and can no longer perform their original duties. Other proposed changes include stronger accessibility requirements for new public buildings and criminal penalties for physical, sexual, psychological and financial abuse of people with disabilities. The amendments would also strengthen employment tracking and placement through collaboration between the Department of Labour and the commission.