10222025 NEWS

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SEARCHING FOR PREGNANT MOM

Fears grow for 7-month pregnant mother who vanished after going to visit man thought to

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A DESPERATE search is underway for a seven-month pregnant mother-of-two who vanished after leaving work early on Sunday to meet someone - and never returned home.

Thirty-year-old Lauren Saunders’s abandoned jeep was later found off Coral Harbour Road with a flat tyre, her purse and shoes inside.

be the father

Her family fears the worst. Ms Saunders’ sister, Charmaine Edgecombe, said relatives believe she left to meet the man thought to be the father of her unborn child. He is believed to be married.

“She said ‘Okay she’s going to keep the baby’. You know, she’s not a baby killer, so she kept the baby.”

The family grew alarmed when Ms Saunders failed to show up for a function at Atlantis and could not be reached by phone. “I say

this ain’t like her, something wasn’t sitting right with me,” Ms Edgecombe said. They checked every hospital ward before filing a police report. Soon after, another sister retraced Ms Saunders’ usual route to work and made a chilling discovery.

“They drive up and they saw the jeep next to the road, and then they call the police and they did a further investigation, but they didn’t actually say if they

Time for parents to stop beating their children?

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor

CORPORAL pun-

ishment leaves deep emotional scars on Bahamian youth, according to a new University of the Bahamas study linking childhood beatings to higher anxiety, depression and poor self-control.

The findings could reignite debate in a country where corporal punishment remains widely practised and often defended on biblical grounds, even as growing scientific evidence questions its value and long-term impact.

Researchers urged the government to promote non-violent discipline training for parents and teachers, expand public education on the psychological harms of physical punishment, and modernise legislation to reflect scientific consensus. The research, conducted by University of

The Bahamas professor William Fielding with coauthors from Dartmouth and the US Veterans Hospital System, was published in the latest edition of the International Journal of Bahamian Studies. Using standardised psychological measures, the team surveyed 454 UB

GB BUSINESSES CLAIM DECLINE SINCE CELEBRATION KEY OPENED

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

LOCAL business owners and tour operators claim they have experienced a sharp decline in visitors — as much as 90 percent for some — since the opening of Carnival’s new $600 million Celebration Key cruise port in East Grand Bahama.

The significant decline in foot traffic and bookings with local tour operators has left many struggling to stay afloat, prompting a series of meetings with tourism stakeholders and government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment, and Aviation Chester Cooper.

students, most of them women, with an average age of 21.5 years. Participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire assessing their childhood experiences and current mental-health status.

The survey drew on internationally validated instruments, including the

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, tools widely used in psychological and neurological research. The study compared those who had experienced corporal punishment as children

“Being a mother, first of all, is great,” she said, “but the challenge is, like, how I COI helps homeless mom with

A SINGLE mother who was forced to sleep in her car with her two autistic sons at Saunders Beach has been given temporary housing assistance by members of the Coalition of Independents (COI). Ameca Ford McKenzie, 47, said she was brought

to tears when COI leader Lincoln Bain and his team showed up on Monday night to help. The mother of two, who lost her husband to colon cancer earlier this year, said life has been a daily struggle since his death.

PREGNANT mother-of-two Lauren Saunders.

Local businesses see fewer visitors despite more cruise ship arrivals

David Wallace, operator of Pirate’s Cove Zipline and Water Park, said while he continues to believe that Celebration Key is an excellent project for the island of Grand Bahama, the economic fallout for independent operators has been greater than expected.

At Pirate’s Cove, the number of visitors has plummeted within the past two months.

He reported that when Carnival came to Freeport Harbour with one of their cruise ships, they could have gotten 400 tourists, 200 by tour bus and 200 by taxi.

“Now, we are getting about 26 to 30 by tour bus from Celebration Key,” he said. “That number for us, while it is better than nothing at all, cannot sustain this operation.”

Prior to the opening of Celebration Key, Carnival cruise ships called at Freeport Harbour about 15 times per month, bringing about 350,000 persons each year.

The cruise line will now be calling about 40 times per week, making over 2,000 calls at the new port, and bringing about 2.5million passengers annually.

Many local businesses expanded their operations in anticipation of the new port opening. But within the first two months, they have seen great decline.

“A group of business persons, tour operators, transportation providers, and straw vendors came together to see how we can get a greater number of visitors and discuss what has been happening to our businesses since the opening of

Celebration Key,” he said. “We have invested our life savings into our companies, and we’re looking for a way to coexist,” Mr Wallace said.

The group met with Grand Bahama Port Authority president and Promotion Board chairman Ian Rolle, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president Dillon Knowles, and government officials.

“Just on Sunday, we had a meeting with the Government of The Bahamas, the Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, and Ginger Moxey, the minister responsible for Grand Bahama, to make them aware of some of the challenges and to give them some suggestions on the way forward so that we can both coexist,” Mr Wallace said.

Among the recommendations raised was that Carnival continue to have some of its ships call on Freeport Harbour to help drive more foot traffic to local businesses.

“If they can do two calls on Freeport Harbour while they are expanding Celebration Key, that will help because it helps with the foot traffic down at the harbour with the vendors and the tours being sold there,” he said.

Business owners are also seeking to work with the government, Promotion Board, and cruise line to encourage passengers to visit Port Lucaya Marketplace, the Straw Market, Garden of the Groves, and other attractions.

“After plunking down $600 million to build Celebration Key, Carnival has routed all of their cruise ships there, which is understandable,” Mr Knowles said. “The novelty of Celebration Key, however, has resulted in passengers finding it intriguing and interesting to stay there and not venture out into the wider Grand Bahama business environment.”

He said vendors operating inside Celebration Key are doing well, but those outside have seen a “drop off in foot traffic somewhere in the order of maybe 80 to 90 percent” compared to when ships docked at Freeport Harbour. “That is a serious challenge for them,” he added.

Mr Knowles believes the situation will improve once passengers tire of the new attraction and begin exploring the island. But he stressed that immediate action is needed.

“The short-term challenge that we have is to entice more passengers to leave the key and come on excursions into the wider Grand Bahama,” he said. “That’s mostly a marketing issue. We need the operators, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board collectively to engage in an all-out campaign to market Grand Bahama.”

Mr Knowles said some recommendations were for Carnival to route some its ships to Freeport habrour, and make it easier and more affordable for

Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president Dillon Knowles said the problem is not that Carnival isn’t bringing visitors, but that most passengers are choosing not to leave the new port.

passengers to travel from Celebration Key to other parts of Grand Bahama. He added that it was suggested that the Ministry of Tourism should have a presence at the port to provide visitors with accurate information about the island, and that tour operators should have better access to the site to

collect guests booked for excursions.

Mr Knowles said while Carnival is expected to bring millions of passengers to Grand Bahama over the next few years, with projections of up to six million by 2027, local operators only need a small portion of those visitors to benefit.

“We don’t need all of those passengers to come out of the key in order to flood Grand Bahama with prosperity. We only need a small portion,” he said. “This is not an insurmountable task, but timing is a problem for entities that are struggling. So, we do need to act quickly.”

Dupuch-Carron prefers to serve as a backbencher and keep integrity intact

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

POLITICAL hopeful and Tribune president Robert Dupuch-Carron said he wants to keep his integrity intact and would prefer to serve as a backbencher if elected to Parliament.

He made the comments yesterday on ZNS’s Immediate Response with Spence Finlayson, outlining his vision for the MICAL constituency, where he is seeking a Progressive Liberal Party nomination.

When asked which Cabinet post he was eyeing, Mr Dupuch-Carron said his focus was on service rather than position, following in the footsteps of relatives who had entered public life before him.

“I want to represent the people like my grandfather and others. I think that just being an MP is a full-time job, and I leave it to others who are far more

qualified and capable of that, because what I don’t make up in experience, I make up in integrity.”

Mr Dupuch-Carron spoke about the lack of basic services in the southern islands, pointing to his work with the Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN). He said areas such as Inagua and Mayaguana continue to suffer from the absence of critical services like ambulances and banks. Previous administrations, he said, had neglected Family Island communities for too long. He described the situation as a form of “legalised apartheid,” saying people born in the Family Islands are treated as second-class citizens because they must pay about $15,000 to bring their loved ones to New Providence for medical care. He said Nassau residents don’t face such costs since treatment at the Princess Margaret

Hospital is free, even though all Bahamians share the same passport. He added that if he could change that one inequality, he would feel he had made a real impact.

He said efforts are underway to establish a helicopter emergency medical service base in Inagua to serve the southern islands.

BACSWN has partnered with Response Plus Medical (RPM), a global aviation emergency-services provider based in Abu Dhabi. Mr DupuchCarron described them as the “biggest crash search and rescue EMS in the whole Middle East.” “The ambulance are on the way,” he said. “The paramedics are on their way. We need to get the Ministry of Health to do some things before, but the airports and stuff and the helicopter will be here next year. We will be able to provide a level of health that is important to the Family Island.”

ROBERT Dupuch-Carron stands outside PLP headquarters with supporters after being interviewed as a hopeful candidate for the MICAL constituency last week.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

MINISTER OF TOURISM INVESTMENT, AND AVIATION CHESTER COOPER

Homeless mother and autistic sons finding help

lost my husband recently to colon cancer, that is when life became a little tough on me,” she said. “When he was alive, we used to pull together, but after he died, I’ve never been single before, so that became hard on me.”

She and her husband had been married for 25 years, and she described him as the “hand and foot” of the family.

Ms McKenzie, who works as a security officer, said she fell behind on rent after months of financial difficulty. She said that when she reached out to the Department of Social Services for help, officials told her there was a wait list for assistance. “They had put me on hold because they said that they have a lot of people who were in front of me,” she said. “They had no place, but when they get something, they would let me know.”

Two nights before her interview, she said she was told to leave her apartment and had nowhere else to go. Most of her relatives live on the Family Islands or in the United States. Desperate, she parked her Nissan Note at Saunders Beach, where she and her sons, aged 14 and eight, spent two sleepless nights.

“It was bad, truly was bad,” she said.

“I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown. My babies were crying, especially the small one. He almost got a fever. It was terrible. In all my life, I never experienced anything like that.”

She said the ordeal shook her deeply, but her faith kept her calm. “I slept in between, but I was not in fear at all because I took my Bible out and I read and I asked Jehovah for protection over me and my children, and I was at peace.”

Since her story was publicised, Ms McKenzie said she has been overwhelmed by calls, messages, and offers of support. “I think it’s a miracle,” she said. “I honestly didn’t think that it would have turned out like this. I feel blessed because I didn’t think people who don’t know me would care like that.”

She said the outpouring of kindness has renewed her faith. “It opened my eyes, but to be honest with you, it strengthened me more,” Ms McKenzie said. “It strengthened me to never take nothing for granted, even though I’m going through this, I’m still thankful to God, because

“I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown. My babies were crying, especially the small one. He almost got a fever. It was terrible.”

there’s others out there who may be going through worse.”

Her sons, who are both enrolled in school, were finally able to rest after two nights in the car.

Amid the public support, Ms McKenzie said her employer also reached out after seeing the story.

“My boss, after hearing the news and seeing everything, she said she’s going to put me on full-time,” she said.

Now, Ms McKenzie said her focus is on rebuilding stability for her family, adding that she refuses to let pride stand in the way of seeking help.

“I never battle with shame and never battle with pride,” she said. “But especially for my children, when it comes to my children, I never prideful and shame, I put that aside.”

SINGLE mother Ameca Ford McKenzie shown with her two sons who are autistic.

AMECA Ford McKenzie.

UB report finds that corporal punishment leaves deep emotional scars on youths

Prevalence of Corporal Punishment in Childhood

Percentage of UB students reporting various forms of physical punishment. Most Common Forms of Corporal Punishment (UB Study)

Key Study Findings (Overall)

84.8% reported being physically punished in childhood.

80% identifed mothers as the main disciplinarian.

53.1% reported physical punishment continued into adolescence.

Spanking from page one

with those who had not, analysing the results with statistical software to identify differences in mental health, executive functioning, creativity, and personality traits.

The study found that 84.8 percent of respondents reported being physically punished in childhood, and 53.1 percent said it continued into adolescence. Spanking (81.9 percent), whipping (52.4 percent), pinching (49.1 percent), and slapping (42.5 percent) were the most common forms of punishment, and mothers were identified as the main disciplinarians in 80 percent of cases. Students who endured corporal punishment were significantly more likely to report anxiety, depression, and stress, especially when punishment extended into their teenage years. They also scored lower on measures of executive functioning, skills such as impulse control, organisation, and emotional regulation that are vital for academic and professional success.

The study found that those punished in adolescence showed reduced sensitivity to both reward and punishment, suggesting emotional desensitisation or a blunted ability to respond to feedback.

At the same time, these

students self-reported slightly higher levels of creativity and openness to experience. The authors cautioned that these traits likely reflect coping or resilience mechanisms developed under adversity, rather than any positive outcome of corporal punishment. The researchers described a “dose–response relationship”, meaning that the more frequent or severe the punishment, the greater the psychological harm. They concluded that corporal punishment, particularly during adolescence, has enduring negative effects on mood and cognitive control.

Mr Fielding and his colleagues argued that while corporal punishment is still socially accepted and legally permitted in homes and schools in The Bahamas, the evidence no longer supports its use.

They also drew a link between corporal punishment and the country’s broader development challenges, suggesting that the long-term effects of fear-based child-rearing could weaken the nation’s creative and emotional capacity.

The researchers called for a cultural and policy shift, arguing that eliminating corporal punishment would produce not only healthier individuals but also a more emotionally resilient, creative, and forward-thinking society.

LEFT: Graph showing statistics based on UB stody on corporal punishment

Abaco PLP nomination race heats up with rival claims

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AN aspirant for the Progressive Liberal Party’s nomination in Central and South Abaco raised eyebrows yesterday after boasting of branch support — even as the branch chairman throws his hat in the same ring.

The development unfolded after Acting Director of Local Government Donald Rolle confirmed to The Tribune that he intends to seek the nomination.

His decision to enter the race, he said, came after consultation with his family and a conversation with the newly elected PLP branch for Central and South Abaco.

He claimed he also has the backing of the branch, claiming a letter signed by President Bradley Fox Jr was sent to party officials on his behalf.

“It’s off to a great start,” he said. “I believe that this unity and support is needed for Abaco. I’m no stranger to Abaco. I lived, I’ve worked and continue to work closely with both

public and private sectors in Abaco.”

Mr Rolle pointed to his experience as acting director, saying he has always ensured that local government continues to make progress throughout the country.

However, party insiders were reportedly caught off guard by the press release, especially since Mr Fox himself intends to enter the race and is said to be the frontrunner for the nomination.

The Tribune’s sources said Mr Fox has the backing of key party officials, who asked him to run. It is also understood

that Mr Fox wrote to party officials before Mr Rolle announced his candidacy acknowledging that many constituents supported the idea of Mr Rolle running. However, insiders say the letter was not an endorsement and that Mr Fox had indicated he would support whichever candidate the party ultimately chooses. Mr Fox did not respond to requests for comment when contacted by The Tribune yesterday.

Sources say the Abaco aspirants could be interviewed by the PLP’s Candidates Committee later this month.

Meantime, it remains unclear whether incumbent MP John Pinder will seek renomination amid criticism from some within his party about his performance.

He previously told The Tribune that he was undecided, citing ongoing discussions with his family. The Free National Movement (FNM) has ratified Jeremy Sweeting as its candidate for Central and South Abaco.

MAN ACCUSED OF 2023 M URDER OUTSIDE A VILLAGE ROAD BAR DENIED BAIL FOR THIRD

PAVEL BAILEY

Staff Reporter

retaliatory

The

BRADLEY FOX JR

Frustrated family search into the night for Lauren

VANISHED from page one

find some or whatever they find. All know was the jeep was there and the front tire was flat,” Ms Edgecombe said. “They find the vehicle, they say, I think they said the purse was in it and on a shoes.”

When The Tribune visited the scene yesterday, police officers were combing thick bushes off a track near Coral Harbour Road, expanding their search along other tracks off Gladstone Road.

After police left, relatives pressed on through the night, frustrated by what they described as a slow response.

“We still didn’t really [get] no word we actually

want to hear, you know, either they find her or any motives or certain things,”

Ms Edgecombe said.

“They said they can’t discuss certain things with us until they finish further the investigations.”

Ms Saunders’ seven and nine-year-old children are heartbroken.

“Their grandfather,” Ms Edgecombe said, is “not coping too good”. “He’s frustrated. He is acting out, lashing out, and he is crying every little two seconds,” she said.

Ms Edgecombe admitted she is struggling too. “Me trying to go to work to get my mind off and every time I reach to work I just break down,” she said. “It ain’t easy. I can’t focus.” The disappearance

comes four years after the death of Ms Saunders’ mother. She had not yet held a baby shower or chosen a name for her unborn son.

Ms Edgecombe said Ms Saunders had recently found love again. “Ain’t nothing he wouldn’t do for her,” she said of the man. “Every time I see her, I see him. They just love one another. Who would find somebody who is actually pregnant for someone else and fall in love with her?”

Her sister described her as a “sweetheart” who was in high spirits before she vanished.

Police have not confirmed reports that the father of Ms Saunders’ unborn child has been questioned.

US advocacy group demands probe into Guyanese-American’s death

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has been urged to launch an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the death of 23-year-old Guyanese-American Dinari McAlmont, who was found dead near the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort earlier this year.

His family accuse Atlantis security staff and the Royal Bahamas Police Force of colluding to potentially cover up a homicide.

The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), a New York-based advocacy organisation, called for a “proper, fair, full, comprehensive and rigorous investigation” into the young man’s death.

Mr McAlmont, a resident of Bowie, Maryland, had arrived in Nassau on April 4, 2025, with his parents for a short family vacation at Atlantis.

Less than 24 hours later, he was found dead on a beach some distance from where he was last seen.

Officials have concluded that he drowned - but his parents, Michelle and McAlmont Sr, dispute that finding and allege that he was murdered and that his death is being covered up.

A letter to Mr Davis, from CGID President Rickford Burke, was also copied to several highranking United States officials, including Democratic Leader in the US House of Representatives, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries; Maryland Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks; Congressman Jamie Raskin; Maryland Governor Wes Moore; US Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker, who has yet to take up his position; Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Michael Kozak; and FBI New York Assistant Director Christopher Raia.

Mr Burke said Mrs Bacchus-McAlmont, Dinari’s mother, had also written to Congressman Jeffries and himself, recounting a series of troubling inconsistencies and the family’s growing concern that Bahamian authorities have failed to conduct a transparent inquiry.

He wrote: “Mrs BacchusMcAlmont and her family desperately need answers as the circumstances and evidence suggest her son was potentially robbed

and murdered while at the Atlantis in The Bahamas. Apparently, Dinari got into an altercation with a person or persons at a bar on the hotel premises. Subsequently, surveillance footage captured the chief of security assaulting him outside a bathroom, causing him to escape from that area.”

Mr Burke said Mrs Bacchus-McAlmont informed him that despite months of appeals to the Minister of National Security and the Royal Bahamas Police Force, no comprehensive investigation has been undertaken.

“Material inconsistencies have convinced Dinari’s family and others in the US that Atlantis security staff and the Royal Bahamas Police Force are colluding to potentially cover up a homicide in this matter,”

Mr Burke said.

He warned that the matter “can gravely impact the reputation of The Bahamas and its tourism industry,” adding that the perception among US citizens is that “Dinari’s and other Americans’ deaths are being covered up by Bahamian authorities.”

According to correspondence shared with CGID, Mrs Bacchus-McAlmont detailed the events leading up to her son’s death. The family checked into the Reef at Atlantis on April 4. That night, at 10.14pm, Dinari texted his mother to say he was going to get something to eat. It was the last message she received. At about 2am on April 5, the family received a call from the Paradise Island Police, who informed them that Dinari had been involved in an “incident” at one of the resort’s restaurants. They were told he had allegedly spat at staff after being denied access to a restricted area. His mother described this allegation as “completely out of character.”

When the family went to the Royal Towers casino to locate him, Atlantis security allegedly told them that Dinari had run out of the building. Hours later, after being told they could not file a missing person report because 24 hours had not yet elapsed, the family were informed that a body had been found on a beach some distance away.

Police said the cause of death was drowning. However, Mrs BacchusMcAlmont said her son’s wallet, which was returned to the family, was dry and

missing cash, suggesting he was not found in the water. She said his body was covered in sand and bore bruises and marks that resembled defensive wounds.

“The Royal Bahamas Police Force claimed that he died on the beach, while the hospital stated that he died after he was brought to the emergency room,”

Mr Burke noted in his letter to the Prime Minister.

The grieving mother also claimed that when she was finally allowed to identify

her son, she was only shown a photograph — for which she had to pay $100 — and not permitted to view his body directly.

Autopsy and toxicology reports from The Bahamas, received on September 17, 2025 listed drowning as the cause of death, noting immersion changes, frothy fluid in the airways, heavy congested lungs, and extensive abrasions on multiple parts of the body, including the face, hips, knees, hands, arms, and legs. The report also documented that

Dinari’s clothing and footwear did not match what he had been wearing, and his recorded weight was inaccurate.

Toxicology results revealed ethanol, methanol, and an active marijuana compound, along with its inactive metabolite. The autopsy confirmed significant recent injuries and abrasions consistent with trauma, including on the hands, knees, and face, further intensifying the family’s suspicion that Dinari did not simply drown.

In his letter, Mr Burke told the Prime Minister that the inconsistencies and lack of transparency “have convinced Dinari’s family and others in the US that Atlantis security staff and the Royal Bahamas Police Force are colluding to potentially cover up a homicide.” He stressed that the case, if left unresolved, could damage The Bahamas’ international reputation and tourism industry.

CGID urged Mr Davis to order a full, independent investigation and to ensure that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions carefully examines

all evidence to determine whether Dinari’s death was accidental or a homicide. Mr Burke concluded that justice for Dinari and accountability for the family must be prioritized, warning that public perception in the US is that the Bahamian authorities have mishandled and possibly covered up the case.

In his appeal, Mr Burke said: “Consequently, in the interest of justice, I hereby appeal to you to urgently direct the Royal Bahamas Police Force and other appropriate security services to conduct a proper, fair, full, comprehensive and rigorous investigation into Dinari’s death so that all of the facts can be analysed veraciously by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of The Bahamas for an informed determination on whether Dinari’s death was an accident or a homicide.”

Mr Burke said the CGID has full confidence in the Prime Minister’s commitment to justice and urged swift action, warning that inaction could “irreparably damage The Bahamas’ international reputation as a safe tourist destination.”

GUYANESE-AMERICAN DINARI MCALMONT

FAMILY and friends hold hands yesterday as they pray at the Coral Harbour Plaza parking lot during the search for 30-year-old Lauren Saunders who has been missing since Sunday. Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

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AI heavyweights call for halt on superintelligence research

I HAVE worked in AI for more than three decades, including with pioneers such as John McCarthy, who coined the term “artificial intelligence” in 1955.

In the past few years, scientific breakthroughs have produced AI tools that promise unprecedented advances in medicine, science, business and education.

At the same time, leading AI companies have the stated goal to create superintelligence: not merely smarter tools, but AI systems that significantly outperform all humans on essentially all cognitive tasks.

Superintelligence isn’t just hype. It’s a strategic goal determined by a privileged few, and backed by hundreds of billions of dollars in investment, business incentives, frontier AI technology, and some of the world’s best researchers.

What was once science fiction has become a concrete engineering goal for the coming decade. In response, I and hundreds of other scientists, global leaders and public figures have put our names to a public statement calling for superintelligence research to stop.

What the statement says

The new statement, released today by the AI safety nonprofit Future of Life Institute, is not a call for a temporary pause, as we saw in 2023. It is a short, unequivocal call for a global ban:

“We call for a prohibition on the development of superintelligence, not lifted before there is broad scientific consensus that it will be done safely and controllably, and strong public buy-in.”

The list of signatories represents a remarkably broad coalition, bridging divides that few other issues can. The “godfathers” of modern AI are present, such as Yoshua Bengio and Geoff Hinton. So are leading safety researchers such as UC Berkeley’s Stuart Russell.

But the concern has broken free of academic circles. The list includes tech and business leaders such as Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak and Virgin’s Richard Branson. It includes high-level political and military figures from both sides of US politics, such as former National Security Advisor Susan Rice and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen. It also includes prominent media figures such as Glenn Beck and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, together with artists such as Will.I.am and respected historians such as Yuval Noah Harari.

Why superintelligence poses a unique challenge

Human intelligence has reshaped the planet in profound ways. We have rerouted rivers to generate electricity and irrigate farmland, transforming entire ecosystems. We have webbed the globe with financial markets, supply chains, air traffic systems: enormous feats of coordination that depend on

our ability to reason, predict, plan, innovate and build technology.

Superintelligence could extend this trajectory, but with a crucial difference. People will no longer be in control. The danger is not so much a machine that wants to destroy us, but one that pursues its goals with superhuman competence and indifference to our needs.

Imagine a superintelligent agent tasked with ending climate change. It might logically decide to eliminate the species that’s producing greenhouse gases. Instruct it to maximise human happiness, and it might find a way to trap every human brain in a perpetual dopamine loop. Or, in Swedish philosopher Nick Bostrom’s famous example, a superintelligence tasked with producing as many paperclips as possible might try to convert all of Earth’s matter, including us, into raw material for its factories.

The issue is not malice but mismatch: a system that understands its instructions too literally, with the power to act cleverly and swiftly.

History shows what can go wrong when our systems grow beyond our capacity to predict, contain or control them.

The 2008 financial crisis began with financial instruments so intricate that even their creators could not foresee how they would interact until the entire system collapsed. Cane toads introduced in Australia to fight pests have instead devastated native species. The COVID pandemic exposed how global travel networks can turn local outbreaks into worldwide crises.

Now we stand on the verge of creating something far more complex: a mind that can rewrite its own code, redesign and achieve its goals, and outthink every human combined.

A history of inadequate governance

For years, efforts to manage AI have focused on risks such as algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the impact of automation on jobs.

These are important issues. But they fail to address the systemic risks of creating superintelligent autonomous agents. The focus has been on applications, not the ultimate stated goal of AI companies to create superintelligence.

The new statement on superintelligence aims to start a global conversation not just on specific AI tools, but on the very destination AI developers are steering us toward.

The goal of AI should be about creating powerful tools to serve humanity. This does not mean autonomous superintelligent agents that can operate beyond human control without aligning with human well-being.

We can have a future of AI-powered medical breakthroughs, scientific discovery, and personalised education. None of these require us to build an uncontrollable superintelligence that could unilaterally decide the fate of humanity.

By Mary-Anne Williams Michael J Crouch Chair in Innovation, School of Management and Governance, UNSW Sydney

We must fght for soul of Bahamas

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE resonant declaration, “We must fight for the soul of The Bahamas,” transcends mere political rhetoric; it is an immutable fact that embodies a profound national introspection confronting a confluence of severe and interconnected challenges. This sentiment has permeated public discourse, especially since the inception of the birth of the Bahamas as a nation in 1973 and particularly and urgently in early in the early birthing of the year 2025, signaling an urgent call for collective action and a comprehensive re-evaluation of national priorities and moral compass.

At the forefront of these crises is the alarming escalation of violent crime. The consistently high rates of homicides, armed robberies, and sexual assaults represent a grave threat to national stability, public safety, and the very fabric of Bahamian society. The disturbing increase in murder counts observed in 2024, surpassing the previous year’s figures, underscores the severity of this crisis, impacting not only residents’ sense of security but also the nation’s international reputation and vital tourism economy. Prime Minister Philip Davis’s poignant address to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the wider nation in January 2025, where he invoked this very phrase, highlighted the critical juncture at which the nation stands, imploring an unprecedented level of national unity to tackle this pervasive menace. It suggests that the solution extends beyond traditional law enforcement and necessitates a broader societal intervention.

Parallel to the crime epidemic is the persistent and corrosive issue of corruption, which continues to erode public trust and impede effective governance. Widespread concerns regarding integrity within governmental institutions and law enforcement agencies are well-documented. The September 2025 US State Department report, noting insufficient progress in anti-corruption reforms, serves as a stark international acknowledgement of the systemic nature of this challenge. High-profile incidents, such as the 2024 leaked voice notes implicating a senior police official in a “quid pro quo” arrangement, and the broader implications surrounding the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX in 2022, raise serious questions about accountability, regulatory oversight, and the ethical conduct of public officials. These events systematically chip away at the credibility of institutions vital for a functioning democracy.

Beyond immediate governance and public safety, there is a palpable concern for a deeper societal and cultural erosion. As articulated

grapples with a fundamental “culture problem.” This perspective suggests that the pervasive promotion or acceptance of negative cultural aspects creates an environment ripe for social ills, including escalating crime rates. This insight points to a critical need for a fundamental moral and ethical recalibration, advocating for solutions that move beyond superficial fixes to address the underlying values and norms shaping Bahamian society.

Commentators and activists, particularly via social media, amplify these calls for a holistic governmental response to societal, economic, and ethical dilemmas, often criticizing both major political parties for perceived failures in leadership and delivering on promises. Further compounding these internal struggles are critical external and systemic challenges.

The ongoing controversies surrounding immigration policies, particularly their disproportionate and often harsh impact on Haitian migrants and those of Haitian descent, raise significant humanitarian concerns and invite international scrutiny. This situation strains social cohesion and challenges the nation’s commitment to human rights. Concurrently, The Bahamas, as a low-lying archipelago, faces an existential threat from climate change. Rising sea levels and the increasing intensity and frequency of hurricanes pose severe risks to vital infrastructure, livelihoods, and national security, demanding substantial investment in resilience and adaptation. Moreover, the decline of vital natural resources, such as fisheries, exacerbated by unsustainable practices like overfishing and illegal fishing, further compromises economic resilience, traditional livelihoods, and long-term food security.

In essence, the “fight for the soul of The Bahamas” emerges as a multi-front battle, demanding not merely policy adjustments but a profound national recommitment to integrity, social justice, and environmental stewardship. It necessitates a recognition of the intricate interplay of these challenges and a unified, comprehensive strategy to safeguard the nation’s future and intrinsic character.

Speaking from a personal perspective after much soul searching and reflection, I Have Found Peace At Last and I urge Every Bahamian of goodwill and a deep love that All of us should have to recommit to the principles upon which

the Commonwealth Of The Bahamas Was Founded Fifty-Two Years Ago…

IN the nascent year of 1962, as a student, barely sixteen years old, I embarked upon what I profoundly believed was a passage to a more illuminated and purposeful existence.

I stepped onto a metaphorical and mythical train, not just of physical movement, but of burgeoning social and political ideals, anticipating a journey towards a better life. Yet, the subsequent decades unfolded a stark and often heartbreaking narrative. Instead of the anticipated landscape of progress and promise, I encountered a terrain fraught with profound disillusionment, insidious betrayals, pervasive duplicity, victimisation and the bitter sting of systemic marginalisation.

The youthful idealism that fueled my initial aspirations was met with the harsh realities of human fallibility and the complexities inherent in The Bahamas and the world’s power structures that have failed to yield in the name of the people of The Bahamas in particular.

Having traversed countless seasons of challenge and transformation, I now stand as a man on the threshold of becoming an octogenarian within the next year, profoundly shaped by life’s intricate tapestry. Through a deepening spiritual communion and an unwavering faith, I am diligently and gently cultivating a serene inner harbor and sense of peace that can only be found in the serenity of a profound and quiet contentment.

This tranquillity, long yearned for, has been meticulously woven into the very fabric of my being through the extensive passage of time and persistent seeking. The journey has been arduous and protracted, demanding immense resilience, yet the ultimate arrival at a state of genuine peace and settled contentment is no longer a distant whisper, but a burgeoning, cherished reality, a testament to enduring hope.

In conclusion, there is an enduring conviction that sustains my spirit and my soul: It is my sincere prayer and wish that a day of true and lasting peace will unquestionably dawn upon us all if we recommit to the principles upon which the Bahamian Nation was founded…It must be clear and understood by All Bahamians that the commitment must be Both Personal and Unified…May their words be planted in the hearts of All Bahamians who are alive and those yet unborn… Dr Donald M McCartney, OD, DM-OL, MPA, MSc. Ed, Cert. Advanced Mgmt., BA, TC DR DONALD M McCARTNEY Freeport, Grand Bahama October 13, 2025.

by Pastor Dave Burrows in The Nassau Guardian in May 2024, the nation

Photo: George Harris

Chinese community meets police over crime concerns

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the Chinese-Bahamian Community met with senior police officials yesterday to discuss ongoing concerns about crime and response times as the holiday season nears.

The meeting, which included about 40 community members and Chinese Ambassador Yan Jiarong, was prompted by the nonfatal shooting of a Chinese woman earlier this year.

The Tribune understands the victim, a store owner, was heading to a social event in July when she was shot in the arm.

Susie Chan, a community member, told The Tribune yesterday that the

incident raised concerns and prompted residents to ask officials for safety tips. “Some of the community members wanted some clarification on if they’re anticipating more crime in their bar or liquor store and if they have to take down any petition so that was another issue,” she said. “They feel that, you know, it might spike crime and then, you know, this is the season when you come into the end of the year when usually crimes spike.”

During the session, Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles and other officers shared safety tips with business owners and residents, urging them not to take unnecessary risks during armed robberies and to prioritise personal safety over valuables.

Community members, particularly business owners, also called for faster police response times, with some questioning why it often takes so long for CID officers to collect fingerprints or to answer 911 calls.

Suggestions were also made to strengthen partnerships with the police and to encourage community members to get to know officers in their local areas.

Keno Wong, former chairman of the National Neighbourhood Watch Council, who attended the meeting, said police were receptive to the questions and described the discussions as “progressive.”

“There’s going to be another follow up meeting,” he said, “but it was very cordial.”

Tropical Storm Melissa threatens Jamaica as Bahamians there prepare

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

TROPICAL Storm

Melissa intensified in the Caribbean yesterday, prompting a hurricane watch for parts of Haiti and a tropical storm watch for Jamaica, where most Bahamians on the island are students. Forecasters expect Melissa to strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday as it tracks northward through the region, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and rough seas. While The Bahamas is not currently under threat, a northward shift could bring rain, squalls, and

M AN ACCUSED OF FLASHING POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH VAGRANCY

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was denied bail after being accused of flashing his arresting officer during a vagrancy arrest on Bay Street. Prosecutors allege Toriano Johnson, 35, was unable to account for his presence Downtown when he exposed himself to Police Constable 4365 Miller on October 19. Johnson pleaded not guilty to charges of vagrancy and indecent assault before Magistrate Abigail Farrington. Inspector Shadrach Coakley, the prosecutor, objected to bail on the grounds that Johnson had no fixed address, arguing that it would be difficult to ensure his appearance for trial. Johnson was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his trial on November 10.

$8.5K BAIL FOR TEEN ACCUSED OF HAVING GUN MAGAZINE AND AMMO

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

A 19-YEAR-OLD man was granted $8,500 bail after being accused of possessing 79 rounds of ammunition and a rifle magazine in New Providence last week. Prosecutors allege that Dinari Coleby was found with 35 .223 rounds, 24 .40 rounds, and ten 7.62 rounds on October 16. He also allegedly had a 5.56 rifle magazine and a .40 pistol magazine. Coleby pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Lennox Coleby to three counts of possession of ammunition, two counts of possession of a component part of a firearm, and one count of possession of ammunition with intent to supply. Despite objections from Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie, the defendant was granted bail. Under the conditions of his bail, Coleby must sign in at the Elizabeth Estates Police Station every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday by 6pm. He will also be fitted with a monitoring device and must observe a 9pm to 5.30am curfew. Coleby is scheduled to return to court on December 4.

coastal swells to the southern islands next week.

According to CNN, the storm was 300 miles south of Haiti yesterday, with maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour. Meteorologists warned of up to a foot of rain in some areas, risking flash flooding and mudslides across Hispaniola.

Bahamian Consul General in Jamaica Alveta Knight told The Tribune her office is monitoring developments closely and ensuring that Bahamians, especially students, are prepared.

She said there are about

160 Bahamian students at various universities across Jamaica and between 20 and 70 permanent residents, though those figures fluctuate.

“The first instinctive response is to advise the students at their location to follow the rules and regulations of their campus. The campus has evacuation and they have natural disaster plans in place. When that now is unable to meet the needs of the students, then the government’s response comes in, and that’s where I execute,” she said.

Ms Knight said that in

past hurricanes, the Bahamian government has evacuated students when necessary. “The students are asked to come to the airport, we document who they are, and they’re sent on a plane back to the Bahamas, and then they go to their respective islands.”

She stressed that help is available to any Bahamian who can prove citizenship, even if they have not registered with the Consulate.

She added that many Bahamians only contact the Consulate during crises. “That number increases if something

happens, emergency passports are required, emergency travel documents, sorry, or if there is a death in the family, or if there’s an immediate need,” she said. “So for example, I imagine with this hurricane that’s about to allegedly hit Jamaica, that may hit Jamaica, I may see more numbers coming out then.” A forecast from WESH 2 First Warning Weather shows most computer models steering Melissa north over Hispaniola, though one outlier predicts a curve toward The Bahamas.

CHINESE amabassador Yan Jiarong and members of the Chinese community met with police officials to discuss crime concerns yesterday. Photos: J Lorenzo McKenzie/chief photographer (RBPF)

Who will defend our ‘Zone of Peace’?

WE’RE living through a time of significant change in economies and global politics. While we’re heavily impacted by current events and trends at the global level, it’s imperative that we participate in regional mechanisms and establish shared positions on pressing and emerging issues. Diplomatic relations between the US and Caribbean countries, for example, have never been as simple as we might like to believe, and may quickly become more complex.

The Bahamas puts significant effort into maintaining an amicable relationship with the US for various reasons, including continued economic reliance on the tourism industry. Maintenance of the tourism industry is, of course, a primary area of concern for other Caribbean countries as well, which don’t have the same proximity or level of reliance as we do. It’s difficult to balance sovereignty and both national and regional priorities with the global and western systems that demand our participation. While it’s challenging for a country to stand on its own, it can be advantageous to form blocs and to leverage regional organizations such as CARICOM.

When our governments fail to represent us, our values, and our positions in these spaces, however, it becomes especially necessary for the people to stand together.

Trinidad chooses sides

In August 2025, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, pledged full support to the US government in its deployment of military assets to the Caribbean, including the positioning of three warships off the coast of Venezuela in the supposed attempt to stop drug trafficking.

“I want to make it very clear that if the Maduro regime launches any attack against the Guyanese people or invades Guyanese territory and a request is made by the American Government for access to Trinidadian territory to defend the people of Guyana, my Government will unflinchingly provide them that access,” PersadBissessar said in reference to the possibility of aggression action by Venezuela to Guyana over Essequibo, a disputed territory.

Unflinching in her disinterest in aligning with a

By Alicia Wallace

CARICOM position, she doubled down on her stated position. “The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has not engaged and has no intention of engaging CARICOM this matter. Each member state can speak for themselves on this issue.”

Following the US strike on a boat that killed 11 people early in September 2025, Persad-Bissessar said she was “happy that the US naval deployment is having success in their mission” and that “the US military should kill [traffickers] all violently.” The US Secretary of State claimed that the boat had departed Venezuela and was likely headed to Trinidad or another country in the Caribbean.

Many over the past few weeks have expressed concern about the callous statement, which ignores the absence of due process in the killing. When questioned about another military air strike on a boat that killed six people, including two citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, Persad-Bissessar reiterated her position. “I stand by my previous comments,” she said. “Nothing has occurred to cause any change in my opinion.” Venezuela Ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, called on the United Nations to investigate what he called the “assassinations,” with a total of 27 reported deaths from US strikes in the Caribbean so far. He noted that the killings are unjustified and that the US is trying to start a war. “There is a killer prowling the Caribbean,” he said. “People from different countries are suffering the effects of these massacres.”

In an open letter to Persad-Bissessar, Ambassador General of the Global African Congress, Cikiah Thomas, called the Prime Minister’s statements in defense of the current US administration reckless, disgraceful, and shameless. “[It echoes] the tone of colonial subservience that our ancestors fought to cast off in our long struggles to achieve independence over

our national and regional affairs,” he said.

“By excusing the extrajudicial killings, and dismissing the US’ violation of international law, you have aligned yourself with Donald Trump and US imperialism and against your sovereign people. But you have also aligned yourself with the same imperial ideology that once enslaved our people and plundered our lands.”

Grenada to decide

Recently, Grenada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development confirmed that the US had also made a request to temporarily install radar equipment and technical personnel at their Maurice Bishop International Airport.

The Government of Grenada is reviewing and assessing the request. However, it made clear to the public what considerations will be examined.

“[Our decision] will be guided by Grenada’s sovereignty, public safety, and national interest, including the protection of our tourism industry, the travelling public, and the country’s economic well-being.”

Concerned by this request, particularly given recent events, a network of Caribbean feminists responded in October with an open letter opposing incursions by the US military.

“We, Caribbean advocates for equality, security and development within and between states, note with grave concern the recent incursions by the US military in the Caribbean Sea. This signifies an egregious breach of international law and has resulted in the extrajudicial killing of at least 27 people to date - two of whom are nationals of Trinidad and Tobago.

“These incursions threaten the Caribbean tourism industry by jeopardising the safety of cruise ships and sailboats. They interfere with the livelihood of fishermen and all those who depend on the sea to feed their families. They also violate laws protecting

Te phrase “Zone of Peace” is rendered meaningless when there is a discussion on security matters that does not directly respond to the events of the past few weeks and the current and potential impact on Caribbean people.

our regional waters and the people who depend on them. They contravene the commitment of our region by our leaders, past and present, and our citizens to establish our region as a zone of peace,” the statement said.

“The US has long wielded disproportionate power over the small island states of the Caribbean and its peoples. We call on our governments to strengthen our sovereignty, defend our right to peace, the livelihoods of our peoples, and our right to be safe from the consequences of militarization. We urge the Grenadian government and people of Grenada to stand firm and refuse the US request to extend its military capacity by installing radar and technical personnel in Grenada. We call on CARICOM to support Grenada’s refusal of this request, and to stand up for our independence, knowing, as we do, that this may result in real costs at the hands of the US.”

The Caribbean Congress of Labor also issued a statement on the preservation of the Caribbean as a zone of peace. “The CCL expresses deep concern over any use or intended use of the

Grenada Airport by the United States military or any foreign power for military operations or activities contrary to the peaceful principles of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Such activities not only violate the spirit of regional cooperation but also endanger the peace, sedulity, and sovereignty of the Caribbean people.”

And CARICOM?

In an incredibly lackluster, empty statement, CARICOM referenced a recent meeting that addressed a number of issues, including this increased militarization in the Caribbean. “Save in respect of Trinidad and Tobago, who reserved its position, Heads agreed on the following: They reaffirmed the principle of maintaining the Caribbean Region as a Zone of Peace and the importance of dialogue and engagement towards the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflict.”

It appears that CARICOM has taken no position on foreign military occupying Caribbean territory, using force, and operating without intelligence or assurance of due

process. The phrase “Zone of Peace” is rendered meaningless when there is a discussion on security matters that does not directly respond to the events of the past few weeks and the current and potential impact on Caribbean people. There will certainly be more statements and further action from Caribbean citizens, residents, non-governmental organizations, civic groups, and individuals.

Unfortunately, the Government of The Bahamas is not one we can look to for leadership on this issue. Minister of National Security Wayne Monroe merely advised Bahamians to “stay out of [the US military’s] way.”

“If they were to choose to sail in your harbour, there’s nothing you could do,” he said. “It would be a breach of your sovereignty, and you could complain, but you couldn’t stop them.”

Isn’t that really all we need to know when it comes to our own security and the commitment of the Government of The Bahamas to upholding human rights and maintaining our precious sovereignty?

The Zone of Peace is severely lacking in defenders.

IN a post on social media, President Trump said that the US military had conducted another strike against a boat he alleges was carrying “illegal narcotics.” September 15, 2025

Japan’s parliament elects Sanae Takaichi as nation’s first female prime minister

TOKYO Associated Press

JAPAN’S parliament on Tuesday elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister, and she underlined her commitment to boosting Japanese defence as she prepared to host visiting US President Donald Trump next week.

Takaichi replaces outgoing Shigeru Ishiba after the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered disastrous losses in July elections for parliament’s upper house and lost its majority in the lower house last year. Her election comes a day after the LDP struck a deal in a fragile coalition with a new partner expected to pull her governing bloc further to the right.

“I’m determined to build a strong Japanese economy and protect Japan’s national interest with diplomacy and security,” said Takaichi, a security hawk who was elected head of the LDP on Oct. 4 after Ishiba resigned to take responsibility for the latest election defeat.

Takaichi cited the Japan-US alliance as a “cornerstone” of Japanese diplomacy and stressed that Japan is an indispensable partner for America in its strategy to provide counterweights to China in the Indo-Pacific region. Trump is scheduled to visit Japan next Monday to Wednesday.

A frst, but not a feminist

While Takaichi made history by becoming the first female leader of a country where men still largely hold sway, she has not promoted gender equality or diversity.

A n admirer of former British P rime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi is among the Japanese politicians who have stonewalled measures for women’s advancement. S he supports the imperial family’s male-only succession, and opposes allowing separate surnames for married couples.

A nd despite a pledge to drastically increase the number of women in the

Cabinet, she appointed only two woman ministers — S atsuki Katayama as finance minister and Kimi Onoda as economic security minister.

Takaichi also opposes same-sex marriage. “The birth of Japan’s first female prime minister is epoch-making, but she casts a dark cloud over gender equality and sexual minority rights,” LGBTQ+ rights activist S oshi Matsuoka said, adding that Takaichi’s “extremely conservative” views could be a “serious setback” for the rights of sexual minorities.

However, some Japanese feel that her breaking the glass ceiling in politics is an important marker of progress in itself.

Takayuki Eguchi, a 62-year-old Tokyo resident, said he had doubted that a woman would even be able to get enough votes in parliament. He celebrated Takaichi’s achievement by collecting a free special newspaper edition distributed on

Tuesday.

“I really hope she serves for a long time, and that the political stagnation we’ve been seeing finally starts to move, and that things improve in Japan and in the eyes of the world,” Eguchi said.

A fragile governing alliance

The LDP’s alliance with the Osaka-based rightwing Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin no Kai, is short of a majority in both houses, but Takaichi was still able to win the premiership because the opposition is not united. Her alliance’s lack of a majority will mean that it will need to court opposition groups to pass any legislation — a risk that could make her government unstable and short-lived.

Takaichi on Tuesday stressed the need to cooperate. “Without political stability, we cannot achieve strong economic policies, diplomacy, security or

anything,” she said. Her coalition’s two parties signed agreement on policies underscoring Takaichi’s hawkish and nationalistic views. Their last-minute deal came after the Liberal Democrats lost the party’s longtime partner, the Buddhist-backed Komeito, which has a more dovish and centrist stance. The breakup threatened a change of power for the LD P, which has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for decades.

Her challenges

Takaichi is preparing for a major policy speech later this week, talks with Trump and regional summits during which she also needs to ensure stable ties with China and South Korea. She needs to quickly tackle rising prices and compile economy-boosting measures by late December to address public frustration.

A protege of assassinated former Prime

it raised concern about Takaichi’s view of Japan’s wartime past. She has taken part in regular prayers at the Yasukuni Shrine despite protests from Beijing and Seoul, which see the visits as a sign of lack of remorse for Japanese aggression. Some of Takaichi’s remarks have also been denounced as xenophobic. Takaichi, who is proTaiwan, has toned down her hawkish rhetoric. On Friday, she sent a religious ornament to Yasukuni instead of going there herself.

On Tuesday, she said she wants stable ties with Seoul and hopes to meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. “There may be worries, but I love Korean seaweed, I use Korean cosmetics, and I watch Korean dramas too.” China, South Korea and EU react

Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi is expected to emulate his policies, including a stronger military and economy. With her potentially weak grip on power, it’s not clear how much Takaichi will be able to achieve.

Developing friendly ties with Trump might be a challenge, but her close ties and admiration of Abe, who apparently had won Trump’s trust, may help her.

“At first, I hope to develop relations of trust between the two leaders through candid exchange of views about the challenges that Japan and the United States face,” Takaichi said.

Takaichi was first elected to parliament in 1993 and has served in senior posts including as minister of economic security and internal affairs, but her diplomatic background is thin.

Concerns about her nationalism

When Komeito left the governing coalition,

South Korea’s president congratulated Takaichi and said he hopes to hold a summit with her during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in South Korea this month. He said South Korea-Japan relations are more important than ever as global uncertainty deepens.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said that he hoped Japan would “honor its political commitments on major issues including on history and Taiwan, maintain the political foundation of bilateral relations and advance the China-Japan strategic relations of mutual benefit.” China considers Taiwan, a former Japanese colony, its own breakaway province to be annexed by force if necessary. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Takaichi and pledged to work with her on behalf of the 27-nation European Union. As Japan’s first female PM, you’re making history,” von der Leyen wrote. “I look forward to working closely together to take the unique-EU Japan partnership to the next level.”

Paris prosecutor says stolen Louvre jewels worth estimated $102 million

PARIS Associated Press

The Paris prosecutor said Tuesday that crown jewels stolen in a dramatic weekend Louvre heist were worth an estimated 88 million euros ($102 million), but that the monetary estimate doesn’t include their historical value to France.

Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, whose office is leading the investigation, said about 100 investigators are now involved in the police hunt for the suspects and gems after Sunday’s theft from the world’s most-visited museum.

“The wrongdoers who took these gems won’t earn 88 million euros if they had the very bad idea of disassembling these jewels,” she said in an interview with broadcaster RTL. “We can perhaps hope that they’ll think about this and won’t destroy these jewels without rhyme or reason.”

Also Tuesday, France’s culture minister said that the security apparatus installed at the Louvre worked properly during the theft.

Questions have arisen about the Louvre security — and whether security cameras might have failed — after thieves rode a basket lift up the Louvre’s facade, forced a window, smashed display cases and fled with priceless Napoleonic jewels on Sunday morning. “The Louvre museum’s security apparatus did not fail, that is a fact,” the

minister, Rachida Dati, told lawmakers in the National Assembly. “The Louvre museum’s security apparatus worked.”

Dati said she launched an administrative inquiry that comes in addition to a police investigation to ensure full transparency ito what happened. She did not offer any details about how the thieves managed to carry out their heist given that the cameras were working.

But she described it as a painful blow for the nation.

The robbery was “a wound for all of us,” she said.

“Why? Because the Louvre is far more than the world’s largest museum. It’s a showcase for our French culture and our shared patrimony.”

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said Monday that the museum’s alarm was triggered when the window of the Apollo Gallery was forced.

Police officers arrived on site two or three minutes after they were called by an individual that witnessed the scene, he said on LCI television.

Officials said the heist lasted less than eight minutes in total, including less than four minutes inside the Louvre.

Nuñez did not disclose details about video surveillance cameras that may have filmed the thieves around and in the museum pending a police investigation. “There are cameras all around the Louvre,” he said.

NEWLY elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Japan yesterday.

Photo: Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Taxi drivers protest alleged $20 Margaritaville parking fee

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

TENSIONS flared outside Margaritaville yesterday morning as dozens of angry taxi drivers staged a protest over what they claim is an illegal $20 parking fee, prompting police intervention and renewed calls for government action.

Bahamas Taxi Cab Union (BTCU) President Tyrone Butler said the demonstration was sparked by drivers being charged to access the parking area next to the West Bay Street resort, despite assurances from Margaritaville that the property’s management was not behind the practice.

“The employees of Margaritaville are engaging in this collusion and this game to help this taxi driver collect $20 from taxi drivers just to get a job for Margaritaville,” Mr Butler told The Tribune outside the resort.

He said union representatives met last Thursday with Margaritaville officials and the Road Traffic Department, where the hotel promised to end the practice. But by Sunday morning, a driver was again told to pay the fee and, when he refused, was denied work.

“Margaritaville called the police,” Mr Butler said. “I

don’t know if they thought that was supposed to intimidate us, but this union will never be intimidated by anyone.”

He said officers later spoke to both the drivers and Margaritaville’s general manager, who promised to deal with the driver allegedly responsible for collecting the fees.

Margaritaville general manager Shyam Lalu confirmed meeting with the union and officials from Road Traffic, describing it as “very positive and fruitful.” He denied any wrongdoing by the resort or its staff.

“They did make a complaint that somebody was charging them to park in that lot. We don’t have anybody that works for the property, that works for the hotel that is charging anybody, we’re not collecting any funds for anybody to be over there,” Mr Lalu said, calling the person involved a “rogue” actor operating “outside of our control.”

But Mr Butler said the issue points to deeper failures within the Ministry of Transport and the Road Traffic Department.

“There seems to be no law for certain public service drivers in this country. Livery drivers can do what they want, this particular taxi driver seems to do what he wants, what is the

reason for having a Road Traffic Department?” he asked, blasting the department as “out to lunch” and saying officials “have no idea what they’re doing.”

He said repeated complaints to Road Traffic and Transport Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis have gone nowhere.

“Nobody in Road Traffic has the backbone or the ability to do anything about anything in this industry,” Mr Butler said, calling engagement with the department “a waste of time.”

He warned that if no action is taken, the union will return with larger protests.

Mr Butler said the BTCU plans to ramp up demonstrations in the coming months to address what he described as “widespread abuses” against taxi drivers at locations including Lynden Pindling International Airport, Atlantis, and Nassau Cruise Port.

“Enough is enough,” he said. “We’ve been having too many discussions with Road Traffic. The Tourism Minister doesn’t seem to care anymore. We are a civilised country, and we need corporate partners to act civilised. Right now, we don’t see that coming from places like the airport and these other properties.”

BAHAMAS Taxi Cab Union president Tyrone Butler speaks to Tribune staff reporter Keile Campbell

during a demonstration in front of Margaritaville downtown yesterday.

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

IRISH Ambassador to The Bahamas John Concannon and Ireland’s Caribbean office head Shane Ryan during a press conference at Shenanigan’s Irish Pub downtown on Monday. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Bahamas hosts largest ever Diplomatic Week

By EARYEL BOWLEG AND KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporters

NEARLY 100 foreign delegates have this week been meeting at Baha Mar for what ofcials have hailed as the largest Diplomatic Week in Bahamian history.

Yesterday, Ambassadorat-Large and Diplomatic Week Chairman Ron Pinder said the record turnout of 95 ambassadors, honorary consuls, and delegates demonstrates confdence in The Bahamas’ ability to facilitate major international dialogue. He said sessions throughout the week were designed to address the most pressing challenges facing small island states, including climate change, artifcial intelligence, security, and barriers to trade.

Mr Pinder said many discussions focused on expanding access to legitimate business, educational, and cultural opportunities by easing visa restrictions that often hinder investment and exchange. He noted that Bahamian entrepreneurs have faced difculty accessing markets in Spain and Indonesia, prompting plans to negotiate new memoranda of understanding to improve trade and business travel. Security and migration also dominated discussions, with National Security Minister Wayne Munroe participating in sessions examining illegal migration, gun trafcking, and maritime trade oversight. Mr Pinder said ofcials are seeking ways to better detect illicit goods while ensuring the smooth fow

of lawful commerce, noting that about 80 per cent of global goods move by sea.

He added that the logistics of hosting such a large gathering have given The Bahamas valuable experience in managing major conferences, from coordinating with law enforcement and airport ofcials to ensuring seamless customs and immigration processing for visiting diplomats.

Mr Pinder said the $350k event remains within budget despite additional expenses to accommodate increased requests for bilateral meetings. He credited the turnout to strong coordination with Bahamian consulates abroad, particularly in Washington, Jamaica, and Cuba, which helped attract a record number of participants.

On Monday, Foreign Afairs Minister Fred Mitchell said the government’s foreign policy remains anchored in peace, stability, a demilitarised Caribbean Sea, and stronger international cooperation to curb gun smuggling and promote lawful migration. He also urged continued global attention to Haiti’s worsening security and governance crisis.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis described diplomacy as the cornerstone of national survival, stressing that it enables The Bahamas to manage risk, protect sovereignty, and advocate for fair treatment of small island developing states. He said the government is pursuing a more active and strategic foreign policy that positions the country at the centre of debates on global taxation, maritime boundaries, and emerging industries such as digital assets. Regional cooperation through CARICOM, he added,

remains vital to that efort.

Director General Jerusa Ali said the wide range of participants — representing the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacifc — refects shared priorities on climate resilience, sustainable development, maritime security, and transnational collaboration. The 2025 event also coincides with the 50th anniversary of The Bahamas’ diplomatic relations with the European Union and Japan. The week’s programme includes sessions on emerging security threats, women in diplomacy, trade diversifcation, and the role of the African diaspora, as well as a United Nations side event on climate resilience in The Bahamas. Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper chaired a session on regional air connectivity, highlighting tourism and trade benefts through expanded fight routes.

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025

Powerlifters Indera, Shane take spotlight

COMPETE AT SOUTHEASTERN REGIONALS USA POWERLIFTING MEET

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Sports Reporter

Two members of the JKS Fitness Powerlifting team, Indera Gibson and Shane Moncur, competed at the Southeastern Regionals USA Powerlifting Meet on Sunday, October 19, as they continued their journey toward becoming pro powerlifters.

Both athletes aimed to achieve qualifying totals for the 2026 USAPL Nationals in Philadelphia.

Indera Gibson had an exceptional performance, reaching a total of 437 kilograms and setting new personal bests across all three lifts. She recorded

a 157.5kg (347.2lbs) squat, a 90kg (198.4lbs) bench press, and a 180kg (396.6lbs) deadlift.

She earned a platform personal record for her squat. Gibson’s total qualifies her for the nationals in 2026, another major milestone in her powerlifting career.

Shane Moncur also showed strong progress, finishing with a total lift of 740 kilograms, with personal bests in his bench press and deadlift. He recorded a 280kg (617Ibs) squat, a 185kg (408Ibs) bench press, and a 275kg (606Ibs) deadlift. Unfortunately, this total fell short of the qualifying total of 755kg.

Speaking on his training before the meet, Moncur said: “This training was the most challenging because it was a lot of hard days for me where I wasn’t as strong but, compared to the other two, this was the hardest because I had to cut down to get back in my weight class, dealt with injuries earlier in the year but the overall training was great because I got to see myself bounce back with a lot of strength and actually PR in two of my lifts.”

Moncur now looks ahead to another USA Powerlifting meet in his quest to reach the 755kg qualifying total required for nationals. He will have until May 2026 to achieve that mark.

“Going forward I will continue training after a couple of days’ rest but moving forward hopefully another meet pops up soon, maybe at the end of the year or early next year so I can qualify for nationals,” said Moncur. The JKS Fitness Powerlifting team continues to make steady strides toward professional status in the sport.

THE Bahamas Archery Federation (BAF) has announced that Donato Adderley has been selected to represent his school at the inaugural 2025 Bahamas High School Archery National Championships.

The federation extended congratulations to Donato and his family for this significant accomplishment. The event, organised by BAF, aims to highlight the talents of young archers across the island and promote the growth of archery in both public and private schools throughout The Bahamas.

The national tournament will feature students from grades seven to 12 who are members of BAF-registered clubs. It is scheduled

NEW York Liberty star Jonquel Jones has undergone surgery on her right ankle, beginning what she described as the “start of her recovery.”

According to her Instagram story and sources cited by the New York Post, the five-time WNBA All-Star had endured two sprains on the same ankle during the 2025 season.

Jones’ first sprain occurred in a game versus the Washington Mystics on June 5, and she later reaggravated it in a game versus the Phoenix Mercury on June 19. Both injuries sidelined Jones for about a month.

Jones confirmed her surgery in a caption reading “Surgery done, Officially Day 1 of recovery.”

In Jones’ 2025 season, she averaged 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 blocks.

Jones’ surgery comes at a pivotal time in the Liberty franchise as shortly after the Liberty’s first round playoff elimination, head coach Sandy Brondello was fired, and the organisation is now in the midst of a head coach search.

With multiple veteran players veteran players on the Liberty including Jones, Brianna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu expected to hit the free agent market, the Liberty face key decisions ahead.

to take place 3-6pm on Sunday, November 16, at the Trinity Flames Archery Club, located at the Most Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Trinity Way, Stapleton Gardens. Archers are required to wear their school’s physical education uniform with a registration fee of $20 per student, which includes the use of all necessary equipment.

Parents, family members and friends are encouraged to come out and show their support for the competitors and for the continued development of archery in The Bahamas. For more information, interested persons can contact the Bahamas Archery Federation at thebahamasarcheryfedration@gmail. com or reach out to Alexio Brown, President of Bullseye Archery.

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net

POWER MOVES: Indera Gibson and Shane Moncur, members of the JKS Fitness Powerlifting Team, at the Southeastern Regionals USA Powerlifting Meet on Sunday, October 19.

JONQUEL JONES in action.

SHANE MONCUR, left, and coach JKS.