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Volume: 123 No. 230, Monday, October 26, 2026

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FNM’S ‘PETTY’ PINTARD ‘LEAST POPULAR’ LEADER But consultants tell party supporters he was not solely responsible for crushing election loss By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net JAMAICAN political consultants told the FNM’s weekend conclave that leader Michael Pintard was the least popular of the country’s three main party leaders and seen as the “most petty”, but that he was not solely to blame for the party’s crushing election defeat, pointing more

to a campaign message that failed to resonate with voters, low visibility among candidates and the lack of a clear plan. Mr Pintard ranked below Prime Minister Philip Davis and Coalition of Independents leader Lincoln Bain in polling presented in closed-door sessions by an independent group, reportedly linked to the Jamaica FNM - SEE PAGE THREE

EQUALITY BAHAMAS URGES PROTECTION FOR PROTESTORS By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net EQUALITY Bahamas has urged Prime Minister Philip Davis to stop police from harassing protesters during King Charles III’s visit, after Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles said the force “stands ready”

to disrupt any activity that would negatively affect the royal tour. The activist group said Bahamians were not loyal subjects and had no obligation to welcome “any coloniser with painted smiles or baskets of fruit”. It insisted Bahamians must KING - SEE PAGE THREE

TRISTAN SMITH

Family mourn young South Andros BPL linesman remembered for his kindness By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net HYLANDA Sands-Johnson was in New Providence when her phone alerted her that her younger brother’s iPhone had detected a crash in

South Andros. She called his number, and someone at the scene picked up. “It was chaotic. A lot of screaming, shouting,” she said. “They were looking for his body at the time.” Her brother, Tristan Smith, 23, a Bahamas Power and Light linesman, had been thrown from his car when

it overturned in High Rock shortly after 5pm on Thursday. He was taken to a local clinic named in honour of his grandmother, Miriam Green, where he later died. Smith had listed his sister as the CRASH - SEE PAGE FIVE

KNOWLES REFUSES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON PROMOTIONS

CHIEF OF POLICE SHANTA KNOWLES

POLICE Commissioner Shanta Knowles has refused to answer questions about officers who were promoted despite losing lawsuits that cost taxpayers money. She told a reporter to bring her the evidence and said she would not speak about the promotions again. “We find no fault in the work that we have

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produced. I am satisfied with the promotion,” Ms Knowles said. Asked what the promotions said about accountability, she said she could not speak to that. “If you have that evidence, please bring it to me, and we can address that,” she COP - SEE PAGE FOUR

PAGE 2, Monday, October 26, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Images from the FNM’s weekend conclave PHOTOS: CHAPPELL WHYMS JR

Consultants: FNM issues extend beyond Pintard

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FNM from page one Labour Party, that interviewed Bahamian voters about the party, its leadership and its messaging, according to sources who attended the meeting and discussed it anonymously with The Tribune. The consultants told supporters the party has significant work to do to return to government. The two-day conclave was the party’s first formal reckoning since it won only eight of 41 seats in the May general election. Data presented showed Mr Pintard was an asset in Grand Bahama but weak in New Providence, where his support appeared lowest. The consultants stressed that the FNM would have to win New Providence to regain power. They reportedly told supporters that whoever leads the party, significant work remains and the FNM “had serious challenges” to overcome. Those who spoke to The Tribune said the main takeaway was that no saviour could fix the party single-handedly, and that changing its leader or public image alone would not change the outcome. They agreed the party needed someone who could unite its members and tackle its wider problems. The consultants also examined the margins by which sitting FNM MPs won their seats. They said several constituencies, including Long Island, were

Monday, October 26, 2026, PAGE 3

on a “knife’s edge” and not secure. The findings sparked heated debate at times. Long Island MP Dr Andre Rollins questioned the group’s methodology and data. In audio recordings obtained by The Tribune, Dr Rollins asks why the consultants had not provided data explaining why voters backed the FNM, PLP or Coalition of Independents, including a breakdown of voter percentages. “We are here to do a post-mortem. We’re not here to do a prospective analysis going forward. This is retrospective,” Dr Rollins said, as murmurs could be heard in the background. “We’re looking at what happened before and, quite frankly, sir, I am concerned at why you decided to de-emphasise certain things and emphasise certain things.” Party insiders privately told The Tribune that some viewed his remarks as unnecessarily combative. Dr Rollins also accused the consultants of overlooking the FNM’s slim margin in Grand Bahama. “I don’t see any graphic of any data that showed the FNM only got less than 30 votes more than the PLP in all of Grand Bahama,” he said, “yet you’re saying now that our leader is an asset in Grand Bahama. “The numbers declined election over election for the FNM in Grand Bahama. We are on a knife’s edge in Grand Bahama too. How

FNM LEADER MICHAEL PINTARD do you use the word asset in that instance with no mention of the knife’s edge that we are in Grand Bahama?” He said the party could not move forward if it were afraid of the truth and afraid to “discuss the many issues”. He stressed that he was not attacking the consultants, but asked whether they had been told to downplay or withhold any of their findings. Official results show the FNM won 8,969 votes across Grand Bahama’s five constituencies, just 14 more than the PLP’s 8,955.

The Tribune understands that on Saturday night Dr Rollins told Mr Pintard during a heated exchange at Lumpy’s bar, where FNM youth were present, that he was considering challenging him for the leadership and did not want there to be “bad blood”. Some who witnessed the confrontation believed his remarks were inappropriate for the setting. Dr Rollins could not be reached for comment yesterday. In September, he said he had made no decision to enter the race and

still recognised Mr Pintard as leader. Some who spoke to The Tribune said the conclave exposed the depth of the FNM’s problems but failed to set a clear path forward. The party’s future leadership remains uncertain as it prepares for its next convention. Mr Pintard has said he would wait for the post-mortem before deciding his political future, but believes he is the best person to lead the party. The Tribune understands deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright has yet to decide whether to contest the leadership. Interest has also reportedly grown in Freetown MP Lincoln Deal, a newcomer, with some members believing the party needs a fresh face as it seeks to rebrand. Some FNM supporters have publicly backed the return of former leader Dr Hubert Minnis, who ran as an independent in May. During the conclave, The Tribune understands, Mr Pintard said he had no personal objection to Dr Minnis rejoining. However, he told supporters that Dr Minnis automatically forfeited his membership by running against the FNM, in breach of the party’s constitution. He said Dr Minnis would have to apply for membership and go through the established process, which requires approval from the executive committee and party council. Meanwhile, FNM

chairman Dr Duane Sands called the conclave “a good beginning”. He said the data identified key priorities, including retaining members and recruiting and re-engaging supporters. “A party is only as strong as the people who feel at home in it,” he said in a statement. Dr Sands called for a simpler, more effective message focused on practical solutions to the issues Bahamians face, saying the party had to adapt to a modern electorate. He said a post-mortem “is only as good” as the action taken on its findings, and that the FNM must rebuild from the ground up starting now, making room for disillusioned members, young Bahamians eager to contribute and former candidates ready to serve again. He said an internal survey would continue at members’ request. He also said the council would soon announce a formal convention date and set up a secretariat to oversee preparations. The Tribune understands party officials are eyeing early February. Dr Sands, who thanked what he described as a record number of supporters for attending, said: “Many organisations keep findings like these behind closed doors. We chose to hear them together because a party that cannot hear the truth about itself cannot ask the country to trust it.”

Activists defend right to protest King Charles’ visit KING from page one not be silenced in their opposition “to oppressors and those who do their bidding,” and called any attempt to silence an independent people in favour of their colonisers “embarrassing”. “The Progressive Liberal Party cannot both claim ownership of Independence and Majority Rule, leveraging it to maintain its base and win elections, and deny the right of the people to protest the unwelcome visit of the colonizer and the weak-kneed, permissive government allowing it,” the group said. It urged the government to use the visit as an opportunity to demand reparations. Ms Knowles spoke at a press conference at Government House on Friday, where organisers gave an update on preparations but could not say how much the visit is expected to cost. Asked about planned protests, she said police had received no application for any demonstration, and urged anyone planning one to follow proper protocol and apply for a permit. She said she believed the visit would be enjoyed by all and free from controversy. “So please, those of you who wish to come out and to be a part of all of the celebration, we ask you to come out and show the world that we know how to behave and we know how to live in unity, in love with each other and with those who come to visit our country,” she said. A Rastafari group led by

Royal Ambassador High Priest Richmond McKinney, of the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress, plans to rally during the visit and present the King with a petition calling for an apology for slavery. Priest McKinney told The Tribune last night that he had submitted a request to protest but had not received a response. He said he intended to meet with the commissioner today to seek clarification on her remarks. He said the Rastafarian group had protested peacefully in the past and would still find a way to demonstrate when the King arrives. “Our agitating and lobbying, we continually will be doing that, whether he’s here or not. We always agitate for reparation and repatriation from a long timeb so this is nothing new.” The Bahamas National Reparations Committee has also criticised the visit, citing Britain’s historic oppression of Bahamians and their ancestors. It said the government should stop preparing the country for royal visits and leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. Buckingham Palace has said the King will not issue a formal apology for slavery during the tour. The government has yet to say what the visit will cost. Finance Minister Michael Halkitis said last month that agencies were still working out the figures. When Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, visited in 2022, the government said costs would be shared, with the

royal household paying for travel and The Bahamas covering accommodation. King Charles is due to arrive tomorrow. It will be his first visit to The Bahamas as monarch, and the start of a royal tour running until November 4. Secretary to the Governor General Jack Thompson said the visit would showcase the country’s beauty, hospitality and cultural heritage. Organisers said months of preparation had gone into it and contingency plans were in place. About 300 uniformed and plain-clothes officers will be deployed to secure events and routes. Motorists have been warned to expect diversions as the King travels around the capital, including through residential areas, with disruption to journeys to and from home and work. “Our vision is that during his transit and during his routes, there will be officers placed at every junction and every artery to make sure that there is no traffic infractions, no hindrance in this transition,” said Superintendent Coran Jennings, head of the police traffic division. Supt Jennings said special teams would secure and close each route at least 30 minutes before the royal party arrives. “We ask the public once we bring out a press release to try to avoid those areas as much as possible,” he said, “and be patient because some of the diversions are very short, some of the closures are very short, just to allow the king to pass through that route.”

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After arriving, the King will attend a youth rally at Clifford Park, where more than 300 students will showcase their talents. He last visited the park as Prince of Wales in 1973, for the country’s Independence celebrations. On Wednesday, he will visit the Royal Bahamas Defence Force base, pay tribute at the HMBS Flamingo Memorial and visit Bonefish Pond National Park. He will then visit the

Bahamas Boxing Academy before attending an event at Parliament Square featuring Junkanoo and other Bahamian culture. He will also hold audiences at Government House with current and former governors general and Mr Davis. The visit will end with a garden reception. Most events are closed to the public, but residents can attend tomorrow’s youth rally at Clifford Park at

4pm and a cultural festival on Bay Street on Thursday. About 5,000 students from public and private schools are expected to take part in activities linked to the visit. The trip is part of an Autumn Tour celebrating communities, cultures and nature in the Commonwealth. The King will travel on to Guyana and then to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

PAGE 4, Monday, October 26, 2026

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Knowles challenges reporter to produce evidence on promotions COP from page one said. She said promotions were based on officers’ performance and whether they were qualified, “and we’ve done just that”. The Tribune reported this month that Assistant Superintendent Jerone Thompson was promoted from inspector despite a court ruling over his conduct that led to a $103,000 damages award against the government. The Court of Appeal criticised him for kneeling on a man’s neck. He was among about 1,300 officers promoted in the exercise, which Ms Knowles said included 800 regular officers and 500 reserve officers. The list of promoted officers has not been made public. ASP Thompson and Corporal Jamecko Thompson were sued, along with the Attorney General, by Lynden Saunders after an altercation in September 2018. Mr Saunders had ridden his motorcycle on the sidewalk on Prince Charles Drive to get around a traffic accident the officers were investigating. He said in evidence

that ASP Thompson, then a sergeant, kicked his motorcycle to the ground, punched him, bodyslammed him and knelt on his neck, making it hard for him to breathe. Mr Saunders was charged with assaulting the officers and resisting arrest, but was acquitted. He then sued. The trial judge found the officers were the aggressors and used more force than was reasonably necessary, and that the arrest was unlawful. The Court of Appeal upheld the award. “It was of particular concern that the officers admitted to placing a knee on the neck of the respondent,” the appeal judgment said. “It is an even greater concern to learn from those officers that this is what they were trained to do.” National Security Minister Myles Laroda has defended the promotions. He said Ms Knowles assured him that the force’s complaints and corruption units checked and cleared every promoted officer. Asked what message such promotions send when taxpayers have paid damages for officers’ conduct,

POLICE COMMISSIONER SHANTA KNOWLES he repeated that all the officers had been cleared. Questions have also been raised about the promotions board after Eyewitness News reported

that one of its members was Superintendent Terico Sweeting, a key prosecution witness in a police bribery case. Mr Laroda said no officer facing charges sat on

the board. Opposition leader Michael Pintard has called for greater transparency in police promotions and a stronger, independent

Police Service Commission. He has said cases in which officers harmed the public or cost it money should be weighed before promotions are granted.

Knowles has no update on Gardiner investigation By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net MONTHS after a special police team began investigating allegations in a US criminal complaint involving Jonathan Eric Gardiner, Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles said the probe remains active but she has no update on its findings. “I can tell you that we are continuing our investigations as mandated, as I have already mandated for SIB and when they are in a position to update me, they will do so, and I will then update the government on our findings. At this time, I do not have an update,” she told reporters on Friday. Her comments come as public attention turns to Gardiner’s trial, scheduled for March, in a case that has sparked weeks of political fallout.

Package with cash in it with redacted name of ‘Politican-1’ Gardiner, also

known

as “Player” was arrested

after surviving an Election Day plane crash off Florida in May. He is now facing drug tracking charges in New York along with several others. US court filings tied to Gardiner’s arrest have revealed details of a threeyear DEA investigation involving undercover work in The Bahamas. Last month, the government complained to US authorities that undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents had operated in The Bahamas without the knowledge or permission of local authorities. A Bahamian delegation raised the matter with US Justice Department officials. Asked on Friday to respond to US investigative activity in The Bahamas without police’s knowledge, Commissioner Knowles said the matter was already addressed by the minister and she would

not speak to it further. The same document alleges that a Bahamian politician met inside the Parliament building in October 2024 with an undercover DEA source and a pilot to discuss a cocaine shipment reportedly worth $30m. The politician is the same unnamed figure referenced in a November 2024 indictment issued by the US Southern District of New York. The allegations triggered weeks of political fallout and prompted Opposition Leader Michael Pintard and other FNM MPs to formally ask police in June to investigate the matter. At the time, Commissioner Knowles told The Tribune the matter was already under investigation and that officers were speaking with several people, although she declined to disclose details.

Gardiner’s New York case links him to the November 2024 indictment of former police chief superintendent Elvis Curtis and 12 others. That indictment accuses Bahamian officials, including law enforcement officers, of helping facilitate drug trafficking operations. So far, only one defendant has admitted his role in that alleged plot: former Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer Darrin Alexander Roker, 51. However, a second defendant, Colombian national Lorielmo Steele-Pomare is set to change his plea in a hearing set for November 5. US prosecutors describe Steele-Pomare as a ‘narcotics broker’ who introduces Colombian and Bahamian drug traffickers so they can work together to distribute cocaine to the US.

Commissioner rejects rumours of departure By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Shanta Knowles has dismissed speculation that she is preparing to leave office, saying she intends to serve until retirement but is not ready to retire just yet. “I’m not hearing anything about that,” Commissioner Knowles said when asked about a potential shake-up in the force. “So if you have the information, give it to me but I am serving as Commissioner of Police until otherwise I'm ready for retirement, and I'm not ready for retirement as yet.” Ms Knowles, who has served in the police force for more than 30 years, was appointed the first female commissioner in early 2025 following explosive corruption allegations highlighted in a US federal indictment. Her tenure has coincided with a notable decline in murders, although complaints of police misconduct continue. Earlier this month, 23-year-old mother Lewratta Farisien criticised officers at the East Street South Police Station over their handling of her assault complaint. She alleged officers initially refused to take her

complaint that she had been beaten by her son’s father and his aunt. After the pair were charged, she accused officers of harassing her. If Ms Farisien’s account is accurate, the officers’ handling of her complaint would run counter to the Protection Against Violence Act, 2023, which was passed to change how police and others treat victims of violence. The Royal Bahamas Police Force has since called the allegations concerning and launched an investigation. When asked for an update Friday, Commissioner Knowles said officers were still probing the claims, including whether officers acted in accordance with the established policies. “Once my complaints and corruption has completed their investigations and and send the information forward, then we will deal with that situation,” she said. Still, Commissioner Knowles urged domestic violence victims to report abuse to police. “Those in our communities who may know of people who are being or who are victims of domestic violence, if they can't reach out for themselves, please reach out so that we can get help for them.”

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Monday, October 26, 2026, PAGE 5

Sister alerted by phone crash detection learns brother, 23, has died in Andros CRASH from page one emergency contact on his phone, so she was alerted the moment the crash happened. Over the phone, she urged the people at the scene not to move him and to call the clinic. She also contacted police on Andros with the location of his phone, and called relatives on the island so they could get to him. It then fell to her to tell their mother and siblings that he had died. “It’s a painful blow. He was my mom’s last child, her baby,” Ms Sands-Johnson said. “It’s our only boy; there are three girls, and he would have been the only boy.” Police said Smith was driving a white Suzuki Swift south along Queen’s Highway when he reportedly lost control. The car overturned, and he was ejected into nearby bushes, where officers found him injured. Emergency medical personnel took him to the clinic. “At 23, you know, we never thought that this would be,” his sister said. “I always thought that I would be there when he has

his children, when he gets married.” She said police officers and others in the community were crying after his death, and the family had received an outpouring of condolences from people in Andros and beyond. “It’s a blow to the community,” she said. “We have people reaching out asking how best to support the family. And they wanted to give back in some way because he was always a giver. You could get the shirt off his back.” “He was always the person to bring smiles to everyone’s faces, always the person to be cracking jokes, and he’s always dancing, always laughing, always helpful,” she said. “Every morning, he would post, saying, ‘Thanking God for life, health, and strength.’” His work for BPL made him well known across Andros, including Mangrove Cay, where workers were shared between settlements, and in Abaco, where he once lived. His sister said she admired how he connected with people of all ages and backgrounds. People in New Providence

SERVING OFFICER IDENTIFIED IN VIRAL EXUMA FIGHT VIDEO

Video capture of a fight in an Exuma establishment between two men, one of whom was identified as a police officer. A SERVING police officer on Exuma has been identified as one of the men in a video showing a chaotic fight at a business on the island, prompting an investigation by the Royal Bahamas Police Force. The footage, which has circulated on several social media platforms, shows a man in plain clothes striking another man as the two hold onto each other’s shirts, while others try to break up the fight. Police confirmed in a statement that one of the men involved is a member of the force assigned to the Exuma Division. Police said the circumstances of the incident remain unclear and that the investigation would seek to establish the facts and determine whether any misconduct or criminal offence had been committed. Appropriate action will be taken against anyone found to have engaged in misconduct or broken the law, police said, adding that the force remains committed to the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and ethical conduct. Police did not identify the officer, give his rank or say whether he was on duty at the time. They also did not name the business, say when the incident happened or say whether anyone was injured.

The investigation is the latest involving an officer caught on camera in a physical altercation. In August, Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles revealed that an officer accused of slapping a man during a Bahamas National Basketball Team game in July was facing proceedings before the Police Tribunal. Ms Knowles likened the tribunal to a magistrate’s court and said its findings would be made public once the proceedings were completed. Video of that incident, which spread widely online, showed an officer in a khaki uniform slapping a man near the bleachers while two other officers held and searched him, drawing an audible reaction from spectators. Police had responded to an altercation in the stands, and other videos appeared to show the same man being attacked by several men before officers stepped in. At the time, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Rolle said the force did not condone the officer’s conduct and confirmed that the Complaints and Corruption Unit was investigating. The incident drew criticism online, with some questioning why force was used on a man who already appeared to be restrained.

whom the family had never met have reached out with memories of him, she said, and some told her he had encouraged them to pursue their passions and supported their businesses. She said the response showed the impact he made in his short life. His parents are struggling. “My mom and his dad, they’re not coping well,” Ms Sands-Johnson said. She said it was the third loss the family had suffered. His father, who has no other children, was taking his death especially hard. “Tristan was his only son, and they had an amazing bond,” she said. Ms Sands-Johnson said she must stay strong for her own two young sons and the rest of the family. “There are emotions that come with losing a loved one, but I am encouraging my family to push through it one day at a time,” she said. She described her brother as a beacon of light whose death has left a huge void in the family.

TRISTAN SMITH

PAGE 6, Monday, October 26, 2026

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A royal welcome should leave room for an honest reckoning WHEN King Charles III arrives in The Bahamas tomorrow, there will be ceremony, celebration and understandable public interest. His visit offers an opportunity to showcase our culture and recognise the country we have built. It should also make room for a conversation the Caribbean has waited far too long to have. We can welcome the King warmly and speak plainly about slavery, colonialism and reparatory justice. Hospitality does not require silence. A mature relationship should be strong enough to confront its past. For Bahamians, that past is part of our own family story. Behind the records of ownership and trade were people with names, abilities and hopes. Their labour was taken. Their freedom was denied. Their children could be treated as someone else’s property. Across the Caribbean, generations were forced to create wealth they were prevented from owning. Emancipation ended legal enslavement, but it could not restore the lives, earnings and opportunities already stolen. Britain allocated £20 million to compensate slave owners following abolition. The formerly enslaved received no corresponding compensation. That imbalance belongs at the centre of any honest discussion about repair. So does education. Our children should leave school understanding what colonialism meant in The Bahamas: who exercised power, whose interests government served, who could participate in political life and how race and class shaped opportunities that are still being enjoyed to this day. They should understand that the freedoms they enjoy were secured through struggle. Majority rule and independence must be taught as more than dates to memorise or occasions to wave a flag. We owe them the stories of the people who challenged exclusion, demanded representation and insisted that Bahamians should determine the direction of their own country. That education should also give proper attention to resistance, achievement and survival. Our ancestors were people who organised, created, raised families and preserved dignity under conditions designed to deny it. Adults have a responsibility to learn too. We cannot expect children

to understand a history we rarely discuss, or to protect an independence we sometimes take for granted. Schools, museums, churches and the media can help bring that history into everyday conversation. Family stories and the experiences of older Bahamians deserve to be recorded while those voices remain with us. Historical understanding also equips us to recognise when unequal relationships threaten to take root again. Foreign investment and international partnerships can bring substantial benefits. We should welcome them with clear rules and confidence in our own institutions. But we must remain alert to arrangements that surrender meaningful control, place powerful interests beyond accountability or leave Bahamians with little influence over decisions affecting their land, labour and future. The warning signs deserve scrutiny whether the pressure comes from abroad or is enabled by people at home. Protecting sovereignty requires an informed public willing to question authority, examine agreements and insist that development serves the country. Reparatory justice belongs within that larger understanding. CARICOM’s regional effort deserves serious engagement, including a formal apology and negotiations over financial remedies, education, public health and cultural preservation. Our governments remain accountable for their own decisions. That responsibility does not erase the obligations of institutions that benefited from exploitation. The King cannot personally settle British government policy. His voice nevertheless carries weight, and this visit should encourage a willingness to confront what remains unresolved. The Bahamian Government should press for structured discussions with regional partners and Britain, supported by clear priorities. We can receive the King with dignity, celebrate our achievements and speak honestly about our history. But the responsibility extends beyond this visit. We must teach our children how their country came to govern itself, what that freedom cost and why it must never be surrendered through ignorance, complacency or dependence. Independence is an inheritance. Understanding it is part of keeping it.

AML should set stock at $100 EDITOR, The Tribune. MY last letter discussed why AML pursuing a $100 stock price would turbo-charge our local stock market, and the first two steps AML must take to get there: require every board member to own stock and pay annual board fees in stock instead of cash. Now, Step 3: Increase the annual dividend payout ratio to sixty percent, and stick to it. AML currently targets a fifty percent dividend payout ratio. That means AML pledges to pay its

shareholders (the owners of the company) fifty cents out of every dollar the company earns. The other fifty cents would be reinvested into the company to fund future growth. AML’s actual payout varies wildly. In the last two fiscal years, it has been closer to thirty percent. Naturally cautious, management plays it safe, retaining more cash than they need. This caution is particularly unnecessary for food stores, a cash-rich business that receives payment upfront from their

customers but pays suppliers as much as ninety days later. So, AML can afford to pay more. Here’s why they should: Stock prices around the world do best when dividends are regular, predictable, and growing. A strict sixty percent dividend payout ratio means AML dividends would grow right in line with profits. Investors looking ahead would be able to predict when dividends might increase, incentivising them to keep buying the stock even as the price rises. Some feel management,

A letter to the minister of Dept of Agriculture EDITOR, The Tribune.

LETTERS

AS a Bahamian who loves animals and grew up with them, I would like to bring some things to your attention. I must add that I not only grew up with animals, I have actively helped stray dogs on the street with food, water and medication. I do not know if you are a person who genuinely cares for animals. However it is my opinion that to effectively help animals or any people you must truly care about them and their plight. You cannot simply throw a band aid solution at their problem. You must consider how each decision will affect them. I understand that vicious dogs attacking people must be stopped. However I think this problem should have been approached in a targeted manner. The first thing that should have been done in my humble opinion is to create a hotline in conjunction with the Humane Society or Bark. This number should have been given to the public so that areas or yards that have dangerous dogs could have been reported. Once the problem animals were reported, The Humane Society or Bark could have dispatched qualified personnel to catch the animals in a professional manner and perhaps find them safe and loving homes. Of course the government would have to pay these organizations for their assistance but it would be better to pay qualified, caring persons for a job done right than to pay amateurs to do a botched job. This hotline should also allow the public to provide information anonymously about dogs who are being abused or neglected and dogfighting rings. A reward of some kind should also be offered in order to encourage people to come forward with information. Again, the Humane Society along with the police should be on call to deal with these situations so the abused animals can be helped and the perpetrators can be arrested. Too many animals are being abused in plain sight. I was in Modernistic Pet Supplies a few years back and saw a young man dragging and hitting a scared pit bull puppy. I asked him why he was doing that. He said the puppy was “soft”. This ignorant man was abusing a puppy because he wanted it to be vicious. I told him to stop it and he told me to mind my business. If there was a hotline, I could have called and a police officer could have responded along with an animal advocate to take the puppy from this sick, psychopathic person. People like this contribute to dogs becoming vicious. They hurt and mistreat animals until they become frustrated, stressed and vicious. People like this need to be arrested because they are more likely to be involved in crime and they are more likely to hurt or abuse people. Someone who can hurt an innocent animal can easily hurt a human. Research the criminal records of animal abusers here and in the United States. You will find a pattern of animal abusers often being involved in more serious crimes. These ignorant, cruel people like to say they need to discipline their dog but dogs should not be disciplined

by hitting. Dogs are trained with positive reinforcement. There are people, especially men punching and kicking dogs. Their punishment should be severe . They should be fined and serve serious jail time. They should also be allowed to be treated the same way they treated the dog. When it comes to tying dogs I feel that you are wrong for insisting dogs be tied. The law should clearly state that dangerous dogs should be in an enclosed yard with proper shelter, food and water. Do you know how many dogs you will cause to suffer by insisting that they be tied? I have personally had to speak to heartless people about tying dogs in the rain and in the hot sun without food water or shelter. Furthermore the dogs were tied with ropes, drop cords or anything that could be used to tie them. You must change the law and only insist that dangerous dogs be kept in an enclosed yard, not tied. Are you aware that some dogs only survive because they are able to go looking for food? Many dogs are owned by people who don’t care if they live or die. Owners who lost interest in them and won’t even give them a bowl of water. This is not the dog’s fault. Animals deserve to eat, drink and be safe. They have feelings just like we do, but they cannot speak. It is for this reason I am speaking for them. I know their plight well. If you insist that dogs that are not harmful be tied, unfeeling owners will gran them, tie them and forget about them. Those animals will suffer. Many will be tied on chains or ropes that are too short or too tight without shelter, food or water. They will suffer. Harmless dogs should not be tied up all of the time. If a dog is tied on a long chain with a collar in a clean safe area with shelter, food and water, the dog still needs to be walked daily. However many people who own and love their pets don’t have enclosed yards and don’t have a proper area to tie them. They should not be fined. We live in the Bahamas. This is a place where the elderly and children walk to the store with their pets. Where regular people with regular lives walk to the beach with their dog. These people don’t have dangerous dogs. Their dogs are friendly and happy to go on an adventure with their owner. Do not take that experience or way of life away from us as Bahamians. Some people’s pets are their only joy, their only source of happiness. Let them and their dogs be. As long as their dogs are not bothering anyone, leave them alone. People today have enough worries and stress - worries and stress you cannot relate to with the salary you have and the neighborhood you live in. Let regular people exist in the place of joy their station in life offers them. Don’t rob them of that. Another area you should focus on in a targeted way is dog breeding. These sick

not shareholders, should make these important decisions. Not so. Imagine owning a corner shop, hiring a store manager, and enduring a conversation that goes like this: “Just checking in - was it a good day?” “You bet! We made $100.” “Great. I’ll take half for me and leave half here, as agreed.” “As agreed,. Here’s $30.” “You mean, $50. Half of $100 is $50.” “I know. But I’ve decided to give you $30.” “There’s plenty extra cash,” you say, pointing to an overflowing till. “You could actually pay more than $50.” “That’s true. We are doing

very well. Here is $30.” Frustrated, you accept the $30 and prepare to leave. The shopkeeper stops you, hand held out. “Any tip?” Real-life store owners would never accept this treatment from their managers. (In fact, I expect the owner would have something for the manager that rhymes with “any tip.”) But because publicly listed companies are so big, and management teams so accomplished, shareholders often forget they, not management, are the true owners of the company. As owners, shareholders are entitled to expect clear promises regarding how much of

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animal abusers breed pit bulls and tear the puppies away from their mother’s before they are weaned just to make a dollar. The puppies and mother are usually sickly because they either can’t afford veterinary treatment or they don’t care to spend money on it. The puppies are vulnerable and afraid and the mothers are confused and sad. They love their babies too and want to care for them in peace and privacy. Even animals deserve to have dignity. They have feelings too. These animals are often purchased by other cruel, sick people who want to start their own breeding “business “ and the evil cycle is perpetuated. It must be stopped. Allow back yard breeders to also be reported on the hotline. In fact we don’t need dog breeding because there are too many unwanted animals on the street and at the Humane Society. You must seriously pursue those who breed pit bulls and those who practice dog fighting. These areas along with animal neglect and abuse must be targeted relentlessly if you are serious about animal welfare. The police must be involved as many dangerous people with criminal inclinations are often the perpetrators of these crimes. It would be best to allow police officers who love animals to volunteer to work on this task force. It could be offered as a way to make extra pay on the job. It is sad that dogs and animals in general are taken for granted. They play important roles in societies around the world. Dogs detect diseases, guide the blind, find dead bodies after earth quakes, detect drugs and help to calm people with post traumatic stress disorder but most simply they are friends. They are friends who listen and even offer a shoulder to cry on during difficult times. Many people have reported not committing suicide because they remembered that they had to be there to feed their dogs. They could not leave them. For some people, their dog is all they have. Do not take away someone’s dog because it is not tied or it is not licensed. In fact you need to extend the time for that because believe it or not, everyone does not have eleven dollars to spend on licensing their dog. People are focusing on buying food. I implore you to not bring upheaval to anyone’s life by taking away their harmless dog. Focus on the problem which is dangerous dogs. Allow them to be removed by experts at the Humane Society. Focus on stopping animal abuse, back yard breeding and dog fighting. Most of all focus on ensuring that all animals are treated kindly and humanely. God, who created heaven and Earth is mindful of them. His Word says in Proverbs chapter 12 verse 10 “A righteous man cares for his animals but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” Thank you for taking the time to read this. A VOICE FOR ANIMALS Nassau, October 1, 2026.

their company’s profits will be returned to them, and to expect those promises to be kept. Might there be sound business reasons for AML to pay less than sixty percent? Of course. AML has clever and conscientious leaders that make sensible business plans. But if there are sound reasons, shareholders don’t know them. We haven’t been told. In my next letter, I will discuss step four on AML’s path to $100 – creating an Investor Relations office to keep shareholders and investors informed. JEHAN UNWALA Nassau, October 21, 2026.

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Monday, October 26, 2026, PAGE 7

27-year-old accused of killing Defendant placed on probation father of four in fatal shooting after admitting bail breach By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net A 27-YEAR-OLD Apostolic Way man has been charged with the murder of a father of four who was shot dead on the same street after an argument over a debt. Troy Trembley appeared before Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans on Friday charged with killing Cedric Roker, 36. He was served with a voluntary

bill of indictment and the matter was adjourned to February 4. Both families were in court. Roker’s relatives appeared emotional during the proceedings, and the magistrate allowed Trembley’s family a brief opportunity to speak with him. Roker was the father of four children: a 12-yearold, six-year-old twins and a three-year-old. Police said Roker was leaving Apostolic Way,

off Carmichael Road, in a black Honda shortly after 4pm on October 17 when the driver of a white van pulled across his path. The two men argued over a debt Roker was said to owe, and police said Roker produced a sharp object during the confrontation. Another man allegedly approached and shot Roker before fleeing south along Apostolic Way in a grey vehicle. Roker died at the scene.

Golden Gates resident granted conditional discharge for damage By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net A GOLDEN Gates man has been ordered to undergo three months of anger management after admitting deliberately

damaging the headlight of a woman’s car. Jason Miller, 32, pleaded guilty to causing damage before Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans, who granted him a conditional discharge. The court heard that

on May 9 in Mount Tabor Estates, Miller damaged the headlight of a grey 2024 Suzuki Ignis hatchback valued at $1,136.93, which belongs to Phylicia Nabbie. The matter was adjourned to Monday, October 26.

Suspect caught hiding in business as police probe vehicle thefts A 30-YEAR-OLD man ran into a business on Carmichael Road to try to escape police before officers caught him inside and arrested him in connection with a stolen vehicle on Friday. Detectives are now questioning him about several vehicle thefts. Police said officers acting on a tip went to the Carmichael Road and Allen Drive area shortly after noon, where a man got out of a silver vehicle and fled into a nearby

business. Officers chased him and arrested him inside. When officers examined the vehicle, they found several discrepancies in its registration and licence plate details, which they suspect are fraudulent. The arrest was part of a joint operation by officers from the South Western Division at the Carmichael Road Police Station and detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department’s Stolen Vehicle Section.

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net A MAN on bail on a firearm charge since 2019 told a court that his parttime employer, Golden Gates MP Pia Glover-Rolle, helped him start applying for citizenship after he fell foul of his bail conditions because he had no photo identification. Nelson Paul, 29, of Allen Drive, was fined $1,000 and placed on probation for one year after pleading guilty to breaching his bail conditions by failing to sign in for 95 days between May 1 and October 14. Paul declined legal representation when he appeared before Magistrate Abigail Farrington, telling the court he wanted the chance to explain his

circumstances himself. He said he had been on bail since 2019 for possession of an unlicensed firearm with intent to put another in fear, and had regularly complied with his bail conditions until he ran into difficulties with updated identification requirements. He said he could no longer use his birth certificate to meet the requirements and did not have a photo identification card because he was not a citizen. Paul said Mrs Glover-Rolle, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and National Insurance, stepped in after several of his attempts to resolve the matter failed, helping him begin the citizenship process and secure the documents he needed. He said his citizenship application had since been

approved, allowing him to pursue documents such as a passport and a National Insurance Board card. However, he said he still had to pay a separate $1,000 fee to obtain his official citizenship letter. Paul presented supporting documents to the court and pleaded for leniency, telling the magistrate he was a single father. Magistrate Farrington urged him to return to the court that granted him bail to address the problems with his bail conditions, and to pay the citizenship fee so he could obtain his letter and secure his identification documents. She warned that violating his probation could result in him serving one year in prison. The matter was adjourned to December 10.

POLICE INVESTIGATE STEALING AND RAPE CLAIM A 21-YEAR-OLD woman was sexually assaulted at her parents’ home off Cowpen Road on Saturday by a man who forced his way inside, armed himself with a sharp object and stole about $4,000 in

cash, police said. The woman told police that she was at the house on Musical Avenue between 10am and 11am when the man, who is not known to her, forced his way in. After the attack, he fled

in an unknown direction with the cash. Investigations continue. Anyone with information is asked to call 911, 919, their nearest police station or the Criminal Investigation Department at 502-9991.

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‘Mum died an absolute hero’ - Sons witness mother’s drowning in Bimini By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE two sons of a British mother who drowned off Bimini watched as people tried to revive her, after she had held one of them in the water until he was rescued. Leanne Gregory, 36, of Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, “didn’t have the energy to save herself” after a freak wave swept the boat away from her, her husband, Nathan, wrote in a GoFundMe appeal. The couple were holidaying in The Bahamas as an early celebration for their 10th wedding anniversary in December. “My boys had to witness something nobody should ever have to see of any age,” Mr Gregory wrote on Facebook, “but they know Mum died an absolute hero.” The family had been snorkelling near the southern point of the island on Tuesday, October 20, when a strong current swept both boys away, police said. Their mother went in after them and was also carried off. In the GoFundMe appeal, which he set up for his sons, Mr Gregory described his wife as his “one and only” and said they had been together for 22 years, having been childhood sweethearts. “We had our whole lives ahead of us, and it has all been taken away,” he wrote. “This loss is unimaginable for our family; she was our foundation, our support; she made us who we are.” He said they were both hard-working and that the family relied on two incomes. “We have never asked for a thing from anyone; everything we built together was earned, but in a situation like this I just need my boys to feel secure,” he wrote. Speaking to the BBC, he said: “I’ve known her since infant school. We first got together when we were 14...

LEANNE GREGORY with her husband Nathan and their two sons. so 22 years. “There are no words I can use to describe Leanne, same as everyone she has ever known. She was the purest of people, the most generous, kind and generous person who ever walked the Earth. “She was the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the foundation of our entire family.” Mr Gregory said he was grateful his sons had survived. He thanked those who rescued them, and a woman who helped try to revive his wife when the boat returned. He said she would remain loved by everyone who knew her. Linty Stuart, owner of L&A Water Taxi, told ZNS that he captained the boat that pulled the family from the water after his crew spotted people waving frantically in the distance. He said waves of seven to eight feet almost tipped his vessel over, and the strong current and big seas made it difficult to reach the mother. ZNS reported that the family was visiting Bimini as part of a cruise. According to police, officers at the Alice Town Police Station were told

shortly after 10am that a woman was unresponsive at the North Bimini Ferry Dock, where CPR was reportedly administered. By the time officers arrived, she had been taken to a local clinic. A doctor there pronounced her dead despite efforts to save her. The Department of Meteorology had warned of near-gale conditions, moderate to large swells and a high risk of rip currents across the northern Bahamas that day. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was in contact with local authorities and supporting the family. Her death is the latest in

a string of drownings in Bimini’s waters. In May, a 69-year-old American tourist died after he was found floating motionless during a snorkelling excursion about four nautical miles south of South Bimini. In February 2025, Bimini recorded three drownings in a single week, including an 85-yearold snorkeller who became unresponsive off Ocean Cay. By Sunday, the GoFundMe appeal had raised £10,763 of its £20,000 goal from about 354 donations. Police said foul play is not suspected. An autopsy is expected to determine the exact cause of death, and the investigation continues.

SENATOR KENO WONG ELECTED VICE-PRESIDENT OF US COMMUNITY ORGANISATION BAHAMIAN Senator Keno Wong has been elected vice-president of Neighborhoods USA (NUSA), becoming the first non-American to hold the position in the organisation’s 51-year history. NUSA is a US-based organisation focused on community development, neighbourhood improvement and encouraging residents to participate in addressing issues affecting their communities. Mr Wong previously served as chairman of the Bahamas National Neighbourhood Watch Council,

where he was involved in initiatives aimed at improving community safety, encouraging neighbourhood participation and strengthening cooperation among residents. His election is expected to provide opportunities for greater collaboration between Bahamian communities and their counterparts in the United States, including the exchange of ideas and approaches to neighbourhood development. As vice-president, Mr Wong said he intends to work with NUSA’s

board of directors, listen to members’ concerns and recommendations and contribute to the organisation’s continued development. He also emphasised the importance of partnerships, shared responsibility and community participation in addressing neighbourhood challenges. Mr Wong said his focus in the new role would be on strengthening cooperation and helping communities develop solutions to issues affecting residents.

PLP SENATOR KENO WONG

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THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

World View • Sir Ronald Sanders

Are we all Ukrainians?

Russia’s war tests principle of sovereignty states must refrain from the threat or use of force against another state’s territorial integrity or political independence. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy stood in West

The international response to Russia’s invasion shows why those rights need defenders. On 25 February 2022, 11 members of the UN Security Council supported a

insist more firmly that it be respected. The prohibition on the use of force is not a privilege reserved for countries with powerful armies, nor a favour that larger states may withdraw.

Small states should use their votes in the United Nations General Assembly and regional organisations to affirm Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They

Berlin, in a city divided by the Berlin Wall, and declared, “Ich bin ein Berliner”, meaning “I am a Berliner”. He was expressing solidarity with people whose freedom was threatened by force. Can we say, in the same moral sense, “We are Ukrainians”? Not because we claim Ukraine’s history or experience as our own. We cannot. But people who face the threat of losing their homeland, identity, or right to self-determination can recognise what Ukrainians are defending. To identify with their struggle is to affirm that their rights matter to us, too.

draft resolution condemning Russia’s aggression and demanding an end to its military offensive. Russia vetoed it. Following the Council’s call for an emergency special session, 141 countries voted in the General Assembly on 2 March to reaffirm Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and demand Russia’s withdrawal. An overwhelming majority affirmed the rule, but the Assembly could not compel compliance, while Russia’s veto blocked action by the Council. This is not a reason for smaller states to retreat from defending international law. It’s a reason to

When powerful states disregard it, small and vulnerable states must name the violation and expose the gap between governments’ claims to uphold international law and their actions. I have consistently argued that the Caribbean should not ignore the crisis caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Its effects on food, fuel, transport, and prices reach far beyond the battlefield. More fundamentally, weakening the rules against aggression undermines the security of every small state whose sovereignty depends on those rules being respected.

should coordinate diplomatic statements, support humanitarian relief, insist on compliance with international humanitarian law, and reject any settlement imposed on Ukraine without its consent. They should press for a just and lasting peace that respects Ukraine’s rights and the choices of its people. They must also resist the fatigue that makes aggression seem tolerable simply because it has continued for so long. On 21 October, President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg. Afterwards, the Kremlin said Putin had agreed in principle to resume trilateral talks with

Photo: Carbbean News Global

ON 19 October, while accepting Ukraine’s Order of Merit award, I said that my commitment to Ukraine rests on a principle essential to small nations everywhere: sovereignty is the freedom to govern ourselves, preserve our identity, and decide our future. That principle is being severely tested by Russia’s war against Ukraine, with consequences that reach far beyond Europe. The world must not grow accustomed to this war or allow other crises to dim its attention to Ukraine. The human cost is worsening. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified that at least 328 civilians were killed and 2,105 injured in September 2026. That is 85 per cent more civilian casualties than in September 2025. The Mission described the first two weeks of October as among the deadliest periods for civilians in years. On 21 October, Russian attacks in Kyiv and near Kharkiv killed five people and injured at least 23, according to Ukrainian officials cited by the Associated Press. Renewed attacks on electricity and heating facilities threaten to deepen civilian suffering as winter approaches. Russian attacks on 13–14 October temporarily left 600,000 people in Kyiv without electricity, according to Ukrainian authorities cited by the UN monitoring mission. Russia is using force to seize another nation’s territory and constrain its future. The question for other nations is whether they will speak against this wrong, remain silent or help enable it. The United Nations Charter is explicit:

Ukraine and the United States after 10 November. Diplomacy is necessary, but the measure of its success must be a durable settlement that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and the choices of its people. It cannot turn occupation into entitlement or make coercion the price of peace. In 2022, I worked with my colleague, Ambassador Rita Claverie de Sciolli of Guatemala, to help draft the OAS resolution that suspended Russia’s Permanent Observer status. I have continued to speak for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity at the OAS and in my published commentaries because silence would concede that power may override rights. I am proud that the government of my country, Antigua and Barbuda, a small and vulnerable state, has consistently stood up for rights in the face of might. The people of Ukraine bear the suffering of this war. The principle they are defending belongs to every nation. If a country can be dismembered by force while the world looks away, no small state can be confident that its own independence is secure. We must not allow Ukraine to become a forgotten war. The defence of another people’s freedom is part of the defence of our own. In that sense, all of us who believe that a nation’s future belongs to its people may say: we are Ukrainians. (The writer is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the OAS. He is also the current Chair of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development and Chancellor of the University of Guyana)

A fire devastates the Eagle's Nest retreat built for Hitler in Germany. A suspect is detained By GEIR MOULSON Associated Press

THIS July 26, 2007 photo shows the Kehlsteinhaus, or Eagle’s Nest, built for Adolf Hitler in 1938 near Berchtesgaden, Germany. AP Photo/Geir Moulson

THIS image distributed by the ‘Bergerlebnis Berchtesgaden’ shows a building known as the Eagle’s Nest built for Adolf Hitler in the Bavarian Alps on fire early Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. Bergerlebnis Berchtesgaden via AP

BERLIN (AP) — A fire swept through the mountaintop retreat built for Adolf Hitler and known as the Eagle's Nest as emergency services struggled to tackle the blaze in snow and wind, and a man was arrested on suspicion of arson, authorities said Saturday. Emergency services in the Berchtesgaden district, in the Bavarian Alps in Germany's southeastern corner, were alerted to the fire by an alarm at about 9:15 p.m. Friday. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene — located at the end of a narrow road that winds up the mountain, in part through a series of tunnels — and could see the flames as they approached. They stopped and arrested a man on a motorcycle driving the other way down the road. Prosecutors said the 33-year-old suspect, a German citizen who has ties to the Berchtesgaden area but doesn't currently live there, was questioned. They said he showed signs

of mental illness and he was being sent to a psychiatric facility, but they also would look into the possibility of a political motive in view of the building's history. Police said there were no current indications that anyone else was involved. Rain that turned into the season's first significant snow, accompanied by strong wind, complicated the already difficult task of tackling the blaze and firefighters had to pull out overnight after several hours, officials said. No one was injured in the fire, and firefighters hoped to finish their work on Saturday though they weren't able to enter the building because of a danger of falling material. The building, known in German as the Kehlsteinhaus, is located on a cliff 1,834 meters (6,017 feet) above sea level. It is reachable by an elevator built inside the rock from the end of the mountain road, which is closed to public traffic but used during the day by buses for visitors. It has been operated as a cafe and restaurant since 1952 and contains an

exhibition on its history. The Nazi dictator himself rarely used the Kehlsteinhaus — unlike the Berghof residence, also in the Berchtesgaden area, the ruins of which were blown up in 1952. The Obersalzberg Documentation Center, further down the mountain, is home to the area's main historical exhibition and was unaffected by the fire. Officials indicated that the Eagle's Nest would be restored, though they were vague so soon after the blaze about how exactly that would be done. "We're not going to leave a ruin there," Bavaria's interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, told reporters in Berchtesgaden. But what the site will look like in the future will be a matter for discussions with local officials, historians, preservationists and others. "I think we will be able to find a sensible solution," Herrmann added. Bavaria's state government owns the building. The minister stressed that "it is important that we continue to do the work of remembrance."

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Monday, October 26, 2026, PAGE 11

INSIGHT

Donnette Russell-Love, Esq. • Beyond The Borders

The refusal that explains nothing

Visa revocations, § 214(b), and the partners America depends on

Two tools, little explanation Two legal mechanisms do most of the work. Under INA § 221(i), the Secretary of State may revoke a visa at any time, in the Secretary's discretion. State Department guidance also recognizes "prudential" revocation, used when ineligibility is suspected but not established, or when another agency supplies derogatory information. Once a revocation is entered into the Department's lookout system, the visa is no longer valid for travel, whether or not the holder was ever told. Judicial review is largely unavailable. The second tool is INA § 214(b), which presumes every visitor-visa applicant to be an intending immigrant until the applicant proves otherwise. A § 214(b) refusal cannot be appealed and cannot be waived. The applicant may reapply, but the refusal notice itself explains almost nothing. Here is the tension. A permanent secretary with a pension, a title, a home and family in Nassau is, on paper, close to the ideal visitor applicant. When

when he raised the idea of a formal visa arrangement with Washington. 5. Reciprocal integrity commitments. The strongest proposals offer something in return. Bahamian agencies whose staff work closely with US counterparts could adopt documented internal vetting, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and compliance certification for sensitive posts. That gives US officials a reason to trust the liaison channel, and it gives the Bahamian government a credible basis to ask for consistent process.

What affected officials should do now

Photo: Brandon James/Pexels

such a person is refused under § 214(b), or has a visa revoked without explanation, the stated ground may not be the whole story. Sometimes it is. But the officer is not required to say, and visa records are confidential under INA § 222(f), a protection federal courts have applied to withhold visa records requested under FOIA. See Spadaro v. US Customs & Border Protection, 978 F.3d 34 (2d Cir. 2020).

Photo: Wolfart/Pexels

MOST writing about US visa refusals is written for the applicant: what § 214(b) means, why the interview went wrong, how to try again. That advice is sound, but it misses a harder problem. What happens when the person who loses a visa is not a tourist or a student, but a senior official in an agency the United States works with every day? For The Bahamas, the question is not abstract. Bahamian police, customs, immigration, defense, and financial intelligence personnel sit on the other side of some of Washington's most important regional partnerships, from joint drug interdiction to US Customs and Border Protection preclearance in Nassau and Freeport to anti-money-laundering cooperation. When one of those counterparts quietly loses a visa, the consequences reach well beyond one person's travel plans.

Not a plea for special treatment To be clear: some revocations of foreign officials are deliberate, and some are deserved. The United States openly uses visa restrictions as an anti-corruption and foreign-policy tool, and it has expanded restrictions tied to Cuba's overseas medical missions, an issue Bahamian officials have been negotiating with the US Embassy for more than a year. No mechanism should shield an official from scrutiny, and no diplomatic note can compel a consular officer to issue a visa.

The argument here is narrower. When revocations of partner-agency officials happen without coordination, both governments lose. Officials first learn of the problem at a preclearance counter. Ministries cannot tell whether the action reflects a concern about the individual, a misunderstanding about travel purpose, or a records error. Working relationships suffer, and no one gains any security.

Five mechanisms worth building 1. A designated visa liaison at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One trained officer, with a standing point of contact in the US Embassy's consular or political section, would let cases move through a known channel rather than starting from scratch each time. 2. Pre-travel confirmation of status and purpose. Many problems begin when

an official traveling on government business applies for a personal B-1/B-2 visa. Official travel generally belongs in the A or G classifications, which carry different eligibility rules. A short confirmation from the employing ministry before each application would reduce category errors on both sides. 3. A courtesy-notification protocol. The Foreign Affairs Manual already instructs consular posts to consult Washington before revoking a foreign official's visa. Building on that, the two governments could agree that the Ministry receives notice when a serving official's visa is revoked, to the extent disclosure is legally permissible. The goal is not an explanation on demand. It is an end to the airport surprise. 4. A standing agenda item in bilateral consular dialogue. Revocations and official-travel issues should be reviewed periodically at the government-to-government level, as patterns, without naming individuals publicly. This fits naturally within the broader visa conversation Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell opened in December 2025,

Until such a framework exists, officials should treat a revocation or refusal as both a personal and an institutional matter. Preserve the passport and visa foil exactly as received, along with any notice, DS-160, and appointment records. Distinguish official travel from personal travel. Report the matter through the ministry rather than handling it alone. Before reapplying, address the prior refusal candidly. A willful misrepresentation can create a far more serious problem under INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(i).

The bottom line Visa decisions will remain within the discretion of the United States, as they should. But discretion and coordination are not opposites. A small, structured liaison mechanism would protect the integrity of US adjudication, the dignity of Bahamian institutions and the partnerships both countries depend on. Donnette Russell-Love, J.D., CAMS is the CEO of Global Risk Compliance Group, a Cross-Border Compliance Advisor Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Visa and immigration outcomes depend on individual facts and on law and agency guidance that change frequently. Consult a qualified attorney about your specific situation.

Musk says he was behind Starlink speed restriction after service in Ukraine is restored By SUSIE BLANN and ELISE MORTON Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Elon Musk said on Saturday that his company SpaceX had throttled the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, disrupting operations that the country relies on to defend itself against Russia. Musk's admission on social media came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine's access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links has been restored to the speeds it had before restrictions that disrupted front-line operations for more than a week. Questions have persisted since last week about who ordered the interruptions to the Musk-made satellite internet system that Kyiv has relied on for years to counter Moscow's attacks. "The speeds are now where they need to be," Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that restoration began overnight and were sufficient by Saturday morning, improving frontline logistics and defense against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones.

Musk admits he was behind Starlink's speed restriction After Ukraine said the services had been restored, Elon Musk spoke out on the speed restrictions that began last week. In a post Saturday on X, Musk acknowledged that his company SpaceX throttled the Starlink satellite internet service. "Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be," Musk wrote. "Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week." But he maintained that the U.S. government controlled whatever changes happened with Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink that is the backbone of Ukraine's drone operations and communication. He also defended the role of SpaceX in bolstering Ukraine's defenses since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Restrictions imposed last week on Starshield alarmed the country's military and government officials, with

commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions. The restoration follows a new U.S. diplomatic push to end the war. Russia agreed Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow also agreed to a localized ceasefire brokered by first lady Melania Trump around Oleshky, a war-ravaged, Russian-occupied town in Ukraine's southern Kherson region. Restriction led to tensions between Ukraine and the US The episode added to tensions between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already strained by President Donald Trump's reported deal with Moscow on Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal. Ukraine's Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara credited "direct dialogue" and Zelenskyy's diplomacy with Washington, adding that the outcome mattered most "for our front, for the military, the work of drones, logistics and communications."

UKRAINE’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answers media questions before his meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday Oct. 22, 2026. AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky Trump has maintained that he didn't make the call, while also saying Musk should not be blamed. Vice President JD Vance has hinted at White House coordination with Musk, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied any administration involvement. Russia and Ukraine have continued to target each other Meanwhile, a man was killed and two others wounded in a missile attack on the city of Lozova in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, local officials said Saturday.

Moscow-installed authorities in cities across Russia-occupied Crimea reported power blackouts Saturday following overnight Ukrainian attacks. Ukraine's General Staff said Saturday that its forces hit a chemical plant in the Russian city of Tolyatti, which produces materials used in rocket fuel. Tolyatti Mayor Ilya Sukhikh said the overnight attack damaged industrial facilities in the city. Ukrainian forces also hit an electronics plant in the city of Oryol, Ukraine's General Staff confirmed Saturday. Local officials in Oryol said Saturday that three people were killed in

Friday's attack. The General Staff said the plant makes components for the cruise and ballistic missiles Russia fires at Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian drones also reached Russia's Omsk region in western Siberia, more than 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) from the border with Ukraine. Omsk regional Gov. Vitaly Khotsenko said drones "reached a northern industrial hub." Online retailer Ozon said Saturday that its logistics center in Omsk has been attacked by a drone, but there were no casualties. Ozon is a competitor to Wildberries, whose facilities Ukraine has also targeted.

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World News

Lula is declared winner of Brazil’s election as Bolsonaro rejects results By ELÉONORE HUGHES, MAURICIO SAVARESE and ANNA-CATHERINE BRIGIDA Associated Press BRAZIL’S President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, was reelected Sunday in a result that provides relief to critics of widening US influence in Latin America. With 100% of the vote counted, Brazil’s electoral court announced that the soon to be 81-year-old Lula had a lead of nearly 4.4 million votes over opponent Flávio Bolsonaro, giving him 51.8% of the total vote. Bolsonaro quickly refused to concede defeat and asked for the election results to be annulled after an evening of chaos at some polling places that followed a last-minute decision to extend voting by two hours. Lula’s triumph bucks a regional trend of victories for right-of-centre presidential candidates allied with Trump. It also means Latin America’s largest economy, with a GDP of $2.6 trillion per year, will likely continue defying Trump’s demands, despite the pressure of increased tariffs. Lula’s win confirmed by electoral court A video published by Lula’s campaign shows the veteran leader celebrating with First Lady Rosângela da Silva and allies after his runoff victory was confirmed by Brazil’s electoral court. Wearing star-shaped

is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after he lost the 2022 presidential election to Lula, pointed out that Zanin is Lula’s former lawyer and criticized him for “changing the rules of the game in the middle of the game.” “It’s impossible to recognize the results of the election in the context of these things that happened,” he said.

PRESIDENT Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking reelection, wears glasses given to him by a supporter after voting in the presidential runoff in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, yesterday. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko red glasses, he kissed his wife. Hundreds of his supporters began gathering on Sao Paulo’s main artery to celebrate the victory. In Rio de Janeiro, cars beeped their horns and a woman dressed in red — the colour of Lula supporters — shouted “You lost! Cry harder!” to four men in yellow and green sipping beers, Bolsonaro’s signature colours. A huge roar echoed in the street as the result was confirmed. Rodrigo Valentim, a 51-year-old businessman and supporter of Bolsonaro, said that another Lula government would harm the economy. He pointed to financial markets’ positive

reaction to the result of the first round, when Bolsonaro bested Lula. “I don’t understand how people can vote for Lula,” he said. “The country is collapsing.” Lula is set to begin his fourth non-consecutive term as president on Jan. 5, 2027. Bolsonaro rejects results after confusion at polling places The electoral court’s announcement ended an evening of confusion at polling places after Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ruled three minutes before the scheduled end of voting to keep polls open for two more

hours, following requests by both candidates. Lula’s request came after issues with buses that provide transportation to polls in Sao Paulo and Salvador, two cities that tend to favour the incumbent. Bolsonaro’s request was due to heavy rains in Brazil’s south, where he is favoured. The decision delayed tallying the votes by two hours. It was unclear how many polling stations stayed open after the scheduled closing time. Polling stations in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro closed shortly after the original 5 p.m. deadline, reporters for The Associated Press observed. Bolsonaro, whose father

Lula overcame concerns about security and cost-of-living concerns Bolsonaro bested Lula by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round of the election earlier this month. Sunday night’s apparent victory by Lula marked the first time since Brazil’s military dictatorship ended in 1985 that the second-highest vote-getter in the first-round elections won the presidency. Lula faced a tough reelection battle because of concerns about the cost of living and security. Bolsonaro made a tough-on-crime approach the cornerstone of his campaign and pledged to bring down food costs while Lula, trying to lure undecided voters, has invested in costly incentives. Both have been hit by corruption suspicions involving family members and allies, with Bolsonaro implicated in a sprawling scandal rocking Brazil. Lula previously spent more than a year in prison on corruption convictions that were eventually annulled.

This will likely be the last victory of the veteran leader’s political career. Lula began his political career in the 1970s as a union leader. He then helped found the Workers’ Party, which he represented as a presidential candidate three times until he finally won it in 2002. He was reelected four years later and was succeeded by one of his cabinet ministers, Dilma Rousseff, in 2010. She was reelected in 2014. Rousseff was impeached for accounting manoeuvring in 2016 amid a sprawling corruption probe, which also ensnared Lula. He tried to run for president again in 2018 but was jailed in March after being convicted. Lula was released from prison after 580 days and saw Brazil’s Supreme Court annul his sentence after police found messages that showed the judge who convicted him was biased. He quickly became one of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s biggest critics and narrowly beat him in 2022. Since he lost the first round, Lula reorganized his campaign, appealed to young voters, put millions of Brazilians on the streets to defend democratic values and his legacy, raised fears of another Bolsonaro administration and boosted several government initiatives. He joins Trump and Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega — all aged 80 — as one of the oldest presidents in the Americas.

Israel presses ahead with West Bank operation as election approaches By MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press THE Israeli military pressed ahead Sunday with a massive military operation in the occupied West Bank that has displaced hundreds of Palestinians and placed major restrictions on movement in response to a gun attack last week that killed two Israeli

soldiers and wounded three others. The operation, focused on the city of Hebron, the site of Friday’s attack, came as Israel enters the final days before a tense election, which is largely seen as a referendum on current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership and security policies during the past three years of war.

In new measures, the army said that most Palestinian workers with permits will not be allowed to enter Israeli West Bank settlements on Sunday and Monday, and crossings into Israel will remain closed until after Israel’s elections on Tuesday. The military said it operated in more than 400 different locations over the

weekend and arrested 40 Palestinians it claimed were affiliated with the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups. No militant group has taken responsibility for the attack. Thousands of Palestinians displaced from Hebron The Hebron municipality said the operation displaced

more than 2,600 people. The military said that troops were conducting searches in the area where the gunmen operated, and warned residents to evacuate Deir Bahha, the suspected gunmen’s neighbourhood. After Friday’s attack, Israel’s military said it found weapons in the gunmen’s car and that they were likely planning to attack Israeli civilians before being stopped at the checkpoint where the shootout erupted. All entrances and exits to the city remained sealed, with the operation focused in Deir Bahha and another part of the city called Al-Jalda, according to Hebron Mayor Yousef Zuhair Al-Jabari. “People cannot reach or enter the city, and they cannot leave it. The blockade has affected every aspect of life,” Al-Jabari said. He added that the blockade is forcing businesses to close and has also shuttered a mosque. “The army told us that this area would be closed for 12 days. Now they’re saying 12 days, but maybe they’ll leave the area after two or three days,” said Shadi al-Qawasmi, a Hebron resident who was displaced with his family. “This may be because of the elections or some political matter. No one knows except God Almighty.” The army declined to say how long the operation might last. The operation forced some families to leave the city on foot. At some military gates, people passed sacks of flour and gas canisters through the gates, while an elderly man pushed his wife in a wheelchair through an opening beside

one of them. Another family attempted to navigate the gate to access medical appointments. Netanyahu vows a strong response as elections loom Hebron municipal officials said families had been displaced from nearly 500 apartments in Deir Bahha and surrounding neighbourhoods. Six Israelis have been killed this year in attacks in the West Bank, which is experiencing a surge of violence. During the same period, 112 Palestinians have been killed, including the suspected gunmen, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The attack sparked outrage in Israel, with Netanyahu traveling to the attack site and vowing to respond forcefully. On Sunday, hundreds of mourners attended the funeral in Hod Hasharon of Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, one of the Israeli soldiers killed. With the election approaching, Netanyahu is under pressure to demonstrate a strong show of force against Palestinian attackers to bolster his image for Israelis concerned with security. Roughly 3 million Palestinians and 540,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, which Israel occupied in the 1967 Mideast war. Hebron is one of its most tense cities and the only place where Jewish settlers live in the heart of a densely populated Palestinian area under Israeli military protection. The international community overwhelmingly considers all Israeli settlements illegal.

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Monday, October 26, 2026, PAGE 13

Venezuela’s opposition leader Machado returns after months in exile, as doubts over democracy deepen By REGINA GARCIA CANO, ARIANA CUBILLOS and DÁNICA COTO Associated Press OPPOSITION leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado reappeared in Venezuela Sunday for the first time since December, returning from exile at a time when doubts about the country’s democratic future — and the role of the US — are growing. It was her first appearance since the US military deposed the country’s then-President Nicolás Maduro in January, replacing him with an interim president who has exceeded the time she was authorized to serve, with no election scheduled. Machado announced her arrival on social media, writing, “I am here. With you.” Another leading figure in the Venezuelan opposition, Edmundo González, wrote on X that he would be at her side “very soon.” “Today is a very important day for Venezuelans,” he wrote. “Our sovereign voice returns with her to lead and guide this process!” Venezuela run by Maduro ally backed by the Trump administration On Sunday afternoon, Machado strode into a church in the state of Lara, west of Caracas, to the applause of dozens gathered there as they shook her hand and hugged her, with cellphones aloft to record her return. “María! María!” one person cried, as another shouted, “Welcome to Venezuela!” One woman wiped away tears and called it “a miracle” while another woman’s hands flew to her face as she saw Machado enter the church. “Long live freedom, damn it!” a man yelled. Machado then headed to Caracas with stops along the way. “The future of my children is in your hands. Please!” cried a man who teared up as he ran alongside her car. Asked by reporters Sunday about Machado’s return to Venezuela, US President Donald Trump said, “I don’t know anything about it, but I think she’s a very nice woman. She gave me her Nobel Prize. So how can I say anything else? And I hope she’s safe. She’s a very nice woman. But we’re doing really well in Venezuela.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X Sunday that the conditions allowing for Machado’s safe return “is the direct result of the US supported reconciliation talks.” “The United States expects the freedoms of all sectors of Venezuelan politics to continue to be respected. Likewise, we expect all political actors to support these talks which represent the best chance Venezuela has had in thirty years to peacefully achieve not just a free and fair election but an enduring democracy,” he wrote. Rubio has argued that before holding new elections, Venezuela must stabilize its economy and rebuild its institutions, including its courts and electoral council. Brian Fonseca, a Venezuela expert and professor at Florida International University, said he thought her arrival was politically motivated when he first heard the news. “But at the same time, it’s very symbolic,” he said. “Until there’s institutional change, or institutional space for the democratic opposition, this is a symbolic gesture.” Fonseca said Machado’s arrival could complicate Washington’s strategy and might be a sign of talks about elections in Venezuela. He said it remains to be seen how much latitude Machado is given and what steps she’ll take, adding that it could have consequences for the US midterms. Since Maduro’s ouster, Venezuela has been run

by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime Maduro ally who received the Trump administration’s blessing to succeed him. Rodríguez was initially supposed to serve only 90 days as acting president, but has remained in office and has made no move to call an election. Machado was briefly detained in January 2025, following a protest against Maduro’s planned swearing-in ceremony, and went into hiding in Venezuela for 11 months. After making a clandestine escape from the country, she reappeared that December in Norway, where she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her peaceful challenge to Maduro’s authoritarian government. Machado and her allies have been demanding a date for a presidential election in Venezuela, but US officials have emphasized economic stabilization first. Credible evidence shows the opposition won the last election In October 2023, Machado won an opposition primary and intended to challenge Maduro in the 2024 presidential election, but the government barred her from running for office. González took her place on the ballot, and ample credible evidence showed that he defeated Maduro by more than a 2-to-1 margin. But the National Electoral Council, which is stacked with ruling-party loyalists, declared Maduro the winner. The lead-up and aftermath of the election were marked by widespread government repression, including forced disappearances, torture and other human rights violations. More than 2,000 people, including poll workers, were detained in the days after the vote. In January, the US military captured Maduro in Caracas and whisked him to New York to face drug-related charges, which he has denied. Many Venezuelans were stunned by the Trump administration’s decision to work with Rodríguez, instead of Machado, to try to revitalize the crisis-racked country. Machado has demanded a date for a presidential election Machado had repeatedly vowed to return to Venezuela and, according to her party, she made seven unsuccessful attempts. One of the efforts would have seen her take a charter boat, but the operator cancelled the trip, alleging the vessel was unfit for navigation. In another attempt, her team said, Machado tried to fly to the Caribbean island of Curacao, from where she could take a speedboat to Venezuela, but her plane was denied landing permits. Opposition activists have accused Venezuela’s government of blocking Machado’s return, a claim denied by Venezuelan authorities. Others have also questioned whether the Trump administration has also been involved in the efforts to stop her from returning. Trump administration officials deny they are holding Machado back but have said that, on some occasions, they have advised her against returning due to safety concerns. After Maduro was deposed, Venezuela’s highest court said Rodríguez could serve as acting president for up to 90 days — an interim appointment that could be extended by the National Assembly for an additional 90 days. But the ruling party-controlled assembly never voted to extend her term. Machado and her allies have demanded that the Rodríguez government set a date for a presidential election. Rodríguez told the UN General Assembly in September that Venezuelans will determine the “right moment” for the next election. Supporters of Machado have held demonstrations in Caracas demanding her return.

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World News

At South Florida rally Trump revives idea of military intervention in Cuba after Iran By MEG KINNARD and JOSH BOAK Associated Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday told a rally for candidates in South Florida that U.S. warships returning from the Middle East could stop over in Cuba on their way back from the Iran war, his latest suggestion of taking an interventionist approach to the nearby country. Trump first floated this idea earlier this year, but has not mentioned it in recent months. But he revived it in response to a shouted question from the crowd about the island nation. He was campaigning just days ahead of midterm elections in which voters have expressed concern about the impact the U.S. war on Iran has had on prices of goods from gas to groceries. "We'll do a little stopover," Trump said. "Actually, what we're going to do with Cuba is, we're going to come back from Iran. Those beautiful ships will pass Cuba. We'll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast. They'll raise up their hands. And then we're going to send (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal."

Both Rubio and Trump have been bullish on action in Cuba, with Trump previously suggesting the country would "be next" in terms of intervention abroad, following the winding down of the Iran war he has long forecast but which has not yet happened. In May, he and Rubio raised the specter of U.S. military intervention in Cuba, a renewed threat that took on greater weight after the administration announced criminal charges against the island's former leader, Raúl Castro. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that previous U.S. presidents had considered intervening in Cuba for decades but that "it looks like I'll be the one that does it." Rubio told reporters separately that Cuba has been a national security threat for years because of its ties to U.S. adversaries and that Trump is intent on addressing it. While saying the Trump administration wants to resolve differences with Cuba peacefully, Rubio voiced doubts that the U.S. could reach a diplomatic resolution with the island's current government. Moments after Trump spoke at the rally, Rubio posted on social media that "now is the time" for

action on Cuba, addressing his post "to those who seek to create positive change" and urging them "to seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA." Rubio has not addressed Cuba in depth in public for several weeks, with his last comments coming in a Sept. 29 interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. "The truth is Cuba has already fallen. It doesn't have a functional economy and it's governed by people who continue to preach about some revolution that has been dead for 20 years that's never worked," Rubio said, without alluding to any CIA operation. "We are hopeful that Cuba will choose a different path. We are hopeful … that there will be some people in there that open their eyes to the reality of what they're facing," he said. "We're never going to allow Cuba to become a base of operation against American interests or pose a threat to our national security. On that we are abundantly clear." Rubio and other top Trump aides have met with Cuban officials in recent months to explore possible improvements in relations. But the U.S. side has come away unimpressed from

PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Alico Arena on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla. AP Photo/Chris O’Meara

those talks, leading to even more sanctions imposed on the Cuban government. During his address to the United Nations General Assembly last month, Trump said Rubio — son of Cuban immigrants, who has long taken a hard line against Cuba's socialist leadership — was "deep into negotiations with Cuba," saying he would "not allow a haven for foreign adversaries to

threaten America on our own doorstep." Days later, Trump told reporters that he anticipated that the two countries "will make a deal," adding, "I don't think we'll need the military. Cuba is failing very badly." Earlier this week, the two countries clashed at the United Nations as the Trump administration sought once again to build opposition for an

upcoming annual vote condemning Washington's decades-long economic embargo against Havana. Cuba has struggled since 2020 with an economic and energy crisis. Its gross domestic product has shrunk, and its 10 million residents have endured blackouts, food shortages and inflation. There have been waves of protests, and hundreds of thousands of Cubans have migrated, many to the United States.

Nuclear power could more than triple by 2060, UN agency says By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The head of the U.N. nuclear agency said Friday that he expects the use of nuclear power could more than triple by 2060. Rafael Grossi said in the International Atomic Energy Agency's annual report to the U.N. General Assembly that this will be driven by electrification, data centers powered by artificial intelligence and "technology companies' appetite for reliable, carbon-free power." Nuclear energy is seen by a growing number of countries as key to improving their energy security, he said, stressing that it is on par with solar energy and "safer than every other option." "In 2025, more than 400 operating reactors in more than 30 countries produced 10% of global electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon electricity," the IAEA director-general said. "More than

60 new reactors are under construction and the projections for future nuclear capacity have shifted dramatically upward." In addition to the growing use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Grossi spoke about the nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea, the "unprecedented threats to nuclear safety" from the war in Ukraine, and worrying reports that other countries he didn't name are talking about acquiring nuclear weapons. On Iran, whose nuclear sites were struck by the U.S. last year before the U.S. and Israel launched a war on Feb. 28, Grossi told U.N. member nations that the necessary technical work for a diplomatic agreement has been done. "I call on the parties to redouble their efforts towards agreeing a diplomatic solution that includes the IAEA's indispensable verification role, without which no agreement can be sustainable," he said. "IAEA inspectors must

be able to return to Iran expeditiously. That requires a return to the negotiating table." In North Korea, where leader Kim Jong Un has a growing nuclear program without AT Constellation’s nuclear power plant on Three Mile Island, called the Crane Clean Energy any IAEA Center, near Middletown, Pa., the cooling towers are reflected in the Susquehanna River, oversight, June 25, 2025. Grossi warned AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File that it "stands as a stark reminder of the consequences activity threatening the plant of interim President Ahmad when red lines are crossed" and the people who work al-Sharaa, he said. He reported in September in violation of U.N. Security there." On a positive note, Grossi that the Bashar Assad-era govCouncil resolutions banning said the IAEA has made ernment — which was ousted nuclear weapons production. progress" in in December 2024 by oppoIn Ukraine, he singled out "significant the Zaporizhzhia nuclear clarifying and resolving out- sition forces led by al-Sharaa power plant, Europe's largest, standing questions regarding — was constructing a nuclear saying it remains "in a precar- Syria's nuclear activities after reactor that was configured ious position" with frequent nearly two decades of uncer- to produce fissile material power losses, limited back-up tainty. That's as a result of for possible use in nuclear diesel supplies "and military engaging with the government weapons.

South African runners don cheeky attire for annual race to spotlight prostate cancer

MEN walk through the streets wearing only purple swim briefs to raise awareness about prostate cancer, in Johannesburg, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. AP Photo

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Hundreds of runners in purple briefs took to the streets of Johannesburg on Friday to raise awareness of prostate cancer. The men took part in the Hollard Daredevil Race, an annual event highlighting what researchers describe as the most common cancer in South Africa. Organizers say the disease is rarely discussed openly among South African men. A 2023 study of Black men diagnosed with prostate cancer in Free State province found that fewer than one in four had heard of the disease before their diagnosis. Another study that year among men in Limpopo province found that almost two-thirds had inadequate awareness of prostate cancer, while more than 80% knew nothing about screening methods. "Many men have never heard of it, don't know about PSA (prostate-specific antigen) screening and only present when it is advanced. Caught early, more than 99% of men are alive five years later," said Andrew Oberholzer, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Some participants were prostate cancer survivors who encouraged other men to get screened. "I've been running long distances for 45 years now and then I've also gone through a prostate cancer process. I'm a cancer survivor from prostate," participant Riyaad Kriel said.

China donates $50,000 in music instruments to RBPF and RBDF

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THE Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) received approximately $50,000 worth of musical instruments from the Chinese government on Friday, a donation officials said would help nurture musical talent and inspire future generations. Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas Yan Jiarong attended the handover ceremony at the RBPF’s internal security division, where 92 musical instruments were donated and divided equally between the two forces. Ms Jiarong highlighted music’s role in fostering cultural exchange between The Bahamas and China and said this latest donation was just another tangible result of their partnership. She recalled the various occasions on which both bands performed at Chinese Embassy events, impressing guests and staff alike. “So, by supporting the two bands today, we hope to add one more small note to that exchange,” Ambassador Jiarong said. “May the music of the two bands continue to bring joy to the Bahamian people and

Monday, October 26, 2026, PAGE 15

THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force received a donation of musical instruments from the Chinese Embassy during a ceremony at the Police College on October 23. Among those attending were National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, Chinese Ambassador Yan Jiarong, RBPF Band Director Chief Supt Whitney Bastian, Acting RBDF Commodore Captain Sonia Natasha Miller, ASP Cory Hield and Canon Stephen Davies. Photos: Nikia Charlton play a beautiful melody of friendship between China and The Bahamas.” Deputy Police Commissioner Kirkwood Andrews expressed gratitude for the “meaningful” donation, saying the instruments would help create new opportunities for aspiring musicians.

“An instrument in the hands of a committed musician, comes a voice through which talent, discipline, creativity, and national pride are expressed,” DCP Andrews said. “I am particularly encouraged by what the gift represents for the future, as we continue to expose young people

to music and positive avenues for professional development.” Attorney General Wayne Munroe, who’s also acting National Security Minister, called the presentation an investment in institutional excellence, cultural preservation, and the continued development of law

enforcement officers. He said the government looked forward to continued cooperation based on mutual respect and shared opportunities for progress. “We must continue to create environments in

which our young people can discover their abilities, develop confidence, embrace discipline, and recognise that their talents can become instruments of positive change,” Mr Munroe said.

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